Groups Raise The Alarm Over State-Enforced Sharia In Federal Capital Territory ,Nigeria
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 October 2025
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· Need For Someone To Be The Iron Man And Ban RSS: Mallikarjun Kharge Backs Akhilesh Yadav’s Remarks
· Groups Raise The Alarm Over State-Enforced Sharia In Federal Capital Territory
· Quds Governorate Warns Of Plans By Groups Advocating For Alleged "Temple" To Target Aqsa Mosque
· Florida Lawmaker Claims Taxpayer Cash Is Going To Help Fund Islamic Sharia Schools
· Saudi Arabia Steps Up Fight Against Trafficking Historical Artifacts
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India
· Maharashtra Approaches SC, Seeks Review Of Akola Order For Setting Up SIT With Hindu & Muslim Officers
· 'I Love Muhammad': 5 Write Slogans On Temples To Frame Muslims; 4 Held
· Sanjauli Mosque Row: Shimla District Court Upholds Demolition Order; Rejects Waqf Board And Mosque Committee's Plea
· Faridabad Education Officer Retracts Letter Flagging ‘Love Jihad’ By Students, Cites ‘Clerical Error’
· Kashmiri man who rescued BJP worker’s family during Pahalgam attack gets hero’s welcome in Chhattisgarh
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Africa
· FG Raises Alarm Over Plot by Extremists to Divide Christians and Muslims in Nigeria
· Tanzania deploys army as election protests spread
· INEC Clears Eight Associations In Political Party Registration, Disqualifies Six
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Mideast
· Turkiye’s Erdogan To Merz: Does Germany Not See Israeli ‘Genocide’ In Gaza?
· As The Guns Fall Silent, Gazans Find Newly-Reopened Banks Have No Cash
· Syrian students return to schools stripped bare by conflict
· Residents of Gaza fear ceasefire collapse
· Teenager dies during ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem
· Syrian Minister of Endowments commends Qatar's experience in serving the obligation of Zakat
· Iran’s Top Commander Underlines Incorporating Passive Defence into National Planning
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North America
· CAIR Welcomes Drop in Support for Geert Wilders’ Anti-Muslim Fascist Party,
· CAIR Calls Congressional Resolution Seeking Israeli Sovereignty Over Al-Aqsa Mosque a ‘Dangerous Publicity Stunt’
· CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad Again Named to 2026 List of World’s ‘500 Most Influential Muslims’
· CAIR-NJ Condemns Anti-Muslim Hate Campaign to Silence Rutgers Hindutva Event, Applauds Community Support
· WA Police investigate criminal damage at Masjid Al-RahmÄn mosque in Gosnells
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Arab World
· 500 Academic Leaders Discuss Future Of University Education At Jeddah Meeting
· Saudi media and events industries key to China ties, say experts
· Saudi authority launches AI model to predict drug shortages
· KSrelief delivers equipment to Yemen’s farmers
· Special media course for non-native Arabic speakers launches
· Development projects for mosques in Al-Baha inaugurated
· Winter comes alive as Khobar Season 2025 begins
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South Asia
· Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Continue Ceasefire Talks in Istanbul After No Breakthrough in Latest Round
· BNP, Jamaat’s pointless debate fuelling election uncertainty: NCP
· Issue order to implement July charter by today: Jamaat
· Pakistan Cannot Solve Its Problems With Afghanistan Through Threats: Fazlur Rehman
· BML Provides Financing For Two Of Gov’t’s Largest Waqf Projects
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Europe
· Burnley Mosque In Minaret Bid To 'Boost Building's Islamic Identity'
· Reform's Audrey Dempsey Criticised Over Migrant 'Sharia Law' Claims
· Sharia Law Isn’t Taking Over Britain – It’s An Inevitable Legacy Of Its Colonial Legal History
· Six Decades Of Nostra Aetate: Azerbaijani Top Cleric Joins Vatican Celebration
· UK’s Prince Andrew stripped of titles and evicted from royal residence
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Southeast Asia
· Selangor Sultan Presents Instruments Of Appointment To Shariah Judges, State Islamic Institution Members
· Anwar: Apec Leaders’ Praise Highlights Malaysia’s Leadership Capabilities
· Thousands of Islamic School Teachers Protest in Jakarta for Equal Status and Pay
· Automatic Haj eligibility for those aged 60 and above under study, says Tabung Haji
· Malaysia to deepen strategic ties with US to bolster regional stability, says Anwar
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/alarm-sharia-federal-capital-territory-nigeria/d/137467
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Groups Raise The Alarm Over State-Enforced Sharia In Federal Capital Territory ,Nigeria
31 October 2025
A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) have raised their voices against the increasing rule of Sharia in states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warning that the development poses a direct threat to the unity of the country as well as freedom and equal rights of the citizens.
The groups gave the warning while reacting to a published article which had claimed that there is no justification for opposition to Sharia in Nigeria.
They described the article attributed to scholars as “deeply misleading,” adding that such claim ignores historical truth, legal reality and human-rights evidence.
“It mis-frames what is at stake: not simply a matter of faith, but a matter of constitutional governance, freedom of belief, equality, and the very unity of Nigeria”, the groups stressed in a statement issued yesterday.
The groups, which include :End Sharia Now; One Nation One Law; Love A Muslim Ministry; Seasoned Apologist; Faati Okodoro; Global Network of Christian Faith and Truth; and My Muslim Friend, observed that since Sharia law began in the 7th-century in Arabia, it had been used as an instrument of a broader pattern of territorial conquest and expansion.
“Historical precedent shows that regions like Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria, once predominantly Christian, were transformed into Islamic states through legal-religious enforcement and conquest. This same playbook is being repeated in Nigeria.
“Thus, when they say Sharia = Islam and Islam = Sharia, they are not merely using slogans: the historical evidence shows that the legal-religious system of Sharia has functioned as Islam’s political-legal core”, they claimed.
Besides, they argued that extreme Islamist groups like the Boko Haram makes explicit connections between Sharia and establishment of an Islamic state.
“Boko Haram (Jama’at Ahl al-Sunna lid-Da’wah wal-Jihad – “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad.”) declares their aim to establish a fully Islamic state under Sharia in Nigeria.
“Their methods: targeting schools and churches; kidnapping children and adults; suicide bombs; mass killings—terror campaigns enforcing ideological compliance.
“Their ideology and actions mirror a strict, militant interpretation of Sharia principles, proving that those who insist on Sharia rule cannot peacefully coexist with people of other faiths. This is not speculation—it is demonstrated reality,” the groups added.
Meanwhile, the groups alleged that other organisations like the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Islamic Supreme Council, and clerics such as Sheikh Gumi, and even traditional leaders like Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III (the Sultan of Sokoto) all lend public support to expansion of Sharia.
“For example, the Sultan has recently backed the establishment of Sharia arbitration panels in Oyo and Ekiti States.
“This convergence of ideology, law and political aspiration shows that Sharia is being used not just as private faith practice, but as a public, enforceable legal-regime and power-structure.
“This connection supports the warning voiced by intelligence experts, such as Retired General Kunle Olawunmi and T.Y. Danjuma, that there exists a strong agenda to Islamise Nigeria.”
They therefore, submitted that”opposing Sharia in Nigeria is justified” and indeed a necessary defence of freedom, human rights and national survival.
The groups, accordingly, recommended that Sharia should be limited to personal faith practice only, not state law applicable to all Muslims and in reality all citizens.
While they called for the removal of Sections 260-264 and Sections 275-279, which provided for the establishment of a Sharia Court of Appeal at federal and state levels, they sought for the strengthening of protections for women, children and religious minorities.
“Promote human-rights education, inter-faith dialogue and secular civic awareness.
“Remain vigilant against extremist interpretations that exploit religion for political control.
“Promote the principle: one nation, one law, equal rights for all, regardless of faith or region.
“Nigeria is, and must remain, a secular state. Any attempt to impose Sharia as the law of the land is an existential threat to our unity, to the freedom of all Nigerians, and to the equality the Constitution promises,” they added.
Source: thisdaylive.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/10/30/groups-raise-the-alarm-over-state-enforced-sharia/
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Need For Someone To Be The Iron Man And Ban RSS: Mallikarjun Kharge Backs Akhilesh Yadav’s Remarks
Written by Ajay kumar
October 31, 2025
Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav bat for banning RSS. (X)
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The Congress party has made an open call to put a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel wanted to ban the organisation after the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi. Making an address on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said if PM Narendra Modi respects the views of Sardar Patel, then RSS should be banned.
“These are my personal views and I openly say that there should be one (a ban on the RSS). If the PM respects the views presented by Vallabhbhai Patel, this should be done. All the wrongs in the country and all law & order issues here are due to BJP and RSS,” Kharge said.
He said Patel, along with the Iron Lady of India, Indira Gandhi put every possible effort to maintain the unity of the country. Kharge talked about how Patel wrote to Syama Prasad Mukherjee which stated that the way RSS rejoiced after Gandhi’s death, there was no option but to ban them.
“Patel wrote a letter stating that after the way the RSS people rejoiced at Gandhi’s death, there was no option left but to ban them. He wrote this letter to Syama Prasad Mukherjee…The speeches of the Sangh people are full of venom; they distributed sweets after Gandhi’s assassination. He also wrote this letter to Golwalkar,” Kharge said.
Quoting the recent changes in the NCERT textbooks, Kharge said that references to Mahatma Gandhi, Godse, the RSS, and the 2002 Gujarat riots have been removed from them. He said that erasing the truth from textbooks is not right as it “reveals their intentions”.
“They always try to turn lies into truth. Our Prime Minister is an expert in this, and his followers are walking the same path. Sardar Patel had banned the RSS to protect secularism,” Kharge added.
Akhilesh Yadav’s call to ban RSS
The ‘ban RSS’ call was first made by Kharge’s son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, who said the RSS activities must not be allowed in government institutions. This led to a huge controversy with the BJP attacking Congress.
Now, on the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav said there was the need for someone to be the Iron Man again and ban RSS.
“Sardar Patel made a huge contribution. He united the country, abolished princely states, made our country strong, and stood up for the farmers. We can never forget his contribution. The Bharatiya Janata Party should remember that its parent party, that organisation was banned by Sardar Patel, and today the need is that someone become a Sardar Patel in this country and ban this ideology again,” he said.
“The US President called our Prime Minister a killer. The Bharatiya Janata Party should explain why a country like America is calling its Prime Minister a killer…”
“We are ready for anything. But we will not allow the vote to be rigged. Just think how casteist the people of the Bharatiya Janata Party are. They are not making BLOs from the PDA community…” the former UP CM added.
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rss-should-be-banned-mallikarjun-kharge-backs-akhilesh-yadavs-remarks/4027729/
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Quds Governorate Warns Of Plans By Groups Advocating For Alleged "Temple" To Target Aqsa Mosque
30 Oct 2025
The Quds Governorate warned of the danger posed by the escalating and public activities of groups advocating for the alleged "Temple," which have taken on a systematic and practical character aimed at directly harming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and altering its historical and religious character.
In a statement issued today, Thursday, and carried by the Palestinian News Agency WAFA, the Governorate affirmed that "what is being displayed today in terms of preparations, rituals, and activities is no longer merely a religious dream or a mythical idea, but has become an organized colonial project managed and supported by political and religious entities within the Israeli occupation system, in a dangerous attempt to impose complete sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with the alleged "Temple." The governorate noted that Temple Mount groups are openly intensifying their activities and preparations on the ground through their religious and educational institutions, most notably the Har HaBayit Yeshiva, which recently released videos documenting its preparations for building the alleged temple. These preparations include training priests in animal sacrifices, sewing their own garments, and designing geometric models representing the alleged temple—a dangerous step aimed at preparing public opinion to accept the idea of building on the ruins of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The governorate pointed out that these practices coincide with continuous and extremist statements by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is racing against time to impose a plan for the "temporal and spatial division" of the mosque and encouraging Temple Mount groups to intensify their mass incursions into the mosque's courtyards and ascend to what they call the "Temple Mount." The Quds Governorate added that the extremist incitement campaigns circulating on social media and in media outlets affiliated with these groups are now openly calling for the demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock to build the alleged temple in its place. They publish videos and drawings depicting the alleged construction process, calling for wider participation in the daily incursions. These videos also reveal detailed plans for the new temple, clearly indicating that these groups are treating the project as a reality underway, not as a religious symbol or historical legend.
The Governorate continued: These actions cannot be understood in isolation from the official support that the "Temple" groups receive from the Israeli government, whether through direct funding or through the political cover provided by extremist ministers and officials, most notably Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and former Knesset members such as Moshe Feiglin and Yehuda Glick.
The Governorate explained that these groups operate in an organized manner within the framework of Israeli law and enjoy official recognition, granting them a false legitimacy that enables them to carry out dangerous Judaization projects. These projects include daily incursions into the mosque, the performance of Talmudic prayers in its courtyards, repeated attempts to bring animal sacrifices into the mosque, and campaigns to recruit young “priests” and expand popular participation in these aggressive activities.
It emphasized that the activities of the Temple Mount groups are part of a comprehensive colonial plan aimed at altering the religious, political, and legal reality in Quds. This plan involves seizing control of the largest possible area of Waqf (Islamic endowment) lands, confiscating Palestinian homes, planting fake graves around Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Judaizing the city's Arab, Islamic, and Christian character. These groups continue to promote the false narrative that Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the ruins of Solomon's Temple and that the Western Wall (Al-Buraq Wall) is part of its remains—claims that have been refuted historically, religiously, and legally. However, these claims are exploited as a pretext to legitimize repeated incursions and dangerous excavations beneath the foundations of the blessed mosque.
The Quds Governorate asserted that the continuation of these provocative activities, amidst a suspicious international silence and the failure of UN institutions to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, emboldens the occupying government and its extremist arms to persist in implementing their Judaization and expansionist projects against the holy city and its holy sites. It emphasized that turning a blind eye to these actions or treating them as routine is a grave mistake that could lead to disastrous repercussions affecting security and stability throughout the region. The Governorate stressed the urgent need for action from Arab and Islamic states and the international community to pressure the occupation to cease its violations and respect the historical and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
It emphasized that what is happening today represents a dangerous phase in the Israeli aggression against Quds and its holy sites, and that these systematic preparations to build the "Third Temple" are not merely extremist religious rituals, but rather a colonial project aimed at uprooting the Arab and Islamic presence from the holy city. She called on all official, popular, and media bodies to confront these plans with all possible legal, political, and diplomatic means, and to intensify efforts to document the violations and expose the occupation's practices to the entire world, in order to preserve the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3579798.htm
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Saudi Arabia steps up fight against trafficking historical artifacts
Ghadi Joudah
October 30, 2025
Mohammed Mahnashi, legal team director at the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission. (AN Photo)
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is tightening laws, enforcing penalties and uniting agencies to combat the illicit trade of historical artifacts.
Mohammed Mahnashi, legal team director at the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission, spoke to Arab News at the International Conference on Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property in Riyadh on Thursday about the new measures.
Mahnashi said that the Kingdom kept a national registry for movable antiquities, with explicit criteria for listing artifacts and rules for auction licensing.
“Penalties have real teeth,” he said. Mahnashi explained that violators could face up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to SR500,000 ($133,300) — or both — for the illegal seizure of state-owned antiquities, alongside sanctions for forgery and replica production, all codified in a dedicated violations chapter.
“The executive regulations translate law into daily practice,” he said. Rules govern what may be traded and where, restrict trade to within the Kingdom, and grant the Heritage Commission the right of preemption when licensed sales occur.
“Registration is not a free pass to sell,” Mahnashi said. Only eligible items with verified ownership documents can be entered into the Antiquities Registry; documentation proving legitimacy is mandatory before any transaction is contemplated.
“We’ve built the first line of defense at the borders,” he said, describing joint training with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority at land, air and seaports, enabling officers to recognize cultural properties, identify artifacts correctly and apply the rules to prevent smuggling.
“Our legal pipeline is coordinated end-to-end,” he said. A memorandum of understanding with the Public Prosecution clarifies referrals, initial investigation files and courtroom representation to ensure consistent, effective prosecution under the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage system.
Mahnashi added that the General Directorate of Public Security was an essential force multiplier.
Their role in field inspections, summoning violators and completing initial investigations — especially when offenders were hard to locate — helped to maintain credible deterrence and comprehensive oversight.
Mahnashi added: “Our approach is straightforward — enforceable laws, operational clarity and institutional coordination.”
He added that by coupling clear statutes and executive regulations with targeted training and interagency MOUs, Saudi Arabia was closing loopholes that traffickers exploit.
“Trafficking evolves, and so must our tools,” he said. From registries and licensing protocols to data-driven risk profiling at borders, Mahnashi underscored that prevention, detection and prosecution were being upgraded in tandem.
Mahnashi said that preserving cultural memory was ultimately a shared responsibility.
Citizens, market participants and international partners must document provenance, report suspicious activity and follow lawful processes — steps that he said were essential to keep heritage protected for future generations.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620873/saudi-arabia
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India
Maharashtra Approaches SC, Seeks Review Of Akola Order For Setting Up SIT With Hindu & Muslim Officers
Oct 31, 2025
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra govt has approached Supreme Court for a review of its direction for setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) "comprising senior police officials from both Hindu and Muslim communities" to probe two Akola riot-related offences - a murder and an assault - and said dividing the uniformed force on religious lines is against the secular policies of the state.
One Mohd Afzal Mohd Sharif had claimed that he witnessed the murder of a Hindu, who was driving an auto-rickshaw owned by a Muslim, by assailants who later assaulted him in Akola on May 13, 2023 when the town was witnessing a riot over a social media post on the Prophet. He alleged that police did not take prompt action to register FIR. He had petitioned the Bombay high court but police said it had probed the crime and filed a chargesheet.
When the HC refused to entertain his petition, Sharif moved SC. A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar allowed his appeal and directed the Maharashtra home secretary "to constitute an SIT, comprising senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities, to undertake an investigation into all the allegations made by the appellant by registering an FIR in connection with the assault upon him on May 13, 2023, and take appropriate action thereon as warranted." It also asked the state to take disciplinary action against the erring police officers for laxity and dereliction of duty.
Maharashtra sought a open court hearing and said it will implement SC's order and set up the SIT for fresh probe into the incident. However, it expressed strong reservation claiming "it is inconsistent with the secular character of Bharat and the foundational principles governing public institutions".
"It is a settled constitutional position that once an officer dons the uniform of the police force, he or she is bound by the duties of neutrality, impartiality, and lawful action. A police officer has no religion, no caste, no political affiliation, only a solemn duty to uphold the rule of law, discharge public functions with impartiality, and maintain public order with integrity," the Devendra Fadnavis-led govt said.
"By directing a religiously segregated composition of the SIT, the judgment inadvertently undermines the integrity and neutrality of the police force. It risks setting a precedent whereby religious identity may be factored into official administrative composition, thereby compromising the very secular character of the Constitution," the state said.
"Further, such a direction casts aspersions on officers of the state on communal lines without affording them a hearing or considering their service record, and thereby violates the principles of justice and trust in public administration," it said, adding that the purpose of the review petition is solely intended to "preserve the constitutional ethos of secular administration and to avoid potential long-term consequences arising from this direction".
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/review-akola-order-against-secular-policy-maha-to-sc-court-had-sought-riot-case-sit-with-hindu-muslim-officers/articleshow/124970202.cms
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'I love Muhammad': 5 write slogans on temples to frame Muslims; 4 held
Oct 31, 2025
AGRA: Four men have been arrested in Aligarh for allegedly writing "I love Muhammad" on the walls of four temples to falsely implicate their Muslim neighbours over property dispute. Aligarh SSP Neeraj Jadon identified the four as Jishant Kumar, Akash Kumar, Dilip Kumar, and Abhishek Sarswat, all aged between 30 and 35.
Police said the the fifth accused, identified as Rahul, is absconding.
Police said the slogans were found scribbled on four shrines on Oct 25. A complaint was filed by a member of a right-wing organisation, naming Muslim men.
Misspelt slogans led UP cops to suspects trying to frame Muslims
Police rushed to the spot with senior officers, erased the graffiti and calmed the crowd. A case was then registered against Maulvi Mustaqeem, Gul Mohammad, Suleman, Sonu, Allabaksh, Hasan, Hamid and Yusuf," SSP Jadon said.
But police soon noticed something odd. The slogans were misspelled, and all in the same way. The mistake didn't match the way I love Muhammad had appeared on banners during protests in Bareilly in September. That difference led investigators to suspect mischief.
Police teams used technical surveillance to track down the actual culprits. A case under BNS was registered against the men, and they were sent to jail. SSP Jadon said police found the men had personal disputes with some of the Muslims they tried to frame.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/5-write-slogans-on-temples-to-frame-muslims-4-held/articleshow/124974807.cms
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Sanjauli mosque row: Shimla district court upholds demolition order; rejects Waqf Board and mosque committee's plea
Oct 30, 2025
SHIMLA: The district court in Shimla on Thursday upheld the municipal commissioner court’s order to demolish the entire structure of the Sanjauli mosque, dismissing petitions filed by the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, reported PTI.
The Sanjauli Mosque Committee had challenged the May 3 order of the commissioner’s court, which directed the demolition of the remaining two floors of the five-storey mosque in Shimla’s Sanjauli area. Authorities had already begun implementing an earlier order to demolish the top three floors of the structure.
On October 5, 2024, the commissioner’s court had first ordered the demolition of the top three floors, declaring them illegal. The mosque committee had itself offered to demolish those floors but contested the directive to remove the remaining two.
On May 3 this year, the commissioner’s court reiterated that the two lower floors must also be razed, citing the Waqf Board’s failure to produce ownership records for the land.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Yajuvinder Singh dismissed the petitions seeking a stay on the commissioner’s order. The court directed that the remaining two floors also be demolished, observing that the Waqf Board and the mosque committee were unable to provide valid documents to support their claims, according to Jagat Pal, an advocate representing locals.
Following Thursday’s verdict, Muhammad Latif of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee said they would now move the high court against the decision and, if necessary, approach the Supreme Court.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the district court’s decision, saying it would pave the way for similar actions against “illegal” mosque constructions, as reported by news agency PTI.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sanjauli-mosque-row-shimla-district-court-upholds-demolition-order-rejects-waqf-board-and-mosque-committees-plea/articleshow/124955736.cms
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Faridabad Education Officer Retracts Letter Flagging ‘Love Jihad’ By Students, Cites ‘Clerical Error’
Abhimanyu Hazarika
October 31, 2025
Citing a “clerical oversight”, Faridabad District Education Officer (DEO) Anshu Singla on Thursday “cancelled” a letter that directed all schools in the district to monitor students who allegedly skip classes and engage in anti-social and love jihad activities.
The letter, issued on Wednesday and addressed to the heads of all government and private schools, had stated that students in the district are “absconding during school hours and gathering in various parks for anti-social activities and love jihad, thereby vitiating the social fabric and atmosphere”.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Singla said, “There is no instance of love jihad in the district as alleged and the letter was issued due to a clerical oversight.”
The letter, which was widely shared on social media, had stated that a complaint in this
regard has been received by the district education officer and threatened “departmental action” if such a complaint is again received against any school.
However, Singla said, “The complainant had filed a similar complaint earlier, before my tenure, with the same content. This time, he put it on the CM Window (portal) to again grab attention, and while issuing the letter, my clerical staff typed the allegations and heading verbatim from the complaint. I had missed spotting the same. The district does not see any such issue as alleged, there is no question of it. The odd cases of students skipping school has nothing to do with this.”
Directing the schools to create WhatsApp groups with parents to mark daily attendance, the letter had stated, “You are directed that WhatsApp groups be created with mobile numbers of parents/guardians of all students of every class, and within half-an-hour of the start of the school period, attendance of students present in the class be marked and the list of absent students be shared in the WhatsApp group of parents of students studying in that class.”
On Thursday, the department issued a clarification, stating that it has “cancelled” the letter. It maintained that the letter was issued following a complaint received on the Haryana CM Window portal and the department had not received any complaint on the matter.
“A complaint was received on the CM Window portal of the office of the District Education Officer, Faridabad, the subject of which was ‘Students of various government and private schools of Faridabad district are polluting the infrastructure and environment by missing school hours and indulging in anti-social activities and love jihad in various parks’, due to which a letter was issued by this office… for sending Action Taken Report/reply on the CM Window portal, but no complaint related to the above subject has been received in the Education Department, Faridabad. Therefore, the letter issued… has been cancelled with immediate effect,” the department said in a press note.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/education-officer-in-faridabad-retracts-letter-flagging-love-jihad-by-students-clerical-error-cited-10336927/
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Kashmiri man who rescued BJP worker’s family during Pahalgam attack gets hero’s welcome in Chhattisgarh
by Jayprakash S Naidu
October 31, 2025
Nearly six months after local guide Nazakat Ahmed Shah rescued the family of a Chhattisgarh BJP youth worker during the Pahalgam terror attack in South Kashmir, he received a warm welcome in the state. The April attack had left 26 people dead and many injured.
Shah, whose family has been visiting undivided Madhya Pradesh and now Chhattisgarh to sell clothes for 30 years, had helped save the family of BJP youth wing worker Arvind Agrawal, who was in Pahalgam with his family and friends during the attack. On his first visit to Chhattisgarh since the incident, Shah was received by Agrawal and other families from Chirmiri in Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district who had been caught in the firing.
Recalling the day, Agrawal, 35, said he had been pulled to safety, but his wife and four-year-old daughter were some distance away. “When the firing started, Nazakat asked everyone to lie down and hugged my daughter and my friend’s son, saving their lives. He then rushed them to safety before going back to rescue my wife,” he had told this newspaper earlier.
Pahalgam attack, Pahalgam terror attack, Pahalgam terror attack rescuer, Pahalgam terror attack rescuer gets warm welcome in Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh, Nazakat Ahmed Shah, Indian express news, current affairs Recalling the day, Agrawal, 35, said he had been pulled to safety, but his wife and four-year-old daughter were some distance away.
On Thursday, Agrawal said, “We were very happy to see him. Around 50 people felicitated him with bouquets and garlands. A friend and I thanked him for saving our lives. He had lunch with our family.”
After the felicitation, Shah told the media, “First of all I want to thank the media. As I had said earlier, they are like our elder brothers and we have been coming to Chhattisgarh for years. I felt very happy that we were in touch over the phone after the attack and I feel elated to meet them now. Chhattisgarh is like home to us and we come here for three months every year for business.”
Recalling the attack, Shah said, “I was playing with a child [from Agrawal’s group] and his family was making reels when shots were fired. At first, we thought they were firecrackers. But when the sounds grew louder, I asked them to lie on the ground. It was terrifying… There was a lot of crying and screaming. While some tourists managed to escape on their own, I helped take some to safety.”
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-hero-who-rescued-bjp-workers-family-during-pahalgam-attack-gets-warm-welcome-in-chhattisgarh-10336782/
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Africa
FG Raises Alarm Over Plot by Extremists to Divide Christians and Muslims in Nigeria
Mfonobong Daniel
October 30, 2025
The Federal Government has warned of growing attempts by extremist groups to fuel religious tension and divide Nigerians along Christian-Muslim lines.
The alarm comes amid renewed concerns about security and unity in the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Tinubu administration is actively working to protect every citizen regardless of faith.
He stressed that both Christians and Muslims are targets of violent extremists, contrary to claims that attacks are focused on one region or religion.
Speaking during an interview on CNN’s The Exchange, the minister stated that government remains committed to fostering religious harmony and national peace.
He noted: “We believe and I would reiterate that we do have security challenges in Nigeria, we are not denying this or asking for denial in that direction. But what we are saying is that we need to make Nigerians and the world believe that this government is actually working to ensure the security of lives of everyone, Christians, muslims living side by side with each other.”
Idris explained that extremist groups have struck both mosques and churches, proving that the crisis is not a religious war but a criminal attempt to destabilize the country. He added that portraying insecurity as a fight between Christians and Muslims is “absolutely false.”
He continued: “When you say that only a particular region is being targeted that is not true. We know that some of these Boko Haram extremists have targeted Muslims in the mosques, they have targeted Christians in their churches.”
The minister maintained that Nigeria remains a religiously tolerant nation, with citizens of different faiths living and working together at all levels of government.
“The Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to practice their religion whether you are a Christian or Muslim and in the hierarchy of our government there are both Christians and Muslims living harmoniously and working together,” he said.
He warned that extremists want the world to believe there is a religious conflict, adding that such narratives only serve their agenda to divide the country.
However, this statement comes at a time when fears of targeted killings against Christians in Nigeria have been gaining global attention.
POLITICS NIGERIA recently reported that concerns over a looming “Christian genocide” were raised by United States Senator Ted Cruz, who urged the international community to pay closer attention to religious-related attacks in the country.
The minister’s comments appear aimed at countering that narrative and reassuring Nigerians that government efforts are focused on protecting all citizens without bias, even as critics continue to demand stronger action from the authorities.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
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https://politicsnigeria.com/fg-raises-alarm-over-plot-by-extremists-to-divide-christians-and-muslims-in-nigeria/
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Tanzania deploys army as election protests spread
October 30, 2025
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets for a second day of demonstrations in Tanzania on Thursday after a disputed election, while Amnesty International reported that two people have died.
After the protests broke out on Wednesday, the government shut down the internet, imposed a curfew and deployed the military to the streets.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM party, which has been in power since independence in 1961, sought to extend its rule in Wednesday’s election, with presidential candidates from the two main opposition parties barred from running.
The incumbent, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, faced 16 other candidates from smaller parties who barely campaigned.
The electoral body on Thursday announced through state television that President Hassan had taken an early lead, garnering 96.99 percent of the votes in 8 out of 272 constituencies tallied early Thursday.
'Neither fair nor free'
Lawmakers from the European Parliament said in a statement Thursday that the elections in Tanzania were “neither free nor fair” and urged democratic partners to “stand firm in the defense of democracy and human rights.”
Turnout during Wednesday’s election was low, and chaos broke out in the afternoon as protesters burned a bus and a gas station, attacked police stations and vandalized polling centers.
Two people, a civilian and a police officer, died in Wednesday’s protests, according to Amnesty International. The government has yet to comment about casualties in the ongoing protests.
Tanzania’s government imposed a curfew Wednesday evening in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, where most protests had occurred, but protests continued late into the night.
The government asked public servants to work from home on Thursday to limit the movement of nonessential staff.
Roadblocks manned by the Tanzanian army were erected across the country, with those approaching them turned away if they could not prove they were essential workers.
Hundreds of protesters breached security barriers to access a road leading to the country’s main airport but were unable to enter.
Amnesty International called for investigations into the use of force on protesters by police.
Several protesters were injured in the town of Namanga, on the border with Kenya, as demonstrators lit bonfires on the highway and police fired tear gas to disperse them.
Business people said the protests had halted business operations in the usually busy border town.
Ferry services from the Tanzanian mainland to the semiautonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, whose electoral body is expected to announce results Thursday, were also suspended.
Tanzanians cast ballots for a president, members of parliament and ward councilors.
The main opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains in prison after he was charged with treason for calling for electoral reforms. The presidential candidate for the second largest opposition party, Luhaga Mpina, was barred from running.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/30/tanzania-deploys-army-as-election-protests-spread/
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INEC Clears Eight Associations In Political Party Registration, Disqualifies Six
October 31, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that eight political associations have successfully completed the initial phase of registration to become political parties, while six others were disqualified.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, following the commission’s regular meeting held on October 30, 2025, to review progress since its last update on September 11.
According to INEC, 14 associations were initially pre-qualified to participate in the registration process, which began with a briefing on September 17, followed by the opening of a dedicated online portal for document submission between September 18 and October 18.
By October 19, eight associations had successfully submitted all required documentation.
“As of Saturday, 19th October 2025, eight out of the 14 pre-qualified associations successfully completed the upload of all necessary information and documentation,” the statement read.
The associations that scaled through include:
All Democratic Alliance (ADA)
Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA)
Abundance Social Party (ASP)
African Alliance Party (AAP)
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA)
Green Future Party (GFP)
National Democratic Party (NDP)
Peoples Freedom Party (PFP)
Six Associations Fail To Meet Requirements
INEC disclosed that six other associations were disqualified for failing to meet the preliminary requirements outlined in the commission’s guidelines. However, it did not disclose their names.
The commission stated that the next stage of the process would involve a detailed verification of documents submitted by the successful associations to ensure compliance with constitutional and legal standards.
The statement added, “The next step in the registration process is the detailed assessment and verification of the information and documents submitted by each association.
“This stage will ensure conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).”
Olumekun reiterated the commission’s resolve to maintain fairness and inclusivity in the political process.
“The commission wishes to reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic culture,” he said.
He also disclosed that INEC had earlier received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties, emphasizing that only those who met the stipulated criteria would be approved.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/10/31/inec-clears-eight-associations-in-political-party-registration-disqualifies-six/
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Mideast
Turkiye’s Erdogan to Merz: does Germany not see Israeli ‘genocide’ in Gaza?
October 30, 2025
ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan criticized Germany over what he said was its ignorance of Israel’s “genocide” and attacks in Gaza, at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday.
The open public friction between NATO allies emerged on Merz’s first visit to Turkiye since taking office.
Merz said his government had stood by Israel since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and that he believes Israel was exercising its right to self-defense.
“It would have taken only one decision to avoid countless unnecessary casualties. Hamas should have released the hostages earlier and laid down its arms,” he said, adding he hoped the war was coming to an end with the US-brokered and Turkiye-backed ceasefire deal.
ERDOGAN SAYS ISRAEL SOUGHT SUPPRESSION THROUGH GENOCIDE
Erdogan, among the most vocal critics of Israel’s assault on Gaza and a key player in the ceasefire talks, said he could not agree with Merz.
“Hamas does not have bombs (or) nuclear arms but Israel has all of these and uses these weapons to hit Gaza, for example with those bombs again last night,” Erdogan said.
“Do you, as Germany, not see these? Do you, as Germany, not follow these? Besides hitting Gaza, (Israel) has always sought to suppress it through famine and genocide,” he said.
A UN inquiry determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, arguing that its killings, siege and destruction were carried out with the intent to destroy Palestinian life in the enclave. Multiple Israeli and international rights groups reached the same conclusion.
Israel rejects genocide allegations as politically motivated and says its military campaign targets Hamas, not Gaza’s civilian population. It says it takes steps to minimize civilian harm.
Merz has criticized Israeli actions in Gaza and this year Germany suspended military exports there, citing the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
He has stopped short of backing accusations of genocide, however, arguing that criticism of Israel must not become a pretext for antisemitism.
Erdogan said he still believed Germany and Turkiye could collaborate to end famine by ensuring aid delivery to Gaza.
He also pointed to the potential for NATO allies to focus on joint projects in the defense industry, and reiterated Ankara’s wish to join the European Union.
Merz said he saw Turkiye as a close partner to the EU, that he wanted to develop bilateral economic relations, including in the transport sector and migration.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620881/middle-east
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As the guns fall silent, Gazans find newly-reopened banks have no cash
October 31, 2025
GAZA/CAIRO: The ceasefire in Gaza has eased the trauma of Israel’s air strikes and blockade but a shortage of cash has left Palestinians unable to spend what little money they have without falling victim to wartime profiteers.
Banks, many damaged or destroyed along with homes, schools and other institutions across Gaza during two years of war, began reopening on October 16, six days after the ceasefire was announced. Queues soon formed but people came away disappointed.
“There is no money, liquidity at the bank,” said father-of-six Wael Abu Fares, 61, standing outside the Bank of Palestine. “You just come and do paperwork transactions and leave.”
People need cash for most everyday transactions in Gaza, whether to buy food in the market or pay utility bills, but Israel blocked transfers of banknotes along with most other goods following the attack and mass hostage-taking by Hamas-led militants in October 2023.
HUGE FEES TO CASH SALARIES
“Banks are open, Air conditioning is on, but they are mostly doing electronic business, no deposits, no withdrawals of cash,” Gaza economist Mohammad Abu Jayyab told Reuters.
“People go to some greedy merchants to cash their salaries and they give them cash for a huge fee, which ranges between 20 percent and sometimes goes to 40 percent.”
Mother-of-seven Iman Al-Ja’bari longs for a time when transactions at banks used to take less than an hour.
“You need two or three days to go back and forth, back and forth, spending your whole life standing there,” she said. “And in the end, you only get 400 or 500 shekels ($123 or $153). What can this (amount) buy with the incredibly high prices today that we can’t afford?.”
For a few Palestinians, the cash crunch has provided an opportunity to eke out a living. Manal Al-Saidi, 40, repairs damaged banknotes to cover some basic needs.
“I work and I make 20, 30 shekels ($6, $9), and I leave with a loaf of bread, beans for dinner, falafel, anything, something simple,” she said, wiping notes.
“Not that I can get (afford) vegetables or anything, no, just enough to get by.”
Some people resort to electronic transfers through bank apps for even small items such as eggs or sugar, but the sellers apply additional fees.
The issue of cash supplies into Gaza was not included in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which also left the details of reconstruction and security to be decided.
COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into the Gaza Strip, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether or when banknotes may be allowed back in.
The shortage of notes and coins has compounded the crisis for Gazans who have lost relatives, jobs and homes, used up their savings and sold their possessions to buy food, tents and medications. Some have resorted to barter to get by.
Palestinian merchant Samir Namrouti, 53, has got used to banknotes that are almost unrecognizable through overuse.
“What matters to me is its serial number. As long as its serial number is there, that’s it, I treat it as money,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620952/middle-east
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Syrian students return to schools stripped bare by conflict
October 31, 2025
MAAR SHAMARIN, Syria: In the southern Idlib countryside, once a frontline in Syrian civil war, residents are trickling back to their villages after years in exile.
Repairing and reopening damaged and looted schools is key to the return of the displaced, but nearly a year after former President Bashar Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive, hundreds of schools are still destroyed.
Millions of children in Syria remain out of school, while others are attending class in gutted buildings without basic supplies.
A schoolhouse with no windows or chairs
Safiya Al-Jurok and her family fled the town of Maar Sharamin five years ago when Assad’s army wrested control of the area from opposition forces.
After Assad’s fall last December, the family returned home and are now living in a tent — the same one they stayed in while displaced — next to the remains of their destroyed house.
The local elementary school reopened last month, and Al-Jurok is sending her three children, in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, to classes there.
The L-shaped school building is disheveled, its walls riddled with bullet holes and its paint peeling in long strips of gray and blue.
Inside classrooms, sunlight spills through gaping window frames stripped of glass. Students sit cross-legged on thin blankets spread over the cold floor, their backs pressed to the wall for support. A young girl balances her notebook on her knees, tracing the Arabic alphabet.
“If it rains, it’ll rain on my children” through the broken windows, Al-Jurok said, “The school doesn’t even have running water.”
The school’s principal, Abdullah Hallak, said the building has lost nearly everything — desks, windows, doors and even even the steel reinforcement stripped from the building — looted, like in many other towns across southern Idlib, after residents fled.
“Our kids are coming here where there are no seats, no boards and no windows and as you know, winter is coming,” Hallak told The Associated Press. “Some parents call us to complain that their kids are getting sick sitting on the floor, so they have them skip school.”
A massive effort needed to rebuild schools
According to Deputy Education Minister Youssef Annan, 40 percent of schools across Syria remain destroyed, most of them in rural Idlib and Hama, which were the site of fierce battles during the country’s nearly 14-year civil war.
In Idlib alone, 350 schools are out of service, and only about 10 percent have been rehabilitated so far, he said.
“Many schools were stripped bare, with iron stolen from roofs and structures, requiring years and significant funds to rebuild,” he said.
The new school year officially began in mid-September, alongside an emergency education plan to accommodate the growing number of returnee students, Annan said, adding that the ministry intends to launch a remote learning program to expand access to education, though it “requires more time” and hasn’t yet been implemented.
Across Syria, 4 million students are currently enrolled in school, Annan said, while roughly 2.5 to 3 million children remain out of school, according to Meritxell Relano Arana, the UNICEF representative in Syria.
“The access to education by many children in Syria is difficult. Many of the schools have been destroyed, many of the teachers did not go back to educate and many of the children don’t even have money to buy the school materials,” she said.
That is the case for Al-Jurok’s family.
“My eldest daughter is very smart and loves to study, but we can’t buy books,” she added, noting that the children help pick olives after school as the family makes a living from olive oil production.
Students falling behind
Hallak said Maar Shamarin Elementary now hosts around 450 students from first to fourth grade, but demand continues to grow.
“We have more students applying, but there is no more space,” he said.
Teacher Bayan Al-Ibrahim said that many of the children who are attending have fallen behind academically after years of displacement.
“Some families had been displaced to areas where education wasn’t supported or their circumstances didn’t allow them to follow up on their kids’ education,” she said.
The lack of seating and school materials makes it harder for teachers to keep order, she added, while parents struggle to stay involved.
“There are no books, so parents aren’t aware what their kids are studying,” she added.
Relaño said that UNICEF is working on rebuilding schools, providing temporary classrooms and training teachers to ensure they have the tools needed for quality education.
The task is particularly urgent with hundreds of thousands of refugees returning from abroad, she said. More than one million refugees have come back to Syria, according to the UN refugee agency.
Beyond infrastructure, Relaño said schools play a key role in the nation’s psychological recovery.
“Many children were traumatized by years of conflict, so they need to go back to safe schools where psychosocial support is available,” she said, adding that catch-up classes are being offered to help students who missed years of schooling reintegrate into the education system.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620947/middle-east
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Residents of Gaza fear ceasefire collapse
October 30, 2025
CAIRO: Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas in eastern Gaza on Thursday, Palestinian residents and witnesses said, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a US-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.
Witnesses said Israeli planes carried out 10 airstrikes in areas east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, while tanks shelled areas east of Gaza City in the north. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The Israeli military said it carried out “precise” strikes against “terrorist infrastructure that posed a threat to the troops” in the areas, which Israel still occupies.
The strikes were the latest test of the fragile ceasefire that came into effect on Oct. 10 in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We’re scared that another war will break out, because we don’t want a war. We’ve been displaced for two years. We don’t know where to go or where to come,” said a displaced man, Fathi Al-Najjar, in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
At the tent encampment where Najjar spoke, girls and boys were filling plastic bottles with water from metal containers along the street, and women were cooking for their families in clay-made firewood ovens.
People in the Gaza Strip, most of whom had been reduced to wasteland, feared the tenuous truce would fall apart, saying that the last two days, in which they were deprived of sleep, felt like a revival of the two-year war.
“The situation is extremely difficult. The war is still ongoing, and we have no hope that it will end, because of the conditions we are witnessing in the life we are living,” said Mohammed Al-Sheikh.
Israel’s military said on Thursday that militants handed over two coffins containing the remains of dead hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza.
The latest handover is an indication that the ceasefire agreement is moving forward despite the Israeli strikes.
The recovery and handover of bodies of hostages in Gaza has been one of the obstacles to US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, with Israel claiming that Hamas has been delaying the handover, an accusation Hamas denies.
From Tuesday into Wednesday, Israel retaliated for the death of an Israeli soldier with bombardments that Gaza health authorities said killed 104 people.
Witnesses in Gaza said they did not see strikes on Thursday outside of the area Israel controls.
Israel says the soldier was killed in an attack by gunmen on territory within the so-called “yellow line” to which its troops withdrew under the ceasefire. Hamas has rejected the accusation.
The Israeli military issued a list of 26 militants it said it had targeted during the bombardment earlier this week, including one it said was a Hamas commander who participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that ignited the war.
The Gaza government media office said Israel’s list was part of a “systematic campaign of misinformation” to cover up “crimes against civilians in Gaza.”
The Gaza Health Ministry said 46 children and 20 women were among the 104 people killed in the airstrikes.
The war has displaced most of Gaza’s more than 2 million people in Gaza, some of them several times.
Many have not yet returned to their areas, fearing they could soon be displaced once again.
Gaza health authorities say 68,000 people are confirmed killed in the Israeli campaign, and thousands more are missing.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620916/middle-east
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Teenager dies during ultra-Orthodox protest in Jerusalem
October 30, 2025
JERUSALEM: A mass ultra-Orthodox Jewish rally against military conscription turned deadly in Jerusalem on Thursday, when a teenage boy fell to his death during the demonstration which had shut down the main entrance to the city.
Packed crowds of mostly men clogged the roads around the Route 1 highway leading into Jerusalem. Israeli media estimated that around 200,000 people flocked to the rally.
Photos showed some had climbed atop roofs of buildings, a gas station and onto cranes. The Israeli ambulance service said a 15-year-old fell to his death and police said they had opened an investigation into the incident.
Military exemptions a hot-button issue in Israel
The debate over mandatory military service, and those who are exempt from it, has long caused tensions within Israel’s deeply divided society and has placed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under increasing political strain over the past year.
Ultra-Orthodox seminary students have long been exempt from mandatory military service. Many Israelis fume at what they see as an unfair burden carried by the mainstream who serve.
That frustration only intensified during wars over the past two years that exacted the highest Israeli military death toll in decades as fighting stretched from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran.
This has added fuel to an already explosive debate over a new conscription bill that lies at the center of a crisis rattling Netanyahu’s coalition, which took power in late 2022 for a four-year term.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders say full-time devotion to the study of holy scriptures is sacrosanct and fear their young men will drift away from religious life if they are drafted into the military.
Right now, people who refuse to go to the army are taken to military prison,” said Shmuel Orbach, a protester, “It’s not so bad. But we are a Jewish country. You cannot fight against Judaism in a Jewish country, it does not work.”
Struggle to pass new conscription bill
But last year the Supreme Court ordered an end to the exemption. Parliament has been struggling to draft a new conscription bill, which has so far failed to meet both the ultra-Orthodox demands and those of a stretched military. Two long-time loyal political allies, ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), quit Netanyahu’s coalition government in July in a dispute over the new military draft legislation. Their exit left Netanyahu with an increasingly splintered coalition whose far-right members are unhappy about Israel’s ceasefire deal with Gaza’s dominant Palestinian militant group Hamas, brokered by the United States.
The door has been left open for the ultra-Orthodox parties to rejoin the coalition should the dispute be resolved.
But reaching an accommodation acceptable to ultra-Orthodox political leaders may alienate many other Israelis as the country heads into an election year, and risks being shot down by the Supreme Court.
Surveys over the past two years have consistently predicted Netanyahu’s coalition would lose the next ballot.
Source: arabnews.com
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Syrian Minister of Endowments commends Qatar's experience in serving the obligation of Zakat
30 Oct 2025
Doha: Minister of Endowments of the Syrian Arab Republic HE Mohammad Abu Al Khair Shukri praised Qatar's experience in serving the obligation of zakat during his visit, accompanied by a delegation from the Syria's Highest Fatwa Council, to the Zakat Affairs Department at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf).
During the visit, Director of the Zakat Affairs Department Mal Allah Abdulrahman Al Jaber affirmed that the visit reflects the strength of fraternal relations between the two countries and their mutual commitment to enhancing cooperation in religious and humanitarian fields, particularly in serving zakat, which is a fundamental pillar of Islam and a tool for achieving social solidarity and sustainable development.
The Director of Zakat Affairs delivered a comprehensive presentation on Qatar's approach to zakat administration, noting that the department is responsible for collecting zakat funds and disbursing them to their legitimate channels within the country, in accordance with precise regulations that ensure fairness and transparency in distribution.
He highlighted the department's use of modern technology to facilitate electronic zakat payments, contributing to improved service quality for both payers and beneficiaries.
Al Jaber explained that the department's role extends beyond collection and distribution, encompassing the promotion of zakat culture and awareness through media campaigns, educational programs, and training initiatives. It also actively participates in international seminars and conferences to exchange expertise and reinforce the concept of zakat as an effective tool for achieving social justice.
He further noted that the department is staffed by qualified national professionals specialized in religious, social, and administrative fields, and operates within an integrated digital system that supports efficiency and accuracy, making Qatar's experience a distinguished model in modern zakat management across the region.
Following the presentation, HE Mohammad Abu Al Khair Shukri expressed the Syrian Ministry of Endowments' aspiration to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise with Qatar's Zakat Affairs Department, and to benefit from its technical and administrative experience in developing zakat collection and disbursement systems.
He affirmed that the visit marks an important step toward expanding collaboration between the two ministries on issues of mutual interest.
HE the Minister also commended the efforts of Qatar's Zakat Affairs Department in advancing zakat work, describing Qatar's experience as a pioneering model that combines jurisprudential authenticity with administrative and technological innovation, enhancing its role in serving society and promoting development.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/30/10/2025/syrian-minister-of-endowments-commends-qatars-experience-in-serving-the-obligation-of-zakat
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Iran’s Top Commander Underlines Incorporating Passive Defense into National Planning
October, 30, 2025
Establishing passive defense principles in critical infrastructure is not only a strategic necessity but also a legal and national obligation, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said in a message on Thursday, commemorating the Passive Defense Day.
He said the commemoration with the slogan “Passive Defense; Infrastructure Resilience, Social Sustainability” provides a valuable platform for reviewing the position of the most strategic, scientific, and peaceful type of national defense; a defense that, relying on preventive, intelligent, and unarmed measures, strengthens the foundation of the country’s sustainable security against new and combined threats.
“Passive defense is a symbol of defensive rationality and strategic foresight in protecting national authority. The historical experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially during the Holy Defense era (Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s), have proven the necessity of this type of defense as a complementary pillar of national security. Today, the experience of the 12-day imposed war (in June) once again showed that threats can emerge in complex and combined forms, with speed and intensity; and only nations that have resilient infrastructure, general preparedness, and national cohesion will have the ability to withstand and maintain stability,” the top commander said.
He described passive defense as the backbone of the country’s infrastructural resilience and social sustainability, as it is based on the three principles of “forecasting, prevention, and preemption” against man-made threats, and is known as the most strategic way to confront cyber, biological, chemical, radiological, combined, and technological wars with the aim of reducing vulnerability and continuing vital services.
“The achievements of more than two decades of struggle by passive defense experts, which was founded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces (Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei), have today become a scientific and systematic discourse based on the experiences of the Sacred Defense, a discourse that has played an effective role in promoting the sustainability of critical infrastructure, institutionalizing the culture of passive defense in executive bodies, and increasing public awareness,” he added.
“Now, with the lessons of the 12-day war and in light of the law establishing the Passive Defense Organization, the effective entry of this field into national planning and the establishment of its principles in vital infrastructures is not only a strategic necessity but also a legal and national obligation. The realization of this important matter will pave the way for enhancing national resilience and ensuring sustainability against future threats,” Major General Mousavi went on to say.
Source: tasnimnews.com
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https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/10/30/3436053/iran-s-top-commander-underlines-incorporating-passive-defense-into-national-planning
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North America
CAIR Welcomes Drop in Support for Geert Wilders’ Anti-Muslim Fascist Party,
October 30, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a drop in support for Geert Wilders’ anti-Muslim, fascist “Party of Freedom” in the Netherlands.
Wilders’ party lost 12 parliamentary seats in the latest Dutch elections, a major rebuke to the party’s far-right platform.
“We welcome the decline in support for anti-Muslim hate and fascism in the Netherlands and stand in solidarity with the Dutch Muslim community,” said CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “Mr. Wilders’ party and others like it must be rebuked across Europe.”
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-drop-in-support-for-geert-wilders-anti-muslim-fascist-party-expresses-solidarity-with-dutch-muslims/
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CAIR Calls Congressional Resolution Seeking Israeli Sovereignty Over Al-Aqsa Mosque a ‘Dangerous Publicity Stunt’
October 30, 2025
Muslim civil rights group also condemns 1,300 Israeli settlers storming Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under Israeli occupation police protection
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil-rights and advocacy organization, today said a reported congressional resolution led by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) that would recognize Israeli “sovereignty” over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem is just a “dangerous publicity stunt.”
For over a millennium, Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, has remained under uninterrupted Muslim stewardship. That status was reaffirmed by the 1994 Wadi Araba Agreement between Israel and Jordan, which grants the Hashemite Kingdom custodianship of the Haram al-Sharif/Al-Aqsa compound. The proposed resolution seeks to undermine that treaty framework by granting Israel a political green light to override the existing custodial arrangement.
CAIR further highlighted mounting evidence of serious incursions: According to the Jordanian press outlet Jordan News, more than 1,300 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compound in successive groups, conducted so-called “tours,” and performed religious rituals under heavy protection of Israeli terrorist military forces.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“’Israel-first’ extremists in Congress continue to push legislation that treats the Holy Land as a stage for prophecy rather than a place of peace. This resolution is nothing more than a dangerous publicity stunt designed to pander to genocide supporters and religious extremists.”
“When combined with these documented incursions by illegal Israeli settlers, this resolution threatens to degrade U.S. credibility as a mediator, escalate religious tensions, and undermine internationally-recognized treaties and the fragile status quo at one of the world’s most sensitive religious sites.”
CAIR calls on members of Congress to immediately:
Reject the proposed resolution in its entirety;
Defend the sanctity of all holy sites in Jerusalem from political, colonial, and theological exploitation.
CAIR also reiterates its broader call for the U.S. government to end unconditional military and diplomatic support for Israel’s occupation policies and to uphold international law, including United Nations resolutions affirming Jerusalem’s special status.
Source: cair.com
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CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad Again Named to 2026 List of World’s ‘500 Most Influential Muslims’
October 30, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said today that its National Executive Director Nihad Awad has again been named to “The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims.” Awad has been named to the annual list a number of times.
American Muslims named to the list include Awad, Dalia Mogahed, Linda Sarsour, Khaled Baydoun, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), André Carson (D-IN) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Imam Omar Suleiman, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, and a number of other American Muslim leaders, artists, media personalities, scholars, businesspeople, and activists.
The annual list is an initiative of the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, an independent research entity affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought is a non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Amman, Jordan.
Source: cair.com
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CAIR-NJ Condemns Anti-Muslim Hate Campaign to Silence Rutgers Hindutva Event, Applauds Community Support
October 30, 2025
The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today condemned the wave of hate-filled messages and reportedly coordinated intimidation efforts that sought to pressure Rutgers University into cancelling its public discussion on Hindutva extremism.
The event, “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” happened on Oct. 27 at Rutgers University’s Archibald S. Alexander Library, where at least five officers were present on the premises for safety concerns.
Prior to the event, the university received hundreds of messages calling on administrators to shut down the event because of its critical discussion on the rise of India’s far-right Hindutva movement and its devastating impact on Christians, Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs and other minorities facing discrimination and violence under Prime Minister Modi’s government.
In response to the hateful campaign, CAIR-NJ sent a private letter to university administrators, expressing the importance of the discussion and academic freedom and urged the community to act by sending a message of their own.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“Let us be clear: the vitriol directed at Rutgers was not about academic debate. It was rooted in anti-Muslim bigotry and an effort to erase conversations on religious nationalism and minority rights. That hate campaign only underscores why this event was necessary. We applaud CSRR for holding such an important event.
“Just as criticism of government policies in Israel and the mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza must not be conflated with antisemitism, criticism of Hindutva must not be weaponized to silence advocates, scholars and vulnerable communities seeking justice and accountability.
“Efforts to erase legitimate human-rights concerns by falsely labeling them as hate speech fuels oppression and stifles necessary public dialogue.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-condemns-anti-muslim-hate-campaign-to-silence-rutgers-hindutva-event-applauds-community-support/
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WA Police investigate criminal damage at Masjid Al-RahmÄn mosque in Gosnells
By Lauren Smith
31 October 2025
Specialist detectives who handle racially motivated threats are investigating an incident at a mosque in Perth's south-east in which a mystery offender poured non-flammable motor oil across the main entrance.
Islamic leaders have condemned the incident as "reckless and targeted", while WA Police are probing it as suspected criminal damage.
CCTV vision has been released of a hooded person climbing the fence of the Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque in Gosnells holding two large jerry cans.
While off camera, police say they poured the oil on the brick paving at the entrance on October 11 around 11.45pm.
The offender did not attempt to ignite the fluid, before they were later seen on video walking away holding the same cans and driving off in a white 4WD.
In a statement, the Council of Imams WA described the incident as "reckless and targeted", while posing a "hazardous and distressing" threat.
"It has understandably unsettled many within the community.
"We urge calm, unity, and trust in the investigation as police continue their work."
In a Facebook post, the Masjid Al-Rahman Mosque echoed the statement encouraging people to remain calm.
"Let's remain calm, united and cooperative as we stand together for the safety and dignity of our community."
Specialist squad investigating
The incident is being investigated by the State Security Investigation Group — a division of the WA Police that deals with threats that are religious, racially or ideologically motivated.
Earlier this month, the dedicated squad charged a 36-year-old man with making multiple Nazi-gestures at a pub in East Perth.
In March, the same team of detectives charged a 16-year-old boy Bunbury boy for allegedly making violent threats online against a Sydney Mosque.
Earlier in the year, police increased their patrols outside synagogues following a spike in attacks over a 24 hour period.
WA Premier Roger Cook said any attack on a religious institution was a concern.
"Western Australia is a great place to live, one of the reasons why it's a great place to live is because we're tolerant, we're inclusive and we're a united and safe community," he said.
"Everyone must do their best to ensure that we all do what we can to ensure that we maintain those values."
Police are urging anyone with information, CCTV or dash-cam footage to contact them.
Source: abc.net.au
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-30/police-investigate-criminal-damage-at-gosnells-mosque/105952988
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Arab World
500 academic leaders discuss future of university education at Jeddah meeting
SALEH FAREED
October 30, 2025
JEDDAH: The Council of Universities’ Affairs held a meeting on Thursday in Jeddah with heads of public and private universities to discuss educational process challenges and proposed solutions.
Chaired by Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan, the consultative meeting was held at the University of Business and Technology and addressed key issues, including challenges faced by public and private universities, to develop best practices that achieve quality outputs and serve the needs of the labor market.
Al-Benyan emphasized the importance of this meeting to address urgent higher education matters and listen to institutional challenges to reach satisfactory solutions for all.
He also stressed the importance of coordination meetings to enhance partnership and integration between public and private universities, and their role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for the higher education sector.
“Our meeting today comes within the framework of the Ministry of Education and the Council of University Affairs’ keenness to enhance integration among higher education institutions, which contributes to developing the university education system and raising its efficiency to keep pace with the aspirations of the wise leadership and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he said.
Al-Benyan added that higher education was the cornerstone of human development and societal progress, and the primary driver of development and innovation across all fields. “Furthermore, higher education institutions bear the responsibility of preparing qualified national talent to lead the future and contribute to achieving sustainable development,” he said.
Dr. Abdullah Dahlan, chairman of the board of trustees, University of Business and Technology, said that the meeting came at a time when higher education in the Kingdom was witnessing a qualitative shift, as Saudi universities — both government and private — had become a fundamental pillar for achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
“Today, the number of government universities in the Kingdom has reached 30, in addition to 12 private universities and more than 34 private colleges, all of which form an integrated educational system, serving more than two million male and female students in various disciplines and fields,” he said.
“These institutions include an elite group of faculty members whose number exceeds 100,000, representing a national asset of competencies and experiences that contribute to graduating generations capable of competition and creativity.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620895/saudi-arabia
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Saudi media and events industries key to China ties, say experts
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
October 30, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s events and media industries are key to building bridges with China.
This is according to speakers at ewpartners’ recent “China Night” in Riyadh, which had Arab News as a media partner.
The country’s booming events sector offers valuable collaboration opportunities across technology and finance, according to Jessica Wong, founder and managing partner of ewpartners.
“Exhibitions in the Middle East are vital platforms connecting policy, industry and capital,” said Wong.
“They showcase the Kingdom’s openness and innovation under Vision 2030,” she said.
Wong said the true power of an ecosystem is felt with physical presence. This allows one to feel firsthand Saudi Arabia’s incredible transformation and building momentum.
She said global investors and innovators gather at these forums, which allows them to shape the region’s future through partnerships.
Wong stressed the deep mutual trust in China-Saudi relations, with high-level exchanges highlighting the strategic importance of their continued cooperation.
Esra Assery, general supervisor of the media development agency at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Media, highlighted several key milestones in the Saudi Arabia-China collaboration.
Assery pointed to the launch in Mandarin of Saudipedia — the Kingdom’s official encyclopedia — as a landmark achievement.
“These accomplishments culminated in the inauguration of the People’s Daily headquarters in Riyadh, which has become a cornerstone in building a robust and dynamic information economy,” she added.
“The media economy has now evolved into one of the central pillars of the Kingdom’s national transformation and a key driver of sustainable growth,” Assery emphasized.
“Building on these achievements, the Ministry of Media stands ready and eager to embrace every opportunity to forge a more connected and prosperous future with partners around the world,” she said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620868/saudi-arabia
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Saudi authority launches AI model to predict drug shortages
October 30, 2025
TOKYO: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered model for predicting drug shortages in the Kingdom.
The SFDA’s CEO Hisham S. Aljadhey launched the model during the Global Health Exhibition, which is being held until Oct. 30 in Riyadh.
“This AI model is one of the first innovative smart solutions globally designed for predicting drug shortages,” the organization stated in a release on Wednesday.
“It relies on advanced algorithms to continuously analyze historical data for each drug, generating accurate predictions that facilitate immediate decision-making to prevent any potential shortages,” the organization stated.
The SFDA added that the initiative “represents a transformative leap in the national drug security system. It contributes to increased efficiency in supply chain management and ensures that medications reach patients in a timely manner.
“The AI model also reflects the SFDA’s commitment to utilizing modern technologies to serve public health and enhance Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector, aligning with the digital transformation objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620848/saudi-arabia
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KSrelief delivers equipment to Yemen’s farmers
October 31, 2025
HADHRAMAUT: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has delivered modern agricultural equipment to farmers in Yemen’s Hadhramout governorate. This initiative is part of a sustainable agriculture and fisheries support project to support the country’s people.
The project included the delivery of 55 diverse agricultural machines, including hand tillers, threshing tools for separating grain from chaff, and farm-spraying and cutting machines.
A training program was also conducted to help farmers operate and maintain the equipment, and fuel supplies were provided to ensure effective use of the machinery.
This project aims to boost farmers’ productivity and streamline agricultural efficiency through modern mechanization, facilitating plowing and harvesting while significantly reducing costs and labor.
Meanwhile, the KSrelief Masam Project continues to clear explosives in Yemen, most recently dismantling 805 devices during the last week of October, including 676 items of unexploded ordnance, 102 anti-tank mines, 25 anti-personnel mines, and two explosive devices.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620925/saudi-arabia
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Special media course for non-native Arabic speakers launches
October 31, 2025
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, has launched a media-related course within its Language Immersion Program in Riyadh, for non-native speakers.
The eight-week program involves 14 trainees from nine countries and is designed to enable participants to practice Arabic in realistic, interactive situations reflecting local culture.
The curriculum includes modules, practical activities and field trips, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
KSGAAL’s Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Washmi said the course offers a new model for teaching Arabic in a practical, professional framework.
The initiative reflects the academy’s commitment to developing projects that serve the Arabic language in specialized fields.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620919/saudi-arabia
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Development projects for mosques in Al-Baha inaugurated
October 31, 2025
RIYADH: Several development projects for mosques and grand mosques across Al-Baha governorates were inaugurated on Thursday by Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, with a total value of more than SR74 million ($19.7 million).
The initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to preserving and upgrading religious facilities.
The projects were launched at a ceremony hosted by the ministry’s Al-Baha branch, bringing together deputy ministers and regional directors-general from across Saudi Arabia.
The unveiling coincides with the minister’s inspection visit to the region, aimed at identifying local requirements for ministry services and ensuring alignment with its core mission. These field visits are conducted in accordance with leadership directives to maintain direct oversight of the ministry’s operations nationwide.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620918/saudi-arabia
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Winter comes alive as Khobar Season 2025 begins
Waad Hussain
October 30, 2025
DHAHRAN: Khobar Season 2025 kicked off in style on Wednesday at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra.
A vibrant celebration bringing together media professionals, artists and families under the Dhahran night sky, “Winter is Alive at Ithra” combined the center’s annual media gathering with the opening ceremony of the new season.
The event represented a renewed effort to position the Eastern Province as a year-round cultural destination, with concerts, immersive installations, workshops and local food experiences running until April 2026.
“Every year, Ithra manages to surprise us with something new,” said Sarah Al-Abdullah, an English teacher who attended. “This season feels especially dynamic because it’s not just about entertainment, it’s about inspiring people to explore and create.”
The night opened with a spectacular show of lights and drones that illuminated Ithra’s structure with the “Winter is Alive” slogan.
Crowds gathered around the Knowledge Oasis to enjoy a mix of the traditional and the modern, from oud performances to digital art projections.
Ithra has long served as a cultural bridge between art, science and technology. Its seasonal programs attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and this year’s edition carries on that mission with a focus on accessibility and family engagement.
Content creator and frequent visitor Haneen Al-Ghamdi said the experience had more than just visual appeal.
“There’s something special about how Ithra curates its events,” she said. “You walk in expecting a show, but you end up learning something new, whether it’s about art, culture or even yourself. The workshops and interactive areas make you feel part of the story.”
The event also highlighted the center’s ongoing collaboration with local and regional partners as part of its strategy to nurture homegrown talent and strengthen the creative economy.
Programs like the Family Studio, Youth Studio and Winter Souq offered spaces where artists and entrepreneurs could connect directly with the community.
Mohammed Al-Otaibi, an attendee from Dammam, said: “It’s amazing to see so many people from different backgrounds coming together. Ithra has turned into a symbol of what Vision 2030 looks like on the ground. Creative, confident and open to the world.”
The annual media gathering preceding the launch served as a gesture of appreciation to journalists and broadcasters for their role in promoting Saudi culture.
Ithra’s representatives emphasized that media remained a key partner in advancing the Kingdom’s cultural narrative, echoing national efforts to strengthen creative industries and cultural communication.
Throughout the evening, guests were invited to explore the newly opened areas and upcoming attractions of Khobar Season 2025, which will continue over the coming months with performances, exhibitions and culinary events across the region.
In addition to Winter is Alive at Ithra, Khobar Season will feature outdoor installations and cross-disciplinary collaborations linking technology, sustainability, and heritage. Organizers say the goal is to make the Eastern Province a permanent fixture on Saudi Arabia’s cultural calendar.
“The beauty of this event is how it connects past and future,” added Al-Abdullah. “You see oud players and drone shows in the same frame. That’s the story of Saudi Arabia right now. It’s harmony between tradition and innovation.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620873/saudi-arabia
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South Asia
Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Continue Ceasefire Talks in Istanbul After No Breakthrough in Latest Round
By Fidel Rahmati
October 31, 2025
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to maintain their ceasefire and resume peace talks in Istanbul on November 6, aiming to establish a joint monitoring mechanism.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a broad understanding to continue the current ceasefire and resume discussions on maintaining peace mechanisms, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced late Thursday. The statement came after five days of negotiations between the two delegations in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed to reconvene in Istanbul on November 6 for a third round of high-level talks. Senior officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to attend the meeting, which will focus on establishing a formal verification and monitoring system to preserve the truce.
The second round of negotiations, held from October 25 to 30, ended without a concrete agreement. However, all parties reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the ceasefire that was initially discussed in Doha earlier this year, where defence officials from both sides expressed support for de-escalation along the border.
A key sticking point remains Pakistan’s claim that militants from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are operating from Afghanistan territory. Afghan representatives have strongly denied the allegations, insisting that the issue is an “internal matter” for Pakistan. In contrast, Islamabad has warned that continued cross-border attacks could provoke a “decisive response.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said both sides also agreed to create a joint monitoring and accountability mechanism to ensure compliance with the ceasefire. The mechanism, it added, would include legal measures against any party found violating the agreement.
In a separate statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Istanbul discussions were “complex but constructive” and concluded with an agreement to meet again to address unresolved issues. He reiterated Kabul’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan.
Analysts said the outcome marks a cautious but important step toward dialogue amid months of cross-border tension. The upcoming Istanbul round, they noted, will test both governments’ willingness to transform ceasefire pledges into a durable peace framework.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-and-afghanistan-agree-to-continue-ceasefire-talks-in-istanbul-after-no-breakthrough-in-latest-round/
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BNP, Jamaat’s pointless debate fuelling election uncertainty: NCP
Oct 31, 2025
The National Citizen Party yesterday censured both the BNP and Jamaat for their irrelevant debate on the implementation of the July charter, which eventually derailed the process and created uncertainty over the February polls.
"Whether the referendum will happen before or after, this is a pointless argument between Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP -- we [NCP] will not be involved in this debate," said Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of NCP, at a programme titled 'Current and Future Political Pathways' at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Jamaat may eventually unite with BNP on the issue of the referendum, he said, while urging both parties to set aside all issues and instead focus on strengthening the Election Commission.
Patwary also demanded that the draft recommendations of the National Consensus Commission be made public, reports UNB.
"The ball is now in Dr Yunus's court. Since he is considered an international-level player, it is often said that foreign players tend to slip when playing in Bangladesh because the field is slippery here. But in this slippery field, our Law Adviser adds even more oil. He only wants politicians to slip," he added.
At another seminar organised by NCP's youth wing, Jatiyo Juboshokti, Patwary said: "We still have not found a solution to the recommendations of the July Charter -- we have not found a solution to the proposals, nor have we found a solution regarding the order."
Jamaat has brought up the issue of the referendum again.
"If you are asking for the referendum question or the date to be set before the election, is it to gain more seats, or is there another reason?"
If the referendum happens and the answer is 'yes', it will be a victory for the people of Bangladesh and not for Jamaat-e-Islami.
"Therefore, we call on Jamaat-e-Islami to stop the pretence," he said at the seminar titled 'Implementation of the July Charter and the National Election Path'.
The NCP wants the referendum but is not rigid about holding it in November as long as the July Charter is given legal basis by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
When the nation is in crisis, Jamaat and the BNP are jointly taking the country into uncertainty over the proportional representation in the lower house of the parliament and the notes of dissent on the July charter, respectively, he said.
"We call on Jamaat not to create panic in the public over the referendum. Instead, we should focus on how we can reach a solution regarding the dissent process, how orders can be issued."
The BNP no longer has the option to say 'no' to the implementation of the July Charter.
"They have agreed to the marriage and signed the marriage contract. Now they have no opportunity to say 'no'. They should have thought about this earlier."
Patwary also accused the BNP of attempting to bring back the Awami League through the National Consensus Commission.
"The people have blocked that attempt. Now, a new phase has emerged with the Jatiya Party. The people will not spare the Jatiya Party either. The BNP should never imagine bringing the Awami League and the Jatiya Party back into parliament."
The BNP's 'note of dissent' through the National Consensus Commission is actually a "note of cheating".
"They wanted to deceive the 180 million people of the country. The country's unemployed youth needed jobs, and that is why the people's revolution occurred."
The BNP has given a 'note of dissent' over the Public Service Commission (PSC) as they have to provide jobs to the supporters of their party.
A neutral PSC is the demand of the student community, he said.
If the government fails to hold the national elections by February and the country moves towards a civil war, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus must take responsibility, Patwary said.
He called on the EC to stop its games over the Shapla symbol.
"If these games do not stop, we may be forced to protest at the Election Commission and demand your resignation through democratic means."
He went to urge the government to "relieve Bangladesh from the uncertainty the BNP is trying to create".
"We want to move quickly into the election phase. If the elections do not happen soon, there will be delays. If delayed, the BNP and Awami League will again try to hold elections. We will not allow the BNP's dream to be realised in Bangladesh."
If the government publishes the bill on the July Charter in front of the people, the NCP will sign it on the spot.
"If the government publishes the bill and the orders, the people will review and judge it, and then we will sign it. We don't want to sign anything while the people are kept in the dark," Patwary added.
Samanta Sharmin, senior joint convener of the NCP, echoed the party's concerns about the EC and the Shapla symbol issue.
"We have always asked for the 'Shapla' symbol as our party symbol. But the EC has gazetted 'Shapla Koli' without any legal explanation. The EC's position is creating confusion."
If 'Shapla Koli' can be included, 'Shapla' could have been granted as well.
"But the EC's actions show that they didn't give us what we asked for. They have created a position that we, the NCP, are still 'too small'. The EC has complied with this narrative, which is unacceptable."
Fair elections will not be possible in Bangladesh until the EC is reformed.
While there has been a lot of talk about the implementation of the July Charter, there is no concrete roadmap for its implementation, said Tasnim Jara, NCP senior joint member secretary.
"Politics will not continue as it was before -- the country has changed."
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bnp-jamaats-pointless-debate-fuelling-election-uncertainty-ncp-4023516
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Issue order to implement July charter by today: Jamaat
Oct 31, 2025
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has urged the government to issue the implementation order for the July National Charter by today.
"We want to see the full implementation of the consensus commission's proposals on state reform. So, it'd be ideal if the government issued the order tonight [Thursday night]. If that doesn't happen, there must be no delay in issuing it tomorrow [Friday]," said Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher during a press conference at its central office yesterday.
He warned that a delay could erode public trust in the interim government.
The Jamaat leader said a referendum must be held following the issuance of the July charter implementation order. "Any delay in holding the referendum will also delay the national election."
Taher said Jamaat does not want any confusion over its stance on when the national election should be held. "We think February is the best time to hold the election."
He also said the referendum must be held before the national election. "Because if the national election and referendum are held on the same day, voters will be too busy with the national election and forget about the referendum.
"We strongly urge the interim government to act without delay -- issue the implementation order, declare the referendum date, and begin preparations for the February election."
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/issue-order-implement-july-charter-today-jamaat-4023506
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Pakistan cannot solve its problems with Afghanistan through threats: Fazlur Rehman
October 31, 2025
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, says that Islamabad cannot resolve its security issues with Afghanistan through threats.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the veteran politician stated that if Pakistan is unwilling to compromise on its own sovereignty, it must also respect Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.
He added, “The two brotherly Islamic countries should build good relations based on the principle of equality.”
Referring to the recent visit of the Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Minister to India, Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan should review its policy toward Afghanistan to avoid creating a major problem.
In a separate gathering, he criticized Pakistan’s military strategy, saying that the army’s main problem is that it both fights and negotiates at the same time.
He said, “One who fights cannot negotiate, and one who negotiates cannot fight. Leave this matter to us — we succeeded in the past, and we will succeed again.”
Pakistan, which claims that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, carried out airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika provinces about three weeks ago, leading to deadly clashes between the two sides.
The Islamic Emirate has denied the presence of TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Source: ariananews.af
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https://www.ariananews.af/pakistan-cannot-solve-its-problems-with-afghanistan-through-threats-fazlur-rehman/
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BML provides financing for two of gov’t’s largest Waqf projects
31 Oct 2025
Zunana Zalif
The Bank of Maldives (BML) has signed an agreement to provide Islamic Real Estate Financing for the two largest Waqf projects in the country, Dhaarussalaam and Dhaarul Arqam, to be undertaken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The agreement was signed at a special ceremony held Thursday morning at the Islamic Center’s convention hall. Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed signed on behalf of the ministry, while BML CEO and Managing Director Mohamed Shareef signed on behalf of the bank.
Through this partnership, BML Islamic will provide MVR 350 million in financing under Islamic principles for the development of the two Waqf buildings. The Dhaarussalaam project, a 12-storey development in Hulhumalé, and the Dhaarul Arqam project, a 12-storey development in Malé City, are the largest initiatives planned in the Islamic sector to date.
The Islamic Ministry has stated that both projects are expected to be completed within the next two years and will contribute significantly to national religious and social development.
BML’s involvement marks a major step forward in the expansion of Islamic finance in the Maldives and underscores the bank’s commitment to supporting projects that benefit the public and promote national development.
In addition to these initiatives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced plans to construct a Waqf building dedicated to the Holy Quran in Malé City and to launch similar Waqf projects in Addu, Fuvahmulah, Thinadhoo, Kulhudhuffushi, and GA. Villingili.
Source: raajje.mv
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https://raajje.mv/172630
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Europe
Burnley mosque in minaret bid to 'boost building's Islamic identity'
Bill Jacobs
31 Oct 2025
A Burnley mosque wants to add a minaret to boost the buildings Islamic identity.
Daneshouse Islamic Education Centre has applied for planning permission for the enhancement to the Daneshouse Masjid.
It also wants to cerate an additional floor at the place of worship at 53A Daneshouse Road Burnley.
A supporting statement submitted to Burnley Council says: “This report is in relation to an application for ‘alterations to roof form to create additional floor and addition of minaret’ at Daneshouse Masjid, 53A Daneshouse Rd, Burnley.
“The application site is approximately 494 square metres.
“It is currently a mosque and community centre to the lower ground floor and classrooms above.
“The property is located on a brownfield site with a collection of buildings of varied heights.
“On Daneshouse Road the main elevation of the mosque building extends one storey, with two-torey building to the west.
“To the North of the site the rear of the mosque is accessed at lower ground floor level.
“The proposal seeks to alter the roof form of the lower ground floor to the rear to accommodate an additional storey within the existing building.
“This will enable the mosque and education uses to be separated, thereby enhancing safeguarding arrangements and accessibility.
“The proposal also seeks to incorporate a minaret to the principal elevation, reinforcing the building’s identity as a mosque whilst remaining sensitive to the wider street scene.
“The design integrates harmoniously with the host property as the scheme uses natural coursed stone, roof tiling to match and glazing elements to complement the existing building.
“The minaret will be introduced to the front elevation to enhance the identity of the mosque.
“The introduction of the minaret is a recognised architectural feature of Islamic places of worship.
“Its inclusion strengthens the cultural and religious identity of the building, giving clear expression to its communal function while remaining respectful to the surrounding streetscape.
There will be no significant alterations to the elevation fronting Daneshouse Road, minimising impact upon visual amenity and ensuring the preservation of the character of the building.
“The only elevation change to the street-facing façade is the introduction of the minaret.
“The minaret will be constructed out of Corten.
“The use of Corten has been inspired by the Burnley College and University of Central Lancashire facades.
“The use of Corten is a staple of educational complexes within the town and will be a key change to the principal elevation, linking our building to other educational establishments.
“The proposal represents a sensitive and high-quality enhancement to an established mosque and community facility.”
Source: lancs.live
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Reform's Audrey Dempsey criticised over migrant 'sharia law' claims
Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
31 Oct 2025
A Reform councillor's claim that asylum seekers are seeking to bring 'sharia law' to Scotland has been batted down as 'ludicrous and absurd'.
Audrey Dempsey, who represents Springburn and Robroyston on Glasgow City Council, joined Reform in August.
Speaking at a Glasgow branch meeting, Dempsey said that some migrants and asylum seekers were 'trying to inflict their culture on other people here'.
The ex-Labour councillor, who quit the party last year after claiming that white people in Glasgow were the victim of 'racist attacks', told Sky News, who had been granted access to the meeting:
"If migrants were arriving in the country, and they were fitting in with our culture and values and learning our way of life then that would be more than welcome.
She added: "Well, instead of trying to inflict their culture on other people here like Sharia law. They are trying to bring that here."
Asked to clarify who she believed was introducing Sharia law, Dempsey told the broadcaster: "The asylum seekers. Some of the asylum seekers. The legal migrants.
"Do you not have conversations in the street," she said. "You just have to take a walk through Glasgow city centre on any given day."
Sharia law refers to the Islamic legal system, which is derived from the Quran, Islam's holy book, as well as other texts.
Dempsey said there were "stacks of evidence online" backing up her claims.
Reacting to Dempsey's comments, First Minister John Swinney told the PA news agency: "This is the danger of where we are just now, that absolutely ludicrous, absurd and divisive comments have been made by the far-right that have the risk of undermining community cohesion in Scotland.
“Scotland has been a welcoming country, is a welcoming country, where we attach the greatest significance to cohesion within our communities.
Source: heraldscotland.com
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Sharia law isn’t taking over Britain – it’s an inevitable legacy of its colonial legal history
October 30, 2025
Every few years, a familiar anxiety resurfaces in British public discourse: that sharia law is establishing a parallel legal system and threatening the sovereignty of English law. Those fears were reignited following Donald Trump’s recent speech to the UN, where he claimed that London wants “to go to sharia law”.
Such claims ignore two realities. First, that the English legal system is adaptive and capable of accommodating diversity. And second, that having multiple legal systems is – far from undermining British law – an inevitable legacy of Britain’s colonial history. Looking to that history, it should be no surprise that it is a feature of modern, multicultural Britain.
My research shows how British colonial administrators deliberately designed plural legal systems to sustain imperial rule. The colonial state recognised that it could not rule diverse populations by imposing English law on multicultural societies.
In northern Nigeria, this approach became a defining feature of colonial governance. English law operated alongside Islamic courts, which handled family disputes and aspects of land tenure. Allowing limited autonomy for Africans under sharia was both a pragmatic and political strategy. It maintained local legitimacy while ensuring that English law remained supreme in cases of conflict.
A similar arrangement existed in British India. This legacy continues to shape how law functions in postcolonial, multicultural Britain today.
How sharia operates in Britain today
There is no separate sharia legal system in the UK. What exist are sharia councils and the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal. The sharia councils have no statutory authority under English law. They may be used to resolve personal disputes such as marriage, divorce and inheritance.
The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, in existence since the early 2000s, operates under the Arbitration Act 1996. This law allows private arbitration between consenting adults in civil disputes. But such tribunals must operate within the boundaries of English law.
Sharia councils have a slightly longer history, dating back to the 1980s. Their number and activities are difficult to track: in 2009, rightwing thinktank Civitas approximated at least 85, while a 2012 study by a researcher at the University of Reading identified 30.
No comprehensive survey has been conducted since, leaving the exact number uncertain. This lack of official oversight fuels the perception that the councils pose a challenge to Britain’s legal sovereignty.
But, as a 2018 Home Office review confirmed, sharia councils hold no legal jurisdiction in England and Wales.
The review did acknowledge concerns raised by women’s rights groups about gender inequality and lack of representation of women in some councils. It concluded that these issues called for better regulation and oversight, and that the “state would be justified in intervening” in bad practices by sharia councils that disadvantage women.
It also found that public fears are fuelled by misleading terms, used in both the media and sometimes by councils themselves. For example, referring to the councils as “courts” and their members as “judges” reinforces misconceptions about the existence of a parallel legal system.
Multifaith Britain and the law
English law is capable of accommodating and regulating diverse legal practices without losing its sovereignty. Besides sharia councils, other faith-based arbitration bodies exist in Britain.
The Beth Din courts, for example, serve the Jewish community, offering guidance on issues of marriage and divorce. While they cannot compel a divorce, they can encourage or persuade a husband to grant a religious divorce certificate.
The Roman Catholic Church, which complies with the Marriage Act 1949, operates its own tribunals to consider annulments under canon law. None of these institutions undermine the authority of English courts.
The same applies to sharia councils. Participation is voluntary: individuals choose to use these forums, often to resolve family or inheritance matters in line with their faith. English civil courts remain fully available to them.
Following concerns about the protection of women’s rights in the councils, the 2018 Home Office review recommended stronger safeguards. These include requiring civil registration of marriages, greater transparency in decision-making, and education about legal rights.
The review found that nearly all users of the sharia councils were women, with over 90% seeking an Islamic divorce. Many were unable to obtain a civil divorce because their marriages had never been registered under English law, leaving them without legal recourse in the civil legal system.
The review stressed that its proposed safeguards were designed to protect vulnerable women, rather than suppress or prohibit sharia councils from operating. This recognises that the demand for religious divorce will continue regardless of sharia prohibition.
The UK government accepted the review’s findings but has not established a regulatory body. This suggests that most safeguards are currently dependent on voluntary good practice within the councils.
Postcolonial legal pluralism
In a postcolonial, multifaith society like Britain, legal pluralism is not a sign of a fragmented legal sovereignty – it’s an acknowledgement of social reality. The persistence of sharia in modern Britain reflects a society still negotiating how to govern cultural and religious difference through law, as the empire once did.
Other postcolonial societies have accepted this. In India, different personal law systems for Hindus, Muslims and Christians coexist under one constitution. There is an ongoing debate in the country about how to balance faith-based identity with the rights guaranteed by the secular state.
The same question now faces Britain. The challenge is not whether to recognise the arbitrating powers of sharia councils, but how to regulate them fairly – ensuring that every citizen, regardless of faith, can exercise their rights within the boundaries of English law.
Source: theconversation.com
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https://theconversation.com/sharia-law-isnt-taking-over-britain-its-an-inevitable-legacy-of-its-colonial-legal-history-267262
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Six decades of Nostra Aetate: Azerbaijani top cleric joins Vatican celebration
30 October 2025
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board (CMB) Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazada participated in the event “Walking Together in Hope,” a special ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue.
The event, held at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, brought together religious leaders, diplomats, and interfaith advocates to reflect on the progress made in fostering dialogue and mutual understanding among religions, Caliber.Az reports per local media.
The ceremony featured speeches from Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. Pope Leo XIV also addressed the audience, emphasising the importance of building deeper relationships between the Catholic Church and followers of other faiths, particularly Islam.
In his remarks, the Pope thanked all those who have worked toward strengthening interreligious dialogue, pointing to the historic Document on Human Fraternity signed in 2019 by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb. He also called on people worldwide to stand against violence and injustice, and to continue efforts in promoting peace and unity.
The event was attended by approximately two thousand people, including religious leaders from various faiths, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
The ongoing work of Nostra Aetate was acknowledged for its pivotal role in shaping the Catholic Church’s relations with non-Christian religions, setting the stage for broader collaboration and understanding across faiths.
Source: caliber.az
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UK’s Prince Andrew stripped of titles and evicted from royal residence
31 Oct, 2025
Britain’s King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence due to sexual assault allegations and his close friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the royal family, from now on, the former prince will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and must vacate the Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle, where he has lived for more than 20 years. Andrew, who surrendered his use of the title Duke of York earlier this month, will move to “alternative private accommodation,” Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” the statement said.
According to the BBC, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne, despite losing his titles.
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with US activist Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that he had raped her three times in 2001, when she was 17 years old. Giuffre, who committed suicide in April, claimed that Epstein and his girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, had trafficked her to the royal. Andrew maintains that the alleged incidents “never happened” and insists that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes when he hosted him and Maxwell at Royal Lodge in 2006.
Interest in the Epstein case was reignited earlier this year when US government agencies said they had found no evidence of foul play in his 2019 death in a Manhattan jail, which was ruled a suicide. Officials also denied that the disgraced financier had kept a list of the wealthy people he allegedly trafficked women to. Giuffre’s memoirs were posthumously released in October, bringing renewed attention to Andrew’s ties to Epstein.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/627172-king-charles-evicts-andrew/
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Southeast Asia
Selangor Sultan presents instruments of appointment to Shariah judges, state Islamic institution members
30 Oct 2025
SHAH ALAM, Oct 30 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, today presented instruments of appointment to 17 individuals for roles in the state’s Islamic institutions in a ceremony at Istana Bukit Kayangan here.
At the ceremony, Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin received her instrument of appointment as Syarie Chief Judge, Datuk Mohd Radzi Abd Latif was made a permanent panel member of the Syariah Appeal Court Judges, and Salwani Khalid assumed the post of Chief Registrar of the Selangor Syariah Court of Appeal.
Also receiving their instruments of appointment at the ceremony were Muhammad Amir Firdaus Sidin, Mohd Amir Yahaya, Norul Aina Bahari and Ahmad Faizul Ashar, who were appointed Selangor Syariah Lower Court Judges.
Norhazli Rahim took up the role of Deputy Registrar of the Selangor Syariah High Court, while Nurun Nabilah Ahmad Jaril, Mohamad Nasrin Kasnan, Nur Hani Athirah Zainal Bahari and Nur Kamilah Mohamad Soleh were made Assistant Registrars of the Syariah Lower Court.
Mohd Raizalani Mohd Rais received the instrument of appointment as Chief Registrar, while Mohammad Azli Ab Rahman was appointed Senior Registrar of Marriage, Divorce and Referral.
Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini was appointed Secretary of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), effective July, 16, 2025, replacing Dr Haji Ahmad Shahir Makhtar, and also received an instrument of appointment as a member of the Lembaga Zakat Selangor’s Board of Trustees for the 2024-2026 term.
Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed and Mohamed Izam Mohamed Yusof received their instruments of appointment as members of the Board of Directors of the Selangor Wakaf Corporation. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar: Apec leaders’ praise highlights Malaysia’s leadership capabilities
31 Oct 2025
GYEONGJU (South Korea), Oct 31 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the congratulatory messages from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders for Malaysia’s successful hosting of the recent 47th Asean Summit underscore the country’s ability to lead with wisdom and determination.
He received the commendations during an informal meeting with leaders on the sidelines of the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM).
“I had the opportunity to have a casual meeting with fellow leaders. We exchanged views on various current and regional issues, including efforts to strengthen a more equitable and resilient economic cooperation, in a warm and friendly atmosphere,” Anwar said in a statement here.
Earlier, Anwar was welcomed by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who greeted all Apec economic leaders, followed by a photo session.
Among the Apec leaders present at the AELM were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
Malaysia is one of Apec’s 12 founding member countries along with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the US.
Apec comprises 21 economies, encompassing nearly three billion people, 62 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), and 48 per cent of world trade as of 2021. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Thousands of Islamic School Teachers Protest in Jakarta for Equal Status and Pay
Hendrik Yaputra
October 30, 2025
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of teachers marched from the National Monument (Monas) to the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue in Central Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, demanding equal treatment and permanent employment status from the Indonesian government.
The protesters, representing the National Movement Against Teacher Discrimination, urged President Prabowo Subianto to grant Government Employee with Work Agreement (PPPK) status to private Islamic school (madrasah) teachers.
“We have around 27,000 teachers gathered here today with one main demand — to meet the President,” said movement representative Muhammad Zein at the State Secretariat Office in Jakarta.
The teachers submitted their demands to Deputy State Secretary Juri Ardiantoro, as President Prabowo was unable to meet them due to his departure for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea.
“We wanted to meet the President, but he isn’t here,” Zein said.
Accusations of Discrimination
He explained that many private madrasah teachers have devoted decades of service but continue to face what they describe as discrimination from the state. Zein compared their treatment to that of honorary teachers in public schools, who have been granted opportunities for PPPK appointment.
“Private madrasah teachers deserve the same right to be appointed as PPPK, just like honorary teachers in public schools,” he said.
Zein and his colleagues expressed hope that Prabowo would meet with them soon and issue affirmative policies for private madrasah teachers. “Without PPPK recognition, discrimination between public schools and madrasahs will persist,” he added.
Although they could not meet Prabowo directly, Zein said that Juri Ardiantoro had promised to deliver their message to the President.
Madrasah Teachers Outnumber Honorary Teachers
Heri Purnama, chair of the National Indonesian Madrasah Teachers Association (PGMNI), said the number of private madrasah teachers is significantly higher than that of honorary teachers in public schools — a condition that has remained unchanged for decades.
“We haven’t found any other way to improve the welfare of madrasah teachers,” Heri said.
He noted that private madrasah teachers had already held discussions with the House of Representatives’ Commission X, Commission XIII, and the Legislative Body (Baleg). Meeting with the President, he said, was their final step.
“All teachers are united in their message: President Prabowo, please improve the welfare of madrasah teachers and treat them as equally as other educators,” Heri said.
Awaiting Presidential Response
While he believes in Prabowo’s commitment to improving education quality, Heri said that madrasah educators have yet to feel its impact. “We haven’t seen that commitment extended to Islamic education,” he said.
He also suggested that Prabowo should have prioritized meeting the teachers over attending the APEC Summit, but added that they remain patient.
“We hope that within the next week, there will be good news for madrasah teachers,” Heri said.
State Secretariat’s Response
At the same event, Deputy State Secretary for Political, Legal, Defense, and Security Affairs Juri Ardiantoro clarified that the President did not refuse to meet the teachers but was unable to due to his travel schedule.
“It’s not that the President didn’t want to meet them. He was simply not available,” Juri said.
He emphasized that Prabowo’s commitment to education remains strong, ensuring that no Indonesian child is left behind, whether in public schools, madrasahs, or religious institutions.
“President Prabowo is committed to improving all educational facilities and services,” Juri said, citing initiatives such as Sekolah Rakyat (People's School), Sekolah Garuda (Garuda School), and nationwide school renovation programs.
He added that the government would relay the teachers’ demands to Prabowo. “We can’t make immediate decisions today, as this issue involves many parties and requires further discussion,” he said.
Source: tempo.co
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https://en.tempo.co/read/2061661/thousands-of-islamic-school-teachers-protest-in-jakarta-for-equal-status-and-pay
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Automatic Haj eligibility for those aged 60 and above under study, says Tabung Haji
31 Oct 2025
SEPANG, Oct 31 — Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) will study a proposal for individuals aged 60 and above to be automatically eligible to perform the Haj under the muassasah package.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said TH is currently maintaining the “first come, first served” policy in determining the order of Haj pilgrims.
“The current policy is that whoever registers first will be given priority. However, I understand the issue concerning age, and God willing, the proposal will be discussed and considered by TH,” he told reporters after attending the 1447H/2026M Haj Pilgrimage Organisers’ Licence handover ceremony here yesterday.
Yesterday, several MPs proposed that senior citizens aged 60 and above be granted automatic approval to perform the Haj through the muassasah package without having to make an appeal or pay the full cost of RM33,300.
When asked to comment on the stricter health requirements set by the Saudi Arabian government for the upcoming Haj season, Mohd Na’im said the measure aims to safeguard the welfare of pilgrims throughout the performance of the fifth pillar of Islam.
He advised prospective pilgrims who receive offers to perform the Haj for the 1447H/2026M season to ensure they are in good health in order to pass the mandatory medical examination.
“So, I think what those intending to perform the Haj next year need to do is to start maintaining their health from now, so that when the examination is carried out, they can pass the screening. That is what we hope for. But if they fail, perhaps it is because Allah has determined a different opportunity for them,” he said.
According to TH, senior citizens make up eight per cent of the more than four million individuals registered to perform the Haj. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia to deepen strategic ties with US to bolster regional stability, says Anwar
31 Oct 2025
GYEONGJU (South Korea), Oct 31 — Malaysia will continue to strengthen its strategic ties with the United States (US) on the principles of openness, equitability and mutual respect to ensure regional and global stability, prosperity and peace, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a statement after his bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent here, Anwar said Bessent expressed his appreciation to Malaysia for the warm hospitality extended to President Donald Trump and the US delegation during their recent visit to Kuala Lumpur.
“Our meeting today continued the positive momentum of the close ties forged during the 47th Asean Summit, and it provided an opportunity to discuss various aspects of trade and financial relations between Malaysia and the US.
“Focus was also given to strengthening bilateral economic linkages, including the shared commitment between the US Treasury and Bank Negara Malaysia to ensure a resilient foreign exchange policy framework, financial market stability, and transparent and accountable governance,” Anwar said.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) today.
The prime minister also reiterated his appreciation to Trump for his visit, which he said reflected the US administration’s strong commitment to fostering a constructive and mutually respectful as well as beneficial bilateral relationship.
“I appreciate his role and contribution in strengthening global economic cooperation, as well as efforts to expand inclusive investment, trade and peace networks, based on dialogues, fairness and mutual understanding,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/alarm-sharia-federal-capital-territory-nigeria/d/137467