Islamophobic Diatribe: Hindu Militant Priest, Yati Narsinghanand, Urges Followers To Attack Makkah And Seize Kaaba
New
Age Islam News Bureau
20
April 2023
Yati
Narsinghanand
----
• Mob Attack On Two Women In Indonesia For Allegedly
Eating In A Cafe During The Islamic Holy Month Of Ramadan
• Tunisian Judge Orders Jail For Islamist Opposition
Leader GhannouchiLeader Of Main Opposition Party Ennahda
• Georgian PM Celebrates Country's Muslim Community On
Iftar Observance
• Archbishop Stephen Cottrell Visits York MosqueAnd
Islamic Centre To Break The Fast
Compiled By New
Age Islam News Bureau
India
• “Fasting Can Also Promote Cellular Repair And
Regeneration, Which Is Crucial For Maintaining Healthy, Youthful-Looking Skin”
• Plaintiffs in Gyanvapi Case Refuse to Agree to Wuzu
Arrangements Inside Mosque Complex
• Madhya Pradesh Minister Asks MaaShardaTemple Body To
Fire Muslim Staff
• Unlike Pakistan’s minorities, every strand of the
Muslim community is doing its business in India: Nirmala Sitharaman
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Sarawak Christians Send Eid ul Fitr Greetings To
Muslim Community
• Indonesia Recovers Bodies Of Four Troops Killed During
Separatist Attack In Papua Province
• Solar eclipse wows stargazers in Indonesia, Australia
• Bali Considers Tougher Visa Regulations Amid Negative
Tourist Behaviour
• Malaysia’s Ramadan bazaars draw crowds, but some
tighten belts
• Malaysia's inflation eases to 3.4% in March
--------
Africa
• “He Laid Out The Earth For All Living Creatures”:
Islam’s Lessons For Climate
• Sultan of Sokoto Felicitates Muslim Ummah
• Islamic cleric urges Zamfara Govt to pay WAEC, NECO
fees
• Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan sides with the army
--------
Europe
• Azerbaijani President, First Lady Attend Opening Of
Juma Mosque In Narimanov District
• Muslim students in Paris, far from their families,
gather for iftar
• Weekly says sorry over Muslim photo headline
juxtaposition
--------
North
America
• US Congressional resolution introduced to recognise
Ramadan and Eid
• Judge orders Tunisian Islamist leader to stay in
custody
--------
Arab World
• Arab League Calls For Sudan Eid Ceasefire ‘In The Name
Of Islam’
• Saudi Arabia: Thousands Of Meals Handed To Diabetics
At Islam’s Holiest Site
• More than 20,000 mosques ready for Eid Al Fitr prayers
in Saudi Arabia
• Ministry directs not to perform Eid prayers at
external mosques in areas that expect rain
• Is Eid 2023 today? When the end of Ramadan is
announced with Saudi Arabia predicting Eid al-Fitr on Friday
--------
Pakistan
• CJP Urges MPs To Draft Laws ‘In Compliance With Constitution’
• Imran can’t conceal his incompetence, corruption by
covering face: Marriyum
• PTI’s wrong policy blamed for wave of terrorism
• ‘Reign of terror’ controlled by another force, not
PDM: Imran
• No ‘Exclusive Suo Motu Powers’ For CJP: Justice Isa
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Mideast
• 'Worst Ramadan Season Ever' Because Of Israeli
Restrictions, Says Hawara's Mayor
• Former head of Sunni Endowment escapes from Baghdad's
Green Zone prison
• Scores Killed, Hundreds Injured At Ramadan Charity
Event In Yemen
• Ramadan in Abu Dhabi: ‘I welcome these social changes’
• This Ramadan, Dubai’s property market did not take a
time-out on deals
• Night bus routes to mosques to operate in Tashkent on
Eid al-Fitr
• Israel issues stop work orders against 23 Palestinian
homes, a mosque
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South Asia
• Afghanistan is a”Safe Haven” For Terrorists with an
Increasing Threat to the US, Experts Claim
• Khalilzad Proposes ‘Measures’ For UN Chief’s Meeting
on Afghanistan
• Afghan Govt Could Not Survive After US Pullout: Sopko
• Afghanistan IG report hammers Biden administration for
'dysfunction' days after White House blames Trump
• US watchdog ‘cannot assure’ Afghanistan aid not going
to Taliban
• Uzbekistan Sends 185 Tons of Humanitarian Aid to
Afghanistan
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
---------
Islamophobic Diatribe: Hindu Militant Priest, Yati Narsinghanand, Urges Followers To Attack Makkah And Seize Kaaba
Yati
Narsinghanand
----
By Muslim
Mirror Staff
April 5, 202
Yati
Narsinghanand, a well-known Hindu-right wing member, has given another hate
speech targeting Muslims. In his speech, he has urged Hindus to rise up and
fight Muslims and Islam.
He also urged
Hindus to take a stance against Muslims and make efforts to capture “Makkah,
where the alleged Mahadev temple” is situated. Narsinghanand, a Dasna temple
priest in Ghaziabad, is well-known for making anti-Muslim comments.
“Hindu Rashtra
is a dream, we will not only capture but also Makkah… Mahadev’s Ganga flows in
the form of ZamZam there,” he said adding, “If you don’t capture the Makkeshwar
Mandir (Kaaba), no power on earth can defeat Islam.”
Top BJP
officials, particularly Kapil Mishra, who has a close relationship with
Narsinghanand, are actively promoting the trends that support him. Kapil Mishra
had previously launched a fundraising campaign for Narsinghanand’s goal to ”
remove Islam and Muslims from the face of the Earth.”
In April of
last year, he and other hate mongers were arrested for making hate speeches at
a “Hindu Mahapanchayat” that “50 per cent of Hindus will convert” in 20 years
if a Muslim becomes the country’s prime minister.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/hindutva-priest-yati-narsinghanand-urges-hindus-to-take-over-makkah/
----
Mob Attack On Two Women In Indonesia For Allegedly Eating In A Cafe During The Islamic Holy Month Of Ramadan
A video
posted online shows a mob beating a woman for visiting a cafe during the
Islamic holy month of Ramadan in West Sumatra province of Indonesia on April
8. (Photo: Screengrab)
------
April 20, 2023
Rights groups
strongly condemned a Muslim mob attack on two women in Indonesia for allegedly
eating in a cafe during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and criticized police
for not arresting the suspected attackers.
A total of 89
organizations and 122 eminent citizens including Catholic youth groups signed a
joint statement on April 19 to slam the incident saying that “persecuting women
in the name of religious morality is an act that tramples humanity.”
“In fact, no
religion teaches every human being to hurt others. This action occurred because
of a shallow and misogynistic religious understanding, which views women as a
source of disgrace and slander," the statement read.
The statement
came days after a video circulated online showed two women aged 23 and 19 being
assaulted by a mob in a cafe in Pesisir Selatan district of West Sumatra
province on April 8.
The video was
allegedly posted by the perpetrators. It showed two victims being intimidated,
kicked, dragged, and thrown into the sea while being verbally abused and
threatened with burning. The mob also stripped and sexually abused them.
NoviantoTaryono,
Pasir Selatan police chief said on April 16 that they had named three suspects
after questioning 13 witnesses.
He said the two
women were attacked because the mob was angry because they visited the cafe
during the holy month of Ramadan.
However,
advocacy groups and activists criticized the police for not arresting the
suspects and even brought them together with the victims at the police station
for mediation.
"Mediation
that brings perpetrators together with victims of sexual harassment and
violence should not be carried out by the authorities because it will only
exacerbate the victim's trauma," the statement said.
The activists
demanded the perpetrators be immediately arrested, “because acts of persecution
and sexual violence are the greatest forms of immorality, crimes that must be
dealt with strictly by law enforcers.”
They also said
that the two women were just cafe visitors and "without any fault, they
were immediately attacked."
They have also
launched a campaign on Change.org, urging the police to arrest the perpetrators
immediately.
Such
persecution is the result of the imposition of restrictions during the holy
month of Ramadan in the Muslim-majority country, they said.
Activists say
such rules, which are generally unwritten, increase persecution of minorities.
West Sumatra
has seen moral policing and violence in the name of religion in the past.
In 2020, a
woman in Pasaman Regency was accused of obscenity by a group of men in a
village. The woman was stripped naked
and paraded around the village. The incident was videoed and shared on social
media.
Such
persecution signals that many parties still misunderstand religious teachings,
says Petrus Selestinus, a Catholic lawyer and the chairman of a lawyer's forum
seeking to protect the national secular ideology called Pancasila.
"Even
though visiting entertainment places is prohibited in areas like West Sumatra
during Ramadan, it cannot be solved by violence, taking the law into your own
hands. There are other civilized ways," he told UCA News.
He emphasized
that the constitutional rights of the victims, regardless of their identity,
should be protected.
“The
perpetrators must receive harsh punishment," he said.
Daniel Awigra,
executive director of the Human Rights Working Group said that such persecution
occurred because of increasing religious conservatism among Indonesians.
He cited a Pew Research
Center survey in 2020 which found 96 percent of respondents in Indonesia saying
that belief in God is necessary to be moral and have good values.
In an
increasingly conservative Indonesian society, there is a desire to take over
public space in the name of religion, he pointed out.
“We can see it
through the many regional regulations on decency based on moral interpretation.
This is an effort to encourage the public space to be regulated in the domain
of sectarian religious interpretation," he said.
Source: ucanews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ucanews.com/news/ramadan-mob-attack-in-indonesia-sparks-outcry/101048
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Tunisian Judge Orders Jail For Islamist Opposition Leader Ghannouchi Leader Of Main Opposition Party Ennahda
Rached
Ghannouchi, the head of Islamist Ennahda party and former speaker of the
parliament, during an interview with Reuters at his office in Tunis, Tunisia,
July 15, 2022. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
------
20/04/2023
A Tunisian
investigative judge ordered on Thursday the imprisonment of Rached Ghannouchi,
the leader of main opposition party Ennahda and a prominent critic of President
Kais Saied, the politician's lawyer told Reuters.
Ghannouchi, who
was arrested on Monday, is accused of plotting against internal state security
and the decision to imprison him followed an investigation that lasted eight
hours, she added.
Police have
this year detained several leading political figures who have accused Saied of
a coup for his moves to close parliament and rule by decree before rewriting
the constitution.
"It was a
ready decision to imprison Ghannouchi only because of Ghannouchi's expression
of his opinion," lawyer MoniaBouali told Reuters.
Ghannouchi's
official Facebook page published a comment by him after the judge's decision,
which said: "I am optimistic about the future ... Tunisia is free".
The 81-year-old
was the speaker of the elected parliament, which was shut down in 2021 by Saied
when he seized all powers. Tunisian authorities on Tuesday banned meetings at
all offices of Islamist party Ennahda and police closed the headquarters of the
Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition.
Ennahda fears
the move will pave the way for banning the party, the party said. The U.S. said
Ghannouchi's arrest, the closure of Ennahda's headquarters and the banning of
meetings by opposition groups represented a troubling escalation.
An interior
ministry official said Ghannouchi had been arrested after "inciting
statements". Ghannouchi said in an opposition meeting last week that
"Tunisia without Ennahda, without political Islam, without the left, or
any other component, is a project for civil war".
The influential
leader, who was in exile in the 1990s and returned during Tunisia's 2011
revolution that brought democracy, said those who "celebrated the coup are
extremists and terrorists".
Ghannouchi has
faced repeated rounds of judicial questioning over the past year on charges
relating to Ennahda's finances and to allegations it helped Islamists travel to
Syria for jihad, charges he and the party both deny.
Source: france24.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230420-tunisian-judge-orders-jail-for-islamist-opposition-leader-ghannouchi
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Georgian PM Celebrates Country's Muslim Community On Iftar Observance
Georgian
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday hosted an event dedicated to
Iftar. Photo: Government Press Office
------
20 Apr 2023
Georgian Prime
Minister IrakliGaribashvili on Thursday celebrated the country’s Muslim community
on the occasion of Iftar, an observance for the month-long fasting of Ramadan
by followers of the religion, by saying it was “another proof of our unity,
brotherhood and friendship”.
In an occasion
hosted by the PM at Tbilisi’s hilltop Funicular Restaurant, the head of the
Government congratulated the community on the holy month of Ramadan and
described Georgia as a “centre of tolerance” with a heritage of seeing
different religious confessions coexisting peacefully over the centuries.
The PM also emphasised
Georgia was “unique” for the unity displayed within the country’s Muslim
community itself, with Sunnis and Shiites, as well as Muslims among ethnic Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Kists
and Ingush “coexisting peacefully on this land”.
Pointing to his
Government’s efforts to ensure necessary support for the country’s religious
minorities and resolve issues related to them, the PM stressed 228 mosques had
been handed over to the Muslim community across the country since the
establishment of the State Agency For Religious Issues on his initiative in
2014, with plans for about 70 more to be handed over.
Source: agenda.ge
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2023/1541
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Archbishop Stephen Cottrell Visits York MosqueA nd Islamic Centre To Break The Fast
Stephen
Cottrell, Archbishop of York visited York Mosque and Islamic Centre (Image:
UGC)
-----
By Ed Horner
THE Archbishop
of York visited York Mosque and Islamic Centre this week - where he was
welcomed to break the fast.
The Archbishop,
Stephen Cottrell and his wife Rebecca Cottrell were welcomed by Faizal
Mohamudbuccus and NaserJasim, president of the Mosque, to break the fast at the
Iftar meal after sunset as part of the Mosque's 'Experience Ramadan' events.
The Archbishop
said: “This has been my first visit to the Mosque in York which has well
established links with the local community and with York Minster.
"It has
been lovely to share Iftar, an opportunity to catch up with old friends as well
as build new friendships.”
York Mosque
regularly hosts open door events and ‘Experience Ramadan’ is an invitational
event shared by many UK Mosques. York Mosque offers five daily prayer
congregations, the Madrassah Arabic school which has 140 students, including
refugee children, Quran study groups, foodbank and a soup kitchen. The Mosque
also regularly welcomes school visits and the local scouts group.
Source: yorkpress.co.uk
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23468387.archbishop-stephen-cottrell-visits-york-mosque-break-fast/
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India
“Fasting Can
Also Promote Cellular Repair And Regeneration, Which Is Crucial For Maintaining
Healthy, Youthful-Looking Skin”
April 20, 2023
During the
month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world fast to gain piety and closeness to
god. This fasting — often likened to intermittent fasting, according to
experts, comes with certain health benefits as well. But did you know it can
have a positive effect on your skin as well? Turns out, it can particularly
help those suffering from psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa. Sharing a
video on the same, Dr Muneeb Shah, dermatologist, took to Instagram to inform
that during the fasting period of Ramadan, “the levels of inflammation in the
body, the cytokines in the body that cause inflammation, actually decreases and
this has been studied and proven”.
Adding, she
said that a lot of skin diseases are inflammatory in nature, like acne,
psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. “By decreasing those levels of
inflammation in the body, should improve your skin overall. Now does that
translate actually to real clinical studies? Yes.” “There are clinical studies
that show that psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa are improved during
Ramadan by people who are partaking in fasting,” he concluded.
A study published
in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that fasting during
Ramadan improved symptoms of psoriasis in some participants. Another study
published in the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery found that fasting
improved symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa in some patients.
Ramadan fasting
is a form of intermittent fasting wherein one does not eat food for a certain
number of hours in the day. Speaking with indianexpress.com, Dr Annie Flora,
senior consultant Dermatologist, Apollo Spectra and Apollo Cosmetics Clinic,
Chennai said, “Fasting can improve skin elasticity, reduce acne, and improve
the overall appearance of the skin. This is likely due to the fact that fasting
helps to regulate insulin levels, which can reduce inflammation and improve
skin health. Additionally, fasting has been found to stimulate the production
of collagen, which is a key component of healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Collagen is a protein that helps to keep the skin firm, supple, and elastic.
Production of collagen reduces with age, which may cause sagging and wrinkling
of skin. Fasting has been found to stimulate the production of collagen, which
can help to keep the skin looking youthful and healthy”.
She added that
fasting has also been found to reduce oxidative stress, which can help to
protect the skin from damage and keep it looking healthy.
Fasting can
promote cellular repair and regeneration, which is crucial for maintaining
healthy, youthful-looking skin. (Pic source: Freepik) Fasting can promote cellular
repair and regeneration, which is crucial for maintaining healthy,
youthful-looking skin. (Pic source: Freepik)
Dr DM Mahajan,
senior consultant, Dermatology, Indraprastha Apollo hospitals agreed and said
that one of the most significant benefits of fasting on the skin is its
potential to reduce inflammation. “Inflammation is a key factor in many skin
conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Studies have shown that
fasting can lower levels of inflammatory markers in the body, which could help
to improve these conditions,” he said.
“Fasting can
also promote cellular repair and regeneration, which is crucial for maintaining
healthy, youthful-looking skin. During fasting, the body goes into a state of
autophagy, where it breaks down and recycles old, damaged cells. This process
helps to remove toxins and promote the growth of new, healthy cells, which can
result in clearer, more radiant skin,” added Mahajan.
Things to keep
in mind
While fasting
can have positive effects on skin health, it is also important to ensure that
you are getting enough nutrients during the non-fasting hours. “Consuming a
balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
lean proteins can help to provide the nutrients your body needs to maintain healthy
skin. Additionally, staying hydrated during the non-fasting hours is important
to ensure your skin stays healthy and hydrated,” said Dr Flora.
She explained
that “very high-calorie foods like milk and milk products, sweets, and very
oily foods after breaking the fast can cause breakouts on the skin.”
Dr Mahajan also
stated that it is vital to make sure to stay hydrated after breaking the fast
and take proper nutritious food as lack of it can cause dehydration, which may
not be nice for skin health.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/ramadan-fasting-skin-benefits-8561171/
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Plaintiffs in
Gyanvapi Case Refuse to Agree to Wuzu Arrangements Inside Mosque Complex
New Delhi: At a
meeting held by the district magistrate, the three plaintiffs in the Gyanvapi
mosque case have said that they will oppose the mosque management’s suggestion
that wuzu can be arranged in a separate spot within the mosque complex. The day
before that, DM S. Rajalingam had met the mosque committee, The Times of India
reported, which had put forward its alternative plan in line with the Supreme
Court’s order.
According to
the newspaper, the three plaintiffs said that any alternative which involves
making other arrangements within the Gyanvapi complex will be strongly opposed.
Instead, they insisted that worshippers at Gyanvapi go to the neighbouring
Razia mosque for wuzu.
On Monday, the
Supreme Court had directed the Varanasi administration to find a “congenial
arrangement” on the mosque committee’s request, for arrangement for wuzu during
Ramzan prayers near the section in the mosque complex where a Shivling was said
to have been found during a survey last year.
Earlier, the
court had rejected the Gyanvapi Masjid committee’s objection to a petition
seeking the right to worship the Shivling claimed to have been found in the
mosque complex.
Source: thewire.in
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thewire.in/communalism/plaintiffs-in-gyanvapi-case-refuse-to-agree-to-wuzu-arrangements-inside-mosque-complex
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Madhya Pradesh
minister asks MaaSharda temple body to fire Muslim staff
Apr 19, 2023
Ravish Pal
Singh
By Ravish Pal
Singh: Madhya Pradesh minister Usha Thakur allegedly asked the MaaSharda Temple
Committee in Maihar, Satna district, to remove Muslim members from the
committee. The incident has caused a stir, with the Congress slamming the
Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state.
According to
local reports, the minister sent a note sheet to the committee requesting the
removal of the Muslim members.
The MaaSharda
Temple committee operates under the administration and is an independent
organization responsible for managing the Sharda Devi temple. At present, two
Muslim employees are part of the committee.
Following the
controversy, the Religious Trusts and Endowments Department forwarded the note
sheet to the Satna Collector, Anurag Verma, for further action. However, the
collector is yet to respond to it.
Speaking to
India Today TV, Dr Rajesh Rajoura, Additional Secretary of the Religious Trusts
and Endowments Department, confirmed that the note sheet, which has gone viral
on social media, was indeed sent by the minister.
PC Sharma, who
was a minister in the previous Kamal Nath government, said that on the one
hand, the ruling BJP government in Madhya Pradesh talks about following in the
footsteps of Dr Ambedkar; while, on the other hand, its own minister issues
such a note sheet that is exactly the opposite of the idea of equality.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/madhya-pradesh-usha-thakur-minister-asks-maa-sharda-temple-body-to-fire-muslim-staff-2362122-2023-04-19
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Unlike
Pakistan’s minorities, every strand of the Muslim community is doing its
business in India: Nirmala Sitharaman
Those blaming
India on minority issues have no clue about ground realities, says Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Washington.
April 11, 2023
India is home
to the second largest Muslim population in the world and those blaming the
country on minority issues have no clue about the ground realities, Union
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.
Addressing a
Washington DC audience during a fireside chat at the Peterson Institute for
International Economics on Monday, April 10, 2023, Ms. Sitharaman said the
Muslim population is only growing in numbers in India.
"If there
is a perception or if there's, in reality, their lives are difficult or made
difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of
these write-ups, I would ask, will the Muslim population be growing from what
it was in 1947... The contrast can be sharper as opposed to Pakistan, which was
formed at the same time,” she said.
Foreign
investments have kept coming to India. I would tell the prospective investors
to come & look at what's happening in India rather than listening to
perceptions being built by people who've not visited the ground but writing
reports.
The Union
Finance Minister said violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shias and other
minority groups in Pakistan, whereas, in India, every strand of the Muslim
community is doing its business.
"India was
divided into two Pakistans. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but
said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in number,
or decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been
decimated,” Ms. Sitharaman said.
She said law
and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected
government that takes care of the law and order in those states.
Ms. Sitharaman
said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is
happening is a fallacy.
"It cannot
be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected
governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports
have no clue of the law and order systems in India,” the Finance Minister said.
"To say
it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then,
between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been
disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said.
"I would
rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host
them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point,” Ms.
Sitharaman said.
Around 62 per
cent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia),
with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is
in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 per cent of the world's Muslims.
‘Focus on
skilling and digitisation’
Meanwhile, Ms.
Sitharaman talked about the facilities the Indian government is wanting to
extend to the poor in the country.
Ms. Sitharaman
said the approach of the government is to empower the poor people with at least
the basic amenities.
“We are
reaching near saturation in providing the basic facilities in India,” she said.
She noted that
the discussions earlier used to be on poverty alleviation.
“Have we
removed these many numbers of people from poverty and lifted them out,” she
said.
“And that is to
give them some good house to live in, which is made of concrete and not
thatched roof with toilets in them, with drinking water reaching them through
pipes, electricity, and a good road, not just to the village, but also to the
streets in the village and then connect them to the nearest highway; connect
them with good transport facility and so on and financial inclusion so that
each member of the household has a bank account and they get every such
benefit, which has to reach them, but directly into their bank account rather
than through a middle agency,” she said.
‘Digitisation
programme on full throttle’
“So, in each
one of these, we are reaching saturation, which means if there are a hundred
people today who are eligible to get them, they would get, we are near 98
points 99. And of course, newer people can get added as the population grows,
we’ll keep attending to them,” Ms. Sitharaman added.
She said India
was focusing very much on skilling people.
“We are now
focusing very much on skilling people, each according to their level. Skilling
centres are now spread all over the country. The gradation of the skilling
varies according to individuals. Businesses and private sector entrepreneurs
are also tied into it so that there is a link between the kind of training that
businesses want and actually those who are getting the training so that
immediately they can get recruited. There will be a lot of skilling emphasis,”
the Finance Minister said.
“India’s
digitisation programme will be going at full throttle and it’ll cover most
aspects of our lives. Today, it covers health, education and also, and
financial transactions. We expect it to move on to other areas as well so that
there’s greater ease of living and transparency economy gets even more formal.
And therefore, with that, you find the economy has its full strength coming on
board rather than having a second layer, which remains in the grey area,” Ms.
Sitharaman added.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/unlike-pakistans-minorities-every-strand-of-the-muslim-community-is-doing-its-business-in-india-nirmala-sitharaman/article66723477.ece
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Southeast
Asia
Sarawak
Christians Send Eid ul FitrGreetings To Muslim Community
Thursday, 20
Apr 2023
KUCHING, April
20 — Christians in Sarawak have sent their warm greetings to the Muslim
community for Hari Raya Eid ul Fitr.
In a press
statement today, Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) chairman the Rt Revd
Datuk Danald Jute said the greetings for the celebration were sent with joy.
“As you
celebrate this auspicious feast, having observed the fasting month of Ramadan,
we pray that this celebration will bring greater blessings of joy and happiness
to all, especially as families, friends, and neighbours gather together from
near and far, to celebrate, Malaysian style.
“Indeed, may
this time of forgiveness and joyful celebration strengthen and enrich all
familial bonds and relationships, and among friends and neighbours,” he said.
Danald said
Malaysians are blessed for being able to celebrate the country’s various
religious and cultural festivals together.
He also pointed
out that the Christian community deeply appreciates the warm and meaningful
greetings extended by Yang di-PertuanAgong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin
Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja
PermaisuriAgongTunkuAzizahAminahMaimunahIskandariah, as well as Sarawak Premier
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari TunOpeng and Puan Sri Datuk Amar
Juma’aniTunTuankuBujang, for the recent Good Friday and Easter celebrations.
“This indeed is
what Malaysia is about — a celebration of colours and creeds!
“May we use
this opportunity to resolve to walk and work together as fellow citizens of our
beloved country to bring about greater understanding, respect, peace, justice,
and harmony in our nation,” he added.
Danald is
Bishop of Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam.
Besides the
Anglican Church, other ACS members are the Roman Catholic Church, Methodist
Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, Methodist Sarawak Iban Annual Conference,
Borneo Evangelical Mission, Seventh Day Adventist, and Salvation Army. — Borneo
Post
Source: malaymail.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/04/20/sarawak-christians-send-Eid
ul Fitr-greetings-to-muslim-community/65666
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Indonesia
Recovers Bodies Of Four Troops Killed During Separatist Attack In Papua
Province
Indonesian
security forces recovered the bodies of four government soldiers who were
killed in a separatist attack while searching for a New Zealand pilot taken
hostage by the rebels in Indonesia’s restive Papua region, officials said
Thursday.
The four elite
army troops were killed on Saturday after attackers from the West Papua
Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, ambushed 36
government soldiers in Nduga district in the mountainous Papua Highlands
province.
Security forces
found the bodies on Wednesday, including that of a soldier who fell into a
15-meter-deep (49-foot) ravine, and evacuated them to a hospital in Timika, a
mining city in neighboring Central Papua province, said Papua military
spokesperson Col. Herman Taryaman.
The troops were
ambushed by the rebels while searching for Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand
pilot who was abducted by the rebels in February, Taryaman said. The rebels
shot a soldier who fell into the ravine, and launched a second attack while
troops were trying to get the body out, he added.
Taryaman said
security forces are searching for a fifth soldier who is still missing, but bad
weather conditions and steep forested terrain have impeded their search and
evacuation operation.
Security forces
retrieved the bodies of the four soldiers a day after Indonesia’s military
chief on Tuesday dismissed the separatist group's claim that it had killed more
than a dozen government soldiers in the attack.
Adm.
YudoMargono confirmed only one fatality and said four other soldiers were
missing. The rest returned to their post, he said. Five soldiers were wounded
and in stable condition and evacuated to a hospital in Timika.
Rebel
spokesperson SebbySambom said in a statement on Monday that his group’s
fighters were holding the remains of 12 soldiers, including nine who he said
“were arrested and executed.” The rebels offered no proof to back up their
statement.
Sambom said
earlier the rebels carried out the attack in retaliation for Indonesia’s
“massive military operation” in Papua and the killings of two rebels in a
shootout with security forces last month.
Margono
rejected the rebel claims as “fake news” and said the military operations in
Papua were launched with a view to keep casualties at a minimum. However, he
said that authorities will increase pressure on the rebels around several
separatist strongholds, including in Nduga.
The rebels in
February stormed a single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small
runway in Paro and abducted its pilot. The plane initially was scheduled to
pick up 15 construction workers from other Indonesian islands after the rebels
threatened to kill them.
Authorities
will continue to prioritize a peaceful approach for the release of Mehrtens,
Margono said.
The kidnapping
of the pilot was the second that independence fighters have committed since
1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research
mission in Mapenduma. Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their
abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months.
The pilot
kidnapping reflects the deteriorating security situation in Indonesia’s
easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New
Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia.
Papua was
incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was
widely seen as a sham. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the
region, which was divided into five provinces last year to boost development in
Indonesia’s poorest region.
Saturday’s
fighting is the latest in a series of violent incidents in recent years in Papua
where conflicts between indigenous Papuans and Indonesian security forces are
common.
Rebels attacks
have spiked considerably in recent years, as the government extended
infrastructure and the controversial Trans-Papua Highway, a road being built
into the heart of highland Papua that has inflamed resistance. Many indigenous
Papuans believe the moves are a threat to their identity and traditional way of
life, prompting attacks by separatist groups that have been followed by further
Indonesian military deployments.
The military
activities in Papua have raised concern among rights groups who say the
security approach that had been implemented by Jakarta for decades has proven
unable to resolve violence in the region.
Amnesty
International Indonesia called for prioritizing dialogue with the separatists
to prevent potential human rights violations and a larger humanitarian crisis.
Data collected by the rights group showed at least 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian
troops and nine police along with 23 independence fighters were killed in
clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022.
Source: republicworld.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/indonesia-recovers-bodies-of-four-troops-killed-during-separatist-attack-in-papua-province-articleshow.html
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Solar eclipse
wows stargazers in Indonesia, Australia
20 Apr 2023
Some 20,000
people gathered under a cloudless sky in the northwest Australian coastal town
of Exmouth to enjoy a rare total solar eclipse that plunged the region into
darkness for 58 seconds as the moon blocked out the sun.
The remote town
with fewer than 3,000 residents was one of the best vantage points in Australia
to see the eclipse that also crossed Indonesia and East Timor.
An
international crowd had been gathering at Exmouth for days, camping in tents
and trailers on a red, dusty plain on the edge of town with cameras and other
viewing equipment pointed to the skies.
“Many people
become addicted to that minute or so of eerie otherworldliness,” said John
Lattanzio of the Astronomical Society of Australia.
“They become
‘eclipse chasers’ and they travel all over the world for repeat experiences.”
The totality
occurred at 11:29:48 local time (03:29:48 GMT) on Thursday, bringing darkness
and a spectral calm, according to those who were there.
Less than a
minute later, the dusty outback was again bathed in light.
NASA astronomer
Henry Throop was among those at Exmouth, loudly cheering the eclipse in the
darkness.
“Isn’t it
incredible? This is so fantastic. It was mind-blowing. It was so sharp and it
was so bright. You could see the corona around the sun there,” the visibly
excited Washington, DC resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
People in West
Papua and East Timor were also able to witness the total eclipse.
In the
Indonesian capital, hundreds flocked to the Jakarta Planetarium to watch the
partial eclipse, which was obscured by clouds.
AzkaAzzahra,
21, came with her sister and friends to get a closer look by using the
planetarium’s telescopes.
“I am still
happy to come even though it is cloudy. It is happy to see how people with high
enthusiasm come here to see the eclipse, because it is rare,” Azzahra said.
The call to prayer
resounded from the city’s mosques when the eclipse phase began as Muslims said
eclipse prayers as a reminder of God’s greatness.
The hybrid
solar eclipse was mostly over water as it tracked from the Indian Ocean to the
Pacific Ocean. The few people in its path either saw the darkness of a total
eclipse or a “ring of fire” as the sun peeked from behind the new moon.
The eclipse
also gave scientists a chance to observe the sun’s corona, which is usually
obscured by its bright rays.
Witnessing a
similar eclipse once helped Albert Einstein hypothesise that light can bend.
Such events
happen about once every decade: The last one was in 2013 and the next one is
not until 2031.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/20/solar-eclipse-wows-stargazers-in-indonesia-australia
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Bali Considers
Tougher Visa Regulations Amid Negative Tourist Behavior
April 19th,
2023
Bali is a
tourism hotspot — with its beautiful beaches, tropical climate and lush
scenery.
And ever since
the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the vacation paradise has
seen an influx of Russians and Ukranians escaping the war.
“Why these two
countries? Because they are at war so they flock here,” Bali Governor
WayanKoster told a news conference in March, according to a CNN story.
Over 50,000
Russians arrived in Bali after its post-Covid-19 reopening in March 2022, and
more than 22,000 more followed suit this January, along with more than 2,000 Ukranians.
In March,
authorities in Bali, which is an Indonesian province, called for an end to
Indonesia’s visa on arrival policy for Russian and Ukrainian citizens,
emphasizing tourist misbehavior.
“Bali has
long-since had a reputation for being a laid back destination where hedonistic
tourism is tolerated,” Director of Check-in Asia Gary Bowerman said. “Bad
tourism behavior has had a cumulative impact over the years. Local people are
wary of tourists who make public shows of being disrespectful to local customs
and communities, and it causes friction.”
Bowerman added
that many of these issues in Bali right now had already existed long before the
pandemic, but have been amplified after a few years of limited travel.
He cited
instances of tourists disregarding mask regulations or riding vehicles such as
motorbikes or scooters without helmets as among some of the other examples of
misbehavior the Balinese government is cracking down on.
Instances of
drunkenness, public nudity and disrespecting sacred Balinese sites have become
repeated patterns of behavior on the island, even before 2023.
“The magnifying
glass on Asian holiday destinations like Bali is stronger right now because of
the developing context of a post-Covid recovery,” Bowerman said. “Bali’s authorities
have responded with statements about scooter bans and a tourism tax and they
have deported a few tourists as well but none of those actions seem to be
deterring those who wish to behave poorly from doing so.”
Many Ukrainians
in Bali have responded with consternation to the news that Indonesia will
potentially end its visa-on-arrival policy for Russian and Ukrainian tourists,
claiming the vast majority of incidents of tourists behaving poorly can be tied
to some Russian tourists.
“(Bali is) a
safe place for Ukrainians,” said one Ukrainian named Dmytro, according to the
CNN story. “Ukrainians respect Balinese law and culture. Russians are the
second largest tourist group in Bali and if you read the news, you’ll see how
often it is Russians breaking local laws and disrespecting Balinese culture and
traditions.”
Regardless of
who is responsible, the Indonesian government appears prepared to implement
rigid restrictions to combat these misconduct incidents.
Bowerman also
said that one of the primary issues surrounding the situation in Bali is the
reach and impact of social media in creating controversy to boost followers and
engagement.
“The more that
Balinese authorities respond with deterministic public statements and proposed
strategies and the media continues to follow the trail, the more influencers
will feel emboldened to further disrespect local norms, rules and culture,”
Bowerman said. “It’s becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Source: skift.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://skift.com/2023/04/19/bali-considers-tougher-visa-regulations-amid-negative-tourist-behavior/
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Malaysia’s
Ramadan bazaars draw crowds, but some tighten belts
By
BhavyaVemulapalli
19 Apr 2023
Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia – It is late afternoon in Kuala Lumpur and despite the oppressive
heat, a crowd of people is wandering along a street lined with food stalls.
The air is
filled with the aroma of barbecued chicken and fried fish as buyers – most of
them ethnic Malay Muslims looking for food with which to break their Ramadan
fast – search out their favourite foods.
The mood is
festive even though this year’s prices are higher than usual. The country’s
central bank said in February that while inflation was likely to moderate, it
was likely to remain “elevated”.
“The rising
cost of living impacts the affordability of food and other items sold at the
bazaar. We see a significant increase in the price which leads to people being
careful with their spending,” AiedahKhalek, a senior lecturer at Monash
University Malaysia and an expert in Muslim consumer behaviour, told Al
Jazeera.
Ramadan bazaars
can be found in almost every corner of Malaysia, which is mostly ethnic Malay
but also has large minorities of ethnic Chinese, Indian and Indigenous people.
Many are drawn
to the markets in the capital Kuala Lumpur, where they can also visit
traditional shopping areas around JalanTuanku Abdul to buy new outfits in
anticipation of Eid, known as Hari Raya Eid ul Fitr in Malaysia, which falls at
the end of Ramadan.
The bazaars
usually open in the early afternoon so people have time to buy their food ready
for the breaking of fast at sunset.
Aiedah has been
researching halal communal dining and its effect on the social cohesion of
multi-religious communities.
“What makes the
Ramadan bazaars special is that they offer different types of food, especially
food that is rarely available outside the Ramadan month,” she said.
“Now we can see
huge Ramadan bazaars, especially in the urban areas, unlike 20-25 years ago.”
Keeping prices
down
With the high
cost of living, this year some small traders have joined the government’s
Rahmah Ramadan Bazaar initiative, which is designed to ensure food for
bukapuasa (the breaking of fast) is sold at reasonable prices.
Nur Mastura has
a Menu Rahmah sticker at her stall, which means the price of the 13 types of
rice cake she sells is capped at 10 Malaysian ringgit ($2.26) each.
“Ramadan
bazaars are a way to celebrate so many cultural cuisines. I’ve been selling
putubambu, an Indonesian kueh (cake) at bazaars for four years now. People keep
coming for the taste of it,” the 19-year-old told Al Jazeera.
She is studying
for a diploma in banking but helps out on her family’s stall at the Masjid
Jamek Ramadan bazaar in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.
Traditionally,
Malaysians prefer to break their fast with dishes that will be gentle on their
stomach following the long hours without food or water.
One such
traditional dish is buburlambuk, which is made by cooking the ingredients
together in a single pot, translated as scattered porridge.
At most
mosques, the dish is given out free of charge during Ramadan. The porridge is
usually made with meat, onions, garlic, coconut oil and several spices like
cinnamon sticks, fennel seeds, star anise, cloves and fenugreek.
“Everyone has
their own secret recipe. It depends on the budget and ingredients,” said Saiful
Azrul, as he and his brothers – all full-time hawkers – stir their porridge in
large pots on the side of the road in preparation for the evening bazaars. “We
enjoy cooking together and donating half of what we cook.”
They only sell
bubur, which they start cooking in the morning, during Ramadan.
Malaysian food
is often spicy and melds styles and flavours from across the world.
“I was
surprised by the large variety of food options as there was also some food I
had never seen before in Malaysia,” said Anne Hilbert, a 23-year-old exchange
student visiting Malaysia from a Dutch university. “I felt a strong feeling of
community among the people at the bazaars.”
They have been
sampling the Thai-style skewers made by Adlin Ahmad and her sister at a Ramadan
bazaar along the river in the centre of Kuala Lumpur.
“My elder
sister and I sell grilled skewers and noodle soup. Everyone comes together
during Ramadan to sell their specialities,” said 29-year-old Adlin, who
graduated from university in 2015 and now sells snacks for a living.
“We pay 600
Malaysian ringgit ($135) for the month to put up our stall,” the Ahmad sisters told
Al Jazeera. “Due to the increase in raw material prices after COVID-19, the
food prices increased as well.”
The higher
prices have meant slower sales for some, adding to food waste, which was rising
even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As well as bazaars, Ramadan in Malaysia
also sees hotels and restaurants putting on sometimes lavish bukapuasa buffets.
The amount of
solid waste, including food, collected during Ramadan rose to 252,521 tonnes
last year, compared with 208,143 tonnes in 2019, according to deputy local
government development minister AkmalNasrullah Nasir.
“The amount
increases every year and in the past five years, we have seen an increase of up
to 21 percent,” he told reporters after launching a Hari Raya event on April
10. Food made up 44.5 percent of the waste, he added.
Local vendors
say they try to donate the leftovers so they do not have to throw away large
quantities of food on a slow day. They are also more careful about the amount
they make in the first place.
“Usually there
aren’t a lot of leftovers as we got used to cooking correct quantities over the
years. Snacks like ours stay fresh over a week. If not, I usually donate the
rest at my brother’s school,” Adlin said.
By early
evening, the bazaars are winding down as Malays head home to wait until the
sunset prayer when they can start eating together.
The bazaars
will operate until April 21, the eve of Hari Raya Eid ul Fitr.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/19/malaysias-ramadan-bazaars-draw-crowds-but-some-tighten-belts
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Malaysia's
inflation eases to 3.4% in March
2023-04-20
Kuala Lumpur,
April 20 (IANS) Malaysia's inflation, as measured by the consumer price index
(CPI), eased to 3.4 per cent in March from 3.7 per cent in February, official
data showed on Thursday.
The Department
of Statistics said in a statement that the slower increase was mainly driven by
the decrease in petrol price, which eased the inflation of the transport group
to 2.4 per cent.
This was in
line with the downward trend of Brent crude oil price, which was at $78.53 per
barrel during March, as compared to $115.59 a year ago.
Nevertheless,
inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as that for restaurants
and hotels remained high at 6.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively, even
though it was lower than February's figure.
For the first
quarter, the CPI rose 3.6 per cent as compared to the same quarter of the
preceding year.
On a quarterly
basis, CPI grew at 0.6 per cent at the same rate as recorded in the fourth
quarter of 2022.
Core inflation,
which measures changes in the prices of all goods and services, excluding
volatile prices of fresh food as well as administered prices of goods by the government,
still registered a higher increase of 3.8 per cent as compared to 3.9 per cent
in February.
Meanwhile,
monthly headline inflation in March increased marginally at 0.1 per cent as
compared to February.
Source: investing.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://in.investing.com/news/malaysias-inflation-eases-to-34-in-march-3607590
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Africa
“He laid out
the earth for all living creatures”: Islam’s lessons for climate
BY HASNA
SOUSSAN
APRIL 20, 2023
In recent
years, Islamic scholars and environmental experts have gathered together on
numerous occasions to discuss the relationship between Islam and the
environment. At the recent “Islam and Climate Emergency” conference, organised
by the High Atlas Foundation with the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in
Fes, Morocco, for instance, participants shared ideas of how the world’s second
biggest religion – followed by around 2 billion people worldwide, including
around 500 million in Africa – can serve as a model for environmental
stewardship in a time of crisis.
Islamic
teachings have a lot to tell Muslims about our relationship to nature. In fact,
the very root of the word Islam, “Silm”, means peace, referring not just to
peace among humankind but with all living creatures and the wider environment.
Ahead of Eid, below is a collection of concepts in Islam that can guide us in
our understanding of environmental degradation, climate change, and of Muslims’
role in responding to these challenges.
Preserving Allah’s
blessings
The principles
of Islam encourage humans to live in harmony with nature and to treat the
environment with respect and reverence. This is evident in the teachings of the
Quran and the Hadith, which contain numerous references to the environment and
the responsibility of people to care for it. Both explain that humans were
appointed as stewards of Allah’s creation and that the obligation of people as
caliphs on earth is to maintain and take care of it as part of Amana (trust).
Verse 7 of
Surah Al-Kahf states: “Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth
adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deeds.”
This verse explains that Allah has created nature to beautify earth and make it
a source of pleasure for our eyes and hearts. However, it also emphasises that
this creation serves a higher purpose, which is to test humanity to show their
good deeds and demonstrate their piety by leaving the environment as Allah
created it. The verse expresses the importance of a wise and responsible
handling of the environment, lest there be negative consequences for humanity
and life on earth.
Extravagance
and balance
In Islam,
extravagance are considered one of the major sins and followers are urged to
avoid waste. Instead, followers are actively called up to practice moderation
and to preserve the blessings Allah has bestowed upon humans by using resources
wisely. As Allah almighty says in Surah Al-Baqarah, 60: “Eat and drink from the
provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading
corruption.”
Relatedly, the
Islamic notion of Mizan refers to the importance of balance. This concept is
often linked to the idea of justice as it implies a state of equilibrium that
is fair and just. Allah, we are told, created earth in perfect equilibrium. As
stated in the Quran: “He raised the heaven and established the balance so that
you would not transgress the balance. Give just weight – do not skimp in the
balance. He laid out the earth for all living creatures” (Arrahman, 7-10).
These concepts
of moderation, preservation, and balance call upon Muslims to respect planetary
limits and the symbiotic ecosystems on which all creatures rely to survive.
Islamic law
Maqasid
al-Sharia (the objectives of Islamic law) also relate to the environment. These
concepts are the very essence of the religion as they facilitate the
functioning of societies and enhance the public good.
In Islamic law,
the preservation of the five necessities (known as al-daruriyyat al-khams)
– is considered a fundamental objective.
These are: religion (al-din), life (al-nafs), intellect (al-aql), lineage
(al-nasl), and property (al-mal). The maintenance of these goods are all
closely related to the environment, which plays a critical role in sustaining
human life and supporting human well-being.
Many Muslim
religious practices, for instance, rely on the availability of natural
resources, such as water, air, and food. The preservation of life requires the
protection of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. Intellectual development
derives inspiration from the natural world, which is also important for mental
and cognitive health. The maintenance of lineage requires good reproductive
health and family stability, both of which are threatened by climate crises and
environmental toxicity. And the preservation of property rests on the
preservation and responsible use of natural resources.
Do no harm
Islam’s
teaching on humanity’s relationship with the climate is further rooted in its
fundamental moral principles. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah’s prayers and peace
be upon him, explained the necessity of preserving the environment in several
hadiths, albeit indirectly. For example, the hadith “There should be neither
harming nor reciprocating harm” indicates, in the broader sense, that humans
should be responsible for their actions and refrain from causing harm to each
other, whether directly or indirectly by disrupting the environment in which
they live.
Another hadith
calls on Muslims to plant trees, stating: “If the Resurrection were established
upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.”
Source: africanarguments.org
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://africanarguments.org/2023/04/he-laid-out-the-earth-for-all-living-creatures-islam-lessons-for-climate/
--------
Sultan of
Sokoto Felicitates Muslim Ummah
The
President-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) and Sultan of
Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has felicitated Muslim Ummah on the occasion of ‘Idul Fitr.
Abubakar, in a
statement signed by the Director of Administration of the NSCIA, ZubairuHaruna
Usman-Ugwu, “enjoined Muslims to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1444 A.H.
immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H. which is
equivalent to 20th April 2023.
“We beseech
Allah to grant everyone the opportunity to witness many more of it. In the
spirit of Ramadan, Muslims are reminded that Zakatul Fitr is a compulsory
food-levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less-privileged in
the society.
“The Council,
therefore, appeals to all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but
also comply on time. The stipulated practice is to give out the prescribed
measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than
before the ‘Id prayer.
“Consequent
upon the advice of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC), the
President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent
of Shawwal 1444 A.H. immediately after sunset on today, 29th Ramadan 1444 A.H.
which is equivalent to 20th April 2023.
“If the
crescent is sighted by Muslims in accordance with the moon sighting and
verification standards, then His Eminence would declare Friday, 21st April 2023
as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is
not sighted that day, then Saturday, 22nd April 2023, automatically becomes the
day of ‘Idul Fitr.
“In addition to
the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, the following
members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted to
report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Shawwal 1444 AH:
“The Council
encourages all Muslims to pray fervently to the Almighty Allah, especially
during the concluding part of Ramadan, for the peace, security and development
of Nigeria.
“While wishing
us all happy ‘Idul Fitr, the Council enjoins Muslims all over the country to be
on the lookout for the announcement to be made by His Eminence, the President-General
of NSCIA on the night of Thursday 20th of April, 2023. ‘Id Mubarak in advance!”
Source: thisdaylive.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/04/20/sultan-of-sokoto-felicitates-muslim-ummah/
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Islamic cleric
urges Zamfara Govt to pay WAEC, NECO fees
April 19, 2023
By
IfeanyiNwannah
Dr Mohammed
Bello Janbako, an Islamic cleric, has urged the Zamfara State Government to
consider the possibility of paying NECO and WAEC fees for indigent students of
the state.
The cleric made
the call during the closure of this year’s Ramadan Tafsir at Imam Malik Jumuat
Mosque in Damba district of Gusau, the state capital.
The cleric, who
noted that Zamfara could not fill its quota in the country’s tertiary
institutions, said:
“I am calling
on the state government to, as a matter of fact, and urgency, settle the NECO
and WAEC fees that have not been paid over the years.
“Our students
have been stranded as they cannot proceed to higher institutions because of the
none payment of NECO and WAEC fees.
“This has posed
a serious problem to the society because those students who could not further
their education would in the near future become serious threats to the
society.”
The cleric also
urged politicians and wealthy individuals in the state to always come to the
rescue of the needy, particularly youths.
Source: dailypost.ng
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailypost.ng/2023/04/19/islamic-cleric-urges-zamfara-govt-to-pay-waec-neco-fees/
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Muslim
Brotherhood in Sudan sides with the army
April 19, 2023
The Muslim
Brotherhood in Sudan has taken the side of the Sudanese army led by General
Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan in its fight against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led
by General Mohamed HamdanDaglo.
Observer-General
of Sudan's Muslim Brotherhood, Adel Ibrahim, said in a statement that the RSF
"refused to obey the orders of the military leadership, and this is
considered a rebellion against the state which has led to the war in the middle
of the capital and other cities."
He added:
"Sudan and its people will pay the price of this war from the blood,
security and safety of its people, as well as from the sovereignty, unity and
collapsed economy."
"This war
imposed on the armed forces was planned slyly with malice and cunning from
external and regional parties and internal agents to tear apart the country's
unity, dismantle its army, and turn Sudan into a failed state. We have always
warned of these external interferences that do not want good for Sudan,"
he added.
He also urged
all the Sudanese people and political factions to stand beside the army
"which is the symbol of sovereignty."
Previously, the
National Congress Party, the former ruling party, declared its full support for
the army "in its endeavour to impose stability and return life to its
natural state."
It called for
the RSF to obey the orders of the armed forces "in order to take the
country out of the wicked wars and sedition that shed the blood of
people."
"The small
secularist parties had been seeking power through the support of the RSF which
was involved in a battle with the armed forces in a foolish step and reckless
behaviour that reflects ignorance," it said.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230419-muslim-brotherhood-in-sudan-sides-with-the-army/
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Europe
Azerbaijani
President, First Lady attend opening of Juma Mosque in Narimanov district
20 April 2023
The Juma Mosque
has been inaugurated in Narimanov district of Baku after major overhaul and
reconstruction, which were carried out at the initiative of the President of
Azerbaijan.
President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan IlhamAliyev and First Lady MehribanAliyeva attended
the event.
Source: azernews.az
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.azernews.az/nation/208908.html
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Muslim students
in Paris, far from their families, gather for iftar
20.04.2023
Muslim students
living in Paris, far from their families, gathered *earlier this week* for
iftar, the fast-breaking dinner.
The
Pantheon-Sorbonne Association of Muslim Students in France (EMF) organized an
iftar for those students, who study at various departments, including
architecture, engineering, international relations and medicine.
Students coming
from Algeria, Morocco, Türkiye, Iran, Cape Verde and other North African
countries, had dinner and played games.
President of
EMF Pantheon-Sorbonne Ines M. told Anadolu that their association regularly
organizes iftar with Muslim students during the holy month, with the intention
to unite students who are far from their families.
Ines said that
the students come from various French cities, including Marseille and Lyon.
"It is
their first time in Paris, for most of them, and they spend Ramadan alone for
the first time in their lives," Ines added.
Algerian
student in architecture, Maya Sebbah told Anadolu that the iftar was a
wonderful experience.
"Eid is
approaching," she said. "I hope it will be good for everyone."
Turkish
engineering student who moved from Lyon to Paris two years ago, Mehmet Basagac
said that it is better to spend Eid altogether, and invited everyone to gather
during Eid.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/muslim-students-in-paris-far-from-their-families-gather-for-iftar/2877270
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Weekly says
sorry over Muslim photo headline juxtaposition
by David
Sharman
20 Apr 2023
A weekly
newspaper has apologised for a picture-headline juxtaposition after being
criticised for splashing on a story about an explosion on the same front page
as a photograph of Muslims.
The Bedford
Times & Citizen said sorry following criticism from community group Islam
Bedford for running a photo from a community Iftar event – the meal served at
sunset during Ramadan to break the day’s fast – above a separate story with the
headline “Arrest after ‘explosion'” on the cover.
The Times &
Citizen has said in response that the articles were “clearly indicated as
separate stories” and that its intention was to “counterbalance the negative
lead story with a very positive story”, but apologised for any offence caused.
The front cover
had prompted Islam Bedford to issue a statement expressing its “disappointment
and frustration” at the front page design, pictured below, describing it as
“deeply concerning and undeniably misleading”.
The group
warned it could contribute towards “further prejudice and discrimination
against Muslims” at a time when anti-Muslim hate crime is increasing.
In a statement
posted on Twitter on Saturday, Islam Bedford said: “Islam Bedford, on behalf of
Bedford’s Muslim community, express our disappointment and frustration
regarding the recent front page of the Bedford Times & Citizen dated 13
April 2023.
“The coverage
of our community Iftar event, Bedford Street Iftar, being positioned alongside
the headline “Arrest after ‘explosion'” is deeply concerning, and undeniably
misleading.
“As a community
that strives for inclusivity and harmony, we are shocked that the placement of
these two stories could very easily be seen and read as being the same story —
a connection between a Muslim Iftar event and the explosion, which we firmly
believe is both irresponsible and insensitive.
“In the current
climate of heightened Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate crime on the rise, such
an irresponsible editorial decision can contribute to further prejudice and
discrimination against Muslims.
“We have sent
the Times & Citizen an email expressing our disappointment and frustration
and are awaiting a response.”
The Times &
Citizen’s splash covered an explosion in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook
last week.
A man in his
40s was arrested following the incident, which was attended by
counter-terrorism police, and was taken to hospital with life-changing
injuries.
David Summers,
editorial director for National World’s Central region, told HTFP: “The Times
& Citizen values the community it serves and there was absolutely no
intention to offend.
“The two
articles were clearly indicated as separate stories but if anyone has taken
offence we offer our sincere apologies.
“It is normal
to run more than one story on the front – and the thinking at the time was to
counterbalance the negative lead story with a very positive story at the top of
the page to show that we are supportive of the community.
“We look
forward to continuing to work with all groups in the community to further
strengthen positive relations between them and the paper.”
Source: holdthefrontpage.co.uk
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2023/news/weekly-slammed-over-photo-of-muslims-on-explosion-front-page/
--------
North
America
US
Congressional resolution introduced to recognise Ramadan and EidBrooke Anderson
Washington,
D.C.
20 April, 2023
A US
congressional resolution has been introduced recognising the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan and the Eid holiday.
The resolution
was introduced this week by Representative Debbie Dingell in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee and backed by several other progressive House members.
The initiative
focuses on "Recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, commending a
month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and extending best wishes to Muslims in
the United States and across the globe for a joyous and meaningful observance
of Eid al-Fitr."
It notes that
in the US there are around 1.2 million Muslim voters, around 200 Muslim elected
officials and around 4,500 Muslims on active military duty.
It concludes
that it is resolved "to demonstrate solidarity with and support for
members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the
world, the House of Representatives recognizes the importance of the Islamic
faith."
It also
resolves "in observance of and out of respect for Ramadan tradition, the
Muslim holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of
Representatives offers its best wishes to all Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr,
the conclusion of Ramadan, while also expressing its deepest respect to Muslims
in the United States and worldwide on this important occasion."
Source: newarab.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/us-congressional-resolution-recognises-ramadan-and-eid
--------
Judge orders
Tunisian Islamist leader to stay in custody
April 20, 2023
TUNIS, Tunisia
— A Tunisian investigative judge has ordered that influential Islamist leader
Rached Ghannouchi remain in custody, his party said Thursday on its official
social media.
The Ennahdha
party denounced in a statement on Facebook the “unjust imprisonment” of its
leader, after Ghannouchi was arrested by police Monday. On its English-language
Twitter account, the party said Ghannouchi has been charged with conspiracy
against state security and ordered to be imprisoned pending trial.
Ghannouchi, 81,
is the most prominent critic of President Kais Saied. He served as speaker of
Tunisia’s parliament until Saied dissolved the body last July and seized most
executive powers in the North African country — a move that Ghannouchi and
other opponents call a coup.
He has been
detained for questioning a number of times in the past, but the circumstances
of his latest detention suggested that this time was more serious.
Tunisia’s
official TAP news agency reported earlier this week that he was detained on a
warrant by counterterrorism prosecutors as part of an investigation into recent
“provocative” comments. It did not elaborate.
Other Tunisian
media reported that Ghannouchi was to be questioned over a video circulating
online in which he purportedly says that the president’s perceived efforts to
“eradicate” Islamist opposition threaten to unleash civil war.
The move comes
amid growing social tensions and deepening economic troubles in Tunisia, the
birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy movement more than a decade ago.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/20/tunisia-islamist-opposition-leader-detained/d91fa252-df6b-11ed-a78e-9a7c2418b00c_story.html
--------
Arab World
Arab League
calls for Sudan Eid ceasefire ‘in the name of Islam’
April 20, 2023
By Thursday,
the total number of civilian casualties reached at least 198 as at least 1207
others were injured.
The Arab League
has called on conflicting parties in Sudan on Wednesday to declare a ceasefire
during Eid Al Fitr in adherence with “Islam, Arab values” as deadly clashes
continued into the fifth day.
“I urge the
Sudanese parties in the name of Islam, Arab values, and humanity to announce a
ceasefire during the Eid holiday in order to enable civilians to respond to
urgent humanitarian cases,” Ahmed AboulGheit, the bloc’s Secretary-General,
said in a video message.
The official
took the opportunity to remind the warring sides – the Sudanese army and Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) – of the sanctity of Ramadan while urging them to halt
fighting in order to avoid transforming Eid into a time of sadness.
Eid Al Fitr may
fall on either Friday or Saturday, depending on the moon sightings in the
region.
AboulGheit’s
remarks came after a failed 24-hour armistice in Sudan on Wednesday as fighting
continued.
Sudan’s
deadliest violence in years broke out on Saturday in Khartoum between the
Sudanese army, headed by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by
former militia leader General Mohamed HamdanDagalo, widely known as Hemedti.
By Thursday,
the total number of civilian casualties reached at least 198 and at least 1,207
others were injured, per figures shared by the Sudanese doctors’ syndicate.
Doctors Without
Borders (MSF) said it is running out of much-needed medical supplies across its
hospitals in the conflict-stricken country.
“MSF has been
providing life-saving medical care but our team cannot move, we are stuck in
the conflict,” Sabrina Sharmin, MSF’s deputy operations manager in Sudan, told
Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the
RSF has suspended all flights from Khartoum International Airport since the
beginning of the clashes and reports said the paramilitary had also captured
Meroe’s airport.
However, a source
in the Sudanese army told Al-Jazeera on Tuesday that they managed to regain
control of Meroe’s airport.
On Sunday, the
Arab League held an emergency meeting on Sudan, during which it echoed global
calls for an immediate cessation of fighting. AboulGheit is also meeting with
chiefs of the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union on
Thursday in a bid to halt the fighting.
Qatar FM joins
African Union to call for peace in Sudan as fighting intensifies
The latest
round of violence in Sudan is widely seen by critics as yet another coup
attempt by the RSF, similar to one which took place in 2021. At the time, the
junta placed Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and various other officials on
house arrest before later releasing them.
The RSF emerged
in 2013 from Janjaweed militias that were found complicit in crimes during the
Darfur genocide in 2003.
At least
300,000 people were killed and around 2.7 million were displaced during the
genocide.
In 2011, Doha
sponsored a negotiation process that resulted in the Darfur Peace Agreement,
which brought together the government of Sudan and the armed movements to end
the six-year-long Darfur conflict.
Sudan has
grappled with a fragile path to democratic rule since the overthrow of Omar Al
Bashir during the 2019 revolution, with the joint civilian and military
government struggling to control a dire economic and political situation in the
country.
Then in
December last year, Sudanese political parties and the military signed a deal
that aimed to pave the way for a two-year civilian transition period, though
its fate remains in question as the fighting continues.
Source: dohanews.co
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dohanews.co/arab-league-calls-for-sudan-eid-ceasefire-in-the-name-of-islam/
--------
Saudi Arabia:
Thousands of meals handed to diabetics at Islam’s holiest site
April 20, 2023
Cairo:
Thousands of healthy meals have been distributed to diabetic worshippers at the
Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in the Saudi city of Mecca, since Ramadan
started in late March, an official has said.
A unit in
charge of iftar fast-ending banquets hosted for worshippers at the mosque has
given away 50,000 meals to diabetics and old people, added the unit’s manager
Ebrahim bin Abdullah.
“The unit
follows up and organises the iftar process inside the Grand Mosque via an
electronic system and has issued 2,300 related permits for sites designated for
the iftar over a total area of 30,000 metres,” the official said.
“The unit has
harnessed its human and technical resources for the iftar banquet organisation
in line with a well-thought-out working plan including electronic registration,
provision of permits to the service providers, field supervision of compliance
with instructions and the provision of sterilisation and cleanliness,” he
added.
Marked by
intense worshipping and spiritual purity, Ramadan is the month during which
Muslims observe fasting from dawn to dusk and perform nightly voluntary prayers
known as Taraweeh.
Ramadan usually
marks the peak of Umrah or lesser pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque, particularly
in the last 10 days of the month.
The number of
worshippers at the site reached more than 22 million in the first 20 days of
Ramadan, according to official Saudi figures.
In recent
months, the kingdom has unveiled a host of facilities for Muslims wishing to
come to the country to perform Umrah.
Source: gulfnews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-thousands-of-meals-handed-to-diabetics-at-islams-holiest-site-1.95242668
--------
More than
20,000 mosques ready for Eid Al Fitr prayers in Saudi Arabia
Apr 20, 2023
Saudi Arabia's
Ministry of Islamic Affairs declared 20,700 mosques and outdoor prayer areas in
the country ready for Eid al-Fitr prayer. The announcement came after work to
prepare the mosques, including safety measures, was completed.
More than 6,000
men and women have been assigned by the ministry to monitor the mosques and
prayer areas.
The Ministry of
Islamic Affairs also announced that Eid is expected to coincide with Friday,
April 21.
The Supreme
Court called on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to look out for the crescent of the
Shawwal moon on Thursday evening.
If the duration
of Ramadan is decided at 30 days, workers will return to work on Tuesday, April
25, while if it is 29 days, the Eid holiday will last just four days, with
workplaces reopening on Monday.
In an
announcement on Tuesday, the kingdom’s Supreme Court called on “whoever sights
the crescent moon”, through binoculars or otherwise, to immediately report to
the nearest court and register their testimony.
Saudi Arabia's
International Astronomy Centre on Sunday predicted that Eid Al Fitr would fall
on Saturday, April 22 ― a day later than previously expected.
Meanwhile, all
imams have been asked to perform the Friday prayer as usual, the ministry said.
Muslims
traditionally go to the mosque to perform early morning Eid prayers, but those
who wish to stay on after can perform the Friday prayer then, the ministry
advised.
“On an occasion
where Eid coincides with a Friday, whoever is up all night then attends the Eid
prayers is not obliged to attend the Friday prayer in the mosque,” said Dr
Zohair Ahmad, a British citizen living in Jeddah.
“But it's
better if he prays it with people on Friday. Another exception is that the call
to prayer is not prescribed in mosques where Friday prayers are held.”
As the holy
month drew to a close, more than 2.5 million worshippers gathered at the Grand
Mosque in Makkah on Wednesday evening, the 29th night of Ramadan, to perform
isha and taraweeh prayers and watch the completion of a Quran recitation, the
Saudi Press Agency reported.
Source: thenationalnews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2023/04/20/more-than-20000-mosques-ready-for-eid-al-fitr-prayers-in-saudi-arabia/
--------
Ministry
directs not to perform Eid prayers at external mosques in areas that expect
rain
Thursday April
20, 2023
RIYADH — The
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has directed to perform Eid
Al-Fitr prayers in mosques, and not on the external prayer areas in the
governorates and cities where rain is expected to fall.
The Ministry'
direction came due to the forecasts of expected rainfall in most regions of
Saudi Arabia on the day of Eid Al-Fitr.
It has asked
its branches to follow up on weather forecasts that will be issued by the
National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
In the same
context, the Department of Mosques, Call and Guidance in Taif Governorate has
announced the performance of Eid Al-Fitr prayer.
The Department
of Mosques, Call and Guidance in Taif Governorate announced the holding of Eid
prayers in mosques that it had previously announced, after it could not hold
prayers in external prayer areas due to weather conditions.
It is worth
mentioning that NCM had previously expected thunderstorms to continue in most
regions of Saudi Arabia until the first days of Shawwal month.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/631783/SAUDI-ARABIA/Ministry-nbspdirects-not-to-perform-Eid-prayers-at-external-mosques-in-areas-that-expect-rain
--------
Is Eid 2023
today? When the end of Ramadan is announced with Saudi Arabia predicting Eid
al-Fitr on Friday
By Alex Finnis
April 20, 2023
Muslims around
the world will be looking to the skies tonight, in search of the crescent moon
that will signal the end of their Ramadan fast and the beginning of Eid
al-Fitr.
The end of the
holy month and the arrival of Eid will be marked with celebrations centred
around a large feast.
Eid al-Fitr is
one of two Eid festivals in the Islamic calendar – the other being Eid al-Adha
in the summer – and gives worshippers the opportunity to gather and commemorate
the completion of a month without eating or drinking during daylight hours.
Like Ramadan
and other Muslim observances, the date of Eid is calculated by the sighting of
the moon, which means it cannot be predicted with complete accuracy too far in
advance, and there is still some uncertainty around when Eid is expected to
fall in 2023. Here’s what we know.
When is Eid
al-Fitr 2023?
Ramadan 2023
began on the evening of Wednesday 22 March in the UK, as per the moon sighting
tradition that sets its start date.
The holy month
lasts between 29 and 30 days, until the sighting of the next crescent moon
marks the end of Ramadan and the arrival of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic
calendar.
Initial moon
sighting predictions suggested that Eid al-Fitr would likely be celebrated on
Friday 21 April this year, with Saudi Arabia expected to sight the new crescent
moon on Thursday night. The Kingdom has announced that public holidays will
officially begin on Friday.
However, Saudi
Arabia’s International Astronomy Centre has said the moon sighting may actually
come on Friday, which would push Eid back to Saturday 22 April. This is now
considered the most likely outcome, meaning Ramadan will end at sundown on
Friday.
The centre said
in a tweet: “We note that the International Astronomy Centre is not an
advertising agency, but rather a scientific centre that provides astronomical
information. The original article contained many details showing the conditions
of sighting the crescent in various countries of the world, and based on it,
the beginning of the month can be determined by the concerned authorities. Note
that the criteria adopted for the beginning of the month in the Islamic world are
multiple, and the sighting of the crescent may depend on non-local places.”
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has called
on Muslims to look out for the crescent moon on Thursday. “The Supreme Court
expressed hope that those who are capable of sighting the crescent moon will
join committees formed for that purpose in different regions,” it said.
In the UK the
moon sighting is also expected to come on Friday. There is some debate as to
whether the moon sighting should refer to you physically witnessing the moon in
your region, which could be hampered by factors such as weather conditions, or
whether to defer to sightings in Saudi Arabia or other predominantly Muslim
countries like Morocco.
“Some Muslims
strictly follow calculations, while others strictly follow moon sightings, and
some follow a combination of both,” the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
explains on its Division of Student Life website. “What Muslims choose to
follow can depend on their religious convictions, where they have lived in the
world, and what their families practice.”
What is Eid
al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr’s
name comes from an Arabic term that translates as the “feast of breaking the
fast” and, although not a standard public holiday in the UK (although, like
last year, it can fall on a bank holiday), it is for many Muslim countries.
The
celebrations begin with prayers at dawn, which usually take place at a mosque.
Eid has its own special prayer, which is designed to be performed in a
congregation.
It is
traditional for Muslims to gather together in a park to celebrate, with
large-scale events and festival food (particularly sweet treats), prayer and
stalls.
After Eid, some
Muslims decide to fast for the six days that follow. This stems from the
Islamic belief that a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times, thus fasting for
30 days during Ramadan and six days during Shawwal creates a year’s worth of
goodwill.
The second Eid
festival in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha, falls later in the year. Its
name literally translates as “feast of the sacrifice,” and it is considered the
holier of the two Eids.
That honours
the story of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim – known in the Old Testament as
Abraham – to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
When greeting
observers during both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha celebrations, it is
traditional to wish them “Eid Mubarak”.
The Arabic word
“mubarak” translates as “blessed,” while “Eid” means feast, festival or
celebration, so “Eid Mubarak” can literally mean “blessed celebration” or
“blessed feast”.
However, it is
widely interpreted as simply wishing somebody a “Happy Eid”.
While you can
specify “Eid al-Fitr Mubarak” or “Eid al-Adha Mubarak” to specify between the
two festivals, “Eid Mubarak” alone is plenty.
Source: inews.co.uk
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/eid-2285426?ITO=newsnow
--------
Pakistan
CJP urges MPs
to draft laws ‘in compliance with Constitution’
April 20, 2023
Chief Justice
of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has extended his prayers and good wishes for the
Parliament to draft laws that “comply with the Constitution’s standards and
lead the nation towards greater peace, prosperity, and progress.”
In a letter
addressed to the National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, Chief Justice
Bandial offered his congratulations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of
the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
He acknowledged
the Constitution’s vital role in shaping the country’s future by setting
social, political, and economic goals and making Parliament the highest
repository of legislative power.
Chief Justice
Bandial expressed his regret at not being able to attend the auspicious
occasion held at the National Assembly hall on April 10 due to his judicial
commitments at the court. However, he made it a point to convey his prayers and
good wishes to the Parliament in drafting laws that align with the
Constitution’s standards and pave the way for a more peaceful, prosperous, and
progressive nation.
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/cjp-urges-mps-to-draft-laws-in-compliance-with-constitution/
--------
Imran can’t
conceal his incompetence, corruption by covering face: Marriyum
April 20, 2023
Minister for
Information and Broadcasting MarriyumAurangeb on Wednesday said Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan could not conceal his incompetence,
inefficiency and corruption by “covering his face in public with a canister”.
“It may be a
bucket or a canister or a ‘dustbin’, but rest assured nothing can help Imran
Khan cover up his four years misrule which was marred by corruption, loot and
plunder ,” the minister said while addressing a news conference.
Flanked by
Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Economy and Energy Bilal Azhar Kayani, she
said Imran Khan would have been visiting the public without any fear, had he
not wreaked havoc with the economy.
“Imran Khan
could cover his face with a bucket, a canister or a dustbin before going to the
public, but nothing can help him cover his evil deeds and corruption,” the
minister remarked.
Marriyum said a
group of people was imposed on the country in
an
unconstitutional way in 2018, but the coalition parties had not only ousted
them from power in a democratic way, but also cleared the economic mess created
by them. “We have not only fixed the economy but also continued to make efforts
to bring further improvement,” she added.
Marriyum said
Imran Khan had deprived the people of sugar and wheat, harmed Pakistan’s
diplomatic relations with other countries, traded off Kashmir for foreign
funds, and above all destroyed the economy which resulted in extreme inflation,
poverty and unemployment.
She also played
two video clips to substantiate her claim about the bad performance of Imran
Khan’s government by comparing it with the one year of the present coalition
government.
She said the
videos gave a comparative analysis of the two governments’ performances and
highlighted the initiatives taken by the coalition government to undo the
missteps of the PTI’s regime.
“When the
coalition parties came to power, everybody said that the country would soon
default, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has a vision and roadmap for
development, with the national economy on top priority,” she noted.
She said that
during first eight months of the present coalition regime, the fiscal deficit
in terms of GDP fell from 3.4 to 2.8 percent whereas the current account
deficit reduced by 74 percent and trade deficit by 36 per cent.
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/imran-cant-conceal-his-incompetence-corruption-by-covering-face-marriyum/
--------
PTI’s wrong
policy blamed for wave of terrorism
April 20, 2023
Federal
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar on Wednesday blamed the recent
wave of terror on the ‘wrong policy’ of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government
to engage militants and allow them to resettle in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Speaking on the
floor of the Senate, he said, sacrifices rendered by armed forces for the
elimination of terrorism had been overshadowed by political issues in the country.
He said that it
was unfortunate that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is responsible for the current
political unrest and economic challenges.
The minister
recalled that after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the
in-camera- briefing was given to lawmakers regarding return of terrorists
operating in the Afghanistan.
Tarar said that
at that time the then opposition parties expressed reservations on the idea of
negotiation and their settlement in Pakistan.
He said that
Pakistan is going through very critical juncture and country’s armed forces and
police is being targeted by the terrorists.
He said that
Pakistan armed forces have been fighting courageously against the terrorists
for the last 30 years. “It was the desire of the government to pass a unanimous
resolution to address this issue,” he added.
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/ptis-wrong-policy-blamed-for-wave-of-terrorism/
--------
‘Reign of
terror’ controlled by another force, not PDM: Imran
April 20, 2023
PTI Chairman
Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the “reign of terror” in the country was not
controlled by “puppets” in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), but by
“another force”.
The former prime
minister made these remarks in a series of tweets, wherein he recounted the
arrests of several workers and leaders of his party in recent days.
”The way we
have descended into becoming a banana republic where there is no rule of law
and only law of the jungle, it is clear that this reign of terror is not
controlled by PDM puppets, but by another force that sees itself totally above
the law,” he said.
Imran further
alleged, “Our people are abducted and afterwards sham FIRs (first information
reports) are registered. As bail in one FIR is granted, another FIR pops up.
“I have over
145 FIRs against me. It’s a circus of FIRs.”
The PTI chief
said those “abducted” in recent days included PTI leaders Azhar Mashwani and
Amin Ali Gandapur.
Mashwani,
former focal person for digital media in Punjab, was picked up on March 23, and
Imran had accused authorities of abducting him at the time. He was picked up
apparently on charges of criticising the Punjab police and the caretaker
government for allegedly using high-handed tactics against party workers.
An FIR of his
disappearance — registered on court directives two days after the incident —
said he had gone missing from outside his house when he was going to Zaman Park
in a cab.
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/reign-of-terror-controlled-by-another-force-not-pdm-imran/
--------
No ‘exclusive
suomotu powers’ for CJP: Justice Isa
April 20, 2023
Justice Qazi
Faez Isa has declared that the suomotu powers rest only with the Supreme Court
and not just the chief justice of Pakistan.
Justice Isa
said the Constitution gave the top court as a whole the right to take suomotu
notice, adding that this power did not exclusively lie with the chief justice
of Pakistan.
Speaking on
Wednesday, the apex judge said the word “suomotu” does not mention in the
Constitution of Pakistan.
Addressing
“Pakistan’s Constitution” seminar at a university in Islamabad on Wednesday,
Supreme Court’s Justice Qazi Faez Isa said Article 184/3 of the Constitution
was meant to protect the oppressed and should not be misused for personal gain.
He emphasized
that the Supreme Court has the power to take up cases related to the public
interest and the enforcement of fundamental rights under Article 184/3.
Justice Qazi
Isa also stressed the importance of using this article carefully and not
abusing it, as it cannot be used to benefit anyone. He noted that every law
provides for at least one appeal right, except for a constitutional appeal
against Article 184/3.
“The meaning of
the SC in Article 184(3) is that all judges and the chief justice unanimously
[take suomotu notice],” Justice Isa said. “My opinion is that when the court
sits, you call it the SC and Article 184(3) starts with ‘Supreme Court’. It
does not mention senior puisne judge or chief justice. So my opinion is that
only the SC has this right.”
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/no-exclusive-suo-motu-powers-for-cjp-justice-isa/
--------
Mideast
'Worst Ramadan
season ever' because of Israeli restrictions, says Hawara's mayor
20 April, 2023
QassamMuaddi
This year's
commercial Ramadan season is "the worst ever in Hawara", the mayor of
the Palestinian town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus,
MuinDmeidi, said to The New Arab.
Mayor Dmeidi's
comments came as Israeli forces continue to impose severe restrictions on
accessing Hawara for the fourth week, severely damaging the town's commercial
movement during the high season of the Muslim holy month, as local residents
told TNA.
The town,
located on the main road at the exact southern entrance of Nablus city,
witnessed a recent wave of attacks by Israeli forces and settlers these past
few months.
In late
February, hundreds of Israeli settlers attack Hawara, in what Palestinian and
Israeli commentators described as a "pogrom", torching 30 Palestinian
homes and 90 cars, killing one Palestinian relief worker and injuring dozens.
The Israeli
settlers' rampage followed a shooting attack in which two Israeli settlers were
killed in Hawara. The shooting itself came hours after Israeli forces had
killed 11 Palestinians, including an elderly man, in a military raid on Nablus
city.
Israeli settlers'
attacks on Hawara persist on a smaller scale in the weeks that followed, with
the participation of far-right Israeli politicians, while Israeli forces
continued to impose on-and-off curfews and military closure over the besieged
town.
Meanwhile,
Palestinian militants targeted Israeli forces and settlers while imposing a
military curfew in Hawara with drive-through shootings, twice since February's
attack, wounding two soldiers and two settlers.
The Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine's (PFLP) armed wing claimed both
shootings.
"Hawara is
located on a strategic point where all circulation between the north and the
centre of the occupied West Bank crosses," said the mayor.
"Hawara's
main street is a commercial hub, and the town's economy depends on it, so when
the occupation restricts access to Hawara, it kills the economy," pointed
out the mayor. "Ramadan is a high season for Hawara, and now the season is
being choked out by the occupation."
"The
occupation army installed some 15 military outposts in Hawara, mostly on the
main street," Mahmoud Shehadeh, a business owner in Hawara, told TNA.
"Access to
the town is restricted from the Zaatara checkpoint to the south, and most
people who come into Hawara do it through small secondary streets through surrounding
villages," he explained.
"On
Monday, the occupation soldiers forced us to close the doors of our businesses
on the main street during the morning," said Shehadeh.
"The
result of all this is that the main street in Hawara is being emptied of Palestinians,
and made available only for Israeli settlers," he added.
The northern
occupied West Bank witnessed another wave of Israeli settler violence in recent
weeks. Last week, settlers destroyed dozens of olive trees in the village of
Kufl Hares, near Tulkarm.
In early March,
Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said that the town of Hawara
"has to be wiped off the map and that the state of Israel, not the
settlers, should do it", during a political event. Smotrich later withdrew
his comments following a wave of international condemnation.
Source: newarab.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/ramadan-season-hawara-choked-israeli-closure-mayor
--------
Former head of
Sunni Endowment escapes from Baghdad's Green Zone prison
20 April, 2023
Saad Qambash,
the former head of Iraq's Sunni Endowment, who was sentenced to four years
after being found guilty of corruption, escaped from a police station in
Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone late on Tuesday.
Qambash was
arrested on 21 March and he was sentenced on 11 April to four years in jail
according to Article 331 of the Iraqi penal code related to charges of
financial and administrative corruption worth more than 45 billion Iraqi dinars
(more than US$ 34 million).
Major General Yahya Rasool, the spokesperson
for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, in a statement, said that
Qambash was held at Karadat Maryam police station located inside Baghdad's
Green Zone, which is also home of the government, parliament and senior Iraqi
officials.
Rasool
clarified that on 18 April, Iraqi lawmaker Asma Hamid Qambash, the sister of
the escapee, visited the police station to meet with her brother during iftar.
"At 10:30
PM [Baghdad time] the convict fled from behind the police station with the help
of three people and reached two cars that were waiting for him to guarantee his
escape to an unknown destination," Rasool said, indicating that an
investigation into the incident is ongoing.
All officers
and policemen in charge of the police station have been arrested as per orders
from Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al Shammari, who also launched an
investigation and intelligence efforts to re-arrest Qambash.
"There is
corruption in Al-Karkh police station, and the criminal could escape with the
help of some officers at the police station," SagvanYousif, deputy head of
the security and defence committee in the Iraqi parliament, said to The New
Arab. He also said that the committee would form a sub-committee to investigate
how the former official ran away.
Footages from
CCTV cameras documenting the runaway process have been posted online.
According to
Transparency International's corruption perception index, Iraq has been one of
the most corrupt countries in the world.
Corrupt
officials often escape accountability because of Iraq's ethno-sectarian
political power-sharing among the Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs and the Kurds.
Iraq's
judiciary early last month issued arrest warrants for four former officials who
are accused of facilitating the theft of US$2.5 billion in public funds in one
of the country's biggest-ever corruption scandals.
The country's
current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has vowed to crack down on
corruption since his appointment in late October.
Source: newarab.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/ex-head-iraqs-sunni-endowment-escapes-jail-baghdad
--------
Scores Killed,
Hundreds Injured At Ramadan Charity Event In Yemen
April 20, 2023
April 20,
(THEWILL) – Over 80 people were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede at a
charity distribution event in Yemen, on Thursday, Houthi officials said.
This is coming
a few days before Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday celebrated around the world by
feasting to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Hundreds of
people in the war-torn country had gathered at a school in the capital, Sanaa
to receive cash handouts of 5,000 Yemeni Rials (around $8).
At least “85
were killed and more than 322 were injured” in the stampede in the Bab al-Yemen
district of the capital. Women and children were among the dead,” a Houthi
security official said.
The Houthi-run
Interior Ministry said the dead and injured have been evacuated to hospitals,
and those responsible for the event arrested.
According to
the head of the Houthis’ Supreme Revolutionary Committee, Mohamed Ali al-Huthi,
“overcrowding” caused the stampede.
People were
packed in a narrow street leading to the school’s back entrance, he said.
Once the gates
opened, the crowd streamed into a tight staircase leading to the courtyard
where the distribution was taking place.
A video
broadcast by Al Masirah TV channel showed a cluster of bodies packed together,
with people climbing on top of each other to try to make their way through.
Armed men in
military garb and distribution workers screamed at the crowd to turn back as
they tried to pull people out of the crush.
Eyewitnesses,
however, said that gunfire caused people to rush in a panic.
After the
stampede, families converged on hospitals but many were not allowed to enter as
top officials were also visiting the dead and wounded.
Source: thewillnews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thewillnews.com/scores-killed-hundreds-injured-at-ramadan-charity-event-in-yemen/
--------
Ramadan in Abu
Dhabi: ‘I welcome these social changes’
Tamara Clarke
April 20, 2023
When I moved to
Abu Dhabi back in December of 2012, I sought counsel from established expats
about settling in and navigating life in the capital, all the cultural and
religious norms.
Naturally,
ahead of experiencing my first Ramadan in the country, my trusted confidants
prepared me for the Holy Month. I was encouraged to dress modestly, limit
jubilation and avoid eating and drinking in public spaces during fasting hours.
The risk and possible consequences of committing social offenses during this
time was not lost on me, and the importance of respecting those observing Ramadan
was of the utmost importance.
For years to
come, I complied with what I had been taught – paying more attention to my
attire, lowering the volume of the radio in my car and refraining from eating
and drinking in public during fasting hours – a feat that came easily as most,
if not all, eateries remained closed. I remember quietness – a calming ambiance
– in neighborhoods, malls and retail spaces. News of restaurants that remained
operational during fasting hours was hushed, spreading only by word of mouth to
those who might be interested in knowing, as opposed to articles emblazoned
with headlines such as 20 Restaurants Open All Day During Ramadan published by
prominent media outlets.
Ramadan used to
be a more restrictive time in Abu Dhabi, however a lot has changed over the
last decade and I was reminded just how much as I stroll through malls in the
capital in 2023. It’s business as usual; hustle and bustle as ladies whizz by
me wearing shorts and crop tops baring midriffs and shoulders. In 2021 the Department
of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi dropped its requirement for restaurants to
hang curtains over their facades during fasting hours so now people can be seen
cheerfully gathering for meals while the sun is up. I understand that change is
the mark of any progressive society, but I do miss the old days of Ramadan –
the quiet, stillness of it all – and I feel public sentiment seems to be split
on the matter. Some agree with me while others welcome the changes.
A marketing
professional I know, who was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, misses the old days.
“Spending Ramadan here was different – unlike anywhere else in the world,” she
says.
Keeping
restaurants open during fasting times, made her sad.
“It really has
nothing to do with me being a fasting Muslim at all… There was just a different
feel to it everywhere in the city, and despite this being a small change, it
did affect the overall vibes of the month. Again, this has nothing to do with
me being a fasting Muslim, because in any other country in the world nothing
would have changed for fasting Muslims, making these small gestures even more
special.”
She has also
noticed the impact of these changes on non-Muslims. “Non-Muslims can go about
their lives like it’s any other day. There was something different about the
old days when people were intrigued and wanted to know more about why Muslims
fast during this time,” she said.
This sentiment
rings true for me. As a non-Muslim, I used to lean into the spirit of Ramadan
by choosing a personal goal to achieve throughout the month. For example, in
2018 I participated in a Ramadan Write In with eight other women. We met every
week to work on individual writing goals as a collective. I credit this time
with helping me make headway on my first children’s book, which was published
in 2019. I reflected on this effort as Ramadan approached this year but
unfortunately fell short of asserting myself to set and reach another goal in
the Holy Month.
On the other
hand, Ameerah Abdullah, an Abu Dhabi resident of nine years, says the changes
in the capital have had no effect on her.
“As a fasting
Muslim who grew up in a country such as Singapore, where the majority of the
population does not observe Ramadan, I’m used to fasting while others don’t
observe. I feel that whether we are fasting or not, we should not expect others
to pander to our states of being,” she says.
“In my opinion,
it shows that Abu Dhabi is progressing to emulate other capital cities. Ramadan
or not, the world still spins. In fact, because it is Ramadan, having a city
that doesn’t ‘shut down’ gives me the motivation I need to power through my
fasting days. It tells me it’s okay, life is normal – there are others who
don’t fast and this reminds me of the beauty of a metropolis with various
ethnicities and religious beliefs.”
“I welcome
these social changes because it tells me that while Abu Dhabi wants to stay
true to its character, it is also committed to progress and developing further
as an exemplary capital city in the Middle East,” said Abdullah.
RashaKambal,
who’s lived in Abu Dhabi for 24 years agrees with Ameerah, and believes
wholeheartedly that the spirit of Ramadan is within.
“The holy month
feels the same. Ramadan is about looking inwards and working on your religious
goals. If done right, you barely notice the rest of the things.”
Source:
livehealthymag.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.livehealthymag.com/ramadan-in-abu-dhabi-i-welcome-these-social-changes/
--------
This Ramadan,
Dubai’s property market did not take a time-out on deals
April 20, 2023
In Dubai,
Ramadan is generally seen as a time when this buzzing city pauses to take a
breath. This collective slowdown affects every aspect of the city, including
its real estate.
Transactions
tend to slow down, there are far fewer viewings (especially with Muslim clients
who won’t be as active during the day), and there is an overall sense that the
market is waiting to ramp up once the Holy Month has concluded.
Not so in 2023
– this has been the busiest Ramadan in Dubai’s real estate sector. Looking back
5 years ago, there were only 509 transactions during the first 20 days of
Ramadan. By contrast, we have seen 2,222 transactions during that same period
this year – an increase of 336 per cent.
Even compared
to the same period last year, there has been a 51.4 per cent increase in
transactions.
What makes this
Ramadan so different from the previous ones? One of the key factors, I believe,
is the changing demographic of buyers in the market.
Traditionally,
the market has been dominated by buyers from across Asia, particularly South
Asia – India, Pakistan, and GCC nations such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have
been among the top buying nationalities. A large percentage of those buyers
would be observing Ramadan and as such, there would be a decrease in their
activity during this period, only to pick up again after Eid Al Fitr.
In recent
years, the buying demographic has become increasingly European. In fact, if we
look at the statistic for 2022, India was the only nation to feature in The top
5 buying nationalities. With a larger number of European investors entering the
market, it’s reasonable to say – without painting everyone with too broad a
brush – that there will be fewer among them that observe the Ramadan period.
For them, it’s
just another month and another opportunity to buy real estate.
A drastic
transformation
On a larger
scale, Ramadan in Dubai has changed over the years. The city that once used to
shut itself off for a month now continues to be on the move. Many aspects of
life in Dubai during Ramadan have changed as the city continues to position
itself as a global hub, welcoming of people from all over the world and all
walks of life.
Aside from
reduced working hours, one might not notice a difference in the city’s
operations.
For most
industries, this has meant that Ramadan is now business as usual. It’s similar
to what happened with summer – pre-pandemic, the summer months were seen as
incredibly quiet. Most people would travel to get away from the Dubai heat and
the real estate market all but ground to a halt until September.
Since 2020,
that graph has changed considerably and now summer is just as busy as any other
season.
A changing work
cycle too
In some
respects, this can be a negative. Real estate agents in particular always had a
pre-Ramadan rush where they were motivated to work even harder to close deals
so they could slow down a bit during the Ramadan period.
Now, they no
longer have that luxury. What this does mean, however, is an increase in the
number of opportunities that are available to keep doing business during this
time and to maintain a steady flow of work (and income).
With Dubai
increasingly becoming a city that people from around the world want to call
home, a busty Ramadan period only underscores the positive sentiment In the
real estate market and is a good indicator of what we can expect from the
remainder of the year.
Source:
gulfnews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/business/analysis/this-ramadan-dubais-property-market-did-not-take-a-time-out-on-deals-1.95238634
--------
Night bus
routes to mosques to operate in Tashkent on Eid al-Fitr
AKIPRESS.COM -
Special night bus routes to mosques will be launched in Tashkent on the day of
the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, Podrobno.uz reports.
These bus
routes will operate from 4 am to 7 am. They will be available to people
planning to attend morning prayers. This decision, according to the Ministry of
Transport, will allow to avoid traffic jams and provide passengers with quality
and safe service.
The metro on
the holiday will also start working at 4 am.
Source:
akipress.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://akipress.com/news:703766:Night_bus_routes_to_mosques_to_operate_in_Tashkent_on_Eid_al-Fitr/
--------
Israel issues
stop work orders against 23 Palestinian homes, a mosque
April 19, 2023
Israeli
occupation forces yesterday distributed stop work orders against 23 Palestinian
facilities in the northern West Bank, including a mosque and houses, under the
pretext that they were built without permits.
Azmi Shuqair,
head of public relations in the municipality of Zawiya, west of Salfit, told
Anadolu that the notified facilities include a mosque where prayers are held
and a four-storey building, inhabited homes and some that are ready to move
into and others which are under construction.
Shuqair
indicated that 14 similar notices were distributed to agricultural facilities
and rooms about a month ago, noting that all the facilities are located in Area
C of the town, where any change is prohibited without the Israeli occupation's
approval.
For his part,
the Governor of Salfit, Abdullah Kamil, described the Israeli occupation army's
actions as "unjust policies" against Palestinian citizens, adding
that the far-right government in Israel has crossed all lines and is even
persecuting places of worship, and is practising organised state terrorism
against Palestinians and their property.
According to
data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, Israel has demolished 278 Palestinian homes and facilities, most of
which are in Area C, during the first three months of this year.
Palestinians
are prohibited from making any change or building in Area C without an Israeli
permit, which is almost impossible to obtain, according to local and
international organisations.
Source:
middleeastmonitor.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230419-israel-issues-stop-work-orders-against-23-palestinian-homes-a-mosque/
--------
South Asia
Afghanistan is
a”Safe Haven” For Terrorists with an Increasing Threat to the US, Experts Claim
By
Fidel Rahmati
April 19, 2023
“The terrorist
threat environment in Afghanistan has deteriorated dramatically since August
2021 – and it is getting worse,” Tuesday, Nathan Sales, a former State
Department counterterrorism coordinator, made a statement reported by Just the
News.
He further
elaborated that due to the various groups and the lack of capability to fight
terrorism on the one hand and the absence of US pressure, Afghanistan has
become a breeding ground for growing terrorism.
“Due to a
combination of Taliban-provided safe haven, the Taliban’s lack of
counterterrorism capability, and the absence of sustained counterterrorism
pressure from the United States, Afghanistan has become hospitable terrain for
various terrorist groups,” he added.
Earlier last
month, Army General Michael Kurilla told the US Senate Armed Services Committee
that ISSI-K is rapidly growing in Afghanistan, potentially launching “overseas
operations” in Europe and Asia.
He warned that
the Islamic State could carry out operations against the US or West interests
within six months or so.
Meanwhile, the
experts expressed their concerns over the capability of the militant groups,
mainly ISIS-K and al Qaeda, after the withdrawal of the US left behind nearly
$7.2 billion worth of equipment.
However, the de
facto authorities claim they can prevent any attack from Afghanistan against
other countries.
Source:
www.khaama.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-is-asafe-haven-for-terrorists-with-an-increasing-threat-to-the-us-experts-claim/
--------
Khalilzad
Proposes ‘Measures’ For UN Chief’s Meeting on Afghanistan
By Fidel
Rahmati
April 20, 2023
Khalilzad welcomed the meeting, which will be
held in the first week of May and proposed four key measures.
He recommended
that the “full implementation of the Doha Agreement should be embraced as the
common goal.”
He added,
“Major figures from the previous Afghan government embrace the agreement as the
best framework for dealing with Afghanistan’s challenges. The agreement has not
been fully implemented, and no alternative has comparable broad support among
Afghans and the international community.”
He also
suggested that a road map for implementation be drawn up, considering the
current conditions in Afghanistan.
He continued,
“To develop the road map, the Secretary-General and the Envoys should have a
session with the Taliban during their deliberations.”
“This is needed
to determine whether the Islamic Emirate remains committed to the Doha
Agreement and to communicate the international community’s commitment to work
with them and others on a roadmap for implementation.
“This includes
a sequence of steps by the Islamic Emirate and the international community. The
roadmap must address the issue of women’s education and employment,” Khalilzad
said.
Finally, he
recommended a follow-up to the meeting. He said, “The Secretary-General should
appoint a personal Envoy to work with Afghans and the relevant internationals
in developing and implementing the roadmap.”
Meanwhile,
SIGAR said in a report earlier that the Doha agreement paved the way for the
collapse of the previous government while strengthening the Taliban then.
In this regard,
Khalilzad was the builder and initiative of the Doha agreement, which was a
complete failure. Meanwhile, several Afghan experts believe Khalilzad has been
hired “to lobby the Taliban group.”
Khalilzad
remarks a day after the UN deputy Chief, Amina Mohammad, that the organization
plans to arrange a conference in the coming days to discuss granting
recognition to Afghanistan’s Taliban.
Mohammed
meanwhile said: “We have amazing envoys that work on Afghanistan, and we have
Afghan women too, and what we are hoping is that we will gather them now in
another two weeks in the region, and they will have that first meeting of
envoys across the board, the region and internationally with the secretary
general for the first time.”
She continued
by saying that it would be “a principle recognition” and “in other words, there
are conditions.”
Source:
www.khaama.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/khalilzad-proposes-measures-for-un-chiefs-meeting-on-afghanistan/
--------
Afghan Govt
Could Not Survive After US Pullout: Sopko
“You could not
believe the Afghan government was going to survive, particularly when we
withdrew our troops, particularly when we withdrew our air support and
particularly when we withdrew the contractors,” he told the US House Committee
on Oversight and Reform. “I don’t really know who would actually have thought
the Afghan government was going to survive.”
Speaking at the
same event, the acting Inspector general of the US Department of State, Diana
Shaw, said that while the embassy’s emergency evacuation-planning activities in
the lead-up to the evacuation generally complied with applicable standards, the
department simply was not fully prepared for the full range of challenges they
encountered.
According to
Shaw, there were several contributing factors.
She said that
the embassy’s leadership operated on an understanding that diplomatic
operations would continue in Afghanistan after the military withdrawal.
She also said
communication with embassy personnel was unclear.
A US
representative from California, Barbara Jean Lee, said that the US is
responsible for a lot of the “harm caused” in Afghanistan and the US must work
to repair that harm.
“We have an
obligation to aid our allies who support our American forces as well as their
families,” she said.
Source:
tolonews.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183039
--------
Afghanistan IG
report hammers Biden administration for 'dysfunction' days after White House
blames Trump
By Chris
Pandolfo , Liz Friden
Efforts by
President Biden to keep America's commitment to rescue and resettle tens of
thousands of Afghan allies left behind in the disastrous withdrawal from
Afghanistan is being undermined by "bureaucratic dysfunction and
understaffing," according to a government watchdog.
"The U.S.
promised to resettle its allies in safety, but the United States is
failing," a stark assessment from the Special Inspector General for
Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) read. SIGAR released its 2023 High-Risk List
report Wednesday, which identifies the serious risks posed to more than $8
billion the U.S. has sent to the Afghan people since withdrawal in August 2021.
The report
comes as Afghanistan faces a "humanitarian catastrophe" caused by the
brutal Taliban regime that assumed control after U.S. withdrawal. Inspector
General John Sopko and watchdogs for the Defense and State Departments, as well
as the U.S. Agency for International Development are testifying to Congress
Wednesday in a hearing entitled, "The Biden Administration’s Disastrous
Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General."
They are
updating lawmakers on their respective reviews of the Biden administration's
handling of withdrawal, during which 13 American service members died and
hundreds of Americans and thousands more Afghan allies were left behind.
Republicans
have long sought to hold Biden accountable for the crisis. "This
Administration not only continues to provide excuses for the self-inflicted
humanitarian and national security catastrophe, but senior officials are
actively obstructing meaningful congressional oversight," House Committee
on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a
statement announcing Wednesday's hearing.
The White House
has called GOP-led attacks on its handling of Afghanistan "politically
motivated" and accused Congress of neglecting to advance legislation that
would expand eligibility for special immigrant visas to resettle Afghan
nationals.
"When
President Biden made the decision to finally bring our troops home and end the
20-year war that cost us countless lives and tens of billions of dollars a year
with no end in sight, he also committed to safely evacuating tens of thousands
of Americans and to welcoming Afghan allies who worked alongside the U.S.
throughout the war, including by surging resources to improve the processing of
special visas that had been all but stopped by the Trump Administration,"
White House Spokesman Ian Sams said ahead of the oversight hearing.
"Instead
of supporting these successful efforts to evacuate Americans and give Afghan
allies safe harbor, MAGA House Republicans are refusing to acknowledge their
own history of opposing efforts to aid Afghan allies and are turning their
backs on those who risked their lives alongside American service members for
two decades in Afghanistan by opposing and delaying legislation like the Afghan
Adjustment Act, revealing that these hearings are nothing more than political
stunts solely aimed at attacking the President," he added.
The SIGAR
report notes that just one month before the Afghan government collapsed, Biden
assured U.S. allies that they would not be left behind. "There is a home
for you in the United States if you so choose, and we will stand with you, just
as you stood with us," Biden promised on July 8, 2021.
"However,
the United States has left most of its allies behind, and it will take a year,
on average, until each family reaches safety," the report states.
The most
up-to-date figures show there are still about 175,000 Afghans waiting for the
U.S. government to process their Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) or refugee
applications. As of late September 2022, the U.S. has only issued visas to
approximately 20% of SIV applicants, according to SIGAR. The report estimates
it could take more than three decades to relocate and resettle all SIV
applicants.
SIGAR
identified a host of problems with the SIV program including, "chronic
understaffing, reliance on antiquated IT systems, and inadequate interagency
coordination."
The report
stressed the need for the government to balance "expeditious
processing" for refugees with vetting for national security threats.
"The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General
documented problems with vetting Afghans admitted to the United States in the
fall of 2021, including two Afghans who were later determined to be national
security threats and put into removal proceedings," the report states.
Additionally,
the report reveals two Americans pled guilty to falsifying required
documentation for Afghans to apply for visas and said a third has been charged.
SIGAR also
identifies various risks of waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement or mission
failure to more than $8 billion in U.S. aid to the Afghan people. Taliban
interference with non-governmental organizations and United Nations operations
has placed this funding "at greater risk than ever before," the
report states.
This is SIGAR's
5th High Risk List, with previous reports released in 2014, 2017, 2019 and
March 2021. It is the first report released since the U.S. withdrew from
Afghanistan.
Earlier this
month, the White House released its own assessment of the withdrawal from
Afghanistan, which mostly blamed former President Trump's administration for
constraining the conditions of evacuation.
"President
Biden’s choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely
constrained by conditions created by his predecessor," the White House
review said.
The document
accused Trump of emboldening the Taliban by engaging in peace talks without
consulting U.S. allies and partners in the region. It also emphasized that at
the same time, Trump was decreasing the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan
with a series of drawdowns throughout 2020.
By the time
Biden assumed office, according to the White House, "the Taliban were in
the strongest military position that they had been in since 2001, controlling
or contesting nearly half of the country."
"While it
was always the president's intent to end that war, it is also undeniable that
decisions made and the lack of planning done by the previous administration
significantly limited options available to him," White House national
security spokesman John Kirby said.
Source:
foxnews.com
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US watchdog
‘cannot assure’ Afghanistan aid not going to Taliban
19 Apr 2023
The head of the
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has decried a
lack of transparency from United States agencies that he said has made it
impossible to determine if aid allocated to the people of Afghanistan is
instead “currently funding the Taliban”.
During a fiery
testimony on Wednesday to the US House Oversight Committee, Special Inspector
John Sopko accused the State Department and other agencies of failing to
provide legally mandated information that would allow the watchdog to perform
its oversight duties.
SIGAR is
charged with overseeing about $8bn that the US has “provided or otherwise made
available” to the Afghan people.
Those funds, US
officials have said, are meant to circumvent the Taliban, which Washington
still considers a “terrorist organisation”. The Taliban seized power in
Afghanistan weeks before the US completed a full troop withdrawal in August
2021.
“I cannot
report to this Committee or the American people on the extent to which our
government may be funding the Taliban and other nefarious groups with US
taxpayer dollars,” Sopko said in a prepared opening statement.
“We simply do
not know since the Department of State, USAID, the UN and other agencies are
refusing to give us basic information that we or any other oversight body would
need to ensure safe stewardship of tax dollars.”
He further
accused the State Department of “obfuscation and delay”, calling the lack of
cooperation “unprecedented” in his 12 years in the role.
White House
spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on the claims.
The
administration of President Joe Biden has “consistently provided updates and
information” about the spending, she said.
That includes
“thousands of pages of documents, analysis, spreadsheets and written responses
to questions”, as well as congressional testimony and “hundreds of briefings to
bipartisan members and also their staff”, Jean-Pierre explained.
The hearing
comes a day after Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations Deputy Special
Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, said the country
“remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023”, with 28 million
people now depending on aid to survive.
He added the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP) declined by up to 35 percent in the last
18 months, with the cost of a basic food basket increasing by 30 percent and
unemployment by 40 percent.
UN chief
António Guterres has said he will convene a meeting of special envoys to
Afghanistan on May 1 and 2 in Doha, Qatar, which is meant to “reinvigorate
international engagement” on Afghanistan.
UN officials
have also suggested the meeting could include “baby steps” towards the
international community formally recognising the Taliban, albeit with
conditions attached.
US aid to
Afghanistan included $3.5bn transferred from otherwise frozen Afghan central
banks funds to an international fund aimed at stabilising the country’s
economy, Sopko said.
He also noted
$2bn in humanitarian and development aid and another $2.8bn from the Department
of Defense to support the transport, housing and food needs of Afghan allies
evacuated from the country.
He added it was
“clear” from the SIGAR’s work that the Taliban were benefitting from the aid,
including by imposing customs and vendor charges on aid shipments coming into
the country.
Sopko also
accused the Taliban of diverting funds away from groups it “considers hostile”,
such as the Hazaras ethnic minority, “and toward groups they favour”.
Those findings
were detailed in the latest SIGAR report also released on Wednesday.
Later in the
hearing, Sopko added: “I haven’t seen a starving Taliban fighter on TV. They
all seem to be fat, dumb and happy. I see a lot of starving Afghan children on
TV. So I’m wondering where all this funding is going.”
Still, he
stressed, the full benefits the Taliban were taking from foreign aid remain
unknown.
“When SIGAR asked
State how much revenue the Taliban is collecting from the UN, NGOs or other
groups delivering international aid, shockingly State’s response was that it
didn’t know,” he said.
“Similarly, the
UN does not provide State or SIGAR detailed accounts of its expenditures, nor
that of its partners. We believe this lack of information makes it impossible
to make informed decisions about programme effectiveness.”
The watchdog’s
latest report also painted a grim picture of the status of pledges to relocate
the tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with the US during its two-decade
occupation of the country.
The latest
figures show 175,000 Afghans are waiting for the US government to process their
Special Immigration Visa (SIV) or US refugee applications. With only about 20
percent of SIV applications already processed, the watchdog noted it could take
decades to complete the relocation.
“According to
one estimate, at the current pace, it will take 31 years to relocate and
resettle all SIV applicants,” the report said.
“The US
government’s failure to create a database of eligible Afghans has created
almost insurmountable burdens on applicants to obtain evidence of their
service, requiring they track down their supervisors from years before to
obtain referral and human resource letters from now-defunct companies,” the
report added.
On April 7, the
Biden administration released a summary report of the Afghanistan withdrawal,
in which the administration defended its decision to pull out of the country.
The agencies
involved in the pullout largely placed the blame for its chaotic execution on
decisions made by the administration of former President Donald Trump,
including an overall lack of planning.
“Indeed, there
were no such plans in place when President Biden came into office, even with
the agreed upon full withdrawal just over three months away,” the summary
report said.
Source:
aljazeera.com
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the following URL to read the full text of the original
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Uzbekistan
Sends 185 Tons of Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan
By
Fidel Rahmati
April 20, 2023
The
humanitarian aid of 185 tons included food comprising flour, wheat, vegetable
oil, pasta, canned goods, sugar, and instant food items, said an official
statement reported by Gazeta. UZ.
The
humanitarian aid was dispatched to Hairatan and transferred by the Uzbek
special representatives IsmatullaIrgashev, First Deputy Head of Surkhandarya
region AnvarOripov to the acting minister of Economy of Afghanistan, Deen
Mohammad Hanif.
Meanwhile, the
Uzbek delegation discussed enhancing bilateral trade between both countries.
Since the
Taliban took over the country, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated.
According to a
recent study released by the UNDP on Monday in Kabul, Afghanistan remains among
the world’s most impoverished countries due to the “unparalleled shock.”
The study added
that due to the Taliban’s repressive policies, particularly about women, the long-term
prospects for economic development are still dim and inadequate.
Impoverished
people increase dramatically from 19 million in 2020 to 34 million in 2022, the
“If foreign aid
is reduced this year, Afghanistan may fall from the cliff edge into the abyss,”
warned Abdullah Al Dardari, the UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan.
Source:
khaama.com
Please click
the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/uzbekistan-sends-185-tons-of-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan/
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