Almost All Victims of Mob Lynching, ‘Bulldozer Culture’ Are Pasmanda Muslims, Says All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz Report

New Age Islam News Bureau

27 February 2024

 

The report, which was released in Delhi, also seeks reservation for Pasmanda Muslims in private sectors, given their poor socio-economic conditions. (Express Photo)

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·         Almost All Victims of Mob Lynching, ‘Bulldozer Culture’ Are Pasmanda Muslims, Says All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz Report

·         Repeal Of Muslim Marriage Act In Assam: Is There A Provision Of ‘Nikah’ In The Special Marriage Act

·         Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf Demands Independent Review Of Anti-Muslim Sentiment In UK Government

·         Saudi Announces 6-Month Residency To Stranded Palestinian Umrah Pilgrims

·         ICJ Begins Deliberations On Effects Of Zionist Occupation Of Palestinian Territories

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India

·         Gujarat-Origin Dubai Banker Quits High-Paying Job To Volunteer At Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir

·         Rajasthan’s Education Minister Calls Mughal Emperor Akbar Tyrant, Rapist

·         Fire Damages One Of Kargil’s Oldest Shia Mosques Ahead Of ‘Shab-e-Barat’ Prayers

·         Police stop Indian Secular Front MLA Nausad Siddique from visiting Sandeshkhali, arrest him

·         Conflict in Gaza of Great Concern, Two State Solution More Urgent Than Ever before: S Jaishankar

·         Israel announces death of 19-year-old soldier of Indian origin in Gaza

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Europe

·         Conservative Muslim Forum Seeks UK Government Talks Over Islamophobia Scandal

·         Germany reiterates concern over Israeli plans to attack Rafah during Muslims' fasting month

·         British report confirms that air strikes on Yemen are ineffective & counterproductive

·         Brazil urges Israel to 'fully comply' with measures ordered by top UN court

·         Rishi Sunak 'Made Calculation He Doesn't Need Muslim Voters', Claims Tory MP Rehman Chishti

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Arab World

·         Saudi FM Warns Of ‘Catastrophic Consequences’ If Israel Attacks Rafah, Slams International ‘Double Standards’

·         Foreign Minister Heads Kingdom’s Delegation to 55th Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva

·         4th Saudi National Cultural Awards launched

·         Umrah Pilgrims Laud King Salman Program

·         Saudi Arabia refutes claims of meeting between Minister and Israeli official

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Mideast

·         'Diplomatic Catastrophe Of Century': Iran Slams UNSC Inaction Vs. Gaza Genocide

·         Iran urges UNHRC to hold Israel accountable for its crimes

·         In swap deal, Israel to free 400 Palestinians in return for 40 Gaza captives: Report

·         Hezbollah fires barrage of 60 rockets at Golan; IDF eliminates terror commander

·         Hezbollah targets two Israeli bases with missiles

·         Israel not to achieve its objectives by continuing Gaza war

·         Israeli team in Qatar in last push for Gaza peace deal

·         UNICEF: Delivering aid to Gaza's children a matter of life & death'

·         Israel is using famine as weapon of war in Gaza: Palestinian FM

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North America

·         Joe Biden Says Israel Agrees To Stop Gaza Attacks For Ramadan As Hamas Mulls Draft Truce Proposal

·         Biden faces protest vote over Gaza in Michigan primary contest

·         US strikes Houthi unmanned vessels, anti-ship missiles, drone

·         Biden says has ‘hope’ for Gaza ceasefire by next Monday

·         Hundreds mourn US airman who self-immolated at Israeli Embassy in protest of Gaza war

·         CAIR Calls on Biden Admin to Stop Israel Attacks on Starving Civilians in Gaza

·         CAIR Calls for Probe of Possible Bias Motive for Incident Targeting Tennessee Mosque

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Pakistan

·         Pakistan Supreme Court Seeks Opinion Of Council Of Islamic Ideology On Feb 6 Judgement

·         Imran’s no to presidential pardon of his convictions

·         ECP adjourns hearing Sunni Ittehad Council’s plea on reserved seats

·         Cipher, Toshakhana cases: IHC issues notices to NAB, FIA on Imran, Bushra’s pleas

·         India's colonial project in IIOJK breach of UNSC resolutions, Int’l law: Foreign Secretary

·         President attacked Constitution by not calling NA session: Rabbani

·         IHC allows Imran to meet lawyers in private

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South Asia

·         Rohingya Repatriation: Govt’s Negotiations Lack Transparency

·         BNP Will Pay For Not Joining Polls: Quader

·         WFP seeks $760 million for ongoing operations in Afghanistan

·         Stanikzai: Education Opportunities in Country Must Increase

·         Journalists Union Awards Afghan Journalists at Annual Festival

·         Acting Foreign Minister Engages in Diplomatic Visit to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

·         South Korea donates $4 million in Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

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Southeast Asia

·         UN Human Rights Council Must Address Israel's Violations: FM Marsudi

·         National sharia finance industry continuing to grow: ministry

·         Parliament told: Provisions in Syariah criminal laws in all states, except Kelantan, valid and can be enforced

·         MAPIM calls for international movement to send humanitarian aid ships to Gaza

·         Jakim to implement more programmes to strengthen unity, preserve harmony

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Africa

·         UN Offers Support For Resettlement of IDPs in Borno

·         At Least 14 Killed In Attack On Burkina Faso Mosque

·         Zamfara Assembly suspends eight members for alleged misconduct

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mob-lynching-bulldozer-pasmanda-muslims/d/131810

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Almost All Victims Of Mob Lynching, ‘Bulldozer Culture’ Are Pasmanda Muslims, Says All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz Report

 

The report, which was released in Delhi, also seeks reservation for Pasmanda Muslims in private sectors, given their poor socio-economic conditions. (Express Photo)

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Santosh Singh

February 27, 2024

THE All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz (AIPMM), an organisation working for backward Muslims, released a report based on the Bihar caste survey Tuesday, while demanding that the Centre bring in a stringent law against mob lynching and check “bulldozer culture” against the accused in a crime, claiming that almost all the victims of both such excesses belong to the Pasmanda community.

The report, which was released in Delhi, also seeks reservation for Pasmanda Muslims in private sectors, given their poor socio-economic conditions.

While the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been wooing Pasmanda Muslims in a strategic move, given that the larger Muslim community remains alienated with the party, the AIPMM report is equally critical of both the party and AIMIM. “We consider the politics of the RSS, BJP and AIMIM to be complementary to each other,” says the report.

The AIPMM report ‘Bihar Caste Survey 2022-2023 and Pasmanda Agenda’ says: “Ninety-five per cent of the victims of mob lynching and excesses by government bulldozers belong to the Pasmanda community. Our demand is that a strict law be made against this. The Collector and SP of the district where such an incident occurs should be made accountable for it. In such incidents, compensation should be given to the family of the deceased and a government job should be given to a person from that family.”

The report also sets an agenda for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including a demand for “reservation in private sectors”.

Criticising the BJP and AIMIM, the report says “our ancestors” had protested in the thousands against both Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s push for two States and V D Savarkar’s Hindu Rashtra vision. “The Pasmanda Mahaz has been working with the same spirit for the last 25 years,” the report says.

Referring to the Bihar caste survey, the report says: “Only 0.34 per cent of Pasmanda (EBC plus OBC) Muslims have ITI / similar diplomas and only 0.13 per cent of them have bachelor of engineering degrees. Only 2.55 per cent of them are Arts / Science/ Commerce graduates, and only 0.03 per cent Pasmanda Muslims have chartered accountant and Ph.D degrees.”

It says that even in terms of how many have possessions such as computers, laptops or vehicles, the Pasmanda Muslims lag far behind. “About 99.10 per cent of Pasmanda Muslims have no computers or laptops and only 0.62 per cent Muslims use the Internet. About 96.47 Padmanda Muslims do not possess any kind of vehicles. Only 3.10 per cent of them have two-wheelers.”

The report further says: “While only 0.30 per cent OBC and EBC Muslims are taking education in other states, only 1.30 per cent are working outside the state… About 30.3 per cent Pasmanda Muslims have less than Rs 6,000 monthly income. About 55 per cent of them live in either tiled or tin-roof houses.”

On the Centre’s policies, the AIPMM report asks why it is stalling a caste census at the national level. It demands that the SC quota be extended to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians, and that many tribes like Mewati, Bangurjar, Madari, Sapera get ST status.

Of the 38 sub-groups identified among Muslims, 28 classify as EBCs in Bihar, forming 10.57% of the state population. Some prominent EBC groups include Idrisi, Itfarosh, Kasab, Kulhaiya, Chik, Chudihar, Thakurai, Dafali, Dhuniya, Pamaria, Bakkho, Madari, Mukeri, Meriyasin, Halalkhor and Julaha/ Ansari.

There are 7 OBC Muslim groups, including Gaddi, Nalband, Kalal/ Eraki, Jat, Madaria, Surjapuri and Malik, forming around 2% of the population.

Together, the Pasmandas make up 72.52% of the Muslim population in the state.

AIPMM founder and former MP Ali Anwar Ansari told The Indian Express: “The Bihar caste survey report provides just a peep into the poor socio-economic and education status of Pasmanda Muslims in Bihar. If there is a nationwide census, we will get to know more on how and where the Pasmanda Muslims are placed and what corrective steps need to be taken.”

Expressing his disappointment with the Opposition’s skirting of Pasmanda issues, afraid of how the BJP will project it, Ansari added: “They should not avoid the word Pasmanda. It is not wise to maintain silence on 80% of the Muslim population. Pasmanda is a ‘caste’ and ‘religious neutral’ word… Dalits across religions connect with the neglected and backwards. If the Opposition parties also start using the word Pasmanda, then the slogan of Muslim appeasement being imposed on them by the BJP will be refuted. Instead of just doing ‘tokenism’ like the BJP, the Opposition should actually give proper representation to the Pasmandas or extremely backward Hindus and Muslims in the government and administration.”

He also advised them to announce a plan for the community in their manifestos, to take on the BJP’s ‘Vishkarma Yojana’ for weavers and other artisan castes.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/victims-mob-lynching-bulldozer-culture-pasmanda-muslims-report-9183561/

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Repeal Of Muslim Marriage Act In Assam: Is There A Provision Of ‘Nikah’ In The Special Marriage Act

 

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi. (File Photo)

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February 27, 2024

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday claimed that the Assam Cabinet’s decision to repeal the Muslim Marriages Act is aimed at distancing Muslims from their religion and religious practices.

“In Assam, the BJP government has done away with the law that was 90 years old. According to that law, the marriage of Assam Muslims used to happen through ‘Qazi’ or registrar, and they used to get the ‘Nikahnama’ certificate,” he told reporters here.

The government has removed that system, he said and asked is there a provision of ‘Nikah’ in the special marriage act.

The wedding should happen as per one’s religion, he said.

There is no religion in the special marriage act which is a neutral, secular law, he said.

Observing that ‘Mehr’ which is given to bride in Muslim marriage has been removed, he asked whether it is a loss to women or not.

“If marriage is registered under special marriage act, inheritance will not be available under Muslim personal law.

The purpose is to distance Muslims from their religion and their religious practices,” he told reporters here.

The Assam cabinet had given its nod to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 in a bid to end child marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Saturday.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/repeal-muslim-marriage-act-assam-owaisi-9182933/

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Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf Demands Independent Review Of Anti-Muslim Sentiment In UK Government

 

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has accused British PM Rishi Sunak of showing a lack of leadership. PA

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Tariq Tahir

Feb 26, 2024

The Scottish First Minister has called on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to set up an independent review of anti-Muslim sentiment in the ruling Conservative Party.

Humza Yousaf, who is the UK’s most prominent Muslim politician, on Monday claimed the Conservatives were “riddled” by the problem after inflammatory comments, including those by MP Lee Anderson, who said London mayor Sadiq Khan was being "controlled by Islamists".

Mr Anderson was suspended from the party amid a febrile political atmosphere, in which it emerged three women MPs are now being protected by bodyguards following concerns for their safety.

Mr Khan told Sky News on Monday he condemned Mr Anderson’s comments, saying: “We have a senior Conservative saying things that are clearly racist, anti-Muslim and Islamophobic.

"It's leading to an environment where anti-Muslim crime is spiralling and what they're doing is pouring petrol on the flames of Islamophobia."

This follows a highly contentious House of Commons debate in which Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, was accused of bowing to intimidation for allowing an opposition Labour Party motion in a debate on Gaza, after party leaders said their MPs could face violence if he did not.

Mr Anderson claimed “Islamists” had “got hold” of Mr Khan, which followed claims by former home secretary Suella Braverman that Islamists “are in charge now”.

Mr Yousaf said on Monday: "The Prime Minister's response to not just Lee Anderson's comments but Suella Braverman's despicable comments has been that he hasn't shown leadership on this issue.

"The Prime Minister has to lead from the front – he's the Prime Minister, it is his party that is under scrutiny."

Mr Sunak said in an interview with the BBC that "it's incumbent on all of us, especially those elected to Parliament, not to inflame our debates in a way that's harmful to others".

He said Mr Anderson's comments "weren't acceptable, they were wrong. And that's why he had the whip suspended."

But asked whether his party had an anti-Muslim problem, the Prime Minister said: "No, of course it doesn't."

Meanwhile, former prime minister Liz Truss has been censured by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden for not challenging descriptions of far-right anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, who has a string of criminal convictions, as a “hero”.

Steve Bannon, a one-time Donald Trump strategist, made the comments while speaking to Ms Truss during a live broadcast at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Labour leader Keir Starmer called on the Prime Minister “to get a grip and take on the extremists in his party”.

Mr Starmer said it was right Mr Anderson had lost the whip after what he called an "appalling racist and Islamophobic outburst".

"Whether it is Liz Truss staying silent on Tommy Robinson or Suella Braverman's extreme rhetoric, Rishi Sunak's weakness means Tory MPs can act with impunity. This isn't just embarrassing for the Conservative party, it emboldens the worst forces in our politics."

Mr Sunak's official spokesman said Mr Anderson's "choice of those words were wrong, particularly in the current climate, where tensions are high as at the present”.

"The Prime Minister’s focus is on taking the heat out of this debate, not inflaming it."

The spokesman said additional funding of £5 million ($6.3 million) had been made available for the protective security at mosques and Muslim faith schools as "we continue to work with communities and policing to ensure the safety of our Muslim communities".

It comes as it emerged three female politicians, including representatives of both Conservative and Labour, have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.

The Sunday Times reported that the MPs, who have not been named, had their security upgraded after a risk assessment was carried out with support from the Ravec committee, which is responsible for the security of the royal family and senior politicians.

Graham Wettone, a former Met officer and expert in public order policing, told The National that having to protect MPs from protests will put a strain on police.

“If it’s a permanent presence at an MPs home then that is a significant impact because that’s 24/7 coverage,” he said.

“And even if there’s periodic visits then that’s still an impact because you’ve got to make sure they’re safe and secure so that’s a strain on the resources you have at your disposal at any one time.

“For me the move from protests in the street to protests outside MPs home addresses is a step too far. That’s not responsible protesting.”

Shadow international development minister Lisa Nandy said MPs were receiving threats "on multiple issues in multiple directions".

"I think there'll be many, many MPs who will have been in contact with the Speaker over the course of the last few months, and particularly in the last couple of weeks, as tensions were heightened, expressing concerns about their safety," she told Sky News.

"We've had incidents over the last few months where people, including me, have been accosted on the streets, and surrounded and filmed. Over the 14 years that I've been in Parliament, I've watched this get worse and worse."

Source: thenationalnews.com

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https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2024/02/26/humza-yousaf-demands-independent-review-of-anti-muslim-sentiment-in-uk-government/

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Saudi Announces 6-Month Residency To Stranded Palestinian Umrah Pilgrims

 

Photo: X

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26th February 2024

Sakina Fatima

Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has announced to grant six-month residency permit to Palestinian Umrah pilgrims stranded in the Kingdom due to the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

Taking to X, on Sunday, February 25, Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous act.

The ministry praised Saudi Arabia’s assistance to Gazan pilgrims who are unable to return home due to the Israeli occupation’s aggressive stance.

The ministry’s statement highlights the severe situation faced by these individuals, underscoring the broader crisis that has engulfed Gaza since October 7, 2023.

This decision demonstrates Kingdom’s commitment to alleviate Palestinian suffering and addressing the region’s humanitarian crises.

The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas militants’ attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people.

Since then, Israel launched air strikes and a ground offensive against Gaza, resulting in nearly 30,000 deaths.

Source: siasat.com

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

https://www.siasat.com/saudi-announces-6-month-residency-to-stranded-palestinian-umrah-pilgrims-2983361/

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ICJ Begins Deliberations On Effects Of Zionist Occupation Of Palestinian Territories

 

ICJ begins deliberations on effects of Zionist occupation of Palestinian territories

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[27/February/2024]

THE HAGUE February 27. 2024 (Saba) - The International Court of Justice has began its deliberations on the United Nations General Assembly’s request to issue a fatwa on the legal consequences of the policies and practices of the Zionist occupation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East al-Quds.

The ICJ said in a press statement Monday evening that it will now begin its deliberations and will announce the fatwa (advisory opinion) in a public session, the date of which will be determined at a later time.

It concluded its public sessions, which lasted for six days from (19-26 February), during which the State of Palestine, 49 member states of the United Nations, and three international organizations presented oral statements before the court.

The ICJ deliberations come in response to a resolution issued by the United Nations General Assembly on December 30, 2022 on “Zionist practices that affect the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.”

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3308356.htm

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India

Gujarat-Origin Dubai Banker Quits High-Paying Job To Volunteer At Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir

 26th February 2024

 Sakina Fatima

Abu Dhabi: A 43-year-old Indian-origin investment banker quit his high-paying job in Dubai last year to serve as a full-time volunteer at the BAPS Abu Dhabi temple, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month.

Vishal Patel, a second-generation expat from Gujarat who was brought up in London, was working with the Dubai International Financial Centre and has previously held positions at prominent investment banks and hedge funds, The Khaleej Times reported on Monday.

Vishal spoke of his close association with the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha since childhood, adding that their Mandir in London has been a guiding light in his life.

“Supporting this (Abu Dhabi) Mandir allowed me to make a meaningful impact on society and engage in endeavours that contribute to the greater good. This opportunity was too significant to pass up,” Vishal, who has been living in the UAE since 2016, told the daily.

From placing protective fences at the building site to serving food to guests, Vishal actively participated in the temple’s construction process.

He is now the chief communications officer in a voluntary capacity for the temple and oversees various responsibilities, including media relations and strategic communications.

He told The Times that several other volunteers like him are ready to give up their jobs to serve at the BAPS Sanstha.

“Our spiritual leaders, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj, have left a lasting impact on young minds and inspired many to devote their time and efforts from all corners of the world,” he said.

After graduating with a degree in economics from the University of London, Vishal was struggling with finding employment, and a breakthrough came while volunteering at the BAPS Mandir in London.

He met a senior director at Merrill Lynch who offered him advice on entering the investment banking industry, which led him and other young volunteers to organise fairs at the temple for students and employment seekers.

“That’s why you see youths dedicating themselves as volunteers in BAPS. The Mandir has provided them with a strong foundation in their lives. And that is precisely what this Abu Dhabi Mandir will provide here,” he told The Times.

India and the UAE further cemented their friendship on February 14 with the inauguration of the majestic Rs 700 crore (BAPS) Mandir — the first Hindu temple in the Gulf nation.

In his inaugural speech, Prime Minister Modi showered extraordinary praise on the UAE, saying that the country has won the hearts of 140 crore Indians and written a “golden chapter in human history”.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, donated 13.5 acres of land for the construction of the temple during PM Modi’s visit to the country in 2015, and in January 2019, a further 13.5 acres of land was allocated, making a total of 27 acres of land gifted for the temple.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/indian-origin-banker-quits-high-paying-job-to-volunteer-at-abu-dhabi-baps-hindu-mandir-2983367/

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Rajasthan’s Education Minister Calls Mughal Emperor Akbar Tyrant, Rapist

 26th February 2024

Jodhpur: In a provocative remark, Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar has said Mughal emperor Akbar was not great but “a tyrant and rapist.”

Akbar used to get girls from bazaars and rape them, he told reporters at Balotra on Sunday, February 25, when asked about the changes in school syllabus.

On mandatory organisation of ‘Surya Namaskar’ in Rajasthan schools, he said it is being implemented gradually.

“It has begun. In a few days, ‘Surya Namaskar’ will become regular in all the schools,” he said.

When asked about transfer of teachers, Dilawar said that exams are going on currently and it would not be appropriate to transfer teachers.

“Once the exams are over, we will begin the process of transfer,” he added.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/rajasthan-minister-calls-mughal-emperor-akbar-tyrant-rapist-2983360/

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Fire Damages One Of Kargil’s Oldest Shia Mosques Ahead Of ‘Shab-e-Barat’ Prayers

February 26, 2024

A fire damaged one of the oldest Shia mosques here in the Union Territory of Ladakh, hours before the start of night prayers of ‘Shab-e-Barat’, officials said on Monday. The fire broke out at Balti Bazar masjid at 6.15 pm Sunday and within no time engulfed the entire structure, an official of the fire and emergency services said.

He said fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was controlled within three hours, avoiding damage to nearby structures including an adjoining ‘Imam Barah’ and residential houses.

Quoting preliminary information, police said the fire was apparently caused by the candles which were used to illuminate the mosque in view of ‘Shab-e-Barat’, which is observed by Muslims on the intervening night of the 14th and 15th days of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.

Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, Mohd Jaffer Akhoon along with Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, ShrikantSuse visited the site to assess the damage, an official spokesperson said.

He said the mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Kargil district and is known for its historical and heritage importance.

While taking an assessment of the damage, Akhoon was informed that the first floor of the mosque was affected by fire causing loss of assets and heritage antiques, the spokesperson said. He said the local residents requested immediate covering of the rooftop with temporary sheets, and the entire building needs restoration and reconstruction.

The CEC underlined the importance of small fire extinguishers at the locality level and said the matter would be taken with the Lieutenant Governor.

Akhoon thanked the Army for taking swift action by deputing their fire tenders and for the disaster management activities.

The CEC assured the Mohalla committee that necessary provisions would be made for the provision of solar panels for the mosque, taking into consideration their availability.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/fire-damages-oldest-mosques-kargil-shab-e-barat-prayers-9182503/

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Police stop Indian Secular Front MLA Nausad Siddique from visiting Sandeshkhali, arrest him

 27.02.24

Police on Tuesday arrested ISF MLA Nausad Siddique near the Science City area here while he was on his way to trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an officer said.

Siddique was arrested under preventive laws, the officer said.

The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders in sensitive areas of Sandeshkhali primarily to avert any untoward incident there.

"I do not know why they have arrested me. This is several kilometres away from Sandeshkhali. I was going to Sandeshkhali to meet the villagers there. I did not break any rule or anything", Siddique told reporters.

Siddique said he was scheduled to hold two programmes in Sandeshkhali.

The ISF MLA was taken to the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/police-stop-indian-secular-front-mla-nausad-siddique-from-visiting-sandeshkhali-arrest-him/cid/2003232

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Conflict in Gaza of Great Concern, Two State Solution More Urgent Than Ever before: S Jaishankar

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Underling that the conflict in Gaza is of “great concern”, India on Monday said the humanitarian crisis arising from conflicts required a sustainable solution that gives immediate relief to those most affected.

Addressing the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that terrorism and hostage-taking are not acceptable and hoped that the conflict does not spread within or beyond the region.

India strongly condemned the terror attack by Hamas on October 7 last year.

“At the same time, we must be clear that terrorism and hostage-taking are unacceptable,” he said in his address via video link from New Delhi.

He said that international humanitarian law must always be respected.

“It is vital that the conflict does not spread within or beyond the region,” he said, adding that the efforts must also focus on seeking a two-state solution where Palestinian people can live within Israelis.

Speaking at an interactive session at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, Jaishankar had highlighted India’s long-held position on the Palestine issue.

“Certainly India has long believed in a two-state solution. We have maintained that position for many decades and, I think, today many more countries in the world feel not just that the two-state solution is necessary, but it is more urgent than it was before,” he said.

Israel has stepped up its military offensive in Gaza as part of its retaliation to the unprecedented attack on Israeli cities by Hamas militants on October 7.

Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 220 others some of whom were released during a brief ceasefire.

Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli offensive, according to authorities there.

India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue

Source: news18.com

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https://www.news18.com/world/conflict-in-gaza-of-great-concern-two-state-solution-more-urgent-than-ever-before-s-jaishankar-8794090.html

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Israel announces death of 19-year-old soldier of Indian origin in Gaza

26 Feb 2024

NEW DELHI: A 19-year-old Israeli soldier of Indian origin has been declared dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the conflict with Hamas entered the 143th day.

"Sgt. Oz Daniel who's from Indian ancestry and was kidnapped to Gaza on October 7 was declared dead," said Israel’s Ambassador to India NaorGilon.

Daniel was listed among the 253 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The army’s chief rabbi has declared Daniel dead based on intelligence reports.

Daniel’s body is still in Gaza, according to reports. Around 130 hostages remain in Gaza though there are no details available on how many of them have survived. 109 hostages have been released from Gaza so far.

Earlier, the death of another Israeli soldier of Indian origin Sergeant Gil Daniels had been reported in December 2023. The 34-year-old was from the Bene Israel community of Maharashtra.

In November 2023, 20-year-old Staff-Sgt.Halel Solomon, who was also of Indian origin, had died while fighting in Gaza.

There are about 85,000 Indian origin Jews in Israel. They include Cochin Jews and Paradesi Jews of Kerala, Baghdadi Jews from Mumbai and Kolkata, Bene Israel of Maharashtra and BneiMenashe of Manipur and Mizoram.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Feb/26/israel-announces-death-of-19-year-old-soldier-of-indian-origin-in-gaza

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Europe

 

Conservative Muslim Forum seeks UK government talks over Islamophobia scandal

February 26, 2024

LONDON: The Conservative Muslim Forum has said it is seeking to meet with senior government figures as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party continue to battle ongoing allegations of Islamophobia.

It comes after the party’s former deputy party chair, Lee Anderson, was suspended by the Conservatives for remarks about Mayor of London Sadiq Khan last week, and an article by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman for the Daily Telegraph claimed that “the Islamists, the extremists and the antisemites are in charge” of the UK.

Anderson refused to apologize for his claim that Islamists had “got control” of Khan and London.

Naveed Asghar, deputy chair of the CMF, told The Guardian: “Is the party racist or Islamophobic? I would say no, from my heart. Individuals? Yes. Are these people pandering to the vote base in their seats? I can’t see what’s going on.

“If he (Anderson) is doubling down on the comments, then the party should absolutely be having a word with him. I was hoping that the suspension would be enough.

“Any inflammatory remarks are just not acceptable, whether it’s people on the left making antisemitic comments or people on the right making anti-Muslim comments.”

On a visit to East Yorkshire on Monday, Sunak refused condemn Braverman’s article, saying: “I think that those comments were not about an individual in particular.”

He also stopped short of calling Anderson’s comments Islamophobic, saying: “I’ve been very clear that what he said was wrong, it was unacceptable, and that’s why we suspended (him).

“It’s important that everybody, but particularly elected politicians, are careful with their words and do not inflame tensions.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Germany reiterates concern over Israeli plans to attack Rafah during Muslims' fasting month

Oliver Towfigh Nia

26.02.2024

Germany on Monday reiterated its concern over Israeli plans to invade Rafah city in the Gaza Strip during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan if hostages held by Hamas are not released.

"We have expressed several times that we view the reports about this with concern,” Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Christian Wagner said at a press briefing in Berlin.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza and of course in Rafah is already catastrophic… What is needed now is a humanitarian pause, you know – as we speak – negotiations are underway about it,” he added.

Wagner’s remarks referred to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, who said Israeli forces would push into the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah regardless of the outcome of talks to pause the fighting that appears to have been making some progress in recent days.

“It has to be done,” the Israeli prime minister threatened, adding, “Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach."

The Israeli army plans to launch a ground attack in Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million residents seeking refuge from war, to defeat what Tel Aviv calls the remaining "Hamas battalions."

Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah as Israel has pounded the rest of the enclave since Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed nearly 30,000 victims, injured over 70,000 more, and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities in the besieged Gaza.

According to Benny Gantz, a former defense minister, the invasion of Rafah will occur in coordination with “our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties.”

“The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know – if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will be extended to the Rafah area,” the Times of Israel newspaper quoted Gantz as saying.

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is expected to begin on March 10.

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages following its cross-border attack, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Source: aa.com.tr

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British report confirms that air strikes on Yemen are ineffective & counterproductive

[26/February/2024]

LONDON February 26. 2024 (Saba) - The British website "UNHERD" confirmed that "the US-UK attacks on Yemen were counterproductive," and were "provoking a hornet's nest."

The site said in a statistical report published on Monday that the US-British attacks, which began on January 12, raised the rate of Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea from 0.38 per day before that date, to 0.53 after.

In addition to their lack of effect, the attacks provide U.S. adversaries, primarily China and Iran, with intelligence on Western naval defense systems that could be used in any future conflict, raising serious questions about the wisdom of military action.

The site asserted that the Yemenis have already achieved their goal of imposing an effective naval blockade in the region. He attributed the reason why Western leaders continue to carry out these strikes, despite their opposite effect, to what he called the principle of "do something."

The "do something" principle results from a weak leadership class feeling the need to act when an enemy or competitor engages in provocation, even if such actions would be counterproductive. Weak leaders are unable to make difficult decisions based on evidence and logic, and instead attack — albeit ineffectively — so that it seems as if they are addressing the problem.

The publication of the report comes in conjunction with the launch of five new air raids by US-UK warplanes today on the Ras Issa area of Al-Salif district, northwest of Hodeidah city.

Source: saba.ye

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Brazil urges Israel to 'fully comply' with measures ordered by top UN court

BurakBir

26.02.2024

Brazil on Monday denounced the ongoing attacks on Gaza and called on Israel to fully comply with emergency measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month.

“Brazil believes it's its duty, but also that of this council to firmly oppose any form of racism, sexism, antisemitism or Islamophobia,” Brazil's Human Rights and Citizenship Minister Silvio Almeida told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Reiterating that Brazil has condemned the attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7 and demanded the "immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages," he noted that they reject the "flagrant disproportionality" of the Israeli government's use of force which has claimed nearly 30,000 lives in Gaza.

"Most of them women and children, (Israel) forcibly displaced more than 80% of Gaza's population and left thousands of civilians without access to electricity, drinking water, food and basic humanitarian assistance," added Almeida.

"The creation of a free and sovereign Palestinian state that coexists with the state of Israel is an essential condition for peace," he noted, adding that Brazil considers it to be the duty of the council to "honor the self-determination of peoples" and to search for a peaceful solution to conflicts and to oppose all forms of new colonialism and apartheid.

Referring to the genocide case at the International Court of Justice, brought by South Africa last month, Almeida called on Israel to "fully comply with the emergency measures ordered by the court to stop the serious violation of humanitarian rights."

“We affirm that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is illegal, and violates international standards," he added.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed nearly 30,000 people and injured over 70,000 with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Rishi Sunak 'made calculation he doesn't need Muslim voters', claims Tory MP Rehman Chishti

26 February 2024

Jennifer Scott

Rishi Sunak has "made the calculation" that he doesn't need Muslim voters for his "political purposes", a former minister has claimed.

Tory MP Rehman Chishti told Sky News' Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge that during the last leadership election, Mr Sunak promised he was "committed" to engaging with the community and told him: "We will work together on this if I become prime minister".

But Mr Chishti said he had "not seen the prime minister for over a year and a half".

The former foreign minister - who once put himself forward for the Conservative Party leadership - also criticised Mr Sunak for failing to appoint an independent adviser on Islamophobia, which both David Cameron and Theresa May did while in office.

Pointing to statistics from the Tell MAMA organisation, Mr Chishti said there had been over 2,000 incidents of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the past four months since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Listen to Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson as they unravel the spin in a new weekly podcast from Sky News

"I've said to the prime minister, look, let's treat all faith communities fairly and equally," he told Sophy Ridge.

"So with regards to the Jewish community, antisemitism has seen a real unacceptable rise and therefore the government has rightly put forward the resources [and] it has an independent adviser to deal with antisemitism.

"However, with regards to the Muslim community... the prime minister has failed to appoint an independent adviser on Islamophobia for the last 16 months and there's been no funding... for that.

"And then you look at the prime minister's statement [on Sunday], when he talks about intolerance and hate in politics, and he makes it very clear the government is committed to dealing with that and he says dealing with anti-Semitism. Absolutely.

"But there's no mention in that statement yesterday about tackling anti-Muslim hate."

Mr Chishti added: "I think maybe the prime minister has made the calculation, you know, he doesn't want to engage with the Muslim community because he doesn't need that for his political purposes."

Sky News has contacted Number 10 for a response.

Mr Chishti's remarks come amid an ongoing row within the Tory ranks over the suspension of former deputy chair, Lee Anderson, after he refused to apologise for claiming "Islamists" had taken "control" over London and that mayor Sadiq Khan had "given our capital city away to his mates".

While Mr Sunak called the remarks unacceptable and "wrong", he declined to call them Islamophobic.

Some Conservatives have called for Mr Anderson to be reinstated, while others want the government to go further in their condemnation of the Ashfield MP.

Mr Chishti said Mr Anderson's comments were "completely and utterly unacceptable" and a "lazy use of language".

But he would not say if the remarks were racist, and said it was another justification for having an independent adviser who could make a ruling without political influence.

Source: sky.com

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Arab World

 

Saudi FM warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if Israel attacks Rafah, slams international ‘double standards’

February 26, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday warned against the “catastrophic consequences” of any Israeli attack on Rafah, south of Gaza, during his speech at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

“In this light, we warn against the disastrous repercussions of an attack on Rafah, as the last refuge for civilians, who are there due to the displacement by the Israeli army.”

Prince Faisal denounced the double standards adopted by some countries toward the crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. He also reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.

“The Kingdom has repeatedly called on the international community to bear its responsibilities in stopping the war and irresponsible escalation to protect innocent civilians and to pave the way for a clear and credible peace process, which all parties are committed to,” he said.

“We call on the international community to bear its responsibility to put an end to escalation and war, protect civilians, in order to pave the way for a clear and legitimate peace process that includes all parties,” he added.

Making reference to the near-30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the war on Hamas began last October, Prince Faisal said no institutional dialogue could be taken seriously if the situation in Palestine was overlooked.

He asked: “What rights are we talking about, and Gaza is under the rubble? How can the international community stay silent, and the people of Gaza are being displaced and are suffering from the most heinous forms of human rights violations?”

He added: “Despite the death of 30,000 people and the starvation of more than 2 million people, the lack of security and basic services, such as water, electricity and medicine, the Security Council is still leaving meetings without a result.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Foreign Minister Heads Kingdom’s Delegation to 55th Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva

26 Feb, 2024

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, headed the Kingdom’s delegation today, participating in the 55th session of the Human Rights Council held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

 The Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech in which he stressed the Kingdom’s interest in continuing its close cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms, which approach the concept of human rights from a comprehensive perspective based on protecting the individual and society, improving the quality of life, and empowering the factors of comprehensive development and renaissance.

 He stressed the importance of respecting different values, not seeking to impose selected values on everyone, and taking into account differences between countries and societies. He said: 'Although we believe in the existence of common global values and principles, this does not negate the right of countries and societies to follow the value system that is compatible with the cultural and social diversity in the international community'.

 He emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing its comprehensive human rights concept through its ambitious development vision for 2030. This commitment is evident in the evolution of the legal and institutional structure of the national human rights system, undertaken within the broader context of developing the legislative system as a whole. This includes improvements to labor and expatriate systems and policies, advancements in women's rights and empowerment, and initiatives in other areas that significantly impact the daily lives of both citizens and residents.

 He added: 'Any institutional dialogue on human rights cannot be taken seriously if it ignores the tragic situation in Palestine. What rights are we talking about while Gaza is under the ashes? How can the international community remain silent while the people of Gaza are displaced and suffering from the ugliest forms of human rights violations?'

 He pointed out that the Kingdom has repeatedly called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in stopping the war and irresponsible escalation, protect innocent civilians, and pave the way for a clear and credible peace process that is committed by all parties, warning of the catastrophic repercussions of threats to storm the city of Rafah, which has become the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians, as a result of forced displacement by the Israeli occupation army.

 He pointed out that 30,000 deaths, the starvation of more than two million people, the lack of security, and the interruption of basic services such as water, electricity, and medicine in the Gaza Strip and its environs, and despite this, the Security Council still ends its meetings without results, expressing the Kingdom’s rejection of double standards and selectivity in their application.

 He reiterated the Kingdom’s demand to implement Security Council Resolution No. (2720) and activate the humanitarian mechanism accordingly, and lift restrictions on the entry of relief trucks and humanitarian aid, to alleviate unjustified human suffering. He renewed the Kingdom's call for an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for a serious, just, and comprehensive peace process.

 The Kingdom’s delegation included the Head of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati, and the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador AbdulmohsenMajed bin Khothaila.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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4th Saudi National Cultural Awards launched

February 26, 2024

RIYADH: Officials from the Saudi Ministry of Culture have launched the fourth National Cultural Awards, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Sponsored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it will cover 16 categories including film, music, fashion, national heritage, literature, theater and performing arts, visual art, architecture and design, culinary arts, publishing, and translation.

Among the awards will be cultural personality of the year, youth culture, international excellence, male and female business achievers, and a cultural institutions gong.

The awards aim to encourage cultural content and production, in addition to supporting winners and granting them an honorary representation of the cultural sector within the Kingdom and internationally.

Members of the public and cultural community can submit nominations via https://www.moc.gov.sa/Modules/Pages/Cultural-Awards. The application period will last for two months, with the stages of screening, evaluation, and judging of nominations ending with the announcement of the winners at the closing ceremony to be held in September.

The National Cultural Awards initiative is part of the Quality of Life Program, one of the Vision 2030 schemes.

Source: arabnews.com

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Umrah pilgrims laud King Salman program

February 26, 2024

RIYADH: The third group of beneficiaries of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, have lauded the country’s leadership for helping them to perform their rituals in Makkah.

The participants have now returned home after completing Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The group included 250 prominent Muslims from 16 countries: Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Chad, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda and Mauritania.

They thanked King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the ministry for providing them with quality services during their visit.

During their stay, they visited Quba Mosque, the Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery, Jabal Ar-Rumat (Hill of Archers), Hira Cultural District, the Cave of Hira, and other historical and cultural sites across the two holy cities.

The guests visited the Revelation Exhibition at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah, which featured models of the Cave of Hira and a screen narrating the story of how Prophet Muhammad received revelation.

They said the exhibition was indicative of the Kingdom’s efforts to enrich visitors’ religious and cultural experiences, as well as its care for Islam and Muslims.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia refutes claims of meeting between Minister and Israeli official

February 26, 2024

ABU DHABI — An official Saudi source refuted claims circulating on social media about a supposed meeting between the Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi and an official from the Israeli occupation.

The source clarified that the video in question was taken while Al-Qasabi was with the Nigerian Minister of Commerce, just before the commencement of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi. "During this time, an individual approached to greet him and only revealed his identity as the Minister of Economy in the Israeli occupation government after the fact, with Al-Qasabi having had no previous knowledge of who the individual was."

The source reiterated the Kingdom's unwavering stance on the Palestinian issue, emphasizing its support for the Palestinian people's resilience in the face of Israeli aggression.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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Mideast

 

'Diplomatic catastrophe of century': Iran slams UNSC inaction vs. Gaza genocide

 26 February 2024

Iran strongly denounces the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s inaction vis-à-vis the Israeli regime's ongoing US-backed war of genocide against the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks at a meeting of his counterparts from various countries, which was being held on the sidelines of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Monday.

"What we are witnessing today in [terms of] the UN Security Council's inaction concerning the genocide in Gaza amounts to the diplomatic catastrophe of the century," he said.

Beyond doubt, this period of time would pass, despite all the travails and sufferings that it has afflicted on the oppressed and resilient people of Palestine, the top diplomat said. However, the attitude that is adopted concerning this genocide by each country or international organization "will go down in history," he asserted.

The Israeli regime launched the war on October 7, 2023 following al-Aqsa Storm, a surprise operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements against the occupied territories.

As part of its consistent political patronage for the Israeli regime, the United States, which is Tel Aviv's main benefactor, has so far vetoed three UNSC resolutions that have called for implementation of an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli onslaught.

So far, nearly 30,000 people have died in the Israeli aggression that also enjoys unreserved military and intelligence support on the part of Washington.

Amir-Abdollahian reminded that women and children comprised around 70 percent of the deaths, saying the child fatalities "amount to the most horrific rate of infanticide throughout the human history."

'Slow death'

Amir-Abdollahian noted that, apart from those who were being killed directly during the onslaught, a whopping number of Palestinians were also suffering "slow death" as a result of a simultaneous siege that the regime was employing against the coastal sliver.

The regime's "direct and intentional" attacks on healthcare facilities had, meanwhile, come to deprive the Palestinians of the medical equipment and drugs that were needed by tens of thousands of injured Gazans, he said.

"The wounded and even children are being operated on, without anesthetics," the foreign minister noted. He also reminded that "as a result of unsanitary conditions, infectious diseases have come to threaten the lives of more human beings every day."

Amir-Abdollahian, meanwhile, warned about the expected dire consequences of a potential ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which has come to host more than half of the territory's 2.4-million-strong population, who have fled there from the ravages of the war.

He considered arming the regime amid the aggression to be an "unforgiveable wrong," advising the members of the international community to sever all their economic and commercial ties with the apartheid regime.

'Hamas can never be eliminated from Gaza'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian underlined that the military onslaught could not continue until so-called "total elimination" of the Gaza-based resistance movement of Hamas, which the Israeli regime has vowed to oust from the territory's rule.

"That time will never come," he said, adding, "Hamas and the resistance serve as a liberating movement and manifestation of the Palestinian nation's cause of liberation from occupation and establishment of a thoroughly Palestinian State."

"The Zionists are after eliminating the Palestinian nation. [However] no nation has, throughout the humanity's history, relinquished its land, something that will not happen in the case of Palestine either."

The foreign minister finally asserted that Palestine's future could only be resolved through intra-Palestinian dialogue, asserting that alternative and imposed solutions were all "doomed to fail."

Source: presstv.ir

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Iran urges UNHRC to hold Israel accountable for its crimes

Feb 26, 2024

TEHRAN, Feb. 26 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to hold the Zionist regime and its supporters accountable for their crimes against humanity.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a speech which he delivered at the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is steadfast in adhering to and respecting human rights and human dignity based on national and Islamic beliefs and values," the top Iranian diplomat stressed.

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that unfortunately, the realization of the lofty goals of human rights in the international arena is faced with several important challenges, the most urgent of which is the systematic and extensive "humanicide" by the world's only apartheid regime, the occupying regime of Israel.

Stressing the need for preventing the genocide and committing heinous crimes to become a normal routine, the Iranian foreign minister continued, "Today, the world is witnessing the comprehensive support of the United States of America and some of its allies to the Zionist regime, which is considered a real "complicity" in the genocide."

Undoubtedly, the impunity of Israel's officials during the past 8 decades has been the main reason for the continuation and escalation of the occupation and murder by this regime, he stressed, adding, "I emphasize that the trial and punishment of the perpetrators and commanders of the most serious international crimes committed against the Palestinians must be seriously placed on the agenda of the competent international institutions, especially the International Criminal Court, he added.

The top Iranian diplomat also slammed the double standards and hypocritical behavior of Western states regarding women's human rights.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian stressed that the ominous and dangerous phenomenon of terrorism and extremism continues to claim victims.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country that has been at the forefront of the fight against terrorist groups and has offered many martyrs in this path, has always stressed the need for the serious determination of the international community and the cooperation of countries and international institutions for a decisive and effective fight against terrorism as a threat to the whole world, he underlined.

He stressed that the most important requirement for the elimination of terrorism is the stop of using terrorism as a tool by some powers, including the United States.

Unfortunately, some Western countries continue to host terrorist elements and this is another example of contradiction and hypocrisy in the slogan of those who claim to be a defendant of human rights, he added.

Elsewhere in his speech, Amir-Abdollahian touched upon the Islamophobia issue in the West, stressing that Islam is a religion of mercy and humanity, and this challenge (Islamophobia) needs continuous consideration in the Human Rights Council.

The national, cultural, and religious values and beliefs of nations should be respected, the Iranian minister noted.

Referring to the unilateral and unjust sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Amir-Abdollahian said that the unilateral coercive actions systematically violate fundamental human rights in countries under sanctions and cause serious harm to people. "Applying unilateral sanctions against nations is illegal and equivalent to a crime against humanity."

"In the end, I would like to emphasize that the fundamental policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is always based on interaction and dialogue. The Islamic Republic of Iran declares its unwavering commitment to the policy of cooperation and interaction as a key axis in its foreign policy, will use its national capacities to preserve and promote human rights based on its religious values, constitution and legal obligations, and will not spare any efforts in this direction," he concluded.

Source: mehrnews.com

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In swap deal, Israel to free 400 Palestinians in return for 40 Gaza captives: Report

27 February 2024

A new report has published details of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas, under which the occupying regime will free 400 Palestinian abductees in exchange for the release of 40 held in captivity by the Gaza-based resistance group.

The swap deal, which will be accompanied by a six-week truce, came as part of the recent talks in the French capital Paris between Israeli, American, Egyptian and Qatari representatives. Al Jazeera reported.

Citing unidentified sources involved in the discussions, the report said Israel has agreed to free 400 Palestinians held in the regime’s prisons in return for 40 Gaza captives.

Israel has also agreed to the gradual return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza – with the exception of young men, who are "of recruitment age," and the entry of further aid and temporary shelters into the besieged territory, including heavy machinery and equipment.

The regime has further agreed to halt its warplanes over the Gaza Strip, including intelligence-gathering ones, for eight hours.

The report came after an Israeli delegation traveled to Doha, where Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani separately met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that he hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza by next Monday, when asked when he thought a truce could begin.

“Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet,” Biden said when asked when he thought a truce could begin.

“And my hope is that by next Monday [March 4] we’ll have a ceasefire.”

Israel waged a genocidal US-backed war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, almost five months into the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its objectives of "destroying Hamas" and finding Israeli captives despite killing 29,782 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 70,043 others.

A week-long humanitarian ceasefire in late November saw an exchange of 240 Palestinian abductees held by Israel with 105 captives, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners, in Gaza.

Israel believes 130 captives still remain in Gaza, while there are thought to be 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails, many detained without charge.

Source: presstv.ir

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Hezbollah fires barrage of 60 rockets at Golan; IDF eliminates terror commander

EMANUEL FABIAN

26 February 2024

Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah on Monday fired a barrage of 60 Katyusha rockets at the Golan Heights.

The terror group said in a statement the volley of rockets was in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon’s east, the deepest confirmed attacks since the beginning of the cross-border clashes. It said it targeted an Israeli military base in the Golan “in response to the Zionist aggression near the city of Baalbek,” 100 kilometers (more than 62 miles) from the border earlier in the day.

Footage circulating on social media shows several rockets impacting and exploding near a bus carrying passengers, who quickly disembarked to take cover.

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There were no reports of injuries in the barrage.

In addition to the unprecedented strikes in Baalbek, the Israel Defense Forces said it eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander, Hassan Hussein Salami, in an airstrike in southern Lebanon.

Salami, whose rank is equivalent to a brigade commander, was targeted while driving in the southern Lebanon village of Majadel.

The IDF said Salami was the commander of a regional unit in Hezbollah and oversaw attacks on IDF troops and Israeli communities in northern Israel.

Recent actions that Salami was involved in included anti-tank missile attacks on KiryatShmona and on the base of the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade, according to the IDF.

Hezbollah announced his death earlier — along with two members killed in the Baalbek strikes — but did not call him a commander.

Later, the IDF said it struck further Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including the site from which the barrage of rockets was launched.

Sites targeted by fighter jets in Ayta ash-Shab included buildings used by the terror group, the IDF said.

The rocket launch site from which Hezbollah fired some 60 rockets at the Golan was located in the village of Kawkaba, and it too was struck by a fighter jet.

The IDF said a tank also shelled a building used by Hezbollah in KafrKila earlier in the day.

Earlier Monday, Hezbollah downed an Israeli Air Force drone, an Elbit Hermes 450 model, over the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon with a surface-to-air missile. The drones are used by the IAF for surveillance and attacks.

In response to the incident, the IDF said it launched the strikes on Hezbollah’s air defense unit near Baalbek.

The Israeli Air Force also struck the downed aircraft in the Nabatieh area, The Times of Israel learned. Such actions are taken to prevent sensitive tech from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah said Israel had widened its strikes by hitting Baalbek and other areas and was seeking to “compensate” for the downing of its drone.

“Its aggression on Baalbek or any other areas will not remain without response,” he said in televised remarks delivered at the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter killed in recent days.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza during the war there.

So far, the skirmishes on the border have resulted in six civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.

Hezbollah has named 219 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon, but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 34 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and more than 30 civilians, three of whom were journalists, have been killed.

Israel has warned that it will no longer tolerate the presence of Hezbollah along the Lebanon frontier, where it could attempt to carry out an attack similar to the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7.

A failure of international diplomacy to force Hezbollah away from the border would necessitate an Israeli offensive, the country has said.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-fires-barrage-of-60-rockets-at-golan-idf-eliminates-terror-commander/

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Hezbollah targets two Israeli bases with missiles

Feb 27, 2024

TEHRAN, Feb. 27 (MNA) – Issuing a statement early on Tuesday, the Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah announced that it has targeted two Israeli bases in northern occupied Palestine with missiles.

Hezbollah said that the missile attacks were conducted in support of the people of Gaza.

The statement added that the strikes caused definite casualties among the Zionists.

The Lebanese Resistance movement has been conducting regular raids since early October against the Israeli regime’s military position in retaliation for the occupying regime’s offensives against Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Israel waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured at least 68,883 others.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/212379/Hezbollah-targets-two-Israeli-bases-with-missiles

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Israel not to achieve its objectives by continuing Gaza war

Feb 26, 2024

TEHRAN, Feb. 26 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the resistance front in Palestine enjoys high military power, warning that Israel will not achieve its objectives by continuing its war in Gaza.

In a Monday meeting with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger in Geneva, Switzerland, Amir-Abdollahian voiced concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s onslaught.

He added that the Palestinian people in Gaza are facing a “complicated and very worrisome” situation.

He commended the ICRC efforts to end Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians in Gaza and expressed regret that “wrong political approaches” have so far prevented the settlement of the ongoing crisis in the strip through political bids.

Pointing to his recent meetings with leaders of the Palestinian resistance in Lebanon and Qatar, the top Iranian diplomat described the situation in northern Gaza as “very dire” as more than 600,000 residents in the strip are suffering from hunger.

Amir-Abdollahian further said the US speaks about reducing the Gaza war and not stopping it, which “shows lack of will of the United States to end the war.”

He noted that some countries such as the US speak about the “post-war Gaza” and link it to the cessation of the war.

“Leaders of the Palestinian groups weigh democratic methods and a political agreement among all Palestinian groups and currents to run the post-war Gaza. Support for this method [is tantamount to] support for a democratic method,” the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.

Pointing to a “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza, he added that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to attack the southern city of Rafah in the strip would “deepen the aspects of the catastrophe” and pose serious threats to 1.4 million displaced Palestinians living in Rafah.

Amir-Abdollahian reaffirmed that Iran would continue its political bids to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

Since the start of Israel’s brutal aggression on Gaza on October 7, at least 29,782 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed and about 70,043 others have been injured.

Israel had designated Rafah a “safe zone,” but it is now threatening an all-out military offensive, leaving the people sheltering there terrified with nowhere left to go.

International concerns are growing as Israel’s ground invasion of Rafah is looming large, with world leaders expressing grave concerns over the military operation against the densely populated area in the far south of Gaza.

Spoljaric Egger, for her part, hailed Iran’s political efforts to put an end to the war in Gaza and expressed her deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the besieged Strip.

She said the ICRC has been making efforts to dispatch aid to the people in Gaza and alleviate their sufferings.

She regretted that the international community has so far failed to fulfill its responsibility to solve the crisis and stressed the need to heed the worrying situation in Gaza as its residents have no access to water, food and medicine.

The ICRC also vowed to make utmost efforts to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Rafah.

Heading a diplomatic delegation, Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Geneva early on Monday to attend the 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and the high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/212367/Israel-not-to-achieve-its-objectives-by-continuing-Gaza-war

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Israeli team in Qatar in last push for Gaza peace deal

February 27, 2024

JEDDAH: A high-level Israeli delegation arrived on Monday in Qatar, where political leaders of Hamas are based, as the combatants in the Gaza war closed in on a ceasefire and hostage deal that the US says is now within reach.

The presence of both sides suggested talks were further along than at any time since a big push at the start of February, when Israel rejected a Hamas proposal as “delusional.”

In public, both sides continue to blame each other. Israel says it will agree only to a temporary pause in fighting to secure the release of hostages. Hamas says it will not free them without a permanent end to the war.

After meeting Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group had embraced mediators’ efforts to find an end to the war, and accused Israel of stalling while Gazans die under siege. “We will not allow the enemy to use negotiations as a cover for this crime,” he said.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said any ceasefire agreement would require “securing an end to the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation, the returning of the displaced, the entry of aid, shelter equipment, and rebuilding.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready for a deal, and it was up to Hamas to drop demands he described as “outlandish” and “from another planet.”

Israel is under pressure from the US to agree on a truce to prevent a threatened assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2467226/middle-east

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UNICEF: Delivering aid to Gaza's children a matter of life & death'

[26/February/2024]

GAZA February 26. 2024 (Saba) - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday that the delivery of aid to the children of Gaza is "a matter of life and death," in light of the months-long Zionist war of extermination and starvation on the Strip.

UNICEF wrote in a post on the X platform: "The delivery of aid is a matter of life and death for children in Gaza."

"The immediate needs of water, food, medicine and fuel in the Gaza Strip are enormous," she said.

"An immediate humanitarian ceasefire offers the best chance of saving lives and ending suffering in Gaza."

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3308338.htm

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Israel is using famine as weapon of war in Gaza: Palestinian FM

26 February 2024

Foreign Minister Riad Maliki of the Palestinian Authority says Israel has been using famine as a weapon of war against the people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“While we are meeting now, 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to massacre and deprivation, becoming victims of disease, pandemic, hunger and thirst.”

Maliki was addressing an annual high-level panel discussion on human rights at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

He said the regime has been violating international law “with its aggression against our people in [the] Gaza Strip, its genocidal war, and its crimes against the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”

The Palestinian diplomat said Israel has been committing “genocide” and “crimes against the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people” during its almost five-month-old savage hostilities Gaza.

Famine stalking Gaza

The remarks came after the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said famine is stalking Gaza.

UNWRA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned about “looming famine” in a message on social media on Sunday, saying humanitarian aid has not reached people in northern Gaza for more than a month.

“The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was on January 23.”

He said calls by aid agencies to allow food distribution in Gaza “have fallen on deaf ears.”

At least 500,000 people are facing famine in Gaza, while the entire 2.3 million population of the besieged territory is experiencing acute food shortage, according to figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

One in six children under age two — 15.6 percent — is acutely malnourished in northern Gaza, according to nutrition screenings conducted at shelters and health centers in January.

Reports said a 2-month-old Palestinian boy died of starvation at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Friday.

The infant, Mahmoud Fattouh, “seemed to be taking his last breath,” when he was rushed to the hospital in her mother’s arms, said one of the paramedics at the hospital. “The baby has not been fed any milk for days, as baby milk is totally absent in Gaza.”

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/26/720840/Gaza-famine-Israel-war-crimes

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North America

 

Joe Biden says Israel agrees to stop Gaza attacks for Ramadan as Hamas mulls draft truce proposal

February 27, 2024

DUBAI/WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said Israel has agreed to halt military activities in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as Hamas studied a draft proposal for a truce which includes a pause in fighting and a prisoner-hostage exchange.

The draft proposal, which a senior source close to truce talks in Paris told Reuters would allow hospitals and bakeries in Gaza to be repaired and 500 aid trucks to enter the battered enclave every day, is the most serious attempt in weeks to end the conflict which erupted in October last year.

Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of March 10th and end on the evening of April 9th.

“Ramadan is coming up, and there’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan, as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” Biden said during an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers”.

He also warned that Israel risked losing international support due to the high death toll among Palestinians, adding that Israel had committed to make it possible for Palestinians to evacuate from Rafah in Gaza’s south before intensifying its campaign there to destroy Hamas.

Biden, whose remarks were recorded on Monday and broadcast on Tuesday, said there was an agreement in principle for a ceasefire between the two sides while hostages were released.

He said he hoped to have a ceasefire in the conflict by the following Monday.

“There are too many innocent people that are being killed. And Israel has slowed down the attacks in Rafah,” Biden said, adding that a temporary ceasefire would jumpstart a process for Palestinians to have their own state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a two-state solution.

Under the draft proposal, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages would be at a ratio of 10 to one, the senior source said.

The draft also states Hamas would free 40 Israeli hostages including women, children under 19, elderly over 50 and the sick, while Israeli would release around 400 Palestinian prisoners and will not re-arrest them, the source told Reuters.

Mediators have ramped up efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, in the hope of heading off an Israeli assault on the Gaza city of Rafah where more than a million displaced people are sheltering at the southern edge of the enclave After Hamas killed 1,200 people and captured 253 hostages on Oct. 7, Israel launched a ground assault on Gaza, with nearly 30,000 people confirmed killed, according to Gaza health authorities.

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40290908/joe-biden-says-israel-agrees-to-stop-gaza-attacks-for-ramadan-as-hamas-mulls-draft-truce-proposal

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Biden faces protest vote over Gaza in Michigan primary contest

February 27, 2024

The US state of Michigan votes on Tuesday in a presidential primary that is expected to be another ticker-tape parade for Republican Donald Trump — but could deliver Democratic leader Joe Biden a bloody nose over the war in Gaza.

Biden faces no serious opposition to being nominated to run for a second term in the White House.

But as the civilian death toll mounts in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, he has seen support erode among Muslims and Arab Americans, a bloc crucial to his narrow 2020 victory over Trump in Michigan.

Activists in the key midwestern battleground — where Biden's winning margin four years ago was a mere 150,000 votes — want Michigan residents to vote "uncommitted" in protest, pressuring the president to back off from his Israel support and call for an immediate ceasefire.

"President Biden has funded the bombs falling on the family members of people right here in Michigan — people who voted for him, who now feel completely betrayed," said Layla Elabed of the "Listen to Michigan" campaign.

The group aims to amass 10,000 "uncommitted" voters to deliver a "powerful, unequivocal message" that funding and supporting the war is "at odds with the values of the Democratic Party."

Biden is cruising to the Democratic nomination, with his main would-be rival, Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips, polling in single digits.

But activists deny that the "uncommitted" campaign is merely symbolic, given their importance in an election decided on small margins.

"Ten thousand votes is about the same as Donald Trump's margin over Hillary Clinton in 2016," Elabed said.

The war started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

But concern has mounted amid the high civilian death toll in Israel's retaliatory campaign, now at almost 30,000, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Source: gulftoday.ae

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https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/02/27/biden-faces-protest-vote-over-gaza-in-michigan-primary-contest

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US strikes Houthi unmanned vessels, anti-ship missiles, drone

27 Feb 2024

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 — US forces struck three unmanned vessels and two cruise missiles inside Yemen and an attack drone over the Red Sea yesterday that posed an “imminent threat” to ships in the area, the military said.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting shipping for months and their attacks have persisted despite repeated US and British strikes aimed at degrading their ability to threaten a vital global trade route.

In Monday’s attack, US Central Command (CENTCOM) destroyed “three unmanned surface vessels, two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, and a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle,” it said on social media.

“The (vessels) and (missile) weapons were prepared to launch towards... the Red Sea,” CENTCOM said, adding that the drone was already airborne.

Those strikes, made between the hours of 4:45 pm and 11:45 pm Sanaa time (1345 GMT to 2045 GMT), were done “in self-defence”, it said.

“CENTCOM forces... determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the US Navy ships in the region.”

Over the weekend, US and British forces carried out strikes against 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen, including weapons storage facilities, attack drones, air defence systems, radars and a helicopter, according to a joint statement.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/27/us-strikes-houthi-unmanned-vessels-anti-ship-missiles-drone/120205

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Biden says has ‘hope’ for Gaza ceasefire by next Monday

27 Feb 2024

NEW YORK, Feb 27 — US President Joe Biden said yesterday he hoped a ceasefire in Gaza could start by the beginning of next week.

Amid a spiraling humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, representatives from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, France and elsewhere have acted as go-betweens for Israel and Hamas, seeking a halt to the fighting and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

A deal could also include the exchange of dozens of hostages for several hundred Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

Biden was asked during a visit to New York when such an agreement might start, and answered, “My national security advisor tells me that we’re close, we’re close, we’re not done yet.”

“My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden added.

Representatives from several parties, not including Gaza rulers Hamas, met in Paris over the weekend and “came to an understanding... about what the basic contours of a hostage deal for temporary ceasefire would look like,” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN Sunday.

And after the Paris meeting, Egyptian, Qatari and US “experts” met in Doha in recent days for talks also attended by Israeli and Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian media said, hoping to secure a truce before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A Hamas source told AFP that “some new amendments” were proposed on contentious issues, but “Israel did not present any substantive position on the terms of the ceasefire and the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”

Talks to continue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the troop withdrawal demand as “delusional,” and said that any ceasefire deal would only delay a military incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought shelter from fighting elsewhere in Gaza.

Yesterday, an unnamed Israeli official told news site Ynet the “direction (of the talks) is positive,” and Israeli media reported that military and intelligence officials were headed to Qatar for further talks on a deal.

And Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani — whose country hosts Hamas leaders and helped broker a one-week truce in November — is due in Paris this week, the French presidency said.

Sheikh Tamim has met Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha and discussed efforts “aimed at reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement” in Gaza, the official Qatar News Agency said.

Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 29,782 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the ministry.

The war broke out after Hamas launched their unprecedented attack which killed 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Militants also took about 250 hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel. — AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/27/biden-says-has-hope-for-gaza-ceasefire-by-next-monday/120151

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Hundreds mourn US airman who self-immolated at Israeli Embassy in protest of Gaza war

Michael Hernandez

27.02.2024

Hundreds of people came to the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. Monday evening to collectively mourn the US airman who died after setting himself ablaze in protest of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.

Many hoped that the death of Aaron Bushnell, 25, an active-duty member of the US Air Force, would spark change in US President Joe Biden's hitherto unwavering support for the war.

Leah, a Palestinian American who declined to provide her last name, told Anadolu that she believed it was important for her to attend the vigil "to show solidarity and support with those who are taking extreme acts of resistance that shows their solidarity and support with Palestine and our people."

Asked if she believed Bushnell's death would change the course of the war, she said, "That's the hope."

Bushnell set himself ablaze in front of Israel’s Embassy on Sunday afternoon in protest of its ongoing war in the besieged Gaza Strip and US support for the offensive. He was taken to a hospital but died from the injuries he sustained.

“I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I’m about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal,” Bushnell said in a video recording that went viral on social media.

Bushnell can repeatedly be heard shouting "Free Palestine!" as flames engulf him before he collapses to the ground.

A Secret Service officer estimated that "at its peak," the vigil mourning his death attracted over 300 people. The gathering lasted for over three hours with an average of over 100 people there at any given point.

Josephine Guilbeau, a former Army intelligence officer, told Anadolu that she flew out from Ohio for the vigil, because she believes Bushnell's "death cannot be in vain."

"His message needs to get out. And we also need to make sure that we are supporting anybody else that's like Aaron, that's having these same feelings, because how are we supposed to deal with a genocide?" she asked rhetorically.

"We've never seen anything like this before in our lives, and our government just expects that the American people are going to watch this unfold for five months now, and there aren't going to be any mental issues. Of course, there's mental issues across the board. Anybody with access to the Internet is watching a genocide unfold in modern day time," added Guilbeau.

Jenny Rosemary, a 22-year-old resident of Annandale, Virginia, said Bushnell's fatal protest "was an extreme act, but an act of morality."

"I think we should all hope to be that brave," Rosemary said. "I think to get to this point, it's taken a lot of ignorance on behalf of the US government...They can't have missed all the videos of people suffering and the deaths, you know, but I'd like to think that one of their own kind, you know, someone who's in the military, that hopefully will change something."

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, killing at least 29,782 people and causing mass destruction and shortages of necessities. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas-led attack.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Hostilities have continued unabated, however, and aid deliveries remain woefully insufficient to address the humanitarian catastrophe.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/hundreds-mourn-us-airman-who-self-immolated-at-israeli-embassy-in-protest-of-gaza-war/3148608

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CAIR Calls on Biden Admin to Stop Israel Attacks on Starving Civilians in Gaza

Ismail Allison

February 26, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Biden administration to demand that Israel’s far-right government end its attacks on starving civilians in Gaza seeking humanitarian aid.

Video shows Israeli forces opening fire at thousands of starving people in the southwest of Gaza City as they attempted to get food. Israel has repeatedly attacked civilians seeking aid. A UN official is warning of the man-made disaster in Gaza as aid deliveries are being blocked by Israel as part of its campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Israel has already killed almost 30,000 people, mainly women and children, in Gaza.

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:

“The tactic of starving Palestinian civilians to death is a genocidal war crime and Israel’s far-right government must be held accountable for the unprecedented human catastrophe it has created in Gaza. President Biden must stop enabling the Netanyahu government before it kills thousands of more innocent men, women and children with U.S. support.”

Yesterday, CAIR condemned both the death of a Palestinian baby from starvation intentionally imposed by Israel’s far-right government and the Israeli torture of a Palestinian doctor in Gaza.

On Friday, CAIR called on the Biden administration to repudiate the Israeli government’s post-war plan for the de facto annexation of Gaza.

Last week, CAIR called on the Biden administration to condemn comments made by Israeli Minister of Social Equality & Women’s Advancement May Golan in which she said she is “personally proud of the ruins of Gaza, and that every baby, even 80 years from now, will tell their grandchildren what the Jews did.”

CAIR recently called on House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakim Jefferies to publicly repudiate Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) and to issue a formal censure for his recent statement that “We should kill them all” in reference to Palestinian children in Gaza.

Take Action: Call on U.S. House Leaders to Censure Rep. Ogles for ‘We Should Kill Them All’ Comment on Gaza Children

CAIR also called on the Biden administration to address reported sexual violence, arbitrary detention and abuse by the forces of the far-right Israeli government targeting Palestinian women and girls.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-biden-admin-to-stop-israel-attacks-on-starving-civilians-in-gaza/

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CAIR Calls for Probe of Possible Bias Motive for Incident Targeting Tennessee Mosque

Ismail Allison

February 26, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for a hate crime probe of a possible bias motive for an incident targeting a mosque in Tennessee.

Officials with Islamic Center of Chattanooga says they are dealing with people “being disrespectful of their property.” The mosque is offering a reward for information about two men who reportedly urinated on the center’s doorstep Saturday night.

“Given the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry we have witnessed nationwide, it would only make sense for law enforcement authorities to consider a possible bias motive for this incident,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “Americans of all faiths must be free to worship as they wish without fear of harassment.”

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

He urged house of worship to utilize CAIR’s Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety guide, which contains security advice applicable to institutions of all faiths.

Last week, CAIR’s New York chapter condemned an anti-Muslim tirade by an individual who reportedly entered a mosque in Melville on Wednesday and called for stepped-up security for houses of worship.

Last month, CAIR called on law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged threat to shoot up and bomb a mosque in Mobile, Alabama.

Also last month, CAIR’s Florida chapter called for a hate crime charge against a California teen who threatened to shoot up a mosque in Seminole County.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-probe-of-possible-bias-motive-for-incident-targeting-tennessee-mosque/

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Pakistan

 

Pakistan Supreme CourtSeeks Opinion Of Council Of Islamic IdeologyOn Feb 6 Judgement

 February 27, 2024

Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought the assistance of religious institutions, including the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), with a directive to furnish statements on its Feb 6 judgement in the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a three-judge Sup­reme Court bench on Monday took up the Pun­jab government’s review petition against the verdict which overturned the conviction, by the Lahore High Court, of Mr Sani on charges of distributing proscribed literature.

The court also issued notices to Jamia Darul Uloom Karachi, Jamia Imdadia Faisalabad, Jamia Naeemia Karachi, Jamia Muhammadia Gho­usia Bhera, Jamia Salafia Faisalabad, JamiatulMultazir Lahore, Jamia Urwat-ul-Wusqa Lahore, Quran Academy Lahore and Al Mawrid Lahore.

The court advised other organisations or individuals desiring to give their opinions, to do so in writing before the next hearing.

The court ordered registration of an application moved on behalf of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) seeking to become a party in the case on a request by counsel Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui. The counsel said JI beli­eved that the court did not receive “proper assistance” before reaching a conclusion in the matter.

The court was seized with a review petition filed by the Punjab government with a plea that an observation in the Feb 6 verdict needed modification because religious freedom, as envisaged in Article 20 of the constitution, was not absolute and subject to law, morality and public order. Article 20 ensures freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.

In the judgement, the SC had stressed that the Holy Quran does not speak of compulsion in religion and the Constitution had laid down freedom to practise religion as a fundamental right.

The provincial government argued that it was aggrieved by the judgement since the conclusions were based on an “erroneous assumption of the material facts”.

Mr Sani, the respondent, was named as an accused in an FIR registered in Chiniot on Dec 6, 2022, under Sections 295-B and 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), as well as Section 9(1A) of the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Act 2011. He faced charges of distributing literature that could “hurt religious sentiments”.

On June 24 last year, the trial court framed charges against Mr Sani under Sections 295-B and 298-C of PPC and Section 9(1A) of the act.

The accused filed an application for deletion of the charge before the trial court, but it was dismissed on Sept 25.

Mr Sani challenged the order before the Lahore High Court, but the LHC also dismissed his plea on Oct 16.

He challenged the high court’s order through a criminal petition before the Supreme Court, which was allowed on Feb 6.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1817439

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Imran’s no to presidential pardon of his convictions

February 27, 2024

Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: PTI Founder Chairman Imran Khan had conveyed to the President Dr Arif Alvi not to consider any request from any side for pardon of his convictions, claimed party spokesman Raoof Hasan.

Talking to The News on Monday, the PTI’s information secretary said that the President has the constitutional power to pardon any sentence passed by any court. He said that there were demands, from different sides including the social media, that President Alvi should pardon Khan’s convictions.

Raoof Hasan said that following such demands, Imran Khan sent a message to the President not to do it in any way. Hasan said that the PTI founder chairman would never accept such a pardon. Hasan said that the President has the constitutional power to pardon any convict.

Article 45 of the Constitution deals with the subjects. The Article reads as: “The President shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.”

Many constitutional experts and legal minds believe that the President only on the advice of the Prime Minister can pardon, remit or suspend any sentence passed; others insist that the President can do it on his own without any advice from the chief executive.

Last year in August, after Imran Khan’s conviction in Toshakhana case by a district court in Islamabad, senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa had said that the President on his own discretion or on the advice of the Prime Minister can pardon or remit any sentence under Article 45. He was quoted as saying that there is no bar on the President’s power to grant pardon, adding that all over the world the head of the states has the power to pardon, commute, reprieve and respite any convict.

Although the sentence of Imran Khan in last year’s conviction has been suspended by the Islamabad High Court, just before the Feb 8 general elections Imran Khan was convicted, in a quick succession, in three cases. In the Cipher case, he was convicted along with Shah Mehmood Qureshi and sentenced to ten years in jail.

Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were later convicted in two cases - NAB’s Toushakhana case and illegal Nikah case. In Toshakhana case the couple was sentenced to 14 years in jail whereas in the illegal Nikah case both got seven years in jail. All these three convictions came within a week shortly before the general elections.

After the surprise win of PTI-supported candidates in a very large number in the general elections, the PTI supporters started demanding the President to pardon the sentences of Imran Khan. Imran Khan and his wife’s legal team have already challenged in the Islamabad High Court all the three convictions.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1162003-imran-s-no-to-presidential-pardon-of-his-convictions

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ECP adjourns hearing Sunni Ittehad Council’s plea on reserved seats

 February 27, 2024

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) adjourned on Tuesday an open hearing on the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) plea seeking allocation of the reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies.

A five-member bench of the ECP, being headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprising of Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Ikramullah Khan, is hearing these cases.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Gohar Khan hoped that the ECP would listen to “what the people voted for on February 8”.

Gohar said that the reserved seats belong to SIC and no other political party can lay claim to them.

Section 104(1) of the Elections Act 2017 states that for the election to seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in an assembly, the political parties contesting elections for such seats shall, within the period fixed by the Commission for submission of nomination papers, file separate lists of their candidates in order of priority for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims.

The PTI announced last week that its party-backed independents who have won seats in National, KP, and Punjab assemblies would join the SIC as a party.

ECP to conduct open hearing for SIC reserved seats tomorrow

The recent election saw PTI-backed candidates taking part independently due to the Supreme Court’s decision to strip the party of its election symbol ‘bat’.

Despite running as independents, the elected representatives were mandated by the Election Act, 2017 to join a political party within three days of the notification.

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40290905/ecp-adjourns-hearing-sunni-ittehad-councils-plea-on-reserved-seats

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Cipher, Toshakhana cases: IHC issues notices to NAB, FIA on Imran, Bushra’s pleas

February 27, 2024

Awais Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to seek their replies by Thursday (February 29) over incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s pleas challenging their sentences in cipher and Toshakhana cases.

The IHC’s two-member division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb conducted the hearing on Khan, and co-convict Qureshi’s pleas seeking the overturning of their 10-year sentences pronounced by the trial courts in the cipher case.

The IHC office also removed objections to an appeal submitted by the disqualified prime minister. Additionally, notices have been issued to the anti-corruption watchdog for Thursday over Khan and Bushra’s pleas against their 14-year, each, imprisonment in the Toshakhana case.

At the outset of the hearing, PTI counsel Barrister Ali Zafar argued that unusual occurrences were witnessed during the trial. The chief justice remarked that the counsel should point out disagreements at the time of raising arguments during the hearing.

It is noteworthy to mention here that in the previous hearing, a bench was also constituted to hear the bail application of Imran Khan in the £190 million corruption case. Last month, ex-PM Khan and former foreign minister Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years, each, in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023.

The case pertains to allegations that the former prime minister had made public contents of a secret cable sent by the country’s ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad.

The former premier and his spouse had been declared guilty of corrupt practices by the election commission after the emergence of the allegations that Khan purchased the gifts he received as prime minister at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits.

Later, the duo was sentenced to 14 years in prison with rigorous punishment by an accountability court last month, also disqualifying the former premier for 10 years while handing over a fine of Rs1.57 billion — Rs787 million each — to the couple.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1162004-cipher-toshakhana-cases-ihc-issues-notices-to-nab-fia-on-imran-bushra-s-pleas

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India's colonial project in IIOJK breach of UNSC resolutions, Int’l law: Foreign Secretary

February 27, 2024

Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi has said India's colonial project continues in full swing in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in breach of the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and international law.

Addressing the High-Level Segment of the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, he said political and demographic engineering of the occupied territory is being carried out by the world's self-professed largest democracy through an outsized military presence and draconian laws.

He said Kashmiri women and children suffer several layers of institutionalized discrimination, abuse and violence.

The Ambassador demanded the High Commissioner's Office to continue monitoring the situation in IIOJK and produce a third Kashmir report in exercise of its prevention mandate.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://radio.gov.pk/27-02-2024/indias-colonial-project-in-iiojk-breach-of-unsc-resolutions-intl-law-foreign-secretary

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President attacked Constitution by not calling NA session: Rabbani

February 27, 2024

Mumtaz Alvi

ISLAMABAD: Senator Mian Raza Rabbani on Monday in the Senate alleged that the Constitution was being subjected to terrorism and the latest attack was committed from the President House by not summoning National Assembly inaugural session.

“Though, there have been constitutional violations through the tenure from the President House at different times, now the blatant violation is of Article 91 of the Constitution by not summoning the National Assembly session,” he said while speaking just before the adjournment of the session on a point of public importance.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader explained the Article 91 saying that within 21 days after the general elections, the session of the National Assembly has to be summoned, but the president was refusing to do so and this was an unconstitutional step that the President of Pakistan was taking.

“And, from the floor of the House, since he [president] is a part of the Parliament, under Article 50 of the Constitution, I through you, would like to convey to him that he should not flout the Constitution and immediately summon the NA’s inaugural session so that the democratic process could again start in the country,” he said while addressing the chair. Rabbani contended that by not summoning the session, the president was not only committing violation of the Constitution, but also trying to derail the democratic system, as the prime minister had sent an advice to him under Article 48 of the Constitution, and it was time-bound and he had to act in accordance with the PM’s advice.

Responding to him, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Saifullah Abro said the president would summon the session even today, if the Election Commission of Pakistan would allocate reserved seats to the PTI, being its right. “The root cause is the Election Commission, which failed to upload Form 45 on its website within 14 days as per the Elections Act 2017 and is also denying reserved seats,” he noted.

Abro said he would have been glad if Raza Rabbani and others would also had asked the ECP to do the needful, as the party’s returned candidates joined Sunni Ittehad Council for the reserved seats.

Senator Abro asked under what law the ECP was withholding allocation of reserved seats while chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab had been elected after allocation of reserved seats, and the assemblies sessions had been called. He pointed out the session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be held tomorrow and their reserved seats had not been announced yet.

He also raised the issue of blackout of his speech in the Senate during the last sitting by the state-run TV and wanted inquiry into it. He said a sessions judge in Larkana had resigned after a sitting high court judge had asked him to do something illegal. He also wanted a probe to be conducted into the issue.

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Senator Pir Sabir Shah advocated re-introduction of the amnesty scheme to whiten black money with a view to giving boost to the national economy.

While speaking on a motion, moved by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad to discuss the performance of the state-owned enterprises, he contended that the black economy should be given a way. Senator Shah referred to the recovery of billions of rupees earned through corrupt means by bureaucrats and businessmen and said while the white economy was on downslide, black economy was flourishing.

Referring to the World Bank report, the PMLN lawmaker said the state-owned enterprises were the worst in Asia despite the fact that these entities together receive a huge amount of Rs458 billion annually from the national kitty.

He said the black money stashed in ‘godowns’ and houses, should be given way and allowed to be brought in mainstream, insisting, “We will have to take bitter decisions to strengthen economy.”

He also noted that the loss-making SOEs should be privatised. The mover of the motion, Senator Mushtaq said the SOEs running in losses were a threat to sovereignty of the country and pointed out that the World Bank in a report had termed Pakistan’s economy model as failed and ineffective, but regretted that a class of elites, benefitting from it, was hesitant to change it.

“This model is part of the problem and not part of the solution.” He said according to a World Bank report, tax evasion by and concessions and subsidies to the elite class cost $70.4 billion.

PML Senator Kamil Ali Agha suggested discussion on performance of each and every SOE one by one and chalk out a future course of action, whereas PTI legislator Humayun Mohmand said besides the corrupt bureaucrats, the decision makers from the political leadership backing them should also be held accountable.

Senator Danesh Kumar said the amount that was being wasted on SOEs each year was equivalent to three years budget of Balochistan, adding the SOEs which were a burden on the nation, should be closed down.

Senator Saifullah Abro said the power division had made capacity payments of Rs9,288 billion to the IPPs over the last ten years. He termed the agreements with IPPs as flawed and said the nation was paying the cost of wrong decisions taken in the past.

It was a private members day and PMLN Senator Kamran Michael’s ‘Christian Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2023’ was adopted unanimously under which the marriage age for both male and female has been fixed at 18 years.Responding to the concerns, expressed in the House by JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, the interim minister for parliamentary affairs told the House the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had not taken any decision to exclude any specific programme, including Pakistan Studies, from university and degree programmes.

All the provisions included in the undergraduate policies have been proposed at the minimum level while autonomous universities were functioning under their respective laws, he added.

The caretaker minister explained that more maturity is being added to courses and degree programmes and that the HEC had recently mentioned the undergraduate education policy. Moreover, a concept of general courses set had been introduced on ideology of Pakistan and Pakistan Studies in the education policy for undergraduates, which have been proposed as compulsory ingredients.

He noted that students would see further improvement in this course based on prior knowledge of Pakistan Studies and these programmes were a combination of the topics of Pakistan Studies and Constitution of Pakistan.

The minister clarified the course was not a substitute for these programmes, but these two programmes included a combination of Pakistan Studies and Ideology of Pakistan, whereas the HEC was consulting relevant stakeholders regarding ideology of Pakistan and Pakistan Studies.

Under the Undergraduate Education (UGE) policy, he pointed, a two credit hours programme of Pakistan Studies will be prepared.

Earlier, the House also passed ‘The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023’, ‘The Easements (Amendment) Bill 2023, ‘The Injured Persons (Medical Aid) (Amendment) Bill 2023, ‘The Federal Institute of Management Sciences Bill 2023, and ‘The Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Technology Bill 2023’.

The House will now meet on Tuesday morning. Separately, PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman said that President Dr Arif Alvi would have to sign the summary for convening the inaugural session of National Assembly as per article 91(2) of the Constitution and there was no room for the president to put conditions on convening the session.

“Article 91(2) provides that the National Assembly shall have to meet on the 21st day on which the general election to the assembly is held, unless sooner summoned by the president,” she said while reacting on a delay from the president to sign the summary for convening the inaugural session.

“It means explicitly that the powers of the president under Article 54(1) are restricted to a maximum of 21 days with respect to the inaugural session of the NA,” she said.

The PPP vice president said that it was regrettable that the president made the meeting subject to the decision of the reserved seats. “Dr Arif Alvi’s tenure has already been marred by controversy and even before leaving, he is abiding by the Tehreek-e-Insaf oath, not the presidential one,” she said.

She said according to Article 91(2) of the Constitution, it is mandatory to convene the meeting within 21 days after the election. “The Constitution does not make the meeting subject to any pending matter.”

Sherry said Dr Alvi has tried to create a perpetual constitutional crisis. “He should refrain from any such unconstitutional measures before leaving,” she added. In response to recent speculations circulating on different media platforms, Senator Sherry Rehman denied any truth to the rumours regarding the appointment of governors by the party.

The PPP has not started the process of the shortlisting and finalising the name of PPP nominees for post of governors in provinces as it will be conducted under the direct oversight of PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari once he assumes the Presidency, she said.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1162012-president-attacked-constitution-by-not-calling-na-session-rabbani

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IHC allows Imran to meet lawyers in private

February 27, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court directed the Adiala Jail authorities on Monday to allow the defence counsel for the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) founder to have a private meeting with him per the jail manual.

justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan heard the petition filed by the PTI founder, requesting privacy during meetings with lawyers. Defence Counsel Shere Afzal Marwat argued that the presence of two individuals during meetings with the PTI founder was not permissible according to jail regulations.

He also highlighted that the jail administration refused meetings with newly elected PTI members and political assistants. The counsel urged the court to instruct the jail administration to permit the PTI founder to meet his political assistants and ensure privacy during lawyer consultations. Consequently, the court instructed the jail administration to adhere to the jail manual and allow the lawyers to meet the PTI founder in private.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1162014-ihc-allows-imran-to-meet-lawyers-in-private

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South Asia

 

Rohingya Repatriation: Govt’s negotiations lack transparency

Feb 27, 2024

The absence of political consensus in Bangladesh is having a detrimental impact on the country's diplomatic and economic fronts, said experts on Sunday.

They, including a former ambassador, academicians and security experts, at a programme at the city's BRAC Inn Centre, raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding government negotiations centring the Rohingya crisis.

They also pointed out the absence of parliamentary discussions on crucial matters.

The programme titled "Rifts in the Global Order and the Rise of Multipolarity: Counterbalancing Strategies for Bangladesh" was organised by the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling.

Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain, former election commissioner and senior fellow at the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance of North South University, in his speech, said it is unknown when the violence in Rakhine will stop.

The radical nationalism that is developing in India and Myanmar can also threaten the security of Bangladesh, he said, adding that the US-led unipolar world order is still in place but is beginning to break down.

"We are talking about a multipolar world, but we still don't live in that world."

Brig Shakhawat also said Bangladesh's foreign policy -- friendship to all and malice to none -- is not working now.

"I am worried about what is happening in Myanmar. I am especially worried about Myanmar's Chin and Rakhine states. There is instability. We don't know where it will end. I don't know yet where we should go.

"At present, we are in a fix about what to do. We have to work on our own solution. We have to decide which way we should go."

Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir, also president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), outlined three layers of transformation, starting with the erosion of global norms and order.

Reflecting on past consensus, he noted, "The idea was that the international community should respect sovereignty and all the world should enjoy equity."

He expressed concerns over diminishing guarantees for sovereignty and privacy.

"Sovereignty is no longer a guarantee; privacy is no longer a guarantee. Everybody is being spied on. Where is human sanctity, human dignity?"

On the concept of multi-polarity, he said, "China wants to be like the US. India wants to be like the US. So where is the multi-polarity everybody is talking about?"

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University said, "Bangladesh is better placed when it comes to multi-polarity.

"For Bangladesh to make the best of the fluid multipolarity, it has to focus on professionalism or meritocracy."

He said, "In no way can we go back to unipolarity."

He said Bangladesh needs to enhance its engagement with regional powers like India and China.

Chairing the event, Prof Lailufar Yasmin, also the chairperson of the Department of International Relations at DU, noted the emergence of a new assertive Bangladesh on the global stage, prompting the necessity to develop indigenous policies tailored to the country's population.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/rohingya-repatriation-govts-negotiations-lack-transparency-3553346

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BNP will pay for not joining polls: Quader

Feb 27, 2024

BNP will soon realise how much they have lost by not participating in the last parliamentary polls, said Awami League General Secretary ObaidulQuader yesterday.

"They (BNP) will have to pay for a long time for not participating in the election," he said.

Quaders, also road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks while exchanging views with reporters at Daganbhuiyan in Feni.

Quader said the fact that Fakhrul went to visit the US delegation instead of meeting the people after being freed from jail surprised him.

BNP feels comfortable lodging complaints to foreigners instead of people, he added.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-will-pay-not-joining-polls-quader-3553166

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WFP seeks $760 million for ongoing operations in Afghanistan

Fidel Rahmati

February 26, 2024

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a dire need for $760 million in food assistance in Afghanistan over the next six months, amidst growing international concerns about widespread poverty in the country.

In a recent post on the social media platform X, the organization stated that millions in Afghanistan are suffering from severe hunger, with over half of the estimated 43 million population forced to reduce their food intake.

Findings from the World Food Programme indicate that at least 16 million people in Afghanistan experience daily concerns about having enough food.

It’s worth mentioning that Afghanistan faces one of the most serious humanitarian crises globally, a crisis that typically exacerbates during winter due to road closures.

Forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, such as Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, has intensified, with more than half a million Afghans deported by Pakistani officials since October 2023, despite harsh winter conditions.

 Many of the returnees are confronted with numerous challenges, including inadequate access to water, shelter, and medical care, along with a scarcity of job opportunities and an uncertain future.

 Furthermore, the severe earthquake that struck Herat province in October last year further exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children, who faced heightened levels of malnutrition.

Since the Taliban seized power, they have imposed various restrictions on women’s rights, including limitations on employment with domestic and international aid organizations. Consequently, many donors have reduced their aid support, exacerbating the challenges faced by the Afghan people.

The situation underscores the urgent need for international support and assistance to alleviate the suffering of millions of Afghans who are struggling to meet their basic food needs. The World Food Programmer’s appeal highlights the critical importance of addressing food insecurity in Afghanistan and providing timely aid to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/wfp-seeks-760-million-for-ongoing-operations-in-afghanistan/

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Stanikzai: Education Opportunities in Country Must Increase

February 26, 2024

The deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, said that the educational and higher education institutions of the Islamic Emirate must provide better opportunities for the education of youth in the country.

Speaking at a book-publishing event, which included the publishing of the Holy Quran, organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture, Stanikzai called the lack of libraries one of the serious challenges the country is facing.

Stanikzai said: “The Islamic Emirate authorities who are responsible, especially the Ministries of Information and Culture, Education and Higher Education, should try to provide a study environment for their people and for their students, so that they can have a book in any section they want to study without any kind of controversy.”

He continued to say that most of the country's books are printed outside of Afghanistan, and more should be printed domestically.

Meanwhile, Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi, the deputy minister of information and culture for publications, said there is a cultural need for books.

Muhajir Farahi said: “The history and past values of a country are kept in a book, and the books record the performance and history of a generation for the future generation."

The deputy foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate also mentioned the role of youth in the development and progress of the society and emphasized that the youth should study more and be interested in study and research.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-187578

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Journalists Union Awards Afghan Journalists at Annual Festival

Fidel Rahmati

February 26, 2024

The Union of Free Journalists of Afghanistan held the Best Media Festival of Solar Year (1402) and awarded prizes to some media outlets for their comprehensive coverage of social, political, and cultural issues over the past year.

HojatullahMojadedi, the head of this organization, stated during a press conference on Monday, February, 26, that the media were selected based on criteria they had determined, but he did not elaborate on the selection process.

Mojadedi added, “Those who received the awards were selected based on a series of criteria, but there are some deficiencies that will be rectified in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Movement for Afghan Journalists criticized the holding of this festival and added that this organization is not transparent and has awarded prizes to media outlets at a time when hundreds of journalists in Afghanistan are unemployed and in need of assistance.

On the other hand, Naeem ul Haq Haqani, the head of the Media Center, said they are in the process of forming a commission to invite Afghan journalists abroad in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Journalists also asked the de facto administration to support domestic media in this session.

Zabihullah Sadat, the head of Tolo News Network, added, “The high restrictions on domestic media provided an opportunity for some hostile foreign media to propagate against the current administration.”

After the establishment of the Taliban regime, the activities of some media outlets were suspended due to economic problems and restrictions, but some media outlets continue their activities now.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/journalists-union-awards-afghan-journalists-at-annual-festival/

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Acting Foreign Minister Engages in Diplomatic Visit to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

2024-02-26

KABUL (BNA): The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, has made an official visit to the Afghan embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Hafez Zia Ahmad Takal, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared on his social media handle that Muttaqi, who was on a trip to Turkmenistan, made a point to visit the Afghan embassy in the nation’s capital.

During his visit, Muttaqi offered valuable suggestions aimed at enhancing diplomatic relations and accelerating consular services in Turkmenistan. He took the time to listen to the views, advice, and requests of the embassy staff and diplomats, particularly those involved in political, economic, and commercial sectors.

It has been reported that Muttaqi, leading a delegation, traveled to Turkmenistan on Sunday. The visit was made at the invitation of the Turkmenistan Foreign Minister, with the aim of engaging in discussions on bilateral matters.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/acting-foreign-minister-engages-in-diplomatic-visit-to-ashgabat-turkmenistan/

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South Korea donates $4 million in Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

Fidel Rahmati

February 27, 2024

The World Food Programme has announced that South Korea has contributed four million dollars to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

The World Food Programme stated on Monday, February 26th, through a statement, that these aids were provided to support emergency food assistance and prevent famine in Afghanistan.

According to the World Food Programme, these contributions have been allocated to this organization through the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Hsiao-Wei Lee, the World Food Programme Director in Afghanistan, added that the Afghans’ resources have been depleted, and their savings have diminished.

The organization states that due to budget constraints in 2023, their humanitarian assistance to 10 million people has been reduced.

Previously, South Korea had also contributed one million dollars to the Afghan Humanitarian Fund.

According to the World Food Program’s statement, last year it assisted 19 million people.

This comes as the World Food Programme announced a budget shortfall for providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Amidst a dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries including Pakistan. The World Food Program’s announcement highlights the urgent need for international support to alleviate suffering in the country.

The forced deportation of Afghan refugees has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power. As the country grapples with widespread food shortages and economic instability, the timely assistance from South Korea underscores the importance of international solidarity in addressing the urgent needs of Afghan civilians.

Source: khaama.com

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

https://www.khaama.com/south-korea-donates-4-million-in-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan/

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Southeast Asia

 

UN Human Rights Council must address Israel's violations: FM Marsudi

February 27, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Affairs Minister RetnoMarsudi urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to address the serious human rights violations committed by Israel against Palestinians.

Marsudi made the statement at the High-Level Segment of the 55th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (February 26), which also marked the start of Indonesia's membership in the council for the 2024-2026 period.

"The second thing that I conveyed in the Human Rights Council meeting was the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the humanitarian crisis," she noted in a written statement from her ministry.

According to the minister, the refugee crisis, triggered by war and conflict, requires global collaboration and solidarity to overcome it, including fulfilling obligations in the Refugee Convention.

Marsudi emphasized the need to strengthen the humanitarian mechanism while stressing that it must not be politicized.

"I conveyed that we must not stay silent about the suspension of funding to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), while funds to support war crimes in Gaza continue to flow," she remarked.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need to bolster the human rights ecosystem that is a collective responsibility of all countries.

She noted that in ASEAN, Indonesia is pushing for the strengthening of the human rights ecosystem through the Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue, while in Afghanistan, Indonesia is pushing for the fulfillment of women's rights.

"I also emphasized the importance of adequate funding for the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and other important mechanisms, such as the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territory," she stated.

Apart from that, the minister also underscored the importance of support for the Human Rights Council in providing technical assistance and capacity building to member states.

Marsudi stressed that protecting and promoting human rights must be carried out equally, including respecting each country's rights to development to guarantee the welfare of their people and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Collaborations must also be directed to guarantee the rights of vulnerable people, especially women, people with disability, and migrants," she stated.

Source: antaranews.com

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

https://en.antaranews.com/news/307092/un-human-rights-council-must-address-israels-violations-fm-marsudi

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National sharia finance industry continuing to grow: ministry

 February 26, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Islamic financial industry has continued to record growth, as evidenced by its sharia finance assets, which swelled 6.75 percent in September 2023 to reach a value of Rp2,452.57 trillion, or around US$156.8 billion.

Expert staff at the Finance Ministry, AriefWibisono, conveyed the information while sharing the results of the "Indonesian Sharia Economic and Financial Study (KEKSI) 2023" here on Monday.

"The Islamic finance industry in Indonesia continues to increase," he said.

Indonesia's sharia finance assets include the sharia capital market worth Rp1,457.73 trillion (US$93.2 billion), which accounts for 59.44 percent of the total asset value; followed by sharia banking, which accounts for 33.92 percent of the asset value and is worth Rp831.19 trillion (US$53.15 billion); and the non-bank financial industry (IKNB), which makes up the remaining 6.64 percent and is worth Rp162.85 trillion (US$10.4 billion).

Further, the market share of the Islamic finance industry has also continued to increase nationwide.

Wibisono informed that the market share of the sharia capital market has been pegged at 20.52 percent, sharia banking at 7.27 percent, and sharia IKNB at 5 percent.

The positive performance of Indonesia's sharia finance industry has gained global recognition, he said.

He referred to the Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI) data in the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2023 released by DinarStandard, a research institution based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, which showed that Indonesia's sharia economy rose by one rank to third position after Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

However, Wibisono said, the ratio of sharia financial assets to national finances is still low at around 10.81 percent.

Therefore, the government is making efforts to boost the national sharia financial industry, especially through Law No. 4 of 2023 concerning the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector.

Source: antaranews.com

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Parliament told: Provisions in Syariah criminal laws in all states, except Kelantan, valid and can be enforced

27-02- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Provisions in the Syariah criminal laws in all states, except Kelantan, are valid and constitutional and can be enforced, even though the Federal Court has declared 16 provisions in the Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code (1) Enactment 2019 as null and void.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan (pix) said the laws are valid as long as the constitutionality and legality of the provisions are not challenged and they are not declared invalid and unconstitutional.

He said the ruling by the Federal Court only involved 16 of the 18 provisions of offences in the Kelantan Syariah Penal Code (1) Enactment 2019, but not the Syariah laws in other states.

“However, can the federal government order the states to amend their Syariah laws?...based on Clause 2 of Article 74, and Item I of List II of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, Islamic religious affairs are under the jurisdiction of the states.

“So, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Sultans are the main authorities that need to be protected and they need to give their consent on the advice of the State Islamic Religious Council,“ he said

He said this during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu).

In the original question to the Prime Minister, Takiyuddin had asked about efforts taken by the government to protect the validity of the State Syariah Enactment Law, especially against planned strategic litigation attacks.

According to Zulkifl, the government had formed a special committee to study issues related to the competency of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to enact Islamic law, which had submitted its first report.

The first report was sent to the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs on Feb 15 and a comprehensive solution to the issue is expected to be obtained within a year, he said.

The government, he said, is always committed to upholding Syariah law in Malaysia in line with the Religious Affairs Transformation Plan Towards Malaysia Madani 2023-2027. –Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/parliament-told-provisions-in-syariah-criminal-laws-in-all-states-except-kelantan-valid-and-can-be-enforced-NG12145558

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MAPIM calls for international movement to send humanitarian aid ships to Gaza

27-02- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (MAPIM) today called for an international movement to launch global pressure to enter Gaza, Palestine by sending a fleet of ships carrying humanitarian aid.

MAPIM president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid in a statement today said this is because a global movement with a flotilla of ships through the Mediterranean Sea is the only way to get to Gaza.

“All able and willing nations should participate in sending their fleet of ships carrying humanitarian aid which has been barred from entering Gaza. The call for a united action to get humanitarian aid to the 1.5 million starving and displaced people in Gaza should not be delayed anymore.

“All governments calling for a ceasefire should not hesitate to participate in this last move to save Gaza from the carnage. International pressure must be exerted to force open the blockade of Gaza and channelling of the aid must immediately be extended,” he said.

At the same time, Mohd Azmi said the United Nations (UN) and all international agencies have failed to prevent the crime of genocide by the barbarism of Israel in Gaza.

He stressed that Israel has imposed a crippling siege on the Gaza Strip since 2006 that has undermined even the most basic healthcare, food, drinking water, as well as essential life-supporting infrastructure.

He said since Oct 7, 2023, the destruction of infrastructure and extermination of lives by lethal bombardments and cutting off humanitarian aid has created an apocalypse in Gaza.

“The more than 140 days of the most brutal massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza, even during the ongoing trial in the ICJ against Israel, Israel has conducted relentless bombardments, killing hundreds each day.

“Five months of aggression with more than 29,000 civilian deaths (including more than 15,000 children) and 70,000 injured is more than enough to conclude that Israel is committing the most heinous war crime and crime against humanity,” he added. - Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/mapim-calls-for-international-movement-to-send-humanitarian-aid-ships-to-gaza-BG12143983

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Jakim to implement more programmes to strengthen unity, preserve harmony

26-02- 2024

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is committed to expanding programmes that contribute towards unity and harmony, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr MohdNa’im Mokhtar (pix).

MohdNa’im said he upholds His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia’s decree issued today, which among other things, calls on all segments of society to preserve harmony and not touch on sensitive issues involving royalty, race and religion (3R).

“The religious agencies that I oversee will continue efforts to promote Islam and at the same time respect other religions. Jakim and the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) can collaborate with other races and religions.

“We want to show that Islam is a merciful religion, Islam encourages unity and harmony, and invites all towards peace and prosperity,” he told newsmen after officiating the Quran Convention here today.

Sultan Ibrahim, when officiating the opening of the First Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Parliament today, called on the government to formulate a policy to strengthen harmony and unity among the people.

Meanwhile, MohdNa’im called on all segments of society, including members of parliament, not to touch on 3R issues in line with His Majesty’s decree.

“I hope that the people as a whole, especially members of parliament, will heed His Majesty’s decree so that sensitive matters (3R) are not touched or manipulated,” he said.

Earlier, in his speech, he said the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), with the strength of all its agencies, would always collaborate to formulate and implement Quran education programmes for the community.

“Mosques and surau, in particular, will continue to be used as centres for the community to learn and understand the teachings and interpretation of the Quran.

“Alhamdulillah, I have observed and realised that several mosques and surau, especially in the Federal Territories, have moved forward in organising Quran appreciation programmes,” he said.

MohdNa’im said creative and interactive efforts must be made to approach young people so that they understand and appreciate the Quran.

He said collaborations with the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and other agencies can be pursued to come up with interactive programmes. –Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/jakim-to-implement-more-programmes-to-strengthen-unity-preserve-harmony-KG12141812

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Africa

 

UN offers support for resettlement of IDPs in Borno

AtikuGaladima

February 27, 2024

The United Nations has expressed readiness to support the Borno government in resettling the remaining Internally Displaced Persons in the state.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Malik, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Borno Governor, BabaganaZulum at Government House Maiduguri on Monday.

He said the UN had noticed that Borno State has achieved so much in peace and development of the communities affected by the crisis.

According to him, the UN is ready to support Borno in its restoration agenda and resettling of the remaining Internally Displaced Persons back to their ancestral homes after the gradual return of peace in the state.

“Every initiative you implement or undertake, you can count 100% on my support and the support of the entire UN team.

Source: tribuneonlineng.com

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https://tribuneonlineng.com/un-offers-support-for-resettlement-of-idps-in-borno/

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At least 14 killed in attack on Burkina Faso mosque

James Tasamba

27.02.2024

At least 14 people were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on a mosque in eastern Burkina Faso, the country’s Islamic body said on Monday.

The attack occurred on Sunday in the town of Natiaboani, the same day gunmen killed more than a dozen worshipers at a catholic church in the north.

“Lawless individuals indiscriminately perpetrated despicable and cowardly attacks on a mosque in Natiaboani. Those killed include the grand imam and several worshippers. This is a provisional toll,” the Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina said in a statement.

The federation condemned in the “strongest terms these unjustifiable barbaric acts.”

Natiaboani is in the country’s troubled eastern region where multiple armed groups are said to operate.

That same day, at least 15 people were killed by gunmen during Sunday mass in Essakane, northern Burkina Faso.

The West African country has been battling an insurgency that spread from neighboring Mali over the past decade, and has driven thousands of people out of their homes.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/at-least-14-killed-in-attack-on-burkina-faso-mosque/3148716

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Zamfara Assembly suspends eight members for alleged misconduct

27th February 2024

The Zamfara State House of Assembly, on Monday, suspended eight lawmakers for alleged misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, and illegal sitting.

The suspension was announced by the Speaker of the House, BilyaminuMoriki, at the Assembly’s plenary in Gusau on Monday.

The suspension followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Bello Mazawaje (PDP, Tsafe East).

Mazawaje said the lawmakers’ suspension was permitted based on the violation of the Assembly’s Order 10, Rule 9.

He said the suspended members, on Thursday, broke the doors to the office of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arm of the Assembly and conducted an unlawful sitting.

He said that the lawmakers also blocked some members from gaining access to the Assembly’s chamber.

He, therefore, urged the lawmakers to agree with the motion to suspend the eight members for alleged contempt of the house, conspiracy, conducting illegal sitting, mischief, and misconduct.

Contributing to the motion, the Deputy Speaker of the House, AdamuAliyu (PDP, Gummi 2), described the attitude of the lawmakers as unfortunate.

Aliyu said the lawmakers must be sanctioned in order to maintain law and order in the legislative process in the state.

The Chief Whip to the House, RilwanuMarafa (PDP, Anka constituency), described the conduct of the alleged illegal sitting by the lawmakers as a disgrace to the Assembly.

Marafa called on his colleagues to take disciplinary action against the lawmakers.

However, the Minority Whip to the House, NuraDahiru (APC, BirninMagaji Constituency),  urged the leadership of the Assembly to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure justice and fairness.

The suspended lawmakers include Bashir Aliyu (PDP, Gummi 1); Amiru Keta (PDP, Tsafe West); NasiruAbdullahi (PDP-Maru South); Bashir Masama (PDP, Bukkuyum North);  FarukuDosara (APC, Maradun 1); Ibrahim Tukur (APC, Bakura Constituency); Shamsudeen Hassan (APC, Talata-Mafara North) and BashiruSarkin-Zango (PDP, Bungudu West).

Source: punchng.com

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https://punchng.com/zamfara-assembly-suspends-eight-members-for-alleged-misconduct/

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