Allahabad HC Orders Protection For Muslim Man Stopped From Offering Namaz On Private Property

New Age Islam News Bureau

13 March 2026

The Allahabad High Court | Sanjay Kanojia/AFP

---------

·         Allahabad HC orders protection for Muslim man stopped from offering namaz on private property

·         Netanyahu says Israeli strikes have killed top nuclear scientists

·         Saudi Arabia intercepts drones targeting Kingdom’s east and central regions, Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh

·         New UK Definition of Anti-Muslim Hostility May Leave Victims Unprotected

·         US eases Russia oil sanctions as Iran war pushes up energy prices

·         At least 38 civilians killed in Burkina Faso in wave of JNIM attacks

·         Indonesia channels Rp442 billion zakat aid through Ramadan program

·         Pakistani Artillery Attacks Kill Civilians in Khost and Kunar, Reports

----

India

·         Don’t raise pro-Iran slogans or display solidarity during Fri namaz: Sambhal CO

·         'It’s not ‘love jihad’: Viral Mahakumbh girl Monalisa Bhosle clarifies after marrying Muslim man, says she followed Hindu rituals

·         Sarma: Will repost video of skull-capped men being ‘shot’, this time labelling them ‘Bangladeshis’

·         Indian Muslims must stop being delusional about the Global Ummah

·         Mumtaz opens up on her interfaith marriage, slams polygamy: 'Marrying three-four times, how does it make you better?'

·         'Why hesitancy now?': Congress reiterates 'compromised PM' charge over silence on Ayatollah Khamenei's death

·         Opposition links Farooq Abdullah attack to delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir statehood

---

Mideast

·         Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee

·         Trump says he thinks Iran’s new supreme leader is alive but ‘damaged’

·         US carrying out rescue effort after military aircraft crash in Iraq

·         Sirens heard at Incirlik air base, key NATO facility in south Turkiye: state news agency

·         Israeli military says struck Hezbollah member in Beirut

·         Lebanon reportedly begins forming delegation for possible talks with Israel

·         Jordan, Syria condemn Iran’s ‘unjustified’ attacks on Arab countries

---

Arab World

·         Saudi Arabia launches initiative to reroute Gulf cargo to Red Sea ports

·         Crown prince meets with Pakistan prime minister

·         UK foreign secretary condemns Iranian attacks during Riyadh meeting with Saudi counterpart

·         SDAIA president, senior officials tour Jeddah airport

·         Saudi hospital sets world record for paired kidney transplants

·         Saudi FM discusses regional tensions with Spanish counterpart

·         Kingdom’s iftar mission fosters solidarity with Bangladesh

---

Europe

·         Iran’s ambassador thanks Government and people of Azerbaijan

·         Wokingham Islamic Centre hosts community Iftar in Woosehill

·         Nineteen jailed over deadly Moscow concert attack

·         War in Ukraine spills into Hungarian election campaign

·         Zelensky considering suspending elections for years – media

·         Less than 10% of Ukraine’s troops enlist voluntarily – MP

·         No evidence Russia sabotaged Baltic cables – Finnish intel

---

North America

·         Iran shows the world the limits of US power

·         CAIR-MI Condemns Attack on Metro Detroit Synagogue

·         NYC's Mamdani condemns Tuberville's anti-Muslim posts as "bigotry"

·         Ken Paxton Urges Collin County To Slow Down Islamic Development

·         Texas Islamic schools sue comptroller over exclusion from voucher program

·         Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school

---

Africa

·         Ramadan: Cleric urges Muslims to be exemplary ambassadors of Islam

·         Thousands of white South Africans repatriate as US safety fears grow

·         Senegal approves tougher anti-gay law as rights groups raise concerns

·         Terror Attack: Details Of Security Chiefs Meeting With Tinubu

·         Galadima Suggests British Recolonisation To Fix Nigeria

·         You Are Reporting Me To America And Israel, It Means Nothing – Asari Dokubo Fires Back At Critics

---

Southeast Asia

·         Malaysia condemns Israeli closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

·         Student volunteers bring Ramadan cheer to Palestinian refugees in Jordan

·         Indonesia readies 6,859 mosques as rest stops for Eid homecoming

·         Jawi tasked with investigating alleged misuse of Quranic verse at parade in capital city

·         Jais submits probe findings on alleged deviant teachings to prosecutors

·         ‘No need to worry’: Malaysia’s food supply stable for Raya, says Mat Sabu

·         Malaysia’s fuel supply steady, says Amir Hamzah, as government moves to secure extra reserves

---

South Asia

·         UN says Afghan refugee families in Iran affected by recent attacks

·         The green code: How China is rewriting the contract between humanity and nature

·         Afghanistan Offers Secure, Favorable Environment for Foreign Investment, Azizi Says

·         Azam Khan new Liberation War affairs minister

·         Jamaat made inroads into AL, BNP bastions

·         A fresh start for parliamentary democracy

·         House should focus on public welfare, not mudslinging

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/allahabad-hc-protection-for-muslim-stopped-from-namaz-on-private-place/d/139243​

---

Allahabad HC orders protection for Muslim man stopped from offering namaz on private property

Mar 12, 2026

The Allahabad High Court | Sanjay Kanojia/AFP

---------

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday ordered that two security guards be deployed round-the-clock to protect a Muslim man who alleged that he and some others were stopped from offering namaz on his private property in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district.

The man, Haseen Khan, alleged that some people told him that his property in Mohammad Ganj village would be bulldozed if he did not make a statement in court as per their demands.

The court also recorded Khan’s statement that some police personnel allegedly made him place his thumb impression on a paper without explaining what was written on it.

On Wednesday, Khan urged the court to protect his family and property.

In response, a bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan directed that two armed guards be deployed to provide round-the-clock protection to Khan until further orders.

The bench added that any incident of violence against Khan or his property would be prima facie understood to have occurred “at the instance of the state”, though this would remain open to rebuttal.

On January 27, in an unrelated case, the Allahabad High Court held that no permission was needed for holding a religious prayer meeting on private property as long as the activity remains within private premises. The court had taken note of a statement by the Uttar Pradesh government that there was no such legal requirement.

Despite the court’s observations in the other matter, Khan alleged that he was picked up from his home and fined by the police for offering namaz, Live Law reported. A contempt petition was then filed before the High Court.

The court on Wednesday asked Additional Advocate General Anoop Trivedi whether officials had demanded that permission be sought for offering namaz on private property. To this, Trivedi said that all those present in the house, including the owner, were asked to seek permission.

The judges then directed District Magistrate Avinash Singh and Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya to remain present in court on the next hearing, which was scheduled for March 23.

The High Court had passed its January 27 order in response to petitions by Christian bodies Maranatha Full Gospel Ministries and Emmanuel Grace Charitable Trust. It had then noted that religious gatherings form part of the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution, which deals with the freedom of religion.

Source: scroll.in

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

https://scroll.in/latest/1091332/allahabad-hc-orders-protection-for-muslim-man-stopped-from-offering-namaz-on-private-property

---
Netanyahu says Israeli strikes have killed top nuclear scientists

March 12, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli attacks have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists. (Reuters/File)

-------------

DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli attacks have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists.

Speaking Thursday night at a news conference, Netanyahu denounced Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as a “puppet of the Revolutionary Guards” who cannot appear in public. And he addressed the Iranian people, saying the moment for a “new path of freedom” was approaching and that Israel stands with them.

“But at the end of the day, it depends on you. It is in your hands,” he said.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636202/middle-east

---

Saudi Arabia intercepts drones targeting Kingdom’s east and central regions, Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh

March 13, 2026

Saudi Arabia said drone attacks had targeted the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh and Shaybah oil field. (Saudi MOD screengrab)

------------

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia shot down drones overnight Friday targeting the Kingdom’s east and central regions, the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh and Shaybah oil field in the southeast earlier.

The Ministry of Defense have reported the aerial attacks in a series of posts on X.

Saudi air defenses downed a hostile drone during an attempt to approach the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, while at least seven drones were intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj Governorate and the Empty Quarter, the ministry said Friday morning.

So far, more than two dozen drones have beein intercepted while in Saudi Arabia’s airspace, while abotu a similar number headed to the Kindom’s eastern and central regions were also destroyed. A drone was also destroyed while it was approaching the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have faced waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks since Israel and the US launched a war against Iran on February 28.

The attacks have targeted Prince Sultan Air Base, the US embassy in Riyadh, oil fields and energy infrastructure.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman condemned the attacks during a call with his Turkish counterpart.

The Saudi foreign ministry welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution on Wednesday demanding an end to Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and Jordan.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636133/saudi-arabia-

-----

New UK Definition of Anti-Muslim Hostility May Leave Victims Unprotected

Majid Iqbal

12 March 2026

Ann ‘Enough is Enough’ ‘Unity Rally’ and far-right demonstration is met by a larger counter Stand Up To Racism gathering, in the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland, 20 September 2025. Photo: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert/Alamy Live News

-------------

After years of advocacy, the Government has released its definition of anti-Muslim hostility.

As chief executive of the Islamophobia Response Unit (IRU), the UK’s leading charity providing free legal support to victims of Islamophobia, I’ve reviewed it carefully. While I acknowledge positive elements, I’m concerned it won’t help most people we support and, more widely, it will not be embraced by Muslim communities.

Since 2021, the IRU has handled hundreds of cases and, with our new legal team, has recently enjoyed a 100% employment tribunal success rate.  This experience shows how Islamophobia operates. That’s why this definition worries me.

My primary concern is the repeated requirement for intent. “Intentionally” or “intention” appears three times in the definition, creating an extremely high threshold for most discrimination cases. It will also mean that policymakers, politicians and others are likely to shy away from using the definition to call out discrimination against Muslims. This might happen because they do not understand the intention element. Further, they may simply use it as an excuse to reject clear examples of this behaviour because they cannot be sure of the perpetrator’s intent.

A working group on anti-Muslim hostility was established by the then-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as part of the government’s “Plan for Change” safer streets mission, responding to 2024 data showing anti-Muslim incidents at their peak.

The working group spent six months developing its recommendations. I understand that the final definition departs significantly from what the working group proposed. Why weren’t expert recommendations fully adopted? What changed, and why?

Meanwhile, the Government’s call for evidence limited responses to 600–1,000 characters. How do you explain institutional barriers or racialised hostility in the space of a text message? This wasn’t a meaningful consultation.

And the timing? It was released during Ramadan, not far from Eid. Many in the Muslim community have noted this with concern.

The Positive Elements

I want to be fair: there are positive elements. The definition recognises that hostility can target people “perceived to be Muslim, including where that perception is based on assumptions about ethnicity, race or appearance”.

The guidance describes how “assumptions about dress, appearance, names” lead people to be “treated as if they belong to a collective group with fixed negative traits”.

This describes racialisation, although the Government missed a trick by not using that established term prominently. Nevertheless, acknowledging this mechanism is beneficial, even if the terminology could be clearer.

The definition includes extensive free speech protections, explicitly protecting “ridiculing or insulting” Islam. I recognise the importance of free expression, but I’m concerned about balance.

The definition has a limited scope to address discrimination (because of the intent requirements). Meanwhile, extensive free speech protections may embolden hostile rhetoric. Muslims face rising hate crimes – 4,478 offences in the year to March 2025, up about 20%, representing 45% of all recorded religious hate crimes.

A definition that narrowly defines anti-Muslim hostility while broadly protecting hostile speech may not achieve its stated protective purpose.

I also note policy inconsistencies. Historical abuse networks involving prominent individuals – such as those revealed in the so‑called “Epstein files”– have not generated the sustained attention directed at grooming gangs with specific ethnic profiles.

Protective security differs too: Jewish sites receive streamlined support through established organisations, while mosques often face more complex bureaucracy, despite Muslims experiencing around 45% of recorded religious hate crimes in England and Wales.

What Happens Next

The IRU will monitor implementation and reserve comprehensive judgment pending supplementary actions: institutional guidance, educational materials and enforcement mechanisms. Our assessment will be outcomes‑based: does this framework tangibly improve how Islamophobia is recognised, prevented and addressed?

We’ll continue supporting victims through our free legal casework – around 70 volunteer caseworkers, 27 supervisors and more than 2,000 people supported since 2021. This work continues regardless of the definition’s limitations.

I must be honest: based on our experience, I’m concerned that this definition will fail to have the impact that was intended and that the working group’s expertise has not been utilised properly.

I hope I’m wrong. I hope the Government proves its genuine commitment through concrete actions. We’re watching. And we’ll measure results, not rhetoric.

Source: bylinetimes.com

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

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/12/why-im-concerned-the-governments-definition-of-anti-muslim-hostility-wont-help-most-victims/

---

US eases Russia oil sanctions as Iran war pushes up energy prices

March 13, 2026

Peter Hoskins

The US has authorised countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum that is currently loaded on vessels at sea in an attempt to curb the economic impact of the US-Israel war with Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it was a temporary measure to "promote stability in global energy markets" during the war. The authorisation will last until 11 April.

"This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government," Bessent said.

Attacks on ships and energy infrastructure in the Gulf and the effective closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway have rocked global energy markets.

Oil prices climbed back above $100 a barrel on Thursday and stock markets fell after three more cargo vessels were hit in the Gulf and Iran's new supreme leader vowed to keep blocking the strait.

Around a fifth of the world's oil usually passes the narrow waterway.

Oil prices dipped in Asia trading on Friday afternoon, with Brent crude 0.3% lower at $100.13 (£75.13) a barrel, while US-traded oil was down by 0.7% at $95.01.

The jump in energy prices this week has led to action by authorities to tackle the issue.

On Wednesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said it would release a record 400 million barrels of oil.

Governments in Asia, which are major buyers of oil from the Gulf, have announced a slew of measures in recent days.

The Philippines, for example, gets around 95% of its crude oil from the Middle East. The country's president told public workers to switch to a four-day working week to save fuel.

Meanwhile, Japan, South Korea and Thailand have announced price caps on petrol prices.

"The temporary increase in oil prices is a short-term and temporary disruption that will result in a massive benefit to our nation and economy in the long-term," Bessent said.

Earlier, he said the US government would start escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as it is militarily possible".

The possible need for a military escort "was always in our planning", he told Sky News.

Pressed on whether that could start in the coming days, Bessent said "as soon as it is possible to ensure safe passage we will do it".

Source: bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzj3g3pygo

---

At least 38 civilians killed in Burkina Faso in wave of JNIM attacks

March 12, 2026

Burkina Faso is facing another surge of violence as jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda intensify attacks on civilians. According to Human Rights Watch, militants killed at least 38 civilians and kidnapped nine women in less than a month.

The attacks are blamed on the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, also known as JNIM, one of the most powerful Islamist militant groups operating across the Sahel. The group has spent years expanding its insurgency across Burkina Faso and neighboring countries, including Benin.

Human Rights Watch documented three separate incidents between January 29 and February 22. In one case near the northern village of Solle, militants abducted nine women and threatened them with rape and death before releasing them the next day.

Then on February 14, fighters attacked a military base in the northern town of Titao. During the raid, at least 34 civilians were executed and homes and telecommunications infrastructure were burned.

Just days later, on February 22, another attack in the eastern town of Manni left four shopkeepers dead and several businesses destroyed.

The violence highlights the deepening crisis in Burkina Faso, where jihadist conflict since 2015 has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel.

Source: africanews.com

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

https://www.africanews.com/2026/03/12/at-least-38-civilians-killed-in-burkina-faso-in-wave-of-jnim-attacks/

---

Indonesia channels Rp442 billion zakat aid through Ramadan program

 March 13, 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government, in collaboration with alms and philanthropic bodies, has raised and distributed two million packages of zakat alfitr—a mandatory charity given by Muslims before Eid alFitr—worth nearly Rp442 billion (US$26 million).

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar highlighted the initiative while speaking at a Ramadan event in Jakarta on Thursday (March 12).

"This activity is a manifestation of collaboration between the government, alms agencies, and philanthropic organizations to ensure that social assistance reaches more people in need," he said.

He explained that the zakat initiative is central to the Tebar Harapan Ramadhan (THR/Spreading Hope in Ramadan) program, which seeks to strengthen national collaboration in alleviating poverty through the optimization of zakat and other philanthropic funds.

Under the program, he added, the government is working closely with 184 zakat institutions and 234 philanthropic organizations registered with the Indonesia Berdaya (Empowered Indonesia) platform.

Iskandar emphasized that crosssector synergy is essential to strengthening strategic coordination and making zakat distribution more integrated and impactful for the public.

He noted that zakat alfitr distribution under the THR program was focused on recipients in 168 districts and cities across eight provinces with high rates of extreme poverty: East Java, Central Java, West Java, North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatra, Lampung, and Banten.

Additionally, distribution was expected to ease the burden of disaster victims in Aceh and West Sumatra provinces.

The minister expressed hope that the program would go beyond ceremonial and religious purposes, serving as a concrete step toward strengthening social solidarity and empowering communities.

"Through this collaboration, we aim to ensure that zakat serves more than temporary aid and becomes an instrument for us all to uplift and empower communities," he said.

Source: antaranews.com/

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

https://en.antaranews.com/news/408226/indonesia-channels-rp442-billion-zakat-aid-through-ramadan-program

---

Pakistani Artillery Attacks Kill Civilians in Khost and Kunar, Reports

By Fidel Rahmati

March 12, 2026

Officials in Kabul say artillery attacks by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan’s Khost province have killed four members of a single family, including two children. The incident underscores rising cross-border tensions and the vulnerability of civilians in conflict zones.

Hamdullah Fetrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban, said on Thursday, that Pakistani soldiers targeted the Ali sher-Tarizayi district with sustained shelling, resulting in significant civilian casualties and destruction to local homes.

According to the Taliban, a man, a woman, and two children; a boy and a girl were killed during the strike, while three other children were injured in the bombardment, highlighting the severe impact on families.

The Taliban added that the artillery shells struck nomadic Kuchi tents, devastating communities living in temporary shelters and raising concerns about the protection of vulnerable populations amid ongoing cross-border hostilities.

Taliban sources also claimed that Pakistani attacks extended to districts in Kunar province.

Pakistan has not officially commented on these specific incidents, but cross-border shelling has been cited in previous clashes as part of ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

The United Nations reports over 50 civilian casualties from recent attacks, while the Taliban estimates put the number at more than 100, showing a significant discrepancy between international monitoring and the claims by the Afghan authorities.

Source: khaama.com

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

https://www.khaama.com/pakistani-artillery-attacks-kill-civilians-in-khost-and-kunar-reports/

---

India

 

Don’t raise pro-Iran slogans or display solidarity during Fri namaz: Sambhal CO

Mar 13, 2026

Meerut: Sambhal circle officer (CO) Kuldeep Kumar warned against raising slogans or displaying solidarity with war-torn Iran during the Friday prayers while addressing a peace meeting ahead of ‘Alvida Jumah' and Eid.

"We're Hindustani, we're Indians and we live here peacefully. Conflicts happening between other nations are international matters, and they'll deal with them," Kumar said, adding that those having an itch over what is happening in Iran or showing strong support for that country in the West Asia conflict should instead go there.

The CO further cautioned that any attempt to bring international conflicts into local religious gatherings "would not be tolerated". The officer stressed that under no circumstances should protests, banners or slogans be raised during namaz. He also cautioned the local printing press of making such banners.

When contacted by TOI on Thursday, Kumar confirmed the "message" but downplayed it. The purported meeting video is widely circulating online.

Kumar told TOI: "That (peace) meeting (on Wed) was held ahead of their festival. During the briefing, I had only focussed on the fact that developments in other parts of the world should not have any adverse impact on our region's law and order. We witnessed several protests in the last few days. So, I only said that when we have nothing to do with Iran, then why create an uneasy situation in our district?"

He added: "I've made no comments on any religion or religious leader…Again, my concern is only the law and order."

Shahi imam Maulana Qasim Zaidi of Imam Qanati Masjid in Delhi, said, "These kinds of statements are nothing less than hate speech. We don't see Ayatollah Khamenei from a political prism; he's a supreme spiritual leader of our community and the mourning on his ‘martyrdom' transcends political and national boundaries." Qanati Masjid is a prominent Shia shrine in the country.

The Sambhal CO's remarks come days after All India Shia Personal Law Board on March 2 announced a three-day mourning following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and called for black flags to be hoisted on homes and commercial establishments across the country as a mark of mourning.

Source: indiatimes.com

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/dont-raise-pro-iran-slogans-or-displaysolidarity-during-fri-namaz-sambhal-co/articleshowprint/129519322.cms

---

'It’s not ‘love jihad’: Viral Mahakumbh girl Monalisa Bhosle clarifies after marrying Muslim man, says she followed Hindu rituals

Mar 12, 2026

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Monalisa Bhonsle, the 18-year-old Mahakumbh Mela sensation from Indore who rose to fame last year after videos of her selling rudraksh garlands went viral, tied the knot with actor Farman Khan at the Arumanoor temple in Poovar, Kerala, on Wednesday under police protection. The couple, who had been in a relationship for six months, said they chose Kerala for its supportive and harmonious environment.

The wedding, held in traditional Kerala style, saw Monalisa in a red saree and the groom in a white dhoti and shirt. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, and other prominent leaders attended the ceremony.

Monalisa addressed circulating reports that she was underage, calling them “fake and incorrect.” She stated, “I am 18 years old. I got married according to Hindu rituals. It is not ‘love jihad.’ I respect all religions and consider every religion equal.” Her husband confirmed that their marriage was registered, which would not have been possible if she were underage.

The couple had approached the Thampanoor police station earlier on Wednesday, seeking protection after Monalisa’s father reportedly tried to take her back to her hometown in Madhya Pradesh against her will. Police reminded her father that as an adult, she had the right to choose her partner. Monalisa’s father, Jaisingh Bhonsle, alleged that she had been persuaded to come to Kerala under the pretext of acting opportunities. Her uncle also expressed concern, claiming the family was uneducated and worried she may have been influenced through “black magic.”

Monalisa and Farman said their relationship began six months ago during a film shoot in Poovar. They had completed shooting for one film and were preparing for another. They expressed their desire to settle in Kerala, where they found an atmosphere free from divisive sentiments.

Speaking to reporters, Farman said, “We planned to get married here because everyone lives in harmony and supports each other.” Minister Sivankutty echoed the sentiment, calling it “the real Kerala story where people can live freely.”

The couple’s decision to marry in Kerala, despite family opposition, highlights both Monalisa’s rise from viral fame to cinema opportunities and her determination to make independent choices about her personal life.

Source: indiatimes.com

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/its-not-love-jihad-viral-mahakumbh-girl-monalisa-bhosle-clarifies-after-marrying-muslim-man-says-she-followed-hindu-rituals/articleshowprint/129500248.cms

---
Sarma: Will repost video of skull-capped men being ‘shot’, this time labelling them ‘Bangladeshis’

Mar 13, 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that he would repost a video showing him symbolically firing at two Muslim men, this time labelling them as “Bangladeshis”.

The video was posted by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Assam unit on February 7. It combined what appeared to be original footage of the BJP leader handling rifles with artificial intelligence-generated images portraying Muslims as targets.

On-screen text included slogans such as “Foreigner free Assam”, “No mercy”, “Why did you not go to Pakistan?” and “There is no forgiveness to Bangladeshis”.

The clip was deleted following social media criticism.

The Congress’ Assam unit and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen had filed complaints with the police against Sarma and the BJP for sharing the video. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India also moved the Supreme Court.

Speaking to Aaj Tak on Thursday, the Assam chief minister said that the video was “correct”, but it should have identified the men as “Bangladeshi”.

When told that he could not shoot Bangladeshi citizens or undocumented migrants either, Sarma said that it was only “symbolic” shooting.

“So that Bangladeshis don’t infiltrate into Assam, the Assam chief minister will have to shoot at them, symbolically,” said the BJP leader.

He added the video was deleted as it did not use the word “Bangladeshi”, so it was “legally and constitutionally wrong”.

“However, we will correct it and post it again,” claimed Sarma.

He added that the updated video would not be posted from the BJP’s account but from his personal account.

The statements came in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Assam, which are expected to be held in April.

The BJP’s Assam unit chief Dilip Saikia had earlier claimed that the video was deleted as it was “unauthorised” and “immature”, The Indian Express had reported on February 12.

One of the four co-convenors of the Assam BJP’s social media cell was also removed from his position in connection with the video.

Saikia had told The Indian Express that the party was concerned about “illegal immigrant Bangladeshis in Assam”, adding that there had to be a movement in the society against this.

“But the party does not support the idea of a mala fide intent of targeting Muslims with bullets,”

On February 11, Sarma told reporters that he and the BJP do not support anything that goes against Assamese Muslims.

“We are not against Assamese Muslims but against Bangladeshi Muslims, Miya Muslims,” he said. “That photograph [in the video] should have made the difference [clear] between Bangladeshi and Indian Muslims.”

In Assam, “Miya” is a derogatory word used to refer to undocumented immigrants and is exclusively directed at Muslims of Bengali origin. They are often accused of being undocumented migrants from Bangladesh.

Once a pejorative in Assam, from the common use of the honorific “Miya” among South Asian Muslims, the term has now been reappropriated by the community as a self-descriptor to refer to Muslims who migrated to Assam from Bengal during the colonial era.

In the past month, Sarma has made a series of remarks targeting Miyas, including claiming that it was his job to “make them suffer”, and saying that he had directed BJP workers to file applications seeking to strike the names of Miya Muslims off the electoral rolls.

However, in February, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain petitions seeking that a first information report be filed against Sarma for hate speech against Muslims.

Source: scroll.in

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

https://scroll.in/latest/1091355/sarma-says-he-will-repost-video-of-muslim-men-being-shot-this-time-labelling-them-bangladeshi

---

Indian Muslims must stop being delusional about the Global Ummah

Ibn Khaldun Bharati

13 March, 2026

Muslim unity is a dream — and a nightmare, too. It’s as much desired by many Muslims as feared by non-Muslims. Desired, not because it promises universal brotherhood, but because it imagines a united army to fight the kufr. Non-Muslims fear it for the same reason.

So, whenever a Muslim country goes to war with a non-Muslim one, many ordinary Muslims hope that all other Muslim countries would jump into the fray. When events don’t turn out as desired, there is a palpable despair in the Muslim camp, and a sigh of relief in the opposition. There is a rush to theorise that Muslim unity is a chimera; and, thank God, there will never be a united Ummah army to turn a routine geopolitical conflict into an apocalyptic war.

Muslim thought-leaders, particularly in India, have trained the Muslim mind to regard the realpolitik decisions of Muslim countries as betrayal of the grand Islamic ideal. Though such unity never materialises, the ideal is not abandoned, and the hope is kept alive. Every unity has a counterpoint — that against which it’s organised. Clearly, the idea of Muslim unity is a confrontational concept, underlining a war mentality.

Theologically speaking, the most famous hadith about Islamic unity is actually about its opposite. The Prophet is reported to have said: “The Jews split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects. My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects; all of them will be in the Fire except one.”

And thus it has been since the inception of Islam. The pristine Muslim community — the ideal exemplars for all ages — split into two the day the Prophet died, as the partisans of Ali contested the selection of Abu Bakr as the caliph. The dissension that began with the question of the rightful inheritance of political authority from the Prophet went on to develop into full-fledged theological schools destined to spawn scores of sects throughout history. In religion, every dispute becomes religious; nothing remains just political.

In an article titled ‘Against Muslim unity’, Oxford historian Faisal Devji calls the idea of unifying Islam a recent invention—and a bad one.

“Posturing about an illusory ‘Muslim unity’ tends only to alienate Muslims from the political world of nation-states that govern their societies. From this perspective, Muslim militancy, too, is actually a consequence of de-politicisation and not, as is commonly presumed, the reverse,” he writes.

Devji places the blame for Muslim militancy on the deracination of Muslim societies from their respective national cultures — which, in turn, follows from self-alienation from the nation-states to which they belong.

Nowhere has this process been more stark than in India.

Muslim unity as a political weapon

 Pan-Islamism, the utopian vision of worldwide Muslim unity, took shape as the decline of Muslim power accelerated toward total dissolution in the late 19th century. While the Mughals reigned, Indian Muslims showed scant regard for the Ottoman caliphate. It was only with the termination of Mughal rule — actually, only after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, in 1862, at Rangoon — that they started swearing fealty to the Khalifa in Turkey even as they lived under British sovereignty.

While their heads bowed to the British throne, their hearts belonged to the Sublime Porte. In the division between head and heart, they forgot that their entire existence — body and soul — belonged here in India. This division led to many more on the ground — the line often drawn in blood. But more on that later.

During the classical age of Islam, as the Crusades raged for two hundred years (1095–1291) for control over Jerusalem, there were as many as three caliphates in the Muslim world: the Abbasids in Baghdad, the Fatimids in Cairo, and the Almoravids and Almohads in Spain. All three treated the conflict as an insignificant war on a remote periphery. It did not even occur to them to unite to defend a site they all considered sacred.

Historical narratives of Islam are mostly about sectarian wars — betrayal and treachery being their running threads. During its age of supremacy, it is hard to come across any discourse for unity. One hears of it only in post-Islamic times.

In the book The Struggle Within Islam (1989), scholar-politician Rafiq Zakaria surveyed the length and breadth of Islamic history to postulate that Islam has had a dialectic of its own — the struggle between the pragmatic forces of secularism and the idealistic forces of religion, and more often than not, it has been resolved in favour of the former. He argues that while the concept of a single, unified Ummah (community) is a powerful spiritual ideal, the historical reality has been defined more by internal tension and political division than by monolithic cohesion.

One of Zakaria’s primary arguments is that Western observers and many Muslims alike often fall into the trap of viewing the Muslim world as a monolith. He asserts that nationalism and ethnicity (Persian, Arab, Turkic, etc.) have historically proven to be stronger drivers of political action than shared religious identity. On top of this, the fundamental split between Sunni and Shia Islam, along with various sub-sects, created internal borders that religious sentiment alone could not bridge.

Zakaria highlights that “Islamic unity” has frequently been invoked by political leaders not for spiritual reasons, but to consolidate power or oppose external threats (such as Western colonialism). He argues that when religion is used to enforce political unity, it often leads to the suppression of intellectual pluralism (as seen in most Islamic societies today), and increased conflict with “the other” (non-Muslims or “heretical” Muslim sects).

Drawing on Zakaria’s insight, it can be argued that the call for Islamic unity — the core tenet of Islamism — is actually a clarion call for war. It is a pretext for power rather than a path to piety. Its objective is not the spiritual or economic elevation of the community, but the consolidation of power for an ideological elite. This pursuit of Ghalba-e Islam (Islamic dominance) frequently becomes a catalyst for misogyny, supremacism, and systemic violence. That is what they call jihad, which is distinct from the self-purifying religiosity of ordinary, non-political Islam. There is no way that Islamic unity could ever be for a peaceful purpose. It’s an inherently belligerent idea. Externally it places a country at war, and internally into oppression. The “Islamic republics” bear testimony to it — Iran and Pakistan foremost among them.

The Arab core of ‘Global Islam’

Pan-Islamism, which began in the late 19th century as a reactive movement and matured into the proactive ideology of political Islam (Islamism) by the mid-20th century, spread across the globe in the coming decades as a full-fledged worldview of Islamic domination and Sharia imposition. This was fuelled by massive funding from Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi regime and the success of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, their internal sectarian animosity notwithstanding. Scholars have named this phenomenon “Global Islam”.

According to historian Nile Green, “the term Global Islam refers to the versions of Islam propagated across geographical, political, and ethnolinguistic boundaries by Muslim religious activists, organizations, and states that emerged in the era of modern globalization. By contrast, the term World Islam refers to the older versions of Islam that developed and adapted to different local and regional environments during the millennium before the onset of modern globalization.”

In light of this definition, it would be pertinent to recall Faisal Devji’s perceptive point mentioned in the supra: “Global Islam” is what happens when Muslims are disconnected from their local “national cultures” and instead adopt a standardised, militant identity.

Global Islam is transnational, but not really. It is a de-nationalised ideology of cultural rootlessness — but only for non-Arab Muslims. Islam has its own nationalism: it is Arab.

The 20th-century Arab nationalists — both strands of Pan-Arabism, Nasserist and Ba’athist — regarded Islam not merely as a religion, but as the essential cultural and historical ideology of Arab nationalism. They posited Islam as the “genius” of the Arabs and the vehicle through which they achieved their historical greatness. Michel Aflaq (1910-89), the co-founder of the Ba’ath Party, though a Christian himself, considered Islam the “soul” of Arabism and the Prophet Muhammad the ultimate Arab hero.

In his book The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists (2005), Islamic scholar Khaled Abou El Fadl examines the historical intersection of Islam and Arab nationalism to explain how their fusion produced the primitive cult of Wahhabism. The organic unity of Arab culture and Islam transformed 7th-century Arab tribal customs into eternal and immutable laws of Sharia. The Wahhabi insistence on “pristine” Islam is effectively the sacralisation of 7th-century Arab tribal culture.

Islam is a product of Arab culture. The two are so inextricably interwoven that it is impossible to distinguish one from the other. Therefore, a non-Arab Muslim, in his aspiration toward authentic Muslimness, mimics the Arab and ends up a cultural counterfeit.

In his travelogues Among the Believers (1981) and Beyond Belief (1998), Nobel laureate VS Naipaul explores this complex, often turbulent intersection of faith, identity, and history in non-Arab Muslim nations. He diagnoses a “neurosis” afflicting the converts — the psychological struggle to reconcile an acquired faith with their indigenous cultural histories.

The Indian Muslim’s dilemma

 Nowhere has this struggle been more obvious than among Indian Muslims. The single most contentious debate within the community — between Deobandis, Barelvis, and Salafi-Wahhabis — revolves around the permissible degree of “Indianness” in Islamic religiosity. The less Indian one becomes, the more Islamic he appears. As Naipaul said, “The convert has to turn away from everything that is his. The disturbance for societies is immense… it can never be truly settled.”

Perhaps, if Islam had ceased to be an alien implant, the converted Muslims would not have become a separate community, and history might have taken a different trajectory. At present, the contest between puritanism and syncretism seems heavily loaded in favour of the former.

However, in his book Waning Crescent: The Rise and Fall of Global Islam (2025), Faisal Devji prognosticates the End of Islam (the title of his article summarising the book) as a subject of history and an actor on the global stage. “Islam became a protagonist in history which, in the 19th century, took the form of a civilisation, conceptualised as an abstract agent whose rise and fall played out on a global stage. In the 20th century it came to be understood by Muslim liberals and Islamists as an ideology on the pattern of communism.”

Islamism — the highly politicised version of the faith — has run its course and is being replaced by local, “small-p” politics or humanitarian concerns.

“None of the great Muslim mobilisations of recent years has invoked Islam as a subject or even cause. From the Arab uprisings of 2010 to the 2020 protests over citizenship laws in India, and from the Green movement of 2009 to the 2022 women’s uprising in Iran, none opted for Muslim liberalism, Islamism or militancy. Islam is no longer a subject in these events, including protests over the Gaza war which have been remarkably muted in the Muslim world,” Devji writes.

During the Shaheen Bagh movement, though they began with Islamic sloganeering — tera mera rishta kya, la ilaha illallah — they soon made a strategic shift to constitutional discourse.

The illusion of Ummah

The recent events in Gaza and Iran, and the response to them, have exposed the hollowness of the idea of Global Islam, and its personification, the Global Ummah.

Under its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has effectively retired its role as the global exporter of religious ideology. By prioritising “Saudi-first” nationalism and economic modernisation over pan-Islamic leadership, Riyadh has signalled that it is no longer the “bank” for global Islamic movements.

The Iranian model — ideological, revolutionary, and confrontational — has become a cautionary tale.

A global Ummah that could fight (what else?) unitedly against a common enemy has been nothing but an illusion created by the ideology of political Islam. It is time that Muslims stop hallucinating about a unity that they have never had, nor can ever have. If there is no enemy at hand, they inevitably fight among themselves along sectarian lines.

It is time that Muslims return to their respective national roots and, instead of Arabising themselves, indigenise Islam. Indian Muslims, in particular, should stop being delusional about the Global Ummah. If their sentiments for Arabs or Iranians are not reciprocated in equal measure, there is something perverse about the Indian Muslim’s sense of self.

Source: theprint.in

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

https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-muslims-must-stop-being-delusional-about-the-global-ummah/2877134/

---

Mumtaz opens up on her interfaith marriage, slams polygamy: 'Marrying three-four times, how does it make you better?'

Mar 12, 2026

Veteran Bollywood star Mumtaz, whose birth name is Mumtaz Askari, was among the most popular actresses of the 1970s, known for films such as 'Khilona', 'Do Raaste', 'Aap Ki Kasam', 'Tere Mere Sapne', 'Roti' among others. Her onscreen pairing with Rajesh Khanna and some of their songs together continue to remain iconic. At the peak of her film career, she married businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974 and stepped away from acting. In a recent interview, the veteran actor opened up about her interfaith marriage and how marrying a Hindu influenced certain aspects of her spiritual life. She also spoke about her deep faith in Hindu deities despite being born into a Muslim family.

Mumtaz shared details about her personal beliefs and the spiritual practices she follows at home. She said in an interview with Sitaron Ka Safar, “My favourites are Lord Shankar and Lord Krishna. I believe in them deeply, even though I am a Muslim.”

She went on to describe how devotion is part of her everyday routine. “Whenever I walk down the stairs in my house, there is an idol of Lord Ganesha, who is my favourite, and I bow at his feet. I also believe in Lord Shankar. Since childhood, I have always loved good-looking people, and I feel he is the most handsome god. So I love him. These are the two deities I especially believe in.”

During the same conversation, Mumtaz also spoke about her interfaith marriage, noting that both she and her sister married Hindu men and have found happiness in their relationships. “I believe in both religions. I married a Hindu, and my sister also married a Hindu. We are both happy. My husband takes great care of me. I don’t understand why people keep talking about Hindu and Muslim divisions, I don’t believe in that.”

The actor also shared her personal views on polygamy, saying she strongly disagrees with the practice followed by some Muslim men. “I always say that I married a Hindu, and so did my sister, and we are very happy. Among Muslims, many men have married three or four times and then left their wives. How does that make Muslims better than Hindus? A man should not marry three or four times in the first place. I myself am Muslim, and I say this is wrong, to keep one wife and then marry another, and then a third. Have you ever thought about how possessive women are in relationships? This is one relationship where every woman is possessive. Leaving one and marrying another, how is that right? Isn’t that a sin?”

She concluded by comparing it with what she sees among Hindus, adding, “In that sense, Hindus seem better, they usually marry once. Sometimes they may marry twice, but it’s not about easily leaving one person and moving on to another. That is wrong.”

Source: indiatimes.com

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mumtaz-opens-up-on-interfaith-marriage-shares-her-views-on-polygamy-marrying-three-four-times-how-does-it-make-you-better/articleshowprint/129500058.cms

---

'Why hesitancy now?': Congress reiterates 'compromised PM' charge over silence on Ayatollah Khamenei's death

Mar 13, 2026

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning his hesitation in condemning the death of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Recalling his earlier charge of “compromised PM”, Ramesh claimed that PM Modi wanted to “avoid antagonising his American and Israeli friends”, referring to US President Donald Trump and Tel Aviv’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a post on X, he wrote: “Why the hesitancy now? A compromised PM no doubt wants to avoid antagonizing his American and Israeli ‘friend.’”

The Congress leader also questioned the silence of PM Modi and the external affairs ministry following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.

“Ayatollah Khamenei, the constitutional head of state in Iran, was assassinated on Feb 28, 2026 by the US and Israel. The PM is silent. The EAM is silent. Parliament is yet to have an obituary reference,” he wrote.

His remarks came after India backed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Middle Eastern nations.

“India has rightly condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states but is completely quiet on the US-Israeli assault on Iran in the first place. It should be remembered that Iran is a part of the BRICS+ forum, which India holds the presidency of this year,” he further wrote.

Recalling the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, Ramesh said that the government had earlier declared a one-day state mourning and is hesitating now.

“In May 2024, the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, was killed in a mysterious helicopter crash. The Modi government ordered a one-day mourning on May 21, 2024, and Parliament had an obituary reference on July 1, 2024 when it convened,” he wrote.

Khamenei was killed earlier this month in a coordinated strike carried out by Israel and the United States. He was later succeeded by his second-oldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Source: indiatimes.com

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-hesitancy-now-congress-reiterates-compromised-pm-charge-over-silence-on-ayatollah-khameneis-death/articleshowprint/129540040.cms

---

Opposition links Farooq Abdullah attack to delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir statehood

13.03.26

The Opposition on Thursday cited the delay in restoring statehood as the reason for the assassination bid on former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah.

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed an uproar as the Congress and the National Conference linked the statehood issue to the decline in law and order in Jammu and Kashmir, even as the government called it a politically motivated allegation.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Farooq's security was breached as Jammu and Kashmir's police do not report to the Union Territory's government since statehood was withdrawn in 2019.

"Jammu and Kashmir was a state earlier. The police and security were under the jurisdiction of the state government. Such an incident happened because the security of Jammu and Kashmir is currently in the hands of the Union home minister. Law and order have deteriorated. There are attempts to kill important leaders," Kharge said.

The Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha said the people of Kashmir were not safe under the present arrangement, as the home ministry looks after the security of the Union Territory.

"I want to ask if the government intends to kill Abdullah. If the government wanted to safeguard him, he should have been provided full security. People will be secure if there is a state government. The people of Kashmir are not safe in your hands. You are finishing those people who stand for secularism and socialism and work for national integration," Kharge said.

NC member Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said Jammu and Kashmir police were not present at the spot when Farooq was attacked. Deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary, who was accompanying Farooq, was injured in the attack.

"Where did the police go? You saw what happened in Pahalgam. The lieutenant governor said he was responsible but nothing happened to improve security. Farooq brought Kashmir to the mainstream in the 1990s. I demand statehood be granted to Jammu and Kashmir and Abdullah's security be upgraded," he said.

Leader of the House J.P. Nadda said the attack on Farooq was a matter of concern. "I want to assure that the matter will be investigated and the accused will be questioned to understand his motive. All necessary steps will be taken for Abdullah's safety," he said.

"To conclude this incident happened because statehood has not been restored in Jammu and Kashmir and to allege that the government intended to kill him, I think, is condemnable," Nadda said.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/opposition-blames-jk-statehood-delay-after-farooq-abdullah-assassination-attempt-prnt/cid/2151049

---

Mideast

 

Israeli military drops charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee

March 12, 2026

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military on Thursday said it was dropping charges against five soldiers accused of beating and sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee in an alleged assault partially caught on camera.

The decision, which came as much of the country’s attention was focused on the war with Iran, closed a flashpoint case that has bitterly divided Israel since the soldiers were arrested in 2024 at the notorious Sde Teiman military prison, prompting anger from members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists who violently overran the prison in protest.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the announcement, while human rights groups accused the military of ignoring one of the gravest instances of abuse in the country’s network of wartime prisons.

“Israel’s military advocate general just gave his soldiers license to rape — so long as the victim is Palestinian,” said Sari Bashi, executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, after the case was dismissed. She said the decision was “the latest in a long line of actions that whitewash abuses against detainees whose frequency and severity have worsened since Oct. 7, 2023.”

Netanyahu welcomed the decision, saying that “the state of Israel must pursue its enemies, not its heroic fighters.”

The now-dismissed indictment against the soldiers accused them of an assault that included dragging a Palestinian prisoner along the floor, stepping on him, tasering him, and sexually assaulting him by stabbing him in the rectum. The Palestinian was taken to an Israeli hospital with fractured ribs and a perforated rectum that required surgery before he was returned to the prison.

The allegations of abuse at the facility gained steam when, in August 2024, Israeli news broadcast a leaked video of the alleged assault.

The video showed a group of masked soldiers wresting a detainee from the ground, where he and other Palestinians were lying face down and handcuffed in a fenced-in pen, and taking the detainee to an area of the pen they cordoned off using shields.

In its Thursday decision dismissing the case, the military’s top legal officers said the charges against the soldiers were being dropped because the video did not show abuse violent enough to merit a criminal conviction and had been improperly leaked to the media. The decision added that the Palestinian victim had since been released back to Gaza, creating an “absence of certainty” he would be able to testify in a trial.

In November 2025, after much speculation about how the leaked video got out, Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi — the top legal official in the military — admitted that she had approved its release, saying she had wanted to show how serious the abuse was and convince people the military had a duty to investigate.

Facing an uproar from Netanyahu’s government, she abruptly resigned and then disappeared, only to be found phoneless on a Tel Aviv beach after a frantic search by authorities. The phone, believed to hold possible evidence against her, was later recovered in the sea.

The Associated Press investigated allegations of inhumane treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman before the surveillance video.

The prison was set up after Oct. 7, 2023, to hold Palestinians rounded up in Gaza during Israel’s war against the Hamas militant group. The secretive facility quickly gained notoriety as employees and Palestinians freed from detention described scenes of abuse and torture and Israeli rights groups petitioned the country’s top court for it to be shuttered.

Israel has long been accused of failing to hold its soldiers accountable for crimes committed against Palestinians. The allegations have intensified during the war in Gaza. Israel says its forces act within military and international law and says it thoroughly investigates any alleged abuses.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636201/middle-east

---

Trump says he thinks Iran’s new supreme leader is alive but ‘damaged’

March 13, 2026

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said that he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed on the first day of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, is alive but “damaged.”

Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly, and his first comments were read out by a television presenter on Thursday.

An Iranian said on Wednesday that the newly appointed supreme leader was lightly injured but was continuing to operate, after state television described him as war-‌wounded.

“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.” His remarks were published by Fox News late on Thursday.

In Khamenei’s first comments, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and called on neighboring countries to close US bases on their territory or risk Iran targeting them.

The US and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has responded with its own strikes on Israel ‌and Gulf ⁠countries with US bases.

As the war approached the two-week mark, having killed thousands and shaken financial markets, the leaders of Iran, Israel and the United States all voiced defiance and have vowed to fight on.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636229/middle-east

---
US carrying out rescue effort after military aircraft crash in Iraq

March 13, 2026

WASHINGTON: A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

The United States has surged ‌a large ‌number of aircraft ‌into the ⁠Middle East to ⁠take part in operations against Iran.

In a statement, US Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the ⁠US KC-135 refueling aircraft ‌went down. ‌The second aircraft landed safely.

“The incident ‌occurred in friendly airspace ‌during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the statement said, using the name of ‌the US operation against Iran.

Since the US and ⁠Israel ⁠started carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28, seven US troops have been killed.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 US troops have been wounded in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636219/middle-east

---

Sirens heard at Incirlik air base, key NATO facility in south Turkiye: state news agency

March 13, 2026

ANKARA: Sirens were heard early on Friday at Turkiye’s Incirlik air base, a key NATO facility where US troops are stationed near the southeastern city of Adana, state news agency Anadolu reported.

There was no immediate official comment on the incident, which took place four days after NATO air defenses shot down a ballistic missile in Turkish airspace that was fired from Iran, the second in five days.

Residents of Adana, which lies 10 kilometers away from the base, were woken at around 3:25 a.m. (0025 GMT) by sirens, which sounded for around five minutes, according to the Ekonomim business news website.

It said a red alert sounded at the base.

Several people posted mobile phone footage on social media of a glowing image flying through the sky, suggesting it could be a missile heading for the air base, it said.

Across the city, sirens from fire engines and the security forces could be heard for a long time, it added.

NATO said it shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran on Monday, prompting a stern warning from Turkiye to Tehran not to take “provocative steps.”

The announcement came shortly after Washington said it was closing down its consulate in Adana, urging all American citizens to leave southeastern Turkiye.

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran started, Tehran has launched strikes across the Middle East. Turkiye had appeared to have been spared.

As well as Incirlik air base, US troops are also stationed at Kurecik, another Turkish base that is a NATO facility in the center of the country, where a Patriot missile defense system was deployed on Tuesday.

A first missile had been intercepted by NATO defenses in Turkish air space on March 4.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636233/middle-east

---

Israeli military says struck Hezbollah member in Beirut

March 13, 2026

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: An Israeli strike hit a member of Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon’s capital, the military said on Friday.

“A short while ago, the IDF struck a Hezbollah terrorist in the area of Beirut,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that if the Lebanese government did not disarm Hezbollah, Israel would do the job “on the ground.”

“You are playing with fire,” Benjamin Netanyahu said to Lebanese authorities during a press conference, as Israeli jets carried out three strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs — two without prior warning — according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Referring to the Lebanese government’s stated commitment to disarm the Iran-backed group, the premier added “if you do not do so, it is clear that we will.”

“How will we do it? On the ground. With ground forces and other things,” he said.

Earlier Thursday the Israeli military had announced “a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure across Beirut,” with AFPTV footage showing dark smoke rising into the sky above two districts in the heart of the city.

One of the strikes hit a building in Bashoura, adjacent to Beirut’s commercial center, where many large companies and government institutions are based.

An Israeli army spokesperson accused Hezbollah of “hiding … millions of dollars” under the building.

That was followed by another attack on a Beirut branch of the Hezbollah-linked financial firm Al-Qard Al-Hassan in the downtown neighborhood of Zoukak El-Blat.

“I address you today while Beirut is being bombed, as are its suburbs, our south, and our Bekaa,” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a speech to the nation.

“It is a war we did not want; on the contrary, we are working day and night to bring it to an end.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier that he had ordered troops to “prepare for expanding” attacks in Lebanon, as Israel issued an evacuation warning to all residents south of the Zahrani River, some 45 kilometers from the border.

Israel continued striking several areas of Lebanon throughout the day, including the town of Arkey in the south, where nine people were killed and seven wounded, according to the health ministry.

Among the dead were five children, four of them siblings, according to the Arkey municipality.

A separate Israeli strike on the Christian village of Ein Ebel killed three men as they were installing a satellite TV dish on a roof, the NNA said.

Hezbollah and Iran

Hezbollah said on Thursday that it carried out a number of attacks against Israel, including one targeting an air defense system near the town of Caesarea, home to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Israel, which had kept up its strikes in Lebanon even before the war despite a 2024 ceasefire, has since launched air raids and sent ground troops into border areas.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday that they had carried out a joint operation with Hezbollah against targets in Israel.

The joint operation drew the Lebanese government’s “firm objection” with the foreign minister summoning the Iranian charge d’affaires.

‘We won’t leave’

The violence has killed more than 687 people in Lebanon, according to national authorities, while more than 800,000 people have registered as displaced.

World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau, visiting Beirut, told AFP that “the massive displacement we have seen” in Lebanon was “unique” in the context of the regional war.

“Some 800,000 people in a week. That’s massive.”

An Israeli overnight strike on Ramlet Al-Bayda, Beirut’s public beachfront, killed 12 people and wounded 28, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

An AFP correspondent at the scene saw blood stains on the pavement and damaged vehicles, with the area, usually bustling with crowds, sealed off by security forces.

“We saw dead people on the ground,” said Aseel Habbaj, a displaced woman who had been sheltering in a nearby tent after fleeing Israeli bombings in other areas of Lebanon.

Her 40-year-old neighbor Dalal Al-Sayed said she had opted to pitch her tent at the seaside after fleeing attacks in southern Lebanon “because the last thing we expected was Israel to hit Beirut.”

Her family could not afford to rent an apartment, she said.

“We won’t leave, we will stay here even if we die,” she added.

Displaced people have been sleeping rough or in tents on the streets of Beirut, including in Ramlet Al-Bayda, where some shelters were hit by shrapnel from the overnight strike, according to an AFP correspondent.

A strike on a campus of the Lebanese University, the country’s only public institution of higher learning, killed the head of the faculty of sciences and another professor, according to the NNA.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636206/middle-east

---

Lebanon reportedly begins forming delegation for possible talks with Israel

March 13, 2026

LONDON: Work has reportedly begun in Lebanon to assemble a delegation that could represent the country in potential negotiations with Israel, as Beirut pursues diplomatic avenues in an attempt to end escalating hostilities along the border between the countries.

Discussions within the Lebanese leadership are reportedly focusing on the composition of a team that would include military, diplomatic and technical experts, as well as representatives of the Christian community, L’Orient-Le Jour newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to political sources cited in the story, the efforts to form a delegation come as talks intensify between Lebanese officials and international partners over the format and location of negotiations with Israeli authorities.

One proposal under discussion is to hold the talks in Cyprus. Any negotiations would likely take place under international sponsorship, with a focus on securing a comprehensive truce agreement and addressing outstanding disputes between the two countries.

Lebanese officials have said the primary objective would be to halt Israeli military operations and stabilize border regions, while also tackling broader issues linked to security arrangements and unresolved territorial disputes.

Beirut has repeatedly told international partners it was prepared to engage in negotiations with Israel with the aim of ending the conflict and restoring calm along the frontier, most recently at the UN this week when Lebanese representatives reiterated their country’s readiness to open talks, under international sponsorship, on a truce and the resolution of contentious issues.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636211/middle-east

---

Jordan, Syria condemn Iran’s ‘unjustified’ attacks on Arab countries

March 13, 2026

LONDON: The foreign ministers of Syria and Jordan on Thursday condemned Iran’s “unjustified” attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan.

At a meeting in Damascus, Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Al-Shaibani and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi also criticized Israel’s airstrikes on the Syrian Arab Republic, calling them a violation of international law and the nation’s sovereignty and demanded an immediate Israeli withdrawal to the disengagement lines of 1974.

Al-Shaibani and Safadi led their countries’ delegations in talks to strengthen ties in the economy, trade, transport, water, energy, defense and security sectors.

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa met Safadi, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, Jordan’s director of general intelligence, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

Huneiti had extended talks with Syrian Minister of Defense Maj. Gen. Murhaf Abu Qasra to discuss defense and security cooperation, including combating terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons smuggling.

Safadi reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to Syria’s unity, security, stability and sovereignty, the report said.

Syria’s Chief of Intelligence Apparatus Hussein al-Salamah and Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali al-Naasan also attended the talks.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636210/middle-east

---

Arab World

 

Saudi Arabia launches initiative to reroute Gulf cargo to Red Sea ports

March 13, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched an initiative to redirect shipping from ports in the Arabian Gulf to its Red Sea ports amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.

Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser, who also chairs the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), launched the Logistics Corridors Initiative alongside Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Governor Suhail Abanmi, Mawani President Suliman Al-Mazroua, and other officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The initiative will establish dedicated operational corridors to receive containers and cargo redirected from ports in the Kingdom's Eastern Region and other Gulf Cooperation Council states to Jeddah Islamic Port and other Red Sea coast ports.

Al-Jasser said the Kingdom was committed to ensuring supply-chain stability and the smooth flow of goods through global trade routes. Jeddah Islamic Port and other west coast ports, he added, were already playing a key role in accommodating shipments redirected from the east, while also linking Gulf cargo to regional and international markets.

The initiative comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted by the widening conflict in the region. Iran has long threatened to close the strait — the world's most critical oil and gas chokepoint, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass — in the event of a war.

Since the US and Israel struck Iran last month, Tehran has moved to restrict passage through the waterway, sending freight rates soaring and forcing shipping companies to seek alternative routes.

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports offer a viable bypass, connecting Gulf cargo to global markets without passing through the strait.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636228/saudi-arabia

---

Crown prince meets with Pakistan prime minister

March 12, 2026

RIYADH: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Pakistani premier arrived in Jeddah on Thursday and was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz and other officials, SPA added.

According to the office of the Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif affirmed full support for Saudi Arabia during his meeting with the crown prince.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636190/saudi-arabia

---

UK foreign secretary condemns Iranian attacks during Riyadh meeting with Saudi counterpart

March 13, 2026

RIYADH: The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his British counterpart Yvette Cooper discussed Saudi-British ties and the latest regional developments during talks in Riyadh on Thursday.

During their meeting at the Foreign Ministry headquarters they discussed joint efforts to address the recent events in the region, the ministry said, and Cooper expressed the UK’s condemnation of what she described as brutal attacks by Iran against the Kingdom and other countries.

She reaffirmed Britain’s solidarity with the targeted nations and stressed the need for coordinated international efforts to guide the region toward stability and peace.

The ministers also reviewed the strategic relationship between their countries, and opportunities for enhanced cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Foreign Ministry’s undersecretary for political affairs, Saud Al-Sati, was also present at the meeting.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636215/saudi-arabia

---

SDAIA president, senior officials tour Jeddah airport

March 12, 2026

JEDDAH: Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, or SDAIA, toured and observed the operations of digital devices and e-gates at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Esam Al-Wagait, director of the National Information Center at the authority, joined the tour with several other officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The authority operates these systems and monitors them around the clock to serve visitors arriving to perform Umrah, facilitating their entry and departure procedures.

During the tour, Al-Ghamdi reviewed the digital systems, which incorporate advanced technologies designed to streamline passenger procedures and enhance operational efficiency.

The systems improve the travel experience for Umrah performers, keeping pace with national efforts to develop services provided to visitors to the Kingdom.

The visit is part of SDAIA’s efforts to ensure readiness at the Kingdom’s entry points, by using digital technologies, data, and artificial intelligence to enhance services at Saudi airports.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636186/saudi-arabia

---

Saudi hospital sets world record for paired kidney transplants

Rashid Hassan

March 12, 2026

RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre set a world record in 2025 for the most kidney paired donation transplants performed at a single center in a year.

Paired exchanges involve two living donors and two recipients. If the recipient from one pair is compatible with the donor from the other pair, and vice versa, a “swap” can be arranged to allow for two simultaneous transplants to take place.

The hospital said it completed 130 transplants in 2025, 36 more than the highest-volume single center in the US, which performed 94.

The achievement “reflects the steady growth of the program since its launch in 2016, bringing the cumulative number of kidney paired transplants performed under the program to 691 by the end of 2025,” it said.

Dieter Broering, executive director of the hospital’s organ transplant center of excellence, told Arab News that paired kidney donation had become “a key pathway to expand access to transplantation for patients who would otherwise struggle to find compatible donors.”

“This milestone reflects the strength of an integrated model that combines advanced immunology testing, coordinated exchange chains and highly specialized multidisciplinary teams working together to deliver safe and effective transplant care,” he said.

The center uses advanced immunology laboratory capabilities for precise compatibility testing, a coordinated system for managing complex exchange chains and multidisciplinary clinical teams, including transplant physicians and surgeons, anesthesiologists, transplant coordinators, nursing staff and histocompatibility laboratory specialists.

The KFSHRC ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2026. It was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance in 2025 and has been listed by Newsweek as being among the best hospitals in the world.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636184/saudi-arabia

---

Saudi FM discusses regional tensions with Spanish counterpart

March 12, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed escalating regional tensions with his Spanish counterpart on Thursday.

During a phone call with Jose Manuel Albares, efforts being made to address the tensions were also discussed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636181/saudi-arabia

---

Kingdom’s iftar mission fosters solidarity with Bangladesh

March 12, 2026

DHAKA: The Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has implemented a program conceived by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to provide iftar meals to fasting Muslims by setting up banquets in multiple locations across Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

The program has benefited more than 500 residents in Chittagong and 260 in Dhaka.

Beneficiaries have expressed gratitude for the Kingdom’s continued efforts in serving Muslim communities and Islam.

They affirmed that the program was an expression of the Kingdom’s humanitarian mission, fostering compassion, solidarity, and support for Muslims worldwide during the holy month.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2636174/saudi-arabia

---

 

Europe

 

Iran’s ambassador thanks Government and people of Azerbaijan

12.03.2026

“I express my gratitude to the Government and people of Azerbaijan for making it possible to send humanitarian aid from Russia to Iran. I would also like to note that over the past few days, we have witnessed the first humanitarian aid being dispatched from Azerbaijan to Iran, which stems from our common cultural roots and values, demonstrating that we offer a helping hand to each other in difficult times,” Mojtaba Demirchilou, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Azerbaijan, told journalists at the Lankaran international Airport.

The ambassador noted that the humanitarian cargo sent by Russia has arrived in Lankaran and from onward it will be handed over to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, heading to its destination.

On March 10, under President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations sent humanitarian aid to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The humanitarian aid included about 30 tons of food products, including 10 tons of flour, 6 tons of rice, 2.4 tons of sugar, more than 4 tons of drinking water, about 600 kilograms of tea, as well as about 2 tons of medicines and medical supplies.

Today, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) dispatched medical supplies to Azerbaijan for onward delivery to Iran on a special flight. The humanitarian aid consisting of 13 tons of medical supplies has been delivered to Azerbaijan for subsequent transfer to authorized representatives of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Source: azertag.az

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

https://azertag.az/en/xeber/irans_ambassador_thanks_government_and_people_of_azerbaijan-4074223

---

Wokingham Islamic Centre hosts community Iftar in Woosehill

 March 12, 2026

Members of the Wokingham Islamic Centre hosted a community Iftar on Sunday in Woosehill.

The event was held to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

A spokesperson for Wokingham Islamic Centre told Wokingham Today:“Our community Iftar was a wonderful evening that brought together brothers, sisters, families and members of the wider Wokingham community to share in the spirit of Ramadan.

“It was especially meaningful to see people from different backgrounds come together around the same table.

“We were also honoured to welcome our local MP, Clive Jones, who joined us for the event.

“As the Muslim community in Wokingham continues to grow, we are hopeful about establishing a mosque in the town in the near future.

“”Events like this highlight the warmth, generosity and unity that exists within our community.”

Jones told Wokingham Today: “Ramadan is a time of communal prayer, charity and strengthening community ties.

”I was delighted to attend this community Iftar meal alongside local people to celebrate these shared values, and I’d like to thank the local Muslim community for opening their doors to all in Wokingham.”

Source: wokingham.today

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

https://wokingham.today/wokingham-islamic-centre-hosts-community-iftar-in-woosehill/

---

Nineteen jailed over deadly Moscow concert attack

13.03.2026

Jessica Rawnsley

Nineteen people have been jailed over an attack at a concert hall near Moscow that killed 149 people and left more than 500 injured - the deadliest mass shooting in Russia in two decades.

A Russian military court handed life sentences to four gunmen and 11 accomplices. Four other defendants were given between 19 and 22 years, state media reported.

The attack at Crocus City Concert Hall on the outskirts of Russia's capital on 22 March 2024 began with gunmen shooting before setting fire to the venue.

An Islamic State (IS) group affiliate admitted it had carried out the attack and posted video evidence. Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of involvement - an allegation strenuously denied by Kyiv.

Some 6,000 people had been at the auditorium in Krasnogorsk for a rock concert on the evening of the attack when gunmen burst into the complex and started shooting randomly.

The attackers then set fires which engulfed the venue and caused the roof to collapse. Many of the victims died from bullet wounds and some from smoke inhalation.

The four men convicted of carrying out the shooting have all been identified as citizens of Tajikistan.

The other 11 who received life sentences were found guilty of helping the gunmen with money and weapons or of having links to terrorist groups.

Four others were jailed for selling a car to the gunmen and helping them rent a flat.

It is not clear if they will appeal the sentences.

The trial has been conducted behind closed doors and there are likely to have been confessions made under duress.

When the men first appeared in court two years ago, they showed visible signs of having been beaten and one was brought into court in a wheelchair.

IS-K, the group which admitted the attack, is an offshoot of IS which seeks to establish a Muslim caliphate across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

Graphic video released by IS, showing attackers firing on the crowd inside the concert hall, was verified as genuine by the BBC.

Russian officials have continued to claim that Ukraine was linked to the attack - the neighbour Russia has been at war with since it launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. No evidence has been provided for the claims.

Ukrainian officials fiercely deny any connection.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said it was "absolutely predictable" that Russian President Vladimir Putin would blame it on Ukraine.

Source: bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j5lx75vg3o

---

War in Ukraine spills into Hungarian election campaign

Nick Thorpe

War-torn Ukraine "will stop at nothing" to prevent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party winning the upcoming Hungarian elections, the Hungarian government claims. Physical violence against the prime minister and his family, and attacks or sabotage of key energy installations, are being prepared, ministers allege.

The Ukrainian government, in turn, accuses its Hungarian counterpart of whipping up a hate campaign against it to frighten Hungarians into voting Fidesz back into office.

A third party is in the middle: Russia.

The Financial Times reported on Wednesday morning that the Social Design Agency, a Kremlin-linked media consultancy firm, was preparing a mass disinformation campaign in Hungary, to bolster Orbán and discredit the opposition Tisza Party and its leader, Peter Magyar.

With just 30 days to go until the parliamentary election in Hungary, some analysts believe the anti-Ukraine hysteria proves that Orbán is panicking in the face of probable defeat.

His Fidesz party trails to Tisza by 39% to 50% in the latest poll.

Others say Orbán knows his electorate well - and that if they can be convinced that the country is in mortal danger, he could win a remarkable fifth consecutive victory on 12 April.

At the core of the dispute is the disruption of the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline on which Hungarian and Hungarian-run Slovak refineries depend.

Oil deliveries through the pipeline stopped on 27 January, after a Russian drone strike caused a fire at the Brody oil hub in western Ukraine.

No oil has arrived in Hungary since then.

Last week, Orbán produced satellite images which, according to him, show that the pipeline is intact. He and his ministers accuse Ukraine of delaying repairs, in order to harm Orban's re-election chances, by causing a fuel shortage in Hungary.

"The Orbán government is not telling the full truth," András Rácz a security analyst, at the German Council on Foreign Relations, told the BBC, regarding Hungarian government claims that no technical obstacles remain to restarting the flow of Russian oil to Hungary.

In the 27 January Russian attack, Rácz said, an oil tank containing 75 million litres of crude oil at Brody was damaged, and to save the oil and prevent an environmental disaster, it was pumped into the pipeline for storage.

The presence of that oil, and other technical damage resulting from the first and a subsequent Russian attack, prevent the restoration of supply.

Ukraine says it could take six weeks to repair.

The Ukraine hysteria in Hungary takes many forms.

Giant billboards and city lights posters cover the country. Some show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky begging for money from EU chiefs.

Others juxtapose Zelensky and Peter Magyar. His Tisza is accused of planning to get Hungary involved in the Ukraine war, by joining what is dubbed "the pro-war lobby" in Brussels - something Magyar vehemently denies.

"We are the real party of peace," Magyar tells crowds at his daily rallies across the country.

Orbán and his ministers tour the country, too, addressing what they bill as "anti-war" assemblies of Fidesz supporters.

The most shocking video - an artificial intelligence production by Fidesz - shows a little girl asking her weeping mother when her dad will come home. This cuts to a firing squad where her blindfolded father is about to be executed. This will happen to Hungarians, the video suggests, if they vote for Tisza.

Facebook has rejected readers' complaints that the advert violates its rules on both political and violence grounds.

In a highly unusual move in peacetime, the army has been deployed to patrol key energy installations - "to reassure' the public" in the Fidesz narrative or "to frighten" them in the Tisza one.

In the eastern city of Debrecen, Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky warned that the city could be a target for "hybrid operations" such as sabotage.

The dominant pro-government media act as an echo-chamber for the government message.

"Many people contact us, asking why, if the danger of attack is real, the government does not provide information about air-raid shelters," Tamas Polgar Toth, a journalist at the independent Debreciner news portal told the BBC. The Fidesz mayor of Debrecen, Laszlo Papp, later told the portal that this was being considered.

On 21 February, Orbán vetoed the delivery of the EU loan, until the oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline was restored. Ukraine has resorted to a €1.5bn loan from the International Monetary Fund to tide it over until the dispute is settled.

But on 4 March, Zelensky appeared to exacerbate the stand-off.

"We hope that no-one in the European Union will block the €90bn (£78bn) [of EU aid, currently vetoed by Hungary]. Otherwise we will give that person's address to our armed forces so they can call on him and speak to him in their own language," Zelensky said. He did not name Orbán.

The Hungarian prime minister was not pleased.

"They want to get rid of us, with threats if possible, because if nice words don't work, then with threats and blackmail," Orbán told state radio on 6 March.

A day earlier two vehicles of the Ukrainian state savings Oschadbank were seized crossing Hungary.

The TEK anti-terror troops used in the operation were depicted on the front cover of the independent HVG weekly on Wednesday as Viktor Orbán's "private army" moving gold bars around the symbol of the Tisza party.

Pro-government media allege that one of the lawyers at the company representing the Ukrainian bank as it tries to get back its money and vehicles is an ardent Tisza supporter.

A decree issued by the government on Monday ordered prosecutors to investigate "whether Hungarian criminal organisations, terrorist organisations or political organisations present in Hungary may have benefited from the transported assets".

On Wednesday, several members of a so-called fact-finding mission set up by the Hungarian government entered Ukraine by car. Their aim was to report on the Druzhba.

"Our job is to assess the status of the pipeline and create conditions for its restart," Deputy Energy Minister Gábor Czepek said in a Facebook post.

But Ukraine said the group were being treated as tourists.

"This group of individuals holds no official status, nor do they have any scheduled official meetings; therefore, it is fundamentally incorrect to refer to them as a delegation," a statement from Ukraine's foreign ministry said.

The aftermath brought another sharp exchange between the neighbours. Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Zelensky of lying after the Ukrainian president said he "was not aware" of a Hungarian delegation arriving in Ukraine – and published an official note from the Hungarian embassy in Kyiv to prove his point.

In its response, Ukraine said it had already informed the Hungarians that "the dates for the visit proposed in the above-mentioned note from the embassy are not acceptable for the Ukrainian side".

Source: bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm8rxwyyz8o

---

Zelensky considering suspending elections for years – media

12 Mar, 2026

Vladimir Zelensky has ordered his advisors to plot out a scenario where elections in Ukraine are suspended and the country commits to years of war, Ukrainskaya Pravda has reported, citing government sources.

The tenure of Zelensky and of the Ukrainian parliament has long expired, but the Ukrainian leader has refused to hold elections since early 2024, citing martial law imposed amid the conflict with Russia. The situation has prompted international concerns over the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, particularly from Moscow, which has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s authority and suggested he may not be in a position to sign any peace agreement should a deal ultimately be reached.

Ukraine’s European backers want Kiev to continue fighting for up to two more years, though the country is facing a “financial catastrophe” that will consume not only its war budget but also its economy as a whole, the newspaper reported on Thursday.

“The Europeans said: ‘Fight for another year and a half or two. We will give you money.’ Under their influence, [Vladimir] Zelensky gave the task to the political leadership to develop a plan to hold off elections in Ukraine for several more years and how the parliament will work in such circumstances,” an anonymous source from Zelensky’s administration told the outlet.

The risk of Kiev running out of cash has been growing rapidly. With a proposed €90 billion ($105 billion) EU emergency loan remaining blocked by Hungary, growing dissent within the Ukrainian parliament has slowed down the adoption of measures needed to receive funding from the International Monetary Fund, the newspaper warned on Thursday.

The EU emergency funding scheme ended up derailed amid the oil standoff between Ukraine and Hungary and Slovakia. In late January, Kiev halted the Druzhba pipeline, which used to carry Russian crude to the two EU nations, citing alleged damage to the artery. While Moscow has denied attacking the pipeline, Budapest and Bratislava have accused Kiev of deliberately disrupting supplies for political reasons. Hungary has vetoed the €90 billion loan in retaliation, while Slovakia warned it could opt to block the proposed package as well.

Source: rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/634679-zelensky-ukraine-suspending-elections/

---

Less than 10% of Ukraine’s troops enlist voluntarily – MP

12 Mar, 2026

Fewer than one in ten Ukrainians joining the country’s armed forces are doing so voluntarily, making it impossible to abandon forced mobilization, a senior Kiev lawmaker has acknowledged.

The general call‑up of able‑bodied men aged 25 to 60 has not been enough to cover chronic manpower shortages in light of the heavy battlefield losses. Most new soldiers have been pressed into service through harsh compulsory conscription, with hundreds of documented cases of draft officers using force to seize men on the streets, breaking into vehicles and homes, and brawling with onlookers. The practice of violently packing unwilling recruits into the minibuses commonly used by press gangs has become colloquially known in Ukraine as ‘busification.’

Speaking to the Telegraf Ukraine outlet on Thursday, Verkhovna Rada lawmaker Vadim Ivchenko said current recruiting “gives approximately 8-10%” of the personnel needed by the army. To change that, he argued, Kiev must both raise financial incentives and tighten penalties for those who flee their units or dodge service. The aim is to “double recruitment to 16-20%.”

The lawmaker insisted that harsher measures are needed to deal with soldiers who flee their units or avoid service, including restrictions such as blocked bank accounts and access to loans.

Conscription in Ukraine has been plagued by widespread evasion, protests, and corruption allegations, and remains one of the most divisive issues. In January, Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov told lawmakers that around two million potential recruits were on a wanted list for draft evasion, while some 200,000 troops had deserted. He has also announced plans to recruit more foreign fighters as the armed forces struggle to find reinforcements.

In February, Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree permitting men over the age of 60 to enlist in the military under one-year contracts.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of fighting “to the last Ukrainian” to serve Western interests. Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov estimated that Ukraine had lost nearly 500,000 servicemen in 2025 alone, depriving Kiev of the ability to replenish its ranks through compulsory mobilization. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested that total Ukrainian military casualties, including killed, wounded, missing, and captured, have already exceeded one million.

Source: rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/russia/634694-ukraine-forced-mobilization-recruits/

---

No evidence Russia sabotaged Baltic cables – Finnish intel

12 Mar, 2026

Russia was not behind a series of ruptures in underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, Finland’s spy chief has admitted, adding that the assessment is “very broadly” shared within the European intelligence community.

Seabed infrastructure in the waterway has been repeatedly damaged in a series of incidents over the past two years. Several merchant vessels have been found dragging their anchors across the seabed, damaging power and communication cables in the process.

While some NATO and EU officials have accused Russia of sabotage and “hybrid warfare,” no evidence to back up the allegations has ever emerged. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such claims as “absurd” and baseless.

Speaking to the outlet Suomen Kuvalehti in an interview published on Wednesday, Juha Martelius, the head of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo), admitted that no proof of Moscow’s involvement had been found.

“Our understanding has been that there has been no deliberate Russian state activity in the background. It is a very broadly shared view in the other European intelligence community,” he said. The undersea infrastructure has been repeatedly damaged in accidents since as early as the 2000s, yet such occurrences previously did not receive extensive media coverage, he added.

Russia’s own underwater infrastructure was damaged in some of the incidents, Martelius pointed out. Moscow actually seeks to ensure that its own maritime traffic flows through the Baltic Sea undisturbed rather than to cause disruptions in the area, he argued.

“There are many factors here that support the fact that there is no motive in Russia,” he added.

Still, Martelius pointed the finger at the so-called “shadow fleet” allegedly operated by Russia to circumvent Western-imposed sanctions. Such vessels are often poorly maintained, and their crews are under-trained, the spy chief asserted, which has resulted in repeated instances of anchor-dragging causing damage to undersea cables.

Moscow has maintained that the notion of the fleet’s very existence is unfounded, and the term itself is a propaganda trope used to describe vessels that transport cargo outside the coverage of London-based insurance brokers.

Source: rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/634707-russia-finland-baltic-cables/

---

North America

 

Iran shows the world the limits of US power

12 Mar, 2026

Despite the optimism expressed in some quarters, it would be premature to declare that the American and Israeli military campaign against Iran has already stalled or that the crisis will soon be resolved through international mediation. The situation remains volatile, and the resilience of the Iranian state is still being tested. Yet even at this early stage, the conflict is raising deeper questions about the role the US will play in world politics once its latest attempt to restore global dominance runs its course.

The US is not about to disappear from international affairs. Scenarios of American collapse belong to the realm of fantasy. For Russia, China, India and other major powers, the real question is not whether the US will remain a central actor in global politics, but how it will fit into the evolving international order.

For Russia in particular, this issue carries special significance. The US remains the most powerful component of the Western world, with which Russia has historically maintained relations that are at once close and confrontational. Geography and history ensure that our strategic calculations will always take into account both Western Europe and America. Russia must therefore think carefully about how the US can be incorporated into a future balance of power that serves our own long-term interests.

The events surrounding the recent attack on Iran may mark an important turning point. They have exposed the limits of American power in a world that is no longer willing or able to accept unilateral leadership. It remains unclear how long Iran can withstand sustained military pressure, what degree of assistance it will receive from external partners, and how long Washington itself is prepared to continue a campaign that appears to have exceeded its original expectations.

What is already visible, however, is a contradictory picture.

The Israeli leadership appears determined to press ahead to the end. By contrast, Donald Trump and members of his administration seem increasingly perplexed by the unexpected resilience of the Iranian state. At the same time, many American allies are visibly anxious about the consequences of the conflict. Perhaps most importantly, the war is already having serious repercussions for the global economy.

These economic pressures help explain why rumors are circulating that Washington may be quietly searching for mediators capable of opening a dialogue with Tehran.

In this turbulent environment, Russia has expressed support for the Iranian people and state, which it views as victims of an unprovoked attack. At the same time, Moscow must pursue policies that correspond to its own strategic interests. As one of the world’s major military powers, Russia is concerned above all with the overall balance of power in the international system, and with the unique place historically occupied within that system by the US.

To understand this position, one might use a medical analogy. The US resembles a neoplasm within the global political organism. Yet unlike in medicine, the existence of such a “tumor” does not necessarily destroy the whole system. Instead, it becomes integrated into the organism’s development, occupying a special role.

The extraordinary position achieved by the US in the second half of the twentieth century was not simply the result of overwhelming superiority. It was also the product of very specific historical circumstances. Western Europe had been devastated by war, China was in a state of internal upheaval, and Soviet Russia had largely isolated itself from the rest of the world during its communist experiment. These conditions allowed the US to assume a position of leadership with remarkable confidence.

But this leadership was never the result of classical imperial conquest comparable to the Roman Empire or the empire of Genghis Khan. The US did not defeat its major rivals through decisive military victory. Rather, it emerged as the strongest actor at a moment when other powers were preoccupied with solving their own internal problems.

In this sense, America became the “last camel” in the caravan that suddenly found itself in the lead when others fell behind.

Today, however, the historical circumstances that enabled American predominance have largely disappeared. There are no longer objective reasons why other centers of power should remain behind. As a result, the US may eventually become a more normal participant in world politics rather than its dominant force.

The Iran crisis illustrates this shift. Even with its enormous accumulated wealth and military capabilities, the US cannot easily subdue a large and resilient state without escalating to the nuclear level – an option that remains unthinkable for all sides.

In that sense, Trump’s venture into Iran may serve an important historical purpose. It demonstrates to the world that attempts to restore the era of unchallenged American dominance are futile. This lesson is not only important for other countries; it is also vital for Americans themselves, who must eventually come to terms with the limits of their power and define a new role in international affairs.

Russia, which has participated in global politics for more than three centuries, understands these limits well. Most other major powers do as well. Only the US has never truly faced them.

For that reason, the painful lessons now being learned may ultimately prove beneficial.

At the same time, it is important to avoid apocalyptic thinking. The idea that weakening American dominance would inevitably lead to global chaos is largely a rhetorical device designed to preserve the existing order. A more balanced international system is both possible and, in many respects, desirable.

Russia’s own history illustrates this point. From the very beginning of the US as an independent state, Russia often used relations with America as an instrument for pursuing its own foreign policy objectives. In the 18th and 19th centuries, these objectives were closely linked to Russia’s rivalry with Britain. Later, the triangular relationships among Russia, Europe, and the US shaped the broader dynamics of international politics.

Today, new configurations are emerging. American pressure on both Europe and China may unintentionally contribute to the formation of a more balanced system in which no single power dominates the rest.

Such an outcome would correspond closely to Russia’s interests.

The international order that eventually emerges from the current period of upheaval will almost certainly be more diverse and complex than the one that preceded it. Wars and crises may accompany this transition, but they should not obscure the underlying transformation.

If the world passes through this period of adjustment without catastrophic conflict, the US will remain an important player in global politics – not because the world requires American leadership, but because other powers will continue to incorporate the US into their own strategic calculations.

In the future international system, America will still matter. Just not in the way it once did.

Source: rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/634699-iran-may-mark-turning-point/

---

CAIR-MI Condemns Attack on Metro Detroit Synagogue

March 12, 2026

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today condemns an attack which took place today against Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI.

An unidentified male reportedly drove a truck around barriers today into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield which is the largest Reform Judaism congregation in America. The temple also serves as a school for children. The suspected attacker was reportedly killed after gunfire.  One security guard was reportedly injured in the encounter.

“We condemn today’s attack targeting Temple Israel and are thankful that there was no loss of life from the congregants, including the children who were present,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “There is no justification for anyone to direct violence toward any house or worship or religious institution.”

Walid also encouraged houses of worship in Metro Detroit including mosques to review their safety protocols.

He noted that CAIR’s “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet offers advice on how to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

Source: cair.com

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

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-condemns-attack-on-metro-detroit-synagogue/

---

NYC's Mamdani condemns Tuberville's anti-Muslim posts as "bigotry"

March 13, 202612

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is condemning a series of anti-Muslim social media posts by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama as "bigotry."

On X, Tuberville reposted an image of Mamdani next to a photo of the deadly 9/11 terror attacks in New York City along with the words "the enemy is inside the gates."

Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, has been the subject of repeated verbal attacks during the Ramadan season now underway.

Speaking at an iftar dinner Thursday evening, a special meal held to break the daily Ramadan fast, Mamdani said many American Muslims face prejudice.

"When I hear such hatred and disdain unchecked in its rancor, I feel a loneliness and isolation that I know many of you have felt as well," Mamdani said. "Who here has been told, you do not belong in New York City? Who here has been told, go back where you came from?"

On Thursday, Tuberville also claimed falsely that "Americans are being gunned down in the streets almost daily by Radical Islamists."

Experts say attacks in the U.S. by Muslim extremists are rare and are "not resurgent," according to a 2025 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Republican leaders have been largely silent about Tuberville's anti-Muslim posts. A growing number of Democrats, meanwhile, have condemned his statements. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, described Tuberville's posts as "mindless hate."

"Muslim Americans are cops, doctors, nurses, teachers, bankers, bricklayers, mothers, fathers, neighbors, mayors, and more," Schumer said. "Islamophobic hate like this is fundamentally un-American."

Vermont's Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders called Tuberville's attack on Mamdani "nothing less than blatant Islamophobic racism."

Earlier this month, prominent far-right New York City radio host Sid Rosenberg issued a partial apology after calling Mamdani an "America-hating, Jew-hating, Radical Islam cockroach." Rosenberg later said his comments were "a bit over the top."

During Thursday's iftar dinner, Mamdani called on Muslim Americans to continue celebrating their faith and culture openly and with joy, but he also described a deepening climate of distrust.

"What I so often hear is the pressure to fit oneself into an ever-narrowing box, to suppress parts of oneself in the hope of finding acceptance," Mamdani said.

Source: npr.org

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

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/13/nx-s1-5746192/nycs-mamdani-condemns-tubervilles-anti-muslim-posts-as-bigotry

---

Ken Paxton Urges Collin County To Slow Down Islamic Development

By Austin Wood

March 12, 2026

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is doubling down on efforts to stifle a controversial planned development led by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) in Collin County.

On Tuesday, Paxton sent a letter to county commissioners urging them to reject EPIC’s development proposals for its planned 400-acre mixed-use project in Hunt and Collin counties. The development, formerly known as EPIC City, was renamed as The Meadow in January.

Paxton’s letter cites allegations of illegal annexation of county land and securities fraud among other reasons to deny a plat application submitted in December.

“From beginning to end, the East Plano Islamic Center development has been an illegal scheme designed to circumvent state law and destroy beautiful Texas land,” Paxton said in a Wednesday announcement. “We must protect Texans from illegal schemes, and that’s why I’m advising the Commissioners Court to refrain from approving any new development and platting applications by the EPIC City developers.”

County judge Chris Hill told The Dallas Morning News  Wednesday that he has not yet received the letter. In January, Collin County engineering staff said the application lacked required documentation and asked developers to submit proof of plans for electrical and wastewater utilities.

The Background

Located near the small town of Josephine, the Meadow is expected to have a new mosque, upwards of 1,000 homes, a K-12 faith-based school, senior housing, an outreach center, commercial developments, sports facilities and a community college.

Since its announcement in 2024, the development has faced significant obstacles from state and federal officials. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a fair housing investigation into EPIC in February over allegations that the community would be open to only Muslims. The U.S. Department of Justice briefly launched an investigation into the development in 2025 after U.S. Sen. John Cornyn also raised concerns about religious discrimination.

In 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered investigations into EPIC by a dozen state agencies, including the Texas Rangers. Abbott has been vocal in his resistance to the project on social media, calling it an example of  “sharia cities” in a post from February of last year and asserting the community would discriminate against non-Muslims. Aside from social media attacks and investigations by state agencies, Abbott signed a bill targeting religious discrimination in housing and preventing “sharia courts” from mediating in property disputes.

In a previous statement from Community Capital Partners, the EPIC-formed for-profit corporation responsible for the project, developers said that concerns about potentially blatant violations of the Fair Housing Act are unfounded.

“The plan allows for multiple houses of worship, reflecting the community’s open and inclusive design,” the statement says. “From the outset, the project has been open to anyone who chooses to live there and is being developed in full compliance with all local, state, and federal laws.”

Lawsuits and MUD

Paxton has followed Abbott’s lead and launched two open lawsuits targeting the development. One alleges EPIC and Community Capital Partners have violated securities laws and “engaged in fraudulent practices while soliciting funds. The other, detailed at length in Paxton’s letter to the Commissioner’s Court, targets a municipal utility district which he alleges has aimed to help EPIC avoid state regulations.

“I write today to advise you that issues relating to some of these deficiencies are the subject of active litigation brought by the State of Texas—namely, the composition of the Double R board of directors and the validity of the purported land annexation designed to facilitate development of the proposed EPIC City project,” Paxton wrote in the letter. “Accordingly, as the State’s chief legal officer, I advise you to reject any relevant plat applications, including the application package submitted on December 23, 2025, for the proposed development called ‘The Meadow Phase 1.’”

Municipal utility districts (MUD) are governmental subdivisions operating in unincorporated territory, often established to facilitate development by providing access to utilities in remote areas. Paxton’s lawsuit alleges that Double R Municipal Utility District No. 2A, located in Hunt and Collin counties, dissolved its board in September and replaced it with members who then voted to annex 402 acres roughly corresponding with the planned development’s boundaries.

Paxton alleges the new board members are unqualified to hold public office under state law and that the annexation was designed to “avoid state oversight by expanding this existing MUD, rather than going through the process of creating a new one.”

A new MUD can be created through the state legislature or, more commonly, by petitioning the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In April, TCEQ ordered EPIC to stop work on the development

“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found that the group behind the proposed EPIC compound did not submit the required permits to begin construction,” Abbott said in a release announcing the order. “They must confirm within seven days that they are immediately ceasing any construction of their illegal project or face the full weight of the law. The State of Texas will enforce its laws and protect our communities from unlawful actions or threats posed by EPIC or its affiliates.”

EPIC and Community Capital Partners did not return requests for comment in time for publication in this article.

Paxton is currently facing a May runoff election in the Republican Senate race against Cornyn. President Donald Trump has yet to endorse a candidate.

Source: dallasobserver.com

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

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/ken-paxton-urges-collin-county-to-slow-down-islamic-development-40652670/

---

Texas Islamic schools sue comptroller over exclusion from voucher program

March 12, 2026

DALLAS - Three private schools are suing the Texas leaders in charge of overseeing the state's school voucher program for excluding Islamic schools from being a part of the program.

The lawsuit, which names three schools and three parents, is the second federal lawsuit filed this month claiming the program is blocking which institutions can be involved in the program on the basis of religion. The latest lawsuit comes from schools in Dallas, Collin and Galveston counties and three parents. The suit names acting comptroller Kelly Hancock and Mary Katherine Stout, who oversees the program.

Court filings claim the schools applied for the Texas Education Freedom Account program, met all the requirements and were not approved for the program. One school, Bayaan Academy, claims it was approved by the agency in January and later removed. Islamic Service Foundation is claiming they submitted applications for both schools they operate and have not received an update on their status. The third school, The Eagle Institute, is claiming they were unable to start the pre-approval process.

"The Constitution does not permit the State to open a public benefit program to private schools and then close the door when Muslim schools seek to enter," court documents state. "Government may not deny a generally available benefit because of a school’s religious character, because of the faith it teaches, or because public officials disfavor the religious community seeking equal treatment."

The lawsuit claims the schools are being shut out of the TEFA program because of their religious affiliation.

"Defendants have refused to let K through 12 Islamic schools through the door to TEFA participation, while holding the door open to thousands of other similarly situated private schools across Texas," attorneys said.

Gov. Greg Abbott responded to reports of Islamic schools being shut out of the program on social media Thursday saying he doesn't want funds going to "radical Islamic indoctrination."

"We don’t want school choice funds going to radical Islamic indoctrination with historic connections to terrorism. I signed laws banning Sharia cities," Abbott said. "I designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. And I will pass another law that completely bans Sharia Law in Texas."

Court documents state the three schools named in the lawsuit all have director boards that are made up of American citizens in Texas. Two of the three schools are accredited by Cognia, a school accreditation agency that is approved by the Texas Education Association and Texas Private School Accreditation Commission. Cognia also issues accreditation for other schools connected to other religions.

The filing comes less than a week before student applications for the upcoming school year are cut off. The parents named in the lawsuit want to apply for the program for their children, but say they are unable to because the schools of their choice have not been accepted into the program.

The schools and parents are asking the court to pause the March 17 deadline for enrolling in the program while the case is considered.

Parent names Hancock, Paxton, head of TEA in lawsuit seeking to pause deadline

In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, Mehdi Cherkaoui claims the school where his two children attend, Houston Qur'an Academy Spring, is being blocked from the state program because of its "Islamic religious identity" and Hancock's "impermissible religious gerrymanders." The filing goes on to say the school meets the neutral requirements for inclusion in the voucher program.

The lawsuit claims the comptroller is using Gov. Greg Abbott's designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a terrorist organization and a school having "Islamic ties" to deny the entry of any Islamic school to the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program.

What they're saying:

"HQA Spring has hosted or permitted use of its facilities for community events, including educational ‘Know Your Rights’ presentations open to parents and students regarding civil rights and legal protections available under U.S. law—the type of civic engagement and community service routinely hosted by religious institutions of all denominations," the lawsuit states.

Court documents state that no Islamic school had been approved as a school for the voucher program when the application process opened for parents on Feb. 4.

"The exclusion is not based on individualized findings of unlawful conduct by any specific school, but rather on categorical presumptions that Islamic schools are suspect and potentially linked to terrorism by virtue of their religious identity and community associations," court documents state.

Cherkaoui said he pays $17,910 per year for his children to attend the school and that his children's tuition would be covered if the school was accepted into the program, and he were eligible for the voucher program.

He's asking the court to order that the school's application to TEFA be processed "under the same neutral, non-discriminatory standards applied to non-Islamic private schools."

Texas lawmakers accuse comptroller of excluding Islamic schools

The lawsuit comes after Texas Democrats sent a letter to Hancock accusing the acting comptroller of using blanket exclusion to block Islamic schools from joining the program.

Hancock had previously asked Attorney General Ken Paxton for a legal opinion on the agency's authority to determine the eligibility of certain private schools in the program.

"The people of Texas deserve the highest assurance that no taxpayer dollars will be used, directly or indirectly, to support institutions with ties to a foreign terrorist organization, a transnational criminal network, or any adversarial foreign government," the request said.

In January, Paxton issued an opinion stating the Comptroller's Office has the full authority to prohibit schools under the "other relevant law[s]" provision of Senate Bill 2.

"Let me be crystal clear: Texans’ tax dollars should never fund Islamic terrorists or America’s enemies," Paxton said of the opinion. "The Comptroller’s Office has always possessed exclusive authority under the TEFA framework to stop any school illegally tied to terrorists or foreign adversaries from accessing taxpayer dollars, and this opinion affirms that authority. There is no question that the Comptroller’s Office is statutorily charged with ensuring that our school choice program is protected from abuse by terrorists or the Chinese Communist Party."

While the attorney general's opinions are not legally binding, they are used as guidance by state agencies.

Paxton's opinion came in response to Hancock's question over whether schools that had hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations or had alleged ties to the Chinese government could be banned from the program.

Governor Greg Abbott designated CAIR as a terrorist organization in November. The group has since filed a lawsuit claiming the proclamation is based on "defamatory" and "provably false statements."

Lawmakers said multiple Islamic schools have been denied or removed from TEFA eligibility "despite having no affiliation with CAIR or any designated organization cited in generalized alligations."

School choice in Texas

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 in April, carving out $1 billion for the program in its first year.

Most parents who qualify can receive up to nearly $10,500 each year in public money for their child to go to private school.

The program will be capped at 90,000 students statewide. The education savings accounts will be given on a priority scale, so lower-income households and students with special needs will get priority first for the funds.

Applications for students opened on Feb. 4. According to the Comptroller's Office, more than 100,000 students applied in the first two weeks.

Source: fox4news.com

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

https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-islamic-schools-sue-comptroller-over-exclusion-from-voucher-program

---

Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school

March 13, 2026

Democrats in the US Senate have written to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers about the strike on a primary school in Iran that Iranian officials say killed 168 people, including about 110 children.

US media have reported that US military investigators believe American forces were likely responsible for hitting the school unintentionally at the start of the joint US-Israeli operation - but that they have not reached a final conclusion.

The Pentagon said it would respond directly to the authors of the letter, as with all congressional correspondence.

Asked last week by the BBC about the strike, Hegseth said the US did not target civilians and was investigating the issue.

The letter is from nearly every Senate Democrat, and asks a series of detailed questions about the strike in Minab - starting with whether the US carried it out.

It questions whether old or faulty target analysis could have led to the school building being hit.

It also highlights Hegseth's vow during a recent news conference that there would be no "stupid rules of engagement" in the war, and asks if the defence secretary had complied with rules to prevent the commission of war crimes.

The strike, if a US role was to be confirmed, would amount to one of its worst single cases of civilian casualties in decades of US conflicts in the Middle East.

One of the signatories of the letter, Senator Gary Peters, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said the incident had been "a horrific tragedy" and that he wanted to know "exactly what happened".

"Let's try to get those facts as quickly as we can so we know exactly what happened, and then we can discuss what actions to take after we know those facts," he told BBC News.

The letter highlights how the war has become an issue that divides US lawmakers along party lines. No member of President Donald Trump's Republican Party signed it. Meanwhile, the only Senate Democrat not to do so was John Fetterman, who has supported the military action, though said an investigation into the school strike was right.

According to the BBC's partner CBS News and other US outlets, a preliminary assessment of the incident by American officials suggests that the US was "likely" to have been responsible, but that it did not intentionally target the school and may have hit the site in error.

This may have been because the intelligence used by the US was outdated and wrongly identified the area as still being a military site, according to a person briefed on the preliminary assessment who spoke to CBS.

Trump has previously suggested Iran carried out the bombing.

Pressed by reporters about the issue again on Tuesday, he said: "I just don't know enough about it."

Referring to the military investigation that was under way, he added: "Whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report."

Expert video analysis has shown that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military base next to the school was hit by a Tomahawk missile - a type of US cruise missile that neither Israel nor Iran is known to possess.

A video published recently by Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency - which was confirmed by BBC Verify to be authentic - showed a missile in the moments before it struck the base.

Experts who saw the video said the presence of a Tomahawk missile, along with evidence the area was hit with multiple strikes, indicated that it was a US operation.

Iran has blamed the US and Israel for the attack.

Israel says it was not aware of any operations in the area. Speaking recently to the Washington Post, two Israeli officials said the targeting was not discussed with the Israeli military.

Other civilian sites including a hospital and historic landmarks have been severely damaged since the US-Israeli operation began on 28 February, satellite images and verified videos show, as the number of reported civilian casualties grows.

Iran has continued to respond by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, which have also extended to non-military targets, including civilian sites and energy facilities.

Also on Wednesday, General David Petraeus, former CIA Director and Commander of US Central Command, was asked about America's possible role in the attack on the school.

Speaking to the BBC, he said the Americans "tragically, were probably the ones, we were the only ones that have Tomahawk missiles in this particular exercise, this war" - though he cautioned he had not directly seen the evidence under review.

"And it appears that there may have been some old data when this particular building was part of a larger Iranian naval compound... some years ago," he added.

Source: bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn87ndd4rgyo

---

Africa

 

Ramadan: Cleric urges Muslims to be exemplary ambassadors of Islam

March 13, 2026

An Islamic cleric, Alli Abdulquadr Asaaju, has urged Muslims to be worthy ambassadors of Islam by upholding moral values and demonstrating good conduct in their daily lives.

The cleric made the call during a Ramadan lecture organised by Nollywood director and filmmaker, Okiki Afolayan, at Fortright Estate, Magboro, in Ogun State.

Asaaju, who is the Rector of Mahad Abdullah bn Abaas Arabic and Islamic Institute in Ikorodu and Ebute Metta, Lagos State, spoke on the topic “Islam and Muslims: The Concept and the Qualities.”

In his sermon, he preached against social vices such as betting, theft, and lying, urging Muslims to practice the religion according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and uphold moral decency at all times.

“Being a Muslim is not limited to observing the five daily prayers. That should not be the only thing you are known for as a Muslim.

“One of the qualities by which a Muslim is recognised is the fear of Allah and giving to the needy in the form of zakat. Let us relate with empathy so that people will always remember that this is what our religion preaches.

“Also, if you see an adulterer, let such a person know that Islam is against it. If you aren’t satisfied with one wife, marry two; if they aren’t enough, marry three, but avoid committing adultery.”

The cleric also linked the qualities expected of a Muslim to leadership, stressing that both leaders and followers must avoid hypocrisy in their conduct.

“A Muslim also fulfils his promises and takes responsibility for whatever is entrusted to him. So let us endeavour to be responsible and not fall behind in our deen.

“We must also avoid shaming our leaders based on the religion they follow. A Muslim may hold power and not rule accordingly, while a non-Muslim might be the best fit, and vice versa,” he added.

The cleric said the essence of Ramadan goes beyond fasting, noting that the period should inspire Muslims to improve their character, strengthen their faith, and positively impact their communities.

“It is also imperative for us as Muslims to be careful of whatever comes out of our mouths—not just during the month of Ramadan but always. Islam is against telling lies,” he added.

Source: punchng.com

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

https://punchng.com/ramadan-cleric-urges-muslims-to-be-exemplary-ambassadors-of-islam/

---

Thousands of white South Africans repatriate as US safety fears grow

March 13, 2026

Thousands of white South Africans are returning home after years abroad, reversing a long-standing trend of emigration. Many are reclaiming citizenship through a government portal launched after the repeal of a 1995 law that had stripped citizenship from some expatriates.

Part of the migration story is shaped by the United States. The Trump administration launched a program offering refuge to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, citing concerns over crime and alleged persecution, claims that South African authorities deny.

While some took advantage of the US program, growing worries about mass shootings, immigration enforcement, and political instability in the US have prompted many to reconsider and return home.

Improvements in infrastructure, like the near-end of daily power outages, and enhanced private security, have boosted confidence among those moving back.

Analysts say the trend reflects both practical and economic considerations. Remote work has made it easier for professionals to live in South Africa while keeping jobs abroad. Many see South Africa as offering a safer, more affordable, and more stable environment than some countries they have lived in, including the United States.

Source: africanews.com

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

https://www.africanews.com/2026/03/12/thousands-of-white-south-africans-repatriate-as-us-safety-fears-grow/

---

Senegal approves tougher anti-gay law as rights groups raise concerns

March 13, 2026

Nicolas Négoce

Senegal's parliament has approved a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the "promotion" of homosexuality.

The measure was supported by 135 MPs, none voted against it while three abstained. The next step will be for the president to sign it into law.

The legislation, which was a campaign promise of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, was sent to parliament after a wave of arrests over alleged same-sex relationships, already banned under Senegalese law.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the bill was "deeply worrying" and urged the president not to sign it.

The government spokesman dismissed international criticism of the bill, arguing that the move reflected the views of Senegalese people.

"The majority of Senegalese do not accept homosexuality. Our culture rejects it and we are firmly opposed to it," said Amadou Moustapha Ndieck Sarré.

Some conservative activists in Senegal have long demanded harsher penalties.

The movement And Sàmm Jikko Yi, which campaigns to defend what it calls Senegalese moral values, has repeatedly urged authorities to adopt stricter legislation criminalising homosexual acts. Its leaders argue the law is necessary to protect Senegalese cultural and religious norms.

However, rights groups warn the move could worsen discrimination and violence against sexual minorities. Human Rights Watch researcher Larissa Kojoué said the proposed changes were worrying.

"Criminalising same-sex conduct and arresting people for their sexual orientation violates multiple internationally protected rights, including equality and non-discrimination."

She added that such measures risked exposing people who were already stigmatised to "violence and fear."

Alioune Tine, founder of the think-tank Afrikajom Center, told the BBC that the current climate could worsen social tensions. "If it is true that social concerns must be addressed, [the law] also has to respect human rights and protecting public-health policies."

Others have pointed out that same-sex relationships are a part of life and cannot be abolished by a law.

"Most of the same-sex relationships were hidden anyway. There are even people who are married in the society and who are still entertaining a safe-sex relationship because of the norm and the cultural norm in that society," Senegal LGBTQ Association head and medical doctor Charles Dotou told BBC Newsday.

All that will happen is "people will be hiding more, it will create more fear and people will be scared to live normally in that community. So there will be an exodus of people, particularly people who were already exposed so that that creates a bit of chaos in society," Dr Dotou added.

The toughing of Senegal's law follows a wave of arrests last month over alleged same-sex relationships. Police detained 12 men - among them two public figures and a prominent journalist.

Some supporters of the tougher legislation say they have concerns about HIV transmission, although it has long been scientifically established that people of any sexuality can contract and spread the illness.

Experts warn that further criminalising same-sex relations could vilify gay people living with HIV to the point that they shy away from receiving the vital medical care they need.

Senegal has been praised for its efforts to control HIV. Between 42,000 and 44,000 people are living with the virus in the country, with a national prevalence of about 0.3% among adults, one of the lowest rates in West Africa, according to the health ministry.

At the Fann University Hospital in Dakar, the executive secretary of the National Council for the Fight Against Aids (CNLS) - the body that has coordinated the country's HIV response for decades - is worried about the situation with LGBTQ+ people.

"We have managed to control the HIV epidemic and we are moving towards eliminating Aids as a public health problem in Senegal," Dr Safiétou Thiam told BBC News Afrique. "But what is happening now risks undermining the results of 30 to 35 years of efforts in the fight against the disease."

Ousmane Sonko, the longtime firebrand opposition leader appointed prime minister in 2024, had told lawmakers the bill would punish what it describes as "acts against nature" with fines of up to 10,000,000 CFA francs ($17,600; £13,000) and prison sentences ranging from five to 10 years, compared with the current one- to five-year terms in the Muslim-majority country.

Several other African countries have also introduced tough new laws against the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.

In September last year, Burkina Faso's transitional parliament approved a bill banning homosexual acts, following its neighbour Mali in 2024.

In 2023, Uganda voted in some of the world's harshest anti-homosexual legislation meaning that people engaging in same-sex relationships can be sentenced to death in certain circumstances.

Ghana is also planning to re-introduce an anti-homosexual bill that activists say threatens basic human rights, safety and freedom.

Source: bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp857gy1843o

---

Terror Attack: Details Of Security Chiefs Meeting With Tinubu

March 13, 2026

Security chiefs on Thursday briefed Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the current security situation and ongoing military operations against terrorists and bandits across the country.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa Abuja, came amid renewed attacks by terrorists in northern Nigeria, including assaults on military bases and the killing of several soldiers and senior officers.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting, the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, said the briefing allowed the armed forces to provide the president with an updated assessment of ongoing security operations.

“The meeting was for the services to brief Mr President on the current situation on ground,” Musa said.

“You know there have been a series of attacks and the security forces have risen to the occasion.”

The security briefing followed reports that terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had intensified attacks in the North-East.

In the last week, at least three senior military officers and several soldiers were reportedly killed in attacks carried out by insurgents.

The terrorists were said to have launched assaults on more than five military formations in Borno State and Yobe State.

Although the attacks caused casualties and damage, the military said many of the assaults were repelled by troops.

Musa said part of the purpose of the meeting was also to address what he described as inaccurate interpretations of the security situation.

“Sometimes the interpretation, especially through the media, has not been too direct. We felt we should put the record straight,” he said.

He commended President Tinubu for his continued support of the armed forces and other security agencies involved in the fight against insurgency.

The defence chief urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite recent reports of attacks.

“Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired and not to be discouraged. Sometimes, when you hear the news, you think that is all that is happening, but it is far from that,” he said.

According to him, security forces have inflicted heavy casualties on terrorists and bandits during ongoing operations.

“The terrorists and bandits are taking more casualties, and their commanders are being killed,” Musa added.

Despite the successes recorded, Musa acknowledged that some military personnel had died in the course of operations.

“We have lost a number of very courageous officers and men. It is highly regrettable,” he said.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the armed forces remain committed to restoring peace and stability across the country.

He said: “We want to assure Nigerians of our commitment to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure.”

The Chief of Defence Staff also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the acquisition of additional equipment to strengthen the fight against terrorism and banditry.

“Mr President has promised more equipment for us to be able to prosecute the war effectively,” Musa said.

He added that the military had already adjusted its operational strategies to counter emerging threats.

According to Musa, insurgents often intensify attacks during the holy month of Ramadan because they believe their actions attract spiritual rewards.

However, he said the armed forces had responded by adapting their tactics and increasing pressure on the insurgents.

“In the past few days we have taken over several locations and neutralised some of their commanders,” he stated.

The defence chief emphasised that security agencies were working collaboratively to achieve lasting peace.

“We are working together as a team, and we are confident we will succeed,” he said.

Those present at the meeting included Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, Chief of Air Staff Sunday Aneke, Chief of Naval Staff Idi Abbas, and Chief of Defence Intelligence Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Also in attendance were the Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, and the State Security Service, Oluwatosin Ajayi.

Source: naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2026/03/13/terror-attack-details-of-security-chiefs-meeting-with-tinubu/

---

Galadima Suggests British Recolonisation To Fix Nigeria

March 12, 2026

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has suggested that Nigeria may need external intervention, including a return of British colonial rule, to address the country’s governance and security challenges.

Naija News reports that Galadima made the remark on Thursday while speaking during a programme on African Independent Television.

Speaking on the current state of the nation, Galadima urged the government to put aside selfish interests and focus on protecting citizens and creating an environment where Nigerians can thrive.

According to him, leadership must concentrate on ensuring security and promoting conditions that allow citizens to live productive lives.

“The government should remove selfishness and do the job of protecting the citizens and providing an enabling environment for the citizens to thrive,” he said.

The NNPP chieftain also suggested that the government could consider engaging foreign mercenaries to address the country’s security challenges.

He argued that such measures might help restore order and stability in the country.

“How the government can do the job is bring in mercenaries to sort out the country,” he said.

Galadima further suggested that if the government is unable to resolve the country’s challenges, Nigeria could request Britain to return and administer the country again.

He said, “If they can’t bring mercenaries, let them ask Britain to come back and colonize us again.

“They can sanitize the country, put us in the rule of law, teach us democracy and good governance and ultimately, stop corruption.”

Source: naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2026/03/12/galadima-suggests-british-recolonisation-to-fix-nigeria/

---

You Are Reporting Me To America And Israel, It Means Nothing – Asari Dokubo Fires Back At Critics

March 12, 2026

A former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo has reacted to reports that some people were allegedly sending complaints about him to authorities in the United States and Israel.

Naija News reports that the traditional ruler spoke about the issue during a live video broadcast on his official Facebook page on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

During the session, he addressed the claims and also spoke about his religious beliefs while sharing his opinion on the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The traditional ruler dismissed the reports that people were trying to draw the attention of foreign governments to his comments.

He said being reported to countries like the United States and Israel would not change anything for him, adding that those nations do not control the entire world the way some people believe.

He said; “You are reporting me to America and Zionist Israel will not make any difference. They do not own this world. They are not as powerful and invisible as you think.

“I am a Muslim. I am a jihadist. There is nothing wrong with being a jihadist. Islam commanded me to carry out jihad, so I am a jihadist. You can give your interpretation of jihad.

“I am not afraid of identifying as a Muslim and as a jihadist. As an Islamist, whatever name you call me, since I am a Muslim, I am, and I am proud of it. I am not afraid of it.

“So you are reporting me to America and Israel, creating fake accounts, doing all manners of nonsense, means nothing, absolutely nothing.

“Wars are not good, but Iran has a right to defend itself. Iran did not attack them. Iran has never attacked any country. And you want me to keep quiet? Never.”

Source: naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2026/03/12/you-are-reporting-me-to-america-and-israel-it-means-nothing-asari-dokubo-fires-back-at-critics/

---

Southeast Asia

 

Malaysia condemns Israeli closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

12 Mar 2026

Malaysia strongly condemns Israel’s closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque gates during Ramadan, calling it a violation of international law and the site’s status quo.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has issued a strong condemnation of the continued closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Foreign Ministry stated that restricting Muslim worshippers’ access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites constitutes a grave violation of international law.

“Such actions represent yet another provocation against Muslim worshippers and further escalate tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” it said in a statement.

The ministry added that these discriminatory restrictions breach international humanitarian law and the historical status quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Malaysia unequivocally rejects what it calls Israel’s illegal attempts to undermine the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It reiterated that Israel holds no sovereignty over Occupied East Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

“The entire 144 dunam compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship for Muslims,” the ministry emphasised.

It affirmed that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department under Jordan remains the sole legitimate authority for administering the site.

Malaysia urged the international community to compel Israel to cease its violations against holy sites in Jerusalem.

It called for respect for the sanctity and historical status quo of these sacred places.

Source: thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/malaysia-condemns-israeli-closure-of-al-aqsa-mosque-during-ramadan/

---

Student volunteers bring Ramadan cheer to Palestinian refugees in Jordan

12 Mar 2026

Malaysian and Jordanian students organise a Ramadan iftar for 100 Palestinian refugees, fostering joy and solidarity through games and shared meals.

PETALING JAYA: In the spirit of Ramadan, a total of 27 volunteers comprising local Jordanian students and Malaysian students from several universities across Jordan came together to organise a Ramadan Relief programme recently.

The initiative brought together 100 Palestinian refugees for a special iftar gathering at the Applied Science University (ASU) campus.

Mohammad Fathi Mohammad Nasser, a Bachelor’s degree student in Fiqh and Usul at Al al-Bayt University in Jordan said the event was organised in collaboration with the Youth of Strength and Happiness Jordan, aimed to provide not only iftar meals but also meaningful engagement with refugee children during the holy month.

“Before the breaking of fast, volunteers organised games and interactive activities for the children, creating moments of joy and laughter during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The atmosphere turned lively as the children joined in the games, with volunteers interacting, playing, and engaging them in conversations before the Maghrib call to prayer.

“One particularly touching moment occurred when a Palestinian child, smiling brightly, said: ‘This is the most delicious iftar I have ever had’,” he shared.

Mohammad Fathi said the programme carried a powerful message of compassion, humanity and solidarity, highlighting how small acts of kindness can bring hope and comfort to vulnerable communities.

He said it also demonstrated how collaboration between academic institutions, local communities and international students can create meaningful humanitarian impact while nurturing the spirit of volunteerism among young people.

“We hope that similar initiatives could continue in the future, reaching more communities in need, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan.

“Behind a simple iftar meal, this programme showed that sometimes, a person’s happiness only requires a little attention, time, and sincere care from hearts that truly care,” he added.

Source: thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/student-volunteers-bring-ramadan-cheer-to-palestinian-refugees-in-jordan/

---

Indonesia readies 6,859 mosques as rest stops for Eid homecoming

 March 12, 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that 6,859 mosques are ready to serve as rest stops for travelers along various homecoming routes across Indonesia during the 2026 Eid holiday period.

The initiative is part of the "Masjid Ramah Pemudik" (Mosques Friendly to Travelers) program. Launched during a kickoff event in Jakarta, the program aims to expand the role of mosques as centers for community service.

"We want to change the image of mosques, which have long been seen as only opening for the five daily prayers. Mosques should return to their function of providing services to the community," said Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo Muhammad Syafii in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

Syafii noted that mosques located along major homecoming routes can serve as safe and comfortable stopover points for travelers journeying to their hometowns.

"Mosques are not only places for prayer but also places to rest that provide various conveniences for travelers," he added.

A range of services will be provided at participating mosques to support travelers’ needs, including 24-hour access to prayer rooms, parking areas, clean toilets, rest areas, first aid health services, and clean water.

Mosque managers are also expected to provide mobile phone charging stations, information centers, drinking water, and light snacks.

Director General of Islamic Community Guidance Abu Rokhmad said the program reflects the government’s presence in serving the public during the annual Eid homecoming season.

"This is a form of the state’s presence as well as our service to the public who are traveling for the homecoming," Rokhmad said.

He added that participating mosques are located along strategic routes and have been coordinated with the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ regional offices to ensure their facilities are ready.

To help travelers locate these mosques, the ministry provides location information through the Pusaka Super App, which allows users to find the nearest mosque and view directions.

In addition to mosques, various houses of worship from other religions have also opened their doors as rest stops for travelers in need of a place to rest during their journey.

Source: antaranews.com

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

https://en.antaranews.com/news/408107/indonesia-readies-6859-mosques-as-rest-stops-for-eid-homecoming

------

Jawi tasked with investigating alleged misuse of Quranic verse at parade in capital city

12 Mar 2026

PUTRAJAYA, March 12 — The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) has been instructed to investigate the use of a banner displaying a translated Quranic verse that was allegedly misused to promote deviant culture during a parade in the capital city recently.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said Jawi had been directed to take action under the law after the banner, which contained a mistranslated verse from the Holy Quran, went viral on social media.

“I strongly condemn this act as it not only hurts the feelings of Muslims, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, but also tarnishes the sanctity of the Quran as the verse was interpreted far from its true context and meaning,” he said in a statement today.

He also urged all parties to appreciate the Quran through its long-standing scholarly tradition and not interpret its verses arbitrarily based on personal desires, which could distort their true meaning, especially to justify practices that contradict Islamic values.

Earlier, images of the banner circulated widely on social media after it was displayed during a parade in the capital city, drawing criticism for allegedly distorting the meaning of a Quranic verse to support a deviant cultural agenda. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/03/12/jawi-tasked-with-investigating-alleged-misuse-of-quranic-verse-at-parade-in-capital-city/212382

---

Jais submits probe findings on alleged deviant teachings to prosecutors

12 Mar 2026

SHAH ALAM, March 12 — The findings of an investigation by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) into four individuals, including a 65-year-old man detained last month over alleged deviant teachings, have been submitted to prosecutors.

Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said the department will continue working with prosecutors to ensure any cases involving deviant teachings are handled in accordance with the law.

“All four were released within 24 hours after their initial arrest before being detained again for a second offence. However, any enforcement action, including arrests, cannot be taken solely on the basis of pressure from certain parties without a clear legal basis.

“In the legal system, a person cannot be arrested arbitrarily without a clear justification. Every action must follow due investigation and meet legal requirements before an arrest can be made,” he said.

He said this after the Ihya Ramadan Fund handover, under the Tabung Infak Jariah Umat Islam Selangor (Tijari), to mosques and surau in Selangor, held at Dewan Sakinah, Menara Selatan, Bangunan Sultan Idris Shah here today.

Media reports cited that Jais arrested a man claiming to be a prophet in Rawang, along with three others, including a woman, under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 for allegedly performing acts against Islamic law.

Earlier, Jais distributed RM228,200 of the Tijari fund to educational institutions, mosques, surau, and associations across Selangor.

Mohd Shahzihan, who is also chairman of Tijari, said the special contributions were intended to fund repairs to mosques and surau.

“Selected institutions received the following: Masjid Jamiul Muhammadiyah, Kampung Kuantan RM50,000, Surau Darul Islam RM50,000, Masjid Nurul Iman in Rawang RM50,000, Masjid Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Subang Airport RM28,116.50, and Masjid Telok Menegon RM10,000.

“The total allocation for the repair work was RM188,116.50,” Mohd Shahzihan said.

The event also included the handover of RM29,000 in incentive funds to fully sponsored Haj pilgrims under the Selangor government for the 2026/1447H season, with each pilgrim receiving RM1,000 as pocket money to help cover expenses during their stay in the Holy Land. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/03/12/jais-submits-probe-findings-on-alleged-deviant-teachings-to-prosecutors/212380

---

‘No need to worry’: Malaysia’s food supply stable for Raya, says Mat Sabu

By Soo Wern Jun

13 Mar 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu today said Malaysia’s food supply remains stable and sufficient until May or June despite the conflict in the Middle East.

He said the country’s food imports largely originate from regions outside West Asia, including India, Pakistan, Asean countries, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.

“For now, the public need not worry. Supplies of rice, chicken, eggs, fish, beef, buffalo meat, fresh milk, vegetables and fruits are sufficient at least until May or June,” he said.

Mohamad added that the Cabinet has also agreed to increase the national rice stockpile to cover up to nine months of consumption as a precautionary measure.

He said to help ease the cost of living, the government will continue expanding initiatives such as Rahmah and Agro Madani sales programmes, which offer essential food items at prices typically between 10 and 30 per cent lower than market rates.

Mohamad also said that his ministry is stepping up efforts to strengthen domestic food production through community farming initiatives under the Komuniti Madani programme, which currently involves about 5,000 sites nationwide.

Mohamad said the ministry will also encourage households with available land to grow fast-harvesting crops such as chilli, eggplant and chives to further supplement food supply.

“For now, the public need not panic. Malaysians can celebrate Hari Raya as usual as food supplies remain sufficient and secure,” he said.

When asked about fuel sufficiency during the Hari Raya festive period, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said oil companies have already made preparations to cater for the seasonal surge in demand.

He said at the same time authorities are closely monitoring stock levels at petrol stations nationwide.

“Every year during Hari Raya there is a large movement of people especially from Kuala Lumpur to states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor.

“Oil companies are already familiar with these patterns and typically increase fuel stocks at stations along major travel routes,” he said.

He added that the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is monitoring fuel inventories at both petrol stations and oil depots to ensure there are no supply disruptions.

“This is something managed every year so we do not expect any disruption to petrol supply during the festive travel period,” Amir said.

Source: malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/03/13/no-need-to-worry-malaysias-food-supply-stable-for-raya-says-mat-sabu/212502

---

Malaysia’s fuel supply steady, says Amir Hamzah, as government moves to secure extra reserves

13 Mar 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has assured that Malaysia’s petrol and diesel supply remains sufficient, backed by local production.

He said the government is, however, working to secure additional oil reserves to safeguard energy security as tensions in West Asia continue to disrupt global markets.

“Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Berhad) and other oil companies are actively exploring alternative sources to replace supplies affected by the ongoing conflict, even as domestic fuel stocks remain stable,” Amir told a post-Cabinet meeting joint press conference here today.

Amir said the government has directed all ministries to hold engagement sessions with industries under their respective portfolios to gather feedback on the potential impact of the conflict in West Asia.

He said the findings would be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting and an upcoming National Economic Action Council meeting, where industry representatives are also expected to present their views.

Amir said rising global oil prices had already pushed up the government’s subsidy burden as Putrajaya keeps fuel prices unchanged to cushion the impact on consumers.

He said the subsidy bill for RON95 and diesel had risen to RM3.2 billion from RM700 million previously.

“The government is able to absorb the higher cost in the short term due to fiscal reforms undertaken in recent years, though additional measures may be considered if global energy prices remain elevated.

“Among the measures being studied are energy-saving steps across the public sector, including reducing electricity consumption and adjusting air-conditioning settings in government offices,” he added.

On a separate matter, Amir said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Public Service Department director-general to study the possibility of allowing civil servants to work from home.

He said the move is being considered as part of efforts to manage operational costs and energy usage.

The proposal is expected to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting, likely to take place next Tuesday.

Source: malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/03/13/malaysias-fuel-supply-steady-says-amir-hamzah-as-government-moves-to-secure-extra-reserves/212490

---

South Asia

 

UN says Afghan refugee families in Iran affected by recent attacks

By Fidel Rahmati

March 12, 2026The United Nations says Afghan refugee families in Iran have been affected by recent attacks, worsening already fragile humanitarian and living conditions.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says Afghan refugee families living in Iran have been affected by recent attacks linked to the United States and Israel, leaving many already vulnerable households in a more difficult situation.

In a statement released on Thursday, March 12, the agency said Afghan refugee families are among the most vulnerable groups. Many are living in unstable conditions with limited access to financial support and humanitarian assistance.

According to the statement, these families are facing increasing insecurity and have only limited access to essential services. Some have reportedly fled affected areas in search of safer locations within Iran.

The agency also reported that between 600,000 and one million Iranians have been displaced due to the recent attacks, adding pressure on local resources and humanitarian support systems across the country.

Iran hosts one of the largest populations of Afghan refugees in the world, many of whom fled decades of conflict and economic hardship in Afghanistan and continue to rely on limited humanitarian assistance.

International organizations have repeatedly warned that regional instability can further worsen the conditions of displaced communities, particularly refugees who already face legal, economic, and social challenges.

Earlier, Richard Bennett had also expressed concern about the situation of Afghan migrants and refugees living in Iran.

Source: khaama.com

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

https://www.khaama.com/un-says-afghan-refugee-families-in-iran-affected-by-recent-attacks/

---

The green code: How China is rewriting the contract between humanity and nature

March 12, 2026

Yang Zhao

As a science journalist and filmmaker, my deep dive into the environment began in 2021 when the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) convened in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. It was a lucky starting point. Biodiversity teaches a fundamental truth that many overlook: nature is not a collection of parts, it is a single, breathing system. I hope you keep this in mind as you read, for it is the essential key to understanding the Ecological and Environmental Code currently under deliberation in Beijing.

For decades, China’s environmental protection efforts were a series of isolated battles. If a river was polluted, there was a law for water; if the air turned gray, there was a law for air. But ecosystems are indivisible. This new code – the second formal code in the nation’s history – marks the end of this fragmented era, signaling a shift toward more systemic life-community governance.

Integrated governance: From fragments to a system

The most immediate impact of the code is its deep legal consolidation. The draft brings together more than 30 standalone laws and over 1,000 regulations. This is far more than a mere copy-paste exercise; it is the legal extension of a massive shift in how China actually acts.

Last year, my team visited Lake Ulansuhai in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a vital body of water connected to the Yellow River. Despite closing nearby factories, the lake remained stagnant and dying. Confused engineers launched an intensive investigation, and eventually found the culprit hundreds of kilometers away: the desert. Shifting sands were invading the river network, clogging the small arteries that fed the lake and destroying its ability to clean itself.

Ultimately, engineers expanded the scope of restoration from a single lake to an entire watershed. This site became a model of integrated governance, because it proved that you cannot save the water without addressing the sand, forest or the soil within the area. The code’s core logic is to turn this scientific reality into a rigid, legal rule. By bridging pollution control and restoration within one framework, it ensures that different government departments finally work from the same playbook.

The anchor for climate action

What has captured the attention of international observers is the code’s dedicated section on “Green and Low-Carbon Development.”

China doesn’t have one single climate change law yet, but this code serves as the definitive legal anchor for China’s green transition. It provides a firm statutory basis for carbon peaking, carbon neutrality and the development of green supply chains. It sends a clear signal: China’s climate commitments are no longer just policy pronouncements; they are being etched into the nation’s fundamental legal architecture. It defines a broad environmental vision that encompasses energy transition and the actual economic value of ecological assets.

A new social pillar

Why did China designate ecological environment as only its second-ever code?

The answer lies in the weight of the term. In 2020, China enacted the Civil Code, the “encyclopedia of social life” that defines the rights of property and marriage. By elevating the environment to this same status, Beijing is signaling that ecology is no longer just a set of administrative rules – it is becoming a pillar of society itself.

This represents a profound shift in values. It suggests that clean air and a stable ecosystem are now seen as fundamental to social stability, carrying the same legal weight as the protection of private property. It marks the moment “Harmony between Man and Nature” transitions from a philosophical vision into a foundational social contract.

As a filmmaker, I see this code as the most ambitious long take in China’s ecological history. It is not merely repairing the past; it is drafting the blueprint for a civilization that views nature as its bedrock.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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

https://thekabultimes.com/the-green-code-how-china-is-rewriting-the-contract-between-humanity-and-nature/

---

Afghanistan Offers Secure, Favorable Environment for Foreign Investment, Azizi Says

March 12, 2026

KABUL: Nooruddin Azizi, the Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate, in a meeting with Yuxiao Yong, the Special Representative of China for Afghanistan, discussed expanding trade ties and exploring new investment opportunities in the country.

Azizi emphasized that Afghanistan currently offers a secure and favorable environment for foreign investment and encouraged Chinese investors to take advantage of opportunities across various sectors of the Afghan economy for the mutual benefit of both countries, according to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday.

The minister also called for increased facilitation of Afghan exports to China, particularly products such as cotton, pomegranates, pine nuts, and precious and semi-precious stones.

He further stressed the need for improved customs, transit, and transportation arrangements between the two countries to strengthen bilateral trade.

Meanwhile, Yong noted the growing interest of Chinese traders and investors in entering the Afghan market.

He described Afghanistan, within China’s strategic outlook, as a country with abundant untapped investment potential.

The two sides also highlighted the important role of relevant institutions in both countries in supporting the private sector and advancing economic cooperation.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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

https://thekabultimes.com/afghanistan-offers-secure-favorable-environment-for-foreign-investment-azizi-says/

---

Azam Khan new Liberation War affairs minister

March 13, 2026

BNP Vice-Chairman Ahmed Azam Khan, also a lawmaker from the Tangail-8 constituency, was sworn in as a member of the cabinet yesterday.

He has been given charge of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.

The brief swearing-in ceremony was attended by senior government officials and political leaders.

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/azam-khan-new-liberation-war-affairs-minister-4127686

---

Jamaat made inroads into AL, BNP bastions

March 13, 2026

The February 12 election marked a turning point in Bangladesh’s politics: for the first time in its history, Jamaat-e-Islami achieved its strongest electoral performance, even winning constituencies that had long been dominated by the BNP and the Awami League.

Historically, Jamaat’s parliamentary presence was modest. Across four widely regarded free and fair elections -- 1991, June 1996, 2001, and 2008 -- the party secured victory in only 40 seats.

This year, Jamaat bagged 68 seats, surpassing the combined tally of those four polls.

An analysis of The Daily Star shows that nearly 39 percent of Jamaat’s victories, or 26 seats in total, came from the BNP and AL strongholds. Of the seats, 14 were in BNP bastions and 12 in AL bastions.

Jamaat also triumphed in nine constituencies where the party failed to cross 9 percent of the votes in any of the four widely accepted elections. Of the 68 seats won this year, 55 were in constituencies the party had never won in the previous polls.

Jamaat, which had been a minor player in parliament, this time rose to the role of main opposition, an outcome shaped not only by the AL’s disqualification from the polls, but also by voter sympathy for the party’s years of repression under the AL rule and its calculated political tactics, analysts noted.

Dhaka University Political Science Prof Sabbir Ahmed said the role of Jamaat in the July mass uprising as well as its planned organisational activities also played a role in the party getting support from urban areas.

According to Sabbir, Jamaat’s rise was the result of long-term preparation and a shift in its ideological positioning. “Jamaat moved away from rigid conservatism towards a more moderate stance, which increased their acceptability. Their nomination strategy was calculated, even including minority candidates, though they failed to nominate women. Jamaat’s urban influence has grown, and in some constituencies, they benefited from the BNP’s rebel candidates.”

TURNAROUNDS

The nine seats -- where Jamaat emerged victorious in this year’s election even after getting less than 9 percent of the votes in the previous polls -- are Patuakhali‑2, Dhaka-5, Kurigram‑3, Dhaka‑12, Gazipur‑4, Dhaka-4, Rangpur‑3, Bagerhat‑1, and Pabna‑3.

For instance, in Rangpur-3, Jamaat candidate Mahbubur Rahman Belal got 54.78 percent of the votes cast in the latest polls. In the constituency, the party got only 4.62 and 5.21 percent votes in 1991 and 1996, respectively. They did not field candidates in the next two elections.

Again, in Patuakhali-2, Jamaat polled a mere 2.03 percent in 1991 and 1.70 percent in 1996. In this constituency, the party did not nominate candidates in the next two polls. However, in the 2026 general election, its nominee Shafiqul Islam secured this seat with a vote share of 52.23 percent.

A similar turnaround occurred in Dhaka-12. Jamaat secured only negligible shares of the vote there in 1991 and 1996 (3.62 percent and 2.80 percent, respectively). Yet, the constituency was won by Jamaat candidate Md Saiful Islam with a vote share of 42.74 percent.

The average winning margin for Jamaat candidates in the nine seats was approximately 22,439 votes. The highest margin was 92,566 in Rangpur-3, and the lowest was 2,920 in Dhaka-4.

BREAKTHROUGH

A Daily Star analysis shows that Jamaat captured 14 seats in BNP bastions and 12 in AL bastions in this year’s polls.

Strongholds are defined as constituencies where either party won at least three seats in the four elections held between 1991 and 2008. By this measure, the AL had 78 strongholds and the BNP 85.

In the February 12 polls, Jamaat won Joypurhat-1 and Khulna-2, both of which the BNP had secured in all four previous elections.

Jamaat also claimed 12 constituencies where the BNP had won three of the four elections. These include Chapainawabganj-1 and 2, Dhaka-12, Jhenaidah- 2, 3, and 4, Kushtia-2 and 3, Chattogram-15, Meherpur-2, Rajshahi-1, and Chuadanga-1.

In these BNP strongholds, Jamaat’s average victory margin was about 28,375 votes. The largest winning margin came in Chuadanga-1 with 57,848 votes, while the smallest was in Rajshahi-1 with just 1,884 votes.

Some of these wins were aided by divisions within the BNP. In Dhaka-12, for instance, BNP’s alliance partner, the Biplobi Workers’ Party, fielded a candidate, while a BNP rebel also contested. Combined, the BNP-backed and rebel votes would have surpassed Jamaat’s winning tally. Similar situations unfolded in Jhenaidah-4 and Dhaka-12, where rebel candidates from BNP benefited Jamaat.

Jamaat also made notable gains in the AL strongholds, winning 12 such seats. In these constituencies, Jamaat’s average victory margin was approximately 27,311 votes. The largest margin came in Jashore-5 with 47,831 votes, while the smallest was in Bagerhat-1 with 3,204 votes.

Three of the seats -- Bagerhat-1, Narail-2, and Faridpur-1 -- had been won by the AL in all four elections between 1991 and 2008.

The remaining nine had been secured by the AL in three of those four contests. These include Gazipur-4, Jashore-1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, Pabna-4, Patuakhali-2, and Sherpur-1.

DEBUT IN 55 SEATS

Among the 68 seats won by Jamaat in the 2026 general election, nearly 81 percent (55 constituencies) were ones the party had not won in any of the four elections held between 1991 and 2008.

Jamaat secured victory in the remaining 13 seats at least once during the same period. In the seats, which had a history of Jamaat’s success, the average winning margin was 47,988 votes, almost 80 percent higher than that of the newly secured seats. The average margin was boosted by landslide victories in seats such as Satkhira-2 (150,666 votes margin), Gaibandha-1 (102,729 votes margin), Satkhira-3 (78,854 votes margin).

By contrast, in the 55 constituencies that Jamaat won for the first time this year, the average winning margin was 26,952 votes.

Dhaka University Development Studies Prof Asif Shahan, also a political analyst, said, “One possible explanation behind Jamaat’s improved electoral performance is the return of ‘shy voters’ to their original party preference. In previous elections, a segment of voters who ideologically preferred Jamaat may have voted strategically for the BNP to defeat the AL.

“As the political context changed, such strategic voters may have reverted to supporting Jamaat directly.”

He said that another factor may relate to perceptions of BNP’s involvement in criminal activities or extortion, which could have also influenced some voters to vote for Jamaat as an alternative.

Prof Asif added that candidate-level dynamics may also have mattered. “In several constituencies, rebel candidates associated with the BNP appear to have split the vote.”

JAMAAT STAYS STEADY

Jamaat also won 21 constituencies in which the party finished second in 2008. Of these, striking reversals occurred in Rangpur-1 and 2, where the party overturned its 2008 defeat margins of 140,719 and 129,685 votes, respectively, to secure its first victories in the seats.

The party had been historically most successful in Satkhira-2, where it won in 1991, 1996, and 2001. The party’s largest victory by number of votes this year came in this seat (150,066 votes).

Six other seats won this year had also been secured by Jamaat twice in the four elections held between 1991 and 2008: Satkhira-3, Bagerhat-4, Pabna-1, and Khulna-6 (1991 and 2001), and Nilphamari-3 and Pirojpur-1 (1996 and 2001).

Jamaat also reclaimed constituencies such as Satkhira-1, Jashore-6, Chuadanga-2, and Chapainawabganj-3, which it had not won since the 1991 election.

Contacted, Maulana Abdul Halim, Jamaat assistant secretary general, said, “Despite severe oppression faced by the party since 2009, the organisation’s leaders and activists remained steadfast in their ideological stance, which has had an impact on voters. Even in highly adverse circumstances, we tried to stand by the people.”

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/jamaat-made-inroads-al-bnp-bastions-4127646

---

A fresh start for parliamentary democracy

March 13, 2026

The 13th parliament yesterday held its inaugural sitting amid a heated atmosphere, as opposition MPs staged a walkout in protest against President Mohammed Shahabuddin speaking in the House.

Formed through the February 12 general election, the country’s first credible polls in more than 15 years, the House elected BNP leader and freedom fighter Hafiz Uddin Ahmad as Speaker and first-time MP Kayser Kamal as Deputy Speaker.

Before being elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Hafiz and Kayser served as minister for Liberation War affairs and state minister for land and forests, respectively.

On the first day, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman placed all 133 ordinances issued by the interim government during its 18-month rule from August 2024, and the House formed a 14-member special committee, comprising members from the treasury and opposition benches, to scrutinise the ordinances.

Around 3:50pm, immediately after Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad announced that President Mohammed Shahabuddin would address the House, opposition MPs began protesting.

The situation remained heated for several minutes. When the Speaker invited the president to speak, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam sought the floor. As the Speaker did not grant him the microphone, Nahid stood up and protested, shouting, “Killer in the parliament! No, no.”

Opposition members then raised placards and chanted slogans, including “Killer Chuppu, Boycott Chuppu,” despite the Speaker’s repeated calls for calm.

Amid the uproar, Shahabuddin entered the chamber and was requested by the Speaker to take his seat.

Treasury members stood up as the president entered, but the opposition continued protesting.

Within a minute, as the national anthem began playing, many opposition members remained seated. At that, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir gestured to them to stand, after which the opposition members rose.

After the anthem ended, the Speaker again urged the president to deliver his speech. At that moment, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman shouted that the president had failed to act as the guardian of the state during the fascist rule.

Shahabuddin then began delivering his speech but paused briefly as opposition members chanted slogans such as “Beware, agents of fascism”, “Beware, agents of dictatorship”, and “Fascism and democracy cannot coexist”, while holding placards with similar messages.

This was when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher announced the walkout.

It is customary for the president to address the maiden session of parliament, after which MPs participate in the thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech.

Speaking to reporters after the walkout, Shafiqur said they had requested that “those who were allies of the fascist government” and had supported killings not be allowed to address the parliament.

“The president did not protest or take any action over the killings that occurred during his tenure, an act of grave irresponsibility toward citizens despite his role as guardian of the state.”

Referring to the president’s address to the nation on August 5, 2024 -- the day the Awami League government was ousted -- Shafiqur said, “The president had stated at the time that the then prime minister had resigned and that he had accepted the resignation. However, he later denied this in interviews with two media outlets and presented a different account.”

This, according to the opposition leader, proved that the president had “lied to the nation”.

He added that after the July uprising, the president personally signed an ordinance stating that the election would be held on February 12 and that those elected would take oath as both members of parliament and members of the reform council, with the same person administering both oaths on the same day.

Shafiqur alleged that while the opposition had taken both oaths, the ruling party had not. “The president failed to convene a session of the reform council within 30 days of the gazette publication, and this was his responsibility.”

According to the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, the first session of the Constitution Reform Council shall be summoned, in the same manner as the first session of the parliament, within 30 calendar days of the declaration of the election results.

However, while convening the parliament on February 23, the president did not mention anything about convening a session of the reform council.

The parliamentary proceedings yesterday began with the Speaker’s chair vacant for a brief period -- a rare instance in Bangladesh.

The Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his introductory speech, nominated five-time BNP lawmaker Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain to preside over the inaugural session to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul seconded the proposal.

About the context for nominating Mosharraf, Tarique said, “We had to nominate someone to preside over the session due to special circumstances, as the outgoing speaker and deputy speaker were either untraceable, in hiding, or in prison.”

He said that traditionally the outgoing Speaker or Deputy Speaker presides over the inaugural sitting following a general poll.

However, this time, former speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury resigned, and outgoing deputy speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku is currently in prison facing a criminal charge.

The prime minister also said that after independence, senior constituent assembly member Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish presided over the inaugural proceedings on the proposal of then prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, before the election of the then speaker and deputy speaker.

Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the name of Hafiz, lawmaker from Bhola-3, as the Speaker while ruling party whip Rakibul Islam, MP from Khulna-3, expressed support.

Meanwhile, another whip Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu proposed the name of Kayser Kamal, an MP from Netrokona-1, and another whip ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan) supported the move.

Both Speaker and Deputy Speaker were then elected unanimously through voice vote, and President Shahabuddin later administered their oaths.

After the session resumed around 12:45pm, the newly elected Speaker attempted to conduct the proceedings through the installed microphones, but sound distortion occurred due to a technical fault.

He adjourned the session for 20 minutes.

Later, in his introductory speech, Speaker Hafiz said that the parliament must become the heart of all political and administrative activities.

“We pledge to place national interest above party interest. Above all, Bangladesh must come first -- this should be our guiding principle.”

He said democracy means governance by the majority. “Both the government and the opposition must unite in the national interest to fulfill the people’s aspirations.

“I humbly express this hope before you. I will remain committed to ensuring that the opposition can play an effective role in this House.”

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman then placed the 133 ordinances issued by the interim government.

The ordinances were originally enacted under article 93(1) of the constitution, which allows the president to issue laws in emergency situations when parliament is not in session.

According to constitutional rules, any ordinance must be placed before the House in the first sitting of a new parliament, and these must be passed within 30 days from the start of a session, or they lose legal validity.

After placing the bills, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed a 14-member special committee, headed by Barishal-3 lawmaker Zainul Abedin, that will scrutinise these ordinances.

The House also adopted a condolence motion expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of several national and international figures.

During the motion, discussions on the contributions of Bangladesh’s three-time prime minister and BNP leader Khaleda Zia and the martyrs of the July uprising also took place.

Also yesterday, five other committees were formed.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin announced the formation of the Business Advisory Committee and the Parliamentary Committee.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni proposed the names for three other committees: the Special Committee, the Committee on Privileges, and the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions. These proposals were subsequently passed by voice vote.

The session was adjourned until March 15.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday redistributed the portfolios under the Rules of Business, 1996, with the Cabinet Division issuing a gazette notification.

Ahmed Azam Khan was given the charge of the Liberation War affairs ministry, while State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin was assigned responsibility for the land ministry alongside the Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry.

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/fresh-start-parliamentary-democracy-4127621

---

House should focus on public welfare, not mudslinging

March 13, 2026

Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman yesterday expressed hope that the House would function effectively and uphold democratic values.

Speaking in the inaugural session of the 13th parliament, he congratulated the newly elected Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal and said Bangladesh’s parliament had been truly effective only for limited periods in the past, during which people had benefited.

“For most of the time, however, the House fell under the grip of fascism and functioned largely as a dummy parliament,” said Shafiqur, also Ameer of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He said many who had previously served as guardians of the House had failed to uphold their responsibilities to parliament, democracy, and the rights of citizens.

Referring to the newly elected Speaker, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, he noted that although the Speaker had been elected to parliament from a political party, he had already announced his resignation from a standing committee position of the ruling BNP.

“We believe that from now on there will be no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition in your eyes. We hope to receive justice from you,” he said, adding that MPs should have the opportunity to speak on issues related to public welfare.

He also urged the Speaker to ensure that the House does not become a platform for personal attacks, noting that previous parliaments had often spent significant time on character assassination rather than discussing issues of public interest.

The opposition leader expressed confidence that the Speaker, whom he described as a valiant freedom fighter, would lead the parliament effectively and assured him of the opposition’s cooperation.

Shafiqur described the current parliament not as an ordinary one, but as “a special parliament built upon the blood of ’24”. “This parliament has been formed through the sacrifices of those who were oppressed over the past fifteen and a half years and those who gave their lives in the July revolution.”

He expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah and thanked the people of his constituency.

He added, “I pay deep respect to the martyrs of ’47, ’52, ’71, ’75, and ’90.

“Especially to those who were imprisoned in the Ayna Ghar, previously used as torture cells and secret prisons for people who were victims of enforced disappearance over the past fifteen and a half years, those who became disabled through torture, and those who gave their lives in July ’24, making it possible for us to speak in this parliament.”

Recalling the main slogan of the July uprising -- “We Want Justice” -- he said, “Among the three important organs of the state, parliament is the most significant. When the parliament functions properly, the other two organs -- the executive and judiciary -- will also function properly.

“Through you [the parliament], political, economic, and cultural irregularities and corruption will be eradicated from society -- this is the expectation of 180 million people.”

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/house-should-focus-public-welfare-not-mudslinging-4127606

---

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/allahabad-hc-protection-for-muslim-stopped-from-namaz-on-private-place/d/139243

 

New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women InArab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism