Indian Students Stuck In Ukraine: Prayers Offered At Agra Mosques After Friday Namaz For Their Safe Return
New
Age Islam News Bureau
26
February 2022
Special prayers were offered at an Agra mosque for
stranded Indian students in Ukraine | India Today image
-----
•
Pakistan Prime Minister Raises Kashmir Issue With Putin As Russia Invades
Ukraine
•
Loh’s 14-Year-Old Twin Daughters And 10-Year-Old Son Were “Wholly Immersed” In
The Islamic Faith; Didn’t Want To Return To Loh, Says Perlis Mufti
•
Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh Reject Return to Myanmar Without Assurances
•
Syria’s Assad Says Russia’s Ukraine Invasion A ‘Correction Of History’
India
•
Bihar BJP MLA Says Take Away Muslims’ Voting Rights, Gets A Showcause Notice To
Explain His Remarks.
•
Pakistani Drone Dropped Ammunition, Ieds In J&K; First Time Chemical In
Liquid Form Sent With Consignment: DGP Dilbag Singh
•
Four Hizbul terrorists arrested with arms, ammo in Kishtwar
•
Two LeT terrorists, villager killed in J&K’s Shopian
•
Muslim Attacked, Forced To Chant Jai Shree Ram, At Gunpoint By Hindutva Goons
In Gujarat
•
RSS Senior Functionary Hits Out At Idea Of Dalit-Muslim Alliance
--------
Pakistan
•
In A First, Pakistan Army Promoted Two Officers Belonging To The Hindu
Community To The Rank Of Lieutenant Colonel
•
Pakistan: Terror attacks on rise since Taliban takeover of Kabul, report
•
Pakistan faces public backlash over 'decades of begging' for loans, report
•
Senators alarmed over participation of youth in acts of violence
•
35 Pakistani students evacuated to Poland from Ukraine
--------
Southeast Asia
•
NTUC and Mendaki sign MOU to help Malay-Muslim workers boost skills and
employability
•
Thailand, Malaysia aim to boost trade, resume two-way travel ‘soon’
•
Indonesia seeks stiff sentence for Christian YouTuber
--------
South Asia
•
Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan Calls For Restraint By All Sides In Ukraine
•
How an Afghan refugee sexually assaulted a female aid worker in the US
--------
Arab World
•
Envoy: Foreign forces’ presence facilitates terrorist activities in Syria
•
Envoy: West blocking Syria's reconstruction, looting oil, gas, wheat
•
Children Aged 7 And Above Can Now Obtain Permits To Enter Holy Mosques
•
Lebanon has wheat reserves sufficient for one month amid Ukraine crisis
•
Saudi king gifts Thailand over 50,000 copies of Qur’an ahead of Ramadan
--------
Mideast
•
A Young Secularist Generation Is Emerging In The Muslim World, Turkish Academic
Says
•
FM: Hungary to Help Transfer Iranians from Ukraine
•
Iran To Enrich Uranium To 20 Percent Even After Sanctions Lifted: Nuclear Chief
•
Israel allows Ukrainian Jews to migrate amid conflict
•
Yemeni forces inflict massive losses on Saudi mercenaries in Hajjah, kill
senior commander
•
Palestinian rights organization urges intl. protection on Ibrahimi Mosque
massacre anniversary
•
Yemeni forces intercept, shoot down intruding Emirati, Saudi reconnaissance
drones
•
Iran-Japan dialogue held on “Environment in Islam and Shinto”
--------
North America
•
Afghan, Muslim Groups Call on President Biden to Return Afghan People’s
National Reserves
•
US Allows Trade With Afghanistan Despite Taliban Sanctions
•
Russian invasion not a green light for Iranian nuclear weapon: US State Dept
--------
Europe
•
EU, Turkiye 'In Process Of Regaining Trust': European Parliament Rapporteur
•
Prison attack by jailed terrorists ‘must be wake-up call,’ UK govt warned
•
UK Parliament speaker silences MP trying to raise PM’s anti-Muslim remarks
•
Russia says it is surprised by Lebanon’s condemnation of invasion
•
Turkiye has finalized preparations for evacuation of its nationals from
Ukraine: Top diplomat
--------
Africa
•
Nigerian President's Denial Of Shaikh Zakzaky’s Int'l Passport; A Cause For
Alarm
•
Ukrainian expats protest in Jordan capital against Russia’s invasion
•
Somalia extends election deadline to mid-March
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
--------
Indian
Students Stuck In Ukraine: Prayers Offered At Agra Mosques After Friday Namaz
For Their Safe Return
Special prayers were offered at an Agra mosque for
stranded Indian students in Ukraine | India Today image
-----
Siraj
Qureshi
February
25, 2022
Ever
since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Indian students living there are in a state
of panic. People living in and around the Aligarh district told India Today
that many of their children are trapped in Ukraine and are in grave danger.
Salman
Ali, a resident of Sambhal district and the father of a student studying MBBS
at Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy in Ukraine, told India Today that his
son cried on WhatsApp on Thursday, saying that he was terrified by the blasts
of missiles.
"There
are about 750 Indian students in his university who are panicking. He does not
even feel like studying and now Allah is his only support," Salman Ali
said.
Ali
said that the blasts started at 4 AM. Some people left for Kyiv airport at 3
o'clock in the night but they have been moved to a safe house. Those who were
stuck in the middle have been sent back. Indian students are hiding in the
bunkers.
Jamir
Ansari told India Today that his son Areeb Ansari was trapped in Ukraine.
"The government has asked all the students to hide in the bunkers. Areeb
had booked a ticket to come to India on February 26, but he could not come due
to the cancellation of all flights. Now, he is not sure how he will come back.
Hopefully, the Modi government will take some steps soon," he said.
In
Agra, prayers were offered for the well-being of Indian students in local
mosques after Friday Namaz. Imam Yahya Khan said that the Government of India
should immediately make efforts to bring these students to India.
Rescue
efforts underway
Sources
in the government have said that efforts were being made to rescue all Indians
stranded in Ukraine.
Foreign
Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on Thursday that there were around
20,000 Indians in Ukraine and of them, nearly 4,000 have returned to India in
the last few days.
The
government is making efforts to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine through
its land border crossings with its neighbouring countries and they would then
be brought back home, official sources have said.
The
Indian embassy in Ukraine has been sharing information on the evacuation on
social media platforms. In the latest update, the embassy informed that 470
Indian students were set to exit Ukraine and enter Romania through the
Porubne-Siret Border on Friday afternoon.
"We
are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward
evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the
hinterland," the Indian embassy said.
Source:
India Today
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Prime Minister Raises Kashmir Issue With Putin As Russia Invades Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Pakistan Prime
Minister Imran Khan, in Moscow on Thursday. | Photo: ANI
-----
Anita
Joshua
26.02.22
Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s presence in Moscow on the morning Russia began
bombing Ukraine has raised eyebrows galore with critics back home insisting that
he got played by President Vladimir Putin who, they say, used the visit as a
decoy to launch the attack that surprised everyone with its intensity and
blistering pace.
Khan’s
critics claim Putin used his visit to project an image of normality before beginning
the sudden invasion.
But
the three-hour meeting, including a working lunch between the two without the
five-metre-long table that separated Putin from his French counterpart Emmanuel
Macron during their meeting earlier this month, brought cheer to Khan’s
supporters.
This
was flagged by the Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune in its report on the
visit: “Red carpet welcome, handshake despite the Covid pandemic, no long
bizarre table in between them and over three-hour-long meeting, all these were great
optics for the Pakistani prime minister visiting one of the most powerful
countries in the world.”
The
optics apart, there were no major takeaways, evident from the absence of a
joint statement after the first visit of a Pakistani Premier to Moscow in 23
years in a bid by Islamabad to balance its long-drawn tilt towards Washington
and expand its foreign policy options.
Even
on the North South Gas Pipeline Project (also known as the Pakistan Stream Gas
Pipeline) — for which an inter-governmental agreement was signed between
Islamabad and Moscow last year — there was no apparent headway, possibly
because both countries are yet to weigh the impact of the new sanctions
announced by the US and other countries on Russia over the Ukraine invasion.
While
the Kremlin’s readout on the visit was just two sentences long and made no
mention of this key joint venture, the Pakistani side said: “The Prime Minister
reaffirmed the importance of Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship
economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on
prospective energy-related projects.”
The
most significant part of the Pakistani readout was what Khan is claimed to have
said on the Ukraine crisis, almost echoing the Indian position.
Without
taking sides, Khan is said to have regretted the latest situation between
Russia and Ukraine, adding that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a
military conflict.
“The
Prime Minister stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that
the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of
conflict. He underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved
through dialogue and diplomacy,” the Pakistani readout said.
As
is always the case with Pakistan in its engagements with the world, the Khan
raised Jammu and Kashmir. “On the situation in South Asia, the Prime Minister
highlighted the serious human rights situation in IIOJK (Indian illegally
occupied Jammu and Kashmir) and underscored the imperative of peaceful
resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Prime Minister also
highlighted the developments detrimental to regional peace and stability and
stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.”
This
was acknowledged in the Kremlin readout, too, which said: “The leaders of the
two countries discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged
views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.”
Source:
Telegraph India
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Loh’s
14-Year-Old Twin Daughters And 10-Year-Old Son Were “Wholly Immersed” In The
Islamic Faith; Didn’t Want To Return To Loh, Says Perlis Mufti
Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin says Loh Siew Hong’s
three children want to remain as Muslims.
-----
Predeep
Nambiar
February
21, 2022
GEORGE
TOWN: Loh Siew Hong’s attempt to reverse her children’s conversion to Islam
remains a top concern for Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin.
Loh’s
lawyer had said yesterday the children’s conversion will be challenged through
a judicial review.
In
a video message uploaded on Facebook, Asri said Loh’s 14-year-old twin
daughters and 10-year-old son were “wholly immersed” in the Islamic faith and
wanted to remain Muslims.
“We
were told earlier that if the children returned to Loh, they could remain as
Muslims. She did not mind so long she could spend time with them.
“Then,
in the next few days, she seems keen on changing their faith.
”
I am not denying that the children want their mother, but this does not mean
they want to revert to Hinduism.”
Asri
said the Muslims in this case had never attempted to split Loh with her
children. He said a religious teacher named Nazirah, who was caring for her
children in Loh’s absence, had first reached out to her on the pretext of
getting her reunited with her children.
“We
are not so concerned about custody, but as Muslims, we must ensure these
children remain Muslims of their free will. If they give up on Islam on their
own or feel cheated by their father who converted them, then that is out of our
control,” he said.
He
said he did not want to see a case where a parent promised to keep their
children as Muslims, only to flee to a foreign country, or “watered down” their
children’s faith.
He
compared the case to Natrah, or Maria Bertogh, a Dutch woman raised by a Muslim
family, who was returned to her biological parents when she was 13 and left for
the Netherlands shortly after. A racial riot erupted in Singapore in 1950 by
those who were unhappy that Natrah had been handed back to her biological
parents. A Singaporean archive website showed that the riots left 18 dead and
173 injured
Last
week, Asri confirmed that the Perlis religious authorities had registered the
three children as Muslims without Loh being present.
The
Federal Court previously ruled that the conversion of any child under 18 to
another religion needed the consent of both parents.
Asri
said his remarks about Loh’s children not wanting her back were based on the
series of events on the day she reunited with her children.
“The
police had brought the children to the police station to be surrendered to her.
So why didn’t she recover her children there?
“It
is because her children rebelled and did not want to follow her back. Loh then
agreed to have them placed under the care of the social welfare department
(JKM), with an order from the Kangar court until March 9. Loh knows this,” he
said.
He
said the perception that Islamic authorities had blocked her from meeting her
children at a JKM safe house was false, as it was out of the jurisdiction of
the Islamic administration.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Rohingya
Refugees in Bangladesh Reject Return to Myanmar Without Assurances
Rohingya at the Kutupalaung refugee camp in
Bangladesh, Oct. 6, 2021.
----
2022-02-25
Ethnic
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh will not return to their home in neighboring
Myanmar’s Rakhine state unless they are granted equal rights and freedom of
movement, they said Thursday, days after the junta announced that it is
preparing for their immediate repatriation.
The
junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Feb. 20 that it is readying the
return of “displaced persons from Rakhine state.” The announcement notably
avoided both the use of the term “Rohingya,” a mostly Muslim ethnicity that the
military says does not exist in Myanmar, and the term “Bengali,” which the
junta favors and implies the group is originally from Bangladesh.
The
junta statement also called for a meeting with the secretary-general of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying that after agreeing to
the bloc’s initial recommendations on the re-admission of displaced persons in
Rakhine state, assistance is needed to implement them.
Rohingya
refugees and activists in Bangladesh told the Myanmar Service of Radio Free
Asia (RFA) on Thursday that they have no confidence the junta will act on the
recommendations and said they need assurances their rights will be protected
before they return. BenarNews is a unit of RFA.
Ali
Jenner, a Rohingya refugee from the Baluhali refugee camp in Bangladesh’s Cox’s
Bazar district, said he and others in the camp “have no trust in the junta at
all.”
“If
the Rohingya people can get equal citizenship, security rights, equal rights
and all our original rights as other citizens there, then we can agree to go
back,” he said.
The
West African nation of Gambia filed a case at the ICJ in November 2019 accusing
Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during the alleged expulsion
of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya amid a brutal crackdown in 2017.
The
ICJ, which is the judicial arm of the United Nations, began hearings on Feb.
21, the day after the junta statement on returning refugees, to determine
whether it has jurisdiction to examine claims that atrocities committed by the
Myanmar military against the Rohingya constituted a genocide.
The
hearings are scheduled to last until Feb. 28 and will include arguments
presented by representatives of Myanmar and Gambia
The
junta’s defense lawyers — Christopher Staker and Stefan Talmon — have argued
that Gambia submitted its case on behalf of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and that the ICJ has no jurisdiction because the OIC is not a
country. They also argue that Gambia is not an aggrieved country and has no
right to sue Myanmar.
Gambia
defended its right to sue Myanmar in an appeal issued on Feb. 23. Gambian
Attorney General Dawda Jallow says the case was not only brought to the ICJ to
protect the rights of the Rohingya, but to uphold Gambia’s rights as a
signatory to the U.N. Convention on Genocide.
Response
to pressure
Rohingya
living in refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh have said they are hopeful that
the ICJ can bring justice for the Myanmar military’s rights violations against
the ethnic minority group.
But
others are wary of how the case may influence the junta in the near term.
Khin
Maung, the founder of the activist group Rohingya Youth Union, who lives in
Thinkhali Refugee Camp No. 13 in Bangladesh, said he cannot trust a junta
statement he believes was issued as a response to international pressure.
“We
welcome the fact that they want to call us home. But did they create necessary
conditions for us to return to Rakhine state? That’s what we should be thinking
about,” he said.
“[Junta
chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing] is trying to use us for his advantage. He is
doing this because of international pressure and not because of goodwill. We
are ready to go back, no matter who makes the decision to call us back, but it
is impossible to return unless our requirements are met.”
Khin
Maung said it is “impossible” for Rohingyas to return home without guarantees
of citizenship or security and freedom of movement in the areas where they had
previously lived. Discussions about a repatriation should first be held with
the Rohingyas themselves, he said.
‘Crimes
on a nationwide scale’
However,
junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun told RFA that the plan to
repatriate the Rohingya was created long prior to the ICJ hearings and was not
part of a bid to placate the international community.
He
said the Rohingya had previously said they would accept the offer to return to
Rakhine state, but that Bangladesh had refused to let them leave.
“We
have been saying all along that we will accept and let them live as before.
Accommodations were prepared,” he said.
“It’s
just that they didn’t come back even after we made three or four offers. The
other side did not release them … They are working on it with a political
agenda.”
Rohingya
activist Nay San Lwin told RFA that members of her ethnic group cannot expect
that their rights will be respected by the junta when “the military is
currently committing crimes against humanity on a nationwide scale.”
In
the year since Myanmar’s military seized power from the country’s
democratically elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup, security forces have
killed nearly 1,580 people across the country.
“Even
if the Rohingya return, it will probably be just a handful,” Nay San Lwin said.
“Most of them have said that they will return only if they can live in peace
with the full basic rights they deserve.”
Source:
Benar News
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Syria’s
Assad Says Russia’s Ukraine Invasion A ‘Correction Of History’
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) at the Kremlin in Moscow on 13 September
2021 (AFP)
-----
25
February ,2022
Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin on Friday, praised the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying it
was a “correction of history.”
Damascus
is a staunch ally of Moscow which intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015 by
launching airstrikes to support the al-Assad regime’s struggling forces.
Al-Assad
spoke to Putin a day after Russian forces invaded Ukraine on the orders of the
Russian president, drawing strong international condemnation.
“President
al-Assad stressed that what is happening today is a correction of history and a
restoration of balance in the global order after the fall of the Soviet Union,”
said a statement from the Syrian presidency.
Al-Assad
also said that “Syria stands with the Russian Federation based on its
conviction that its position is correct and because confronting NATO
expansionism is a right for Russia.”
Russia’s
intervention in Syria marked a turning point in the conflict.
It
enabled pro-regime forces to wrest back lost territory in a series of victories
against opposition fighters and terrorists involving deadly bombardments and
massive destruction.
More
than 63,000 Russian military personnel have deployed to Syria, Moscow says.
During
Friday’s phone call, al-Assad said “Western nations bear responsibility for the
chaos and bloodshed,” accusing them of using “dirty methods to support
terrorists in Syria and Nazis in Ukraine.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Bihar
BJP MLA Says Take Away Muslims’ Voting Rights, Gets A Showcause Notice To
Explain His Remarks.
by
Santosh Singh
February
26, 2022
BJP
MLA Haribhushan Thakur from Bisfi, in Bihar’s Madhubani district, on Friday
reiterated the need to take away voting rights of Muslims, prompting the
party’s state unit to issue him a showcause notice to explain his remarks.
BJP’s
alliance partner JD(U), meanwhile, reacted sharply, with its spokesperson
Neeraj Kumar calling Thakur’s comments “preposterous and inflammatory”.
The
legislator had made similar comments on Thursday.
On
Friday, he told the media: “As Muslims were given a separate country at the
time of Partition in 1947, they should leave for Pakistan. And if they live in
India, they should live like second-class citizens. We urge the government to
take away Muslims’ voting rights.”
Thakur
alleged that Muslims have an agenda — that of making India “an Islamist state”.
Thakur,
known for making controversial remarks, also said that Muslims MLAs should also
face action from the Bihar Assembly Speaker if they refuse to sing ‘Vande
Mataram’. “What is the national song (for), after all? It is to worship the
Earth, flowers and water. Will they (Muslims) stop drinking water (if they
refuse to sing Vande Mataram),” he asked.
JD(U)’s
Neeraj Kumar said, “It seems Thakur has no knowledge of Indian citizenship. Who
is he to decide citizenship of people living in India? He is not going to get
any political mileage; he just wants to get media attention.”
BJP
state president Sanjay Jaiswal said, “We have already dissociated ourselves
from Thakur’s statement and served him a notice to explain why he said what he
said.”
Source:
Indian Express
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistani
drone dropped ammunition, IEDs in J&K; first time chemical in liquid form
sent with consignment: DGP Dilbag Singh
Feb
26, 2022
UDHAMPUR:
A Pakistani drone on Wednesday dropped grenades, IEDs, pistols, and ammunition
in Jammu and Kashmir, and for the first time a chemical in liquid form was also
sent with the consignment, said the police on Thursday.
Speaking
to the media, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh
said, "Yesterday (Wednesday) a Pakistani drone dropped grenades, IEDs,
pistols, ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir, for the first time a chemical in
liquid form was also sent with the consignment."
"They
(Pakistan) want to disrupt the peace maintained here for a long time. We are
analyzing it to see what is it, its uses, and what harm it could have
done," the DGP said.
Further,
Singh in his statement said that the narcotics and weapons are being sent to
the region so that sale proceeds of narcotics can be used to fund terrorism.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Four
Hizbul terrorists arrested with arms, ammo in Kishtwar
Feb
26, 2022
JAMMU:
Four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were arrested with arms and ammunition late
Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
A
joint team of the Army’s 17RR, CRPF’s 52Bn and Kishtwar Police on long-range
patrolling in Kishtwar’s Dool Dhar forest area noticed four people moving from
Dool towards Dool Dhar forest. On spotting the security forces, the four tried
to flee but were overpowered and arrested by the troops.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Two
LeT terrorists, villager killed in J&K’s Shopian
Feb
26, 2022
SRINAGAR:
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba men were killed in a shootout with security forces in
Amshipora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday, while a
villager died of bullet wounds as he was cut down by a volley of shots fired
towards a combined team of J&K police, Army and CRPF conducting the operation.
An AK-56 rifle, a pistol and several rounds of ammunition were found on the
slain terrorists.
Kashmir
range IGP Vijay Kumar said the team surrounded the area following specific
information about terrorists hiding there, but when people were being evacuated
from the houses in the locality, the LeT men started shooting from their
hideout. Some of the shots caught villager Shakeel Ahmed Khan and he died
within minutes, though emergency medics tried to revive him on the site.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Muslim
Attacked, Forced To Chant Jai Shree Ram, At Gunpoint By Hindutva Goons In
Gujarat
25th
February 2022
A
Muslim resident of Shera village in Gujarat’s Bharuch district was attacked by
a Hindutva mob as he drove back home from work on Tuesday.
At
least nine men pelted stones at Mohammad Ataullah’s car, thrashed, and forced
him to chant Jai Shree Ram, at gunpoint, at Chhabanpur bridge, Godra.
A
First Information Report (FIR) was filed by the police based on Ataullah’s
report against the attackers. However, now a counter FIR has been charged
against the victim, reported Maktoob Media.
“A
car was stopped right behind my car. 3-4 men came out and started beating me,”
Maktoob Media quoted Ataullah, as he narrated his ordeal. He said that he was
hit on the head, punched in the face and his beard was pulled as they abused
him, calling him an atankwadi (terrorist).
Ataullah
has been admitted to the hospital. He is recovering from a blow to his head as
well as an injury to his right foot.
Ataullah’s
family has also alleged that the Deputy Superintendent of Police who came to
the hospital hurled abuses and slurs at them. They have also alleged that no
copy of the FIR was provided to them.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/muslim-attacked-by-hindutva-goons-in-gujarat-called-terrorist-2281981/
--------
RSS
senior functionary hits out at idea of Dalit-Muslim alliance
Feb
26, 2022
Nagpur:
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) mukhya pracharak Sunil Ambekar hit out
at the concept of Dalit-Muslim unity. He said the backward class must not get
disillusioned with such ideas. Adopting or allying with any other religion
cannot be a solution to the discrimination due to the caste system within
Hinduism. Though such attempts are being made, said Ambekar.Some are comparing
the condition of backward classes with campaigns like ‘Black Lives Matter’.
Differences due to the caste system are not as worse as the racial
discrimination against blacks in America. The RSS is constantly working to
bring the entire Hindu community together, irrespective of the caste, he said.
The
senior RSS functionary was speaking at the Manoramabai Mundle memorial lecture
series and awards for social work organized by Dharampeth Shikshan Sanstha on
Friday.
Members
of a nomadic caste were also felicitated during the function. Ambekar’s stress
was that solutions to problems in Hindu religion should come from within only.
“There have been attempts to bring the Hindu society together shedding all the
biases of caste since historical times,” he said.
He
cited the example of Jogendra Mandal from Bengal, the leader who supported
Pakistan and later became the country’s first law minister.
There
were two major Dalit leaders during those times, one was Dr Babaseheb Ambedkar
and the other was Mandal from Bengal. Mandal chose Paksitan and became the law
minister there, but had to finally flee to India, he said in a reference to
Dalit-Muslim alliance. Ambedkar was in India on the other hand, said Ambekar.
He
said even Marxists and Maoists have brought in violence within the community in
the name of class struggle. Though it cannot be the solution.
“When
Dr Ambedkar attended the Buddhist conventon in November 1956, he said Dalits
have peaceful means of the Buddhist religion and there is no place for
violence,” said Ambekar.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
In
A First, Pakistan Army Promoted Two Officers Belonging To The Hindu Community
To The Rank Of Lieutenant Colonel
February
26, 2022
KARACHI:
For the first time in the country’s history, the Pakistan Army has promoted two
officers belonging to the Hindu community in Sindh to the rank of lieutenant
colonel on Friday.
Both
the officers belong to the Army Medical Corps.
Born
in 1981, Major Dr Kelash Kumar hails from Tharparkar district. He got
commission in the army in 2008.
Major
Dr Aneel Kumar, born in 1982, hails from Badin district. He got commission in
the army in 2007.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1677030/in-a-first-two-hindus-rise-to-lt-colonel-rank
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Pakistan:
Terror attacks on rise since Taliban takeover of Kabul, report
25
February, 2022
Islamabad
[Pakistan], February 25 (ANI): The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, which was
widely celebrated in Pakistan in August last year, has worsened the terror
situation in the country.
In
2021, terror incidents increased by a massive 42 percent over the last year
according to the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS),
reported The New York Times on Tuesday.
A
significant surge in incidents was recorded after Kabul fell to the Taliban.
The PIPS report also went on to say that the change in Afghanistan is “not
helping in any way Pakistan’s efforts to deal with the militant groups
threatening its security.”
The
Pakistan Taliban, which was considerably weakened by late 2020, has regrouped
and is involved in running extortion rackets throughout Pakistan.
“Traders
are forced to pay huge amounts of extortion money because of fear,” The New
York Times quoted a Karachi-based trader, Muhammad Azam as saying.
“If
a trader refuses to pay it, the militants detonate small bombs near their homes
to frighten them into succumbing to their demands. If they continue to refuse
payment, militants harm them or their family members,” Azam further said.
Terrorists
have also been particularly targetting polio vaccination teams. Police officers
to protect such teams have been on the target.
In
2021, militants, mainly belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, killed 48 policemen
and injured 44 others in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the
violent incidents took place in the last few months of the year (after the
Taliban takeover).
Despite
repeated attempts, Pakistan has been unable to get firm guarantees from the
Afghan Taliban that they would take action against the Pakistani Taliban
operating in Afghanistan, the publication said. Taliban also refuses to accept
the Durand Line as the boundary between the two countries.
In
the past two months, there have been clashes between Afghan Taliban and
Pakistani forces along the Durand Line in Nangarhar, Kandahar, Nimroz, Kunar,
and Khost provinces over the construction of barbed wire fences, some of which
have been fenced off by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
However,
the top leadership in Pakistan continues to argue for international recognition
of the new Taliban regime.
Source:
The Print
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Pakistan
faces public backlash over 'decades of begging' for loans, report
Feb
25, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Amid the release of a fresh tranche of loans from the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), the Pakistani government is facing backlash from civil society,
over the unending series of loans, a report said on Thursday.
Public
confidence in the government is at a new low due to financial mismanagement and
over-dependence on foreign funds to run the country, 'Islam Khabar' claimed.
Angry
reactions followed a tweet by Pakistan's Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin
announcing the approval of the 6th tranche of IMF loans.
"I
am pleased to announce that IMF Board has approved 6th tranche of their
programme for Pakistan," Tarin tweeted.
"It
is not only surprising but also regrettable that the Finance Minister, by
enslaving the nation, expressed happiness over the receipt of a new installment
from the IMF," the report noted.
A
media editorial in Pakistan underlined that Pakistan is "probably the only
nuclear country whose daily affairs require loans, begging for aid and this has
continued for decades."
The
backlash followed IMF's release of USD 1 billion to Pakistan, subject to
fulfilling certain conditions. Fuel prices and power tariffs in Pakistan are at
historic highs as a result.
The
fresh funds constitute an installment of a USD 6 billion bailout package. IMF's
Executive Board had cleared the bailout package for Pakistan on July 3, 2019.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Senators
alarmed over participation of youth in acts of violence
Jamal
Shahid
February
26, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Extremism exists deep within the heart of our society among the educated and
illiterate alike, particularly the youth.
This
was pointed out by members of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights on
Friday.
“In
the ghastly murder of the Sri Lankan national in Sialkot, 120 out the 130
suspects were between 18 and 20 years of age,” Human Rights Secretary Inamullah
Khan informed members.
A
similar pattern could be seen when a mob comprising men mostly in their 30s,
last week, lynched a psychologically-unstable man for allegedly burning Quranic
scriptures in Mian Channu, Mr Khan said.
The
meeting commenced with a strong condemnation of the Mian Channu incident that
was deemed an act that portrayed the society’s mindset. It was revealed that
such violent tendencies were mostly reported in 19 to 30-year-olds who were
mostly influenced by social media forums.
Mob
that lynched psychologically-unstable man last week comprised of men in their
30s
Senator
Walid Iqbal chaired the meeting which was attended by senator Falak Naz and
Mohammad Tahir Bizenjo as well as senior officers of the Ministry of Human
Rights along with its attached departments and agencies. Additional inspector
general (operations) and district police officer (DPO) Mian Channu were also
present.
The
committee members stressed the need for participation of stakeholders to
develop a strategy to address the issue. It was asserted that religious forums
must spread the true spirit of Islam and its stance on tolerance.
The
committee chairman, Senator Iqbal, said a letter must be sent to the president,
prime minister and speaker of National Assembly so they could take notice of
the matter.
According
to Additional IG Sahibzada Shahzad Sultan, 14 to 15 cases have been reported
since the start of this year.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1677067/senators-alarmed-over-participation-of-youth-in-acts-of-violence
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35
Pakistani students evacuated to Poland from Ukraine
Aamir
Yasin | Baqir Sajjad Syed
February
26, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
About 35 Pakistani students have been evacuated to Poland from Ukraine,
Pakistan’s embassy in Ukraine said on Friday night.
According
to a message from one of the students, some of their colleagues were able to
board a Poland-bound train from Ukrainian northeastern city of Kharkiv, which
was carrying people fleeing the Russian invasion.
There
are nearly 300 Pakistani students in the city. Another big group of Pakistani
students is based in the capital city of Kyiv.
According
to news reports, nearly 1,500 Pakistanis, including 500 students, have been
stranded in Ukraine since the start of the Russian assault on Thursday. Some
had left the country earlier.
The
embassy, in a Twitter posting, said it had facilitated the evacuation of those
students and was making arrangements for their further transportation to
Warsaw.
The
Foreign Office said another group of 35-40 students was on the way to Ternopil
from Kharkiv and expected to reach there by Saturday afternoon.
PIA
makes arrangements to bring back stranded students
Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, at a media briefing, said the embassy had been
temporarily moved from Kyiv to Ternopil on the border with Poland to facilitate
evacuations. He said all Pakistanis in Ukraine were safe.
The
embassy has been advising the students to reach Ternopil. However, students in
messages on social media questioned how could they travel hundreds of
kilometres in the absence of transport and under the precarious security
situation. They also complained of difficulties in contacting the embassy.
Earlier,
videos of students and other Pakistanis appealing for assistance in evacuation
emerged on social media.
Pakistani
missions in Poland, Romania and Hungary have, meanwhile, been told by the
Foreign Office to assist the Pakistanis coming out of Ukraine.
Meanwhile,
PIA chief retired Air Marshal Arshad Malik on Friday called Pakistan’s
Ambassador in Ukraine retired Maj Gen Noel Khokhar and discussed with the
latter different options to evacuate Pakistani students stranded there.
According
to a statement, the PIA chief said arrangements had been made to bring back the
students. He said all the students would gather in Ternopil and reach Poland
via land route from where they would be brought to Pakistan through special
flight operation.
Earlier,
in a tweet, the PIA chief said that currently Ukraine’s airspace was closed,
but various options were being worked out for safe evacuation of the Pakistani
students.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1677103/35-pakistani-students-evacuated-to-poland-from-ukraine
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Southeast Asia
NTUC
and Mendaki sign MOU to help Malay-Muslim workers boost skills and
employability
Wallace
Woon
FEB
25, 2022
SINGAPORE
- Malay-Muslim workers hoping to join new and emerging industries can look
forward to receiving more support from the National Trades Union Congress
(NTUC) and self-help group Yayasan Mendaki.
In
a joint statement, NTUC and Yayasan Mendaki said that they signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) on Friday (Feb 25) in order to enhance support and
strengthen the workforce competencies of Malay-Muslim workers.
Under
the MOU, Mendaki will act as the main bridge to encourage the community and
workforce to take up national employment and employability programmes.
NTUC
will spearhead activities relating to upskilling, training, career fairs, and
partnering companies to provide job opportunities in emerging and growth
sectors.
In
addition, Mendaki will also partner and refer Malay-Muslims to NTUC's
LearningHub and Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) for training and
job placement programmes through last-mile service delivery provided by Mendaki
Care.
The
MOU is part of M³'s Focus Area 4's (FA4) key strategy to uplift the community.
M³
is an alliance of three key Malay-Muslim organisations created in 2018 to
uplift the community. It comprises Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of
Singapore and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees
Council.
Mendaki
chief executive Zuraidah Abdullah, who was present at the signing ceremony,
said: "I am delighted with the formalisation of the partnership between
NTUC and Mendaki through the MOU.
"Through
this partnership, NTUC and Mendaki would be able to leverage on each other's
strength and resources to provide targeted and holistic assistance to our
workers. This will help to strengthen the competencies of the Malay-Muslim
workforce and prepare them to join the emerging and growth sectors."
Also
present at the ceremony was NTUC director of operations and mobilisation Mohd
Fahmi Aliman, who said that the best approach to tackle the cost of living, a
core concern among workers, was to enable these workers to access better jobs
and earn better wages with better skills.
Source:
Straits Times
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Thailand,
Malaysia aim to boost trade, resume two-way travel ‘soon’
February
25, 2022
BANGKOK:
Thailand and Malaysia have set a target of $30 billion in bilateral trade by
2025 following a meeting between their leaders in Bangkok on Friday. The two
leaders also hope to establish quarantine-free travel between their countries
in the near future.
Thai
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hosted his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri
Yaakob on the latter’s first visit to Bangkok since taking office in August.
The
leaders discussed economic cooperation, connectivity, and security issues along
their shared border in southern Thailand.
“We
agreed to keep the trade value target at $30 billion in 2025,” Chan o-cha said
at a press conference.
Bilateral
trade between Thailand and Malaysia is currently valued at around $24 billion,
according to data from the Thai government. Thailand mainly exports refined
petroleum and auto parts, while Malaysia mainly exports integrated circuits and
crude petroleum.
Chan-o-cha
and Yaakob also discussed reopening their borders to fully vaccinated travelers
between the two countries “at the earliest opportunity” to help revive their
economies.
“Soon,
people who have been fully vaccinated (will be able to) travel between the two
countries without quarantine,” Chan-o-cha said.
Malaysia
has yet to decide on reopening its borders, while air travel to Thailand is now
open to fully vaccinated visitors with entry rules having been further relaxed
earlier this week.
“Thailand
is now preparing to open its land border,” the Thai leader said, without
specifying when that will happen.
Chan-o-Cha
said they also discussed the situation in Thailand’s deep south, alluding to
the insurgency in the predominantly Malay-speaking Muslim provinces in the
majority Buddhist country.
“I
have also explained the situation in the southern provinces of Thailand, and
Malaysia supported Thailand’s (decision to seek) a peaceful solution through
talks and negotiations,” Chan-o-Cha said.
Rebel
groups have called for independence in areas bordering Malaysia, and more than
7,000 people have died since the insurgency began in 2004.
Malaysia
facilitated formal peace talks in Kuala Lumpur in January between Thai
officials and the area’s main rebel group, Barisan Revolusi Nasional, with discussions
scheduled to resume next month.
Jaran
Maluleem, a political-science professor from Thammasart University in Bangkok,
described Thailand-Malaysia relations as “smooth,” pointing out that the two
countries have never had a serious conflict.
Maluleem
also said parties involved in the south Thailand peace talks have yet to come
to an agreement on Malaysia’s role.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2031881/world
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Indonesia
seeks stiff sentence for Christian YouTuber
Katharina
Reny Lestari
February
25, 2022
Prosecutors
in Indonesia have demanded a 10-year jail term for a Christian YouTuber accused
of insulting Islam.
The
move drew criticism from a rights group that said the demand was harsh and
discriminatory considering a Muslim recently convicted of a similar offense
against Christians received only five months.
Muhammad
Kace, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity, is on trial for uploading
hundreds of videos insulting Islam on social media.
He
has been detained since last August after his arrest in Badung district of Bali
province following a slew of complaints by Muslim groups after one YouTube
video in which he said: “Muhammad is unknown by God and is only known by his
followers because he is surrounded by devils.”.
He
has uploaded at least 400 videos on YouTube insulting Islam, according to police.
Kace
uploaded the videos intentionally to stir public unrest, chief prosecutor
Syahnan Tanjung told Ciamis District Court in West Java province. “This is
outrageous, so it warrants a stiff sentence,” he said.
Instead
of invoking Indonesia’s blasphemy law, prosecutors are looking to prosecute
Kace for spreading fake information or news to intentionally causes public
unrest, which carries a 10-year sentence instead of the maximum five years that
blasphemy carries.
Bonar
Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Jakarta-based rights group Setara
Institute for Democracy and Peace, called the demand harsh and questioned why
the blasphemy charge had not been laid. “Why did they change the charge?” he
asked.
He
accused authorities of adopting double standards by referring to a similar case
involving Muhammad Yahya Waloni, a Muslim convert from Christianity who was
sentenced in January to five months in prison by South Jakarta District Court
for committing blasphemy against Christians.
Waloni
was convicted of posting hate speech online that could cause interreligious
divisions. The Muslim cleric claimed the Bible was a work of fiction in one of
his sermons posted on YouTube.
Naipospos
called on authorities not to bow to public pressure and apply such laws equally
without discrimination.
Source:
UCA News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesia-seeks-stiff-sentence-for-christian-youtuber/96261
--------
South Asia
Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan calls for restraint by all sides in Ukraine
February
26, 2022
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in a
statement has called for restraint by the parties involved in the recent
tensions in Ukraine, saying that all sides need to desist from taking positions
that could intensify violence.
MoFA
on Friday also urged the involved parties to consider safeguarding the Afghan
refugees and students based in Ukraine, TOLOnews reported.
The
Russian troops on Thursday launched an all-out attack on Ukraine hours after
President Vladmir Putin announced that he had ordered a military operation in
Ukraine. The Russian forces have targeted several cities of Ukraine.
"The
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in line with foreign policy of neutrality,
calls on both sides of the conflict to resolve the crisis through dialogue and
peaceful means," the statement said.
Analysts
believe that the issue of Ukraine will shift the attention of the international
community from the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.
"The
issue of Ukraine draws the attention of the world. The Islamic Emirate should
try to ramp up visits abroad to keep Afghanistan's relations with the world
countries on track," said Maiwand Babakarkhail, a political analyst.
Based
on statistics, more than 50,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and
Bangladesh are living in Ukraine. Around 20,000 of them are Afghans.
What
will be the impact of the Russia-Ukraine' tension on Afghanistan?
"The
Ukraine's issue will cause a reduction in attention of the world countries
toward the Afghan migrants. The financial support of the European Union and other
world countries will decrease," said Toreq Farhadi, a political analyst.
"The
people of Afghanistan need of world now more than ever. Unfortunately,
Ukraine's situation will cause Afghanistan to be forgotten by the world. This
should not happen because the situation in Afghanistan is worse," said
Ruslan Salmanov, a Russian journalist.
Although,
the Russia's invasion of Ukraine faced widespread reactions by many world
countries, Iran and China -- the two neighbouring countries of Afghanistan --
remained silent.
"China
is closely monitoring the latest developments. We call on all sides to exercise
restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control, said Hua
Chunying's, China Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson.
Source:
Business Standard
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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How
an Afghan refugee sexually assaulted a female aid worker in the US
26
Feb 2022
An
Afghan refugee who claimed to be a tribal leader in Afghanistan was convicted
of a fourth-degree sexual assault case on February 2nd in Wasau, the United
States will face another court meeting in July.
Matiullah
Matie, a 40-year-old Afghan refugee who was recently evacuated from Afghanistan
has pleaded not guilty to a four-degree sexual assault case.
How
Matiullah Matie has sexually assaulted a female caseworker is described in the
victim’s court complaint documents, WAOW TV reported.
The
worker, identified only by her initials, was invited by Matiullah Matie for
dinner at his home.
Shortly
after she arrived, she was asked by Matie to step outside to have a drink.
Court records say she drove Matie to a nearby gas station so he wouldn’t be
seen drinking by his wife and children.
Once
there, Matie poured the pair drinks, which the aid worker said she felt
pressured to consume. In the complaint, she told police Matie repeatedly told
her, “Finish your drink.” She said this happened at least twice.
The
aid worker said Matie then kissed her, first on both cheeks, then forcing his
tongue into her mouth. She said he also took her hand and forced it against his
groin area.
Source:
Khaama Press
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/how-an-afghan-refugee-sexually-assaulted-a-female-aid-worker-in-the-us/
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Arab World
Envoy:
Foreign forces’ presence facilitates terrorist activities in Syria
25
February 2022
Iran’s
permanent ambassador to the United Nations condemns continued illegal presence
of foreign forces in Syria as a means of facilitation of terrorist activities
across the Arab country.
“Syria's
sovereignty and territorial integrity continue to be significantly violated by
the unlawful presence of foreign forces, including those of the United States,”
Majid Takht Ravanchi told a UN Security Council session about Syria on
Thursday.
“The
illegal presence of foreign forces in parts of Syria, which has provided
favorable conditions for terrorist activities in Syria, must end immediately,”
he added.
The
US and its allies invaded Syria in 2014 under the pretext of fighting the Daesh
Takfiri terrorist group. The terrorist outfit had emerged as Washington was
running out of excuses to extend its regional meddling or enlarge it in scale.
The
US military interference, however, was surprisingly slow in confronting the
terrorists, despite the sheer size of the coalition that had enlisted scores of
Washington-allied countries.
Numerous
reports and regional officials would, meanwhile, point to the US’s role in
transferring Daesh elements throughout the region and even airlifting supplies
to the terror outfit.
Takht
Ravanchi likewise drew attention to “the free movement of terrorist groups,
including ISIS (Daesh), in Syria's territory where foreign forces are illegally
present, as well as their transfer to other countries,” noting how this
“endangers regional and international peace and security.”
The
ambassador also condemned the Israeli regime’s recurrent strikes against the
Syrian territory, saying the attacks had recently been “targeting civilians and
civilian infrastructures,” and noting how this “constitutes flagrant violations
of international humanitarian law.”
The
Tel Aviv regime mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on Syrian territory, which
many view as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s success in
confronting terrorism.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/02/25/677542/Iran-United-Nations-United-States-Syria
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Envoy:
West blocking Syria's reconstruction, looting oil, gas, wheat
26
February 2022
Syria's
permanent representative to the UN has lashed out at the United States and the
European Union for hampering the government’s efforts to improve humanitarian
situation in the Arab country, saying the nation continues to suffer under the
West’s illegal measures.
“The
suffering of the Syrian people continues as a result of the practices of
Western countries whose interests and agendas have prevailed over the lives of
Syrians and the security and stability of the region,” Bassam al-Sabbagh told a
UN Security Council Briefing on the Political and Humanitarian Situation in
Syria on Friday.
“Improving
the humanitarian situation requires lifting illegitimate coercive measures,
ending foreign occupation of Syrian lands, and halting support for terrorist
organizations and separatist militias.”
The
government, he said, is trying to rebuild what terrorism has destroyed in
Syria, return the country to the path of sustainable development and ensure the
return of the displaced to their homeland.
However,
he added, such endeavors are being met with major obstacles due to the wrong
policies adopted by the Western states and their blatant violations of
international law and the UN Charter.
“The
unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and the European
Union have impacted the banking, energy and communication sectors, as well as
those of land, sea, air and maritime transportation. They have also impacted
the work of the United Nations and other international organizations operating
in Syria,” the ambassador noted.
Syria
has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Washington and
its European Union allies have imposed tough sanctions on Syria, after the
terrorist groups that they long sponsored in their attempts to overthrow the
government of President Bashar al-Assad failed to achieve their goals on the
battle ground.
The
United States has deployed forces and military equipment in Syria without any
authorization from Damascus or the UN. It has long been training militants and
stealing Syria’s oil and wheat, ignoring repeated calls by Damascus to end its
occupation of the country.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Sabbagh estimated that Syria used to produce 2.5 million tons
of wheat before the war, but now it has to import 1.5 million tons instead
because the American forces and its allied militants have taken control of the
country’s wheat production.
Syria
is deficient in electricity generation because the US occupation forces are
looting oil and gas, he said. The medical services sector, along with the
pharmaceutical industry, is experiencing the repercussions of an embargo that
deprives Syrians of their right to health care.
The
Syrian envoy further criticized Turkey for violating the bilateral agreements
governing the water of the Euphrates River and hindering the passage of
Syria-bound humanitarian aid.
“The
current political approach must be changed and talks should be undertaken to achieve
the interests of the Syrian people and to end the Turkish, American and Israeli
occupation of Syrian territories,” he emphasized.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/02/26/677555/Syria-Sabbagh-West-
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Children
aged 7 and above can now obtain permits to enter holy mosques
February
25, 2022
JEDDAH
— The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Friday that children aged 7 and
above can now obtain a permit to enter the two holy mosques provided the
Tawakkalna application shows their health status as “immune” to ensure their
safety.
The
ministry has said anyone within Saudi Arabia wishing to perform Umrah is
required to obtain a permit from the “Eatmarna” or “Tawakkalna” applications on
the condition that their health status on the app is “immune” and the
beneficiary’s data must be updated in the “Absher” system.
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Lebanon
has wheat reserves sufficient for one month amid Ukraine crisis
25
February ,2022
Lebanon
has wheat reserves sufficient for one month at most, Economy Minister Amin
Salam told Reuters on Friday, amid fears in the market due to the Ukraine
crisis.
The
country, which imports nearly 60 percent of its wheat from Ukraine, is in talks
with other countries including the United States and India to import wheat,
Salam added.
“We
don’t want to create a state of panic, we have positive indicators,” said the
minister.
Lebanon’s
main wheat silos were destroyed in the 2020 Beirut port explosion, since when
the country has only had enough capacity to store a month’s supply.
Earlier
on Friday, Georges Berbari, the ministry’s general director of grains and sugar
beets, told Reuters that Lebanon’s wheat reserves were enough for 1.5-2 months.
He
said the government was seeking to focus production on Arabic loaves and away
from luxury goods such as croissant and cakes to make the supplies last longer.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Saudi
king gifts Thailand over 50,000 copies of Qur’an ahead of Ramadan
February
26, 2022
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will gift 50,060 copies of the Qur’an, in various
sizes and translations, to Thailand, which will be delivered in a ceremony in
the capital, Bangkok, on Saturday, in the presence of political and Islamic
figures, scholars and preachers.
The
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, represented by the King Fahd Complex for the
Printing of the Holy Qur’an, will deliver the copies, as part of the Kingdom’s
efforts to deliver the gift to Muslims around the world before the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan, Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Sheikh
Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the minister of Islamic affairs and the
general supervisor of the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an
in Madinah, expressed his thanks and appreciation to King Salman and Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts and their continuous support for
all works related to printing, publishing and educating on the Islamic holy
book.
He
pointed out that this gift is the Kingdom’s lofty message that emanates from
its leadership in the Islamic world, which also coincides with the development
and distinction of relations between the two countries.
He
said this gift was an extension of what Saudi Arabia has previously sent to
Thailand in the past years, and coincides with the development of bilateral
relations.
He
said the Qur’an has been translated in more than 76 languages, and the complex
had increased its production rate by more than 100 percent, from 7 million
copies annually to 20 million copies annually in high quality.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2032036/saudi-arabia
--------
Mideast
A
young secularist generation is emerging in the Muslim world, Turkish academic
says
Feb
25 2022
A
certain level of separation between politics and the religious ulema is
necessary in the Muslim world, Ahmet Kuru, a political science professor at San
Diego State University, told Ahval.
"I
am optimistic about the future. I see a secularist generation coming,"
Kuru said in an interview with Nervana Mahmoud for the Ahval podcast series
Turkish Trends.
In
the short-run, removing political control of religious groups may lead to more
radicalism, Kuru said.
"In
the Muslim world, the democratisation of a religious state is a challenging
thing in the short-run," he said.
However,
he said this is necessary if the Muslim world wants an enlightened future with
more productivity and Nobel Prize winners.
"If
we want a more rationalist and open-minded interpretation of Islam, we should
have self-confidence and let the discussion take place in public and minimalise
the control," he said.
Even
if the politicians try to use the ulema, in the end, the ulema gained authority
from this relationship, Kuru said, giving the example of Diyanet, Turkey's
Directorate of Religious Affairs.
Turkey's
secularist Kemalists' built Diyanet to control mosques, as they were inspired
by a French understanding of secularism controlling religion. In the end,
Diyanet became a huge institution, controlling about 100,000 mosques.
"Today,
Diyanet talks about everything in Turkey," Kuru said. "Therefore, a
certain level of separation is necessary."
In
Turkey, Islamists kept blaming secularists for many problems, but now they have
been in power for almost two decades, and they've made the problems even worse,
according to Kuru.
Furthermore,
people have begun to realise how bad Islamist governance is for the country.
According
to the public polls in Turkey and some Arab countries, a secularist generation
is emerging, he said.
Source:
Ahval News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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FM:
Hungary to Help Transfer Iranians from Ukraine
2022-February-25
Szijjártó
said that his country will spare no effort to pursue the transfer of Iranian
citizens through Hungary.
"Hungary
will take the necessary measures to facilitate the return of Iranians to their
country without the need for a visa," the Hungarian foreign minister
added.
The
Iranian foreign minister, for his part, expressed concern over the actions
taken by NATO in creating a crisis in the Eastern European region, and
underlined the role of political solutions in resolving the crisis in Ukraine.
Amir
Abdollahian also called on Hungarian counterpart to facilitate the transfer of Iranians
living in Ukraine through Hungarian territory to the country.
"Iranian
citizens, including students, families of diplomats, and other Iranians living
in Ukraine, are seeking to return home via the Polish-Hungarian border,"
he said.
In
relevant remarks on Thursday, Amir Abdollahian blamed NATO's provocative acts
for the current crisis in Ukraine, and meantime, said that war is not a
solution.
"The
Ukraine crisis has roots in NATO provocations," Amir Abdollahian wrote on
his twitter page.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001206000591/FM-Hngary-Help-Transfer-Iranians-frm-Ukraine
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Iran
to enrich uranium to 20 percent even after sanctions lifted: Nuclear chief
25
February ,2022
Iran
will continue to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity even after sanctions on
Tehran are lifted, the country’s nuclear chief said on Friday, amid efforts to
salvage the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Even
with the lifting of sanctions,” Iran will continue to enrich uranium to “five
and 20 percent,” Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of
Iran, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.
Eslami
said Iran continues to enrich uranium up to 60 percent purity, which “prompted
Westerners to rush to negotiations (with Iran).”
The
2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers restricted the purity to which
Tehran can enrich uranium to 3.67 percent.
The
US withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, prompting
Iran to breach the deal’s restrictions.
Tehran
has since started enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity – a big step closer
to the 90 percent required for weapons-grade material.
Talks
aimed at reviving the deal between the deal’s remaining signatories – Iran,
Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain – are currently taking place in
Vienna.
The
US is participating indirectly in the talks due to Iran’s refusal to negotiate
directly with Washington.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Israel
allows Ukrainian Jews to migrate amid conflict
Abdelraouf
Arna'out
25.02.2022
JERUSALEM
Israel
said Friday it welcomes the migration of thousands of Ukrainian Jews to Israel
amid an escalating conflict with Russia.
Foreign
Ministry spokesman Lior Khayyat told reporters that Jews in Ukraine are
welcomed to migrate to Israel, adding that the Jewish community in Ukraine is
estimated between 120,000 to 150,000 Jews.
Another
statement by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said the political leadership
in Israel decided to provide support to the Jewish community in Ukraine and to
prepare for allowing them to migrate to Israel.
On
Thursday, Haaretz newspaper said the Jewish Agency, a semi-official Israeli
body that facilitates Jewish migration worldwide to Israel, was flooded with
applications by Ukrainian Jews requesting to flee Ukraine to Israel since the
start of the Russian military operations.
According
to the daily, the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency are discussing
procedures to facilitate and shorten the process for migration to Israel for
Ukrainian Jews.
On
Sunday, two flights brought 100 Ukrainian Jews to Israel, one flight from the
capital Kyiv and the other from Odessa city in southern Ukraine.
Defying
threats of sanctions by the West, Russia earlier this week officially
recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, followed by the start of
a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-allows-ukrainian-jews-to-migrate-amid-conflict/2514894
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Yemeni
forces inflict massive losses on Saudi mercenaries in Hajjah, kill senior
commander
26
February 2022
Yemeni
army troops and fighters from the allied Popular Committees have been engaged
in fierce clashes with Saudi mercenaries in the country’s northwestern province
of Hajjah, inflicting heavy losses on the them and killing a senior commander.
Informed
sources, requesting anonymity, told Yemen’s official Saba news agency that
Brigadier General Haikal al-Samini, commander of a military unit in the
so-called Fifth Military Zone of the Saudi-led coalition, was killed on Friday
after the Yemeni army troops and their allies targeted Saudi-sponsored
militants in the Harad district.
According
to Yemeni media outlets, at least 53 senior Saudi-backed militant commanders
have been killed over the past few months in the course of clashes in Yemen’s
central oil-producing province of Ma’rib.
Last
month, Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network reported
that the commander of the so-called Third Brigade, Majdi al-Radfani, had died
of his injuries after Yemeni army troops and their allies targeted
UAE-sponsored militants in the Bayhan district of the southern Yemeni province
of Shabwah.
The
report added that more than 130 militants have been killed during battles with
Yemeni Armed Forces over the past few days and dozens of others have been
wounded. A number of their military vehicles have been destroyed as well.
Moreover,
Saudi warplanes have launched a new round of airstrikes across Yemen, as the
Riyadh regime escalates its aggression against its conflict-plagued southern
neighbor.
Yemen's
Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported more than a dozen air
attacks on the country’s northern province of Hajjah on Friday evening, saying
the Saudi jets repeatedly bombarded different sites in the Harad and Abs
districts of the province.
Saudi
fighter jets also carried out seven airstrikes on the al-Jubah and Wadi Ubaidah
districts of Ma’rib province, according to the television network.
Separately,
four airstrikes were carried out on the al-Hazm and Khabb wa ash Sha'af
districts of Yemen’s northern province of al-Jawf.
Saudi
shelling kills two civilians in Yemen’s Sa’ada
Additionally,
two civilians were killed after Saudi forces fired mortar shells at residential
areas in Yemen’s northwestern province of Sa’ada.
Local
sources told al-Masirah TV that a civilian was killed in the Qatabir district,
and another in the border Shada'a district.
An
African refugee also lost his life when Saudi border guards fired shots at
Raqou area in the Monabbih district of the province. Seven other civilians,
including four African refugees, were injured in the shooting.
Saudi
Arabia and a number of its regional allies, backed by the United States and
European powers, launched the war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of
bringing the government of former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi back
to power and crushing Ansarullah resistance movement.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Palestinian
rights organization urges intl. protection on Ibrahimi Mosque massacre
anniversary
25
February 2022
On
the anniversary of the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, a leading Palestinian
human rights organization has called on the global community to provide
international protection for the Palestinians and their holy sites under the
Israeli occupation.
The
Department of Human Rights and Civil Society in the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) made the plea in a statement on Friday, which marks the 1994
killing of some 30 Palestinian worshipers in Ibrahimi Mosque in the southern
occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil, according to the Palestinian Ma'an news
agency.
"This
day marks the 28th anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, which resulted
in the martyrdom of 29 worshipers and the injury of 150 others inside the
compound, [and] which was carried out by the terrorist Goldstein under the eyes
and guards of the occupation soldiers,” the statement said, referring to
American-born Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein who committed the massacre.
“Instead
of punishing the criminal and those who protected him and provided him with
coverage, the occupation forces punished the victims by imposing their control
over the holy site and placing it at the settlers’ disposal,” the statement
added.
The
department noted, "Since that date, Palestinians have been deprived of
freedom of access to the Ibrahimi Mosque, the establishment of prayer there,
and have been denied the call to prayer in the holy site most of the time,
which is in line with the interests of the settlers and their attempts to
Judaize the entire compound."
The
organization denounced the measure as a violation of all international laws and
agreements related to human rights and freedom of worshipers.
The
statement concluded by calling on the "international community to stand up
to its responsibilities and provide international protection for the
Palestinians and their holy sites under occupation."
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Yemeni
forces intercept, shoot down intruding Emirati, Saudi reconnaissance drones
25
February 2022
Yemeni
army forces and allied fighters from the Popular Committees, have separately
intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the United
Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) as well as a Saudi aircraft while flying in the
skies over Yemen's northern province of al-Jawf and the central province of
Ma'rib.
The
spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said in a
post published on his Twitter page that Yemeni air defense forces targeted the
US-made General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drone, operated by the UAEAF, with a
surface-to-air missile as it was carrying out hostilities over al-Jawf early on
Friday.
Shortly
afterward, Saree announced in a separate tweet that Yemeni air defense units
had shot down a US-built Boeing Insitu ScanEagle spy drone of the Royal Saudi
Air Force.
The
spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces highlighted that the unmanned aerial
vehicle was struck as it was flying in the skies over the al-Jubah district in
the oil-producing Ma’rib province.
The
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, and is used for
reconnaissance.
The
developments took place hours after Saudi warplanes carried out at least 15 air
raids against the Harad district in Yemen’s northern province of Hajjah, the
Arabic-language al-Masirah television network said.
There
were no immediate reports of casualties or extent of damage.
Saudi
fighter jets also launched two airstrikes against the Abs district in the same
Yemeni province. No information about possible casualties was quickly available.
Saudi
Arabia and a number of its regional allies, backed by the United States and
European powers, launched the war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of
bringing the government of former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi back
to power and crushing Ansarullah resistance movement.
The
war has left hundreds of thousands of Yemenis dead and displaced millions more.
It has also destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure and spread famine and infectious
diseases there.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Iran-Japan
dialogue held on “Environment in Islam and Shinto”
February
25, 2022
Held
by the Iranian Cultural Center in Japan in cooperation with the Islamic Culture
and Relations Organization (ICRO), the event was attended by a number of
cultural and religious officials from the two countries who delivered speeches
in person or via video conference.
Ali
Mashhadi, an associate professor of Qom University’s Faculty of Law, said in
his speech that the most important solution to preserve and save the
environment is to refer to religious teachings and environmental theology.
The
importance of religion in preserving the environment and nature in today's
world is such that some consider religious teachings and theology among of the
most important solutions to protect the environment, he stated.
The
deep spiritual attention to the elements of nature and the environment exists
in both Islam and Shinto, he stated.
By
promoting and developing these concepts, the ground is provided to pay more
attention to nature and prevent spiritual and moral crises caused by the
contemporary world in dealing with the environment.
This
is important in two ways. The first is the place and importance of the elements
of nature in Islam and Shinto, and the second is the spread of the
environmental crisis in the current world and the need to use the capacity of
religions to control it, he highlighted.
The
Abrahamic religions, such as Shinto, inherently contain very profound teachings
to deal with the current crisis of environmental degradation, he stated.
The
environmental crisis of the present age cannot be solved without paying special
attention to the spiritual dimension of the problem, and no one can deny the
role of religion in compensating and reducing the severity of the situation, he
further emphasized.
Source:
Tehran Times
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/470469/Iran-Japan-dialogue-held-on-Environment-in-Islam-and-Shinto
--------
North America
Afghan,
Muslim Groups Call on President Biden to Return Afghan People’s National
Reserves
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 2/25/22) — Today, 33 Afghan-American and American Muslim organizations
sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing their strong disapproval of his
administration’s recent executive order splitting $7 billion USD in frozen
Afghan Central Bank funds.
Letter
cosigners called on President Biden “to rescind this decision against the
people of Afghanistan’s national assets before the banking sector in
Afghanistan and the Afghani currency is destroyed – leading to a decade of mass
starvation, mass migration, and regional insecurity.”
Afghan
and Muslim groups believe that the funds should be returned to the Afghan
Central Bank, that it “does not belong to the Taliban or pay for government
services” as “it is intended to safeguard the Afghan financial system.”
Currently,
24.4 million people are suffering from starvation, while one million children
under the age of five are at risk of dying from malnourishment and famine. The
United Nations projects that Afghanistan will approach a “near universal”
poverty rate of 97% in the next few months.
While
no Afghans were involved in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the
executive order would split the $7 billion in funds between the families
impacted by the tragic September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and aid for the
people of Afghanistan. Advocates
believe this money rightfully belongs to the people of Afghanistan and splitting
these funds would be “detrimental and extremely harmful to that country’s
future stability.”
In
a statement, #EndAfghanStarvation Campaign Founder M. Naser Shahalemi said:
“We
have a moral responsibility to find cohesive solutions to ending the crisis in
Afghanistan. Our lawmakers took an oath to be just and fair in our processes
when human life comes into question. We are responsible to make things right in
Afghanistan so Afghanistan can become a progressive country in the future, and
this cannot happen in its current state of chaos. Afghanistan deserves the
opportunity to be economically self-sufficient.”
In
a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Afghanistan
is facing a man-made economic and humanitarian crisis that can be quickly
addressed by the U.S. returning the people of Afghanistan’s $7 billion in
national reserves back to the Afghan Central Bank. The United States government
has a moral obligation to not split or divert these funds. Our government must
ensure that the people of Afghanistan do not fall into mass starvation or other
depravations following our troops rapid withdrawal after 20-years of military
operations.”
Letter
co-signers include:
#EndAfghanStarvation
Campaign
Afghan
Academy
Afghan
Relief
Afghanistan-Pakistan
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Afghans
of North America
Alsalam
Islamic Center
American
Committees on Foreign Relations
American
Muslim Bar Association
American
Muslim Voice Foundation
American
Muslims for Palestine
Arizona
Muslim Alliance
ASEF
— Afghan Sustainable Economic Foundation
Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
DigiCounsel
Free
Uyghur Now
ICNA
Council for Social Justice
Islamophobia
Studies Center
Jetpac
Resource Center
Kabul
Underground
Mountain
View Palo Alto Musalla
Muslim
Alliance in North America
Muslim
American Society (MAS)
Muslim
Forum of the Pacific Northwest
Nordix
Computer Corporation
Save
Afghans from Hunger
Secure
Justice
South
Bay Islamic Association
Support
Life Foundation
SympaTee
The
Legacy Institute
The
Mujadidi Foundation
Young
Muslims
Zara
Initiative
Source:
CAIR
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
allows trade with Afghanistan despite Taliban sanctions
February
26, 2022
The
Biden administration is seeking to assure financial institutions and other
businesses that U.S. sanctions on the Taliban aren’t intended to interfere with
trade that could help Afghanistan emerge from an economic and humanitarian
crisis.
Senior
administration officials told reporters on Friday that the Treasury Department
planned to issue a so-called general license that would expand the
authorisation for commercial and financial transactions in Afghanistan in hopes
of helping Afghans but not the Taliban.
The
officials, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the
license ahead of its release, said the action is intended to restart some of
the commercial activity that shut down after the fall of the the U.S.-backed
government to the Taliban in August.
It’s
the latest in a series of actions by the administration aimed at alleviating a
worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where aid groups estimate that
nearly 24 million people, more than half the country, face severe hunger and
nearly 9 million are on the brink of starvation.
Conditions
in Afghanistan were grim for many even before the Taliban takeover, with a
long-running drought and entrenched poverty. But the situation has grown more
dire because the government relied on foreign assistance for 75 per cent of its
budget.
Administration
officials concede that the Treasury license will have only a limited effect on
businesses that are reluctant to do business in Afghanistan regardless of
sanctions.
The
Biden administration earlier this year announced more than USD 300 million in
humanitarian aid and is working with the World Bank and other organisations to
provide additional relief from money that had been previously set aside for
development.
Treasury
also issued general licenses to make it clear that humanitarian assistance
would not run afoul of sanctions.
It
also set aside USD 3.5 billion of Afghan government funds frozen in the U.S.
after the Taliban takeover to help the country’s economy in a way that
officials say has not yet been determined. One option is to use the money to
re-capitalise the country’s central bank if it can be run independent of the
Taliban.
Source:
Indian Express
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Russian
invasion not a green light for Iranian nuclear weapon: US State Dept
February
25, 2022
WASHINGTON
D.C.: The US will continue to engage with Russia over efforts to prevent Iran
from developing nuclear weapons, even though Moscow's invasion of Ukraine had
made it a “pariah on the world stage,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price
said on Friday.
Price
said US officials would now only engage with Russia counterparts on issues of
“fundamental to our national security interest.”
That
includes the talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers,
including Russia, Price said.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2031921/middle-east
--------
Europe
EU,
Turkiye 'in process of regaining trust': European Parliament rapporteur
Beyza
Binnur Dönmez
25.02.2022
The
EU and Ankara are "in a process of regaining trust," European
Parliament standing rapporteur on Turkiye said on Friday.
"We
are now in a new mood in our relations and I can say there is a positive
environment. We are in a process of regaining trust," Nacho Sanchez Amor
said in a news conference on the annual assessment of Turkiye's EU candidacy.
When
the last report came out in May, it was the "worst" period of
relations between the parties, the EU official said.
Sanchez
said he saw "a very lively political environment" and the main aim is
to get the accession negotiations back on track for the EU and Turkiye.
There
are many positive developments, Sanchez said and added that he would share them
with his colleagues back in Brussels and ask them to have these developments in
the report.
The
rapporteur said Turkiye's position and stance regarding Russia's military
operation in Ukraine is one of the positive points that will be included in the
report.
"I
think it is important to emphasize this. Because Turkey, together with the
Western world, takes a stance in accordance with international rules," he
said. "As of today, and as before, we see that we can work together in the
field of security and defense."
Turkiye's
"excellent" role in immigration, resumption of high-level talks,
Paris Agreement and climate change are among other positive developments,
according to Sanchez.
On
Customs Union, he said that the work to be recorded in the area can be
"the most realistic and tangible work."
He,
however, said the European Parliament will not approve any issue related to the
Customs Union unless it is accompanied by political reforms.
"I
can say that I am sure of that," he added.
Regarding
Turkiye's EU membership bid, Sanchez said if Turkiye "fulfills the
requirements of the accession process ... no matter what reservations are made
in terms of culture, religion or democracy, no matter what field it is said to
be vetoed in, it can become a member.
"It
depends on compliance with these criteria," he added.
The
rapporteur also mentioned the negative findings, saying they did not see
"any improvement" in human rights and rule of law, calling it
"discouraging".
He
said that the EU only wants Turkiye to follow its constitution when it comes to
justice, so they do not evaluate any opinion from their side as meddling in
internal affairs.
Previous
reports had more general statements and this one will have more specific
critics, he added.
Turkiye
applied for EU membership in 1987 and its accession talks began in 2005. But
negotiations stalled in 2007 due to objections of the Greek Cypriot
administration, as well as opposition from Germany and France.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Prison
attack by jailed terrorists ‘must be wake-up call,’ UK govt warned
February
25, 2022
LONDON:
A violent assault by three known terrorists inside a high-security jail must be
a “wake-up call,” the UK government has been warned.
In
May 2020, the trio — including Hashem Abedi, the brother of the man behind the
Manchester Arena bombing — launched an “animalistic” joint assault on a prison
officer.
They
were being held at HMP Belmarsh’s high-security unit, described as a prison
within a prison, alongside other terrorists and violent criminals at the time.
A
court heard that attackers Abedi, Ahmed Hassan, and Muhammad Saeed associated
with each other and other terrorist inmates, and that Abedi had been accused of
being their leader.
Their
trial is one of several court cases that have exposed terrorist networking
inside HMP Belmarsh, with one plotter previously telling an undercover officer
he was “surrounded by jihadis” who frequently discussed terror attacks and gave
him trial advice, The Independent reported.
Ian
Acheson, a former prison governor who carried out a government-commissioned
review of Islamist extremism in jails, said he had raised security concerns
with ministers.
“The
HSU is supposed to be our most extreme custody, holding some of the most
dangerous people in Western Europe,” he told The Independent.
“The
fact that such a ferocious attack on staff could happen here is a huge security
failure that ought to be a shocking wake-up call for ministers.”
Other
Islamist extremists “came within seconds of murdering a prison officer at HMP
Whitemoor earlier in 2020 — the public and prison staff will be entitled to
know that they are properly protected from such offenders,” Acheson added.
The
May 2020 assault on custodian manager Paul Edwards was not designated as a
terror attack, and Woolwich Crown Court heard it followed a dispute about
inmates’ privileges and the prison regime.
A
spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Due to the criminal history of
the defendants, the assault was investigated by the Counter Terrorism Command.
However, there was no evidence of any terrorist intent.”
Several
incidents in the previous months, including a mass brawl, had resulted in
Muslim and non-Muslim prisoners being separated in the HSU and Abedi had made
several allegations of unfair treatment.
Some
prison officers believed that Abedi was trying to take a leadership role in the
unit, after a powerful inmate was transferred elsewhere.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2031821/world
--------
UK
Parliament speaker silences MP trying to raise PM’s anti-Muslim remarks
February
25, 2022
LONDON:
A British MP has been refused permission to raise Prime Minister Boris
Johnson’s “derogatory” comments about Muslims in Parliament.
On
Wednesday, Labour MP Imran Hussain said during Prime Minister’s Questions that
Johnson was “no stranger to derogatory remarks about Muslim women.”
As
if about to follow up with a question, Hussain continued by saying “let me ask
the prime minister …” before he was cut off by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle,
who said: “This is not the appropriate place to be raising that.”
Hoyle
then moved on to another MP without asking Johnson to answer the question or
allowing Hussain to continue.
In
an article in August 2018, Johnson wrote that Muslim women look like “bank
robbers” and “letterboxes.”
According
to Muslim hate monitor Tell Mama, hate crimes against Muslims spiked 375
percent after he made those comments
In
the three weeks after Johnson’s article was published, 42 percent of offline
Islamophobic incidents reported “directly referenced Boris Johnson and/or the
language used in his column,” Tell Mama said.
Hussain
had initially raised his concern at Johnson’s language by discussing the record
of another MP, Mark Spencer, who has been appointed Commons leader — a
ministerial position that organizes the government’s business in the House of
Commons — despite being under investigation for Islamophobia.
Spencer
is facing scrutiny as part of another Conservative Islamophobia scandal in
which a senior party member — which he has admitted was him — told MP Nusrat
Ghani that her “Muslimness was an issue” and a reason for her subsequent
demotion from a ministerial position.
Hoyle
did not elaborate on his reasoning for cutting off Hussain, but a spokesperson
for the House of Commons authorities told The Independent: “Mr Speaker was
following the convention set out in Erskine May that Members should not make
accusations about the conduct of other Members as a ‘sideswipe’ as part of a
question.”
That
defense drew near-instant condemnation. The Labour Muslim Network said: “Thank
you to Imran Hussain for raising the issue of Islamophobia in the House of
Commons … It is absolutely shameful that this important issue was shouted down
by Conservative MPs and dismissed by the House of Commons Speaker.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2031761/world
--------
Russia
says it is surprised by Lebanon’s condemnation of invasion
25
February ,2022
Russia’s
embassy in Lebanon was surprised by the Lebanese foreign ministry statement
that condemned the Russian military operations in Ukraine, it said in a
statement on its Facebook page.
“The
statement... surprised us by violating the policy of dissociation and by taking
one side against another in these events, noting that Russia spared no effort
in contributing to the advancement and stability of the Lebanese Republic,” the
statement said.
Lebanon
condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday and called on Moscow to halt
its military operations at once.
The
foreign ministry statement led to internal criticism from some cabinet
ministers, members of parliament and political parties including the powerful
Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Turkiye
has finalized preparations for evacuation of its nationals from Ukraine: Top
diplomat
Behlul
Cetinkaya
25.02.2022
Turkiye
has finalized preparations for the evacuation of Turkish nationals from Ukraine
amid Russia’s military intervention in the country, the Turkish foreign
minister said Thursday.
“We
have been working on the evacuation of our citizens from the very beginning. We
are ready, but the airspace is currently closed,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told local
broadcaster A Haber in an interview.
Noting
that the option to evacuate by land is on the table, Cavusoglu said: “When the
situation calms down, we will be able to take our citizens to Moldova, Romania
and Poland by land.”
He
noted that there are also currently conflicts on the sea route, especially in
the Odessa region.
“Marine
traffic is also closed at the moment,” he said, adding when it reopens,
evacuations can be done via sea.
Cavusoglu
said agreements were made with bus companies in Ukraine in case of evacuation
by land. Countries such as Poland, Moldova and Romania will not require visas
from Turkish citizens or PCR tests or COVID vaccination certificates during a
possible land evacuation, he added.
Unlike
European Union countries, Turkiye and Ukraine introduced a passport-free regime
between the two countries in 2017.
Ukraine’s
health minister said late Thursday that at least 57 Ukrainian military
personnel and civilians had been killed due to Russia’s military intervention
in the country.
Donbas
crisis and Russia's military intervention
The
February 2014 “Maidan revolution” in Ukraine led to former President Viktor
Yanukovych fleeing the country and a pro-Western government coming to power.
That
was followed by Russia illegally annexing the Crimea region and separatists
declaring independence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Donbas in eastern
Ukraine, both of which have large ethnic Russian populations.
As
clashes erupted between Russian-backed separatist forces and the Ukrainian
army, the 2014 and 2015 Minsk Agreements were signed in Moscow after the
intervention of Western powers.
The
conflict, however, simmered for years with persistent cease-fire violations.
As
of February 2022, some 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict in
eastern Ukraine.
Tensions
started escalating late last year when Ukraine, the US and its allies accused
Russia of amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine.
They
claimed Russia was preparing to invade its western neighbor, allegations that
were consistently rejected by Moscow.
Defying
threats of sanctions by the West, Moscow officially recognized Donetsk and
Luhansk as independent states earlier this week, followed by the start of a
military operation in Ukraine on Thursday.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Africa
Nigerian
President's denial of Shaikh Zakzaky’s Int'l passport; a cause for alarm
February
26, 2022
IIn
a statement signed by the Secretary of the Academic Forum of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria and sent to Iran Press News Agency on Friday, Engineer
Abdullahi Musa has lamented on the denying Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Malamah
Zeenah, their International Passports to travel abroad for a medical reason.
The
Press release said: "The public ought to know that despite several court
judgments, ruling in favor of the unconditional release of Shaikh Ibraheem
Zakzaky and his wife Malama Zeenah, Buhari and his Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, are yet to let the couple go overseas to attend to grievous
and life-threatening health challenges."
The
Press release further said that on July 28, 2021, Kaduna State High Court's
acquittal and unconditional discharge of the Shaikh and his wife yet serves as
another window of opportunity to travel for their top priority, for now, the
long-overdue medical treatment, but Buhari has kept frustrating the court
ruling, even directing the Nigerian Immigration Service [NIS] to not issue them
a new passport, having earlier had theirs confiscated by the National
Intelligence Agency [NIA] and Department of State Services [DSS].
Up
to this moment, Shaikh Zakzaky and his wife are suffering from many injuries in
their respective bodies, and resultant multiple life-threatening health
challenges, particularly those triggered by numerous bullets shrapnel and
fragments, secreting poisons like lead and cadmium into their blood. There are
fragments of bullets around his head and neck. Yes, around the head, from the
cheek up to the head, fragments in his hands, on his thigh. He is living with
some amount of those poisons in his body, including the fragments of bullets.
Source:
ABNA24
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Ukrainian
expats protest in Jordan capital against Russia’s invasion
25
February ,2022
Ukrainians
living in Jordan staged a protest in Amman against the Russian invasion of
their country.
About
150 protesters held Ukrainian flags and chanted anti-Putin slogans Friday.
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the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“We
would like to send a message to the Russian monster that occupied Ukrainian
land, to take off his hands from our land, from our people, because we are
Ukrainians, we are independent country, we are not Russians,” said one of the
protesters.
Protesters
also chanted pro-Ukraine slogans and called on the Russian president to leave
their country.
Dozens
of Jordanians also participated in the protest in solidarity with the Ukrainian
people.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Jordan is following with deep
concern and regret the development of the crisis in Ukraine, the deterioration
of the situation and the escalation of tension.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Somalia
extends election deadline to mid-March
25
February ,2022
Somalia
on Friday extended its deadline to finish voting for the lower house of
parliament, the latest in a series of election delays that risk starving the
country of budget funds.
The
fragile Horn of Africa nation has struggled to hold elections, with polls
delayed by more than a year, bedeviled by political squabbling and a simmering
extremist insurgency.
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the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The
lower house elections were due to be completed on Friday and pave the way for lawmakers
to pick a president.
But
Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf said the deadline had now been
revised to March 15.
“The
National Consultative Council... expressed their disappointment with the fact
that they could not meet the deadline,” the minister said in a televised
address.
The
announcement came days after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that
it might have to stop its program in Somalia if the polls were postponed again.
The
IMF program is due for a review in mid-May but election delays mean that a new
administration may not be ready to endorse planned reforms in time, forcing it
to an automatic halt, Laura Jaramillo Mayor, the fund’s Somalia mission chief
told AFP.
Elections
were originally scheduled for a year ago but were delayed when President
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known by his nickname Farmajo, tried to
extend his term.
Farmajo’s
four-year mandate expired in February last year, but was controversially
extended by parliament in April, triggering deadly gun battles on the streets
of Mogadishu.
Prime
Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble then brokered a new election timetable, but in
the months that followed, a bitter rivalry between him and Farmajo derailed the
process again.
The
international community has voiced fears that election delays, as well as the
feud between Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, could set off
new troubles for a country that has lacked stable governance for three decades.
The
United States last month threatened to impose sanctions if the country missed
Friday’s deadline.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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