Ayodhya Seers And Clerics Called Asaduddin Owaisi’s Statement That Ayodhya Mosque Was Haram, ‘Polarisation Agenda Of The Hyderabadi Politician’
New
Age Islam News Bureau
30
January 2021
• Not
Bound By Treaty On Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons; As It Failed To Take Into
Account The Interests Of All Stakeholders: Pakistan
• U.S.
Is Bombarding Civilians In Breach Of Afghan Deal: Taliban
• Indonesia's
Aceh Province Publicly Canes Two Gay Men
• UAE
Says Will Cooperate With UN, US On Libya Conflict
• Archaeologists
In Israel Discover Remnants Of Ancient Mosque Built Around 670 AD
• Israel,
Morocco Set Up Working Groups To Boost Ties After Normalization
• Tony
Blinken Dials Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Seeks Accountability In Daniel Pearl's
Murder Case
New
US Iran Envoy Talks To European Officials About Nuclear Deal: Reuters
India
• Ayodhya
Seers And Clerics Called Asaduddin Owaisi’s Statement That Ayodhya Mosque Was
Haram, ‘Polarisation Agenda Of The Hyderabadi Politician’
• Letter
From Israeli Embassy Blast Site Talks Of Avenging 'Martyred Iranians': Key Developments
• 2
terrorists trapped during encounter with security forces surrender in J&K's
Pulwama
• Blast
near Israel embassy, Delhi Police probing terror angle
• Pulwama
twin encounter: Hizbul trio killed in Tral, another gunfight starts in Kakapora
• AMU
Student, Arif Tyagi, Externed From
Aligarh Under Goondas Act
• Ashish
Patil and Gopal Patil Held For ‘Vandalising Prayer Hall, Burning Religious
Books In Songadh’ In Tapi District
• India,
Bangladesh Foreign Secys Review Ties, Discuss PM Modi’s Visit To Dhaka
--------
Pakistan
• Not
Bound By Treaty On Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons; As It Failed To Take Into
Account The Interests Of All Stakeholders: Pakistan
• Pakistan-Based
Banned Terror Group Lashkar-e-Islam Picks, Afridi From Akakhel Tribe, Its New
Leader
• Pakistan
to be made into industrial state, agro-based economy: PM Imran
• Bajwa
holds security talks with Qatar leadership
• Bilquis
Edhi declared ‘Person of the Decade’
• PTM
not against any community, institution: Pashteen
• Pakistan
arrests key militant over Iran terror links
--------
South
Asia
• U.S.
Is Bombarding Civilians In Breach Of Afghan Deal: Taliban
• Terrorizing
blasts in Kabul kills 1, wounds many
• Middle
Eastern ISIS group moves to Afghanistan: SCO
• Dozens
killed in two separate incidents in Nangarhar, Wardak
• Interim
government leads to ‘bloodshed’: Ashraf Ghani
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Indonesia's
Aceh Province Publicly Canes Two Gay Men
• Hadi
Under Fire After Unfriendly Remarks About Joe Biden
• Singapore
Christians and Muslims condemn plans for attack against two mosques
--------
Arab
World
• UAE
Says Will Cooperate With UN, US On Libya Conflict
• Clear
Confidence In Working With European, US Allies On Regional Challenges: Saudi FM
• US
military refusal to pull out troops to be met with Iraqi nation’s resistance,
MP warns
• Lebanese
leaders denounce violent anti-lockdown protests in Tripoli
• Damascus
says terrorist groups, US-backed militants continue to commit crimes in Syria
--------
Mideast
• Archaeologists
In Israel Discover Remnants Of Ancient Mosque Built Around 670 AD
• Iran
executes Javid Dehghan despite calls from UN, organizations to end killing
spree
• UN Condemns
Iran Execution Spree, Worried About Minorities
• Conflicting
reports on reason for sirens in Tehran as Turkish flight diverted to Baku
• Yemen's
Ansarullah welcomes Italy’s decision to block arms exports to Saudi Arabia, UAE
• Israeli
troops attack Palestinian protest against settlements
--------
Africa
• Israel,
Morocco Set Up Working Groups To Boost Ties After Normalization
• More
Victims Kidnapped By Boko Haram, Including Chibok Girls Escape From Captivity
• Somalia:
Civilian Killed in Roadside Bomb On Afgoye-Mogadishu Road Construction Site
• No
poison found in suspect letter to Tunisian President Kais Saied
--------
North
America
• Tony
Blinken Dials Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Seeks Accountability In Daniel Pearl's Murder
Case
• Biden
administration extends program allowing Syrians to seek temporary refuge in US
• Priority
for US is dealing with Iran moving closer to nuclear weapon: Official
• Afghanistan’s
Taliban say honouring Doha deal, warn US troops to leave or die
--------
Europe
• New
US Iran Envoy Talks To European Officials About Nuclear Deal: Reuters
• French
President Emmanuel Macron to visit crisis-hit Lebanon for a third time
• In ‘Historic’
Move, Italy Blocks Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia, UAE Over Yemen Crimes
• Former
MEPs slam Iran’s terror campaign across Europe
• Muslim
headscarves barred in all public areas in France under new measures proposed by
Marine Le Pen
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ayodhya-seers-clerics-called-asaduddin/d/124188
--------
Ayodhya
Seers And Clerics Called Asaduddin Owaisi’s Statement That Ayodhya Mosque Was
Haram, ‘Polarisation Agenda Of The Hyderabadi Politician’
Jan
30, 2021
AIMIM
president Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement that the Ayodhya mosque on 5-acre land
was ‘haraam’ (un-Islamic) has triggered an unprecedented bonding between Hindus
and Muslims, who unitedly criticised what they called “polarisation agenda of
the Hyderabadi politician”.
Cementing
communal harmony and holding aloft Ayodhya’s syncretic moorings, clerics and
seers called out Owaisi for trying to create rift to serve his politics.
Talking
to TOI, mahant of Tapaswi Chavni, Paramhans Das, said, “I strongly advocate
construction of the mosque in Ayodhya. Offering prayers cannot be illegal
anywhere as every part of the world was created for worship of God. Also, the
proposed land is not disputed and mandated by the Supreme Court. Owaisi is
trying to create confusion with rhetoric and building walls between
communities.”
Muslim
representatives also objected to Owaisi's statement. One of the oldest
litigants in the Ayodhya title suit, Iqbal Ansari, said, “Owaisi has no right
to call anybody ‘munafiq’ (hypocrite) or ‘zaalim’ (tyrant). He will face
tremendous opposition from Muslims when comes to Uttar Pradesh to seek votes.
The proposed 5acre land is not in any manner a barter or an exchange. We fought
a prolonged legal battle, but lost. The Supreme Court on its own gave the land
for building a mosque,” he said.
Another
prominent Ayodhya cleric, Mukhtar Ahmad, said, “Owaisi is not a mufti (Islamic
legal authority). How he can issue a fatwa that the land for the proposed
mosque is haraam (un-Islamic). He has no right to term anyone munafiq or
zaalim.”
In
another bold move promote harmony, president of Ashfaqullah Khan Memorial
Shaheed Research Foundation, Surya Kant Pandey, has written to temple trust
secretary Champat Rai and mosque trust secretary Athar Hussain to install
memorials of freedom fighters, Ashfaqullah Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil at
Ramjanmabhoomi and Dhannipur mosque site.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ayodhya-seers-clerics-slam-owaisi/articleshow/80591706.cms
--------
Not
Bound By Treaty On Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons; As It Failed To Take Into
Account The Interests Of All Stakeholders: Pakistan
There are nine nuclear-armed
countries, with Russia and the United States holding the majority of nuclear
weapons.
-----
Jan
29, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday said it was not bound by the treaty on the prohibition of
nuclear weapons as it failed to take into account the interests of all
stakeholders.
The
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on January 22,
culminating a decades-long campaign aimed at preventing a repetition of the US
atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.
Though
hailed as a historic step by several nations, the treaty was opposed by the
world's nuclear-armed countries, including the US, China, Russia, the UK and
India. Japan also didn't support the pact.
The
treaty, which was adopted in July 2017, was "negotiated outside the
established UN disarmament negotiating forums," Pakistan's Foreign Office
said in a statement.
“Accordingly,
Pakistan does not consider itself bound by any of the obligations enshrined in
this treaty. Pakistan stresses that this treaty neither forms a part of, nor
contributes to the development of customary international law in any manner,”
it said.
The
statement noted that none of the nuclear armed states, including Pakistan, took
part in the negotiations of the treaty which "failed to take on board the
legitimate interests of all the stakeholders" and many non-nuclear armed
states have also refrained from becoming parties to the agreement.
The
foreign ministry underlined that the UN General Assembly at its first special
session devoted to nuclear disarmament in 1978 had agreed by consensus that in
the adoption of disarmament measures, the right of each state to security
should be kept in mind.
It
also agreed that at each stage of the disarmament process the objective would
be undiminished security for all states at the lowest possible level of
armaments and military forces, the ministry said.
This
objective, it said, can only be achieved as a cooperative and universally
agreed undertaking, through a consensus-based process involving all the
relevant stakeholders, which results in equal and undiminished security for all
states.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/not-bound-by-treaty-on-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons-pakistan/articleshow/80589581.cms
--------
U.S.
Is Bombarding Civilians In Breach Of Afghan Deal: Taliban
Blame
game: An Afghan National Army soldier inspects the wreckage after a blast in
Jalalabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit:
REUTERS
------
JANUARY
29, 2021
The
Taliban on Friday rejected Washington’s accusations that it had not lived up to
its promises in Afghanistan, in turn claiming the U.S. was ‘bombarding
civilians’.
The
U.S. signed a landmark deal with the insurgents last year, agreeing to withdraw
its troops from the country in return for security guarantees after a stalemate
on the battlefield.
“The
other side have violated the agreement, almost every day they are violating
it,” Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman said.
“They
are bombarding civilians, houses and villages, and we have informed them from
time to time, these are not just violations of the agreement but violations of
human rights.”
The
U.S military has in recent months carried out air strikes against the Taliban
fighters in defence of Afghan forces in some provinces.
Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added on Twitter that the allegations against the
group were “unfounded” and that it was “fully committed” to the agreement.
Pentagon
spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that the Biden administration
remains committed to the Taliban-U.S. deal and ending the war “in a responsible
way”.
However,
he said, “the Taliban are not meeting their commitments to reduce violence, and
to renounce their ties to al-Qaeda”.
“We
are still involved in trying to get a negotiated settlement,” he added.
The
agreement, signed in Doha last year, required the Taliban to halt attacks on
U.S. forces, sharply decrease the level of violence in the country, and advance
peace talks with the government in Kabul.
In
return, the United States would steadily reduce its troop levels in the
country, and remove all forces by May 2021.
Mr.
Kirby said the U.S. Defense Department is comfortable with the current level of
2,500 US troops in the country, down from close to 13,000 a year ago.
It is
enough to carry out the main U.S. mission, to counter Islamic State and
Al-Qaeda forces operating in Afghanistan, he said.
But
he would not say if the Pentagon will complete a full withdrawal before the May
deadline.
Much
depends on whether the Taliban and the Afghan government, who launched peace
talks in September, can negotiate a settlement.
Violence
has soared in the country, which is also facing a new trend of targeted
killings since the talks began.
“I
would say this to the leaders of the Taliban, that... they make it that much
more difficult for final decisions to be made about force presence by their
reticence to commit to reasonable, sustainable and credible negotiations at the
table,” Mr. Kirby said.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-is-bombarding-civilians-in-breach-of-afghan-deal-taliban/article33698544.ece
--------
Indonesia's
Aceh province publicly canes two gay men
JAN
30, 2021
Authorities
in Indonesia’s Aceh province publicly caned six people accused of breaching
Islamic law, including two men who received 77 lashes for having a same sex
relationship, in a punishment Human Rights Watch called "public
torture".
Aceh
is the only province in majority-Muslim Indonesia to follow Islamic law, and
this was the third such caning since Aceh outlawed homosexuality in 2014. The
province, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, also imposes caning for crimes
such as theft, gambling and adultery.
A
hooded religious police officer carried out Thursday's floggings, watched by a
crowd wearing face masks. One of the men grimaced in pain as he received the
punishment, which caused his mother to faint.
Two
other people received 40 lashes for alcohol consumption and another two 17
lashes for adultery.
Andreas
Harsono, Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch, condemned the canings and
the homophobic attitudes displayed by some in Aceh, a deeply conservative
society where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are
ostracised and targeted by the authorities.
"If
Indonesia is to be considered a civilized country... the government must stop
the practice of torture in Aceh" and immediately review how Islamic law
has been integrated into regional regulations, he said.
Opinions
among Acehnese are a still a world away for any tolerance of LGBT communities.
Devi Arinah, a 53-year-old teacher, said she backed caning for homosexual acts
but in addition felt people should be "given counseling so that they
realize that their actions are not suitable for us as believers."
Another
resident, 17-year-old Teguh Khosul said that if caning did not alter behaviour
then either a cleric should help "rehabilitate" gay people in a
religious way or be cast out from society.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/relationships/indonesias-aceh-province-publicly-canes-two-gay-men-101611981486839.html
--------
UAE
says will cooperate with UN, US on Libya conflict
30
January 2021
The
United Arab Emirates has issued a statement Friday stating its readiness to
work “closely” with the new US administration for a peaceful solution to the
Libya conflict.
“There
is an urgent need for renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in
Libya,” Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE ambassador to the UN, said in a letter.
“The
UAE stands ready to work closely with all Security Council members, including the
new US administration, to achieve a peaceful settlement for the Libyan people,”
she said.
She
said the country welcomed the Security Council’s “call for all foreign forces
to withdraw from Libya. Foreign intervention in the conflict must end now.”
The day
before, during a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Libya, the United
States called on “all external parties, to include Russia, Turkey and the UAE,
to respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military intervention
in Libya.”
Together
with Egypt and Russia, the UAE is one of the main supporters of Khalifa Haftar,
the Libyan general the east of Libya who is fighting the Government of National
Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.
“The
UAE firmly believes that diplomatic and political solutions are the sole path
to end the Libyan conflict, Nusseibeh said.
“The
first priority is to preserve and reinforce the ceasefire agreement” agreed to
in October, she said.
“This
will enable and encourage a political process and a Libyan-led transition that
fulfills the aspirations of the Libyan people for stability, peace, and
prosperity,” she added.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/01/30/Libya-conflict-UAE-says-will-cooperate-with-UN-US-on-Libya-conflict
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Archaeologists
in Israel discover remnants of ancient mosque built around 670 AD
JAN
30, 2021
Archaeologists
in Israel say they have discovered the remnants of an early mosque — believed
to date to the earliest decades of Islam — during an excavation in the northern
city of Tiberias.
This
mosque’s foundations, excavated just south of the Sea of Galilee by the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, point to its construction roughly a generation after
the death of the Prophet Mohammad, making it one of the earliest Muslim houses
of worship to be studied by archaeologists.
“We
know about many early mosques that were founded right in the beginning of the
Islamic period,” said Katia Cytryn-Silverman, a specialist in Islamic
archaeology at Hebrew University who heads the dig. Other mosques dating from
around the same time, such as the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, the Great Mosque
of Damascus, and Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, are still in use today and cannot
be tampered with by archaeologists.
Cytryn-Silverman
said that excavating the Tiberian mosque allows a rare chance to study the
architecture of Muslim prayer houses in their infancy and indicates a tolerance
for other faiths by early Islamic leaders. She announced the findings this
month in a virtual conference.
When
the mosque was built around 670 AD, Tiberias had been a Muslim-ruled city for a
few decades. Named after Rome’s second emperor around 20 AD, the city was a
major center of Jewish life and scholarship for nearly five centuries. Before
its conquest by Muslim armies in 635, the Byzantine city was home to one of a
constellation of Christian holy sites dotting the Sea of Galilee's shoreline.
Under
Muslim rule, Tiberias became a provincial capital in the early Islamic empire
and grew in prominence. Early caliphs built palaces on its outskirts along the
lake shore. But until recently, little was known about the city’s early Muslim
past.
Gideon
Avni, chief archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, who was not
involved in the excavation, said the discovery helps resolve a scholarly debate
about when mosques began standardizing their design, facing toward Mecca.
“In
the archaeological finds, it was very rare to find early mosques,” he said.
Archaeological
digs around Tiberias have proceeded in fits and starts for the past century. In
recent decades the ancient city has started yielding other monumental buildings
from its past, including a sizeable Roman theater overlooking the water and a
Byzantine church.
Since
early last year, the coronavirus pandemic halted excavations and lush Galilean
grasses, herbs and weeds have grown over the ruins. Hebrew University and its
partners, the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology, plan to restart the
dig in February.
Initial
excavations of the site in the 1950s led scholars to believe that the building
was a Byzantine marketplace later used as a mosque.
But
Cytryn-Silverman's excavations delved deeper beneath the floor. Coins and
ceramics nestled among at the base of the crudely crafted foundations helped
date them to around 660-680 AD, barely a generation after the city’s capture.
The building's dimensions, pillared floor-plan, and qiblah, or prayer niche,
closely paralleled other mosques from the period.
Avni
said that for a long time, academics weren’t sure what happened to cities in
the Levant and Mesopotamia conquered by the Muslims in the early 7th century.
“Earlier
opinions said that there was a process of conquest, destruction and
devastation,” he said. Today, he said, archaeologists understand that there was
a “fairly gradual process, and in Tiberias you see that.”
The
first mosque built in the newly conquered city stood cheek by jowl with the
local synagogues and the Byzantine church that dominated the skyline. This
earliest phase of the mosque was “more humble” than a larger, grander structure
that replaced it half a century later, Cytryn-Silverman said.
“At
least until the monumental mosque was erected in the 8th century, the church
continued being the main building in Tiberias,” she added.
She
says this supports the idea that the early Muslim rulers — who governed an
overwhelmingly non-Muslim population — adopted a tolerant approach toward other
faiths, allowing a "golden age” of coexistence.
“You
see that the beginning of the Islamic rule here respected very much the
population that was the main population of the city: Christians, Jews,
Samaritans,” Cytryn-Silverman said. “They were not in a hurry to make their
presence expressed into buildings. They were not destroying others’ houses of
prayers, but they were actually fitting themselves into the societies that they
now were the leaders of."
https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending
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Israel,
Morocco set up working groups to boost ties after normalization
29
January 2021
Israel
and Morocco on Friday announced the creation of “working groups” to bolster
cooperation between the two countries, following an agreement to restore
diplomatic ties.
Morocco
and Israel in December signed a US-brokered normalization agreement in Rabat,
and on Tuesday Israel announced the re-opening of its diplomatic mission in the
North African country.
It
had closed after Morocco shut its liaison office in Tel Aviv in 2000, at the
start of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, against Israeli
occupation.
Morocco’s
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Israel’s National Security Advisor Meir Ben
Shabbat spoke by telephone on Thursday, a statement from both countries said.
“They
agreed to set up working groups which will work towards collaboration
agreements on many areas including investments, agriculture, water,
environment, tourism, science, innovation, energy and more,” a statement from
the Israeli prime minister’s office said.
The
foreign ministry in Rabat confirmed the report.
The
working groups will meet first online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but with
visits in person later.
“Hopefully
in February a high-level Moroccan delegation will arrive in Israel... and Ben
Shabbat is also expected to head a delegation to Morocco this February,” the
Israeli statement said.
Bourita
and Ben Shabbat “discussed the great potential in collaboration, which will
benefit not only Morocco and Israel, but also the entire region”, the statement
said.
Morocco
was one of three Arab nations last year to normalize ties with Tel Aviv under
US-brokered deals after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with Sudan
following suit this month.
The
kingdom has North Africa’s largest Jewish community of about 3,000 people, and
Israel is home to 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/01/29/Israel-relations-Israel-Morocco-set-up-working-groups-to-boost-ties-after-normalization
--------
Tony
Blinken dials Shah Mahmood Qureshi, seeks accountability in Daniel Pearl's
murder case
Jan
30, 2021
WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD:
US secretary of state Tony Blinken has spoken over phone with Pakistan's
foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and discussed the accountability of
convicted terrorists responsible for the brutal murder of American journalist
Daniel Pearl, according to the state department.
Pearl,
the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was
abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on
the links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.
State
department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday that Blinken reinforced
America's concern over Pakistan Supreme Court's ruling acquitting Pearl's
killers.
"Blinken
and Qureshi discussed how to ensure accountability for convicted terrorist
Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and others responsible for the kidnapping and murder of
American journalist Daniel Pearl," Price said in a readout of the call.
In
addition, Blinken and Qureshi discussed the importance of continued US-Pakistan
cooperation on the Afghan peace process, support for regional stability, and
the potential to expand our trade and commercial ties, Price said.
The
Pakistan foreign office said in a statement that the two leaders discussed
"recent developments in the Daniel Pearl case" and Qureshi
"underscored that it was important and in the mutual interest that justice
is served through legal means."
Qureshi
congratulated secretary Blinken on assuming his office, underscoring Pakistan's
commitment to forging a comprehensive partnership with the United States based
on the convergence of interests on a whole range of issues, it said.
Qureshi
told Blinken that peace in Afghanistan through a negotiated political
settlement was one of the fundamental convergences between the two countries.
He
said it was essential to have a reduction in violence leading to the ceasefire
and to work towards securing an inclusive political solution in Afghanistan.
Qureshi
said Pakistan had facilitated the Afghan peace process and remained committed
to working with the United States as a partner for peace, the foreign office
said.
Qureshi
and Blinken also agreed to remain engaged and work together on advancing the
two countries' bilateral agenda and promoting common interests in the region
and beyond, it said.
A day
earlier, Blinken expressed concern over the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision
of acquitting those involved in the sensational kidnapping and murder of Pearl
and said that the judgement is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere.
In a
strongly-worded statement, Blinken urged Pakistan to explore all legal options
to ensure that the killers of Pearl are brought to justice.
"The
United States is deeply concerned by the Pakistani Supreme Court's decision to
acquit those involved in Daniel Pearl's kidnapping and murder and any proposed
action to release them," he said.
Pakistan's
Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed appeals against the acquittal of
British-born al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in the kidnapping and
murder case of Pearl and ordered his release, a judgement denounced by the
American journalist's family as 'a complete travesty of justice.'
Sheikh
and his three aides - Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib - were
convicted and sentenced in the abduction and murder case of Pearl in Karachi in
2002.
Blinken
said, "Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh was indicted in the United States in 2002
for hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, resulting in the
murder of Pearl, the South Asia bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, as
well as the 1994 kidnapping of another United States citizen in India."
The
court's decision is an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in
Pakistan, he said.
"We
expect the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options to
ensure justice is served. We take note of the attorney general's statement that
he intends to seek review and recall of the decision. We are also prepared to
prosecute Sheikh in the United States for his horrific crimes against an
American citizen," Blinken said.
The
United States is committed to securing justice for Pearl's family and holding
terrorists accountable, he said.
Pearl's
murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief
Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given
safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of
hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.
He
was serving a prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the
country.
A
three-judge bench of Pakistan supreme court led by justice Mushir Alam on
Thursday dismissed the Sindh government's appeal against the Sindh high court's
(SHC) decision to overturn the conviction of Sheikh in the Pearl murder case.
The beheading of the American journalist in 2002 had grabbed international
headlines.
The
court ordered that three others, who had been sentenced to life in prison for
their part in Pearl's kidnapping and death, also be freed.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/tony-blinken-dials-shah-mahmood-qureshi-seeks-accountability-in-daniel-pearls-murder-case/articleshow/80598896.cms
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New
US Iran envoy talks to European officials about nuclear deal: Reuters
29
January 2021
The
new US Iran envoy spoke with British, French and German officials on Thursday
as the United States explores how to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, two sources
familiar with the matter said on Friday.
“It
was to take stock of the dossier and to assess what our state of mind is,” a
European diplomatic source said of US special envoy Rob Malley’s conversation
with the British, French and German foreign ministry political directors.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
A
second source confirmed that the discussion took place but offered no details.
The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The
nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),
was struck by Iran and six major powers and committed Iran to restricting its
nuclear program in return for sanctions relief from the United States and others.
Malley was a member of the US team that negotiated the deal during the Obama
administration.
US
President Joe Biden has said if Tehran returns to the pact, Washington would do
so as well and would then seek to build a broader pact to also deal with Iran’s
development of ballistic missiles and support for proxy forces in Iraq, Syria,
Yemen and elsewhere.
Trump
withdrew the US from the deal in 2018 and revived US sanctions.
Iran
was accused of violating the deal and then started enriching larger quantities
of uranium to higher levels of purity.
The
Biden administration has insisted Iran resume complying before it would. Tehran
argues that Washington abandoned the agreement and should return before Iran
does.
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the time it would take Iran to make
enough fissile material for a single nuclear weapon has fallen to three or four
months from over a year under the deal.
“From
our perspective, a critical early priority has to be to deal with what is an
escalating nuclear crisis as they (Iran) move closer and closer to having
enough fissile material for a weapon,” White House national security adviser
Jake Sullivan said at an event in Washington on Friday.
The
talks with the British, French and German officials are likely only the first
step in consultations that will ultimately bring in China and Russia, the other
major powers in the pact, and, eventually Iran itself.
French
President Emmanuel Macron was quoted on Friday as saying any new negotiations
would be very “strict” and should include Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional
adversary, Al Arabiya reported.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/New-US-Iran-envoy-talks-to-European-officials-about-nuclear-deal-Reuters
--------
India
Letter
from Israeli embassy blast site talks of avenging 'martyred Iranians': Key
developments
Jan
30, 2021
NEW
DELHI: Friday's low-intensity blast outside New Delhi's Israel embassy has
stirred up questions of a larger terror angle.
The
incident has put focus on a similar incident from 2012, when an Israeli embassy
vehicle was targeted in Delhi, and the probe pointed to a possibility of
involvement of Iranian agencies.
Here's
a quick look at the developments since Friday's blast in the high-security zone
of the capital.
Delhi
Police's Special Cell team visits blast site
An
investigation team of Delhi Police's Special Cell on Saturday visited the blast
site to collect more evidence as part of its ongoing probe.
Forensic
experts have collected samples from the crime scene that will ascertain the
chemical composition used in the low-intensity improvised explosive device
(IED).
Ball
bearings seized from the spot were found scattered on the ground and the impact
of the explosion was felt within a radius of 20-25 metres.
Delhi:
A low-intensity explosion occurred near Israel Embassy yesterday. Samples
collected from the spot by a crime… https://t.co/NaexEj6l1n
— ANI
(@ANI) 1611982278000
Suspicious
envelope found outside embassy
Investigators
have recovered an envelope with text written on it related to Israel Embassy
officials from the blast site, according to sources.
Delhi
police sources revealed that in the letter, yesterday's explosion has been
referred to as a 'trailer'.
The
killing of two Iranians has also been mentioned in the letter. The names
mentioned as 'martyrs' in the letter are- Qasem Soleimani (Iranian military
officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was killed in a
US airstrike in January 2020) and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (Iranian nuclear scientist
assassinated in November 2020).
"This
is a trailer. We can end your life, anytime, anywhere. Iranian martyr.."
the letter reads.
Two
persons spotted in CCTV footage
A
CCTV footage of the blast site has revealed that a cab had dropped two persons
near the embassy and it is yet to be ascertained whether these persons have any
role in the explosion, according to Delhi Police sources.
The
Delhi Police Special Cell has contacted the concerned cab driver and enquired
about the two persons. Police are drawing out the pictures of the two persons
on the basis of inputs gathered from the cab driver.
Blast
may be connected to 2012 attack on diplomats: Envoy Ron Malka
Israeli
ambassador to Delhi Ron Malka on Saturday said that there might be a connection
between Friday's blast near the Israeli Embassy and the 2012 attack targeting
the country's diplomats in Delhi.
"As
of now, our strong assumption is that it is a terror attack that targeted the
Israeli Embassy. Fortunately, nobody was hurt," the envoy said.
Delhi
police seeks details of Iranians from FRRO
Delhi
police has asked for details of all Iranians, including Iranians settled
overseas, who have come to the national capital through the Foreigner Regional
Registration Office (FRRO).
Last
one month's details in this regard have been sought from the FRRO. So far
details of those who stayed in hotels are being gathered.
Israel
to send investigators
Israel
will send a team to participate in an investigation into the blast outside its
embassy in New Delhi. Israel's defence establishments have suspected Iran's
IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) behind the attack, according to the
sources.
Jaishankar
assures 'fullest protection' to Israeli diplomats
External
Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has assured the Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi
Ashkenazi of "fullest protection" to their diplomats.
"EAM
(S Jaishnakar) called our Minister of Foreign Affairs (Gabi Ashkenazi) and
Foreign Secretory Harsh Vardhan Shringla called our DG in Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. NSA Ajit Doval called our NSA Meir Ben-Shabbat. There is full
collaboration. They gave their assurances and offered all support, protection
or assistance that we need," the Israeli envoy to New Delhi said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/letter-from-israeli-embassy-blast-site-talks-of-avenging-martyred-iranians-key-developments/articleshow/80599744.cms
--------
2
terrorists trapped during encounter with security forces surrender in J&K's
Pulwama
Jan
30, 2021
SRINAGAR:
Two terrorists, who were trapped during an encounter with security forces, laid
down their arms before the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district
on Saturday, officials said.
The
security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation at Lelhaar in the
Kakapora area of the district on Friday night following information about the
presence of terrorists there, the officials said.
They
said the search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding terrorists
opened firing.
After
a night-long lull in the firing, the two terrorists surrendered before the
security forces along with their two AK rifles, the officials said.
The
two were identified as Akeel Ahmad Lone and Rouf Ul Islam. Lone had sustained
splinter injuries in his right foot and was taken to the police hospital here
for treatment, they added.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-terrorists-trapped-during-encounter-with-security-forces-surrender-in-jks-pulwama/articleshow/80596785.cms
--------
Blast
near Israel embassy, Delhi Police probing terror angle
Jan
30, 2021
NEW
DELHI: A low-intensity blast took place near the Israel embassy in New Delhi
around 5pm on Friday, coinciding with the anniversary of India and Israel
establishing full diplomatic relations on January 29, 1992. No one was injured,
but window panes of three cars were damaged.
With
Israel embassy officials treating it as a suspected terror attack, Delhi Police
decided to hand over the probe to its anti-terror unit. Mossad is assisting
Indian agencies in the investigation. An FIR under Explosives Act has been registered.
An
envelope with “Israeli ambassador” written on it was found at the spot. Though
a forensic report is awaited on the kind of explosive used in the blast, an
anti-terror squad officer told TOI that there were reasons to believe that
ammonium nitrate was used. The CCTV footage around the spot and adjoining areas
is being scanned.
Preliminary
investigations suggested that the bomb might have been wrapped in a
plastic/polythene and thrown towards the footpath from a moving car, probably a
bike. The bomb fell on the grass and exploded, leading to chaos and panic.
Sleuths
of the Delhi Police Special Cell and intelligence agencies, accompanied by bomb
disposal and sniffer dog squads, rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area.
The police said the bomb could have been a crude Improvise Explosive Device.
Immigration
and airport officials were alerted to keep an eye on all international
passengers scheduled to fly out in the next 48-72 hours.
“The
suspects may have carried out a recce. So we are scanning CCTV footage of the
last couple of days. All nearby hotels are being checked,” a senior officer
said.
A
blast had taken place on February 13, 2012 when the wife of an Israeli diplomat
was targeted on Aurangzeb Road by a bike-borne man. The bomber had taken a flight
out of the country the same night. Israel had blamed Iran for the attack and
probe by Indian agencies had also found the role of Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps. A Delhi-based journalist was arrested on charges of being a part of the
conspiracy.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/blast-near-israel-embassy-delhi-police-probing-terror-angle/articleshow/80593723.cms
--------
Pulwama
twin encounter: Hizbul trio killed in Tral, another gunfight starts in Kakapora
Jan
30, 2021
SRINAGAR:
Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an anti-terror operation in
Tral belt of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Friday afternoon, while
another gunfight broke out in the district’s Kakapora belt in the evening where
at least two to three terrorists were believed to be trapped till the filing of
this report.
Identified
as Waris Hassan from Naibugh, Aarif Bashir of Monghama and Ahtishamul Haq from
Awantipora, the slain Hizbul ultras were part of groups involved in several
terror crimes, as per police records. On January 2, Bashir had lobbed a grenade
on security personnel near Tral bus stand, leaving a jawan and eight civilians
with splinter injuries. Hassan, along with some others, had fired at a
patrolling party of Awantipora Police on October 5, 2020. They were also wanted
for putting up threat posters at Dadsara on December 2 last year, warning
citizens to refrain from voting, IGP (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar said.
In
the afternoon, a joint team of Army’s 42RR, CRPF and J&K Police launched a
cordon-and-search operation in Tral’s Mandoora village based on intelligence
inputs about the presence of terrorists there. As the security personnel
approached the suspected hideout, the holed up terrorists were given a chance
to surrender but instead of yielding, they opened fire at the search party,
triggering an encounter, Kumar said.
During
a subsequent search of the area, the bodies of the slain ultras were retrieved
along with arms, ammunition and other incriminating material, the IGP said.
Residents were advised against venturing near the vicinity to prevent injury or
loss of life due to live ammunition, the IGP added.
Later
in the evening, a joint team of Army’s 50RR, CRPF and J&K Police launched a
cordon-and-search operation in Kakapora’s Batpora Lelhara village based on
intelligence inputs about terrorists’ presence there. Hiding terrorists fired
at the search party, triggering a gunfight, a senior police officer confirmed.
In an
appeal, the IGP asked parents of misguided Kashmiri youths to come forward and
help the force in bringing their children back to the mainstream. He also urged
guardians to keep a tab on their wards’ activities as young minds are
susceptible to systematic indoctrination by anti-national elements through
social media.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pulwama-twin-encounter-hizb-trio-killed-in-tral-another-gunfight-starts-in-kakapora/articleshow/80591514.cms
--------
AMU
Student, Arif Tyagi, Externed From
Aligarh Under Goondas Act
by
Manish Sahu
January
30, 2021
The
Aligarh district administration has issued an externment order against Aligarh
Muslim University (AMU) student leader Arif Tyagi, banning him from the
district for six months under the UP Control of Goondas Act. The order was
issued last week but Tyagi on Friday said that he received it two days ago.
Six
cases were lodged against the 27-year-old final-year postgraduate student at
the Civil Lines police station between 2018 and 2020 on several charges,
including under IPC Section 153A (promoting enmity between two groups). A
police officer said chargesheets had been filed in two cases while the
investigation was on in the rest.
Assistant
Superintendent of Police, Aligarh City, Kuldeep Singh Gunawat said the Goonda
Act was invoked based on the cases lodged against him.
Tyagi
has not yet obtained bail in the six cases, he said.
“Invoking
Goonda Act against students and issuing an externment order are absolute
harassment meted out by the district administration and police. All cases were
lodged against me while I was protesting on the AMU campus. The protests were
related to several issues, including the presence of a portrait of Pakistan
founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah at AMU students’ union office and against the CAA
and the NRC. I got to know about the cases after I received a show-cause notice
from the district administration asking why I should not be externed from the
district,” said Tyagi, who has unsuccessfully contested the elections for the
post of vice-president of the students’ union.
He
added, “I have filed a petition before the Aligarh Commissioner against the
externment order. If needed, I will also move the Allahabad High Court for
justice.”
The
Aligarh police report seeking to banish Tyagi says he is “reckless and
frightful, and is a threat to the public”.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amu-student-externed-from-aligarh-under-goondas-act-7167189/
--------
Ashish
Patil and Gopal Patil Held For ‘Vandalising Prayer Hall, Burning Religious
Books In Songadh’ In Tapi District
January
30, 2021
Tapi
district police on Friday evening arrested two persons for allegedly burning
religious books and vandalising a house used as a prayer hall by the Muslim
community in Songadh town.
According
to police, the accused allegedly broke into the house of Faruk Haveliwala, a
tailoring shop owner and resident of Junagam in Songadh town, at Bapa Sitaram
Nagar, on Thursday and burnt pages of religious books and damaged an almirah,
clock and fan. The accused were identified as Ashish Patil (26) and Gopal Patil
(29), both residents of Bapasitaram nagar in Songadh town.
Songadh
Poliid, “During their interrogation, the duo confessed to have committed the
offence. Inspector H C Gohil sa They reside in the neighbouring house of Faruk
Haveliwala. Ashish and Gopal were unhappy with members of Muslim community
coming to the house five times a day for namaz. We are questioning them to find
out more details.”
Meanwhile,
on Friday, JD(U) president of Tapi district Yakub Gamit, along with some party
workers, submitted a memorandum to the Songadh Mamlatdar seeking strict action
against the offenders.
The
memorandum submitted by the JD (U) said that the party condemns the incident,
which was an attempt “to damage the peace and communal harmony of the
district.”
“It
is a shameful incident of burning religious books. Strict actions should be
taken against the accused and it has to be ensured that such an incident will
not take place again.” Speaking to the Indian Express, Gamit said, “We have
visited the spot and later handed over a memorandum (to the mamlatdar). We
appealed to people to maintain peace. Let police take action and catch the
notorious elements involved in the incident.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2-held-for-vandalising-prayer-hall-burning-religious-books-in-songadh-7167118/
--------
India,
Bangladesh foreign secys review ties, discuss PM Modi’s visit to Dhaka
January
30, 2021
FOREIGN
SECRETARIES of India and Bangladesh on Friday carried out a comprehensive
review of the overall bilateral ties and held discussions on preparations for
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Dhaka on March 26.
The
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides reviewed progress in the
bilateral relationship, including in the areas of defence and security, border
management, trade, connectivity, power, energy and cooperation in dealing with
the coronavirus pandemic.
Bangladesh
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen arrived here on Thursday on a three-day
visit, primarily to prepare ground for Modi’s upcoming visit to Dhaka.
In
the talks held under the framework of India-Bangladesh foreign office
consultations, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Momen agreed to
maintain the steady momentum of bilateral cooperation and people-to-people
ties.
“Both
sides held a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the bilateral
relationship, including in the areas of Covid-19 cooperation, trade,
connectivity, development partnership, power, energy and water resources,
regional and multilateral cooperation as well as border management and security
and defence cooperation,” the MEA said in a statement.
At a
virtual summit with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina last month, Modi
described the neighbouring country as a “key pillar” of India’s ‘Neighbourhood
First’ policy.
The
MEA said discussion also focussed on preparations for the forthcoming visit of
Modi to Dhaka and events relating to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary
of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“Both
sides also agreed to hold the next home secretary level talks, commerce
secretary level talks and the secretary level meeting of joint rivers
commission before the March summit,” it said.
It
said both sides noted with appreciation the cooperation on the
coronavirus-related issues, including India’s gift of two million doses of
Covishield vaccine to Bangladesh in keeping with its ‘Neighbourhood First’
policy.
The
two countries underscored the importance of the year 2021 in the context of the
50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh, the 50th year of bilateral
diplomatic ties as well as the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-bangladesh-foreign-secys-review-ties-discuss-pm-modis-visit-to-dhaka-7167252/
--------
Pakistan
Pakistan-Based
Banned Terror Group Lashkar-e-Islam Picks, Afridi From Akakhel Tribe, Its New
Leader
Jan
30, 2021
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan's banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Islam has named Zala Khan Afridi as
its new head, days after the outfit's fugitive leader Mangal Bagh was killed in
a roadside bomb blast in southern Afghanistan.
Afridi,
a close associate of Bagh, was named as the new head after members of the group
held a meeting at Bander area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The new head
belongs to Akakhel tribe of Bara tehsil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The
Shura (council) also nominated Bagh's son Tayyab alias Ajnabi as the new deputy
commander.
Bagh,
who was involved in a number of terrorist activities and carried up to $3
million American bounty on his head, was killed in southern Afghanistan, media
reports said on Thursday, quoting a senior Afghan official.
He
was "killed along with two of his aides in the roadside bomb blast in the
Bandar Dara area of Achin district of Nangarhar this morning," the Express
Tribune newspaper had reported, quoting Afghanistan's Nangarhar province
governor Ziaulhaq Amarkhil.
Bagh,
a truck cleaner-turned-militant, was affiliated with the outlawed
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – the umbrella of militant groups operating in
Pakistan's tribal regions. His terror group was accused of attacking Nato
convoys.
His
group virtually ruled Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency until June 2008 when he and
his armed men fled to Afghanistan after the security forces launched a military
operation against the militants.
The
Pakistan government had placed a bounty of Rs 20 million on the head of Bagh,
who for several years was based in the Khyber Agency and ran his private prison
and court.
Bagh,
a member of the Afridi tribe, studied at a madrassa for several years and later
fought alongside militant groups in Afghanistan.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-based-banned-terror-group-lashkar-e-islam-picks-its-new-leader/articleshow/80601143.cms
--------
Pakistan
to be made into industrial state, agro-based economy: PM Imran
January
29, 2021
SAHIWAL:
Prime
Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that efforts were underway to turn Pakistan
into an industrial state and an agro-based economy, to ensure sustainable
development and prosperity.
Addressing
a cheque-distribution ceremony under the Ehsaas programme and tractors under
the Kamyab Jawan programme in Sahiwal, the premier said the government was
collaborating with China in learning new agricultural techniques under the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
On
the launch of Rs 18 billion developments in Sahiwal, he said the government was
firm on the uplift of under-developed areas of the country.
The
premier said Sahiwal would be provided best facilities in the fields of health,
education, road infrastructure and social welfare.
The
prime minister said Punjab had immense potential for development in agriculture
and livestock sectors.
“The
Ehsaas programme is meant to provide safety net to the lower income
households,” the premier said while speaking at the gathering.
He
maintained that his PTI-led government under the welfare programme is aiming to
provide universal health care.
“Even
developed countries don’t have universal health coverage,” he maintained,
adding “This govt is focusing on provision of health as well as education.”
While
speaking about the effects of the ongoing pandemic in other countries, PM Imran
referred to the Lebanon protests. He said that among the protestors’ demands
was the unfair distribution of compensation money paid during the Covid-19
lockdown.”
“We
distributed Rs180 billion to the masses. There was not a single complaint about
the compensation process being politically motivated," He said most of the
funds were distributed in Sindh, even though the PTI does not have its
government in the province, "because the process was based on merit.”
'Lahore's
biggest qabza group'
PM
Imran also congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and his team on
successfully tackling "Lahore's biggest qabza group".
The
premier's statement was a reference to the demolition of 'illegal construction'
at Khokhar Palace - the residence of former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar - last week.
The
premier blamed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for providing patronage to
'land mafia'.
According
to the premier, no country in the world has progressed without the
implementation of the rule of law. "Only countries that uphold the rule of
law progress," he said.
Throwng
his weight behind the provincial chief minister, the PM said people say he is a
shy public official, does not give speeches, adding that "...this is the
job he does. And these are the kind of issues that need to be tackled.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2281796/pakistan-to-be-made-into-industrial-state-agro-based-economy-pm-imran
--------
Bajwa
holds security talks with Qatar leadership
January
30, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Qatar on Friday underscored the importance of enhancing
cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.
Chief
of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is on a two-day
official visit to the Gulf state, called on Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al-Thani and its core military leadership.
During
the meetings, matters of mutual interest, defence and security cooperation and
regional geo-political environment were discussed.
Gen
Bajwa along with the Qatari emir also held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Defence Affairs Doctor Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiya and Chief
of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lt Gen (Pilot) Ghanim bin Shaheen Al-Ghanim,
said an Inter-Services Public Relations press release.
The
COAS also witnessed the passing-out parade at Ahmed bin Muhammad Military
College. He appreciated high standards of the institution and its efforts
towards grooming young cadets to take on challenges of future battlefield.
The
Qatari leadership reiterated that Pakistan and Qatar shared brotherly relations
of strategic value. While expressing their satisfaction over the level of
defence relations between the two armed forces, both sides underscored the
importance of further enhancing the cooperation.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604423/bajwa-holds-security-talks-with-qatar-leadership
--------
Bilquis
Edhi declared ‘Person of the Decade’
January
30, 2021
LAHORE:
Philanthropist and humanitarian Bilquis Edhi has been declared the ‘Person of
the Decade’, along with UN rapporteur on human rights Prof Yanghee Lee and the
US ethicist Stephen Soldz by an international organisation.
A
spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation told the APP that as per the domino effect
verdict, announced on Friday by the Impact Hallmarks [IH], Bilquis Edhi was
declared the most impactful person of the first two decades of the 21st
century.
Bilquis
Bano Edhi is a professional nurse and she heads the Bilquis Edhi Foundation.
She has spent more than six decades of her life serving humanity. Her charity
has saved over 42,000 unwanted babies so far by placing jhoolas (cradles) at
the Edhi Homes and centres across the country.
Called
the Mother of Pakistan, Bilquis has already been given various national and
foreign awards including Hilal-e-Imtiaz, the Lenin Peace Prize, Mother Teresa
Memorial International Award for Social Justice (2015), and the Ramon Magsaysay
Award for Public Service, she received along with her husband Abdul Sattar Edhi
in 1986.
The
Impact Hallmarks [IH], an international web-based organisation that conducted
the process, said in its announcement that the three persons Bilquis Edhi,
Prof. Yanghee Lee and Stephen Soldz have stretched and segmented the top of the
decades impact hallmarks and the opinion polls top triarchy as well.
Another
honour the contest brought for the country was the declaration of another
Pakistani an erudite, a polymath and a discoverer, Prof. Aurangzeb Al Hafi
among ‘Top of the Top Ten’ for his scientific discoveries. He was listed on
position six among the most impactful persons of the world.
The
three scientific discoveries shortlisted by the Impact Hallmarks were: the
first-ever scientific demonstration of Magneto-Hydro-Tropism (MHT), his IRT
Model of Terato-kinetics, and the first methodological baselines engrossed
annotation-broadsheet with reference to the Covid-19, which was made available
to the World Health Organisation, and others concerned on March 3, 2020 for the
academic considerations.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604402/bilquis-edhi-declared-person-of-the-decade
--------
PTM
not against any community, institution: Pashteen
Kalbe
Ali
January
30, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Leaders of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have said that they are not
against any individual, community or institution but will keep raising their
voice against alleged extra-judicial killings.
At a
news conference at the National Press Club here on Friday, PTM leader Manzoor
Pashteen said in reply to a question that “we are only against those who are
involved in creating insecurity for our people”.
The
PTM leader said: “We want to walk along with people from all walks of life to
raise the voice of unvoiced and helpless people.”
He
said the PTM wanted to live in coherence with all to promote peace.
The
PTM leaders announced holding a demonstration on Feb 7 in Peshawar where women
and children of those who have been killed, gone missing, or were behind bars
will be present.
Flanked
by MNA Mohsin Dawar and other office-bearers of the party, Mr Pashteen called
for the release of Dr Said Alam Mehsud and MNA Ali Wazir and the arrest of
those responsible for the killings of innocent people in erstwhile Fata.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604422/ptm-not-against-any-community-institution-pashteen
--------
Pakistan
arrests key militant over Iran terror links
NAIMAT
KHAN
January
28, 2021
KARACHI:
Pakistan has arrested a “most wanted” militant linked to the Zainabiyoun
Brigade, with investigators saying on Thursday he had received military
training in neighboring Iran.
The
Zainabiyoun Brigade was placed on the US Treasury’s financial blacklist in
January 2019 and is believed to have sent young members of the Pakistani Shiite
community to fight in Syria.
“The
arrested terrorist, Abbas Jafri, is a close aide of another most-wanted
terrorist, Yawar Abbas, and, much like other members of the Zainabiyoun
Brigade, got his military training in neighboring Iran,” Omar Shahid, deputy
inspector-general of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), said.
According
to an official handout, Jafri, who was arrested in Karachi, was trained in 2014
and, among other skills, taught to carry out intelligence operations and
provide medical services.
“The
arrested terrorist specialized in automatic weapons and received training from
a neighboring country,” the handout added.
Police
said that weapons were confiscated from Jafri following his arrest.
Jafri
was described as the right-hand man of Yawar Abbas and named in the “Red Book,”
an official document that lists the names and profiles of hardened militants.
According
to police, Jafri helped carry out reconnaissance activities for militants.
He
has been moved to an undisclosed location for further investigation, police
said.
Earlier
in December, the CTD said it had arrested two members of the Zainabiyoun
Brigade from the Qur’angi area of Karachi in connection with a string of
killings in the past six years.
Tehran
has not responded to the claims.
On
Nov. 27, an AP report said that a number of Pakistanis were among 19 pro-Iran
militia fighters killed in eastern Syria.
In
March, a senior official told Arab News that up to 50 Pakistani fighters were
killed by the Turkish army and Syrian forces in a major rebel stronghold in the
northwest of the country.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1800071/world
--------
South
Asia
Terrorizing
blasts in Kabul kills 1, wounds many
By
Khaama Press
30
Jan 2021
The
city of Kabul began its day with two explosions caused by magnetic mines in the
PD5 and PD10 areas of the city.
According
to Kabul police, the first explosion took place in the Pol-e-Company area of
Kabul’s fifth security district, which did not cause any casualties.
A
police Ranger type vehicle was reportedly targeted by a magnetic IED blast.
The
second explosion took place in the Salim Karwan area in PD10 of Kabul city.
According
to an eyewitness, one person was killed in the blast, but Kabul Police
indicated that the blast left four people injured.
A
corolla vehicle was the target of a magnetic mine in this incident.
No
group or individual has yet claimed the responsibility for the attacks.
https://www.khaama.com/terrorizing-blasts-in-kabul-kills-one-person-5656565/
--------
Middle
Eastern ISIS group moves to Afghanistan: SCO
30
Jan 2021
Faryab,
Naqibullah Fayaq, the provincial governor said Juma Bay, an Uzbek national-led
Daesh group is also operating in the region, adding that the group has been
living with their families, most of the Daesh leaders are stationed in Faryab
province.
Earlier
on Friday, Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of Shanghai cooperation group in a
webinar organized by Islamabad Policy Research Institute said, That the
Daesh-ISIS has moved from the middle east to Afghanistan, which poses a serious
threat to the region.
“According
to the SCO regional anti-terrorist structure, the numbers of fighters arriving
in the north of the country [Afghanistan] are growing”, he added, the pose a
threat to the SCO member states.
Norov
stressed that the group uses information and communication technologies to
promote their ideology in the region, recruit and manage the group’s sleeper
cells.
Jumakhon
Giyosov, the SCO Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional
Anti-Terrorist Structure, also said “There is an increase in the number of
militants arriving in northern Afghanistan, whose leaders are actively
interacting with the leaders of the other terrorist organizations,”.
Faryab
Governor, also added that the Taliban are now equipped with Iranian-made
armor-piercing sniper (Haidar).
This
comes as Captain Mohammad Hanif, Chief of Crime Branch for Zaranj district was
shot and killed by his subordinate during a security patrol.
Source
on anonymity told Pajhwok News, that the incident happened in Nimroz province
on Friday, as police patrolled the city.
The
perpetrator fled the area but was later captured by the security forces in the
region.
According
to the report, the incident occurred on Friday evening, and an investigation is
ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack.
https://www.khaama.com/middle-eastern-isis-group-moves-to-afghanistan-sco-44554544/
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Dozens
killed in two separate incidents in Nangarhar, Wardak
30
Jan 2021
Tariq
Arian, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs stated in a clash with
the police 9 people were killed and seven others were wounded on Friday.
The
“irresponsible gunmen” loyal to commander Alipoor an anti-Taliban commander
resisted the appointment of His-i-Awal and Hisa-i-Dowom district police chiefs.
The
men loyal to Alipoor gathered outside the district compound in Maidan Wardak
province and opened fire on security officials as to which number of security
members and civilians were wounded, the statement said.
According
to a police statement, 68 individuals loyal to Alipoor were arrested, but
Parliament member Mahdi Rasikh stated, that police opened fire on civilians
while peacefully protesting.
He
claimed that 9 people were killed and further 20 people were wounded.
This
comes as eight civil order force members were killed in a suicide car bomb
attack in Shirzad district of the eastern province of Nangarhar on Saturday.
Officials
confirmed the incident and added, that the civil order forces unit operates
under ANA.
Obaidullah
Shinwari, deputy head of the provincial council told the media that at least 14
soldiers were killed.
Meanwhile,
the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that heavy
casualties had been inflicted on security forces.
Qari
Yusuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Taliban, said that around 5:30 a.m. today,
the group’s fighters attacked a security checkpoint in the Shirzad district of
Nangarhar province with an explosive-laden vehicle.
According
to Qari Yusuf, there were 50 security forces stationed at the checkpoint, both
the personnel and the outpost were completely destroyed.
https://www.khaama.com/dozens-killed-in-two-separate-incidents-in-nangarhar-wardak-34343888/
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Interim
government leads to ‘bloodshed’: Ashraf Ghani
30
Jan 2021
President
Ashraf Ghani on Friday said he is not an obstacle to peace, but he is a
champion in peace in Afghanistan, responding to the Taliban’s remarks expressed
early in the day who blamed the incumbent government for hindering the efforts
to end the conflicts through a political settlement.
Talking
to ASPEN Security Forum on Friday, President Ghani stressed that the creation
of an interim government means “bloodshed”, he also expressed himself as a champion
of Afghanistan peace.
President
Ghani rejected the establishment of the interim government saying, “We’ve had
interim governments. They have led to bloodshed,” President Ghani said, and
interim setup would be detrimental and inimical.
“The
citizens of Afghanistan must be empowered… Where would I get the authority to
dissolve the Republic? I have sworn to uphold the constitution,” Ghani added.
In
regards to violence escalation and US troops withdrawal Ghani said, “We must
ask what is required to preserve the legacy of the US presence in Afghanistan,”
Ghani said.
Ghani
reiterated on Taliban’s commitment, that a strong verification mechanism is
required, he added “You have to have ironclad agreements and verification
mechanisms… Many peace agreements are Trojan horses. They promise the moon and
deliver the opposite,”.
President
Ghani also called on Biden’s administration to put pressure on the
Taliban, and not to quickly plan for
full troops withdrawal, Ghani said: “The United States and NATO must take a
very strong stand on the conditions-based approach,”.
Following
the last year’s US-Taliban agreement, US officials assured Afghanistan “there
will be a ceasefire or a very substantial reduction of violence”, Ghani said.
“Instead,
violence has peaked,” he added.
This
comes as the National Security Council, MoD, and MoI on Friday indicated that
the Taliban violence has escalated since they signed the US-Taliban peace deal,
and the group has still maintained ties with Al-Qaeda.
Rahmatullah
Andar, NSC spokesman said, that 11 Al-Qaeda members were arrested in the ranks
of the Taliban, and “three of those are key members of the group”. Ministries
of Defense and Interior reported that the Taliban attacks have increased, they
have raged their attacking shape of targeted IED explosions, car bomb attacks
on military installations, Roadside and Magnetic IED blasts, targeted killings
of security forces, government workers, civil society activists, and the
journalist.
https://www.khaama.com/interim-government-leads-to-bloodshed-ashraf-ghani-556655/
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Southeast
Asia
Hadi
under fire after unfriendly remarks about Joe Biden
Adam
Abu Bakar
January
30, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: A former deputy foreign affairs minister has criticised PAS president
Abdul Hadi Awang over his comments on the new administration in the United
States.
Marzuki
Yahya, who served as deputy foreign minister in the previous Pakatan Harapan
government, said Hadi’s remarks were “improper” more so when he was a member of
a government that was not chosen by the people.
Hadi,
who is Malaysia’s special envoy to the Middle East, had said having a new
president in the White House was meaningless for Muslim countries as President
Joe Biden will continue with Zionist-influenced policies.
He
had also said the only difference between Biden and his predecessor Donald
Trump was Biden’s softer and more diplomatic approach.
Hadi’s
comments were a stark contrast to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s
congratulatory message to Biden where he expressed Malaysia’s desire to
strengthen ties with the US.
Speaking
to FMT, Marzuki said: “It’s not right, we have a foreign policy, we must be on
good terms with all countries, we cannot criticise foreign democracies. Biden
was chosen by Americans while the present government in Malaysia was not. A
government that is not chosen by the people does not know how to respect
democracy.”
Marzuki
said Hadi, as a special envoy with ministerial status, should be more
diplomatic.
He
said Hadi’s remarks could be seen as an attempt to disrupt bilateral ties
between Malaysia and the US, and that a principle of Malaysia’s foreign policy
was to resolve any disputes through negotiations rather than open arguments.
Marzuki
said Malaysia always held to the principle of non-intervention in another country’s
domestic affairs.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/30/hadi-under-fire-after-unfriendly-remarks-about-joe-biden/
--------
Singapore
Christians and Muslims condemn plans for attack against two mosques
Jan
29, 2021
SINGAPORE:
Christian and Muslim leaders have condemned the plan of a young Singaporean man
to carry out an attack on two city mosques.Last night, Singapore authorities
reported that a 16-year-old Protestant man, an ethnic Indian, was taken into
custody in December under the Internal Security Act. According to the police,
he planned to attack Muslims with machetes in two mosques in the Woodlands
area.The attack was set for 15 March, exactly two years after a right-wing
extremist, Brenton Tarrant, shot and killed 51 Muslims in a mosque and an
Islamic centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.For investigators, the aspiring
Singapore terrorist has radicalised himself on the web, inspired by Tarrant.In
a statement released this morning, the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said it
was concerned about the news, and expressed solidarity with its Muslim brothers
and sisters, noting that Islam is a religion of peace.“The Church believes in
religious harmony and the peaceful co-existence of all religions,” reads a
statement issued by the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore.The latter goes on to
stress that the proliferation of violent content on the web, especially about
religion, requires an educational effort to guide young people on the right
path.Rev Keith Lai, president of the Council of Christian Churches in
Singapore, and the Mufti of Singapore Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir share this
view.The two religious leaders met today with government officials to discuss
the problem of religious radicalism. They call on the authorities and families
to work together to contain the harmful influence of online
indoctrination.Religious coexistence is one of Singapore’s singular traits. The
government allows full freedom of worship as long as it does not interfere with
the affairs of the state.--Asia News
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/singapore-christians-and-muslims-condemn-plans-for-attack-against-two-mosques/57736/1
--------
Arab
World
Clear
confidence in working with European, US allies on regional challenges: Saudi FM
Ismaeel
Naar
29
January 2021
The
security of the region occupies the concerns of European countries and the
administration of US President Joe Biden, according to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign
Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
“We've
heard very clear statements from the Biden administration and the key people on
foreign policy in the Biden administration, that they're going to address the
challenges within our region with very open eyes and a clear focus on making
sure that we continue to have stability and security,” Prince Faisal said
during his panel discussion at Davos virtually.
“We,
of course, are going to have a dialogue about the various regional challenges,
not least, Iran's destabilizing activity, and it's ramping up its nuclear
program and we are quite confident that we're working with the US and our
European partners. We will be able to overcome these challenges,” he added.
Prince
Faisal was speaking during his participation at the annual Davos forum, held
virtually this year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/01/29/Regional-security-main-concerns-among-European-countries-Biden-Saudi-FM
--------
US
military refusal to pull out troops to be met with Iraqi nation’s resistance,
MP warns
29
January 2021
An
Iraqi lawmaker has stressed the need for the implementation of a resolution
adopted by Iraq’s parliament concerning the expulsion of US-led foreign forces
from the Arab country, saying that the Iraqi nation will resort to resistance
in case the Pentagon refuses to abide by the decision.
"The
decision to remove foreign troops from Iraq is an Iraqi matter. If the Iraqi
government's political solutions for the withdrawal of foreign forces do not
succeed, we will then resort to resistance to attain the objective,” Mohammed
al-Baldawi, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Security and Defense Committee,
told the Arabic-language Baghdad Today news agency on Thursday.
He
made the remarks as the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that
authorities in Washington are counting on reconsidering the decision of former
US president Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the number of US forces in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
The
newspaper quoted Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby as saying that the official
decision to review the number of US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq has not yet
been taken.
He
asserted, however, that the current US President Joe Biden’s administration “is
counting on a better understanding of the current situation with regard to
operations in both countries.”
Baldawi
added, “The decision to expel foreign troops from Iraq has been finalized and
it is irreversible. Foreign troops have no option but to withdraw. We are
working with the government to implement the [parliamentary] resolution.”
“The
presence of US-led foreign troops in Iraq poses a dangerous threat to the
security and stability of the country as well as the region, because the United
States wants to plunge Iraq into turmoil. This is completely rejected,” the
Iraqi legislator concluded.
Anti-US
sentiment has been running high in Iraq since the assassination of top Iranian
anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the
Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and his Iraqi
trenchmate, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Popular Mobilization
Units, along with their companions in a US terror drone strike authorized by
Trump near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 last year.
Iraqi
lawmakers approved a bill two days later, demanding the expulsion of all
foreign military forces led by the United States from the Arab country.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/29/644099/US-military-refusal-to-pull-out-troops-will-be-met-with-Iraqi-nation-resistance-MP
--------
Lebanese
leaders denounce violent anti-lockdown protests in Tripoli
30
January 2021
Lebanese
caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President Michel Aoun have condemned
violence and clashes in the northern city of Tripoli between security forces
and demonstrators angered by a strict coronavirus lockdown that has exacerbated
a chronic economic crisis.
“The
criminals who set the municipality on fire and attempted to burn the court...
represent a black hatred for Tripoli,” Diab said in a statement.
“We
promise to work quickly to restore the municipality building of Tripoli so that
it remains an expression of its dignity and pure heritage,” he added.
“The
challenge now is in defeating these criminals by arresting them one by one and
referring them to the judicial system,” Aoun also said in a separate statement
in condemnation of the violence.
The
Lebanese Army’s Directorate of Orientation announced in a statement on Friday
that it had arrested five people involved in the overnight torching of
Tripoli’s municipal building.
In
the statement, the army said three suspects – two Lebanese nationals and a
Syrian citizen – were present inside the building when they were detained.
Lebanese
army forces arrested two other people in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area and the Miten
Street area on suspicion of preventing firefighters from reaching the burning
municipal building and taking part in rioting.
The
Army Command noted that three soldiers were injured in Thursday’s incidents,
emphasizing that “military units are sparing no effort to preserve security and
stability in Tripoli and the rest of the Lebanese territories.”
One
person has died and more than 250 others have been injured in Tripoli during
straight nights of unrest this week.
On
Friday afternoon, a number of young men gathered outside the government’s main
building in Tripoli, pelting security forces with stones as some of them
chanted “We’re Hungry, We Want to Eat!”
Security
forces, in return, fired tear gas to disperse the protesters as army troops
deployed around the city’s Abdul Hamid Karami Square, which is also known as
al-Nour Square.
The
soldiers later intervened and pushed protesters away from both sites, sending
them to neighboring streets after which they pelted the troops with stones.
Former
Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned on Friday that should the army prove unable
to control the situation in his hometown quickly enough, dangerous disorder
could set in.
“I
may have to carry arms to protect myself and my institutions,” Mikati told
local media.
Earlier
this month, Lebanon imposed a nationwide lockdown in a bid to stem a surge in
COVID-19 infection cases and prevent its hospitals from being overwhelmed.
A
round-the-clock curfew is in force, and grocery shopping is restricted to home
deliveries, which are often unavailable in Tripoli that is already one of
Lebanon’s poorest areas. Authorities have extended the lockdown by two weeks to
February 8.
Lebanon
has been fighting against COVID-19 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began
there on February 21, 2020. The country has recorded over 289,000 COVID-19
cases while death toll from the virus stands at more than 2,500.
Lebanon
has also been in the throes of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis
since 2019. The crisis has left tens of thousands people jobless as the local
currency has lost 80 percent of its value amid US sanctions.
Diab
has continued to steer the government in a caretaker capacity since he quit in
the aftermath of the suspicious August 4 explosion at Beirut’s port, which
killed at least 190 people, injured thousands, and left some 300,000 homeless.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/30/644155/Lebanese-leaders-denounce-violent-anti-lockdown-protests-in-Tripoli
--------
Damascus
says terrorist groups, US-backed militants continue to commit crimes in Syria
30
January 2021
Syria’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar al-Jaafari says terrorist organizations and
militants of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is supported
by the United States, continue to commit crimes in the Arab country.
The
Syrian diplomat made the remarks during an informal session of the United
Nations Security Council held via video conference at the initiative of Russia
and Kazakhstan on Friday, Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported.
During
the session titled, “Children in Armed Conflict in Syria,” Jaafari noted that
the said groups kept committing crimes and violations against children,
including killing, kidnapping, recruiting, and transferring children to
conflict areas in the countries of the region.
He
added that those groups were also burning and destroying schools and hospitals
and preventing children from receiving education.
The
Syrian deputy foreign minister, however, stressed that despite all the crimes
and violations, Damascus exerts tremendous effort to protect and care for the
children who are found in the areas liberated from the grips of terrorists or
those minors reached to the state institutions.
Jaafari
further described terrorism as one of the most dangerous threats that affect
countries and communities, warning that when it spreads, the first affected and
the most vulnerable ones would be children.
The
veteran diplomat also warned that an extremely alarming impact of terrorism is
recruiting children by terrorists and illegitimate entities and forcing them to
take part in terrorist acts.
Last
week, the UN Children's Agency said more than half of Syrian children in the
war-ravaged country were missing out on education, as almost a third of schools
have either fallen down or been commandeered by militant factions.
It
estimated that there are more than 2.4 million children out of school inside
the Arab country.
The
new figures showed an alarming sharp rise from previous estimates when the UN
agency said a third of Syrian schoolgoers were deprived of education.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/30/644143/Syria-terrorists-US-SDF-children-crimes
--------
Mideast
Iran
executes Javid Dehghan despite calls from UN, organizations to end killing
spree
Tamara
Abueish
30
January 2021
Iran
on Saturday executed Javid Dehghan, an ethnic Baluchi man accused of belonging
to a “terrorist” group, despite calls from the United Nations and international
organizations for Tehran to end its killing spree, Iran International reported.
The
31-year-old was executed in the Zahedan Central Prison in the Sistan-Baluchestan
province, according to the report.
Dhahghan
was reportedly a leader of the Jaish al-Adl Sunni militant group, and was
convicted for killing two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2015.
Jaish al-Adl says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for
ethnic minority Baluchis.
The
UN human rights office had urged Iran to halt the hanging of Dehghan and
several other prisoners from minority groups only a day earlier.
“#Iran:
We strongly condemn the series of executions – at least 28 – since
mid-December, including of people from minority groups. We urge the authorities
to halt the imminent execution of Javid Dehghan, to review his and other death
penalty cases in line with human rights law,” the UN human rights office said
on Twitter.
Iran
– which regularly receives criticism from international organization for its
human rights violations against minorities and anti-regime activists –
frequently dismisses the accusations as baseless.
Sistan-Baluchestan,
Iran’s poorest province, is mostly populated by ethnic Sunni Baluchis. As a
minority in the mostly-Shia country, the group complains of ethnic and
religious discrimination and accuses the Iranian regime of deliberately
neglecting the province due to the population’s Sunni faith.
In
December 2020, Iran executed two ethnic Baluchi citizens on unclear charges in
Zahedan, the Europe-based rights group Baluchi Activists Campaign said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/Iran-executes-Baluchi-man-despite-calls-from-UN-organizations-to-end-killing-spree
--------
UN
condemns Iran execution spree, worried about minorities
30
January 2021
The
United Nations human rights office on Friday condemned an alleged spree of 28
executions in Iran, including several prisoners from minority groups, and
called on Tehran to halt the hanging of an ethnic Baluchi man.
Iran
has often faced criticism from world bodies and Western human rights group for
its rights record and high number of executions - the world's highest after
China, according to Amnesty International. Tehran has dismissed the criticism
as baseless and due to a lack of understanding of its Islamic laws.
"#Iran:
We strongly condemn the series of executions – at least 28 – since
mid-December, including of people from minority groups," the UN human
rights office said on Twitter.
"We
urge the authorities to halt the imminent execution of Javid Dehghan, to review
his and other death penalty cases in line with human rights law," it
added.
There
was no immediate official Iranian reaction to the UN statement on Friday, the
weekend in the country.
Dehghan
was sentenced to death after being convicted "following a grossly unfair
trial" of belonging to an armed group and involvement in an ambush that
killed two Revolutionary Guards, Amnesty International said.
"The
court relied on torture-tainted 'confessions' and ignored the serious due
process abuses committed by Revolutionary Guards agents and prosecution
authorities during the investigation process," Amnesty said.
Iran's
Sistan-Baluchestan province borders on Afghanistan, the world's biggest
producer of opium, and Pakistan. The area has long been plagued by unrest from
drug smuggling gangs and separatist militants. The population of the province
is mostly Sunni Muslim, while the majority of Iranians are Shi’ites.
On
Thursday, state media said an Iranian member of ISIS was executed in
southwestern Khuzestan province, home to many of Iran's ethnic Arabs, for
taking part in an attack that killed two paramilitary Basij militiamen.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/UN-condemns-Iran-execution-spree-worried-about-minorities
--------
Conflicting
reports on reason for sirens in Tehran as Turkish flight diverted to Baku
Ismaeel
Naar and Yaghoub Fazeli
30
January 2021
Air
raid sirens were sounded in and around parts of Iran’s capital Tehran,
according to reports and videos shared on social media.
The
siren was heard for several minutes in western Tehran, according to videos
shared by Iranian users.
Around
the same time, a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tehran circled above
the Iranian capital before being diverted away. A Flight Radar 24 path of the
airplane showed it changed its flight path to Baku during the same time as
reports of the sirens were heard.
The
two events are “unrelated,” Iran’s state TV reported, citing unnamed sources.
The
Public Relations office of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport said the Turkish
Airlines plane had diverted due to “weather conditions.”
“The
pilot of the Turkish Airlines plane changed its route to Baku due to weather
conditions and will return to Tehran as the weather conditions stabilize,” the
semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the airport department as saying.
The
siren heard in western Tehran was due to a “disruption in the sound system of
an organization,” the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Hamidreza Goudarzi,
Tehran Governor’s Deputy for Security, as saying. Goudarzi did not say which
organization.
“There
are no security problems and people should not worry,” Goudarzi added.
The
director general of Tehran’s crisis management organization told state TV the
siren heard in the capital was the security alarm of “a complex” which was
“activated due to a leak caused by heavy rainfall.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/Air-raid-sirens-sound-in-and-around-Tehran-in-Iran-Reports
--------
Yemen's
Ansarullah welcomes Italy’s decision to block arms exports to Saudi Arabia, UAE
30
January 2021
The
popular Houthi Ansarullah movement has praised Italy’s decision to halt arms
exports to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates which have been waging a
devastating war on impoverished Yemen for years.
“Italy’s
announcement to stop selling weapons to countries that launch aggression
against Yemen is a positive step, which contributes to protecting civilians and
supporting the peace process,” Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Ansarullah spokesman,
wrote in a post published on his official Twitter page late Friday.
Earlier
Friday, Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said, “Today I am announcing
that the government has revoked the authorizations under way for the export of
missiles and aircraft bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”
He
added, “[This is] an act that we considered due, a clear message of peace
coming from our country. For us, respect for human rights is an unbreakable
commitment.”
Italy’s
Peace and Disarmament Network, a campaign group, hailed the move as “historic”
and said the move would stop the supply of at least 12,700 bombs.
It
“puts an end, once and for all, to the possibility that thousands of ordnance
manufactured in Italy could strike civilian facilities, cause casualties among
the population or contribute to worsening the already serious humanitarian
situation”, the group said.
Earlier
this week, US President Joe Biden paused arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
as part of his administration review of the exports.
Amnesty
International welcomed the US move, calling on European countries to follow
suit and end weapons exports to the two countries involved in a devastating
military campaign against Yemen.
“President
Biden’s decision to freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE represents a
welcome relief in an otherwise shameful chapter of history. Almost six years of
conflict in Yemen, fueled by irresponsible arms transfers, have left 14 million
Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance,” Philippe Nassif, advocacy
director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA,
said on Thursday.
“The
suspension of arms sales by the US is a step in the right direction and ups the
pressure on European countries, most notably the UK and France, to follow suit
and stop fueling the human misery in Yemen.”
Saudi
Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the war on Yemen in March
2015, with the goal of bringing the government of former president, Abd Rabbuh
Mansur Hadi, back to power and crushing the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.
According
to the UN, 80 percent of Yemen’s 30 million people need some form of aid or protection.
About 13.5 million Yemenis currently face acute food insecurity, UN data shows.
The
popular Houthi Ansarullah movement, backed by the Yemeni armed forces and
allied popular groups, has gone from strength to strength against the Saudi-led
invaders, and successfully defended Yemen against the Saudi aggression, leaving
Riyadh and its allies bogged down in the county.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/30/644148/Ansarullah-welcomes-Italy-decision-to-block-arms-exports-to-Saudi-Arabia-UAE
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Israeli
troops attack Palestinian protest against settlements
29
January 2021
Israeli
troops have attacked Palestinians during another round of anti-settlement
protests in the occupied West Bank.
The
Israeli troopers attacked participants in a weekly, peaceful protest in Kafr
Qaddum, east of Qalqilya City, on Friday.
Three
young Palestinian men were hit by bullets fired by the Israeli forces during
the clashes, which also saw the forces tear-gas the demonstrators, giving
dozens of them breathing difficulties.
Palestinians
take to the streets of the occupied West Bank every week to denounce Israel’s
settlement expansion policy.
More
than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli
occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem
al-Quds.
Emboldened
by the anti-Palestine policies of former US president Donald Trump, Israel
stepped up its settlement expansion in defiance of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 2334, which pronounces settlements in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem al-Quds “a flagrant violation under international law.”
All
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law as they are built on
occupied land.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/29/644109/Israeli-troops-attack-Palestinian-protest-against-settlements
--------
Africa
More
Victims Kidnapped By Boko Haram, Including Chibok Girls Escape From Captivity
JAN
28, 2021
Anumber
of victims kidnapped by Boko Haram, including some of the abducted Chibok
schoolgirls have escaped from their captors, SaharaReporters can confirm.
SaharaReporters
also learnt that the escapees are still with the military.
A
source privy to the information confirmed the news to SaharaReporters, saying,
“They are many and not only Chibok girls alone; they are made up of a variety
of women abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.”
It
was that some parents had been contacted by government officials and may
reunite with their loved ones in Maiduguri, Borno State, soon.
According
to Daily Trust, some parents had been contacted by officials handling the girls
and that they might be invited to Maiduguri on a later date.
A
source indicated that Halima Ali is one of the girls believed to have escaped
five years since the escape of her sister Maryam.
Halima
was allegedly married off to a commander under the instruction of Abubakar
Shekau a few months after their abduction from their boarding school in Chibok.
Her
father, Ali Maiyanga, could not be reached for comment but a credible source
said that friends and family members trooped to his house to congratulate the
family on the good news.
When
contacted, the Secretary, Chibok Parents Association, Lawal Zannah, said he had
information that some of the girls had escaped but had not yet ascertained the
number.
“We
heard that some of our girls have escaped from the forest, but we are yet to
get the details about their number,” Zannah said.
SaharaReporters
recalled that about 276 girls were kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary
School, Chibok, Borno state on April 14, 2014.
Since
then, a number of them have regained freedom. 57 of the girls escaped the night
they were kidnapped while three of the girls were later found.
Twenty-one
of the girls were released in October, 2016 while a good another number of the
girls, 82, were released on May 6.
The
government said the 82 girls were swapped with Boko Haram prisoners.
On
May, 27 2017, another girl also escaped from the terrorists.
http://saharareporters.com/2021/01/28/more-victims-kidnapped-boko-haram-including-chibok-girls-escape-captivity?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1949435_
--------
Somalia:
Civilian Killed in Roadside Bomb On Afgoye-Mogadishu Road Construction Site
27
JANUARY 2021
A
landmine explosion has hit a vehicle transporting Turkish company workers near
ex-control Afgoye in Mogadishu on Wednesday.
According
to witnesses, one pedestrian was killed and another one injured rushed to the
hospital for treatment.
Al-Shabaab
often targets Turkish workers and engineers building a tarmac road between
Mogadishu and Afgoye, and construction is nearing completion near Afgoye.
Authorities
have not yet commented on the incident.
No
group has claimed responsibility but Al-Shabaab fighters have on 2 January
attacked Mogadishu Afgoye construction site killing five people including two
Turkish engineers.
Mogadishu
Afgoye road construction is funded Qatar project runs and runs 120 kilometres.
It
will link the capital and the agriculturally productive Lower Shabelle region.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202101280147.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1949435_
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No
poison found in suspect letter to Tunisian President Kais Saied
29
January 2021
A
suspicious letter addressed to Tunisian President Kais Saied did not contain
any dangerous material, a senior official said Friday, after the presidency had
suggested an attempted poisoning.
Saied’s
chief of staff Nadia Akacha, who opened the envelope, was briefly hospitalized
this week after suffering from short-term vision loss and headaches, according
to the presidency.
Tunisian
media suggested the letter may have contained ricin, a poison that can be
lethal in high doses.
But
Mohsen Dali, the spokesman of the prosecution department, told AFP that
analysis carried out on the empty envelope indicated it “did not contain any
suspicious, toxic or dangerous” material.
He
added, however, that an investigation is still underway.
The
presidency did not say when the incident occurred but stressed that Saied did
not come into contact with the envelope -- which was eventually destroyed in a
shredder -- and that he was in good health.
Another
employee, who was in the same room with Akacha when she opened the envelope,
had similar symptoms but of lesser intensity, it added.
Akacha
was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/01/29/No-poison-found-in-suspect-letter-to-Tunisian-President-Kais-Saied
--------
North
America
Biden
administration extends program allowing Syrians to seek temporary refuge in US
Joseph
Haboush
29
January 2021
The
Biden administration Friday issued an order to allow thousands of Syrian
nationals to stay in the United States for at least another year and a half due
to the ongoing civil war and danger faced by the Assad regime.
Syria’s
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation was extended for another 18
months, acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske announced in a
statement.
According
to his statement, more than 6,700 eligible Syrians will benefit from the
action, which now allows them to seek refuge in the US until September 2022.
Another
1,800 individuals can file applications to become eligible for this status,
Pekoske added.
The
program allows people without nationality, but last lived in Syria, to apply.
The
TPS designation is issued when a country is in a state of armed conflict or
environmental disaster.
“The
Syrian civil war continues to demonstrate deliberate targeting of civilians,
the use of chemical weapons and irregular warfare tactics, and use of child
soldiers. The war has also caused the sustained need for humanitarian
assistance, an increase in refugees and displaced people, food insecurity,
limited access to water and medical care, and large-scale destruction of
Syria’s infrastructure,” Pekoske said.
Due
to the circumstances, Syrians cannot safely return to their homeland, he said.
Syria’s
TPS designation was first issued in March 2012, nearly a year after the
outbreak of the Syrian war.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/29/Biden-administration-extends-program-allowing-Syrians-to-seek-temporary-refuge-in-US
--------
Priority
for US is dealing with Iran moving closer to nuclear weapon: Official
Joseph
Haboush
29
January 2021
A
“critical” early priority for the Biden administration is to deal with Iran
getting closer to a nuclear weapon, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
said Friday.
“A
critical early priority [for the administration] is to deal with the escalating
nuclear crisis [as Iran] moves closer and closer” to getting a nuclear weapon,
Sullivan said during a webinar with the United States Institute of Peace.
In a
slight jab at the Trump administration for withdrawing from the 2015 Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Sullivan claimed that Iran was
“significantly” closer to manufacturing a nuclear weapon than under the Obama
administration.
Sullivan
also touched on Iran’s ballistic missile capability, which “has advanced, and
advanced under the Obama administration.” But he said this had “now
accelerated” under former President Donald Trump.
Direct
attacks on US partners in the region, as well as Tehran’s support for proxies,
has become “more audacious,” Sullivan said.
“Our
view is that if we can get back into diplomacy to put Iran’s nuclear program
back into a box,” it will put Washington in a position to address the ballistic
missile program.
“We
have to address Iran’s other malign behavior in the region,” Sullivan said.
Earlier
in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was necessary to include
regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, in any future nuclear talks.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/29/Priority-for-US-is-dealing-with-Iran-moving-closer-to-nuclear-weapon-Official
--------
Afghanistan’s
Taliban say honouring Doha deal, warn US troops to leave or die
29
January 2021
The
Taliban have roundly dismissed the Pentagon’s claim that the Afghan militant
group is not in compliance with the agreement it reached with the United States
in Qatar last year, warning Washington that US troops will be killed if they
refuse to leave the country as required by the deal.
In a
tweet on Friday, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, reacted to
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby’s comments in his first news conference a
day earlier about the US military presence in Afghanistan.
Kirby
claimed “the Taliban have not met their commitments” under the deal they
reached with the former US administration in Doha last February, which would
ultimately lead to a permanent cease-fire in exchange for cutting the number of
American troops in Afghanistan in phases to go to zero by May 2021.
The
US troop drawdown began under ex-president Donald Trump, who reduced the number
of American boots on the ground from approximately 13,500 to 2,500 before
leaving office in mid-January.
Kirby,
however, said the US will not proceed with the drawdown unless the Taliban
comply with the Doha agreement. He added that new Defense Secretary Lloyd
Austin was reviewing the matter and had discussed the path forward in the
war-torn country with NATO allies and partners.
Mujahid,
however, said the Pentagon’s claim about the Taliban’s non-compliance was not
true.
The
Afghan group, he added, “is committed to all articles of the agreement and is
honoring its side.”
“Implementing
the Doha deal is the only solution to the current challenge,” The Taliban’s
spokesman said. “We want the Americans to honor the Doha agreement as well.”
In a
phone conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday, new US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was reviewing the agreement
with Taliban to see whether the Taliban was fulfilling commitments to “cut ties
with terrorist groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, and to engage in
meaningful negotiations with the Afghan government and other stakeholders.”
In
recent weeks, deadly attacks and high-profile assassinations have seen a rise
in Afghanistan. The Taliban have denied responsibility for the killings, but Afghan
and US officials have pinned the blame on the group.
A
part of the deal, the Taliban promised to break ties with al-Qaeda and not
allow any other armed group to use the Afghan territories under their control
to attack the US.
However,
the memorandum from the US Treasury Department to the Department of Defense,
released on January 4, claimed, “as of 2020, al-Qaeda is gaining strength in
Afghanistan while continuing to operate with the Taliban under the Taliban’s
protection.”
That
claim was also rejected by the Taliban, with its deputy peace negotiator, Shir
Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, saying the Afghan group has no ties to terrorist
outfits, including al-Qaeda.
“We
are acting based on the agreement [with the US] and do not allow foreign
militants to have presence in Afghanistan,” he told Russian media on Friday
during a visit to Moscow.
Stanikzai
said such claims are intended to mislead the world community and serve as a
pretext to justify the US military’s continued presence on Afghan soil.
Taliban:
We will kill US troops if they refuse to leave
He
added that the 2020 agreement with the United States was also meant offer
American “invading” troops a “safe passage” out of Afghanistan, and that the
Taliban expects new US President Joe Biden administration’s so-called review of
the document will not lead to its destruction.
“We
hope that when they are reviewing it they will come to the same positive
[conclusion],” Stanikzai stressed.
The
Taliban negotiator once again rejected a New York Times report in June 2020
that accused Russia of paying the militant group to kill American troops in
Afghanistan, delivering a stern warning to the US against attempting to keep
its forces on Afghan oil in defiance of the Doha accord.
“We
do not need anyone to give us reward for the killing of Americans. Americans
are the invaders and we are [have been] killing them since 2001,” he said.
“If
they remain in Afghanistan after this [the agreed deadline] we will also kill
them even if somebody reward us or do not reward us. We take our reward from
God. We fight the invaders without a reward, without any bounty,” Stanikzai
warned.
The
Taliban view the Kabul government as a US agent and cite the presence of
foreign forces in Afghanistan as the main reason behind their continued
militancy.
The
US along with its NATO allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the guise of
fighting terrorism and dismantling al-Qaeda.
The
invasion — which has turned into the longest war in US history — removed the
Taliban from power in Afghanistan, but it only led to more militancy and
violence as well as the emergence of Takfiri terrorism in the Central Asian
country.
Over
2,400 American soldiers and tens of thousands of Afghan civilians have also
been killed in the war.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/29/644110/Taliban-dismiss-US-claim-of-non-compliance-with-Doha-deal
--------
Europe
French
President Emmanuel Macron to visit crisis-hit Lebanon for a third time
Joseph
Haboush & Hussein Kneiber
29
January 2021
French
President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that he would pay a third visit to
Lebanon, less than a year after he made two trips in an attempt to speed up the
formation of a new government.
Macron,
who took the lead on forming a roadmap for Lebanon to crawl out of its
unprecedented economic crisis, told Al Arabiya that the French proposal was
“still on the table” because there were “no other solutions available.”
Following
the deadly Aug. 4 Beirut blast, Macron laid out a plan that Lebanese officials
and politicians committed to, which required economic reforms and a serious
effort to clamp down on corruption.
Six
months after the explosion, the ruling elite has yet to implement any reforms
needed to unlock badly needed economic aid.
The
international community, including regional countries that have traditionally
stood by Lebanon, refuses to provide financial assistance to a ruling elite
that is seen as corrupt by a majority of the Lebanese population.
But
Macron said he would visit Lebanon for the third time after particular actions
were taken. He did not elaborate.
“We
will do everything to help form a new government in Lebanon,” even if it does
not meet all the criteria, he said.
Macron
revealed that preparations are underway for a new round of talks on the
Lebanese file.
He
also commended the Lebanese people and the expat community. “As for their
leaders, they don’t deserve their country,” Macron said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/29/French-President-Emmanuel-Macron-to-visit-crisis-hit-Lebanon-for-a-third-time
--------
In
‘historic’ move, Italy blocks arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE over Yemen crimes
29
January 2021
Italy
has permanently stopped exports of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) amid worries over the two regimes’ continued war crimes in
Yemen, in what human rights campaigners praised as a “historic” move that sets
“an important precedent” for other European countries.
Foreign
Minister Luigi Di Maio announced the halt on Friday, citing Rome’s commitment
to ending the bloodshed in Yemen and protecting human rights.
“This
is an act that we considered necessary, a clear message of peace coming from
our country. For us, the respect of human rights is an unbreakable commitment,”
Di Maio said in a statement.
In an
interview with Italy’s il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper, Manlio Di Stefano,
undersecretary for foreign affairs, said the decision was make last week, after
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte gave the green-light to a relevant recommendation
made by Di Maio.
The
Italian Network for Peace and Disarmament said the decision would block the
sale of around 12,700 missiles to Saudi Arabia, which were part of a total
allotment of 20,000 missiles worth over 400 million euros agreed in 2016 under
the ex-administration.
‘Spotlight
now on UK, other European arms sellers’
Andrew
Smith from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade told the Middle East Eye online
news portal that the Italian decision sets a “vitally important precedent” for
other European countries that keep selling weapons to the Saudi regime, despite
its atrocities in Yemen.
“The
Italian government should not have been arming Saudi forces in the first place.
The arms sales they have supported have fueled a brutal war and helped to
create a humanitarian catastrophe,” Smith said.
“However,
this sets a vitally important precedent from a major European arms exporter,”
he added. “The spotlight now has to be turned on the UK, and other arms-dealing
governments who have played a central role in enabling the conflict.”
The
activist such arms exports must come to an end, “so must the political support
that has underpinned them.”
Conte
had in 2018 expressed a desire for his government to end arms sales to Saudi
Arabia due to its devastating war on Yemen as well as the state-sponsored
assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul
consulate a year earlier.
Italy’s
latest decision followed an announcement by new US President Joe Biden earlier
this week that there would a pause in arms exports to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi as
his administration reviewed the exports.
The
temporary ban will reportedly include the sale of precision-guided weapons to
Saudi Arabia and advanced F-35 fighters to the UAE.
The
Biden administration’s decision was welcomed on Thursday by prominent human
rights group Amnesty International, which called on the European countries to
follow suit.
Backed
by the US, the UK and other Western states, Saudi regime and a coalition of its
allies have been engaged in a military against Yemen since early 2015 with the
aim of reinstalling a Riyadh-friendly government there.
The
campaign has failed to achieve its goals, thanks to the resistance put up by
the Yemeni army and allied popular groups, but it has left the poorest Arabian
Peninsula state mired in the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” as the United
Nations put it.
According
to the latest figure provided by the UN in December 2020, that war has claimed
over 233,000 lives so far. The campaign of aggression has also left millions of
Yemenis on the brink of famine and wreaked havoc on the country’s civilian
infrastructure, including hospitals and schools.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/29/644121/Italy-blocks-arms-sales-to-Saudi-Arabia,-UAE-over-Yemen-crimes
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Former
MEPs slam Iran’s terror campaign across Europe
January
29, 2021
LONDON:
A group of former Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have slammed Iran
for its campaign of terror across Europe.
A
cross-party panel of former European policymakers and experts on Tehran’s use
of terrorism criticized the regime for using intelligence assets as terrorists.
The
panel, hosted by the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ),
gathered amid a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the EU, with an Iranian
diplomat currently on trial for planning to bomb an anti-Tehran rally in Paris.
Assadollah
Assadi — a senior Iranian diplomat at the embassy in Vienna, Austria — and his
three co-conspirators are charged with plotting a terror attack on an annual
gathering of the Iranian opposition in 2018.
The
“Free Iran” gathering was launched to show support for the Iranian opposition
leader Maryam Rajavi’s proposed roadmap for the future of Iran, which calls for
the universal right to vote, free elections, and a market economy.
A
court in Belgium is expected to offer its ruling on the case of Assadi and his
conspirators on Feb. 4.
The
ISJ panel included Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former vice president of the European
Parliament, Giulio Terzi, former Italian foreign minister, Struan Stevenson,
former Scotland MEP, and Paulo Casaca, a former Portuguese MEP.
Vidal-Quadras
said: “I would advise policymakers that if you want peace and stability in the
region, if you want human rights to be respected in Iran, do not engage with
this regime.”
On
the foiled plot to bomb the rally in 2018, Vidal-Quadras said: “Fortunately,
this plot was disrupted through the cooperation of European governments. The
latest revelations from the trial show that the Iranian-Belgian couple Nasimeh
Naami and Amir Saadouni, who received the bomb directly from Assadi, were
instructed to place the explosive device as close as possible to Rajavi.”
He
added: “I was sitting very close to Rajavi. First-rank political figures were
sitting in a space of a few meters around her. You can imagine the consequences
if such an attack succeeded.”
Terzi
told the audience: “There are many questions about this case and European
policy. How is Europe going to stop these terrorist activities? If we look at
history, there have been a lot of terrorist actions on European soil that the
regime has denied despite a huge amount of evidence that pointed to Iran. How
will Europe stop these terrorist attacks against Europeans and political
refugees?
Asked
by Arab News how the EU could combat Iran’s reign of terror across the
continent, Stevenson said: “The only policy that works is toughness and
decisiveness.”
He
added: “To stop Tehran’s terrorism, the EU must list the Iranian Revolutionary
Guards Corps, the Quds Force and the intelligence services as terrorist
outfits.
“Secondly,
the EU must investigate who Assadi met in Europe, and whom he paid. Identify
and arrest these agents and expel them.”
His
final suggestion was for the EU to “shut down Iran’s embassies until we have
absolute assurance that the regime will dismantle their terror network in
Europe.”
Casaca
said: “European institutions should reinforce European unity, uphold the rule
of law, and ensure the protection of values that keep our countries together,
including freedom and protection from terrorism.
“They
must not bow to foreign terrorist powers that want us to bow before them. The
regime must not enjoy impunity in causing terrorism.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1800211/middle-east
--------
Muslim
headscarves barred in all public areas in France under new measures proposed by
Marine Le Pen
Maya
Oppenheim
Jan
30, 2021
Muslim
headscarves would be prohibited in all public areas in France under new
measures proposed by French far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Ms Le
Pen claimed the headscarf was an “Islamist” piece of clothing as she branded
“Islamist ideologies” as “totalitarian and murderous” at a press conference
where she unveiled the newly suggested law.
The
court would challenge the measure proposed by the leader of the National Rally
party – previously known as the National Front – and be likely to declare it
unconstitutional.
It
comes after the prime minister Jean Castex recently ruled out a bid to ban
religious veils for children in public spaces in France.
The
proposal had been suggested by a member of Emmanuel Macron’s party and had the
support of senior politicians in the centrist party as well as gaining Ms Le
Pen’s backing.
Speculation
has mounted Ms Le Pen could win the 2022 election by capitalising on mounting
discontent over the coronavirus crisis and the ensuing financial fallout from
the pandemic.
A
poll carried out by Harris Interactive found Le Pen would be close behind
Macron, managing to clinch 48 per cent of the vote, while the current French
leader would be elected again with 52 per cent. This is the smallest margin a
poll pitting the two leaders against each other has ever found.
Ms Le
Pen, who is the youngest daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, a convicted racist who
is former president of the National Front, is known for her virulently
xenophobic and islamophobic views.
The
politician, who suffered a massive defeat to Mr Macron in the 2017 presidential
elections, has long pledged to implement a heavy clampdown on immigration as
well as outlawing the Muslim headscarf.
Ms Le
Pen branded Donald Trump's win as president in the US as "an additional
stone in the building of a new world".
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/marine-le-pen-muslim-headscarves-france-b1795112.html
--------
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