Minor Muslim Boy Stripped, Forced To Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Pak Murdabad’ Slogans in MP
New Age Islam News Bureau
15 April 2023
Representative Image
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• In A First For US Cities, Minneapolis To Allow
Muslim Prayer Call At All Hours To Be Heard Over Speakers
• Iraq’s Muqtada Al-Sadr ‘Freezes’ Movement Over
‘Sinful’ Practices Among Supporters
• Int'l Quds Day Resolution: Beit ul-Muqaddas Most
Important Living Common Issue of Islamic Ummah
• London To Hold Europe’s Biggest Eid Festival At
Westfield Square For 4th Time
India
• Hindu Man Fasts During Ramzan, Muslim Friend
Celebrates Chhath In Bihar's Gaya
• Govt disallows Friday prayer at Srinagar’s Grand
Mosque; parties condemn decision
• Rajasthan Police Arrests 2 Cow Vigilantes For Murder
Of Muslim Men In Haryana
• Why Is KCR Silent On 12 Pc Muslim Reservation? Shabbir
Downplays Govt Iftar
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North America
• CENTCOM: 11 more US troops diagnosed with 'traumatic
brain injury' after last month's attacks in Syria
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Arab World
• Officials Arrive In Saudi Arabia For Gulf, Egypt,
Jordan, Iraq Meeting
• Arab Foreign Ministers Condemn ‘Illegal’ Israeli
Practices That Undermine Palestine Peace Efforts
• Arab leadership role crucial in seeking political
solution to Syria crisis, say FMs
• Populist Iraqi cleric announces suspension of his
movement
• Man sues Syria in US court on torture claims
• Hezbollah flag sparks Lebanon-Israel border tensions
• Hezbollah chief: Israel didn't hit Hamas in Lebanon
strikes
• Iraqi envoy hails KSA’s leading experience in
several sectors
• Saudi customs officials seize 860kg of hashish at
Yemen border
• Saudi ministry of Islamic Affairs in volunteering
push
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Mideast
• Al-Quds Rallies Call On Muslim World To Break Ties
With Israel
• President Rayeesi Blasts Sacrilege of Al Aqsa
Mosque, Urges Muslims' United Front Against Israeli Regime
• Iran's Parliament Speaker: Criminal Face of Israeli
Regime Exposed by Int'l Quds Day
• FM: Palestine Turns Into Resistance Scene
• Millions Rally Across World to Mark International
Quds Day Amid Continued Israeli Aggression
• 250,000 perform final Friday Ramadan prayers at
Al-Aqsa
• Bahrainis stage rallies in support of Palestine,
demand expulsion of Israeli envoy
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Europe
• Dutch Man To Be Questioned For Using Racist Language
While Tearing Apart Copy Of Quran
• British Daesh recruit ‘watched Netflix, played video
games’ while living with terror group in Syria
• Greek foreign minister attends Easter service on
Gokceada in northwest Türkiye
• Doubts surround death of Syrian refugee in Polish
detention centre
• Türkiye strongly condemns another attack on Muslim
holy book, Turkish flag in Denmark
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Pakistan
• Military, Political Leaders Agree To Revisit
Anti-Terror Policy
• Sikh Pilgrims Lauds Arrangements For Baisakhi
Festival At Gurudwara Punja Sahab In Pakistan
• LHC grants protective bail to Imran in incitement
case
• Samarkand Moot Endorses Pakistan’s Stance On Afghan
Soil Being Used By Militant Groups
• Pakistan inches closer to IMF deal with $1.3bn boost
• Imran Asks Supporters To Back Supreme Court For Sake
Of Democracy
• Pakistan: PTI to stage peaceful protests after
Eid-ul-Fitr, announces Imran Khan
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South Asia
• Australian Army Chief Warns of Further Criminal
Charges Over Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan
• China, Pakistan Press Afghan Taliban Admin To
Intensify Crackdown On Terror Groups
• Rallies held in Bangladesh against Israeli attacks
on Al-Aqsa Mosque
• India to Supply 10,000 Tons of Wheat to Afghanistan
• Taliban leader, Punjab gangsters behind smuggling of
drugs, arms via drones
• Sri Lanka eyes new agreements with Oman for broader
cooperation
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Africa
• Libyan Armed Forces Voice Readiness To Secure
Upcoming Elections
• 4 Church-Goers Starve To Death In Kenyan Church
• Nigeria: At Least One Dead, Several Injured As
Police Open Fire On Quds Day Demonstrators
• Turkish embassy extends helping hand to South Sudan
for Ramadan
• Tunisian football player dies after setting himself
on fire in protest against police
• Morocco stops around 150 Sub-Saharan African
migrants from crossing into Spain
• 33 Europe-bound migrants dead in boat sinking off
Tunisia
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Southeast Asia
• Anwar Participates InQiyamullail Perdana Programme
At Putra Mosque
• Philippines grateful for Saudi help in resolving
workers’ wage claims
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
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Minor Muslim Boy Stripped, Forced To Chant ‘Jai Shri
Ram’, ‘Pak Murdabad’ Slogans in MP
14th April 2023
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A minor Muslim boy was allegedly kidnapped and forced
to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ slogans in Indore, Madhya
Pradesh.
According to reports, three minors abducted the
11-year-old boy and took him to a pond, luring him with toys. They then forced
him to chant ‘Jai Siya Ram’, ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’.
In a video, recorded by the accused that surfaced and
has been shared widely shared on social media, the naked Muslim boy can be seen
repeating “Jai Shri Mahakal” and “Jai Shri Ram” after the perpetrators as they
thrash him with a belt.
As they force him to say Hindustan Zindabad, he
states, “We live in Hindustan we will say Hindustan Zindabad only!”
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered
against them in response to a complaint filed by the boy’s parents. They have
been accused under Indian Penal Code Sections 323 (causing harm), 294 (obscene
act in a public place), and 365 (kidnapping for unlawful imprisonment).
The police released the three youngsters based on the
surety of the parents and will also be counselled.
According to the Indore police, the youngster and
those accused of the crime used to live in the same neighbourhood, and their
parents are workers.
The police have requested for the video not be
circulated since the boys are minors.
Source:Siasat Daily
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original story:
https://www.siasat.com/mp-muslim-boy-stripped-forced-to-chant-jai-shri-ram-pak-murdabad-2568226/
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In A First For US Cities, Minneapolis To Allow Muslim
Prayer Call At All Hours To Be Heard Over Speakers
14 APR 2023
Minneapolis becomes first major US city to allow
broadcasts of Muslim call to prayer. Representative Image
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Minneapolis will allow broadcasts of the Muslim call
to prayer at all hours, becoming the first major US city to allow the
announcement or “Adhan” to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round.
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously agreed on
Thursday to amend the city's noise ordinance, which had prevented dawn and late
evening calls at certain times of the year due to noise restrictions, the
Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The vote came during the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan.
“The Constitution doesn't sleep at night,” said
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, after the vote. He said the action in Minneapolis
shows the world that a “nation founded on freedom of religion makes good on its
promise.”
Minneapolis has had a flourishing population of East
African immigrants since at least the 1990s, and mosques now are common. Three
of 13 members of the council identify as Muslim. The decision drew no organized
community opposition. Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to sign the measure next
week.
“Minneapolis has become a city for all religions,”
said Imam Mohammed Dukuly of Masjid An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis, who was among
several Muslim leaders who witnessed the vote.
Three years ago, city officials worked with the Dar
Al-Hijrah mosque to allow the adhan to be broadcast outdoors five times daily
during Ramadan. Prayers are said when light appears at dawn, at noon, at mid-
to late afternoon, at sunset and when the night sky appears.
In Minnesota, dawn arrives as early as before 5.30 am
in summer, while sunset at the solstice happens after 9 pm.
The city allowed year-round broadcasts last year, but
only between 7 am and 10 pm — typically excluding early morning prayer and
sometimes night prayer.
At a recent public hearing, Christian and Jewish
leaders expressed support for extending the hours for the adhan.
Council Member Lisa Goodman, who on Thursday was
observing the final day of Passover, said the Jewish call to prayer — which is
generally spoken rather than broadcast — doesn't face legal restrictions.
Observers said church bells regularly toll for Christians.
“It's something I grew up with, but not my children,”
council member Jamal Osman said, adding that hearing the call to prayer from
local mosques brings him joy.
Source:OutlookIndia
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Iraq’s Muqtada Al-Sadr ‘Freezes’ Movement Over
‘Sinful’ Practices Among Supporters
14 April ,2023:
Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. (File photo: AFP)
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Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who wields great
influence over national politics, said Friday he was “freezing” for a year his
movement over “sinful” practices among supporters.
Al-Sadr, a Muslim Shia leader, has the ability to
mobilize tens of thousands of his supporters with a single message and presents
himself as an anti-corruption champion, often clashing with Iraq’s political
leadership.
He has repeatedly taken supporters and opponents by
surprise with major announcements on social media, such as a Twitter message
last year on his “definitive retirement” from politics.
In a statement shared on the cleric’s official Twitter
page on Friday, al-Sadr said he had decided to “freeze the movement... for at
least a year.”
The move would not affect religious activities
including Friday prayers and an institution dedicated to his father’s legacy,
the statement said.
Al-Sadr retains a devoted following of millions among
the country’s majority Shia population, and claims direct lineage to Prophet
Mohammed.
His rise was aided by the reputation of his father,
Mohammed Sadek al-Sadr, whom former President Saddam Hussein had assassinated
in 1999.
The mausoleum in the city of Najaf where his father is
buried would remain closed through the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan that
ends later in April, according to al-Sadr’s statement.
“That I may be a reformer for Iraq... but fail to
reform the Sadrist movement, is a transgression,” the cleric said.
“And it is a serious issue to continue leading the
Sadrist movement as it includes... some corrupt elements” within it, he said.
Al-Sadr was referring to a fringe group appearing in a
video shared on social media and reported by Iraqi media, calling to “pledge
allegiance to the awaited imam, Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr.”
Faithful believe the Mahdi, the twelfth imam of Shia
Islam, disappeared more than 1,000 years ago and will return one day to usher
in a new era of peace and harmony.
In response to the video, authorities issued arrest
warrants against “65 suspects from a gang that promotes ideas that incite dissent
and disturb public security,” a statement from the judiciary said.
In August, al-Sadr announced he was retiring from
politics and closing institutions linked to his movement, in a statement that
came amid political wrangling over the nomination of a prime minister and
resulted in deadly clashes in Baghdad between his followers, the army and
paramilitary forces.
Earlier last year he had ordered all 73 lawmakers
affiliated with his movement to quit parliament in a show of force meant to
break a logjam in political negotiations.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Int'l Quds Day Resolution: Beit ul-Muqaddas Most
Important Living Common Issue of Islamic Ummah
2023-April-14
TEHRAN (FNA)- The participants of the International
Quds Day Rally in a final resolution deemed Beit ul-Moqaddas and Al Aqsa Mosque
as hub of convergence and synergy of the Islamic Ummah and their most important
and living common issue, and asked the United Nations to suspend the Israeli
regime's membership and expel the usurper regime from international forums.
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The participants in the International Quds Day of 1402
voiced their positions by reading a resolution in 7 paragraphs.
They pointed out that Beit ul-Muqaddas and Al Aqsa
Mosque are the abode of revelation, the holy place of the prophets and the
first Qiblah of Muslims; the bloody land of Palestine with its martyrs is the
focal point of the Islamic world, the axis of the convergence of the Islamic
nation and the synergy of Muslims, and the most important and living common
issue of the Islamic nation and the constant nightmare of the Zionists and its
American and European supporters.
"Today, with the passage of 44 years since the
historical initiative of the great architect of the Islamic Revolution, Imam
Khomeini (may God have mercy on him) and the wise leadership of his successor,
Imam Khamenei, the goal of the liberation of the holy place and the liberation
of the oppressed nation, Palestine has prevented creating stable security for
the Zionists in the occupied territories by accompanying the Ummah of the Great
Prophet "Peace be upon him" and the nations and right-seeking and
freedom-loving societies of the world," it said.
The resolution pointed out that Palestine has also
prevented the realization of the evil policies and strategies of US and the
regional and extra-regional allies of the White House in the establishment of
stable security for "the Zionists in the occupied territories".
"In the face of new developments in the front of
resistance and the expansion of the flames of the Holy Intifada to the West
Bank and all over the occupied territories, the Zionist Provisional is caught
in the security challenge and internal collapse and is rapidly going down the
path of definite decline," it added.
In another paragraph of the resolution, the
participants stated: Quds Day and support for the Palestinian nation are
considered as a strong support of "national security of dear Iran"
and a symbol of "unity and unity of the Islamic Ummah" against the
plots of global arrogance and international Zionism.
The recalled the guidelines of Supreme Leader of the
Islamic Revolution as a necessity to strengthen support for the anti-Zionist
resistance as the only solution to the Palestinian issue as the 'first issue of
the Islamic world', and said, "We emphasize the return of Palestinian
refugees from all over the world and the holding of a comprehensive and free
referendum to determine the future fate of this country."
The fasting people participating in this huge
gathering, while condemning the brutal attack on the pilgrims in the Al-Aqsa
Mosque, which led to the martyrdom and wounding of a group of fasting people in
the first Qibla of the Muslims and the West Bank, considered the attacks and
desecration of the Zionist military as a way out of the political and economic
chaos.
The 7-paragraph resolution of the International Quds
Day condemned the silence and indifference of the world assemblies and human
rights institutions to the barbaric crimes of the Zionists, and asked the
United Nations to suspend the Israeli regime's membership and expel the
usurping, racist and child-killing Zionist regime from that organization and
other international forums which is demanded and acknowledged by authoritative
figures and international jurists
Iranians poured into the streets throughout the
country to hold the International Quds Day rallies, showing support for the
Palestinian nation and cause.
This year, Iranians started massive and epic
demonstrations in Tehran and all Iranian cities and villages at 10 local time.
The Iranian people chanted slogans in support of
oppressed Palestinians in al-Quds and the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from
the Zionist regime’s atrocities and siege.
Late Imam Khomeini designated the last Friday of the
holy month of Ramadan as Quds Day on August 7, 1979, in a bid to hinder the
distortion of history by the Zionist regime and to show support for the
oppressed nation of Palestine.
Since that year, Muslims and freedom-loving nations
commemorate the great event in order to stand against ignoring crimes committed
by the occupying regime every last Friday of Ramadan.
Each year, the Iranian people take part in the
international event on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan with the
aim of following late Imam Khomeini’s designation of the last Friday of each
year’s Ramadan as the International Quds Day.
Source: Fars News Agency
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London to hold Europe’s biggest Eid festival at
Westfield Square for 4th time
April 14, 2023
Over 220,000 visitors are expected to attend London
Eid Festival from Apr. 29 to May 1, as the event returns for the fourth year to
Westfield Square, making it Europe’s biggest Eid Al-Fitr Festival. (Supplied)
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LONDON: Over 220,000 visitors are expected to attend
London Eid Festival from Apr. 29 to May 1, as the event returns for the fourth
year to Westfield Square, making it Europe’s biggest Eid Al-Fitr festival.
Scheduled to take place at the Atrium and Westfield
Square, London Eid Festival will welcome Muslim and non-Muslim community
members to celebrate the end of Ramadan during this free annual event, where
guests get to enjoy live entertainment, activities, a feast of food stalls and
modest fashion concessions inspired by Muslim regions from across the globe.
Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. over the weekend and 12
p.m. to 6 p.m. on the bank holiday Monday, Westfield London’s visitors will
find at the Atrium a range of concessions including fashion and Eid gift
stalls, as well as a Crepe Protect Trainer Cleaning Vehicle to ensure their
shoes are sparkling whilst roaming around the venue.
Meanwhile at John Lewis, live activities include
cookery demonstrations, a fashion show and beauty masterclass, as well as an
Islamic art gallery where all culture lovers can unite and share traditions.
At Westfield Square, visitors will enjoy the beautiful
works of henna artists and experience makeovers from face painters in addition
to the Halal Food Festival where there will be a wide variety of cuisines from
all over the world, including Pakistan, North Africa and the Middle East. For
children, there will be a play area and children’s choir.
In a media statement issued Friday, Waleed Jahangir,
managing director at Algebra Consulting, said: “We’ve felt a great sense of
belonging at Westfield London for the last few years and are excited to bring
back the London Eid Festival for its fourth year. With its ever-growing
success, the event offers a plethora of activities and enjoyment for the
thousands of people celebrating Eid this year.”
Meanwhile Katie Wyle, general manager at Westfield
London, said the Muslim community is incredibly important to Westfield London,
and they are honored to welcome the return of the London Eid Festival. “The
event has grown to become a major highlight in our cultural events calendar,
and we look forward to once again welcoming families and individuals of Muslim
faith, as well as wider communities, to participate in a marvellous celebration
of good will and unity,” added Wyle.
Source: Arab News
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original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2286841/world
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India
Hindu man fasts during Ramzan, Muslim friend
celebrates Chhath in Bihar's Gaya
Apr 15, 2023
PATNA: A Hindu man from Gaya has been observing Ramzan
fast for the last eight years to promote communal harmony in the society. He
gets up early in the morning for "Sehri" (the morning meal eaten by
Muslims before sunrise) and then breaks his daylong fast in the evening in the
company of Muslim friends.
Amardeep Kumar Sinha, a resident of Bangla Sthan
locality in Gaya town, began fasting like a devout Muslim during Ramzan on
being advised by some Muslim friends one day after suffering huge losses in the
business.
"My economic condition was poor after I suffered
huge losses in every business that I started. Then I started observing fast
during Ramzan in 2015 and by the grace of God, happiness returned to my
family," 38-year-old Sinha told TOI on Friday. "I will keep Roza till
I am alive and my priority is now to bridge the gap between the two communities
and promote communal harmony in society. All religions are one," Sinha
said.
He gets full cooperation from his family members who
prepare food as per his requirement. The situation turns joyous when his Muslim
friends join Sinha for breaking the fast in the evening. Fruits, fritters, and
dates - everything is available on the platter.
Naseem Akhtar, one of his Muslim friends, who is
usually seen joining his iftar, has a high regard for Sinha, who works with a
missionary zeal to ensure that followers of all faiths live in peace and
harmony.
"We all are one and Sinha has been doing a
wonderful job to build bridges in society," said Akhtar, who has been
observing Chhath for the past 20 years. He began celebrating Chhath after his
son Mohammad Bhola, who was suffering from liver ailments, got cured.
"Sabhidharm ek hain," he sums up, explaining why his son has the
surname Bhola.
The 60-year-old Akhtar along with his family
celebrates Chhath with another Hindu friend Amar Chandravanshi (65), who is
from a very modest background.
The Akhtar family participates in all the rituals
except observing fast. He contributes Chhath material also to his Hindu friend.
Source: Times Of India
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Govt disallows Friday prayer at Srinagar’s Grand
Mosque; parties condemn decision
April 15, 2023
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has said
disallowing congregational Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid as well as
the continued incarceration of its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq defy the
government’s claims that “all is well now” in “Naya Kashmir”.
Mainstream political leaders, including former chief
minister Omar Abdullah, also condemned the closure of the Grand Mosque on
‘Jumat-ul-Vida’ — the last Friday of Ramzan.
In a statement, the separatist alliance said, “even in
the holy month of Ramzan, despite appeals from all quarters for his release,
barring him from his religious obligations as the Mirwaiz is greatly
regrettable”. It said the repeated closure of the mosque was “condemnable” and
a violation of people’s fundamental right to practice their religion.
The statement said “such measures” are a reminder that
things on the ground in Kashmir are not what is being shown to the outside
world by “strictly controlled narrative and a huge number of forces on the
ground”.
“The repeated closure of the historic and central
Jamia Masjid Srinagar by the authorities also belies the claims… that ‘all is
well now’ in Naya Kashmir. Not allowing Jumat-ul-Vida prayers at the Jamia
Masjid, on an important religious day when lakhs of namazis from all over the
valley traditionally pray at the Masjid for its great religious significance,
is condemnable,” the APHC said.
Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, the management committee
of the mosque, said the District Magistrate and police officials visited Jamia
Masjid Friday morning and “asked the management to lock its gates as
administration had decided that Jumat-ul-Vida prayers will not be allowed.”
Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter: “We are constantly
treated to claims of normalcy in J&K and yet the administration betrays its
own claims when it resorts to locking up one of our holiest mosques thus
denying people the chance to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan.”
J&K Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari also expressed
regret over the closure of the mosque and termed the act by the authorities as
“deeply regrettable” and a “brazen violation” of religious freedom.
Source: Indian Express
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Rajasthan Police Arrests 2 Cow Vigilantes For Murder
Of Muslim Men In Haryana
14 APR 2023
The Rajasthan Police arrested two of the eight men –
suspected cow vigilantes in Haryana – wanted in the alleged abduction and
murder of two Muslim men in Rajasthan, an official said on Friday.
The accused were identified as Monu Rana alias
Narendra and Gogi alias Monu, Inspector General of Police (Bharatpur) Gaurav
Srivastava told PTI. They were detained from an isolated hilly area in
Dehradun. Both of them have connections with Bajrang Dal as well as other
organisations including Haryana Gau Raksha Dal, he said.
On February 16, two Muslim men – Nasir (25) and Junaid
alias Juna (35) – both residents of Ghatmeeka village in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur
district, were allegedly abducted by a group of men. Their bodies were found
inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani in Haryana on the next morning.
During initial interrogation, both the accused
revealed that Junaid and Nasir were abducted on suspicion of cow smuggling.
They were badly thrashed and when they failed to fetch any information
regarding the smuggling from them, they took them to a local police station in
Haryana but the policemen refused to take action seeing the condition they were
in, IG Srivastava said.
“When Haryana police refused to take action against
the duo seeing their condition, the accused took Nasir and Junaid and murdered
them. The bodies were put in a vehicle and it was burnt,” he added.
On February 17, one of the accused, Rinku Saini, was
arrested. Based on his disclosure and other evidence collected by the police,
eight others were identified and teams were sent to several states in search of
them.
The remaining, each carrying a cash reward of Rs
10,000, are still absconding and being searched.
The police have also issued notices to several other
suspects including office bearers and members of Haryana Gau Raksha Dal but no
one has turned up. However, the arrest of the two accused will expedite the
investigation of the case, IG Srivastava said.
On the involvement of cow vigilante Monu Manesar, the
IG said that his role will become clear after the questioning of Monu Rana and
Gogi. The officer said that several teams of the Rajasthan police camped in
different districts undercover in search of the accused.
The accused were brought to Bharatpur and placed under
arrest on Thursday night under sections 302 (murder), 365 (abduction), 367
(abduction to subject a person to grievous hurt), 368 (wrongful confinement),
201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) and
143 (being a member of an unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.
Source:OutlookIndia
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Why is KCR silent on 12 pc Muslim reservation? Shabbir
downplays govt Iftar
Zahed Farooqui
14th April 2023
Hyderabad: Former Leader of Opposition Mohammad Ali
Shabbir on Thursday rejected Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s claims on
minority welfare, saying KCR tried to mislead Muslims on the occasion of the
Iftar party.
He said that “in the last nine years, not a single
promise made to Muslims has been fulfilled and the implementation of schemes of
the Congress government has been stopped. At the iftar party, KCR claimed that
Congress spent Rs 1,200 crore on minority welfare in 10 years, while the BRS
government had allocated Rs 12,000 crore for minority welfare in nine years.”
Mohammad Ali Shabbir said that “there is a need to
review the allocation of funds for minorities in terms of the overall budget.
In united Andhra Pradesh, the budget was Rs 85,000 crore. Today, the state’s
budget has gone up to Rs 2.56 lakh crore. The combined budget of the two Telugu
states is Rs 5.56 lakh crore.”
He said that the minorities constitute 14 percent of
Telangana’s population but only Rs 2,200 crore has been allocated in the
budget. If KCR was really serious about minority welfare, he should have
allocated 14 percent of the total budget for minority welfare. An attempt was
made to please the ears of Muslims in iftar and the agenda of participating in
national politics was presented.
He said that the 4 percent reservation provided by the
Congress party to Muslims has been reduced to 3 percent, but till date, there
has been no official clarification. He said the KCR government had failed to
continue the steps taken by Congress for the educational and economic
development of minorities.
He said that “for the last nine years, not a single
Muslim has been provided loans by the Minority Finance Corporation. KCR had
promised 12 percent reservation to Muslims but no initiative has been taken in
this regard till date. The chief minister made no mention of the promise of 12
percent reservation at the Iftar party. During the last nine years, the
implementation of post-matric scholarships, fee reimbursement, and scholarship
schemes has been stopped. Many minority colleges have shut down as a result of
the abolition of the fee reimbursement scheme.”
Source:Siasat Daily
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North America
CENTCOM: 11 more US troops diagnosed with 'traumatic
brain injury' after last month's attacks in Syria
14 April 2023
A spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM) says 11
more American troops have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following
a series of attacks that targeted US illegal bases in Syria back in March.
“Our medical teams continue to assess and evaluate our
troops for indications of [traumatic brain injury],” said Col. Joe Buccino,
spokesman for CENTCOM, CNN reported on Thursday.
The new cases bring the number of US personnel wounded
in the attacks to a total of 25, including one US contractor who was killed at
a facility in Hasakah, northeast Syria, on March 23 in an alleged drone attack
that Washington attributed to IRGC-backed resistance groups.
The US troops, whose presence in Syria is illegal
under international law, carried out what they called "precision
airstrikes" in eastern Syria on the same day.
“The airstrikes were conducted in response to today's
attack as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in
Syria,” Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said in a statement, noting that the
aggression was carried out at the direction of President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, local sources pointed out that the target
was not an Iran-aligned military post as the US military claimed, but rather a
rural development center and a grain center in Hrabashneighborhood, near Dayr
al-Zawr military airport.
On March 24, more than 20 rockets are reportedly fired
against two illegal American outposts based near the al-Omar oilfield and the
Koniko gas field in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Province.
One week after the attacks on US illegal bases, the
Pentagon announced that six service members had been diagnosed with traumatic
brain injuries, also cautioning the number may grow since symptoms develop over
time.
"All personnel in the vicinity of a blast are
screened for traumatic brain injury. So these additional injuries were
identified during post-attack medical screenings," Pentagon spokesman
Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told a news briefing on March 30.
Mild traumatic brain injuries can lead to changes in
personality and balance issues as well as symptoms such as dizziness,
confusion, headaches, and irritability.
Meanwhile, some observers believe the US military does
not openly acknowledges when it suffer casualties in the occupied territories
due to retaliatory attacks by resistance fighters and rather, it uses the term
“brain injuries” for fallen soldiers.
They say the term “brain injuries” reflects the number
of dead, which the US hesitates to formally announce.
The US has for long employed the alleged "Daesh
threat" as a pretext to continue its illegal occupation of northeastern
Syrian territories.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/04/14/701513/11-US-troopers-diagnosed-traumatic-brain-injury
--------
Arab World
Officials arrive in Saudi Arabia for Gulf, Egypt,
Jordan, Iraq meeting
April 14, 2023
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed
Al-Khuraiji received a number of Arab officials on Friday in Jeddah, who will
take part in a ministerial consultative meeting between the Gulf states, Egypt,
Jordan and Iraq, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.
Al-Khuraiji received the Bahraini Foreign Minister,
Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, upon his arrival at the Royal Terminal at King
Abdulaziz International Airport.
He also received Dr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic
adviser to UAE president, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman, and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid BadrAlbusaidi.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2286906/saudi-arabia
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Arab foreign ministers condemn ‘illegal’ Israeli
practices that undermine Palestine peace efforts
April 15, 2023
JEDDAH: Arab foreign ministers on Saturday condemned
Israeli atrocities in the West Bank and Jerusalem that they said were
undermining efforts to achieve a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
crisis.
A statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said the ministers also bewailed that “illegal Israeli practices” were
“undermining chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the
two-state solution, which embodies the independent and sovereign Palestinian state
with its capital.”
Palestinian and international human rights
organizations have previously denounced the increasingly aggressive Israeli
settler land-grabs in Palestinian territories in East Jerusalem and the West
Bank.
The statement came at the conclusion of a consultative
meeting of foreign ministers from GCC members states along with Jordan, Egypt
and Iraq.
The informal consultation session was held in Jeddah
during a Suhoor dinner hosted by Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The ministers took issue with the repeated Israeli
attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif and “violation of the sanctity
of the holy places,” especially at a time when Muslims gathered for prayers
during Ramadan.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287096/middle-east
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Arab leadership role crucial in seeking political
solution to Syria crisis, say FMs
April 15, 2023
JEDDAH: Gulf Arab foreign ministers and their
counterparts from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan on Saturday exchanged views on the
importance of reaching a political solution to the crisis in Syria, the Saudi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The ministers also stressed the importance of an Arab
leadership role in efforts to end the crisis, according to the statement issued
at the conclusion of an informal consultative meeting of the foreign ministers,
hosted in Jeddah by Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
They called for setting up the necessary mechanisms
for this role, and intensifying consultations among Arab countries to ensure
the success of these efforts.”
Syria’s possible return to the Arab fold was also
discussed, according to the statement.
Syria's membership was suspended from the 22-nation
Arab League following President Bashar Assad's bloody crackdown that sparked a
multi-sided war that has devastated the nation and displaced millions of
people.
Hundreds of thousands of people died in the war, which
drew in numerous foreign powers and splintered the country.
While Some Arab states have mended ties with Damascus,
Syria’s broader normalization with the Arab world remains a sensitive issue for
several countries.
Earlier this week, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said the original basis for the 2011
suspension of Syria’s membership in the Arab League still stands.
Abu Dhabi and Oman also received Assad as
normalization gathered momentum elsewhere in the region following a devastating
quake that hit Turkiye and Syria.
Saudi Arabia said after a rapprochement with Iran,
Syria’s key regional ally, that a new approach was needed with Damascus. Both
countries agreed to reopen embassies soon.
In a meeting last week between Prince Faisal bin
Farhan and Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Jeddah, the two diplomats
announced the need to explore a political solution to Syria's crisis.
During's Saturday's consultative meeting, the foreign
ministers said it was crucial to find a political solution that would
"preserve Syria's unity, security, stability, territory and Arab
identity."
They also agreed on the importance of resolving the
humanitarian crisis, providing a suitable environment for aid to reach all
regions in Syria, creating the necessary conditions for the return of Syrian
refugees and displaced persons to their areas, the statement said.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287111/middle-east
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Populist Iraqi cleric announces suspension of his
movement
April 14, 2023
BAGHDAD: Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political
leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced Friday that he would suspend the movement he
leads for one year, citing “corruption” among some of his followers.
A group within the Sadrists, dubbing itself the
“Owners of the Cause,” believes that Al-Sadr is Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious
leader said to have vanished more than 1,000 years ago, who is expected to
return leading an army of the faithful to defeat evil in the world.
On Friday, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council announced
that an investigative court had ordered the arrest of 65 alleged members of the
“Owners of the Cause,” which it described as a disruptive “gang.”
In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Al-Sadr
said, “I want to be a reformer for Iraq, and I cannot reform the Sadrist
movement.” He added that he will freeze all activities of the movement — except
for religious activities such as Friday prayers.
Al-Sadr resigned from politics last August following a
nearly yearlong deadlock in cabinet formation. His party won the largest share
of seats in the October 2021 parliamentary elections, but not enough to secure
a majority government.
Al-Sadr’s refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed
Shiite rivals and his subsequent exit from the talks catapulted the country
into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shiite
wrangling.
After Al-Sadr announced his resignation from politics,
hundreds of his angry followers stormed the government palace and clashed with
security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.
Al-Sadr had won a mass base of followers, many of whom
hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society, with nationalist rhetoric and
promised of reform.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2286781/middle-east
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Man sues Syria in US court on torture claims
14 April ,2023
A US citizen who says he was tortured in Syrian
custody has filed a lawsuit against President Bashar al-Assad’s government in
Washington, seeking accountability at a time that Damascus is reconciling in
the region.
Obada Mzaik, who was born in Ohio and also holds
Syrian citizenship, said he was hoping to see family when he was detained on
arrival at the Damascus airport in January 2012, nearly a year into the brutal
civil war.
In a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Washington,
Mzaik said he was taken to a basement cell that held around 10 other people,
including a 13-year-old boy who said he had been tortured for more than 80
days.
Mzaik, who had been a student in Syria when protests
broke out against Assad, was “brutally and systematically beaten, whipped and
threatened with electrocution,” the lawsuit said.
“He was held in inhumane detention conditions and
forced to witness other detainees being tortured, including one of his
relatives,” it said.
Mzaik alleged that interrogators from the Air Force
Intelligence Directorate “inflicted severe physical and mental pain” as they
sought information on his friends, contacts, and interactions with the US
government and to “punish him for perceived anti-regime activities.”
He was released within a month after his family paid
bribes through an intermediary, the lawsuit said. He was then treated by
doctors for more than a month before he headed to Jordan and then the United
States, it said.
Mzaik is seeking unspecified payment as damages from
the Syrian government under a US law that says that foreign governments
designated as state sponsors of terrorism are exempt from immunity.
The lawsuit was filed in January but unsealed this
week. The court documents showed that the Czech embassy in Damascus, which
represents US interests in the country, formally informed the government of the
lawsuit.
While it remains highly unlikely that Assad would pay
any damages awarded in a court case, the United States has previously seized
and allocated Iranian funds as damages, drawing legal challenges from Tehran’s
clerical state.
The lawsuit comes as Arab nations meet in Saudi Arabia
on reconciling with Assad, widely seen as having won the civil war.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/04/14/Man-sues-Syria-in-US-court-on-torture-claims-
--------
Hezbollah flag sparks Lebanon-Israel border tensions
14 April ,2023
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon appealed for calm late
Friday after supporters of the Hezbollah movement clashed with Israeli border
guards as Iran and Arab countries marked Jerusalem Day.
The annual commemoration is staged in support of the
Palestinian cause, and earlier in the day Palestinian factions paraded in the
Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Later, Hezbollah supporters approached the border
fence with Israel in south Lebanon and placed one of the group’s flags there.
“UNIFIL peacekeepers observed a crowd of 50 or 60
individuals throwing stones and placing a Hezbollah flag in the technical
fence,” deputy UN Interim Force in Lebanon spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said.
Israeli forces “responded with stun and smoke
grenades,” she said, adding that Lebanese troops soon arrived and worked with
UNIFIL to calm the situation.
“Especially at this sensitive time, we strongly urge
everyone to refrain from any acts that could be perceived as provocative and
could cause the situation to escalate,” Ardiel said.
Recent weeks have seen deadly attacks and clashes in
Israel, annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, as well as
cross-border fire between Israeli forces and militants in the Gaza Strip,
Lebanon and Syria.
Lebanon’s official ANI news agency said one person was
injured when hit in the head by a smoke grenade during a demonstration at the
border.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Hezbollah chief: Israel didn't hit Hamas in Lebanon
strikes
14 April ,2023
The leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah on Friday
claimed that Israel did not hit Hamas or Hezbollah targets in last week’s
strikes on southern Lebanon.
The strikes last Friday in south Lebanon came a day
after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding
two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said it had
targeted installations of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in southern
Lebanon.
Speaking at an a ceremony in Beirut marking “Quds
Day,” or Jerusalem Day — an annual show of support for the Palestinians held on
the last Friday of every Islamic holy month of Ramadan — Hezbollah chief Hassan
Nasrallah called the Israeli statements “a barefaced lie” and that “no
Hezbollah or Hamas infrastructure was struck.”
Rather, he said, the Israelis hit “banana groves” and
a water irrigation channel. There was no immediate comment from Israel.
While Israeli military officials have not said they
hit any Hezbollah targets, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a
speech Monday said Israel had targeted both Hamas and Hezbollah infrastructure.
Nasrallah called this “the biggest lie.”
According to Associated Press reporters on the ground,
several missiles fired by Israeli warplanes struck an open field in the town of
Qalili, near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, close to the coastal
southern city of Tyre.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Iraqi envoy hails KSA’s leading experience in several
sectors
April 15, 2023
RIYADH: Dr. Abdul-Sattar Hadi Al-Janabi, Iraqi ambassador
to Saudi Arabia, said that Baghdad looks forward to benefiting from the
Kingdom’s leading experience in the sectors of electricity, renewable energy,
industrial cities, and communications, among others.
In his remarks, the Iraqi envoy said such experiences
could also be applied in Iraq to benefit in diversifying and accelerating the
national economy.
The ambassador said resumption of direct Saudi-Iraqi
flights is essential in enhancing bilateral cooperation and promoting joint
work to reach new horizons.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287081/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi customs officials seize 860kg of hashish at
Yemen border
April 14, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Zakat and
Tax said it foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 860 kilograms of hashish
into the Kingdom through Al-Wadiah port in the north of Yemen’s Hadramawt
governorate.
The authority said the drugs were discovered hidden in
a floor cavity when officials inspected a truck.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2286931/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi ministry of Islamic Affairs in volunteering push
April 15, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Call and Guidance’s volunteer department provided more than 1.7 million
volunteer hours during the first quarter of 2023.
Volunteers in all regions of the Kingdom are offering
their services to strive to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals by reaching
1 million volunteers.
These numbers were revealed within official statistics
issued by the National Volunteer Portal, where 4,673 volunteer opportunities
were offered, in which 14,790 volunteers participated; the number of volunteer
hours completed reached 1,745,132 hours, and the economic value and financial
return of voluntary initiatives amounted to SR43,982,265 (a little over $11.99
million)
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287071/saudi-arabia
--------
Mideast
Al-Quds rallies call on Muslim world to break ties
with Israel
April 15, 2023
KARACHI: Rallies and demonstrations were held across
the country on Friday to mark Youm Al-Quds, in solidarity with the people of
Palestine and reject the “so-called deal of the century” as participants vowed
to continue their support for the oppressed Arab nation.
In Karachi, a large number of people, including women
and children, attended the rally taken out by Imamia Students Organisation
(ISO) from Numaish to Tibet Centre on M.A. Jinnah Road, vowing to continue
their support for an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.
The key speakers at the rally included Hasan Arif of
ISO, Ali Zaidi of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Muslim Pervez of Jamaat-i-Islami,
Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) and Maulana Aqeel
Anjum of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP).
The MWM also held demonstrations and rallies to mark
Youm Al-Quds. The main protest was held outside Jamia Masjid Noor-i-Iman in
Nazimabad led by AllamaBaqir Zaidi, president Sindh chapter of the party.
Addressing the demonstration, he said that Israel is a threat to global peace
and harmony.
“Moral and ethical support of occupied nations like
Kashmir and Palestine is our prime responsibility. Pakistani people and its
leaders have always been supporting Palestinian cause and we will keep continue
this practice till its independence. Muslim and Arab rulers should break their
ties with Israel to struggle for the liberation of Palestine,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Sindh, the Shia Ulema Council took out a
rally from Qadam Gah Maula Ali, where Allama Israr Raza Naeemi, Mustafa Ali
Hyderi and others made speeches. They said that Israel had unleashed a reign of
terror against Muslims soon after the illegitimate state came into being. They
expressed solidarity with people of Palestine and said that innocent
Palestinians were being butchered by Israel daily and the Al-Aqsa mosque was
desecrated by Israeli forces during the holy month of Ramazan.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1747740/al-quds-rallies-call-on-muslim-world-to-break-ties-with-israel
--------
President Rayeesi Blasts Sacrilege of Al Aqsa Mosque,
Urges Muslims' United Front Against Israeli Regime
2023-April-14
President Rayeeis made the remarks in a telephone
conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday night.
Referring to the recent developments in Palestine and
expressing deep concern about the Israeli regime's brutal acts, specially
breaching the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque, the Iranian president expressed hope
that establishment of Islamic Countries' United Front "will end Zionists'
evil acts".
President Rayeesi also referred to the historical and
amicable relations between Tehran and Islamabad, and expressed hope for their
further expansion, especially in the economic and energy fields.
"The expansion of deepening of relations and
cooperation with neighboring, and specially Islamic countries is the 13th
government's top priority in its foreign diplomacy," the Iranian president
said.
Sharif, for his part, condemned the Israeli regime's
criminal acts during the past weeks, arguing that Pakistan has always been a
supporter of the oppressed Palestinian nation.
"I hope the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) will establish the Islamic United Front to block the path for the
continuation of the Zionists' criminal acts," he added.
The Pakistani premier, meanwhile, expressed his
country's interest in further strengthening Islamabad-Tehran relations, and
referred to the agreements reached on launching joint economic projects while
announcing Pakistan's readiness for implementing them.
Iranians poured into the streets throughout the
country to hold the International Quds Day rallies, showing support for the
Palestinian nation and cause.
This year, Iranians started massive and epic
demonstrations in Tehran and all Iranian cities and villages at 10 local time
on Friday.
The Iranian people chanted slogans in support of
oppressed Palestinians in al-Quds and the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from
the Zionist regime’s atrocities and siege.
Late Imam Khomeini designated the last Friday of the
holy month of Ramadan as Quds Day on August 7, 1979, in a bid to hinder the
distortion of history by the Zionist regime and to show support for the
oppressed nation of Palestine.
Since that year, Muslims and freedom-loving nations
commemorate the great event in order to stand against ignoring crimes committed
by the occupying regime every last Friday of Ramadan.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran's Parliament Speaker: Criminal Face of Israeli
Regime Exposed by Int'l Quds Day
2023-April-14
Qalibaf made the remarks addressing participants of
International Quds Day on Friday.
"The initiative of Imam Khomeini in appointing
International Quds Day has turned the issue of Palestine into a popular and
global issue in the world," the Iranian parliament speaker said.
He pointed out that today, thanks to International
Quds Day, all Muslims can say that Al-Quds is the capital of all Palestine and
Palestine is the capital of the Islamic world.
"International Quds Day has become an effective
political tradition and a strong political ritual," he said, adding that
it has revealed the criminal face of this child-killing regime in front of the
people of the world.
Iranians poured into the streets throughout the
country to hold the International Quds Day rallies, showing support for the
Palestinian nation and cause.
This year, Iranians started massive and epic
demonstrations in Tehran and all Iranian cities and villages at 10 local time.
The Iranian people chanted slogans in support of
oppressed Palestinians in al-Quds and the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from
the Zionist regime’s atrocities and siege.
Late Imam Khomeini designated the last Friday of the
holy month of Ramadan as Quds Day on August 7, 1979, in a bid to hinder the
distortion of history by the Zionist regime and to show support for the
oppressed nation of Palestine.
Since that year, Muslims and freedom-loving nations
commemorate the great event in order to stand against ignoring crimes committed
by the occupying regime every last Friday of Ramadan.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
FM: Palestine Turns Into Resistance Scene
2023-April-14
"Undoubtedly, the issue of Palestine is still the
most important issue of the Islamic world and it should not be diminished in
the wake of other regional and international developments," Amir
Abdollahian wrote in a message on the occasion of the International Quds Day.
He said that more than four decades after Imam
Khomeini set the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as "Quds
Day", the day of unity of Muslim nations, regional and global equations
promise clear prospects in the Palestinian issue.
"We have no doubt that the continuation of
Zionist violence against the Palestinians will have no result other than
increasing the cohesion and strengthening the determination of the Palestinians
in resisting the Zionist occupation," he noted.
The top Iranian diplomat also expressed hope that the
world will soon witness the liberation of the first Qibla of Muslims from the
clutches of the invaders.
In a relevant development earlier on Friday, the
participants of the International Quds Day Rally in a final resolution deemed
Beit ul-Moqaddas and Al Aqsa Mosque as hub of convergence and synergy of the
Islamic Ummah and their most important and living common issue, and asked the
United Nations to suspend the Israeli regime's membership and expel the usurper
regime from international forums.
The participants in the International Quds Day of 1402
voiced their positions by reading a resolution in 7 paragraphs.
They pointed out that Beit ul-Moqaddas and Al Aqsa
Mosque are the abode of revelation, the holy place of the prophets and the
first Qiblah of Muslims; the bloody land of Palestine with its martyrs is the
focal point of the Islamic world, the axis of the convergence of the Islamic
nation and the synergy of Muslims, and the most important and living common
issue of the Islamic nation and the constant nightmare of the Zionists and its
American and European supporters.
"Today, with the passage of 44 years since the
historical initiative of the great architect of the Islamic Revolution, Imam
Khomeini (may God have mercy on him) and the wise leadership of his successor,
Imam Khamenei, the goal of the liberation of the holy place and the liberation
of the oppressed nation, Palestine has prevented creating stable security for
the Zionists in the occupied territories by accompanying the Ummah of the Great
Prophet "Peace be upon him" and the nations and right-seeking and
freedom-loving societies of the world," it said.
The resolution pointed out that Palestine has also
prevented the realization of the evil policies and strategies of US and the
regional and extra-regional allies of the White House in the establishment of
stable security for "the Zionists in the occupied territories".
"In the face of new developments in the front of
resistance and the expansion of the flames of the Holy Intifada to the West
Bank and all over the occupied territories, the Zionist Provisional is caught
in the security challenge and internal collapse and is rapidly going down the
path of definite decline," it added.
In another paragraph of the resoltuon, the
participants stated: Quds Day and support for the Palestinian nation are
considered as a strong support of "national security of dear Iran"
and a symbol of "unity and unity of the Islamic Ummah" against the
plots of global arrogance and international Zionism.
The recalled the guidelines of Supreme Leader of the
Islamic Revolution as a necessity to strengthen support for the anti-Zionist
resistance as the only solution to the Palestinian issue as the 'first issue of
the Islamic world', and said, "We emphasize the return of Palestinian
refugees from all over the world and the holding of a comprehensive and free
referendum to determine the future fate of this country."
The fasting people participating in this huge
gathering, while condemning the brutal attack on the pilgrims in the Al-Aqsa
Mosque, which led to the martyrdom and wounding of a group of fasting people in
the first qibla of the Muslims and the West Bank, considered the attacks and
desecration of the Zionist military as a way out of the political and economic
chaos.
The 7-paragraph resolution of the International Quds
Day condemned the silence and indifference of the world assemblies and human
rights institutions to the barbaric crimes of the Zionists, and asked the
United Nations to suspend the Israeli regime's membership and expel the
usurping, racist and child-killing Zionist regime from that organization and
other international forums which is demanded and acknowledged by authoritative
figures and international jurists
Iranians poured into the streets throughout the
country to hold the International Quds Day rallies, showing support for the
Palestinian nation and cause.
This year, Iranians started massive and epic
demonstrations in Tehran and all Iranian cities and villages at 10 local time.
The Iranian people chanted slogans in support of
oppressed Palestinians in al-Quds and the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from
the Zionist regime’s atrocities and siege.
Late Imam Khomeini designated the last Friday of the
holy month of Ramadan as Quds Day on August 7, 1979, in a bid to hinder the
distortion of history by the Zionist regime and to show support for the
oppressed nation of Palestine.
Since that year, Muslims and freedom-loving nations
commemorate the great event in order to stand against ignoring crimes committed
by the occupying regime every last Friday of Ramadan.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020125000972/FM-Palesine-Trns-In-Resisance-Scene
--------
Millions Rally Across World to Mark International Quds
Day Amid Continued Israeli Aggression
2023-April-14
The rallies in Iran, organized by the Islamic
Propagation Coordination Council (IPCC), started at 10 am local time (0630 GMT)
in Tehran and other cities across the country on Friday, presstv reported.
The demonstrators sought to communicate to the world
the deplorable situation of the Palestinians and condemn Israeli atrocities
which have intensified this year, especially since the beginning of the holy
month of Ramadan.
Ten routes were designated for the rallies throughout
the Iranian capital, where people from all walks of life headed to the iconic
Enqelab (revolution) Square.
Every year on the last Friday of Ramadan, worldwide
rallies are held to support the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel
and the struggle to liberate their territories which have been occupied since
1967.
The annual event is seen as an opportunity for
freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their
support for the Palestinian cause and vent their anger at Israel.
The International Quds Day is among the legacies of
the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered
as a spiritual leader by Muslims across the world. Back in 1979, shortly after
leading an Islamic Revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran,
Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan the
Quds Day.
In their final communiqué in Tehran, the demonstrators
described unity and solidarity within the Muslim world as the key to triumph
over global arrogant powers and their conspiracies.
The Axis of Resistance, it said, has confounded
Zionists and driven the corrupt and far-right administration of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to despair.
"The child-killing regime is experiencing gradual
deterioration, political instability as well as severe bipolarity," it
said.
"The unfolding developments across the
Israeli-occupied territories and the reverse migration of Israeli settlers
clearly show that the fake Zionist regime has reached an irreversible point of
decline and is moving closer to collapse," it added.
The protesters also underscored the need to reinforce
support for the anti-Israel resistance front, saying it is the only viable
solution to resolve the Palestinian issue as the first and foremost issue of
the Muslim world.
The statement went on to emphasize the right of
Palestinian refugees to return to their lands from which they were expelled in
1948, and the rights of the Palestinians to hold a comprehensive and free
referendum and determine their future political fate.
The demonstrators also condemned Israeli raids on the
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and assaults on Palestinian worshipers, terming them as
part of Tel Aviv's attempts to escape from the political and economic turmoil
it is currently experiencing.
The statement touched on a new Intifada (uprising) in
the making in the occupied West Bank, saying Israel is alarmed by the unity of
Palestinian groups and the mass mobilization of young Palestinians to join
resistance groups.
The participants also hailed the retaliatory missile
strikes by Palestinian resistance fighters, warning Israeli officials against
committing any act of folly against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Any future desecration of the holy site would inflict
a heavy price upon Zionists, and a new military confrontation will accelerate
the collapse and destruction of the racist and usurping Israeli regime, they
pointed out.
The protesters finally condemned the silence and
inaction of international institutions and human rights institutions vis-à-vis
the barbaric Israeli crimes, urging the United Nations to suspend Israel’s
membership and subsequently expel the occupying, racist and child-killing
Zionist regime from the world body and other international bodies.
Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the
Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of
Palestinians to and from the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions
with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their
frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.
The resistance movements in Gaza and elsewhere have
vowed to confront the Israeli regime on multiple fronts.
On April 6, at least 30 rockets were reportedly
launched from Southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in
retaliation against the Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa. Resistance fighters
based in Gaza also fired several rockets toward the occupied territories.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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250,000 perform final Friday Ramadan prayers at
Al-Aqsa
MOHAMMED NAJIB
April 15, 2023
RAMALLAH: A massive Israeli security presence lined
the streets of Jerusalem as up to 250,000 Palestinian Muslims performed the
fourth and probably final Friday prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
More than 3,200 police, border police and Shin Bet
security agents were deployed on roads leading to the mosque.
Authorities allowed women of all ages, men over the
age of 55 and children under 12 to enter Jerusalem from the West Bank without
permits to perform Friday prayers.
Ramadan is a rare chance for many Palestinians to
visit Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa. For many, this was their first time in the
city.
Ahmed Khassib, 51, from Ramallah, told Arab News: “I
am delighted to be able to perform the fourth Friday prayer of Ramadan at
Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I cannot obtain a permit to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque
except on Fridays during Ramadan, so I wait for this opportunity throughout the
year.”
Praying at the mosque, Khasib said, “carries a message
that Al-Aqsa is for Muslims.”
During his Friday sermon, Sheikh Ekrimeh Sabri, the
imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, told worshippers: “You who came to the blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque from all parts of holy Palestine, you who have crossed the unjust
military checkpoints, your march to the blessed Aqsa for the evening prayer and
Taraweeh prayers is to remind the 2 billion Muslims of the world of the captive
Al-Aqsa.”
Abd Al-Salam Abu Askar, a Palestinian from the Gaza
Strip who lives in Ramallah, told Arab News that inflammatory comments about
Al-Aqsa by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had
made Palestinians more determined to challenge Israeli restrictions on
worshipping there.
When they felt the mosque was in danger, he said, they
flocked to it during Ramadan, especially on Fridays.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287126/middle-east
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Bahrainis stage rallies in support of Palestine,
demand expulsion of Israeli envoy
15 April 2023
Thousands of people have staged demonstrations across
Bahrain in solidarity with the Palestinian people on the occasion of
International Quds Day, and demanded expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to
Manama in response to Israeli forces’ incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque and
violent attacks on Palestinian worshipers.
Demonstrators took to the streets in the villages of
Abu Saiba, Shakhura, Ma'ameer, al-Musalla, Shahrakan, Dumistan and Nuwaidrat on
Friday to condemn heinous crimes committed by the Israeli regime against the
Palestinian nation and urge the international community not to keep silent on
the issue.
People also staged a rally in Bilad al-Qadeem suburb
of the capital, Manama, to mark the International Quds Day and express their
support for Palestinians.
In another protest rally in Sitra Island, which lies 5
kilometers (3.1 miles) south of Manama, people marched along streets to voice
their solidarity with the Palestinian nation.
The demonstrators carried various placards, reading
“Israel! Your house is that of a spider [fragile],” “West Bank is the shield of
al-Quds” and “Bahraini nation rejects normalization” in Arabic.
The Bahraini protesters once again expressed their
fierce opposition to normalization of relations between Manama and Tel Aviv,
and underscored their support for the Palestinian issue and the resistance of
its people against the occupying Israeli regime.
The demonstrators emphasized that they will continue
to fervently support the oppressed Palestinian nation against the barbaric
Israeli atrocities, and will never abandon the issue of Palestine as the
foremost and principal issue of the Muslim world.
They also called for the expulsion of the Israeli
ambassador from Bahrain and the rejection of any cooperation with the Tel Aviv
regime.
Every year on the last Friday of the holy month of
Ramadan, worldwide rallies are held to commemorate the Palestinian people’s
resistance against Israel and their struggle to liberate their territories,
which have been occupied by Israel for decades.
The annual event is seen as an opportunity for
freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith, to voice their
support for the Palestinian cause and vent their anger against the apartheid
regime in Tel Aviv, which has occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.
The International Quds Day is among the legacies of
the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered
as a spiritual leader by Muslims across the world. Back in 1979, shortly after
leading an Islamic Revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran,
Ayatollah Khomeini named the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan the
Quds Day.
Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, the
Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of
Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions
with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their
frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.
The resistance movements in Gaza and elsewhere have
vowed to confront the Israeli regime on multiple fronts.
On April 6, at least 30 rockets were reportedly
launched from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation
against the Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa. Resistance fighters based in
Gaza also fired several rockets toward the occupied territories.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Europe
Dutch man to be questioned for using racist language
while tearing apart copy of Quran
Abdullah Asiran
14.04.2023
AMSTERDAM
A man in the Netherlands will be questioned for using
racist expressions while tearing up a copy of the Quran, according to the Dutch
Public Prosecution Service.
An official statement on Friday said the unidentified
man, age 54, who resided in Germany, tore up the Quran in front of the Dutch
parliament in The Hague on Jan. 22, while saying things such as: "The
Quran is a fascist book. Just as bad as (Hitler’s biography) Mein Kampf. Its
followers are pursuing the same ideology as Hitler."
The suspect is being investigated for "insulting
a group" due to his speech while tearing up the Quran and has been summoned
to the Netherlands for questioning.
The statement also mentioned that intentionally
insulting a group of people based on their religion or beliefs can result in
punishment in the Netherlands, but tearing up a Quran is not considered a
crime.
The prosecution service acknowledged that tearing up
the Quran is seen as criticism of a belief and that this action causes unrest
within the Muslim community.
Local media reports suggest that the man being
investigated may be Edwin Wagensveld, the leader of the Patriotic Europeans
Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA) movement.
Wagensveld, 54, in fact tore up the Quran in front of
the temporary Dutch parliament building in The Hague on Jan. 22 while under
police protection, and did so again on Feb. 13 in Utrecht.
Despite Muslim groups warning that PEGIDA would burn
the Quran, the demonstration was not prohibited, prompting a counter-protest by
the Muslim community in the same location.
Wagensveld was detained but released on the same day.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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British Daesh recruit ‘watched Netflix, played video
games’ while living with terror group in Syria
April 15, 2023
LONDON: A former British school student who
disappeared on a family holiday to Turkiye has pleaded guilty to traveling to
Syria to join Daesh, years after claiming that he had spent his time in the
country “playing computer games,” Sky News reported.
Shabazz Suleman, who used the name Abu Shamil
Al-Britani, said that he volunteered for a Turkish NGO after disappearing aged
19 while on a family holiday in 2014, months before he was due to begin his
studies at university.
But the former grammar school student was arrested by
Turkish authorities and traded to Daesh in a prisoner swap, with the terror
group releasing 47 detained Turkish diplomats as part of the exchange.
At first, Suleman appeared to be in favor of Daesh’s
activities, posting a message of support for the perpetrators of the Charlie
Hebdo killings in early 2015.
He said: “There’s so many brothers just waiting for
the order to do attacks on the West.”
Suleman also posted images of an alleged spy who had
been beheaded and crucified by the group.
But later that year, after the former student had
grown disillusioned with Daesh’s treatment of local Muslims, he was arrested
and imprisoned in Raqqa.
After witnessing the torture and assault of fellow
inmates, Suleman said that he “gave in” and offered to work for Daesh in
exchange for his release.
That led to his employment within Daesh’s informal
military police, which oversaw control of local populations in territory under
the terror group’s control.
But he claimed in a 2017 interview with Sky News that
his work consisted of sitting in an office, where he would play video games
during work hours.
He then went into hiding, purchasing a PlayStation
console and “watching Netflix, ‘House of Cards’ mostly” — all while living in
Daesh-controlled territory.
Despite wanting to serve a prison sentence back in the
UK in exchange for his return, Suleman was captured by anti-regime forces on
the Syrian border in 2017.
He told Sky News at the time: “I take responsibility.
I was with Daesh, I was with a terrorist organization. But I didn’t kill anyone,
I hope I didn’t oppress anyone.
“I did have (a) Kalashnikov and a military uniform,
but I didn’t hit anyone, I didn’t oppress anyone, if you understand.
“I was there with military police but, like I said, I
was in the office.”
After being released, Suleman returned to the UK in
late 2021 and was charged with a series of terror offenses.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287041/world
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Greek foreign minister attends Easter service on
Gokceada in northwest Türkiye
BurakAkay
15.04.2023
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias attended an
Easter service Friday led by Istanbul-based Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I
on Gokceada island in Türkiye’s northwestern province of Canakkale.
The service was held at the Agridia Church on
Gokceada, formerly known as Imbros, which was mostly populated by Greeks before
population exchanges between Greece and Türkiye in the 1920s.
Dendias arrived at the Gokceada Airport by private
plane and was welcomed by KyrillosSykis, the Metropolitan Gokceada and Bozcaada
at the island’s Central Panayia Greek Orthodox Church.
Later, Dendias met Bartholomew I and said that they
were happy because the Turkish and Greek relations have been going well
recently.
Noting that he does not want tensions, he said: “We
want and hope that these bilateral relations will continue in a good way. This
is the same for the Patriarchate. We want better steps to be taken.”
Bartholomew I expressed happiness at the positive
developments and hoped it would continue.
Dendias' visit came as Türkiye and Greece mend ties
following the Feb. 6 earthquakes which killed more than 50,000 people in
eastern Türkiye. Greece was among the first countries to convey condolences and
offer aid to the region.
The Greek foreign minister later visited the Private
Greek Primary School in Zeytinlikoy, took pictures with the students and met
executives of an NGO focusing on the protection and development of Gokceada.
While leaving the school, Dendias said he was happy to
visit the island at the foreign ministry level 11 years after the last Greek
foreign minister’s trip to the region.
Noting that the school currently has 60 students,
Dendias said he hoped “this number will be 120, (when) the next foreign
minister visits here. We are very happy with this situation.”
He also visited the Private Gokceada Secondary and
High School in Tepekoy and was hosted by principal Ioakim Makis Kamburopoulos.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Doubts surround death of Syrian refugee in Polish
detention center
Jo Harper
14.04.2023
WARSAW
The Polish Border Guard on Thursday publicly admitted
the death of a Syrian man at a detention center for refugees in southwestern
Poland, but almost a month after the man died.
The refugee of Syrian origin, Mahmoud RyadAlbana, died
on the night from March 16 to 17 after seven days in the Guarded Center for
Foreigners in the city of Przemysl, Piotr Zakielarz, the spokesperson of the
Bieszczady Border Guard Unit, told Polish Press Agency (PAP).
However, Polish activists, who help refugees from
Africa and the Middle East coming into Poland via Belarus, say they were the
first to inform about the man’s disappearance from the center after he had been
complaining of being sick for several days.
“He was denied medical help for several days despite
his friends begging for it. Then, he simply disappeared,” Maria Ksiazek, a
psychologist who works with the refugees in Polish camps, told Anadolu. The
authorities only informed about his death because we intervened to identify the
man.
“Inmates said the violence was used against him, he
was kicked in the stomach when he was already squirming on the ground in pain,”
Ksiazek said.
“These are the allegations and all need to be
confirmed, but my fear is that the investigation will not be public and not of
a high standard,” she added.
Ksiazek said the guards have been considering handing
over the body for medical examination. “When there is no information from the
family, after 14 days, they have the right to do this,” she added.
“The witnesses are still being held in the centers,
and may well not want to repeat the allegations for fear of reprisals,” the
psychologist said.
Family wants body of Syrian refugee home
Karolina Mazurek, who also operates as an activist,
said the border guards want to deport Albana’s friend – and potentially a
crucial witness – back to Syria.
The family was not informed of what had happened to
Albana, she added. “I spoke with Mahmoud’s brother and his wife, with whom he
has an 18-month-old child living in Aleppo. They want the body home.”
According to Zakielarz, the Syrian embassy was
notified about the death.
“The man lost consciousness and, despite resuscitation
activities with the use of a defibrillator, which was undertaken immediately by
the Border Guard officers and the Border Guard physician and an emergency
medical team summoned by the Border Guard, it was not possible to restore his
vital functions,” Zakielarz said.
A spokeswoman for the district prosecutor’s office in
Przemysl, Marta Petkowska, told PAP on Wednesday that proceedings had been initiated,
as usual in such cases, on establishing whether this was a case of
unintentional manslaughter.
“The autopsy of the young man’s body did not give an
answer as to the cause of his death. No injuries or marks, internal or
external, which could have caused his death were found on his body. Samples
have been taken for histopathological examination and we are waiting for the
results,” Petkowska told PAP.
She added that other foreigners staying in the center
were being questioned as witnesses in the case. “Their testimonies do not
indicate that there was any incident involving the deceased man,” the
prosecutor noted.
Allegations of maltreatment
Six centers in Poland – Ketrzyn, Bialystok,
Lesznowola, Biala Podlaska, KrosnoOdrzanskie, and Przemysl – often hold people
who often should not be there, according to Amnesty International. Wedrzyn and
CzerwonyBor facilities have been closed since the refugee crisis started in
August 2021.
Amnesty said there are people held there who have been
subjected to violence, people with disabilities applying for international
protection, and minors staying in Poland without parental care.
A report by the European Anti-Fraud Office, which
tracked abuses by the EU’s border agency Frontex, was leaked last April,
showing violations of the law, with refugees kept with a dozen or so people in
one room, unable to leave of their own free will and with limited contact with
the world, including doctors, psychologists, and lawyers.
In January, four Iraqi migrants held at a detention
facility began a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their detention.
They had been held at Lesznowola, east-central Poland, for 17 months, Polish
news site wyborcza.pl reported.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Türkiye strongly condemns another attack on Muslim
holy book, Turkish flag in Denmark
MerveAydogan
14.04.2023
Türkiye on Friday strongly condemned the recurrence of
a “vile attack” on the Muslim holy book, the Quran, and a Turkish flag in
Denmark.
“It is unacceptable to allow these vile attacks under
the guise of freedom of expression,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a
statement, pointing out that the act was allowed despite several warnings by
Ankara.
Danish Ambassador Danny Annan was summoned to the
ministry and Türkiye’s stance on the issue was conveyed to him, the statement
said.
The ministry stressed that Türkiye will continue its
efforts, both on multilateral platforms and at the bilateral level, against
such “vile attacks” and “hate crimes.”
Such incidents are examples of the alarming increase
in Islamophobia and xenophobia in Europe, it said.
The ministry called out Denmark for its “insensitive
attitude on this issue” and for ignoring the sentiments of Muslims around the
world.
The ministry reiterated its request that Denmark take
measures to prevent such provocations, most especially during the current
Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Pakistan
Military, political leaders agree to revisit
anti-terror policy
Malik Asad
April 15, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir
acknowledged on Friday that a strategy to engage with terrorists had allowed
them to regroup in the tribal areas, before the country’s political and
military leadership agreed to revisit the anti-terrorism strategy, during an
in-camera briefing to members of the National Assembly.
Gen Munir was apparently referring to the policy
devised and followed by the military and political leadership under the PTI
regime, following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
To date, former prime minister and PTI chief Imran
Khan has defended his policy and still supports the idea of resettling
militants returning from Afghanistan.
In a clear shift from the policy of the previous
regime, Friday’s in-camera sitting was told that a three-pronged plan — deter,
dialogue and development — to root out terrorism was already underway, after
lawmakers expressed serious concerns over the resurgence of terrorist groups.
The agreement came after the military leadership
discussed recent acts of terrorism across the country and shared details of
efforts being made by security forces aimed at eliminating terrorism,
maintaining internal security and defending Pakistan from external threats.
The two-hour in-camera briefing contained updates
about the country’s current security issues and the army’s anti-terror
operations in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and
other parts of the country.
During the briefing, Gen Munir also apprised
parliamentarians about plans of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and
security forces’ endeavours to counter them.
The director general of Inter-Services Intelligence,
Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum in his briefing apprised lawmakers about the connivance of
hostile intelligence agencies with terrorist groups.
The briefing was followed by a one-and-a-half-hour
long Q&A session.
Sources said the army chief stressed the need for
revisiting the anti-terrorism action plan and suggested a multi-dimensional or
‘3-D’ strategy.
After the Army Public School attack on Dec 16, 2014, a
national consensus was evolved leading to a 20-point National Action Plan (NAP)
for countering terrorism and extremism which was approved by parliament. NAP
spelled out the specifics for the counterterrorism drive in the country.
A lawmaker told Dawn the army chief dispelled the
impression of waging a full-scale anti-terror operation in the tribal areas and
suggested the ‘deter, dialogue and development’ plan to neutralise the
terrorists.
According to the army chief, the ‘3-D’ plan is not a
novel idea because it is consistent with state policy. He suggested including
all stakeholders in this strategy such as security forces, legal fraternity,
civil society, politicians, social workers, bureaucracy, diplomats and media.
Gen Munir claimed that security forces had cleared all
‘no-go areas’ in Pakistan and 80,000 personnel had made sacrifices for this
cause.
He further said that the terrorists were left with no
option than to accept the writ of state.
Gen Munir also urged politicians to leave aside their
differences. According to a lawmaker, the army said that instead of working for
‘new or old Pakistan’, politicians should unite for “our Pakistan”.
Tough questions
During the Q&A, senior politicians and heads of
political parties appreciated the efforts of armed forces, but the army chief
also faced some tough questions, especially from those lawmakers hailing from
tribal districts.
They questioned the resurgence of the TTP and the
previous government’s strategy of engaging them through dialogue.
A couple of MNAs also demanded action against those
who facilitated the terrorist groups, at which the military leadership
responded that there would be zero tolerance for such elements, the lawmaker
said.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
praised the security forces for their sacrifices.
Sources quoted PM Shehbaz as saying that the previous
government had wasted the anti-terror efforts and subsequently terrorism
returned to the country.
On Thursday, Ali Wazir from South Waziristan while
speaking in the National Assembly had declared that they would not allow any
operation in the territory without “trial and conviction of those serving and
retired army generals” who had helped these terrorists resettle in these areas.
Mr Wazir, who spent most of the time behind bars
reportedly due to his anti-establishment speeches and actions, recalled that he
had raised the matter with Shehbaz Sharif when he was brought from Karachi to
attend meetings of the then opposition parties at the time of the no-confidence
resolution against former prime minister Imran Khan.
Source: Dawn
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1747735/military-political-leaders-agree-to-revisit-anti-terror-policy
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Sikh Pilgrims Lauds Arrangements For Baisakhi Festival
At Gurudwara Punja Sahab In Pakistan
April 14, 2023
ATTOCK: Sikh pilgrims came across the world on Friday
have expressed their profound satisfaction over the extra ordinary boarding
lodging arrangements besides lauding the other modern facilities extended by
the Government of Pakistan at their Baisakhi festival in Gurudwara Punja Sahab
Hassanabdal.
The Sikh pilgrims hailing from Toronto Brampton city
of Canada, District Ferozepur, Amritsar, Sialkot while talking to media lauded
the government of Pakistan for making foolproof security, travel in Air
conditioned coaches, and the accommodation arrangements in air conditioned
marquees on the occasion. They told that they were feeling safe and comfortable
while staying at their homes.
They added that the protocol granted by the Government
of Pakistan has proved that the well behaviour of their Pakistani brethren will
always be remembered.
A lady devotee from Sialkot while paying glowing
tributes upon the teachings of their spiritual leader Baba Gru Nanak who never
allowed any kind of oppression. She said that her children were afraid of when
coming to Pakistan who had performed their all religious rituals in free
atmosphere.
They would come again in Pakistan to celebrate their
festivities of Baisakhi festival. The pilgrims said that Wi-Fi facility inside
the Gurdwara Panja Sahib was very important so that they could visit their
loved ones and communicate with them. The Sikh pilgrims also took out a
palanquin procession and celebrated their religious rites (Nagar Ketan) in full
style around Gurdwara Panja Sahib by singing songs. The Sikh pilgrims on their
return from Vali and Kandahari, said that they have got peace of mind by going
to Baba Vali Kandahari and the wish they had brought from India had been
fulfilled, the devotees added.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original story:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/04/14/sikh-pilgrims-lauds-arrangements-for-baisakhi-festival/
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LHC grants protective bail to Imran in incitement case
April 15, 2023
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday granted
interim protective bail to PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a case of inciting people
against the army. The case was registered with the Ramna Police Station of
Islamabad.
Mr Khan appeared before the court amid strict security
as he was guarded under bulletproof shields.
The PTI chairman had to wait for about an hour as the
judge was not available due to Friday prayer break.
In a brief conversation with reporters, Mr Khan said
it would be a big tragedy for the country if the Supreme Court continued to be
divided. He said the people should pray for unity and harmony among judges of
the top court of the country.
The former prime minister said he had nothing to do
with the division in the Supreme Court, but wanted the general election to be
held within constitutional limits of 90 days. He said no judge should oppose
the constitutional mandate for the election.
He said the right to vote was the fundamental right of
the people and the supremacy of the Constitution was critical for the survival
of the country, adding that all other parties were running away from the
election to save their ‘NRO’.
He alleged that at least 3,000 workers of PTI were in
police custody as a new FIR was registered every other day.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi took up the bail petition of
Mr Khan at 2pm and asked his counsel to read the contents of the FIR.
Barrister Salman Safdar, the counsel, argued that the
police had registered the FIR on the basis of edited statements of the PTI
chief. He said the petitioner wanted to appear before the relevant court of
Islamabad on April 18 to seek pre-arrest bail. He requested the judge to grant
protective bail to Mr. Khan till a date after Eidul Fitr.
Justice Najafi allowed the request and granted
protective bail to Mr Khan till April 26.
Ramna police had registered the FIR on a complaint of
a judicial magistrate.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1747736/lhc-grants-protective-bail-to-imran-in-incitement-case
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Samarkand moot endorses Pakistan’s stance on Afghan
soil being used by militant groups
April 14, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The Fourth Ministerial Conference of
Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries held in Samarkand on Thursday pointed out
that the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan continued to pose threats
to regional peace – a stance Pakistan has long been advocating.
“The Parties pointed out that all terrorist groups,
namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, the Eastern
Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundallah, Jaish al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah,
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and other terrorist organizations
based in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global
security,” according to the declaration of the neighboring countries’ meeting.
Recently, in its report, Radio Free Europe also said
that after the United States pulled out its troops from Afghanistan, it left
behind military equipment and weapons worth $7 billion which later boosted the
military capabilities of the banned Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch
separatist groups.
According to the report, the US left behind weapons
and equipment including firearms, communications gear, and even armored
vehicles which gave the militants a “vast war chest.”
Attended by the foreign ministers and senior officials
of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the
neighboring countries’ meeting noted that the terrorism-related security
situation in Afghanistan was still severe and reaffirmed their commitment to
enhance cooperation on counter-terrorism and security among neighboring
countries and to develop a united front against terrorism.
Pakistan always maintained that the success of any regional
or international effort to mitigate the current situation of Afghanistan will
remain subject to IAG’s seriousness for ensuring that Afghan soil is not used
against any country.
Since the Taliban takeover, Pakistan also called for
the establishment of an inclusive political structure, the adoption of moderate
domestic and foreign policies, and safeguarding basic rights of all Afghans,
including ethnic groups, women and children.
The Afghan authorities would also have to take visible
steps to ensure that Afghanistan would never again serve as a breeding ground,
safe haven or source of proliferation for terrorism.
“Terrorism is a common enemy and peace and stability
is a collective responsibility. Any action by IAG to rein in anti-Pakistan
elements and not to let Afghan soil against Pakistan would strengthen brotherly
relations between the two countries,” a security analyst said.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani
Khar, who also addressed the meeting said, “We also believe that more needs to
be done to eradicate the foothold of terrorist organizations from Afghanistan,
without distinction and in a concerted and uniform manner. Greater cooperation
and coordination with the interim Afghan Government remains critical. We look
forward to working closely with the neighbouring states and the international
community to this end.”
Source: Pakistan Today
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Pakistan inches closer to IMF deal with $1.3bn boost
KhaleeqKiani
April 15, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday
announced financial support from the United Arab Emirates and China totalling
$1.3 billion, giving the ailing economy a shot in the arm as it seeks to meet
conditions to unlock IMF funding.
He said the UAE had promised $1bn to prop up
Pakistan’s forex reserves — which at their current level of $4.04bn can barely
pay for four weeks of controlled imports. The confirmation from the emirates
removes a key hurdle to securing the much-awaited bailout tranche from the
International Monetary Fund.
Besides, China on Friday was set to release $300
million to Pakistan — the last tranche of a $1.3bn rollover loan, he said.
“UAE authorities have confirmed to IMF for their
bilateral support of US $ One billion to Pakistan,” Mr Dar tweeted, adding that
the State Bank of Pakistan was now preparing the documentation to receive the
deposit.
Officials said the IMF had committed to declaring a
staff-level agreement once Pakistan secures half of the $6bn external financing
gap for the current fiscal year through bilateral funding that would unlock
flows from other multilateral lenders, including programme loans from the World
Bank and the IMF itself, besides some loans from commercial banks held up for
lack of IMF umbrella.
Pakistan’s external debt declined by about $4.5bn
during the current fiscal year, as foreign commercial banks did not roll over
their maturing loans because of the IMF impasse, although such loan extensions
had been almost a regular feature.
With the last week’s confirmation from Saudi Arabia
for $2bn and now $1bn from the UAE, that milestone is reported to have been
met. The state minister for finance, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, told a parliamentary
panel last week that the confirmation of support from the UAE was the last
hurdle to signing the staff-level agreement with the IMF.
Reuters reported that Pakistan’s dollar-denominated
government bonds rose by more than two cents to the highest level in a month on
Friday after the UAE’s confirmation of financial support. The
dollar-denominated 2024 maturing bond rose by 2.25 cents on the dollar to
48.25.
Chinese rollover
Mr Dar also announced on Friday that $1.3bn rollover
from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) had been completed on
disbursement of the third and last tranche of $300m.
The ICBC had already provided two instalments of $500m
each in the first and third weeks of last month. But this only maintained a
Chinese loan portfolio that runs into more than $27bn — the highest single
source of external debt.
The external financing gap had been hampering the
signing of a staff-level agreement for more than two months in completing the
ninth review of the IMF loan programme that has been in limbo since October.
The agreement is to be followed by a meeting of the IMF’s executive board for
disbursing about $1.2bn.
Pakistan signed a $6.5bn bailout package with the IMF
in 2019, but has repeatedly reneged on conditions and so far just $3bn has been
released.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Dar had separate
virtual talks with IMF’s deputy managing director and the director for its
Middle East and Central Asia department to push for a date for signing the agreement.
While the Fund had been tight-lipped about these
engagements, the Ministry of Finance had claimed to have been assured that the
staff-level agreement “will be signed soon followed by the IMF board’s
approval”.
The government has already met other IMF conditions,
including Rs170bn additional taxes for the remaining fiscal year and Rs500bn
through the next year, over 300 basis-point increase in the central bank’s
policy rate to a record 21pc, unprecedented hike in electricity rates including
through permanent surcharge on honest consumers to fill the gap of
mismanagement and governance crisis, up to 124pc increase in gas rates, and
complete market-based exchange rates.
On successful completion, Pakistan would be entitled
to 894 statutory drawing rights (SDRs) of the IMF with a calculated value of
$1.2bn.
The tranche has been held since October because of the
government’s reluctance to allow free movement of the exchange rate, increase
in the interest rate and full-cost recovery of power supply through additional
surcharges and other adjustments to generate more than Rs800bn in less than two
years.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1747730/pakistan-inches-closer-to-imf-deal-with-13bn-boost
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Imran asks supporters to back Supreme Court for sake
of democracy
Mansoor Malik
April 15, 2023
LAHORE: Making an impassioned appeal to all segments
of society to lend support to the top court, PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday
said that democracy in Pakistan is now hanging by a thread called Supreme
Court.
“All those, who want democracy in the country, should
stand with the Supreme Court and the Constitution of Pakistan,” he emphasised.
Addressing the nation from his Zaman Park residence,
the PTI chairman said that the ruling mafia had weakened all institutions
creating hatred among them [institutions] and people of Pakistan.
“If this trend continues, the nation must get ready to
take to the streets for peaceful protests after Eid. I will lead you from the
front,” Mr Khan announced while addressing his supporters.
PTI chief to lead street protests after Eid if ‘ruling
mafia’ continues to ‘weaken state institutions’
Noting that with economy already ruined and democracy
and people of Pakistan facing a debacle, he asked the powers that be to take
remedial measures immediately to turn around the fate of the country.
Explaining what he called the torture and excesses
being committed against the party leaders and workers, Mr Khan said the powers
that be should keep in mind that they would not be able to force the nation to
accept the “corrupt” rulers, who were about to be convicted in the Rs24 billion
FIA and NAB cases.
He regretted that the establishment had allegedly
sided with the corrupt mafia just to ensure that Imran Khan must not return to
power. He said the rulers’ attack on judiciary, attempts to block elections,
decision to stop poll funds and weakening of institutions indicated to their
“one-point agenda to keep Imran Khan out of power”.
“They are working on their earlier claim that they
have marked cross on my name,” he added.
The PTI chief predicted that PDM and the caretaker
Punjab government would begin another phase of arrest of party’s senior leaders
and office-bearers after the 27th of Ramazan.
Asserting that people will no longer bear such
excesses, Mr Khan warned the powers that be to be mindful of the fact that when
“a nation rises, the violent tactics do not work”.
He said PTI’s popularity was increasing by the day,
adding that he was facing difficulties in selecting candidates for party ticket
for Punjab elections from among so many applicants on each seat.
Referring to court matters, Mr Khan said the
prohibited funding case had reached its logical end while Toshakhana case would
become a nightmare for Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Maryam Nawaz, who had
“stolen” luxury vehicles from the state repository despite a ban.
Earlier in a series of tweets, the former premier said
the judicial magistrate had handed over Ali Amin Gandapur to the Punjab police
on orders of “Namaloom” (unknown) in sheer violation of the Islamabad High
Court’s (IHC) order. He condemned the way Mr Gandapur was being treated clearly
on orders of the “Namaloom”.
“Despite IHC inductive order viz handing over custody,
he was handed over to Punjab police by Judicial Magistrate at 11:40pm, the
other day in brazen violation of IHC Court order,” he stated.
Talking about division within judiciary, he said
everyone should pray for unity among the judges in the Supreme Court and warned
that division at the top court would be tragic.
“Division among the apex court will be a tragedy for
the country,” he cautioned. He said the country cannot be saved unless the
Constitution is saved.
Lashing out at the imported government for running
away from elections, he reiterated that these cabal of crooks did not care about
the Constitution and law as they just wanted to secure another NRO to save
their skin.
Mr Khan said democracy flourished across the world
because of freedom of expression while dictatorships fast faded away since
there was no place for constructive criticism. He said the country had become a
banana republic without rule of law.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1747732/imran-asks-supporters-to-back-supreme-court-for-sake-of-democracy
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Pakistan: PTI to stage peaceful protests after
Eid-ul-Fitr, announces Imran Khan
15 April, 2023
Islamabad [Pakistan], April 15 (ANI): Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has announced that PTI will stage
peaceful protests in the country after Eid-ul-Fitr, ARY News reported.
Khan, while addressing PTI workers and supporters,
said that PTI will stage a series of protests after Eid-ul-Fitr. He alleged
that the rulers planned to start crackdowns on PTI leaders and workers after
April 27.
The PTI chief said that the Pakistan government has
not yet arrested a single person associated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim
League Nawaz (PML-N). Khan said that 3,000 PTI workers were arrested by the
government.
Khan said that PTI would not remain silent on the
atrocities. He then appealed to the nation to start preparations for peaceful
protests after Eid. He also asked the rulers to take steps for protecting the
nation.
According to Khan, the economic crisis in Pakistan
will not end until the organisation of fresh elections. According to the PTI
chief, the Pakistan Supreme Court (SC) is protecting democracy in the country
and the nation will have to back the top court and the Constitution.
PTI recently launched a white paper to mark the first
year of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a multi-party coalition that
overthrew Imran Khan-led government via a no-trust vote in April last year, in
power and underlined how the ruling coalition had “devastated” the economy and
“contravened” the Constitution, Dawn reported.
The document spans six chapters and passes a scathing
judgement on the PDM government’s style of governance, particularly the
treatment given to the opposition party by the ruling coalition. It also
deliberates on issues related to the economy, Constitution, democracy and rule
of law, political exploitation of state institutions, attack on the judiciary,
‘chained’ foreign policy, and law and order.
According to a report in Dawn, the party has dedicated
the white paper to Imran Khan, party workers, and the people of Pakistan, who
are “fighting and facing torture for real independence” and democracy.
Source: ThePrint
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South Asia
Australian Army Chief Warns of Further Criminal
Charges Over Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
April 14, 2023
Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief Angus Campbell
has warned that additional criminal charges may be brought concerning claims
that Australian soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
Speaking to the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Campbell
reportedly stated that the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) was still
looking into claims of war crimes against Australian service members, reports
the Guardians.
According to reliable information, Australian Special
Forces members killed up to 39 people while operating in the country, and 19
servicemen were referred for criminal prosecution.
Over 40 alleged offences are being looked at,
according to the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), established in the
wake of the report.
It claimed that throughout 23 different occurrences,
25 Special Forces members had either directly participated in or served as
“accessories” to unlawful killings.
“The OSI, which is working independently, has seen a
first arrest and charging of a former soldier. You will not see me trying to
gloss over these things, and I think there could be some very uncomfortable
days coming forward,” Campbell said.
According to the 2020 probe report, some soldiers’
unchecked “warrior culture” was responsible for the murders of “prisoners,
farmers, or civilians” between 2009 and 2013.
Source: Khaama Press
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China, Pakistan press Afghan Taliban admin to
intensify crackdown on terror groups
K J M VARMA
14 April, 2023
Beijing, Apr 14 (PTI) Terrorism in Afghanistan has
gone from “bad to worse” after the withdrawal of the US troops, China has said
and asked the country’s Taliban rulers to deliver on its pledge to rein in
terrorist groups which pose problems for neighbouring countries, especially its
close ally Pakistan.
Pakistan is reeling under frequent terrorist attacks
by the militant group TPP, which Islamabad alleges is based on Afghan soil.
“The terrorism went from bad to worse in Afghanistan.
The number of Afghan terror groups has increased to more than 20 today,”
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said after presiding over the Afghan
neighbouring states conference attended by his counterparts from Russia,
Pakistan and Iran in Samarkand in Uzbekistan on Thursday.
This is the fourth meeting of the Foreign Ministers
convened by China, whose Uygur Muslim majority Xinjiang province shared borders
with Afghanistan.
Beijing is also seeking to enhance its role in
Afghanistan by backing the Taliban interim administration, prodding it to crack
down on the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a separatist militant
outfit in Xinjiang which allegedly has links with radical outfits like Al Qaeda
and Islamic State.
But more significantly Pakistan which helped the
Taliban for decades faced major problems from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP), as it caused havoc in the country by carrying out numerous terrorist
attacks.
A joint statement issued at end of the Samarkand meeting
also attended by Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani
Khar said the militant groups based in Afghanistan posed serious problems for
neighbouring countries.
“The Ministers emphasised their deep concerns
regarding the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan, and pointed
out that all terrorist groups, namely the Islamic State Khorasan Province
(ISIS-KP), Al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jaish
al-Adl etc. based in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to regional
and global security,” the joint statement said.
“The Ministers took note of the Afghan interim
government’s efforts to counter ISIS-KP, and urged it to take more visible and
verifiable measures in upholding its stated commitments on counter-terrorism,
dismantling and eliminating all sorts of terrorist groups, with a view to
preventing the soil of Afghanistan from being used by any terrorist group,” it
said.
Pakistan which had celebrated the Taliban’s takeover
of Afghanistan after the sudden pullout of the US troops in 2021 faced a
piquant situation as the Afghan militant group heading the interim
administration declined Islamabad’s repeated pleas to crack down on the TPP,
whose terrorist attacks were adding to Pakistan’s economic woes.
“There is no doubt that the militants’ strength
largely lies in Afghanistan. The TTP uses Afghan soil and has the full backing
of the Taliban regime. Baloch insurgents are also using Afghan and Iranian
soil,” Muhammad Amir Rana, a columnist with Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, wrote
recently in the daily.
“But the Taliban regime repeatedly denies the claim
that Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan. Most official and independent assessments,
however, indicate otherwise,” he said.
The Samarkand meeting also called on the Afghan
authorities to promote inclusive governance and protect the basic rights and
interests of all Afghan people, including women, children and ethnic minorities.
They stressed that the US and its allies bear the
historical responsibility for the current difficult situation in Afghanistan,
should immediately lift their unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and
return the assets overseas belonging to the Afghan people.
Source: ThePrint
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Rallies held in Bangladesh against Israeli attacks on
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Md. Kamruzzaman
14.04.2023
DHAKA, Bangladesh
Thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims staged a huge
demonstration in the capital Dhaka after Friday prayers in solidarity with
Palestinians attacked at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem by Israeli
forces.
The protesters gathered in front of the country’s
national Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
“We are shocked at the overlooking of the Israeli
aggressions by the United Nations and other global bodies,” said Hafez
MaolanaYunus Ahmad, one of the speakers and secretary general of the Islamic
political party, IslamiAndolan Bangladesh, while addressing the rally.
He also urged the Bangladeshi government to adopt a
resolution at the country’s National Parliament against Israeli attacks at
Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The demonstrators carried banners and raised slogans
against Israeli attacks.
They also called on Muslims to boycott Israeli
products to show solidarity with Palestinians.
“It’s our moral and religious duty to stand boldly
against Israel and raise our voices for the protection of our Palestinian
innocent Muslim brothers and sisters,” Md. Nasir Uddin, one of the
demonstrators, told Anadolu.
Bangladesh on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli
forces for a raid and attacks on Muslim worshippers at the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque
in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Foreign Ministry in a statement condemned the
attack, saying Israeli forces on Wednesday morning used violence against
worshippers and civilians during prayers.
“Bangladesh expresses deep concerns over the
violations of basic civil norms, international human rights laws and
international accords by the Israeli forces,” it said.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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India to Supply 10,000 Tons of Wheat to Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
April 15, 2023
India and the World Food Program (WFP) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for humanitarian food assistance of 10,000
tons of wheat for the people of Afghanistan.
J P Singh, joint secretary of the Pak-Afghan-Iran
Division of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Elisabeth Faure, a
representative and the country director of the World Food Programme in India,
signed the MoU on Thursday in Mumbai.
According to the statement, the MoU represents the
fifth shipment of humanitarian aid from India to Afghanistan sent through the
Chabahar port.
Following the donation of 40,000 tons of wheat from
India the previous year, the WFP organized assistance for 23 million
food-insecure people throughout Afghanistan.
“The fifth tranche builds upon assistance already
delivered to those who need it most by WFP in Afghanistan. India has delivered
on its commitment,” Singh stated.
“Sincere gratitude to the Indian government for food
assistance to the people of Afghanistan. India’s support has been a lifeline
for families in need and is an important part of WFP’s assistance to millions
of people across Afghanistan,” Faure said.
Earlier, the WPF warned that Since the Taliban seized
over, a severe and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe has gotten even more
complicated. A new class of hungry people is emerging in Afghanistan due to job
losses, lack of cash, and rising prices. The organization said there is an
inadequate food supply for 19.9 million Afghans.
Meanwhile, the organization warned last week that the
people of Afghanistan are at the worst risk of famine and urgently needed $800
million for the upcoming six months.
“Catastrophic hunger knocks on Afghanistan’s doors,
and unless humanitarian support is sustained, hundreds of thousands more
Afghans will need assistance to survive,” WFP said.
Despite a difficult humanitarian situation in the
country, the de facto government last week extended its ban on female UN relief
workers.
Source: Khaama Press
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https://www.khaama.com/india-to-supply-10000-tons-of-wheat-to-afghanistan/
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Taliban leader, Punjab gangsters behind smuggling of
drugs, arms via drones
Apr 14, 2023
By Prawesh Lama
A Taliban leader of whom not much is known, Nazar
Mohammed, former Punjab gangster Navpreet alias Nav (currently based in
Turkey), and Lakhbir Singh Rode (chief of the separatist Khalistan Liberation
Force), along with five others have been identified as the main players in a
syndicate pushing drugs and weapons into India using drones according to a
charge sheet filed earlier this month by Delhi Police in the case of a heroin
seizure of 350 kg.
The police said the names came from the interrogation
of the two Afghan nationals arrested in the case, and an “in-house analysis” of
the narco-terrorism syndicate, which, they claimed, is helped by Pakistan’s spy
agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Police also questioned a man who was
arrested in a 2021 case for helping Pakistani smugglers bring in drugs through
the sea route .
The others identified as the key players in the
syndicate are Punjabi gangster who fled to Pakistan, Harvinder Singh alias
Rinda , Afghan national Ahmed Shah alias Nawab Shah, a Peshawar resident Haji
Musa, Mohib Masood (who is suspected to be in Pakistan) and Haji Nepali , whose
location is not known.
Police told the court that Sikh extremist Nav,
originally a resident of Punjab’s Tarn Taran, is based in Turkey, and the other
people of this syndicate work from areas near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
In their charge sheet, police said drones are being
used to smuggle drugs into Punjab by the “Turkey-controlled syndicate headed by
Sikh extremists along with Af-Pak based syndicate” and with the involvement of
the Taliban and ISI.
Quoting the statement of an arrested man, named
Manjeet Singh, proprietor of an import company involved in a drug seizure case
of 2021 from the JNPT port in Navi Mumbai, police mentioned that “a secret
meeting” was held by Harvinder Rinda( he is believed to have died in a Pakistan
hospital last November), Lakhbir Singh Rode and others in 2021 to spread
“terror activities in India and to expand illegal trade of narcotics drugs to
finance terror activities.”
Singh was questioned at the special cell headquarters
in January this year.
After Rinda’s meeting in Pakistan the Indo-Pak western
frontier has reported a high number of drones from Pakistan entering India’s
territory to drop weapons and drugs.
The first case of smugglers using drones to smuggle
drugs into India was detected sometime in 2019. At least 22 drones carrying
drugs and weapons were shot down in 2022. In 2021, there was only 1 such case.
This year, the Indo-Punjab border in Punjab has already reported nearly 24 such
cases. Records show that not just drugs but even weapons such as AK series
rifles and Chinese pistols are being dropped. Last month, Punjab chief minister
Bhagwant Maan in a meeting with union minister Amit Shah alerted him about the
increasing number of such incidents. Most drop zones of weapons and drugs have
been reported in the Amritsar and Ferozpur districts.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Sri Lanka eyes new agreements with Oman for broader
cooperation
MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
April 15, 2023
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is looking to enter new agreements
with Oman to consolidate bilateral collaboration after a recent round of
political consultations with the Gulf state.
The foreign ministries of Sri Lanka and Oman held
earlier this week the third session of their bilateral political consultations,
which were first established in 2014 to strengthen ties between the two
countries.
The virtual meeting took place between Sri Lanka’s
delegation led by Additional Secretary for Consular, Middle East and Africa
Affairs U. L. M. Jauhar and Oman’s delegation headed by Department of
International Cooperation
Chief Sheikh Hamad bin Saif Al-Rawahi.
Colombo’s Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
Sabarullah Khan and senior officials from both sides also participated in the
discussions, which the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said were focused on
broadening the existing areas of cooperation and entering into new bilateral
agreements.
“Several new initiatives in the spheres of
agriculture, tourism, education, fisheries, trade, investment, employment
promotion, vocational training, skills development and culture were discussed
at the meeting,” Jauhar told Arab News.
With about 30,000 Sri Lankans living and working in
Oman, he said the two countries enjoyed “long-standing bilateral relations and
excellent people-to-people contacts,” as Sri Lankan nationals have been
contributing to the development of Oman “in multiple sectors.”
Sri Lanka and Oman established their diplomatic
relations in 1981, but contacts between their peoples have a longer history.
“Sri Lanka-Oman relations go far back in history, and
the two nations are bound by a vibrant tradition of people-to-people contacts.
As countries sharing the Indian Ocean, they are well poised for greater
cooperation to encompass many areas of mutual interest,” Ameer Ajwad, Colombo’s
former ambassador to Muscat, told Arab News.
He said that Oman is an “unexplored destination for
Sri Lankans” and there is a great potential for cooperation.
“Both countries have many potential commonalities that
could be synergized for mutual benefits,” Ajwad added.
Source: Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287046/world
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Africa
Libyan armed forces voice readiness to secure upcoming
elections
MoatazWanis
14.04.2023
TRIPOLI, Libya
The leaders of the Libyan armed forces in the west and
east of the country on Thursday evening announced their readiness to secure
upcoming elections.
The announcement came during a meeting between Libyan
Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Haddad with Abdel Razek al-Nadori,
Kahlifa Haftar's army chief, in the city of Benghazi.
“The Libyan army is ready to secure the upcoming
Libyan elections,” al-Nadori said.
“The military institution in Libya is independent and
does not belong to any political party,” he added.
For his part, Al-Haddad affirmed their quest "to preserve
the unity of Libyan soil.”
“There are countries that are interfering in Libyan
affairs and do not want the country to be stable,” he added.
Al-Haddad also said, "Today's meeting came to
complete what was discussed earlier and implement what we agreed upon,"
without giving further details.
On March 17, Abdoulaye Bathily, the UN envoy to Libya,
urged Libyan rivals to engage in talks to unify Libya's military institutions
and to pave the way for a safe environment to hold the country's long-awaited
elections.
Following that call, two meetings of the 5+5 joint
military committee took place this April, the first in Tripoli and the second
in Benghazi.
The 5+5 Joint Military Committee includes five members
from the Libyan government military in western Libya and five other members
from Haftar's forces in the east.
The committee has been holding UN-sponsored meetings
over the past two years to ensure a continued cease-fire and hold talks on
unifying the military in Libya.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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4 church-goers starve to death in Kenyan church
Andrew Wasike
14.04.2023
NAIROBI, Kenya
At least four people were confirmed dead and 11 other
emaciated church-goers were rescued from a cult-like church in Kilifi County of
Kenya on Friday morning.
Police raided the church after getting a tip from
locals that suspicious cult activities were happening at the Good News
International Church of Pastor Paul Mackenzie.
A police statement released to the media on Friday said
that six rescued people were severely emaciated and in critical condition.
The pastor who owns the church has gone into hiding.
He was charged last month with the death of two toddlers who starved to death
and is presently free on police bail.
The police report revealed that the four victims,
three men and a woman, were all members of the church. The police have not yet
released the identities of the deceased.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/4-church-goers-starve-to-death-in-kenyan-church/2872099
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Nigeria: At Least One Dead, Several Injured As Police
Open Fire On Quds Day Demonstrators
14 April 2023
At least one person has reportedly been killed while
many more were injured after Nigerian police opened fire on Quds Day protesters
in the main city of Abuja.
Videos from Abuja showed police firing tear gas at the
protesters, who were scrambling for cover, at the annual International Quds Day
march in the capital city on Friday.
Eyewitnesses in the city of Kaduna also reported
seeing police forces shooting at the rally in the city. However, until now no
casualties were reported from the city of Kaduna, located in north-western
Nigeria.
International Quds Day rally is held annually on the
last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims worldwide rally in support of
the Palestinian people’s resistance against the Israelis, and their struggle to
liberate their lands, which have been occupied by the zionists for decades.
Millions of demonstrators take part in the Quds Day
rallies across the world in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians and to
denounce the Tel Aviv regime's atrocities and acts of aggression against
Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
The event, which is held each year, is seen as an
opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the world, regardless of faith,
to voice their support for the Palestinian cause and vent their anger at the
Apartheid Israeli regime, which has seized Palestinian lands for decades
despite widespread condemnation by the global community for Tal Aviv's crimes.
Source: Press TV
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/04/14/701543/Nigeria-shooting-International-Al-Quds-Day-Rally
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Turkish embassy extends helping hand to South Sudan
for Ramadan
Benjamin Takpiny
14.04.2023
JUBA, South Sudan
The Turkish Embassy in South Sudan, with funding from
the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), donated nearly
200 packages of food to vulnerable Muslims in South Sudan on Friday during the
holy month of Ramadan.
The food packages, which contained cooking oil, beans,
rice, sugar, and maize flour, were handed over to Muslims in South Sudan with
the coordination of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and
Tawasul Humanitarian Islamic Organization.
The Turkish embassy distributed 400 food packages to
vulnerable people in different locations across the capital city of Juba during
Ramadan.
ErdemMutaf, the Turkish ambassador to South Sudan,
affirmed that, even after the recent catastrophic earthquake which resulted in
the loss of over 50,000 lives, Türkiye is still committed to supporting and
helping the people of South Sudan.
"We are here and we will be here in future,"
said Mutaf. "These food packages are the symbols of your Turkish sisters
and brothers’ help and solidarity with you".
The Turkish Embassy, along with their developmental
and aid agencies, is also working closely with women's organizations in South
Sudan, according to the ambassador.
"We are implementing projects of women
empowerment, vocational training child care, helping elderly and disabled
people... From these projects, they will be able to generate money for
themselves and feed themselves and their family in the future.
"Supporting women means supporting the
societies," said the ambassador.
Medina Mohamed, the executive director of Tawasul
Humanitarian Islamic Organization, expressed her gratitude to the Turkish
Embassy, stating that the assistance they received is of great support,
especially during a critical time when people are fasting and unable to go out
and find food for themselves.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Tunisian football player dies after setting himself on
fire in protest against police
14 April ,2023
Tunisian football player Nizar Issaoui, 35, has died
from burns suffered after setting himself alight earlier this week as a protest
against “police injustice,” his family said on Friday.
Clashes erupted between police and angry protesters in
Haffouz, the hometown of Issaoui. Police fired gas to disperse the protesters
who had gathered in front of the police headquarters, witnesses told Reuters.
Issaoui, a former player for top-flight side US
Monastir and a father of four, published a video on Facebook in which he said
the reason for his protest was being falsely accused of terrorism in Haffouz,
Kairouan, central Tunisia.
The striker, who was a free agent and playing in the
amateur leagues before his death, suffered third-degree burns and doctors
weren’t able to save his life, his brother Ryad told reporters.
The interior ministry was not immediately available
for comment.
Local media said that Issaoui decided to make his
extreme protest outside a police station after officers accused him of
“terrorism” when he complained about the price of bananas.
A video selfie circulating on social media shows
Issaoui screaming: “For a dispute with someone selling bananas at 10 dinars
($3.29), I get accused of terrorism at the police station. Terrorism for a
complaint about bananas.”
The incident was similar to that involving Mohamed
Bouazizi, a street vendor who torched himself on Dec. 17, 2010 in the town of
Sidi Bouzid after a policewoman confiscated his fruit cart.
Bouazizi’s death sparked protests that ended with Ben
Ali’s overthrow and inspired rebellions elsewhere in the Middle East.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Morocco stops around 150 Sub-Saharan African migrants
from crossing into Spain
14 April ,2023
Moroccan security forces stopped some 150 Sub-Saharan
African migrants from crossing early on Friday into Spain’s Ceuta enclave, the
interior ministry said.
The operation resulted in 70 arrests of migrants while
14 members of the Moroccan security forces and six migrants were injured and
transferred to hospital, the ministry said in a statement.
“Some migrants were armed with sticks, stones and
bladed weapons,” it said.
Local authorities in Ceuta said no migrant had managed
to cross into Spanish territory. Land, sea and air police had been deployed but
didn’t have to intervene, a statement said.
The border was temporarily closed to vehicles crossing
into and out of Ceuta as a precaution but it was reopened later on Friday
morning, a source close to the authorities said.
Mohammed Ben Aisa, a migrant rights activist, said
migrants usually pick days such as during the fasting month of Ramadan,
religious feasts, or when security forces swap positions to attempt crossings,
thinking security would be less tight during these times.
In June 2022, Moroccan authorities said 23 migrants
died in a mass attempted storming of the border around Melilla, another Spanish
enclave in northern Morocco. Some human rights activists have said the death
toll was higher.
Source: Al Arabiya
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33 Europe-bound migrants dead in boat sinking off
Tunisia
April 15, 2023
TUNIS: The Tunisian coast guard has recovered eight
more bodies from a migrant boat that sank off the country’s shores this week,
raising the death toll to 33, the coast guard said on Friday.
A wooden boat packed with about 110 African migrants
sank on Wednesday off the city of Sfax. Seventy-six people were rescued.
The costguard said four other decomposing bodies were
also recovered, apparently from old shipwrecks.
Drowning accidents off Tunisia have increased in
recent weeks, leaving dozens dead and missing, amid a sharp rise in migrant
boats heading toward Italy from the Tunisian coast.
Tunisia has overtaken Libya as a main departure point
for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the
hope of a better life in Europe.
The Tunisian National Guard said this month that more
than 14,000 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted or
rescued in the first three months of the year while trying to cross to Europe,
five times more than figures recorded in the same period last year.
Attempts at illegal migration have increased in recent
weeks from the Tunisian coast toward the nearby Italian coast, leaving dozens
dead and many missing.
The central Mediterranean is the most dangerous
migration route in the world, according to the International Organization for
Migration.
European countries rely on countries in North Africa
to police migration, and Italy on Thursday pledged Tunisia a host of
investments and help negotiating an International Monetary Fund bailout as the
Italian government seeks to stem the number of migrant arrivals.
Tensions around migration have risen in Tunisia this
year after President Kaïs Saied ordered a crackdown on sub-Saharan African
migrants and lashed out at a perceived plot to erase Tunisia’s identity.
Source: Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287031/middle-east
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Southeast Asia
Anwar
participates in Qiyamullail Perdana programme at Putra Mosque
15-04-
2023
PUTRAJAYA:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim participated in the Qiyamullail Perdana
programme held early today at the Putra Mosque, here.
Minister
in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im
Mokhtar, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and
Director-General of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM)
Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff were also there.
The
congregational qiyamullail started at about 4.40 am with the Tahajjud (night)
prayer, followed by the “sunattaubat”or repentance prayer and the Hajat prayer
(prayer of need), all led by a guest imam, Hanif Azmir Hassim, and then the
“sahur” (pre-dawn meal).
After
that, Anwar joined in the congregational Subuh prayer led by a guest imam Ahmad
Fairuz Nazaruddin, which was then followed by “tausiyah” (talk) delivered by
the Director of the Policy and Strategic Division of the National Governance,
Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre Mohd Gunawan Che Ab Aziz.
Source:
TheSunDaily
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Philippines
grateful for Saudi help in resolving workers’ wage claims
ELLIE
ABEN
April
15, 2023
MANILA:
The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers on Friday expressed its gratitude
to the Saudi government for deciding to help thousands of overseas Filipino
workers who lost their jobs at private companies in the Kingdom.
About
10,000 Philippine workers at several construction firms operating in Saudi
Arabia were laid off with their wages
pending when the companies declared bankruptcy in 2015-16.
Migrant
Workers Secretary Susan Ople told a press conference in Manila that the Saudi
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development had asked for a list of
claimants needing assistance, and a special group made up of Saudi officials,
representatives of the Philippine Embassy, and department officials was created
to fast-track the process.
The
developments follow a meeting of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok last November, during which the Saudi
government agreed to shoulder the wage claims that should have been paid by the
private companies.
“We
thank most of all Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his compassionate and
generous leadership,” Ople said, while praising the crown prince’s “concern for
the Filipino people.”
She
added that the two governments were now in the “final stages” of resolving the
issue, which is expected to be finalized this year, and called on all
legitimate claimants to contact the DMW, which has a dedicated team to help
workers submit their claims.
Ople
said she will visit the Kingdom next month for follow-up meetings on the
invitation of Saudi Human Resources Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi.
Before
her arrival, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia will also visit
Saudi Arabia to discuss mechanisms for the payment of the claims.
Source:
Arab News
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of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2287051/world
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