“Dialogue a Must in a Pluralistic Society”: Muslim Scholars, Religious Heads Endorse Dialogue with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 October 2022
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
----
• Pakistani Taliban Call Pakistan A 'State Of
Butchers' Accuses Of Genocide Against The Pashtun And Baloch
• Thousands of Terrorists, Suicide Bombers Being
Trained In Afghanistan: Tajikistan President
• EU Slaps Human Rights Sanctions on Iran over Mahsa
Amini’s Death
• Hamas: Israeli Plans to Judaize, Divide Al-Aqsa
Mosque Will Be Foiled
India
• Bilkis
Convicts Freed After GoI Nod: Gujarat Govt to SC
• UN Chief To Start India Visit With Tribute To 26/11
Victims
• 4 held, Qaida bid to recruit youth in Assam foiled
• BJP’s Outreach Creates Buzz about Fielding Muslim
Candidates in Western Uttar Pradesh
• Gyanvapi Case: Allahabad HC to Hear Plea Against
Rejection Of Challenge To Hindu Devotees' Plea
• Sir Syed Day: AMU pays tribute to founder on birth
anniversary
• Four Arrested For Desecrating Mosque in Jharkhand
• Malali Mosque Row: Mangaluru Court Reserves
Judgement till Nov 9
--------
Pakistan
• France First Non-Muslim Nation to Establish Ties
with Pakistan: French Ambassador
• Peace Rally Calls For End to Militancy In Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa
• PM, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Discuss Country's
Political, Overall Situation
• TLP claims Abbottabad police killed 10 workers in
clash
• JUI-F leaders blame Tehreek-i-Insaf govt for Swat
unrest
--------
South
Asia
• Muslim World Should Build Relations with Kabul, Say
Clerics in Turkey
• US will not fund non-state actors in Afghanistan:
Taliban sources
• Taliban killed captives in restive Afghan province:
Report
• Afghanistan, the new blank space for a triangle
super-powers
• UNAMA Chief Meets Political and Administrative
Deputies of Taliban PM
• Report: Taliban killed captives in restive Afghan
province
--------
Europe
• Australia Reverses Decision to Recognise West
Jerusalem As Israel's Capital
• US accuses Iran of lying over use of its drones in
Ukraine
• Germany launches new program to help at-risk Afghans
--------
Mideast
• Israel Approves Construction of Hundreds Of New
Settler Units In Northern Al-Quds
• Israeli PM slams Australia’s reversal of Jerusalem
as capital
• IRGC Commander Warns S. Arabia against Meddling in
Iran's Affairs
• Israel PM slams Australia’s decision to stop
recognizing Jerusalem as its capital
• Australia reverses recognition of Jerusalem as
Israeli capital
• UN urges Iran to end killing, detention of children
• Hamas calls on UN to take ‘effective and urgent’
action to stop Israeli aggression in occupied West Bank
--------
North
America
• US Imposes Sanctions on Key Al-Shabaab Terrorist
Financiers
• Abdullahi Ahmed Abdullahi gets 20-year sentence for
recruiting Islamic State fighters
• Muslims removed from 'no-fly list' after filing
lawsuits
• US senators seek immigration protection for
Pakistani migrants
• Haiti’s gang violence has people living in regime of
terror
--------
Arab
World
• Islamic State Claims Over 125 People Killed In
Syrian Operations In 2 Months
• Argentina requests arrest in Qatar of senior Iranian
official
• UAE Rejects ‘Racist Statement’ By EU’s Josep
Borrell, Summons Diplomat: WAM
• Iraq’s new president hopes for quick government
formation
• Kuwaiti crown prince warns parliament ‘public will
hold them to account’
• American officials not invited to upcoming Saudi
investment conference
• US military forces smuggle wheat crops, crude oil
from northeast Syria to Iraq
• Calls grow on British public university to end links
with Bahraini regime police force
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Ministry, S Korean University Cooperate In Cyber
Islamic University
• Topsy-turvy politics of PAS and the split opposition
• Stop the attacks, we may be friends again, PM tells
Umno, PAS
• Khalid fails in bid to appeal ruling setting aside
RM80, 000 awarded to him
--------
Africa
• Tunisia Bonds Jump after IMF Staff-Level Agreement
on $1.9 Bln Loan
• UN chief: 'Situation in Ethiopia is spiralling out
of control'
• Flood deaths hit 603 in 10 months in Nigeria,
official says
• Ethiopia to take control of airports in restive
Tigray region
• 2 UN peacekeepers killed, 4 injured in northern Mali
blast
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
--------
“Dialogue a Must in a Pluralistic Society”: Muslim
Scholars, Religious Heads Endorse Dialogue with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
----
Oct 17, 2022
NEW DELHI: The proposed dialogue between Muslims and
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, initiated by five prominent individuals, has now
received an official go-ahead from important Muslim scholars and religious
heads.
The five individuals who met Bhagwat have held quiet,
follow-up meetings with the chiefs of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind and the Darul Uloom Deoband, over the last fortnight, ToI has
learnt.
The five had met Bhagwat on August 22 in a bid to
address growing communalisation and increasing attacks on members of the Muslim
community.
The religious organisations, headed by Sadatullah
Husaini, Mahmood Madani and Arshad Madani, have all endorsed the dialogue with
Bhagwat. One of them was circumspect about the outcome but said there was a
need for a dialogue.
“Dialogue is the only solution in a pluralistic
society. All meetings should be structured and transparent. The message should
percolate from both sides,” said Syed Tanvir Ahmad, national media secretary to
Husaini.
The meeting between the Jamaat-e-Islami chief was held
at the Delhi residence of editor and politician Shahid Siddiqui, Ahmad
revealed. It was attended by former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi,
former Delhi LG Najeeb Jung, and businessman Saeed Shervani.
Confirming the meeting, Siddiqui told ToI, “We have to
take the engagement forward and bring the communal heat down. The Muslim scholars
told us to continue the dialogue with the RSS as a civil society initiative
rather than a religious one.”
The five have subsequently also been in touch with
senior RSS functionaries whose names were provided by Bhagwat himself at the
August 22 meeting.
The engagement with the religious scholars also takes
care of the criticism from several quarters. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen President, Asaddudin Owaisi had criticised the five for meeting the
RSS chief. They are “elites”, who are not in touch with ground reality, he had
said.
The endorsement from the three important Muslim
bodies, however, is a step forward.
Mahmood Madani’s spokesperson, Niaz Farooqi told ToI,
“The five of them met us and briefed us about their meeting with Mohan Bhagwat.
We welcomed it. Dialogue is a basic requirement of democracy. There is a need
to change the environment of hate.” The meeting took place on October 2 at
Delhi’s Abdul Nabi mosque.
Hate speeches have continued after the August 22
meeting with Bhagwat.
A Delhi BJP MP called for the open social boycott of
Muslims and in Gurugram, a mob entered a mosque and disrupted prayers.
One of the five, speaking on the condition of
anonymity, said: “Even our expectations are not high but we have to keep the
engagement going. What is important is that we now have the sanction of our
scholars. They conceded that it is better for us to front the dialogue as there
are deep religious and sectarian divides amongst them.”
The five now plan to take the dialogue to other parts
of the country. They are also in touch with the office of Prime Minister
Narender Modi and will probably write to him for a meeting, after the Gujarat
elections.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Pakistani Taliban Call Pakistan A 'State Of Butchers'
Accuses Of Genocide Against The Pashtun And Baloch
The statement by the Tahrik-i-Taliban
(TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban comes days after hundreds of rotten bodies found
on the roof of a public sector hospital in Multan in the Punjab province of
Pakistan
------
October 17, 2022
Peshawar: Accusing the Pakistan Army of carrying out a
genocide against the Pashtun and Baloch people, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
has labelled Pakistan a “state of butchers”.
The statement by the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) or the
Pakistani Taliban comes days after hundreds of rotten bodies found on the roof
of a public sector hospital in Multan in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
According to some reports, over 200 bodies were found at the hospital.
An official told CNN-News18 that the abandoned bodies
were recovered from Nishtar Hospital in Multan city of Punjab province and that
several of the corpses had their chests ripped open and organs removed.
The ‘salwars’ on the bodies of the victims and their
strong body structure – typical to mountains and hard terrains – have given
rise to speculation that the corpses may be of Balochs and Pashtuns, who were
victims of forced disappearances by the security forces. An unkown number of
people have been abducted by Pakistani forces from the Balochistan and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces of Pakistan in recent years.
On Friday, at least 200 rotting corpses were found on
the roof of a hospital in Pakistan’s Multan city. As per social media, hundreds
of human body parts have been recovered from the roof of Nishtar Hospital’s
mortuary in Multan after which the government decided to probe the incident,
reported Geo News.
According to sources, dozens of bodies are rotting in
the room built on the roof of Nishtar Hospital. On the other hand, according to
the news circulating on social media, hundreds of human body parts have been
recovered from the roof.
No confirmation or denial has been given yet, however,
by any government official over the number of bodies.
Advisor to Chief Minister, Punjab, Tariq Zaman Gujjar
said a whistleblower tipped him off about the rotting bodies on the roof of the
mortuary at Nishtar Hospital, reported Geo News.
“I was on a visit in Nishtar Hospital when a man
approached me and said if you want to do a good deed then go the morgue and
check it out,” Gujjar said.
He said when he reached there the staff wasn’t ready
to open the doors of the mortuary. “To this, I said if you don’t open it right
now, I am going to file an FIR against you,” Gujjar added.
He said when the morgue was finally opened and they
stepped in only to find at least 200 bodies lying around. “All the decomposing
bodies (of both men and women) were bare. Even women’s bodies weren’t covered.”
Gujjar said when he asked them (doctors) to explain
what was going on they said these were used by the medical students for
educational purposes.
“Do you sell these bodies? I asked the mortuary
authorities.”
Gujjar said he asked doctors to explain the incident
and in response, they said it was not what it looked like as these were used by
the medical students for educational purposes, reported Geo News.
“Two of the bodies on the roof were rather in the
early stages of decomposition. Maggots were all over them,” Gujjar said.
He said he had never seen anything like it in his 50
years of life.
“Vultures and worms were scavenging on the corpses on
the roof. Our tally showed there were at least 35 bodies on the rooftop of the
mortuary.”
“The bodies after being used for medical education
purposes should have been given a proper burial after Namaz-e-Janaza, but they
were thrown on the roof,” Gujjar said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi took
notice of the abandoned bodies and sought a report from the Punjab specialised
healthcare and medical education secretary, reported Geo News.
The Punjab government formed a six-member committee to
investigate the incident after the bodies were discovered and videos and
pictures were shared on the internet.
Moreover, Nishtar Medical University’s vice-chancellor
has also formed a three-member committee for an inquiry into the incident.
A letter dated October 13, 2022, was also sent to the
medical superintendent of the hospital, asking for a detailed inquiry report
within three days, reported Geo News.
Source: Firstpost
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original story:
--------
Thousands of Terrorists, Suicide Bombers Being Trained
In Afghanistan: Tajikistan President
President of Tajikistan/
Image Credit: Twitter
-----
16 October, 2022
Kabul [Afghanistan], October 16 (ANI): Emomali Rahmon,
President of Tajikistan claimed that thousands of terrorists” and “suicide
bombers” are being trained in Afghanistan.
Addressing the sixth Conference on Interaction and
Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit, Rahmon expressed concern
about the presence and activities of terrorist groups and suicide bombers in
Afghanistan, echoing the growing concerns of many countries in the
international community, Khaama Press reported.
The CICA summit, which was one of the most important
post-pandemic foreign policy gatherings on the continent, was attended by 11
heads of state, including the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus,
Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Palestine, Russia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, the
Emir of Qatar and 50 delegations.
Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran, who attended this
conference, reiterated the importance of establishing an inclusive and
representative government in Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press.
Afghanistan is the region’s most significant security
challenge, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian President also took a sharp dig at US’s
withdrawal from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover and said that
Afghanistan was unable to independently deal with the terrorist threat even
after 20 years of the presence of the US and NATO as blasts continue to take
place in the war-torn nation, the recent one being the blast outside the
Russian Embassy in Kabul on September 5, the official statement the President
of Russia stated.
He further called the presence of the US and NATO in
Afghanistan a failing policy.
Underlining that Russia was a founding country of the
CICA Business Council, Putin said that the country is working hard together
with other Asian counties to create a system of equal and indivisible security
based on the universally recognized principles of international law and the UN
Charter.
This comes as the members of the international
community have grown concerned about the re-emergence of international
terrorist groups and organizations in Afghanistan following the US’s CIA drone operation,
which assassinated the al-Qaeda chief in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.
With 27 member states and about half the population
our the planet, CICA is the largest regional intergovernmental forum in Asia
for enhancing cooperation toward promoting, peace, security, and stability in
Asia.
The member states, while affirming their commitment to
the UN Charter, believe that peace and security in Asia can be achieved through
dialogue and cooperation leading to a common indivisible area of security in Asia
where all states co-exist peacefully and their peoples live in peace, freedom,
and prosperity.
From India, Meenakshi Lekhi is leading the delegation
to the 6th Summit meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence
Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Astana, Kazakhstan. (ANI)
Source: The Print
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original story:
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EU
Slaps Human Rights Sanctions on Iran over Mahsa Amini’s Death
A
woman on top of a car sets her headscarf on fire in central Tehran during
protests across Iran. (Twitter)
------
17
October, 2022
The
EU on Monday sanctioned Iran’s “morality” police, information minister and the
cyber division of its Revolutionary Guards for the fatal beating in custody of
Mahsa Amini and repression of subsequent protests.
The
list, published in the bloc’s official administrative gazette, also blacklisted
the chiefs of the so-called morality police, the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij
paramilitary force, and a uniformed branch of the national police.
Mahsa
Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman, fell into a coma shortly after being arrested
by Iran’s morality police in September for “improper hijab.” She died on
September 13, prompting protests on social media and on the streets of Iran,
and around the world.
The
EU foreign ministers added 11 Iranians and four institutions, including Iran’s
morality police chief, to a travel ban and asset freeze list for their role in
the crack down on protests after Amini’s death.
“Unanimous
decision today to take action against those in #Iran responsible for the death
of #MahsaAmini and violent repression of peaceful protests,” Borrell tweeted
after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Tehran
says it is keeping order against foreign-instigated troublemakers.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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Hamas:
Israeli Plans to Judaize, Divide Al-Aqsa Mosque Will Be Foiled
Israeli
forces are seen in front of the Dome of the Rock, within the al-Aqsa Mosque
compound in the occupied al-Quds, on September 10, 2021. (File photo by Anadolu
Agency)
-----
2022-October-17
Abdul-Latif
Al-Qanou, a spokesman for the Gaza Strip-based resistance group, said in a
press statement on Sunday that the escalating Israeli raids into Al-Aqsa Mosque
and the regime’s desperate attempts to tighten the grip on the holy site
required continued Palestinian presence in Al-Aqsa’s courtyards, presstv
reported.
“The
Zionist occupation continues its aggression and mobilizes its forces and police
to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and attempts to extend control,” Qanou said.
“The
Israeli plans to Judaize and divide Al-Aqsa Mosque will be foiled,” he said,
adding that such violations could lead to a “religious war” in the region.
The
Hamas spokesman also said that the Israeli settlers’ intrusions into Al-Aqsa
Mosque, facilitated by tight protection of Israeli forces during the Jewish
holidays while closed to Muslim worshipers, heralded bad omens that the
occupying regime would be responsible for.
Last
month, Hamas severely censured the Israeli regime and extremist Jewish settlers
for their unrelenting violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, saying such
acts of desecration could lead to an uncontrollable explosion of Muslim
nations’ wrath.
Israeli
right-wing groups called at the time for the storming of the site so as to
increase Jewish presence there as Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New
Year.
The
extremist right-wing groups have openly called for turning Al-Aqsa into a
Jewish worship area and tearing down the Islamic shrines in order to build a
Jewish temple on the location.
Hardline
Israeli legislators and settlers regularly storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in
the occupied city, a provocative move that infuriates Palestinians. Such mass
settler break-ins almost always take place at the behest of Tel Aviv-backed
temple groups and under the auspices of the Israeli police in Al-Quds.
The
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses
both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It's
amid, in a new act of provocation, a group of extremist Israeli settlers have
attacked a school at a village near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus,
setting ablaze a classroom.
Palestine’s
WAFA news agency, citing local sources, reported on Sunday that the raid by
Israeli settles took place at the village of Urif, South of Nablus in the
middle of the night.
Ghassan
Daghlas, a local Palestinian activist, said settlers from the nearby notorious
settlement of Yitzhar entered the village and shattered some of the school’s
windows, as they vandalized the equipment there.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Bilkis Convicts Freed After GoI Nod: Gujarat Govt to SC
Oct
18, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The Gujarat government, in a 458-page affidavit in the Supreme Court,
defended it decision to free 11 lifers in the Bilkis Bano case, and said,
"The state government has considered the cases of all 11 prisoners as per
the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10. The remission was
not granted under the circular governing grant of remission to prisoners as
part of celebration of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'." The state government
annexed documents related to the grant of remission process with its affidavit.
The
state home department said that all the convicts had completed more than 14
years in prison under life imprisonment. "Opinions of the concerned
authorities have been obtained as per the policy of July 9, 1992 and submitted
to the ministry of home affairs, government of India, vide letter dated June
28, 2022, and sought the approval/suitable orders of the government of
India," it said.
"The
government of India conveyed the concurrence/approval of the central government
under Section 435 of the Criminal Procedure Code for premature release of 11
prisoners vide letter dated July 11, 2022," the state said, justifying the
grant of remission on August 10.
It
referred to the SC's May 13 order directing that though the trial of the case
took place in Maharashtra, it would be the Gujarat government which would be
the appropriate authority to consider the plea for grant of remission of the
convicts. It had also directed that the remission applications be considered as
per the then prevailing policy, that is of the year 1992. The SC had asked the
state to consider the remission applications within two months.
Giving
details of the process of consideration prior to grant of remission, the state
government branded PIL petitioners Subhashini Ali, Revati Laul and Roop Rekha
Verma as "interlopers who had no locus standi" in the case.
The
petitioners have no locus standi to challenge the remission orders passed by
the competent authority strictly as per applicable law in the instant case
under the garb of PIL, which is not maintainable in a criminal case, it said.
"The
petitioners are in no way connected to the proceedings which either convicted
the accused in question nor with the proceedings which culminated in grant of
remission to the convicts. Thus, the petition at the instance of a mere
busybody which has political machinations is liable to be dismissed," it
said.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UN
chief to start India visit with tribute to 26/11 victims
Oct
18, 2022
NEW
DELHI: UN secretary general Antonio Guterres will begin a three-day visit to
India Tuesday by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at
the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. This will be UNSG's first visit to India,
since he commenced his second term in office in January, 2022.
On
Thursday, in Gujarat, Guterres will join PM Narendra Modi at the launch of the
Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo and tagline. "It
may be recollected that the concept of LiFE was introduced by PM during CO at
Glasgow in November 2021. PM had then urged the global community of individuals
and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards
'mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive
consumption' to protect and preserve the environment," said the government
in a statement.
According
to the government, Mission LiFE will be India's signature initiative at the UN
and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. "Its central idea
reflects India's ethos of respect for Mother Nature and aims at piloting a focussed
program that will mobilise 1 billion Indians to become pro-planet people (3P),
who would practice simple environment and climate friendly behaviour/actions in
their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet,"
it said.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
4
held, Qaida bid to recruit youth in Assam foiled
Oct
18, 2022
GUWAHATI:
Four people were arrested from Assam's Nalbari and Tamulpur districts on Monday
for their alleged links with the proscribed al-Qaida, foiling an attempt by the
terror outfit to recruit youths in the state, reports Prasenjit Deb.
Those
arrested were identified as Abu Raihan, Habel Ali, Saddek Ali and Jakibul Ali.
Saddek is reported to be a veteran associate of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen
Bangladesh (JMB).
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
BJP’s
Outreach Creates Buzz about Fielding Muslim Candidates in Western Uttar Pradesh
Oct
18, 2022
The
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched an aggressive Muslim-outreach
campaign ahead of the forthcoming urban polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Back-to-back
functions featuring top ministers of Yogi government 2.0 are lined up till Tuesday.
Amid
the buzz that the party could field Muslim candidates, mostly in western U.P,
in these urban elections, the BJP has been tactically aiming to win over the
most backward among the Muslims, ones who do odd jobs for survival and have
been among the beneficiaries of the various schemes of the “double engine” BJP
governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh.
The
outreach coincides with two surveys — one to identify unaffiliated madrasas and
the other to check revenue records of waqf properties. The campaign is aimed at
“allaying apprehensions” of the community while showcasing how under BJP, the
poorest of the Muslims have benefitted.
The
BJP’s minority wing is also preparing a list of such minorities who have
benefitted from government schemes. Yet another plan is underway to connect
with minority women through those who benefitted from the scrapping of the
instant triple talaq divorce practice.
“The
community’s taraqqi (development), taleem (education) and tahaffuz (security),
were possible only under the BJP which didn’t treat them as “vote bank and now,
we have proof in terms of beneficiaries across all communities, including
Muslims,” said Javed Malik, the BJP’s west UP functionary. He has planned
Tuesday’s Pasmanda (backward) Muslim outreach that will feature deputy chief
minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. On Sunday, the other deputy chief minister
Brajesh Pathak had attended a similar function.
On
Monday, the junior minority minister in UP, Danish Azad Ansari, the lone Muslim
face of the Yogi 2.0 government, attended the programme ‘Taleem-o-Tarbiyat
(education to entrepreneurship)’.
Post
Diwali, the Yogi 2.0 government is set to hold job fairs in minority localities
as part of efforts to build bridges with the community that has largely been
skeptical of the BJP so far.
But,
the BJP leaders point to the recent wins in the Lok Sabha by-polls in
Muslim-dominated constituencies from Rampur and Azamgarh, to state that the
script is changing.
The
BJP has now set its sight on minority dominated wards. Ahead of the civic
polls, the party is identifying those who have benefitted from the schemes of
BJP government in these wards.
“The
BJP will perhaps like to see the performance of the Muslim candidates at the
ward level in minority dominated pockets and on the basis of response and
feedback their participation generates, the BJP leadership might then begin
planning for 2024 LS polls. It is a smart political strategy, too, as it means
the exercise will also be helpful in dividing the community vote and thus checking
it from consolidating in favour of any BJP opponent,” said Irshad Ilmi, a
political expert.
In
west UP, the BJP will be up against the SP-RLD alliance, the BSP, AAP and the
Congress.
“There
are many who have benefitted from the schemes of double engine government. They
all vouch for BJP. Naturally, they will be there in civic polls, either as
contestants or campaigners,” said BJP’s minority wing chief Basit Ali.
Earlier
this month, several Muslim women beneficiaries of various government schemes
had sent ‘thank you Modi’, postcards to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi from
Lucknow’s Kasaibada locality.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Gyanvapi
Case: Allahabad HC To Hear Plea Against Rejection Of Challenge To Hindu
Devotees' Plea
17
OCT 2022
The
Allahabad High Court will hear a plea challenging the Varanasi District Court's
decision on the challenge to the plea of Hindu devotees.
Deciding
on the maintainability suit filed against the petition of five Hindu devotees'
regarding Gyanvapi Mosque, the Varanasi District Court had rejected the
challenge to the devotees' plea, ruling that the plea was maintainbale.
The
Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee of Gyanvapi Mosque has challenged the
district court's order in the High Court and it will be heard on Wednesday.
Justice
J J Munir passed the order on a joint request from the counsels for the parties
concerned. Fixing October 19 as the date of hearing, the high court directed
that a photocopy of all papers on the basis of which the district judge had
disposed of the application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil
Procedure (CPC) has to be sent to this court by Wednesday. The photo copies
have to be verified by the district judge, the high court said.
What's
the Gyanvapi case?
Five
Hindu devotees in August 2021 filed a petition seeking rights to pray daily
before Hindu idols on the outer walls of Gyanvapi Mosque.
The
mosque committee argued that the plea is not maintainable under the Places of
Worship Act. When the matter reached the Supreme Court, the apex court
instructed the district court to first decide on the maintainability of the
case before deciding on the plea itself.
On
September 12, the Varanasi District Court ruled that the suit was maintainable
and Places of Worship Act did not apply in the case as the petitioners were not
seeking to change the religious character of the place but were only seeking
prayer rights.
The
mosque committee has now filed a revision petition in the high court against
the district court order.
Latest
developments in Gyanvapi case
In
the latest development in the Gyanvapi case, the Varanasi court rejected the
plea by four Hindu devotees seeking carbon dating of a structure found during
the videography survey of the mosque.
In
the hearing of the petition, a videography survey was ordered. During the
survey, a 'Shivling' was claimed to have been found close to the
"wazookhana" —ablution pond— in the mosque. The mosque committee
opposed this, saying it was not a Shivling but a fountain.
Source:
Outlook India
Please
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Sir
Syed Day: AMU pays tribute to founder on birth anniversary
Oct
17, 2022
The
205th birth anniversary of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), a philosopher and
educationist, who, in 1875, established the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO)
College which is today known as the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), was
celebrated on the university campus on Monday. Every year, the occasion is celebrated
as Sir Syed Day on the university’s campus.
Delivering
the Sir Syed Day commemoration address, chief guest prof Tahir Mahmood, former
chairman, National Commission for Minorities, called upon the AMU fraternity to
spread Sir Syed’s rationality, modernity, manners and amity across the world.
“Preservation and propagation of Urdu is also an integral part of Sir Syed’s
legacy that needs our attention,” he added.
In
the welcome address, vice chancellor, AMU, prof Tariq Mansoor said, “Sir Syed’s
ideas of secularism and inclusiveness are reflected in the way AMU operates.
The university is a monument of large-hearted tolerance and communal harmony
and its portals are open to the students of all communities from its very
inception”.
“AMU
is marching ahead towards progress and development. The PM, while participating
in the centenary year celebrations, called AMU as ‘Mini India’ and praised the
contribution of the university in the nation-building, ” he added.
He
also drew attention to the rising academic standards of the university and
said, “AMU has been accredited with A+ grade by the National Assessment and
Accreditation Council (NAAC). The National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 is also
being implemented with modifications in syllabus and curriculum”.
“At
a gathering in Gurdaspur on January 27, 1884, Sir Syed famously said, ‘O Hindus
and Muslims! Do you belong to a country other than India? Don’t you live on
this soil and are you not buried under it or cremated on its ghats? If you live
and die on this land, bear in mind that ‘Hindu’ and ‘Muslim’ is but a religious
word. All Hindus, Muslims and Christians who live in this country are one
nation,” he said.
Prof
Mansoor called for spreading the message of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan for education,
free enquiry, tolerance, interfaith understanding and national unity.
On
the occasion, the chief guest and the vice chancellor presented the
“International Sir Syed Excellence Award 2022” to Barbara Metcalf, noted
historian and Professor Emerita of History at the University of California,
Davis, USA, who attended the event virtually. The award, which carries
₹200,000, was given for her seminal works on the history of Muslims in the
Indian subcontinent, South Asia and Islam.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Four
arrested for desecrating mosque in Jharkhand
by
Abhishek Angad
October
18, 2022
Jharkhand
police arrested four people for allegedly desecrating a mosque at Telodih in
Giridih.
The
incident and the arrests took place on October 4. However, the matter came to
light later when BJP Legislative Party leader Babulal Marandi took to social
media, asking police to investigate the incident “without any prejudice”, and
that “appeasement politics” should not play a role.
Source:
Indian Express
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Malali
mosque row: Mangaluru court reserves judgement till Nov 9
Oct
18, 2022
The
third additional civil court in Mangaluru has reserved the order in connection
with the Malali mosque row till November 9, persons in the know of the
developments said on Monday. The court, after reserving the order, directed
that a status quo has to be maintained on the mosque premises.
The
Mangaluru court was to deliver the judgement on the limits of authority of the
court with regard to the maintainability of the suit for a permanent
injunction.
The
court is hearing a petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to inspect the
Assayed Abdullahi Madani mosque in Malali area in Thenka Ulipady village near
Mangaluru.
On
May 30, a plea in this regard was filed by right-wing activists TA Dhananjaya
and BA Manoj Kumar, who had sought an inspection of the mosque to ascertain “if
the parts uncovered during the mosque renovation belonged to a temple”.
The
court was hearing arguments on whether such a suit was maintainable. The
petitioners had approached the high court demanding that the lower court should
appoint a commissioner to conduct the survey.
The
Karnataka high court on June 16 this year directed the civil court not to
pronounce its verdict on the maintainability of the suit. Earlier, the
single-judge bench of justice Sachin Shankar Magadum had issued notice to
mosque authorities and adjourned the hearing to June 17. The case came to fore
after the VHP claimed that a temple-like design was discovered during the
renovation work of the dargah on April 21 in this year.
On
May 31, a counsel for the mosque had made a submission before the Mangaluru
court to quash the VHP petition under the provisions of the Places of Worship
Act, 1991.
Talking
about the controversy, a senior official from the district administration said
that some earthmovers were deployed at the dargah as part of the renovation
process. “During the process, a temple-like structure was allegedly noticed by
a few people. Some JCB workers also took photos of the structure and later
shared them widely,” said the official who did not want to be named.
According
to the police, photographs of what appears to be a ‘kalasha’ (spire), ‘tomara’
(pillar) and poles resembling a temple were circulated on social media
platforms soon after the front portion of the dargah was demolished for
renovation work, undertaken by the mosque authority.
Earlier
on Wednesday, the VHP performed ‘Tambula Prashne’ rituals, claiming it will
prove “if a temple existed at the spot”. The outfit also roped in Kerala-based
astrologer GP Gopalakrishna Panicker to conduct the rituals, police said.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Pakistan
France
First Non-Muslim Nation to Establish Ties with Pakistan: French Ambassador
October
18, 2022
ISLAMABAD -
French Ambassador Nicolas Galey said France was the first non-Muslim
country to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan.
Addressing
the members of Board of Management Quaid-e-Azam House, Institute of
Nation-Building here on Monday, he said relations between France and Pakistan
were of special significance.
After
the recent increases in tension, the ambassador expressed that opinion was
shifting and business sector should take advantage of these improving
relations. A watershed moment showcasing this improvement was the cordial
meeting between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in
New York.
Galey
also talked about the aid that France had given to Pakistan in the wake of the
devastating floods that ravaged Pakistan a few weeks ago. He stated that France
was interested in tapping into Pakistan’s dairy and milk market. He explained
that both France and Pakistan had agriculture dominant economies and Pakistan
could reap many benefits from France’s agricultural production techniques and
research. He also mentioned that the French Universities’ would be interested
in attracting more Pakistani students to their educational institutions.
Some
concrete steps such as a group of five top university representatives would
arrive in Pakistan in early November to scout what Pakistani students need to
find it attractive to come to France.
He
said that while France was part of European Union and like other states, it
also independently follows relationship. He added that it was especially
relevant in present times because Pakistan was in discussion with EU
representatives about continuing the GSP+ trade agreement. The GSP+, a
lucrative agreement that allowed Pakistani businesses to export to any EU
country without any tariff charges, between Pakistan and EU would expire in
2023, and its renewal or lack thereof would have a significant impact on EU
nations’ ability to help Pakistani business industries to grow. In response to
a question on Islamophobia, the Ambassador replied that xenophobia and racism
existed in all countries. Many French representatives ask for specific examples
of xenophobia and receive vague answers, he said.
He
stated that the unfortunate notion that France is Islamophobic must not be
treated as a given fact, that France has the largest minority consists of
Muslims and it cannot afford to have such sentiments; however, regarding hijab
and other issues, it was a social and cultural matter which shall get resolved.
Source:
Nation Pakistan
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Peace
Rally Calls For End To Militancy In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
17
October, 2022
Islamabad
[Pakistan], October 17 (ANI): People in Lakki Marwat District in Pakistan’s
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province organized a peace rally protesting against the
rampant terrorism incidents in the region, media reports said.
The
terrorism menace is witnessing a resurgence in the KP province. In a recent
incident, a man was killed over a land dispute in the Eesakkhel village of
Lakki Marwat on Sunday, reported Dawn.
A
person by the name Shaukatullah and his brother, Naimnatullah, were working in
the fields when their rivals, opened fire on them, said police officials adding
that Naimatullah died on the spot. Shaukatullah escaped the attack which was
carried out by two rivals namely Shafiq and Javed.
The
dead body was shifted to the hospital for autopsy, the police said, adding they
had registered a case against the killers. However, this is not an isolated
case of an act of terrorism. KP province has long been gripped by these
activities resulting in the death of innocent people.
Protestors
organised the rally Sunday and condemned terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations. The menace had brought destruction on Pakhtuns soil and “caused
the spilling of blood of thousands of innocent people,” the speakers at the
rally said.
The
rally started from Shaheed Abid Ali Chowk and culminated at Qazi Ishfaq Chowk
near the main bus stand after passing through the Lakki-Tajazai Road. People
from different walks of life, including activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl,
Awami National Party (a Pashtun nationalist party) and Pakistan People’s Party,
students and members of civil society, participated.
The
protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans for peace.
Police was on alert to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the
rally. To realize this, a large contingent of police was deployed around the
protest venue.
The
speakers denounced recent incidents of terrorism in Lakki Marwat and parts of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and asked the government to take stringent measures to
eliminate terrorism and promote peace and prosperity, reported Dawn.
Pakistan’s
top security committee has promised a strong response to the resurgence in
militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and agreed on a plan for counterterrorism
measures.
The
National Security Committee (NSC) meeting attended by ministers, and heads of
intelligence agencies, was convened in the wake of massive protests in the Swat
district against growing insecurity in the scenic valley.
Earlier
this month, Pakistan’s State Minister for Law Shahadat Hussain conceded that
terror activities had witnessed a sharp increase.
The
highest number of terror incidents in Pakistan this year was recorded in
September, said an Islamabad-based think tank pointed to the resumption of
attacks by the outlawed TTP. The number of terror attacks increased in
September compared to August this year, the Dawn said in an earlier report
citing the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
September
witnessed 42 militant attacks with an increase of 35 per cent compared to
August.
Source:
The Print
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PM,
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Discuss Country's Political, Overall Situation
Muhammad
Irfan
October
17, 2022
ISLAMABAD,
(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2022 ) :Chief of Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam (F) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman called on Prime Minister Muhammad
Shehbaz Sharif here on Monday.
Source:
Urdu Point
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TLP
claims Abbottabad police killed 10 workers in clash
Muhammad
Sadaqat
October
18, 2022
HARIPUR:
The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan has claimed that the police killed 10 of its
workers and injured hundreds during a clash at the main bridge of Chamba
village in Abbottabad district bordering Haripur district on Sunday night.
However,
the police denied ‘deaths’ but insisted that their 33 officials suffered
injuries after being hit by gunshots fired by the TLP activists.
They
also revealed the arrest of 34 workers of the religio-political party for arson
attacks, firing, damaging public and private property, and other acts of
terrorism.
The
clash occurred as the Abbottabad police stopped thousands of TLP workers from
marching on Havalian tehsil to attend an Eid Miladun Nabi procession.
Police
deny deaths, insist their 33 officials injured in attack
Led
by TLP chief Allama Saad Rizvi, the marchers tried to remove shipping
containers placed ahead of and on the bridge following a ban on processions and
gatherings by the administrations of both districts.
The
police also baton-charged them and fired teargas on them in a bid to disperse
them. The TLP claimed that the police fired bullets on them.
When
contacted, TTP Information Secretary, Hazara Zone, Syed Qasid Ali Shah claimed
that the police firing killed over 10 workers of the party and left 50
critically injured and hundreds injured, while several were missing following
the police’s action.
“The
police fired straight shots and teargas on our peaceful workers on the way to
Havelian,” Mr Shah told Dawn over the phone here on Monday evening.
He,
however, named only three workers as the deceased, including Hafiz Mohammad
Azam, Hafiz Mubashir Bhatti and Hafiz Mohammad Shakil.
“The
exact death toll will be clear by Tuesday,” he said.
The
TLP leader alleged that the police subjected several party workers to severe
torture after arrest at the Chamba Bridge.
He
said party leader Saad Rizvi behaved ‘sagaciously’ otherwise the death toll
would have been ‘very high’.
Mr
Shah said the party would announce the next course of action in the meeting of
its Central Shura in Lahore.
He
claimed that the TLP workers totalled 30,000 and they entered the limits of
Hazara division via the GT Road near Jhari Kass area of Haripur on Sunday
afternoon with party chief Allama Saad Rizvi leading them.
However,
the police put the number at 6,000 insisting most of them carried batons and
sticks.
The
TLP’s Hazara chapter had reportedly invited Mr Rizvi to address a Miladun Nabi
procession in Havelian on Sunday. The party workers from Haripur joined their
leader prompting the police to crack down on them ahead of the Chamba Bridge.
The
government had deployed 1,600 personnel of Riot Police at the entry and exit
points of Haripur, including Hazara Motorway, on Saturday evening and called
two Frontier Corps companies as reinforcement. Heavy contingents of police were
deployed at different places in Havelian.
The
Haripur police didn’t stop marchers in Jhari Kass and allowed the motorcade of
Allama Rizvi and workers accompanying him to move on.
A
police official claimed that the TLP workers were allowed to reach Chamba
Bridge at night under a ‘strategy’ to prevent damage to public life and
property as most of people went to bed and markets were closed.
He
said the police resorted to baton-charge and teargas firing only after the
frontline TLP workers attempted to remove barricades from the Chamba Bridge.
The
official claimed that the marchers retaliated by throwing stones at the police
by catapults and taking several policemen hostage.
He,
however, said the police personnel were released after the intervention of the
senior TLP leadership, which was unharmed in the police action.
In
a news release, the Abbottabad police insisted that 33 policemen, including
senior officers, were injured when they stopped the TLP’s workers from entering
Havelian’s limits despite a ban.
They
said they had arrested 34 TLP workers and registered cases against Mr Rizvi and
other TLP leaders and workers under sections 324, 436, 153-A, 353, 365, 188,
189, 147, 148, 149, 341, 427 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for kidnapping
policemen, damaging vehicles, motorcycles and property, and violating Section
144.
Source:
Dawn
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JUI-F
leaders blame Tehreek-i-Insaf govt for Swat unrest
October
18, 2022
SWAT:
The local leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl here on Monday said that the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was solely responsible for unrest in Swat.
They
were addressing a public meeting at Nishat Chowk here against the recent unrest
in Swat. JUI-F district head Maulana Fatahtullah, spokesman Dr Amjad, Maulana
Hujatullah, Syed Qamar, Qari Mehmood and others addressed the public meeting. A
large number of the party workers participated in the event.
The
speakers said that the poor policies of the provincial government and failed
negotiations with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan were main causes of unrest in Swat
as well as in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The
provincial government has lost its competence. Not only the law and order
situation has been disrupted but the entire governance system is in bad shape,”
they said.
The
speakers said that PTI former minister Murad Saeed was protesting in Islamabad
for the peace of Swat. “If he and his party workers have the guts, they should
come out for peace in their native region. Not only Swat but the entire
province is in turmoil,” they said. They added that people should be taken into
confidence about negotiations with TTP.
“We
have always raised our voice for the establishment of peace in Swat but the PTI
leaders are misleading people by giving a political colour to our voice for
peace,” they said.
About
the recently held official jirga, the speakers said that the district
administration must make public what had happened in the jirga. “Jirgas are
open for everyone but the official jirga was held in a closed-door hall,” they
added.
After
the public meeting, the JUI-F leaders and activists marched to Green Chowk.
Holding banners and placards, they chanted slogans for restoration of peace in
Swat.
Meanwhile,
Malakand Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said on Monday that unrest was
acceptable neither to people nor the institutions in the district.
He
expressed these views while addressing elders in Chupriyal area of Matta
tehsil. Regional Police Officer Zeeshan Asghar, Col Tallat Kamal, District
Police Officer Zahid Nawaz Marwat and Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail
Ahmed were also present on the occasion.
The
commissioner said that peace was restored in Swat after the sacrifices of the
people, police and army. He said that concrete measures were taken by the
institutions and the people of Swat would be taken into confidence about the
results.
He
said that jirgas would be held at tehsil level on law and order situation in
Swat. “Anti-peace elements will be given a befitting reply. Attempts to spread
anarchy will also be thwarted. The peaceful atmosphere of Swat will be
maintained,” he said.
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1715577/jui-f-leaders-blame-tehreek-i-insaf-govt-for-swat-unrest
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South
Asia
Muslim
World Should Build Relations With Kabul, Say Clerics in Turkey
October
18, 2022
Attendees
at the Union of Scholars and Madrasas (Ittihad'ul Ulema) meeting in Turkey
issued a statement calling on Islamic countries to extend cultural, political
and economic relations with Afghanistan.
The
statement said the role of Islamic countries is important in the recognition of
the Islamic Emirate, and religious scholars must encourage their countries’
businessmen to help Afghanistan.
Part
of the statement said “religious scholars from Islamic countries have to play a
great role to extend cultural, political and economic relations with
Afghanistan."
The
Islamic Emirate welcomed the statement of this meeting, with the spokesman for
Islamic Emirate saying that world religious scholars can be useful for the
recognition of the current government and in other areas.
"Those
religious scholars that have a major influence in their society accepted the
articles of the statement and we hope that with the support of these countries
we will form cultural and diplomatic relationships and solve economic
issues...and make progress in the country," said Bilal Karimi, deputy
spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
Political
analysts said that powerful countries have influence on many Islamic countries,
and Islamic countries don’t have an important role in the recognition of
Afghanistan.
"Countries,
if they are Muslim or non- Muslim, are under the influence of America, until
American recognizes Afghanistan's current government, no countries will do
that," said Janat Fahim Achakzai.
Source:
Tolo News
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https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-180343
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US
will not fund non-state actors in Afghanistan: Taliban sources
By
Osama Bin Javaid
17
Oct 2022
Doha,
Qatar – The United States has assured Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers that
Washington will not fund any armed groups or non-state actors in the country,
Taliban sources have told Al Jazeera.
The
assurances were welcomed by the Taliban as Tajik armed groups, which have been
backed by the West in the past, continue to challenge the group’s leadership –
even as it has managed to contain the Tajik-dominated National Resistance Front
and other groups aligned with the former Western-backed government since it
returned to power in August last year.
The
assurances were given during a meeting between US Department of State officials
and Taliban representatives in Doha earlier this month.
While
few details about the meeting in the Qatari capital are available, Taliban
sources told Al Jazeera its members met with members of a high level US
delegation, including CIA deputy director.
This
meeting was the first since July when the US said it killed al-Qaeda leader
Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone attack on his hiding place in Afghanistan’s
capital, Kabul.
Al-Zawahiri’s
presence in Afghanistan led the West to accuse the Taliban of violating the
2020 Doha Agreement, in which the Afghan group agreed not to provide safe haven
to al-Qaeda and other armed groups.
The
Taliban swept into power last year in a lightning offensive but violence by
armed groups such as ISIL affiliate ISKP has surged in recent months, posing a
security challenge to the group.
Taliban
reject US plan for Afghan assets
In
the meeting, the Taliban also conveyed its rejection of the US announcement
that it would transfer $3.5bn in frozen Afghan central bank assets into a
Swiss-based trust, according to the Taliban sources, who have knowledge about
the meetings.
Last
month, the Taliban said the US decision to put part of nearly $10bn in Afghan
assets – which it froze last August in an attempt to keep the Taliban from
accessing it – into trust was “unacceptable and a violation of international
norms”.
The
US announcement had said the fund will be managed by an international board of
trustees and used for debt payments, electricity, food, printing new currency
and other essential needs and services.
The
Afghan group has repeatedly called for the lifting of sanctions and the release
of frozen funds, including international aid that was suspended after the
Taliban takeover, to help its dying economy. Sanctions that had been placed on
the Taliban during their first period of rule that ended in 2001 came back into
force with them taking power last year.
The
Taliban’s isolation
More
than half of Afghanistan’s 39 million people need humanitarian help and six
million are at risk of famine, the United Nations said in August.
No
country has recognised the Taliban’s self-styled Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan, and its diplomatic and financial isolation has exacerbated the
humanitarian crisis in the country, which has suffered from decades of war,
including the last 20 years under US occupation.
The
international community has urged the Taliban to respect human rights,
including allowing girls access to schools and workplaces. But the group has
put in place increasing curbs on human rights, further angering the
international community and dashing any hopes of recognition.
However,
the revelations about the Doha meeting show the US continues to engage with the
Taliban despite the rift.
A
state department spokesperson confirmed the Doha meetings to Al Jazeera.
Source:
Al Jazeera
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Taliban
killed captives in restive Afghan province: Report
Oct
18, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Taliban captured, bound and shot to death 27 men in Afghanistan’s Panjshir
Valley last month during an offensive against resistance fighters in the area,
according to a report published on Tuesday, refuting the group’s earlier claims
that the men were killed in battle.
One
video of the killings verified by the report shows five men, blindfolded with
their hands tied behind their backs. Then, Taliban fighters spray them with
gunfire for 20 seconds and cry out in celebration.
The
investigation by Afghan Witness, an open-source project run by the UK-based
non-profit Center for Information Resilience, is a rare verification of
allegations that the Taliban have used brutal methods against opposition forces
and their supporters, its researchers said. Since taking power in August 2021,
the Taliban have imposed a tighter and harsher rule, even as they press for
international recognition of their government.
David
Osborn, the team leader of Afghan Witness, said the report gives the "most
clear-cut example" of the Taliban carrying out an "orchestrated
purge" of resistance fighters.
Afghan
Witness said it analyzed dozens of visual sources from social media — mostly
videos and photographs — to conclusively link one group of Taliban fighters to
the killings of 10 men in the Dara district of Panjshir, including the five
seen being mowed down in the video.
It
said it also confirmed 17 other extrajudicial killings from further images on
social media, all showing dead men with their hands tied behind their backs.
Videos and photos of Taliban fighters with the bodies aided geolocation and
chrono-location, also providing close-ups of the fighters at the scene. These
were cross-referenced with other videos suspected to feature the group.
"Using
open-source techniques we have established the facts around the summary and
systematic execution of a group of men in the Panjshir Valley in
mid-September," Osborn said. "At the time of their execution, the
detained were bound, posing no threat to their Taliban captors."
Enayatullah
Khawarazmi, the Taliban-appointed spokesman for the defence minister, said a
delegation is investigating the videos released on social media. He said he was
unable to give further details as the investigation is ongoing.
Zabihullah
Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban-run government, was not immediately
available for comment.
Last
month, Mujahid was reported as saying the Taliban had killed 40 resistance
fighters and captured more than 100 in Panjshir. He gave no details on how the
40 men died.
The
force fighting in the mountainous Panjshir Valley north of Kabul — a remote
region that has defied conquerors before — rose out of the last remnants of
Afghanistan’s shattered security forces. It has vowed to resist the Taliban
after they overran the country and seized power in August 2021.
Ali
Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations at the National Resistance Front for
Afghanistan, said, "The Taliban committed war crimes by killing POWs that
surrendered to them point blank and the videos are evidence of this."
Source:
Times Of India
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Afghanistan,
the new blank space for a triangle super-powers
By
Ahmad Marzee
17
Oct 2022
The
mountainous land in the heart of Asia known as Afghanistan has always remained
a major geo-political dispute among the superpowers. The great game (Tsar
Russia vs Britain), Cold-War (USSR/Russia vs America) and war on global
terrorism gained attention of these giant-fish to fight for supremacy,
domination and securing their strategic depth in this piece of land. But on the
other hand, the host nation (Afghanistan) escaped from above-mentioned disputes
with one self-salvage neck-name “the graveyard of empires”.
Out
of the above three scenarios, the best one goes back to the late 2001 when the
United States along with its NATO-partners swept up the Taliban and Al-Qaeda
fighters within a short span of time. The initial phase of the US and its
partners’ presence was not seen as a security threat by its two major rivals
such as Russia and China, because the US got the license from the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC)[1]. The removal of the Taliban from power was considered
the key turning point into the modern history of Afghanistan.
However,
the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan never felt comfortable with the
presence of America in the region. After the passage of time, Russia, China and
Iran had reviewed their national security strategies and looked for different
approaches in order to contain, restrict and make the US and its partners tired
to open a door for their exit from Afghanistan. After 20 years of longest ever
war in the history of America spending $ 2.26 trillion[2] and losing 2456
soldiers in battle against the Taliban, the US and Taliban reached an agreement
and made zero troop’s withdrawal[3] from Afghanistan.
The
contest of trio superpowers on securing their influence in Afghanistan
Following
the expeditious withdrawal of the US and its partners from Afghanistan on 31th
August 2021, a new version of blank space was created. China and Russia were
cautiously tracking the vacuum in Afghanistan, because both of them had their
diplomatic missions running active while other foreign diplomatic offices had
shut their doors in Afghanistan.
China,
one of the most powerful countries in the world in terms of formidable economy
and massive military status, already made an impression on the Taliban. In
addition to that, the cornerstone relationship of Pakistan with the Taliban has
put further value on diplomatic ties with China and the Taliban. China, as an
emerging superpower country in Asia, always pursues its so-called economic
domination by investing in other countries. Indeed, China wants to expand its
influence in Afghanistan through its non-interference approach. But in reality
China is eyeing Afghan’s mines and suppressing the Uyghori minorities[4] who
have been given shelter in Afghanistan.
On
the other hand, Russia is looking for a durable, trustful and sustainable
relationship[5] with the current regime of Kabul. However, the war on Ukraine
and the mild activities of ISK-P in some of the northern provinces of
Afghanistan has kept Russia in a think-tank room. Russia perceives that
probably its arch-rival (the US) is planning to trap it either in Afghanistan
or Ukraine. On the other hand, the weekly sending of dollars by the US to Kabul
and secret meetings of the US and the Taliban officials behind the closed doors
in Doha[6], have kept the other dots of the triangle (China and Russia) in
back-seats of the game.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-a-new-blank-space-among-the-triangle-super-powers-8875/
--------
UNAMA
Chief Meets Political and Administrative Deputies of Taliban PM
By
Saqalain Eqbal
17
Oct 2022
The
newly appointed Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva, met with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, and Mawlawi Abdul Salam
Hanafi, the Deputies of the Taliban Prime Minister in Political and
Administrative Affairs.
Roza
Otunbayeva, also the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in
Afghanistan, visited the senior Taliban officials, separately, on Sunday,
October 16.
According
to a statement from the UNAMA office, issues such as media rights, the
imperative of girls’ education, governance, and the crucial role that all
Afghans, including women, play in the nation’s reconstruction were discussed
with the top Taliban officials.
The
newly appointed UNAMA director reaffirmed the necessity for close collaboration
to prioritize the needs of the Afghan people and agreed to close collaboration
to address urgent issues Afghans face.
Otunbayeva,
who has only recently begun her mission, met with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi,
the Taliban’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, in which girls’
education was one of the focuses of the meeting.
For
more than a year, the Taliban has prohibited girls above the sixth grade from
getting an education and attending school.
Zabihullah
Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, recently reiterated
assurances that all girls will be able to attend school at a meeting in Turkey.
All
girls’ schools were supposed to open this year, as he had promised last year.
However, this promise was not held.
Mujahid
added that separate classes, curriculum arrangements, and a transportation
system are all currently being worked out by this group in preparation for the
opening of schools for all girls.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/unama-chief-meets-political-and-administrative-deputies-of-taliban-pm-48783/
--------
Report:
Taliban killed captives in restive Afghan province
October
18, 2022
ISLAMABAD,
Pakistan: The Taliban captured, bound and shot to death 27 men in Afghanistan’s
Panjshir Valley last month during an offensive against resistance fighters in
the area, according to a report published Tuesday, refuting the group’s earlier
claims that the men were killed in battle.
One
video of the killings verified by the report shows five men, blindfolded with
their hands tied behind their backs. Then, Taliban fighters spray them with
gunfire for 20 seconds and cry out in celebration.
The
investigation by Afghan Witness, an open-source project run by the UK-based
non-profit Center for Information Resilience, is a rare verification of
allegations that the Taliban have used brutal methods against opposition forces
and their supporters, its researchers said. Since taking power in August 2021,
the Taliban have imposed a tighter and harsher rule, even as they press for
international recognition of their government.
David
Osborn, the team leader of Afghan Witness, said the report gives the ”most
clear-cut example” of the Taliban carrying out an “orchestrated purge” of
resistance fighters.
Afghan
Witness said it analyzed dozens of visual sources from social media — mostly
videos and photographs — to conclusively link one group of Taliban fighters to
the killings of 10 men in the Dara District of Panjshir, including the five
seen being mowed down in the video.
It
said it also confirmed 17 other extrajudicial killings from further images on
social media, all showing dead men with their hands tied behind their backs.
Videos and photos of Taliban fighters with the bodies aided geolocation and
chrono-location, also providing close-ups of the fighters at the scene. These
were cross-referenced with other videos suspected to feature the group.
“Using
open-source techniques we have established the facts around the summary and
systematic execution of a group of men in the Panjshir Valley in
mid-September,” Osborn said. “At the time of their execution, the detained were
bound, posing no threat to their Taliban captors.”
Enayatullah
Khawarazmi, the Taliban-appointed spokesman for the defense minister, said a
delegation is investigating the videos released on social media. He said he was
unable to give further details as the investigation is ongoing.
Zabihullah
Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban-run government, was not immediately
available for comment.
Last
month, Mujahid was reported as saying the Taliban had killed 40 resistance
fighters and captured more than 100 in Panjshir. He gave no details on how the
40 men died.
The
force fighting in the mountainous Panjshir Valley north of Kabul — a remote
region that has defied conquerors before — rose out of the last remnants of
Afghanistan’s shattered security forces. It has vowed to resist the Taliban
after they overran the country and seized power in August 2021.
Ali
Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations at the National Resistance Front for
Afghanistan, said: “The Taliban committed war crimes by killing POWs that surrendered
to them point blank and the videos are evidence of this.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2183051/world
--------
Europe
Australia
reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital
Oct
18, 2022
SYDNEY:
Australia on Tuesday reversed a decision of the previous government to
recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying the status of the
city should be resolved through peace negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinian people.
Foreign
Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Australia "will always be a steadfast
friend of Israel" and was committed to a two-state solution in which
Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace within internationally
recognised borders.
The
government "recommits Australia to international efforts in the
responsible pursuit of progress towards a just and enduring two-state
solution," she said in a statement.
Previous
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had reversed decades of Middle East policy in
December 2018 by saying Australia recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel but would not move its embassy there immediately.
Former
United States President Donald Trump had recognised Jerusalem as the capital a
year earlier.
Wong
told reporters Morrison's 2018 decision "put Australia out of step with
the majority of the international community", and was met with concern by
Muslim-majority neighbour Indonesia.
"I
regret that Mr Morrison’s decision to play politics resulted in Australia’s
shifting position, and the distress these shifts have caused to many people in
the Australian community who care deeply about this issue," she said.
Morrison
had flagged moving the embassy from Tel Aviv in 2018 just days before a
by-election in a Sydney electorate with a strong Jewish representation, which
his Liberal party nonetheless lost.
The
Guardian first reported a change to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
website to remove language describing west Jerusalem as the capital on Monday.
Wong
said the decision was made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Cabinet on
Tuesday.
Morrison's
Liberal-led coalition lost a national election in May, returning a Labor
government for the first time in nine years.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
accuses Iran of lying over use of its drones in Ukraine
October
17, 2022
WASHINGTON
D.C.: The US agrees with British and French assessments that Iran supplying
drones to Russia would violate a UN Security Council resolution that endorsed
the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers, US State Department
spokesman Vedant Patel said on Monday.
“Earlier
today our French and British allies publicly offered the assessment that Iran’s
supply of these UAVs (for) Russia is a violation of UN Security Council
resolution 2231,” Patel told reporters, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), or drones. “This is something that we agree with.”
Ukraine
has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in
recent weeks. Iran denies supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has
not commented.
The
State Department assessed that Iranian drones were used on Monday in a morning
rush hour attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an official said. White House
spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre also accused Tehran of lying when it says
Iranian drones are not being used by Russia in Ukraine.
Resolution
2231 endorsed the deal between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia
and the United States that limited Tehran’s uranium enrichment activity, making
it harder for Iran to develop nuclear arms while lifting international
sanctions.
Under
the resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October
2020. Despite US efforts under former president Donald Trump, who took the
United States out of the deal in 2018, to extend the arms embargo, the Security
Council rejected this, paving the way for Iran to resume arms exports.
However,
Western diplomats said the resolution still includes restrictions on missiles
and related technologies that last until October 2023 and that encompass the
export and purchase of advanced military systems such as drones.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2182806/world
--------
Germany
launches new program to help at-risk Afghans
October
17, 2022
BERLIN:
The German government said Monday that it is launching a new program to help to
bring about 1,000 people who are at risk of persecution in Afghanistan to
Germany each month.
The
program is part of an agreement between the three governing parties. It
provides a formal structure for the way German authorities were already handling
applications from Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover last year.
Officials
said the program is aimed at Afghan citizens who are at risk because of their
work for women’s and human rights. Also eligible are journalists, scientists,
political activists, judges, educators and those persecuted for their gender or
religion.
Germany
has given refuge to about 26,000 people from Afghanistan since August 2021.
Many of those had previously worked for the German military or police during
their deployment in Afghanistan.
Foreign
Minister Annalena Baerbock said the new humanitarian relocation program is
intended to give those persecuted by the Taliban “the chance of a free,
self-determined and secure life.”
She
acknowledged that it would be a “mammoth task” to implement the program,
including safely getting applicants from Afghanistan to Germany.
“But
we won’t let up,” she said.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2182686/world
--------
Mideast
Israel
approves construction of hundreds of new settler units in northern al-Quds
17
October 2022
In
flagrant defiance of international outcry against settlement expansion and land
grab policies in occupied Palestinian territories, Israeli authorities have
approved plans for the construction of hundreds of new settler units in the
northern part of al-Quds.
The
official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the so-called al-Quds Local
Planning and Building Committee on Monday gave the green light for plans to
build the units on Palestinian-owned lands in Shuafat camp, Beit Hanina
neighborhood, Beit Safafa town, al-Walaja village, Ein Karem neighborhood as
well as Lifta village, and in the illegal settlements of Gilo, Kiryat
Menachem, Kochav Yaakov, Ramot, Ramat
Shlomo and Pisgat Ze'ev.
The
plan aims to make radical changes to the infrastructure in the settlements,
linking them to Israel's so-called Greater al-Quds Project and the light rail
system.
Khalil
Al-Tafkaji, a Palestinian expert specializing in settlement affairs and
director of the map department at the Arab Studies Association, said the
Israeli project aims to reshape al-Quds with settlement projects so the city will
have a completely different panoramic and demographic landscape by the year
2050.
Emboldened
by former US president Donald Trump’s all-out support, Israel has stepped up
its illegal settlement construction activities in defiance of United Nations
Security Council Resolution 2334, which pronounced settlements in the West Bank
and East Jerusalem al-Quds “a flagrant violation under international law.”
Much
of the international community regards the Israeli settler units in the
occupied lands as illegal.
More
than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli
occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.
All
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security
Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied
territories in several resolutions.
Palestinians
want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East Jerusalem
al-Quds as its capital.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Israeli
PM slams Australia’s reversal of Jerusalem as capital
October
18, 2022
JERUSALEM:
Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid today sharply criticised Australia’s decision
to stop recognising west Jerusalem as his country’s capital, reversing a
decision by a previous right-wing government.
Lapid
described the move as a “hasty response,” adding: “We can only hope that the
Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”
“Jerusalem
is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that,”
the prime minister added in a statement released by his office.
The
Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Australian ambassador to
lodge a formal protest.
Announcing
the change of policy by Australia’s centre-left government, foreign minister
Penny Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between
Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.
“We
will not support an approach that undermines” a two-state solution, she said,
adding: “Australia’s embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv.”
In
2018 a conservative government led by Scott Morrison followed then US president
Donald Trump’s lead in naming west Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The
move caused a domestic backlash in Australia and caused friction with
neighbouring Indonesia – the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation –
temporarily derailing a free trade deal.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
IRGC
Commander Warns S. Arabia Against Meddling in Iran's Affairs
2022-October-17
The
IRGC chief has issued a stern warning against Saudi Arabia over its media
campaign that has been stoking tensions in the recent unrest in Iran.
“We
defend our vital interests under any circumstances. We emphasize that our
neighbors should behave non-aggressively according to political logic as well
as international and legal law,” Maj. Gen. Salami noted on Monday.
The
senior commander warned Riyadh to stop interfering in Iran’s internal affairs
through a smear campaign launched by its media, stressing, “I warn the Al Saud
regime to control your media or it will backfire on you.”
The
remarks came as Saudi-sponsored media have stepped up their rhetoric against
Iran amid the recent unrest in several Iranian cities following the death of a
young Iranian woman.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a
22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police station in mid-September and
days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The demonstrations soon turned
violent. A special committee has been established to investigate different
aspects of her tragic death.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
Supreme
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured
the deadly riots, saying they were orchestrated in advance by the United States
and the Israeli regime.
“I
state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist
regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent
Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong
during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in
the future,” he added.
In
recent days, Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the European
Unions (EU), and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal affairs
over the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Israel
PM slams Australia’s decision to stop recognizing Jerusalem as its capital
18
October, 2022
Israeli
Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday sharply criticized Australia’s decision to
stop recognizing west Jerusalem as his country’s capital, reversing a decision
by a previous right-wing government.
Lapid
described the move as a “hasty response,” adding: “We can only hope that the
Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”
“Jerusalem
is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that,”
the prime minister added in a statement released by his office.
The
Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Australian ambassador to
lodge a formal protest.
Announcing
the change of policy by Australia’s center-left government, Foreign Minister
Penny Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between
Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.
“We
will not support an approach that undermines” a two-state solution, she said,
adding: “Australia’s embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv.”
In
2018 a conservative government led by Scott Morrison followed then US president
Donald Trump’s lead in naming west Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The
move caused a domestic backlash in Australia and caused friction with
neighboring Indonesia -- the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation --
temporarily derailing a free trade deal.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Australia
reverses recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital
18 October,
2022
Australia
said Tuesday it would no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital,
reversing a contentious decision by the previous conservative government.
Foreign
Minister Penny Wong said the city's status should be decided through peace
talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.
“We
will not support an approach that undermines (a two-state solution), she said,
adding: “Australia's embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv”.
A
conservative government led by Scott Morrison faced a widespread domestic
backlash for its 2018 decision to follow US president Donald Trump in naming
West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
“I
know this has caused conflict and distress in part of the Australian community,
and today the government seeks to resolve that,” Wong said.
She
accused the Morrison government of being motivated by a crucial by-election in
a beach-side Sydney suburb with a sizable Jewish community.
“You
know what this was? This was a cynical play, unsuccessful, to win the seat of
Wentworth and a by-election.”
The
2018 decision also caused consternation in neighboring Indonesia -- the world's
most populous Muslim-majority country -- temporarily derailing a free trade
deal.
Jerusalem
is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.
Most
foreign nations avoid locating embassies in the city for fear of prejudging
peace talks on the city's final status.
Israel
occupied Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day war and later annexed it,
declaring the entire city its “eternal and indivisible capital.”
Palestinians
claim the eastern part as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Wong
insisted that the decision did not signal any hostility to Israel.
“Australia
will always be a steadfast friend of Israel. We were amongst the first
countries to formally recognize Israel,” she said.
“We
will not waver in our support of Israel and the Jewish community in Australia.
We are equally unwavering in our support of the Palestinian people, including
humanitarian support.”
Canberra's
decision is unlikely to come as surprise to the Israeli government.
The
policy reversal was foreshadowed by the removal of language on the Israeli
capital on the website of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UN
urges Iran to end killing, detention of children
Peter
Kenny
17.10.2022
Iranian
security forces have reportedly killed at least 23 children, while hundreds
more have been injured, detained, and tortured during recent peaceful protests,
the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said on Monday.
The
UN agency said it “strongly condemns the grave violations of the rights of the
child that are taking place in Iran in the context of peaceful protests
following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.”
Amini,
22, died after being detained by Iran’s morality police in the capital Tehran
on Sept. 13 for allegedly wearing her hijab head covering improperly.
Her
death has triggered a wave of angry protests in Iran, with protesters calling
for justice and accountability.
Authorities
have sought to pin blame on her death on a heart attack, but her family and
many others in Iran have rejected the claim, saying she was the victim of
police brutality.
In
a statement, the UN agency cited reports that some children were shot with live
ammunition, while others died due to beatings.
It
said many families reported that they were pressured to absolve security forces
by declaring that their children died by suicide or other false confessions.
“The
Committee is also deeply concerned at reports that children have been arrested
in schools and detained together with adults, and that some have been subjected
to acts of torture,” read the statement.
Correction
centers
The
UN committee expressed concern over an Oct. 12 announcement by the Iranian
government that arrested children were being transferred to psychological
centers for correction and education.
“We
strongly urge Iran to comply with its international human rights obligations,
particularly those under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This begins
with the fundamental obligation to protect children's right to life under any
circumstances,” said the UN body.
It
reiterated that Iran must respect and protect children’s rights to freedom of
expression and peaceful protest.
“Many
children, including many girls, are protesting to make their opinions known on
issues that matter to them,” said the committee.
“Grave
violations of children’s rights in Iran need to be thoroughly investigated by
competent, independent, and impartial authorities and those responsible
prosecuted.”
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-urges-iran-to-end-killing-detention-of-children/2713944
--------
Hamas
calls on UN to take ‘effective and urgent’ action to stop Israeli aggression in
occupied West Bank
17
October 2022
The
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called on the United Nations to take
“effective and urgent” action to stop the Israeli regime’s crimes and
atrocities against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
A
resistance movement’s spokesman, Jihad Taha, made the plea in a press statement
on Monday, saying the UN was required to take an effective and urgent action to
stop the Zionist aggression against Palestinian people in the occupied West
Bank, and to halt the occupation’s siege and closure of the entrances to cities
and towns. The spokesperson said the regime was imposing a policy of collective
punishment on hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, in flagrant violation of
the most basic standards of international law.
Appreciating
the efforts of the UN envoy, Tor Wencesland, to stop the Israeli regime’s
aggression against Palestinians, Taha said, “We call on him to condemn and
criminalize these violations… and to hold the occupation leaders accountable
for their continuous violations against our people, our land and our holy
sites.”
Tensions
have been running high across the occupied Palestinian territories over the
past months.
In
late September, Israeli right-wing groups called for the storming of al-Aqsa
Mosque in the occupied Old City of al-Quds so as to increase Jewish presence at
the holy site as Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
The
extremist right-wing groups have openly called for turning al-Aqsa into a
Jewish worship area and tearing down the Islamic shrines in order to build a
Jewish temple on the location.
Moreover,
Israeli forces have recently been conducting overnight raids and killings in
the northern occupied West Bank, mainly in the cities of Jenin and Nablus,
where new groups of Palestinian resistance fighters have been formed.
At
least 171 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the
Israeli-occupied territories since the start of the year, including 51 in the
besieged Gaza Strip during Israel’s three-day onslaught in August.
‘5,300
Palestinians detained since January’
The
Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) announced on Monday that the Tel Aviv
regime had detained 5,300 Palestinians since the start of the year, including
111 women, 620 minors, and 1,610 without trial or charge.
The
PPS said the highest number of detentions was recorded in the occupied al-Quds
with 2,353 people, and the highest rate was in April with 1,228.
“The
Israeli soldiers raid cities, towns and refugee camps to detain activists, many
Palestinians were killed in the process by army bullets, making the number of
field executions this year the highest compared to the past few years, not to
mention imposing collective punishment on entire towns and refugee camps,”
Palestine’s official Wafa news agency cited the PPS as saying.
The
Palestinian Prisoner's Society added that the occupation forces have
intentionally caused heavy damage and material loss during the raids of the
homes of the families of the detainees this year, which is considered higher
than the previous years.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North
America
US
imposes sanctions on key al-Shabaab terrorist financiers
Mohammed
Dhaysane
17.10.2022
The
US on Monday announced that it had designated al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group
al-Shabaab's financial facilitators, weapons smugglers for the group and
recruitment.
The
individuals who were sanctioned include Khalif Adale, Abdullahi Jeeri and
Abdikarim Hussein Gagaal while others were designated for working as al-Shabaab
weapons traffickers, according to a Treasury statement.
The
statement said as of late 2021, Jeeri smuggled weapons for al-Shabaab and he is
head of weapons procurement and has acquired weapons for al-Shabaab from both
local markets and foreign suppliers, primarily in Yemen.
Khalif
Adale, has served as al-Shabaab's finance leader for collecting money from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and has reported directly to al-Shabaab's
emir Ahmed Diriye, who was designated as a Specially Designated Global
Terrorist, according to the statement.
The
US also offered $5M reward for information on Hassan Afgoye, a key al-Shabaab
leader.
The
US said these individuals hold leadership roles within al-Shabaab and act as
key interlocutors between the group and local companies in Somalia.
“This
network has engaged in weapons procurement, financial facilitation, and
recruitment activities for al-Shabaab. In addition to being leaders within
al-Shabaab, these facilitators have had direct contact with other previously
designated al-Shabaab officials,” the Treasury Department said in the
statement.
It
noted that the terrorist group which has been fighting against Somali
government and AU peacekeepers in the country since 2007 are generating around
$100M every year through multiple funding streams.
The
US said it is focusing on identifying and disrupting al-Shabaab's illicit
networks operating in Eastern Africa.
"We
will continue to take action against the weapons smuggling and fundraising
activities of al-Shabaab and other al-Qa'ida affiliates," said the US
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian
Nelson.
The
group's main revenue comes from forced extortions imposed on Somali businesses
and the group also collects money it called “Zakaat” from local population in
areas that the group controls, according to Ahmed Mohamed, a Mogadishu-based
economist who spoke to Anadolu Agency over the phone after the sanctions were
announced.
The
group's revenue has also supported al-Shabaab's capacity, capabilities leadership,
and attacks on Somali citizens, according to the US Treasury Department.
Somalia
has been grappling with increasing insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab being
one of the main threats in the Horn of Africa country.
Since
at least 2007, al-Shabaab has waged a deadly campaign against the Somali
government and international forces that has claimed thousands of lives.
The
United Nations has also warned of growing instability in the country, with its
periodic reports on Somalia this year detailing attacks by al-Shabaab and
pro-Daesh/ISIS groups.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Abdullahi
Ahmed Abdullahi gets 20-year sentence for recruiting Islamic State fighters
October
17, 2022
A
Canadian national who lived in southern California was sentenced to 20 years in
U.S. prison on Monday for helping at least a half-dozen Canadians and Americans
join the Islamic State group in Syria in 2013 and 2014 — including the first
known American to die fighting for the militant organization.
Abdullahi
Ahmed Abdullahi directly funded “violent acts of terrorism,” including the
kidnapping and killing of people in Syria, said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in
a statement.
Abdullahi
acknowledged in a plea agreement that he helped a resident of San Diego,
Douglas McAuthur McCain, join IS. McCain was killed in Syria while fighting
alongside IS fighters against Syrian opposition forces in 2014.
Prosecutors
also said Abdullahi provided money to send an 18-year-old cousin from
Minneapolis, Minn., to join IS fighters in Syria, as well as three other
cousins from Edmonton.
The
men all died in combat, according to the U.S. government.
Abdullahi
was detained by Canadian authorities in 2017 and extradited to the U.S. two
years later. He pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists in
2021.
He
also admitted to robbing an Edmonton jewelry store in January 2014 to raise
money to fund the foreign fighters. Weeks after committing that robbery,
Abdullahi sent money to McCain so he could go to Syria.
McCain’s
brother, Marchello McCain, was sentenced in 2018 to 10 years in U.S. federal
prison for making false statements during several interviews with federal
agents from 2014 to 2015, including denying knowing that his brother planned to
fight for IS. He told the FBI that he thought his brother was going to Turkey
to play music and teach English.
The
U.S. announced earlier this month it killed three IS leaders in two separate
operations, including a rare ground raid in a part of northeast Syria under
government control.
Source:
Global News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9205819/abdullahi-ahmed-abdullahi-sentenced-islamic-state/
--------
Muslims
removed from 'no-fly list' after filing lawsuits
17
October 2022
Muslims
who challenged the constitutionality of the "no-fly list" were
removed from it after they sued the government, prompting concerns that the
programme wants to evade legal scrutiny.
“The
government removes people from their secret lists only when they fear that a court
might impose restraint on their lawlessness,” Gadeir Abbas, an attorney with
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), told the Washington Post.
“If
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has its way, delisting a person will
become a kind of cheat code the federal government can use to deny people their
day in court.”
The
no-fly list is a small subset of the US government Terrorist Screening
Database, which is also known as the terrorist watchlist. The list is said to
contain identifying information of “known or suspected terrorists”. The FBI’s
Terrorist Screening Center maintains the database.
In
2015, the US Justice Department said Americans could find out whether or not
their names appear on the list.
As
part of a lawsuit filed in Oregon by the American Civil Liberties Union, a
federal judge ruled in 2015 that the "government’s lack of effective
procedures for people to challenge their inclusion on the controversial list
was unconstitutional", the Post reported.
Since
September 11, hundreds of Muslims have been placed on this list. Cair has seen
eight such cases of those who were removed from the list once they sued the
federal government - making it impossible for the court to hear their concerns.
According
to the Washington Post, Saadiq Long, a Muslim convert and veteran, was
strip-searched at an Amsterdam airport, arrested in Turkey, banned from two
Persian Gulf states, and fired from a trucking company. This took place in a
span of nine years. And when he believed it was because of being placed on the
no-fly list, he filed a lawsuit in Virginia. In 2019, when the lawsuit was
moving forward, he was notified that he had been removed from the list.
Middle
East Eye reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI for
comment but neither provided one. The FBI said they were declining to comment.
Suing
for violation of religious freedom
Muslims
have long fought against the use of the no-fly list, as it deprives people of
their ability to travel without presenting evidence against them.
In
2020, the US Supreme Court ruled that Muslim Americans who were placed on the
FBI's no-fly list after refusing to spy on their communities were allowed to
sue individual FBI agents - who allegedly violated their religious freedom -
for monetary compensation and damages.
In
a unanimous decision, the court ruled in favour of lead plaintiff Muhammad
Tanvir, a legal permanent resident of New York from Pakistan, who refused to
spy on his Muslim community and was put on a travel blacklist as a result.
Source:
Middle East Eye
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/muslims-removed-from-no-fly-list-after-filing-lawsuits
--------
US
senators seek immigration protection for Pakistani migrants
Anwar
Iqbal
October
18, 2022
WASHINGTON:
A growing number of US lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to grant
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Pakistani nationals currently residing in
the US due to this year’s unprecedented floods.
Implementing
TPS would allow Pakistani nationals to remain in the US.
Two
democratic senators — Diane Feinstein of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of
New York — initiated the move late last month by drafting a letter to US
President Joe Biden, urging him to grant the TPS status.
Since
then, other lawmakers have also backed the move. Those who have signed the
letter are: Senators Patty Murray, Dick Durbin, Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker,
Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Bob Casey, and
Tina Smith.
Almost
all of them are senior senators and some also head powerful Senate committees.
In
a statement issued with the letter, the senators argued that this year’s floods
and rains have left one-third of Pakistan underwater and affected approximately
33 million people. They also pointed out that the ongoing crisis has left many
regions uninhabitable and unsafe and also caused an estimated damage of $10
billion.
Another
major threat, they wrote, was the spread of waterborne illnesses, including
diarrhoea, malaria, acute respiratory infections, skin and eye infections, and
typhoid.
“Granting
TPS to Pakistani nationals in need is a small but consequential step that the
United States can take to immediately reduce the human suffering caused by this
natural disaster and would reaffirm our stance as a global leader committed to
humanitarian relief efforts and protections,” the senators wrote.
“Should
Pakistan officially request TPS designation given the current conditions the
country is facing, we urge the Biden administration to prioritise such a request
while continuing to monitor ongoing developments and deliberate on the best way
to aid the Pakistani community.”
The
move is supported by several humanitarian groups such as the National
Immigration Forum, Asian American Federation, the Climate Justice Collaborative
at the National Partnership for New Americans, Communities United for Status
and Protection and South Asian Americans Leading Together.
“Given
the severity of this crisis, the United States must ensure that Pakistani
nationals present in the United States are not forced to return to conditions
that could imperil their lives,” the senators wrote in the letter.
They
argued the current conditions in Pakistan represented an ongoing environmental
disaster – one of the statutory bases for TPS designation.
The
letter stated that tens of thousands had already been stricken by diarrhoea,
malaria, acute respiratory infections, skin and eye infections, typhoid, and
other health issues resulting from contamination of the water supply.
“While
we applaud your Administration’s decision to provide a much needed $30m in
humanitarian assistance and dispatch a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team,
further action is needed to mitigate the harmful effects of this crisis,” the
letter stated.
They
argued that forcing Pakistanis to return to a country experiencing what UN
Secretary-General António Guterres has called a relentless impact of ‘epochal’
levels of rain and flooding would be a grievous obstruction to relief efforts.
It
would also risk fueling further displacement, destabilising the region, and
undermining key US national security interests, they added.
They
argued that the use and implementation of TPS as a humanitarian tool would
provide necessary relief to individuals that are unable to return to their country
due to the extraordinary environmental and public health conditions.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715629/us-senators-seek-immigration-protection-for-pakistani-migrants
--------
Haiti’s
gang violence has people living in regime of terror
Laura
Gamba
18.10.2022
BOGOTA,
Colombia
Louis*,
22, recalls the day a gang of criminals stopped his bus on his way home a year
ago.
He
took the bus in Delmas, in the Western Department of Haiti, to get home after
work to Carrefour, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood, when members of an armed gang
stopped his bus as it passed through Martissant, a gang stronghold.
“The
gangs stopped the bus, made us get out, and stole things from us,” Louis said.
“I didn't know what they were going to do to us.”
Hours
later, they were allowed to continue with their journey.
“I
knew the road was dangerous because sometimes I heard gunshots but I used to
take the risk,” he said. “I lived with the fear of going to the streets, but
when that happened to me, I just started to be fearful of everything,” he
added.
Thousands
of Haitians, like Louis, are caught in the crossfire between rival gangs that
control large parts of the country.
Large
swathes controlled by gangs
Pedro
Braum, program coordinator of the Rio de Janeiro-based NGO Viva Rio in Haiti,
estimates that more or less 70% of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area is now
controlled by gangs.
“The
Haitian state has no capacity, no governance, so police and state institutions
cannot enter the neighborhoods to enforce order,” says the representative of
the nongovernmental organization that has been combating poverty and violence
in the Caribbean nation since 2004.
The
two gangs fighting for territory are the "G9 and Family" and its
rival, G-PEP. Braum says gangs have political aspirations and each one of them
is linked to different political parties.
“They
not only control huge portions of the territory, but they also fight each other
for the monopoly of extortion resources and political influence,” Braum told
Anadolu Agency.
A
report published by Doctors Without Borders revealed that thousands of Haitians
are trapped by the violence, unable to leave their homes, and with no access to
water, food, fuel, education, or healthcare, just as the country confirms a new
cholera outbreak.
The
escalating violence already left hundreds of people dead in the country and
drove thousands of people to flee their homes.
“Whoever
has the capacity to leave the country, is leaving,” says Louis.
Call
for int'l support
The
UN released a report on Friday accusing the country’s gangs of using rape as a
tool of intimidation and control and kidnappings continue to soar.
In
response to the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation
there, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has asked the international community for
military assistance to address the actions of criminal gangs.
The
US has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution proposing “the
immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force” to Haiti and US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced that the US will “increase and
deploy” security assistance to the Haitian National Police to “strengthen their
capacity to counter gangs.”
The
situation in Haiti has worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel
Moise a year ago, which left a political vacuum that has plunged Haitians into
deep uncertainty about the future.
“We
are seeing a whole generation of young men who could have been the change that
the country needs, but now they are looking for guns to survive,” says Braum.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Arab
World
Islamic
State claims over 125 people killed in Syrian operations in 2 months
Khaled
al-Khateb
October
17, 2022
ALEPPO,
Syria — In the weekly issue of the Islamic State's (IS) al-Nabaa newspaper on
Oct. 7, IS announced that its cells carried out 59 military operations in the
span of 68 days, from Aug. 1 through Oct. 5.
The
operations caused the death of 103 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic
Forces (SDF) and 19 soldiers of the Syrian government forces, according to
al-Nabaa.
Deir
ez-Zor province in eastern Syria had the largest share of IS operations in the
past two months with 30 attacks, including shootings, explosive devices,
ambushes and two car bombs, which caused the destruction of 34 military
vehicles across the province, according to IS’ newspaper.
Zain
al-Akaidi, a journalist based in the Kurdish-controlled Deir ez-Zor
countryside, told Al-Monitor that “IS focused its attacks on Kurdish areas in
the Deir ez-Zor countryside.”
“This
is because of several reasons, mainly the weak security services of the Kurds
and the rampant corruption and violations within Deir ez-Zor’s military council
of the SDF headed by Ahmad al-Khabil,” he said.
“This
is not to mention the widespread presence of IS cells in several locations in
Deir ez-Zor, which is open to the Syrian desert. Also, IS operatives move
around easily in the area as they are supported by local tribes that provide
the group’s members with protection and support to keep targeting the
SDF," Akaidi added.
IS'
Oct. 7 announcement came in the aftermath of the killing of one of the group’s
fighters in a US drone strike in the village of Hammam al-Turkman in northeast
Syria on Oct. 10.
Earlier
on Oct. 6, the US military announced the killing of three IS officials in
separate operations in northeast Syria.
“The
recent US-led coalition’s operations that targeted prominent IS leaders were
meant to limit the group’s activities, but they didn't bring them to a halt. IS
cells, notably in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, are capable of finding new
replacements for their leaders who were considered the masterminds behind the
group’s activities,” Akaidi said.
Anas
Shawakh, a researcher at the Istanbul-based Jusoor Center for Studies, told
Al-Monitor, “The announced number of attacks and operations bears several
indications. IS is trying to convey a message that it has avenged its partisans
in the al-Hol camp, which was [recently] subject to a security campaign
launched by the SDF in cooperation with the US-led coalition.”
“IS
also wants to say that the group is still strong and its cells continue to be
active despite the killing of their leaders. It was also noted that the group
used car bombs over the past two months, which is an indication of the ease and
escalation of its activities, with its members moving easily and intensifying
threats against the Kurdish forces,” Shawakh added.
Source:
Al Monitor
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Argentina
requests arrest in Qatar of senior Iranian official
18 October,
2022
Argentina
on Monday called on Qatar to arrest a visiting Iranian vice president over his
alleged responsibility for the deadly 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish
center.
Iran's
vice president for economic affairs, Mohsen Rezai, is wanted by Argentinian
special prosecutors for alleged participation in the planning of the July 18,
1994 bomb attack against the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, or AMIA,
which killed 85 people and wounded 300.
Special
prosecutors submitted a petition to Argentina's foreign ministry calling for
all appropriate diplomatic levers to be pulled, noting an outstanding Interpol
red alert against Rezai as well as newspaper clippings mentioning his visit to
Qatar, according to the official Telam news agency.
A
diplomatic source told AFP that the foreign ministry had granted the special
prosecutor's request after confirming Rezai's presence in the Gulf country.
The
ministry “requested the collaboration of Interpol for the arrest,” while
Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero “instructed the Argentine ambassador in
Doha... to communicate urgently with the Qatari Foreign Ministry and report on
the situation,” the diplomatic source told AFP.
Last
January, the Argentine government voiced its anger at Rezai's presence during
the inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, and had also condemned
the Iranian's appointment as vice president in August 2021.
The
government of President Alberto Fernandez said at the time that the appointment
constituted “an affront to Argentine justice and to the victims of the brutal
terrorist attack against the AMIA.”
Rezai,
who was commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps at the time of the
attack, is part of a group of high-ranking Iranian officials accused by
Argentina of masterminding the attack on the Jewish center.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UAE
rejects ‘racist statement’ by EU’s Josep Borrell, summons diplomat: WAM
18
October, 2022
The
United Arab Emirates said late on Monday that it rejects a “racist statement”
by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the inauguration of the new
European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges, Belgium, calling his remarks
“inappropriate and discriminatory,” UAE state news agency (WAM) reported.
The
foreign ministry summoned the acting head of the mission at the EU delegation
to the UAE. The ministry asked Borrell’s office to provide a written
explanation of what is described as “hurtful comments,” WAM added.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iraq’s
new president hopes for quick government formation
Yakut
Dandashi
17.10.2022
BAGHDAD
New
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Monday voiced hope for a quick formation
of the country’s new government.
“We
hope that the new government will be formed quickly to meet the demands of the
Iraqis,” he said in a swearing-in ceremony attended by government officials and
politicians in the capital Baghdad.
Rashid
vowed to work “to protect the constitution and solve the country’s problems.”
Rashid
was elected as Iraq’s new president on Thursday by Iraqi lawmakers after
securing 162 votes against 99 votes for his predecessor Barham Salih.
Iraqi
parties have been unable to agree on the formation of the country’s new
government since last year’s general elections.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Kuwaiti
crown prince warns parliament ‘public will hold them to account’
MARIA
BOTROS & SHEROUK MAHER
October
18, 2022
DUBAI:
Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has urged the
people of his country to monitor the performance of parliamentarians and to
‘hold them accountable’ in his opening speech during the country’s 17th
National Assembly on Tuesday.
Sheikh
Mishal added that parliament members should fulfill the promises they make, and
he vowed to follow up on work involving the strategic plan before parliament.
The
Crown Prince directed politicians to respect the constitutional powers of the
Emir and added that opposition weakened the government.
“Do
not listen to the voices of division who want to break up national unity,” said
Sheikh Mishal.
An
Amiri decree was published on Oct. 9 calling on the parliament to convene in
the wake of the legislative elections, which took place on Sept. 29.
Almost
796,000 Kuwaitis were eligible to vote for the members of the country’s
parliament from a pool of 305 candidates, as reported by state agency KUNA.
Elections
were held after the previous parliament was dissolved in August due to
“practices and actions that threaten national unity,” said Sheikh Mishal.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2183121/middle-east
--------
American
officials not invited to upcoming Saudi investment conference
17
October 2022
An
upcoming Saudi investment conference has not invited US officials as a rift is
widening between Washington and Riyadh, which appears to be gravitating toward
Russia amid a worsening energy crisis in the West.
Saudi
Arabia will host the Future Investment Initiative (FII), a three-day conference
set to begin on October 25 in the capital Riyadh, but the forum’s organizer
said that unlike previous years, US officials were not invited to the upcoming
event.
Richard
Attias, CEO of the group behind the event, announced on Monday that his group
“didn't invite any US government" figures, arguing that he did not want
the gathering “to become a political platform.”
“We
are not inviting too many politicians... because I realized that when you have
political leaders on stage, the attention of the media, let's be very frank, is
diverted to the political agenda, and we don't want FII to become a political
platform,” he added.
Attias
said that FII - often referred to as “Davos in the Desert” - typically draws
Wall Street titans and high-ranking officials from around the world, and up to
400 American CEOs are expected to participate this year.
The
decision in not inviting US officials to the conference comes as tensions are
growing between longtime partners Washington and Riyadh over the Saudi-led
OPEC+ cartel’s recent vote to reduce oil production over Washington's
objections.
Washington
has become the world’s top supporter of Ukraine against Russia, after Moscow
launched a military offensive in the former Soviet republic in February.
Furthermore,
the US, along with its European allies, imposed waves of unprecedented
sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
The
White House has recently accused Riyadh of aligning itself with Moscow by
cutting oil production to drive up crude prices. The allegations, however, were
rejected by the Saudi kingdom in recent days, insisting it was purely a
business decision.
On
Sunday night, the Saudi King said in a live speech that his country was
“working hard, within its energy strategy, to support the stability and balance
of global oil markets.”
The
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+), which
includes the 13 OPEC nations and 11 non-members including Russia, made the
production cut announcement on Wednesday. The group agreed to cut output by 2
million barrels per day, equal to 2 percent of global supply.
Saudi
Arabia is a top producer in OPEC+.
Attias
said earlier at a presser that “more than 12 ministers of economy and finance”
would attend the upcoming edition of the FII.
Although
the FII Institute is not formally affiliated with Riyadh, the annual forum in
the Saudi capital is closely associated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
Attias
said he did not expect the Saudi-US row to have any impact on this year’s FII
conference. “No impact at all. At the opposite, we see more and more appetite
from the US private sector to attend FII,” he said.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/10/17/691121/Saudi-Arabia-US-FII-Russia-Ukraine-oil-OPEC-
--------
US
military forces smuggle wheat crops, crude oil from northeast Syria to Iraq
17
October 2022
Two
separate convoys of US military trucks and tankers have carried tons of grain
and crude oil from the northeastern province of Hasakah to the semi-autonomous
Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, as part of Washington’s systematic smuggling
of basic commodities out of Syria.
Local
sources, requesting anonymity, told Syria’s official news agency SANA that 92
military vehicles loaded with wheat crops and oil from the Jazira Region
rumbled through al-Waleed border crossing in al-Ya'rubiyah region and entered
the Iraqi territories on Monday.
The
sources added that another convoy of 58 tankers carrying stolen oil headed for
northern Iraq through the illegal al-Mahmoudiyah crossing.
The
US military has for long stationed its forces and equipment in northeastern Syria,
with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the
oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.
Damascus,
however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country’s natural
resources. Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that
American forces were in the Arab country for its oil wealth.
On
September 21, China called on the United States to stop plundering Syria’s
national resources and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
Arab country.
“We call on the United States to respect
Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, unilaterally lift sanctions, and
end the theft of Syria’s national resources,” China’s Foreign Ministry
spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing.
Wang
said, “this is not the first time that the United States military has stolen
oil from Syria and they seem to be becoming more and more uncontrollable.”
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Calls
grow on British public university to end links with Bahraini regime police
force
17
October 2022
Politicians
and human rights groups have renewed calls on a British public research
university to cease its relationship with Bahraini regime services, as the
ruling Al Khalifah dynasty presses ahead with its repressive measures and
heavy-handed crackdown against political opponents and democracy advocates.
Lord
Paul Scriven, who is part of the All Parliamentary Group for Democracy and
Human Rights in the Persian Gulf, has written to the University of Huddersfield
and urged it to halt its teaching in the Arab state.
“They
need to stand back, reflect and look at the potential implication of their
institution being highlighted in human rights abuses,” the Liberal Democrat
peer said.
“It's
down to the vice-chancellor Bob Cryan to come out with concrete evidence to
prove that since his institution was in Bahrain, that the academy of police
hasn't been implicated in human rights abuses. If he can't do that then he has
to close down this course,” he pointed out.
The
University of Huddersfield reportedly runs a masters degree in security
sciences at the Royal Academy of Police, which is situated near Jaww village on
the southeastern coast of Bahrain.
As
part of an agreement with the Bahraini regime, for nearly five years the
University of Huddersfield has trained at least 25 members of the Bahrain
security forces each year.
Recruits
are reportedly taught modules such as investigative forensic psychology and
terrorism and conflict resolution during the program.
Demonstrations
have been held in Bahrain on a regular basis ever since a popular uprising
began in mid-February 2011.
The
participants demand that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a
just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.
Manama,
however, has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent.
Earlier
this month, a London-based human rights organization said Bahraini courts had
convicted and sentenced four anti-regime activists to death following unfair
trials and based on confessions coerced through torture and ill-treatment.
The
Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said in a 61-page report,
entitled "The Court is Satisfied with the Confession’: Bahrain Death
Sentences Follow Torture, Sham Trials,” that Bahraini courts routinely violated
the defendants’ rights to fair trials, including the right to legal counsel
during interrogation, the right to cross-examine prosecution witnesses, and
through reliance on secretly sourced reports.
The
report went on to note that much of the torture and ill-treatment occurred in
two locations – the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Ministry of
Interior, which is housed in a compound in the Adliya district of the capital
Manama, and the Royal Academy of Policing, located adjacent to Bahrain’s
notorious Jau Prison.
BIRD
called on Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah to commute the death
sentences for all individuals, starting with those convicted on the basis of
confessions extracted under torture or ill-treatment.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast
Asia
Ministry,
S Korean university cooperate in Cyber Islamic University
18
Oct 2022
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs established cooperation with the
Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies of South Korea to enhance State
Islamic Religious Universities (PTKINs) for strengthening the Cyber Islamic
University Program.
"I
strongly believe that this meeting will bring results in order to build a
bridge to advance the Cyber Islamic University," Minister of Religious
Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, noted in a written statement on Monday.
The
commitment to synergy was jointly affirmed at a meeting between Minister Qoumas
and President of the Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Professor Jang
Jiho, in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday.
Qoumas
explained to Professor Jang that the tasks of the Ministry of Religious Affairs
cover two areas, with the first being matters relating to the life and harmony
of religious communities, while the second pertained to aspects related to
religious education.
In
connection with religious education, the ministry is supervising as many as 38
thousand Islamic boarding schools (pesantrens), 83,500 madrasahs (Islamic
schools), and hundreds of Islamic religious higher education institutions in
the country.
Apart
from Islamic religious higher education institutions, the Ministry of Religious
Affairs is also assisting Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, and
Confucianism religious higher education institutions in the country. Those
religious higher education institutions are spread across almost all cities and
islands in Indonesia, located from the center of cities to remote islands.
"Indonesia
needs a bridge to maintain its diversity. Indonesia needs a bridge to ensure
accessibility and equality in education," the minister emphasized.
He
expressed optimism that the cooperation built along with Cyber Hankuk
University of Foreign Studies would be able to secure humanity and offer
benefits to the two countries.
Source:
Antara News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Topsy-turvy
politics of PAS and the split opposition
October
18, 2022
PAS
as a so-called “Islamic” political party has been in and out of partnerships
with other parties and coalitions since the past 60-over years. It keeps on
changing its goalposts and currently has shifted from a sort of Islamic agenda
to Malay nationalism, all for the sake of seeking political power.
Its
long-hankered Islamic agenda when Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in power has now
been back-burnered. This fickle-minded approach to politics is not portending
well for PAS.
And
now, it seems that PAS is not teaming up with Umno in this coming general
election. With this decision, it can be said that Muafakat Nasional that aimed
to unite the Muslim community or ummah for electoral purposes is buried for
good, though there may be some PAS stalwarts who would still consider working
with Umno after the elections. A win for Umno and BN in GE15 will completely
cast PAS aside. A strong and formidable Umno does not need PAS.
As
reported, the PAS supremo after a long meeting among the party’s top brass has
decided that the party is not going to work with Umno for now, claiming that it
is “tainted with corrupt leaders”.
But
then, just before the recent dissolution of Parliament, it was reported that PAS
leaders met Umno leaders to propose an amicable solution for them to work
together in the name of Malay unity.
PAS
wants Umno to accept Bersatu. Umno’s condition is that PAS should cut ties with
Bersatu if it wishes to work with them. Umno’s rationale is that if PAS could
not accept Amanah, a party consisting of former PAS members who left the party,
Umno likewise could not accept Bersatu, considering that many of Bersatu’s MPs
were from Umno who “jumped ship” after the last general election.
Crestfallen
Umno
When
BN lost in the last general election and PH came to power, a number of Umno MPs
left the party to join Bersatu, a Malay-based party then under the leadership
of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It
makes sense that if PAS feels that Malay-based parties should come under one
umbrella, they should also reconcile with Amanah. But PAS purportedly could not
accept this. So, blame not Umno for not wanting to work with Bersatu.
PAS’
approach to politics has forever been contentious. The party was at one time
claiming to be “Islamic”, demeaning Umno was not “Islamic” enough. After PH
helmed Putrajaya following the last general election, PAS changed its political
stance and started to court Umno.
Its
Malay unity approach was spontaneously accepted by crestfallen Umno after its
election defeat to PH. To consolidate the Malay votes, Umno decided to work
with PAS, which most political pundits contended would not be possible in the
long run as politically, both Umno and PAS have always been arch enemies since
independence.
Thinking
that the Malays can be brainwashed into accepting PAS, the party has been
overtly and wildly using DAP as its punching bag, claiming that DAP is
“anti-Islam” and that it will call the shots if PH were to win again in the
coming general election. Not many political analysts would buy this
grandiloquence of PAS, nor would the rational voters.
Penang
Malays are not spiteful
Of
the 222 parliamentary seats, DAP would most likely contest not more than 50.
Even winning all these 50 seats would still be impossible for it to take
control of the government. DAP has to work with other Malay-based and
multiracial parties if it were to form a government.
Penang
is currently under the DAP government. The majority of Penang Muslims are
generally content and not spiteful that the state is under DAP administration.
There is no issue that the Penang government is anti-Islam, other than that
intentionally echoed by the opposition in the state for political expediency.
In fact, the state government has been doing more for Islam than the few states
under PAS.
If
truth be told, PAS’ arch enemy is not DAP but Umno. Since independence, genuine
Malay unity in the country’s politics has never existed. PAS had been
contesting against Umno in almost all the past elections.
Kedah,
Terengganu, and Kelantan may be PAS’ strongholds for now. But Umno is not going
to surrender these three states to PAS forever. They will certainly contest
against PAS in the coming general election. PAS then has to face Umno, not DAP.
The
open-minded Malays are aware of this fact. So, PAS attacking DAP is just a
political gimmick to cloud the Malay minds.
A
united opposition
Just
recently, Mahathir was reported to have said that parties opposing BN should
put aside their political and personal differences for the sake of the country
and stand against BN candidates as one opposition team.
In
other words, if this proposal is accepted, the contest in the coming general
election may likely be just a two-cornered fight. Of course, this would augur
well for the opposition. But could this idea be accepted by all the parties in
the opposition?
The
recent state elections in Melaka and Johor are testimony that in the three or
more-cornered contests, the votes for the opposition were split. And this gave
BN the advantage.
Numerically,
though, the combined votes secured by the opposition parties were more than the
votes secured by BN in many seats. In this context, Mahathir may be right.
It’s
not that BN should be demonised just because of a few alleged “corrupt leaders”
still helming the party. The likelihood is that these leaders may weaken BN’s
chances of winning the next general election. And, politically, to defeat BN,
the only way is for the opposition parties to be united.
No
doubt, a few Umno leaders are facing corruption charges and the party is quite
tainted with these leaders who will be contesting in the elections. However,
Umno still has over three million members and the majority of them are loyal to
the party and would give their votes to BN. The issue of corruption was avidly
raised in the recent Melaka and Johor state elections but to no effect. It did
not change the mindset of BN supporters; the majority still voted for BN.
Too
many political parties
Unfortunately,
the opposition to BN has too many political parties with each eyeing to contest
as many seats as they can. Personal interests have become more important to
them than the country’s interests.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Stop
the attacks, we may be friends again, PM tells Umno, PAS
October
16, 2022
BERA:
PAS and Umno should avoid insulting or hurling attacks against one another as
it is prohibited by Islam, says Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He
reminded the two parties that they used to work together under Muafakat
Nasional (MN), but their ties have now become strained.
“We
shouldn’t be attacking each other because the ties may be rekindled again in
the future. In politics, we are not friends or enemies forever. As such, we
should avoid hurting each other’s feelings.
“Who
knows, one day we will sit together again for the sake of the Muslim ummah and
the Malays in the country. If we make baseless allegations, it will only create
animosity between us,” he told reporters after launching the Bera Barisan
Nasional (BN) machinery.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Khalid
fails in bid to appeal ruling setting aside RM80, 000 awarded to him
October
17, 2022
PUTRAJAYA:
Former federal territories minister Khalid Samad has failed in his bid to
obtain leave to appeal to the Federal Court from a Court of Appeal decision
setting aside RM80,000 in damages awarded to him for defamation.
In
an online proceeding today, a three-member Federal Court panel comprising Court
of Appeal president, justice Rohana Yusuf, and justices Harmindar Singh
Dhaliwal and Zabidin Diah, dismissed Khalid’s application and ordered him to
pay RM30,000 costs.
Rohana,
who led the panel, said the court had considered all submissions and found that
Khalid’s application did not meet the requisite conditions for leave to be
given.
Khalid
had sued former Malaysia Islamic Strategic Research Institute (Iksim) chief
executive officer Naser Disa for defamation over the Shariah Courts (Criminal
Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill 2016, or RUU355.
The
High Court had on July 17, 2019, ruled in favour of Khalid and ordered Naser to
pay him RM80,000.
On
Jan 28, this year, the Court of Appeal allowed Naser’s appeal to set aside the
High Court’s decision, prompting Khalid to file for leave to pursue his appeal
to the Federal Court.
Khalid
filed a suit against Naser in December 2017 claiming that Naser had made
malicious statements against him in a seminar organised by the Selangor Islamic
religious department (JAIS) on Sept 28, 2017 at the Tengku Ampuan Jemaah
Mosque, Bukit Jelutong in Shah Alam.
Khalid
claimed that Naser, had in a lecture titled, “Discourse on current issues and
Selangor state legislation: Doctrine: Challenges and Constitution”, had among
other things, stated that he (Khalid) was strongly against RUU355, against the
implementation of Islamic law including hudud, and opposed efforts to empower
the shariah courts.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Africa
Tunisia
bonds jump after IMF staff-level agreement on $1.9 bln loan
17
October, 2022
Tunisia’s
international bonds jumped as much as 4 cents to hit multi-month highs on
Monday after the International Monetary Fund said it had reached a preliminary
agreement for a $1.9 billion loan, potentially paving the way for more funding.
Euro-denominated
bonds issued by the central bank chalked up the biggest gains, with the 2023
bond up 4 cents in the euro to trade above 82 cents, Tradeweb data showed.
Dollar-denominated bonds also rose, with the 2027 issue up 2.8 cents in the
dollar to be bid at just over 64 cents.
The
IMF announced on Saturday that the 48-month rescue package could be finalized
in December for the country that is engulfed by a political and economic crisis
amid fuel and food shortages.
Analysts
at Morgan Stanley said in a note to clients that the staff level agreement
would provide a fiscal anchor and was a “welcome relief.”
Morgan
Stanley said Tunisia securing a three year wage agreement with the powerful
UGTT labor union, adjusting fuel prices in September as well as a reduction on
its fiscal deficit had helped pave the way for an agreement with the fund.
“Once
board approval is given, presumably in December 2022, this should allow Tunisia
to access funding from the Resilience and Sustainability Trust,” the note said,
which would add another $1 billion in funding.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UN
chief: 'Situation in Ethiopia is spiralling out of control'
Betül
Yürük
17.10.2022
The
UN chief warned Monday that "the situation in Ethiopia is spiraling out of
control" and demanded that hostilities in the rebel-held Tigray region
end.
"Violence
and destruction have reached alarming levels. The social fabric is being ripped
apart," said Antonio Guterres at a press conference.
"Indiscriminate
attacks -- including in residential areas -- are killing more innocent people
every day, damaging critical infrastructure and limiting access to vital
services," said the UN chief.
The
UN chief's call came after the Ethiopian government said Monday it will take
control of airports and federal government facilities from the Tigray region
and that the move will help safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity.
He
called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean armed forces from Ethiopia.
He
said that civilians are paying a "horrific" price, with hundreds of
thousands of people having been forced to flee their homes since hostilities
resumed in August, many of them for the second time.
"We
are also hearing disturbing accounts of sexual violence and other acts of
brutality against women, children and men," he added.
Guterres
urged all parties to adhere to their obligations under international
humanitarian law.
"The
United Nations is ready to support the African Union in every possible way to
end this nightmare for the Ethiopian people," he said. "We need the
urgent resumption of talks towards an effective, lasting political
settlement."
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/un-chief-situation-in-ethiopia-is-spiraling-out-of-control-/2713886
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Flood
deaths hit 603 in 10 months in Nigeria, official says
Olanrewaju
Kola
17.10.2022
MAIDUGURI,
Nigeria
The
death toll in Nigeria's floods has hit 603 while roughly 2.5 million people
have been displaced, the disaster management minister said, according to the
local media on Monday.
Sadiya
Farouq, the Nigerian minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management,
said over 1.3 million people have been displaced by the torrential rainfall and
flood which spread to 30 of the country's 36 states, Nigeria's Daily Sun
reported.
"We
have recorded 603 deaths since the flooding started this year and about 2.5
million people affected," the minister said on Sunday evening at a press
briefing.
She
said 2,407 suffered different degrees of injuries, while 82,053 houses and
332,327 hectares (821,198 acres) of farmland were completely damaged by the
flood.
The
government has activated a national response team in the affected states, the
minister added.
The
torrential downpour since February and the release of excess waters from Lagdo
Dam in the neighboring country Cameroon, as well as rises in water levels of
major rivers in Nigeria, have caused flooding, Musa Njadvara, a weather and
climate journalist, told Anadolu Agency.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/flood-deaths-hit-603-in-10-months-in-nigeria-official-says/2713826
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Ethiopia
to take control of airports in restive Tigray region
Hassan
Isilow
17.10.2022
The
Ethiopian government said Monday it will take control of airports and federal
government facilities from the rebel-held Tigray region, which it accuses of
colluding with hostile foreign actors to violate its airspace.
In
a statement, Addis Ababa said the move will help safeguard the nation’s
territorial integrity. It added that controlling airports would also enable the
government to expedite humanitarian aid to people in need.
“These
measures are necessitated not only by the repeated attacks by the Tigray
Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) but also by its active collusion with these
hostile foreign powers,’’ the statement said without mentioning who the foreign
powers are.
The
government said while pursuing objectives of securing its territorial integrity
and sovereignty it is also committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict
through the African union led peace talks.
Addis
Ababa’s statement comes barely a day after officials in its restive rebel-held
Tigray region said they are ready to abide by calls from the African Union for
an immediate cessation of hostilities.
In
a statement issued Sunday, the regional government of Tigray said it welcomes
calls by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat urging the
conflicting parties to implement an immediate and unconditional cease-fire.
The
Tigray leadership, however, decried alleged violations of international law by
Ethiopian forces, which they accused of indiscriminate aerial bombing and
artillery bombardments targeting civilians and destroying towns, villages and
homes.
They
called on the international community to compel the Eritrean army to withdraw
from Tigray, and take practical steps toward an immediate cessation of
hostilities, and press the Ethiopian government to come to the negotiating
table.
The
Ethiopian government said Monday its troops abide by all pertinent norms of
international humanitarian law. It said its army endeavors to avoid combat
operations within urban areas to prevent civilian casualties.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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2
UN peacekeepers killed, 4 injured in northern Mali blast
James
Tasamba
17.10.2022
KIGALI,
Rwanda
Two
UN peacekeepers in Mali were killed and four others seriously injured on Monday
when an improvised explosive device went off, said the UN mission in the West
African country.
The
incident occurred in the northern Tessalit area in the Kidal region after their
vehicle hit the explosive device during a mine search and detection patrol, the
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said on Twitter.
Since
2012, Mali has been battling growing violence orchestrated by militants in
northern and central regions, targeting both soldiers and civilians.
The
UN maintains more than 13,000 troops in these areas to contain growing
violence, who face regular attacks.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/2-un-peacekeepers-killed-4-injured-in-northern-mali-blast/2713787
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