Hindus Must Keep Swords At Home For Self-Defence After The Pahalgam Terror Attack: RSS Leader

New Age Islam News Bureau

01 May 2025

RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar

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·         Hindus Must Keep Swords At Home For Self-Defence After The Pahalgam Terror Attack: RSS Leader

·         Pew Survey: Indians Fear Misinformation More Than Threats To Press Freedom

·         Muslims In Singapore Know Islam Is Not About ‘Qabaliyyah’ (Tribalism) But A ‘Millah’ (Faith) That Is Justice, Morality, And Goodness — Dr Khaled Abou Al-Fadl

·         Tunics And Turbans: Taliban Mandates Strict Islamic Uniform Rules In Schools Across Afghanistan

·         American Conservative Political Activist: “Large Dedicated Islamic Areas Are A Threat To America”

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India

·         NIA Confirms Zip Line Operator’s ‘Allahu Akbar’ Chant Was A Natural Reaction, Unrelated To Pahalgam Attack

·         'Bhakti Knows No Boundaries': Mathura-Vrindavan Temples Oppose Muslim Boycott Calls

·         Mindset of those targeting Muslims, Kashmiri students similar to terrorists: SP MP Afzal Ansari

·         ‘Beyond Anyone’s Control, Lives In His Own World’: Delhi HC Pulls Up 'Baba' Ramdev Over ‘Sharbat Jihad’ Remark

·         Pahalgam terror attack aimed to harm livelihood of Kashmiris: VHP chief

·         Muslims observe 15-minute blackout in Gujarat to protest against UCC, Waqf Bill

·         NCW to probe alleged love jihad case in MP’s Bhopal

·         Aligarh: 15-year-old boy assaulted and ‘forced to urinate’ on Pakistani flag, say police

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Southeast Asia

·         Eksport produk halal Malaysia melonjak kepada RM61.79 bilion pada 2024 - Tengku Zafrul

·         Ayer Kuning by-election: Increased support for UMNO among Malay, young voters - Asyraf Wajdi

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South Asia

·         Hindu-Muslim Division Was Created For Vested Interest: BNP Secretary General

·         Expanding Trade Relations: A New Era for Afghanistan and Central Asia

·         Greater workers-employers bonhomie needed to speed up dev: Yunus

·         UNAMA to cooperate with IEA in addressing refugees’ challenges, Otunbayeva

·         UN warns of worsening drought and rising humanitarian needs in Afghanistan

·         More than 5,000 Afghans have died on migration routes: IOM

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North America

·         CAIR Calls on George Washington U. to End Relationship with Islamophobic Program After Racist NYPD Training

·         Law Enforcement Agencies Over Violent Crackdown on Peaceful UCLA Anti-Genocide Protesters

·         US and Ukraine sign long-awaited natural resources deal

·         Canada election: One in six seats changed hands

·         Apple referred for possible criminal contempt investigation

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Europe

·         British Muslims Press Starmer On Palestine Statehood Amid Concern Over UK Complicity In Genocide

·         English, Muslim, European – and Proud of Every Part of My Identity, writes Sir Sadiq Khan

·         Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

·         Image of police officers kneeling in front of Muslim men is AI-generated

·         Hartlepool mosque aims to allay concerns over Islam at annual open day

·         Italy could hand over French mosque murder suspect mid-May: lawyer

·         Baku Reaffirms Commitment To Interfaith Dialogue And Islamic Values At Samarkand Forum

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Africa

·         Moroccan-Based Cardinal Says Church Does Not Need Francis ‘Impersonator’

·         Algeria drafts wartime mobilization bill amid regional tensions

·         Boko Haram: 26 Soldiers Not Dead In Borno Explosion – Nigerian Army

·         Despite Hardship, Nigerian Workers Show Heroism – Atiku

·         South Africa to probe whether prosecutions of apartheid crimes were blocked

·         Sudan’s army leader Burhan appoints an acting prime minister, statement says

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Pakistan

·         Hindus In Quetta Protest Indian Accusations Over Pahalgam Attack

·         3 CTD police personnel martyred, 2 injured in Bannu in exchange of fire with terrorists

·         In a first, ISI chief made national security adviser

·         Balochistan Assembly rejects Indian allegations

·         Punjab CM Maryam assails PTI for polluting ‘brains of youth’

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Mideast

·         Lebanese Army Dismantled ‘Over 90 Percent’ Of Hezbollah Infrastructure Near Israel: Security Official

·         Jordan jails 4 for 20 years in case linked to Muslim Brotherhood

·         Migrants’ dreams buried under rubble after deadly strike on Yemen center

·         Qatar supplies Syria’s White Helmets with vehicles, logistical equipment

·         Shifting power in Lebanon revives hopes for Beirut port blast accountability

·         Lebanese Druze Call For Quelling Sedition In Syria, Condemn Israeli Intervention

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Arab World

·         Saudi Arabia Welcomes Rwanda, DRC Declaration To Draft Peace Deal

·         Riyadh Festival Inspires Youth With Math, Tech Focus

·         Saudi FM discusses situation in Gaza with Jordanian counterpart

·         NCW carries out study of marine biodiversity in Red Sea

·         Saudi Arabia, Italy strengthen ties at business forum

·         Asaan museum to feature 57,000 Saudi artifacts

·         Greek envoy praised strategic ties between Athens and Riyadh

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-pahalgam-terror-attack-rss-leader/d/135394

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Hindus Must Keep Swords At Home For Self-Defence After The Pahalgam Terror Attack: RSS Leader

April 30, 2025

RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar

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RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar speaking at an event gave a controversial call for Hindus to keep swords as a form of self-defence after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The event was organised in Kerala’s Kasaragod district on Monday. Prabhakar said, “Every Hindu household must keep a sword. If Hindus showed a sword when the Pahalgam attack happened, it would have been enough.”

The leader then mentioned that having a six inch knife in possession doesn’t require a license. He said, “If you are out after evening, you should show a knife instead of pleading with attackers.”

Mentioning communal tensions Prabhakar added, “During Hindu-Muslim clashes, Hindus would flee fearing for safety, now this is changing. We must rise and keep sword at our homes.”

Despite his controversial remarks, no complaint has been filed yet.

Source:muslimmirror.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://muslimmirror.com/hindus-must-keep-swords-at-home-for-self-defence-says-rss-leader-kalladka-prabhakar/

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Pew Survey: Indians Fear Misinformation More Than Threats To Press Freedom

April 30, 2025

A survey done by the Pew Research Centre revealed that In India, the public is more worried about fake news and misinformation. Surprisingly, a large percentage doesn’t associate fake news to government influence and do not oppose censorship.

The Pew Research Centre is based in Washington which conducts surveys on a daily basis to provide information on subjects like social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends in various countries.

The data collected from the survey shows that although distrust in fake news and misinformation is more, the public tends to have less faith in press freedom. 65% of the respondents who took the survey said that misinformation is a major problem in the country. Among the other countries’ surveyed, India is among the top 10 nations to have this concern on misinformation.

According to the survey, the citizens believe that the misinformation is spread by social media and other non-governmental actors but doesn’t stem from censorship or suppression by the government. The three charts show the collected data from various countries.

Among the respondents, 68% feel that it is very or somewhat important for the media to report without state censorship. In countries like Greece, Sweden, UK and the US, the percentile is more than 90%.

80% of the respondents believe that the Indian media doesn’t face any state intervention. This again makes India amongst the top 10 who view their country’s media having no government censorship. Other countries with a similar percentage include Sweden, Netherlands, Philippines etc.

It is important to note that India stood on 159th position among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index in the year 2024. The survey was conducted by Reporters Across Borders.

In all of the 35 countries surveyed, 33 countries have a “press freedom gap,” the report highlights.

Source:muslimmirror.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://muslimmirror.com/pew-survey-indians-fear-misinformation-more-than-threats-to-press-freedom/

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Muslims In Singapore Know Islam Is Not About ‘Qabaliyyah’ (Tribalism) But A ‘Millah’ (Faith) That Is Justice, Morality, And Goodness — Dr Khaled Abou Al-Fadl

01 May 2025

Asked if a Muslim should vote for a fellow Muslim with no track record or a non-Muslim failed as the better candidate, Professor of Law at UCLA Khaled Abou Al-Fadl replied that he will choose the candidate who best serves justice as he ultimately has to answer to Allah. — Picture from X/usuliinstitute

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MAY 1 — A mustafti is the term for a person who seeks a fatwa, or a religious opinion or ruling from a mufti who is a qualified Islamic scholar.

In simple words, a mustafti is the one who poses a question to a mufti who provides the answer. The answer is called a fatwa, which is a legal opinion or ruling that is non-binding.

Sometime in March 2017, the mustafti was an Indonesian student majoring in International Relations. The mufti was Dr Khaled Abou Al-Fadl, one of the world’s leading authorities on the Shariah (Islamic law) and Islam, and a prominent scholar in the field of human rights.

He is the Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law where he teaches International Human Rights; Islamic Jurisprudence; Political Asylum and Refugee Law; The Trafficking of Human Beings: Law and Policy; Political Crimes and Legal Systems; and Muslims, Race and Law.

The question was: Does Islam allow a Muslim to vote for a non-Muslim to be in the position of governor, in a Muslim-majority country?

The mustafti explained the context of his question as follows:

“In the capital city of Indonesia, there is currently an election going on. And for the first time in the country’s relatively young democracy, we are faced with a dilemma that we have never faced before.

“We have to choose between a candidate for a governor who is a non-Muslim and has been hailed as one of the finest (but far from perfect) candidates, and another candidate who is Muslim and has no proven record yet, but shows great potential to become a good leader.

“This situation has never happened before, that a non-Muslim candidate can be a serious challenger for the governorship of the country’s capital province – the country being a Muslim majority country.”

The mustafti further explained:

“Muslims in my country are split along three lines: (1) those who feel that democracy is un-Islamic, with Islam forbidding participating in the voting process; (2) those who believes that the Quranic verse (Surah Al-Maidah: 51) forbids Muslims from voting for non-Muslims, when there are Muslim alternatives, especially in a Muslim majority country, and (3) those who are in favour of the principle of ‘the greater good’, believing that the Quranic verse is only applicable when it comes to war, but not when it comes to democratic processes, especially when the elected would not have the authority to intervene in the religious matters.

“So how should I position myself in this matter?” asked the mustafti.

The mufti responded to the question as follows:

“If I understand the situation correctly, the question is whether, in a democratic system in which there are Muslim candidates and non-Muslim candidates, it is permissible for a Muslim citizen to vote for or otherwise help elect the non-Muslim candidate in preference to the Muslim candidate?

“And further, I understand that your question is based on the situation in Indonesia where there is a Muslim candidate and a non-Muslim candidate for elections, and you feel that the non-Muslim candidate is more qualified or otherwise preferable to the Muslim candidate.

“I refer you to my book Rebellion and Violence in Islamic Law (Cambridge University Press 2001), especially to the portions discussing whether Muslims owe an obligation to support the just, regardless of their faith or religious affiliation, or whether they should always support a Muslim, even if the Muslim is less just or unjust.

“My position is best reflected in the treatise of the Hanafi jurist Zayn al-Din al-Malibari titled Tuhfat al-Mujahidin, where it is argued that Muslims have an affirmative duty to support what is just and what is right, and if there is a non-Muslim who is just versus a Muslim who is unjust, and similarly if there is a non-Muslim who is not corrupt versus a Muslim who is corrupt, then in my view, it is an affirmative sin to support an unjust Muslim over a just non-Muslim.

“Islam is not about qabaliyyah (tribalism). Islam is a millah (faith), a faith that is about justice, morality, and goodness.

“I must say that there are normative demands created by the nature of democratic aspiration. If Indonesians wish to live in a democratic order, then their ethical commitment must be to civic virtues; in other words, to principles of justice, equity and goodness, and not to narrow principles of tribalism, superficial identity politics and nepotism.

“Anyone [who] dares to participate in a democratic system must be honest. Either they reject democracy altogether and then they should not participate in elections and should not run as candidates because to do so while not believing in democracy is sheer hypocrisy and dissimulation, which is of course haram.

“But if they do run for elections or vote, then they implicitly accept the principles of democracy. For a democracy to work, people must commit to, as I said, civic virtues, not identity politics.

“So, when someone comes to me and says: vote for a Muslim who is unjust, corrupt or otherwise unethical, I tell them: you want me to pick loyalty to a fellow Muslim over my loyalty to Allah?

“I cannot do so in good faith as a Muslim. Even more, I believe I would ultimately have to answer directly to Allah in the Hereafter if I do so.

Dr Khaled concluded his fatwa with an advice:

“My advice to you and to all Indonesians who believe in a democratic order is to vote for the person who will best serve justice. For this person is the person who truly embodies the principles of Islam whether that person calls himself/herself a Muslim or not.”

The above fatwa and advice should guide Muslims everywhere, whether in countries where Muslims are the majority or in countries where Muslims are the minority.

Like the Muslims in Singapore.

The island republic holds a parliamentary election on May 3, the first big test for new prime minister Lawrence Wong.

I reckon that Muslims in Singapore know that Islam is not about qabaliyyah (tribalism) but a millah (faith) that is about justice, morality, and goodness.

Source:malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2025/05/01/muslims-in-singapore-know-that-islam-is-not-about-qabaliyyah-tribalism-but-a-millah-faith-that-is-about-justice-morality-and-goodness-hafiz-hassan/175129

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Tunics and turbans: Taliban mandates strict Islamic uniform rules in schools across Afghanistan

30 Apr 2025

Afghan school boys wearing shalwar kameez and turbans as part of a new uniform code attend class at a high school in Kandahar April 22, 2025. Since the start of the school year in March, Afghan boys have been required to wear new uniforms of turbans and long tunics, following an order to adopt outfits reflecting Taliban rule. — AFP pic

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KABUL, April 30 — Since the start of the school year in March, Afghan boys have been required to wear new uniforms of turbans and long tunics, following an order to adopt outfits reflecting Taliban rule.

The Taliban government’s education ministry cites strengthening discipline, masking social inequalities and promoting what the authorities see as true Islamic attire as reasons for the dress code change — a move that has sparked division.

“Islam has preserved and strengthened the standards of modesty and dignity by paying attention to clothing. Sharia clothing defines the identity of a Muslim male and female,” the ministry said in its directive.

“Sharia clothing is a means to preserve the dignity of the individual and protect the society against moral degradation.”

Before the Taliban authorities swept back to power in 2021, the shalwar kameez and turban — traditional wear in the region — were uncommon in academic or professional settings.

Since their return, the streets of Kabul and other areas have become more uniform, with many men opting for the monochrome loose trousers and long tunic.

Once mostly limited to religious schools, the shalwar kameez with a turban or hat are now mandatory for all students, whether in public or private schools.

Girls are already from a young age required to wear uniforms, often a long black dress over matching trousers with a white headscarf, but can no longer study past primary school in non-religious institutions.

‘Turned away’

Male students must wear a light blue shalwar kameez along with a cap up to the age of around 15, afterwards donning white and wearing a turban.

The rule — ordered by the Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada — took time to be enforced and is still implemented unevenly across the country.

In western Herat, student Nassir Ahmad said few pupils wore the new uniform at the start of the school year, but now they have no choice.

“Our teachers told us not to come without it. If we don’t have the uniform and the cap, we can’t enter the classroom,” the 13-year-old told AFP.

“I saw several of my friends turned away because they didn’t have a turban on,” said 17-year-old Qassim.

He said morality police from the department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice came to the schools to ensure the rules are being followed.

In the Taliban heartland of southern Kandahar, several students told AFP they were pleased with their new clothing.

Mohammad Wali, a student at the Mahmoud Tarzi school, said he was “very happy” to wear the “Prophet’s clothing”.

“It distinguishes students from other people in the street,” said the 15-year-old.

In the capital Kabul, some students wear the turban while at school, only to stuff it into their bags as soon as they leave.

Too expensive

Among teachers and school principals — also told to swap their suits and ties or casual clothes for shalwar kameez and a black turban — some disapproved of the measure.

“Today, everyone looks the same. A doctor no longer looks like a doctor and a cook no longer looks like a cook,” said the principal of a Kabul school, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The uniform does create discipline,” the principal conceded, having swapped out his suit and tie nearly four years ago to avoid trouble.

But for some families, he said, paying the average 1,000 Afghanis (RM60) per uniform is a burden in a country where 85 per cent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, according the UN.

“If a family has five or six children, how are they supposed to manage?” he asked.

Students now wear their new uniforms in often dilapidated schools with meager resources.

In remote areas, lessons are sometimes held outdoors under the shade of a tree.

The Kabul principal said at first he didn’t sanction students out of uniform, but now education ministry officials show up at his school two to three times a week to check whether students are complying.

“People in Afghanistan have no choice,” he said. “They obey and cannot complain.” — AFP

Source:malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2025/04/30/tunics-and-turbans-taliban-mandates-strict-islamic-uniform-rules-in-schools-across-afghanistan/175048

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American Conservative Political Activist: “Large Dedicated Islamic Areas Are A Threat To America”

04/30/25

CHARLIE KIRK (HOST): So what's going on in Texas, of all places? Mind you, this is not New York. This is not California. This is Texas.

And as you know, Texas Republicans are rather weak at times. They don't really know how to fight.

Well, Muslims in Texas are looking to build their own epic city. Literally, it's called Epic City. The East Plano Islamic Center, deep in the heart of Texas. It's in the northeast suburbs of Dallas. The plan right now is for for these Mohammedans to build a 402 acre community in the Dallas suburbs. For reference, that's about four times the size of Disneyland. It would have over 1,000 homes, a K-12 school, a college, retail stores, and, of course, a mosque.

Now let me pause here. When's the last time Christians decided to do this? Christians should build communities like this. I look at the master plan here and I say, despite the fact that their worldview is toxic and that they wanna destroy the West, you gotta give them respect. It's well-designed. It's well-configured. They're here to spread their value system to the West. And we're like, oh, well, you know, religious freedom.

Really, is — did the Founding Fathers have in mind Mohammedans coming to the great state of Texas or one of our states to build an exclusive city for Muslims?

The idea is that this would all be on private property, so it could exist as a dedicated Islamic area. Developers claim the area will be open to all, which of course is rubbish. Though we know and we get the feeling anybody moving in would find themselves not very welcome.

America has freedom of religion, of course, but we should be frank. Large dedicated Islamic areas are a threat to America.

We've seen how this unfolds in Europe. There are massive huge no-go zones in major European cities in Britain and in France and in Sweden. Those are real. You're not allowed to talk about them, but they are real. The police stay out of things. In no-go zones, Islamic values reign supreme. Blasphemy laws, for example. If you dare question the Prophet Mohammed, they will come after you.

Free speech is not an Islamic value. Free expression is not an Islamic value. Exact — it's actually the exact opposite. Submission is an Islamic value. That's literally what Islam means.

Islam has conquest values. They seek to take over land and territory, and Europe is now a conquered continent. It is not what it used to be. It's a husk of its former self, which is increasingly Mohammedan.

Source:mediamatters.org

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https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-large-dedicated-islamic-areas-are-threat-america

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India

 

NIA Confirms Zip Line Operator’s ‘Allahu Akbar’ Chant Was A Natural Reaction, Unrelated To Pahalgam Attack

April 30, 2025

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed that the zip line operator’s chant of “ALLAHU AKBAR” was a spontaneous response to sudden violence and bore no link to the recent militant attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow.

According to India Today TV, the NIA ruled out any foreknowledge or involvement by the operator, Muzammil, stating that his words were a natural reaction to the shocking incident.

NIA sources cited by India Today said that such expressions are common cultural responses to fear or distress, likening Muzammil’s exclamation to a Hindu saying “Hey Ram” during a crisis.

Muzammil, a zip line operator in the popular tourist area of Pahalgam, came under scrutiny after a tourist, Rishi Bhatt, recorded a 53-second video showing him shouting “ALLAHU AKBAR” three times moments before gunfire erupted. The timing of the chant led some social media users and right-wing commentators to speculate—incorrectly—that he may have been complicit or had prior knowledge of the attack.

This speculation sparked a wave of communal commentary online, prompting leaders across the political spectrum to speak out. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the communal rhetoric, stressing that invoking God in moments of fear is not a sign of guilt. “Just as we say ‘Jai Shree Ram,’ Muslims say ‘ALLAHU AKBAR.’ In times of difficulty, everyone calls out to God,” she said, urging the government to act against those spreading hate on social media.

In an interview with Aaj Tak, Muzammil’s brother Mukhtar defended him, stating he was as terrified as anyone else and fled at the first sign of danger.

PDP spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo echoed that view, explaining that invoking Allah in times of distress is part of Kashmiri cultural and spiritual practice. “Everything is being twisted to cover up systemic failures.

The average Kashmiri turns to God in distress. These chants are misinterpreted by those who don’t understand our culture,” he said. — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://muslimmirror.com/nia-confirms-zip-line-operators-allahu-akbar-chant-was-a-natural-reaction-unrelated-to-pahalgam-attack/

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'Bhakti knows no boundaries': Mathura-Vrindavan temples oppose Muslim boycott calls

30.04.25

In the land of Lord Krishna, several prominent temples in Mathura and Vrindavan have pushed back against growing calls for boycotting Muslims - either from entering temples or for business interactions - stressing that devotion (bhakti) knows no religion or caste.

This comes almost a week after the terrorist attack in Kashmir Valley's Pahalgam that left 26 people, mostly holidayers, dead in a targeted attack on them.

"Bhakti is supreme in Brijmandal. It rises above knowledge or even detachment (vairagya). If someone has faith and comes for darshan, why should we oppose it?" asked Gyanendra Kishor Goswami, Rajbhog Seva Adhikari at the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

"This is clearly stated in the first 'Skandh' of the 'Srimad Bhagwat'," he added.

Recounting a historical example, Goswami said, "Bankey Bihari doesn't teach us to discriminate. Akbar came to meet Swami Haridas and offered 'itra' (perfume) for the deity, and Swamiji accepted it." Goswami also highlighted the integral role that Muslims have historically played in temple traditions.

"They play the 'nafiris' (ceremonial instruments) and sing bhajans for Thakurji. Much of the intricate 'mukut' (crowns) and embroidery work is done by them. Even Bankey Bihari's attire comes from artisans across India, many of whom follow different faiths. We are not concerned about their religion - ?only the devotion in their work." "Whoever works for Thakurji must do so with a pure heart," he said.

Many others also emphasised inclusivity.

"When God didn't stop Raskhan or Rahim from composing bhajans, who are we to stop anyone from praying?" asked Lala Pandit, priest at Danghati Temple in Goverdhan. "Lord Krishna is the god of love. There's no space for hatred in his land." Mahant Dinesh Chaturvedi of the Kali Temple in Mathura echoed this: "How can anyone stop a devotee from entering a temple? Temples are public places. Good and bad people exist in every religion." Commenting on the practicality of such boycotts, he said, "You can't go around asking every shopkeeper's religion before buying something. Besides, there are many Muslims who've helped tourists in Kashmir. We must not paint everyone with the same brush." Govind Pandey, priest of the Dauji Temple in Baldev, saw no issue in buying from Muslims either.

"The temple welcomes everyone who wants darshan. The local Muslim community is very cooperative," he said.

However, Mohit Maral Goswami of the Radhaballabh Temple in Vrindavan took a contrary view.

"Muslims are not allowed inside Radhaballabh temple," he said, adding, "We should discourage buying from them." Renowned astrologer and Bhagwat speaker Keshav Acharya, however, reiterated the spiritual basis for inclusion.

"If someone respects and believes in our traditions, then there's no problem. 'Jaat-paat poonche na koi, jo Hari ko bhaje so Hari ka hoi''?anyone who prays to God belongs to God," he said.

Acharya pointed out that bhajans written by Muslim poets are still sung in temples with reverence.

"If they have faith and a pure heart, there's no issue in buying from them," he added.

"But if someone is engaging only for business gain without any respect for the faith, then perhaps there is a question." "Anyone who comes for darshan is a darshanarthi (seeker) to us," said Rakesh Chaturvedi of the Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura.

"There's no harm in buying from Muslims. Some people are simply trying to sow division in society." "If someone from another religion comes for darshan, we should feel happy. At least they are recognising and following our faith. In that sense, we're increasing our followers," he added.

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bhakti-knows-no-boundaries-mathura-vrindavan-temples-oppose-muslim-boycott-calls/cid/2096847

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Mindset of those targeting Muslims, Kashmiri students similar to terrorists: SP MP Afzal Ansari

01 May 2025

BALLIA: Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari strongly criticized the targeting of Muslims and Kashmiri students in various parts of the country following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He also accused the central government of failing to prevent the attack and demanded action against Pakistan.

Speaking to PTI during a family function at the residence of Ballia MP Sanatan Pandey, Ansari said the attack was a result of security failure under the Narendra Modi-led government.

"The Pahalgam incident is a failure of the Narendra Modi-led central government. The site of the attack is 150 kilometres away from the Pakistan border. How did terrorists gain the courage to reach so deep into Indian territory? This is the time for a strong response. If there is no internal complicity, India must retaliate and reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as its own," Ansari said.

He condemned recent incidents of violence against Muslims and Kashmiri students, citing attacks by right-wing groups in Patiala, Punjab, and the vandalism of Muslim-owned shops in Haryana.

Ansari alleged that both foreign terrorists and those spreading communal hatred in India share the same mindset.

"Terrorists who come from Pakistan to kill innocent civilians and those who try to spread hatred in India in the name of religion and caste have the same mindset. The people of this country have started recognizing them," he said.

He further claimed that some domestic violent incidents are being carried out by elements supported by the government.

"The government is patronising such elements due to which they are doing hooliganism in the name of religion and caste. While Kashmiri students and Muslims are being harassed in some places, dalit MP Ramji Lal Suman is being threatened," he added.

Calling for decisive action, Ansari emphasized the need to bring PoK under Indian control.

"The entire country is united on this. It is the right time to integrate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir into India. They must be punished for their crimes, and what belongs to India must return to India," the SP leader said.

He also spoke about the caste-based census and credited SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for pushing the central government to act on it.

"In the coming times, the government will have to grant rightful entitlements to the deprived sections of society, based on the results of the caste census," he said.

Source:newindianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/01/mindset-of-those-targeting-muslims-kashmiri-students-similar-to-terrorists-sp-mp-afzal-ansari-2

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‘Beyond anyone’s control, lives in his own world’: Delhi HC pulls up 'Baba' Ramdev over ‘sharbat jihad’ remark

01 May 2025

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday said Yoga practitioner Ramdev was "not in control of anyone" and lived in his own world before finding him in prima facie contempt of its order over his controversial "sharbat jihad" remarks against Hamdard's Rooh Afza.

The court previously ordered him not to issue any statement or share videos in future over Hamdard's products.

"In view of the last order, his affidavit as well as this video are prima facie in contempt. I will issue a contempt notice now. We are just calling him here," Justice Amit Bansal said after being informed on Thursday that despite the court's April 22 directions, Ramdev published a video making objectionable statements.

"He (Ramdev) is not in control of anyone. He lives in his own world," the judge remarked.

Ramdev's counsel urged the court to take up the matter after sometime as the arguing counsel was unavailable.

The court, therefore, deferred the hearing for some time.

Hamdard National Foundation India filed a plea against Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks.

The court had on the last occasion said Ramdev's remark of "sharbat jihad" on Hamdard's Rooh Afza shook its conscience and was indefensible, prompting the Yoga guru to assure he would immediately take down the related videos and social media posts.

The counsel for Hamdard claimed while promoting Patanjali's "gulab sharbat", Ramdev alleged the money earned from Hamdard's Rooh Afza was used to build madrasas and mosques.

Source:newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/01/beyond-anyones-control-lives-in-his-own-world-delhi-hc-pulls-up-baba-ramdev-over-sharbat-jihad-remark

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Pahalgam terror attack aimed to harm livelihood of Kashmiris: VHP chief

May 1, 2025

Lucknow: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Alok Kumar on Wednesday asserted that the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam was aimed at crippling the economic growth of the north Indian state, pushing the region toward economic deprivation, and ultimately harming the livelihoods of Kashmiris regardless of their religion.

"The economic growth of the state was squarely targeted by the terrorists. This was done to push the state towards economic depravity and deprive the Kashmiris, including Muslims, of their bread and butter," the VHP chief said, speaking exclusively to TOI.

Kumar's statement is seen as underscoring a critical point: terrorism in Kashmir is not confined to targeting one religion or community, but rather undermines the entire social and economic fabric of the region. By emphasizing that even Muslims are victims, the VHP chief, experts said, apparently seeks to challenge the divisive narratives and reinforce that Kashmiris of all backgrounds suffer — from loss of life to the collapse of vital sectors like tourism on which many families depend for their livelihoods.

Kumar, nevertheless, maintained that there was a section of people in Kashmir nurturing the feeling of an independent Kashmir. "It is the concept of jihad in a section of Muslim community which is to be blamed. They consider jihad as divine duty to kill non-Muslims, loot and plunder Hindu community," he charged. "It is not only a law and order problem. It is a problem on the ideological plane. Civil society of the world has to understand the dangers of jihad as it is considered by a section of the Muslims," he said, asserting that the world required to fight it at all levels, including the ideological and emotional aspects. He said that the Pahalgam attacks were predominantly on Hindus as terrorists shot them fatally after ascertaining their religion.

The VHP chief said that he felt "satisfied" by the stand of the opposition in standing united with the govt in this hour of crisis. "I am satisfied that by and large, the people of India are united on this issue," he noted. Kumar, however, expressed his surprise over statements given by certain Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah vis-à-vis the Pahalgam attack.

Source:indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/pahalgam-terror-attack-aimed-to-harm-livelihood-of-kashmiris-vhp-chief/articleshow/120776343.cms

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Muslims observe 15-minute blackout in Gujarat to protest against UCC, Waqf Bill

May 1, 2025

People of the Muslim community in Gujarat observed a 15-minute blackout on Wednesday from 9 pm to 9.15 pm, marking their protest against the UCC (Uniform Civil Code) and Waqf Ammendment Bill, as per instructions issued by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

Various Muslim organisations, including Muslim Hit Rakshak Samithi and South Gujarat Muslim Samaj, had appealed to people of the community to follow the call and protest.

In South Gujarat, appeals were made on loudspeakers fitted on autorickshaws, which were driven in Muslim-dominated areas for the last three days. The maulvis of different mosques also made the same appeal to people after namaz. Besides, several people used different social media platforms to urge people to observe the blackout.

The timing of namaz was changed, and those who were engaged at mosqued after 9pm, offered namaz in the dark to mark their protest.

The eatery zones in Rander, Zampa Bazaar, Salabatpura, etc., also observed the blackout. Owners of hotels, restaurants and shops switched off the lights from 9pm to 9.15pm, and asked the customers to bear with them for 15 minutes.

South Gujarat Muslim Samaj leader Aslam Cyclewala said, “the Muslim community fully supported the call. Apart from South Gujarat, Muslims in different parts of Central, and North Gujarat also showed their support, and observed the blackout.”

Source:indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/muslims-observe-15-minute-blackout-in-gujarat-to-protest-against-ucc-waqf-bill-9975626/

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NCW to probe alleged love jihad case in MP’s Bhopal

April 30, 2025

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter of alleged rape and blackmailing of some Hindu girls by a group of Muslim boys even as the Bhopal police have arrested a fifth accused in the case.

As per reports, Jharkhand’s former Director General of Police (DGP), retired IPS Officer Nirmal Kaur, will head the committee.

Jabalpur High Court Advocate Nirmala Nayak and NCW Under Secretary Ashutosh Pandey will be the committee members.

The committee will visit Bhopal from May 3 to 5, and meet police officials, victims, and their families for their testimonies and submit a report to the Commission.

Meanwhile, Bhopal Commissioner of Police Harinarayan Chari Mishra said today that a fifth accused has also been arrested, and a fourth victim has also surfaced and lodged a police complaint in the ongoing probe.

On 28 April, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had stated sternly that no act of ‘Jihad’ or ‘Love Jihad’ will be tolerated in the state, and anyone found indulging in such activities would be strictly punished.

“Whoever commits a crime will be punished. Our government has not permitted any form of Jihad or Love Jihad on the soil of Madhya Pradesh,” the CM asserted.

The CM’s strict stance came in connection with the ongoing investigation by the Bhopal police in three different, but presumably interconnected cases, in which a group of Muslim boys is alleged to have carried out ‘Love Jihad’ by trapping Hindu girls in colleges and subsequently raping, blackmailing and threatening the victims.

The police have booked the arrested accused on charges of rape, blackmail, and threatening, and also under the Freedom of Religion Act, on the complaint filed by four Hindu girls in different police stations of the city.

The police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident, as it is suspected that it might involve a gang operating a sex racket through the rape, obscene videos and blackmailing of Hindu girls.

The Bhopal Police Commissioner said that the accused have been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the MP Freedom of Religion Act, and other relevant sections.

Several advocates, including women lawyers, had severely thrashed three of the arrested accused when the police had produced them in a court in Bhopal, a day ago.

The arrested persons include the alleged mastermind Farhan Khan aka Faraz, along with Ali Khan, Sahil Khan, Shamsuddin alias Saad, and another.

According to police, the accused men used to introduce themselves as Hindus, and on that pretext they befriended and allegedly raped Hindu girls.

The men are also accused of recording obscene videos and then blackmailing the victims by threatening to make the videos viral.

Source:thestatesman.com

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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/ncw-to-probe-alleged-love-jihad-case-in-mps-bhopal-1503426820.html

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Aligarh: 15-year-old boy assaulted and ‘forced to urinate’ on Pakistani flag, say police

April 30, 2025

Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district booked three people on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a 15-year-old Muslim boy, forcing him to urinate on a Pakistani flag, and abusing the Muslim community.

According to the police, the FIR was registered at the Banna Devi police station under sections 191(2) (rioting), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (provoke breach of peace), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 353(2)(circulating false information) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Raju, a book shop owner; Nitin, a grocery shop owner; and an unidentified man.

The FIR was registered after the 15-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted and forced to urinate on a Pakistan flag by a group of men after he picked up the flag, which they had kept on the road during a protest against the Pahalgam terrorist attack on Monday, the police said. The incident took place when the Class 9 boy was returning home from school with his friends, they added.

The text under the flag read “Pakistan murdabad”.

In purported videos of the incident, a boy can be seen surrounded by men who ask him to raise slogans of “Hindustan Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. The men are also seen pushing him and using abusive language. In another video, the boy can be seen putting a flag on the road and urinating on it.

In his complaint to the police, Abdul Qadir, a resident of Shah Jamal, said a video went viral on social media on Monday in which Raju and Nitin can be seen beating a boy and insulting and abusing the Muslim community.

“This has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community, which is angered by it. Both these men along with several dozen others have disturbed the peace of the city by roaming around and abusing the Muslim community. They have also beaten up Muslims on the footpath,” Qadri said in his complaint.

Pankaj Kumar Misra, SHO of the Banna Devi police station, said the boy had picked up the flag from the middle of the road. “The group of protesters asked him to put the flag back. They allegedly asked him what he could do in solidarity with the protest and told him to urinate on the flag,” he said.

Qadri said in his complaint that both Nitin and Raju had been involved in disturbing peace between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the past.

Source:indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/aligarh-boy-assault-forced-urinate-pakistani-flag-police-9974517/

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Southeast Asia

 

Eksport produk halal Malaysia melonjak kepada RM61.79 bilion pada 2024 - Tengku Zafrul

Bernama

01-05- 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Eksport produk halal Malaysia mencecah RM61.79 bilion pada 2024, menandakan peningkatan 15 peratus daripada RM53.72 bilion yang dicatatkan pada 2023, kata Menteri Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.Local tourism packages

Beliau berkata Malaysia mengekalkan kedudukan teratas dalam Indikator Ekonomi Islam Global selama 10 tahun berturut-turut, mendahului Arab Saudi, Indonesia dan Emiriah Arab Bersatu.

“Kelebihan Malaysia terletak pada kewangan Islam, makanan halal, serta media dan rekreasi.

“Industri halal membentuk sebahagian besar Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) Malaysia, dengan sumbangan diunjurkan 10.8 peratus atau RM231 bilion menjelang 2030. Pertumbuhan ini didorong terutama oleh ekosistem halal yang teguh merentas sektor seperti makanan, kewangan dan pelancongan,” katanya dalam ucapan prapelancaran Pameran Halal Antarabangsa Malaysia (MIHAS) 2025 di sini, hari ini.Local tourism packages

Teks ucapan itu dibacakan oleh Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Industri) Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI) Datuk Hanafi Sakri.

Tengku Zafrul berkata permintaan global terhadap produk halal kini bernilai lebih US$3 trilion dan dijangka meningkat kepada US$5 trilion menjelang 2030 sekali gus menyerlahkan tarikan ciri halal yang beretika dan mampan global.

“Penerajuan Malaysia dalam sektor ini adalah bukti inovasi dan dedikasi berterusan kita.

“Antara peserta pasaran halal antarabangsa utama ialah Nestlé, Allana Group, Cargill Incorporated dan Fraser & Neave. Saya bangga apabila mendapat maklum bahawa beberapa syarikat Malaysia seperti DagangHalal Group, Prima Quality Food Industries, Kawan Food Bhd, Crescent Foods, QL Foods Sdn Bhd dan Ayamas Food Corporation, juga diiktiraf sebagai antara peserta terkemuka dunua,” katanya.

Beliau berkata tema MIHAS edisi ke-21 kali ini, “Pinnacle of Halal Excellence” (Mercu Kecemerlangan Halal), mencerminkan kedudukannya sebagai pameran halal terkemuka dan paling berprestij di dunia.

“Berdasarkan penyertaan antarabangsa yang dijangkakan lebih tinggi, MIHAS 2025 akan menjadi edisi yang lebih besar dan lebih dinamik berbanding edisi sebelum ini. Acara ini akan mempamerkan produk, perkhidmatan dan teknologi halal terkini, menyerlahkan kemajuan terkini industri ini,” katanya.Local tourism packages

MIHAS 2025 dijadualkan berlangsung pada 17 hingga 20 Sept, 2025, di Pusat Perdagangan dan Pameran Antarabangsa Malaysia (MITEC) di sini.

Tengku Zafrul berkata inisiatif berkaitan halal adalah sebahagian daripada Keberhasilan Utama Ekonomi (PED) untuk 2025, terutama dalam konteks kepengerusian ASEAN oleh Malaysia.

“Malaysia giat mempromosikan industri halal sebagai pemacu utama pertumbuhan ekonomi dan kerjasama serantau.

“Oleh itu, akan ada sebuah pavilion khusus mewakili industri halal ASEAN, serta pavilion khas untuk syarikat daripada Majlis Kerjasama Teluk (GCC), yang merupakan rakan strategik ASEAN, ditampilkan di MIHAS tahun ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata usaha mengantarabangsakan MIHAS telah dimulakan di Dubai tahun lepas dan akan diteruskan dengan edisi di Shanghai pada November ini.

Sejak diperkenalkan pada 2004, MIHAS telah berkembang daripada 500 reruai kepada 2,100 reruai dalam edisi terbaharunya.

“Saya ingin menekankan bahawa MIHAS edisi ke-20 merupakan pencapaian dengan rekod baharu bagi MITI dan Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE), mencatatkan jualan RM4.3 bilion,” katanya.

Sehingga kini, MIHAS telah menjana jualan eksport hampir RM30 bilion dan menarik 12,000 peserta industri halal tempatan dan antarabangsa, di samping lebih 500,000 pengunjung perdagangan dari seluruh dunia.

Selain itu, lebih 7,000 pembeli antarabangsa telah dipadankan dengan 10,000 syarikat Malaysia melalui program perniagaan utama MIHAS, Program Penyumberan Antarabangsa (INSP).

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/cerita/berita/eksport-produk-halal-malaysia-melonjak-kepada-rm6179-bilion-pada-2024-tengku-zafrul-AH14022075

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Ayer Kuning by-election: Increased support for UMNO among Malay, young voters - Asyraf Wajdi

Bernama

01-05- 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The outcome of the Ayer Kuning state by-election reflects growing support for UMNO among Malays, young voters, and various ethnic communities, said secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

He said the victory also demonstrated the public’s rejection of racial politics, hate speech, slander, and narratives suggesting that Islam and the Malay community are under threat.

“UMNO extends its gratitude to the machinery of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and Friends of BN, as well as our partners in Pakatan Harapan (PH), who worked tirelessly to secure victory for the BN candidate.

“We are also deeply grateful to all voters in Ayer Kuning for their trust and confidence in UMNO and BN, which led to a decisive win across all polling districts except one,” he said in a statement issued after the UMNO Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato’ Onn, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) last night.

In the three-cornered contest, BN candidate Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir retained the seat with 11,065 votes against PN’s Abd Muhaimin Malek (6,059 votes) and PSM’s Bawani KS (1,106 votes).

Meanwhile, Asyraf Wajdi also announced that UMNO will hold its first Patriotic School Convocation in conjunction with the party’s 79th anniversary celebration at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, WTCKL on May 11.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/ayer-kuning-by-election-increased-support-for-umno-among-malay-young-voters-asyraf-wajdi-CH14022213

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South Asia

 

Hindu-Muslim Division Was Created For Vested Interest: BNP Secretary General

30 Apr 2025

THAKURGAON, April 30, 2025 BSS (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said a terrible religious division was created in the country for vested interests though people having different religious faiths have been living together here for ages.

"Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians and members of other faiths are living together for long with communal harmony. Let us not create any division among ourselves. Let us all be united with one goal to establish peace and democracy," he said.

Mirza Fakhrul was addressing a views-exchange meeting with Hindus at Lakshmi Hat under Baragaon Union in Sadar Upazila.

Noting that the people have not been able to vote for the last 15 years, the BNP secretary general demanded a free election to allow the people to exercise their voting rights.

Regarding deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, "We could never have imagined that Hasina would flee the country. This is Allah's justice. No one stood by her. She had to run away and flee this country.

Why? Because she did such a thing that there was no way to stay in this country".

District BNP General Secretary Mirza Faisal Amin, Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Hamid and General Secretary Mahabub Hossain Tuhin, also spoke.

Later, the BNP secretary general addressed another public meeting at Munshirhat Girls' High School ground.

Source:bssnews.net

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https://www.bssnews.net/news/268598

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Expanding Trade Relations: A New Era for Afghanistan and Central Asia

2025-04-30

KABUL(BNA): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is actively working to stabilize its economy and enhance its role as a key connector in Asia’s trade network. With a renewed focus on regional cooperation, the Islamic Emirate views expanding trade ties with Central Asia as a significant opportunity for economic development.

Central Asia, rich in natural resources and agricultural products, serves as a strategic trade partner for Afghanistan. The geographical position of Afghanistan facilitates access to vital transit routes, making it an essential hub for trade between Central Asia and South Asia.

Recent efforts have led to increased commercial activities with neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. Key infrastructure projects, including the Hairatan-Mazar-e Sharif railway, Torgundi and Aqeena ports, and a major electricity transmission project with Turkmenistan, exemplify this growing economic cooperation.

Trade exchanges involving gas, oil, food, and construction materials highlight the mutual benefits derived from these partnerships. The Islamic Emirate emphasizes its commitment to transforming Afghanistan into a safe and stable country conducive to regional trade and transit.

As Central Asia seeks to tap into South Asian markets, Afghanistan stands to gain from affordable energy and essential goods. Continued and transparent trade relations could significantly enhance the economic conditions for Afghans, reducing regional isolation.

In summary, the strengthening of trade ties between the Islamic Emirate and Central Asia not only promises economic benefits but also symbolizes a commitment to peace, stability, and development in the region.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/expanding-trade-relations-a-new-era-for-afghanistan-and-central-asia/

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Greater workers-employers bonhomie needed to speed up dev: Yunus

May 1, 2025

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed optimism that Bangladesh's development will gain further momentum through strengthened cooperation between workers and employers.

In a message marking both the Great May Day 2025 and National Occupational Health and Safety Day, Prof Yunus emphasised the pivotal role of worker-employer harmony in driving the nation's economic progress.

"May Day holds immense significance in fostering economic growth through friendly and collaborative relationships between workers and employers," he said.

This year's May Day theme, "Workers and Employers United—Let's Build This Country Anew," reflects the importance of unity in achieving sustainable development, the chief adviser noted.

Prof Yunus reiterated his belief that workers and employers are essential partners in nation-building. "Their joint efforts can create a strong, self-reliant, and prosperous Bangladesh," he said.

He highlighted that behind the progress of every sector—garment, agriculture, industry, construction, transport, and technology—lies the dedication and hard work of both workers and employers.

"To rebuild the country, we must cultivate an environment of unity, mutual respect, and trust," he said, adding that if this spirit of cooperation continues, the dream of a discrimination-free, inclusive Bangladesh can become a reality.

Prof Yunus also reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring fair recognition and social protection for all workers. "A safe and healthy work environment is not just a right—it is fundamental to industrial and economic growth," he added.

On this historic occasion honoring the dignity and rights of working people, Prof Yunus paid tribute to all workers, especially those who sacrificed for labor rights.

He concluded by wishing success to all programs organized in observance of May Day 2025 and National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2025.

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/greater-workers-employers-bonhomie-needed-speed-dev-yunus-3884691

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UNAMA to cooperate with IEA in addressing refugees’ challenges, Otunbayeva

May 1, 2025

KABUL: Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, in a meeting with Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriations, said that efforts are underway to work effectively with the Islamic Emirate to address the challenges faced by Afghan refugees, according to a statement from the ministry Wednesday.

Otunbayeva assured the Afghan side of continued support for refugees, pledging additional financial resources would be mobilized to enhance assistance, according to the statement.

“The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator was currently conducting a close assessment of the situation in Afghanistan,” Otunbayeva said, hoping that the level of support for Afghan refugees would increase.

She also stressed the importance of political dialogue with the Islamic Emirate, saying all issues of concern should be addressed through appropriate mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir said numerous facilities and services had been provided at temporary camps for returnees and the distribution of permanent settlements was progressing well, with 58 of townships allocated to refugees so far. He stressed the need for an increase in assistance to refugees and called on UN agencies to contribute to the construction of housing units for them.

He reaffirmed the IEA’s support for engagement with the international community and its readiness to cooperate with all parties within the framework of Sharia, assuring Afghanistan posed no threat to any country.

Source:thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/unama-to-cooperate-with-iea-in-addressing-refugees-challenges-otunbayeva/

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UN warns of worsening drought and rising humanitarian needs in Afghanistan

By Fidel Rahmati-

May 1, 2025

The UN warns Afghanistan faces a worsening drought crisis, urging urgent aid as millions struggle with food, water, and livelihood shortages.

Tom Fletcher, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and head of OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), has issued a grave warning about the intensifying drought crisis in Afghanistan. In a video message released on Thursday, May 1, Fletcher shared details of his visit to Spin Boldak district in Kandahar, where communities are struggling with severe water shortages and failed crops.

Fletcher announced that the United Nations has allocated $17 million to provide emergency food, clean water, and livelihood support for affected populations. He stressed that this funding is only a fraction of what is required to address the needs of millions who face hunger and displacement due to ongoing climate-induced disasters and economic collapse.

According to Fletcher, climate change is having an increasingly devastating impact on Afghanistan’s rural population. Farmers are no longer able to grow staple crops like wheat, leaving entire families without food security. He emphasized that humanitarian action must be paired with long-term climate adaptation and resilience-building strategies.

This warning comes amid additional concerns over the mass return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran.

The forced deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans adds further pressure on already strained local resources and humanitarian services, intensifying the ongoing crisis. OCHA and other UN agencies have raised alarm over the potential for widespread displacement, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks.

Fletcher has previously warned that the reduction in international aid to Afghanistan could result in the death of millions. With humanitarian funding in sharp decline since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, many NGOs and UN agencies have faced operational constraints, despite the urgent and growing needs across the country.

In response, agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have echoed OCHA’s concerns, urging the international community not to abandon Afghanistan during a time of worsening climate shocks and displacement. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also confirmed that prolonged drought conditions now threaten over 25 out of 34 Afghan provinces.

To prevent further deterioration, humanitarian leaders have called for renewed international cooperation, flexible funding, and unhindered access for aid workers. Without sustained investment in both emergency relief and long-term resilience, Afghanistan may face one of the worst climate-driven humanitarian crises in the region.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-of-worsening-drought-as-humanitarian-needs-soar-in-afghanistan/

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More than 5,000 Afghans have died on migration routes: IOM

By Fidel Rahmati

May 1, 2025

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that more than 5,000 Afghan citizens have died on migration routes since 2014. The findings were published in a report released on Tuesday, April 29, highlighting the dangers faced by those fleeing crisis-affected countries.

According to the IOM, thousands of these deaths occurred following the political upheaval in Afghanistan in 2021, when many Afghans attempted to escape the country amid instability and fear under the Taliban regime.

The report further notes that over 52,000 people worldwide have died while fleeing crisis-affected countries during the same period. These deaths underline the devastating toll of forced displacement globally.

IOM stated that 54 percent of these fatalities occurred within or near conflict-affected or disaster-hit countries, including Afghanistan and Myanmar. The dangers faced by migrants are often highest near their places of origin, where formal escape routes and protection mechanisms are minimal.

Specifically, more than 3,100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar also lost their lives during attempts to flee persecution, reflecting the broader pattern of humanitarian catastrophes across the country.

Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in emigration. The regime’s suppression of civil liberties—particularly the rights of women—has intensified desperation, driving thousands to risk perilous journeys in search of safety and dignity.

Despite more than three years under Taliban control, the group has failed to stop the outflow of citizens. Many Afghans, seeing no future in their homeland, are willing to risk death for a chance at life elsewhere.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/more-than-5000-afghans-have-died-on-migration-routes-iom/

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North America

 

CAIR Calls on George Washington U. to End Relationship with Islamophobic Program After Racist NYPD Training

April 30, 2025

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on George Washington University to end its relationship with a program that co-led a racist training for New York Police Department (NYPD) staff that falsely claimed common expressions of Palestinian ethnic identity such as the keffiyeh and watermelons are indicators of extremism.

The Program on Extremism (GW PoE), led by Lorenzo Vidino, has previously been linked to poor research that contributed to police actions in Austria that were deemed “unlawful” and ties to Islamophobic groups.

Last week, after reporting in Jewish Currents detailed the January 2025 training, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) condemned the NYPD’s training that reportedly falsely labeled Palestinian cultural symbols – including the keffiyeh, a centuries-old emblem of Palestinian heritage and broader Arab identity, and the watermelon, which became a symbol of Palestinian solidarity after Israel’s draconian banning of the public display of the Palestinian flag – as “symbols of hate.” 

“Facts still matter. If George Washington University’s leadership wishes to be seen as even slightly invested in academic credibility, Vidino’s sloppy work and at the very least tacit acceptance of ethnic bias—a keffiyeh is a longstanding Palestinian symbol and watermelon is, well…fruit—then they should show him out the front door, and quickly.” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor.

In a letter send today to GWU President Dr. Ellen Granberg, Saylor wrote the following:

“Reporting in 2023 in The New Yorker, Middle East Eye, and the European Islamophobia Report 2023 all show harm to a number of people caused by smears and government targeting. Central to that reporting is Operation Luxor, a 2020 police operation in Austria that was ultimately ruled unlawful by an Austrian judge. Reporting by Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative notes that the justification for the unlawful operation relied heavily on a report authored by Vidino. The report contained information that was identified as ‘completely fictitious’ and noted that ‘instead of reputable sources, the authors resorted to ‘tendentious websites or media critical of Islam.’

“The authors of the 2022 European Islamophobia Report identify Vidino as ‘a central figure in the Islamophobia network.’

“In 2020, Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative wrote, ‘Vidino is connected to numerous anti-Muslim think tanks in the United States and Europe and has published in various anti-Muslim outlets.’ The Bridge Initiative documents his collaboration with U.S.-based anti-Muslim racists Steven Emerson and Daniel Pipes as well.”

CAIR previously designated GW as a university hostile to its Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students and staff.

In March 2024, a lawsuit was filed against GWU by an Austrian Muslim scholar and professor, charging the Program and its director, Dr. Lorenzo Vidino, with carrying out a malicious smear campaign by “constructing and disseminating false narratives linking [the person who filed the lawsuit and others] to the Muslim Brotherhood.” A report authored by Vidino reportedly formed the basis for a 2020 Austrian police operation that raided dozens of Muslim homes and organizations and was later ruled unlawful by Austrian courts.

Saylor added “GWU’s continued employment of Dr. Vidino, who researchers at Georgetown University have been connected to anti -Muslim think tanks in the United States and Europe, reflects either tacit approval or institutional indifference to Islamophobia.”

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.      

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.            

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Source:cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-george-washington-u-to-end-relationship-with-islamophobic-program-after-racist-nypd-training/

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Law Enforcement Agencies Over Violent Crackdown on Peaceful UCLA Anti-Genocide Protesters

April 30, 2025

On Monday, May 5, the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA), along with Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP, the Law Office of Colleen Flynn, Attorney Ricci Sergienko, Kleiman/Rajaram, and the Law Offices of Thomas B. Harvey, will hold a press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters at UCLA’s Palestine Solidarity Encampment last spring.

On May 1 and 2, 2024, hundreds of riot-clad law enforcement agents from CHP and LAPD engaged in a joint operation to forcibly break up the peaceful anti-genocide encampment. Officers tore down the encampment walls, pushed and struck protesters with batons, and indiscriminately fired over fifty rounds of rubber bullets directly at protesters without lawful justification. This excessively violent and militarized response caused severe injuries to students and community members, sending some to the hospital with serious wounds, including head injuries, blood loss, and broken bones, and resulted in at least one protester requiring surgery.

Media will have an opportunity to interview speakers following their introductory remarks.?Others will be available to speak by phone after the press conference. 

CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.???? 

Source:cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-la-hadsell-stormer-renick-dai-llp-and-legal-partners-to-announce-lawsuit-against-law-enforcement-agencies-over-violent-crackdown-on-peaceful-ucla-anti-genocide-protesters/

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US and Ukraine sign long-awaited natural resources deal

May 1, 2025

The US has signed a deal with Kyiv to share profits from the future sale of Ukraine's mineral and energy reserves, after months of tense negotiations.

The deal aims to provide an economic incentive for the US to continue to invest in Ukraine's defence and reconstruction - as well as to address Washington's concerns over the amount of aid it has already contributed.

Ukraine is believed to have vast reserves of critical minerals like graphite, titanium and lithium. They are highly sought after because of their use in renewable energy, military technology and infrastructure.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it showed both sides were committed to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.

The deal will also see the establishment of an investment fund to spur Ukraine's economic recovery from the war.

According to the statement from the US Treasury on Wednesday afternoon, the newly created US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund recognises the "significant financial and material support" the US has given Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

The US treasury secretary said in a video statement that the deal would help "unlock Ukraine's growth assets".

The language of the announcement shows much more solidarity with Ukraine than is usual for the Trump administration.

It refers to "Russia's full scale invasion" and adds that "no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine".

The Kremlin has not yet responded to the agreement.

For Kyiv, it is seen as essential to accessing US military aid.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko - who flew to Washington to ink the deal on Wednesday - said in a post on X that the new fund would "attract global investment into our country".

Listing the deal's provisions, she said it would involve projects in minerals, oil and gas, although the resources would remain the property of Ukraine.

The partnership will be equal, on a 50:50 basis, she added, and must be ratified by lawmakers in Kyiv.

Under the deal, the US would contribute new assistance to Kyiv, she added, including, for example, air defence systems.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed for the agreement as a prerequisite to offering any future security guarantees to Kyiv.

Crucially, the draft of the deal indicates Ukraine will be giving Washington access to some of its natural resources in return for future US security assistance.

But that is significantly less than what Trump had wanted, which was to get paid back for all US military aid given since the start of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has managed to eke out some concessions from Washington.

The deal was delayed after US authorities said Kyiv was trying to make last-minute changes.

On Wednesday afternoon, a US source familiar with the talks criticised Ukraine for seeking to reopen some terms that had apparently been finalised over the weekend.

The source said sticking points had included governance of the fund, issues with transparency, and steps to ensure that all funds would be fully traceable.

Technical documents were signed last week by representatives of both countries.

The initial agreement was due to be signed in February, but fell apart following a heated exchange at the White House when Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three".

The breakthrough comes days after Trump and Zelensky held a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, and as talks between Moscow and Washington over a possible ceasefire in Ukraine grind on.

Phoning into the NewsNation network on Wednesday evening, Trump said he had pressed Zelensky at Vatican City to seal the deal.

"I was telling him that it's a very good thing if we can produce a deal that you sign it," he said, "because Russia is much bigger and much stronger. Russia is just chugging forward."

The US president said the deal would recuperate the multi-billion dollar US assistance to Ukraine since the war began and "much more in theory".

"So I went to them and said, 'Look, we got to get rare earth.' They have great rare earth, meaning certain minerals, materials," said Trump.

"They have things that a lot of places don't have. It's a big asset that they have."

The agreement comes amid a US trade war with China, where 90% of the world's current rare-earth stocks are sourced.

Source:bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ypw7pn9q3o

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Canada election: One in six seats changed hands

May 1, 2025

While the government of Canada may not have changed hands, the federal election results are anything but business as usual.

Party leaders lost their own seats, the New Democratic Party (NDP) now faces the possibility of life on the sidelines and the Liberal Party pulled off a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, all while led by a prime minister who wasn't even a member of Parliament (MP).

Preliminary results from Elections Canada show that 17% of seats - 59 out of 343 - changed hands in this election, up from just 7% - 22 out of 338 - in 2021.

The rise in the number of available seats in the House of Commons, from 338 to 343, reflects a new political map which accounts for changes in population.

Leaders from three of the five parties represented in the House of Commons failed to win their seats.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre - who was on course to become prime minister three months ago when his party held a double-digit lead in the polls - lost his seat in Carleton, Ontario to the Liberals.

Jagmeet Singh resigned as NDP leader after finishing third in his British Columbia seat of Burnaby Central, while the Green Party's co-leader Jonathan Pedneault came fifth in Outremont, Quebec.

Only Yves-François Blanchet of the Bloc Québécois and Elizabeth May, the other Green co-leader, retained their seats while Mark Carney became an MP for the first time.

All 59 seats that flipped went to either the Liberals or Conservatives.

The NDP lost 17 of the 24 seats they were defending - 10 to the Conservatives and seven to the Liberals - and fell short of the 12 seats required for official party status.

This means the loss of parliamentary funding for things like office budgets and technology equipment, as well as fewer chances to ask questions of the government and sit on committees.

NDP losses were part of a wider shift away from Canada's smaller parties.

The Bloc Québécois had 35 seats going into Monday's vote, taking into consideration the impact of boundary changes on 2021 results - calculated by Elections Canada - and last year's victory in the LaSalle-Émard-Verdun by-election.

It lost 13 of them in Quebec, with all but one going to the Liberals.

Terrebonne, a suburb of Montreal, flipped from the Bloc to the Liberals by just a few dozen votes.

Meanwhile, the Greens lost their Kitchener Centre riding, the first Ontario seat in their history, to the Liberals.

Despite making overall gains it was still a turbulent night for incumbents in the two largest parties.

The Liberals gave up 16 seats - all to the Conservatives - which was twice as many as the eight they lost in 2021.

Nine of the 16 losses came in Toronto and the surrounding "905" - places that all share the same area code.

The Conservatives saw 12 of their MPs suffer defeat including Poilievre, up from nine four years ago.

All 12 were won by Liberals, including Toronto St Paul's which the Conservatives previously flipped in a 2024 by-election.

Source:bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9ve4l13x19o

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Apple referred for possible criminal contempt investigation

May 1, 2025

A US district judge has found Apple wilfully violated her injunction in a case brought by Epic Games - and that a top Apple executive "outright lied" under oath.

The injunction was supposed to block Apple from anti-competitive conduct and pricing, opening the App Store up to outside payment options.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said she was referring the matter to the US Attorney for Northern District of California to investigate whether a criminal contempt proceeding is appropriate.

Apple responded to the ruling late on Wednesday.

"We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal," an Apple spokesperson said.

Wednesday's judgement refers to a 2021 case brought by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, one of the world's most popular games, which argued that third-party payment options should be available to customers.

It challenged the up-to-30% cut Apple takes from purchases - and argued that the App Store was monopolistic.

In her 2021 judgement, Judge Gonzalez Rogers stated that Apple could no longer prohibit developers linking to their own purchasing mechanisms.

As well as game purchasing, another example of how this would work is a movie-streaming service being able to tell customers to subscribe via its own website, without using Apple's in-app purchasing mechanism.

In a contempt order issued Wednesday, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple nevertheless continued to interfere with competition with attempts that the court stated "will not be tolerated".

Judge Gonzalez Rogers added that internal company documents she reviewed showed Apple deliberately violated the injunction.

The documents reveal "that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option", she wrote.

She said CEO Tim Cook ignored executive Phillip Schiller's urging to have Apple comply with the injunction and allowed CFO Luca Maestri to convince him not to.

"Cook chose poorly," she wrote.

She also said Apple's vice-president of finance Alex Roman "outright lied under oath".

The judge wrote that one example of Apple's attempts to evade the injunction included a decision to charge a 27% commission on off-app purchases, when it had previously charged nothing.

The company also imposed new barriers and requirements to discourage customers from using competing purchasing platforms, she said.

In a post on X, Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said his company would return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week and offered an olive branch to his long-time rival.

"Epic puts forth a peace proposal: if Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return 'Fortnite' to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney wrote.

In another post, he wrote: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple's 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."

Source:bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62xv43xqq5o

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Europe

 

British Muslims press Starmer on Palestine statehood amid concern over UK complicity in genocide

April 30, 2025

A coalition of hundreds of British Muslim organisations, coordinated by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), delivered a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday, urging the UK government to recognise Palestinian statehood immediately and call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The call comes amid growing concerns that the UK itself may be complicit in the ongoing genocide by Israel in the enclave.

In its press release about the letter, signed by a broad cross-section of UK Muslim institutions and individuals, the MCB highlights the “profound concern” among British Muslims regarding Israel’s offensive in Gaza, where more than 51,000 people, including at least 15,000 children, have been killed since October 2023, according to UNICEF.

The letter does not merely highlight the suffering of Palestinians, but also draws attention to the broader consequences of the UK’s foreign policy for domestic cohesion. It points out that British Muslims are not a “fringe minority,” but the fastest-growing minority faith group in the UK, with deep civic engagement and strong loyalty to the country. The implication seems to be that continued disregard for their concerns risks alienating a significant and integrated segment of British society.

It also draws a sharp contrast between the UK’s treatment of Ukrainian refugees and its stance on Palestinians seeking safety. “Ukrainian refugees are welcomed with open arms,” the letter states, whereas when a Gazan family sought to join relatives in Britain, “you vowed to close the loophole.” The double standards, the signatories argue, erode trust in British values and expose the government’s inconsistent commitment to human rights.

Frustration with the UK’s passive stance is especially acute given that other European nations, including Spain, Norway and now France, have taken decisive steps towards recognising Palestinian statehood. The signatories warn that the UK must not fall behind. “The steps taken now will resonate for generations, shaping our collective future.”

Lastly, the letter places its demands within the framework of international law, warning that Britain’s current posture risks making it a “complicit bystander in this crime against humanity.” With polling data showing broad public support across religious and political lines for an end to arms exports and recognition of Palestinian statehood, the message to the government appears to be unambiguous: act now, or face lasting political and moral consequences.

The timing of the letter is particularly significant following a Declassified UK report this week which raised further troubling questions about Britain’s direct military role in the Gaza genocide. Questioned about Britain’s complicity, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, refused to answer queries regarding over 500 Royal Air Force (RAF) surveillance flights carried out over Gaza since December 2023. The flights, which continued even during ceasefires, have raised serious concerns that they may serve objectives beyond the official claim of assisting in the search for hostages.

When pressed by a journalist from Declassified, Radakin declined to engage, saying, “I don’t really have time for this conversation.” He refused to comment on whether the UK’s intelligence sharing with Israel might make him personally, and the UK government, complicit in war crimes.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to provide transparency on the nature or purpose of the surveillance flights, and freedom of information requests have been rejected. Attempts to secure details in parliament have been met with evasion or silence.

Source:middleeastmonitor.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250430-british-muslims-press-starmer-on-palestine-statehood-amid-concern-over-uk-complicity-in-genocide/

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English, Muslim, European – and Proud of Every Part of My Identity, writes Sir Sadiq Khan

30 April 2025,

In London, we hosted our festivities in Trafalgar Square, with a family-friendly celebration paying homage to England’s rich culture, history and traditions.

As Mayor of London – and as a proud and patriotic Englishman – I’ve always been passionate about ensuring our capital city not only recognises St George’s Day but does so in style.

Growing up, I wasn’t always comfortable around the St George’s flag.

It was a time when, first, the National Front, and then the BNP were on the march, and it sometimes felt our flag had been co-opted by them.

But for me, everything changed one glorious summer during Euro '96. I’ll never forget watching England dismantle the Dutch 4-1 at Wembley.

It was an exhilarating performance that led to an outpouring of joy and euphoria. And after the final whistle, tens of thousands of us waved the red cross with gusto and embraced while chanting ‘football’s coming home’.

In that moment, it felt as if our flag had been reclaimed and recast as a symbol of national unity. Something that no longer belonged to the hateful few, but to the decent majority.

In the years that followed, there’s no doubt we made real social progress as a country.

We became more liberal and inclusive in our understanding of national identity as Englishness and the St George’s flag covered – and were adopted by – a wider cross-section of our diverse society.

Increasingly, we came to appreciate that our people could have multiple identities. For example, I’m proud to be a Londoner and to be English, just as I’m proud to be of Pakistani and Asian heritage, and proud to be European and someone of Islamic faith.

In my eyes, these identities don’t contradict one another. They make us who we are. There’s no tension between patriotism and pluralism.

This idea has long been accepted by the British public.

And it’s not surprising. We all know Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Lauren James, Eni Aluko and Kelly Holmes can each represent our country, be English and each be proud of their own heritage.

But we cannot be complacent as there is a concerted effort to normalise views that were once rightly consigned to the fringes.

We saw this as the debate unfolded around whether the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – someone who, when you close your eyes, sounds like the quintessential Englishman – could ever truly be English.

That was a thoroughly depressing episode, but also revealing of the fact that for too long, politicians, leaders and others, have not done enough to make the case for a progressive patriotism, ceding ground to the populist right and far-right.

Of course, it’s difficult to pin down exactly what it means to be English. It’s a fluid, not a fixed, concept and one that has developed over hundreds of years, absorbing many different people and ethnicities.

To some, it’s about manners and mannerisms. Cups of tea and cricket. Paddington, our green and pleasant land, and – of course – penalty shootout heartbreak.

To others, it’s about fish and chips, Sunday roasts and chicken tikka masala.

We are the country of Shakespeare and Stormzy; Jane Austen and Anthony Joshua.

Modern England is a tapestry of various cultures, faiths, histories and influences – bound together by the values of democracy, decency, fairness and respect.

It’s a place where we are not forced to choose between our flag and our family history, our home or our heritage - a country that is proud of its history fighting fascism, proud of its NHS and key workers, and proud of its diversity and inclusive ethos.

There are so many reasons to take pride in being English. But as we celebrate everything that makes our country so great, we must always be on our guard against those whose so-called patriotism seems to be less about love of country and more about hatred and exclusion of others.

I have faith though that the quiet majority will always choose proper patriotism over poisonous populism. It’s in our DNA – and one of the reasons why I am proud to be English.

Source:lbc.co.uk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/views/sadiq-khan-english-muslim-european-and-proud/

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Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

April 30, 2025

LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.

The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.

They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”

Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.

The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599076/saudi-arabia        

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Image of police officers kneeling in front of Muslim men is AI-generated

30 APRIL 2025

An AI-generated image which appears to show UK police officers kneeling in front of a group of men in Islamic dress has been circulating again online.

The picture has been shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, with a caption saying: “Does this sicken you? Yes or No?”

The image appears to show nine police officers kneeling or praying in front of a number of men wearing Islamic dress.

The picture previously circulated online in the aftermath of widespread violent disorder across England and Northern Ireland following the fatal stabbing of three children in Southport in July 2024.

We previously fact checked the same image in August 2024. And, as we found then, there are many indications that, while it seems realistic at first glance, this is not a genuine image but has in fact been generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

These include that the police officer in the front-right of the image appears to have an extremely long left foot and unusual body proportions.

The police officer in the front-left of the image’s left leg is also bent in a strange position and appears to be disconnected from his torso.

A man wearing religious dress standing on the far right of the group and a police officer standing on the far left of the group both have their hands clasped in front of them, but there are errors with their fingers—a tell-tale sign that the image may be AI-generated.

The image has also been debunked by a number of other fact checking organisations.

Before sharing content that you see on social media, take a second to consider whether AI could have been used in its creation. Our recent blog on spotting AI-generated images and videos highlighted clues to look out for.

Source:fullfact.org

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://fullfact.org/online/police-officer-kneeling-ai-generated-fake/

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Hartlepool mosque aims to allay concerns over Islam at annual open day

By Mark Payne

30th Apr 2025

Hartlepool’s mosque is opening its doors to the community this weekend as part of efforts to build bridges and reduce fear.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at Nasir Mosque, Brougham Terrace, will be holding their annual Open Day on Saturday, May 3, from 10am to 4pm.

Imam of the mosque Tahir Selby said last summer’s riots showed the importance of opening up the mosque to improve understanding around Islam.

Mr Selby said: “Over the years, we have constantly strived to develop a good relationship with our neighbours.

"We understand that some people still have some concerns about Islam, it is constantly receiving bad press, therefore, we want to remove any fears and misunderstandings that people may have and invite them to come to the Mosque to give us a chance to reassure them.”

During the open day visitors will get to look around the mosque, learn about its role in the community and speak to leaders.

Light refreshments will also be provided. Everyone is welcome.

Source:hartlepoolmail.co.uk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/hartlepool-mosque-aims-to-allay-concerns-over-islam-at-annual-open-day-5107294

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Italy could hand over French mosque murder suspect mid-May: lawyer

30 April 2025

Italy could extradite to France the man accused of stabbing a young Malian to death in a mosque in southern France by mid-May, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Friday's killing of 22-year-old Aboubakar Cisse in rural France has shocked the country, which is home to the largest Muslim community in the European Union.

The suspect has been named by Italian police as 21-year-old Oliver Hadzovic but identified by French prosecutors as Olivier A.

"My client has agreed to be handed over to France because he wants to go home, so a fast-track extradition process has been initiated, which will allow Olivier to return by mid-May," his lawyer Giovanni Salvietti said on Wednesday.

"He should be in France around 10-15 May," he added.

The suspect "surrendered precisely because he wants to return to France, which is his home, where his family lives," Salvietti said. His client did not speak "a word of Italian", he added.

The alleged murderer -- a French national of Bosnian origin -- may be moved to a higher-security prison in Italy because of fears of possible reprisals from Muslim inmates.

He surrendered two and a half days after he stabbed Cisse dozens of times in the southern French village of La Grand-Combe and then filmed him with a mobile phone while shouting insults against Islam.

Investigators said the suspect sent the footage -- showing the victim writhing in agony -- to another person, who then shared it on social media before deleting it.

He "continues to deny that his actions had any religious connotations", Salvietti said, adding that his client had an "extremely fragile" mental state.

"He speaks in monosyllables," Salvietti said. "I don't think he realises yet what he is accused of."

The crime prompted President Emmanuel Macron to say there is no place for religious hate in French society.

On Wednesday, he once again spoke out against religious hatred and racism.

"France is defined neither by blood, race, religion, nor a fixed identity," Macron said during a ceremony honouring the French Foreign Legion.

Nearly 150 nationalities serve in the storied unit, which is made up of foreign fighters.

On Tuesday, Macron met with leaders of France's Muslim community, who called for action in "the fight against anti-Muslim hatred".

Source:yahoo.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/italy-could-hand-over-french-140033823.html

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Baku Reaffirms Commitment To Interfaith Dialogue And Islamic Values At Samarkand Forum

30 April 2025

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, linked by a common historical and cultural legacy, continue to deepen their strategic partnership within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, with a clear focus on promoting peace, enhancing regional stability, and jointly countering the threat of extremism.

This message was delivered by Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Work with Religious Organisations, during his speech at the international conference “Maturidism — A Doctrine of Tolerance, Moderation, and Enlightenment” held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Caliber.Az reported citing the State Committee.

In his address, Mammadov emphasised that in the face of mounting global challenges and the ongoing transformation of the world’s cultural landscape, advancing the values of peaceful coexistence, mutual tolerance, solidarity, and multiculturalism has become more crucial than ever. He called these principles essential pillars of a sustainable and secure world order.

Mammadov drew attention to the need for efforts that preserve national and spiritual heritage while fostering among younger generations an authentic and enlightened understanding of Islam and its evolving role in modern society.

Outlining Azerbaijan’s contributions to the development of Islamic civilisation, Mammadov noted the country’s unwavering dedication to protecting Islamic values and its leadership in spearheading international initiatives aimed at expanding intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Among these, he highlighted the Global Forum on Intercultural Dialogue and the Summit of World Religious Leaders, both hosted in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

He also spoke about the work of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, which was established by presidential decree, and underlined its vital mission in preparing highly qualified experts in religious studies and Islamic theology.

In conclusion, Ramin Mammadov expressed his strong belief that the conference in Samarkand would serve as an important platform for sharing authentic values, fostering interreligious understanding, and reinforcing global peace and sustainable stability.

Source:caliber.az

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://caliber.az/en/post/baku-reaffirms-commitment-to-interfaith-dialogue-and-islamic-values-at-samarkand-forum

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Africa

 

Moroccan-based cardinal says Church does not need Francis ‘impersonator’

April 30, 2025

ROME: Cardinal Cristobal Lopez Romero, the Spanish-born archbishop of Rabat, admits he is a little anxious ahead of his first conclave, although also curious.

The 72-year-old is among 133 cardinals from around the world who will vote for a successor to Pope Francis starting May 7.

“I haven’t decided anything,” he told AFP when asked whom he would vote for as the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

“We believe in the Holy Spirit and we will see what it shows us and where we have to go.”

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Francis mark II, a Francis impersonator,” said Lopez, who the Argentine pontiff appointed as a cardinal in 2019.

“I am happy for him to be a good impersonator of Christ, that he is a good Christian, a good person and pays attention to what happens in the world.”

Born in Spain, Lopez has been the archbishop of the Moroccan capital Rabat since 2017.

There, he claims to have experienced a “conversion” — not to Islam, the overwhelming majority religion in the North African country, but in his approach to his work.

“I hear confession barely once every six months,” Lopez said. Christians make up less than one percent of Morocco’s population of 38 million people.

“That helped me to realize that I wasn’t there to serve the Church but rather, as the Church, to serve the world — in this case the Muslim world.”

Lopez has been taking part in the daily cardinal meetings, known as “general congregations,” in which those present discuss the priorities for the new pope and future direction of the 2,000-year-old Church.

“We are listening to people who we have never listened to before... and that guides you,” said Lopez, who is a Paraguayan citizen, having lived there for almost two decades.

The cardinals taking part in the conclave — those aged under 80 and able to attend — are staying in the relatively modest Casa Santa Marta on the Vatican’s grounds where Francis lived during his papacy.

They are, however, sworn to lifelong secrecy about what happens inside the Sistine Chapel during the conclave.

Smartphones are banned, the room will be swept for listening devices and cardinals are barred from reading newspapers, listening to the radio or watching television.

“I’m not worried, but I am curious,” said Lopez. “A little apprehensive because I know the responsibility that this entails, but calm because I believe in the Holy Spirit.”

In fact, Lopez even feels “a certain happiness” about the whole process — but hopes it will not last more than “two or three days.”

There are up to four votes a day until at least two-thirds of the cardinals agree on a single candidate.

Two days were needed to elect Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI, but the longest ever conclave lasted three years.

“It’s already many days that I have been out of Morocco and I’m eager and need” to return, said Lopez.

Like Francis, Lopez wants a missionary Church pushing out especially into areas where Catholicism has few adherents, such as Morocco.

“Thanks to Pope Francis this has become much clearer, that the Church is universal, Catholic, that there are no geographic borders that limit us,” he said.

And Lopez has not ruled out the next pope hailing from outside the traditional Catholic heartlands.

“After 50 years of a Polish pope, a German pope and an Argentine pope, why not think about a pope from Myanmar, East Timor or Australia, or North America, or Africa. It’s all open,” he said.

However, he is ruling himself out of the running.

“It’s as if I said (Lionel) Messi is going to retire and I’m going to replace” the Argentine football legend, he joked.

Source:arabnews.com

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Algeria drafts wartime mobilization bill amid regional tensions

April 30, 2025

ALGIERS: Algeria’s government proposed a law to streamline military mobilization amid tensions with neighboring countries Morocco and Mali, as well as former colonial ruler France.

The text, set to be unveiled on Wednesday by the North African country’s minister of justice, was approved by government ministers earlier this month.

Relations between France and Algeria sharply deteriorated last summer when France shifted its position to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

The debate on the general mobilization law comes as Algeria’s strongman leader, army chief of staff Said Changriha, makes a series of trips to military regions in the border areas to oversee military manouvers.

It also comes after Algeria, which has one of Africa’s largest militaries, said earlier this month it had shot down a military drone near the country’s border with Mali.

The text of the draft law, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press, aims “to define the provisions for organizing, preparing and carrying out the general mobilization provided for in Article 99 of the Constitution,” which authorizes the mobilization of all the nation’s forces in the event of a major crisis.

The draft law is raising concerns among ordinary Algerians.

“I did not understand what’s behind this project,’ Aziza Sahoui, a retired teacher, said on social media. “I’m really worried, especially as it comes after the incursion of a Malian drone into our territory.”

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Boko Haram: 26 Soldiers Not Dead In Borno Explosion – Nigerian Army

April 30, 2025

By Oladipo Abiola

The Nigerian Army has denied reports that 26 soldiers lost their lives in an explosion caused by Boko Haram in Borno State.

A statement on Wednesday released by the Nigerian Army across its social media pages clarified that there is no truth in earlier reports which claimed 26 soldiers lost their lives and 20 others were wounded in the explosion caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted on the road by Boko Haram terrorists.

The Army statement added that only two soldiers lost their lives and one other sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident which occurred on Tuesday, 29th April while the military men were on escort duty for civilians moving from Damboa to the Komala exchange point.

It promised that a detailed report would be made available on the incident later.

“CLARIFICATION ON MISINFORMATION Troops of 25 Brigade Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, while on road dominance patrol and escort duty for civilians moving from Damboa to the Komala exchange point, encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Maiduguri-Damboa Road on 29th April 2025, at approximately 4:30pm. Tragically, two courageous soldiers paid the supreme price in the line of duty, and one other sustained injuries. Detailed report will be made in press release later,” the statement read.

Source:naijanews.com

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Despite Hardship, Nigerian Workers Show Heroism – Atiku

May 1, 2025

By Udeze Ekene

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has described Nigerian workers as heroes in the face of hardship.

Naija News reports that Atiku said it was unfortunate that the government, through its policies, has failed to reciprocate the sacrifices of workers.

Speaking in commemoration of this year’s Workers Day, Atiku, in a statement issued through his media office, extolled the immeasurable contributions of Nigerian workers, asserting that their resilience and sacrifice were the heartbeat of national development.

He emphasized that the true spirit of Workers Day could only be fully realized when both government and private sector leaders place the welfare of workers at the forefront of national discourse and action.

Atiku noted that the condition of the workforce was a mirror reflecting the health and vitality of a nation’s economy, an undeniable barometer of socio-economic well-being.

“In the face of relentless hardship and meagre compensation, Nigerian workers have continued to bear the burdens of our economic aspirations with silent heroism,” he said.

“Yet, it is disheartening that those entrusted with the reins of policy and governance have failed to reciprocate this steadfast commitment with tangible acts of support and justice,” he stated.

He expressed deep concern that amidst prevailing economic adversity, the current government has not deemed it necessary to roll out any meaningful palliative measures to cushion the suffering of workers.

Atiku implored the leadership of labour unions to persist in their noble crusade for good governance, describing their advocacy as the final bastion of hope for the average Nigerian.

He called upon governments at all levels to uphold the sanctity of workers’ rights and privileges, insisting that these must remain inviolable and zealously protected.

“The labour force is the soul of our nation. It is both the face and the force of the people. It is thus imperative that governments and employers alike erect unyielding safeguards to protect the dignity, benefits, and entitlements that justly belong to the worker,” he noted.

He concluded by urging policymakers to draw inspiration from the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Social Justice and Decent Work. Safety and Health of Workers’, and to embrace the labour force not as a mere tool, but as an equal partner in the journey to national greatness.

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South Africa to probe whether prosecutions of apartheid crimes were blocked

May 1, 2025

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an inquiry Wednesday to establish whether previous governments led by his party intentionally blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes.

The landmark move, which survivors and families of those who were killed have demanded for more than 20 years, will address allegations of “improper influence in delaying or hindering” investigations that have been levelled against post-apartheid governments led by the African National Congress party, Ramaphosa's office said in a statement.

The ANC was the organization at the forefront of the battle against the system of white minority rule and led South Africa to democracy in 1994. But ANC-led governments since then have been criticized by some for prioritizing national reconciliation ahead of justice for victims.

Ramaphosa's announcement of a judicial commission of inquiry came after 25 survivors and relatives of victims of apartheid-era crimes launched a court case against his government in January seeking damages. They alleged that successive South African governments since the late 1990s had failed to properly investigate unresolved killings, disappearances and other crimes during the time of forced racial segregation despite recommendations made by the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The new inquiry was part of a settlement agreement in the January court case, Ramaphosa's office said.

“President Ramaphosa appreciates the anguish and frustration of the families of victims, who have fought for so many years for justice,” it said.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up in 1996 by then-President Nelson Mandela under the chairmanship of fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu. Its mission was to expose and record apartheid-era crimes and give some of those responsible an opportunity to confess their role, including members of the apartheid government's state security forces that were implicated in many killings.

Some were granted amnesty from prosecution, but others didn't come forward and thousands were denied amnesty.

One of the most prominent unresolved cases is that of the Cradock Four, a group of Black anti-apartheid activists who were abducted and murdered by security forces in 1985. Their bodies were burned and security officers were suspected of torturing them.

Six former police officers appeared before the commission in 1999 over the murders of Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkonto, but none of them were granted amnesty.

No one has been prosecuted for the killings and the circumstances of the deaths have never been fully revealed. They are among the thousands of crimes during apartheid where victims and families still haven't seen justice.

Lukhanyo Calata, whose father Fort was one of the Cradock Four, is part of the group that took the current South African government to court in January. He said at the start of that court case that successive South African governments since the administration of President Thabo Mbeki from 1999-2008 had failed to act on the commission's recommendations and had denied victims and their families justice. He and other relatives say that government ministers intervened to prevent the investigation and prosecution of crimes.

While the majority of the victims of apartheid-era crimes were Black, whites have also sought justice decades later.

Source:africanews.com

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Sudan’s army leader Burhan appoints an acting prime minister, statement says

April 30, 2025

Sudan’s army leader Abdel Fattah Burhan appointed diplomat Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali as acting prime minister on Wednesday, weeks after the army’s recapture of Khartoum.

Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s transitional sovereign council, also approved the appointment of Omar Seddik, a current ambassador, as foreign minister, a council statement said.

In March, the Sudanese army drove Rapid Support Forces militia from most of Khartoum after two years of devastating conflict that split the country into rival zones of control. The RSF is still deeply embedded in western Sudan.

The war erupted in April 2023 over disputes about the integration of the two forces after they worked together to oust civilians with whom they had shared power after the uprising that toppled autocrat Omar Al-Bashir.

In February, Burhan said there would be changes to the country’s interim constitution, which military sources said would remove all references to partnership with civilians or the RSF, placing authority solely with the army which would appoint a technocratic prime minister who would then appoint a cabinet.

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Pakistan

 

Hindus in Quetta protest Indian accusations over Pahalgam attack

Saleem Shahid

May 1, 2025

QUETTA: Members of the Hindu community staged a protest rally in Quetta on Wednesday, condemning what they called baseless allegations against Pakistan by the Indian government regarding the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam in held Kashmir.

Led by Sanjay Kumar, a PPP minority member of the Balochistan Assembly, the rally included men and women carrying placards and banners with anti-Modi and anti-India slogans.

The protesters marched through various roads and streets of the provincial capital before gathering outside the Quetta Press Club.

Chanting slogans against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, protesters rejected any involvement by Pakistan in the Pahalgam attack.

“The Hindu community in Pakistan stands united with the country’s armed forces. If India dares commit aggression, over 10 million Hindus in Pakistan will stand behind our military,” Sanjay Kumar said while addressing the gathering.

Other speakers, including several women, also condemned the Indian government’s actions and rhetoric. They criticised India’s move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a violation of international agreements.

“India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty signed in 1960 without the consent of other stakeholders,” protesters said.

The protest ended peacefully after the speeches.

Source:dawn.com

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3 CTD police personnel martyred, 2 injured in Bannu in exchange of fire with terrorists

Tahir Khan | Umar Bacha

May 1, 2025

Three Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police personnel were martyred and two injured early on Thursday morning in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Bannu, officials said.

According to a statement issued from the office of Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan, the gun battle took place in the Spin Tangi area of Chashmi, Bannu.

Bannu CTD personnel Assistant Sub-Inspector Benyamin Khan, Constable Inam Khan and Constable Musawar were martyred. Two constables, Wafid Khan and Imran, were wounded.

He said two khawarij — a term the state uses to refer to terrorists — were killed and another two injured in police firing, and their accomplices took bodies and injured with them.

“Weapons, ammunition, IEDs (improvised explosive device) and hand grenades were recovered from the terrorists, which were seized by the police,” the spokesman said.

As soon as the incident was reported, RPO Khan, Bannu District Police Officer Saleem Abbas Kalachi, and CTD Superintendent of Police reached the CTD hospital where they visited the injured personnel and inquired after their well-being.

They also issued instructions to the hospital staff for the best treatment of those injured.

RPO Khan said that all available resources will be utilised for the best treatment of the injured personnel.

“We will soon avenge our martyred brothers and engage the terrorists with an iron hand till the very end,” he said.

A large contingent of Bannu police and CTD police have cordoned off the area and are engaged in search operations. Raids are being conducted on the hideouts of the terrorists, the spokesman said.

In March, two officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s CTD were martyred at Tanda Dam in Kohat district in a gun attack carried out by unidentified assailants.

In January, an official of the police’s CTD was martyred when unidentified persons opened fire at him in Mirali Bazaar.

Source:dawn.com

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In a first, ISI chief made national security adviser

May 1, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The government has appointed Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, the incumbent dire­ctor general of the country’s premier intelligence agency, as the new National Security Adviser (NSA).

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief becomes the country’s tenth NSA.

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday said that Gen Malik would retain his role as DG ISI, a position he has held since September 2024.

“Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI(M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect,” the notification stated.

His appointment marks the first time a serving ISI chief will concurrently serve as the NSA.

The posting comes amid heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam attack.

The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the PTI government was ousted after former Prime Minister Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence. At the time, Moeed Yusuf was serving as the NSA.

The NSA holds the status of a federal minister and serves as the principal adviser to the Prime Minister on matters of national security, foreign policy, and strategic affairs.

The adviser also heads the National Security Division, based at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in Islamabad.

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Balochistan Assembly rejects Indian allegations

Saleem Shahid

May 1, 2025

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution rejecting false allegations of the Indian government about Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack without providing any evidence.

The joint resolution of the government and the opposition presented by parliamentary secretary Zareen Khan Magsi said Pakistan is a peaceful country which believes in mutual relations and respect for each other, but it would not hesitate to render any sacrifice to safeguard its independence and protection of its national interests.

The resolution also rejected the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by the Indian government and termed it violation of international accord and declaration of war against Pakistan.

The resolution pledged that Pakistan will continue extending its moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of India-occupied Kashmir.

The resolution said the House rejected the false allegations levelled by the Ind­ian government against Pakistan immediately after the Pahalgam terrorist att­ack in held Kashmir without providing any evidence to prove its claim of involvement of Pakistan in the incident.

It said that that levelling such baseless allegations were meant not only to defame Pakistan at international level but also to sabotage the peace and stability of the region. The resolution warned of a tough res­ponse from Pakistan if India did any adventure on the pretext of Pahalgam incident.

If India did any aggression or adventure against Pakistan the armed forces of the country will respond with full force and entire country would stand behind the armed forces to respond to Indian aggression, the resolution said.

Speaking in the House, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the Indian aggression posed a serious threat not only to Pakistan but to the peace of the entire region. The chief minister called it a dangerous situation that could destabilise the whole region and said that India’s motives must be exposed on the international stage.

He said the Pahalgam incident appears to be a staged operation in which the Indian government itself seems to be involved. He said that several previous incidents in India have been traced back to Indian intelligence agencies.

He said that war is never a viable solution, especially between nuclear-armed countries, but if war is imposed, its consequences cannot be controlled.

The chief minister said that India must be sent a clear message that Pakistan will not tolerate any form of aggression.

Commenting on India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Mr Bugti said these are international agreements that cannot be terminated through unilateral declarations.

If India terminated the treaty, it would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Pakistan as Pakistanis consider the water issue a matter of life and death for them and any violation of the Indus Water Treaty would be seen as an act of war and a blatant breach of international law against which Pakistan will raise its voice at all global forums.

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Punjab CM Maryam assails PTI for polluting ‘brains of youth’

Zulqernain Tahir

May 1, 2025

LAHORE: At a time when the nation needs unity among its ranks in the face of Indian aggression, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz does not seem to be willing to spare the PTI and continued bashing the party, though indirectly, for “polluting the brains of the youth”.

Addressing a laptop distribution ceremony here on Wednes­day, the Punjab CM reminded the youth of the fate of those responsible for May 9 rioting.

Indirectly referring to Mr Khan, the CM said: “If someone asks you to open fire on the men in uniform...make petrol bombs and set the public property on fire, don’t listen to them. Those who did it (May 9) are in jail and their future is dark. Even the terrorists who are residing outside the country with their children, want to sabotage Pakistan. You don’t have to become their tools.”

In an indirect reference to Imran’s nephew Hassaan Niazi, she said the youth should not support those who hooked the army uniform to a stick and waved it, giving a wrong message.

She asked the youth not to be afraid of what is happening on the borders. “There is tension on the border, but you don’t have to be afraid. The youth should give message to the army that they are standing by them,” she added.

She urged the youth to work for the country’s welfare beyond their political association and added the 65 per cent of the country’s population comprises the youth which has the country’s future in their hands.

On the laptop scheme, she said it had been relaunched in Punjab after eight years.

“The students will be given 13th generation Core i7 laptops for the first time,” the CM announced.

She also launched Honhaar Scholarship Phase-II Prog­ramme. A laptop scheme has also been launched by the Punjab government for 5,000 students from other provinces. The e-portal of the laptop scheme has been opened for the students from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

After the students from Punjab, 3,136 students from KP will also get laptops, besides 938 students from Balochistan, 517 from AJK and 410 from GB.

Under Honhaar Scholarship Phase-II, 20,000 scholarships will be given to the students from two to five years and from 3rd to 8th semester.

Scholarships worth more than Rs120 million will be given to 3,121 students of 27 government colleges, six medical colleges and universities of Lahore division.

Under the laptop scheme, laptops were distributed among 14,000 students of Lahore division.

Laptops were given to the first and second semester students of 13 government universities, six medical colleges and 27 higher educational institutions.

Source:dawn.com

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Mideast

 

Lebanese Army Dismantled ‘Over 90 Percent’ Of Hezbollah Infrastructure Near Israel: Security Official

April 30, 2025

BEIRUT: The Lebanese army has dismantled “over 90 percent” of Hezbollah’s infrastructure near the border with Israel since a November ceasefire, a security official said Wednesday.

“We have dismantled over 90 percent of the infrastructure in the area south of the Litani,” the official, who requested anonymity as the matter is sensitive, told AFP.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meanwhile said in an interview with Sky News Arabia that the army was now in control of over 85 percent of the country’s south.

The November truce deal, which ended over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon.

Under the deal, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters north of Lebanon’s Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure to its south.

Much of Hezbollah’s robust underground infrastructure in the south was “filled and closed” by the army, the official said.

Soldiers have also reinforced their control of crossing points into the area south of the Litani “to prevent the transfer of weapons from the north of the river to the south.”

Aoun, on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, said the Lebanese army was “fulfilling its role without any problems or opposition.”

He said the single obstacle to the full deployment of soldiers across the border area was “Israel’s occupation of five border positions.”

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel was to withdraw all its forces from south Lebanon, but its troops remain in five positions that it deems “strategic.”

The security official meanwhile said that Hezbollah has been cooperating with the army.

“Hezbollah withdrew and said ‘do whatever you want’... there is no longer a military (infrastructure) for Hezbollah south of the Litani,” the official said.

The official added that most of the munitions found by the army were either “damaged” by Israeli bombing or “in such bad shape that it is impossible to stock them,” prompting the army to detonate them.

Source:arabnews.com

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Jordan jails 4 for 20 years in case linked to Muslim Brotherhood

May 01, 2025

AMMAN: A Jordanian court sentenced four people to 20 years in prison on Wednesday over plans to “target national security,” in a case linked to the recently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Earlier in April, the kingdom’s intelligence service announced it had arrested 16 suspects and “foiled plans aimed at targeting national security, sowing chaos and sabotaging within Jordan.”

Jordan then announced last week that it was banning the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist movement, accusing it of manufacturing and stockpiling weapons and planning to destabilize the kingdom.

On Wednesday, Jordan’s state security court said in a statement that it had sentenced four of the 16 defendants to 20-year jail terms and unspecified fines.

The four were convicted of “possession of explosives, weapons and ammunition with the intent to use them illegally and commit acts that would disrupt public order and threaten social safety and security, in violation of the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Law,” it said.

The statement did not specify whether they were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, but state television had previously broadcast what it described as confessions from three of the 16 suspects admitting they were members of the Islamist group.

The Brotherhood later issued a statement distancing itself from the individuals and saying they acted on their own motives.

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya announced on April 23 that the government had decided to “ban all activities of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood and to consider any activity (carried out by it) a violation of the provisions of the law.”

The Muslim Brotherhood has continued to operate in Jordan despite a ruling by the country’s top court dissolving it in 2020, with authorities turning a blind eye to its activities.

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Migrants’ dreams buried under rubble after deadly strike on Yemen center

April 30, 2025

SAADA: Africans in search of a better future became the latest casualties of Yemen’s decade-long conflict after a deadly strike blamed on the United States hit a migrant detention center, killing dozens of people.

The pre-dawn attack on Monday killed more than 60 people in their sleep, the country’s Houthi militants said, attributing the raid to the US military.

Rubble, blood and body parts dotted the grounds of the compound in Houthi-held Saada, with several buildings left in ruins, twisted metal glittering in the sun.

In a nearby hospital, emaciated African men were recovering from their wounds after surviving the attack that tore their friends to pieces.

“The planes struck close by twice. The third time they hit us,” said Abed Ibrahim Saleh, 34, a soft-spoken Ethiopian whose head and leg were wrapped in white gauze.

“Dead bodies ripped apart, I can’t describe what I saw... A hand here, a leg there. I don’t want to remember,” he said with a blank stare.

Since mid-March, Washington has conducted near-daily air strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis in a bid to stop their campaign of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, launched in solidarity with Palestinians after the outbreak of the Gaza war.

US strikes on the militants began under former president Joe Biden, but have resumed and intensified under his successor Donald Trump.

Fleeing conflict

Footage broadcast by the Houthis’ Al-Masirah TV at the time of the attack showed bodies lying under the rubble as rescue teams searched for survivors.

The tragedy brought back memories of a March 2021 blaze at a Sanaa migrant center that killed 45 people and was sparked by teargas canisters fired by Houthi forces responding to a protest.

Each year, tens of thousands of migrants cross the Red Sea from the Horn of Africa, fleeing conflict, natural disasters and poor economic prospects.

Inspecting the wreckage, Ibrahim Abdul Qadir Mohammed Al-Moallem, a member of Yemen’s Somali community, denounced the “heinous crime” against innocent people.

“This brutal aggression that killed the sons of Palestine and the Yemeni people is now targeting poor migrants,” he said, blaming the United States for the attack.

The Houthis, who have also repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel, paused their attacks during a recent two-month ceasefire in Gaza, but had threatened to resume them after Israel cut off aid to the territory over an impasse in negotiations.

Before they could, however, the intensified US campaign resumed, hitting more than 1,000 targets in insurgent-held Yemen since March 15. The Houthi’s attacks since then have only targeted US warships.

“There is no justification for this,” Moallem said, calling on African leaders to take a stance and urging the international community to “break your silence.”

'Conducting assessment'

Asked about the strike, a US defense official told AFP the army was aware of reports of civilian casualties “and we take those claims very seriously.”

“We are currently conducting our battle-damage assessment and inquiry into those claims,” they said on condition of anonymity.

The United Nations expressed deep concern at Monday’s strike, while Niku Jafarnia of Human Rights Watch said US attacks “are appearing to kill and injure civilians in Yemen at an alarming rate over the past month.”

“Failing to take all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law,” HRW said.

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Qatar supplies Syria’s White Helmets with vehicles, logistical equipment

April 30, 2025

LONDON: Qatar has provided a consignment of vehicles, water pumps and other logistical equipment to the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, to support its humanitarian and rescue efforts.

Since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime late last year, the White Helmets have been at the forefront of rescue and first aid operations in Syria, providing essential relief services and contributing to rebuilding efforts.

The consignment was received at the Internal Security Force headquarters in Al-Duhail on Wednesday in the presence of Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed Al Saleh and Qatari Brig. Gen. Nawaf Majed Al-Ali, assistant commander for security operations at the internal force.

The equipment included fire engines, mobile water tanks, high-altitude rescue vehicles, water pumps and personnel transport vehicles that will be used in search and rescue operations and emergency response, the Qatar News Agency reported.

Mounir Moustafa, director of the White Helmets, praised Qatar’s support and said the equipment and training programs would significantly enhance their daily operations.

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Shifting power in Lebanon revives hopes for Beirut port blast accountability

ANAN TELLO

April 30, 2025

LONDON: On Aug. 4, 2020, the biggest non-nuclear explosion ever recorded tore through Lebanon’s Port of Beirut, devastating entire neighborhoods and leaving hundreds dead or wounded. Almost five years on, no one has been held to account for the blast.

In a rare breakthrough in the long-stalled inquiry into the explosion, presiding judge Tarek Bitar was recently able to question two former security chiefs — including one who was appearing in court for the first time since his 2020 summons.

This development on April 11 signaled a renewed momentum after years of obstruction and political interference, brought about in part by the election of a new technocratic government and the weakening of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

According to four judicial and two security officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Bitar questioned Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, head of the General Security Directorate from 2011 to 2023, and former State Security chief Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba.

The momentum continued the following week when Bitar summoned former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. Days later, he interrogated former Prime Minister Hassan Diab for more than two hours and remanded him for further questioning.

Lebanon’s judiciary has long been plagued by interference and a political culture resistant to accountability, particularly when powerful groups such as Hezbollah are involved.

Observers say the blast, which killed more than 218 people, remains a painful emblem of Lebanon’s systemic dysfunction.

Fadi Nicholas Nassar, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, described the Beirut port blast as “a reflection of everything that pushed Lebanon to the brink: militia control, a political class beholden to Hezbollah, a weakened judiciary, and corruption at every level — all made worse by the obstruction of justice.”

“How Lebanon handles the investigation now will be the defining moment: a turn toward accountability, or a confirmation that impunity still rules,” he told Arab News.

The investigation into the Beirut port blast ground to a halt in late 2021 after Hezbollah’s then-leader, Hassan Nasrallah, accused Bitar of political bias and called for his replacement.

“The targeting is clear, you are picking certain officials and certain people,” Nasrallah said at the time. “The bias is clear,” he added, demanding that Bitar be replaced with a “transparent” judge.

This public condemnation marked a turning point in what many viewed as a calculated effort to derail the investigation and shield powerful figures from prosecution.

The list of those questioned includes former prime ministers, cabinet ministers, security chiefs, and customs and port authorities — many of whom reportedly have ties to Hezbollah and its allies, including the Amal Movement.

Diab himself was nominated to lead the government in 2019 by Hezbollah and its allies.

Yet the specific charges against these figures remain undisclosed, underscoring the secrecy that has surrounded the investigation since it began.

Critics say the attack on Bitar was part of a broader campaign to undermine the probe.

Makram Rabah, an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut, says Hezbollah and its allies “have tried to implode it through using red tape, through trying to rig and play the system.”

In recent months, however, shifting political dynamics may have reopened the path to justice. Hezbollah’s influence has waned since its 2023-24 conflict with Israel, while the appointment of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has fueled hopes for progress.

“The new government will definitely empower Tarek Bitar to pursue justice,” Rabah told Arab News, adding that his optimism stems not from the government’s technocratic makeup, “but because it’s a normal functioning government.”

Mohammed Chebaro, a London-based political analyst and researcher, echoed Rabah’s optimism. “Since the defeat of Hezbollah in the latest war — and what I would describe as a regime change — we’ve seen a series of developments that have been broadly welcomed by most Lebanese, and by any sovereign nation,” he told Arab News.

Hezbollah suffered a major blow during its war with Israel, which resulted in the killing of Nasrallah and other top officials, the destruction of much of its military hardware, and the draining of its finances.

Forced to accept a ceasefire deal brokered by the US, the group has since ceded most of its positions south of the Litani River to the Lebanese army, leaving its future uncertain.

Chebaro said the election of Aoun as president in January and the appointment of Salam as prime minister signaled a shift.

“Both leaders appear to be free from foreign influence, whether Syrian or Iranian,” he said, adding that the weakening of Hezbollah’s grip on the country has “automatically paved the way for many initiatives to be relaunched.”

With political space opening, Chebaro believes Bitar now has the latitude to act. “At the moment, Judge Bitar has a free hand — and he will likely continue to have one. The real question is whether the investigation can extend to apprehending and questioning figures with political protection.”

He cited Machnouk as an example. “He’s part of the (Third) Independence Movement, and individuals from this group have generally acted within the law and have been willing to cooperate. Even if they were implicated, they wouldn’t resist presenting themselves for questioning.”

But “the real test,” Chebaro added, “lies with members of the military establishment who served under the Hezbollah-aligned governments of Diab and Najib Mikati.”

“A turning point would be seeing those military officials stand before Bitar — especially if they are backed by political patrons in what’s known as the Shiite Duo alliance of Hezbollah and Amal,” he said. “These are the same individuals who previously rejected the investigation and even accused Judge Bitar of treason for summoning them.”

That puts the new government in a delicate position. “How far are they willing to go?” Chebaro asked. “This is sensitive terrain. Will they pursue full justice, even at the risk of destabilizing the political system, or move more cautiously while rebuilding rule of law?”

Chebaro believes Salam’s government has little choice but to act. “A crime as devastating as the Beirut port explosion would inevitably be a priority for a government seeking to reassert sovereignty and demonstrate to the world that Lebanon has an independent judiciary capable of uncovering the truth.”

The Beirut port blast occurred when a fire ignited 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored in a warehouse since 2014.

The resulting explosion, widely blamed on years of government negligence and corruption, killed at least 218 people, injured more than 7,000, displaced some 300,000, and caused property damage estimated at over $15 billion.

In the face of a stalled investigation, the families of victims and rights groups began pushing for international intervention.

They “called for a UN-backed, independent factfinding mission that would determine the truth and clearly delineate responsibility for the disaster,” said Nassar of the Middle East Institute.

Lebanon’s new leadership now has an opportunity to reset the course “by backing the call for a UN-backed factfinding mission, ensuring the local investigation moves forward free from obstruction, and letting the truth bring justice to the victims of the Beirut blast,” he added.

In July 2024, a coalition of Lebanese and international groups, survivors, and victims’ families urged members of the UN Human Rights Council to support a resolution establishing an independent factfinding mission into rights violations tied to the explosion.

The call reflected a broader crisis of accountability in Lebanon, where major crimes have routinely gone unpunished.

Lebanon has a long history of political assassinations and violence — including the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and the 2012 murder of intelligence chief Wissam Al-Hassan — that have largely evaded accountability.

Investigations have repeatedly been derailed by political interference and a judiciary weakened by corruption and partisan control. However, Nassar pointed to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a rare exception.

“The STL was the rare moment when truth broke through Lebanon’s entrenched obstruction and violence, even in the face of the assassination of Wissam Eid, a Lebanese intelligence officer who gave his life to expose the truth,” he said.

However, “since then, international diplomacy has consistently prioritized short-term stability over accountability.

“The STL’s findings, which confirm Hezbollah’s responsibility in Rafic Hariri’s assassination, remain an enduring truth. As Lebanon now faces the probe into the Beirut blast, it has a chance to break from its past.

“Only by committing to truth and accountability can Lebanon begin to undo the forces that have held it hostage for so long.”

Echoing that concern, Middle East expert Chebaro warned that while hope for justice in the Beirut port case remains, the reality is far more complicated. “Many in Lebanon already have a clear idea of who controls the state,” he said. “As much as I hope impunity won’t prevail, the outcome remains uncertain.”

Chebaro said that while those responsible for the storage of the explosive material could, in theory, be identified and prosecuted, the greater challenge lies in whether Lebanon’s political elite is willing to face the consequences.

“Balancing the pursuit of justice with the stability of the current regime — and the future of Lebanon — will ultimately determine how deep this investigation is allowed to go,” he said.

Still, he noted that the resumption of the probe is a positive sign. “The fact that things are moving again is, at least, encouraging,” Chebaro said.

That cautious optimism is shared by Rabah of the American University of Beirut. While skeptical that Bitar can uncover the full truth on his own, Rabah said the investigation is a step in the right direction.

“I don’t believe that Tarek Bitar on his own will be able to actually know what really happened, because the way he’s going about it is only exploring the technical aspect,” he said.

“But in all cases, we do have reason to be optimistic, be it in the investigation of Tarek Bitar or any other one.”

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Lebanese Druze call for quelling sedition in Syria, condemn Israeli intervention

NAJIA HOUSSARI

April 30, 2025

BEIRUT: The Druze community in Lebanon, represented by its political and spiritual leaders, unanimously agreed in an urgent meeting on Wednesday in Beirut on the “necessity of quelling sedition in Syria in light of the bloody events that unfolded in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya.”

They condemned “every insult made against the Prophet” and called for calm, dialogue, and for the Syrian administration to conduct a transparent investigation into what happened.

The intervention came a day after clashes near the Syrian capital Damascus left a reported 13 people dead. The fighting was prompted after an audio clip supposedly of a senior Druze figure insulting the Prophet Muhammad circulated, promoting violence on the predominantly Druze town of Jaramana.

Former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, announced during the meeting his willingness to travel to the Syrian Arab Republic and meet President Ahmed Al-Sharaa “to engage in dialogue for the sake of preserving brotherhood.”

Jumblatt emphasized his rejection of “Israeli intervention through the use of Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif’s followers to entangle the Druze of Lebanon and Syria in a conflict against all Muslims,” stressing his disapproval of “the repeated visits made by Druze delegations to Israel seeking its support, which have not been successful.”

He expressed his concern regarding “the involvement of figures from the former Syrian regime in inciting discord.”

Jumblatt said there are “hundreds like Ibrahim Huweija,” referring to the Syrian officer who was arrested in Syria last March and is accused of assassinating the Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt in the 1970s.

On Wednesday morning, Jumblatt engaged in extensive communications that “included the new Syrian administration, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan,” as stated in a release from the Progressive Socialist Party.

He urged “the relevant parties to work toward establishing a ceasefire in the Ashrafiyat Sahnaya area to halt the bloodshed.”

Jumblatt requested that “matters be addressed based on the principles of the state and the unity of Syria with all its components.”

According to PSP, “as a result of the communications, an agreement was reached to implement a ceasefire that has come into effect.”

Sheikh Akl Sami Abi Al-Mona, the Druze spiritual leader, said at the beginning of the meeting: “The objective is to avert the worsening situation for our people in Syria, with whom we share ties of faith, kinship, and Arab and Islamic identity.”

He warned of “a discord plot that was being prepared in Syria, based on a video clip on social media that turned out to be fabricated to sow discord between the Druze and Sunnis in Syria, a country currently fertile ground for this changing reality.”

Abu Al-Mona affirmed that “Druze are unitarians and our religion is Islam.”

He added: “We refuse to be an independent national identity and we only embrace our Arab and Islamic affiliation. We refuse to be in confrontation with the Sunnis, with whom we share the Islamic faith.

“What happened in Syria proves that there is a hidden hand working on fueling the conflict.

“Not only do we condemn the action, the reaction and the clash on social media, but also the violation of holy sites, and we will work to stop the hateful rhetoric.

“The Syrian state must control the fragmented factions and intervene immediately to stop the ongoing security collapse.”

Abu Al-Mona stressed that “Israel seeks to execute its expansion plans,” adding that “we will only accept our Arab and Islamic affiliation.”

He described the situation as “critical” and the reactions as “hasty.”

Abu Al-Mona held local and external calls, notably with Syria’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Osama Al-Rifai and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, as part of the cooperative efforts to control the situation in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and to address potential dangers.

The main road linking Beirut to Damascus was blocked in Aley, Mount Lebanon, this afternoon, in protest against the developments taking place in Jaramana.

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Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

April 30, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a declaration of principles between the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it appreciated the diplomatic efforts made by the two sides and looked forward to their commitment to the declaration, which would enhance security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a declaration at the US State Department on Friday. They agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2, respecting each other’s sovereignty and refraining from supporting armed groups after fighting resumed in the DRC’s mineral-rich east in October.

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Riyadh festival inspires youth with math, tech focus

April 30, 2025

RIYADH: The second STEAM Festival, themed “Math, the Language of Science,” ended at the King Salman Science Oasis in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The event featured 25 interactive pavilions, dialogue sessions, theatrical performances and workshops focused on science and innovation.

It was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the National Institute for Educational Professional Development and the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, with support from the Riyadh Foundation for Science.

The festival drew thousands of students from across the Kingdom, more than 400 volunteers and more than 800 teachers who took part in workshops.

Attendees embarked on an inspiring educational journey through Arab, Islamic and Saudi scientific heritage, modern mathematical applications, emerging technologies and future opportunities.

Specialized panel discussions led by experts explored key topics in mathematics, technology and innovation, the SPA reported.

The festival also marked the launch of a national initiative to promote science and technology festivals. The scheme aims to spark youth interest in STEM, nurture innovation skills and build globally competitive generations.

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Saudi FM discusses situation in Gaza with Jordanian counterpart

April 30, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Riyadh on Wednesday.

During the meeting, relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in various fields were reviewed, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The latest regional and international developments were also discussed, including the Palestinian issue and the current situation in the Gaza Strip.

The two sides also discussed the efforts of the ministerial committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit regarding developments in the Gaza Strip.

Ongoing preparations for the conference to settle the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution, scheduled for June and chaired by both the Kingdom and France, were also discussed.

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NCW carries out study of marine biodiversity in Red Sea

April 30, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has conducted a study of marine biodiversity in the Red Sea.

The research examined underwater habitats, and was part of efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s natural resources, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Scientists used an environmental sensitivity map to classify different underwater areas based on the vulnerability of the species found there, prioritizing areas with a high number of at-risk species.

Surveys were carried out on 64 locations along the coastline to investigate the health of the species in those regions.

Changes in water temperature were measured in 37 different spots, to monitor the impact that higher temperatures have on wildlife.

CEO of the NCW, Mohammed Qurban, said that the study aligned with the green development goals of Saudi Arabia, which promote environmental sustainability in the Kingdom.

He also talked about the significance of surveys and how they were a critical tool to detect signs of any changes to habitats, which allowed organizations to address any issues.

NCW said in a statement that it would continue a number of studies and programs throughout the year to protect the marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the Kingdom.

The Red Sea is home to an array of wildlife including whales, dolphins, hammerhead sharks and sea snakes.

This week, one of the largest coral colonies in the world was discovered in the Red Sea.

The massive Pavona coral colony is expected to become an environmentally friendly tourist attraction managed by Red Sea Global.

Earlier this month, marine scientists found creatures thriving in deep waters of the Red Sea under seemingly unfavorable conditions of low oxygen levels and high acidity.

The unusual ecosystem was found in Difat Farasan near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The NCW is also leading initiatives to protect the dugong population in the Red Sea from further decline.

Efforts by the center include satellite tracking and scientific research to monitor its distribution in Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters.

Additionally, national plans are in place to manage and rehabilitate the species’ natural habitats, supporting long-term sustainability and the conditions necessary for dugong reproduction and survival.

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Saudi Arabia, Italy strengthen ties at business forum

RAHAF JAMBI

April 30, 2025

Turin: The Saudi-Italian Business Forum concluded on Wednesday in Turin, bringing together officials, business leaders and experts from both countries.

Cristina Tumiatti, vice president of Piccola Industria Unione Industriali Torino, opened the third day of the forum with a speech on industrial excellence.

“Saudi Arabia represents a market of extraordinary strategic potential. Its geographic position and dynamic economic environment make it a natural hub for businesses,” she said.

Tumiatti shared her personal expereinces in the Kingdom and praised its rapid transformation: “I have witnessed firsthand the progress and openness that characterize the Saudi business environment.”

She also emphasized Italy’s focus on Middle East partnerships: “Our initiatives promote digital ecological manufacturing and investments aimed specifically at companies entering the Saudi market.”

Waleed Al-Rubaie, general manager of petrochemicals at the Ministry of Investment, addressed global economic challenges and stressed the need for international cooperation.

“We come together at a time where the world is facing many challenges, and we can only overcome these by working together,” he said.

Al-Rubaie reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s green commitment: “We are dedicated to balancing energy availability with sustainability through our new green initiatives.”

His remarks underscored the energy sector’s shift toward sustainability as key to tackling climate change and ensuring long-term economic resilience.

Fahad Al-Subaie, director of clubs investment at the Ministry of Sports, spoke about the link between sports and economic development.

“We are targeting a 3 percent GDP contribution by 2030, aiming to create around 200,000 jobs,” he said.

He highlighted major investments since 2018, including the Newcastle acquisition and Formula One partnerships.

“These initiatives are not just about sports; they are about creating opportunities and driving economic growth,” he added, noting their impact on tourism and jobs.

Al-Subaie also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s global ambitions: “Our successful hosting of the 2024 World Cup is a testament to our commitment, as we are the first nation to achieve this with the highest attendance in history.”

Marco Osnato, president of the Bilateral Friendship Section UIP Italy-Saudi Arabia, highlighted the strengthening ties between the two countries.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Meloni, Italy and Saudi Arabia are becoming strategic partners. This partnership is reflected in our growing economic relations,” he said.

He stressed the role of political dialogue in boosting economic ties: “Frequent visits and agreements between our nations serve to solidify our commitment to mutual growth.”

Osnato added: “Italy is well-positioned to become a key player in the hydrogen supply chain,” pointing to shared goals in energy transition and sustainability.

Kamel Al-Munajjed, chairman of the Saudi-Italian Business Council, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Italy. “This is the largest Saudi business mission to ever visit Italy, reflecting our serious commitment to collaboration,” he said.

Al-Munajjed led a delegation of nearly 70 Saudi representatives, highlighting the forum’s importance in strengthening business ties.

Sara Al-Faiez, senior manager at the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, Invest Saudi, presented the Kingdom’s investment landscape: “Our goal is to create an attractive investment environment through policy reforms and partnerships.”

She noted the Kingdom’s strategic location: “Saudi Arabia is a global hub, with 80 percent of the world’s population within a seven-hour flight.”

Al-Faiez highlighted strong investment opportunities, especially in sectors aligned with Vision 2030.

As the forum concluded, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to stronger cooperation, leveraging shared strengths to navigate global challenges.

Discussions and partnerships formed during the forum are expected to deliver mutual benefits as Saudi Arabia and Italy pursue new opportunities in a shifting global economy.

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Asaan museum to feature 57,000 Saudi artifacts

April 30, 2025

RIYADH: The Misk Heritage Museum, known as Asaan, a new facility focused on preserving Saudi Arabia culture, has signed a 30-year agreement with Art of Heritage, affiliated with the Al-Nahda Society.

The partnership will ensure a showcase of thousands of rare pieces from Art of Heritage, including collections related to the Saudi way of life.

Asaan will house and manage Art of Heritage’s collection of 57,000 ethnographic objects, including 3,000 pieces of jewelry, and over 3,000 garments.

In addition, it will display 40,000 photographs, daily tools, more than 1,000 books, manuscripts, audio recordings, videos, old maps, and camel howdahs.

Before transfer, Asaan will digitize the collection to preserve its historical value, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The collection will also be a part of Asaan’s educational programs, community outreach, and artisan product development, fostering a deeper connection between Saudi society and its heritage.

Expected to open in the coming years in historic Diriyah, Asaan will offer immersive experiences to explore Saudi Arabia’s culture and inspire visitors to engage with its heritage, according to the SPA.

This collaboration supports Asaan’s goal to showcase authentic Saudi heritage and share stories of daily life in the Kingdom, giving visitors a closer look at its rich, diverse traditions.

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Greek envoy praised strategic ties between Athens and Riyadh

RASHID HASSAN

April 30, 2025

Riyadh: Greece and Saudi Arabia are longstanding strategic partners and will remain so for many years to come, Greek Ambassador Alexis Konstantopoulos said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the National Day reception at the Greek Embassy in Riyadh, Konstantopoulos said many important Greek companies and entrepreneurs contributed to the building of Saudi Arabia since the early 1960s, such as the Latsis Group, Archirodon and others.

He added Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis visited AlUla last January and was warmly received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his private desert camp, marking the first ever official state visit to take place there, a testament to the level of Greek-Saudi bilateral relations and their personal friendship.

Mitsotakis was accompanied by nine ministers and deputy ministers and participated in high-level strategic dialogue, setting solid foundations, a comprehensive framework and concrete action plans in different fields — political, defense, investment and commerce, energy, culture, tourism and sports — which the ambassador called an ambitious, far-reaching and comprehensive program to advance every aspect of the two sides’ bilateral relations for many years to come.

“Having had the privilege to serve in the Kingdom for some years, I can testify to the incredible changes that have taken place in this country — it completely transformed Saudi Arabia, its people and the Kingdom’s regional and global position,” he noted.

“We look forward to enhancing not only our government-to-government relations but also our business-to-business and people-to-people level links. I take this opportunity to welcome here today the CEO of Piraeus Bank, which together with Eurobank and the National Bank of Greece, as well as many other Greek companies, have a strong interest in the Saudi market. Our common ambitions are strong, we are complementary in many fields and our cooperation will add significant added value to our economies,” said Konstantopoulos.

He added: “Tonight we are celebrating the national day of Greece, the beginning of the fight for independence against Ottoman rule, which falls on March 25 and was accordingly postponed since it was Ramadan. Together, tonight, we celebrate our two countries, our great history, our common friendship, and our mutual respect.

“Our Greek community is warmly welcomed here, adding significant added value to the Saudi public and private sector, a fine example of Greek know-how and expertise. We are looking forward to welcoming more Greek tourists in the diverse and beautiful natural environment of Saudi Arabia and to welcoming more visitors from Saudi Arabia in our home country Greece.

“Aegean has more than seven-weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Greece and Saudia will start this summer to operate flights to Greece, almost on a daily basis,” said the ambassador.

“This is the celebration of a true friendship between two peoples with an ancient heritage, a booming present and a brilliant future,” he added.

Konstantopoulos thanked Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Riyadh region, for honoring the reception with his presence.

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