New Age Islam News Bureau
10 June 2022
The speakers called for a boycott of Indian products
until the country abandons its anti-Muslim stance. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
----
• Islamists in Pakistan Hold Protest Rally against
Controversial Remarks by Former BJP Spokespersons
• Bon Odori Festival Can Lead To Polytheism, Says
Penang Mufti
• Don’t Jeopardise Jobs of Hindu Employees in Gulf in
Reaction to the Controversial Remarks on Prophet Muhammad: Sunni Leader Aboobacker
Musaliyar
• Stop Wasting Resources on Fidau Prayers, In Honour
of Their Deceased, Lekki Central Mosque Imam Urges Muslims
South
Asia
• Taliban to Act Against Pak LeT/JeM Terrorists in
Afghanistan on Specific Intel
• Amnesty International Calls on the Taliban to
“Immediately” Release the Afghan YouTuber and His Colleagues
• Islamic Emirate Reiterates Pledge of Safety for
Returning Afghans
• Saudi Arabia Pledges a $30 Million Grant to the
Afghan Humanitarian Trust Fund
--------
Pakistan
• Lahore ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for
PTI leaders over long march vandalism
• Culprits 'will not escape justice': Pakistan rejects
India's remarks on Karachi Hindu temple vandalism
• Imran Khan trying to reach out to establishment due
to frustration: Pakistan Defence Minister
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Southeast
Asia
• Onus on Malaysian companies to play by US rules,
says Zuraida
• Indonesia and Qatar Collaborate on Afghanistan
Relief Efforts
• Health Group Welcomes Code against Exploitation of
Religion In Advertising
• Nearly 60 Rohingya found abandoned on Thai island
while en route to Malaysia: Police
• Parti Bangsa Malaysia Accepts Zuraida Kamaruddin,
Makes Her ‘President Designate’
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India
• Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha Seeks FIR against Muslim
Cleric Shaher Qazi Hafiz Quddus Hadi of Kanpur
• Kanpur Violence: 'Muslims Being Picked Up
Indiscriminately,' Say Families of Those Arrested
• 3 Muslim Men Forced To Do Sit-Ups, Chant 'Jai Shri
Ram' In UP
• Hyderabad: Local Muslims protest against remarks on
Prophet
• Tehseen Poonawalla Presses For FIR against Muslim
Cleric, Ilyas Sharfuddin, For Making ‘Communal’ Remarks against Hinduism
• Case over "Threat" To Varanasi Judge Who
Ordered Gyanvapi Mosque Filming
• 'Don't Block Roads': Bengal Muslim Body Calls For
Peaceful Protests over Prophet Remarks Row
• Charge Those Who Instigated Islamic Nations against
India with Treason: Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar
• Curfew imposed in J&K's Bhaderwah town after
communal tension
• Prophet jibe: ‘Balancing’ charge after Delhi
police's parallel FIR
• Sadhus organise Ganga puja to ‘free Shivalinga’ at
Gyanvapi
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Africa
• Nigeria suspects Islamic State of killing 40 in
Catholic Church
• Sudan’s main civilian opposition coalition to meet
with ruling junta: Party leader
• Nigeria links church attack in Ondo state to ISWAP
terror group
• South Africa’s president suspends anti-corruption
czar
--------
Arab
World
• Israeli Premier Arrives In Abu Dhabi to Meet UAE
President
• Israel strikes southern Damascus: Syrian state media
• Iraq’s Sadr Warns MPs Could ‘Resign’ To Break
Political Deadlock
• Turkey Hopes Allies ‘Respect’ Planned Syria Offensive
• YPG/PKK terror group kidnapped Syrian brothers, ages
9 and 10, to join terrorist ranks
• Turkish intel ‘neutralizes’ 3 PKK terrorists in
northern Iraq
• Lebanon’s Hezbollah can stop Israeli gas extraction
from disputed field, chief says
--------
Mideast
• Israeli Court Upholds Sale of Jerusalem Church Land
to Jewish Group
• Iran Proxies Engaged In 'Invisible Jihad' Against
Christians in Middle East, Philos Project Report Warns
• Iranian, Russian Presidents Discuss Ties, Oppose
IAEA Political Approach
• FM: West Fails to Force Iran into Recognition of
Zionist Regime
• Spokesman: Iran to Give Firm Response to IAEA
Resolution
• Envoy: Iran Staunch Supporter of Elimination of
Nukes
• Iran, Nigeria Ink Several MoUs to Expand Cooperation
--------
North
America
• US Lawmakers Call for Plan to Integrate Middle East Air
Defences, Confront Iran
• US says Iran threatening fate of JCPOA talks, could
become further isolated
--------
Europe
• Council of Europe Urges Denmark to Address Anti-Muslim
Discrimination, Racism
• Serbia completes preparations for visa-free travel
with Türkiye
• Russia welcomes normalization between Türkiye,
Armenia
• Bosnian Serb leader demands deportation of high
representative
• EU urges Algeria to reverse split with Spain
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bangladesh-india-blasphemy-muslim-hefazat-dhaka/d/127217
--------
Bangladesh Slams India’s Leaders for Blasphemy,
Anti-Muslim Policies; Hefazat-e-Islam Held a Big Rally in Dhaka
The speakers called for a boycott of Indian products
until the country abandons its anti-Muslim stance. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
----
June 10, 2022
Bangladesh’s biggest non-political Islamic platform,
Hefazat-e-Islam, on Thursday held a big rally in the capital Dhaka in protest
against defamatory comments about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by some officials of
the Indian ruling party.
Leaders of the organisation called on the Bangladeshi
government to send a formal condemnation message to the Indian authorities
against disrespect to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
If the Indian government fails to punish the
offenders, it would tarnish the constitutional image of the country as a
secular state, Hefazat leader Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury said while addressing
the rally.
The participants also chanted slogans against India’s
oppressive state policy targeting Muslims for a long time and urged all Muslims
across the world to be united against any oppression.
The speakers called for a boycott of Indian products
until the country abandons its anti-Muslim stance.
Last week, the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)
spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, the BJP’s Delhi media head,
made insulting remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), triggering a wave of
condemnation at home and from the Islamic world.
India, however, on Monday said the remarks do not
reflect the views of the government, with the relevant bodies taking strong
action against them.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also
stressed that they “do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government
of India.”—AP
Source: Pak Observer
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original story:
https://pakobserver.net/bangladesh-slams-indias-leaders-for-blas-phemy-anti-muslim-policies/
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Islamists in Pakistan Hold Protest Rally against
Controversial Remarks by Former BJP Spokespersons
People chant anti-India
slogans to condemn the derogatory references to Prophet Muhammad in Karachi,
Pakistan, Monday. (Photo | AP)
-----
Sajjad Hussain
09.06.22
Thousands of Islamists in Pakistan on Thursday rallied
in capital Islamabad, protesting over controversial remarks by two former BJP
spokespersons against Prophet Mohammad.
The demonstrators from a right wing party,
Jamaat-e-Islami, briefly scuffled with police when they were stopped from
marching towards the Indian High Commission located in the high security
Diplomatic Enclave.
Police said that no one was hurt in the clash and no
arrest was made, as the protestors dispersed after failing to break through the
police cordon to enter the Diplomatic Enclave.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
Fazl (JUI-F), have given a call for peaceful protests after Friday prayers on
June 10.
The BJP has already suspended its national
spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled the party's Delhi unit media head Naveen
Jindal for their controversial remarks following widespread anger in several
Gulf countries.
India has said that the remarks do not reflect the
views of the government.
India has categorically rejected criticism by the
57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif over the issue.
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India accords the
"highest respect" to all religions and described the statement by the
grouping as "motivated, misleading and mischievous" and that it
exposed its "divisive agenda" which is being pursued at the behest of
"vested interests."
Referring to Sharif's condemnation of the remarks by
Sharma and Jindal, and the Pakistan Foreign Ministry's criticism, Bagchi said
the "absurdity of a serial violator of minority rights commenting on the
treatment of minorities in another nation is not lost on anyone."
Bagchi said the government "accords the highest
respect to all religions. This is quite unlike Pakistan where fanatics are
eulogized and monuments built in their honour".
Source: Telegraph India
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original story:
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Bon Odori Festival Can Lead To Polytheism, Says Penang
Mufti
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri
Wan Salim Wan Mohd Nor said Muslims were advised to always preserve the purity
of their Islamic faith by avoiding being involved in such festivals. — Picture
by Sayuti Zainudin
-----
June 7, 2022
GEORGE TOWN: Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor
advised Muslims against being involved in the Bon Odori festival for fear it
could lead to “syirik” (polytheism).
Wan Salim said Muslims should always preserve the
purity of their Islamic faith by avoiding such festivals.
“Since the festival is linked to remembering the souls
or spirits of ancestors, it is feared that it could lead to polytheism.
“Remembering the souls of the ancestors by dancing,
worshipping their spirits and others is not encouraged in Islam,” he said in a
statement here today.
Yesterday, minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
(religious affairs) Idris Ahmad was reported to have said that the Islamic
development department (Jakim) found that the Bon Odori festival had elements
of other religions.
As such, Muslims were advised against participating in
the event which would be held at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex on July
16.
Meanwhile, Penang tourism and creative economy
committee chairman, Yeoh Soon Hin in a separate event said the state government
did not plan to cancel the event scheduled for July 30.
He said that, in the context of Penang, it did not
contain elements of worship or certain religious rituals.
He said the festival had been held in Penang for the
last 10 years, and it was to strengthen long-established ties between Malaysia
and Japan. This, he said, could indirectly help spur the economy and tourism in
the state.
According to Yeoh, the festival held in Penang before
Covid-19 could attract over 10,000 visitors and the state government expected
attendance this year to exceed 5,000 people.
Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, the Malaysian Islamic charity
council (MAIM), under Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, said Muslims should not
be celebrating the festivals of other religions that involve matters of faith.
Its chairman, Najhan Shahir Halim, said the ban was
based on the Quran and hadiths (narrative record of the sayings or customs of
Prophet Muhammad and his companions) and the five maqasid shariah (objectives
or purposes behind the Islamic rulings) principles which among others protected
religion, life and the mind.
Nevertheless, he urged Muslims to respect the cultures
and beliefs of other religions.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Don’t Jeopardise Jobs of Hindu Employees in Gulf in
Reaction to the Controversial Remarks on Prophet Muhammad: Sunni Leader
Aboobacker Musaliyar
Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker
Musaliyar
-----
10th June 2022
KOZHIKODE: Sunni leader Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker
Musaliyar has said the reactions to the controversial remarks on Prophet
Muhammad should not lead to members of the Hindu community working in the Gulf
countries and elsewhere losing their jobs.
In a statement issued from Cairo on Thursday, he said
the Hindu community should not be blamed for the blasphemous remarks. “A large
majority of the people in India maintains secular ideals,” he said.
Kanthapuram said believers are passing through great
pains, and it is unjust to blame the Hindu community. The reaction to the
remarks should not result in taking wrong positions against the Hindu
believers. “It should not adversely affect our social fabric,” he said.
He added that the country should jointly fight the
forces which are trying to capitalise on the situation.
“A majority of the people in India respect religious
sentiments. It is the secular ideology of the country that won the respect of
the Arab countries and those who try to malign the image should be reined in,”
he said.
Source: New Indian Express
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original story:
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Stop Wasting Resources on Fidau Prayers, In Honour of
Their Deceased, Lekki Central Mosque Imam Urges Muslims
Photo: The Guardian
----
By Shakirah Adunola
10 June 2022
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Sheikh Ridwanullahi
Jamiu, has called on Muslims to stop the idea of flamboyant fidau prayers or
ceremonies in honour of their deceased loved ones, saying the ceremonial
gathering usually organised in most parts of the country is not acceptable in
Islam.
The renowned scholar said that whatever Muslim will do
regarding the religion must be strictly guided by the teachings and saying of
Prophet Muhammed, saying that the usual gathering of people for prayers,
celebration or ceremony in commemoration of a deceased Muslim must be strictly
discouraged as it against the tenet of Islam.
Speaking at an event organised by the Lekki Muslim
Ummah, LEMU, the Imam said that Islam enjoins Muslims to remember their loved
ones who have passed on with prayers. He added that there is no proof that
fidau prayers should be organised for them other than the janaza prayer, which
is part of the burial rites.
Imam Jamiu said: “Anything you want to do as a Muslim
must be guided by the teachings of our noble prophet Muhammed. There is no
proof in the sunnah of the prophet that one can do any Fidau prayers for the
deceased person. But it is the sunnah according to the Quran and sayings of the
prophet, we should always remember our deceased person with prayers. Allah said
we should always remember those who came before us in our prayers. That’s an
individual thing. But when a person is just deceased, what is recommended in
Islam is solatul jannazah. All scholars know this. Solatul janazah is the
prayer where the imam stands and people stand behind him and the corpse is
placed in the front of the imam who will say takbir for four times or
thereabouts. That’s the only prayer that is recommended. But the coming
together for a special ceremony or prayer after the funeral prayer is not found
in Islam and the sunnah of the prophet. Therefore, we have to abstain from it
so that we won’t end up wasting our resources on something that is not based on
any evidence.”
He added that the ceremony under the guise of helping
the needy is not allowed in Islam, adding that Muslims must be strictly guided
by the Sunnah of the holy prophet. “The prophet said that anyone who does
anything or any act of worship which is not based on our teachings, is
rejected. Why do we have to waste our time, resources on what will be rejected?
So, we don’t need to waste any food for any person. Once someone dies, we don’t
need to cook food for people. It is people who need to support the bereaved
family with food, especially if the family is needy or poor.
“When Jafar died, the prophet urged people to support
Jafar’s family with food because a great calamity had befallen them. So, we
should always look at the bereaved to know if they are needy so that we can
support them. So, they are not required to provide food for people whether for
the first, 2nd or 3rd day, not even the 8th day or any other day in the name of
the funerals.”
The Chief Imam, however, said that one of the first
things the family of anyone left behind by the deceased needs to do is to
embark on some project or charity, adding that the prophet said that the
deceased would be rewarded based on some project he or she did while alive.
“He will continue to receive the reward from what he
had initiated before his death for as long as people continue to benefit from
that thing. Also, the knowledge the deceased had before he died for as long
people benefit from it, he would receive the reward whether when he is alive or
dead. The third one is righteous children, so whatever the children do in terms
of personal prayers, establishment of a foundation or building of a mosque in
order to remember the deceased, the dead ones will receive the reward. Even given
charity for the poor but this must not be targeted at the third day, 8th day,
40th day, one year or so. You can feed the poor during Ramadan. This mustn’t be
done ceremoniously or targeted at an anniversary.”
Source: Guardian Nigeria
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South
Asia
Taliban to act against Pak LeT/JeM terrorists in
Afghanistan on specific intel
Jun 10, 2022
By Shishir Gupta
During the bilateral meeting in Kabul last week, the
Taliban top leadership assured India that it will not allow terrorism against
third country from its soil but also act against terrorists of Pak-based groups
on basis of pin-pointed intelligence.
It is learnt that India’s delegation leader and Af-Pak
expert J P Singh met Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob and Interior Minister
Sirajuddin Haqqani apart from Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at Kabul on
invitation from the Taliban government. The meeting came after National
Security Advisor Ajit Doval at a Regional Security Summit in Dushanbe asked fellow
NSAs of Russia, China, Iran, and Central Asian Republics to enhance the
capability of Afghanistan to counter terrorism and terrorists who pose a threat
to regional peace and security.
According to information available from Kabul and New
Delhi, the Taliban leadership not only promised action against India specific
groups based in Pakistan like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul
Mujahideen but also terrorists from Al Qaeda in the Sub-Continent (AQIS)
provided specific information was provided.
The Indian perception from the bilateral meeting is
that relationship of the Taliban regime with Al Qaeda is not the same as during
Osama bin Laden days in past decades but there is a question mark on the
Taliban foot-soldiers commitment and capability to take on the Salafist
terrorist group. The AQIS has been trying to take credit for terrorists attacks
in the sub-continent with the objective of enhancing its foot-print in the
region. On June 5-6, it threatened both Bangladesh and India with suicide bomb
attacks for trying to defame Islam and the Prophet.
Intelligence inputs indicate that AQIS and the
so-called Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) are also branded products
of terror factories based in Pakistan with the involvement of its deep state.
India has already informed stake-holders in the region and in the west that any
terror attack in Indian hinterland would be met with strong retaliation.
While the top Taliban leadership is committed to act
against terror against India, the Modi government has decided to continue with
humanitarian aid and revival of infrastructure projects and power stations in
the strife torn country. With New Delhi directly engaging the Taliban on shared
interests and stability in Afghanistan, the salience of Central Asian republics
like bordering Tajikistan in the context of Kabul has gone down a few notches
below in priority. Fact is that India no longer needs to operate a hospital
across Amu Darya or have a presence at a military base in Tajikistan, which is
opposed to the Taliban regime and is virtually caught in a Chinese debt trap.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Amnesty International Calls on the Taliban to
“Immediately” Release the Afghan YouTuber and His Colleagues
By Saqalain Eqbal
09 Jun 2022
Amnesty International has called on the Taliban to
release Afghan model and YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi and his colleagues immediately.
Taliban forces have arrested Ajmal Haqiqi and three of
his colleagues on blasphemy accusations. The Taliban’s intelligence agency
confirmed the arrest of Haqiqi and his colleagues on Tuesday, June 7, with the
release of a video of their confessions.
Four persons, including Ajmal Haqiqi, are handcuffed
in a video shared on Twitter by the Taliban’s intelligence agency. Ajmal
Haqiqi, model, and YouTube is among those who have coercively confessed to
“promoting indecencies and insulting the verses of the Qur’an.”
However, this confession appears to be coerced as he
read from a written script.
Amnesty International described the arrests as a
“blatant attack on freedom of expression” and a flagrant breach of
international law, according to the statement.
Amnesty International further stated that the Taliban
should promptly release these individuals and not censor the ideas of those who
choose to express themselves.
The Taliban must immediately and unconditionally
release the YouTubers and end their continued censorship of those who wish to
freely express their ideas. Samira Hamidi, Amnesty International’s South Asia
Campaigner
According to the statement, since the Taliban took
power in Afghanistan, they have been using “intimidation, harassment,
violence,” and torturing people, according to Samira Hamidi, Amnesty
International’s South Asia Campaigner.
Source: Khaama Press
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Islamic Emirate Reiterates Pledge of Safety for
Returning Afghans
Jun 10, 2022
The Islamic Emirate has reiterated its pledge to
provide security to the individuals who want to return to the country.
The commission of “Return and Communications with
Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” said that the Islamic Emirate
doesn’t seek revenge and that the individuals who left the country can return.
“Every time when one side wins they try to impose
their ideology on the opponent side and this has become normal in Afghanistan.
When one side came to power, it sought to pressure the other side. This will be
a good opportunity for us to not pass on such experiences to the next
generation,” said Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate.
"We have a 40 million population. Everyone cannot
take a seat and have power but it doesn’t mean they should be distant from
their home and country,” said Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Meanwhile, the individuals who returned to the country
called on the government to take advantage of their experience in government
institutions.
Amanullah Ghlib, former head of the Da Afghanistan
Breshna Sherkat (DABS); Ghulam Farooq Wardak, former Minister of State for Parliamentary
Affairs; and Hassan Mubarak Azizi, former deputy Minister of Transpiration and
Civil Aviation, have recently returned to the country based on invitations of
the commission of “Return and Communications With Former Afghan Officials and
Political Figures."
“When the foreigners don’t find job, they go to a
developing country to find a job. The Afghans are better to (work here) rather
than the foreigners,” said Amanullah Ghlib, former head of the Da Afghanistan
Breshna Sherkat (DABS).
“The issues which are being discussed in Tashkent,
Dushanbe, Ankara and Islamabad are better discussed in Afghanistan,” said
Hassan Mubarak Azizi, former deputy Minister of Transpiration and Civil
Aviation.
According to the commission “Return and Communications
With Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures," more than 16
officials of the former government and academic figures have returned to the
country.
“The work of the commission is going well. We have
contacted some people and they filled out the forms of the commission to return
to Afghanistan. We will see the return of some figures in the near future,”
said Ahmadullah Waseeq, a spokesman for the commission.
Source: Tolo News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-178403
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Saudi Arabia Pledges a $30 Million Grant to the Afghan
Humanitarian Trust Fund
By Saqalain Eqbal
09 Jun 2022
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a grant of
USD 30 million to support the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF),
according to the Riyadh Daily.
The grant is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s
humanitarian and relief efforts, as well as its effective and leading role in
providing all forms of assistance to “brotherly and friendly” countries.
It has the goal of ameliorating Afghan people’s
suffering and reducing the risks of deteriorating critical humanitarian
situations and potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan, which could
jeopardize regional and international peace and stability.
This grant is a continuation of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia’s support for several projects in Afghanistan over the past decades,
including humanitarian, health, educational, water, and food security projects
totaling more than 1 billion Saudi Arabia Riyals, as part of its responsibility
and role in bringing security and prosperity to Afghanistan and its people.
Since the Taliban took power in mid-August,
Afghanistan has faced an impending humanitarian calamity, prompting the US and
other donor countries to shut all financial support and isolate the country
from the global financial system.
Source: Khaama Press
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Pakistan
Lahore ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI
leaders over long march vandalism
Rana Bilal Published
June 10, 2022
A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday issued
non-bailable arrest warrants for top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
(PTI) in Punjab over multiple charges including alleged violations of Section
144 and attacks on law enforcement agencies on May 25 — the day PTI workers
marched to Islamabad.
According to a ruling dated June 9, available with
Dawn.com, the investigating officer in charge of the Shahdara police station,
Muhammad Saleem, requested the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for
Mian Akram Usman, Muhammad Zubair Khan Niazi, Imtiaz Mehmood Sheikh, Mian
Mehmood ur Rasheed, Mian Shafqat Mehmood, Malik Nadeem Abbas, Murad Raas, Mian
Aslam Iqbal, Yasir Gilani, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hammad Azhar, Andleeb Abbas, and
Ijaz Chaudhry.
It stated that the accused persons were
"intentionally concealing themselves in order to avoid their arrest and
their arrest is necessary for completion of the investigation".
The court of Judge Abher Gul Khan accepted the
officer's request and issued the warrants.
Last month, the Punjab police had registered a total
of 42 criminal cases against PTI’s senior leaders and workers for alleged
agitation in the aftermath of the long march.
It said three police officials had been martyred in
the line of duty while 100 others were injured, three of them seriously, in
allegedly attacks by PTI workers. Of them, 34 personnel were injured in Lahore,
48 in Attock and nine in Sargodha, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Jhelum and other
cities.
Earlier, a police official told Dawn that 12 cases
were registered in Lahore, five in Sialkot, four each in Rawalpindi and
Sargodha, three in Mianwali, and two each in Attock and Jhelum, while one FIR
was lodged in Chakwal.
Azadi March
On the day of the Azadi March, May 25, clashes between
PTI activists and police at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk were reported as the law
enforcers resorted to tear gas shelling in an attempt to clear roads for
traffic, which was blocked by the demonstrators on a fresh directive from the
party chief to lodge protests in their respective areas, after the protesters
threw stones on the police personnel while refusing to clear the roads.
When PTI’s Lahore chapter gathered its workers at
Bhatti Chowk to remove barriers placed in the area to block their route to
Islamabad, the police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse them and
arrested over 10 PTI workers. Around 212 other party activists were picked up
from other city areas.
Source: Dawn
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Culprits 'will not escape justice': Pakistan rejects
India's remarks on Karachi Hindu temple vandalism
June 10, 2022
Pakistan has rejected remarks made by a spokesperson
of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) accusing Islamabad of
"systemic persecution of religious minorities" after a Hindu temple
was vandalised in Karachi.
"They (perpetrators) will not escape justice and
the Government will deal with them with the full force of law," the
Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday night, adding that an FIR had
already been registered against the assailants and efforts were underway to
identify and arrest them.
On Wednesday, unidentified men attacked a Hindu temple
in the Korangi area of Karachi, desecrating an idol. According to a first
information report (FIR), the miscreants pelted stones at an idol and
threatened workers at the site.
On Thursday, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab
promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and the temple would
be repaired.
Subsequently, at a press conference in Delhi on
Thursday, Indian official Arindam Bagchi said: "We have noted the recent
incident of vandalization of a Hindu temple in Karachi. We believe this is
another act in the systemic persecution of religious minorities. We have
conveyed our protest to the Government of Pakistan. Again urge it to ensure the
safety, security and well being of the minority communities."
In its statement, the Foreign Office (FO) rejected
Bagchi's remarks. "Unlike the violence against the Muslim community that
is orchestrated by religious fanatics who enjoy full patronage of India’s state
machinery, the Government of Pakistan is seized of this matter and action is
being taken against the perpetrators."
The Government of India, the FO continued, would be
well advised to introspect and ensure the protection of the fundamental rights,
lives, and places of worship of minorities across India, particularly Muslims
who were facing brutal attacks from the proponents of ‘Hindutva’ holding on to
the reins of power in the country.
Source: Dawn
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Imran Khan trying to reach out to establishment due to
frustration: Pakistan Defence Minister
10 June, 2022
Islamabad [Pakistan], June 9 (ANI): Pakistan Defense
Minister Khwaja Asif on Wednesday said former Prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) chief Imran Khan was trying to reach out to the establishment due to
confusion and frustration over his failure.
“Imran Khan is confused and bereft of senses as a
result of frustration and failure. His rhetoric against the Pakistani army is
still resonating in the air, but he is now seeking assistance from the
establishment,” Geo News quoted Asif as saying.
This comes after PTI chief Imran Khan, during a recent
rally said Pakistan could “break up into three parts” if the establishment did
not take the right decisions.
Following his ouster from power, Khan has been holding
several rallies, reiterating the foreign conspiracy allegations and his rebuke
of the “selected government” against the Shehbaz Sharif government.
While indicating the regime of former prime minister
Imran Khan as a failure for the country, Khawaja Asif said that the government
is moving towards stability with each passing day.
“Due to the inability to clean up the mess of the past
four years, we took painful decisions with some delay, and more will be
required I n the days to come. However, the outcome of our tough choices will
be in the country’s best interest,” he added.
On being asked about the losing popularity of the
Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) party, as revealed by a survey by the
Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR), a research firm that specializes
in surveys and Social Science Research, Khawaja said that he urged the
coalition partners of the incumbent government to contest the next general elections
from the platform of Pakistan Democratic Movement, Geo News reported.
“I also urge that our coalition government allies
contest the next general elections together,” he stated, adding, “not only will
we win the general elections, but also the next by-elections,” Khawaja said.
He further said, “Though PML-popularity N’s might have
declined, this might be reversed when the masses get the dividends of our
policies,” Geo News reported.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Economic Council on
Wednesday announced to close the markets across the country by 8:30 pm in order
to save the electricity consumption in the country.
Defending the decision, Khawaja Asif said, “This
decision will save electricity and the power shortage issue will be resolved in
the next 20-25 days.”
Amid the political instability and worsening economic
crisis, the Pakistan masses are burdened with severe power cuts and increased
electricity tariffs. It was reported that Pakistan is facing an acute
electricity crisis resulting in a power shortfall of 6,500 megawatts (MW)
accompanied by long hours of load shedding, lasting up to 12 hours.
Against a demand of 26,000 megawatts, the power supply
in the country remained at 19,500 megawatts, reported Ary News. Rural areas in
Pakistan are experiencing power cuts for up to 12 hours.
Meanwhile, the recent report of the survey conducted
in Pakistan by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), stated that
a total of 43 per cent of respondents in Pakistan have held former Prime
Minister Imran Khan-led government accountable for the country’s adverse
economic conditions.
Source: The Print
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Southeast
Asia
Onus on Malaysian companies to play by US rules, says
Zuraida
June 8, 2022
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian companies have been told to
take note of a US border agency’s method of operations to avoid potential
import bans in the future stemming over forced labour issues.
Plantation industries and commodities minister Zuraida
Kamaruddin said this was following reports that US Customs and Border
Protection’s (CBP) investigation methods derived information from third-party
sources.
She said while Malaysia was not agreeable with CBP’s
ways of relying on remote or third-party evidence in its probe of forced labour
indicators, it was the agency’s prerogative to act based on what it deemed to
be proprietary information.
“Nevertheless, CBP, in detailing the route and
subsequent actions taken against companies, has reiterated that its
investigations were done through reasonable information, analysis,
investigations and assumptions.
“The onus is on industry players, especially those in
the labour-intensive rubber gloves and plantation sector, to pay heed to CBP’s
sensitivities, and work on a remedial action plan before being slapped with a
withhold release order for an accusation of forced labour,” she said in a
statement.
Zuraida said Malaysia’s palm oil industry, in
particular, had to bear the brunt of being in direct competition with soybean
oil, where the US was the world’s leading producer and second-largest exporter.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Indonesia and Qatar Collaborate on Afghanistan Relief
Efforts
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
June 10, 2022
At the end of March, Indonesia and Qatar signed a
Letter of Intent regarding humanitarian and development assistance for the
people of Afghanistan. The agreement, which was signed by Indonesian Foreign
Minister Retno Marsudi and Qatari Foreign Minister Muhammad bin Abdurrahman
al-Thani, reflects the two nations’ concern and commitment regarding the
humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Afghanistan, especially as regards
the status of women and children.
Retno also stated that the assistance involves
long-term aid, including scholarships and vocational training programs tailored
to the needs of the Afghan people, and plans to hold public dialogues about the
role of women in Afghan society.
Alongside this, Indonesia continues to demonstrate its
ability to seek to build relations with Afghanistan in overcoming the crisis
prompted by the Taliban takeover last August, offering humanitarian aid and
funding equivalent to $2.85 million in the period from 2022 to 2024.
Also in March, representatives from Afghanistan,
Indonesia, and Qatar held a meeting in Doha to discuss the situation in Afghanistan,
during which they addressed the dire humanitarian, economic, and educational
situation in the country. In addition to providing humanitarian assistance,
Indonesia and Qatar have also actively voiced the importance of the Taliban
respecting women’s rights.
Doha and Jakarta have committed to oversee the
transition period and brought the issue of humanitarian crises up in
international forums. In her statement, Retno stated that the Indonesian and
Qatari governments were ready to oversee the transition to a safe, just, and
prosperous Afghanistan.
The emerging collaboration between Indonesia and Qatar
on the Afghanistan issue is not surprising. Qatar’s efforts to establish close
relations with the Taliban are based on the nation’s desire to strengthen its
position as a regional mediator. This corresponds to one of Indonesia’s core
foreign policy priorities under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s
administration.
Upon taking office in 2014, Jokowi unveiled new
policies that sought to enhance Indonesia’s standing on the global stage. The
most important of these was the country’s “4+1” foreign policy outline, which
refers to “strengthening economic diplomacy; protection diplomacy, sovereignty,
and national diplomacy; and Indonesia’s role in the region and globally.” The
“+1” refers to the strengthening of the infrastructure of diplomacy.
This common interest appears to have prompted the two
countries to cooperate with each other to mediate the crisis in Afghanistan.
Doha’s invitation to Indonesia to the recent meeting also reflects Indonesia’s
success in building trust with the Taliban government. As the world’s most
populous Muslim country, Indonesia is seen as being able to mediate conflicts
in the Muslim world, including the Afghanistan issue. Moreover, Qatar also saw
Indonesia’s interest in mediating the Gulf crisis of 2017.
Indonesia’s Islamic identity is also augmented by its
neutral position, resulting in Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership having more
confidence in dealing with Indonesia than with other countries. This neutral
position is of course in accordance with the mandate of the domestic
constitution, which says that Indonesia’s aim is to foster world peace within
the contours of Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy, which does not
take sides in geopolitical disputes.
It is important to note that Indonesia was also
recently invited by China to its first meeting of “Neighboring Countries of
Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan.” This implies that Indonesia’s neutrality and
prominence in the Muslim world have made other countries interested in
collaborating with it on issues involving other Muslim nations.
Indonesia and Afghanistan have a long history of
cooperation. Afghanistan was one of the first countries to recognize
Indonesia’s independence, in 1947, two years after the beginning of the
country’s struggle against Dutch rule. In addition, Indonesia and Afghanistan
have cooperated in the fields of capacity building and counter-terrorism, and
had modest but consistent economic relations. Indonesia is the 14th largest
destination for Afghanistan’s exports, while Afghanistan is one of Indonesia’s
largest export destinations in the Middle East.
In April 2017, Indonesia also became the first
Southeast Asian country to be visited directly by then Afghan president,
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, which resulted in the signing of a memorandum of
understanding relating to education, agriculture, statistics, bureaucratic
reform, and fiscal policy.
Lastly, Qatar-Indonesia cooperation on Afghanistan
affairs is also related to the overall growing ties between the two. Doha and
Jakarta often meet at various multilateral forums to discuss political issues
at both regional and international levels. This takes place alongside the
economic, cultural, and defense cooperation that have been increasingly pursued
by the two countries.
Source: The Diplomat
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https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/indonesia-and-qatar-collaborate-on-afghanistan-relief-efforts/
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Health group welcomes code against exploitation of
religion in advertising
Danial Azhar
June 10, 2022
PETALING JAYA: A think tank has welcomed a move by the
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to prevent the use of
elements associated with religious beliefs in the promotion of consumer
products.
Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul
Mohd Khalib said the prohibition, which is included in MCMC’s 2022 Content
Code, was overdue given the proliferation of products exploiting religious
beliefs and scientific ignorance.
“We have products that clearly exploit a section of
society which is susceptible to religious arguments when making decisions
concerning their health and the health of their family members,” Azrul told
FMT.
“There is a large number of people living with serious
and chronic illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes, who need proper medical
treatment but are instead lured away by unproven and baseless claims.”
On Wednesday, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia
Content Forum executive director Mediha Mahmood said the code would be enforced
by the end of this year.
She said the prohibition applied to the use of religious
elements of all faiths and that the objective was to prevent the use of
religion as a marketing gimmick.
Azrul said the code was essential in preventing the
sale of products claiming to cure cancer or diabetes through incantations.
He said such products often caused people to delay
proper treatment and care.
But he also said he believed people would continue to
purchase such products despite the restriction since religious belief was
deeply rooted in Malaysian society.
The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imam) has
also welcomed MCMC’s move, saying in a statement that it would benefit Muslim
consumers.
It said MCMC’s decision was timely because social
media was being widely used to promote misconceptions and spread confusion.
It urged the relevant authorities to provide
comprehensive guidelines and content evaluation to Muslim manufacturers and
advertisers to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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Nearly 60 Rohingya found abandoned on Thai island
while en route to Malaysia: Police
05 June, 2022
Fifty-nine Rohingya people have been discovered on a
Thai island, saying they were abandoned by traffickers en route to Malaysia, a
senior police officer said on Sunday.
The group -- among them five children -- were found on
Koh Dong island in the southern Satun province on Saturday, said lieutenant
general Surachet Hakpan.
Each year, thousands of the mostly Muslim minority
Rohingya people, heavily persecuted in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, risk their
lives in months-long expensive journeys to reach Malaysia over Thailand’s seas.
Police said they had been charged with illegal entry
and could face deportation to Myanmar following a court case.
“We are providing humanitarian assistance and will
investigate whether they are victims of human trafficking or if they entered
illegally,” Surachet said.
The group appeared “starving and was likely to have
had no food for three to five days,” a police statement said.
Group members told officers their boat was among three
vessels carrying 178 people that had left Myanmar and Bangladesh, having paid
an agent around 5,000 ringgit ($1,300) for the journey.
The first two boats carrying 119 people were stopped
and arrested by Malaysian authorities, according to the Thai police statement.
The boat’s crew then decided to abandon those onboard
on Koh Dong island -- telling them that they had reached Malaysia, the group
told officers.
The incident comes after the bodies of 14 Rohingya
people, including children, were discovered washed up on a beach last month
after they attempted to flee Myanmar.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people fled a
military crackdown in the nation in 2017, bringing with them harrowing stories
of murder, rape, and arson.
Those still in Myanmar are widely seen as interlopers
from Bangladesh and are largely denied citizenship, many rights and access to
healthcare and education.
Muslim-majority Malaysia is a key destination for
Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh.
In 2019, a Thai boat captain was charged with
smuggling 65 Rohingya people from Myanmar after their vessel was shipwrecked on
an island off the coast of Satun province.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Parti Bangsa Malaysia Accepts Zuraida Kamaruddin,
Makes Her ‘President Designate’
Anne Muhammad
June 9, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR: Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin has been
named “president designate” of the newly formed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
At a press conference today, PBM president Larry Sng
said PBM’s political bureau and supreme council met after Zuraida sent in her
application to join the party on May 26, and her membership was officially
approved today.
“At the request of PBM’s grassroots, the political
bureau and supreme council have unanimously agreed to appoint Zuraida as the
‘president designate’ to drive PBM’s development and progress,” said Sng.
The plantation industries and commodities minister
quit Bersatu on May 26, and her future in the Cabinet is still uncertain.
Zuraida, who said she would continue to carry out her
Cabinet duties, also said she was open to completing her term as minister.
She added that she had not met Prime Minister Ismail
Sabri Yaakob yet to discuss her future in the Cabinet.
When asked to comment on PBM’s application to join
Barisan Nasional, Sng said the two parties were still conducting verbal
discussions.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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India
Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha Seeks FIR against Muslim
Cleric Shaher Qazi Hafiz Quddus Hadi of Kanpur
Jun 10, 2022
Kanpur: Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) general
secretary, Pavan Kumar, lodged a complaint with the Kotwali police, seeking an
FIR against Shaher Qazi Hafiz Quddus Hadi.
In the complaint Kumar has alleged that Hadi was
trying to distrub the law and order with his statements.
To recall, Hadi while talking to a reporter of a news
channel had said: “If bulldozers were used, it would be a do-or-die situation
for Muslims”
Source: Times Of India
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Kanpur Violence: 'Muslims Being Picked Up
Indiscriminately,' Say Families of Those Arrested
Sumedha Pal
Jun 10, 2022
Kanpur: By now, it is known that on June 3, violence
broke out at Parade, the heart of Kanpur city.
A non-governmental organisation active for eight years,
the MM Jauhar Fans Association, gave a call for shops to close so that a silent
protest could be conducted against now axed Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson
Nupur Sharma’s comments against Prophet Mohammed on TV.
This NGO’s founder and president, Zafar Hayat Hashmi,
is now being seen by police as the “key conspirator” in the case. Realities on
the ground offer a picture far more complicated than violence spearheaded by a
single “conspirator”.
‘Key conspirator’
It has been reported that two sides – Muslims and
Hindus – clashed at the Chandeshwar Hatha on Friday, June 3, after evening
prayers. The clash saw stone pelting. Petrol bombs were also reportedly thrown.
Several were injured.
Where was Zafar in this?
Zafar’s family says that the call to close shops was
taken back after a meeting between police officials and Zafar. An announcement
was also made on their Facebook page for the same at 12.30 am on June 3.
Speaking to The Wire, Zafar’s wife said the NGO is
being targeted specifically because of its reach. She claimed that work done by
the NGO ranged from food distribution during COVID-19 lockdowns to blood
donation camps and even temple renovations.
“We have helped more Hindus than Muslims. Zafar was a
big face. Many parties associated with him before June 3 and now he is a
criminal to them?” she asked.
As the probe continues, the police have set up a
Special Investigation Team, with four additional teams probing the case. Over
50 people have been arrested so far and FIRs have been filed against over 800
unnamed persons. The FIRs charge people with rioting, creating enmity and
disturbing peace in the region. Police have also put up hoardings across town
demanding the identification of 40 Muslim youth in connection with the
violence.
Videos circulated on social media show young men being
brutally thrashed and some being hauled up by police.
‘Beaten up badly’
The Wire reached out to the families of those being
arrested. Many families said they did not know under which sections their
members had been held and kept in jail. Some were still trying to access copies
of relevant FIRs.
In one of the circulated video, 20-year-old student
and labourer Hasib can be seen being hauled up by police. His sister Shaila
told The Wire that Hasib was pushed to the “Bajrang Dal side” by police.
“He was bleeding and his face was almost disfigured,
that’s how much he was beaten up. The police took him in in the name of giving
him treatment, but arrested him instead,” Shaila said.
Many said the investigation was distinctly partisan,
with Muslims being picked up even without cops verifying their identities.
Thirty-five-year-old Shahid, a daily wage worker, was
arrested on the evening of June 3. His wife Tabassum, a domestic worker, said
he had only stepped out to buy vegetables when he was picked up by police on
suspicion of having engaged in the violence.
In a video widely shared on social media, Shahid can
be seen being beaten on his legs. “I did not know where my husband was then. My
neighbours and relatives called me after his videos were being circulated on
social media. They beat him brutally on his legs, broke both of them. Men had
to carry him inside the police station as he could no longer walk,” she said.
Shahid was taken to Anwarganj police station. Tabassum
said when his family visited, they found out that he had been beaten up again,
while in custody.
She is yet to get a copy of the FIR pertaining to his
case. Securing legal help, too, has proven a hurdle.
‘Picked up indiscriminately’
The Parade, Nai Sadak, and Yateem Khana areas of
Kanpur where the violence took place is a business hub, with temples and
mosques dotting the streets. The area has a working class population.
“No one was forced to close their shops, those who
wanted to had done it” says Rihana, the aunt of 20-year-old Sajid who had
reportedly reached the Parade Chauraha to pick up his twin sister as she was
being dropped off by her college bus at the time the violence broke out.
Rihana alleged that petrol bombs and stones were
thrown at those who left mosques after namaz.
“Muslims are being punished in India every single day.
This was an attempt to scare us, target us and show us our place yet again,”
Rihana said.
Her niece, Sajid’s sister Shifa, said although Sajid
had only stepped out to get her, he was arrested after the atmosphere had
calmed.
“There is no evidence to show that he was a part of a
mob pelting stones or creating violence, he was on the phone with me the entire
time as we was worried whether I could manage to come back home safe,” Shifa said.
Sajid is a medical student. Shifa has been working
towards a BA degree. Their father is a daily wager and their mother manages
their house. Both youngsters had been keen to provide a better future for their
parents. This dream is now interrupted.
“If it was a riot then why are people from just one
side being targeted? We do not understand this investigation. What is the basis
of the crackdown? All we know is our child is innocent,” said Rihana, who has
helped raise the twins.
Twenty-year-old Israel was also picked up from his
house late at night on June 3 in a similar fashion. His mother, a domestic
worker, said, “The police came to our house stating that they are taking him
away on charges of theft, but we found out that he is being investigated for
the violence instead.”
His mother added that her salary is paltry and they
could not afford a lawyer’s fee or fight the case in any other way. Israel is a
worker in the leather business.
Arrests have been made in several localities including
Beconganj, Anwarganj, and Moolgunj.
‘Bulldozers’
The Wire mentioned to Kanpur Police Commissioner Vijay
Singh Meena the allegations being levelled by the families.
He stated, “Those who are innocent will be let off.
The investigation is ongoing and we are identifying those who have participated
in the violence.”
He did not say much when asked why arrests had been
confined to Muslims.
Police later arrested former district secretary of the
BJP Yuva Morcha Harshit Srivastava for posting inflammatory content on social
media platforms.
However, no arrests have been made in the case
pertaining to violence at Parade.
“It is because the truth is for everyone to see,”
claimed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader D.K. Dubey, sitting at the entrance
to Chandeshwar Hata. The area functions as a residential colony of sorts. At
the entrance is a poster with the image of a Hindu deity that announces, “We
will not flee but show bravery.”
Amit Batham, a BJP leader whose office is close to
Chandeshwar Hata, where the violence transpired, said, “Hindus were being
attacked, I have received threats too, we felt that they will destroy the
Hata.”
“If we hadn’t retaliated, they would have created
another Godhra here. We had to protect ourselves. After namaz they came in with
stones, hurled petrol bombs at us and tried to enter the Hata,” another man at
the Hata said, requesting anonymity.
Source: The Wire
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https://thewire.in/communalism/kanpur-violence-ground-report-muslims-police
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3 Muslim men forced to do sit-ups, chant 'Jai Shri
Ram' in UP
Anchal Shrivastava
Khargupur
June 9, 2022
A video of three Muslim men being made to do sit-ups
and chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in a village in Uttar Pradesh has gone viral on social
media.
Three Muslim men were allegedly made to do sit-ups,
asked for their Aadhaar cards and forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in a village
in Uttar Pradesh's Khargupur district. The video of the incident has gone
viral. The Muslim men were also warned to never enter the 'Pandit' village
again.
In the video, one of the locals could be seen heckling
the three Muslim fakirs and asking them for their identification details. He
also warned the men to never enter the Pandit village again. The three Muslim
men repeatedly apologised, as seen in the video.
Source: India Today
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Hyderabad: Local Muslims protest against remarks on
Prophet
9th June 2022
Hyderabad: A massive protest rally was taken out in
Hussainialam of old city demanding stringent action against former BJP
spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her derogatory comments against Prophet Mohammed.
A big group of youngsters under the banner ‘Youth of
Hussainialam” took out a rally from the Barigalli Hussainialam to the
Hussainailam police station. Holding banners with slogans condemning the
statement of Nupur Sharma, the youngsters marched along the streets chanting ‘
‘ Nupur Sharma down down” and ‘ Arrest Nupur Sharma immediately”.
The gathering reached the Hussainialam police station
and met the local Inspector G Naresh Kumar. All of them demanded the police
immediately book a case in various Sections of the Indian Penal Code against
Nupur Sharma and arrest her.
Nupur Sharma had made derogatory comments against the
Prophet during a television show debate last month. An FIR is lodged against
her in Mumbai and Hyderabad for her remarks.
Following widespread condemnation and diplomatic level
action by several Muslim countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran,
Indonesia etc the Bhartiya Janata Party suspended her from the party. However,
due to threat perception she was provided “protective security’ by the
government.
Source: Siasat Daily
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https://www.siasat.com/hyderabad-local-muslims-protest-against-remarks-on-prophet-2345594/
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Tehseen Poonawalla Presses For FIR Against Muslim
Cleric, Ilyas Sharfuddin, For Making ‘Communal’ Remarks Against Hinduism
June 10, 2022
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla on Thursday took
to Twitter to question why his complaint with Delhi Police against cleric Ilyas
Sharfuddin for "instigating communal hate and spreading violence on a
national television channel" has not been converted into an FIR.
The political analyst further asked if Delhi Police
thought "Ilyas Sharfuddin was above the law."
Poonwalla on 8 June had filed a complaint with the
Delhi Police, alleging that Ilyas Sharafuddin, who was invited to a recent
debate show on a national TV news channel, joined the panelist "with
intention of mocking a religious faith and instigating violence."
He further said that the Islamic cleric joined the
debate to "disturb social and communal harmony of the country."
"He (Ilyas Sharafuddin) made baseless remarks on
the Indian culture and the further made communal comments, sexist and racist
statements against a particular religious community," Poonawalla said.
Poonawalla added that the remarks and comments by
Ilyas Sharafuddin during a debate could further encourage "disharmony and
hate" within the society.
Poonawalla also shared a clip where Ilyas Sharafuddin
can be heard commenting on the Indian culture and mocking religious faith.
During the debate, Ilyas Sharafuddin can be heard
comparing the Shivling to a male body part and said that the Hindu community
has a habit of worshiping the idol and male private organ.
The comments come within days after Varanasi
court-appointed videography survey team found Shivling inside the Gyanvapi
mosque premises in Uttar Pradesh.
Poonawalla through his letter addressed to Delhi
Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana requested the police to register a complaint
under IPC sections 153 A, 153 B (promoting enmity between different groups on
grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 295A (deliberate and
malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by
insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (uttering words, etc, with
deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person).
Source: Firstpost
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Case Over "Threat" To Varanasi Judge Who
Ordered Gyanvapi Mosque Filming
June 10, 2022
Varanasi: A case has been registered over a "threat
letter" received by the judge who ordered the filming of the Gyanvapi
mosque complex in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, the police said.
Police have registered the case on the basis of a
complaint by an orderly of Varanasi civil judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar who on
Tuesday informed the Varanasi administration that he had received a
"threat letter", purportedly written by Kashif Ahmed Siddiqui from an
organisation called Islamic Aagaz Movement.
"A joint team of Varanasi police and the crime
branch is investigating the matter," officials said. Police said they have
upgraded the security for the judge and his family.
Citing a threat to his life, judge Diwakar had also
written to top Uttar Pradesh officials -
the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the Director-General of Police
(DGP), and to the Varanasi Police Commissionerate, demanding appropriate
action.
The letter refers to the filming of the mosque that
the judge had ordered on April 26 in a case where five women petitioners have
sought year-long access to a shrine behind the mosque. The women also claim
that there are idols of Hindu gods and goddesses inside the mosque complex.
The letter was posted on June 4 and was written on a
letterhead that carried a Delhi address, police had earlier said.
"You have made a statement that inspection of the
Gyanvapi Masjid complex is a normal process. You are an idol worshipper, you
will declare the mosque a temple. No Muslim can expect the right decision from
a 'kafir, murtipujak' Hindu judge," the purported threat letter said.
In the filming report submitted to judge Diwakar on
May 19, the lawyers for petitioners had claimed that the mosque houses a
'Shivling'.
The claim was disputed by the mosque committee members
who said that the structure was part of a fountain in the wazookhana used by
devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz.
Source: ND TV
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'Don't block roads': Bengal Muslim body calls for
peaceful protests over Prophet remarks row
Anupam Mishra
Kolkata
June 9, 2022
The Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind on Thursday
appealed to the Muslims to protest peacefully in the state against the comments
made by Nupur Sharma - the now suspended BJP spokesperson - on Prophet Muhammad
during a TV debate.
“We appeal to Muslims to protest in a democratic way.
We don't want protests on roads. We want people to protest indoors - in houses,
in mosques - but don't want people to protest by blocking roads,” Siddiqullah
Chowdhury, the President of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's West Bengal branch said.
Chowdhury also said that they were ‘extremely shocked’
and ‘sad’ over the remarks made by Sharma and that they ‘don’t’ feel the crime
is pardonable’.
Chowdhury further said, “We are trying to be patient.
That does not mean we are weak. Don't test us.”
The Manteswar MLA also asked the Central government
and other state governments to take action against people who disrespected any
religion.
Source: India Today
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Charge those who instigated Islamic nations against
India with treason: Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar
JUNE 09, 2022
India should make a list of citizens who “instigated”
Islamic nations against it and “charge them with treason,” Information
Commissioner Uday Mahurkar has said following outrage by Islamic countries over
the remarks against Prophet Mohammad by the BJP’s now-sacked functionaries.
Mr. Mahurkar’s comments invited a strong response from
Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who charged that statutory and
constitutional bodies are being systematically destroyed by the government.
Mr. Mahurkar, a former journalist who was appointed at
the transparency watchdog Central Information Commission, said in a tweet, “The
Nation has taken measures on the Prophet controversy. Now time for India to
make a list of Indian citizens who instigated Islamic nations against India
& charge them with treason.” “Their’s is anti-national activity. Even their
property could be attached by enacting a Law,” he tweeted.
In another tweet, he said, “Pan-Islamists &
Leftists have questioned my tweet below. Did they ever condemn hate-preacher
Zakir Naik & MF Hussain for their unparalleled blasphemy?”
“Beware, days of 1-sided secularism & Hindu-Muslim
unity at Hindu cost are now gone in this new age of national reawakening,” he
said.
Lashing out at the Information Commissioner, Mr.
Bhushan said,”This gentleman calls himself a journalist who was para dropped
from nowhere into the Central Information Commission. You can see how statutory
and Constitutional bodies are being systematically destroyed by this govt.”
Reacting to it, Mr. Mahurkar said, “Don’t need advice
from 1 one who has consistently taken ideological positions against national
interest. As author, former journalist and patriotic citizen I retain right to
air my views on national security & history. As IC I be judged by my orders
which are without favour or fear.”
The remarks made by the BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and
Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad have drawn international condemnation with
some Islamic countries demanding an apology.
The Congress has asked why the country should
apologise and face the consequences of the “misdeeds” of BJP leaders.
Source: The Hindu
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Curfew imposed in J&K's Bhaderwah town after
communal tension
10.06.22
Curfew was imposed and the Army called in to conduct a
flag march in Bhaderwah of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir as tension spread
in the area Thursday evening after alleged inflammatory speeches were delivered
from a mosque, officials said.
Police have registered a case over the alleged
inflammatory speeches and warned people against taking the law into their own
hands.
"Curfew has been imposed as a precautionary
measure in view of communal tension," an official said, adding that
additional security personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure peace.
According to officials, inflammatory speeches were
made during a protest against derogatory remarks made against Prophet Mohammad
by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
Purported video clips of the inflammatory speeches
went viral on social media.
"Action has been taken (over inflammatory
speeches). A case has been registered under IPC sections 295-A (deliberate and
malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by
insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 506 (punishment for criminal
intimidation) at Police Station Bhaderwah," the official said.
Source: Telegraph India
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Prophet jibe: ‘Balancing’ charge after Delhi police's
parallel FIR
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
10.06.22
Delhi police have booked Nupur Sharma for hate speech
but simultaneously charged AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, monk Yati
Narasinghanand Saraswati and a host of Muslim social media users in a parallel
FIR, attracting allegations of “balance-waad to assuage BJP supporters”.
Owaisi slammed the police for “both-sideism or
balance-waad”, alleging the force lacked the courage to pursue cases against
the likes of Sharma and Narasinghanand — accused of advocating genocide against
Muslims — without implicating a group of Muslims as well.
“One side has openly insulted our Prophet while the
other side” has merely made “random posts on social media” and “has been named
to assuage BJP supporters & make it look like there was hate speech on both
sides,” the Hyderabad MP tweeted.
A police statement on Thursday said a hate-speech case
had been registered on Wednesday against Sharma – suspended as BJP national
spokesperson after making derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed on TV –
but did not cite specifics.
It added that a second case had been registered
against certain social media users “for inciting people on divisive lines”.
Those named are Owaisi, the expelled Delhi BJP
spokesperson Navin Kumar Jindal --- who had denigrated the Prophet on social
media --- Narasinghanand, journalist Saba Naqvi, Hindu Mahasabha office-bearer
Pooja Shakun Pandey, Maulana Mufti Nadeem from Rajasthan, Shadab Chauhan, Abdur
Rehman, Gulzar Ansari and Anil Kumar Meena.
The specific posts that brought on the bookings have
not been mentioned -– a point underlined by Owaisi. Most of the accused are not
public figures.
There have been calls for the arrest of Sharma, who
was suspended by the BJP 10 days after her remarks following a backlash from
West Asia. But neither the police statement nor senior officers said anything
about possible arrests on the basis of the FIRs.
Earlier this week, the Delhi police provided security
to Sharma and her family and registered an FIR on a complaint that she had
received death threats over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed.
The Delhi police, who report to the Union home
ministry, have often been accused of bias in dealing with cases of communal
violence or hate speech.
The force had in April told the Supreme Court that no
calls for genocide had been sounded against Muslims at a “Hindu Vahini” event
in December --- where a video purportedly shows participants pledging to
“fight, die for and kill” to establish a “Hindu Rashtra”.
The Delhi minorities commission has accused the police
of arresting Muslim victims of the February 2020 riots rather than those they
had accused of violence.
Owaisi on Thursday said that “hate speeches” of
“dharam gurus with close links to ruling party” were being “equated to random
posts on social media with no social or political standing”.
“Delhi police were probably trying to think of a way
of registering an FIR against these people without offending Hindutvadi fanboy/
girls,” he added.
Sharing a screenshot of excerpts from what he claimed
was a copy of the FIR, he tweeted: “This is the first FIR I’ve seen that’s not
specifying what the crime is…. I don’t know which specific remarks of mine have
attracted the FIR.”
He added: “It appears Delhi police lacks the courage
to pursue cases against Yati, Nupur Sharma & Navin Jindal etc. This is why
the delayed & weak response. In fact Yati has violated his bail conditions
repeatedly by inciting genocide against Muslims & insulting Islam.
Narasinghanand, addressing a Dharma Sansad in Haridwar
last December, had allegedly urged Hindus to take up weapons against Muslims to
establish a “Hindu Rashtra”.
While Uttarakhand police booked several of the
speakers at the event on hate-speech charges, acting belatedly under public and
media pressure, Narasinghanand was charged with the less punitive offence of
insulting Muslim women.
Out on bail, the monk in April participated in a Hindu
Mahapanchayat in Delhi where hate speeches were made against Muslims. He was
booked but not arrested.
A recent social media video purportedly shows
Narasinghanand announcing he would go to the Jama Masjid in Delhi and defend
Sharma’s comments. This is likely to be the basis for his booking in
Wednesday’s second FIR.
A Delhi police tweet said: “We have registered 2 FIRs
under appropriate sections on the basis of social media analysis against those
trying to disrupt public tranquillity & inciting people on divisive lines.
One pertains to Ms Nupur Sharma & other against multiple social media
entities (users).”
The police said notices would be sent to the social
media intermediaries (companies) for details.
Both cases have been registered under penal sections
153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 295 (injuring or
defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), and
505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
Deputy commissioner (cyber cell) K.P.S. Malhotra said:
“The FIR is against multiple individuals from different religions. We are
investigating the role of various social media entities in promoting false and
wrong information with an intention to create unrest.”
Owaisi said people like Narasinghanand, Sharma and
Jindal had delivered hate speeches with impunity, with “weak action” taken only
in the face of “international condemnation or when courts pulled up the
police”.
In contrast, he said, Muslim students, journalists and
activists had been put behind bars merely for being Muslim.
Owaisi said he would not be intimidated, and went on
to castigate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi
Adityanath.
“Hindutva organisations have a culture where hate
speech & extremism is rewarded with promotions. Yogi’s hate was rewarded
with Lok Sabha seats and CMship…. Modi’s hate speeches were similarly
rewarded,” he said.
Source: Telegraph India
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Sadhus organise Ganga puja to ‘free Shivalinga’ at
Gyanvapi
Piyush Srivastava
10.06.22
Over two dozen sadhus organised a Ganga puja on
Thursday seeking “freedom of the Shivalinga at Gyanvapi”, days after the mahant
of the Kashi Vishwanath temple announced a “boat procession” of sadhus on the
Ganga after June 15 on the same issue.
The programmes appear part of a concerted move to
pressure the government and the Muslim community to come to a negotiated
settlement if the outcomes of the court cases filed on the Gyanvapi controversy
don’t favour the Hindu side.
“According to Hindu belief, the Ganga originated on
this day. We call it Ganga Dussehra and worship the holy river every year on
this occasion,” said Jitendranand Saraswati, general secretary of the Ganga
Mahasabha and the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, two organisations of sadhus with
their head offices at Assi Ghat.
“But this year, the occasion is more important because
Lord Shiva (Shivalinga) has appeared in the Gyanvapi. While the Ganga is free,
we want freedom for the Shivalinga so that Hindus can worship it.”
Jitendranand added: “We performed Shodopchar Pujan of
the Ganga and prayed that Lord Shiva is liberated from the clutches of the
Gyanvapi mosque.”
A civil court-appointed commission had during a survey
of the Gyanvapi premises last month found a cylindrical structure inside a
shallow tank that some of its Hindu members claim is a Shivalinga. The mosque
management committee says the structure is part of a defunct fountain.
“We shall organise programmes like today’s more
frequently in the next few months,” Jitendranand said.
Sangh parivar supporters have filed petitions in
several courts seeking worshipping rights for Hindus on the Gyanvapi premises —
or a handover of the entire compound on the ground that the mosque was built
after demolishing a temple.
Three such cases are pending while the court of the
special chief judicial magistrate in Varanasi, Sarvottama Nagesh Sharma, on
Wednesday threw out a related petition from local lawyer Raja Anand Jyoti
Singh.
Singh had sought the registration of a case against
S.M. Yasin, joint secretary of the mosque committee, and another unidentified
1,000 people for doing wuzu (a cleansing ritual) near the purported Shivalinga.
“It appears that the applicant moved this petition in
the court for personal gain and to stay in limelight, which can’t be called
appropriate. This application is not maintainable and it qualifies (as)
rejection,” the court order said.
Source: Telegraph India
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Africa
Nigeria suspects Islamic State of killing 40 in
Catholic church
June 9, 2022
ABUJA, June 9 (Reuters) - Nigerian authorities suspect
the insurgent group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carried out a
massacre in a Catholic church on Sunday in which 40 people were killed,
Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said on Thursday.
Assailants wielding AK-47 rifles and explosives
attacked the congregation at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, in southwestern
Ondo State, during Pentecost mass on Sunday, leaving behind a scene of carnage
as they escaped. read more
"We have been able to see the footprint of ISWAP in
the horrendous attack in Owo and we are after them. Our security agencies are
on their trail and we will bring them to justice," Aregbesola told
reporters in the capital Abuja.
The authorities had not previously made any comment
about the identity or motive of the killers.
ISWAP, predominantly active in northeastern Nigeria
and neighbouring Chad, is one of two major Islamist insurgent groups that have
been fighting each other and the Nigerian military for years. Hundreds of
thousands have died and millions have been displaced.
Ondo State is far from ISWAP's usual area of
operations.
The state governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu, gave new
casualty figures on Thursday. He said a total of 127 people had been affected
by the attack in the church, of whom 40 had died, 61 were still in hospital and
26 had been discharged.
Previously, an official from the National Emergency
Management Agency had given a death toll of 22. Akeredolu said the new casualty
figures had been compiled from reports from multiple hospitals including
private ones.
He said the state government would provide land for a
mass burial of the victims, but did not say when that would take place.
Source: Reuters
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Sudan’s main civilian opposition coalition to meet
with ruling junta: Party leader
09 June, 2022
Sudan’s main civilian opposition coalition, the Forces
of Freedom and Change (FFC) will hold an “unofficial” meeting with the military
mediated by the United States, Sudan’s Umma party leader told Reuters on
Thursday.
United Nations and African Union-sponsored talks
aiming to restore political order in post-coup Sudan began on Wednesday with
military leaders at the table and the main civilian groups boycotting.
On Wednesday, Sudan began the UN-facilitated direct
talks without the participation of a critical civilian bloc.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Nigeria links church attack in Ondo state to ISWAP
terror group
Timothy Olanrewaju
10.06.2022
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria
The Nigerian government said Thursday that the Islamic
State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group was responsible for an
attack on a church in the town of Owo in Ondo state that left over 30
worshippers dead.
Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola revealed at the
Presidential Villa that the country's security agencies have linked the
terrorists with Sunday’s attack.
"ISWAP, wanting attention, are suspected to be
behind the attack at the church in Owo," he disclosed at a joint press
conference with the Inspector General of Police.
He said the government has directed security forces to
go after the attackers.
Aregbesola insisted that the attack was not targeted
at any religion.
Police Inspector-General Alkali Baba Usman also
announced that the police have launched an investigation into the incident
"The investigation will, in the nearest future, tell
us what the situation will be,” he said.
It marked the first official response by the
authorities since the incident occurred.
Over a dozen masked gunmen with assault rifles invaded
St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo during Sunday mass, killing around 35
worshippers.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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South Africa’s president suspends anti-corruption czar
Hassan Isilow
09.06.2022
JOHANNESBURG
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended the
country’s anti-corruption chief Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Thursday with
immediate effect.
“The Constitution provides that the President may
suspend the Public Protector (or any member of a Chapter 9 institution) at any
time after the start of proceedings by a committee of the National Assembly for
(their) removal,” the presidency said in a statement.
Mkhwebane had been accused of being politically biased
in her investigations.
A court ruled four years ago that she had acted
inappropriately while conducting some of her investigations.
Mkhwebane’s suspension comes barely one day after she
announced she would investigate claims of money laundering against Ramaphosa.
“The timing of the suspension of the Public Protector
by the President is not right. Why does he do that after she is going to
investigate the Farm gate issue?,” political commentator Mustapha Mheta told
Anadolu Agency.
Mheta said Ramaphosa is slowly losing his democratic
credentials. “Does he have anything to hide,” he asked.
The country’s former spy boss, Arthur Fraser, filed a
criminal complaint against the president earlier this week, accusing him of
money laundering and not reporting a robbery at his farm where $4 million was
allegedly stolen.
The robbery has created outrage among South Africans
who question why there was so much foreign currency at the president’s farm.
Ramaphosa said the money was the proceeds from the
sale of the game at his farm and not from taxpayers.
“I have never stolen taxpayers’ money. I want to
reaffirm that I was not involved in any criminal conduct and once again I
pledge my full cooperation with any form of investigation,” said Ramaphosa, who
is known for his tough stance on corruption.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Arab
World
Israeli premier arrives in Abu Dhabi to meet UAE
president
Abdelraouf Arna'out
09.06.2022
JERUSALEM
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday
arrived in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi to meet with the
country's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Bennett is on a “snap visit” to the UAE at the
invitation of the UAE president, an Israeli government statement said.
“Today, together, we will take to the special bond
that has been woven between our countries to the next level — for the growth
and security of both our peoples,” the statement quoted Bennett as saying.
In September 2020, the UAE and Israel signed a
US-sponsored deal to normalize their relations. Since then, the two countries
exchanged official visits by senior officials and have signed dozens of
bilateral agreements in various fields, including investment, banking services,
and tourism.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Israel strikes southern Damascus: Syrian state media
10 June, 2022
An Israeli missile attack early Friday hit several
targets south of the Syrian capital Damascus, wounding at least one civilian,
state media said.
“At 4:20 a.m. (0120 GMT)... the Israeli enemy carried
out an aerial aggression by firing a volley of missiles from the occupied Golan
Heights,” SANA reported.
Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles
but those that reached their target left at least one civilian wounded and
caused material damage, SANA said.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights, the Israeli raids hit arms depots belonging to the Lebanese Shia
movement Hezbollah, as well as other Iran-backed groups near Damascus airport.
The monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources
across Syria, said that at least three such positions were hit, leaving a
number of people wounded.
Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has
carried out hundreds of airstrikes against its neighbor, targeting government
troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.
While Israel rarely comments on individual strikes, it
has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of them.
The Israeli military says the strikes are necessary to
prevent its arch-foe Iran from gaining a foothold on its doorstep.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Iraq’s Sadr warns MPs could ‘resign’ to break
political deadlock
09 June, 2022
Populist Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr made a high-stakes
protest Thursday by calling on the 73 lawmakers loyal to him to ready
resignation papers to end an eight-month parliamentary paralysis.
Parliament in Baghdad has been in turmoil since
October’s general election, and intense negotiations among political factions
have failed to forge a majority in support of a new prime minister to succeed
Mustafa al-Kadhemi.
The two Shia groupings – a coalition led by al-Sadr,
and its powerful rival, the Coordination Framework – each claim to hold a
parliamentary majority, and with it the right to appoint the prime minister.
Iraqi lawmakers have already exceeded all deadlines
for setting up a new government set down in the constitution, prolonging the
war-scarred country’s political crisis.
“If the survival of the Sadrist bloc is an obstacle to
the formation of the government, then all representatives of the bloc are ready
to resign from parliament,” al- Sadr said in a televised statement.
Al-Sadr called on his lawmakers to “write their
resignation,” warning that “they won’t disobey me.”
“Iraq needs a government backed by a majority that
serves the people,” al-Sadr said.
The 47-year-old cleric once led an anti-US militia
following the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, and he maintains a large
and dedicated following.
Al-Sadr has said he wants all Shia forces to be
involved in a “consensus government.”
While al-Sadr counts on the direct loyalty of 73
lawmakers, his wider bloc also includes Sunni lawmakers from the party of
parliamentary speaker Mohammed Halbusi and the Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP).
But the grand total of al-Sadr’s bloc of 155 still
falls short of the absolute majority needed in the 329-member parliament.
Al-Sadr’s move puts the onus for forming a government
on the 83 lawmakers of the rival Coordination Framework, which draws lawmakers
from former premier Nuri al-Maliki’s party and the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance, the
political arm of the former paramilitary group the Popular Mobilization Unit
(PMU), (Hashed-al-Shaabi).
Lawmakers have already failed three times to elect a
new national president, the first key stage before naming a prime minister and
the subsequent establishment of a government.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Turkey hopes allies ‘respect’ planned Syria offensive
09 June, 2022
Turkey’s president said Thursday he hoped Ankara’s
allies would “understand and respect” its announced operation against Kurdish
militants in northern Syria, after Washington denounced the planned offensive.
Ankara has for weeks threatened to target the Kurdish
People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, deemed a “terrorist group”
by Turkey.
At the beginning of June, Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed
the pledge, sparking warnings from the US and Russia to refrain.
On Thursday, Erdogan said he hoped his allies would
support the country’s ambition.
“We hope that none of our real allies will object to
our legitimate concerns,” he said in a televised address.
“We expect our allies and friends to understand and
respect our legitimate concerns.”
He repeated Turkey’s determination to create a “safe
zone” inside Syria near the Turkish border.
The comments come a day after Turkey’s NATO ally the
US renewed warnings against the operation, which it believes risks
destabilizing the region.
Source: Al Arabiya
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YPG/PKK terror group kidnapped Syrian brothers, ages 9
and 10, to join terrorist ranks
Esref Musa and Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu
09.06.2022
TAL ABYAD, Syria
Near northern Syria, a region where YPG/PKK terror
group has large areas of control and oppresses local populations, this week the
group kidnapped two brothers, ages 9 and 10, to join its armed ranks.
Ibrahim, just 9 years old, Muhammed Sevki Yusuf, 10, –
both born in Afrin, northern Syria – were kidnapped last Sunday by YPG/PKK
terrorists in the city center of Aleppo, some 42 kilometers (26 miles) away,
local sources said.
The terror group usually takes the children it
kidnapped or detained to terror camps for armed training. The use of children
as armed combatants is expressly forbidden under international humanitarian law
and is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court.
YPG/PKK terrorists also do not allow forcibly
recruited children to contact their families.
‘Abductions of children under age 10 by terrorist
YPG/PKK on the rise’
Abdulaziz Temmo, the head of Syria’s Independent
Kurdish Association, told Anadolu Agency that the abduction of children under
age 10 by YPG/PKK terrorists has risen over the last six months.
By kidnapping them, the terror group aims to tear the
children away from their schools, families, and social life, he said.
“These children are taken to Mount Qandil (northern
Iraq). Since their ties with their families were severed at an early age, their
new family became the terror group. Cases of 10-year-olds being kidnapped
started to increase. We have always condemned this,” said Temmo.
Qandil is the base of PKK terror group, while the
YPG/PKK is the group’s Syrian branch.
While recognizing the PKK as a terror group, some
Western countries have refused to recognize its link to the YPG/PKK, but its
child recruits being taken from northern Syria to the PKK base in northern Iraq
is yet another piece of evidence that the two terror groups are in fact the
same.
This February, YPG/PKK terrorists kidnapped four
children, age 14-16, from the Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) region, Syria, an area the
terror group occupies.
This March, a 14-year-old was kidnapped by YPG/PKK
terrorists, and two girls, ages 16 and 17, were kidnapped by the terror group
from Aleppo, adjacent to northern Syria.
The terror group also kidnapped four children from
Aleppo in April, according to local sources.
YPG/PKK terror group keeps recruiting, using children
in Syria
Since 2016, Türkiye has launched several military
operations across its border to free northern Syria from YPG/PKK terror group's
domination, secure the border region, and make the area safe for locals.
After suffering heavy losses from these Turkish
counter-terrorist operations, including similar ones into northern Iraq,
YPG/PKK terror group is forcing minors to serve in combat zones, in flagrant
violation of both the laws of war and human rights agreements.
The terror group declared mobilization in response to
Turkish counter-terrorist cross-border operations, and it uses its proxies in
Syria to recruit children.
The terror group's practice of abducting children and
pushing them into combat zones is nothing new, as seen in the US State
Department’s 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report.
According to the report, YPG/PKK terror group forcibly
recruited girls as young as 12 from refugee camps located in northwestern
Syria.
Moreover, a January 2020 UN human rights office
(OHCHR) report said its findings suggest YPG/PKK is using children as fighters
in Syria.
In July 2019, Virginia Gamba, the UN
secretary-general’s special representative for children and armed conflict,
signed an action plan with the SDF – the label YPG/PKK terror group uses in
Syria – to end and prevent the recruitment and use of minors under 18, but the
terror group has violated the plan.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Turkish intel ‘neutralizes’ 3 PKK terrorists in
northern Iraq
Harun Kutbe
09.06.2022
Türkiye “neutralized” three members of the PKK
terrorist group in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, according to Turkish
defense sources on Thursday.
The terrorists were targeted in the Gara region by
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) during counter-terror
operations, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on
speaking to the media.
PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq, across the
Turkish border, to hide out and plan attacks on Türkiye.
Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply
the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
Mehmet Erdogan, code-named Ahmet Rubar, a senior
ringleader of the organization's so-called military wing HPG in Iraq's
Makhmour-Kirkuk-Sulaymaniyah region, among others was also neutralized in the
operations recently intensified by the MIT in northern Iraq and Syria.
Last week, Dilbirin Kacar, code-named Rojda, who was determined
to have participated in various terror acts as the assassin of the PKK/YPG
terror group, was also brought to Türkiye in an operation in Syria.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Lebanon’s Hezbollah can stop Israeli gas extraction
from disputed field, chief says
09 June, 2022
The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Thursday that
his group could stop Israel from extracting gas from a maritime field that
Beirut says lies in disputed waters, adding Hezbollah is “not afraid of war.”
Lebanon warned Israel on Sunday against any
“aggressive action” in disputed waters where both states hope to develop
offshore energy, after a vessel operated by London-based Energean arrived off
the coast to produce gas for Israel.
Hezbollah “has the capacity to prevent the enemy from
beginning to extract from Karish, and all the enemy’s actions will not be able
to protect this ship,” Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised
speech.
Nasrallah said that “the Greek company,” referring to
Energean, “is a partner in this attack on Lebanon,” for which it will face
“consequences.”
Energean was not immediately available for comment.
Energean has said that its floating production storage
and offloading vessel is due to start production at Karish in the third
quarter.
Israel says that the field in question, which is about
80 km (50 miles) west of the city of Haifa, is within its exclusive economic
zone, not in disputed waters.
The United States began mediating indirect talks between
the sides in 2000 to settle a long-running dispute that has obstructed energy
exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
Lebanon has yet to respond to an undisclosed proposal
a US envoy made early this year to revive the stalled talks.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Mideast
Israeli court upholds sale of Jerusalem church land to
Jewish group
June 10, 2022
JERUSALEM: Israel’s top court ruled on Thursday that a
Jewish settler group legally purchased an east Jerusalem property from the
Greek Orthodox Church, ending a nearly two-decade battle over the old city
property.
The Ateret Cohanim organisation, which seeks to
“Judaise” Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, bought three buildings from the
church in a controversial deal struck in secret in 2004.
The sale triggered Palestinian anger and led to the
dismissal of Patriarch Irineos I the following year.
The church brought charges against Ateret Cohanim,
claiming the properties were acquired illegally and without its permission.
In a decision released late on Wednesday, Israel’s
supreme court dismissed the church’s appeal, noting that the “harsh
allegations” of misconduct by the parties involved in the original sale were
“not proven to be true” in earlier proceedings. The church blasted that ruling
as “unfair” and without “any legal logical basis”.
It condemned Ateret Cohanim as a “radical
organisation” that had used “crooked and illegal methods to acquire Christian
real estate” at a crucial Jerusalem site.
The church’s lawyer, Asaad Mazawi, said the ruling
marked “a very sad day”.
“We are talking about a group of extremists that want
to take the properties from the churches, want to change the character of
(Jerusalem’s) old city and want to invade the Christian areas,” he said. Backed
by Israel, “unfortunately they are succeeding”, he said.
The Greek Orthodox Church is the largest and
wealthiest church in Jerusalem with extensive land holdings there dating back
centuries.
It has faced repeated accusations of corruption and
facilitating Israeli settlement expansion on its properties.
Source: Dawn
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Iran Proxies Engaged In 'Invisible Jihad' Against
Christians In Middle East, Philos Project Report Warns
June 10, 2022
FIRST ON FOX: Iran’s proxy militias are engaged in an
"invisible jihad" against Christians in the Middle East and are
having success in their efforts to push out and reduce the numbers of Christians,
according to a new report.
The report by the Philos Project, a non-profit
organization and community that promotes Christian engagement in the region,
says that the Iranian regime envisions Muslim demographic purity and that its
militias have "labored to create conditions that forced Christians
out."
"Iran’s proxy militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria
and Yemen have played a significant, though largely unrecognized, role in the
dramatic decline of Christians in the region," the report outlines.
"Invisible Jihad -- demographic reduction through
coerced emigration -- these militias use extant conflicts to manufacture
conditions behind the massive exodus," report author Farhad Rezaei said.
In Lebanon, where the pro-Iran Hezbollah is seen as
"particularly culpable" for the reduction of Christians to just 33.7%
of the population in 2020, down from 54% in the 1950s. The report details how
Hezbollah has targeted missionaries, impeded conversions all while imposing
strict dress codes, alcohol bans and limits of mixes sexes in public -- in what
have been dubbed "mini-Tehrans"
Ownership of Christian land has also shrunk:
"While some of the lands were legally sold by emigrants, a sizable part
was lost through eviction and expulsion coordinated by Hezbollah."
In Iraq, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’
Quds Force was able to create several Shia militia groups after the 2003
invasion of Iraq by the United States.
The report details how Christians were chased out of
Baghdad with selective killings, robbery and sexual harassment that created a
"climate of panic." It also accuses militias of engaging in human
trafficking, rape and forced marriage as leaders tried to make Baghdad and
elsewhere "Christian-free."
Just as in Lebanon, militias engaged in forced buyouts
as well as evictions, expulsions and destruction of private property --
including the burning of acres of crops. Militias have also sought to impose an
Islamic lifestyle on residents -- including forced veiling, closing of liquor
stores and limiting of Christian worship.
Meanwhile, in Syria, the report details about how the
IRGC created several militias within the Shia Liberation Army after the popular
uprising against the Assad regime in 2011. In the 10 years that followed, the
report says that the Christian community in Syria has shrunk by 70%.
The crimes which the report links Shia militias to
include the killing of dozens of Christians, the use of kidnappings for
ransoms, torture and confiscation of private property. It cites reports of 124
assaults on churches between 2011 and 2019, with 75 acts of violence including
acts of destruction.
"Bombing these churches had no tactical value; it
was a deliberate policy to scare the Christians into fleeing," the report
says.
The report calls for the State Department to sanction
Iran and the commanders of the IRGC for expelling and persecuting Christians,
while also urging the United Nations to appoint a special rapporteur to report
on the effort by Iran to remove Christians out of the region.
The report comes as talks to revive the 2015 Iran
nuclear deal have stalled in Vienna and the Iranian regime has been resorting
to increasingly provocative tactics.
The Trump administration left the deal in 2018, and
Iran left soon after. The Biden administration has pledged to re-enter the deal
and has considered major concessions, but it has not prevented talks from
stalling.
Source: Fox News
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Iranian, Russian Presidents Discuss Ties, Oppose IAEA
Political Approach
2022-June-9
Rayeesi and Putin in a phone conversation on Wednesday
discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, and reaffirmed
their commitment to boost ties.
During phone talks, Rayeesi stressed that “cooperation
and coordination between independent countries in pursuit of collective
interests at the regional and international levels will neutralize the
pressures and movements of other international actors”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, regardless of
international developments, seeks to deepen and stabilize its comprehensive
relations with independent countries,” he added.
Rayeesi said despite the US-led pressures against
Tehran over its peaceful nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) has on many occasions confirmed that there had been no deviations
in Iran’s nuclear activities.
“We have fulfilled our commitments under the [Iran]
deal, and now is the time for the United States to make a decision,” he noted.
Putin, for his part, hinted at an anti-Iran move led
by the US and its European allies at the IAEA Board of Governors, saying that
his country opposes such moves.
“We believe that their actions will not help resolve
the current issues, and Russia’s position is to oppose such actions,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed the need to continue
diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement in the Austrian capital, according to
the Kremlin’s readout of the call.
They underlined the need for the full implementation
of the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the deal,
by all original signatories.
Meanwhile, Putin also expressed his condolences over
the train accident in Eastern Iran’s Tabas city on Wednesday.
At least 22 people were killed and dozens injured
after a train carrying over 300 passengers derailed from the track after
colliding with an excavator.
Further investigation is underway to find out the
exact cause of the accident.
Elsewhere in their conversation, Rayeesi expressed the
hope that the conflict in Ukraine would end as soon as possible.
He placed great emphasis on a diplomatic solution to
the conflict, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to use its
capacities to help end the war.
The IAEA approved a resolution, proposed by the US,
Germany, France and Britain, against Iran late Wednesday with 30 votes in
favor, two against and three abstentions.
The Iranian foreign ministry denounced the
"non-constructive approach" of the IAEA, saying the Islamic Republic
"has taken practical quid pro quo steps which include installation of
advanced centrifuges and deactivation of cameras operating outside the
Safeguards Agreement".
"The adoption of this resolution, which is based
on the hasty and unbalanced report of the Director General of the IAEA and on
false and fabricated information of the Zionist regime, will only weaken the
process of cooperation and interaction of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the
IAEA," it said.
The statement said the IAEA appeared to have
resurrected issues which had been settled between the two sides seven years
ago, despite the Islamic Republic having "always cooperated
constructively" with the agency in recent years.
Iran, it said, had showed its good faith in
cooperation with the IAEA by providing accurate technical information as
confirmed by their joint statement issued in March when IAEA Director General
Rafael Grossi visited Tehran.
"Likewise, the Agency was expected to take an
independent, impartial and professional approach, taking constructive and
realistic steps to normalize safeguards issues that according to the Agency own
admission did not bear proliferation concerns," the statement said.
"It seems some have forgotten that all past
issues were closed once and for all on December 15, 2015 by the Board of
Governors," it added.
The foreign ministry statement denounced the
resolution as a "political, wrongful and unconstructive act" against
a country which "currently has one of the most transparent peaceful
nuclear programs among the IAEA members".
Iran announced on Wednesday that it has removed two
IAEA cameras which had been installed beyond the country's undertakings under
the safeguards agreement after the UN Agency's chief started escalating
tensions against Tehran.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) made the
announcement.
The AEOI said the UN atomic body has not appreciated
Iran's good-will gesture and has instead viewed Tehran’s voluntary move as part
of its undertakings.
The AEOI noted that for these reasons, it orders the
Online Enrichment Monitor and the flow meter to be taken offline.
Source: Fars News Agency
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FM: West Fails to Force Iran into Recognition of
Zionist Regime
2022-June-9
The West, during the negotiations with Iran in the
past, had been pushing for the country’s recognition of Israel in return for
resolving issues related to Tehran’s nuclear program, Amir Abdollahian said,
addressing top Indian Muslim figures in India on Wednesday.
Of course, the western states, including the US, know
that nuclear bombs have no place in Iran’s religious beliefs and the country is
not after these weapons, he said, adding that with such allegations, they
sought to pressure Tehran into recognizing the Zionist regime and achieve their
goals, but they failed.
The top Iranian diplomat said that his country
considers it a duty to make efforts for the liberation of the Holy Quds from
Israeli occupation.
Amir Abdollahian also highlighted the need for efforts
to identify plots against the Islamic values.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei has on many occasions said the Islamic Republic considers
the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons "a grave sin" from
every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint. On April 17, 2010
Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa declaring that the production, stockpiling,
and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (religiously banned).
"Iran is not after a nuclear bomb. Why would Iran
want a nuclear bomb? Moreover, when an atomic bomb is detonated, it does not
just kill enemies. Rather, it kills innocent people as well, and this goes
against Islamic beliefs and the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran. An
atomic bomb does not discriminate between good and bad people, and it is not
something that the Islamic Republic would use. The Islamic Republic is relying
on something that is not affected by bombs, foreign invasions and other such
things. Such things only strengthen what the Islamic republic is relying on.
The Islamic republic is relying on the people," a part of the fatwa said.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010319000468/FM-Wes-Fails-Frce-Iran-in-Recgniin-f-Zinis-Regime
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Spokesman: Iran to Give Firm Response to IAEA
Resolution
2022-June-9
“US-E3 put their shortsighted agenda ahead of IAEA's
credibility by pushing a miscalculated and ill-advised resolution against a
country with the world's most transparent peaceful nuclear program,”
Khatibzadeh wrote on his twitter page.
“The initiators are responsible for the consequences.
Iran's response is firm and proportionate,” he added.
A Foreign Ministry statement also denounced the
"non-constructive approach" of the IAEA, saying the Islamic Republic
"has taken practical quid pro quo steps which include installation of
advanced centrifuges and deactivation of cameras operating outside the
Safeguards Agreement".
"The adoption of this resolution, which is based
on the hasty and unbalanced report of the Director General of the IAEA and on
false and fabricated information of the Zionist regime, will only weaken the
process of cooperation and interaction of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the
IAEA," it said.
The statement said the IAEA appeared to have
resurrected issues which had been settled between the two sides seven years
ago, despite the Islamic Republic having "always cooperated
constructively" with the agency in recent years.
Iran, it said, had showed its good faith in
cooperation with the IAEA by providing accurate technical information as
confirmed by their joint statement issued in March when IAEA Director General
Rafael Grossi visited Tehran.
"Likewise, the Agency was expected to take an
independent, impartial and professional approach, taking constructive and
realistic steps to normalize safeguards issues that according to the Agency own
admission did not bear proliferation concerns," the statement said.
"It seems some have forgotten that all past
issues were closed once and for all on December 15, 2015 by the Board of
Governors," it added.
The foreign ministry statement denounced the
resolution as a "political, wrongful and unconstructive act" against
a country which "currently has one of the most transparent peaceful
nuclear programs among the IAEA members".
The resolution, proposed by the US, Germany, France
and Britain, was approved late Wednesday with 30 votes in favor, two against
and three abstentions.
The trigger for the latest Western move was a report
issued by the IAEA after Grossi made a controversial visit to Israel and met
the regime's leaders late last month. The agency has been on the receiving end
of documents supplied by Israel about Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran has
rejected as fake and fabricated by MKO terrorists.
Iran announced on Wednesday that it has removed two
IAEA cameras which had been installed beyond the country's undertakings under
the safeguards agreement after the UN Agency's chief started escalating
tensions against Tehran.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) made the
announcement, saying that the UN atomic body has not appreciated Iran's
good-will gesture and has instead viewed Tehran’s voluntary move as part of its
undertakings.
The AEOI noted that for these reasons, it orders the
Online Enrichment Monitor and the flow meter to be taken offline.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010319000208/Spkesman-Iran-Give-Firm-Respnse-IAEA-Reslin
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Envoy: Iran Staunch Supporter of Elimination of Nukes
2022-June-9
As one of the original signatories of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been and continues
to be a staunch supporter of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Ershadi
said on Wednesday, addressing the UN General Assembly meeting on Wednesday that
discussed a new set of sanctions pushed by the US against North Korea over
Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile program.
"In 1974, Iran proposed the idea of establishing
a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and since then, has worked hard
to realize this noble initiative. Furthermore, as the major victim of the most
systematic use of chemical weapons in the contemporary history, Iran has
demonstrated its full commitment to the total elimination of all weapons of
mass destruction including nuclear weapons," she added.
"The Security Council has not taken a balanced
approach to the North Korea's nuclear issue as it has solely focused on the
concerns of Western countries. The Council has imposed the toughest and most
comprehensive sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without
duly considering the detrimental implications of its decisions on political,
humanitarian, and international security issues."
"The imposition of sanctions against the DPRK has
not only failed to serve international peace and security, but has also
exacerbated and complicated the security arrangements in the Korean
Peninsula," Ershadi said.
She added that such measures have stymied the delivery
of life-saving humanitarian supplies where it is needed most, wreaking havoc on
vulnerable populations.
"It is deeply regrettable that the authority and
powers of the Security Council have been abused repeatedly by certain States
who, in pursuance of their illegitimate and political objectives, particularly
against developing countries, regard sanctions as their preferred tool to exert
maximum pressure on targeted countries."
"As a country that has been negatively affected
by illegal unilateral coercive measures, the Islamic Republic of Iran is well
aware of the devastating humanitarian consequences of such sanctions on
ordinary people. Specifically, we would like to highlight the destructive
impacts of sanctions on the effective and timely procurement of medical
equipment and supplies particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the sanctions have detrimental effects on, among other things,
basic human rights including the rights to life, health, and food,"
Ershadi said.
"We believe that imposition of new sanctions on
the DPRK by the Security Council will not help resolve the current situation in
the Korean Peninsula. To the contrary, it will have harmful implications on the
people and escalate tensions in the region. We emphasize on the resolution of
the issues through dialogue and to that end, we stand ready to engage in any
initiative that could fairly lead to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing
situation in the Korean Peninsula," she concluded.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei has on many occasions said the Islamic Republic considers
the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons "a grave sin" from
every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint. On April 17, 2010
Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa declaring that the production, stockpiling,
and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (religiously banned).
"Iran is not after a nuclear bomb. Why would Iran
want a nuclear bomb? Moreover, when an atomic bomb is detonated, it does not
just kill enemies. Rather, it kills innocent people as well, and this goes
against Islamic beliefs and the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran. An
atomic bomb does not discriminate between good and bad people, and it is not
something that the Islamic Republic would use. The Islamic Republic is relying
on something that is not affected by bombs, foreign invasions and other such
things. Such things only strengthen what the Islamic republic is relying on.
The Islamic republic is relying on the people," a part of the fatwa said.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010319000575/Envy-Iran-Sanch-Spprer-f-Eliminain-f-Nkes
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Iran, Nigeria Ink Several MoUs to Expand Cooperation
2022-June-9
The MoUs were inked on Wednesday in the presence of
Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Fatemi Amin and Nigerian
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zubairu Dada.
Local media reports said that the MoUs covered various
fields, including culture, tourism, petroleum, agriculture, sports and trade.
They said that the agreements had been reached as part
of a sixth round of intergovernmental committee meetings held between officials
of Iran and Nigeria.
Dada leads a trade and political delegation in his
trip to Tehran. He met senior Iranian government officials earlier on
Wednesday, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Vice-President
Mohammad Mokhber.
The Nigerian official hailed the resumption of
intergovernmental committee meetings between Iran and Nigeria after more than
eight years.
He said the presence of the Nigerian trade delegation
in Iran is a sign the African country is committed to implement bilateral
agreements and contracts.
Iran’s trade minister Fatemi Amin also said Iran and
Nigeria are seeking to rebuild their ties, adding that trade between the two
countries had increased three-fold over the past nine months.
Fatemi Amin said, however, that an annual bilateral
trade figure of $125 million does not match the position of Iran and Nigeria as
two major economies in their respective regions.
He said launching direct flight routes between Iran
and Nigeria will be a first step in facilitating trade between the two
countries.
Director-General of the African Bureau of the Trade
Promotion Organization of Iran Mohammad Sadeq Qannadzadeh said on Tuesday that
his country considers Africa, specially Nigeria, as a precious economic
partner.
Qannadzadeh made the remarks in the Sixth Iran-Nigeria
Joint Commission meeting.
During the meeting, the Nigerian and Iranian officials
have discussed exchange of trade delegations, participation in exhibitions and
facilitation of trade interactions, an Iranian official said.
He pointed out that both countries enjoy economic,
political and cultural commonalities and are both member states of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Qnnadzadeh added that both nations are also members of
the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), possess rich oil
and gas reservoirs, and have more than 15 percent of shares of the Islamic
Development Bank, but their bilateral economic and trade exchanges is not
satisfactory.
The Iranian official went on to say that statistics
indicate that the volume of trade exchanges between Nigeria and Iran stood at
about 125 million dollars in last year, which seems to be a tiny figure in
comparison with each country’s foreign trade of around 100 billion dollars per
annum.
All necessary efforts to promote bilateral economic
relations have been put on agenda, including activation of joint commissions,
so the Sixth Iran-Nigeria Joint Commission is held today after eight years of
pause, he noted.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010319000438/Iran-Nigeria-Ink-Several-MUs-Expand-Cperain
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North
America
US Lawmakers Call for Plan to Integrate Middle East
Air Defences, Confront Iran
09 June, 2022
A bipartisan and bicameral effort by US lawmakers was
announced Thursday to counter Iran as Washington hopes to integrate the air
defenses of six Gulf countries, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Israel.
The legislation, put forth by Republican Senator Joni
Ernst and Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen, looks to get the Pentagon to coordinate
with allies and partners “to identify an architecture and acquisition approach
to an integrated air and missile defense system.”
Introducing the “Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling
National Defenses Act of 2022,” or DEFEND Act, Senator Ernst said this would be
to counter Iran and its continued attacks in the region. “These attacks
compromise the security of our partners, US service members stationed in and
around the region, and pose a persistent threat to our homeland,” said Ernst,
speaking outside the US Capitol.
Ernst said countering radical Islamist and terrorist
acts could only be deterred if the US enabled its allies in the Middle East to
take on the threat posed by Israel and “its violent extremist proxies.”
She cited the Abraham Accords brokered by former US
President Donald Trump as the “turnkey” to energy, economic, travel and
cultural cooperation between Israel and Washington’s Middle Eastern partners.
“Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation highlights the
countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and
other countries identified by the Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said. “This bill
also requires [the Pentagon] to build a strategy to implement the security
cooperation and craft and assessment of the current threat environment.”
The bill would also require a study of a fund,
including money from the US and other potential stakeholders, to support an
integrated defense architecture. “We ultimately believe that Congress will
adopt the intent for our national security leaders to address the threat from
Iran and its proxies by laying the groundwork for security cooperation with our
allies and our partners in the region,” Ernst said.
For her part, Senator Rosen said the bill would
improve collective security in the Middle East. She pointed out Iranian and
Iran-backed proxies attacking and killing “countless” American servicemembers
and civilians, adding that Tehran’s armed drone capabilities “are rapidly
progressing.”
Source: Al Arabiya
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US says Iran threatening fate of JCPOA talks, could
become further isolated
09 June, 2022
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday
warned Iran that it could become further isolated politically and economically
if it did not cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog agency.
“Iran must cooperate with the International Atomic
Energy Agency and provide technically credible information in response to the
IAEA’s questions, which is the only way to remove these safeguards issues from
the Board’s agenda,” Blinken said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the IAEA approved a resolution put forth
by the US and European allies calling on Iran to take action on an “urgent
basis” to fulfill its legal obligations toward the agency. The resolution to
censure Iran was approved overwhelmingly. China and Russia were the only
countries to vote against the move, which calls for Tehran to answer questions
about traces of nuclear material found at three different sites across the
country.
But Blinken said the IAEA issue was separate from
Washington’s efforts to revive the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal, which the US
withdrew from under former President Donald Trump.
Blinken said the US remained committed to a mutual return
to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “Such a deal has been
available since March, but we can only conclude negotiations and implement it
if Iran drops its additional demands that are extraneous to the JCPOA,” he
said.
Tehran demanded that the US remove the IRGC from its
terror blacklist if it wanted to re-enter the 2015 deal. Despite reported
openness to this proposal from the US special envoy for Iran, Rob Malley,
President Joe Biden struck down these efforts.
Following Wednesday’s decision at the IAEA, Iran said
it would disconnect over 20 surveillance cameras inside the country. Blinken
said this signaled a threat to further nuclear provocations from Iran and would
complicate efforts to return to the JCPOA.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Europe
Council of Europe urges Denmark to address anti-Muslim
discrimination, racism
Shweta Desai
09.06.2022
PARIS
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
on Thursday called on Denmark to urgently address anti-Muslim discrimination
and racism against minorities and stop forced evictions of immigrant families.
In a monitoring report, the commission urged Danish
authorities to introduce a national action plan against racism on a priority
basis to address the discrimination against Muslims and minorities.
The plan, it stated, should include actions in the
areas of education, public awareness, promotion of counterspeech, training of
law enforcement officials and teachers, and recruitment of staff from Muslim
and other minority groups in these professions.
The commission is the Council of Europe's independent
human rights body that monitors the situation in each of the member states
related to racism, discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and intolerance.
It commended Denmark for positive developments like
free Danish language lessons for all immigrants and foreigners, and action to
prevent hate speech and anti-Semitism.
However, the commission raised concerns about several
shortcomings, including hate speech by Danish political parties that actively
portray Muslims, including legal foreign workers and migrants, “as a threat to
Danish values and culture” and the government’s “ghetto” to segregate migrants
into “Westerners” and “non-Westerners.”
It also noted that the policies of “parallel society”
causing forced evictions of migrant families and the Act on Social Housing
requiring mandatory day care for 25 hours per week for small children are
problematic.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Serbia completes preparations for visa-free travel
with Türkiye
Talha Ozturk
09.06.2022
BELGRADE, Serbia
Serbia announced Thursday that it had completed preparations
to lift visa requirements for travel with Türkiye.
An expected agreement between Belgrade and Ankara will
enable citizens of the two countries to "cross state borders with a valid
biometric ID card to improve and facilitate the movement of people and
goods," said a statement from the government.
The measure will also facilitate a large number of
mutual tourist visits, the statement added.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the development, Hami
Aksoy, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Serbia, said that following the Serbian
government’s move, the two sides will sign a protocol soon to enable visa-free
travel.
As a result of the friendly bilateral relations that
Türkiye and Serbia enjoy, tourists and businesspeople frequently travel between
the two countries.
Türkiye's AnadoluJet recently began flights from
Ankara to Serbia's capital Belgrade, while Turkish Airlines increased its
flights from Istanbul to the Balkan city to three per day.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Russia welcomes normalization between Türkiye, Armenia
Elena Teslova
09.06.2022
MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed
normalization between Türkiye and Armenia on Thursday, saying it will lead to
the general improvement in the region.
He also expressed certainty that Armenia will finally
settle relations with its another neighbor, Azerbaijan.
"We have a common understanding that the process
is moving forward. Maybe a faster pace would be preferred, but nevertheless,
the process is underway, and significant positive results are being achieved,
so far it is an interim (result). But there is no doubt that there will be
final agreements. We are doing our best to contribute to this," he said at
a news conference in Yerevan, following a meeting with his Armenian counterpart
Ararat Mirzoyan.
Baku and Yerevan have their own "specific
vision" regarding how to interact at the current stage, but both sides
have "the same understanding" that the latest peace agreements remain
a "very clear roadmap" to follow, he said.
Lavrov noted that the meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani commissions on the delimitation of the border was already held and
the next meeting will be in Moscow in the near future.
Also, the trilateral working group under the
leadership of the deputy prime ministers on unblocking transport and economic
ties has made significant progress, he said.
"The (opening of a) railway route (connecting
Armenia and Azerbaijan) has been agreed, now the coordination of an automobile
route is close to an end," he said
Russia is ready to help conclude a peace treaty
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and, in general, solve the humanitarian problems
that persist in this region, said Lavrov.
Mirzoyan also praised Türkiye's readiness to
normalization.
"We are glad to hear the statements of the
Turkish top leadership that they are ready to normalize relations and establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia, as well as open borders," he said.
Asked about protests against the course of the
Armenian authorities, Mirzoyan said people express their right for public
gatherings and there is no political crisis in Armenia.
Clearing mines in Ukraine's sea ports
Lavrov said the Russian military has been opening safe
corridors from Ukraine's ports for more than a month every day, in reference to
grain export from Ukraine.
The sea shore is under Ukraine's control and the main
obstacle for the passage of the ships are Ukraine's mines on the exits from the
ports, he said.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/russia-welcomes-normalization-between-turkiye-armenia/2609882
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Bosnian Serb leader demands deportation of high
representative
Talha Ozturk
09.06.2022
BELGRADE, Serbia
A Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina
Presidential Council on Thursday demanded the deportation of a German
politician serving as a high representative in the country, accusing him of
meddling in the runup to October's general elections.
During a Presidency Council meeting, Milorad Dodik
accused Christian Schmidt of abusing his "Bonn powers" by influencing
general elections through his funds and undermining the country's
constitutional order.
The high representative has broad powers known as
"Bonn powers," which allow him to report to the UN on developments
and challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina on an annual basis.
"I thought that the members of the Bosnia and
Herzegovina Presidential Council would approve that there is no high
representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina because Schmidt was not appointed by a
United Nations Security Council decision.
“All his actions are null and void and (he) must be
expelled in according with the procedure for foreigners violating the
constitutional order in Bosnia and Herzegovina,'' Dodik said.
The Bosniak member and the council’s Chairman, Sefik
Dzaferovic, and the Croat member, Zeljko Komsic, both rejected Dodik’s request,
who also demanded that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in the
country should also be closed.
Schmidt used his "Bonn powers" to finance
the country’s general elections on Oct. 2, Dodik alleged, citing his
announcement of allocating €6.5 million (approximately $6.97 million) for the
Central Election Commission.
The new scenario arose after Schmidt stated during a
press conference in Sarajevo on Tuesday that the Peace Implementation Council
(PIC) had to utilize extraordinary powers due to challenges in distributing the
necessary funds for the country's elections.
He said this decision will come into effect as soon as
it is published in the Official Gazette, and he emphasized that with the legal
regulation made under the Bonn authority, the finance problem will be resolved
not only for this year's elections but also for all future elections.
The OHR was established with the Dayton Peace
Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The office
oversees the implementation of the peace agreement in the country on behalf of
the international community. The High Representative also coordinates the
activities of international institutions operating in the country.
The High Representative has the authority to dismiss
anyone who interferes with the implementation of peace in the country,
including members of the Presidential Council, and to pass laws as necessary.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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EU urges Algeria to reverse split with Spain
09 June, 2022
The European Union on Thursday urged Algeria to
reverse a decision to suspend its cooperation treaty with EU member Spain,
urging dialogue to resolve the dispute.
Algeria has long backed the Polisario movement which
is seeking independence for the Western Sahara region, claimed by Algiers’
neighbor and rival Morocco.
In March, Spain publicly recognized Morocco’s plan to
grant the region autonomy rather than full independence, resolving a spat with
Rabat but angering Algeria in turn.
On Wednesday, Algeria suspended its 2002 friendship
treaty with Spain, threatening trade ties, including supplies of Algerian
natural gas.
This in turn could complicate broader EU ties with
Algeria, and EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said Brussels was
“extremely concerned.”
“We would ask the Algerian party to take another look
at that decision,” she said, urging Algiers and Madrid to work through
diplomatic channels to resolve the dispute.
Morocco controls 80 percent of the Western Sahara.
The rest is held by Polisario, which fought a 15-year
war with Morocco after Spanish forces withdrew in 1975 and wants a referendum
on independence.
Morocco has offered limited autonomy but insists the
phosphate and fisheries-rich enclave must remain under its sovereignty.
Spain officially endorsed that position in March to
help resolve a year-long diplomatic dispute sparked by a visit by Polisario
leader Brahim Ghali to Spain for treatment for COVID-19.
Weeks after his hospitalization, Moroccan border
forces looked the other way as more than 10,000 migrants surged into Spain’s
tiny North African enclave of Ceuta.
In April, Sanchez made an official visit to Morocco to
patch up ties after his government backed Rabat’s 2007 autonomy plan.
Algiers said Wednesday that Madrid had thereby “given
its full support to an illegal and illegitimate formula ... advocated by the
occupying power.”
Source: Al Arabiya
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bangladesh-india-blasphemy-muslim-hefazat-dhaka/d/127217