Inauguration of First Ever Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi by PM Modi on February 14
New Age Islam
News Bureau
13 February 2024
BAPS Temple will become Middle East’s first-ever
traditional Hindu stone temple. The temple is built on 27 acres of land, the
construction of which started in 2015. Photograph:(Twitter)
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·
Inauguration
Of First Ever Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi by PM Modion February 14
·
UN
Special Rapporteur Banned from Entering Israeli-Occupied Palestinian
Territories After Supporting Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Storm
·
Historical
Miniature Paintings Depict Holy Mosques Before Expansionof the Two Holy Mosques
·
Pakistan
Polls: Jamaat-i-Islami Candidate Forfeits Seat in Sindh; Says Imran Khan's
Party-Backed Candidate Actual Winner
·
“The
Solution to Nigeria’s Current Challenges Is Prayers” – Sultan of Sokoto
-----
India
·
Haldwani
ViolenceClaimed Six Lives and Injured 60 Others: 300 Muslim Families Flee,
Manhunt Intensified to Arrest Rioters
·
RSS
Placing Muslims loyal to PM on Top Posts in Muslim Universities: Report
·
Police
Station to Come Up InHaldwani Where Mosque And Madrasa Were Demolished, Says Uttarakhand
CM
·
Mumbai
BJP Leader Demands Demolition Of ‘Illegal Mosques’, Cites Mira Road Violence
----
Mideast
·
Israeli
Genocide of Palestinians: Addressing Global Sensitivity and Humanitarian
Concerns
·
Sports
Improve Organs: Istanbul Mosques Convert Working Class Faithful To Sport
·
Org.
associated with Israeli Islamist party transfers money to Hamas-linked group
·
Palestinian
president discusses latest Gaza developments with Qatari emir in Doha
·
Turkey
arrests Russian at nuclear plant in Islamic State probe, sources say
----
Arab World
·
Iranian
Embassy in Sana'a commemorates 45th anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory
·
Yemen’s
Houthi missiles hit Iran-bound ship in Red Sea
·
Ministry
of Islamic Affairs Organizes Quran Memorization Competition in Nepal
----
Pakistan
·
Muslim
League and People’s Party Discuss Rotational Prime Ministership: Pakistani
Media
·
Pakistani
Security Forces Kill Top Islamic State Terrorist, Surat Gul, in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Province
·
Lahore
ATC Holds Jail Trial of PTI Leaders, Workers in May 9 Violence Case
·
SC
Urged to Order Dr Shoaib Suddle to Probe Jaranwala Attacks
·
Pakistan
condemns Israel’s Rafah ‘massacre’
·
Pakistan
wants to enhance bilateral ties with Iran: FM
·
135
nationwide constituencies: ECP urged to take notice of ‘non-compliance by ROs’
·
IHC
directs police not to arrest any accused on premises of courts
----
Africa
·
Tunisian
Popular Current Party condemns Zionist aggression against Rafah
·
Mama
Boko Haram, two others jailed over N40 million fraud
·
Prominent
Islamic cleric lands in DSS custody after comparing Buhari, Tinubu to Pharaoh,
Haman
·
You
Won’t Destroy This Country and Leave, We Die Here – Abbo Calls for Visa Ban on
Corrupt Judges
·
Niger
Coup Leader Speaks On Returning To ECOWAS, Vows Never To Release Arrested
President, Bazoum
·
South
Sudan: AFDB and UNHCR partner to support refugees
·
Rwanda
Army using surface-to-air missiles in east DR Congo, says UN
----
South Asia
·
IEA
Deputy PM to Neighbour Countries: Do Not Force Afghan Refugees Out
·
Shia
Scholars and Elders Discuss Development Projects with Deputy PM
·
Hanafi
Urges Officials to Enhance Efforts for Kabul’s Order and Prosperity
·
Portugal
provides €200,000 for the first time to Afghanistan humanitarian fund
·
Taliban
Deputy Foreign Minister signals participation in Doha Conference
·
Germany
Warns Against Travel to Afghanistan, Kabul Denies Danger
----
Southeast Asia
·
Dr
M Being Treated At IJN, Trial of Defamation Suit Against Zahid Postponed
·
Interfaith
students pray for peaceful elections
·
PAS
steps up efforts to consolidate federal and state syariah laws
·
China
urges Israel to stop military operation in Rafah 'as soon as possible'
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North America
·
American
Muslims Set to Punish Biden Over Israel’s Gaza Assault
·
Biden
To Jordanian King: 'Status Quo Must Be Maintained at Al-Aqsa Mosque'
·
CAIR
Holds News Conference with Family of U.S. Citizen Kidnapped, Beaten by Israeli
Forces in Gaza
·
CAIR
Calls on President Biden to Condemn Israeli Murder of Palestinian-American
Teen, Massacre of Civilians in Rafah ‘Safe Area’
---
Europe
·
France
Proposes Hezbollah Withdrawal, Border Talks for Israel-Lebanon Truce
·
UK
slaps sanctions on West Bank settlers for ‘egregious’ violence, following US
move
·
Court
Orders Netherlands to Stop F-35 Parts Delivery to Israel
·
EU’s
Borrell urges Israel allies to stop sending weapons
·
Israel
should be pressed not to attack Rafah, home to 1.7M Palestinians: EU foreign
policy chief
·
ICC
prosecutor ‘deeply concerned’ by situation in Gaza’s Rafah
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/inauguration-hindu-temple-abu-dhabi-modi/d/131711
------
Inauguration
Of First Ever Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi by PM Modi on February 14
BAPS Temple will become Middle East’s first-ever
traditional Hindu stone temple. The temple is built on 27 acres of land, the
construction of which started in 2015. Photograph:(Twitter)
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12th
February 2024
Amidst
adverse weather conditions and showers in UAE, preparations are going on for
the grand opening of the first ever Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE,
on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to formally inaugurate the
temple on February 14.
The
National Centre for Meteorology has issued a severe red alert urging people to
be highly vigilant during adverse weather conditions where thunder and heavy
rain may continue until noon on Tuesday.
More
than 65,000 Indians have registered to participate in the Ahlan Modi event, PM
address to NRI community in a stadium, to welcome Modi ahead of inauguration of
the temple on Tuesday, where attendees must be seated by 4 PM. The working day
added with unexpected rain conditions are posing a challenge for the organisers
of the public meeting. More than 1,500 volunteers from the UAE have been part
of the organising and planning process of the large-scale stadium gathering.
Jitendra
Vaidya, the President of the Indian People Forum and leader of the ‘Ahlan Modi’
initiative, expressed his excitement about the unique nature of the event.
“It
is a very unique type of event because there is no single organisation
conducting this event; it is an entire community arranging it. As you may know,
when PM Modi’s name comes, people gather in large numbers. This is the love for
PM Modi,” Vaidya told ANI.
“We
are certain that a large number of NRIs attend the event to welcome Modi”, said
K. Mahinder Reddy of IPF, a community organization in Dubai and that is
actively involved in organising the event.
“The
youth of Telangana NRI community is one of the large crowds that we are
expecting” said N. Devender Reddy of BJP.
The
key highlights of the event include an exhibition by over 700 cultural artists,
bringing to life the vast diversity of Indian arts, and ensuring an inclusive
cultural soiree.
Active
participation from more than 150 Indian community groups in the event showcases
India’s regional diversity and the integration of thousands of blue-collar
workers from across the emirates, weaving a rich tapestry of diversity and
unity into the fabric of the event.
Earlier,
in an interview with ANI, Indian ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, said
that people are keen to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and his
vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ in the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event set to be held on February
13.
The
following evening, on Wednesday, Modi will inaugurate the BAPS Hindu temple
after a morning prayer ceremony during which the place of worship will be
consecrated and blessed.
BAPS
Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which is building the temple, is an international
community-based Hindu fellowship affiliated with the United Nations and
actively involved in the religious and spiritual service of its devotees in UAE
and some other parts of the GCC for a long time. The temple has seven deities
apart from principal deity Swamy Narayana. Tirumala’s Sri Padmavati Srinivasa,
also known as Tirupati Sri Venkateshwara also among them.
The
BAPS Hindu Mandir is set to become the Middle East’s first traditional Hindu
stone temple. Situated in the Abu Mureikhah area, this majestic structure
embodies the spirit of cultural peace and collaboration and is a testament to
the enduring friendship between India and the UAE.
Mahant
Swami Maharaj, the head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha who will preside over the
temple opening ceremony, was accorded the status of a state guest, and received
in traditional Arabic style with a troupe of dancers, drummers, and chanters
performing Al Ayyala. Sheikh NahayanMabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance,
warmly greeted Swami Maharaj at the airport.
Swami
Maharaj was also accompanied by Lulu’s Yusuf Ali during his visit to the temple
premises.
PM
Modi will be in the UAE on a two-day official visit beginning tomorrow. This
will be his seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and the third in the last eight
months.
During
the visit, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with UAE President Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders will discuss ways to further
deepen, expand and strengthen the strategic partnership between the countries
and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The
Prime Minister will also participate in the World Government Summit 2024 to be
held in Dubai as a Guest of Honour and deliver a special keynote address.
Source: siasat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.siasat.com/all-set-for-inauguration-of-temple-in-abu-dhabi-by-pm-modi-2976527/
----
UN Special
Rapporteur Banned from Entering Israeli-Occupied Palestinian Territories After Supporting
Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Storm
UN
Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese
-----
12
February 2024
A
United Nations special rapporteur has been banned from entering the
Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories after voicing support for last
October’s Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest retaliatory attack by
Palestinian resistance groups against Israel in decades.
Francesca
Albanese was officially denied visa to Israel following a post on her X social
media account, in which she backed the Hamas-led surprise attack on October 7,
2023 and wrote, “The victims of 7/10 were not killed because of their Judaism,
but in response to Israel’s oppression.”
Albanese,
who has been the UN’s point person for the occupied Palestinian territories
since 2022, made the post after French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that
the Hamas-led attack was the "greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our
century.”
The
UN special rapporteur went on to stress, “I reject all racism, including
anti-Semitism which is a global threat. But explaining these crimes as
anti-Semitism obscures their true cause."
The
Israeli regime’s foreign and interior ministries confirmed the ban on Albanese
on Monday, saying she would not be allowed into the occupied territories and
that the ban was attributed to her "outrageous statement."
In a
post on X later in the day, Albanese said the ban must not become a
“distraction from Israel's atrocities in Gaza,” and that UN special rapporteurs
are no stranger to such moves by the occupying regime.
Albanese
has been an outspoken critic of Israel and has previously described the
regime’s treatment of Palestinians as tantamount to apartheid.
Israel
launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups waged
the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response
to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation
against Palestinians.
Hamas-led
Palestinian resistance groups fired some 4,000 rockets at the occupied
territories and killed around 1,200 Israeli forces and settlers.
Since
the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 28,176
individuals, the majority of whom are innocent civilians, and injured more than
68,000 others.
Thousands
more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is
under “complete siege” by Israel.
Source: presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/12/719980/United-Nations-special-rapporteur-Francesca-Albanese-Israel-ban-
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Historical
Miniature Paintings Depict Holy Mosques Before Expansion of the Two Holy
Mosques
The
documentation of the Two Holy Mosques in miniature paintings offer a glimpse in
to the past, before the expansions of the sites. (Supplied)
------
February
12, 2024
MAKKAH:
Throughout Islamic history, art has played a pivotal role in capturing cultural
development and marking important moments in time.
The
documentation of the Two Holy Mosques in miniature paintings owned by Omar
Murshid, a Saudi enthusiast in Islamic civilization and arts, offer a glimpse
into the past, before the expansions of the sites.
Murshid
said that the paintings in his possession showcase the evolution of Islamic
architecture — in tandem with the emergence of Islamic statehood — and its
contribution to civilization and artistic imagination.
Speaking
about the diversity of the art forms of the time, he said: “When talking about
arts, namely Islamic arts, we talk about wide and various types of art,
including drawings, decorations, Arabic calligraphy, interwoven geometric
decorations, sword hilts, shields, ornaments, walls of mosques, domes and even
graphics coupled with texts. Paper making — a widespread process in the Abbasid
era — had a positive impact on arts and calligraphy.”
Noting
some of the prominent artists of the past, he added: “Yahya Al-Wasiti was a
painter who excelled in these arts and whose name was prominently featured in
the Islamic heritage in the mid-13th century. Other books including miniature
paintings were also featured after Kalila wa-Dimna, namely the book of songs by
Abu Al-Faraj Al-Isfahani.”
Some
miniature paintings, he added, document “the architectural and civilizational
aspects of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah through pilgrims who
performed their Hajj and Umrah rituals and visited the Prophet’s Mosque.”
Murshid
said that black and white as well as coloured drawings of the Two Holy Mosques
reveal many architectural elements featured in Islamic architecture, namely the
Kaaba, minarets, domes, interior space, pulpits, lanterns, Maqam Ibrahim,
arches, doors and more.
The
works also feature residential houses and city walls, surrounded by
geographical elements of mountains and palm trees. Arabic calligraphy and
Qur’anic verses are also featured in some.
Murshid
said that miniature paintings are “works of art characterized by the abundance
of details, beautiful decorations, and finely outlined shapes showing the
aspects of life, 'religious rituals and architecture of the Two Holy Mosques
from an Islamic point of view.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2458791/saudi-arabia
----
Pakistan
Polls: Jamaat-I-Islami Candidate Forfeits Seat in Sindh; Says Imran Khan's Party-Backed
Candidate Actual Winner
File
Photo: Polling officers count ballot papers during the general election in
Karachi, Pakistan. Credit: PTI Photo
------
12
Feb 2024
KARACHI:
In an unusual move, a senior leader of Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami Party on
Monday forfeited his seat in the Sindh province that he won in Thursday's
elections, saying it was not him but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party-backed
candidate who has won from the constituency he contested.
According
to the provisional results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan for
the February 8 general elections, Naeem won from the PS-129 constituency
(Karachi Central VIII) with 26,296 votes.
Addressing
a press conference, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that he took the unusual step to
highlight the alleged rigging in many constituencies during the February 8
polls.
“A
PTI-backed independent candidate has won and I will not avail this seat,” he
said.
"When
I estimated that there was a difference of a few hundred votes, I asked my team
for each and every Form [45]. When we checked, we found out that the Election
Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had shown fewer votes for us but as I did not
succeed, I forfeit this seat,” he said.
He
went on to claim that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)-backed independent candidate Saif Bari had won according
to his team's calculations, stating that his votes were “reduced to 11,000 from
31,000”.
In a
separate post on social media platform X, he said, “Therefore, according to my
conscience and the moral traditions of my party, I vacate my provincial
assembly seat and demand that all seats we won be returned to us.”
The
decision of Rehman, who is the chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami party's Karachi
unit, came on the heels of the two days of protests, some of them violent,
being carried out by different parties in several parts of Sindh province over
the alleged rigging in the polls.
Since
the General Elections on February 8, the PTI, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) party,
Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TL), and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) have been claiming their
candidates were robbed of their wins in many National Assembly and provincial
constituencies and they don't accept these results.
The
fact that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has ended up with 17 of the 22 National
Assembly seats from Karachi and several provincial assembly seats has only
angered the protesting parties.
The
PTI, JI, TL, and JUI have been leading the protests and on Monday workers of
these parties blocked the highways leading into the city.
Heavy
contingents of the police and rangers were called in to clear the roads as the
traffic got disrupted.
In
some cases where protesters have tried to march towards the ECP's provincial
office in the Saddar area. Heavy contingents of police have used tear gas
shells, water canons, and even batons to charge the heavy crowds to disperse
them.
The
police have also carried out arrests of some workers who were later released.
The
protests began one day after the provisional election results started being
announced by the ECP.
Since
the provincial results started coming out the courts have been flooded with
legal petitions and several candidates have challenged the provisional results
in their constituencies in a bid to win the seat.
According
to the details, the PTI-backed independents have filed the highest number of
petitions in the courts against the results.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2024/Feb/12/pak-s-jamaat-i-islami-party-candidate-forfeits-seat-in-sindh-says-imran-khan-s-party-backed-candidate-actual-winner
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“The
solution to Nigeria’s current challenges is prayers” – Sultan of Sokoto
The
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III,
-----
Jerry
Wright-Ukwu
February
12, 2024
The
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, has asserted that Nigeria’s
prevailing challenges are a consequence of citizens deviating from the worship
of God.
Speaking
at the grand opening of a Jum’ah Mosque in Guzape, Abuja, the Sultan urged
Nigerians to return to God through prayers, emphasizing a perceived connection
between the nation’s difficulties and a departure from spiritual values.
Represented
by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji
Yayale Ahmed, the Sultan conveyed a message emphasizing the importance of
seeking divine intervention during challenging times.
He
referred to the Holy Qur’an, stating, “If anyone departs from the worship of
God, definitely God will not look on his side; this is evident in many places
in the Holy Qur’an. We will continue to give genuine advice to the government.
“Everyone
knows the situation in Nigeria right now but the solution is to go back to seek
divine intervention and prayers. However, we should not supplicate for eye
service but for genuine supplication, because the Lord has said that after
hardship, there is relief.”
The
event was attended by prominent figures, including Vice President Kashim
Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security
Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy Isa Ali Pantami, as well as former governors and senators.
Sheikh
Sani Yahaya Jingir, the Chairman of the Council of Scholars of JIBWIS, expanded
the call for moral rectitude beyond religious circles.
He
urged judges to avoid corruption and implored public officeholders to uphold
truthfulness and transparency in the execution of their duties.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://politicsnigeria.com/the-solution-to-nigerias-current-challenges-is-prayers-sultan-of-sokoto/
----
India
Haldwani
ViolenceClaimed Six Lives and Injured 60 Others: 300 Muslim Families Flee,
Manhunt Intensified to Arrest Rioters
Feb
13, 2024
Piyush
Mishra
Four
days after the violence in Uttarakhand's Haldwani claimed six lives and injured
60 others, over 300 Muslim families have migrated from the Banbhoolpoora area
to safer zones.
Several
families were seen walking on roads with their luggage due to a lack of
transportation facilities with a curfew in place. Restrictions were imposed in
the area where violence broke out on February 8 after authorities razed an
'illegal' mosque and madrasa during an anti-encroachment drive in
Banbhoolpoora.
In
the wake of the violence, massive search operations are still being carried out
by the police. So far, the police have arrested 30 people in connection with
the violence and many are still on the radar.
The
Uttarakhand Police have also recovered weapons from the possession of the
arrested accused.
The
Nainital district administration, under which Haldwani falls, has now relaxed
curfew in many parts of Haldwani, but the Banbhoolpoora area remains under an
intense curfew.
People
have been asked strictly to stay indoors or else actions will be taken
according to law. Internet services have been restored in many parts of
Haldwani, barring areas where curfew is still in place.
As
more Muslim families are planning to flee, the district administration has now
sealed all the entry and exit points of Banbhoolpoora. Sources said the
decision to seal the area had been taken by the police because the
investigators felt that rioters who were involved in the violence could also
flee.
On
Sunday, a delegation of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind visited Haldwani and held a meeting
with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) wherein they apprised the district
administration of their demands. The meeting went on for more than one hour.
After
meeting with the SDM, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind General Secretary Abdul Raziq said
the decision to raze the mosque was taken by the administration in haste, which
led to tensions and violence in the area.
"We
came here to appeal for peace in the area. We have requested the SDM to ensure
that actions are not taken against innocent people. It has happened because the
demolition drive was carried out suddenly," Raziq said.
"The
administration should have waited for the court's orders. Neither were there
demolition orders nor orders by the court to put on hold the demolition. We
want an answer as to why the action was taken in haste?" he added.
Meanwhile,
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that a police station will be
built at the same location where the mosque and madrasa were demolished.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/haldwani-violence-uttarakhand-mosque-madrasa-demolition-muslim-families-flee-curfew-2501133-2024-02-13
----
RSS
Placing Muslims loyal to PM on Top Posts in Muslim Universities: Report
13th
February 2024
Arsalan Nazir
A
right-wing group, affiliated with RSS, is installing Muslim citizens loyal to
Prime Minister Modi at Muslim universities as part of a push to accumulate
Muslim votes ahead of the general elections, Reuters reported, citing
officials.
The
report claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was attempting to
drive Muslim voters away from Congress and other parties by trying different
strategies.
In
the past two general elections, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) only won about
9% of the Muslim votes. However, the party is targeting up to 17% in the
elections this time. Opinion polls are also indicating that the BJP, which has
no Muslim members in parliament, may easily win a third straight term.
“It
is for certain that the BJP will win a much bigger percentage of Muslim votes
than the last time,” a senior RSS leader told Reuters.
Meanwhile,
Muslims and many rights groups allege the BJP government has propagated
anti-Islamic rhetoric and vigilantism and demolished numerous Muslim-owned
properties, including masjids and madrassas.
Citing
the officials, the report said that the RSS has been placing Muslim allies on
top posts in universities, which is something unheard of, marking a new
approach and working from within the community. Moreover, RSS also has branches
working with Christians, Sikhs, and other religious groups.
“Membership
in the RSS’s Muslim Rashtriya Manch, formed in 2002 for dialogue between
Muslims and the RSS, has jumped 10,000 to 1 million since Modi took office a
decade ago,” a spokesperson told Reuters.
‘Love
of nation’
Kumar
told Reuters that in the past, universities and schools in Muslim-majority
areas, especially in Kashmir, where the government fought insurgency for
decades, served as hotbeds of Islamic activism and even sanctuaries for people
in India’s interests.
“These
schools were anti-India, and they would disrespect the Indian flag and not
celebrate events like Independence Day and Republic Day, but now it is
changing,” the spokesperson said.
He
claimed that the network among teachers was building adequately, students were
coming on board with studies, and love for the nation was building up in these
institutions.
He
said that the RSS’s Muslim wing seeks to create a well-organised system to
reach out to the youth and the teachers in Muslim-majority universities,
including Aligarh Muslim University, the University of Kashmir, Jamia Millia
Islamia, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Maulana Azad National
Urdu University, and Jamia Hamdard.
Citing
a senior professor, the report stated that the vice-chancellor of the
University of Kashmir raised the India flag on Independence Day and Republic
Day, after which the national anthem was played. Rarely, a vice-chancellor may
have done so in the past.
“Playing
the national anthem is mandatory for every function now, and it is also ensured
that all the students and staff stand up as a mark of respect,” a university
faculty member said.
University
of Kashmir Celebrates 77th Independence Day with Flag Hoisting Ceremony
‘Obeisance
to Modi’
Last
year, vice-chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) resigned to become a
BJP state lawmaker, and three months later, he was titled as a party national
vice-president.
A
professor of medieval Indian history, Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi, claimed that
increasing numbers of faculty close to the right-wing affiliated parties have
joined the university in recent years.
“My
vice-chancellor knows that he can continue as a vice-chancellor only if he pays
obeisance to Modi ji, he told Reuters.
However,
former vice-chancellor of the University of Lucknow, Roop Rekha Verma, said,
“If ideology is given priority over qualifications and lots of people are
placed through the back door holding the same ideology, then it is very
damaging to the intellectual atmosphere.”
Source: siasat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.siasat.com/rss-placing-allies-on-top-posts-in-muslim-universities-report-2976434/
----
Police
station to come up in Haldwani where mosque and madrasa were demolished, says
Uttarakhand CM
Feb
12, 2024
A
police station will be built on the land where a mosque and a madrasa were
demolished in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
on Monday.
On
February 8, municipal authorities demolished the Mariyam mosque and the Abdul
Razzaq Zakariya madrasa, located in the Banbhoolpura locality of the city,
claiming that they were built illegally on government land. The structures were
razed even while the matter was underway in the Uttarakhand High Court.
This
led to clashes between the local residents and police officials. While the
locals threw stones at the police and set vehicles on fire, the police hurled
tear gas shells and baton-charged them.
At
least six persons were killed in the violence and more than 100 were injured,
including police personnel. Some of the persons killed in the violence had
gunshot wounds, reports suggest.
On
Monday, Dhami said that “encroachment” was recently removed from a garden in
Banbhoolpura and several acres of land was recovered.
“On
that land, arson and stone-pelting took place, disturbance was caused, all laws
were broken, and our journalist brothers were thrown into fire,” said the chief
minister during an event in Haridwar. “From this holy bank of Ganga, I announce
that a police station will be built at that place.”
Dhami
shared a video of his statement on social media said that it was “a clear
message from our government to the miscreants and rioters”.
“To
one who plays with the peace of Devbhoomi will be spared, there is no place for
such miscreants in Uttarakhand,” he said.
On
Sunday, the police said that 30 persons had been arrested in connection with
the violence. Nainital’s Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Narayan Meena
stated that three first information reports have been filed in the matter so
far.
Of
the total arrested persons, 12 were allegedly involved in attacking the police
station, six allegedly in setting cars ablaze outside the police station and
seven had allegedly participated in the violence during the demolition.
A
Congress delegation met Dhami on Sunday and demanded an impartial investigation
into the matter.
Dhami
told the delegation led by Yashpal Arya, the Leader of Opposition in the
Assembly, that the government has taken immediate steps to maintain law and
order in Haldwani.
Meanwhile,
a delegation of representatives from two Muslim groups, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, visited Haldwani on the same day, PTI reported.
Jamiat
chief Maulana Arshad Madani criticised the use of police force and alleged that
the police were barging into homes and harassing Muslims, including men and
women.
Madani
alleged that instead of enforcing law and order, the police “become a party
against Muslims everywhere” but act differently in cases involving others.
Source: scroll.in
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://scroll.in/latest/1063603/police-station-to-come-up-in-haldwani-where-mosque-and-madrasa-were-demolished-says-uttarakhand-cm
----
Mumbai
BJP Leader Demands Demolition Of ‘Illegal Mosques’, Cites Mira Road Violence
12th
February 2024
The
Bhartiya Janata Party leader Nitish Rane recently spearheaded an anti-Muslim
rally in association with Sakal Hindu Samaj – a coalition of several right-wing
Hindu nationalist outfits -demanding the demolition of “illegal madrasas and
mosques.”
The
rally took part in Govbandi’s Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai, on February 10, where
scores of Hindutva supporters holding anti-Muslim placards and sporting saffron
turbans and flags walked the streets chanting “Band karo, band karo, Love-jihad
band karo (Stop this Love Jihad)”, and “Tu Durga ban, tu kali ban,
kabhinaburqewali ban (Become Goddess Durga, become a Goddess Kali, but never
become a Burqe-clad woman).” in Hindi as well as in Marathi.
A
large contingent of police personnel were also seen walking with the crowd in
the video.
‘Love
Jihad’ is a conspiracy theory devised by far-right wing leaders that accuses
Muslim men of taking advantage of the ‘gullible’ nature of Hindu women and
‘trapping’ them into marriage, ultimately forcing them to convert to Islam.
Rane
is famously known for his inflammatory speeches against minority communities
and has many FIRs registered against him in the past.
Speaking
to media persons at the rally, Rane said that the mosques and madrasas built on
‘illegal’ lands in Shivaji Nagar should be demolished, indicating if not done
sooner, Shivaji Nagar will face the same consequence as Mira Road of Thane
district that led to communal violence.
“The
Hindu here is also not safe. All of our Mankur-Shivajinagar area is becoming a
mini-Bangladesh. A large number of ‘illegal’ masjids and madarsas are being
created by ‘land jihad’. We demand them to be demolished with immediate
effect,” Rane said, adding, “Police won’t do anything to me because our boss is
sitting at ‘Sagar’ bungalow. The government is with you.”
It
should be mentioned here that the state deputy chief minister Devendra Fednavis
resides in the ‘Sagar’ bungalow.
What
happened in Mira Road?
On
January 21, ahead of the Ram Mandir
inauguration in Ayodhya, clashes occurred between Hindus and Muslims in Mira
Road town of Thane district after a group of Hindutva supporters took out a
procession with saffron flags in a minority-dominated area chanting provocative
‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans, following which the other community reacted.
On
January 23, the district administration decided to bulldoze alleged illegal
encroachments targeting multiple buildings and shanties, mainly belonging to
the Muslim community.
Escorted
by police and security personnel, around 15 structures were demolished. Videos
of the razing of the stalls have gone viral on social media.
On
January 25, as many as 19 people, including four minors, were arrested in
connection with the communal clash that took place on the night of January 21,
a senior police said.
However,
no Hindutva supporter was arrested even after a police complaint lodged by
Muslims alleging assault and arson.
Source: siasat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.siasat.com/bjp-leader-urges-razing-illegal-mosques-dargahs-cites-mira-road-violence-2976282/
---
Mideast
Israeli
Genocide of Palestinians: Addressing global sensitivity and humanitarian
concerns
Syed
Mohammad Raghib
13.02.24
The
conflict between Israel and Palestine began as a result of Hamas’s military
actions on the 7th of October 2023, which, claimed twelve hundred Israeli
lives. In retaliation, Israel started bombardment against Palestinians in Hamas
Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in which more than 28 thousand civilians killed
including mostly women and children so far and more than 50-80 thousand
injured. Israel has severely devastated Gaza’s and West Bank infrastructure and
cut off its food, water, and electrical supplies. For humanitarian and medical
reasons, Hamas and Islamic Jihad also freed a few hostages, but the bombing
went on. Due to the shelling, most of Gaza’s towns were completely destroyed.
Israeli soldiers arrived in Gaza from many directions and immediately began
attacking hospitals, schools, and even children’s hospitals and intensive care
units.
Due
to IDF sniper shooting and shelling, majority of hospitals destroyed badly like
Al Shifa Hospital, Al-Amal Hospital of Khan Yunis and Al Quds Hospital, were
also forced to close. In addition, hospitals are suffering from fuel scarcity
and other necessary operations materials. Without anaesthesia, doctors are
doing surgery on the patient. Many journalists, UN employees, and citizens were
killed due to heavy bombardment and lack of medical support. Because of how
terrible things are, Red Cross workers and some basic supplies have been
deployed to Gaza. The notoriously violent Israeli Security Forces (IDF) are
killing without hesitation, not just in Gaza but also in the Jenin camps of the
West Bank. They uprooted the road and infrastructure badly and the whole world
silently looked at all these pictures of dying children, old ladies and men
mercilessly. To know the reason, Why Hamas attacked the Israeli military post
and fired thousands of rockets at Israel is having historical happening in the
region. Firstly, it was a retaliation by Hamas, due to two decades long of
Israeli incursions, siege, blocks and atrocities, against Palestinians in Gaza
and the West Bank since the Israeli state came to power in 1948. Secondly,
during the sidelined G20 summit in Delhi, there was a talk regarding an
economic corridor through India, the US, EU, Saudi Arabia, and UAE to counter
China’s BRI, which is isolating the Palestinian issue. Even many Middle Eastern
countries were not happy with the way this project was discussed without
touching their countries, Egypt, Iran and Turkey.
Netanyahu’s
government policy also fueled the fire and became a factor in this war, their
right-wing policies to create more settlements on the Palestinian land of
Palestinian, daily atrocities in the West Bank around Masjid Al Aqsa and in
other cities of the Palestinian were the factors behind this war. Since last
several months when Netanyahu who during the Knesset vote of confidence got 63
in favour and 54 against out of 120 in the Knesset election took power once
again in December 2002 after shaking hands with far-right and ultra-nationalist
coalition partners. The two far-right leaders religious Zionist leader Bezalel
Smotric and Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvir are known as far-right leaders
who openly supported Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in which 29 Palestinians
were killed in 1994.
Because
the US and its Western allies, including the UK, Canada, France, Germany, and
Japan, supported Israeli aggression and violence against the defenceless
Palestinians, the UN appears unable to act against Israel. A UN resolution
calling for a ceasefire was considered, but the United States and its Western
Allies were against the proposal. While the West backs the Israeli bombing of
defenceless Palestinian people, their Middle East allies, Bahrain, Saudi
Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, are simply talking about ending the Gaza
War immediately and not doing anything about it. Some Arab and other Muslim
nations sought to impose an oil embargo on Israel and its Western backer during
the OIC summit in Riyadh on November 12, 2023, in response to Israeli
aggression against the Palestinian people. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the
United Arab Emirates, however, opposed this attempt to use oil as a weapon
against Israel and its supporters. Why do Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE want to
keep links with Israel, is it only for economic benefit? It demonstrates how
the leaders of the Gulf, including Turkey, are preserving their regimes and
providing coffins to the Palestinians without endorsing their ideologies. Those
who suggested a boycott and were sent back to Israel included Algeria, Syria,
and Iran. Western ambassadors were also turned down at the conference. These
leaders, who have blatantly disregarded Palestinian concerns for many years,
are in some ways also granting Israel the upper hand in resolving Palestinian
matters first. Mahmood Abbas, the Palestinian leader, did not speak out much
either. The Palestinian struggles suffered greatly as a result of the extreme
rift that existed between Hamas and Fatah. Although Abbas does not speak up
much for his own people, he is willing to give American Secretary of State
Antony J. Blinken a hug, who is known to be Jewish. After giving hugs to Arab
leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, he took two plane trips to the
Middle East. However, the Jordanian monarch turned the US President away on his
second visit to the area. These diplomatic sessions didn’t alter Israeli
strategy since, despite killing an increasing number of people and succeeding
in their goal of eliminating Hamas, the true objective is to drive out all
Palestinians from their land.
It is
crucial to address the fact that the Arab world is dreaming if it believes that
Israel is just focusing on Hamas and Palestinians in the West Bank and would
spare them. The goal of Israel and its Zionist leaders is to create Greater
Israel by acquiring an increasing amount of territory. Thus, the $500 billion
grandiose Saudi project at NEOM, which is currently under development, would
also disappear; the Sinai Peninsula, including Sharam Al-Sheikh and Egyptian
Sinai, will become part of Israel. The reason for this is that these Arab
governments lack a long-term plan for safeguarding themselves against the
Zionist state of Israel. Washington is not going to guarantee them that their
throne will be safe for a long.
One
thing that is very important to discuss here is that if the Arab World is
thinking that Israel is only targeting Hamas and Palestinians in the West Bank
and will spare them they are in a dream. Israel and its Zionist leaders are
very clear about their agenda to acquire more and more land to establish
Greater Israel. So the Saudi’s $500 billion ambitious project at NEOM which is
under construction in full swing will also vanish, Egyptian Sinai and Sharam
Al-Sheikh and the whole Sinai Peninsula will also be part of Israel’s
territory. Why because these Arab states do not have a far-sighted vision for
their security against the Zionist Israel state. Since Washington is closer to
Tel-Aviv than it is to Cairo, America will not guarantee them the security of
their monarchy, or military dictator and will back any Arab nation, even with
NATO’s assistance.
Lastly,
why are only Palestinians sacrificing their blood to rescue and defend Sharam
Al Shareef, and why are others showing little interest? After all, Palestinians
are not the caretakers of Sharam Al Shareef; it is the first Qibla for all
Muslims. Only four hours of relaxation were offered as a tangible result of
Turkey and Qatar’s negotiations with the US President and Secretary of State
Blinken and other international leaders. This is a really strange form of
diplomacy: Iran, the Houthi of Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon are facing each
other, at least in northern Israel. As non-state actors, they are firing a lot
of missiles and drones at Israel. The main point, though, is that these
affluent Arab nations will destroy Israel either diplomatically or physically,
just as they did on September 16–17, 1970, in Jordan, during the Black
September. Over 20,000 Palestinians lost their lives at the hands of their
fellow Muslims as the Pakistani military violently suppressed them following
orders from Arab authorities. Since the commencement of the Afghan War in 1979
and the Iranian Revolution, Saudi Arabia has had a highly dubious foreign
policy. They not only overthrew powerful Arab leaders like Saddam Hussein and
Muammar Gaddafi but also a great number of other leaders. These Arab regimes
seldom deployed their advanced weaponry against adversaries such as Israel, but
they readily employed it against their own citizens, including Kurdish, Iraqi,
and Houthi populations. According to the report, Saudi Arabia’s defence
expenditure increased by 5.7% in 2023 to $69.1 billion. Turkey does not support
him; in 2023, it set aside around $16 billion for security and defence, and in
2024, it plans to add $40 billion to its defence budget. Official figures from
the Israeli Ministries of Industry and Trade and Economics show that Israel
imports $115 million worth of commodities from Egypt and exports $150 million
worth. When they barely challenge Israel against the Palestinians, it may
sometimes appear quite suspicious. Turkey’s economic relations with Israel have
expanded over the AKP’s two decades in power, but Ankara’s pro-Palestinian
rhetoric has also become more strident and mixed with Islamist rhetoric. The
value of their bilateral commerce increased from $1.4 billion in 2002 to $8.9
billion in 2022. Israel ranked as both the 10th greatest importer of Turkish
goods and the 29th largest buyer of Turkish goods in the previous year.
They
will never be able to halt Israeli aggression and the slaughtering of
Palestinians, whether it is done in the name of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, or
any other organization if there is no regional unity and no coherent ideas to
bring about peace in the area. Is it not unfortunate that these nations, who
value diplomacy highly, would rather send burial clothing to Palestinians
rather than engage Israel in combat? If the US assumes Israel’s security
responsibilities, what about the war crimes committed by Israel with American
approval? Accountability needs to be established, and the US shouldn’t preach
about human rights abuses and breaking international law when they are
complicit in the murder of Palestinian children and defenceless civilians.
South
Africa argues the case on 11-12 January 2024, and after the 26 January ruling
by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), nothing yet come in concrete to
stop Israel from killing innocent civilians in Gaza and West Bank cities.
According to a top UN official, Israel looks to be breaking the ICJ’s rulings
over Gaza.
This
week marks the seventh trip to the Middle East by US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken since October 7, but nothing concrete Palestinians received in terms of
peace despite world peace champion efforts, but facing extreme hunger and
starvation. Not even the United Nations can stop Israel from killing innocent
Palestinians due to the country’s ongoing war crimes and genocide against them.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) likewise appears to be powerless, and
nothing can be foreseen. The other Arab leaders were saying that this war would
expand throughout the region, causing a catastrophic loss of human life and
maybe sparking a third world war.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/israeli-genocide-of-palestinians-addressing-global-sensitivity-and-humanitarian-concerns/
---
Sports
Improve Organs: Istanbul Mosques Convert Working Class Faithful To Sport
13/02/2024
A
dozen worshippers and the imam with a long, carefully trimmed beard stand up
straight, feet planted on the thick, turquoise carpet of the Abdulhamid Han
Mosque.
Then
they raise their knees, rotate shoulders and hop in place, exchanging muted
giggles and shy glances.
For
15 minutes they follow the instructors' movements, getting more exercise in
then they had done in many years.
"A
person is like a vehicle. Just like we need vehicle maintenance, when we do
sport our organs improve," mosque-goer Servet Arici explained.
Like
the others, the 66-year-old had been doing his daily gymnastics since January,
when a fitness project was rolled out in 11 mosques of Istanbul's Bagcilar
district, one of the massive city's most densely populated and deprived.
To
his right, the veteran of the group, Huseyin Kaya, 75, said he was delighted to
"make every part of my body move".
"It
makes a difference," the bearded former taxi driver said, his forehead
creased with wrinkles under his black skullcap.
The
instructor, Fatih Yamanoglu, said the daily routine was enough "to avoid
future injuries and make life easier" for the elderly men.
Between
25 and 35 worshippers work on their flexibility every day after noon and late
afternoon prayers, Yamanoglu said.
'They
are rejuvenated'
Women,
who in Turkey more often pray at home, are currently excluded from the project.
But
the Bagcilar council, led by a mayor from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's
Islamic-rooted AKP party, said it was open to seeing that change.
Women's
employment rate in Turkey is less than half that officially recorded for men,
making them especially vulnerable to sedentary lifestyles.
More
than half of Turkish women have low levels of physical activity, compared to
about one in three men, according to health ministry data.
This
female fitness deficit is found "in many countries", said Serap Inal,
director of the department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation at the Istanbul
Galata University.
The
residents of Istanbul's disadvantaged neighbourhoods do less sport than their
counterparts in better-off districts, Inal added.
In a
country where the share of the over-65s has almost doubled in 25 years to more
than 10 percent, offering gym sessions in mosques "might be a good
idea", Inal said.
"However,
I would suggest taking them out and exercising in fresh air," she said.
The
imam, Bulent Cinar, is delighted his mosque was now more than a place of
worship, attracting fitness-conscious faithful from neighbouring mosques.
He
said he was also ready to have "a female instructor" lead exercises
in the women's prayer room, urging the initiative to be extended across
Turkey's 90,000 mosques.
"After
we do these exercises, the quality of their prayers improves," the imam
said.
"They
move more easily. They are rejuvenated."
Source: france24.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240213-istanbul-mosques-convert-working-class-faithful-to-sport
---
Org.
associated with Israeli Islamist party transfers money to Hamas-linked group
FEBRUARY
12, 2024
The
State Attorney's office filed on Sunday an indictment against an Israeli-Arab
citizen named Rami Habiballah, who is accused, among other things, of having
transferred sums of money to the "Khir Ummah" association in Turkey,
which belongs to Hamas, Kan news reported on Monday.
According
to the indictment, the money was transferred through a member of Hamas named
Abdel-Jaber Shelbi, who lives in Turkey and manages the association.
The
report states the association "Aid 48", the social wing of the
Islamic Movement - of which the Ra'am party is its political wing - transferred
huge sums to an association linked to Hamas in Turkey through Shelbi.
In
2021 alone, the association transferred close to - NIS 400,000 to the
"Khir Ummah" association.
In
accordance with the counter-terrorism law, Habiballah was prosecuted for his
acts on Sunday. He was accused of contact with a foreign agent and of the
offense of prohibiting operation with terrorist property.
Sister
movement of Ra'am transfers sums to Hamas
It
has now been revealed that the sister movement of the Ra'am party carried out
the same actions.
"Aid
48" said in response: "Apparently, the press decides to outlaw
associations without the knowledge of the Defense Ministry. As far as we know,
and according to the constant checks we carry out, the association "Khir
Ummah" is not a declared association on behalf of the Defense Ministry.
“The
transfers were made in accordance with the law and rules With the approval of
the authorities and the bank. The association operated and continues to operate
solely for the benefit of those in need and according to the law. We continue
to punish Ra'am and those associated with it for their political
positions."
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-786575
----
Palestinian
president discusses latest Gaza developments with Qatari emir in Doha
February
13, 2024
LONDON:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al-Thani, discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the other
occupied Palestinian territories during a meeting in Doha on Monday.
In
particular, they talked about ongoing efforts to secure an agreement for an
immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in a way that could pave the way for a just,
comprehensive and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian issue. The two
leaders also discussed the escalation of violence in the region, and reviewed
bilateral ties and ways in which they might be enhanced, the Qatar News Agency
reported.
Sheikh
Tamim reiterated Qatar’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and its
solidarity with the Palestinian people in their efforts to achieve their
rightful national aspirations.
He
said his nation remains committed to diplomatic and mediation efforts to halt
the conflict in Gaza, and ease unrest in the West Bank, and to its support for
initiatives that can help bridge divisions among Palestinians.
Abbas
thanked the sheikh for Qatar’s continued support for the Palestinian people.
The
president also met Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, known for his
compelling coverage of war-torn Gaza. The photographer was evacuated to Doha in
January after receiving death threats and alleged offers of bribes from Israel
to stop documenting the Israeli military aggression in the territory.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2458911/middle-east
----
Turkey
arrests Russian at nuclear plant in Islamic State probe, sources say
13
February 2024
ISTANBUL
(Reuters) - Turkish counter-terrorism police investigating the militant group
Islamic State have detained a Russian citizen working at a nuclear power plant
under construction on Turkey's southern coast, security sources said on
Tuesday.
The
suspect was caught working under a fake identity at the $20-billion Akkuyu
nuclear plant, which is being built by Russian conglomerate Rosatom in the
Mediterranean province of Mersin, the sources added.
Police
in Mersin said that a Turkish court formally arrested the foreign national. Its
statement did not specify the suspect's nationality or give further details on
the operation.
Last
week, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Turkey had detained 147 people
suspected of having ties to Islamic State in operations across 33 provinces.
Last
month, one Turkish citizen was killed by two Islamic State gunmen at the
Italian Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul. Turkish police detained two
people suspected of carrying out the attack.
(Reporting
by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Andrew Heavens)
Source: yahoo.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/turkey-arrests-russian-nuclear-plant-
081042730.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAML1uJ9rJuoZ5v1GIUcOZUz3jCHxFK9fuagDyNPNr1DNH3sQ298kfA4b817CSpjuVsqkSpkdgTF6NBmT-
hCRT9mHZM73Aaw7ez4Ko954JdZyYLuw0TqTTtQLmib9_iiYrb1QbIEJfPW3P65SD_cel986RMjjrSP2CIrSq-UaQqwk
----
Arab World
Iranian
Embassy in Sana'a commemorates 45th anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory
[12/February/2024]
SANA'A
February 12. 2024 (Saba) -The Iranian Embassy in Sana'a commemorated
today,Monday, the 45th anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory in Iran with a
rhetorical activity.
At
the event, a member of the Supreme Political Council, Sultan Al-Sami,
congratulated the Iranian leadership, government and people for Islamic
Revolution victory on its 45th anniversary against the injustice and tyranny
that the brotherly Iranian people have experienced for decades.
He
presented an approach between the Iranian Islamic Revolution , the September 21
Revolution and the extent of similarity between the two revolutions, in that
the two peoples have a civilization that extends back thousands of years and
are subject to persecution by the forces of hegemony and arrogance.
Al-Sami’i
pointed to the assassinations and bombings that took place after the Iranian
Islamic Revolution, and after the revolution of September 21, 2014 AD, and the
Iranian-Yemeni sacrifices that were made after the success of the two
revolutions, from the eight-year war against Iran and the nine-year war against
the Yemeni people.
He
pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able, over the course of
45 years, to cross the ranks of developed countries in the region and the world
and has become one of the first countries in the region in the field of
industrialization, pointing in numbers to the developments and achievements
made by the Iranian Revolution in the fields of education, universities,
health, roads, the construction of dams and the eradication of illiteracy and
others.
The
Supreme Political Member Al-Samii urged merchants to import medicines from the
Islamic Republic of Iran, which has developed all the capabilities of society
and has become comparable to the countries of the world in manufacturing and
armament, indicating that the Iranian Revolution does not base its existence on
America and its tools, but on God and the will of the people.
He
stressed the insistence of the Yemeni people, led by the revolution leader ,
Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, to confront the forces of global
tyranny led by America, the Zionist enemy and European countries, pointing out
that Yemen and Iran are on one front with the people , the Palestinian cause
and confronting Zionist arrogance.
For
his part, the Grand Mufti of Yemen, Shams al-Din Sharaf al-Din, expressed his
congratulations to the Iranian leadership, government and people on the 45th
anniversary of the victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, which fulfilled
the aspirations of the Iranian people and inspired resistance movements in the
Islamic world.
He
stated that the Iranian revolution transcended geography and was launched from
faith-based foundations to confront American hegemony and arrogance. He said,
“Whenever revolutions are launched from faith-based foundations, they have a
positive impact on the national, regional, Arab and international levels.”
He
added, "Imam Khomeini influenced the souls of people, especially the
resistance movements and factions in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, because
the Iranian revolution that was achieved by him stemmed from the spirit of
Islam and the Qur’an and its role model was the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless
him and his family and grant them peace."
The
scholar Sharaf al-Din reviewed the opposition that Imam Khomeini faced, just as
the revolution of September 21, 2014 AD, faced internal opposition, and it was
overcome by the greatness of faith and trust in God Almighty.
He
pointed out that the nation is going through a dangerous turning point in light
of the loyalty of some regimes to the Jews and Christians, which it requires
uniting ranks to overcome the state of weakness, humiliation, rupture, and loss
that the nation is experiencing.
He
said, "There is right and wrong, good and evil, and there are countries
and systems that support good and others that support evil, keep up with
enemies , stand by the forces of hegemony and arrogance, but Imam Khomeini at
the time did not pay attention to America and the forces of global
tyranny."
The
Mufti of Yemen touched on the qualitative changes and effective steps achieved
by the Iranian Revolution in various fields and made it a strong industrial
country on par with major countries, reviewing the miserable situation that
Iran experienced before the revolution under Shah Pahlavi regime and the urgent
need for the Islamic Revolution to advance it politically, militarily,
economically, culturally and socially.
He
touched on the sacrifices of the Yemeni people, who set the most wonderful
examples of sacrifice, steadfastness, and redemption through their support of
the Palestinians, their just cause, and their valiant resistance.
He
added, "In light of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Arabs and Muslims were
divided into countries that declared their loyalty to America, Israel, Europe,
and others were content with statements of denunciation, condemnation, and
solidarity with Palestine, and did not provide any support to the Palestinian
cause, and to the axis of resistance that emerged from the Islamic Revolution
and proved its worth and credibility in standing with Palestine and confronting
it the American-Zionist Western enemy."
The
scholar Sharaf al-Din praised the position of the revolution leader, Sayyed
Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, who felt responsible for what the American
and European-backed Zionist enemy was committing, he triumphed over the
oppression of the Palestinian people by targeting the enemy’s depth in the
occupied territories and his ships in Red and Arab sead and Aden Gulf , as well
as preventing ships heading to him from crossing in the Red Sea.
He
denounced the silence of the rulers, regimes, and countries that possess the
capabilities, equipment, their lack of action to support the Palestinians, win
the Palestinian cause, support their resistance to confront the enemy entity,
America, Britain, the countries allied with them to kill the Palestinians and
displace them from their country.
At
the conclusion of his speech, Mufti of Yemen called on the countries of the
world and free peoples to carry out their duty and make more efforts to stop
the American-Western Zionist aggression on Gaza, lift siege, allow the entry
food , medicine, and lift the injustice against the Palestinians.
For
his part, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, Daifallah Rassam, considered the
Iranian revolution the mother of Islamic revolutions in spirit and meaning.
He
reviewed the conspiracies that confronted the Islamic Revolution and failed
with the wisdom , awareness of the Iranian leadership , people, and Iran became
competing with the world in space, industry and production.
Ressam
said, “Iran and Yemen faced a global war at the hands of global tyranny forces
, led by America , the Zionist entity, and its tools.” He called on the
leadership in Iran and Yemen to unify their visions by creating a scientific
academic curriculum for the axis of resistance to dispense with sending male
and female students to study abroad, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Bab al-Mandab is in front of the countries that support the Zionist entity.
He
called on the tribes of Yemen and the Arabs in general to support the axis of
resistance in confronting the forces of arrogance , the tools of global
Zionism, and to abort the enemies’ plans aimed at tearing apart the unity of
Arab and Islamic ranks.
Ressam
presented the rifle of loyalty in the name of the tribes of Yemen to the
Iranian leadership , people, and the representative of the Embassy of the
Islamic Republic in Sana'a received it, stressing that the tribes of Yemen will
remain the solid rock in the face of the plots of evil axis, aggression and
international arrogance.
At
the celebration, which was attended by the Caretaker Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Eng. Hisham Sharaf, members of the parliament , the Shura Council, the
Political office of Ansar Allah, and state leaders, a poem by the poet Aiza
Al-Razami was presented, and presentations were presented about the health,
electronic, technological achievements of the Iranian Revolution, in terms of
technical innovations and oil wealth.
Source: saba.ye
Please
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3304291.htm
---
Yemen’s
Houthi missiles hit Iran-bound ship in Red Sea
February
12, 2024
SAEED
AL-BATATI
AL-MUKALLA:
Yemen’s Houthis claimed credit on Monday for shooting two missiles at what the
militia believed to be an American ship, the Star Iris, in the Red Sea,
resuming assaults on ships in the critical commerce channel after a four-day
lull.
Houthi
military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said that their naval troops launched “a
number of” anti-ship missiles at the American ship in the Red Sea, adding that
their actions are both in support of Palestinians and in retaliation to US and
UK bombings on Yemeni territory under their control.
The
UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported receiving a warning on Monday
morning regarding an incident 40 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Mocha town in
which two missiles impacted a vessel, inflicting minor damage. “Vessel and crew
are safe. Vessel proceeding to next port of call,” it said in its alert.
Ambrey,
a British marine security firm, identified the ship as a Marshall
Islands-flagged, Greece-owned bulk carrier that was hit by Houthi missiles
twice while passing through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Despite
the Houthis’ claims that the targeted ship was American, the ship’s information
on www.marinetraffic.com, which provides up-to-date information about ship
locations and movements, shows that it left Vila do Conde port in Brazil on
Jan. 12 and was sailing to Iran’s Bandar Imam Khomeini port. Last week, the
Houthi militia leader, Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, accused US ships of flying the
Marshall Islands flag to avoid attacks.
The
Houthis captured a commercial ship in November and launched dozens of drones
and ballistic missiles against commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea,
blocking the Red Sea from all Israel-linked and Israel-bound ships.
The
Yemeni militia claims that their strikes are intended to force Israel to ease
its embargo on Gaza and enable humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian
territory.
Since
Friday, the US Central Command has claimed the destruction of 12
explosive-laden drone boats and cruise missiles planned for launch by the
Houthis in Yemen.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2458401/middle-east
----
Ministry
of Islamic Affairs Organizes Quran Memorization Competition in Nepal
12
Feb, 2024
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and
Guidance, in cooperation with the Islamic Commission in Nepal, organized the
Quran memorization competition at the federal level in Kathmandu, the capital
of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The event was attended by the
Saudi Ambassador to Nepal, Saad bin Nasser Abu Haimed, the President of the
Islamic Commission Shemim Mia Ansari, and the Ministry’s coordinator Badr
Al-Anzi, as well as various officials and Islamic figures.
During his speech, Abu Haimed expressed his
heartfelt gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal
Highness the Crown Prince. He praised their unwavering care and attention to
Islam and Muslims, highlighting their exceptional dedication to serving the
Quran. This commitment is evident in their efforts to organize both
international and local competitions for Quran recitation, memorization, and
interpretation. Furthermore, their tireless work includes printing translations
of the Quran's meanings in various languages and distributing them across the
globe.
It is important to mention that a total of 350
participants, both male and female, took part in the competition. These
participants competed in 4 different categories, and a total of 18 winners were
chosen across all categories.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/a6b6650dabd342c7bbcb1aead16c4498
-----
Pakistan
Muslim
League and People’s Party discuss rotational Prime Ministership: Pakistani
Media
Fidel
Rahmati
February
12, 2024
According
to Pakistani media outlets, senior officials from the two major political
parties in Pakistan discussed power-sharing during a meeting on Monday,
February 12th.
Geo
News reported that it was proposed in this meeting that the Muslim League and
the People’s Party would alternate holding the Prime Minister’s seat over the
next five years.
The
two senior officials, Shahbaz Sharif, the head of the Muslim League faction led
by Nawaz, and Asif Ali Zardari, the head of the Pakistan People’s Party, an
agreement on forming a coalition government but the fate of the prime
minister’s seat remains undecided.
According
to Geo News, in this meeting, the Muslim League faction advocated for the Prime
Minister’s seat, while the Pakistan People’s Party stated that the Prime
Minister should be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
One
of the proposed options is a rotational premiership for the leaders of the two
parties for a term of three and two years respectively. Geo News sources have
stated that the two parties have agreed on forming a coalition government.
Neither
of these traditional and major parties holds the majority of seats necessary to
form a government and, like the past two years, they must compromise on
power-sharing.
This
development follows the success of Tehreek-e-Insaf led by Imran Khan, despite
Khan’s imprisonment. The party emerged victorious, winning the most of seats in
the elections. Notably, this marks the first instance where independent
candidates supported by Imran Khan’s party have secured more seats in
Pakistan’s elections.
Meanwhile,
the Muslim League, which won the most seats after the Tehreek-e-Insaf group, is
negotiating to form a coalition government in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh,
and Balochistan.
These
post-election alignments come amid increasing tensions over election results.
Small political parties in Balochistan have staged sit-ins, and candidates
affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Insaf party are contesting the results in most
constituencies.
Source: khaama.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.khaama.com/muslim-league-and-peoples-party-discuss-rotational-prime-ministership-pakistani-media/
---
Pakistani
Security Forces Kill Top Islamic State Terrorist, Surat Gul, in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Province
13.02.24
A
militant ringleader, associated with the Islamic State, was killed by Pakistani
security forces during an intelligence-based operation in the restive Khyber
district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday.
The
security forces conducted an operation after getting information on the
reported presence of a “high-profile terrorist” in the area, according to the
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army.
After
an intense exchange of fire, the “high-value terrorist ringleader” Surat Gul,
alias Saifullah, of Daesh (Islamic State) was eliminated, the military said in
a statement.
Weapons,
ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the “terrorist commander”,
who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities, including
“targeted killing of innocent civilians as well as extortion”, and was wanted
by the law enforcement agencies, the ISPR said.
“Sanitisation
operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the
area. The locals appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to
eliminate the menace of terrorism,” it said.
Ahead
of the general elections in Pakistan, which were held on February 8, there was
a surge in attacks targeting contesting candidates and offices of the election
commission in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. At least 12 people were killed
and several others injured in a powerful bomb blast outside the election office
of an independent candidate in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a day before
the general elections.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/pakistani-security-forces-kill-top-islamic-state-terrorist-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-province/cid/2000155
----
Lahore
ATC holds jail trial of PTI leaders, workers in May 9 violence case
February
13, 2024
LAHORE:
An Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday conducted proceedings of two cases against
PTI leaders and workers in Kot Lakhpat jail for their alleged involvement in
May 9 attacks on Shadman Police Station and burning of police vehicles near
Rahat Bakery in Cantonment area.
The
court also summoned prosecution witnesses at the next hearing.
ATC-I
Judge Naveed Iqbal conducted the proceedings of cases in the jail.
PTI-Punjab
President Dr Yasmin Rashid, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ijaz
Chaudhry, former provincial minister Mehmoodur Rasheed and other jailed PTI
suspects were produced before the court.
Rubina
Jamil, a former MNA of PTI, and some other suspects, who were released on bail,
did not appear before the court.
The
judge adjourned further hearing of the two cases till Feb 15 and directed the
prosecution to produce its witnesses at the next hearing.
The
judge also ordered the prosecution to ensure appearance of the suspects in the
court, who are on bail, at the next hearing.
The
PTI leaders and workers have already been indicted in the cases, but they have
pleaded not guilty.
Copies
of challans (investigation reports) have been given to the suspects.
Sarwar
Road police had registered a case against PTI leaders and workers for allegedly
torching official vehicles near a bakery during May 9 violence.
Shadman
police had registered FIR No 768 regarding attack on the police station.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1813773/lahore-atc-holds-jail-trial-of-pti-leaders-workers-in-may-9-violence-case
----
SC
Urged To Order Dr Shoaib SuddleTo Probe Jaranwala Attacks
February
13, 2024
Nasir
Iqbal
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court, which resumes the case proceedings in the 2023 Jaranwala
tragedy today, has been urged to direct the one-man commission of Dr Shoaib
Suddle — appointed in 2019 to implement its 2014 order in a minority rights
case — to conduct inquiry and assign culpabilities to groups and individuals
involved in the gruesome arson attacks on churches and properties of Christian
community in Faisalabad on Aug 16 last year.
A new
petition was filed in the top court on Monday seeking a direction that the
one-man commission conduct inquiry and assign culpabilities to groups and
individuals involved in the attacks.
Moved
by senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui, the new petition has been filed by Reverend
Khalid Mukhtar, Pervez Gill, Peter Jacob, Shehzad John Crest, The Diocese of
Karachi and Balochistan, Church of Pakistan, Reverend Shafique Kanwal and
Reverend Ghazala Parveen.
Headed
by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a three-judge bench also
comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, will take
up on Tuesday the Jaranwala case.
CJP-led
bench to resume hearing of Jaranwala case today
The
petition pleaded that the one-man commission appointed on Jan 8, 2019, in a suo
motu case, should be asked to conduct a detailed inquiry and ascertain facts of
the attack on the churches and properties of minorities in the Jaranwala
tragedy.
The
commission should also investigate the causes of the Jaranwala incident and
assign culpabilities to the groups and individuals involved in the attacks on
the churches and properties of minorities in the Jaranwala tragedy, the
petition said. Besides, it added, the commission should also ascertain the
quantum and extent of damage caused by the attacks and ascertain to what extent
the compensation has been paid and damage to property restored.
The
petition urged the court to ensure that commission ascertain the extent of
negligence on part of the state institutions in failing to prevent the attacks
on the churches and properties of minorities in the Jaranwala incident. The SC
should also direct this commission to act with such powers as conferred by the
court and to submit a report within one month. The federal and the provincial
governments should immediately implement the 2014 SC judgment on minority
rights and furnish a report regarding compliance of the judgment within two
months, it demanded.
It
also urged the court to order the Punjab chief secretary, home secretary and
inspector general of police to submit fortnightly reports regarding
investigation of all FIRs arising out of the Jaranwala incident.
The
petitioners, it said, were members of the Christian community and were directly
affected by the violent attacks of Aug 16, 2023, perpetrated on the Christian
community at Jaranwala. It argued that the violent attacks spread to other
Christian localities as well as to villages in outskirts of the Jaranwala city
and during the entire time, police failed to contain the violent attacks.
The
extent of damage caused by violent attacks was colossal and unprecedented, the
petition regretted, adding in Jaranwala, at least 24 churches and several
dozens of smaller chapels were burnt. Several pastor’s houses and over 80 homes
in 11 different localities were looted and burnt to the ground.
Source: dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1813777/sc-urged-to-order-dr-shoaib-suddle-to-probe-jaranwala-attacks
----
Pakistan
condemns Israel’s Rafah ‘massacre’
February
12, 2024
ISLAMABAD:Pakistan
on Monday joined the rest of the international community to strongly condemn
Israel’s latest military offensive in Rafah city in Gaza, where millions have
taken refuge to avoid Israeli massacre.
Despite
calls even by Israel’s close allies including the United States, Benjamin
Netanyahu government went ahead with the offensive.
Dozens
of people, including children, were killed as “extremely intense” Israeli
airstrikes and shelling pounded multiple locations in Rafah overnight Monday,
according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, as international alarm mounts
over Israel’s planned ground offensive in the southern Gazan city.
More
than 100 people were killed due to Israeli airstrikes as warplanes targeted
different areas of the city and helicopters fired machine guns along the border
areas, the PRCS said early Monday.
“Israel’s
offensive in Rafah violates the provisional measures indicated by the
International Court of Justice to protect the people of Gaza from genocide. It
will further aggravate the humanitarian disaster witnessed in Gaza over the
last four months and jeopardise the ongoing efforts for a potential ceasefire,”
said a statement issued by the foreign office.
“We
urge the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to take
urgent measures to bring an immediate end to Israeli aggression and its
incessant crimes against humanity,” the statement added.
Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Kingdom joined a growing list of countries
to express concern over Israel’s planned offensive.
Saudi
Arabia’s foreign ministry warned of “very serious repercussions of storming and
targeting” the city, while Qatar — a key mediator in talks between Israel and
Hamas — on Sunday urged the UN’s Security Council to “prevent” Israel from
committing what it described as “genocide” and warned of a “humanitarian
catastrophe in the city.”
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456232/pakistan-condemns-israels-rafah-massacre
---
Pakistan
wants to enhance bilateral ties with Iran: FM
2024-02-13
ISLAMABAD:
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s
desire to enhance bilateral ties with Iran and further strengthen cooperation
in areas of mutual interest.
He
was addressing a ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of the Islamic
revolution of Iran, organised by the Iranian Embassy here on Monday.
Caretaker
Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi, Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori,
members of the diplomatic community, and former members of the parliament were
also present on the occasion.
In
his address, Jilani congratulated the people and the Government of Iran on this
important anniversary.
He
emphasized the principles of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity that
characterize the relations between Pakistan and Iran.
Solangi,
in his address, reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to strengthen
bilateral relations with Iran.
While
felicitating the government and the people of Iran on the occasion, he said
that Pakistan and Iran share historic brotherly relations.
He
said the governments and peoples of Pakistan and Iran are well aware of the
importance and benefits of friendly relations between the two countries.
He
said that Iran achieved numerous goals in its struggle, and is rapidly heading
towards development and prosperity.
Iranian
Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam while welcoming the guests,
reiterated his country’s desire to expand the scope of cooperation in various
areas including trade and economy.
He
said that Pakistan and Iran are tied with strong bond of religious, and
cultural ties and the two nations enjoy good neighbourly relations.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40288498/pakistan-wants-to-enhance-bilateral-ties-with-iran-fm
----
135
nationwide constituencies: ECP urged to take notice of ‘non-compliance by ROs’
2024-02-13
ISLAMABAD:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), Monday, urged the Election Commission
of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of non-compliance by the returning officers
(ROs) on 135 nationwide constituencies, which has overshadowed an otherwise
largely controversy-free voting and counting processes at the polling stations.
In a
report released here, FAFEN said that ROs failed to comply with ECP’s
instructions that reinforced categoric legal provisions requiring complete
transparency at all stages of the election results process including the
preparation of provisional and consolidated results in the constituencies.
The
ROs did not allow FAFEN observers in 135 constituencies to observe the
tabulation process, 80 in Punjab, 23 in Sindh, 18 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 11 in
Balochistan, and all three in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Of
these 135 constituencies, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independents
won 46, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) 43, Pakistan Peoples Party
Parliamentarians (PPPP) 28, unaffiliated independents five, Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P) three, two each by Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and one each by Istehkam-e-Pakistan
Party (IPP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
(PkMAP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM).
The provisional result of one such constituency is yet to be announced.
The
ROs in 135 of 260 National Assembly constituencies did not adhere to these
provisions, undermining the ECP’s efforts to maximise electoral transparency,
which was generally maintained during the voting and counting processes at the
polling stations.
As
per FAFEN’s observers, the ROs in 65 constituencies prohibited one or more
candidates and/or their election agents from participating in the tabulation
proceedings. Of these 65 constituencies, 25 are won by PML-N, 24 by PTI-backed
independents, five by PPPP, four by unaffiliated independents, three by PML,
and one each by IPP, BNP, and PkMAP. One such constituency remains undecided.
The
independent watchdog monitoring the election process in the country, while
citing the relevant sections of the law, said that Section 92 of the Elections
Act, 2017, requires the ROs to prepare and announce the Provisional
Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count (Form-47) in the presence of
contesting candidates, their election agents, and authorised observers as may
be present. Similarly, Section 95(1) requires the RO to conduct the
consolidation of the results in the presence of the contesting candidates and
their election agents. Section 95(9) requires the ROs to provide copies of
Form-48 (Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count Furnished by the
Presiding Officers) and Form-49 (Final Consolidated Result). Section 238 also
allows the accredited observers to observe the consolidation of results.
While
Section 92 requires the preparation of provisional results in the presence of
contesting candidates, their election agents and authorised observers, FAFEN
observers reported that the ROs in 80 out of 125 National Assembly
constituencies where they were allowed by the ROs to observe the tabulation
proceedings — 43 in Punjab, 20 in Sindh, 13 in KP, and four in Balochistan—
were opening the tamper evident bags containing the Form-45 (Results of the
Count) and Form-46 (Ballot Paper Account) brought by Presiding Officers in
their presence. In 42 constituencies – 17 in Punjab, 13 in Sindh, 11 in KP, and
one in Balochistan – these bags were opened without any candidates and/or their
election agents present. In the remaining three constituencies – two in Sindh
and one in KP— the observers could not determine whether or not these bags were
being opened in the presence of candidates and election agents.
As
per Rule 84(3) of the Election Rules, 2017, the ROs are required to point out
any arithmetic errors in Form-45 to the presiding officers and ask them to
correct the errors with their signatures before resending electronically a copy
of corrected Form-45 to the Commission. FAFEN observers reported that in 53
National Assembly constituencies — 23 in Punjab, 18 in Sindh, 10 in KP, and two
in Balochistan— the ROs pointed out arithmetic errors in one or more Form-45
and asked the concerned presiding officers to correct the errors with initials
and re-send the electronic copies of the corrected forms.
The
ROs in most constituencies did not make adequate arrangements for the hundreds
of presiding officers who arrived at their offices to hand over the election
results and materials. Long queues of vehicles carrying officials and election
materials in the winter nights without any seating and food arrangements was
the leading reason for the chaotic and crowded environment at the tabulation
centres in 66 constituencies including 26 in Punjab, 25 in Sindh, 12 in KP, and
three in Balochistan as reported by FAFEN observers. It takes roughly 15-30
minutes for each presiding officer to hand over election results and other
election materials. Also, the disorderly proceedings at the tabulation centres
may be due to same legal deadline of 2am for delivering polling stations’
results to the ROs both electronically and physically. While this may be a
feasible deadline in case results are transmitted electronically, the physical
handing over of polling station results and materials remains a logistical
challenge, especially in a country where many constituencies are geographically
large such as the ones in Chitral, Kohistan, south Punjab, most parts of
Balochistan, and rural Sindh. FAFEN observers reported that ROs were able to
prepare partially-completed provisional results by legally-stipulated time of
2:00 am in only four constituencies. The complete provisional result has to be
prepared by 10:00 am the day following the polling day.
While
the parliament may need to reform the Elections Act, 2017, in light of the
operational realities as well as plug the persisting loopholes in the election
result management process, the ECP must probe the non-compliance of ROs of its
instructions to ensure electoral transparency and to determine responsibility
as per Section 55 of the Elections Act, 2017, which empower the Election
Commission to take action against erring election officials, public servants,
and persons in the service of Pakistan.
Source: brecorder.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40288504/135-nationwide-constituencies-ecp-urged-to-take-notice-of-non-compliance-by-ros
----
IHC
directs police not to arrest any accused on premises of courts
2024-02-13
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC), Monday, directed the police not to arrest any
accused from the premises of high court and sessions court.
A
single bench of Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir conducted the hearing of a matter
related to the arrest of a woman from the court premises and issued the
aforementioned directions.
The
IHC bench also directed the SSP (Investigations) to hold a meeting with the
inspector general (IG) of Islamabad police and finalise the SOPs in this regard
and inform all the policemen. He said to him that make it clear to the IG that
no accused would be arrested from the court premises.
During
the hearing, SSP Rukhsar Mehdi appeared before the court and expressed his
embarrassment over the arrest of a woman by a policeman. He informed the court
that the concerned ASI had been suspended and further investigations were
underway. He also assured the court of no repeat of the incident in future.
Justice
Arbab said the police arrested the woman as soon as she left the court. He
directed the SSP to hold a meeting with the IG to finalise the SOPs and inform
the court within two days. Later, he deferred the hearing of the case till
Thursday.
In
this matter, the applicant, Shabana Kanwal, mother of an accused Saifur Rehman,
and at the time of arguments in the bail petition of her son, the lady had been
present in the Court but subsequently, was arrested by ASI Zahid Hameed from
within the premises of this Court.
The
court observed in its written order that the allegation, on the face of it,
reflects a transgression of authority and disobedience to the court of law and,
therefore, cannot be overlooked.
Later,
on the direction of this court, ASI Zahid Hameed produced the lady before the
Court and begged pardon for causing arrest of the lady from within the premises
of the Court.
The
court order said that he shall file his explanation as to why he shall not be
proceeded against on account of alleged willful defiance and transgression of
authority.
The
official, Zahid Hameed ASI, on being questioned, stated that the lady was
implicated in FIR No404 of PS Aabpara by her son, petitioner in connected
petition, who was arrested in the referred case on 23.07.2023.
According
to the ASI, the disclosure so made by the co-accused had been on 24.07.2023 and
thereafter said accused remained on physical remand till 31.07.2023 when sent
to judicial lock-up.
The
IHC bench said that it is quite strange that since July 2023 till today,
despite lapse of more than five months, no effort was made to finalise the
investigation and to cause arrest of the accused persons. As apprised by the
official in attendance, the investigation was earlier conducted by Nasrullah
ASI who has since been transferred and then the investigation was entrusted to
him by the orders of DSP.
The
judge also observed that the conduct demonstrated by the official, prima facie,
reflects transgression of authority and issued notice to S.P. Investigations,
ICT to appear in person along with the relevant record for further proceedings
in due course.
It
added that meanwhile, Ms Shabana, is admitted to ad-interim pre-arrest bail in
FIR No404, dated 14.05.2023, under sections 457, 380 PPC PS Aabpara, Islamabad.
Source: brecorder.com
Please
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40288556/ihc-directs-police-not-to-arrest-any-accused-on-premises-of-courts
----
Africa
Tunisian
Popular Current Party condemns Zionist aggression against Rafah
[13/February/2024]
TUNISIA
February 13. 2024 (Saba) - The Tunisian Popular Current Party has condemned the
Zionist aggression that targeted Rafah city.
The
party said, in a statement, that The Zionist plan “is being carried out with
the support and backing of the administration of imperialist brutality in the
bloody house of American genocide.”
It
pointed out that stopping the Zionist aggression and the attack on Rafah is
“primarily an Egyptian responsibility, dictated by the necessities of defending
Egypt’s national security and its territorial integrity.”
The
party called on the Egyptian people and their national forces to “take action
and political escalation with the Zionist enemy, starting with canceling the
Camp David Treaty and ending with deterring it militarily.”
Source: saba.ye
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3304410.htm
----
Mama
Boko Haram, two others jailed over N40 million fraud
Goodness Adaoyiche
February
13, 2024
Justice
Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, has convicted
and sentenced Aisha Wakil (otherwise known as Mama Boko Haram), Tahiru Daura and
Lawal Soyade to 10 years imprisonment.
This
was disclosed in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, on Monday night.
The
Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC had earlier secured a conviction against
Wakil and her accomplices for falsely obtaining N15 million from one Bukar
Kachalla of Hamiza Global Resources Limited under the guise of supplying three
units of Chemistry Analyser Solar Energy Brand Model 1800 (UK version).
The
action was said to be contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and
Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Former
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement Justice Aisha Kumaliya of
the Borno State High Court, sentenced Wakil and the others, to seven years
imprisonment for conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses.
In
his statement, Oyewale said, “The defendants were jailed upon being arraigned
by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, March 5, 2020, on a two count
charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of
N40m.
Count
two of the charge reads: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Alhaji Saidu
Daura, and Prince Lawal Soyade whilst being the Chief Executive Officer,
Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid
Foundation, (a Non-Governmental Organisation) and Saidu Mukhtar (at large)
sometime in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable
court did with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N40m from one Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Executive
Officer of Duty-Free Shop Ltd under the false pretence of executing a purported
contract for the supply of five X-ray Machines 1900 with Solar Energy which you
knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (1) 1 (b)
of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and
punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The
defendants however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them, while
the counsel for the prosecution, A. I Arogha, presented four witnesses and
tendered 17 exhibits before the court.
The
statement also read that Justice Fadawu “convicted and sentenced them to 10
years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy.
The
court further sentenced the defendants to 10 years imprisonment for the offence
of obtaining by false pretence and ordered them to jointly and severally pay
the sum of N40 million to Bashir Muhammad.
“The
prison term shall run concurrently on the expiration of all prison terms
imposed on the convicts by any court.”
The
convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began when a petitioner alleged
that they swindled him through a purported contract for the supply of five
X-ray Machines 1900 with Solar Energy to a Non-Governmental Organisation,
Complete Care and Aid Foundation, worth N40 million.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://politicsnigeria.com/mama-boko-haram-two-others-jailed-over-n40-million-fraud/
----
Prominent
Islamic cleric lands in DSS custody after comparing Buhari, Tinubu to Pharaoh,
Haman
Goodness Adaoyiche
February
13, 2024
The
Department of State Services (DSS) has quizzed a prominent northern cleric
based in Kaduna State, Sheikh Auwal Shariff, for criticizing the administration
of President Bola Tinubu over the economic hardship in the country.
The
Zaria-based Muslim cleric, who is a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu, was
reportedly interrogated on Friday and released the same day.
In
one of the videos Shariff had likened the power transition between former
President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu to that of Pharaoh and Haman.
He
also lambasted the president for the hasty decision to remove petrol subsidy.
“Tinubu
and Buhari are like Pharaoh and Haman; there is no difference between them. If
not for Tinubu’s lack of respect and dignity for Nigerians, how can you
announce the removal of subsidy in your inaugural speech?
“After
announcing the removal on the inauguration stage, the petrol price jumped from
around N200 to over N600 before the president left the venue.
“And
people just laughed it off, as though nothing happened. What kind of people are
we?
“Ideally,
he should have consulted his economic team before making such a hasty decision;
even the military, which rules by decree, don’t make that kind of
pronouncement,” Sharif said according to DailyNigerian.
An
top source revealled hat the cleric was quizzed for some hours before he was
asked to go home.
“Some
operatives of the SSS stormed the residence of Malam on Friday before Jumuat
prayers, but he wasn’t at home.
“They
came back again after the Jumuat prayer, but could not meet him. So they left
behind a letter and a phone number for him to call.
“Upon
his arrival from the mosque, Malam reached out to them, confirming the receipt
of their letter.
“He
offered to go to their office immediately, but we advised him against it. Even
the SSS asked him to wait until Monday, but he insisted on going to know the
reason for the invitation, and prove his innocence.
“He
went and had a discussion with them, and after hours of grilling, he was
allowed to go home.
“From
what we gathered, the order to arrest Malam was from Abuja, but somehow the
matter was handled by the Kaduna State Command,” he said.
The
source said the secret police expressed security concern about some of his
sermons and the kind of engagement they received from people of all faith.
“He
was advised to be less critical due to the fragile nature of the polity,” the
source added.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://politicsnigeria.com/prominent-islamic-cleric-lands-in-dss-custody-after-comparing-buhari-tinubu-to-pharaoh-haman/
----
You
Won’t Destroy This Country And Leave, We Die Here – Abbo Calls For Visa Ban On
Corrupt Judges
13 February 2024
Justina Otio
A
former senator representing Adamawa north, Elisha Abbo, has called on the
European Union (EU), US and UK to issue a visa ban on Nigerian corrupt judges.
Speaking
at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Abbo insisted that the judges and
their families should not be allowed to leave the country after they have
destroyed it.
Abbo’s
call is coming about a week after he asked the National Judicial Council (NJC)
to probe Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, the lead judge of the court of appeal panel that
sacked him from office.
Reiterating
his accusations on Monday, Abbo argued that Nwosu-Iheme canceled the election
results in over 200 polling units where he had won.
He
said the results were cancelled just because the figure zero was not recorded
by parties that did not even participate in the election.
He
said, “We had cases under Buhari in 2016 where judges were sued to court and if
they continue, I will sue her. She should resign.
“The
news tomorrow should be that Senator Abbo asks Chioma Iheme to resign. When she
gets to the supreme court, we will continue to press for it.
“I
have written to the American embassy in Nigeria. I have written to the office
of Mr Antony Blinken, direct to the US and I’m calling on the US, the European
Union and the UK to add corrupt judges to the list of visa bans for them and
their families.
“They
should not be allowed into the US. Their families should not be allowed into
the US. If their children are there, they should be deported back, so that we
can live in this same Nigeria with their children.
Source: naijanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/13/you-wont-destroy-this-country-and-leave-we-die-here-abbo-calls-for-visa-ban-on-corrupt-judges/
----
Niger
Coup Leader Speaks On Returning To ECOWAS, Vows Never To Release Arrested
President, Bazoum
13
February 2024
Enioluwa
Adeniyi
In a
firm declaration that underscores the widening rift between certain Sahel
nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the head of
Niger Republic’s military junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has stated
unequivocally that Niger, along with Burkina Faso and Mali, will not reconsider
their decision to exit the regional bloc.
During
an interview with RTN news channel in Niamey on Monday, General Tchiani
articulated this commitment, highlighting the steadfast resolve of the three
countries in their stance against ECOWAS.
This
pronouncement comes after the military regimes of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
announced on January 28 their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, branding it a
“sovereign decision” to leave the bloc “without delay.”
The
departure of these nations from ECOWAS marks a significant moment of discord
within the region, challenging the cohesion and unity that the bloc has strived
to maintain among its member states.
The
leaders of the three Sahel countries have questioned the efficacy and benefits
of their membership in ECOWAS and have also signalled a potential
reconfiguration of alliances and partnerships within the West African region.
He
said, “Just because we are members of the bloc, food and medicine supply was
cut off. Power was also cut off and our own funds have been freezed. So, we
consulted our friends in the Sahel on exiting the bloc to better the life of
our citizens. That we should withdraw from the bloc that is answerable to the
foreign countries. So, we have withdrawn our membership from the bloc and would
never return to the union.”
Responding
to the consequences of its withdrawal on security, trade and socio-economic
activities, he said, “Now the world is a global village and is the world within
ECOWAS? So, God will feed every human He created.
“We
would never release Bazoum. Setting Bazoum free is akin to stabbing ourselves
in the stomach which would do harm to Nigeriens.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/02/13/niger-coup-leader-speaks-on-returning-to-ecowas-vows-never-to-release-arrested-president-bazoum/
----
South
Sudan: AFDB and UNHCR partner to support refugees
2024-02-12
The
African Development Bank and the UN Refugee Agency have said they are
partnering to support displaced people and their host communities in South
Sudan
Since
the start of the war in neighbouring Sudan last year, over half a million
people have arrived in the country, where resources are already overstretched.
Most
of the arrivals are South Sudanese who had been in Sudan for decades. Many are
heading back to villages that barely have any services and where there is no
humanitarian assistance available.
Partnering
to address fragility
Senior
officials from the African Development Bank and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
paid a joint visit to Gendrassa Refugee Camp in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.
Marie-Laure
Akin-Olugbade, the Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration
and Business Delivery, and Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for
Operations, met with government authorities, refugees and members of the host
community.
“We
have decided to partner with the UNHCR because as part of the bank strategy for
addressing fragility and helping to bring to build resilience in countries, one
of the tenants is to leave no one behind," says Akin-Olugbade.
"We
are extremely, and I think the international community should be, very grateful
to the government of South Sudan for their open policy in welcoming more
refugees who are coming.”
“What
we've seen is that there are a lot of opportunities, a lot of projects that
they could be funding," says Mazou. "These are the kind of things
that we humanitarian actors cannot fund. But [the] African Development Bank and
other development actors can actually [fund].”
Humanitarian
and development collaboration
The
visit comes in the context of strengthened collaboration between humanitarian
and development actors globally.
The
two sectors have recognised the need in recent years to work more closely with
one another.
Source: africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/12/south-sudan-afdb-and-unhcr-partner-to-support-refugees/
---
Rwanda
Army using surface-to-air missiles in east DR Congo, says UN
February
13, 2024
The
Rwandan Army supporting M23 rebels in an escalating conflict in eastern DR
Congo is using sophisticated weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, according
to a UN document seen by AFP on February 12.
Amid
intensifying fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a “suspected
Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM)” was fired at a
UN observation drone on last Wednesday without hitting it, the confidential
report said.
“External
military intelligence from France supports assessment that the suspected WZ551
6×6 IFV mobile SAM system is Rwandan,” it added.
Attached
to the report are two aerial images in which a six-wheeled armoured vehicle is
visible with a radar and missile launcher system on the roof.
The
photos were taken by the targeted drone about 70 km north of the city of Goma,
in rebel-held Rutshuru territory.
The
UN’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission says in the document it has “no past
reporting of known armed groups possessing the training, capital or resources
to operate and maintain a mobile SAM system”.
It
added that it “indicates an escalation of conventional force conflict in
eastern DRC”.
The
document notes that M23 and the Rwanda Army have used numerous weapons against
aircraft and also have in their armoury anti-aircraft guns and MANPAD mobile
air defence systems.
Such
weapons pose a high risk to all DRC government and UN aircraft in the region.
Source: thehindu.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/rwanda-army-using-surface-to-air-missiles-in-east-dr-congo-says-un/article67840568.ece
-----
South Asia
IEA
Deputy PM to Neighbour Countries: Do Not Force Afghan Refugees Out
February 12, 2024
The
deputy PM for political affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, during his visit to a
temporary camp in Torkham called on the neighbouring countries not to force
Afghan refugees out of the country.
Mawlawi
Abdul Kabir also asked Afghan refugees, especially the businesspeople in
foreign countries, to return to Afghanistan, saying security is ensured
throughout.
“We
ask all the countries not to force the refugees out in this cold season and
worsen the situation, especially when their property is not collected and
accounts are not cleared,” he said.
“More
than 50,000 refugees have returned up to now and the process is not stopped and
is continuous, when the process stops it will be confirmed. About 15 families
have been deported,” said Baz Mohammad Abdul Rahman, the head of the Refugees
and Repatriation.
On
the other hand, some fresh returnees from Pakistan complained of mistreatment
by the Pakistani police and asked the Islamic Emirate for assistance and to
provide them with permanent shelter.
“Those
who have got no land should be given land and those who have land should be
helped to make a life,” said Noor Mohammad a returnee.
“We
have come from Pakistan, as they used to detain us repeatedly and were not
leaving us to relax to work and live, so we prioritized our honor and returned
to our own country,” said Muskin Afghan, another returnee.
According
to the numbers of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation of Nangarhar
province, from November 1, 2023, to the present, over 50000 families have been
deported from Torkham crossing.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187386
----
Shia
Scholars and Elders Discuss Development Projects with Deputy PM
2024-02-12
KABUL
(BNA): Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Administrative Deputy Prime Minister of
the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, held a meeting with a group of Shia
scholars and elders in Kabul on Monday.
Haji
Mohammad Amir Bazel, one of the scholars, spoke on behalf of the group,
providing the Deputy Prime Minister with information about the social situation
and development activities in their regions.
Bazel
expressed that the Shia community holds a positive view of the Islamic Emirate
and supports the Islamic system in the country. He appealed to the officials of
the Islamic Emirate to pay special attention to initiating development programs
in provinces and remote areas that have been neglected in recent years.
On
the other hand, Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi stated that the officials of the
Islamic Emirate consider it their duty and honor to serve the people and
address their issues. He emphasized the crucial role of scholars and elders in
fostering a robust and solid relationship between the nation and the
government.
Mawlavi
Abdul Salam Hanafi also highlighted that the Islamic Emirate is committed to
balanced development and is initiating development programs throughout
Afghanistan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/shia-scholars-and-elders-discuss-development-projects-with-deputy-pm/
---
Hanafi
Urges Officials to Enhance Efforts for Kabul’s Order and Prosperity
2024-02-12
KABUL
(BNA): Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative
Affairs, met with Eng. Aamer Yaser, the Deputy Mayor of Kabul Municipality.
According
to a statement from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, they discussed the
activities, functions, and plans of the Kabul Municipality.
Mawlavi
Abdul Salam Hanafi expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Kabul
Municipality in maintaining order, cleanliness, and initiating development
projects. He urged officials to further contribute to the cleanliness,
greenery, order, and prosperity of Kabul.
He
emphasized that the initiation of large-scale development projects in Kabul
demonstrates that with determination and the utilization of internal resources,
development and prosperity can be achieved.
Eng.
Aamer Yaser, the Deputy Mayor of Kabul, highlighted the successful launch and
completion of numerous development projects across Kabul, funded internally
since the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate. He also outlined the
upcoming development plans and projects for the following year.
The
Kabul Municipality has played a significant role in the beautification,
organization, and greening of Kabul over the past two years, completing
development projects using internal budget allocations.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/hanafi-urges-officials-to-enhance-efforts-for-kabuls-order-and-prosperity/
-----
Portugal
provides €200,000 for the first time to Afghanistan humanitarian fund
Fidel
Rahmati
February
12, 2024
The
United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that
for the first time, Portugal has contributed €200,000 to the Afghanistan
Humanitarian Fund.
This
announcement was made by OCHA on Monday, February 12th, on its social media
platform X, that Portugal has contributed €200,000, which is equivalent to
$215,750 US dollars, to the humanitarian fund for Afghanistan.
OCHA
added that this is Portugal’s first humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
OCHA
has not specified how this money will be allocated but previously stated that
internal displacement, the return of migrants to Afghanistan, climate change,
and budgetary constraints are major challenges increasing the Afghan people’s
need for humanitarian assistance.
It
should be noted that Portugal has delivered this amount of money to OCHA.
Earlier,
the World Food Programme warned that among more than 10 million people, many
are forced to choose between feeding their children and keeping them warm.
Additionally, humanitarian organizations, especially the World Food Program,
have also warned about the dire economic conditions in Afghanistan.
Many
Afghan refugees returning from neighboring countries encounter numerous
challenges, including securing shelter, accessing food, obtaining energy for
warmth during harsh winters in their homeland, and acquiring essential
medicines.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.khaama.com/portugal-provides-e200000-for-the-first-time-to-afghanistan-humanitarian-fund/
-----
Taliban
Deputy Foreign Minister signals participation in Doha Conference
Fidel
Rahmati
February
12, 2024
As
the Doha conference nears, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the deputy of the
caretaker government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has told the media that the
Taliban government is thinking about joining the conference and will let
everyone know its decision soon.
Mr.
Stanikzai made these remarks on Sunday, February 11, during a ceremony
commemorating the forty-fifth anniversary of the victory of the Islamic
Revolution of Iran in Kabul. On the other hand, sources suggest that
preparations for the Doha conference are nearing completion.
The
two-day Doha conference, initiated by the United Nations on Afghanistan,
scheduled for February 18th and 19th, will discuss major challenges facing
Afghanistan with representatives from specific countries and will negotiate the
selection of a new representative from the organization for Afghan affairs.
Discussions
for selecting a new representative for Afghanistan affairs are ongoing, while
the Taliban considers the presence of the UN Deputy Office in Kabul sufficient
and deems appointing a new representative unnecessary.
Thomas
Nicholson, the EU’s Special Representative, stated during his press conference
in Kabul that Afghan men and women have been invited to share their experiences
and perspectives at the Doha conference.
However,
sources indicate that the Taliban does not accept the presence of protesting
women at this conference, despite women’s participation being one of the major
demands of women’s rights activists in this event.
While
discussions continue for selecting a new representative for Afghanistan
affairs, a final decision has not yet been announced.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-deputy-foreign-minister-signals-participation-in-doha-conference/
----
Germany
Warns Against Travel to Afghanistan, Kabul Denies Danger
February
12, 2024
The
Islamic Emirate reacted to the travelling warning of the Foreign Office of
Germany and denied hostage-taking and arrests of foreigners in Afghanistan.
The
spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said that thousands of foreigners who have
travelled to Afghanistan recently did not encounter any threats or danger.
According
to Zabiullah Mujahid, countries who publish such warnings intend to portray
Afghanistan as an unstable country.
“Now
Afghanistan is secure, but countries still warn their citizens, it means that
there is a political goal behind this. Countries want to portray Afghanistan as
an unstable and insecure country to the world; we ensure people that
Afghanistan is secure,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic
Emirate.
The
Foreign Office of Germany in a warning asked its citizens to leave Afghanistan
and not to travel to the country for security reasons.
“The
infrastructure and flight safety facilities at Kabul International Airport do
not meet international standards. The situation at the border crossings with
neighboring countries is confusing. There are always short-term closures. Armed
clashes occasionally occur at border crossings with Pakistan.” Reads the
statement of the Foreign Office of Germany.
“The
US made the first warning to its citizens followed by the UK, but the Islamic
Emirate was not serious about the warnings then. Now that Germany has warned
its citizens against travel to Afghanistan, this can mean the proclamation of
insecurity in Afghanistan,” said Aziz Maarij, a political analyst.
“The
Germans have made the warning because they have not reached a political
agreement with the Islamic Emirate yet. It will be efficient if countries start
engagement based on their respective interests. Afghanistan’s current security
is better than the 20-year presence of foreigners, including Germany, in the
country,” said Zalmai Afghanyar, a political analyst.
Following
the US and Australia, Russia, the UK and Germany are three other countries who
have warned their citizens against travelling to Afghanistan due to alleged
security threats.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187388
----
North America
American
Muslims set to punish Biden over Israel’s Gaza assault
February 12, 2024
AYSE
ISIN KIRENCI
As
Israel pushes on with its brutal military campaign in Gaza – killing
Palestinian civilians at will and razing swathes of the besieged Palestinian
enclave – the rumblings of the war are being felt as far as the US.
The
US – Israel’s all-weather ally – has backed the war on Gaza since the
cross-border operation by Hamas on October 7, providing moral and material
support to the Jewish state to carry on its military campaign against
Palestinians.
The
Biden administration’s no-questions-asked backing of Israel has also led to a
surge in Islamophobia in the country, which has come as a big shock and
disappointment to the American Muslim community.
Ahead
of the November presidential elections in the US, the Muslim community is
preparing to punish the Democrats politically for being an accomplice in
Israel’s lopsided war on Gaza.
And
the biggest signs of the political upheaval are emanating from Michigan, a
crucial swing state that has been playing a decisive role in determining the
outcome of the race.
The
state chose the Democrats in 2020 by a bare three percent margin while backing
the Republicans in 2016 by an even narrower margin – 0.23 percent.
Representing
an estimated five percent of the voters in Michigan, American Muslims in the
state believe they can lodge their protest through the ballot box.
Since
Israel launched its war on Gaza, Michigan has passed at least 14 resolutions
calling for a ceasefire. However, their calls have gone unanswered.
President
Joe Biden is almost certain to be nominated by the Democrats for another term,
and he is likely to face off against potential Republican nominee and former
president Donald Trump in a 2020 rematch.
Growing
disappointment
Dawud
Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR)
Michigan chapter, articulated the frustration and anger of the community in
clear terms.
He
says that although US support for Israel is not a new thing, Washington’s
involvement in the unprecedented level of killing since October 7 has been
disappointing for Muslims.
“Many
Muslims do not want their leaders to even have a conversation with President
Biden due to America's unconditional support for Israel, including giving
Israel weapons during the current genocide that's taking place against
Palestinian people,” Walid tells TRT World.
Towards
the end of January, Muslim and Arab American leaders in Michigan declined an
invitation to attend a listening session with Joe Biden’s campaign.
Activists
in Michigan have also launched an ‘Abandon Biden’ campaign, calling on voters
to reject the potential Democrat nominee in the November elections, says Bilal
Irfan, president emeritus of the governing body representing students of the
University of Michigan.
Some
others have launched a ‘Listen to Michigan’ campaign, hoping to put pressure on
the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Biden
has had many opportunities in the last few months to make genuine inroads and
communicate with his Arab and Muslim constituents, and the only thing we have
seen is disrespect and an utter disregard–even hostility–towards our families
and the people we love,” Irfan tells TRT World.
To
protest Biden's Gaza policy, more than 30 elected officials across Michigan
have also said they would vote "uncommitted" in Michigan's Democratic
presidential primary that will take place on February 27.
In
primaries held 9 to 10 months before the general election across the state,
voters can indicate their preference for their party’s candidate to nominate.
Voting
‘uncommitted’ means not committing to any candidate for the race, which may
lead to a break for the Muslim community, says Reem Abou-Samra, teaching
Politics at the University of Michigan.
Therefore,
it increases the chance for third-party and independent candidates.
A
chance wasted for Biden
In
the 2020 election, Biden won by 150,000 votes in Michigan, where approximately
240,000 Muslims live.
“In
the previous election [2020], Muslims wanted Bernie Sanders to win. However,
since Mr. Biden won, Muslims were willing to give him a chance,” Walid says.
“With
a series of policy decisions and the worst of them being his support for the
war against Gaza, there is virtually no support for President Biden in the
Michigan Muslim community at this particular time.”
He
says that even if Biden calls for a ceasefire, it won’t satisfy the Muslim
community as his administration won’t stop sending aid and weapons to Israel.
It is
estimated that Israel dropped 22,000 US-provided guided and unguided bombs on
Gaza in just the first six weeks of the war.
US
military aid to Tel Aviv topped $3.8 billion in 2023, with half of the amount
meant to bolster Israel’s missile defence.
‘A
very important election’
Across
Detroit, Dearborn, Ypsilanti, Hamtramck, Dearborn Heights, Canton, and Ann
Arbor, which have passed ceasefire resolutions, the anger against Biden is
growing.
“Many
Muslims in Michigan feel that this is a very important election, just simply to
make a point that the Muslims in Michigan matter and that if people don't take
our voices seriously, the Michigan Muslim community can literally affect who
can be the next president of the United States,” Walid says.
He
says it is hard for anyone to become US president without winning Michigan
because the last two elections have been very close.
It is
the consequence they should pay if they do not listen to Muslims, he says,
adding, “It's not about whether it's Trump or Biden for many American Muslims,
it's about asserting the political power of the Michigan Muslim community so
that these politicians cannot take the voices of the community for granted.”
“Our
vote is one way we can hold truth to power and force our leaders to listen,”
Irfan says.
Legacy
of Black American Muslims
At
the same time, the Muslim community is also hopeful since local politics has a
special place and strength in Michigan.
Because
of the rich legacy of Black American Muslims, they have a strong history of
organising their local leaders, Abou-Samra says.
Rashida
Tlaib became the first Muslim woman in the Michigan legislature in 2008, and
then in 2018 became the first Muslim woman to be elected to the US Congress.
The
city of Hamtramck in Michigan became the first municipality in the US to be
administered entirely by Muslim Americans after the city elected a
Muslim-American city council and a Muslim mayor in 2021.
Having
strong relationships with the local leaders makes the Muslims in Michigan
hopeful for the upcoming election as well, she emphasises.
Also,
there is an organic link between the Black movement and the Palestinian
movement, says Irfan.
“When
Black protestors were being attacked by police in Ferguson after George Floyd’s
murder, Palestinians were supporting the movement and sending tips on how
protestors could protect themselves from police violence.”
Both
communities have faced a common understanding of police brutality, he says,
comparing Israel’s military to the US police and adding that many of the US
police have been trained by Israel.
In
that sense, Biden risks not only the support of Muslims but also the Black
community since most Black people see a common thread binding their own
struggle for freedom to the Palestinian cause.
“The
Muslim vote is significant and valuable because ‘all politics is local’,”
Abou-Samra says.
Surge
in anti-Muslim rhetoric
Since
October 7, anti-Muslim hate in US states has also increased, which the
community blamed on politicians and media aligned with Israel.
On February
2, WSJ published an op-ed titled ‘Welcome to Dearborn, America’s Jihad
Capital’, labelling the largely Arab-American city of Michigan as a supporter
of terrorism due to its pro-Palestinian sentiment and hostility against the US’
Gaza policy.
The
writer called counter-terrorism agencies to consider the situation in Dearborn
as a national security threat.
“Even
this article has the role to increase of anti-Muslim rhetoric, attempts of
voter intimidation and uptick of violence against Muslims in America,”
Abou-Samra says.
Dawud
Walid shares another instance of growing anti-Muslim hatred in Dearborn, where
a man threatened to kill all the Palestinians in the city.
“It's
a very troubling trend, and especially since this is an election year, we are a
little nervous that some of the political candidates may try to use Muslims as
a political football and try to win cheap points that may increase Islamophobia
in our country,” he says.
Bilal
Irfan talks about how the students have been harassed and targeted on various
campuses by not only external groups but also by school administrations.
“Muslim
and Arab communities are hearing loud and clear from our leaders that our lives
and well-being don’t matter,” he says.
“Biden
has made it abundantly clear that not only are Arabs and Muslims not safe in
Gaza, but also here in America,” he adds.
Biden
recently announced financial and travel sanctions on four Israeli settlers
involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
It
was not the first, but a rare instance of US action against Israelis.
Walid,
however, dismissed the action as a “token”, saying that “no one really cares
about the executive order Biden made regarding Israeli settlers, it won't
affect the vast majority of those illegal Israeli settlers because the majority
of them are actually American citizens.”
It
just punishes individuals who have limited agency in the larger conflict
instead of the settler-colonialist state, Abou-Samra notes.
Although
Biden’s executive order seeks to appease historically Arab and Muslim
democratic voters, he has given Israel the mandate to continue its policies of
aggression on besieged Gaza and the occupied West Bank, she adds.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/american-muslims-set-to-punish-biden-over-israels-gaza-assault-16954835
------
Biden
to Jordanian King: 'Status quo must be maintained at Al-Aqsa Mosque'
FEBRUARY
13, 2024
BARAK
RAVID
US
President Joe Biden said that the status quo must be maintained at Al-Aqsa
Mosque in a discussion with Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, at the
White House on Monday.
At
the same time, President Biden also commented on Jordan's role to play in
maintaining stability, saying "The critical role that Jordan plays in the
holy places for Muslims in Jerusalem must be recognized," according to a
Walla report.
The
Al-Aqsa mosque, which Muslims regard as the third holiest site in Islam after
Mecca and Medina, resides on a hill in Jerusalem's Old City known to Jews as
Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and to Muslims internationally as al-Haram
al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary.
The
name Temple Mount comes from the belief that it is also where the Temple in
Jerusalem (Beit Hamikdash) is located, which is the holiest site for Jews and
proximal to the Western Wall.
The
discussion also included the ongoing Gaza war and potential hostage deal
These
comments were made in a broader discussion between the two about Middle East
stability, and the ongoing war in Gaza.
This
discussion also included an announcement from Biden about a promising a hostage
deal proposal that would include a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The
two also discussed the imminent implications of IDF operations in Rafah.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-786627
----
CAIR
Holds News Conference with Family of U.S. Citizen Kidnapped, Beaten by Israeli
Forces in Gaza
Ismail
Allison
February
12, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today held a news conference at its
Washington, D.C. headquarters with the sons of Samaher Esmail, an American
citizen and grandmother from New Orleans who was recently kidnapped, beaten,
and denied access to medicine by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
As
mentioned during the press conference, the family’s Israeli Arab attorney wrote
a memorandum documenting the abuses Ms. Esmail has endured since the start of
her detention.
Last
Monday, CAIR called for the release of Esmail. Last Wednesday, the CAIR also
sent a letter to the State Department, urging expedited action in demanding her
release.
Congressman
Troy A. Carter (D-LA-2) also reported on Twitter (formerly known as X) that his
office is concerned about Esmail and is “in contact with the American Embassy
and the State Department to inquire why a U.S. citizen is being held.” This
incident was also covered by Louisiana NBC news station WDSU6 in the article
titled: “Family: New Orleans grandmother kidnapped, beaten in West Bank of
Palestine.“
Last
week, CAIR also called the Biden administration to demand the release of two
U.S. citizens reportedly kidnapped overnight in Gaza by Israeli forces and to
save other Americans trapped or held hostage in Gaza by securing a ceasefire.
Sky
News reports that Israeli forces have detained two American brothers – Borak
Alagha, 18, and Hashem Alagha, 20, two brothers born in the Chicago area – and
their Canadian father in an overnight raid on their home in Gaza.
Source: cair.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-holds-news-conference-with-family-of-u-s-citizen-kidnapped-beaten-by-israeli-forces-in-gaza/
-----
CAIR
Calls on President Biden to Condemn Israeli Murder of Palestinian-American
Teen, Massacre of Civilians in Rafah ‘Safe Area’
Ibrahim
Hooper
February
12, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Biden administration to
condemn the far-right Israeli government’s murder of a Palestinian-American
teenager in Jerusalem as well as an overnight massacre of Palestinian civilians
in Rafah, Gaza.
Defense
for Children International – Palestine reports that Israeli forces shot and
killed 17-year-old Mohammad Ahmed Mohammad Khdour northwest of Jerusalem in the
occupied West Bank. Khdour was reportedly shot in the head by Israeli forces
when they opened fire on the car that he was sitting in with one of his
relatives.
The
Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that more than 100 people were killed
early today in Israeli airstrikes targeting the so-called “safe area” of Rafah
in Gaza. At least two mosques and a dozen homes were targeted in the strikes.
In a
statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“The
Biden administration has repeatedly failed to hold the far-right Israeli
government accountable for attacks like last night’s Rafah massacre and even
attacks on American citizens, like the assassination of journalist Shireen Abu
Akleh and the murder of another American teenager, Tawfiq Hijazi, last month.
These failures embolden the Israeli government to kill more innocent people
with impunity.
“President
Biden must fulfill his legal and moral duty to protect Americans around the
world, and he must stop enabling genocidal war crimes against Palestinians in
Gaza. He should start by condemning the Israeli government’s latest atrocities
and using the power of his office to secure an immediate ceasefire and then
pursue a just, lasting peace by ending the occupation.”
Last
month, CAIR condemned the killing of American-born 17-year-old Tawfiq Hafiz
Hijazi by the forces of the far-right Israeli government in the occupied West
Bank.
In
December of last year, CAIR called on the State Department and FBI to
investigate the shooting and detention of a 13-year-old Palestinian-American
boy by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
Also
last year, CAIR called on the Biden administration to demand “real justice”
after an announcement that Israeli soldiers will not face criminal prosecution
for the death of an elderly Palestinian-American man who they dragged from a
car, bound and left unresponsive on the ground overnight after apparently
suffering a heart attack.
Hundreds
of relatives of American citizens have already been killed by Israel in Gaza
and the West Bank and noted President Biden’s refusal to meet with the family
of murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Today,
CAIR held a news conference with the sons of Samaher Esmail, an American
citizen and grandmother from New Orleans who was recently kidnapped, beaten,
and denied access to medicine by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
CAIR
also called the Biden administration to demand the release of two U.S. citizens
reportedly kidnapped overnight in Gaza by Israeli forces and to save other
Americans trapped or held hostage in Gaza by securing a ceasefire. Israeli
forces detained two American brothers – Borak Alagha, 18, and Hashem Alagha,
20, two brothers born in the Chicago area – and their Canadian father in a raid
on their home in Gaza.
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 libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados
Unidos.
Do
you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You
can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering
American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or
becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work
possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to
CAIR.
You
are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media
databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here:
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information
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-president-biden-to-condemn-israeli-murder-of-palestinian-american-teen-massacre-of-civilians-in-rafah-safe-area/
----
Europe
France
Proposes Hezbollah Withdrawal, Border Talks for Israel-Lebanon Truce
2024-02-13
(Reuters
Exclusive) - France has delivered a written proposal to Beirut aimed at ending
hostilities with Israel and settling the disputed Lebanon-Israel frontier,
according to a document seen by Reuters that calls for fighters including
Hezbollah's elite unit to withdraw 10 km (6 miles) from the border.
The
plan aims to end fighting between the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel at the
border. The hostilities have run in parallel to the Gaza war and are fueling
concern of a ruinous, all-out confrontation.
The
document, the first written proposal brought to Beirut during weeks of Western
mediation, was delivered to top Lebanese state officials including Prime
Minister Najib Mikati by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne last week,
four senior Lebanese and three French officials said.
It
declares the aim of preventing a conflict "that risks spiraling out of
control" and enforcing "a potential ceasefire, when the conditions
are right" and ultimately envisions negotiations on delineation of the
contentious land border between Lebanon and Israel.
Hezbollah
rejects formally negotiating a de-escalation until the war in Gaza ends, a
position reiterated by a Hezbollah politician in response to questions for this
story.
While
some details of similar mediation efforts by U.S. Middle East envoy Amos
Hochstein have been circulating in recent weeks, the full details of the French
written proposal delivered to Lebanon have not previously been reported.
The
three-step plan envisages a 10-day process of de-escalation ending with the
border negotiations.
One
French diplomatic source said the proposal had been put to the governments of
Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah.
France
has historical ties with Lebanon. It has 20,000 citizens in the country and
some 800 troops as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force.
"We
made proposals. We are in contact with the Americans and it's important that we
bring together all initiatives and build peace," Sejourne told a news
conference on Monday.
The
plan proposes Lebanese armed groups and Israel would cease military operations
against each other, including Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
Several
non-state groups, including Palestinian factions, have mounted attacks on
Israel from south Lebanon during the latest hostilities, though Hezbollah is
the dominant power in the area with a fighting force widely seen to outgun the
Lebanese army.
The
Lebanese armed groups would dismantle all premises and facilities close to the
frontier, and withdraw combat forces - including Hezbollah's elite Radwan
fighters and military capabilities such as antitank systems - at least 10 km
north of the frontier, the document proposes.
Any
such withdrawal could still leave Hezbollah fighters much closer to the border
than the 30 km (19 mile) withdrawal to Lebanon's Litani River, stipulated in a
U.N. resolution that ended a war with Israel in 2006.
The
shorter withdrawal would help ensure rockets did not reach villages in northern
Israel that have been targeted with anti-tank missiles and was a compromise
seen as more palatable to Hezbollah than a retreat to the Litani, one Western
diplomat with knowledge of the two-page proposal said.
Up to
15,000 Lebanese army troops would be deployed in the border region of south
Lebanon, a Hezbollah political stronghold where the group's fighters have long
melted into society at times of calm.
Asked
about the proposal, senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah told Reuters
that the group would not discuss "any matter related to the situation in
the south before the halt of the aggression on Gaza".
"The
enemy is not in the position to impose conditions," added Fadlallah,
declining to comment on details of the proposal or whether Hezbollah had
received it.
One
of the Lebanese officials said the document brings together ideas discussed in
contacts with Western envoys and had been passed on to Hezbollah. French
officials told the Lebanese it was not a final paper, after Beirut raised
objections to parts of it, the Lebanese official said.
An
Israeli official said such a proposal had been received and was being discussed
by the government.
Reuters
reported last month that Hezbollah had rebuffed ideas suggested by Hochstein,
who has been at the heart of the efforts, but that it had also kept the door
ajar to diplomacy.
Asked
for comment for this story, a State Department spokesperson said the United
States "continues to explore all diplomatic options with our Israeli and
Lebanese counterparts to restore calm and avoid escalation." The White
House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The
Lebanese official said several elements prompted concern in Beirut, including
the demand armed groups dismantle premises and facilities close to the border,
which the official said was vaguely worded and could be used to demand moves
against Hezbollah-affiliated civilian institutions.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://tolonews.com/index.php/world-187397
----
UK
slaps sanctions on West Bank settlers for ‘egregious’ violence, following US
move
12
February 202
The
United Kingdom imposed sanctions on four Israeli nationals on Monday who it
said had carried out violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank,
following a US move slapping unprecedented financial and travel restrictions on
Israelis active in settlements earlier this month.
British
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the four targeted Israeli settlers, one of
whom was also included in the US sanctions, were involved in “egregious abuses
of human rights.”
“Extremist
Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing
them off land that is rightfully theirs,” he added. “This behavior is illegal
and unacceptable.”
Yinon
Levi, Moshe Sharvit, Zvi Bar Yosef and Ely Federman were identified by the UK
government as “Israeli settlers who have violently attacked Palestinians in the
occupied West Bank.”
Of
the four, only Levi was included in sanctions announced by the US.
In a
statement, the UK said that Levi and Sharvit “have in recent months used
physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as
part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities.”
On
October 17, Hebrew daily Haaretz reported an incident in which several dozen
Palestinians had fled their home village of Ein Shabli in the Jordan Valley
after Israeli settlers attacked members of their community and vandalized their
homes. Sharvit was named by the Haaretz report as one of the key instigators of
the attack.
Levi,
too, was involved in similar incidents according to a statement by the US State
Department earlier this month. The founder of the Meitarim Farm outpost in the
southern West Bank, he was accused of assaulting Palestinian and Bedouin
civilians, threatening them with additional violence if they did not leave
their homes, burning their fields, and destroying their property, leading to a
West Bank village being abandoned by its approximately 250 residents.
Federman,
who also lives in the Meitarim Farm outpost, was accused of involvement “in
multiple incidents against Palestinian shepherds” south of Hebron.
He is
the son of Noam Federman, a prominent far-right activist from Hebron, who told
The Times of Israel that his son was currently in combat operations in Khan
Younis and is therefore unaware that he has been sanctioned by the UK. Ely was
wounded several weeks ago when an RPG struck the D9 bulldozer he was operating,
but he returned to combat duty after ten days recuperation in Sheba Hospital.
Federman
denied that his son has been involved in attacks against Palestinians, stating
that he has been performing his mandatory military service over the last three
years.
“These
allegations are a lot of nonsense. Tell me when he would have time to do such
things. This is the result of a campaign of extreme leftist, anarchists, who
harass the IDF in the Jordan Valley, Samaria, and the South Hebron Hills, and
have turned to the US and Britain as part of this campaign,” Federman said
Monday.
Bar
Yosef was accused by the UK of threatening families on a picnic at gunpoint on
two occasions, one of which the West Bank watchdog organization Kerem Navot
documented in 2021.
Echoing
the US, Cameron called for Israel to “take stronger action and put a stop to
settler violence.”
“Too
often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed
through,” he said of Israel’s pledges to stopping settler violence across the
West Bank.
“We
should be clear about what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers are
threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is
rightfully theirs,” said Cameron, who visited Israel earlier this month.
Britain’s
Foreign Office said there had been unprecedented levels of violence by settlers
in the West Bank over the past year.
At
least 10 Palestinians were killed and dozens of homes were torched across the
West Bank in settler attacks in 2023, human rights group Yesh Din said in
January.
The
violence spiked after the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas in southern
Israel, in which some 1,200 people were slaughtered and 253 were taken hostage,
but violence had been on the rise before then, according to watchdogs.
The
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on January 1 that
there was a daily average of three settler-related incidents in the first eight
months of 2023 compared to the two-per-day average in 2022 — the highest rate
since the beginning of record-keeping in 2006.
It’s
not known if any of the four targeted extremists named have assets in the UK,
but the sanctions can nonetheless have wide-ranging impacts.
Following
the US-issued sanctions, Levi’s Israeli bank accounts were frozen, as were
those of sanctioned settler David Chai Chasdai, due to financial compliance
requirements Israeli banks are legally committed to.
Israeli
peace movement Combatants for Peace thanked the British government for backing
“an unequivocal position against settler violence.”
“While
their representatives sit in the government, the hilltop youth [a common term
for extremist settler activists] have lost all restraint,” Combatants for Peace
said. “It is a moral obligation to intervene. It’s good that such a necessary
decision has been reached on the issue.”
Source: timesofisrael.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-slaps-sanctions-on-west-bank-settlers-for-egregious-violence-following-us-move/
-----
Court
orders Netherlands to stop F-35 parts delivery to Israel
2024-02-13
THE
HAGUE: The Netherlands must stop delivering parts for F-35 fighter jets used by
Israel in the Gaza Strip, after a Dutch court Monday ruled there was a “clear
risk” the planes would be involved in breaking international humanitarian law.
The
Appeals Court in The Hague sided with a group of human rights organisations
that argued the parts contributed to violations of law by Israel in its war
with Hamas.
“The
court therefore orders the State to put an end to the further export of F-35
parts to Israel within 7 days,” said the ruling.
“There
is a clear risk that serious violations of humanitarian law of war are
committed in the Gaza Strip with Israel’s F-35 fighter planes,” added the
judge.
The
US-owned F-35 parts are stored at a warehouse in the Netherlands and then
shipped to several partners, including Israel, via existing export agreements.
In
December, the District Court in The Hague had said that supplying the parts was
primarily a political decision that judges should not interfere with.
“The
considerations that the minister makes are to a large extent of a political and
policy nature and judges should leave the minister a large amount of freedom,”
the court ruled at the time.
But
the appeals court overturned this ruling, saying the Netherlands “must prohibit
the export of military goods if there is a clear risk of serious violations of
the humanitarian law of war.”
“Israel
does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian
population when conducting its attacks,” said the court.
The
attacks in Gaza “have caused a disproportionate number of civilian casualties,
including thousands of children.”
The
war was launched in response to the unprecedented attacks on Israel by
Palestinian group Hamas on October 7.
Those
attacks resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, mostly civilians,
according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Group
also seized about 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on official
Israeli figures. Israel says around 130 are still in Gaza, though 29 are
thought to be dead.
Source: brecorder.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40288571/court-orders-netherlands-to-stop-f-35-parts-delivery-to-israel
---
EU’s
Borrell urges Israel allies to stop sending weapons
February 12, 2024
BRUSSELS:
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday urged allies of Israel –
primarily the United States – to stop sending it weapons as “too many people”
are being killed in Gaza.
Pointing
to US President Joe Biden’s comment last week that Israel’s military action was
“over the top”, Borrell said: “Well, if you believe that too many people are
being killed, maybe you should provide less arms in order to prevent so many
people have been killed.”
“Is
(it) not logical?” he asked, in a Brussels news conference alongside Philippe
Lazzarini, head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA whom Israel
is pressuring to resign.
“How
many times have you heard the most prominent leaders and foreign ministers
around the world saying too many people are being killed?” Borrell asked.
The
chief EU diplomat also slammed a call by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu for the more than one million Palestinians sheltering in the Gaza
city of Rafah to be “evacuated” ahead of a planned Israeli military operation
there.
“They
are going to evacuate – where? To the moon? Where are they going to evacuate
these people?” Borrell asked.
The
Gaza war was sparked by Palestinian group Hamas’s unprecedented October 7
attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Vowing
to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that
the territory’s health ministry says has killed at least 28,340 people, mostly
women and children.
Lazzarini
told the news conference, held after a meeting of EU ministers tasked with
development aid issues, that he was not going to resign, as Israel was
demanding.
“No,
I have no intention to resign,” he said.
“We
have one government calling for the resignation. We might have other voices,
but I haven’t heard any other government.”
‘Deep
sense of panic’
Lazzarini
said he took Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in
Hamas’s October 7 attack so seriously that he sacked those employees and the UN
has started an independent investigation.
He
said he was “calling for and hope the Israeli authorities will cooperate” with
the investigation to determine whether the allegations can be substantiated.
He
also said Israel’s claim that a Hamas tunnel was found under the UNRWA’s Gaza
headquarters – whose existence he has already denied knowledge of – should be
investigated once the current conflict is over.
With
some countries suspending funding to UNRWA, the agency would fall into the red
to the tune of $30 million to $40 million next month, and then even deeper in
April, as it needs $60 million to cover the salaries of its 30,000 workers, he
said.
Lazzarini
added there was a “deep sense of panic” regarding Israeli’s planned operation
in Rafah, given the “unspeakable” civilian toll so far.
“We
talk about five percent of the population which has been either killed, either
injured or is missing – more than a hundred thousand people out of a population
of two million. And this in only four months,” he said.
“To
tell you the truth, I have no idea what a safe place means in the Gaza Strip,”
he said.
Source: brecorder.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40288472/eus-borrell-urges-israel-allies-to-stop-sending-weapons
----
Israel
should be pressed not to attack Rafah, home to 1.7M Palestinians: EU foreign
policy chief
Ahmet
Gençtürk
12.02.2024
Israel
should be pressed not to attack the city of Rafah, home to 1.7 million
Palestinians, said the EU’s foreign policy chief on Monday.
“Even
the US, the strongest supporter of Israel, the President (Joe) Biden himself,
considers that this action is disproportionate, the toll of civilians being
killed is unbearable and (is) warning Israel not to continue this way,” Josep
Borrell said.
“If
you believe the toll of death is too high, maybe you can do something about
it,” he said, adding that the EU is not providing Israel with weapons, unlike
the US does.
“We
should do more than expressing concern,” Borrell also said.
Palestinians
sought refuge in Rafah after the Israeli army launched intensified bombardments
on Gaza and Khan Younis cities, as well as their surrounding towns and
neighborhoods, on Oct. 7, killing more than 28,000 people and causing
widespread destruction and shortages of necessities.
Source:
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/israel-should-be-pressed-not-to-attack-rafah-home-to-17m-palestinians-eu-foreign-policy-chief/3134796
---
ICC
prosecutor ‘deeply concerned’ by situation in Gaza’s Rafah
February
12, 2024
THE
HAGUE: International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said on Monday he was
deeply concerned about reports of bombardment and potential ground incursion by
Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Khan
posted on X after airstrikes in the city that is the last refuge of about a
million displaced civilians.
The
prosecutor said the court was “actively investigating any crimes allegedly
committed” in Gaza and that “those who are in breach of the law will be held
accountable.”
He
later told Reuters that half of the population of Gaza is currently
concentrated around Rafah, “reportedly six times its normal concentration.”
“When
you have a population that is 60 percent children and women by all accounts,
the risks to civilians are profound,” he said.
“This
situation is one that I give the utmost priority to. It’s an issue that we’re
moving forward on.”
Israel
is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognize its
jurisdiction. But Khan said in October his court had jurisdiction over any
potential war crimes carried out by Hamas Palestinian militants in Israel and
by Israelis in the Gaza Strip.
Israel
denies committing atrocities in its attacks on Gaza, which followed the Hamas
cross-border raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 Israelis were
killed and around 240 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
More
than four months on, much of the densely-populated strip of land on the
Mediterranean is in ruins, with 28,340 Palestinians dead and 67,984 wounded,
according to Gaza health officials.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said four Hamas battalions are
in Rafah, and that Israel cannot achieve its goal of eliminating the Islamist
militants while they remain there. Civilians should be evacuated from the
combat zone, it said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2458806/middle-east
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