Al-Qaeda Vows Attack on Hindu Outfits Involved In Killing Muslims, Destroying Mosques
New Age Islam News Bureau
27
Jun 2017
Photo: Terrorist group al-Qaeda has said it will target Hindu "separatist" organisations involved in the destruction of mosques and Muslims' property and the killing or forced conversion of Muslims.
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• ISIS in Afghanistan Release Grim Execution Video Purports To Show Execution by Children
• ISIS Forces Women Trapped In Over-Run Philippines City to Become Sex Slaves, Orders Hostages to Convert To Islam As It Uses Christian Human Shields To Fend Off Duterte's Troops
• US Designates Syed Salahuddin 'Global Terrorist', Sets Tone for Trump-Modi Meet
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India
• Al-Qaeda Vows Attack on Hindu Outfits Involved In Killing Muslims, Destroying Mosques
• India, US Call on Pakistan to Stop Terror Attacks Launched From Its Soil
• 'Destroying radical Islamic terrorism together is our top goal', say both Trump and PM Modi, after White House talks
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South Asia
• ISIS in Afghanistan Release Grim Execution Video Purports To Show Execution by Children
• 12 Militants Killed, 7 Hideouts Destroyed In Nangarhar Airstrike
• Kabul security plan final and will be implemented soon: Ghani
• India, US agree to strengthen ties to ensure peace in Afghanistan
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Southeast Asia
• ISIS Forces Women Trapped In Over-Run Philippines City to Become Sex Slaves, • Orders Hostages to Convert To Islam As It Uses Christian Human Shields To Fend Off Duterte's Troops
• Taiwan - Fast Becoming Haven for Muslim Travellers
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North America
• US Designates Syed Salahuddin 'Global Terrorist', Sets Tone for Trump-Modi Meet
• I Hate To Call Pakistan an Ally: Former US Diplomat
• The US Supreme Court offers Muslims protection – and discrimination – at once
• Congress must stop Trump’s Muslim ban: Amnesty International
• US Military To Assess Allegations Of Airstrike on Islamic State-Run Jail
• Many Americans oppose injustice against Muslims: Activist
• U.S.-led coalition says hit Islamic State targets in Syrian town
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Arab World
• Al-Nusra Fails Again in Quneitra Offensive, Sustains over 170 Casualties
• Syrian Army about to Annihilate ISIL
• Tens of Terrorists Killed, Wounded in Clashes between Rival Groups in Southern Syria
• US-led strikes on Islamic State-held prison 'kills 57 people' including civilians
• Syrian Observatory: dozens killed in air strike in Islamic State-held town
• Over 8,000 migrants rescued in Mediterranean in 48 hours
• New Details Disclosed about US Downing of Syrian Fighter Jet in Raqqa
• Military Expert: Israel Allied with Terrorists in Syria
• Iraqi Volunteer Forces Continue to Hit ISIL at Border with Syria
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Mideast
• ‘Bigoted’ Muslim Ban Not to Make US Safer: Iran FM
• Support Kashmiris Against ‘Tyrants’: Iran’s Khamenei
• Turkey Preparing to Deploy Forces in Idlib
• Iranian Speaker: Playing with Terrorism US Strategy
• Ramadan over, these firms are on a hiring spree in Dubai
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Pakistan
• China Asks Pakistan to Rein In Terrorists in Afghanistan
• Shia Federation condemns killing of Shiite in Parachinar, Pakistan
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Africa
• Ramadan Anti-Drug Campaign Increases Consultation Inquiries, Calls for Treatment
• Eid-el-Fitr: As recession bites, it’s modest celebration for many Nigerian Muslims
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Europe
• Returning Islamic State Fighters Given ‘Protected Identities’ To Start New Lives in Europe
• Kind Stranger Returns Wallet To Owner And Has A Moving Chat About Islam
• Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
• Islamophobic attacks soar as media and politicians push anti-Muslim hate
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/al-qaeda-vows-attack-hindu/d/111685
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Al-Qaeda vows attack on Hindu outfits involved in killing Muslims, destroying mosques
New Delhi, June 27, 2017
"Islam has governed India for one thousand years. Hence in that respect, it is our religious objective to bring that Islamic land under the flag of Islam, under the rule of Tahweed (the Oneness of God)," the group said.
Terrorist group al-Qaeda has said it will target Hindu "separatist" organisations involved in the destruction of mosques and Muslims' property and the killing or forced conversion of Muslims.
It has also pledged to target the "leadership" of India's military, police and "secret agencies," and specifically, "those officers of the Indian military who have the blood of our Kashmiri brothers on their hands."
These declarations appear in a document titled 'Code of conduct for Mujahideen in the subcontinent.'
Al-Qaeda said the Indian state was its "top priority, after American and Israeli targets," but added that it's objective wasn't to attack "common" Hindus, Buddhists or people of other faiths.
"This is because our war is against the armed groups belonging to these religions that are oppressing the Muslims," it said.
'ISLAM HAS GOVERNED INDIA FOR 1,000 YEARS'
The group accused the Indian state of oppressing Muslims, especially in Kashmir, promoting anti-Muslim bigotry, and having allied itself with the US, Russia and Israel against "the Islamic and jihadi awakening in the entire region," among other things.
"The Indian state is the fundamental obstacle in the formation of an Islamic India. Islam has governed India for one thousand years. Hence in that respect, it is our religious objective to bring that Islamic land under the flag of Islam, under the rule of Tahweed (the Oneness of God)," it said.
indiatoday.intoday.in/story/al-qaeda-india-hindu-organisations-kashmir-muslims-terrorism/1/988261.html
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ISIS in Afghanistan release grim execution video purports to show execution by children
By GHANIZADA - Tue Jun 27 2017
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, the so-called ISIS-Khurasan province, has released a new grim execution video purportedly showing the murder of five individuals.
The video circulated online by the supports of the terror group shows the killing of five individuals, accused of espionage.
However, the grimmest part of the video is the execution carried out by two children, with both apparently being less than ten years of age.
The latest video by ISIS loyalists in Afghanistan has been released days after the terror group received unprecedented setbacks on the battlefield, losing several key commanders, leaders, and fighters.
The video has been released after the terror group’s attempts to establish a regional so-called caliphate and foothold in the country was thwarted, specifically in the battle of Tora Bora, one of the key mountainous terrains of the country and home to Al-Qaeda’s founder and leader Osama bin Laden who was ousted as a result of the US air campaign and was subsequently killed in Abottabad of Pakistan.
In the meantime, the Afghan forces, in collaboration with the US forces based in Afghanistan have stepped up efforts and counter-terrorism operations to oust and eliminate the terror group from the Afghan soil.
The acting Minister of Defense Tariq Shah Bahrami said two weeks ago that a major plan of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to establish the Khurasan province in Afghanistan has been foiled by the Afghan security forces.
Bahrami further added that the Afghan security forces have launched 12 large operations so far and dozens of medium and large operations while hundreds of airstrikes have been conducted on the hideouts of the terror group.
According to the acting minister of defense, at least 2,500 militants of the terrorist group have been killed during the operations until now and around 800 others have sustained injuries.
khaama.com/isis-in-afghanistan-release-grim-execution-video-purports-to-show-execution-by-children-03026
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ISIS Forces Women Trapped In Over-Run Philippines City to Become Sex Slaves, Orders Hostages to Convert To Islam As It Uses Christian Human Shields To Fend Off Duterte's Troops
27 June 2017
ISIS fighters in the Philippines are forcing women to become sex slaves and hiding behind 100 Christian human shields as the vicious battle to retake a city held by the militants enters its second month.
Terrorists from the Maute group seized Marawi City five weeks ago and have taken hostages who they are forcing to convert to Islam and carry wounded fighters.
Most of Marawi's 200,000 citizens have fled since the attack on May 23, and those left behind have been subjected to horrific abuse, according to escapees.
'They are being forced to be sex slaves, forced to destroy the dignity of these women,' said army spokesman Jo-Ar Herrera.
'This is what is happening inside, this is very evident..these are evil personalities.'
Hostages include leading churchman Father TeresitoSoganub.
Abdullah Maute, one of two brothers who formed the group, said on Sunday he would free Soganub in return for his parents, who are being held by police.
But this request was refused by Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, with his spokesman saying any bargaining with terrorists was against government policy.
Heavy clashes broke out today as strongman leader Duterte ordered intense bombing raids by planes on the shrinking rebel zone.
The authorities believe Soganub and more than 100 other Christians are being held by the Islamic State-affiliated insurgents as human shields.
Taking advantage of a short truce on Sunday to mark the Eid al-Fitr, eight Muslim leaders entered the conflict zone and met briefly with Maute.
This meeting was condemned by the Philippine government, who said it was sticking to its policy of not negotiating with the terrorists.
A spokesman said: 'Let us remind the public, the gravity of the terrorists and their supporters' offences is immense and they must be held accountable for all their actions.'
The Maute brothers' father, CayamoraMaute, was arrested on June 6 in Davao City, about 140 km southeast of Marawi.
Their influential businesswoman mother, FarhanaMaute, was arrested three days later, closer to Marawi.
The military's public relations machine has been insisting the rebel leadership was crumbling, saying top commanders had escaped or been killed.
It said the rebels had executed some of their own men for wanting to surrender.
And authorities claimed IsnilonHapilon, Islamic State's anointed 'emir' in Southeast Asia, had fled the warzone and 'abandoned his comrades'.
Military officers, however, have said they lack solid proof of such developments and were working to verify intelligence reports.
Civilians rescued from besieged Marawi city in Philippines
The protracted siege on Marawi has caused concerns about the strength of IS in the southern Philippines.
The rebels' organisation, combat capability and use of heavy weapons has raised fears in the mainly Roman Catholic country that it is unprepared for the threat.
Fighting has raged in the town since an operation to arrest Hapilon went wrong on May 23, leading to the government losing not just Hapilon, but control of the city.
Some 70 servicemen, 27 civilians and 290 militants have since been killed and 246,000 people have been displaced from a town where some neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble.
Fleeing residents believe large numbers of civilians may have been killed while trapped in areas under fire from militant snipers and battered by artillery and air strikes.
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4642518/Philippines-says-no-deal-Islamists-seized-Marawi.html#ixzz4lDFlex5e
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US designates Syed Salahuddin 'global terrorist', sets tone for Trump-Modi meet
ChidanandRajghatta | TNN | Jun 27, 2017, 12.22 AM IST
WASHINGTON: The Trump White House on Monday rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaling through several gestures ahead of his meeting with the US President enhancement of strategic ties with India that were conceived during the Bush and Obama years.
After the White House had asserted in previews to the meeting that the two countries are on the same page in so far as global security and terrorism is concerned, the State Department on Monday designated Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist just hours before Trump received Modi at the White House.
Trump also drafted First Lady Melania Trump to join him in welcoming the Indian Prime Minister. The First Lady is also slated to join them for dinner and take part in the departure ceremony, making it three appearances with the visiting dignitary - a clearly personal gesture from Trump towards a leader who is single and unaccompanied.
The dinner itself is a special gesture - the first such event in the Trump White House for a foreign leader, although Trump hosted the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
In his September 2014 visit to Washington DC during the Obama Presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi famously went without eating during a White House dinner because he was in the middle of a nine-day Navratri fast.
While then President Obama and the two delegations feasted on crisped halibut in ginger carrot sauce, compressed avocados, and mango cremebrulee, Modi sipped on warm water. Also absent from the reception, First Lady Michelle Obama gave the dinner a miss and went on a day trip to the mid-west.
No such complications as India's Prime Minister headed into the White House early Monday evening - he'll not only eat but also have the First Lady for company at the dinner.
Melania Trump has only just moved in to the White House and this will be the first big reception she will be part of in the Presidential mansion.
Also apparently playing a prominent role during the Modi visit will be US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley - a first generation Sikh who was born Nimrata Randhawa — the sole Indian-American cabinet member in the Trump administration.
President Trump has invited Haley to the Monday lunch he usually has with vice-president Mike Pence, just ahead of Modi's arrival at the White House at 3.30pm(local time), presumably to discuss the upcoming meeting. Haley has met Modi when she was governor of South Carolina to promote business in her home state.
But it was the designation as global terrorist of the Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied extremist Syed Salahuddin, a lapdog of the jihad-supporting Pakistani military, as a global terrorist, that set the tone for the meeting - -particularly as it came during the growing unrest in the Valley. Trump himself was chuffed before the meeting by the US Supreme Court decision allowing limited version of his travel ban to take effect.
Modi's White House engagement, slated to last at least five hours (3:30pm to 8.30pm) end to end, was prefaced by calls on the Indian Prime Minister by secretary of state Rex Tillerson and defense secretary James Mattis at the Willard Hotel, next to the White House. Both cabinet principals reiterated the Trump administration's desire to enhance Washington's strategic ties with India, putting at rest speculation that New Delhi did not figure prominently in Trump's scheme of things, something US officials who previewed the visit on background had also scotched.
Tillerson, Indian officials said, referred to an oped the appeared under Modi's byline in the Wall Street Journal to assert that there was no need for any special opportunity for the two sides to "seize the moment" to enhance ties.
The broad agreement to advance their strategic ties ameliorated some of the differences in trade and commerce which both sides skirted around publicly.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-designates-syed-salahuddin-global-terrorist-sets-tone-for-trump-modi-meet/articleshow/59327850.cms
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India
Al-Qaeda vows attack on Hindu outfits involved in killing Muslims, destroying mosques
New Delhi, June 27, 2017
"Islam has governed India for one thousand years. Hence in that respect, it is our religious objective to bring that Islamic land under the flag of Islam, under the rule of Tahweed (the Oneness of God)," the group said.
Terrorist group al-Qaeda has said it will target Hindu "separatist" organisations involved in the destruction of mosques and Muslims' property and the killing or forced conversion of Muslims.
It has also pledged to target the "leadership" of India's military, police and "secret agencies," and specifically, "those officers of the Indian military who have the blood of our Kashmiri brothers on their hands."
These declarations appear in a document titled 'Code of conduct for Mujahideen in the subcontinent.'
Al-Qaeda said the Indian state was its "top priority, after American and Israeli targets," but added that it's objective wasn't to attack "common" Hindus, Buddhists or people of other faiths.
"This is because our war is against the armed groups belonging to these religions that are oppressing the Muslims," it said.
'ISLAM HAS GOVERNED INDIA FOR 1,000 YEARS'
The group accused the Indian state of oppressing Muslims, especially in Kashmir, promoting anti-Muslim bigotry, and having allied itself with the US, Russia and Israel against "the Islamic and jihadi awakening in the entire region," among other things.
"The Indian state is the fundamental obstacle in the formation of an Islamic India. Islam has governed India for one thousand years. Hence in that respect, it is our religious objective to bring that Islamic land under the flag of Islam, under the rule of Tahweed (the Oneness of God)," it said.
indiatoday.intoday.in/story/al-qaeda-india-hindu-organisations-kashmir-muslims-terrorism/1/988261.html
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India, US call on Pakistan to stop terror attacks launched from its soil
PTI | Updated: Jun 27, 2017
WASHINGTON: Sending out a strong message to Pakistan, India and the US today urged the country to ensure that its territory is not used to launch cross-border terror strikes and to "expeditiously" bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump also vowed to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.
"Eliminating terrorism is among the topmost priorities for us," Modi told reporters in his joint address with Trump at the White House.
The joint statement issued after the meeting between the leaders said the two sides "called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks on other countries."
India, US joint statement
It further called on Pakistan to "expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot attacks and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups."
The Prime Minister said, "We talked about terrorism, extremism and radicalisation and agreed to cooperate on this. Fighting terrorism and doing away with the safe shelters, sanctuaries, and safe havens will be an important part of our cooperation."
Trump said both nations are "determined" to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them.
"The security partnership between the US and India is incredibly important. Both our nations have been struck by the evils of terrorism and we are both determined to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them. We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism," he said.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said the two nations noted that in their joint statement that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought in every part of the world, and the US and India would do it together.
"Our militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces, and next month they will join together with the Japanese navy to take part in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the Indian Ocean," Trump said.
In their address at the White House Rose Garden, the two leaders also touched on trade, security, bilateral co- operation and instability in Afghanistan, among other issues.
Modi termed his talks with Trump, the first between the two leaders, as an "important page in the history of India-US relationship". He said he discussed in detail with Trump defence and security cooperation between the two nations. The two leaders have spoken over phone thrice before this meeting.
Describing both countries as "global engines of growth", the prime minister said trade, commerce and investment are key areas of mutual co-operation. "Technology, innovation and knowledge economy are also areas were are actively looking at," he said.
Trump said he is keen to work with Modi on creating a "fair and reciprocal" trade relationship between the two nations and called for the removal of "barriers" for the export of US goods into Indian markets. "It is important that that we reduce our trade deficit with your country," he added.
The US president said that ties between India and US have never been stronger and better. Before their meeting began, he thanked India for ordering military equipment from the US.
He expressed pleasure about an order by an Indian airline company for 100 new American planes, calling it one of the largest orders of it is kind, which will support thousands and thousands of American jobs.
"We're also looking forward to exporting more American energy to India as your economy grows, including major long- term contracts to purchase American natural gas, which are right now being negotiated, and we will sign them. Trying to get the price up a little bit," he said.
Referring to the GST reform to be implemented across India starting next month, Trump said it was "the largest tax overhaul in your country's history".
"We're doing that also, by the way. Creating great new opportunities for your citizens. You have a big vision for improving infrastructure, and you are fighting government corruption, which is always a grave threat to democracy," he said.
India is the fastest growing economy in the world Trump said and added, "We hope we will be catching up you very soon."
Both leaders also expressed concern over rising instability in Afghanistan caused by terrorism, and agreed to continue strengthening coordination for ensuring peace and stability in the war-torn country.
Trump also called for the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and ballistic programs to be "rapidly" tackled, and thanked Modi for "joining us in applying new sanctions against Pyongyang."
"The North Korean regime is causing tremendous problems and is something that has to be dealt with, and probably dealt with rapidly," Trump said.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-us-call-on-pakistan-to-stop-terror-attacks-launched-from-its-soil/articleshow/59330104.cms
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'Destroying radical Islamic terrorism together is our top goal', say both Trump and PM Modi, after White House talks
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Jun 27, 2017, 04.38 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump both said on Tuesday that "destroying radical Islamic terrorism together" and "ending terror safe havens" is one of the main goals of their countries' strategic partnership.
Following talks held by the two leaders and their delegations, both Trump and Modi made individual statements to the media where they discussed their "shared goals". And neither the H-1B visa issue nor the Paris climate accord found mention in any of the two leaders' statements.
Trump, in fact, said he and Modi share more than just strategic goals, they also have another common interest- social media. "I'm proud to announce that PM Modi and I are world leaders in social media", Trump said, only half joking.
In addition to combating terrorism and sharing intelligence toward that end, Modi and Trump also talked about expanding trade, defence and economic ties "so that both countries" can reap the benefits of growth and job creation and become even bigger "global engines of growth", as PM Modi described it.
Modi also put paid to any speculation that Trump's doctrine of 'America first' would be at odds with his own big 'Make in India' push. He said these policy goals actually "converge" because a strong India and a strong US are goals that are in the best interest of both countries.
Trump, meanwhile, sought to correct any notion that India is on the policy backburner for the US, as some analysts suggested.
"During my campaign I pledged if elected India will have true friend in White House and that's now exactly what you have - a true friend," he said.
Tackling terror
Combating terrorism and improving their security partnership figured a great deal in the statements made by both Modi and Trump.
"Our security partnership is very important for both our countries. Both nations have been struck by the evils of terror. We are determined to destroy radical Islamic terrorism together," said Trump on the White House lawn after the delegation-level talks.
PM Modi took things a step further. He didn't mention Pakistan but made it pretty clear he was referring to it when he said "ending (terror) safe havens" is also a major goal for both India and the US.
"Destroying terrorists and safe havens will be our (joint) aim. Eliminating terrorism is among the top-most priorities for both nations," PM Modi averred.
Trade, commerce
Both leaders said that trade, commerce and investment were important areas they discussed at their meeting.
Trump has in the past often bluntly criticised the growing US trade deficit with India, China and a few other countries. He alluded to the trade deficit again today and talked of a "fair" relationship, but still tread lightly compared with his earlier strident statements, at least in public.
"I look forward to working with you to create jobs in both countries and to grow our trade relationship in a fair manner to bring down the trade deficit," Trump said.
Trump said that he was "pleased" to hear about "an Indian airline's recent order of 100 new American planes, which will support thousands of American jobs."
He also pointedly said that he's "looking forward to exporting more US energy to India as your economy grows, including a major long term contract to purchase natural gas". He didn't connect energy export directly with the trade deficit, but it was clear he believed that was one way to reduce it.
Modi said that one area they have decided to take forward more pro-actively is maritime cooperation. This would be in line with "America strengthening India's defence capabilities", he said.
"Bilateral defence, technology, trade and manufacturing partnerships will improve so they benefit both countries," Modi said, again underscoring the need for mutually beneficial cooperation.
'Outsiders' Modi and Trump
The US President in his address made sure to allude to the 'outsider' status that he and Modi share in the political circles in their countries.
He congratulated India on the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.
"We are also doing that by the way," Trump quipped.
Then he talked about the Modi administration "fighting government corruption" and knowingly added that it was indeed "a grave threat to democracy."
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/destroying-radical-islamic-terrorism-together-is-our-top-goal-say-both-trump-and-pm-modi-after-white-house-talks/articleshow/59329130.cms
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South Asia
ISIS in Afghanistan release grim execution video purports to show execution by children
By GHANIZADA - Tue Jun 27 2017
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan, the so-called ISIS-Khurasan province, has released a new grim execution video purportedly showing the murder of five individuals.
The video circulated online by the supports of the terror group shows the killing of five individuals, accused of espionage.
However, the grimmest part of the video is the execution carried out by two children, with both apparently being less than ten years of age.
The latest video by ISIS loyalists in Afghanistan has been released days after the terror group received unprecedented setbacks on the battlefield, losing several key commanders, leaders, and fighters.
The video has been released after the terror group’s attempts to establish a regional so-called caliphate and foothold in the country was thwarted, specifically in the battle of Tora Bora, one of the key mountainous terrains of the country and home to Al-Qaeda’s founder and leader Osama bin Laden who was ousted as a result of the US air campaign and was subsequently killed in Abottabad of Pakistan.
In the meantime, the Afghan forces, in collaboration with the US forces based in Afghanistan have stepped up efforts and counter-terrorism operations to oust and eliminate the terror group from the Afghan soil.
The acting Minister of Defense Tariq Shah Bahrami said two weeks ago that a major plan of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to establish the Khurasan province in Afghanistan has been foiled by the Afghan security forces.
Bahrami further added that the Afghan security forces have launched 12 large operations so far and dozens of medium and large operations while hundreds of airstrikes have been conducted on the hideouts of the terror group.
According to the acting minister of defense, at least 2,500 militants of the terrorist group have been killed during the operations until now and around 800 others have sustained injuries.
khaama.com/isis-in-afghanistan-release-grim-execution-video-purports-to-show-execution-by-children-03026
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12 militants killed, 7 hideouts destroyed in Nangarhar airstrike
By KHAAMA PRESS - Tue Jun 27 2017
At least twelve insurgents were killed in an airstrike conducted in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Achin district.
A statement by MoD said at least twelve insurgents were killed and seven of their hideouts were destroyed in the raid.
No further details were given regarding the airstrike and it is yet not clear if the militants belonged to the Taliban insurgents or ISIS terrorist group.
Nangarhar is among the relatively calm provinces in East of Afghanistan but certain remote districts of it have witnessed growing insurgency mainly led by Taliban and ISIS during the recent years.
A major plan of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to establish the Khurasan province in Afghanistan has been foiled by the Afghan security forces, the acting Minister of Defense Tariq Shah Bahrami said earlier.
Bahrami further added that the Afghan security forces have launched 12 large operations so far and dozens of medium and large operations while hundreds of airstrikes have been conducted on the hideouts of the terror group.
According to the acting minister of defense, at least 2,500 militants of the terrorist group have been killed during the operations until now and around 800 others have sustained injuries.
khaama.com/12-militants-killed-7-hideouts-destroyed-in-nangarhar-airstrike-03024
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Kabul security plan final and will be implemented soon: Ghani
By KHAAMA PRESS - Tue Jun 27 2017
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said a comprehensive security for capital Kabul has been prepared and will be finalized in the near future.
He informed regarding the finalization of the security plan during a meeting with the generals, officers, and personnel of the Afghan army’s 111th division in Kabul.
According to President Ghani, the security plan for capital Kabul and implementation of the four year security plan will further boost the capabilities of the Afghan national defense and security forces.
President Ghani further added that the Afghan security forces are only authorized to use weapons being in the sacred uniform of the army and no one else has the right for the use of the fire arms.
He said the Afghan security forces guarantee peace and stability but those pursuing war and violence will be suppressed.
This comes as the key cities of the country, including capital Kabul witnessed unprecedented violence in the past one month, with the militants staging some of the deadliest attacks.
The attack near the embassy of Germany in Kabul and the coordinated attack on a funeral in the city forced the government to reconsider its strategies, leading to the development of the security plan for the capital.
In the meantime, the Afghan government plans to boost the capabilities of the Afghan security forces as part of its four-year security plan.
According to the Afghan officials, the new plan prepared by the Afghan government will focus on boosting the capabilities of the Afghan defense and security forces, particularly the Afghan Air Force.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony of the Afghan army officers in February this year, President Ghani had said the Afghan Air Force has became operational with the support of the its international allies and will be fully equipped until 2020 as he pointed towards the government’s security plan.
khaama.com/kabul-security-plan-final-and-will-be-implemented-soon-ghani-03025
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India, US agree to strengthen ties to ensure peace in Afghanistan
PTI | Jun 27, 2017
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday night agreed to continue strengthening coordination for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan as they expressed concern over rising instability in the war-torn country caused by terrorism.
Trump thanked the Indian people for their "contributions to the effort in Afghanistan, and for joining us in applying new sanctions against the North Korean regime."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed in depth several regional issues, including Afghanistan during their meeting.
Modi said the rising instability in Afghanistan due to terrorism is a cause of mutual concern for both India and the US.
"India and the US have played a crucial role in the redevelopment of Afghanistan and its security. We will have close coordination, consultation and communication to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan," Modi said.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/india-us-agree-to-strengthen-ties-to-ensure-peace-in-afghanistan/articleshow/59329465.cms
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Southeast Asia
ISIS Forces Women Trapped In Over-Run Philippines City to Become Sex Slaves, Orders Hostages to Convert To Islam As It Uses Christian Human Shields To Fend Off Duterte's Troops
27 June 2017
ISIS fighters in the Philippines are forcing women to become sex slaves and hiding behind 100 Christian human shields as the vicious battle to retake a city held by the militants enters its second month.
Terrorists from the Maute group seized Marawi City five weeks ago and have taken hostages who they are forcing to convert to Islam and carry wounded fighters.
Most of Marawi's 200,000 citizens have fled since the attack on May 23, and those left behind have been subjected to horrific abuse, according to escapees.
'They are being forced to be sex slaves, forced to destroy the dignity of these women,' said army spokesman Jo-Ar Herrera.
'This is what is happening inside, this is very evident..these are evil personalities.'
Hostages include leading churchman Father TeresitoSoganub.
Abdullah Maute, one of two brothers who formed the group, said on Sunday he would free Soganub in return for his parents, who are being held by police.
But this request was refused by Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, with his spokesman saying any bargaining with terrorists was against government policy.
Heavy clashes broke out today as strongman leader Duterte ordered intense bombing raids by planes on the shrinking rebel zone.
The authorities believe Soganub and more than 100 other Christians are being held by the Islamic State-affiliated insurgents as human shields.
Taking advantage of a short truce on Sunday to mark the Eid al-Fitr, eight Muslim leaders entered the conflict zone and met briefly with Maute.
This meeting was condemned by the Philippine government, who said it was sticking to its policy of not negotiating with the terrorists.
A spokesman said: 'Let us remind the public, the gravity of the terrorists and their supporters' offences is immense and they must be held accountable for all their actions.'
The Maute brothers' father, CayamoraMaute, was arrested on June 6 in Davao City, about 140 km southeast of Marawi.
Their influential businesswoman mother, FarhanaMaute, was arrested three days later, closer to Marawi.
The military's public relations machine has been insisting the rebel leadership was crumbling, saying top commanders had escaped or been killed.
It said the rebels had executed some of their own men for wanting to surrender.
And authorities claimed IsnilonHapilon, Islamic State's anointed 'emir' in Southeast Asia, had fled the warzone and 'abandoned his comrades'.
Military officers, however, have said they lack solid proof of such developments and were working to verify intelligence reports.
Civilians rescued from besieged Marawi city in Philippines
The protracted siege on Marawi has caused concerns about the strength of IS in the southern Philippines.
The rebels' organisation, combat capability and use of heavy weapons has raised fears in the mainly Roman Catholic country that it is unprepared for the threat.
Fighting has raged in the town since an operation to arrest Hapilon went wrong on May 23, leading to the government losing not just Hapilon, but control of the city.
Some 70 servicemen, 27 civilians and 290 militants have since been killed and 246,000 people have been displaced from a town where some neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble.
Fleeing residents believe large numbers of civilians may have been killed while trapped in areas under fire from militant snipers and battered by artillery and air strikes.
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4642518/Philippines-says-no-deal-Islamists-seized-Marawi.html#ixzz4lDFlex5e
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Taiwan - fast becoming haven for Muslim travelers
Published Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Taiwan is the 7th highest non-IOC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) destinations in the world. Attracting over 30,000 Muslim visitors a year and growing, the island country is fast emerging as a ‘Halal Tourism’ destination.
It is estimated that by 2020, there will be as many as 168 million people traveling the world over, amongst which Muslims, which are the least exposed to travel (due to their stern Islamic doctrines) make up for 16 million of the total sum.
But Taiwan, looking to cater for these sensitive communities has inducted some welcoming measures such as; food monitor and regulation, Mosques for prayer and worship, information regarding prayer timings and schedule, halal eateries and much more. All of which to help Muslim feel right at home.
Despite having a majority of Buddhist population, many of Taiwan’s major cities have mosques in them. Cities such as Taipei, Zhongli, Taichung, Tainam and Kaohsiung all have operational mosques and certified halal eateries. The Kuala Lumpur-based Taiwan Tourism Bureau (TTB) Director, Tony Wu said, that Taiwan now has more than 100 halal eateries and the nation is aiming to project 100,000 Muslim tourists by the end of this year.
Now, the question still arises; who monitors and administers these norms? And whether they are under a supervising authority, which is approved and recognized by the Islamic community?
To mitigate these fears there is in place a rating system, ‘The Crescent Rating System’; a globally recognized independent rating standard, and approved by the Taiwan Integrity Development Association, which is a member of the World Halal Food Council.
Also, the Chinese Muslim Association in Taipei certifies all halal products and eateries that are operating in Taiwan. There is a mobile app as well called Halal Taiwan that helps Muslims go about their ways.
How does the Crescent Rating System work?
The Crescent Rating System works on the overall halal-friendliness of hotels on a scale of 1 – 7. 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest. Having the reputation of being one of the world’s great kitchens, halal foods are very much welcome.
Cuisines ranging from Middle Eastern-Arabian, Moroccan, Egyptian, Turkish, Indian to even Thai and Indonesian are served in them.
Here is how the rating works:
Hotels with 1 – 3 crescent rating are considered ‘helpful’. They provide prayer timings and direction as well as information on nearby halal eateries and Mosques.
Hotels with a 4 level rating, will additionally have a partial halal food service; either halal breakfast and/room service. A level 5 rating will have a halal certified kitchen or restaurant.
Hotels with a rating of 6 – 7 take into account most of the needs of a halal conscious traveller in their service and facilities. In general, they will be serving only halal food and beverages, along with other family-friendly facilities.
emirates247.com/lifestyle/taiwan-fast-becoming-haven-for-muslim-travelers-2017-06-27-1.655203
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North America
US designates Syed Salahuddin 'global terrorist', sets tone for Trump-Modi meet
ChidanandRajghatta | TNN | Jun 27, 2017, 12.22 AM IST
WASHINGTON: The Trump White House on Monday rolled out the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaling through several gestures ahead of his meeting with the US President enhancement of strategic ties with India that were conceived during the Bush and Obama years.
After the White House had asserted in previews to the meeting that the two countries are on the same page in so far as global security and terrorism is concerned, the State Department on Monday designated Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist just hours before Trump received Modi at the White House.
Trump also drafted First Lady Melania Trump to join him in welcoming the Indian Prime Minister. The First Lady is also slated to join them for dinner and take part in the departure ceremony, making it three appearances with the visiting dignitary - a clearly personal gesture from Trump towards a leader who is single and unaccompanied.
The dinner itself is a special gesture - the first such event in the Trump White House for a foreign leader, although Trump hosted the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
In his September 2014 visit to Washington DC during the Obama Presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi famously went without eating during a White House dinner because he was in the middle of a nine-day Navratri fast.
While then President Obama and the two delegations feasted on crisped halibut in ginger carrot sauce, compressed avocados, and mango cremebrulee, Modi sipped on warm water. Also absent from the reception, First Lady Michelle Obama gave the dinner a miss and went on a day trip to the mid-west.
No such complications as India's Prime Minister headed into the White House early Monday evening - he'll not only eat but also have the First Lady for company at the dinner.
Melania Trump has only just moved in to the White House and this will be the first big reception she will be part of in the Presidential mansion.
Also apparently playing a prominent role during the Modi visit will be US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley - a first generation Sikh who was born Nimrata Randhawa — the sole Indian-American cabinet member in the Trump administration.
President Trump has invited Haley to the Monday lunch he usually has with vice-president Mike Pence, just ahead of Modi's arrival at the White House at 3.30pm(local time), presumably to discuss the upcoming meeting. Haley has met Modi when she was governor of South Carolina to promote business in her home state.
But it was the designation as global terrorist of the Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied extremist Syed Salahuddin, a lapdog of the jihad-supporting Pakistani military, as a global terrorist, that set the tone for the meeting - -particularly as it came during the growing unrest in the Valley. Trump himself was chuffed before the meeting by the US Supreme Court decision allowing limited version of his travel ban to take effect.
Modi's White House engagement, slated to last at least five hours (3:30pm to 8.30pm) end to end, was prefaced by calls on the Indian Prime Minister by secretary of state Rex Tillerson and defense secretary James Mattis at the Willard Hotel, next to the White House. Both cabinet principals reiterated the Trump administration's desire to enhance Washington's strategic ties with India, putting at rest speculation that New Delhi did not figure prominently in Trump's scheme of things, something US officials who previewed the visit on background had also scotched.
Tillerson, Indian officials said, referred to an oped the appeared under Modi's byline in the Wall Street Journal to assert that there was no need for any special opportunity for the two sides to "seize the moment" to enhance ties.
The broad agreement to advance their strategic ties ameliorated some of the differences in trade and commerce which both sides skirted around publicly.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-designates-syed-salahuddin-global-terrorist-sets-tone-for-trump-modi-meet/articleshow/59327850.cms
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I hate to call Pakistan an ally: Former US diplomat
Jun 27, 2017, 02.59 AM IST
NEW DELHI: A former American diplomat said on Monday she "hates" calling Pakistan a US ally, ANI reported.
Teresita Schaffer, a former US envoy to Sri Lanka, made the comment in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US where he met with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
"I hate to call Pakistan an ally. That was historically true but it's such a complicated relationship," said Teresita Schaffer, a former US envoy to Sri Lanka, according to ANI.
Schaffer also indicated that this could be a good time for the Modi-Trump meeting given the precarious relations between the US and Pakistan. Just on Monday, in fact, the US state department declared HizbulMujahideen chief Syed Salahuddina 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist'.
"Pakistan-US relations are in difficult shape, so on the face of it that would appear to make things little bit easier for India," the former US diplomat said.
Schaffer was referring to reports that the Trump administration is considering hardening its line against Pakistan in an attemptto crack down on militants based there who are launching attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan.
"Potential Trump administration responses being discussed include expanding U.S. drone strikes, redirecting or withholding some aid to Pakistan and perhaps eventually downgrading Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally," wrote Reuters citing two US officials who weren't named.
The US state department is currently hammering out a regional strategy to be presented to Trump, Reuters said.
"We've never really fully articulated what our strategy towards Pakistan is. The strategy will more clearly say what we want from Pakistan specifically," the two U.S. officials said.
In fact, a report in February by the conservative Hudson Institute think tank said the US needs to rethink its position vis-a-vis Pakistan.
"Thinking of Pakistan as an ally will continue to create problems for the next administration as it did for the last one," said the report.
Afghanistan has said more than once that terror attacks are being carried out there by the Haqqani network with assistance from Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies.
Afghanistan figured in US-India talks during Modi's visit to Washington.
On Monday, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and US defense secretary Jim Mattis called on PM Modi. The issues that figured prominently in both discussions were terrorism, Afghanistan and the situation in the Asia Pacific region, external affairs spokesman Gopal Baglay said.
Modi conveyed to Tillerson that the "fulcrum of India's foreign policy" is to have good relations with all nations, "in particular with its neighbours", OTI reported.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/i-hate-to-call-pakistan-an-ally-former-us-diplomat/articleshow/59329096.cms
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The US supreme court offers Muslims protection – and discrimination – at once
Tuesday 27 June 2017
On Tuesday, six justices of the US supreme court reached a compromise on Donald Trump’s travel ban, making fine distinctions about who he can and cannot ban from the US. Trump can’t ban people from the six Muslim-majority countries if they have a close relationship to a person or entity in the US, the court said, but he can ban people if they don’t.
Many commentators have suggested that this is essentially a complete win for those who oppose Trump’s travel ban. At a high level, that is true: most people from the affected countries who seek to enter the US will have obtained a visa that required them to have a relative, job or some other connection in the US that would seem to protect them from the president’s wrath under the court’s test.
In practice, however, fine distinctions can open the door to vast discrimination – the very object of Trump’s campaign of animus against people of the Muslim faith, which drove the lower courts to take a more complete approach to blocking his executive order.
To understand the impact of the supreme court’s decision, it is important to appreciate what it is like to be Muslim in the US today: that your religion exposes you to the all-but-accepted reality of routine deprivations of liberty and privacy each time you present yourself at the border.
This discrimination (whether subconscious or otherwise) is an unwritten condition of your right to be in this country. It is the consequence of your apparent offense of Flying While Muslim.
For this reason, many (if not most) Muslims today approach basic interactions at the US border with trepidation, out of fear that border officials will (again, perhaps subconsciously) exercise their discretion to impose secondary screening, invasive questioning or intrusive searches based on their religion. This fear is rational – if it is not based on firsthand experiences, it is likely based on those of family or friends.
And it is rational even when the strength of your connection to the US means that you cannot lawfully be denied entry. There are myriad examples of American Muslims – people who have an unqualified and irrevocable right to enter the US – being met at the border by practices such as discriminatory religious questioning, invasive cellphone searches and even temporary denial of entry.
The supreme court’s new distinction creates yet another discretionary determination that awaits certain Muslims at the border. If you are from one of the affected countries, an individual border official will decide whether you have a sufficiently “credible” or “bona fide” relationship to someone or something in the US, such that you avoid application of the entry ban.
Moreover, based on the court’s decision, you will have little idea what documentation that official will want to see in making that determination and the official may believe he has little constraining his discretion (aside from the few examples provided by the court).
The inevitable result is that Muslims who do have substantial connections to American citizens and American entities – people who are clearly intended to be exempt under the court’s test – will be exposed to further discriminatory questioning (again, subconsciously or otherwise) and, at least in the first instance, subject to the whim of the person who meets them at the border.
This point appeared to be lost on the court, which seemed to believe that affording discretion to deny entry to those people who fail its test will have no impact on those people who should pass its test. That reasoning reflects a fundamental misapprehension of what it is like to arrive in the US as a Muslim today.
To be sure, the court’s decision is far more tolerable than reinstating the travel ban in full, as the three dissenting Justices would have done. But when carving lines into Trump’s travel ban, the court may well have unleashed some of the vitriol that lies directly beneath.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/27/us-supreme-court-muslim-ban-protection-discrimination
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Congress must stop Trump’s Muslim ban: Amnesty International
Tue Jun 27, 2017
Amnesty International has condemned the US Supreme Court ruling that partially reinstates President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban on 6 Muslim-majority countries.
The prominent international human rights group urged the US Congress on Monday to nullify the top court’s ruling that allows Trump’s executive order to take effect until it hears arguments on the travel ban in October.
“It’s always been crystal clear that this policy was based on discrimination. Reinstating any part of this ban could create chaos in the nation’s airports and tear families apart,” Margaret Huang, Amnesty International USA executive director, said in a statement.
“This bigoted ban cannot be allowed to take effect again, and Congress needs to step in immediately to nullify it once and for all,” she wrote.
"Rather than keeping anyone safe, this ban demonizes millions of innocent people and creates anxiety and instability for people who want to visit a relative, work, study, return to the country they call home, or just travel without fear.”
The Supreme Court on Monday narrowed the scope of lower court rulings that blocked Trump’s Muslim ban from taking effect nationwide, and also agreed to hear the administration’s appeal in these cases. The ban would affect people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The court announced that it would hear arguments on the legality of Trump’s executive order in the court's next term, which starts in October.
The court, however, granted the government's emergency request to put the presidential decree into effect immediately while the legal battle continues.
According to the ruling, citizens of the six countries who do not have a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in America would be denied entry, but people who can prove they have a relationship to a person or entity inside the US will be permitted to travel to the country.
Trump issued a revised travel ban on March 6 after his initial directive signed in January was blocked by a federal judge in Washington state and upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, California.
However, the revised order was also blocked by federal judges in the states of Hawaii and Maryland and upheld by the 9th Circuit Court and the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia.
Last month, the 4th Circuit Court said the president’s revised order “drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination.”
presstv.com/Detail/2017/06/27/526672/Trump-travel-ban-Amnesty-Internationa-lUS-Supreme-Court
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US Military To Assess Allegations Of Airstrike on Islamic State-Run Jail
JUNE 27, 2017
BEIRUT (AP) — The U.S. military says it will assess allegations that a coalition airstrike may have killed over 40 prisoners held in an Islamic State-run jail in eastern Syria.
Central Command confirmed to the AP on Tuesday that it struck IS facilities in the town of al-Mayadeen in the province of Deir El-Zour the day before.
Syrian activists reported an IS jail was struck in the area on Monday, and said at least 42 prisoners were killed, along with several IS fighters.
CENTCOM said it would publish the results of its assessment in its monthly civilian casualty report.
It said the Mayadeen mission was “meticulously planned and executed to reduce the risk… to non-combatants.”
The Kremlin is dismissing the White House’s warning that the Syrian government is preparing a new chemical attack and that President Bashar Assad and his military “will pay a heavy price” if it goes ahead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that “such threats to Syria’s legitimate leaders are unacceptable.”
Russia is Assad’s key backer and sided with him when he denied responsibility for a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of people in Idlib province on April 4.
Days later, President Donald Trump ordered a retaliatory cruise missile strike on a Syrian government-controlled air base.
Peskov criticized the Trump administration for using the phrase “another chemical weapons attack,” arguing that an independent investigation into the April attack was never conducted despite Russia’s calls for one.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/us-military-airstrike-allegations-islamic-state-jail
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Many Americans oppose injustice against Muslims: Activist
Tue Jun 27, 2017
A travel ban imposed by the US administration on citizens from six Muslim-populated countries is not the behavior that the majority of people in the United States agree with, says a commentator.
“Americans do not like injustice” and the vast majority of them “are not comfortable with that kind of overt behavior” against minorities like Muslims, Cagri told Press TV on Tuesday.
IlhanCagri is a member of the Muslim Public Affairs Council from Washington.
217.218.67.231/Detail/2017/06/27/526679/US-Muslims-Travel-Ban
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U.S.-led coalition says hit Islamic State targets in Syrian town
The U.S.-led coalition said on Tuesday it had conducted strikes on Islamic State targets in the Syrian town of al-Mayadeen this week and it would assess allegations that dozens of people had been killed in an air strike there on Monday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier said dozens of people had been killed on Monday in al-Mayadeen in an air strike believed to have been carried out by the coalition on an Islamic Sate prison.
"The Coalition conducted strikes on known ISIS command and control facilities and other ISIS infrastructure in (Mayadeen), Syria, June 25 and 26," Colonel Joe Scrocca, coalition director of public affairs, said in an email to Reuters.
"The removal of these facilities disrupts ISIS's ability to facilitate and provoke terrorist attacks against the coalition, our partner forces and in our homelands. This mission was meticulously planned and executed to reduce the risk of collateral damage and potential harm to non-combatants."
in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-mayadeen-idINKBN19I1GX?rpc=401&
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Arab World
Al-Nusra Fails Again in Quneitra Offensive, Sustains over 170 Casualties
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army warded off another offensive by al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board) in Quneitra, inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists.
The army forces engaged in heavy clashes with the al-Nusra terrorists who had attacked regions near Eastern al-Samdaniyeh in the Southern parts of al-Ba'ath city in Quneitra, repulsing their offensive.
Meantime, the army's artillery and missile units targeted the terrorists' moves in the region, killing a number of militants, including two of their field and military commanders.
Also, a military source said that clashes near al-Ba'ath city have left 45 terrorists dead and 130 others wounded, adding that Israel has transferred the al-Nusra's injured militants to its hospitals and a number of Hebrew-language media have released reports about it.
On Monday, the Syrian army troops engaged in tough battle with Al-Nusra Front in the Southern province of Quneitra and repelled their heavy attack, killing and wounding 150 militants.
The army soldiers warded off Al-Nusra's large-scale attack towards the town of al-Ba'ath and managed to restore security to the region after killing and wounding 150 terrorists.
Al-Nusra's military hardware sustained heavy damage in the failed attack.
A field source said that Abu al-Qasem Haji Amin and Yusef al-Motaleb, two senior Al-Nusra commanders, were among the dead militants.
The source further said that Al-Nusra's second large-scale attack on army positions in al-Ba'ath was carried out after their failure in the first attack on Sunday to decrease the pro-government forces' pressure on the militants in Dara'a via attacking army's positions in al-Ba'ath.
The source added that Al-Nusra's attacks were carried out simultaneous with the Israeli air force' attacks on army positons that left a number of Syrian soldiers and civilians dead in Quneitra.
The source went on to say that a number of injured militants have been transferred to an Israeli hospital.
Another field source said that the army also managed to recapture all the lost points to the West of al-Ba'ath city in Quneitra province, effectively reversing every gain that militants were able to achieve in recent hours, including in Mashtal Al-Zohor, the Fire Station building and the Security Force building (Al-Mafrazeh).
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960406000249
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Syrian Army about to Annihilate ISIL
TEHRAN (FNA)- Military experts say the recent advances of the Syrian Army troops at border with Iraq towards the ISIL-held town of Albu Kamal were of vital importance, showing that the pro-government forces will soon drive terrorists out of the war-hit country.
Amin Hatit pointed to the army's advances against terrorists from the country's border with Iraq towards North, and said that the army's control over the large region between DeirEzzur city and the town of Albu Kamal will pave the ground for the restoration of complete tranquility and security to Palmyra, energy-rich regions and Badiyeh (desert).
He further said that the joint operation of the Syrian and Iraqi forces will benefit both countries, adding that the Raqqa triangle towards Palmyra that covers a large region up to DeirEzzur and Albu Kamal is a strategic triangle that can be used for the overall liberation operation in Syria.
Hatit underscored the strategic importance of DeirEzzur that is located between Iraq and Syria, saying the army expects two important objectives from the liberation operation of DeirEzzur. "First foiling the US plan to access central parts of Syria and Iraq and the second, completing its anti-terrorism operation and liberating all Syrian territories."
Also, a military source said days ago that the Syrian Army soldiers have entered DeirEzzur province from its Southeastern part for the first time in the last five years, adding that the pro-government forces are only 125km away from Albu Kamal.
Expert believe that simultaneous with the army's anti-ISIL operations in Homs, Hama and Raqqa provinces, the pro-government forces' control over DeirEzzur province that is considered as the second bastion of ISIL in Syria after Raqqa, can end ISIL's presence in the war-torn country.
Relevant reports said on Saturday that the army troops continued their advances against ISIL in Raqqa and DeirEzzur provinces and managed to take control of a strategic town, blocking the path of the US and its affiliated militants to DeirEzzur.
The army men captured the key town of al-Rasafeh West of Raqqa province and closed off the US planned move to DeirEzzur city through Western Raqqa.
In the meantime, the army men closed off the Southern entrance of Raqqa city to ISIL by capturing al-Rasafeh.
Field sources said that recent advances of the army soldiers have blocked the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces path to approach DeirEzzur.
Ali Maqsoud, a Syrian military expert said al-Rasafeh that is located West of DeirEzzur and South of Raqqa is now under the control of the Syrian army, "so all US plans to access DeirEzzur are null and void now".
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960405000584
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Tens of Terrorists Killed, Wounded in Clashes between Rival Groups in Southern Syria
TEHRAN (FNA)- Local sources reported that tens of ISIL terrorists have been killed or wounded in a fresh round of clashes with the rival group of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the Western countryside of Dara'a city.
The sources said that simultaneous with the Syrian Army troops' anti-terrorism operations , ISIL and the FSA terrorists engaged in a fresh round of fierce clashes near the town of Heet that left 20 ISIL militants dead and three of their military vehicles destroyed.
Also, a bloody battle erupted in the Southern province of Dara'a days ago after allied groups of the FSA opened fire on each other amid fears of defection to the ISIL terrorist group.
The reports said that heavy clashes erupted between the militants of Shabab al-Sunna branch of the Free Syrian Army and FSA's Jeish al-Yarmouk in the town of Ma'arabeh in Eastern Dara'a.
The infighting started between the rival terrorists after a checkpoint operating under Jeish al-Yarmouk did not allow the supporting forces of Shabab al-Sunna to move towards the customs house of the town of Nasib.
The supporting forces of Shabab al-Sunna intended to move to Nasib customs house to back up their comrades in Shabab al-Sunna that were involved in clashes with FSA's Houran Falujeh Division.
According to reports, hundreds of militants have defected to the ISIL over the past year, increasing tensions among FSA factions.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Army forces have intensified their attacks on terrorist groups' defense lines in the Southern city of Dara'a after the peace plan between Damascus officials and militant groups failed, as the pro-government troops have been mobilizing forces in Dara'a in a bid to secure the government-controlled parts of the provincial capital.
According to reports, Al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board) has refused to retreat from parts of Southern Dara'a up to the vital passageway of Nasib and rejected to join the peace agreement with the army, while several militant groups of the FSA have applied for government amnesty.
In the meantime, field sources said that implementation of the peace plan went unlikely after several cases of terrorist groups' attacks on residential areas and army continued reinvigoration of its offensive capabilities to enter Southern Dara'a.
Jamal al-Za'abi, who represents Dara'a people in the Syrian Parliament, also added that terrorists' measures and their insistence on attacking civilians have made implementation of the reconciliation plan unlikely.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960405000540
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US-led strikes on Islamic State-held prison 'kills 57 people' including civilians
27 JUNE 2017
US-led coalition air strikes on a jail run by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria killed at least 57 people, monitors said on Tuesday.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air strike took place on Monday at dawn, hitting a building in the town of Mayadin, south of Raqqa, that was being used as a prison.
"The strikes hit an IS jail in Mayadin at dawn on Monday, killing 42 prisoners and 15 jihadists," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Many of the dead are thought to be civilians, as well as captured rebel fighters from the Free Syrian Army.
If the toll is confirmed, it would make it one of the deadliest single incidents since the US intervened in the Syrian war in 2014.
Islamic State is believed to have moved most of its leaders to Mayadin in Syria's Euphrates Valley, southeast of the group's besieged capital Raqqa, two U.S. intelligence officials have said.
Among the operations moved to Mayadin, about 50 miles west of the Iraqi border, were its online propaganda operation and its limited command and control of attacks in Europe and elsewhere, they said.
"The Coalition conducted strikes on known ISIS command and control facilities and other ISIS infrastructure in (Mayadin), Syria, June 25 and 26," Colonel Joe Scrocca, coalition director of public affairs, said in an email.
"The removal of these facilities disrupts ISIS's ability to facilitate and provoke terrorist attacks against the coalition, our partner forces and in our homelands. This mission was meticulously planned and executed to reduce the risk of collateral damage and potential harm to non-combatants."
telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/us-led-strikes-islamic-state-held-prison-kills-57-people-including/
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Syrian Observatory: dozens killed in air strike in Islamic State-held town
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday dozens of people were killed in an air strike believed to have been carried out by the U.S.-led coalition on an Islamic State prison in eastern Syria.
The U.S.-led coalition said it would look into the report.
The Observatory said the air strike took place on Monday at dawn, hitting a building in the town of al-Mayadeen that was being used as a prison. It said at least 42 people were killed, identifying them as prisoners of Islamic State.
Syrian state-run TV station al-Ikhbariya cited its correspondent in Deir al-Zor as saying coalition warplanes had destroyed a building in al-Mayadeen used as a prison by Islamic State. In a news bulletin flashed on screen, it said the building had been used as a prison for a "large number of civilians".
Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said: "With every single allegation we will take it and look into it.
"If we are responsible for any civilian casualties we come forth and admit it," he said. He said Observatory reporting had previously been exaggerated.
Islamic State is believed to have moved most of its leaders to al-Mayadeen in Syria's Euphrates Valley, southeast of the group's besieged capital Raqqa, two U.S. intelligence officials have said.
Among the operations moved to al-Mayadeen, about 80 km (50 miles) west of the Iraqi border, were its online propaganda operation and its limited command and control of attacks in Europe and elsewhere, they said.
(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-airstrike-idINKBN19I16V?rpc=401&
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Over 8,000 migrants rescued in Mediterranean in 48 hours
AFP | Jun 27, 2017
ROME: More than 8,000 migrants have been rescued in waters off Libya during the past 48 hours in difficult weather conditions, Italy's coastguard said today.
"On Monday, we rescued about 5,000 people from four large boats, one smaller one and 18 rubber dinghies," a spokesman told AFP.
People were pulled to safety by coastguard vessels, military ships operating under the EU's border agency Frontex and aid boats run by privately funded organisations. Their efforts were coordinated by the coastguard.
"Together with Sea Watch and Sea Eye our crew was able to save more people last night under bad weather conditions," the German NGO JugendRettet tweeted on Tuesday, referring to two other nonprofit groups.
It said that "three people died", though it was not clear whether the victims were found dead or died during the rescue.
Italy's coastguard said it was seeing "a lot of activity" on Tuesday, "but not at the same level as on Monday".
Spain's Civil Guard said one of its vessels serving under Frontex's anti-trafficking Operation Triton had rescued 133 people found on an inflatable dinghy off Libya.
Those rescued included 17 minors, two babies and 23 women, seven of whom were pregnant, it said.
The crew was coming to the assistance of two other dinghies and had been asked to assist three others, it said, adding that the vessel expected to end up with 1,300 migrants on board, "its maximum capacity".
Traffickers on the North African coast take advantage of periods of good weather to set large numbers of migrants seeking passage to Europe out to sea, a notoriously dangerous crossing.
On Sunday, over 3,300 people were rescued in 31 separate operations, while two bodies were recovered.
The record for migrants rescued on a single day stands at 7,000, plucked from their unseaworthy vessels on August 29, 2016.
Over 73,300 migrants have landed in Italy since January, a 14 percent increase from the same period last year.
Just over 2,000 people have died attempting the crossing or are missing feared drowned since the beginning of 2017, according to the UN's refugee agency.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/over-8000-migrants-rescued-in-mediterranean-in-48-hours/articleshow/59339686.cms
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New Details Disclosed about US Downing of Syrian Fighter Jet in Raqqa
TEHRAN (FNA)- A leading US magazine revealed new details about the US F-18's downing of a Syrian Su-22 fighter jet over Raqqa, noting that the American-made weapons do not always work as claimed.
According to the National Interest, the US Navy’s recent shooting down of a Syrian Arab Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter near the town of Tabqah over Syria is illustrative of a truth in modern warfare: Weapons do not always work as advertised.
During the engagement between a pair of Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornets—flying off the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)—and the Fitter, advanced US air-to-air missiles were decoyed at short-range. Indeed, as was reported by CNN, the Super Hornets first attacked the antiquated early-1970s vintage Su-22 strike aircraft with an infrared-guided Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder.
Though the Pentagon has not released any details, the Sidewinder was likely an AIM-9X, the latest iteration of the long-serving weapon that features high off-boresight capability. Though the F/A-18E pilot fired the Sidewinder from about half a mile away—very short range even for an AIM-9 shot—the weapon was decoyed by the Russian-built Su-22’s flares. The Navy pilot reengaged with a Raytheon AIM-120C AMRAAM—a considerably more expensive and much longer-ranged active radar guided weapon—to dispatch the antiquated Fitter.
The question one might ask is: How did the Su-22 pilot decoy the AIM-9 with flares given the modern Sidewinder’s advanced imaging focal plane array infrared seeker?
Indeed, the AIM-9X is specifically designed to avoid being spoofed by decoys. All Sidewinders have had such features since the early 1980s—but the 9X variant is exponentially more capable than its predecessors. The problem is that technology is never perfect, and often, the enemy will have their own tricks up their sleeves.
According to the US magazine, the Probability of Kill numbers for the modern day AIM-120 AMRAAM and the AIM-9X are classified, but weapons are known to perform exceptionally well during live fire exercises. However, as with previous generation weapons, the AIM-120 has not lived up to its statistics during actual combat. Since its debut during Desert Storm and through Iraqi Freedom, the AMRAAM has defeated six targets in combat for 13 shots taken at beyond visual ranges—roughly a 46 percent success rate. The weapon also recently destroyed the aforementioned Su-22 over Syria—but that was at close range.
A Syrian fighter jet engaged in operations against the ISIL in Raqqa was downed by the US-led coalition warplane on June 18.
Damascus stressed that the US-led coalition has shot down one of its bomber during a mission in Raqqa countryside.
According to the statement, the warplane was carrying out operations against ISIL in the countryside of Raqqa when it was targeted, leading to a crash and the loss of the pilot, who is currently missing.
“This attack comes at a time when the Syrian Arab army and its allies are advancing in the fight against ISIS (ISIL or Daesh) terrorists who are being defeated in the Syrian desert in more ways than one,” the statement read.
The statement stressed that although such attacks seek to undermine the Syrian armed forces’ struggle against terrorism, they will not be deterred in fighting for stability and security in the Syrian Arab Republic.
The downing of the Syrian aircraft was confirmed by an official press statement from Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led international task force against ISIL, which accused the Damascus government of targeting fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces.
“At 6:43pm, a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters South of Tabaqa and, in accordance with rules of engagement and collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a US F/A-18E Super Hornet,” the statement read.
The statement stressed that its mission is to defeat ISIS (ISIL or Daesh) in Iraq and Syria and that the Coalition does not seek to “fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat.”
It is not the first time that the US-led intervention in Syria has led to standoffs and violence against pro-government forces.
As Washington claims that it fights against the ISIL group, US warships fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from two warships in the Mediterranean Sea at the Shayrat airfield in Homs province on April 7, following a chemical weapons incident in Idlib province on April 4 which the Western countries blamed on the Damascus government.
The Syrian government has fiercely denied using or even possessing chemical weapons since the country’s compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention was certified by international observers in 2013, as the world is still waiting for the US and its allies to provide any proof for its claims of Bashar al-Assad government involvement in the alleged chemical attack.
Also on May 18, the US-led coalition struck pro-Bashar Assad forces near al-Tanf in the area of an established de-confliction zone. The coalition air raids occurred near al-Tanf, where US' and British special operations forces have been training militants near the border with Iraq and Jordan.
On June 6, the Pentagon announced the coalition conducted a new strike on pro-Syrian government forces as they entered the de-confliction zone with Russia and posed threat to its personnel. The force comprised of a tank, artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, armed technical vehicles and more than 60 soldiers. At least two Syrian servicemen were killed and more than 15 injured as a result of the attack.
On June 8, the US-led coalition bombed pro-Damascus forces near al-Tanf in the area of a de-confliction zone following an alleged attack by a combat drone resulting in no coalition forces' casualties. This was the third attack by the coalition on Damascus' allies in the area. The coalition targeted a drone and trucks with weapons.
Furthermore, on September 16, US-led coalition aircraft carried out four strikes against the Syrian Army near the DeirEzzur airport, killing nearly 100 people.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960406000415
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Military Expert: Israel Allied with Terrorists in Syria
TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Syrian military and strategic expert described Israel as terrorists' accomplice in Syria, warning that Tel Aviv intends to create a buffer zone in the Arab country.
YahyaSoleiman said that by attacking the Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights, Israel sent this message that it will never leave the terrorist groups and will defend them to the end.
"There are decisive ties between Israel and terrorists to set up a buffer zone in the Golan like Antoine Lahad region in Southern Lebanon - whose creation plot failed - and this time the situation will be repeated in Syria," he added.
"Whatever happens in Syria is in line with meeting Israel's interests, destroying Syria and weakening the powers standing beside Damascus," Soleiman said.
Noting that Tel Aviv is well aware of the positions of the terrorists' missile launch pads and knows that none of them is due to hit Israel, he said the regime is seeking to find a pretext to provoke the militants to target the Syrian army forces and this has several times happened.
"The Israeli side has violated the ceasefire plan and kicked out the UN forces to move freely beside the terrorists. We witness how the Israeli convoys move along the borders and transfer the terrorists from Syria to the occupied territories," Soleiman said.
Stressing that Russia knows the realities in Syria, he said Moscow has tried to force the American side to participate in the peace process in Syria but the US has led all efforts to failure.
Military sources confirmed on Monday that the Israeli Air Force, for the second time in a row, targeted the Syrian Army troop's strongholds in the Southern province of Quneitra.
The sources said that the terrorist groups' mortar units shelled the Golan Heights at Syria's border with Israel, and the Israeli fighter jets also bombed the Syrian army centers in Quneitra.
The Arabic-language Elam al-Harbi said the mortar units of Al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board) opened fire at Israeli positons in occupied Golan Heights in order to give the needed pretext to the Israeli forces to attack the Syrian army.
Al-Mayadeen news network, meantime, reported that Israeli warplanes targeted a Syrian army vehicle.
Media sources said on Sunday that the Israeli fighter jets attacked the Syrian government forces' tanks and artillery positions South-West of the war-hit country.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the Israeli Air Force attacked the Syrian government forces' tanks and artillery positions, claiming that the air raids were carried out after 10 projectiles fell on the Israeli-controlled part of the Golan Heights, Sputnik reported.
At least two Syrian soldiers were killed as a result of airstrikes carried out by Israeli forces on Saturday in the disputed area of the Golan Heights, media reported.
"Two were killed as a result of the airstrike against a position of the Syrian army in the liberated area of Golan Heights," the source was quoted as saying by the Al-Mayadeen broadcaster.
A source on the ground told RIA Novosti that the Syrian government forces have been repelling a massive attack of Al-Nusra Front (also known as Fatah al-Sham Front or the Levant Liberation Board) in the Golan Heights when they were struck by the Israeli Air Force in the area.
"The (Syrian) army repelled a massive Al-Nusra Front attack on the city of Ba'ath in the Quneitra province (bordering the Golan Heights). The army took up the fight with terrorists. The attackers have suffered losses. (Syrian) aviation and artillery helped repel the attacks," the source told RIA Novosti.
According to the source, an Israeli military helicopter launched a strike on the Syrian army in Ba'ath at the moment of the Al-Nusra Front offensive.
Syrian government forces said the Israeli warplanes, in fact, targeted a parking lot and a residential building in the suburbs of al-Ba'ath in the Quneitra province. They added that the Israeli airstrike resulted in civilian casualties and material damage, as reported by the SANA news agency.
No Syrian military targets were hit by the Israelis, SANA added, citing military sources.
The majority of such incidents are described as accidental overspills during clashes between the Syrian government forces and militant groups.
The Golan Heights, internationally recognized as Syrian territory, was seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, the Israeli parliament voted to annex two-thirds of the region. The United Nations has repeatedly stated that Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights is illegal, calling for it to be returned to Syria.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960406000303
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Iraqi Volunteer Forces Continue to Hit ISIL at Border with Syria
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), commonly known as Hashd al-Shaabi, continued their anti-terrorism operation at border with Syria, inflicting major losses on the terrorists.
Hashd al-Shaabi targeted a drone of ISIL at Iraq's border with Syria.
The Iraqi popular forces targeted a bomb-laden drone of ISIL terrorists near Hashd al-Shaabi positions.
Hashd al-Shaabi's missile units, meantime, targeted three military vehicles of ISIL at border with Syria.
The Syrian government forces, backed up by volunteer fighters from popular defense groups, have linked up with Iraqi army troops for the first time in years after they took control of a vast territory in Syria’s semi-arid Southeastern region of al-Badiyeh (desert) in mid-June.
The head of the Britain-based monitoring group, Rami Abdurrahman, said the link between Iraqi and Syrian forces will allow Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name, Hashd al-Shaabi, to move inside Syria and help the Syrian government's campaign against ISIL in the Eastern province of DeirEzzur.
The Iraqi army forces continued their military advances against ISIL terrorists and managed to take control of al-Waleed crossing and a strip along Iraq's borders with Syria and Jordan few days ago.
The Iraqi forces under the joint command headquarters started a massive military operation dubbed as 'al-Fajr' to take control of the border strip.
The military operation took place with the participation of border guards, tribal forces and back up of the Iraqi fighter jets.
Al-Waleed is close to the al-Tanf border crossing on the common border, which is the key to the Baghdad-Damascus Highway and also links up to the main Baghdad-Amman route.
ISIL seized al-Waleed in May 2015, almost a year into its deadly terror campaign in Syria and Iraq. It used the bridgehead to expand its grip there to the entirety of the common border.
Syrian forces are also advancing toward al-Tanf, where the US forces have been based since last year on a mission to train anti-Damascus militants.
The first units of the Syrian Army troops and popular forces continued to advance against the terrorist groups in Syria's Badiyeh and deployed at the borders with Iraq Northeast of al-Tanf border-crossing mid-June.
According to a military source, deployment of the Syrian forces at the border with Iraq along with the final operation of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Raqqa and simultaneous advances of the Syrian soldiers from Southeastern Aleppo towards Western Raqqa will have such positive impacts on the trend of the liberation of Raqqa and DeirEzzur cities that will end in the collapse of the ISIL front in the two regions in coming weeks.
ISIL terrorists in Raqqa and DeirEzzur are under the siege of the SDF from the Northern and Western directions and the army and its allies form the South and South-West, while the Iraqi army and the volunteer forces of Hashd al-Shaabi have laid siege on ISIL in Raqqa and DeirEzzur from Iraq's Western border.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960405000601
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Mideast
‘Bigoted’ Muslim Ban Not to Make US Safer: Iran FM
June 27, 2017
Iranian foreign minister says the ban US President Donald Trump has imposed on Muslim people is a ‘bigoted’ policy and will not make the US a safer place.
“A bigoted ban on Muslims will not keep US safer,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif said in a post in his Twitter account on Tuesday.
“Instead of policies empowering extremists, the US should join the real fight against them,” he went on to say.
‘Bigoted’ Muslim Ban Not to Make US Safer: Iran FM
The Iranian foreign minister’s remarks came after the US Supreme Court decided to partially reinstate President Trump’s travel ban on refugees and people from six Muslim countries, including Iran.
In a Tuesday joint press conference with his German counterpart in Berlin, Zarif had noted that “it’s regrettable that the citizens of the countries on the list have never participated in any act of terrorism against the United States and yet they are punished for acts of terrorism that have been committed by citizens of other countries who are not on the list.”
“We always believed that the Muslim ban that President Trump imposed soon after assuming office had no basis in facts and it would not help fight terrorism,” he added.
The top Iranian diplomat criticized the move as a “misplaced and misguided policy” and emphasized that it “would be the greatest gift to extremist groups who would use it as a rallying cry to attract new followers.”
“It is regrettable that the Supreme Court decided to overrule the decisions of the previous courts or at least consider overruling them, if you want to be more exact,” Zarif said, according to Press TV.
He said the Supreme Court’s decision would fail to increase anybody’s security.
“It is not a call for putting anybody else on the list, but it’s just the problem that for some terrorism and support for terrorism is measured by the amount of money they spend on buying arms from the US and not by actually being involved in acts of terrorism,” the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.
ifpnews.com/exclusive/bigoted-muslim-ban-not-make-us-safer-iran-fm/
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Support Kashmiris against ‘tyrants’: Iran’s Khamenei
TNN | Jun 27, 2017, 12.59 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei raised eyebrows on Monday as he tweeted, "Muslim world should openly support people of Bahrain, Kashmir, Yemen etc and repudiate oppressors and tyrants who attacked people in Ramadan".
As part of his Eid address, the Ayatollah tried to bring together the global Islamic community by identifying common enemies — in this case Saudi Arabia and the Sunni Arabs as well as India. Khamenei also brought up the Palestine issue as the reason for a full-fledged Islamic jihad against Israel. "Palestine is the first important issue of the Muslim world. According to Islamic Fiqh (jurisprudence), when an enemy dominates Muslim lands, jihad is the duty of all, in any form possible," he said. "Today, the fight against the Zionist regime is obligatory for the Muslim world. Why do some abandon this job?" he asked.
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Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei's atempt to revive the Muslim vs Jew issue is interesting, because in the Middle East political cauldron, the old Arab versus Israel battle no longer holds.
For that matter, the Palestine cause has flagged in recent times, as the Islamic world has found itself convulsed by revolutions and Islamist groups wreaking havoc from Iraq and Libya to Afghanistan and beyond.
Iran is part of the big sectarian war currently under way in West Asia, which explains Khamenei's reference to Yemen and Bahrain — these are territories Iran would like to bring within its sphere of influence and where it is engaged in a bitter battle with a Saudi Arabia-led alliance.
Bringing Kashmir into this could mean a number of things.
First, it could be an attempt to draw Islamic attention on Kashmir and India. Iran has traditionally taken both a neutral and a hostile position against India on the issue at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Second, it could be an indirect reference to a growing convergence between Delhi and Riyadh, that would be a source of concern to Iran, which has traditionally enjoyed very close ties with India.
But in the present international context, Delhi and Tehran are fighting over a gas field, while India's signature projects are going slow in Iran.
Thirdly, while the India-Israel relationship has been growing for a while, Modi's forthcoming visit to Israel is not going unnoticed in Tehran. Khamenei's statement comes on the day Modi and Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/support-kashmiris-against-tyrants-irans-khamenei/articleshow/59328370.cms
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Turkey Preparing to Deploy Forces in Idlib
TEHRAN (FNA)- A leading Turkish daily revealed Ankara's plan to deploy its military forces in Idlib province in Syria.
YeniSafak newspaper referred to Turkey's plan to enter Idlib from three main points, and claimed that the measure will be adopted to protect the region and prevent the Kurdish forces' advances towards the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the report, Turkey is now ready to implement its plan and seeks to take the control of a region in the Northern parts of Idlib 85 km in length and 35 km in depth.
Also, according to the news websites affiliated to the opposition groups, Turkey will most possibly enter Idlib through the two regions of Atmeh to the town of Dar al-Izzah and JabalBarakat in Western Aleppo or through Salqin and Harem regions.
The report added that in addition to the Turkish military vehicles which have been sent from Atmeh to Idlib, 30 other vehicles have also entered the province through Bab al-Salamah.
YeniSafak also reported that 1,500 to 2,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) members have been trained and are prepared to start operation in Idlib.
The report came after local sources said that simultaneous with the eruption of a fresh round of clashes with Ahrar al-Sham, the representatives of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board) are in Turkey to persuade the Turkish Army not to back up the rival terrorist group of Ahrar al-Sham in Northwestern Syria.
The sources reported in May that while a number of senior members of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at are in Turkey to negotiate about an imminent meddling of the Turkish army in Idlib, the terrorist group has increased the number of its checkpoints in Idlib province.
The sources added that Tahrir al-Sham feels much worried about an operation of the Turkish army in support of Ahrar al-Sham rival group and has, hence, called on Ahrar al-Sham to pull out its forces from Western Idlib in 48 hours.
A local source in the town of KafrTakharim said that Tahrir al-Sham has established a large number of checkpoints along the road connecting Idlib to the town of Salqin, erected walls and other forms of entanglement and deployed military vehicles behind them to enhance its defense capabilities.
Tahrir al-Sham has, meantime, planted a large number of land mines near the entanglements.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960406000380
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Iranian Speaker: Playing with Terrorism US Strategy
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani blasted the US for supporting the terrorist groups in the region, and said Washington is using terrorism instrumentally to meet its interests.
"The US and certain regional states speak loudly about fighting against terrorism but today it has become clear that they support the terrorists using different means," Larijani said, addressing a meeting of Eurasia’s parliament speakers in Seoul on Tuesday.
"Actually, playing with terrorism is the US strategy," he added.
In relevant remarks in February, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan lashed out at Washington for creating, supporting and nurturing the terrorist groups, specially the ISIL, in the region.
"The entire world has today accepted that the ISIL Takfiri-terrorist groups are the biggest threat to regional and international security," General Dehqan said, addressing a forum in Tehran.
Noting that US President Donald Trump has admitted that the former US administration has founded the Takfiri terrorism, he lambasted Washington for raising terrorism allegations against Tehran which has fought against the terrorist groups with all its power and has been a victim of terrorism itself.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960406000394
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Ramadan over, these firms are on a hiring spree in Dubai
Anita Iyer/Dubai
Filed on June 27, 2017
Ramadan is apparently a lean period for job hirings. During the holy month, the commercial activity in the region turns low-key and recruitment takes a backseat. Working hours at most offices are curtailed and decisions regarding new hiring are put on a backburner.
If you have been patient all these days, gear up now. Update your resume and pick up the phone to call the recruiters and companies you are interested in. Making a call is always worth it. There are many companies and organisations that have vacancies and are on a lookout for the right candidate.
Emirates
Dubai-based airlines Emirates is hiring for positions across their departments from engineering, corporate and commercial, customer services to specialist roles. You can check the job opportunities here
UAE Government jobs
If working for the government is on your list, you must apply for the positions available on their official website.
As an expat, don't only eye the private sector jobs but look for opportunities in the government offices. You never know what possibilities await you.
Flydubai
If you want to be part of the booming aviation industry, you must look for the hiring on the Flydubai official website. Positions like IT project controller, learning and development facilitator, IT testing team and so on are available.
Microsoft
If you are looking for jobs in a technology company, look no more. Microsoft is hiring in the Emirates and has listed positions on their official website.
They are looking to fill in positions like solution sales professional, solution special, architect and more. Check this link for more details.
The world's largest social networking platform Facebook is always looking for fresh minds to add to their vision. If as an expat you are looking to work with the best in the business and open to relocation to other countries, check their openings.
Apart from full-time opportunities, they also offer contractor opportunities.
Searching a job in Dubai. Check posting on Buzzon.
khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/ramadan-over-these-firms-are-on-a-hiring-spree-in-dubai
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Pakistan
China asks Pakistan to rein in terrorists in Afghanistan
TNN | Jun 27, 2017
China is stepping into the United States' shoes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the weekend, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi travelled between Kabul and Islamabad in an attempt to mend fences between the two warring neighbours.
As he left Pakistan on Sunday, Wang Yi said, "China sincerely wishes for Afghanistan and Pakistan to improve relations, rebuild mutual trust strengthen cooperation, achieve mutual safety and mutually development."
"As Afghanistan and Pakistan's mutual friend, China encourages them to establish a crisis prevention and management mechanism as soon as possible, to properly deal with any kind of sudden occurrence."
While there may have been some expectation of China trying to play mediator between India and Pakistan, China appears to be first trying its hand between Pakistan and Afghanistan, whose relations have been strained for some time.
With a string of horrific terror attacks in Afghanistan this summer, many of which have been traced back to the Taliban and Haqqani network, both supported by Pakistan, the resultant instability and bad blood between Pakistan and Afghanistan could prove a growing challenge to China's foreign policy in the region, particularly with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) running through Pakistan's unstable regions.
According to Afghan media reports, Wang Yi reportedly told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that he would urge Pakistan to "control the Taliban and the Haqqani Network so they do not launch attacks on civilians".
"Pakistan has influence on the Taliban and would ask the country to use its influence on the Taliban," a statement from Ghani's office quoted the Chinese FM as saying in a meeting at the presidential palace.
"Pakistan has showed willingness in this regard and we would call for practical steps," Wang said.
If Wang Yi had strictures to deliver in Pakistan, the official readout did not have them. Instead, the statements focused on the importance of CPEC, China's flagship foreign policy project. As the Trump administration appears to be taking a harder line against Pak-sponsored terrorism, China's official support counts for a lot inside Pakistan. India would have nothing to complain if China can get Pakistan and Afghanistan to be on the same page. New Delhi would be wary about two things — Chinese efforts to bring Pakistan and Afghanistan together painting India as the villain of the piece in Afghanistan and prevailing on Pakistan to ease up on the Afghan border while continuing its terror tactics against India.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/china-asks-pakistan-to-rein-in-terrorists-in-afghanistan/articleshow/59329355.cms
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Shia Federation condemns killing of Shiite in Parachinar, Pakistan
June 27, 2017
(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Shia Federation Jammu has turned tables on Pakistan for encouraging terrorism within country as well as in neighboring countries.
The Shia Federation president AashakHussian in a statement here today while strongly condemning the ParaChinar incident in Pakistan said that efforts are being made to eliminate Shia community in that country and this has sent shock waves among the members of the community all over the globe.
He said the ParaChinar incident has pained the members of the community all over the globe in general and Shias of J&K in particular. He said it is unfortunate that the assailants soaked their hands in blood of the members of the community who were making purchasing for Eid celebrations. He said over 100 members of the community have been killed in this carnage including children and women.
The common people are being targeted and done to death by terrorists in Pakistan but the Pak Government and world community is silently watching the same. Criticizing the Pakistani Government Shia leader accused it of refraining from taking action against the terrorists. He demanded action under law against the culprits responsible for such heinous crime against the humanity.
Lambasting Pakistan Government, he said on the one hand it has failed to give protection to its own people and on the other hand it is raising fingers on India where Muslims are totally safe and secure.
AshaqHussian also criticized the Pak media of being silent spectator to the killings and atrocities on Shias in that country. He said the members of Shia community are totally safe in India. He also asked Pakistan to clear its stand on terrorism and alleged that the cricketers were given crores of rupees but no compensation was paid to Shia martyrs of ParaChinar.
en.abna24.com/news/central-asia-subcontinent/shia-federation-condemns-killing-of-shiite-in-parachinar-pakistan_839076.html
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Africa
Ramadan anti-drug campaign increases consultation inquiries, calls for treatment
Al-Masry Al-Youm
June 27, 2017
The average number of daily phone calls reached up to 500, she said. The average daily calls before Ramadan, according to Wali, was between 100-150
The fund is getting ready to declare the outcome of the national survey on smoking, drugs and alcohols among high school students after the Eid holiday, Minister Wali said
Social Solidarity Minister and Chairperson of the Addiction Treatment and Abuse Fund GhadaWalihas said that the fund celebrated the implementation of several field activities this year. A football league entitled ‘You Are Stronger Than Drugs’ was organized, in which 320 football players participated.
In remarks on Tuesday, Wali added that the You Are Stronger Than Drugs campaign, carried out by the fund with participation of football player Mohamed Salah, which was aired on TV during Ramadan, contributed to the increase of the societal interaction through the hotline.
The average number of daily phone calls reached up to 500, she said. The average daily calls before Ramadan, according to Wali, was between 100-150.
The fund is getting ready to declare the outcome of the national survey on smoking, drugs and alcohols among high school students after the Eid holiday, the minister said.
The outcome will identify the spread among male and female students, as well as the technical and general high schools.
In light of the outcome, she said, measures will be taken by the fund in accordance with a plan that will be carried out next school year in coordination with Education Ministry.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
egyptindependent.com/ramadan-anti-drug-campaign-increased-consultation-inquiries-calls-treatment-five-doubles/
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Eid-el-Fitr: As recession bites, it’s modest celebration for many Nigerian Muslims
June 27, 2017O
Nigerian Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri Thursday as new moon is sightedNigerian Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri Thursday as new moon is sightedEid-el-Fitr: Governor Okowa congratulates Muslims, sues for tolerance, peaceful co-existenceEid-el-Fitr: Governor Okowa congratulates Muslims, sues for tolerance, peaceful co-existenceKano emirate suspends SallahdurbarKano emirate suspends SallahdurbarMoonsighting Controversy: northern governors, Fashola, others preach peace, unity, love
As Muslim faithful across the world observed the annual Eid-el-Fitr festival on Sunday, many Nigerians complained that the celebrations this year were ‘modest’.
The festival, which marks the termination of Ramadan fasting, saw many Muslims file out in their hundreds to rejoice with fellow Muslims and congratulate themselves for witnessing another edition of the annual celebration.
Earlier, the Nigerian government had declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays, to allow Muslims celebrate with their families.
PREMIUM TIMES observed that in Lagos, most of the major event centres witnessed large turnout of people, who came out to rejoice with one another in the spirit of the season.
Similarly, in Sango, Ogun State, Muslims turned out in their numbers, all dressed in different attires, rendering numerous Islamic songs as they moved around in groups.
But amid the joyous celebrations and festivities, our findings revealed that many people had disturbing tales to tell during the season.
Many of the faithful who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES complained about the state of the economy, noting that the recession had its toll on their finances and purchasing power. They added that it contributed to the “modest” way many of them decided to celebrate the season.
Others said that they only had to celebrate openly, even though they lacked the resources to buy clothes, foodstuffs and other household materials that could make the celebrations worthwhile.
Abubakar Rasheed, a Lagos-based author of Islamic texts, told PREMIUM TIMES that many Muslims like him staged low key celebration due to the biting effect of the economic recession.
“Personally, I think (everything) is based on the reactions of my Muslim clients who also participated in the Eid,” he said.
“Some of them couldn’t travel, some staged a low key eid celebration due to “recession”.
“Usually, I go out on Sallah day with my family, just to have fun. But this year, no such thing. We only staged a low key eid party at home, entertained some friends. Generally, we thank Allah for the gift of life.
“That’s the key thing, because when there is life, there is hope. We can only pray for a better Nigeria,” Mr. Rasheed added.
On his part, Hammed Opeyemi, a media policy analyst, said the recession had its effect on the celebration.
He explained that even during the Ramadan period, many found it difficult to feed their family.
He said: “No doubt about it, the current economic recession took its toll on the eid celebration. Due to paucity of funds, many families settled for a low-key celebration as they could not meet up with their basic needs to have a ‘fulfilling’ or elaborate celebration.
“We all know that prices of essential commodities such as food items have skyrocketed as a result of the harsh economic realities. Many stayed indoors to observe the celebration.
“Even during the fasting period, there were lots of parents who found it a bit difficult to feed their family members,” he said.
Commenting further, Mr. Opeyemi lamented that the backlog of salaries being owed workers across the country also contributed to the ordeal of many Muslim faithful.
“How would a man who is owed months of salary arrears be able to feed his family or buy clothes for his children?” he asked.
“I would, however, want to note that the significant increase in alms giving and generosity of people during the month of Ramadan really assisted a lot in cushioning the effects of the extant economic hardship faced by the masses.
“Owing to the blessings and mercies inherent in the month of Ramadan, people were always willing to share money and food items with others. The payment of zakat-ul-fitri by eligible fasting Muslims as commanded by Allah, in a way, also helped the less privileged in the society during the celebration,” he explained.
Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, many Muslim adherents trooped out to celebrate the festival. Also, a popular mall in the city, Shoprite, was besieged by enthusiastic crowd who wanted to gain entrance in order to purchase their preferred goods.
Nauteeq Bello, a final-year student of the University of Ilorin, told PREMIUM TIMES that the celebration wasn’t poor in the city.
“All the people I celebrated with in Ilorin did something major, even though they were saying ‘no money, no money,” he told our correspondent.
“For example, the three people that brought food for me had one piece of goat meat on my rice. Only one person served chicken. And it was one piece.
“Although, during the last Eid, she gave me three pieces and the rice was fuller. I visited four households. Three out of the four gave me stern warnings to come alone.
“I thought maybe chicken was expensive because only one person served me chicken,” he said, amid laughter.
Meanwhile, in Sango, Ogun state, many complained about the economic situation, and lamented that they could not celebrate in grand style as it was in the past.
A woman who identified herself simply as “Mama Semilore” told our correspondent that the celebration was not like in previous years.
“In the past, we used to kill at least three chickens on Sallah day but this year, we had to go buy beef from the market and augment it with ‘ponmo’ (cow skin),” she said.
For Amuda Hakeem, a civil servant, the celebration was low key due to poor state of the economy.
He, however, explained that he was optimistic about possible turnaround in the state of the economy.
“The economy is not good at all. So, for me and my people, I already told them: it is a ‘modest’ celebration this year,” he said.
“Although government said we are recovering (from economic recession) but we are not feeling the impact at all. Maybe it’s a gradual thing. We are waiting…”
premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/235181-eid-el-fitr-recession-bites-modest-celebration-many-nigerian-muslims.html
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Europe
Returning Islamic State Fighters Given ‘Protected Identities’ To Start New Lives in Europe
27 Jun 2017
Hundreds of Swedish residents who went to fight for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have now returned to Europe and the Swedish government has given several of them “protected identities” to keep locals from finding out who they are.
The vast majority of the returning jihadist fighters keep a very low profile once they get back to Sweden as many have committed terrorist offences while in the Middle East. 27-year-old Walad Ali Yousef is one returnee that the government has given a special status protecting his identity, normally given to people under serious threat Expressen reports.
Mr Yousef, originally from the heavily migrant-populated city of Malmo, spoke to the newspaper complaining he had difficulty finding a job. “I am looking for many jobs but can not get one because my pictures are out there,” he said.
Yousef joined the Islamic State in 2014, travelling to the ISIS capital of Raqqa in Syria. Formerly a small time criminal, Yousef sent pictures of himself in Syria posing with Kalashnikov rifles to encourage his friends in Sweden to join the terror group.39-year-old
39-year-old BherlinDequillaGildo, also from Malmo, is now back in Sweden living under an entirely new identity. In 2012 he posted images of himself posing with dead bodies, who he claimed were “Assad’s dogs” and participated directly in killings of Syrian regime soldiers.
It is assumed that the remaining 100 or so Swedes still in the Middle East fighting for the Islamic state are the most radical. Some fear that as Kurdish troops push further into Raqqa, the Swedes will attempt to return home.
Terror expert Magnus Ranstorp said, “the really dangerous ones have not come back yet,” and added, “The vast majority may not do anything, but they are still a danger to the authorities and it must be managed. It is important for the police to be able to prioritise this area so that they do not become dangerous for society.”
While several of those returning are free, many others like Sultan Al-Amin, 31, and Hassan Al-Mandlawi, 33, have been sentenced to life in prison for their crimes committed in the city of Aleppo.
Swedish authorities have been heavily criticised for welcoming Islamic State fighters returning from the Middle East and claiming to be able to integrate them back into Swedish society.
Others have slammed the government for the fact that many fighters have been collecting state money even after they have left to go to the Middle East. One man, a former “Islamophobia expert” was able to collect thousands from the Swedish government while living in Raqqa.
breitbart.com/london/2017/06/27/swedish-govt-gives-returning-islamic-state-fighters-protected-status/
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Kind stranger returns wallet to owner and has a moving chat about Islam
The heart-warming moment a kind stranger returned a man's wallet has captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of Facebook users.
Fast food delivery driver Peshraw Ahmed told the wallet's owner that he was compelled to return it because he is a Muslim and, according to Islam's teachings, any money must be returned to its rightful owner.
"I am a Muslim guy so you are lucky I got your wallet," said Ahmed.
"You are such a good person," said Gavin Meldrum, the owner of the wallet, which contained over £200 in cash. He explained that he and his family really needed the money.
"I don't believe this is happening. You are such a kind person. There's nobody else like you in the world," said Meldrum.
"I'm so glad I made you happy," Ahmed said. "Happy? You just saved my life," Meldrum added.
Some comments on Facebook questioned Ahmed's motives for filming the encounter. Others commented to confirm that the exchange was genuine: "This man [Meldrum] came into my work yesterday when he lost [his wallet[, he was quite upset and didn't think he'd get it back, so glad it was found," wrote one Facebook commenter.
An employee at Bare Grillz — where Ahmed works as a delivery driver — told Mashable he filmed the episode "to show the better side of Muslims".
mashable.com/2017/06/27/wallet-returned-islam/#2hwk4sXSo5qY
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Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
27 Jun 2017
Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
File photo taken on July 10, 1995 showing one of the posts of Dutch UN troops near the Muslim enclave and UN safe area of Srebrenica before Serb forces killed thousands of its male inhabitants (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
The Dutch government is partially liable for the deaths of around 300 Muslim men killed in the Srebrenica massacre.
An appeals court has ruled that the Netherlands should accept responsibility for handing the victims over to Bosnian Serb forces, which led to them being murdered, in 1995.
The ruling largely upheld a civil court’s 2014 judgment that said the state was liable in the deaths of Bosnian Muslim men, who were turned over by Dutch UN peacekeepers to Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995, and were subsequently killed.
Hague Appeals Court presiding judge GepkeDulek said that because Dutch soldiers sent the men off the Dutch compound, along with other refugees seeking shelter there, ‘they were deprived of the chance of survival’.
However, after estimating the men’s chances of survival within the compound as 30%, the court said the Netherlands is only ‘liable for 30% of the losses suffered by the relatives’.
This outraged a group of female relatives of Srebrenica victims, who were in court for the ruling.
Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
Bosnian women from the ‘Mothers of Srebrenica’ arrive at the Court of Justice, for the verdict in a higher appeal against the Dutch State (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
MuniraSubasic, who leads an organisation called the Mothers of Srebrenica that brought the case, stood up and waved her finger at the judge, saying that ‘this is a huge injustice’.
Lawyers for the victims can now begin discussions with government lawyers about compensation.
The ban sparked a wave of protests earlier this year (Picture: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
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Marco Gerritsen, the lawyer who represented the women, said he understood the relatives’ anger.
However, he added: ‘But from a legal point of view it is not that bad. Of course we would have hoped for more, and I think we had a good case.’
Gerritsen also called the court’s assessment of the men’s survival chances ‘very arbritrary’.
Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
Muslim Fatima Selimovic visits the grave of her brother FajkoSmajic, who was killed in Srebrenica in 1995 (Picture: EPA)
He is now going to study the judgment to see if it’s possible to appeal to the Dutch Supreme Court.
Tuesday’s ruling is the latest in a string of legal cases in the Netherlands concerning the country’s role in the massacre, and whether Dutch soldiers couldor should have done more to prevent the mass killings.
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On July 13, 1995, Dutch peacekeepers bowed to pressure from Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic, and forced thousands of Muslims out of their fenced-off compound where they had sought refuge.
The Bosnian Serb forces sorted the Muslims by gender, then trucked the men away and began killing them in what would become the bloody climax to the 1992 to 1995 Bosnian war.
International courts have previously ruled that this slaughter was genocide.
Dutch government partially liable for murder of 300 Muslims in Srebrenica massacre
Judges Boele, Dulek-Schermers and Dousma-Valk attend the verdict of the Court of Justice (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
In total, the war claimed around 100,000 lives. Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed in Srebrenica alone.
The bodies from the Srebrenica massacre were buried in hastily made mass graves, which were later bulldozed and scattered among other burial sites in an attempt to hide the evidence.
Mladic is on trial for genocide and other offences at a UN tribunal in The Hague for his alleged role in Srebrenica, and other crimes during the war.
Srebrenica was Europe’s worst massacre since World War II.
metro.co.uk/2017/06/27/dutch-government-liable-for-murder-of-300-muslims-in-srebrenica-massacre-6737323/#ixzz4lDEvfXIA
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Islamophobic attacks soar as media and politicians push anti-Muslim hate
Police have reported a surge in Islamophobic “hate crimes” after the Manchester and London Bridge terror attacks last month.
Greater Manchester Police said it had 224 reports of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the month after the Manchester bombing.
That’s a 505 percent rise on the 37 reported in the same period last year.
Monitoring group Tell Mama recorded a similar increase. It had 139 incidents in Manchester reported the week after the bombing, compared to 25 the week before.
It was a similar story after the London Bridge attack.
Tell Mama said there was a 240 percent increase in verified instances of anti-Muslim hate in the seven-day period following the attack.
The Mayor of London’s office also recorded a fivefold increase in Islamophobic attacks after the London Bridge attack.
Last week a Muslim man in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, was knocked out by thugs before racist graffiti was daubed on his walls quoting a controversial tweet by right winger Katie Hopkins.
The victim was attacked from behind in his own home, struck on the head and left unconscious.
When he awoke he found racist graffiti daubed on his walls which included, “We need a final solution”.
Hopkins tweeted this in the wake of the Manchester attack.
Meanwhile two women in Whitley Bay near Newcastle, Kiran Loomba and RajnaMurria, were slapped and told to “get out of the country” on Tuesday of last week.
Kiran said, “My lip started bleeding and I was just in a state of shock.”
She added, “I have lived here for nearly two decades and all I think now is ‘is it safe for me to step outside?’”
Stand Up To Racism North East issued a statement. It said, “Those responsible for this hate crime are products of our current society where migrants and refugees are used as the scapegoat for all our problems.
“This kind of intolerance offers no solutions whatsoever and only serves to divide us.
“This cannot go on any longer—we must oppose this racism at every level.”
In Exeter residents came together to scrub off anti-Islamic graffiti which appeared on a wall on a residential street last weekend.
The giant slogan was daubed on a wall on Kinnerton Way, Exwick, in black paint. It read, “Rise Against Islam.”
The council said it would remove it but residents decided there could be no delay and took action themselves.
socialistworker.co.uk/art/44879/Islamophobic+attacks+soar+as+media+and+politicians+push+anti+Muslim+hate
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/al-qaeda-vows-attack-hindu/d/111685
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