New
Age Islam News Bureau
20 September 2020
Members of the Taliban delegation are seen at the opening session of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 12, 2020.
-----
•
• Birmingham: Hannah Keeling, Who Converted to Islam,
Knows First-Hand What Racism and Islamophobia Looks Like
• Activists Protest In New York Against Saudi-Led
Aggression, Blockade Imposed On Yemen
• Iran Calls US Attempt To ‘Snapback’ Sanctions ‘Null
and Void’, Urges UN To Block It
• Islamic State Takes Over Resort Islands in The
Indian Ocean
• Nigerian Islamic Bank Jaiz Targets N5.41b Gross
Income In Q4
• Sherry Rehman Urges Govt To Take Notice of Anti-Shia
Rallies, Act Against Banned Outfits
South Asia
•
• Tens of Thousands Attend, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, Hefazat-e-Islam
Leader's Funeral
• Narayanganj mosque blast death toll hits 33
• ‘A Unified Islamic Republic Will be a Better
Position to Negotiate and Represent Views of Afghan People
• Over 30 Taliban killed in Afghan air strikes
--------
Europe
• Birmingham: Hannah Keeling, Who Converted to Islam,
Knows First-Hand What Racism and Islamophobia Looks Like
• Increase in Muslims Finding Love Online During
Lockdown
• Islam still faces obstacles on path to be part of
Germany
• Britain, France, Germany tells UNSC Iran sanctions
relief to continue beyond Sep. 20
• Islamic Finance In The Global Digital Economy
-------
North America
• Activists Protest In New York Against Saudi-Led
Aggression, Blockade Imposed On Yemen
• Trump Says Kuwait May Soon Normalize Ties with
Israel
• Members of Toronto Mosque Call for Murder of
Volunteer to Be Investigated as Hate Crime
• Hate-filled social media posts key to Rexdale mosque
murder?
• Trump's choice of top judge may sway election
--------
Mideast
• Iran Calls US Attempt To ‘Snapback’ Sanctions ‘Null
and Void’, Urges UN To Block It
• Iran Says No Need for European Arms, Will Buy
Weapons from Russia, China
• UN chief says will take no action on US 'snapback'
push against Iran
• Evacuating Incirlik airbase could mark end to
US-Turkey alliance
• IAEA will make no further demand after inspection of
two Iranian sites: Nuclear chief
-------
Arab world
• Islamic State Takes Over Resort Islands in The
Indian Ocean
• Taif Agreement Ensured Shia Governmental Partnership
through Finance Portfolio & Binding
• Sharjah Islamic Bank wins Sukuk Deal of the Year 2020
Award
• Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns Houthi
attack on Khamis Mushayt
• Blessing in disguise: How pandemic was a catalyst
for Saudi SMEs to change
• Six soldiers killed in an attack attributed to the
Islamic State in eastern Syria
--------
Africa
• Nigerian Islamic Bank Jaiz Targets N5.41b Gross
Income In Q4
• Muslims in Lagos State Told to Be Good Ambassadors
of Islam
• Ten Chad soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush
• Boko Haram destroys 47,615 houses, health centres,
others in Borno
--------
Pakistan
• Sherry Rehman Urges Govt To Take Notice of Anti-Shia
Rallies, Act Against Banned Outfits
• BankIslami wins Brand of the Year Award 2019 for
Islamic Banking
• ‘Hasty decision’ of closure mars education, says
minister
• Opposition moot to devise anti-govt strategy today
• Tareen tells FIA he’ll appear on return from UK
-------
Southeast Asia
• Muslim Patani Longs For Peace, Freedom In Thailand
• Twenty Malaysian tabligh members return from India
• PM Muhyiddin's promise of a snap election during
Covid-19 irresponsible, says Guan Eng
• Bersatu denies sanctioning ‘Perikatan-friendly’
independents in Sabah poll
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
------
'Islamic System' of Government in Afghanistan - Taliban Clears Its Point in the America Brokered Inter-Afghan Talk
By Ayaz Gul
September 19, 2020
Members of
the Taliban delegation are seen at the opening session of peace talks between
the Afghan government and the Taliban, in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 12, 2020.
-----
ISLAMABAD - Delegates of Afghanistan’s government and
the Taliban continue finalizing “rules of negotiations” for a power-sharing deal
a week after the two foes launched their historic U.S.-brokered direct peace
dialogue.
Meanwhile, battlefield hostilities between Afghan
forces and Taliban insurgents continued to inflict heavy casualties on both
sides and deepen a mutual trust deficit at the negotiating table.
Airstrikes carried out by Afghan forces against
Taliban positions in northeastern Kunduz province Saturday reportedly killed at
least 12 civilians and injured 10 others. Defense ministry officials said the
attack killed more than 40 insurgents and that investigations into reports of
civilian casualties were underway.
A Taliban statement said the airstrikes killed 23
civilians, including women and children, and injured 17 others. It was not
immediately possible to verify claims made by either side.
The insurgents have rejected calls for a cease-fire
until they negotiate a broader political deal over the future of Afghanistan in
the dialogue being hosted by Qatar.
The two negotiating teams have held daily meetings but
have shared few details about the intra-Afghan dialogue that began September 12
in Doha, the Qatari capital.
In a weekly commentary published Saturday, the Taliban
insisted they have, from the outset, called for the establishment of an
“Islamic system” of governance in Afghanistan to be a “focal point of
discussions."
The radical group asserted it “believes” the Islamic
system could only bring peace and solve problems facing Afghanistan, including
corruption and other crimes.
The Taliban denounce the existing Afghan ruling system
as illegal and a product of what they call America’s occupation of the country.
The Afghan government vehemently defends the political
system as "fully Islamic” and has vowed not to compromise on it in the
discussions with the insurgent interlocutors.
The peace negotiations in Doha are an outcome of the
deal the U.S. signed with the Taliban in February to withdraw about 8,600
American troops remaining in the country by May 2021 and close out America’s
longest war.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump described the
Taliban as “tough” and “smart," saying his administration was dealing well
with the insurgents.
“We’ll be down very shortly over the next couple of
weeks to 4,000 — less than 4,000 [service members] in Afghanistan. And then
we’ll make that final determination a little bit later on,” Trump told
reporters.
“We’re dealing very well with the Taliban. They’re
very tough, they’re very smart, they’re very sharp. … So, we’re having some
very good discussions with the Taliban, as you probably heard. … And so, we’ll
be out of there, knowing that certain things have to happen — certain things
have to be fulfilled,” Trump underscored.
A U.S.-led foreign military alliance invaded
Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban from power days after the September 11,
2001, terror strikes on the U.S. that al-Qaida leaders orchestrated from their
Afghan sanctuaries.
Trump is seeking re-election November 3, and
eliminating what he often denounces as America’s “endless war” in Afghanistan
has been a key campaign promise.
The Afghan war has cost Washington the lives of more
than 2,400 U.S. service members and hundreds of billions of dollars.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this week
cautioned that intra-Afghan negotiations would be a “difficult” process, but
would help reduce the cost of war for the U.S.
A recent survey by the nonprofit Eurasia Group
Foundation found strong public support among Republican and Democratic voters
for Trump administration-backed peace talks to end the 19-year-old U.S. war in Afghanistan.
The U.S.-Taliban pact binds the insurgents to disallow
international terrorism from Afghan soil and engage in peace talks with rival
Afghan factions to end the deadly conflict.
https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/taliban-want-islamic-system-government-focal-point-afghan-talks
--------
Birmingham: Hannah Keeling, Who Converted to Islam,
Knows First-Hand What Racism and Islamophobia Looks Like
By Rakeem Hyatt
20 SEP 2020
Hannah
Keeling (Image: Hannah Keeling)
-----
Hannah Keeling, 23, from Hall Green knows first-hand
what racism and Islamophobia looks like. Growing up in Tamworth she says she
has witnessed a lifetime of racial slurs and xenophobia since primary school
from those around her.
Ever since she has been met with a barrage of hate
filled comments, she has been forced to keep her faith private on her own
social media.
Hannah has now gone a week eating like a Syrian
migrant in a Jordan refugee camp to show how we're all equal human beings. And
with her newfound faith Hannah wants to shut down religious ignorance
everywhere in Birmingham.
"I was talking about housing with a lady outside
her workplace. A woman with a Niqab walked past and the lady just said: 'that's
why we have no homes, our people are on the streets'.
"Tamworth isn't nice as it is made it to
be," she said. "I don't think anyone should wear a Niqab in Tamworth
but I don't think anyone would want to wear it.
Birmingham has seen thousands of deaths as a result of
coronavirus and one hospital trust in the city has recorded higher deaths than
anywhere else in the country.
"When I was growing up there were two black kids
and two Asian kids at my entire high school. I had a friend who said their dad
was part of the EDL.
She was sent a box of food that refugees would eat and
given the option to add just a few additional items. Shockingly she wasn't able
to drink anything else besides water.
"It was very bland and it doesn't help that I was
cooking for my daughter as well. But it is meant to just help you survive and
be somewhat nutritious."
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I took my daughter to
nursery in Solihull. I had to stay because I didn't have enough time to go back
home. On Wednesday I ended up having dhaal. I used all my lentil allowance to
mix some spices.
On Thursday the fried rice made another appearance
despite it not being "too fried this time." On the fifth day with
supplies running low Hannah was forced to get more creative. Using her leftover
chickpeas, soaking them in water and blending them together she made falafel.
With the end in sight at the weekend and rations at a
desperate low, Hannah was forced to eat nothing but rice for lunch and dinner.
"Looking back I think I did really well,
especially balancing a child, taking her to nursery, and maintaining a home. It
was challenging. I could have given up plenty of times and donated myself but I
kept at it.
"I raised £166. £167 feeds a refugee for a whole
year, it can provide a medical visit. It has made me understand a lot more
about the experiences, a little bit closer to an understanding.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mum-who-converted-islam-goes-18945605
------
Activists Protest In New York Against Saudi-Led
Aggression, Blockade Imposed On Yemen
September 19, 2020
A mass
rally was held on Friday, in New York, condemning the 2000 days of aggression
and blockade imposed on Yemen.
-----
On Friday, a mass rally was held in New York City,
marking the anniversary of Saudi-led aggression and blockade imposed on Yemen.
The protesters, led by members of the Yemeni
community, Muslim communities in the US and a large number of American anti-war
activists, took to the streets of Manhattan, New York.
They marched to the office of Senator Schumer, raising
pictures of the victims of the aggression and the blockade.
They also chanted slogans against aggression,
including: “Stop your aggression against Yemen”, “Lift the siege of Sanaa
International Airport”, “launch the detaning oil derivatives”, “Let the Yemenis
decide their political future”, and “no guardianship and occupation”.
They also called for an end of the blockade on Yemen
and the lifting of the embargo on Sanaa International Airport.
The Yemeni community, with all its political and
intellectual components in New York, called on activists and community members
to participate in this march condemning the war crimes committed by the Coalition
of Aggression, demanding an end to the aggression, lifting the blockade by
land, sea and air, lifting the siege of Sana’a International Airport and
prosecuting the leaders of the states of aggression as war criminals.
https://en.abna24.com/news//activists-protest-in-new-york-against-saudi-led-aggression-blockade-imposed-on-yemen_1071768.html
---------
Iran Calls US Attempt To ‘Snapback’ Sanctions ‘Null
And Void’, Urges UN To Block It
20 September 2020
Dmitry Polyanskiy
Iran says the US’ claim about the return of the UN
Security Council’s sanctions against Tehran as per the so-called “snapback”
mechanism is “null and void”, calling on the UN and its Security Council to
block any attempt to reinstate the bans.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the permanent ambassador of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, made the remarks in a letter to
the UN Security Council and to the UN Secretary-General early Sunday.
"Given that the stated objective of the United
States is to completely ruin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and to that
end, its strategy is to create legal complication through presenting unilateral
arbitrary interpretations and pseudo-legal arguments, the Islamic Republic of
Iran trusts that the members of the Security Council will, once again, reject
the United States' continued attempt to abuse the Security Council's process,
thus undermining the authority and credibility of the Council and the United
Nations," Takht-Ravanchi said in the letter.
The Iranian envoy also responded to the news on
Twitter, saying that "UNSC member states continue to maintain US is NOT a
JCPOA participant, so its claim of "snapback" is null &
void."
"US is STILL in violation of JCPOA and Res
2231—swimming against int'l currents will only bring it more isolation,"
he tweeted.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday
night that the US has reimposed UN sanctions against Iran based on the snapback
mechanism despite global rejection, even by its own allies.
Other countries have rejected the US' argument that it
could reimpose the UN sanctions that had been lifted under the Iran nuclear
deal as the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018 and was not a
party to the deal anymore. Therefore, they are not expected to recognize the
snapback sanctions.
In a televised interview a few hours before Pompeo’s
announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there was no
mechanism for the US to enforce its controversial “snapback”, and warned that
other countries would be subjected to the same treatment if they did not resist
America’s move.
“The Americans claim that ... within a few hours, the
resolutions [sanctions] will return. But they themselves realize that this is a
false claim,” the Iranian top diplomat said.
“The Americans as a rule act as a bully and impose
sanction ... The world community should decide how to act towards bullying,” he
added.
“As they (other countries) will face the same thing
tomorrow when America takes the same action towards the Nord Stream project, as
well as other projects because a bully will continue to act as a bully if he is
allowed to do it once,” Zarif said.
He noted that the US knows UN sanctions will not
return “so they have resorted to bullying, and said they will sanction anyone
who sells weapons to Iran”.
Zarif stressed that “there is no thing called
‘snapback’. There is no automatic mode. It’s not like anyone who’s had a fight
with their mother can up and create a ‘snapback’ mechanism.”
“Pompeo believes this is a simple mechanism ... it is
not,” Zarif said, accusing him of not having read the UN security council
resolutions or the agreement’s text.
“He’s now probably waiting for JCPOA’s movie to come
out so he would know what it is,” he added, referring to the deal’s official
name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
In reaction to Pompeo’s announcement, Russia’s
ambassador to the UN expressed regret that the US is isolating itself by making
such humiliating moves.
“It’s very painful to see how a great country
humiliates itself like this, opposes in its obstinate delirium other members of
UN Security Council. We all clearly said in August that US claims to trigger
snapback are illegitimate. Is Washington deaf?” Dmitry Polyanskiy tweeted early
Sunday.
“The US seems to be persistent in undermining
international law by imposing its selfish will on the others. Is it the “rules
based int’l order” where rules are set by limited club of nations that our
American colleagues have been ardently defending recently?”
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/20/634567/Iran-US-snapback-sanctions-ranvachi
-----------
Islamic State Takes Over Resort Islands in The Indian
Ocean
by Gary Leff
September 19, 2020
When ISIS took Mosul, in Northern Iraq, they renovated
and operated the 262 room Ninawa International hotel. However, without alcohol
revenue from the bars, and expelled by Iraqi and coalition forces in 2017, they
didn’t have enough time to recoup the capital investment.
Early in the global coronavirus pandemic, the Islamic
State suspended all non-essential business travel. For a period of time jihad
had to take place entirely online. Yet they’ve begun re-opening. And as they’ve
worked to expand their territory, they’ve remembered the lessons of the Ninawa
International Hotel in Mosul – that their time in power may be short-lived and
so investing in and operating resorts isn’t likely to be a successful
investment model.
ISIS fighters have captured resort islands in the
Indian Ocean but they no longer seek to run the properties. Instead the
“[l]uxury islands off the coast of Mozambique, where A-list celebrities spend
their holidays” have been “torched” by militants. Although there are still
properties in the region that are accepting guess, subject to Covid entry
restrictions.
The ISIS insurgents have ordered residents to abandon
the islands of Vamizi and Mecungo – where celebrities like Daniel Craig, Bono
and Prince Albert of Monaco have holidayed in luxury.
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and political leader
Nelson Mandela have also been known to have enjoyed holidays on the picturesque
island.
The Islamic State Central Africa Province hasn’t
announced any plans for rebuilding of the resorts they’ve burned down, or a
path re-opening to tourists during the pandemic.
https://viewfromthewing.com/islamic-state-takes-over-resort-islands-in-the-indian-ocean/
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Nigerian Islamic bank Jaiz targets N5.41b gross income
in Q4
BY TAOFIK SALAKO
09 SEP 2020
The management of Jaiz Bank Plc has projected that the
flagship non-interest bank will post a gross income of N5.41 billion in the
fourth quarter with average pre-tax profit per average sales expected at 13.03
per cent.
In a regulatory filing at the Nigerian Stock Exchange
(NSE), Jaiz Bank, Nigeria’s first non-interest bank and the only publicly
quoted alternative finance institution, predicted that profit before tax will
be N705.37 million while profit after tax is expected to close the three-month
period at N634.83 million.
The forecast, signed by Jaiz Bank’s Chief Financial
Officer, Abdulfattah Amoo, indicated that the bottom-line performance was
predicated on financing income of N4.94 billion and financing expenses of N1.39
billion, leaving net revenue from funds at N3.55 billion.
Within the three-month period between October and
December 2020, the bank is expecting other incomes of about N467.45 million,
which is expected to push net operating incomes to N3.85 billion. With
operating expenses at N3.14 billion and taxes projected at N70.54 million, pre
and post tax profits are expected to close the period at N705.37 million and
N634.83 million.
Jaiz Bank seeks to achieve an overall vision of being
the leading non-interest financial institution in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with
total income expected to be about N81.17 billion and profit after tax at N11.09
billion for the five-year period between 2018 and 2022. The bank outperformed
its forecast for the 2019 financial year and the latest forecast fourth quarter
2020 indicated it may surpass the 2020 full-year targets.
According to the forecasts, gross income is expected
to rise to N15.73 billion, N19.27 billion and N23.51 billion in 2020, 2021 and
2022. Profit before tax is projected to rise to N3.01 billion, N4.03 billion
and N5.47 billion in 2020, 2021 and 2022. After taxes, net profit is expected
to rise to N2.11 billion in 2020 and rise consecutively to N2.82 billion and
N3.83 billion in 2021 and 2022.
Under the plan, the balance sheet of the bank is
expected to increase consecutively over the years. Total assets is projected at
N182.6 billion, N220.02 billion and N262.80 billion in 2020, 2021 and 2022
respectively. Deposit is projected to rise consecutively to N142.81 billion,
N177.09 billion and N216.05 billion in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Shareholders’ fund
is also projected to increase to N35.23 billion by 2022.
Managing Director, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman,
has said overall vision of the bank is to become the leading non-interest
financial institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said the bank has been positioned to sustain its
growth trajectory, pointing out that the bank has the necessary resources to
achieve its growth targets.
Usman said the bank’s growth strategy of focussing on
the real sector, though painstaking, will ensure sustainable growth and better
returns over the years.
According to him, Jaiz Bank wants to develop small and
medium enterprises (SMEs), grow with them and support them not only for profit
making but to ensure the country achieves real growth.
“We shall continue to internally develop new
customers, new markets and new product for both our physical and virtual
channels. We remain committed to continuous up-scaling of our governance
mechanism to meet the highest operating standards. Cost efficiency is at the
heart of our value creation model. We shall strive to be a low cost operator,”
Usman said.
He noted that while the bank would continue to expand
its operations across the country by opening more branches, it will
significantly leverage on technology to reach the nooks and crannies of the
country and bring the semi-banked and unbanked population into the formal
economy.
Jaiz Bank was created out of the former Jaiz
International Plc which was set up in 2003 as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
to establish Nigeria’s first full-fledged non-interest bank. The bank is owned
by some 27,000 shareholders including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). It
obtained a regional operating license to operate as a non-interest bank from
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 11, 2011 and began full
operations as the first non-interest bank in Nigeria on January 6, 2012. In
2016, it obtained the national banking license from the CBN and started to
rapidly spread its network across the country.
Jaiz Bank recorded another milestone on February 9,
2017 as the first non-interest financial institution to be listed on the NSE
with the admission of the entire issued share capital of the bank to the main
board of the Exchange.
https://www.salaamgateway.com/story/nigerian-islamic-bank-jaiz-targets-n541b-gross-income-in-q4
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Sherry Rehman Urges Govt To Take Notice Of Anti-Shia
Rallies, Act Against Banned Outfits
Naya Daur
September 19, 2020
In the wake of anti-Shia rallies being held by banned
outfits across Pakistan to incite hatred against the minority Muslim community,
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has asked the federal
government to act against the proscribed outfits in line with the National
Action Plan.
Speaking in a parliament session, the senator said the
government has to control these outfits as it is the responsibility of the
state to protect ‘oppressed segments’ of society. She urged the ministers to
give a statement against these marches and ensure that citizens are protected.
Thank you Sen @sherryrehman for ALWAYS standing with
the most vulnerable, most persecuted & most terrorised groups/communities.
The ONLY Senator who dared say no one else would, the bravest voice in the
Senate ❤️🙌
#StopShiaKillings pic.twitter.com/9gEqE8VVHA
“We know that speaking against such outfits will land
us in trouble, but what is the use of being a parliament if we are unable to
raise our voice for the oppressed people,” the senator added.
‘Social boycott’ of Shias:
Participants of an anti-Shia rally that was organised
by the banned outfits in Islamabad to protect the ‘sanctity of the companions
of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)’ have called for a ‘social boycott’ of the members
of the minority Muslim community.
During the demonstration in the federal capital, a
speaker asked the participants to make a promise that they would cut all ties
with the Shia community.
The speaker urged the government to enact laws against
the Shia community who make ‘insulting remarks’ against certain companions of
the Prophet (PBUH). “The government should legislate against Shias just like it
did against the Ahmadiyya community,” the speaker added.
In a speech laden with hate, the cleric urged the
government ‘cut the tongues’ of Shias over their alleged remarks against the
Prophet’s companions. He said if the government will not take action against
them, they will take law in their hands to silence the Shias.
Reacting to the rally, journalist Bilal Farooqi said
that the outfits participating in these rallies are on the interior ministry’s
list of proscribed organisations. He questioned how are these groups allowed to
organise gatherings in the presence of the National Action Plan.
Earlier this month,
the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)
held separate rallies in Karachi against the minority Shia community.
During the ASWJ rally, the participant chanted hate
slogans, such as ‘Shia kafir’ against the members of the Shia community and
demanded a ban on Muharram processions.
Since the start of Muharram, there has been an
increase in hate campaigns against Shia groups and subsequent blasphemy
allegations for reciting Ziyarat-e-Ashura — a prayer that denounces the killers
of Imam Hussain. Moreover, a number of Shia orators were detained across the
country for allegedly making blasphemous statements against some companions of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Sudden rise in blasphemy cases against Shias:
At least 42 cases pertaining to blasphemy were
registered across Pakistan in a single month, according to data compiled by a
social media user.
Most of those accused of blasphemy belonged to the
Shia community, who have been booked under 295-A and 298 sections of the
Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly ‘insulting the companions of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH)’. Similarly, members of Ahmadiyya and Christian communities are also
among the people accused of blasphemy.
Blasphemy accusations are highly inflammatory in
deeply conservative Pakistan and have in the past sparked mob lynchings,
vigilante murders, and mass protests.
Anti-Shia wall chalking:
Days after a Shia cleric was booked for alleged
blasphemous remarks, anti-Shia wall chalking — a hate practice common since the
80s — has reappeared in various neighbourhoods of Karachi.
According to a post shared on Facebook, the wall
chalking also had flags of banned sectarian outfits next to it. “Today, Prime
Minister and COAS are coming to Karachi and we can see how the decades-old wall
chalkings of “Shia Kafir” started reappearing on the street walls of various
neighbourhoods in Karachi with the flags of the banned militant outfits.”
https://nayadaur.tv/2020/09/sherry-rehman-urges-govt-to-take-notice-of-anti-shia-rallies-act-against-banned-outfits/
---------
South Asia
Tens of Thousands Attend, Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi,
Hefazat-e-Islam Leader's Funeral
19/09/2020
Dhaka (AFP)
Tens of thousands of people gathered to mourn the
controversial leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamist group as his funeral was
held on Saturday in a rural southeastern town, police said.
Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, who had led the hardline
Hefazat-e-Islam group since it was formed in 2010, died of age-related
complications on Friday in the capital Dhaka. He was believed to be over 100
years old.
His death came just a day after an unprecedented
revolt involving thousands of students at his highly influential madrasa, or
Islamic school, forced him to resign after three decades as its chair.
Shafi made his mark in national politics when he
marched tens of thousands of his followers into central Dhaka in May 2013,
demanding harsh blasphemy laws and the execution of atheist bloggers.
That rally ended bloodily when police evicted his
followers from the capital's main commercial centre. Around 50 people were
killed in clashes with security forces -- most of them shot dead -- in some of
the worst political violence the country had ever seen.
On Saturday, after Shafi's body was brought back to
his school in Hathazari outside the port city of Chittagong, vast crowds of his
followers rushed to the town to pay their respects.
"Some 150,000 people have already gathered here
on the madrasa ground, in the buildings and out on the roads to his funeral
prayers," regional police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP. Shafi's supporters
said the turnout was far higher.
As supreme leader of Hefazat-e-Islam, Shafi oversaw
its growth into the South Asian country's biggest Islamic fundamentalist group
with millions of supporters.
Bangladesh is 90 percent Muslim and Shafi drew on
support from seminaries at the tens of thousands of Islamic schools in the
conservative nation of 168 million people.
His followers saw him as a key defender of the faith,
but to his critics he was known as the "Tamarind Cleric", who wanted
to roll back the secular character of modern Bangladesh.
Shafi's unceremonious resignation as head of the
madrasa -- which is considered the heart of conservative Islam in Bangladesh --
took place on Thursday night after a two-day long demonstration at the school.
Up to 3,000 madrasa students took part in the revolt,
a police spokesman told AFP, which was triggered by the sacking of three
madrasa teachers, allegedly orchestrated by Shafi's powerful son Anas Madani.
In recent years, relations have improved between Hefazat-e-Islam
and the secular government, which agreed to the group's demands for recognition
of madrasa degrees and allowing students from all madrasas to compete for
government jobs.
https://www.france24.com/en/20200919-tens-of-thousands-attend-bangladesh-islamist-leader-s-funeral
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Narayanganj mosque blast death toll hits 33
Staff Correspondent
Sep 19,2020
Another burn victim of the Narayanganj mosque blast
died at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka
on Saturday noon, raising the death toll to 33.
Mohammad Farid, 50, died from his injuries at about
1:45pm.
Partha Sankar Pal, a residential surgeon of the
institute, confirmed the matter.
A recent blast at the mosque known as Baitus Salat
Jame Masjid at Paschim Talla under Fatullah in Narayanganj left around 40
people seriously injured. Of them, 37 were immediately taken to the Dhaka
hospital in a critical condition and 31 of them died from their injuries.
The explosion took place due to leakages in a gas pipeline
adjacent to the mosque.
Local people blamed the negligence of the Titas
authorities, saying that the agency people demanded bribe which the mosque
authority refused to pay and as a result, the leakages were left unattended.
The mosque management committee complained that the
Titas officials claimed Tk 50,000 as bribe when they approached them.
Non-payment of the amount finally led to the blast,
locals informed the probe team.
However, the authorities concerned, on September 10,
relocated the power transformer and the gas pipeline adjacent to the mosque.
https://www.newagebd.net/article/116691/narayanganj-mosque-blast-death-toll-hits-33
---------
‘A Unified Islamic Republic Will be a Better Position
to Negotiate and Represent Views of Afghan People
Written by
Manager
September 19, 2020
Kabul (BNA) As talks are underway in Doha, Afghan
negotiating team spokesman Nader Nadery says that both sides agreed on internal
principles and few more points left to be addressed.
He told media through an audio clip that during a
meeting with the Taliban on Wednesday almost 90 percent progress was made on
the internal principles, rules and regulation of future meetings. Naderi said
they were discussing technical matters for future talks and there was need for
being patient and more attentive instead of stressing over acceleration.
Meanwhile Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High
Council for National Reconciliation, on Thursday said that the talks between
the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban will be difficult, stating
that the Afghan team will face issues that will require hard decisions to be
made.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Dr. Abdullah said
Afghanistan’s future would include one that can sustain itself and one that
leads to durable peace and stability.
As intra-Afghan negotiations continue, between the
Afghan negotiating team and the Taliban, Dr. Abdullah said both sides need to
come to a shared agreement on how to move forward.
“Both sides should see the need and come to the
realization that we must put people first,” he said and on whether the
country’s future was a Republic or an Emirate system, he stated it would come
“down to the will of the people”.
Asked about the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s
constitution, and any possible changes to it, he said there were provisions
incorporated in the guiding document which allowed for changes to be made. He said the provisions were designed for the
interests of the country to get the people in the country together in a unified
manner but a change to the constitution was not impossible.
Should a peace deal be sealed and structural changes
be needed, he stated: “The country needs national institutions, national army,
national police or any other security sector.”
Dr. Abdullah said that one aspect of the hard work
that lay ahead of the peace talks teams was how to integrate the Afghan
security forces and Taliban fighters.
“The blueprint has to be decided by both sides”, and
there shouldn’t be preconditions attached to it, he said. Adding his voice to countless of other
officials, both local and foreign, Abdullah said a reduction in violence was
critical at this point so that the process could move towards a ceasefire.
“When I talk about casualties, it’s not just on one
side. It’s on both sides,” he said adding that this was unfortunate and a
“burden on the next generation.” He said there is no winner in a war and no
loser in an inclusive, peaceful settlement.
“While they are not recognizing us [Afghan government]
or we don’t recognize them as the Islamic Emirate, but we recognize the need to
get together, to sit together, to present our views which are different from
one another – but to find ways how to reconcile those differences, how to find
ways to live together while still maintaining some differences and fighting for
it politically rather than through violence.”
He said there could be groups within the Taliban that
want to continue with the talks and also to continue with the fighting but that
he assumes there are others that are “thinking much more maturely” – based on
experience.
“The continuation of the war and suffering, endless,
in an endless way, will not put anybody in a dignified position and it’s not a
service to the people,” he said.
http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/politics/item/44056-%E2%80%98a-unified-islamic-republic-will-be-a-better-position-to-negotiate-and-represent-views-of-afghan-people%E2%80%99.html
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Over 30 Taliban killed in Afghan air strikes
Published in Dawn
20 Sep 2020
KABUL: The Afghan air force conducted multiple strikes
on Taliban positions on Saturday that killed more than 30 insurgent fighters,
officials said, as President Ashraf Ghani once again called for a ceasefire.
The Taliban claimed the strike had killed nearly two
dozen civilians including women and children in the latest mass-casualty
incident in Afghanistan that came even as peace talks were under way in Qatar.
“This morning, Taliban fighters attacked (Afghan army)
positions in ... Khanabad district in Kunduz province,” the Defence Ministry
said in a statement on Twitter.
The military “intercepted the attack in accordance
with ‘active defense’ procedures,” the statement added, noting that more than
30 Taliban fighters including two commanders were killed.
In a statement, the Taliban denied its fighters were
hit and said 23 civilians had been killed. The defence ministry said it was
aware of the claim and would investigate.
Local hospital director Mohammad Naeem Mangal said
that three dead and three wounded civilians had been brought to the facility.
The attack came shortly before Ghani once again called
for a humanitarian ceasefire “to protect our people, prevent violence and
terrorist incidents and to achieve a dignified and lasting peace.” The
insurgents have so far ignored such requests, though they have unilaterally
called two short, separate truces this year in the run-up to peace talks, which
opened a week ago in Doha.
Talks have progressed slowly so far, with the two
sides still undecided about an agenda.Defence ministry officials in Kabul, who
said more than 40 Taliban fighters had been killed in the strikes, did not
confirm any civilian casualties. They said an investigation was underway into
the incident which comes as the warring sides hold peace talks.
“The first strike hit the Taliban base but the second
one caused civilian casualties as they had gathered at the bombed site,” said
Fatima Aziz, a member of parliament who represents Kunduz.
She said 11 civilians were killed and five people were
missing in the Khanabad district of Kunduz province.
According to another witness, the airstrikes left 12
civilians killed, including children, and 18 others injured. The witness said
that several Taliban militants had been killed.
The Taliban issued a statement accusing Afghan forces
of killing at least 40 civilians in the airstrikes. The hardline militant group
did not comment on casualties among their fighters. Fighting between Afghan
forces and the Taliban has continued even as representatives of the government
and the insurgents gathered last week for historic peace talks aimed at ending
two decades of war.
The negotiations are a result of a deal between the
Taliban and the US signed in February, which also paved the way for the
withdrawal of all foreign forces by May 2021.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580625/over-30-taliban-killed-in-afghan-air-strikes
--------
Europe
Increase in Muslims finding love online during
lockdown
19th September
By Megan Baynes
Restrictions on meeting in public have led to a shift
in how young Muslims find love, with many looking past a perceived “stigma” and
turning for the first time to dating apps and websites.
When lockdown first came into force in March, the
traditional method of being introduced to a spouse via family connections had
to be put on hold for many single Muslims.
Muzmatch, which describes itself as the “world’s
largest Muslim dating app”, saw the number of users logging in spike by 13% in
the two weeks after restrictions began.
There was a 12.6% increase in matches (where two
members like each other) in those same weeks and a 45% increase in downloads of
the app in the week leading up to the lockdown announcement on March 23.
The app differs from the likes of Tinder and Hinge
with features such as religious filters and the ability to add chaperones to
chats.
Fahima Mohamed, a relationship coach for
SingleMuslim.com, said a culture shift had begun within the community and the
number of Muslim couples meeting online, via apps and dating agencies, would
only increase.
She told the PA news agency: “With what is happening
right now, even if lockdown is not as restricted as it was, people are not
going out as much and meeting as much.
“It’s part of the culture to meet with family, and to
have massive weddings and to have so many other occasions where people do tend
to mix, and that is obviously all taken away. So the only other best bet is
going to be online.
“It’s here to stay, especially once people realise
it’s given them more control as to who they want to look for and what is the
choice out there.”
However, one couple who spoke to PA asked that their
names be changed because they said a “stigma” remains in the Muslim community
over meeting online.
The couple, who are now engaged, said being bored
during lockdown was one of the reasons they ended up spending more time online
and being matched.
Halal dating guru Thanna Alghabban, who runs an
Instagram offering dating advice, said: “The biggest change is that people who
weren’t really open to online dating, during lockdown they have come to terms
with it because there really was no other way to meet anyone.
“I also think for a lot of people, standards have
dropped with regards to suitable partners. They are more willing to overlook an
orange flag that they might not have before.”
Another pairing, Aisha Rosalie and her husband Sultan
Akhtar, met on Muzmatch at the start of March, just weeks before restrictions
came into force.
Aisha, a trained actor who runs a podcast and YouTube
channel, said: “In Muslim culture, it is not normal to date – for me it was
always about marriage.”
Aisha, who comes from an atheist background and
converted to Islam following a trip to Turkey, said apps like Muzmatch were her
only chance of finding a Muslim husband who was serious about marriage.
Sultan, who runs an online design service, was born in
Yorkshire, and said he was “heavily influenced” by British society: “(Apps)
seemed the way to go.”
https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/18733297.increase-muslims-finding-love-online-lockdown/
--------
Islam still faces obstacles on path to be part of
Germany
19.09.2020
Christoph Strack
It was a short statement that had a lot of impact. In
his speech almost 10 years ago on the 20th anniversary of German reunification,
Germany's then-President Christian declared that Islam was a part of Germany.
The claim sparked a nation-wide debate on the role of
Islam in the country — one that had continued to this day. Wulff's 2010
statement enraged some, while resonating deeply with others.
Today, millions of Muslims call Germany their home.
Some families have been living in the country for two, three and even four
generations. But, for some, the question of integrating into German mainstream
society, and gaining recognition, has not been without its difficulties.
Riem Spielhaus, an expert on Islam at the University
of Göttingen, says Wulff's statement struck a chord. In the following years,
she says, much progress was made in terms of the integration of and acceptance
towards Muslims. But by 2016 this process stagnated, she says. "And we
have partially seen advances undone."
Where, exactly, has progress been made? And where are
improvements needed? Spielhaus says the German government rarely has the power
to push for nation-wide changes, such as the introduction of a Muslim
chaplaincy in the German military.
In many cases, the expert says, Germany's various
states are the ones with the legal means to make society more accommodating
towards Muslims. This relates to things like Islamic burials, giving time off
on Islamic holidays, offering spiritual care in hospitals and jails, and
teaching Islamic theology at universities. German states differ the most when
it comes to Islamic religious lessons in school.
Spielhaus welcomes that German courts are changing
their perspective, too. When ruling on fundamental religious issues, many are
now emphasizing the importance of religious plurality.
Unlike in Christianity, where Churches are structured
hierarchically and have official leaders, this is not the case in Islam. Some
large Muslim organizations that are active in Germany, like the Turkish-Islamic
Union for Religious Affairs (Ditib), are funded from abroad. German lawmakers,
therefore, avoid close cooperation with the association, fearing outside
interference.
A broad range of Muslim associations exists in Germany
today. Not all, Spielhaus says, are as representative of the Muslim community
as they might claim. This has become evident for instance during the German
Islamic Conference, when different Muslim associations vehemently disagreed
with one another.
This disunity has made progress difficult. Cooperation
between the German state and the country's numerous Muslim associations is
fraught with difficulties. In July this year, for example, Germany's Foreign
Ministry endeavored to make Muslim lawyer Nurhan Soykan an adviser in one of
its departments. The announcement drew criticism, however, with some accusing
Soykan — who serves as vice president with the Central Council of Muslims in
Germany — of doing too little to counter religious extremism. Germany's Foreign
Ministry then reversed its course, and dropped Soykan.
While cooperation with official Muslim associations
has not always proven easy, working together on a smaller scale has often been
successful. Serap Güler, a lawmaker with the Christian Democrats (CDU), who
serves as state secretary for integration matters in Germany's most populous
state of North Rhine-Westphalia, cites the Coordination Council for Muslim
Civic Activism as an example.
She says it cooperates with some 200 Muslim civil
society organizations in the state, such as a Muslim Carnival group, a scout
organization and integration initiatives. According to Güler, lawmakers are
keen to empower such citizen organizations.
Dennis Sadiq Kirschbaum heads an organization working
to give German Muslims a greater say in public affairs. JUMA, which was founded
in 2019, represents young, active Muslims in Germany. Kirschbaum says
traditional Muslim associations are losing appeal among his generation, with
some turning their backs on them entirely. He says there are plans for 16
Muslim youth organizations across the country — none of which define themselves
through religion alone — to create an alliance to give young German Muslims a
voice.
Yet Spielhaus says Islamic groups often possess fewer
"financial resources and personnel" than Christian organizations.
This may limit their influence. Moreover, she warns of "growing religious
skepticism and an Islamophobic climate in Germany."
Indeed, when a racist shot and killed nine individuals
with a foreign background in the town of Hanau near Frankfurt in February this
year, Germany — and the country's Muslim community — was shocked. In a search
for a better understanding of the issues, German Interior Minister Horst
Seehofer has set up a special expert body to investigate the problem of
Islamophobia in the country.
https://www.dw.com/en/islam-still-faces-obstacles-on-path-to-be-part-of-germany/a-54972234
----------
Britain, France, Germany tells UNSC Iran sanctions
relief to continue beyond Sep. 20
September 20, 2020
Source : Pars Today
Britain, France and Germany have told the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) that the sanctions relief provided by the world
body for Iran – agreed under a 2015 nuclear deal – will continue beyond
September 20 in outright rejection of assertions by the United States that the
bans will snap back then.
In 2015, Iran clinched a landmark nuclear deal with a
group of countries then known as the P5+1 — Britain, France, Russia, China, and
Germany.
However, US President Donald Trump in 2018
unilaterally pulled his country out of the deal – officially known as the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - and re-imposed the sanctions that had
been lifted under the deal.
On August 20, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said
that Washington formally triggered a 30-day process at the UNSC leading to a
return of virtually all the UN sanctions on Iran on September 20.
He cited what he claimed to be Iranian violations of
the JCPOA, to which the US is no longer a party.
On Friday, the permanent representatives of the UK,
Germany and France said in a joint letter to the 15-member UNSC that any
decision or action taken to restore the UN sanctions “would be incapable of
legal effect.”
“In this letter, we expressed our shared view that the
purported notification under paragraph 11 of UNSCR 2231 (2015) received from
the United States of America and circulated to the UN Security Council Members
is incapable of having legal effect and so cannot bring into effect the
procedure foreseen under OP 11. It flows from this that any decision and
actions which would be taken based on this procedure or on its possible outcome
would also be incapable of having any effect,” read part of the joint letter by
the UN envoys of the three European countries, known as E3.
The E3 further said that they had “worked tirelessly
to preserve the nuclear agreement and remain committed to do so.” They also
stressed they would remain committed to “fully implementing” a 2015 Security
Council resolution that endorses the JCPOA.
Earlier on Friday, the E3 in a joint statement hailed
Tehran’s encouraging statements on its intention to further strengthen its
cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The trio’s joint statement, which had been issued on
the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement with Iran, was
delivered to the IAEA Board of Governors at the September 2020 meeting.
On Thursday, Iran’s permanent representative to
Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran has the most
transparent nuclear program among the IAEA member states, as proven through
numerous inspections of the country’s nuclear sites by the UN agency.
“The fact that 22 percent of all global inspections
done by the IAEA has been carried out in Iran proves that Iran enjoys the most
transparent peaceful nuclear program among the member states of the agency,”
Gharibabadi added, in an address to the IAEA Board of Governors.
On August 14, the UNSC rejected a US-drafted
resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October
under the JCPOA.
https://en.abna24.com/news//britain-france-germany-tells-unsc-iran-sanctions-relief-to-continue-beyond-sep-20_1071950.html
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Islamic Finance In The Global Digital Economy
by Richie Santosdiaz
September 19, 2020
With an estimated 1.9 billion Muslims according to
World Population Review, Islamic Finance has a large global reach. Islamic
Finance is one of the fastest growing financial industries, even though it is
still a small share of global finance. Its total assets have exceeded $2
trillion and it is expected to reach $3.8 trillion by 2023.
According to the Union of Arab Banks, ten countries
accounted for 95 percent of the world’s Sharia-compliant assets with Iran at 30
percent of the global total, followed by Saudi Arabia at 24 percent, Malaysia
at 11 percent, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 10 percent, Qatar at six
percent, Kuwait at five percent, Bahrain at four percent, Bangladesh at 1.8
percent, Indonesia at 1.6 percent and Pakistan at one percent.
Even though Islamic finance existed in the seventh
century, its formalisation began gradually since the 1960s. Islamic finance
refers to how businesses and individuals raise capital in accordance with
Sharia, or Islamic law. This also includes the types of investments that are
permissible under this form of law. Islamic finance can be seen as a unique
form of socially responsible investment.
With regards to fintech, there are at least 127
Islamic fintech firms that offer Sharia-compliant financial products that had
been launched, globally, from this past June. According to IFN Islamic Finance,
the United Kingdom has the most Islamic fintechs with 27 companies followed by
Malaysia with 19 companies, third is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with at
least 15 Islamic fintechs, fourth is Indonesia with 13, fifth is Saudi Arabia
with 9 and tied with the USA which also reportedly has 9 companies.
The world’s financial hubs such New York City, London,
Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore – to name a few – have various levels of
degree when it comes to its status as well as being global Islamic financial
hubs. That list changes slightly with some cities such as Kuala Lumpur being
added, alongside for instance global hubs like London and Dubai, as global
Islamic Financial Hubs.
One example is the UAE. “Dubai’s Dubai International
Financial Centre (DIFC) saw an increase in the volume of Islamic assets being
managed, recording a 21 per cent growth year-on-year,” according to Arif Amiri,
CEO of DIFC Authority. Arif adds, “Malaysia’s largest lender and fifth largest
Sharia-compliant bank in the world, Maybank Islamic Berhad, set up in DIFC last
year; DIFC has one of the largest centres globally for Sukuk (sharia-compliant
bonds) listings by value at $72.6 billion, with $70.4 billion listed on Nasdaq
Dubai. Islamic Fintech start-ups are also choosing DIFC as their home to access
the region and will help nurture innovation in the sector.”
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), another major
financial services hub in the UAE and the region, has also supported Islamic
Finance. This has included the likes of recent partnerships the past few years
such as with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in an effort to support Shariah-compliant
fintech-related measures including the development of online banking,
artificial intelligence, distributed ledgers, blockchain – to name a few.
According to Mohammed Dawood, Head of Islamic Finance,
Global Banking & Markets, HSBC Middle East, “We’ve witnessed very strong
growth in the international Sukuk market this year, with Middle East issuers
continuing to drive issuance volume. With the ample liquidity 2020 has already
broken records in terms of issuance volume, with more than USD 30bn of global
Sukuk supply so far this year. The key growth markets for Islamic finance will
be focused around countries in the GCC – namely UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait –
and Malaysia. These countries continue to benefit from supportive regulatory
frameworks and from housing a large number of domestic players across the
sector.”
An example a company embracing digital in the UAE has
been UAE-based aafaq Islamic Finance which recently launched its core banking,
Islamic banking and payments platforms, which have been developed by Infosys.
Recently, SUSTAIN.EXCHANGE, the first Islamic compliant crypto ecosystem
announced that it is building technology solutions and infrastructure on Tezos,
a leading decentralised public blockchain.
With Africa, there are more than 80 Islamic financial
institutions in Africa. The greatest numbers are in northern Africa,
particularly in Sudan. Other countries such as Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya have
implemented banking, legal and regulatory frameworks to be Sharia compliant.
Also established banks have set up Islamic departments where they provide
Sharia-compliant products which include: Absa Bank of South Africa, Ecobank
Chad and Sterling Bank Plc of Nigeria. Islamic banking assets are set to
increase 10 per cent over the next five years in total African banking assets,
according to Moody’s.
In terms of innovation, an example has been Amana
Bank, a leading Islamic bank in Somalia, who announced that it has selected
iMAL, the AAOIFI-certified core banking platform from Path Solutions to replace
its legacy IT system and deploy a single, cloud-based digital banking platform
to underpin its banking operations. This follows from the company also working
with Premier Bank and MyBank Ltd in Somalia.
Finally, quoted as ‘Islamic finance hub of the West,”
London is another major hub for Islamic Finance. The UK was the first
non-Islamic country in the world to issue a sukuk when it raised £200 million
($256 million USD) in 2014. As of last year, over 20 banks in the UK offer
Islamic services, and five of these banks are fully Sharia-compliant, including
Al Rayan Bank. Assets of UK-based institutions that offer Islamic finance
services totaled more than $5 billion.
According to Akmal Saleem, the Co-Founder & CEO of
Rizq, the UK’s 1st Alternative Islamic Digital Banking App, “We are definitely
at a tectonic moment within the global Islamic Finance industry and people working
within the industry are very excited. With the emergence of new technology in
the past few years, the execution of sharia compliant models has become easier
to structure whilst still integrating into global banking systems with
flexibility and more transparency.
There is a convergence within Islamic finance in a
manner which hasn’t been seen before, this goes across banking, wealth
management, investment, trade finance and all the key facets of Islamic
finance. Previously these facets operated in isolated ways, connected to
counter-parts in strategic alliances. With the advancement in technology a deep
rooted appreciation to how customers (both retail and business) want to operate
globally can be visibly seen.
The evidence of this is the emphatic growth of Islamic
Fintechs globally which proves the low barriers in this initial lifecycle of
market development. As the first batch of Islamic Fintech establish the
realisation of the global potential will also establish. Recent investment into
brands such as Wahed and even our own current fundraising experience within
Rizq has shown the clear appetite investors have to capitalise on the global
potential.
In more of a traditional sense the recent issuance
within the global sukuk markets have been landmark and the trajectory shows
only further growth. There is confidence that Islamic finance can if structured
correctly help markets come out of the impending recession in the wake of the
COVID-19 pandemic.”
Islamic finance plays a growing role in the global
economy, which has also been adopting to the wider digital transformation
happening as well.
https://thefintechtimes.com/islamic-finance-in-the-global-digital-economy/
---------
North America
Trump says Kuwait may soon normalize ties with Israel
September 20, 2020
Source : PressTV
US President Donald Trump says Kuwait will likely be
the third Persian Gulf Arab state to normalize its diplomatic ties with the
occupying Israeli regime under his auspices.
During a signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday,
the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain officially normalized their relations with
Israel. They became only the third and fourth Arab states to ever establish
formal ties with the occupying regime after Egypt and Jordan.
At the White House, Trump claimed “five or six” more
Arab countries were poised to agree to normalize relations with Israel.
The deals were widely censured by Palestinians as a
betrayal of their cause, a sentiment echoed by regional players Iran and Turkey
and Muslim authorities throughout the region.
Trump announced the likely normalization of bilateral
ties between Kuwait and Israel at a White House press briefing Friday hours
after meeting with the son of Kuwait’s ruling emir.
The White House said the president had awarded the US
Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad
al-Sabah, adding that it was the first time the honor has been given since
1991.
The White House praised the ailing 91-year-old emir as
a "friend and partner to the United States" who offered his country's
"indispensable" support to the US government in pursuit of its
foreign policy and military agenda in the Persian Gulf.
The Kuwaiti emir visited the United States in July to complete
medical treatment after having undergone surgery that month.
The emir's eldest son, Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad
al-Jaber al-Sabah, accepted the award on behalf of his father at a private
ceremony with Trump on Friday.
Trump’s remarks were a stark contrast from what the
Kuwaiti government had said last month. A local newspaper cited a Kuwaiti
official as saying that the Persian Gulf state would “be the last” to sign a
normalization agreement with Israel.
“Our stance on ‘Israel’ has not changed following the
UAE normalization agreement, and we will be the last to normalize relations,”
the al-Qabas newspaper cited the unnamed senior official as stating.
“The Kuwaiti position is consistent with its
decades-old foreign policy approach in support of the Palestinian cause, as it
is the premier Arab issue,” it added, quoting the official.
https://en.abna24.com/news//trump-says-kuwait-may-soon-normalize-ties-with-israel_1071954.html
---------
Members of Toronto mosque call for murder of volunteer
to be investigated as hate crime
Katherine DeClerq,
September 19, 2020
Members of a Toronto mosque are calling on police to
investigate the murder of a 58-year-old volunteer as a hate-motivated crime,
calling it a “ brazen act of violence” that has shaken the community.
One week ago, Mohamed-Aslim Zafis was sitting outside
the International Muslim Organization (IMO) mosque near Rexdale Boulevard and
Bergamot Avenue ensuring everyone was complying with COVID-19 health
regulations when he was approached by a man and stabbed.
On Saturday, about 75 people gathered outside the same
mosque, offering their prayers and remembering Zafis—a man known for his
charity and goodwill.
“He was a good man. A man who was good with his
friends and a man who took care of this place of worship with every ounce of
his efforts,” Omar Farouk, president of the IMO, said while addressing the
crowd. “ The reality is that every person knew brother Mohamed would testify to
this.”
Farouk said that Zafis’ death has sent a “ shockwave
of fear and deep concern” throughout the community, citing a growing number of
hate incidents targeting the Muslim community.
“However, I want to be clear that we will not be
intimidated,” Farouk added. “ We will not go softly in the night. In a few days
we will be letting you know when the mosque will be reopening for prayers.
Because the reality is that no one is going to stop us from being here, the
place we love."
Speaking through tears, Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the
National Council of Canadian Muslims, spoke about the moment he learned of
Zafis’ death.
“Exactly one week ago, almost to the hour, I stood
right there in the dark, with the blue and red flashing sirens. We had to look
upon a sight that no one should have to look upon. Let me be clear, a man came
to this mosque. He murdered our brother Mohamed-Aslim Zafis by slitting his
throat. He was laying right there. It was a brazen act of violence.”
Both Farooq and Farouk took time to praise the Toronto
police for their swift investigation, which led to the arrest of a 34-year-old
man on Friday.
The suspect, identified by police as Guilherme
“William” Von Neutegem, has since been charged with first-degree murder in
connection with the incident.
“The fact of the matter is that when you have our
brother's throat slit in front of a mosque in the midst of continuing risk of
attacks on religious institutions, in the midst of the growing number of hate
incidents targeting the Muslim community, we have to take this matter,
extremely seriously,” Farouk said.
Supt. Ron Taverner spoke briefly at the vigil to say
that the murder has had a direct impact on his officers, some of which are
members of the mosque.
“They're deeply touched by what's going on here and
the level of violence that's taken place,” he said. “This is something that's
affected our family and your family.”
Speaking with CP24 later that day, Taverner added that
police are aware of allegations that the murder suspect had ties to a neo-Nazi
social media group.
“As far as the investigation goes, looking into the
social media of the accused is an important part of trying to determine motive.
That process is ongoing and hopefully we can have answers to that question in
the coming days.“
Earlier this week police said they were investigating
whether the homicide was connected with another fatal stabbing on Sept. 7 near
the West Humber Trail under the Highway 27 Bridge, just south of Humber College
Boulevard.
Toronto police Insp. Hank Idsinga said at the time
that it was still early in the investigation to say if there is a definitive
connection or if the incident was hate-motivated.
“The investigation is still very active. I have about
14 investigators right now in and around 23 Division and it is going to take
some time,” he said. “There's several different avenues that we're exploring
and the forensic evidence will obviously as well take some time before we can
make some conclusions on that other investigation.”
https://www.cp24.com/news/members-of-toronto-mosque-call-for-murder-of-volunteer-to-be-investigated-as-hate-crime-1.5112074
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Hate-filled social media posts key to Rexdale mosque
murder?
Joe Warmington
Sep 20, 2020
Motivated by hate? Targeted because religion or race?
A potential serial killer?
There’s so much mystery surrounding the disturbing
murder of a Muslim man in front of his mosque last weekend.
Toronto Police detectives are hoping the secrets of
Mohamed-Aslim Zafis’s slaying are inside an apartment his accused killer had
been living in with his father.
Waiting for a search warrant, officers were sitting in
chairs Saturday in front of Guilherme “William” Von Neutegem’s off-limits
residence. About six kilometre’s away, some empty chairs remained in front of
the International Muslims Organization (IMO) mosque on Rexdale Blvd. as they
always are when members gather to pack food for the needy.
Two Toronto Police officers sit guard outside an
apartment in Etobicoke believed to be where Guilherme “William” Von Neutegem,
34, lived with his father on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Von Neutegem is charged
with first-degree in the stabbing of Mohamed-Aslim Zafis, 58, at the
International Muslim Organization (IMO) mosque in Rexdale on Sept. 12, 2020.
PHOTO BY JACK BOLAND /Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network
“He saw someone circle around, looked up for a second
but thenlooked back down at his phone,” said IMO President Omar Farouk. “He
didn’t see the guy went back around behind him.”
With his throat cut by a knife, the 58-year-old
husband, father and humanitarian died. His killer ran off and cops spent almost
a week searching for him.
Toronto Police released this image of Mohamed-Aslim
Zafis, 58, who was fatally stabbed in the neck outside of an Etobicoke mosque.
PHOTO BY HANDOUT
On Friday, police arrested a suspect — Von Neutegem,
34 — and charged with first-degree murder. The charges have not yet been tested
in court and he is innocent until proven guilty.
On Saturday, at the same mosque, volunteers walked
right by where he was murdered, went inside and started packaging hundreds of
food bags for the hungry.
“There are so many questions but one look at the
suspect’s social media platforms and you can see white supremacist postings,”
said Solaiman. “We as a community are pleased Toronto Police are looking at
this as a possible hate crime.”
On his phone, Solaiman showed photographer Jack Boland
and myself social media posts from the accused that include one from Feb. 21
stating, “Heritage and culture are the greatest treasures we inherit from our
ancestors. It’s in essence what we are.”
Homicide Insp. Hank Idsinga said they are in
possession of said social media and that the possibility of this being a hate
crime has not been ruled out and is being explored.
Police also are looking to see if there is any
connection to the stabbing death of Rampreet (Peter) Singh, 39, five days earlier,
on Sept. 7, under a nearby bridge.
“It’s so senseless,” he said of the two murders.
“Homicide is working very hard on this to get the answers to the family and
community who are understandably devastated.”
Standing at this mosque a week after the bloodshed,
everything looked pretty well the same as before — except that Mohamad wasn’t
there. What was not there a week ago were flowers, balloons and a card from
Zafis’ widow that read: “To my wonderful husband on our anniversary.”
“It’s so sad seeing that card,” said mosque member
Ayesha Hussain. “I pray she can find the strength to move forward. Everybody
loved ‘uncle.’ All of our hearts go out to her.”
Mayor John Tory has visited the mosque to pay his
respects. Premier Doug Ford has called mosque members, who are also his
constituents, to express both sorrow and anger. Everybody should be angry.
While fondly remembering this fine man is important,
what is equal in priority is to find out what ideology and potential
encouragement was lurking in the shadows that led someone to do something so
evil?
Whatever it was, no matter how embarrassing or
inconvenient, no stone should be left unturned. Mohamed-Aslim Zafis, and the
whole country, is owned nothing less.
https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-hate-filled-social-media-posts-key-to-rexdale-mosque-murder/wcm/88f91b3e-d04d-42f0-8df0-7d4346b23349/
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Trump's choice of top judge may sway election
September 20 2020
Eugene Gologursky
Donald Trump last night vowed to defy Ruth Bader
Ginsburg's dying wish and will nominate her replacement immediately, igniting a
tumultuous political battle that could determine the result of the US election
in November.
In doing so the US president will redraw the electoral
battle lines, making the vote less a referendum on his handling of the
coronavirus, and instead an ideological fight over the future of the US Supreme
Court. His campaign suggested it was a game-changing development.
"We were put in this position of power and
importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most
important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United
States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay!"
Trump said.
Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and the Democrat leadership
in the Senate immediately called for the nomination to be delayed until after
the election.
However, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate
leader, vowed to press ahead with confirming Trump's nominee. He said:
"President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the US
Senate."
The Senate only has to confirm by a simple majority,
and Republicans hold power with 53 seats to 47. But some of the party's more
moderate senators - including Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, and
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - may be reluctant to ram through the new nominee in
an election year. The confirmation process usually takes about two months, so
it could take place after the November 3 election, during the 'lame duck'
period before the inauguration of Trump or Biden on January 20. If Trump were
to lose, and Republicans drop seats in the Senate, the fate of his nominee
would become uncertain.
McConnell wrote to his Republican colleagues urgently
telling them to "keep their powder dry". He said: "This is not
the time to prematurely lock yourselves into a position you may later
regret."
A recent Pew Research Centre survey showed that, even
before Justice Ginsburg's death, the Supreme Court was a more important issue
to US voters than the coronavirus.
Alex Conant, a Republican strategist, said: "Joe
Biden wants this election to be a referendum on Trump. Now it's going to be a
referendum on whoever he nominates to the Supreme Court. It's hard to see how
this doesn't help Trump politically."
Trump would become the first president since Ronald
Reagan to nominate three justices to the nine-member bench. That would give the
court a 6-3 conservative majority, securing its ideological leaning for a
generation and cementing Trump's legacy.
The court decides issues that are fundamental to US
society, including on abortion, the environment, gay rights, the power of the
presidency, and gun control. Female voters in the suburbs are expected to be
key to the election result, and it is probable Trump will nominate a woman.
The favourite is Amy Coney Barrett, a devoutly
Catholic Chicago appeal court judge who was considered for Trump's two previous
nominations, and has already been vetted by the White House.
In her deathbed statement Justice Ginsburg, who had
publicly criticised Trump, said: "My most fervent wish is that I will not
be replaced until a new president is installed."
Her death may galvanise liberals to turn out in large
numbers for Biden in an attempt to secure her legacy.
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/north-america/us-presidential-election-2020/trumps-choice-of-top-judge-may-sway-election-39545273.html
---------
Mideast
Iran says no need for European arms, will buy weapons
from Russia, China
20 September 2020
SOURCE: PRESS TV
Iran’s foreign minister says the country will meet its
strategic needs by purchasing weapons from Russia and China, and has no need
for European weapons once the UN embargo is lifted in October.
Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks in a televised
interview on Saturday night in reaction to a possible initiative by France,
Germany, and the UK to restrict the sale of weapons to Iran following the
October expiration of the UN arms embargo against the Islamic Republic.
“We haven’t been a customer of European weapons, and
they haven’t sold us weapons after the 1979 revolution. … They even ran a
campaign during the 1980s imposed war [between Iran and Iraq] to prevent the
delivery of arms to Iran,” Zarif said.
“However, Iran can meet its strategic needs through
the countries it interacts with, like Russia and China; though it is
self-sufficient in many cases, and is an exporter [of arms] itself,” Zarif
said.
Thanks to God’s grace and the efforts of the country’s
Armed Forces, “Iran has become self-sufficient in many cases, but in cases of
need, other countries will have the right to trade with Iran once the UN
embargo is lifted,” the Iranian top diplomat added.
Following a humiliating failure at the UN Security
Council to secure an extension of the arms embargo against Iran, the United
States recently threatened to use its “secondary” sanctions to block any arms
trades with Tehran after the expiry of the UN ban next month.
US Special Representative for Venezuela and Iran
Elliott Abrams claimed on Wednesday that Washington could deny access to the US
market to anyone who trades in weapons with Tehran.
Sanctions “will have a very significant impact” on
arms manufacturers and traders that seek to do business with Tehran, he told
reporters.
Zarif further pointed to the recent statement by
France, Germany, and the UK in which they claimed they have “gone beyond their
own commitments” towards Iran by launching the Instrument in Support of Trade
Exchanges (INSTEX), a European mechanism which was supposed to facilitate trade
with Iran amid the US sanctions.
“They are joking. The three self-proclaimed world
powers failed to stand up to the US bullying. They failed, even though they may
not have made so much efforts,” he said.
“Europeans had 11 commitments to fulfil, and the
INSTEX was not even one of them, but a prerequisite for them. They failed to
fulfil them and said Americans didn’t let them. If we accept their own words,
they admitted Americans have kept them [from doing their part].”
“This is below Europe’s dignity. The economy of the
European Union is bigger than America’s. Then why did you fail to resist the
US’ bullying, which is now impacting you?” Zarif said, adding that the European
statement is just meant to save their face.
His comments came in reaction to a statement by
France, Germany and the UK delivered to the IAEA Board of Governors at the
September 2020 meeting.
They said in the statement, "The E3 has worked
hard to preserve the [2015 nuclear] agreement. We have gone beyond our own
commitments to facilitate legitimate trade with Iran, including by introducing
the INSTEX mechanism."
In his Saturday interview, Zarif also denied the claim
that the Islamic Republic is going to interfere in the upcoming US presidential
elections.
Zarif said the US should first try to avoid plotting
coup and violating people’s choice in other countries before accusing Iran of
interfering in its elections.
He made the remarks in an apparent allusion to the
CIA-orchestrated 1953 coup in Iran, which toppled the democratically-elected
government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
Zarif further referred to the recent deals signed by
the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize their relations with the
Israeli regime in the hope that Tel Aviv could bring them peace and security.
“Our neighbors unfortunately think the regime can
defend them. If Israel had such a power, it would have defended itself against
the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas,” Zarif said.
He expressed regret that a regional country is forced
to sign a deal with Israel so that Trump can use it for his presidential
campaign.
Bahrain and the UAE signed US-brokered normalization
agreements with Israel during a ceremony in Washington on Tuesday.
The controversial event was slammed by many Arab and
Muslim figures as a blatant betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/20/634564/Iran-US-Zarif-arms-embargo-europe
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UN chief says will take no action on US 'snapback'
push against Iran
20 September 2020
by AFP
The United Nations secretary-general says
“uncertainty” prevents him from taking any action on a US declaration that all
UN sanctions have been reinstated against Iran.
“There would appear to be uncertainty whether or not
the process ... was indeed initiated,” Antonio Guterres said on Saturday in a
letter to the UN Security Council that was seen by Reuters.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday that
all UN sanctions against Iran were "back in effect" under a
“snapback” mechanism featured in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world
powers.
"If UN member states fail to fulfill their
obligations to implement these sanctions, the United States is prepared to use
our domestic authorities to impose consequences for those failures and ensure
that Iran does not reap the benefits of UN-prohibited activity," he said.
However, other signatories to the nuclear accord
assert that the American procedure lacks legal effect because Washington left
the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),
in 2018.
“It is not for the Secretary-General to proceed as if
no such uncertainty exists,” Guterres added to his remarks that were especially
timed to coincide with the deadline set by Washington.
Thirteen members of the Security Council -- including
prominent Washington allies, the UK, France, and Germany -- have, however,
refused to fall into line with the US’s campaign, considering it either
illegitimate or against efforts to preserve the nuclear deal.
Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy
responded on Twitter, “We all clearly said in August that US claims to trigger
snapback are illegitimate. Is Washington deaf?”
Iran’s UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi also
tweeted, “US illegal and false ‘deadline’ has come and gone ... Swimming against
international currents will only bring it more isolation.”
In August, the Security Council rejected a US-drafted
resolution seeking to prevent an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic from
expiring in October under the JCPOA.
China and Russia strongly opposed the resolution and
eleven countries withheld their votes on the draft that was only backed by the
Dominican Republic.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/20/634575/Iran-United-Nations-United-States-sanctions-snapback-nuclear
---------
Evacuating Incirlik airbase could mark end to
US-Turkey alliance
September 20, 2020
Source : Al Waght News
While Turkish-Western relations have been overshadowed
by clouds of differences over the past few years, Greek media recently reported
that the US eyes relocating its forces from Turkey’s Incirlik airbase to
another base in one of the Greek islands. Washington Examiner news website,
quoting Senator of Wisconsin who chairs Senate Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Ron
Johnson, reported that the UN navy is building a base in Crete island in the
Souda Bay south of the country.
How did rumors start?
In recent years, tensions between the US and Turkey
increased considerably, especially when Washington started its support to the
Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which is affiliated with the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK, in the battle against the Turkish government for
over 30 years, has been blacklisted by both Turkey and the US a terrorist
organization.
Turkey opened Incirlik for the US-led Western coalition’s
air operations in Syria in June 2015, with the leading party launching
airstrikes in Syria from the Turkish base being the US.
But the YPG played as the US infantry on the Syrian
battleground in the regions lost by the Syrian government to the ISIS terrorist
organization, something seen by Turkey as a threat to its national security.
This vision to the Kurds in northern Syria motivated Ankara to launch several
campaigns in a bid to check the Kurdish militias’ power gain.
Before the Syria issue, the attempted coup of mid-July
2016, which Ankara blamed on the US-based Turkish preacher and President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s foe Fethullah Gulen, was the main cause of the US-Turkey
fraying of ties. Turkey blacklisted Gulen’s secret organization as a terrorist
entity and called for the Pennsylvania-based preacher extradition. The Turkish
demand remains unaddressed by Washington, pushing Erdogan to suggest that the
US is a backer of coup plotters.
Immediately after the power grab attempt was thwarted,
Turkey closed down Incirlik, saying that some forces in the airbase were part
of the plot.
The range of the dispute even widened as Turkey said
it planned to buy S-400 air defenses from Russia, a move Washington seeing as
against the spirit of the NATO alliance and arguing that through it Moscow can
discover the Western technology secrets like those of the modern F-35 fighter
jets. When the efforts to dissuade Turkey went nowhere, the US kicked Turkey
out of the F-35 program. Turkey was part of the massive supply chain of the
stealth fighter. Another response was blocking the scheduled delivery of the
jets to Ankara. Additionally, Congress in late 2019 imposed sanctions on Turkey
under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act),
triggering Erdogan's response.
In December 2019, Erdogan threatened that if
Washington realizes its economic sanctions on Turkey for Ankara purchase of the
Russian air defense systems, he will close down two strategic US bases on the
Turkish soil.
"If necessary, we'll close Incirlik and also
Kurecik," Erdogan told broadcaster A Haber, referring to two military
bases used by the United States. "If the threat of sanctions is
implemented against us, we'll respond to them in the framework of
reciprocity."
Incirlik involvement in the Ankara-Washington disputes
is not limited to the recent years. In the 1970s, when the US government
decided to impose an arms embargo on Turkey for the latter’s military action
against Cyprus, their relations were hit by a crisis. Turkey in response closed
down all of the bases hosting the American forces across the country and
transferred their control, except for Incirlik and Izmir bases, to its
military. The reason the two remained open was an agreement with NATO allies.
Incirlik significance
Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952. The military
base is controlled by the Turkish military but according to a 1980 defense and
economic cooperation agreement between Washington and Ankara, the US military
has the right to use Incirlik for NATO operations.
The decision to build Incirlik airbase was made during
the second Cairo conference in 1943. Still, the construction was delayed to
1951 due to the eruption of the Second World War.
The base played a significant role during the Cold War
due to its proximity to the Soviet Union frontiers. Another significance was
its accommodation of troops close to Lebanon and the Israeli regime. If the
need arises, other NATO members are allowed to send troops to Incirlik within
the NATO operations framework. The base is located in Adana, one of the largest
Turkish cities that only 50 kilometers separate it from the Mediterranean Sea
in the south. Incirlik is home to about 2,500 American troops along with
hundreds of Turkish service members.
In the base, there is a squadron of A-10 Warthog
aircraft. Also, about 33 percent of the aerial refueling flights and about 30
percent of the short-range air support operations are launched from the base.
The US also holds about 60 B-61 nuclear bombs in this base.
Although the Turkish base played a big role in the US
campaigns in Afghanistan and Syria, in the recent years, the Americans tried to
reduce reliance on it and instead expanded the capacity of their base in Jordan
and also built bases in northern Syria where allied Kurdish forces hold
control. One reason for the US seeking replacement is the Iraq war. Turkish
parliament rejected a US call to be allowed to store ammunition and weapons in
2003 ahead of the invasion of Iraq.
Incirlik nuclear bombs
One of the issues that bring Incirlik to the US and
European concerns about the expansion of the tensions with Turkey is the
existence of nukes at the Turkish base. Reports say that the US is considering
the relocation of them to Greece as the tensions are growing with Ankara.
Amid geopolitical tensions between Ankara and the US
regional allies like Greece, the Israeli regime, and Egypt in the Mediterranean
and also the increasing enmity between the Turkish-led Muslim Brotherhood camp
and the Saudi-Emirati alliance, Erdogan seeks to close the nuclear gaps with
these countries, especially that the UAE and Saudi Arabia recently have
accelerated their mysterious nuclear programs.
Although Turkey signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) in 1980 and also joined an adjunct one in 1996, in October last year
Erdogan openly expressed disappointment with Turkey not having nukes.
“Some countries have missiles with nuclear warheads,
not one or two. But (they tell us) we can’t have them. This, I cannot accept,
There is no developed nation in the world that doesn’t have them. We have
Israel nearby, as almost neighbors. They scare (other nations) by possessing
these. No one can touch them,” the Reuters news agency quoted him as telling
his ruling AK Party members in the eastern city of Sivas.
Heading to confrontation
As over the past years gaps inside the most important
Western military alliance have been growing, tensions between Turkey and the
European countries are the main reason.
Only a couple of days have passed since Turkey amassed
heavy weapons on the border with Greece, another NATO member. The move forced
Athens to shore up its combat readiness and ask European countries for help.
Meanwhile, a statement published by France, which said that in case of a war
between Turkey and Greece, Paris will stand by Athens, inflamed the al-ready
unstable situation. Paris recently protested to Turkey for what it said threats
Turkish warships posed to its naval vessels in the Mediterranean.
As the tensions gain heat, many experts say that
Ankara could any time block Bosporus and thus close the way of the passing
warships. Analysts suggest that Turkey in fact will have to close the link
between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, especially if the NATO allies want
to compound the situation for Turkey. In March, Turkey warned it will close
down Bosporus if the smallest threats are posed to its interests.
Meanwhile, the threat to evacuate Incirlik can be part
of the US measures in support of Greece in its tensions with Turkey, especially
that Washington has already sent out symbolic warnings to Ankara through joint
military drills with Greece and also when it recently lifted a three-decade
arms embargo on Cyprus.
https://en.abna24.com/news//evacuating-incirlik-airbase-could-mark-end-to-us-turkey-alliance_1071953.html
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IAEA will make no further demand after inspection of
two Iranian sites: Nuclear chief
19 September 2020
SOURCE: PRESS TV
Iran’s nuclear chief says the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that it would not make further demands to
inspect more sites inside Iran after visiting the two locations for
verification purposes based on an agreement reached between the two sides late
last month.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)
Ali Akbar Salehi said on Saturday that in the recent issue between the two
sides, Tehran never said that it would not grant the IAEA access to inspect its
nuclear sites.
He added that the IAEA had made a request that had
some “legal and technical problems” after they were evaluated by Iran, but the
country expressed its readiness to cooperate with the agency after the nuclear
watchdog solved these issues.
“If the International Atomic Energy Organization makes
a demand from Iran based on commitments, we do not have any problem to meet
them. It means that the IAEA’s demands should be in line with the Safeguards
Agreement or the Additional Protocol, and they should be logical, solid and
substantiable,” he added.
Pointing to a joint statement issued by Iran and the
IAEA late last month, Salehi said, “The IAEA inspectors came [to Iran] and
inspected one of the two sites specified [by the agency]. The first inspection
was carried out and nothing special happened.”
He noted that Iran and the IAEA have also agreed the
time for the inspection of the second site but it would not be made public.
At the end of a two-day trip to Tehran by the IAEA
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, Iran and the UN nuclear agency issued a
joint statement on August 26 on their agreements and the results of high-level
talks between the two sides.
"After intensive bilateral consultations, Iran
and the IAEA reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards
implementation issues specified by the IAEA, in good faith. In this regard, Iran
is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by
the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve these
issues," read part of the statement.
Speaking during his introductory statement to the
IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors on Monday, Grossi said the agency's
inspectors will visit the second of two sites in Iran later in September.
"Our inspectors took environmental samples which
will be analyzed. A complementary access at the second specified location will
take place later this month," he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said Iran’s policies
and approaches have always been based on principles set by the country, adding,
“We cannot violate these principles.”
"The Islamic Republic of Iran showed that it is a
committed country that acts based on political code of ethics and it is not
like the Americans that renege on their promises,” the AEOI chief said, once
again reaffirming Tehran’s full compliance with its commitments.
In a joint statement delivered to the IAEA Board of
Governors on Friday, Britain, France and Germany, the three European
signatories to a multilateral 2015 nuclear deal with Iran hailed Tehran’s
encouraging statements on its intention to further strengthen its cooperation
with the IAEA.
The E3 said they welcomed the joint statement reached
between the agency and Iran, adding, “The statement paves a procedural way
forward towards the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues
specified by the Agency and towards implementation by Iran of its legal
obligations to provide access to sites identified by IAEA.”
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/19/634544/Salehi-AEOI-IAEA-Iran-nuclear-sites-inspection
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Arab world
Taif Agreement Ensured Shia Governmental Partnership
through Finance Portfolio & Binding Signature on Ministerial Decrees
Mohammad Salami
20-09-2020
Among the complications, which hinder the new cabinet
formation in Lebanon, comes the rotation of the ministerial portfolios over the
sects in accordance with the Constitution whose last amendment was in 1990,
known as the Taif Agreement.
The essence of Taif agreement is transferring the
powers of the President to the council of ministers, according to the former MP
Nasser Qandil who added, in an interview with Al-Manar TV Channel, that the
prime minister cannot monopolize the powers which the President enjoyed before
1990.
Kandil explained that the Shia governmental
partnership is ensured through granting them the Finance portfolio which
guarantees their binding signature on almost all the ministerial decrees,
stressing that depriving the Shia from this right means excluding them from the
partnership in the political system.
Kandil, who is also the editor-in-chief of Al-Binaa
newspaper, pointed out the finance portfolio was given to the Shia in three
governments formed after the Taif Agreement (Dr. Ali Khalil and Dr. Asaad
Diab), adding that the House Speaker Nabih Berri agreed to relinquish it in
favor of the late premier Rafik Hariri exclusively in the context of a
guarantee presented by the Syrian President Hafez Al-Asad at that time.
“Shia governmental partnership was guaranteed by the
troika presidential system till 2005 when Hariri was assassinated. After the
regression of the political and security turmoil in 2009, the Shia secured
one-third of of the government for 5 years. Since 2014, the finance portfolio
has been granted to the Shia just in line with the Taif agreement.”
The PM-designate Mustafa Adib, backed by a group of
former premiers, insist on rotating the ministerial portfolios over the sects,
without taking into consideration the distinctive conditions of the finance
portfolio, while Hezbollah and Amal Movement reject denying the Shia this right
and highlight its role in ensuring their participation in the Lebanese
political system.
Kandil stressed that the role of the PM-designate is
to contact the various political forces in order to take their opinions and
views into the consideration of the government formation, adding that reaching
the end of this deadlock requires this positive approach.
http://english.almanar.com.lb/1147269
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Sharjah Islamic Bank wins Sukuk Deal of the Year 2020
Award
19-09-2020
Hassan Bashir
SHARJAH, 19th September 2020 (WAM) - Sharjah Islamic
Bank’s (SIB) $500 million Sukuk received the ‘Sukuk Deal of the Year 2020’, at
the 10th Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA). The bank was acknowledged with
the award, during a virtual ceremony held on September 14.
SIB, which enjoys strong investment grade ratings of
A- by Standard & Poors, A3 by Moody’s, priced a $500 million (AED 1.83
billion) 5-year Sukuk, with a profit rate of 2.85 per cent per annum. The
prestigious award is another achievement for the bank, especially after they
have successfully expanded their investment and financing services across
individual and corporate financing during the year.
The bank was able to generate significant momentum
from regional and international investors, reflecting strongly on their
reputation as a source of quality credit in the financial markets. The bank
received an overwhelming response of over $3.6 billion, 7.2 times greater than
the issuance for the deal closed on 16 June 2020. The funds raised from this
issuance process will be used to for SIB’s General corporate purposes.
Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said:
"We are delighted to be recognized at the Global Islamic Finance Awards,
which is a testimony of the bank’s successful implementation of its policies.
The Sukuk has achieved the best pricing globally, having competed with some of
the largest traditional and Islamic banking institutions. This in turn has
further helped strengthen the basic and total capital ratios of the bank, which
will help achieve the targeted growth rate in the coming years."
He added: "This is SIB’s 8th Sukuk issuance after
launching its first Sukuk in 2006, confirming the bank’s credibility despite
the current exceptional circumstances. This award also contributes to enhancing
the image of the bank across global financial markets and provider of strong
financial tools. The award helps us strengthen our profile both as a regular
issuer, providing a financial instrument which is investment grade in nature as
well as generating enhanced opportunity for future business."
Courtesy of its commitment to adopting the best
practices and the latest regulations in the world of finance and business, SIB
has won several local, regional and international awards over the years that
prove the bank’s excellence and leadership.
Sharjah Islamic Bank is constantly striving to provide
all electronic services and facilities, designed to meet the requirements of
the retail and corporate customer base during the current period. The bank
seeks to extend support to the nation, under the slogan ‘We Commit Until We
Succeed, that aligns with the UAE Vision 2021 aimed at building a creative,
high standard and competitive knowledge-based economy.
The Global Islamic Finance Awards is one of the most
respected awards in the field of Islamic banking and finance that recognizes
the outstanding contributions made by governments, institutions and individuals
to contribute to the sustainability of Islamic banking and finance, as a viable
system within the global financial architecture.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302871017
--------
Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns Houthi
attack on Khamis Mushayt
SPA
September 19, 2020
RIYADH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
on Friday condemned the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s targeting of civilians in
the Saudi city of Khamis Mushayt, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Arab coalition spokesman, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, said
that an armed drone was intercepted and destroyed on Thursday.
OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen stressed
his organization’s denunciation of the continual assaults by Houthi terrorist
militia and their supporters that systematically and deliberately attacked
civilians and civil targets in the Kingdom.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1736646/saudi-arabia
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Blessing in disguise: How pandemic was a catalyst for
Saudi SMEs to change
RUBA OBAID
September 20, 2020
JEDDAH: Saudis continue to shop online despite the
government easing the COVID-19 lockdown, with the surge in e-commerce prompting
small and medium-sized enterprises to adapt.
E-commerce saved global retail markets from collapse
and stopped consumers from having to go out during the first wave of the
outbreak. However, SMEs were the most vulnerable to the pandemic’s consequences
and e-platforms played a crucial role in their survival.
Saudi Arabia’s consumer behavior was transformed
during the COVID-19 lockdown as soon as stores were ordered to shut their
doors, creating a frenzy among consumers although they were quick to adapt.
SMEs were also forced to adapt, not only to accommodate the growing demand for
online shopping but to ensure they survived with minimal losses.
Marion Janson, the chief economist at the UN’s
International Trade Centre, said in June that around 20 percent of SMEs globally
may not survive the pandemic.
A recent report from Visa revealed increased anxiety
among merchants in Saudi Arabia, with 67 percent of small businesses noticing a
decrease in average consumer spending.
Many Saudi consumers started shopping online for the
first time, primarily for essentials. The Visa report showed that two-thirds of
the Saudi consumers surveyed said that COVID-19 led to their first online
grocery purchase, while 59 percent made their first online purchase from
pharmacies.
“With the confusion at the beginning, we didn’t know
what was acceptable and what wasn’t,” said Dr. Suhad Zain, a government
employee in Jeddah. “Can we risk going out to shop for our daily needs or not?
We needed to be sure that everyone in the house was safe, including the driver,
and not expose ourselves to the invisible menace that changed our lifestyles.
Most of our groceries were obtained online, from produce to water bottles to
even appliances and leisure items. It had to be done, even though we needed
time to accept the new change.”
Fear of the virus is expected to change the way
consumers behave forever. “It became more convenient even after the lockdown
was lifted,” Zain added. “After a few months we got used to it and, as a
family, it became our new preferred means of purchase.”
Such conditions were a catalyst for online commerce,
according to the Visa report, with 38 percent of merchants in the country
reporting the introduction of online offerings as a direct result of the
pandemic while more than half had an e-commerce presence before the pandemic.
Two-thirds of the Saudi consumers said COVID-19 led to
their first online grocery purchase, while 59% made their first online purchase
from pharmacies. (GettyImages)
The report also said there was a surge in e-commerce,
a preference for trusted brands, a decline in discretionary spending, and a
polarization of sustainability. Consumers have a larger basket, but reduced
shopping frequency, and will shift to stores closer to home. A change can
easily be detected in Saudi consumer behavior.
But the shift to online commerce, with cash
transactions being replaced by digital payments, has negatively influenced
cash-only retailers and presents a tough challenge to these merchants, who have
to understand the shift in consumer behavior and adapt accordingly and
urgently.
“Saudi business owners currently face multiple
challenges that they need to deal with when they want to shift to e-commerce,
some of them even lack the knowledge of how technology could benefit them and
what options it could offer,” Talal Abdullah, a business development and
marketing consultant, told Arab News.
“Also some will need to find a technical partner to
successfully transform to e-commerce and, most importantly, they need to
revisit their business model canvas to determine how they want to employ this
technology for the best of their businesses.”
In order to overcome these challenges, Abdullah
suggested that business owners look for the right technical partner based on
their new model.
“If they fail to find a suitable technical partner,
then they need to set a clear budget for the application or website they need
to set up. But before reaching out to any company that offers support with
these technical services, you must get in touch with real clients of these
companies and inquire about their business and how they deal with them.”
He added that seeking assistance from technical
consultants or owners of similar projects could cut down on time and effort.
Joining business accelerators and incubators, as well as entrepreneurship and
technology communities, could help with expanding knowledge and relationships
and contribute overall to a smoother transition.
But these changes have their costs too, imposing new
financial burdens on an already weakened business due to the pandemic and the
time required to build and adapt a new business model that targets a completely
different group of customers. It is a serious challenge for many small
retailers.
Abu Mohammed has been in the retail business for 20
years. He used to have frequent customers who came in for a specific type of
clothing with a certain price range. But, with the lockdown, he could hardly
sell anything.
“I began targeting a different kind of customer in the
past couple of years where I was importing new clothes and selling them through
Instagram and e-commerce websites,” he told Arab News. “However I still cannot
completely substitute my current store with a completely virtual one. That
needs time and money to build a reputation.”
He said the lockdown had been a harsh experience for
him and that he recognized the need to expedite his old plans to transform his
store into an actual brand, since people were gradually moving toward online
shopping from well-known brands.
“This transformation is not going to be easy at all,”
he added. “It will need a good marketing plan and well-spent money not only on
tools but also staff. It is a completely new experience, however. I know
e-commerce is here to stay and it is our only way forward. Otherwise my work
for years will gradually vanish. This crisis could be a blessing in disguise,
who knows.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1737061/saudi-arabia
--------
Six soldiers killed in an attack attributed to the
Islamic State in eastern Syria
Sep 19, 2020
Europe & World News
At least six Syrian soldiers were killed in an attack
by the Islamic State jihadist group in a desert area in Deir Ezzor province in
eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The London-based organization with informants in the
Arab country stated on its website that the attack took place in the Ber Abú al
Hayaya region in the Al Mayadín desert, with no current claim to authorship.
On the other hand, he has stated that a bomb exploded
on Thursday afternoon when a convoy of the United States-led international
coalition passed near the village of Abriha, also in Deir Ezzor, although he
added that it ended without victims. The coalition did not comment on what
happened.
Six soldiers killed in an attack attributed to the
Islamic State in eastern SyriaSix soldiers killed in an attack attributed to
the Islamic State in eastern Syria
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on March
23, 2019 the capture of Baghuz and the fall of the so-called territorial
caliphate of the Islamic State, which no longer controls any area in Syria and
Iraq, where it was defeated in December 2017.
https://www.syriahr.com/en/184778/
-------
Africa
Muslims in Lagos State Told to Be Good Ambassadors of
Islam
September 19, 2020
Our Reporter
PROF. Tajudeen Gbadamosi has called on Muslims in
Lagos State to be good ambassadors of Islam and pray for the betterment of the
country.
Prof. Gbadamosi made the call during the visit of the
Lagos State Muslim Community Committee on the pandemic to Epe to observe the
level of compliance with coronavirus protocols.
The Chief Imam of Epeland, Alhaji Abdullateef Oladapo,
called on government not to relent in enlightening members of the public on the
risk of the pandemic.
Alhaji Oladapo commended members of the Lagos Muslim
Community for being proactive in battling the terrible disease.
In his contribution, the Chief Imam of First Epe
Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulrahman Saadallah, explained that mosques in the
division are in full compliance with the directives given by both federal and
state governments.
According to him, “aged people are restricted from
being part of the congregational prayers and that is the more reason why the
traditional ruler of the land has not been part of the Jumat prayer because he
is law-abiding”.
Imam Saadallah appealed to government to key into
taking care of the welfare of the citizens, especially the coronavirus period.
https://thenationonlineng.net/muslims-told-to-be-good-ambassadors-of-islam/
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Ten Chad soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush
By AFP
19 September 2020
Ten Chadian soldiers were killed while attacking a
base of the Boko Haram Islamist group in the Lake Chad region, the province’s
secretary-general told AFP on Saturday.
Seven soldiers were also injured in Thursday’s ambush,
Sadick Khatir said, confirming information given by an anonymous military
source.
Contacted by AFP, however, army spokesman Azem
Mbermandoa, did not confirm the death toll but added that the Chadian army had
“destroyed a Boko Haram base, recovered weapons and ammunition”.
The jihadist group, which originated in Nigeria in
2009, has established bases on islets dotting Lake Chad, a vast swampy expanse
on the border between Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The Chadian army launched an offensive against Boko
Haram in April after the death of some 100 soldiers in an attack by the group
on one of its bases.
In Chad’s Lake Province, more than 360,000 people have
fled their homes to avoid attacks and also flooding, according to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The president admitted in early August that “Boko
Haram would still do a lot of damage” in Chad.
https://guardian.ng/news/world/africa/ten-chad-soldiers-killed-in-boko-haram-ambush/
----------
Boko Haram destroys 47,615 houses, health centres,
others in Borno
By Njadvara Musa
20 September 2020
Zulum disclosed this at the weekend to an 18-member
House Committee on the North East Development Commission (NEDC) at Government
House, Maiduguri.
According to him, the statistics on massive
destruction of property are devastating and scaring. “The Boko Haram insurgency
has also triggered acute humanitarian crises,” he said, adding that the over a
decade long terrorism has devastated the social and economic impacts on people.
He told the legislators that there were also
“deepening fragility and poverty” in the Northeast sub-region. While lamenting
massive destructions of property, he said: “The insurgents have destroyed over
400,000 houses in the state. About 5,000 classrooms were also torched.
“No less than 202 health centres were destroyed along
with the torching of 1,613 water supply points,” he said. He added that other
infrastructural facilities and public buildings destroyed include, 713 energy
distribution lines that plunged the state into darkness for over two years.
According to him, 800 municipal buildings were set
ablaze, including hospitals, police stations and 22 council secretariat
complexes.
Speaking on number of orphans and widows, Zulum
disclosed, “we harvested a total number of 53,111 orphans, while about 54,000
women were also widowed by the terrorists.”He said these are unofficial
figures, noting the confirmed number of orphans and widows are more than
107,111.
“We also have over a million IDPs in the state,” he
said, stating that the task is enormous. He, however, noted that credit must be
given to Federal Government, because about 22 councils were under the control
of Boko Haram. He said that from September 2015 to date, most of the councils
were fully recovered, despite the challenges being faced in the state.
https://guardian.ng/news/boko-haram-destroys-47615-houses-health-centres-others-in-borno/
---------
Pakistan
BankIslami wins Brand of the Year Award 2019 for
Islamic Banking
-PR
September 19, 2020
KARACHI-BankIslami, the country’s leading Islamic
bank, has bagged one of the most prestigious national accolades this year by
becoming the Brand of the Year 2019. The bank won in the Islamic Banking
category in acknowledgment of its achievements in highlighting brand excellence
as well as noteworthy performance across the industry. The Brand of the Year
Awards which is an annual event celebrating outstanding services and innovative
products by organizations across a diverse range of sectors was attended this
year by notable dignitaries and ministers. The jury this year recognized the
marketing as well as strategic efforts implemented by BankIslami to promote the
image of a technologically advanced, modern Islamic Bank. The brand reputation
along with trust ratios for BankIslami has risen among and beyond its target
audience leading to award one of the most renowned marketing accolades in
Pakistan. Speaking at the occasion, President & CEO, BankIslami Syed Amir
Ali, stated; “At BankIslami, we believe in enabling our customers as well as
all other stakeholders in having access to the most convenient
Shariah-compliant financial services in the market. We continue to expand
financial inclusion across the country by building credibility as well as an
image of an institution that simplifies banking for its customers. Being
recognized by a platform like Brand of the Year is certainly a feather in our
cap and we hope to keep our momentum going in the times to come.” BankIslami
took numerous steps which included formulation of effective strategies to
rebrand a refreshed image of the organization among both existing and potential
target markets. The Bank aspires to accelerate towards the right direction to
accomplish further accolades like these while delivering quality to its
customers.
https://nation.com.pk/19-Sep-2020/bankislami-wins-brand-of-the-year-award-2019-for-islamic-banking
--------
‘Hasty decision’ of closure mars education, says
minister
Ikram Junaidi
20 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood
on Saturday warned against ‘any hasty decision’ to close institutions, as tens
of educational institutions were closed soon after their reopening across the
country over violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and detection
of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases among some students, teachers and
other staff, while Sindh had already decided to delay the reopening of middle
schools for another week.
“There is no change regarding the timetable announced
earlier after inter provincial meeting of education ministers. We will meet in
the NCOC on 22nd to decide finally but if the current trend remains, no reason
to postpone 6 to 8 opening on 23rd September,” the federal minister in a tweet
declared, before claiming that health of “students is our first priority and
any decision we make will be guided by the advice of health ministry.
“Having said that 6 months closure deeply affected
the students. Decision to open was taken with great care. Any hasty decision to
close will destroy education.”
In Balochistan, a university was closed while another
postponed resumption of classes amid reported cases of coronavirus. The
provincial government claimed that 67 cases had been detected in educational
institutions since their reopening on September 15. At least 10 government-run
schools in Quetta, Zhob and other areas were also closed following the
emergence of coronavirus cases.
As a precautionary measure, the Pakistan Medical
Association (PMA) has suggested that like Sindh, the federal and provincial
governments should also delay the reopening of middle schools. The health
professionals’ association feared that the number of Covid-19 cases could surge
in the coming days. The PMA, however, believed the National Command and
Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19 should take such decisions, considering
drop in temperature and violation of SOPs.
However, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on
Health Dr Faisal Sultan rejected such fears and made it clear that the “slight
increase” [in cases] should not be attributed to the reopening of the
educational institutions. He said the incubation period of the virus was one
week while the institutions were reopened on September 15.
The PM’s aide said that there was a ‘global trend of
increase’ in cases, but in Pakistan, aggressive testing was the reason for the
[recent] increase in number of cases.
For the last few days, the number of cases has started
increasing, with the number of patients on ventilators hovering in three digits
again after remaining in double digits for some time.
PMA General Secretary Dr Qaisar Sajjad told Dawn that
as compared to other countries, in Pakistan, virus behaved differently. “While
number of cases was increasing in other countries, opposite to estimates, in
Pakistan numbers started to drop and in August per day only 200 to 300 cases
were being reported,” he said, but it was yet to be ascertained whether the people
had developed immunity or there could be some other reason for the dwindling
numbers. “It is being observed that the cases have again started increasing in
the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, etc. In Australia,
curfew has been imposed due to increasing number of cases,” Dr Sajjad said.
In Pakistan, he said, 90 per cent of people believed
that the virus had already been defeated and eradicated, as they had stopped
following the SOPs. “Even educated people have again started shaking hand and
they even hug each other.”
The PMA general secretary said: “I believe the
decrease in temperature is also a reason for increase in cases, as viruses of
influenza and corona family become more active in low temperature.”
Dr Sajjad in reply to a question said students should
be allowed to remove face masks for 10 minutes after every couple of hours, as
high level of carbon dioxide in the body could cause death among children. He
said school administration should be bound to hold antibodies tests of staff
and students. “If antibodies tests are found positive, teachers and students
can teach and study without taking any precautionary measures and all the
attention should be given to those who have not contracted virus,” he added.
“Sindh has rightly decided to delay opening of middle
standard schools, but that sort of decisions should be taken at the platform of
NCOC to avoid confusion. Other provinces and federal govt should also take
similar decision,” he said.
The Balochistan authorities, meanwhile, closed a
university and 10 government-run schools in Quetta and other cities during the
past 24 hours after detecting deadly virus in large number of students and
teachers after reopening of varsities, colleges and high schools.
Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University Quetta postponed
the resumption of classes, which were scheduled to commence from September 21,
while Balochistan University has been closed amid reported cases of
coronavirus.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening,
spokesman for the Balochistan government Liaquat Shahwani said: “Balochistan
University was closed after reports of coronavirus cases.” He said 67 Covid-19
cases had been confirmed in educational institutions since September 15.
Apart from this, 10 government-run schools were closed
in Quetta, Zhob, and other parts of Balochistan after reports of Covid-19
cases. “The educational institution that reported more than two cases would be
closed,” said Mr Shahwani.
He feared that the number of cases could increase
further in October. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, Balochistan has reported
a total of 14,138 cases with 145 deaths.
Mr Shahwani said random testing would be conducted at
educational institutions. “Around 1,000 tests have already been conducted in
Balochistan,” he said, claiming that the positive cases ratio in educational
institutions was 14 per cent. “We want to expand the process of testing in
Balochistan,” he said, adding that the provincial government would establish
labs at the divisional level to reach out to the maximum number of patients.
The provincial government had reopened universities,
colleges, and higher secondary schools after a gap of nearly eight months. The
government also formed committees at district level to ensure implementation of
the Standard Operating Procedures.
While talking to Dawn, PM’s aide on health Dr Sultan
said there was a slight increase in number of cases but the rise should not be
attributed to opening of school as incubation period of the virus was almost
one week.
He then explained: “We were holding around 20,000
tests per day, but after opening of schools intensive testing has been started
due to which number of daily tests has reached 30,000. Though number of
positive cases is increased, the positive ratio to tests is still 2 per cent.”
Having said that, he said he was worried the masses
had declared a victory against the Covid-19 and stopped wearing masks.
Dr Sultan said the decision about reopening or closing
of schools would be taken from the platform of the NCOC.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580644/hasty-decision-of-closure-mars-education-says-minister
--------
Opposition moot to devise anti-govt strategy today
Amir Wasim
20 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: The stage is set for a much-hyped gathering
of the opposition leaders at the PPP-hosted multiparty conference (MPC) aimed
at devising a strategy to oust the PTI-led coalition government.
The MPC being held at a five-star hotel on Sunday
(today) has become all the more significant with the announcement that supreme
leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and deposed prime minister
Nawaz Sharif will address its participants via video link from London, marking
his political comeback after more than a year.
Besides Mr Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader
Asif Ali Zardari also plans to deliver an opening speech through video link as
he will not be able to physically attend the event due to his poor health
condition.
Mr Sharif, who has been living in London for medical
treatment and who has been declared a proclaimed offender by an
accountability court earlier this month in the Toshakhana vehicles reference
with the court directive to the National Accountability Bureau to make his
arrest through Interpol, had agreed to address the MPC after PPP chairman
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari talked to him over telephone on Friday and extended a
formal invitation.
Responding to the opposition’s announcement
regarding Mr Sharif’s address to the MPC, a number of government ministers and
advisers declared that a “proclaimed offender and a convicted person” could not
address a political gathering and also warned of “legal action” if television
channels aired his speech.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political
Communication Shahbaz Gill on Saturday through his social media account on
Twitter said “the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and
other legal options” would be used if Nawaz Sharif addressed the MPC and if his
speech was aired by TV channels.
“How is it possible that a fugitive carries out
political activities and gives speeches? The Sharif clan can only spew lies.
They are such big liars that they also lie about [their] medical conditions,”
tweeted Mr Gill.
On the other hand, the PML-N criticised the
government’s planned move to black out the speeches of Mr Sharif and his
daughter and the party’s vice-president Maryam Nawaz through a tweet suggested
that his “speech should be telecast through live streaming on social media
platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube so that it can’t be blocked in
the country”.
Ms Nawaz has already arrived in Islamabad from Lahore
for participation in the MPC and she will be part of the 11-member PML-N delegation
under party president Shahbaz Sharif. The PML-N on Saturday officially
announced the names of its leaders who would represent the party in the MPC.
The party delegation will comprise Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq,
Pervaiz Rasheed, Maryam Nawaz, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, Ameer
Maqam and Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Meanwhile, as host of the MPC, Mr Bhutto-Zardari spent
a busy day on Saturday holding a PPP meeting to discuss the agenda and
arrangements for the event besides talking to the heads of other opposition
parties. He also visited the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief
Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the possible agenda of the opposition’s moot.
Before that, the PPP chairman talked over telephone to the presidents of two
factions of the Balochistan National Party, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Israrullah
Zehri, Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao and National Party leader Dr Abdul
Malik.
Talking to Dawn, PPP vice president Sherry Rehman said
that heads and representatives of 12 opposition parties would be attending the
MPC. She said initially the conference was to be held at Zardari House but due
to the size of the gathering and to ensure social distancing in the wake of
Covid-19, they had finally decided to arrange the conference at the hotel.
“We will make a final decision in tomorrow’s MPC
against the actions of this government,” announced PPP Punjab president Qamar
Zaman Kaira at a press conference at Zardari House after attending a party
meeting.
Responding to a question, Mr Kaira dispelled the
impression in some political and journalistic circles that the PPP was not in
favour of launching a full-fledged movement against the PTI government as it
did not want to sacrifice its own provincial government in Sindh.
“We have also arrived at the conclusion that this
government must go. We have not previously decided to send this government
packing and tried to correct it… but now we believe that this government must
go before the current challenges become irreversible,” he said.
Political analysts believe that opening speeches of Mr
Sharif and Mr Zardari will set the tone of the MPC which will be participated
by the opposition leaders having divided opinion on the future strategy against
the government.
They say there are hawkish elements in almost all the
parties who want to launch a full-fledged street agitation against the
government even at the cost of their seats in the parliament. On the other
hand, there are some saner elements, especially in the PPP and the PML-N, who
are against this idea as they fear that “undemocratic forces” can take
advantage of the situation.
Sources told Dawn that the PPP and the PML-N were
against the idea of holding an indefinite sit-in like the PTI and the JUI-F had
done in the past and which had failed to bring any result. They said the
leaders of the two major opposition parties had conveyed this to the JUI-F
leadership which wanted to go all out against the government.
Speaking at a news conference, Federal minister for
Information Shibli Faraz and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Shahzad
Akbar claimed that the opposition’s MPC posed no threat to the government.
“This MPC simply means accused plus convicts. They
have met in the past several times with zero result and are bound to fail this
time as well,” Mr Faraz said.
He said the timing of the MPC made it clear that the
opposition leaders were worried about the recent amendments to the anti-money
laundering law. He said their sole mission was to save their leaders who were
involved in money laundering.
He alleged that the opposition wanted to create
anarchy in the country while the government continued with its efforts for
socio-economic development.
Mr Akbar said it was an established law that no
convict or proclaimed offender could address political gatherings. He said
under verdicts of the court and declarations of Pemra, TV channels and other
media were also barred from airing the same.
Commenting on the government’s warning against airing
of Mr Sharif’s speech, renowned lawyer Salman Akram Raja termed it against the
spirit of Article 19 of the Constitution, which guaranteed fundamental right of
freedom of expression.
Advocate of the Supreme Court Kashif Ali Malik said
Pemra had amended its regulations last year and banned airing of convicts and
under-trial prisoners. He, however, said since Pemra regulations were
subordinate legislation, it could not override the fundamental rights
guaranteed by the constitution.
According to him, Article 19 only imposes certain
restrictions related to the glory of Islam, security of Pakistan and relations
with the friendly countries and these restrictions have nothing to do with the
coverage of a convict or under trial prisoner.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580646/opposition-moot-to-devise-anti-govt-strategy-today
----------
Tareen tells FIA he’ll appear on return from UK
Zulqernain Tahir
20 Sep 2020
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s disgruntled leader
Jehangir Tareen, who is currently in the United Kingdom (UK) and was summoned
by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over the sugar scam investigation,
submitted a ‘short reply’ on Saturday, seeking more time to respond to the
FIA’s queries.
In his reply, Mr Tareen said he is in the United
Kingdom and undergoing medical treatment, pledging that once he got well he
would return to the country to appear before the FIA in person.
He said he needed more time to file a reply to the
FIA’s questions related to his businesses, assets and sugar mills.
The FIA Lahore’s combined investigation team is probing
into the sugar scam. It had also summoned Mr Tareen’s son Ali, who is the owner
of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise `Multan Sultan’, on Friday last to
record his statement.
The FIA has sought details of Mr Tareen’s assets here
and abroad, his bank transactions, especially transfer of money abroad, bank
accounts of his family members and his employees and sugar-related transactions
of his firm JDW.
A source close to Mr Tareen told Dawn that the FIA had
been activated against Mr Tareen by a powerful adviser to the prime minister
and a bureaucrat following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent television
interview in which he had talked about his (Tareen’s) services for the party
and his close association with Mr Khan. The PM had expressed the hope that Mr
Tareen would come clean of the charges he was facing (in the scam).
“The groups against Mr Tareen — both in the PTI and
bureaucracy — are making it sure not to let him off the hook. They believe this
will give political mileage to the PTI if one of its own stalwarts gets fixed
by ‘honest’ Imran regime,” he said.
However, some in the party are of the view that Mr
Tareen had been allowed to leave the country till investigation into the sugar
scandal is complete and once the dust settles and a new situation arises on the
political map of the country, he will be given green signal for return to the
country.
Earlier, Mr Tareen had described the sugar scam as a
“frivolous” case. “What is the link between some old transactions (of my
company) and the current sugar price increase?” he had asked, saying there were
more than 80 sugar mills in the country but only his mills were being targeted.
On the sugar scam, the inquiry committee, headed by
FIA director general Wajid Zia, had prepared a report in April last. It had
probed into the increase in the sugar prices and the subsidy obtained by sugar
barons during the last year in particular and past four years in general.
The report revealed that two main groups had obtained
maximum benefit during the crisis, one of these being JDW that had six sugar
mills. As per the report, the JDW obtained 12.28 per cent of the total export
subsidy amounting to Rs3.058 billion during 2015-18.
The report said that during 2018-19, Mr Tareen’s
companies exported 17.24pc of the total sugar production and availed 22.71pc of
total export subsidy, amounting to Rs561 million.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on
Accountability Shehzad Akbar had said the JDW sugar mills had committed “double
booking, under-reporting and over-invoicing”.
“The report noted that the mills (JDW) under-invoiced
sales from bagasse and molasses which resulted in 25pc cost inflation. They
also committed corporate fraud whereby money was transferred from their PLC to
their private company. Forward sales, satta, unnamed sales have all been
associated with JDW too,” Mr Akbar said.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580642/tareen-tells-fia-hell-appear-on-return-from-uk
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Southeast Asia
Muslim Patani longs for peace, freedom in Thailand
Pizaro Gozali Idrus
19.09.2020
JAKARTA, Indonesia
The Thai government last Sunday met a delegation of
Muslim groups in southern Thailand to hear their aspirations amid ongoing
violence in the region.
The Southern Thai Peace Delegation was led by Baba
Abdulrahman, the chair of the Pattani Islamic Religious Council, while Wanlop
Rugsanaoh was present as the head of the government delegation.
Muslim representatives asked the government to
proclaim Friday, a holy day for Muslims, as a public holiday and for the Malay
language to be declared as the official language of southern Pattani, Yala,
Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces.
The four provinces have a large population of the
Muslim Malay community, Patani, with 1.4 million residents, according to
government data.
Representatives also proposed those familiar with
Islamic practices be put in charge of pilgrimage affairs, drafting Islamic laws
for the provinces and the development of a halal industry.
Teuku Zulkhairi, an Indonesian Islamic expert in
Southeast Asia from Ar-Raniry State Islamic University, voiced appreciation for
the meeting.
Zulkhairi told Anadolu Agency minority groups in the
south are part of the Malay Muslim entity that has a strong and long history in
southeast Asia.
He said they are not a new community in southern
provinces and noted that Islam had entered the region in the 15th century,
which led to the establishment of the Patani Darussalam Kingdom.
"The Patani name came from al-Fatani in Arabic
which means ‘intellectuals’ since there were many Muslim ulemas [scholars] born
there," Zulkhairi said.
The Patani Darussalam Kingdom was then conquered by
the Kingdom of Siam, the Thai ruler, in 1785. Siam took control of Patani’s
entire territory and divided it into seven provinces.
Thai ruler, King Chulalongkorn, broke the peace treaty
with the provinces in 1901 and launched a military campaign. It ended in 1909
with the Anglo-Siam treaty, which paved the way for the Kingdom to annex the
southern Thailand region.
Zulkhairi voiced the importance for the Thai
government to provide freedom for Muslim minorities in carrying out religious
teachings in language and an education curriculum.
He also called on the largest Muslim countries in
southeast Asia -- Indonesia and Malaysia -- to encourage Thailand to protect
the rights of the Patani Muslim minority.
Zulkhairi said if Muslims in southern Thailand can
live in peace and enjoy freedom and justice, it will have a positive influence
on Thailand’s image in international eyes.
Human rights activist Mustopha Mansor from the
Malaysian Civil Society Solidarity Association, which often provides
humanitarian assistance in southern Thailand, has a similar view regarding
Muslim minorities.
“The demands from Patani Muslim delegations were in accordance
with the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” Mansor said.
Based on the declaration, he said, Patani Muslim
minorities have the right to express their opinion, choose their religion and
beliefs and be free from fear.
Zahri Ishak, a Thai human rights activist from the NGO
Bicara Patani, said it was the third time Wanlop visited the southern region to
accommodate the aspirations of Patani Muslims.
"He was there to hear proposals or demands from
various parties, it can be done at any time by the Thai government," he
told Anadolu Agency.
Ishak, however, reminded the peace negotiation team
not to abandon the ongoing dialogue with the most influential insurgent group,
Malay National Revolutionary Front (BRN), since it is a different entity that
the Southern Thailand Peace Delegation.
Thailand officially launched a peace process with
insurgent group Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN) on Jan. 21 in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The negotiations have been mediated by Malaysia.
"There is an impression that the Thai government
wants to localize the Muslim minority case and make it remain as a domestic
problem, not an international issue," the activist said.
Meanwhile, Mansor said that since the administration
of Malaysian former ruling party Pakatan Harapan collapsed, negotiations
between BRN and Thailand were no longer as solid as they used to be.
Meanwhile, Marwan Ahmad, 29, a Muslim in Pattani
province, voiced his wish that meetings between authorities and Muslim groups
were not just a formality.
"Many Patani people don’t trust the Thai
delegation's peace negotiation team because currently there has been a wave of
protests in Bangkok against the abuse of power by military junta
government," Ahmad said.
He said the government sees the conflict in the south
as an ordinary riot, even though the conflict started since Patani was annexed
in 1909.
Thai government imposed martial law in three
Muslim-majority provinces in southern Thailand -- Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala --
following deadly violence in 2004.
At least 7,040 residents have since been arrested by
the military, while 4,928 have been released, according to Bicara Patani.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/muslim-patani-longs-for-peace-freedom-in-thailand/1978644#
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Twenty Malaysian tabligh members return from India
19 Sep 2020
by Saw Siow Feng
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 ― Twenty Malaysian tabligh
members in New Delhi and Mumbai arrived home safely at 3.40 pm yesterday, said
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.
He said they were the fifth group to return, and so
far, the ministry had brought back 144 of 189 members of the group stranded in
India.
Kamarudin said the remaining members in India were
undergoing the legal process in several provinces, namely, New Delhi, Bihar,
Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
“The ministry will continue to monitor the issue
closely, and provide appropriate consular assistance to ensure their rights and
welfare are protected.
“The ministry will continue to coordinate with local
authorities in India to bring home the remaining 45 Malaysian tabligh members
who are still stranded in the country,” he said in a statement here today.
He said 124 individuals were previously repatriated
through four Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions only
July 18, 22, 29 and Aug 26.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/19/twenty-malaysian-tabligh-members-return-from-india/1904818
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PM Muhyiddin's promise of a snap election during
Covid-19 irresponsible, says Guan Eng
BY SOO WERN JUN
19 Sep 2020
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan
Eng said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin exposed his desperation to win
the Sabah state election when he promised his party allies a snap poll should
they succeed.
In a statement today, Lim regarded Muhyiddin’s move as
irresponsible as he had used the general election as bait to push respective
parties aligned to Perikatan Nasional (PN) to work harder in the Sabah election
despite the Covid-19 situation in the country.
“It is irresponsible for the prime minister to ignore
Covid-19 health concerns and use a snap general election as bait to persuade
Umno to work harder to secure a victory in the state election.
The Bagan MP was referring to Muhyiddin who yesterday
said that the result of the state election could determine when he will call a
general election.
“There is no need to dissolve Parliament and call for
a snap election when the Opposition bloc comprising 109 MPs do not want to
endanger public health and safety with the rise of Covid-19 cases.
“Many countries in the world, the latest being
Britain, is facing a second wave of Covid-19 and Malaysia could be similarly
affected,” said Lim.
The premature state election was called after former
chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman of Umno mounted an abortive takeover bid on
the back of lawmakers’ defections.
“The only political parties who want an early snap
election in Malaysia is Muafakat Nasional (PAS and Umno) who are part of the
government bloc of 113 MPs,” he said.
He also said that Muhyiddin’s election promises to
Sabahans sound hollow when he has still not implemented his promise made in
Sandakan on August 30, which is to increase Social Welfare Department’s monthly
aid to needy recipients, from RM200 and RM300 to RM1,000.
“Such an increase to RM1,000 is urgently needed
following an admission by the Human Resources Minister that the number of
unemployed will rise to a historic high of one million workers by the end of
September,” he said.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/19/pm-muhyiddins-promise-of-a-snap-election-during-covid-19-irresponsible-says/1904775
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Bersatu denies sanctioning ‘Perikatan-friendly’
independents in Sabah poll
BY JULIA CHAN
20 Sep 2020
KOTA KINABALU, Sept 20 – Claiming it has never
approved any “Perikatan Nasional-friendly independents”, the coalition said
last night it has however not ruled out accepting independents who win in the
Sabah election into its fold.
Its secretary-general Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin dismissed
talks of such a sanction, but stopped short of saying they will not be
accepting winning assemblymen into the party.
“That is hypothetical — it’s not fair to say that,” he
said, when asked to comment on whether the party would accept those candidates
claiming to be PN-friendly.
“First of all, we never asked anyone to come up with
that kind of tagline to say that they’re friendly with us. The only party we
allow to say that is Parti Bersatu Sabah. But because there’re too many
independents who claim to be friendly now PBS are our partners instead. It’s
very much higher than friendly.
Hamzah, who is also Bersatu secretary general, said
that he has asked independent candidates, like Sukau incumbent Datuk Saddi
Abdul Rahman, not to use the PN banner in his campaign.
The Sukau seat is being contested by Barisan
Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Jafry Ariffin from Umno, an ally of PN, giving way to
rumours that Saddi was contesting as PN-friendly as a strategy for PN to gain
more seats.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah — a loose alliance
consisting of PN, Barisan Nasional and PBS — had tried to come to an agreement
to encourage straight fights between them and the Warisan government but failed
negotiations led to clashes between parties in 17 seats.
Within the alliance, PN and BN are also at odds, with
both vying for more seats in order to be able to name the chief minister should
they win, giving way to rumours that the “PN-friendly independents” were a
deliberate decision to hedge their bets.
“That was beginning of some disenchantment among the
leaders. People asked why must BN do that after PN announced much earlier,” he
said.
The Home Minister said that more and more clashes
started to emerge, some independent and some formerly from various parties like
PBS, STAR and Bersatu, and he could not stop them.
“But now we are starting to call them and say the most
important thing is the struggle for this state, more than the individual. All
of us should accept that. We should calm down, sit down and bear no hard
feelings among them and actually come out with a decision who should support
one candidate that we feel can win,” he said.
Hamzah said that he was hoping to manage the parties
and individuals but declined to comment whether it would come to fruition.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/20/bersatu-denies-sanctioning-perikatan-friendly-independents-in-sabah-poll/1904857
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