After Haridwar Hate Conclave, Yati to Organise Three Similar Events to Discuss the Topic “Shastra Meva Jayate” (Weapons Shall Prevail) Instead Of Original Indian Motto of 'Satya Meva Jayate (Truth Shall Prevail)
New
Age Islam News Bureau
27
December 2021
Several Hindutva leaders addressing the conclave
organised by Yati Narsinghanand in Haridwar. (Screengrabs
----
•
Iran: Christian Prisoners Get Rare 10-Day Holiday Liberty to Mark the New Year
2022 and the Birth of Jesus Christ
•
Minorities Are Completely Free To Practice Their Religious Rituals in Pakistan:
State Minister
•
Co-Education Reason behind Closure of Universities in Afghanistan, Says Taliban
Minister
•
Liverpool and Egypt Forward Mohamed Salah Triggers Angry Reactions with “Merry
Christmas” Message
India
•
Christmas Events Disrupted In Gurugram and Kurukshetra
•
Those Who Underwent Religious Conversion Should Be Brought Back To Hinduism: MP
Tejasvi Surya
•
Case against Man for Giving ‘Triple Talaq’ To Wife on Social Media in Pune
•
Islamic State terrorist, involved in killing of police inspector, gunned down
in J&K’s Anantnag
--------
Mideast
•
FM: Iran Only Favours Political Solutions to Regional Problems
•
Official: Over 300 Documents Presented to Iraq on Assassination of Gen.
Soleimani
•
Source Blames France for Slow Pace of Vienna Talks
•
Israel plans to double settlement in occupied Golan Heights: PM Bennett
•
Iran says won't enrich uranium beyond 60 percent if nuclear talks fail
•
Exhibition organized to mark 2008 Israeli offensive on Gaza
•
The apartheid regime’s Christmas propaganda and oppression of Palestinian
Christians
--------
Pakistan
•
Pakistanis rally to condemn Israeli threats against Muslim world
•
PPP, other parties in contact for seat adjustment in Hazara
•
Christians celebrate Christmas among friends
--------
Europe
•
French arrest man over chemical weapons parts in Syria
•
UK accused of ‘trying to move on’ after hundreds of Afghans left trapped
--------
South Asia
•
Us Should Not Interfere In Afghan Affairs, Says Taliban Leader Sher Mohammad
Abbas Stanekzai
•
Three French Radars arrive in Kabul, ready to be installed in three provinces
•
Afghanistan universities yet to reopen, money just a reason listed by Taliban
•
As Taliban face economic ruin, Afghans suffer malnutrition, sink further into
poverty
--------
North America
•
The American Deal with the Popular Decline In Support Of Political Islam after
Arab Spring Revolutions
•
US calls for credible, rapid conclusion of Somali elections
•
Venezuela’s President Maduro to visit Iran ‘very soon’
•
The attempts of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in the process of
polarization within the American society
--------
Arab World
•
Iraq Not ‘Launching Pad’ For Aggression against Other Countries: NSA
•
Lebanon’s Hezbollah Trains Yemen’s Houthis to Target Saudi Arabia: Arab
Coalition
•
Egypt Unveils Plans of World’s Largest Museum of Egyptian Civilization
•
French arrest man over chemical weapons parts in Syria
•
Bodies of 16 killed in Channel boat disaster repatriated to Iraqi Kurdistan
•
Lebanon's top Christian cleric issues elections plea
•
Saudi Arabia denies importing Christmas trees
--------
Southeast Asia
•
China Replaces Xinjiang Party Chief amid Forced Labour Allegations
•
Socialism a viable option for Malaysia, says academic
•
Vote by class, not along racial lines, says expert
•
Remembering an Indonesian Muslim's Christmas sacrifice
--------
Africa
•
Important Remarks By Sheikh Zakzaky After Six Years Of Illegal Imprisonment
•
Senior security official among 4 killed in Somali capital blast
•
UN urges Sudan to protect protesters, amid rallies for civilian rule
•
Somali military kills 22 al-Shabaab terrorists: Officials
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
--------
After
Haridwar Hate Conclave, Yati to Organise Three Similar Events To Discuss The
Topic “Shastra Meva Jayate” (Weapons Shall Prevail) Instead Of Original Indian Motto
Of 'Satya Meva Jayate (Truth Shall Prevail)
Several Hindutva leaders addressing the conclave
organised by Yati Narsinghanand in Haridwar. (Screengrabs
----
26th
December 2021
Another
shout for mass genocide titled “Dharam Sansad” was called out by the head
priest of the Dasna temple Yati Narsinghanand and other Hindu regional leaders.
A
total of three hate speech events are about to take place with one in
Kurukshetra in Haryana, and two others in UP (Aligarh and Ghaziabad) to discuss
the topic “Shastra meva jayate”.
Two
days of mass genocide have been called out on January 1 and 2 in the coming
year at Shiv Shakti Dham in Haryana. While there is no clarity on what these
events will entail, the events are likely to be Hindutva and anti-Muslim in
nature.
The
call for “Dharam Sansad” comes mere days after a program was organised at Ved
Niketan Dham at Bhopatwala in Haridwar between December 16 and 19. This event
was also organized by Yati Narshinghanand where participants were seen making
provocative and objectionable speeches against Muslims.
During
his speech, Narsinghanand targeted Muslims and urged Hindus to take up weapons
against them. He also called upon Hindus to ensure that a Muslim didn’t become
the Prime Minister in the next elections.
A
participant from Dharma Sansad, Anand Swaroop said, “We stand by our statements
that are well thought out. If a person rapes our sister, won’t we kill him?
Speakers talked about killing such persons, not ordinary Muslims who are our
friends. No one can stop India from becoming Hindu Rashtra”.
The
video of the Haridwar event came out later on social media. The Uttarakhand
Police has filed an FIR under Section 153A (promoting enmity between different
groups and acts prejudicial to harmony) against Waseem Rizvi aka Jitendra Tyagi
and others who were speakers and participants of the event.
The
case is being investigated by a sub-inspector rank police officer of Kotwali
police station.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/after-haridwar-hate-conclave-yati-organises-three-similar-events-2248288/
--------
Iran:
Christian Prisoners Get Rare 10-Day Holiday Liberty to Mark the New Year 2022
and the Birth of Jesus Christ
Most
Christians in Iran are ethnic Armenians who celebrate Christmas on January 6.
----
December
26, 2021
TEHRAN:
The head of Iran’s judiciary on Sunday granted Christian prisoners 10 days’
liberty to spend the holidays with families, in a rare move towards the
minority community.
Gholam
Hossein Mohseni Ejei instructed authorities across the country to issue the
dispensation, according to the judiciary’s Mizan Online website.
“The
decision is to mark the New Year 2022 and the anniversary of the birth of Jesus
Christ,” the website said.
Mizan
Online did not say how many Christian prisoners will benefit from the furlough,
or when the 10-day period starts.
It
said, however, that inmates convicted for undermining security, organised
crime, abductions, armed robberies and those sentenced to death would be
exempted.
According
to local media, Christians represent just 1% of Iran’s total population of 83
million, the majority of whom are Shiite Muslims.
Most
Christians in Iran are Armenians who celebrate Christmas on Jan 6, the day of
the Epiphany.
Around
that time of year, some shops in Tehran and major cities put up decorations,
including Christmas trees while people dressed up as Santa Claus stand outside
stores.
Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei often grants amnesty to prisoners or
reduces their sentences to mark Muslim holidays.
But
it is rare for Iranian authorities to announce such measures concerning members
of the Islamic republic’s Christian minority.
This
year Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited the Tehran home of the family of a
Christian Armenian “martyr” who died in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war on
Christmas Eve, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Minorities
Are Completely Free To Practice Their Religious Rituals In Pakistan: State
Minister
Representative Photo: (Photo credit should read
ARIF ALI/AFP/Getty Images)
----
December
26, 2021
FAISALABAD:
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Sunday said
that Christians are an integral part of Pakistan and minorities are completely
right to practice their own religious rituals without interference of any
element.
He
was addressing a Christmas cake-cutting ceremony while inaugurating various
development schemes at Khushhal Town.
He
said that government was promoting religious harmony which would not only attract
the foreigners to visit their religious holy sites in Pakistan but also enjoy
the serenity, beauty and cultural harmony of our society.
He
on the behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistani nation congratulated
Christian community on Christmas and said that all available resources were
being utilised to provide basic amenities to minorities in addition to protect
their rights.
Farrukh
said that: “Khushhal Town is plagued by sewerage, dilapidated roads and other
problems for the last 40 years. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
government has started to fulfill its promises and various development schemes
have been launched to improve life standard of the people.”
He
said that 8,000 feet long sewerage line would be laid down in Khushhal Town
area and the project would be completed in 4 to 5 months on war-footing.
Similarly, public parks and playgrounds would also be constructed on government
lands while Rs.100 million had so far been spent on water filtration plants in
the area and added that more plants would also be arranged to provide clean
drinking water to 100 per cent population of the locality.
He
further said that construction work at Sitiana Road, Sammundri Road and Jhang
Road had been started to facilitate the commuters and motorists while
development of General Hospital Haseeb Shaheed Colony was also in full swing
and the project would be completed by June 2022.
State
Minister for Information said, “Provision of health cards has been started and
the facility will be extended to each family in Punjab up to March 2022.”
He
said people of Christian community and other minorities had also been included
in this scheme and the card holder would be entitled to get free-treatment up
to Rs.10 million per annum from the hospital of his own choice.
Farrukh
said that Rs.120 billion had been allocated under Ehsaas Ration Programme to
facilitate 20 million low-income families and under this programme, each family
would get subsidy of Rs.1,000 per month on flour, pulses and ghee.
He
said that the government had also made the banks bound to provide loans for 15
to 20 years for construction of houses and for this purpose Akhuwat Foundation
are active to provide interest-free-loans to the people so that they could
start their own businesses.
Later,
the minister also cut Christmas cake and offered Dua for security of the
country.
Provincial
Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine, Minority
Member Provincial Assembly Yudester Chauhan, former Punjab Assembly candidate
Chaudhry Khalid Rafi Cheema, Mian Nabeel Arshad and Christian leader Habqooq
Gill and a large number of area people were also present.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Co-Education
Reason behind Closure of Universities In Afghanistan, Says Taliban Minister
Representative image: Photo/AP
-----
Dec
27, 2021
KABUL:
Minister of Higher Education of Afghanistan, Abdul Baqi Haqqani on Sunday said
that the reason behind the closure of universities is co-education and economic
crisis.
The
Taliban minister said that they have to make separate classes for girls and
hire extra lecturers that need more time and extra budget, reported Khaama
Press.
Haqqani
was on a visit to Pakistan recently discussed the problems of Afghan students
with Islamabad officials and relevant administrations.
"We
discussed the problems of Afghan students and we were given assurance by
Pakistani officials. Pakistan increased yearly scholarships for Afghan students
by 500. Afghanistan will be provided 1,500 scholarships every year," said
Haqqani.
Meanwhile,
Haqqani also said that no country will be allowed to grant scholarships
directly to people and that the scholarships will be managed through the
ministry of higher education, reported Khaama Press.
He
had suggested building independent universities for Afghan refugees in
Pakistan.
"Pakistan
is an ideal country for Afghan students who seek higher education as the
country is cheaper and has similarities with the Afghan people," Haqqani
added.
It
comes as public universities and high schools for girls are yet to be reopened.
The
Taliban, after the siege, proposed a ban on coeducation. Group's officials had
also ordered that girls will no longer be allowed to sit in the same classes as
boys in universities, Khaama Press reported.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Liverpool
and Egypt Forward Mohamed Salah Triggers Angry Reactions with “Merry Christmas”
Message
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah posted a Christmas
message from his family. © Twitter @MoSalah
-----
December
27, 2021
Liverpool
and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has triggered an angry reaction from some
sections of social media after the Muslim star shared a Christmas Day message
from his family.
Salah,
who is one of the biggest Muslim sports personalities on the planet, posted a
festive image to his millions of followers on Instagram and Twitter showing
himself and his family sitting in front of a Christmas tree and dressed in
matching outfits.
“Merry
Christmas” read the message from the 29-year-old footballer.
Salah’s
post racked up well over 2 million ‘likes’ within hours of being posted on
Instagram and garnered more than 200,000 on Twitter.
But
amidst the love for Salah and his family there were some who took issue with
the forward supposedly celebrating Christmas.
Salah
was bombarded with responses in Arabic, including many which saw the message as
contradictory to the star’s Muslim principles and an affront to their religion.
“You
prostrate to the one on Sunday if you score a goal and celebrate the one on
Sunday that has a son,” read one reply, referencing the differences between
Islamic and Christian beliefs and noting Salah’s celebration when he performs
the ‘sujud’ act of prayer on the pitch after scoring.
“You
are a great player, a good human being, and God has blessed you with money,
fame, and the love of people, but know that he who has provided you with all of
this is capable of taking it from you in the blink of an eye,” began another
response in Arabic which earned around 7,000 ‘likes’.
“Know
that you celebrate a day in which they claim that God gives birth to the likes
of us… do not be the seat and imprint of their actions, respect the one who
provided you with sustenance and gave you your dreams and purified him from the
accusations of the people.”
The
backlash could have been predicted after a similar situation played out
following a Christmas message from Salah last year.
Some
fans couldn’t understand why Salah was being targeted with hate.
“I
absolutely love this. Mo Salah is a great example of someone who creates
bridges while not caring about the noise. The world needs more Mo Salahs,” read
one popular reply in support of the forward.
The
row seems unlikely to distract Salah on the pitch, where he has been in
sensational form this season.
'The
Egyptian King' has found the net 22 times in 24 appearances across all
competitions for Liverpool as well as providing nine assists.
Salah
and Liverpool saw their Boxing Day match with Leeds postponed due to Covid-19,
but the forward will hope to continue his red-hot form against Leicester City
on December 28, before a blockbuster Premier League clash with his former club
Chelsea on January 2.
However,
the Reds will lose Salah and key strike partner Sadio Mane when the pair depart
for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from January 9 to February 6.
Salah
will likely be integral to Egypt's chances of success in the continental
showpiece.
Source:
ABNA24
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Christmas
Events Disrupted In Gurugram and Kurukshetra
Bagish
Jha
Dec
26, 2021
GURUGRAM:
A Christmas celebration at a private school in Pataudi was stopped on Saturday
by a group of men who snatched the mic from a priest delivering a lecture and
shouted "Jai Shri Ram" slogans.
The
latest disruption follows protests organised by right-wing activists almost
every week in the NCR district since October against the Muslim community's
Namaz congregations.
At
the Pataudi school, House of Hope had organised a "Christmas Milan",
whose theme was to make people aware about the "real meaning of
Christmas" through songs, dance and teachings of the Bible. A number of
children and women from areas in the vicinity had gathered for the event.
A
few minutes into the programme, the group of men, who identified themselves as
members of the Dharam Jagriti Mission, barged into the hall and alleged that
the programme had been organised to "brainwash children" and
"prepare them for conversion".
RP
Pandey, the president of the outfit, said though Christmas carols were being
practised at the school for the past few days, they had no idea about the
programme. But two days ago, invites were sent out to people from the
neighbourhood to attend the Christmas programme. "It is through song and
dance that they promote their religion and influence the minds of
children," Pandey said.
He
claimed that most of those who attended the event were from humble backgrounds.
A pastor said a member of House of Hope had organised the event in his personal
capacity. "We were also present when the unfortunate incident took place.
They started shouting slogans and disrupted the programme," he said. The
pastor termed "unfortunate" the series of disruptions of Friday
prayers since October and requested this correspondent not to reveal his
identity or the name of the school where the event was organised for fear of a
backlash.
He,
however, said they did not want to lodge a police complaint. "We believe
in love. We are not going to file any complaint," he added.
A
video being circulated on social media shows a man snatching the mike from the
speaker and shouting slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" as others join in.
Shailender Kumader, the SHO of Pataudi police station, said they had not
received any complaint.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Those
who underwent religious conversion should be brought back to Hinduism: MP
Tejasvi Surya
by
Kiran Parashar
December
27, 2021
Karnataka
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Sunday said Muslims or Christians, who have undergone
religious conversion, should be brought back into the fold of Hinduism. He
added that all mutts and temples should have “annual targets” for the
completion of such religious re-conversions.
“There
are people who belonged to Hinduism but were converted to Islam or
Christianity. It is our duty to bring these people back into the fold of
Hinduism. Also, Hindus in Pakistan who were converted to Islam should be
brought back into the fold,” the BJP MP, who is also the Yuva Morcha national
president, said at a valedictory event at Sri Krishna Mutt.
He
added, “All the mutts and temples should have annual targets to bring back
people to Hindu religion. For instance, there were people who had to undergo
religious conversion because of Tipu Sultan. That is why it is important to
bring these people back to the fold of Hinduism. That is the only way a
renaissance can happen.”
Surya’s
statements come at a time when the state has witnessed massive protests over
The Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly referred to as
the anti-conversion Bill, which has been passed in the Assembly. The bill
prohibits conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force,
fraud, allurement or marriage.
Surya
further said, “Our own brothers have converted from Hindu religion which is
tolerant, scientific, progressive and forward-looking. It is our responsibility
to bring them back to their original faith.”
During
the anti-CAA protests, Surya had courted controversy saying that only the “uneducated, illiterate, and
puncture-wallahs” were protesting against the Act.
Further
asserting that Hindus must enjoy political power as they enjoy numerical
majority, he added, “There were many Muslim youths who want to celebrate Tipu
Jayanthi. Why none of didn’t these people celebrate APJ Abdul Kalam’s birth
anniversary? Kalam had visited mutts and played Hindu devotional music. That
will be difficult to accept for a true Muslim.”
Source:
Indian Express
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Case
against man for giving ‘triple talaq’ to wife on social media in Pune
Dec
26, 2021
By
Nadeem Inamdar
PUNE
A 32-year-old woman from Pune registered a case against her husband for
allegedly giving her ‘triple talaq’ or divorce by sending her a message on a
social media platform, said police on Sunday.
According
to the FIR, which was lodged on December 24, the woman stayed at her husbands
residence from February 27, 2018 till December 11, 2021. During that time she
was abused for her complexion by the husband who also told her that he got
married against his wishes.
According
to the complainant, her husband, identified as, Moin Ibrahim Mulani ( 32) sent
a message to her on December 11, that stated ‘ talaq ’ thrice, on a social
media platform, after which she decided to lodged a complaint against him.
The
police have invoked Sections 498 A, 323, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code
against the accused along with Sections 3 and 4 of Muslim Women (Protection of
Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019. Kondhwa police station incharge Sardar Patil
said that a complaint under relevant sections was lodged as per the complaint.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Islamic
State terrorist, involved in killing of police inspector, gunned down in
J&K’s Anantnag
Dec
26, 2021
A
terrorist affiliated with the regional Islamic State (IS) unit was gunned down
by a joint force of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police on
Sunday morning in the Anantnag district, officials said.
Vijay
Kumar, the inspector-general (IGP) of Kashmir Zone police, said the terrorist
has been identified as Faheem Bhat, who recently joined the Islamic State of
Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK).
The
ISJK is an affiliate outfit of the IS active in Jammu and Kashmir as part of
its broader Khorasan (Islamic State – Khorasan Province or IS-K) branch in
South Asia and Central Asia.
“Neutralised
#terrorist identified as Faheem Bhat of Kadipora #Anantnag,” tweeted Kashmir
Zone Police on Sunday morning, following the encounter. “He has recently joined
#terror outfit ISJK and was involved in killing of Martyr ASI Mohd Ashraf, who
was posted at PS Bijbehara.”
Officials
of the Kashmir police said Faheem Bhat was involved in the killing of an
on-duty assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Mohammad Ashraf Dar on December 22
outside the Bijbehara police station.
#AnantnagEncounterUpdate:
Neutralised #terrorist identified as Faheem Bhat of Kadipora #Anantnag. He has
recently joined #terror outfit ISJK and was involved in killing of Martyr ASI
Mohd Ashraf, who was posted at PS Bijbehara: IGP Kashmir@JmuKmrPolice
https://t.co/0zSnVKBufu
—
Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) December 25, 2021
The
ISJK terrorist was killed after an encounter broke out between the security
forces and the terrorists in the K Kalan of Srigufwara in J&K's Anantnag
district on Saturday night.
On
Saturday, two Ansar Gazwat uL Hind (AuGH) and two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
terrorists were killed in two separate encounters.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
FM:
Iran Only Favours Political Solutions to Regional Problems
2021-December-26
Amir
Abollahian made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Omani Deputy Foreign
Minister Sheikh Khalifa Al-Harthy, Oman's Diplomatic Undersecretary of the
Foreign Ministry in Tehran.
The
Omani deputy foreign minister has traveled to Tehran to attend Iran-Oman Joint
Committee on Strategic Consultations.
During
the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister reiterated that the expansion of
bilateral relations with neighbors is a top priority of President Seyed Ebrahim
Rayeesi.
Amir
Abdollahian also stressed the need for the two sides to work to enhance the
volume of trade exchanges between the two countries.
The
top Iranian diplomat also stressed Iran's readiness to hold talks with the
countries of the region in order to improve bilateral relations.
He
also pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to dialogue and
political solutions to resolve bilateral and regional problems.
In
a relevant development on Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri
Kani underlined the necessity for regional countries to resolve their problems
through dialogue, cooperation, and coordination among themselves.
Baqeri
Kani made the remarks in Tehran in the 8h meeting of the Joint Strategic
Consultation Committee of Iran and Oman that was held in the presence of the
Omani deputy foreign minister.
He
also pointed to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations between
the two countries, expressing satisfaction with the level of relations between
Iran and Oman.
Baqeri
Kani also expressed the hope that the existing problems would be resolved based
on dialogue between the countries of the region.
Sheikh
Khalifa al-Harthy, for his part, referred to the pivotal role of Iran in
regional developments and said that his country, as in the past, is interested
in developing bilateral and regional relations.
He
added that Oman considers peaceful paths necessary for peace and tranquility in
the region.]
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001005000583/FM-Iran-Only-Favrs-Pliical-Slins-Reginal-Prblems
--------
Official:
Over 300 Documents Presented to Iraq on Assassination of Gen. Soleimani
2021-December-26
"We
submitted more than 300 documents on the martyrdom of General Soleimani,"
Qaribabadi said.
He
pointed out that almost two years since the terrorist act on General Soleimani
and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and their companions in Iraq; the Islamic Republic
of Iran’s major defined priority in the legal and judiciary field is surveying
the criminal case in Iranian and Iraqi judiciary courts.
“It
was agreed that a joint Iranian-Iraqi committee will be established comprising
the judiciary delegations of the two countries to begin their surveys,” he
added.
In
a relevant development earlier this week, Iran and Iraq in a joint statement
underlined their determination to identify, prosecute and punish the culprits
behind the assassination of former IRGC Qods Force Commander Lieutenant General
Qassem Soleimani and Deputy Head of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Abu
Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Iran
and Iraq have issued a joint statement on an investigation into the “criminal
and terrorist” assassination by the US of top anti-terror commanders of the two
countries in Baghdad early last year, Iranian Judiciary Deputy Chief and
Secretary-General of Iran's Human Rights Headquarters Kazzem Qaribabad said on
Thursday.
He
added that the statement was issued during the second session of a joint
Iran-Iraq committee investigating the murder of General Soleimani and
al-Muhandis.
Qaribabadi
said that in the statement, Iran and Iraq stressed that the assassinations were
a “violation of the rules of international law, including relevant
international conventions on the fight against terrorism”.
“In
addition, the two countries reaffirmed their serious and firm determination to
identify, prosecute and punish all those involved in deciding, planning and
implementing this criminal act,” he emphasized.
Qaribabadi
noted that the two countries have exchanged documents and reports about the
case.
“Documents
and information related to the role and interference of the American defendants
were presented by the Iranian delegation to the Iraqi side, and it was decided
that complementary investigations would be carried out by the judiciaries of
the two countries in this regard,” the senior Iranian human rights official
said.
He
added that Iran and Iraq also agreed to continue the exchange of documents and
information in the investigation process.
“In
the joint statement, the two sides also emphasized that they would use legal
and judicial capacities at national and international levels to deliver justice
and prevent the occurrence of such criminal acts,” Qaribabadi pointed out.
They
also agreed to continue bilateral cooperation to gather information about all
defendants and ways to hold them accountable.
The
third round of the joint committee will be held in Baghdad within the next 45
days.
General
Soleimani, al-Muhandis and ten of their deputies were martyred by an armed
drone strike as their convoy left Baghdad International Airport on January 3,
2020. The attack was ordered by then US President Donald Trump.
To
date, Iran’s chief civilian prosecutor has indicted 36 individuals in
connection with the assassination, among them former president Trump, the head
of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie Jr., and former US Secretaries
of State and Defense Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper.
The
file remains open to the further addition of individuals that Tehran determines
to have played a role in the killing.
“Based
on the statements of the prosecutor-general the list of 36 names is open, as is
the role of nine others including German military personnel under investigation.
The German military personnel are suspected of facilitating the assassination.
Their number and exact role is not known and although I suspect, I am still not
sure if they are the ones operating at Ramstein (Airbase),” a source was quoted
by al-Mayadeen as saying in October, asking to remain unnamed.
Ramstein
Airbase in Germany is one of the largest American military installations in the
world, functioning as a command center for NATO, the US air force’s European
and African commands as well as a primary hub for drone operations throughout
the Greater Middle East and North Africa.
“G4S
that is in charge of Baghdad International Airport security also stands accused
of involvement in Lt. General Haj Qassem Soleimani’s assassination,” the source
added.
G4S
is a British multinational private security company that is among the world’s
largest private employers with a workforce of over 500,000 as of 2020.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Source
Blames France for Slow Pace of Vienna Talks
2021-December-26
An
informed source said that the French negotiating team in Vienna talks played an
obstructive role, saying that works on Vienna drafts was progressing during the
two-day absence of the French delegation.
The
source said that the French delegation played no constructive role in the
latest round of talks and even slowed down the process of negotiations.
The
source added that after the French team returned to the negotiations and showed
opposition to the drafts, the negotiations process was disturbed.
In
relevant remarks on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian
had said that his country will not accept the western sides' excessive demands
in the Vienna talks, blasting France for unconstructive behavior.
"In
the last round of the Vienna talks, after two stages of negotiations, we
reached a single document and agenda, and there was a significant progress in
the previous two rounds of talks. In the negotiations, in general, I did not
see the position of certain European countries, specially France, as
constructive. We hope that the French side will play a constructive role and
the Iranian people's rights will be restored realistically," Amir
Abdollahian said in a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad
Hussein in Tehran.
"The
second problem with the three European countries is that in practice they did
not show any new initiative in the negotiations.
He
described the coordinator role played by EU Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Enrique
Mora Mora and EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph as positive, and said in the
previous rounds of talks the American side sent some unwritten messages to the
meeting and received the necessary answers.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001005000408/Srce-Blames-France-fr-Slw-Pace-f-Vienna-Talks
--------
Israel
plans to double settlement in occupied Golan Heights: PM Bennett
26
December ,2021
Israeli
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday the country intends to double the
amount of settlers living in the occupied Golan Heights with a
multimillion-dollar plan meant to further consolidate Israel’s hold on the
territory it captured from Syria more than five decades ago.
Speaking
at a special Cabinet session being held in the Golan Heights, Bennett said the
recognition by the Trump administration of Israeli sovereignty over the swath
of land, and the Biden administration’s indication that it will not at this
point walk that decision back, prompted the new investment in the region.
“This
is our moment. This is the moment of the Golan Heights,” Bennett said. “After
long and static years in terms of the scope of settlement, our goal today is to
double settlement in the Golan Heights.”
Entrenching
Israeli control over the territory would complicate any future attempt to forge
peace with Syria, which claims the Golan Heights.
Israel
occupied the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the
territory, promoting settlement and agriculture there as well as creating a
thriving local tourism industry.
The
US was the first country to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan,
which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied.
Bennett
said the war in Syria made the idea of Israeli control of the territory more
acceptable to its international allies, saying the alternative would be much
worse.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
says won't enrich uranium beyond 60 percent if nuclear talks fail
25
December ,2021
Iran
has no plans to enrich uranium beyond 60 percent if nuclear talks in Vienna
fail, the head of the country's atomic agency said on Saturday.
Atomic
Energy Organization of Iran director Mohammad Eslami said the enrichment levels
were related to the needs of the country, in remarks published by the Russian
news agency RIA Novosti.
“Our
targets related to enriching uranium are meeting our industrial and production
needs... and those of our people,” he was quoted as saying.
Asked
whether Iran plans to enrich beyond 60 percent purity if the talks fail, he
said “No”.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Eslami
was speaking ahead of the resumption on Monday of talks in Vienna aimed at
reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Iran's
arch-rival Israel, which staunchly opposes the nuclear deal, had reportedly
warned in November that the Islamic republic had taken the technical steps to
prepare to enrich uranium to military-grade levels of around 90 percent.
Tehran
insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The
2015 deal offered Iran relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear
program, but was derailed in 2018 when the US unilaterally withdrew under then
president Donald Trump.
Other
parties to the deal have taken part in the talks, but the United States has
only engaged indirectly.
While
the US and its Western allies have repeatedly called on Iran to offer
assurances on its nuclear program, Tehran has insisted sanctions must be lifted
first.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Exhibition
organized to mark 2008 Israeli offensive on Gaza
Nour
Abu Eisha
26.12.2021
GAZA
CITY, Palestine
Palestinian
artists in Gaza on Sunday opened an exhibition that documents the crimes
committed by the Israeli army in its large offensive on Gaza in 2008.
The
exhibition, organized on the 13th anniversary of the Israeli offensive, was
participated by artists from Arab and European countries.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Ahmed al-Sahhar, the exhibition coordinator, said the
exhibition explains the Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinian people
and "the oppression on the Palestinians due to the continued occupation
and aggression."
The
exhibition includes paintings that reflect the Palestinian tradition as well as
some of the artillery and shrapnel fired by the Israeli forces during the 2008
offensive.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
The
apartheid regime’s Christmas propaganda and oppression of Palestinian
Christians
26
December 2021
By
Denijal Jegic
As
people around the world are celebrating Christmas, occupied Palestine, the
birthplace of Christianity, remains under brutal Israeli apartheid. Meanwhile,
the Israeli regime targets Western Christians with Zionist propaganda.
Zionist
propaganda
The
Israeli propaganda apparatus “Hasbara” has long invested large amounts of money
and significant PR efforts in legitimizing the Zionist settler-colony in the
eyes of its international audiences. In portraying the colony as a democracy
with alleged human rights and co-existence between various religions, the
Israeli regime has attempted to whitewash its genocidal oppression of
Palestinians in the eyes of the West. The propaganda attempts have been
successful to a large degree, as many Christians in the West either ignore the
Palestinian plight, or provide outright support to the apartheid regime.
Evangelical
Zionists in the United States have been amongst the most radical supporters of
Israel. Christian tourism has contributed to the colony’s economy. This year
again, Zionist politicians and officials have extended their holiday greetings
to “Christian friends” around the world.
Such
greetings are packed with colonial propaganda and appropriation of history.
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett published a video on Christmas Eve this year from
occupied Jerusalem, connecting the “ancient land” and the Bible to the current
colony in his address to Christians. Bennett, who previously bragged about how
many Arabs he killed in his life, lied that the colony provided “religious
freedom, tolerance, and prosperity in a region where Christians are routinely
persecuted.” The illusion that Israel offered religious freedom and that Christians
outside of the colony are persecuted is widespread in the West. Bennett claimed
that Israel is the “only one place” that “protects Christian life” and thanked
his audience for “fighting for the state of Israel.”
While
such proclamations further add to the positive image of the colony in the West,
they stand in stark contrast to the reality on the ground.
The
plight of Palestinian Christians
In
fact, the world’s oldest Christian communities are victims of Israel’s
genocidal settler-colonialism.
As
a result of Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing campaign, the Christian
population in Palestine has sharply declined throughout the decades. Places of
significant importance for Christians are cut off from the outside world. The
town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, is surrounded by the apartheid
wall.
Besides
suffering under the structures of the apartheid regime, Palestinian Christians
are also oftentimes prevented from exercising their religion. While foreign
visitors may access Palestinian churches, the Palestinian right to worship is
tightly controlled by the apartheid regime. Depending on where they live,
Palestinians require permits issued by the apartheid authorities to attend Mass
in churches. This year again, Palestinian Christians from Gaza applied for
permits to travel to Bethlehem to attend prayers. Their requests were either
rejected or outright ignored.
Palestinians
are harassed by apartheid authorities on holy days, such as Easter and
Christmas. This year on Easter, apartheid authorities escalated their ethnic
cleansing campaign by expelling Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah (East al-Quds)
from their homes. This Christmas again, hundreds of Palestinians were injured
by occupation forces when they protested against settlement expansion in the
West Bank.
Israeli
violence has always extended beyond the borders of historic Palestine. The
Israeli colonial regime has a history of targeting indigenous Christians in the
region. It has done so during its military occupation and numerous wars in
Lebanon and its continuous attacks on Syria. During last year’s Christmas
celebrations, the Israeli regime invaded the Lebanese airspace to conduct
airstrikes on Syria from there, killing several people.
The
fallacy of a religious war
The
Israeli regime is terrorizing Palestinians of all religions, but has been
trying to portray the settler-colonial conquest as a “conflict” that is
allegedly religious in its nature. Exploiting traditional Orientalism and
anti-Muslim sentiments that are prevalent in Western cultures, the Israeli
rhetoric has long focused not only on portraying Palestinian resistance - and
oftentimes the very Palestinian existence as such - as anti-Jewish, but the
regime has also tried to identify all Palestinians as Muslims to better advance
its Islamophobic dichotomy and to frame the Palestinian struggle for freedom
and liberation as a religious movement. It is the religious frame and the
anti-Muslim prejudice amongst Israel’s backers that allows the apartheid regime
to advance its goals. It is thus not surprising that the Israeli project is
highly popular among the far-right and fascists around the world.
Of
course the Palestinian struggle was never a sectarian one and many leading
figures of Palestinian resistance have been Christians. Nor should the religion
of colonized people determine the solidarity and support they receive from the
outside world.
After
all, destroying the cultural diversity of the region and dividing the
population according to sectarian and ethnic lines have been long established
practices of imperialist and colonialist forces.
Numerous
Palestinian Christian leaders have appealed to Christians around the world to
not turn a blind eye toward the continuous oppression and exploitation of
Palestine. The Palestinian Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church in al-Quds,
Atallah Hanna, himself a crucial figure in the Palestinian resistance, has
repeatedly affirmed that al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the holy sites will remain
Palestinian. The Archbishop reminded Christians around the world that while streets
and squares in Western cities are decorated with lights and Christmas trees,
there would be no point in celebrating Christmas if they do not pay attention
to what is happening in Palestine. He called upon all churches to urgently
defend Palestine. The archbishop has reportedly been poisoned by Israeli
authorities, but survived the attack.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Pakistanis
rally to condemn Israeli threats against Muslim world
27
December 2021
Muhammad
Toori
Protesters
again took to the streets of Karachi, reaffirming their support and solidarity
with the people of Palestine and warning the United States and the Israeli
regime against adventurism in the Muslim world.
The
ongoing demonstrations seek to build pressure on the international community to
take note of the Israeli brutalities in the occupied territories of Palestine.
The demonstrators are also calling for unity among Muslims across the world.
Large
number of women and children took part in the latest rally in the port city of
Karachi.
The
participants also condemned the British and Australian governments' recent move
to declare the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah as
terrorist organizations.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2021/12/27/673464/Pakistanis-condemn-Israeli-threats-to-Muslim-world
--------
PPP,
other parties in contact for seat adjustment in Hazara
December
27, 2021
MANSEHRA:
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and opposition parties have established contact
with Pakistan Peoples Party for seat adjustment for the slots of tehsil
chairmen across Hazara division.
“Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and even PTI are in contact with
us for seat adjustment in Hazara division’s eight districts,” Hazara division
PPP president Malik Abdul Waheed told mediapersons here on Sunday.
Mr
Waheed, who is part of the three-member PPP committee to award tickets for the
LG elections in Hazara division, said the political parties contacted the
party’s provincial general secretary Shujah Salam Khan and members of their
selection committee for the seat adjustment and they would go for it after
setting all the modalities.
Peoples
Party leader says tickets only to be issued to tehsil candidates
“We
will only award tickets to the aspirants contesting elections for the tehsil
chairmen offices across the division,” he said.
The
divisional president said his party would award tickets for the tehsil
chairmen’s offices in Mansehra, Haripur, Abbottabad, Torghar, Battagram,
Kolai-Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan districts.
“We
don’t want to create rifts among the workers by awarding tickets to a handful
of them for the village and neighbourhood councils,” he said.
Mr
Waheed claimed that in the current situation no single party could secure
majority of the tehsil offices in Hazara and it would be better for them to go
for the seat adjustment. He said that the PPP committee would start issuing
tickets to the aspirants from next week.
“We
would first award tickets to the tehsil aspirants in Upper Kohistan, Lower
Kohistan, Kolai-Palas and Torghar,” he said.
LITERARY
SESSION: Female writers and storytellers have highlighted the core issues being
faced by women and other segments of society through their fiction writings.
“I
am impressed by the fiction narrated by the female writers highlighting
stereotypes and excesses committed against women in our society,” Shahla Umar,
a social activist, told the fiction storytelling session organised by Saibaan
Afsana Forum here on Sunday.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1666053
--------
Christians
celebrate Christmas among friends
December
26, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
There is a festive mood in Islamabad.
“Jingle
bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,” sings Rimsha Kausar, as she decorates
her Christmas tree with fairy lights, baubles and tinsel. She loves her red
knitted sweater with its cheery Nordic reindeer.
“I
am so happy today. I can’t wait to visit everyone and give them their presents.
We’ll have a small barbeque at home in the evening. I am very excited to show
off my Christmas decorations,” Rimsha told Xinhua.
For
the 12-year-old girl, Christmas is a very special time of year when she gets to
go on a shopping spree, buying new dresses, shoes and gifts, not for herself
only, but for her friends and family as well.
Although
Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country, small Christian communities there celebrate
the Christmas season as joyously as anywhere else.
“We
share the happiness of the occasion with everyone, regardless of their faith,”
said Arshad Wilson after saying his prayers at a church in Rawalpindi.
“The
festive feeling is everywhere. We see happiness everywhere in the faces of the
people, brightly-lit trees, and decoration in streets, houses and churches. The
markets are buzzing with shoppers. The nation is in a celebratory mood. The
winter cheer raises everyone’s spirits,” he told Xinhua.
Wilson
explained how his Muslim colleagues had hosted a Christmas dinner for his
family and sent gifts and cake. “The love and warmth of my co-workers filled my
heart with real joy,” he said.
Extending
seasonal greetings to the Christian community, Prime Minister Imran Khan said
service rendered by Christians in the fields of defence, education, health and
the economy have always been invaluable.
“The
festivities of Christmas teach us universal love, brotherhood, tolerance and
self-sacrifice which play a pivotal role in moving any society on the path of
development,” Khan said in his Christmas message on Saturday.
The
National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the nerve centre of Covid-19
response, has issued guidelines on mass events in an attempt to mitigate any
potential disruption to the pandemic response.
Indoor
gatherings must be well-ventilated and guest lists should be kept short. Only
vaccinated individuals may attend congregations and gatherings, and masks are
mandatory at all Christmas events which must be socially distanced.
Muhammad
Israr Madani, president of the International Research Council for Religious
Affairs, an Islamabad-based NGO, said festivals, whether social, cultural or
religious, help to build tranquillity, unity and harmony in any community.
“We
should use every opportunity to rejoice on these special occasions and spread
the message of peace and interfaith harmony,” he said.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/12/26/christians-celebrate-christmas-among-friends/
--------
Europe
French
arrest man over chemical weapons parts in Syria
27
December ,2021
A
French-Syrian man has been detained by French police on suspicion of supplying
components for the manufacture of chemical weapons in Syria through his
shipping company, sources briefed on the case told AFP Sunday.
The
man, who was born in 1962 and lives abroad, was arrested Saturday in the south
of France according to one of the sources.
He
has been held on suspicion of “conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity,
accessory to crimes against humanity and accessory to war crimes,” a judicial
source told AFP.
The
war in Syria has killed close to half a million people and spurred the largest
conflict-induced displacement since World War II.
Syria
denies the use of chemical weapons. It insists it handed over its weapons
stockpiles under a 2013 agreement with the US and Russia, prompted by a
suspected sarin gas attack that killed 1,400 in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UK
accused of ‘trying to move on’ after hundreds of Afghans left trapped
December
26, 2021
LONDON:
More than half of the 311 Afghans known to have been left behind by British
forces during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, but who were promised sanctuary
in the UK, are still in trapped in the war-torn country — with some claiming
that the true number could be in the thousands.
Many
of the interpreters and other Afghans who worked with Britain during its
mission in the country, as well as their families who were pledged safe haven
under the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, now say they live in
fear of Taliban reprisals after the militant group captured Kabul in August.
Ministers
have been accused of “trying to move on” from the crisis, despite a recent
Human Rights Watch Report claiming that Taliban forces were hunting down and
killing hundreds of ex-Afghan government and military figures.
UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted in September that Afghans had been left
behind by Operation Pitting, the UK’s mission to evacuate people from the
capital Kabul in August, adding that the government would “do absolutely
everything” it could to “ensure that those people get the safe passage that
they deserve.”
Earlier
this month, James Cleverly MP, minister of state for the Middle East and North
Africa, confirmed that 167 Afghans eligible for the ARAP scheme were still in
Afghanistan, with others eligible for refuge in the UK still in designated
third countries.
“Helping
all those who want to leave Afghanistan and who are eligible to come to the UK
remains a priority. The government has made clear to the Taliban the need to
ensure safe passage of those entitled to go to another country,” Cleverly said,
adding: “The ARAP scheme remains open.”
On
Thursday, the UK Home Office revealed that the Afghan Citizens Resettlement
Scheme, which was meant to aid 20,000 people fleeing Afghanistan from August,
would not be up and running until January 2022.
Multiple
former interpreters told The Independent newspaper they are living in hiding
with their families. One said his ARAP application had been approved, but that
he and his family were instructed to go to Pakistan, which they were unable to
do without passports.
“We’re
staying with relatives in Helmand,” he said. “There is high risk. It’s very
dangerous here. Every day we’re threatened by the Taliban. They’re searching
for us. We’re hiding. We’re not going out. It’s a bad situation.
“I
don’t know why the ARAP team is working so slowly. Why are they not paying
attention to us? We are eligible, we are waiting. There is no good chance of
life. It is clear that our lives are in danger. We will die, we will be
killed.”
Johnny
Mercer MP, the former UK defense minister, told the paper he believed that the
numbers could be much higher than reported.
“We
have left thousands behind, not 167,” he said. “Those (167) are simply the ones
who had a response to the ARAP program. Those figures are simply the number who
were called forward but didn’t make it to the airport.
“The
point is the ARAP program was so ineffective that thousands of people who we
should have rescued didn’t even get a response from them, and consequently we
have left the vast majority of people that we owed extraction to behind.
“Many
are now fearing for their lives. All the ministers know this, but they are
determined to move on from our commitments to these people,” he added.
Earlier
this month, a former UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office employee,
Raphael Marshall, revealed that during Operation Pitting, a breakdown in
communication and weaknesses in the system had led to thousands of requests for
assistance from within Afghanistan being ignored by overworked FCDO staffers,
with some of those asking for help later killed by the Taliban.
Dr
Sara de Jong, co-founder of the Sulha Alliance, told The Independent she was in
touch with hundreds of Afghans eligible for relocation.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1993131/world
--------
South Asia
Us
Should Not Interfere In Afghan Affairs, Says Taliban Leader Sher Mohammad Abbas
Stanekzai
Dec
26, 2021
KABUL:
Senior member of Taliban-appointed Afghanistan government on Sunday warned the
United States not to interfere in the country's internal affairs, stating that
"it is an independent country and it is making decisions
independently."
Tolo
News reported that the deputy minister of foreign affairs for political
affairs, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai pointed out the withdrawal of US forces
from Bagram Airfield in August and said that "American soldiers fled from
Afghanistan in the dark of the night."
He
said that the country is independent now and that the last four months have
been the first time in four decades for Afghanistan in which Afghans are making
their decisions independently, as per the local media outlet.
After
the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by Ashraf Ghani and the
Taliban taking control of the country in mid-August, most Afghans want to leave
the war-torn nation as they fear repercussions from the group as well as dread
the previous regime of the Taliban.
As
the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again after 20 years, experts also
believe that Afghan women are most likely to face an uncertain future under the
terrorist group regime.
The
Afghan economy going from bad to worse since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul,
and it could shrink by 30 per cent or more in the coming months, International
Monetary Fund (IMF) had warned.
Source:
Times of India
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--------
Three
French Radars arrive in Kabul, ready to be installed in three provinces
26
Dec 2021
Ministry
of Transportation and Civil Aviation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on
Sunday, December 26 announced that three French Radars arrived in Kabul and
were submitted to the ministry.
The
three Radars will be installed in the Afghan capital Kabul, Balkh, and Herat
province.
The
statement of the ministry reads that the French Company Thales will provide
Afghanistan with these Radars by the end of 2023 and enable Afghanistan to gain
full control of its aerial space.
Afghanistan
currently has a contract worth 112 million Euros with the French Company
Thales.
The
Radars are supposed to be installed in 12 sites in Afghanistan.
It
is worth mentioning that the contract was initially signed between Thales and
the relevant administrations of the previous Afghan government.
The
First consignment of independent Radar had arrived in Kabul in July this year
and the Radars were installed in Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif.
Source:
Khaama Press
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Afghanistan
universities yet to reopen, money just a reason listed by Taliban
Dec
27, 2021
The
Taliban have said universities in Afghanistan are yet to open because of the
economic crisis facing the country and also over the issue of co-education.
Taliban
minister of higher education Abdul Baqi Haqqani said on Sunday they will need
more time and extra budget to make separate classes for girls and hire extra
lecturers, reported Khaama Press.
Public
universities and high schools for girls are yet to be reopened in Afghanistan,
which was recaptured by the Taliban on August 15 this year. After they sieged
the country, the Taliban placed a ban on coeducation.
The
Taliban also ordered girls will no longer be allowed to sit in the same classes
as boys in universities.
Separately,
the Taliban said women have to be accompanied by a close male relative if they
want to travel long distances.
The
ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice in its guidance
also called on vehicle owners to refuse rides to women not wearing headscarves,
drawing condemnation from rights activists.
"Women
travelling for more than 45 miles (72 kilometres) should not be offered a ride
if they are not accompanied by a close family member," ministry
spokesperson Sadeq Akif Muhajir told AFP on Sunday, specifying that the escort
must be a close male relative.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
As
Taliban face economic ruin, Afghans suffer malnutrition, sink further into
poverty
27
December ,2021
The
bitter cold of Afghanistan’s winter has small children huddled beneath blankets
in makeshift camps. Sick babies in hospitals lie wrapped in their mothers
all-enveloping burqas. Long lines at food distribution centers have become
overwhelming as Afghanistan sinks deeper into desperate times.
Since
the chaotic Aug. 15 Taliban takeover of Kabul, an already war-devastated
economy once kept alive by international donations alone is now on the verge of
collapse. There isn’t enough money for hospitals.
Saliha,
who like many Afghans uses just one name, took her infant son to the Indira
Gandhi Children’s Hospital in the capital, Kabul. Weak and fragile, 4-month-old
Najeeb was badly malnourished.
The
World Health Organization is warning of millions of children suffering
malnutrition, and the United Nations says 97 percent of Afghans will soon be
living below the poverty line.
For
millions living in camps for the displaced or sitting outside government
ministries seeking help, the only source of warmth is to huddle around open
wood-burning fires.
Nearly
80 percent of Afghanistan’s previous government’s budget came from the
international community. That money, now cut off, financed hospitals, schools,
factories, and government ministries.
In
the Taliban’s Afghanistan there is no money. Sanctions have crippled banks
while the UN, the United States and others struggle to figure out how to get
hundreds of millions of dollars of humanitarian aid to Afghans while bypassing
the Taliban, even as there are no immediate signs of the widespread corruption
that characterized the previous administration.
For
many of Afghanistan’s poorest, bread is their only staple. Women line up
outside bakeries in the city, young children arrive before dawn to get bread.
The majority scramble to find food, and fuel.
The
statistics provided by the UN are grim: Almost 24 million people in
Afghanistan, around 60 percent of the population, suffer from acute hunger. As
many as 8.7 million Afghans are coping with famine.
School
for girls under the Taliban is erratic, and in many provinces they are not
allowed to attend school after grade 6, but in more than 10 provinces schools
are open. The international community is working on ways to help the schools
that are open while encouraging the Taliban to open the rest.
In
some areas, such as the western Herat province, teachers and parents together
cajole local Taliban leaders to open schools.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North America
The
American deal with the popular decline in support of political Islam after Arab
Spring revolutions
December
23, 2021
By
Dr.Nadia Helmy
Before
answering this question, it is necessary to understand (the Brotherhood’s grand
strategy), which is based on the role of the international organization of the
Muslim Brotherhood inside the United States of America, in Europe and around
the world, through a strategy based on (the Brotherhood’s penetration into the
United States of America with its manifold relations over the course of Seven decades), the Muslim Brotherhood in the
American interior has succeeded in strengthening their presence and their
associations under many curtains and slogans, and has also worked to establish
many civil or human rights associations, and others have raised the slogan of
civil action within the American society itself. The goal was clear in the eyes
of the makers and developers of that strategy for the Muslim Brotherhood, with
the aim of influencing American political decisions through the circles of
influence and American decision-making, and helping some personalities who
belong to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood in reaching high and sensitive
positions in the American political circle and supporting them in that And the most distant grand strategy in the
ideology of the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood remains (a
future planning to reach the rule of the United States of America and influence
the world through it).
In
my personal opinion, (the pragmatic ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood) may be
one of the most effective methods and means that the Muslim Brotherhood enjoys,
and gives it the ability to move permanently, through its (adaptation ability
and flexibility to overcome challenges and rapprochement with the American
administration and the circles of making
political decision in the West).
Here
we will find that the popular retreat of the Muslim Brotherhood in the American
interior and the West after the failure of the Arab Spring revolutions, will
make the Muslim Brotherhood reorganize its international efforts through its
globally spread institutions, and here the Muslim Brotherhood will work
flexibly, according to (the great distant strategy of the Muslim Brotherhood
between ideology and pragmatism), by
attempts of the Muslim Brotherhood and its international arms to follow
different political methods and means that enjoy flexibility and practicality
according to the context or the new emergency circumstances in which it is
taking place, and related to the search for new goals for the Muslim
Brotherhood to rapprochement with the American administration and American
political decision-making circles.
Perhaps
we find that the success of the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates in
(convincing the Democratic administration of US President “Joe Biden” not to
invite Egypt and the countries of the region to the Conference of American
Democracies in December 2021) is evidence of the return of groups and currents
of political Islam in the American interior, especially the Muslim Brotherhood
organization Its goals and arranging its
agenda towards the Arab world and the Middle East by rapprochement with the new
US administration of President “Joe Biden” and creating new and common goals
towards the region. Therefore, we find the constant keenness of the Muslim
Brotherhood to convince the West that it is (the moderate spokesperson for
Islam) that the authorities in the West and Washington should listen to them in
their time of need, and here increasingly we find that (Washington’s approach
to the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam more broadly is governed chiefly
by political imperatives).
On
the other hand, (the success of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan in obtaining
seats in the Jordanian parliament and the Jordanian government, allows the
Muslim Brotherhood to play that dangerous and important point), and related to
the ability of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan to work to (guarantee the
security of Israel and the Israeli peace agreements with Jordan and countries in the region).
Accordingly, there are still many methods and means of political action for the
international Brotherhood leaders and the international organization of the
Muslim Brotherhood in (circumventing American and Western decisions for
rapprochement and polarization and working together to influence the security
of the Middle East and develop strategies to ensure the security of Israel).
Perhaps
one of the (the distant American and Israeli goals of rapprochement with the
Muslim Brotherhood, despite its decline in popularity after the failure of the
Arab Spring revolutions), is that the Muslim Brotherhood’s access to power in a
number of countries in the region, as is the case in Jordan, by controlling the
government and parliament, and the control of Hamas, which is close to the
Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine itself has many sectors and the reins of major
political matters. This will allow the Muslim Brotherhood to regain its
popularity with American help in controlling many decisions related to the
interests of the United States of America and Israel in the Middle East.
Perhaps it will be (the only solution to Israel’s problems by giving Citizenship of the Palestinians and their
settlement in the countries neighboring Palestine and Sinai, and thus emptying
the West Bank of its Palestinian people and canceling the right of return, and
this will be the most important gain of Israel and the American administration
at all).
Bearing
in mind, that the American and Western recognition of the Muslim Brotherhood
did not come as an acceptance of their right, but rather, despite the decline
in the popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood and its popular failure and overthrow
after (the June 30 revolution in Egypt), and later in Tunisia, Sudan and Libya,
as well as (it came in response to the advice of a number of orientalists to
employ the Muslim Brotherhood in fueling and igniting strife in the Arab and
Islamic world, and causing chaos, disorder, and religious and sectarian
conflict between Sunnis and Shiites with the help of Brotherhood
organizations Muslims scattered
throughout the Arab world decline) of their popularity and influence in the
Arab Gulf increasingly, and here we can analyze
That the Muslim Brotherhood’s planning for the American and Western
recognition of their legitimacy, did not give them enough opportunity to study
the reasons for their recognition, given that (reaching the circle of power and
influence is the farthest goal that the Muslim Brotherhood aspires to
considering without any other
considerations).
Source:
Modern Diplomacy.
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
calls for credible, rapid conclusion of Somali elections
Burak
Bir
27.12.2021
The
US on Sunday called for the credible and rapid conclusion of elections in
Somalia, saying it is "deeply concerned" by the continuing delays.
"It
is imperative that Somalia’s national and Federal Member State leaders swiftly
conclude credible, transparent and inclusive parliamentary and presidential
elections and address concerns in an open and acceptable manner," State
Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/us-calls-for-credible-rapid-conclusion-of-somali-elections/2458192
--------
Venezuela’s
President Maduro to visit Iran ‘very soon’
December
27, 2021
CARACAS:
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he will soon visit Iran to
finalize new agreements on cooperation with the Middle Eastern country, which
has become Venezuela’s top ally in boosting oil output amid US sanctions.
Venezuela
and Iran have strengthened their ties since last year.
Maduro’s
government has received vital equipment for its oil industry from Iran, which
in return has received crude and other primary resources from the South
American country. Iran has been crucial for Venezuela’s rising oil production
in 2021.
“I
am going to Teheran very soon, for a visit that President (Ebrahim) Raisi
offered me, so that we meet in person, to hold conversations and sign new
agreements ... and speed up processes of cooperation,” Maduro said during an
interview with satellite news broadcaster Al Mayadeen in Spanish, which was
later broadcast on Venezuelan state television.
Maduro
said he has had two telephone conversations with Iran’s president, adding that
they have agreed to work on new plans, without providing details. He also did
not give a date for the visit but described the two countries as “fighters.”
In
2022, Venezuela will also look to reactivate means of cooperation with Arab
countries, Maduro added, saying that “they love us in the Arab world, I know
that Arab governments and peoples love Venezuela.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1993481/world
--------
The
attempts of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in the process of
polarization within the American society
December
26, 2021
By
Dr.Nadia Helmy
All
indicators within the American society indicate that (the Organization of
American Islamic Relations “CARE”) is considered a complex and intertwined
organization, and it surpasses many civil work organizations inside the United
States, as it has become to talk about (the huge funding network enjoyed by the
“CARE” organization and the presence of more than 35 organisations). In
addition to the intertwining of the institution’s relations with a network of
American intellectual centers and official and human rights institutions at the
national level at home, in addition to its well-known international network of
extended international relations, especially in the British capital London, and
its relationship with more than 40 British institutions, accused and suspected
of their ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Organization of American Islamic Relations, or its acronym
internationally, known as: CARE, was also known to be rooted and extended in
all American institutions, including American decision-making circles. It is
the first place that all American Muslims communicate with, especially when
they face any crises.
It
is known in the United States of America that (the Organization of American
Islamic Relations or “CARE”) is a complex organization in terms of political
and structural, as well as the ongoing questions about its sources of income
and funding, especially if we know according to the principle of American
disclosure of funding sources and budgets for all American institutions and
organizations. Through this disclosure of the size of the income and private
activity of the Organization of American Islamic Relations, it became clear
that its main office in Washington, DC, is managed with an annual budget of
four million dollars. It appears through those local branches affiliated with
it, which are spread in 20 American states, all of which follow the rules,
principles of work and guidelines of the parent organization in Washington, DC,
and all branches of the organization and its main branch in Washington are
active in collecting donations in millions from various sources, including
non-Muslim American personalities. Basically, the (Organization of American
Islamic Relations or “CARE”) has human rights, political and legal activities,
and enjoys great independence within American society. Employees within (the
Organization of American Islamic Relations or “CARE”) also joked that the
organization is similar to (McDonald’s) fast food restaurants, in reference to
the many daily, continuous and surprising activities of the organization.
And
we cannot talk about the main role of “CAIR” within the American society,
without constantly talking about his confrontations with the US Federal Bureau
of Investigation, known as the “FBI”, on this one hand. But, on the other hand,
the Organization of American-Islamic Relations or “CAIR Commission” was known
for its relations with the American administration itself and the White House
in Washington, and the famous public meetings between the leaders of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations inside the White House itself with
American presidents, and its constant invitation within the corridors of
political decision-making.
American. The beginning of the
council’s relations with American presidents, mainly since the events of
September 11, 2011, indicates the necessity of (the Organization of American
Islamic Relations or “CARE Commission”) to represent the Muslim American
community among Muslim leaders with former President “George W. Bush” in the
White House, especially with the increase of racism And the anti-Muslim rhetoric in all American
states after the well-known September events, and from here, the “CAIR”
commission has the opportunity to hold several meetings with former President
“George W. Bush” in order to draw clear lines between moderate American
Muslims, and to differentiate between them and the radical extremists who
destroyed the World Trade Center in Washington.
The
Organization of American Islamic Relations or “CAIR” has faced several problems
and disturbances, and complaints and reports against it have been submitted to
federal prosecutors, and the Federal Investigation Agency, known as the
(FBI). The US Department of Justice has
also opened a previous investigation into the council’s foreign relations,
especially with the Islamic movement (Hamas) in Palestine, and its
classification as a terrorist in the United States of America, accusing it of
adopting a number of suicide operations against the Israelis. The remarkable
thing here is the exclusion of the (US Department of Justice) of CARE from the
list of accusations of secret, ambiguous or secret relations with the
Palestinian Hamas movement, at a time when (the US Department of Justice)
condemned and made explicit and public accusations against the largest Islamic
charitable organization in the United States of America, known as (The Holy
Land Society), or as it is known in the United States, as the (Holy Land
Foundation), accusing it of transferring funds to Hamas in Palestine. While no accusing finger was ever directed at
“CAIR”, despite the existence of previous suspicions around it in this context,
especially with the increasing severity of previous federal statements about
the activity of the work of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and its
foreign relations with Hamas.
Although
the US Department of Justice acquitted “CAIR” about its suspicious and secret
relations with Hamas, the Anti-Defamation League published a public memo,
describing the Organization of American Islamic Relations, or “CAIR”, as having
an anti-Israel agenda, and provided details of CAIR’s relationship with
extremist groups. After that, former US Attorney General “Michael Mukasey”
published an article in public, accusing the “CAIR” Foundation of concealing
internal extremism and its foreign relations with Hamas and extremists. However, the response of the Council of
Islamic Relations came with indifference and indifference to that.
The
most dangerous thing for me, and worthy of discussion, analysis and study here,
is what was leaked in several American reports, that the Federal Investigation
Agency “FBI” has an official policy not to deal with “CAIR” except in certain
cases, although there are suspicions about it in other files are dangerous, but
nothing is directed at them. Most
notably, all other federal agencies, including the White House at the present
time, are all dealing with “CAIR” openly, and coordinating with it their
policies regarding Muslims inside and outside American society. Knowing that there are intense and ongoing
discussions so far within the US White House about the mechanism of dealing
with or ignoring “CAIR”.
Source:
Modern Diplomacy
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Arab World
Iraq
Not ‘Launching Pad’ For Aggression against Other Countries: NSA
26
December 2021
Iraq
needs to be steered clear of any regional war, says Iraq’s national security
advisor, emphasizing that the Arab country’s territory won’t be used to attack
other countries.
Qasim
al-A'raji made the remarks in a meeting with the commander of NATO mission in
Iraq, Lieutenant General Michael Anker Lollesgaard, on Sunday, al-Sumaria news
channel reported.
During
the meeting, the two sides discussed the support provided by the NATO mission
to Iraq as well as ways to strengthen security and stability in the region.
“Our
duty is to support Iraq and keep it away from any regional war ... Therefore,
we do not accept the use of Iraqi land, air, and water as launching pad for any
aggression against any country,” al-A'raji said.
On
January 3, 2020, the Iraq-based US forces assassinated Iran’s top anti-terror commander,
Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, near the Baghdad International Airport.
Soleimani’s companions, including the deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular
Mobilization Units (PMU) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were also killed in the
operation.
Two
days later, the Iraqi parliament passed a law requiring the Iraqi government to
end the presence of the US-led foreign forces in the Arab country.
Since
the assassination, Iraqi resistance forces have ramped up pressure on the US
military to leave their country, targeting American bases and forces on
numerous occasions, at one point pushing the Americans to ask them to “just
leave us alone.”
Earlier
this year, Baghdad and Washington reached an agreement on ending the presence
of all US combat troops in Iraq by the end of the year.
The
US military declared the end of its combat mission in Iraq this month, but
resistance forces remain bent on expelling all American forces, including those
who have stayed in the country on the pretext of training Iraqi forces or
playing an advisory role.
The
Fatah (Conquest) Alliance in the Iraqi Parliament has called for a meaningful
withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi soil, saying the political party is
opposed to the presence of American soldiers in the Arab country under any pretext.
Hadi
al-Ameri, the head of the political coalition, said on Saturday that the
withdrawal of all American combat forces from Iraq was “a goal that cannot be
negotiated,” Shafaq news agency reported.
He
rejected as unacceptable the stay of American soldiers in Iraq under the guise
of training or advisory missions and said, “Our sovereignty is a red line.”
“My
message is clear to the US forces and the Iraqi government,” he said. “You
should implement what was agreed. We do not accept any manipulation, fraud, or
changes to missions,” he added.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2021/12/26/673445/Iraq-opposes-use-territory-attack-other-countries
--------
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah Trains Yemen’s Houthis to Target Saudi Arabia: Arab Coalition
26
December, 2021
The
Arab Coalition revealed on Sunday evidence proving the involvement of Lebanon’s
Shia Hezbollah militia in Yemen and in using the country’s airport to target
Saudi Arabia.
The
Coalition showed pictures of Hezbollah members training the Houthi militia to
launch explosive-laden drones.
Coalition
spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said in a press conference: “The
Houthis do not have the ability to make the decision to be part of the
political solution in Yemen.”
“The
terrorist organization Hezbollah has spread destruction in the region and the
world, and it bears the responsibility for targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia
and Yemen,” he added.
Malki
stressed that “the Iranian regime sponsors its proxies in the region to carry
out destruction and devastation”, adding that “the Houthi militia adopted its
sectarian ideology from Iran.”
The
Coalition said that the Houthis had fired 430 ballistic missiles and 851
explosive laden drones at Saudi Arabia since the Yemen war began in 2015,
leading to the deaths of 59 Saudi civilians.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Egypt
Unveils Plans of World’s Largest Museum of Egyptian Civilization
27
December, 2021
Egypt
is set to open what is billed as the world’s largest museum of Egyptian
civilization near the iconic Giza Pyramids in 2022.
The
opening of the Grand Museum, which is spread across 117 acres, was delayed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will now open in the second half of next year,
according to Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of
Antiquities in Egypt.
Speaking
at the Egypt Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Sunday, Waziri said construction
work was now complete and work on the display areas was ongoing.
Waziri
added: “We can confirm that we have completed work on the exhibits that will be
displayed at the Grand Museum. We are on track to open the museum in the second
half of 2022.”
During
the symposium on excavations in Egypt, Waziri reviewed recent discoveries and
revealed more projects to excavate ancient Egyptian treasures.
He
said: “What we see above the surface of the earth in Egypt does not exceed 40
per cent of the antiquities contained below the ground. There are more than 50
Egyptian missions working at various sites, and discoveries in Luxor, Minya,
Sohag, Saqqara, Cairo and the Lower Egypt region have surprised the world.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
French
arrest man over chemical weapons parts in Syria
December
26, 2021
PARIS:
A French-Syrian man has been detained by French police on suspicion of
supplying components for the manufacture of chemical weapons in Syria through
his shipping company, sources briefed on the case told AFP Sunday.
The
man, who was born in 1962 and lives abroad, was arrested Saturday in the south
of France according to one of the sources.
He
has been held on suspicion of “conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity,
accessory to crimes against humanity and accessory to war crimes,” a judicial
source told AFP.
The
war in Syria has killed close to half a million people and spurred the largest
conflict-induced displacement since World War II.
Syria
denies the use of chemical weapons. It insists it handed over its weapons
stockpiles under a 2013 agreement with the US and Russia, prompted by a
suspected sarin gas attack that killed 1,400 in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.
But
Syria was stripped of its Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) voting rights in April after a probe blamed it for further poison gas
attacks.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1993426/middle-east
--------
Bodies
of 16 killed in Channel boat disaster repatriated to Iraqi Kurdistan
26
December ,2021
The
bodies of 16 people killed when their boat sank in the Channel while trying to
reach England were repatriated early Sunday to Iraqi Kurdistan where their
families were awaiting them, an AFP photographer saw.
The
plane carrying them arrived around 2:00 am at Arbil, capital of the autonomous
region in northern Iraq.
The
remains were transferred to ambulances to transport them to their hometowns of
Darbandikhan, Ranya, Soran, and Qadrawa.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
At
least 27 people perished in the November 24 tragedy, the deadliest disaster
since the Channel became a hub for clandestine migrant crossings from France to
England.
At
the terminal at Arbil airport, emotional families waited for the arrival of the
remains of their loved ones, some hugging each other or showing photos of their
late relatives.
Originally
scheduled for Friday, the repatriation had been postponed twice.
The
27 victims were mostly men but also included seven women, a 16-year-old and a
seven-year-old child.
Besides
the 16 Iraqi Kurds, the 26 identified included an Iranian Kurd, four Afghan
men, three Ethiopians, a Somali and an Egyptian.
Only
two people were rescued after their inflatable boat capsized, an Iraqi Kurd and
a Sudanese national, according to the French interior ministry.
According
to the Iraqi survivor there had been a total of 33 people aboard.
French
investigators are still trying to establish a clearer picture of what happened
during the disaster.
They
have been investigating reports the passengers had telephoned both French and
British emergency services, appealing for help when the vessel began sinking.
The
disaster also caused major diplomatic tensions between London and Paris.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Lebanon's
top Christian cleric issues elections plea
25
December ,2021
Lebanon's
top Christian cleric, Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, stressed the importance of the
country holding legislative elections next year as he delivered his Christmas
sermon on Saturday.
Al-Rai
also called for the government to convene, saying that failing to do so sets a
precedent that may hinder the function of future governments.
Lebanon's
cabinet, which is focused on restarting talks with the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) to unlock much-needed foreign aid, has not met since Oct. 12, due to
a dispute over a probe into last year's deadly Beirut port blast.
“We
support your commitment to holding the legislative elections,” said Al-Rai,
directing his speech to President Michel Aoun who was attending the sermon.
“The elections are the guarantee that presidential elections will be held on
time and it is an opportunity for change.”
Parliament
had voted for the legislative election to take place on March 27 but Aoun has
said he would only sign a decree for them to take place in May.
Al-Rai
also offered his condolences to the families of the victims of the port blast
which killed more than 200 people in August last year.
“Our
thoughts today are with the families of the port blast victims who are in pain
because the judiciary is hindered and the fate of investigation is uncertain,”
he said.
The
explosion was caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely for
years, but more than a year on, no one has been held accountable.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Saudi
Arabia denies importing Christmas trees
Ibrahim
al-Khazen
26.12.2021
Saudi
Arabia has denied media reports about importing Christmas trees and Santa Claus
outfits.
The
Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority said that it is prohibited to import
Christmas trees or any religious signs other than Islam.
The
statement came in response to a question by a Twitter user on whether Christmas
trees are now allowed into the kingdom.
Foreign
media reports earlier said that Christmas trees, decorations and Santa Claus
outfits were now being sold at stores in the oil-rich kingdom.
Christian
foreigners working in Saudi Arabia, mainly from Lebanon and the Philippines,
are used to celebrating Christmas behind closed doors.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/saudi-arabia-denies-importing-christmas-trees/2457949
--------
Southeast Asia
China
Replaces Xinjiang Party Chief amid Forced Labour Allegations
Dec
25, 2021
The
ruling Communist party has replaced its chief in the volatile northwest region
of Xinjiang Chen Quanguo who was last year sanctioned by the US for alleged
human rights abuses against the minority Uighur Muslims in the remote region.
Ma
Xingrui, who was the governor of Guangdong province, has been appointed as new
party chief for Xinjiang.
“The
CPC Central Committee has appointed Ma Xingrui as new party chief for Xinjiang.
Chen Quanguo, who no longer serves as secretary of the Xinjiang Uigur
Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPC, will be given another appointment,
according to a decision by the CPC Central Committee,” a statement published by
the Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.
The
move to replace Chen, who has earlier served as the party chief of Tibet, comes
a day after US President Joe Biden signed a bill banning goods from Xinjiang
unless companies can prove they aren’t made with forced local labour.
Rights
groups have alleged oppression of Uighur Muslims in a region that holds a major
place in global supply chains.
China
has consistently denied such allegations.
Xinjiang
is a source for cotton used in clothing and is a key location for producing
polysilicon used in solar panels, seen as crucial in the global shift away from
fossil fuels.
Chen
has been accused by the US, the UK and the European Union of widespread human
rights abuses against Uighurs, but he is tipped for a promotion, Hong
Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on the development.
The
three Chinese officials sanctioned by the US last year were Chen, Zhu Hailun,
the then party secretary of the Xinjiang Political and Legal Committee and Wang
Mingshan, the party secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau.
China
is battling allegations of human rights violations against Uighur Muslims in
the last few years from the West.
The
allegations include incarceration of around 1mn people from minority Muslim
communities in detention camps, forced labour in manufacturing units of the
resource-rich Xinjiang, forced abortions, and mass indoctrination.
Denying
these allegations, Beijing says its security crackdown in Xinjiang is aimed at
the separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which is accused of
fuelling terrorism and separatism in the region.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Socialism
a viable option for Malaysia, says academic
Danial
Azhar
December
25, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: Malaysia is seeing many social problems – rising food prices, a widening
income gap, home ownership issues and the lack of basic minimum wages.
And
the answer to all these problems could be socialism, says an academic.
Shaharuddin
Maaruf says the many problems have made socialism a relevant and viable
alternative political and economic system for the country.
Speaking
at a forum titled “Islam, Capitalism and Socialism” today, Shaharuddin, a
former senior research fellow at Universiti Malaya’s sociocultural department,
said socialism emphasised the public, or shared ownership of resources and
means of production.
A
socialist system, he said, would not allow a hike in food prices as public
ownership of food production and distribution would not be as affected by
inflation as privately-owned businesses.
“Socialism
believes in the intervention in society’s issues, in contrast to a capitalist
system,” he said.
“Contrary
to capitalism, socialism does believe in a certain amount of intervention. It
does not leave everything to market forces but advocates for planning amongst
all related parties,” he added.
Shaharuddin
said socialism was relevant to Malaysia as it encouraged equality and avoided
excessive differences in wealth.
“We
have the problem of a large income gap.
“There
are people who earn RM10 million a year or RM1 million a month. This goes back
to the problem of capitalism favouring the elite.”
He
pointed out that the 5G single wholesale model under Digital Nasional Bhd was
evidence that the country had “tendencies towards capitalism”, favouring
monopoly in businesses and services.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Vote
by class, not along racial lines, says expert
Danial
Azhar
December
25, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: If the public are to vote intelligently at the next elections, they must
vote along class rather than ethnic or racial lines, says sociologist Syed
Farid Alatas.
Speaking
at a forum titled “Islam, Capitalism and Socialism” today, he said the people
have to realise that many of the country’s issues stem from class divides and
not racial or religious differences.
“The
public must think along class lines to see that wealth inequality and the
divide between low, middle and high-income groups have nothing to do with race
or ethnicity,” he said.
He
added that the majority of voters are from the low to middle-income groups
while the ruling elite are a minority, which should be an important
consideration when voting.
“The
people must vote for politicians who understand their needs and who will
address the class divide and wealth inequality.”
He
said that currently, politics in the country is played along racial and ethnic
lines.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Remembering
an Indonesian Muslim's Christmas sacrifice
Siktus
Harson
December
24, 2021
The
death of a young Muslim man while guarding a church on Christmas Eve two
decades ago has become a binding force that unites Indonesian Muslims and
Christians, particularly during the yuletide season.
Riyanto,
a member of a youth movement affiliated with the country’s largest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama, was 25 when he was killed by a bomb blast meant
for Christians.
He
and other members of his organization had been asked to help provide security
at the Eben Haezer Church in East Java’s Mojokerto district on Christmas Eve in
2000.
Things
went wrong when two suspicious packages were spotted, one on a pew and another
at the church’s entrance.
Riyanto
promptly removed one of the packages and attempted to give it to a policeman,
who suspecting it was a bomb told everyone to run.
However,
Riyanto did not want it to explode near the congregation, so attempted to move
it to a safe place. Unfortunately, it went off and killed him.
Muslims
helping guard churches and Christians guarding mosques during religious events
is common in Indonesia.
In
the case of Riyanto’s group, thousands of its members often work with police or
military in maintaining security at events at various locations, including
houses of worship during Christmas and other religious festivals.
Today,
when Christmas comes, Christians and Muslims honor Riyanto for his heroic
sacrifice by visiting his tomb and occasionally holding interfaith discussions
to praise him.
The
Reverand Rudi Sanusi Wijaya, the pastor at Eben Haezer Church, says his
congregation remembers Riyanto's sacrifice, which saved many lives, by offering
support to his family.
For
Muslims, particularly those in the Ansor Youth Movement, Riyanto is an
inspiration and a role model.
Many
Indonesians attach a great deal of importance to Riyanto’s sacrifice, mainly
for two reasons.
First,
in a country with many religious backgrounds where intolerant acts are still
common, people are hungry for unifying symbols. Remembering his death sends a
strong message that everyone is called to be peacemakers, not
troublemakers. It also tells people that
Christmas is a celebration of peace.
Second,
commemorating his death also aims to bring people together in the fight against
extremism and terrorism.
The
Eben Haezer Church bombing was one of many that the Jemaah Islamiyah terror
group committed against churches in Java, Sumatra and Lombok that Christmas
Eve. St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Church in Jakarta was also among
them.
They
were the precursor of a surge in terrorism in Indonesia.
The
Christmas Eve attacks were the brainchild of Malaysia-born Dr. Azahari Husin
and Nurdin Muhammad Top and several local Jemaah Islamiyah leaders including
Umar Patek, a bomb expert trained in Afghanistan. Later they were joined by
Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron, who orchestrated the 2002 Bali bombings.
Other
groups such as Jamaah Ansharut Daulah and the East Indonesia Mujahideen sprang
up later and started to attack Christians.
Radicalism
and terrorism today have taken on a new dimension with a shift to infiltrating
the very fabric of government in Indonesia. This was evidenced in the arrest of
Faridh Okbah, the founder of the Indonesian People's Da'wah Party, in November.
The
police claimed the party is the political wing of Jemaah Islamiyah, once
Southeast Asia’s most feared terror group. Party officials denied the
accusations.
However,
the police claim was not far-fetched. Experts warned earlier that Jemaah
Islamiyah jihadists were changing tactics from committing deadly violence to
wielding political influence.
In
a 2017 report, the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict said the change
started when Para Wijayanto was appointed the group’s leader in 2008. Under his
leadership, the group has taken a non-violent path and now pursues political
activism to attract Muslims into their fold.
The
report also suggested that he was behind the massive demonstration on Dec. 12,
2016, against the then Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama that kickstarted
efforts to prevent the Christian politician from being re-elected and which led
to him eventually being tried and jailed for blasphemy.
Unceasing
efforts to revive the 212 Alumni Brotherhood, a hardline group named after the
protest date, has turned political and saw police banning its members from
taking to the streets last week.
Source:
UCA News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/remembering-an-indonesian-muslims-christmas-sacrifice/95511#
--------
Africa
Important
remarks by Sheikh Zakzaky after six years of illegal imprisonment
December
26, 2021
The
leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, speaks
with FRIDAY OLOKOR about his ordeal and that of his wife in detention and the
refusal of government agencies to release their passports, among other issues
What
were the major issues during your detention?
Let
me start by thanking journalists for being with us all through. They have
undergone a lot of tribulations. And, in fact, one of them was killed in action
in July 2019 in front of the federal secretariat. So, we thank them very much
for standing by us. And when we came out I did not immediately give a chance to
journalists to interact with us, because we were hoping that (after our release
from detention) it would take only a little time for us to be allowed to go out
(of the country) for medical attention. That was what we were hoping for,
because we came out with health issues.
My
wife and myself, we still have fragments of bullets in our body. My wife have a
full bullet (lodged in her body) which they (doctors) have been unable to
remove here (in Nigeria). They say they could not remove it; but experts from
outside (the country) promise that they can do it. In addition to that, she has
for the past five years, since July 2016, been chair-bounded; she can only walk
using a wheelchair and she prays while sitting on a chair. And they know very
well that she needs a knee replacement, which, of course, if done in this
county it may take the patient about three months to be able to walk again. But
elsewhere it may take less than a week.
Myself,
I have fragments of a bullet scattered all over my body and these fragments are
secreting poisonous substances – lead, cadmium and others. And with the
recommendation of doctors here, including government doctors, I need what they
call ‘Chelation theraphy,’ which will remove the poisons. The fragments also
have to be removed, which they (doctors here) say they cannot remove because
they are very tiny and are moving around my body.
So,
we were hoping at that time (we were released) that it would be a matter of
weeks before we would be given the chance to go out for medical attention; but
up till now, they (government) have not allowed us to do that. I have to
apologise to you (journalists) for not giving you this chance at the very
beginning.
What
were the circumstances that led to the killing of your people in Zaria in
December 2015?
This
is an occasion when we remember the Zaria massacre, which happened six years
ago. It happened on December 12, 13 and 14, 2015 – three consecutive days.
Soldiers in the Nigerian Army had cordoned off Zaria town, all the roads
leading to the town; and they carried out systematic killing of people they
considered unwanted. Whatever name they gave us at that time, they were said to
be clearing people they called “Shi’ites”. In fact, in Gyallesu (my residence
in Zaria), when they found someone they wanted to shoot, they would ask if he
was a Shiíte and once the crowd said yes, they would just fire the person! And
if the crowd said, “No!” they would allow the person to go. So, clearly, they
were saying that they were destroying Shia once and for all.
On
the 14th of the same month, they reached me and opened fire on us – myself and my family, instantly killing three
of my sons in front of me, and injuring both my wife and me and some others who
were with us. Luckily enough, for the wisdom of God, we don’t know why, but He
so designed that my wife and I would survive the shootings that nobody could
have survived at all! God is able to do anything He wishes.
On
December 15, they brought us to Abuja, first to the military hospital, and
later at 12am midnight, they changed hospital from military hospital to DSS
(Department of State Services) hospital. And then, they (DSS) kept us in their
custody for some years, and then they took us back to Kaduna (still in their
custody); and finally, they took us to prison. And as you all know, at the end
of the day, the court found us innocent, discharged and acquitted us in the
same way three other different courts have discharged and acquitted so many
others who were arraigned on the same or similar charges (as ours).
But
it was alleged that there was a clash between your followers and soldiers.
I
find that up till today, they still say, “El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested
following a clash between his followers and the Nigerian Army when his people
blocked the road on the day the Chief of Army Staff was passing.” This matter
was taken to court, where they accused some people of blocking the road. They
claimed we instigated the blockage. Based on the same allegation about 153
others were also arraigned before different courts. The charged included murder
of a soldier.
But
the first court, which gave its verdict sometime in July 2018, not only said
that those arraigned before it (77 of them) did not commit the crime they were
accused of. In fact, the court pronounced that no such crime was committed.
This is very important. There was no blockage of road whatsoever and nobody
killed anybody! The army cordoned off everywhere and killed everybody they
could identify as Shia. Whatever you might be, because at a place we call
Husseiniyyah (an Islamic centre) near Unity Bank, they thought that Shi’ites
wear black clothes, and because the uniform of workers in that bank is black
they shot all of them.
My
house is situated about three kilometers away from the area where the said road
was blocked. I don’t know whether my house also blocked the road against the
Chief of Army Staff. They went and cordoned off the road and killed everybody
they could find, including our neighbours. A lot of students in the Congo
Campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were also killed. Some students of
the Federal College of Education, which is in our neighborhood, were also
killed; some of them are not even Muslims, so they killed everybody they could
find.
And
then, very importantly, the first court said the road was not blocked; nobody
blocked any road. The second court gave similar verdict. And the third court,
in fact, brought up part of my speech in its verdict. I had said, “If the soldiers come to attack
us in our territory don’t block their way.” That was very clear and the judge
even continued to mention this particularly. So, where was blockage of road
here? Simple, they could not say why they attacked us; it was very clear that
this was a premeditated attack in order to destroy all of us.
Tell
us briefly about IMN.
Another thing that I have to make very clear
is the idea of calling us IMN (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) and calling me the
leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. I know we use the word ‘Islamic
movement’ but to our understanding, Islamic movement is not a name, it is an
idea, similar to Islamic awareness, Islamic ideology, Islamic education,
Islamic philosophy. It is a sort of concept we never use as a name! And there
is nothing like ‘members of the Islamic movement,’ they don’t exist; there are
only activists (not members). We don’t have membership card, you don’t register
to become a part of us. Once you are active, that is all! The movement is open
to all people, not only Muslims. You may not know that there is a Christian
forum of the Islamic movement, among the fora that we have. We have many for a,
such as Academic forum, Sisters forum, Media forum, and so many others. One of
these fora is the Christian forum of the Islamic movement under the leadership
of Pastor Yohanna Buru.
So,
(the Islamic movement) is a sort of an idea which everyone can belong to; the
idea of movement towards a change. The reason we call it Islamic is because we
agree to give our lives to do it because it is the teaching of Islam. According
to the teaching of Islam, you are supposed to do everything for the sake of
your creator, the Almighty. So, whoever identifies himself with the idea is
part of the movement, not a member.
And
similarly, the Islamic movement does not own a single property, movable or
unmovable. There is no building
belonging to the Islamic movement. It doesn’t exist! All the buildings are
either private property or owned according to religious institution. In Shia,
they believe that they have a leader every time, and that leader can own some
properties. Only the Shia can know this. Every Shia man is duty-bound to give
one-fifth of the booty he gets to the Imam of his time, and some people have
been given the custody of the collection, to manage it. So, it is religious.
When
they attacked us, they called us “Shi’ites” and they continue to give us
different names. In the late 70s, they were calling us “students” because then
we were students. And in 1980, they were
calling us students. And in 1982 they changed our name and started calling us
“Shi’ites” with different spellings and pronunciations. Sometimes they would
say “sha-yits,’ whatever that is. I know the last time I was in court before
this time (during Abacha regime), I was asked in court, “Are you not the leader
of “Shi’ites?” And I asked, “What is “Shi’ites”? Is it tea or coffee?” And then
some newspapers wrote: “El-Zakzaky denies Shi’ites, he says he is not a
Shi’ite!” So, I don’t know what “Shiites’ are.
But
they continue to call us “Shi’ites” up till the time they attacked us in 2015.
The
government said IMN has been banned and proscribed…
I
don’t know whether in the constitution of Nigeria, courts are supposed to make
laws. What I know is that court is not a ‘law-making’ body; it rather
interprets the law. We have three arms of government: the legislature, which
makes the law; the judiciary, which interprets the law; and the executive,
which implements the law. This government, instead of taking the matter to the
National Assembly to debate whether they can ban a movement or not, they
brought the law and gave it to the court to rubber stamp and they say they have
proscribed the Islamic movement. We say that you have to understand that the
Islamic movement cannot be proscribed, it cannot be banned; it is impossible!
This is an idea. It is like saying that you won’t allow people to practise
their religion; that you won’t even allow them to believe what they believe.
But you can’t stop me from believing in what I believe. No way! Islamic
movement does not own a property, we don’t have any property; all the
properties they destroyed were either religious or personal properties, like my
house which they burnt to ashes and even the house in which I buried my mother,
they went and destroyed it. Even our horses, cows, camels and sheep, they
killed them. They became meat for me. I don’t know whether they ate the horses,
but they ate the camels and cows. These are not properties of any institution,
they belong to me.
During
your detention, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said
government spent N3.5m on a monthly basis to feed you. What kind of meals were
you fed in detention?
Actually,
we were not given the opportunity to tell the real story while we were in
detention because the people who were detaining us made things difficult for
us. The real truth is that all through our detention we fed ourselves. Since
the time we reached Kaduna, after we were released, nobody gave us a single
bottle of water! We were feeding ourselves. Even during our stay in Abuja, we
were feeding ourselves. But this is something that cannot be disclosed because
it was illegal. Legally, they were supposed to feed us. But they didn’t want
anybody to hear that we were feeding ourselves. For the entire five years,
seven months that we were in detention, we fed ourselves; nobody gave us a
bottle of water!
We
were even paying electricity and water bills, while in detention. We were
paying also for the fuel to power the generator. We bought our own generator in
Abuja, even when we were in detention and we were buying fuel to run it.
So
how did Lai Mohammed come about the N3.5m monthly feeding figure?
He
was actually not lying. The DSS told him so. But what I learnt was that about
N4m was taken out of the FIRS coffers for our feeding every month. But that
money was going to their pocket; not a single kobo was given to or spent on us.
It is true that they were taking the money out of the treasury but they did not
spend it on our feeding. It is a lie
that they were feeding us with this money!
He
mentioned N3.5m; that was what they quoted him to have said. But from my own
source, I learnt that it was N4m every month.
Some
people have insinuated that you and the President, Major General Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.), have personal scores to settle. It is true?
I
don’t know whether there is any personal issue, maybe Buhari should be asked
but I don’t know. All I know is that there is nothing like personal issue,
maybe he was given that as a condition for being in office. But I know Buhari
may not say because you will never see Buhari and talk to him because he
doesn’t speak; he only reads.
With
the way things are going, are you confident of getting justice from the court?
Whatever
the outcome, our main aim is to let the general public know that we took our
matter to court. The first time we took government to court, we were able to
win. You know Justice Gabriel Kolawole ruled that our detention was illegal and
that we should be released unconditionally and that compensation should be paid
to us; that a house should be provided for us at a place of our choice. But all
these years they haven’t obeyed that court order. This is a case in our favour
and against them.
Source:
ABNA24
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Senior
security official among 4 killed in Somali capital blast
Mohammed
Dhaysane
26.12.2021
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
At
least four soldiers, including a district security chief, were killed and three
others wounded in a bomb blast in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu late on Saturday
night.
A
vehicle carrying security personnel was targeted with a remote-controlled
improvised explosive device in Mogadishu’s Daynile district, a police officer
told Anadolu Agency.
The
blast took place in front of the district’s main police station and the dead
include Abdisamad Ugas Fara'ade, the top security official in Daynile.
The
attack was claimed by the al-Shabaab terrorist group.
It
was the second bomb blast in the Horn of African country in less than 24 hours.
Earlier
on Saturday afternoon, al-Shabaab claimed to have killed a senior security
official in a bombing in the port city of Kismayo in Jubaland State.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UN
urges Sudan to protect protesters, amid rallies for civilian rule
Adel
Abdel Rahim
25.12.2021
KHARTOUM,
Sudan
The
United Nations on Saturday called on the Sudanese authorities to protect
demonstrators, amid planned rallies to demand civilian rule.
“I
urge the Sudanese authorities and the security forces to protect today’s
planned demonstrations,” Volker Perthes, the head of the UN Integrated
Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS), said on Twitter.
Perthes
urged the Sudanese authorities to restore the internet service. “Freedom of
expression is a human right. This includes full access to the internet”.
Telecommunications
companies in Sudan disrupted internet service across the country since early
morning on Saturday, according to Sudanese activists.
Sudan
has been in turmoil since Oct. 25 when the Sudanese military dismissed Prime
Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of
emergency.
Hamdok,
however, was reinstated on Nov. 21 under an agreement with Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, the Sudanese army chief, in a move that aimed to resolve a political
crisis that threatened to undermine Sudan's transition to democracy.
While
countries and regional and international organizations, including the United
Nations, welcomed the agreement, Sudanese political and civil forces rejected
it, considering it an "attempt to legitimize the coup."
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Somali
military kills 22 al-Shabaab terrorists: Officials
Mohammed
Dhaysane
25.12.2021
BAIDOA,
Somalia
The
Somali military killed 22 terrorists in operations against terrorist group
al-Shabaab in southern Somalia, according to local media and officials.
Some
17 of the terrorists were killed and a main base of al-Shabaab was destroyed in
an operation in the middle Shabelle region, Somali National Television
reported.
Confirming
the operation to Anadolu Agency, a military official in the region said: “The
terrorists in there were responsible for terror acts and illegal taxation on
the civilian population in the area."
Meanwhile,
another military official in the lower Shabelle region told Anadolu Agency that
the military liberated three villages from al-Shabaab.
"We
liberated Gaamgare, Mubarak, and Jowhar Yare villages on the outskirts of the
Awdheegle town where our forces encountered resistance from al-Shabaab
terrorists", the military official said, adding five terrorists were
killed in the operation.
Col.
Dayah Abdi Abdulle, a military commander who was leading the operation, told
media that al-Shabaab terrorists in the area were harassing the civilian
population.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somali-military-kills-22-al-shabaab-terrorists-officials/2457409
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