Ayman al-Zawahiri Urges Lone Wolf Attacks, Militant Unity in US and Other Western Countries
New Age Islam News Bureau
14
Sept 2015
Syrian refugees try to climb a slope after arriving from Turkey on the shores of the Greek island Lesbos in an inflatable dinghy, on September 11, 2015 (AFP Photo/Angelos Tzortzinis)
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Arab World
• Ayman al-Zawahiri Urges Lone Wolf Attacks, Militant Unity in US and Other Western Countries
• Iraqis Kill 22 Asian Terrorists in Anbar
• Iraq Tells Turkey to Coordinate Its Strikes on PKK
• Egyptian Forces Kill Mexican Tourists in Error
• Ahrar Al-Sham Terrorist Group's Top Commander Changed after Defeat in Zabadani
• 11 Pakistanis, 11 Indians, two Brits among 111 dead
• Syrian Army Purges Deir Ezzur Airbase's Surroundings of ISIL Militants
• Syrian Forces Recapture Jazal Town in Homs Province
• Syria group: Russia expanding major Syrian airport
• Syrian Armed Forces Push Rebels Back, Gain more Ground in Darayya
• FM Spokesman Blasts US Officials' Remarks on Disintegration of Iraq
• Syrian Analyst: Damascus Countryside to Turn into Terrorists' Graveyard
• UK PM on surprise visit to Lebanon to talk Syria refugees
• Syria, Hezbollah make fresh advances in Zabadani
• NGO: Dozens of Egyptian dissidents died in prison in August
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Mideast
• Taking In Syria Refugees 'Heightens Risk of Terrorism': U.S. Lawmaker
• Arabs to ‘Confront Israeli Aggression’ On Al-Aqsa
• Egypt Military Says Two Soldiers, 64 Militants Killed In Sinai
• Over 10 Saudi Soldiers Killed in Yemeni Retaliatory Attacks
• UN worried over al-Quds clashes after Israelis storm al-Aqsa
• Yemeni forces launch operation to retake Marib
• Yemeni govt pulls out of planned peace talks
• Yemen's Ansarullah Shoots Down Saudi Drone in Ma'rib
• Iranian MP Raps West for Double-Standards towards Terrorism in Different Countries
• Ansarullah Blocks Pro-Hadi Militants' Advance in Marib
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Africa
• On 911 Anniversary Muslims against Terror Condemns Global Terrorism
• The Malian Manuscripts: A Priceless Islamic Heritage
• Seven Dead in Blast at Camp for Boko Haram Displaced
• Libya parties’ edge closer to national unity government: UN
• Outcry Over Kidnap of Nigerian Muslim Scholar
• Keeping Islamic State out of Ghana
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Pakistan
• 17 ‘Militants’ Killed In North Waziristan Air Strikes
• At Least 10 People Killed In Multan Blast, Several Injured
• Policeman, Two Suspected Militants Killed In Peshawar Gunfight
• Nawaz risks upsetting JUI-F over madrasas issue
• Police Nab ‘Hit man’ Involved In Killing Four Religious Scholars
• Bangkok blast: Pakistani among three detained by Malaysia
• 10 military court cases sent back for verifying suspects’ age
• Cowardly attacks cannot deter nation’s resolve: Khurshid Shah
• Pakistan's strategic shift is unconvincing: WSJ
'• Islamic State' militants say attacked Pakistan-Afghan border post
• 6 terror suspects arrested in Islamabad
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South Asia
• Afghan Taliban Storm Jail, Release Over 350 Inmates: Official
• Us Drone Strike Kills Four Suspected Terrorists in Afghanistan
• Taliban shadow district governor among six detained in Nangarhar
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India
• Youth Added To Islamic State's WhatsApp Group
• Mecca Crane Collapse: 9 More Indian Pilgrims Reported Dead, MEA Confirms
• Asaduddin Owaisi's entry may split Muslim votes in upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar
• RSS-Affiliated Body in Mewat Forms First-Ever Muslim Cow-Protection Group
• Muslim Kuchipudi Dancer Enthrals Audience with Hindu Epics
• Pakistani flags raised at Kashmir's first marathon, 12 detained
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Southeast Asia
• Malay Muslims Thinking More About Sex amid Islamisation, Activist Says
• Two Malaysians, One Pakistani Arrested In Link to Bangkok Hindu Shrine Blast
• Sue Al-Jazeera for defamation to clear Malaysia’s name, Dr M tells Putrajaya
• Mecca crane tragedy claims life of fifth Malaysian
• UMNO members must unite to protect rights of Malays, Islam
• Public Islam stirs unresolved Christian anger, reverend says
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North America
• ‘We Accomplished A Lot,’ Says U.S. General Heading Anti-ISIS Strikes
• US Jewish Arrested for Inciting Terror Attacks
• Anti-Islamic Gun Shop Owner Offers 9/11 ‘Muslim’ Discount
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Europe
• Syria Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Russian Occupation
• Muslim leaders in Hounslow say 'refugee crisis is not just Europe's problem'
• Muslim Immigration and How to Handle It
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ayman-al-zawahiri-urges-lone/d/104575
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Arab World
Ayman al-Zawahiri Urges Lone Wolf Attacks, Militant Unity in US and Other Western Countries
September 14, 2015
CAIRO - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on young Muslim men in the United States and other Western countries to carry out attacks inside there and urged greater unity between militants. "I call on all Muslims who can harm the countries of the crusader coalition not to hesitate. We must now focus on moving the war to the heart of the homes and cities of the crusader West and specifically America," he said in an audio recording posted online on Sunday, referring to nations making up the Western-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.
http://nation.com.pk/national/14-Sep-2015/al-qaeda-chief-urges-lone-wolf-attacks-militant-unity
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Iraqis Kill 22 Asian Terrorists in Anbar
Sep 13, 2015
The 22 terrorists were stationed in al-Karmah district, East of Fallujah city, in Anbar province.
No further details have been revealed on the nationalities of the slain militants.
Also during their operations, the Iraqi forces forced tens of terrorists to withdraw and flee their headquarters in the region.
On Saturday, the Iraqi volunteer forces from the al-Hashid al-Shaabi killed 6 ISIL commanders in the town of al-Karmah in Anbar province.
The Iraqi forces targeted an ISIL position in al-Rashad district in al-Karmah, killing 6 ISIL commanders, sources said.
The ISIL Takfiri terrorists currently control shrinking swathes of Syria and Iraq. They have threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.
Senior Iraqi and Syrian officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab states for the growing terrorism in their countries.
The ISIL has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be indirectly supported by the Israeli regime.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940622001255
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Iraq tells Turkey to coordinate its strikes on PKK
13 September 2015
Iraq’s foreign minister has called on Ankara to coordinate with Baghdad in its military campaign against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions in northern Iraq following accusations that Turkish forces crossed the border into Iraq last week.
Iraq has been mostly silent about Turkish airstrikes against the Kurdish militants which began in July and have focused mainly on targets in the mountainous area of northern Iraq near the borders with Turkey and Iran.
Ibrahim al-Jaafari said on Saturday he had summoned the Turkish ambassador last week to object to what he called a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
A spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Jaafari told Reuters that Ankara has not coordinated with Iraq in the campaign, which Baghdad claims included an incursion into Iraq last week by Turkish special forces in pursuit of PKK militants.
“We are for the security of Turkey. Turkey has the right to defend itself,” he said ahead of an Arab League conference in Cairo. “But there must be coordination on the ground with the Iraqi government and Iraqi armed forces.”
Iraq does not control its northern border with Turkey, which is within the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Jaafari said Iraq would back operations if they were justified by conditions on the ground and if sufficient measures had been taken to avoid residential areas.
He also reprimanded Doha for hosting a conference earlier this month which Iraqis widely criticized for allegedly including attendees from Saddam Hussein's disbanded Baath party and Islamist hardliners wanted by Iraqi courts on terrorism charges.
He said the conference sent a message encouraging sectarianism and had undermined Iraq’s relations with Qatar. “Sometimes political intervention is no less dangerous than military intervention,” he said.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s ministry of foreign affairs would not comment on the conference.
Iraqi officials have accused Qatar of funding Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgents, which Doha denies. Some Gulf states have viewed Iraq as being too close to their main regional rival, Shiite power Iran.
Relations have improved since Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi took office last year. Qatar appointed an ambassador to Iraq for the first time since the embassy was closed 25 years ago, on the eve of the first Gulf war.
A rapprochement between the Sunni Muslim-ruled states of the Gulf and Iraq, which has a Shiite majority, could help strengthen a regional alliance against ISIS militants who have seized vast areas in both Iraq and neighboring Syria.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Iraq-calls-on-Turkey-to-coordinate-its-strikes-on-Kurdish-militants.html
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Egyptian forces kill Mexican tourists in error
14 September 2015
Egypt said on Monday its security forces killed 12 people, including Mexican tourists, after mistakenly targeting their four-vehicle convoy while chasing militant extremists in the country’s Western Desert.
The vast region, popular with tourists for its oases and rock formations, is also a militant hideout. Last month the Egyptian branch of the ISIS group beheaded a young Croatian there who was working for a French company and have also launched numerous attacks against security forces.
A joint police and military operation on Sunday “chasing terrorist elements” in Wahat in the Western Desert “mistakenly” targeted four pick-up trucks carrying Mexican tourists, the interior ministry said in a statement.
“The incident led to the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and wounding of 10 others,” it said.
“The area they were in was off limits to foreign tourists,” it said.
Egypt did not give a breakdown of the casualties but the Mexican foreign ministry said at least two Mexican tourists were killed.
“For the moment, we regrettably confirm the death of two Mexican nationals in this incident,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that five other Mexicans were in stable condition at a hospital in Cairo.
Mexico condemns attack
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the attack and demanded an investigation.
“Mexico condemns these incidents against our citizens and has demanded an exhaustive investigation about what happened from the government of Egypt,” he said on Twitter.
The ISIS group in Egypt said in a statement that it had “resisted a military operation in the Western Desert” on Sunday.
Egypt has been struggling to quell an extremist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, their main holdout in the country’s east, since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013.
Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has one of the region’s most powerful and well-equipped militaries.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/14/Egyptian-forces-kill-Mexican-tourists-in-error.html
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Ahrar Al-Sham Terrorist Group's Top Commander Changed after Defeat in Zabadani
Sep 13, 2015
Mohaned al-Masri aka Abu Yehia al-Hamawi was appointed as the terrorist group's new leader to replace Hashim al-Sheikh aka Abu Jaber.
According to Madar al-Youm, a Syrian opposition website, the group's Shura (Consultative) Council said in a statement that Abu Jaber refused to continue leadership and was replaced by Abu Yehia.
Abu Yehia is from Hama province and studied civil engineering in Lattakia University, according to the Arabic-language website.
Ahrar Al-Sham is affiliated to Al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda's official branch in Syria. The 2 groups are members of Jaish al-Fath coalition, which is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and aims to seize Idlib.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940622000991
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11 Pakistanis, 11 Indians, two Brits among 111 dead
13 September 2015
MAKKAH: The death toll following Friday’s crane crash at Makkah’s Grand Mosque has gone up to 111, while those injured are 331, latest figures made available by the Ministry of Health to local media have revealed.
The Pakistani Consulate has confirmed the deaths of 11 of its nationals.
“We have been able to identify 11 bodies at the morgue in Mina,” Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, the Makkah-based director general of Haj in Pakistan, told Arab News on Sunday.
The Indian Haj mission, led by Consul General B.S. Mubarak, released a list of nine deaths. This is in addition to the two women who were reported dead on Saturday. This takes the total number of Indian casualties to 11.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/805746
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Syrian Army Purges Deir Ezzur Airbase's Surroundings of ISIL Militants
Sep 14, 2015
"The Syrian army and brigades of local tribe militias launched a morning counter-attack near the airbase. Terrorists were forced to withdraw several kilometers away from residential areas, among other places," the source said.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000327
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Syrian Forces Recapture Jazal Town in Homs Province
Sep 14, 2015
The sources said that the Syrian Army’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division, in coordination with Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade), continued their counter-offensive in the Jazal Mountains, capturing the entire town of Jazal.
Following the capture of Jazal, the Syrian Armed Forces pushed their way towards Talat Al-Sawda’, where they engaged in an intense series of clashes with the ISIL, killing 16 enemy combatants from the terrorist group before they were able to seize full control of this strategic hilltop located to the Eastern side of Jazal.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000402
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Syria group: Russia expanding major Syrian airport
13 September 2015
A Syrian group says Russian forces are expanding the tarmac of a major airport in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad and his minority sect.
The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, says Sunday that witnesses, including officials inside the airport, describe the development as planned to ensure larger planes can land in the airport that houses a military base. The witnesses tell the Observatory no Syrian military or civilian officials are allowed near the tarmac.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Syria-group-Russia-expanding-major-Syrian-airport.html
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Syrian Armed Forces Push Rebels Back, Gain more Ground in Darayya
Sep 14, 2015
The sources said that the Syrian Army and National Defense Forces (NDF) made significant progress in the strategic city of Darayya after capturing five more building blocks from the rebel group of Ajnad Al-Sham.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000468
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FM Spokesman Blasts US Officials' Remarks on Disintegration of Iraq
Sep 13, 2015
"The US officials' remarks on the possible disintegration of Iraq and the zero chance for the country's return to its past conditions are strongly rejected," Jamal told FNA on Sunday.
Noting that the terrorists active in Iraq today have come from 80 different world states, he said, "The westerners had better prevent the flow of terrorists from their countries to Iraq instead of raising doubt about Iraq's unity."
His remarks came after General Vincent Stewart, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, claimed on Thursday that Iraq and Syria are unlikely to emerge intact from years of war and sectarian violence.
In Iraq, the Defense Intelligence Agency boss indicated that he believes it unlikely that a government in Baghdad could hold authority over the disparate regions within the country's official borders;
Stewart claimed that he is "wrestling with the idea that the Kurds will come back to a central government of Iraq".
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940622001227
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Syrian Analyst: Damascus Countryside to Turn into Terrorists' Graveyard
Sep 13, 2015
"The terrorists' attacks on Reef (countryside of) Damascus were aimed at changing the map of the operation zones so that the Syrian capital will be pressured," Sabet Mohammad told FNA on Sunday.
He revealed that supporters of terrorist groups and the foreign intelligence agencies have ordered the militants to intensify their attacks against Damascus countryside, but "the Syrian army will turn that region into a mass graveyard for the terrorists". Mohammad pointed to the recent clashes between the Syrian forces and terrorists in Zahia Al-Assad district, and said 6,000 terrorists had participated in the attack but the army's swift reaction made them withdraw from the region.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940622001045
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UK PM on surprise visit to Lebanon to talk Syria refugees
Sep 14, 2015
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has made an unannounced visit to the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where he is expected to inspect a Syrian refugee camp and meet with his Lebanese counterpart Tammam Salam.
The surprise visit by the top British official on Monday comes amid the persisting flow of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Europe.
The official objective of Cameron’s visit and his discussion with Prime Minister Salam has not yet been revealed. This is as the UK continues to support and play host to Syrian opposition forces, which have waged a deadly war on the Arab country since 2011, prompting the massive flow of displaced refugees from the country to neighboring states as well as European shores.
The development comes as the British premier said earlier this month that the UK will accept up to 20,000 refugees from war-torn countries, including Syria, over the next five years. London is, however, under fire for not accepting more refugees.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/14/429124/Lebanon-British-Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-Beirut-Syrian-refugees-Tammam-Salam-refugee-crisis
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Syria, Hezbollah make fresh advances in Zabadani
Sep 14, 2015
Syrian army forces backed by fighters from the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah have tightened their siege on the terrorists holed up in the key southwestern Syrian city of Zabadani.
Sources said that the allied forces advanced in the city’s west toward the downtown, taking control of al-Jisr Mosque and the neighboring buildings, the Lebanese al-Manar news channel reported on Monday.
The report also said that the forces killed and injured a number of terrorists, dismantling many explosive devices that had been planted by militants in the mosque.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/14/429118/Syria-Zabadani-Hezbollah-alJisr-Mosque
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NGO: Dozens of Egyptian dissidents died in prison in August
Sep 13, 2015
Dozens of dissidents have died across prisons in Egypt in the month of August alone, according to a non-governmental organization.
The Arab African Center for Freedoms and Human Rights documented deaths of 42 detainees.
According to the Cairo-based NGO, the captives mainly died due to medical negligence on the part of Egyptian authorities.
Human rights activists in the Egyptian capital have repeatedly said that many of those who die behind bars are usually in very critical condition due to torture upon arrest by Egyptian authorities.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/13/429063/Dozens-dissidents-die-Egypt--August
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Mideast
Taking in Syria refugees 'heightens risk of terrorism': U.S. lawmaker
14 September 2015
U.S. plans to take in some 10,000 Syrian refugees increases the danger of Islamist militants entering the country as well said a top U.S. lawmaker, who expressed strong reservations about the program.
Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, warned that jihadists with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group could embed with refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, creating a jihadi pipeline.
"From a national security standpoint, I take ISIS at its word when they said, in their own words, 'We'll use and exploit the refugee crisis to infiltrate the West.' That concerns me," McCaul told ABC television's "This Week" program.
The White House said Thursday that it hopes to scale up the number of refugees the United States welcomes from war-torn Syria in the next fiscal year.
A number of U.S. officials have said it is possible that members of the extremist group ISIS could sneak into the country among those refugees.
But retired general John Allen, speaking on the same news program Sunday, said he is confident in the refugee-vetting procedures in place.
"We should be conscious of the potential that (ISIS) may attempt to embed agents within that population," he said.
"But I also have to tell you, I have tremendous confidence in the work that has been, and is being done" by U.S. security agencies.
Nevertheless, Allen said, "I think it's a threat... It's clearly something we should be thinking about."
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/14/Taking-in-Syria-refugees-heightens-risk-of-terrorism-U-S-lawmaker.html
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Arabs to ‘confront Israeli aggression’ on Al-Aqsa
13 September 2015
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir has confirmed that movement will be made “at all levels to confront any act of aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation or the Israeli settlers against Al-Aqsa Mosque,” according to a statement released by Saudi Press Agency.
“A discussion was conducted on the Palestinian issue and what is happening at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and how to deal with these aggressive moves by the Zionist enemy in an attempt to seize the mosque, as well as how to intensify the efforts of the Arab and Muslim countries to condemn these Israeli actions and confront them on all tracks, in accordance with the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with unanimous approval of the Arab countries,” Jubeir said in a press statement following a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers held in Cairo on Sunday.
“We will begin to move on this front to deal with any act of aggression by Israel or Israeli settlers against Al-Aqsa Mosque", Jubeir added.
Earlier on Sunday, Muslim witnesses said Israeli police entered the mosque and caused damage to prayer mats.
Israeli police said only that they closed the doors to the mosque to lock in rioters throwing stones, fireworks and other objects.
They said clashes continued outside the compound in the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, where they responded with tear gas and stun grenades.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 people required hospital treatment.
The mosque compound is the site of frequent clashes. In late July, Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa as they clashed with Muslims angered by Jews’ access to the compound on an annual day of Jewish mourning.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Clashes-rock-Jerusalem-s-al-Aqsa-mosque-compound-.html
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Egypt military says two soldiers, 64 militants killed in Sinai
13 September 2015
Egypt's military said two soldiers were killed Saturday during a widescale offensive against jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 64 militants on its sixth day.
The military launched the campaign Monday to uproot militants loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group who have turned the northern part of the peninsula into a launch pad for attacks.
It says it has killed 296 militants since the start of the operation, including those killed on Saturday. It was not possible independently to verify the toll.
Eight soldiers have been killed according to the military, including the two on Saturday.
Egypt has been struggling to quell an insurgency in the peninsula since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in 2013.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Egypt-military-says-two-soldiers-64-militants-killed-in-Sinai-.html
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Over 10 Saudi Soldiers Killed in Yemeni Retaliatory Attacks
Sep 14, 2015
On Sunday, the Yemeni army fired mortar shells at the Southwestern Saudi province of Jizan, killing a soldier.
According to the Arabic-language Sabq news website, the Saudi soldier, Yehia Ghelis Al-Hadri was killed in the mortar attack.
Meanwhile, Ansarullah fighters and their allied army units also launched an attack on Saudi bases in the Southwestern border city of Najran, killing 5 soldiers.
The Yemeni forces also killed five other Saudi soldiers during an ambush attack carried out in the Asir region, located in Dhahran al-Janub.
Riyadh has confirmed the fatalities in the Southwestern province, where Yemeni armed forces also destroyed three Saudi bulldozers.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000522
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UN worried over al-Quds clashes after Israelis storm al-Aqsa
Sep 14, 2015
A senior UN official has expressed concern over the recent violence in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), where Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque.
“I encourage all to stand firmly against incitement and violence,” especially during the Jewish New Year holidays and ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Adha, said the UN Special Coordinator for Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, in a Sunday statement.
This comes in the wake of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the mosque.
A Palestinian cleans up debris inside al-Aqsa mosque in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) on September 13, 2015. ©AFP
On Monday, more than 200 Israeli soldiers stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque, firing rubber bullets and tear gas at Palestinians. A number of Palestinians were wounded in the clash.
Also on Sunday, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces at the al-Aqsa compound after the regime’s forces attempted to force Palestinian worshipers out of the mosque while expanding the military deployment in the yard of the holy site for the Jewish Rosh Hashanah New Year holiday.
According to Palestinian sources, Israeli regime forces stormed the mosque and inflicted damage on the compound. Dozens of worshippers sustained suffocation injuries from tear gas as well as injuries from rubber bullets fired by Israeli forces.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/14/429112/Palestine-alQuds-Jerusalem-alAqsa-Israeli-forces-Rosh-Hashanah-
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Yemeni forces launch operation to retake Marib
13 September 2015
Forces loyal to exiled President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi have started a military operation aimed at retaking the central Yemeni province of Marib from the Iranian-backed Houthi militias, according to Al Arabiya News Channel.
Popular Resistance units, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, started the operation early Sunday with the help of the Yemeni army.
According to Al Arabiya News Channel, Houthis have withdrew from some areas in Marib as a result of intensive bombing from the coalition.
In the north of the province, dozens of Houthis were killed after an attack led by the Popular Resistance and the national army.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Pro-Hadi-forces-launch-military-operation-to-retake-Yemen-s-Marib-.html
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Yemeni govt pulls out of planned peace talks
13 September 2015
Yemen’s exiled government said on Sunday it would no longer attend U.N.-mediated peace talks with its adversaries the Houthis, dealing a big blow to efforts aimed at ending over five months of civil war.
Loyalists of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi have been battling the Iran-allied militia across the impoverished country since late March, when the group forced him and his administration to flee to Saudi Arabia.
An Arab coalition led by the kingdom intervened in the conflict, launching hundreds of air strikes on the Houthis and backing ground forces they hope will force the group accept an April U.N. Security Council resolution calling on them to recognize Hadi and quit Yemen’s main cities.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/Exiled-Yemeni-government-pulls-out-of-planned-peace-talks.html
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Yemen's Ansarullah Shoots Down Saudi Drone in Ma'rib
Sep 14, 2015
Yemeni activists said that Ansarullah forces managed to bring down a Saudi spy drone on Sunday afternoon. The activists also released a photo of the drone.
The Arabic-language al-Mashhad al-Yemeni news website also said that clashes erupted between the Saudi-led coalition forces and Ansarullah fighters on Sunday as the coalition forces tried to start a ground operation from Eastern Ma'rib towards the Yemeni capital.
The coalition has started the so-called ground operation since Sunday. Ansarullah managed to thwart several coalition attacks in Eastern Ma'rib.
Saudi Arabia has been striking Yemen for 173 days now to restore power to Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Saudi-led aggression has so far killed at least 5,847 Yemenis, including hundreds of women and children.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000323
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Iranian MP Raps West for Double-Standards towards Terrorism in Different Countries
Sep 14, 2015
Speaking in a meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Poriazov in Tehran on Sunday, the Iranian parliamentarian expressed regret over the US and its regional and European allies' financial and armed supports for the terrorist groups under the guise of good terrorism.
He further added that the so-called anti-ISIL coalition is a show and continued support for them is a dangerous threat to the world.
"The language of terrorists is violence and the nature of all of them is killing of innocent people," Boroujerdi said.
The Bulgarian official, for his part, said that the terrorist groups, including the ISIL are a global threat and called for international cooperation and coordination to root out the evil phenomenon.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940623000224
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Ansarullah Blocks Pro-Hadi Militants' Advance in Marib
Sep 13, 2015
The militants, backed by Saudi-led coalition troops, sought to advance towards Hamma al-Masaria region in Marib but Ansarullah forces prevented them from entering the region, al-Mayadeen news channel reported on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia has been striking Yemen for 172 days now to restore power to Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Saudi-led aggression has so far killed at least 5,874 Yemenis, including hundreds of women and children.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940622001280
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Africa
On 911 anniversary Muslims Against Terror condemns Global Terrorism
14 September 2015
The President, Barack Obama And American Citizens
Assalamualeykum (peace be upon you)
We the Muslims Against Terror organization condemn the acts of terrorism by Boko Haram, or Islamic state of West African (ISWA), the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and all affiliates to al-Qaeda terrorist organizations.
Terrorism has nothing to do with “Jihad” (struggle) In the name of Allah. Islam has nothing to do with the “deviant doctrine” of Boko Haram or Islamic state also knowns as Islamic state of Iraq and Syria and affiliates to al- Qaeda terrorists organization.
They must be CRUSHED in Nigeria, Chad, Iraq, Tunisia, Syria and the rest of the world.
No country is safe anywhere in the world until this suicidal ideology of Islamic state of West Africa (ISWA), or Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and affiliates to al-Qaeda terrorists organization is defeated.
Also Read: Pope: Priests to pardon abortion during upcoming Jubilee of Mercy
On the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the world Trade center, Twin Towers which resulted in massive killing, destruction and attack on innocent lives we state that:
A Terrorist attack on one country is an attack on humanity as a whole. All nations of the world must work together to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
We condemn in the strongest terms, the incident which are against all human and Islamic norms. This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of attacks on innocent lives. God Almighty says in the holy Quran what means; No bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another {Surah al-Isra 17:15}.
We Muslims Against Terror organization condemned these acts and express our deepest sympathy and condolence to the Families of the victims of those who were killed, injured and still suffering from the pain, trauma, and to the people and government of the United States.
We express our solidarity with the American Government and people in this hour. We are committed to fighting terrorism and countering violent extremism of Boko Haram or Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) an affiliate to al-Qaeda Terrorist organization.
All nations must cooperate in tackling Boko Haram, ISIS, AQIM, ISIS affiliates in North and West Africa and all other branches. As the world formed coalitions to fight Saddam Hussein and the Taliban terror leaders, so also must it form even larger coalitions against ISIS and its arms.
Full report at:
http://www.news24.com.ng/MyNews24/On-911-anniversary-Muslims-Against-Terror-condemns-Global-Terrorism-20150914
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The Malian Manuscripts: A Priceless Islamic Heritage
13/09/2015
Joseph V. Micallef
For centuries, Timbuktu provided rest alongside the Niger River for travelers journeying across the African Continent. From the 12th through the 16th Centuries, Mali became an intellectual haven for Islamic scholars. The manuscripts produced during that time have survived centuries of unprotected storage in Timbuktu, and only recently came to the attention of the world community.
Michael Covitt was one of the first to recognize the value of these documents, not only as historical artifacts, but also as true Islamic manuscripts professing peaceful resolution of conflict and a world of tolerance, understanding and the dignity of mankind.
Through his passion and determination, he led the way in increasing awareness of the documents around the world, digitizing the manuscripts for scholars to study, and preserving the original documents in a proper, climate controlled environment. His documentary film, '333,' is a superb film about the region, the manuscripts, and the message of peace.
In a time when the teachings of Islam are being perverted and conflict appears to be the preferred action for many extremists, the Malian Manuscripts provide a better solution for mankind. Thank you, Malian Manuscript Foundation, for taking the lead in preserving, promoting, and educating the world about these treasures.
The preceding passage is from a page of quotes on the Malian Manuscript Foundation Website. It was authored by Gen. Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as Director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Deputy Commander in Chief of the United States European Command and Director of The Joint Staff. Earlier, he led Marine operations in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. This is one of many such accolades about the project to save the Malian Documents that are reproduced on the Malian Manuscripts Foundation website, here.
Approximately 800 years ago, Mansa Musa, a legendary African monarch with incomparable wealth, was King of Mali. At the time, Mali was the world's wealthiest nation, controlling two-thirds of the earth's gold supply. In 1324, King Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca, attended by 60,000 men including 12,000 slaves, each carrying four-pound gold bars. They also boasted heralds dressed in silks, brandishing gold staffs four meters long, countless horses, plus eighty camels, each carrying between fifty and three hundred pounds of gold dust.
In the course of his pilgrimage to Mecca, the King donated so much gold to the needy that the Mediterranean gold market collapsed. But his primary objective was to worship at the most sacred shrine of Islam, the Kaaba, and then to return to Mali bringing with him as many religious scholars as possible in order to create a new center for Islamic scholarship in Timbuktu. He established, what was for his time, one of the world's most prestigious universities. A total of 180 different Koranic schools were organized under the authority of the University of Sankoré.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/the-malian-manuscripts-a_b_8128648.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in
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Seven dead in blast at camp for Boko Haram displaced
11 September 2015
Yola - At least seven people were killed and 20 others injured in a blast at a camp for people displaced by the Boko Haram conflict in northeast Nigeria, the country's main relief agency said on Friday.
A homemade bomb planted inside a tent went off shortly before 11:00 am (1000 GMT) at the Malkohi internally displaced persons (IDP) camp near the Adamawa state capital, Yola.
"So far seven persons lost their lives and 20 persons were injured in the bomb blast," a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sani Datti, said in a statement.
"Among the injured, seven were treated and discharged while 13 persons, including four NEMA officials, are still receiving treatment at (the) Federal Medical Centre, Yola."
Also read: Bomb blast hits internally displaced persons camp
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Boko Haram Islamists have previously hit "soft" civilian targets with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or suicide attacks.
Adamawa state police spokesman Othman Abubakar initially gave a lower toll of two dead and seven injured, while the Red Cross said three had been killed and nine injured.
Suleiman Mohammed, director of response, relief and rehabilitation at the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), told AFP five were killed and 20 injured.
The Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow, was reported as telling a meeting of northern governors that some of the many children at the camp were among the dead.
Lionel Rawlings, head of security at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which is based in Yola, confirmed student volunteers were slightly injured by flying debris.
"None was in direct contact with the explosion but there was flying shrapnel. We dodged the bullet," he said.
Homemade bomb
Abubakar and Mohammed both said the blast was caused by an IED left by tents in the sprawling camp, which is just outside Yola to the south and near an army base.
Security had been tight after hundreds of women and children held hostage by Boko Haram were brought to the camp after they were rescued by the military earlier this year.
Armed soldiers manned the gates and carried out checks on vehicles and passengers, AFP reporters witnessed on a visit to the camp in May.
"Our men are there," said Abubakar. "They are trying to find if there are any other explosives."
Full report at:
http://www.news24.com.ng/National/News/Seven-dead-in-blast-at-camp-for-Boko-Haram-displaced-20150911
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Libya parties’ edge closer to national unity government: UN
Sep 13, 2015
The United Nations’ special envoy to Libya says rival parties in the conflict-stricken North African nation have moved closer to forming a national unity government as part of a peace deal.
Bernardino Leon made the announcement on Sunday in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, where peace negotiations resumed last week.
"After long hours of discussions, we have reached... a consensus on the main elements," Leon said, adding that the draft would be handed out to the conflicting sides.
Leon said the text is to be put to the vote.
In January, the rival administrations - General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli and the country’s internationally-recognized government ruling in the cities of Bayda and Tobruk - agreed to set up a national unity government.
Leon called on the internationally-recognized government to accept points which have been introduced to the draft at the request of the GNC.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/13/429044/Libya-GNC-Bernardino-Leon-United-Nations
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Outcry Over Kidnap of Nigerian Muslim Scholar
12 September 2015
LAGOS – Nigerian Muslims have expressed outrage over the abduction of a top scholar in southeastern Enugu state, demanding his abductors to free him immediately and calling the kidnapping "one brigandage too many."
Sheikh Adam Idoko, a deputy secretary general of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and chief Imam of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, was reportedly kidnapped early Friday at his village in Nigeria's southeast by yet to be identified gunmen.
His abductors have not contacted his family, local police spokesman Amaraizu Ebere told OnIslam.net on Saturday, adding that police have started manhunt for the kidnappers.
"We call for unconditional release of Sheikh Idoko who is a man of peace and prominent Muslim leader in the southeast. This is one abduction too many and this action is condemnable and outrageous, to say the least," Dr Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, secretary general of the Jama'atu Nasril Islam, Muslim apex body in the northern region, told OnIslam.net.
"We plead with his abductors not to harm him. They should free him immediately and unconditionally. We call on the police to not just ensure prompt release of our brother but to also get to the roots of what led to such a disgusting behavior. Security agencies must ensure that innocent and law abiding citizens like our brother Sheikh Idoko are not subjected to harassment and risk as this."
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a human rights advocacy group, also expressed shock at the development.
"MURIC is shocked by this ugly incident. This is one kidnap too many. We strongly condemn this act of brigandage. We appeal to the Federal Government (FG) to take urgent steps towards finding him alive. We also urge the security agencies to do everything humanly possible to secure his release," MURIC executive director Prof Ishaq Akintola said.
Condemning the spate of kidnappings and armed robbery especially in the southeast region, Prof Akintola called on the government to increase the numerical strength of the police which he observed falls short of the UN recommendation of at least 222 policemen per 100,000 civilian population.
Nigeria currently has roughly 310, 177 policemen for a population estimated at over Full report at:
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/493613-outcry-over-kidnap-of-nigerian-muslim-scholar.html
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Keeping Islamic State out of Ghana
12 September 2015
Ghana is ‘surrounded’ by other West African countries where the Islamic State group has a presence: Nigeria, Niger, and Chad. Following the news of the recruitment of Ghanaian youths by the Islamic State, what used to be a distant threat is now knocking at the door.
Islamic State’s principal aim is to establish a state ruled by a single political and religious leader according to Islamic law. Foreigners seem to be the target of IS propaganda and messaging. For instance, ISIS celebrated the 2014 Eid al-Fitr with a special greeting to the Muslim world. These messages are usually released in many languages, including in English, French, and German, and other languages.
Red Flag
Prior to the news of Twenty-five year old Nazir Alema Nortey and Rafiq travelling to join the Islamic State, Ghana had a reputation of being one of the very few stable and established democracies in Africa. Whereas employment has been relatively low in Ghana, there is potential for increased unemployment given that macro-economic growth has dropped below the average of at least 8% since 2013 and currently stands at 3.9 per cent.
Ghana now looks to the International Monetary Fund for macro-economic stability under an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.
Poverty Plays a Role
While youths from both rich and the poor backgrounds are known to have been recruited by IS, ‘the recruits’ are purportedly promised luxurious lives when they get to Syria and Iraq, as well as assurance of quality life for their immediate family members back at home. This is an offer Ghanaian young men and young women are finding difficult to refuse, especially youths from the majority: northern Ghanaian Muslims.
Boko Haram in the Picture
In accepting Boko Haram’s pledge of allegiance, an Islamic State spokesperson, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, stated on Thursday, March 12th that the objective of creating a caliphate has been extended to West Africa, urging Muslims to join militants in the region.
The Islamic State’s recruits from Ghana are believed to have journeyed to Nigeria to receive training at a Boko Haram training camp in Niger before traveling to Turkey or Syria.
Full report at:
http://globalriskinsights.com/2015/09/keeping-islamic-state-out-of-ghana/
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Pakistan
17 ‘militants’ killed in North Waziristan air strikes
Sep 14, 2015
PESHAWAR / DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least 17 suspected militants were killed in air strikes in North Waziristan on Sunday and two security personnel lost their lives in an attack in South Waziristan.
Sources said that military planes pounded suspected militant hideouts at Gorbaz and Zoi in Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan near the Afghan border. Seventeen `militants’ were killed and several others injured. Four hideouts were destroyed.
Know more: US drone strike kills four suspected terrorists in Afghanistan
In South Waziristan, two security personnel were fetching water from a spring in Khaisoor area of Tiarza tehsil when Mehsud Taliban attacked them. Iqbal and Bukhtiar were both killed.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206855/17-militants-killed-in-north-waziristan-air-strikes
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At least 10 people killed in Multan blast, several injured
Sep 14, 2015
MULTAN: At least 10 people died when an explosion occurred near a packed rickshaw stand in Multan Sunday evening, DawnNews reported.
Rescue 1122 official Dr Kaleem confirmed that 10 people have died in the blast while 57 people have been injured. According to details, the explosion happened on Vehari road of Multan.
The injured are being treated in Nishtar Hospital Multan, where the condition of few is considered critical.
Multan CPO Azhar Akram, while talking to DawnNews, said that the explosion occurred due to a collision between a rickshaw and motorcycle.
“It seems that the bomb was fitted in the motorcycle,” said Akram.
He went on to say that police has also recovered ball bearings from the site of the blast.
The bomb disposal squad has been called to the site of explosion to find out the actual reason of the blast.
According to DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal a motorcyclist carrying explosive material collided with a rickshaw which resulted in the blast.
The DCO, however, added that forensic expert would inform further after the investigation.
Earlier it was reported that the explosion happened due to a blast in gas cylinder fitted in the rickshaw that was destroyed.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206740/at-least-10-people-killed-in-multan-blast-several-injured
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Policeman, two suspected militants killed in Peshawar gunfight
Sep 14, 2015
PESHAWAR: Three people were killed and at least five others were injured in a gunfight in Peshawar late Friday, police said.
The clashes erupted when unknown gunmen fired at a police van patrolling the suburbs of Peshawar.
"One policeman was killed while four others were wounded in an exchange of fire with militants. Two militants were also killed in the fight," Rana Omer, a senior police official in Peshawar, told AFP.
"The militants fired at our mobile team which was on a routine patrol in Pushtakhara area at night. We responded to the gunfire and killed two attackers while one escaped after being wounded," he said.
Another senior police official, Mubarak Zeb, confirmed the incident.
Peshawar has suffered numerous Taliban attacks but it was not immediately clear that who was behind this ambush.
The city suffered the worst terror attack in Pakistani history in December when Taliban gunmen massacred more than 150 people, most of them children, at an army-run school.
Read: Taliban massacre 131 schoolchildren: Principal among 141 dead in attack on Army Public School, Peshawar
But recently then there has been a lull in violence. The last deadly attack in the city came in February when three heavily armed Taliban militants stormed a Shia mosque, killing 21 people.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206552/policeman-two-suspected-militants-killed-in-peshawar-gunfight
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Nawaz risks upsetting JUI-F over madrasas issue
September 14, 2015
ISLAMABAD - In the process of streamlining the affairs of the madrassas or religious seminaries, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif risks upsetting his key ally – the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam–Fazl, political sources said.
“The announcement by the government to streamline the affairs of the madrassas has not been taken well by the JUI-F.
They have been asking the government to take it easy,” a source close to the decision makers told The Nation.
“The JUI-F has threatened of strong protest if the government tried to project the madrassas as terrorism promoters,” he added.
Last day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had announced the government would finalise a comprehensive strategy to streamline the affairs of religious seminaries under the National Action Plan (NAP).
This is not the first time the government has taken such a decision.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, Washington encouraged former Pakistani ruler Pervez Musharraf to control madrassas.
He tried to introduce an element of nominal control.
Two laws were passed: one in 2001 to create state-controlled and the other in 2002 to register and control them.
The first had moderate success, as some religious institutions registered in 2003 with the Pakistan Madrassa Education Board created under this law.
The second measure proved unpopular with the madrassas, but the government did partially restrict access of foreign students to the madrassas education system.
The US and the western countries have been accusing the madrassas of recruiting holy warriors and promoting militancy – the allegation is rejected by the patrons of the madrassas.
“The government has assured the JUI-F and other religious parties that the process was not designed to target the madrassas.
There won’t be raids on the madrassas unless there is concrete information of any illegal activity,” he elaborated.
The PM, he said, will also meet the representatives of the madrassas to evolve consensus.
JUI-F Senator, Mufti Abdul Sattar, blamed the government of taking dictation form the foreign masters to malign the madrassas.
Talking to The Nation, the lawmaker from Mastung said the government was creating problems for itself by targeting the madrassas.
“The only crime of madrassas is that they are imparting religious education.
This is not acceptable to our foreign masters who want to shut the doors of religious education of the people,” Senator Sattar said.
He said the government’s own investigations reveal 99 percent of the madrassas were free of any militancy-related activity.
“The rest of the one percent are also not seen as engaged in violating any laws but some investigators suspect their system.
Things can be investigated further but slapping an anti-terror law on the people who are working for the religion is unjust,” he contended.
The lawmaker said his party will not accept any ‘foreign dictation’ to stop the smooth functioning of the madrassas.
“I run a madrassa myself.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/14-Sep-2015/nawaz-risks-upsetting-jui-f-over-madrasas-issue
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Police Nab ‘Hit man’ Involved In Killing Four Religious Scholars
IMTIAZ ALI
Sep 14, 2015
KARACHI: The city’s West Zone police arrested a suspect allegedly involved in the killing of four religious scholars of Deobandi school of thought including Mufti Shamzai, Karachi-West DIG Feroze Shah said on Sunday.
Shah said that the suspect Wasi Haider has been involved in 12 incidents of targeted killings, including four religious scholars.
“The victims included Mufti Shamzai killed in 2004 and Maulana Abdul Majeed, Mufti Salih Mohammed and Maulana Ihsan who were killed in an armed attack on a van in January 2013,” he added.
The officer said that the police party, acting on a tip off, detained Haider from F.B. Industrial Area of of the metropolis.
“The detained suspect is a resident of Lines Area and belongs to a political party,” said the DIG West.
His four accomplices were absconders.
Two 'gang-members' killed during Rangers raid in Lyari
Earlier, two 'criminals' allegedly linked with the Uzair Baloch group, operating in Karachi's Old Golimar Area, were killed by Rangers in an exchange of fire in the early hours of the day.
The 'gangsters' were identified as Adnan Baloch and Sajid Ganga, who were wanted for a number of target killings, kidnapping for ransom and "other vicious crimes", according to a Rangers press release.
Rangers also claimed the recovery of weapons and ammunition from their possession.
An intelligence-based targeted operation had been conducted on the suspected hideouts of gang war criminals in Lyari Town, a Rangers press release said.
The suspects snuck into a hideout located at Adam Tea Store around 2:30am, in efforts to evade arrest and flee, after opening indiscriminate fire at the Rangers troops, the press release further said.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206725/police-nab-hitman-involved-in-killing-four-religious-scholars
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Bangkok blast: Pakistani among three detained by Malaysia
Sep 14, 2015
UALA LUMPUR: A Pakistani and two Malaysians have been detained in connection with last month's bombing of a shrine in Bangkok that killed 20 people, the national police chief said Monday.
Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters that the three were detained a few days ago following a tip-off by Thai authorities. He said one of the Malaysians is a woman.
The August 17 blast at the Erawan Shrine in the Thai capital killed 20 people, including five Malaysians from one family, and injured more than 120.
Many of the victims were foreigners as the shrine is a popular destination for tourists and Thais alike.
Read: Bomb explodes at Bangkok shrine, killing at least 18
Khalid did not give details or say where in Malaysia the three were detained, when they will be formally charged, or what the charges would be.
He said Malaysian police will investigate and work with Thai authorities on the detainees.
Also read: Thai police seek ‘Chinese’ man over Bangkok bomb
Thai police say the man who may have actually planted the bomb may have fled across Thailand's southern border to Malaysia, but Khalid refused to speculate on that.
In Bangkok, Thai Police Chief Somyot Poompanmoung said he has not received any information from the Malaysian police on the arrest of the three suspects.
Two key suspects are also in custody in Thailand, charged with possession of illegal explosives.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206909/bangkok-blast-pakistani-among-three-detained-by-malaysia
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10 military court cases sent back for verifying suspects’ age
MALIK ASAD
Sep 14, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Instead of sending cases of juvenile terrorism suspects, detained at internment centres, to military courts, the federal government has asked for proof of their age before making the final decision.
The government’s interest in determining the age of the suspects is a result of a recent Peshawar High Court (PHC) decision, in which the death sentence awarded to juvenile Haider Ali by a military court was suspended.
The order against Ali’s conviction was issued by a bench consisting of Justice Mussarat Hilali and Justice Younas Taheem, on the petition of the accused’s mother, Bacha Laiga.
Also read: Army chief approves increase in military courts for Karachi
Dawn has learnt that following the PHC order, the interior ministry sent back 10 cases to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa apex committee and asked them to provide documentation from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), as well as the computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of the suspects.
Sources said that cases that were sent back to the apex committee included those in which suspects had been accused of obtaining terrorist training in Fata and attacking the army’s installations.
These cases had been marked for military courts, but once the PHC’s orders came, the federal government thought it best to determine the age of the suspects in order to avoid litigation once the military court delivered a verdict.
Govt exercising caution following PHC order striking down conviction of juvenile terror suspect
In the wake of the PHC stay order, the government decided to examine all cases being forwarded to military courts and found 10 where there were ambiguities regarding the age of the accused.
Military circles, on the other hand, were of the view that excluding juveniles from military courts’ proceedings may prove counter-productive.
According to an officer, terrorists preferred to recruit young boys because they were easy to brainwash.
“Most of the attackers who carried out suicide attacks were juveniles,” he said, adding that the majority of those who were arrested before they were able to carry out an attack were also younger than 18 years.
This is not to say that all attackers are young. The military officer pointed out that the suicide attack carried out on the Special Services Group (SSG) Officers Mess at Tarbela, shortly after the Lal Masjid operation, was carried out by a 52-year-old man. At least 15 security personnel died in the attack.
A senior military official dealing with these cases told Dawn that terrorist attacks on targets such as the Bannu and D.I. Khan jails were carried out by hundreds of people, including several individuals who were under the age of 18.
The matter in which the PHC had suspended the military court verdict was similar: the convict, Ali, was with a group of terrorists who had attacked a military camp in Malakand, causing three deaths.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206879/10-military-court-cases-sent-back-for-verifying-suspects-age
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Cowardly attacks cannot deter nation’s resolve: Khurshid Shah
September 14, 2015
Multan: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Nishtar Hospital in Multan today morning, to inquire about health of Multan blast victims.
Talking to media, Khurshid Shah stated that coward attacks cannot deter nation’s resolve, in fight against terrorism. He asked the provincial government to ensure best medical facilities to the injured. Meanwhile, another wounded person who was under treatment in Nishtar Hospital after Vehari Chowk blast on Monday, succumbed to injuries taking the death toll to 11.
A speeding motorcycle crashed into a rickshaw at Vehari Chowk that resulted in a blast claiming 11 lives, including a two-year-old child. The injured, 62 were shifted to Nishtar Hospital. According to the latest reports, 11 of the injured persons are still battling for their lives as their conditions are not stable.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/14-Sep-2015/cowardly-attacks-cannot-deter-nation-s-resolve-khurshid-shah
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Pakistan's strategic shift is unconvincing: WSJ
September 14, 2015
Ever since last year’s horrific attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan’s government has gone into overdrive to convince the world that its attitude toward terrorism has changed. As the argument goes, the Islamic republic is in the midst of completing a wrenching strategic shift away from fomenting terrorism and toward fighting it instead.
But though this view appears to have become popular wisdom in Pakistan, it finds few takers elsewhere. In recent weeks, top U.S., Afghan and Indian officials have called on Islamabad to put a lid on a cauldron of jihadist groups that constantly threatens to bubble over.
Last month, the U.S. threatened to withhold $300 million of military aid to Pakistan after U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter refused to certify that it had acted adequately against the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network. On a visit to Islamabad, National Security Adviser Susan Rice urged Pakistan to do more against militants operating from its territory.
Many Pakistanis view international skepticism toward their country’s war on terrorism as evidence that the world refuses to give Pakistan a fair shake. The columnist Aisha Sarwari, for instance, accuses Western critics of peddling “orientalist jargon” and disregarding the sacrifice of Pakistanis “who have perished in the demonic war of terrorism.”
This notion of victimhood is misguided. In fact, the path toward changing global perceptions of Pakistan is straightforward enough. The Pakistani army only needs to show that it’s as much at odds with terrorists who attack Afghans, Americans and Indians as it is with those who attack Pakistanis.
This is not to suggest that nothing in Pakistan has changed. When it comes to fighting the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP)—the Afghan Taliban’s Pakistani cousins—Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif deserves credit for showing far greater resolve than his predecessors. Over the past 15 months, the army has pounded the TTP in its stronghold of North Waziristan. Just a few years ago, support for the TTP from Islamist-friendly politicians such as Imran Khan, and a fear that army morale would suffer in a fight with fellow Muslims, had made an attack on North Waziristan appear exceedingly unlikely.
Similarly, security forces have finally taken off the gloves with anti-Shiite militants who have enjoyed both political patronage and pockets of popular support for more than three decades. In July, police gunned down Malik Ishaq, founder of the anti-Shiite group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and 13 supporters in what was widely seen as an officially sanctioned execution. Analysts had long regarded Ishaq, accused of more than 100 murders, as too well connected with both politicians and the army to be touched.
For many Pakistanis, the army’s resolve contrasts favorably with the dithering of the political class, not least Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (no relation to the army chief.) To his fans, Gen. Sharif has emerged as a sort of South Asian Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the strongman who pulls his country back from the fundamentalist abyss. That Gen. Sharif comes from a family of war heroes who earned their spurs battling India only enhances his appeal.
Until a spate of attacks in Kabul last month soured relations, Pakistan could also point toward better relations with Afghanistan as evidence of change. Since he took office last year, President Ashraf Ghani put repairing ties with Islamabad at the heart of his foreign policy.
Unlike his predecessor, Hamid Karzai—a fierce critic of Pakistan’s role in destabilizing Afghanistan by backing insurgents—Mr. Ghani had seen Islamabad as part of the solution rather than part of the problem. But last month he accused Pakistan of continuing to provide sanctuary to mercenaries who “send us messages of war.”
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/14-Sep-2015/pakistan-s-strategic-shift-is-unconvincing-wsj
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'Islamic State' militants say attacked Pakistan-Afghan border post
September 14, 2015
DERA ISMAIL KHAN - Pakistan militants who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State said on Sunday they had attacked a paramilitary checkpoint along the Afghan border, in the first such assault claimed by a former faction of the Taliban in several months.
A militant affiliated with the faction told Reuters the group attacked Damadola district of the Bajaur tribal area in Pakistan's northwest, where the military has been battling a militant insurgency since 2007, late on Saturday.
"Our men destroyed the post, set it on fire and left it after our operation was complete," he said by telephone. Two Pakistani intelligence officials confirmed a checkpoint had been attacked, but there were no casualties.
The Pakistani government says that Islamic State, a group founded in Syria and Iraq in 2013, does not have a credible presence in the country. Several smaller militant groups and factions of the Pakistani Taliban have, however, pledged allegiance to Islamic State and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi since last year.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/14-Sep-2015/islamic-state-militants-say-attacked-pakistan-afghan-border-post
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6 terror suspects arrested in Islamabad
September 13, 2015
Islamabad - Police yesterday foiled a major terror bid by seizing at least 80 kilograms explosive, huge cache of weapons and detonators and arrested as many as six suspected terrorists in Tarnol area.
Tarnol Police Station personnel raided a house in the locality at around 8:00am on a tip-off from intelligence agencies.
The security forces including Rangers and Elite Force personnel seized at least 80-kg explosives, chemicals, six detonators, a 1,700 meter long wire, thousands of bullets and huge cache of weapons.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/islamabad/13-Sep-2015/6-terror-suspects-arrested-in-islamabad
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South Asia
Afghan Taliban storm jail, release over 350 inmates: official
Sep 14, 2015
GHAZNI: More than 350 inmates have escaped after an attack by Afghan Taliban insurgents on the main prison in eastern Ghazni province early on Monday, an Afghan official said.
Deputy provincial governor of Ghazni Mohammad Ali Ahmadi said 352 inmates escaped after the attack but the Afghan interior ministry said up to 400 managed to flee.
Ahmadi said that insurgents wearing military uniforms launched a well-organised attack to free the inmates.
"Around 2:30am six Taliban insurgents wearing military uniforms attacked Ghazni prison. First they detonated a car bomb in front of the gate, fired an RPG and then raided the prison," Ahmadi told AFP.
The deputy provincial governor of Ghazni said the attack, which was started by a suicide bomber, then allowed other insurgents to get inside the compound.
Ahmadi said four police guards were killed and seven others were wounded, and that three insurgents were also killed in the early morning battle.
A Reuters reporter at the scene saw the bodies of two men who appeared to be suicide bombers and a blown-up car that had apparently been used to destroy the main entrance of the jail.
Baz Mohammed Hemat, head of the civilian hospital in Ghazni city, said 14 wounded people — 10 security forces, and four inmates — had been brought to the facility for treatment.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in an email to the media.
"In this operation, 400 of our innocent countrymen were freed... and were taken to mujahideen-controlled areas," the spokesman said.
Security officials would not confirm how many prisoners were in the jail.
The Taliban said they sprang the inmates from the Kandahar prison through a one-kilometre tunnel that took five months to dig, and claimed all those who escaped belonged to the militia, including more than 100 commanders.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206904/afghan-taliban-storm-jail-release-over-350-inmates-official
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US drone strike kills four suspected terrorists in Afghanistan
ALI AKBAR
Sep 14, 2015
PESHAWAR: A US drone strike killed four suspected terrorists, including a key militant commander, in the Lalpura area of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.
Security sources say the drone targeted a double-cabin van, killing four men on the Afghan side of the porous Pak-Afghan border, adjacent to Pakistan's Khyber tribal region. The militant commander was identified as Habibullah.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1206721/us-drone-strike-kills-four-suspected-terrorists-in-afghanistan
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Taliban shadow district governor among six detained in Nangarhar
Sep 14 2015
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) – Afghanistan’s intelligence agency has detained a so-called district governor of Taliban group in eastern Nangarhar province.
A statement released by NDS on Sunday states that Mawlawi Rafiullah alias Qari Esmatullah was rounded up with five of his men during a raid.
Hidayatullah, Baitullah, Atiqullah, Khalid and Osman are the five other Taliban members arrested with Mawlawi Rafiullah.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/taliban-shadow-district-governor-among-six-detained-in-nangarhar-3898
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India
Youth added to Islamic State's WhatsApp group
Wilson Thomas
Sep 14, 2015
KOCHI: In what could be proof to the expanding presence of Islamic Slate (IS) in the state, a youth working with a private company at Kakkanad received a series of text messages from a WhatsApp group in the name of IS. The youth hailing from Kasaragod has filed a complaint before the cyber cell of Kochi city police in this regard.
The conversation started with a text message: "You are in our contact list. Welcome to Dawlathul Islam Dwah group." The messages were sent from the number +1(509)871-0700 by a person who introduced himself as Shami. The sender has warned the youth that joining the WhatsApp group of IS involves risk and hence needs to be careful.
The stranger first messaged the youth on Friday with the greeting 'asalamu alaikkum'. When the youth asked the sender's identity, the stranger sent the reply "Shami, from Islamic State".
The other messages in the conversation were sent on Saturday. The stranger had also asked the whereabouts of the youth, including his profession. Later, the youth received an audio file, which is believed to be in Arabic.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Youth-added-to-Islamic-States-WhatsApp-group/articleshow/48951726.cms
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Mecca crane collapse: 9 more Indian pilgrims reported dead, MEA confirms
Sep 13, 2015
HYDERABAD: The ministry of external affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup on Sunday tweeted confirming the death of nine more Indians in Friday's Grand Mosque crane collapse incident in Mecca.
With the MEA's confirmation the Indian death toll has risen to 11.
eanwhile, two pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh who were reported missing after the Mecca crane crash incident, died at the Mina Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
The two deceased were identified as 38-year-old Mohammed Abdul Khader and 32-year-old Fatima Bee of the Krishna district.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mecca-crane-collapse-9-more-Indian-pilgrims-reported-dead-MEA-confirms/articleshow/48948116.cms
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Asaduddin Owaisi's entry may split Muslim votes in upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar
September 13, 2015
The entry of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi's decision on Saturday to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar may help the Bharatiya Janata Party by default in a region where it is on a sticky wicket.
The saffron party, which is hoping to wrest power from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the polls due to be held in October-November, had performed poorly in the last Lok Sabha elections in the Seemanchal area where Owaisi's outfit intends to field its candidates.
Owaisi announced that his party's candidates would contest the polls from four districts in Bihar. In all likelihood, the AIMIM will enter the poll fray in the minority-dominated Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia and Katihar districts. These districts consist of altogether 24 Assembly constituencies.
In the 2014 general elections, the NDA had failed to win any seat in these four districts despite the Modi wave. The RJD, JD(U), Congress and the NCP had shared one seat each.
The grand alliance this time was hoping for a clean sweep in the region apparently expecting a polarisation of the minority votes in its favour. The entry of AIMIM therefore, is likely to eat into its votes and might, in turn, help the BJP.
Full report at:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/asaduddin-owaisis-entry-may-split-muslim-votes-in-upcoming-assembly-elections-in-bihar/1/472356.html
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RSS-affiliated body in Mewat forms first-ever Muslim cow-protection group
By SIDDHARTHA RAI
13 September 2015
At a time when the country is engulfed in heated debates surrounding the ban on meat and cow slaughter amid shouts of saffronisation and majoritarianism, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has hit back in a novel way.
A Muslim body, affiliated to the RSS, organised the first-ever all-India cow protection conclave of Muslims in Mewat district of Haryana on Sunday.
Muslim-dominated Mewat was selected as the venue of the event due to the fact that the area had been notorious for cow slaughter cases leading to communal riots on several occasions during the previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress regime.
Muslim Rashtriya Manch will be touring the country to spread awareness among Muslims that “cow slaughter was created as a divisive issue by the British (File photo for representation only)
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Muslim Rashtriya Manch will be touring the country to spread awareness among Muslims that “cow slaughter was created as a divisive issue by the British (File photo for representation only)
The event was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar and Maulana Umair Ilyasi of Mewat.
According to the organisers, the Akhil Bharatiya Muslim Gaupalak Sammelan, held under the aegis of RSS-backed Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), aimed to attract “nationalist” minded Muslim cow breeders and herders who “follow the true diktats of Islam as enshrined in Islamic scriptures, including the Quran, which either reject cow slaughter or do not sanction it as a necessary part of the religion.”
The MRM has demanded the Centre to declare cow as the national animal and is also moving international fora in a bid elevate cows to a global status.
The MRM will also be touring the country to spread awareness among Muslims that “cow slaughter was created as a divisive issue by the British and then perpetuated in post-independence by the Congress, Left and pseudo-secularists” to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims.
A CD and a book titled, Islam and Cow Slaughter, was also launched on the occasion. “In around 15 days or so Bakri- Eid will arrive. We are going to distribute the book and the CD in the entire country to educate Muslims and ask them not to slaughter cows on the festival as it is anti-Islamic.
In the book and the CD, we have compiled authentic references and verses from Hadith and Quran, in which the Prophet rejects cow slaughter.
They have been prepared by Islamic intellectuals and Ulemas,” said Mohammad Faiz Khan, national coordinator of the cow protection cell of MRM.
Meanwhile, RSS leader Indresh Kumar, incharge of coordinating with MRM on behalf of the Sangh, said the event was a success and that it would be a regular affair in the coming years.
“Those who have been campaigning in favour of cow slaughter are neither nationalist nor secular, they are anti-people and anti-democracy. The Indian state favours all religions; an issue of sentimental value to Hindus or Jains, if respected is not anti-secular. Cow slaughter is one of those contentious issues that has become the pivot of many a riot in India. Muslims from states like Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, apart from Islamic scholars attended, the meet,” he said.
Full report at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3233029/RSS-affiliated-body-Mewat-forms-Muslim-cow-protection-league.html
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Happy that now I am living on Abdul Kalam Road: Venkaiah Naidu
Sep 14, 2015
The suggestion for renaming Delhi’s Aurangzeb Road after A P J Abdul Kalam had not come from VHP or Bajrang Dal, but from a Pakistan-born Muslim journalist, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday and added that he no longer felt “shy” while giving his address. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said earlier he used to feel shy when he had to give address of his residence (in Delhi) as- 30 Aurangzeb Road. “One road in Delhi was named after a great son, an inspirational man from Rameswaram- APJ Abdul Kalam. There was so much of furore, and so much criticism and all, as if it was named after a foreigner,” he said while speaking after releasing a book titled ‘The Chronology of Ancient India-Victim of concoctions and distortions’, penned by Vedveer Arya.
“But you will be surprised to know, the truth should also be known that the suggestion to change Delhi’s Aurangzeb Road to Abdul Kalam Marg came not from a Hindu, or an Indian, nor from VHP or Bajrang Dal. But from a non-Bharatiya… He is a Muslim…Tariq Fateh, born in Pakistan and who is now settled in Canada and works as a journalist,” Naidu said. “When he (Tariq Fateh) visited India for the first time in 2013, he was shocked to see the name of Aurangzeb adorn one of the most majestic streets of capital of Bharat (India). It is he who had appealed the Indian Muslims to take the initiative in demanding to change the name of the Aurangzeb Road to be named as Dara Shikoh, the brother of Aurangzeb,” the Minister said. Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/happy-that-now-i-am-living-on-abdul-kalam-road-venkaiah-naidu/
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Muslim Kuchipudi Dancer Enthrals Audience With Hindu Epics
14th September 2015
HYDERABAD: At the Hindu Chaitanya Sabha organised by Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi here Sunday, a Muslim dancer stole the show with her Kuchipudi dance performance. Nadiya, a 25-year-old professional dancer was the star attraction, when she performed on Hindu epics like Mahishasura Mardhini and Nataraja Shiromani.
She said often her audience get surprised when they learnt about her religion. It is very rare to see Muslim artists learning Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam, but religion had never been an obstacle for this young dancer to pursue her passion. Talking to Express after her performance, Nadiya said, she started learning Kuchipudi since she was four.
Full report at:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Muslim-Kuchipudi-Dancer-Enthrals-Audience-With-Hindu-Epics/2015/09/14/article3026878.ece
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Pakistani flags raised at Kashmir's first marathon, 12 detained
M Saleem Pandit
Sep 14, 2015
SRINAGAR: The first ever Kashmir marathon ran literally into trouble towards the end of the 21-km race, when some youth raised Pakistani flags and Azadi slogans during prize distribution, resulting in clashes with the police. Worse, some women participants were jeered at and others teased and sexually harassed in the crowd at Hazratbal, with the police detaining 12 people for questioning and investigating the attempt to disrupt the event.
The race began from Naseem Bagh in Kashmir University and went along the scenic Dal Lake and the Golf Course on a bright Sunday morning. The event organizer, a private FM radio channel, said in a statement that the aim of the marathon, in which professional runners from abroad were participating, was to promote healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the need to protect Kashmir's dying water bodies.
Police said there were reports of sexual harassment of girls by rowdy elements at Kashmir University as well as along the course of the marathon. In a fitting rebuff to anti-socials, a Kashmiri girl, Insha Wadoo, came third among women, behind Firegenet, the winner from Ethiopia, and Ruth from Kenya who was second.
A J&K police spokesman said, "Some international marathoners and a large number of locals participated... but some elements raised slogans and some even passed lewd comments at women in the audience. FIRs were registered into molestation and eve teasing at Nigeen and 12 miscreants have been arrested so far."
Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani welcomed the students' attempt to foil the event, saying educational institutions in the Valley are being used for "immoral acts" by the government. Attacking the PDP-BJP government, he said the students, by holding protest, have proved they are politically mature and understand the difference between friends and foes.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pakistani-flags-raised-at-Kashmirs-first-marathon-12-detained/articleshow/48950444.cms
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Southeast Asia
Malay Muslims Thinking More About Sex amid Islamisation, Activist Says
BY BOO SU-LYN
September 12, 2015
PETALING JAYA, Sept 12 — Muslims here are increasingly preoccupied with sex even as Islam becomes more conservative in Malaysia, a women’s rights activist said today.
Norhayati Kaprawi, who is also a filmmaker, noted that Malay society in the past did not have a problem with women and men mingling, and that Malay women used to wear tight Kebayas without being perceived negatively.
“Now with Islamisation, Malays are starting to adopt a foreign mindset with the way Arabs look at things,” Norhayati told a forum titled “Siapa bilang gadis Melayu tak melawan?” (Who says Malay women don’t fight back?) Organised by Projek Dialog at the Art for Grabs festival here.
The panel speakers for the 'Siapa bilang gadis Melayu tak melawan?' forum organised by Projek Dialog at the Art for Grabs festival at Petaling Jaya on Sept 12, 2015.
The panel speakers for the 'Siapa bilang gadis Melayu tak melawan?' forum organised by Projek Dialog at the Art for Grabs festival at Petaling Jaya on Sept 12, 2015.
“Now it’s ‘Cannot look at women, scared we’ll commit adultery’. These days, we always think about sex. With Islamisation, we shouldn’t be thinking about sex, but the opposite is now happening. When men and women sit next to each other — we think about sex. Malays back then never thought such things,” she added.
Islam as is practised in Malaysia is beginning to show signs of increasing conservatism, illustrated among others by the local boom in the tudung industry that was a rarity just several decades ago.
Friday sermons sanctioned by the government also repeatedly tell women to cover their aurat, with a Malay-Muslim gymnast recently getting backlash for wearing a leotard.
Norhayati, who has made a documentary titled “Aku Siapa?” (Who Am I?) about why women wear the tudung, noted that Muslim women now are thought of as “tak sopan” (improper) if they do not cover their heads.
“If you wear tight clothing, you’re not thought of well; you’re perceived as ‘sundal’ [a slut]. But in the old days, wealthy women used to wear tight kebayas and sheer clothing. Nobody thought of them as bad women. The image of women has shifted,” said the activist.
Yati Kaprawi (right) and Fadiah Nadwa, speakers for the 'Siapa bilang gadis Melayu tak melawan?' forum organised by Projek Dialog at the Art for Grabs festival at Petaling Jaya on Sept 12, 2015.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/muslims-thinking-more-about-sex-amid-islamisation-activist-says
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Two Malaysians, one Pakistani arrested in link to Bangkok Hindu shrine blast
BY MAYURI MEI LIN
September 14, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — Malaysian police have arrested three people in Malaysia in connection to the bomb blast in central Bangkok near the popular Hindu shrine last month that killed 20 people, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed today
Khalid added the trio comprised two men and one woman, one of whom was Pakistani while the remaining two were Malaysians.
“I confirm we have arrested three people, two men one woman and one of them is Pakistani.
“This arrest is our act in helping the Thai authority investigate the Bangkok bombing,” he said during a press conference at the International Maritime Bureau International Meeting on Global Piracy, Armed Robbery and Maritime Security here.
Khalid further added that the trio were detained ‘a few days’ ago but currently there were no plans to hand the suspects over to Thai police.
The IGP was quoted as saying, “We are working together with our Thai counterparts. Let us investigate the matter first.”
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/three-bangkok-blast-suspects-arrested-in-malaysia
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Sue Al-Jazeera for defamation to clear Malaysia’s name, Dr M tells Putrajaya
September 14, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — The Najib administration must take legal action against foreign broadcaster Al-Jazeera if it is to clear the country’s name it claims has been sullied in a recent documentary on the 2006 brutal murder of a Mongolian national, former leader Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The retired prime minister pointed out that a mere government denial of the allegations as well as banning the show from airing in the country are insufficient as the documentary “has gone viral” and is still being broadcast globally.
“Al-Jazeera is watched by millions throughout the world. Most will believe what they see.
“Merely saying that it is not true may convince some Malaysians but will not convince foreigners,” the 90-year-old said in his latest blog entry.
He said Malaysians abroad were being questioned on changes taking place in the country and that it was hard for them to deal with allegations “that the Prime Minister of Malaysia may be involved in a murder case”.
“Najib and his Government have a duty to clear our name. Proof must be given that the murder, the cover-up, the police involvement and Razak Baginda were in no way guilty of the terrible crime,” he said.
He added that Malaysia’s judiciary and the Attorney-General’s Chambers too have a duty to clear their stained reputation in regards to the acquittal of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who was charged with abetting former police commandos Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri in murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu.
But Dr Mahathir also pointed out that the Doha-based news outlet had painted Malaysia and its prime minister in a “glowing documentary” last month to mark Merdeka and that viewers have a choice to decide which programme in which to believe.
Last Wednesday, the Al Jazeera news network resurrected the controversial brutal murder of Altantuya that many have accused the Malaysian government of covering up the past nine years.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sue-al-jazeera-for-defamation-to-clear-malaysias-name-dr-m-tells-putrajaya
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Mecca crane tragedy claims life of fifth Malaysian
September 14, 2015
SEPANG, Sept 14 — The number of fatalities among Malaysian pilgrims in the Mecca crane tragedy increased to five today when family members identified the body of Zainun Taha, 69, from Ampang, at the Muassim Hospital mortuary.
This was confirmed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom at a media conference at the KL International Airport before leaving to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“This brings to five the number of Malaysian pilgrims killed in the tragedy, with two others still missing,” he added.
Yesterday, Jamil Khir said one of the missing Malaysian Haj pilgrims in the aftermath of the Mecca crane collapse tragedy, Abdul Muluk Ishak, 71, from Pantai Remis, Perak, was alive and well, but four were confirmed dead, while three others were unaccounted for.
He said besides Rusiah Suar, 56, from Sungkai, Perak, who was confirmed as the first Malaysian Haj pilgrim killed in the tragedy, three more of the missing had also been confirmed dead, all from Malaysia’s east coast state Kelantan.
They were Siti Nurolshlizan Zolkifli, 37, from Tanah Merah; Rohana Ismail, 54, from Kuala Krai and Munah Jusoh, 73, from Cherang Ruku.
The Malaysian pilgrims still missing are Abdul Habib Lahman, 68, from Sik, Kedah, and Shahidan Saad, 52, from Kodiang, Kedah.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/mecca-crane-tragedy-claims-life-of-fifth-malaysian
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UMNO members must unite to protect rights of Malays,Islam
September 14, 2015
ARAU: UMNO members must unite to defend the position and rights of the Malays and Islam as the official religion of the country, Supreme Council (MT) member Shahidan Kassim said.
Shahidan, who is also Perlis UMNO Liaison Committee chairman and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said UMNO members, and the Malays in general, had no choice but to empower UMNO to ensure that the rights of Malays and Islam will be protected.
“Any differences and disputes that will split us (Malays and UMNO members) must be set aside to ensure the survival of the party,” he told reporters after the opening of the Arau UMNO delegates meeting by Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who is also an UMNO MT member.
Full report at:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/09/14/shahidan-umno-members-must-unite-to-protect-rights-of-malaysislam/
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Public Islam stirs unresolved Christian anger, reverend says
September 12, 2015
The public nature of Islam has stirred a deep down unresolved anger in Christianity in Australia, one of the nation's leading theologians has claimed.
Former National Council of Churches president Reverend Professor James Haire said the widespread arrival of Islam, expressed publicly in a way of dress and lifestyle, had aroused frustration among some Christians used to their faith being marginalised to a private experience.
"There is this deep down unresolved anger within Christianity, which says if we can't be public you can't be either – these are the seeds of violence," he said.
"The arrival of other public religions [can] encourage Christianity to keep up."
The comment was part of a lively discussion between Reverend Haire and prominent Indonesian Muslim scholar Professor Azyumardi Azra which covered topics of refugees, burqas and niqabs and the co-existence of Christianity and Islam in front of more than 200 people at the Centre for Christianity and Culture on Wednesday night.
Professor Azra, 60, said Indonesia was a leading example of a majority Muslim country which had embraced both democracy and tolerance for other faiths, celebrating all major religious holidays. About 10 per cent of Indonesia's estimated 256 million people were Christian.
Reverend Haire, 69, a former president of the Uniting Church who has a long connection with Indonesia, said the two faiths were exclusive – claiming to be the one way to God – but had to live together and worked mainly by the "witness of their lives to the other".
His Islamic counterpart said he did not think Muslims and Christians could pray together, but there were shared backgrounds with mutual acceptance of the Old Testament, and acceptance of the laws of adopted countries was important.
"You have to have social and cultural sensitivity, otherwise there will be strong Islamophobia," he said.
Full report at:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/public-islam-stirs-unresolved-christian-anger-reverend-says-20150907-gjh5c4.html
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North America
‘We accomplished a lot,’ says U.S. general heading anti-ISIS strikes
13 September 2015
The U.S.-led coalition’s airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have “accomplished a lot” after a one-year anniversary of the aerial operation, chief of the U.S.-led coalition Gen. John Allen told Al Arabiya News Channel.
“I think the very first important lesson is as we expected, this was going to take a while. And while it has taken awhile, I think we’ve accomplished a lot,” Gen. Allen, special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIS told Al Arabiya’s Washington correspondent Nadia Bilbassy in an interview aired on Sunday.
Allen was speaking in spite of criticism that President Barack Obama said the coalition - aimed to “degrade and destroy” - ISIS did not help to liberate territories held by the militants.
In August last year, the U.S.-led coalition launched its first airstrikes in Iraq against ISIS before extending its operations to Syria in September.
Allen, who described himself and other officials as being “very conscious” about the one year anniversary, said: “When I look back on that year, I looked at where we were at this time last year, the situation was pretty grim.”
He added: “We were facing atrocities of the like we had never seen before. The fall of large components of Iraq, the threat to the Kurdish region. The threat to [capital of Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan] Erbil…The Iraqi security forces were in very serious trouble. And Daesh was headed for Baghdad,” using an Arabic term for ISIS.
While Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul is still under ISIS occupation, “Tikrit [hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein’s hometown of] has been recovered.”
Small victories
He said about 100,000 of Tikrit’s residents have returned to their city, and “more will go home.”
He also said areas in Erbil that were previously seized by ISIS last year, have all been “recovered.”
“All of that ground has been recovered. The Kurds are still in the attack against Daesh,” he added.
He also hailed a more “capable political leadership” in Baghdad when Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi took over last September, after his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki lost the backing of the majority of the ruling party after he failed to combat ISIS.
Abadi, who is continuing to press on with sweeping reforms, “has brought the central government a long way, farther along than we thought it could have been, this time last year.”
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/13/-We-accomplished-a-lot-says-U-S-general-heading-anti-ISIS-strikes.html
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US Jewish Arrested for Inciting Terror Attacks
12 September 2015
CAIRO – A Jewish American has been arrested in charges of inciting extremist attacks by posing as an Australian-based member of the so-called Islamic State who publicly called for a series of attacks against individuals and events in western countries.
"Investigations by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in June 2015 established no initial threat to the Australian community," AFP said in a statement, saying that the suspect faced a 20-year prison term if convicted, Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday, September 12.
"When investigations determined it was likely the person responsible for these threats was based in the United States, the investigation became the jurisdiction of the FBI, with the AFP in a support role."
Joshua Ryne Goldberg, a 20-year old living at his parents' house in US state of Florida, is accused of posing online as "Australi Witness," an ISIL supporter.
Publicly calling for a series of attacks against in the West, Australi Witness has claimed online that he is working with other jihadists to plan attacks in Australia and the United States.
He distributed pictures of a bomb that he was working on with "2 lbs of explosives inside."
Goldberg, who is a Jewish, was arrested at his home by Florida police for "distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction."
AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner National Security Neil Gaughan said Goldberg had "relied on the internet providing a cloak of anonymity."
"This operation again highlights how law enforcement can investigate people in the online space and use our long-established partnerships to work with overseas agencies to bring people to account for their actions."
An affidavit sworn at the time of the arrest says that, between August 19 and August 28, Mr Goldberg "distributed information pertaining to the manufacturing of explosives, destructive devices, or weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence".
Full report at:
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/493617-us-jewish-arrested-for-inciting-terror-attacks.html
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Anti-Islamic Gun Shop Owner Offers 9/11 ‘Muslim’ Discount
14 September 2015
A Florida gun shop owner marked the anniversary of September 11 Friday by offering customers $25 off their purchase with the coupon code "muslim." The same man had previously declared his business a "Muslim-free zone."
Andrew Hallinan said he's intentionally courting controversy in an effort to push back against the overly cautious behavior he believes is costing lives. His critics, meanwhile, call him a "hate profiteer" trying to make a buck from tragedy.
"On 9/11, of course I’m not going to be politically correct," the 28-year-old said by phone Sunday. "These are terrorists that killed more than 3,000 innocent Americans.”
Hallinan, who owns Florida Gun Supply in Inverness, roughly 75 miles north of Tampa, sees himself as a warrior against a culture he says is quick to paint conservative ideas as bigotry. He declared his shop a "Muslim-free zone" after Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez killed four Marines in Chattanooga in July and sells Confederate flag paintings by George Zimmerman, whom he considers a good friend.
Since the Chattanooga shooting, he has also offered free concealed-carry training classes and keeps his gun range open to the public.
"In order for us to combat Islam, I need to put guns in their hand,” Hallinan said of his customers.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/andy-hallinan-911_55f5de6fe4b063ecbfa4ae7e?section=india&adsSiteOverride=in
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Europe
Syria Muslim Brotherhood Rejects Russian Occupation
September 13,2015
In a new and significant development, Russian military movements began in the heart of Syrian territories, proving the permanent member of the Security Council is now playing the role of a direct occupier and partner in war crimes as well as crimes against humanity, including the targeting of civilians, mass murders, sectarian displacement and forcing demographic changes throughout Syria.
The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria affirms that this blatant aggression on our country and our people puts Russia along with Iran in direct partnership with Assad's criminal regime in the killing of our people and the destruction of our country, after its long support for the war criminal and its tireless justification of his killing, maiming and displacement of civilians.
This aggression is bound to make Russia a direct target for those who are defending themselves, their honor and their country in all Syrian territories, which will be a graveyard for all invaders, occupiers, despots and tyrants.
We appeal to the free world and international organizations. Failure to stop the direct occupation and direct partnership in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the criminal regime in Syria today will end all hope for the political solution proposed by the Security Council through various resolutions and statements, which also demanded a halt to the targeting of civilians and stressed in the clearest terms the unity of Syrian land and people.
Full report at:
http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=32274
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Muslim leaders in Hounslow say 'refugee crisis is not just Europe's problem'
14 SEPTEMBER 2015
Muslim leaders in west London have called for a global effort in dealing with the refugee crisis, saying it is not just Europe's problem.
Presidents of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), in Hounslow, urged the Arab world "to first and foremost" fulfil its role to provide refuge for migrants.
They have also called on the UN and international governments for a proper co-ordinated plan to distribute refugees globally, rather than only focusing on Europe.
In a joint statement, Zaheer Khan and Zia Qureshi, president of the AMC in Hounslow, said: “First and foremost, the Arab countries, who are neighbours, should fulfil their roles and so countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and others like Iran should give refuge to the refugees as much as possible.
"Thereafter, refugees should be sent across the world, based on a co-ordinated international plan.
"In addition to the Arab countries, Europe, USA, Canada, Far East, Indonesia and other parts of the world should take their fair share.
“Taking a global response will be just and fair. No one country or continent should have to bear the entire responsibility or burden.”
With current terrorism levels high, member of Hounslow AMC and Hanworth Park councillor Hanif Khan warned the world to remain vigilant, highlighting the need for proper checks to be in place to ensure extremists did not pose as refugees.
Councillor Khan said: “The sympathies of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are with all genuine asylum seekers and refugees.
“Genuine refugees are facing great difficulties. They have been forced to leave their countries due to the intolerable conditions and so should be treated with love, compassion and kindness.
Full report at:
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/muslim-leaders-hounslow-say-refugee-10035716
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Muslim Immigration and How to Handle It
by Uzay Bulut
September 14, 2015
The political history of Muslim states has often been restricted to two options. They have either been ruled by nationalist ("secular") oppressive regimes, or Islamist oppressive regimes. Unfortunately, many people in Middle East have so much affinity for political Islam that they do not realize that political Islam is the root cause of their problems. That attitude is the main reason they cannot get rid of their backward and violent regimes, or make cultural or scientific progress.
Sadly, the founder of Islam did not leave behind a humanitarian message to respect people of other faiths and to be on an equal footing with them. What the the Islamic State (ISIS) and other barbaric Islamist groups have been doing to people is horrific beyond words; but it is meticulously based on Islamic scriptures. So it is not the West causing these human tragedies; it is Islam and Muslims.
Members of a culture that murders intellectuals who try to present ideas to improve their societies do not have the moral right to blame its backwardness and bloodthirsty culture on the West.
Muslims should not try to turn Europe, which is being so generous to them, into more Muslim lands. We already have far too much barbarity, misogyny and persecution in the Muslim world. Muslims could do our people an enormous service if instead they tried harder to turn the Muslim lands into Europe-like places.
The Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders has suggested that people who have a passport from an Islamic country, in addition to a Dutch passport, should sign an anti-Sharia declaration. It should state that they do not want to introduce Sharia (Islamic law) into the Netherlands, and that they repudiate all the violent passages in the Koran. New refugee-candidates might also sign such a declaration. If they support Islamic rule, then Europe is probably not the best place for them.
These stipulations are not "discrimination against Muslims," any more than requiring guests to your home to behave politely is discrimination against friends. This is merely the same way that rulers in the Middle East -- the Saudis, and Emiratis, for example -- regard foreigners and visitors. The proposal is a rational and legitimate way to protect European civilization and the lives and liberties of all of its citizens.
Europe needs to protect itself and its liberties unapologetically. Why should Europe be expected to commit suicide and turn into yet another Muslim land where lives and liberties have no value? The ancestors of Europeans paid an extremely high price over many years to give their descendants what they have today. European governments need to protect the security of their citizens as well as their cultural identity and freedoms.
The West should support Kurdistan in its struggle for independence. Such support would be one of the most important steps not only to liberate a progressive and heroic nation but also to help reduce the refugee tragedy in the region.
Full report at:
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6489/muslim-immigration
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ayman-al-zawahiri-urges-lone/d/104575