Mob Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Attacks Christians In Delhi, Probe Underway
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 August 2023
The sources variously described the place of worship
as a church and a prayer hall run by a pastor.
Sourced by the Telegraph
-------
India
·
Nuh Admn
Says No To ‘Jal Abhishek Yatra’ Of Right Wing Outfits Supported By Various
Hindu Saints
·
Supreme
Court asks Uttar Pradesh government to back its claims in conversion racket
case against Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui
·
Article
370 case: Central government tells Supreme Court it will not touch special
provisions applicable to North-East
·
No
constitutional provision excludes its applicability in J&K: SC
------
Pakistan
·
Six
Soldiers Martyred, 4 Terrorists Killed In South Waziristan
·
Govt Plans
Interfaith Moot Next Week
·
LHC bars
ECP from issuing verdict in contempt case against Imran
·
SC dismisses
plea for access to Panama Papers JIT report
·
PM calls
for speedy action against violators of children's rights
·
Rangers
nab six Indian smugglers inside Pakistan: ISPR
·
Pakistan
summons Indian envoy to protest killing of civilian at LoC
------
South Asia
·
UN
applauds Afghan women entrepreneurs’ economic activities
·
United
Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Reports on the Violation of Human
Rights Over Past 2 Years
·
The West
must stop playing the ‘Great Game’ in Afghanistan: Mark Malloch-Brown, Former
UN Official
·
Afghanistan’s
Relations with Regional Countries are Boosing: FM Muttaqi
-------
Africa
·
African
Union Suspends Niger Due To Military Coup
·
Ramaphosa,
Xi Jinping strengthen ties ahead of BRICS Summit
·
Central
African Republic’s top court confirms constitutional referendum results
·
Nelson
Chamisa, the 'young' pastor aiming for Zimbabwe poll upset
------
Arab World
·
Saudi
Music Commission Launches Oud House In Riyadh
·
Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session
·
Saudi MMA
stars to make debuts at Madison Square Garden
·
Saudi
environmentalist’s 500,000 bottle cap mural enters Guinness World Records
·
Cabinet
reviews measures taken toward implementing deal to resume diplomatic ties with
Iran
·
Saudi FM
leaves for South Africa to attend BRICS summit
·
Crown
Prince launches new strategy of KAUST
-------
Europe
·
Kremlin
Narrative U-Turn From Demonizing Muslims To Protectors Of Islam
·
Sustainable
Finance and the Goal of Net Zero: what can Islamic finance bring to the table?
------
Mideast
·
Will
Israel’s Protest Movement Expand To Include The Occupation?
·
Sudan
fighting has left about 500 children dead, says charity
·
Top
Turkish diplomat calls for Iraq to designate PKK a terrorist organization
during Baghdad visit
·
Iran
unveils attack drone capable of striking Israel
·
US says
deal on Iran releasing five US citizens on track
·
New York
Mayor Eric Adams meets with Netanyahu, protest leaders in Israel
·
Iraq,
Turkiye yet to agree on northern oil exports resumption
·
Palestinian
teen killed in Israeli raid in northern occupied West Bank
------
Southeast
Asia
·
Indonesian
Ulema Council Declares Nabidz Wine Forbidden for Muslims Because Of High
Alcohol Content
·
Interfaith
Council: Introduction Of ‘Imam Al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith’ Appreciation Module In
Schools Unconstitutional
·
The raid
reportedly came after netizens linked the collection to British band Coldplay's
support for the LGBT community.
·
New Penang
DCM Jagdeep vows to aid all those in need
·
Don’t make
a big deal over it: family of student ‘swatted’ by Sanusi
-------
North
America
·
Lawsuit Filed
By Muslim Family Against Apple Orchard Owner For Racist Exchange Caught On
Video
·
ACLU To
Appeal Dismissal Of Suit Alleging Border Agents Quizzed Twin Cities Imam About
His Religion
·
CAIR-SFBA
Welcomes City of Santa Clara’s Recognition of American Muslim Appreciation and
Awareness Month
·
Businesses
Stage Strikes to Protest Sunni Cleric Arrest
·
Lawsuit Filed
Against Michigan Orchard Over Owner's Anti-Muslim Remarks
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mob-chanting-jai-shri-ram-christians/d/130509
-----
Mob Chanting
‘Jai Shri Ram’ Attacks Christians In Delhi, Probe Underway
The sources variously described the place of worship
as a church and a prayer hall run by a pastor.
Sourced by the Telegraph
-------
23.08.23
Around 25-30
people allegedly barged into a Christian place of worship in the national
capital on Sunday morning, chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, and attacked the gathering
with sticks before ransacking the hall, sources said.
The sources
variously described the place of worship as a church and a prayer hall run by a
pastor.
When the
pastor and members of the Christian community rushed to the nearby GTB Enclave
police station to complain, around 80-100 people, said to be from the Bajrang
Dal, RSS and the VHP, allegedly assembled outside the police station and
shouted “Jai Shri Ram”.
One person
has been arrested.
“We are
examining the CCTV cameras to arrest others who were involved,” a Delhi police
officer said on Tuesday.
The police
officer added: “An FIR has been registered and a police picket team deployed
outside the church.”
“Members of
the Christian community have alleged that the mob belonged to the RSS and the
Bajrang Dal and shouted slogans like ‘Hindu Rashtra Banayenge’. A probe is
underway to identify the background of the attackers,” said a police officer.
According to
the FIR lodged by the pastor, the mob had barged into the hall at Tahirpur
shouting slogans, attacked the faithful and vandalised the prayer hall,
damaging pictures of Jesus Christ and musical instruments. The vandals tried to
tear up the Bible, before dragging some men outside and beating them with
sticks.
The police
said they had registered a case and booked the trespassers under charges of destruction
of a place of worship, disturbing religious assembly, promoting enmity between
different groups on grounds of religion and using assault or criminal force
against women.
The police
added that some members of local Hindutva groups had alleged that the place of
worship was part of a conspiracy to convert Hindus.
Members of
the local Christian community said they are living in fear. “If violent mobs
can attack our religious place in the capital, then one can well imagine the
safety and security of religious minorities in other parts of the country,” a
member of the community said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mob-chanting-jai-shri-ram-attacks-christians-in-delhi-probe-underway/cid/1960902
------
‘The Fear Is
Not Going Away’: Christians Afraid To Return To Homes In Jaranwala
Photo: The Print/(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023
-----
August 22,
2023
Eighteen-year-old
Kanwal had just returned from the hospital with her newborn baby, Samuel, when
a vigilante mob launched a violent attack on their home in a Christian area of
Punjab’s Jaranwala.
Terrified,
she swept up the baby and fled barefoot with the rest of her family, narrowly
escaping the mob that torched their house last week, causing the loss of their
pet birds and all their belongings.
“We are very
scared of our neighbours … we don’t want them to destroy whatever little we
have left,” said Kanwal, cradling Samuel as she sat in a school classroom
converted into a makeshift dormitory in the bustling market town of Jaranwala.
“We should be
shifted somewhere else,” she added. Her 11-year-old brother and sisters aged
seven and 11 are too scared to return to school, where they are among a tiny
minority of Christian students.
“Today was
the first day of school after summer vacations but I did not send them because
of fear,” said their mother, Kiran. “I told them, ‘You will get an education if
you stay alive.’”
Nearly 160
people have been arrested over last week’s hours-long rampage by a mob that
residents said consisted of people carrying iron rods, knives and sticks, and
who set fire to churches and scores of homes.
Police and
residents said the attack started after someone took allegedly desecrated pages
of the Holy Quran to a mosque prayer leader, which was followed by
announcements calling for punishment.
Police have
arrested two Christian men accused of blasphemy and are investigating.
Blasphemy is
punishable by death in Pakistan but no one has ever been executed, although
numerous people accused of blasphemy have been lynched by outraged mobs in the
past.
Former Punjab
governor Salman Taseer and federal minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti were
shot dead in 2011 for trying to reform the blasphemy law.
A large
contingent of armed paramilitary troopers has fanned out to restore calm in
Jaranwala.
Provincial
and federal authorities have pledged financial help for the Christian
community, which forms less than two per cent of the 241 million population,
many of whom live in poverty, to help pick up their lives.
Caretaker
Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar visited the area on Monday, announcing relief
for affected families, calling the attack an atrocity and promising minority
religious communities that the government would protect them.
But community
members and advocates say the trauma and fear will be tough to heal and their
safety is not assured. Many are afraid to return home but, still in shock, do
not know where to rebuild their lives.
“Everyone is
focusing on giving them food, giving them shelter, but what they are feeling,
how they are broken from the inside, how they will accept that they are equal
citizens, this is the [important] thing,” said Naseem Anthony, a member of a
rights group, Awam.
“There is
very serious concern from the civil society side about the psychological
damage,” added Anthony, speaking outside a gathering of civil society
organisations held near a salmon-pink church, its insides blackened with soot.
A few streets
away about 240 people live in the makeshift shelter in the school along with
Kanwal’s family.
String and
wood cots have been set up among classroom walls still plastered with charts
showing the alphabet and how to count.
Many here
spent the first few days after the attack living outside, in fields and roads
in the sweltering heat.
They
described feelings of depression and anxiety, a fear of open spaces, trouble
sleeping and frequent outbursts of weeping when they recall last week’s events.
“Most of the
people from the Christian colony in Jaranwala are afraid of returning home
because of the unrest and uncertainty about their protections,” said community
leader Akmal Bhatti.
“All this is
triggering a sense of fear,” he added. “The majority of children are suffering
psychological issues … Now, children and girls are afraid of people, they don’t
want to go out in markets and crowded places.”
Government
officials at the heavily-guarded shelter said they would let people stay as
long as needed, adding that it has been staffed with doctors and nurses to
provide support.
Non-government
organisations estimate hundreds of people have been physically displaced with
thousands of Christians in the area affected by the violence. Some are staying
in makeshift shelters nearby, and others are with relatives.
Kanwal and
her mother, Kiran, are not sure how long the family will stay.
“My greatest
wish now is that I want security,” said Kiran. “I want a safe place for my
family to live in. The fear that has got embedded in my heart and my children’s
minds is just not going away.”
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1771571/the-fear-is-not-going-away-christians-afraid-to-return-to-homes-in-jaranwala
-----
The Goal of
Our Sacrifices Was the Establishment of the Islamic System in Afghanistan:
Haqqani
Photo:
Bakhtar News
----
22 August
2023
KABUL (BNA):
Acting Minister of Interior Affairs Khalifa Sarajuddn Haqani during a visit
from the Al-Badr 205 Army Corps said that the purpose of the sacrifices of the
Islamic Emirate was the establishment of the Islamic system in Afghanistan.
Khalifa
Sirajuddin Haqqani, Acting Minister of Interior Affairs of the Islamic Emirate,
during his trip to Uruzgan Province, visited Al-Badr 205 Army Corps and met
with local military officials and security forces stationed in that province.
In the
meeting, the Acting Minister of Interior Affairs, while appreciating the
activities of the defense and security forces of the country, said, “We did not
make sacrifices to gain a position, but the purpose of our sacrifices was the
rule of Islamic guidance and the Islamic system in the country.”
Prioritizing
government posts over responsibilities will lead to the collapse of the system
and everyone in the Islamic Emirate, particularly security forces should work
harder for the people and strengthen the current administration, he concluded.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/the-goal-of-our-sacrifices-was-the-establishment-of-the-islamic-system-in-afghanistan-haqqani/
-----
Hunger Has
Killed At Least 500 Children In War-Torn Sudan
Internally displaced Sudanese children play outside
while staying at Hasahisa
Copyright © africanews-/AFP or licensors
------
22 Aug 2023
At least 498
children "and probably hundreds more" have died of starvation in four
months of war in Sudan, the NGO Save the Children reported on Tuesday.
In a country
where before the war, one in three inhabitants suffered from hunger, "children
are dying of hunger when it could have been completely avoided", alarms
Arif Noor, its director in Sudan, in a press release.
"At
least 498 children in Sudan and probably hundreds more have died of
starvation" since the start of the war on April 15, he adds. "We
never imagined seeing so many children dying of starvation but this is the new
reality in Sudan."
And the
situation could get worse as Save the Children, unable to operate amid the
fighting, had to stop treating "31,000 malnourished children". In
May, the factory that produced 60% of nutritional treatments for children was
destroyed.
The war -
which could last for years according to experts - between the army and the
Rapid Support Forces (FSR, paramilitary) has caused around 5,000 deaths since
April 15, according to a report by the NGO Armed Conflict Location & Event
Data Project (Acled). It also forced more than four million people to flee.
Faced with
the horror, the international community is struggling to finance aid to
displaced persons, refugees, injured and other victims of sexual violence,
while international justice is concerned about "war crimes".
Humanitarians, prevented from entering or circulating by the authorities and
attacked, repeat that they have only received 27% of their funding needs.
On Tuesday,
the violence continued, mainly in Khartoum and Darfur, a western region the
size of France where a quarter of the approximately 48 million Sudanese live.
There, the fighting is concentrated in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, where since
August 11 they have made "60 dead, 250 injured and 50,000 displaced",
according to the UN.
The army
reported that its local commander was "murdered" there on Monday.
While the fighting prevents access for trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, the
Turkish hospital, the only one still functioning in Nyala, said it was
overwhelmed by the influx of wounded.
Recently the
war has also reached el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur after, according to
the humanitarian research laboratory of the American University of Yale, at
least 27 localities in Darfur were burned by the RSF and Arab militias allies.
"Nobody
stops the FSR, they move freely while the army is entrenched in its
bases", assures AFP Nathaniel Raymond, director of this laboratory which
collaborates with the Conflict Observatory.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/22/hunger-has-killed-at-least-500-children-in-war-torn-sudan/
------
Saudi Arabia Looking
Forward To New Phase Of Relations With Iran: Cabinet
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
chairs the Cabinet session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on August 22, 2023.
(Saudi Press Agency)
------
August 22,
2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday said it looks forward to a new phase of
Saudi-Iranian relations based on common interests and mutual respect.
The comments
came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited the Kingdom
for the first time on Thursday following a reconciliation between the two
countries in March.
The Cabinet
said it is following the steps taken toward implementing the agreement to
resume diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Iran including the
ambassadors of the two countries carrying out their duties.
The Cabinet
was also briefed on the content of a recent phone call between Saudi Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during which
they reviewed aspects of joint cooperation and exchanged views on regional and
international developments.
It also
approved a law concerning the rights of people with disabilities.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2359526/saudi-arabia
------
India
Nuh Admn Says
No To ‘Jal Abhishek Yatra’ Of Right Wing Outfits Supported By Various Hindu
Saints
Tribune News
Service
Gurugram,
August 22
While Right
wing outfits, now supported by various Hindu saints, are out preparing for the
resumption of the unfinished “Jal Abhishek Yatra” on August 28, the Nuh
authorities have denied permission to it, citing the forthcoming G20 meeting in
the district in the first week of September.
It may be
noted that the outfits have so far not even formally applied for this
permission, but the district authorities have decided to “postpone” the Yatra
in the wake of the G20 meeting scheduled in one of the local resorts.
Speaking to
The Tribune, a senior official said, “We will not allow this yatra on August
20, as it may again make the situation tense. Also, entire force will on duty
for G20 in such a situation. Sparing force for the yatra will be difficult.
This has to be postponed and it will not happen on August 28,” said the
official. This has left outfits infuriated, who claim that the Yatra will be of
no relevance as the month of “shravan” will come to an end in August.
It may be
noted that Right wing outfits, now joined by various Hindu saints, have been
making public declarations of this yatra, saying it will be as grand as the one
attacked in Nuh on July 31.
“Why do we
need permission for visiting our temples? Does kawar yatra require any
permission? They failed to keep us safe earlier. We will hold the yatra in all
its grandeur,” said VHP state spokesperson Anurag Kulshreshta today. While
initially the outfits had planned the symbolic resumption of the Yatra, they
later decided to make it grand “to show they were not scared”.
Source: tribuneindia.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/admn-says-no-to-jalabhishek-yatra-537500
-----
Supreme Court
Asks Uttar Pradesh Government To Back Its Claims In Conversion Racket Case
Against Islamic Scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui
23.08.23
R. Balaji
The Supreme
Court on Tuesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to place before it all
materials relating to the charges against Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem
Siddiqui who was arrested on September 2021 for allegedly running a mass
religious conversion racket.
A bench of
Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Sanjay Kumar passed the direction while
adjourning till September 5 the Uttar Pradesh government’s appeal challenging
an Allahabad High Court order granting bail to Siddiqui in April this year.
Additional
advocate-general Garima Prashad, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government,
submitted that the state had enough material to prove Siddiqui’s alleged
involvement in the crime as the main conspirator. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal,
representing the accused, disputed the claim.
During the
arguments before the apex court, Prashad said the high court had granted bail
to Siddiqui solely on the ground that his co-accused were granted the relief.
“He is the main accused and key conspirator in the case,” the law officer said.
She said
investigations “had revealed a network of people across the nation working
towards an objective of waging war against the country, the Constitution and
replacing the Constitution with the Sharia law”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-asks-uttar-pradesh-government-to-back-its-claims-in-conversion-racket-case/cid/1960881
------
Article 370
case: Central government tells Supreme Court it will not touch special
provisions applicable to North-East
Debayan Roy
23 Aug 2023
The Central
government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it has no intentions to
tinker with the special provisions in the Constitution applicable to the
north-eastern States of the country.
The
submission was made by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta during the hearing
of the case challenging the abrogation of Article 370.
Appearing for
the Central government, SG Mehta justified the move to abrogate Article 370 of
the Constitution, which took away the special status earlier conferred on Jammu
and Kashmir, by reiterating that Article 370 was a temporary provision.
"We must
understand the difference between a temporary provision such as Article 370 and
special provisions which is applicable to the North East. The Central
government has no intention to touch the special provisions. This will have
serious repercussions. There is no apprehension and there is no need to create
apprehension," Mehta submitted.
Mehta made
the submission in response to arguments by advocate Manish Tiwari, who appeared
for an applicant in an Interlocutory Application (IA).
Tiwari had
hinted that he would be addressing the Court on the implications of the move on
the prospects of States in the north-east before Mehta interjected to assure
that there are not plans to interfere with special status conferred on
north-eastern States.
Chief Justice
of India DY Chandrachud, who was heading the Constitution bench that is hearing
the Article 370 case, added,
"Why
should we go into apprehensions at all..? When Centre has (said it has) no such
intention, why should we apprehend this at all? Apprehensions are allayed by
the statement of the Central government."
The Court
then proceeded to dispose of IA in which Tiwari appeared in.
"Solicitor
General Mehta has submitted on specific instructions of the Centre that it has
no intention to affect any of the special provisions... Reference of this case
is to Article 370 and thus there is no commonality of interest in the IA and
the case being heard. In any event, SG statement allays apprehension in this
regard... This stands disposed off," the Court recorded in its order.
Source: barandbench.com
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https://www.barandbench.com/news/perfect-game-played-parties-madras-high-court-initiates-case-against-discharge-ministers-involved-disproportionate-assets-case
-----
No
constitutional provision excludes its applicability in J&K: SC
IANS
23 Aug 2023
New Delhi:
The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court Tuesday said that there were no
provisions in the Indian Constitution which exclude its applicability to Jammu
and Kashmir.
It observed
that ‘J&K is an integral part of India and surely the jurisdiction of every
democratically elected institution in India is not excluded in its application
and has to be dealt with a provision of the Constitution’.
Senior
advocate Dinesh Dwivedi contended that “the basic theme of Kashmir is entirely
different in terms of accession to the Dominion of India and it did not merge
like other states”.
During the
hearing, it was argued that asymmetrical federalism provides for protection
against majoritarianism, adding that the Constitution itself is also
anti-majoritarianism.
Senior advocate
CU Singh, questioned the J&K Reorganisation Act, which downgraded the state
into two Union Territories(UTs), arguing that to convert a state into UT a
Constitutional amendment is needed under Article 368 which needs special
majority and ratification by two-thirds of states.
He said that
if states are allowed to be converted into UTs, basic structure is also wiped
out.
When the
Constitution Bench was about to rise for the day, it said that the petitioners
must realise that the bench is reaching a level of “mental saturation”, and it
would like to hear Centre’s response to their contentions.
CJI D Y
Chandrachud clarified that remaining advocates will get limited time, like 10
minutes, petitioners should close their arguments by tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.
Notably, a
five-judge Constitution Bench headed by CJI Chandrachud is hearing a clutch of
petitions challenging the 2019 Presidential Order taking away the special
status accorded to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation
into two Union Territories.
The
Constitution Bench, also comprising of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv
Khanna, B R Gavai, and Surya Kant, is hearing the matter consecutively from
August 2, except for Mondays and Fridays.
In an
affidavit filed before the top court, the Central government has defended the
revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that its decision
to dilute Article 370 has brought unprecedented development, progress,
security, and stability in the region.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
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https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/front-page/no-constitutional-provision-excludes-its-applicability-in-jk-sc
------
Pakistan
Six soldiers
martyred, 4 terrorists killed in South Waziristan
August 22,
2023
Four
terrorists were killed in exchange of fire between own troops and terrorists in
Asman Manza area of South Waziristan yesterday.
According to
ISPR, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly
four terrorists were sent to hell, while two terrorists were injured.
However,
during intense exchange of fire, six brave soldiers having fought gallantly
embraced Shahadat.
Sanitization
of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the
area.
The ISPR said
the Armed forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of
terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our
resolve.
Caretaker
Prime Minister expresses grief, sorrow over martyrdom of soldiers
Caretaker
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has expressed grief and sorrow over the
martyrdom of soldiers in exchange of fire with terrorists in Asman Manza area
of South Waziristan.
In a message,
the caretaker Prime Minister said the six soldiers who lost their lives
fighting the terrorists are pride of the country.
Paying homage
to the martyrs, he said sacrifices of these soldiers will not go in vain and
the menace of terrorism will be extirpated forever.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-08-2023/six-soldiers-martyred-4-terrorists-killed-in-south-waziristan
------
Govt plans
interfaith moot next week
August 23,
2023
ISLAMABAD:
The interim government on Tuesday decided to organise a ‘national conference’
on interfaith harmony next week, as Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq vowed
to propagate the “true ideology and spirit” of the country during his
government’s brief stint in power.
The decision
to organise a moot to promote interfaith harmony came in the backdrop of the
Jaranwala violence which caused the destruction of dozens of churches and
houses belonging to the Christian community. According to the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO), Mr Kakar has decided to hold a national inter-faith harmony
conference next week in which religious scholars will be invited from across
the world.
During the
meeting, the cabinet condemned the Jaranwala violence in strong words. Mr Kakar
who visited Jaranwala on Monday and met the ill-fated families apprised the
cabinet members about the situation in the city.
Furthermore,
‘Diyat’ amount for the financial year 2023-24 was increased to Rs6.775 million
(equivalent to 30,630 grams of silver). In the last fiscal year, the compensation
amount was Rs4.318 million.
Speaking on
the occasion, PM Kakar said the caretaker government’s prime mandate was to
assist and monitor the electoral process. He said keeping in mind the prime
mandate, the caretaker government would monitor its day-to-day activities to
the best of its abilities.
“We are here
as a constitutional continuation for a limited period of time and we are not
here to design the government model or structure,” the prime minister said
while addressing the cabinet meeting.
He maintained
that as a continuation of the previous government, the caretaker set-up was
generally supposed to carry on with the policies already in motion, until and
unless there were any violations of rules or business.
“The National
Assembly has retired and we are waiting for the new elections,” he said adding
the second arm of parliament, Senate, was still there but it could not do
legislation alone. He asked the cabinet members to come up with a work plan by
taking briefings from their respective ministries and the next cabinet meeting
agenda would be based on that work plan.
‘True
ideology’
Speaking to
the media after a visit to Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi, PM Kakar said that his
administration was not there to hold free and fair elections only but also propagate
the “ideology and its true spirit” of the country.
The prime
minister was accompanied by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Caretaker CM Maqbool
Baqir and the members of his cabinet. It was his maiden visit to Karachi after
assuming office last week.
“We
[caretaker government] are here only as an outcome of a constitutional
requirement,” he said while addressing the state-owned media which didn’t pose
any questions to him after the address. “We are here to assess and monitor the
electoral process. We would put in our hundred per cent for fair and free
elections which should be acceptable for all segments of the society. We wish
and pray for peaceful and smooth completion of this transition phase.”
While
recalling the mandate of his caretaker government, he also mentioned the
defence of the country’s ideological boundaries under the August 11, 1947
speech of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah before the Constituent Assembly.
“Along with
this [completion of transition phase], we are also here to propagate the
ideology of Pakistan and its true spirit under which this state came into
being,” he said. “We need to discuss that social contract time and again under
which this country was founded by Jinnah and [Allama] Iqbal.”
According to
the prime minister, the ideology of Pakistan defined political and economic
rights in the context of ‘state vs individuals’ not on the basis of ethnicity,
religion, or community.
MQM-P meeting
Later, PM
Kakar held a meeting with MQM-P leaders at the Governor House and assured them
about the effort of his government to utilise all possible resources to address
the issues faced by Karachi.
“In the
meeting, the two [sides] discussed the country’s overall situation, economy,
interfaith harmony and national matters,” said a statement issued by the
Governor House. The delegation comprising Dr Farooq Sattar, Syed Aminul Haq,
and Khawaja Izharul Hassan asked the PM to address the issues of delimitation
in Karachi and water shortage, it added.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1771690
------
LHC bars ECP
from issuing verdict in contempt case against Imran
August 23,
2023
Malik Asad |
Wajih Ahmad Sheikh
• IHC
adjourns hearing on PTI chief’s plea at ECP request
• Bushra Bibi
meets husband at Attock jail
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday restrained the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) from issuing a final decision on contempt proceedings against
former prime minister Imran Khan, while an Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench
adjourned the hearing of Mr Khan’s early release request in the Toshakhana case
conviction until Thursday (tomorrow), as the ECP sought time to peruse the
record.
LHC Justice
Waheed Khan passed the injunctive order on a petition filed by the incarcerated
PTI chairman and referred it to the chief justice with a suggestion to
constitute a larger bench to further hear and decide the matter.
The petition
challenged the ECP’s June 20 order regarding the indictment of the PTI chairman
in contempt proceedings initiated under Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017.
It also assailed the constitutional vires of Section 10 of the Act, which
granted the chief election commissioner (CEC) the authority to punish any
person for contempt of the ECP.
Advocate
Sameer Khosa argued on behalf of the former PM, who has been jailed in the
Toshakhana case, that the impugned order issued by the ECP incorrectly held
that the CEC had the jurisdiction to issue a show-cause notice and proceed in
the matter. He argued that the CEC had no such authority and had wrongly
assumed jurisdiction.
Advocate
Khosa asked the court to declare that sections 10 and 4(2) of the Elections Act
2017 and Rule 4 of the Election Rules 2017 contradicted the Constitution and
were liable to be struck down.
Following the
arguments, the judge restrained the ECP from finalising its proceedings against
the petitioner and directed it to file a reply by the next hearing.
Early release
The ECP has
sought time to peruse the record of the PTI chairman’s Toshakhana case
conviction as the IHC was examining his request for early release.
The IHC
division bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood
Jahangiri, resumed hearing on Mr Khan’s appeal against his conviction and
suspension of sentence on Tuesday. Sardar Latif Khosa argued the trial court
conducted day-to-day hearings and curtailed the right of defence for Mr Khan.
Mr Khosa
opposed the two-week adjournment and requested the court to decide the
application on the same day.
ECP’s counsel
Amjad Pervaiz argued that, unlike routine cases, Mr Khan’s appeal is being
expedited. He requested the court to adjourn the hearing for two weeks, as he
needs time to review the certified copies of records of the trial court. The
bench adjourned the further hearing till Thursday (tomorrow).
Separately,
Bushra Bibi met her husband for the third time at Attock jail on Tuesday, while
Mr Khan’s legal team was once again denied access to their client.
Bushra Bibi
and the PTI chairman’s lawyers were reportedly stopped by the police for some
time. Later, after approval from jail authorities, only the former first lady
was allowed to enter the jail. Sources said that the one-on-one meeting between
the two lasted for about an hour.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1771638/lhc-bars-ecp-from-issuing-verdict-in-contempt-case-against-imran
-----
SC dismisses
plea for access to Panama Papers JIT report
August 23,
2023
Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court has disposed of an application by an international asset
recovery firm seeking access to the secret report compiled by an investigation
team which incriminated former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and led to his
disqualification.
In 2018, a
Washington-based asset recovery firm Messers Broadsheet LLC filed the petition
to seek a copy of Volume 10 of the report compiled by a joint investigation
team probing the ex-PM’s off-shore properties after he was named in the Panama
Papers.
On Tuesday, a
two-judge bench consisting of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial
and Justice Athar Minallah, took up the case.
The firm’s
counsel, Sardar Latif Khosa, wondered what sensitive information was hidden in
the Volume which couldn’t be revealed.
Under Article
19 of the Constitution, it was the people’s right to know “who plundered the
country’s wealth,” Mr Khosa argued.
The court
reminded the counsel that he was representing an international firm and not the
people of Pakistan and therefore he should restrict himself to the case instead
of making arguments of political nature.
Mr Khosa
replied he only wanted the people to know the entire truth.
Justice
Minallah observed the court will not go into the controversy since an elected
PM was removed based on this report.
He also
wondered whether the five-judge bench — which had disqualified Mr Sharif in
2018 — made any observation about the volume in its judgement.
The
petitioner wanted Volume 10 for the arbitration case but it was no longer alive
since it had been settled at the international court, observed Justice
Minallah.
Volume 10
Volume 10 was
part of the investigation report compiled by a JIT led by former FIA DG Wajid
Zia. It contained the details about mutual legal assistance agreements signed
with different countries and was sealed by the SC on Mr Zia’s request, who had
claimed that making it public would jeopardise the ongoing cooperation with
foreign countries.
Broadsheet
LLC sought the volume to submit as proof in the $500 million lawsuit it brought
against the Pakistan government over agreements signed with NAB.
The
accountability watchdog had acquired the firm’s services during the era of
ex-president Pervez Musharraf to help recover Pakistan’s stolen assets stashed
in different offshore companies.
The dispute
arose on the payment of service fees and was referred to the international
arbitration in London where the litigation before Arbitrator Sir Anthony Evans
QC concluded in an interim award in terms of liability under Sections 4 and 6
of the Recognition and Enforcement (Arbitration Agreements and Foreign
Arbitral Awards) 2011.
The company
was paid $28.7m by the government in 2021 after the arbitration was ruled in
its favour.
After the
settlement, the then PTI government formed a one-man inquiry commission, headed
by ex-Supreme Court judge Azmat Saeed Sheikh, to investigate the matter.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1771668/sc-dismisses-plea-for-access-to-panama-papers-jit-report
-----
PM calls for
speedy action against violators of children's rights
August 22,
2023
Prime
Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has emphasized on speedy legal action against
violators of children's rights to bring them to justice.
He said this
while talking to Chairperson National Commission for Child Rights Ayesha Raza
Farooq who called on him in Islamabad today.
The Prime
Minister also called for effective legislation to ensure protection of
children's rights as well as to extend maximum facilitation to the National
Commission for Child Rights. He appreciated the performance of the National
Commission for Child Rights under the leadership of Ayesha Raza Farooq.
On the
occasion, the chairperson congratulated Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on assuming office
of the Prime Minister and expressed her best wishes. She briefed the Prime
Minister about current situation of child abuse and child labor in the country.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-08-2023/pm-calls-for-speedy-legal-action-against-violators-of-childrens-rights
-----
Rangers nab
six Indian smugglers inside Pakistan: ISPR
August 23,
2023
RAWALPINDI:
Rangers deployed along the international border with India have apprehended six
Indian nationals trying to smuggle narcotics, weapons and ammunition into
Pakistan.
According to
the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the six Indian nationals were
apprehended inside the Pakistani territory from July 29 to August 3.
The
apprehended criminals were trying to smuggle narcotics, weapons and ammunition
into Pakistan. The ISPR said it was surprising that the smugglers crossed the
heavily-fenced border under the perpetual surveillance of Indian BSF. It shows
likely complicity of BSF troops in narcotics and weapons smuggling.
In addition,
it is also surprising that Indian troops have so far failed to report six missing
citizens. Four of these smugglers, namely Gurmeej, son of Guldeep Singh,
Shinder Singh, son of Bhora Singh, Juginder Singh, son of Thakur Singh, and
Vishal, son of Jagga, belong to Ferozpur. Rattan Pal Singh, son of Mahinder
Singh, belongs to Jalandhar and Garvender Singh, son of Mukhtiar Singh, belongs
to Ludhiana. The Indian smugglers would be dealt as per law for illegally
entering Pakistan and indulging in nefarious activities. The security forces of
Pakistan would continue to maintain vigil and expect that the Indian BSF would
act professionally and sever their ties with smuggling rackets operating from
their territory, the ISPR said.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1102854-rangers-nab-six-indian-smugglers-inside-pakistan-ispr
------
Pakistan
summons Indian envoy to protest killing of civilian at LoC
August 22,
2023
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s
Foreign Office summoned the Indian Chargé d’Affaires on Tuesday to register its
strong protest over the killing of a Pakistani civilian as a result of
unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to
a press release form the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 60-year-old Mr. Ghias, a
resident of Oli village in Kotli district, was killed as a result of Indian
firing in the Nikial Sector of the LoC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on August 21.
Emphasising
the need for maintaining peace and tranquillity at the LoC, the Foreign Office
underscored that such acts are in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire
understanding between the two neighbouring countries, reaffirmed in February
2021.
It was
stressed that Indian forces should exercise utmost caution as targeting
innocent civilians is contrary to human dignity and international human rights
and humanitarian laws.
The Indian
side was urged to investigate the incident and respect the Ceasefire
Understanding.
“Pakistan
strongly condemns this incident and reiterates its commitment to the peaceful
resolution of conflicts in the region,” the Foreign Ministry added in the press
statement.
The Line of
Control (LoC) is a de facto border that divides the region into Azad Jammu and
Kashmir (AJK) on the Pakistani side, and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and
Kashmir (IIOJK).
The ceasefire
understanding aimed to reduce hostilities along the LoC and is now a
significant part of the bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan.
This was the
second known ceasefire violation incident since February 2021 when the two
neighbours renewed their truce in the disputed region.
In June,
Indian Army resorted to unprovoked firing on a group of shepherds along the
LoC. Two civilians embraced martyrdom while one other was critically injured in
Sattwal sector along the LoC, the ISPR had said.
Later, the
Indian Charge d’ Affaires was also summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violation committed by
the Indian forces.
The two
countries renewed their truce in February 2021 after back channel talks aimed
at reviving the peace talks.
Though the
process could not move forward, the ceasefire had been holding until this
point. There had been certain incidents during the truce but the two sides
sorted out those using their established mechanism.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431982/pakistan-summons-indian-envoy-to-protest-killing-of-civilian-at-loc
------
South Asia
UN applauds
Afghan women entrepreneurs’ economic activities
By Fidel
Rahmati
August 23,
2023
On World
Entrepreneurs Day, the UN expressed its support for Afghan women entrepreneurs
throughout Afghanistan. The organization praised their efforts in job creation
and contribution to economic growth.
“On World
Entrepreneurs Day, we praise the amazing Afghan women entrepreneurs we work
with nationwide. We proudly support them and their drive to innovate, create
jobs, participate and contribute to economic growth against all odds,” said UN
Women Afghanistan on its social media platform X.
Amidst
daunting challenges, women entrepreneurs have become the bedrock of the
economy. These women have excelled across diverse domains, from modest
handicraft ventures to expansive cross-sector enterprises. Their businesses
create local jobs and promote self-sustainability, bolstering the nation’s
economic resilience. The United Nations’ acknowledgement of their contributions
underscores their far-reaching influence.
Nonetheless,
Afghan women entrepreneurs have voiced their concerns, expressing that the UN’s
support for them is lacking.
“The United
Nations only has luxury offices, which costs a huge amount per month, but
unfortunately, it does not support women in the slightest, and in such a
situation, I personally, as an entrepreneur, expect the United Nations to
cooperate with Afghan women entrepreneurs,” According to Nafisa Danesh, a
member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
According to
the Ministry of Industry and Commerce data, government support drives thousands
of women entrepreneurs to invest across diverse sectors.
The Women’s
Chamber of Commerce boasts 560 members. Nationally, approximately 8,000 Afghan
women are actively engaged in diverse business sectors, primarily focusing on
handicrafts, agriculture, ealth, services, food, industry, and mining, as
stated by the MoIC spokesperson Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada.
“The presence
of women in the investment and economic fields of the country can increase the
food security of families and limit the scope of poverty in the country,”
Akhundzada added.
Since the
Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, they have implemented repressive measures
restricting women to their homes and enforcing stringent policies. Recent
statistics indicate that around 60,000 women have already lost their jobs due
to the Taliban’s recent edict, which prohibits the operation of women’s beauty
salons. Moreover, girls and women, including secondary schools and
universities, are prohibited from pursuing education.
Additionally,
women are denied opportunities to work with aid agencies and are barred from
involvement with UN organizations. These regressive policies and actions have
been labelled as “gender apartheid” by the United Nations, which has also
sounded the alarm about such measures’ potential economic and financial
repercussions.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/un-applauds-afghan-women-entrepreneurs-economic-activities/
-----
United
Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Reports on the Violation of Human
Rights Over Past 2 Years
By Fatema
Adeeb,
22 August
2023
The United
Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it has credible reports
of serious human rights violations by the “de facto Taliban authorities against
hundreds of former government officials and former armed forces members.”
“15 August
2021 to 30 June 2023, documented at least 800 instances of extrajudicial
killing, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and ill-treatment and enforced
disappearance carried out against individuals affiliated with the former
government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its security forces,” the
report reads.
“UNAMA’s
report presents a sobering picture of the treatment of individuals affiliated
with the former government and security forces of Afghanistan since the Taliban
takeover of the country. Even more so, given they were assured that they would
be not targeted, it is a betrayal of the people’s trust,” said the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
“UNAMA has
recorded at least 800 instances of extra judicial killing, arbitrary arrest and
detention, torture and ill-treatment and enforced disappearance carried out by
the de facto authorities against former government officials and former
security force members since the 15th of August 2021,” said Fiona Frazer,
UNAMA's chief of human rights.
"The release
of this report further isolates the Taliban. This report by human rights
organizations proves that the Taliban violates human rights,” said Wahid
Faqiri, a political analyst.
The Islamic
Emirate said UNAMA's new report claiming that 800 members of the previous
government were "killed and tortured" by the forces of the Islamic
Emirate is not true.
“The recent
report of the UN representative in Afghanistan, which says that more than 800
people of the previous administration were killed and tortured by the forces of
the Islamic Emirate, is not true and far from reality. The amnesty of the
Islamic Emirate is applicable generally. Of course, some personal and unknown
cases of revenge have been seriously investigated by the relevant bodies of the
Islamic Emirate, which are limited in number. Unfortunately, some organizations
within the United Nations, instead of understanding the realities of
Afghanistan and seeing positive developments, always seek negative aspects and
spread propaganda, which indeed, damages their credibility,” Zabihullah Mujahid
the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Meanwhile,
Heather Barr, associate director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights
Watch, criticized the world's interaction with the Islamic Emirate.
“They are
flying around the world to high level meetings. They are being permitted to
take over embassies and a growing number of capitals, they are signing business
deals, and so, through those steps, the world is beginning to accept them and
accept the human rights violations that they are committing as well,
particularly against women and girls,” Barr said.
"The
basic right of the children of this land is ignored: the right to education. We
hope that the government of the Islamic Emirate will uphold the rights of all
citizens, especially the women of Afghanistan,” said Tafsir Seyaposh, a women’s
rights activist.
This comes as
some countries of the world, including the US, consider the issue of the
recognition of the Islamic Emirate to be related to women's rights.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184760
-----
The West must
stop playing the ‘Great Game’ in Afghanistan: Mark Malloch-Brown, Former UN
Official
By Fidel
Rahmati
August 23,
2023
A former
senior UN official emphasizes that the West should cease “Great Game” politics
and prioritize the well-being of the Afghan people.
Mark Malloch-Brown, President of the Open
Society Foundation and a former senior UN official, stated in the Financial
Times that the current international policy harms those most in need,
especially women and girls.
He highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in
Afghanistan, noting that as the world nears the second anniversary of the
“Taliban’s victory declaration on August 31, 2021,” the number of Afghans
needing urgent aid has risen from 18.4 million to 28.8 million, with 6 million
on the brink of famine.
He mentioned
that this is also a component of a prolonged cycle of geopolitical and regional
rivalry that has consistently neglected the well-being of the Afghan people.
“Whether the
policy has been proxy war or neglect, invasion or sponsorship of insurgents,
surge or drawdown, outsiders have consistently ill-served the country’s people
in a way that has typically led to the next chapter in the tragedy,” Brown
said.
Regarding the
worsened state of Afghanistan, Malloch-Brown’s article “Ending the ‘Great Game’
in Afghanistan” asserts that Afghanistan is again becoming isolated – devoid of
diplomatic recognition, diminishing aid, sanctions, and frozen assets.
“In the US
and Britain, many are all too keen to brush the policy failures the country
represents under the proverbial carpet; best forgotten before the next
elections,” he wrote.
“But this is
also part of a longer cycle of geopolitical and regional competition that has
consistently failed to put the Afghan people first.”
Malloch-Brown
said that “promoting ordinary Afghans … involves dealing with” the ruling
regime in Afghanistan, even if that means making nominal concessions to it.”
He proposed
the formation of a contact group consisting of Western powers, Afghanistan’s
neighbouring countries, the Taliban, and, ideally, Afghan civil society. This
group could work towards various objectives, such as implementing a more
compassionate approach to counter-narcotics efforts, enhancing aid distribution
with a focus on women and girls, and providing more precise guidelines on
sanctions to stimulate foreign investment in sectors like irrigation.
“It might
engage with Afghan actors beyond the Taliban, sowing the seeds of a more
inclusive polity,” he said.
Malloch-Brown
said that the isolation of Afghanistan might “seem justified in light of the
Taliban’s brutality, human rights abuses and sheer misgovernment”, but this has
the perverse effect of harming the regime’s victims most.
He stated that all parties must prevent
Afghanistan from descending into chaos. If the country faces famine, state
collapse, or new conflicts, it would not only destabilize Pakistan and the
broader region but also lead to an increase in refugees. Notably, Afghans
constitute the largest group attempting to cross the English Channel.
“This
presents Western and other leaders with a simple choice: keep pursuing ‘Great
Game’ politics or, for once, put the people of Afghanistan first. More than 30
years of the former have got us where we are. A new approach is long overdue.”
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/the-west-must-stop-playing-the-great-game-in-afghanistan-former-un-official/
-----
Afghanistan’s
Relations with Regional Countries are Boosing: FM Muttaqi
23-08-22
KABUL (BNA):
Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that the relations of the
Islamic Emirate with regional countries and beyond are on track to
strengthening.
Amir Khan
Muttaqi raised this issue on Tuesday during the government’s accountability
program, which was launched to report on the activities and achievements of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the past year.
Muttaqi said
that the relations of the Islamic Emirate with the countries of the region and
beyond are expanding, citing 70,000 foreign tourists including 10,000 of them
from European countries who traveled to different parts of Afghanistan last
year.
The Islamic
Emirate by implementing a balanced foreign policy, has been able to convince a
number of countries, including the United States, to not support the armed
opposition in this country, he said.
“By adopting
a balanced policy, we no longer want Afghanistan to become a field of
competition between great powers, but we want good political and economic
relations with the whole world,” said the Acting Foreign Minister.
Over the past
two years, Islamic Emirate has been able to eliminate internal differences and
prove that there is a central order and sovereignty in this country and that
this administration is inclusive, and it consists of representatives of all
communities of the country, Muttaqi added.
He stated
that the current administration has kept border routes open with neighboring
countries so that Afghan products can be exported overseas. Concerning
Pakistani officials’ concerns, he stated that recent developments in the
neighboring country are an internal matter that has nothing to do with
Afghanistan.
Meanwhile,
Shafi Azam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs head of economic relations, stated
that they were able to transform Afghan embassies and consulates in many
countries into the best centers for economic development and marketing of
Afghan products and that the project to transfer gas from Turkmenistan to
Pakistan and India was approved as a result of their active efforts.
According to
the director of consular affairs for this ministry, 3,500 Afghan inmates were
transported to Afghanistan from various countries last year, and the process
continues.
The Ministry
of Foreign Affairs is currently working on a plan to work with countries in the
region within a joint committee to solve the problem of Afghan refugees.
It is worth
mentioning the process of issuing passports to Afghan refugees living in Iran
was started on Monday.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/afghanistans-relations-with-regional-countries-are-boosing-fm-muttaqi/
-----
Africa
African Union
Suspends Niger Due To Military Coup
22 Aug 2023
The African
Union suspended Niger, the scene of a coup d'état since July 26th, and told its
members to avoid any action that might legitimize the junta.
The
continental organization also disengaged itself from west African regional bloc
ECOWAS after expressing reservations about a possible military intervention to
restore President Mohamed Bazoum according to a press release issued on
Tuesday.
Meeting on
August 14th, the AU Peace and Security Council decided to immediately suspend
the participation of the Republic of Niger from all AU activities, its organs,
and institutions until the effective restoration of constitutional order in the
country, according to a press release on Tuesday.
It calls on
the AU Commission to "assess the economic, social and security
implications" of such a deployment, while clearly stating its preference
for the diplomatic route.
The PSC
supports "the efforts of Ecowas in its sustained commitment to the
restoration of constitutional order through diplomatic means" and affirms
its "strong support for Ecowas' tireless efforts towards the peaceful
restoration of constitutional order" in Niger.
And it
"invites the military junta in Niger to cooperate with Ecowas and the AU
with a view to the peaceful and rapid restoration of constitutional
order".
It also calls
on member states to "fully implement the sanctions imposed by Ecowas"
against Niger, while requesting their "progressive application" and
that their "disproportionate effect on the citizens of Niger" be
minimized.
"Not a
walk in the Park"
Following the
military overthrow of President Bazoum Ecowas announced on August 10 its
intention to deploy a West African force "to restore constitutional order
in Niger". Details of this operation, including its date, are unknown.
Ecowas
reiterates its preference for a diplomatic solution, but continues to threaten
the use of force, despite dissenting voices on this very subject from within
the organization.
On Friday,
after a meeting of West African chiefs of staff in Accra, the Ecowas
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah,
affirmed that "the day of intervention" had been set, as had
"the strategic objectives, the necessary equipment and the commitment of
member states".
"If an
aggression were to be undertaken against us, it would not be the walk in the
park that some people believe it to be", replied to Niger's new strongman,
General Abdourahamane Tiani, on Saturday, shortly after announcing a transition
of three years maximum before the return of power to civilians.
Ecowas firmly
rejected this timetable, announced while a West African delegation was in
Niamey to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis.
"A
three-year transition period is a joke. Ecowas will never accept it", said
Abdel-Fatau Musah: "We want constitutional order to be restored as quickly
as possible".
Among Niger's
main international partners, France declared its full support for Ecowas, while
the United States called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Some 1,500
French and 1,100 US troops are deployed in Niger as part of the Sahel's
anti-jihadist campaign.
Finally, the
PSC says it "firmly rejects any external interference by an actor or
country from outside the continent" (...) "including commitments by
private military companies", in a likely reference to the Kremlin-linked
paramilitary group Wagner, which operates notably in Mali.
Niger has
become the fourth West African country to suffer a coup d'état since 2020,
after Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
The coup in
Niger has caused alarm among Western allies, who fear it could threaten the
Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project set to link Nigeria and Algeria from 2027 to
transport natural gas to Europe.
Since the
overthrow of President Bazoum's regime, fears of instability in the Sahel
region, which is facing growing insurgencies by jihadist groups linked to
al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, have also been mentioned.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/22/african-union-suspends-niger-due-to-military-coup/
-----
Ramaphosa, Xi
Jinping strengthen ties ahead of BRICS Summit
22 Aug 2023
South African
president Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed
improvements to their economic partnership and the conflict in Ukraine ahead of
the BRICS summit starting Tuesday in Johannesburg.
Xi Jinping
arrived for a state visit in Pretoria as both countries pledged to strengthen
economic ties on the sidelines of the summit.
"China
is South Africa's largest trading partner, and South Africa is China's biggest
trading partner in Africa. We've discussed the need to narrow the trade deficit
between South Africa and China, and that one of the ways to do so is by
ensuring greater market access for value added South African goods that can be
exported to the Chinese market," said President Ramaphosa.
The leaders
signed several agreements and memoranda of cooperation in various trade and
economic sectors.
The two
countries have maintained close coordination and cooperation in international
affairs, which has effectively promoted their respective development and
revitalization, and made positive contributions to safeguarding the common
interests of developing countries.
Xi reiterated
that no matter how the international situation changes, the two sides will
remain committed to deepening bilateral friendly cooperation.
Receiving the
Order of South Africa by President Ramaphosa, Xi Jinping heralds the golden age
of China-Africa partnership and vows to support Africa’s access to G20.
Noting that
he will treasure the honour, which symbolizes the friendship between the two
peoples, Xi pledged to unswervingly push for the continuous development of
China-South Africa relations.
“We firmly
support the construction of African integration. We will support substantial
progress of the African Union’s accession to the G20 this year. We support
South Africa to play a greater role in international and regional affairs,”
declared the Chinese President.
South Africa
has maintained its relationship with China and Russia, despite criticism of
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s trade war with the West.
Jinping’s
visit comes as China and Russia look to gain more political and economic ground
in the developing world amid worsening tensions with Western powers.
Ramaphosa and
Xi later joined leaders of Brazil and India in Johannesburg for the start of
the BRICS summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin joined virtually.
Source: africanews.com
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Central
African Republic’s top court confirms constitutional referendum results
22 Aug 2023
The Central
African Republic’s Constitutional Court on Monday validated the results of
July’s constitutional referendum, affirming that the “yes” camp won by 95.3%
against the “no” camp, which garnered 4.97%.
The
Constitutional Court therefore “validates the new constitution of July 30,
2023,” it said.
The validated
results showed that 57.23% took part in the elections out of about 1.7 million
registered voters.
The new
constitution raises the presidential term from five to seven years and scraps
its two-term limit, giving President Faustin Archange Touadera a green light to
seek a third term in office.
Touadera
proposed the changes to the constitution last year, arguing that the new
constitution would help the country develop.
However, the
opposition denounced the results, saying the constitutional changes sought to
create a “life presidency” for Touadera.
Touadera, 66,
was elected in 2016 in a vote that followed a civil war and reelected in 2020
in an election disrupted by armed rebel groups.
In August
2022, he formed a commission to draft a new constitution.
The Central
African Republic joined other African countries like Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda,
the Republic of Congo, and the Ivory Coast, which in recent years changed
constitutions to allow presidents to stay in office.
Source: africanews.com
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Nelson
Chamisa, the 'young' pastor aiming for Zimbabwe poll upset
22 Aug 2023
An
experienced politician with decades of activism under his belt, Zimbabwe's
45-year-old opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is still known to many as
"mukomana" or "the young man".
The moniker
reflects the age gap between the presidential hopeful and his main challenger
in an August 23 vote -- incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80.
It is also
used to avoid uttering the politician's name in public in a country where
rights groups say his rival has unleashed a brutal crackdown on dissent.
Mineral-rich
Zimbabwe is more and more like a "dictatorship", Chamisa told AFP in
an interview this year.
A lawyer and
church pastor, Chamisa leads the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) -- the
only party harbouring any real hope of unseating the ruling ZANU-PF, which has
held an iron grip on power since independence in 1980.
Still, the
odds are stacked against it.
Some CCC
rallies have been blocked, some of its members arrested and thrown in jail and
fears of vote rigging are widespread.
Chamisa has
seen it all before.
The lightly
built, moustachioed Chamisa has been arrested several times for his political
activities.
In 2007, he
was severely beaten with truncheons and an iron bar and left for dead. He spent
five days in hospital after the attack, which was widely blamed on ruling-party
thugs.
In 2021 he
was the target of what he calls an assassination plot when shots were fired at
his convoy. A bullet ripped through the left rear seat of his car where he
normally sits.
"I'm
lucky to be alive," he said.
- Ego, hits
and religion -
He joined the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) as a student when it was
founded in 1999 and took it over after the death of his mentor, party leader
Morgan Tsvangirai, in 2018.
That same
year Chamisa came close to beating Mnangagwa in a tight election, the first
held after the ousting of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe.
He contested
the result but lost in court.
Last year
Chamisa broke away from the MDC and set up the CCC, determined to have another
go at securing the top job.
He has
promised to create a new Zimbabwe "for everyone", tackling
corruption, relaunching the economy and pulling the country out of
international isolation.
Many voters
disgruntled at widespread poverty and runaway inflation are rallying behind
him, but he has not been spared criticism even from within his own camp.
"He's
extremely self-confident, I think to a fault," said Nicole Beardsworth, a
political analyst specialising in Zimbabwe at South Africa's University of the
Witwatersrand.
Chamisa's
centralised leadership style has stripped his party, commonly referred to as
"triple C", of its structures.
This is
rooted in fears it could be infiltrated by the ruling party.
But critics
say it has weakened the CCC, causing confusion and a lack of organisation in
the run-up to the vote.
Some complain
Chamisa has not been vocal enough in demanding freedom for popular CCC senior
official and lawmaker Job Sikhala, who has spent more than a year behind bars,
and has failed to articulate an alternative vision for Zimbabwe.
Religion is a
recurrent topic in Chamisa's messaging but analysts say this has alienated some
in middle-class urban areas, where the party is stronger.
The word
"God" appears more than 40 times in the CCC's manifesto, which
includes among its top priorities "making Zimbabwe a God-loving, God-honouring
and a God-fearing nation".
"God is
in it" is the campaign slogan.
- Political
upbringing -
Born in
Masvingo, south of the capital Harare, Chamisa studied law and political
science at the University of Zimbabwe and also holds a degree in theology.
He credits
his career to his parents' insistence that he should value education and excel
in school.
As head of
the Zimbabwe National Students Union in the late 1990s, Chamisa was among
organisers of demonstrations against Mugabe's government that resulted in colleges
and universities being shut down.
Chamisa --
who is married with one child -- rose through the MDC party ranks, holding
posts including leader of the youth wing and party spokesman.
Over the
years, he has earned a reputation for delivering passionate speeches spiced
with humour -- a sharp contrast to the sombre Mnangagwa.
In the
troubled power-sharing government after the 2008 election, he was the youngest
member of cabinet, serving as information and communication technology
minister.
"Chamisa
is a very charismatic figure," said Zimbabwean scholar Brian Raftopoulos.
"But his
w
Source: africanews.com
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Arab World
Saudi Music
Commission launches Oud House in Riyadh
August 22,
2023
RIYADH: The
Saudi Music Commission recently inaugurated its Oud House project in Riyadh and
has invited applications from people interested in learning how to play Arabic
musical instruments.
Traditional
instruments such as the oud, duf, rebab, and mizmar, commonly played at
celebrations in the Kingdom, are a key part of the country’s musical culture.
Oud House has
been set up as a training center for musicians under the guidance and
supervision of maestro Naseer Shamma and will offer lectures and workshops.
The oud,
which dates back more than 3,000 years, is one of the oldest and most important
stringed instruments in the Arab world’s musical heritage and has played a
significant role through history.
The Oud House
curriculum will include lessons led by musical experts on playing instruments
such as the flute, bezek, cello, and violin.
The project
aims to promote Arabic culture, raise awareness about the significance of the
oud, and foster a global community of professional oud players.
After
undergoing a period of training and rehearsals, students will have the
opportunity to participate in concerts.
The
establishment of Oud House forms part of the Music Commission’s work to enhance
the music industry in Saudi Arabia, encourage its growth, and provide training
and empowerment opportunities for local talent.
The
commission aims to develop the institute to be a globally recognized center,
spread awareness about Arabic musical instruments, specifically the oud, and
preserve the heritage of Arabic music.
Source: arabnews.com
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Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session
22 Aug, 2023
Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet
session held today at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
The Cabinet
was briefed on the contents of the phone call HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received from the prime
minister of the United Kingdom, with whom he discussed cooperation and
exchanged views on developments in regional and international arenas.
In a
statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the Cabinet session,
Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet tackled
recent actions taken by the Kingdom, particularly those related to cooperation
with other countries and multilateral coordination through the UN, Islamic and
Arab organizations, and G20.
The Cabinet
reviewed the measures taken toward implementing the agreement to resume
diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, including having
ambassadors from both countries carrying out their duties, and said it hoped
the new relations will be based on common interests and mutual respect.
The Cabinet
was also briefed on a number of issues on its agenda, and issued the following
decisions:
First: Authorizing the minister of foreign
affairs, or a deputy, to sign with the Gulf Health Council a draft headquarters
agreement.
Second: Authorizing the minister of Islamic
affairs, or a deputy, to discuss with the Spiritual Administration of Muslims
of Kazakhstan, in the Republic of a draft memorandum of understanding in the
field of Islamic affairs.
Third: Approving a memorandum of understanding
for cooperation in the field of water resources and irrigation between the
Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Egyptian Ministry
of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Fourth: Authorizing the mayor of Riyadh
Municipality, or a deputy, to discuss with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in
the Republic of Korea a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation
concerning city management and operation.
Fifth: Authorizing the minister of tourism, or
a depuy, to discuss with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the People's
Republic of China a draft memorandum of understanding to facilitate the travel
of Chinese tourists to the Kingdom.
Sixth: Authorizing the Minister of Economy and
Planning, or a deputy, to hold talks with the Swiss side on a draft memorandum
of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and the
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of the Swiss
Confederation for cooperation in the economic field.
Seventh: Authorizing the president of the
University of Tabuk, or a deputy, to hold talks with the King Salman
International University (KSIU), in the Arab Republic of Egypt, regarding a
draft memorandum of understanding concerning research, academic work and
training between the two universities.
Eighth: Authorizing the attorney general, or a
deputy, to hold talks with the Omani side on a draft memorandum of
understanding between the Saudi Public Prosecution and its Omani counterpart in
the field of judicial and legal cooperation.
Ninth: Authorizing the supervisor general of
the National Center for Archives and Records, or a deputy, to hold talks with
the Royal Hashemite Documentation Center in Jordan about a draft memorandum of
understanding in the field of document archiving.
Tenth: Approving a by-law concerning the
rights of persons with disabilities.
Eleventh: Approving organizational
arrangements for the Investment Council.
Twelfth: For those who lose their vehicles,
the state shall bear the fees and fines incurred on that vehicle until it is
found, starting from the date of vehicle loss notification, with the
stipulation that the state will pass those fees and fines onto the thief, if
the vehicle is stolen, or frauds who are the real owners of those vehicles.
Thirteenth: Amending Paragraph E of the first
item of the Cabinet Decision No. 1270 of Thul Qadah 12, 1392 Hijri, regarding
the rules guiding the implementation of articles 21 and 23 of the Roads and
Buildings By-law.
Fourteenth: Renewing the memberships of
members of the board of directors of the Saudia Airline.
Fifteenth: Amending Article 28 of the Army
Personnel Service By-law and Paragraph A of Item 12 concerning Implementing
Regulations of the Army Personnel Service By-law related to the relocation allowance,
to read "as stipulated in the decision".
Sixteenth: Approving the final statements of
the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Education and Training Evaluation Commission,
and Shaqra University for the two previous financial years. Seventeenth:
Approving a number of promotions to the 15th and 14th ranks.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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------
Saudi MMA
stars to make debuts at Madison Square Garden
August 23,
2023
Ten years ago
few people in Saudi Arabia had heard of Mixed Martial Arts. Now two rising
Saudi stars in the combat sport are set to make their debuts on the hallowed
canvas of the Madison Square Garden arena in New York.
Abdullah
Al-Qahtani, from Riyadh, and Mostafa Rashed Neda, from Jeddah, will compete in
separate bouts on Wednesday at the Professional Fighters League playoffs.
Saudi
interest in the sport began when the Kingdom hosted the popular regional Desert
Force competition in 2014, and its popularity has surged since then with the
establishment of a national MMA foundation to develop Saudi talent.
Al-Qahtani,
known as “The Reaper,” said he was more than ready to square off against US
featherweight David Zelner, despite limited training facilities. “This is an
old-school gym,” he said of the spot where he works out, its walls decorated
with cartoon sketches of boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
“It’s not the
best and it does not have the best equipment, but it has very good fighters.”
Neda was
forced to use YouTube to learn the basics of MMA, and his first proper sparring
partner was an American English teacher who showed him jiujitsu fundamentals.
Inspired,
Neda took it upon himself to introduce MMA to other Saudis, and eventually
formed a club of his own.“It was a difficult time, but thank God, during the
past four or five years, MMA has grown a lot,” he said.
Like Neda,
Al-Qahtani is eagerly awaiting his New York debut. “This fight will seal my
destiny ... it is a sacred place for us,” he said. “God willing, I will make
everyone proud and win. I’m not afraid, but excited.”
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Saudi
environmentalist’s 500,000 bottle cap mural enters Guinness World Records
August 22,
2023
In 2021,
Al-Fadli registered the “Making a Map of the World Using Plastic Covers”
initiative as the biggest such map in the world, and which was launched with
the Ministry of Sports as part of aims to preserve the environment in Jeddah
JEDDAH: Saudi
environmental activist Khulood Al-Fadli has officially entered the Guinness
World Records for creating the world’s largest mural using plastic bottle caps,
symbolizing a green Saudi Arabia.
The mural,
which covers an area of 383 square meters, involved the use of 500,000 plastic
bottle caps.
The Saudi
teacher, who was supported by Green Leaves School students during the eight
months it took to create the mural, aims to preserve the environment by reusing
and reducing plastic.
Al-Fadli
submitted a raft of evidence including video footage, data and witness
statements to Guinness World Records and spoke to Arab News of her delight
after learning they had confirmed that her application had been successful.
“I’m just so,
so pleased for this second record — it was a lot of work for everybody
involved, especially the team who supported me,” she said. “It was a while
waiting to hear whether it would be officially verified, so when I found out it
had been approved it was a huge relief, not so much for myself but for all of
those who gave up their time to help make it happen.”
In 2021,
Al-Fadli registered the “Making a Map of the World Using Plastic Covers”
initiative as the biggest such map in the world, and which was launched with
the Ministry of Sports as part of aims to preserve the environment in Jeddah.
The 250-square meter, record-breaking world map was made using 350,000 plastic
bottle caps.
She added:
“Praise be to Allah, always and forever, in the completion of the largest mural
in the world … symbolizing the green Saudi Arabia between our past, our
civilization and our bright future. The mural took eight months of perseverance
and persistence. (It) aims to reuse and reduce plastic and preserve the
environment. Thank you for everyone’s support for this initiative and thanks to
my team (Keep It Green) and my family and husband who believed in me.”
The
certificate for Al-Fadli’s achievement was handed over during a special
ceremony at the Jeddah Corniche with the attendance of officials from Guinness
World Records and Jeddah Municipality, and members of her family, school and
community.
The plastic
caps for the mural were collected as a community effort, with contributions
from the school students, family, friends and a growing number of plastic
bottle cap donors. The caps were cleaned, positioned, and finishing touches
added.
Al-Fadli’s
students helped created the mosaic mural and learned the importance of repurposing
plastic in the process. The children also visited the mural with Al-Fadli, who
is the school’s principal, after its completion.
The artist
explained that the children participate in many environmental sustainability
projects, including cleaning beaches and landscaping in public parks. They were
also involved in the 2021 record-breaking world map.
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Cabinet reviews
measures taken toward implementing deal to resume diplomatic ties with Iran
August 22,
2023
JEDDAH — The
Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam
Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday, reviewed the measures taken toward implementing
the agreement to resume diplomatic relations with Iran, including having
ambassadors from both countries carrying out their duties, and said it hoped
the new relations will be based on common interests and mutual respect.
The Cabinet
was briefed on the contents of the phone call Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammed Bin Salman received from the prime minister of the United Kingdom,
with whom he discussed cooperation and exchanged views on developments in
regional and international arenas.
In a
statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the Cabinet session,
Minister of Media Salman Bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet tackled
recent actions taken by the Kingdom, particularly those related to cooperation
with other countries and multilateral coordination through the UN, Islamic and
Arab organizations, and G20.
The Cabinet
authorized the minister of foreign affairs to sign with the Gulf Health Council
a draft headquarters agreement. It authorized the minister of Islamic affairs
to discuss with the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, in
Kazakhstan, a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic
affairs.
The Cabinet
approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of water
resources and irrigation between the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and
Agriculture and the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
It authorized
the mayor of Riyadh Municipality to discuss with the Seoul Metropolitan
Government in the Republic of Korea a draft memorandum of understanding for
cooperation concerning city management and operation.
The Cabinet
authorized the minister of tourism to discuss with the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism in China a draft memorandum of understanding to facilitate the travel
of Chinese tourists to the Kingdom.
It authorized
the minister of economy and planning to hold talks with the Swiss side on a
draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and
Planning and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
of the Swiss Confederation for cooperation in the economic field.
The Cabinet
authorized the president of the University of Tabuk to hold talks with the King
Salman International University (KSIU), in Egypt, regarding a draft memorandum
of understanding concerning research, academic work and training between the
two universities.
It authorized
the attorney general to hold talks with the Omani side on a draft memorandum of
understanding between the Saudi Public Prosecution and its Omani counterpart in
the field of judicial and legal cooperation.
The Cabinet
authorized the supervisor general of the National Center for Archives and
Records to hold talks with the Royal Hashemite Documentation Center in Jordan
about a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of document archiving.
It approved a
by-law concerning the rights of persons with disabilities. It also approved
organizational arrangements for the Investment Council.
The Cabinet
approved, for those who lose their vehicles, that the state shall bear the fees
and fines incurred on that vehicle until it is found, starting from the date of
vehicle loss notification, with the stipulation that the state will pass those
fees and fines onto the thief, if the vehicle is stolen, or frauds who are the
real owners of those vehicles.
It amended
Paragraph E of the first item of the Cabinet Decision No. 1270 of Thul Qadah
12, 1392 Hijri, regarding the rules guiding the implementation of articles 21
and 23 of the Roads and Buildings By-law.
The Cabinet
renewed the memberships of members of the board of directors of the Saudia
Airline.
It amended
Article 28 of the Army Personnel Service By-law and Paragraph A of Item 12
concerning Implementing Regulations of the Army Personnel Service By-law
related to the relocation allowance, to read “as stipulated in the decision”.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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Saudi FM
leaves for South Africa to attend BRICS summit
August 22,
2023
RIYADH — On
behalf of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Foreign Minister
Prince Faisal bin Farhan is leading Saudi Arabia’s delegation attending the
BRICS Plus Dialogue and BRICS-Africa Outreach conference. The foreign minister
has left on Tuesday for South Africa.
The session,
with the theme “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth,
sustainable development, and inclusive multilateralism,” will be held on
Thursday, Aug. 24, in Johannesburg. The BRICS Plus and BRICS Africa dialogue
will discuss many developments in the international arena and the global
challenges. It will also discuss sustainable solutions to the challenges the
world is witnessing, including the issues faced by BRICS and the Global South
to build mutually beneficial partnerships in a multi-polar world.
The dialogue
conference will be held on the sidelines of the 10th BRICS summit that began on
Tuesday and will conclude on Thursday. The theme of the 15th annual BRICS
summit is “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared
Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
The summit is
an international relations conference attended by the heads of state or heads
of government of the five member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and
South Africa. President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President, Xi
Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Brazilian President Lula Da
Silva are attending the summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is
representing President Vladimir Putin who will join the summit meeting via a
video link. About 50 other leaders are also attending. The BRICS group of major
emerging economies account for more than 40 percent of the world population and
a quarter of the global economy.
On the
sidelines of the summit, Prince Faisal will hold a number of bilateral meetings
with representatives of the countries participating in the BRICS Plus and BRICS
Africa dialogue. The Saudi delegation also includes Deputy Minister of Foreign
for International Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Director General of the
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Dawood, and Director
General of International Organizations Shaher Al-Khunaini.
Saudi
Arabia’s bid to join BRICS
The expansion
of the BRICS group is one of the major items on the agenda of the summit. Saudi
Arabia, which is the largest trading partner of the BRICS group in the Middle
East, is one of the applicants. Around 40 countries have expressed their
interest to join BRICS, while 23 countries have formally applied, including
Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Thailand,
Cuba, Egypt, Nigeria. Saudi Arabia was among more than a dozen countries that
participated in "Friends of BRICS" talks in Cape Town in June. It has
received backing from Russia and Brazil to join the BRICS.
The expansion
file has been receiving attention from all parties to the group for years, but
its resolution has not yet come, amid expectations that the discussions on the
main agenda of the summit will result in resolving the issue of expansion and
the entry of new countries. Recent moves showed that Saudi Arabia, for its
part, is focused on deepening cooperation with BRICS without considering the
inevitability of joining the group, given that joining will ultimately add
value to both sides, and will enhance political and economic cooperation, which
necessarily leads to strengthening the economic and political balance in the
world as sought by Saudi Arabia and many other member countries of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
This
proposition is reinforced by the Saudi foreign minister’s assertion that his
country is keen to develop future cooperation with the BRICS group by
exploiting the capabilities and potentials possessed by the Saudis and the
BRICS countries, with the aim of achieving common interests and prosperity for
all. The BRICS member states and Saudi Arabia share basic values such as
respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal
affairs, adherence to international law, collective action and cooperation in
facing common challenges.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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-----
Crown Prince
launches new strategy of KAUST
August 22,
2023
Crown Prince
and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman, who’s also the chairman of KAUST Board
of Trustees, launched on Sunday the new strategy of the University. The
strategy aims to transform research into economically productive innovations by
focusing on the national priorities for research, development, and innovation:
Health and Wellness, Sustainable Environment and Essential Needs, Energy and
Industrial Leadership, and Economies of the Future. Additionally, the strategy
aims to strengthen KAUST’s partnerships with both the public and private
sectors, which will contribute to achieving the objectives of Vision 2030.
The Crown
Prince said: “Since the foundation of KAUST, it has distinguished itself with
its research, innovations, and faculty, to become one of the leading research
universities in the world. The new strategy builds on KAUST’s scientific and
academic achievements and represents a new era for the University to become a
beacon of knowledge and a source of inspiration and innovation in line with
Vision 2030 aspirations for the betterment of the Kingdom and the world.”
The new
strategy focuses on increasing the likelihood of turning research into
economically beneficial innovations. This ambition will be achieved through
three major initiatives: the launch of the National Transformation Institute
for Applied Research (NTI) to accelerate technology development and
commercialization to support the Kingdom’s economic diversification
aspirations; the restructuring of research centers to align with national
priorities for research, development, and innovation; and the creation of a
$200m fund (SR750 million) to deliver unmet investment in local and
international firms specializing in high-tech, which will enhance economic diversification
and contribute to the creation of high quality technical jobs.
The strategy
also aims to provide quality opportunities for researchers, faculty staff, and
students, supporting them to apply science and research to create a sustainable
global impact by strengthening international and local partnerships.
Among the
most important initiatives resulting from these partnerships is the KAUST
Reefscape Restoration Initiative, in partnership with NEOM, which will focus on
cultivating and restoring hundreds of thousands of coral reefs on an area of
100 hectares, on Shushah Island in the Red Sea.
Additionally,
KAUST will continue collaboration with some of the largest companies in the
Kingdom and the world, such as Aramco, SABIC, ACWA Power, IBM, Dow, and Boeing.
One of the most prominent initiatives of the strategy is to strengthen
international partnerships and develop cooperation frameworks with leading
academic institutions and technology pioneers in the world.
This includes
forging strategic cooperation agreements with leading academic and commercial
institutes in the Chinese city of Shenzhen to collaborate on applied research
across cutting-edge fields like aerospace, robotics, and microelectronics.
Through these
initiatives and partnerships, KAUST will contribute to developing the higher
education ecosystem, nurturing the future scientific research pioneers in the
Kingdom, promoting research and global innovation, and stimulating the growth
of advanced technology startups. This will enhance the competitiveness of the
Kingdom’s economy and its global position as a leader in innovation.
KAUST’s
strategy is built upon its legacy and global academic status, as the University
boasts a remarkable history adorned with numerous world-leading achievements
since its foundation. It ranked first in the world in terms of “citations per
faculty”, according to the (QS) 2021 classification.
The
university’s research production is also included in the most important 25% of
the highest-ranked scientific journals worldwide, surpassing its peer
prestigious universities. Through its talent outputs, KAUST has contributed to
the world by providing highly skilled professionals who now hold leadership
positions and work as CEOs and researchers in various major international institutions,
such as NASA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and NEOM, among
others.
Vision
KAUST aspires
to be a destination for scientific and technological education and research. By
inspiring discoveries to address global challenges, we strive to serve as a
beacon of knowledge that bridges people and cultures for the betterment of
humanity.
Mission
We exist for
the pursuit and advancement of scientific knowledge and its broad dissemination
and benevolent application. Through distinctive and collaborative research
integrated with graduate education, we strive to enhance the welfare of society
with a special focus on four areas of global significance – food, water, energy
and the environment.
A new era for
KAUST
Our
unrelenting commitment to research, innovation and talent, has seen KAUST
establish itself as one of the leading research universities in the world,
ranking #1 for citations per faculty globally, with a reputation for
impact-driven research that contributes to the betterment of the world. This
new-era of KAUST and our new strategy builds on our many successes,
achievements and strong foundations, and represents an evolution that brings us
closer to the interests of the Kingdom.
Re-focusing
research to align with new RDI priorities
Through
re-focusing our research in alignment with the Kingdom’s 2022 RDI priorities,
KAUST will play a more active role in supporting Vision 2030 and accelerating
impact.
KAUST
National Transformation Institute
Creating the
new KAUST National Transformation Institute (NTI) will accelerate our
technology development and commercialization to support the Kingdom’s economic
diversification aspirations.
International
collaboration & partnerships
Synergistic
partnerships with top-tier academic institutions and leading international
innovation hubs in USA, China and other regions will create opportunities and
networks for our people to drive global impact at unprecedented speed and
scale.
deep tech
innovation fund, Capital K, will invest $200 million (SR750 million) over
five-to-eight years into early-stage technologies from KAUST, KSA or around the
world that will contribute to the economic development and job creation
ambitions of the Kingdom.
KAUST
Reefscape Restoration Initiative
KAUST will
lead innovation on major projects of national importance, including the world’s
largest coral reef restoration project at Shushah Island in NEOM.
This
initiative gives KAUST a stake in the creation of a landmark and world-first
marine destination focused on coral propagation, conservation, and enhancement,
with nurseries producing 500,000 coral fragments per year.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635159/SAUDI-ARABIA/Crown-Prince-launches-new-strategy-of-KAUST
------
Europe
KREMLIN
NARRATIVE U-TURN FROM DEMONIZING MUSLIMS TO PROTECTORS OF ISLAM
AUGUST 22,
2023
Freedom of
speech is a fundamental value that underpins Western democracies. But walking
the fine line of protecting the right to free speech and protecting people the
abusing freedom of speech to do intentional harm is no easy task. Whether the
topic is burning the American flag(opens in a new tab) as a form of protest in
the United States or displaying the Nazi symbol in Germany(opens in a new tab),
deciding where to draw the line between freedom of expression and needless
provocation can perplex even the most even-minded policymakers.
So when small
groups of provocateurs and far-right activists in Sweden(opens in a new tab) and
Denmark(opens in a new tab) recently gathered to burn pages of the Quran, they
were exploiting a long-standing question among democratic governments: what is
protected speech, and when can it be restricted? Resolving such a dilemma
requires the utmost sensitivity, fairness, and tact.
Russian
state-controlled outlets are not know to exhibit any of these qualities. The
notorious Kremlin weapon of deception, RT in English, wasted no time(opens in a
new tab) in alleging that the Swedish and Danish governments’ consent to the
burnings as free speech was a straight-up(opens in a new tab) attack(opens in a
new tab) on Islam(opens in a new tab). Yet they remained blissfully ignorant of
the fact that there is a prolific public debate in these countries weighting the
right to freedom of religion versus the right to free speech, showing exactly
how difficult it can be for a society wrestle with such a sensitive issue. But
this openness of debate is crucial for building consensus and crafting policy.
By contrast, it is hard to imagine such healthy debate taking place on Russia’s
own increasingly restrictive information and media environment.
Meanwhile, RT
Arabic pointed to the courteous words(opens in a new tab) of Russian President
Vladimir Putin, who noted that ‘disrespecting the Quran is a crime in Russia,
unlike in some other countries.’ Putin also said(opens in a new tab), ‘The
Patriarch of Russia assures us that Muslims are our brothers… We know that in
some other countries they act differently, and some of them do not respect
people’s religious feelings. And they say it’s not a crime.’ This odd bout of
the Patriarch’s apparent humanitarianism and religious tolerance stands in
clear juxtaposition with his unflinching support to Russia’s unholy war against
Ukraine(opens in a new tab).
Putin’s
gracious solicitude towards Muslim feelings jars against what pro-Kremlin
outlets and commentators have said in the past. They have not hesitated to
compare immigrants to Europe, many from Muslim-majority countries, as ‘barbarians(opens
in a new tab)’ or to issue dark warnings about ‘the full-throttle
Islamisation(opens in a new tab)’ of Europe. The common thread of Kremlin is a
shameless readiness to use Muslims to attack the West, whether by demonising
them or by posing as their protectors. It is all the more shameless,
considering Russia’s well-documented xenophobia and intolerance(opens in a new
tab) toward Muslim immigrants from Central Asia.
In fact,
Russian disinformation about Islam, and more broadly about the related topic of
immigration to Europe, often hits at several of the five most common
pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives: ‘the elites versus the people’,
‘threatened values’, ‘lost sovereignty / threatened national identity’, and
‘imminent collapse’. We disentangle the disinfo below.
Beware those
pointing to supposed puppet-masters
The first
narrative, the elites versus the people, alleges that a nebulous group of
puppet-masters is conspiring to thwart the will of decent, normal folk.
Regarding Islam, this narrative usually posits that anyone from George Soros to
EU political elites are using Islam or Muslim immigrants to attack other EU
countries or to destroy aspects of European culture.
Speaking of
that imaginary devil, one story claimed that Soros and mainstream German
political parties want to use ‘mass immigration’ to destroy the traditional way
of life by constructing a multicultural society. Another article alleged that
France and German have conspired(opens in a new tab) to use immigration to
weaken Italy, a notion that we have debunked. And an RT segment alleged that
European elites are complicit in an ongoing genocide against Christians in the
Middle East, and are using Muslims ‘to do their dirty job’.
“Barbarians
at the gates”
Regarding
Muslims, Kremlin propagandists have often poured together the two common
narratives of ‘threatened values’ and ‘threatened national identity’. The toxic
potion that results is a harmful mega-narrative, ‘threatened national identity
and values’.
If one word
sums up this mega-narrative, it is ‘Islamisation’. The reader may recall the
Sputnik article above, under ‘elites versus the people’, that referred to
George Soros. Disinformation spreaders love to mix and match their narratives.
But the term ‘Islamisation’ has a small but special place in pro-Kremlin
propaganda directed at Europe, as our database attests.
Examples of
pro-Kremlin commentators trying to spook Europeans with the word include Sputnik
World raising the spectre of the ‘full-throttle Islamisation(opens in a new
tab)’ of Europe. Another is this article contemplating whether Middle Eastern
and North Africa immigration to Germany(opens in a new tab) is the reason for
rising anti-Semitism there. Pro-Kremlin outlets have been pushing this
disinformation narrative for years, and we have already debunked it before.
Disinformation
spreaders like to exploit the vagueness of the term ‘migrant’ to employ their
Muslim-hating rhetoric while maintaining plausible deniability. For example,
one commentator referred to immigrants to Europe as worse than the
‘barbarians(opens in a new tab)’ who overthrew the Roman Empire. The conflation
between the terms ‘migrant’ and ‘Muslim’ was clear enough even without saying
so openly.
The imminent
collapse is always just around the corner
Our final
common Kremlin narrative regarding Islam fits into that of Europe’s allegedly
inevitable ‘imminent collapse’ – a collapse that has been imminent for years.
It tends to have an apocalyptic tone that asserts that immigration in general,
including immigration from Muslim-majority countries, will eventually destroy
Europe as we know it.
This News
Front article, for example, claimed that Muslims are ‘enslaving’ Europe with
the tacit consent of European leaders, in a neat cross-over with the ‘elites
versus the people’ narrative described above. In addition, a commentary
asserted(opens in a new tab) that the US is using immigration from the Middle
East to carry out the ‘complete destruction of Europe’.
Finally,
Russian propagandist and demagogue Aleksandr Dugin, revelling in his premature
judgement that Covid had destroyed the West, celebrated(opens in a new tab) the
supposed collapse of ‘the world of office workers and beauty bloggers,
transgender persons and climate activists, human right defenders and hipsters,
migrants [emphasis added] and feminists’. In this dark and primal world view,
immigrants are just more monsters in a fantastical pantheon of degenerates
intent on destroying all that is natural and good.
Bait-and-switch:
from Islam’s haters to Islam’s protectors
By now, you
may have noticed that around 2020, stories about Europe’s ‘Islamisation’
suddenly declined in pro-Kremlin media outlets. Instead, the subject turned to
Poland’s supposed mistreatment of immigrants trafficked through Belarus or to
the made-up misdeeds of Ukrainian immigrants in Europe.
Having
monitored and catalogued pro-Kremlin disinformation for years, we have an
inkling as to why the Kremlin seems to have made a U-turn in its narratives
about Islam and Muslims. Any issue that is contentious in the West is fair game
for the pro-Kremlin disinformation peddlers to be used as a wedge. Changing the
tone of the narrative 180 degrees is not uncommon for the Kremlin. It is the
sort of broad-based and relatively sudden change in editorial policy that only
a vast media disinformation ecosystem run by an authoritarian government could
make.
Unfortunately
for them, a track record – our track record,– still exists. And it shows that
until fairly recently, pro-Kremlin commentators played a double game. On the
one hand, they wanted the Muslim world to think of Russia as their friend. But
they also appealed to xenophobes in Europe by demonising immigrants in general
and particularly those from Muslim-majority countries.
According to
the Kremlin, the EU is damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t. It is either
evil if it refuses to take in immigrants, or doomed if it hosts them. That
basic dynamic fits into the most ‘mega’ of the Kremlin’s mega-narratives: the
West is always to blame. Tactics may change, but the fundamental goal remains
the same.
Source: euvsdisinfo.eu
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/kremlin-narrative-u-turn-from-demonizing-muslims-to-protectors-of-islam/
-----
Sustainable
Finance and the Goal of Net Zero: what can Islamic finance bring to the table?
22.08.2023
The past year
has brought a renewed focus on sustainability, both nationally and globally
with countries pushing to reduce their reliance on carbon fuel sources and hit
their net zero targets. The US Inflation Reduction Act, which is celebrating
its first anniversary, has resulted in huge subsidies for renewable and
sustainable energy in the US. It has also worried many in the UK renewables
sector, particularly given the EU and China’s response by introducing their own
green investment policies. How will the UK respond, particularly given the
Government’s change of course away from its green commitments?
Whether
guided by government or driven by private investment, sustainable finance is
playing a key role in working towards net zero. However, it is still in its
infancy. We are consistently seeing new initiatives, taskforces, legislation
and regulations emerge – it’s new and confusing. How should the financial
sector deal with this change?
When looking
at sustainability, investors may wish to take inspiration from Islamic finance.
This relatively niche area of finance has already adopted key principles of
sustainability and has methods that might make the implementation process
smoother. At its core are set principles based on Sharia law. These principles
dictate what type of investments financiers can fund and how they can generate
income. We have set out three principles of Islamic Finance which can help your
investments become more sustainable.
Ethical
Investments
The first
principle is that all finance must be ethical. Under Sharia law, this means it
must be for the benefit of society and have an ethical purpose.
Various
regulatory bodies, such as the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic
Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and the Islamic Finance Services Board (IFSB),
provide standards on ethical investments. Whilst these organisations resemble
regulatory bodies that already exist for sustainable finance, Islamic finance
takes it one step further. Each transaction has to be approved by a Sharia
committee to ensure that the transaction is ethical. If it is compliant, the
committee will issue a pronouncement or opinion. Transactions that do not have
this sign-off cannot go ahead.
UK banks are
implementing sustainable boards. However, they are usually high level, with the
focus being on the business rather than scrutinising individual transactions.
Case-by-case compliance assessments could lower the risk of issues failing to
be identified, with more certainty that the transaction will not be exposed to
future sanctions.
This is not
to say that the Sharia system is beyond criticism. Many point to the increased
complexity of the transaction as a major drawback, due to its impact on time
and costs. However, with the increasing scrutiny, perhaps the “burden” is worth
bearing.
Sharing and
Managing Risk
The second
principle is that neither party should be unfairly exploited by the other.
Under Sharia law, charging interest (making money from money) is considered
exploitation of the customer which is strictly forbidden.
Islamic banks
instead make profit from the returns of a successful investment. As returns are
not assured, the financier will have to invest in ventures it believes will be
successful. This exposes them to higher commercial risk than under conventional
finance.
In conventional
finance, charging interest provides lenders with confidence, as they are
guaranteed payment of the interest and the repayment of the loaned capital. If
the borrower defaults, the outstanding amount owed (both interest and capital)
will be recovered by the lender enforcing its security. The lender in this case
is heavily focused on the borrower’s financial viability to make repayment. The
borrower therefore carries a bigger risk whereas, in Islamic finance the risk
and desire for a successful investment is shared between the parties.
Sharia
principles can also impact what assets an Islamic bank can take security over.
This can lead to a smaller set of assets over which to take security when
compared to conventional finance. In these circumstances, the Islamic banks
have to assess loans more carefully, as they have less to recover from in the
event of enforcement.
Unlike
financial risks, climate risk is shared by everyone. Islamic finance’s
principle of sharing and managing risk could offer a framework for sharing
climate risk. Used effectively, this principle could create sensible and
sustainable lending, unlike the kind that ultimately led to the 2008 financial
crash.
Long-term
Planning
The final
principle is to focus on the long-term viability of transactions.
Focusing on a
customer’s financial viability can create a short-term outlook. The key
criterion becomes the customer’s ability to repay, without thinking of the
greater impact of the project, both good and bad.
When focusing
on long-term viability, the role of the financier is akin to a co-investor,
under which the financial viability of the customer and the impact of the
project can be equally weighted. This encourages both parties to focus on the
long-term impacts of the transaction, which will now include environmental and
social impacts.
Source: lawnow.com
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https://cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2023/08/sustainable-finance-and-the-goal-of-net-zero-what-can-islamic-finance-bring-to-the-table
-----
Mideast
Will Israel’s
protest movement expand to include the occupation?
22 Aug 2023
Hundreds of
thousands of Israelis, including members of the military, have poured into the
streets this year to protest against a judicial overhaul plan by their
far-right government.
The issue of
the decades-long occupation of Palestinian lands and citizens, which has only
escalated in intensity in recent years, has been largely absent from the
protest.
A small
number of activists have been seen waving Palestinian flags at the protests,
but they have largely remained on the sidelines.
However, as
the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains adamant about
pushing through with its proposed changes to the judicial system, speculation
has grown that protests could potentially grow in scale to include the
occupation of the West Bank.
For now,
potential complications caused by the entry of current and former members of
the Israeli army into the protest fold appear to top Netanyahu’s agenda, and
the premier has been accused of trying to shift the blame for the fallout to
the military.
Thousands of
Israeli army reservists have said they will refuse to report for duty if the
judicial changes are not shelved, something Netanyahu has privately decried as “insubordination”.
The hundreds
of reserve pilots protesting are of particular concern for the government and
the army as they could be deemed ineligible to fly by next month if they do not
do regular refresher flights to be considered combat-ready.
The divisions
in the army reflect fractures in Israeli society as critics express concern
that the judicial changes could take the nation towards more authoritarian
approaches.
‘A new
political opening’
According to
Dov Waxman, a political scientist and Israel scholar, the most remarkable
positive development of the protests has been the political awakening of the
Israeli centre, which includes large swaths of Israeli society.
Israeli Jews
have been somewhat depoliticised for a long time, he explained to Australia-based
outlet The Conversation, having been mostly concerned with economic issues and
the rising influence of the ultra-Orthodox, and at much lower levels with
Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
“You had a
small and shrinking left that was almost on the verge of extinction, and a
growing and increasingly confident and assertive Israeli right,” he said.
But now, he
said, Israelis who normally would not take to the streets are changing their
approach, and “the fact that they are outraged by what their government is
doing and have mobilised has created a new political opening”.
Due to the
sweeping powers, it could bestow Netanyahu and his ultranationalist
administration, the judicial overhaul is also seen to be driven in large part
by a desire to fully annex the West Bank.
In the past
two years, as Israel significantly ramped up its often deadly operations in
occupied territory, rights groups like Amnesty International have said its
practices amount to an “apartheid” system that constitutes crimes against humanity,
something Israel vehemently rejects.
Waxman said
the exclusion of the issue of occupation in the protest movement, and a failure
to include Palestinian citizens of Israel could endanger its potential.
“If the
protesters really want to ‘save’ Israeli democracy – as they have declared – in
my view, they need to address the ongoing occupation and annexation of the West
Bank,” he said.
“So,
ultimately, the movement will not succeed in its stated goal if it doesn’t
recognise that the judicial overhaul is a symptom of a broader crisis.”
Killings on
the rise
The United
Nations Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, told the UN Security Council on
Monday that more than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis have been killed
so far this year in the occupied West Bank and Israel.
This has been
a level of violence surpassing last year’s entire already high death toll and
the highest number of fatalities since 2005, he said.
In this
environment, a number of high-profile Israelis have begun publicly decrying the
government’s hardening approach.
Amiram Levin,
a former commander of the Israeli army’s northern forces and deputy director of
Mossad, earlier this month accused the government of “total apartheid” and
appeared to compare its actions in the occupied West Bank to Nazi Germany.
“Walk around
Hebron and you will see streets where Arabs cannot walk, just like what
happened in Germany,” local media quoted him as saying, referring to the
southern West Bank city where Palestinians live in close quarters with a Jewish
settler minority backed by the army.
Source: aljazeera.com
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/will-israels-protest-movement-expand-to-include-the-occupation
-----
Sudan
fighting has left about 500 children dead, says charity
REUTERS
August 22,
2023
CAIRO: About
500 children have died from hunger in Sudan — including two dozen babies in a
government-run orphanage in the capital of Khartoum — since fighting erupted in
the East African country in April, a leading aid group said on Tuesday.
Save the
Children also said that at least 31,000 children lack access to treatment for
malnutrition and related illnesses since the charity was forced to close 57 of
its nutrition centers in Sudan.
Sudan was
plunged into chaos after monthslong tensions between the military and a rival
paramilitary force exploded into open fighting on April 15. The conflict has
turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields. Many residents live
without water and electricity, and the country’s healthcare system has nearly
collapsed.
“Never did we
think we would see children dying from hunger in such numbers, but this is now
the reality in Sudan,” said Arif Noor, Save the Children’s director for Sudan.
“We are seeing children dying from entirely preventable hunger.”
More than 4.4
million people were forced to flee their homes either to safer areas in Sudan
or cross into neighboring countries, according to the UN migration agency.
Save the
Children said that between May and July, at least 316 children, mostly under 5
years of age, died of malnutrition or associated illnesses in the southern
While Nile province. More than 2,400 more children have admitted to hospitals
in the past eight months with severe acute malnutrition — the deadliest form of
malnutrition, it added.
In the
eastern Qadarif province, at least 132 children died from malnutrition in the
government-run Children’s Hospital between April and July.
And at least
50 children, including two dozen babies, died of starvation or related
illnesses in an orphanage in Khartoum in the first six weeks of the conflict as
the fighting prevented Save the Children staff from accessing the building to
care for them, the charity said.
Save the
Children also warned that special food supplies for treating malnutrition were
running critically low at 108 facilities it still operates across Sudan.
The
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the UN-led agency responsible
for famine classifications, said Sudan’s conflict and economic decline have
driven about 20.3 million people — or more than 42 percent of the country’s
population of over 46 million people — into high levels of acute food
insecurity. Of them, about 6.3 million people live in areas that are a step
away from an official famine classification, according to the agency.
Sudanese
military factions battled for a third day over an army base in the capital,
eyewitnesses said on Tuesday, as both sides struggle for advantage in a more
than four-month war that has devastated the country.
After the
paramilitary Rapid Support Forces circulated video of its soldiers claiming to
have entered the base and captured tanks, army sources said they had managed to
drive them out. If the army were to lose the Armored Corps base, its last
stronghold in the capital Khartoum would be the army headquarters in the center
of the city.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2359741/middle-east
------
Top Turkish
diplomat calls for Iraq to designate PKK a terrorist organization during
Baghdad visit
AP
August 23,
2023
BAGHDAD:
Turkiye’s foreign minister on Tuesday denounced a separatist Kurdish group that
operates in northern Iraqi territory as an enemy of both Turkiye and Iraq, and
urged the Iraqi government to ban the group as a terrorist organization as
Ankara has done.
Turkish
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Iraq to label the Kurdistan Worker’s Party,
or PKK, a terrorist organization during his first visit to Baghdad since taking
office.
The trip came
ahead of an anticipated visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after
what has been months of escalating hostility between Turkiye and Turkish-backed
groups on one side, and Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria on the other.
In a
statement after meeting with his counterpart, Fidan urged Iraqi officials to
“not allow our mutual enemy, the PKK terrorist organization, to poison our
bilateral relations.”
While Baghdad
has frequently complained that Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq are a breach
of its sovereignty, Fidan described the PKK’s activities there as a “challenge
against Iraq’s sovereignty,” accusing the group of “occupying” areas in Iraq
and seeking to link Iraq to neighboring Syria with a “terror corridor.”
The PKK
question is expected to loom large during a visit by Erdogan, along with the
resumption of oil exports from northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region
via the Ceyhan port in Turkiye.
Officials in
Baghdad and Irbil, the seat of the Kurdish regional government, have long been
at odds over sharing of oil revenues. In 2014, the Kurdish region decided to
unilaterally export oil through an independent pipeline to Ceyhan.
Turkiye
halted oil shipments from the Kurdish region through Ceyhan in March, following
a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, which sided with
Baghdad, holding that all oil exports should go through Iraq’s state-owned oil
marketing company, SOMO. The ruling required Ankara to compensate Baghdad for
unauthorized oil exports from the Kurdish regional government from 2014 to
2018,.
Iraqi Foreign
Affairs spokesperson Ahmed Al-Sahaf said a high-ranking Iraqi delegation, led
by the oil minister, is currently in Turkiye.
Iraq’s
Foreign Affairs Minister Fouad Hussein said following his meeting with Fidan
that they had discussed the oil issue and were close to finalizing a solution.
Hussein said the discussions with his Turkish counterpart had also focused on
water issues.
The countries
have been at odds over management of shared water resources, amid intensifying
droughts in Iraq.
“Given our
shared challenges with climate change and Iraq’s historical reliance on the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers originating in Turkiye, it’s crucial for Iraq to
receive its fair share of water,” Hussein said.
The two
foreign ministers also spoke about recent public Qur’an-burnings in Europe,
which sparked mass protests in Iraq, some of them violent. Fidan said if the
two Muslim-majority countries “remain united, those who attack our sacred
values will think twice before taking such action.”
Hussein said
around 700,000 Iraqis reside in Turkiye, with 850 Turkish companies operating
in Iraq. Fidan added that bilateral trade has reached $25 billion.
Fidan is next
scheduled to visit Irbil and meet with the Kurdish region’s Prime Minister
Massrour Barzani.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2359836/middle-east
------
Iran unveils
attack drone capable of striking Israel
By Maziar
Motamedi
22 Aug 2023
Tehran, Iran
– Iran has unveiled a new drone that it says is capable of striking targets in
Israel.
The Iranian
Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics unveiled the Mohajer-10 on
Tuesday as part of an exhibition and ceremonies marking Defence Industry Day.
President
Ebrahim Raisi and senior commanders in the army and the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) attended the event.
The unmanned
attack aircraft, which resembles the MQ-9 Reaper manufactured by the United
States, was also shown in videos taking off from an unidentified airstrip and
flying. It is said to be capable of carrying a variety of bombs and anti-radar
equipment and of conducting surveillance.
According to
state-linked media, the latest version of the Mohajer, which was first
developed during the eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, can carry a 300kg
(660lb) warhead, fly at a maximum speed of 210 kilometres per hour (130 miles
per hour) and hold 450 litres (120 gallons) of fuel.
The media
reports said the drone can travel non-stop at an altitude of 7,000 metres
(4,350ft) for up to 2,000km (1,242 miles), meaning that it could reach Israel.
Iranian media
on Tuesday also published a poster of the Mohajer-10, which depicted it flying
in clouds overlooking the Dimona nuclear facilities in Israel with the words
“Be ready to travel to the Stone Age”, written above it in Farsi and Hebrew.
Standing in
front of an assortment of large missiles and flanked by military commanders,
Raisi announced during the ceremonies on Tuesday that two previously unveiled
long-range ballistic missiles are now ready to be handed over to the IRGC.
These include
the Haj Qassem, named after General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by
the US in Iraq in January 2020, reportedly using an MQ-9 Reaper, and the
Khorramshahr, named after the city whose recapture in 1982 marked a turning
point in staving off the Iraqi invasion of Iran.
Raisi told
state television that Iran’s military advances have significantly altered the way
Tehran is viewed in the region and across the world.
“Yesterday,
they viewed us as a consumer and a country in need. Today, they see us as a
producer who can have much to say in the defence and military industries,” he
said.
Speaking to a
group of defence ministry officials and scientists, he said Iran continues to
seek friendly relations with all nations but will not hesitate to “cut off any
hand” that wishes to invade Iran.
Western
powers continue to accuse Tehran of supplying drones – including an earlier
version of the Mohajer – to Russia for use in Ukraine. Iran maintains it
supplied drones to Moscow months before the war and has called for dialogue to
stop the fighting .
The unveiling
comes one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for
funding and encouraging a shooting attack on Israelis in Hebron in the occupied
West along with other recent attacks against Israelis. Also on Monday, Israel
launched an air strike in Syria targeting Iranian interests.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/iran-unveils-attack-drone-capable-of-striking-israel
------
US says deal
on Iran releasing five US citizens on track
REUTERS
August 23,
2023
WASHINGTON:
The US believes an understanding on Iran eventually releasing five US citizens
remains on track, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on
Tuesday but declined to offer any timeline.
Iran on Aug.
10 released four imprisoned US citizens into house arrest, where they joined a
fifth already under home confinement, in the first step of a deal under which
$6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korea would be unfrozen and the five would
eventually be allowed to leave the Islamic Republic.
“We believe
that things are proceeding according to the understanding that we’ve reached
with Iran. I don’t have an exact timetable for you because there’s steps that
need to yet unfold. But we believe that that remains on track,” Sullivan told
reporters in a conference call.
Allowing the
five to leave Iran, which could take weeks, would remove a major irritant
between Washington and Tehran, which remain at odds on issues from the Iranian
nuclear program to Tehran’s support for regional Shiite militias.
The Iranian
Americans who were allowed to leave Iran’s Evin prison on Aug. 10 included
businessmen Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Shargi, 58, as well as environmentalist
Morad Tahbaz, 67, who also has British nationality. The identity of the fourth
US citizen who left the prison has not been made public, nor has that of the
fifth who was already under house arrest.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2359841/middle-east
-----
New York
Mayor Eric Adams meets with Netanyahu, protest leaders in Israel
22 Aug 2023
New York City
Mayor Eric Adams has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of
an official visit to Israel — a tradition among the United States city’s mayors.
But as he
continues his three-day tour, Adams faces pressure to both signal support and
acknowledge the backlash to Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Critics have
claimed the reforms are a threat to democracy. In recent months, tens of
thousands of people have crammed the streets of cities like Jerusalem and Tel
Aviv to protest the changes.
Adams did not
comment directly on the controversy, and later in the afternoon, he had a
private meeting with Netanyahu.
“The people
of Israel will make the determination on how they want to move forward,” Adams
told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I have lots of challenges in my city,
and I wouldn’t want someone to come in and interfere with how I’m running
things.”
Adams also
courted controversy by meeting with Israel Ganz, who leads the Binyamin
Regional Council, which governs dozens of Israeli settlements in the occupied
West Bank.
Those
settlements are considered illegal under international law, and the United
Nations has condemned their expansion in recent months.
“Israel’s
persistent expansion of its settlements in the occupied West Bank, including
East Jerusalem, deepens humanitarian needs, significantly fuels violence,
increases the risk of confrontation, further entrenches the occupation and
undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” a
spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement in
June.
The statement
underscored that the continued construction was a “flagrant violation of
international law”.
Human rights
groups like Amnesty International have also accused Israel of committing crimes
of apartheid against Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Adams told
The Associated Press he did not speak with Netanyahu about the settlements but
kept the focus on fostering collaboration and confronting anti-Semitism.
An April
report from the Anti-Defamation League found that, in 2022, acts of
anti-Semitism rose in the US by more than 35 percent over the previous year.
That trend was reflected in major US cities like New York, which saw a 39
percent increase, for a total of 580 anti-Semitic incidents in 2022.
Adams’s trip
included a stop at the Holocaust remembrance site Yad Vashem in Jerusalem,
where he laid a wreath at the memorial.
“When you
visit the hallowed grounds of [Yad Vashem], you don’t just say ‘never again’.
You commit to living those two words,” he wrote afterwards on social media.
New York City
has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Since Israel’s creation in
1948 — which coincided with the mass Palestinian displacement known as the
Nabka or “catastrophe” in Arabic — New York mayors have routinely visited the
country to foster ties.
Israel enjoys
strong bipartisan support in the US and the country is the “largest cumulative
recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II”, according to the
Congressional Research Service.
Adams, a
centrist Democrat, highlighted that ongoing relationship in his column on
Tuesday. “New York City and Israel share an unbreakable bond,” he wrote.
Source: aljazeera.com
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/new-york-mayor-eric-adams-meets-with-netanyahu-protest-leaders-in-israel
-----
Iraq, Turkiye
yet to agree on northern oil exports resumption
REUTERS
August 22,
2023
BAGHDAD:
Iraq’s oil minister and his Turkish counterpart did not reach an agreement to
immediately resume Iraq’s northern oil exports but agreed to hold more talks in
the future, said two energy sources with knowledge of the ministers’ meeting in
Ankara on Tuesday.
Turkiye
halted flows on March 25 after an arbitration ruling by the International
Chamber of Commerce ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for
unauthorized exports by the Kurdistan Regional Government between 2014 and
2018.
The block
consists mainly of oil originating from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
The results
of the meeting were to allow Turkiye and Iraq to finalize pipeline maintenance
before resuming oil flow, said an Oil Ministry statement.
Iraq’s Oil
Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani had arrived in the Turkish capital to discuss issues
including the resumption of oil exports through the Ceyhan oil terminal, a
source in the minister’s office said earlier.
An Iraqi Oil
Ministry official who is close to the northern oil exports operations said on
Tuesday that the Turkish Energy Ministry informed Iraq’s state-owned marketer
SOMO last month that it needed more time to check the technical feasibility of
the pipeline to resume flows.
“Turkish Energy
Ministry informed SOMO last month that more time is needed to check the
pipeline and crude storage tanks in Ceyhan for any damages resulting from the
earthquake-hit Turkiye,” said the Iraqi official.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2359771/middle-east
-----
Palestinian
teen killed in Israeli raid in northern occupied West Bank
22 Aug 2023
Israeli
forces have shot and killed a Palestinian teenager during a raid in a town in
the northern occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials say.
Othman Abu
Khoruj, 17, was fatally shot in the head during a raid on the town of Zababdeh,
south of Jenin, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
The
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces had entered Zababdeh
to make an arrest.
Yousef
Sharqawi, a Palestinian who works at a local supermarket, told Al Jazeera that
12 Israeli military vehicles had entered the town, looking for his younger
cousin Yazan Sharqawi.
“They
surrounded two of our family homes, then proceeded to enter, searching for
Yazan,” Sharqawi said. “His father told them he was not in the house, so they
made him call Yazan on the phone.”
The younger
Sharqawi, 24, was working at a bakery and was promptly arrested as soon as he
arrived home.
In
confrontations that ensued as young Palestinians tried to repel the Israeli
soldiers, Othman Abu Khuroj was shot twice, once in the head and once in the
shoulder, witnesses said.
Abu Khuroj’s
father, Atef, was working in the fields when he heard his son was injured.
“I arrived at
the hospital, and they told me he was gone,” the 57-year-old said. “My son
worked at the bakery from 8pm until 7am, and the last time I saw him was the
day before. He was joking and stole a cigarette from me. He was my youngest
boy.”
Othman, who
like many Palestinian youth had to drop out of school to help his family
financially, had been jailed by Israel for a month earlier this year.
The armed
wing of Islamic Jihad, al-Quds Brigade, issued a statement claiming Othman Abu
Khuroj as one of its fighters.
“We affirm
that the blood of the martyrs will remain the fuel for our continued resistance
and that these sacrifices that our heroic fighters make will not be lost,” the
statement said.
For its part,
the Israeli army said its soldiers had opened fire after “explosive devices”
were thrown at them.
“A hit was
identified,” it said in a statement.
Israeli
troops routinely carry out raids into areas such as Jenin that are nominally
under the civil and security control of President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian
Authority.
Arrests and
interrogation
In the
southern West Bank, the Israeli army captured two Palestinians who were
suspected of carrying out a shooting attack on a car the day before near Hebron
that killed an Israeli settler and seriously wounded another.
A statement
by the Israeli army said joint forces from the army, the Shin Bet security
service and commandos of the Border Guard, known as Yamam, arrested the two
suspects, who are related.
The two
suspects confessed during interrogation to involvement in the attack, the
Israeli military said. Israeli security forces said they also confiscated the
rifle used to shoot at the car on Monday.
Palestinian
media identified the two suspects arrested near Hebron as Saqer and Mohammed
al-Shantir.
The attack
came two days after an Israeli father and son were shot dead at a car wash in
the West Bank town of Huwara.
Israel has
yet to make any arrests in that case despite a search operation that has seen troops
raid villages and search house to house.
Overnight
into Tuesday, the Israeli military said its forces conducted further
large-scale searches and arrest raids throughout the West Bank.
According to
the Palestinian Prisoners Club, at least 50 Palestinians were arrested, the
majority of them former prisoners who had spent time in Israeli jails.
“This
campaign of arrests is considered one of the largest since the beginning of the
year,” it said in a statement, adding that the detentions were accompanied by
“systematic abuse, severe beatings of detainees and their families, threats,
and vandalism”.
The occupied
West Bank has been rocked by violence since early last year with repeated
deadly raids by the army and violence by settlers against Palestinian communities
as well as a string of attacks by Palestinians on Israeli targets.
According to
the United Nations, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed this year, the
highest number of fatalities since 2005. Nearly 30 Israelis were killed in the
same period.
Additional
reporting by Ayman Nobani in Jenin, occupied West Bank.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/22/palestinian-teen-killed-in-israeli-raid-in-northern-occupied-west-bank
-----
Southeast
Asia
Indonesian
Ulema Council Declares Nabidz Wine Forbidden for Muslims Because Of High
Alcohol Content
23 August
2023
TEMPO.CO,
Jakarta - The Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has
emphasized that Nabidz wine is haram (forbidden) for Muslims because laboratory
tests have found a high alcohol content in the product.
Nabidz wine
is made from fermented grape juice and was recently marketed as "halal
wine." Halal means permissible in Arabic.
The commission's
head, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, stated on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, that MUI has
received information regarding the results of three different laboratory tests,
which have shown that the alcohol content in the product exceeds the limit that
can be consumed by Muslims.
"The
results of tests carried out at three laboratories have shown that the alcohol
level in the Nabidz product is quite high, so it is forbidden for Muslims to
consume," he informed.
He explained
that according to the halal guidelines and standards, MUI does not approve the
halal status of products whose names are associated with haram things in Islam,
such as wine.
"Especially
if the process involves fermenting grape juice with yeast, similar to making
wine," he added.
MUI Fatwa
Number 4 of 2003 concerning Halal Standardization lays down four criteria for
the use of names and ingredients for food and drinks, which include:
-Not using
names and/or symbols that lead to disbelief and evil.
-Not using
names and/or symbols that refer to the names of objects/animals that are
forbidden, including pork and khamr (alcoholic beverages), except for those
that have been used traditionally and do not contain forbidden elements.
-Not using
mixed ingredients that have the taste/aroma of objects or animals that are
forbidden, such as pork-flavored instant noodles.
-Not using
the names of forbidden food or drinks, such as whiskey, brandy, and beer.
Meanwhile,
MUI Fatwa Number 10 of 2018 concerning food and beverage products that contain
alcohol/ethanol states that alcoholic beverages that fall into the khamr
category are drinks with alcohol/ethanol levels above 0.5 percent.
The Head of
the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) of the Religious Affairs Ministry,
Aqil Irham, said that his institution has not issued any halal certificates for
wine products.
"Regarding
the sales of wine products with the Nabidz brand that are claimed to be
halal-certified, we need to emphasize that BPJPH has never issued halal
certificates for wine products," he clarified.
He explained
that the owner of the Nabidz brand did apply for halal certification, but the
application was intended for fruit juice drink products, not wine.
ANTARA
Source: tempo.co
Please click the following URL to read
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https://en.tempo.co/read/1763044/indonesian-ulema-council-mui-declares-nabidz-wine-forbidden-for-muslims
------
Interfaith
council: Introduction of ‘Imam Al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith’ appreciation module in
schools unconstitutional
23 Aug 2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
Aug 23 — Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) today labelled the implementation of ‘Imam Al
Nawawi’s 40 Hadith’ appreciation module at national schools by the Education
Ministry as unconstitutional.
In a
statement, the group said that the module espouses the complete Islamic system
of life.
“The ‘Hadith’
is clearly part of the Religion of Islam. There appears to be no provision in
our Federal Constitution (FC) that allows such Islamic teachings in National
type schools. This may be carried out in Islamic Religious Schools.
“At the
launch, the Ministry of Education Islamic Division Senior Deputy Director Omar
Salleh stated that the 40 Hadith covered all aspects of life, including faith,
morals, advice and communications. It could instill the fundamentals of
religious understanding, in addition to instilling pure values of Islamic
teachings,” MCCBCHST said.
The group
pointed out that the Federal Constitution allows every person to practise their
own religion and they can’t be instructed to take part in any religious act or
worship other than their own.
“Article 3(1)
of the FC which says “Islam is the religion of the Federation” only refers to
Islamic rituals and ceremonies. It does not include Islam as an all-embracing
concept as it is normally understood as a comprehensive system of life. Thus,
as far as Islam’s public sphere is concerned it is limited to Schedule 9 List
II, State List.
“Article
12(2) FC provides that ‘Every religious group has the right to establish and
maintain institutions for the education of children in its own religion’. Thus,
the 40 Hadith can be taught in Islamic religious schools but in National
schools, it may be unconstitutional to do so.
“Further
Article 12(3) FC provides that “No person shall be required to receive
instruction in or take part in any ceremony or act of worship of a religion
other than his own”. Thus, constitutional provision protects persons including
students from taking instruction in any religion other than their own,”
MCCBCHST said.
The council
said the government and the education minister should act according to the FC
which does not allow Islamic religion as a way of life to be introduced in
national type schools.
“Malaysians
were already clamouring in the past for the standard of education in schools to
be improved. Instead of looking into this aspect, the ministry appears to want
to embark on introducing ‘40 Hadith’ teaching into NationalSchools, amongst
others.
“Thus, before
any further steps are taken in the matter the ministry of education should
consult the MCCBCHST as stakeholders in this matter. The National school must
be a place where unity is promoted and not divisive policies introduced,” it
said.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/23/interfaith-council-introduction-of-imam-al-nawawis-40-hadith-appreciation-module-in-schools-unconstitutional/86707
------
Swatch
Malaysia granted permission to challenge Home Ministry's confiscation of 172
watches from Pride Collection
Rahmat
Khairulrijal
August 23,
2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
Swatch Malaysia is permitted to initiate its judicial review to contest the
recent confiscation of 172 watches from the Pride Collection by the Home
Ministry.
High Court
Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh today allowed a leave application filed by the
watchmaker company to challenge the seizure of its watches which purportedly
promoted the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
It named the
Home Ministry's secretary-general, enforcement division secretary, minister,
and the government as the respondents.
Lawyer Nizam
Bashir who appeared for the applicant said the respondents did not object to
the application.
The company,
in its statement, claimed that the seizure was conducted for improper political
motives due to the upcoming state elections.
It claimed
the home minister sought to show his "Islamic" credentials for
political purposes.
It also
claimed that the respondents acted simply upon polemic and unreliable social
media posts.
The company
asserted that most of the confiscated watches did not indicate that they were
associated with Pride or any similar movement.
The company
claimed that eight of the nine designs of the watches did not outwardly or on
the face of them expressed any indication that they were associated with Pride
or any similar movement.
The company
also claimed that watches were not defined as a form of publication under the
Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA).
The company
contended that the respondents acted unconstitutionally to breach the
applicant's right to livelihood and property.
"The
seizures were arbitrary and capricious in all the circumstances.
"The
respondents failed to take into account relevant considerations and acted
unreasonably towards the applicant," it claimed.
The company
seeks a certiorari order to quash the seizure notices and direct the
respondents to return the seized watches.
On May 13 and
14, the ministry was reported to have raided 11 Swatch boutiques in shopping
malls such as Pavilion KL, 1 Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, and
Suria Sabah over the brand's "Pride Collection".
Five shops at
malls in Alor Star, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Baru, Johor Baru, and Kuching were
let off with warnings.
The raid
reportedly came after netizens linked the collection to British band Coldplay's
support for the LGBT community.
Swatch Group
chief executive officer Nick Hayek had also issued a statement saying the watches
seized by the ministry did not contain any references to the LGBT community.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/08/946289/swatch-malaysia-granted-permission-challenge-home-ministrys
------
New Penang
DCM Jagdeep vows to aid all those in need
23 Aug 2023
Ian McIntyre
GEORGE TOWN –
Newly minted Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo wants to be
known as a leader who serves all races and focuses on assisting those who truly
need help.
The post is
not one-dimensional, it represents the entire state government machinery, and
it is designed to help all people, including the Indian community, said
Jagdeep.
“Let me
stress here. My role is to assist all in need. We need to move in tandem with
the demands and needs of all people,” he said in an interview.
He said his
role is also to assist Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and the other state
executive councillors in ensuring the delivery system is efficient here.
His late
father, the legendary DAP fighter Karpal Singh, had campaigned on the basis of
serving all of those in need and the downtrodden, likewise Jagdeep.
As for his
new portfolios, Jagdeep said that science and technology are areas where Penang
is wired up in view of the state’s role as part of the global supply chain for
electrical and electronics components.
“Science and
technology are now part of everyday life. It has become crucial in making our
daily lives easier so my role is to ensure that Penang can benefit more from
it,” said Jagdeep.
Hence,
Jagdeep wants to reach out to all stakeholders in the fields of science and
technology to ensure they can offer something beneficial to the state.
Human capital
development is also part of the process to upgrade the skill levels of workers
in Penang so they can compete in a world driven by science and technology, said
Jagdeep.
He also
promised to assist state executive councillors Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo and
Jason H’ng in meeting the demand for affordable housing and quality local
government services.
Jagdeep said
that he had overseen 113 smart initiatives, which enabled both the city
councils on the island and the mainland to digitalise their services to the
ratepayers.
As for
becoming the first Punjabi to hold a top post in the state government, Jagdeep
said that he has received a steady stream of well-wishers.
“I am
grateful for the opportunity to serve and thanked the people for their support.
Now is time to get down to the business of meeting the demands and offering
solutions.”
Jagdeep said
that to achieve the aspirations of the people, he needs support from all levels
of the government. – The Vibes, August 23, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/98073/new-penang-dcm-jagdeep-vows-to-aid-all-those-in-need
-------
Don’t make a
big deal over it: family of student ‘swatted’ by Sanusi
23 Aug 2023
ALOR STAR –
The family of a female student who went viral on social media after Kedah
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor gently “swatted” her head with
some folded pieces of paper has asked the public not to make an issue over the
matter.
TikTok user
MCSyalwa, who is believed to be the mother of the student, said the family did
not have an issue with the matter.
“It is
enough. Just live in harmony and don’t make a big deal about it.
“We, the
parents and the child concerned have no issues about it. The MB is good... he
met us though he was tired after cycling,” she said on TikTok yesterday
following the incident last Saturday.
She also said
Sanusi did not need to apologise and their daughter was just fine.
“She is not
hurt at all. We were just joking with each other. No need to make an issue
about it,” she said.
Earlier,
several social media users criticised Sanusi for swatting the young woman’s
head with some folded paper after she approached him for aid on August 19.
Wanita PKR
central communications director Noraini Nordin called on Sanusi to apologise
for his behaviour, saying that the act was wrong, impolite and disrespectful to
the dignity of women.
“To defend
the dignity of women, we at Wanita PKR urge all women in the country to voice
out their objections to Sanusi’s actions,” she said.
Muda deputy
president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz also echoed Noraini’s comments, calling Sanusi’s
antics rude.
She said
Sanusi should watch his manners when he makes jokes with the public and not
play it down as banter.
Sanusi had
responded, saying he was merely joking with the young female student when he
chided her for seeking assistance from him at the eleventh hour.
An 18-second
video of Sanusi swatting the female student on Saturday was circulated on
social media platforms. – The Vibes, August 23, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/98076/dont-make-a-big-deal-over-it-family-of-student-swatted-by-sanusi
-------
North
America
Lawsuit filed
by Muslim family against apple orchard owner for racist exchange caught on
video
August 23, 2023
By Dave
Spencer and David Komer
FOX 2 (WJBK)
- A Muslim customer of Erie Orchard in Monroe County has filed a lawsuit after
a racist exchange caught on camera.
"Every
Muslim that comes in here steals from me," said Steve Elzinga on phone
video.
It is the
main piece of evidence for some serious allegations which has prompted a
lawsuit to be filed on behalf of Joe Mahmoud and his family
"Elzinga
was holding them on the premises for $58 bucks - threatening police but police were never on
the way," said attorney Abdallah Moughni.
Earlier this
month Mahmoud brought his family to the Erie Orchard to pick peaches. As they
were leaving they were confronted by the orchard’s owner Steve Elzinga.
FOX 2 spoke
with both parties on August 15th.
"He goes
to the back door and opens the door where my daughter is and goes through her
bag," said Mahmoud. "I’m like what are you doing?"
That was when
Mahmoud started recording.
"That’s
why you are acting like this," Mahmoud said.
"And
that why you are going to pay," Elzinga said.
"I blew
it," he later told FOX 2. "Obviously a lot my customers are Muslims
and they are not all thieves. But there is a contingent that comes here, and for
some reason thinks they can pick free. and he’s one of them."
A public
apology was posted on the orchard's website to the Mahmoud family and
community. But their attorney says the damage has been done - he claims two of
his client’s three daughters are seeking therapy to process what happened.
"And
understand that not everybody sees them as criminals," said Moughni.
But the
attorney claims there was a crime committed here.
"It’s a
15-year felony for falsely imprisoning somebody and that is what this man did,"
said Moughni.
The attorney
also handed the complaint to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office to see if there
is enough evidence here for a criminal case as well.
In the
meantime he will pursue the civil case and feels others may have had a similar
experience at Erie Orchards.
"Please
come forward, if not only to help your own case - but to help this family who
was traumatized," said the attorney.
Source: fox2detroit.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/lawsuit-filed-by-muslim-family-against-apple-orchard-owner-for-racist-exchange-caught-on-video
------
ACLU to
appeal dismissal of suit alleging border agents quizzed Twin Cities imam about
his religion
AUGUST 22, 2023
By Paul Walsh
The American
Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday it intends to appeal a federal judge's
dismissal of allegations from a Twin Cities imam and two other Muslim Americans
that they were subjected to illegal and invasive questioning by U.S. agents at
various airports and ground border crossings about their religion and faith
practices while returning from overseas.
The
accusations were leveled in a civil rights suit filed in March 2022 in U.S.
District Court in central California against U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) on behalf of the plaintiffs by the national office of the American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU).
"CBP's
targeting of our clients for religious questioning because they're Muslim is
unconstitutional discrimination," said Sarah Taitz, of the ACLU's National
Security Project. "People don't lose the right to practice their faith and
to be free from religious discrimination simply because they're at the border.
We are taking this case to the Ninth Circuit [Court of Appeals] and will keep
fighting to end this harmful practice."
Judge Fred
Slaughter reviewed the motion to dismiss over a four-month period before
throwing out the claims made against CBP, the Department of Homeland Security,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations.
"The
court finds substantial legal authority supports the government's historically
broad authority to implement security measures at the border," read the
order from Slaughter, a Biden administration appointee.
The suit
alleged that in several instances, when the three returned to the United States
from overseas trips, CBP and Homeland Security Investigations officers asked
them questions, including whether they are Muslim, which mosque they attend and
how often they pray. The suit also alleged the answers were retained in a law
enforcement database for up to 75 years.
"Whenever
I travel back home to the United States, I'm anxious," plaintiff
Abdirahman Aden Kariye, an imam at Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington,
said in a statement issued through the ACLU soon after the suit was filed.
"I'm
constantly worried about how I will be perceived, so much so that I try to
avoid calling any attention to my faith," he added. I normally wear a
Muslim prayer cap, but I no longer wear it at the airport to avoid being
questioned by border officials."
The ACLU
contended these questions violated their constitutional rights to religious
freedom and to be free of unequal treatment based on religion.
Joining
Kariye as plaintiffs were Mohamad Mouslli, from Gilbert, Ariz., and Hameem
Shah, from Plano, Texas. Along with Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,
the questioning by federal officers cited in the suit occurred at airports
serving Seattle, Los Angeles and Ottawa.
Source: startribune.com
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https://www.startribune.com/judge-tosses-suit-alleging-border-agents-illegally-interrogated-twin-cities-imam-about-his-religion/600298922/
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CAIR-SFBA
Welcomes City of Santa Clara’s Recognition of American Muslim Appreciation and
Awareness Month
Ismail
Allison
August 22,
2023
(SANTA CLARA,
CA, 8/22/23) – The San Francisco Bay
Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization,
today welcomed the city of Santa Clara’s recognition of August 2023 as American
Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month.
For the
eighth year in a row, California has designated August as American Muslim
Appreciation and Awareness Month. The city of Santa Clara will commemorate this
designation with a proclamation at this evening’s city council meeting. The
ceremony will take place during the first few minutes of the meeting.
In its
proclamation, the city celebrated the contributions of the more than 60,000
Muslims that live in Santa Clara County, specifically praising the:
Muslim
Community Association (MCA) for its school, counseling, senior, and community
wellness programs.
Muslim
American Society Bay Area Chapter for its community, interfaith, youth, and
civic engagement services.
CAIR-SFBA for
its legal clinics, anti-hate training, social justice webinars, and candidate
forums.
Support Life
Foundation for its partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank and MCA to help
feed at-risk communities.
In a
statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:
“CAIR-SFBA
deeply appreciates the continued recognition of the diverse and invaluable
achievements of American Muslims, whose dedication and contributions continue
to shape the city of Santa Clara, California, and the nation. This proclamation
helps to highlight our shared values and humanity and is a welcome
acknowledgment.”
Samer
Darwish, President of the MCA, added:
“American
Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month embodies the spirit of inclusion and
dialogue and underscores the remarkable impact that diverse cultures and
beliefs have on our local community, state, and nation. By promoting
understanding and awareness, we pave the way for a future built on unity,
cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect. The Muslim community sincerely
appreciates the recognition given this month by Santa Clara and the state.”
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim
civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission
is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions
that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-sfba-welcomes-city-of-santa-claras-recognition-of-american-muslim-appreciation-and-awareness-month/
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Businesses
Stage Strikes to Protest Sunni Cleric Arrest
AUGUST 22,
2023
In an
expression of dissatisfaction, the business community of Rask city in Sistan
and Baluchistan province went on strike on August 22, protesting the arrest of
Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, the esteemed Sunni Imam of the city.
Naqshbandi
was apprehended by security forces of the Islamic Republic on August 20.
He is accused
of "dissemination of false information through speeches, defamation of the
Islamic Republic of Iran's system, and acting against national security."
The detention
of this prominent cleric, renowned for his support of nationwide protests, has
sparked an extensive reaction from Sunni scholars and citizens across cities in
the province.
On the
evening of August 21, demonstrators congregated in the cities of Zahedan, Sarbaz,
Rask, and Dashtiari, expressing their dissent towards the Islamic Republic
through protest chants.
The
protesters disrupted communication routes by torching car tires while demanding
the immediate realises of Naqshbandi.
Video footage
obtained by IranWire from Rask shows that shops were shuttered throughout the
restive city on Tuesday afternoon.
Molavi
Abdulhamid, the Friday imam of Zahedan, added his voice to the chorus of
objections against the arrest of Naqshbandi, urging for his swift release.
"The
arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, the respected Friday imam of Rask
and prominent public figures and scholars, for criticizing the performance of
the authorities, will spread discontent and have negative consequences. His
release as soon as possible is in everyone's interest," Molavi Abdulhamid
said in a tweet.
Molavi Abdul
Ghafar Naqshbandi, the son of Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi and a fervent critic of
the Islamic Republic, responded to his father's detainment by the security
forces.
"Assuming
that holding my elderly father captive will compel us to forsake the pursuit of
justice for the martyrs of Zahedan and throughout Iran is a miscalculation. Our
dedication extends beyond my father," he said.
Makhzan-al-Uloom
Seminary of Khash city also released a statement unequivocally condemning the
arrest of Naqshbandi.
They issued a
resolute demand for his "immediate release," along with that of other
detained clerics like Molavi Abdul Majid Muradzahi and Molavi Fazal Rahman
Kohi, as well as various political prisoners.
Source: iranwire.com
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https://iranwire.com/en/news/119724-businesses-stage-strikes-to-protest-sunni-cleric-arrest/
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Lawsuit filed
against Michigan orchard over owner's anti-Muslim remarks
AUGUST 22,
2023
Niraj Warikoo
A Muslim man
who endured bigoted remarks from the owner of an orchard he was visiting
earlier this month filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Monroe County against the owner,
Steve Elzinga, and Erie Orchards and Cider Mill.
The 11-count
lawsuit was brought by Dearborn attorney Abdallah Moughni on behalf of Joe
(Yousef) Mahmoud, of Ypsilanti, who alleges that Elzinga forcibly tried to
imprison him in a dispute over payment of picked fruit, intimidated him because
of his ethnicity and caused emotional distress. The lawsuit alleges the owner
violated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
Elzinga
apologized earlier for his remarks and actions.
Steve
Elzinga, owner of Erie Orchards and Cider Mill in Erie, Michigan, on August 13,
2023, standing near truck of Yousef Abu Jenna Mahmoud, of Ann Arbor. Mahmoud
shared a video of Elzinga in which he is heard saying: "Every Muslim that
comes in here steals from me."
"Mahmoud
remained as calm as possible throughout this degradations as he reasonably
believed he would be seriously injured or murdered in front of his family if he
upset the proud and blatant racist defendant Steve Elzinga," the lawsuit
reads. "A reasonable Muslim in similar circumstances to plaintiff Joe
Mahmoud would believe that they were in danger of physical harm. Further ...
Elzinga conducted an illegal search of Plaintiffs’ vehicle, diaper bag, and
trunk bed."
An employee
who answered the phone Tuesday said she could not comment and that Elzinga was
not available. Elzinga has previously apologized for telling Mahmoud, who is
Muslim, "Every Muslim that comes in here steals from me." The remarks
were captured on video shot by Mahmoud.
Elzinga told
the Monroe News last week: "I should never have said a generalized comment
about Muslims being thieves and coming here to take advantage of us because
that's not true. I regret that I made those kinds of statements. It's just not
me. We've been here for 45 years and have always been open to everybody."
Mahmoud went
to the orchard Aug. 13 with his wife and three daughters to pick fruit. He said
he purchased about $70 worth of pre-picked fruit and candy and then asked if
they could pick fruit on their own. Mahmoud said an employee told him most of
the fruit left in the orchard was rotten, but if they wanted to, they could
pick some and take it home for free. After picking some fruit and heading back
to his car, Mahmoud said, Elzinga confronted them and made derogatory remarks
about Muslims stealing.
"The
family hopes this lawsuit will make all business owners think twice before
discriminating against any minority," Moughni told the Free Press.
On the
orchard's website, an apology signed by Elzinga with the headline "My
Deepest Apologies" reads: "My sincere apologies to Joe Mahmoud, his
wife, family, and the whole community for my remarks and actions on Sunday,
August 13. I am very sorry. As a family business we have made a conscious
effort to be a welcoming place for all in an often fractured world, and
Sunday’s incident, sadly, did not reflect that. What occurred does not align
with my values, beliefs, and heart of inclusion for everyone. I sincerely
regret this and offer my deepest apologies."
Reporter Ryan
Loren of the Monroe News contributed to this report.
Source: freep.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/08/22/muslim-man-files-lawsuit-michigan-orchard-alleging-bigoted-threats/70651532007/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mob-chanting-jai-shri-ram-christians/d/130509