BJP MLA Threatens to Hit Muslims by Entering Mosques: Provocative Speech in Support of Hindu Seer Who Allegedly Made Derogatory Remarks About Islam and Prophet Muhammad
New Age Islam News Bureau
03 Sep 2024
BJP leader Nitesh Rane. (HT file)
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· BJP MLA Threatens to Hit Muslims by Entering Mosques: Provocative Speech in Support of Hindu Seer Who Allegedly Made Derogatory Remarks About Islam and Prophet Muhammad
· Former Lal Masjid Cleric’s Spouse, Umme Hassan, along with 40 Female Students BookedUnder Charges Including Terrorism
· Houthi: Demanding Western-Style Women's Rights Is Open Conspiracy Aimed at Corrupting Muslim Women
· Suicide Bomber Kills 6 And Injures 13 In Kabul Explosion; Witnesses Report Explosion Targeted Taliban’s Department of Command and Control
· Independent Muslim Pro-Gaza MPs Team Up with Jeremy Corbyn to Form ‘Independent Alliance’
India
· Lynching of Muslim Man in Haryana: Could Be a Planned One Aimed at Creating ‘Communal Mobilisation’: Jamiat Chief
· After Nitesh Rane's Threat to Muslims, BJP's ‘Such Words Have No Space…’ Response
· Two FIRs against Nitesh Rane for alleged hate speech against Muslims
· Assam: 28 'Declared Foreigners' Bengali Muslims Detained, Sent to Transit Camp
· Maharashtra: Bail cancelled for three accused of assaulting elderly Muslim man on train
· Mystery bullet kills soldier outside Sunjwan military station in Jammu, no evidence of terror attack
· J&K Assembly polls: Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti spar over mission of BJP leader Ram Madhav
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Pakistan
· Negotiations with PTI not possible unless it apologises for May 9 riots: defence minister
· Terrorists attack Mianwali checkpost injuring two cops
· Terrorist Attacks Surge to 59 In August from 38 In July
· Ministers cry over May 9 when PTI seeks talks: Imran
· Mehmood Achakzai says ready to talk to ‘establishment’
· Info minister suggests judicial reforms to curb child abuse, violence against women
· PM Shehbaz terms Pak-China friendship vital for regional peace
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Mideast
· Shiite, Sunni mulsims in Khanaqin mark prophet Muhammad’s death anniversary with joint procession
· Islamic Resistance Targets Israeli Occupation Settlements, Sites near Lebanon
· Netanyahu pushes back against new pressure over Gaza and hostages: ‘No one will preach to me’
· Syria Kurds release 50 Daesh-linked detainees: official
· Turkish military destroys 20 targets of Kurdish militant group PKK, ministry says
· US CETNCOM, Syria’s SDF capture Daesh ‘facilitator’ Khaled Ahmed Al-Danal
· More than 400 people executed in Iran this year: UN experts
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Europe
· One Month After Hull Violence, Mosque Leader Says Community is Just Starting to Feel Safe
· Growing awareness of Islamic finance among UK Muslim consumers
· Hinkley worker jailed after disorder outside Southport mosque
· The German establishment is desperately clinging to power in defiance of democracy
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South Asia
· Six Bangladesh Islamic Orators Relieved from Charges Brought Under Anti-Terrorism Act
· Bangladeshi journalist booked in India for ‘spreading fake news about Sonia, Rahul’
· Over 72,000 people leave Afghanistan in one week
· Richard Bennett travels to Turkey and Qatar to assess Human Rights situation in Afghanistan
· A citizen of Afghanistan executed in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking
· Murder case filed against ex-AL MP Fazle Karim, 56 others in Ctg
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Arab World
· Heritage Commission Launches Archaeological Study To Uncover Riyadh’s Ancient Past
· Science and tech festival kickstarts in Riyadh
· Saudi Arabia welcomes autumn and expected rainfall, cooler weather
· ‘Black Scorpion’ cave in Northern Borders attracts adventurers
· Saudi Arabia reconstitutes Shura Council, Council of Senior Scholars: Royal Decree
· Saudi Arabia: Driver killed as tree falls on vehicle due to severe winds in Mecca
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North America
· GOP Group Targets Muslim Voters in Michigan With Ads Touting Harris’ Ties To Israel
· Netanyahu not doing enough to free Gaza hostages, says Biden
· US seizes Venezuelan President Maduro's plane
· Landslides force power cuts in upscale LA neighbourhood
· Native American tribe unveil sculpture to honour Irish connection
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Africa
· Soun’s Appointment of Palace Imam Ignites Fresh Crisis InOgbomoso
· 161 Nigerian students fail UK border checks, denied entry
· PIDOM: Nigerian Authorities File 9 Charges Against Whistleblower After 28-Day Detention
· Protest Rocks Abuja Over Fuel Scarcity
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Southeast Asia
· 'Seditious': Muslim Lawyers Group Chides Council Over Jakim Officials Issue
· Pope Arrives In Muslim-Majority Indonesia To Start Asia-Pacific Tour
· Halal or not? Jakim clarifies certification issue for six popular F&B chains amid online queries
· Liek Hou proves Malaysia has world-class athletes - Ahmad Zahid
· Secretariat to check overlapping functions, save govt funds next- PM Anwar
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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BJP MLA Threatens to Hit Muslims by Entering Mosques: Provocative Speech in Support of Hindu Seer Who Allegedly Made Derogatory Remarks About Islam and Prophet Muhammad
BJP leader Nitesh Rane. (HT file)
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September 02, 2024
Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has stoked a controversy with his provocative speeches in which he allegedly threatened to hit Muslims, leading police to book him on Monday on charges of hurting religious sentiments.
The opposition immediately latched on to the speeches of Nitesh Rane, son of former Union minister Narayan Rane, after they went viral and hit out at the ruling BJP, asserting the saffron party wants to engineer riots ahead of the state assembly polls due in November.
On his part, BJP Lok Sabha MP Narayan Rane, himself no stranger to controversies, got into damage control mode and sought to calm frayed nerves, saying he has chided his son over the remarks.
Nitesh Rane addressed two public meetings in Shrirampur and Topkhana areas in Ahmednagar district on Sunday in support of Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, who was in the news last month for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
The MLA warned there would be repercussions if the Maharaj was harmed.
Ramgiri Maharaj has been accused of making derogatory comments about Prophet Mohammad and Islam. Cases have been registered against him at many places in Maharashtra and Muslim leaders have been demanding his arrest.
An official said two FIRs (first information reports) have been registered against Nitesh Rane at Shrirampur and Topkhana police stations in Ahmednagar district, around 260km from Mumbai, for criminal intimidation, intentionally insulting to breach peace and hurting religious sentiments.
The case at Topkhana police station was registered at around 11 pm on Sunday, while another offence was registered at the Shrirampur police station in the early hours of Monday.
Nitesh Rane is not new to controversies. Known for his rustic remarks, he was booked for allegedly making hate speeches in Malvani, Mankhurd and Ghatkopar areas of Mumbai earlier this year.
After the uproar, Nitesh Rane's father Narayan Rane, the MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg in coastal Konkan, said he has reprimanded his son and told him not to drag any religion in the matter.
"There is no need to drag any religion but only those who are guilty of it. Not all Muslims are guilty of this, so don't drag the entire community. I have reprimanded him," Narayan Rane said.
Sharing Nitesh Rane's video, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan, in a post on X, requested Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, to arrest the BJP legislator.
"Rane is spreading hatred against Muslims in his entire speech. This is inflammatory speech, hate speech. The BJP is trying to create communal violence in Maharashtra before the state assembly elections," Pathan alleged.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also slammed the BJP, his party's former ally. "You (the BJP) want riots in Maharashtra to win polls. Until they don't engineer riots they cannot face polls," opined the Rajya Sabha member.
Raut's party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said politicians are fuelling violence rather than upholding the state's ethos, in an apparent reference to the provocative speeches made by Nitesh Rane.
A delegation of Mumbai Congress leaders led by its president Varsha Gaikwad met police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and sought action against the Kankavli MLA and other BJP leaders for making provocative statements.
The Congress delegation also demanded that the police security of Nitesh Rane and other BJP leaders be withdrawn.
"Inflammatory statements are made in Maharashtra and everyone knows that they enjoy (political) patronage. They keep saying our boss sits in 'Sagar' bungalow," Gaikwad told reporters.
'Sagar' is the official bungalow of Deputy CM Fadnavis.
"The statement made by Nitesh Rane and (BJP MLC) Prasad Lad have reference to Sagar bungalow and Devendra Fadnavis Ji. It has to be probed whether they have any political patronage," she said.
NCP (SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande said Nitesh Rane's statements were not a one-off incident, adding the rot runs deeper.
"Contempt cases should be filed against the Maharashtra government itself for violations of the Tehseen Poonawala judgment on mob lynching and hate speech. Enough is enough," Gawande asserted.
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The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP (SP) are constituents of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The ruling Mahayuti coalition consists of the BJP, the NCP and the Shiv Sena.
Source:ndtv.com
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-mla-nitesh-ranes-provocative-speech-against-muslims-sparks-row-6476021
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Former Lal Masjid Cleric’s Spouse, Umme Hassan, along with 40 Female Students BookedUnder Separate Charges Including Terrorism
Former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Aziz’s wife Umme Hassan was booked on multiple charges, including Anti-Terrorism Act, along with 40 female students on Monday.
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September 3, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Spouse of former Lal Masjid cleric was booked along with 40 female students and other persons under separate charges including terrorism, police said on Monday.
The case has been registered with Lohi Bher police station under section 11-X of the Anti-Terrorism Act along with sections 148, 149, 353, 186, 341, 440, 188, 506(ii) and 427 of PPC.
The police said students of Jamia Hafsa, led by Umme Hassan, along with armed individuals reached Bahria Town Phase 4 and blocked the road from the roundabout side. They were chanting slogans against the government and district administration, they said.
The group alleged that immoral activities were taking place in the vicinity in connivance with the capital police and administration.
They forcibly shut down commercial centres and shops, threatening traders with dire consequences.
Upon receiving information, the police arrived at the scene and informed the protesters about the imposition of Section 144 of CrPC, banning all types of gatherings, including protests. Despite this, the female students and the individuals accompanying them resisted and attacked police with batons and sticks, manhandled them and also damaged the official vehicle.
They brandished weapons and forcefully closed the business centres located there, the police added.
Earlier, Ms Hassan in a video message claimed that the religious seminary Jamia Hafsa, operational in Bahria Town since 2008 or 2009, was surrounded by obscenity and nudity, accusing local authorities of turning a blind eye.
She said families could not come here after sunset, adding that the management was helpless as the police did not support it taking action.
They are operating in connivance with seniors officers of the police and administration, she alleged.
Umme Hassan asked the interior minister, IGP, DIG and DC to take action against those involved, otherwise they would act, adding that “when it comes to my daughters, I will not tolerate it”.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1856524/lal-masjid-clerics-spouse-others-booked
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Houthi: Demanding Western-Style Women's Rights Is Open Conspiracy Aimed at Corrupting Muslim Women
The Houthis aim to reinforce a sense of political and cultural domination. (AFP)
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02 Sep 2024
SANA'A September 02. 2024 (Saba)- A member of the Supreme Political Council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, emphasized the falsity of the Western claim of women's rights, and that demanding women's rights in the Western way is an open conspiracy aimed at corrupting Muslim women and making them approach the vulgar Western women's model.
That came during his participation in the closing ceremony of the training courses program of the Women's Center for Crafts and Handicrafts, which was organized by the center under the auspices of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, coinciding with the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birth anniversary.
The member of the Supreme Political Office pointed out that Islam has honored and elevated women, saying: "There is a big difference between women's freedom and their liberation, as the former is guaranteed by Islam within legal controls to preserve them, not to restrict them, confiscate their freedom and make them a commodity for vulgarity.
The member of the Supreme Political Council pointed out that Yemeni women are the main axis in the development process given the list of tasks they undertake, saying: "This long list of tasks makes her one of the heroes of society. She is the foundation and she is the school."
He pointed out that "Yemeni society looks at Yemeni women with pride for their modesty, faith, preservation of their identity and their conscious faith movement, unlike Western society, which wants women to be vulgar, and a vulgar woman has no value."
"Many are working to bring our culture to the lowest level of decline, but thanks to God Almighty, thanks to your achievements and people like you, Yemeni women will see a lot of good and Yemeni society will see from this woman a lot of good for its society, its people and its children."
Al-Houthi continued: "You are the ones who raise children and instill in them a culture of patriotism, a culture of respect for others, a culture of coexistence, and this is the responsibility of mothers, sisters and all women."
For his part, the Culture and Tourism Minister, Dr. Ali Al-Yafei, stressed the importance of creating a development plan for craft products and linking them to marketing factors and increasing production as one of the important projects that serve the development process, pointing to the importance of integration between men and women in promoting and activating this plan.
Minister Al-Yafei directed the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund and the Women's Center for Crafts and Handicrafts to work on this plan and submit it for discussion, approval and turn it into a work program during the next phase, in order to go towards the priorities, set by the revolutionary and political leadership.
He stressed the importance of continuing to support such training and rehabilitation programs because of their role in raising the efficiency of Yemeni women and improving the level of their income and its reflection on the family and social level.
Source:saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3366356.htm
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Suicide Bomber Kills 6 And Injures 13 In Kabul Explosion; Witnesses Report Explosion Targeted Taliban’s Department of Command and Control
Kabul's police said five people were killed but another Taliban official put the number of dead at 20
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By Fidel Rahmati
September 2, 2024
The Kabul Police Command reports that today’s explosion in Kabul resulted in the deaths of six civilians, including one woman, and injured 13 others.
Mohammad Khalid Zadran stated in a press release that this afternoon, Monday, September 2, an individual detonated explosive in the Bakhteyar Khail area of the sixth district. As a result, six civilians were killed, and 13 others were wounded.
Meanwhile, witnesses have reported that the explosion in Kabul targeted employees of the Taliban’s Department of Command and Control.
Photos from the scene show at least eight bodies on the ground and the injured have been transferred to a hospital, and investigations into the attack have commenced.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The increasing frequency of such attacks is contributing to a growing sense of insecurity in Afghanistan. The resurgence of Daesh (ISIS) in the region has intensified the threat of violence, exacerbating the already volatile situation.
The activities of Daesh have escalated, leading to more frequent and severe attacks that undermine stability.
This rise in violence not only affects Kabul but also has broader implications for regional security, prompting concerns about a potential spillover of extremism into neighboring areas.
Source:khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-suicide-bomber-kills-6-and-injures-13-in-kabul-explosion/
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Independent Muslim Pro-Gaza MPs Team Up with Jeremy Corbyn to Form ‘Independent Alliance’
Jeremy Corbyn
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2nd September 2024
Four Independent Muslim MPs elected to Parliament on the back of the Muslim vote have teamed up with Jeremy Corbyn to form an independent grouping in Parliament to increase their collective power.
The new “Independent Alliance” Parliamentary group, comprising Shockat Adam, Jeremy Corbyn, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed, is now the joint fifth biggest grouping in the Commons with the same parliamentary strength as Reform UK and the DUP.
The aim of the formal arrangement is to give the MPs (who are all left-leaning) greater opportunities to ask questions and hold the government to account on behalf of their constituents.
As a Parliamentary grouping of five they are now more likely to be allocated question and speaking slots by the Speaker on a regular basis, including being added to the rota reserved for smaller parties to ask questions at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The five MPs jointly issued a statement, saying: “We were elected by our constituents to provide hope in a Parliament of despair. Already, this government has scrapped the winter fuel allowance for around 10 million pensioners, voted to keep the two-child benefits cap, and ignored calls to end arms sales to Israel.
“Millions of people are crying out for a real alternative to austerity, inequality and war – and their voices deserve to be heard. As individuals we were voted by our constituents to represent their concerns in Parliament on these matters, and more, and we believe that as a collective group we can carry on doing this with greater effect.
“The more MPs who are prepared to stand up for these principles, the better. Our door is always open to other MPs who believe in a more equal and peaceful world.”
Since being elected to Parliament in July, the MPs (under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, 5Pillars understands) have issued several joint statements on foreign and domestic policy.
As outlined below, the content of these letters (among other things) include urging the UK to halt arms sales to Israel, meet with the Muslim Council of Britain and reverse austerity measures.
https://5pillarsuk.com/2024/09/02/independent-muslim-mps-team-up-with-jeremy-corbyn-to-form-independent-alliance/
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India
Lynching of Muslim Man in Haryana: Could Be a Planned One Aimed at Creating ‘Communal Mobilisation’: Jamiat Chief
By HT News Desk
Sep 02, 2024
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani on Monday claimed that the mob lynching of a Muslim migrant worker in Haryana could be a ‘planned’ one aimed at creating ‘communal mobilisation’ ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the state.
“This lynching could be a planned one because assembly elections are soon to be held in Haryana. So, it is possible that communal elements could have done this to create communal mobilisation,” Madani said in a statement released by Jamiat.
He further stated that merely condemning such incidents was not enough and demanded that political parties, especially the ‘secular’ ones, ‘come out openly' and 'take steps to get laws made against it (mob violence).'
“This lynching has proved that communal elements consider themselves above the law…they are taking the law in their own hands and targeting a particular community on the basis of the victim's religion,” the statement quoted the Jamiat chief as saying.
That such ‘brutality’ was not stopping despite strict instructions by the Supreme Court was ‘saddening,’ Madani noted, adding that this clearly showed that people indulging in such actions do so with ‘political support and protection’ and that their morale was ‘high.’
Police in Haryana's Charkhi Dadri have arrested five men from a so-called cow vigilante group, and two minor boys, for the August 27 incident in which they allegedly lynched Sabir Malik from West Bengal on suspicion of him having consumed beef.
Source:hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/possible-it-was-planned-to-jamiat-chief-on-mob-lynching-of-muslim-man-in-haryana-101725285719077.html
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After Nitesh Rane's threat to Muslims, BJP's ‘such words have no space…’ response
Sep 03, 2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday distanced itself from its Maharashtra MLA Nitesh Rane's threat to Muslim community to hit them by entering mosques.
Speaking to India Today, the party spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said such remarks have no space in public life and should never be uttered by any politician. “Two FIRs have been filed and it's a matter of time before the law catches up," Tuhin Sinha added.
While being critical of Nitesh Rane, the BJP spokesperson alleged that the Congress party displays “obnoxious selectivity” in its stance on the alleged crimes against the Hindu community.
He asked whether sitting Congress MLA in Telangana Rashed Khan Feroz Khan have been removed for allegedly issuing a bounty, each of ₹50 lakh and ₹25 lakh respectively, for the head of Wasim Rizvi when he converted to Hinduism in 2021. “Have they been removed? Maulana Tauqeer Raza made a statement to the effect that he will annihilate Hindus before the Uttarakhand assembly election. He was immediately lapped up by the Congress and the party went into an alliance with them. So, I think this selectivism needs to stop," India Today quoted Sinha as saying.
What did Nitesh Rane say?
Addressing public meetings in support of Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj on Sunday in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, Nitesh Rane threatened to hit Muslims by entering their mosques if the seer is harmed. The self-proclaimed seer was himself in news last month for his derogatory comments on Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Video of Nitesh Rane's speech with remarks, “We will enter your mosques and hit you one by one. Keep this in mind”, went viral, prompting the police to register an FIR.
An official told news agency PTI that two FIRs have been registered against Nitesh Rane at Shrirampur and Topkhana police stations, around 260km from Mumbai, for criminal intimidation, intentionally insulting to breach peace and hurting religious sentiments.
Son of former Union minister Narayan Rane, Nitesh is not new to controversies over religion. He was booked earlier this year for making hate speeches in Malvani, Mankhurd and Ghatkopar areas of Mumbai.
Reacting to his son's hate speech, Narayan Rane had said, "There is no need to drag any religion but only those who are guilty of it. Not all Muslims are guilty of this, so don't drag the entire community. I have reprimanded him".
AIMIM party spokesperson Waris Pathen asked Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to arrest the BJP MLA.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also slammed the BJP for Nitesh Rane's remarks, and alleged that the saffron party wants to engineer riots in the state to communalise the electorate ahead of assembly polls.
A delegation of Mumbai Congress leaders led by its president Varsha Gaikwad met police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and sought action against the Kankavli MLA and other BJP leaders for making provocative statements. The Congress delegation also demanded that the police security of Nitesh Rane and other BJP leaders be withdrawn.
Source:hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-nitesh-ranes-threat-to-muslims-bjps-such-words-have-no-space-response-101725322606546.html
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Two FIRs against Nitesh Rane for alleged hate speech against Muslims
By HT Correspondent
Sep 03, 2024
Mumbai: The Ahmednagar police have registered two first information reports (FIRs) against Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane for allegedly delivering hate speeches and creating a rift between communities. The FIRs were registered at the Shrirampur and Topkhana police stations after members of the Muslim community protested and demanded action to be taken against the Kankavli MLA for his provocative remarks.
Rane addressed two public meetings in Shrirampur and Topkhana on Sunday in support of Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, who had last month made derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
In videos from the two rallies that have gone viral, Rane is seen threatening members of the Muslim community with violence if they said anything against the seer. “I am threatening you in the language you understand. If you say anything against our Ramgiri Maharaj, we will enter your mosque and beat you up one by one. Keep this in mind,” he said.
Rane’s comments caused an uproar, with Muslims gathering in big numbers outside the Ahmednagar police superintendent’s office on Sunday, demanding a case to be registered against the BJP MLA. The police then registered two FIRs against Rane late on Sunday. Rane is expected to be summoned for questioning by police in a couple of days.
In a post on X, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and former MLA Waris Pathan requested Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to arrest Rane for spreading hatred against Muslims. “This is inflammatory and hate speech. BJP is trying to create communal violence in Maharashtra before the state assembly polls,” he said.
Reacting to the criticism, Rane said on Monday, “My statement was a reaction to an action. My statement was to assure Hindus that they should be scared, and I am a Hindu Gabbar Singh.”
After his objectionable remarks last month, Ramgiri Mahara too was booked by the police in many places across Maharashtra.
Source:hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/maharashtra-bus-workers-strike-days-before-ganpati-festival-101725339551443.html
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Assam: 28 'declared foreigners' Bengali Muslims detained, sent to transit camp
Sumir Karmakar
02 September 2024
Guwahati: At least 28 persons belonging to Bengali Muslims community in Assam's Barpeta district, who were earlier declared as foreigners by Foreigner Tribunals, were detained on Monday and sent to a foreigner transit camp, situated about 50kms away ...
A video shared on social media showed a group of family members of the "declared foreigners" outside the SP office of Barpeta when they were taken out on a police bus.
Faruk Khan, a local activist in Barpeta, told DH that one each from 28 families from different areas in the district were called to the police stations on Monday for some signatures, following which they were called to the SP office and were forced i...
The home department also informed the Assembly that the foreigner transit camp at Matia in Goalpara, the largest such centre in the country, at present has 210 'declared foreigners'. The 28 persons were detained amid a backlash against the Bengali M...
Source:deccanherald.com
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https://www.deccanherald.com/india/assam/assam-28-declared-foreigners-bengali-muslims-detained-sent-to-transit-camp-3174082
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Maharashtra: Bail cancelled for three accused of assaulting elderly Muslim man on train
Scroll Staff
Sep 03, 2024
A railway court in the city of Kalyan near Mumbai on Monday cancelled the bail granted to three men who were allegedly among a group of persons who assaulted and abused an elderly Muslim man on a train last week.
The Muslim man, 72-year-old Ashraf Ali Sayyed Hussain, was attacked on August 28 on a train near the town of Igatpuri in Nashik district by men who claimed he was carrying beef. A video of the assault went viral on August 31, after which several social media users urged the police to take stringent action.
On September 1, three men identified as Akash Ahwad, Nilesh Ahire and Jayesh Mohite were arrested, according to The Wire. However, they were released on bail on the same day as they were booked under bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, criminal intimidation and mischief.
The Government Railway Police subsequently added two more sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on uttering words intended to hurt religious sentiments, and robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt. Of these, the second provision is non-bailable.
On Monday, the Government Railway Police filed an application before the Kalyan railway court demanding that the bail granted to the accused men be cancelled. The court held that the presence of the accused men was necessary for further investigation, and cancelled the bail.
A copy of the order was shared on social media by Jitendra Awhad, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), who had met the railway police late on Sunday to ask why they did not take action on their own after a video of the assault went viral.
Investigating officer Archana Dusane told The Times of India that the railway police have identified two more accused persons from Maharashtra’s Dhule district, who will be arrested soon.
Hussain, who was travelling from Maharashtra’s Jalgaon to Kalyan to meet his daughter, said that the attack on him on board the train was unprovoked.
“The train was crowded, and I was standing until the train got close to Nashik railway station,” Hussain told The Wire. “One young girl who was seated in the upper berth got down from her seat, and I occupied the place.”
Hussain added: “A young man, around 24-25 years of age, who was standing next to me, asked me to make space for him. Since there was no room to squeeze another person, I asked him if he was thinking of sitting on my lap.”
This angered the group of young men, according to Hussain. The men, who are under 30 years old, were on their way to Mumbai for a police recruitment exam, according to The Wire.
When the Kalyan station arrived, Hussain tried to get hold of his bag that had two plastic jars of buffalo meat, Hussain said in his complaint.
The consumption of water buffalo meat is legal in Maharashtra.
“The men suddenly demanded I open my bag and show it to them,” The Wire quoted him as saying. “They started gheraoing me and asked what I had in my bag. I got hassled and claimed it was bullock meat [banned in Maharashtra in 2015]. The men started punching me and abusing me.”
The elderly man said he could hear some of the men say “throw him [Hussain] out of the moving train”.
Hussain said the men charged at him with blows even as he resisted the attack. “They targeted blows to my eyes and my chest,” he said.
The elderly man said that some other passengers asked the attackers to stop assaulting Hussain, but to no avail. Hussain was quoted as having said that the men also threatened to kill him and rape the women of his family if he complained to the police.
The men threatened him, boasting about their alleged connections with Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, which has on several occasions been accused of involvement in cow vigilantism and mob lynching, The Wire and The Quint reported.
Source:scroll.in
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https://scroll.in/latest/1072772/maharashtra-bail-cancelled-for-three-accused-of-assaulting-elderly-muslim-man-on-train
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Mystery bullet kills soldier outside Sunjwan military station in Jammu, no evidence of terror attack
Our Special Correspondent
03.09.24
An army soldier died of gunshot wounds under mysterious circumstances outside the heavily fortified Sunjwan military station in Jammu, leading to speculation of a militant attack.
According to officials, Naik Kuldeep Singh of Punjab was on guard duty when he was hit by a bullet in the head and was evacuated to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
However, the army ruled out any terror angle after the firing sparked an alert and a massive house-to-house search. A joint investigation by the army and Jammu and Kashmir police has been launched to ascertain the cause of the soldier’s death.
“Initial investigations by the army suggest that the incident in which a soldier lost his life doesn’t have traces of terror attack as per ground evidence,” an army spokesman said. “However, the joint investigation by the army and the police is under way and forensic reports are awaited,” he added.
Source:telegraphindia.com
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J&K Assembly polls: Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti spar over mission of BJP leader Ram Madhav
Muzaffar Raina
03.09.24
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday said BJP leader Ram Madhav has been sent by his party to Jammu and Kashmir possibly to restitch an alliance with the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party, sparking a face-off between the two sides.
Omar latched onto former governor Satya Pal Malik’s claim that the BJP was anticipating a big defeat in Jammu and Kashmir and had sent Madhav to forge an alliance with the old ally.
RSS poster boy Madhav had played a key role in the 2015 alliance between the two parties, which collapsed after the BJP withdrew its support to the Mehbooba-led government.
His stocks fell during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term and the government sidelined him. But the BJP’s lacklustre performance in the last Lok Sabha elections strengthened his position, prompting the party to appoint him as an election in-charge in the Union Territory, along with central minister Krishna Reddy.
Malik, who has parted ways with the BJP and emerged as one of its biggest critics, claimed on Sunday that Madhav could play a role in government formation after the Assembly elections in September-October.
“Ram Madhav has been sent to seek the support of Mehbooba,” he said in Delhi.
The BJP is in a crisis after facing protests over ticket distribution, “ignoring” veterans in favour of defectors from other parties.
Omar said there were no two opinions that the PDP was the only party with which Madhav had good relations. “Ram Madhav was responsible for bringing the PDP and the BJP on one platform. He brokered the alliance. Perhaps he has been brought back for this purpose,” he said.
The former chief minister said Malik had close ties with the BJP and was sent by the party as the Jammu and Kashmir governor. It was during his tenure that Article 370 was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was split up into two Union Territories.
Mehbooba hit back saying Omar was a minister in the BJP-led government at
the Centre.
“It is they (NC) who brought Pota (Prevention of Terrorist Act) to this place and banned shahtoosh (shawls). They advocated an attack on Pakistan. When we joined hands with the BJP, we did it on certain conditions. We withdrew FIRs on 12,000 people. We brought a delegation from Delhi to talk to the Hurriyat,” she said.
Of late, the NC has also faced allegations that it
had a secret understanding with the BJP.
Omar also hit out at separatists for joining the fray, saying they were the same people who trained guns on the National Conference for participating in elections. Separatist Jamaat-e-Islami, known for close links with the BJP, has fielded candidates. A
Hurriyat leader joined the PDP on Sunday.
“Ideologies change. Elections have come and they are ready to fight. Until now, they raised slogans of boycott….We have been proven right. Before 1990, we said there would be bloodshed (with guns), the situation would worsen and graveyards would be filled but nothing would change.
Source:telegraphindia.com
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Pakistan
Negotiations with PTI not possible unless it apologises for May 9 riots: defence minister
September 02, 2024
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday castigated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its refusal to hold talks with political parties, saying that party founder Imran Khan wants dialogue with only establishment.
Speaking on the National Assembly floor, the defence minister said that the former ruling party was begging for a "NRO-like deal" from the establishment.
“[PTI spokesperson] Raoof Hasan is begging for an NRO from those who they believe wield real powers,” he said.
His remarks came in response to Hasan’s interview to Voice of America (VOA), wherein the PTI leader "hoped and prayed" that the deadlock between the military and his party does not continue any longer.
“In the interest of the state, it is imperative that PTI and the establishment engage in dialogue,” he said, adding that the party had not left any stone unturned to “end this stalemate”.
The former ruling party has long maintained stance that it will only hold talks with the powers that be instead of the political parties.
Today, Asif said that Imran Khan “only wanted” to negotiate with the establishment and seeking the NRO, clarifying that the government has no objection to PTI’s desire to hold dialogue with the establishment.
Over 12 years ago, on October 5, 2007, the-then president and army chief, General Pervez Musharraf, had promulgated the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which had granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, money laundering, murders and terrorism.
However, the minister asked Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai — who had been tasked by PTI founder in this regard — will he hold negotiations with the establishment?
“They [PTI] say Achakzai heads the opposition alliance [Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan] and he will negotiate,” he said, asking them to decide with whom they want to be engaged.
Reminding the PTI that their past benefactor are no more in power, the defence minister said: “This is a new system with a new leadership.”
The defence minister said the embattled party is looking towards establishment for relief and reiterating negotiations with the Imran Khan-founded party cannot take place until they apologised for the May 9 mayhem.
The May 9 incidents refer to the violent protests that broke out in many parts of the country following the arrest of Khan in a corruption case.
The violent protests saw attacks on state properties including military installations, with the civil and military authorities vowing to try the rioters under the Army Act.
Earlier in the day, Asif — while speaking during Geo News programme 'Naya Pakistan' — rejected media reports that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif directed his party to hold talks with all political parties including the PTI.
"We concentrated on two topics only during the meeting, one on holding local bodies elections in Punjab and the other on bringing down electricity prices," he said of the party meeting that took place a day earlier.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Terrorists attack Mianwali checkpost injuring two cops
By Inayatullah Niazi
September 02, 2024
MIANWALI: Two policemen were injured in an attack on a checkpost in Punjab's Mianwali by more than a dozen terrorists, Geo News reported Monday.
About 12 to 14 khawarij attacked the Qabool Khel police check post with rockets and hand grenades, according to the police spokesperson.
However, Punjab Police thwarted the attack by terrorists after which they escaped, said the spokesperson, adding that two cops were injured as a result.
Following the incident, district police officer of Mianwali, Deputy Superintendent of Police Isa Khel reached the check post along with heavy personnel.
Last month, at least 12 policemen were martyred and six sustained injuries after bandits attacked their vans with rockets in a riverine area of Punjab's Rahim Yar Khan.
The horrific attack occurred in the Machka area located in one of Rahim Yar Khan's riverine areas.
Police officials told the media that two police vans with more than 20 cops were trapped in rainwater in the locality when bandits launched rockets at them.
As a result of the fierce attack, a dozen cops were martyred while seven others were wounded and five went missing, the police added.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since the Taliban government returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021, mostly in the northwestern border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also in southwestern Balochistan, which abuts Afghanistan and Iran.
There were at least 170 militant attacks killing 151 civilians and 114 security personnel in Balochistan last year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
Islamabad accuses Kabul's new rulers of failing to root out militants sheltering on Afghan soil as they prepare to stage assaults on Pakistan.
Against this backdrop, the federal cabinet in June this year approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism campaign following the Central Apex Committee's recommendations under the National Action Plan to root out terrorism.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Terrorist attacks surge to 59 in August from 38 in July
Iftikhar A. Khan
September 3, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The country continues to experience increased terrorist attacks as a total of 59 terrorist attacks occurred across the country in August 2024 compared to 38 such attacks in the previous month.
These incidents included 29 attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 28 in Balochistan and two in Punjab, killing 84 people and 166 others injured, according to the digital database of security incidents managed by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think-tank.
Balochistan experienced 28 terrorist incidents during August 2024, which resulted in 57 deaths and injuries to another 84 people. Most of these terrorism-related casualties in the province resulted from the banned BLA-orchestrated attacks on August 26 in over seven districts of the province targeting security forces, non-Baloch people (mainly Punjabis) and national infrastructure.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 29 terrorist attacks took place, claiming 25 lives and wounding 80 others. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-i-Islam, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) and a few local Taliban groups reportedly carried out these attacks.
Meanwhile, two reported attacks from Punjab injured two civilians; two of the attackers were also killed. Security forces and the counterterrorism departments (CTDs) of the police conducted 12 anti-militant operations in the country in August compared to 11 in the previous month.
In these operations, 88 militants were killed and 15 army soldiers and three policemen martyrdom. Eight out of the 12 reported operations took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while four others took place in Balochistan.
Of the total 28 attacks recorded in Balochistan in August this year, 26 were carried out by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), including the group’s extensive terrorist onslaught on August 26.
PIPS in its monthly security report said that the armed group has escalated its destructive activities, executing high-impact attacks and using female suicide bombers.
On August 26, the anniversary of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti’s death, the group launched coordinated attacks across Balochistan.
The report underlines that the involvement of numerous militants and the use of sophisticated weaponry including vehicle-borne explosives, indicate the BLA’s growing capabilities.
The group has adopted new tactics, such as targeting Punjabis on highways by checking identity cards — a development that may further strain relations between the province and the central government, which seems to be one of the banned entity’s objectives.
Positioning itself as a defender of Baloch interests, the BLA exploits grievances like enforced disappearances and resource exploitation.
As the Baloch people lose faith in the political process, the group may gain more support.
To counter this, the government must create political and social spaces for the Baloch people, the report said.
Additionally, there is an urgent need to investigate the BLA’s sources of training, weapons and funding. Pakistan should engage constructively with Afghanistan and Iran to develop a joint counterterrorism and border security strategy, the report advised.
Source:dawn.com
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Ministers cry over May 9 when PTI seeks talks: Imran
Syed Irfan Raza | Malik Asad
September 3, 2024
• Irfan Siddiqui claims Nawaz has not extended talks offer to PTI
• Says he prefers negotiations with ‘those’ who brought PML-N to power
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has said federal ministers start crying over the May 9 events whenever the PTI speaks about talks, emphasising that he always remains open to dialogue, even with the government.
However, the PTI founding chairman said he would prefer to engage in talks with those — a reference to the establishment — who have brought the PML-N to power, as dialogue with the current government would be futile.
Speaking to the media after attending the Toshakhana reference hearing at an accountability court on Monday, Mr Khan said the PML-N had initially contested the election to respect the vote, but now they are respecting the “boot” instead.
He added that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif might be eligible for a Guinness World Record for taking a U-turn on his narrative of respecting the vote and losing the match despite having open support from four umpires.
Mr Khan claimed that Mr Sharif had managed to defeat Yasmin Rashid with 74,000 bogus votes. He pointed out that PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal used to criticise the military and are seeking “my apology for May 9 incidents”.
According to the former premier, the PML-N is using May 9 events to secure their future as they started crying over these protests whenever PTI speaks about the talks. He demanded a judicial probe into the May 9 protests and claimed that those who removed the CCTV footage were behind the conspiracy.
He said the PTI’s upcoming public meeting on Sept 8 has three main objectives. “We want return of stolen mandate, getting rid of the ‘qabza group’ and independence of the judiciary,” he said, adding that the judiciary is being attacked to extend the tenure of the incumbent chief justice of Pakistan.
No talks offer
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui claimed on Monday that Nawaz Sharif had not extended an offer of talks to the opposition PTI.
“Nawaz Sharif has not taken the name of even PTI or dialogue with it during a party meeting held two days ago,” Mr Siddiqui, known for his close association with the PML-N president, said in a statement. “We have not extended any offer to the PTI for dialogue.”
The PML-N senator said Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Achakzai is a respectable person and anyone could hold talks with him. “It is absurd that we want to hold talks with PTI through Achakzai.”
He ruled out the possibility of PTI-PML-N talks and said the opposition party was not reliable as it always promoted politics of lies. He stated that PTI leaders are worried these days as the decision in the 190m pound corruption case against Imran Khan is expected soon.
During a Geo News programme on Sunday, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif claimed that the party’s meeting on Saturday did not discuss any political matters. He said Nawaz Sharif did not mention reaching out to the PTI, adding that the current atmosphere is not conducive for such negotiations.
It may be recalled that the PML-N’s statement, issued after the party’s meeting in Lahore on Saturday, followed a meeting between Mr Achakzai and PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah and gave rise to speculations that the government was interested in seeking a dialogue with the PTI.
Media reports said Nawaz Sharif had suggested an across-the-board dialogue to pull the country out of crises. However, the PTI ruled out the possibility of direct talks with PML-N and favoured negotiations with the establishment instead.
PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan had said the deadlock between the army and the PTI needed to be ended and that the former ruling party was interested in talking to the powers that be in this regard.
According to the PTI leader, who was recently released from jail in a cybercrime case, a dialogue between the PTI and the establishment was imperative for the sake of the state’s interests. He reiterated that PTI wanted to end this deadlock. The PTI spokesperson said his party had done whatever it could to improve ties with the army, but underscored that any talks in this regard would be within the ambit of the Constitution.
Source:dawn.com
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Mehmood Achakzai says ready to talk to ‘establishment’
Amir Wasim
September 3, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) president Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Monday declared on the floor of the National Assembly that he was ready to engage in talks with the ‘establishment’ for the sake of the supremacy of constitution and to bring the country out of the prevailing crisis.
The unexpected announcement for the treasury members came in response to a fiery speech by Defence Minister and PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif who had asked Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to seek a reply from the PkMAP chief, who had been nominated by the opposition PTI for a dialogue, if he was willing to hold talks with the establishment.
Castigating the PTI leaders over their repeated statements that they would not talk to the political parties sitting in parliament and would only like to have dialogue with the army, the defence minister threw the question towards Mr Achakzai, perhaps expecting that he would refuse to talk to the establishment because of his strong narrative that politicians should not drag the army into politics.
“I will hold negotiations. I will talk to every institution. I will also talk to the establishment, but …. we do not want to talk to them and ask them to provide us guidance. We are to provide them honourable retreat,” said Mr Achakzai amid desk-thumping by the opposition members.
“We will tell the establishment that you are our establishment. You are dear to us. You are our army, our institution. Please be kind with us and [it’s] enough. Sit with us.
“The supremacy of the constitution is the only solution and this whole house has consensus on this,” he said, adding that all the parties and leaders, including PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari, believe in it. He said if this parliament would be made a true supreme institution through democratic elections, the country would come out of the crises.
Mr Achakzai said the politicians and the army and everyone was responsible for the present situation and the time had come to sit together, admit the past mistakes and move forward. He said on one hand Nawaz Sharif stressed the need for a political dialogue, on the other “you people start stabbing each other in the back”.
The PkMAP chief asked the speaker not to behave as a member of PML-N and become a true custodian of the house. He asked the speaker to play a role and make his party leadership realise that there is a need for dialogue with all the parties and institutions.
“Come and sit together, including the Chief of Army Staff. We should sit together to find the solution to the prevailing crisis, which has not descended from the sky,” he went on saying.
The debate on the political dialogue started when opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, on a point of order, refuted the claim of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal that Imran Khan was begging for a deal.
“Imran Khan has never got NRO and he will never get it,” said the opposition leader.
Responding to the opposition leader’s speech, the defence minister reiterated that Mr Khan was “desperate” to strike a deal. He said PTI’s information secretary Raoof Hassan was desperately begging before the establishment whereas Imran Khan had been issuing statements from jail on a daily basis that he would only talk to the army. He said they should ask Mr Achakzai if he was willing to talk to the establishment on behalf of PTI which was not ready to sit with any political party and only looking towards the establishment for reconciliation.
He said PTI wanted to talk to those who had “nourished the party”, forgetting that it no longer had the support of former ISI heads Shuja Pasha and Faiz Hameed, and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.
On Saturday, former prime minister and PML-N president Nawaz Sharif had suggested an across-the-board dialogue to pull the country out of crisis. However, the PTI next day ruled out the possibility of direct talks with the PML-N and favoured negotiations with the establishment instead.
Later, the National Assembly passed four bills amid noisy protest by the opposition.
The bills passed were the Apostille Bills 2024, the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill 2024, the Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Bill 2024 and the Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024.
Source:dawn.com
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Info minister suggests judicial reforms to curb child abuse, violence against women
Munawer Azeem
September 3, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday suggested formation of a task force, comprising representatives from the federal and provincial governments, for judicial reforms to effectively curb incidents of child abuse and violence against women.
The minister gave the proposal in the National Assembly in reply to a question from PPP MNA Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam.
In the absence of interior minister, Mr Tarar confirmed that there had been a sharp increase in such cases. There is a need for judicial reforms for the conviction of culprits arrested in connection with such cases, he added.
The conviction rate in such cases has been only three per cent, Mr Tarar said, adding that culprits in the Noor Muqadam case had been arrested and convicted, but the sentence was yet to be executed.
Judicial reforms are needed to address the issue over execution of sentence, and setting a timeline for verdict in such cases, incidents, said the minister.
About the F-9 Park rape incident, Mr Tarar said lights had been installed in the park and Islamabad police were also working on the issue.
MNA Sharmila said the situation was bad and such incidents were also taking place in Islamabad. It is a serious issue and the government should take in seriously, she added.
The minister said 140 cases of abuse and violence incidents against women and children had been reported in Islamabad in 2023. The investigations of these cases have been completed and challans sent to trial courts which are pending in courts.
About a question whether an emergency response facility had been established in recreational parks and the hiking trails to enhance vigilance and improve safety response, the minister said in addition to the deployment of police, Dolphin Force had been established and Rescue 15 was also there to make immediate response to such calls.
About 788 police personnel are deployed at Dolphin Force and 266 are at Rescue-15, he said, while replaying to a question about the number of police personnel deployed for emergency response.
Moreover, in response to a question raised by MNA Asad Qaiser about the number of police checkposts, a written reply stated that four checkposts were presently operational, one each at Dama-i-Koh, Bari Imam, Pir Sohawa and D-12. No checkpost was established during the last two years, it said, adding 71 accused had been arrested from there.
At present, there is no such plan to reduce or increase the number of the checkposts. New checkposts can be established based on crime assessment while barriers and other means can be used for checking purpose. Check posts are established with prior approval of the government.
The reply was challenged by Mr Qaiser, who said he can name seven checkposts in the capital. There is no use of these checkposts; people are harassed there, especially those from KP and Balochistan, he added. He demanded action over submission of a wrong reply.
In response, the information minister said there were 22 checkposts in Islamabad as protecting people was the top priority of the government.
There have been recent incidents of terrorism, so there is no decision to remove the checkposts, he said, adding that so far 145 suspects have been arrested from the checkposts.
About the complaint over harassment and extortion at the checkposts, Mr Tarar assured the MNA that strict action will be taken against police officials involved in such illegal practice. He also requested the MNA to provide details of such specific incidents for action.
Source:dawn.com
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PM Shehbaz terms Pak-China friendship vital for regional peace
September 03, 2024
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pak-china friendship is inevitable not only for both the nations, but also for the region and global peace and development.
The prime minister made the remarks while talking to Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who called on him in Islamabad.
China has provided unconditional support to Pakistan during every difficult period, PM Shehbaz added. He lauded the Chinese leadership's vision of continuously improving strategic relations between Pakistan and China and upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Radio Pakistan reported.
He expressed Pakistan's desire to enhance collaboration with China in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, modern agriculture, and other sectors.
The prime minister remarked that the friendship between Pakistan and China has endured and remained strong throughout the years.
He stated that the friendship between the two nations has withstood the test of time, with China providing unwavering support to Pakistan during every challenging period.
Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other relevant officials were also present in the meeting.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Mideast
Shiite, Sunni mulsims in Khanaqin mark prophet Muhammad’s death anniversary with joint procession
2024-09-02
Shafaq News/ Thousands of mourners in the Iraqi city of Khanaqin took to the streets on Monday in a procession to commemorate the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s death.
The participants, mostly men and youths dressed in black, carried chains known as "zanjil," which they used in a traditional mourning practice.
“The city’s residents gathered in a unified procession starting from the Grand Hussainiya, passing through the district’s streets,” said Sheikh Sajad al-Arkawazi, a local cleric. “Participants expressed their deep sorrow over the Prophet's passing by reciting elegies in Kurdish and Arabic and performing chest-beating rituals in an atmosphere of reverence.”
The procession, which included religious leaders and citizens from various communities, highlighted the unity and solidarity among Khanaqin's residents during this significant religious observance.
Security forces were deployed across the city to ensure the event proceeded without incident. Their presence was credited with maintaining order and allowing the rituals to be conducted peacefully.
“This religious event underscores the social and religious cohesion in Khanaqin, reaffirming the residents' commitment to their traditions in commemorating the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s death,” Al-Arkawazi added.
Source:shafaq.com
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Islamic Resistance Targets Israeli Occupation Settlements, Sites near Lebanon
September 2, 2024
In steadfast support of the people and resistance in Gaza and in defense of Lebanese territories, Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance conducted multiple operations on Monday.
The group’s military media issued a series of statements outlining the attacks and their outcomes:
The first statement affirmed that, in response to the “Israeli” enemy’s attacks on the steadfast southern villages and peaceful homes, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Monday, 2-9-2024, a building used by enemy soldiers in Avivim settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.
The second statement mentioned that, in response to the “Israeli” enemy’s attacks on the steadfast southern villages and peaceful homes, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted on Monday, 2-9-2024, a building used by enemy soldiers in Al-Manara settlement with appropriate weapons, hitting it directly.
The third statement underscored that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an enemy troop deployment at Adather Heights with artillery shells at 10:10 am on Monday, 2-9-2024, and inflicted direct damage.
According to he fourth statement, in response to the “Israeli” enemy’s attacks on the resilient southern villages and safe homes, especially the attack this morning on the town of Al-Naqoura, the Islamic Resistance fighters launched Katyusha rocket barrages at the settlements of Ein Yaakov, Ga’aton, and Yehi’am on Monday, 2-9-2024
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with rocket weapons at 3:55 pm on Monday, 2-9-2024, and inflicted direct damage, according to the fifth statement.
The sixth statement noted that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Zibdeen site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with rocket weapons at 3:55 pm on Monday, 2-9-2024, and inflicted direct damage.
The seventh statement underscored that, in response to the “Israeli” enemy’s attacks on the resilient southern villages and safe homes, especially the attack this morning on the town of Al-Naqoura, the Islamic Resistance fighters once again launched a barrage of Katyusha rockets at the settlements of Ein Yaakov, Ga’aton, and Yehi’am on Monday, 2-9-2024.
The eighth statement underlined that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Manara site with rocket weapons at 6:20 pm on Monday, 2-9-2024, and inflicted direct damage.
The ninth statement emphasized that the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Bayyad Blida site with artillery shells at 6:50 pm on Monday, 2-9-2024, and inflicted direct damage.
In support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in backing its valiant and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance launched several operations against the positions and deployments of the “Israeli” enemy army along the Lebanese-Palestinian border on Sunday, 01-09-2024, as follows:
1. At 2:47 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the espionage equipment at Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with appropriate weapons, achieving a direct hit which led to its destruction.
2. The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted an “Israeli” army patrol near the Kfar Yuval checkpoint with appropriate weapons, achieving confirmed hits, in response to the enemy’s attacks on the steadfast southern villages and secure homes, especially last morning’s assault on the town of Rmeish.
3. At 4:40 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted enemy soldiers stationed around Al-Marj site with rocket weapons.
4. At 4:45 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the surveillance equipment at Hadb Yaroun site with an attacking assault glider, achieving a direct hit which led to its destruction.
5. At 5:30 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Jal Al-Allam site with artillery shells, achieving a direct hit.
6. At 5:35 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Ramya site with artillery shells, achieving a direct hit.
7. At 5:15 pm, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with rocket weapons, achieving a direct hit.
8. The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a building used by enemy soldiers in Al-Manara settlement with appropriate weapons, achieving a direct hit, in response to the enemy’s assaults on the steadfast southern villages and peaceful homes.
9. The Islamic Resistance fighters targeted buildings used by enemy soldiers in Shtula settlement with rocket weapons, achieving a direct hit, in response to the enemy’s assaults on the steadfast southern villages and peaceful homes.
10. The Islamic Resistance fighters bombarded a positioning of the 8200 Intelligence Battalion affiliated with the Galilee Division in Metat Barracks with rocket salvos, achieving a direct hit, in response to the “Israeli” enemy’s attacks on the steadfast southern villages and safe homes, especially on the towns of Beit Leif and Beit Yahoun.
Source:almanar.com.lb
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Netanyahu pushes back against new pressure over Gaza and hostages: ‘No one will preach to me’
September 02, 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday pushed back against a new wave of pressure to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza after hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested and went on strike and US President Joe Biden said he needed to do more after nearly 11 months of fighting.
In his first public address since Sunday’s mass protests showed many Israelis’ furious response to the discovery of six more dead hostages, Netanyahu said he will continue to insist on a demand that has emerged as a major sticking point in talks — continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow band along Gaza’s border with Egypt where Israel contends Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza. Egypt and Hamas deny it.
Netanyahu called the corridor vital to ensuring Hamas cannot rearm via tunnels. “This is the oxygen of Hamas,” he said.
And he added: “No one is more committed to freeing the hostages than me. ... No one will preach to me on this issue.’
Israelis had poured into the streets late Sunday in grief and anger in what appeared to be the largest protest since the start of the war. The families and much of the public blamed Netanyahu, saying the hostages could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas. A rare general strike was held across the country on Monday.
Late Monday, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in central Jerusalem, chanting, “Deal. Now.” and carrying coffins draped in the Israeli flag. Scuffles broke out when police snatched away the coffins, and several protesters were arrested. Thousands more marched outside Netanyahu’s Likud party in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.
But others support Netanyahu’s drive to continue the campaign in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel and has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. Netanyahu says the assault will force militants to give in to Israeli demands, potentially facilitate rescue operations and ultimately annihilate the group.
Key ally the United States is showing impatience. Biden spoke to reporters as he arrived at the White House for a Situation Room meeting with the US mediation team in the negotiations. Asked if Netanyahu was doing enough, Biden responded, “No.”
He insisted that negotiators remain “very close” to a deal, adding, “Hope springs eternal.”
Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out months of negotiations by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over the Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza. Hamas has offered to release all hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants — broadly the terms called for under an outline for a deal put forward by Biden in July.
Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations. On Monday, he said he is ready to carry out the first phase of the ceasefire — a plan that would include the release of some hostages, a partial pullout of Israeli troops and the release of some prisoners held by Israel. But he rejected a full withdrawal from Gaza, saying he saw no other party that could control Gaza’s borders.
Israeli media have reported deep differences between Netanyahu and top security officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who say the time is ripe for a ceasefire.
An official confirmed a shouting match between Gallant and Netanyahu at a security cabinet meeting Thursday, where Netanyahu held a vote in favor of maintaining control over the Philadelphi corridor.
Gallant cast the lone vote against the proposal, saying Netanyahu was favoring border arrangements over the lives of hostages. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Gallant on Sunday called on the security cabinet to overturn the decision.
Khalil Al-Hayya, the Hamas official leading the negotiations, told the Qatari network Al Jazeera late Sunday that Netanyahu had deemed keeping the Philadelphi corridor “more important” than winning the hostages’ release.
Al-Hayya also said Hamas had offered “great flexibility,” including reducing its demand for 500 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for each captive Israeli soldier to 50, and from 250 Palestinian prisoners or each Israeli civilian hostage to 30. He accused Israel of introducing new conditions including increasing the number of prisoners who would be deported upon release and banning the release of elderly or ill prisoners serving life sentences.
Israel said the six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces arrived in the tunnel where they were held.
Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, appeared to say in a statement Monday that it now had a policy of killing any hostages that Israel tries to rescue. It said that after Israeli troops rescued four hostages in a deadly raid in June, it issued new orders to its fighters guarding hostages on how to deal with them if Israeli troops approach. It said that Netanyahu’s insistence on using military pressure instead of reaching a deal “will mean they (hostages) will return to their families in coffins.”
Three of the slain hostages were reportedly among those who would have been released in the first phase of the ceasefire proposal outlined by Biden in July.
Thousands attended the funeral Monday for one of the six, Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. He was one of the best-known hostages, with his parents leading a high-profile campaign for the captives’ release, meeting with Biden and Pope Francis and addressing the Democratic National Convention last month.
The general strike, called by Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, ended early after a labor court accepted a petition from the government calling it politically motivated.
It was the first such strike since the start of the war, aiming to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking and health care. Some flights at Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion, either departed early or were slightly delayed.
“There’s no need to punish the whole state of Israel because of what is happening, overall, it is a victory for Hamas,” said one passenger, Amrani Yigal.
But in Jerusalem, resident Avi Lavi said that “I think this is fair, the time has come to stand and to wake up, to do everything for the hostages to come back alive.”
Municipalities in Israel’s populated central area, including Tel Aviv, participated. Others, including Jerusalem, did not.
Some 250 hostages were taken on Oct. 7. More than 100 were freed during a ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Eight have been rescued by Israeli forces. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
Roughly 100 hostages remain in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants.
The war has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times, and plunged the besieged territory into a humanitarian catastrophe, including new fears of a polio outbreak.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its six-day raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. AP reporters saw bulldozers tearing up roads. The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces were blocking their ambulances from reaching the wounded.
Palestinians in a town outside Jenin held a funeral for a 58-year-old man, Ayman Abed, who was arrested the day before and died in Israeli custody. The Israeli military said he died from a “cardiac event,” but did not provide details. Human rights groups have reported abuses of Palestinians detained by Israel, and the military has confirmed the deaths of at least 36 Palestinians in its detention centers since October.
Israel says it has killed 14 militants in Jenin and arrested 25 militants. Palestinian health officials say at least 29 people have been killed, including five children.
Mohannad Hajj Hussein, a Jenin resident, said electricity and water were cut off. “We are ready to live by candlelight and we will feed our children from our bodies and teach them resistance and steadfastness in this land,” he said. “We will rebuild what the occupation destroyed and we will not kneel.
Source:arabnews.com
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Syria Kurds release 50 Daesh-linked detainees: official
September 03, 2024
HASAKAH, Syria: Syria’s Kurdish authorities on Monday released 50 Syrian prisoners accused of belonging to the Daesh terrorist group as part of a general amnesty deal, an official told AFP.
Thousands of detainees suspected of belonging to Daesh, including hundreds of foreigners, are being held in prisons run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the armed wing of the semi-autonomous Kurdish-led region in northeastern Syria.
The administration in July granted general amnesty “for crimes committed by Syrians in accordance with the law on combating terrorism as well as crimes that undermine the security of the region.”
Reber Kalo, an official with the Asayish security forces, told AFP that “under the amnesty, 50 people accused of belonging to the terrorist organization Daesh were released on Monday,” using the Arabic acronym for Daesh.
This is the second group to be released out of a total of the 1,000 to 1,500 people expected to benefit from the amnesty.
The amnesty deal, according to the official, only applies to “Syrians and does not include foreigners, and is limited to those whose hands are not stained with blood,” stressing that “no one who participated in the fighting will be released.”
“There will be other waves of releases in the coming months,” he said.
The general amnesty was decided on in response to the “recommendations of the meeting of Syrian tribes and components held on May 25,” reads a July statement from the administration.
An AFP photographer in the northeastern city of Hasakah saw the prisoners being handed over by Kurdish security forces to tribal leaders.
The SDF, dominated by Kurds but also includes Arab fighters in its ranks, had already in the past released dozens of Syrians accused of being linked to Daesh from their prisons after obtaining guarantees from tribal leaders.
Daesh seized control of large swathes of Syria in 2014, launching a reign of terror before being defeated in 2019 by a United States-led international coalition aided by the SDF.
Since then, the autonomous administration has been holding around 56,000 people, including 30,000 children, in 24 detention centers and two camps — Al-Hol and Roj — in northeastern Syria.
Among them are Daesh fighters and their families, as well as displaced people who fled the fighting.
Source:arabnews.com
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Turkish military destroys 20 targets of Kurdish militant group PKK, ministry says
September 02, 2024
ISTANBUL: Turkiye carried out air strikes in northern Iraq on Monday and destroyed 20 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding many militants had been “neutralized” in the attack.
The term “neutralized” when used in such expressions most often means “killed.”
The operations were conducted in northern Iraq’s PKK bases in Asos, Gara, Hakurk, Metina, Qandil and Zap, the statement said.
In a statement on X, the ministry said the targets included caves, shelters, bunkers, depots and facilities.
The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union.
Source:arabnews.com
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US CETNCOM, Syria’s SDF capture Daesh ‘facilitator’ Khaled Ahmed Al-Danal
September 02, 2024
CAIRO: US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday that it had captured Daesh “facilitator” Khaled Ahmed Al-Danal whom it said was “assessed to be aiding efforts of detained Daesh fighters” on Sept. 1, with support from Syria Democratic Forces (SDF).
Source:arabnews.com
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More than 400 people executed in Iran this year: UN experts
September 02, 2024
GENEVA: UN experts voiced alarm Monday at a surge in executions in Iran last month that pushed the total in the country so far this year to over 400.
At least 81 people were put to death in Iran in August alone, significantly more than the 45 reported in July, a group of 11 independent United Nations rights experts said in a statement.
The reported number of executions since the start of 2024 rose above 400, including those of 15 women, they said.
“We are deeply concerned by this sharp rise in executions,” said the experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.
Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.
The UN experts, including the special rapporteurs on the rights situation in Iran and on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, said 41 of the executions last month had been of people convicted of drug offenses.
“Executions for drug offenses violate international standards,” they said.
The experts lamented a substantial rise in executions for drug offenses in Iran since 2021, with more than 400 drug-related executions carried out last year alone.
They also said they had received reports indicating that death penalty trials in Iran often fail to meet due-process guarantees.
They pointed to the case of Reza Rasaei, a Kurdish protester, who was executed on August 6 for the murder of an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps member at an event where he had brandished a sign reading: “Women, Life, Freedom.”
His conviction was based on a confession reportedly obtained through torture, and despite co-defendants retracting their testimonies implicating him in the murder and forensic evidence challenging his involvement, the experts said.
“Reports of serious violations of fair trial and due process rights mean that the death penalty as it is currently practiced in the Islamic Republic of Iran amounts to unlawful execution,” they said.
The experts said they were “extremely concerned that innocent individuals may have been executed” and called for a halt to executions.
Source:arabnews.com
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Europe
One Month After Hull Violence, Mosque Leader Says Community is Just Starting to Feel Safe
Author: Rebecca Quarmby
3 September 2024
One month after the racially aggravated violence in Hull, a mosque leader says people are only now starting to feel safe leaving their homes.
On August 3rd, shops were looted and burned, a hotel housing asylum seekers was attacked, and many were left terrified, locked in their businesses including a garage down Spring Bank.
Zia Salik is the chair of the Hull Mosque and Islamic centre - he said:
“People are feeling quite fearful in terms of being out and about and avoiding walking around at night. There has been police presence at places of worship especially during congregational prayers and large gatherings has provided some reassurance.
“When people was seeing that some justice was taking place it did reassure a lot of people and I think the fact that people were being held accountable for their actions was a deterrent for the action that far right extremist groups were planning.
“I think once the people who incited the violence that’s when we’ll really see justice being done.”
Source:hellorayo.co.uk
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Growing awareness of Islamic finance among UK Muslim consumers
by BestAdvice
2 September 2024
Gatehouse Bank, a Shariah-compliant UK challenger bank, has published new research on consumer awareness, perceptions and experiences of Islamic, ethical and green finance.
The report comes five years after the inaugural study in 2019 which examined how Islamic finance is viewed by UK consumers of the Muslim faith. This year’s report revealed a growing awareness of Islamic finance among Muslim consumers in the UK – from 77% in 2019 to 90% in 2024.
In addition, less than a third (30%) of respondents who do not follow the Muslim faith have at least some knowledge of Islamic finance.
The research revealed a generational gap in terms of awareness of Islamic finance. Consumers aged 18-24 years old were the most familiar with Islamic finance, with over eight in 10 (83%) having at least some knowledge of the sector. This marks a substantial increase since 2019, where only a quarter (25%) of 18-24-year-olds were aware of Islamic finance, making them the least familiar age group at the time.
Comparatively, just over two fifths (44%) of 45-54-year-olds and just over a quarter (26%) of those aged 55+ claim to have at least some knowledge of the sector.
While more than half of all respondents are familiar with ethical finance (63%) and green finance (57%), consumers of the Muslim faith show a higher level of awareness. According to the data, over eight in 10 (81%) Muslim consumers have at least some knowledge of ethical finance and over seven in 10 (72%) about green finance.
In contrast, just over two fifths of non-Muslim consumers are aware of ethical finance (44%) and green finance (43%).
41% of Muslim consumers identify Shariah-compliant providers as more transparent and ethical due to not investing in harmful sectors, including alcohol, tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment and the arms industry.
However, lingering misconceptions about Islamic finance remain, with over a third (35%) of non-Muslim respondents and just over a quarter (26%) of Muslim respondents believing that Shariah-compliant finance is only available to those of the Muslim faith.
The research has also revealed untapped opportunities in the market, as just over half (51%) of consumers who follow the Muslim faith have never taken out a Home Purchase Plan and two fifths (41%) have never used Islamic savings accounts.
For just under a fifth (19%) of non-Muslim respondents, difficulty understanding how Islamic finance works acts as a barrier to using these products.
Charles Haresnape (pictured), CEO at Gatehouse Bank, said: “The familiarity with ethical and green finance among UK consumers of the Muslim faith reflects the interconnectedness of Shariah principles, community support and environmental stewardship. In turn, this presents a unique opportunity for financial institutions to cater to an increasingly conscientious market.
“However, the research still underscores a critical gap in accessibility and education around Islamic finance for consumers from other faiths or from non-faith backgrounds. By addressing these barriers and misconceptions, we can unlock significant potential for even more growth in the Islamic and ethical finance sector, making sustainable financial products available to a much wider audience.”
Andy Homer, Chief Customer Officer at Gatehouse Bank, added: “It is encouraging to see growing awareness of alternative finance options among UK consumers of the Muslim faith, as well as an appetite to learn more about these products among non-Muslim consumers.
“At Gatehouse Bank, we have observed consumers’ willingness to align their financial goals with their ethical values first-hand, with nearly nine in 10 (87%) of our savings customers citing tree-planting as a key driver for opening a Woodland Saver*** account. This demonstrates a strong desire for sustainable and ethical products across diverse customer segments, even if more work needs to be done to further bridge the knowledge gap.”
Source:bestadvice.co.uk
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https://bestadvice.co.uk/growing-awareness-of-islamic-finance-among-uk-muslim-consumers/
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Hinkley worker jailed after disorder outside Southport mosque
2nd September2024
A “HIGHLY-PAID” worker at Hinkley Point who laughed as he took part in disorder outside a mosque in Southport has been jailed for two years and four months.
More than 50 police officers were injured and a carrier was set alight during riots outside the mosque on July 30, the day after three girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Gavin Pinder, 47, had a “highly paid, responsible job” at the power station, but had been at his home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, spending time with family when he said he was contacted by an associate who made him aware of a protest that was to take place in Southport.
Michael Johnson, defending, said Pinder believed the protest was focused on the belief that “something was being held back from the public in relation to the identity or circumstances of the person who had been detained” following the knife attack.
He said Pinder, who admitted violent disorder, had travelled to Southport and congregated with others in a pub.
“He understood the focus of the protest was to be a police station where he believed the detainee to be held,” said Mr Johnson.
“He did not know that a mosque was going to be the focus of the protest and didn’t learn that until he arrived back in Manchester the day after.”
Footage of the disorder showed Pinder shout at officers, throw a traffic cone and throw a smaller object towards them.
He was arrested at a pub in Manchester on August 17 and in interview told police he had been struck by an officer with a baton after asking why they were not releasing information about the suspect.
The court heard Pinder, father to a four-year-old, had 10 previous convictions, including for breaching an international football banning order.
Sentencing him, Judge Simon Medland KC said: “You threw two objects at police, were clearly seen to be laughing and taking the view, perhaps, this had a recreational element to you.
“How this sits with the character references in your case and your highly responsible, very well-paid job is difficult to reconcile.”
He was jailed along with Jonathan Duerden, 31, and Joseph Buckley, 44, who also admitted violent disorder.
Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said Duerden, a handyman from Colne, Lancashire, threw a brick that bounced off the top of a police carrier and encouraged the crowd to advance towards police.
He told police he travelled to Southport to lay flowers at a vigil, but said he had taken a cocktail of drugs including cannabis, ketamine and cocaine along with alcohol.
Andrew McInnes, defending, told the court the defendant had ADHD, was barely literate or numerate and his family believed he had been addicted to cannabis since the age of 13.
He said: “It certainly seems this defendant is more of a follower than a leader.”
Duerden was jailed for two years.
The court heard Buckley, of Litherland, Merseyside, was the joint owner of a civil engineering business and was seen on footage throwing a brick around a corner towards police.
In interview, he said he had thrown the brick because he was angry after an officer “assaulted him with a shield”.
Des Lennon, defending, said Buckley had believed he was going to a peaceful vigil but had stayed for about two hours after violence broke out because of “morbid curiosity”.
Source:somersetcountygazette.co.uk
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https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/24556607.hinkley-worker-jailed-disorder-outside-southport-mosque/
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The German establishment is desperately clinging to power in defiance of democracy
2 Sep, 2024
By Rachel Marsden,
At least have enough class to wait more than five seconds after the election you just lost before doing democracy dirty.
The results were still firming up amid exit poll results in eastern Germany's state elections when the second-place party in Thuringia took to social media to tell voters what’s what.
“The first projection confirms the forecast – the CDU is gaining ground and will definitely finish second! Red-Red-Green is voted out! We thank all voters, helpers and supporters in the country and from all over Germany! We will seek talks to explore the possibilities of forming a government. The following still applies: There will be no cooperation with the AfD,” wrote a seemingly over-caffeinated teenager running the account of the right-wing establishment party still mostly known for its former leader, ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Easy there, sports. Nothing quite screams “respect for democracy” like loading your post up with emojis and telling voters that although you’re pleased that they reduced your establishment left opponents (and Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s national governing socialist/green “stoplight coalition”) to a rump of 6.5%, you’ll nonetheless still have to do something about the fact that voters relegated you to second place (at 24%) behind the populist, anti-establishment right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 33%. And that “something” involves finding a way to keep the election’s actual winners away from the steering wheel. How? By making shady back-room deals with some of the other losers.
Omid Nouripour, a leader of Scholz’s federal coalition partner, the Greens, told the Associated Press that “an openly right-wing extremist party has become the strongest force in a state parliament for the first time since 1949, and that causes many people very deep concern and fear.” People can’t be that scared if they literally just voted for them, huh?
“The results for the AfD in Saxony and Thuringia are worrying,” Scholz told Reuters. “The AfD is damaging Germany. It is weakening the economy, dividing society and ruining our country’s reputation.” This guy’s projection is more powerful than an IMAX cinema. Replace “Germany” or “the country” with “me” and it makes a lot more sense.
The idea of electoral losers adamantly working to deny voters their democratic choice seems to be a new trend in Europe as the populist right- and left-wing parties start racking up electoral wins.
Here in France, for example, French President Emmanuel Macron pitched a fit after his party lost the European parliamentary elections to Marine Le Pen’s anti-establishment right National Rally. So he called a totally unnecessary legislative election slated right before the Paris Summer Olympic Games. Because who wouldn’t want to appease their ego before heading into a major international event. Tough to enjoy it otherwise. In an attempt to block the National Rally, Team Macron did something right out in the open that would have been impeachment-worthy if it had been done behind closed doors: they arranged with the anti-establishment left New Popular Front (NPF) coalition to strategically withdraw candidates to focus on a single one between them in districts where the right-wing looked likely to win a seat otherwise. Way to deny voters a legitimate democratic choice.
The plan worked so well that the National Rally won the popular vote but was denied the chance of governing because it was the left-wing NPF that won the most seats.
And despite Team Macron engineering that outcome, he’s now refusing to approve the prime ministerial choice of the coalition with the most seats – something that former Presidents from Jacques Chirac to Francois Mitterrand had no problem doing. Probably because it didn’t occur to them to spend weeks using the events calendar – Macron cited the Olympics and spend his summer jacking around on the water with his pals – to drag their feet in doing anything other than what convention dictates.
Sure, “cohabitation” of a president with a prime minister from a party that isn’t his is annoying, but you’re supposed to put on your big boy pants and deal with it, not pretend that it’s some kind of college dorm assignment that you can wriggle out of. Which is what Macron is now doing, citing the need for “institutional stability” in trying to justify his refusal to appoint a left-wing prime minister – even one with an elite institutional senior civil servant background – for fear that the new prime minister would appoint a left-wing government that would implement a left-wing program. You know, the same one that your team deliberately decided to manipulate voters into choosing because you didn’t like the right-wing program, either.
Macron has been dragging his feet so long that the left has taken up an impeachment process against him, whose chances of actually succeeding with the required two-thirds support of both the National Assembly and the Senate increase every day that he fails to find a solution to his conundrum that doesn’t flagrantly fly in the face of electoral will – which could best be described as a routing of the establishment. The same establishment from which Macron would really love to handpick a puppet to carry out an agenda that voters roundly rejected.
The German establishment is sounding at a lot like the French one right now in the wake of these state elections in Thuringia and Saxony. Over in Saxony, the CDU barely squeaked out a win against the AfD, with results currently showing them both at 31%. There, again, the governing establishment Social Democrats were clobbered, coming in at just 7.5% support. The anti-establishment left split the vote between Bundestag parliamentarian Sahra Wagenknecht’s brand new BSW coalition (15.6% in Thuringia and 11.5% in Saxony) and Die Linkie, whose collective success suggests that the vote was more about a rejection of the establishment on all sides and only secondarily a right/left ideological one – just like in France.
There really wasn’t a ton of daylight between the anti-establishment right and left during the campaigns. Both called on the federal government to stop fueling the conflict in Ukraine with German weapons, and demanded security for German economic sovereignty, which has taken a wrong turn somewhere when you have German industry bailing out to the US because it can’t survive on the short cold showers that the German finance minister brags about taking himself. Another big issue that’s come up in this election campaign was the German establishment agreeing to have American long-range weapons move into Germany for the first time since the end of the Cold War. And this is the Eastern part of the country closest to Russia, which risks being directly impacted by those hosting plans to have the US, which already, with NATO, has bases all over Germany, move into yet another room and bring its weapons stash with it starting in 2026.
It doesn’t exactly scream independence when you’re trying to go about your business as a supposedly sovereign country and Uncle Sam is crashing on the couch with his cruise missiles. But hey, Chancellor Olaf Scholz zoned out and stared into space when US President Joe Biden threatened to blow up Nord Stream while standing right beside him, so chances were that he wasn’t going to exactly say no to some armed squatters.
Apparently any excuse will do in an attempt to justify the inevitable post-electoral coup by the ruling establishment elites, so they can keep lecturing the rest of the world about democracy.
Source:rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/603381-germany-populist-election-tactics/
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South Asia
Six Bangladesh Islamic Orators Relieved from Charges Brought Under Anti-Terrorism Act
02 Sep 2024
DHAKA, Sept 2, 2024 (BSS)-A Dhaka court today exempted six Islamic orators including Mufti Md Amir Hamza, Mufti Ali Hasan Oasama and Mufti Harun Izhar, from a case filed under Anti-Terrorism Act with city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on May 5 in 2021.
The three others are-Mahmudul Hasan Gunbi, Al Sakid Mohmmad Abdullah and Anwar Hossain.
Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal acquitted the six persons who were on bail from the charges in their presence and ordered to initiate the trial against detained Abu Sakib after framing charges against him upon hearing from both the sides.
The prosecution appealed for framing charges against the accused while the defence lawyer pleaded for exemption them from the charges in the case filed by the police.
According to the case details, a team of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CCTC) detained Sakib in connection with a plan to attack on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital with sword.
Sakib later gave a confessional statement under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before a court in which he said he was instigated in doing so by the fanatic posts in the social network sites that include facebook by the six persons including the three Islamic orators who were relieved from the charges today.
The CTTC Inspector and Investigation Officer of the case Kazi Mizanur Rahman placed the charge sheet before the court on September 21 in 2023.
Source:bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/207226
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Bangladeshi journalist booked in India for ‘spreading fake news about Sonia, Rahul’
Sep 3, 2024
Police in the southern Indian city of Bangalore has booked a case against a Bangladeshi journalist and a woman staffer of an Indian news portal for allegedly spreading fake news about the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi.
An FIR has been registered by the Bangalore police against the Bangladeshi journalist Salahuddin Shoaib Choudhary and Aditi, a woman staffer of the Indian news portal "Jaipur Dialogues" yesterday, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
The case was registered with the High Grounds Police Station in the city against Salahuddin and Aditi, PTI reported quoting a senior police officer.
According to complainant Srinivas G, associated with the Karnataka unit of Karnataka's ruling party Congress, the Bangladeshi journalist allegedly shared a post on his X handle linking Sonia Gandhi to a foreign spy agency. Aditi allegedly shared his post on her X space.
He alleged Salahuddin did so with an intention to malign the public image of the Gandhi family and that the journalist had shared such a post to create enmity between two religions.
Srinivas charged Salahuddin with having made certain claims about Rahul Gandhi too.
"Based on the complaint we received, we have filed an FIR against the two for allegedly spreading misinformation about the Gandhi family. Case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and 353 (2) (publishing or circulating false information to create hatred on the basis of religion etc)," a senior police officer said. Details of the Bangladeshi journalist could not be known immediately.
Source:thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/asia/india/news/bangladeshi-journalist-booked-india-spreading-fake-news-about-sonia-rahul-3693241
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Over 72,000 people leave Afghanistan in one week
By Fidel Rahmati
September 2, 2024
The International Organization for Migration has reported that between August 19 and August 24, a total of 72,624 people left Afghanistan for Iran and Pakistan.
According to the report, Iran is the destination for 51% of the migrants who left Afghanistan during this period.
At the same time, at least 64,950 Afghan citizens were expelled from Iran and Pakistan during the same timeframe.
The report indicates that migration out of Afghanistan and migration return have increased by 15% compared to the weeks preceding the mentioned dates.
The migration wave that has emerged since the Taliban’s return to power three years ago has not only continued but has also seen a significant rise.
On the other hand, the primary destinations for Afghan migrants, Iran and Pakistan, have implemented mass deportation programs as part of their immigration policies.
The recent increase in migration from Afghanistan and the heightened deportation efforts by neighboring countries underscore the urgent need for coordinated international support and humanitarian assistance. Addressing the root causes of displacement and ensuring humane treatment for migrants are crucial steps in managing this escalating crisis.
Source:khaama.com
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Richard Bennett travels to Turkey and Qatar to assess Human Rights situation in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
September 2, 2024
Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Council for Afghanistan at the United Nations, has reported on his trip to the region to assess the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bennett announced on Monday, September 2, on his social media that following his trip to Turkey, he is currently in Qatar.
He further stated that he had planned his trip to the region before the fifty-seventh session of the UN Human Rights Council, scheduled to take place next week in Geneva, where Richard Bennett will also report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The fifty-seventh session of the UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held in Geneva next week, and Richard Bennett will present his findings on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Council of the United Nations stated that during his trip to the region, he will meet with various segments of Afghanistan’s society, as well as experts and officials from the countries involved.
It is noteworthy that the Taliban regime has barred Richard Bennett from traveling to Afghanistan, but the United Nations has stated that Mr. Bennett continues his documentation efforts with or without direct access to Afghanistan.
Bennett’s ongoing efforts to document human rights violations in Afghanistan despite restrictions reflect the UN’s commitment to impartially assessing and reporting on human rights globally.
Furthermore, the upcoming report to be presented at the UN Human Rights Council underscores the importance of international scrutiny and accountability in addressing human rights challenges in conflict-affected regions like Afghanistan.
Source:khaama.com
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A citizen of Afghanistan executed in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking
By Fidel Rahmati
September 3, 2024
Arab media outlets have reported that a citizen of Afghanistan has been executed in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking.
The news organization Tunisia-Sat reported yesterday that, according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, an Afghan national named Abdul Qayyum Shinwari was executed in the city of Mecca.
According to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior, “Abdul Qayyum Shinwari, a citizen of Afghanistan, smuggled heroin into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Security authorities apprehended him, and the investigation concluded.”
The statement indicated that Abdul Qayyum Shinwari’s execution took place on Saturday, August 31, in the Mecca region.
This execution highlights the stringent anti-drug laws in Saudi Arabia and the severe penalties for drug-related crimes.
The case underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and enforcing legal measures to prevent such incidents.
Source:khaama.com
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Murder case filed against ex-AL MP Fazle Karim, 56 others in Ctg
Sep 3, 2024
A case has been filed against former Raozan lawmaker Fazle Karim and 56 others, including a sub-inspector of police, for their involvement in the 2017 murder of Nurul Alam Nuru, a central leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), in Chattogram.
Sumi Akhter, wife of the victim, filed the case with Chawkbazar Police Station last night. Officer-in-Charge Wali Uddin Akbar confirmed the registration of the murder case.
Sub-Inspector Jabed, the then in-charge of Noapara police outpost, is among the accused whose names were mentioned in the case.
Additionally, 30 to 40 unnamed individuals were also sued in the case.
The incident dates back to March 29, 2017, when Nuru, 40, was allegedly picked up by a group of 10 individuals -- five in police uniform and five in plainclothes -- from his rented home in the Chandanpura area of Chattogram city, according to police.
Nuru was later found dead on the banks of Karnaphuli river in Raozan upazila the following day. His body bore signs of severe torture, with his hands tied with rope and two gunshot wounds to his head.
At the time, family members and local BNP leaders reported that Nuru had been forcibly taken by law enforcement officers. The case statement filed by Sumi Akhter claims that her husband was tortured and murdered in a premeditated manner under the orders of Fazle Karim.
Source:thedailystar.net
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Arab World
Heritage Commission launches archaeological study to uncover Riyadh’s ancient past
September 02, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has launched a study, the Al-Yamamah Archaeological Project, to expand research on Riyadh and its surrounding areas.
From 2024 to 2028, the commission will explore and excavate parts of the capital and adjacent areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The aim is to enhance the national archaeological record, showcase the capital’s rich history, and study cultural heritage.
The project includes a comprehensive survey of Riyadh, Wadi Hanifah and surrounding areas, as well as excavations in Dhurma, Al-Hani and Al-Masane.
The commission posted on X the statistics of registered cultural heritage sites in Riyadh. There are 1,812 sites in the National Register of Urban Heritage, 1,514 in the National Antiquities Register, and 425 recognized for their rock art and ancient inscriptions.
For the study, the commission plans to employ geographic information systems, ground-penetrating radar, 3D modeling, magnetic surveying, low-altitude aerial photography, and artificial intelligence for mapping.
Their strategy involves collaborating with historians, academics, students from local universities, and international institutions.
Source:arabnews.com
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Science and tech festival kickstarts in Riyadh
SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI & TAMARA ABOALSAUD
September 02, 2024
RIYADH: The 2024 STEAM Festival which began on Monday at the King Salman Science Oasis is aimed at developing scientists, the event’s director Ahmed Salim told Arab News.
Held under the theme “Fun Chemistry” until Sept. 30, the festival aims to offer visitors an educational, informative, and entertaining experience.
There will be 100 workshops, panel discussions, live shows, and other activities in STEAM fields.
It was organized by the King Salman Science Oasis in collaboration with the ministries of education and industry and mineral resources, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
Salim, Founder of 1001 Inventions, a science and cultural heritage organization responsible for producing the STEAM Festival, told Arab News the Kingdom’s push for technological and scientific advancements means there is a “massive demand for scientists.”
He hopes STEAM will showcase the importance of science.
“We’re taking everyday objects and then we’re reverse engineering them to work out what was the chemical processes involved to create that,” he said.
“They (students) would give more value to the science of chemistry because they understand that chemistry is impacting their lives every day.”
STEAM, previously referred to as STEM, now includes art due to the unique value it has in elevating people’s approach to creating technology and engineering, Salim explained.
“We want people to create technology and create engineering projects that are also works of art themselves,” he added.
Ibtesam Badhrees, chairman of the festival’s scientific committee and chief scientist at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, said the event would strengthen the links between science, technology, industry, research and development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Badhrees, who also oversees programs and activities at the King Salman Science Oasis, added: “The festival also highlights local content and Saudi innovations, focusing on sustainable practices and modern technologies.
“It seeks to open new horizons for future generations in STEAM fields, in line with the strategic objectives of Vision 2030.
“The festival provides quality educational opportunities for all segments of society, including students, families, teachers, researchers, and science enthusiasts.”
The festival will have more than 25 pavilions covering the history of chemistry, modern innovations related to the petrochemical industry, future environmental challenges, and sustainable solutions that are a part of Vision 2030.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia welcomes autumn and expected rainfall, cooler weather
RASHID HASSAN
September 02, 2024
RIYADH: The scorching heat is expected to ease after a long spell of excessive hot weather during the peak summer season in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom’s National Center for Meteorology has announced that Sept. 1 signaled the official start of autumn.
The season is usually rainy, with rapid fluctuations in weather patterns, providing much-needed respite from the heat, according to the center.
However, it added that temperatures were anticipated to remain elevated until the middle of the month, with significant fluctuations expected in temperature.
The center said: “The NCM will soon release a detailed report on the key characteristics of this year’s autumn season.”
Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesperson for the NCM, said that Sept. 1 marked the end of the summer season and added that autumn was expected to bring a mix of rainy and variable weather conditions.
The seasonal change will be a big relief to residents as temperatures hit 50 C multiple times during the summer amid searing heat.
However, the center added that people may not feel the temperature drop until the middle of the month, but that conditions will become more bearable as the mercury level reduces by a few degrees.
Mohammed Alharbi, a Riyadh resident, said: “The extreme and sometimes record-breaking temperatures we have seen over the past several months are a clear indicator that climate change is making these hot spells worse.
“However, the cooler, fresher air with the arrival of autumn will give us all a big sigh of relief from the searing heat and could also set off some strong thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rain in the Kingdom, heralding the onset of winter.”
October tends to be the month when a noticeable drop in temperatures is felt, compared to the summer peak.
When it starts raining across the Kingdom in October, the mercury level nosedives from above 40 C to around 30 C.
The maximum temperature in the capital on Monday settled at 41 C. AccuWeather has predicted a maximum of 41 to 42 C throughout the week compared to 44 C last week.
Source:arabnews.com
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‘Black Scorpion’ cave in Northern Borders attracts adventurers
September 02, 2024
JEDDAH: The “Black Scorpion” cave in the Northern Borders region is a new spot for adventure enthusiasts and researchers.
The cave, which is 160 kilometers west of Rafha governorate near the village of Al-Habka, is more than 500 meters deep, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Its name comes from the cave entrance, which is similar to the shape of a black scorpion’s body when the moon is in its full phase on the 15th of the lunar month, adding to its allure, according to the report.
The Black Scorpion has three internal passages that narrow and widen and rise and fall in various places trough which visitors can walk.
Several trenches branch off in different directions, increasing its complexity. The cave’s geological features make it an ideal destination for environmental and geological tourism.
The town of Al-Habka, where the cave is located, was once a vital source of water in the desert because of its numerous wells and is known for its rich archaeological heritage.
The cave is home to a range of wildlife, including wolves, hyenas and foxes. Two years ago, the National Center for Wildlife discovered several cheetah carcasses in the area underscoring its importance for wildlife conservation.
According to Begess Al-Falih, a cave enthusiast and member of the Afaq Society for Astronomy, 542 caves and sinkholes have so far been discovered in the Northern Borders region.
He said that the “Black Scorpion” cave is just one of many cave tourism hotspots in the area. These natural wonders provide a rare opportunity for visitors to explore geological formations dating back thousands of years.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia reconstitutes Shura Council, Council of Senior Scholars: Royal Decree
September 02, 2024
RIYADH: King Salman issued two royal decrees on Monday that reconstitute the Kingdom’s Council of Senior Religious Scholars and the Shura Council, the Saudi state news agency SPA announced.
The Council of Senior Scholars will be headed by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sheikh has been appointed as the head of the Shura council, which will include 150 members.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia: Driver killed as tree falls on vehicle due to severe winds in Mecca
September 02, 2024
Dubai: A driver was killed when a large tree fell on his vehicle as a result of severe winds that swept through Saudi Arabia’s holy capital Mecca.
The strong winds, which accompanied rainfall in most neighbourhoods, caused the tree to collapse onto the car, resulting in the driver's death on the spot.
Witnesses reported that the driver had attempted to stop his vehicle to navigate through the stormy conditions. However, the intensity of the wind prevented him from escaping the falling tree.
Rescue teams from the Civil Defence in Mecca’s Al Zaher neighbourhood responded immediately. Despite their efforts to extricate the driver from the damaged vehicle, they were unable to save him.\
Source:gulfnews.com
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North America
GOP Group Targets Muslim Voters In Michigan With Ads Touting Harris’ Ties To Israel
By Kevin Robillard
Sep 2, 2024,
A political action committee founded by Republicans is running digital ads in Michigan arguing Vice President Kamala Harris “stands with Israel” amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The ads also link to a video saying Harris put “supporters of a free Palestine” “in their place.”
The ad campaign seems to be aimed at convincing Muslim, Arab and other voters who may be sympathetic to Palestinians not to support Harris by highlighting her pledges to back Israel in an approving tone.
The ads, which are running on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, are targeted at a handful of communities in Michigan, according to Meta and Snapchat’s political ad disclosures. Only a small amount of money has been spent on the ads so far.
The targeted zip codes include Dearborn, the first and only Arab-majority city in the United States and a center of the “uncommitted” movement, which refused to back President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primaries. Other towns with substantial Arab or Muslim populations targeted include the Detroit enclave of Hamtramck and the rural city of Coldwater in southern Michigan.
“Vice President Harris has chosen a side – the right side,” a female narrator says in the 30-second video the ads link to. “Harris has made herself clear: She stands with Israel and the Jewish people. She has, again and again. She understands the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel. So when [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu came to D.C., Harris hosted the prime minister at the White House. And when supporters of a free Palestine stood up for Gaza, Harris put them in their place.”
“And supporters of a free Palestine?” the narrator continues. “They hate her.”
The Future Coalition PAC, which was formed in July, is paying for the ad. Despite its liberal-sounding name, Federal Election Commission documents indicate its treasurer is Ray Zaborney, a Pennsylvania-based Republican operative. The group has yet to report any fundraising to the FEC.
Two email addresses associated with the PAC did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s messages.
Democrats in Michigan immediately labeled the ad a dirty trick from Republicans.
“Clearly, this ad is designed to get low-information and low-engagement Arab-American and left-leaning voters to oppose Harris, a classic ratfucking operation by a PAC that is helping a former President that uses Palestinian as a slur,” said one Michigan Democratic operative, who used a slang term for political sabotage and requested anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic in Democratic politics.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s email seeking comment.
Republicans have long mused about aiming ads hyping Biden and Harris’ support for Israel at Muslim communities in Michigan, a critical swing state where the small Muslim community backed Biden by overwhelming margins in 2020.
Progressives were hopeful the July elevation of Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee would lead to changes in American policy and rhetoric towards the war, which has become a hotly divisive topic within the Democratic Party, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, and Israel’s subsequent retaliatory campaign in Gaza, which has killed some 40,000 Palestinians since then.
Biden, in particular, has come under criticism for what has been largely unconditional U.S. support for Israel during its campaign, despite alleged human rights abuses and the mounting number of civilians killed, including via famine, proliferation of diseases and lack of medical care.
So far, however, Harris has not broken with Biden’s approach, even if reports indicate she would be willing to take a harder line on Israel and its right-wing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting with Netanyahu cited in the ad resulted in Harris making a direct pitch for a cease-fire in the war and the release of hostages, something Netanyahu has so far resisted.
The incident in which Harris purportedly “put supporters of a Free Palestine … in their place” likely refers to a rally in Michigan not long after Harris took over the party’s nomination where she shut down a group of pro-Palestinian protesters. At rallies since, Harris has adopted a more conciliatory tone when interrupted.
Trump, meanwhile, was an unquestioning ally of Netanyahu while in office and would likely allow Israel to take an even freer hand in attacking Gaza. He’s also vowed to expand his ban on visitors from Muslim-majority countries and bar refugees from Gaza entirely.
Andrew Arenge, the director of operations at the University of Pennsylvania’s Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies, first noted the ads on social media.
Source:huffpost.com/
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Netanyahu not doing enough to free Gaza hostages, says Biden
Sep3 2024,
Nadine Yousif
Joe Biden has said Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire with Hamas, amid reports suggesting a new proposal would be sent to the Israeli prime minister as "final".
The US president and Kamala Harris, his vice-president, met negotiators in the Situation Room to hammer out a proposal, as protests engulfed Israel on Monday over the weekend deaths of six hostages in Gaza.
Asked whether Mr Netanyahu was doing enough, Mr Biden replied "no". He added that the US would not give up, and would "push as hard as we can" for a deal.
US officials have categorised this latest proposal as a "take it or leave it deal", the Washington Post reported.
It comes after Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza on Saturday, including Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Their deaths have caused widespread protests in Israel from those critical of Mr Netanyahu's handling of the war and hostage crisis.
During Monday's meeting in the Situation Room, US officials said Mr Biden and Ms Harris discussed next steps in the effort to release of the hostages, including continuing talks with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt.
In a statement after, Mr Biden said the US was "devastated and outraged" by the death of Mr Goldberg-Polin and the five others.
"Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes," he said.
On Sunday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan met the US families of remaining hostages. The Axios news website reported that he relayed the news that Mr Biden would present a "final" hostage release and ceasefire proposal later this week.
The US family of Edan Alexander, a member of the Israeli military who is still a hostage in Gaza, have pushed for Israel to accept the deal, saying it is "now or never".
His father Adi Alexander praised the US for its "dedication and commitment" to secure a deal, saying that Sunday was his 15th meeting with Mr Sullivan since his son's abduction on 7 October.
But in an interview with BBC’s US partner CBS News on Monday, he appealed to US officials to "do something different, because the outcome is the same after 11 months".
Mr Alexander accused Mr Netanyahu of "prolonging the war for short-term political gain".
"Time is passing by and we're getting more bodies out of Gaza. This is unacceptable," he said.
The Washington Post reported the killing of the six hostages increased the urgency among Mr Biden's aides to push for a deal.
"You can't keep negotiating this. This process has to be called at some point," one senior official told the newspaper.
"Does it derail the deal? No. If anything, it should add additional urgency in this closing phase, which we were already in," they added.
The US, Qatar and Egypt have for months tried to secure a deal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The Biden administration has criticised Hamas for failing to agree to a deal, though US foreign officials have also accused Mr Netanyahu of making demands that have also derailed efforts.
The war in the strip began after Hamas breached the Gaza border, killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251 on 7 October.
Israel has since killed over 40,000 Palestinians in retaliatory attacks, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
The US response to the war has had implications for the Biden administration and Ms Harris, the Democratic nominee in November's US presidential election. Pro-Palestinian factions in the party have urged for a ceasefire.
Ms Harris's opponent, Republican nominee Donald Trump, has blamed Ms Harris and Mr Biden's failure to secure a deal for the hostage deaths last weekend.
Source:bbc.com
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US seizes Venezuelan President Maduro's plane
Sep 3 2024,
Kathryn Armstrong
The US has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claiming it was bought illegally for $13m (£9.8m) and smuggled out of the country.
According to the US justice department, the Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the US state of Florida.
It is unclear how and when the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic. Tracking data showed it leaving La Isabela airport near the capital Santo Domingo on Monday, arriving at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida soon after.
Venezuela has denounced the seizure, saying that it amounted to an act of "piracy".
Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the US had justified itself "with the coercive measures that they unilaterally and illegally impose around the world".
In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it "reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation".
US officials said the plane was seized for suspected violations of US export control and sanctions laws.
They added that an investigation found that people affiliated with Mr Maduro had allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to hide their involvement in the plane's illegal purchase from a company based in Florida in late 2022 and early 2023.
The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023.
The argument by US officials that the plane's sale and export was in violation of US sanctions is unlikely to carry much weight with President Maduro, who has repeatedly accused the US of meddling in his country’s internal affairs.
A spokesperson for the White House national security council said the action represented "an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela".
Markenzy Lapointe, US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said the Dominican Republic authorities had given the US government "invaluable assistance" in organising the seizure.
“It doesn’t matter how fancy the private jet or how powerful the officials – we will work relentlessly with our partners here and across the globe to identify and return any aircraft illegally smuggled outside of the United States," said Matthew S Axelrod from the department of commerce - one of the federal agencies involved in the operation to recover the plane.
The plane appeared to be flown to the Venezuelan capital Caracas after arriving in Kingston in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2023, according to data held by the Flightradar24 website.
US officials said it subsequently flew "almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela". It is unclear how and when the plane arrived in the Dominican Republic.
But US officials said the jet had been used by Mr Maduro "on visits to other countries".
The Venezuelan government announced in late July that it was temporarily suspending commercial flights to both the Dominican Republic and Panama following the controversial re-election of Mr Maduro.
Venezuela's opposition has released polling data which suggests its unity candidate, Edmundo González, won a convincing victory. However, his win has not been recognised by an electoral council loyal to Mr Maduro.
The European Union has refused to recognise Maduro as having won re-election in July without seeing voting results.
Several Latin American countries have also withheld their support, with Mr Maduro's former ally, President Lula of Brazil, among those calling for full transparency by the Venezuelan government.
The US has recognised Mr González as the winner, saying there is "overwhelming" evidence of Maduro’s defeat.
This is not the first time Mr Maduro or Venezuela's government have been targeted by US federal authorities over alleged corruption.
In 2020, the justice department charged Mr Maduro and 14 Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking, among other charges.
The state department has offered a reward of up to $15m for information leading to Mr Maduro's arrest or conviction.
Source:bbc.com
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Landslides force power cuts in upscale LA neighbourhood
Max Matza
Sep 3 2024,
Scores of homes perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in LA County have had their electricity shut off amid steadily worsening landslides.
The community of Rancho Palos Verdes - 25 miles (40km) south of downtown Los Angeles - has long grappled with unstable land, but authorities say the problem has worsened in recent months.
Now, utility companies are stepping in, fearing fires and other destruction caused by rapidly shifting land while some residents insist on staying in their multi-million dollar homes.
The decision by power utility company Southern California Edison on Sunday cut electricity to 140 homes in the neighbourhood of Portuguese Bend, with further cuts possible.
“The movement has accelerated dramatically over the last 12 months, where some areas are moving up to 10 inches (25cm) a week,” said city council member David Bradley, according to CNN.
“You can almost see the ground move.”
An additional 105 customers in the city of 42,000 people were notified that they would lose power on Monday.
Last week, a downed powerline sparked a small wildfire in Portuguese Bend.
"The land movement in the Portuguese Bend community has created such a dangerous situation that we have made the very difficult decision to disconnect power indefinitely to prevent that equipment from igniting wildfire," Larry Chung, a spokesman for the power company.
Gas and water has already been disconnected in the upscale neighbourhood.
The 680-acre (276-hectare) landslide has been ongoing for years at a slow pace. But it has accelerated in part due to heavy rainfall in California over the past two years, expert say.
“The acceleration that’s happening currently is beyond what any of us could have foretold, and it demands more response from the state, more response from the federal government,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn at a news conference on Sunday.
The top county official added that $5m (£3.8m) had been set aside for disaster relief, but more was needed. She called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to personally visit the area and declare a state of emergency.
Authorities have encouraged residents to leave, but evacuations are not currently mandatory.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that deputies would deploy drones to monitor the area.
Resident Jim Denver told ABC News that he refused to leave, and said Southern California Edison "left us out in the middle of the ocean to swim home".
"They can send all the warnings they want,” another resident, Tom Keefer, told the New York Times. “We’re not leaving.”
The slow-moving landslide is part of a complex of ancient landslides that was re-ignited by the county's expansion of Crenshaw Boulevard in 1956.
It is one of the largest continually active landslides in the US, and has shifted homes by hundreds of feet over the years. The city also spends some $1m each year to fix a major road due to continuous shifting and cracking.
Source:bbc.com
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Native American tribe unveil sculpture to honour Irish connection
Jake Wood
Sep 3 2024,
Choctaw leaders have unveiled a sculpture in Oklahoma dedicated to their people's connection with Ireland.
The connection was founded on the gift - a donation made to Ireland in 1847.
The Eternal Hearts sculpture was created by Samuel Stitt and was a joint commission, funded by the Irish government and the Chahta Foundation.
The sculpture combines a Celtic trinity shape intertwined with a heart and is placed facing in the direction of Ireland as a companion piece to 'Kindred Spirits', a sculpture in County Cork.
The Trail of Tears
In 1847, the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma made a donation of $170 to help people suffering thousands of kilometres away in the Irish famine.
The gift would be worth tens of thousands of dollars in modern terms.
At the time, the Native Americans were themselves being forced from their native lands - known as the Trail of Tears.
Thousands of people died from starvation, cold and disease as they made their way to designated reservations in parts of south-east Oklahoma.
The Choctaw's heartfelt donation was sent to Midleton in County Cork, providing much-needed relief.
'Kindred spirits'
The Irish and the Choctaws have continued to honour this gesture through continued acts of generosity.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irish people demonstrated their support by providing €2 million in aid to Native Americans severely affected by the crisis.
Similarly, in 2018, former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar announced a scholarship for Choctaw people to study in Ireland.
The Great Famine: Donegal Choctaw keeps Ireland link alive
Leo Varadkar announces Choctaw scholarship scheme
Speaking at the unveiling event at Choctaw Capitol Grounds in Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, Ireland's Minister of State Thomas Byrne said the memorial would be a "permanent symbol of the enduring and meaningful friendship between our two nations".
"A relationship which began with an act of solidarity and extraordinary generosity during the darkest years of the Great Irish Famine," Mr Byrne added.
Choctaw Nation chief Gary Batton described the new sculpture as symbolic of an "eternal bond" and that they are "extremely proud to call the people of Ireland our friends and kindred spirits".
Former US soldier and sculptor of the Eternal Heart, Samuel Stitt, was inspired to create the piece after viewing the Kindred Spirit sculpture in Cork.
"I saw the sculpture in Ireland years ago and it was very striking," he told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
"But I thought to myself, ‘so that's in Ireland - we should have a companion piece in Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma,'" he added.
Mr Stitt hopes the sculpture becomes a pilgrimage site as he is "just amazed at how many tribal members go to Ireland specifically to see the Kindred Spirit".
The Choctaws are the third largest Native American tribe in the United States, with almost 230,000 members, most of who live in Oklahoma.
Source:bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3zvq3vz8o
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Africa
Soun’s appointment of palace Imam ignites fresh crisis in Ogbomoso
September 3, 2024
Musliudeen Adebayo
Fresh crisis is brewing in Ogbomoso, the second largest city in Oyo State, over the appointment of Habib Ayilara as the palace Imam by the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye.
DAILY POST gathered that Habib Ayilara was appointed by Olaoye on Friday.
He would be the first person to occupy such a position in the ancient city.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there was nothing like a palace Imam in the ancient city until Olaoye appointed Habib Ayilara on Friday.
The appointment of the palace Imam is not unconnected with the feud between the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheik Teliat Yunus Ayilara and the traditional ruler.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Imam and the monarch have been at loggerheads since the traditional ruler was crowned.
Ayilara was turbaned as the Chief Imam in November 2022 during the reign of the immediate past Soun, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi.
DAILY POST reported that Olaoye had in June this year issued a query letter to the Chief Imam for embarking on holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Ayilara in his reaction said that Olaoye lacked power to issue a query to him.
DAILY POST, however, gathered that Olaoye has created the office of palace Imam and has appointed Habib Ayilara as the pioneer palace Imam.
Investigation by DAILY POST revealed that the appointment of palace Imam did not go down well with the majority of the Muslims in the town.
Stakeholders express concern, express mixed reactions.
Some stakeholders among whom are the Ogbomoso Muslim community and the Muslim Rights Concern have expressed divergent views over the matter.
We are not aware of any appointment – Ogbomoso Muslim community
The Muslim community of Ogbomoso said that it was not aware of any appointment.
Chairman, Muslim Community of Ogbomoso, Alhaji Akintoye Abdusalam Olla said that the Muslim community was not informed about the appointment of palace Imam by the Soun.
Olla, who spoke with DAILY POST on Sunday, said that he and other Muslims saw the information on social media.
He described the appointment of a palace Imam as an attempt by the Soun to create division among the Muslims in the ancient city.
“We were not informed about it, we only saw it on social media. It is the Soun that is creating all these problems for us, not the Chief Imam.
“The person he appointed as palace Imam is from the same family with the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, they contested together before the Chief Imam emerged.
“They are just finding ways to disturb the peace of the Muslim community in Ogbomoso.
“They are looking for ways to destabilize the Muslim community of Ogbomoso. They have an agenda. They just picked that one to cause a problem. We were not informed, we just saw it on social media,” he said.
It is an attempt to divide Muslims in Ogbomoso – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the appointment of Habib Ayilara as palace Imam as a subterfuge to weaken Islam.
MURIC in a statement made available to DAILY POST also described the appointment as a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.
The group advised Muslims in the ancient city not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics.
MURIC made these assertions in a statement issued on Saturday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
Akintola in the statement made available to DAILY POST said that there was no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and the post has been filled by Chief Imam, Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.
“This is a democracy, nobody can gag us except a competent court of law. Soun has had his way, Nigerian Muslims must have their say.
“Soun’s most recent action is a subterfuge to weaken Islam, a stratagem to enslave Muslims and a chicanery to exploit the Muslim population of Ogbomoso.
“Besides, the Soun has committed titularic inexactitude and monarchical hara-kiri by giving the title ‘Chief Imam’ to a man appointed only as palace Imam.
“There is no vacancy in the Chief imamate of Ogbomoso because there can be only one Chief Imam in a city of the caliber of Ogbomoso and that post has been filled by Chief Imam Talihat Yunus Olushina Ayilara.
“Therefore, the correct title of the new Imam is ‘Palace Imam’ Habib Ayilara.
“He is the king’s special Imam, not the Chief Imam. Afterall, many individual Muslims are known to have separate mosque buildings in their compounds and they appoint Islamic scholars as their personal Imams.
“We warn the new Palace Imam to be wary of the king’s tactics. He must not allow the palace pastor to mislead him. It is sheer divide et impera.
“However, out of meanness and pettiness, the king has made his private Imam the official Imam to be recognized by the Oyo State Government.
“While we know that Governor Seyi Makinde is more than a willing accomplice in this scheme to diminish the status of Islam in Ogbomoso, we patiently await the court’s judgement.
“Of course it is strange for a pastor king to have an Imam but since there is a mosque inside the palace, it is in order to have a Ratibi Imam (Imam of a branch mosque, not that of a Central Mosque). This is where the Soun has exhibited his zero knowledge of Islamic matters.
“Unfortunately, those who know better and who should have counselled him, elected to dance to the gallery.
“We urge the Muslims of Ogbomoso not to fall for the king’s divide and rule tactics. Soun’s subterfuge is designed to weaken Islam and to enslave and exploit the Muslim population.
“We know where Pastor Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso, is going. The body language is very clear. His aim is to make his palace Imam the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso.
“He has appointed a palace Imam but where is his palace bishop? Nigerians must ponder over this scandalous manipulation. His stratagem is to put his feet on the Chief Imam’s neck. He is mocking Islam, playing Muslims against one another. It is divide et impera.
“The destiny of the Muslims of Ogbomoso in particular and that of Yoruba Muslims is in their hands. They can only be free when they resist attempts being made to divide and debilitate them. But their method of resistance must be civilized, peaceful, lawful and constitutional.
“For us in MURIC, we will rather be free and totally committed Muslims in our graves than live as palace puppets, court jesters, sycophants, minions and slaves.
“We will not sell our full Islamic identity and religious freedom for a pot of porridge and crumbs from the palace table”.
Appointment of palace Imam by a Christian King is hypocrisy – Islamic cleric, Alagunfon
An Islamic scholar, Dr. Sulaimon Adewale Alagunfon described the action of the Soun as an act of hypocrisy.
He said that it amounted to hypocrisy for a King who is not a Muslim to appoint a palace Imam whom he said will be leading him in prayers.
Alagunfon, who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the appointment of palace Imam to tackle the Chief Imam is an indication that the king does not have authority in the city.
“The statement made by the king has also shown that the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso is still the overall head of the Muslims in the town.
“It shows that the King cannot exercise authority in the town.
“The king said that the palace Imam will be leading him in prayer, that is hypocrisy to me because you are not a Muslim, so which prayer do you want the Imam to lead you? That is hypocrisy.
“That means, it sounds political; you are not a Muslim, you want to divide the Muslims, you want some Muslims to come to the palace, some will be working with you and work against the Chief Imam,” he told DAILY POST.
Source:dailypost.ng
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https://dailypost.ng/2024/09/03/souns-appointment-of-palace-imam-ignites-fresh-crisis-in-ogbomoso/
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161 Nigerian students fail UK border checks, denied entry
By Rédaction Africanews
Sep 3 2024,
Between 2021 and 2023, 1,425 international students admitted to UK universities were denied entry at the country’s airports.
Among those affected, 161 were Nigerians, who were turned away upon arrival, according to data obtained from the UK Home Office through the Freedom of Information Act.
Indian students were the most affected, making up 45% of the total with 644 removals. Nigerians followed with 11.3%, while students from Ghana and Bangladesh represented 6.46% and 6.32% respectively.
The data, covering October 2021 to October 2023, specifically addresses students refused entry at the border and does not account for those deported for visa violations like exceeding work hours or academic misconduct. The Home Office did not clarify the reasons for these removals.
However, sources suggest students were often removed due to failing to convince Border Force officers during checks, presenting forged documents, or struggling with English.
Immigration lawyer Dele Olawanle criticized this practice, arguing that Border Force officers have taken on roles beyond their remit by questioning students about their academic courses, sometimes leading to visa cancellations.
Data analyst Nelly Okechukwu shared a similar experience, recounting how he was questioned about his university studies by a border officer after a long flight, despite having graduated years earlier.
Source:africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/09/02/161-nigerian-students-fail-uk-border-checks-denied-entry/
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PIDOM: Nigerian Authorities File 9 Charges Against Whistleblower After 28-Day Detention
3 September 2024
Ikenna Ngere
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has formally charged Isaac Bristol, known as PIDOM, with nine-count charges in the Federal High Court in Abuja, following a 28-day detention without charges.
Bristol was reportedly arrested on August 5, 2024, by the National Cybercrime Centre for suspected involvement in cyber crimes.
The police have confirmed that a thorough investigation is ongoing into several accusations made against him.
PIDOM, who identifies as a whistleblower, has been embroiled in a controversy related to government transparency and freedom of speech.
Naija News reports that his prolonged detention drew significant criticism from human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which called for his immediate release or formal prosecution.
Court filings, as mentioned by SaharaReporters, reveal that PIDOM is charged with unauthorized dissemination of classified government materials and the spread of false information.
The charges specifically allege that PIDOM shared documents claiming that President Bola Tinubu had released ₦24.1 billion to the NAHCON Chairman through Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, a figure which was later allegedly increased to ₦90 billion.
The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024, was filed on September 2, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as the complainant and Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri as the defendant.
The charges were filed by Simon Lough (SAN), leading a team of police attorneys representing the Inspector General of Police.
The charges partly read: “COUNT 1: That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M’ (41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime between 2023 and August 2024 accessed computer network using your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppressed for the purpose of mobilizing and soliciting support from Nigerians to unduly compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to perform or abstain from performing certain acts through a movement you promoted with the hashtag #Endbadgovernanceinnigeria and you thereby commit an offence punishable under S.18 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024.
“COUNT 2: That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime between June and July 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court transmitted an alleged classified document of the Federal Government of Nigeria by means of your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppressed wherein you knowingly sent a false message to wit: ‘See the document below wherein Tinubu released the sum of N24,143,494,567.3 billion naira to NAHCON Chairman through Shettima’s office. Because Nigerians didn’t react enough, they went back and increased it to a whopping Ninety Billion Naira.”
It was alleged Bristol acted with the intention of causing a breakdown of law and order, “and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 24 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc.) Act 2015 (as amended) 2024“.
Count 3 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court sometime in the year 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memo from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation titled: Request for approval of funds and inauguration of the tripartite committee on National Minimum Wage, via your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 4 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court on the 1st August 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memo, headed: Police Wireless Message, via your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria or the Nigeria Police to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 5 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M’ (41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court on the 31 July 2024 did obtain, reproduce and transmit classified memos from various Police formations through your social media X handle: @Pidomnigeria with username 99% oppressed to the general public which you are not authorized on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria or the Nigeria Police to obtain, reproduce or retain and you thereby commit an offence contrary to section 1b and punishable under section 7 (1) of the official secret Act 1962.”
Count 6 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers on the 6th October 2023, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds, when you directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the sum of about Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira from your Crypto wallet which you displayed on your X handle @Pidomnigeria and username 99%oppressed, intentionally, knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count 7 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers sometime between 2023 and August 2024, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds, directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the said funds as converted fiat currency from the digital Asset donations paid via your donation digital wallet displayed on your X handle @Pidomnigeria and username 99%oppressed, intentionally, which you knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count 8 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers sometime between 2023 and August 2024, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conceal or disguise the origin of funds; directly or indirectly convert, acquire, use, retain or take possession of the total sum of Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty Seven Great British Pounds (6,637 GBP) as donations paid via your Gofundme account through your X handle @Truthfully83 investigative journalism, intentionally, knowingly, or reasonably ought to have known that such funds is or forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby commit money Laundering contrary to section 18 (d) and punishable under section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Count 9 reads, “That you Bristol Isaac Tamunobifiri ‘M'(41 yrs) of No. 36 Hardy Avenue Ozuoba Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did destroy your mobile phone Techno Phantom X 2021 model and attempted to flush same down the water system of the hotel where you were arrested with the intention of preventing it from being used in evidence and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Section 123 of the Criminal Code Act CAP 38 Laws of the Federation 2004.“
Source:naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/09/03/pidom-nigerian-authorities-file-9-charges-against-whistleblower-after-28-day-detention/
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Protest Rocks Abuja Over Fuel Scarcity
2 September 2024
Enioluwa Adeniyi
Scores of demonstrators took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, demanding the immediate dismissal of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the ongoing fuel scarcity that has plagued the nation.
The protest comes at a time when the NNPCL has admitted that its considerable debt to fuel suppliers is jeopardizing the sustainability of fuel supplies across the country.
The corporation has highlighted that the financial burden is severely impacting its operations and could further destabilize the already fragile fuel supply chain.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, who was recently a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, also voiced concerns regarding the rising cost of living, the arbitrary hike in petrol prices, and the resulting scarcity.
Falana emphasized the need to uncover what he described as the “monumental fraud” in Nigeria’s fuel importation process.
During the protest, demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and displayed banners with messages such as “We are tired of fuel scarcity and stories on why refineries are not working,” “No direction under Kyari,” and “We want accountability in the affairs of NNPCL.”
The protesters decried what they viewed as a dismal performance under Kyari’s leadership, calling for greater transparency and accountability.
The Convener of the Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations, Aminu Abbas, addressed the media at Unity Fountain after the rally, questioning why a country as rich in oil resources as Nigeria continues to face such severe fuel scarcity.
Abbas called for immediate action to address the ongoing crisis and ensure that the country’s refineries are functioning efficiently.
He said, “To President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and all those in positions of power, we say the time to act is now. Show us that you stand with the people, not those who profit from our misery. Mr Kyari must be shown the way out, and the NNPCL must be reformed to serve the interests of all Nigerians. We will not be silenced.
“The fuel scarcity we endure today is not just a mere inconvenience; it is a calculated perpetuation of suffering. Under Mr Kyari’s leadership, the situation has gone from bad to worse, with no end in sight. What has he done to alleviate this crisis? It is clear he seems intent on maintaining a status quo that benefits only a select few while the masses suffer.
“Why do we, the people, have to endure endless queues, inflated prices, and the daily uncertainty of whether we can fuel our vehicles or power our homes? The answer lies in the gross incompetence and mismanagement that have become the hallmarks of Mr. Kyari’s leadership.”
Source:naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/09/02/just-in-protest-rocks-abuja-over-fuel-scarcity/
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Southeast Asia
'Seditious': Muslim lawyers group chides council over Jakim officials issue
Sep 2, 2024
The Malaysian Muslim Lawyers' Association has described an interfaith group’s objection against Islamic religious officers being placed in government departments as “seditious”.
Its president Muhamad Hisham Marzuki also called any move to reduce Islam to a ceremonial role Islamophobic.
"Moves by certain quarters to continue playing to the...
Source:malaysiakini.com
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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/717841
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Pope arrives in Muslim-majority Indonesia to start Asia-Pacific tour
: 03.09.2024
Pope Francis arrived in Muslim-majority Indonesia on Tuesday to kick off a four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific that will be the longest and farthest of the 87-year-old's papacy.
The head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics touched down in Jakarta for a three-day visit devoted to inter-religious ties, and will then travel to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
The 12-day tour will test the pontiff's increasingly fragile health, but he is often energised by being among his flock and he emerged from the 13-hour flight smiling and waving.
"I thank you for coming on this journey, thank you for the company. I think it is the longest one (flight) I have done," he told reporters aboard his chartered plane after landing, according to an AFP journalist.
He disembarked in Jakarta in a wheelchair to an honour guard, greetings by Indonesian officials, including the religious affairs minister, and a traditional bouquet from two children.
The pontiff was then picked up from the red carpet by a civilian Toyota car, choosing a modest vehicle over one of luxury typically used by world leaders. He smiled and waved as he left for the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Jakarta.
The pope was due to have a relaxing day in Jakarta on Tuesday following the long flight from Rome, then meet President Joko Widodo on Wednesday in the first major set piece of his visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.
Catholics currently represent fewer than three percent of the population of Indonesia -- about eight million people, compared with the 87 percent, or 242 million, who are Muslim.
But they are one of six officially recognised religions or denominations in the secular nation, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
On Thursday, Francis will meet representatives of all six at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia and a symbol of religious co-existence.
It is linked via a "tunnel of friendship" to the cathedral across the road, where Christians in recent days have been taking selfies with a life-sized cutout of the pope.
He will then host a mass and deliver a sermon at Indonesia's 80,000-seater national football stadium.
- Joint declaration -
Despite Indonesia's official recognition of different faiths, there are concerns about growing discrimination, including against Christians, with local Catholics hoping the pope will speak out.
But Michel Chambon, a theologian and anthropologist at the National University of Singapore, said the pope would press a wider message he had already delivered in other Muslim-majority countries, from Iraq to Bahrain, Turkey and Morocco.
The visit "is not really aimed at Catholics in Indonesia" but is intended to highlight the global importance of Islamic-Christian dialogue, he told AFP.
That message was already being felt by some in Jakarta.
"When there's an event like this, we enjoy it because when it's our religious events, they (Catholics) also show tolerance to us," said Ranggi Prathita, a 34-year-old Muslim who has been selling customised Pope t-shirts.
The country's religious affairs ministry has also hailed the visit as a symbol of Indonesia's religious diversity.
At the Istiqlal Mosque, Pope Francis will sign a joint declaration with its grand imam that will focus on "dehumanisation", notably the spread of violence and conflict, as well as environmental degradation, according to the Indonesian bishops' conference.
Francis has repeatedly urged the world to do more to combat climate change and mitigate its effects -- including rising sea levels, which threaten Jakarta.
Indonesia has experienced terrorist attacks over recent decades, including bombings on the resort island of Bali by Islamist militants in 2002 that left 202 people dead.
Security has been stepped up for the pope's visit, with roads around key sites where he is scheduled to visit being re-routed or closed.
- Fragile health -
His trip to Indonesia is the third ever by a pope and the first since John Paul II in 1989.
Originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the Covid pandemic, the visit takes place just three months before his 88th birthday.
The Argentine now routinely uses a wheelchair to move around, underwent hernia surgery last year and has been plagued by respiratory issues.
He has not travelled abroad since visiting Marseille in France in September last year, having cancelled a planned address at United Nations climate talks in Dubai two months later.
He will be travelling to Indonesia with his personal doctor and two nurses, but Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said this is normal, saying no extra precautions were in place.
Source:today.rtl.lu
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https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2228141.html
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Halal or not? Jakim clarifies certification issue for six popular F&B chains amid online queries
By Debra Chong
03 Sep 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Amid a flurry of online queries, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) today explained that its earlier confirmation that several popular food and beverage chains do not have halal certification, is based on their premises.
The department noted that its initial confirmation that has since gone viral was made in response to an inquiry submitted through its online public complaint management system known as SISPAA for short.
“Based on the review in JAKIM's MYeHALAL system, the halal status for the premises of Johnny’s Restaurant, Black Canyon, Dolly Dim Sum, Mr. Dakgalbi, and Bungkus Kaw Kaw is that they are not holders of the Malaysian Halal Certification (SPHM).
“Therefore, the response provided by the department was generated through this Public Complaint Management System,” Jakim said in a post on its Facebook page.
It added that a re-examination through the Malaysian Halal Portal showed that the Ayam Penyet Best chain has four outlets with valid Malaysian Halal Certificates.
The department said this information has been resent to the original person who posed the question via email on the very same day, which was yesterday at 11.36pm.
It encouraged those with questions on the halal status of premises or products to verify them directly through the Malaysian Halal Portal.
Several online users took to social media earlier today to weigh in amid confusion over the halal status of these four F&B outlets.
“I would like to cross check this letter. To me it doesn’t seem authentic as letters from Jakim always have a different format. And I have cross-checked Dolly Dim Sum has an active halal certificate,” said an X user using the moniker Karat.
Another X user identified as Khairul Aqmal sought to educate other social media posters asserting that Dolly Dim Sum and Bungkus Kaw-Kaw have no halal certification by directing them to the government halal directory, and providing the links in his post.
“Their outlets do not halal certs yet. But both businesses have claimed their central kitchen have halal certs,” he said.
Johnny’s Restaurant serves Thai-style steamboat; Black Canyon also serves Thai cuisine; Bungkus Kaw-Kaw is a cafe; Dolly Dim Sum serves dim sum without pork which is forbidden to Muslims; and Mr Dakgalbi serves Korean cuisine.
Source:malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/09/03/halal-or-not-jakim-clarifies-certification-issue-for-six-popular-fb-chains-amid-online-queries/149097
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Liek Hou proves Malaysia has world-class athletes - Ahmad Zahid
BERNAMA
03-09- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the success of national para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou in securing Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games demonstrates that Malaysia possesses athletes capable of competing on the world stage.
“Well done, Cheah Liek Hou! You are an inspiration to all of us. May this success serve as a catalyst for the entire national contingent currently competing in Paris. Our prayers are with you!,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof also took to Facebook to extend his congratulations, describing the 36-year-old player’s victory as a meaningful gift in conjunction with the National Day and Malaysia Day 2024 celebrations.
“Congratulations and well done to Cheah Liek Hou for winning Malaysia’s first gold medal at the #Paralimpik2024 #ParalimpikParis,” he said.
Liek Hou emerged as the champion in the SU5 men’s singles (physical impairment) after defeating Indonesia’s Suryo Nugroho 21-13, 21-1 in the final match held at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena, Paris.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local-news/liek-hou-proves-malaysia-has-world-class-athletes-ahmad-zahid-NP12954009
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Secretariat to check overlapping functions, save govt funds next- PM Anwar
BERNAMA
03-09- 2024
PUTRAJAYA: The government will establish a Secretariat for the Rationalization of Federal Statutory Bodies to address the issue of duplication of functions and save national funds.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the secretariat will also ensure that no public officer commits corruption in their positions by implementing civil service reforms.
“The proposal to reform civil servants needs to cover government, statutory bodies, and government companies. They see their positions as a bonus, they even flaunt their wealth gained with funds from the people and country.
“That’s why monitoring should be thorough. I have recently decided that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) form a bilateral committee to update the rationalisation of statutory bodies,“ he said at the MOF Staff Assembly here today.
Anwar said there are too many overlapping statutory bodies and if they are difficult to rationalise, they would be reduced and streamlined.
He said that currently, there is too much overlapping in statutory bodies and government-related companies, resulting in financial redundancy and pushed towards uncontrolled spending.
“There are too many duplications of statutory bodies which in turn gobbled up a lot of expenditure,“ he said.
The Prime Minister said the ‘reform’ measures included the appointment of chairmen and board members in statutory bodies to ensure a better level of financial management governance.
“When appointing a new chairman, first make sure the official car is reasonable, and whether the office should be refurbished if it is already in good order. (For) the Office of the Minister of Finance, I say there is no need to change, there is no need to amend, some of us forget, this is a trust on us,“ he said.
Besides, Anwar said that each individual should not hold too many positions and they should be given management and finance training.
The Prime Minister said an MOF officer would be stationed at each statutory body and government-related companies to monitor governance and prudent financial management.
“I am giving a warning that if there is any compromise, the (MOF officer) will be banned from sitting on any board after that to ensure greater accountability. If we do not give such instructions, the (same) situation will continue to happen,“ he said.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local-news/secretariat-to-check-overlapping-functions-save-govt-funds-next-pm-anwar-DP12953981
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