Kerala Church Screens 'Kerala Story' To Fight 'Love Jihad' As A Part Of Course Curriculum
New Age Islam News Bureau
09 April 2024
Church
screens 'Kerala Story' to fight 'love jihad'
©
Provided by The Times of India
------
·
Kerala
Church Screens 'Kerala Story' To Fight 'Love Jihad' As A Part Of Course
Curriculum
·
Saudi
Arabia Calls For India-Pakistan Dialogue To Resolve Kashmir Issue in a Joint
Statement in Riyadh
·
Giving
Zakat Al-Fitr In Cash Is Not Permissible, Should Be Given In The Form Of Food:
Saudi Grand Mufti
·
US Reacts
To Reports Of Targeted Pakistani Killings By India: ‘We Are Not In The Middle’
·
Gaza
Genocide Becoming Reminiscent Of Rwanda Genocide, Algeria Warns
---
India
·
Hindu Man
Held For Vandalising UP Temple After Muslims Faced Heat
·
Delhi
High Court Refuses To Allow Ramzan, Eid Prayers At Akhoondji Mosque Site In Mehrauli
·
Pune
Student Beaten Up Over 'Love Jihad', Told To Quit Studies; Cops Check CCTV
·
Congress
moves Election Commission against PM Modi’s Muslim League remark
·
Humanitarian
crisis caused by Israel-Hamas 'simply unacceptable': India at United Nations
----
Arab
World
·
Yemenis
bear the brunt of Houthi Red Sea attacks, says Al-Alimi
·
Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan demand end to Israel’s hostilities in Gaza
·
Saudi
authority offers smart solutions to visitors of Two Holy Mosques
·
Saudi FM,
Palestinian PM discuss Gaza developments
·
Individual
jumps down from Grand Mosque's upper floor
·
Al-Yamamah’s
Eastern Mosque Has Been Bearing Witness to Al-Kharj’s Remarkable Najdi
Architectural Style for 400 Years
-----
North
America
·
US
military says it destroyed Houthi air defence and drone systems in Red Sea are
·
Pelosi
Joins Call For Biden To Stop Transfer Of US Weapons To Israel
·
More
Democrats Sign Letter Urging Biden To Halt Weapons Transfer To Israel
·
US rabbis
grapple with anxiety over Gaza destruction as war crosses six-month mark
----
Africa
·
Rwanda's
Leader Criticises Perceived US Ambiguity Over 1994 Genocide
·
Tanzanian
soldiers killed in DR Congo missile attack
·
Ramadan:
Continue to promote religious harmony – GovOyebanji tells Muslims during Iftar
meal
·
Libyan
embassies celebrate Ramadan with Quran competitions
·
With the
Anti-Homosexuality Act upheld, will Uganda loose more donor funding?
----
Southeast
Asia
·
Bangkok
Mosque Is A Melting Pot For Muslims From Across Asia
·
Growing
Tension Over Faith Calls For Politicians To Promote Peace, Says DAP Youth
Leader
·
Raids And
Fines For Ramadan Fast Breaking Spotlight Rising Religious Conservatism In
Multicultural Malaysia
·
Thailand
remains neutral in Myanmar conflict, says foreign minister
·
Thousands
of Filipino Muslims to perform Eid prayers at Manila Golden Mosque
----
Pakistan
·
Pakistan Urges
UNSC For Appropriate Steps To Implement Its Resolution
·
PTI slams
jail admin for ‘not allowing’ Imran’s check-up
·
Imran’s
jail security measures cost Rs1.2m monthly
·
Shehbaz
concludes visit to Saudi Arabia: Islamabad, Riyadh vow to speed up ‘first wave’
of $5bn investment
·
Mosque
blast in Kuchlak claims cop’s life, hurts 12
·
20
convicts in May 9 cases released from jail, govt tells SC
----
South
Asia
·
Treat
Teen Gangs With Special Approach To Correct Them: PM
·
Afghans
With Documents Being Arrested in Pakistan: Consul
·
81
Children Released From Juvenile Detention Center in Kabul Over Ramadan
·
Supreme
Court in Afghanistan announces release of over 2,800 prisoners for Eid ul-Fitr
·
Over
24,000 Herat families still homeless 6 months after earthquake: UN
·
Afghanistan
Central Bank declares online currency exchange ‘prohibited’
·
Humanitarian
Foundation Prepared Iftar for 150,000 Afghans
·
Bangladesh
has capacity to become upper middle income country by 2031: ICCB
------
Mideast
·
Hamas Says
Israeli Proposal Failed To Meet Palestinian Demands, Yet It Is Under Review
·
At
Interfaith Ramadan Iftar In Jerusalem, Breaking Fast Under The Shadow Of War
·
Palestinians
returning to Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal find an unrecognizable city
·
Islamic
Jihad prisoners say all Gaza hospitals used as military bases
·
Iraqi
fighters strike 5 Israeli targets in support of war-hit Gazans
·
Al-Qassam
Brigades" bombs a military headquarters of the enemy army in the
settlement of "Netzarim"
·
Palestinian
forces warn of danger of what enemy is trying to promote by storming Al-Aqsa
·
Donations
to Israel since October 7 topped $1.4 billion, government reports
·
UAE aid
plane arrives at Al Arish Airport carrying 4,000 Eid clothing parcels for
Palestinians
-----
Europe
·
Pro-Palestine
Rally Held In Front Of German Parliament
·
Norway Arms
Police Due To Threats Against Muslims
·
'Pathetic':
Nicaragua drags Germany to ICJ over Gaza aid, weapons to Israel
·
Italy
arrests Tajik man suspected of belonging to Islamic State
·
Vatican
formally rejects gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy
·
Convicted
killer of Muslim family in London, Ont., terror case is seeking an appeal,
lawyer says
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/kerala-church-kerala-love-jihad/d/132112
-----
Kerala Church Screens 'Kerala Story' To Fight 'Love
Jihad' As A Part Of Course Curriculum
Church
screens 'Kerala Story' to fight 'love jihad'
©
Provided by The Times of India
------
Apr 9, 2024
KOCHI: Triggering a controversy, Syro-Malabar Church's
Idukki diocese screened 'The Kerala Story' for catechism students of Classes 10
to 12 who attended the vacation course diocese parishes.
The movie screening was part of course curriculum
which encouraged students to watch the film, discuss it among peers and prepare
a review. The course also had a portion under the heading 'Love Jihad'.
Fr Jins Karakkat, chairman of the diocese's media
commission, said, "The movie was screened to develop awareness among
students. It was screened during the course held from April 2 to 4. It was part
of an activity in the course curriculum to watch the movie, discuss it among
peers and prepare a review. The course also had a portion under the heading
'Love Jihad'."
Karakkat said 'love jihad' portion in the book was
"not the kind talked about". "Love jihad mentioned in the book
is different. We've only said that there is a scheme wherein young people are
lured, feigning love, to use them for other purposes. It is not targeting any
religion or community," he said.
As per an image purportedly from the booklet and
shared on social media, "love jihad is an activity undertaken by extremist
organisations".
The portion also talks about police finding that
Muslim faith in general doesn't have an organised "love jihad"
movement.
It claims that "love jihad" exponents are
extremists. It says some extremist groups provide "love, gifts and money
to lure girls from other religions to use them for their needs".
When asked if the diocese's action was right,
opposition leader VD Satheeshan said it was the wrong approach: "The
Kerala Story is not a true story. It was made to insult Kerala. A story was
created to say that something which doesn't exist in Kerala, exists. Congress
had demanded that it shouldn't be telecast even on Doordarshan."
Responding to Idukki diocese's screening, Meanwhile,
BJP state president K Surendran said the film has received support from all
walks of life and in many parts of Kerala. He said hundreds of girls in Kerala
are victims of 'love jihad', and that this has been reported even from Kannur.
Although there was no ban on screening the movie in
Kerala, Doordarshan's recent move to telecast the film led to a controversy,
with the CM terming it a film made with the aim of spreading hatred against
Kerala.
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/church-screens-kerala-story-to-fight-love-jihad/articleshow/109143874.cms
------
Saudi Arabia Calls For India-Pakistan Dialogue To
Resolve Kashmir Issue in a Joint Statement in Riyadh
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman meets Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his palace on the
eve of 29th Ramadan in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, April 7, 2024.
(Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters)
------
April 9, 2024
Saudi Arabia has stressed the importance of dialogue
between India and Pakistan in resolving “outstanding issues” like the Jammu and
Kashmir issue, it said in a joint statement with Islamabad on Monday.
The long-standing J&K issue found a mention in the
joint statement issued following a meeting between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in
Riyadh. India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will always”
remain an integral part of the country.
“The two sides stressed the importance of dialogue
between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two
countries, (especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute) to ensure peace and
stability in the region,” it said.
The statement also called for international efforts to
halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and
underscored the importance for the international community to pressurise Israel
to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered
humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
“They discussed the need for advancing the peace
process in accordance with relevant resolutions of the [United Nations]
Security Council and the General Assembly as well as the Arab Peace Initiative
aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution for the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the
statement said.
The ties between India and Pakistan, which had always
been controversial, had deteriorated further following the abrogation of Jammu
and Kashmir’s special status and the bifurcation of the state into two union
territories in August 2019.
Earlier in 2022, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif had said that he desires peaceful relations with India based on the
principles of “equity, justice and mutual respect” and the resolution of the
Kashmir issue.
“Pakistan desires peaceful ties with India, based on
the principles of equity, justice and mutual respect. In this context, a just
and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the
relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, was
indispensable,” Sharif said.
Source:
indianexpress.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/saudi-arabia-india-pakistan-kashmir-issue-stance-9259348/
------
Giving Zakat Al-Fitr In Cash Is Not Permissible,
Should Be Given In The Form Of Food: Saudi Grand Mufti
Grand Mufti and Chairman of
the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh
-----
8th April 2024
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Chairman
of the Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, confirmed that
giving Zakat Al-Fitr in money is not permissible, and should be given in the
form of food.
Al-Sheikh explained this as “contrary to the Sunnah of
the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and the Rightly
Guided Caliphs, who used to remove it from food,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
reported.
“Zakat Al-Fitr is to be given from the foodstuff of
humans, such as wheat, rice, raisins, and the like. It is obligatory for a
Muslim in the place where the sunset of the last day of Ramzan is witnessed,
and it can be given a day or two before Eid,” the Grand Mufti said.
He advised that Zakat Al-Fitr can be distributed from
the 28th or 29th of Ramzan and must be delivered directly to the needy or
through a designated representative.
He highlighted that Zakat Al-Fitr is mandated for
every Muslim, regardless of age, gender, or status, and is to be given as one
saa’ (a traditional Islamic unit of volume) of food.
The fatwa sparked controversy due to its contradiction
by several scholars who permitted this and the forced sale of in-kind zakat by
some impoverished individuals for financial support.
The Egyptian Fatwa House has approved the payment of
Zakat Al-Fitr in money, as it is more effective in benefiting the poor and
meeting their needs.
Source:
siasat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.siasat.com/giving-zakat-al-fitr-in-cash-is-not-permissible-saudi-grand-mufti-3005696/
----
US Reacts To Reports Of Targeted Pakistani Killings By
India: ‘We Are Not In The Middle’
US State Department
Spokesperson Matthew Miller.(Youtube)
------
Apr 09, 2024
The US on Monday responded to the reports alleging
that India carried out targeting killings beyond state borders, in neighbouring
country Pakistan. The United States encouraged the two countries to find a
resolution to this issue and said that it would not get in the middle.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller,
responding to a question regarding the same at a press briefing, said the
United States “will not get in the middle” of this situation, urging both sides
to avoid escalations of the matter.
“So we have been following the media reports about
this issue. We don't have any comment on the underlying allegations. But of
course, while we're not going to get in the middle of this situation, we
encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through
dialogue,” Miller said.
Last week, India issued a statement rejecting the
charges put forward by a report by UK daily The Guardian, saying that the
claims were "false and malicious anti-India propaganda". In its
report, The Guardian, citing Pakistani sources, claimed that India was carrying
out targeted killings in the neighbouring country.
The Guardian report claimed that the Indian
intelligence agency R&AW had carried out up to 20 such assassinations since
the Pulwama attack of 2019.
What did the Guardian report say?
The report published by The Guardian said Indian
intelligence agency R&AW has been carrying out targeted killings and
assassinations in Pakistan, citing evidence sourced from the country and
intelligence officers from both sides of the border.
The report quoted Pakistani officials as saying that
Indian sleeper cells in the UAE were responsible for the killings. An anonymous
Indian official also said in the report that Indian intelligence had drawn
inspiration from Israel's Mossad and Russia's KGB to carry out these targeted
killings.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh responded to these
allegations, saying, “If terrorists from the neighbouring country try to
disturb the peace in Bharat or try to carry out terror activities in Bharat, we
will give them a befitting reply. (Koi bhi terrorist hamareparosidesh se
yadihamare Bharat ko disturb karnekikoshishkarega, yahan par
yadiatankbadiharkatekarega, tohuskamuh tod jababdenge)."
"If they run away to Pakistan, we will enter
Pakistan to kill them (Yadiwohbhagkar Pakistan meinjayega, toh Pakistan
meinghuskarmarenge)," he told "CNN News 18".
Singh said India has the strength to take stern action
against cross-border terrorism and Pakistan has started realising it.
The defence minister supported Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's recent comments that "Bharat" would not be a mute spectator.
"Whatever the prime minister has said is
absolutely true. And India has that strength and Pakistan has also started
realising this," Singh said.
At the same time, he said India always wants to
maintain good relations with its neighbours.
Source:
hindustantimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-reacts-to-reports-of-targeted-pakistani-killings-by-india-we-are-not-101712640201390.html
----
Gaza Genocide Becoming Reminiscent Of Rwanda Genocide,
Algeria Warns
A Palestinian family rides
on the back of a donkey-drawn carriage next to damaged buildings in Khan
Younis, April 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
------
08 April 2024
Algeria says the lessons learned from Rwanda’s painful
past must be upheld when it comes to confronting Israel’s genocidal war in the
besieged Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf made the remark during a
ceremony in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, on Sunday. His presence was intended
to renew Algeria’s permanent solidarity with the Republic of Rwanda.
The Rwandan genocide took place between April and July
of 1994. It was triggered by the killing of Rwanda’s Hutu President Juvenal
Habyarimana, a close ally of Paris, whose plane was shot down over Kigali.
France has long been accused of not doing enough to
prevent the mass slaughter, which has led to strained ties between the two
countries to date.
The Algerian foreign minister said in earlier comments
that Israel had turned Gaza “from a mass prison into a mass grave.“
Israel launched the brutal campaign in Gaza on October
7, following Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the resistance groups into the occupied
territories. The regime has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, mostly women
and children.
Algeria has time and again said Israel must be held
accountable for its crimes.
Meanwhile, the Western camp is under fire for giving
arms to Israel.
Recently, judges at the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) heard a case filed by Nicaragua accusing Germany of supporting “genocide”
against the people of Palestine in Gaza by supporting Israel.
In January, the ICJ imposed provisional measures
ordering Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and acts of
genocide in Gaza. The orders came in a case filed by South Africa accusing
Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention.
On Sunday, the United Nations Palestinian refugee
agency (UNRWA)’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said the Israeli
savagery had set a new record in terms of killing minors, paramedics, and
journalists.
The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are facing
increasingly dire conditions. The US-Israeli onslaught has entered the seventh
month now.
Source:
presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/08/723314/Algeria-Rwanda-Gaza
----
India
Hindu Man Held For Vandalising UP Temple After Muslims
Faced Heat
8th April 2024
UP police have arrested a Hindu man for allegedly
vandalising several idols, including a Shivling, at a 500-year-old Shiva
Temple. The incident had earlier sparked outrage and protests in the area.
The incident, which occurred on April 4, sent
shockwaves through Igata village as locals discovered the desecration of an
ancient idol of Lord Shiva in the revered Shiva Temple.
Initial reports had suggested a communal angle to the
vandalism, with a particular minority community in the area coming under
scrutiny. However, subsequent police investigations identified the main suspect
as Sunil alias Kullu.
Confirming the arrest, Siddhartha Nagar Superintendent
of Police (SP) Prachi Singh assured the public of strict action against the
culprit. “The accused, identified as Sunil alias Kullu, has been apprehended in
connection with the vandalism of the Shivling and other idols in the temple,”
stated SP Singh during a media briefing on Sunday, April 7.
According to SP Singh, Sunil admitted to committing
the crime under the influence of alcohol, citing a personal dispute with the
temple priest as the motive behind the act.
“While in custody, Sunil disclosed the involvement of
others in the incident. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend all individuals
responsible,” added SP Singh.
In response to the incident, authorities have launched
a comprehensive probe, with five teams assigned to track down any additional
suspects involved in the case. An FIR has been filed, and law enforcement
officials remain vigilant to ensure justice is served in the matter.
The SP also said that Sunil revealed the names of a
few others however, the entire case is still underway.
Source:
siasat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.siasat.com/hindu-man-held-for-vandalising-up-temple-after-muslims-faced-heat-3005910/
----
Delhi High Court refuses to allow Ramzan, Eid prayers
at Akhoondji mosque site in Mehrauli
April 8, 2024
The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to allow
offering of prayers during the month of Ramzan and on Eid at the demolished
‘Akhoondji mosque’ site in Mehrauli.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan
directed that an appeal by Muntazmia Committee Madarsa Behrul Ulum and
Kabarstan, challenging a single judge’s order dismissing its plea seeking
permission for devotees to access the mosque for Ramzan and Eid prayers, be
listed along with a related matter on May 7.
The court observed that the single judge passed the
order on the basis of another order refusing to allow prayers on the occasion
of Shab-e-Barat, and a separate appeal challenging this order is coming up for
hearing in May.
The counsel for the petitioner urged the court to pass
an order, saying that the period of Ramzan as well as Eid would be over by
then, but the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, said no interim
order can be passed in the matter at this stage, especially when the single
judge had refused to grant the relief nearly a month ago.
“Appeal will have to be heard along with that appeal.
Impugned order is of March 11. You waited for so long to get your matter
listed. Today, we are on April 8,” the court remarked.
“This will have to be heard along with that appeal on
May 7. There can be no interim order,” added the court.
The appellant’s counsel said the committee was not
trying to get any “back-door entry”. Relying on the Babri Masjid case and
Gyanvapi case, he added that constitutional courts have earlier respected
religious beliefs and permitted offering of prayers pending legal disputes in
relation to shrines.
“If Eid prayers are permitted for an hour, heavens
will not fall…A message will go to the people of India, Muslims in particular,
that courts are equally enthusiastic about protecting rights of Muslims,” the
lawyers argued.
On March 11, the single judge had refused to allow
prayers during the month of Ramzan at the ‘Akhoondji mosque’, while noting that
the high court had earlier refused to permit entry of devotees at the site on
the occasion of Shab-e-Barat and there was no justification to take a different
view.
The single judge had recorded that the land in
question was now in the possession of the DDA and it has already passed an
order for maintenance of status quo while dealing with the issue of legality of
the demolition.
The appellant had urged the single judge bench to
issue directions to allow unhindered entry into the site of Masjid Akhoondji to
those who wanted to offer the Tarawih prayers during the month of Ramzan
Shareef, beginning the sunset of March 11 till Eid-ul-Fitr.
The ‘Akhoondji mosque’, believed to be over 600 years
old, as well as the Behrul Uloom madrasa there were declared as illegal
structures in Sanjay Van and demolished by the DDA on January 30.
Source:
indianexpress.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-high-court-akhoondji-mosque-mehrauli-ramzan-eid-prayers-9258479/
----
Pune Student Beaten Up Over 'Love Jihad', Told To Quit
Studies; Cops Check CCTV
Apr 9, 2024
PUNE: A first-year vocational degree course student
walking with his batch mates - two of them girls - on the Savitribai Phule Pune
University (SPPU) campus was confronted by at least six men who falsely accused
him of 'love jihad', threatened and assaulted him and also told him to quit
studies.
The assailants told the student and his batch mates to
show their Aadhaar cards and later singled out the student for the assault on
Sunday. They called the student's father, a farmer in Solapur, on phone asking
him to cancel his son's admission and take him back home. The assailants also
warned one of the girls they assumed close to the student to stay away from
him. "Our teams are examining CCTV footage of the incident with assistance
from witnesses to identify the assailants. We have applied relevant sections
and will take legal action against them. We won't arrest them as the sections
relate to non-bailable offences," Pune additional commissioner of police
Manoj Patil told TOI on Monday.
An SPPU official said police were checking if the
assailants were outsiders.
SPPU sets up fact-finding panel, HoDs told to ensure
harmony among students
Senior inspector Ajay Kulkarni of the Chatushrungi
police said, "A case has been registered against unknown assailants for
offences under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 143 (unlawful
assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (vicarious liability of members of an unlawful
assembly), 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian
Penal Code."
Sunday's incident comes barely two months after the
row over an experimental play that focused on the behind-the-scenes banter
among actors portraying various roles in Ramleela at the amphitheatre of SPPU's
Lalit Kala Kendra.
A professor and five students were then arrested on charges
of hurting religious sentiments following an on-campus ruckus and clash between
ABVP members and students. All were subsequently released on bail. SPPU and
police authorities had then pledged adequate safety and checks on the entry of
outsiders on the university campus.
On Monday, SPPU vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi did not
respond to calls and texts from TOI. He directed the university registrar to
reply to a questionnaire sent to him.
SPPU registrar Vijay Khare said, "A fact-finding
committee under the chairmanship of the head of department skill development,
Professor RS Pandit, has been set up. Committee members have already met
parents and students and counselled them. All department heads will ensure
harmony among students, They will ensure such events do not happen on campus.
The university earlier made ID cards compulsory. We are reviewing security
measures."
The student, who was beaten up, told TOI, "I
along with my friends (two girls and a boy) were walking from the refectory to
our hostels after lunch. On reaching Ambedkar Bhavan, six men on three
motorcycles came and asked for our Aadhaar cards. After going through our
cards, they started accusing me of spreading love jihad and beat me up and
slapped my friend. They did not harm the girls but cautioned them against
speaking with me."
He said, "Other students returning from lunch
must have seen us but didn't interfere as everybody was scared. They called
more people, who also used abusive language and dropped me at the hostel, again
threatening me. My family was scared when they received the call and
immediately left for Pune. Once my family arrived, we told the rector who then
informed the university officials. We subsequently went to the police
station."
The student's father told TOI, "I started shaking
in fear when I got the call. I pleaded with them not to harm my boy. I told
them he was their brother. How can they beat up a student over religion? We are
scared for his life. However, his professors assured us that he will be safe.
We are taking him home for the week so that he settles down a bit."
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/sppu-student-beaten-up-over-love-jihad-told-to-quit-studies-cops-check-cctv/articleshow/109149320.cms
-----
Congress moves Election Commission against PM Modi’s
Muslim League remark
Apr 09, 2024
The Congress on Monday moved the Election Commission
(EC) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that its party manifesto
for the Lok Sabha elections carries the imprint of the Muslim League, even as
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued its offensive and accused the
opposition party of conspiring to create conflict, confrontation and division
in the country.
In a memorandum to the poll body, a four-member
Congress delegation comprising former Union minister Salman Khurshid, Rajya
Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera and party member
Gurdeep Sappal also complained about the alleged use of armed forces by the BJP
in its ads.
Both the memorandums were signed by Congress general
secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and shared by Congress general secretary
in-charge (communications) Jairam Ramesh on X.
In their first memorandum, the party slammed Modi’s
“disparaging” remarks against its manifesto, saying it was in violation of the
Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
“By propagating false, uninformed and vexatious
claims, Shri Narendra Modi has attempted to evoke an emotional response from
the electorate by using the horrors of Partition, in a bid to polarise voters,”
the memorandum said.
It added that the remarks are “nothing out of the
ordinary” but “concerted effort of arousing communal discord to secure a larger
vote share”.
At an election rally in Rajasthan’s Ajmer on Saturday,
Modi said the Congress manifesto bears a Muslim League imprint while a part of
it is dominated by the Leftists. “You would have seen, the way Congress
released its manifesto yesterday, it proved that today’s Congress is cut off
from the aspirations and expectations of today’s India. The manifesto released
by Congress reflects the same thinking that was prevalent in the Muslim League
during the freedom struggle. The Congress manifesto completely bears the
imprint of the Muslim League and the little remaining part, it is dominated by
the Leftists. Congress is not visible in this,” he said.
The Congress, in their complaint to the poll body,
said Modi’s remarks “may endanger the wellbeing of supporters of the INC; by
making the public believe that the INC wishes to divide India”.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, this
Hon’ble Commission cannot turn a blind eye to the comments made by Shri
Narendra Modi,” it said.
The opposition party called for “stern and swift”
action against Modi’s “conduct in raising communal tensions in the Indian
society”.
Earlier in the day, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge
said the party manifesto reflects the hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion
people.
The developments came even as the BJP continued its
attack on the Congress over its manifesto and alleged the opposition party has
become a “proxy partner” in the “hidden agenda” of the Muslim League.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters: “The
Congress has become a proxy partner in the hidden agenda of the Muslim League
which is conspiring to create conflict, confrontation and division in the
country.”
In its second memorandum to EC, the Congress
complained against the “continuous use of defence forces in political
advertisements by the BJP” despite the poll body’s repeated advisories on the
matter.
It referred to a video clip posted by Union minister
Smriti Irani on X on Sunday, featuring images of defence forces to highlight
the achievements of the Modi-led BJP government.
Read here: ‘Modi running helter-skelter’: Congress on PM’s
‘Muslim League imprint’ remark
“...there is no doubt that the same forms part of the
election campaign of the BJP which is evidenced by way of the election symbol
of the BJP that appears at the conclusion of the advertisement,” it said.
This “shows the utter disregard of the BJP party
towards this Hon’ble Commission and its pursuit of conducting free and fair
elections,” it added.
After meeting EC officials, Khera said: “Pictures of
the prime minister wearing a military uniform are being misused during the
election campaign. There is already an advisory of EC that this cannot be done
during elections. We have urged EC to take action on this issue as the BJP is
continuously committing such crimes.”
Source:
hindustantimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-moves-ec-against-pm-modi-s-muslim-league-remark-101712602712490.html
----
Humanitarian crisis caused by Israel-Hamas 'simply
unacceptable': India at United Nations
09.04.24
India has termed the UN Security Council resolution
that demanded immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramzan a
"positive step," asserting that the humanitarian crisis resulting
from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is "simply unacceptable."
"We are deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The humanitarian
crisis has deepened and instability has been increasing in the region and
beyond," India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira
Kamboj, told a UN General Assembly meeting here on Monday.
She said India views the adoption of a resolution on
March 25 by the UN Security Council "as a positive step.".
Kamboj said the ongoing conflict between Israel and
Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and
children.
"The resulting humanitarian crisis is simply
unacceptable," she said, adding that Delhi has strongly condemned the
deaths of civilians in the conflict and it is imperative to avoid the loss of
civilian lives in any conflict situation.
The UNSC resolution, adopted last month, demanded an
"immediate ceasefire" for the month of Ramzan respected by all
parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire..
It also demanded the immediate and unconditional
release of all hostages, as well as the humanitarian access to address their
medical and other humanitarian needs. The adoption of the resolution had come
as a breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict which had been on for more than
five months then.
The 15-nation Council adopted the resolution, put
forth by the 10 non-permanent elected members of the Council, with 14 nations
voting in favour, none against, and an abstention by the US, a permanent
member.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had said that
the "long-awaited" resolution on Gaza must be implemented.
"Failure would be unforgivable." However, on March 22, just three
days before the Council adopted the resolution, permanent members Russia and
China vetoed a different resolution on Gaza tabled by the US. The US-led draft
had stated the "imperative" for "an immediate and sustained
ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides." The veto by Beijing and
Moscow triggered the debate in the General Assembly under the requirement that
the President of the 193-member UN body will convene a meeting within 10
working days whenever a veto is cast in the Council.
Kamboj underlined that India's position on the
conflict has been clearly articulated on several occasions by the country’s
leadership.
She said there can be no justification for terror
attacks or hostage taking and stressed that the terror attacks on Israel on
October 7 last year were shocking and deserve "our unequivocal
condemnation." "India has a long-standing and uncompromising position
against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and we demand the
immediate and unconditional release of all hostages," Kamboj said.
India voiced its concern over the "dire"
humanitarian situation in Gaza and underlined the imperative for the scaling up
of humanitarian aid to the people in the strip immediately in order to avert a
further deterioration in the situation..
Kamboj welcomed efforts of the United Nations and the
international community in working towards peace in the region.
She noted that India has provided humanitarian aid to
the people of Palestine and "will continue to do so." Indian leaders
have repeatedly emphasised that only a two-state solution achieved through
direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues
will deliver an enduring peace.
"We are committed to supporting a two-state
solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent
country within secure borders with due regard to the security needs of
Israel," Kamboj said and urged all parties to foster conditions conducive
to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early date.
Citing the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza, the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that in the six
months between October 7, 2023 and the afternoon of April 8, at least 33,207
Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 75,933 injured.
According to the Government Media Office in Gaza,
fatalities include about 14,500 children and 9,560 women.
More than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals,
including 33 children, have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on October
7 last year, when Hamas carried out the shocking terror attacks against Israel.
President of the 78th session of the UN General
Assembly Dennis Francis expressed deep regret that the General Assembly must
routinely meet on the veto initiative "due to the perennial inability of
the Security Council to speak with one voice on matters of grave
importance." "Once again, we convene under this initiative as conflict
in Gaza rages into its sixth bloody month, as death and destruction rule the
day, and as divisions among Member States, especially in the Council,
persist," he said.
Francis described the conflict in Gaza as “blight on
our common humanity." Francis said millions around the world will
celebrate the religious holiday Eid-al-Fitr in the safety of their homes
"while Gazans will again offer prayers on the ruins of mosques and their
obliterated homes." "I implore the Security Council members to
meaningfully use their power in support of an immediate – and importantly, a
lasting ceasefire on the ground,” he said.
Source:
telegraphindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/humanitarian-crisis-caused-by-israel-hamas-simply-unacceptable-india-in-united-nations/cid/2012126
---
Arab
World
Yemenis bear the brunt of Houthi Red Sea attacks, says
Al-Alimi
April 08, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea
have exacerbated the country’s misery more than any other nation, the chairman
of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council said on Sunday, accusing Iran of
fueling instability.
Rashad Al-Alimi told Al-Hadath TV that the Houthi
attacks have significantly increased shipping and insurance costs and
exacerbated Yemenis’ suffering, noting that the Houthis have used the Israeli
war in Gaza to win the hearts and minds of Yemenis while also seeking to derail
peace efforts in Yemen.
“The Yemeni people are the first and most affected, as
insurance on Yemeni ports has climbed five to six times, while shipping has
increased eight times. As a result, the Yemeni people are currently bearing the
brunt of Iran’s conspiracy, which is being carried out by Houthi militias,” the
Yemeni leader said.
Since November, the Houthis have launched hundreds of
ballistic missiles and drones at international commercial and naval ships in
the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden, claiming to be acting
in solidarity with Palestinians to force Israel to lift its siege of Gaza.
Al-Alimi described the Houthi Red Sea attacks as a
“play” intended to carry out Iran’s regional ambitions, boost Houthi public
support and undermine peace efforts to end the Yemen war.
“This affected the Yemeni people, not Israel. Food
costs have risen by five to six times today,” he said.
Western countries, which have long urged the Yemeni
government to de-escalate and engage in peace talks with the Houthis, are now
convinced that defeating the Houthis militarily will end the Yemeni problem, he
said.
The Western countries “resorted to a military option,
repeating what we had always told them: The Houthis would not come to
diplomacy, negotiations, or peace unless they were defeated militarily and
their military capabilities were eliminated,” he said.
The US and UK have launched strikes against Houthi
targets in Sanaa, Saada, Hodeidah and other Yemeni territories under their
control in response to the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Despite the Western powers’ conclusion on a military
solution to the Houthis, they are hesitant to provide military assistance to
Yemen’s internationally recognized government to protect the Yemeni Red Sea
coasts from which the Houthis launch missiles and drones and expel them from
other Yemeni areas under their control.
“We believe that the international community still
views Yemen under Chapter Seven, and therefore, they have reservations about
providing us with military capabilities.”
The Yemeni government would join the US-led marine
coalition known as Operation Prosperity Guardian to safeguard the Red Sea from
Houthi attacks if other Red Sea countries joined the mission and his military
forces received military help to battle the Houthis.
“We do not wish to enter as decoration to beautify or
legitimize the coalition.
“Yemen’s military and military institutions must
receive (military) help to safeguard Yemeni sovereignty and territorial seas,
as well as reclaim territories controlled by militias.”
Al-Alimi leads an eight-man presidential council made
up of Yemen’s main military and political leaders, which was founded in April
2022.
Speaking about his council’s accomplishments, he said
that it was able to defuse hostilities between various anti-Houthi entities,
establish a unified command room for all military and security units, activate
state bodies in liberated areas, including the southern port city of Aden,
Yemen’s interim capital, end a year-long strike of judges that paralyzed courts
and channel financial assistance aid from international donors.
He said that there were still disagreements among
council members, as well as opposition from military units to the merger with
the Defense Ministry.
“We have important issues before us that cause
disagreement inside the council, but when we agree on something, we move
forward; when we disagree, we postpone the discussion,” Al-Alimi said.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490056/middle-east
----
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan demand end to Israel’s
hostilities in Gaza
08 April 2024
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have made a joint statement,
calling on the international community to pressure Israel to halt hostilities
in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Riyadh and Islamabad made the statement after Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif in Mecca on Sunday.
Both parties called for international efforts “to halt
Israeli military operations in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and… pressure
Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate
unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza.”
The two leaders also called for “the establishment of
an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem (al-Quds) as its capital,”
according to the statement.
In February, Saudi Arabia made it clear that the
kingdom will not begin diplomatic relations with Israel before the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state and a permanent ceasefire in
the Gaza Strip.
Saudi officials have repeatedly called for a halt to
the Israeli war on Gaza.
Yet even as anger ripples across the Muslim world
after six months of bombardment, mass displacement and over 33,000 Palestinians
killed, there is no sign of an end to the regime’s offensive in the besieged
territory.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas said on
Monday no agreement is even close in the ceasefire talks underway in Cairo.
Source:
presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/08/723317/Saudi-Arabia-Pakistan-Israel-war-ceasefire-Gaza
----
Saudi authority offers smart solutions to visitors of
Two Holy Mosques
08 April 2024
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority
(SDAIA) is offering intelligent solutions and secure digital services,
particularly to support government entities serving visitors of the Two Holy
Mosques, especially during the Umrah season.
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), these efforts
complement SDAIA's commitment to advancing research in data and Artificial
Intelligence to enhance services at the Two Holy Mosques, aligning with its
mandate to deliver data-related capabilities and foster innovation in AI.
SDAIA aims to integrate with government entities
serving Umrah performers and visitors to provide them with excellent services,
following the directives of the wise leadership. This includes aligning with
the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Programme, part of Saudi Vision 2030.
To facilitate visitors of the Two Holy Mosques, SDAIA
has integrated services from various government entities into the
"Tawakkalna" application, available in seven languages in 77
countries worldwide. These services include issuing Umrah permits, checking
weather conditions, determining the Qibla direction, and specifying prayer
times.
Recognising the importance of AI technologies, SDAIA
collaborates with relevant entities to enhance services provided to Umrah
performers and worshippers, including crowd management and monitoring at entry
points.
Through its "Baseer" platform, SDAIA offers
technological products developed with national algorithms to organise crowds,
manage movement flow, and provide advanced data analytics dashboards for
real-time analysis.
SDAIA also supports entry points by providing human
resources and technological devices, implementing preventive maintenance, and
training personnel on devices, systems, and updates to enhance operations at
border crossings.
Source:
gulftoday.ae
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/04/08/saudi-authority-offers-smart-solutions-to-visitors-of-two-holy-mosques
----
Saudi FM, Palestinian PM discuss Gaza developments
April 08, 2024
JEDDAH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa in Jeddah, the
foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The pair discussed the situation in Palestine,
including developments in Gaza and the West Bank, and the efforts being made to
reach an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in the besieged enclave.
Earlier, the premier was received at the airport by
Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji .
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490151/saudi-arabia
---
Individual jumps down from Grand Mosque's upper floor
April 09, 2024
MAKKAH — The special security force at the Grand
Mosque swiftly responded to an alarming incident where an individual threw
himself from one of the upper floors of the mosque.
Following the incident, immediate measures were taken
to ensure the individual received prompt medical attention. He was quickly
transported to a nearby hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment and
evaluation to ascertain his condition.
In parallel, necessary procedural steps were taken to
investigate the incident further and understand the circumstances that led to
the brash behavior. The situation was immediately brought under control and the
authorities were closely monitoring the entire premises to ensure the safety
and security of all worshippers and visitors in the Grand Mosque.
Source:
saudigazette.com.sa
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/641921/SAUDI-ARABIA/Individual-jumps-down-from-Grand-Mosques-upper-floor
---
Al-Yamamah’s Eastern Mosque Has Been Bearing Witness
to Al-Kharj’s Remarkable Najdi Architectural Style for 400 Years
08 Apr, 2024
The Eastern Mosque in Al-Yamamah village, Al-Kharj
governorate, is a remarkable witness of the enduring Najdi architectural style.
According to historical sources, the mosque was
constructed between 1050 and 1100 AH.
The mosque’s architectural style was crafted to suit
the prevailing climatic conditions of the region. A basement was constructed to
ensure warmth for worshippers and students during winter, and a cool place from
the harsh summer heat. The mosque’s roof, built using tamarisk wood, is flat
and features a solid, level layer to create a surface that aligns with the
mihrab (prayer niche) on the ground floor.
Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Saees, an expert on local
history, said that a room for ablution was constructed adjacent to the mosque,
and a well was dug in the northwestern part of the mosque to provide water both
for the mosque and for the local community.
The mosque’s basement features openings that allow
natural light and air to filter in during the day and hangers for lamps to
provide illumination at night.
The courtyard separates the basement area from the
upper part of the mosque, and accommodates 40-60 worshippers.
The old mosque was last used in 1432 AH, as it needed
restoration. As a valuable historical landmark, it had to be revamped by
experts. The locals kept the mosque in its original state, placing barriers
around it for protection.
According to historical documents, the mosque suffered
severe damage in 1170 AH, but was subsequently restored. The mosque was
constructed using materials sourced from the local environment, including
solid, petrified mud veins and a layer of mud mixed with gypsum, a local
material boiled to resemble natural gypsum, palm fronds, and twigs.
The mosque was last restored approximately 70 years
ago.
Source:
alriyadhdaily.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://alriyadhdaily.com/article/265acdad103b4cdfb012ac1f12445049
---
North
America
US military says it destroyed Houthi air defense and
drone systems in Red Sea are
April 09, 2024
WASHINGTON: The US military said on Monday it
destroyed air defense and drone systems of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces
in the area of the Red Sea, with no injuries or damage reported to commercial,
US and coalition ships.
The US Central Command said on X its forces had
destroyed an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground
control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and one unmanned aerial
system launched by the Houthis from Yemen over the Red Sea.
"Separately, at approximately 8 a.m. (Sanaa time)
on April 7, an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from a
Houthi-controlled area of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden where a coalition ship
was escorting M/V Hope Island, a Marshall Islands Flagged, UK-owned,
Italian-operated cargo ship," the CENTCOM post said.
Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping through
the Suez Canal, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys
around southern Africa. The United States and Britain have launched strikes on
Houthi targets in Yemen.
The Houthi militants, who control the most populous
parts of Yemen, call their action a response to Israel’s military operations in
Gaza and a show of solidarity to Palestinians.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 33,000
people, according to the local health ministry and displaced nearly the entire
population of 2.3 million.
The Israeli offensive began after Palestinian Islamist
group Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to
Israeli tallies.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490256/middle-east
----
Pelosi joins call for Biden to stop transfer of US
weapons to Israel
08 April 2024
As many as 37 congressional Democrats, including
Representative Nancy Pelosi, former House speaker and a key ally of Joe Biden,
have signed a letter, urging the US president to stop transfer of American
weapons to the Israeli regime in light of the latter’s crimes in the Gaza
Strip.
Representatives Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib, and
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were also among the signatories of the letter that was
addressed to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday.
The letter also urged that the Biden administration
conduct its own probe into an Israeli airstrike that killed seven staff of the
World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid group last Monday.
“In light of the recent strike against aid workers and
the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to
approve these weapons transfers," the letter said.
More than 33,200 Palestinians, mostly women, children,
and adolescents, have died since October 7, when the regime began a genocidal
war against the Palestinian territory.
A report published by The Washington Post last month,
revealed that the Biden administration had arranged "over 100"
individual arms transfers to Israel since the start of the brutal military
onslaught.
The previously unreported triple-digit figure includes
thousands of precision-guided munitions, small-diameter bombs, bunker busters,
small arms, and other lethal aid.
The war also enjoys political support on the part of
Washington, which has struck down several United Nations Security Council
resolutions calling for a ceasefire.
Source:
presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/08/723333/United-States-weapons-Israel-Pelosi-war-Gaza-Rashida-Tlaib-Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez
----
More Democrats sign letter urging Biden to halt
weapons transfer to Israel
April 09, 2024
Democratic Representative from Wisconsin, Congressman
Mark Pocan, has revealed that 16 additional Democrats have signed a letter
urging US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to halt all
weapons transfers to Israel which is accused of carrying out genocide in Gaza.
Pocan expressed optimism about the momentum, stating
on Monday: "Big news! Our letter to withhold offensive arms transfers to
Israel has picked up steam today. We have added 16 signers for our final push —
56 Members of Congress total. A shift is underway!"
The decision points to unease and concerns within the
Democratic Party regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East amid heavy
Palestinian casualties at the hands of invading Israeli troops and US weapons
both.
Last week, former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a key
ally of President Biden, joined dozens of congressional Democrats in signing
the letter.
The letter not only calls for a cessation of weapons
transfers but also urges the White House to conduct an independent
investigation into an Israeli air strike that resulted in the deaths of seven
staff members, six of them foreigners, from the aid organisation World Central
Kitchen.
Pelosi's involvement signals a significant alignment
of influential figures within the party behind the push for policy changes
regarding US support for Israel.
The letter has drawn support from a range of
high-profile Democrats, including Representatives Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib,
and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Their backing also underscores a broader shift within
the Democratic Party, reflecting a growing sentiment among lawmakers to
reassess US-Israel relations and advocate for a more balanced approach in
addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As tensions in the region continue to escalate, the
fresh developments have imposed increasing pressure on the Biden administration
to reconsider its stance on military aid to Israel and prioritise diplomatic
efforts toward achieving lasting peace in Gaza.
"In light of the recent strike against aid
workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is
unjustifiable to approve these [new] weapons transfers," the letter
highlights.
The backdrop and genocide charges
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas says its
October 7 blitz on Israel that surprised its arch-enemy was orchestrated in
response to Israeli attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque, illegal settler violence in
occupied West Bank and to put Palestine question "back on the table."
In an assault of startling breadth, Hamas gunmen
rolled into as many as 22 locations outside Gaza, including towns and other
communities as far as 24 kilometres from the Gaza fence. In some places they
are said to have gunned down many soldiers as Israel's military scrambled to
muster response.
The hours-long attack resulted in the killing of more
than 1,130 people, Israeli officials and local media say.
Palestinian fighters took more than 250 hostages and
presently 130 remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli army says are dead,
some of them killed by indiscriminate Israeli strikes. Dozens of the captives
were later exchanged for Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails for years.
Since then, Israel has been carrying out
scorched-earth bombing of Gaza from air, land and sea, killing more than 33,200
Palestinians, mostly children and women, wounding nearly 76,000 and displacing
most of 2.3 million people in the tiny coastal enclave. More than 8,000
Palestinians are believed to be dead or missing under the debris of bombed
buildings and homes.
The Israeli war has pushed 85 percent of Gaza's 2.4
million population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food,
clean water and medicine, while 60 percent of the enclave's infrastructure has
been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to do more to prevent starvation
crisis in Gaza. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the rights
situation in the Palestinian territories, said recently there were reasonable
grounds to believe Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Source:
trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/more-democrats-sign-letter-urging-biden-to-halt-weapons-transfer-to-israel-17709236
----
US rabbis grapple with anxiety over Gaza destruction
as war crosses six-month mark
April 09, 2024
Every Friday night, Rabbi Marc Katz’s synagogue
recites a prayer for Israel that, since October 7, has expressed hope for the
release of the hostages held by Hamas, mentioned the Israeli government and
asked God for dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Katz, the spiritual leader of Temple NerTamid in
Bloomfield, New Jersey, also makes his own daily prayer: for the war to come to
an end.
“I pray every day that Israel finds its way out of
this war,” Katz told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The Israeli strike that
killed seven aid workers last week, he said, has only intensified that desire.
“This is just one more piece of evidence for why I
need to pray even harder for this to be the case,” he said. “As horrible as
this was, this doesn’t change anything for me. It just underscores how horrible
war actually is.”
But he added a caveat: “It doesn’t mean that the war
becomes more unjust because those seven people died.”
And when Katz discusses the war, he tells his Reform
congregation to find a place in the “messy middle, which is this idea that you
can hold a lot of things at once, and you can feel for the Palestinian people,
you can feel for the Israeli people. Compassion is not a zero-sum game.”
The dilemmas Katz faces are the same ones that rabbis
across the United States and beyond are confronting as their communities mark
six months’ passage since October 7. In the time immediately after the Hamas
onslaught that day, as Jews worldwide mourned the 1,200 people killed in
Israel, mostly civilians, and began to cope with the reality of some 253
hostages held in Gaza, they mobilized for rallies, prayers and donation drives
around the world.
Now, six months later, Hamas is heavily damaged but
remains in charge of parts of Gaza, and more than 130 Israelis remain in
captivity. Meanwhile, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of
them civilians, according to unverified reports by the Hamas-run health
ministry, and the Gaza Strip faces an acute humanitarian crisis that global
health officials say is leading to famine. The Israeli strike that killed the
seven World Central Kitchen workers — after which Israel apologized, fired
officers and changed its policies — has exacerbated international anger at
Israel.
For many American rabbis, the World Central Kitchen
killings have fueled a crisis in confidence. They told JTA that they and their
congregants are grappling with another reality half a year later: a war
ongoing, the Jewish state isolated and mounting Palestinian suffering — in
addition to antisemitism closer to home.
Some who eschewed calls for a ceasefire in the past
have recently made their own, while others have remained staunchly in Israel’s
corner — believing, as most Israeli Jews do, that the war must go on despite
the cost. (Israel announced on Sunday that it was withdrawing most troops from
Gaza but would continue the war with targeted raids and strikes.) Hundreds have
donated nearly $60,000 to a fundraiser for World Central Kitchen initiated by
US rabbis. All are trying to shepherd their congregations or students through a
situation with no easy answers.
“A lot of people, Jews in my community who were very
concerned about Israel’s right to defend itself until now, really have felt
like Israel crossed a line,” said Elliot Kukla, a grief counselor and teacher
at Svara, a Chicago-based yeshiva that serves queer Jews.
“People that we serve [are] beginning to question and
say: Wait a minute, what’s going on? And I feel like I have that conversation
on a regular basis — of American Jews asking questions they’ve never really
asked before.”
Kukla is part of a group called Rabbis for Ceasefire
that was founded just weeks after October 7 by a former leader of the
anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace, at a time when such calls were found
mostly on the pro-Palestinian left. In the months since then, calls for a
ceasefire have become increasingly widespread, including among rabbis. The
rabbinic human rights group T’ruah was one of a coalition of liberal Zionist
groups to call for a bilateral ceasefire and the release of hostages a month
ago.
“I believe we must hold many truths at the same time
right now, and that is very hard,” said Rabbi Amy Schwartzman of the Reform
Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia, who endorsed the T’ruah stance.
“My arms are tired of holding so much. I fear for my beloved Israel on so many
levels — a big one being that the world is turning farther away from Israel
every day.”
Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky of the Conservative
AnscheChesed synagogue in New York City said he also supports a negotiated
ceasefire, though he added, “I in general refrain from trying to use synagogue
as a time for op-eds.” (Kalmanofsky made news last year when he replaced the
traditional prayer for the State of Israel during his congregation’s services
as a form of protest against Israel’s right-wing government.) He said he has
been surprised by the length of the war.
“I certainly never could have imagined six months,”
Kalmanofsky said. “I am passionately, emotionally, ethnically, religiously on
the side of Israel and I try every day not to let that diminish my connection
to the people of Gaza who are suffering unimaginably.”
Calls for ceasefire are far from universal. Rabbi
Stuart Weinblatt, who leads the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition and is the rabbi of
the Conservative Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac, Maryland, was on a
mission to Israel with 20 of his congregants, where they heard from Israelis
who exhorted them to fight the “fake news” smearing Israel’s conduct in the
war, when the World Central Kitchen strikes took place.
Weinblatt praised Israel’s changes in response to
having killed the aid workers and said he and his congregants back its war
aims. “Israel needs to continue its job until it defeats Hamas,” he said.
“I have a congregation that is sophisticated and
knowledgeable enough to know that this attack [on World Central Kitchen’s
convoy], unfortunate as it is, is an aberration and not indicative of normal
procedures,” he said. “They’re concerned that people come away with the wrong
impression about Israel, but they understand that this is not who Israel is,
and as a result, remain committed to being supportive of Israel.”
Angst over the duration and humanitarian cost of
Israel’s war appears less pronounced among Orthodox communities, including
their rabbis, which tend to be more politically conservative, skew to the right
of non-Orthodox communities on Israel issues and generally support the war
effort. Some Orthodox rabbis have spoken out in recent days to express distress
over the pressure that Israel is facing from the United States.
Efrem Goldberg, senior rabbi of the Boca Raton
Synagogue in Florida, wrote on Facebook that he believed the Biden
administration was wrong to demand changes from Israel following the World
Central Kitchen killings.
“If you or your loved one were held hostage, wouldn’t
you want and expect your President to make ultimatums to those torturing you,
not those fighting for your release?!” he wrote.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who leads KehillatEtzChayim of
Detroit and also works at the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, also
wrote on Facebook that he was distressed by the Biden administration’s
declining patience with Israel’s war effort. He also said he remained confident
not only in the virtue of the war but in how Israel is fighting it.
“As we sadly know from the recent tragic death of
seven humanitarian aid workers (and the preliminary Israeli investigation), not
every soldier is perfect,” Lopatin wrote on Facebook. “Yet I deeply believe,
with all the evidence, that the IDF is the most moral army in the world.”
The idea that the war is causing Israel to become a
pariah state — or perhaps has already made it so — has troubled rabbis across
denominations and ideologies. Rabbi Barat Ellman, a professor of religion at
Fordham University and advocate for a ceasefire, said such a reality is “very
scary for Israelis and it’s very scary for Jews.”
Katz believes global antagonism toward Israel made
that scenario inevitable.
“Israel already is a pariah state. I’m not sure that
this is going to change things. It’s been horrible to watch as Israel has lost
world opinion,” he said. “I knew that this was going to happen the minute that
October 7 happened. And this [the strike on aid workers] sped things up a
little bit, but it was going to get there no matter what, unfortunately.”
Kalmanofsky said he hasn’t yet given up on the war.
“Israel has to pursue its war aims with urgency and it should pursue its
humanitarian aims with comparable urgency,” he said. And like the vast majority
of American synagogues, his congregation recites a prayer for Israel. But he
adds something of his own as well.
“I never let a week pass without also mentioning the
suffering of the Palestinians,” he said. “We don’t recite a formal tefillah
[prayer], but I never let a Saturday pass without also raising that.”
Source:
timesofisrael.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-rabbis-grapple-with-anxiety-over-gaza-destruction-as-war-crosses-six-month-mark/
----
Africa
Rwanda's leader criticises perceived US ambiguity over
1994 genocide
April 09, 2024
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Monday said he was
concerned by what he saw as the failure of the United States to characterise
the 1994 massacres as a genocide against the country’s minority Tutsis.
His comments came after US Secretary of State, Anthony
Blinken, in a post on the social platform X, failed to specify that the Tutsi
ethnic group was targeted.
Many Rwandans have criticised Blinken’s comment on
Sunday which read: “We mourn the many thousands of Tutsis, Hutus, Twas, and
others whose lives were lost during 100 days of unspeakable violence.”
The 7 April marks the start, 30 years ago, of a
100-day killing spree by extremists from the Hutu ethnic group in which members
of the Tutsi minority and Hutu moderates were slaughtered.
Kagame said he believed he’d reached an agreement with
US authorities for them not to voice any criticism on the day of the
anniversary.
“There are 365 days in a year. Give us that day, 7
April, commemorate with us and then you can have the rest 364 days blaming us
every day for everything you do not like about us," he said.
Rwandan authorities say any ambiguity on who the
genocide victims were is an attempt to distort history and disrespects the
memory of the victims.
Questions over how to mark the genocide stems from
allegations that the Rwandan Patriotic Front militia, led by Kagame, which
stopped the massacres and has ruled Rwanda unchallenged since 1994, carried out
its own revenge killings during and after the genocide.
He has previously said that his forces showed
restraint. In a speech on Sunday, Kagame said Rwandans are disgusted by what he
described as the hypocrisy of Western nations that failed to stop the killings.
Kagame is under growing pressure over Rwanda’s
military involvement in eastern Congo, where tensions have flared recently as
the two countries’ leaders accuse one another of supporting armed groups.
United Nations experts have said they had “solid
evidence” that members of Rwanda’s armed forces were conducting operations
there in support of M23, whose rebellion has caused the displacement of
hundreds of thousands of people in Congo’s North Kivu’s province.
Rwandan authorities say they want to deter rebels,
including Hutu extremists responsible for the genocide, who fled to eastern
Congo.
On Monday, Kagame said the M23 are fighting for the
rights of Congolese Tutsis, with at least 100,000 of them now seeking refuge in
Rwanda after fleeing attacks in eastern Congo.
“Why are we being accused as Rwanda of supporting M23
and I am saying even those who accuse us, actually we should accuse them of not
supporting M23, because it is as if they agree with the injustice that is being
done to this community,” he said.
Source:
africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/09/rwandas-leader-criticises-us-ambiguity-over-1994-genocide/
----
Tanzanian soldiers killed in DR Congo missile attack
April 08, 2024
KIGALI — A mortar attack in the east of the Democratic
Republic of Congo has killed three soldiers from a southern African military
force.
All of those who died were from Tanzania. Three others
were hurt.
"Hostile" missile fire "fell near the
camp where they were staying," said the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) on Monday.
None of the soldiers has been named, nor have further
details been given on where or when the attack took place.
SADC has also not said who was responsible for the
attack on its soldiers.
The Southern African regional force was invited in by
the Congolese government last year to halt worsening insecurity linked to
numerous rebel groups vying for control of territory and eastern DR Congo's
rich mineral resources.
Chief among them is the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda
has been widely accused of backing, including by UN experts, although Kigali
has always vehemently denied this.
In turn, it accuses the Congolese army of working with
the FDLR, a militia linked to some of those responsible for the 1994 genocide
in Rwanda, a charge rejected by Kinshasa.
After a lull in activity, the notorious M23 rebel
group once again saw a resurgence in 2021 and now controls large parts of North
Kivu province.
In recent months, thousands of people have fled the
escalating violence in parts of eastern DR Congo. Many have taken shelter in
the region's main city of Goma, which some fear the M23 could capture, as it
did in 2012.
Pressure has grown on the DR Congo government after it
ordered the large UN peacekeeping mission to leave the country by the end of
2024.
A total of 2,900 SADC soldiers were sent to North Kivu
province in December to take on the M23 rebels.
In its statement on Monday, SADC said a soldier from
South Africa had also died in hospital while being treated for health problems.
In February, two South African soldiers were killed by
a mortar barrage in North Kivu province. — BBC
Source:
saudigazette.com.sa
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/641917/World/Africa/Tanzanian-soldiers-killed-in-DR-Congo-missile-attack
----
Ramadan: Continue to promote religious harmony –
GovOyebanji tells Muslims during Iftar meal
April 8, 2024
Ekiti State Governor, BiodunOyebanji has called for
greater collaboration among adherents of major religions in the state to
promote harmony, noting that Ekiti people are one irrespective of religion.
The Governor made the call on Sunday evening at the
iftar he hosted for Muslim faithful and leaders across the state at the Lady
Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti.
Governor Oyebanji, at the event attended by Muslim
leaders, scholars, and government functionaries, thanked the Muslim community
for their continuous prayers, support and love for his administration and for
sustaining religious harmony in the state, stressing that the peaceful
atmosphere had brought about significant development in the state.
Emphasizing the importance of love and unity among
adherents of different religions, the Governor stressed the role of Muslims in
promoting peace, unity, and understanding in society, noting that their actions
and attitudes should consistently reflect the values of compassion and tolerance
taught by Islam.
He urged them to utilize the opportunity provided by
the ongoing Ramadan season to continue to pray for the development of the state
and the country at large.
“Let me thank the Muslim faithful for your support for
our government because the way you supported me before, during, and after the
elections amazed me and my prayer is that I will not disappoint you.
“I will just urge our people that the love that exists
between the two religions and the other faith in the state should be nurtured
because when there is love the state will progress and I know that in Ekiti
State, I keep telling my friends that we are one”. The Governor asserted.
In their goodwill messages at the event, a former
Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hakeem Jamiu, and the
President, Ekiti State Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Hameed Bakare,
lauded the Governor for holding the iftah and for according Muslims in the
state a proper recognition. They added that the Muslim community had never had
it so well in the state.
Also in his lecture, the lead Missioner of the
Nasrul-Lahi-ii Fathi Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, Ekiti State chapter,
AbdulfattahAbdulazeez expressed his gratitude to the Governor for his giant
strides in the state and for being a God-fearing leader.
He assured the Governor that Muslims in the state
would continue to support and pray for his administration, stressing that it is
the only way they can pay back the Governor for all his good deeds.
Also at the event were Secretary to the State
Government, Dr HabibatAdubiaro, Commissioner for Regional Development and
inter-governmental Affairs, Dr Kareem MakanjuolaAkande, President League of
Imams and Alfas, Southwest, Edo and Delta State, Sheik JamiuKewulere, Atta of
AyedeEkiti, HRM, Oba Adebayo Abdumumini, Muslims leader, among others.
Source:
dailypost.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://dailypost.ng/2024/04/08/ramadan-continue-to-promote-religious-harmony-gov-oyebanji-tells-muslims-during-iftar-meal/
----
Libyan embassies celebrate Ramadan with Quran
competitions
08/04/2024
Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, several Libyan
embassies abroad organized "Quran memorization" competitions in
various countries, including Serbia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Cyprus.
The competitions saw participation from dozens of
contestants, with prizes being awarded in the presence of diplomatic officials
and members of Arab and Islamic communities.
The Libyan Embassy in Serbia, in cooperation with the
Islamic Sheikhdom in Serbia and the General Authority for Endowments in Libya,
launched the first international "WaA'tasimo" competition for Quran
memorization.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, the competition at the Hasan
Tank Mosque in Ankara focused on the theme "Libya Peace" with the
slogan "By the Quran, We Live."
In Malaysia, the Libyan school in Damai organized the
fifth edition of the "WaRatil" (Recite) competition, which was
sponsored by the Libyan Embassy and members of the Libyan community.
Lastly, in Cyprus, the Islamic Affairs Committee of
the Libyan Embassy oversaw a Ramadan program that involved arranging Iftar
meals and Taraweeh prayers at the Grand Mosque in Nicosia, along with the
distribution of aid packages to the refugee camp in Cyprus.
Source:
libyaobserver.ly
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://libyaobserver.ly/news/libyan-embassies-celebrate-ramadan-quran-competitions
----
With the Anti-Homosexuality Act upheld, will Uganda
loose more donor funding?
08/04/2024
Ugandan gay rights activists asked the international
community to mount more pressure on the government of Uganda to repeal an anti-gay
law which the country's Constitutional Court refused to nullify.
Activist Frank Mugisha said April's 2nd ruling was
“wrong and deplorable.”
“This ruling should result in further restrictions to
donor funding for Uganda — no donor should be funding anti-LGBTQ+ hate and
human rights violations,” said Mugisha on Wednesday' (Apr. 03).
The court upheld a law that allows the death penalty
for “aggravated homosexuality.”
Uganda has not resorted to capital punishment for many
years.
The law in question defines “aggravated homosexuality”
as cases of homosexual relations involving a minor and other categories of
vulnerable people, or when the perpetrator is infected with HIV.
A suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated
homosexuality”, faces up to 14 years in prison.
The offense of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable
by up to 10 years.
President Yoweri Museveni signed the
Anti-Homosexuality Act into law in May last year. It's supported by many in the
East African country but widely condemned by rights groups and others abroad.
At the time, the UN chief, called on Uganda "to
fully respect its international human rights obligations, in particular the
principle of non-discrimination and the respect for personal privacy,
irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity."
Indeed, the lawimposes penalties of up to life in
prison for consensual same-sex relations.
The court ordered that members of the LGBT community
should not be discriminated against when seeking medicine.
A Ugandan human rights advocate who was a petitioner
in the case, Nicholas Opiyo, expressed his disappointment.
“While we respect the court, we vehemently disagree
with its findings and the basis on which it was reached. We approached the
court expecting it to apply the law in defense of human rights and not rely on
public sentiments, and vague cultural values arguments,” said Opiyo.
Foreign investments
Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda under a
colonial-era law criminalizing sexual activity “against the order of nature.”
The punishment for that offense is life imprisonment.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan
said on Apr. 4 the court’s decision “is deeply disappointing, imperils human
rights, and jeopardizes economic prosperity for all Ugandans.”
Sullivan said President Joe Biden’s administration
“continues to assess implications of the AHA [Editor's Note: Anti-homosexuality
Act] on all aspects of U.S. engagement with the Government of Uganda and has
taken significant actions thus far,” including sanctions and visa restrictions
against Ugandan officials and reduced support for the government, he said.
Antony Blinken, the US's top diplomat said “The
remaining provisions of the AHA [...] undermine public health, clamp down on
civic space, damage Uganda’s international reputation, and harm efforts to
increase foreign investment”.
The European Parliament voted in April to condemn the
bill and asked EU states to pressure Museveni into not implementing it, warning
that relations with Kampala were at stake.
The White House also warned the government of possible
economic repercussions if the legislation took effect.
AsumanBasalirwa, the MP who sponsored the bill, said
aid cuts were expected and said he would champion new partnerships with
like-minded countries.
Source:
africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/08/with-the-anti-homosexuality-law-upheld-will-uganda-loose-more-donor-funding/
----
Southeast
Asia
Bangkok mosque is a melting pot for Muslims from
across Asia
WissarutVerasopon
2024.04.08
Muslims make up a small minority – a little more than
5% of Thailand’s 71.8 million people – but the faithful who fill the Haroon
Mosque in Bangkok during Ramadan and other Islamic mosques are mostly
immigrants.
Every night throughout Ramadan, they’ve been coming to
this mosque in the Charoen Krung-Bang Rak area to pray and to break their daily
fasts together over steaming plates of curry dishes and other delights.
This area in the heart of the Thai capital is home to
many Muslims who settled in Thailand after moving from countries such as
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar.
“My father and mother came to Thailand in 1970,
starting a business that has been passed down to my generation,” jewelry store
owner Hasim Raja Ameen told BenarNews.
“I don’t feel different. I practice my religion and
fast during Ramadan every year, just like Thai Muslims and Muslims around the
world,” said Hasim, who is of Tamil Indian descent.
Built of wood, the mosque was called the Wat MuangKhae
Mosque during the reign of King Rama V until 1868, when a more permanent cement
structure was constructed. It was registered under the name Haroon in honor of
the imam who oversaw the refurbishing construction.
Ramadan marks the ninth month in the Islamic year and
commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Beginning this year on March 12, the Muslim faithful in Thailand have spent
their days refraining from food and drink, and will hold a day-long
celebration, Eid al-Fitr, later this week to mark the end of Ramadan.
Source:
benarnews.org
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.benarnews.org/english/slideshows/marking-ramadan-04082024144532.html
----
Growing tension over faith calls for politicians to
promote peace, says DAP Youth leader
Syed
JaymalZahiid
09 Apr 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — A DAP Youth leader today
suggested some politicians had enabled the recent series of religious
controversies that have affected interracial ties by acting as provocateurs.
Raja Ahmad Iskandar Fareez, publicity secretary for
Federal Territories DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) said instead of mediating peace
and reconciliation, which is the inherent responsibility of those the public
view as political leaders, some of whom were seen to have worsened the tension
when Muslims were outraged by the recent fiasco over the sale of socks with the
word “Allah” embroidered on it.
“When dealing with a controversy, it is the
responsibility of political leaders to be a voice of reason instead of
deepening the rift. They should have lead by example by choosing peace even if
it's a difficult choice,” the Bukit BintangDapsy vice-chief said in a
statement.
“In the era of social media dominance, it is
unfortunately easy for us to be swayed by popular outrage. For politicians, it
isn't easy to buck sentiment that's considered to be popular."
“But that is the obligation of the political leader in
the context of a multiracial society — they must have the wisdom and courage to
lead and speak out to preserve social cohesion," he added.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad AkmalSalleh was among the
most vocal critics of KK Mart when the convenience store chain was caught in a
political storm over the sale of several socks that had the word Allah stitched
on them.
Only a handful of the socks from over 18,000 imported
from China were found to have the word “Allah”, suggesting the incident had
likely been coincidental. The owners of the chain stores have since apologised
but have been charged for “intentionally hurting the feelings of Muslims”.
Dr Akmal, who had called for a boycott of KK Mart, is
also under police investigation.
Source:
malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/04/09/growing-tension-over-faith-calls-for-politicians-with-a-spine-says-dap-youth-leader/128083
----
Raids and fines for Ramadan fast breaking spotlight
rising religious conservatism in multicultural Malaysia
April 8, 2024
(CNN)—Religious authorities in Malaysia have stepped
up moral policing efforts during the holy month of Ramadan in what critics warn
has been part of a wider recent shift toward a more conservative form of Islam
in the multi-racial and culturally diverse nation.
Ramadan, regarded as the holiest month in the Islamic
calendar, is celebrated by Muslims around the world who abstain from eating,
drinking, and sexual acts during daylight hours and break their fast after
sundown.
It is a month of deep spiritual reflection and celebration
with friends and family – but can also be far from easy, as anyone who has
tried fasting can attest.
In many parts of Malaysia, Muslims caught eating or
drinking during daytime hours can find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
Around 20.6 million of Malaysia’s 34 million-strong
population are Muslims, but the country is also home to sizeable ethnic Chinese
and Indian minorities that include Buddhists, Christians and Hindus, as well as
indigenous communities.
Muslim devotees offer night prayers marking the start
of Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on March
11, 2024.
Under the country’s unusual dual track legal system,
which is also federal and varies from state to state, Muslims are subject to
sharia law on a host of social issues including marriage, divorce and fasting.
Religious police tend to ramp up their presence during
Ramadan, activists note, which ends later this week, patrolling the streets
more visibly and staking out at popular eateries – sometimes in disguise – to
catch those breaching the rules.
Those caught eating or drinking during daytime hours
face fines of up to 1,000 Malaysian Ringgit (about $200) and prison terms of up
to a year. Non-Muslims caught selling food, drinks or tobacco to Muslims during
fasting hours are also subject to penalties.
Arrest figures have not yet been released for this
year but in 2023, religious officials in the state of Malacca, a major tourist
destination, recorded nearly 100 arrests of Muslims caught eating in public
during the fasting month, an increase from 41 arrests the previous year, they
said.
This year, more than 10 “hotspots” were identified
throughout the state, said the chairman of its Islamic Religious Department,
JAIM.
RahmadMariman announced that “frequent monitoring and
inspections” were being carried out at popular bars, restaurants, malls and
parks. “Through these operations, JAIM enforcement officers will detain Muslims
found eating in public and will not hesitate to take action against traders
involved in selling food to them,” Mariman said in a statement.
Up north in the state of Perak, JAIM’s counterpart,
the Gerik Islamic Religious Department (JAIPK), took to TikTok to share videos
of inspections and fasting raids religious officers had conducted throughout
March.
In one video, set against a spaghetti western
soundtrack, JAIPK officers wearing their distinctive black and white uniforms
and reflective vests were seen arriving at an open-air eatery in the town of
Gerik during the day to question restaurant staff and catch Muslims buying
food.
One man wearing a blue motorcycle helmet, whose face
is pixelated in the video, was seen fleeing the restaurant with a plastic bag
of food.
“This was not a reenactment by professionals. It is an
actual video of what took place during our recent operations,” JAIPK wrote in a
caption accompanying its TikTok video, which went viral – racking up more than
1.7 million views and continuing to draw thousands of comments since it was
uploaded on March 15.
‘Heightened tensions’
Like much of South and Southeast Asia, Malaysia has
historically practiced a moderate form of Islam but religious conservatism has
been on the rise in recent years.
At the forefront of this shift, experts say, is the
ultra-conservative hardline Islamist political party PAS, which made historic
gains during Malaysia’s 2023 general election and wields great influence in its
stronghold conservative states in the north.
PAS party leader Hadi Awang, also a religious teacher,
regularly expresses his support for harsher sharia laws.
CNN reached out to multiple state religious bodies
across Malaysia for comment. One religious enforcement officer from Malacca
said that more raids had been carried out this year at various roadside stalls,
restaurants and parks as compared to 2023 and 2022.
“It is our responsibility to protect and preserve the
name of Islam during this important time,” said the male officer, who declined
to be named as he was not authorized to speak with international media.
But not all cases result in arrests, he also stressed.
“It is also important that we show compassion, especially on very hot days when
we see people drinking water – sometimes it can’t be helped.”
Moral policing during Ramadan is a longstanding issue
in the country, according to Malaysian women’s rights group Sisters in Islam,
which advocates against religious policing and points to another controversial
area of concern – “khalwat” laws.
Also known as “close proximity laws”, they vary from
state to state and are part of the civil sharia legislation that only applies
to Muslims. They are used to prosecute unmarried couples deemed to be overly
close to each other.
On March 8, religious police raided a luxury
condominium in the capital Kuala Lumpur and arrested two actors, a married male
and a single female, under these laws, a move that generated significant local
media coverage.
Complaints were made to the state religious
department, media reports said, and the scandal caused a national stir –
drawing scorn from conservative politicians and prompting public apologies from
the celebrities.
Sisters in Islam told CNN that overzealous application
of religious laws had gotten worse in recent years.
“These acts of moral policing violate personal
freedoms and paint a distorted image of Islam and raises important questions,”
said SIS spokeswoman Ameena Siddiqi.
It is also common practice during Ramadan for public
schools in Malaysia to shut their canteens, leaving limited options to eat and
rest during the day, Siddiqi notes.
“This has led to instances where non-Muslim students
are forced to ‘respect’ their fasting peers and eat their recess meals in
toilets,” Siddiqi said, adding sensitivities around fasting add to “heightened
tensions.”
“Restaurants and eateries have refused to serve food
to pregnant women during Ramadan, which goes against the very essence of
Islam,” Siddiqi added.
Anisah Mahmood, a 42-year-old mother of two from Kuala
Lumpur now living in London, said she was suspended by her company in 2018 after
she was caught eating in public. She was breastfeeding at the time.
“There are valid reasons for not fasting, mostly
medical,” she said. “But this is severely misunderstood in Malaysia, even if
you are tired or sick, you will be shamed and made to feel like a bad person.”
The issue of shuttered school canteens has been hotly
debated over the years and was recently revived in parliament by Education
Minister FadhlinaSidek.
Non-Muslim students, she argued, “should not be forced
to eat in storerooms or other inappropriate places” during Ramadan “when
canteens are available.”
Her comments drew criticism from PAS.
“We think it’s common today that everyone respects
those who are fasting and the children that are still learning to fast,” PAS
lawmaker Haji Ahmad Bin Yahaya, said in a statement shared online.
For those who struggle to fast or adhere to the rigors
of the faith they were born with, Ramadan can be a stressful time.
Yusuf, a Malay Muslim man in his 30s who lives in the
southern state of Johor, recalled how he was caught buying food during Ramadan
by religious police in 2019.
“As long as you look Malay, you must fast during
Ramadan – those are the rules,” Yusuf told CNN.
He asked not to publish his full name and age given
the sensitivities of the topic.
“No one likes to admit when they don’t fast –
especially if they are in Malaysia,” he said.
“I try to fast and try to be consistent, but it gets
mentally taxing and can feel almost impossible when all you want is coffee and
a cigarette to help get you through the day.”
Source:
cnn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/08/asia/malaysia-ramadan-fasting-raids-intl-hnk/index.html
----
Thailand remains neutral in Myanmar conflict, says foreign
minister
09 Apr 2024
BANGKOK: Thailand remains neutral in the Myanmar
conflict and is able to accept up to 100,000 people displaced by the turmoil,
Thai Foreign Minister ParnpreeBahiddha-nukara (pic) said on Tuesday (April 9).
Ahead of a Thai cabinet meeting to discuss the
escalating conflict in its neighbouring country, Parnpree urged warring groups
to engage in negotiations for peace.
Myanmar is in the throes of an insurgency on multiple
fronts, with allied anti-junta groups backed by a pro-democracy parallel
government seizing control of several military posts and towns, including parts
of a key town on the border with Thailand over the weekend.
The insurgency is the biggest challenge the Myanmar
junta has faced since it mounted a coup against an elected government in 2021.
"The situation in Myanmar is crucial to
Thailand," Prime Minister Srettha posted on X on Tuesday, adding his
government was ready to promote cooperation from all parties to create peace
and stability.
The regime in Myanmar was "losing strength"
Srettha told Reuters in a recent interview and that it was a good time to
initiate talks.
Last week, anti-junta forces attempted coordinated
drone attacks on military facilities in Myanmar's capital, a potential blow to
the well-equipped military's credibility.
Thailand, which shares a 2,000-km land border with
Myanmar, has been pursuing multiple engagements with Myanmar since Srettha took
office last August, including delivering aid under a humanitarian initiative
aimed at paving the way for talks between warring camps.
Thai lawmakers last month held a seminar on the
political situation in Myanmar that include appearances of opponents of the
Myanmar's military, despite the junta's objection. – Reuters
Source:
thestar.com.my
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/04/09/thailand-remains-neutral-in-myanmar-conflict-says-foreign-minister
---
Thousands of Filipino Muslims to perform Eid prayers
at Manila Golden Mosque
April 08, 2024
MANILA: Custodians of the Manila Golden Mosque are
preparing to host over 10,000 worshippers for upcoming Eid Al-Fitr prayers to
mark the end of Ramadan.
In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Muslims
make up nearly 10 percent of the country’s roughly 110 million population. Most
live on the southern islands of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago.
As Ramadan comes to an end and Muslims around the
world prepare for Eid Al-Fitr, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week
declared April 10 a national holiday.
Eid preparations were underway on Monday at the Manila
Golden Mosque, also known as Masjid Al-Dahab. With a capacity of 22,000
worshippers, the mosque, named after the color of its dome, is the largest in
Metro Manila.
“We are waiting for the (crescent) moon sighting. Once
the moon is sighted, the next day at dawn we will celebrate Eid Al-Fitr,”
Sultan Abdusalam Gerry Magarang, an administrator at the Manila Golden Mosque,
told Arab News on Monday.
Muslims begin Eid celebrations by partaking in a
prayer service not long after dawn, followed by a short sermon.
“We are expecting more or less 10,000 plus or more …
People will start to trickle in at around 6 a.m., and then prayer starts at 7
o’clock,” Magarang said. “So we’re cleaning the surroundings (now) because it’s
a big compound.
“It’s the most special time for us Muslims … (Ramadan)
is a month of tranquility, a month of celebration being a Muslim; to fulfill
one of the teachings of Allah. It’s a time for giving and helping one another,”
Magarang said.
Marcos said in a statement that April 10 was made a
national holiday “in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of
the Eid Al-Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.”
The Golden Mosque hosts one of the biggest Eid
celebrations in the Philippine capital, along with similar events at Rizal Park
and the Blue Mosque in Taguig city.
“Eid Al-Fitr is the culmination of our 30 days of
fasting in the Muslim world. So we are happy to celebrate it. There is unity,
harmony, and camaraderie,” EbraMoxir, president of the Imam Council of the
Philippines, told Arab News.
“First we pray in the morning … There we will gather,
and together we will praise the Lord … There will be a sermon, and after that a
prayer, supplication. After the prayer, there will be family or in some cases
community gatherings, greetings, visit to relatives and friends.”
Like many Filipino Muslims, Moxir is looking forward
to the joyful occasion.
“It’s a happy celebration because we have once again
completed and fulfilled our mandatory obligation which is one of the pillars of
Islam. It’s mission complete.”
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2489976/world
---
Pakistan
Pakistan urges UNSC for appropriate steps to implement
its resolution
April 09, 2024
Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council
to take appropriate steps to ensure the implementation on its resolution with
letter and spirit that called for the enforcement of ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking during the General Assembly debate on the use
of veto on the situation in the Middle East, Ambassador Munir Akram urged the
Security Council to impose a ban on the export of weapons to Israel as well as
hold the Israeli occupation authorities responsible for their crimes against
the Palestinians.
The envoy reiterated Pakistan's unflinching support
for the admission of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
Acknowledging the subsequent adoption of Security
Council resolution for ceasefire in Gaza, Ambassador Akram expressed
disappointment in Israel's non-compliance with the resolution.
Source:
radio.gov.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/09-04-2024/pakistan-urges-unsc-for-appropriate-steps-to-implement-its-resolution
----
PTI slams jail admin for ‘not allowing’ Imran’s
checkup
April 09, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Core
Committee Monday strongly criticised the jail administration for not allowing
Dr. Asim to conduct checkup of Imran Khan and urged the court to take prompt
notice of the matter.
In its meeting, the core committee emphasised that Dr.
Asim should be instantly allowed to check Imran Khan. The forum also strongly
condemned the reference filed with the Supreme Judicial Council against the
Islamabad High Court Judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.
The panel alleged that the misconduct reference
against Justice Kayani was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to
intimidate and coerce judges.
It added that the reference of misconduct against a
certain judge after sending toxic letters to honorable judges, who exposed the
interference of spy agencies in the judicial affairs, was part of an organized
campaign against the judiciary.
The forum urged the chief justice to take notice of
the incidents of harassment of judges directly and indirectly so as to bring to
limelight the persons responsible for this organized campaign against judges
and judiciary.
On the completion of two years of the alleged “regime
change” operation on April 9, the forum called upon the nation to hold peaceful
protest across the country. The forum urged the people to hoist flags of
Pakistan and PTI to show solidarity with their beloved leader Imran Khan.
The core committee strongly criticised the jail
administration for not allowing the families members to meet Imran Khan, Shah
Mahmood Qureshi and PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi during the Eid holidays.
Meanwhile, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister Muzammil
Aslam Monday alleged that the PDM regime was brought to power to fix the
economy but it inflicted an economic catastrophe on the country, as the
economy, growing at a pace of six percent was brought to zero. He alleged that
Shehbaz Sharif had taking 30-people delegation to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah
at the expense of public money amid serious economic constraints.
It may be mentioned Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar had stated before the PM’s Saudi visit that the
prime minister and the members of the delegation will bear the expense of this
tour from their own pockets.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1177109-pti-slams-jail-admin-for-not-allowing-imran-s-checkup
----
Imran’s jail security measures cost Rs1.2m monthly
April 09, 2024
RAWALPINDI:The security provisions for PTI founding
chairman Imran Khan at Adiala Jail are clocking a hefty monthly bill of over
Rs1.2 million, according to the report submitted by the jail superintendent to
the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The report details the specialised facilities provided
to Imran Khan within the prison premises, including a separate CCTV camera
system installed at a cost of Rs500,000, distinct from the system overseeing
the 7,000 other prisoners.
Imran Khan's meals are prepared in a dedicated kitchen
under the watchful eye of the assistant superintendent and are subject to inspection
by a medical officer or deputy superintendent before being served.
Furthermore, a team of over six doctors from Holy
Family Hospital is stationed to provide medical care to the former prime
minister, with additional specialist teams conducting regular check-ups.
Of the seven special cells available, Imran occupies
two, while the remaining five are kept closed for security reasons, with Imran
utilising the yard for his daily walks. Typically, 35 prisoners are
accommodated in these cells.
Access to Imran Khan's cell is tightly restricted,
requiring permission for entry, and professionally trained personnel are
assigned to ensure the security of his ward.
While Adiala Jail typically assigns one personnel for
every ten prisoners, Imran's security detail comprises 15 personnel, including
two security officers and three dedicated to his personal security.
Moreover, a designated area within the jail premises
is allocated for Imran Khan's recreational walks, equipped with exercise
machines and other amenities.
Strict regulations are enforced for visitors, and
comprehensive security protocols are implemented during court proceedings.
The report reveals the collaborative efforts of jail
police, Rangers, and district police in ensuring the security of Adiala Jail,
including regular search operations and mock drills.
Additional police forces, Rangers, and elite personnel
are deployed both within and around Adiala Jail to maintain a secure
environment for Imran Khan and all inmates.
Source:
tribune.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462159/imrans-jail-security-measures-cost-rs12m-monthly
----
Shehbaz concludes visit to Saudi Arabia: Islamabad,
Riyadh vow to speed up ‘first wave’ of $5bn investment
April 09, 2024
Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in a joint
statement on Monday affirmed their commitment to expediting the first wave of
investment package of $5 billion, which was discussed previously, with Jeddah’s
commitment to support Pakistan economically.
The announcement came a day after an official meeting
between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah, said the Foreign Office.
This was the first meeting between Prince Salman and a
Pakistani prime minister after the removal of the Imran Khan government.
There were no further details of this hefty package
but last year, caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar had announced that
Saudi Arabia would invest up to $25 billion in Pakistan over the next two to
five years in various sectors, adding the government would also revive the
stalled privatisation process. “The discussions at the Al-Safa Palace centered
on fortifying the fraternal relations between the two brotherly nations and
exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors. Emphasis
was placed on the Kingdom’s supportive role in Pakistan’s economy and the
mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment ties,” added the Foreign
Office. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir was also raised by both sides with
Pakistan agreeing that there should be a dialogue with India to solve all
issues.
This dialogue, said the joint statement, was important
for both sides to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries,
especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the
region. Unlike in the past, there was no mention by Pakistan to ensure that
Kashmir was resolved according to the UN resolutions.
“Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and
global developments of mutual interest, including the worrying situation in
Gaza. They urged for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations
in Gaza, mitigate humanitarian impact and underscored the imperative for the
international community to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to the
international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza,”
added the joint statement.
Both sides also discussed the need for advancing the
peace process in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security
Council and the General Assembly as well as the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at
finding a just and comprehensive solution, for establishment of an independent
Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
While the crown prince extended his congratulations to
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on assuming the office, he accepted an
invitation to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. He last visited
Pakistan in 2019 when PTI’s Imran Khan was the prime minister.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
arrived in Lahore after wrapping up his visit to the Kingdom. At the Jeddah
International Airport, he was seen off by Governor Jeddah Prince Saud bin
Abdullah bin Jalawi, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1177110-shehbaz-concludes-visit-to-saudi-arabia-islamabad-riyadh-vow-to-speed-up-first-wave-of-5bn-investment
----
Mosque blast in Kuchlak claims cop’s life, hurts 12
April 9, 2024
Saleem Shahid
QUETTA: A police official belonging to Eagle Squad was
martyred and 12 others suffered injuries in a blast in a portion of a mosque on
the outskirts of Quetta, on Monday evening.
Officials said people, including some Eagle Squad
personnel, were waiting to break their fast in a room of the mosque, situated
in the KilliKateer area of Kuchlak, some 25km from the Balochistan capital,
when the blast took place.
“A powerful explosion took place inside the room,
damaging the roof of the side room of the mosque,” police said.
Soon after the blast, personnel of law enforcement
agencies rushed to KilliKateer and shifted the injured and the body to Civil
Hospital.
Among the dozen injured are at least six Eagle Squad
personnel.
While quoting the bomb disposal squad officials, SSP
(Operations) Jawad Tariq said it was a “gas explosion” inside the mosque room.
“The bomb disposal squad did not find evidence of an explosive device after
examining the blast,” he said while speaking to Dawn.
Hospital sources said they received one body and 12
injured, some of whom sustained serious injuries.
The Eagle Squad soldier who lost his life was
identified as Mohammad Anwar Khan Kakar, a resident of Quetta.
Source:
dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1826574/mosque-blast-in-kuchlak-claims-cops-life-hurts-12
---
20 convicts in May 9 cases released from jail, govt
tells SC
April 9, 2024
Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday informed
the Supreme Court that 20 persons who were arrested and jailed for their
involvement in the May 9 violence have been released so that they could
celebrate Eidul Fitr with their family, after they served major part of their
sentence while the remaining period of their punishment was remitted by Chief
of the Army Staff (COAS).
Among them, four belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while
all other 16 hail from Punjab. They were released in the province of KP and Punjab
on April 7 and 6, respectively.
The office of the Attorney General for Pakistan
(AGP) furnished a list of 20 individuals before the Supreme Court to be made
part of the record.
Earlier on March 28, a six-judge SC bench headed by
Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan had modified its Dec 13, 2023 order that suspended the
operation of its Oct 23 decision which nullified the military trial of
civilians involved in the May 9 violence.
According to the amended order, a direction was
issued that military courts can commence trials but they will not convict or
acquit any suspect until the pendency of government-instituted Intra-Court
Appeals (ICAs).
Most of them served around 10 months in jail as the
remaining period of their punishment was remitted by COAS
AGP Mansoor Usman Awan had told the SC that as per
instructions 20 persons could be released before the coming Eid.
The report furnished before the SC stated that in
pursuance to its March 28 directions, the military courts were allowed to
resume trial and therefore sentences in cases of lesser punishments were handed
down. It said 20 persons were awarded sentences of one year of which 17 have
served a period of 10.5 months and three persons have served a period of 9.5
months.
While none of the persons have served out a full
period of one year, upon confirmation of their sentence, the remaining period
of their punishment was remitted by the COAS under Section 143(1)(i) of the
Pakistan Army Act, 1952 (PAA).
The list of 20 persons whose punishment has been
remitted and thus released before Eid was also provided along with the report
for the perusal of the court. The statement made by the federal government
before the court on March 28 stood complied with the release of the 20 persons
before Eid, the report said.
From Punjab, Mohammad Idrees who spent 10 months and
eight days in prison, Aswad Rajput who served 10 months and five days, Nadir
Khan who served 10 months and six days, Yasir Aman who spent 10 months and nine
days, and Sheharyar Zulfiqar, Lal Shah, Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Faisal who
spent 10 months and eight days in prison had been awarded one-year
imprisonment, but they were released after they were granted remissions,
according to the report.
Likewise, Faisal Irshad and Hassan Shakir spent 10
months and four days in jail while Abdullah Aziz served nine months and 26
days. All three hail from Lahore.
From Gujranwala, Mohammad Anas, Abdul Jabbar, Abdul
Sattar, Mohammad Rashid and Rashid Ali were released after they spent more than
10 months in jail.
From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s district of Dir, Umar
Muhammad served 10 months and 10 days, Khalmat Khan spent 10 months and seven
days in jail, while Ijaz-ul-Haq spent nine months and 23 days in prison. Shah
Zeb who belongs to Mardan was released after he served nine months and 29 days
in jail.
Source:
dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1826642/20-convicts-in-may-9-cases-released-from-jail-govt-tells-sc
-----
South
Asia
Treat teen gangs with special approach to correct
them: PM
Apr 8, 2024
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the
authorities concerned to tackle teen gangs with a special approach instead of
treating them like traditional criminals.
The directive came during an unscheduled discussion at
the cabinet meeting. The PM chaired the meeting held at her office in the city.
"The prime minister has given a special directive
to deal with teen gangs. Everyone is asked to be engaged in it [to tackle
gangs]. Unlike traditional handling of other criminals, we've to apply a slight
special approach in the cases of them [teen gangs]," said Cabinet
Secretary Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Secretariat.
The premier has given the directive to the Ministry of
Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare, said the cabinet secretary.
She has instructed all concerned to be careful in
dealing with teenage criminals, even if they get involved in any crime. Rather,
scopes should be kept for their correction and engaging them (juveniles) in
various activities, she said.
The prime minister also asked the authorities not to
keep such teenagers with regular prisoners in jails.
The Ministry of Social Welfare was instructed to
undertake projects in this regard, said the cabinet secretary.
He said there are three juvenile development centres
(in Gazipur, Tongi and Jashore), but the PM asked for raising the number and
enhancing the facilities further so that they (teenage criminals) could be
corrected.
Source:
thedailystar.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/treat-teen-gangs-special-approach-correct-them-pm-3585116
---
Afghans With Documents Being Arrested in Pakistan:
Consul
SodabaNazhand
April 8, 2024
Concerns over the arrest of documented Afghan refugees
in Pakistan have recently escalated.
Abdul Jabbar Takhari, the consul of the Islamic
Emirate in Karachi, told TOLOnews that Pakistani police are arresting migrants
who possess the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC).
According to Abdul Jabbar Takhari, recently 15 Afghan
migrants who had ACC cards were arrested by the Pakistani police.
"We wrote a letter stating that Afghans who have
an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) should not be harassed or bothered. If the
Pakistani government has made a decisive decision, it should be through
bilateral consultation,” he said.
Several Afghan migrants in Pakistan have also said
that despite having ACCs, they are still being arrested by the Pakistani
police. This comes as Pakistan has announced a new wave of deportations.
"The forced deportation of more than 800,000
people is nothing short of a crisis for the nation and the government.
Immediate action must be taken to collaborate with the UNHCR and the host
country to approve a feasible and positive proposal,” said Atiqullah, an
advocate for Afghan migrants in Pakistan.
“"The deportation of Afghan migrants from
Pakistan is against international conventions. The current Afghan government
should initiate negotiations with Pakistan and the United Nations regarding its
migrants,” said Mohammad Khan Talibi, Refugees rights activist.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation
said that nearly 700,000 documented Afghan refugees are at risk of deportation
from Pakistan.
"In Pakistan, we have about 690,000 migrants who
possess ACC cards. Since the Pakistani government announced the second phase of
deportations, no one has been specifically detained; however, previously we had
around 3,500 prisoners,” said Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, a spokesman for the
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation
In the first phase of the expulsion of Afghan migrants
from Pakistan, about 600,000 migrants were expelled, and the second phase of
expulsions of Afghan migrants is set to begin on April 15.
Source:
tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188213
----
81 Children Released From Juvenile Detention Center in
Kabul Over Ramadan
April 8, 2024
The juvenile detention and training center reported
that 81 children have been released from Kabul prison since the beginning of
Ramadan.
According to the center, 28 were released this
Saturday following a decree by the leader of the Islamic Emirate on the
occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
“28 were released from the reform center on Saturday
based on the decree of Amir al-Mu'minin and the decision of the Supreme Court
of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Zaman Rahmani, an officer
at the juvenile detention and training center.
Marina, who came to pick up her son Gul Ahmad, told a
TOLOnews reporter: 'His father received a call and he called me. We cried out
of happiness and went to Pul-e-Charkhi, where our child was handed over to us.'
“Now that I have been released, I will study well and
go to school,” said Gul Ahmad, a released detainee.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of the Office of the Prison
Administration, Habibullah Badr, stated that efforts to provide job
opportunities for the children released from prison continue.
“'Whether it's the Ministry of Education, the Ministry
of Labor and Social Affairs, or schools, if it's within our capacity, we
collaborate with them day and night,” he added.
Nazar Mohammad Naseri, the head of the Juvenile
Rehabilitation Center, also said that various educational opportunities have
been provided for the children at this center.
“We started a six-month course that will be followed
up after their release, and God willing, they will also find suitable job
opportunities,” said Nazar Mohammad Naseri.
The leader of the Islamic Emirate issued a decree this
Saturday for the release of over 2,000 prisoners, including women, on the
occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
Source:
tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188221
----
Supreme Court in Afghanistan announces release of over
2,800 prisoners for Eid ul-Fitr
Fidel Rahmati
April 8, 2024
The Taliban Supreme Court announced on Monday, April
8th, that 2,855 prisoners have been released across Afghanistan in honour of
Eid ul-Fitr.
The court stated in a newsletter that the sentences of
1,420 other prisoners have also been reduced.
The newsletter further added that these prisoners were
freed from prisons upon the orders of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the
Taliban.
The Taliban Supreme Court did not provide further
explanation regarding the crimes and sentences of these prisoners.
Meanwhile, authorities at Kandahar Central Prison,
under Taliban rule, earlier announced the release of 103 prisoners upon the
leader’s orders, marking the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.
Since the Taliban takeover, strict policies have led
to the imprisonment of many, including activists and educators critical of
Taliban rule.
The Taliban’s harsh measures have targeted those
advocating for human rights and education, altering Afghanistan’s civil
society.
The resurgence of the Taliban has profoundly impacted
civil society, with many individuals detained for expressing dissenting views.
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/supreme-court-in-afghanistan-announces-release-of-over-2800-prisoners-for-eid-ul-fitr/
----
Over 24,000 Herat families still homeless 6 months
after earthquake: UN
Fidel Rahmati
April 8, 2024
The Coordination Office for Humanitarian Assistance of
the United Nations announced that 24,800 Herati families affected by the
earthquake are living in tents and temporary shelters.
This UN-affiliated body emphasized in a statement on
its social media platform X that the earthquake-affected families in Herat
should not be forgotten.
According to the statistics of this office, 40,000
houses were destroyed, and 275,000 people were affected by the earthquakes in
Herat.
The UN’s Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Office
says humanitarian efforts in this province continue, but urgent action is
needed.
In the consecutive earthquakes in Herat, hundreds of
people, especially children and women, have lost their lives each month.
Six months after the deadly earthquakes in this
province, earthquake survivors still need help, but due to the Taliban’s rule,
world countries are not inclined to play an active role in assisting the
affected.
Earlier, the Red Cross Committee had emphasized the
urgent need for shelter in Herat, stating that earthquake victims need safe and
warm shelter.
On the other hand, some Herat residents say that the
Taliban and UN agencies have not adequately accounted for the assistance
provided by international organizations and various countries to the earthquake
victims in Herat.
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/over-24000-herat-families-still-homeless-6-months-after-earthquake-un/
---
Afghanistan Central Bank declares online currency
exchange ‘prohibited’
Fidel Rahmati
April 8, 2024
The central bank under Taliban control has announced
that it has not issued any licenses for online currency exchange activities to
any individual or company, and their activities are illegal.
In an announcement, the bank has urged the public and
companies to refrain from dealing with online currency exchanges.
According to the statement, the prohibition of online
currency exchanges has been put in place under the Taliban’s supervisory and
security administration.
The central bank, under Taliban control, has stated
that in the event of the arrest of individuals and companies engaging in online
transactions, it will take “legal action.”
The bank’s announcement states: “We urge citizens to
refrain from engaging in online currency exchange activities considering the
risks, damages, and subsequent liabilities of these transactions.”
Earlier, the central bank under Taliban control had
declared online trade with foreign currencies in Afghanistan illegal.
Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan,
there has been a noticeable shift towards online and digital transactions.
However, this transition has also led to an increase in the risks of fraud and
deceit. Consequently, the Taliban has declared such activities illegal and
advises people to refrain from engaging in them.
With the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan and
increasing economic instability, many people have turned to online trade and
storing digital currencies.
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-central-bank-declares-online-currency-exchange-prohibited/
----
Humanitarian Foundation Prepared Iftar for 150,000
Afghans
April 8, 2024
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian
Foundation prepared iftar for 150,000 people across five provinces in
Afghanistan since the beginning of Ramadan.
Officials of this foundation say that during Ramadan,
along with preparing iftar, they have also provided cash assistance and food
supplies to the needy.
"The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Humanitarian Foundation has assisted hundreds of families in various provinces
with food supplies, including packages containing nine types of food items,
promising to continue their support after Eid as well," Silab, a
representative of the foundation, told TOLOnews.
Citizens of the country said they are happy about the
support provided to the needy by aid organizations this month.
"During Ramadan, every night when they distribute
iftar, about a thousand people gather, and these ceremonies end well,"
said Mohammad Taqi, a resident of Kabul.
"The population is large, and people are poor
because there is not enough income or business," said Mohammad Rajab, a
resident of Kabul.
Some residents of western Kabul, welcoming the aid
from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian Foundation during Ramadan,
said they expect the foundation to continue its support afterward.
The representative of the humanitarian foundation said
that Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will continue its assistance in various
sectors for needy Afghan citizens in the future.
Source:
tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188218
----
Bangladesh has capacity to become upper middle income
country by 2031: ICCB
Apr 8, 2024
With targeted actions and appropriate policy followed
by timely implementation to overcome the key challenges, Bangladesh has the
capacity to become an upper middle income country by 2031, said a leading
chamber body.
Bangladesh has achieved today's position by overcoming
many obstacles and setbacks, according to the editorial of the current News
Bulletin (January-March 2024) of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh
(ICCB) released on Monday.
Bangladesh has demonstrated remarkable progress in the
last five decades, ICCB said.
The country's journey from one of the poorest at
independence to a lower-middle-income nation within four decades is a testament
to its resilience, policy decisions, and commitment to reducing poverty and
fostering shared prosperity, said the World Bank in its recent publication,
"World Bank in Bangladesh in 2024".
Macroeconomic stability with low levels of inflation
and high levels of GDP growth have been key to Bangladesh's underlying
strengths and major drivers of socio-economic achievements.
Bangladesh reached lower-middle income status in 2015
and is on track to graduate in 2026 as a middle income country and is aspiring
to be an upper-middle income country by 2031.
However, Bangladesh after LDC graduation in November
2026, will experience significant preference erosion, ICCB said.
Although the EU and UK have offered to extend
preferential duty-free market access for an additional three years, the export
scenario to other markets will change immediately after graduation.
Bangladesh has a greater opportunity of increasing
export to ASEAN, having a population of 661 million with a GDP of $3.08
trillion and trade exceeding $2.7 trillion.
According to 2020 data, Bangladesh imports goods worth
nearly US$ 7 billion from ASEAN countries against its export of only $1
billion.
So, Bangladesh should give priority to Free Trade
Agreement with ASEAN in order to increase its exports, ICCB said.
With several major infrastructure projects reaching
completion, including Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway,
Bangabandhu Tunnel, linking Dhaka to the tourist haven of Cox's Bazar, 3rd
terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, 2024 is anticipated to be a
year to reap the benefits.
However, in 2024 the economy is also facing challenges
on multiple fronts such as rising inflation, balance of payment deficit along
with budget shortfall, declining foreign exchange reserve, contraction in
remittances, a depreciating currency, rising income inequality, the
demand-supply imbalance in the energy sector, and ailing banking sector
crippled by loan defaults. Bangladesh could not bring down inflation whereas it
has come under control in most countries, according to the ICCB.
Despite impressive growth rates, Bangladesh faces
challenges in its export basket's diversification; more than 80 percent of
Bangladesh's total export earnings come from garment exports.
Bangladesh has significant opportunities in leather
and footwear, food processing, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, assembling
plants, and API production. Both domestic investment and FDI will need to be
geared towards these sectors.
Despite developing economic zones, adopting one-stop
services and various other steps, Bangladesh is far behind Maldives and Sri
Lanka in attracting FDI.
Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in the South
Asian region.
Vietnam, comparable to Bangladesh, ranked fourth in Asia-Pacific
after China, India, and Indonesia in attracting FDI.
The majority of total FDI inflows of US$ 274 billion
at the end of 2022 into Vietnam were in the manufacturing sector, which
accounts for 61 percent of the total registered FDI.
Bangladesh received an annual average of $2.92 billion
in FDI as against Vietnam's US$ 36.61 billion.
FDI is one of the key elements for increasing export
earning and much needed foreign exchange reserve, Bangladesh should review its
strategy for attracting FDI.
Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis due largely to
reliance on imported fuels which is estimated at about US$ 2.5 billion a year
for power generation and also a lack of renewables and cleantech alternatives,
ICCB said.
In fact, instead of moving towards exploring renewable
energy sources, Bangladesh turned to the use of more fossil fuels such as coal,
oil and LNG.
With a depreciating currency, a reliance on imported
fuels for power generation has led to significant rise in power generation
costs.
Climate change is a critical issue in Bangladesh as it
is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change,
according to Germanwatch's 2021 Global Climate Risk Index. Bangladesh ranked
seventh on the list of countries most affected by climate calamities during the
period of 2000-2019.
Source:
thedailystar.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/development/news/bangladesh-has-capacity-become-upper-middle-income-country-2031-iccb-3585001
---
Mideast
Hamas says Israeli proposal failed to meet Palestinian
demands, yet it is under review
April 09, 2024
CAIRO: Hamas said early on Tuesday Israel’s proposal
that it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the
demands of Palestinian factions.
However, the group added in a statement it would study
the proposal, which it described as “intransigent”, and deliver its response to
the mediators.
A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday that the group
has rejected the Israeli ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo, and Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah,
Gaza’s last refuge for displaced Palestinians.
Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday for
talks that included Qatari and Egyptian mediators as well as CIA Director
William Burns.
Burn’s presence underlined rising pressure from
Israel’s main ally the US for a deal that would free Israeli hostages held in
Gaza and get aid to Palestinian civilians left destitute by six months of
conflict.
But senior Hamas official Ali Baraka told Reuters: “We
reject the latest Israeli proposals that the Egyptian side informed us of. The
politburo met today and decided this.”
Another Hamas official had earlier told Reuters that
no progress had been made in the negotiations.
“There is no change in the position of the occupation
(Israel) and therefore, there is nothing new in the Cairo talks,” the Hamas
official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. “There is no progress yet.”
Israel said it was keen to reach a
prisoners-for-hostages deal, by which it would free a number of Palestinians
jailed in its prisons in return for the hostages in Gaza, but it wasn’t ready
to end the military offensive before it invaded Rafah.
Hamas wants any agreement to secure an end to Israeli
military offensive, get Israeli forces out of Gaza and allow the displaced to
return to their homes across the enclave.
Rafah is the last refuge for Palestinian civilians
displaced by relentless Israeli bombardments that have flattened their home
neighborhoods. It is also the last significant redoubt of Hamas combat units,
Israel says.
More than one million people are crammed into the
southern city in desperate conditions, short of food, water and shelter, and
foreign governments and organizations have urged Israel against storming Rafah
for fears of a bloodbath.
“We are constantly working to achieve our goals, first
and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory
over Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
“This victory requires entry into Rafah and the
elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen — there is a
date.” He did not specify the date.
Of the 253 people Hamas seized on Oct. 7, 133 hostages
remain captive. Negotiators have spoken of around 40 going free in the first
stage of a prospective deal.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490236/middle-east
----
At interfaith Ramadan iftar in Jerusalem, breaking
fast under the shadow of war
GIANLUCA PACCHIANI
8 April 2024
As diners sat at the table waiting for the last
minutes of the Ramadan fast to pass so the food could be served, Nahid Sakis
bragged that she could make excellent gefilte fish – a recipe she learned from
her Jewish neighbors.
“It’s as good as the Ashkenazim’s,” boasted the
practicing Muslim, using the term for Jews of Eastern European origin. Sakis,
from the mixed Arab-Jewish coastal city of Jaffa, pointed to the black jihab on
her head and quipped, “I wasn’t always a ninja.”
She became observant and started covering her hair
after the death of the principal of the high school where she used to teach
Hebrew literature to Arab pupils, she recalled. The principal was a Jewish man
she greatly admired, and his passing plunged her into a life crisis, prompting
her to reconsider her views on mortality and faith. Sakis said, “If there is a
Paradise in the afterlife, why wouldn’t I want to go there?”
Sakis’s life story, straddling the Arab and the Jewish
worlds, secularism and religious devotion, was not a rarity among the
participants in the Ramadan Iftar organized last Thursday by the Interfaith
Encounter Association (IEA) in Musrara, one of the oldest neighborhoods of
modern Jerusalem.
Hosted in the delightful, secluded courtyard of the
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission and sponsored by USAID, the post-fast
dinner brought together about 80 Muslims, Jews and Christians from throughout
Israel and the West Bank. On the menu was a kosher festive meal of maqlouba, a
traditional Palestinian dish of chicken and rice, preceded by water and dates
to break the fast before the food was served, in line with Muslim custom.
This year, the interfaith iftar held special
significance amid the ongoing war in Gaza sparked by Hamas’s infiltration of
southern Israel during which it murdered 1,200 people and took 253 to Gaza as
hostages. The event aimed to send a message of unity and solidarity at a time of
conflict and mistrust between religious and ethnic groups in the Holy Land.
“Everyone was just so thirsty for an event like this,”
said organizer Carolina Frimer, IEA community manager, at the end of the night,
adding that there had been a long waiting list to participate.
“Some people told me that when they arrived here
tonight, they had a feeling of being in a different country, in a parallel
universe. Coming here is a statement, because many will tell you that this is
not the time to meet. We’re telling them quite the opposite. Now is exactly the
time to meet,” Frimer said firmly.
Bringing people together in war and peace
The Interfaith Encounter Association is a grassroots
Israel-based nonprofit founded in 2001 at the outbreak of the Second Intifada to
create a movement for peace and mutual understanding among Israeli citizens of
different faiths – Jews, Muslims,
Christians, Druze and Baháʼí.
Executive director Yehuda Stolov established it in the
belief that peaceful relations on the grassroots level are a prerequisite for
any sustainable political solution to the conflict.
Today, the organization numbers 40 local chapters with
about 10 members each, including in the US and the West Bank, where Israelis
meet with Palestinians. The groups are conducted in a mix of Arabic, Hebrew and
English, depending on the members.
Participants come together at least once a month to
discuss religious issues and discover commonalities and differences between
their reciprocal traditions.
The organization has expanded into new territory, and
today organizes other types of activities, such as regular language exchange
meetings between Arabic- and Hebrew-speaking women in Jerusalem.
The interfaith iftar is a longstanding IEA tradition,
offering old and new members a chance to meet and reconnect. Organizers and
participants concur that the event has particular significance in the current
climate.
“We see this as a seed of the reality that should
happen,” said founder Stolov. “When you come here, you see everyone sitting
together like it is natural. And to me, this is natural.”
“We have all these prejudices and demonization of each
other, because we don’t have the chance to meet each other. This year, those
images of ‘the other’ are magnified and multiplied; therefore, it’s especially
important to come back together, look at each other in the eye, and be reminded
that we can live together,” he continued. “We don’t need to like everyone, but
we can find people that we connect with.”
AbierAbdalnabi, a Muslim woman from Jerusalem and
office manager at the IEA, said the events of October 7 and Israel’s ensuing
war against Hamas in Gaza brought back memories of the tense years of the
Second Intifada.
“I put myself in the shoes of the hostages, and then
in those of the civilians in Gaza. This situation is very hard for both Arabs
and Jews, and it’s even worse with people around us trying to stoke tension.
This iftar is what we can do now to bring back hope,” said Abdalnabi. “But the
main thing is not to lose our faith. If you don’t believe things can get
better, you won’t go far.”
Others noted that the scars left by past rounds of
violence may have had a role in preserving the quiet in the city during the
current war. To the surprise of many, this year the Islamic holy month is
nearing its end with no major outbursts of violence, with the exception of the
police killing of a 13-year-old amid disturbances in the Shuafat refugee camp
in Jerusalem on the second night of Ramadan. In previous years, the holy month
was almost inevitably marred by bloody clashes between young Palestinian men
and the police.
Teague Heelan is an Irish-British citizen who has
lived in Jerusalem for over a decade working in venture philanthropy, and is
involved with the local Christian community. He recalled the heavy tensions
between Jews and Arabs in previous rounds of conflict, most recently in 2021,
and noted that this time around, Jerusalem has not been caught up in the spiral
of violence. “It’s been one of the quietest Ramadans I remember in all my years
here,” he remarked.
“There has been a visceral difference from the very
first day of the war. I haven’t seen any spitting of cursing or any of that
hostile activity; it has been the polar opposite,” he said.
“I see Jews are talking with Arabs going through the
Old City on the way to the Western Wall. It looks like everyone is going out of
their way to show that whatever is going on right now should not be brought
into this local arena,” Heelan noted. “People are asking themselves: ‘Why go
down with the ship? Why throw Jerusalem into the losing bargain?’”
Faith is often regarded as one of the main points of
attrition in the Israeli-Arab conflict, but organizers of the interfaith iftar
maintain that religion can serve as an instrument of reconciliation.
“We hear so much divisive speech, often wrapped in
religious language,” said Frimer. “With this event, we are using religious
language, food and culture to say the opposite, to show that these things can
bring people together instead of dividing them.”
Source:
timesofisrael.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-interfaith-ramadan-iftar-in-jerusalem-breaking-fast-under-the-shadow-of-war/
----
Palestinians returning to Khan Younis after Israeli
withdrawal find an unrecognizable city
April 08, 2024
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Stunned Palestinians found
their home city unrecognizable Monday as they filtered in to salvage what they
could from the vast destruction left by Israeli troops who withdrew from
southern Gaza’s Khan Younis a day earlier after months of fighting and
bombardment.
With thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged,
families tried to find their homes along streets bulldozed down to the dirt,
surrounded by landscapes of rubble and debris that were once blocks of
apartments and businesses. On other blocks, buildings still stood but were
gutted shells, scorched and full of holes, with partially shattered upper
floors dangling off precipitously.
The scenes in Khan Younis underscored what has been
one of world’s most destructive and lethal military assaults in recent decades,
leaving most of the tiny coastal territory unlivable for its 2.3 million
people. It also portended what is likely to happen in Gaza’s southernmost town
of Rafah, where half of Gaza’s uprooted population is now crowded, if Israel
goes ahead with plans to invade it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated
his pledge to take the offensive to Rafah, declaring in a video statement
Monday, “It will happen. There is a date,” without elaborating. He spoke as
Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a
ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Magdy Abu Sahrour was shocked seeing his house in Khan
Younis flattened.
“I couldn’t find my home because of all the
destruction,” he said as he stood in front of the rubble. “Where is my place,
where is my home? … It’s a tragic situation.”
Israel sent troops into Khan Younis in December, part
of its blistering ground offensive that came in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7
attack and hostage-taking into southern Israel. Its withdrawal brought Israeli
troops in the tiny coastal enclave to one of the lowest since the war began.
The war, now in its seventh month, has killed more
than 33,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health
authorities. Israeli authorities say 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were
killed and roughly 250 people taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
Many of the thousands who came to Khan Younis by foot
and on donkey cart on Monday have been sheltering in Rafah. The withdrawal gave
them a chance to see the wreckage of their homes and retrieve a few
possessions. But with the city now unlivable, they said they had little
immediate chance to return.
An estimated 55 percent of the buildings in the Khan
Younis area – around 45,000 buildings – have been destroyed or damaged,
according to the latest figures from two researchers in the US who have been
using satellite imagery to track destruction throughout the war — Corey Scher
of City University of New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State
University.
“Where do I sleep? Where do I go?” Heba Sahloul’s aged
mother sobbed in despair, sitting amid the rubble of what was left of the
family’s living room. Her daughters searched for anything they could take with
them. The room’s walls were blown away and the floor was piled with chunks of
concrete, slabs of the ceiling and broken countertops. Only the columns painted
pink gave any sign it had once been their home.
Sahloul said Israeli troops had ordered them to leave
during the fighting. “We left all our things here, and we went out with only
our clothes,” she said. Her father was killed earlier in the assault, leaving
Sahloul, her sisters and her mother. “We are only six women at home and we do
not know where to go or where to stay,” Sahloul said.
One woman clambered over slabs of collapsed concrete
atop a mountain of wreckage of her home. Her son crawled on all fours into a
hollow under the rubble and twisted rebar, clearing away concrete blocks.
“There are no words to describe the pain inside me,”
the woman said, her voice breaking. “Our memories, our dreams, our childhood
here, our family — we were raised with them here … It’s all gone.” The woman,
who identified herself only by her first name, Hanan, put a few items they
found into a backpack, including a plastic red flower.
Khan Younis’ main Nasser Hospital was trashed inside,
with debris strewn around the wards and ceiling panels collapsed. The exterior
appeared largely intact, but the extent of the damage was not immediately
clear. Israeli troops stormed the facility during the offensive, saying they
believed the remains of hostages were inside, though they did not report
finding any.
Israel said Khan Younis was a major Hamas stronghold
and that its operations there killed thousands of militants and inflicted heavy
damage to a vast network of tunnels used by Hamas to move weapons and fighters.
It also claimed to have found evidence that hostages were held in the city.
With the troops’ withdrawal, Hamas could seek to
regroup there as it has in northern Gaza, where the military scaled back forces
earlier.
Israel plans to invade Rafah, which it says is Hamas’
last major stronghold, have raised international alarm over the fate of the
around 1.4 million Palestinians sheltering there, most displaced from other
parts of the Gaza Strip. Israel’s top ally, the US, has said invading Rafah
would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect
civilians.
Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the
evacuation of Rafah, an Israel official said, speaking on condition of
anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. It was not
clear where they would be set up and how many people they could house.
Allowing people to return to Khan Younis could relieve
some pressure on Rafah, but many have no homes to return to. The city also is
likely filled with dangerous unexploded ordnance left by the fighting.
Israel’s military quietly drew down troops in devastated
northern Gaza earlier in the war. But it has continued to carry out airstrikes
and raids in areas where it says Hamas regrouped, including Gaza’s largest
hospital, Shifa, leaving what the head of the World Health Organization called
“an empty shell.” Israel blames Hamas for the damage, saying it fights from
within civilian areas.
Israel says its war aims to destroy Hamas’ military
and governing capabilities and return the roughly 130 remaining hostages, a
quarter of whom Israel says are dead.
Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US over
a ceasefire and exchange of captives continue. But Israel and Hamas appear to
remain far apart. In a statement Monday, Hamas said the latest response it has
received from Israel does not include a permanent creasefire or the withdrawal
of Israeli forces from Gaza. It has repeatedly said both terms are
unnegotiable, while Israel has firmly rejected them.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490071/middle-east
----
Islamic Jihad prisoners say all Gaza hospitals used as
military bases
April 09 2024
YoavZitun
The IDF revealed on Monday that during the
interrogation of Tariq SilmiOusa Abu Shlouf, the spokesperson for the Islamic
Jihad's political office in the Gaza Strip he confessed Hamas and other terror
organizations utilize all hospitals in the Gaza Strip as military bases.
Abu Shlouf also confessed that it was his organization
that concocted the story that sparked controversy at the outset of the war,
claiming that the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital was caused by an Israeli
rocket.
At the beginning of the war, was it true that a rocket
hit the hospital?
"It was indeed a rocket from within Gaza, but we
said it was Israeli. To erase this narrative, the organization fabricated a
story claiming that the rocket belonged to the 'occupation' and that the target
was the building. Some international media outlets relied on this narrative,
and some international communication systems automatically contact us when such
events occur."
Regarding the connection with the international media,
Abu Shlouf said, "They like to interview figures from the political
office. Senior figures like Khaled al-Batsh. Several international networks
conducted interviews with him. He sits with a reporter, who starts asking him,
'Was the rocket that fell yours?' Al-Batsh, of course, replies, 'No, it's from
the occupation.' The reporter knows that the rocket is ours, not yours."
Even if the reporter knows, is he still echoing what
the organization says?
"Yes, because we tell the reporter before he
publishes it, he needs to send it to us for approval. If it doesn't fit our
narrative, it's not published. It's because the reporter needs us for more interviews."
The Islamic Jihad spokesperson also explained the
difference in dealing with the Arab and Western media. "International
systems are different from Arab ones; they focus on humanitarian issues. We
don't speak to them in a language of violence, destruction, and revenge,"
said Abu Shlouf.
"They come and say, 'Come, I'll talk to you for a
minute or two, but only about the humanitarian aspect.' This means, for
example, to say 'our right to live' or 'we want the situation to return to
normal, and our children deserve to live like other children in the
world.'"
Regarding the terrorist organizations' use of
hospitals, Abu Shlouf they "use all hospitals because they have internet
and electricity there 24/7." According to him, "They choose certain
places. For example, they take two rooms from the X-ray department, two from
the triage department, and two from the internal medicine department. They
don't completely shut down the departments."
The spokesperson also admitted that the organizations
use hospital ambulances for transporting senior, wanted, and injured
individuals. Abu Shlouf also recounted his interactions with spokespeople from
other organizations. "For example, with Hazem Qassem from Hamas, there are
also visits. He comes to my office, or I go to him to discuss some of the
communication issues related to resistance," he described.
"We meet together with the head of the Hamas
media department and other speakers from other factions, and then we discuss.
For example, we want to shift the focus from the energy crisis. The situation
in Gaza is very difficult, and it bothers people."
Source:
ynetnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rko91pwlc#autoplay
----
Iraqi fighters strike 5 Israeli targets in support of
war-hit Gazans
09 April 2024
The fighters enlisted with Iraq’s Islamic Resistance
umbrella anti-terror group have struck five Israeli targets in support of
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are enduring a genocidal war by the occupying
entity.
The resistance announced the developments in two
statements in early Tuesday.
The statements said the strikes had come in
continuation of “our approach in resisting the occupation, in support of our
people in Gaza, and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping
entity against Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and the
elderly.”
The group said it had deployed “appropriate weapons”
against the targets that included the “Asqalan oil port” in the central part of
the occupied territories, and the “Hatzerim Airbase” in the city of Beersheba
in the south-central part of the territories.
The resistance concluded the statements by pledging to
keep up its strikes as long as the regime sustained the war.
The Israeli regime launched the war against Gaza on
October 7 following Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the territory’s resistance
groups into the occupied territories.
More than 33,200 Palestinians, mostly women and
children, have been killed in the brutal military onslaught so far.
The Iraqi fighters have been conducting numerous
operations against targets lying throughout the occupied territories ever since
the onset of the warfare.
Most recently, they reported carrying out three
anti-Israeli operations, targeting two barracks and a military base in Syria’s
Tel Aviv-occupied Golan Heights and the occupied territories.
Source:
presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/09/723336/Iraq-strikes-Israel-Gaza-war
----
Al-Qassam Brigades" bombs a military headquarters
of the enemy army in the settlement of "Netzarim"
[08/April/2024]
GAZA Apr 08. 2024 (Saba) - The "Qassam
Brigades", the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement
"Hamas", announced on Monday that it bombed the headquarters of the
Nahal Brigade in the Zionist enemy army operating in the axis of the settlement
of Netzarim with high-caliber mortar shells.
According to Sama News Agency, following the withdrawal
of its forces yesterday from Khan Yunis, the enemy army stated that its
complete withdrawal from it comes within the framework of "changing the
approach," claiming that "after the success of the operation in the
Shifa complex, the army moved to intelligence raids in Khan Yunis as
well," according to the enemy channel 12.
The enemy channel pointed out that the military plans
to continue the ground operation have already been presented at the political
level, and not only in the city of Rafah.
Source:
saba.ye
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3319641.htm
---
Palestinian forces warn of danger of what enemy is
trying to promote by storming Al-Aqsa
[08/April/2024]
RAMALLAH Apr 08. 2024 (Saba) - The Palestinian forces
warned on Monday of the danger of what the Zionist enemy is trying to promote
by storming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, slaughtering offerings, bringing red
cows, etc., in an attempt to harm Jerusalem and its holy places.
According to Ma'an News Agency, the national and
Islamic forces stressed in a statement the importance of concerted efforts to
stop the war of extermination and destruction that the enemy continues to
continue against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,
including Al-Quds.
In its statement after the meeting, the
"forces" mourned the Palestinian people, our nation and the free
world, the prisoner Walid Daqqa, who was martyred as a result of deliberate
medical negligence and arrogance of the enemy and refused to release him for
treatment, and who spent more than 38 years of steadfastness in the occupation
cells.
The "forces" held the Zionist enemy
responsible for all these crimes against the prisoners, especially the
prisoners of the Gaza Strip who are subjected to enforced disappearance and
field executions.
Al-Quwa stressed the importance of the widest
participation of the Palestinian people in the Prisoners' Day, which falls on
April 17 of each year, stressing the importance of reviving the activities of
this day in all governorates of the homeland, within the territory of the year
48, in refugee camps, the diaspora and many capitals of the world, with the
participation of the free world.
Source:
saba.ye
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3319638.htm
---
Donations to Israel since October 7 topped $1.4
billion, government reports
April 09 2024
Organizations and individuals around the world have
donated at least $1.4 billion toward Israel’s recovery from the attack of
October 7, according to a new report published by the Diaspora Affairs
Ministry.
The donations, coupled with widespread pro-Israel
activism in the Diaspora and the arrival in Israel of tens of thousands of
volunteers, represent “an unprecedented effort by Jewish communities around the
world to support Israel,” the ministry said in the report. (When accounting for
inflation, the total donated is more than what American Jews gave to Israel in
response to the Six Day War in 1967 but less than they gave six years later in
the Yom Kippur War.)
The report represents the most complete published
tally of wartime donations so far and includes fundraising by Jewish
federations, crowdsourced campaigns, and “Friends Of” charities benefiting the
Israel Defense Forces and Magen David Adom, the national emergency service. A
previous tally, published by the University of Haifa in December, put the total
at $1 billion within the first month of the war.
About half of the sum was raised by the Jewish Federations
of North America and its 146 member organizations. The committee distributing
the money is so flush with donations that it has not had to turn down requests
from Israeli charities as long as they meet certain criteria.
At least 350 Israeli nonprofits along with several
government agencies have received donations from abroad to help with medical
and emergency services, mental health support, aid for victims of terrorism,
economic needs, and other areas.
An estimated 58,000 volunteers flew to Israel to
volunteer for military service, agricultural work, and work with organizations
supporting October 7 victims and evacuees from the communities surrounding the
Gaza Strip.
War erupted on October 7 when the Palestinian terror
group Hamas led a devastating cross-border attack on Israel. The terrorists
killed nearly 1,200 people and abducted 253. Israel responded with a military
campaign to destroy Hamas and free the hostages, of whom 129 remain in
captivity.
Separately from the donations, the Israeli government
has managed to borrow $1.7 billion through the sale of Israel bonds. About $300
million of the sum came from American state and local governments, especially
in Florida. The bonds sold faster than in a typical period, with many investors
publicly citing their desire to support Israel. The report said investors were
opting for Israel bonds even though returns on the bonds are relatively modest
compared to other investments currently available on the market.
The total raised on crowdsourcing platforms reached at
least $91.5 million, with more than half raised for United Hatzalah, Israel’s
volunteer emergency medical corps.
The rate of donations has slowed down significantly
over the six months since the October 7 attack, but the money available for
Israeli charities has not run out — far from it. About a third, or more, of the
$1.4 billion raised, has not yet been allocated as donor organizations set
aside funding for long-term needs, according to the report.
All information in the report comes from public
sources. Commissioned by the ministry to carry out research for the report,
DNAidea, an Israeli consulting company, examined some 800 online sources. The
research could not account for additional donations delivered on a private,
grassroots basis.
Source:
timesofisrael.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/donations-to-israel-since-october-7-topped-1-4-billion-government-reports/
---
UAE aid plane arrives at Al Arish Airport carrying
4,000 Eid clothing parcels for Palestinians
April 09 2024
The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of
Defence announced the arrival of a UAE aid plane at Al Arish Airport, carrying
4,000 parcels of Eid clothing in preparation for their delivery to the Palestinian
people
These parcels, part of Operation "Birds of
Goodness," contain clothes, shoes, toys, sweets, and various items for all
family members, arriving in time for Eid Al Fitr.
This initiative, which runs throughout Eid Al Fitr,
aims to meet the needs of the Palestinian people during Eid Al Fitr and
alleviate their suffering.
Operation "Birds of Goodness,” which commenced in
February, involves the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Egyptian Air Force
aircraft delivering humanitarian and relief aid to the northern Gaza Strip.
The Birds of Goodness operation is part of
"Operation Chivalrous Knight 3" to support Palestinian people in the
Gaza Strip.
Source:
gulftoday.ae
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/04/08/uae-aid-plane-arrives-at-al-arish-airport-carrying-4000-eid-clothing-parcels-to-support-gazans
----
Europe
Pro-Palestine rally held in front of German parliament
Apr 9, 2024
Pro-Palestine protesters staged a rally in front of
Germany’s parliament as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the
Netherlands began hearing a case brought by Nicaragua blaming Berlin for
facilitating “genocide” in Gaza by providing political and military support to
Israel, Anadolu Agency reported.
The crowd carried Palestinian flags and banners saying
"Genocide-Germany is participating again" and "Stop supplying
weapons.”
Israel waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on
October 7 after Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the
occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the
Palestinian people.
Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely
populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more
than two million Palestinians living there.
On March 25, the UN Security Council passed a
resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan. While Hamas welcomed the resolution, Israel rejected the
cease-fire call and vowed to continue its war on the Palestinian enclave.
Israel stands blamed for genocide at the International
Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered
it to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian
assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source:
mehrnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/213688/Pro-Palestine-rally-held-in-front-of-German-parliament
----
Norway arms police due to threats against Muslims
Leila Nezirevic
09.04.2024
Police in Norway have decided to arm on-duty officers
following threats made against the Muslim community, local media reported
Monday.
The decision by the director general of police applies
to officers throughout the country and came into effect on Saturday, said a
statement released over the weekend.
Threats were made against mosques in the Nordic
country, police spokesman Roar Hansen was quoted as saying by local media.
The move comes ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations this
week marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Norwegian police do not generally carry arms, but due
to the threats, the police director general "has decided to arm police on
a national level from today,” the statement said.
In August 2019, 21-year-old Philip Manshaus opened
fire on the Al Noor Islamic center in Baerum, a suburb of Oslo.
He wounded one person and was then restrained by
Muslim worshippers.
Prior to the attack, he killed his adopted stepsister
at their home and posted messages online praising the Christchurch mosque
shooter, the Poway synagogue shooter and the El Paso shooter, who targeted
Latinos.
Manshaus was sentenced to 21 years in prison in June
2020.
A total of 51 Muslims were killed and 40 were injured
at Masjid al-Noor and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand
during Friday prayers on March 15, 2019 in a terrorist attack committed by
Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant.
Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik, a neo-Nazi who on
July 22, 2011 killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage, is widely
referred to as a fanatic who was driven by a hatred of Islam and Muslims.
In a 1,500-page document, Breivik devoted 700 pages to
attacking the Muslim religion.
Source:
aa.com.tr
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/norway-arms-police-due-to-threats-against-muslims/3186853
----
'Pathetic': Nicaragua drags Germany to ICJ over Gaza
aid, weapons to Israel
08 April 2024
Nicaragua and Germany have crossed swords at the UN's
top court, with Managua saying Berlin was "pathetic" to supply aid to
Palestinians in Gaza while also providing Israel with weapons, a case the top
German lawyer dismissed as "grossly biased".
Nicaragua has hauled Germany before the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) to demand judges impose emergency measures to stop
Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other assistance.
Lawyers for Nicaragua on Monday argued Germany was in
breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, set up in the wake of
the Holocaust, by furnishing Israel with weapons.
"It is indeed a pathetic excuse to the
Palestinian children, women and men to provide humanitarian aid, including
through airdrops, on the one hand, and to furnish the military equipment that
is used to kill and annihilate them on the other hand," Daniel Mueller, a
lawyer for Nicaragua, told the court.
Nicaragua's ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos Jose
Arguello Gomez, told the court: "Germany seems not to be able to
differentiate between self-defence and genocide."
Nicaragua asked the ICJ to decide on "provisional
measures" and emergency orders imposed while the court considers the
broader case.
"Germany was and is fully conscious of the risk
that the arms it has furnished and continues to furnish to Israel" could
be used to commit genocide, said Alain Pellet, a lawyer for Nicaragua.
"It is extremely urgent that Germany finally
suspend" such aid, he added.
Germany will respond fully in court on Tuesday but has
already hit back at the allegations.
Its top lawyer, Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, said
Nicaragua's case was "grossly biased".
"Germany completely rejects the accusations. We
never did violate the Genocide Convention nor international humanitarian law
either directly or indirectly," she told reporters.
"On the contrary, Germany is committed to the
upholding of international law and this is what we work for
internationally."
'Violation of international law'
The ICJ was set up to rule in disputes between nations
and has become a key player in Israel's war on Gaza.
Nicaragua has requested five provisional measures,
including that Germany "immediately suspend its aid to Israel, in
particular its military assistance including military equipment".
It also calls on the court to order Germany to
"reverse its decision to suspend the funding of UNRWA".
Germany said in January it was halting funding pending
an investigation into Israeli accusations that several staff at the UN's agency
for Palestinian refugees took part in the October 7 attack.
"This unjustified decision contributes to the
suffering in Gaza where children women and men are starving," Mueller told
the court.
Nicaragua said in its submission that "it could
be comprehensible" that Germany would support an "appropriate
reaction" by ally Israel to the October 7 attack.
"But this cannot be an excuse for acting in
violation of international law," it said.
Mueller explained that Nicaragua was going after
Germany instead of Israel's main ally, the United States because Washington
does not recognise the court's jurisdiction.
On Friday, German Foreign Minister AnnalenaBaerbock
said Israel had "no more excuse" to delay aid getting into Gaza.
Source:
trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/pathetic-nicaragua-drags-germany-to-icj-over-gaza-aid-weapons-to-israel-17698271
----
Italy arrests Tajik man suspected of belonging to
Islamic State
APR 09, 2024
ROME - Italian police on Monday arrested a man from
Tajikistan wanted for terrorism-related crimes and suspected of being an active
member of the Islamic State militant group, a police statement said.
The man, described as a fugitive targeted by an
international arrest warrant, was stopped after landing at Rome's Fiumicino
airport from Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
He was identified only by his initials,
"S.I.".
Italian authorities did not make any reference to
Russia and to last month's deadly attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, for
which several Tajiks living in Russia have been arrested.
The police statement did not say which country had
issued the warrant for him. It said the suspect used several fake identities,
including from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine.
The statement also said the man was born in 1992 and
had enrolled in 2014 as a foreign fighter for the Islamic State in Syria.
REUTERS
Source:
straitstimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/italy-arrests-tajik-man-suspected-of-belonging-to-islamic-state
----
Vatican formally rejects gender-affirming surgery and
surrogacy
April 09, 2024
The Vatican’s doctrine office issued “Infinite
Dignity,” a 20-page declaration that has been in the works for five years.
After substantial revision in recent months, it was approved March 25 by Pope
Francis, who ordered its publication.
From a pope who has made outreach to the LGBTQ+
community a hallmark of his papacy, the document was received as a setback,
albeit predictable, by trans Catholics. But its message was also consistent
with the Argentine Jesuit’s long-standing belief that while trans people should
be welcomed in the church, so-called “gender ideologies” should not.
In its most eagerly anticipated section, the Vatican
repeated its rejection of “gender theory,” or the idea that one’s biological
sex can change. It said God created man and woman as biologically different,
separate beings, and said people must not tinker with that or try to “make
oneself God.”
“It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a
rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the
moment of conception,” the document said.
It distinguished between gender-affirming surgeries,
which it rejected, and “genital abnormalities” that are present at birth or
that develop later. Those abnormalities can be “resolved” with the help of
health care professionals, it said.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ Catholics immediately criticized
the document as outdated, harmful and contrary to the stated goal of
recognizing the “infinite dignity” of all of God’s children. They warned it
could have real-world effects on trans people, fueling anti-trans violence and
discrimination.
“While it lays out a wonderful rationale for why each
human being, regardless of condition in life, must be respected, honored, and
loved, it does not apply this principle to gender-diverse people,” said Francis
DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBTQ+ Catholics.
NicoleteBurbach, lead expert in social and
environmental justice at the London Jesuit Centre, said the document showed the
Vatican continues to fail to engage with queer and feminist approaches to the
body “which it simply dismisses as supposedly subjecting both the body and
human dignity itself to human whims.”
“I think the main difficulty faced by the document is
that it attempts to affirm the church’s authentic commitment to human dignity
in the face of a troubling history on the part of the church itself around
attacks on that dignity,” Burbach said.
The document’s existence, rumored since 2019, was
confirmed in recent weeks by the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine
of the Faith, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, a close Francis
confidant.
Fernández had cast the document as something of a nod
to conservatives after he authored a more explosive document approving
blessings for same-sex couples that sparked criticism from conservative bishops
around the world, especially in Africa.
And yet, in an apparent attempt at balance, the
document takes pointed aim at countries — including many in Africa — that
criminalize homosexuality. It echoed Francis’ assertion in a 2023 interview
with The Associated Press that “being homosexual is not a crime.”
The new document denounces “as contrary to human
dignity the fact that, in some places, not a few people are imprisoned,
tortured, and even deprived of the good of life solely because of their sexual
orientation.”
The White House said President Joe Biden, a devout
Catholic, was “pleased” to see that the declaration “furthers the Vatican’s
call to ensure that LGBTQ+ (individuals) are protected from violence and
imprisonment around the world,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
On the specifics involving gender theory, Jean-Pierre
stressed that it was not Biden’s role to “litigate internal church policy.”
Asked how its negative take on trans people squared
with Francis’ message of welcome, Fernández said the welcome remained but that
the pope fervently believed that the idea that gender was fluid “rather than
helping to recognize dignity, impoverishes the vision” of a man and woman
coming together to create new life.
The document is something of a repackaging of
previously articulated Vatican positions, read now through the prism of human
dignity. It restates well-known Catholic doctrine opposing abortion and
euthanasia, and adds to the list some of Francis’ main concerns as pope: the
threats to human dignity posed by poverty, war, human trafficking, the death
penalty and forced migration.
In a newly articulated position, it says surrogacy
violates both the dignity of the surrogate mother and the child.
While much attention about surrogacy has focused on
possible exploitation of poor women as surrogates, the Vatican asserts that the
child “has the right to have a fully human (and not artificially induced)
origin and to receive the gift of a life that manifests both the dignity of the
giver and that of the receiver.”
“Considering this, the legitimate desire to have a
child cannot be transformed into a ‘right to a child’ that fails to respect the
dignity of that child as the recipient of the gift of life,” it said.
Source:
africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/08/vatican-formally-rejects-gender-affirming-surgery-and-surrogacy/
----
Convicted killer of Muslim family in London, Ont.,
terror case is seeking an appeal, lawyer says
Apr 08, 2024
Matthew Trevithick
The 23-year-old man convicted of murder in the 2021
attack on a Muslim family in London, Ont. — in what the judge called a
"textbook" case of terrorism — is seeking to appeal his convictions,
his lawyer says.
Word of the appeal move comes less than two months
after Nathaniel Veltman was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of
parole for 25 years in the June 6, 2021, attack. It left four members of the
Afzaal family dead and a boy, who was nine years old at the time, injured and
orphaned.
YumnahAfzaal, 15, her parents — Madiha Salman, 44, an
engineer, and Salman Afzaal, 46, a physiotherapist — were killed, as was family
matriarch Talat Afzaal, 74, a teacher and artist.
Veltman was convicted of four counts of first-degree
murder and one count of attempted murder in November following a 10-week jury
trial in Windsor. His sentencing hearings, in London, were held earlier this
year.
A judge in London, Ont., ruled the actions of the man
who ran down a Muslim family with his truck in 2021, killing four people, were
a ‘textbook example of terrorist motive and intent.' Nathaniel Veltman was
already sentenced to life in prison for murdering four members of the Afzaal
family.
Defence lawyer Christopher Hicks said Monday his
client has filed an inmate notice of appeal with the court to extend his appeal
deadline past 30 days and that a solicitor's notice of appeal will be filed
within a month or two.
A notice of appeal has to be approved by a court in
order for it to proceed.
"Why would we want to retrial? Well, we think,
first of all, we think he was wrongfully convicted," Hicks told CBC News.
Lawyer outlines reasons for appeal attempt
Hicks believes they have "very arguable
grounds" for an appeal, including that a statement Veltman gave to
investigators shouldn't have been admitted to trial, and Crown prosecutors
addressed jurors in a way that was "unfair and prejudicial."
"It was ongoing until objection was made by the
trial judge, so [Peter] Ketcheson and I are very interested in that as
well," he said, referring to the convicted man's other lawyer.
"It takes about a year to two years to get an
appeal heard in the Court of Appeal, so it'll take that long. If we are
successful, there are two possible outcomes from an appeal, but the most likely
one here, the only likely one, is a new trial."
The Afzaals were out for an evening walk in the area
of Hyde Park and South Carriage roads when they were struck by a pickup truck
driven by Veltman, according to an agreed statement of facts from the trial.
At a sentencing hearing in February, Superior Court
Justice Renee Pomerance told the court that his actions on that day constituted
terrorist activity and she refused to refer to the convicted killer by his
name. The case marked the first time terror charges were considered under
Canadian law against someone following a white nationalist ideology.
The Crown had argued Veltman was motivated by
political, ideological or religious ideas when he drove his truck into the
family and that he had targeted the Afzaals because of their Muslim faith.
The defence lawyers argued their client didn't intend
to kill the family and made a case for him to be convicted of manslaughter
instead.
'Much work to be done to address hatred'
After the guilty verdict was handed down, Tabinda
Bukhari, Madiha Salman's mother, told reporters the attack wasn't just a crime
against the Muslim community, but "rather an attack against the safety and
security of all Canadians."
"This trial and verdict are a reminder there is
still much work to be done to address hatred in all forms that lives in our
communities," Bukhari said.
During the sentencing hearing in January, the
convicted man told court he couldn't "undo this pain and suffering. I
cannot turn back time. ... I plan to take every opportunity available to me to
better myself."
"Over the course of the days, months and years
following June 6, I have not fully grasped but I have seen the extent of the
pain and suffering that my actions have caused."
That apology makes news of the appeal surprising to
Nawaz Tahir, a London lawyer and a member of Hikma, a London-based Muslim
advocacy group.
Tahir said it was believed the sentencing decision
would finally bring some legal closure for the family, and his heart aches for
the relatives who may have to go through the trial all over again.
"You think you've processed something, and then
all of a sudden, two years later, you're reliving things and going through
things in a lot more detail and hearing things that you never thought you'd
hear," he said of the initial trial.
"Retraumatization is very real and would be in
play again if ... a year and a half, two years from now, we're going through a
second trial."
Relatives of the family killed in a 2021 London, Ont.,
truck attack said the convicted killer's apology at a sentencing hearing
Tuesday came too late and rang hollow. 'This is one more strategy in a series
of ploys that have not stopped for two and a half years,' said Hina Islam, aunt
of Madiha Salman, who was one of the four people killed.
Just over a month after the attack, the National
Council of Canadian Muslims issued 60 policy recommendations in advance of a
national summit on Islamophobia, aimed at addressing hate and racism in Canada.
As the three-year anniversary of the attack
approaches, Tahir said, many of the recommendations remain unfulfilled.
"Certainly the City of London has come through
with a comprehensive plan to combat Islamophobia, but provincially and
federally, the response has been lacking."
A private member's bill, the Our London Family Act,
was tabled in the Ontario Legislature in 2022, but died on the order paper when
that year's election was called.
Source:
cbc.ca
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/afzaal-family-london-attack-appeal-plans-1.7166745
---
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/kerala-church-kerala-love-jihad/d/132112