Fast For Unity: Non-Muslims Around The World Take On Ramazan Fasting Challenge To Help Tackle Islamophobia
New Age Islam News Bureau
29 April 2022
British Singer Kate Stables
was one of the non-Muslims who took part in the fasting challenge.
(Instagram/@thisisthekit)
----
• Taliban Instructs Salons Not To Trim Men's Hair To
Avoid Western Influence
• Pakistan Human Rights Watch Asks Pakistan To Amend
‘Blood Money’ Laws To Deliver Justice
• New Videos Appear To Show US Choppers Transferring
Daesh Terrorists In Iraq
• Muslim Bodies in India Appeal For Calm Ahead Of Eid In
The Wake Of The Recent Communal Violence
Europe
• UN Requests International Support For Palestinian
Rights Groups Falsely Labelled ‘Terrorists’ By Israel
• Russia to Work Towards ‘Full Diplomatic Recognition of
the Taliban’ Under Conditions
• UN Yemen envoy seeks to rescue truce, resume flights
from Sanaa airport
--------
South Asia
• Beijing-Nangarhar to Build 150-Factory Industrial
Park in Kabul
• Islamic State Claims Two Bomb Blasts That Killed At
Least 9 on Minibuses in Afghan City
• Blasts On Vans Carrying Shi'ite Muslims In Northern
Afghanistan Kill Nine
• Taliban Frees 35 Prisoners to Honour Eid
• A Pakistan Charity Hands over 8 Trucks of Relief
Goods to Afghan Authorities
--------
Pakistan
• Slogan-Chanting At Masjid-e-Nabwi Against Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif: Political, Religious Leadership Denounce Incident
• Pakistan Agencies Suspect Presence Of More Female
Baluchistan Liberation Army Suicide Bombers
• Pakistan anti-graft watchdog starts inquiry against
ex-PM's family friend
• China asks its firms in Pak to heighten security for
staff after Karachi suicide attack: Official
• Swearing-in of Hamza being ‘arrogantly prevented’,
says Maryam
• Terrorists infiltrating from Afghanistan: KP IG
--------
North America
• Pakistan’s Consulate Honours Distinguished
Pakistani-Americans At An Iftar
• Ex-US envoy to Pakistan pleads guilty to undisclosed
lobbying for Qatar
• Are Arab Americans playing enough of a role in
helping to forge US policies?
--------
India
• Muslim Bodies in India Appeal For Calm Ahead Of Eid In
The Wake Of The Recent Communal Violence
• Gyanvapi Mosque Near Kashi Vishwanath Temple Not A Waqf
Property: Counsel For Temple
• Seven Arrested In UP's Ayodhya For Throwing
Objectionable Items At Mosques
• Ban On Ramzan Prayers In Srinagar Mosque Draws Flak
• 2 terrorists, involved in attacks on migrant
labourers, killed in Pulwama encounter
• India, Bangladesh made good progress in bilateral
ties: Jaishankar
-----
Southeast Asia
• After PJ MP Sentenced For ‘Insulting’ Shariah Judiciary,
Fellow Lawmakers Say Judges Not Immune From Criticism
• Cutting wages of those working from home
unjustified, say unions
• Lawyer says MAIP’s bid to vary custody order will
not prejudice Loh, children
• We can probe any public official, including judges,
says MACC
• There are ‘rats and cats’ in PH’s ‘big tent’, says
Hadi
• Promise to add halal vaccine to Indonesia booster
programme
--------
Arab World
• Arab Coalition To Release 163 Houthi Prisoners In
‘Humanitarian Initiative’
• Suspected ISIS Gunmen Kill 7 Syrians At Ramazan Iftar
Meal
• Lebanon oil spill clean-up continues over one year
after catastrophe
• Bashar al-Assad's family likely worth $1-2 billion,
US report says
• Saudi King, Crown Prince receive Turkey’s Erdogan
during his first visit since 2017
--------
Mideast
• Israel PM Naftali Bennett’s Family Receives Death
Threat And Bullet In Mail
• Sheikh Sabri: Israel set to desecrate Aqsa Mosque,
facilitate incursions by extremists
• People worldwide mark Quds Day in solidarity with Palestinians
• Houthi: Co-existence with Israeli regime impossible
• IRGC chief: Resistance sole way to liberation of
Palestine
• At least 42 hurt in clashes at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa
mosque compound: Report
• Iran moves centrifuge-parts workshop underground at
Natanz, IAEA says
• Scores injured after Palestinians clash with Israeli
police at Jerusalem holy site
--------
Africa
• Tinubu Urges Prayers For Nigeria As Assembly Holds Tawaf
In Mecca
• Somalia elects speaker, paves way for presidential
vote
• Nigerians rally in solidarity with Palestinians on
Intl. Quds Day
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ramazan-fasting-unity-muslims-islamophobia/d/126892
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Fast For Unity: Non-Muslims Around The World Take On Ramazan
Fasting Challenge To Help Tackle Islamophobia
British Singer Kate Stables
was one of the non-Muslims who took part in the fasting challenge.
(Instagram/@thisisthekit)
----
Sarah Glubb
April 28, 2022
LONDON: Non-Muslims around the world took part in two Ramazan
challenges this month designed to show solidarity with Muslims against a rising
tide of Islamophobia, and improve religious tolerance and understanding.
People from more than 25 countries took part in the
annual Fast For Unity and the 30-Day Ramazan Hijab Challenge initiatives, both
of which are organized by the World Hijab Day Organization, a non-profit group
that aims to counter discrimination against Muslims. They began on the first
day of Ramazan, which this year fell on April 2.
The fasting challenge “invites non-Muslims to fast for
a day, two, 10 or all 30 to experience how Muslims fast and go on a spiritual
journey of self-reflection, self-discipline, and take a stand against
Islamophobia,” the organization told Arab News.
British Singer Kate Stables was one of the non-Muslims
who took part in the challenge. In a message posted on Instagram, she said this
is the second year she has done so and added: “I’ve found that there’s a lot to
learn from changing gear completely for a month and taking the time and space
to think about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, and the world and people
around me.
“And as the name suggests, #FastForUnity is an
initiative to dismantle Islamophobia and to join us together in our communities
regardless of religion or differences. More acceptance and empathy everyone,
please.”
The hijab challenge, also known as the #Hijab30, was
launched in 2014. It invites “women of all ethnic backgrounds to don the hijab
for 30 days to take a stand to end discrimination against women in hijabs and
respect individual choices.”
The organization behind the challenges is based in New
York and was founded in 2013. It organizes World Hijab Day on Feb. 1 each year,
in recognition of the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the
traditional head covering, along with a number of other initiatives.
For example, it has also launched a campaign to raise
money to support efforts to foster healthy environments for Muslim students in
the US, and said that there has been an increase in donations during the last
10 days of Ramazan. These final days of the holy month hold special
significance for Muslims, who believe that the Qur’an was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad on one of those days.
The World Hijab Day Organization said that a report
published in 2021 by the Massachusetts branch of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations “revealed that 61 percent of Muslim students in the
US have been mocked, verbally harassed or physically abused for their Muslim
faith.”
Meanwhile the American Muslim Poll, carried by the
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding in 2020, found that “30 percent
of Muslim students said that a teacher or other school official was the source
of the bullying.”
The donations will go toward “creating educational
workshops for schools to promote a safe, healthy and inclusive environment for
Muslim students,” and provide “school administrators and teachers with tools to
shatter bigotry, discrimination and prejudice, which will ultimately help their
whole classroom learn better.”
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072921/world
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Taliban Instructs Salons Not To Trim Men's Hair To
Avoid Western Influence
After the Taliban left
power, hair salons became increasingly popular among Afghan men. Getty Images
----
Apr 28, 2022
KABUL (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban have reportedly
instructed salons in Afghanistan's Herat province not to cut men's hair
especially students, to avoid the influence of the West.
According to the vernacular media, the group also
warned public and private universities that female students should wear a burqa
in the classroom.
Earlier, the Taliban's ministry for the promotion of
virtue and prevention of vice demanded male government workers must sport a
full beard to work or risk losing their job.
Employees of various government ministries were
reportedly barred from work because they had trimmed their beards or were not
wearing appropriate clothing in accordance with the Taliban's interpretation of
Islamic law.
As the Taliban took control of Afghanistan once again
after 20 years, experts also believe that Afghan women are most likely to face
an uncertain future under the terrorist group regime.
Apart from it, the group had earlier banned live music
at weddings and ordered men and women to celebrate in different halls, an owner
of a hotel in Afghanistan in October told Sputnik.
Amid the crackdown, the Taliban have also ordered the
beheading of "mannequins" in clothing stores in the Herat province of
Afghanistan, according to reported Sputnik News Agency, citing Afghan media.
Taliban cracks down on "mannequins" used in
clothing stores saying that it is a breach of the Shariah law.
Signs of such incidents have started re-appearing on
the streets of Kabul. The Taliban's ministry for the promotion of virtue and
prevention of vice had also issued "religious guidelines" calling on
Afghanistan's TV channels to stop showing women in dramas and soap operas.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Pakistan Human Rights Watch Asks Pakistan To Amend
‘Blood Money’ Laws To Deliver Justice
Representative Photo: First
India
----
28 April, 2022
Islamabad [Pakistan], April 28 (ANI): Highlighting the
“severe miscarriage of justice” due to Pakistan’s existing infamous “blood
money” laws since 1990, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on the
government to amend provisions of the criminal law that allow for murder and
other serious offenses as “private disputes”.
The provisions, popularly called “blood money” laws
are the result of a 1990 Presidential Ordinance that amended the Pakistan Penal
Code and Criminal Procedure Code ostensibly to make them more consistent with
Islam following a court decision that held that murder and several other
serious offenses should not be treated as offenses against the state but as
private disputes.
The Ordinance went further than the court decision,
which had made a distinction between deliberate and unintentional murder and
had allowed for the possibility of a “compromise” only in the case of
unintentional murder. The Ordinance, however, did not make such a distinction.
The Pakistani legal system’s treatment of murder cases
as private disputes instead of as an offense against the state has had a
disastrous impact on the administration of justice, Human Rights Watch said.
“The Pakistan justice system’s treatment of murder as
a private dispute sabotages the rights of victims to seek justice and of all
Pakistanis to have equal protection of the law,” said Patricia Gossman,
associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“No state should act as a bystander in dealing with
egregious crimes, which favors people accused of these crimes who are wealthy
or powerful,” she added.
The rights group went on to cite several examples of
cases where the draconian criminal laws led to severe crimes going unpunished.
In one example, on November 3 last year, the severely
bruised body of Nazim Jokhio, a local activist, was discovered at a farmhouse
in Malir, Karachi, Sindh province, HRW said.
Days before his death, Jokhio had filmed foreign
guests of the farmhouse owners hunting a houbura bustard, an endangered bird,
and had asked them to stop.
On March 30, Shireen Jokhio, the victim’s wife, posted
a recorded video message on social media saying that she was “forgiving” the
accused and would no longer pursue the case because she is “weak” and cannot
fight the case “alone.”
In another instance, in September 2019, Salahuddin
Ayubi, who had been arrested for robbing an ATM, was found dead in police
custody. Ayubi’s body bore marks of torture. His family said he had mental health
disabilities. His father filed a criminal case against three police officers
alleging that his son was tortured to death, but in October 2019, Ayubi’s
family “pardoned” the police officers and declined to prosecute the case.
Other rights groups, such as Amnesty International,
have also emphasized the need for revoking such provisions from the country’s
criminal law. (ANI)
Source: The Print
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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New Videos Appear To Show US Choppers Transferring Daesh
Terrorists In Iraq
Thermal cameras record US
choppers transferring Daesh terrorists across Iraq, PMU leader say
Representative Photo: Hans India
-----
29 April 2022
In yet another manifestation of Washington’s
scandalous complicity with remnants of the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq, new
footage has emerged apparently showing the transfer of the members of the
Takfiri terror outfit by US helicopters across certain regions in the Arab
country.
The video, which went viral in Iraqi media on
Thursday, vividly showed Washington’s role in moving Daesh terrorists by US
Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters inside Iraq.
An informed source recently leaked information to the
Iraqi media that US Chinook helicopters are constantly moving “unknown and
suspicious” elements inside the Arab country.
The source told Baghdad Al-Yaum that the observation
of US moves in Iraq over the past five days showed “two Daesh transfers by US
helicopters” in Hamrin Mountains near the city of Baquba, the capital of Iraq’s
eastern province of Diyala, and around Canaan Desert, 30 kilometers east of
Baquba, as part of a “highly confidential operation.”
Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with
Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) – better known by the Arabic
name Hashd al-Sha’abi – released on Thursday a video of two American
helicopters in an area of Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk while moving a
number of terrorists.
Sabereen said the video showed American AUG-122
helicopters transferring “three Daesh elements” from the scene of clashes with
Iraqi army forces near the village of Birmehidi in Kirkuk Province.
The US embassy in Baghdad has yet to comment on the
video or the role of US forces in supporting terrorists in Iraq.
Iraqi anti-terror groups have repeatedly released
footage of such moves and duplicitous acts by American forces, who have over
the past two decades launched a military campaign under the pretext of
countering terrorism across the Arab country.
Qassem al-Kuraiti, a PMU leader, told Arabic-language
al-Ahad television network last year that thermal cameras installed in the
country’s central province of Salahuddin had recorded US military helicopters
transferring Daesh terrorists to various locations across the country.
Iraq declared victory over Daesh in December 2017
after a three-year counter-terrorism military campaign, which also had the
support of neighboring Iran.
The terror outfit’s remnants, though, keep staging
sporadic attacks across Iraq, attempting to regroup and unleash fresh violence.
Daesh has intensified its terrorist attacks in Iraq
since January 2020, when the United States assassinated top Iranian anti-terror
commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and PMU’s deputy commander Abu
Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad International Airport.
Anti-US sentiments sharply increased in Iraq in the
aftermath of the assassination, prompting Iraqi lawmakers to pass a bill – only
two days after the terrorist attack – that required the Baghdad government to
end the presence of all foreign military forces led by Washington.
The US was finally forced to end its “combat mission”
in Iraq by the end of 2021, but Iraqi resistance groups say the Pentagon’s
so-called advisory role has to end as well.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Muslim Bodies in India Appeal For Calm Ahead Of Eid In
The Wake Of The Recent Communal Violence
Representative Photo
------
28th April 2022
New Delhi: Muslim bodies have appealed for calm and
peace ahead of Eid next week in the wake of the recent communal violence.
An open letter signed by the President of the All
India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and 14 other bodies, said:
“All Muslims should remain calm and composed both on their way to the Eidgah
and also while returning home. They should not fall prey to anyone who tries to
provoke and instigate them. Use very careful and clear language in the Eid
sermon, so that nothing you say can be distorted.
“Religious festivals that provide an opportunity to
foster mutual brotherhood, love and unity have been turned into a means of
spreading hatred and furthering vested political interests by the anti-social
and evil elements. Among all these developments, the month of Ramzan continues
with the Eid-ul-Fitr coming a few days later.
“Muslims gather in large numbers on the last Friday of
Ramazan and the ‘Lailatul Qadr’ (27th of Ramazan). Muslims should celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr by sharing their joys with their compatriots, making it an occasion
for developing cordial relations with all and establishing peace and amity.”
The letter further said that no anti-social and evil
element should get a chance to create mischief.
To curb anti-social elements, the Muslim bodies have
advised holding of meetings with peace committees in their respective colonies
and localities.
“If anyone tries to do mischief, then lodge a
complaint with the local administration. Hold meetings with the local
administration and try to ensure that they will not allow the law and order to
be affected under any circumstances.
“Meet with the representatives of other religions at
the state, district, and local levels. An appeal should also be issued to them
so that people do not do anything under the pressure of any political party or
any mischievous group which will spoil the atmosphere of the country,” the
letter added.
The bodies also called for efforts to ensure the
presence of important personalities and journalists outside the Eidgah, as well
as the provision of CCTV cameras.
Responding to the appeal, Maulana Jalal Haider Naqvi
of the All India Shia Council, said that “this is a precautionary measure so
that community doesn’t get involved if provoked but maintain peace and
harmony”.
Source: Siasat Daily
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.siasat.com/muslim-bodies-appeal-for-calm-ahead-of-eid-2-2317186/
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Europe
UN Requests International Support For Palestinian
Rights Groups Falsely Labelled ‘Terrorists’ By Israel
MOHAMMED NAJIB
April 28, 2022
RAMALLAH: Officials at the United Nations have urged
the international community to acknowledge the lack of evidence against the six
Palestinian human rights organizations that Israel sanctioned and designated as
“terrorist groups” in October 2021, and called on governments worldwide to
resume funding those organizations.
The six groups are Al-Haq; Addameer Prisoners’ Support
and Human Rights Association; Defense for Children International — Palestine;
Bisan Center for Research and Development; the Union of Palestinian Women’s
Committees; and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
The officials criticized Israel for failing to provide
any credible evidence against the organizations after banning them. They also
expressed concern that Israel is abusing anti-terror laws to target and
persecute Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations.
Shawan Jabarin, director of Ramallah-based Al-Haq,
called the appeal against the ban “an important message from professional
bodies that enjoy international respect. Although it is not binding, it reveals
the falsehood of the Israeli occupation narrative.”
He told Arab News that Israel’s decision was
political, not legal, and that countries’ response to it was determined by
their relationship with Israel.
Jabarin believes that Israel is angered by the
activities of Palestinian civil rights groups, including Al-Haq, which he said
confronts Israel at international forums and exposes the crimes committed by
the Israeli military and politicians against the Palestinians, including war
crimes punishable under international law.
“It was easier for Israel to make a political decision
and consider us a terrorist organization after it tried for 15 years to dry up
our financial resources, attack our computers, and put pressure on our funders
to stop their support,” said Jabarin.
Palestinian human rights institutions, including
Al-Haq, played an essential role in preparing cases for the International
Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli war crimes.
Al-Haq pursued foreign companies that invested in
Israeli settlements and forced them to withdraw those investments, which they
were told were in violation of international law.
Ghassan Al-Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst,
told Arab News: “Israel has a problem with the work of Palestinian human rights
institutions because they have recently succeeded in embarrassing Israel
internationally over the issues of arresting children and torture. (It wants
to) silence these voices that (turn) international public opinion against it.”
Al-Khatib said the harassment and persecution of these
organizations has given their work and activities greater credibility
internationally, especially after Israel failed to deliver on its promise to
provide evidence linking the organizations to terrorism.
Sahar Francis, director of Addameer Prisoners’ Support
and Human Rights Association, which defends jailed Palestinians, told Arab
News: “At first, Israel claimed that it had a secret file that proves the six
institutions’ relationship with terrorism, but the world told Israel that a
secret file cannot be used against human rights institutions and that evidence
must be presented.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072736/middle-east
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Russia to Work Towards ‘Full Diplomatic Recognition of
the Taliban’ Under Conditions
28 Apr 2022
Kabul, Afghanistan – Russia says it wants to work
towards “full diplomatic recognition” of the Taliban leadership under a
condition, where the Islamic Emirate will establish an inclusive government in
Afghanistan.
In recent months, Russia, China, Pakistan,
Turkmenistan, and Iran have accredited the Islamic Emirate’s appointed
diplomat, though all had initially refused to recognize the 8-month-old
government in the country.
“We want to work towards the full diplomatic
recognition of the new authorities in Afghanistan, under the understanding that
they will keep their promise and form an inclusive government…,” said Sergeĭ
Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Considering the ethnic diversity within the country
and government bodies, who now are politically Taliban members, Lavrov said the
inclusivity in the caretaker government will determine Moscow’s next steps.
“…Since they now have Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras in
the government, they are all Taliban members politically,” he elaborated, as
TOLOnews quoted. “But it is the political inclusiveness that should determine
our further moves, especially since the Taliban have proclaimed this aim.”
Lavrov also said, “we have regular contact with the
Taliban via our embassies, via representatives of our departments that consider
issues of economic cooperation among other issues.”
Meanwhile, a political member in the country had
positive thoughts on the creative of inclusive government, saying such is a
must need to for Afghan people – not otherwise.
“Unless the Islamic Emirate government is inclusive,
no country, neither near nor far, is ready to recognize it,” said Ishaq
Gailani, head of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.
Kabul Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Russia, Bidding
Formal Recognition
Tehran Accredits Islamic Emirate Diplomat Report
With a bid for full recognition at international
level, the Taliban government has welcomed the discussion on “diplomatic and
political relations”, saying it is a “good step”.
“The Islamic Emirate has also taken steps in this
regard, it has taken steps in the case of an accountable government that will
have the support of the people and full legitimacy,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy
spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
Establishing an inclusive government, observing
women’s rights, and not using Afghan soil against any other countries are some
of the major conditions international community put upfront before recognizing
Taliban as the formal government of Afghanistan.
Source: Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/russia-to-work-towards-full-diplomatic-recognition-under-conditions/
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UN Yemen envoy seeks to rescue truce, resume flights
from Sanaa airport
SAEED AL-BATATI
April 28, 2022
AL-MUKALLA: UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg
said on Thursday that he is working hard to salvage the two-month truce and
resume commercial flights from Houthi-controlled Sanaa amid new reports of
dozens of violations of the truce across the country.
Grundberg said that the Houthis and the Yemeni government
told him again that they would stop hostilities during the truce and discuss
challenges to resuming commercial flights from Sanaa, urging both sides to
stick to their commitments.
“The parties have reiterated their commitment to
upholding the truce. We are working tirelessly to help them identify solutions
to resume flights from Sanaa,” the UN envoy said in a statement, vowing to keep
pressure on the parties till they open roads in Taiz and the other provinces.
“We also continue pushing for progress on opening
roads in Taiz and other governorates,” said the envoy. “I have called on the
parties to work constructively and in good faith to prioritize the interests of
Yemeni civilians.”
The UN-brokered truce came into effect on April 2 as
warring factions agreed to stop fighting on all fronts, mainly outside the
central city of Marib, open roads in the provinces, resume commercial flights
from Sanaa airport and allow fuel ships to enter Hodeidah seaport.
The truce received a heavy blow on Sunday when the
first commercial flight from Sanaa airport was postponed as the Houthis
insisted on adding dozens of passengers with unofficial passports.
The Yemeni government on Wednesday proposed opening a
new passport office in Sanaa to help people in Houthi-controlled areas get
passports and to end the impasse over the departure of flights from Sanaa
airport.
Hundreds of violations by the Houthis, including the
deployment of military forces, tanks and heavy artillery outside Marib, have
also threatened to torpedo the truce.
Yemen’s army said that the Houthis violated the truce
74 times in Taiz, Hajjah, Marib, Hodeidah and Jouf on Tuesday, accusing the
Houthis of sending more military reinforcements to flashpoint sites in Marib,
Hodeidah and Hajjah.
On Thursday, the government’s Joint Forces announced
unilaterally opening the Al-Jarahi-Hays road in Hodeidah province under the
UN-brokered truce, urging the Houthis to open the road from their side.
The current raging conflict in Yemen began in late
2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis militarily seized power in the country and
expanded across the country.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072816/middle-east
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South Asia
Beijing-Nangarhar to Build 150-Factory Industrial Park
in Kabul
29 Apr 2022
The Ministry of Urban Development of the Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan inked an agreement with Beijing-Nangarhar private
company on building an industrial park wherein 150 factories will be activated.
The signing pact ceremony that was held in Priozi
township in Kabul on Thursday, April 28, 2022, was attended by Deputy Prime
Minister and head of the economic commission of the IEA Mullah Abdul Ghani
Baradar, and Deputy Minister of Urban Development.
The industrial complex is planned to be built in
Priozi town located in the eastern Deh Sabz district of the Afghan capital
Kabul.
The industrial park will include a mosque, health, and
educational centers, green space, public parks, and residential blocks along
with the 150 factories that will provide direct jobs to 13,600 people while
30,000 more will be affected indirectly.
The industrial complex is intended to cost $216 million.
Source: Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/beijing-nangarhar-to-build-150-factory-industrial-park-in-kabul-6758756865/
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Islamic
State Claims Two Bomb Blasts That Killed At Least 9 on Minibuses in Afghan City
APRIL
29, 2022
The
Islamic State group claimed two bomb blasts aboard minibuses that killed at least
nine people Thursday in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif, a week after a deadly
explosion at a Shiite mosque in the northern city.
The
number of violent public attacks across Afghanistan has fallen since the
Taliban returned to power last August, but the Sunni Islamic State group has
continued to target Shiites, whom they view as heretics.
A
string of deadly bombings targeting minority communities has convulsed the
country in the past two weeks during the fasting month of Ramazan.
Thursday’s
blasts occurred within minutes of each other in different districts of
Mazar-i-Sharif as commuters were heading home to break their dawn-to-dusk fast,
Balkh provincial police spokesman Asif Waziri told AFP.
“The
targets appear to be Shiite passengers," he said, adding 13 people were
wounded in the blasts.
The
regional Islamic State chapter, ISKP, took credit for the bombings, which it
said inflicted 30 casualties.
Images
posted on social media showed one minibus engulfed in fire, while the other was
mangled, with Taliban fighters seen transporting victims from the vehicle to
hospitals.
The
blasts came one week after an attack on a Shiite mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif
killed at least 12 worshippers and wounded scores more.
That
explosion was followed a day later by the bombing of another mosque in Kunduz
targeting the minority Sufi community.
It
killed at least 36 people during Friday prayers.
In
Kabul, another attack also targeted Shiites, with two bombs detonated at a
school, killing six students.
The
jihadist IS claimed the mosque attack in Mazar-i-Sharif, but no group has so
far taken responsibility for the bombing in Kunduz or at the Kabul school.
Shiite
Afghans, who are mostly from the Hazara community, make up between 10 to 20
percent of Afghanistan’s population of 38 million.
The
regional branch of IS in Sunni-majority Afghanistan has repeatedly targeted
Shiites and minorities such as Sufis, who follow a mystical branch of Islam.
IS
is a Sunni Islamist group, like the Taliban, but the two are bitter rivals.
The
biggest ideological difference is that the Taliban pursued an Afghanistan free
of foreign forces, whereas IS wants an Islamic caliphate stretching from Turkey
to Pakistan and beyond.
Taliban
officials insist their forces have defeated IS, but analysts say the jihadist
group remains a key security challenge.
Afghan
government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP earlier Thursday that several
arrests had been made in connection with the string of recent attacks.
Source:
News18
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Blasts
on vans carrying Shi'ite Muslims in northern Afghanistan kill nine
Apr
29, 2022
KABUL:
Bombs exploded aboard two passenger vans carrying Shi'ite Muslims in the
northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif on Thursday, killing at least nine
people, an official said.
The
blasts follow an explosion at a Shi'ite mosque in the city last week, which
killed 11, as Afghanistan grapples with a rise in attacks by Islamic State following
the withdrawal of foreign forces last year. {nL2N2WJ0K1]
The
group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack in a post on its
Telegram account.
"The
bombs were placed inside the vans; due to those blasts nine have been killed
and 13 injured," Mohammad Asif Wazeri, spokesman of Mazar-e-Sharif's
commander told Reuters.
The
public transport vans were operated and used by the local Shi'ite community, he
added.
Shi'ite
community, a minority Muslim sect in Afghanistan, is frequently attacked by
Sunni militant groups, including Islamic State.
Taliban
authorities who took over after the Western pullout said earlier this week they
had eliminated most of Islamic State's presence in Afghanistan. But despite the
assertion, attacks against Shi'ites continue in many parts of the country.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Taliban
Frees 35 Prisoners to Honour Eid
29
Apr 2022
Local
officials of the southeastern Helmand province have exempted dozens of
prisoners and released them as the Muslims’ biggest festival-Eid-ul-Fitr
arrives, Bakhtar News Agency reported.
The
35 prisoners who were accused of various crimes were taken out of jail on
Thursday, April 28, 2022.
Not
only the Taliban but every Afghan government would release prisoners to honor
Eid which is typically a period of exemption.
Bakhtar
News Agency has quoted the provincial judge Mawlawi Sidiqullah Mudaser saying
the jailers were freed from two prisons in the districts of Babaji and Musa
Qala.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-frees-35-prisoners-to-honor-eid-65675876586/
--------
A
Pakistan Charity Hands over 8 Trucks of Relief Goods to Afghan Authorities
29
Apr 2022
A
Pakistan charity foundation called Al-Khidmar handed over eight more trucks
carrying relief assistance to the Afghan authorities at the crossing point
Torkham on Thursday, April 28, 2022.
The
relief assistance that is arranged under the Ramazan Package of the charity
foundation is worth Rs 20 million and includes food packages and other items.
The
fresh 80 trucks bring the total number of trucks delivered by the foundation to
154 and the total amount of 1311 tonnes of goods worth Rs 300 million delivered
to the Afghan people.
The
items provided by the foundation have so far been distributed in Kunar,
Paktika, Nangarhar, Kabul, Helmand, Kandahar, and other provinces.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Slogan-Chanting
At Masjid-e-Nabwi Against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: Political, Religious
Leadership Denounce Incident
Apr
29 2022
The
political and religious leadership of Pakistan and others from different
sections of society strictly condemned Friday the chanting of slogans against
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in
Madinah.
A
group of protesting worshippers violated the sanctity of the sacred site and
and chanted slogans against the premier and other government officials who
accompanied him as soon as they entered Masjid-e-Nabawi to pay their respects
at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).
The
protesters passed derogatory remarks against Minister for Information Marriyum
Aurangzeb, and misbehaved with Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain
Bugti.
Following
the incident, politicians, religious leaders and others expressed outrage at
the unfortunate incident and vehemently condemned it.
Commenting
on it, Shahzain Bugti said: "I respect Mecca and Medina a lot and no one
can speak in a loud voice there."
Likewise,
Marriyum Aurangzeb, without using Imran Khan's name but in an apparent
reference to him, said: “I don’t want to name the person responsible for this
incident because I don’t want to use this holy land for political
purpose."
"However,
it will take time for us to fix the ways in which these people have damaged our society and we can only do that
through a positive attitude."
She
further added that the PML-N leadership has instructed its workers to control
their emotions.
Aseefa
Bhutto-Zardari condemned the incident and termed it a shameful act. “The
intolerance and divisiveness being incited by the PTI to sate [Imran Khan's]
inflated ego is leading Pakistan down a very dark path,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Some
shame and serious introspection are in order for the cultists who are cheering
on the death of basic decency,” she added.
Ex-prime
minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider also condemned the chanting of
slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi and announced holding a protest against the move
after Friday prayers.
Criticising
former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed, Haider said "inciting people to
violence is unacceptable".
"PTI
supporters have lost their minds after losing their government," he said.
JUI-F
chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman condemned the incident and said Haram-e-Medina is
a place of respect for the entire Muslim Ummah.
"Speaking
loudly in the mosque is against Islamic etiquette," he said.
"Whatever happened there today couldn't be more insulting to the holy
site. Those who cannot respect the sanctity of the house of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) cannot claim to follow his teachings."
MQM-P
leader and Senator Faisal Subzwari said those who were condemning Captain
Safdar for chanting slogans at Mazar-e-Quaid are now celebrating the chanting
of political slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi.
PML-N
leader and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also
denounced the incident.
Acclaimed
scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel also regretted the protest that took place at the
Prophet's mosque and said that disrespect to the Haram Sharif is not acceptable
in Islam.
Popular
Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal termed the incident "a very shameful
act."
While
sharing his experience, former national cricket team captain Mohammad Yousaf
said when he had seen ‘Kaaba’ and Roza-e-Rasool for (PBUH) for the first time,
he had started crying due to his emotions.
“I
ask forgiveness to Allah for what has happened today at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH),”
he tweeted.
PTI
leader Ali Muhammad Khan also condemned the incident and called it
"against the sanctity of the holy place".
Journalist
Osama Bin Javaid termed the incident a "planned protest by supporters of
former prime minister Imran Khan."
Pakistan
Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi has also expressed his displeasure at the
unfortunate turn of events at the Masjid-e-Nabawi.
In
a video statement, Ashrafi said: “A group of people disrespected the holy
mosque by chanting slogans and those who were involved in this act have
dishonoured the country. Muslims are supposed to lower their voices instead of
chanting slogans inside a mosque".
Source:
Geo TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.geo.tv/latest/414271-political-leadership-condemns-slogan-chanting-at-masjid-e-nabvi
--------
Pakistan
Agencies Suspect Presence Of More Female Baluchistan Liberation Army Suicide
Bombers
Apr
28, 2022
KARACHI/LAHORE:
Pakistani investigators probing the suicide attack by a woman at the Karachi
University that killed three Chinese teachers have not ruled out the presence
of more female suicide bombers at sleeper cells of the outlawed Baluchistan
Liberation Army, even as police in Lahore have arrested a suspect from Punjab
University in connection with the bombing.
On
Tuesday, an explosion triggered by a burqa-clad woman suicide bomber from the
Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) ripped through a van of the Confucius
Institute at the prestigious University of Karachi, leaving three Chinese
teachers dead and one injured, in the latest targeted attack against Chinese
citizens in Pakistan.
Following
the incident, the banned BLA took to social media to claim responsibility and
announce that the bomber was a woman named Shaari Baloch who was highly
educated, a mother of two young children, belonging to a well-established
family and working as a school teacher in her native Turbat, Balochistan.
The
Anti-Terrorism Department of the Sindh Police also identified the bomber who
was born in Turbat in 1991 but settled in Kech district of the restive
Baluchistan province. “Initial investigations confirmed she was part of the
banned Majeed brigade, a part of the BLA which has brainwashed these suicide
bombers,” an official of the Anti-Terrorism Department said.
“We
are looking into possiblities that there might be more female suicide bombers
brainwashed to become part of the Majeed Brigade and waiting in sleeper
cells," he said. He confirmed that initial investigations had shown that
Shari Baloch did not carry out the attack independently and was guided and helped
by her handlers/facilitators, including a woman who met her at the entrance of
the university and apparently briefed her before she went to the entrance of
the Confucius Institute where she detonated herself as soon as the coaster van
carrying the Chinese academics came.
“We
suspect this operation was carried out with inside information,” the official
said. On Wednesday, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police
have arrested a suspect from Lahore's Punjab University in connection with the
suicide bombing at the Karachi University.
The
intelligence agencies tracked down a suspect with whom Shari Baloch remained in
contact by cellphone in Lahore and arrested him during a raid at a hostel of
the Punjab University, a source in CTD told PTI on Thursday.
The
suspect has been identified as Bebagr Imdad, a student of the seventh semester
of English Literature in Numl, Islamabad. He also belongs to the area where
Shaari Baloch lived. "The agencies are picking up all those who remained
in contact with Shaari before she blew herself up and Bebagr was one of
them," he said.
A
Punjab University spokesperson Khurram Shahzad told PTI that Bebagr had come to
Lahore two days ago from Islamabad.
"On
Tuesday, he visited his cousin at hostel 7 who is a history department student.
On Wednesday, a security agency official approached the varsity administration
and told it that it needed to take Bebagr into custody for his alleged link
with the Karachi University bombing. The Punjab University obliged the request
and now he is being interrogated," Shehzad said. Some 300 students from
Balochistan are currently studying at the Punjab University.
The
security agencies are now searching for the husband of Shari Baloch, Dr
Haibatan, who was apparently doing a public health course at the Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and was staying at a nearby hotel. However,
his wife lived in Gulistan-i-Jauhar with her two children.
Counter-Terrorism
Department official Raja Umar Khatab said that Shari Baloch and her husband had
left their places a week before the attack and the husband's whereabouts were
not known. Raids were being carried out to find the husband and other
facilitators, he said. The CTD official also made it clear that Shari Baloch
was not a student at the KU and in fact had done her BE and ME from the
University of Balochistan and had also worked as a government teacher.
The
officer said that the outlawed BLA had claimed responsibility for the attack
and shared details about the attacker on their social media platforms. “We also
suspect the involvement of a hostile foreign agency in this attack,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the members of Baloch Student Council at Punjab University held a demonstration
outside the varsity and demanded release of Bebagr. They said the “abduction of
Bebagr" was part of ongoing disappearances and harassment of the Baloch
students in the country. They said they would continue their protest till the
release of Bebagr from the agencies' custody.
The
suicide bombing at the Karachi University seems to be the harbinger of a 'new
and unexpected dimension' in the dynamics of terrorism in Pakistan,
particularly the Baloch insurgency.
Meanwhile,
Additional Police Surgeon at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Hospital Dr
Summaiya Syed said that the four people who were injured in the bomb blast,
including a fourth Chinese teacher, Wang Yuqing, are out of danger.
Those
killed in the suicide bombing included three Chinese faculty members and their
Pakistani driver, Khalid Nawaz.
In
the FIR lodged about the incident by SHO Basharat Hussain, the BLA Majeed
Brigade militant commanders Bashir Zaib and Rehman Gul and others were involved
in the attack. The FIR says the BLA wanted to undermine relations between
Pakistan and China and get publicity for their outlawed outfit through
terrorist acts, the FIR added.
The
security forces on Thursday raided the house of the father of the bomber in a
society located in Karachi's Scheme 33. Laptops and other evidence, including
documents, were seized during the raid.
The
Security agencies in Balochistan on Wednesday also searched the apartment of
the suicide bomber in Gulistan-e-Johar and sealed it afterwards. The apartment
was rented and the bomber had been living there for the last three years.
The
Karachi University reopened for the first time on Thursday after the suicide
attack. The university's spokesperson said that administrative affairs and the
teaching process in the university will continue as usual. However, the
Confucius Institute will remain closed until clearance from the Chinese
embassy.
Newly-appointed
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited the Chinese embassy in
Islamabad shortly after he took charge on Wednesday. Information Minister
Marriyum Aurangzeb told a press conference that the government was reviewing
the National Action Plan against terrorism and would bring the perpetrators of
the Karachi bombing to justice.
China
has demanded stern action against the militant organisations behind the attack.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin during a media briefing asked
Pakistan to scale-up security for its nationals working in the country and
demanded a thorough investigation and punishment to the perpetrators behind the
suicide attack.
The
attack that too by a woman suicide bomber from BLA, which is vocally opposing
the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), sent shock waves in
China as it highlights deep rooted opposition to Chinese projects. Balochistan,
bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency.
Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting
the CPEC projects.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
Pakistan
anti-graft watchdog starts inquiry against ex-PM's family friend
Apr
29, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB),
on Thursday ordered an inquiry against Farah Khan, a close friend of former
prime minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, on allegations of accumulating
“illegal assets beyond known sources of income, money laundering, and
maintaining various accounts in the name of businesses”.
Farah
left Pakistan for the UAE immediately after a no-confidence motion was
submitted against then PM Imran Khan in the parliament last month.
Due
to her close association with the ex-prime minister’s family, her name
frequently surfaced in media in the past three years, all for wrong reasons.
She,
along with her husband, Ahsan Jamil Gujjar, and previous husband of Bushra
Bibi, Khawar Maneka, were alleged to be involved in postings and transfers of
officers in lieu of huge sums of money.
The
anti-graft body has directed its director general in Lahore to start an inquiry
against Farah as per the law.
According
to the NAB, a huge turnover amounting to Rs 847 million has been found in
Farah’s account during the last three years, which is not commensurate with her
stated account profile.
“These
credits were received in her personal account and withdrawn immediately after
credit within a short time period,” a NAB’s notification stated, noting that
several “adverse” media reports had been found where Farah – referred to in the
statement as Farhat Shahzadi (alias Farah Khan) – was alleged to have been
involved in acquiring assets beyond legal means.
The
NAB also said that in a review of Farah’s income tax returns, it was observed
that her assets significantly increased from 2018 onwards for unknown reasons.
“Moreover,
she has been frequently travelling to foreign jurisdictions, including nine
times to the USA and six times to the UAE,” the NAB’s statement said.
Farah
and her husband were not the only ones whose assets grew exponentially during
the PTI’s regime. Her sister, Musarrat Khan, was also found in possession of 20
residential plots in Lahore, which she bought during the tenure of the PTI
government.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
China
asks its firms in Pak to heighten security for staff after Karachi suicide
attack: Official
Apr
28, 2022
BEIJING:
China on Thursday asked thousands of its nationals working on the $60 billion
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan to increase their
security and watch out for terrorist risks following a deadly suicide blast in
Karachi that killed three Chinese and wounded another.
"The
Pakistani government has promised to strengthen security for Chinese personnel
projects and institutions, and will not allow any force to undermine our
friendship and cooperation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang
Wenbin told a media briefing here.
Asked
about the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the terrorist group whose woman
suicide bomber carried out the attack at the Karachi University targeting the
Chinese teachers, warning more attacks if China and Pakistan don't vacate from
Balochistan province, he said, "we believe Pakistan will take earnest and
concrete measures to ensure the safe and smooth progress of bilateral
cooperation."
"Once
again, we remind our institutions' personnel in Pakistan to heighten their
security awareness and watch out for terrorist risks," he said.
A
woman suicide bomber was seen on the video blowing herself near a shuttle bus
used by Karachi's Confucius Institute occurred on Tuesday afternoon, killing
three Chinese teachers and their local driver and injuring another Chinese
person.
In
a purported video issued by the group, a BLA spokesman said that the motive of
the attack was very clear. "It was a simple and clear message to China and
Pakistan to withdraw immediately from Balochistan," said the masked
spokesman surrounded by armed men on a hilly terrain.
"Baloch
Liberation Army guarantees you the CPEC will fail miserably on Baloch
land," the spokesman, who was holding an assault rifle, said in fluent
English.
He
warned that a special unit has been formed particularly to attack Chinese
officials and installations in Balochistan. The group opposes Chinese
investment in Pakistan, especially in the restive Balochistan, saying local
people do not benefit.
The
CPEC connects China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Balochistan,
providing China direct access to the Arabian Sea. Thousands of Chinese are
currently working on scores of infrastructure projects.
The
Pakistan Army has formed a separate brigade consisting of thousands of soldiers
to guard the Chinese as both the BLA and the Pakistan's Islamic militant group
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have carried out numerous attacks.
Wang
said, "the Pakistani side is making all out efforts to investigate the
attack and apprehend the perpetrator. Terrorism is a common scourge of all
mankind. China and Pakistan has the resolve and capability to cut off the claws
of the terrorists make them pay the due price."
"China
and Pakistan's iron-clad friendship is deeply rooted in people's hearts. China
supports Pakistan's national development and will continue to support its
economic and social development and improvement of livelihood," he said.
State-run
Global Times reported that Chinese businesses are ramping up precautions to
ensure the safety of personnel and projects in accordance with official guidelines
following the Karachi attack.
After
the attack, several state-owned companies that are deeply involved in Belt and
Road projects in the country told the daily that their local employees are safe
and the projects have not been disrupted.
PowerChina,
a major participant in the CPEC, said "we have military personnel
stationed at our construction sites to guarantee our safety."
A
manager of the Henan D.R. Construction Group, a large construction company with
several projects in Pakistan, said the company is reducing outdoor activities,
especially in high-risk areas. Certain safety and security measures for
personnel and projects have also been strengthened.
China
Metallurgical Group Corp, which has copper mining business in Pakistan, said
security measures have been strengthened.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
Swearing-in
of Hamza being ‘arrogantly prevented’, says Maryam
April
29, 2022
LAHORE:
PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said on Thursday that despite clear orders of
the court, the swearing-in of Hamza Shehbaz as the chief minister of Punjab is
being “arrogantly prevented”.
Taking
to Twitter, Ms Maryam said that violating the Constitution, law and courts
with such arrogance cannot be the work of a normal person.
She
lambasted former premier Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party,
saying the ‘ghosts of Bani Gala’ should be handled with strictness.
Referring
to Punjab being without a CM for the past several days, the PML-N leader said
this is a province of 120 million inhabitants, which is not a joke.
Slamming
the PTI leadership, she said these “lunatics must be driven into a mental
asylum or face serious treason and contempt of court cases”, adding they
behaved like children and left the people amazed.
Indirectly
referring to PTI’s previous regime, she said the country was being ruled by
such “mental and psychiatric patients”.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1687346/swearing-in-of-hamza-being-arrogantly-prevented-says-maryam
--------
Terrorists
infiltrating from Afghanistan: KP IG
April
29, 2022
PESHAWAR:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said here on
Thursday that terrorists were infiltrating from Afghanistan in tribal districts
to carry out attacks.
Briefing
journalists at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines, he said that such incidents had
taken place in Bajaur, North and South Waziristan tribal districts.
Mr
Ansari said that on Pakistani side, kinetic action was being taken against
terrorists; however, for the issues emanating from across the border needed to
be taken up with Afghan authorities. “We are facing problems from other side of
the border,” he added.
He
said that over past four months, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested
202 terrorists including 18, who were carrying head money. He said that about
70 terrorists including proclaimed offenders were killed in police action
during that period.
Police
chief says the issue needs to be taken up with Afghan authorities
Mr
Ansari said that CTD also killed Daniyal, a terrorist of the so-called Islamic
State, who was involved in the Koocha Risaldar suicide attack. More than 60
people were killed and scores of others were injured in the attack. He said
that the terrorist was also involved in the targeted killings of police
officials, Sikh homeopath Satnam Singh and Christian pastor William Siraj.
He
said that CTD recovered 46 kilograms of explosives, 99 hand grenades, eight
suicide jackets, three rocket propelled grenades, 43 RPG shells and other arms
and ammunition.
“During
the first four months of current year, 30 policemen were martyred,” said the
IGP. He added that seven of the martyred officials belonged to CTD and seven
others were injured.
He
said that police carried out a total of 6307 search and strike operations and
arrested 45,697 suspects. He said that police also recovered 8,198 different
types of arms and 184,193 rounds as well. In addition, police registered 3,146
FIRs over violation of tenancy laws and 460 FIRs were lodged against hotels for
failing to comply with documentation of the guests.
Mr
Ansari said that police also checked a total of 87,703 educational institutions
and FIRs were registered against 65 for failing to follow the security
parameters. In addition to this, a total of 12,506 bus stops were also checked
during the past four months and 1,061 cases were registered under Sensitive and
Vulnerable Establishments and Places Security Act, 2015.
Also,
296 FIRs were registered over misuse of loudspeakers. A total of 1,199 illegal
Afghans were arrested during this period and FIRs were registered against 1,083
of them.
The
IGP said that police narcotics eradication teams (NETs) during crackdowns on
drug mafia, lodged a total of 3,989 FIRs. He said that police recovered a total
of 4,301 kilograms of charas, 418 kilograms of heroin, 246 kilograms of crystal
meth, 545 kilograms of opium and 3,599 litres of liquor.
He
said that the police also ensured peaceful holding of the local government
polls in the province. In addition to this, police also set up Aasan Insaf
Marakiz and Madadgar police.
He
said that they were also focusing on better training, equipment and
communication system for police in tribal districts. He said that besides
several of police arms and other needs were also being met under the
Accelerated Implementation Programme. “We are going to make setup of CTD in all
merged districts by June 30 this year,” he added.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1687335/terrorists-infiltrating-from-afghanistan-kp-ig
--------
North America
Pakistan’s
consulate honours distinguished Pakistani-Americans at an Iftar
APRIL
29, 2022
NEW
YORK: Pakistani-American men and women holding senior positions in public and
elected offices were honoured at an Iftar-dinner hosted Thursday by Pakistan’s
Consul General in New York, Ayesha Ali, who called them “role models” for the
next generation of leaders.
“This
consulate general is your home (it’s) the territory of Pakistan,” she told a
large gathering of the Pakistani community members, diplomats from Turkey,
Qatar, and UAE as well as representatives of different religions.
“We
will continue to support you,” the consul general added.
A
number of police officers serving the New York Police Department(NYPD), led by
Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, were also present.
Ayesha
Ali said the number of senior Pakistani-Americans in public and elected offices continued to
increase last year, while 2022 has been a year of “firsts”, among them, Ahsan
Chughtai, senior advisor to New York City Mayor; Asim Rehman, commissioner and chief
administrator Law Judge of Oath; Shama
Haider and Sadaf Jaffer, Assembly members in New Jersey and Zahid Quraishi ,
the first US federal judge.
“You
have been in the vanguard of presenting tolerant, universal and peaceful spirit
of Islam,”she said while introducing them. “I thank you for your service and
for being the tremendous role models that you are.”
The
consul general said strong community was the real foundation of a strong
Pakistan-US partnership. “Thank you for all you do for Pakistan”.
Ayesha
Ali said while celebrating Ramazan, less fortunate people like “our Kashmiri
brother and sisters” in Indian occupied Kashmir should not be forgotten. Their
rights have been trampled upon by the Indian occupation forces since 1947.
“This
Ramazan, our thoughts and prayers are in need to be heard and assisted, the
world over.”
Source:
Daily Times
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Ex-US
envoy to Pakistan pleads guilty to undisclosed lobbying for Qatar
Anwar
Iqbal
April
29, 2022
WASHINGTON:
Richard Olson, a former US ambassador to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates,
has pleaded guilty to undisclosed lobbying for Qatar while still in service and
soon after his retirement, court records show.
He
is also accused of accepting a lavish trip to Qatar while still serving as the
US envoy to Pakistan. “I wish to plead guilty to the offences charged, to waive
trial in the Central District of California, and to dispose of the case in the
District of Columbia in which I am present,” he wrote in a consent letter
submitted by his lawyer.
Mr
Olson, who has also served as US special representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, was charged in the federal court over violation of a restriction on
lobbying for a foreign country while in service and within a year after
retirement.
Mr
Olson has been awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award and the
Secretary of Defence Exceptional Civilian Service Award, and is a three times
recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. He lived in Virginia
after his retirement and was a regular on South Asian affairs at Washington’s
think tanks where he often appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to contain terrorism.
US
ex-envoy accused of receiving $20,000 monthly payments from a Pakistani American
lobbyist
Former
US president Barack Obama sent Mr Olson, a career diplomat, to Pakistan in 2012
when the then ambassador, Cameron Munter, resigned after the 2011 US raid in
Abbottabad. Mr Munter was apparently not consulted before the raid, which eliminated
Osama bin Laden but strained relations with Pakistan as Islamabad too was
informed after the raid. Mr Olson presented his credentials to the then
president Asif Ali Zardari on Oct 31, 2012, and served in Pakistan till Oct 27,
2015.
The
charges against Mr Olson include courting foreign work while in office and
using his political influence to advance Qatari interests in Washington after
his retirement.
The
US Justice Department has also charged him with making false statements in
ethics paperwork and violating laws restricting foreign lobbying by ex-federal
officials, both misdemeanors.
According
to a court document, quoted in US media reports, Mr Olson received $20,000
monthly payments from an unnamed Pakistani American lobbyist for the work.
The
lobbyist also flew Mr Olson to London in early 2015, while he was serving as
ambassador, to meet an unidentified Bahraini businessperson who offered him a
$300,000-per-year contract at their company, the reports claim.
Prosecutors
also claim that after leaving government service in late 2016, Mr Olson worked
with his Pakistani American contact and high-level Qatari government officials
to advance Doha’s interests in Washington, prosecutors allege.
Documents
shared with the US media show that when Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf
nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017 and blockaded its only land
border, citing financial support for terrorism, Mr Olson lobbied US government
officials to take Qatar’s side in the dispute.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1687364/richard-olson-pleads-guilty-to-undisclosed-lobbying
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Are
Arab Americans playing enough of a role in helping to forge US policies?
RAY
HANANIA
April
28, 2022
Chicago
-- Arab Americans are playing a greater role in helping to define US policies
and programs through their involvement in the White House and the State
Department, members of the Arab American affinity group told Arab News
Wednesday.
Nadia
Farra, special assistant to Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman covering the Middle
East and North Africa, counterterrorism and cyber issues, and Mahmoud
El-Hamalawy, press officer at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs covering North
Africa, said their role in the State Department’s Arab American affinity group
created in 2014 has helped open the door to greater Arab American engagement.
The
Arab Americans in Foreign Affairs Agencies employee affinity group is the
department’s only employee-based organization concerned with the promotion,
protection and utilization of the cultural, linguistic, personal and
professional assets that Arab American foreign affairs professionals commonly
share.
“I
think the Biden administration definitely has the most Arab American political
appointees. Where we come in is working on that recruitment effort and pushing
the department to look at Michigan, talk to schools in California and Texas —
those populations with greater Arab Americans,” explained Farra, who serves as
the Arab American affinity group president.
“Also,
we did two recruitment efforts this year, two Facebook Lives with
careers.state.gov, where we talked about security clearances, where we talked
about what kind of careers are at the departments. I think that pushing on the
recruitment side is where you see more Arab Americans. We have had people like
Ambassador Philip Habeeb in the 60s and 70s who have had a huge impact on the
department. But I think now not only are we having more Arab Americans, we are
having a greater diversity of where those Arab Americans come from. Like you
mentioned, the 22 countries. I want to see more diversity of that, just more of
that. I’m Syrian American and definitely heard of Syrian Americans who have
worked in government before. But I really want to get out there and really
empower those who come from the more underrepresented communities.”
Farra
entered US government service in 2011 as a third-generation public servant. Her
father worked as a physician at a US base in Georgia, and her immigrant
grandfather taught Arabic at the Defense Language Institute in Monarch,
California.
Farra
and El-Hamalawy discussed their roles during an appearance Wednesday on “The
Ray Hanania Radio Show,” which is hosted on the US Arab Radio Network and
broadcast on live radio in Detroit, Washington, D.C. and Canada. The radio show
is rebroadcast in Chicago on Thursdays and streamed on Arab News Facebook and
ArabRadio.us.
El-Hamalawy,
an Egyptian American who spent 16 years working at an Arab satellite news
outlet, said the Arab American affinity group plays “a significant role” in
implementing the goals of President Biden’s partnership with Arab Americans.
“The
department itself looks at us as a resource, not necessarily on policy per se
but to get our perspective on issues on diversity and inclusion” for all of the
various groups and for “underrepresented groups like Arab Americans,”
El-Hamalwy said.
Farra
added, “Arab Americans are a part of that fabric” that the US government
“utilizes as a resource.”
El-Hamalawy
noted that the group played an important role in President Biden and US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken issuing, for the first time, a formal
recognition commemorating Arab American Heritage Month last year. And they
acknowledged the Arab American role this year, too.
Farra
explained that AAIFAA membership is not based on any ethnicity or religion, but
rather on a shared affinity for Arab culture. The Arab American affinity group
does not just include Americans of Arab heritage but also individuals in
federal service who have a shared interest in issues related to the Middle East
and who are dedicated to working toward diversity to reflect the region’s population.
“The
role of these groups is to kind of advocate…for their membership but to also be
advisors to our leadership on…how to reach [our] goal…, which is to make the
state department or federal government look more like America. And how to do
that within these communities. How to do outreach. How to do recruitment. How
to keep retention and just monitor the community’s needs for our membership,”
Farra explained.
“It
(the Arab American affinity group) is not the oldest by any means, but also we
are not the newest. We were started in 2014. What makes us a bit more unique is
that we span all foreign affairs agencies. So, we are not just the State
Department group. We have members from Treasury. From Energy. So, all over the
inner agencies. We have over 500 members. So, we have really grown in the last
couple of years.”
El-Hamalawy
and Farra said that the door for Arab American engagement in the Biden
administration and in public service is more open today than it ever has been.
Farra added that Biden recognizes the importance of Arab Americans in helping
to confront stereotypes and even contributing to American foreign policy in the
Middle East.
“I
would say it is the most open it has ever been, and we have some work to do on
the way we retain those from underrepresented communities and pulling more from
our communities. But I think that the door is absolutely open if you are
willing to take the risk…[of] getting into foreign policy and government work.
I would say absolutely,” Farra said.
“Something
my boss, the deputy secretary, always says is to bring your whole self to work,
bring your whole background, bring your whole ties. Because that’s what makes
us stronger as a nation…Diversity inclusion isn’t something to do because it is
good to do. It is because it makes us stronger and smarter, and I think that is
something we just don’t hear enough of. And that diversity includes the Arab
American community. And the only other thing I will say is the
coalition-building between the other underrepresented groups within the State
Department has just really skyrocketed the changes that we have made, so I
would really encourage the Arab American community with any initiatives they do
to build coalitions with other ethnic groups.”
AAIFAA
serves as a resource of relevant ideas and experiences that can be shared among
Arab American communities throughout the interagency community. AAIFAA
membership is open to all civil and foreign service employees in the department
and throughout the interagency community.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072556/world
--------
India
Gyanvapi
mosque near Kashi Vishwanath temple not a Waqf property: Counsel for temple
APRIL
29, 2022
“Gyanwapi
Mosque cannot be said to be a Waqf property because it was not dedicated by any
legal Waqif after the demolition of the Kashi Vishwanath temple in 1669”
The
Allahabad High Court on Thursday resumed the hearing on Varanasi’s
Kashi-Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute with the counsel for the temple
asserting that the disputed mosque is not a waqf property.
Appearing
for the Kashi Vishwanath temple before the bench of Justice Prakash Padia,
senior counsel Vijay Shankar Rastogi also asserted that the provisions of the
Waqf Act are not applicable to this mosque as it is not a waqf property.
Mr.
Rastogi advanced his argument refuting claims by appellants Anjuman Intazamia
Masjid of Varanasi and the Sunni Central Waqf Board of Lucknow in their
petitions that the mosque was a Waqf Property, a property permanently and
irrevocably donated by an eligible, legally constituted ‘Waqif’ (legal donor)
for a pious and religious purpose and hence rendered non-transferrable.
Mr.
Rastogi, however, argued in the court and also explained later to PTI that the
Gyanwapi Mosque cannot be said to be a Waqf property because it was not
dedicated by any legal Waqif after the demolition of the Kashi Vishwanath
temple in 1669.
There
was never any dedication of the property to God or to build a masque by any
Waqif after its demolition by its destroyer, Mr. Rastogi said.
Mr.
Rastogi also argued that the disputed property was earlier once registered as
Waqf Property before the enactment of the Waqf Act, 1995, which provided for
the re-registration of the Waqf Property, but it was never done.
Moreover,
the earlier registration of the disputed property as a Waqf property did not
affect Hindu’s rights over it as the Waqf Act only concerned Muslims, he
argued.
Accordingly,
the disputed property is not a waqf property and the provisions of the Waqf Act
do not apply to it, he asserted.
Earlier
during the last hearing on April 12, Mr. Rastogi had argued that the Kashi
Vishwanath temple of Lord Vishweshwar has been in the existence since ancient
times and the Lord is situated in the disputed structure.
Despite
its demolition, the religious character of the temple never changed, he said,
arguing that section 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991
is not applicable to the temple because it was an old temple and was built
prior to the 15th century.
Mr.
Rastogi made this argument in response to the reliance of appellants' counsel
on section 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which bars
filing of any suit or initiating any other legal proceeding for a conversion of
the religious character of any place of worship, as existing on August 15,
1947.
Justice
Padia adjourned the matter for further hearing on May 10.
The
original suit was filed in 1991 in the Varanasi district court for the
restoration of the ancient temple at the site where the Gyanvapi mosque
currently stands.
The
plea has been taken in the suit that the said mosque is a part of the temple.
Varanasi’s
fast track court headed by a civil judge (senior division) had on April 8,
2021, directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey of the
Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex and ascertain if a temple was
demolished to build the mosque that stands adjacent to the temple.
The
Allahabad High Court, however, stayed the Varanasi court’s order dated April 8,
2021.
Source:
The Hindu
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Seven
Arrested In UP's Ayodhya For Throwing Objectionable Items At Mosques
April
29, 2022
Ayodhya,
Uttar Pradesh: Seven people were arrested by the Ayodhya police on Thursday,
all accused of disturbing the peace and equanimity of the city by throwing
objectionable posters and objects at several mosques in Ayodhya.
The
arrested accused have been identified as Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Pratyush
Srivastava, Nitin Kumar, Deepak Kumar Gaur alias Gunjan, Brijesh Pandey,
Shatrughan Prajapati, and Vimal Pandey. All of them are residents of Ayodhya.
Senior
Superintendent of Police (Ayodhya), Shailesh Kumar Pandey, said that the
incident was carried out by 11 people out of which seven have been arrested
while four others are absconding.
"A
total of eight persons on four motorcycles, led by Mahesh, threw objectionable
posters and objects outside the mosques. The police recovered the objects, a
mobile phone, and vehicles have been impounded. We have arrested seven people
so far, four are absconding. We will arrest them soon. Action under the
Gangsters Act and NSA will also be initiated against them," said the SSP.
During
the investigation, it was found that Mahesh Kumar Mishra was the main
conspirator and along with his other accomplices, a conspiracy was hatched at
Brijesh Pandey's house in opposition to the recent incident in Jahangirpuri of
Delhi. It also came to light that the accused on the night of Wednesday first
reached the Beniganj Tiraha where after seeing a Police Response Vehicle (PRV)
car could not execute the plan on Beniganj Masjid and thus moved to other
mosques. They threw the objectionable posters and objects at Ayodhya's Masjid
Kashmiri Mohalla, Tatshah Mosque, Ghosiyana Ramnagar Masjid, Idgah Civil Line
Mosque and Gulab Shah Dargah behind Dargah Jail.
Police
also said that out of the seven arrested, three accused have a previous
criminal history.
"The
accused Mahesh has four cases registered against him in Kotwali Police station
Ayodhya. Apart from this, the accused Nitin and Vimal also have cases
registered against them," said a police officer.
Source:
ND TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Ban
on Ramzan prayers in Srinagar mosque draws flak
29th
April 2022
By
Fayaz Wani
SRINAGAR: Authorities in Kashmir UT have disallowed
‘Shab-e-Qadr’ (nightlong prayers) and ‘Jumat-ul-Vida’ (last Friday of Ramzan)
congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, drawing criticism from
mainstream parties and religious groups.
A
spokesman for Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid, which runs the affairs of the shrine,
said police and administration officials headed by a magistrate visited the
premises on Wednesday evening and conveyed to the Auqaf members that
authorities had decided not to allow Jumat-ul-Vida prayers as well Shab-e-Qadr
(27th night of Ramzan) prayers at Jamia Masjid. Muslims offered nightlong
prayers in mosques and shrines on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr.
Source:
New Indian Express
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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2
terrorists, involved in attacks on migrant labourers, killed in Pulwama
encounter
Apr
29, 2022
SRINAGAR:
Two local terrorists of Al-Badr outfit, responsible for recent attacks on
migrant labourers in Kashmir, were killed in an encounter with security forces
in Pulwama district late on Wednesday, police officials said on Thursday.
Inspector
general of police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said a soldier was also injured during
the initial exchange of fire. He was shifted to hospital for treatment, he
added.
Following
inputs regarding presence of terrorists in Mitrigam village of Pulwama, a
search operation was launched by the security forces on Wednesday, he said.
During
the search operation, as the security forces moved towards suspected spot, the
hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was
retaliated that led to an encounter, he said.
After
the evacuation of civilians from the area, the encounter resumed in which two
local terrorists identified as Aijaz Hafiz of Dalipora, and Shahid Ayub of
Dheeri Murran, linked with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr, were killed and
their bodies were retrieved from the spot, he said.
The
killed terrorists were also involved in a series of recent terror attacks on
migrant labourers in Pulwama. Hafiz was involved in firing upon migrant
labourers namely Sonu Sharma, a native of Pathankot, at Yadder Pulwama,
Mohammad Akram from UP's Bijnor at Arihal Pulwama and Vishwajeet Kumar of Banka
in Bihar at Circular Road Gangoo, Pulwama, a police spokesman said.
“He
was also involved in firing upon bank guard Abdul Hamid Wani, a resident of
Tahab Pulwama, and sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Kumar of panchayat Halqa Arihal B at
Arihal Pulwama. Besides these terror crimes, terrorist Hafiz was instrumental
in recruiting Shahid Ayub into terrorist ranks, who, too, was neutralised in
the encounter,” he said.
The
spokesman said Ayub was involved in firing upon two migrant labourers namely
Patlashwar Kumar and Joko Choudhary – both natives of Bihar – at Lajoora
Pulwama. “Before joining terrorist ranks, he was working as a terrorist
associate and was involved in several other terror crimes,” he said.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of
the encounter, police said.
IG
Vijay Kumar has termed the operation as a big success and congratulated the
joint forces for neutralising the terrorists involved in the recent terror
attacks on migrant labourers.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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India,
Bangladesh made good progress in bilateral ties: Jaishankar
Apr
28, 2022
DHAKA:
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said despite the
challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, both India and Bangladesh have remained
regularly in touch with each other in boosting bilateral ties.
Addressing
the Joint Press Interaction in Dhaka, Jaishankar said: "My visit today, is
aimed at continuing the progress in deepening our engagement. It is in keeping
with the strength and spirit of our bilateral ties. As neighbours, the
regularity and the informality and the cordiality of our interaction is a very
good reflection of trust and confidence.
He
also informed that he had the privilege to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
today afternoon and conveyed the greetings and good wishes of PM Modi.
"We
discussed a number of issues. We reviewed bilateral ties as well as regional
and global issues," he said.
Speaking
on the 7th round of the Joint Consultative Commission, Jaishankar said that
India is looking forward to welcoming Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.
"This
meeting will provide a good opportunity to lay the ground for the next level of
our relationship which we hope would be underlined when the Prime Minister
visits India," he said.
In
view of our strong people-to-people connect, the External Affairs Minister
noted that the connectivity between India and Bangladesh is back to pre-Covid
levels. "we are looking at resuming cross-border bus and railway services,
shortly after Eid."
"I
am also very encouraged to see that decisions taken by our leaders last year to
commemorate Maitree Diwas in 18 capitals apart from Dhaka and New Delhi, the
establishment of the first Bangabandhu Chair in India, the Suborno Jayanti
Scholarships for students from Bangladesh, and the Bangabandhu-Bapu Digital
Exhibition have all been implemented. These are all in keeping with the spirit of
solidarity between us which we hope to pass on to the younger
generations," Jaishankar said further in the statement.
The
External Affairs Minister also expressed satisfaction that the trade,
disbursement of loans on bilateral projects, travel services and investment are
at new heights and they have recovered the momentum which was lost during the
Covid-19.
He
asserted that India also looks forward to stronger sub-regional cooperation in
connectivity and other areas.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Southeast Asia
After
PJ MP sentenced for ‘insulting’ Shariah judiciary, fellow lawmakers say judges
not immune from criticism
28
Apr 2022
BY
R. LOHESWAR
KUALA
LUMPUR, April 28 — A group of MPs said today they are concerned by the Shariah
court sentencing Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah to seven days of jail for
allegedly insulting the Shariah judicial system.
The
MPs said any judge, either in the civil or Shariah system, should be open to
criticism especially when it involves institutionalised problem such as how
women are being seen as discriminated by state Islamic laws.
“Especially
a person like Maria who has public duties as a member of Parliament. Her
comments were not scurrilous or malicious. They were clearly done in good faith
with the view that the Shariah legal system and other bodies would address
them.
“Judges
are by no means immune to public criticism and accountability to those they
serve in order to place confidence in the judiciary,” the group said in a
statement.
They
said Maria’s sentencing which was done in her absence is unlawful, as it
contradicts existing legal provisions on sentencing.
Maria
on April 25 was sentenced to one week in jail by Shariah judge Mohamed Fouzi
Mokhtar for contempt of court over her statement that was found to “belittle,
demean and insult” the Islamic judicial system.
She
had released a statement on September 5, 2019, pointing out that Muslim women
in Malaysia are still being discriminated against under the Shariah judicial
system here.
The
statement was in response to a case initiated by prominent businessman Datuk SM
Faisal SM Nasimuddin and the latter’s ex-wife Emilia Hanafi.
“We
will stand by Maria in her exercise of her right of freedom of expression in
raising matters of clear public interest albeit critical of the Shariah
judicial system just as we would even if the civil system was the subject
matter,” they added.
The
statement was signed by a total of 79 MPs.
Among
those were PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, former women’s minister
Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu,
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, and Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president
Datuk Darell Leiking.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Cutting
wages of those working from home unjustified, say unions
Esther
Yap
April
29, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Two workers’ groups have objected to a proposal for reductions in the
wages of employees working from home.
Commenting
on a call by Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin
Bardan, spokesmen for the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) and the
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) told FMT they did not believe that
companies were suffering reductions in productivity or profits as a result of
allowing their workers to work from home.
NUBE
general secretary J Solomon said businesses would have ordered their workers to
return to the workplace if their productivity or profits were affected.
Shamsuddin
was recently quoted as saying that travel allowances could be revoked in
addition to pay cuts of between 10% and 12%.
But
Solomon argued that companies whose employees were working from home were
benefiting from reduced operational costs.
“Employees
are working from home at their own expense, not their employers’. Hence, I
don’t see the logic in employees taking any pay cut,” he said.
MTUC
deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani said reducing the wages of those
working from home was unreasonable because they were helping their employers
save on utilities, office space rental and other costs.
However,
he said most workers were already looking forward to returning to their
workplaces as they lacked resources at home.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Lawyer
says MAIP’s bid to vary custody order will not prejudice Loh, children
V
Anbalagan
April
29, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: A Buddhist single mother and her three children, who were converted to
Islam, will not be prejudiced should the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay
Council (MAIP) be given leave to intervene to vary a custody order, the High
Court heard today
Lawyer
Haniff Khatri Abdulla said leave ought to be given to the council as they were
also an interested party.
“They
will not be prejudiced if leave is given to MAIP to be a party to vary the
custody order given to the mother (Loh Siew Hong),” the lawyer said in his
submission.
MAIP
is seeking to change the child custody terms given to Loh in a divorce petition
last year so the council can provide Islamic education and training, and tithes
to her 14-year-old twin daughters and 10-year-old son.
The
council said it was doing so because the children were converted to Islam by
their father in Perlis on July 7, 2020.
The
names of the children cannot be mentioned nor their photographs be published
due to a gag order issued by Judge Evrol Mariette Peters last month.
According
to Haniff, MAIP does have a direct legal interest to intervene because it has
statutory duty to look after the wellbeing, education, and guidance of Muslims
who converted to Islam in Perlis.
He
said the children’s conversion is a subject matter before a judicial review
proceeding in another court but in this court, MAIP wants to be a party as it
has a duty to take care of the welfare of the children.
Haniff
said the children were prima facie Muslims and the Perlis state enactment
allowed for unilateral conversion by a parent.
He
also said Loh had impliedly waived her right to allow her husband M Nagashwaran
to convert their children.
“She
is a Buddhist but the children’s religious status in the birth certificates
states they are Hindus. She has waived her right when the husband converted
their children,” he added.
Loh
and the children have been under media spotlight before and after the High
Court in February allowed her habeas corpus application to regain custody of
the children.
They
were under the care of preacher Nazirah Nanthakumari Abdullah.
She
has also filed for a declaration that a provision in the Perlis state enactment
that allows for a parent to unilaterally convert minor children is
unconstitutional.
She
also wants a declaration that they are of the Hindu faith.
Meanwhile,
Loh’s lead counsel A Srimurugan today submitted that the application by MAIP is
a non-starter because the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act only governed
non-Muslim marriages.
“MAIP
has no locus standi in a civil court in its attempt to vary the custody
order(which was finalised on March 31 last year) as the Act only applies to
non-Muslim individuals,” he said
He
said there was nothing for MAIP to intervene as Loh and her ex-husband’s
divorce was finalised and custody of the children given to her.
“The
only interested parties who can come to court to vary the custody order are
family members of the couple,” he said.
He
said the ex-husband’s unilateral conversion of the children was illegal as it
went against the 2018 Federal Court ruling in the case of M Indira Gandhi.
Lawyer
Shamsher Singh Thind said Loh and her children would be prejudiced should MAIP
be given leave to argue that it could regulate the lives of the minors.
“They
will once again be in the spotlight as social media will start reporting about
them,” he said.
He
said the MAIP should limit itself to providing assistance to Muslims born in
Perlis.
“In
our case, the children were born and raised in Kedah. They were only taken to
Perlis to be converted,” he added.
Evrol
reminded both parties after they had completed their submissions that this
court was only concerned about the welfare and the rights of the children.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
We
can probe any public official, including judges, says MACC
April
28, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has dismissed criticism
over its probe into Court of Appeal judge Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, maintaining it
has the authority to probe any public official, including judges.
It
said this was provided for under the MACC Act 2009, and that public officials
include workers of any public body including members of the government, MPs, assemblymen
and judges.
MACC
also pointed out that it had investigated other judges in the past with their
investigation papers sent to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), as was the
norm.
“In
line with the principle of separation of powers, after all probes are
completed, investigation papers are referred to the AGC to decide whether to
prosecute or not,” it said in a statement.
The
agency reiterated that it bore the responsibility of confirming and
investigating any reports it receives that fall under its jurisdiction.
It
said three reports were filed over Nazlan’s case, on March 15 as well as April
23 and 27, and maintained that its probe was still at an early stage.
“When
an investigation is initiated against any individual, it does not mean that the
said individual has committed an offence.
“With
that, the MACC asks the public to allow the investigation to be conducted.”
Nazlan
lodged a police report last week over a news article alleging that he was being
investigated for unexplained money in his bank account.
Nazlan
was the trial judge who convicted and sentenced former prime minister Najib
Razak on seven charges relating to RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC
International on July 28, 2020.
Last
December, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. An appeal against the
conviction is pending before the Federal Court.
Among
others, the Malaysian Bar said the Constitution provided for complaints of
alleged judicial misconduct to be handled in a manner that ensured continued
public confidence in the judiciary.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
There
are ‘rats and cats’ in PH’s ‘big tent’, says Hadi
April
29, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: PAS is staying away from Pakatan Harapan’s “big tent” because it is
filled with “rats and cats” that are constantly fighting with one another, says
party president Abdul Hadi Awang.
According
to an Utusan Malaysia report, Hadi said the party will look to continue to
strengthening the unity among Muslims.
PAS
is a component party in the Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN). Though PAS is
also part of the Muafakat Nasional (MN) alliance with Umno, ties between the
two parties have become strained.
“PAS
has its own group and we will continue focusing on Muslim unity.
“We
do not want to join the ‘big tent’ because there are rats, cats and so on,” he
told reporters at an event in Marang, Terengganu.
His
comments come in the wake of PAS election director Sanusi Md Nor’s remarks that
the party would stay out of PH’s “big tent”, a term used to describe the move
to unite all opposition parties against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next
general election (GE15).
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Promise
to add halal vaccine to Indonesia booster programme
28
Apr 2022
JAKARTA
(The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): The Health Ministry has announced that it
will add one of the more widely available Covid-19 vaccines with halal
certification to the state-led booster jab rollout, in an effort to assuage the
concerns of the country’s Muslim majority.
A
ministry official confirmed on Tuesday (April 26) that it would add the
CoronaVac vaccine, co-manufactured by state-run pharmaceuticals company
BioFarma and China’s Sinovac Biotech, to its current roster of booster shot
offerings.
The
decision was made following a recent Supreme Court ruling calling on the
government to offer halal-certified vaccines, to ensure that its many Muslim
recipients have the option of getting faith-approved protections.
Ministry
spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that her office
had begun to redistribute its stockpile of Sinovac vaccines across the country,
after saying on Monday that the government would “respect the Supreme Court’s
decision” requiring halal vaccines to be offered in the state vaccination
programme.
“For
members of the public who feel more comfortable using Sinovac, we will open up
the opportunity to use it as a booster vaccine option,” she said.
There
are currently around 7 million Sinovac vaccines in the national stockpile, with
Siti noting that they would gradually be available as a booster option in the
near future.
In
spite of its shortcomings, Indonesia’s Covid-19 response has been met by wide
praise, in no small part thanks to the government’s swift procurement of
vaccines from a variety of foreign manufacturers.
The
global state of emergency had led the country’s conservative-leaning Muslim
leaders to exempt the use of otherwise halal-uncertified vaccines, produced
primarily in Western countries, in favour of immediate protection for its large
population.
But
now that the vaccination drive has shifted to providing additional immunity to
the contagious disease, officials are hard pressed to offer more
Muslim-friendly options, just as the nation heads into Islam’s most important
holiday.
Indonesia
has so far seen 164 million people, or some 78 per cent of the national
targeted population of 208 million, fully inoculated. However, just under 17
per cent of the targeted population has received a third booster shot, which
the government has made a mandatory travel requirement for the annual mudik
(exodus) tradition.
Nearly
230 million of its 279 million-strong population are recorded as Muslim.
According to the ministry, the national vaccination drive utilises five
Covid-19 vaccines – produced by Sinovac, AstraZeneca (AZ), Moderna,
Pfizer-BioNTech and Janssen, respectively – all of which have secured emergency
use authorization (EUA) from the national Food and Drug Monitoring Agency
(BPOM).
Another
vaccine, manufactured by Chinese state firm Sinopharm, has also obtained an EUA
but is used only in the private sector-led Gotong Royong vaccination scheme.
However,
only the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, along with China’s Zivifax and the
locally produced Merah Putih vaccine seed, have obtained halal certification
from the nation’s top Islamic clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council
(MUI).
Of
all the halal-certified vaccines, only Sinovac has seen wide use in the
national vaccination campaign.
In
spite of this, the Sinovac vaccine was omitted from the state booster regimen,
with Siti saying the decision was made so it could be set aside solely for
minors, due to it being the only vaccine to date that is eligible for use among
younger age groups.
Conversely,
the AZ, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were declared haram, or forbidden under
Islam, by the MUI, due to biological materials derived from swine.
However,
they were still permitted for use (mubah) due to the state of emergency caused
by the pandemic.
When
the booster rollout first started in January, the third dose was initially only
made available for first- and second-dose recipients of Sinovac and AZ
vaccines, but was later amended to encourage wider protections.
The
Supreme Court ruling that sparked this change in policy was granted in favour
of a judicial review filed by the Indonesian Muslim Consumers Foundation
(YMKI).
The
group had sought to challenge Article 2 of Presidential Regulation No. 99/2020,
which handed the authority to determine which vaccines to use to the
government.
On
April 14, the court found the regulation under scrutiny to have contravened Law
No. 33/2020 on halal product guarantees, which stipulates that all products
that enter, circulate and are traded within Indonesian territory must have
halal certification.
In
its ruling, which was made publicly accessible only last week, the bench
concluded that the presidential regulation was non-binding if the government
was unable to guarantee the halal status of Covid-19 vaccines.
“The
government, in carrying out its Covid-19 vaccination programme, cannot impose
its will on the public to be vaccinated for any reason and without condition,
[...] unless there is a guarantee of the halal status of the Covid-19 vaccine,”
the ruling stated.
Source:
The Star
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Arab World
Arab
Coalition to release 163 Houthi prisoners in ‘humanitarian initiative’
28
April ,2022
The
Arab Coalition announced on Thursday that it will release 163 Houthi prisoners
who participated in combat operations against the Kingdom in a “humanitarian
initiative,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The
Arab Coalition announced it will release 163 Houthi prisoners as part of a
“humanitarian initiatives,” adding that these prisoners had participated in
combat operations against the Kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
reported on Thursday.
The
move falls within the context of previous humanitarian initiatives and aims to
support efforts that seek to end the crisis in Yemen and achieve peace,
Coalition Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
It
also aims to fortify UN efforts to maintain the truce, which went into effect
on April 2, prepare the atmosphere for dialogue among Yemeni actors and
facilitate finalizing the prisoners’ and detainees’ issue in line with Muslim
values and international principles, he added.
The
fragile truce which began on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramazan
has largely held, offering a glimmer of hope in war-torn Yemen.
“The
Arab Coalition began finalizing the procedure to release all 163 prisoners in
coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross to transfer them
to Sanaa,” al-Maliki said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Suspected
ISIS gunmen kill 7 Syrians at Ramazan iftar meal
Apr
28, 2022
BEIRUT:
Suspected Islamic State group gunmen have attacked a Ramazan gathering hosted
by a former official of a US-backed group in eastern Syria, killing seven and
wounding four, opposition activists said Thursday.
The
Wednesday night attack in the Abu Khashab area in Deir el-Zour province
targeted the home of a former spokesman with the US-backed Syrian Democratic
Forces, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and
Euphrates Post news website.
Euphrates
Post said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire as the group was
having an iftar — the fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan
— at the home of former SDF spokesman Nouri Hameesh, who was among those
killed.
Three
years after ISIS lost the last sliver of territory it controlled, its sleeper
cells have been increasing attacks in recent months, mainly targeting the
Kurdish-led SDF but also forces from the Syrian government.
Source:
Times Of India
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Lebanon
oil spill clean-up continues over one year after catastrophe
29
April ,2022
Last
year, a tanker leak caused by an accident off the coast of Israel unleashed
massive waves of oil, tars, and other toxic contaminants across the southern
shores of already crisis-stricken Lebanon.
Fearing
an environmental disaster, residents and NGOs immediately began to mobilize to
identify and clean up the affected areas in a concerted effort to minimize the
damage.
“Our
main concern was the intermediate, toxic effects a spill could have on the
ecosystem,” Dr. Hisham Younes, Head of environmental NGO Green Southerners,
told Al Arabiya English. “There was also concern about tar smothering
endangered species since the spill hit many of their natural habitats.”
“Despite
the limited resources and capabilities,” he continued, “the voluntary civic
engagement in the coastal towns and cities of the South showed a growing sense
of environmental awareness among local communities and their ability to take
action.”
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Initially,
then PM-Designate Hassan Diab was quick to request an assessment of the
ecological damage from the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS).
Their findings would form the basis of the government’s response.
“Overall,
the government’s response to the oil spill disaster was inconsistent,
disproportionate, and weak,” Younes lamented. “Upon learning of the spill, we
implemented a plan to limit its spread in the hope that the government would
act almost immediately. However, this did not transpire.”
No
governmental contingency plans emerged until two weeks after the spill. These
directives were widely decried as insufficient and vague, based on a
superficial CNRS report severely lacking in hard data. Without access to clear
information or necessary equipment, municipalities could not act effectively
against the encroaching environmental threat.
After
more and more delays, the Lebanese government ultimately handed over
responsibility for the cleanup to the United Nations Development Program
(UNDP). By that time, the toxic materials had become more deeply entrenched.
“[They]
cleaned up the beach six months after the contamination,” Youssef Jundi, an
instructor and marine photographer with the Lebanese Diving Center, explained.
“This delay caused quantities [of tar] to be buried under the sand. Today, new
quantities [are still being] detected on Adloun Beach.”
Official
findings on the damages the spill has caused are still not comprehensive enough
to assess the harm done accurately. Many concerns remain about the long-term
ecological impact on marine life due to the disruption of food chains and
breeding grounds.
Populations
of sea turtles are particularly adversely affected by the contamination of the
beaches they use as nesting sites. Females digging to bury their eggs are
exposed to toxic materials beneath the surface of the sand, which also makes
the process of digging more difficult.
Hatchlings
can also become covered in the same sticky oil residue when they emerge from
their nests, impeding their ability to move. It leaves them vulnerable to
predators – which then ingest toxic materials themselves – or simply drying out
and dying in the sun before they can reach the sea.
Local
businesses, such as fishing operations and seaside resorts, have also faced
ongoing difficulties. Already suffering due to the loss of tourism revenue from
the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, many coastal communities have
been left devastated.
“We
remain concerned about the long-term consequences of the spill,” said Younes.
“We could not determine the [full] impact of the spill on fisheries and local
fishing operations that were adversely impacted.”
“For
beach-goers and swimming enthusiasts, there [has been] suffering at the public
and free beaches,” Jundi explained. “The beaches are still not clean. Families
that went into the sea had their feet and belongings contaminated.”
This
lack of decisiveness on the part of the Lebanese state when it comes to
environmental protection is an endemic problem for the country. In 2019, a
series of forest fires decimated parts of Mount Lebanon due to the government’s
failure to maintain its firefighting helicopters.
Much
of the country’s waste is sent directly to landfills that have long since
exceeded their specified capacities. In some areas, waste management is so
lacking that garbage is not removed for weeks or even months at a time,
resulting in illegal dumping and severe environmental pollution.
Since
the onset of Lebanon’s ongoing financial meltdown, particularly in the
aftermath of the Beirut port explosion in 2020, the lack of political will to
tackle these issues has become even more problematic. Despite this, many Lebanese
are becoming increasingly aware of the need to preserve their country’s
precious natural resources.
“The
level of environmental awareness is increasing, well ahead of government
performance,” said Younes. “We need to reform and establish new laws to protect
Lebanese wildlife species. These laws should determine the critical
conservation status of species that are threatened, both in terrestrial
ecosystems and marine ecosystems.”
With
the official classification of three new nature reserves last year, located at
Mount Harmon, Nmayriyeh, and Abbasieh, the Lebanese government has made
overtures towards a greater level of environmental stewardship.
For
the time being, it falls to the people of Lebanon, along with NGOs and
international agencies, to take responsibility for its environmental health and
biodiversity.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Bashar
al-Assad's family likely worth $1-2 billion, US report says
28
April ,2022
Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad's family is likely worth $1-2 billion, the US State
Department said Thursday, despite US-led efforts to isolate him over the brutal
war.
In
a report required by Congress, the State Department said it could only provide
an “inexact estimate” with the Assads believed to hold assets under fictitious
names or through opaque property dealings.
“Estimates
based on open-source information generally put the Assad family net worth at
between $1-2 billion,” said the publicly released part of the report, some of
which was classified.
Quoting
non-governmental and media reports, the State Department said that the Assads
run “a complex patronage system including shell companies and corporate facades
that serves as a tool for the regime to access financial resources.”
The
estimate includes the president's wife, brother, sister, cousins and uncle,
most of whom are under US sanctions.
The
State Department said it did not have enough information on the net worth of
the president's three children, the youngest of whom is 17.
The
US Congress has led sanctions that aim to prevent a return to business as usual
with Assad, who has regained control over most of Syria after a decade of war
estimated to have killed nearly half a million people.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
King, Crown Prince receive Turkey’s Erdogan during his first visit since 2017
28
April ,2022
Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
received Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah
Thursday evening, state news agency SPA reported.
Erdogan
arrived on his first trip to the Kingdom since 2017 at King Abdulaziz
International airport in Jeddah and was received by Governor of Mecca region
Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
The
Turkish Presidency had said earlier that the visit came at the invitation of
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
“All
aspects of the relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia will be reviewed, and
steps aimed at enhancing the cooperation between the two countries will be
discussed at the talks to be held as part of the visit. Besides bilateral
relations, views on regional and international matters will be exchanged,” the
Turkish statement said.
Ties
between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been strained after the killing of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
But
Ankara has sought to improve ties with the Riyadh.
In
addition to Saudi Arabia, Erdogan has also been working to mend his ties with
other countries in the region as he faces domestic challenges at home brought
on by an economy grappling with a currency crash and soaring inflation.
‘New
era’
Speaking
at a press conference before heading off to the Kingdom, Erdogan said: “My
visit reflects our joint will to start a new era of cooperation as the two
brotherly countries. We will be making efforts in order to start a new era of
enhanced relations between our two countries in all respects including
politics, military, economy and culture.”
“Saudi
Arabia holds a special place for Turkey in terms of trade and investments as
well as the large-scale projects implemented by our contractors. The total
value of the projects our contractors have undertaken in Saudi Arabia reaches
$24 billion. The complementary nature of our economies is the primary factor
that attracts Saudi investors to the dynamic environment in Turkey,” he added.
“I
see and believe that it is in our joint interest to boost our cooperation with
Saudi Arabia in such areas as healthcare, energy, food security, agricultural
technologies, defense industry and finance. It seems that we have significant
potential particularly in renewable and green energy. We will hopefully discuss
and thoroughly evaluate these issues.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Mideast
Israel
PM Naftali Bennett’s family receives death threat and bullet in mail
28
April ,2022
The
family of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has received a death threat
and bullet in the mail for the second time this week, the police said on
Thursday.
According
to an Israeli official familiar with the matter, the target of the threats was
Bennett’s 17-year-old son. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line
with regulations.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Officials
have not said who might be behind the threats.
Bennett,
who leads a small nationalist party, has come under heavy criticism from
Israeli hard-liners who accuse him of abandoning his ideology. In 1995, Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish ultranationalist opposed to
his peacemaking attempts with the Palestinians.
Also,
tensions have been heightened with the Palestinians recently following a series
of deadly Palestinian attacks in Israeli cities, Israeli military raids in the
occupied West Bank and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at a
sensitive Jerusalem holy site.
In
a nationwide speech marking Israel's Holocaust memorial day, Bennett lamented
the deep polarization in Israeli society as he warned his citizens against
letting internal divisions tear society apart.
“My
brothers and sisters, we cannot, we simply cannot allow the same dangerous gene
of factionalism dismantle Israel from within,” Bennett said in Wednesday
night's ceremony, broadcast on national TV.
Bennett’s
speech, coming on one of Israel’s most solemn days of the year, came in a
deeply personal context. On Tuesday, his family received the first letter with
a live bullet and a death threat.
Israeli
authorities tightened security around the premier and his family and were
investigating.
That
prompted his son oldest son Yoni to write on Instagram how upsetting the
episode had been.
“It’s
just sad to see that real people write such horrible things,” he said. “To
think that he lives and breathes like me but has a brain that was created by
the devil is crazy.”
Israeli
media said Yoni, who is 17, was the target of Thursday’s threats.
Police
have said they are investigating both incidents. They have placed a gag order
on the investigations and released few details.
Bennett
leads a narrow coalition that recently lost its parliamentary majority. His
government is made up of eight parties that have little in common beyond their
shared animosity to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Netanyahu,
now the opposition leader, has worked hard to deepen divisions within the
coalition.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Sheikh
Sabri: Israel set to desecrate Aqsa Mosque, facilitate incursions by extremists
28
April 2022
A
respected and senior Palestinian cleric has strongly condemned the latest wave
of Israeli aggression against the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old
City of al-Quds, saying that the Tel Aviv regime is set to further desecrate
the holy site and facilitate relentless incursions by extremist settler groups.
“As
everyone knows, tens of thousands of Muslims go to al-Aqsa Mosque during the
holy month of Ramazan and offer prayers there. The process is not pleasant to
the occupying regime. Zionists are, therefore, trying to prevent worshipers
from entering the sacred place by creating obstacles and tensions during Ramazan,”
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, president of the Supreme Islamic Council in al-Quds, said
in an exclusive interview with Iran’s Arabic-language al-Alam television news
network broadcast on Wednesday evening.
He
said Israel is furtively seeking to reach its objectives, and has lately
contacted officials from neighboring countries to feign that it is seeking a
ceasefire and working to ease tensions.
“This
is while the regime is dogged to escalate tensions, and the false claim of
ceasefire is entirely meant to help occupiers and extremist Jewish groups
achieve their goals,” Sabri noted.
The
imam at Islam’s third holiest mosque and also the former mufti of al-Quds noted
that extremist Jewish groups have found that the time is ripe to advance their
goals, firstly because the current Israeli administration is in a weak position
and relies on Jewish groups to survive, and secondly, Israelis have inclination
toward extremism being spread by Jewish groups.
‘Normalization,
Arab monarchs’ silence behind escalation of tensions’
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Sabri said the latest developments in the Muslim world,
especially the normalization of diplomatic relations and the silence of some
Arab rulers, can be considered another reason for the escalation of tensions
and violations of red lines by Israel.
He
highlighted that the media coverage of Israeli acts of aggression against the
al-Aqsa Mosque compound has put the Palestinian nation in a stronger position,
and demonstrations were accordingly staged in Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran
and even in the United States and Europe in support of al-Aqsa Mosque.
‘Zionists
will have no right over al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque’
Sabri
added that International Quds Day reminds Muslims worldwide, whose population
is estimated to be at more than two billion, that al-Quds is a central issue
and has a pivotal role.
International
Quds Day falls on last Friday of holy month of Ramazan, during which people
rally across the world in support of the Palestinian cause of liberation from
Israeli aggression and occupation. The occasion has been designated by Imam
Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran.
“Any
action by the occupying Israeli regime is void, illegal and inhumane. The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has
described al-Quds as an occupied and historical city. No matter how much the
occupiers would try to impose their laws, jurisdiction and administration
there, they have no right to al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque,” the cleric said.
‘Zionists
are weak’
He
emphasized that political Palestinian factions, irrespective of some
differences between them, agree on the need for popular mobilization in order
to defend al-Aqsa Mosque.
Source:
Press TV
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People
worldwide mark Quds Day in solidarity with Palestinians
Friday,
29 April 2022
Millions
of people have taken to the streets for Quds Day rallies around the world to
show solidarity with the Palestinians and condemn Israeli atrocities against
them.
In
Iran, demonstrations started at 10 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) in Tehran and
some 900 others cities and towns across the country.
People
taking part in the rallies seek to communicate to the world the deplorable
conditions inflicted by Israel upon the Palestinians and press the Israeli
regime to respect their rights.
They
are also using the opportunity to highlight Israel’s decades-long occupation of
Palestine and the regime’s atrocities against the Palestinians.
Final
statement calls for ‘beefing up anti-Israel resistance’
At
the end of the rallies, a statement was issued that described the liberation of
the holy city of Quds, freedom of the oppressed and defenseless Palestinian
nation from the clutches of the occupying Zionist regime, and annihilation of
the Israel regime as the lofty ideals of the Muslim world.
It
denounced concessions and normalization of diplomatic relations with the
usurping Tel Aviv regime as an act of unforgivable treason and a fiendish plot
aimed at weakening the anti-Israel resistance front and liquidation of the
Palestinian cause.
“We
condemn any attempt, which would seek to deviate the public opinion of the
Muslim world away from the evil scheme,” the statement read.
It
also referred to the International Quds Day and support of Palestinians as the
guarantor of Iran’s national security and the key to the unity of the Muslim
Ummah against the conspiracies of colonial and arrogant powers.
The
statement went on to stress the need for beefing up the anti-Israel resistance
front, calling on regional and international organizations to adopt decisive
and practical positions, back the sole solution to the Palestinian issue, which
is based on the return of Palestinian refugees and a comprehensive and free
referendum, and oppose any alternative, oppressive and sham initiative in its
place.
It
noted that the successive defeats of the United States, the Israeli regime, and
Saudi Arabia in the strategic West Asia region have dispelled the invincibility
myth of the Israeli army and the regime’s security apparatus and indicated that
colonialism and Zionism are in decline in the region.
“We
emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces firmly, completely,
and effectively support the anti-Israel resistance front, especially the
zealous and courageous Palestinian fighters,” the statement pointed out.
The
statement also decried the deadly silence of the international community and
human rights organizations vis-à-vis the racist practices, genocide, and
inhumane crimes of the bogus Israeli regime.
It
highlighted that the Tel Aviv regime has perpetrated evil crimes against
various nations, especially Palestinians, and has been involved in criminal
acts against the Iranian people and the assassination of the Islamic Republic’s
nuclear scientists.
“We
demand responsible and relevant institutions as well as members of the press to
use existing capacities and opportunities to expound on Israel’s long list of
crimes, and to explain to the young generation the reasons behind Iran's
support for the Intifada (Palestinian uprising) and the Palestinian issue,” the
statement read.
Over
the past two years, Iran had replaced street rallies with online events to
commemorate the International Quds Day as a deadly coronavirus pandemic had
restricted mass gatherings across the globe.
Every
year on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, worldwide rallies are
held to commemorate the Palestinian people’s resistance against Israel and
their struggle to liberate their territories, which have been occupied by
Israel for decades.
The
annual event is seen as an opportunity for freedom-seeking people across the
world, regardless of faith, to voice their support for the Palestinian cause
and vent their anger against the apartheid regime in Tel Aviv, which has
occupied Palestinian territories since 1967.
The
International Quds Day is among the legacies of the late founder of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, who is revered as a spiritual leader by
Muslims across the world. Back in 1979, shortly after leading an Islamic
Revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini named the
last Friday of the fasting month of Ramazan the Quds Day.
Meanwhile,
Israeli forces have continued their attacks against Palestinian worshipers at
the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of occupied al-Quds.
The
troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
At
least three people were injured as a result, according to the Palestine Red
Crescent Society.
Tensions
have remained high in the occupied Palestinian territories over the past
several weeks. The situation is particularly tense in al-Quds, where the
al-Aqsa Mosque compound is located.
Israeli
troops have on various occasions attacked Palestinian worshipers there, as they
gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramazan.
The
desecration of the mosque has drawn widespread condemnation, with Palestinian
resistance groups promising a firm response.
Bahrainis
rally to protest normalization with Israel, voice support for Palestine
Hundreds
of people in Bahrain have once again staged demonstrations to protest against
the Manama regime’s normalization of ties with Israel and to express their
unwavering support for the oppressed Palestinian nation.
Bahrainis
held rallies in the villages of Abu Saiba, Sanabis, and Samaheej as well as
Bilad al-Qadeem suburb of the capital Manama to voice strong protest against
Manama’s concession to Israel and the opening of Tel Aviv’s embassy in the
Persian Gulf country.
They
held up the portraits of the country’s most prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa
Qassem and voiced strong support for Palestinians.
Iraqis
rally to mark Intl. Quds Day
Elsewhere
in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra, hundreds of people took to the
streets to mark the International Quds Day.
Source:
Press TV
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Houthi:
Co-existence with Israeli regime impossible
28
April 2022
The
leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement reprimands the regional states
that have “normalized” their relations with the Israeli regime.
Delivering
an address on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi censured the occupying entity as
a “corrupt regime,” adding, “The Zionist regime is not an ordinary regime, with
which one can enter [a state] of coexistence.”
The
regime’s existence in the region is aimed at “implementation of its corrupt and
destructive role here,” Houthi added.
The
hypocritical regional regimes that have “normalized” their ties with the
occupying entity are trying to change Muslim nations’ attitude towards Tel
Aviv, he said.
Back
in 2020, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain entered United States-brokered
so-called “peace deals” with the Israeli regime. Some other regional states,
namely Sudan and Morocco, followed suit.
Blasting
the regional countries for their compromise with the Muslim nations’ adversary,
the Ansarullah leader said that “the Zionist regime has been founded on crime,
plunder, and occupation.”
The
countries that have been fraternizing Israel, which also include Saudi Arabia,
were are to convince the regional peoples that the Israeli regime is “an ally
and a friend,” Houthi added.
“The
Emirati, Saudi, and the Al Khalifah regimes have mobilized their media to
[advertise] alignment with the enemy,” he said, adding that the compromising
states are even trying to “raise generations, which are dependent on the
Israeli enemy.”
The
remarks came on the eve of the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramazan,
which has been named by the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam
Khomeini, as the International Quds Day.
Al-Houthi
said Imam Khomeini named the occasion so as to remind Muslims’ of their duty
towards the issue of Palestine.
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/04/28/681175/Yemen-Houthi-leader-Israel
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IRGC
chief: Resistance sole way to liberation of Palestine
28
April 2022
Chief
Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General
Hossein Salami says negotiations and accords brokered by the United States only
aim to buy time for Israel, and weaken the Palestinian resistance front.
The
senior commander made the remarks in a televised address to a ceremony in Gaza
City on Thursday, on the eve of International Quds Day.
“The
so-called peace treaties like the Camp David Accords, the Oslo Accords, the
Sharm El Sheikh Memorandum etc have never been and will never be able to result
in the liberation of Palestine.
"All
such accords, which former US presidents, [former Israeli prime ministers Ehud]
Olmert, [Benjamin] Netanyahu, Yitzhak Shamir and Yitzhak Rabin tried to seal,
as well as the deal of century are nothing but deception and a conspiracy to
marginalize jihad, weaken the resistance front, buy time and obliterate the
awareness of the nations,” he stated.
He
underscored that Palestinian people have come to realize that they will not
achieve their goals except through resistance and struggle in the path of God
(jihad).
Salami
described the recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories as a
sign of the Israeli regime’s brutality and the strength of resistance groups,
stressing that Palestinian resistance fighters have reinforced the Muslim Ummah
and changed the balance of power in the region.
The
IRGC chief hailed International Quds Day as a gift from Imam Khomeini, the late
founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran, stating that the designation of the
last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan for the event put Palestine a top
priority for the entire Muslim world.
“Palestinian
people are close to victory as the Zionist enemy is growing weaker. Weakness
inside the Zionist entity is evident in its politics, economy and security
apparatus, he said.
“All
Muslims around the world are united with Palestinians in the struggle against
the Israeli regime. Al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque are symbols of unity among
Muslims in support of Palestinians,” Salami pointed out.
IRGC:
Events herald Israel's imminent end
Earlier,
the IRGC said current developments in the occupied Palestinian territories show
that the demise of Israel is imminent and the regime is doomed to end very
soon.
“Recent
developments, particularly the fact that the flames of Intifada (uprising) have
passed through the inner walls of the regime, suggest that the Tel Aviv
regime’s days are numbered and occupiers of holy al-Quds are quickly nearing
their end,” the force said in a statement released on the eve of International
Quds Day.
It
lauded the decision by Imam Khomeini to designate the last Friday of the holy month
of Ramazan as International Quds Day, describing the prudent initiative and
historic move as a novel phenomenon and a source of pride for the Iranian
nation to play an effective role in supporting the oppressed Palestinian
nation.
The
IRGC underlined that free and justice-seeking nations have joined forces more
than ever to support the oppressed Palestinians, the Palestinian cause and the
liberation of al-Quds.
“Zionists
thought they could consign the Palestinian issue and the cause of al-Quds to
oblivion by following satanic schemes such as the so-called 'Deal of the
Century' and normalization of ties with some Arab countries. They were,
however, wrong and their dream of sustainable and permanent security has now
been broken,” the statement read.
The
statement further stressed that the discourse of resistance and support for
Palestine states that an end to the Israeli occupation, expulsion of occupiers,
return of Palestinian refugees and free elections are the only solution to the
Palestinian issue.
The
IRGC went on to term any concession, including normalization of ties with the
child-killing regime of Israel as an act of treason, emphasizing such bids are
doomed to failure.
Hamas
official: Normalization with Israel a crime
Meanwhile,
a high-ranking official from the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement said the
Arab states that have normalized diplomatic ties with the Israeli regime have
not only committed a grave crime against Palestinians but also their own
peoples.
Khalil
al-Hayya, a member of the Hamas political bureau and the deputy chief in the
Gaza Strip, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Iran’s
English-language Press TV television news network on Thursday ahead of
International Quds Day.
Hayya
slammed normalization with Israel as the regime kills Palestinian civilians,
including women and children, in cold blood.
He
stressed that establishment of relations with Israel only serves the best
interests of the United States and the Tel Aviv regime.
The
senior Hamas official said Palestinians are a nation under occupation and
reserve the right to defend themselves against Israeli occupiers.
Source:
Press TV
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At
least 42 hurt in clashes at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound: Report
29
April ,2022
Fresh
clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque
compound injured 42 people on Friday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said,
following weeks of violence at the flashpoint site.
An
earlier update from the Palestinian Red Cross said that 12 people were injured.
Israel’s
police said forces entered the compound after “rioters” hurled stones and
fireworks, including down towards the Western Wall, the sacred Jewish site
below al-Aqsa.
The
statement said officers used “riot dispersal means” to contain the unrest.
Witnesses and AFP reporters said police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
The
Red Crescent said that most of those injured suffered “upper body injuries.”
The
clashes had eased following morning prayers, according to witnesses and AFP
reporters.
But
tensions remain high at the site in the heart of Jerusalem’s old, walled city,
part of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
Over
the past two weeks, more than 250 Palestinians have been injured in clashes at
the al-Aqsa compound, Islam’s third-holiest site which is the most holy site
for Jews, who call it the Temple Mount.
The
fresh unrest comes as Muslims mark the final Friday in the holy month of Ramazan,
which is due to end early next week.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Iran
moves centrifuge-parts workshop underground at Natanz, IAEA says
28
April ,2022
Iran's
new workshop at Natanz for making parts for centrifuges, machines that enrich
uranium, has been set up underground, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi
said on Thursday, a move apparently aimed at protecting it from possible
attacks.
The
workshop uses machines from a now-closed facility at Karaj that suffered what
Tehran says was a sabotage attack by its arch-foe Israel. The workshop can make
parts essential to advanced centrifuges that are among the most efficient in
Iran's enrichment program.
The
International Atomic Energy Agency informed its member states two weeks ago
that Iran had moved the machines to Natanz without specifying where at the
sprawling site, which includes the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant where Iran
has thousands of centrifuges operating.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Grossi
told a news conference the workshop had been set up in “one of the halls” of
the FEP. Diplomats say the plant is roughly three floors below ground, possibly
to protect it from potential air strikes.
Until
now Iran has used the FEP only for enrichment. It is the one facility where the
2015 nuclear deal with major powers allows Iran to produce enriched uranium,
but only with its first-generation IR-1 centrifuges, which are far less
efficient than Iran's more advanced models.
“They
said that it is ready to operate,” the IAEA's chief inspector, Massimo Aparo,
said of the workshop.
The
2015 deal has been eroding since then-President Donald Trump pulled the US out
of it in 2018. Iran later breached various restrictions the deal imposed on its
nuclear activities, like caps on the purity to which it enriches uranium or its
stockpile of enriched material.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Scores
injured after Palestinians clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem holy site
April
29, 2022
JERUSALEM:
Fresh clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa
mosque compound injured 42 people on Friday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said,
following weeks of violence at the flashpoint site.
The
unrest came on the final Friday in the Muslim holy month of Ramazan. None of
the injuries were serious, the Red Crescent said, adding that 22 people had
been taken to hospital.
Israel’s
police said forces entered the compound after “rioters” hurled stones and
fireworks, including down toward the Western Wall, the sacred Jewish site below
Al-Aqsa.
The
statement said officers used “riot dispersal means” to contain the unrest.
Witnesses and AFP reporters said police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
Police
said three people had been arrested, two for throwing stones and one for
“inciting the mob.”
“For
the past hour, the site has been quiet and (Muslim) worshippers are safely
entering (the compound)” police said.
But
tensions remain high at the site in the heart of Jerusalem’s old, walled city,
part of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
Over
the past two weeks, nearly 300 Palestinians have been injured in clashes at the
Al-Aqsa compound, Islam’s third-holiest site which is the most holy site for
Jews, who call it the Temple Mount.
Israel’s
incursions into the site during Ramazan have raised global concern, but the
Jewish state has insisted it was compelled to act against operatives from the
Islamist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad who were seeking to spark widespread
unrest across Jerusalem.
In
an apparent attempt to ease tensions, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has
stressed that the government was committed to the status quo at the compound,
meaning an adherence to long-standing convention that only Muslims are allowed
to pray there.
Jews
are allowed to visit the Temple Mount.
Muslim
leaders have, however, been angered by a recent uptick in such visits/ Some
voiced fears that Israel was seeking to divide the compound and create a space
where Jews may worship. Lapid told journalists that no such plan exists.
The
fresh unrest comes as the end of Ramazan early next week.
Violence
in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has raised fears of another armed conflict
similar to an 11-day war last year between Israel and the militant group Hamas,
triggered by similar unrest at Al-Aqsa.
Recent
weeks have seen isolated rocket fire from Gaza toward Israel and Israeli
reprisals, but no casualties reported on either side.
The
Al-Aqsa tensions have come against a backdrop of violence since March 22 in
Israel and the occupied West Bank. Twelve Israelis, including an Arab-Israeli
police officer, and two Ukrainians were killed in four separate attacks inside
Israel. Two of the deadly attacks were carried out in the Tel Aviv area by
Palestinians.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2073106/middle-east
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Africa
Tinubu
urges prayers for Nigeria as Assembly holds Tawaf in Mecca
By
Kehinde Olatunji
29
April 2022
The
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential
aspirant, Bola Tinubu, yesterday urged Nigerians to pray for President
Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders in their efforts to resolve Nigeria’s
challenges.
Tinubu
stated this at a special tawaf by the Lagos State House of Assembly in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia.
He
also commended the Assembly for the successes recorded so far under the
Speaker, Mudasiru Obasa, just as he appreciated members of the House, who took
part in the Tawaf.
In
a statement, Tinubu, while reacting to the calls for prayers, thanked the
lawmakers for the initiative and described it as an “important decision.”
He,
however, urged them to pray for the country as well.
The
statement reads: “As Muslim faithful continue their fasting and supplications
to Allah in this Holy month of Ramazan, I express my gratitude to the Lagos
State House of Assembly for their decision to organise a special Tawaf (circumambulation
of Holy Kaabah) and prayer session for me today (Thursday) in Mecca.
“I
am most honoured by this gesture purposed to be in furtherance of similar
prayers seeking God’s blessings for my aspiration to lead the Nigeria from
2023.
“However,
while thanking Speaker Mudasiru Obasa and all members of the Lagos State House
of Assembly for this important decision, I enjoin the Speaker and his
colleagues to go beyond my ambition and pray for Nigeria as well.
“I
urge them to intercede on behalf of the nation and beseech Almighty Allah for
an end to the challenges in the country.
“I
urge them to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration in
their efforts to surmount these challenges.
Source:
Guardian Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://guardian.ng/news/tinubu-urges-prayers-for-nigeria-as-assembly-holds-tawaf-in-mecca/
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Somalia
elects speaker, paves way for presidential vote
April
28, 2022
MOGADISHU:
Somalia’s parliament elected a veteran politician as speaker of the lower house
on Thursday, as the fragile nation edges closer to holding a delayed
presidential vote.
The
election is well over a year behind schedule, marred by deadly violence and a
power struggle between the current president and the prime minister.
Somalia’s
international partners have been pushing for the process to pick up speed,
fearing the delays were distracting from the country’s myriad problems
including the fight against Al-Shabab extremists and the threat of famine.
Following
the election of the upper house speaker on Tuesday, lawmakers in the lower
house chose Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur, better known as Sheikh Adan Madobe, as
speaker in a drawn-out process that extended into two rounds and only concluded
in the early hours of Thursday.
The
vote took place in a tent inside Mogadishu’s heavily-guarded airport complex
under tight security, following a spate of attacks in recent weeks by Al-Shabab
which has been waging an insurgency against the government for more than a
decade.
It
had been due to take place on Wednesday but was delayed by a dispute over who
should provide security at the venue, highlighting the continuing rifts between
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmajo, and Prime
Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.
Madobe,
66, who had previously served as speaker between 2007 and 2010, secured 163
votes out of the 252 ballots cast. He is not known to be allied with either the
president or prime minister.
Farmajo
congratulated Madobe, saying in a statement that he hoped his election “becomes
a starting point for a greater change that saves the country.”
Roble
also offered his congratulations on Twitter, urging the speakers of both houses
to “carry out their responsibilities and conduct the presidential election in a
transparent, prompt and peaceful manner.”
On
Tuesday, 76-year-old Abdi Hashi Abdullahi was re-elected speaker of the upper
house.
Parliament
will now set a date for lawmakers to choose a president — the country has not
held a one-person, one-vote election in 50 years.
Farmajo’s
mandate expired in February 2021 but in the absence of agreement on elections,
he tried to extend his rule by decree, sparking violent street battles in
Mogadishu.
Under
pressure from the international community, he appointed Roble to seek consensus
on a way forward.
But
the pair’s disagreements have hindered progress and stoked fears of further
instability.
In
addition, a crucial IMF three-year $400 million (380 million euros) financial
assistance package for Somalia will automatically expire in mid-May if a new
administration is not in place.
On
Wednesday, Somalia’s international backers warned that “political tensions and
security incidents must not be permitted to disrupt (the election’s) final
stages.”
“We
urge all Somali leaders to exercise restraint, resolve differences through
compromise, and avoid escalation of any incidents.”
Polls
in Somalia follow a complex indirect model, whereby state legislatures and clan
delegates pick lawmakers for the national parliament, who in turn choose the
president.
The
voting process has seen a number of attacks by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab
which frequently strikes at civilian, military and government targets in
Somalia’s capital and elsewhere in the country.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072691/world
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Nigerians
rally in solidarity with Palestinians on Intl. Quds Day
29
April 2022
Nigerian
people have taken to the streets in the northern city of Kano to show
solidarity with the oppressed
Palestinians on the International Quds Day.
Demonstrators
carried Palestinian flags, chanted slogans against Israeli atrocities and
called for the liberation of occupied territories.
Some
of the protesters held pictures of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, the leader of the
Islamic movement in Nigeria on the eve of the Quds Day asking the Nigerian
government to allow the cleric to go abroad for medical treatment.
Sheikh
Zakzaki was released from prison last year. He had been detained by the army in
2015 following a deadly raid on his home. He still suffers from serious health
problems caused by gunshot wounds.
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ramazan-fasting-unity-muslims-islamophobia/d/126892