Love Jihad: Blackmailing Of Some Hindu Girls In MP By A Group Of Muslim Boys Reportedly Going On Since 2017-18
New Age Islam News Bureau
03 May 2025
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· Love Jihad: Blackmailing Of Some Hindu GirlsIn MPBy A Group Of Muslim Boys Reportedly Going On Since 2017-18
· Vishwa Hindu Parishad Condemns Attacks On Kashmiris But Will Not Stop Those Speaking Against ‘Jihad’ And Attempt To Destroy ‘Sanatan Dharma’
· Islamic Jihad: Zionist Enemy’s Targeting Of "Conscience Ship" Is New Proof Of Using Starvation As War Weapon
· Bangladesh’s Influential Islamists Rally For Parliamentary Entry, Vow To Implement Shariah Law
· Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union To Discuss Peace, Security
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India
· Fear Amid Loathing In Lucknow Over The Heads Of Lucknow Muslims Who Are Against The Waqf Act
· Pahalgam Fallout: India Cracks Down On Backdoor Imports From Pakistan; Bans Imposed On Pak-Origin Goods
· “Love Jihad Accused Should Be Sterilized,” Says BJP MP From Bhopal
· BJP MP Demands Data On Madrasas In Telangana; Questions The Nationality Of Students
· ‘Batti Gul’ Protest Against Waqf Act A Major Success, Says AIMPLB
· US govt wants Indian national Badar Khan Suri’s deportation suit shifted; judge pushes back
· Pakistan violates ceasefire for ninth consecutive day, Indian Army gives prompt response
· Mirwaiz hopes against war, says Centre must ‘reconsider’ deportations, ‘inimical to peace, stability’
· India blocks Instagram accounts of Babar Azam, Imran Khan, others after Pahalgam terror attack
· Jammu and Kashmir High Court stays deportation of CRPF constable's newly wed Pakistani wife
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Mideast
· Desperate Children And Adults In Gaza Struggle To Get Food As Israel Blocks Aid
· ‘Deadly blockade’ leaves Gaza aid work on verge of collapse: UN, Red Cross
· Gaza Rescuers Say 42 Killed In Israeli Strikes
· Gaza is replacing France on the political scene, local lawmaker tells 'Post
· Israel carries out strikes on two Syrian cities, Syrian state news agency says
· West Bank residents losing hope 100 days into military assault
· Iran condemns US for escalating sanctions, questions commitment to diplomacy amid nuclear talks
· Tens of Thousands of Perform Friday Prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque
· PM: Iraq to Play Active Role at Arab Summit, Present Solutions to Regional Crises
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South Asia
· “Dignity and pride of this country depend on unity and solidarity of Afghan people,” says Beradar
· Thousands join Hefazat's grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan
· Hefazat vows tougher action if its demands not met
· US Peace Institute paid $132,000 to former Taliban official, says Musk
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Arab World
· UNESCO Official Visits Saudi Artificial Intelligence Centres
· Najran’s Al-Tharwa Mountain Reveals Stories Of Early Islamic Art
· UAE had hottest April on record: met office
· How green journalism in Saudi Arabia can grow stronger roots
· Thai festival brings eruption of colour and music to Riyadh
· Saudi Embassy hosts seminar in France
· Asir education department launches literacy campaign
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Europe
· Ministry Of Justice 'Looking Into' Claims Muslim Terrorists Battered By Prison Officers 'In Payback' For Hashem Abedi Attack
· UK Tells ICJ Israel Must Allow Aid Supplies Into Gaza
· French mosque murder suspect acted without ideological motive, prosecutor says
· Community Group Says Mosque Should Not Be 'Price' In ICCI Row
· Germany defends AfD extremist classification after Rubio slams 'tyranny in disguise'
· Germany ‘has rebuilt the Berlin Wall’ – Vance
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North America
· 'Muslim Conquest!' GOP Lawmaker Melts Down Over Plans For Halal Restaurant At Capitol
· US Could Deport Migrants To Libya Despite Being On Trump's 'Muslim Ban' List
· Three people stabbed at downtown Hamilton mosque; two suspects wanted
· Canada's Carney offers strategic invite to King ahead of Trump meeting
· US court rules ex-Abercrombie CEO unfit for trial
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Africa
· Student Christian Movement Decries Deprivation Of Religious Rights
· MURIC Condoles With Shariah Council Over Hadiyatullah’s Death
· Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces claims to have seized strategic western town
· Tunisia court jails former officials including former PM Larayedh
· Nigerian Air Force Gets 35 Additional Pilots To Enhance Battle Against Terrorists
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Southeast Asia
· Umno Youth Chief: ‘We Don’t Care’ If Defending Islam, Malay Rights Drives Away Your Support
· Anwar and Marcos back unrestricted aid for Myanmar, urge ceasefire extension amid Asean efforts
· Singapore polls open as new PM Wong seeks strong mandate amid tariff turmoil, opposition eyes gains
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Pakistan
· After Khawaja Asif, India suspends Pakistan's I&B minister Attaullah Tarar's X account
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/love-jihad-hindu-girls-muslim-boys/d/135420
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Love Jihad: Blackmailing Of Some Hindu GirlsIn MPBy A Group Of Muslim Boys Reportedly Going On Since 2017-18
May 2, 2025
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Bhopal Police have arrested a fifth accused in connection with the alleged rape, threatening and blackmailing of some Hindu girls by a group of Muslim boys that had reportedly been going on since 2017-18, but came to light a few days ago.
A team from the Ashoka Garden police station of Bhopal nabbed the absconding accused, Nabeel, from Patna in Bihar on Thursday.
According to Bhopal DCP Zone-1, Priyanka Shukla, the police have taken Nabeel in remand till 6 May to interrogate him about the incident.
Till now, five victims have come forward and lodged FIRs in different police stations of Bhopal against the accused men.
According to police officials, there are six main accused in the cases, out of which five have been arrested. One accused, identified as Abrar Khan and said to be a resident of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, is still absconding and police teams are continuously trying to nab him too.
The five arrested accused include the alleged mastermind, Farhan Khan alias Faraz, who owns a restaurant, ‘Club 90’, near the private engineering college, ‘Technocrats Institute of Technology’, in Bhopal, where most of the accused and the victims studied together in the past. It is alleged that the accused men posed as Hindus and brought the victims to Farhan’s restaurant and subsequently trapped them.
The other arrested are Ali Khan, Sahil Khan, and Shamsuddin alias Saad. The men are also accused of recording obscene videos and then blackmailing the victims by threatening to make the videos viral.
According to Bhopal Commissioner of Police Harinarayan Chari Mishra, the accused have been booked under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and also on charges of rape, blackmail, and threatening, along with other relevant sections.
Bhopal Zone-2 DCP Sanjay Agrawal said that the police are also investigating a possible ‘human trafficking’ angle, as investigations so far have pointed out that the accused might have been sending some of the victims and other girls to other people as well.
Meanwhile, Members of the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ staged protests at various places in Bhopal on Friday, in protest against the alleged ‘Love Jihad’ cases.
The protests were held at 26 different places in the state capital, and local leaders and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.
Several activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), BJP’s student wing, also staged a protest outside the Bhopal Collectorate and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Bhopal Collector, against ‘Love Jihad’.
Source: thestatesman.com
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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/fifth-accused-arrested-in-alleged-love-jihad-case-in-mp-1503427559.html
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Vishwa Hindu Parishad Condemns Attacks On Kashmiris But Will Not Stop Those Speaking Against ‘Jihad’ And Attempt To Destroy ‘Sanatan Dharma’
May 02, 2025
Ishita MishraISHITA MISHRA
Working president Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Alok Kumar. | Photo Credit: AP
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Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar on Friday (May 2, 2025) condemned the recent attacks on Kashmiris, especially students, in various parts of the country, but maintained that such incidents should not be used to “silence” those who speak against the ‘jihad’ and the attempt to destroy ‘Sanatan Dharma’.
The terrorists wanted to break Kashmir’s backbone, which is tourism, because they did not want to see this part of India getting prosperous, Mr. Kumar told The Hindu.The Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people lost their lives, made it clear once again that terror has a religion, he added.
“”They killed Hindus by identifying them. They asked the religion specifically and even did everything to verify the same. But this shouldn’t be used to assault innocent people, and hence Kashmiri students and people shouldn’t have been attacked,” he added.
‘Awaiting right opportunity’
Asked why India is delaying its response to the terror attack, Mr. Kumar said that it was upto the government how it wants to retaliate, but added that “India will retaliate in full measures over the Pahalgam attack.”
“I will explain this better to you through a Ramayana. Even after Ram befriended Sugriv and he had all the resources to find Sita, he waited in the hills for two months, just for the right opportunity and right time. This is what India is doing at the moment, I believe,” he added.
Condemning those who are asking India not to escalate tensions with Pakistan, Mr. Kumar said that was an unethical demand as India was the “sufferer’’ in this situation.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vhp-condemns-attacks-on-kashmiris-but-says-they-will-not-stop-those-speaking-against-jihad/article69531901.ece
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Islamic Jihad: Zionist enemy’s targeting of "Conscience Ship" is new proof of using starvation as War Weapon
02 May 2025
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine stated that "the Zionist enemy forces’ decision to launch drone strikes on the Freedom Flotilla, which was heading to break the siege on Gaza in international waters off Malta last night, is a blatant disregard for all humanitarian and moral values, and new evidence of the enemy’s use of starvation as a weapon in its war of extermination against our people in Gaza Strip."
In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the movement said: "This aggression, which endangered the lives of more than thirty activists driven by their living conscience and representing the aspirations of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, is a brazen mockery of all international laws and norms—particularly the deliberations of the International Court of Justice and the decisions of the International Criminal Court—and a shameless defiance of the will of free nations."
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3474812.htm
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Bangladesh’s influential Islamists rally for parliamentary entry, vow to implement Shariah law
02 May 2025
Mamunul Haque, an Islamic scholar and joint secretary-general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an influential coalition of Islamic schools, speaks during an interview with AFP at his office in Dhaka April 28, 2025. — AFP pic
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DHAKA, May 2 — Bangladesh’s Islamists are readying to make political gains after being crushed for years by the government that was overthrown in a mass uprising last year, rallying hardline loyalists for eagerly anticipated elections.“We are pretty confident about entering the parliament in the next election,” Muhammad Mamunul Haque, joint secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam, an influential coalition of Islamic schools, told AFP in an interview.
The coalition will hold a mass rally in the capital Dhaka tomorrow in what is expected to be one of their biggest public shows of strength for years as religiously fuelled activism gains popularity.
Haque, 52, said the group will push to implement Shariah, or Islamic law, and believes the group’s network of tens of thousands of seminaries — claiming to have some 500,000 members — means they will do well if the vote “is free and fair”.
Hefazat-e-Islam is an alliance of different parties and Muslim organisations, including Haque’s Khilafat-e-Majlish party.
A hugely influential pressure group, it has been courted by political parties since it was founded 15 years ago.
No date has been set for elections but caretaker leader Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who heads the interim government, has promised polls will be held by June 2026 at the latest.
Strength after revolution
The South Asian nation of some 170 million people last held elections in January 2024, when Sheikh Hasina won a fourth term as prime minister in the absence of genuine opposition parties.
Her opponents boycotted the vote after a crackdown.
Hasina, who was blamed for extensive human rights abuses, took a tough stand against Islamist movements during her autocratic 15-year rule.
Thousands were detained, including Haque, who was arrested in 2021 and spent three years in jail.
He faced around a dozen charges after Islamists tried to protest against a visit by Hasina’s key ally Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Hindu-nationalist leader of neighbouring India.
Hasina fled to New Delhi in August as crowds stormed her palace.
She remains in self-imposed exile in India, infuriating Bangladeshis determined that she face trial for alleged “mass murder”.
Islamist groups have gained strength with Hasina gone and have increasingly sought to impose their vision on the wider population.
That has sparked worries from smaller groups, including Muslim Sufi worshippers and the Hindu minority, who together account for less than a tenth of the population.
Women, in particular, have expressed concern.
Islamists have demanded an end to a swath of activities, including cultural events deemed “anti-Islamic” — from music to theatre festivals, women’s football matches and kite-flying celebrations.
Mobs have vandalised Sufi shrines. Supporters of Haque’s Khilafat-E-Majlis group stormed a public library last month and carted away hundreds of books before returning them.
Golam Rabbani, a leader of Khilafat-E-Majlish’s youth wing, said they had targeted books that “promoted atheism”, including Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
‘Implement Shariah’
Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally tomorrow follows two days of marches by other key parties who are also seeking their support.
Those include the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expected to be the largest political force, and the National Citizens Party (NCP), formed by students who spearheaded the uprising against Hasina.
It also includes the largest single Islamist political party, Jamaat-e-Islami.
Haque said the group opposed a government women’s commission and its recommendations to end discriminatory provisions, including equal inheritance rights for men and women.
“The commission is disrespectful to Islamic family traditions,” Haque said.
“It seems they want to destroy the religious values attached to marriage and divorce and want to establish a Western society.”
Muslim-majority Bangladesh has a constitution based on the four pillars of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism.
However, Haque said his supporters wanted Islamic law.
“We will implement Shariah,” Haque said, insisting all would be treated fairly.
“Everything will be guided by the Quran... under an Islamic welfare state, all, regardless of their faith, will be treated justly.”
That would include capital punishment for blasphemy against Islam.
“We demand death sentences for speaking against Allah, tarnishing the image of the Prophet, and offending Muslims,” Haque said.
“There is no room for negotiation in this regard.” — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/05/02/bangladeshs-influential-islamists-rally-for-parliamentary-entry-vow-to-implement-shariah-law/175354
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Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss peace, security
May 02, 2025
Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council. (SPA)
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RIYADH: Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council, will head the Kingdom’s delegation taking part in the meetings of the 38th Congress of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union on May 3-4.
The conference will take place in Algeria, with the presence and participation of heads of councils and parliaments from Arab countries.
In a press statement, Al-Sheikh affirmed that the Kingdom, with the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is keen on supporting joint Arab action, and unifying visions and positions in a way that consolidates security, stability and peace in the region and the world.
He pointed out the importance of parliamentary work, noting that it is a fundamental basis in strengthening Arab cooperation and unifying joint efforts.
He added that it is an effective platform that brings the brotherly countries’ points of view closer together, and harmonizes policies to promote sustainable development and advance the aspirations of people for a more secure future.
On the sidelines of the conference, heads of parliaments will hold a consultative meeting to discuss the conference’s subjects.
Meanwhile, the three permanent committees — the Palestine Committee; the Social Affairs, Women, Children, and Youth Committee; and the Political Affairs and Parliamentary Relations Committee — will hold their regular meetings.
The Executive Committee of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union is holding the 38th session, alongside the 46th meeting of the Association of Secretaries General of Arab Parliaments.
The Shoura Council delegation participating in the conference includes Secretary-General of the Shoura Council Mohammed bin Dakheel Al-Mutairi, member of the council and the union’s executive committee Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, council members Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Husein and Khalid bin Mohammed Abu Malha, and several other council officials.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599333/saudi-arabia
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India
Fear Amid Loathing In Lucknow Over The Heads Of Lucknow Muslims Who Are Against The Waqf Act
2 May 2025
Kaimun Nisa, a 60-year-old woman lives near Subhash Marg and her house was razed during the CAA-NRC protests in which she took part. She said that, "waqf is a different matter altogether. Here, people are being divided after temple-mosque, Hindu-Muslim issues."
She added, "There are no jobs here, no employment, no education and people are just being made to fight over temples and mosques."
Shaista Amber, Head of the All-India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board said that, "The condition of Muslims is worse than that of Dalits. What have the political parties done about it? It was their responsibility and duty." She added, "even after all the riots, even after everything, divisive politics continues—just like the British used to do."
Summaiya Rana, the national spokesperson for the SP said that, the government is trying to claim to someone else’s property and the intention is clearly to harm Muslims.
The communities are in fear of losing centuries old heritage in the name of reform.
Source: outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/national/watch-fear-amid-loathing-in-lucknow-over-the-heads-of-lucknow-muslims-who-are-againstthewaqfact
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Pahalgam fallout: India cracks down on backdoor imports from Pakistan; bans imposed on Pak-origin goods
by Ravi Dutta Mishra
May 3, 2025
India Ban Import from Pakistan News: Plugging loopholes to eliminate any possibility of Pakistani goods entering its territory, India has imposed an immediate ban on the import or transit of all goods originating in, or exported from, Pakistan, according to a Commerce and Industry Ministry notification dated May 2.
This follows the earlier termination of direct trade, marked by the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari last month in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. That move was expected to halt cross-border trade worth Rs 3,886 crore between India and Pakistan. However, imports of Pakistani goods via third countries were still possible.
“Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Commerce Ministry, stated.
The DGFT, which oversees India’s external trade regulations, added that any exception to this sweeping prohibition would require explicit approval from the government.
According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), trade with Pakistan remained possible after the Attari border closure through transhipment hubs such as the UAE, Singapore and Colombo. The GTRI estimated that about $10 billion worth of Indian goods reach Pakistan via these routes.
Pakistani dates, for instance, still arrive at Indian ports through transhipment hubs—particularly via the UAE, which has a free trade agreement with India. Notably, bilateral trade between India and the UAE reached $100 billion in the last financial year.
According to official data, India primarily exported items such as soya bean, poultry feed, vegetables, red chillies, plastic granules and plastic yarn, while importing dry fruits, dates, gypsum, cement, glass, rock salt and herbs from Pakistan.
Former trade officer and GTRI head Ajay Srivastava said: “India doesn’t depend on Pakistani goods, so the economic impact is minimal. However, Pakistan still needs Indian products and may continue accessing them through third countries, via recorded and unrecorded routes.”
Tensions between the two countries — particularly after the 2019 Pulwama attack — reduced trade from Rs 4,370.78 crore in 2018–19 to Rs 2,257.55 crore in 2022–23. However, trade rebounded to Rs 3,886.53 crore in 2023–24, the highest in the past five years. Notably, total cargo movement also dropped from 49,102 consignments in 2018–19 to just 3,827 in 2022–23, the data shows.
In dollar terms, total India–Pakistan trade has shrunk to about $2 billion annually over the past five years, a small fraction of the $37 billion trade potential estimated by the World Bank. India’s overall goods trade stands at $430 billion, while Pakistan’s is approximately $100 billion.
On Friday, The Indian Express reported that the government is also working to bring Pakistan back onto the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on money laundering and terror financing.
India has further expressed its intent to engage with all multilateral development banks (MDBs) to push back against the provision of funds and loans to Pakistan, a senior government official said on Friday.
This move to directly approach MDBs—including the World Bank, the IMF, and the Asian Development Bank—is part of the government’s broader efforts to curb financial flows that could be used to fund terror activities.
Two days after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government approved a series of directives impacting diplomatic ties with Pakistan—the most significant of which was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pahalgam-terror-attack-india-ban-pakistan-import-trade-9980241/
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“Love Jihad accused should be sterilized,” says BJP MP from Bhopal
May 2, 2025
BJP MP Alok Sharma has caused controversy after he said that individuals accused of love Jihad should be sterilized in a public event.
A video of his remarks has gone viral drawing sharp criticism from the public. “The government should make sure that those accused in love Jihad cases are sterilized,” he can be heard saying in the video.
His comments follow a recent sexual exploitation racket that was busted by Bhopal police in which a group was accused of targeting Hindu students and sexually abusing them along with using videos for blackmailing. Following this, a Special Investigation team
(SIT) has been formed to investigate the alleged racket.
Sharma then urged the public to become aggressive in such cases and said, “Wherever such incidents are reported, you can call me directly. If the situation demands, you can surround police stations immediately.”
“If someone tries to attempt such a thing they will have to face consequences they have never faced before. Society must be prepared,” he said as a warning for Muslims accused of Love jihad.
Love jihad, commonly used term, a conspiracy theory by Hindutva extremists who accused Muslim men of trapping Hindu girls and women in order to convert them to Islam.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/love-jihad-accused-should-be-sterilized-says-bjp-mp-from-bhopal/
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BJP MP demands data on Madrasas in Telangana; questions the nationality of students
May 2, 2025
MP Raghunandan Rao, member of Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday Telangana the chief minister to release data on illegal Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.
Mentioning multiple incidents of communal disturbances in the state of Telangana he said you are aware of several incidents that have been occurring in this state, like the Durga Devi mandap vandalism in Nampally idol destruction in Old City and Vikarabad’s Muthyalamma Temple incident.
Rao then cited the incident of temple desecration. However, it was proven to be done by monkeys after the police reviewed the CCTV. The Hindutva members had accused Madrasa students of desecrating an idol, attacked the students and vandalized the place.
“I have written a letter to the CM requesting that Police should launch a search of madrasas across the state to trace some children they destroyed gods’ idols and we were suspicious and found out that there was something wrong,” he said.
The MP attempted to raise suspicion on Madrasa students and said “Out of 70 students 65 hail from Kishanganj in Bihar but no one has complete details about them many are suspecting that they are not from India.”
“Do we have records of the students studying in Madrasa across Telangana, their family details and which country they come from and what is being taught?
Appealing to CM revanth Reddy he called for an immediate review of all the Madrasas and its students. “Take steps to protect both education and law and order. I urge you to disclose this information to the people of Telangana,” he said.
His remarks have been met with criticism with netizens questioning his accusations on madrasa students.
Madrasas continue to be under threat as the state’s surveillance intensifies and bulldozer justice becomes increasingly routine.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/bjp-mp-demands-data-on-madrasas-in-telangana-questions-the-nationality-of-students/
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‘Batti Gul’ protest against Waqf Act a major success, says AIMPLB
May 2, 2025
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has declared the “Batti Gul” (Lights Off) protest against the Waqf Act a nationwide success, stating it drew overwhelming support from across communities.
The symbolic 15-minute blackout, held on April 30 from 9 to 9:15 pm, aimed to register opposition to the recent amendments to the Waqf Act, which the board deems unjust and unconstitutional.
In a statement on Thursday, AIMPLB spokesperson Dr Qasim Rasool Ilyas said reports from across the country indicated that the protest was widely observed. “Homes, shops, factories, markets, and business centers in Muslim-majority areas switched off their lights.
Mosques also turned off their lights during the Isha (night) prayer,” he said. “What is even more encouraging is that many individuals from other faiths joined in, showing remarkable solidarity.”
Dr Ilyas noted that Muslims from all sects — Shia, Sunni, Deobandi, Barelvi, and others — took part enthusiastically, reflecting unity and shared concerns about the law. He also highlighted that some who had initially opposed the protest eventually supported it, recognizing the greater cause of community solidarity.
“The message is loud and clear: the Muslim community rejects these amendments. The central government must understand that those it considers community representatives do not reflect the people’s true sentiments,” he said. He urged the government to act responsibly by withdrawing the “divisive” amendments that, according to the Board, violate the spirit of the Constitution and fundamental rights.
Expressing gratitude, Dr Ilyas thanked participants from all backgrounds. “This show of unity and determination has already begun to produce positive results. We are confident that the community will remain steadfast in this struggle until the unjust changes to the Waqf Act are reversed.”
The AIMPLB concluded by reiterating its commitment to continue peaceful resistance and uphold constitutional rights. — With Agencies Inputs
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/batti-gul-protest-against-waqf-act-a-major-success-says-aimplb/
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US govt wants Indian national Badar Khan Suri’s deportation suit shifted; judge pushes back
May 3, 2025
The US government on Thursday asked a federal judge to transfer Indian national Badar Khan Suri’s deportation case from Virginia to Texas, where he is currently being held on charges of "spreading Hamas propaganda."
At the hearing, US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles expressed doubt about the government's petition, which would require her to dismiss the Virginia case, the Associated Press reported.
She emphasised that dismissal would invalidate her March directive to keep Badar Khan Suri within the US during his First Amendment proceedings.
Justice Department attorney David Byerley indicated he would consult with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement regarding the judge's concerns. He expressed confidence that ICE would respect her deportation stay order whilst the case transfers to Texas federal court.
"OK," the judge responded. "I'm not going to rely on that. But thank you," she added.
In a court filing ahead of the hearing, US attorneys argued that Badar Khan Suri’s lawsuit should have been filed in Texas, not Virginia, since he was already moved out of the state. They called the transfer a "straightforward" legal matter.
The Trump administration said it relocated Khan Suri from a detention center in Farmville, Virginia, to Louisiana and then Texas due to overcrowding.
However, the judge Giles appeared doubtful about that explanation. She asked the government to provide specific data on how many beds were available in Farmville at the time of Suri’s arrest and how many detainees have actually been transferred for overcrowding.
Khan Suri's attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union told the judge that he initially slept on the floor in an overcrowded Texas facility for several weeks, though he now occupies an individual cell.
His legal representatives suggested the transfer to Texas aimed to secure a more conservative judicial hearing. Attorney Vishal Agraharkar accused the government of engaging in "forum shopping."
The federal courts in Texas and western Louisiana feature predominantly Republican-appointed judges, unlike Alexandria, Virginia's US District Court.
Appeals proceed to the conservative-leaning 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The 5th Circuit, one of 13 federal appellate courts nationwide, comprises 17 full-time judges. Twelve received appointments from Republican presidents, including six during Donald Trump's presidency.
Outside the Alexandria courthouse on Thursday, Hassan Ahmad, another lawyer representing Khan Suri, reinforced Agraharkar's courtroom statements. "There is a reason why the detention facilities exist there," Ahmad said, further noting that, "This kind of rigged game has to stop," he said.
His legal team said that his arrest and imprisonment were unconstitutional, stemming from his wife's Gaza connections. They assert that Khan Suri and his spouse, Mapheze Saleh, faced targeting because Saleh's father worked with Gaza's Hamas-supported administration before the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian citizen, came to the US in 2022 on a J-1 visa and works at Georgetown University as a visiting scholar and postdoctoral fellow.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/us-govt-wants-indian-national-badar-khan-suris-deportation-suit-shifted-judge-pushes-back/articleshow/120839211.cms
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Pakistan violates ceasefire for ninth consecutive day, Indian Army gives prompt response
May 3, 2025
NEW DELHI: Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire across the Line of Control (LoC), with the Indian Army responding promptly and proportionately.
This was the ninth consecutive day of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops.
"During the night of 02-03 May 2025, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small‑arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately," news agency ANI quoted Indian Army officials as saying.
The ceasefire violations by Pakistani soldiers come despite a hotline conversation earlier this week between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, during which the Indian side is learnt to have cautioned Pakistan.
Pakistan has put its forces on high alert fearing a military action by India for the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
India has taken a slew of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty between the two neighbours. Since April 24, just hours after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC, starting from the Kashmir Valley.
Initially beginning with unprovoked small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla districts, Pakistan swiftly expanded its violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector.
This was followed by small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors. Subsequently, the firing expanded to the Pargwal sector along the International Border.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Mirwaiz hopes against war, says Centre must ‘reconsider’ deportations, ‘inimical to peace, stability’
by Naveed Iqbal
May 3, 2025
Leading the Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid here, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq hoped that the situation between India and Pakistan, “getting worse by the day” since the Pahalgam attack, is resolved without going to war.
He also regretted the “vilification” of Kashmiris in some quarters after the attack that left 26 dead, and urged the Centre to “reconsider” deportations of those holding Pakistani passports following revocation of visas by India.
It was the second Friday in a row after the April 22 Pahalgam attack that Mirwaiz, the Valley’s chief cleric, was allowed to give his customary sermon at the Jamia Masjid.
In one of his strongest remarks on government actions in a sermon, since his release from a four-year house arrest after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, Mirwaiz said: “The events unfolding after the horrendous Pahalgam incident have again shown that whenever such things happen, it is the people of Kashmir who bear the brunt and suffer. Despite their unanimous condemnation of it, people of Kashmir are being held to account and targeted.”
Many students and professionals had returned home to Kashmir from other parts of the country after facing “harassment”, he said. “How is all this helping in punishing the perpetrators, if that is the aim?”
Pointing to the deportations since the Pahalgam attack, after India revoked almost all categories of visas to Pakistanis, Mirwaiz said this is leading to “the division of families, with mothers being separated from little children and husbands from wives” in Kashmir. He mentioned the death of a paralysed 80-year-old Abdul Waheed Bhat on a bus while waiting to be deported to Pakistan.
“In Kashmir, it’s sorrow after sorrow and grief after grief that visits us,” Mirwaiz said, urging the Central government to revisit a policy “inimical to actual peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir”, on “humanitarian grounds”.
Mirwaiz also raised cases of alleged extrajudicial killings in the past, and questioned actions such as demolition of houses of relatives of militants, “rendering families homeless and desolate”. At least nine such demolitions have followed the Pahalgam attack, with parties which have otherwise offered support to the Centre in any action it takes against the terrorists also urging it to refrain from this “counterproductive” measure.
In his address, Mirwaiz addressed the ban on his party Awami Action Committee by the Centre recently, calling it “unjust and politically motivated”. “People know that this organisation has always stood for peace and reconciliation and understand that these are fear-building tactics. It would be better to win over people than to intimidate them into submission,” he said.
As the leader of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz has always advocated talks.
On April 25, in his first Friday sermon after the Pahalgam attack – allowed by the authorities after the gap of a month – Mirwaiz had led a one-minute silence for the dead, and had condemned the killings as “shocking and chilling beyond belief”. He had also commented on how the people of the Valley had “opened their hearts and homes” for outsiders, while regretting the “communal rhetoric of hate” directed at Kashmiris.
Source: indianexpress.com
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India blocks Instagram accounts of Babar Azam, Imran Khan, others after Pahalgam terror attack
03.05.25
India on Friday blocked Instagram accounts of leading current and former Pakistani cricketers including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Wasim Akram, intensifying its digital crackdown on influential personalities across the border in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The list of restricted accounts also includes Test captain Shan Masood, pacers Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah, batter Imam-ul-Haq, all rounder Shadab Khan and former stars Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi.
Additionally, the account of Pakistan's former Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan is also now inaccessible in India.
Users attempting to access their Instagram page from India are met with the message: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." "We received a legal request to restrict this content. We reviewed it against our policies and conducted a legal and human rights assessment. After the review, we restricted access to the content in the location where it goes against local law,"a added the note from Instagram.
However, the accounts of World Cup-winning captain Waqar Younis and former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq have not been withheld yet.
Pakistan's Olympic gold-winning javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem's Instagram account was blocked on Wednesday.
These restrictions come in the wake of the April 22 terror attack near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, where 26 people -- mostly tourists -- were killed and several others injured in a targeted shooting.
In the wake of the deadly attack, the Indian government has taken steps to block access to Pakistani social media accounts, citing national security concerns.
Earlier this week, several Pakistani YouTube channels were also restricted in India for "disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies".
That ban impacted the likes of Shoaib Akhtar, Basit Ali, and Shahid Afridi.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Jammu and Kashmir High Court stays deportation of CRPF constable's newly wed Pakistani wife
Muzaffar Raina
03.05.25
Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed the deportation of the newly wed Pakistani wife of a CRPF constable from Jammu till the outcome of her long-term visa application.
The court’s intervention had earlier helped eight siblings of a police constable from Jammu, also facing deportation, to reunite with their families.
CRPF constable Munir Khan, a resident of Gharote, had married his PoK-based cousin Minal Khan two and a half months back.
Asked to leave after the Pahalgam terror attack, Minal was at the Attari-Wagah border when the court granted a temporary stay on her deportation on Wednesday, her counsel Ankur Sharma said. She returned home from the border the next morning.
Sharma said the home ministry’s “Leave India” order had exempted two types of Pakistani nationals — those holding diplomatic visas and long-term visas. He said Minal had applied for an LTV and was interviewed. A positive recommendation has reportedly gone to the home ministry, he said.
“She was sent back after the court passed an interim order,” he said, adding that her deportation status would depend on the outcome of her visa application.
Minal had earlier requested the government not to separate her from Munir. She said she was granted a temporary visa last year after a nine-year wait.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Desperate children and adults in Gaza struggle to get food as Israel blocks aid
May 02, 2025
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip: Screaming in anguish as the desperate crowd crushes them against a barrier, young children and adults frantically wave pots and pans at charity workers, begging for a portion of some of the last food aid left in Gaza: Rice.
The chaos at the community kitchen in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Friday was too overwhelming for Niveen Abu Arar. She tried and tried, but the 33-year-old mother of eight didn’t get to the front of the crowd in time. She left with her pot empty, and her eyes full of tears.
“Until when will life be like that? We’re slowly dying. We haven’t eaten bread for a month and a half. There is no flour. There is nothing,” said Abu Arar, whose ninth child, a 1-year-old boy, was killed in an Israeli strike near their home at the start of the war in 2023. “We don’t know what to do … We don’t have money. What do we get for them?”
She cradled a toddler in her lap as she spoke. With no milk to provide, she poured water into a baby bottle and pressed it into her youngest daughter’s mouth, hoping to stave off the baby’s hunger pangs.
With Israel blocking any form of aid — including food and medicine – into Gaza for the past two months, aid groups have warned that Gaza’s civilian population is facing starvation.
Israel has said that the blockade and its renewed military campaign aim to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages it still holds and to disarm. Aid groups stress that blocking humanitarian aid is a form of collective punishment and a violation of international law.
Israeli authorities didn’t immediately respond when asked about accusations that starvation was being used as a weapon of war, but in the past they have accused the Hamas militant group governing Gaza of stealing aid.
In an emergency call with reporters on Friday to discuss Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, aid groups described a territory nearly out of food, water and fuel, with prices for the meager supplies remaining skyrocketing beyond the reach of many.
With nearly the entire population reliant on humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations, warehouses are empty, community kitchens are closing down, and families are skipping meals.
A 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of flour now goes for 1,300 shekels ($360), said Ghada al Haddad, Oxfam’s media coordinator in Gaza.
“Mothers in Gaza now feed their children one meal per day, dinner, so they don’t wake up and complain they are starving,” she said.
Amjad Shawwa, the director of the Palestinian NGO network, said that more than 70 of their community kitchens inside Gaza would close within the week if the Israeli blockade continues.
Israeli airstrikes have also taken out large swaths of Gaza’s agricultural land and livestock, making it nearly impossible for the territory to produce its own food, said Gavin Kelleher, a humanitarian manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council who recently left Gaza. Even fisherman have been targeted, he said, killed in small fishing boats by Israeli naval forces.
“Israel has engineered a situation where Palestinians cannot grow their own food or fish for their own food,” he said.
Kelleher, whose organization coordinates the provision of shelter to Gaza, said that not a single aid group has any tents left to distribute — as 1 million people inside Gaza remain in need of shelter given the devastation caused by the nearly 19-month war.
In Khan Younis, Mustafa Ashour said he had walked for an hour to get to the charity community kitchen, and waiting for another two hours before he managed to get food.
“The situation is hard in Gaza. The crossings are closed. It’s a full siege,” said Ashour, who was displaced from the southern city of Rafah. “There is no food. There is no water. There are no life necessities. The food being sold is expensive and very little.”
As for Abu Arar and her family — left without a handout from the charity kitchen — another family in a neighboring tent took pity, and shared their own meager portions of rice.
Keller of the NRC said that if Israel continues its blockade, “thousands of people will die, there will be a complete breakdown of order, telecommunication networks will come down and we will struggle to understand the situation because it will be unfolding in the dark.”
Source: arabnews.com
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‘Deadly blockade’ leaves Gaza aid work on verge of collapse: UN, Red Cross
May 02, 2025
GENEVA: Two months into Israel’s full blockade on aid into Gaza, humanitarians described Friday horrific scenes of starving, bloodied children and people fighting over water, with aid operations on the “verge of total collapse.”
The United Nations and the Red Cross sounded the alarm at the dire situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, demanding international action.
“The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the verge of total collapse,” the International Committee of the Red Cross warned in a statement.
“Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.”
Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war.
Since the start of the blockade, the United Nations has repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said a week ago that it had sent out its “last remaining food stocks” to kitchens.
“Food stocks have now mainly run out,” Olga Cherevko, a spokeswoman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, told reporters in Geneva Friday via video link from Gaza City.
“Community kitchens have begun to shut down (and) more people are going hungry,” she said, pointing to reports of children and other very vulnerable people who have died from malnutrition and ... from the lack of food.”
“The blockade is deadly.”
Water access was also “becoming impossible,” she warned.
“In fact, as I speak to you, just downstairs from this building people are fighting for water. There’s a water truck that has just arrived, and people are killing each other over water,” she said.
The situation is so bad, she said that a friend had described to her a few days ago seeing “people burning ... because of the explosions and there was no water to save them.”
At the same time, Cherevko lamented that “hospitals report running out of blood units as mass casualties continue to arrive.”
“Gaza lies in ruins, Rubble fills the streets... Many nights, blood-curdling screams of the injured pierce the skies following the deafening sound of another explosion.”
She also decried the mass displacement, with nearly the entire Gaza population being forced to shift multiple times prior to the brief ceasefire.
Since the resumption of hostilities, she said “over 420,000 people have been once again forced to flee, many with only the clothes on their backs, shot at along the way, arriving in overcrowded shelters, as tents and other facilities where people search safety, are being bombed.”
Pascal Hundt, the ICRC’s deputy head of operations, also cautioned that “civilians in Gaza are facing an overwhelming daily struggle to survive the dangers of hostilities, cope with relentless displacement, and endure the consequences of being deprived of urgent humanitarian assistance.”
The World Health Organization’s emergencies director Mike Ryan said the situation was an “abomination.”
“We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza. We are starving the children of Gaza,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Cherevko slammed decision makers who “have watched in silence the endless scenes of bloodied children, of severed limbs, of grieving parents move swiftly across their screens, month, after month, after month.”
“How much more blood must be spilled before enough become enough?“
Source: arabnews.com
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Gaza rescuers say 42 killed in Israeli strikes
May 02, 2025
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 42 people Friday in the Palestinian territory, devastated by war and under a total Israeli aid blockade for two months.
Israel resumed its military campaign in the Gaza Strip on March 18 after the collapse of a ceasefire that had largely halted the fighting.
Nine people were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a home in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, civil defense official Mohammed Al-Mughayyir told AFP.
AFP footage in the aftermath of a strike on Bureij camp showed Palestinians searching for casualties in the rubble of a flattened building.
“They gave us no warning, no phone call — we woke up at midnight to smoke, rubble, stones, and shrapnel raining down on us,” said Mohammed Al-Sheikh, standing among collapsed concrete slabs.
“We pulled out martyrs — bodies and limbs from under the rubble.”
Another six people were killed in a strike targeting the Al-Masri family home in the northern city of Beit Lahia, civil defense official Mughayyir added.
In Gaza City, a strike on a community kitchen claimed the lives of six more, the civil defense agency reported.
Across the Gaza Strip, at least 21 other deaths were reported in similar attacks, the agency said.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that at least 2,326 people have been killed since Israel resumed its campaign in Gaza, bringing the overall death toll since the war broke out to 52,418.
The war erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Militants also abducted 251 people, 58 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
The Israeli government says its renewed campaign aims to force Hamas to free the remaining captives, although critics charge it puts them in mortal danger.
Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of the ceasefire which had come into effect on January 19.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming.
On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the “verge of total collapse.”
“This situation must not — and cannot — be allowed to escalate further,” its deputy director of operations, Pascal Hundt, said in a statement.
Source: arabnews.com
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Gaza is replacing France on the political scene, local lawmaker tells 'Post
By DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
MAY 2, 2025
French left-wing politicians are increasingly losing sight of France in their politics, Shannon Seban, president of the Renaissance Party in Seine-Saint-Denis and city council member for Rosy-sous-Boi, told The Jerusalem Post during her visit to Israel last week.
Seban explained that left-wing parties, particularly La France Insoumise, “have decided to instrumentalize the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to gain voters among the Muslim population,” and in doing so, are ultimately doing that community a disservice.
“Hamas is not the ally of the Palestinians. They are also the enemy of all of the Muslims, because they are not giving a good reputation for Muslims,” Seban said, after accusing the extreme Left of becoming the “spokespersons of Hamas.”
“The only word they have in them is ‘Gaza’ – [there is] no proposal for French people about education, security, health, or the salary at the end of the month,” she accused.
Raised in the multicultural district of Seine-Saint-Denis by Algerian and Moroccan Jewish parents, the 29-year-old politician has built her platform around countering racism, fostering open dialogue, and creating opportunities for youth.
While passionate about Israel and committed to preserving the memory of those killed on October 7, Seban’s primary focus remains on addressing France’s domestic challenges.
While critical of France’s Left, Seban was no gentler toward the right-wing party Rassemblement National, or toward Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli for inviting them in March to a conference on antisemitism.
“I cannot forget that the National Rally was founded by Nazis. I cannot forget that back in June 2024... candidates of the National Rally, of Marine Le Pen and of Jordan Bardella, decided to ask some of their candidates to become members of parliament, to be their candidate... [and those candidates published] official declaration[s] where they were antisemitic,” she condemned.
“How can you say that you have changed? How can you say that your party has changed since your foundation by Nazis, but then in 2024... [you] still have some candidates and some members that had declaration that are openly antisemitic? That’s a problem – so from the far Right and the far Left, this is just opportunism.”
“I’m pretty sure that we do have a solution in the center to fight against antisemitism, because the far Left and far Right will never be the allies and friends of the Jewish people,” she shared.
Speaking specifically about French Member of European Parliament Rima Hassan, who has described both the October 7 massacre and Hamas as “legitimate,” Seban said, “she is elected for France at the European Parliament, have a look at her X account. Every single post is about Palestine, Gaza and Hamas. But what about French people?”
“Of course, it is important to speak about the international situation, but what about French people?” she asked.
Hassan and Seban’s oppositional relationship has drawn wide attention in France, with Seban explaining that local media had begun identifying her as Hassan’s “opponent.”
Despite the extreme reports of antisemitism coming out of France – and the July remarks by Chief Rabbi Moshe Sebbag of the Grande Synagogue of Paris claiming there was no future for Jews in the country – Seban remained optimistic about France’s future.
“The Jewish people do not have to leave France. You have to stay in France; we also have to act in order to help them to feel secure in France,” she said, emphasizing the importance of adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism and promoting Jewish life.
She also stressed the need for trips to Auschwitz and an education system that fosters understanding, punishes antisemitism, and encourages open dialogue.
A few weeks ago at the Université de Lyon, where Seban was once a student, a teacher was forced out of the classroom for being a Zionist, she told the Post, highlighting the urgent need for changes within France’s education system.
Antisemitism in Europe
She added that France today had become “a laboratory in order to see and to understand antisemitism,” but warned that Europe as a whole had become a dangerous place for Jews, with everyday antisemitism “dripping from the top down.”
“It’s becoming fashionable to hate Jews... that’s not normal – but behind that, you have all the political parties that are trying to legitimize this,” she shared, adding that the Israel-Hamas War has simply become a socially acceptable justification for French antisemites to express their opinions.
Seban has been no stranger to antisemitism in France, frequently being told to leave the country, that she is unwelcome, and receiving comments about her “threatening Jewish nose.” In 2023, even before Hamas’s attack, she was placed under police protection due to the threats posed by Jew hatred.
“I know that a lot of Jews have decided to move to Israel. They have decided to escape France, the country where they were born and raised, where they worked, where they built their families, where they built businesses – and now, because of October 7 and the rise of antisemitism,” they have even more reason to leave, she acknowledged.
“Our French Republic and our French institutions, at some point, failed – failed to protect and make Jews feel secure again. And I think there are some people that are responsible for this.”
Seban’s conversation with the Post came just a day after Israel revoked the visas of 27 visiting French politicians. The delegation included National Assembly deputies François Ruffin, Alexis Corbière, and Julie Ozenne from the Ecologist Party, Communist deputy Soumya Bourouaha, and Communist senator Marianne Margate. The French consulate in Jerusalem claimed the trip was organized to promote international cooperation and peace.
While an advocate for dialogue, Seban emphasized that true dialogue meant being willing to engage and hear opinions contrary to one’s own beliefs – something she doubted the intended visitors would be willing to do.
“I don’t think that if they were in Israel, they would change their minds, so in the end, the result is the same,” she commented when asked if she thought Israel’s decision would be productive. “These people are not advocating for peace, they are just advocating against Jews and defending the Muslim community... They don’t care about the conflict. They are just using it to gain voters among the Muslim community. But they are wrong, because the Muslim community is not made up of idiots.”
Asked what Israel could do to build better relations with France, Seban stressed that it would only be possible if both sides were willing to foster ties. Israel’s priority, she said, should be on the 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, not on whether French politicians liked the Jewish state.
“They are not for Jews. They don’t have any empathy for the families of the hostages, and so on. When you look at their official declarations, they do not condemn the October 7 attack,” the Renaissance Party chair said, highlighting that improving ties with France’s Left would be difficult.
Once the crisis is resolved and Israel can shift its focus to the international arena, Seban shared, “I’m pretty convinced that Israel must definitely be more moderate at some point and on some topics in order to gather more people, and they also have to insist on education... I’m pretty convinced that’s the key: education. Yad Vashem, all the commemoration of this, they have to spread it, to share the story of the families of the hostages.”
Seban has been vocal in her support of the hostages and their families, making an effort to learn their individual stories to share on their behalf and help humanize Hamas’s victims. In the hours before speaking to the Post, she visited the devastated Kibbutz Be’eri and the site of the Re’im massacre, guided by an October 7 survivor who lost their mother and two nephews to the invading terrorists.
“I’m pretty convinced that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. This sentence, for me, means a lot, because what I did today... is already a duty of memory,” she explained. “When I’m back in France, and even on my social media, I will share with my community. Look at what happened... Just imagine if it were you. When I’m speaking with the family of some hostages, they tell me: ‘Please share the story – share the story behind the hostages.’”
“When I was at Nova this morning, I could recognize a lot of faces as if they were part of my family, because I saw these faces quite often. I know the story, and this is what will be the most important. Never forget; Never again,” she said.
During her tour of Be’eri, she shared that even a year after the attack, the kibbutz still carried the “smell of death.” Little mementos of civilian life were particularly difficult to see, she recalled. “What shocked me, what particularly shocked me, is that in their houses, you can still see the shoes. You can still see the pepper and the salt in the kitchen,” she said.
Why Hamas is worse than the Nazis
To Seban, Hamas embodies “the same evil and the same ideology” as the Nazis, but it’s more dangerous. The Nazis didn’t have the same reach through social media, and now Hamas is spreading its murderous ideology remotely.
Beyond her empathy for the victims of Hamas’s brutality, the French politician emphasized that France and the wider European continent face the same threat as Israel: the Muslim Brotherhood and all its branches.
“We need to open our eyes and stop turning a blind eye to the devil. And the devil is Islamist terrorism,” she stressed. While attending a conference in the United Arab Emirates some years ago, she learned that the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia had done something that Europe, with the exception of Austria, has failed to do: ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
The terrorist group, although not recognized as such throughout most of Europe, works to instill in Muslims the belief that the Western world hates them and that they are incompatible with it, thus setting the stage for radicalization, she explained.
Fostering a positive relationship between moderate Islam and France is a core belief for Seban, who described the work she does with Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, also known as the Imam of Peace, often while under police protection.
Now back in France, Seban will continue her work fostering ties between Paris’s ethnically rich suburbs, educating the masses on antisemitism and racism, and countering the narratives that lead to all types of extremism – even if she must do so while under guard.
Source: jpost.com
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https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-852291
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Israel carries out strikes on two Syrian cities, Syrian state news agency says
May 03, 2025
CAIRO: Israeli strikes targeted the vicinity of Syria’s Damascus, Hama and Daraa countryside late on Friday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.
The strikes on Damascus countryside killed one civilian and injured four others in Hama, SANA added.
Israel’s repeated strikes on Syria act as a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, which Israel views as a potential threat on its border.
The Israeli army confirmed the strikes on Syria on Friday, saying it targeted “a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure.”
The Israeli army has previously said it targeted Syria’s military infrastructure, including headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment, since mainly Sunni Muslim Islamist fighters toppled President Bashar Assad in December.
Earlier on Friday, Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus, in its clearest warning yet to Syria’s new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action, which has included strikes it said were in support of the country’s Druze minority.
Israel bombed Syria frequently when the country was governed by Assad, targeting a foothold established by his ally Iran during the civil war.
Source: arabnews.com
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West Bank residents losing hope 100 days into military assault
May 02, 2025
JENIN: On a torn-up road near the refugee camp where she once lived, Saja Bawaqneh said she struggled to find hope 100 days after an Israeli offensive in the occupied West Bank forced her to flee.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced in the north of the territory since Israel began a major “anti-terrorist operation” dubbed “Iron Wall” on Jan. 21.
Bawaqneh said life was challenging and uncertain since she was forced to leave Jenin refugee camp — one of three targeted by the offensive, along with Tulkarm and Nur Shams.
“We try to hold on to hope, but unfortunately, reality offers none,” she said.
“Nothing is clear in Jenin camp even after 100 days — we still don’t know whether we will return to our homes, or whether those homes have been damaged or destroyed.”
Bawaqneh said residents were banned from entering the camp and that “no one knows ... what happened inside.”
Israel’s military in late February deployed tanks in Jenin for the first time in the West Bank since the end of the second intifada.
In early March, it said it had expanded its offensive to more city areas.
AFP footage this week showed power lines dangling above Jenin’s streets blocked with barriers made of churned-up earth.
Wastewater pooled in the road outside the Jenin Governmental Hospital.
Farha Abu Al-Hija, a member of the Popular Committee for Services in Jenin camp, said families living in the vicinity of the camp were being removed by Israeli forces daily.
“A hundred days have passed like a hundred years for the displaced people of Jenin camp,” she said.
“Their situation is dire, the conditions are harsh, and they are enduring pain unlike anything they have ever known.”
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders in March denounced the “extremely precarious” situation of Palestinians displaced by the military assault, saying they were going “without proper shelter, essential services, and access to health care.”
It said the scale of forced displacement and destruction of camps “has not been seen in decades” in the West Bank.
The UN says about 40,000 residents have been displaced since Jan. 21.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the offensive would last several months and ordered troops to stop residents from returning.
Israeli forces put up barriers at several entrances of the Jenin camp in late April, AFP footage showed.
The Israeli offensive began two days after a truce came into effect in the Gaza Strip between the Israeli military and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
Two months later, that truce collapsed and Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza, a Palestinian territory separate from the West Bank.
Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, violence has soared in the West Bank.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 925 Palestinians in the territory since then, according to the Ramallah-based Health Ministry.
Source: arabnews.com
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Iran condemns US for escalating sanctions, questions commitment to diplomacy amid nuclear talks
By IFP Editorial Staff
May 2, 2025
The statement comes after three rounds of indirect talks, with Iran insisting on its right to peaceful nuclear energy and demanding an end to punitive sanctions.
The statement reads:
“Following a letter from the US president to the esteemed Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution and the expression of readiness to pursue a diplomatic path to resolve the unnecessary and fabricated crisis over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, the Islamic Republic of Iran entered into indirect talks with Washington with good will backed by national strength and confidence.
Over the course of three rounds of negotiations, the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on a clear framework rooted in Tehran’s principled approaches under international law regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the lifting of oppressive sanctions, have outlined the rightful views and demands of the Iranian people and have diligently tried to achieve a fair, reasonable and lasting agreement.
While reaffirming its commitment to the path of diplomacy and declaring readiness to continue the talks, the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects any approaches based on threats and pressure, which are all in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and are designed to harm Iran’s national interests and violate the human rights of its citizens. Accordingly, the Islamic Republic strongly condemns the continuation of illegal sanctions and pressure on the country’s trade and economic partners, viewing it as further evidence justifying the Iranian nation’s deep mistrust and skepticism regarding the seriousness of the US about pursuing diplomacy.
The continuation of these unlawful actions will in no way alter Iran’s logical and legitimate policies that are in line with international law. Undoubtedly, repeating ineffective and failed methods will yield nothing but a repetition of the same costly failures of the past.”
Source: ifpnews.com
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Tens of Thousands of Perform Friday Prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque
02 May 2025
Tens of thousands of worshippers performed Friday prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the Israeli occupation forces' tightened security at the military checkpoints surrounding Quds, the Old City, and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that tens of thousands of worshippers performed Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, mourning the souls of the martyrs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Safa News Agency reported that Israeli forces forced those deported from Al-Aqsa Mosque to leave the Old City of occupied Quds, after preventing them from performing Friday prayers in its vicinity.
The agency added that Israeli forces deployed heavily in the streets of Quds and around the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque, stopping a number of people entering the mosque and searching their belongings and bags.
Israeli forces also stopped several young men as they made their way to the Old City and prevented them from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.
Source: saba.ye
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PM: Iraq to Play Active Role at Arab Summit, Present Solutions to Regional Crises
02 May 2025
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani affirmed on Friday that Iraq will not only host the Arab Summit, but will also provide solutions to various crises.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a television interview followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA):”Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani affirmed on Friday that Iraq’s role in the upcoming Arab Summit will not be limited to that of a host nation, but will extend to actively contributing to resolving various pressing crises.”
Speaking in a televised interview, Al-Sudani noted: “Iraq will not be solely a host country for the Arab Summit; it will take initiative—presenting solutions to the various crises and challenges confronting the region.”
He also underscored the importance of Syria’s participation in the summit, saying: “The presence of the Syrian President is essential—regardless of the political process or the nature of the change—as it offers an opportunity to present a new vision for Syria to the Arab world.”
The Prime Minister emphasized,” that most Arab states are eager to see Syria emerge from the prolonged hardship it has endured.”
“We will spare no effort in supporting Syria and in respecting its sovereign choices,” he added.
Source: ina.iq
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South Asia
“Dignity and pride of this country depend on unity and solidarity of Afghan people,” says Beradar
May 3, 2025
KABUL: Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, said that the dignity and pride of this country depend on the unity and solidarity of Afghans. Beradar made the remarks during his visit with a number of returnees in the Spin Bold- “Dignity and pride of this country depend on unity and solidarity of Afghan people,” says Beradar ak district of the Kandahar province, the office of deputy PM for economic affairs said in a statement the other day. The Deputy PM warmly welcomed the returnees and stated that today’s gathering and the act of welcoming them is one of the most joyful and pride-filled moments in life, according to the statement. “By now, it must be clear to you that under foreign rule, there is no real happiness, sustainable progress, sense of ownership, honor, or pride. The feeling of freedom, rightful ownership, pride, and true happiness exists only in one’s own homeland,” Mullah Beradar said as quoted by the statement Deputy PM Mullah Beradar Akhund added: “We understand that you were forced abruptly and against your will to leave your homes. Your businesses were disrupted, many of your assets and resources were left behind, and your education was left incomplete. It is evident that this has been a difficult situation.” He said: “On behalf of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, I assure you that we will utilize every available resource to address your challenges. Your children will go to madrasas and schools, your businesses will be rebuilt, and all possible facilities will be provided to you. In this regard, the Islamic Emirate has already facilitated many services for our Afghan brothers in a very short time and will continue to do so.” The Deputy PM further emphasized, “You are the children of this sovereign land. No matter what difficulties you face here, no one will expel you. In a free Afghanistan, your pride will remain alive, and you will never feel subjugated. A day was destined to come when you would return to your homeland. That day is today and it is good that you are back in your villages and with your brothers.” “Together, we will serve our religion and our land. We will extend our support to the Islamic system and will work to permanently save the beloved children of our homeland from the humiliation, exploitation, and displacement in foreign countries,” the statement quoted Beradar Akhund as saying. At the end of the visit, he also called on all international humanitarian organizations to cooperate with the Islamic Emirate and support the returning Afghan citizens. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Thousands join Hefazat's grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan
May 3, 2025
Thousands of leaders and activists of Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh joined its grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka this morning.
Hefazat's Paltan zone has organised the rally to press home their demands, including the dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, the withdrawal of cases against its leaders, and a ban on the Awami League.
Yesterday, Junayed Al Habib, the organisation's central senior vice-president and president of its Dhaka city unit, threatened to go for a tougher programme if its key demands are not met.
"If our demands are not fulfilled, Dhaka will come to a standstill tomorrow [today]," Junayed said while addressing a rally in front of the capital's Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Juma prayers yesterday.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Hefazat vows tougher action if its demands not met
May 3, 2025
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh yesterday said they would go for a tougher programme if its key demands, including the dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, the withdrawal of cases against its leaders, and a ban on the Awami League, are not met.
Junayed Al Habib, the organisation's central senior vice-president and president of its Dhaka city unit, issued the warning while addressing a rally in front of the capital's Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Juma prayers.
"If our demands are not fulfilled, Dhaka will come to a standstill tomorrow [today]," he said. "Hasina had to step down in the face of protests; you too will be forced out with just a gust of resistance…You have time until tomorrow [today]."
The rally was organised by Hefazat's Paltan zone to press forward their various demands.
Their other demands included ensuring justice for the killings at Shapla Chattar and other alleged crackdowns, and stopping "the genocide and persecution of Muslims in Palestine and India".
Hefazat will today hold a grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Junayed said people from across the country would join Saturday's rally. "Forty-two buses are ready to come from Dinajpur, and around four to five thousand people are coming from Barishal by launch," he said.
Mahiuddin Rabbani, Hefazat's central nayeb-e-amir, said the group would announce an ultimatum at today's rally. "If the cases against Hefazat leaders and ulemas are not withdrawn and the Women's Affairs Reform Commission is not dissolved, we will declare tougher programmes if necessary," he said.
Central Nayeb-e-Amir Sarwar Kamal Azizi warned, "Our demands are clear and must be met. This anti-Islamic commission must be abolished, and we will continue our struggle until it is done."
Source: thedailystar.net
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US Peace Institute paid $132,000 to former Taliban official, says Musk
By Fidel Rahmati
May 3, 2025
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), led by Elon Musk, has revealed that the U.S. Institute of Peace paid $132,000 to Mohammad Qasim Halimi, a former Taliban member and ex-Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs of Afghanistan.
In an interview with Fox News on Friday, May 2, Musk disclosed that weapons were found at the U.S. Institute of Peace’s headquarters. He called it one of the “least peaceful organizations” they had worked with, further raising concerns about the institution’s activities.
This revelation is part of the GAO’s broader initiative to increase transparency and eliminate financial corruption within the federal government. Musk’s efforts aim to hold government entities accountable and ensure funds are properly allocated.
The GAO’s report also highlighted significant financial mismanagement, including the $20 million allocated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the production of the Iraqi program “Sesame Road,” which was deemed wasteful.
Furthermore, the report revealed that the federal government made incorrect payments amounting to $162 billion in 2024. Additionally, 402 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) projects worth $233 million were canceled by the U.S. Department of Defense.
This revelation has intensified calls for stricter oversight of U.S. foreign aid and federal spending. Critics argue that the funds directed to controversial figures undermine public trust and highlight significant gaps in vetting and accountability mechanisms within government institutions.
Elon Musk emphasized the need for greater transparency and efficiency in federal programs, vowing continued scrutiny through the Government Efficiency Office (DOGE). As the investigation unfolds, it may prompt broader reforms aimed at preventing future misallocations of taxpayer dollars.
Source: khaama.com
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Arab World
UNESCO Official Visits Saudi Artificial Intelligence Centres
May 02, 2025
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General Lydia Arthur recently visited the headquarters of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the International Centre for Research and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh.
Arthur was briefed on the SDAIA’s efforts in the sector, and the support the Kingdom provides to the UNESCO-affiliated ICAIRE to carry out its international missions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Arthur praised the Kingdom for introducing regulations governing the use of AI, particularly its model for ethical adoption. She said the Kingdom’s model should be adopted more widely at a global level.
During the visit, she reviewed the work of the ICAIRE center and its international efforts to promote responsible uses, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The ICAIRE organization seeks to advance research and ethics through international cooperation, champion awareness, nurture skills development, and provide policy advice, according to its website.
Source: arabnews.com
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Najran’s Al-Tharwa Mountain reveals stories of early Islamic art
May 02, 2025
RIYADH: Hidden in the creek of Al-Tharwa Mountain, south of King Fahd Park in the Najran region, lies a living archive that tells the story of early Islamic art.
The mountain’s rocky features abound with prominent archaeological evidence of Islamic calligraphy in its earliest stages.
The rocks preserve rare Islamic inscriptions that serve as a historic record reflecting the ancient past and the richness of the Islamic civilization.
These inscriptions represent the precision and beauty of early Islamic art and calligraphy, revealing a significant transitional phase in the history of Arabic art and scripts.
This transforms Al-Tharwa Mountain into an open-air museum which narrates chapters from the beginnings of Islamic civilization.
Dr. Salem bin Ahmad bin Tairan, professor of Semitic languages, ancient writings, and archaeology at King Saud University, said: “Islamic inscriptions are an important and fundamental source for studying Islamic history and civilization.
“Najran abounds with a large number of such inscriptions dating back to the early Islamic period.
“Through the archaeological survey of inscriptions and ancient writings in the region, more than 200 Kufic Islamic inscriptions have been identified and documented across several sites, most notably Al-Tharwa Mountain in Saqam, south of Wadi Najran, where 33 Islamic inscriptions were found, 26 of which belong to members of a single family.”
Although these inscriptions are undated, the style of the script and the names of the individuals mentioned indicate that they date back to the second and third centuries AH.
Most of these inscriptions contain religious phrases and prayers, expressing belief in death, trust in God, monotheism, and blessings upon the Prophet, along with the signatures of their authors.
Abdullah Al-Suqour, a member of the Najran Tourist Club and a certified tour guide, explained that Al-Tharwa Mountain is considered an important archaeological and tourism landmark because of the historic evidence it contains, confirming the significance of early Islamic inscriptions which are distinguished by their beauty, organization, and precise linguistic structures.
He noted that among these inscriptions are some written by women, who engraved their names on the mountain’s rocks in commemorative and religious phrases — a sign of a civilized period in which education spread to all segments of society.
Al-Suqour added that Al-Tharwa Mountain is a prominent cultural destination which holds a rich cultural heritage of early Islamic inscriptions.
These archaeological treasures adorn the mountain, standing as some of the rarest evidence of the early development of engraving and Islamic calligraphy in the southern Arabian Peninsula.
Source: arabnews.com
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UAE had hottest April on record: met office
May 02, 2025
DUBAI: The UAE endured its hottest April on record with an average daily high of 42.6 degrees Celsius (108.7 Fahrenheit), the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) said.
That topped the average daily high of 42.2 Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) recorded in April 2017, said the center, which has been keeping comprehensive figures since 2003.
UAE has been gripped by a heatwave for several days that has prompted authorities to warn residents to drink plenty of fluids and avoid work outdoors during the hottest part of the day.
NCM meteorologist Ahmed Habib said the culprit was a mass of very hot air that had blown in from the desert.
On April 27, temperatures in the emirate of Fujairah peaked at 46.6 Celsius (115.9 Fahrenheit), the second highest ever recorded in April in the UAE.
This year’s heatwave stands in stark contrast to April 2024, when the UAE was swept by its heaviest rains in 75 years, in which four people died.
Scientists of the World Weather Attribution network said last year’s rains were “very likely” exacerbated by global warming.
Source: arabnews.com
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How green journalism in Saudi Arabia can grow stronger roots
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
May 02, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s accelerated sustainability drive under its Vision 2030 plan puts environmental journalism at a critical juncture. While coverage of science and environmental issues is expanding, experts say that oversimplification, lack of specialist training, and weak collaboration between journalists and scientists are holding back high-quality reporting.
Some Saudi media outlets are praised for scientific accuracy, but others often prioritize speed over substance, resulting in fragmented or sensationalized coverage. This inconsistency, experts say, limits public understanding of urgent environmental issues.
Academic and industry leaders in the Kingdom agree that tackling these shortcomings requires institutional investment, the establishment of specialized news units, and the adoption of advanced tools such as data analysis powered by artificial intelligence.
“One of the key challenges facing environmental journalists in Saudi Arabia is striking a precise balance between simplifying complex scientific information for a general audience and preserving its accuracy and scientific integrity,” said Talal Al-Shathry, an expert in environmental journalism.
He told Arab News that while some Saudi outlets have improved accuracy and objectivity through rigorous reporting, others continue to downplay or oversimplify key topics.
This trend, he added, often stems from a focus on speed and breaking news at the expense of deeper analysis.
To improve the quality and credibility of coverage, Al-Shathry emphasized the need for journalistic integrity. He said reporters must “avoid bias” by relying on credible, diverse sources, maintaining transparency throughout the reporting process, and disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
He also underscored the importance of specialized training in science and environmental journalism to help reporters handle the complexity of the topics. Without this training, he warned, journalists may unintentionally compromise the accuracy of the information they present.
Despite current challenges, Al-Shathry, an assistant professor at King Saud University’s Journalism and Mass Communication Department, noted recent improvements. “Saudi media has taken encouraging steps toward increasing its focus on environmental issues,” he said.
However, he urged greater emphasis on in-depth analysis, accurate scientific communication, and public engagement around sustainability. These efforts, he said, should be backed by more investment in training and resources.
To that end, Al-Shathry proposed several initiatives to strengthen ties between academia and the media, including workshops, joint conferences, and digital platforms that help journalists connect with environmental experts.
He also called for major media organizations to establish dedicated investigative teams focused on environmental issues. These units, he said, could deliver in-depth reporting, expose violations, and hold accountable those responsible for environmental harm.
Echoing these concerns, Mutlaq Al-Mutairi, supervisor of the Dr. Ibrahim Al-Muhanna chair for energy and specialized media, emphasized the role academic institutions must play in supporting this growing field.
According to him, university research chairs are designed to support specialized studies that align with national development goals, including environmental protection. “Environmental journalism is increasingly gaining prominence as a vital discipline, owing to its close connections with various sectors,” he told Arab News.
Still, Al-Mutairi acknowledged the gap between universities and the authorities meant to act on their findings. The issue, he said, is not a lack of research but a reluctance among institutions to engage in structured academic partnerships, with many opting to work with individual experts instead.
He cited several success stories that demonstrate the potential of stronger, institution-based collaboration and noted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to deepen international academic partnerships. But he cautioned that such collaborations must be effectively implemented to yield real-world benefits.
“Rather than allowing the media market to reshape academic training,” Al-Mutairi said, “educational institutions should shape the media landscape through their expertise and focus on specialization.”
Building on this theme, Sattam Fahad Al-Mojil, associate professor of environmental engineering at King Saud University, pointed to the way scientific content is often framed as a major obstacle.
He told Arab News that technical or globalized language too often fails to connect with people’s everyday concerns — such as health, clean water, or food security — reducing both awareness and engagement.
“Covering environmental issues isn’t easy — and for many journalists, it’s a constant uphill battle,” Al-Mojil said. “The complexity of scientific information makes it difficult to communicate without losing meaning, and most reporters receive little to no training in environmental journalism.”
“The lack of reliable sources and limited access to data or experts compounds the issue. Weak institutional interest in environmental topics means fewer resources and minimal editorial support,” he added.
Despite these barriers, Al-Mojil believes journalists can still make a meaningful impact. By taking a constructive tone and offering solutions alongside problems, reporting can help turn public anxiety into awareness — and, eventually, action.
He said that academics and experts are essential allies, helping to simplify complex concepts, interpret technical data and ensure accuracy. However, collaboration is limited due to institutional disconnects, different working styles and the pressures of the news cycle.
“Despite the importance of this collaboration, it remains limited due to weak institutional communication, differing approaches, and the time pressure journalists often face,” he said.
To bridge the gap, Al-Mojil proposed regular communication channels between media and academia. Joint initiatives — such as training sessions, workshops, and expert databases — could greatly improve the quality and impact of reporting.
Adding to the call for innovation, Farah Al-Gharib, founder and president of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, acknowledged recent progress but said current efforts remain inadequate in the face of climate change and other accelerating threats.
“Media coverage of environmental issues is often reactive rather than proactive,” she told Arab News. “This reality underscores the urgent need for greater investment in environmental journalism to keep pace with mounting challenges.”
Al-Gharib also highlighted the potential of technology to support sustainability. “Integrating smart systems is critical to advancing environmental sustainability,” she said. “By leveraging AI and modern technologies, we can classify facilities by environmental impact and use advanced data to support sustainable decision-making.”
Looking ahead, she said she expects environmental journalism in Saudi Arabia to become more specialized, data-driven and influential.
She described the field as a critical bridge between science and the public. “Its strength lies in transforming difficult concepts into clear, actionable information that empowers people to act,” Al-Gharib said.
Her company contributes to this mission by providing transparent data and maintaining open communication with journalists. “Effective communication between the media and the environmental sector is not a choice — it’s a necessity for building a greener tomorrow,” she said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Thai festival brings eruption of color and music to Riyadh
TAMARA ABOALSAUD
May 02, 2025
RIYADH: The Thai Festival in the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter celebrates both Thailand’s rich culture and its blossoming friendship with Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh was chosen as one of six flagship cities around the world to hold the festival, alongside Washington DC, Beijing, New Delhi, Hanoi, and Paris.
At a press conference prior to the festival, which is open to the public May 2 and 3, Thailand’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Darm Boontham said: “This is a proud moment for us and a great opportunity to share the rich tradition and modern creativity of Thailand with our Saudi friends.”
The festival comes at a significant time, three years since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
“This event is a celebration of the strong and growing friendship between our countries and our people,” Boontham continued.
This year’s theme is “The Pulse of Tradition, The Pulse of Tomorrow,” reflecting Thailand’s pride in its culture and its commitment to innovation and creativity.
The festival features several exhibitions of Thai products and services, including handicrafts from local communities in Thailand, live demonstrations, health and wellness products, eco-tourism, and Thai cuisine.
It also includes a live cooking show by a celebrity Thai chef, screenings of several beloved Thai movies followed by Q&A sessions, a musical and cultural performance, a Muay Thai boxing demonstration, a fashion show by Thai designers, and a Khon performance.
Khon, a traditional masked dramatic art that features music and dance as well as ritual, literary, and handicraft components, is included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, Boontham said.
“We invite everyone, Saudi nationals, residents and all friends of Thailand to join us for this unique celebration, to enjoy the science of sound and taste of Thailand and to continue building a warm and lasting friendship between our two great nations.”
The festival was organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Saudi Arabia in partnership with Thailand’s private and public sectors, including Thai supply chain company SGC International’s Riyadh division, with the support of Saudi and Thai private companies.
The ministers of culture for Thailand and Saudi Arabia — Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al-Saud — attended the event.
The objective of the festival goes beyond tourism, the ambassador said, it is intended to promote everything Thailand can offer in terms of creative economy, innovation, and how Thailand can tap into Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s green initiative.
Boontham also confirmed plans to create Thai AirAsia X, a new low-cost airline from Thailand that should operate flights from Riyadh to Bangkok “very soon,” he said.
According to Boontham, the largest developing areas of cooperation between the two nations are economy, trade, and investment.
Over the last three years, the volume of trade has increased by an average of 25 percent and the ambassador is confident that “all the necessary mechanisms” are in place to support further growth.
In 2024, trade reached a value of $8.8 billion and the hope is that in two years that number will reach $10 billion, he added.
Boontham cited SGC International, a Thai company known for construction materials that is now expanding into petrochemicals, food, and food processing as a sign of promising investment in Saudi Arabia.
Technology sharing, in areas including green consumption technology, is “quite prevalent” and shows promise, he added.
Tourism is another large area of cooperation. Last year, around 230,000 Saudi tourists visited Thailand, and 13,000 Thai tourists visited Saudi Arabia; both numbers are expected to grow in coming years, the ambassador noted.
According to Boontham, “many Thai students” are coming to pursue their studies in Saudi as well, and Thailand is working hard to encourage more Saudis to study in Thailand.
In hospitality education, especially, “Thailand has a lot to offer Saudi students,” Boontham said. In 2024, 50 individuals from Saudi Arabia went to train in Thai hotels and institutions.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Embassy hosts seminar in France
May 02, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Embassy in France, in partnership with the Francophone Business Forum, hosted a seminar on Saudi Vision 2030, showcasing its achievements and partnerships.
The event coincided with the release of the ninth annual Saudi Vision 2030 report and drew ambassadors, French officials, media representatives, business leaders and consultants, the SPA reported on Friday.
Saudi Ambassador to France and the Principality of Monaco Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili began the seminar with a welcoming speech, followed by an overview of the ninth annual Saudi Vision 2030 report.
He emphasized the report’s updated information, key achievements and the strong performance of its indicators.
These indicators have surpassed most targets in national programs and strategies — notably in human resource development, women’s empowerment, infrastructure development, technology localization, sustainable development and environmental protection.
He also spoke about Saudi-French cooperation and partnership under Saudi Vision 2030 and their joint efforts to enhance regional and international security and stability.
President of Francophone Business Forum Steve Gentili delivered a speech on the growing partnerships in business, technology and the financial sector, as well as mutual investments and the attractive business environment in Saudi Arabia.
President of the French Agency for AlUla Development Jean-Yves Le Drian praised the strong friendship and strategic alliance between Saudi Arabia and France and their steady development.
He provided an overview of the AlUla Development Project, a major initiative under Saudi Vision 2030, and discussed its success across all stages.
Source: arabnews.com
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Asir education department launches literacy campaign
May 02, 2025
RIYADH: The General Administration of Education in Asir region has launched a campaign titled “We Reach You for a Society Without Illiteracy,” aiming to reach beneficiaries in remote areas and villages.
Asir’s Education Director-General Fahd Aqala emphasized that the initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to elevate education levels and eradicate illiteracy.
It supports social and economic development while advancing Saudi Vision 2030’s comprehensive education goals, he added.
The campaign is strategically designed to activate continuing education programs by engaging target populations in their own communities.
Aqala stated that the directorate has mobilized resources to maximize the campaign’s reach.
He said literacy represents more than education — it serves as a fundamental cornerstone for societal advancement and sustainable development.
According to Aqala, continuing education programs in the region served over 11,414 male and female learners in 2024 at 263 centers and evening schools.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Ministry Of Justice 'Looking Into' Claims Muslim Terrorists Battered By Prison Officers 'In Payback' For Hashem Abedi Attack
2 MAY 2025
Two Muslim terrorists claim they were 'kicked and stomped' on by guards 'in payback' for the Manchester bomber's boiling oil attack on prison officers. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has confirmed it is 'looking into' the claims by inmates who allege they were handcuffed and kicked in the head the same day Hashem Abedi threw hot oil and stabbed three prison officers at HMP Frankland in Durham.
The prisoners from East London - one from Barking and another from Dagenham - claim prison officers took 'revenge' on them. Both men are serving life sentences after being convicted of terror offences. MyLondon knows the identity of both men, while it is understood another inmate, who has not been fully identified, also made the same claims.
A source close to the families of the men passed on allegations that seven officers 'rushed' a prisoner's cell, handcuffed him, and verbally and physically attacked him hours after Abedi's assault. "In ways that could only be described as savagery, they kicked and stomped him in the head as he lay there defenceless," the source said.
The source also claimed the same then happened to the other two prisoners, and that Muslim inmates who are dispersed across Category A prisons have told loved ones 'they are in fear of their safety'.
The source alleged: "The inmates believe that the officers targeted three random Muslims in revenge for three officers attacked by one Muslim. This is what looks like a racial attack where three innocent Muslim males, who have absolutely nothing to do with the three officers being attacked, have been targeted by officers as payback for their officers being assaulted."
MyLondon could not verify these claims and the men involved have a history of deception. One man, who planned to hit targets across London, was described as a 'liar' during his sentencing hearing. Another man, who was caught by counter-terror police and MI5 as he planned an IS-style attack, told jurors he could not be a radical Islamist because of his online habits.
Islamic State has a history of using a sophisticated media strategy to disseminate propaganda designed to lure young Euopeans to IS-held territory in Syria. At the height of its power, the terror group also used X (then Twitter) to highlight military successes, and spread fear by posting gruesome beheading videos.
More recently supporters of the group have turned to Artificial Intelligence to help spread its message, including the creation of a fake news anchor in the aftermath of an IS attack on a Russian concert venue.
Abedi's attack on prison staff happened in a separation centre where he has been a long-term inmate. The centre, which holds fewer than 10 prisoners, is designed to isolate the most dangerous and extremist inmates.
According to the BBC, the centre contained seven prisoners at the time of the attack, including extremist preacher Anjem Choudhary, but it has since been emptied as counter-terror cops investigate whether any of the other inmates helped Abedi with his plot.
Abedi is alleged to have used 'home made weapons' in an 'unprovoked' and 'vicious' assault on staff on the morning of Saturday, April 12. The officers were treated in hospital for life-threatening injuries, including burns and stab wounds, according to the Prison Officers' Association. The MoJ has said a full review of the incident is taking place.
Abedi was jailed for life in 2020 for helping his brother Salman Abedi carry out the Manchester Arena suicide bombing, which killed 22 people and injured hundreds more attending an Ariana Grande concert. Families of those killed in the 2017 attack have since described their disbelief that Abedi was able to access items that would allow him to attack prison staff.
Abedi was also previously found guilty, along with two other convicted terrorists, of attacking a prison officer at London's Belmarsh prison in 2020. The officer was hit with a chair, repeatedly punched and kicked when he was set upon by Abedi, Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan and Muhammed Saeed, who spoke about carrying out a knife attack in London.
In response to MyLondon's questions about the allegations, a Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are looking into these claims. It would be inappropriate to comment further."
Source: mylondon.news
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/moj-looking-into-claims-muslim-31518281
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UK tells ICJ Israel must allow aid supplies into Gaza
JONATHAN LESSWARE
May 02, 2025
LONDON: Lawyers representing the UK government have told the UN’s top court that Israel must allow aid supplies back into Gaza.
Speaking at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Sally Langrish, legal advisor to the UK’s Foreign Office, said Israel must also give the International Committee of the Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners and insisted that the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees was impartial.
Her comments on Thursday were made on the fourth day of hearings at the ICJ, which was asked last year by the UN General Assembly to give an advisory opinion on Israel’s legal obligations on the operations of UN agencies and international organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The hearings, which finish on Friday, have centered around Israel’s cutting off of aid supplies to Gaza and come amid dire warnings about the collapse of emergency food and water supplies to Palestinians.
“Israel must facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian provision to the population of Gaza, including food, water and electricity, and must ensure access to medical care in accordance with international humanitarian law,” Langrish told the court.
David Lammy, the UK’s foreign secretary, this week said Israel’s decision to block aid deliveries to Gaza was a “horrendous” decision that was causing dire suffering.
On Friday, the Red Cross warned that aid operations in Gaza were on the “verge of total collapse,” describing scenes of starving children and fights over water.
The stating of the UK’s legal position at the ICJ also came as the British government confirmed it was in talks with France and Saudi Arabia over officially recognizing the Palestinian state.
Spain, Norway and Ireland recently added themselves to the 160 countries that already recognize Palestine.
The UK was among the 137 countries to vote in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution in December to request the ICJ opinion. The US and 10 other nations voted against and 22 abstained.
The resolution was in response to Israel passing a law that effectively banned the main UN organization delivering aid to Palestinians, UNRWA, from operating in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel claims that workers at the agency took part in the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 that sparked Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza.
Langrish said the allegations of any UNRWA staff involvement in the “barbaric” Hamas attack must be thoroughly investigated. But she said the UK “supports UNRWA’s continued work and commitment to the principle of neutrality.”
She also highlighted Israel’s obligations under international law to allowing the Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners.
Langrish said there had been “credible reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli custody” since the war started and that Red Cross access was aimed at ensuring they are treated humanely.
That Hamas had also not allowed Red Cross access to the hostages held in Gaza was also “completely unacceptable,” she said, but added that this could not be used to justify Israel denying Red Cross access to Palestinian detainees since.
The ICJ’s opinion is expected to take months to be delivered.
At least 42 people were killed in Gaza on Friday, AFP reported, with the number of Palestinians killed in the conflict now more than 52,000. The Hamas attack in October 2023 killed 1,218 people.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599315/middle-east
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French mosque murder suspect acted without ideological motive, prosecutor says
02/05/2025
A Frenchman accused of stabbing a 22-year-old Malian to death in a mosque last week appears to have acted alone on an obsessive "urge to kill, whoever the target", a prosecutor said Friday.
The murder in the southern village of La Grand-Combe has shaken the country and prompted President Emmanuel Macron to insist there was no place for religious hate in French society.
A French national of Bosnian origin who surrendered to police in Italy is now awaiting extradition to France over the murder of Aboubakar Cisse.
The 20-year-old suspect, named as Olivier Hadzovic, seems to have acted without any "ideological claim or link with an organisation that would propagate an ideological claim ... through intimidation or terror", said Cecile Gensac, prosecutor in the southern city of Nimes, explaining why investigators did not consider it a "terrorist" crime.
She said the suspect had a year earlier expressed online an urge to "rape" and "murder".
According to one witness, Hadzovioc had said "he wanted to physically hurt someone, without saying who or where, and without referring to an ethnicity or religion, driven by a fierce desire to kill someone and failing that, to commit suicide," the prosecutor said.
She detailed an exchange he had with another person on the morning of the attack.
"I'm going to do it today. I'll do it in the street," he said.
Once on site, he wrote: "He's black. I'm going to do it."
The suspect is believed to have stabbed his victim 57 times, filming himself to post the attack on social media and insulting "Allah".
Source: france24.com
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https://www.france24.com/en/france/20250502-french-mosque-murder-suspect-acted-without-ideological-motive-prosecutor-says
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Community group says mosque should not be 'price' in ICCI row
2 May 2025
By Laura Fletcher
A new Muslim community group has called for dialogue between parties involved in a dispute that has seen the closure of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland and its mosque in Clonskeagh.
"We are not officials, we are simply fathers, mothers, students, teachers, ordinary citizens, people carrying an extraordinary concern," spokesperson for the new 'Muslim Community Ireland' group Abdul Hasseb said at their first press conference.
They describes themselves as a grassroots group which came into being in response to the recent closure of the Islamic Cultural Centre and its mosque.
The mosque remained closed for Friday prayer for a second week in a row, with no prospect in sight of it re-opening.
The mosque and the wider centre's closure followed fractious scenes at and outside a meeting at the ICCI on 19 April.
In a statement the ICCI said that it was closed "as a preventive measure to ensure the safety and security of the property, staff, children and members of the public".
The Muslim National School and creche were able to re-open on Monday under tight security and with curtailed access for parents to the site.
However the mosque and other parts of the centre, including two independent businesses - a restaurant and a grocery shop - remain closed.
"We understand that institutions face challenges, but we ask humbly and urgently that the mosque itself not be the price," Mr Hasseb told the media outside the locked gates of the ICCI.
"We respectfully call on all stakeholders, including the respected leadership of Al Maktoum Foundation (the centre's funders) and the ICCI management to engage in open, transparent dialogue," Mr Hasseb said.
"As members of the community we are ready to engage and work to alleviate any concerns about security and safety," he added.
"Our plea is simple: open the mosque for the five daily prayers, for Friday prayers, and for Eid. Allow the House of Allah to serve His worshippers, while other matters are dealt with separately with due care and process."
Dr Zahid Jamil, a member of the ICCI Board of Directors, who also attended the meeting on 19 April, welcomed the community group's initiative saying that he was "very grateful to people who were concerned about this".
Dr Jamil said the board had a "multitude of concerns" but "the most serious are the security concerns".
He said "nothing had changed" in relation to the security concerns which had led to the ongoing closure of the mosque.
Those who wanted to help "need to have a plan on how they wish to solve those problems", he added.
The Muslim Community Ireland press conference heard from a number of speakers about the impact the closure had on their lives.
Father-of-three Saif Uz Zaman gave an emotional account of how his wife had died just two months ago.
He told the press conference that he and his wife had moved their home close to the ICCI eight years ago and his wife took their children there "several times a day".
Since she died, he said he continued to go there every day with his children, until it closed.
"Even my four-year-old, she choose a place where my wife used to pray, now she is asking to me, 'Baba I want to go to that place, I want to pray in that place', so I have no answer for her,'" Mr Uz Zaman said.
Speakers also raised concern about the impact the closure is having on the livelihoods of those running businesses on the site.
The Olive Tree Restaurant and a grocery store both have a number of employees and have been shuttered since the centre closed.
Lorraine O'Connor, the founder of Muslim Sisters of Éire, and who is also married to group spokesperson Adbul Hasseb, told the press conference that the restaurant's closure is also impacting the charity's weekly soup kitchen, which provides food to around 400 people.
Ms O'Connor said the restaurant owner had consistently supplied the charity with up to 80 meals a week, but that last week, the centre's closure meant that this could not happen.
She said that this was "not a small set-back".
"It's the first time ever we had to turn so many people away, normally we can manage a shortfall of five to ten meals but this was simply overwhelming," Ms O'Connor said, later confirming that 47 people had gone without food that night.
"That was the detrimental effect of what happened here, now this week we are a bit more prepared but we are still down 80 meals," Ms O'Connor said.
Due to an ongoing dispute with the board of directors of the ICCI, the Quranic School no longer operates at the site on evenings and weekends.
The press conference heard that other services provided in the centre have separately been effected by the centre's closure.
"Every Wednesday we have learning circles called a Halaqah, a couple of us gather together and we remind ourselves about the goodness that we need to do to prevent evil in the world and stuff like that," Sabina Syed told RTÉ News.
"Its a space for us to get together and just to talk and just to get that stress out of our heads so that we can go back and give better to our families," she said, "that's been taken away".
Even though the national school has re-opened, she said the centre's closure and ongoing restrictions are still proving challenging for parents and children.
"I think I'm the only parent who has an exemption of going into the school (rather than dropping the child at the gate) because I have a child with special needs," Mrs Syed said.
"The school and the staff are doing an amazing job in keeping the school open and maintaining a regular routine for the kids... but obviously the kids are confused, especially the older ones because they used to go to the mosque to pray and now they have to pray in the school hall so it is just having an effect on everybody's mental health," Mrs Syed said.
Her daughter and third year student at the Royal College of Surgeons, Hafsah Syed, is a youth leader at the Islamic Cultural Centre.
She told the press conference that "the recent temporary closure of our centre has left a painful gap in our lives, not just as Muslims, but as young people searching for belonging, guidance and community".
She said that she used to work with two youth groups of girls, the seniors who are 12 and over and the juniors who are aged seven and up.
"We have a youth club every Saturday which is really nice, we play games, we talk about Islam, we talk about school, just a safe space for the youth that come to ICCI," Ms Syed said, but that this had now stopped.
"I meet some of the girls out shopping or whatever and they really express how upset they are that it is closed, and you know it wasn't just a place to learn, it was a place to connect with their peers ... they've lost that place."
Source: rte.ie
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https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0502/1510859-mosque-clonskeagh-dublin/
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Germany defends AfD extremist classification after Rubio slams 'tyranny in disguise'
3 MAY 2025
Germany's Foreign Office has defended a decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after sharp criticism from the White House.
US Vice-President JD Vance accused "bureaucrats" of rebuilding the Berlin Wall, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed the designation as "tyranny in disguise".
In an unusual move, the foreign office directly replied to Rubio on X, writing: "We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped."
The intelligence agency that made the classification found AfD's "prevailing understanding of people based on ethnicity and descent" goes against Germany's "free democratic order".
The AfD came second in federal elections in February, winning a record 152 seats in the 630-seat parliament with 20.8% of the vote.
The agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), had already classed the AfD as right-wing extremist in three eastern states where its popularity is highest. Now, that designation has been extended to the entire party.
The AfD "aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society", it said in a statement. The agency said specifically that the party did not consider citizens "from predominantly Muslim countries" as equal members of the German people.
Joint party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was "clearly politically motivated" and a "severe blow to German democracy".
Beatrix von Storch, the party's deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC's Newshour programme that the designation was "the way an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, would treat their parties".
The new classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD using tactics like phone interception and undercover agents.
"That's not democracy - it's tyranny in disguise," wrote Marco Rubio on X.
But the German Foreign Office hit back.
"This is democracy," it wrote, directly replying to the politician's X account.
The post said the decision had been made after a "thorough and independent investigation" and could be appealed.
"We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped," the statement concluded - a reference to Hitler's Nazi party and the Holocaust.
JD Vance, who met Weidel in Munich nine days before the election and used a speech to the Munich Security Conference to show support for the AfD, said that "bureaucrats" were trying to destroy the party.
"The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt - not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment," he wrote on X.
The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years during the Cold War.
The new designation has reignited calls to ban the AfD ahead of a vote next week in the parliament, or Bundestag, to confirm conservative leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor. He will be leading a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
Lars Klingbeil, the SPD leader who is expected to become vice-chancellor and finance minister, said that while no hasty decision would be made, the government would consider banning the AfD.
"They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy. And we must take that very seriously," he told Bild newspaper.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4vz9jed5lo
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Germany ‘has rebuilt the Berlin Wall’ – Vance
2 May, 2025
US Vice President J.D. Vance has compared the German government’s treatment of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to rebuilding the Berlin Wall.
On Friday, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, classified the anti-immigration AfD as an “extremist” organization, citing “xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic, and anti-Muslim statements made by leading party officials.” The label enables police to closely monitor the party’s activities.
“The AfD is the most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it,” Vance wrote on X.
“The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt – not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment,” he added.
The party’s co-leader, Alice Weidel, accused the government of attempting to quell dissent. “Since the AfD is the strongest party in polls now, they want to suppress the opposition & freedom of speech,” she wrote on X.
The AfD was founded in 2013 as a backlash to Germany’s handling of the eurozone debt crisis. It has since shifted focus to demanding tighter immigration and asylum laws and opposing the “woke agenda.” The party is also critical of NATO and has staged protests against sending weapons to Ukraine.
The AfD finished second in the federal elections in February, winning 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. Last month, it topped opinion polls for the first time, with 26% support.
The party is especially popular in the economically underdeveloped regions of former East Germany. The AfD has also been embroiled in controversy, as some members have had links to far-right and neo-Nazi groups or used slogans associated with Nazi Germany.
Major German parties have refused to form coalitions and work with the AfD as part of the so-called ‘firewall against the far-right’. Vance criticized efforts to isolate the party during a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February. “Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There is no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don’t,” the US vice president said.
The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany in 1961 to stop its citizens from fleeing to West Berlin. It remained in place throughout the Cold War until it was torn down in 1989, leading to German reunification.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/616677-vance-germany-berlin-wall/
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North America
'Muslim conquest!' GOP lawmaker melts down over plans for halal restaurant at Capitol
Matthew Chapman
May 2, 2025
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) is enraged over the planned establishment of a halal food restaurant in the Capitol complex.
On Friday, one of the many changes announced to the dining options in the House campus was the replacement of Steak n' Shake, which first opened in the Rayburn House Office Building in 2019, with a location of CHA Street Food, a popular Northern Virginia chain known for serving Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
"Known for their American-influenced Asian cuisine, CHA Street Food will serve breakfast, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, a wide array of sides, and specialty drinks," said an email announcement going out to staffers and members of Congress. "Favorites include their Zinger Burger, Chicken Tikka Roll (or salad), and samosa appetizers. Additionally, CHA Street Food will offer rewards points, online ordering, and bulk-order catering."
To Collins, however, this was a much more sinister development.
"They’re replacing Steak n Shake with a halal restaurant," Collins posted to X. "This is equivalent to the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the 7th century."
Collins, who has come under fire for cheering on a video of Ole Miss students making monkey noises at a Black classmate, suggesting with no evidence that former President Joe Biden "gave the orders" to assassinate President Donald Trump, and asserted immigrants are stealing and eating ducks from city parks, attracted immediate scorn and mockery for his outburst.
"This is so ridiculous. The quote. Learn what halal means," wrote Punchbowl News founder John Bresnahan.
"I don't know that I've ever seen Mike Collins express a coherent opinion about a policy he supports or opposes," wrote Georgia trial attorney Andrew Fleischman. "It's pretty much just noticing whether people he doesn't like are jews or muslims."
"Please don't reenact the crusades over a restaurant," wrote Congressional staffer Aaron Fritschner. "I get that you are into edgelord trolling and racism-signaling but you don't have to swing at every pitch, Congressman. Good food is good food."
Source: rawstory.com
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https://www.rawstory.com/mike-collins-2671879848/
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US could deport migrants to Libya despite being on Trump's 'Muslim ban' list
02 May, 2025
The US is considering a plan to deport migrants to Libya, despite the country's appalling human rights record around the treatment of refugees and being placed on the 'Muslim ban' list.
Donald Trump's administration is said to be in talks with the Libyan and Rwandan governments about sending migrants with criminal records to the two countries, in a bid to deter irregular travel to the US, according to CNN.
Libyans are currently on a list of nationals banned from entering the US for 90 days, in an order Amnesty described as "cruel, inhumane, and violated international law". The country was then placed on a travel 'red list'.
Sources told CNN that US officials have discussed Libya becoming a 'safe third party' for migrants apprehended at US borders, although a member of a Libyan delegation linked to militia leader Khalifa Haftar said the issue was not discussed during a recent visit to Washington.
While the US State Department has not confirmed the CNN report, it has indicated that it is in talks with foreign countries to take in people detained at the border.
"I say this unapologetically, we are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday.
"We are working with other countries to say, 'We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries — will you do that as a favor to us?’ And the further away from America, the better, so they can’t come back across the border."
Libya has been a key location for migrant crossings to Europe, with the EU signing deals with Tripoli to curb the outflow of migrants.
The deals have resulted in thousands of migrants being held in "hellish" conditions in Libya, where abuses such as torture and rape are said to be common.
"EU leaders’ cooperation with Libyan authorities is keeping desperate people trapped in unimaginable horrors in Libya," Matteo de Bellis, Researcher on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International said in 2022.
"Over the past five years, Italy, Malta and the EU have helped capture tens of thousands of women, men and children at sea, many of whom ended up in horrific detention centres rife with torture, while countless others were forcibly disappeared."
The UK government also ruled the government's plans to use Rwanda as a third party for deporting migrants as unlawful, while Labour abandoned the idea when it came to power last year.
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/us-could-deport-migrants-libya-despite-being-muslim-ban
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Three people stabbed at downtown Hamilton mosque; two suspects wanted
May 2, 2025
Three people are hurt and two others wanted after a stabbing at the Hamilton Downtown Mosque.
Hamilton police responded to the mosque at 221 York Blvd. for reports of a disturbance around 2:15 p.m. on Friday — just as afternoon prayers finished.
Insp. Jim Callender said a verbal altercation that occurred outside the mosque eventually seeped inside, where three people were stabbed. The two suspects fled the area in either one or two vehicles, he added, noting police are still reviewing surveillance video.
What led to the altercation remains unclear. Callender said the incident wasn’t random and those involved knew each other.
“From all the information I have, this is not a random altercation or incident, and I can confidently say it’s not related to a hate-motivated crime,” Callender said outside the mosque.
It’s also unclear if the suspects were at the mosque for afternoon prayers.
Fadoul Hissein was near the back of a crowd that was exiting the mosque when he started to hear screams.
“We heard loud noises, people screaming, but we couldn’t see anything. There was too many people in front of us,” Hissein said. “It happened two or three minutes after prayers.”
Theresa Hopkins was on her porch across the street when waves of police of arrived.
“On Fridays, people usually (do) the prayers there at 2:15 or 2:30,” she said. “Everyone was piling out like usual and all of a sudden you could hear the sirens and see a bunch of police coming into the parking lot.”
Callender said two of the people stabbed were taken to hospital. He couldn’t confirm their condition. A third victim showed up to hospital on their own accord, he added.
Although early in the investigation, Callender said the mosque has “a lot of surveillance cameras and they’ve been very co-operative.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at 905-546-3816.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Source: thestar.com
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https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/three-people-stabbed-at-downtown-hamilton-mosque-two-suspects-wanted/article_4571d35e-ab54-5d8d-86cc-586a51833517.html
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Canada's Carney offers strategic invite to King ahead of Trump meeting
May 3, 2025
In his first news conference since the federal election, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney laid out his priorities, including how he will approach upcoming talks with US President Donald Trump.
His election campaign focused on standing up to Trump's tariff plans and threats to make Canada the 51st US state, which Carney has said will "never ever" happen.
The Liberals won 168 seats out of 343 in Canada's House of Commons in Monday's election, enough to form a minority government but falling short of the 172 necessary for a majority.
Carney's new cabinet will be sworn in the week of 12 May.
Here are three things we learned from Carney's comments:
1. A strategic visit by the King
Off the top, Carney announced an upcoming visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who will visit Canada later this month.
"This is a historic honour that matches the weight of our times," he told reporters gathered in Ottawa.
Carney says he had invited the King to formally open Canada's 45th Parliament on 27 May.
That request is certainly strategic.
Carney said the King's visit "clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country" - a nod to Trump's 51st state remarks.
Trump also has a well-known admiration for the Royal family. In February, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his trip to the White House to present Trump with a letter from King Charles offering to host a second state visit.
The King is Canada's head of state and is represented in Canada by Governor General Mary Simon.
After an election, the new parliamentary session is usually opened by the governor general, who reads the Speech from the Throne on behalf of the prime minister. The speech, read in Canada's Senate, sets out the government's agenda.
While it is not unprecedented for the Throne speech to be read by the head of state, the last time this happened was in October 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II read the speech for the second time. The first was in 1957.
2. A Tuesday showdown with Trump
Carney will visit the White House on Tuesday, barely a week after the federal election.
His first official visit to the White House as prime minister comes amid frayed ties between the close allies in the wake of Trump's threatened and imposed tariffs, as well as the president's repeated comments about making Canada the 51st US state.
Carney said there are two sets of issues to discuss: the immediate tariffs and the broader relationship.
"My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada," Carney said, making it clear there would be no rush to secure an agreement.
He added that the high-level dialogue indicates seriousness of the conversation between the leaders.
He said he expects "difficult but constructive" discussions with the president.
He also said he would strengthen relationship with "reliable" trading partners, pointing to recent conversations he has had with world leaders in Europe and Asia.
3. An olive branch offered to rivals
Canada's election highlighted divisions within Canada, along regional, demographic and political lines.
On Friday, Carney said Canada must be united in this "once in a lifetime crisis".
"It's time to come together put on our Team Canada sweaters and win big," he said.
He offered olive branches both to Canadians who did not vote for his Liberal Party and to his political rivals.
While Canadians voted for a robust response to Trump, they also sent "a clear message that their cost of living must come down and their communities need to be safe", Carney said.
"As prime minister I've heard these messages loud and clear and I will act on them with focus and determination."
He said he is committed to working with others, including those across the aisle.
Under leader Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative campaign focused heavily on cost of living issues and crime.
The Conservatives came in second, forming Official Opposition but Poilievre lost his own Ottawa-area seat.
Carney said he is open to calling a special election that would allow Poilievre to seek another seat if that is the path the Conservatives wanted to take.
"No games," he said.
On Friday, an MP-elect in Alberta announced he would resign his safe Conservative seat to allow Poilievre to run. Poilievre later confirmed he will run in that constituency "to hold the Liberal minority government to account".
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgny7zden9o
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US court rules ex-Abercrombie CEO unfit for trial
May 3, 2025
The former chief executive of fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch is "mentally incompetent" and currently unfit to stand trial on charges of sex trafficking and prostitution, a US court has ruled.
Mike Jeffries will now be held in custody and treated in hospital for an initial period of up to four months to determine if his condition is likely to improve enough for the case to proceed.
Mr Jeffries' legal team said last December he has dementia and late onset Alzheimer's disease.
He is accused of using his wealth, power and status to traffic and sexually abuse vulnerable men over years - alleged crimes that could carry a life-term jail sentence.
Judge Nusrat Choudhury agreed on Friday that the defendant was "suffering from a mental disease or defect", making him "unable to understand" court proceedings.
The ruling followed an assessment by two medical experts - one designated by Mr Jeffries' defence team, the other chosen by prosecutors.
Judge Choudhury said in a court order that Mr Jeffries would be treated in hospital for up to four months to see if he is likely to regain competency.
Once a follow-up assessment is complete, the defendant could either face trial or the court will weigh up next steps.
These could include dropping the criminal charges against him, or releasing him to home confinement.
Mr Jeffries was arrested and charged last October along with his British partner, Matthew Smith, 61, and their middleman, James Jacobson, 72. All three deny the allegations.
US prosecutors allege the men used force, fraud and coercion to make young men, many of whom were aspiring models, engage in violent and exploitative sex acts while Mr Jeffries was chief executive from at least 2008 until 2015.
The charges followed a 2023 BBC documentary and ongoing podcast series that revealed the three of them benefited from a sophisticated operation in which recruiters scouted young men for sex in cities including London, New York, Paris and Marrakesh.
The BBC has since revealed that more than 40 men, including Abercrombie & Fitch employees, have now come forward with civil allegations of sexual assault, drugging or rape - with claims dating back to 1992, the year Mr Jeffries started running the company.
Civil trial lawyers have told the BBC their clients are dismayed at the criminal court's decision that Mr Jeffries is unfit to stand trial.
"We've been speaking with our clients who are disappointed by the decision and still want justice," said Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson, representing 26 alleged victims.
Brian Bieber, Mr Jeffries' criminal defence lawyer, said his client had recently been evaluated by doctors who determined he had Alzheimer's disease, Lewy Body disease, and the residual effects of a traumatic brain injury requiring around-the-clock care, which "will almost certainly worsen over time".
Dr Cheryl Paradis, the US prosecutor's medical expert, also independently assessed Mr Jeffries. According to court papers, she found he was unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to properly assist in his defence.
"His memory impairment almost certainly would cause him to be unable to accurately recall key events and details," Dr Paradis said, according to the court filings, "and severely limit his capacity to provide accurate and reliable information".
She added: "Additionally, his inappropriate behaviour, which is a symptom of his dementia, could further interfere with his ability to maintain proper courtroom demeanour. He may blurt out self-incriminating statements or engage in erratic behaviour, which would undermine his credibility."
The BBC understands that Mr Jacobson and Mr Smith could still face trial on the same sex-trafficking and prostitution charges.
Alongside criminal charges, Mr Jeffries and his partner Mr Smith have been defending multiple civil lawsuits accusing them of rape, sex trafficking and assault, which they "vehemently deny".
The civil lawsuits had been stayed - or legally put on pause - until the resolution of the criminal case, which takes precedence to protect Mr Jeffries' right against self-incrimination.
While his criminal case remains uncertain, Mr Jeffries could still face a civil trial or reach a settlement over the allegations. If this was the case, the outcome could lead to compensation being awarded to alleged victims.
"Mike Jeffries attacked these men and ruined their lives at a point when they were at their most vulnerable and chasing their dreams," said civil case lawyer, Brad Edwards.
"He will still be held accountable by our lawsuit and his co-conspirators will still face the criminal justice system.
"For anyone affected still in fear about coming forward, you should be reassured that his power is now totally gone".
Abercrombie & Fitch is also being sued for negligence, with lawsuits claiming that it knowingly facilitated "heinous sexual crimes".
The company - which also owns the Hollister brand - has previously said it was "appalled and disgusted" by Mr Jeffries' alleged behaviour.
Source: bbc.com
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Africa
Student Christian Movement decries deprivation of religious rights
May 2, 2025
The Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria has lamented the deprivation of the religious rights of Christian students in the North and across the country.
A communique by the National Secretary, SCM, Mr. Isuosuo Okeoghene and the Chairperson, Communique Committee, Dr. Orekyeh Emeka at the end of its 85th anniversary and 33rd National Biennial Conference with the theme- “Restore: rebuild, renew and restore” expressed concerns over
insecurity, particularly the killing of Christians in Benue and Plateau States.
The body said: “SCM observes with dismay, the palpable insecurity in Nigeria particularly the unrelenting killings of Nigerians (especially Christians) in Benue and Plateau States. The response of the government, security agencies, organisations and individuals have not been encouraging, to say the least.”
On the issue of one month-Ramadan fasting/holiday for public and private schools in some Northern States, affecting Muslim and non-Muslim students, SCM observed with dismay the recent arbitrary closure of public and private schools in some Northern states.
The Movement further touched the forceful abduction, conversion and marriage of Christian girls in some northern States, citing the abduction, forceful conversion and intended forceful marriage in Niger State of Sister Mary Ishaya to one Bello Shuaibu Nasco as an example.
SCM regretted that despite reporting this situation to relevant government agencies, nothing was done in that regard.
Speaking on the denial of Christian Students of their rights to peacefully assemble and hold fellowship in schools, the Movement lamented in some secondary and tertiary institutions, Christian students are denied the opportunity to peacefully assemble and to practice their faith.
SCM commended the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for articulating and implementing several policies that are supportive of business and youth empowerment, which have seen many youths getting engaged in productive activities by keying into them, citing the Student Loans Scheme which has bailed out many indigent Nigerian students as one of many.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/student-christian-movement-decries-deprivation-of-religious-rights/
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MURIC condoles with Shariah council over Hadiyatullah’s death
Oliwe Anthony
3 May 2025
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condoled with the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), over the death of its President, Shaykh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullah, who died on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The group described the deceased as an “energetic, bold and resourceful leader.”
This was contained in a press release issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
It read: “The death of the President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), Shaykh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullah, has been announced. He died after a brief illness in his home town, Iwo, Osun State on Monday, April 28, 2025. He was 83.
“Shaykh Hadiyatullah was an energetic, bold and resourceful leader. A prominent and highly respected Islamic scholar, he is widely known for his deep knowledge of Islam and his world-wide exposure. He had a huge passion for the freedom and general welfare of Nigerian Muslims.
“The Shaykh attended the famous Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Elekuro, Ibadan (Ma’had al-’Arabi) before proceeding to the University of Madinah, where he read Shari’ah…”
Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan where he did his masters degree.
“He has served as chairman of the Pilgrims Board of Osun State. He was also the Director of the Sheikh Ibn Baz Shariah College of Nigeria until his death. He was the first chairman of the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars of Nigeria.
“We commiserate with the leadership and other officials of the Shariah Council as well as all members of the organization. This must be a harrowing experience for them after the death of their former president, Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad about three and a half years ago (30th December, 2021).
“May Allah forgive Shaykh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyatullah. May his soul be reposed in al-Jannah Firdaus. May Allah in His Infinite Mercy also grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
Source: guardian.ng
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https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/muric-condoles-with-shariah-council-over-hadiyatullahs-death/
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Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces claims to have seized strategic western town
May 02, 2025
CAIRO: Sudan’s notorious paramilitary group claimed a “sweeping victory” Friday saying it took control of the key town of Al Nahud in West Kordofan state in a fight that intensified a day earlier.
A victory there by the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, would mark a strategic loss for Sudan’s military in its war with the paramilitary force as the territory is home to the headquarters of the 18th Infantry Brigade.
The Sudanese army didn’t immediately comment on its social media channels on whether it lost Al Nahud to its rival.
Sudan’s Culture and Information Minister Khalid Ali Aleisir said on his Facebook account on Friday the RSF committed crimes against defenseless citizens in the town, looting their properties and destroying public facilities.
The RSF said on its Telegram channel Friday that it destroyed vehicles belonging to the army and seized their weapons and ammunition during the battle for Al Nahud. The paramilitary group also claimed that it managed to secure the city’s facilities and markets after defeating the army.
The war erupted on April 15, 2023, with pitched battles between the military and the RSF in the streets of the capital Khartoum that quickly spread to other parts of the country.
RSF attacks in Al Nahud have killed more than 300 unarmed civilians, the Preliminary Committee of Sudan Doctors’ Trade Union said on Facebook on Friday. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that figure.
The Resistance Committees of Al Nahud condemned the RSF attacks, which it said began Thursday morning.
“They invaded the city, stormed residential neighborhoods, terrorized unarmed civilians, and committed cold-blooded murders against innocent civilians whose only crime was to cling to their dignity and refuse to leave their homes to the machine of killing and terror,” the Resistance Committees said Thursday on Facebook.
An army loss of Al Nahud would impact its operational capabilities in Northern Kordofan state, according to the Sudan War Monitor, an open source collaborative project that has been documenting the two-year-war. Al Nahud is a strategic town because it’s located along a main road that the army could use to advance into the Darfur region, which the RSF mostly controls.
Al Nahud also shelters displaced people fleeing from Al-Obeid, Umm Kadada, Khartoum and El-Fasher — the provincial capital of North Darfur province, according to the Darfur Victims Support Organization.
Meanwhile, in North Darfur, the fighting has killed at least 542 people in the last three weeks, though the actual death toll is likely higher, according to UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. This figure includes the recent RSF attacks on El Fasher and Abu Shouk displacement camp, which killed at least 40 civilians.
“The horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds,” said Türk i n a statement on Thursday.
Türk also mentioned “extremely disturbing” reports of extrajudicial killings committed by RSF, with at least 30 men in civilian clothing executed by the paramilitary fighters in Al Salha in southern Omdurman.
“I have personally alerted both leaders of the RSF and SAF to the catastrophic human rights consequences of this war. These harrowing consequences are a daily, lived reality for millions of Sudanese. It is well past time for this conflict to stop,” said Türk.
The war in Sudan has killed at least 20,000 people, but the real toll is probably far higher. Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, 4 million of them streaming into neighboring countries.
Half the population of 50 million faces hunger. The World Food Program has confirmed famine in 10 locations and warns it could spread further, putting millions at risk of starvation.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599341/middle-east
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Tunisia court jails former officials including former PM Larayedh
May 02, 2025
TUNIS: A Tunisian court on Friday handed down lengthy prison sentences against former officials, including former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, on charges of facilitating the departure of militants to Syria over the past decade.
TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying that the sentences are for 18 to 36 years, and apply to eight people.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599340/middle-east
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Nigerian Air Force Gets 35 Additional Pilots To Enhance Battle Against Terrorists
May 2, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
A total of 35 new pilots have joined the ranks of the Nigerian Air Force’s flying officers following their graduation from the 401 Flying Training School (FTS) in Kaduna.
According to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, these pilots will be assigned to various national missions and will participate in ongoing operations across different theatres.
The graduation event occurred less than six months after the Nigerian Air Force announced the acquisition of 12 additional fighter aircraft to bolster its operational capabilities.
Naija News recalls that in January 2025, the NAF reviewed its fleet enhancements, which included two King Air 360i light transport aircraft, four T-129 ATAK helicopters, two Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters, and four DA-62 surveillance aircraft.
During a meeting with NAF veterans in Kaduna, Air Chief Abubakar also noted that the force is set to receive 24 M-346 fighter aircraft and 10 more Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy.
Notably, the new pilots, who are graduates of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49, consist of 10 graduates from the Basic Transport Course and 25 from the Ab-initio Student Pilot program.
In his address at the combined graduation ceremony last Saturday, Abubakar encouraged the newly qualified pilots to regard their flying credentials not just as personal achievements, but as a significant national duty.
The air chief said, “Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal achievement, it is a national responsibility. You carry not just rank and wings, but the hopes of millions of Nigerians who depend on us for safety and security.”
The senior military officer stressed that the operational strength of the NAF is directly linked to the standard of its training, saying the force would not in any way take training lightly to defeat emerging threats.
“In the Nigerian Air Force, we say that the quality of our training determines the strength of our operations. This is why, under my leadership, we are upgrading training institutions, inducting more aircraft, and evolving our doctrines to meet the demands of modern warfare.
“This graduation is another milestone in the ongoing transformation of the NAF into a more agile, resilient, and technology-driven force,” the service chief explained.
He praised the 401 FTS for its outstanding pilot training program that has spanned over forty years, during which it has successfully trained over 700 pilots for the NAF, the Nigerian Navy, and various African nations, including the Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.
The CAS further emphasised that the NAF is committed to strengthening professional capabilities, enhancing the welfare of its personnel, and fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity while contributing to national development.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/02/nigerian-air-force-gets-35-additional-pilots-to-enhance-battle-against-terrorists/
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Southeast Asia
Umno Youth chief: ‘We don’t care’ if defending Islam, Malay rights drives away your support
02 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has said that the party will not compromise on matters regarding Islam, Malay rights and the monarchy, even among political allies.
In a Facebook post today, Akmal said that Umno has never been rhetorical about issues on 3R — royalty, religion, and race — unlike those who exploit these issues to gain votes.
“If defending Islam and the Malays as stated in the Constitution is why you do not want to support Umno, go ahead, we don’t even care,” he said.
“This is a country where Islam is the religion of the federation and Malay rights are enshrined in the Constitution, so please respect these matters before expecting us to respect you,” Akmal added.
Attached to Akmal’s post was a screenshot of a Malaysiakini article in which the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) criticised Umno for sidelining its Barisan Nasional (BN) allies, MCA and MIC.
Urimai reportedly said Umno had a “narrow ethno-religious agenda” that eroded MCA and MIC’s support among minority communities.
This followed MCA’s call for clearer direction from BN, which Umno leaders responded to by urging the party to remain loyal to the coalition.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/02/we-dont-care-if-defending-islam-malay-rights-drives-away-your-support-says-umnos-akmal-saleh/175335
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Anwar and Marcos back unrestricted aid for Myanmar, urge ceasefire extension amid Asean efforts
03 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — Malaysia and the Philippines share the stance that all humanitarian assistance to Myanmar must be delivered without discrimination or restrictions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said this was agreed upon during a telephone conversation with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr yesterday.
Anwar said during the conversation with the leader, also known as Bongbong Marcos, he also conveyed Malaysia’s wish and call for the ceasefire in Myanmar to be extended to ensure humanitarian aid can continue to be channelled to affected populations.
“This afternoon I made a phone call to my good friend (Marcos) to share several matters and latest developments regarding ASEAN and global issues,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Regarding tariff issues, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he informed that Malaysia could leverage its position as ASEAN Chair to demonstrate its importance to the United States (US) in global tariff negotiations.
“The US decision to postpone tariff implementation for 90 days currently provides relief to allow further discussions on related matters, considering Malaysia’s strengths (in certain products),” he said.
The Prime Minister said before ending the call, he also wished Marcos well in facing the Philippine general election on May 12, while expressing hope to meet the leader at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur soon. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/03/anwar-and-marcos-back-unrestricted-aid-for-myanmar-urge-ceasefire-extension-amid-asean-efforts/175437
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Singapore polls open as new PM Wong seeks strong mandate amid tariff turmoil, opposition eyes gains
03 May 2025
SINGAPORE, May 3 — Singaporeans cast their votes today in an election where Prime Minister Lawrence Wong faces his first major test against a rejuvenated opposition in uncertain economic times for the trade-centred nation.
Wong’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has steered the island to prosperity while using an iron hand to suppress dissent, is expected to easily retain a clear majority in parliament.
Polls opened at 8am (0000 GMT/8am Malaysian time) for 12 hours of voting, with some results expected to stream in around midnight.
Popular after leading Singapore’s Covid task force, Wong took over last year from his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong, the son of founding premier Lee Kuan Yew who ruled the island state after its bitter break-up with Malaysia in 1965.
Wong has repeatedly said he needed a strong mandate to navigate heavily trade-reliant Singapore through economic uncertainty in light of tariffs levied by US President Donald Trump.
He has warned Singapore would be hit hard if Trump went ahead with the tariffs he announced and then paused for most countries except China, and needed to stay open and competitive to counter their effects.
“So I say to all Singaporeans, please consider carefully. This is not a gamble. This is your family, your future, our Singapore,” he said during the campaign.
‘Steady hand’ — Political analyst Nydia Ngiow said the PAP had long been seen as Singapore’s steady hand in crises but that the recent tariff turmoil may not be a big factor for voters yet.
“Given that general elections in Singapore tend to focus on local issues, it is unlikely that geopolitics will shape voters’ decisions—unless Singaporeans feel a direct and tangible impact on their cost of living, job security or the broader economy,” she told AFP.
The overwhelming PAP majority in Singapore’s unicameral legislature is such a norm in the wealthy island’s political landscape that the opposition and its supporters will consider a few more seats gained as a significant victory, observers said.
But the PAP’s dominance is increasingly being challenged by a more vocal electorate, especially among younger voters who appear open to alternative political voices.
“Young voters will be a factor in some wards. Unlike the older voters they are prepared to listen to both sides and make an informed decision,” said veteran former news editor and political observer P.N. Balji.
Historical gains — In 2020, the country’s largest opposition group, the Workers’ Party (WP), made historic gains, winning 10 of the 93 seats at stake—a significant jump from its previously held four seats.
The WP—which has become politically slicker—is hoping to build on that momentum with a slate of charismatic candidates, including a top lawyer.
The party pulled in massive crowds at its rallies during the campaign, just like in previous elections, but those big numbers have seldom translated into electoral wins in the past.
WP candidates have lambasted the government for raising a goods and services tax amid rising inflation and insist the government has not done enough to curb rising costs in one of the most expensive countries in the world.
They also say more opposition MPs are needed in parliament so that the PAP does not have a “blank cheque” and can be held accountable.
The PAP, however, points to the billions of Singapore dollars it has spent in helping citizens cope with rising costs, including via cash handouts and grocery vouchers.
Singapore has around 2.75 million eligible voters who will elect 97 members of parliament. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2025/05/03/singapore-polls-open-as-new-pm-wong-seeks-strong-mandate-amid-tariff-turmoil-opposition-eyes-gains/175381
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Pakistan
After Khawaja Asif, India suspends Pakistan's I&B minister Attaullah Tarar's X account
May 3, 2025
Pakistan’s information and broadcasting minister Attaullah Tarar's X (formerly Twitter) account was withheld in India, amid escalating cross-border tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Tarar’s profile now shows the message: “@TararAttaullah has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
This move comes just days after Tarar had accused India of planning imminent military action. On Tuesday, he had claimed Pakistan had "credible intelligence" of an Indian strike within 24 to 36 hours and criticised what he called India’s “hubristic role of judge, jury and executioner.”
Just a couple of days before Tarar’s account was withheld, Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif's account faced a similar block in India. Asif had earlier after admitted in an interview that Pakistan had historically supported and trained terrorist groups, calling it a “mistake” done on behalf of the US and Western allies.
India has also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of spreading provocative and misleading content in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. Collectively, these channels had over 63 million subscribers.
The border situation between the two-nuclear armed neighbours has worsened significantly since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, most of them tourists.
Since then, Pakistani troops have engaged in nightly exchanges of small arms fire across multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC), including Kupwara, Uri, Akhnoor, and Naushera, with Indian Army responding proportionately. Officials say the firing was unprovoked, violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement reaffirmed in 2021.
India responded to the Pahalgam attack by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and closing its airspace to Pakistani aircraft. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued to restrict Pakistani-operated or -registered aircraft from entering Indian airspace until at least May 23. Diplomatic ties have also been strained further with the closure of the Wagah border, the suspension of trade, and a reduction in the number of diplomatic officers on both sides.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/after-khawaja-asif-india-suspends-pakistans-ib-minister-attaullah-tarars-x-account/articleshow/120841444.cms
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/love-jihad-hindu-girls-muslim-boys/d/135420