Hindus, Muslims Unite for Selliyamman Temple Festival in Tamil Nadu; Procession Given Warm Welcome by Muslims
New Age Islam News Bureau
01 August 2022
Members from the Hindu and
Muslim communities shake hands before the conduct of temple festival in V
kalathur village in Perambalur district
-----
• Al-Qaeda-Affiliated Terrorist Group Al-Shabab
Publicly Execute 7 in Somalia for Spying
• Afghan Chess Players Hold Taliban Flag in Chennai, Kabul Lauds ‘Good
Relations’ With India
• Iraq’s Top Shia Cleric, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Urges
Tribal Leaders and Paramilitary Forces, To Join Parliament Takeover
• 100 French MPs Slam Erdogan’s ‘Policy of War’
Against Syrian Kurds
India
• Religious Harmony: Temple & Mosque Panels Unite
To Raise Fund for Cancer Patient in Kerala
• Muslim Central Committee Dakshina Kannada and Udupi
Boycotts Peace Meeting Because Of • CM Bommai Discrimination
• NIA Detains Madrassa Student, Farukh, From Deoband
--------
Africa
• Thousands Take To Sudan Streets to Protest Military
Rule
• Muslim-Muslim ticket: Split in northern Christian
ranks as group tackles Dogara, Babachir
• Ethiopian airstrikes hit terrorist-controlled border
region in Somalia: Local media
• Thousands rally in Sudan to demand civilian rule
• Eight security personnel killed in central Nigeria
ambush
--------
South
Asia
• Former NDS Director Says American Drones Struck
Different Locations of Afghan Capital
• Sunday Explosions in Afghan Capital Inflict No
Immediate Casualties: Taliban Officials
• The Taliban has achieved political stability, says
Suhail Shaheen
• Afghans flay Taliban for delay in issuance of
electronic identification cards
• One dead in clashes between Taliban, Iran border
forces: Afghan police official
--------
Arab
World
• YPG/PKK terror group detains 16 media workers in
Syria
• Lebanon denies discriminatory measures against
Syrian refugees
• Custodian of Two Holy Mosques receives written
message from CAR president
• Part of Beirut port silos, damaged in 2020 blast,
collapses
• Lebanon parliament speaker says no presidential vote
without IMF laws
--------
Europe
• Turkish foreign minister stresses importance of peace,
stability in Balkans
• UN chief calls for de-escalation in Iraq amid
protests
• French government body targets Anadolu Agency
journalist
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Don’t Interfere In Malay Non-Muslim Cultural Events,
DAP MP Advises Religious Affairs Minister
• Zahid's Trial: Judge Visits Two Country Heights Houses
Bought Using Charity's RM5.9m and Converted For Islamic Studies
• Indonesia’s pluralism in question as Islamic law
influence grows
• Single mum gets leave to challenge children’s
conversion to Islam
• No backing for sexist, chauvinist candidates, says
Puteri Umno
• Muslim Council of Elders to Attend Indonesia Int’l
Book Fair with Islamic, Quranic Works
--------
Pakistan
• S. Nitin, a ‘Peace Walkers’ From India Trek Bumpy Path
to Pakistan for Peace
• Shahbaz Gill accuses ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of
taking bribe from Indian firm
• Thai Buddhist monk visits Peshawar Museum
• Three martyred in North Waziristan mosque attack
• China was uncomfortable with Pakistan under Imran
Khan: Reports
• Nawaz agreed with coalition govt’s decision to
complete tenure: Fazl
--------
Mideast
• Iran: Farajollah Chaab, Terror Group's Ringleader
Confesses Receiving Support from Sweden
• Iran Capable Of Producing Atomic Bomb but Chooses
Not To: Head of Atomic Agency
• Blast kills 5 engineers at Houthi missile factory in
Yemen
• Top Diplomat: Iran Favours Lasting Agreement over
JCPOA
• Governor: No Casualties in Border Clashes between
Iranian Forces, Taliban
• Iran says it responded to EU proposal aimed at
salvaging 2015 nuclear deal
--------
North
America
• Respect Human Rights to Gain International
Acceptance: US to Taliban
• US envoy pushes Lebanon-Israel talks over maritime
dispute
• Biden administration resists Congress push for
calling Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-muslims-selliyamman-temple-festival/d/127621
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Hindus, Muslims Unite for Selliyamman Temple Festival
in Tamil Nadu; Procession Given Warm Welcome by Muslims
Members from the Hindu and
Muslim communities shake hands before the conduct of temple festival in V
kalathur village in Perambalur district
Aug 1, 2022
TRICHY: After decades of bitterness and tension, peace
has returned to V Kalathur village in Perambalur district as Hindu and Muslim
villagers set aside their differences and joined hands for the smooth conduct
of the Selliyamman temple festival. For the past 30 years, the Muslim community
had opposed the temple's chariot procession passing through their
neighbourhoods, but on Saturday night the three-day festival was jointly
launched by Hindu and Muslim villagers, thanks to the peace efforts of the
district administration and police. People from both faiths exchanged hugs and
handshakes as the chariot began to roll in the presence of superintendent of
police S Mani.
The Hindu-Muslim hostility over the conduct of the
annual temple festival goes back to 1912. According to tradition, the
festivities including processions go on for three days in the Aadi month
(July-August). The procession covers the entire village including the
Muslim-dominated Periyakadai and Pallivasal streets. After a minor clash in
1990, the festival was conducted in an uneasy environment and police protection
obtained through a direction from Madras high court.
It was in this backdrop that the local jamat (Islamic
council) invited the Hindu villagers for Iftar and Sandhanakoodu chariot
procession of the local Dargah recently. Encouraged by the district
administration, Hindu villagers attended the event. In return, the Muslim
neighbours were invited to the Selliyamman temple festival. "We wanted
peace to return, so we ignored the past and extended support for the smooth
conduct of the temple festival. The procession was given warm welcome by
Muslims," Jaffer Ali, secretary, V Kalathur Jamat, said.
The gesture was appreciated by Hindus who thanked the
Madras high court and the district administration for resolving the dispute
amicably. "The entire village was happy after decades. We want the
religious harmony to continue in the ensuing festivals too," Ramasamy
Udaiyar, member of the temple festival organising committee, said. "For
more than a year, we worked meticulously to resolve the century-old dispute
jointly with district police and HR&CE department. We gained the confidence
of villagers by addressing their needs for basic amenities. The bonhomie moment
has set an example for resolving religious disputes," district collector P
Sri Venkada Priya told TOI.
Source: Times Of India
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Al-Qaeda-Affiliated Terrorist Group Al-Shabab Publicly
Execute 7 in Somalia for Spying
Al-Qaeda-affiliated
terrorist group al-Shabab publicly executed seven people for alleged spying,
including a soldier, in southwestern Somalia, according to local media.
Photo: N Mehr News Agency
-----
Mohammed Dhaysane
31.07.2022
MOGADISHU, Somalia
Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabab publicly
executed seven people for alleged spying, including a soldier, in southwestern
Somalia, according to local media.
The seven men were executed by firing squad in Buula
Fulay in the Bay region, as witnessed by many bystanders, according to the
terror group's propaganda website, which also shared a picture of the execution
late Saturday.
A so-called “judge” linked to the terror group accused
six men of spying for the Somali government and a US intelligence agency, with
three of them also accused of providing intelligence on senior al-Shabaab
leaders Yusuf Jiis and Abdulkadir, who were killed in US airstrikes in 2020.
The soldier, who was also executed, was taken into
custody on the route between the districts of Dinsoor and Baidoa in the
country's South West state, according to the terrorists' propaganda outlet.
The terror group's so-called courts do not allow any
defense of the accused. They usually depend on confessions obtained through
torture, according to many people who have abandoned violence and surrendered
to the government.
In April 2020, several al-Shabaab so-called
"senior commanders" were killed in US airstrikes, including one of
the group’s founders, Yusuf Jiis, whom the US called “violent, ruthless, and
responsible for the loss of many innocent lives.”
Source: Anadolu Agency
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original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/al-shabaab-terrorists-publicly-execute-7-in-somalia/2649910
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Afghan Chess Players Hold Taliban Flag in Chennai, Kabul
Lauds ‘Good Relations’ With India
The Chess Olympiad was
Sepehr Sekhawaty's dream, a dream that he nearly did not realise. (Sepehr
Sekhawaty/Instagram)
-----
Nayanima Basu
1 August, 2022
New Delhi: Afghan players participating in the 44th
Chess Olympiad in Chennai were seen brandishing the Taliban white flag, while
officially they are playing in the international sporting event under the
former tricolour flag of the erstwhile Afghanistan republic government.
The matter came to light Sunday when Ahmadullah Wasiq,
director general of the National Radio and Television and acting director for
intelligence and deputy head of the cultural commission of the Islamic Emirate
of Afghanistan tweeted a photo of one of the team members posing at the venue
with the Taliban’s flag.
“Players from 199 countries including Afghanistan have
gathered for the games in India. Wherever the players are, the white flag of
Afghanistan is displayed in an important and conspicuous place at the door,”
Wasiq said in a tweet.
He also said that this “shows the good relations
between the two countries (India and Afghanistan)”.
This was immediately shared widely by all Twitter
handles that are pro-Taliban.
However, according to the official website of the
Chess Olympiad 2022, the team from Afghanistan is playing under the former
tricolour flag of Afghanistan.
“We are using both the flags. Inside the venue we are
using the old flag, but outside the main venue we can use the white flag. We are
players, we have nothing to do with politics,” Quraishi Obaidullah, president,
Afghanistan National Chess Federation, told ThePrint from Chennai.
He added that while initially no one stopped them from
posing with the Taliban flag, and it was also included in the poster outside
the main venue, they found those posters removed from the venue Sunday morning
when they came to play. “My team is performing well and I hope we will be able
to make it to the final round. The authorities here are taking good care of the
entire delegation,” Obaidullah said.
India does not recognise the Taliban interim
government, or the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, officially, and hence does
not allow the white flag to be used. Even the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi
uses the old flag.
How India has been engaging with the Taliban govt
Obaidullah also said that the Afghan team got the visa
through the existing e-visa process, but they did not get it on time, which is
why their team could not participate in the opening ceremony on July 28.
The e-visa system was introduced by India in August
last year, after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan.
New Delhi has been engaging with the Taliban
regularly, but it has been largely restricted to offering humanitarian aid and
assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
India has already sent 40,000 MT of wheat for the
Afghan people apart from medicines and other essential items. New Delhi has
plans to send 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan.
Last month, India and the World Food Programme signed
another MoU to send the final tranche of 10,000 MT of wheat as the war-torn
country reels under the acute food shortage that has been compounded by the
earthquake in the eastern part of Afghanistan in June.
In the same month India also reopened its embassy in
Kabul, by sending a team there in order to monitor and coordinate the delivery
of the aid there.
Source: The Print
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original story:
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Iraq’s Top Shia Cleric, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Urges Tribal
Leaders and Paramilitary Forces, To Join Parliament Takeover
Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada
al-Sadr speaks after preliminary results of Iraq's parliamentary election were
announced in Najaf, Iraq October 11, 2021. (Reuters)
-----
31 July, 2022
Iraq’s top Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr called on his
supporters, including tribal leaders and paramilitary forces, to join thousands
of others who are now occupying the nation’s parliament to prevent the
formation of a new government.
“This is a great chance for radical change to the
political system, he tweeted on Sunday, the day after thousands of supporters
stormed the nation’s seat of power, injuring more than 100 people. “Don’t miss
your chance.
The weekend’s turmoil intensified the political
standoff in Iraq, which has pitted Sadr against other Shia groups in a power
struggle. It presents a fresh test to a deeply fragile nation, which endured
years of American occupation, attack by extremist Sunni forces and other
sectarian violence.
Groups of supporters breached the parliament earlier
last week. But the much larger mobilization on Saturday came as parliament was
set to nominate a new prime minister -- now on indefinite hold as Sadr’s
supporters settle into the area known as the Green Zone for the foreseeable
future.
His group is demanding the dissolving of parliament,
fresh elections and changes to the constitution.
Sadr, who organized a militia against American forces
in the early days of the Iraq war almost 20 years ago, won national elections
in October 2021, but his attempt to form a government with Sunni and Kurdish
allies was thwarted by rival Shia groups.
Later he withdrew his 73 representatives from
parliament, saying that his rivals were corrupt and tied to Iran.
The Green Zone, the former headquarters for US forces
and administrators, now houses the Iraqi parliament, governmental offices and
diplomatic missions.
Source: Al Arabiya
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original story:
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100 French MPs Slam Erdogan’s ‘Policy of War’ Against Syrian
Kurds
A fighter from the Kurdish
People Protection Unit (YPG) poses for a photo at sunset in the Syrian town of
Ain Issi, some 50 kilometres north of Raqqa. (AFP)
-----
31 July, 2022
A hundred French parliamentarians, mainly from the
political left, on Saturday denounced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
“policy of war” against Kurds in northern Syria.
While the rest of the world is focused on Ukraine, as
Russia’s war crimes multiply there, Erdogan is “planning to launch an umpteenth
bloody offensive against the Kurds in northern Syria,” the parliamentarians
said in a statement published by the JDD title.
The Turkish president “is taking advantage” of
Turkey’s pivotal status, as a NATO member on good terms with both Moscow and
Kyiv, “to obtain a blank check from the Atlantic Alliance in order to intensify
his attacks in northern Syria”, according to the statement initiated by
Communist senator Laurence Cohen.
“Western countries must no longer look the other way”,
said the elected representatives, parliamentary deputies and upper house
senators mostly from leftist and ecologist parties.
They were joined by some from the rightwing
Republicans (LR) and President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party.
They called on the West “to guarantee the protection
of Kurdish activists and associations present on European soil”.
The signatories urged France to refer the matter to
the UN Security Council “to declare a no-fly zone in northern Syria and place
the Syrian Kurds under international protection”.
They also called for the Autonomous Administration of
North and East Syria (AANES) to “be granted international recognition”.
Erdogan is threatening to launch a new military
offensive against Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, where he wants to
establish a buffer zone 30 kilometers (20 miles) deep.
Turkey has launched a string of offensives in Syria in
the past six years, most recently in 2019 when it conducted a broad air and
ground assault against Kurdish militias after former US president Donald Trump
withdrew American troops.
Erdogan has urged Russia and Iran to back his efforts,
saying at a three-way summit last week that “we will continue our fight against
terrorist organizations”.
Source: Al Arabiya
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original story:
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India
Religious harmony: Temple & mosque panels unite to raise fund for cancer patient in Kerala
01st August 2022
By Pooja Nair
KOZHIKODE: In a
gesture aimed at religious harmony, two temple committees at Kottakkal in
Malappuram district have extended support to a mosque committee in their
attempt to raise funds for the treatment of an 18-year-old girl. While the
Kuttipurathukav Bhagavathy temple committee contributed more than Rs 50,000,
the Narasimha Moorthi temple committee contributed Rs 27,000 to the Alukkal
Juma Masjid to support Hanna, who is battling cancer.
The mosque committee has so far raised more than Rs
1.5 crore for the Kottakkal resident being treated at a private hospital in
Kozhikode. The Kuttipurathukav Bhagavathy temple committee members have also
made use of the opportunity to encourage their community members to support the
mosque committee raise sufficient funds to help Hanna.
“We are delighted to have been able to make this
contribution to the mosque committee which is striving to raise funds to help a
girl survive cancer. It’s nice that people from both communities are coming
together in various activities,” said temple committee secretary Ajith Kumar.
This is not the first incident where the Kuttipurathukav Bhagavathy temple
committee has extended such a support, he said.
Also, when the temple underwent renovation and during
the annual festival, the members of the mosque whole supported the temple
committee without showing any apprehension, Ajith pointed out. “We do believe
in living together and not being divided by religion,” he said.
The members of the mosque committee said the gesture
was hardly surprising, as they have been living in absolute harmony for several
decades. “People from our community have always shown great enthusiasm in
celebrating every event conducted in our neighbouring temples. With the support
of everyone, we were able to raise sufficient funds for the treatment of the
girl,” said a mosque committee member.
Source: New Indian Express
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Muslim Central Committee Dakshina Kannada and Udupi
Boycotts Peace Meeting Because Of CM Bommai Discrimination
Jul 31, 2022
Mangaluru: The Muslim Central Committee Dakshina
Kannada and Udupi, boycotted the district peace committee meeting held at the
deputy commissioner’s office on Saturday. B M Mumtaz Ali, vice-president,
Muslim Central Committee, said that the Muslim Central committee has over 1,000
mosques associated with it, and has always stood for peace in society. The last
rites of Mahammed Fazil were also conducted peacefully, he said.
The committee boycotted the meeting, because chief
minister Basavaraj Bommai, who visited Praveen Nettaru’s house, did not visit
the house of Masood B, who was brutally assaulted on July 19, and died on July
21. When the chief minister was in town, another youth, Mahammed Fazil was
hacked to death. “Why this discrimination and special treatment towards one
youth? In terms of investigation too, only one case has been handed over to the
NIA and not the other cases,” he said.
The committee met on Saturday, and decided to provide
ex gratia of Rs 30 lakh each, to the kin of Masood and Fazil.
K Ashraf, president Dakshina Kannada Muslim Okoota,
said that when the chief minister visited the district, he could have called
for a peace committee meeting, and discussed the issues with leaders from all
communities.
Source: Times Of India
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of the original story:
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NIA Detains Madrassa Student, Farukh, From Deoband
Jul 31, 2022
SAHARANPUR: A madrassa student, hailing from
Karnataka, was held by a team of the National Investigation Agency on Sunday
for suspected terror links.
The student, Farukh, was staying at a madrassa in
Deoband of Saharanpur, police sources said. Senior superintendent of police
(SSP) Vipin Tada confirmed Farukh's detention.
According to the sources, Farukh is adept in many
languages and was in touch with a module of the Pakistani intelligence unit ISI
via a social media app. He was being questioned by officials of NIA, they said.
Source: Times Of India
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Africa
Thousands take to Sudan streets to protest military
rule
31 July, 2022
Thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied in the
capital Sunday to demand an end to military rule and tribal clashes that have
killed over 100 people, AFP correspondents said.
“Down with Burhan,” they chanted, referring to General
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army chief who last year led a military coup that
upended a transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of president
Omar al-Bashir.
Near-weekly protests have been held since, despite a
deadly crackdown that has killed at least 116 people, according to
pro-democracy medics.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News
channel online or via the app.
“The authority is the people's,” protesters chanted,
demanding soldiers return to their barracks.
Since last year's coup, Sudan -- already one of the
world's poorest countries -- has been reeling from a spiralling economic crisis
and a broad security breakdown which has seen a spike in ethnic clashes in its
far-flung regions.
On July 11, tribal clashes over a land dispute erupted
in southern Blue Nile state, leaving at least 105 people dead and 291 wounded,
and sparking protests demanding justice and calls for coexistence.
Protester Mohamed Ali told AFP on Sunday that he was
demonstrating for “one unified nation”.
The military council has “turned a blind eye” to
tribal violence, Ali said, “because these problems allow it to stay in power”.
Pro-democracy activists have long accused Sudan's
military and ex-rebel leaders who signed a 2020 peace deal of exacerbating
ethnic tensions for political gain.
The strength of the pro-democracy movement has ebbed
and flowed since the coup, most recently rocked by a surprise announcement on
July 4, when Burhan pledged in a televised address to step aside and make way
for Sudanese factions to agree on a civilian government.
Key civilian leaders dismissed his move as a “ruse”,
and pro-democracy protesters have held fast to their rallying cry that there
can be “no negotiation, no partnership” with the military.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Muslim-Muslim ticket: Split in northern Christian
ranks as group tackles Dogara, Babachir
01 August 2022
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19
northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday, insisted
adherents would continue to resist any move to divide the country on religious
and ethnic lines.
It claimed the country’s unity, which has been
undermined by the President Muhammadu Buhari government, is threatened further
by the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),
urging Nigerians to reject the development.
In a press conference in Kaduna, Secretary General of
the northern chapter, Elder Sunday Oibe, said: “We reaffirm our stand against
the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a multi-religious and multi-cultural
society, like Nigeria, considering, especially, the fact that the country has
never been this divided along religion and ethnic lines.
“Northern CAN wants to use this medium to call on
politicians and political parties to be wary of those who might sneak to meet
them secretly, like Nicodemus, in the name of Christian leaders from the north,
with the sole aim of wetting their political appetite and in desperation for
monetary gains.”
Oibe added: “Northern CAN, as a reputable religious
organisation, will never engage in any secret dealing with any politician, as a
matter of policy. However, our doors are open to any Nigerian who desires to
share with us ideas for moving the country forward.”
BUT a northern body, Coalition of Christian Groups for
Good Governance, said the hardline position of former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, Mr. Lawal Babachir, former House of
Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and Adamawa lawmaker, Ishaku Abbo, on
the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket was based on selfish interest.
It claimed the truth about Lawal and Dogara’s anger is
that none of them was picked as running mate and urged northern Christians to
ignore their “divisive tactics” and vote for competent person in the 2023
elections.
In a statement signed by the leader of the coalition,
Elder Peter Sati Auta, the group said: “Nigerians, especially the electorate,
are wise enough to know that whipping up religious sentiments against any
candidate is not the solution to the challenges of insecurity, dwindling
economy, insurgency, high unemployment rate, bad governance and other problems
militating against progress and development of Nigeria.”
THIS came as a foundation member of the APC, Mr. Osita
Okechukwu, declared northern Christians would not vote for the Peoples
Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Okechukwu made this known in Abuja, yesterday, while
answering questions from journalists.
Reacting to northern Christians’ outrage over APC’s
Muslim-Muslim ticket, Okechukwu, who is the Director General of Voice of
Nigeria (VON), said he shares their anguish and fears on identity politics but
knows that, contrary to the speculations of spin doctors, they would not vote
for the former Vice President.
He said whatever marginalisation northern Christians
suffered, they would suffer no more if APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, becomes president in 2023.
He added: “Our first slogan in APC is change. Our
mantra is change. We will not remain static, never. We will change whatever is
not working. All we ask Nigerians is give us another eight years as you gave
our sister political party, the PDP.
“Regarding the northern Christians’ outrage over APC’s
Muslim-Muslim ticket, if any pundit thinks they will vote for Atiku, my answer
is ‘Capital No!’ No matter what, they know he is bringing nothing new to the
table.
Source: Guardian Nigeria
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Ethiopian airstrikes hit terrorist-controlled border
region in Somalia: Local media
Mohammed Dhaysane
30.07.2022
MOGADISHU, Somalia
A fighter plane believed to belong to the Ethiopian
military on Saturday carried out an airstrike in a Somali border region
reportedly controlled by terrorist group al-Shabaab, local media reported.
The airstrikes took place in the southwestern town of
Garaswayne located on the outskirts of Hudur, capital of the Bakol region.
Adan Hassan Adan, a local journalist in Hudur, told
Anadolu Agency over the phone that the town was hit by at least four missiles
and at least one woman was seriously wounded.
He said one missile hit near a mosque and another
landed in an empty market.
Local media reported that an Ethiopian fighter plane
carried out the airstrike but Ethiopia’s Liyu police, operating in Bakol, had
no comment other than saying operations are taking place in the region.
The reported airstrike comes a day after heavy
fighting between Liyu counterinsurgency forces in Ethiopia’s Somali region and
al-Shabaab terrorists took place in the border town of Aato in Bakol, killing
at least 10 people, according to local security officials.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Thousands rally in Sudan to demand civilian rule
Buhram Abdel-Men'em
31.07.2022
KHARTOUM, Sudan
Fresh demonstrations erupted in Sudan on Sunday to
demand the restoration of civilian rule in the country.
Thousands of protesters rallied in the capital
Khartoum, with demonstrators blocking a number of roads with barricades and
burning tyres, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.
Security forces shut roads leading to the Presidential
Palace and the headquarters of the Sudanese Military Command in the capital.
Demonstrations were also reported in the cities of
Bahri and Omdurman and the eastern city of Kassala.
Protesters held banners condemning the military rule
and demanding the restoration of civilian rule in Sudan.
Sunday’s protests were called by the former ruling
Forces of Freedom and Change coalition and the Resistance Committees, which
spearhead the current wave of demonstrations against the military.
Sudan has been in turmoil since last October, when the
military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government, a
move decried by political forces as a "military coup."
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/thousands-rally-in-sudan-to-demand-civilian-rule/2649977
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Eight security personnel killed in central Nigeria
ambush
August 01, 2022
KANO, Nigeria: Gunmen killed eight Nigerian security
personnel, including three policemen and five vigilantes, in an ambush in a
central state, a local government spokesman said Sunday.
In the attack on Saturday, gunmen “suspected to be
bandits ambushed and killed eight security officers in Ajaokuta local
government area,” Onogwu Muhammed, Kogi state governor’s spokesman, said in a
statement.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack but
Kogi has seen an uptick in attacks recently, including some claimed by Daesh
terrorists operating outside their usual base in the northeast.
Security will be a major issue in next February’s
election to replace President Muhammadu Buhari, who is under increasing
pressure over the country’s worsening violence.
Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello suspended a
traditional chief of the area and questioned the political administrator of the
district over Saturday’s killings, the statement said without giving details.
“The governor strongly warned other traditional rulers
across the state who may have connection in one way or the other with criminal
elements in their domains to desist forthwith,” Muhammed said.
Nigeria’s traditional chiefs and emirs have no
official political power but are very influential as guardians of local culture
and religion.
Bello vowed to “deal ruthlessly with anybody who
romances with criminal elements no matter how highly placed they are.”
Last month, gunmen bombed a police station in Kogi’s
Okehi district, killing a policeman and razing the facility.
In April three policemen were killed when gunmen
attacked a police station in the town of Adavi.
Both attacks were claimed by Daesh West Africa
Province or ISWAP terrorist group, which split from Boko Haram in 2016 to
become a dominant militancy in northeast Nigeria.
Source: Arab News
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South
Asia
Former NDS Director Says American Drones Struck
Different Locations of Afghan Capital
By Saqalain Eqbal
31 Jul 2022
Rahmatullah Nabil, former director of the Afghan
National Directorate of Security (NDS), claims that American drones were
spotted in Kabul’s airspace and attacked various Kabul locations.
Following reports of at least two explosions in the
capital’s Wazir Akbar Khan and Sherpur areas, Nabil posted his statement on his
Twitter handle.
“American
drones were seen in the airspace of KBL and struck different locations in
Kabul,” the former NDS director wrote.
Nabil also stated that the explosions that occurred on
Sunday in Kabul are “most likely” a “IS-K hideout,” citing a clause of the Doha
agreement, to which the US and the Taliban are parties, which states that the
US will help the Taliban combat and defeat IS-K.
He also cautioned that Afghanistan is in grave danger
of turning into a haven and sanctuary for extremists and terrorists.
Taliban security authorities claim that a rocket was
launched at the Wazir Akbar Khan area of Kabul and landed close to the area’s
11th street following the release of news about the occurrence of at least two
explosions in the capital.
The rocket struck a vacant house, according to Khalid
Zadran, the Taliban’s spokesman for the Kabul Police on Sunday, July 31. No one
was injured in the incidents.
Another explosion in Kabul’s Dehmazang area was also
reported by the locals, resulting in no immediate casualties.
Source: Khaama Press
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Sunday Explosions in Afghan Capital Inflict No
Immediate Casualties: Taliban Officials
By Saqalain Eqbal
31 Jul 2022
Locals in the Kabul areas of Sherpur and Wazir Akbar
Khan have reported two explosions, and there have also been reports of
explosions in the Dehmazang area of the Afghan capital. According to Taliban
security authorities, no immediate casualties were caused by the explosions on
Sunday morning.
According to the security officers of the Taliban
government, the occurrence in Sherpur and Wazir Akbar Khan on July 31st took
place at about 6:30 am.
The Taliban Ministry of Defense spokesman, Abdul Nafi
Takor, stated that no one was hurt when a rocket struck an unoccupied house in
Kabul’s Sherpur area.
As for the explosions, some sources claim that they
were brought on by the landing of two rockets near the Wazir Akbar Khan and
Sherpur areas of Kabul.
Both instances have gone unclaimed thus far by any
group or organization.
Since the Taliban seized power, there have been more
attacks in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s assurances of security.
Additionally, earlier this month, the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) issued a report documenting the human
rights situation in Afghanistan during the past 10 months since the Taliban
took power.
Source: Khaama Press
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The Taliban has achieved political stability, says
Suhail Shaheen
Kallol Bhattacherjee
JULY 31, 2022
Kandahar faction handles leadership; military power
decentralised among Haqqanis and commanders
The Taliban has proved detractors wrong and has
achieved political stability within a year of coming to power in Kabul, Suhail
Shaheen, head of the Political Office of the Taliban told The Hindu. As
Afghanistan marks one year of Taliban rule in the coming August, the outfit has
centralised political power in the Kandahar faction while decentralising its
military power among a wide range of veteran and young commanders.
On July 1, the Taliban’s Amir ul Momineen Hibatullah
Akhundzada, visited Kabul for the first time since the takeover of the capital.
Mr. Akhundzada has maintained the reclusive style of the Taliban’s first
supreme leader Amir ul Momineen Mullah Omar, who was rarely seen, partly
because of security reasons. While the supreme leader is expected to remain
unseen, the visible part of the Taliban administration begins with the next
leader — “Prime Minister” Mullah Hasan Akhund and his deputies, Mullah Abdul
Ghani Baradar, Maulavi Abdul Kabir, and Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi.
Also read: Two killed in Kabul cricket stadium grenade
attack, police say
Out of the three, Mr. Hanafi is a Turkic and served as
a Deputy Education Minister in the previous Taliban government during
1996-2001. Like Mr. Baradar, Mr. Hanafi too was part of the Taliban’s political
team that negotiated with the U.S. in Qatar and was one of the few Taliban
representatives who was seen on TV screens worldwide before he was appointed
Deputy Prime Minister in the autumn of 2021. It was the Mr. Hanafi-led Taliban
delegation that had met with Indian diplomats on the sidelines of the Moscow
Format conference that month, when both sides made formal contact.
The toughest part of the Taliban’s internal power
equation involved finding equilibrium between the diplomatic-political and the military
wings as both wanted a bigger share of power. It was also at the root of a
brawl involving Mr. Baradar and Khalilur Rahman Haqqani in September 2021. Mr.
Baradar’s wing believed power sharing should take into account the success of
the Taliban’s negotiating team.
Partially because of that fight, Mr. Khalilur Rahman
Haqqani, despite being the “refugees Minister” is not among the main Taliban
leaders anymore. According to Afghan sources, he is respected because he
happens to be the brother of the late Jalaluddin Haqqani, the warlord who gave
the Haqqani network its fierce reputation during the anti-Soviet Jehad of the
1980s. In contrast, it is Sirajuddin Haqqani, nephew of Mr. Khalilur Rahman
Haqqani and son of Mr. Jalaluddin Haqqani, who is more powerful as he has
maintained his hold as the “Interior Minister” of the Taliban since arriving in
Kabul a year ago. Informed sources said that Mr. Sirajuddin Haqqani is
supported by his cousins, Hafiz Aziz Haqqani and Hafiz Yaha Haqqani, who are
considered to be the “right and left hands of Sirajuddin” and exercise control
over military and intelligence affairs of the Taliban on his behalf.
The Taliban’s “Defence Minister”, Mullah Yaqub, is
another powerful figure with his own fighters. Mr. Yaqub is venerated as he is
the son of the first supreme leader, Amir ul Momineen Mullah Omar, and is also
a potential successor to the post, according to some pro-Taliban sources. Next
in line are “Foreign Minister” Amir Khan Muttaki and “Finance Minister”
Hedayatullah Gul Agha. Mr. Muttaki has acquired prominence as the Taliban’s
chief diplomat as the regime yearns for international legitimacy and
developmental aid.
Mr. Gul Agha, also known as Gul Agha Ishakzai, like
the Kandahar faction and Mr. Yaqub, is part of the old Taliban
(1996-2001). Unlike the Haqqani Network
that is known for being close to Pakistan, Mr. Agha is known to be part of the
anti-Pakistan “Mansour group”, or Taliban leaders who were close to the late
supreme leader Mullah Mansour, who was slain in a drone attack in 2016. Like Mr. Agha, “Deputy Interior Minister”
Sader Ibrahim and “Deputy Defence Minister” Abdul Qayyum Zakir also command a
large number of fighters of their own.
Source: The Hindu
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Afghans flay Taliban for delay in issuance of
electronic identification cards
1 August, 2022
Kabul [Afghanistan], July 31 (ANI): Afghans on Sunday
decried the delay in the issuance of electronic identification cards adding to
their plight in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
They raised their concerns about not getting their ID
cards, saying that it has been two weeks since the printing and distribution of
electronic ID cards in Kabul has stopped, reported Tolo News.
The applicants added that they are unable to register
their names online due to technical issues with the Department of Statistics
and Information’s website.
“I completed the biometric procedure two weeks ago,
and now that I have returned, they have told me that the printing papers have
been finished and that we have signed a contract with another country. Please
come in five days,” said Mohammad Uzair, an applicant for an ID card, told Tolo
News.
“I came from Mazar because there it was too crowded, I
wanted to get the ID card here, but they said the process has stopped,” said
another ID card applicant, Fawad.
The process of distributing ID cards has been stopped,
according to a Tolo News reporter who visited one of the electronic ID card
distribution centres in Kabul’s Macroyan area.
“The system online is having issues. The issue is that
when we go to the ID card website, there is a problem with the site when we
register,” said Nasrullah, another ID card applicant.
The Department of Statistics and Information has not
commented despite repeated requests.
According to Tolo News, many local residents said they
need ID cards for numerous reasons.
Shabir Ahmad, a Kabul resident said that he wants to
travel abroad in order to get medical attention for a family member.
Shabir Ahmad said: “We seriously need ID cards.
Everyone needs to take their patients abroad. Having ID cards is necessary for
getting a passport.”
The National Statistics and Information Authority in
Afghanistan issues the electronic National Identity Card (eNIC).
According to NSIA, 104 centres are present for the
distribution of ID cards in Afghanistan, including 25 in Kabul.
Source: The Print
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One dead in clashes between Taliban, Iran border forces:
Afghan police official
31 July, 2022
Clashes between Taliban forces and Iran border guards
on Sunday have left at least one dead on the Afghanistan side, an Afghan police
official said.
“We have one killed and one wounded; the cause of the
clash is not clear yet,” the police spokesman of the southern Afghan province
of Nimroze, Bahram Haqmal, told Reuters.
Maysam Barazandeh, the governor of the Iranian border
area of Hirmand, was quoted by the semi-official news agency Fars as saying the
clashes had stopped and there were no casualties.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency said clashes broke out after
Taliban forces tried to raise their flag “in an area which is not Afghan
territory.”
Local sources told Reuters that people living near the
border on the Afghan side fled their homes to take cover when the clashes
intensified.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Arab
World
YPG/PKK terror group detains 16 media workers in Syria
Ethem Emre Ozcan and Esref Musa
31.07.2022
Sixteen members of the local media were reportedly
detained by the terrorist group YPG/PKK in the eastern Syrian province of
Raqqa.
In a written statement, the Syrian Network for Human
Rights (SNHR), which tracks human rights abuses against civilians in Syria,
claimed that the YPG/PKK terrorist group under the guise of the so-called SDF
detained 16 members of the local media on Saturday in Raqqa, which the group
seized earlier.
The statement urged the immediate release of the local
media employees, who were detained by the terror group under the pretext of
"espionage," stressing the need to protect press workers.
The network condemned the YPG/PKK terrorists'
abduction of journalists and said the terror group has taken steps to end press
freedom in the territories it controls.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/ypg-pkk-terror-group-detains-16-media-workers-in-syria/2650092
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Lebanon denies discriminatory measures against Syrian
refugees
Naim Burjawi
31.07.2022
BEIRUT, Lebanon
Lebanon has denied reports about taking discriminatory
measures against Syrian refugees in the country.
In a statement, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said
Lebanon has not taken any measures or decisions that would distinguish between
the displaced Syrians and Lebanese citizens.
The ministry said the global food crisis is worsening
the economic and financial problems in Lebanon.
"Lebanon has repeatedly warned that this reality
will inevitably lead to competition between the Lebanese, Palestinian refugees
and displaced Syrians over limited food resources," it said.
"There is no doubt that the continuation of this
situation will lead to an increase in the level of tension, and indeed in the
rate of security incidents against all marginalized groups in Lebanon,"
the statement added.
On Saturday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) warned of rising tensions between Lebanese nationals and Syrian
refugees amid discriminatory rhetoric against Syrians in the country.
In a statement, the UN agency expressed "grave
concern over the restrictive practices and discriminatory measures activated on
the basis of nationality, which affects the refugees and other marginalized
groups." It cited a series of violent assaults and crimes against Syrian
refugees by Lebanese citizens.
Lebanon hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees,
about 900,000 of whom are registered at UNHCR.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Custodian of Two Holy Mosques receives written message
from CAR president
July 31, 2022
RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman
received a written message from President Faustin Archange Touadera of the
Central African Republic, dealing with strengthening the relations between the
two countries.
The message was received by Minister of Foreign
Affairs Prince Faisal Bin Farhan when he received here Sunday, Minister of
Energy and Water Resources of the Central African Republic Bertrand Arthur
PIRI.
Source: Saudi Gazette
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Part of Beirut port silos, damaged in 2020 blast,
collapses
31 July, 2022
A section of Beirut's massive port grain silos,
shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday
after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in
the summer heat.
The northern block of the silos collapsed after what
sounded like an explosion, kicking up thick gray dust that enveloped the iconic
structure and the port next to a residential area. It was not immediately clear
if anyone was injured.
Assaad Haddad the General Director of the Port Silo,
told The Associated Press that “everything is under control” but the situation
has not subsided yet. Minutes later, the dust subsided and calm returned.
The 50 year-old, 48-meter tall giant silos withstood
the force of the explosion two years ago, effectively shielding the western
part of Beirut from the blast that killed over 200 people, wounded more than
6,000 and badly damaged entire neighborhoods.
In July, a fire broke out in the northern block of the
silos due to fermenting grains. Firefighters and Lebanese Army soldiers were
unable to put out the fire which continue smoldering for weeks, releasing odors
into nearby cities. The environment and health ministries last week issued
instructions to residents living near the port to stay indoors in
well-ventilated spaces.
Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who
volunteered for the government-commissioned team of experts, told the AP that
the northern block of the silo has already been tipping since the day of the
2020 blast, but the latest fire had weakened its frail structure, accelerating
a possible collapse.
When the fermenting grains ignited earlier in July,
firefighters and Lebanese soldiers tried to put out the fire with water, but
withdrew after the moisture made it worse. The Interior Ministry said over a
week later that the fire had spread, after reaching some electric cables
nearby.
The silos continued smoldering for weeks as the odor
of fermented grain seeped into nearby neighborhoods. Residents who had survived
the 2020 explosion said the fire and the smell reminded them of their trauma.
The environment and health ministries last week instructed residents living
near the port to stay indoors in well-ventilated spaces.
The Lebanese Red Cross distributed K-N95 masks to
those living nearby, and officials ordered firefighters and port workers to
stay away from the immediate area near the silos.
Emmanuel Durand, a French civil engineer who
volunteered for the government-commissioned team of experts, told the AP
earlier in July that the northern block of the silo had been slowing tilting
over time but that the recent fire accelerated the rate and caused irreversible
damage to the already weakened structure.
Duran been monitoring the silos from thousands of
miles away using data produced by sensors he installed over a year ago, and
updating a team of Lebanese government and security officials on the
developments in a WhatsApp group. In several reports, he warned that the
northern block could collapse at any moment.
Last April, the Lebanese government decided to
demolish the silos, but suspended the decision following protests from families
of the blast’s victims and survivors. They contend that the silos may contain
evidence useful for the judicial probe, and that it should stand as a memorial
for the tragic incident.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Lebanon parliament speaker says no presidential vote
without IMF laws
30 July, 2022
Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri said on
Saturday he would not call for a session to elect a new president until the
legislature passes reforms that are preconditions for an International Monetary
Fund (IMF) bailout.
An IMF deal is seen as the only way for Lebanon to
recover from a financial meltdown that has plunged the country into its most
destabilizing crisis since the 1975-90 war.
President Michel Aoun’s six-year term ends on October
31, and top politicians have voiced concern about no successor being found -
warning of even greater institutional deadlock given that Lebanon has also been
without a fully functioning government since May.
“I will not call for a presidential election session
until after the reform laws required by the IMF have been adopted,” Berri said
during a meeting with journalists at his Beirut residence, in comments
confirmed to Reuters by his office.
He said parliament should work to pass the reform laws
in August, pointing to the urgent need for the measures.
Berri, who has held his post for nearly three decades,
said on Friday that a “miracle” would be needed for a government to be formed
anytime soon. He did not elaborate.
Under the constitution, the president issues the
decree appointing a new prime minister based on binding consultations with MPs,
and must co-sign on the formation of any new cabinet.
In April, Lebanon reached a staff-level agreement with
the IMF for a $3 billion bailout but a full deal is conditional on the passage
of bills including capital controls, banking restructuring legislation and the
2022 budget.
Lebanon’s constitution says the speaker must convene
parliament “one month at least and two months at most before the expiration of
the term of office of the President of the Republic.”
Failing that, the chamber meets automatically on the
10th day preceding the term’s expiration, the constitution says.
Aoun came to power after a 29-month presidential
vacuum in which parliament was unable to agree on electing a president. The
stalemate ended with a series of deals that secured victory for Aoun and his
Iran-backed ally Hezbollah.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Europe
Turkish foreign minister stresses importance of peace,
stability in Balkans
Seda Sevencan
01.08.2022
ISTANBUL
Türkiye’s foreign minister held separate phone calls
Sunday with his Kosovar and Serbian counterparts as tensions between Serbia and
Kosovo continued to rise.
Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that “common sense must
prevail” in the region, according to a statement by the Turkish Foreign
Ministry.
Underlining the importance that Türkiye attaches to
peace and stability in the Balkans, Cavusoglu said Ankara is ready to do its
part to reduce tensions.
Tension between Serbia and Kosovo rose on Sunday ahead
of a new Kosovar law set to come into effect Monday making it mandatory for
everyone, including Serbs living in Kosovo, to have a Kosovo ID card and plate.
According to local media, air raid sirens were heard
along near the Kosovo/Serbian border as Kosovo is set to restrict border
crossings.
Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s prime minister, blamed the president
of Serbia for increased tension and possible border conflicts between Serbia’s
Army and the Kosovar police, decrying planned “fear” and threats in neighboring
Serbia.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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UN chief calls for de-escalation in Iraq amid protests
Mohammad Tareq
31.07.2022
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on
Sunday called on Iraqi parties to de-escalate the situation and avoid violence
amid tension over the nomination of a new prime minister.
In a statement, his spokesperson Farhan Haq said the
UN chief is "following with concern" the ongoing protests in Iraq
that left many people injured.
"Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are
fundamental rights that must be respected at all times," he said.
The spokesperson urged Iraqi parties and actors
"to rise above their differences and form, through peaceful and inclusive
dialogue, an effective national government."
Tension escalated in Iraq in recent days following the
nomination of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as a new prime minister by a coalition of
groups close to Iran amid protests by supporters of influential Shia cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/un-chief-calls-for-de-escalation-in-iraq-amid-protests/2649857
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French government body targets Anadolu Agency
journalist
Dilara Hamit
31.07.2022
France’s government singled out for criticism at an
Anadolu Agency journalist who criticized its decision to expel Imam Hassan
Iquioussen, a Muslim scholar.
The Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of
Crime and Radicalisation (CIPDR), whose website says it works under "the
aegis of the prime minister," has targeted a number of people who are
victims of Islamophobia, now including at least Anadolu Agency correspondent.
The committee targeted those who criticized the
deportation decision, which was announced on Thursday, accusing them on Twitter
of being linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafism.
"There is Feiza Ben Mohamed, who works for
Anadolu Agency and joins this support campaign (for the imam) by constantly
attacking France with false allegations. And without hesitation, she argues
that Hassan Iquioussen is an ‘innocent imam’," it said on Twitter on
Friday.
After this post, Ben Mohamed was subjected to intense
cyber harassment.
Marwan Muhammad, former director of the Collective
against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), was also accused of using anti-secular
rhetoric to incite conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims.
The committee also had Billal Righi, a former director
of the Ummah Charity, on its hit list, by trying to link him to the 2020 murder
of teacher Samuel Paty in a Paris suburb.
After the tweets were published, numerous online users
denounced the committee for using state resources to harass and suppress Muslim
figures for their political and religious opinions.
One Twitter user claimed that Muslim hunting was the
committee's favorite hobby and that targeting media and Muslim figures for
cyberbullying is seen as normal in President Emmanuel Macron’s France.
Since Friday, while Mohamed's journalism was
distorted, she has been assailed by anti-Turkish, anti-Islamic, and sexist
messages.
"It is a very malicious step to be cast in the
same light as those who went to Syria to fight," meaning terrorists,
another Twitter user said on the issue.
Another user denounced France's targeting of Muslims
and proposed a march to combat Islamophobia in September. Political scientist
Francois Burgat blasted the committee’s moves.
"Let's not be passive, we could be next," he
said. Burgat said the committee’s accusations against Ben Mohamed are very
dangerous in a country with freedom of expression, adding that he also wrote
articles for Anadolu Agency.
RSF (journalists without borders) has ranked France as
having the 26th-highest level of free speech in the world.
After public figures and politicians, the RespectZone
association found in 2018 that journalists were the third most susceptible
profession to cyber-harassment.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-government-body-targets-anadolu-agency-journalist/2649645
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Southeast
Asia
Don’t Interfere In Malay Non-Muslim Cultural Events,
DAP MP Advises Religious Affairs Minister
July 31, 2022
Petaling Jaya: A DAP MP has advised religious affairs
minister Idris Ahmad against interfering in the cultural events of non-Muslims,
saying he should focus on serving the Muslims instead.
Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji’s comments come
following a parliamentary reply dated July 27, where the minister had said that
the Oktoberfest cultural festival should not be held as it had the potential of
disrupting social harmony and safety as alcohol would be consumed openly in a
festival setting.
“As a Muslim MP, I acknowledge the fact that Muslims
should not consume alcoholic beverages and participate in activities that are
haram.
“(That being said), Muslims should not be interfering
in the livelihood as well as the business and cultural affairs of non-Muslims,”
said Tengku Zulpuri in a statement.
“Such an act of interference is against the teachings
of Islam. Plus, the freedom to conduct non-halal business activities by
non-Muslims is protected under the Federal Constitution.”
Tengku Zulpuri also said that the Oktoberfest is
celebrated in pubs and non-halal restaurants around the country, not in open
venues as claimed by Idris.
He also claimed that the minister’s statement on the
business activities of non-Muslims tarnished the image of Islam as the minister
was portraying the religion as being intolerant.
The MP also took Idris to task for repeatedly issuing
statements that disrupted the harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims since
taking charge of the ministerial portfolio, citing Idris’s earlier statement on
the Bon Odori festival.
Last month, Idris had advised Muslims against joining
the Japanese cultural celebration, saying it had elements of another religion
in it.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Zahid's
trial: Judge visits two Country Heights houses bought using charity's RM5.9m
and converted for Islamic studies
By
Ida Lim
Monday,
01 Aug 2022
KAJANG,
Aug 1 — High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah began his official
visit to two “bungalows” in the prestigious gated and guarded Country Heights
neighbourhood here as part of court proceedings in Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi’s corruption trial just before 11am today.
The
former deputy prime minister has been charged with criminal breach of trust
over RM31 million belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi and the two houses were
purchased in 2017 using RM5.9 million from the charity organisation’s funds.
The
tour, led by Ahmad Zahid’s lawyers, started with a single-storey building at
Lot 403-2A, Lorong Bayu Nyaman.
There
was a signboard and on it the words “Yayasan Al-Falah” and “Persatuan Tarekat
Malaysia” on the building.
Rooms
inside the building were similarly marked; Yayasan Al-Falah’s office and rooms
labelled with names such as “Hasan” and “Ali” surrounding a square courtyard.
There was also a small hall labelled “surau”.
During
the visit to the air-conditioned and carpeted “surau” lined with shelves of
Islamic books and which also featured green latticed screens bearing the words
“Yayasan Al Falah 2019”, a religious class given by an Islamic preacher was
underway.
Ahmad
Zahid previously told the court that this building was meant for Islamic
studies for retirees.
This
“Yayasan Al-Falah” building at Lot 403 is said to be between 100 and 200 metres
to Surau An-Nur in Country Heights. It took about 50 to 70 paces (depending on
the length of one’s legs) to walk between the two buildings.
The
second single-storey house that was part of the court tour — Lot 356 along
Jalan Bayu Nyaman — was directly across Surau An-Nur, located at a T-junction
or about 10 paces away.
This
building, purchased in 2017 at RM3 million, bore the name “Madrasah Tahfiz
Alfalah”.
During
the judge’s visit to this building, another lesson appeared to be underway. The
group of supervised young boys in an airconditioned and carpeted area that
appeared to be the main hall were said to be tahfiz students memorising the
Al-Quran and hadiths.
The
second building also featured dormitories with double-decker beds, as well as
an eating space.
The
judge’s visit of the two buildings ended at around 11.25am.
Previously
on July 6, Ahmad Zahid’s lead defence lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had invited
the judge to make a site inspection of the two houses, since they were part of
the charges in the trial. The judge had agreed to the request in the interests
of justice.
Apart
from Hisyam, Ahmad Zahid’s other lawyers such as Hamidi Mohd Noh and Datuk
Zaidi Ahmad Zainal were also present. Also present at the court visit were
deputy public prosecutors Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong and Abdul Malik Ayob.
Ahmad
Zahid is facing 47 charges, namely 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in
relation to RM31 million of charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27
counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges.
One
of the 27 money-laundering charges that Ahmad Zahid is facing alleges that he
had engaged directly in a transaction that involves proceeds of unlawful
activity, by giving instruction to buy the two “bungalow lots” for RM5.9
million using a cheque issued by the law firm Lewis & Co via a client
account at Maybank, with the funds said to be illegal proceeds.
Throughout
the trial, Ahmad Zahid and his lawyers have insisted that Lewis & Co is a
trustee for Yayasan Akalbudi and holds funds on trust for it in a client
account.
Ahmad
Zahid had previously defended the use of Yayasan Akalbudi’s money to buy the
two houses, claiming that these two properties were given as a donation to his
younger brother Datuk Seri Mohamad Nasaee Ahmad Tarmizi’s Yayasan Al-Falah.
Ahmad Zahid had claimed that they were converted into centres for Islamic
studies for the public’s use, and denied that they were for his own use.
Ahmad
Zahid had said the two properties — which he described as “bungalow lots” —
were bought below the market price, with the smaller lot of Lot 403 measuring
1,787 square feet purchased at RM2.9 million, while the bigger lot of Lot 356
at 1,872 square feet was purchased at RM3 million.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
Indonesia’s
pluralism in question as Islamic law influence grows
July
31, 2022
MEDAN:
A new law enacted in West Sumatra Province in Indonesia is worrying human
rights activists and local minority groups alike as fears grow that it could
lead to more Islamic laws being signed into force across the country that might
restrict the rights of minorities.
Indonesia
is the world’s most populous Muslim nation, yet its constitution guarantees
freedom of religion and the secularity of the government. In addition, many
Indonesians still follow adat, or customary law, in each community.
But
the new law passed by the country’s House of Representatives states that the
customs of the Minangkabau, the largest ethnic group in West Sumatra Province,
are based on the philosophical values of “Shariah law, and Shariah is based on
the Quran”.
The
new law can be seen as meaning all residents in the province could find
themselves under increasingly strict local laws rooted in Shariah.
“The
new legislation was requested by senior West Sumatran politicians and community
leaders with a justification that the prevailing legal customs of ethnic
Minangkabau have traditionally utilised the Quran as one of the legal
foundations of customary law,” Alexander Raymond Arifianto, a research fellow
at the Indonesia Program at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies,
Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told Nikkei Asia.
“This
amendment is significant because it formalises the enactment of Islamic law
throughout West Sumatra Province. The new legislation also justifies the
provincial government to issue provincewide Shariah-conforming rules and
regulations, which could potentially discriminate against women and non-Muslim
citizens.”
While
Shariah-inspired law is used across Indonesia in civil matters that pertain to
Islamic customs, such as marriage and inheritance, as well as in some local
laws, ultraconservative Aceh Province is the only part of Indonesia with the
authority to enact widespread Islamic law because it was granted special
autonomy status by the Indonesian government as part of a peace agreement with
the pro-independence Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in 2005.
According
to Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch Indonesia, the new
legislation in West Sumatra has been a long time in the making.
“West
Sumatra Province has introduced multiple Shariah-inspired regulations over the
last two decades,” he told Nikkei.
“In
2002, for instance, West Sumatra introduced the first mandatory hijab
(headscarf) regulation in Indonesia, two years before Aceh, that sanctioned all
state schoolgirls and female civil servants to wear the hijab.
“These
discriminatory and abusive dress codes have a harmful impact on women and
girls, making many girls lose their rights to education and many women to be
under pressure to wear the hijab or lose their job,” he said.
“Many
West Sumatran politicians were aware that they did not have the legal
foundation to introduce these discriminatory regulations, including anti-LGBT
rules and Shariah-inspired regulations to discriminate against non-Muslims and
non-Sunnis.
They
had been campaigning to have an autonomous Minangkabau Province, like Aceh,
which was legally allowed to introduce Shariah. They failed to do that, as West
Sumatra does not have a special historical background like Aceh.”
In
2021, a school in the provincial capital, Padang, caused controversy when it
passed a requirement for female students of all faiths to wear the hijab.
In
2016, parts of the province allegedly banned Christians from openly celebrating
Christmas, according to complaints from local residents, and in 2018, the city
of Pariaman passed a “public nuisance” law that targeted the LGBT community.
Following
the passage of the new law in June, politicians were quick to tell the media
that it would not contravene Indonesia’s 1945 constitution, which “guarantees
religious freedom for all”, and Indonesia’s state philosophy, known as
Pancasila, which is based on pluralism.
West
Sumatra Province has a population of over five million people, and more than
130,000 belong to minority groups, such as the predominantly Christian
residents of the Mentawai Islands.
There
are also sizable Batak, Javanese and Sundanese populations, as well as Buddhist
residents.
“It
is quite possible that there is going to be a legal challenge to this
controversial law. Ethnic Mentawai are freaking out with this new law, as well
as other religious minorities in West Sumatra,” Harsono said.
According
to Heronimus Eko Pintalius Zebua, the chairman of the West Sumatra Mentawai
Student Forum, the new law, which takes a zero-sum approach to customary law in
the province, does not take into account Mentawai culture.
“We
should know that in West Sumatra there are two cultures,” he told Nikkei,
“namely the Minangkabau culture and the Mentawai culture. The Mentawai
community has a different socio-culture from the Minangkabau community.”
As
a result, he said, it is not appropriate for the new law to apply to everyone
in the province, adding that the Mentawai Student Forum West Sumatra is asking
for additional articles to explicitly acknowledge and accommodate the existence
of the Mentawai people and their culture so that they are not bound by Shariah
or Islamic local laws and customs.
“The
Mentawai people are part of West Sumatra but are not Minangkabau,” he said.
There
are also fears that the new legislation has set a precedent that other more
conservative provinces across the country may follow.
“Provinces
like South Sulawesi, West Java, South Kalimantan and others dominated by
conservative Islamic clerics and politicians could follow suit to request the
House of Representatives to enact such a legislation for their provinces.
Currently, there are over 1,000 local Shariah regulations throughout
Indonesia,” Arifianto said.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Single
mum gets leave to challenge children’s conversion to Islam
August
1, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: The High Court has granted single mother Loh Siew Hong leave to
commence a judicial review application, as she seeks a declaration that her
former husband was legally unfit to convert their children to Islam.
Judge
Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said Loh had crossed the threshold to have the
merits of her complaint heard.
“Her
application for leave is not frivolous. Instead, she has an arguable case,” the
judge said in delivering his decision in an online proceeding.
Wan
Ahmad said Loh was also not out of time when she filed her leave application in
“an abundance of caution”.
One
of the respondents – the Religious and Malay Customs Council of Perlis,
represented by lawyer Mohamed Hanif Khatri Abdulla – had asked the court to
reject her application as the conversion was done in 2020.
The
judge said Loh’s lawyers had written to the registrar of mualaf on March 4 this
year to ascertain the conversion.
“She
was well within time when the leave application was filed on March 25 this year
after getting a reply,” he said.
An
application for leave for judicial review must be filed within 90 days after a
public authority communicates its decision to an aggrieved party.
Senior
federal counsel Ainul Wardah Shahidan represented the three respondents – the
registrar of mualaf, Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin and the state government.
Senior
federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly, who appeared for Attorney-General Idrus
Harun, did not object to the leave sought by Loh.
In
her application, Loh said the children, whose names and photos cannot be
published because of a gag order issued by the High Court, were converted on
July 7, 2020.
Loh’s
lawyer, A Srimurugan, submitted that his client only knew about the exact date
of conversion after regaining custody of her children on Feb 21 this year.
On
that day, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted Loh’s habeas corpus
application to regain custody of the children from preacher Nazirah
Nanthakumari Abdullah.
Srimurugan
said assisting counsel Shamsher Singh Thind had written to the registrar on the
status of the conversion soon after Sequerah’s ruling.
Loh
is also seeking a declaration that a provision in the Perlis state enactment
that allows a parent to unilaterally convert minor children is
unconstitutional.
She
also wants a declaration that her twin daughters and her son are of Hindu faith
and were legally incapable of embracing Islam without her consent.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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No
backing for sexist, chauvinist candidates, says Puteri Umno
'Ainin
Wan Salleh
July
31, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: Puteri Umno has urged party leaders not to field sexist and racist
candidates in the coming general election, saying the wing will refuse to back
them.
The
wing’s chief, Zahida Zarik Khan, said they will always work hard to ensure
victory for Barisan Nasional (BN), provided that election candidates were those
who understood women’s aspirations and female empowerment.
“Men
who are ‘MCPs’ (male chauvinist persons), who think they are above everyone
else, should have no place in BN,” she said in a speech at the Puteri BN
convention today.
She
said the coalition must take stern action against those who hold sexist and
racist views, and those who like to ridicule and disparage women.
“When
the whole nation is nauseated by the likes of them, the party can’t expect us
to back them. No way, brother!” she said, without mentioning who she was
referring to.
Former
Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman recently made headlines,
courted flak for sexist remarks against several opposition MPs in the Dewan
Rakyat.
The
Pasir Salak MP also allegedly used an expletive after switching off the
microphone as the ruckus continued. The Umno man had accused DAP women MPs of
being “biadap” (rude) and “tidak senonoh” (indecent).
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Muslim
Council of Elders to Attend Indonesia Int’l Book Fair with Islamic, Quranic
Works
August
01, 2022
The
international cultural event will kick off on August 3 in Jakarta and run for
four days, according to El-Balad news website.
The
Muslim Council of Elders will attend the book fair with the works it has
published in Quranic and Islamic fields as well as on such themes as enhancing
peace and coexistence, countering hate, racism and prejudice, and promoting
humanitarian values.
‘Love
in the Holy Quran’ by Ghazi al-Hashemi, “Will East and West Unite?” by Mohamed
Arafa, “With God” by Sheikh Mohamed Ghazali, “Religious Thought and
Contemporary Issues” by Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq, and “Fatwa, Its Regulations, and
Responsibility of Mufti and Enquirer” by Ahmed Mubid Abdul Karim, are among the
books the council will offer at the exhibition.
Its
pavilion will also take part in a number of cultural seminars at the book fair
on countering Islamophobia, role of the Arabic language in serving Islamic
Sharia, role of youths in protecting the environment, and human dimensions of
the Islamic civilization.
The
Muslim Council of Elders is an independent international organization that was
established in Ramadan 1435 Hijri (July, 2014) to promote peace in Muslim
communities.
Source: IQNA
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Pakistan
S.
Nitin, a ‘Peace Walkers’ From India Trek Bumpy Path to Pakistan for Peace
July
31, 2022
KARACHI:
At a time when rivalries between long-time rivals Pakistan and India are
running high, S. Nitin, an Indian “peace walker,” insists that his small
initiative can still make a difference.
Known
as the “Gandhi peace walker,” Nitin, along with two colleagues, is currently
visiting Pakistan to take part in various peace rallies in Karachi and Lahore.
“We
know the reality on the ground that tensions between the two countries are at
an all-time high. But this is the time when peace lovers from both sides should
work for peace between Pakistan and India,” Nitin, who calls himself a follower
of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, told Anadolu
Agency.
Gandhi,
a towering figure of South Asian politics and India’s freedom icon, was
assassinated in 1948 by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse, who apparently objected
to his stand against the communal riots that gripped India after the Partition
in 1947.
“We
carry Gandhi’s legacy of non-violence, which is the need of the hour,” said
Nitin, who has stopped using his caste as a second name. According to him,
using caste as a second name is tantamount to reflecting “a kind of
discrimination.”
Calling
for an “immediate” resumption of long-stalled peace talks between New Delhi and
Islamabad, he said violence and wars are no solution to disputes.
“The
two sides have no other choice. Dialogue is the only option as wars have failed
to resolve issues,” said Nitin, 31, an engineer by profession, who has traveled
46,000 kilometres (28,583 miles) on foot in 46 countries since 2016, carrying a
“message of love.”
Relations
between the two South Asian neighbours further soured in August 2019 when New
Delhi stripped the occupied Jammu and Kashmir valley of its longstanding
semiautonomous status.
The
controversial move instantly prompted Islamabad to downgrade diplomatic ties
and halt trade with New Delhi.
Ever
since, the two neighbours have not missed an opportunity to denounce each other
at international and regional forums.
A
February 2021 treaty that brought an end to nearly daily clashes along the Line
of Control (LoC) — the de facto border that divides the picturesque Jammu and
Kashmir territory between the two nations — has been the sole positive
development in terms of relations.
Over
the years dozens of soldiers and civilians from both sides have been killed,
while scores were injured in the fighting, which has taken a toll on the
residents of bordering areas.
‘Our
aim is to bring people closer’
“It’s
high time for the two governments to reduce military expenditures, and spend
more on health, education and infrastructure to alleviate grinding poverty,”
Nitin urged.
The
two countries, he further argued, face a raft of common challenges, ranging
from poverty to climate change, which they must tackle together.
Vishwamitra
Yogesh, another Indian peace walker, said the visit’s main objective is to
bring people from the two sides closer.
“Person-to-person
contact is the best way to move forward towards peace. It will ultimately
pressure both governments to follow suit,” said 65-year-old Yogesh, who has
walked 17,000 kilometres (10,563 miles) across eight countries to “spread the
love” since 2014.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, he said visiting Pakistan was his “longtime dream,” which
has now come true.
Sharing
a similar view, Jalandharnath Bhai, the third member of the visiting team, said
that the peace walk is supported by peace-loving people and organisations from
both nations, and “we are grateful about it.”
Bhai,
the junior member of the team, has walked through three countries, singing the
song “Jai Jagat,” which means “victory for all.”
‘Incredible’
response from locals
The
trio entered Pakistan through the northeastern Wagha border, which connects the
Pakistani and Indian provinces of Punjab, and will stay in Pakistan till August
14.
Apparently,
due to a tight visa regime between the two countries, they have been granted
visas for only three cities — Karachi, Lahore, and Shikarpur.
“We
wish we could walk across Pakistan like we did in other countries but due to
visa restrictions, we can’t. We will just take part in intra-city peace walks,”
Nitin said.
Pakistanis’
response to their walk has been “incredible,” he said.
Source:
Pakistan Today
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Shahbaz
Gill accuses ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of taking bribe from Indian firm
August
1, 2022
LAHORE:
Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff to PTI chairman Imran Khan, has accused former
prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of taking a bribe from an Indian company
when he was the petroleum minister in the cabinet of PML-N supremo Nawaz
Sharif, a charge denied by Mr Abbasi.
Talking
to the media at Chief Minister Secretariat on Sunday, Mr Gill alleged that Mr
Abbasi took a Rs140 million bribe from the Indian firm as a consultancy fee and
the money was transferred to his bank account in three transactions, one in
December 2016 and two in January 2017.
Mr
Gill said he and Mr Abbasi had accounts with the same bank and demanded that
details of both accounts be put before the public.
He
claimed that Mr Abbasi had tried to give the impression of being an upright
person as prime minister, but this was far from reality.
Responding
to Mr Gill’s allegations, Mr Abbasi challenged the PTI leader to take the
matter to a court of law if he had evidence.
In
a statement from Islamabad, the former premier said the PTI and its
“mudslinging brigade” had been ruling the country for four years and instituted
two cases against him.
Mr
Abbasi urged his political opponent to petition a court to file yet another
case against him and present the “so-called evidence”.
During
his press conference, Mr Gill also told reporters that PTI chief Imran Khan was
briefed about the relief efforts to help flood victims in Punjab and the
progress made on the Ehsaas social safety and poverty alleviation programme.
Source:
Dawn
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Thai
Buddhist monk visits Peshawar Museum
August
1, 2022
PESHAWAR:
A Buddhist Monk Arayawangso from Thailand on Sunday visited the Peshawar Museum
along with 20 followers.
He
expressed his interest in Gandhara and various relics of Buddhist civilisation
kept in the museum.
Arayawangso
said that he would write a book by researching the Buddhist relics in Taxila,
Havelian, Swat and Peshawar.
He
added that the book would also be translated into different languages.
The
book, he said would be used as a reference for research papers in the world.
“I
want to tell the world that the smiles of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Thailand match each other,” Arayawangso said.
“Buddha
followers living in 32 countries have been coming to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as
there is complete peace here,” he said.
“There
are many opportunities for religious tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides
natural scenery tourism,” Dr Abdul Samad, the director archaeology and museums,
told this news agency.
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1702566/thai-buddhist-monk-visits-peshawar-museum
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Three
martyred in North Waziristan mosque attack
August
01, 2022
MIRANSHAH:
Three persons embraced martyrdom when unidentified gunmen entered a mosque and
opened indiscriminate fire on the worshippers in Muhammadkhel area in Datakhel
tehsil, North Waziristan tribal district, on Sunday.
The
attackers managed to flee after the gruesome incident. The police said that
unidentified armed men sneaked into the mosque in Muhammadkhel area and
targeted the worshippers with automatic weapons.
Source:
The News Pakistan
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/978678-three-martyred-in-north-waziristan-mosque-attack
--------
China
was uncomfortable with Pakistan under Imran Khan: Reports
Jul
31, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Months after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was ousted as Prime
Minister, Islamabad's Foreign Office received a diplomatic cable from China,
stating that they have offered to extend $2.3 billion at a much-reduced
interest rate which suggests that Beijing was not happy with the former PM.
On
June 10, China offered to extend $2.3 billion at a much-reduced interest rate.
Publications
like 'Pakistan Daily', and 'The News International' have leaked the
communication between the Beijing-based Pakistan Ambassador and the Foreign
Office, reporting that the Chinese leadership expressed its desire to work more
comfortably with new PM Shehbaz Sharif because of its past experience with him
when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab province, The Singapore Post reported.
But,
it's not just a one-way dislike, Imran Khan was also found to be a misfit in
his position as the head of the government by the Chinese leaders. Because
Imran Khan as the PM was coming in between China's goal behind the CPEC project
and its implementation.
Notably,
in 2015, when Nawaz Sharif was Pakistan's Prime Minister, the CPEC was
officially launched.
According
to the publication, from the very beginning, Khan was not happy with the
China-led project. The lack of transparency and possibility of corruption that
China could carry forward through their CPEC projects would harm Pakistan and
its interests, was the main worry for Imran Khan.
And,
this fear was expressed in categorical terms by Imran Khan's former Adviser on
Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood in
an interview with the London-based Financial Times on September 9, 2018.
"The
previous government did a bad job negotiating with China on CPEC--they didn't
do their homework correctly and didn't negotiate correctly so they gave away a
lot," Abdul Razak Dawood, the Adviser of then Pakistan Prime Minister
during his interview with the Financial Times more than three years ago.
"Chinese
companies received tax breaks, many breaks and have an undue advantage in
Pakistan; this is one of the things we are looking at because it is not fair
that Pakistan companies should be disadvantaged," Dawood added.
He
further said that the Pakistan government under Imran Khan would review or
renegotiate agreements reached under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
However,
after Dawood's interview went viral, he issued a clarification on September 10,
2018, in which he emphasized that Pakistan's commitment to the CPEC would not
change. Even as this was a major U-turn on Imran Khan's Adviser's part, the
broad contours of the Imran Khan government's approach towards the CPEC
remained unchanged, according to the publication.
The
CPEC Authority in a report published after Imran Khan stepped down as Prime
Minister on April 11, said Pakistan could complete only three projects in
Gwadar, while one-dozen projects costing nearly $2 billion are lying
unfinished. Interestingly, the CPEC Authority was created through an ordinance
in 2019 by then Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, to show China that
Pakistan would expedite the pace of CPEC-related activities.
Chinese
authorities are not just happy about the delay in the completion of CPEC
projects but also conveyed their frustration when Pakistan failed to stop
attacks on the Beijing nationals working in the South Asian country.
Source:
Times Of India
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Nawaz
agreed with coalition govt’s decision to complete tenure: Fazl
August
01, 2022
Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the Pakistan
Democratic Movement (PDM) decision that the incumbent government will complete
its tenure and the elections will be held on its scheduled time next year was
taken with the consent of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Responding
to a question on the reports about the rifts within the ruling alliance, Fazl
said the last decision that he announced after the meeting of the PDM leaders
earlier this week was taken with a consensus of all the constituent parties of
the PDM.
“There
was no disagreement over this decision... when the final decision was being
finalised Mian Nawaz Sharif was present in the meeting via zoom,” he said while
addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday.
“The
joint communiqué was issued with his [Nawaz] consent... later I announced the
decision that government will complete its tenure and elections would be held
on time,” he added.
The
PDM, which mostly comprises political parties in the ruling coalition,
including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), held its meeting on July 28
days after the Supreme Court annulled the election of PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz as
the Punjab chief minister.
Speaking
about the PDM’s decision to overthrow the Imran Khan-led government, Fazl said
the incumbent government had saved the country from “destruction” by toppling
the previous PTI-led regime.
Defending
the tough decisions taken by the government, Fazl blamed the former PM Imran
for the prevailing economic crisis.
“Everyone
should wake up to the sensitivity of the challenge that we had accepted by
coming into power... voting for the PTI is tantamount to supporting the
destruction of the country,” he added.
The
PDM chief also highlighted issues facing the tribal districts of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying the law and order had deteriorated in the area due
to the “weaknesses of the state”.
“State
needs to pay attention to the tribal areas. The reality is that there is
neither any administration nor police in the tribal areas,” he said.
Source:
Tribune Pakistan
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Mideast
Iran:
Farajollah Chaab, Terror Group's Ringleader Confesses Receiving Support from
Sweden
2022-July-31
Speaking
during a court hearing in the Iranian capital of Tehran, Farajollah Chaab
nicknamed Habib Asyoud said the Swedish officials gave him a device and told
him to push a button thereon in case he was in danger, and added that they told
him they would rush to rescue him upon his pushing of the button.
Judge
Iman Afshari asked the defendant whether he admits to be a Swedish national and
had been receiving support from that country’s government and intelligence
officials.
Chaab
stated that he is a "resident and national of Sweden" and that
"the Swedish government provides support for him".
“They
gave me a device so I could press its button when I felt danger, and it would
alert the Swedish government security agents, and they would rescue me wherever
I was,” he admitted.
Chaab
is responsible for a terrorist attack in Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province,
Southwestern Iran, in September 2018.
The
lawyer of the families whose loved ones were killed in a terror attack by
Chaab, stated the ringleader of the Nadhal terrorist cell was responsible for
killing innocents and causing material damage to public property in Khuzestan
by using bombs, grenades and Klashnikov rifles.
The
lawyer demanded the death penalty for the defendant.
Speaking
during the session, prosecutor’s representative said that Sweden has turned
into a safe haven for the elements of terrorist groups like, Pejak, Nadhal
Movement and MKO.
"Chaab
is a Swedish citizen and has been receiving support from the Swedish government
while he has had a red warning and has been under prosecution of international
organizations," he added.
The
prosecutor’s representative noted that Chaab was arrested in Poland in 2019
where he had gone to attend a conference of terrorist groups, but the Swedish
government stepped in and the US administration also began to lobby so that he
was taken back to Sweden with a special flight to continue with his terrorist
activities.
In
September 2018, the so-called Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of
Ahvaz terrorist group (SMLA) claimed responsibility for an attack on a military
parade in Ahvaz that killed 25 people, including members of Iran’s Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and civilian bystanders, and injured 70 others.
Chaab
was arrested in November 2020 on the back of a set of “specialized and combined
measures” by Iranian intelligence forces. In mid-January, he appeared in a
court in Tehran for the first time since his arrest
During
the fifth session of the trial in late February, the prosecutor presented
evidence disclosing Saudi Arabia’s plots to disintegrate Iran
Prosecutor’s
representative Amin Vaziri said that Chaab had admitted that the Saudi
intelligence service pushed to unite all terrorist and separatist movements
under a single umbrella organization to counter Iran following the formation of
the Islamic Awakening movement.
He
added that the Saudi intelligence service has also launched several satellite
channels with the aim of facilitating the partitioning of Iran.
The
terrorist ringleader also confessed that Saudi Arabia had funded terrorist
groups with the final goal of spreading Takfiri ideology in Iran, Vaziri
stated.
The
prosecutor’s representative noted that the defendant had formed a terrorist
group to carry out acts of terror in Iran and cooperated with anti-Iran terror
groups, including PJAK and Jaish ul-Adl.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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Iran
capable of producing atomic bomb but chooses not to: Head of atomic agency
01 August,
2022
Iran
has the technical capability to produce an atomic bomb but has no intention of
doing so, Mohammad Eslami, head of the country’s atomic energy organization,
said on Monday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Eslami
reiterated comments made by Kamal Kharrazi, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in July.
Kharrazi’s
remarks amounted to a rare suggestion that the Islamic Republic might have an
interest in nuclear weapons, which it has long denied seeking.
Iran
is already enriching uranium to up to 60 percent fissile purity, far above a
cap of 3.67 percent set under Tehran’s now tattered 2015 nuclear deal with
world powers. Uranium enriched to 90 percent is suitable for a nuclear bomb.
In
2018, former US President Donald Trump ditched the nuclear pact, under which Iran
curbed its uranium enrichment work, a potential pathway to nuclear weapons, in
exchange for relief from international economic sanctions.
Iran
has responded to top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell’s proposal aimed at
salvaging the nuclear accord, and seeks a swift conclusion to negotiations, the
top Iranian nuclear negotiator said on Sunday.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Blast
kills 5 engineers at Houthi missile factory in Yemen
July
31, 2022
AL-MUKALLA,
Yemen: Five Houthi ballistic missile engineers, including foreigners, were
killed in a large explosion that rocked Houthi-held Sanaa, Yemen’s Information
Minister Muammar Al-Eryani said on Sunday.
He
slammed the Houthis for endangering the lives of thousands of people who live
in the capital by storing and manufacturing weapons inside residential areas.
The
Yemeni minister said the five engineers were assembling a ballistic missile at
a military location on Saturday near Sanaa airport, which was being used as a
missile factory and rigging drones with explosives.
“This
incident confirms the continued flow of Iranian weapons to the Houthi militia,
its indifference to international community, disavowal of its obligations,
& exploitation of UN-sponsored truce to accumulate more Iranian smuggled
weapons in residential areas, & using civilians as human shields,”
Al-Eryani said on Twitter.
Less
than a day after the Houthi engineers were killed, a group of Omani diplomats
arrived in militia-occupied Sanaa to discuss extending the UN-brokered truce.
The
Houthi movement’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdul Salam, said he and an Omani
delegation touched down in Sanaa on Sunday on an Omani plane to discuss with
the Houthi leaders issues related to the truce and the UN Yemen proposal on
addressing humanitarian and economic problems.
The
Omanis arrived in Sanaa to push the Houthis into accepting the UN Yemen envoy’s
proposal in ending their siege on Taiz and extending the truce, which is due to
expire on Aug. 2.
UN,
Western and regional envoys are pushing the Yemeni factions into extending the
truce to six months and turning it into a sustainable peace deal to end the
war.
The
visit came as the UN Yemen envoy, Hans Grundberg, failed to convince the
Houthis to accept his proposal on opening roads in Taiz and alleviating their
siege on the city.
The
Houthi objection blocked progress in the implementation of the truce and
threatened to ruin it as the internationally recognized government of Yemen
refused to move to discuss other issues before the Houthis opened roads in
Taiz.
The
Yemeni government said the Houthis did not implement all of the truce’s terms,
refused to pay the salaries of the public servants in areas under their control
despite generating more than 100 billion riyals ($86,956,522) from oil ships
during the truce and continued attacking government-controlled areas in Taiz
and Hodeidah, Marib and other areas.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2132946/middle-east
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Top
Diplomat: Iran Favours Lasting Agreement over JCPOA
2022-July-31
Amir
Abdollahian made the remark in a late Saturday phone call with his Qatari
counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
During
the call, the two foreign ministers discussed the important event of the World
Cup in Qatar as well as the latest developments in their countries’ relations
in various political, economic and consular sectors.
Touching
on the talks between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA, Amir
Abdollahian emphasized the Iranian government’s determination to achieve a
good, strong and durable agreement for the revival of the landmark deal.
The
Qatari foreign minister, for his part, underlined Iran’s logical positions
during the JCPOA revival talks, stressing the importance of continued talks
aimed at removing the sanctions imposed on Iran over its peaceful nuclear
program.
Iranian
officials say the ball is in the US' court, and the administration of President
Joe Biden should assure Tehran that it will not repeat Donald Trump's past
mistakes.
On
Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana'ani reiterated Iran's serious
will to achieve an enduring agreement, and stated that his country and the
other parties to the nuclear deal can reach an agreement if Washington responds
positively to Tehran's initiatives.
"We
are serious about reaching a lasting and strong agreement and so far, we've
shown a great deal of flexibility," the diplomat said.
"If
the other side [the US] acts constructively, and responds positively to Iran's
initiatives, an agreement is within reach," the spokesman added.
Iran
and the five remaining parties to the nuclear deal have held several rounds of
negotiations since April last year to restore the agreement, which was
unilaterally abandoned by Trump in May 2018.
In
quitting the agreement, Trump restored sanctions on Iran as part of what he
called the “maximum pressure” campaign against the country. Those sanctions are
being enforced to this day by the Biden administration, even though it has
repeatedly acknowledged that the policy has been a mistake and a failure.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010509000160/Tp-Diplma-Iran-Favrs-Lasing-Agreemen-ver-JCPOA
--------
Governor:
No Casualties in Border Clashes Between Iranian Forces, Taliban
2022-July-31
"Clashes
broke out between the Iranian border guard forces and the Taliban fighters in
the village of Shaghalak in Hirmand county in Southeastern Iran," Meysam
Barazandeh, the governor of Hirmand County in the Sistan and Baluchestan
province, told FNA on Sunday.
"Our
troops showed the necessary response to the border violation by the Taliban,
and they responded in return. But there were no casualties," he said.
"The
fighting is over, and the issue is under investigation," the governer
added.
Tehran
has called for joint efforts with Kabul to secure the joint border areas amid
intermittent clashes at Iran-Afghanistan border crossings in recent months.
In
late June, Iranian President's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Hassan Kazzemi
Qomi asked the Taliban to take serious action to identify culprits behind the
recent border incident which led to the martyrdom of an Iranian border guard,
and prevent repetition of such crimes.
"No
insecurity on our borders is tolerable," Kazzemi Qomi wrote on his twitter
page.
The
Iranian border guard, identified as Mohammad Sayyad, was shot dead in the
Southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan, when a gang of armed thugs
entered the area from across the border.
The
attackers fled the area immediately after the encounter, which occurred in the
Milak area of the Hirmand county of Sistan and Balouchestan.
Tehran
has not officially recognised the Taliban since the group quickly took control
of neighbouring Afghanistan following the withdrawal of United States forces in
August. Iranian officials have repeatedly said the recognition would hinge on
the formation of an “inclusive” government in Afghanistan.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran
says it responded to EU proposal aimed at salvaging 2015 nuclear deal
31
July, 2022
Iran
has responded to top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell's proposal aimed at
salvaging Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and seeks a swift conclusion
to negotiations, the top Iranian nuclear negotiator said on Sunday.
“We
shared our proposed ideas, both on substance & form, to pave the way for a
swift conclusion of Vienna negotiations,” Ali Bagheri Kani tweeted, without
giving any more details on Iran's position.
“As
Iran, we stand ready to conclude the negotiations in a short order, should the
other side be ready to do the same.”
On
Tuesday, Borrell said he had proposed a new draft text to revive the accord
under which Iran curbed its nuclear program in return for relief from economic
sanctions.
Then-US
President Donald Trump reneged on the deal in 2018 and reimposed US sanctions,
prompting Iran to violate the deal's nuclear limits.
The
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action deal aimed to make it harder for Iran to
amass the fissile material for a nuclear weapon, an ambition Iran has long
denied, saying its atomic program was for peaceful purposes.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
North
America
Respect
Human Rights To Gain International Acceptance: US To Taliban
August
01, 2022
Kabul:
The head of the US mission to Afghanistan, Ian McCary on Sunday said that the
United States will continue to hold the Taliban accountable for the commitments
they made to not turn Afghanistan into a safe haven for terrorists, including
the Khorasan branch of ISIS and al-Qaeda.
"Over
the past year in Doha, we have pursued dialogue with the Taliban to address
critical issues; we have provided extensive consular services to US Citizens,
LPRs, & others engaged with the Afghan people. I am glad that we have been
able to help many Afghans inside the country and abroad over the past year, but
I am humbled by the array of challenges we are still facing in
Afghanistan," McCary tweeted.
He
expressed disappointment over the Taliban's continuing refusal to allow girls
to access secondary schools, and reports of human rights abuses, including the
deterioration of media freedom and unacceptable restrictions on the rights of
women.
"If
the Taliban hope to gain the acceptance of the international community, they
must listen to & honour the views of all Afghan people & respect human
rights," McCary said adding, "I appreciate the extraordinary support
of international partners & likeminded community," and that together
they have sent this clear message to Taliban.
The
United States have also coordinated humanitarian assistance with the UN and
international partners, McCary said, "The United States remains the
largest donor to international relief efforts in Afghanistan; we have provided
more than $775 million in humanitarian assistance since August 15, 2021."
"We
continue to work closely with partners to help stabilize the Afghan economy.
The US Department of Treasury has issued multiple general licenses to
facilitate the flow of economic activity and vital assistance to the Afghan
people."
This
week, McCary is completing his assignment as the Charge d' Affaires at the US
Mission to Afghanistan, operating from Doha since August '21.
"We
are grateful for the gracious support of the State of Qatar, our strategic
partner," he said.
The
Director of the Afghanistan Operations for the Afghan Relocation Efforts, Karen
Decker will replace McCary as the Chief of Mission for the US Embassy in Kabul.
Source:
ND TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
US
envoy pushes Lebanon-Israel talks over maritime dispute
31
July, 2022
US
envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut Sunday to push talks to resolve a bitter
maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel over Mediterranean waters
with offshore gas fields.
“Reaching
a resolution is both necessary and possible, but can only be done through
negotiations and diplomacy,” the US State Department said in a statement ahead
of Hochstein's visit.
Washington's
envoy for global infrastructure and investment is “facilitating negotiations
between Lebanon and Israel on the maritime boundary”, the statement added.
Hochstein
met with Lebanon's Energy Minister Walid Fayad on Sunday, and was scheduled to
meet with President Michel Aoun and prime minister Najib Mikati the following
day.
The
maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel escalated in early June,
after Israel moved a production vessel to the Karish offshore field, which is
partly claimed by Lebanon.
The
move prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of US-mediated negotiations on
the demarcation dispute.
Lebanon
and Israel have no diplomatic relations and are separated by a UN-patrolled
border.
They
had resumed maritime border negotiations in 2020 but the process was stalled by
Beirut's claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed
modifying.
Lebanon
initially demanded 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of territory in the
disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square
kilometres, including part of the Karish field.
Israel
claims that the field lies in its waters and is not part of the disputed area
subject to ongoing negotiations.
On
July 2, Israel said it had downed three drones launched by Lebanon's
Iran-backed Hezbollah that were headed towards the gas field.
The
powerful Shiite Muslim movement on Sunday released a short video it said showed
surveillance of several Israeli-chartered energy infrastructure ships,
including the production vessel sent to Karish which is operated by
London-listed firm Energean.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Biden
administration resists Congress push for calling Russia 'sponsor of terrorism'
31
July 2022
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is resisting a Congress push for declaring
Russia as a sponsor of terrorism, over the conflict in Ukraine.
The
US Senate unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution calling on Blinken to
designate Russia as a terrorism sponsor on Wednesday.
Blinken,
however, responded noncommittally to the request, saying any decision must be
based on existing legal definitions.
He
said Washington has already hit Moscow with unprecedented sanctions.
“The
costs that have been imposed on Russia by us and by other countries are
absolutely in line with the consequences that would follow from designation as
a state sponsor of terrorism,” Blinken said. “So the practical effects of what
we’re doing are the same.”
Over
the course of the war in Ukraine, the US and its Western allies have imposed
unprecedented sanctions against Russia and supplied billions of dollars worth
of weaponry to Ukraine.
Ukrainian
President Vlodymir Zelensky has also
been calling on Washington to declare Russia as a state sponsor of terror.
Putin’s
spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned earlier this month that designating Russia as a
state sponsor of terror would have “negative consequences” for the already
fractured bilateral ties.
Analysts
also said that designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism could
completely sever the already constrained diplomatic ties between the two world
powers.
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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