Muslim Sculptors, Mohammed Jamaluddin and His Son, Craft Statue Of Lord Ram For Ayodhya Temple
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 December 2023
A statue of
Lord Ram built by the two Muslim sculptors in West Bengal. (Photo: India Today)
------
·
Muslim
Sculptors, Mohammed Jamaluddin and His Son, Craft Statue Of Lord Ram For
Ayodhya Temple
·
UP: School
Debate On Israel-Hamas Conflict, Where Students Were Reportedly Asked To Defend
Israel’s Bombing Of Gaza, Ignites Controversy
·
Vigil Held
In London For Palestinian Children Killed In Gaza
·
127 More
BNP, Jamaat Activists Sentenced To JailOver Political Violence in Dhaka
·
Israel
Vows To Continue Gaza War 'With Or Without International Support'
----
India
·
Targeted
Killing Of Hindu Religious Leaders Belonging To BJP And RSS Not Terrorist Act:
Madras HC
·
New MP CM
Bans Unregulated Use Of Loudspeakers At Religious Places And Meat Sales “In The
Open”
·
India
rejects OIC’s comments on SC verdict on J-K
·
Israel-Hamas
war: India votes in favour of 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire'
-----
Europe
·
Israel’s
ambassador to Britain rejects 2-state solution
·
Pope
opposes repatriation of migrants to nations with human rights risks
Russian-occupied
Crimea
·
Islamist
sect GP who called Hamas
'freedom fighters' set for fresh investigation after 'distressing comments'
·
56 UK
Parliamentarians Demand Israeli Settler Travel Ban
------
South Asia
·
UK
Ministry Of Defence Fined £350,000 For Data Breach During Afghan Nationals’
Evacuation
·
Terrorist
attacks in Pakistan not linked to Afghanistan: Mujahid
·
Effective
Activities Carried out in the Development and Promotion of Islamic Banking: DAB
Governor
·
President,
PM pay homage to martyred intellectuals
·
UN Has No
Right To Challenge IEA’s Recognition:Secy Gen IUMS
-----
Mideast
·
Gaza’s
brave battle against Israel nearing a bright end: Hamas leader
·
Fighting
between Israel and Hezbollah escalates as talks go on in bid to ease tensions
·
Israeli
CEO recruits Muslim hackers to fight Hamas in cyberwarfare
·
WHO blames
Israel's lengthy checks for death of patient in Gaza
·
Nine
Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza City ambush in sign that Hamas resistance is
still strong
·
Egypt
slams Israeli attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza Strip
·
Region,
world to be grappling with Israeli war crimes' aftermath for years: Iran FM to
Press TV
·
Israel
cannot continue onslaught against Gaza without US support, says Iranian FM
·
Hamas on
Yemeni strikes against Israel-bound ships: West must end Gaza carnage
·
Israel
continues to pound Gaza as rift with US grows
·
UN General
Assembly overwhelmingly demands Gaza ceasefire
-----
Arab World
·
Organisation
Of Islamic Cooperation Opposes Supreme Court’s Verdict Upholding Scrapping Of
Jammu And Kashmir’s Special Status
·
Islamic
Military Coalition Meeting Places Focus On Counterterrorism Strategy
·
Only Peace
In Gaza Can Ease Red Sea Tensions: Yemeni Official
·
KSrelief’s
UN exhibition showcases Saudi Arabia’s role in humanitarian aid worldwide
·
25th Saudi
relief plane for Palestinians arrives in Egypt
·
Saudi FM
meets Iranian counterpart in Geneva
·
US shoots
down aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas
-----
Pakistan
·
May 9
Violence: Pakistan Supreme Court Allows Trial Of Civilians By Military Courts
·
Deportation
of Afghans: SC refers pleas to panel for formation of larger bench
·
Pakistan
hails OIC statement on Indian SC decision on IIOJ&K status
·
Imran
seeks recusal of IHC CJ from benches hearing his cases
·
Case
adjourned till 19th: ECP officials visit Adiala Jail to conduct trial of IK,
Chaudhry
·
41,000
Afghan immigrants left, 3,700 deported from Sindh: Haris Nawaz
·
Promotion
Of Religious Tourism Based Ziarat Policy Formulated: Minister for Religious
Affairs
·
UNSC
condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan
·
Indictment
in cipher case: Imran’s plot against state proved: Khattak
-----
Africa
·
Al-Sunni: The
Ceasefire Decision In Gaza Was Consistent With Same Resolution Adopted By Arab Group
Headed By Libya
·
South
Africa To Build New Nuclear Plants That Will Come On Stream In A Decade
·
2015 Zaria
massacre: Islamic movement seeks justice for victims
·
Ugandan
serial killer sentenced to 105 years in prison
·
Attack in
southern Nigeria: 6 dead and 2 South Koreans kidnapped
·
Kaduna
bombing: Military raises eight-man panel, villagers disown N33bn suit
------
North America
·
Hate
Crimes, Incidents Against Montreal’s Arab-Muslim, Jewish Communities Continue
To Increase
·
Hindu
Americans To Light Diyas At Home To Celebrate Ram Mandir Inauguration
·
Biden
administration staffers call for Gaza ceasefire at vigil outside White House
·
US
intelligence: Nearly half of Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are ‘dumb bombs’
·
Biden
meets with relatives of Americans held hostage by Hamas
·
Advocates
Warn Arab, Muslim Americans Could Abandon Biden, Democrats
·
Washington
shows signs of strained patience with ally Israel
·
CAIR:
Texas Muslim Leaders Unite to Urge Political and Elected Officials to Demand
Ceasefire in Gaza
·
Jackie
Goldberg, Bold Supporter Of LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim Students, To Lead L.A.
School Board
-----
Southeast Asia
·
Ahead Of
Media Guideline Launch, Group’s Study Says Family And Religion Biggest Factors
Behind Conversion Therapy Against LGBT
·
Israel’s
Deadly Onslaught On Gaza Is Not Self-Defence: Indonesia FM
·
Immigration
inspector allegedly received sexual favours from 6 men who needed help to
remain in S’pore
·
International
Islamic Liquidity Management Corp successfully reissues US$790m in short-term
sukuk
·
24
Rohingyas detained while being trafficked to Malaysia
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslim-sculptors-statue-lord-ram-ayodhya-temple/d/131313
-----
Muslim Sculptors, Mohammed Jamaluddin
and His Son,Craft Statue Of Lord Ram For Ayodhya Temple
A statue of
Lord Ram built by the two Muslim sculptors in West Bengal. (Photo: India Today)
------
Dec 14, 2023
Aditi Sharma
Two Muslim sculptors from the North 24
Parganas district in West Bengal have crafted idols of Lord Ram for the
upcoming grand opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
Mohammed Jamaluddin and his son Bittu
have been engaged in creating these magnificent statues that will adorn the
temple complex.
The father-son duo's work was discovered
online, which led to them receiving an order from Ayodhya.
Jamaluddin said that despite the higher
cost of fibre statues compared to clay, their durability and resistance to
weather conditions make them a preferred choice for outdoor installations. A
life-sized fibre idol can cost around Rs 2.8 lakh, but the meticulous
craftsmanship involved justifies the price.
When asked if he was unsure about taking
on the project, Jamaluddin said, "Religion is a personal thing. We have
people of different religions in the country. The message is simple: in times
of communalism, we all have to stay together. I felt happy making the statue of
Lord Ram. This culture of brotherhood is my message as an artist."
"Not only of Ram, but I have also
created huge sculptures of Maa Durga and Jagadhatri, which have gained a lot of
popularity as well," he added.
He proudly stated that he has been
making fibre sculptures of various Hindu deities for years and cherishes the
cultural harmony they represent.
Bittu, who runs the workshop named after
him, mentioned that it takes a team of 30 to 35 people and about one to
one-and-a-half months to create a life-sized statue. The transportation of
these statues to Uttar Pradesh can take up to 45 days, the young sculptor said.
Source: indiatoday.in
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the full text of the original
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/muslim-sculptors-west-bengal-lord-ram-statue-ram-temple-ayodhya-grand-opening-uttar-pradesh-2475750-2023-12-14
-----
UP: School Debate On Israel-Hamas
Conflict, Where Students Were Reportedly Asked To Defend Israel’s Bombing Of
Gaza, Ignites Controversy
Huddard High
School, Kanpur
-----
13th December 2023
A school debate on the ongoing
Israel-Hamas conflict sparked controversy when students were reportedly asked
to defend Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
On Saturday 9, Huddard High School in
Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district conducted a debate competition where those
speaking ‘FOR’ the motion were given the topic: Hamas Terrorist Ne Israel Ke
KitneNavShishuKo Mara Hai Aur Israel Ka Haq Hai Wo Hamas Par Missile Dale(How
many infants have Hamas terrorists killed in Israel, and does Israel have the
right to launch missiles on Hamas?)
And those speaking ‘AGAINST the motion
were given the topic: Israel Ko Dekho Wo KaiseHamas K Terrorist Attack KoJhel
Raha Hai Jahan Hamas Ne UnkiPeedhiyan Khatam Krdil(Look at how Israel is coping
with the terrorist attacks by Hamas, where Hamas has wiped out generations of
Israelis.)
According to a report by Maktoob Media,
a few participating students expressed discomfort. “When we resisted, we were
called Pakistanis and terrorists. Teachers openly supported Israel’s genocidal
actions,” Maktoob Media quoted a student who requested anonymity.
One of the students was even threatened
with expulsion for a year. Some of them were told they would be marked as
failed if they protested. “The teacher who organised this debate competition is
threatening students and telling them to fail us in our board examinations,”
the student said.
Another student who spoke to Maktoob
Media disagreed with the school debate. “We study in schools to learn rationality
and justice. If we are fed with the wrong information when everybody knows
about the structural violence and genocide of innocent Palestinians, there is
no point in getting such education,” the student said.
Following the debate controversy, on
December 12, the students protested in front of the principal’s office,
demanding an apology. However, the school authorities imposed strict rules,
restricting students’ movements.
“Students are not allowed to move in a
group. We are not allowed to protest. Play period is suspended, lunchtime is
suspended, and students are not allowed to walk in the corridors,” Maktoob
Media quoted another student.
Principal Sunny Verghese washed off his
hands by saying the views expressed by the protesting students are personal and
the school has nothing to do with them.
“The views expressed by the students in
the debates are their own, and we are not liable for that. The student who
termed Hamas a terrorist organisation is her own opinion, and that is a part of
the debate,” he was quoted by the local media.
Huddard High School is run by
Christians, and a majority of the student population is Muslim. The school is
located in a Muslim-majority locality.
Source: siasat.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.siasat.com/up-school-debate-on-israel-hamas-conflict-ignites-controversy-2933779/
----
Vigil Held In London For Palestinian
Children Killed In Gaza
Toys and
shoes, symbolizing Palestinian children killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza
are seen as protestors stage a demonstration in front of the British Prime
Minister's office, Number 10, in London, England on December 13, 2023.
------
Zuhal Demirci
14.12.2023
People gathered at a vigil in London on
Wednesday to mourn Palestinian children killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.
The crowd took part in the event outside
the prime minister's office as Israel’s attacks on one of the world's most
densely populated areas continued.
Participants left flowers, toys and
shoes at the site to raise awareness over the killing of children in the
besieged enclave.
Carrying Palestinian flags, the crowd
chanted slogans including "Netanyahu, shame on you," "Israel is
terrorist sate" and "Free Palestine."
They also criticized the British government
for not voting in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution Tuesday that
demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
They further accused the government of
being "complicit in genocide" in the Gaza Strip over its support for
Israel.
Since Oct. 7, UK officials have
repeatedly expressed their support for Israel's right to defend itself while
calling for respecting international humanitarian law.
However, the government as well as the
leadership of the main opposition Labour Party have been widely criticized over
their support for Israel and not calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from
the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation
for a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
At least 18,608 Palestinians have since
been killed and almost 50,600 others injured in Israeli attacks, according to
Gaza’s health authorities.
The Israeli death toll in the Hamas
attack stands at 1,200, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity,
according to official figures.
*BurakBir contributed to this report in
London
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/vigil-held-in-london-for-palestinian-children-killed-in-gaza/3081879
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127 More BNP, Jamaat Activists Sentenced
To Jail Over Political Violence in Dhaka
Photo:
Collected
-----
Dec 14, 2023
Another 127 leaders and activists of
BNP-Jamaat and their front organisations were sentenced to different jail terms
yesterday in seven cases filed between January 2012 and November 2018 over
political violence in Dhaka.
With this, at least 850 BNP-Jamaat men
have been jailed since November 7 this year in 47 cases filed on charges of
illegal gathering on the streets; rioting; damaging properties; arson attacks
on vehicles; vandalism; and assaulting police and obstructing them from
discharging duties.
In a case filed with Dhanmondi police in
July 2018, 22 leaders and activists of the BNP and its front organisations were
sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment each by a Dhaka court
yesterday.
Of them, nine were present in the
courtroom when Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MdMehedi Hasan delivered the
verdict. Four prosecution witnesses testified.
President of Dhanmondi BNP Sheikh Rabiul
Alam Rabi and president of the party's Hazaribagh unit Majibur Rahman Mazu and
its General Secretary Abdul Aziz are among the convicts.
According to the case statement, a group
of leaders and activists of BNP and its front organisations gathered in Sat
Masjid Road area in Dhanmondi on July 13, 2018 and assaulted police and
obstructed them from discharging duties. They also threw brickbats at on-duty
police personnel.
The next day, Sub-Inspector Mostofa
Kamal filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station in connection with the
incident.
Magistrate Mehedi also sentenced 15 BNP
men to six months' imprisonment in another case filed over political violence
in Gulshan in April 2013.
He acquitted two other accused as the
charges against them were not proved. Five prosecution witnesses testified
during the trial.
The case statement said a group of
BNP-Jamaat activists gathered on Gulshan Avenue on April 8, 2013, ahead of a
hartal called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. They also torched a car in the
area.
Police then filed a case with Gulshan
Police Station in this regard.
Another Dhaka court yesterday sentenced
five BNP members to 18 months' imprisonment over political violence in
Kamrangirchar area in September 2018.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh
Chowdhury also acquitted 19 other accused. During the trial, five prosecution
witnesses gave their depositions.
According to the case statement, a group
of BNP leaders and activists gathered on the streets in front of Rony Market
Kathpatti area in Kamrangirchar on September 28, 2018, demanding release of
party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
They vandalised and torched vehicles and
threw brickbats at police, who later filed a case with Kamrangirchar police in
this regard.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate
FarjanaShakilaSumu Chowdhury yesterday sentenced, in absentia, 10 BNP activists
to two and a half years' imprisonment over political violence in Banani in
September 2018.
Also yesterday, Dhaka Metropolitan
Magistrate MdMosharrof Hossain sentenced 12 BNP members to 24 months'
imprisonment for obstructing police from discharging duties in Kafrul in
December 2017.
The magistrate also sentenced 67 BNP leaders
and activists to 25 months' imprisonment in two cases filed with Uttarkhan
Police Station in September 2018 for illegal gathering on the streets and
obstructing police from discharging duties.
Source: thedailystar.net
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the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/127-more-bnp-jamaat-activists-sentenced-jail-3493966
------
Israel Vows To Continue Gaza War 'With
Or Without International Support'
Palestinians
salvage their belongings after an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on
Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (Photo | AP)
------
13th December 2023
Israel declared on Wednesday its
determination to continue its Gaza war "with or without international
support" after it came under mounting pressure even from its key backer
the United States.
Now in its third month, the war was
launched in response to the unprecedented attacks on Israel by the Palestinian
militant group Hamas on October 7 that Israeli officials say killed 1,200
people.
It has left Gaza in ruins, killing more
than 18,600 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll
from the Hamas-run health ministry, and causing "unparallelled"
damage to its roads, schools and hospitals.
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly
backed a non-binding resolution for a ceasefire on Tuesday.
But more air strikes hit Gaza and gun
battles raged, especially in Gaza City, the biggest urban centre, and Khan
Yunis and Rafah in the south, AFP correspondents said.
Cold autumn rains lashed the territory,
where millions have been displaced and many are living in makeshift plastic
tents, as vital supplies of food, drinking water, medicines and fuel have run
low in more than two months of siege and war.
Air raid sirens wailed in Sderot and
other southern Israeli communities near Gaza as Palestinian militants kept
firing rockets, most of which have been intercepted by air defences.
Israel's military said sirens sounded in
Ashdod city north of Gaza and in the Lakhish area. Social media footage showed
a large fragment of an intercepted rocket had hit a supermarket.
The army said an air strike had hit a
militant cell in Gaza City's Shejaiya district "that was en route to
launch rockets toward Israel".
Diminishing safe space
The UN General Assembly passed a
resolution Tuesday demanding a ceasefire, backed by 153 of 193 nations --
surpassing the 140 or so that have routinely condemned Russia for invading
Ukraine.
While the United States voted against
the resolution, it was supported by allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand,
who, in a rare joint statement, said they were "alarmed at the diminishing
safe space for civilians in Gaza".
Biden told a campaign event that Israel
had "most of the world supporting it" immediately after the October 7
attack, but that "they're starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate
bombing that takes place".
The US leader, who toned down his
comments later, on Wednesday met with families of American hostages from among
those the militants seized on October 7.
Despite the criticism from its main
ally, Israel vowed to press on with its war on Hamas.
"Israel will continue the war
against Hamas with or without international support," said Foreign
Minister Eli Cohen.
"A ceasefire at the current stage
is a gift to the terrorist organisation Hamas, and will allow it to return and
threaten the residents of Israel," Cohen told a visiting diplomat, quoted
by his ministry.
Biden's national security advisor, Jake
Sullivan, will travel to Israel on Thursday to meet Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said there is "disagreement" with
Washington over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/dec/13/israel-vows-to-continue-gaza-war-with-or-without-international-support-2641245.html
-----
India
Targeted Killing Of Hindu Religious
Leaders Belonging To BJP And RSS Not Terrorist Act: Madras HC
Dec 14, 2023
CHENNAI: Can target-killing of Hindu
religious leaders by itself be considered a terrorist act? It is debatable,
said Madras high court, granting bail to a man arrested under the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).“The evidence discloses that the conspiracy
was to attack certain religious leaders. The authorities have not spelt out how
that would amount to a terrorist act, as defined under section 15 of the UAPA,”
a division bench of Justices S S Sundar and Sunder Mohan said Wednesday.
In order to bring an act under section
15 of the UAPA, the act must be done with an intent to threaten or likely to
threaten the unity, integrity, security, economic security or sovereignty of
India, or with an intent to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the
people or any section of the people in India or in any foreign country, the
court added.
The bench made the observations on an
appeal moved by Asif Musthaheen seeking his release on bail. He was arrested by
the National Investigation Agency for offences under the UAPA on July 26, 2022.
The bail applications previously moved
by the accused were dismissed by the trial court, the high court and the
Supreme Court. He was under incarceration for the past 17 months.
According to the prosecution, the
accused wanted to become a member of IS and gained proximity with the second
accused, who was a member of the global terror outfit. It was further alleged
that the duo hatched plans to kill Hindu religious leaders belonging to BJP and
RSS.
Refusing to concur with the prosecution,
the bench said the evidence did not anywhere indicate that the accused joined
IS and that the second-accused was a member of the terror group.
Even assuming that the materials
collected by the prosecution might ultimately lead to a conviction, the
detention pending trial could not be indefinite, the court said.
The bench granted conditional bail to
the accused with a direction to stay in Erode and appear before the trial court
at 10.30am every day until further orders.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/targeted-killing-of-hindu-neta-not-terrorist-act-madras-hc/articleshow/105971027.cms
------
New MP CM Bans Unregulated Use Of
Loudspeakers At Religious Places And Meat Sales “In The Open”
13th December 2023
Marziya Sharif
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Mohan Yadav on Wednesday banned the “unregulated usage of loudspeakers at
religious places and other public spaces”.
Yadav also ordered imposing a ban on
meat sales “in the open”.
As per the order issued on Wednesday
evening, the Chief Minister directed the officials to frame guidelines
regarding the imposition of a ban on “unregulated use of loudspeakers in
religious places and other public places” across the state.
He asked the officials to identify the
places where meat is being sold in open places and furnish a detailed report to
the Home Department by December 31.
A senior Home Department official said
that a Flying Squad will be constituted in each district to monitor the sound
levels (permissible decibel limits) of loudspeakers and DJ systems playing
music at religious places.
Yadav (58), who became the 19th Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh and fifth BJP leader to be sworn in for the top
post.
He was associated with the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his college days in 1993.
Reacting to CM Yadav’s very first order,
Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafeez said the BJP is trying to divert attention
from the real issues and the promises it made during the election.
“It would have been better had the CM
signed first order on one of the promises it made to the people during the
election campaign. But the BJP is trying to make people indulge in religious
conflict. CM Mohan Yadav trying to compete with other BJP Chief Ministers,” he
added.
Source: siasat.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.siasat.com/new-mp-cm-bans-unregulated-use-of-loudspeakers-at-religious-places-2934087/
----
India rejects OIC’s comments on SC
verdict on J-K
13th December 2023
New Delhi : India on Wednesday strongly
rejected the comments by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
expressing concern over the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the 2019
revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu
and Kashmir.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson
Arindam Bagchi said the OIC’s action at the behest of a “serial violater of
human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross border terrorism” makes its
action even more questionable.
Though Bagchi did not name any country,
it was clear that the reference was towards Pakistan.
“India rejects the statement issued by
the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on a
judgement of the Indian Supreme Court. It is both ill informed and ill
intended,” Bagchi said.
“That OIC does so at the behest of a
serial violater of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross border
terrorism makes its action even more questionable. Such statements only
undermine OIC’s credibility,” he said.
Bagchi was responding to a media query.
On Tuesday, the General Secretariat of
the OIC expressed concern over the Supreme Court verdict
In a statement, the General Secretariat
also reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Supreme Court had on Monday upheld
the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370. ( With PTI inputs
)
Source: muslimmirror.com
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the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/india-rejects-oics-comments-on-sc-verdict-on-j-k/
----
Israel-Hamas war: India votes in favour
of 'immediate humanitarian ceasefire'
14.12.23
Anita Joshua
India on Tuesday called for an
"immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza for the first time since
the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, while voting in favour of a United
Nations General Assembly resolution (UNGA) in New York.
Explaining India's vote, the country's
Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ruchira Kamboj, said this was
being done "to strike the right balance".
The resolution demanding an immediate
humanitarian ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and
ensuring humanitarian access was voted in with an overwhelming majority of 153
countries voting in favour.
Ten countries voted against the
resolution and 23 abstained.
India had abstained the last time a
similar resolution was moved on the issue on October 28.
The Israel embassy in New Delhi adopted
a nuanced approach while responding to queries on how Tel Aviv viewed India’s
change in stance.
"Israel highly appreciates India’s
support over the last two months. Since October 7, when the picture was still
not totally clear, Prime Minister Modi took a strong stand with Israel against
terrorism," the embassy said in a statement.
The embassy added: "Though
unsatisfied in general with the decision made in the UN assembly yesterday, we
appreciate India's votes in favour of the amendments of both the US and Austria
trying to remind everyone that the whole issue started on October 7 with the
brutal attack of Hamas."
India had voted in favour of two
amendments — moved by Austria and the US — to include the name of Hamas in the
resolution but both were defeated as they could not get the two-thirds majority
required to get carried.
In her explanation of India's vote,
Kamboj said: "The situation that this august body has been deliberating
upon has many dimensions. There is the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7
and the concern for the hostages taken at that time. There is an enormous humanitarian
crisis and large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially of women and
children. There is the issue of observing international humanitarian law in all
circumstances. And there is the endeavour to find a peaceful and lasting
two-state solution to the long-standing Palestine question. Our challenge in
this extraordinarily difficult time is to strike the right balance."
The explanation, however, does not
elaborate on the change of heart since October 28, considering that the ground
situation has not changed much except for the body count of Palestinians that
has mounted in the subsequent weeks. Neither did the resolution mention Hamas
or even condemn it. On October 28, India cited the absence of any explicit
condemnation of the October 7 terrorist attacks in the resolution as the reason
for abstaining.
India was not alone in changing its
stance on the issue since October 28. The other countries that shifted their
positions over the past month-and-a-half include Canada, Australia, Denmark,
Finland and Japan. In fact, the US stands isolated in the Quad on the issue of
ceasefire as all others in the grouping — India, Australia and Japan — have
moved from abstaining from the call for a “sustained humanitarian truce” on
October 28 to favouring an immediate ceasefire.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/israel-hamas-war-india-votes-in-favour-of-immediate-humanitarian-ceasefire/cid/1986687
----
Europe
Israel’s ambassador to Britain rejects
2-state solution
BurakBir
14.12.2023
Israel’s ambassador to the UK ruled out
the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in
an interview with Sky News on Wednesday.
"I think it's about time for the
world to realize the Oslo paradigm failed on Oct. 7 and we need to build a new
one," said TzipiHotovely, referring to the day the Palestinian group Hamas
launched a cross-border attack against Israel.
"Israel knows today and the world
should know now that the reason the Oslo accords failed was because the
Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel, they want to have a
state from the river to the sea," she added.
Hotovely asked the interviewer, Mark
Austin, why he was "obsessed" with the two-state solution after he
asked her whether it was dead.
Asked for her thoughts on US President
Joe Biden’s remarks that Israel is losing support over its “indiscriminate
bombing” in Gaza, she said "Americans were fighting ISIS in Mosul, (Iraq).
You had much more people that got killed in Mosul proportionally than the
people in Gaza."
Hotovely added that Israel is
"doing everything to prevent casualties."
She also pointed out the need for
addressing the education issue in Gaza and said UN schools are "becoming
terror schools."
Asked whether by reeducation she means
like the China model, she rejected it, adding: "You're not learning from
your own history," noting that Japan and Germany "turned out to be
good Western countries" after World War II.
In interviews with Sky News in October,
Hotovely failed to admit there was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying Israel
is not bombing civilians in the besieged enclave.
Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from
the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation
for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
At least 18,608 Palestinians have since
been killed and almost 50,600 others injured in Israeli attacks, according to
Gaza’s health authorities.
The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack
stands at 1,200, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity, according to
official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
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------
Pope opposes repatriation of migrants to
nations with human rights risks
BeyzaBinnurDonmez
13.12.2023
BeyzaBinnurDonmez
GENEVA (AA) - Pope Francis on Wednesday
voiced hope that the current Global Refugee Forum in Geneva would revive the
spirit of the 1951 Geneva Convention, which led to a UN treaty that defined who
is a refugee.
Francis' remarks came in a written
message read out to the forum by a representative of the Holy See.
In his message, the pontiff acknowledged
the 114 million forcibly displaced people mainly due to conflicts, as well as
climate change and on the basis of religious beliefs, and added: "These
factors have grown increasingly complex, yet our responses are not being
adequately addressed.”
These are "urgent and
pressing" challenges, he said, and urged: "Protecting and saving
human lives must remain an utmost priority."
"No one should be repatriated to a
country where they could face a severe human rights violation or even
death," he added.
Underlining the need for international
cooperation and easing the pressure on refugee hosting countries, he said:
"It is thus my sincere hope that this forum will work to revive both the
spirit and the vision of the 1951 refugee convention, while at the same time
seizing the opportunity to reaffirm the principles of solidarity."
"May this global forum set an
example of multilateralism that is relevant to our times," the pontiff
added.
The three-day forum, which is set to
conclude on Friday, is the largest quadrennial international meeting on refugee
issues.
Its purpose is to support the practical
implementation of the objectives outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees,
which include easing pressures on host countries, enhancing refugee
self-reliance, increasing access to third-country solutions, and improving
conditions in countries of origin.
The gathering also allows states and
stakeholders to make concrete commitments and contributions.
It is co-convened by five states –
Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda – and co-hosted by the Government
of Switzerland and UNHCR.
With refugee numbers rising due to armed
conflicts, environmental pressures, and natural disasters, among other factors,
this year's forum will work to address a growing international issue.
Source: aa.com.tr
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-----
Islamist sect GP who called Hamas
'freedom fighters' set for fresh investigation after 'distressing comments'
13/12/2023
Charlie Peters
A London GP who runs an extremist
Islamic group has been referred by his NHS trust for investigation after making
“distressing comments” about Hamas terrorists.
Dr Wahid Asif Shaida, who has worked as
a family GP in Harrow since 2002, doubles up as the leader of the British
branch of extremist Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir.
On TalkTV Monday night, Dr Shaida — who
is also known as Abdul Wahid — described Hamas terrorists as freedom fighters.
He failed to confirm that Hamas had
massacred civilians in southern Israel on Oct.7, describing the terrorists as a
“resistance organisation.”
He added that the murderous rampage was
a "resistance.”
NHS North West London told GB News that
it had referred the GP for investigation after his “distressing comments.”
The trust, which covers the area where
Dr Shaida trains new GPs, said: “We are aware of distressing comments made by a
Harrow GP on the Piers Morgan programme and we have reported the matter to NHS
England for investigation.”
NHS England and the General Medical
Council have responsibility for assessing the conduct of individual
practitioners.
The organisations are understood to
already be investigating Dr Shaida after footage emerged of him leading a Hizb
ut-Tahrir rally in central London in October where some people were heard
chanting for “jihad.”
On a discussion hosted on YouTube, Dr
Shaida said Hamas terrorists were “brave mujahideed,” an Islamic term often
used to refer to so-called holy warriors.
He added that the terrorists, who
tortured infants and behead innocents, “gave the enemy a punch on the nose, and
it’s a very welcome punch on the nose.”
Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned from organising
in Germany and several Muslim-majority countries.
In Britain, its members are free to
gather and chant their extremist slogans.
This broadcaster visited Dr Shaida’s home
in a leafy Harrow suburb this morning but he was not available.
A family member said “I’m sorry I can’t
give you any more information.”
But neighbours told GB News they were
“shocked” to learn about the doctor’s controversial associations.
One said: “I’m shocked by this. I knew
he was Islamic but I didn’t realise he believed in this stuff. He’s a good
neighbour but this is very concerning.”
Another neighbour said she wasn’t
concerned as “everyone is entitled to their views,” adding that Benjamin Netanyahu
had also made extreme comments.
Source: gbnews.com
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-----
56 UK parliamentarians demand Israeli
settler travel ban
December 13, 2023
LONDON: A group of 56 UK
parliamentarians representing all major political parties has demanded the
banning of violent Israeli settlers from entering Britain, in a letter to the
government.
The letter, addressed to Foreign
Secretary David Cameron and Home Secretary James Cleverly, also called for
banning those who incite settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied
West Bank.
A British ban would follow the US travel
ban on Israeli settlers suspected of violence against Palestinians, imposed on
Dec. 5.
“Ban violent Israeli settlers and those
who incite them from entry into the UK,” the letter reads. “Following recent
constructive exchanges in the House of Commons, we write to ask that Israeli
settlers who commit or incite crimes of violence and intimidation against
Palestinians in the West Bank should be barred from entry into the United
Kingdom,” it added.
“There is good British precedent for
such action. We believe that the case for British government action is very
strong.”
The letter describes Israel, as the
occupying power in the West Bank and Gaza, as having “sole responsibility” for
controlling settlers.
But the Israeli military and police
forces use their powers to protect settler communities at the expense of the
Palestinian people, and in some cases assist in attacks against them, the
letter warns.
Settlers “enjoy a climate of impunity,”
with Israeli authorities instead targeting Palestinians in the West Bank, it
added.
More than 3,000 Palestinians have been
arrested since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, “often in the most arbitrary manner and
without charge.”
The letter raises the case of Anas Abu
Srour, a refugee youth center official who was arrested on Nov. 28 without
charge and sentenced to six months’ administrative detention.
The 56 parliamentarians called for the
British Embassy in Tel Aviv to raise his case and others “as a matter of
urgency.”
The West Bank Protection Consortium, a
program supported by 10 EU countries and the UK, also requires an immediate
funding increase to “address the massive increase in settler violence and
intimidation,” the letter says.
Though the parliamentarians praise
Cameron and Cleverly for expressing concern to the Israeli government over its
conduct in the West Bank, they warn that “expressing concern is not enough.”
The letter concludes: “Israel needs to
heed your words or face serious consequences for its consistent failure to
adhere to the international laws and conventions which it has signed and
ratified.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2425301/world
-----
South Asia
UK Ministry of Defence fined £350,000
for data breach during Afghan nationals’ evacuation
Fidel Rahmati
December 13, 2023
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s
Office (ICO) has imposed a £350,000 fine on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a
significant data breach.
According to the statement posted on the
UK Information Commissioner’s Office website, “The incident, which occurred
during the chaotic Afghan evacuation after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover,
involved the accidental disclosure of personal details of 245 Afghan nationals
eligible for evacuation.”
The statement added, “The breach, caused
by an email error, potentially endangered lives by exposing sensitive
information to potential Taliban access. The MoD has since implemented new
measures to prevent future breaches and cooperated fully with the ICO’s
investigation. This penalty underscores the necessity of stringent data
protection practices, especially in high-risk situations.”
The original email, issued by the team
overseeing the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), was
crucial in its context and purpose. This team is dedicated to aiding the
relocation of Afghan nationals who have been associated with the UK Government
in Afghanistan. The sensitive nature of the data within this email was
significant; if it had been intercepted by the Taliban, it could have posed a
serious threat to the lives of those involved.
After the data breach, the MoD advised
affected individuals to delete the email, change their email addresses, and
provide new details via a secure form. They also reached out to the ARAP team.
Additionally, the MoD conducted an
internal investigation, addressed Parliament regarding the breach, and improved
ARAP’s email protocols. This included a new policy requiring emails to external
recipients to be reviewed by a second staff member for extra security.
Acknowledging the MoD’s response and the
ARAP team’s challenges, the ICO reduced the fine from £1,000,000 to £700,000,
then to £350,000 under public sector policy, as a deterrent for future data
breaches.
According to the British Government,
from the Taliban’s takeover until the end of March 2023, approximately 24,600
people, including British nationals, arrived in the UK from Afghanistan.
Approximately 21,000 of these were
resettled through various schemes. About 2,000 arrived before Operation
Pitting, 15,000 during the operation, and 7,000 have arrived since.
Source: khaama.com
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-----
Terrorist attacks in Pakistan not linked
to Afghanistan: Mujahid
Fidel Rahmati
December 13, 2023
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for
the Taliban administration, responded to yesterday’s explosion in Pakistan,
which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries. He refuted the claims made by
Pakistani officials that the origin of the terrorist attacks was in
Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Pakistan summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Taliban embassy in Islamabad,
demanding the extradition of the perpetrators of a recent event.
On Tuesday, the Pakistani army confirmed
that at least 23 of its police officers were killed in a suicide attack on a
police station in Dera Ismail Khan.
Mujahid expressed regret about the
incident in an interview with the group’s controlled national television. He
stated that if Pakistan has investigated this attack and provided details to
the group, the Taliban will conduct their own investigation.
He also mentioned that Pakistani
security forces have a strong presence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that Pakistan
is capable of preventing such attacks on its own soil.
The Taliban spokesperson added that
attributing every issue to another country is not a solution.
Following this attack, a former Defense
Minister of Pakistan stated that the origin of terrorism is solely in
Afghanistan.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif further added that
a “neighboring brother” should not allow their country to be used against
Pakistan.
Some media outlets claim, citing a
message on social networks, that yesterday’s attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province was carried out by a person named Qari Shakir, a member of the Afghan
Taliban forces.
In the message sent by Mr Shakir to his
family, it is stated: “When you learn about my killing, perform two units of
thanksgiving prayer and be grateful that I have been killed in this cause.”
The exact date of this message’s
recording is unclear, and Khaama Press cannot independently verify its
authenticity in connection to yesterday’s explosion.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/terrorist-attacks-in-pakistan-not-linked-to-afghanistan-mujahid/
----
Effective Activities Carried out in the
Development and Promotion of Islamic Banking: DAB Governor
2023-12-13
KABUL (BNA): In a recent discourse, the
Acting Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, HayatullahBadri, highlighted the bank’s
effective efforts in promoting and developing Islamic banking over the past two
years.
The discourse, initiated by Da
Afghanistan Bank, was aimed at fostering the growth of Islamic banking and
involved key stakeholders including the Ministry of Information and Culture,
the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Islamic Banking Research
Center, and experts in the field.
Badri emphasized the significance of
Islamic banking in contributing to global economic growth and prosperity. While
acknowledging the bank’s initiatives in the past two years, he stressed the
need for collaboration with academic institutions and key ministries to enhance
awareness and coordination.
Dr. Yusuf Salim, an official from the
Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, provided detailed insights into the
trends, achievements, current status, and plans of Islamic banking over the
past two years. He advocated for collaboration with the ministry and academic
institutions to further promote Islamic banking.
MawlaviZar Mohammad Haaqani, Deputy
Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, discussed the levels of cooperation
with the Afghanistan Bank and expressed readiness to launch awareness programs
through mosques and schools.
He underscored the need for the bank to
collaborate with academic institutions in formulating practical guidelines for
promoting Islamic banking.
Mufti Abu Saeed al-Rashid, the head of
the Islamic Banking Research Center, emphasized the need to enhance the
capabilities of bank employees in the field of Islamic banking.
He commended the Central Bank for
initiating such programs and stressed the importance of collaboration with
educational and training institutions.
The discourse aims to pave the way for
technical discussions at the level of rational and equitable policy frameworks,
aligned with the conditions and desires of the people and is intended to
manifest itself in the light of Sharia. Practical actions are planned to take
place in the field through collaboration among various authorities.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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-----
President, PM pay homage to martyred
intellectuals
Dec 14, 2023
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals on the
occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
The president and the prime minister
separately placed wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur.
They stood there in solemn silence for a
while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the illustrious sons of
the soil.
A smartly-turned-out contingent of the
Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute.
Flanked by the party's central leaders,
Hasina, the president of Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the
Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the party chief.
Later, the prime minister talked to the
war-wounded freedom fighters and the family members of the martyred
intellectuals.
Hasina then went to Dhanmondi and placed
a wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum marking the Martyred
Intellectuals Day.
After placing the wreath, she stood
there for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu,
the architect of independence of Bangladesh.
Flanked by Awami League leaders Hasina
placed another wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait as the chief of the party as
well.
On the night of December 14, 1971, over
200 intellectuals including educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers,
physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers
had been picked up in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their
local collaborators.
The intellectuals were blindfolded and
taken to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other
locations in different parts of the city and later executed en masse at
different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.
Since then, the day has been observed as
the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/president-pm-pay-homage-martyred-intellectuals-3494231
----
UN Has No Right To Challenge IEA’s
Recognition:Secy Gen IUMS
December 13, 2023
The United Nations has no right to
challenge the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA),
Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Ali al-Qaradaghi,
has said.
Speaking in an interview with Hadith TV,
al-Qaradaghi said that they will use all the resources in hand to get IEA out
of isolation.
He said that the government in
Afghanistan is Islamic and countries need to recognize it.
“We are trying to serve this emirate
until it gets its right and comes out of the current isolation. In this regard,
we will use all the resources we have and the trust that the people have in us
and the Union of Muslim Scholars in order to preserve the current stability in
Afghanistan,” al-Qaradaghi said.
He also said that based on his study of
the principles and laws of the United Nations, this organization has no right
to challenge the recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
He asked Islamic countries to try to
convince the international community to recognize the IEA.
“I have read the principles and laws of
the United Nations. The United Nations does not have the right not to recognize
Afghanistan. It must be said that here we are talking about Islam and that is
why the West has a double standard,” al-Qaradaghi said.
He also said that the issue of human
rights, especially women’s rights in Afghanistan, is used an as an excuse for
Western countries not to allow recognition of IEA.
Leading a delegation, Al-Qaradaghi
visited Kabul about two weeks ago and met with senior officials of the Islamic
Emirate, including the Prime Minister and the caretakers of the ministries of
interior and foreign affairs.
Source: ariananews.af
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------
Mideast
Gaza’s brave battle against Israel
nearing a bright end: Hamas leader
13 December 2023
The leader of the Hamas resistance
movement says the Palestinians' brave battle with the Israeli regime is
approaching a bright end thanks to the heroic resistance of fighters and the
nation.
Speaking in a televised speech, Ismail
Haniyeh said on Wednesday that they’re certain the Israeli aggression will end
and the resistance will remain faithful to the Palestinian people and their
legitimate aspirations and will continue to guard Gaza.
He said Palestinian fighters are
steadfast on the ground and are inflicting heavy losses on Israeli soldiers,
including recent heroic attacks in the Shuja'iyyaneighborhood in Gaza City, the
Jabalia camp, and others.
He further hailed the October 7
operation by Hamas as a success, saying it dealt a heavy blow to the occupying
Israel and shook the regime’s military and political command.
The Israeli regime has targeted
Palestinians not only inside Gaza but everywhere in the West Bank, Al-Quds, and
even inside the 1948-occupied territories, and practiced the worst forms of
racism against them.
‘Gaza without Hamas is illusion’
In his remarks, Haniyeh said Hamas is
open to any initiative to help stop Israeli aggression and to restore the
rights of the Palestinian people to form an independent state.
He said they’re also open to ending
political divisions in Gaza and the West Bank to ensure there is a path that
guarantees Palestinian people their rights and a future state.
Haniyeh said any arrangements for Gaza
after the war that does not include Hamas as well as other Palestinian factions
is an ‘illusion’.
Haniyeh called on Arab and Muslim
nations to expand the scope of anti-Israel rallies and other forms of protests
in Gaza at a level proportionate to the scale of Israeli atrocities.
He called on the Arab and Muslim
governments to show their firm support for Palestinians and to use all means at
their disposal to bring the Israeli onslaught to a halt.
Haniyeh appreciated the efforts by the
secretary-general of the United Nations, especially his recent letter to the
Security Council declaring the situation in the Palestinian territories as a
threat to international peace and security.
He also welcomed a UN General Assembly
resolution ratified on Tuesday, which demanded an end to the Israeli onslaught
on Gaza.
Source: presstv.ir
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----
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
escalates as talks go on in bid to ease tensions
December 13, 2023
BEIRUT: One person was killed and a
building was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on the town of KafrKila in
southern Lebanon on Tuesday night, according to local media reports.
On Wednesday night two people were
killed and one wounded when an Israeli warplane targeted a house in the town of
Yater, according to reports. An Israeli shell also hit a house in the town of
Aita Al-Shaab, causing it to burn down but no casualties were reported.
Hezbollah, which has resumed its
operations against the Israeli army as the war in Gaza continues, on Wednesday
said it targeted an Israeli military site at Malikia with a Burkan missile,
resulting in a direct hit. A similar attack on a military site in Ramya also
resulted in a direct hit, it added.
In the hours that followed, Hezbollah
said it intensified its operations against the Israeli army, including the
targeting of a naval site in Ras Al-Naqoura and an attack on the Shomera
barracks. The Israeli media also reported the launch of several rockets “from
Lebanon toward Ras Al-Naqoura in western Galilee.”
Forces from an Israeli military base in
Al-Bayada fired on the eastern outskirts of the Lebanese town of Blida with
machine guns. They also targeted the nearby areas of Ayta ash Shab with heavy
gunfire, as well as the outskirts of the Lebanese town of Tarbikha.
Israeli airstrikes hit the outskirts of
Naqoura, Al-Bustan and Marwahin, and artillery fire targeted the outskirts of
the towns of Aytaroun, Yaroun, and Al-Khiyam. The Israeli army also said its
“warplanes attacked military infrastructure and a missile-launching site
belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.”
Hezbollah said on Wednesday one of its
fighters was killed as a result of the clashes, raising the total death toll
among the group’s forces to 98.
Meanwhile, Israeli radio station
KanReshet Bet said there have been “intensive contacts taking place in the past
few days to reach a diplomatic solution to remove Hezbollah elements beyond the
Litani River and increase the number of UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon)
forces in southern Lebanon.”
The report quoted unnamed sources as
saying that “estimates from various parties involved in the negotiations
indicate that the chances of reaching a political solution are currently low.
However, despite this, efforts will continue to reach a diplomatic solution.”
Media reports in Beirut previously
revealed Israeli proposals to remove Hezbollah from border areas through the
implementation or amendment of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was
adopted in 2006 with the aim of resolving the war at the time between Israel
and Hezbollah.
In particular, Israel wants the removal
of Hezbollah fighters from the area south of Litani River. Hezbollah responded
to Israel’s attempt by intensifying its operations in the past week from
positions very close to the Blue Line, the demarcation line between Lebanon and
Israel established by the UN in June 2000.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s
Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc, which is allied to Hezbollah,
urged the Lebanese government to “appeal to the international community to
force Israel to cease its threats and attacks on Lebanon, as well as its
encroachment on our land, sea and airspace. We also demand that Israel respects
Resolution 1701, which Lebanon is committed to, and rejects any attempt to
modify it under any pretexts.”
International officials who visited
Lebanon in the past two weeks have reported that Israel is attempting to
establish a buffer zone along the border with Lebanon.
There has been debate in the Beirut
media about possible moves such as “increasing the number of the Lebanese Army
in the south, especially in the UNIFIL working area, to implement Resolution
1701, enhancing the presence of UNIFIL forces, and increasing their numbers
instead of talking about their withdrawal.”
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Israeli CEO recruits Muslim hackers to
fight Hamas in cyberwarfare
DUDI PATIMER/MAARIV
DECEMBER 13, 2023
Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the
fighting extends beyond the conventional battlefield into cyberspace. Israel
has experienced a 55% increase in cyberattacks on government and security
websites since the outbreak of the war.
Leading the charge in the fight against
enemy cyber systems is Doron Amir, CEO of CyTaka, a prominent cybersecurity
company. Amir advocates for not only cyberdefense but also offensive
capabilities to deter and counteract cyber threats.
Amir, an Israeli entrepreneur
specializing in software, cyber, and information security, has dedicated years
to researching the cyber world. His expertise has been sought after by the
Israel Police and the Economy and Industry Ministry.
Additionally, he actively promotes
collaboration between Israelis and hackers from Muslim and Arab nations, even
operating from offices in Dubai with Globus Research and Development. Amir also
champions causes such as bridging the gap between ultra-Orthodox and secular
communities, promoting gender equality in high-tech, and tackling unemployment
issues.
Amir takes us back to 2010, a turning
point in the cyber sector, marked by the Stuxnet computer virus. This program,
developed by Unit 8200 and the NSA, exposed the vulnerability of nuclear
facilities to cyberattacks. Amir highlights the significance of this event,
emphasizing the potential damage that cyberwarfare can inflict on critical
infrastructure.
Regarding Israel's progress in offensive
cyberoperations, Amir points out that while the country boasts talented leaders
in the field, strategic victory cannot be guaranteed by tactical expertise
alone.
Drawing a parallel to World War II, he
explains that, despite possessing superior skills and equipment, German pilots
ultimately lost the war. In cyberwarfare, a single brilliant hacker can create
havoc but does not ensure long-term success. A comprehensive approach that
cultivates a larger pool of skilled cyber professionals is essential for
victory.
Amir highlights the year 2015 as a significant
milestone for offensive cyberoperations in Israel. Previously, the cyber arena
was predominantly managed by the IDF and security forces, neglecting the
civilian sector. This created a void that allowed hackers to thrive, leading to
cyberspace chaos resembling the Wild West.
However, with the establishment of the
National Cyber Directorate in 2015, focus shifted towards protecting civil
cyberspace. This system operates around the clock, collaborating with private
companies and security experts to detect, manage, and respond to cyber threats.
By intercepting and blocking millions of
attacks, Israel has developed a digital "Iron Dome" to safeguard
against cyber threats.
A network of international hackers to
fight Israel's enemies in the cybersphere
During the current war, Amir spearheaded
the creation of a network of hackers from around the world, including Muslims,
to counter anti-Israel activity. Their efforts target disinformation
distribution, psychological warfare, and offensive cyberoperations that fund
terrorist organizations.
Amir emphasizes the unprecedented
support and assistance he received from senior figures in the global cyber
industry, even from countries that forbid any association with Israel. This
unlikely collaboration showcases the shared interest in combating
cyberterrorism. Amir asserts that the fight against Hamas or ISIS is not
limited to Israelis but extends to anyone with a humanitarian perspective.
Due to Israeli law restricting private
cyber companies from attacking international cyber systems, Amir leverages
foreign hackers operating within legal frameworks. This collaboration enables
targeted actions against cyber attackers attacking Israel. By identifying and
neutralizing hacker networks, economic losses from attacks can be mitigated.
Despite skepticism from industry peers,
Amir advocates for the regulation of offensive cyberoperations for private
companies and individuals. He envisions licenses similar to those required for
guns or the establishment of cybersecurity companies. Permitting people to
engage in offensive cyberoperations, alongside proper supervision and
accountability, would create a deterrent against cyberattacks.
While acknowledging recent emergency
cyber regulations approved by the government as a positive step, Amir asserts
the need for greater freedom of action to investigate and respond offensively.
He also highlights the responsibility of internet and communication providers
to ensure the integrity and protection of their infrastructure to reduce
cyberattacks.
Source: jpost.com
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-----
WHO blames Israel's lengthy checks for
death of patient in Gaza
Dec 14, 2023
TEL AVIV: Accusing Israel of prolonging
the health and rescue mission in Gaza by detaining health workers and attacking
aid trucks, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief TedrosAdhanomGhebreyes
informed that one patient sustaining grave injuries died due to delay in
getting treatment.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tedros
said, "We received greater detail on Saturday's high-risk @WHO-led mission
in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks
and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at
risk".
He alleged the mission was stopped twice
at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, while on the way to north Gaza and on the way
back, adding that some staff members of Palestine Red Crescent Society were
also detained.
The WHO chief added that as the mission
entered Gaza City, the aid truck carrying the medical supplies and an ambulance
were hit by bullets.
He further alleged that several patients
and Red Crescent's workers were taken out of the ambulance for identification
and many health workers were questioned for several hours.
"Due to the hold-up, one patient
died en route, given the grave nature of their wounds and the delay in
accessing treatment," Tedros said.
He added, "The people of Gaza have
the right to access health care. The health system must be protected. Even in
war".
Earlier, the WHO Chief had informed that
WHO and partners managed to deliver essential trauma and surgical supplies to
Al-Ahli hospital in a "very high-risk mission" in the vicinity of
active shelling and artillery fire.
He added that the hospital was
substantially damaged and in dire need of oxygen and essential medical
supplies, adding that he hopes for a sustained ceasefire and scaled-up
humanitarian response.
Earlier, the WHO chief expressed concern
saying that the healthcare system in Gaza is "on its knees and
collapsing" and expressed regret at the failure to pass a resolution in UN
security council calling for a ceasefire
CNN reported quoting Tedros, that only
14 out of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are partially functional. As an
example on the conditions, he also pointed out how two major hospitals in
southern Gaza are operating at three times their bed capacity.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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----
Nine Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza
City ambush in sign that Hamas resistance is still strong
14th December 2023
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Palestinian
militants carried out one of the deadliest single attacks on Israeli soldiers
since the Gaza invasion began, killing at least nine in an urban ambush, the
military said Wednesday, a sign of the stiff resistance Hamas still poses
despite more than two months of devastating bombardment.
The ambush in a dense neighborhood came
after repeated recent claims by the Israeli military that it had broken Hamas’
command structure in northern Gaza, encircled remaining pockets of fighters,
killed thousands of militants and detained hundreds more.
The tenacious fighting underscores how
far Israel appears to be from its aim of destroying Hamas — even after the
military unleashed one of the 21st century’s most destructive onslaughts.
Israel’s air and ground assault has killed more than 18,600 Palestinians,
according to Gaza’s health officials. Gaza City and surrounding towns have been
pounded to ruins. Nearly 1.9 million people have been driven from their homes.
The resulting humanitarian crisis has
sparked international outrage. The United States has repeatedly called on
Israel to take greater measures to spare civilians, even as it has blocked
international calls for a cease-fire and rushed military aid to its close ally.
Israeli troops are still locked in heavy
combat with Palestinian fighters in and around Gaza City, more than six weeks
after invading Gaza’s north following the militants’ Oct. 7 attack.
Clashes raged overnight and into Wednesday
in multiple areas, with especially heavy fighting in Shijaiyah, a dense
neighborhood that was the scene of a major battle during the 2014 war between
Israel and Hamas.
“It’s terrifying. We couldn’t sleep,”
Mustafa Abu Taha, a Palestinian agricultural worker who lives in the
neighborhood, said by phone. “The situation is getting worse, and we don’t have
a safe place to go.”
The ambush took place Tuesday in
Shijaiyah, where Israeli troops searching a cluster of buildings lost
communication with four soldiers who had come under fire, the military said.
When the other soldiers launched a rescue operation, they were ambushed with
heavy gunfire and explosives.
Among the nine dead were Col. Itzhak Ben
Basat, 44, the most senior officer to have been killed in the ground operation,
and Lt. Col. TomerGrinberg, a battalion commander.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
it was a “very difficult day,” but he rejected international calls for a
cease-fire.
“We are continuing until the end, there
is no question. I say this even given the great pain and the international
pressure. Nothing will stop us, we will continue until the end, until victory,
nothing less,” he said in a talk with military commanders.
SUFFERING IN THE SOUTH
Heavy rainfall overnight swamped tent
camps in Gaza’s south, where Israel has told people to seek refuge, even as
that region has also come under daily bombardment.
In the central city of Deir al-Balah,
the storm brought cold winds and flooded a shelter area behind a hospital,
sending torrents of water coursing between the tents. “The situation is
catastrophic,” said Ibrahim Arafat, a father of 13 who fled Shijaiyah.
Because of the fighting and Israel’s
blockade of Gaza, the health care system and humanitarian aid operations have
collapsed in large parts of the territory, and aid workers have warned of
starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people.
Israel invaded southern Gaza nearly two
weeks ago, and heavy fighting has continued in its first target — the city of
Khan Younis. Israeli strikes overnight hit two residential buildings in and
around the city, and the dead included three children, two women and an elderly
man, according to relatives and hospital records.
A strike Wednesday evening in the
southern city of Rafah killed 19 people from two families, according to
hospital records.
The Israeli military rarely comments on
individual strikes. Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames
the high toll on Hamas because it conceals fighters, tunnels and weapons in
residential areas.
DISTANT WAR AIMS
Anger over the war’s toll appears to
have brought a surge in support among Palestinians for Hamas, which has ruled
Gaza since 2007 and touts itself as resisting Israeli occupation.
A poll conducted by the Palestinian
Center for Policy and Survey Research found 44% of respondents in the occupied
West Bank said they supported Hamas, up from just 12% in September. In Gaza,
the militants enjoyed 42% support, up from 38% three months ago.
Though Hamas’ backing remains a
minority, the poll showed overwhelming rejection of Western-backed Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas, with nearly 90% saying he must resign. Many
Palestinians view the octogenarian leader’s administration as corrupt,
autocratic and ineffective.
The findings signal more difficulties
ahead for the American administration’s postwar vision for Gaza and raise
questions about Israel’s stated goal of ending Hamas’ military and governing
capabilities.
The U.S. wants Abbas’ internationally
recognized Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to
also govern Gaza, which Hamas seized from it in 2007. It also wants to revive
the long-defunct peace process to negotiate the creation of a Palestinian
state. Netanyahu’s government is firmly opposed to Palestinian statehood.
Late Wednesday, Hamas’ supreme leader,
Ismail Haniyeh said any plans for Gaza that do not involve Hamas are an
“illusion and mirage,” though he said the group is open to halting the
fighting. Speaking to Al-Masira TV, a channel linked to Yemen’s Houthi militant
group, he claimed Hamas had dealt a “resounding blow” to Israel. Haniyeh lives
in exile in Qatar, but it was not clear where he was when he made those
comments.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday he
told Netanyahu that Israel was losing international support because of its
“indiscriminate bombing.”
“Israel doesn’t seem to be anywhere near
achieving its military objective,” MairavZonszein, a senior Israel analyst with
the International Crisis Group, wrote on X, pointing to Tuesday’s deadly
ambush.
“With Biden already signaling loss of
patience, with no signs of a hostage release and Israel’s economy
overstretched, and with a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions in Gaza,
Israel could find itself in a much worse position the day after, with a lot of
losses and no win,” she wrote.
While the Israeli public appears to
overwhelmingly support the war against Hamas, that sentiment could change if
the death toll among Israeli soldiers continues to rise.
Deaths of soldiers are an emotional
topic in Israel, a small country of 9 million people where military service is
compulsory for most Jews. Virtually every family knows a relative, friend or
co-worker who has lost a family member in war. The names of fallen soldiers are
announced at the top of national newscasts.
In Israel, attention is still focused on
the atrocities carried out on Oct. 7, when some 1,200 people were killed,
mostly civilians, and some 240 people were taken hostage, around half of whom
remain in captivity. The military says 115 soldiers have been killed in the
ground offensive.
There has been little media coverage or
public discussion of the plight of civilians in Gaza, even as international
outrage has mounted.
Despite U.S. calls to reduce civilian
casualties, the toll has continued to mount at a dizzying rate.
When it released the latest Gaza death
toll of 18,600, the Gaza Health Ministry did not specify the number of women
and minors, but they have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead.
The toll is likely higher because thousands are believed buried under rubble.
The ministry’s count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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-----
Egypt slams Israeli attempts to displace
Palestinians from Gaza Strip
December 13, 2023
GOBRAN MOHAMED
CAIRO: Egypt has again slammed what it
described as Israeli attempts to encourage Palestinians to leave the Gaza
Strip.
Any move to displace Gazans, whether
voluntarily or forcibly, was on Wednesday condemned by Cairo.
The latest Egyptian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs’ statement on the Israel-Hamas war came in response to recent comments
made by the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer suggesting
Palestinians should vacate the Strip.
Egyptian ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu
Zeid said evidence on the ground showed that Israel was trying to impose the
forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, an act that breached
international humanitarian laws and contradicted Israel’s responsibilities as
an occupying power under Article 49 of the Geneva Convention.
Speaking on behalf of the Egyptian
government, he called on Israel to immediately stop its bombing and targeting
of Palestinian civilians.
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
SamehShoukry made a similar appeal in a phone call last week with UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
Region, world to be grappling with
Israeli war crimes' aftermath for years: Iran FM to Press TV
13 December 2023
Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian has said the region and the world are going to be grappling
with the aftermath of the Israeli regime's ongoing war crimes across the
Palestinian territories for years to come.
"The consequences and effects of
this genocide and war crimes in Palestine will be imposed on the region and the
international community for many years," the top diplomat told Press TV on
Wednesday in Geneva, to which he has travelled to attend the Global Refugee
Forum 2023.
The remarks came amid a genocidal war
that the Israeli regime has been waging against the Gaza Strip since October 7
following an operation staged by the territory's resistance groups, dubbed
Operation al-Aqsa Storm.
Also on Wednesday, Gaza's Health
Ministry said 18,608 people, mostly women and children, had been killed, and
50,594 others injured in the Israeli strikes so far.
Ever since the onset of the war, the
regime has also ramped up its aggression across the West Bank, killing hundreds
of people across the occupied territory.
"We hope that these meetings will
have practical results and won't remain only as a venue to simply express
positions," Amir-Abdollahian added.
"We hope the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees will fulfill its duties and pay attention to the welfare,
education, and living conditions of the refugees."
Earlier this week, the chief of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) described
the conditions in Gaza as the worst he had ever seen.
UNRWA chief has warned that the besieged
Gaza Strip remains akin to “hell on earth”.
Philippe Lazzarini said his agency was
on the verge of collapsing in Gaza, adding that an immediate ceasefire was
needed to end "hell on earth" there.
According to the United Nations, at least
1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes since the war
began.
Palestinian and other regional officials
have warned that through its unbridled aggression, the Israeli regime pursues a
policy of resettling the people of Gaza in Egypt, and the people of the West
Bank in Jordan.
Source: presstv.ir
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------
Israel cannot continue onslaught against
Gaza without US support, says Iranian FM
13 December 2023
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian has highlighted the United States’ direct role in the massacre
of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the regime is unable to
continue its bloody onslaught against the territory without Washington’s full
support.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a
Wednesday meeting with acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on the
sidelines of the Global Refugee Forum 2023 in the Swiss city of Geneva.
The top Iranian diplomat said the US
played a major role in the Gaza carnage, stating that the Israeli regime is
seeking to evict Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to
compensate for failure to achieve any of its declared goals in the months-long
aggression on Gaza.
The Tel Aviv regime has resorted to mass
killings, a complete siege of Gaza and escalation of criminal acts in the West
Bank for that purpose, Amir-Abdollahian said, noting, “It is necessary for
Muslim countries to fervently and strongly support the Palestinian nation.”
For his part, Mikati referred to the
Gaza crisis as the prime issue of both the Muslim and the entire world.
Iran condemns the UN Security Council’s
failure to adopt a draft resolution seeking a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza,
stating that the move once again showed US is playing the main role in the
massacre of Gazans.
Tuesday’s United Nation General Assembly
resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip
reflected that the majority of the international community is in favor a truce
in the war-torn Palestinian territory, the Lebanese prime minister noted.
Late on Tuesday, the resolution passed
with 153 countries voting in favor, and 23 abstaining. The United States and
Israel were among the 10 votes against the non-binding resolution.
Israel waged a war on Gaza on October 7
after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched the surprise Operation
Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s
decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.
At least 18,608 people, most of them
women and children, have been killed as a result of the Gaza war. More than
50,594 individuals have been wounded as well.
The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a
“complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and
water to more than two million Palestinians living there.
Iran urges closer joint efforts to
support Palestinians, send humanitarian aid
In a separate meeting with his Jordanian
counterpart Ayman Safadi, Amir-Abdollahian also called for closer joint efforts
to support Palestinians in the face of the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on
Gaza.
“It’s necessary to boost massive efforts
to support the Palestinian people, support their resilience and to send
humanitarian aid,” he said.
The top Iranian diplomat also hailed
Jordan’s efforts to stop the Israeli regime’s genocide in the occupied
Palestinian territories, and ensure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian (center R) meets with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi
(center L) on the sidelines of the Global Refugee Forum 2023 in Geneva,
Switzerland, on December 13, 2023.
Amir-Abdollahian went on to denounce the
occupying Tel Aviv regime’s sinister plots to implement its expansionist
schemes and displace Palestinian people.
Safadi, for his part, highlighted that
his country will neither accept Israeli expansionist plans nor will allow them
to come into fruition at the expense of Palestinian people and regional
nations.
He noted that Palestinians in Gaza do
not fall prey to Israeli bombardments alone, but also lose their lives as a
result of lack of food and medicine as well as destruction of houses and
hospitals.
Peace will prevail only when the Israeli
occupation ends and Palestinian people establish their own sovereign
independent state, the Jordanian foreign minister underlined.
Tehran doesn’t favor expansion of Gaza
war across region
Moreover, the Iranian foreign minister
said the country does not favor the ongoing Israeli military campaign against
the Gaza Strip to expand across the West Asia region, describing the regime’s
atrocities in the war-torn territory as genocide.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a
Wednesday meeting with Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the
sidelines of the refugee forum.
He highlighted that the Holy See can
play a significant role in the settlement of the months-long crisis in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
(R) shakes hands with Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the
sidelines of the Global Refugee Forum 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland, on December
13, 2023.
Iran regards Hamas as a freedom-seeking
Palestinian movement that is struggling against the Israeli occupation,
Amir-Abdollahian said, stressing that the unfolding developments in Gaza amount
to genocide which the international community cannot tolerate anymore.
The Iranian foreign minister stated that
Tehran does not favor the expansion of Gaza war across the region, emphasizing
that Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Jews will be able to choose their own
political system through a referendum for self-determination.
For his part, Parolin voiced concern
about the status quo in Palestinian territories, saying the Holy See supports
efforts aimed at ensuring a ceasefire in Gaza.
He also pointed to Vatican’s push for
the delivery of humanitarian aid supplies to Palestine, stressing the need for
a political solution to the conflict.
Source: presstv.ir
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-----
Hamas on Yemeni strikes against Israel-bound
ships: West must end Gaza carnage
13 December 2023
A senior Hamas member says Yemeni
strikes against ships heading to the Israeli-occupied territories in
retaliation for the onslaught against the Gaza Strip send a message to the West
that they should stop the ongoing carnage in the territory or expect the crisis
to expand across the region.
Moussa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas
political bureau, praised Yemeni strikes against Israeli-owned vessels or ships
sailing towards the Israeli ports, saying the assaults reflect strong support
for Palestinians in Gaza and convey a clear message to the West.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces’ attacks
indicate that the West must either stop the ongoing genocide against
Palestinians, or expect the Gaza war to spiral out of control and spill over
the region,” Abu Marzouk pointed out.
The remarks came a day after the
spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces said a cruise missile fired by the
country’s military had slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea
as the vessel was heading towards an Israeli port to offload its cargo.
Yemeni Armed Forces claim responsibility
for a missile strike on a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea as it was
heading towards an Israeli port.
Speaking at a press briefing broadcast
live from the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a on Tuesday morning, Brigadier
General Yahya Saree described the strike on the oil tanker Strinda as “a
victory for the oppressed Palestinian people, who are currently being subjected
to massacre, destruction and siege in the Gaza Strip, and in response to the
calls from freedom-loving Yemenis and … other Muslim nations.”
He added that Yemeni naval units carried
out the military operation against the Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea
off the coast of Yemen as it was sailing towards the 1948 Israeli-occupied
territories.
Saree highlighted that Yemeni forces
targeted the ship near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with “an appropriate naval
cruise missile.”
Yemenis have declared their open support
for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime
launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s
Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack,
dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
The Yemeni army has warned all shipping
companies against dealings with Israel, vowing to target any ships moving
towards Israeli ports.
The relentless Israeli military campaign
against Gaza has killed at least 18,608 people, most of them women and children,
in Gaza since. Another 50,594 individuals have been wounded as well.
On December 4, the Yemeni army targeted
two Israeli ships in the Red Sea as they were attempting to cross the Bab
el-Mandeb Strait.
Reports have shown that Israeli shipping
companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by
Yemeni forces.
Yemeni forces have also launched missile
and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories of Palestine
after the occupying regime’s aggression on Gaza.
Source: presstv.ir
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----
Israel continues to pound Gaza as rift
with US grows
December 14, 2023
GAZA:Israe continued to pound Gaza with
heavy airstrikes on Thursday as a top White House advisor was due to arrive in
Jerusalem with a rift growing over US calls for its ally to exercise restraint.
The conflict, now in its third month,
began after the October 7 attacks on Israel by the Palestinian resistance group
Hamas. It has left besieged Gaza in ruins and killed more than 18,600 people,
mostly women and children.
The Gaza health ministry said Israeli
air strikes early Thursday had killed at least 19 people across the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, which has also seen a
surge in violence since October 7, the Palestinian Authority said two people
were killed in Israeli strikes in the city of Jenin.
US President Joe Biden, whose government
has provided Israel with billions of dollars of military aid, on Wednesday gave
his sharpest rebuke of the war yet, saying Israel's "indiscriminate
bombing" of Gaza was weakening international support.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu doubled down on his offensive, vowing "we are going until the
end, until victory, nothing less than that".
And Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the
war against Hamas would continue "with or without international
support".
On Thursday, Biden's National Security
Advisor Jake Sullivan was due to arrive in Jerusalem for talks with Netanyahu
and his war cabinet.
Sullivan told a Wall Street Journal
event ahead of his trip he would discuss a timetable to end the war and urge
Israeli leaders "to move to a different phase from the kind of
high-intensity operations that we see today".
Sullivan will have "extremely
serious conversations" in Israel, US National Security Council spokesman
John Kirby said Wednesday.
Netanyahu has said there is also
"disagreement" with Washington over how a post-conflict Gaza would be
governed.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on
Wednesday "any arrangement in Gaza or in the Palestinian cause without
Hamas or the resistance factions is a delusion".
He said Hamas was ready for talks that
could lead to a "political path that secures the right of the Palestinian
people to their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital".
A poll published on Wednesday by the
Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research showed Haniyeh had the
support of 78 percent of people in the Palestinian territories, compared with
58 percent before the war.
International pressure is mounting on
Israel to better protect civilians, with the UN General Assembly this week
overwhelmingly backing a non-binding resolution for a ceasefire.
While Washington voted against, the
resolution was supported by allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who, in a
rare joint statement, said they were "alarmed at the diminishing safe
space for civilians in Gaza".
CNN reported on Wednesday citing US
intelligence that nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions used by Israel in
Gaza since October 7 have been unguided, which can pose a greater threat to
civilians.
The head of the UN agency for
Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Wednesday that Gazans were
"facing the darkest chapter of their history".
Wintry rain lashed the territory, where
the UN estimates 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.4 million population have been
displaced, living in makeshift tents as supplies of food, drinking water,
medicines and fuel run low.
Ameen Edwan said his family was camped
out with thousands in the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central
Gaza.
"Rainwater seeped in. We couldn't
sleep. We tried to find nylon covers but couldn't find any, so we resorted to
stones and sand" to keep the water out, he said.
The southern city of Rafah near the
Egyptian border has become a vast camp for the displaced, with hundreds of
tents erected using wood and plastic sheets.
"We spent five days outdoors. And
now the rain has flooded the tents," said a displaced resident, Bilal
al-Qassas.
Gusts of wind shook the fragile
structures, while people tried to reinforce them with more plastic sheeting.
"Where do we migrate to? Our
dignity is gone. Where do women relieve themselves? There are no
bathrooms," said 41-year-old Qassas.
The UN warned the spread of diseases --
including meningitis, jaundice and upper respiratory tract infections -- had
intensified.
Gaza's hospital system is in ruins, and
authorities said vaccines for children had run out, warning of
"catastrophic health repercussions".
The health ministry said Israeli forces
opened fire on wards of Kamal Adwan hospital in north Gaza.
The army has yet to comment, but Israel
has repeatedly accused Hamas of using hospitals, schools, mosques and vast
tunnel systems beneath them as military bases -- charges it denies.
In Israel, the army is coming under
growing pressure to limit troop deaths and secure the release of hostages.
An invading Israeli soldier in the Gaza
Strip. PHOTO: Reuters
An invading Israeli soldier in the Gaza
Strip. PHOTO: Reuters
It has lost 115 soldiers, including 10
on Tuesday, its deadliest day since the ground assault began on October 27. The
real number of Israeli combat deaths is most likely higher.
Families of Israeli captives said
Wednesday they had demanded "an immediate explanation from the Prime
Minister and cabinet members" after local media reported that the
government had rejected a proposal to send officials to Qatar for a second
round of hostage negotiations.
Israel's embassy in Romania on Wednesday
announced the death of Israeli-Romanian Tal Haimi, 41, who was held in Gaza.
Washington and London slapped Hamas with
further sanctions on Wednesday, targeting "key officials who perpetuate
Hamas's violent agenda".
Fears that the conflict could engulf the
region continued to grow, with daily incidents along Israel's border with
Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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-----
UN General Assembly overwhelmingly
demands Gaza ceasefire
2023-12-14
GAZA STRIP, (Palestinian Territories):
Pressure intensified on Israel on Tuesday as US President Joe Biden warned it
risked losing support in its war on Hamas by “indiscriminate” bombing in Gaza
and the UN General Assembly demanded a ceasefire.
Israeli forces battled Hamas and bombed
more targets in the devastated Gaza Strip more than two months into the war
sparked by the Palestinian group’s unprecedented October 7 attack.
But Israel’s staunchest ally warned it
risked losing backing over the terrible humanitarian toll in Gaza, which the
United Nations likened to “hell on earth”.
Biden said Israel had “most of the world
supporting it” after the October 7 attack, which according to Israeli officials
killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 240 hostages.
But in his most blunt remarks since the
war began, Biden said Israel was starting to lose that support “by the
indiscriminate bombing that takes place”.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign
in Gaza to destroy Hamas has left dead 18,412 people, mostly women and
children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu must also “change” his stance on a two-state solution for the
Palestinians, Biden added.
Netanyahu said there was “disagreement”
with Biden over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed, reflecting a rare
rift after weeks in which the US leader has strongly backed Israel.
Biden’s comments came before the UN
General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday
demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a call that has so far
paralysed the Security Council.
The body, which includes all 193 UN
member nations, voted 153 in favour of the resolution, exceeding the 140 or so
countries that have routinely backed resolutions condemning Russia for its
invasion of Ukraine.
Source: brecorder.com
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Arab World
Organisation Of Islamic
CooperationOpposes Supreme Court’s Verdict Upholding Scrapping Of Jammu And
Kashmir’s Special Status
14.12.23
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC), a 57-member Islamic bloc, has opposed the Supreme Court’s verdict
upholding the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and supported the
right to self-determination for Kashmiris, evoking a strong reaction from
Delhi.
OIC general secretariat, in a statement,
expressed concern over the top court verdict and reiterated its call to reverse
“all illegal and unilateral measures taken since 5 August 2019 aimed at
changing the internationally recognised disputed status of the territory”.
“The General Secretariat reaffirms its
solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their quest for the right of
self-determination and reiterates its call on the international community to
enhance its efforts to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance
with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the statement
said.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA)
rejected the OIC’s statement as “ill-informed” and “ill-intended”.
“That OIC does so at the behest of a
serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross-border
terrorism makes its action even more questionable. Such statements only
undermine OIC’s credibility,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, referring
to Pakistan.
India has in the past also rejected the
OIC’s statements, accusing it of acting at the behest of Pakistan.
The OIC has firmly supported Pakistan’s
position on Kashmir, although several individual countries including Saudi
Arabia and the UAE enjoy cordial relations with India.
The Supreme Court had on Monday upheld
the Centre’s August 5, 2019, decision to abrogate Article 370 provisions and
ruled it was a temporary provision.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Islamic military coalition meeting
places focus on counterterrorism strategy
December 13, 2023
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter
Terrorism Coalition on Wednesday held its second meeting of chiefs of staff
from member states and supporting nations, in Riyadh.
Chaired by the Chief of General Staff of
the Saudi Armed Forces Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, the meeting’s
delegates discussed IMCTC initiatives and their role in helping member nations
to fight terrorism, violence, and extremism.
Also on the agenda was a review of
coalition strategy and achievements in relation to addressing the ideology,
communications, financing, and military operations of terror groups.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi,
secretary-general of the coalition, noted that IMCTC initiatives were in line
with international laws to combat terrorism.
He said: “The needs (of member countries
of the coalition) were thoroughly studied and analyzed by the governance of the
coalition and international laws to directly achieve the desired goal, which is
in the interest of member states suffering from the scourge of terrorism.”
He pointed out that more than 60
initiative requests to combat terrorism had been received from IMCTC
representatives.
“The coalition will study and formulate
the initiatives following international laws. Implementation will begin after
approval by the IMCTC Ministers of Defense Council,” he added.
Al-Ruwaili said the gathering was in
preparation for the next Islamic coalition meeting to be led by Saudi defense
minister and chairman of the IMCTC Ministers of Defense Council, Prince Khalid
bin Salman, in February.
Established in December 2015 by Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the IMCTC aims to consolidate Muslim countries’
efforts to fight terrorism. Its inaugural meeting in March 2016 focused on
joint counterterrorism efforts within the coalition’s framework, ensuring
compliance with each country’s regulations and respecting the sovereignty of
IMCTC member states.
Source: arabnews.com
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Only peace in Gaza can ease Red Sea
tensions: Yemeni official
14 December 2023
A Yemeni government official says the
only way for calm to prevail in the Red Sea is a permanent ceasefire in the
Israeli war on the Gaza Strip as tensions heighten in the strategic maritime
route.
Abdul Malik al-Ajri, a member of the
political bureau of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement, made the remarks on
Wednesday after the US announced plans to establish a maritime task force in
the Red Sea to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied
territories.
“If all of the world’s naval fleets sail
to the Red Sea and gather there, they will provide security neither for Israel
nor for the regime’s ships and the vessels destined for occupied Palestine,” he
added.
“There is no way to prevent the
escalation of tensions except through a permanent ceasefire in Gaza… The only
way to return calm to the Red Sea is to establish peace in Gaza.”
On Tuesday, the Yemeni Army struck a
Norwegian-flagged commercial tanker with a missile as the vessel was in the Red
Sea heading towards an Israeli port to offload its cargo.
The Yemeni operation on the tanker
Strinda took place about 100 kilometers north of the Bab el-Mandab Strait
connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Spokesman for Yemen’s Armed Forces
Brigadier General Yahya Saree described the strike as “a victory for the
oppressed Palestinian people.”
Yemeni Armed Forces claim responsibility
for a missile strike on a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea as it was
heading towards an Israeli port.
In retaliation for the bloody Israeli
onslaught against Gaza, Yemen had earlier warned that it considers any ships
with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied
territories legitimate targets.
Last month, the Yemeni Armed Forces
seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. They
still hold the vessel near the port city of Hudaydah.
They also launched drone and missile
strikes targeting the occupied territories in solidarity with the Palestinians
in Gaza.
Israel waged the brutal war on Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement carried out Operation
Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified
atrocities against the Palestinian people.
Since the start of the offensive, the
Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 18,608 Palestinians, mostly women and
children, and injured 50,594 others.
Thousands more are also missing and
presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under “complete siege” by
Israel.
Source: presstv.ir
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KSrelief’s UN exhibition showcases Saudi
Arabia’s role in humanitarian aid worldwide
December 13, 2023
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief is
hosting an exhibition at UN headquarters in New York during Humanitarian Week,
from Dec. 7 to 15.
The inauguration ceremony was led by
Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to
the UN. It was attended by William David Grisley, the UN humanitarian
coordinator for Yemen, Abdullah Al-Saadi, the permanent representative of Yemen
to the UN, and other officials from KSrelief.
Al-Wasil commended the projects
showcased at the exhibition, highlighting the professional execution that
exemplifies KSrelief’s commitment to humanitarian initiatives. He expressed
deep admiration for the Kingdom’s role in providing global assistance to those
in need.
Grisley acknowledged the strategic
collaboration between the Kingdom and the UN, emphasizing their joint efforts
in delivering crucial humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people.
Al-Saadi extended heartfelt thanks to
the Kingdom, recognizing its substantial contributions to various humanitarian
endeavors.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Moallem, KSrelief’s
director for health and environmental aid, shed light on the pivotal role
played by the center, notably through Project Masam, which has successfully
cleared Yemeni lands of 424,527 mines since the start of the initiative in
2018.
He also underscored the impact of the
Artificial Limbs Program, which has benefitted over 26,000 individuals in Yemen
and Syria by providing high-quality prosthetics to amputees.
The program also focuses on training
local personnel in artificial limb manufacturing techniques and building the
capacity of healthcare institutions for the localization and sustainability of
services.
Shalhoub Al-Shalhoub, the exhibition
supervisor, described the captivating displays, featuring interactive visual
screens showcasing the center’s relief and humanitarian programs. These
initiatives have amounted to an impressive 2,670 projects in 95 countries, with
a cumulative value exceeding $6.5 billion across vital sectors.
The exhibition also provided insights
into programs specifically tailored for the Yemeni people, totaling 862
projects valued at over $4.3 billion.
The center’s pavilion likewise
highlighted volunteer programs, boasting 535 initiatives in 38 countries and
resulting in over 140,000 surgeries that have benefited more than 1.2 million
individuals.
This year’s Human Rights Day, observed
annually on Dec. 10, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948.
Source: arabnews.com
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----
25th Saudi relief plane for Palestinians
arrives in Egypt
December 13, 2023
RIYADH: The 25th Saudi relief plane for
Palestinians, operated by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief in coordination with
the Ministry of Defense, arrived in Egypt on Wednesday.
The plane carried two ambulances that
will be transported to Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the total number of
KSrelief ambulances to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing equipped
with essential medical supplies to 16 so far.
This assistance reflects Saudi Arabia’s
longstanding commitment to supporting the Palestinian people during times of
crisis.
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation welcomed the UN General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate
ceasefire to ensure access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, adopted on
Tuesday evening, with 153 countries voting in favor.
The OIC said that the resolution
reflected an international consensus regarding the need to stop the crimes of
displacement, destruction and genocide, committed by the Israeli occupation
forces against people throughout the Palestinian territories, especially in the
Gaza Strip.
The OIC also called on the international
community to compel Israel to comply immediately and fully with the terms of
this resolution, to put an end to the threat of the collapse of the
humanitarian system in the Gaza Strip, and to take decisive measures to end the
occupation of Palestine and the military aggression against its people.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM meets Iranian counterpart in
Geneva
December 13, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister
Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Wednesday met his Iranian counterpart Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the high-level event in Geneva
commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
During the meeting, the two sides
discussed developments in the situation in Gaza and its surroundings and the
importance of the international community playing its role in achieving a
ceasefire and protecting civilians.
The meeting was attended by Abdulrahman
Al-Dawood, director general of the office of the minister of foreign affairs.
Source: arabnews.com
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US shoots down aerial vehicle launched
from Houthi-controlled areas
December 14, 2023
SANAA: The United States shot down an
aerial vehicle launched from a Houthi-controlled area in response to a call
from a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the southern Red Sea on Wednesday, US
Central Command (CENTCOM) said early on Thursday.
The US Navy destroyer Mason shot down an
unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas after the group
attacked the commercial vessel Ardmore Encounter in skiffs, CENTCOM said in a
post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A pair of missiles were fired from
Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that missed the ship, and the Ardmore
Encounter was able to proceed without further incident, CENTCOM added.
There were no reported injuries or
damage to the vessel and personnel, CENTCOM said.
This is the latest in a series of
incidents where the Houthi group, based in the north of Yemen has targeted
vessels it says are Israeli-owned or ships it says are heading to Israel.
The Sanaa based group has obstructed
their passage through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
Source: arabnews.com
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----
Pakistan
May 9 violence: Pakistan Supreme Court
allows trial of civilians by military courts
13th December 2023
Pakistan's Supreme Court Wednesday
allowed the trial of civilians by the military courts, conditionally suspending
its October 23 ruling in which it had ordered authorities to conduct the
hearing of the cases of ex-premier Imran Khan's supporters arrested for their
alleged role in May 9 violence in ordinary courts.
A six-member Supreme Court bench, in a
5-1 majority order, announced its verdict on a set of intra-court appeals
(ICAs) challenging its previous ruling.
Justice Musarrat Hilali, the only woman
judge on the bench, dissented from it.
During the hearing, Attorney General
Mansoor Awan urged the court to conditionally allow the military trials of
civilian suspects to be resumed.
Accepting the plea, the court allowed
the trials of civilians to continue.
However, the military courts would not
issue a final verdict against the suspect.
It further stated that the final ruling
would be conditional upon the Supreme Court's orders.
On October 23, a five-member SC bench
had declared that trying civilians in military courts for their alleged role in
attacks on army installations after the arrest of Khan on May 9 was ultra vires
the Constitution.
The caretaker federal government as well
as the provincial ones in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and the
defence ministry had moved ICA before the SC against its judgment.
The verdict allows the military
authorities to conduct the trial of over one hundred civilians who were handed
over to the military authorities for their involvement in the attacks on the
military installation on May 9.
The then Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif-led cabinet had decided that the protesters who vandalised military
installations on May 9 would be tried under the Army Act and Official Secrets
Act.
According to the Pakistani Army, 102
accused have been handed over to the military authorities for trial.
They have been arrested for their
alleged involvement in the attacks on key military establishments, including
the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Corps Commander's House in Lahore,
Pakistan Air Force Base Mianwali, and an office of the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) in Faisalabad.
During the hearing, Awan urged the court
to conditionally allow the military trials of civilian suspects to be resumed.
Announcing its verdict, the Supreme
Court said that the trials of 103 civilians would continue.
Observing that the military courts would
not issue a final verdict against the suspects, the SC said that the final
ruling would be conditional upon the Supreme Court's orders.
Subsequently, the court issued notices
to the respondents and adjourned the hearing until the third week of January.
Reacting to the order, the Lahore High
Court Bar Association said it would hold a strike on Thursday and boycott court
proceedings after the hearing of urgent cases in protest.
In a statement, it “strongly condemned”
today's decision and voiced its objection to the formation of the bench, Dawn
newspaper reported.
The bar said lawyers did not “accept
military courts under any circumstances as the Supreme Court has already
declared them void of jurisdiction”.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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-----
Deportation of Afghans: SC refers pleas
to panel for formation of larger bench
December 14, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Wednesday
referred the pleas challenging the forcible deportation of Afghan nationals to
a committee constituted for the formation of larger bench to hear matters
involving interpretation of the Constitution.
A three-member bench of the apex court —
headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood — heard the petitions. The bench
comprised Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ayesha A Malik.
The petitioners, including PPP’s former
senator Farhatullah Babar and others, had prayed the apex court for issuing a
restraining order against the forcible deportation or harassment of anyone born
in Pakistan and having a claim to birthright citizenship in accordance with
Section 4 of the Citizenship Act, 1951, as well as the ruling of the Islamabad
High Court in the 2021 case of Hafiz HamdullahSaboor.
They submitted that the federal
government should be asked to permit the UNHCR and its partner organisations to
register, expedite the process and decide on all asylum-seeking applications
filed by foreigners currently residing in Pakistan.
They contended the government’s policy had
failed to provide any mechanism for distinguishing between the birthright
citizens and illegal immigrants.
The federal government cracked down on
the “undocumented” Afghan nationals, essentially those seeking refuge in the
country and awaiting legal formalities.
The court observed that the petitioners
had challenged the authority of the caretaker government and hence the matter
needed interpretation of Article 224(IA).
The court referred the matter to a
committee constituted under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023
for the constitution of a bench.
The federal caretaker government as well
as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted their respective replies stating
that the Afghan nationals having valid legal documents were not being deported.
The additional attorney general told the court that the facts mentioned by the
petitioners regarding forcible deportation of Afghan nationals were totally
conflicting.
The counsel for the petitioners,
however, submitted that fundamental rights had to be ensured even if the Afghan
nationals didn’t have legal documents adding that their deportation should be
held in a transparent manner, providing them with a fair trial.
The counsel further submitted that they
should be treated in accordance with the laws of the land. At this, Justice
Sardar Tariq Masood observed that in this situation, they would be treated in
accordance with the Foreign Act under which the Afghan nationals would be first
arrested, tried and convicted and would be deported after completing their
sentences.
“Do you want them to be jailed first and
then deported,” Justice Masood asked the counsel. The judge said according to
the government’s stance, 90 percent of illegal foreigners had gone back
voluntarily.
“If a spy comes to Pakistan and after
two years, he says he should not be arrested, then what will happen?” the judge
asked the counsel.
The counsel, however, replied that
Pakistan was signatory to the international conventions but these were not
being honored.
Justice Ayesha A Malik observed that the
petitioners had questioned the authority of the caretaker government, however,
in its response the government had not addressed this question.
“This is the case of constitutional
interpretation, hence it should be heard by a larger bench after the enactment
of Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023, as the petitioners have
challenged the authority of caretaker government and decision of apex
committee,” she said.
Justice Yahya Afridi asked the
additional attorney general about the stance of the caretaker federal
government in this regard.
The additional attorney general
submitted the government believed that this matter should be referred to the
committee constituted under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act,
2023 for the constitution of a larger bench. Later, the court referred the
pleas to the said committee.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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-----
Pakistan hails OIC statement on Indian
SC decision on IIOJ&K status
December 14, 2023
Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday
welcomed a supportive statement on Kashmir from the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) in the wake of the Indian Supreme Court verdict, which upheld
Delhi’s decision to revoke the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied
Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
The organisation of 57 Islamic member
states reiterated its call for reversing all illegal measures taken by the
Indian government since August 5, 2019, aimed at changing the
internationally-recognised disputed status of IIOJ&K.
“By articulating the collective will of
the Islamic world, the OIC has expressed concern over Indian SC’s decision to
endorse Indian president’s unconstitutional action of 5th of Aug, 2019.
According to many Indian legal experts, the 2019 action of Indian president
constituted a ‘sleight of hand’ and contrary to SC’s 1973 decision. They have rightly
asked how the president could take this action unilaterally when a superior
body like the parliament could not,” reacted caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil
Abbas Jillani after the OIC issued a statement from its General Secretariat in
Jeddah.
Earlier, Jillani pointed out that
international law doesn’t recognise India’s unilateral and illegal actions of
August 5, 2019.
“The judicial endorsement by the Indian
Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to
self-determination in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions,” he said.
On Wednesday, the General Secretariat
expressed concern over the verdict of India’s Supreme Court on December 11,
2023, upholding the actions taken by the Indian government on August 5, 2019
that stripped the IIOJ&K of its special status.
The statement said, “OIC General
Secretariat expresses concern over the Indian Supreme Court’s judgment
upholding the unilateral actions taken by the Indian government on 5th August
2019 that stripped the special status of the territory of Jammu and Kashmir and
the OIC shared the decisions and resolutions of the Islamic Summit and the OIC
Council of Foreign Ministers on the issue of IIOJK.”
The General Secretariat reaffirmed its
solidarity with the IIOJ&K people in their quest for the right of
self-determination and reiterated its call on the international community to
enhance its efforts to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir by the relevant
United Nations Security Council resolutions.
China, too, one of the only regional
countries that reacted after the Indian Supreme Court verdict emphasized that
the issue of Kashmir had to be resolved by the UNSC resolutions.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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-----
Imran seeks recusal of IHC CJ from
benches hearing his cases
December 14, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran
Khan on Wednesday filed an application seeking recusal of Islamabad High Court
(IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq from all the benches hearing cases against
him.
The former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) chairman moved the application in the IHC, expressing lack of confidence
in Chief Justice Farooq.
The application stated that Justice
Farooq, since assuming charge as IHC CJ, had given the impression of a “one-man
high court” and had included himself in every single and division bench hearing
cases pertaining to Khan, apart from his intra-court appeals.
It said CJ Farooq had heard 120
applications of the former PTI chairman, alleging that the Toshakhana trial
against Khan was conducted against the law, because of the IHC chief justice.
It added that CJ Farooq also heard a
case related to the number of dependants of Khan in the election nomination
papers. It stated that after the applicant raised objections to the single
bench hearing the matter, a three-member bench was constituted, which through a
majority decision dismissed the case against the former prime minister.
The application read that CJ Farooq not
only removed the majority decision from the court’s website, but also issued a
press release. It maintained that the
applicant had lost trust in the IHC CJ
and did not expect justice from him; therefore, he should recuse himself from
all the cases related to Khan.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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----
Case adjourned till 19th: ECP officials
visit Adiala Jail to conduct trial of IK, Chaudhry
2023-12-14
ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, the
members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) visited Adiala Jail Rawalpindi
on Wednesday to hold contempt trial of former prime minister Imran Khan and
ex-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry—a move strongly
contested by the former ruling party.
Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad
Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana and former Justice Ikramullah Khan form the
four-member ECP bench to have visited the jail to hold the contempt
proceedings.
In the case hearing, Chairman PTI and
defence lawyer Barrister Gohar Ali Khan questioned the ECP’s authority to hold
the proceedings of the case in the jail. He told the bench that the matter was
pending with the Lahore High Court (LHC) that constituted a bench to hear the
former PM’s petition against trial in the jail, and that the date of hearing of
this case was December 18.
The ECP bench adjourned the case till
December 19.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala
Jail, the chairman PTI lambasted the ECP for holding jail trial. “ECP has no
authority to visit jails for holding trials,” he deplored.
Gohar Khan said the ECP was legally
bound to allot election symbol of bat to the PTI after intra-party elections
within the stipulated seven-day period. “Today, 10 days have gone past—the ECP
continues to flout the law,” he lamented.
“Our greatest concern at the moment is
that a plan is in place to deprive the PTI of its electoral symbol,” the newly
elected party chief stated.
He said a conspiracy had been hatched to
isolate PTI, demanding that the political party be given level playing field in
the context of upcoming general elections.
Addressing the journalists, another
defence lawyer Intazar Hussain Panjutha remarked, “Today, Adiala Jail has
earned the honour of having been graced with the distinguished presence of the
ECP members.”
Separately, Hiba Fawad, the wife of
Fawad Chaudhry, told the journalists outside Adiala Jail that she would take to
court her husband’s brother Faisal Chaudhry, who is also Fawad’s counsel in the
contempt case, over his “attitude”.
On December 6, in a move that raised
eyebrows, the ECP decided to hold the contempt trial of Khan and Chaudhry in
Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, instead of ECP headquarters, after the caretaker
federal government declined to accept the poll body’s order to bring Khan to
the ECP in the contempt case, citing security reasons.
Different public and political circles
have taken on the electoral body and the caretaker government for their
inability in ensuring foolproof security to the former PM for his trial at the
ECP headquarters instead of jail.
Source: brecorder.com
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-----
41,000 Afghan immigrants left, 3,700
deported from Sindh: Haris Nawaz
December 14, 2023
KARACHI: Over 41,000 illegal Afghan
immigrants have so far left the province to their home country voluntarily and
around 3,700 others deported, said caretaker Sindh Home Minister Haris Nawaz on
Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference along
with caretaker Information Minister Muhammad Ahmad Shah, he said that there
were about 147,000 Afghan nationals in the province who had valid documents.
“We are deporting only those who do not have valid documents,” he added.
The home minister said that the
provincial government was trying to repatriate illegal Afghan immigrants with
full respect so that they could leave for their home country with good
memories.
He said that weapons had also been
recovered from illegal foreigners. “Such people have also been found involved
in terrorism in our country,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken
against such people.
He said that the primary focus of the
caretaker provincial government was on ending street crimes and drug menace in
the educational institutions. “Actions are being taken to prevent smuggling on
the internal and external routes of the province,” he added.
Defending the establishment of the
military courts, the minister said that all the requirements of justice were
fulfilled in the military court. “The accused are allowed to have their own
lawyer and after the decision, they have the right to appeal to the higher
courts,” he added.
He also underlined the need of military
courts and said the only difference between civil and military court was the
speedy trial of the accused persons.
To a question, he said that the
provincial cabinet had approved Rs350 million for Rangers to enhance their
operational capacity. “We moved a summary for grant of more funds for Rangers,”
he added.
Source: dawn.com
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----
Promotion Of Religious Tourism Based
Ziarat Policy Formulated: Minister for Religious Affairs
December 14, 2023
Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs
Aneeq Ahmed has said Ziarat policy based on the promotion of religious tourism
and convenience of Zaireen has been formulated.
He was talking to the Iraqi Ambassador
Hamid Abbas Lafta in Islamabad during which detailed discussion was held on the
construction of Pakistan House for Pakistani Zaireen in Baghdad and Karbala.
Aneeq Ahmed said Pakistan has long-standing
fraternal ties with Iraq. He said there is a relation of love and affection
between the peoples of Pakistan and Iraq.
The Ambassador assured to provide best
facilities to Pakistani Zaireen in Iraq.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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UNSC condemns terrorist attack in
Pakistan
December 14, 2023
The United Nations Security Council has
condemned Tuesday's terrorist attack on Pakistani security forces' post in Dera
Ismail Khan.
In a press statement, the council
members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the
victims and to the government of Pakistan.
The members of the Security Council
reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one
of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
They urged all states to cooperate
actively with the Pakistani government as well as all other relevant
authorities in this regard.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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-----
Indictment in cipher case: Imran’s plot
against state proved: Khattak
December 14, 2023
Mushtaq Paracha
NOWSHERA: Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTIP) head and former federal defence
minister Pervez Khattak said on Wednesday that indictment of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and former
minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi proved that a conspiracy was hatched to pit
nation against the state institutions.
“Former prime minister Imran Khan was
not sincere with Pakistan and the people and hatched conspiracies against the
state institutions to grab power,” Pervez Khattak, who was a close confidante
of ex-PM, alleged while speaking at PTIP workers’ convention in Mera Akora near
here.
He said that PTI chief was involved in
rampant corruption and a number of persons, including Farah Gogi, Jmail Gujjar,
were used as front men to amass wealth through malpractices.
He alleged that PTI youths were used by
Imran Khan to destabilize the country and reach the corroder of powers by hook
or by crook, saying that the May 9 incidents were proof of the conspiracy.
Pervez Khattak Khattak criticised Imran
Khan for his stubbornness and ego, which caused an immense harm to the nation
and country. He said that the nation had endured decades of plundering, which
resulted in a severe economic crisis. He assailed the ex-premier for hollow
slogans of “new Pakistan” and “change”.
Khattak said that he would sweep the
elections with a thumping majority in Nowshera district. He said that they had
won all seats in Nowshera in 2013 and 2018 through his political strategy. He
said that the people of Nowshera had always given unprecedented love and
respect to him.
He said that as the KP chief minister,
he had launched several projects, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT),
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Rashakai Special Economic Zone (RSEZ),
Azakhel Dry-port and other mega projects.
He said that his party would enter into
electoral alliance and seat-to-seat adjustment with religious and political
parties to clinch maximum seats.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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-----
Africa
Al-Sunni: The ceasefire decision in Gaza
was consistent with same resolution adopted by Arab group headed by Libya
13/12/2023
Libya's representative to the United
Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, has confirmed that the resolution adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly to cease fire in the Gaza Strip for
humanitarian reasons was consistent with the same resolution adopted by the
Arab Group headed by Libya in this regard.
“With Libya’s continued efforts to
support the unified Arab and Islamic position to stop the aggression against
the Gaza Strip, and after the failure of the Security Council days ago to adopt
the Arab resolution submitted for a ceasefire, the same was adopted on Tuesday
evening in the General Assembly. This resolution, was adopted with a majority
of 153 votes, 23 abstentions and 10 rejections”, Al-Sunni said on his X
platform.
“What is important now is to implement
this resolution on the ground and hold perpetrators of war crimes against
humanity accountable”, Al-Sunni added.
Source: libyaobserver.ly
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----
South Africa to build new nuclear plants
that will come on stream in a decade
13 December 2023
South Africa, battling crippling power
blackouts, plans to add 2,500 megawatts of new nuclear generation, the
government announced Tuesday.
The country has Africa's only nuclear
power station but the Koeberg plant near Cape Town is currently only working at
half capacity.
The first of the new units will probably
come on stream in 2032 or 2033, ZizameleMbambo, the energy ministry's deputy
director general of nuclear power, told a press briefing.
He said South Africa had already asked
"different vendors" for proposals.
Electricity Minister
KgosientshoRamokgopa said the extra 2,500MW of extra nuclear power would be
"a significant milestone". "I think the case is compelling, part
of the reasons why we here with regards to the energy crises is that the
generation cannot meet demand and therefore you need to have the additional
generation capacity because we make point all the time that the Eskom fleet is
aging and we need additional generation capacity."
He added that it would be part of the
government action to "ending the existential challenge that is confronting
the country" over power shortages and long term energy security.
Rotating power cuts of up to 12 hours a
day over the past 15 years have badly hit the economy and the government's
reputation as it heads into an election next year.
National power company Eskom has been
tainted by corruption and maintenance problems that have led to the power cuts.
In a bid to extend the life of the
Koeberg plant by 20 years, one unit was closed for nearly a year and the second
unit was shut down for maintenance this week.
Source: africanews.com
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-----
2015 Zaria massacre: Islamic movement
seeks justice for victims
Ernest Nzor, Abuja
13 December 2023
Eight years after, the Islamic movement,
under the leadership of Eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has called for the
prosecution of the executors of the 2015 massacre in Zaria, Kaduna State.
A member of the Islamic Movement Prof.
DaudaNalado, disclosed in Abuja, at the press briefing to commemorate the eight
years of the Zaria massacre, extended the Movement’s appreciation to those who
stood by them during their hard time.
He noted that silence or applause on the
Zaria massacre would encourage such ‘atrocities’ in other places.
Nalado said: “As you are all aware,
tyranny and injustice never flourishes, and there is always a day of reckoning.
We will never forget whatever oppression meted out to us.
“We would like to once again reiterate
our call for justice for the masterminds and executors of the Zaria massacre be
brought to account. We wish to extend our appreciation to all those who stood
by us during the trying moments.”
He also condemned the war crimes of
apartheid Israel in Gaza and expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian
struggle.
He added, “We wish to once again join
hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the Tudun-Biri massacre of
yet another group of innocent Muslims who gathered to celebrate the Maulud of
our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAAW).
“The avoidable act was committed in the
name of “mistake” by the Nigerian security forces. We make bold to say that the
unfortunate and adamant silence or even applause on the Zaria massacre
encouraged committing such atrocities in other places.
“The recent condemnations from numerous
groups against the Tudun-Biri massacre are commendable. This is therefore
another eye-opener as, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Source: guardian.ng
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-----
Ugandan serial killer sentenced to 105
years in prison
13 December 2023
The High Court in Kampala, Uganda, has
sentenced 25-year-old Musa Musasizi to 105 years in prison for the heinous
murders of three women and a three-month-old infant. The victims were
identified as his girlfriends, and the infant was the child of one of the
victims.
Musasizi, who pleaded guilty, pursued
romantic relationships with the women before subjecting them to sexual assault
and ultimately ending their lives. Shockingly, he went further by burning and
disposing of their bodies, leaving a trail of horror.
The sentencing, delivered by Justice
Margaret Mutonyi, underscores the gravity of Musasizi's crimes. She emphasized
the necessity of the lengthy sentence to safeguard young women, including
Musasizi's own six-year-old daughter, according to reports from the
privately-owned NTV channel.
This case unfolded after Musasizi's
arrest in March 2021 on suspicion of killing five women and an infant. He was
convicted in July for the murder of one of the victims. During the trial,
Musasizi's lawyer appealed for leniency, citing his difficult upbringing as a
former street child.
The High Court's decision serves as a
critical step towards justice and sends a clear message about the severity of
crimes against women and children in Uganda. The sentencing aims to protect the
vulnerable and deter potential offenders, marking a crucial moment in the
pursuit of a safer society.
Source: africanews.com
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-----
Attack in southern Nigeria: 6 dead and 2
South Koreans kidnapped
13 December 2023
Four Nigerian soldiers and two civilians
were killed and two South Korean employees kidnapped by gunmen who ambushed
them in southern Nigeria, the police announced on Wednesday.
The attack took place on Tuesday morning
on a road in Rivers State.
Kidnappings for ransom are common in
Nigeria, where criminal groups sometimes target foreigners, particularly those
working in mines and construction sites far from urban areas.
"The assailants ambushed a convoy
of vehicles carrying two Daewoo workers at around 9:30 am. Four soldiers
escorting the Koreans and their two civilian drivers were killed in the
attack," a senior state police official told AFP.
"The gunmen also kidnapped the two
Koreans before fleeing," also taking the soldiers' weapons with them,
added the officer, who did not wish to be named.
Rivers State Police spokeswoman Grace
Iringe Koko confirmed the attack. "We are investigating the matter and
will give details later," she told AFP.
Contacted by AFP, the army and the
Deawoo company were not immediately available to comment on the attack.
Several Asian companies, notably Chinese
and South Korean, operate in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, where
they are involved in road and rail construction projects.
Foreign workers kidnapped in Nigeria in
the past have often been released after paying ransom to their captors.
Source: africanews.com
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-----
Kaduna bombing: Military raises
eight-man panel, villagers disown N33bn suit
14th December 2023
Solomon Odeniyi and Godwin Isenyo
The Defence Headquarters says it has opened
an investigation into the December 3 accidental bombing of TudunBiri community
in Kaduna State, which claimed over 100 lives.
The Director, Defence Media Operations,
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a telephone
interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, said the investigation panel has eight
senior officers.
This was as the leadership of the
TudunBiri community in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State disowned
the claim that the community had filed a N33bn lawsuit against the Federal
Government.
The PUNCH reports that the villagers
were said to be celebrating Maulud when
they were bombed in error by the Nigerian Army.
The Army took responsibility for the
accident and apologised.
The defence headquarters spokesman,
Buba, told our correspondent on December 5 that the military high command would
probe the incident, adding that a panel would be instituted to look into the
matter.
“Yes, the military will probe the
incident. When the panel is set up, the details will be communicated
accordingly, please,” Buba had said.
When contacted on Wednesday for an
update on the matter, Buba said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen.
Christopher Musa, had set up the panel.
He said, “Kindly be informed the CDS has
since set up an investigation panel, comprising eight senior officers, whose
membership cuts across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“The panel was set up on December 8,
2023. The outcome of their effort will be communicated in due course.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of the
TudunBiri community, on Wednesday, said they knew nothing about a N33bn lawsuit
filed against the Federal Government by a supposed villager identified as DalhatuSalihu.
Salihu had reportedly filed the suit
before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, saying it was on behalf of the victims
of the accidental bombing.
However, the leaders of the community
and people directly affected by the incident, on Wednesday, disclaimed the suit
when they visited Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in the state capital.
According to the community leaders, they
were not aware and did not mandate anyone to file a suit on their behalf.
The community leaders, who said they
didn’t know any Salihu in their community, said they were so far satisfied with
the action of the Federal Government and the support rendered by the Kaduna
State government.
Speaking during a thank-you visit to
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the Village Head of TudunBiri,
MallamBalarabe Garba, said, “We learnt that some people went to court on our
behalf. We are not part of this; we didn’t support this and we didn’t send
anyone to go to court.
“We are peaceful people and we don’t
support taking the government to court. We are happy with the reaction of the
Kaduna State and the Federal Government following the bomb incident.
“The Federal Government and the Kaduna
State government took several measures and made promises, and we can only
appreciate them for their support.”
Also, speaking, the leader of the
Christians in TudunBiri, Rev. Musa Saidu, thanked the Kaduna State government
and the Federal Government for the steps taken to support the people of the
community over the accident.
“We are united and we do things
together. There is no way we are going to support anyone to take measures
against the government who came to our assistance and is doing everything
possible to ensure the welfare of the people of the community. On behalf of the
Christians in TudunBiri, we have not mandated anyone to take the government to
court.”
The Chief Imam of TudunBiri, MallamAshiruJa’afaru, expressed delight over
the attention to the community during the unfortunate incident, adding that the
community would support the government to fulfil its promises.
“We, the relatives of the people
affected by the bomb incident, are here to meet with the governor of Kaduna
State to express our appreciation to the Kaduna State government for its
support.
“We didn’t mandate anybody to take
government to court. Whoever did that is not from us; we didn’t know him and he
is doing it without our permission. We urge the Kaduna State government to find
him and let the law take its course,” he said.
In his response, the governor said
several parties had made efforts to give the bomb incident religious
colouration or politicise it, but that the community resisted the overtures.
“The gap between their church and mosque
is less than 100 metres. The idea of anyone going to court on behalf of the
family of the victims is not true. The community asked us to investigate the
issue and anyone found wanting would face the law.
“We assured them that the Kaduna State
government will continue to support them. We want to form a committee to decide
how to share the money that has been donated to them by well-meaning Nigerians;
we want them to bring five people from their community as members of this
committee.
“The donations would go directly to the
family of those who lost their lives and those in the hospital.
“We appreciate the family of the
affected people for their resilience in resisting efforts by religious
merchants who want to use this unfortunate incident to cause disharmony in our
community.”
Source: punchng.com
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North America
Hate crimes, incidents against
Montreal’s Arab-Muslim, Jewish communities continue to increase
December 13, 2023
There have been 125 reported hate crimes
or incidents against Montreal’s Jewish community since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas
war, and 37 reported hate crimes or incidents against the Arabic-Muslim
community, according to police data.
The data provided to CityNews by the
SPVM covered the period from Oct. 7 to Dec. 12 inclusively.
The numbers include Jewish schools that
were shot at three times, as well as Molotov cocktails thrown at a synagogue
and two other Jewish institutions in November.
No one was injured in those events.
There was some property damage.
“We can definitely hear Montrealers, no
matter their background, asking for peace,” Montreal Mayor ValériePlante said
at a news conference Wednesday. “People are suffering and there’s been stress,
there’s been terrible threats and attacks in the past few weeks, so this is
serious.”
Since last week’s report, there has been
a combined increase of five hate crimes or incidents against the Jewish and
Arabic-Muslim communities.
It’s not clear how the latest police
statistics compare to a similar timeframe earlier this year as Montreal police
say a complete overview of 2023 will only be available next spring in an annual
report.
The SPVM has implemented a visibility
plan to reduce the number of hate crimes committed since the start of the
Israel-Hamas war – at a cost of an estimated $1.7 million last month.
That accounts for officer overtime
related to extra police presence around places of worship and other places of
interest in the wake of the conflict.
Also Wednesday, Plante called for a
“lasting ceasefire in Gaza.”
“The release of all hostages,
humanitarian aid and the protection of civilian populations are essential,”
Plante tweeted. “Montreal, a peaceful metropolis, will always be on the side of
peace.”
Source: montreal.citynews.ca
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-----
Hindu Americans To Light Diyas At Home
To Celebrate Ram Mandir Inauguration
December 14, 2023
Hindu Americans are planning to light
five diyas in their homes next month to celebrate the inauguration of Ram
Temple in Ayodhya.
The community has planned a series of
events to mark the occasion, including holding car rallies in various cities,
live screening of the grand inauguration ceremony, community gathering and
watch parties.
"It's a dream come true for all of
us. Never in our life did we think that we would be able to see this day. That
moment has arrived. It's time to celebrate (the inauguration of) Ram Mandir in
Ayodhya," eminent community leader from Chicago Bharat Barai told PTI.
Dr. Barai, who is among those invited by
the temple authorities to attend the inauguration ceremony on January 22, said
a large number of Hindu Americans had participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi
movement.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America
(VHPA), which is taking the lead in celebrations here, has launched a website
-- https://rammandir2024.org – to facilitate participation of more than 1,000
temples and individuals in these celebrations.
All registered temples will receive
Prasad from the actual ceremony in India, Amitabh Mittal of the VHPA told PTI.
"Arrangements have been made for
American Hindus to remotely participate in the ceremony and to become a part of
this historic event,” he said.
According to Mr. Mittal, plans are afoot
to set up large screens for live broadcast of the ceremony.
The VHPA has given a call to all Hindu
Americans to light at least five diyas in their homes to celebrate the
consecration ceremony at the temple.
"The enthusiasm among Hindu
Americans is unprecedented. A large number of Indian Americans want to go to
Ayodhya to be part of this historic ceremony,” he said.
Source: thehindu.com
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------
Biden administration staffers call for
Gaza ceasefire at vigil outside White House
14 December 2023
Biden administration staffers and
political appointees have held a vigil in front of the White House, calling for
a permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli regime’s months-long devastating war
on the Gaza Strip.
More than three dozen people, including
political appointees, administration staffers and civil service career staff,
gathered in front of the White House on Wednesday evening to attend the early
evening vigil. Most of the participants wore sunglasses and masks to conceal
their identities.
The demonstrators held a banner reading
“President Biden, your staff demands a ceasefire” and candles were arranged in
front of them to spell out “Ceasefire.” They called the violence that has
unfolded in Gaza in the course of the war “unacceptable.”
As staffers placed roses by candles in
memory of the victims, the names of Palestinians killed since December 1
following the end of a humanitarian pause in the fighting were read aloud from
a list that was 33 pages long.
Josh Paul, a former State Department
official who resigned from his job in October over opposing US military aid to
Israel, delivered opening remarks.
“The US government’s decision to double
down on fueling the violence has put our objectives … around the globe in
jeopardy for us to achieve any movement on some of the most intractable issues
we face today,” Paul said on behalf of the group.
He added that the temporary truce that
ended almost two weeks ago was never enough as the resumption of killings,
displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza has horrified
everyone.
“We must move with urgency to save as
many lives as possible and achieve an immediate, permanent ceasefire agreement
and the return of all hostages,” he said.
Paul, who was the director of
congressional and public affairs for the State Department’s Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs for over 11 years, resigned in October over the
transfer of arms to Israel amid growing dissent over Biden’s unequivocal
support for the occupying regime.
Another former administration staffer
read a statement from a group of Palestinian officials who did not want to be
identified.
Western countries and the US in
particular, have voiced their unequivocal support for Israel and what they call
Tel Aviv
Biden has faced growing calls to support
a ceasefire from within his administration, Congress members, and his
presidential campaign staff since October 7.
Last month, more than 800 federal
employees and independent agency staffers signed a letter, demanding Biden’s
urgent support for a ceasefire and immediate de-escalation of violence in Gaza.
The letter was supported by staff across
30 departments and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, FBI
and NASA.
More than a hundred staff members from
the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed an open letter
on Wednesday to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, denouncing the department’s
handling of the war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Wednesday vigil came a
day after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution
demanding an end to the fighting in Gaza.
The resolution passed with 153 countries
voting in favor, and 23 abstaining. The United States and Israel were among the
10 votes against the non-binding resolution.
On Wednesday, Gaza’s Health Ministry
said 18,608 people, mostly women and children, had been killed, and 50,594
others injured in the Israeli strikes so far.
Source: presstv.ir
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-----
US intelligence: Nearly half of Israeli
munitions dropped on Gaza are ‘dumb bombs’
December 14, 2023
WASHINGTON — Nearly half of the
air-to-ground munitions that Israel has used in Gaza in its war with Hamas
since October 7 have been unguided, otherwise known as “dumb bombs,” according
to a new US intelligence assessment.
The assessment, compiled by the Office
of the Director of National Intelligence and described to CNN by three sources
who have seen it, says that about 40-45% of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions
Israel has used have been unguided. The rest have been precision-guided
munitions, the assessment says.
Unguided munitions are typically less
precise and can pose a greater threat to civilians, especially in such a
densely populated area like Gaza. The rate at which Israel is using the dumb
bombs may be contributing to the soaring civilian death toll.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said
Israel has been engaged in “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza.
Asked for comment on the assessment, IDF
spokesperson Nir Dinar told CNN, “We do not address the type of munitions
used.”
Major Keren Hajioff, an Israeli
spokesperson, said on Wednesday that “as a military committed to international
law and a moral code of conduct, we are devoting vast resources to minimizing
harm to the civilians that Hamas has forced into the role of human shields. Our
war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza.”
But experts told CNN that if Israel is
using unguided munitions at the rate the US believes they are, that undercuts
the Israeli claim that they are trying to minimize civilian casualties.
“I’m extremely surprised and concerned,”
said Brian Castner, a former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer who now
serves as Amnesty International’s senior crisis adviser on arms and military
operations.
“It’s bad enough to be using the weapons
when they are precisely hitting their targets. It is a massive civilian harm
problem if they do not have that accuracy, and if you can’t even give a benefit
of the doubt that that the weapon is actually landing where the Israeli forces
intended to,” Castner added.
The reporting on the assessment comes at
an extremely sensitive time in US-Israeli relations, as the White House
struggled on Wednesday to explain Biden’s comment that Israel is engaged in
“indiscriminate bombing” while at the same time claiming that Israel is trying
to protect civilians.
A growing rift between the two countries
has opened over how the Israeli military is carrying out its operations in Gaza
in its war against Hamas, which it launched after Hamas killed more than 1,200
Israelis on October 7.
Biden said on Tuesday that Israel is
losing the support of the international community as the death toll rises in
Gaza, where more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed over the last two
months, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. The US is also
becoming increasingly isolated internationally as it refuses to back calls for
a cease-fire in the conflict.
On Thursday, Biden’s national security
adviser Jake Sullivan begins a two-day trip to Israel, where he will meet Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will conduct “extremely serious conversations”
with Israeli officials during his visit, National Security Council spokesman
John Kirby said during a White House briefing Wednesday. Sullivan will discuss
with the Israelis “efforts to be more surgical and more precise and to reduce
harm to civilians,” Kirby said.
Marc Garlasco, a former United Nations
military analyst and war crimes investigator who served as chief of high value
targeting on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff in 2003, said that using unguided
munitions in a densely populated area like Gaza both greatly increases the
chance that a target is missed and that civilians are harmed in the process.
A US official told CNN that the US
believes that the Israeli military is using the dumb bombs in conjunction with
a tactic called “dive bombing,” or dropping a bomb while diving steeply in a
fighter jet, which the official said makes the bombs more precise because it
gets it closer to its target. The official said the US believes that an
unguided munition dropped via dive-bombing is similarly precise to a guided
munition.
But Garlasco said the Israelis “should
want to use the most precise weapon that they possibly can in such a densely
populated area.” With an unguided munition, “there are so many variables to
take into account that could lead to an incredibly different accuracy from one
moment to the next,” Garlasco added. The US has deliberately phased out its own
use of unguided munitions over the last decade, he noted.
It is not clear what kinds of unguided
munitions the Israelis have been using, though experts noted that the Israeli
military has been using M117 bombs that appear unguided. The Israeli Air Force
posted photos of fighter aircraft armed with what looked like the M117 bombs on
X in October, Castner noted.
The US has also provided Israel with
unguided munitions, including 5,000 Mk82 bombs, a source familiar with recent
weapons transfers told CNN, confirming a Wall Street Journal report. But the US
also provides Israel with systems that can transform those dumb bombs into
“smart” ones, including the Joint Direct Attack Munitions guidance system and
the Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies. The US has provided approximately
3,000 JDAMS to Israel since October 7, CNN previously reported, and told
Congress last month that it planned to transfer $320 million worth of the Spice
Family kits.
Kirby said on Wednesday that Israel is
“doing everything they can to reduce civilian casualties.” But the US has
repeatedly urged Israel to be more precise and deliberate in its targeting of
Hamas fighters inside Gaza, CNN has reported.
Still, the Biden administration
currently has no plans to place conditions on the military aid it is providing
to Israel, CNN reported on Wednesday. That is despite growing calls by
Democratic lawmakers and human rights organizations for the US to stop
providing weapons unless Israel does more to protect civilians. A US official
said that Biden ultimately believes that a strategy of quiet pressure on Israel
to change its tactics has been more effective than threatening to withhold
weapons. — CNN
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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Biden meets with relatives of Americans
held hostage by Hamas
December 14, 2023
President Joe Biden met with family
members of Americans held hostage by Hamas on December 13 as Israel intensifies
its military campaign in Gaza after a pause in fighting during which more than
100 hostages were released.
Relatives of the Americans who are
deemed unaccounted for after the Palestinian militant group's deadly Oct. 7
attack on Israel attended the gathering at the White House, either in person or
by phone.
Hamas gunmen took 240 people hostage
when they burst through the border with Israel and killed around 1,200 people,
according to Israeli tallies.
A seven-day truce saw more than 100
hostages released, including four Americans. The rest are still being held
incommunicado as Israel bombards Gaza in an effort to destroy its Hamas rulers
and fighters. More than 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to
local health authorities.
Mr. Biden has been personally engaged on
the hostage issue and has spoken numerous times with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar on how to secure their release, the
administration official said.
Mr. Biden previously held a virtual
meeting with hostages' families on Oct. 13.
His national security adviser, Jake
Sullivan, has met with the families numerous times, the official said, and was
expected to discuss the hostages during his trip to Israel this week.
"We met today with President Biden
and then people from the administration. It was a terrific meeting,
conversation," one of the family members, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, said
afterwards.
"I think we all came away feeling
that as families of hostages of American Israelis ... that we could have no
better friend in Washington or in the White House than President Biden,"
he added.
Two Americans, Natalie and Judith
Raanan, became the first hostages to be released on Oct. 20.
During a subsequent pause in Israel's
military operation, a four-year-old American girl, Abigail Edan, was among 17
hostages freed by Hamas on Nov. 26. A fourth American, LiatBeinin, was among 16
released on Nov. 29, the final day of a truce in the Gaza war.
Israel released 240 Palestinian
prisoners in exchange for the hostages under a truce agreement reached with
Hamas.
Source: thehindu.com
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Advocates Warn Arab, Muslim Americans
Could Abandon Biden, Democrats
2023-December
TEHRAN (FNA)- Alarms are growing louder
for Democrats over the potential that Muslim American and Arab American voters
could shun them in next year’s presidential election.
Muslim Americans and Arab Americans have
expressed growing anger over President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas
war, with many leaders in the community warning they won’t vote for Biden next
year, even if the GOP alternative is former President Donald Trump, The Hill
reported.
“The responses of many on this issue
within the Palestinian American community, the broader Arab community, is
really a sense of betrayal,” Yousef Munayyer, policy analyst and senior fellow
at the Arab Center in Washington, told The Hill.
These voters could have an outsized
impact on some, states, too, such as Michigan — a swing state with a
significant Arab American population.
A spokesperson for the Biden reelection
campaign told The Hill the president is working with leaders in the Muslim and
Palestinian communities, including on countering rising Islamophobia.
“President Biden knows the importance of
earning the trust of every community, of upholding the sacred dignity and
rights of all Americans,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The President and this administration
have been unequivocal: there is no place for Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any
of the vile racism we have seen in recent weeks,” the spokesperson added.
Arab American support for Democrats in
general seems to have been waning over the past few years.
A 2017 report from the Pew Research
Center found about two-thirds of Muslim voters lean Democratic. But Trump’s
support among Muslim voters increased 4 percent between 2016 and 2020,
according to exit polling from the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), one of the most high-profile American-Islamic advocacy groups.
The Biden spokesperson sought to
contrast the Democratic administration with Trump, who memorably introduced a
travel ban on several predominantly Muslim nations in his first days in office.
“As MAGA Republicans continue to run on
an openly Islamophobic platform — including renewed support for Donald Trump’s
Muslim ban — the stakes of next year’s election could not be more
consequential,” the spokesperson said.
Biden’s support for Israel in the war
has chafed at some Muslim Americans.
Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director for
the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, said the administration’s
continued unwavering support for Israel and denouncement of any criticism
toward the Israel military show politicians on the wrong side of history — and
that voters of color, particularly, see this as a pattern.
“By the time the elections roll around
in 2024, Palestinians and Arabs and folks who are concerned with Palestine have
been having to set aside their feelings and vote, regardless of the party’s
position on Palestine for quite some time,” Abuznaid told The Hill, adding, “I
think this time folks really feel betrayed by these political parties; they
feel betrayed by these leaders in a way that maybe they hadn’t before.”
Munayyer said he doesn’t see Palestinian
and Arab voters suddenly flocking to Trump and the GOP. Instead, voters could
just stay home.
“Biden was presented as the alternative
to Trump, the way to sort of save democracy, the way to sort of safeguard the
rights of minorities,” Munayyer said, adding, “The decision that was placed
before voters was really stark and characterized as a choice between protecting
democracy and fascism. And for people who are watching these horrific crimes
being carried out with US support, they no longer see that difference as
starkly as they used to.”
The Democratic Party has been divided
over the war since the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, which led to a
bombardment of Gaza by Israel’s military.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only
Palestinian American in Congress, has sought to pass legislation calling for a
cease-fire, which has been opposed by other Democrats.
Last month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) joined
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) at a pro-Israel
rally.
In early November, the House voted
234-188 to censure Tlaib for her pro-Palestinian rhetoric, a move that in
itself may have turned more Arab and Muslim Americans away from Biden and
Democrats.
Yet this may also be leading other
Muslims to jump into the political arena in the hopes of joining Tlaib. During
the 2022 midterm cycle, 146 Muslim candidates ran for public office. Eighty-two
were elected, according to CAIR.
“Over the last few years, we have seen
an increase in at least state-based representatives and others elected on the
local level that have been of Palestinian heritage or are Palestinian and I
expect no differently in 2024,” Abuznaid said.
The risks for Democrats go beyond Arab
American voters.
Advocates are warning that the
Democratic Party could also lose wide-ranging support from young voters and
voters of color.
At protests around the country, Muslim
Americans have been joined by young people, Black Americans and Jewish
Americans who disagree with the Israeli government’s policies.
“One of the problems that the Democrats
have, particularly elected officials in Congress, they’re falling in line
behind the president on this issue that has become a partisan issue over the
last 15 years or so,” Munayyer said, adding, “In the process, they’ve thrown
the Palestinian American community under the bus and … a much wider group of
constituents who care about this issue and I think it’s going to have
devastating consequences for the President and for Democrats.”
It’s not too late for Biden to reengage
these voters, but Munayyer warns it won’t be easy.
“It’s really hard for people to forget
what they’re seeing. This is not a question of a candidate who maybe doesn’t
support three out of my five preferred policy issues, it’s a candidate that’s
backing my dehumanization and the murder of thousands of members of my people
and family,” he explained.
Source: farsnews.ir
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Washington shows signs of strained
patience with ally Israel
Dec 14, 2023
WASHINGTON: The administration of
President Joe Biden has begun to publicly air its differences with the Israeli
government over the conduct of the war in Gaza, expressing its exasperation
even as it remains largely steady in its support.
Biden referred this week to
"indiscriminate bombing" in Gaza, underscoring his frustration with
conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government Biden
agrees is starting to lose global support.
The Democratic US administration is even
beginning to talk about a "timetable" for how long Israel's
high-intensity military operations can continue.
Warnings have multiplied in recent
weeks, with senior US officials such as Vice President Kamala Harris and
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaking of the "far too high"
number of Palestinian civilians killed, and the gap between commitments made by
Israel to respect civilian lives and the reality on the ground.
Israel has pounded Gaza day after day
since the start of the conflict on October 7, interrupted only by a brief
humanitarian truce at the end of November.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently
warned Israel of what is at stake: "In this kind of a fight, the center of
gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the
enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat."
But Washington, Israel's main diplomatic
and military ally, has been careful not to openly criticize its ally, and has
resisted calls for a ceasefire, which it said would benefit Hamas, despite
international pressure.
Indeed, the United States appears
increasingly isolated in its support, as evidenced by Tuesday's vote in the UN
General Assembly calling for such a ceasefire, passed by 153 member states,
with only the US and nine other states voting against and 23 abstaining.
'Timetables'
The trigger for the war was the bloody
October 7 assault by Hamas militants on Israel.
Since then, the Biden administration has
pressed its ally to unblock humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, work to free
hostages kidnapped by Hamas on the day of the attack, and adopt a more targeted
military strategy.
In private, US diplomats have made no
secret of their dissatisfaction with Israel's conduct of the war.
As a sign of the US pressure on Israel,
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit Israel on Thursday and
Friday, the White House said.
"I will certainly be talking to the
PM, the war cabinet and senior Israeli officials about timetables, about how
they are thinking about that," Sullivan told the Wall Street Journal on
Tuesday, suggesting a shift from the "high intensity military operations
of the kind we have seen over the past weeks."
For his part, Biden at the White House
on Wednesday received for the first time families of US hostages held in Gaza
by Hamas, a senior official said.
What happens post-war?
If there is a shift in the US position
toward Israel, it may reflect the domestic political situation as well.
"There is a lot of pressure on the
Biden administration among his own party and constituency" on policy
toward Israel, said James Ryan, director of the Middle East program at the
Foreign Policy Research Institute, a nonprofit think tank.
But any shift also signals "a tacit
admission" of limited US ability to influence the Israeli government, he
added.
Differences also loom over views on what
happens after the war ends.
Washington insists on a two-state
solution as the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian question in the
long term, which Israel rejects.
As far as who would govern in
post-conflict Gaza, the US and Israel are at odds over the idea of handing
reins to a revitalized Palestinian Authority.
"A revitalized, reformed and
reorganized Palestinian Authority is the way forward for the governance of a
reunited West Bank and Gaza," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller
said on Wednesday.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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CAIR: Texas Muslim Leaders Unite to Urge
Political and Elected Officials to Demand Ceasefire in Gaza
Ismail Allison
December 13, 2023
(TEXAS, 12/13/2023) – Muslim leaders
from across Texas are coming together to call on political and elected
officials to demand a ceasefire in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The
leaders express deep concern over the staggering human toll, with 20,000 Palestinians,
including 8,000 children, senselessly killed.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief for the
families who have lost loved ones, especially the children who should never
have to endure the horrors of war,” said William White, Director of CAIR-Houston.
“It is our moral obligation to stand together and call for a ceasefire to
prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of those affected.”
This collective appeal from Texas Muslim
leaders underscores the critical need for immediate action to halt the
hostilities and protect civilian lives. Regardless of political affiliations,
these leaders are united in their plea for officials to prioritize the safety
and well-being of the innocent caught amid this devastating conflict.
The joint statement from Texas Muslim
leaders states in part:
“We, a coalition representing over
500,000 Muslims in Texas, urgently appeal to you regarding the dire situation
in Gaza. We condemn the state-sponsored attacks by Israel and call for an
immediate and permanent ceasefire…”
SEE: Letter from Muslim Community
Organizations
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil
rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American
Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las
libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y
empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
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Jackie Goldberg, bold supporter of
LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim students, to lead L.A. school board
DEC. 13, 2023
HOWARD BLUME
Jackie Goldberg has had quite a year on
the Los Angeles Board of Education, blazing into public view by reading aloud a
storybook about families with two dads during a time of LGBTQ+ school protests
and then standing up for Muslim and Jewish students after parents complained
about bullying and classroom bias.
The veteran public official — who was
also on the Los Angeles City Council and in the state Legislature — will end
her elected political career as school board president, helping to guide the
nation’s second largest school district. The board reelected Goldberg by a 7-0
vote Tuesday.
Goldberg, 79, who had been largely
retired when she was persuaded to run for the school board in 2019, will serve
her second of two consecutive one-year terms as president until 2024, her last
year in office.
She will continue to influence district
policy even as voters in her district choose her replacement, starting with a
primary in March. That election’s outcome is destined to reshape the leadership
of the nation’s second-largest school system.
Goldberg’s reelection as president
transpired without rancor or controversy — even discussion — in advance of a
year that could embody plenty of both. On one front, the district must deal
with the end of state and federal COVID-19 aid that ballooned the budget to
record levels.
“As a result of the pandemic, we finally
saw what happens when we adequately fund public education: smaller class sizes,
additional mental health support, and innovative programs to help struggling
students,” Goldberg said. “Tragically, this year we are losing millions in
supplemental funding. That is why the long-term solution is structural change —
at the federal and state level — to adequately tax corporations and the wealthy
so that we can fully fund our schools.”
Student achievement has not yet
rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. And, even before the pandemic, academic
performance ranged from disappointing to alarming.
“As I begin my last year as board
president and, indeed, as an elected official, I am mindful of all that we have
accomplished and all the work we have ahead of us,” said Goldberg, who also
served as the Los Angeles Board of Education president 40 years ago. “We are
working every day to bring attendance to pre-pandemic levels, to improve all
students’ literacy and math skills and to make good on our commitment to special
education, social emotional learning, and so much more.”
Also likely to attract attention in the
coming year will be culture-clash debates and spillover from outside events,
such as two that marked Goldberg’s year.
132388Los Angeles, CA - Outgoing Los
Angeles Unified School District Board Member Jackie Goldberg speaks after
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho delivered an Opening of Schools Address at
the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (Luis
Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
After the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct.
7, L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho quickly signaled support for Israel —
which prompted Palestinian families to protest that the district was being
one-sided and implicitly empowering biased classroom discussions and bullying.
Goldberg, who is Jewish, responded with
a strong statement of support for all children and families who have been
victimized — and Carvalho followed suit with a restatement of similar
sentiments distributed districtwide.
Goldberg achieved even more notice when
she responded to tensions at Saticoy Elementary over a gay pride assembly. At a
televised school board meeting, she read aloud from an oversized children’s
book, “The Great Big Book of Families,” which talked about different kinds of families,
including those with two moms or two dads.
“A great book,” she said after reading
it from cover to cover. “I recommend it.”
Los Angeles, California June 6,
2023-LAUSD school board member Jackie Goldberg holds up a book 'The Great Big
Book of Famialies' during a board meeting in Los Angeles Tuesday. (Wally
Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Last week she followed up by scheduling
a staff presentation on sex and LGBTQ+ education. She said parents can inspect
curriculum and opt of content, “but they may not opt out of people,” referring
to the LGBTQ+ community.
A year ago, Goldberg’s rise to board
president signaled a shift to priorities of the teachers union, which had
strongly backed her campaign. During the year, this shift played out subtly and
not always consistently.
Board members declined to cut further
into the school police budget, for example, even though the teachers union and
allied student activists called for eliminating funding for school police.
Separately, in the lead-up to a
three-day strike in March, teachers union leaders denounced district
leadership, including Goldberg, for releasing details of negotiations they
deemed confidential. Goldberg explained that her intent had been only to
recognize the good news that both sides were in contact with each other.
Although the strike was not averted, all
unions approved new contracts with pay raises.
The teachers union is pleased with the
board majority’s movement toward placing greater restrictions on when and where
independent charter schools — most of which are nonunion — will be allowed to
share space on district-operated campuses.
Whether such restrictions will increase
or diminish will be a major issue in the coming elections, where the biggest
funders typically are charter-school allies and the two largest unions — United
Teachers Los Angeles and Local 99 of Service Employees International Union.
Goldberg represents District 5, which
covers most of northeast L.A. Unified, including Eagle Rock, Glassell Park and
Echo Park. To the southeast her district includes the cities of Huntington
Park, Maywood and South Gate. Four candidates are vying to replace her.
Also leaving the board next year will be
George McKenna. His District 1 stretches west from Koreatown to Mid-City to the
Westside and south to Baldwin Hills and South L.A. Eight candidates are
competing to win that seat.
Running for reelection will be Scott
Schmerelson, who represents the west San Fernando Valley, and Tanya Ortiz
Franklin, who represents the southern part of the school system down to the
L.A. Harbor. Both of them will face challengers.
Source: latimes.com
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Southeast Asia
Ahead of media guideline launch, group’s
study says family and religion biggest factors behind conversion therapy
against LGBT
Zarrah Morden
14 Dec 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 — Linda, a trans
woman, said she was taken by her parents to a Christian seminar in 2016 to
“cure her”. She described how other queer persons who were also dragged there
were crying, even as their parents were clinging to every word of the
“ex-trans” pastor who conducted the event.
Darren Tan said he had to go through
“exorcisms” in two churches when he was 15. He is 28 now and still gay, but has
had suicidal thoughts.
Meanwhile, trans man James started
getting non-epileptic seizures during his “treatment” in “ex-gay ministry”
conversion programmes and ended up being diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
Another trans woman, Sonia, said she had
to attend one-on-one classes with an ustaz, or Islamic religious teacher, while
in school, before growing up into an adult who has allegedly been arrested and
harassed by religious authorities.
“Of late, I feel there is a tiny voice
that says, ‘You are living a useless life. What is the purpose of you living?
What for?’ The voices are there every now and then, and making me ask myself,
‘Do people like me deserve to live in this world? Should I just die?’” Sonia
was quoted saying in a 2021 report on freedom of expression by advocacy group
Justice for Sisters (JFS).
These are just a few of the anecdotes
collected by JFS for its campaign called "Balik Ke PangkalJalan" to
reclaim the meaning of the Malay phrase, which means “returning to the ‘right’
path” and used when referring to the practice of conversion therapy — an
attempt to “rehabilitate” lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGTBQ)
persons to become heterosexual or cisgender.
In a recent study titled “Conversion
Practices or Efforts to Change LGBTIQ+ People in Malaysia,” JFS also found that
seven in 10 of its respondents said they were pressured to change their sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics
(Sogie) by their families, and this is being facilitated by religious
institutions.
“It’s difficult to end conversion
practices as Malaysia has too many conservative, religious, uptight and
traditional-minded people.
“People who have the opportunity to
migrate should do so. I too wish to migrate to more progressive countries,”
said a respondent who wished to stay anonymous.
In total, two-thirds of respondents said
they had faced pressure to change their Sogie.
At the same time, religion was found to
be a significant factor in the promotion and continuation of conversion
practices, also known as conversion therapy.
Around four in 10 respondents said they
were offered Sogie-change efforts during religious programmes while respondents
from Muslim backgrounds reported a higher occurrence of pressure and impact of
Sogie-change efforts.
Conversion therapy, which consists of
psychological treatment or spiritual counselling to change a person’s sexual
orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual, is widely seen by the
medical and scientific community as potentially harmful and a form of
pseudoscience.
The practice is opposed and has been
legally challenged, or even banned, in countries such as Australia, Brazil,
Chile, China, Ecuador, Israel, Lebanon, Malta, South Africa, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom, and the United States.
Family intervention
In the JFS study, one out of every 10
respondents said they were forcibly sent to an external party to be corrected,
with most saying that it was due to being outed to family members in addition
to pressure or advice to change.
Of the 33 respondents who had been
forcibly sent, 22 had experienced the conversion practice multiple times.
However, six of the respondents had a
positive outcome as they found that their family members and other people began
to accept their Sogie following the experience.
Overall, respondents reported severely
negative outcomes from undergoing Sogie-change efforts due to their low access
to justice.
“LGBTIQ and gender-diverse people shared
a similar pattern of response: They experience Sogie-change efforts or
pressure, resulting in their pretending to be ‘straight’ or suppressing their
Sogie.
“This leads to increased burdens on
their mental health; strained relationships, particularly among family members;
and some move out from home. Some responses show resolution and acceptance
following the strained relationships; however, this comes at a cost, both
emotional and financial,” said the report.
About 45.4 per cent said they
experienced mental health strain while 32.5 per cent said they experienced
suicidal thoughts and attempts. The Sogie-change attempts also resulted in 4.9
per cent dropping out of school.
“LGBTIQ people face immense pressure to
change Sogie, resulting in multiple impacts, including but not limited to their
mental health, rights, access to education, and freedom of religion. The
pressure comes from many sources, including the media,” the report continued to
add.
Escaping conversion
Four of the respondents also noted a
sense of hopelessness over living in Malaysia and a lack of confidence in the
government ever affirming queer rights, with their only options being to either
stay hidden or to migrate to a more progressive country.
The report found that the most
vulnerable to conversion therapy were youths below the age of 30, trans people,
and those from Muslim backgrounds.
“Trans persons consistently report among
the highest prevalence in terms of pressure to change their gender identity,
being forced to perform gendered roles, experiencing suicidal ideation, having
voluntarily sought Sogie-change services, and being offered Sogie-change
services.
“There was a higher level of migration
among trans and gender-diverse respondents,” it said.
Despite making up only 35.3 per cent of
respondents, 70.6 per cent of respondents who said they were offered conversion
efforts come from Muslim backgrounds.
The study had surveyed 157 Malaysians
from the LGBT community between 12 and 61 years’ old in 11 states and staying
abroad, with over half of them below 30.
Of those, 43.6 per cent of respondents
identified as gay, followed by bisexual (14.7 per cent), and lesbian (9.6 per
cent). Meanwhile, 36.5 per cent identified as cisgender men, followed by trans
women (21.8 per cent), trans men (14.7 per cent), and five respondents
identified as intersex.
“In this country, I don’t think they
will end such things and will keep going after us especially for their
political benefits and whatnot.
“All that we have to do is to really
take care of each other and, being minorities ourselves, protecting our images
and reputations is the utmost action of all, ensuring them that our existence
is neither a threat nor crime towards the country’s well-being,” a respondent
told JFS.
As part of the campaign, JFS will be
launching its media guide on reporting conversion practices in Malaysia today.
The issue came into the spotlight
recently following the Johor state government's announcement that it is in the
process of creating a centre to “rehabilitate” those who practise same-sex
relationships for going against established Islamic teachings — with religious
affairs excoMohd Fared Mohd Khalid touting it as the first of its kind here.
In response, JFS co-founder S. Thilaga
had said that the establishment of such a centre raised concerns about the
potential violation of human rights, including the rights to equality and
non-discrimination, privacy, and a life of dignity, free from torture.
She added that the Federal Constitution
and international human rights laws protect LGBT people against criminalisation
and efforts to change a person’s Sogie.
Source: malaymail.com
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Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza is not
self-defense: Indonesia FM
December 13, 2023
Sheany Yasuko Lai
JAKARTA: Israel’s deadly onslaught on
Gaza is not self-defense, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi said in a
press briefing on Wednesday, after urging the UN to reject “double standards”
on human rights.
Indonesia’s top diplomat was leading a
delegation in Geneva and spoke about Palestine in a series of events
commemorating the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as
international pressure builds on Israel to end its months-long assault on Gaza
that has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians.
“As we observe the 75 years of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are actually witnessing serious human
rights violations happening in Palestine, especially in Gaza,” Marsudi said.
“Israel’s acts of killing civilians,
damaging hospitals, places of worship and refugee camps, while suppressing
Palestine’s basic rights are not self-defense. These acts cannot be justified
and are clear violations of international humanitarian law.”
Marsudi said she raised these points
during a roundtable event on human rights, alongside other panelists that
included Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Palestine’s Foreign Minister Riad
Al-Malki.
The 193-member UN General Assembly voted
overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding resolution calling for a humanitarian
ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, after a similar resolution failed at the UN
Security Council following the US’ veto on the proposal last week.
The Security Council’s failure to adopt
the resolution reflected “the failure of an outdated multilateral system,”
Marsudi said.
“I call on countries to reject double
standards in upholding human rights. Double standards are the biggest problem
in upholding human rights. Countries that have often dictated (to) us about
human rights are now parties allowing Israel to violate human rights.”
Indonesian officials have been rallying
international support since the latest escalation of Israeli violence, while
thousands of people have participated in solidarity marches across the Asian
nation since October.
Indonesia’s support for Palestine
reflects a decades-long stance, as its people and government see Palestinian
statehood as mandated by the nation’s constitution, which calls for the
abolition of colonialism.’
Source: arabnews.com
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Immigration Inspector Allegedly Received
Sexual Favours From 6 Men Who Needed Help To Remain In S’pore
14 Dec 2023
SINGAPORE: An Immigration and
Checkpoints Authority (ICA) inspector accused of obtaining sexual favours from
six men in exchange for helping them with their short-term visit pass
applications has been charged in court.
Kannan MoriceRajagopalJayaram, a
53-year-old Singaporean, faces six corruption charges.
He is said to have obtained sex acts
from the men between 2022 and February 2023, as an inducement for helping them
to remain in Singapore.
During the hearing on Dec 14, District
Judge Brenda Tan said the prosecution is ready to take the accused’s plea of
guilt if he wishes to take that course.
Defence lawyer Tan Wei Chieh said he has
to take instructions from his client on how to proceed.
Kannan is out on $30,000 bail, and his
case will be heard again on Jan 11, 2024.
The Straits Times has contacted ICA for
more information.
In a statement on Dec 14, the Corrupt
Practices Investigation Bureau said Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance approach
towards corruption, adding that the bureau looks into all corruption complaints
and reports, including anonymous ones.
If convicted, Kannan can be fined up to
$100,000 and jailed for up to five years for each offence. - The Straits
Times/ANN
Source: thestar.com.my
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International Islamic Liquidity
Management Corp successfully reissues US$790m in short-term sukuk
13 Dec 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — The International
Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) has successfully reissued
US$790 million (RM3.7 billion) in short-term sukuk across three different
tenors of one, three, and six months, respectively.
It said that the three series of sukuk
were priced competitively at 5.45 per cent for US$250 million for a one-month
tenor, 5.61 per cent for US$290 million for a three-month tenor and 5.54 per
cent for US$250 million for a six-month tenor.
With this sukuk reissuance, IILM said it
has successfully issued a total US$100.94 billion through 234 series in total
issuances since the organisation’s inception in 2010 and inaugural sukuk
issuance in 2013.
In its twelfth and final auction for
2023, the IILM’s sukuk reissuance today witnessed a competitive tender among
Islamic Primary Dealers and investors across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
markets as well as Asia, with a strong order book in excess of US$1.99 billion,
representing an average bid-to-cover ratio of 252 per cent.
IILM chief executive officer Dr Umar
Oseni said that with the conclusion of today’s successful issuance, the
corporation has achieved year-to-date cumulative issuances totalling US$11.52
billion across 36 US dollar-denominated short-term Sukuk series and crossed the
US$100 billion mark in total issuances since the organisation’s inception.
Furthermore, the IILM’s Sukuk issuances
during the year-to-date period account for approximately 20 per cent of total
global US dollar Sukuk issuances.
“Despite the prevailing volatile
geopolitical climate and uncertainties in the market that we witnessed
throughout the year, the IILM continues to explore innovative solutions to
address the industry’s evolving Shari’ah-compliant liquidity management needs,”
he said.
Moving forward, the IILM said it will
continue to focus on initiatives to enhance its issuance programme with new
features, diversifying its investor base and, thus, bolstering liquidity for
the IILM Sukuk on the secondary market.
The IILM’s US$4 billion short-term sukuk
programme is rated A-1 by S&P Global Rating and F1 by Fitch Ratings. —
Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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24 Rohingyas detained while being
trafficked to Malaysia
Dec 13, 2023
Police detained 24 Rohingyas including
women and children from the coastal area of Teknaf in Cox's Bazar while they
were being trafficked to Malaysia by perilous sea voyage early today.
The Rohingyas were held from Kachhapia
area in Baharchhara union, said Inspector Mashiur Rahman, in-charge of
Baharchhara Police Investigation Center, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent.
The Rohingyas -- six children, six
women, and 12 men -- are residents of various refugee camps in Ukhiya and
Teknaf, he said.
Police raided Kachhapia area on
information that some unknown people were roaming the area, the police officer
said
When a police team reached the spot,
some 4/5 people managed to escape, he said.
However, the 24 Rohingyas, gathering in
the bushes, were detained, he added.
The process to send the Rohingyas back
to a refugee camp is underway, said Moshiur.
Source: thedailystar.net
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslim-sculptors-statue-lord-ram-ayodhya-temple/d/131313