Georgetown, Oldest Catholic University in U.S., Erects Large Mosque on Campus
New
Age Islam News Bureau
05
May 2023
Georgetown
Opens First-of-Its-Kind Mosque on a U.S. College Campus
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Arab World
• Kingdom’s surging entertainment sector in the
spotlight
• Gulf Cooperation Council Drives Global Islamic Finance
Growth to $3 Trillion
• Saudi Geological Survey dating Kingdom’s rock layers
• Saudi Arabia developing high-tech visa service
• Fascinated By the Beauty of Saudi Arabia, Blogger
Aurelie Recounts Her Trip
• New unit to monitor infectious diseases in Saudi
Arabia
• Saudi minister of state to attend King Charles
coronation on behalf of King Salman
--------
North
America
• State Department Forced Muslim Security Guard To Shave
Beard, Lawsuit Claims
• From political Islam to illiberal nationalism: the
MENA states' war for hearts and minds
• Jackie Little indicted on federal charges in
Minneapolis mosque arsons
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India
• UP Muslim Boy, Irfan, Tops Sanskrit Board’s Class 12th
Exams With 83%
• The Kerala Story Row: AR Rahman Shares Video Of Hindu
Wedding Inside Mosque, Says ‘Love For Humanity…’
• Property Sale from Hindu to Muslim in Vadodara Society
Gets Green Light after 8 Years
• BJP, BSP’s Muslim Card Builds Suspense over Community
Mood in UP
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Pakistan
• 50 Members of 10 Hindu FamiliesWillingly Embrace Islam
in Karachi
• FM’s OfIndia, Pakistan Shook Hands and Exchanged
Pleasantries
• Most wanted terrorist involved in Sri Lanka cricket
team attack killed
• Chinese, Afghan FMs arrive in Islamabad today
• Pakistan lags behind in curbing child marriages
--------
Europe
• Turkish Opposition Is Gay – Erdogan
• South American nation blasts US over cruel treatment
of migrants
• Meet the Czech lawyer who rallies thousands to shake
up the EU establishment
• Israel claims Iran can make nuclear bombs
• Pope defrocks priest accused of genocide
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South Asia
• Afghanistan: 'Nothing We Can Do But Watch Babies Die'
From Illnesses That Could Be Cured With The Right Medication
• Afghan Interim Authorities Do Not Receive US Aid: US
State Dept
• Afghanistan Acting FM Muttaqi to Lead High-Level
Delegation to Pakistan Tomorrow
• Helmand Education Dept Says 93 New Schools to Be Built
• SRK-starrer ‘Pathaan’ becomes first Hindi film to
release in Bangladesh post 1971
• Rohingya delegation visits Myanmar amid latest
repatriation plans
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Mideast
• Iran’s Raisi Meets with Top Hamas and Islamic Jihad
Officials, Urges Israel’s Defeat
• 1000s Palestinian Worshipers Pray in Al-Aqsa and
Ibrahimi Mosques
• Dozens of Israeli Colonizers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Israel Seized Binance Crypto Accounts To 'Thwart'
Islamic State, Document Shows
• Vietnam's Vice President Vo Thi visits Sheikh Zayed
Grand Mosque
• Liberation of Quds most important issue of world of
Islam
--------
Africa
• Libya Christians Face Death Sentence over Conversion
from Islam and Proselytization
• Arabic, Islamic Board Staff Arraigned For Employment
Scam In Kaduna
• Sudanese special envoy urges rebels to put down arms
• No winner' in Sudan war: exiled Darfur rebel leader
• South Africa police apologises after names of rape
victims leaked online
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Singapore PM Lee: ‘Close To 90 Per Cent’ Of
Singaporeans Involved In Terrorism-Related Activities
• Malaysia’s Anwar says in talks to return 1MDB fugitive
Jho Low
• Asyraf Wajdi: Support of 148 MPs for unity government
still intact
• Woman pleads not guilty to hurting Indonesian maid
with iron, hot water in KL
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Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/georgetown-mosque-catholic/d/129710
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Georgetown,
Oldest Catholic University in U.S., Erects Large Mosque on Campus
Georgetown
Opens First-of-Its-Kind Mosque on a U.S. College Campus
-----
MAY 5, 2023
‘We need to
embrace interreligious dialogue,’ says vice president for Georgetown’s ministry
division
Georgetown
University, which touts itself as the oldest Catholic Jesuit University in the
United States, founded in the 1790s, recently completed a major construction
project erecting a large mosque on campus.
“On March 18,
Georgetown officially opened the Yarrow Mamout Masjid, the first mosque with
ablution stations, a spirituality and formation hall and a halal kitchen on a
U.S. college campus,” the university stated in a news release.
It opened in
2019 but construction was completed earlier this year to much fanfare, with a
dedication ceremony March 18 drawing Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who
issued a proclamation recognizing the mosque, the release stated.
Georgetown
University’s media relations, as well as representatives of its Catholic Faith
Communities, Catholic Ministry and alumni centre, all ignored requests over the
last week from The College Fix seeking comment on the mosque.
The Catholic
Georgetown is not shy about embracing Islam. Its news release touted the fact
that Georgetown was also the first U.S. University to hire a full-time Muslim
imam 24 years ago.
In 2016,
students at Georgetown University elected a Muslim student to serve as their
student association president, a first for the school.
Georgetown’s
newly debuted mosque “provides a space for reflection, prayer, community and
interfaith dialogue for Muslim and non-Muslim students at Georgetown,” its news
release stated, adding it hosts five daily prayer services, educational
programming and spiritual discussions.
“The masjid
[another word for mosque] builds on the university’s commitment to
interreligious understanding and care for the whole person, or cura personalis,
in creating sacred spaces on campus and community for students of all faith
traditions,” it stated.
The Hoya
student newspaper reported that the mosque was named after Yarrow Mamout, who
was a slave that practiced Islam throughout his life and lived in the
Georgetown neighborhood after gaining his freedom in 1796.
“The
construction of the Yarrow Mamout Masjid has been a long-awaited moment for the
entire Muslim community at Georgetown, as it provides a visible and tangible
expression of the community’s presence and contributions on campus,” Aleena
Dawer, director of spirituality and service of Georgetown’s Muslim Students
Association, told The Hoya.
Nile Adhami,
incoming president of Georgetown’s Muslim Students Association, told The Hoya
the mosque is “a place where I can feel comfortable to be myself, and engage my
Islamic faith to the fullest. In a Catholic Jesuit University, that’s a big
deal.”
Fr. Mark Bosco,
the vice president for Georgetown’s Mission and Ministry division, said in the
news release. “We’re trying to form students to be people for others.”
“And in doing
that,” Bosco added, “it means we need to embrace interreligious dialogue.”
“Coming to
these different places, being invited by another student to come to the masjid,
for example, whether you’re Muslim or not, invites us to explore the richness
of Georgetown’s heritage and its deep commitment to our faith traditions.”
Source: thecollegefix.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thecollegefix.com/georgetown-oldest-catholic-university-in-u-s-erects-large-mosque-on-campus/
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Islamic Affairs
Minister of Saudi Arabia Directs Imams to Devote Upcoming Friday Sermon to
Dangers of Drugs
Representative
photo
----
May 04, 2023
RIYADH — The
Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh
has directed mosque imams and preachers to devote the upcoming Friday sermon
(Khutba) to warn against the dangers of drugs.
The minister's directive
is meant to raise the awareness among the public about the dangers of all of
its drugs and to explain the harms they cause to individuals and society at
large.
Al-Sheik said
people should be made aware of the prohibition of drugs during the sermon, and
the imams must drive home the importance of cooperating with security
authorities and supporting their efforts by reporting drug dealers, smugglers
and accomplices.
The minister
also pointed out the importance of urging families to pay attention to their
children and educate them about drugs of all kinds and names, including the
deadly narcotic substance methamphetamine, which is also known as Shabu, so
that the they will not fall victims to drug pushers who try to exploit them by
all means.
Saudi Arabia is
continuing its ruthless war on drugs. As part of this battle, the Kingdom has
launched a campaign aimed at combating the spread of drugs, foiling attempts to
smuggle in drugs and eliminating the sources of financing this scourge, which
targets certain age groups, mostly the young generation.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/632154/SAUDI-ARABIA/Islamic-Affairs-nbspMinister-directs-imams-to-devote-upcoming-Friday-sermon-to-dangers-of-drugs
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Kerala HC After
Watching ‘The Kerala Story’ Trailer: 'What's Against Islam In It?'
'The Kerala
Story' stars Adah Sharma (in pic) Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani
in the lead roles.
-----
May 05, 2023
The high court,
while refusing to issue a stay order on the release of the film, observed that
there was no allegation against a religion, but only against the organisation
Islamic State or ISIS.
"There is
something called freedom of speech and expression. They have artistic freedom,
we have to balance that also", Justice Nagaresh orally stated while
refusing to grant an interim order.
A division
bench comprising Justice N Nagaresh and Justice Mohammed Nias CP considered the
matter.
“What is there
in the film that is against Islam? There is no allegation against a religion,
but only against the organization ISIS," Justice Nagaresh said.
The bench
watched the trailer of the film before refusing to stay its screenings, saying
that there was nothing offensive to any particular community in it.
The court
sought to know whether the entire trailer was against society.
“Nothing will
happen just because the film is screened. The teaser of the film was released
in November. What was offensive in the film? What is wrong in saying that Allah
is the only God? The country gives the citizen the right to believe in their
religion and God and spread it. What was offensive in the trailer?” the court
observed while considering a batch of petitions seeking to cancel the censor
certificate of the film.
"So many
movies have already come out about such organizations. There have been references
against Hindu monks and Christian priests in many films before. Did you see all
this in the way of fiction? What is so special now? How does this movie create
sectarianism and conflict in society?" the court observed.
The petitioners
argued that the film would inject poison into the minds of innocent people. The
petitioners argued that no agency has yet detected the existence of 'Love
Jihad' in Kerala.
Meanwhile, the
producer told the court that the teaser, which claimed that more than 32,000
women from the southern state were recruited to the Islamic State or ISIS, will
be removed from their social media accounts.
Helmed by
Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film has triggered a
massive political row with various leaders reacting to the upcoming movie.
'The Kerala
Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the
lead roles.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-kerala-story-news-kerala-high-court-trailer-32-000-women-isis-101683276706477.html
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Let’s Not
'Weaponise Terrorism' For Diplomatic Point-Scoring, FM Bilawal Says At SCO
Foreign
Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Goa, Indi, to attend the SCO Council of
Foreign Ministers meeting on May 05, 2023. Photo: Reuters
------
May 05, 2023
GOA, INDIA:
Foreign
Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his address at the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) on Friday urged nations to collectively eradicate the menace
of terrorism and “not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic
point-scoring”.
The foreign
minister, who is currently on a two-day visit to India, said that “the
collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility”.
He also
highlighted the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
“A peaceful and
stable Afghanistan is a key not only to regional integration and economic
cooperation but also to global peace and stability,” he added.
The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs quoted the FM saying that “unilateral and illegal measures by
states in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions run
counter to the SCO objectives”.
Bilawal also
stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation and regional integration. “When
great powers play [the] role of peacemaker, we can unlock [the] potential of
peace while paving [the] way for greater cooperation, regional integration and
economic opportunities for our peoples,” he added.
Reiterating
Pakistan’s strong commitment to the SCO, the foreign minister said that “there
couldn’t be a more powerful indication of the importance that Pakistan attaches
to the SCO than my presence here in Goa for this Council of Foreign Ministers
(CFM)” meeting.
He also
highlighted SCO’s role in enhancing regional connectivity and said that the
organisation “could be a key platform for taking the vision of Eurasian
connectivity to the next level”.
FM Bilawal also
talked about the climate challenges the region faces and said that “the climate
crisis poses an existential threat to humanity”.
“Pakistan has
emerged as an important voice in the global discourse on Climate Change in the
aftermath of that natural calamity,” the FM added.
He further
called for closer cooperation for poverty alleviation.
“There is a
very strong and compelling case for closer cooperation for poverty alleviation
under SCO. The establishment of the Special Working Group on Poverty
Alleviation proposed by Pakistan will be a step in that direction,” he said.
Earlier in the
day, the Foreign Office (FO) shared a picture of FM Bilawal with his Indian
counterpart S Jaishnakar.
A day earlier,
Bilawal had arrived in the Indian coastal resort of Goa to take part in the SCO
Council of Foreign Ministers. The foreign minister was received at the airport
by senior officials of the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
The foreign
minister is accompanied by the foreign secretary and other senior officials on
a visit that rekindles the hopes for an unlikely thaw in the relationship
between the two countries.
The SCO
comprises China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and key Central Asian States. India,
the current chair of the eight-member bloc, is hosting a series of events,
including the CFM.
The SCO-CFM
usually doesn’t get much traction, but this is not the case this year.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415237/lets-not-weaponise-terrorism-for-diplomatic-point-scoring-fm-bilawal-says-at-sco
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Dr Abdul Wahid
of Hizb ut-Tahrir: Muslims Shouldn’t Be Celebrating the Monarchy, We Should Be
Mourning Its Victims
Representative
Photo/ 5 Pillars
----
4th May 2023
Dr Abdul Wahid
of Hizb ut-Tahrir says Muslims shouldn’t be pledging allegiance to the king or
celebrating the monarchy. Rather, we should be mourning its victims at home and
abroad.
Charles
Mountbatten was proclaimed King by the Privy Council on September 10, 2022. So
why the lavish ceremony this week?
The coronation
is a formal religious ceremony and the King will be honoured by the
Establishment, who will pledge their allegiance (give bay’ah) to him. Yet
whilst we shouldn’t mock a religious ceremony, there is a need for an
independent-minded Islamic critique of this event – in particular because what
we are currently offered is little more than propaganda by mainstream media.
Around £100
million will be spent on this celebration, to bind the general public to the
nation state because it seems that is more important than alleviating food
poverty in modern Britain.
The coronation
contradictions are too numerous to mention.
Aside from
anointing a king with “holy oil” in arguably one of the least religious
countries in the world, one wonders how many of the congregation – who will
sing the coronation anthem that recalls when “Zadok the priest and Nathan the
prophet anointed Solomon king,” – actually believes in the God they will ask to
save the king!
Moreover, the
gap between the theory of an egalitarian democratic society and the reality of
what the coronation represents – i.e. a privileged establishment maintaining
its superiority over the rest – is huge.
In terms of
declining support for the monarchy the overall picture is not good given that
amongst 18-24 year olds only 32% back the monarchy (although even this group
only has 38% who prefer an elected head of state, with 30% undecided).
Although poll
evidence suggests there is more support for the current system than an elected
head of state, this may have more to do with a contempt for politicians rather
than active support for the institution.
The Royal
Family was once held up to be the role model to aspire to. Now the myth and
mystery has gone – with Charles embroiled in financial scandal, after adultery
and divorce; Andrew embroiled in sexual scandal; and the rift between Harry and
rest.
The family
looks like many other dysfunctional families that have fallen victim to
secular, capitalist, liberal values … only they are richer!
But the monarchy
survives because no one relishes a future President Sunak, Truss or Johnson!
Islam and
monarchy
My
understanding is that Islam doesn’t do kings. Kings are above the law – even in
constitutional monarchies like Britain.
But in Islam no
one is above the law – not even the Khaleefah; unlike in the nation state,
which has elevated itself to a godlike status in that it is the ultimate
authority.
Monarchy is a
system which elevates one family to a special status, usually because one of
their ancestors usurped power by force. A poet once said: “Steal a little and
they throw you in jail. Steal a lot and they make you a king.” Charles is the
descendent of the guy who stole a lot so they made him the king.
Islam also
doesn’t privilege certain families above others.
But in Britain,
the King is Sovereign – although, that is delegated to Parliament and the
government. He is the head of the two established churches of England and
Scotland. He is above the law of the church and secular state in worldly terms.
And in Islam we
believe that Sovereignty is for Allah Alone.
We recite the
dhikr “Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul mulk” perhaps without considering the
meaning: “There is no god except Allah. He is One. He has no partners.
Sovereignty is for Him alone.”
Allah tells us
in the Quran: “Say O Allah, Master of the dominion, You grant dominion to
whomever You will and You strip dominion from whomever you will, and You honour
whomever you will and You humiliate whomever you will; in Your hand is all
goodness. You are indeed All-Powerful over everything.” (3:26).
In the Islamic
understanding, anyone with authority (rightly or wrongly) has had it bestowed
upon them by Allah. But it is not a divine right – they will be accounted
accordingly by Him but also must be held accountable to the law of Allah by the
people.
The oath of
allegiance
During the
coronation we are told that people will be invited to say: “I swear that I will
pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according
to law. So help me God.”
An oath sworn
before Allah is a heavy matter for any believing Muslim. It is beyond belief
that any Muslim would want to make this oath.
On the other
hand, pledges (bay’ah) to a legitimate Khaleefah is a well-documented matter in
Islamic jurisprudence.
Allah, the Most
High, tells us in the Quran:
“You who
believe, obey Allah and the Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you
are in dispute over any matter, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you
truly believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is better and fairer in the end.”
(4:59)
Obedience to a
legitimate Islamic ruler is always conditional upon obedience to Allah and His
Messenger. Sayiduna Abu Bakr al Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, said
when taking the pledge of allegiance as the first Khaleefah: “Obey me as long
as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I do not then there is no obedience upon
you!”
There is no
such condition in pledging loyalty to Charles in this proposed oath.
What’s wrong
with enjoying the day?
That said, most
people will welcome an extra day off work, to spend time with family. But the
coronation is not a benign event about bunting and street parties. The monarchy
is intimately intertwined with the state. It is a soft power tool – at home and
abroad – that pushes an image of Britain that is often false.
At home, the
British Establishment has sought to aggressively assimilate Muslims into
subservience to the state. On the other hand the king will swear that he “will
seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”
The state
punches its victims with the government hand, and pacifies them with the king’s
hand. The government does the dirty work, while the monarchy applies the air
freshener.
Abroad the
British state has a shameful history: crusades, slavery; invasion; occupation;
colonialism; the fragmentation of the Muslim world and elsewhere.
We shouldn’t be
celebrating monarchy. We should be mourning its victims!
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/05/04/muslims-shouldnt-be-celebrating-the-monarchy-we-should-be-mourning-its-victims/
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Arab World
Kingdom’s
surging entertainment sector in the spotlight
Rashid Hassan
May 04, 2023
RIYADH: From tackling the environmental impact
of shows to spotlighting women in the events industry, the Saudi Light and
Sound Expo will look at how the Kingdom’s entertainment industry can stay ahead
of the curve, while mapping the industry’s future, and highlighting the biggest
trends and challenges.
The SLS Expo,
taking place from May 28-30 at the Riyadh International Convention and
Exhibition Center, will be the first dedicated event in Saudi Arabia for
professional AV and lighting equipment specialists, and will feature exhibitors
from the pro-lighting and audio, live events, digital signage, AI, laser
technology, and stage technology sector.
More than 15
debates, fireside chats, presentations, case studies and panel discussions from
industry experts will be included in the summit.
As the Kingdom
hosts growing numbers of international sports events, art exhibitions and live
concerts with international performers, there is a rising demand for AV
technology to support its burgeoning entertainment industry, which was worth an
estimated $308 million at the end of last year, according to Statista, the
online market and consumer data platform.
Amid plans for
the Kingdom to invest $64 billion in the entertainment industry over the next
decade, there is a significant demand for AV technology, professional lighting
equipment, and theater and cinema operators to support the ambitious
entertainment goals, and the rising demand will be the focus of this year’s SLS
Expo.
“With the
Kingdom hosting over 120 million people at events in the last four years, the
country is looking to fast track plans in its events and entertainment
industry, and the SLS Summit and Expo will look to showcase these
advancements,” said Mohammed Faisal, event manager at DMG Events, organizers of
the expo.
The Kingdom
continues to create the fundamentals for a vibrant entertainment sector, with
11,136 licenses issued for entertainment and supporting events since 2019,
according to the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.
Global
professional services firm Ernst & Young recently said that MENA
governments, such as Saudi Arabia, have demonstrated strong support for
entertainment as part of goals to invest in their non-oil economies. The
company predicted that by 2030, the entertainment industry will create over
100,000 jobs with a 3 percent impact on the Kingdom’s economic output.
“Saudi Arabia
is rapidly becoming the most important entertainment market in the region,”
said Koert Vermeulen, principal designer and owner of ACTLD, and one of the
speakers at the expo.
The summit will
also take a closer look at women in the events industry, with the country
putting several initiatives in place to empower and encourage women to join the
public and private sector.
“I am thrilled
to be taking part in the executive session, ‘Women in the events industry,’ and
I hope that it will help shine a spotlight on the wonderful opportunities
available for women,” said Debbie Kristiansen, general manager of Exhibition
World Bahrain and one of the speakers at the expo.
Topics include
trending and future tools for interactive installations and audience
engagement, design principles and techniques for creating shows, a sound-storm
case study, and sound engineering and design for immersive experiences.
Other speakers include
Mark Reeves, head of entertainment and events at 6 Flags Qiddiya; and Michael
Jobson, executive director, MDL Beast.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2297736/saudi-arabia
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Gulf
Cooperation Council Drives Global Islamic Finance Growth To $3 Trillion
May 5, 2023
Driven by favourable dynamics in the GCC and a
few other core markets, the size of the global Islamic finance industry is
poised to cross the $3.0 trillion mark this year, growing by around 10 per cent
after expanding at a similar pace in 2022, S&P Global Ratings said.
In 2022, GCC
countries drove most of the growth in banking assets. Similarly, Malaysia and
GCC countries accounted for a large portion of the Suluk market during the same
period.
In a report
titled “Islamic Finance 2023-24: Growth beyond core market remains market
remains elusive,” S&P’s primary credit analyst Mohamed Damak said while
sukuk issuance will likely continue to decline in 2023, new issuances are
expected to exceed maturities with sustainability-linked sukuk issuances
continuing to increase, albeit from a low base.
The GCC
countries — notably Saudi Arabia and Kuwait — largely fuelled this performance,
supported by a large, one-off acquisition in the latter. Elsewhere, growth was
either muted or held back by local currency depreciation. this was mainly due
to Kuwait Finance House’s (KFH’s) acquisition of Ahli United Bank.
S&P
forecasts a material slowdown in GCC economies’ real GDP growth in 2023-2024,
compared with 2022, largely based on lower oil production. “However, we think
that Saudi Arabia’s banking system performance will continue to underpin a
large portion of the expanding Islamic finance industry. In other GCC countries,
growth of about 5.0 per cent appears plausible in the absence of new major
government investment cycles.”
According to
the 2022 Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI) released by Refinitiv, an
(LSEG) London Stock Exchange Group Business, and the Islamic Corporation for
the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the global Islamic finance
industry is expected to reach $5.9 trillion by 2026 driven by Islamic banks and
sukuks
Malaysia led
the IFDI list in 2022 with a score of 113, followed by Saudi Arabia (74),
Indonesia (61), Bahrain (59), Kuwait (59), the UAE (52), Oman (48), Pakistan
(43), Qatar (38) and Bangladesh (36). The GCC has the highest average score
while the United States and countries in Europe have the lowest.
According to
the indicator, Islamic banking currently holds 70 per cent of the global
Islamic finance industry while sukuk’s grew by 14 per cent in 2021 to $713
billion.
Islamic funds,
the third biggest sector, saw standout growth of 34 per cent to $238 billion
worth of assets under management in 2021.
Islamic finance
experts are optimistic about the continued double-digit growth of the global
Islamic finance industry because of the prevailing positive developments in new
and emerging markets such as in Central Asia and North Africa.
The
developments in these regions especially with regards to regulations and
capacity-building have been years in the making.
The big and
more mature Islamic finance markets such as the six countries of the GCC,
Malaysia, and Indonesia, continue to strengthen their industries and lead with
developments and innovations in segments like Islamic FinTech, regulations, and
sustainability.
Over the next
couple of years, analysts expect progress toward greater industry
standardisation — in part supported by the digitalisation of sukuk issuance
could enhance Islamic finance’s structural growth potential.
At the same
time, the increasing focus on sustainability-related themes by core Islamic
finance players will create new opportunities for the industry. They expect the
contribution of sustainability-linked sukuk to continue increasing in the next
12-24 months, albeit from a low base.
Analysts expect
sukuk issuance will continue to spur the Islamic finance industry’s expansion
despite slowing issuance volumes overall. While volumes are generally expected
to diminish in 2023, most experts still believe that new issuance will exceed
maturing sukuk, resulting in another positive contribution of the sukuk market
to industry growth in 2023.—Khaleej Times
Source: pakobserver.net
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/gcc-drives-global-islamic-finance-growth-to-3-trillion/
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Saudi
Geological Survey dating Kingdom’s rock layers
May 05, 2023
RIYADH:
Following the approval of the Saudi Committee for Stratigraphy, the Saudi
Geological Survey, also known as the SGS, has launched research on sedimentary
sequences in the Kingdom.
The study will
help researchers determine the stratigraphic sequences of sedimentary rocks, as
well as sedimentary environments and various geological structures, because of
the role they play in facilitating mineral exploration in the Kingdom.
Tariq Aba
Al-Khail, spokesman for the SGS, said the committee has issued a unified
geological column for sedimentary sequences extending for 541 million years,
from the Paleozoic era to the modern era.
The committee
consists of officials from Saudi Aramco, King Saud University, King Abdulaziz
University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Taibah University,
the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and King Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology.
The sequences
can refer to these eras through their sedimentary covers, as well as their
different ages and divisions, which explain the sedimentary environments
hosting industrial and basic metals existing in the Kingdom. This includes
radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium, in addition to rare earth
elements.
They will also
contribute to determining the geology of water reservoirs and its importance in
exploring the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world, in addition to aiding
in petroleum discoveries.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2297961/saudi-arabia
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Saudi Arabia
developing high-tech visa service
May 05, 2023
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
has launched a new initiative to cancel the visa sticker on passports and
switch to the e-visa, from which data will be read via a QR Code.
This initiative
falls within the framework of automating and improving the quality of consular
services provided by the ministry.
As a first
stage, the procedure has been activated at Saudi missions in the UAE, Jordan,
Egypt, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines.
The ministry
aims to develop a visa-issuing mechanism — including work permits, residence
and visit visas — in accordance with the latest technology.
Last year, the
ministry announced a mechanism for obtaining a “personal visit” visa, which
enables visitors to enter the Kingdom to visit friends or acquaintances who are
Saudi citizens.
The visa also
allows individuals to travel between the Kingdom’s regions and cities, perform
Umrah rituals, visit Makkah and Madinah and other religious and historical
sites, and attend cultural events.
The ministry
said that people can apply for the visa through easy and convenient electronic
steps on the visa platform website.
Saudi citizens
can invite friends to visit Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah by submitting a
request for a personal visit on the visa platform and applying for a “visit”
request, by logging in through the unified national access platform, and
filling out the data for the invitees.
Source: arabnews.com
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Fascinated by
the beauty of Saudi Arabia, blogger Aurelie recounts her trip
May 05, 2023
BEIRUT: Aurelie
from Aurelistory has taken her followers to dream destinations on her Instagram
page, and recently the French blogger set her sights on Saudi Arabia.
As soon as she
arrived, Aurelie fell in love with Jeddah.
She told Arab
News: “Saudia warmly invited me and welcomed me to Jeddah for the Formula One
grand prix.
“Recommended by
a lot of people, the city was already on my bucket list, so the opportunity
came at the right time.”
Dream
destination
With more than
514,000 subscribers, Aurelie enthusiastically shared the beauty of the Saudi
tourist sites that are now on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.
In 2020
Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin, permanent representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO,
said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is home to some of the most fascinating and
culturally significant heritage sites, of which AlUla is the most iconic and
impressive.”
The jewel of
Saudi Arabia, AlUla combines heritage, nature, and art.
Aurelie said:
“AlUla is a sublime city. The desert is by far my favorite landscape. I think
this city has managed to assert its presence in a harmonious way.
“There is a
deep serenity, but paradoxically it is also a very lively city where boredom
does not exist.”
Charm, beauty and hospitality
Aurelie also
told Arab News of a magical Ramadan experience she had enjoyed.
She said: “We
have become accustomed in recent years to spending part of the month of Ramadan
in a Muslim country to experience the conviviality and brotherhood of a single
community.
“But I must
admit that Saudi Arabia has set the bar very high, especially since the Saudi
people are very welcoming, hospitable and joyful.
“I will never
forget Mohammed, one of our local staff, who insisted on hosting us at his home
with his family for iftar during Ramadan.
“Given its
history, landscape and cultural heritage, Saudi Arabia undeniably stands out,
not only from other countries in the Middle East, but also from other countries
in the world.
“In Saudi
Arabia we really felt the month of Ramadan in the hotels. At the Banyan Tree
AlUla we felt a very original development of the Ramadan retreat concept.
Special menus were offered for iftar, and also for sahoor. And at every meal we
were served bottles of Zamzam water.”
Adventure
tourism
Horseback
riding and walks in AlUla, helicopter flights, Elephant Rock, Rainbow Rock,
Hegra, Al-Balad — all proved to be must-sees for Aurelie during her visit.
She said: “In
Jeddah, the F1 was an incredible experience that frankly made me want to come
back more often.”
There are
photographs and comments from her followers on her Instagram page, and Aurelie
said she looks forward to returning to the Kingdom “every time she has the
opportunity.”
She added: “You
will have understood, my experience in Saudi Arabia was great.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2297951/saudi-arabia
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New unit to
monitor infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia
May 04, 2023
RIYADH: A
specialist unit has been established to help improve the monitoring and
diagnosis of high-risk infectious diseases in Saudi Arabia, Fahd Al-Jalajel,
the Saudi minister of health and chairman of the board of directors of the
Public Health Authority, announced.
It will do this
by providing a system of fully equipped mobile laboratories and procedures that
meet international standards and requirements for biological security and
safety, according to officials. All of the teams working in the laboratories
will be highly competent and skilled, having undergone training at
high-containment facilities in advanced international facilities.
The new
Infectious and Communicable Diseases Unit will help improve the Kingdom’s
ability to monitor epidemics and the country’s health security, officials said,
in keeping with the Public Health Authority’s efforts to “enhance the
prevention of health risks,” which is one of the strategic goals of the health
sector transformation program, and contribute to the wider objectives of the
Saudi Vision 2030 national development and diversification plan.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2297941/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi minister
of state to attend King Charles coronation on behalf of King Salman
May 04, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State Prince Turki
bin Mohammed bin Fahd has arrived in London to attend the coronation of King
Charles III on behalf of King Salman, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The coronation
of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey
on Saturday.
The service
will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and reflect the monarch’s
role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding
traditions and pageantry, Buckingham Palace said.
For the first
time, religious leaders representing Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Sikh
traditions will play an active role in the ceremony. The music will feature
pieces written and performed by artists from each of the UK’s four nations and
throughout the Commonwealth.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2297791/saudi-arabia
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North
America
State
Department forced Muslim security guard to shave beard, lawsuit claims
May 4, 2023
By Kathryn Post
(RNS) — When
Devin Brooks reported for training in West Virginia early last year for his new
security guard gig at the U.S. Department of State, he was pulled aside and
told his beard violated the agency’s facial hair policy.
The news was a
shock to Brooks, who said he had been assured in November 2021 by a third-party
recruiter that the job would allow him to maintain a fist-length beard, as
required by his Islamic faith.
A lawsuit filed
Wednesday (May 3) by the Council on American-Islamic Relations against
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the State Department claims Brooks was
forced to shave his beard to keep his job and afterward was “denied permission
to maintain a beard longer than ½ inch.” Rather than accommodate Brooks’
beliefs, the agency removed him from active duty and later placed him on
administrative leave, then unpaid leave, according to the lawsuit.
CAIR alleges
the Department of State’s refusal to provide religious accommodation violates
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination
on the basis of religion, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which
prevents the government from substantially burdening a person’s free exercise
of religion. The lawsuit requests payment for economic damages and emotional
harm, along with other damages and fees.
“Nobody should
be forced to choose between their faith and their job,” said Hannah Mullen, a
staff attorney for CAIR, in a press release. “The Department of State could
have easily accommodated Mr. Brooks. Bureaucracy and a lack of respect for
religion are not defenses to Title VII and RFRA.” A State Department
spokesperson informed Religion News Service that they do not comment on pending
litigation.
In a letter on
April 18, 2022, quoted in the lawsuit, a Department of State representative
says the government can’t accommodate Brooks’ request for a beard due to safety
concerns. “We have these policies on beard length in place to protect the
guards and to ensure that if engaged in a physical confrontation they cannot be
grabbed or pulled and used to manipulate a guard in such a way as to expose
their weapons,” it says.
But lawyers
representing CAIR argue in the lawsuit that these concerns don’t outweigh
Brooks’ right to observe his faith. They add that the agency’s safety concerns
ring hollow, given that Brooks is currently employed in a similar position at
the Department of Homeland Security, where he maintains a fist-length beard
without issue.
“As a result of
Defendants’ unlawful actions, Brooks has suffered a loss of earnings, wages,
seniority, and benefits, a loss of earning capacity, a loss of future earnings,
a loss of enjoyment of life, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress and
related damages,” the lawsuit says. “Defendants acted with malice and reckless
indifference to Brooks’s federal protected rights.”
Source: religionnews.com
Please
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https://religionnews.com/2023/05/04/state-department-forced-muslim-security-guard-to-shave-beard-lawsuit-claims/
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From political
Islam to illiberal nationalism: the MENA states' war for hearts and minds
May 5, 2023
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, facing a difficult election on May 14,
announced on April 30 that Turkish intelligence had killed Abu Hussein al-Quraishi
— the latest self-styled “Islamic State Caliph” — in Afrin, a Syrian territory
under the control of the Turkish military and its proxy Free Syrian Army
fighters.
Why would
Erdogan, known for a Muslim Brotherhood-inspired agenda mixed with Turkish
nationalism, decide to display such window dressing, which broke with his
long-standing leniency toward jihadi groups? Mainly because political Islam has
become a liability in the Middle East and North Africa as a whole. In the
Turkish case, distancing himself from Islamist radicals is targeting a cluster
of centrist voters alienated by his mixed record.
The incident is
only the latest case of MENA powers distancing themselves from political Islam.
Tunisian President Kais Saied's authoritarian regime jailed Rachid Ghannouchi,
leader of the Ennahda party, which had been a key player since the 2011 Arab
Spring. Reactions were scarce, and the president believes that the move might
boost his own authoritarian legitimacy with the support of the secularist middle
classes.
In neighboring
Algeria and Morocco, Islamist parties have also been ousted from office.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s rule in Egypt was built from its inception on
crushing the Muslim Brotherhood. And, most importantly, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman’s rise to power since 2017 sapped the funding of political Islam
worldwide and eliminated its political language from the kingdom. The
puritanical brand of Islamism has gradually been erased from the public square
in today’s Saudi Arabia, where concerts, film festivals and tourism thrive
while female segregation comes to an end.
But the
region's turn away from political Islam did not translate into embracing a
Western democracy template — quite the opposite. What is emerging in its stead is
an authoritarian-cum-efficient model like the illiberal regimes from China to
Russia, with a rising anti-Western political and cultural agenda. It takes the
blame away from local rulers for any failure while scapegoating the West.
The most
striking symptom of such a shift is the present rush of MENA states to join the
BRICS alliance, perceived as the opposing bloc to Western hegemony. Arab
alliances were identity-based gatherings that mobilized solely on topical
agendas — but BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and OPEC+ now
offer a combined strongarm political assertion against the West and immediate
economic benefits.
On April 6, the
Saudi Cabinet approved a decision to join the SCO in the wake of the Chinese
mediation between the kingdom and Iran. That political and security union,
which aims at creating a Eurasian and Asian bloc to challenge the Western
domination of geopolitics, is key to Russia’s global ambition after the
invasion of Ukraine. It secured a number of Asian votes that did not condemn
Moscow at the United Nations. And OPEC+ solidarity allowed Saudi Arabia to
resist US pressure to increase oil production last July. As for BRICS, MENA
countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Iran have
reached different stages in their candidacy for membership.
The 2020
Abraham Accords were designed by the Trump administration to circumvent
traditional Arab hostility towards Israel in exchange for massive trade
benefits. But the anti-Palestinian agenda of the Netanyahu government is now
becoming a liability for the Arab signatories. Joining the BRICS or the SCO
does not carry the same domestic political downsides, while it looks even more
attractive in terms of prosperity benefits and fuels nationalism — be it of the
illiberal type — against the West. And political Islam becomes irrelevant in
such a process, because its solely doctrinal agenda cannot lift the
demographically booming and impoverished youth in the MENA region into
prosperity. So far, only illegal migration to Europe can do that.
Source: al-monitor.com
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https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/05/political-islam-illiberal-nationalism-mena-states-war-hearts-and-minds
--------
Jackie Little
indicted on federal charges in Minneapolis mosque arsons
MAY 4, 2023
ST. PAUL, Minn.
-- Federal charges have been filed against the man accused of setting fire to
two Minneapolis mosques.
Police arrested
Jackie Rahm Little of Plymouth on Wednesday. Prosecutors call the case
"deeply disturbing" and investigators are still working to learn more
about the motivation behind the attacks.
He was indicted
with one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property.
"The
freedom to worship is sacrosanct," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.
"We will respond to any attack on any house of worship with urgency and
determination."
Little
allegedly started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center on
April 23. A day later, he was captured on surveillance video entering the
Masjid Al Rahma, where a fire broke out shortly afterwards.
Little is also
accused of vandalizing U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar's office, a Somali police
officer's squad car, and a Somali marketplace back in January.
Source: cbsnews.com
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--------
India
UP Muslim Boy,
Irfan, Tops Sanskrit Board’s Class 12th Exams With 83%
Written by Asad
Rehman
May 5, 2023
Lucknow
Sanskrit topperIrfan, who wants to become a Sanskrit teacher, is the only
Muslim among the 20 top scorers in the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations.
Salauddin is
elated that his son Irfan has topped the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit
Shiksha Parishad Board’s Uttar Madhyama-II (Class 12) examinations. The
17-year-old boy has scored 82.71 per cent, beating Gangotri Devi, who scored
80.57 per cent, to secure the first place.
Irfan, who
wants to become a Sanskrit teacher, is the only Muslim among the top 20 scorers
in the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. He beat 13,738 students who sat for
the Class 12 examinations. In the Class 10 examinations (Poorva Madhyama-II),
Ballia district’s Aditya stood first with 92.50 per cent.
Asked if there
were any issues after Irfan chose to study Sanskrit, Salauddin (51) said, “No,
nothing at all. I was happy he had chosen a different subject to study and I
encouraged him. It was a different choice as we are Muslims, but he was keen on
it so I did not stop him. These things do not matter to us.”
“We do not
subscribe to this thinking that only Hindus should study Sanskrit and that only
Muslims should study Urdu. If he is studying the subject in primary and junior
classes, he can study it further too. What is wrong with that? I do not see
anything wrong,” said the elated father. “He wants to study Sanskrit literature
and I will never stop him from pursuing something he is keen on. I am very
proud of him.”
Results of the
Board’s Class 10 and Class 12 examinations were announced in Lucknow on
Wednesday. The examinations were held from February 23 to March 20.
Irfan, a single
child, is a native of Chandauli district’s Jindaspur village under the
Sakaldiha tehsil. Salauddin, who has completed his BA, is a farm labourer.
Explaining how Irfan developed an interest in Sanskrit, Salauddin said, “He
started studying Sanskrit in junior classes when it was a compulsory subject.
He liked the subject and said that he wanted to pursue it further. It was his
choice, so I encouraged him to study Sanskrit,” he said. “He wants to do
Shastri (equivalent to B Ed) and Acharya (equivalent to MA) and then wants to
become a Sanskrit teacher.”
“Irfan has
always been quite self-motivated. We have never had to push him to study. He
had no help from anyone at home because none of us know Sanskrit. He would seek
his teachers’ help at school and would study at home for three to four hours
daily,” said his father.
Irfan studied
at Sri Sampurnanand Sanskrit Ucchtar Madhyamik School in Prabhupur. Principal
Jai Shyam Tripathi told The Indian Express, “He has always been a good student.
Even in earlier examinations, he has done well. We are happy for him.”
Irfan, however,
missed his moment of glory when he was declared the topper. According to
Saluddin, the boy left home on Wednesday morning and has not returned since.
“He said he was
going somewhere, and I did not ask more questions. He is a young boy so I do
not ask too many questions. He has not taken a phone with him, so I have not
been able to contact him. I do not even know if he has learnt that he has stood
first in the examination. When he comes back, we will tell him that he has
stood first. Maybe he already knows,” Salauddin said. “All the journalists came
to our house, but Irfan was not there. He said he was going on a trip and would
be back in a few days. He is quite sincere, so I did not question him.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-muslim-boy-top-sanskrit-boards-class-12-exam-82-71-marks-8591437/
--------
The Kerala
Story Row: AR Rahman Shares Video Of Hindu Wedding Inside Mosque, Says ‘Love
For Humanity…’
05-05-23
Amid the ongoing
controversy around the movie The Kerala Story, Oscar-winning musician A R
Rahman on 4 May shared a video on social media showing a Hindu wedding inside a
mosque in Kerala. In a tweet, the legendary singer retweeted a video and wrote,
“Bravo, love for humanity has to be unconditional and healing."
The 1 minute
and 47 seconds clip was reported by an independent digital platform and showed
a Hindu couple tying the knot in a mosque in Kerala's Alappuzha city. According
to the video, the bride's mother who was struggling financially had approached
the mosque's committee for help with her daughter's wedding.
“The Kerala
Story" is based on alleged radicalisation and conversion of young Hindu
women to Islam in Kerala, before inducting them into terrorist outfit Islamic
State (IS).
The Supreme
Court on Thursday declined to interfere with the release of the film. A bench
of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB
Pardiwala refused to entertain a plea challenging CBFC certification granted to
'The Kerala Story'. "Think about the labour of actors, producers who put
in a lot of work. A filmmaker invests a lot of money and time in making the
film. Leave it to the market, the market will decide if it is not up to the
mark," the bench said. The Madras high court too on Thursday dismissed a
petition against the release of the controversial movie, ‘The Kerala Story’,
which is slated to hit cinemas on 5 May. The Madras HC also rapped the
petitioner for approaching it at the last hour, seeking a ban on the release of
'The Kerala Story'.
The petitioners
have said that the film demeans the entire community and will endanger the
lives and livelihood of Muslims.
“The movie
begins by flashing a note that it has been inspired by true events.... it is
falsely stated that 32,000 girls have left Kerala for West Asia to join ISIS
even though the United Nations, the Union Home Ministry, police sources, and
experts agree that the number of Indians who left to join ISIS is around 66 and
the maximum number of pro-ISIS persons who may have shown inclination towards
ISIS is in between 100 and 200," the petition said
With the film
set to release today, Tamil Nadu is on high alert. Starring Adah Sharma, the
film is written and directed by Sudipto Sen, and produced by Vipul Amrutlal
Shah.
Source: livemint.com
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https://www.livemint.com/
--------
Property sale
from Hindu to Muslim in Vadodara society gets green light after 8 years
Malay Dave had
sold the property to Saeed and Zubeda Munshi in 2014. A registered sale deed
was executed in 2015. However, prior permission of authorities was not sought
for the property transfer, as it was not clear whether the said area was
categorised as a “disturbed area”.
May 5, 2023
Property sale
from Hindu to Muslim in Vadodara society gets green light after 8
yearsResidents protest at Samarpan Housing Society. (Express photo: Bhupendra
Rana/File)
A property
transfer and sale from a Hindu to a Muslim in Vadodara’s Samarpan Housing
Society, stuck since 2014-15, has finally got the green light after eight
years.
Vadodara Deputy
Collector J J Patel, on April 29, ordered for the withdrawal of a notice issued
by his office in 2015 that had asked the property proprietors to show cause why
their sale deed should not be cancelled, as it was executed without prior
permission from a competent authority, in spite of its requirement under the
Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for
Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, 1991
– commonly known as the Disturbed Areas Act.
Malay Dave had
sold the property to Saeed and Zubeda Munshi in 2014. A registered sale deed
was executed in 2015. However, prior permission of authorities was not sought
for the property transfer, as it was not clear whether the said area was
categorised as a “disturbed area”.
A third-party
dispute in this regard was raised by the president of Samarpan Society, Manish
Malhotra.
Invoking
section 4(2) (b) of the Act, which allows for post-facto grant of permission by
authorities to property transfer if the transfer was of free will and consent
and fair price, the property sellers and purchasers had made a representation
to the deputy collector, which was not considered.
The proprietors
then moved before the special secretary of the revenue department, who remanded
the matter back to the deputy collector for reconsideration in view of Section
4 (2) (b) of the Act.
However, the
deputy collector rejected the proprietors’ contention for a second time, solely
on the ground that prior permission of the authorities was not taken, without
considering the provision available for post-facto permission.
The proprietors
then moved Gujarat High Court, which in January this year remanded the matter
back to the deputy collector, directing that the matter be reconsidered afresh,
taking into account section 4 (2) (b) of the Act that permits for post-facto
approval to transfer of property made in a “disturbed area”.
Reconsidering
the same, Patel, in his order dated April 29, took into account affidavits and
declaration from the proprietors that the property transfer was of free will
and fair compensation.
The order
noted, “From the date of sale till date, they (Munshis) have been residing at
the said property and no one has suffered any inconvenience or loss and neither
has any complaint been filed against them.”
Taking the same
into consideration, Patel recalled the showcause notice, thus in effect
permitting the earlier sale deed to exist now without any objections.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/property-sale-from-hindu-to-muslim-in-vadodara-society-gets-green-light-after-8-years-8592387/
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BJP, BSP’s
Muslim Card Builds Suspense over Community Mood in UP
May 05, 2023
Political
analysts say at many places, the BSP has fielded several Muslim candidates,
especially for the mayoral seats. This has made the U.P. civic polls
interesting. With the BJP also fielding several minority candidates, assessing
the community’s support to any one party is difficult
Long queues of
Muslims were seen outside polling booths in western Uttar Pradesh to cast their
vote in the first phase of urban local body polls on Thursday. (Pic for
representation)
Such queues,
especially in minority-dominated districts, have long been used to interpret
voting behaviour of the most influential and politically vocal minority
segment.
In places like
Saharanpur and Moradabad in west UP, where the Muslim population is over 30 per
cent and in Muslim-majority Rampur where voting took place on Thursday, women
clad in burqa and men in skull caps stood for long to cast their vote.
But some said
assessing the minority mood just by looking at the number of burqa-clad and
skull cap-wearing people in the voters’ queue, may not reveal the entire
picture.
“Unlike
previous occasions when Muslims standing in queue was automatically interpreted
in a particular way, this time many were confused, for the BJP fielded 395
candidates of its own, the biggest batch of Muslim candidates ever. So, the
long queues of community members also included supporters of candidates fielded
by our party. At least two have been elected unopposed,” said BJP’s minority
wing chief in west UP Javed Malik.
“At many
places, the BSP has fielded several Muslim candidates, especially for the
mayoral seats. Now, this has made the polls interesting. With the BJP also
fielding several minority candidates, assessing the community’s support to any
one party is difficult. In a way, after the 2022 UP polls when Muslims were
believed to have backed the Samajwadi Party in a big way, this time, though
their turnout was impressive, one can’t confidently state which way the
minority voted,” said AP Tiwari, a political analyst.
However, Rafey
Rana, brother of well-known Urdu poet Munawwar Rana told media persons that
people in Muslim-dominated regions faced problems.
In
Muslim-majority Rampur, where the BJP registered a win for the first time in
Rampur (Sadar) assembly polls, SP and BJP workers clashed amid allegations of
foul play in Madrasa Alia booth number 225-226.
In Saharanpur,
some minority community members told media persons that they were made to wait
for over several hours to cast their vote and alleged it was a deliberate
attempt to stop minorities from casting vote.
The SP has
maintained that the BJP’s victories in Rampur Lok Sabha by-poll in June 2022
and the assembly poll in Rampur (Sadar) were due to misuse of official
machinery, a charge that the ruling party rejected. For the record, west UP
districts like Shamli and Amroha witnessed over 60 per cent voter turnout. In
Prayagraj, where posters appealed to the community against voting for BJP and SP,
the overall voting percentage remained comparatively low.
“One way to
assess which way the community voted is check if the minorities are keeping mum
or singing paeans in BJP’s praise. It’s true that free rations have helped all
poor. including Muslims,” a BJP leader said.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/long-queues-of-muslims-seen-at-polling-booths-in-lucknow-for-urban-local-body-polls-amidst-confusion-over-support-for-political-parties-101683227882410.html
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Pakistan
50 Members of
10 Hindu FamiliesWillingly Embrace Islam in Karachi
May 04, 2023
KARACHI/MIRPURKHAS:
At least 50
members from 10 Hindu families residing in different areas of Mirpurkhas
division have embraced Islam, The Express Tribune learned on Thursday.
Mohammad
Shamroz Khan, son of Minister for Religious Affairs, Senator Muhammad Talha
Mahmood, attended the ceremony held at a local seminary - Bait-ul-Iman, New
Muslim Colony.
Speaking to The
Express Tribune, Qari Taimur Rajput, one of the caretakers of the organisation,
confirmed that 50 members of 10 families have converted to Islam.
“They all
willingly converted to Islam. No one has forced them,” Rajput claimed quoting
Khan. He also reportedly inquired from the new converts whether they willingly
took the step during the conversion ceremony which was attended by several
local residents.
Rajput added
that the converts will stay in a local facility specially established in 2018
for the new Muslims converts.
During their
four-month-long stay at the facility, the new converts will study and learn
their new religion and the organisation will provide them clothes, food and
medicines.
“We extend all
possible support that these people need,” Rajput explained, saying, hundreds of
people have been converting to Islam during the last five years.
He also
informed that only families were being converted to Islam. “We do not convert
an individual as that could create issues,” he added.
Rajput added
that following the four-month stay at the facility, the converts will be
allowed go anywhere.
On the other
hand, Hindu activists expressed their grief and anger over the mass
conversions.
Showing his
anger, Faqir Shiva Kucchi, a Hindu activist, who raises his voice against the
practice, said, “It seems that the state is involved in these conversions.”
He added that
local community members have been demanding of the government for the last five
years to initiate legislation against the practice.
“The
conversions in Sindh are a serious issue and instead of taking measures to stop
it, the federal minister’s son is part of the conversion,” he said.
“It is a matter
of great concern for all of us [Hindus]. “We feel helplessness [now],” he said.
Kuchhi added
that most of the converts were economically underprivileged and the local
religious leaders take advantage of their state.
“They offer
them financial support and convert them easily,” he alleged.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415064/at-least-50-hindus-convert-to-islam-in-mirpurkhas
--------
Fms OfIndia,
Pakistan Shook Hands And Exchanged Pleasantries
Kamran Yousaf
May 04, 2023
GOA, INDIA:
Foreign
Ministers of Pakistan and India on Thursday shook hands and exchanged
pleasantries at the dinner hosted for the delegates of Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) in Goa on Thursday.
A Pakistani
official present at the dinner confirmed to The Express Tribune that there was
handshake between the two foreign ministers. Bilawal was the last minister to
enter the venue. On his arrival Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishnakar
stood up and shook his hands.
The official,
however, downplayed it as a routine courtesy. Another official part of the
Pakistani delegation said that they were treated well so far. “They treated us
the same way as other delegates. The environment was cordial and positive,” the
second official said.
Bilawal arrived
in the Indian coastal resort of Goa on Thursday to take part in the SCO Council
of Foreign Ministers. The foreign minister was received at the airport by
senior officials of the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
“I am very
happy that today I have arrived here leading the delegation of Pakistan,” the
foreign minister told reporters upon his arrival. He hoped the SCO Council of
Foreign Ministers (CFM) would be very successful.
Prior to his
arrival, Bilawal posted a video on Twitter, saying that his “decision to attend
this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO”.
He said that his visit was focused exclusively on the SCO. “I look forward to
constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries.”
In Islamabad,
the Foreign Office said in a statement that Pakistan’s participation in the
two-day meeting reflected Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO Charter, processes
and the importance that Islamabad accords to the region in its foreign policy
priorities.
Hundreds of
thousands throng to Goa every year, but fewer tourists visit the former
Portuguese colony in the month of May because it is off season.
Nevertheless,
Indian chose off season to host the SCO huddle that has generated lot of
interest.
The SCO
comprises China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and key Central Asian States. India,
the current chair of the eight-member bloc, is hosting a series of events,
including the CFM. The SCO-CFM usually doesn’t get much traction, but this is
not the case this year.
The Goa meeting
has generated much interest because the foreign minister of Pakistan is in
attendance. He is the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India since
2011and also the first by a senior Pakistani official since 2016, when Sartaj
Aziz went to Delhi.
The foreign
minister is accompanied by the foreign secretary and other senior officials on
a visit that rekindles the hopes for an unlikely thaw in the relationship
between the two countries.
“No matter what
the forum is, when somehow Indian and Pakistani officials are in attendance it
always overshadows the main event,” commented an Indian journalist, who
otherwise was planning to cover meeting from New Delhi but had to change plans
after Bilawal decided to attend.
But despite
this hype Pakistan and India are treating this as a routine event. There is a
general sense here that there is no appetite at the moment from the Indian side
to re-engage with Pakistan.
Bilawal, too,
dropped a clear hint that he had no plans to meet his Indian counterpart. But
there will be occasions during the conference when Bilawal and S Jaishnakar
will come face to face.
“Even there is
a handshake or exchange of smiles that must not be seen as a breakthrough,”
said a senior Foreign Office, official while requesting anonymity. “But if
there is a pull-aside meeting that will certainly be a breakthrough,” the
official added.
Meanwhile, on
the first day of his visit Bilawal held a bilateral meeting with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral,
regional and international matters of mutual interest, according to Foreign
Office in Islamabad.
The Foreign
Office said that Bilawal assured Lavrov of working closely for further
deepening the cooperation in food security, energy and people-to-people
contacts. He said that the SCO opened new vistas of cooperation and
coordination with Russia.
On Friday
(today) Bilawal will attend the SCO-CFM, delivering a speech that will focus on
regional security issues, climate change, Afghanistan and other matters. Under
the SCO obligations no country would discuss bilateral issues.
The visit of
the foreign minister is carefully choreographed from the Pakistani side. On
Thursday Bilawal gave interviews to an international and a leading media house
but those won’t be aired before Friday (today).
Also, Pakistan,
despite having slim chance of any breakthrough in the bilateral ties is trying
not to create any negativity. Therefore, Bilawal is unlikely to directly bring
up the issue of Kashmir at the forum. However, he may make indirect reference
to the dispute.
There is sense
here that both sides are moving cautiously and not raising any hopes.
Indian
journalists believe that with state elections round the corner in Karnataka and
parliamentary polls early next year, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)
won’t like to take any steps leading to rapprochement with Pakistan.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415048/india-pakistan-in-rare-handshake-moment
--------
Most wanted
terrorist involved in Sri Lanka cricket team attack killed
May 04, 2023
Terrorist Iqbal
alias Bali Khayara, who was a member of Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) Khayara group, was killed in a police encounter near Fateh Moor in Dera
Ismail Khan, police officials confirmed.
Iqbal was one
of the most wanted terrorists, and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab police had
announced a reward of Rs10.5 million for his capture, dead or alive.
Inspector-General
of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan, while speaking to a
private TV channel on Thursday, said the police retaliated after an attack
carried out on them by Iqbal and killed him, along with an accomplice.
He said that
Iqbal was wanted for 26 cases of terrorism and targeted killings. He was
accused of targeted killings, terrorism and abduction of Shia Muslims in 21
cases by CTD DI Khan whereas he was also wanted by Multan police in five other
cases.
Additionally,
DI Khan police officials say that Iqbal was also involved in a recent suicide
bombing at the District Headquarters Hospital, as well as the 2009 attack on
the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
The attack on
the Sri Lankan cricket team claimed the lives of seven police officials and
left seven players including Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha
Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana and Chaminda Vaas injured.
The attack
drove cricket and most other international sports from Pakistan for years which
only returned after the security significantly improved in the terror-hit
country.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415092/most-wanted-terrorist-involved-in-sri-lanka-cricket-team-attack-killed
--------
Chinese, Afghan
FMs arrive in Islamabad today
May 05, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Acting Afghan
Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi will arrive here on Friday (today)
on a four-day visit to Pakistan to participate in the 5th
China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, the Foreign
Office said on Thursday.
Muttaqi will
lead a high-level delegation, including Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and
Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and senior officials from the Afghan ministries
of foreign affairs, transport, and trade, the Foreign Office added.
“The visit of
the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister is a continuation of Pakistan’s political
engagement process with Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office said. It added that
Pakistan was committed to pursue practical engagement with the Afghan
government.
The 5th
China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue will be held
on May 6. The Foreign Office said that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will
also participate in the meeting.
During
Muttaqi’s visit, the two sides would also “review the entire spectrum of
bilateral relations in the political, economic, trade, connectivity, peace and
security, and education domains”, according to the Foreign Office statement.
Meanwhile,
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, confirmed that Foreign
Minister Qin would visit Pakistan on May 5 to 6 and attend the three-way dialogue
on Afghanistan.
Mao said that
it would be Qin’s first visit to Pakistan as the country’s foreign minister.
“The visit of Qin Gang is also an important part of the recent intensive
interaction between China and Pakistan,” she said.
During the
visit, Foreign Minister Qin would meet with the leaders of Pakistan, and
co-chair the fourth strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers of China
and Pakistan with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
"Qin Gang
will conduct face-to-face and in-depth communication on the relations between
the two countries and the international and regional situation," she
added. “China looks forward to exchanging views with Afghanistan and Pakistan
on the situation and trilateral cooperation through this [trilateral] dialogue,”
she added.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415104/chinese-afghan-fms-arrive-in-islamabad-today
--------
Pakistan lags
behind in curbing child marriages
May 05, 2023
LAHORE:
A report stated
that Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan were ranked first, second, and third,
respectively, in South Asian countries in reducing early marriages.
Although South
Asia was leading the world in reducing child marriage, it would take 55 years
to completely eradicate it if it did not accelerate, read a United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, while also acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts in
this connection.
The report
added that to achieve the goal of ending child marriages by 2030, the speed of
reforms in South Asia should be accelerated seven times.
About 18% of
girls in Pakistan are still married as children, numbering 1.9 million.
That means one
in six girls in Pakistan are married at an early age, even though the legal
minimum age for marriage in the country is 18 years.
However, the
rate of child marriage in Pakistan is slightly better than the world average of
19%, especially in compared with India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and
Bhutan, which lag far behind.
Bangladesh has
the highest child marriage rate in South Asia at 51%, while the lowest is in
the Maldives at just 2%. India’s child marriage rate is 34%, where one in three
girls are married at an early age.
Even though
South Asia is leading in the world in reducing child marriage, yet one in four
girls in the region is married before their 18th birthday.
The number of
child brides in South Asian countries is around 300 million, which is 45% of
the world population.
Three out of
every four brides in the region give birth when they are still teenagers.
According to a
UNICEF survey, 55% of brides in Pakistan believe that wife beating is
permissible.
Around 41% of
women in India and 33% in Bangladesh also consider violence by their husbands
as valid.
“Girls who
marry in childhood face immediate and lifelong consequences. They are less
likely to remain in school, and face an increased risk of early pregnancy, in
turn increasing the risk of child and maternal health complications and
mortality,” a UNICEF news statement read.
It added that
the practice could also isolate girls from family and friends, as well as
exclude them from participating in their communities.
This takes a
heavy toll on these girls’ mental health and well-being.
“Worldwide,
conflict, climate-related disasters, and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 --
especially rising poverty, income shocks, and school dropout -- are helping to
increase the drivers of child marriage. [It is] also making it difficult for
girls to access health care, education, social services and community support
that protect them from child marriage,” it noted.
UNICEF
Executive Director Catherine Russell said they had proven that progress to end
child marriage was possible.
“It requires
unwavering support for vulnerable girls and families,” she added.
“We must focus
on keeping girls in school and making sure they have economic opportunities,”
the UNICEF official continued.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415220/pakistan-lags-behind-in-curbing-child-marriages
--------
Europe
Turkish
opposition is gay – Erdogan
4 May, 2023
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused his political rival, Kemal
Kilicdaroglu, of being “LGBT,” ahead of next week’s elections. Erdogan’s
government views LGBT ideology as an American and European “religion,” alien to
Turkish morals.
“We know that
Mr. Kemal is an LGBT person,” Erdogan told a rally in the city of Giresun on
Thursday. “CHP is LGBT, IYI party is LGBT, HDP is LGBT,” he continued, listing
off the political factions in Kilicdaroglu’s six-party National Alliance bloc.
“As the
People’s Alliance, we are against this,” he declared, referring to his own
political bloc. “Family is sacred to us. A strong family means a strong nation.
No matter what they do, God is enough for us."
Erdogan has
accused Kilicdaroglu and his allies of being pro-LGBT before, and made the same
speech almost word-for-word at a rally in the town of Rize on Wednesday.
Kilicdaroglu is
not an outspoken supporter of gay rights, but has promised to reinstate the
Istanbul Convention if elected.
Signed by 45
countries plus the European Union in 2011, the convention aimed to strengthen
legal penalties for violence against women, but Türkiye withdrew in 2021,
stating that it had been “hijacked by a group of people attempting to normalize
homosexuality.” This was likely a reference to the treaty’s listing of
transgender women, who are biologically male, as women.
“They are
trying to…ungender the whole of our society under the name of LGBT,” Turkish
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said of Kilicdaroglu and his allies in
February. “If Kilicdaroglu wants to ungender himself and his colleagues, let
him do so,” Soylu continued. “Family is important for us, woman is important
for us, man is important for us.”
In a radio
interview last month, Soylu claimed that the “LGBTQ” designation “includes the
marriage of animals and humans.” He went on to describe LGBT ideology as a
“religion,” and LGBT activists as “completely under the control of America and
Europe.”
Kilicdaroglu
has largely avoided personal attacks on Erdogan and Soylu, instead making heavy
use of pro-Western rhetoric in his speeches. The 74-year-old former civil
servant has promised to immediately restart EU accession talks if elected, and
to implement reforms demanded by Brussels.
Opinion polls
currently show Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu in a statistical dead heat.
Source: rt.com
Please
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https://www.rt.com/news/575809-erdogan-opposition-lgbt-gay/
--------
South American
nation blasts US over cruel treatment of migrants
5 May, 2023
Bogota has
suspended the repatriation of citizens from the US, citing cruel treatment of
migrants and repeated 11th-hour cancelations of flights, the local authorities
have said.
In a statement
on Thursday, Fernando Garcia Manosalva, Colombia’s migration agency director,
said the country expects to receive around 1,200 migrants – mostly women and minors
– back from the US between May 1 and 7 as part of a pilot plan to alleviate
pressure on America’s southern border.
However, the
agency accused the US of breaching agreements on the matter. Manosalva claimed
that the flights scheduled for May 1 and 2 were both canceled by North American
migration agencies, and this was not the first time.
Bogota also
complained of what it called the “cruel and degrading” treatment Colombians
receive from the authorities before and during the flights. The migration agency
director pointed to “the use of restrictive elements such as hand and foot
handcuffs, even for mothers,” adding that the matter is being discussed with
the US authorities.
In addition,
“there are recurring complaints about the poor conditions in detention centers
and mistreatment during flights, which represented a determining factor in the
decisions taken in the last few hours,” Manosalva stated.
An unnamed US
official told Reuters that the pause only applies to flights carrying families.
The number of
Colombians entering the US has increased in recent years, with around 125,000
migrants apprehended at the southern border, according to US Customs and
Borders Protection data.
The pilot plan
seeks to repatriate 1,200 Colombians before the expiration of Title 42, a
controversial Trump-era order which allows the US to expel migrants from
countries where a communicable disease – including Covid-19 – is present. The
order is set to lapse on May 11 when the Covid-19 public health emergency is
set to end.
Human rights
advocates have repeatedly voiced concerns about US immigration policies. In
April 2022, a Human Rights First report claimed that the administration of US
President Joe Biden had put tens of thousands of migrants in jails in violation
of international law, subjecting them to physical and psychological harm.
Source: rt.com
Please
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https://www.rt.com/news/575818-colombia-us-migrants-cruel-treatment/
--------
Meet the Czech
lawyer who rallies thousands to shake up the EU establishment
4 May, 2023
In mid-April, a
fledgling political party that recently formed in the Czech Republic called
Pravo Respekt Odbornost (Law Respect Expertise; PRO) whipped up a large protest
in Prague’s Wenceslas Square.
Thousands
turned out for the PRO rally on April 16th – nearly 100,000 by the party’s own
count. They rallied against the crippling inflation biting the country’s
working class and called for the resignation of the ruling center-right
coalition government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Pro-Western
outlets, like Voice of America, as well as the mainstream Czech media, have
described the group as pro-Kremlin and xenophobic. An earlier protest staged by
the group in front of the National Museum in Prague saw rallygoers shout out
“Go Home!” to counter-protestors holding Ukrainian flags, apparently telling
Ukrainian refugees to leave the Czech Republic for good.
During the
April 16 protest, the lead organizer of the group, Jindrich Rajchl, told the
crowd, “We want the government’s resignation” while the crowd chanted, “Resign,
resign.”
Rajchl’s group
has not been alone. Prague has been experiencing continual waves of protests
since September of last year attended by the center-left Action of Dissatisfied
Citizens (ANO), far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Communist
Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). One protest on September 3 gathered an
estimated 70,000 people.
PRO is just the
latest group to tap into a broad populist swath of Czechs that are unhappy with
their government’s foreign policy, ability to manage the inflation crisis, and
its (admittedly poor) style of communication. After their large protest in
mid-April, PRO continued a sit-in at Prague’s Straka Academy, which is the
working area of the prime minister. I met up with Rajchl, who is a lawyer by
profession, and his fellow protestors on April 17 to get a sense of what was
really going on.
“We sent them
(the government) about two months ago our requirements, which are positive and
very constructive, and we requested a reaction, which is based on the reaction
of hundreds of thousands of Czechs, and they haven’t reacted at all,” Rajchl
told me. According to him, the group plans to “level up” their protests and
continue to apply pressure as long as the government ignores their proposals.
Rajchl asserts
that the government’s financial problems aren’t solely due to its lethal
support to Ukraine, which is just “one piece” of the issue. “The problem is
that they are not able to manage the finances here in the Czech Republic,” he
explained. He also noted that the Czech Republic has the highest electricity
prices in the European Union while being one of the largest energy exporters,
which he said is “completely absurd.” For his part, Prime Minister Fiala has
questioned official data published by the European Union on this, saying it
does not reflect reality.
The organizer
also called attention to the issue of freedom of speech. He is, notably, the
attorney of Martina Bednarova, a Czech school teacher who allegedly parroted
pro-Russian misinformation. She now faces criminal and civil penalties. But
according to Rajchl, she merely encouraged her students to think for themselves
about the Ukraine crisis.
He also
mentioned Miroslav Sevcik, a dean at Prague’s University of Economics and
Business, who attended a PRO rally and was pushed by police, caught on video,
and encouraged to resign by some students for his attendance. His faculty has
since backed his employment despite public pressure.
On the issue of
NATO, which has been the focus of much of the local media, Rajchl didn't say
that he wants the Czech Republic to abandon the organization outright. Rather,
he explained that he would be in support of NATO ending its adventurism around
the world, such as in Afghanistan or Iraq. “A lot is made of Article Five – but
no one talks about Article One and Two, which require members to resolve issues
peacefully and to contribute to the further development of peace,” he told me.
When we picked
up our interview on April 28, Rajchl spoke about his political influences.
Perhaps to some people’s surprise, it’s not Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, but
actually Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and even fellow RT columnist Scott Ritter –
all Americans.
Rajchl revealed
himself to be extremely anti-vaccine and vowed to sue European politicians
connected to large vaccine producers should he be elected to the European
Parliament in the future. He also wants to cut spending on some social
services, such as universities, and pass the financial burdens of tuition onto
students. However, these fees would be far less than, for example, in the
United States. It is meant to help rein in the Czech Republic’s out-of-control
public finances that were, until recently, the envy of Europe.
Despite our
disagreements on these issues, he mostly appeared to be someone who wants to
tell the truth – even at great cost. We spoke, for example, about the hypocrisy
of Czech foreign policy through the years and he mentioned the excellent
example of Serbia.
For instance,
when Tomas Masaryk, the president and founder of the first Czechoslovak state
in the early 20th century, had his passport confiscated by the Austro-Hungarian
Empire for his secessionist activity, Serbia gave him a passport. He used it to
travel abroad and organize Czechoslovak dissidents. Later, when Hitler, along
with the West, bit off a piece of the country – the Sudetenland – tens of
thousands of Yugoslav fighters were sent by their government to fight against
the superior force. But they were called off.
In 1968, during
the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia led by Soviet leader Leonid
Brezhnev, Yugoslavia protested in what was part of the Soviet-Yugoslav split.
Essentially, every time Serbia – and later Yugoslavia – had a chance to side
with the Czechs, they did so without question. But, when Czechoslovakia and
later the Czech Republic itself joined the West, President Vaclav Havel joined
the coalition to bomb Serbia and Yugoslavia to hell. In fact, current President
Petr Pavel is a decorated war “hero” of the Yugoslav wars and a former NATO
chief.
Despite the
accusations, Rajchl and his party are not a Russian fifth column. They are
actually products of a perhaps long-forgotten political tradition in the Czech
Republic. More than anything, they are seeking to return the country to a
course that it has since deviated from. According to polling commissioned by
his campaign, he’s currently just over the 5% threshold needed to get into
parliament in the 2025 election, and he hopes to form a coalition government
with other opposition parties.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/575710-czech-opposition-prague-policy/
--------
Israel claims
Iran can make nuclear bombs
4 May, 2023
Iran already
possesses the means to make as many as five nuclear bombs, Israeli Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant claimed on Thursday during a visit to Athens. Tehran
would not stop at creating just one nuclear weapon, the minister insisted, adding
that such a development would have grave consequences for the entire Middle
East.
“Make no
mistake — Iran will not be satisfied by a single nuclear bomb. So far, Iran has
gained material enriched to 20% and 60% for five nuclear bombs,” Gallant told
his Greek counterpart, Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, the Times of Israel reported.
He noted,
however, that uranium needs to be enriched to at least 90% purity to make a
nuclear weapon. “Iranian progress, and enrichment to 90%, would be a grave
mistake on Iran’s part, and could ignite the region,” the defense minister
warned.
In March,
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley predicted that Tehran
could produce enough nuclear material for a bomb within weeks. The US general
admitted, however, that the Islamic Republic would still need “several months”
to make it into a bomb.
According to
Milley, Washington “remains committed as a matter of policy that Iran will not
have a fielded nuclear weapon.” His choice of words sparked concerns in West
Jerusalem, as senior Israeli officials questioned whether the US would tolerate
the Iranian “nuclear weapons program” as long as no nuclear bomb was mounted on
a missile or another delivery system.
The US general
clarified his earlier remarks by removing the word “fielded.” Tehran has itself
repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon and has argued that its nuclear
program remains purely peaceful.
It has still
been gradually increasing the level of uranium enrichment beyond the limits set
by the 2015 accord it reached with world powers. Iran began doing so after
then-US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal back in
2018.
Attempts to
revive the deal under US President Joe Biden have so far been unsuccessful.
Tehran reportedly rejected Washington’s latest attempt to strike a deal that
would limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the sanctions freeze.
Tensions
between Tehran and West Jerusalem have been running high recently. In
mid-April, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that any hostile move from
Israel would “lead to the destruction of Haifa and Tel Aviv.”
On Thursday,
Gallant claimed that “Iran supports, finances, trains and equips terror groups
across the Middle East and around the world,” and accused it of “sponsoring”
attacks on Israel from Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/575807-israel-iran-make-nuclear-bombs/
--------
Pope defrocks
priest accused of genocide
4 May, 2023
Pope Francis has
expelled a Rwandan-born priest who had been working for nearly three decades as
a clergyman in northern France, where he fled following the genocide in his
homeland. The order instructs the priest to “avoid places where his previous
status is known.”
The Pontiff’s
decision to remove Wenceslas Munyeshyaka from the clerical state was dated
March 23, and was announced on Monday. It is based on the priest’s admission
that he fathered a child in 2010, Catholic outlet La Croix International
reported on Thursday.
Munyeshyaka
“automatically loses all rights” associated with his ordination and is
“excluded from the exercise of the sacred ministry,” according to a statement
circulating online signed by the bishop of the diocese of Evreux.
Bishop
Christian Nourrichard said the priest’s removal is not “subject to any appeal”
and begins with “immediate effect.”
Munyeshyaka,
who was the head of a parish in the Evreux diocese, was suspended by the bishop
in December 2021 after he reportedly admitted being the father of a 10-year-old
boy “from an affair he had in Gisors.”
Ordained a
priest in 1992, Munyeshyaka was accused in 1995 of participating in the
genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, including the rape of women and
executions at his church in Kigali. According to the United Nations, an
estimated 800,000 people were massacred in the genocide, which lasted 100 days
between April and July 1994.
French courts
cleared Munyeshyaka of criminal charges in the 20-year case in 2015 due to a
lack of substantial evidence.
Munyeshyaka’s
dismissal “is not related” to the genocide allegations, and is based on the
conclusion of an investigation relating to his suspension in 2021, the dioceses
clarified, as reported by La Croix.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/africa/575802-pope-defrocks-rwandan-priest-genocide/
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South Asia
Afghanistan:
'Nothing We Can Do But Watch Babies Die' From Illnesses That Could Be Cured
With The Right Medication
By Yogita
Limaye
Afghanistan
correspondent
Three-month-old
Tayabullah is quiet and motionless. His mother Nigar moves the oxygen pipe away
from his nose and puts a finger below his nostrils to check if she can feel him
breathing.
She begins to
cry as she realises her son is fading.
At this
hospital in Afghanistan, there is not a single working ventilator.
Mothers hold
oxygen tubes near their babies' noses because masks designed to fit their small
faces are not available, and the women are trying to fill in for what trained staff
or medical equipment should do.
Every day, 167
children die in Afghanistan from preventable diseases, according to the UN
children's fund Unicef - illnesses that could and should be cured with the
right medication.
It is a
staggering number. But it's an estimate.
And when you
step inside the paediatric ward of the main hospital in the western province of
Ghor, you will be left wondering if that estimate is too low.
Multiple rooms
are full of sick children, at least two in each bed, their little bodies
ravaged by pneumonia. Just two nurses look after 60 children.
In one room, we
saw at least two dozen babies who appeared to be in a serious condition. The
children should have been continuously monitored in critical care - impossible
at this hospital.
Yet, for the
million people who live in Ghor, this basic facility is still the best equipped
public hospital they can access.
Public
healthcare in Afghanistan has never been adequate, and foreign money which
almost entirely funded it was frozen in August 2021 when the Taliban seized
power. Over the past 20 months, we have visited hospitals and clinics across
this country, and witnessed them collapsing.
Now the
Taliban's recent ban on women working for NGOs means it's becoming harder for
humanitarian agencies to operate, putting even more children and babies at
risk.
Already
defeated by a lack of resources, medics at the Ghor hospital used whatever
little they had to try to revive Tayabullah.
Dr Ahmad Samadi
was called in to check his condition, fatigue and stress visible on his face.
He put a stethoscope to Tayabullah's chest - there was a faint heartbeat.
Nurse Edima
Sultani rushed in with an oxygen pump. She put it over Tayabullah's mouth,
blowing air into it. Then Dr Samadi used his thumbs to perform compressions on
the boy's tiny chest.
Watching on
looking stricken was Tayabullah's grandfather Ghawsaddin. He told us his
grandson was suffering from pneumonia and malnutrition.
"It took
eight hours on rubble roads to bring him here from our district
Charsadda," Ghawsaddin said. The family, who can only afford to eat dry
bread for meals, scraped together money to pay for the ride.
For half an
hour, the efforts to revive his grandson continued. Nurse Sultani then turned
towards Nigar and told her Tayabullah had died.
The sudden
silence which had enveloped the room was broken by Nigar's sobs. Her baby boy
was wrapped in a blanket and handed over to Ghawsaddin. The family carried him
home.
Tayabullah
should be alive - every disease he had was curable.
"I'm also
a mother and when I saw the baby die, I felt like I've lost my own child. When
I saw his mother weeping, it broke my heart. It hurt my conscience," said
Nurse Sultani, who frequently does 24-hour shifts.
"We don't
have equipment and there is a lack of trained staff, especially female staff.
When we are looking after so many in serious conditions, which child should we
check on first? There's nothing we can do but watch babies die."
Minutes later,
in the room next door, we saw another child in severe distress, with an oxygen
mask on her face, struggling to breathe.
Two-year-old
Gulbadan was born with a heart defect, a condition called patent ductus
arteriosus. It was diagnosed six months ago at this hospital.
Doctors have
told us the condition is not uncommon or hard to treat. But Ghor's main
hospital is not equipped to perform routine surgery that could fix it. It also
doesn't have the medicines she needs.
Gulbadan's
grandmother Afwa Gul held down her small arms, to try to prevent the little
girl from pulling down her mask.
"We
borrowed money to take her to Kabul, but we couldn't afford surgery, so we had
to bring her back," she said. They approached an NGO to get financial
help. Their details were registered but there's been no response since then.
Gulbadan's
father Nawroze stroked her forehead, trying to soothe his daughter who winced
with every breath she took. Stress etched on his face, he pursed his lips and
let out a sigh of resignation. He told us Gulbadan had recently begun to talk,
forming her first words, calling out to him and other members of their family.
"I'm a
labourer. I don't have a stable income. If I had money, she would never have
suffered this way. At this moment, I can't even afford to buy one cup of
tea," he said.
I asked Dr
Samadi how much oxygen Gulbadan needs.
"Two
litres every minute," he said. "When this cylinder gets empty, if we
don't find another one, she will die."
When we went
back later to check on Gulbadan, we were told that's exactly what had happened.
The oxygen cylinder had run out, and she died.
The oxygen
production unit at the hospital isn't able to produce sufficient oxygen because
it only has power at night, and there isn't a steady supply of raw material.
In a matter of
a few hours, two children died of diseases that could have been prevented or
cured. It's a crushing but all too familiar blow for Dr Samadi and his
colleagues.
"I feel
exhaustion and agony. Every day we lose one or two beloved children of Ghor. We
have almost got accustomed to it now," he said.
Walking around
the rooms, we saw an overwhelming number of children in distress. One-year-old
Sajad's breathing was raspy. He's suffering from pneumonia and meningitis.
In another bed
is Irfan. When his breathing became more laboured, his mother Zia-rah was given
another oxygen pipe to hold near his nose.
Wiping tears
that rolled down her cheeks with her upper arm, she carefully held both pipes
as steady as she could. She told us she would have brought Irfan to the
hospital at least four or five days earlier if the roads had not been blocked
by snow.
So many simply
can't make it to hospital, and others choose not to stay once they get there.
"Ten days
ago a child was brought here in a very critical condition," Nurse Sultani
said. "We gave him an injection, but we didn't have the medicines to cure
him.
"So his
father decided to take him home. 'If he has to die, let him die at home',"
he told me.
What we saw in
Ghor raises serious questions about why public healthcare in Afghanistan is
crumbling so quickly, when billions of dollars were poured into it by the
international community for 20 years until 2021.
Where was that
money spent, if a provincial hospital doesn't have a single ventilator for its
patients?
Currently there
is a stop-gap arrangement in place. Because money can't be given directly to
the internationally unrecognised Taliban government, humanitarian agencies have
stepped in to fund salaries of medical staff and the cost of medicines and
food, that are just about keeping hospitals like the one in Ghor running.
Now, that
funding, already sorely inefficient, could also be at risk. Aid agencies warn
that their donors might cut back because the Taliban's restrictions on women,
including its ban on Afghan women working for the UN and NGOs, violates
international laws.
Only 5% of the
UN's appeal for Afghanistan has been funded so far.
We drove up one
of the hills near the Ghor hospital to a burial ground. There are no records or
registers here, not even a caretaker. So it's not possible to find out who the
graves belong to, but it's easy to distinguish big graves from small ones.
From what we
saw, a disproportionate number - at least half - of the new graves belong to
children. A man who lives in a house close by also told us most of those they
are burying these days are children.
There may be no
way to count how many children are dying, but there is evidence everywhere of
the scale of the crisis.
Additional
reporting by Imogen Anderson and Sanjay Ganguly
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65449259
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Afghan Interim
Authorities Do Not Receive US Aid: US State Dept
May 5, 2023
Vedant Patel,
principal deputy spokesperson at the US Department of State told Afghanistan
International that the mechanism of sending aid and cooperating with relief
organizations is such that the Taliban de facto authorities cannot use the aid.
The US special
envoy for aid to Afghanistan said that Special Inspector General for
Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and the US States Department do not exactly
know how much money the Taliban receive from the United Nations aid and
international organizations.
In response to
these claims, Patel reiterated that the US has confidence in the aid
distribution mechanism to Afghanistan, and is sure that the aid will reach the
Afghan people, Afghanistan International Reported.
“The Taliban
will not benefit from the US aid to Afghanistan. The mechanism we use and our
cooperation with the UN and aid organizations is reassuring,” Patel said.
The US Congress
had assigned ISGAR in March to determine how much US money the Taliban receives
through paying taxes, fees, import duties, purchasing or obtaining licenses, or
public services.
SIGAR’s new
report has failed to provide a definitive response to Congress’s question.
Previously also, at a hearing of the US Foreign Relations Committee, it was
discussed that due to the lack of cooperation between the US Department of
State and aid organizations, no comprehensive information about the use of US
aid to Afghanistan by the Taliban is not available.
Patel rejected
the possibility of the Taliban benefiting from the US aid in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the
Associated Press on Wednesday reported that the Taliban are interfering in the
work of non-governmental and aid organizations in different ways and harassing
them.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghan-interim-authorities-do-not-receive-us-aid-us-state-dept/
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Afghanistan
Acting FM Muttaqi to Lead High-Level Delegation to Pakistan Tomorrow
May 4, 2023
Pakistan’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that Acting Afghan Foreign Minister
Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi will lead a high-level delegation to the country
Friday.
“Acting Afghan
Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi is visiting Pakistan from May 5 to
May 8 2023,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
“He will lead a
high-level delegation, which includes Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and
Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi and senior officials from the Afghan Ministries
of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Trade.”
It also said
that apart from holding bilateral meetings, the acting Afghan foreign minister
will participate in the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign
Ministers’ Dialogue on May 6.
The focus of
the meeting will be strengthening the bilateral relations between Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
“During the
visit, the two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations
between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the political, economic, trade,
connectivity, peace and security, and education domains,” the statement read.
“Pakistan is
desirous of a peaceful, prosperous, stable and connected Afghanistan and
reiterates its commitment to pursue continuous and practical engagement with
the interim Afghan government,” the FO added.
In addition, it
is believed that, among other issues, the rising security threats posed by
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan TTP) will also be part of the agenda.
It is also
worth mentioning that Afghanistan is strategically located on a trade and
transit corridor connecting South and Central Asia. It has untapped mineral
riches worth billions of dollars.
In this regard,
Afghanistan can play a bridging role in South and Central Asia on the one hand
and is significant for China’s giant One Belt One Road project.
Source: khaama.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-acting-fm-mutaqqi-to-lead-high-level-delegation-to-pakistan-tomorrow/
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Helmand
Education Dept Says 93 New Schools to Be Built
05-05-23
The
department's officials also noted that 32 schools in Helmand have undergone
renovation since the Islamic Emirate came to power, and this work is still
ongoing.
"Our plan
for this year is to build schools in a fundamental way, build walls for 20
schools, and build student restrooms for another 20 schools,” said Mohammad
Ismail, director of general education of the Helmand Department of Education.
Students asked
the Islamic Emirate to rebuild their schools so that they can continue studying
in a peaceful environment.
"The
problem that we are facing is that our school is not built properly, we don't
have any toilets. it is very cold in winter,” said Abdul Ali, a student.
“Our school
does not have four walls; the office and our classrooms are old. There are many
of us, there is no place to sit in the classroom,” said Zameer, a student.
Helmand
residents urged the current government to speed up the process of rebuilding
schools.
"There are
350 to 400 students. We ask them to build a school here for us,” said Pir
Mohammad, a resident of Helmand.
"We ask
the Islamic Emirate to build walls for the school and specify its place because
the school is close to the road,” said Rahmatullah, a resident of Helmand.
According to
data from the Helmand Department of Education, the province now has 419
schools, 234 of which do not have buildings.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial-183232
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SRK-starrer
‘Pathaan’ becomes first Hindi film to release in Bangladesh post 1971
5th May 2023
Mumbai:
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster ‘Pathaan’ will now become the
first Hindi film to release in Bangladesh post 1971. It is set to release on
May 12 in Bangladesh.
Nelson D’Souza,
Vice President, International Distribution, said, “Cinema has always been a
unifying force between nations, races and cultures. It transcends borders,
galvanises people and plays a significant hand in bringing people together.”
“We are
incredibly thrilled that ‘Pathaan’, which has done historic business worldwide,
will now get a chance to entertain audiences in Bangladesh!”
He adds, “Pathaan
becomes the first Hindi film to release in Bangladesh post 1971 and we are
thankful to the authorities for their decision. We have learnt over the years
that Shah Rukh Khan has tremendous fan following in Bangladesh and we feel
Pathaan, our latest offering from YRF’s Spy Universe, is the perfect first film
of SRK & Hindi cinema to release in the country and represent Indian
culture and cinema in its full glory.”
‘Pathaan’ is
also the highest grossing film of the fabled YRF’s Spy Universe that also includes
blockbusters like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ and ‘War’.
Source: siasat.com
Please
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https://www.siasat.com/srk-starrer-pathaan-becomes-first-hindi-film-to-release-in-bangladesh-post-1971-2582548/
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Rohingya
delegation visits Myanmar amid latest repatriation plans
5 May 2023
A Rohingya
refugee delegation has arrived in Myanmar to tour new facilities built for the
revival of a long-stalled plan to return the persecuted minority to their
homeland.
Bangladesh
officials said on Friday that 20 Rohingya and seven officials, including a
border guard officer, were visiting two model villages erected for the pilot
return project.
“We departed
from Teknaf jetty with 20 Rohingya members, including three women,”
Bangladesh’s deputy refugee commissioner Mohammed Khalid Hossain told the AFP
news agency.
“They will see
the various facilities created for the purpose of repatriation to Myanmar,” he
said as their boat left the river port for neighbouring Maungdaw township in
Rakhine state, Myanmar.
Bangladesh is
home to about a million Rohingya, most of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown
in neighbouring Myanmar that is now subject to a UN genocide investigation.
Both countries
signed an agreement to return the refugees later that year, but little progress
has been made since, and the UN has repeatedly warned conditions were not right
for their repatriation.
Bangladesh
refugee commissioner Mizanur Rahman told AFP the new facilities include a
market, hospital and reception centre for returning refugees. Officials have
told AFP they expect repatriations to begin later this month, before the annual
monsoon season.
Rohingya
concerns
Rohingya
refugees, who have spent nearly six years living in overcrowded and squalid
camps in Bangladesh, have been consistently wary and sceptical of the scheme
since it became public knowledge in March.
Many worry that
none of their concerns about security or recognition of their right to
citizenship in the Southeast Asian nation has been answered.
“Why will we be
sent to Myanmar without citizenship?” a refugee, who said they were also part
of Friday’s delegation, told AFP earlier this week, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
The Rohingya
are widely viewed in Myanmar as interlopers from Bangladesh, despite roots in
the country stretching back centuries.
The
repatriation plan agreed to in 2017 failed to make any significant headway in
the years since, partly over concerns the Rohingya would not be safe if they
returned.
Myanmar’s
military had until recently shown little inclination to take back any Rohingya,
who have for years been denied citizenship and subjected to abuse.
Military chief
and ruler Min Aung Hlaing has dismissed the Rohingya identity as “imaginary”,
and was also the head of the armed forces during the 2017 crackdown.
‘Must be
voluntary’
The UN refugee
agency said it was aware of the trip, which was taking place “under a bilateral
arrangement between Bangladesh and Myanmar”.
“UNHCR is not
involved in arranging this visit. However, we reiterate that every refugee has
an inalienable right to return to their home country,” agency spokesperson
Regina De La Portilla told AFP.
“Refugee
returns must be voluntary, in safety and dignity,” she added. “No refugee
should be forced to do so.”
The
International Court of Justice is probing allegations of rape, murder and arson
against entire Rohingya villages by Myanmar’s security forces during the 2017
violence.
In a 2018
report, the UN called for army chief Hlaing and other generals to face genocide
charges.
Rohingya
refugees struggle with food aid cuts during Ramadan
Source: aljazeera.com
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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/rohingya-delegation-visits-myanmar-amid-latest-repatriation-plans
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Mideast
Iran’s Raisi
meets with top Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials, urges Israel’s defeat
4 May 2023,
Iran’s
president met senior Palestinian officials in Damascus and expressed his
country’s support Thursday as Tehran and Syria signed a series of agreements.
Damascus-based
Palestinian official Khaled Abdul-Majid told The Associated Press that the
delegation — which included top leaders from the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad terror groups — briefed Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi on the situation in the West
Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.
Iran has been a
main backer of some Palestinian factions, supplying them with weapons and
money.
“The
Palestinian leaders thanked Iran for its support to the resistance and the Palestinian
cause,” Abdul-Majid, who attended the talks, said after the meeting.
Abdul-Majid, who is a leader of the Syrian government-allied Palestinian
Resistance Factions Coalition, added that Raisi confirmed to the Palestinian
officials that Iran will continue supporting the Palestinians.
Among the
Palestinians in attendance was Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nakhaleh, who is based
in Syria, and Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member in the Gaza-ruling Hamas.
According to a
statement from Raisi’s office, the Iranian president urged Muslims to “use all
their capacities to achieve the violated rights of Palestine and the freedom of
the holy Quds [Jerusalem].”
“Today more
than ever, the unity and cohesion of the resistance forces, the region and the
Islamic world is necessary to accelerate the defeat of the Zionist regime and
the liberation of the holy Quds and the sovereignty of the Palestinians over
their destiny,” Raisi was quoted as saying.
He added: “We
consider the collapse of the Zionist regime, whose effects are visible, to be
very close.”
Turning to the
Abraham Accords normalization agreements that Israel signed in 2020 with the
UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, Raisi said that the Trump administration, which
brokered the agreements “forced some governments to restore relations with the
Zionists, but what actually happened was [Israel] reneging on its promises and
continuing to violate Palestinians’ rights and to commit murder and plunder.”
However, those
who signed those deals with Israel have now seen the error of their ways, Raisi
claimed. “It reached a point where the supporters of the normalization of
relations are facing protests and questions by their own people and realized
that there is no other path but to resist and stand against the Zionist
regime.”
Raisi began a
two-day visit to Syria during which the two allies signed a series of long-term
cooperation agreements on oil and other sectors to bolster economic ties. Raisi
held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad and visited holy shrines for
Shiite Muslims near the capital Damascus.
Tehran has been
a main backer of Assad’s government since a 2011 uprising turned into
full-blown civil war and has played an instrumental role in turning the tide of
the conflict in his favor.
Iran has sent
scores of military advisers and thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around
the Middle East to Syria to fight on Assad’s side. Tehran has also been an
economic lifeline for Assad, sending fuel and credit lines worth billions of
dollars.
Syrian
government forces have regained control of large parts of the country in recent
years, with the help of its two main allies — Russia and Iran.
With Arab
governments that once advocated Assad’s downfall now slowly making amends with
Damascus, Iran appears to be hoping to reap the rewards for its decades-long
support of the Syrian president with investment and economic opportunities to
help alleviate its own ailing economy.
Syrian state
media said Raisi and Assad signed agreements and memorandums of understanding
related to several sectors, including oil, agriculture, railways and free trade
zones.
Iran’s
state-owned railway company has long aspired to expand its network through
neighboring Iraq and Syria, linking it to the Syrian port of Latakia on the
Mediterranean Sea to boost trade. Syria’s opposition and Tehran critics see
this as another Iran attempt at growing its political influence.
The deals are
important also for Syria, whose economy has hit an all-time low over the past
decade, with spiraling inflation, a currency plunge and rampant power cuts.
The last
Iranian president to visit Syria was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2010.
Source: timesofisrael.com
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-raisi-meets-with-top-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-officials-urges-israels-defeat/
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1000s
Palestinian Worshipers Pray in Al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi Mosques
5 May, 2023
Thousands of
Palestinian citizens performed Friday, May 5, 2023, Al-Fajr prayer (Dawn
prayer) at the blessed Al-Aqsa and Ebrahimi Mosques to confront Israeli
settlers’ storming and the Judaization schemes into the two mosques.
The Al-Aqsa
mosque witnessed a high presence of Palestinian worshipers who came from the
occupied Jerusalem, West Bank, and the 1948-occupied Palestinian territories.
In the occupied
Hebron, hundreds of Palestinian worshipers performed the AL-Fajr prayer in the
Ebrahimi Mosque and confirmed their insistence to protect the mosque from the
Israeli occupation and colonizers’ violations.
They also
rejected the systematic closure of the mosque, banning the call to prayer, and
preventing Palestinians to pray in their own mosque.
days ago,
Jerusalmite activists called for wide participation in the Great Dawn campaign,
which calls to intensify the Palestinians’ presence in the mosque to thwart the
Judaization schemes and Israeli settlers’ attempts to divide it temporally and
spatially.
The Great Dawn
campaign started for the first time in November 2022 in the Ebrahimi mosque in
Hebron in response to Israeli settlers’ repeated attacks and storming of the
mosque. Then, it moved to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/1000s-palestinian-worshipers-pray-in-al-aqsa-and-ibrahimi-mosques/
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Dozens of
Israeli Colonizers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
5 May, 2023
Dozens of
Israeli colonizers stormed Friday morning, May 5, 2023, the blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque, from the Iron Gate, under the strict protection of the Israeli
occupation forces.
The Palestinian
media reported that dozens of extremist Israeli colonizers stormed Al-Aqsa
Mosque and performed Talmudic prayers at the Iron Gate to AL-Aqsa Mosque.
Days ago, the
alleged Jewish temple group called for a great storming into the Al-Aqsa
Mosque.
The Federation
of Extremist Temple Organizations has set Thursday 18-5-2023 as the date for
the central great storming, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Israeli
occupation of Jerusalem.
On the other
side, the Israeli occupation forces continued to impose restrictions on the
entry of Palestinians to Al-Aqsa and withheld their personal identities at its
external gates.
Every day,
except for Friday and Saturday, Al-Aqsa Mosque witnesses a series of violations
and incursions by Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli
occupation forces, to impose full control over the mosque and divide it
temporally and spatially.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/dozens-of-israeli-colonizers-storm-al-aqsa-mosque/
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Israel seized
Binance crypto accounts to 'thwart' Islamic State, document shows
May 5, 2023
By Reuters:
Israel has seized around 190 crypto accounts at crypto exchange Binance since
2021, including two it said were linked to Islamic State and dozens of others
it said were owned by Palestinian firms connected to the Islamist Hamas group,
documents released by the country's counter-terror authorities show.
Israel's
National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) on January 12 confiscated
two Binance accounts and their contents, one of the documents on the NBCTF's
website showed. The seizure was to "thwart the activity" of Islamic
State and "impair its ability to further its goals," the NBCTF said
on its website.
The NBCTF
document, which has not been previously reported, did not give any details on
the value of the crypto seized, nor how the accounts were connected to the
Islamic State.
Binance, the
world's largest crypto exchange by trading volumes, did not respond to Reuters'
calls and emails seeking comment. Israel's defence ministry, which is
responsible for the NBCTF, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for
comment.
Under Israeli
law, the country's defence minister can order the seizure and confiscation of
assets that the ministry deems related to terrorism.
Regulators
globally have long called for tighter controls on crypto exchanges to prevent
illegal activities, from money laundering to the financing of terrorism. The seizures
by Israel's NBCTF highlight how governments are targeting crypto companies in
their efforts to prevent illegal activity.
Binance,
founded in 2017 by CEO Changpeng Zhao, says on its website it reviews
information requests from governments and law enforcement agencies on a
case-by-case basis, disclosing information as legally required.
Binance has
also said it checks users for connections to terrorism and has "continued
to invest tremendous resources to enhance its compliance program," it told
U.S. senators in March in response to their requests for information on
Binance's regulatory compliance and finances.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/israel-crypto-accounts-binance-islamic-state-palestinian-nbctf-2368766-2023-05-05
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Vietnam's Vice
President Vo Thi visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
4th May, 2023
Vietnam's Vice
President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and her accompanying delegation, on Thursday visited
the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM).
They began
their tour with a visit to the final resting place of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin
Sultan Al Nahyan and recalled the Founding Father’s qualities and wise approach
that enriched the culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among various
nations of the world.
She toured the
mosque and was briefed about its halls and external corridors.
During the
tour, they were briefed about the mosque’s noble message that highlights
notions of coexistence, tolerance, and openness to other cultures, inspired by
the nation’s late founder’s rich legacy, and about the mosque’s leading role in
highlighting the Islamic culture’s true essence and promoting cross-cultural
communication worldwide.
At the end of
the visit, the guest was presented with two of the Centre’s distinctive
publications.
The first
titled "Spaces of Light,” showcasing the winning photographs in the
"Spaces of Light” photography award, annually organised by the Centre in
celebration of the scenic aesthetics and visual culture of the mosque, and
another copy of a book titled "Houses of God” about places of worship in
the Islamic history.
Source: gulftoday.ae
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2023/05/04/vietnam-vice-president-vo-thi-visits-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque
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Liberation of
Quds most important issue of world of Islam
May 4, 2023,
TEHRAN, May 04
(MNA) – The Iranian president in a meeting with a group of Palestinian
Resistance commanders said that Muslims must use all their capacities to
achieve the violated rights of Palestine and the freedom of the Holy Quds.
During his
official two-day visit to Syria, Ebrahim Raeisi had separate meetings with a
group of leaders and commanders of the Islamic Resistance and Palestinian
thinkers on Thursday morning, and emphasized, "The issue of Palestine and
the freedom of Quds is the most important issue of the World of Islam today,
which should not be forgotten."
The President
added, "The Islamic Republic always pursues the issue of Palestine as a
priority in its foreign policy, and we believe that all the equations of the
World of Islam are defined under this issue."
Stating that
the enemy has come to the field with all its forces to fight for the rights of
the Palestinians, the President said, "Muslims must also use all their
capacities to achieve the violated rights of Palestine and the freedom of the
Holy Quds."
Referring to
the psychological warfare of the domination system for the survival of the
Zionist Regime, the Iranian president said, "By launching a combined war,
the enemies seek to instil in the Palestinians that your fate and life depend
on the existence of the Zionist Regime and that the survival of this regime is
unquestionable and must be accepted by Muslims."
The President
considered the conclusion of agreements such as Camp David, Sharm el-Sheikh,
and Oslo and the proposals that have been made for the normalization of
relations with Islamic countries as efforts for the survival of the Zionist
Regime and added, "They forced some governments to resume relations with
the Zionists, but what happened in action was the Regime's violation of the
agreement and continued violation of Palestinians' rights and murder and
looting."
Referring to
the recent crime committed by the Zionist Regime in the attack on Al-Aqsa
Mosque and the killing of fasting worshipers, Raeisi continued, "It
reached a point where the supporters of the normalization of relations faced
the protests and questions of their own people and realized that there is no
other way but to resist and stand against this regime."
Emphasizing
that today it has been proven that resistance is the only way to confront
Israel and contribute to the advancement of the World of Islam, the President
referred to the failure of the American hegemony and the Zionist Regime in the
Islamic world and stated, "Today more than ever, the unity and cohesion of
the resistance forces, the region, and the Islamic world is necessary to
accelerate the defeat of the Zionist Regime and the liberation of the Holy Quds
and the sovereignty of the Palestinians over their destiny."
Stating that
today the initiative is in the hands of Palestinian warriors in the field, not
behind the negotiation tables, Raeisi said, "We consider the collapse of
the Zionist Regime, whose effects are visible, to be very close."
On this basis,
the President pointed out that the only solution for Palestine is government
rule based on the will of the Palestinians, and if the Westerners claim
democracy, they should accept the Palestinian people's vote and be committed to
its result."
President
Raeisi thanked the nation and government of Syria, the resistance leaders and
the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, Lebanon's Hezbollah and
Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah for standing up against the Zionist Regime and creating
hope in the Islamic world and said, "God willing, we will see the
liberation of Quds soon and pray in this holy place."
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/200277/Liberation-of-Quds-most-important-issue-of-world-of-Islam
--------
Africa
Libya
Christians Face Death Sentence over Conversion from Islam and Proselytization
George Gor |
Kabarak U. School of Law, KE
MAY 4, 2023
Libyan
activists told The Guardian Wednesday that six Libyan Christians are at risk of
being executed for converting from Islam and spreading their religious beliefs.
After being
arrested in March by the Libyan Internal Security Agency (ISA), the six were
accused of “making people leave Islam” in violation of the Libyan Penal Code.
Article 207 of the code prohibits the advocacy of ideas that would “[change]
the fundamental principles of the constitution or the fundamental rules of the
social structure.”
ISA also
detained and later released a US citizen who was involved in Christian
activities, according to local media reports.
The ISA posted
videos online of the detainees confessing to their conversion and proselytism.
One video showed the detained American citizen telling authorities that he and
others brought in Bibles with invisible ink, readable only with a special
light, to protect the privacy of those reading them.
A lawyer for
another one of the detainees told The Guardian his client was tortured into
renouncing his faith.
Libya has a
small Christian minority, mostly made up of Coptic Orthodox Egyptians who have
historical roots in the country. The interim constitution of 2011 guaranteed
freedom of religion for non-Muslims, but it was suspended amid Libya’s
2014-2020 civil war.
Human Rights
Watch (HRW) urged the Libyan authorities to reform the penal code in April and
“redefine criminal acts to exclude peaceful exercise of the right to express opinions,
assemble and establish associations.” Hannah Salah, associate Middle East and
North Africa director at HRW said “Libyan authorities are crushing civic space
using the tired pretext of enforcing regulations…[t]he authorities should
instead be protecting that space by upholding the right to freedom of
association.”
Source: jurist.org
Please
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https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/05/libya-christians-face-death-sentence-over-conversion-from-islam-and-proselytization/#
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Arabic, Islamic
Board Staff Arraigned For Employment Scam In Kaduna
By Undu Joseph
May 5, 2023
ABUJA – The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Mustapha Balarabe Dalhatu
before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna.
The
Commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said Bello is
arraigned on seven-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and
employment scam.
The defendant,
a staff of National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies “allegedly collected a
sum of N1,000,000 from one Shehu Abdullahi and eight ght others, as part
payment to secure employment for them in the Institution.”
But he neither
got them the jobs nor refund their money.”
Investigation
revealed that the defendant had been on suspension for serial job scams and
misconduct.
One of the
charges read, “That you, Mustapha Balarabe Dalhatu on or about the 12th of
February, 2020 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N350,000,00 from one Shehu
Abdullahi under the false pretence that you are capable of securing employment
for members of his family and friends with the National Board for Arabic and
Islamic Studies (NBAIS), a pretence you to be false and you thereby committed
an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other
Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same
Act”.
The defendant pleaded
not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Consequently,
the prosecution counsel, M.Arumemi, urged the court to fix a date for trial to
commence. But the defence counsel, I.O Ezenwa moved for the bail of the
defendant.
Source: independent.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://independent.ng/arabic-islamic-board-staff-arraigned-for-employment-scam-in-kaduna/
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Sudanese
special envoy urges rebels to put down arms
05-05-23
Ethiopia
received Thursday an envoy for Sudan’s General Abdel-Fattah Burhan to discuss
the ongoing conflict amid reports of continuing violence in Khartoum.
The special
envoy said that the Sudanese government would soon put an end to the conflict.
"Shortly
the government of Sudan is going to put an end to this rebellion.
I assured them
that we are keen for stability the peace in the region. But more importantly, I
explained that all authorities, countries, media should distinguish between the
legal authority in Sudan and the rebels. These two should not be equated to
each other”, said Dafallah Alhaj, Special envoy of Sudan’s General Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan.
Speaking in the
Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the Sudanese special envoy urged the rebels to
to put down arms.
“The other rebellion,
I would say, they are still raising up arms, fighting and they didn’t show any
consent to heal or to give up. And we have announced more than one time that
there is still a chance to pardon whoever is ready to put down arms”, said the
Sudanese special envoy.
Violence
erupted on April 15, preceded by months of escalating tensions between the
military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary group
called the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan
Dagalo.
Source: africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/05/sudanese-special-envoy-urges-rebels-to-put-down-arms/
--------
No winner' in
Sudan war: exiled Darfur rebel leader
05-05-23
Sudanese exiled
rebel leader Abdel Wahid Nur -- a veteran of decades of fighting in the
troubled Darfur region -- says there can be "no winner" in the war
now raging between two rival generals.
"The
Sudanese people want neither of them," Nur, now based in neighbouring
South Sudan, told AFP. "They want a civilian government."
Battles have
flared for weeks between Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his
former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces (RSF).
"What's
happening in Sudan is a disaster," Nur, 55, said in an interview in Juba,
the capital of South Sudan, where he lives after spending years in Paris.
"There is
no winner in this war," said the leader of a faction of the Sudan
Liberation Movement (SLM) whose members, he said, have not joined the fighting.
The battles
have turned Khartoum into a war zone and also killed scores in Darfur, which
Nur said once more suffers "war crimes and crimes against humanity".
Nur was a
leader of the Darfur rebellion from 2003 when African minority groups rose up
against Arab elites they accused of monopolising Sudan's political power and
wealth.
The
Islamist-backed strongman then in power, Omar al-Bashir, unleashed the
notorious Janjaweed militias, the forerunners of the RSF, whose atrocities
shocked the world.
The unrest
killed at least 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million, according to the UN.
The bloodshed led to international charges of genocide, crimes against humanity
and war crimes against Bashir and others.
Although
Darfur's conflict subsided over the years, the region remains awash with
weapons and sporadic violence erupts, often over access to water, land and
resources.
- 'Hands of
oppression' -
Sudan's
military ousted Bashir in April 2019 following mass pro-democracy protests, and
Burhan has been the de facto leader since then.
Daglo, from
Darfur's pastoralist camel-herding Arab Rizeigat people, rose to prominence
with the Janjaweed, which made up the bulk of the RSF formed in 2013.
In October
2021, Burhan and his then number-two Daglo jointly staged another coup that
upended the country's fragile transition to civilian rule.
The two
generals then engaged in a power struggle, most recently over the RSF's
integration into the regular army, which has now flared into bloody violence.
"The two
bodies fighting now once acted as Bashir's hands of oppression," said Nur.
"The army
and Burhan personally supervised the making of the Janjaweed," he said,
adding that his own movement opposes both and only fights "oppression".
Nur described
the conflict as the expected outcome of a "political struggle that became
militarised".
The current
fighting has killed more than 550 people, wounded thousands and sent more than
100,000 fleeing abroad.
In West Darfur
state, the UN says, the hostilities "have triggered intercommunal
violence", which have seen many deaths and accounts of rampant looting and
burning of property.
- Ambition to
rule -
Nur's SLM
faction refused to sign a 2020 peace deal with Sudan's short-lived transitional
government installed following Bashir's ouster.
It charged that
the accord, signed by other rebel groups, failed to address the root causes of
Sudan's conflicts.
Nur said his
movement had however observed "a unilateral ceasefire since Bashir's
ouster and have since committed to it" to give a chance to the planned
transition to civilian rule.
Nur belongs to
the ethnic Fur tribe in Darfur, and analysts believe his faction still
maintains considerable support.
A report last
year by UN experts said Nur's faction was among Darfuri armed groups
"receiving payments and logistical support" in exchange for sending
mercenaries to strife-torn Libya.
The UN experts,
in 2020, also said Nur's group had strengthened its miliary capability
following the discovery of gold in its area.
Nur rejects the
allegations and says he does not support either side in the current war,
stressing that his fighters play no role in it.
Nur said the
conflict reflects the two generals' ambitions to rule Sudan but is only
"increasing the suffering" of the people, especially in Darfur.
In a country
with a history of military coups, Burhan and Daglo have each touted themselves
as champions of democracy seeking to restore the transition to civilian rule.
Nur, recalling
the mass youth-led protests that led to Bashir's overthrow, said the Sudanese
people reject both of them.
"I don't
think they will ever accept military rule," he said.
Source: africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/04/no-winner-in-sudan-war-exiled-darfur-rebel-leader/
--------
South Africa
police apologises after names of rape victims leaked online
05-05-23
South Africa
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has issued a public
apology to the victims of the Krugersdorp attack where eight women were raped
in July 2022.
The apology
from the authorities follows the public release of personal information of the
eight women that included their names and surnames, age and physical addresses.
The personal
information of the victims were disclosed on the police WhatsApp groups, which
found its way to social media.
The South
Africa Police Service regrets the disclosure of such personal information and
apologises to the victims for the information breach and the hardship caused as
a result.
Following the
incident, General Masemola ordered an internal departmental investigation into
the matter.
The final
report after conclusion of the investigation found that indeed the personal
information of victims was released inappropriately but no ill-intent was
found.
Source: africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/04/south-africa-police-apologises-after-names-of-rape-victims-leaked-online/
--------
Southeast
Asia
Singapore PM
Lee: ‘Close to 90 per cent’ of Singaporeans involved in terrorism-related
activities successfully reintegrated into society after rehab
Wednesday, 03
May 2023
SINGAPORE, May
3 — Of the 140 or so Singaporeans dealt with for terrorism-related activities
since 2002, “close to 90 per cent” have made good progress in their
rehabilitation and successfully reintegrated into society, Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong said.
Most of them
are gainfully employed, with some running their own businesses. Other younger
Singaporeans have resumed their studies.
However, he
also said that as the terrorism threat still exists and “continues to morph
into new forms”, Singapore cannot afford to let its guard down.
Terror groups
such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis) remain active and influence
followers worldwide to mount attacks.
“Singapore is
seen as a prize target by terrorist groups and continues to be mentioned in
their propaganda,” Lee added.
Previously, the
authorities had said that the majority of Singaporeans nabbed for
terrorism-related activities were successfully integrated, without giving a
figure.
Lee was
speaking today (May 3) at the launch of the new Majulah Gallery by the
Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG). The gallery is located at Khadijah Mosque
along Geylang Road.
Formed in 2003,
the RRG is made up of a group of volunteer Islamic scholars and teachers in
Singapore. The group’s aim is to rehabilitate detained members of terror group
Jemaah Islamiah, as well as their families, through counselling. The group also
seeks to counter misinterpretations of Islam.
Exhibits on
terrorism activities and the work of the Religious Rehabilitation Group
showcased at the new Majulah Gallery located in Khadijah Mosque along Geylang
Road.
‘Worrying’
number of self-radicalised youth
In his speech
at the event, Lee noted that Singapore has picked up a growing number of
self-radicalised individuals in recent years.
Since the rise
of Isis in 2015, Singapore has dealt with 49 self-radicalised individuals under
the Internal Security Act.
This figure is
four times more than the number of cases from 2007 to 2014.
Out of the 49
individuals, 37 are Singaporeans.
There was also
a “worrying” number of young people among the self-radicalised Singaporeans,
Lee said.
“Eleven are
aged 20 or younger. Five of the youths even wanted to mount attacks in
Singapore.”
Rehabilitation
and outreach
To tackle the
threat of extremist ideologies in society, the authorities here take up various
approaches, including rehabilitation. This is where the RRG makes its
contributions.
Lee said that
the group works “unremittingly” to rehabilitate terrorism-related detainees by
partnering other community groups such as the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, to
encourage and motivate detainees.
“Some RRG
volunteers have also become mentors and tutors to the young detainees,
providing them with social support and equipping them with useful life skills.”
Besides
rehabilitation, the RRG has also stepped up its outreach efforts to sensitise
the public to the terrorism threat and strengthen the Muslim community’s
resilience against extremist ideas, Lee added.
For example,
the group set up the Resource and Counselling Centre in 2014 to educate the
public about radical ideology and violent extremism.
It has also
widened its reach by raising its online presence during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It organised virtual events and put out educational videos and articles to
sustain its outreach during the pandemic.
Lastly, the RRG
also works with other religious groups to promote better understanding among
different faiths and tackle the terrorism threat together, Lee said.
He gave an
example of how, two years ago, the Internal Security Department detained a
16-year-old boy who wanted to attack Muslims in Singapore after being
radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies.
The RRG shared
its experience with the National Council of Churches in Singapore to help
rehabilitate the boy, who is a Protestant Christian.
Thanking the
group’s members and volunteers for their contributions, Lee said that the RRG
has played “an indispensable role” to not just counter extremism in Singapore
for the last two decades, but also to promote interfaith bonds in society.
‘Collective
vigilance’ the strongest defence
While the
Government is making every effort to neutralise the threat of radicalism, such
as increasing outreach to counter extremist ideologies, everybody in society
also has a role to play, Lee stressed.
“Our strongest
defence against terrorism is our collective vigilance. We must stay constantly
alert against extremist ideologies.”
Singapore must
also strengthen its racial and religious harmony. The country’s diversity makes
it susceptible to being exploited by extremism along racial and religious fault
lines.
“We must do our
utmost to stay united and cohesive across the various racial and religious
groups in our society.” — TODAY
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2023/05/03/singapore-pm-lee-close-to-90-per-cent-of-singaporeans-involved-in-terrorism-related-activities-successfully-reintegrated-into-society-after-rehab/67534
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Malaysia’s
Anwar says in talks to return 1MDB fugitive Jho Low
5 May 2023
Malaysian Prime
Minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed his country is negotiating with authorities
overseas to secure the return of the fugitive financier alleged to have
masterminded the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.
Low Taek Jho,
better known as Jho Low, faces charges in Malaysia and the United States for
allegedly orchestrating the theft of $4.5bn from the Southeast Asian country’s
sovereign wealth fund.
Billions of
dollars of public funds were allegedly funnelled into luxury property, fine
art, Hollywood films and bank accounts linked to former Malaysian Prime
Minister Najib Razak.
Anwar said
Low’s return was being discussed through “diplomatic channels” and involved
multiple countries.
“It involves
many countries, it involves intelligence services, Interpol, et cetera,” Anwar
told local media, without elaborating on the countries involved or Low’s
whereabouts.
The Malaysian
leader said the process was difficult but was quoted by the New Straits Times
newspaper as saying other countries were “cooperating, staying in touch and
providing their support”.
Asked to
comment on whether China was involved, Anwar declined to comment, the New
Straits Times reported.
Last month,
Bradley Hope, an investigative journalist who helped expose the 1MDB corruption
scandal, wrote in a blog post that China could repatriate Low in exchange for
the Anwar administration allowing more Chinese investment in Malaysia.
Multiple
countries including the US, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Singapore, have
opened investigations into 1MDB.
Last month,
Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel was found guilty by a jury in Washington,
DC, of conspiring with Low to illegally influence the US government.
In March,
Malaysia’s top court dismissed a bid by Najib to review his corruption
conviction after a lower court found him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years
in prison.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please
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https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/5/5/malaysias-anwar-says-in-talks-to-return-1mdb-fugitive-jho-low
--------
Asyraf Wajdi:
Support of 148 MPs for unity government still intact
Friday, 05 May
2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
May 5 ― The support of the 148 Members of Parliament (MPs) who signed the
cooperation agreement to establish the unity government is intact, said Datuk
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The head of the
unity government secretariat also denied claims that the government is not
strong, saying that discussions or negotiations between all parties are held
every week.
“The support
from all 148 MPs who signed the unity government MoU (memorandum of
understanding) is intact. This is not a one-man show (and) no single party
dominates the others. We always have room to communicate.
“It’s normal
for some to feel uneasy with our strength. Actually, they are jealous because
they did not get to form the government first,” he said at a press conference
on the unity government National Convention at Menara Dato Onn here today.
Local media
previously reported that Bersatu Supreme Council member Dr Muhammad Faiz Na’aman
had hinted at the movement to overthrow the Unity Government when he wrote
‘126’ in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile,
Asyraf Wajdi, who is also Umno secretary-general, said negotiations for seat
distributions for the six state elections had been very positive despite
overlapping claims.
“So far, the
cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) seems to be
very good. There are overlapping claims because BN used to contest against PH
and vice versa.
“However,
discussions and negotiations are ongoing and based on the report we received
just now, I can say they have been very positive and constructive,” he said.
On February 22,
the menteri besar and chief ministers of the six states ― Selangor, Penang,
Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan ― agreed to consider dissolving
their respective state assemblies in the last two weeks of June to make way for
the state elections. ― Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/05/asyraf-wajdi-support-of-148-mps-for-unity-government-still-intact/67820
--------
Woman pleads
not guilty to hurting Indonesian maid with iron, hot water in KL
Friday, 05 May
2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
May 5 — A female clerk pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today
to hurting an Indonesian maid using an iron and hot water since March last
year.
Loke Chee Hui,
43, who works with an employment agency, was accused to have committed the
offence in a house at Jalan Hujan Emas 3, Taman OUG here between March 3, 2022
and April 23, this year.
She was charged
under Section 324 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 10
years or a fine or whipping or any two of the punishment, upon conviction.
Deputy Public
Prosecutor Nadia Elena Jamaluddin Akbal did not offer any bail as the offence
is a non-bailable offence.
However, lawyer
Varghese Onny, representing the accused pleaded for a lower bail on the grounds
that the accused is a mother of four, aged between two and 15.
Magistrate
Atiqah Mohamed@Mohamad Saim allowed a bail of RM6,000 with one surety and fixed
June 6 for mention.
In the Sessions
Court, Loke and her husband, Lum Kah Wai, 44, also claimed trial for
trafficking the same maid for the purpose of forced labour exploitation at the
same time and date.
The charge was
framed under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling
of Migrants (ATIPSOM) 2007, which carries a maximum of 15 years of jail and a
fine.
Judge Azura
Alwi set bail at RM10,000 and one surety for each of them. They were also
ordered to surrender their passport to the court and report to the nearest
police station every two months until the disposal of the case.
The court fixed
June 6 for mention.
Deputy Public
Prosecutor Wan Ahmad Hijrah Wan Abdullah prosecuted, while lawyer Varghese
represented both the accused. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/05/woman-pleads-not-guilty-to-hurting-indonesian-maid-with-iron-hot-water-in-kl/67805
----------
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