Israel Exploiting Oct. 7 To Cement Control of ‘Entire Land,’ Says Leading Israeli Human Rights Defender
New Age Islam News Bureau
05 Sep 2024
A smoke plume erupts from an explosion during Israeli bombardment in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in the north of Gaza City on September 3, 2024. (AFP/File)
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· Ittehad-e-Millat Council Chief Calls RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP 'Terror Outfits', Demands Ban
· Israel Exploiting Oct. 7 To Cement Control of ‘Entire Land,’ Says Leading Israeli Human Rights Defender
· Bangladesh Student Movement: 17,000 Cases of Casualties Found So Far: Committee
· Pope, Indonesia Grand Imam Warn Against Using Religion to Stoke Conflict
· Many American Muslims Concerned About US Gaza Policy in Next Bid for President
Mideast
· Israel defense minister calls for use of ‘all forces’ to hit West Bank militants
· Amnesty Urges War Crimes Probe Over Israel Levelling East Gaza
· 12 Syrian soldiers killed in suicide attacks: war monitor
· Extremist Israeli Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, Perform Talmudic Rituals
· Tens of Zionist settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
· Islamic resistance in Iraq targets occupied port of Haifa
· Palestinian medics report 5 killed as Israel raids West Bank’s Tubas
· How a narrow strip of scrubland has become an obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza
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India
· Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute In Mathura: Muslim Side Moves Supreme Court Against HC Order Upholding Maintainability Of Suits
· Lingayat, Islam Have Common Elements: Sri Taralabalu Branch Mutt Pontiff
· Delegation of Muslim leaders meet MP Mahtre against Waqf Amendment Bill
· 'He Thought My Son Was AMuslim': Faridabad Cow Vigilante Seeks Apology From Victim's Father For 'Killing A Brahmin'
· ‘How To Get Muslims To Become BJP Members After Waqf Bill?’ Minority Morcha Complains ToKiren Rijiju
· My honour in your hands: Omar Abdullah appeals to Ganderbal voters before J&K polls
· Jammu and Kashmir polls: Congress releases 'chargesheet' on 'BJP's betrayal' of people's aspirations
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South Asia
· Reactions to Kabul suicide attack highlight growing concerns
· Tens of employees attend religious examination, ministry
· Deputy PM Mawlawi Kabir Reaffirms IEA’s Anti-Narcotics Stance in Meeting with UNAMA Head
· Fighting ends on Afghanistan-Pakistan border after skirmishes
· Remarks Regarding the Removal of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Name from the list of Proscribed Groups by the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysia Supports Egypt’s Right To Reject Allegations, Condemns Israeli Provocation
· Palestinians receive quality treatment at Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital
· Malaysia, Russia want Israel to stop violent attacks on Gaza immediately - PM Anwar
· High Court in Perak denies bail for cop accused of student’s murder in hit-and-run last year
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North America
· Ossetian Wife of Notorious Tajik Islamic State Recruiter Gets 11 Years in Prison
· Brother of Muslim man slain in string of killings reacts to plea deal and still not knowing why
· US charges RT employees over alleged secret funding of right-wing media
· US charges Hamas leaders over 7 October attack on Israel
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Pakistan
· Nawaz Ready for Talks with All Political Parties, Including PTI: Sanaullah
· Fazl, Omar seek dialogue with estranged youth
· Azma Bokhari hints at Imran’s military trial
· Lahore court grants 10-day physical remand of PTI-Lahore chapter secretary general
· Scholar calls for re-imagining Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
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Arab World
· Saudi Foreign Minister and Advisor ToFrench President Discuss Bilateral Relations And Situation In Gaza
· Saudi aviation leaders explore tech innovations at Egypt airshow
· Jazan’s fertility, livestock nourish Saudi Arabia’s future
· Revival of springs and aflaj: Saudi Arabia focuses on sustainable water solutions
· Saudi FM discusses regional developments with EU’s Borrell
· First public policy master’s program in Riyadh begins
· Saudi crown prince attends funeral prayer of Princess Latifa bint Abdulaziz
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Europe
· NSS Raises Concerns with BBC Over Interview with Extremist Imam, Haitham Al-Haddad, Introducing Him as "Highly Respected" Without Acknowledging His Extremist Views
· German state govt removes 'anti-Muslim' video compared to Nazi propaganda
· Ayr: Mosque plans revealed for Scottish town's former railway club
· Boycotts of Coke and Pepsi over Gaza crisis drive surge in local soda sales across Muslim countries
· Grenfell: Muslim survivors denied halal food while being rehoused, inquiry finds
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Africa
· North Not Afraid of New Nigerian Constitution, Insecurity Is Killing The Region – ACF BoT Chairman
· China Agrees To Assist Nigeria In Fight Against Money Laundering
· China-Africa summit officially kicks off on Wednesday
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Israel Exploiting Oct. 7 To Cement Control Of ‘Entire Land,’ Says Leading Israeli Human Rights Defender
A smoke plume erupts from an explosion during Israeli bombardment in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in the north of Gaza City on September 3, 2024. (AFP/File)
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September 05, 2024
NEW YORK CITY: The director of B’Tselem, Israel’s most prominent human rights organization, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the Israeli government is “cynically” exploiting the collective trauma inflicted on the country’s citizens by the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 last year to “violently” advance its project to cement its control over the entire land.
To that end, Yuli Novak added, Israeli authorities have been committing war crimes almost on a daily basis in Gaza as they wage war on the entire Palestinian people.
“This has taken the form of expulsion, starvation, killing and destruction on an unprecedented scale,” she said. “This goes beyond revenge.”
Novak was speaking during an emergency meeting of the council, called for by Israel to discuss the killings this week of six Israeli hostages in Gaza, and by Algeria in response to an escalation of violence in the West Bank and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Gaza.
She accused Israeli authorities of pursuing an ideological agenda designed to render Gaza uninhabitable for Palestinians.
“By driving Palestinians out of entire areas and displacing millions, Israel is laying the groundwork for long-term control of Gaza that could lead to reestablishing Israeli settlements there, and in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” said Novak.
The Israeli government is already exploiting the circumstances to create irreversible changes in the West Bank, she added.
“Since October, Israeli forces have killed 640 Palestinians there, including at least 140 minors,” Novak said. “Settlers are attacking Palestinians and carrying out pogroms in broad daylight, with support from the government.
“They have so far managed to drive 19 Palestinian communities out of their homes, and recently the military launched a huge operation to damage infrastructure that serves hundreds of thousands of people in the northern West Bank.”
The veteran activist lamented the fact that the international community has failed to halt “Israel's criminal policy of massive harm to civilians in Gaza. Now, this cruel policy is spilling over into the West Bank.”
She added that “the war on Palestinians is also happening inside prisons,” noting that since last October, Israel has arrested thousands of Palestinians and is holding them in “inhumane conditions.”
Last month, B’Tselem published a report titled “Welcome to Hell” in which it said the “shocking” pattern of abuse against Palestinians in Israeli detention centers amounted to torture. It accused the government of using the war in Gaza as an excuse to turn Israeli prisons into a network of torture camps.
Such “violence is possible because Israel has enjoyed impunity for decades,” Novak said. “As long as this impunity continues, the killing and destruction will continue and expand, and fear will continue to rule the land.”
The international community has failed in its duty to protect civilians, she added, with four UN Security Council resolutions relating to the war in Gaza failing to bring about a lasting ceasefire or free the hostages.
“The council must acknowledge this failure and take effective action to compel Israel and Hamas to immediately and permanently cease all hostilities,” Novak said.
Edem Wosornu, director of advocacy and operations at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told council members that there is “almost no limit to the inhumanity unfolding before our eyes” in Gaza.
She expressed alarm about the treatment of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and the conditions under which they are being held, and the refusal to allow humanitarian visits or assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Wosornu also voiced grave concern about the numbers of Palestinians killed or injured in Gaza; more than 40,000 people have reportedly lost their lives to the conflict and 93,000 have been wounded, more than half of them women and children. The UN believes these figures are an underestimate, as thousands of bodies are thought to be buried under rubble.
“Much of this death and devastation is the result of the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, including in camps, shelters and areas where civilians have been told to evacuate,” said Wosornu. “The brutality of this conflict seems to know no limits.”
Amid the carnage, healthcare systems in Gaza have been decimated, she added, as a result of which the population, including young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, is unable to access critical care.
Nineteen of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are out of service, Wosornu said, and those that remain open are barely functioning, overwhelmed as they are by patients amid shortages of fuel and medical supplies.
Meanwhile water infrastructure in Gaza has been severely damaged, reducing supplies to a quarter of what they were before October 2023, she added.
“Food sources and production facilities have been destroyed. Food delivery remains severely hampered by ongoing fighting, damaged roads and barriers to the entry and movement of humanitarian supplies,” Wosornu said.
“Around 96 per cent of the population continues to face high levels of acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million people facing catastrophic hunger.
“It does not have to be this way,” she added as she reiterated the fact that the hostages must be released, civilians must be protected, and essential needs must be met.
Wosornu called on the Security Council to use its influence to ensure compliance with an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the introduction of a sustainable ceasefire, and to deescalate the situation in the West Bank.
Samuel Zbogar, the permanent representative to the Security Council from Slovenia, which holds the presidency of the council this month, said people in his country are outraged by what he described as “parallel realities” for Israelis and Palestinians, as he criticized the reality of ongoing political debates that fail to offer solutions.
“Let me be clear that parallel realities exist: a reality of decades-long suffering and human-rights violations of the Palestinian people; a reality of security challenges for the Israeli people,” he said.
“But also, a reality of regional instability which is a threat to international peace and security.”
Repeating the calls for an immediate, lasting end to hostilities, he added: “Only a ceasefire will alleviate the suffering of hostages and their family members and friends. Only a ceasefire will alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.”
Zbogar also reiterated the concerns about the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank, calling for an immediate end to operations that are “further fueling violence, tensions and human-rights violations” there.
He called on Hamas and the Israeli government to “recalibrate their interests and place the interest of peace and protection of all civilians, Palestinians and Israelis alike, first.”
Source:arabnews.com
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Ittehad-e-Millat Council Chief Calls RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP 'Terror Outfits', Demands Ban
Islamic cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan (Image: IANS)
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SEPTEMBER 04, 2024,
Islamic cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan on Wednesday said that organisations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal are terror outfits and called for a ban on these right-wing groups.
While speaking during a meeting held against the Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2024, Raza said, “RSS is a terrorist organisation and should be banned if the government wants peace in the country. I say from the open stage that Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal are also terrorist organisations and should be banned,” reported news agency ANI.
All India Mohammadi Mission president Babar Ashraf called the meeting on Wednesday to oppose the Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2024 and ‘Waqt Virasat Bachao Tehreek’.
In the meeting which was attended by several Shia, Sunni religious leaders, Raza appealed to come out on the streets in large numbers to protest against the amendment.
ROW OVER WAQF AMENDMENT BILL
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to amend the law governing Waqf boards and aims to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
A meeting of the joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was held on Friday which witnessed chaos with members vociferously opposing certain provisions of the draft legislation.
The panel, chaired by BJP member Jagadambika Pal, heard the views of All India Sunni Jamiyatul Ulama of Mumbai, Delhi-based Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR), Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and Rajasthan Board of Muslim Waqf during the day-long sitting lasting nearly eight hours.
Opposition members flagged concerns over deletion of Waqf by user provision in the Waqf Act. In Uttar Pradesh, the title of over one lakh properties, notified under Waqf by user provision, will be destabilised and made vulnerable to encroachment due to deletion of the said provision, opposition members argued.
They have also argued that by legally recognising the evidentiary rule of ‘Waqf by user’, historic sites that have been used continuously as Waqf would be protected.In the absence of such protection, such religious places would be susceptible to mala fide litigation.
According to a statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the committee has asked for “views/suggestions from the public in general and NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions in particular” considering the “wider implications” of the bill People have been asked to share their suggestions in writing in the next 15 days.
Source:news18.com
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Bangladesh Student Movement: 17,000 Cases of Casualties Found So Far: Committee
Photo: Collected
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Sep 5, 2024
Ahmed Deepto
The committee formed to compile a list of casualties from the student-led mass movement between July 17 and August 5 has so far identified over 17,000 cases of fatalities and injuries at various hospitals across the country.
"So far, we've confirmed 600 fatalities. Of them, at least 440 people were declared dead on arrival at different hospitals. As such the death toll between July 17 and August 5 is believed to have reached 1,000," a member of the committee told The Daily Star.
On August 15, the health ministry formed a 13-member committee to prepare a complete list of the casualties that occurred during the recent mass uprising.
The initiative was taken in a bid to provide financial support to the family members of the deceased and provide proper medical support to those who are undergoing treatment at different medical facilities across the country.
It has been over three weeks since the committee was formed. While the list has yet to be finalised, the committee says that a first draft will be ready by next week.
"Collecting data from private hospitals is challenging as they don't strictly preserve data like government hospitals do. In some cases, victims' family members hid registry entries out of fear," said Muhammad Humayun Kabir, former senior secretary of the health service division, also head of the committee.
Besides, in some cases, the register books of the private hospitals had only the names and ages for which it was difficult to trace the victims, he added.
"There were also cases where a good number of casualties were admitted to the hospitals as unnamed," Kabir said.
"We are still receiving information about those who were admitted with injuries and are dying while undergoing treatment," he said
Kabir went on to say that the process was being delayed due to private hospitals providing information at a slow pace.
As of yesterday, there were no accurate government or private data on how many people were injured or killed in the student-led mass movement.
Meanwhile, the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the United Nations Office in its report titled "Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh" said more than 600 people were killed between July 16 and August 11.
"In the last 15 working days, we have been working to verify these cases with the help of coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement," Kabir said.
Speaking on the matter, Prof Syed Abdul Hamid of Dhaka University's Institute of Health Economics said the sooner the list is completed, the quicker the government can begin assisting the victims.
Source:thedailystar.net
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Pope, Indonesia Grand Imam Warn Against Using Religion to Stoke Conflict
Pope Francis (centre) posing with Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar (centre left) for a photo on Sept 5. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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Clément MELKI
5 September 2024
Pope Francis and a top Indonesian imam warned Thursday against using religion to stoke conflict, before the 87-year-old pontiff holds mass for tens of thousands at a football stadium in Jakarta.
The pope and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar signed a declaration at Istiqlal Mosque in one of the final major set pieces of Francis's three-day visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, which kicked off a gruelling tour around the Asia-Pacific.
Unity between faiths has been the central theme of the pontiff's trip and the declaration called for "religious harmony for the sake of humanity" at Southeast Asia's biggest mosque.
"The global phenomenon of dehumanisation is marked especially by widespread violence and conflict. It is particularly worrying that religion is often instrumentalised in this regard," it read.
"The role of religion should include promoting and safeguarding the dignity of every human life."
In a speech before leaders of Indonesia's six recognised religions -- Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism -- Francis underlined a message of unity, saying "we are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us."
The pope was welcomed to the mosque by a percussion band often used in Islamic ceremonies.
Once seated, he and Nasaruddin listened to a passage from the Koran recited by a young blind girl and a passage from the Bible.
Francis also visited a "tunnel of friendship" that links the mosque to Jakarta's cathedral across the street, signing a section of the tunnel.
- 'Save our environment' -
The declaration also pinpointed the environmental crisis as a threat to human civilisation and called for "decisive action" to counter global warming.
"The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change," it read.
It said climate change had led "to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming and unpredictable weather patterns".
Nasaruddin told AFP before the meeting that he and the pope were focused on two messages.
"The first one... humanity is only one, there are no colours. The second one, how to save our environment," he said.
Francis has made several visits to Muslim-majority countries, and on a 2019 visit to the United Arab Emirates signed a document on human brotherhood with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning.
The trip to Indonesia is the third ever by a pope and the first since John Paul II in 1989.
Catholics represent fewer than three percent of the population of Indonesia -- about eight million people, compared with the 87 percent, or 242 million, who are Muslim.
- Stadium mass -
Francis later moved from the mosque to the headquarters of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference headquarters where onlookers chanted "Viva Il Papa!".
But the biggest event of his Indonesia leg will be on Thursday afternoon when he will deliver a mass to nearly 80,000 people seated inside Indonesia's main football stadium, with tens of thousands more expected outside.
Anastasia Ida Ediati, a 59-year-old notary who was heading to the stadium with 200 other members of her parish, said she was filled with joy that she would catch a glimpse of the pope.
"We Catholics have such a charismatic and humble leader. His visit is especially meaningful for us, as many of us who are older may not have this opportunity again," she told AFP.
The mass will conclude his Indonesian stopover of a 12-day trip that has tested the pontiff's fragile health.
On Friday he will go to Papua New Guinea before stops in East Timor and Singapore in what will be the longest tour of his papacy.
He had not travelled abroad since visiting Marseille in France in September last year.
Accompanying him to Indonesia are his personal doctor and two nurses, but that is standard procedure.
Source:yahoo.com
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Many American Muslims Concerned About US Gaza Policy In Next Bid For President
Photo credit: Kane Bergstrom, WDET
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September 4, 2024
Nargis Rahman
The presidential election is a few months away, and American Muslim voters are weighing out their options for the next president.
Youssef Chouhoud, an associate professor of political science at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, studies trends involving American Muslim voters. He says this year many American Muslims are concerned about Gaza.
“Certainly one of if not the top, if not for some American Muslims, the only issue that they care about is the crisis in Gaza, and so that holds particularly heavy weight this election cycle,” Chouhoud said.
He says American Muslims are nestled within the American fabric, concerned about the economy, climate change, health care and immigration policies.
After 9/11, Chouhoud says, American Muslims were against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says after 2010, many focused on domestic issues.
But he says that changed after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel — during which Hamas killed 1,200 people — and the invasion of Gaza that followed, where the latest death toll stands at more than 40,000 Palestinians killed.
Chouhoud says many American Muslims view themselves as part of the extended Muslim nation, or the ummah.
“One of the beliefs in Islam is that anything that affects one part of the Muslim ummah affects you as well,” he said.
Chouhoud says many American Muslims also have close connections to Gaza.
“Everybody in the American Muslim context, is probably only one degree removed from somebody in Gaza,” he said.
Chouhoud says American Muslims are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to voting for the next president.
“They don’t, by and large, support a Trump presidency, for the reason that during the Trump administration, and you know, the explicit policies that Trump wanted to and has enacted have negatively affected American Muslims.”
He says many American Muslims say they do not feel like they belong to either Republican or Democratic parties.
“The sense of homelessness, I think, that American Muslims feel politically, is something that weighs heavy on them, and something that you know is going to probably continue from now until they go into the voting booth,” he said.
Source:wdet.org
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Mideast
Israel defense minister calls for use of ‘all forces’ to hit West Bank militants
September 04, 2024
JENIN: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday said the military should use its “full strength” to strike at Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank, where a sweeping military operation has killed dozens.
“In the face of the resurgence of terrorism, we are eradicating terrorist organizations throughout Judea and Samaria (the West Bank),” Gallant said in a statement issued by his ministry.
“These terrorist organizations that have various names, whether in Nur Al-Shams, Tulkarem, Faraa or Jenin, must be wiped out,” he said, referring to cities and refugee camps where an Israeli military operation is currently underway.
“Every terrorist must be eliminated, and if they surrender, they must be arrested. There is no other option, use all the forces, everyone who is needed, with full strength.”
Gallant, speaking after meeting officers to assess the operation, compared the campaign against the militants to “mowing” a lawn.
“Essentially, we are mowing the grass, but the time will come when we will also uproot the roots, and that must be done,” he said.
The Israeli defense minister said he had ordered the military to carry out air strikes “wherever necessary” in order to “avoid endangering soldiers.”
On August 28, Israeli forces launched simultaneous raids across the northern West Bank cities of Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarem.
The raids have so far left dead at least 30 Palestinians, including militants, and wounded 140, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry.
Nineteen have been killed in Jenin governorate, seven in Tulkarem and four in Tubas, it said.
In recent days, the focus of Israeli raids has been in and around Jenin city, a known militant hub.
On Wednesday, an AFP journalist in Jenin saw empty streets, with residents leaving their homes only to purchase necessities.
The streets were strewn with the rubble of overturned asphalt as armored military vehicles rumbled past.
Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp — where army bulldozers destroyed infrastructure — have long been a bastion of Palestinian armed groups fighting against Israel, which has occupied the West Bank since 1967.
The military carries out regular incursions into Palestinian population centers, but such operations are rarely conducted simultaneously as in the northern West Bank since last week.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since Hamas’s October 7 attack triggered war in the Gaza Strip, which is separated from the West Bank by Israeli territory.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 661 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
At least 23 Israelis, including soldiers and police officers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period, according to Israeli officials.
Source:arabnews.com
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Amnesty urges war crimes probe over Israel levelling east Gaza
September 05, 2024
PARIS: Amnesty International Thursday urged a war crimes probe into Israel razing homes and farms in eastern Gaza to expand a so-called buffer zone between it and the Palestinian territory.
“Using bulldozers and manually laid explosives, the Israeli military has unlawfully destroyed agricultural land and civilian buildings, razing entire neighborhoods, including homes, schools and mosques,” it said.
The London-based rights group said the levelling since the start of the war on October 7 “should be investigated as war crimes of wanton destruction and of collective punishment.”
Israel has in several cases said it was destroying “terror” infrastructure to protect Israeli communities living on the other side of the fence. It did not reply to a request from Amnesty for comment.
An Amnesty investigation, which examined satellite imagery and videos posted by Israeli soldiers between October and May, showed “newly cleared land along Gaza’s eastern boundary, ranging from approximately 1 to 1.8 km (0.6 to 1.1 miles) wide,” the group said.
The expanded buffer zone covers around 58 square kilometers (22 square miles), or about 16 percent of the Gaza Strip, it said.
More than 90 percent of buildings within that zone appeared to have been destroyed or severely damaged, it said.
More than half of the agricultural land in the area showed “a decline in health and intensity of crops due to the ongoing conflict,” it added.
“Our analysis reveals a pattern along the eastern perimeter of Gaza that is consistent with the systematic destruction of the entire area,” said Amnesty’s Erika Guevara-Rosas.
“The homes were not destroyed as the result of intense fighting. Rather, the Israeli military deliberately razed the land after they had taken control of the area,” she added.
“Israeli measures to protect Israelis from attacks from Gaza must be carried out in conformity with its obligations under international law including the prohibition of wanton destruction and of collective punishment.”
Palestinian armed group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians and including hostages killed in captivity, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed more than 40,800 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
Source:arabnews.com
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12 Syrian soldiers killed in suicide attacks: war monitor
September 05, 2024
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Twelve Syrian soldiers were killed on Wednesday by an Al-Qaeda linked group in northwest Syria, according to a war monitoring organization, the highest such death toll in the region this year.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “12 members of the regime forces, including an officer, were killed following suicide attacks carried out by special forces from the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group (HTS), targeting regime forces positions in the north of Latakia province” adjacent to Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the northwest.
The death toll is the “highest among the regime forces in the region since last September,” according to the observatory.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory, told AFP that the attack was part of “an escalation by HTS since Monday, which included attacks on regime forces on several fronts.”
The Idlib region is subject to a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkiye after a regime offensive in March 2020. Despite being repeatedly violated, the ceasefire is still largely holding.
HTS controls swathes of Idlib province and parts of neighboring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia.
More than five million people, most of them displaced, live in areas outside government control in the Idlib region.
HTS, considered a terrorist organization by Damascus, the United States and the European Union, regularly clashes with Syrian and allied Russian forces.
It is the main rebel organization active in northwest Syria, but there are other groups, some backed by Turkiye.
Syria’s war broke out after President Bashar Assad repressed anti-government protests in 2011, and has killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and battered the country’s infrastructure and industry.
Source:arabnews.com
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Extremist Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, perform Talmudic rituals
Sep 4, 2024
Far-right Israeli settlers have forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and performed Talmudic rituals there.
Video clips shared on social media platforms showed the settlers performing their ritual in full view of Israeli police on Wednesday.
Nir Hasson, a journalist for Israeli daily Haaretz, posted a video on X showing right-wing settlers performing what is known as the “epic prostration” on the eastern side of the mosque, lying their bodies on the ground towards the Dome of the Rock, and praying loudly.
Last August, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that Jews would be allowed to perform prayers in the mosque.
Far-right Israeli settlers have forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and performed Talmudic rituals there.
Demands for an end to incursions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has repeatedly denied any change in the status quo at the mosque.
The status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque is the situation that existed before Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, under which the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, is responsible for managing the mosque's affairs.
However, in 2003, Israeli authorities changed this status by allowing settlers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque without the approval of the Islamic Waqf, which demanded an end to these incursions.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
Source:trtworld.com
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https://www. trtworld.com /middle-east/extremist-israeli-settlers-storm-al-aqsa-mosque-perform-talmudic-rituals-18203844
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Tens of Zionist settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
04 Sep 2024
Al-QUDS September 04. 2024 (Saba) - Dozens of Zionist settlers on Wednesday stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Quds, under the protection of the Zionist enemy police.
According to the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, eyewitnesses said that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups, carried out provocative tours in its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals, under the protection of the occupation forces.
They added that the occupation police turned the old city of occupied Quds into a military barracks, and hundreds of police officers were deployed at close distances, especially at the gates of Al-Aqsa, and tightened their military measures at the gates of the old city and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers.
Source:saba.ye
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Islamic resistance in Iraq targets occupied port of Haifa
04 Sep 2024
BAGHDAD September 04. 2024 (Saba) - The Islamic resistance in Iraq has launched a series of attacks on the occupied port of Haifa and the "AAlon Tavor" industrial power plant in the occupied territories of Palestine.
The attacks are seen as a continuation of their resistance against the Israeli occupation and massacres.
Source:saba.ye
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Palestinian medics report 5 killed as Israel raids West Bank’s Tubas
September 05, 2024
JERUSALEM: Palestinian medics reported Thursday that five people were killed in a strike targeting a car in the occupied West Bank area of Tubas, as the Israeli military said it carried out raids.
“Five killed and (one) seriously wounded in a strike (on) a car in Tubas,” the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement.
The Israeli military said its aircraft “conducted three targeted strikes on armed terrorists” in the Tubas area.
A large number of Israeli troops stormed the Faraa refugee camp in Tubas governorate, where explosions were heard, eyewitnesses told AFP.
Israel launched a massive offensive across the northern West Bank on August 28, fighting Palestinian militants and leaving widespread destruction.
Israel has killed more than 30 Palestinians in the assault, the territory’s health ministry says, including children and militants.
One Israeli soldier was killed in Jenin, where the majority of the Palestinian fatalities have taken place.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and the military has ramped up its deadly raids in the territory since its war in Gaza against Hamas militants erupted on Oct. 7.
Source:arabnews.com
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How a narrow strip of scrubland has become an obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza
September 05, 2024
A narrow strip of scrubland and sand dunes on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt has emerged as a major obstacle in talks aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas war and freeing scores of hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must maintain control over the so-called Philadelphi corridor to prevent Hamas from replenishing its arsenal through a network of smuggling tunnels in the area. He says that’s necessary to ensure the group can never again launch an attack into Israel like the one on Oct. 7 that ignited the war.
But many Israelis, including the defense minister, say Israel should relinquish the corridor, at least for a short period of time, in order to secure an agreement to bring back around 100 hostages still held in Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.
The debate reached a fever pitch this weekend after Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages that the military says Hamas killed as troops closed in. Critics say they could have been returned alive in a ceasefire deal and accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging the talks for his own political interests.
Hamas has demanded a full withdrawal from Gaza and says Netanyahu only raised the demand for the Philadelphi corridor in recent weeks to derail the talks.
Netanyahu blames Hamas for the lack of a deal and says the demand is not new.
Egypt, which has served as a key mediator, is also opposed to any Israeli presence along the Gaza side of its border and says it would threaten the decades-old peace treaty between the two countries, a cornerstone of regional stability.
What is the Philadelphi corridor and why does Israel want it?
The Philadelphi corridor is a strip — only 100 meters (yards) wide in some places— that runs the 14-kilometer (8.6-mile) length of the Gaza side of the border with Egypt. It includes the Rafah crossing, which was Gaza’s only outlet to the outside world not controlled by Israel until the army captured the entire corridor in May.
Israel says Hamas used a vast network of tunnels beneath the border to import arms, allowing it to build up the military machine it deployed on Oct. 7. The military says it has found and destroyed dozens of tunnels since seizing the corridor.
At a news conference on Monday, Netanyahu pointed to a map of the region depicting weapons flowing into Gaza from across the border, saying the corridor provided “oxygen” for Hamas.
Egypt released a statement Tuesday rejecting Netanyahu’s allegations, saying they misled the Israeli public and obstructed ceasefire efforts. Egypt says it destroyed hundreds of tunnels on its side of the border years ago and set up a military buffer zone of its own that prevents smuggling.
What do Netanyahu’s critics say about the corridor?
For weeks, Israeli media have quoted unnamed security officials lambasting Netanyahu, saying the corridor is not essential to Israel’s security and should not hold up a deal to return hostages. Some have suggested an international force could patrol the border, perhaps with remote Israeli sensors.
The dispute sparked a shouting match at a security Cabinet meeting last week, in which Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of favoring border arrangements over the lives of the hostages, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Gallant was the lone dissenting voice in a subsequent vote in favor of maintaining control over the Philadelphi corridor and has since called on the government to reverse it.
Families of hostages have led months of mass protests calling on Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas to return their loved ones. The biggest demonstrations yet erupted over the weekend after the killing of the six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the best-known captives.
Netanyahu’s supporters say that conceding the Philadelphi corridor now would reward Hamas for killing the captives. They maintain that only relentless military pressure can defeat Hamas, return the hostages and bring about a deal that ensures Israel’s long-term security.
What do Palestinians say about the corridor?
Any Israeli presence inside Gaza would be widely seen as a military occupation, likely prolonging the conflict.
It could also extend, perhaps indefinitely, the closure of the Rafah crossing, which has been a lifeline for Gaza since Egypt and Israel began imposing various degrees of a blockade on the territory after Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
For 16 years, it was the only way for most Palestinians to exit or enter Gaza. During the first seven months of the war, it was also the only route available for medical evacuations and the main entry point for desperately needed humanitarian aid.
Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for their own state. It withdrew soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but continued to control the territory’s airspace, coastline, and all of its border crossings except Rafah.
Hamas has adamantly rejected any Israeli presence in Gaza, including in the Philadelphi corridor and the Netzarim corridor, a buffer zone carved out by Israel separating northern from southern Gaza. Israel says it needs that corridor to search Palestinians returning to their homes in the north to keep militants from slipping in.
Israel denies its demands regarding the two corridors are new, referring to them as “clarifications” of an earlier proposal endorsed by President Joe Biden in a May 31 speech and by the UN Security Council.
Israel also accuses Hamas of making unacceptable demands since then, and says the militant group is hindering a deal, including by killing hostages who would be part of it.
What is the position of the mediators?
Biden’s speech and the Security Council resolution referred to a complete Israeli withdrawal. Egyptian officials and Hamas say the demands regarding the corridors were not included in subsequent versions of the US-backed proposal, including one that Hamas said it accepted in early July.
Egypt is deeply opposed to any Israeli military presence along the Gaza border and has refused to reopen its side of the Rafah crossing unless the Gaza side is returned to Palestinian control.
It has accused Israel of violating annexes to the landmark 1979 peace treaty pertaining to Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza that regulate the deployment of forces along the border. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The United States, which is providing crucial military support to Israel while also serving as a mediator, has not taken a position on the corridors, at least publicly, while Hamas has accused it of trying to impose Israel’s demands on the militant group.
Biden said Monday that Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring about a ceasefire, without elaborating.
Source:arabnews.com
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India
Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute In Mathura: Muslim Side Moves Supreme Court Against HC Order Upholding Maintainability Of Suits
September 5, 2024
The Muslim side has moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order rejecting their plea challenging the maintainability of 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura.
The plea challenging the August 1 order of the high court has been filed in the apex court by the Committee of Management Trust, Shahi Masjid Idgah through advocate RHA Sikander.
Sikander said the plea is likely to be taken up for hearing next week.
On August 1, the high court rejected the plea challenging the maintainability of 18 cases related to the temple-mosque dispute in Mathura, and ruled that the “religious character” of Shahi Idgah needs to be determined.
The high court had dismissed the Muslim side’s contention that the suits filed by Hindu litigants relating to the dispute over the Shahi Idgah mosque complex adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and violated the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act — and were thus not maintainable.
The 1991 Act prohibits changing the religious character of any shrine from what existed on the day of the country’s Independence. It exempted only the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute from its purview.
The cases filed by the Hindu side seek the “removal” of the Aurangzeb-era mosque they claim was built after demolishing a temple that once stood there.
In its ruling, the high court had said the 1991 Act did not define the term “religious character” and the “disputed” place cannot have a dual religious character — of a temple and a mosque, which are “adverse to each other” — at the same time.
“Either the place is a temple or a mosque. Thus, I find that the religious character of the disputed place as it existed on August 15, 1947 is to be determined by documentary as well as oral evidence led by both the parties,” the high court judge had said.
Justice Mayank Kumar Jain of the high court had concluded that the cases “do not appear to be barred by any provisions of the Wakf Act, 1995; the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991; the Specific Relief Act, 1963; the Limitation Act, 1963 and Order XIII Rule 3A of the Code of Civil Procedure Code, 1908”.
On August 9, the top court had extended its stay till November on the operation of the Allahabad High Court order that allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna had ordered continuation of the stay the apex court had imposed on January 16 on the operation of the December 14, 2023 order of the high court.
The high court in its December 14, 2023 order had allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex and agreed to the appointment of a court commissioner to oversee it.
The Hindu side claims the premises hold signs suggesting that a temple once existed at the site.
A batch of petitions has been filed by the mosque management committee in the apex court including the one challenging the May 26, 2023 order of the high court transferring to itself all matters related to the dispute pending before a Mathura court.
In Mathura, a suit was filed in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division (III) for shifting the Shahi Idgah mosque, claiming that it was constructed on a part of the 13.37 acre land of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust.
The Hindu side had requested the high court to conduct the original trial like it had done in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute.
While allowing the plea for a court-monitored survey, the high court had last year said that no harm should be caused to the structure during the exercise which it indicated could be overseen by a three-member commission of advocates.
Source:indianexpress.com
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Lingayat, Islam Have Common Elements: Sri Taralabalu Branch Mutt Pontiff
Nrupathunga S K
: 05 September 2024
Chitradurga: Sri Taralabalu branch mutt pontiff Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swamiji has stirred a controversy by stating that Lingayat and Islam religions have common elements.
He was speaking at a programme on Quran organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at Ta Ra Su Rangamandir, here on Wednesday. He said though Lingayat and Islam are different religions, they share some common factors. He said, Lingayat religion denies worshi...
Source:deccanherald.com
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Delegation of Muslim leaders meet MP Mahtre against Waqf Amendment Bill
Sep 4, 2024,
Mumbai: Days after the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) sought people's suggestions and objections on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, Samajwadi Party legislator Rais Shaikh led a delegation of Muslim community leaders to meet NCP (SP) MP Suresh Mhatre (Balya Mama) at Anjuman-I-Islam near CSMT. Anjuman president Dr Zahir Kazi was also present at the meeting.
"The members of the Muslim community in the state expressed their opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill. The community members spoke at length, presenting reasons why it should not be enacted," said Shaikh.
Senior Cleric Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi, who was also present, said that the community rejects the Bill and wants the Centre to roll it back since "implementation of the proposed amendments will open floodgates for litigation over Waqf properties and the community will eventually lose them." He added that the amendments, like saying that a Waqf property by use will not be considered Waqf, meant thousands of acres of Waqf land under use for decades would be declared non-Waqf and taken away from the community.
After hearing the community members, Mhatre said: "It was an engaging meeting with the community. I will certainly present all the objections raised during the meeting in the JPC. I will strive to ensure justice for them.
Source:indiatimes.com
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'He thought my son was a Muslim': Faridabad cow vigilante seeks apology from victim's father for 'killing a Brahmin'
September 04, 2024
The father of Aryan Mishra, a Class 12 student killed by cow vigilantes in Faridabad, was asked for forgiveness by the alleged murderer of his son who mistook him for a Muslim. According to Aryan's father Siyanand Mishra, the accused in the murder of his youngest son claimed that "he regretted" having taken the life of a "Brahmin". He "thought" Aryan "was a Muslim."
According to reports, it was during a meeting at a Faridabad jail on August 27, Tuesday, that Siyanand Mishra received a strange confession from Anil Kaushik. The incident took place when 19-year-old Aryan Mishra was reportedly killed in the early hours of August 24 after Kaushik's gang, local cow vigilantes, mistook the teenager and friends for cow smugglers.
The accused chased the SUV in which the youngsters were travelling for 50 kilometres. They then decided to fire at the vehicle near the Gadpuri toll plaza in Haryana’s Palwal district, claiming Mishra's life. According to reports, Aryan was shot in the head and right shoulder.
Kaushik’s men were told that SUVs were used in the area to smuggle cows, The Print quoted the police as saying. Anil Kaushik, during his apology to Siyanand Mishra, also said that black films used on the vehicle's windows blinded his judgment.
Siyanand, according to The Print, asked Kaushik how is it right to have claimed a life if it was a Muslim. "I asked Kaushik, ‘Why would you kill a Muslim? Only because of a cow?’” Kaushik didn’t have anything to say as he pointed out that they should have shot to stop the car and alerted the police instead.
Alongside Mishra in the car were his his Harshit Gulati and his family. It was Harshit who drove the Duster during the time of the incident.
Source:theweek.in
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‘How to get Muslims to become BJP members after Waqf Bill?’ Minority Morcha complains to Kiren Rijiju
NEELAM PANDEY
04 September, 2024
New Delhi: After facing flak from the Opposition over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and its provisions, the Modi government and the BJP are now at the receiving end of criticism from its own members, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources indicate that during a BJP Minority Morcha meeting on 27 August, some members voiced their concerns and displeasure about the Waqf bill. Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, was present at this meeting.
“The meeting was called to discuss the membership drive and it was also felt that a session could be held on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and its provisions. However, soon after the session started, a number of members questioned Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams who was speaking on the issue and was describing it as being beneficial to the poor sections of the Muslim community,” said a Minority Morcha functionary present at the meeting.
Speaking to ThePrint, Jamal Siddiqui, National President of BJP Minority Morcha, said the programme was on the membership drive and a session was held on Waqf board to ensure all the office bearers and leaders are aware of its provisions and its positives.
“These workers will go and meet the common public as part of the membership drive and it was felt that they should know the positives of the Bill and hence a session was held on it and was appreciated by all. Many members asked questions but there was no dispute at all,” said Siddiqui.
However, some members expressed worry about the membership drive itself, saying that since it requires them to go door-to-door to persuade people to join the BJP, they would face tough questions about the BJP government’s intentions regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
“A few functionaries pointed out that such critical issues are being tabled directly in the Parliament and despite being members of the Minority Morcha, they were not even consulted,” said the functionary quoted above. “People come to us and ask us questions regarding it and we have no reply. It sends out the wrong impression and the image of the party as being anti-Muslim is given credence by such moves.
The BJP launched its membership campaign on 2 September, aiming to enlist 10 crore new members, with a special focus on increasing participation from the minority community. As part of this effort, the Minority Morcha has set a target of recruiting 50 lakh new members across the country, and party leaders are meeting with various frontal organisations to achieve this goal.
“The opposition has been creating a state of confusion and has been trying to mislead people. The idea behind the session on Waqf was to ensure the morcha members are aware of the intent of the government as well as provisions of the amendment Bill so that then they go out and connect with the people and bring out the true picture,” Shadab Shams said to ThePrint. He also pointed out that the amendment is aimed at weeding out corruption, creating greater transparency and is in favour of the Muslim community, especially the poor sections of the society.
According to another functionary, when Shadab Shams presented this argument during the meeting, one person countered it. “The functionary said that they were not against any move to bring in greater transparency but the provision for non-Muslims to be part of state Waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council raises a doubt in the mind of the Muslim community,” he said.
Concerns about Waqf Bill
The Bill, which was tabled in Parliament earlier this month, proposes 44 amendments to the Waqf Act of 1995 for “effective management” of waqf properties and to “enhance efficiency” of waqf administration.
The Modi government has proposed to replace a provision in the 1995 Act allowing “any person” to give his/her property for waqf use, with “any person practicing Islam for at least five years”.
Opposition MPs have questioned who can determine if a person has been practicing Islam for five years, a point also raised by several Islamic organisations.
The amendment Bill has faced criticism from the Opposition, with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi calling for a nationwide protest against the proposed legislation.
Sources said that at the meeting, Rijiju assured the members and functionaries that their suggestions and concerns have been noted and would be addressed.
After the minister’s assurances, Minority Morcha functionaries suggested that both the government and the party should take steps to dispel misconceptions related to the Waqf Bill.
Another functionary told ThePrint that some among them were “upset” over the fact that their views were not taken into account by the party or the government. “This was a platform where any question could be asked. They are our own people. So, there is no question of being angry, but they were concerned that their views were not taken beforehand and we explained that the government decided to send it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to ensure everyone’s views are taken into consideration,” he said.
“The functionaries are now clear about what’s there in the bill and when they reach out to the (Muslim community), they will be able to answer all their queries,” the functionary added.
At the same time, facing opposition from a number of Muslim bodies, the Minority Morcha has also decided to seek suggestions on the law to present it to the parliamentary committee examining the Bill.
Source:theprint.in
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My honour in your hands: Omar Abdullah appeals to Ganderbal voters before J&K polls
04.09.24
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Wednesday made a passionate appeal to the people of Ganderbal to vote for him, saying his honour was now in their hands.
Abdullah filed his nomination papers earlier from the constituency, marking the return of the NC leader to the constituency he represented from 2008 to 2014 when he was the chief minister of the NC-Congress coalition government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
He won the 2014 assembly polls from Beerwah assembly seat in central Kashmir's Budgam district, leaving the Ganderbal seat to his then party colleague Ishfaq Jabbar.
Abdullah, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla constituency, had lost to independent candidate Engineer Rashid.
Addressing his party workers at the NC office here, Abdullah said he had come again to Ganderbal after 16 years with the hope of serving the people of the constituency.
"After 16 years, I am again placing myself before the people of Ganderbal with a hope that you will again let me serve as your MLA and servant," he said.
In a bid to strike a chord with the voters, Abdullah made his over-five-minute speech largely in Kashmiri.
"The people of Ganderbal have suffered a lot after 2016, no one healed their wounds, no one addressed their difficulties. We will talk about all these issues in the coming two-three weeks," he said.
A teary-eyed Abdullah made a passionate appeal to the voters, seeking their support and vote, saying his honour was in their hands.
Making a rare gesture of holding his cap in his hands, the former chief minister appealed to the people of Ganderbal for a chance to serve them once again.
"Muin dastar (my turban), muin izzat (my honour), muin topi (my cap), are in your hands, ath kariw raech (uphold it)," he said as he held his cap in his hands.
"Just give me one opportunity to serve you, I am appealing to you with folded hands," he added.
The rare, passionate moment sent his supporters into an emotional frenzy and they raised slogans of Omar Zindabad (long live Omar).
Calling upon his party workers to remain united, he said God willing, the party would taste success in the elections.
Source:telegraphindia.com
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Jammu and Kashmir polls: Congress releases 'chargesheet' on 'BJP's betrayal' of people's aspirations
04.09.24
Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, the Congress released a "chargesheet" on Wednesday, reflecting "the reality of the BJP's betrayal", and alleged that the voice of the people there is being suppressed.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X the "chargesheet", which said an unelected lieutenant governor (LG) appointed from New Delhi holds all the power in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The voice of the people in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is being suppressed. An unelected Lieutenant Governor (LG), appointed from Delhi, holds all power and, despite promises, the restoration of statehood has been denied to the proud people of J&K, treating them as second-class citizens," the "chargesheet" said.
The Congress statement claimed that outsiders are being allocated land, resources and jobs in Jammu and Kashmir, while the locals grapple with rising prices, high taxes, water shortages, poor electricity supply and excessive billing through smart meters.
Jammu and Kashmir has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, double the national average, with 65 per cent of government posts remaining vacant since 2019, the Congress said.
The private sector has been devastated under the BJP-led government, with both the number of jobs and the value added by the domestic industry now lower than they were in 2019, the "chargesheet" said.
The opposition party also alleged that corruption is reportedly being encouraged from the top, starting from the LG's office, with mining, liquor and construction contracts awarded to cronies.
Moreover, those who attempt to expose corruption face ruthless prosecution, it said.
Ramesh said the "chargesheet" reflects the "reality of the BJP's betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of the people there".
The 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will go to polls in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, and the counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.
Source:telegraphindia.com
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South Asia
Reactions to Kabul suicide attack highlight growing concerns
By Fidel Rahmati
September 5, 2024
Following the reactions to the explosion on Monday in Kabul’s District 6, which resulted in nearly 20 people being killed or injured, both the United States and UNAMA condemned the attack.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) responded to the recent explosion in Kabul by stating, “This incident resulted in the death and injury of several civilians. Violence in Afghanistan only prolongs the suffering caused by decades of conflict.” The mission further expressed solidarity with the victims of violence and called for the respect of human rights on their Facebook page.
Meanwhile, following the deadly explosion in the Darulaman area of Kabul, General Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon), indicated that the Islamic State (ISIS) and its Khorasan Province branch remain a threat in the region. During a press briefing on Tuesday, September 3, Ryder stated that the U.S. and its allies will take appropriate actions to address this threat in response to the suicide attack in Kabul.
This response comes as ISIS claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on Monday, which occurred in front of the former Attorney General’s office in Kabul.
On Monday, an explosion occurred around 4:15 PM in front of the Attorney General’s office in the “Qala-e-Bakhtyaruddin” area of Darulaman, Kabul. Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Kabul provincial police, confirmed that six civilians, including one woman, were killed and 13 others were injured in the blast. He emphasized that this was a suicide attack and that investigations are underway.
The recent explosion in Kabul underscores the persistent and grave security challenges facing Afghanistan. Both international and local responses highlight the ongoing struggle against extremist threats and the broader implications for civilian safety and human rights. The international community and Afghan authorities must continue their efforts to address these threats and provide support to those affected by such violent acts.
Source:khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/reactions-to-kabul-suicide-attack-highlight-growing-concerns/
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Tens of employees attend religious examination, ministry
September 5, 2024
KABUL: The Ministry of Information and Culture, in a statement, said Wednesday that a religious examination has been taken from 360 administrative employees by the ministry’s Dawat-ul-Irshad Department. Addressing a ceremony on this occasion, the Tourism, Administrative and Finance Deputy Information and Culture Minister Mawlavi Qudratullah Jamal said: “Da’wah and guidance are the responsibility of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW) and everyone should follow this way.” Meanwhile, Haji Muhammad Tayyeb, the head of the department said: “Allah has created man to be tested, and He has also tested His beloved ones, like Ibrahim (A.S.) by sacrificing his son, by sacrificing his children and family. Get away and try. No human being reaches a place easily, they reach it after hard tests.” To improve the religious capacity of the Emirati employees, the religious workshops are underway in all Emirati administrations and will be continued in the future, Tayyed said. Ziarmal Hotak
Source:thekabultimes.com
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Deputy PM Mawlawi Kabir Reaffirms IEA’s Anti-Narcotics Stance in Meeting with UNAMA Head
2024-09-05
KABUL(BNA): The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs stated that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has a clear stance against narcotics, prohibiting the cultivation and trade of any type of drug. Mawlawi Abdul Kabir made these remarks during a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the Head of UNAMA, and her delegation.
According to a statement from ARG, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir met with Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, who praised the Islamic Emirate’s stance and commitment to combatting narcotics.
She mentioned UNAMA’s efforts to organize a meeting involving several countries and organizations to discuss alternative crops to poppies, treatment for drug addicts, and support for Afghan farmers. She stated that representatives from the Islamic Emirate would also be invited to participate in this discussion.
Ms. Otunbayeva emphasized the need for substantial efforts to mitigate the impact of decades-long drug production and trade and to provide alternative livelihoods for the people. She also briefed the Deputy PM on her recent visits to the southern provinces of Afghanistan and shared that UNAMA’s three-month report on Afghanistan would be presented to the United Nations Security Council.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir highlighted that the Islamic Emirate has established a high-level commission for effective counter-narcotics efforts.
He continued that following discussions with relevant Emirate departments, a joint meeting with international organizations, including UNAMA, will be held. He reiterated that the Islamic Emirate maintains a firm position against narcotics and will not permit the cultivation or trade of any narcotic substances.
He further stated that international support and assistance from partner organizations and countries can be beneficial in the fight against drugs. The Deputy PM Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also urged UNAMA to share Afghanistan’s recent developments and progress with the Security Council.
Source:bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-pm-mawlawi-kabir-reaffirms-ieas-anti-narcotics-stance-in-meeting-with-unama-head/
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Fighting ends on Afghanistan-Pakistan border after skirmishes
By Fidel Rahmati
September 5, 2024
The Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan has announced that the clash between Afghan border forces and Pakistani forces near the Durand Line has ended.
Inayatullah Khwarzmi, spokesperson for the Ministry, stated on Thursday, September 5, that the conflict occurred the previous day in the “Zazi” district of Khost Province, near the Durand Line. According to reports, the skirmish began over the construction of a security post.
The spokesperson explained that while the Taliban forces were engaged in constructing a security post, Pakistani troops opened fire on them. In response, the Afghan security forces also fired back at the Pakistani troops.
Sources have indicated that the Taliban government forces have been working on this security post for the past three days. Previously, Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Taliban Acting Minister of Defense, emphasized the need to establish security posts along the Durand Line while visiting a newly established outpost.
It is worth noting that the border forces of the Taliban and Pakistani soldiers have frequently clashed at the Torkham border, resulting in casualties and financial damage.
The border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan, known as the “Durand Line,” have been a source of tension between the two countries since Abdul Rahman Khan’s time.
While the recent clash has been resolved, it highlights the ongoing volatility in the region. Continued diplomatic efforts and dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan are crucial to prevent further conflicts and to ensure stability along the contested border.
Source:khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/fighting-ends-on-afghanistan-pakistan-border-after-skirmishes/
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Remarks Regarding the Removal of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Name from the list of Proscribed Groups by the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
September 5, 2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan commends and welcomes the decision by the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to remove the name of the Taliban Movement, previously associated with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, from its list of proscribed groups.
Aligning with actions of other countries, the step taken by Kyrgyzstan signifies a growing political recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on both regional and international levels, and removes a barrier to strengthening bilateral relations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan & other countries.
Source:gov.af
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https://mfa.gov.af/en/17662
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia supports Egypt’s right to reject allegations, condemns Israeli provocation
BERNAMA
05-09- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia stands in solidarity with Egypt and asserts that Cairo has every right to reject the allegations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the accusations made by Netanyahu on September 2 against Egypt, describing them as baseless, provocative, irresponsible, and uncalled for.
“Malaysia asserts that Egypt has every right to reject all allegations made by the Israeli official in this regard,” read the statement.
The ministry added that these actions by the Zionist Israeli regime are part of an absurd and reprehensible attempts to prolong the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza which the Zionist regime has now expanded into several cities in the West Bank, resulting in further loss of life and devastation.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry reiterates Malaysia’s strong support for the efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to mediate a permanent ceasefire based on the three-phase ceasefire proposal by the United States and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 (2024).
“It is clear that a ceasefire deal has not been possible until now due to the Zionist Israeli regime’s intransigence and belligerence in constantly changing its goalposts.
“This is evident by the statements by the Israeli Prime Minister on September 2 which Malaysia strongly condemns,” it stated.
On Monday, Netanyahu accused Egypt of allowing weapons to be smuggled to Hamas through its border.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called Netanyahu’s accusations an attempt to hinder mediation efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal.
On Wednesday, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine and Kuwait condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations on Tuesday that weapons are being smuggled to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas through the Egyptian border, Anadolu Agency reported.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said Malaysia will remain steadfast to its commitment to the Palestinian cause and continue its efforts towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“Malaysia will also work with like-minded countries for the State of Palestine’s admission to the United Nations as a full-fledged member,” the statement read.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local-news/malaysia-supports-egypt-s-right-to-reject-allegations-condemns-israeli-provocation-FM12964919
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Palestinians receive quality treatment at Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital
BERNAMA
05-09- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Palestinian patients are receiving excellent medical treatment that meets the standards set by the Ministry of Health at Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital (HAT).
Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Health Services Division director-general Lt Gen Datuk Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh said a total of 60 healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, and medical assistants, are on duty around the clock to ensure that Palestinians at the hospital receive the best possible care and help them recover from their injuries.
Out of the 41 Palestinians injured and receiving treatment at the hospital, 11 cases required orthopaedic surgery, including four that involved collaboration with specialist doctors from Selayang Hospital and the University of Malaya Medical Centre, as well as advisory services in the field of nephrology from Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Dr Zulkeffeli said the team successfully performed an orbital implant surgery on a young child who had lost family members and is now waiting for an artificial eye fitting.
“There are also two patients who need corrective surgery for cleft lips and palates, and two others who require prosthetic legs,“ he said during a special media visit to the hospital recently.
Also present were Commander of the Palestinian Medical Mission Brig Gen Dr Mohd Mansor Sharif and Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital headquarters principal matron Nursyida Jamaludin.
Dr Zulkeffeli further explained that the division made early preparations before receiving the Palestinian patients to ensure that the necessary types of treatment, the appointment of specialists, and collaboration with other medical centres were ready in advance.
“The reconnaissance team, which included specialist doctors from the MAF who were sent ahead to Palestine, was instrumental in ensuring the accuracy of the medical reports for the patients who were brought here.
“The initial medical reports we received were in Arabic and had to be translated into English and then into Malay. There were some details lost in translation, and the team made sure that the reported diagnoses were accurate,“ he said.
Besides focusing on treating the injuries sustained by the Palestinian patients, he said the hospital also offers counselling services to address the psychological needs of the patients.
Dr Zulkeffeli added that they strive to provide a comfortable environment so that the patients can adjust well during their stay at the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital.
They have also enlisted the help of the Palestinian Embassy staff to facilitate communication between the patients and doctors.
On Aug 16, 41 Palestinian patients along with 86 of their family members, arrived at Subang Air Base near here from Al Maza Air Base, Egypt.
Meanwhile, Nursyida said healthcare staff attending to the Palestinian patients employ various methods to communicate and gain their trust.
She said they used language translation apps such as Google Translate, sign language, and facial expressions to check on their well-being and ask if they had taken their medication.
Nursyida explained that many of the Palestinian patients had endured long periods of warfare before being brought to Malaysia, which has made it difficult for them to trust strangers and they have limited understanding of English.
“At first, they were very concerned about their safety, especially their children. Initially, the mothers would not leave their children alone in the ward, but now they feel comfortable enough to do so if they need to attend to tasks like washing clothes or handling matters at the transit house.
“After three weeks, we’ve become like family here, and they understand that the people of Malaysia are sincerely trying to help,“ she said.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local-news/palestinians-receive-quality-treatment-at-tuanku-mizan-military-hospital-JM12965837
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Malaysia, Russia want Israel to stop violent attacks on Gaza immediately - PM Anwar
BERNAMA
05-09- 2024
VLADIVOSTOK: Malaysia and Russia agreed to demand that Israel stop the violent and cruel attacks on Gaza immediately.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this at his exit press conference on the last day of his working visit to Russia today to attend the 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) here.
At the same time, Anwar said Malaysia respects the steps taken by Egypt to channel humanitarian aid, food and medicine to Gaza.
Yesterday, Anwar also held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia also strongly rejected Israel’s accusations that Egypt is allowing weapons to be smuggled to Hamas through its border.
“Egypt has helped with patience and wisdom...we also respect Egypt’s move to channel humanitarian aid, food and medicine (to Gaza).
“So we strongly reject Israel’s irresponsible accusations against Egypt,” he said.
Anwar said Malaysia and Russia also expressed regret, especially over the refusal of the United States to set a firmer stance in Israel’s war on Gaza.
It was reported that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusations an attempt to hinder mediation efforts to reach a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap deal.
According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu’s claims had also been condemned by Jordan, Qatar, Palestine and Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Anwar said his discussions with Putin yesterday also touched on the issue of Ukraine.
“Malaysia urges both parties to hold negotiations to resolve their conflicts because the side effects of the conflicts will also lead to price hikes and rising cost of living which, if continue, will be burdensome to many,” he added.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local-news/malaysia-russia-want-israel-to-stop-violent-attacks-on-gaza-immediately-pm-anwar-LM12965781
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High Court in Perak denies bail for cop accused of student’s murder in hit-and-run last year
By John Bunyan
05 Sep 2024
IPOH, Sept 5 — The High Court here today denied bail for a deputy superintendent of police charged with the murder of a 17-year-old student who was killed in a hit-and-run accident last year.
High Court Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preetdi rejected the bail application, citing reasonable grounds to believe an offence under Section 302 of the Penal Code had been committed.
“There is no special reason for the court to grant bail,” he said in his decision.
On May 3, Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, 44, filed the bail application at the High Court here, pending the hearing of his case.
Mohd Nazri was represented by counsel Jacky Loi Yap Loong and his team consists of Lim Chi Chau, Lim Jin Wen, Cindy Wong and M. Kuhan.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz and also consists of Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani, and Low Qin Hui.
Earlier, Loi submitted a request for his client to be granted bail, citing concerns for the safety of the client’s family and the inconvenience of meeting with counsel in prison.
Loi also said the prosecution team could not prove whether there was “intention to murder” in this case.
“A crime can only be a crime if there was act of intention. There is no intention here. It can’t be someone caused (an) accident and called it as murder,” he said.
Meanwhile, Afzainizam in his submission replied that Mohd Nazri was given full access to counsel in the prison.
“The prison did not stop Mohd Nazri to meet his counsels. So no issues, and inconvenience is not a ground to grant bail,” he said.
On intention of the crime, Afzainizam said there is reasonable ground to believe that the offence was committed.
He further stated that it is the courts’ role to determine intent during the trial, not during the bail application process.
“Based on the witness statement, the suspect drove a Perodua Ativa when he rammed the victim. He did not drive a police car. So you can’t say he was chasing a suspect.
“The witness also saw that the suspect came out of the car after hitting the victim’s motorcycle but fled from the scene later,” he said.
“Based on the post-mortem report, the victim died due to chest and abdomen injuries caused by the crash.
“We have forensic, dash-camera and closed-circuit television (CCTV) evidence to show that the suspect was driving above the speed limit,” he said.
Mohd Nazri was charged with murdering Form Five student Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie at Jalan Taman Jati 1, near Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Jati, Ipoh, between 12.05pm and 12.40pm on December 15 last year.
A video went viral on social media after the alleged incident about a schoolboy who died after the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a car, believed to have been driven by a senior police officer near the school.
Source:malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/09/05/high-court-in-perak-denies-bail-for-cop-accused-of-students-murder-in-hit-and-run-last-year/149354
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North America
Ossetian Wife Of Notorious Tajik Islamic State Recruiter Gets 11 Years In Prison
September 04, 2024
By RFE/RL's Tajik Service
A court in Russia in early August sentenced Madina Bondarenko, the Ossetian wife of a notorious recruiter for the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Tajikistan, to 11 years in prison on a charge of being a member of a terrorist group, one of her relatives told RFE/RL on September 3.
Bondarenko, who was accused by Russia of cooperating with and belonging to IS, was extradited from Tajikistan in May 2023.
She is the wife of Parviz Saidrahmonov (aka Abu Dovud), who was sentenced to 21 years in prison in November on terrorism charges in Dushanbe.
Bondarenko's relative said she rejected the charge, saying that her husband tricked her when he brought her to Syria via Turkey several years ago as she was unaware that their final destination would be Syria. However, the court took into account Saidrahmonov's testimony to Russian investigators in which he said his wife went to Syria voluntarily, knowing that the couple planned to join IS there.
The couple and their children were extradited to Tajikistan from Turkey in 2022.
Saidrahmonov was accused of recruiting more than 200 people to fight in Syria and Iraq and was alleged to be behind multiple terrorist activities in Tajikistan, Russia, and Sweden.
He was sentenced on charges of organizing a terrorist group, extremism, and recruiting mercenaries to fight in a foreign country. Saidrahmonov was a migrant worker in Russia when he left in 2014 for Iraq and Syria, where he joined the ranks of IS.
Swedish investigators say Saidrahmonov was an accomplice of Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek man who was convicted of murder and terrorism for driving a hijacked truck down a busy pedestrian street in Stockholm on April 7, 2017, killing five people and injuring 14 others.
Akilov, a rejected asylum seeker in Sweden before the attack who was in contact with alleged IS militants from Tajikistan, was sentenced to life in prison in June 2018.
Saidrahmonov was later captured by Syrian authorities and in mid-2020 disappeared from a prison in the Syrian town of Afrin when Tajikistan was working on his extradition to Dushanbe.
Tajik authorities, who took Saidrahmonov into custody in September 2022, consider him to be "one of the most dangerous recruiters of Islamic State."
Dushanbe estimates that about 2,000 Tajik citizens joined IS in Iraq and Syria in 2013-15. Hundreds of them were killed in clashes in the Middle East. Some of those who returned to Tajikistan were either sentenced to lengthy prison terms or received amnesty.
Source:rferl.org
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https://www.rferl.org/a/abu-dowvud-madina-bondarenko-trial-sentence-islamic-state-wife/33105744.html
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Brother of Muslim man slain in string of killings reacts to plea deal and still not knowing why
By Nash Jones
September 4, 2024
In the summer of 2022, three Muslim men in Albuquerque were killed in ambush-style shootings. Suspect Muhammad Syed was convicted of first-degree murder in the case of Aftab Hussein earlier this year and Tuesday pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in the killings of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Naeem Hussain. Afzaal Hussain’s brother, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, told KUNM that he supported prosecutors’ decision to seek a plea deal.
MUHAMMAD IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: One thing the investigation has shown is the man who has done that, and we want him to have this imprisonment so any other brother couldn't lose their siblings. So, I'm glad that a dangerous person is behind bars.
KUNM: In terms of his prison time, he faces 15 years in prison for the second-degree murder of your brother, another 15 for Naeem Hussein's case. Those 30 years will be served at the same time as his sentence in his first-degree murder conviction in the killing of Aftab Hussein, which comes with at least 30 years behind bars before being eligible for parole. How does that sit with you?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: This gives me contentment. I'm thankful to the law enforcement agencies, investigation, and prosecution that has done their work diligently. I'm glad that we have seen justice being done.
KUNM: The trial for your brother's murder case was scheduled to start last week. It was canceled due to these plea negotiations. Did the state communicate with you about choosing the route of taking a plea?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: Look, they asked me, "What do you say?" I received a call from a prosecutor [who said], "Should we contest for the charge and go for trial? But on the other side, they’re also offering a plea." My question was that, if we go for a charge, and if we get conviction, would he reveal why he has done that? They said, "He's not bound. He may opt to remain silent." So, he's in his late 50s. Thirty years means when he will be on parole he will be 80— like, late 80s. So, it doesn't make sense. At least that plea means that it is not appealable. So, that is fine. I said, "OK."
KUNM: You've mentioned that, during the trial in the killing of Aftab Hussein earlier this year, a motive was never really explored. So, now that a trial will not occur for the killing of your brother as well as Naeem Hussein, how does it feel that it may never come to light why your brother was targeted in this string of murders?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: I went to the mayor and asked the police chief. They said, "We don't know." I have called prosecutors many times [asking], "Do you know what happened?" They say, "We don't know. We only know that he used this gun and he did that. But why he did that, we don't know." I wish at least I knew what has happened. So, it's a kind of disappointment. What to do? What can I do? Nothing?
KUNM: It must be difficult to feel powerless.
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: Yeah.
KUNM: Syed's sentencing hearing hasn't been scheduled yet. But, when it does, do you plan to take the opportunity to address the court as a family member of one of his victims?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: If I was given an opportunity, I would definitely do that. You want to at least say something.
KUNM: Do you know what you might want to share with him?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: Oh, I guess the only thing to tell him is why he did that. What was his dispute with my brother? I would say thank you to law enforcement agencies that that found the right person. We have seen justice being done. So, we have faith in the legal system here. It's unfortunate that we don't know what was his motive. I hope now police will be more vigilant to spot all these potential hatemongers.
KUNM: Is there anything else you would want to let people know about your experience or what's next for you?
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN: Look, it's hard to lose a brother. You know, it personally gives me a lesson — we can die anytime. So, we should do in our capacity to so that we could be helpful for others. So, I've started a nonprofit in my brother's name. We want to build a school in his name in Pakistan, in his birthplace, so that the unprivileged and poor kids of the community where we came from could benefit from quality education. So that my brother's name will remain and young kids can get inspiration that this was a boy who came from us and went to the United States and studied there and shined there, became a student leader, and he spread a good name of their community. So, this is what we want to do.
Source:kunm.org
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.kunm.org/local-news/2024-09-04/brother-muslim-killings-reacts-to-plea
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US charges RT employees over alleged secret funding of right-wing media
5 Sep 2024
The United States has announced a range of actions to combat Russian efforts to influence the 2024 presidential election, including the indictment of two state media employees accused of secretly funding a US media company to sow political divisions.
In an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, the US Justice Department alleged that two employees of Russia’s RT used shell companies and fake identities to pay $10m to a media outlet in Tennessee as part of a Moscow-directed influence operation.
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Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva face charges of conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
US Attorney General Merrick B Garland said the influence campaign had targeted US audiences with “hidden Russian government messaging”.
“The company never disclosed to the influencers – or to their millions of followers – its ties to RT and the Russian government. Instead, the defendants and the company claimed that the company was sponsored by a private investor. That private investor was a fictitious persona,” Garland said.
Garland said authorities would not tolerate attempts by an “authoritarian regime to exploit our country’s free exchange of ideas in order to covertly further its own propaganda efforts”, and that investigations were ongoing.
While US officials did not identify the Tennessee-based outlet by name, the indictment says the company describes itself as a “network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues”.
The description matches Tenet Media, a network of influencers known for their right-wing views that includes Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Lauren Southern and Benny Johnson.
Tenet Media and RT did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rubin said the allegations “clearly show that I and other commentators were the victims of this scheme”.
“I knew absolutely nothing about any of this fraudulent activity,” he said in a post on X.
Johnson said he was “disturbed” by the allegations, which “make clear that myself and other influencers were victims in this alleged scheme”.
“My lawyers will handle anyone who states or suggests otherwise,” he said on X.
Pool said he had been deceived if the allegations were true.
“Never at any point did anyone other than I have full editorial control of the show and the contents of the show are often apolitical,” he said on X.
Separately, US officials said they had seized 32 internet domains used for Russian-led “malign influence campaigns” aimed at interfering in the US election and reducing international support for Ukraine.
“Companies operating at the direction of the Russian government created websites to trick Americans into unwittingly consuming Russian propaganda,” FBI director, Christopher Wray, said in a statement.
“By seizing these websites, the FBI is making clear to the world what they are, Russian attempts to interfere in our elections and influence our society.”
US officials have repeatedly accused foreign governments, including Moscow, of seeking to meddle in the country’s elections, including the presidential votes in 2016 and 2020.
Last month, US intelligence agencies accused Iran of conducting cyber attacks on the presidential campaigns of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump.
In May, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines named Russia, China and Iran as the most prolific “foreign actors” seeking to meddle in elections.
Source:aljazeera.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/5/us-accuses-russias-rt-of-interference-in-2024-election
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US charges Hamas leaders over 7 October attack on Israel
Max Matza and James FitzGerald
5 Sep 2024
The US has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and several other prominent figures in the Palestinian group in connection with its deadly attack in Israel on 7 October last year.
The justice department said it was indicting six Hamas members with seven charges, including the murder of dozens of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction.
The criminal complaint covers decades of alleged attacks by Hamas, as well as last October's unprecedented assault.
It is the first step by US law enforcement to hold accountable the ringleaders of that attack, but has been seen by analysts as partly symbolic, not least because some of those named in the indictment are already dead.
Meanwhile, Sinwar is believed to be hiding in tunnels somewhere under Gaza.
In a video statement on Tuesday, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the defendants were responsible for "financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States".
The group also "led Hamas's efforts to destroy the state of Israel and murder civilians in support of that aim", Mr Garland said.
He highlighted the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, in which the group "murdered entire families" in "the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust".
Mr Garland said: "They murdered the elderly and they murdered young children. They weaponised sexual violence against women, including rape and genital mutilation."
Netanyahu not doing enough to free Gaza hostages, says Biden
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The charges were filed in February, but were kept under wraps until Tuesday in case the US had the opportunity to arrest any of the accused, an unnamed justice department official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
The justice department's complaint states that at least 43 American citizens were killed on 7 October.
The reason for the timing of the US charges was not immediately clear, although the recent discovery in Gaza of the body of an Israeli-American hostage - and five others - might have given the move "extra impetus", one analyst told the BBC.
The charges themselves were partly about the US sending "a message" to Hamas and anyone working with the group, added Prof Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow of the UK think tank Chatham House.
The message the US wanted to send was that "we'll pursue you dead or alive," Prof Mekelberg suggested.
Another specialist in US foreign policy agreed the latest hostage deaths had prompted the unveiling of the charges.
The development "likely convinced the US to publicly show it was doing everything possible to seek justice", said Dr Julie Norman of University College London.
Mr Garland did indeed refer in his comments to the Israeli-American found dead in Gaza at the weekend - 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin - as well as the other American citizens killed or taken hostage in the 7 October attack.
“We are investigating Hersh’s murder, and each and every one of Hamas’ brutal murders of Americans, as an act of terrorism,” Mr Garland said.
President Joe Biden earlier condemned Goldberg-Polin's killing, too, calling it "as tragic as it is reprehensible".
“Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes,” Mr Biden said.
The charges include conspiracy to bomb a place of public use resulting in death, conspiracy to finance terrorism and material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death.
If convicted, the group faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or a death sentence.
Alongside Sinwar, other Hamas leaders charged include former leader Ismail Haniyeh; Marwan Issa, the deputy leader of the organisation's armed wing; Khaled Mashaal, who leads the group outside Gaza and the West Bank; along with Mohammed Deif and Ali Baraka.
Haniyeh, Issa and Deif have all been reported killed in the past few months in attacks that were either claimed by or attributed to Israel.
The justice department’s complaint notes that all the “defendants are either deceased or remain at large”.
For that reason, "the charges are somewhat symbolic", suggested Dr Norman.
It remains to be seen whether the move will impact on the American efforts to urge Israel to agree a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas.
One US official anonymously told the Associated Press news agency that there was no reason to think the development would affect the ongoing talks.
But Prof Mekelberg felt it could affect Sinwar's mindset. “I don’t think this will be encouraging him to show flexibility,” he said.
In another new development related to the conflict in Gaza, the UK has defended its decision to ban some weapons sales to Israel over concerns about how they might be used in the Palestinian territory.
Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then in Israel's ongoing military campaign, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wj285xyp8o
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Pakistan
Nawaz ready for talks with all political parties, including PTI: Sanaullah
September 05, 2024
In a major development, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that “Nawaz Sharif wants unconditional dialogue with all parties, including the PTI”.
His remarks came days after the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rebuffed reports of receiving directions from its supremo to initiate talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other parties.
“We have also maintained the same stance before the PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly,” said Sanaullah while talking to a local TV channel on Wednesday.
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had categorically denied that the ruling party received any specific directions from Nawaz to initiate talks with the major opposition party.
Asif, in his statement, said that unless the PTI apologised for the May 9 violent incidents, there would be no room for progress in the negotiations with them.
Throwing shade at the PTI, the defence czar said that the premier had even proposed the Imran Khan-founded party to sign a charter of economy. However, neither the PTI founder nor any of his ministers responded to the proposal, he revealed.
In today's interaction, Sanaullah said: “PM Shehbaz shook hands with everyone two weeks ago and offered unconditional talks.”
Sanaullah recalled that Nawaz had urged all stakeholders to sit together to pull the country out of crisis and the former premier also reiterated his stance at the PML-N's top leadership huddle earlier this week.
The PM's aide also urged the PTI to change its "stubborn attitude" for making the talks fruitful.
The ruling party leaders' statements came amid reports that the PML-N had purportedly approached Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai for holding talks with the the Imran-founded party.
Achakzai, who also heads the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan, was nominated by incarcerated Imran to hold talks with the ruling parties.
Commenting on Achakzai offer for talks, he said, the party also had conversation with the PkMAP chief and that the leader also wanted to move forward.
The PML-N believes in democracy and dialogue to settle down the political issues, he added.
Commenting on Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s resignation, Sanaullah said that it may be difficult for Mengal to immediately withdraw his resignation within a day.
A day earlier, Mengal tendered his resignation from the lower house of parliament over the "worsening situation" in Balochistan, declaring "no confidence" in the state, the president and the prime minister.
The BNP-M chief insisted on sticking to his decision after meeting a government delegation headed by PM’s aide Sanaullah today in which they assured the politician of addressing his grievances.
Sanaullah said today that they agreed on resolving Balochistan issues as a top priority. Referring to his meeting with the BNP chief, he added that the government listened to Mengal’s concerns and assured him that his presence in parliament is of significant importance to the province.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Fazl, Omar seek dialogue with estranged youth
September 5, 2024
Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday called for empowering politicians and adopting a political path to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It would be a folly to deem parliament, political parties and political leadership unnecessary for the country, the JUI-F chief warned while addressing the National Assembly.
Calling for an end to military’s dominance in civil domain, the Maulana said, “Becoming Faisalabad’s Clock Tower and Amrat Dhara (panacea) can be a wish, but not the solution to the issue.”
He asked if the government had the power and capability to take decisions at its own.
He advised the government to take opposition in confidence and hold dialogue with the estranged people.
“I still believe that if parliament is requested to step forward and go and talk to the people of Balochistan and KP, then the situation can be reverted to normal,” he remarked.
It seemed the government had lost writ in the Balochistan and KP areas, where armed people were ruling and collecting taxes and toll fee, he remarked. “They are going to villages, patrolling the streets, and are armed with rocket launchers and special equipment,” he said.
Pointing out that both sides had taken extreme positions, he said, “One party goes to the extent of talking about separation, while the other vows to deal with them with full force and to go to any extent to protect the state.” He said such attitudes only raised questions over the country’s security.
Referring to the Aug 26 coordinated terrorist attacks in Balochistan, the JUI-F chief regretted that parliament had “not taken matters seriously”. He said prominent, sagacious and experienced political leadership was being sidelined despite the fact that politicians could resolve such issues.
Proxy war
He noted that Pakistan had become a battleground for a proxy war (between the US and China). He said obstacles had been created in the way of megaprojects planned under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Terrorism had caused issues that could not be overlooked, he said, adding that there were certain pockets where schools were shut and national flags could not be hoisted.
He was of the opinion that development work was no more possible across the entire swathes from the areas of Balochistan up to Dera Ismail Khan.
He said he would continue to criticise the government and fight against the ruling coalition over its alleged anti-people policies, but he would be ready to offer his services on all issues linked with national security.
Missing persons
Referring to the issue of missing persons, the JUI-F chief said some families were still waiting for their loved ones who had gone missing some 20 years ago. They were unaware if those missing persons were dead or alive or whether they were in jail or had fled the country, he said. “Wherever they are, it is the government’s responsibility to inform their family of their whereabouts,” the Maulana asserted.
Talking about the issue of the provinces’ right to their resources, the JUI-F leader said people should be assured through actions that the Constitution would be followed and “under the 18th Amendment, these resources are yours. The state has no right to go and occupy them”.
“I want the nation to trust the army, but such actions are eroding that trust,” he said, alleging that a person arrested a year before the Army Public School attack was among those hanged over the incident.
Fact-finding mission
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan also stressed the need to address the grievances of people and suggested that a fact-finding mission should visit the areas of Balochistan to help tackle the situation.
He also proposed formation of a committee to talk to the people of Balochistan.
He said that resignation tendered by veteran politician Akhtar Mengal from the National Assembly must be taken seriously.
Even the chief minister and his cabinet members could “not go out of the Red Zone”, he claimed.
He said the Baloch youth did not want to talk to them as they believed they were “compromised”. He said the grievances of the people of Balochistan were 100 per cent genuine. “They had not been pushed to wall, rather had been immured in the wall,” he remarked.
Claiming that the government did not want to talk to those whom the authorities called terrorists, the PTI leader wondered how the federation would work.
He alleged that there was a lack of interest by the government in resolving the issue. The PTI leader said: “The tragedy is that dictation is taken from elsewhere.” He also talked about the “persecution” being faced by his party, saying the PTI leaders were being abducted and implicated in false cases.
He alleged that PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and other leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Dr Yasmin Rashid, were jailed in fictitious cases.
Rejecting the allegation of PTI’s involvement in May 9 attacks, Omar Ayub challenged that a video to substantiate the accusation must be produced before a court of law.
Referring to the recent attempted abduction of a man from Peshawar, he said it emerged later that an “illegal operation” had been carried out by the counterterrorism department of Punjab police. On this issue, he sought not only an apology from the Punjab chief minister but also legal action against IGP Dr Usman Anwar and other officials.
He complained against the media blackout of parliamentary proceedings whenever opposition leaders spoke on important issues. In this regard, he cited the instance when a question was asked about the expenditure of the defence ministry, in the context of audit reports, which were to be taken up by the Public Accounts Committee.
He raised the issue of enforced disappearances and said even the treasury members representing Balochistan could not talk on such issues or else they might become missing persons themselves.
Source: dawn.com
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Azma Bokhari hints at Imran’s military trial
Zulqernain Tahir
September 5, 2024
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Wednesday the PTI supremo Imran Khan would not be spared, hinting his trial might be held in a military court.
“If Imran Khan is involved in May 9 violence, he will have to be held accountable. During Imran Khan’s tenure, civilians had been tried in the military courts. Adiala’s prisoner will not be spared,” Ms Bokhari told a presser here.
Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Malik Sohaib Ahmad Barth had said no proposal was under consideration to send Imran Khan’s case to a military court.
“No summary regarding sending former prime minister Imran Khan’s cases to military courts has come to the provincial cabinet or the law department as yet. No such proposal is under consideration at the moment,” he had said.
A week ago, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told media in Islamabad: “If needed, the Punjab government will decide to refer Imran Khan’s case to a military court. The prosecution of May 9 cases is being done by the Punjab government and it will decide to refer the case to a military court.”
The federal government spokesperson for legal affairs Barrister Aqeel Malik had claimed that Mr Khan’s cases concerning the violence on May 9 might go to military courts.
Reaction
Reacting to Ms Bokhari’s comments, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan vehemently opposed the notion of trying Mr Khan in a military court.
“A military trial should not be held,” he said during an appearance on a private TV channel on Wednesday night, adding that in case it does happen, it will increase the distance between the people and the institutions.
Punjab govt performance
Azma Bokhari listed a number of the Punjab government initiatives since its inception six months ago.
“Some 80,000 people have registered for the ‘Apni Chhat Apna Gharenter link description here’ programme, and 800,000 registered for the ‘Kisan Card’. The provision of solar panels will give relief to the people of Punjab from heavy electricity bills,” she said.
The minister said when Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched the electricity relief programme, it met opposition. “Maryam Nawaz has been given a mandate by the people of Punjab and she is providing relief to them,” she said and claimed that since the PML-N government came to power, Punjab’s debt had decreased for the first time.
Using the Safe City Authority cameras, farmers had been arrested for burning stubble and this year, there would be a significant reduction in smog, Bokhari said.
Source:dawn.com
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Lahore court grants 10-day physical remand of PTI-Lahore chapter secretary general
Wajih Ahmed Sheikh
September 5, 2024
• MPA sent on judicial remand in Zilleh Shah murder case
• Elahi appears before court in illegal appointments case
LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday remanded PTI-Lahore chapter secretary general Awais Younas in a case of attacking police outside Zaman Park residence of former premier Imran Khan and sent its MPA Imtiaz Sheikh on judicial remand in the Zilleh Shah murder.
Racecourse police presented Younas before the court to seek his first physical remand. The investigating officer told the court that the identification parade of the suspect had been completed in jail and he had been recognised by prosecution witnesses.
He asked the court to allow a 20-day physical remand of Younas for investigation.
A PTI lawyer opposed the remand request and asked the court to discharge the suspect in the case. He said the police had arrested the PTI leader in a year-old case with mala fide intention only to victimise him politically.
However, judge Irfan Haider granted the physical remand of the PTI leader for 10 days with a direction to the police to produce him again on Sept 14.
In this case, the PTI leaders and workers are accused of attacking police with petrol bombs and clubs when a NAB team reached Zaman Park to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan in a corruption case in 2023.
Separately, the police also presented MPA Sheikh before the ATC on expiry of his physical remand in the Zilleh Shah murder case.
The investigating officer stated that further custody of the suspect was not required. He asked the court to send the suspect to jail on judicial remand.
The judge allowed the police request, sending the PTI MPA to judicial lockup for 14 days and directed the IO to submit an investigation report before the next hearing.
The police had registered a case against a number of PTI leaders and workers on charges of hiding and tampering with the evidence relating to the death of party worker Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah in a road accident.
The PTI alleged that the worker was killed by police in custody.
Detention
The Punjab government on Wednesday told the Lahore High Court that PTI-Gujrat chapter President Saleem Sarwar Jaura had been released following expiry of his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
An assistant advocate general asked the court to dispose of a petition challenging the detention of the PTI leader.
However, a counsel for the petitioner, the wife of Jaura, argued that the law of preventive detention had also been assailed in the petition.
He stated that the government could not detain a citizen without any valid reason.
At this, Justice Amjad Rafiq issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan and the advocate general of Punjab for their assistance in the matter. The judge adjourned the hearing till Oct 28.
Petitioner Umm-i-Rubab had filed a habeas corpus petition pleading that deputy commissioner Gujrat issued a detention order of her husband on Aug 21 under the garb of section 3 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.
She alleged that the detention order was issued only to prevent the PTI leader from participating in a public rally scheduled for Aug 22 in Islamabad, which was later postponed.
She asked the court to set aside the detention of her husband as it was ‘made on political grounds’.
Illegal appointments
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi on Wednesday appeared before a special court of anti-corruption for his indictment in a case of illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly.
However, the case was adjourned till Sept 18 without any progress due to the transfer of the presiding judge.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered the FIR alleging that illegal appointments for BS-17 vacancies were made in the assembly when Elahi was the chief minister and co-suspect Muhammad Khan Bhatti was his principal secretary.
The prosecution said favourite candidates were appointed to the posts even though they failed in the written examination. The appointed candidates had also been nominated as suspects in the case.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1857022
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Scholar calls for re-imagining Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
September 04, 2024
Renowned author and academic Dr Hassan Abbas has emphasised the need to re-imagine Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) to appreciate the relevance of his teachings in today's world and to combat sectarianism and divisive forces operating in Ummah.
Dr Abbas, a professor of international relations at National Defense University Washington DC, made these remarks at the launch of the Urdu translation of his book, "The Prophet's Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib," hosted by the Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI). The Urdu translation, titled "Warith Rasool (SAAW) Haider Karar Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS)," joins previous translations in Arabic and Persian.
Notably, this book, first published by Yale University Press in 2021, is the first biography of Imam Ali published by a Western academic publisher and is now used as a textbook in academic courses on Islam at Harvard and other Western universities.
Dr Abbas highlighted that his book offers a nuanced narrative of Islam, showcasing Imam Ali's legacy as a bridge builder for uniting the Ummah.
He criticised conventional histories for presenting biased accounts of Imam Ali's life, which often deter readers from seeking the truth. Dr Abbas also stressed the importance of Imam Ali's letter to Malik Al Ashtar, a seminal framework for good governance, which he believes deserves wider readership and application.
IPI Chairperson Dr Shireen Mazari, on this occasion, said that deviation from Imam Ali's (AS) path has contributed to the rise of extremism, which can be addressed by revitalising authentic Islamic scholarship, fostering empathy and compassion, and addressing socio-economic grievances.
By embracing Imam Ali's (AS) teachings, individuals can cultivate spiritual growth, critical thinking, and constructive activism, ultimately creating a more just and peaceful world.
Dr Mazari said Imam Ali’s life right from the start is so inextricably linked to Prophet Muhammad (SAAW)'s that to study the history of Islam and the life of the Prophet PBUH you have to study the life and role of Ali.
Former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, while commenting on Dr Abbas’ book said, “with lively and accessible prose, the author has brought Ali to life for a new generation. His work is a fine introduction to Ali's life as well as significance in Islamic history.”
Poet Iftikhar Arif lamented that many historical accounts related to Islam, which are available for reading, were marred by biases to the extent of complete omission of literature from the opposing sectarian perspective, thereby presenting a skewed and incomplete narrative. However, he noted that he found Dr Abbas too cautious while describing the historical events.
Source:geo.tv
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Arab World
Saudi foreign minister and advisor to French president discuss bilateral relations and situation in Gaza
September 04, 2024
JEDDAH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, and Anne-Claire Legendre, the advisor to the French president on the Middle East and North Africa, held talks on the relationship between their countries and how it might be enhanced.
During their telephone conversation they also discussed the latest developments in the region, in particular those in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2570121/saudi-arabia
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Saudi aviation leaders explore tech innovations at Egypt airshow
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: The head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and other senior Saudi officials have been visiting the Egypt International Airshow at El Alamein International Airport.
GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej was accompanied by the deputy commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Maj. Gen. Talal Al-Ghamdi, and the Kingdom’s ambassador to Egypt Saleh bin Eid Al-Hosseini, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The group visited several pavilions displaying the latest products, technologies and services from the fields of civil and military aviation and space.
Among the companies exhibiting at the show, which ends tomorrow, are Saudia Group, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, the Royal Saudi Air Force, Korea Aerospace Industries, Boeing and the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China.
The officials were briefed on the latest technologies in civil aviation, as well as the newest solutions in aircraft maintenance, repair, advanced training and defense systems.
During his visit, Al-Duailej met Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Sameh Ahmed El-Hefny, with whom he discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in civil aviation, investment opportunities and various other topics of mutual interest.
Al-Duailej also met the CEO of AviLease, Edward O’Brien, and talked about the company’s strategy, objectives and areas for possible cooperation.
More than 300 companies from 100 countries are taking part in the airshow, along with representatives of international and regional organizations and experts in the fields of aviation, aerospace and defense.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation is focused on strengthening bilateral relationships, fostering commercial partnerships, exploring investment opportunities and identifying areas for collaboration to enhance the aviation sector.
The Kingdom’s civil aviation sector has undergone a resurgence in 2024. In the first six months of the year, passenger numbers rose 17 percent to 62 million, while flights rose 12 percent to 446,000, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels.
Source:arabnews.com
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Jazan’s fertility, livestock nourish Saudi Arabia’s future
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: One of Saudi Arabia’s most fertile agricultural regions is emerging as a vital hub for the Kingdom’s food security due to its rich and diverse livestock resources.
Jazan’s natural environment, which blends fertile plains, mountainous terrain and seasonal rain, creates an ideal climate for raising various types of livestock, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sheep, goats and camels thrive in the region’s environment, making Jazan a significant contributor to the local economy by meeting the market’s demands for red meat and dairy products.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Jazan’s livestock population exceeds 3.977 million, including more than 1.72 million sheep, 2.1 million goats, about 95,400 cattle and 57,400 camels.
In addition, poultry production in the region is robust, with businesses producing almost 1.944 million broiler chickens annually.
These figures highlight the vitality of the livestock sector in Jazan, which has historically served as a central part of local culture and the economy.
The region’s herding tradition has been passed down through generations, with Jazan’s geographic and environmental diversity playing a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the practice.
Economically, livestock farming in Jazan adds significant value to the local community by creating jobs and boosting agricultural output.
The ministry’s Rural Development Program, known as “Reef,” supports sustainable development by providing financial and technical assistance to farmers and rural families, improving livestock productivity and marketability.
The ministry’s efforts toward preserving and developing livestock in Jazan include preventive vaccination programs, daily health checks, disease diagnosis and animal treatment services provided by veterinary departments and clinics throughout the region.
Additionally, mosquito control measures in animal pens and services offered by the region’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory further contribute to the health and sustainability of livestock.
Livestock farming in Jazan remains a cornerstone of economic development and food security in Saudi Arabia, the SPA said.
The continued growth and development of the sector reflects the collective efforts of the government and local community to achieve self-sufficiency, ensuring sustainable management of the region’s animal resources.
Source:arabnews.com
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Revival of springs and aflaj: Saudi Arabia focuses on sustainable water solutions
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadli on Wednesday reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustaining water resources in the Kingdom. This follows the resurgence of several springs and aflaj (ancient irrigation systems) across Saudi Arabia.
At a workshop in Riyadh titled “Water Springs in the Kingdom: Status, Legislation, and Sustainability,” Al-Fadli emphasized the significance of these water sources for water security and rural development.
He called for collaborative efforts between the ministry, relevant authorities, and local communities to manage and enhance these resources.
The workshop, attended by local and regional water experts, explored how to use the return of spring waters for rural and agricultural development, identify best practices, and discuss rehabilitation and governance of ancient water systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, deputy minister for water affairs, attributed the revival of some springs to increased rainfall, rising water levels, recharge wells, and the removal of silt. The migration of farmers during droughts also inadvertently helped revive the springs, and clearing obstacles from valley streams has been beneficial.
Looking ahead, Al-Shaibani stressed the need to use this natural bounty by establishing farms near springs, maintaining water channels, and redirecting surplus water for afforestation under the Saudi Green Initiative.
He noted that Saudi Arabia has more than 700 springs, categorized into six geological types, with some having dried up due to reduced rainfall and excessive water extraction. The ministry is preparing a comprehensive study to inventory and document these springs.
The executive president of the Saudi Irrigation Organization, Mohammed Abu Haid, highlighted the institution’s role in maintaining springs and aflaj. He called for the integration of traditional irrigation systems with modern techniques to enhance water use efficiency and quality.
The organization’s approach includes regular monitoring, pollution treatment, advanced water storage solutions such as reservoirs, and ensuring water availability during droughts.
Abu Haid emphasized the need for improved cooperation with partners and local communities in water management. “We are leveraging expertise from research centers and think tanks to rehabilitate springs and aflaj, ensuring their sustainable flow and optimal use,” he said.
The workshop included three panel discussions with local and regional experts, academics, and specialists in water management. The first addressed the current status of springs and aflaj in the Kingdom; the second explored local customs and regulations governing these systems; and the third examined regional experiences, with insights from Oman, Morocco, and the UAE, facilitating an exchange of expertise and best practices across the Arab world.
The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion on the challenges of sustaining and managing springs and aflaj in Saudi Arabia.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi FM discusses regional developments with EU’s Borrell
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Wednesday.
During the call, the two officials discussed regional developments and prospects for joint coordination on them.
Source:arabnews.com
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First public policy master’s program in Riyadh begins
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: The KAPSARC School of Public Policy, the first such college in the Kingdom, has welcomed its new master’s students.
Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, all admitted students received full scholarships for the program of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, minister of energy and chairman of the board of trustees of the KAPSARC, thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for supporting the nation’s skills development initiatives.
He said the program is aimed at equipping future leaders with the skills to shape public policy at national and global levels.
The two-year program, designed for working professionals, combines theory with practical experience and is taught by policy experts and thought leaders.
Ghada Alarifi, dean of the school, said the program would meet the demands of the labor market.
There was a strong turnout of local and international applicants, and significant interest from various government and nongovernment organizations in the Kingdom, she added.
Established by the Council of Ministers on Feb. 20, 2024, the school will focus on economics, data analytics, energy, climate, and sustainability.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2570081/saudi-arabia
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Saudi crown prince attends funeral prayer of Princess Latifa bint Abdulaziz
September 04, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in the funeral prayer of Princess Latifa bint Abdulaziz on Wednesday at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Princess Latifa was buried at Al-Oud Cemetery in Riyadh on Wednesday following the funeral prayer which took place after the noon prayer. She passed away on Tuesday.
Source:arabnews.com
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Europe
NSS Raises Concerns with BBC Over Interview with Extremist Imam, Haitham Al-Haddad, Introducing Him As "Highly Respected" Without Acknowledging His Extremist Views
4th Sep 2024
The NSS has raised concerns with the BBC after a presenter introduced an imam as "highly respected" without acknowledging his extremist views.
Haitham al-Haddad (pictured, second left, with Taliban Minister of Foreign Affairs) was interviewed by BBC Radio London's Asad Ahmad last month about far-right violence and extremism in the UK.
In 2018, Sara Khan, then Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism said: "Haitham al-Haddad's views are misogynistic, racist and homophobic. They promote a supremacist 'us versus them' worldview that wrongly makes Muslims feel that they can't be fully British".
BBC editorial guidelines on impartiality state: "particular viewpoints [of contributors] should be made available to the audience, when relevant to the context."
Misogyny and homophobia
Al-Haddad says Islamically approved female circumcision "is better for the husband" and "a virtue or honour for women".
According to The Times he believes all "western women should submit to Allah and wear the niqab".
On domestic violence, al-Haddad says: "A man should not be questioned why he hit his wife, because this is something between them."
Al-Haddad said the "younger the better" when asked for advice on the best age for a teenage girl to marry.
He has described homosexuality as a "criminal act" and, according to the BBC, believes "god hates homosexuals".
Taliban apologism and Islamic supremacism
Al-Haddad was part of a delegation of British imams that met with Taliban officials in Afghanistan last year.
Speaking about the trip at Queen Mary University, al-Haddad said: "the level of professionalism of the leaders of the government was really amazing".
He suggested the "enemies of Islam" are using the issue of women's rights to "interfere" in Afghanistan. He said we are "maybe brainwashed by the Islamophobic media about this issue".
Women in Afghanistan are banned from speaking in public, accessing secondary education and entering parks. They must wear the burqa in public.
The UN's special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, said of the ban on speaking in public: It extends the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home apparently deemed a moral violation
In 2023, al-Haddad said of London: "if you go outside you think that you are in a second Afghanistan, but you are in Londonistan. So it is really amazing, overwhelming."
A charity he once served as a trustee at, Muslim Research and Development Foundation, has been described as wanting to "overthrow this country's secular democracy and install some form of Sharia dictatorship".
According to the BBC, he believes "leaving Islam is punishable by death in the right circumstances". When asked if people should be allowed to insult Islam, he replied: "no".
The title of a video on his YouTube channel describes Judaism and Christianity as "Distorted Religions that Insult Allah".
Khan review: concerns about engagement with 'community leaders'
Sara Khan was appointed as the Government's Independent Adviser for Social Cohesion and Resilience in 2021.
Her 2024 review "Threats to Social Cohesion And Democratic Resilience" describes engagement with "self-appointed and self-representative 'community leaders'" as "outdated".
One contributor to the report describes officials "inadvertently supporting extremist preachers in the misguided belief that they have a positive relationship with a minority community."
NSS: 'Impartiality demands fundamentalist views are properly acknowledged'
NSS human rights lead Alejandro Sanchez said: "It is for the BBC to decide whether to platform extremists like Haitham al-Haddad.
"But impartiality demands fundamentalist views are properly acknowledged. This did not happen in BBC Radio London's interview."
Source:secularism.org.uk
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https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2024/09/nss-raises-concerns-with-bbc-over-interview-with-extremist-imam
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German state govt removes 'anti-Muslim' video compared to Nazi propaganda
04 September, 2024
A state government in Germany has deleted a controversial and provocative video about Muslims posted to X that has been slammed as echoing Nazi-era propaganda.
The video posted by Bavaria's Interior Ministry purported to warn against the alleged dangers of Salafism — a Muslim movement perceived as being intolerant and puritanical.
The cartoon depicts a woman in a headscarf watching a video on whether it is permissible for women to wear makeup. As she watches the explainer, the woman is seen being swallowed up into the mouth of a cackling, bearded man wearing a skullcap.
The woman's religious clothing is then seen becoming progressively more pervasive, until she re-emerges from the man's mouth wearing all black and a niqab full face covering.
Another scene shows the woman crying while sweeping the floor, while a man — presumably her husband — embraces another niqab-wearing woman.
The video warns that "the Salafism trap happens faster than you think".
Many took to X to slam the video.
“The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior (!) is agitating against Muslims with caricatures that are reminiscent of the times of Nazi propaganda against Jews,” said Berlin house of representatives member Ferat Koçak.
Left Party Bundestag member Nicole Gohlke described the video as "thoroughly racist".
“Instead of exclusion and incitement, we need to take a stand against anti-Muslim racism, ” she wrote on X.
The video was posted to X just hours after Germany's far-right AfD party won the Thuringia state elections with 33 percent of the vote on Sunday.
The AfD's first victory in a state election comes amid fears of a resurgence of the far-right in Germany, who oppose multiculturalism, Islam and environmentalism. The win was also the German far-right's first since World War II.
Germany has also seen a crackdown on Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups, including restrictions on speech and protests.
In a statement to US media outlet Politico, the Bavarian Interior Ministry said it had paused the campaign due to criticism.
“We are extremely sorry if the video has led to confusion and misunderstandings,” a deputy spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“As prevention and deradicalization work in the fight against Salafism is very important to us, we will revise the video scenes — but the dangers of Salafism must not be played down.”
Source:newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/german-state-pulls-anti-muslim-vid-likened-nazi-propaganda
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Ayr: Mosque plans revealed for Scottish town's former railway club
4th September
By Murray Grayston
The Muslim place of worship would be launched in Ayr - in the former home of the town's Railway Club.
The James Street venue was listed for sale back in April, with an asking price of £120,000.
Agents DM Hall have, in recent weeks, stated that the property was "under offer" - and now the purchaser of the building has been unveiled.
The Al-Farooq Education and Community Centre (AFECC) has stated on its website that it has now bought the property.
AFECC is a Glasgow-based charity which looks to spread and preserve the original teachings of Islam.
It aims to be a leading, welcoming and inspirational hub while simultaneously educating and encouraging people to "strive in their pursuit of acquiring the sweetness of faith" via various activities and programmes.
After announcing their purchase of the former Ayr Railway Club, the AFECC has now launched a fundraising campaign to help transform the venue into South Ayrshire's only Mosque.
The charity says it is looking to raise around £149,000 to complete the project.
A spokesperson said: "AFECC is proud to announce the purchase of a property to serve the growing Muslim community in Ayr.
"To make this project a reality, we need to raise additional funds. The Muslim population in Ayr has steadily increased, creating a strong need for a dedicated space for prayer and community activities.
"Currently, the community gathers for prayer in a hall above a shop, which can only accommodate 70-80 people.
"With nearly 100 local Muslim families from diverse backgrounds, there’s a significant number who lack a proper place for worship and community connection.
"This new property, conveniently located near the town centre, will provide a space for prayer and community gatherings."
The property has become the second to be purchased by the organisation. A similar project was launched around two years ago in North Ayrshire.
AFECC have purchased Barony St John’s Church in Ardrossan, with a fundraising campaign also launched to transform the old Church of Scotland building. Work on this project is still ongoing.
There are currently only two mosques in Ayrshire, located in Cumnock and Kilmarnock - both in East Ayrshire.
Source:thenational.scot/
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https://www.thenational.scot/news/24562331.ayr-mosque-plans-revealed-former-railway-club-venue/
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Boycotts of Coke and Pepsi over Gaza crisis drive surge in local soda sales across Muslim countries
Sep 4, 2024
: Vatsala Gaur
Amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, a wave of boycotts targeting American brands like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo is reshaping the beverage market in Muslim-majority countries.
These boycotts, rooted in the perception of US support for Israel, are leading consumers in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to abandon the cola giants in favor of local alternatives, significantly impacting market dynamics.
Local soda brands gain momentum
In Egypt and Pakistan, local cola brands such as V7, Cola Next, and Pakola are experiencing a notable increase in sales, eating into the market share traditionally held by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
According to a report by Reuters, the boycott has created opportunities for these regional brands to gain traction, with V7 and Cola Next seeing significant boosts in market presence.
The boycotts have gained traction as consumers in several Muslim-majority countries express their discontent with US foreign policy, particularly its support for Israel.
This sentiment has intensified following the recent escalation of violence in Gaza, leading to a growing preference for local brands that are perceived as politically neutral.
Consumer backlash in key Muslim countries
In Egypt, Coca-Cola’s sales have plummeted this year, while local brand V7 has capitalized on the situation, tripling its exports across the Middle East.
Similarly, in Bangladesh, Coca-Cola faced significant backlash, resulting in the cancellation of an ad campaign deemed insensitive to the ongoing conflict.
PepsiCo’s growth in the region has also stalled, with the company struggling to maintain its market position amid the rising tensions.
Pakistani consumers have also joined the boycott movement.
Local brands vs. Western brands
The boycott movement has significantly benefited local soda brands, allowing them to gain market share in regions long dominated by Western companies.
In Pakistan, for instance, Cola Next and Pakola have seen a surge in popularity.
These brands now reportedly account for about 12% of the soft drink market, up from 2.5% before the boycott began.
V7, the Egyptian cola brand, has experienced similar success.
Its founder, Mohamed Nour, a former Coca-Cola executive, reported that V7’s exports have tripled this year, with domestic sales in Egypt increasing by 40%.
This growth highlights a broader shift in consumer preferences toward local products, especially those perceived as untainted by Western political associations.
In Pakistan, Cola Next has strategically positioned itself as a patriotic alternative to Western sodas, with a slogan emphasizing its local roots: “Because Cola Next is Pakistani.”
This marketing approach has resonated with consumers, leading to high demand and production challenges for the brand.
Impact on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo
The boycotts have undeniably impacted Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, particularly in key markets across the Middle East.
According to NielsenIQ, sales of Western beverage brands in the region declined by 7% in the first half of the year. PepsiCo, which had been experiencing growth in its Africa, Middle East, and South Asia division, saw a sharp slowdown in beverage volumes following the escalation in Gaza.
Coca-Cola’s performance in Egypt, where it had previously been growing steadily, also took a hit, with sales volumes declining by double-digit percentages in the first half of the year.
In response, both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have emphasized that they do not fund military operations in Israel or any other country.
However, despite these assurances, the boycotts have affected their sales and market share in specific regions.
While the immediate impact of the boycotts is evident, experts warn of potential long-term consequences for Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
Breaking established consumer habits could make it difficult for these brands to regain their lost market share.
As consumers switch to cheaper, locally produced alternatives, the appeal of these brands may continue to grow, particularly in economically strained countries like Pakistan, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
Source:invezz.com
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https://invezz.com/news/2024/09/04/boycotts-of-coke-and-pepsi-over-gaza-crisis-drive-surge-in-local-soda-sales-across-muslim-countries/
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Grenfell: Muslim survivors denied halal food while being rehoused, inquiry finds
Sep 4 2024
Muslim survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire were badly failed by the local council and denied their right to halal food while being temporarily rehoused at hotels, a damning inquiry has revealed.
The inquiry’s final report found the fire that killed 72 people in 2017 was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the construction industry to act on the dangers of flammable cladding.
It concluded that Kensington and Chelsea Council should have done more to cater to people from diverse backgrounds. Many of those who lived in the tower had been observing Ramadan, but halal food was not available at all hotels, nor was it possible to observe the requirement to eat at set times.
The findings prompted criticism from Britain’s leading representative body for Muslim communities which said it pointed to “wider structural and systemic issues” affecting minoritised communities.
Speaking to The Independent, Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “The treatment of minority and faith communities by the council highlights wider structural and systemic issues that must be tackled.
“Grenfell remains a stark reminder and trauma for so many, not just the fire but for the way the most vulnerable in our society are treated. Much must be learned now, and for those who have been waiting for justice, meaningful change is essential.”
Issues of race and class have been widely linked to Grenfell. Some 85 per cent of the residents who died in the fire were from ethnic minority and low-income communities, while 40 per cent of residents in high-rise, social housing properties are from these communities.
Dr Shabna Begum, CEO of the Runnymede Trust, linked race, Grenfell and wider housing inequalities - and warned that it was “a matter of time until a tragedy of the same scale will happen again”.
She went on: “The Grenfell fire was a preventable tragedy, marred at every point by structural and direct racism - from those who were killed, to the treatment of survivors, the bereaved, and the wider community, as the latest report from the inquiry confirms.
“Seven years since, there is still no justice for the victims and thousands of unsafe buildings still stand across the country. Unless urgent and sufficient action is taken, it is a matter of time until a tragedy of the same scale will happen again.
“People of colour are feeling the harshest impacts of the housing crisis, disproportionately live in unsafe and unsuitable homes, and are often funnelled into the poorest quality and least desirable social housing. As a bare minimum, everyone should have access to safe, suitable, affordable housing.”
The Grenfell inquiry report highlighted the lack of support for people from migrant backgrounds whose first language wasn’t English.
“Those who obtained information about the support available were the first to receive assistance, while those who did not were left behind,” it said.
“That particularly affected vulnerable people, such as those with mobility problems and those who could not speak English. When official communications were eventually released, they were in English. That included communications sent to those who had been placed in hotels.”
People described feeling at a disadvantage because they could not read English well and had significant difficulty in gaining access to services, which they felt created unfairness, according to the report.
Moreover, interpreters were often not provided, and in some cases, were provided but in the wrong language, the report found.
A Black Lives Matter spokesperson told The Independent: “The report confirms what we already know—that we live in a society where a hierarchy of human worth is premised upon the colour of your skin, and where ease in accessing basic social goods such as decent housing is determined by your class and race.”
There were also barriers to mental health support for survivors, according to the report.
Psychological support was available from 16 June but many were not told about it, and were unable to obtain counselling services due to language barriers.
Meka Beresford, head of policy at Action for Race Equality, told The Independent that she hoped the learnings and recommendations from this report were taken seriously, “as a matter of utmost urgency”.
“Those impacted by the Grenfell tragedy have been systematically failed at every stage,” she said.
““The final report published today is clear - if you are Black or Brown, a Muslim, or spoke English as an additional language, you were faced with barriers to even the most basic forms of support following the fire.
“Decades of failure predated the tragedy, and we must not wait any longer to put an end to the pervasive institutional racism and Islamophobia in Britain today.”
When approached for comment, Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, told The Independent: “On behalf of the council, I apologise unreservedly and with my whole heart to the bereaved, survivors and residents of Grenfell for our failure to listen and to protect them.”
Councillor Campbell said the council “fully accepts” the inquiry’s findings which are “a withering critique of a system broken from top to bottom”.
“We failed to keep people safe before and during the refurbishment and we failed to treat people with humanity and care in the aftermath,” she added.
“We will learn from every single criticism in the report. We will take time to study it further in detail, listen to the reflections from our communities, and publish a full and formal response in the autumn.”
Source:independent.co.uk
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-black-and-asian-tenants-failed-b2606867.html
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Africa
North Not Afraid Of New Nigerian Constitution, Insecurity Is Killing The Region – ACF BoT Chairman
4 September 2024
Oladipo Abiola
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has disclosed the readiness of the North to get involved in discussing a new constitution for Nigeria.
Dalhatu, who spoke at a meeting of the ACF’s BoT meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, also dismissed suggestions that the North is averse to or afraid of a new constitution for the country.
According to him, the North is not afraid of a constitutional review but would use all legitimate means to defend the interests of the region.
Dalhatu added that previous attempts to amend the constitution were “designed to harm the north”.
“Whether or not the federal government sponsors one or more exercises at constitutional review, it is necessary to dispel the impression that the North is shy, or is averse to or afraid of any review of the Nigerian constitution,” he said.
“We must put all and sundry on notice that the north is ready, now and in the future, and will be willing to consider any proposals for changing the constitution as well as the administrative structure of Nigeria that may be put on the table.
“If and when the occasion arises, the north will surely use whatever is available to it in pursuit of its legitimate interests,” Dalhatu added.
The ACF chieftain also identified insecurity as the greatest challenge facing the North.
He lamented the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminals, adding that whatever it takes, insecurity must be overcome in the North.
He said corruption is an impediment to the peace of the region.
“At the moment, there is nothing troubling the north more than insecurity.
“The historically quiet, peaceful and prosperous north is today ravaged by Boko Haram and other insurgencies, banditry as well as other violent crimes.
“There does not appear to be any end in sight. Because of the strife, food production is becoming increasingly difficult as farmlands are abandoned and the farmers are either killed or are fleeing to the IDP camps.
“Whatever it takes, this crisis has to end, and end quickly. Our survival depends on it.
“Deepening levels of poverty, destitution and hunger; growing joblessness especially among the youth and the twin calamities of almajiri and street children are all crying for solution,” Dalhatu said.
Source:naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/09/04/north-not-afraid-of-new-nigerian-constitution-insecurity-is-killing-the-region-acf-bot-chairman/
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China Agrees To Assist Nigeria In Fight Against Money Laundering
4 September 2024
Richard Ogunsile
Nigeria and China have reached an agreement to strengthen their collaboration on financial intelligence in order to combat money laundering and other economic offences within Nigeria.
A joint statement released by both nations indicated that this agreement is designed to bolster Nigeria’s initiatives to maintain the integrity of its financial and foreign exchange markets while addressing financial crimes.
Naija News reports that this announcement came after a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday.
Additionally, the statement underscored the significance of regional and monetary collaboration, advocating for flexible and varied partnerships, including local currency swaps, to enhance trade between China and Nigeria and to promote global financial stability.
“Both countries agreed to support Nigeria’s geographical and development advantage in West Africa to establish Africa’s flagship projects on cross-national and cross-regional cooperation.
“They also agreed to deepen cooperation on the connectivity of infrastructure between the two countries. China proactively supports Nigeria in developing its domestic infrastructure construction, including transportation, ports, and free trade zones, to achieve integrated development and connectivity for industries.
“The two sides encourage flexible and diverse regional and monetary and financial cooperation such as local currency swaps, to facilitate trade between China and Nigeria and make contributions to global financial stability.
“The two countries agree to carry out international cooperation on financial intelligence on anti-monetary laundering/ countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) and support Nigeria’s efforts to safeguard the order of its financial and foreign exchange markets and to crack down on financial crimes, including money laundering,” the statement said.
Source:naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/09/04/china-agrees-to-assist-nigeria-in-fight-against-money-laundering/
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China-Africa summit officially kicks off on Wednesday
By Rédaction Africanews
The Chinese President welcomed African leaders in Beijing Wednesday for a summit aimed at strengthening ties at a time of strained relations with the West.
President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet Wednesday evening in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing to welcome leaders for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
During the three-day summit, leaders of some 50 African countries will discuss cooperation over the next few years on areas including agriculture, security and industrialization.
Bilateral meetings took place Wednesday between Xi and leaders from South Africa, Djibouti and Cameroon, among others. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was present at the summit as a special guest.
After years of being Africa’s largest trading partner and investor, China has bolstered its relationships with African countries to counter the United States and European influence in developing regions or the Global South.
Source:africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/09/04/china-africa-summit-officially-kicks-off-on-wednesday/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/israel-human-rights-defender/d/133129