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Islamic World News ( 22 Jun 2024, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Kerala Retort To Babri Axe: State To Issue Booklets On Topics Deleted From NCERT Texts

New Age Islam News Bureau

22 Jun 2024

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel conduct a march on the occasion of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, in Ayodhya.

PTI

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·         Kerala Retort To Babri Axe: State To Issue Booklets On Topics Deleted From NCERT Texts

·         Human Milk Bank: Pakistan Initiative Suspended After Religious Edict(Islamic Fatwa)

·         UK’s First Muslim Pride Event For LGBTQ+ Set To Take Place This Weekend

·         Namibian Court Declares Laws Banning Gay Sex Unconstitutional

·         Beehives Of Saudi Arabia’s Maysan Believed To Be Over 1,000 Years Old

 

India

·         Karnataka HC Stays Summons To BJP’s JP Nadda, Amit Malviya For Post Allegedly Targeting Muslims

·         Behind Encounter In Kathua: A Missing Guide, Two Terrorists Who Lost Their Way

·         NIA Court Seeks Security For Gyanvapi Survey Order Judge

·         Modi Yoga Outreach Gives Kashmir A Cramp, Local Leaders Allege Mistreatment Of Employees At Event

·         Jodhpur: Two Policemen Injured, Shop Set On Fire As Violence Erupts Over Construction Of Gate In An Eidgah

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Pakistan

·         Bushra Bibi’s Ex-Husband’s Lawyer ‘Seeks To Delay’ Iddat Case Further

·         President, PM vow to continue fight against terrorism

·         Pakistan calls for decisive action against terrorism in Afghanistan

·         Call for end to attacks on Ahmadiyya community

·         IED blast martyrs five soldiers in KP's Kurram

·         Peshawar High Court halts deportation of Afghan artists and transgender individuals

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Europe

·         Olympics-Islamist Terrorism Main Concern Ahead Of Paris Games, City's Police Chief Says

·         For British Muslim Voters, Gaza Ushers In New Era Of UK Politics

·         Comment made about Luton mosque treated as a hate crime by police

·         Dawat-e-Islami: Leading Islamic Organisation in the UK

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Africa

·         Newly appointed South African MP suspended for racist language video

·         "We are ready to fight," President Kagame responds to DRC

·         South Sudan's vice president expresses concerns over ongoing peace talks

·         Bulldozers Move In To Demolish Bayero’s Nasarawa Palace As Security Operatives Block Entrances

·         Khartoum and UAE envoys clash at UN Security Council over Sudan civil war

·         UN chief warns 'world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza'

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Arab World

·         The Saudi artist’s gallery celebrates unbounded imagination

·         Saudi Arabia concludes participation at Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris

·         Saudi Arabia urges all nations to work together to prioritize cybersecurity

·         Harnessing agricultural terraces for blackberry cultivation in Al-Baha

·         Saudi Arabia welcomes Armenia’s decision to recognize state of Palestine

·         Saudi Arabia pledges to promote peaceful, sustainable use of outer space

·         SDAIA Prepares Infrastructure At Entry Points To Ease Umrah Visitors Procedures

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North America

·         New Jersey School District Apologizes For Offending Muslim Group With Question About ISIS Terror Group In Quiz

·         CAIR Condemns Ban on Hijab, Islamic Clothing in Tajikistan

·         CAIR-MA Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Anti-Muslim Vandalism

·         Muslim group sues Washtenaw County township over mosque dispute

·         South Florida Muslim leader Shaikh Shafayat dies. He spent decades bridging religious divides

·         UK firms under scrutiny for criminal liability over arms sales to Israel

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Mideast

·         Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists Planning Attack Eliminated in West Bank by IDF

·         Qatar working to ‘bridge the gap’ between Israel and Hamas

·         Legendary musicians Roger Waters, Yusuf Islam, headline concert for Palestine in London

·         Radical Islam will not stop with annihilation of Jews

·         Israel army says Israeli civilian shot dead in West Bank

·         UAE contributes $5 million to United Nations OCHA for humanitarian efforts in Sudan

·         Red Cross says 22 killed in shelling near Gaza office

·         Lebanon’s FM meets with UN, French and US envoys in bid to prevent full-scale war

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South Asia

·         Human Rights Watch Calls Exclusion Of Afghan Women From Doha Talks “Shocking”

·         Islamic Emirate at a glance

·         Consultation; a short way to success

·         Eid in southern provinces; people celebrate with recreational activities

·         World Refugee Day: Afghan refugees still facing deportation

·         Pilgrims recount horrors of heat during this year’s Hajj

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Southeast Asia

·         Anti-Israel Backlash Keeps US Conglomerate Away From Major Malaysia Project

·         King of Bhutan pays Agong a courtesy visit at Johor palace

·         10 foreigners nabbed for attempting to enter Malaysia illegally

·         PM’s foreign relations strategy in the right direction, unity government urged to sync with each other: SPCAAM

·         Unity Gov’t never defended parties collaborating with Israeli regime - Kamil Munim

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/kerala-babri-state-ncert-texts/d/132556

 

Kerala Retort To Babri Axe: State To Issue Booklets On Topics Deleted From NCERT Texts

22.06.24

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel conduct a march on the occasion of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, in Ayodhya.

PTI

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The Kerala government plans to issue an additional booklet containing content on the Babri Masjid demolition and other topics recently removed by the NCERT.

Dr Jayaprakash R.K., the director of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), said on Friday that once the curriculum sub-committee finalises the chapters, these will be restored through new booklets.

The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class XII political science textbook refers to the Babri Masjid only as a “three-domed structure” built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. This year, chapters on L.K. Advani’s 1990 Rath Yatra and the 2002 Gujarat riots were among those deleted.

Expressing opposition to the NCERT’s decision, Kerala’s primary education minister V. Sivankutty emphasised that true history and science should be taught.

“Kerala does not accept the NCERT’s move to change the syllabus covering the Babri Masjid-Ayodhya topics. Textbooks should not contain the narrow ideological positions/propaganda of any single movement. True history & science must be taught instead. This is Kerala’s policy,” Sivankutty posted on X.

While Kerala state board schools follow textbooks prepared by the SCERT until Class X, over 40 NCERTtextbooks in various subjects are prescribed for Classes XI and XII.

NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani justified the removal of the Babri Masjid reference, arguing against teaching violence and hatred.

Jayaprakash confirmed that the SCERT will provide newly prepared chapters instead of merely restoring deleted NCERT content. This follows a precedent set last year when the SCERT issued booklets covering omitted chapters on topics such as the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mughal kings and the Cold War.

“We provide freshly prepared chapters based on whatever has been dropped by NCERT. The procedure is the specific subject’s sub-committee that decides on the content of chapters would ask us to come up with textbooks or additional booklets. Once we get clearance we will print and issue them to schools,” he added.

The curriculum committee comprising 72 members is divided into subject-specific sub-committees that decide on the contents of textbooks.

The removal of references to the Babri Masjid has faced widespread criticism. Political analysts Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar have requested the NCERT chief to remove their names from the textbooks, disagreeing with the changes made under their advisory roles and threatening legal action if their names are not removed.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/kerala-retort-to-babri-masjid-axe-state-to-issue-booklets-on-topics-deleted-from-ncert-texts/cid/2028779

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Human Milk Bank: Pakistan Initiative Suspended After Religious Edict(Islamic Fatwa)

June 22, 2024

The building of the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi. — SICHN website

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KARACHI: After the issuance of a new fatwa (religious edict), the Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology (SICHN) on Friday suspended the Human Milk Bank project — the country’s first such initiative.

In a statement, a SICHN spokesperson said they would consult the Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for further guidance over this matter.

Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN was inaugurated by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, along with officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA), a few weeks ago.

It was intended to provide breast milk to premature babies who could not receive the required nutrition from their mothers.

Sharing the purpose of the project, the spokesperson said, "The premature babies are of 34 weeks or less gestation and they have less than 2kg weight. Most of the mothers having such babies do not have this much breast milk that could meet children’s nutrition requirement."

The spox said the human milk bank was established to particularly deal with this challenge.

“Giving them (premature kids) milk other than breast milk exposes them to the risk of complications, infections and early death. Therefore, to save the lives of these premature newborns, it is necessary to provide them breast milk,” the official further stated.

Clarifying doubts about the service, the SICHN official said the Muslim children would be provided milk of Muslim women only. Whereas, the service would be offered free of cost to dispel the impression of commercial exchange, the spokesperson added.

In December 2023, Darululoom Karachi issued a fatwa with preconditions "providing necessary religious endorsement to proceed" with the project, "however, a revised fatwa has prompted us to pause the functionality of the Human Milk Bank. This decision (of suspension) is in compliance with the updated religious guidance," the official added.

However, a revised fatwa by the seminary, issued on June 16, prompted the authorities to suspend the project till further guidance on the matter.

Source: geo.tv

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https://www.geo.tv/latest/550437-pakistans-first-human-milk-bank-initiative-suspended-after-new-fatwa

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UK’s First Muslim Pride Event For LGBTQ+ Set To Take Place This Weekend

Jun 21

Mulsim Pride is taking place on Saturday (WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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A first-of-its-kind Pride event for LGBTQ+ Muslims is happening this weekend.

Organised by charity Imaan LGBTQI+, Muslim Pride 2024 is set to take place at Queen Mary, University of London, on Saturday (22 June) and hundreds of people are expected to attend the full-day “celebration of queer Muslim culture, activism and history”.

The event was originally scheduled for 2020 but was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The day will begin with a panel discussion featuring scholars and activists, including Dr Sanah Ahsan, Hafsa Qureshi, Imam Muhsin Hendricks and Dr Amina Wadud.

There will also be workshops that focus on topics from Islamic feminism to the joys and challenges of being out as a Muslim, and entertainment from members of the community.

Speaking to the BBC about the event, non-binary practising Muslim Ferhan Khan said: “It’s going to be filled with people [who] are just like me and understand me. I don’t need to explain myself to them.”

Khan spoke about the negative experiences they had growing up as someone who engaged with femininity.

“Unfortunately, what I found was that any queerness, any kind of identity that deviated away from masculinity, was being quite firmly oppressed in me.

“I was made to feel ashamed of my sexuality, ashamed of my non-masculine traits and kind of encouraged to minimise those traits,” they said, recalling one story where they were given a lecture by family members after wearing make-up and nail varnish.

Despite this, Khan still has a relationship with their family.

‘Celebration and joy’

Events such as Muslim Pride are important, to challenge the idea that Islam is “inherently queer-phobic”, Khan added.

“This is an assumption that’s not necessarily based on fact because if you read the parts of the Quran that supposedly condemn homosexuality, it’s not clear cut. What this serves to do is invalidate the notion that you can be both queer and Muslim.

“For a lot of queer Muslims, this is a difficult one because they might want to retain their faith. They might want to simply be in a space where they are validated for being both queer and Muslim, and that’s what Imaan is doing, serving up a space where you can be… validated for that choice.”

Event organiser Sayyada told the BBC she was extremely excited ahead of Muslim Pride, but also a little nervous.

“We’ve worked so hard for this for so many years and we feel it’ll be a really good celebration of our community. So often when you talk about these multiply marginalised communities, the whole story is one of doom and gloom, struggle and rejection.

“We want Saturday to be a story of celebration and joy and finding community together.”

Source: thepinknews.com

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https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/06/21/muslim-pride-2024-london-event/

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Namibian court declares laws banning gay sex unconstitutional

Activists celebrate outside the High Court in Gaborone, Botswana, Tuesday June 11, 2019.

  - 

Copyright © africanews

AP/Copyright 2019 The AP. All rights reserved.

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In a historic ruling on Friday, June 21, a Namibian high court declared unconstitutional two colonial-era laws that criminalized same-sex acts between men. This decision marks a significant victory for the LGBTQ community in Namibia.

The case was initiated by Namibian activist Friedel Dausab, with support from the UK-based Human Dignity Trust. Following the court's decision, Dausab expressed his joy, stating, "It's a great day for Namibia. It won't be a crime to love anymore."

 Rights activists have noted that, although prosecutions under the "sodomy" and "unnatural sexual offences" laws were infrequent, these laws have fostered ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQ community and instilled fear of arrest among gay men.

Namibia inherited the laws when it gained independence from South Africa in 1990, though same-sex acts between men were initially criminalised under colonial rule.

South Africa has since decriminalised same-sex sexual activity and is the only country on the African continent to allow LGBTQ couples to adopt children, marry and enter civil unions.

Last year, Uganda enacted one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, which included the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", despite widespread condemnations from the West.

In Ghana for instance. many are speaking out against a dangerous anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bill.

In February this year, Ghana's parliament passed a bill, which toughens criminal penalties for consensual same-sex relations, and criminalizes the actions of individuals and organizations that defend the rights of LGBT people.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/namibian-court-declares-laws-banning-gay-sex-unconstitutional/

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Beehives Of Saudi Arabia’s Maysan Believed To Be Over 1,000 Years Old

June 22, 2024

A general view of the apiaries of Maysan governorate feature beautiful engineering with remarkable design specifications for honey production. (SPA)

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TAIF: Maysan governorate, located in western Saudi Arabia's Sarawat mountain range, showcases stunning archaeological scenes of some of the most important and impressive environmental engineering formations. These include approximately 1,200 beehives that were a major source of daily sustenance for the early inhabitants of the place.

The apiaries in Maysan have become a primary source for the production and sale of Saudi honey, which is deeply embedded in the Kingdom’s culture and trade. These sites date back to ancient history, highlighting the community’s longstanding interest in honey in Maysan.

Abdul Wahab Al-Khudaidi, a history enthusiast, confirmed that the Al-Kharafi apiaries are situated between the Sarawat and Tihamah mountains and are believed to be over 1,000 years old.

These apiaries feature beautiful engineering with remarkable design specifications for honey production. The structures are paved with stones in intricate geometric patterns, spanning up to four levels.

The site is difficult to access, requiring navigation through a designated path by an experienced individual. The honeycombs are reinforced with solid stones and columns to support the floors, which are constructed from large, closely positioned stones in balanced shapes.

Al-Khudaidi noted that the ancient beehives in the villages of Maysan and Bani Al-Harith, which are part of Makkah province, are intricately designed with multiple levels and floors nestled between steep, solid mountains.

The hives, dating back over 10 centuries, serve as evidence of the place’s authenticity and deep-rooted history. The famous mountains are a summer resort for visitors and locals, a historical legacy celebrated in their poems, and home to towering forts and castles that highlight the importance of the villages' history.

The structures testify to the rare profession practiced by the ancestors in beekeeping and honey extraction, producing various types of honey such as Acacia, Summer, and Seyal.

Al-Khudaidi pointed out that the initial apiaries were carefully located between mountain peaks to benefit from the diverse array of local aromatic plants.

These mountains host more than 50 species, including Rue, Basil, Marjoram, Lavender, among other wildflowers.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2535151/saudi-arabia

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India

 

Karnataka HC Stays Summons To BJP’s JP Nadda, Amit Malviya For Post Allegedly Targeting Muslims

The Karnataka High Court on Friday said that the police need not summon Bharatiya Janata Party chief JP Nadda and publicity wing head Amit Malviya for investigation in connection with its “objectionable” campaign video targeting Muslims, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Krishna S Dixit said that the case investigation can continue but without insisting on the personal presence of Nadda or Malviya. The Karnataka Police had issued summons to Nadda and Malviya on May 8 to appear before it within seven days.

On May 5, a first information report was filed against the two and the party’s state unit chief BY Vijayendra after the Congress lodged a complaint against an animated video that was uploaded to the BJP’s Karnataka social media handles on May 4.

The video showed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi feeding “funds” to a bird, shown wearing a skullcap, as it hatches out of the “Muslim” egg. The video shows the “Muslim” bird pushing away the fledglings that hatch from the other three eggs, followed by the sound of laughter.

The Congress’ complaint said that the account to which the video was uploaded is operated by Malviya and that the video was shared on the instructions of Nadda and Vijayendra.

The three BJP leaders have been booked under sections of the Representation of People Act for making statements promoting enmity on religious grounds, under provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The video was uploaded to the Hindutva party’s social media handles on May 4, three days before the second and final round of polling in Karnataka.

On May 7, the Election Commission had told social media platform X to take down the video on grounds that it violated the “extant legal framework”.

However, the poll regulator’s notice to X came after campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in the state had ended, and during the second phase of polling in the state. While voting for 14 seats in Karnataka took place on April 26, the remaining 14 seats went to the polls on May 7.

Source: scroll.in

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https://scroll.in/latest/1069634/karnataka-hc-stays-summons-to-bjps-jp-nadda-amit-malviya-for-post-allegedly-targeting-muslims

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NIA Court Seeks Security For Gyanvapi Survey Order Judge

Jun 22, 2024

MEERUT: Following threats linked to judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar's 2022 verdict ordering a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi to determine if a temple existed underneath, an NIA court's special judge has requested increased security for him.

Three weeks after an FIR was filed against Adnan Khan for allegedly threatening additional sessions judge Diwakar, NIA court special judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi has written to the registrar general of the Allahabad high court seeking more protection for judge Diwakar.

Special judge Tripathi's letter, accessed by TOI, says, "Investigations have revealed that Islamic fundamentalists are plotting to kill judge Diwakar... This is a sensitive issue. If the activities of Adnan are not curbed, it could lead to an untoward incident."

Judge Diwakar, now an additional sessions judge in Bareilly, also wrote to the UP chief secretary, expressing concerns about his current security. "On 13 May 2022, after the Allahabad HC's order, my family and I were provided security, but the current level seems inadequate. It is clear that the Islamic fundamentalists are brainwashing members of the minority community and turning them against me by labelling me a kafir to get me killed. Hence this letter is being forwarded to provide adequate security to me and my family."

On 25 April this year, judge Diwakar informed Bareilly police that he was receiving threatening international calls. His current security detail includes two personnel, "inadequately equipped for a potential terrorist attack," according to a judge's associate. "They are not even equipped with adequate modern weapons in case of a terrorist attack," the associate said.

On 3 June, the UP ATS investigation officer filed an FIR against Adnan Khan under several IPC sections and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Khan allegedly used his Instagram account to issue threats against judge Diwakar, encouraging violence against him.

"Adnan Khan runs an Instagram account through which a threat has been issued to judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who is hearing the Gyanvapi mosque case in Varanasi," the FIR by ATS officer Prabhakar Ojha said.

Threats against judge Diwakar have persisted since June 2022, when Varanasi police investigated a threatening letter from the Islamic Aagaz Movement's president, which mentioned his family and the Prime Minister in offensive terms, leading to enhanced security measures for him.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/nia-court-seeks-security-for-gyanvapi-survey-order-judge/articleshow/111175770.cms

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Modi yoga outreach gives Kashmir a cramp, local leaders allege mistreatment of employees at event

22.06.24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged Kashmiris to take inspiration from Egypt and transform yoga into a tourist attraction, potentially generating new livelihoods.

His comments came amid concerns from Valley politicians about the treatment of government officials at a recent yoga event on the banks of the Dal Lake, highlighting a divide in perspectives on yoga.

Modi spoke at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar after rain delayed outdoor yoga, prompting participants, including girls in hijabs, to improvise with yoga mats.

Addressing the gathering of waiting participants on the lawns of the SKICC, Modi said: “Two days ago I saw a video from Egypt. They organised a competition and awarded the best yoga photographs and videos from iconic tourist places in the country. I saw boys and girls from Egypt, in pictures and videos, standing in front of the iconic pyramids. It was so attractive.

“For Kashmir, yoga can become such a big source of livelihood. It can become a centre of attraction for the tourists,” he added.

The PM appeared to have cited an example from a Muslim nation to allay local concerns over an alleged project to saffronise Kashmir.

Modi praised the local participants for “holding their ground” despite the rain. He said the rain delayed the event, which had to be “fragmented into two to three parts”.

“The weather was a little challenging but you stood your ground. I was watching our girls who used yoga mats as a cover against the rain. But they did not leave and stood their ground,” he said.

The PM later clicked selfies with the women participants.

Local politicians, however, appeared angry after videos showed participants having a tough time at the event.

“Reports and videos surfaced showing employees forced into walking barefoot in an event organised for the Prime Minister. The way this administration has treated the employees shows its disregard for respect and basic rights of the employees. And this behaviour is unacceptable. If these reports are true, @PMOIndia should apologise for this disrespectful treatment of the employees,” Srinagar’s newly elected MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi posted on X.

Ruhullah uploaded a video showing several employees, mostly women and apparently doctors, walking barefoot in a muddy parking lot.

Despite local criticisms and claims of mistreatment, government officials maintained that the participation was voluntary, while several schools in Srinagar remained closed during the PM’s visit as a precautionary measure.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said “an occasion for celebration has become one that fills people with dread”.

“A day before International Yoga Day, all govt employees along with schoolchildren have been ordered to show up at different venues at ungodly hours (pre-dawn),” she had posted on X.

“Even pregnant employees have not been spared. A pregnant employee was threatened to choose between her job or being present at the event,” she wrote.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/modi-yoga-outreach-gives-kashmir-a-cramp-local-leaders-allege-mistreatment-of-employees-at-event/cid/2028800

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Jodhpur: Two policemen injured, shop set on fire as violence erupts over construction of gate in an eidgah

22.06.24

Two policemen were injured in stone-pelting, a shop was set on fire and two vehicles were damaged as violence erupted in a Jodhpur locality, police said on Saturday.

Jodhpur West DCP Rajesh Kumar Yadav said the clash began Friday night over the construction of a gate in the backside of an eidgah near Rajaram Circle in the Soor Sagar area here.

Locals in the area had opposed the gate so that there was no movement of people at the backside of the eidgah.

Last night, tension escalated and some people pelted stones, injuring two policemen, DCP Yadav said.

"A shop and a tractor were set on fire, and a jeep was vandalised," a senior police officer said.

"Police dispersed people to their homes by using batons and fired 4-5 rounds of tear gas shells," the officer added.

By late Friday night, the situation was brought under control but the area remained tense. Heavy police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary forces continue to be deployed on Saturday morning to maintain law and order.

Police Commissioner Rajendra Singh said two FIRs were filed based on complaints from both sides.

Police said people from both sides have been taken into custody. Police are still raiding houses in the locality to apprehend suspects.

According to police, the construction of the wall on the back side of the eidgah began on Friday evening, which was resisted by locals. The subsequent confrontation turned violent later with stone-pelting, arson and vandalism.

When police arrived at the scene and used batons to disperse the crowd, some people set fire to a tractor parked by the roadside and damaged a vehicle.

While charging at the crowd, police had to face a barrage of stones hurled at them, which for a moment blocked their advancement.

A brief peace was also worked out by the police with the help of senior members from both communities but sudden stone-pelting turned the situation tense again.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jodhpur-two-policemen-injured-shop-set-on-fire-as-violence-erupts-over-construction-of-gate-in-an-eidgah/cid/2028861

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Pakistan

 

Bushra Bibi’s Ex-Husband’s Lawyer ‘Seeks To Delay’ Iddat Case Further

June 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD: As an additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) resumed hearing the pleas seeking suspension of sentences of former PM Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Iddat case, the counsel for her ex-husband repeatedly sought an adjournment, trying to delay the case further.

Zahid Asif, the counsel for Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, requested ADSJ Afzal Majooka to adjourn the hearing since his client, who is the complainant in the instant case, was not present.

The counsel, however, submitted his power of attorney (wakalatnama) to the court.

The judge asked Mr Asif to conclude his arguments on the applications by June 25 as the court would then take up the main appeals against their convictions.

When Barrister Salman Akram Raja, the lead counsel for Imran Khan, began his arguments and suggested that the complainant’s lawyer take notes, the latter again requested an adjournment.

Barrister Raja argued that the complainant acknowledged the divorce, but disputed the duration of the Iddat period. According to Mr Maneka, the divorce occurred on Nov 14, 2017, whereas Imran Khan maintained that it took place in April 2017, the counsel explained. He said the trial court did not provide an opportunity to Bushra Bibi to explain her stance and hurriedly concluded the trial.

The counsel claimed that Mr Maneka changed his mind about six years after he was arrested and jailed for four months, adding that Mr Maneka was released from jail on Nov 14 last year, and he filed the complaint in the trial court on Nov 25.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1841174/khawar-manekas-lawyer-seeks-to-delay-iddat-case-further

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President, PM vow to continue fight against terrorism

June 22, 2024

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the bomb blast in Kurram district, which resulted in martyrdom of five soldiers of Pakistan Army.

In a statement, the President expressed the resolve to uproot terrorism from the country and said the operations of law enforcement agencies would continue till complete elimination of the menace.

He paid tribute to the security personnel who embraced martyrdom and commended their patriotism and sense of duty.

In his message, the Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for high ranks of the martyrs.

He vowed to continue the fight against terrorism till complete elimination of the menace.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-06-2024/president-pm-vow-to-continue-fight-against-terrorism

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Pakistan calls for decisive action against terrorism in Afghanistan

June 22, 2024

At the United Nations, Pakistan has called for decisive action against terrorism in Afghanistan.

Speaking at UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram highlighted the dangers of allowing impunity for terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

He said despite progress made by the Afghan Interim Government in combating Daesh (ISKP), several other terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda and TTP continue to operate in Afghanistan.

The ambassador emphasized that goals of socio-economic development in Afghanistan cannot be achieved as long as these groups operate freely within and from Afghanistan.

He reiterated that elimination of terrorism within and from Afghanistan remained the highest priority for the international community, Afghanistan's neighbours and Afghanistan itself.

Ambassador Munir Akram described the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as the most direct and serious threat to Pakistan and detailed the TTP's activities, which have resulted in hundreds of civilian and military casualties.

He said despite Pakistan's repeated calls to Afghanistan to take action against the TTP, no significant action has been taken.

He said the TTP safe havens near Pakistan's borders persist and recent cross-border attacks include the one that killed Chinese engineers working on Dasu hydropower project.

Munir Akram urged the UN Security Council to call on the Afghan interim government to sever its links with the TTP and its associates, prevent cross-border attacks against Pakistan, disarm TTP terrorists, and capture and hand over TTP leaders to Pakistan.

He emphasized a realistic roadmap for Afghanistan's normalization and integration into the global community.

Munir Akram said Pakistan is ready and will continue to work at bilateral, regional and international levels to achieve sustainable peace and development in Afghanistan.

He also reminded the international community of its obligation to assist the 23 million Afghans in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

Ambassador Munir Akram termed the revival of the Afghan economy and finding pathways for sustained development as being equally important.

He said Pakistan enjoys close ethnic, cultural, historic and religious bonds with Afghanistan, therefore promoting peace there is a national compulsion for Pakistan.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-06-2024/pakistan-calls-for-decisive-action-against-terrorism-in-afghanistan

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Call for end to attacks on Ahmadiyya community

June 22, 2024

LAHORE: The Pakistani authorities must end harassment, intimidation and attacks on the Ahmadiyya community and uphold its right to freedom of belief and religion, especially during the religious holidays such as Eidul Azha, said Amnesty International.

It documented 36 cases of arrests and detention in addition to dozens of cases of alleged police harassment of the Ahmadis from June 10 to 19. Several attacks on Ahmadi places of worship also took place with the authorities failing to ensure their security.

“The authorities must end the growing attacks on the Ahmadis. They must respect, protect the human rights of the members of the community,” said Livia Saccardi, the deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International, on the website of the organisation.

“These incidents of human rights violations by district administrations across Pakistan have demonstrated a pattern that Ahmadis remain one of the most systematically discriminated communities in Pakistan,” she added.

Speaking to AI, a 60-year-old man from the Ahmadiyya community in Punjab alleged the police entered his house without lawful authority by scaling the walls on the first day of Eid.

“The Ahmadiyya community faces threats every year, but this year has been unprecedented. They took eight of my family members into custody, including my sons, nephews and brother-in-law simply because we were practising our faith within the four walls of our home,” he said.

AI reviewed 11 FIRs filed against 14 members of the Ahmadiyya community on June 17 and 18 in Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Khushab and Gojra. These FIRs contained charges under the blasphemy laws and several of these FIRs are based on complaints filed by affiliates of the TLP, the human rights organisation said.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1841097

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IED blast martyrs five soldiers in KP's Kurram

June 21, 2024

Terrorists targeted a security forces’ vehicle in the Sadda area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district via an improvised explosive device (IED) in which five soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred.

Five brave sons of soil identified as Havildar Aqeel Ahmed, age 33 years, resident of Okara district; Lance Naik Muhammad Tafeer, age 30 years, resident of Poonch district; Sepoy Anosh Rufun, age 24 years, resident of Attock district; Sepoy Muhammad Azam Khan, age 26 years, resident of Haripur district and Sepoy Haroon William, age 29 years, resident of Islamabad Capital Territory), made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday.

The sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area and perpetrators of this henious act will be brought to justice, the ISPR added.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," the ISPR said.

Earlier this month, seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including a captain, were martyred after an IED hit the vehicle of the security forces in Lakki Marwat district, the ISPR said June 9.

Subsequently, security forces eliminated 11 terrorists, involved in the martyrdom of seven army men, during an intelligence-based operation in the Lakki Marwat district, the military’s media wing said on June 11.

At least 92% of all fatalities and 86% of attacks, including those related to terrorism and security forces operations, were recorded in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces in the first quarter of 2024.

These key findings were revealed in the Q1 2024 Security Report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), detailing that the country witnessed at least 432 violence-linked fatalities and 370 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws resulting from as many as 245 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations.

Among the 432 fatalities, 281 included that of civilians and security forces personnel.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1202194-ied-blast-martyrs-five-soldiers-in-kps-kurram

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Peshawar High Court halts deportation of Afghan artists and transgender individuals

June 21, 2024

The Peshawar High Court has ordered the police not to deport Afghan artists from Pakistan until their immigration cases are resolved.

Previously, some Afghan artists in Pakistan had approached the Peshawar High Court seeking political asylum.

These artists, who lack legal residency documents in Pakistan, had requested the court to prevent their deportation from the country.

The plaintiffs, represented by a lawyer for the Afghan artists, submitted their asylum requests to the Peshawar High Court, asking for permission to remain in Pakistan until their fate is determined.

Judge Ejaz Anwar and Judge Waqar Ahmad listened to the difficulties faced by these artists in Pakistan and reviewed their asylum applications.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer also stated during the hearing that these artists had submitted asylum requests to the UN Refugee Agency but were being harassed due to their lack of legal residency documents in Pakistan.

The Peshawar High Court postponed the hearing of these artists’ cases to the next session but instructed the authorities not to deport them from Pakistan until their cases were resolved.

This situation arose as some Afghan artists fled to Pakistan and Iran after the Taliban took over in August 2021. The Taliban, upon taking control of Afghanistan, banned musical instruments, singing, and listening to music.

Many Afghan artists fled to neighboring countries out of fear of prosecution and torture by the Taliban. Without legal residency documents, these artists face deportation but are unwilling to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with widespread poverty, food insecurity, and lack of basic services. The Taliban’s restrictive policies have led to significant human rights violations, particularly against women and ethnic groups. This crisis is compounded by limited access to international aid and resources.

Additionally, the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries exacerbates the current situation. Many refugees face harsh conditions and legal uncertainties in their host countries.

Returning to Afghanistan under Taliban rule poses severe risks, including persecution, lack of livelihood opportunities, and potential violence. The international community has been urged to provide more support and protection for these vulnerable populations.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/peshawar-high-court-halts-deportation-of-afghan-artists-and-transgender-individuals/

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Europe

 

Olympics-Islamist terrorism main concern ahead of Paris Games, city's police chief says

Fri, 21 June 2024

PARIS (Reuters) - Islamist terrorism is the main security worry ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics, the French capital's chief of police Laurent Nunez said on Friday.

France is on its highest level of security alert as the Games approach, with the country additionally preparing for snap legislative elections at the end of June.

French authorities also recently foiled an attack on a sports stadium in another French city.

"Islamist terrorism remains our main concern," Nunez told a press conference seven weeks before the Olympics opening ceremony, which will be held on and along the River Seine on July 26.

"There is no clear-cut threat yet against the Games and our country but I'd like to remind you that at the end of May, two individuals were arrested in Saint-Etienne and were plotting a project aimed directly at the Olympic Games.

"The terrorist threat remains just as important as the protest threat posed by radical environmental groups, the ultra left and the pro-Palestinian movement," Nunez said.

Last month, an 18-year-old Chechen man was arrested in the city of Saint-Etienne, suspected of planning an attack in the name of Islamic State at the city's soccer stadium during the Olympics.

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/olympics-islamist-terrorism-main-concern-104001766.html

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For British Muslim voters, Gaza ushers in new era of UK politics

21 Jun, 2024

From Jeremy Corbyn’s independent campaign for his long-held constituency of Islington to Faiza Shaheen’s high-profile ejection from the candidacy of Chingford and Woodford Green, independent candidates have never been as politically relevant as they are now in the run-up to next month’s General Election on July 4.

This is especially true for Muslim voters who abandoned Labour in their masses for independent candidates and smaller parties in last month’s mayoral and local elections — with Labour’s vote share down by a third in some Muslim-majority areas. In Rochdale, which is 18% Muslim, Workers Party of Britain candidate George Galloway even achieved a staggering — albeit controversial — victory over the incumbent Labour Party, winning the seat with a 12,000 majority.

With Muslim voters — and others —increasingly growing despondent with the main parties over their stance on Gaza, independent candidates have popped up across the country, battling with Labour and Conservative representatives to win over their constituencies and ultimately punish establishment politicians for their pro-genocide attitudes.

However, as is often the case when it comes to Muslims partaking in civil life, there has been an underlying dismissiveness — even ridicule — in much of the media coverage around these independent candidates.

On one level, there seems to be an almost puritanical attitude by the mainstream media that dictates that individuals running without the backing of a large party machine are somehow lesser politicians or unqualified to become MPs.

We see this with the derogatory way independent candidates are often dismissed like Tiger Patel in Blackburn called a “taxi driver” or Leanne Mohamad in Ilford North repeatedly labelled an “activist”.

When a Labour or Conservative MP comes from humble roots — like Wes Streeting’s East London upbringing — this is often commended. However, when it comes to members of the community standing up against the two-party system and seeking to represent the constituency they come from, their “non-political” background seems to be warped into evidence of their inadequacy — especially if they happen to be Muslim and a vocal advocate for Palestine.

Are British Muslims fighting over Gaza?

More ominously, though, there is a current of Islamophobia and racism that is skewing the portrayal of many independent candidates. Time and time again in the mainstream media, we see the label “pro-Palestinian” attributed to independent candidates as though to claim that not only is their politics extreme and Islamist in nature, but that their priorities don’t lie with the people of Britain — or even their own constituency — but with a foreign conflict instead.

After last month’s local elections, tabloid media ran a host of sensationalist headlines about “40 pro-Palestine activists” being elected into council seats — alongside alarmist and Islamophobic reporting of keffiyehs being worn, Palestine flags being waved and Gaza being mentioned in campaign materials. One Green Party councillor who, upon winning, declared “Allahu Akbar, this is for the people of Gaza”, was even investigated by his party and eventually forced to apologise after accusations of antisemitism from local Jewish groups and the rightwing media.

"The heartfelt pro-Palestinian views of a community have been weaponised by candidates seeking to build a platform for themselves"

What’s more, there seems to be an assumption that Muslim independent candidates have nothing to offer but a pro-Gaza stance and that a vote for them will achieve nothing but a protest against the main parties.

We saw this after Akhmad Yakoob came third in the West Midlands mayoral vote last month where an unnamed Labour source claimed that Hamas were the “real winners” and accused Muslim voters of having more loyalty to the Middle East than their own constituencies.

Of course, it is true that many independent candidates are running with Gaza at the forefront of their campaign. There are those running with the express intention of unseating Labour MPs who didn’t support a ceasefire earlier in the year — like Ajmal Masroor running against Rushanara Ali, Labour MP of Bethnal Green and Bow who abstained from supporting a ceasefire despite representing an overwhelmingly Muslim constituency.

In some cases, it even seems as though the heartfelt pro-Palestinian views of a community have been weaponised by candidates seeking to build a platform for themselves. In some constituencies, the pro-Palestine vote has begun to cannibalise each other, sowing disunity within communities and counterintuitively handing the vote to the very Labour candidate they are seeking to punish.

However, the presumption that Muslim independent candidates on the whole have nothing to offer beyond Gaza represents just how much of a stronghold our two-party electoral system has over our media and public imagination — and how embedded Islamophobia is in our society.

Take Leanne Mohamad of Ilford North who is running against Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting. She is often portrayed as nothing but a pro-Palestine activist, almost exclusively depicted in the media wearing a keffiyeh or alongside political allies like Jeremy Corbyn in order to signal that her politics is radical, extreme or somehow un-British.

However, listening to Mohamad speak for even a matter of minutes it is clear that she understands the issues in her local community are far more complex and nuanced than simply offering an alternative to Labour’s pro-genocide position. She repeatedly references issues like street safety, housing and healthcare as pivotal issues on the doorstep and whilst Gaza has become the prism through which many of her potential voters now view politics, it isn’t the be-all and end-all of their needs as constituents.

Given that Muslims are disproportionately represented in the poorest areas with the worst health and education outcomes and higher rates of poverty and crime, these issues matter to Muslim voters as much as Gaza.

Independent candidates like Leanne Mohamad have grown up in the communities they now seek to represent — unlike many Labour and Conservative MPs who are often dropped into a seat they might have barely heard of before appearing on the ballot.

Perhaps if there’s anything remotely positive that can come out of months of heinous genocide greenlighted by our own political establishment, it can be that we usher in a new kind of politics in the UK. One in which normal people stand up to represent the views and demands of their own communities rather than seeing MPs parachuted into an area to toe the line of a party machine.

A Labour victory is all but guaranteed next month, however, independent candidates remain our only hope to ensure that we have voices in the House of Commons that actually represent our values — and with a British population overwhelmingly in favour of ending the indiscriminate decimation of Gaza, the opportunity to break the political stronghold and see those views actually represented in parliament is reason enough to rally around our local independent candidates on July 4.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/opinion/british-muslim-voters-gaza-ushers-new-era-uk-politics

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Comment made about Luton mosque treated as a hate crime by police

21st Jun 2024

The Luton Community Policing Team said: “We are aware of a comment made via social media toward Luton Central Mosque yesterday (Wednesday), which is being treated as a hate crime.”

Officers have been to the mosque on Westbourne Road and community officers will do “high visibility patrols in the area to reassure the community”.

Luton Central Mosque has been approached for comment.

Anyone with any information or concerns is asked to call police on 101 or tell them online quoting reference 40/33695/24.

The force said: “There is no place for hate or discrimination of any kind in our county. We would always encourage people to report instances of hate crime or speech and want to assure our communities that reports of this nature are taken seriously.”

Source: lutontoday.co.uk

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https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime/comment-made-about-luton-mosque-treated-as-a-hate-crime-by-police-4674921

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Dawat-e-Islami: Leading Islamic Organisation in the UK

21st Jun 2024

Dawat-e-Islami is a global, non-political, Islamic organisation working for the propagation of Quran and Sunnah throughout the world. To reach the needs of humanity, and for the betterment of society, Dawat-e-Islami operates through 82 departments. Each department focuses upon a specific need to help better lives and communities.

Click Here: An introduction to Dawateislami

Dawat-e-Islami is a global Islamic organisation that has established a significant presence in the UK, focusing on the promotion of Islamic teachings and values through various activities and services.

In the UK, Dawat-e-Islami operates over 105 centres across various cities, including but not limited to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, and Glasgow. These centres serve as hubs for religious, educational, and community activities.

Religious Education: FREE classes are offered on Quranic studies, Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and other religious subjects. These classes cater to both children and adults.

Spiritual Development: Regular gatherings and spiritual sessions are held to foster spiritual growth and understanding among Muslims.

Community Services: Dawat-e-Islami engages in charitable activities through its department 'FGRF', including food distribution, support for the vulnerable, and humanitarian aid during natural disasters.

Youth Engagement: Special programmes are designed to engage the youth, providing them with a platform to learn about their faith and develop their skills in a supportive environment.

Publications and Media: Dawat-e-Islami publishes Islamic literature and runs its own TV channel, Madani Channel, which broadcasts religious content globally.

In Birmingham, Dawat-e-Islami has established a strong presence, playing a pivotal role in the religious and community life of the city's Muslim population. The organisation operates over 25 centres across Birmingham and the Midlands, serving as vibrant hubs for educational, spiritual, and charitable activities. These centres are located to be accessible to communities within the city, ensuring that services reach a wide audience.

One of the core activities of Dawat-e-Islami in Birmingham is providing religious education. A range of classes and courses are offered covering Quranic studies, Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), and Arabic language. These classes cater to all age groups, from children to adults, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Islam. These educational programmes are designed to be comprehensive and are taught by knowledgeable scholars and teachers who are well-versed in Islamic sciences.

In addition to educational initiatives, Dawat-e-Islami in Birmingham is also heavily involved in community service and charitable work through FGRF. Regular food drives and distributions, youth programmes, tree plantations, free health checks and much more are held to support the community. FGRF also runs campaigns to help the vulnerable, providing essential items and support. FGRF's charitable efforts extend beyond immediate relief, as long-term community development projects aimed at improving the living standards and lives of the community are regularly organised.

Dawat-e-Islami's efforts in Birmingham also focus on youth engagement and spiritual development. Weekly gatherings are held where community members can come together for a spiritual discourse and collective worship. These sessions provide a platform for individuals to seek spiritual guidance, ask questions, and connect with like-minded individuals.

Dawat-e-Islami's presence in the UK has had several positive impacts:

Community Cohesion: By organising community events and services, Dawat-e-Islami helps in building a strong sense of community among British Muslims.

Educational Upliftment: Dawat-e-Islami's educational programmes contribute to the religious and moral education of thousands, promoting better understanding and practice of Islam.

Charitable Work: Through active involvement in charity work by FGRF, support is available for vulnerable groups and addresses are made on social issues, thus positively impacting wider society.

Youth Empowerment: Through youth initiatives, Dawat-e-Islami helps young Muslims to stay connected with their faith and community, providing a positive direction for their lives.

Overall, Dawat-e-Islami has established itself as a key player in the Islamic landscape of the UK, fostering religious knowledge, spiritual growth, and community service.

Source: birminghamworld.uk

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https://www.birminghamworld.uk/community/dawat-e-islami-leading-islamic-organisation-in-the-uk-4674730

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Africa

 

Newly appointed South African MP suspended for racist language video

Controversial South African opposition politician, Renaldo Gouws, has been suspended by his party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), less than a week after being sworn in as a member of parliament.

His suspension comes after videos he made about 15 years ago, in which he is seen spewing racist language against black people, resurfaced online.

Initially, one of the videos was suspected of being fake, but the DA issued a statement on Thursday saying it had established it was genuine.

The party said his comments did not reflect what it as an organisation stands for and that Gouws will face disciplinary charges before its federal legal commission.

South Africa’s Human Rights Commission has also said it will  be taking legal action against him in the Equality Court.

The controversy comes as the DA joined the African National Congress in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s newly formed government of national unity.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/newly-appointed-south-african-mp-suspended-for-racist-language-video/

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"We are ready to fight," President Kagame responds to DRC

In an exclusive interview with France 24, Rwandan President Paul Kagame declared Rwanda's readiness to go to war with the Democratic Republic of Congo if necessary, stating, 'they are ready to fight and are not afraid of anything.'

This follows accusations from Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who claimed Rwanda is organizing a genocide in Eastern DRC. Kagame responded by accusing Tshisekedi of promoting a genocidal ideology against Congolese Tutsis.

Kagame also refused to confirm the presence of Rwandan soldiers in the DRC, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of regional tensions.

As he prepares for a fourth term in the upcoming July 15 presidential election, Kagame denied claims that the election is rigged and rejected accusations of repressing and assassinating opponents. He asserted his government's commitment to free and fair elections.

These statements underscore the rising tensions between Rwanda and the DRC and highlight the challenges facing Kagame as the election approaches."

The decades-long conflict in eastern Congo has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals. Some are fighting to try to protect their communities. Many groups are accused of carrying out mass killings, rapes and other human rights violations.

The violence has displaced about 7 million people, including thousands living in temporary camps like the one that was attacked last month. Many others are beyond the reach of aid.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/we-are-ready-to-fight-president-kagame-responds-to-drc/

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South Sudan's vice president expresses concerns over ongoing peace talks

South Sudan's vice president said Thursday that peace talks in neighbouring Kenya have failed to acknowledge the country's peace agreement established in 2018, alleging a new draft agreement is aimed at replacing the original peace deal.

Riek Machar in a protest letter to the talks' mediator said the draft established alternative institutions to replace or run in parallel with those established by the previous peace agreement. He added that the current peace talks should complement and not obliterate the original deal.

The former rebel leader signed an agreement with President Salva Kiir in 2018 that ended a five-year civil war that killed about 400,000 people. Machar and Kiir were on opposite sides in the war and Machar was appointed vice president after the 2018 deal. His group isn't part of the current talks, which are for groups that were not included in the 2018 agreement.

Despite the peace deal, violence in South Sudan has continued, most of it attributed to rebel groups and warring ethnic groups.

The body mandated with monitoring the implementation of the 2018 peace deal raised concerns in May over the slow implementation of election-related tasks with only a few months left until the December elections.

Opposition groups that were not part of the 2018 peace agreement have been in talks in Kenya since May 9 aimed at bringing groups on board ahead of the December elections.

The talks have resulted in a draft agreement that recommends an extension of the transitional period to provide more time for election preparations.

President Kiir on Thursday received a progress report from government representatives in the ongoing talks with the government spokesperson telling media that participants in the talks are close to reaching a final agreement.

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/south-sudans-vice-president-expresses-concerns-over-ongoing-peace-talks/

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Bulldozers Move In To Demolish Bayero’s Nasarawa Palace As Security Operatives Block Entrances

21 June 2024

Excavators and bulldozers have been seen driving towards the Nasarawa Palace of deposed 15th Emir of Kano State, Aminu Ado Bayero.

Naija News reports that this is coming after security operatives on Friday blocked all entrances to the Nasarawa mini Palace, the current residence of Bayero.

Security operatives reportedly took the action to prevent miscreants from getting in the way of the Nasarawa Palace’s scheduled demolition.

Recall that the Kano State government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, had instructed the Police to remove the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado, from the Nasarawa Palace.

The government said the palace is set to be demolished to allow for a reconstruction and renovation.

The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Baffa Bichi, gave the order while addressing newsmen at the government house on Thursday.

Dederi submitted that Bayero is trespassing on government property, and the State Commissioner of Police has been ordered to remove him.

The Commissioner insisted that the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, remains the Emir and urged the people of the state to remain peaceful in the face of the recent court order which he claimed validated the dissolution of the five emirates carried out by the state government.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/06/21/breaking-bulldozers-move-in-to-demolish-bayeros-nasarawa-palace-as-security-operatives-block-entrances/

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Khartoum and UAE envoys clash at UN Security Council over Sudan civil war

JUNE 19 2024

Sudan and the United Arab Emirates clashed at the UN Security Council on Tuesday over accusations by the army-aligned Sudanese government that the UAE is providing weapons and support to a rival warring party in the country's 14-month-long conflict.

Sitting next to each other at the Security Council table, UAE UN Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab said Sudan's UN Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed had made "ludicrous" and false allegations designed to distract from "grave violations that are happening on the ground."

War erupted in April last year between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a transition to free elections. The UN says nearly 25 million people - half Sudan's population - need aid, famine is looming and some eight million people have fled their homes.

"The military aggression launched by the Rapid Support militia, supported with weapons by the Emirates, is deliberately and systematically targeting the villages and cities," Mohamed told the Security Council.

UN sanctions monitors have described as "credible" accusations that the UAE had provided military support to the RSF. The UAE has denied involvement in military support to any of Sudan's warring parties.

Without naming any countries, the Security Council adopted a resolution last week that urged countries "to refrain from external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability" and reminded "member states who facilitate the transfers of arms and military material to Darfur of their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures."

The United States says the warring parties have committed war crimes and the RSF and allied militias have also committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

Abushahab turned to his Sudanese counterpart at the Security Council table and said: "If they seek an end to the conflict and civilian suffering, then why won't they come to the Jeddah talks? Why are they blocking aid? What are you waiting for?"

"You should stop grandstanding in international fora such as this and instead, take responsibility for ending the conflict you started," Abushahab added.

Late last month Sudan's army rejected a call to return to peace talks with the RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Mohamed responded angrily to Abushahab: "Whoever wants to create peace in Sudan must first come with pure intentions and the United Arab Emirates is the state that is sponsoring terrorism."

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/khartoum-and-uae-clash-un-security-council-sudan-civil-war-4662592

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UN chief warns 'world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza'

Amid soaring tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has warned that one false move could trigger a catastrophe for the whole region and beyond.

"One rash move - one miscalculation - could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination," he told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

Since the eruption of war in Gaza, Lebanon’s armed group, Hezbollah, and Israel have been trading fire daily across the so-called Blue Line separating the two countries.

"I felt compelled today to voice my profound concerns about escalation between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line,” Guterres said.

“Escalation in continued exchanges of fire. And escalation in bellicose rhetoric from both sides, as if an all-out war was imminent. The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real -- and must be avoided,” he said.

The UN chief also highlighted that on both sides of the Blue Line, many people have already lost their lives and been driven from their homes and livelihoods.

On Thursday, Hezbollah’s leader issued a warning to Israel amid reports that the Israeli military has approved plans for an offensive on southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel for the past eight months in solidarity with its Palestinian ally, Hamas, in Gaza.

“Let’s be clear:  The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,” said Guterres.

He added that UN peacekeepers were on the ground working to de-escalate tensions and help prevent miscalculation.

"The world must say loudly and clearly: immediate de-escalation is not only possible – it is essential," he said. "There is no military solution."

He also underscored the need to protect civilians, ensure that children, journalists and medical workers are not targeted, and ensure the displaced can return to their homes.

Guterres added that the UN supported diplomatic efforts to end the violence, restore stability, and avoid even greater human suffering in the region

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/21/un-chief-warns-world-cannot-afford-lebanon-to-become-another-gaza/

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Arab World

 

The Saudi artist’s gallery celebrates unbounded imagination

June 21, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi artist Mohammed Abubshait has created a haven for other artists in Riyadh. His gallery, Living in Wonderland, is a treasure trove of imaginative artistic expression.

“Art has always been in my blood, and I believe it is in everyone’s blood. I used to mess around with my clothes, accessories, goods, cars, and whatever else. I don’t like the way things are,” Abubshait told Arab News.

After 10 years as an employee at an oil company, he chose to switch gears and pursue his passion for creating art out of various materials including metal, wood, and resin. 

“When COVID-19 hit, I decided work on my art and I ended up with 150 pieces … I decided to open a gallery in Riyadh to showcase them,” he explained. “It was kind of risky at the time because, as you see, this is not a typical art gallery. It’s different — a lot of pop art, street art and things that are a bit outside-of-the-box.”

Abubshait opened Living in Wonderland in 2020. “Many of us have seen and grew up with ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ It’s an escape to another world — unrealistic, creative, no boundaries,” he said. “So, I thought it would fit the creative idea and concept that we’re looking for. (The gallery) takes you down the rabbit hole to another world.”

The gallery supports — and sells the work of — many local artists, work created in a variety of mediums, with a particular focus on modern and pop art. It also currently includes work by artists from Mali, Italy, the UK and the US. Prices range from SR2 (50 cents), to more than SR20,000.

“We’ve got something for everyone,” Abubshait said. “I believe we introduced something unique and different to the market.”

From paintings and sculptures to installations and interactive displays, the gallery features an eclectic mix of work that pushes boundaries, giving visitors an intriguing and thought-provoking experience.

Abubshait is also known for incorporating currency — both real and virtual — into his work.

“The majority of my art features money in the background, whether Saudi riyals or American dollars,” he said. “And the cryptocurrency Bitcoin is one of my signature backgrounds. People ask me why I use money and I’m, like, ‘Well, we use money in our everyday lives.’ Everyone can manifest money.”

The gallery also offers a variety of workshops including resin, rug tufting, and painting.

“If you haven’t been to Living in Wonderland yet, even if you’re not an art fan, you should come and socialize. People (often come here) to work. If you’re looking for a distinct feel, a different ambience, and something exciting, then you must visit,” Abubshait said.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia concludes participation at Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris

June 22, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the global defense and security exhibition Eurosatory 2024 in Paris on Friday, where officials sought to boost partnerships with France, the state news agency SPA reported.

The Saudi pavilion participating in the exhibition, which started on Monday, saw wide interaction and a large presence to view the latest achievements, products and developments of the military industries sector in the Kingdom, SPA reported.

The pavilion, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, sought to welcome investors from all over the world looking to invest in the military industries sector, and the efforts made to develop research and innovation in the sector.

It also reviewed the most prominent policies, legislation and incentives in Saudi Arabia that contributed to stimulating the process of localization and empowerment of the sector, enhancing supply chains and investment opportunities, and the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the military industries sector strategy.

On the sidelines of Eurosatory 2024, the governor of GAMI, Ahmed Al-Ohali, took part in the activities of a Saudi-French Day, where he spoke about building industrial and defense partnerships between Saudi Arabia and France, while the deputy governor of the authority’s empowerment sector, Saleh Al-Aqili, touched on the regulatory framework and organization of local content policy in the Kingdom.

Several meetings were also held at the pavilion with other entities participating in the exhibition, where a number of initiatives and partnerships were instigated.

Many parties from the public and private sectors joined forces to showcase at the pavilion, including the Ministry of Investment, represented by the Invest in Saudi Arabia platform (Invest Saudi), the General Authority for Defense Development, and a number of Saudi national institutions and companies specializing in the field of military industries.

They included the Saudi Arabian Military Industries, Saudia Technic, Life Shield, Scopa, the Arabian International Company, the Saudi Leather Industries Company, the Al-Esnad Military Industries Group, KRMC, and the World Defense Show.

The Kingdom’s military industries are localizing and empowering the sector in “attracting qualitative investments that will effectively contribute to building a prosperous economy and a sustainable industry,” SPA reported.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia urges all nations to work together to prioritize cybersecurity

June 22, 2024

LONDON: The need for a safe and reliable cyberspace that can help enable growth and prosperity is more urgent than ever, Saudi Arabia said as it urged all nations to prioritize efforts to strengthen cybersecurity.

Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, said it was time for the international community to adopt a serious and practical approach, in collaboration with the UN, to unifying international efforts to combat threats. This is particularly important given the role cybersecurity plays in protecting the vital interests of countries and national security, he explained.

His comments came on Thursday during a UN Security Council debate about evolving cyberspace threats under the heading “maintenance of international peace and security,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

Al-Wasel highlighted the work and rapid progress of the Kingdom’s cybersecurity sector, which he said was established as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification. The sector has developed rapidly and dynamically, he added, helping to advance the field domestically, regionally and globally.

The Kingdom began its transformative journey by developing a model for cybersecurity that is based on centralized governance and decentralized operability, he said, and falls under the responsibility of national authorities. The model is distinguished by its comprehensive framework for dealing with all aspects related to cybersecurity, whether legislative, security-focused, economic or developmental.

In 2017, Saudi authorities established the National Institute for Cybersecurity, and the Kingdom’s efforts in the field have resulted in several international achievements, one of the most most notable of which was earning second place globally, and first in the Arab world, the Middle East and Asia, in the International Telecommunication Union’s 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index.

And this week Saudi Arabia topped the global cybersecurity rankings in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024, which is compiled by the World Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland. In the overall World Competitiveness Index for 2024, the country climbed to 16th place, having ranked 24th in 2022 and 17th last year.

Al-Wasel also noted the launch in 2020 of the Global Cybersecurity Forum in the Kingdom, an international platform that brings together decision-makers from around the world to discuss strategic issues related to cybersecurity. More than 120 countries attended the forum last year, during which the International Cybersecurity Forum Foundation was established, with its headquarters in Riyadh, to aid the enhancement of cybersecurity at an international level.

“The Kingdom is keen to unify regional efforts to cooperate in enhancing regional cybersecurity, which resulted in the establishment of a specialized ministerial committee for cybersecurity under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council, based on a proposal from the Kingdom,” Al-Wasel said.

Another proposal by the Kingdom led to the establishment in September last year of the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers, under the aegis of the Arab League, with its general secretariat and executive offices in Riyadh.

The UN welcomed the work of the Kingdom in the sector and said: “Saudi Arabia also provides capacity-building exercises worldwide, with over 40 states and organizations participating in such training.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Harnessing agricultural terraces for blackberry cultivation in Al-Baha

June 21, 2024

AL-BAHA: Al-Baha is proving to be an ideal region for the cultivation of blackberries.

Utilizing advanced plant tissue culture techniques, this initiative has shown great potential, benefiting both farmers and beekeepers due to the plant’s rapid growth, high yield, and superior quality blossoms.

The blackberry cultivation initiative in Al-Baha has thrived, with more than 30,000 bushes planted to date. According to the Saudi Press Agency, this endeavor promises significant economic and investment returns for the region, leveraging its natural agricultural assets, fertile soil, and ample groundwater.

Fahd Al-Zahrani, director of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in the region, highlighted the crop’s potential. He stated that over 30,000 blackberry seedlings have been planted in open fields, achieving nearly 100 percent success. The seedlings began producing high-quality fruit in the spring of 2024, underscoring the experiment’s success.

The ministry aims to increase the number of blackberry trees in Al-Baha to 3 million within the next three years, supported by various programs and collaboration with farmers and agricultural associations. Numerous field workshops have been conducted to train farmers in propagation techniques, facilitating the expansion of blackberry cultivation.

Hassan Saeed Al-Shantir, owner of Al-Shantir Farm, emphasized the region’s favorable agricultural conditions, including fertile soil and groundwater. He started preparing the agricultural terraces and planting blackberries at the end of 2022, supported by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and the Agricultural Arabian Shield initiative, planting around 100 blackberry seedlings.

Al-Shantir reported that his farm now boasts over 750 seedlings, with notable production increases. The farm has opened sales points in Al-Baha and begun exporting to Jeddah, with plans to expand to other major cities. He noted the rapid growth, abundant blossoms, high-quality fruit, and economic benefits of blackberries, which also resist various climatic conditions.

He plans to utilize the attractive, sweet blackberries, rich in nutrients and antioxidants, in various products such as desserts and food decorations, capitalizing on their low-calorie content.

He also benefited from workshops organized by the ministry, which focused on crop composition plans, propagation techniques using tissue culture, suitable irrigation methods for blackberry cultivation, and seedling production through tissue culture.

Dr. Fatima Al-Omari, an advisor at the agriculture under-secretariat, explained that blackberry is a perennial plant or small shrub with curved, thorny branches. It blooms from late spring to early summer, with typically white flowers and black fruit. This fruit offers high health and nutritional benefits due to its vitamins, minerals, and fiber, with relatively low sugar content.

She added that the current condition of the farms is good, with high-quality blooms and fruit observed in several farms within a year of planting the seedlings. These farms are regularly monitored by a committee headed by Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Aref, the initiative supervisor and advisor at the Agriculture Agency, in cooperation with the Agricultural Cooperative Society in Baljurashi and the Ministry’s regional branch.

Al-Baha region, known for its unique agricultural identity, boasts distinct terraces that align with the mountainous terrain, slopes, and elevations retaining soil and rainwater. The region also offers a variety of fruits year-round.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia welcomes Armenia’s decision to recognize state of Palestine

June 21, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed a decision by Armenia’s government to recognize the state of Palestine, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

It stressed that this “decision is an important step that supports the path of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Earlier on Friday, Armenia announced that it was recognizing the state of Palestine becoming the latest nation to do so during the war in Gaza, saying it was “genuinely interested in establishing long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Three-quarters of the 193 UN member nations have recognized the state of Palestine, with Spain, Ireland and Norway taking the decision last month, stating that they saw the move as a step toward peace in the region.

The ministry renewed the Kingdom’s call to the international community, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council that have not recognized the state of Palestine, to move forward toward recognition “in a way that supports the two-state solution and strengthens the foundations of international peace and security,” it said.

Palestinians believe that the recognitions confer international legitimacy on their struggle, especially as Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its ninth month, faces growing international criticism over the campaign of systematic destruction in Gaza and a huge cost in civilian lives.

The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council also praised the “supportive step from Armenia” for the Palestinian people to obtain all their rights and maintain regional stability and security, and called on all countries to take similar steps.

Jasem Albudaiwi “reiterated the firm and established position of the GCC in supporting the Palestinian cause, and reaching a solution based on ending the Israeli occupation,” the bloc said in a statement.

The Arab Parliament welcomed Armenia’s decision, stressing that it represents a new victory for the Palestinian cause, diplomacy and the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state.

The parliament said that increased international recognition of the State of Palestine represents a practical response to the Israel’s failed plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

In a statement, it called on all countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to move forward with recognition as a step toward ending the historical injustice to which the Palestinian people have been exposed for decades of occupation, calling at the same time on the international community to stand by the Palestinian cause.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the recognition was a positive step toward enabling the Palestinian people to self-determination and establishing their independent state, and also urged countries to take similar decisions to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia pledges to promote peaceful, sustainable use of outer space

June 21, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has confirmed its commitment to promoting international cooperation and the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space, highlighting its achievements, capabilities and efforts in the sector at a UN meeting in Austria.

The Kingdom, represented by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission and the Saudi Space Agency, is participating in the 67th session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which is being held in Vienna from June 19 to 28.

The participating delegation held a meeting under the theme “Saudi Arabia Towards Space: Igniting the Space Sector,” with more than 80 leaders and experts in the field, to discuss cooperative opportunities to advance the global space industry, the commission said in a statement.

The delegation also reviewed the progress of the Saudi space sector and the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance the sustainability of space through its initiatives, such as organizing the Space Debris conference in February, and “its permanent presence in international forums, which reflects its commitment to achieving the vision of the peaceful use of outer space in accordance with international principles,” the CST said.

On space exploration, “the Kingdom shed light on its journey toward space, which achieved many successes, most notably conducting 14 pioneering scientific and research experiments, and reviewed developments in the regulatory framework and governance of the space sector in the Kingdom,” it added.

Source: arabnews.com

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SDAIA prepares infrastructure at entry points to ease Umrah visitors procedures

June 21, 2024

RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has prepared the technical infrastructure to ease entry procedures for Umrah visitors following the announcement that Umrah visas will be issued after Hajj.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing Umrah visas, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The new Umrah season will coincide with the start of the new Islamic year on Muharram 1, and the move aims to streamline the arrival of pilgrims and ensure a smooth and worry-free experience.

The ministry is working diligently to implement the directives of the Saudi leadership and accommodate more Umrah pilgrims, providing services that meet their needs.

As SDAIA works to facilitate the entry procedures for Umrah performers into the Kingdom, this comes in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and relevant government entities across all air, sea, and land entry points in the Kingdom, which are now preparing for the arrival of Umrah performers from around the world.

SDAIA is present at the entry points of Makkah, Madinah, the Eastern Region, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, Najran, and Jeddah Islamic Port. It has equipped these entry points with primary and backup communication circuits.

These are operated by SDAIA’s national experts, specialising in computing and necessary technical devices.

Moreover, SDAIA provides round-the-clock technical and logistical support, carries out preventive maintenance for data rooms, network devices, and workstations, and activates the traveller system, which helps expedite the transfer of Umrah performers’ data to streamline their entry procedures.

SDAIA has also installed biometric capture and registration stations at entry points, configuring and programming the devices. Additionally, it has prepared mobile kits equipped with biometric registration devices and provided backup systems to ensure uninterrupted operations at entry points, facilitating the year-round entry of Umrah performers.

SDAIA is committed to advancing secure digital services and intelligent solutions, particularly for government entities serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during the Umrah season. This initiative is part of SDAIA’s broader mandate to utilize data and AI to improve services at these sacred sites.

Source: arabnews.com

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North America

 

New Jersey school district apologizes for offending Muslim group with question about ISIS terror group in quiz

June 21, 2024

A New Jersey school district apologized for offending a Muslim activist group this week after a middle school teacher featured a class quiz question naming the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, as a terror group.

The Wayne Township Public Schools superintendent’s office sent out a statement to the district expressing regret over an "inappropriate" question that was asked during a quiz at Schuyler-Colfax Middle School earlier this week.

"The question was offensive and contrary to our values of respect, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity," the office said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The group, which describes itself on its website as a network of Muslim educators that confronts "discrimination, implicit bias, and institutional racism" against Muslims in public schools, shared an Instagram post condemning a quiz question that one teacher posed to his seventh-grade students about the Islamic State.

The group shared a screenshot of the question, which read, "It is a terrorist organization that commits acts of violence, destroys cultural artifacts, and encourages loss of life in order to achieve its goal of global rule under strict Islamic Sharia law."

Students were prompted to choose the group from the multiple choices below, which included, "The Shining Path," "al Qaeda," "Islamic State," and the "Palestinian Liberation Organization."

The image featured the "Islamic State" bubble filled in, as it was the correct answer. TWM condemned the question in the post’s caption, stating, "We have seen anti Muslim & anti Palestinian sentiments, teachers, and content in our schools over and over again. But we must not allow it to continue. Call and email everyone that you can."

"This is not okay on a million levels. Go. And yes. This is real," the post added. It also included a screenshot of the school principal’s alleged apology for the question, as pointed out by conservative journalist Andy Ngo on X.

A recent Congressional research document defined the Islamic State as "a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group. At its 2015 height, the group controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from which it launched attacks in the region and beyond."

The document continued, noting that "The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) of the U.S. Intelligence Community assessed that ‘ISIS will remain a centralized global organization even as it has been forced to rely on regional branches ... [and will attempt] to conduct and inspire global attacks against the West and Western interests.’"

When asked to confirm details of TWM’s account against Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, the superintendent’s office provided its statement apologizing for the incident.

It read, "First, I sincerely apologize on behalf of the school district. Such incidents are unacceptable and do not reflect the standards we uphold for our educational community. We understand the deep concern and disappointment this has caused among students, parents, and the broader community. It is also important to recognize that one question does not define our entire school community."

The statement went on to say an "investigation" had been launched into the matter and found that "the test question was derived, in part, from software used as a resource for this class."

"It is crucial to emphasize that our schools are committed to fostering safe and respectful environments for all students, regardless of background, belief, race, or religion. We have a process in place for reviewing curriculum materials and have already initiated a review of this software," it added, also mentioning that the school continues to "provide cultural sensitivity training to all teachers and staff."

Source: foxnews.com

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CAIR Condemns Ban on Hijab, Islamic Clothing in Tajikistan

June 21, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the passage of a bill in Tajikistan that would ban the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, and other Islamic clothing.

The bill aims to curb the wearing of what it terms “alien garments.” It is expected to primarily target the hijab and other Islamic clothing.

SEE: Tajikistan Parliament Approves Controversial Ban On Hijab And Islamic Garments

“Banning the hijab is a violation of religious freedom and such bans on religious attire should have no place in any nation that respects the rights of its people,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “We condemn this draconian, repressive law and urge the Tajik government to reverse this decision.”

He noted that CAIR previously condemned the proposal to ban the hijab in Tajikistan.

SEE: CAIR Condemns Tajikistan’s Threat to Ban Hijab as Latest Example of Global Islamophobia-

Source: cair.com

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CAIR-MA Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Anti-Muslim Vandalism

June 21, 2024

The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate reported anti-Muslim vandalism in Mashpee, Massachusetts, as a possible hate crime.

The Mashpee Police Department said a retaining wall was spray-painted with “Muslims not welcome” and a large stone was spray-painted with “[expletive deleted] off Muslims.”

In a statement, CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud said:

“We thank law enforcement authorities for the swift investigation of these apparently bias-motivated incidents and urge that they be treated as possible hate crimes. As we have witnessed nationwide, hate-filled rhetoric can often result in acts of violence.”

Earlier this year, CAIR released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.           

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Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.                  

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Source: cair.com

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Muslim group sues Washtenaw County township over mosque dispute

Jun 21, 2024

A Muslim advocacy group filed a federal lawsuit against a Washtenaw County township on Thursday, alleging local officials are making it impossible to open a mosque.The lawsuit, filed by the Michigan chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), claims Lodi Township has unconstitutional zoning laws and practices that violate the religious rights of Muslims.

Masjid Al-Farook, a nonprofit, filed an application for rezoning to develop an Islamic place of worship on Ellesworth Road in 2021 in Lodi Township near Ann Arbor. In March 2024, the Lodi Township Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Trustees deny the application. Trustees said they have no plan to take any action on the recommendation, leaving the Muslim community with no recourse other than filing a lawsuit challenging the township’s zoning ordinance and master plan, the lawsuit states.

The township has just one zoning district where places of worship are permitted to exist, yet there’s no land within that district to build a place of worship, the lawsuit alleges.

“Lodi Township’s current zoning ordinance makes it impossible for any new place of worship to be developed within the township which is an abject violation of RLUIPA (Religious Land Use And Institutionalized Persons Act) and the U.S. Constitution,” CAIR-MI staff attorney Amy Doukoure said in a statement. “Despite being on notice since at least 2021 that their zoning scheme likely violated Masjid Al-Farook’s constitutional and legal rights, the Township has voted to deny their request for rezoning and took no action to review their zoning ordinance until Masjid Al-Farook demanded that they finally take action. Despite the time that has elapsed since the original request for rezoning has been filed, the Township has been unable to rectify their zoning ordinance and bring it in compliance with their obligations under the U.S. Constitution and federal law.”

The lawsuit alleges the township violated RLUIPA and the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

The Muslim community has no place of worship in the township.

Under the township’s master plan, local officials only approved one application for a rezoning of a religious institution, and that was for the expansion of a preexisting Christian church.

“Lodi Township, like the many other municipalities, has taken the route of restricting development and expansions of religious institutions for American Muslims,” CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said. “After nearly three years of waiting and giving the Township time to fix their zoning scheme, CAIR-MI has no other choice than to assert the Muslim community’s rights through litigation.”

This isn’t the first time CAIR-MI has sued a Michigan community for allegedly thwarting plans to build a mosque. In 2022, the advocacy group settled a similar lawsuit on behalf of Adam Community Center against the city of Troy after the municipality denied variances that would have allowed the development of the first mosque in the city. As part of the settlement, Troy paid undisclosed monetary damages and acknowledged that the property could be used for a place of worship.

In 2o16, the Michigan Islamic Academy in Ann Arbor settled a lawsuit, filed by CAIR-MI, that alleged Pittsfield Township prevented the construction of a 70,000-square-foot Islamic school. The academy was awarded $1.7 million and granted the right to build the school.

Source: metrotimes.com

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South Florida Muslim leader Shaikh Shafayat dies. He spent decades bridging religious divides

JUNE 21, 2024

For most of his life, Imam Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed worked to bring people of different backgrounds together to better understand each other. Shafayat, who died at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood on June 8 at the age of 65, devoted decades to leading interfaith councils, lecturing at mosques, churches and synagogues and facilitating hundreds of conversations on a YouTube program widely viewed in the Muslim community. Through establishing his own Islamic Institute, he brought the message of the Quran to hundreds of students in South Florida.

“His work on interfaith issues was intended to literally bridge the gap among major religious groups,” said Bob Knotts, founder of an organization that advocates for respect for all people called The Humanity Project, which Shafayat served as a board director. “He wanted to get those elements of the community, whether locally or more broadly .... talking to each other, understanding each other better.” INTERFAITH WORK Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Shafayat grew up with Hindu and Christian influences in his family — beginning a life-long career of interfaith work and promoting tolerance for different religions and cultures. In Florida, Shafayat was a well-known Muslim leader, speaker and the director of Darul Uloom Islamic Institute, which he established in Pembroke Pines in 1994. “One of his dreams was to spread the message of the Quran, and that’s what we as kids would like to continue,” said his daughter Faria Mohamed. “He has hundreds of kids in the Darul Uloom that are there following in his footsteps.” Shafayat was also a man of many firsts. In 1975, he was the first student from the Caribbean and North America to study Islam at Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the largest and oldest Islamic institutes in India. He was the first Muslim to serve as president of the Interfaith Council of South Florida in 2002, and the first Muslim to represent Islam at a Florida faith summit in 2000, held at the Capitol Building with Gov. Jeb Bush, according to a biography on his school’s website. Later in his life, he returned to the Caribbean to establish the Islamic Home for Children Trinidad and Tobago. “He was the Imam for all South Floridians, the Caribbean and across America. An irreplaceable leader, Shaykh Shafayat has left a lasting impression on the community,” wrote the South Florida Muslim Federation in an email. Shafayat was also on the advisory board for many interfaith efforts, including the Sacred Journey Interfaith Seminary, a religious school in Oakland Park that trains people in multi-faith practices, the first of its kind in South Florida. “To me, the true testament of education about difference is through partnering and being in relationship with ‘the other’ — whoever ‘the other’ is,” said Rev. Grace Telesco, co-founder and executive director at Sacred Journey. Telesco said Shafayat often brought students to his mosque on Fridays to learn about Islam. “For our seminarians, they may have come in with their own notions and assumptions about Islam, but then when they were in relationship with Shaikh Shafayat and all of the folks at the mosque … They were able to come to a new level of understanding the beauty of Islam,” she said. Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed, a well-known South Florida imam and Muslim scholar, died earlier this month. Faria Mohamed Telesco said she admired the way Shafayat was able to moderate panels that tackled tough issues — religion, politics, morality — without creating a divisive atmosphere. “That’s the beauty of Shaikh Shafayat, he listened,” said Rev. Telesco. “He never really inserted his opinion about something, he just served to facilitate a dialogue.” Shafayat often organized events that exposed non-Muslims to Islamic traditions of fasting, prayer and iftar dinners, the meal Muslims partake in each night during Ramadan to break their fast. Earlier this year, Shafayat spoke at a city-sponsored iftar dinner in Pembroke Pines — the first of its kind there — which was attended by city officials, faith leaders and members of various South Florida mosques. “I think it’s important especially now, for all of these cities and elected officials to get to know Islam, to get to know Muslims,” said Shafayat. “We don’t have to wait for some problem before we get together to socialize.” Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay D. Schwartz, who has known and worked with Shafayat since 2015, said the city plans to continue the tradition of a community iftar dinner. “His passion to bring people together is what drew me to him, and together, we did a lot of things and I’m saddened I’m unable to continue the journey with him,” Schwartz said, adding that the city honored Shafayat with a proclamation in his memory. Using his platform to combat misconceptions about Islam was another important goal for Shafayat, according to many friends of the Imam who spoke with the Miami Herald. It’s an effort that became particularly relevant after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, which led to heightened Islamophobia against Muslims in America. Shafayat traveled the country after 9/11 with the U.S. Department of justice to educate law enforcement on how to avoid dangerous stereotypes about Muslims, according to Schwartz. He was also a co-founder of JAM & ALL Interfaith (Jews and Muslims & all) along with Moshe David Kamrat, a son of Holocaust survivors, who created the organization in response to 9/11 attacks. JAM brought together Jews and Muslims, and eventually other faith communities, through round-table discussions, a Youth Initiative, town hall meetings, conferences and other special events.

Source: miamiherald.com

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UK firms under scrutiny for criminal liability over arms sales to Israel

20 June 2024

Weapons manufacturers and exporters in Britain have come under close scrutiny for criminal liability over arms sales to Israel.

Media reports said on Thursday that the directors of 20 UK arms companies received notices warning them they could be held responsible in courts of law for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity for selling arms to the genocidal regime.

Citing a section in the 2001 International Criminal Court Act, pro-Palestine campaigners warned the directors of the companies that it is illegal under British law “to engage in conduct ancillary to a war crime or a crime against humanity” in foreign jurisdictions.

“Individuals transferring weapons to Israel are exposed to criminal liability, plain and simple,” said a Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) senior lawyer, Dearbhla Minogue, in a statement.

“The fact that they are hiding behind a licensing system which is unfit for purpose will not protect them if and when they face a jury of their peers because ordinary people can see through politicians' obfuscation.”

GLAN and three other campaign groups, including Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), War on Want and the International Center of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), addressed the directors of the British arms companies supplying F-35 fighter jet parts used by Israel in its ongoing savage campaign in Gaza.

Lockheed Martin manufactures the F-35 fighter jet in the United States with the help of international partners, including British firm BAE Systems, which supplies essential components to build the warplanes heavily used by Israel’s military.

The campaigners warned the British companies that they could face “potential criminal liability for atrocity crimes currently taking place in Gaza.”

“There is nowhere to hide for company directors choosing to provide weaponry to a state whose leaders have made clear their intent not to comply with international law and whose armed forces commit atrocity after atrocity,” said Neil Sammonds, a senior campaigner at War on Want.

Britain and the United States, alongside Germany and Italy, have been the main suppliers of weaponry to the Israeli regime.

The US Congress recently approved one of the largest arms sales to Israel since October, including 50 F-15 fighter jets worth more than $18 billion.

The Israeli war machine began the genocide in Gaza in early October. The regime has killed nearly 37,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 85,500 since.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/06/20/727844/UK-firms-scrutiny-Israel

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Mideast

 

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists Planning Attack Eliminated in West Bank by IDF

Israeli special forces eliminated two terrorists from the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) near the West Bank boundary on June 21, preventing an attack.

The two wanted men and a third Palestinian were intercepted in a car in the city of Qalqilya. They were shot after they opened fire at the combined Israeli police and military commando unit that was attempting to detain them. The identity and condition of the third man was not immediately clear.

One of the PIJ men was planning to carry out an attack in the area, Israeli authorities said, adding that he and his comrade were armed with pistols.

Expert Analysis

“While much attention has been given to Israel’s efforts to prevent Hamas from rising in the West Bank in parallel to the dominant Palestinian terrorist group’s hostilities in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Islamic Jihad remains a significant threat in its own right. Lacking Hamas’s political exposure and enjoying consistent funding from Iran over the years, PIJ is tight-knit and especially vicious.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Qalqilya abuts the 1949 armistice line and what is today Israel’s heavily traveled Highway 6. That puts many Israeli civilians within easy access of terrorists from the Palestinian town, giving security forces very little margin for error in preventive actions.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Source: fdd.org

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https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/06/21/palestinian-islamic-jihad-terrorists-planning-attack-eliminated-in-west-bank-by-idf/

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Qatar working to ‘bridge the gap’ between Israel and Hamas

June 22, 2024

MADRID: Qatar said Friday it was pursuing efforts to “bridge the gap” between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release Israeli hostages held there.

The Gulf emirate, the United States and Egypt, have been engaged in months of negotiations for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that erupted on October 7.

There has been one seven-day pause in November which led to the release of more than 100 hostages. Efforts since have been deadlocked.

“We have continued our efforts without interruption over the last few days,” Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a news conference in Madrid with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

“There have been several meetings with the Hamas leadership to try to bridge the gap between the two parties and reach an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages,” he added.

The talks are based on a plan US President Joe Biden laid out on May 31 calling for an Israeli withdrawal from “major population centers” in Gaza and a six week ceasefire, which could be extended if negotiators need more time to seek a permanent deal.

“Efforts are continuing, but so far we have not reached a formula that we feel is the most appropriate and closest to what has been presented,” the Qatari prime minister said.

“As soon as this is done, we will communicate with the Israeli side to try to bridge the gap and reach an agreement as quickly as possible,” he added.

Qatar-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the Palestinian Islamist movement was open to “any document or initiative that ensures the foundations of the resistance’s position in ceasefire negotiations.”

Hamas has insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire before the release of all hostages sought by Israel. The Israeli goverment has rejected the demands.

Haniyeh said “the priority is to stop the criminal war on our people.”

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,431 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Source: arabnews.com

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Legendary musicians Roger Waters, Yusuf Islam, headline concert for Palestine in London

22.06.2024

Legendary musicians Roger Waters and Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, performed alongside rapper Lowkey at St. Pancras Church in London at a concert Friday that was dedicated to raising awareness and solidarity for Palestine.

It featured impassioned performances and speeches, highlighting the struggles in Gaza and occupied territories.

Waters, known for his activism and poignant musical commentary, delivered a stirring rendition of "Wish You Were Here," reinterpreting the song as an anthem for Palestine.

"I'm sure many of you, like me, live on the brink of tears," Waters told the crowd. "We live on that uncomfortable edge, on the brink of tears because we feel empathy for our brothers and sisters in Gaza and the other occupied territories in Palestine. People sometimes think: 'Wish You Were Here' is a lament for a dead childhood friend of mine. Guess what? Sometimes it is, but not tonight. Tonight is for Palestine. Tonight, my song, 'Wish You Were Here' is about choices. If you think you can tell heaven from hell, you can choose one or the other on polling day, the fourth of July."

Waters used the platform to address the political climate in the UK, endorsing Andrew Feinstein as an independent candidate in Holborn and St. Pancras. He characterized Labour leader Keir Starmer as a "genocide enabler" and demanded a new moral compass in Westminster.

"To prevent the genocide enabler Keir Starmer from becoming prime minister would be a huge gift to the people of England and, in fact, to the whole of mankind," said Waters. "We are in desperate need of a new moral compass in Westminster to help guide a new Labour movement that truly represents the people through the corridors of power."

'It's not all dark'

For his part, Islam said he was there to add another voice for the children in Gaza.

"Because they are the ones. They are the most innocent, the most pure and they are the ones who do not deserve this," he said.

He emphasized the moral imperative to protect innocent lives. "There is a saying: Whoever murders an innocent soul, it is as if they have killed all humanity. And who is more innocent than babies and children?" he asked rhetorically.

Islam celebrated the collective efforts of those gathered at the concert. "It's not all dark, because I love. I love what's happening here tonight. It's beautiful and it's bright and there's a light," he said, praising the unity and compassion displayed by concert-goers.

He did not, however, shy away from critiquing political leaders, condemning their roles in perpetuating violence.

"We can see the smart-suited politicians lining up and ordering their men in uniform to go out and destroy our world. That's the reality, and that's what we're fighting," he said as he demanded an end to the destruction wrought by wars.

'Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people'

Former South African politician and pro-Palestine activist Andrew Feinstein said: "Let us remember we are together, not just on the fourth of July, but for years and years after the fourth of July.

“We’re going to change our politics, and we’re going to change our world, and we’re not going to do it by looking to any leaders. We are going to do it by looking in the mirror at ourselves, and we are going to do it by joining arms with our neighbors. We are going to do this together,” he said.

Feinstein, who served as an African National Congress Member of Parliament, drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela.

He reflected on Mandela's legacy and his unwavering commitment to equality and justice in South Africa and globally.

“We are going to create a just and equal world in which we all strive for a better life for all of us, just as my former boss, Nelson Mandela, did in South Africa and the world,” he said. “And we will never forget that after 27 years in an apartheid prison, Nelson Mandela emerged to say: ‘Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people.’”

Source: aa.com.tr

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Radical Islam will not stop with annihilation of Jews

Radical Islam, has for many years used intimidation to increase its sway over moderates and has now turned its sights on the West, with democracy as its tool to advance an ideology and shape the future, countries like oil-rich Qatar have poured money into the pockets of politicians, and elite universities.

Freedom and Democracy, though sometimes flawed are the world's best options. There are no Arab democracies, only ruthless dictatorships even when a democratic system appears to be in place, as in Tunisia and Iraq.

When it comes to Israel, the false narrative that is being used has solidified a perception of reality that ignores historical truth.

From 'occupation' to October 7

The word 'occupation, is thrown around when describing the situation in Gaza, before the massacre of October 7. but in 2005 Israel pulled out of the Strip, under a policy of "Gaza first", to see what would happen if the Palestinians have autonomy without any Israeli presence in the strip. The Palestinian Authority  Within 2 years Hamas overthrew the PA government in a short coup, killing many, torturing others, including famously throwing opponents off buildings to their deaths.

Hamas targeted Israel's south with rockets, produced with materials smuggled in and began building an extensive tunnel system to facilitate their smuggling. How would the residents of Texas or California have dealt with 20 years of rocket attacks from Mexico causing death, injury and damage to their property? What would America have done?

It is hard to estimate the amount of money that went into building Gaza's tunnel system. It was built with a vast investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to be used for attacks against Israel. Terrorists popped up through shafts, to launch rockets, while tunnels were built near the border, to facilitate incursions into Israeli communities.

The funding for the massive project came from Iran and Qatar, funds that were delivered as aid and taxes collected from Gazan workers who were employed in Israel making higher wages that were available in the Strip. while a tax on smuggled goods brought in from Egypt made the leaders of Hamas, rich. Ismail Haniyeh, Moussa Abu Matzuk and Khaled Mashal became billionaires, no less, stealing money from their own people, and are living in mansions in Qatar. It pays well to be a "freedom fighter" these days... 

As for the West Bank, most of it is administered by the PA. Israel maintains a military presence there to prevent a scenario like the one we experienced on October 7. Without Israel's presence there, the PA would have been toppled a long time ago, and replaced by a Hamas regime.

School books in Gaza and the West Bank contain straightforward antisemitsm, including all the "classic" images from Joseph Goebel’s Nazi propaganda. This is in order to foment hatred against the Jews. Generations of children have been raised with lies.

On October 7 Hamas terrorists targeted civilians, killing, torturing, raping and gang raping women and girls, decapitating babies in front of their mothers. Burning people alive, in an orgy of sadistic, evil, sinister, satanic behavior. Many of their victims were residents of Kibbutzim near the border who hoped and believed in peaceful relations with their neighbors. But the Hamas charter of 1988, does not allow for that. It calls for the total destruction of Israel, using violent means.

The radical Islamists want no Jews and no Christians to exist in Palestine. The Christian population has been on the decline in Palestinian areas and only in Israel do they enjoy protection from persecution and terror. In the beginning of the 20th century, Christians made up 20% of the population and are now only 5%.

If this is not ethnic cleansing – then what is? Even in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, their numbers have dropped to only 30% and continue to fall. The Jihadists have a saying: "After Saturday comes Sunday", which means that once they were done with the Jews, they would turn to deal with the Christians.

"If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there will be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there will be no Israel," said Golda Meir. War is a terrible thing, and people are killed and wounded in it. We didn't start this war, it was the monsters from Hamas, backed by the Iranian dictatorial regime.

And although the civilian suffering in Gaza has been great, the figures of dead and wounded, provided by Hamas, are questionable. The IDF operates on humane principles and aims to avoid civilian casualties while Hamas is using those civilians as human shields. They have for years, launched their missiles and rockets at Israel from near their schools, hospitals and mosques - knowing that Israel would not attack such places.

IDF forces in Gaza (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Israel's practice was to warn civilians to escape before bombing their area. In the war, the IDF sought to evacuate civilians to safe areas although it was putting its own troops in harms way when alerting Hamas to their arrival. The terrorists would then booby trap buildings that would explode when the forces arrived.

This we absolutely cannot afford. I knew a young soldier, an ex-student of mine and a wonderful young man, who was killed in a house that was known to have an entrance to a tunnel, but there was a bomb that exploded upon the soldiers entering the house.

This young man was the grandson of a renowned heart surgeon who used to go into the Gaza strip and operate voluntarily on children there. When his grandson died, many families from Gaza called him personally to offer their condolences.

Many houses, apartments, hospitals, mosques, Universities, were packed with guns and ammunition, including under kids’ beds and anywhere you could imagine, Former British military colonel Richard Kemp described what he saw when he accompanied IDF troops into many of these places.

When the Western coalition invaded Iraq in 2003 after 9/11, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people were killed, and millions were dislocated from their homes. Then the attack was justified by a claim that the Iraqis were hiding W.M.Ds, weapons of mass destruction, which turned out not to be true.

During the Syrian civil war, hundreds of thousands were also killed, and about 14 million became refugees, about half of them displaced within their own country and the rest leaving for Lebanon or elsewhere.

Many of the "liberals" and" "Progressives" of the world who protest about Israel, have not protested about these massive killings. They ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas. They say nothing of the Gaza civilians who lived in fear of the violent Hamas regime and who know that speaking out against it would result in their execution. 

Boaz Frenkel

Boaz Frenkel

Hamas is not Islam. Their atrocities are absolutely against what is written in the Koran and they have nothing to do with real Islam. They use its name only. Anyone supporting Hamas is not being pro-Palestinian. Hamas wants to destroy Israel and has shown its “capabilities”. By supporting these readical Islamists, they are strengthening evil in the world.

Source: ynetnews.com

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Israel army says Israeli civilian shot dead in West Bank

June 22, 2024

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Saturday that an Israeli civilian died after being shot near the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya and that troops had launched an operation in the area.

The military and Israeli police were investigating the circumstances of the death, the military said, without offering details.

“IDF troops are currently operating in the area of Qalqilya after an Israeli civilian was pronounced dead, shortly after being found shot in the area,” the military said in a statement.

Israeli media reported that the dead man, who was in his 60s, was a Jewish Israeli citizen.

In recent days, there have been several violent incidents in Qalqilya and its vicinity.

On Friday, Israeli and Palestinian authorities said at least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in the city.

Israeli authorities said the two were militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

Violence in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has been on the rise for more than a year, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the West Bank since October 7, according to Palestinian officials.

Attacks by Palestinians have killed at least 14 Israelis in the West Bank over the same period, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Source: arabnews.com

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UAE contributes $5 million to United Nations OCHA for humanitarian efforts in Sudan

June 22, 2024

DUBAI: The UAE will allocate $5 million to support the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) that would be managed by the United Nations, state-run WAM news agency reported.

In an agreement with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UAE contribution to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund will be managed by OCHA, in order to “facilitate access to funds to address the most critical humanitarian needs and emergencies on the ground,” WAM reported.

Martin Griffiths, Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in a statement said: “We are deeply grateful to the Government and the people of the United Arab Emirates for your generous support of $70 million to help bring relief to the people of Sudan through the United Nations. With this allocation, we can bolster our lifesaving support to families and communities caught up in Sudan's unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”

“The UAE’s long-term support to Sudan is a testament to our dedication to fostering a prosperous Sudan and promoting stability in the region. We are pleased to partner with OCHA and other UN agencies to deliver vital aid to those most impacted,” according to Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“I reiterate the UAE’s unwavering position is to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and a peaceful solution to the crisis,” she added.

Meanwhile, Emirati officials also signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and prevent the imminent risk of famine.

FAO has received US$5 million in funding from the UAE, which will be directed towards the project titled ‘Mitigating Famine in Sudan – Support to Conflict-Affected Vulnerable Smallholder Farming and Pastoralist Households’.

The FAO project, set to run for one year, aims to provide emergency crop, livestock, and veterinary assistance to 275,000 vulnerable smallholder farmer and pastoralist households, benefiting approximately 1,375,000 individuals.

The UAE contributions to OCHA and FAO are part of a broader commitment of $70 million dedicated to addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan, through UN agencies and humanitarian organizations.

This funding is a substantial portion of the $100 million pledge made by the UAE in April at a global humanitarian conference for Sudan and its neighboring countries.

This contribution takes the total amount of UAE aid to Sudan in the past 10 years to more than $3.5 billion.

Source: arabnews.com

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Red Cross says 22 killed in shelling near Gaza office

June 22, 2024

GENEVA: The International Committee of the Red Cross said its Gaza office was ‘damaged’ by in a shell attack Friday that killed at least 22 people who had taken shelter around the compound.

The ICRC did not say who fired the “heavy calibre projectiles” but in a statement on the X platform said they “damaged the structure of the ICRC office,” which is surrounded by hundreds of displaced persons living in tents.

It said 22 bodies and 45 wounded had been taken to a nearby Red Cross field hospital after the shelling, and there were “reports of additional casualties.”

“Heavy-calibre projectiles landed within meters of the office and residences of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday afternoon,” the statement said.

“Firing so dangerously close to humanitarian structures, of whose locations the parties to the conflict are aware and which are clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem, puts the lives of civilians and Red Cross staff at risk,” said the body.

“This grave security incident is one of several in recent days,” it added.

“Previously stray bullets have reached ICRC structures. We decry these incidents that put the lives of humanitarians and civilians at risk.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Lebanon’s FM meets with UN, French and US envoys in bid to prevent full-scale war

June 21, 2024

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib met with French Ambassador Herva Magro, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and US Ambassador Lisa Johnson on Friday.

The minister reiterated Lebanon’s call for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701.

Hennis-Plasschaert said there was “no inevitability (to wider conflict with Israel)” during her visit to UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Also on Friday, it was announced that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will make shuttle visits to Lebanon, Israel, and the West Bank.

Concerned at the risk of Israel’s war on Gaza spreading across the region, US President Joe Biden sent his special envoy Amos Hochstein to embark on a new round of diplomacy last week. Hochstein called for “urgent” de-escalation during talks with Lebanon and Israel on Tuesday, informing both sides that “the threat of a full-scale war persists and must be avoided.”

It is widely believed in Lebanon that Hochstein convinced Israel to refrain from escalating its military actions against Lebanon for the time being.

In a meeting with visiting Israeli officials including National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Washington on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of “avoiding further escalation in Lebanon and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes,” according to a statement.

According to his spokesperson, Matthew Miller, Blinken also stressed America’s “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”

During his talks in Beirut, Hochstein reportedly reassured Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that Biden’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was being viewed positively, and that Qatar was working to make it happen.

Hochstein also reportedly told Mikati that “things are under control and positive when it comes to the war between Lebanon and Israel.”

Former Lebanese Ambassador to Washington, Riad Tabbarah, described threats of war as a “mere outburst.”

He told Arab News: “Since military operations began on the southern front about nine months ago, the Lebanese have been hearing that war is coming, but it never arrives.

“During diplomatic negotiations, it is common for both sides to face pressure and threats,” he continued. “It appears that there are numerous and diverse negotiations happening behind the scenes, including discussions between the Americans and Iranians, as well as between the Americans and Hezbollah.”

Tabbarah acknowledged the recklessness of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said the Israeli leader “has two options — either war or prison. And there is significant pressure on him, especially from the families of the hostages.”

Tabbarah noted that there are limits to what military action can achieve. “We still recall the time when former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon crossed those limits in 1982 when he set the Litani Line as his target. However, he went beyond that and reached Beirut. As a result, international powers united to bring him back to the Litani Line.

“No one has an interest in war,” he continued. “Americans, Europeans, and Iranians are working in the opposite direction. The general trend is to avoid escalating to open war.”

Military operations on the Lebanese front decreased significantly on Friday, although the outskirts of Naqoura in the western sector were targeted by Israeli artillery, causing a fire in a house. In the morning, an Israeli military raid targeted the town of Wazzani.

Hezbollah made a series of announcements about their operations, which were “focused on specific targets within the rules of engagement.”

Hezbollah attacked the sites of Ramtha and Samaka in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shouba Hills, the Zabadin site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, and carried out an air attack using drones on the Ras Al-Naqoura naval site, aiming at locations containing Israeli military personnel.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that, up to June 19, it has recorded a total of 1,774 casualties, including 432 fatalities, caused by Israeli attacks.

Source: arabnews.com

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South Asia

 

Human Rights Watch calls exclusion of Afghan women from Doha talks “Shocking”

June 21, 2024

The executive director of Human Rights Watch described the exclusion of women’s rights and the absence of women from the Doha talks as “shocking.”

Tirana Hassan sharply criticized this omission, warning that it risks legitimizing the Taliban and causing irreparable damage to the UN’s credibility.

This human rights organization states that despite the Taliban’s violations of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan, which has led to the most severe women’s rights crisis in the world, there will be no discussion about women and their rights at the Doha talks.

According to reports, no Afghan women have been invited to participate in this meeting. The executive director of the organization harshly criticized the UN for organizing a meeting with the Taliban without including women’s rights on the agenda or inviting Afghan women.

The Taliban has stated that the agenda shared by the UN for the Doha meeting will focus on private sectors, finance, banking, and narcotics. This has drawn serious criticism from women’s rights groups, who emphasize that any international conference on Afghanistan lacking the full participation of women is illegitimate.

The upcoming Doha talks on June 30 and July 1 come amid a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took power, restrictions on women’s education and employment have severely worsened the situation, drawing international condemnation.

The exclusion of women’s issues from the Doha talks is particularly alarming, given the Taliban’s systematic dismantling of women’s rights. This further highlights the urgent need for the international community to address these violations and ensure women’s representation in discussions about Afghanistan’s future.

Source: khaama.com

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Islamic Emirate at a glance

June 22, 2024

Part XXI

By: Hashmat Nasiri

Provision of Social Services Over the course of the preceding year, pivotal endeavors have been undertaken in the realm of social service provision, notably focusing on facilitating public access to clean drinking water, rehabilitating rural transportation infrastructure, and administering social welfare initiatives. The following delineates select initiatives: A. Water Supply Over the past two years, more than 41,000 sanitary water supply networks have been completed in rural areas at a cost of over 3 billion Afghanis. With the completion of these projects, clean drinking water has been provided to over 1.6 million people, playing a crucial role in maintaining public health. Additionally, the implementation of these projects has provided job opportunities to over 3.6 million people. Furthermore, in the past year, over 3,000 different water supply projects, including refurbishment of water supply networks, well digging, and water reservoir construction, have been implemented nationwide. B. Rehabilitation of Rural Roads In the recent annum, the restoration of rural thoroughfares in diverse provinces has stood as a focal point for the Ministry of Rural Development of Afghanistan. Noteworthy among these efforts is the construction of 15 kilometers of roadways, valued at approximately 3 million Afghanis, in the Balamorghab district of Badghis province, ameliorating transit constraints for a population exceeding 12,000. Additionally, the completion of four concrete road projects spanning 19 kilometers, with an outlay approximating 2 billion Afghanis, in Kabul, Logar, Kapisa, and Parwan provinces, has assuaged transportation impediments for over 37,000 individuals and engendered gainful employment avenues for multitudes. C. Construction of Canals and Retaining Walls The construction and reconstruction of canals and retaining walls in provinces are another achievement in the field of social services. Dozens of concrete canals, costing 79 million Afghanis, have been rebuilt and put into operation in the Zheri and Daman districts of Kandahar province. Additionally, dozens of projects involving the reconstruction of wells and underground aqueducts, totaling 58 million Afghanis, have been completed and put into operation in various districts of the country. The construction and rehabilitation of canals and retaining walls represent another substantive stride in the domain of social welfare provision. Notably, scores of concrete canals, at a cost of 79 million Afghanis, have been rehabilitated and commissioned in the Zherai and Daman districts of Kandahar province. Furthermore, numerous projects entailing the rehabilitation of wells and aqueducts, totaling 58 million Afghanis, have been completed and operationalized across various districts. Moreover, in diverse districts of Badghis province, over 2,000 kilometers of concrete canals and more than 5 kilometers of protective walls, with a cumulative valuation exceeding 172 million Afghanis, have been rehabilitated and commissioned, thereby fostering employment prospects for local denizens and benefiting myriad beneficiaries. D. Employment Generation The Islamic Emirate’s persistent endeavors to mitigate unemployment have entailed the creation of conducive environments and the provision of avenues for gainful employment. In consonance with this objective, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Afghanistan has disbursed in excess of 52,000 licenses to domestic constituents over the past year. Additionally, a total of 1,534 work permits have been disseminated to foreign nationals during the same period, constituting a pivotal contribution to job creation endeavors. End

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/islamic-emirate-at-a-glance-19/

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Consultation; a short way to success

June 22, 2024

No one can achieve success through his intellect alone and not every person has experience in all matters. So everyone must know his home, village and country. About issues relating to administration, listening carefully to the advice of elders, wide wise people, and experienced individuals and thinking about them, and then leaving the evil and practicing good helps one achieve success. Maybe some people will think that they don’t need anyone’s advice, or they will think that if he/she listen to someone else’s words and advice or ask them questions about their own issues and ask them for advice, then it will be their weakness, but, such an idea is never correct, rather it is a false arrogance and negative perception. Also, the holy religion of Islam has recommended its believers for practicing forgiveness and ordered people to forgive the mistakes of their friends and family and consult with them in matters important to them. Because, with such a behavior, the holy Prophet of Islam could gather people around him and advise them about religion. Many clear examples can be read in the Prophet’s biography about listening and accepting advice, which is considered a very useful lesson for Muslims and should be read carefully. Also, about listening to advice, there is another thing that it is possible that every person has a lot of words, recommendations and advices to the rulers and officials or have various objections and criticisms, which will definitely lead to reforms in a system. For example, more than forty million people are living in our country and naturally, many people among them are leaders, experienced, and very intelligent people. They also call themselves servants of the country, the nation, and the government as well as people who are willing bad and act against the system. This situation demands that the ruling leaders should be more tolerant than others, because, when every individual has full opportunity to share their words and ideas with the rulers, through hundreds of TV channels, radios, newspapers, and social media, it’s not possible to blame all of them to be against the system and punish them or take them to jail. The fact is that this solution is not constructive and the government cannot be strengthened by taking into account and prosecuting all the protestors. So, government officials should have and hear the advice and recommendations of the elders, experts, and the experienced people to gain their support in strengthening the pillars of the system.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/consultation-a-short-way-to-success/

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Eid in southern provinces; people celebrate with recreational activities

June 22, 2024

Most residents of the country’s southern provinces as Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan and Helmand have celebrated the second and third days of Eid al-Adha by going to recreational and historical areas. Residents of Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces of southern Afghanistan say that they celebrated the three days of Eid al-Adha in a peaceful environment and marked the second and third days of Eid by going to recreational places in their provinces. They are happy about the improvement of the overall security situation as the highways are open day and night and they could go to the recreational areas of their provinces and celebrate the Eid days. Taj Mohammad Hemat, a resident of Kandahar, says that good security measures have been taken for Eid in Kandahar this year; therefore, they celebrate the Eid days by visiting historic sites and going to recreational areas in the province. “The majority of Kanda har’s youth went to Kandahar’s Dehli, Baba Sahib, Ainu Mena, Arghandab, and Spin Boldak districts to celebrate the Eid days,” Hemat said, adding that the youth also celebrated the Eid days by playing various traditional and local games as wrestling, cricket, volleyball, and other common games. According to Hemat, the economic condition of the people has now improved compared to previous years; therefore, the number of people going to recreational and historic areas increased this year. “The youth of Kandahar also go to some neighboring and northern provinces of Afghanistan to celebrate the Eid days. The number of people who have visited other provinces during the Eid days has increased as the economic situation of people has improved,” Hemat added. Meanwhile, several residents of Zabul say that most people, particularly the youth have left for the the northern provinces of the country to celebrate the second and third days of Eid al-Adha, while some of others celebrated the second and third days of Eid by going to some recreational areas in Zabul. Hedayatullah Nikzad, a resident of Zabul, says people had previously celebrated the Eid festivals in Qalat, the provincial capital due to insecurities, but with the Islamic Emirate takeover and improvement of the overall security situation, people have now celebrated the Eid days by going to recreational areas beyond the provincial capital and Zabul. “Zabuli people can celebrate the Eid days by going to recreational areas without any problem as the security situation has improved,” Nikzad said, adding that most people of Zabul even went to other provinces to celebrate the Eid days. He also said that others celebrated the second and third days of Eid al-Adha by going to some recreational areas in Zabul’s Mizan district with holding some traditional games as wrestling. “Most people, particularly the youth of Zabul went to other provinces this year to celebrate the Eid days. Some others celebrated the second and third days of Eid by recreational activities such as wrestling and other traditional games in the Mizan district of the province,” Nikzad said. Meanwhile, several residents of Uruzgan province say that this year they were wellprepared for Eid holidays than other years, adding that this year, young people went to remote areas of the province for some recreational activities. Hikmatullah Uruzgani, a resident of Uruzgan, says that Uruzgan’s Chora, Chacharchino, and Khas Uruzgan were among the districts of the province where people visited to celebrate the second and third days of Eid al-Adha. “This year, the youth of Uruzgan were well-prepared for the Eid festival. Uruzgan’s Chora and Chaharchaine districts are two key areas for following recreational activities; therefore, most people of the province visited the respective districts to celebrate the Eid days,” Uruzgani said, adding that some others even went to other provinces to celebrate their Eid days. This comes as Helmand, another southern province of the country, hosted hundreds of people from other provinces this year. Hazrat Mohammad Rouhani, a resident of Helmand, says that Helmand, which has many historical places, hosted this year hundreds of people from other provinces and celebrated Eid days by going to recreational and historical areas of the province. According to Rouhani, Helmand’s Sangin and Nad Ali districts, considered as one of the districts where people go for for entertainment and recreational activities, hosted people this year from other provinces as well as Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. He said that people had previously not visited Helmand due to insecurities, adding that the number of people visiting historical sites of the province has increased with the Islamic Emirate takeover and improvement of the overall security situation in the country. Afghans celebrated Eid alAdha, the Feast of Sacrifice and the second most important holiday in the Islamic calendar, in a peaceful environment and without any security incident across the country. They marked it by offering special prayers and slaughtering livestock, usually goat, sheep, cow, or camel to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith. It is worth mentioning that the three-day celebration is marked with special prayers, feasts, and the ritual slaughter of an animal – with the meat then evenly distributed to family, friends, neighbors, and the poor and needy. It’s the second and larger of the two annual Eid’s – and also coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Ehsanullah Walasmal

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/eid-in-southern-provinces-people-celebrate-with-recreational-activities/

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World Refugee Day: Afghan refugees still facing deportation

June 22, 2024

As World Refugee Day was marked on 20th June with international neglect, Afghan refugees are facing with deportation from various countries of the world, particularly Pakistan, Iran, Turkiye, and Germany. This comes as the second phase of deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan is underway. World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20 June and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. It was the first Pakistan that started the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees from the country in November 2023, which received scant attention from the international community. Now, as the second phase of deportation is underway, the issue of refugees has once again become a top issue of the international community. Pakistan has generously played host to Afghan refugees for over four decades, with estimates typically ranging from three to four million. This process began as early as 1979 due to foreign interventions, civil wars, recurrent natural disasters, and bleak economic opportunities. Afghan refugees in Pakistan can primarily be categorized into three groups: undocumented Afghans, approximately 840,000 holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), and 1.3 million Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders. In 2017, ACCs were issued (in collaboration with the Afghan government), to those Afghans who had failed to obtain UNHCR-issued PoR cards during a 2006-7 census. These three groups have varying levels of access to basic services. Undocumented Afghans have the least degree of access, while PoR cardholders enjoy the most, including legal access to public education, and health care, as well as the liberty to acquire SIM cards and open bank accounts. On 3rd October 2023, the then caretaker government of Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, unveiled the first phase of the ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan’ (IFRP). Under this, all undocumented foreigners were issued an ultimatum to leave voluntarily before November 1, failing which they would be forcibly deported. In theory, it was aimed at all illegal foreigners residing in Pakistan, irrespective of their provenance, but in practice, it predominantly targeted the 1.7 million undocumented Afghans. In March of this year, it was reported that all concerned authorities were instructed to expedite the mapping of ACC holders. The drive, also hailed as the second phase of the repatriation, was said to pick up pace after Eid al-Fitr, which was celebrated on April 10th in Pakistan. Shortly after, Amnesty International’s report on April 4 warned that this would “unleash another wave of harassment and detentions after the holy month of Ramadan” and described Pakistan’s “callous disregard” for Afghan refugees as heartbreaking. More recently, however, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there are no plans to repatriate the ACC holders, but thousands of Afghans are currently being expelled from the country. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, between April 1-20, the rate of arrest and detention for ACC holders and undocumented Afghans was 25% higher compared to PoR holders and asylum seekers. Following the completion of the second phase, the third phase will extend to PoR cardholders. The only saving grace though is that they have freshly been granted an extension till June 30 to legally reside in the country. This could have stemmed from a recalibration in the newly elected government’s approach, particularly as some have voiced concerns about the unjust nature of deporting ‘legal’ Afghans (both ACC and PoR cardholders). This comes as the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly asked Pakistan and other countries to consider mutual understanding regarding Afghan refugees, emphasizing the bilateral nature of immigration decisions. For further possible deportation of more Afghan refugees from Pakistan, Iran, and now Germany, all necessary preparations should be taken to manage the repatriation process of Afghan refugees to their home areas. It is time to make a plan for the management of new Afghan returnees as more countries have joined the deportation drive of Afghan refugees from their countries. Mashal Noori

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/world-refugee-day-afghan-refugees-still-facing-deportation/

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Pilgrims recount horrors of heat during this year’s Hajj

June 22, 2024

After years of failing to secure a Hajj visa, Yasser finally concluded he had no choice but to perform the holy pilgrimage illegally, a move he has now come to regret. While he survived the gruelling annual rites that unfolded in extreme heat again this year, he has not seen his wife since Sunday and fears she is among the more than 1,000 reported fatalities — the majority unregistered Egyptians like himself. “I have searched every single hospital in Mecca. She’s not there,” the 60-year-old retired engineer said on Friday by phone from his hotel room, where he is reluctant to pack his wife’s suitcase in hopes she’ll be back to do it herself. “I don’t want to believe in this possibility that she’s dead. Because if she’s dead, it’s the end of her life and also the end of my life.” Egypt accounts for more than half of this year’s Hajj fatalities — 658 out of more than 1,000 reported as of Friday by around 10 countries stretching from Senegal to Indonesia, according to an AFP news agency tally. An Arab diplomat said that 630 of those 658 dead Egyptians were unregistered, meaning they could not rely on access to amenities meant to make the pilgrimage more bearable. That included air-conditioned tents meant to offer some relief as temperatures soared to as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. Saudi authorities have not responded to requests for comment about fatalities. The health ministry reported more than 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone, but has not updated the figure since then. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be completed by all Muslims with the means at least once. Yet official permits are allocated to countries through a quota system and distributed to individuals via a lottery. Even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs make the irregular route — which costs thousands of dollars less — more attractive. That is especially true since 2019 when Saudi Arabia began issuing general tourist visas, making it easier to travel to the country. But for Yasser, who declined to be identified by his full name because he is still in Saudi Arabia, the complications from being unregistered became clear as soon as he reached the country in May. Well before the formal Hajj rites began a week ago, some shops and restaurants refused service to visitors who could not show permits on the official Hajj app, known as Nusuk. Once the long days of walking and praying beneath the blazing sun got underway, he could not access official Hajj buses — the only transportation around the holy sites — without paying exorbitant, off-the-books fees. When heat drove him to exhaustion, he sought urgent care at a hospital in Mina but was turned away, he said, again for lack of a permit. As their conditions worsened, Yasser and his wife Safaa lost each other in the crowds during the symbolic “stoning the devil” ritual in Mina. Since then Yasser has repeatedly postponed their return flight home, hoping she will turn up. “I will keep postponing it until I find her,” he said. Other unregistered Egyptian pilgrims interviewed this week described similar hardships — and similarly alarming sights along the Hajj route as the heat’s toll mounted. “There were dead bodies on the ground” in Arafat, Mina and on the way to Mecca, said Mohammed, 31, an Egyptian who lives in Saudi Arabia and who performed the Hajj this year with his 56-year-old mother. “I saw people suddenly collapse and die from exhaustion.” Another Egyptian whose mother died on the pilgrimage route, and who declined to be identified by even a first name because she lives in Riyadh, said it was impossible to get her mother an ambulance. An emergency vehicle only materialised after her mother was dead, taking the body to an unknown location. Trtworld

Source: thekabultimes.com

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Southeast Asia

 

Anti-Israel backlash keeps US conglomerate away from major Malaysia project

21 June 2024,

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has said its buyer, the US-based investment firm BlackRock, will not be involved in privatizing Malaysia’s airport operator, after criticism in Muslim-majority Malaysia over BlackRock’s ties to Israel.

GIP, Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional and others are part of a consortium that has offered to take over Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in a privatization deal that would value the airport operator at $3.9 billion. MAHB manages 39 airports across Malaysia and an international airport in Turkey.

But the plan has come under criticism and protests from some ruling party and opposition lawmakers in Malaysia over GIP’s ties to BlackRock’s significant investments in Israel.

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, acquired GIP in January for $12.5 billion, in a deal expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024.

It is the latest target of anti-Israel protests in Malaysia, following boycott campaigns against such Western brands as McDonald’s and Starbucks.

Malaysia is often seen as one of the world’s most antisemitic countries — former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad notoriously said he was glad to be called antisemitic, and alleged that “hook-nosed” Jews run the world.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the October 7 attack — in which thousands of terrorists invaded southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages — was “understandable.” Israel has been at war with Hamas, the Palestinian terror group that led the assault, since then.

Malaysia has no formal ties with Israel but does maintain ties with Hamas. The state bans Israeli passport-holders from entering the country, while also seeking to prevent its citizens from traveling to Israel, inscribing on its passports: “This passport is valid for all countries except Israel.”

Anwar has described claims that 25 percent of the airport authority would be owned by a so-called “pro-Zionist company” as baseless, without naming the company, state news agency Bernama reported.

GIP said its existing leadership team will “retain full control and responsibility for the strategic direction and operation of GIP and the companies in which we have invested” after its acquisition by BlackRock, Bernama reported on Friday, citing a written reply from GIP head of transport Phil Iley.

A GIP spokesperson confirmed the Bernama report. Khazanah did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Iley said the firm would provide MAHB with as much operational support and assistance as needed despite being a minority shareholder.

“If we are successful with our transformation, we would very much consider re-listing MAHB on the Malaysian stock exchange in the future,” he wrote.

Khazanah has said GIP would not hire staff to directly manage MAHB.

Under the deal, GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority would own 30% of MAHB, while the majority stake would be held by Khazanah and the Employees Provident Fund, Malaysia’s largest pension body. The fund did not respond to a request for comment on GIP’s statement.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/anti-israel-backlash-keeps-us-conglomerate-away-from-major-malaysia-project/

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King of Bhutan pays Agong a courtesy visit at Johor palace

22 Jun 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck paid a courtesy visit to Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor today.

Following the audience, Sultan Ibrahim hosted a luncheon for the King of Bhutan where they were engaged in a discussion aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Also present were the Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Ibrahim and the Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Ibrahim.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/06/22/king-of-bhutan-pays-agong-a-courtesy-visit-at-johor-palace/140951

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10 foreigners nabbed for attempting to enter Malaysia illegally

22-06- 2024

ALOR SETAR: Ten Myanmar nationals were detained yesterday while trying to enter the country illegally near the Malaysia-Thailand border in Bukit Kayu Hitam.

The Second Infantry Division headquarters in a statement today said that all those detained comprised seven men and three women, aged between 21 and 49.

“A team conducting patrols spotted a group of individuals behaving suspiciously in a rubber estate on the Malaysia-Thailand border at 03.40 pm.

“Inspections revealed that all 10 Myanmar nationals did not possess valid travel documents and had attempted to enter Malaysia through an illegal route at the border,” it said.

The division also seized six mobile phones, 12 bags, a fake passport, and cash in Thai and Myanmar currency estimated to be worth RM3,326.23.

All the illegal immigrants had been taken to the Bukit Kayu Hitam Police Station for further action.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local-news/10-foreigners-nabbed-for-attempting-to-enter-malaysia-illegally-CF12604897#google_vignette

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PM’s foreign relations strategy in the right direction, unity government urged to sync with each other: SPCAAM

22-06- 2024

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s strategy to court investments from the United States and China is a move in the right direction and augurs well for the country, said an NGO.

The Social Protection Contributors’ Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM) said while some international commentators see this as a clever play, others are disappointed that Anwar is not choosing one side over the other.

“A lot of criticism stems from the West, where the Western-influenced media would point to reasons as to why Anwar should not cosy up to China.

“The real reason for the angst of the West is that the rise of China and India is now serving a real threat to the neo-liberal and neo-imperialist Western agenda.

“Anwar is doing what is right for Malaysia, and not being led by any particular dogma or partisan interest,“ said international labour advisor, Callistus Anthony D’Angelus.

However, he said a big challenge for the Prime Minister is that the unity government he helms is not entirely running in the same direction as he is.

He said political parties within his government, such as the Barisan Nasional (BN) and even the DAP are largely communal-based parties.

“The shift towards a more dynamic, prosperous and equitable Malaysia can only be achieved if we truly dismantle the type of politics that has divided Malaysia along racial and religious lines.

“Big business has seen to it that Malaysians are divided into two halves economically - with a small minority seeing their wealth expand exponentially and a growing number of people finding it difficult to make a decent living,“ he said.

D’Angelus said little has been achieved by the Madani government to correct this imbalance and certain ministries have only accentuated the divide between the rich and poor in the country.

“The Prime Minister is on the right trajectory strategically, and he now needs his government to line up behind him,“ he added.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local-news/pm-s-foreign-relations-strategy-in-the-right-direction-unity-government-urged-to-sync-with-each-other-spcaam-EF12604365

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Unity Gov’t never defended parties collaborating with Israeli regime - Kamil Munim

22-06- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- The Unity Government has never defended any party that collaborates with the Israeli Zionist regime, Political Secretary to the Finance Minister, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim said.

In a statement today, he addressed comments made by former cabinet minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who alleged that BlackRock, a firm purportedly linked to Israel, has taken up stakes in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

“The stance of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the government on the issue of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people is clear. We are among the most vocal in defending and advocating for the rights of the Palestinians.

“As such, labelling the Prime Minister as an accomplice of Israel’s genocidal crimes is extreme and disrespectful,” he said.

Muhammad Kamil said while Khairy is free to criticise, he must be more responsible, avoid hypocrisy and refrain from making emotionally driven statements.

He said MAHB, through Khazanah Nasional Berhad, had clarified that negotiations were conducted with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a consortium that announced an offer to take over MAHB on May 15.

“BlackRock only emerged this year with the intention to acquire GIP’s shareholding. In this context, neither Khazanah nor EPF (Employees Provident Fund) has ever negotiated with any representative from BlackRock.

“Khazanah and EPF have not sold MAHB to any foreign entity. Instead, they have increased their shareholding to 70 per cent. In fact, this strategic asset will continue to be owned by the country through a Golden Share by the Malaysian government,” he said.

GIP is a leading infrastructure investor managing US$112 billion worth of assets on behalf of its investors, which include about 500 investment institutions worldwide.

Furthermore, GIP possesses expertise in investing, managing and operating some of the largest and most complex infrastructure businesses globally, including several airports.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local-news/unity-gov-t-never-defended-parties-collaborating-with-israeli-regime-kamil-munim-HF12603532

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