New Age Islam News Bureau
18 November 2022
"There are attacks on
Muslims all over India. There are hijab bans in the southern state of
Karnataka, which, again, literally takes their cues from Europe as well,"
says researcher Arsalan Iftikhar. (Reuters Archive)
----
• Compensation For Labour Can’t Be Denied Under
Islamic Law: Federal Shariat Court
• Saudi Arabia Increases Dissident Preacher Sheikh
Khalid Rashid's’s Prison Sentence From 23 To 40 Years: NGO
• US Moves To Shield Saudi Crown Prince In Journalist
Khashoggi Killing
• At Memorial For Shraddha Walkar In JNU, ABVP Speaks
Of ‘Love Jihad’
Europe
• Qatar’s embassy in France organises workshop to mark
day of Islamic art
• France shuts down 2 Islamic schools
• EU Eastern Partnership initiative needs to be
modernized: Azerbaijan
--------
Pakistan
• Human Rights Violations Including Inclusivity, Human
Rights, Particularly Women Rights And In Counter-Terrorism In Afghanistan
Continue: Ex-Envoy
• Pakistan to pick new army chief: Why India, and the
world, will be watching closely
• Lahore High Court rejects petition to appoint
Pakistan’s next army chief based on seniority
• Imran paints bleak economic picture amid rising
inflation
• Gen Bajwa lauds operational preparedness, high
morale of troops
• KP IGP says US weapons left in Afghanistan being
used in terror activities
• Dismissing plea against long march, SC asks JUI-F to
approach Islamabad admin
--------
Arab World
• Lebanon’s Divided Parliament Fails For Sixth Time To
Elect President
• Iraq’s Baghdad airport hit by second fire in three
days
• President Erdogan could revisit strained ties with
Syria after Turkish election
• Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Arrives In Thailand For
‘Historic’ Visit
--------
North America
• US sceptical of reports Iran has developed
hypersonic missile – Pentagon
• US imposes new sanctions over Iran sanctions
evasion, targets Chinese firms
• US says forces in Syria came under rocket attack, no
casualties reported
• Canadian resident charged with terrorism in Haiti
plot
--------
India
• Gyanvapi Case: Court Rejects Mosque Committee’s
Objection to Plea Seeking Worship of ‘Shivling’
• After Reservation Trap, Minority Bandhu Scheme
Introduced To Lure Muslims By The TRS Government
• MCD Polls: BJP Fields 4 Candidates From Pasmanda
Muslim Community
• Amend laws for stricter punishment in 'love jihad'
cases: BJP MLA to UP CM after Mehrauli killing
• NIA cites Navlakha-ISI links to oppose house arrest
order
• Pakistan to skip global meet in Delhi on terror
funding
• 2 Islamic teachers held for allegedly torturing
student in Madrasa: Assam police
• Hamdard India welcomes ban on Amazon sale of Pakistani
Rooh Afza
--------
South Asia
• Taliban Reaffirm Afghanistan Not a Threat to Other
Nation: OIC Meeting
• Taliban Publicly Flogs a Boy and a Girl in Central
Afghanistan
• UNAMA: Taliban Should Explain Reasons for ‘Continued
Detention’ of Activists
• Afghanistan: Five ISIS members killed in clashes
with Taliban forces
--------
Southeast Asia
• Singapore’s Fatwa Committee Receives Global Award In
Recognition Of Covid-19 Efforts
• Islamists vs Islamists in GE15 — Hew Wai Weng
• Council Of Churches Denies Muhyiddin’s Claim Of Plot
To ‘Christianise’ Malaysia
• Social media monitor finds ‘Ketuanan Melayu’
narrative on the rise ahead of GE15, PAS’ Hadi ‘key amplifier’ of hate speech
-------
Mideast
• Iran’s UN Deputy Envoy Blasts Western States for
Unreal Support for Iranian Women
• Protesters Burn Home Of Iran’s Ex-Supreme Leader As
Demonstrations Enter Third Month
• Interior Minister: French Intelligence Agents, Daesh
Militants Captured by Iran
• FM: Israel, Western Spy Agencies Seeking Civil War
in Iran
• In West Bank, Undercover Troops Nab Islamic Jihad Man
Accused Of Planning Attacks
• At Least Ten Martyred in Separate Terror Attacks in
Iran
• IRGC Commander: Enemies’ Dream of Disintegrating
Iran Never Comes True
• Iranian FM Blasts US Hypocrisy over Talks
• Spokesman Describes Anti-Iran UN Resolution as
Biased, Unrealistic
• At least 21 killed, several others hurt in Gaza
Strip fire
• Israeli president Herzog plans first visit to
Bahrain
• IAEA board passes resolution ordering Iran to
cooperate with probe
• Turkey’s Erdogan tells Netanyahu relations should be
maintained with mutual respect
--------
Africa
• Greek Foreign Minister Dendias Snubs Libya Counterpart
In Spat Over Turkey Deal
• Police bust alleged Tunisia-Italy migrant
traffickers
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/georgetown-islamophobia-west-hatred-muslims/d/128430
--------
Georgetown University Experts: Islamophobia In West
Fuels Hatred Against Muslims In Other Regions
"There are attacks on
Muslims all over India. There are hijab bans in the southern state of
Karnataka, which, again, literally takes their cues from Europe as well,"
says researcher Arsalan Iftikhar. (Reuters Archive)
----
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
Islamophobia in the US and Europe has spread and
triggered hatred against Muslims in other parts of the world, including the
Asia-Pacific region, according to experts.
"It is legitimate today to talk about the
globalisation of Islamophobia," John Louis Esposito, a professor of
international affairs and Islamic studies at Georgetown University, told the
Anadolu Agency.
Esposito pointed out that Islamophobia first became a
major global issue after the 1979 revolution in Iran and then the September 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, adding that while Islamophobia initially became
prevalent in the US, Britain, and Germany, it later spread to other regions,
"even in northern Europe where you don't even have that many
Muslims."
"You have the issues of Myanmar, former Burma.
You have the issues in China with regards to the Uighurs. In both cases, you
even have international communities talking about genocide," he elaborated
further.
"The really stunning thing is, even more than
that, the extent to which it (Islamophobia) has become global," he
stressed, suggesting that anti-Muslim sentiments were spreading across the
political spectrum.
In France, for example, not just far-right politician
Marine Le Pen, but President Emmanuel Macron, too, resorted to hostile rhetoric
against Muslims during the election campaign season, Esposito said, adding that
these political figures' attitude toward the Muslim community was one of
cultural conflict.
Noting that Islamophobia was not met with a sufficient
outcry, he said: "It is interesting that when you actually say how many
Muslim governments have spoken out and major, international Muslim
organisations have spoken out. There is a silence there."
According to researcher Arsalan Iftikhar, right-wing
movements across the world were learning from movements in Europe and America.
"The right-wing movement around the world are taking
their political cues from European and American right-wing movements, other
global right-wing movements," he told Anadolu Agency.
Iftikhar, who penned "Fear of a Muslim Planet:
Global Islamophobia in the New World Order," also said that these movements
are trying to marginalise Muslims and other minorities within their lands.
"It is important to understand the context and
the cues they take from one another," he went on to say, pointing to the
example of hijab bans in European countries that started in France under
then-president Jacques Chirac in 2004 and other nations which adopted
Islamophobic policies.
"There are attacks on Muslims all over India.
There are hijab bans in the southern state of Karnataka, which, again,
literally takes their cues from Europe as well."
Source: TRT World
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original story:
--------
Compensation For Labour Can’t Be Denied Under Islamic
Law: Federal Shariat Court
Imprisoned Saudi preacher
Sheikh Khalid Rashid (Photo via Twitter)
-----
November 18, 2022
ISLAMABAD
- The Federal Shariat Court
(FSC) on Thursday issued notices to Ministry of Law and Justice and to the
Inspector General (Prisons) of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Baluchistan in Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 amendment case. A bench comprising of
Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer, Chief Justice Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
heard a human right application (No. 13/I of 2021) wherein the applicant was
aggrieved from the amendment inserted in section 21-F in the Anti-Terrorism Act
1997. The applicant submitted that no remission is being granted to him despite
serving rigorous imprisonment and rendering services as per Jail Manual, while
under the impugned section of the Act no remission in any sentence shall be
allowed to a person, who is convicted and sentenced for any offence. During the
course of hearing, the counsel for the applicant argued the matter that the
impugned section is repugnant to the injunctions of Islam. He submitted that
some remissions have already been allowed by the province of Sindh. The Chief
Justice after hearing preliminary arguments, took serious notice that the case,
in prima facie, is fit to be converted into Shariat petition as the
compensation for the labour under any contract cannot be denied under the
Islamic law. The case was fixed for next hearing in the first week of December
2022 before the available bench.
Source: Nation Pakistan
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original story:
https://www.nation.com.pk/18-Nov-2022/compensation-for-labour-can-t-be-denied-under-islamic-law-fsc
--------
Saudi Arabia Increases Dissident Preacher Sheikh
Khalid Rashid's’s Prison Sentence From 23 To 40 Years: NGO
Sheikh Khalid Rashid
----
17 November 2022
Amid a crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman against scholars, rights activists, pro-democracy campaigners and
political opponents, Saudi judicial authorities have extended the prison
sentence handed down to a prominent religious preacher.
The Prisoners of Conscience, an independent
nongovernmental organization advocating human rights in Saudi Arabia, announced
in a post on its official Twitter page that the so-called Court Of Appeal in
the capital Riyadh had increased the term of Sheikh Khalid Rashid's
imprisonment for the second time, and extended it from 23 to 40 years.
Sheikh Rashid was the imam of a mosque in the Khobar
city of Eastern Province for several years. He initially studied criminology in
the United States, before he changed his field of activities and studied Sharia
law.
The Saudi preacher was reportedly arrested in 2005,
when he spoke out against the profane cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
that were originally published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in
September that year. The drawings caused global Muslim outrage.
At the time, Sheikh Rashid demanded a sit-in in front
of the Governor of Riyadh’s office, and asked for the closure of the Danish
embassy. Saudi regime forces detained him after the protest call.
The Prisoners of Conscience, in a tweet, condemned the
arbitrary sentence against Sheikh Rashid and urged his immediate and
unconditional release.
“The issuance of harsh sentences against prisoners of
conscience is a judicial violation. This is while Saudi Arabia’s judiciary is
exercising the practice against defenseless inmates. The charges leveled
against all those who have been handed down heavy sentences by the Court of
Appeal are trumped-up and extracted under torture,” it wrote.
Human rights organizations argue that the harsh
arbitrary sentences given by the Saudi judiciary to imprisoned dissidents
manifest the extent of the kingdom’s disregard for international law, rampant
injustice, as well as violations of human rights and civil liberties.
Some social media activists have, meanwhile, launched
Arabic hashtags on Twitter, and asked Saudi authorities to release Sheikh
Rashid unconditionally.
Since bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader
in 2017, the kingdom has arrested hundreds of activists, bloggers,
intellectuals and others for their political activism, showing almost zero
tolerance for dissent even in the face of international condemnation of the
crackdown.
Muslim scholars have been executed and women’s rights
campaigners have been put behind bars and tortured as freedom of expression,
association, and belief continue to be denied by the kingdom's authorities.
Over the past years, Riyadh has also redefined its
anti-terrorism laws to target activism.
Source: Press TV
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original story:
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US Moves To Shield Saudi Crown Prince In Journalist Khashoggi
Killing
Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman of Saudi Arabia takes his seat ahead of a working lunch at the G20
Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.
Leon Neal/AP
----
Nov 18, 2022
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration declared Thursday
that the high office held by Saudi Arabia's crown prince should shield him from
lawsuits for his role in the killing of a US-based journalist, a turnaround
from Joe Biden's passionate campaign trail denunciations of Prince Mohammed bin
Salman over the brutal slaying.
The administration said the prince’s official standing
should give him immunity in the lawsuit filed by the fiancée of slain
Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and by the rights group he founded,
Democracy for the Arab World Now.
The request is non-binding and a judge will ultimately
decide whether to grant immunity. But it is bound to anger human rights
activists and many US lawmakers, coming as Saudi Arabia has stepped up
imprisonment and other retaliation against peaceful critics at home and abroad
and has cut oil production, a move seen as undercutting efforts by the US and
its allies to punish Russia for its war against Ukraine.
The State Department on Thursday called the
administration's decision to try to protect the Saudi crown prince from US
courts in Khashoggi's killing “purely a legal determination."
And despite backing up the crown prince in his bid to
block the lawsuit against him, the State Department “takes no view on the
merits of the present suit and reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the
heinous murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” the administration's court filing late
Thursday said.
Saudi officials killed Khashoggi at the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul. They are believed to have dismembered him, although his
remains have never been found. The US intelligence community concluded Saudi
Arabia’s crown prince had approved the killing of the widely known and
respected journalist, who had written critically of Prince Mohammed’s harsh
ways of silencing of those he considered rivals or critics.
The Biden administration statement Thursday noted visa
restrictions and other penalties that it had meted out to lower-ranking Saudi
officials in the death.
“From the earliest days of this Administration,?the
United States Government has expressed its grave concerns regarding Saudi
agents’ responsibility for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder,” the State Department
said. Its statement did not mention the crown prince's own alleged role.
Biden as a candidate vowed to make a “pariah” out of
Saudi rulers over the 2018 killing of Khashoggi.
“I think it was a flat-out murder,” Biden said in a
2019 CNN town hall, as a candidate. “And I think we should have nailed it as
that. I publicly said at the time we should treat it that way and there should
be consequences relating to how we deal with those — that power.”
But Biden as president has sought to ease tensions
with the kingdom, including bumping fists with Prince Mohammed on a July trip
to the kingdom, as the U.S. works to persuade Saudi Arabia to undo a series of
cuts in oil production.
Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, and DAWN sued the
crown prince, his top aides and others in Washington federal court over their
alleged roles in Khashoggi's killing. Saudi Arabia says the prince had no
direct role in the slaying.
“It’s beyond ironic that President Biden has
singlehandedly assured MBS can escape accountability when it was President
Biden who promised the American people he would do everything to hold him
accountable," the head of DAWN, Sarah Leah Whitson, said in a statement,
using the prince's acronym.
Biden in February 2021 had ruled out the US government
imposing punishment on Prince Mohammed himself in the killing of Khashoggi, a
resident of the Washington area. Biden, speaking after he authorized release of
a declassified version of the intelligence community's findings on Prince
Mohammed's role in the killing, argued at the time there was no precedent for
the US to move against the leader of a strategic partner.
The US military long has safeguarded Saudi Arabia from
external enemies, in exchange for Saudi Arabia keeping global oil markets
afloat.
“It’s impossible to read the Biden administration’s
move today as anything more than a capitulation to Saudi pressure tactics,
including slashing oil output to twist our arms to recognize MBS’s fake
immunity ploy,” Whitson said.
A federal judge in Washington had given the US
government until midnight Thursday to express an opinion on the claim by the
crown prince's lawyers that Prince Mohammed's high official standing renders
him legally immune in the case.
The Biden administration also had the option of not
stating an opinion either way.
Sovereign immunity, a concept rooted in international
law, holds that states and their officials are protected from some legal
proceedings in other foreign states’ domestic courts.
Upholding the concept of “sovereign immunity” helps
ensure that American leaders in turn don’t have to worry about being hauled
into foreign courts to face lawsuits in other countries, the State Department
said.
Human rights advocates had argued that the Biden
administration would embolden Prince Mohammed and other authoritarian leaders
around the world in more rights abuses if it supported the crown prince's claim
that his high office shielded him from prosecution.
Prince Mohammed serves as Saudi Arabia's de facto
ruler in the stead of his aged father, King Salman. The Saudi king in September
also temporarily transferred his title of prime minister — a title normally
held by the Saudi monarch — to Prince Mohammed. Critics called it a bid to
strengthen Mohammed’s immunity claim.
Source: Times Of India
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original story:
--------
At Memorial For Shraddha Walkar In JNU, ABVP Speaks Of
‘Love Jihad’
Multiple ABVP members spoke at the memorial, calling
the incident a cautionary tale against “love jihad”.
-----
November 18, 2022
Paying tribute to Shraddha Walkar (27) at Jawaharlal
Nehru University, who was killed allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab
Poonawala (28) in May, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Thursday called
for students to “rise against love jihad”.
Multiple ABVP members spoke at the memorial, calling
the incident a cautionary tale against “love jihad”.
“It’s not a single incident in isolation. There has
been a pattern which we observe in society in which girls are being trapped
falsely in the name of love, which is obviously not love… We… want the
judiciary and governments to take action against such culprits and book them in
the harshest way possible,” said Shikha Swaraj, the ABVP girls’ coordinator in
JNU.
“There is a pattern we see across the country in which
men from a particular community trap and engage in violent activities with
women from other communities. In this case, we see how far this barbaric act
can go. We can only raise awareness and appeal to (women to) never break away
from their families…,” said Arjun Anand, another member.
Source: Indian Express
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--------
Europe
Qatar’s embassy in France organises workshop to mark
day of Islamic art
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
The Qatari embassy in France organised an artistic
workshop to mark the International Day of Islamic Art within the framework of
the cultural co-operation between the Arab World Institute in Paris and the
Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
The workshop was attended by ambassador of Qatar to
France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani and President of Arab World Institute
Jack Lang. The exhibition — ‘A treasure of gold.. The dinar is in all countries’
was organised by the Arab World Institute.
Students of a Parisian school participated in the
exhibition, and were shown a unique golden coin collection, which indicates the
originality of coinage in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and the aspects it reflects
in Islamic art, with its aesthetics, elegance, and the high craftsmanship of
artists. During their tour in the exhibition, the students got familiarised
with the steps of coinage and forms of artistic expression, both ancient and
contemporary, in the field of Islamic art and human civilisation. In his remark
on this occasion, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani underlined the keenness of
Qatar to mark this international day to promote the cultural diversity and
equality among all cultures in pursuit of finding an exit for the Islamic art
from the borders of the countries in which it was originated to be a bridge of
communication between the peoples and civilisations.
Source: Gulf Times
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France shuts down 2 Islamic schools
Alaattin Dogru
17.11.2022
Two Islamic schools have been closed down in France’s
southern city of Montpellier, according to local media reports.
Officials carried out unannounced checks at the two
schools on Tuesday and ordered the administrations to shut them down, news
outlet Actu.fr reported on Wednesday.
The raids were carried out on the directives of Hugues
Moutouh, governor of the Herault region.
A small mosque in one of the schools will also be shut
down.
According to Moutouh, the schools were “illegal” and
the mosque was operating without permission, the report said.
A controversial new law introduced in France last year
has been criticized for singling out Muslims, while some 25 mosques have been
closed down in the country on various grounds.
The European Islamophobia Report 2021 released a few
months ago said the new law “which is supposed to provide a strong response
against ‘terrorism’ and ‘radical Islam’, has in fact provoked a violent
crackdown on Muslim visibility and organization.”
The report identified France as one of “the main spots
of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobic incidents” on the continent.
“Islamophobia in France is primarily the result of the
state, which seeks to establish an ‘Islam of France’ which removes
self-determination from French Muslims to make them ‘Muslims without Islam’,”
read the report.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/france-shuts-down-2-islamic-schools/2741445
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EU Eastern Partnership initiative needs to be
modernized: Azerbaijan
Burc Eruygur
17.11.2022
Azerbaijan's president on Thursday pointed out the
need to modernize the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, launched in 2009 to
foster ties between the bloc and several post-Soviet nations.
In a meeting with the EU's special envoy for the
initiative, Ilham Aliyev said: "With respect to Eastern Partnership, you
know that from the very beginning of this program Azerbaijan was very
supportive and participated actively in different events, including
summits."
"Now, I agree that it is time to modernize it, to
review what has been done, because more than a decade has passed since the
program was launched," he told Dirk Schuebel, according to a statement
from Aliyev's office.
The Azerbaijani president received Schuebel to discuss
the development of ties between his country and Brussels, as well as Baku's
role in Europe's energy security and cooperation in transport and
communication.
Highlighting that Azerbaijan is the only country in
the Eastern Partnership, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova, and Ukraine, not to have joined a political format under the program,
Aliyev said his country needed to inspect new opportunities related to the
Eastern Partnership.
"As far as we are concerned, we considered this
platform not as a platform of cooperation between the member states but as an
additional opportunity to enhance cooperation with the EU," Aliyev noted.
Baku ready to talk to Armenians living in Karabakh
Aliyev and Schuebel also exchanged views on the
normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations and matters including a
sought-after peace treaty between the two sides, border delimitation, and
regional security.
Yerevan was "not sincere" in its messages of
peace during the Armenian occupation of the Karabakh region that lasted nearly
30 years, Aliyev asserted.
He said Armenia's remarks on peace were "a kind
of manipulation, because if they really wanted peace they would have responded
to our proposal," referring to Azerbaijan's proposal for peace
negotiations following the 44-day conflict in late 2020.
Aliyev stressed that Baku had offered peace despite
the "devastation, destruction," and suffering that Armenians caused
in Azerbaijan.
"We offered a kind of framework made up of five
principles. It was us who advocated for establishing commissions on
delimitation. It was us who were trying to find a ground for normalization of
relations," he added.
Aliyev further indicated that his country has
consistently pursued both normalization with Yerevan as well as efforts related
to issues on Azerbaijan's Armenian minority.
Arguing that these two tracks should be kept separate
from one another, Aliyev said Yerevan wanted to incorporate issues related to
the Armenian minority into a peace agreement, which he said was "not
possible."
"Armenia should openly declare what they want. If
they want to talk about the rights and security of Armenians in Karabakh, it
will not work. We are ready to talk about that with Armenians who live in
Karabakh," he added.
Relations between the two ex-Soviet countries have
been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh,
also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of
Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.
A tripartite agreement was brokered by Russia to bring
an end to the war in November 2020.
The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and
a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Pakistan
Human Rights Violations Including Inclusivity, Human
Rights, Particularly Women Rights And In Counter-Terrorism In Afghanistan
Continue: Ex-Envoy of Pakistan to Afghanistan
November 18, 2022
ISLAMABAD: After more than a year of Taliban takeover,
the expected progress has not been achieved in some vital areas, including
inclusivity, human rights, particularly women rights and in counter-terrorism
in Afghanistan.
These areas are vital for long-term peace and
security.
This was stated by former ambassador of Pakistan to
Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan at an event organised by Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung (FES) Pakistan.
The FES Pakistan has launched its new series
“Afghanistan Monitor”. These regularly planned publications will display the
current political, humanitarian and economic developments in Afghanistan.
“The focus in news and media has shifted greatly
toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But we must not forget Afghanistan and the
responsibility of the international community in the region,” said FES country
director Niels Hegewisch in his opening remarks at the paper launch.
Source: Dawn
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1721560/human-rights-violations-in-afghanistan-continue-ex-envoy
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Pakistan to pick new army chief: Why India, and the
world, will be watching closely
Nov 17, 2022
NEW DELHI: Pakistan is likely to see a new army chief
later this month when Gen QJ Bajwa retires.
Such a transition, in most countries of the world,
would not hog news headlines for months. But in Pakistan, it is a big deal,
with likely repercussions in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond.
Why is it a 'big deal'?
The army, often referred to as the "deep
state" or "establishment" is Pakistan's most influential
institution. It has ruled the country for about 36 of its 75 years of
existence.
It is widely accepted that no civilian government in
Pakistan has survived without the blessings of the army.
Top army officials are notorious for pulling the
strings behind the scenes. The opinion and suggestions of the army brass carry
massive weight in framing policies, including defence and foreign.
The new army chief could set the tone for the conduct
of relations with India, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and determine whether
Pakistan tilts more toward China or the United States.
Why it matters domestically
The military has long been accused of manipulating the
democratic process to maintain its dominance. Nineteen of Pakistan's 30 prime
ministers were elected, but not one of them completed their five year terms.
Having recently admitted to its past meddling in
politics, the army has said it would no longer interfere. Whether the new chief
stands by that commitment could be key to Pakistan's democratic evolution.
The incoming army chief could potentially play a key
role in lowering the political temperature as Pakistan attempts to survive an
economic crisis.
His approach towards religious hardliners, who wield
considerable influence in the political sphere, will also be of interest.
Why it matters for India
The role of the Pakistan army chief could be telling
in India-Pakistan relations, including in the most contentious issue between
the two- Kashmir.
In early 2021, Gen Bajwa had sanctioned restoration of
a ceasefire agreement with India along the LoC.
Under the new Pakistan army chief, will the
international border and LoC be quiet, or disturbed? Will infiltration of
terrorists from across the border see a spurt or a dip? Will Islamabad's
attempts to foment trouble in the Valley continue?
How will India's engagements with Afghanistan's
Taliban evolve, given Pakistan military and intelligence's perceived influence
in that country?
The new boss in Rawalpindi will be factor in most of
these.
How is the Pakistan army chief picked?
According to Article 243(3) of the Pakistan
Constitution, the president appoints the services chiefs on the recommendation
of the prime minister.
The tradition is that General Headquarters sends a
list of the four to five senior-most lieutenant-generals, along with their
personnel files, to the Ministry of Defence, which then forwards them to the PM
to pick the officer he finds best suited to the role.
The credentials of the generals are then deliberated
upon either at the PMO or in the cabinet. The matter comes down to the PM's
‘informal consultation’ with the outgoing army chief, his own perceptions and
his discussions with his closest advisors.
Who could take over from Gen Bajwa?
Six names are believed to be in reckoning for
suceeding Gen Bajwa: Lt-Gen Asim Munir, Lt-Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Lt-Gen
Azhar Abbas, Lt-Gen Nauman Mehmood, Lt-Gen Faiz Hamid and Lt-Gen Mohammad Amir.
PM Sharif and Imran, both want to have their ways
The Pakistan government is seeking to amend an Act of
1952 to have greater authority over the appointment and retention of the Army
chief, reports in the country's media reported earlier this week.
The planned amendment would empower the prime minister
to retain an incumbent Army chief with a simple notification rather than
through a complex constitutional process which also requires the President's
assent.
Imran too is not sitting idle. He had a proposal for
Shehbaz Sharif, which the prime minister is learned to have rejected.
"Imran had suggested that we give him three names
and he gives three names for the post of army chief and then we decide on the
appointment of the new chief from those six names," The Express Tribune
quoted the Pakistan PM as saying.
"If there is a common name in both the lists,
then we will agree," Sharif said, adding, however: "I flatly refused
Imran Khan's offer by saying thank you."
Why the world will be watching closely
Pakistan's army chief will play a key role in dealing
with potential instability and friction with Afghanistan on its western
frontier.
The safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, that
includes long-range missiles, have often been questioned.
Pakistan and its military have dismissed foreigners'
concerns over the command and control, and security of its nuclear weapons.
Apprehensions of extremist elements infiltrating the ranks of its military and
security apparatus has hardly been reassuring.
Gen Bajwa's successor will have to reassure the world
again once he assumes office. The country exiting the FATF grey list recently
might just make things somewhat easier.
Gen Bajwa's legacy
Appointed chief in 2016, Bajwa sought to balance ties
with China and the United States. While Islamabad moved closer to Beijing,
Bajwa also worked to thaw relations with Washington.
He made highly-publicised visits to Beijing and the
Middle East - helping to secure financial assistance for Pakistan. He also
lobbied Washington to help strike a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
He even summoned Pakistan's top industrialists to a
meeting at army headquarters to encourage them to pay more tax.
Source: Times Of India
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Lahore High Court rejects petition to appoint
Pakistan’s next army chief based on seniority
17 November, 2022
Lahore [Pakistan], November 17 (ANI): The Lahore High
Court dismissed a petition seeking the appointment of the next army chief on a
“seniority basis”, Geo News reported.
It is pertinent to mention that incumbent Chief of
Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure is set to end on November 29 and
Pakistan’s military will get a new Army chief later this month.
The petition submitted by Advocate Najma Ahmed prayed
that the court directs the respondents to appoint the senior-most person as the
next army chief,Geo News reported.
Lieutenant-Generals Asim Munir, the army’s
quartermaster general and a former spy chief, Sahir Shamshad, commander of the
Rawalpindi Corps, Azhar Abbas, the army’s chief of general staff, and Nauman
Mahmood, chief of the National Defence University are the frontrunners to
replace Bajwa.
Referring to Article 243 (4b) of the Constitution
which lays down the procedure for the appointment of Chief of Army Staff, the
petitioner claimed that the traditional procedure for appointing the new army
chief is in conflict with Article 25 of the Constitution, and is illegal and
unconstitutional.
The petitioner stated that according to the rules of
business, the prime minister has been given the discretionary power to make one
of the five military officials as the army chief.
The federal government, he said is bound to appoint
the new army chief in accordance with the law. The petitioner implored the
court to issue directions to appoint the senior-most officer as the army chief.
The petitioner said that senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan
has also expressed reservations over the appointment of the army chief through
the traditional procedure,Geo News reported.
However, the court observed that such a matter should
be heard by a full court and suggested the petitioner approach the Supreme
Court.
It may be noted that after crucial meetings between
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in London, it was
decided that the military’s senior-most officer will be appointed as the next
army chief.
Prior to this Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif
while addressing a press conference last month that anyone amongst five army
personnel recommended by the Defence Ministry appointed as the new Army Chief
and all three-star generals are eligible for the role.
The appointment of the next army chief has become a
major issue and has taken the centre stage in the country’s politics,Geo News
reported.
Earlier, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan
during his long march rally said “It is impossible to imagine that a convicted
and fugitive person will now take important decisions in Pakistan,”. He also
claimed that Shabaz has violated the country’s Official Secrecy Act by
consulting his elder brother Nawaz Sharif in the appointment of the next army
chief.
“How can the PM consult a fugitive [Nawaz] on a chief
of army staff’s appointment,” he was quoted as saying by The News International
while referring to Shehbaz’s recent visit to London. “It is impossible to
imagine that a convicted and fugitive person will now take important decisions
in Pakistan,” he said adding that the court of law would be moved against
violation of the Secrecy Act.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan took a
sharp dig at Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa over the arrest of Senator
Azam Swati who blamed the general for legitimising corruption in the country.
Time and again, PTI chief Imran Khan and his party
have openly bashed the military leadership in the country since they were
ousted from power in April, leaving no chance for any negotiations with the
security establishment, which is why the Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed
Bajwa has clarified on various instances that he has distanced the military
from the country’s politics, according to Islam Khabar.
Despite his controversial ousting in April this year,
Khan continues to remain the most popular political leader in Pakistan.
Moreover, PTI has won in the recently held by-elections in different parts of
the country, especially in Punjab province.
However, another major issue for Khan taking a sharp
dig at Pakistan Army is Azam Khan Swati’s arrest. In August this year, Shahbaz
Gill, senior PTI leader and close aide of Imran Khan, was arrested for sedition
and other charges for remarks made during a TV show.
Notably, direct clashes between Khan and the security
establishment will create more
Source: The Print
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Imran paints bleak economic picture amid rising
inflation
November 18, 2022
GUJAR KHAN: Deploring the rising inflation, former
prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday warned that Pakistan’s default risk has
soared to 80 per cent from the 75pc recorded on Wednesday and that global
financial institutions will not trust the country for extending loans.
He further remarked that the rupee would continue to
take a free fall in such a dire economic situation and people start hoarding
dollars.
Mr Khan said this while addressing his party’s long
march at Dina where for a change his speech also focused on the economy. He claimed
50 million people were on the verge of slipping below the poverty line if
inflation continued to rise at the same pace.
Commenting on a report of the government’s Finance
Committee on Agriculture, he said a significant drop was recorded in the consumption
of diesel, fertiliser and purchase of tractors amid skyrocketing inflation in
the country. As a result, crop yield was also expected to fall.
Presenting a picture of the industries, the Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief said the sector was booming when he was in power,
but dropped to 1pc in the last seven months. He added the country’s wealth was
decreasing drastically that would make it difficult to pay off the loans.
He also reiterated his corruption allegations against
the ruling parties, and repeated he would take the legal route in the US, UK
and UAE against the federal government, Geo News and businessman Umar Farooq
Zahoor over their “propaganda” against him.
Furthermore, the PTI chief said he had already
predicted the current economic situation of the country and the alleged risks
to national security in an earlier interview.
He added he feared the current rulers would flee the
country after getting their cases closed and failing to handle the economy.
He further claimed the government wanted to
“eliminate” the opposition and appoint an army chief who ‘supported’ their
agenda, but hastened to add that he didn’t doubt the intentions of any of the
candidates for the all-important position, but didn’t trust the rulers.
The only way out of all the crises the country was
faced with was free and fair early elections, Mr Khan said, claiming that
through the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ march the nation wanted to convey the message that
they did not trust the leaders.
He called for an investigation into how the witnesses
and investigator of a money laundering case against the premier and his family
died one after the other, and the case was eventually closed. He further said a
nation that accepted injustice and was ruled by “thieves” had no future.
At the end, he claimed an ocean of people would reach
Rawalpindi at the culmination of his party’s long march, adding he would reveal
his plans for reaching the city on Saturday.
‘No truth’ to Imran’s allegations
Meanwhile, the US has stressed that there was never any
truth to former premier Khan’s allegations of Washington orchestrating a regime
change conspiracy against the PTI government, and reiterated its resolve not to
let “misinformation” and “propaganda” come in the way of its bilateral ties
with Pakistan.
“As we’ve previously said, there has — there is not
and there has never been any truth to these allegations, but I don’t have
anything additional to offer,” Dawn.com quoted US State Department spokesperson
Vedant Patel as saying during a press briefing on Wednesday when asked to
comment on the PTI’s chief’s apparent backtracking on his allegations.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1721517/imran-paints-bleak-economic-picture-amid-rising-inflation
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Gen Bajwa lauds operational preparedness, high morale
of troops
November 18, 2022
RAWALPINDI: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army
Staff (COAS) on Thursday visited Bahawalpur and Okara as part of farewell
visits.
The COAS laid floral wreath at Martyrs’ monument at
Bahawalpur and interacted with officers and troops of Formations at Bahawalpur
and Okara.
The COAS also witnessed Integrated Fire Power
Manoeuvre Exercise at Khairpur Tamewali (KPT) where troops of Bahawalpur Corps
along with PAF JF-17 thunder aircrafts, Cobra Gunship Helicopters and
Mechanized elements displayed coordinated fire power in battlefield conditions.
Source: Pakistan Today
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KP IGP says US weapons left in Afghanistan being used
in terror activities
November 17, 2022
PESHAWAR: Inspector General (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Moazzam Jah Ansari on Thursday claimed weapons left by the US in Afghanistan
are being used in KP.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Moazzam Jah
Ansari said weapons left by US after departure from Afghanistan are being used
in terror activities in the province.
He reiterated the war against terror was not
Pakistan’s but we have faced huge losses after it. the IG KP said terrorists
attacked jawans in Bajaur yesterday.
Ansari vowed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from
the province and went on to say that they are ready for ‘losses’.
Source: Pakistan Today
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Dismissing plea against long march, SC asks JUI-F to
approach Islamabad admin
November 17, 2022
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition,
moved by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), seeking its order to stop the
protestors of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from entering Islamabad and
advised the party, a member of the ruling alliance, to approach the capital
administration to address the issue.
While hearing a petition seeking protection of the
rights of the people of Islamabad amid the long march, the top court told
Kamran Murtaza, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)
and JUI-F member of the Senate, the judiciary could only intervene in
“extraordinary circumstances”.
Murtaza had contended that the protest could disrupt
daily life in Islamabad and that the rights of the people must be protected.
It’s been two weeks since the long march kicked off, and
according to Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the party, it will reach
Islamabad by this Friday, he told the court.
“Everyday life of people has been disrupted due to the
long march. PTI reserves its right to hold a long march, but in no way is it
allowed to disturb a commoner’s life,” he contended.
But Justice Athar Minallah, a member of the
three-judge bench which took up the petition, wondered “why should the court
interfere when the administration can control the situation?”
Justice Minallah, however, assured Murtaza that in
unusual circumstances, the court could intervene.
“Prima facie, the court’s interference on the issue
would be premature […] court will exercise judicial restraint in such political
matters,” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said.
The top judge further told the petitioner he had cited
the violations of the previous long march, held in May, and asked the court to
intervene in the matter. “But the long march is a political issue, there is a
political solution to it as well,” he noted.
He told Murtaza that when the judiciary gets involved
in political matters, it creates a “difficult situation” for the court.
Justice Ayesha Malik inquired whether the government
had made any mechanism to regulate the protests.
Justice Ayesha Malik inquired that PTI’s long march
has been going on for a long time, had he approached the administration? She
asked what was haste in the case of long march and what was the negligence of
the administration?
Senator Kamran Murtaza said that an entire province
had been paralyzed due to the long march.
Justice Athar Minallah said that if someone violated
the laws, the executive had wide powers. He asked would not the administration
and parliament be weakened by the intervention of the judiciary?
Justice Ayesha Malik asked the petitioner to mobilize
the administration to play its role. Every day there were protests in many
places including Parliament in Islamabad, she said and asked had he ever
approached the courts against other protests?
She asked why the intervention of the court was
required only in the long march of a particular political party.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the
petitioner had mentioned past violations in the application. The Long March was
a political issue that could be solved politically, he added.
He said that interference in such issues created a
strange situation for the court.
Addressing the petitioner, the Chief Justice said that
he (Kamran) had mentioned an audio in his application which mentioned bringing
weapons. Audio was true or false but it could disturb the law and order
situation, he added.
He asked did the people in the long march of May 25
had weapons? The right to protest was not unlimited but subject to
constitutional limits, he added.
The Chief Justice said that the request for H-9 ground
was given for PTI’s May 25 long march. When the administration refused to give
H-9 ground, the Supreme Court intervened, he added.
He observed that despite the allocation of the H-9
ground, the crowd went to D-Chowk.
Addressing the petitioner, the Chief Justice said that
he wanted the Supreme Court to play the role of Deputy Commissioner.
Apparently, the court’s intervention in the case of Long March would be
premature, he added.
Senator Kamran Murtaza said that it seemed that the
administration could not control the situation. Justice Athar Minallah while
talking to Kamran Murtaza said that he was a senator and he should strengthen
the parliament but he had approached the court on the basis of assumption.
Kamran Murtaza said that he had approached the court
in a personal capacity, on this Justice Athar Minallah said that how could he
believe that he was also a part of the government and had come in a personal
capacity.
The court asked Additional Attorney General Aamir
Rehman whether the administration had taken any decision regarding the venue
for PTI’s long march.
The Additional Attorney General said that a request
has been received from PTI and pleaded the court to grant half an hour time as
he would inform the court after receiving information from the relevant forum.
He said that a similar case was also pending in the Islamabad High Court.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court
that the administration had asked the PTI to hold a rally in Rawat. The
administration sought an affidavit from the PTI, which had not yet been filed,
he added.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that if there was
a clear threat of constitutional violation, the judiciary would intervene. The
other party could have its own position on the violations, he added.
He said that the matter became complicated for the
court on violation of Supreme Court orders as court orders were for
implementation.
When the hearing resumed after a break, Justice Athar
Minallah said that petition had become ineffective.
Kamran Murtaza said that he wanted judicial
intervention to maintain law and order in the country.
Justice Athar Minallah inquired if he was saying that
the situation had gone beyond the control of the administration.
Justice Ayesha Malik asked whether the federal
government did not know how to fulfill its responsibility. She questioned what
could the Supreme Court do in administrative matters?
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the state was
powerful and empowered. The bench could understand that he was worried about
the current situation. The government could stop the protest anywhere and every
citizen was affected by such a situation, he added.
He said that today’s headline was about the attack in
Bajaur and Lakki Marwat which affected the entire nation.
The Advocate General said that the Federation had also
written a letter to Punjab under Article 149 on November 5. The administration
had asked PTI about the date, time and place, which was not answered, he added.
He alleged that PTI talked about bloodshed before the
Wazirabad incident and after the Wazirabad incident, the administration refused
to allow PTI to enter Islamabad. The case on the permission of the rally in
Islamabad was pending in the Islamabad High Court, he added.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court wanted
peace in the country, not chaos. The court did not want to give an order that
was premature, he added.
He said that the letter of the Federation to the
provinces under Article 149 was a very serious matter.
Source: Pakistan Today
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Arab World
Lebanon’s divided parliament fails for sixth time to
elect president
17 November ,2022
Lebanese lawmakers failed for a sixth time Thursday to
elect a successor to former president Michel Aoun, whose mandate expired last
month, highlighting deep divisions in the crisis-hit country.
Parliament is split between supporters of Iran-backed
Hezbollah group and its opponents, neither of whom have a clear majority.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News
channel online or via the app.
Lawmaker Michel Moawad, who is seen as close to the
United States, won the support of 43 of parliament’s 128 MPs.
But his tally was outnumbered by the 45 blank ballots
cast by pro-Hezbollah lawmakers and fell well short of the margin needed for
victory.
“It’s a complete deadlock,” independent lawmaker Mark
Daou told AFP. “We will not have a president before next year.”
In each of the six sessions convened to elect a new
president so far, the pro-Hezbollah bloc has walked out before lawmakers could
hold a second round of voting which would have reduced the number of ballots
needed for victory from 86 to 65.
Lawmaker Ali Hassan Khalil of the Hezbollah-allied
Amal movement said the bloc had adopted the tactic because it was “impossible
to elect a president without a consensus among lawmakers.”
Moawad’s candidacy is opposed by Hezbollah, whose
leader Hassan Nasrallah called last week for a president ready to stand up to
the United States.
There have been delays in electing previous Lebanese
presidents.
Aoun’s own election in 2016 followed a more than
two-year vacancy at the presidential palace as lawmakers made 45 failed
attempts before reaching a consensus on his candidacy.
But this year’s vacancy comes as Lebanon is mired in
an economic crisis that the World Bank has dubbed one of the worst in recent
history.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Iraq’s Baghdad airport hit by second fire in three
days
17 November ,2022
Iraq opened an investigation Thursday after a fire
broke out in one of the terminals of Baghdad airport, the second in three days.
There were no casualties in the latest blaze, which
damaged several airline offices in the two-storey Nineveh Terminal.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani travelled to
the airport to be briefed on the probe launched by fire investigators, his
office said.
“Civil defense teams were able to put out the fire,”
it added.
It came after three people were lightly hurt on
Tuesday when a fire broke out in a refreshments area in the departures lounge
of one of the terminals.
Conflict, neglect and endemic corruption have left
Iraq’s infrastructure in disrepair.
Source: Al Arabiya
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President Erdogan could revisit strained ties with
Syria after Turkish election
17 November ,2022
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he could
revisit relations with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad following the
presidential and parliamentary elections set for June next year.
When asked about a possible meeting with the Syrian
leader, Erdogan said, there was no eternal resentment or quarrelling in
politics, according to a readout of comments he made during his flight back
from Bali.
On Tuesday, a senior Turkish official said that his
country plans to pursue targets in northern Syria after it completes a
cross-border operation against outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants
in Iraq after a deadly weekend bomb in Istanbul.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince arrives in Thailand for
‘historic’ visit
18 November ,2022
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Thailand on Friday – the first such visit by the
Saudi leadership in three decades, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Prime Minister and Thailand Defense Minister, General
Prayuth Chan-ocha welcomed the crown prince upon his arrival at the Air Force
Base airport in Bangkok.
The historic visit reflects Saudi Arabia and
Thailand’s efforts to enhance their cooperation and strengthen relations, SPA
said in a statement.
An official reception ceremony was held in honor of
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mark the visit, according to SPA.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Thailand Abdurrahman
al-Suhaibani said that the Crown Prince’s presence in Bangkok also coincides
with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, where 23 countries –
including the Kingdom – will participate.
The APEC Forum will take place on November 18-19 and
will see the Crown Prince meet with many of the world’s most prominent leaders,
who will also be taking part in meetings at the economic summit.
The visit is aims to improve economic and trade
relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand by exploring areas of investment
and the available opportunities that are in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030
plan and Bangkok’s development priorities, the ambassador said.
Source: Al Arabiya
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North America
US sceptical of reports Iran has developed hypersonic
missile – Pentagon
November 17, 2022
WASHINGTON: The United States is skeptical of reports
suggesting Iran had developed a hypersonic missile, a Pentagon spokesperson
said on Thursday.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency last week quoted
the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace commander as saying Iran had built a
hypersonic ballistic missile.
“We’ve seen the reports asserted and coming out of
Iran, we remain skeptical of these reports,” Sabrina Singh told a news
conference.
Source: Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2201906/middle-east
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US imposes new sanctions over Iran sanctions evasion,
targets Chinese firms
17 November ,2022
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on
over a dozen companies based in China, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates
that Washington accused of facilitating the sale of Iranian petrochemicals and
petroleum products to buyers in East Asia.
The latest US move against Iranian oil smuggling comes
as efforts to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled and ties between the
Islamic Republic and the West are increasingly strained as Iranians keep up
anti-government protests.
Washington has increasingly targeted Chinese companies
over the export of Iran's petrochemicals as the prospects of reviving the
nuclear pact have dimmed. Indirect talks on the accord, formally known as the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have broken down.
The US Treasury Department in a statement said the 13
companies designated on Thursday facilitated the sales of hundreds of millions
of dollars worth of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products to buyers in
East Asia on behalf of companies under US sanctions, including the National
Iranian Oil Company and Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd.
“Today’s action further demonstrates the complex
sanctions evasion methods Iran employs to illicitly sell petroleum and
petrochemical products,” the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement.
Source: Al Arabiya
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US says forces in Syria came under rocket attack, no
casualties reported
Michael Hernandez
18.11.2022
WASHINGTON
Coalition forces stationed at northeast Syria's Green
Village base came under rocket attack, but no casualties were reported, US
Central Command said Thursday.
Neither the base nor coalition property were damaged
in the attack, according to the command.
"Attacks of this kind place coalition forces and
the civilian populace at risk and undermine the hard-earned stability and
security of Syria and the region,” Central Command spokesman Col. Joe Buccino
said in a statement.
US forces in the region are investigating the
incident.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Canadian resident charged with terrorism in Haiti plot
Barry Ellsworth
17.11.2022
TRENTON, Canada
A resident in the Canadian province of Quebec was
charged with terrorism for allegedly planning to overthrow the government of
Haitian President Jovenel Moise, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) report on Thursday.
Gerald Nicolas, 51, will appear in court Dec. 1 to
answer three terrorism-related charges.
The charges, which the RCMP said have nothing to do
with Moise's assassination in July 2021, include traveling to Haiti to further
terror activity, furthering that activity and providing property for terror
purposes.
Moise allegedly left Canada and went to Haiti to
arrange for individuals to stage a coup in the country, which has descended
into chaos after Ariel Henry assumed the role of prime minister, leading Haiti
after Moise's death.
Armed gangs rule about two-thirds of the capital of
Port-au-Prince and the economy has come to a virtual standstill.
Hunger is killing Haitians and dozens of prisoners
died after authorities ran out of food. Gangs have closed schools and markets.
A cholera outbreak threatens the lives of 1.2 million children because
healthcare services have been disrupted and rampant malnutrition has weakened
children, according to UNICEF.
Gangs have also cut off Haiti's primary fuel terminal,
which has led to power outages and unclean water, the Canadian Press reported
earlier this month.
The US has attempted to get a country -- Canada was
recently approached -- to lead a military intervention in Haiti. But no country
has stepped forward to date.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in early
November that many Haitians are uncomfortable with foreign military
intervention, but added that something must be done "one way or
another." He did not define what that meant.
The government of Canada said that since a massive
earthquake in 2010, Canada has provided CAN$1.87 billion ($1.4 billion) to
Haiti and is "the second-largest bilateral donor to Haiti after the United
States."
Source: Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/canadian-resident-charged-with-terrorism-in-haiti-plot/2741443
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India
Gyanvapi Case: Court Rejects Mosque Committee’s
Objection to Plea Seeking Worship of ‘Shivling’
November 18, 2022
New Delhi: A Varanasi court on Thursday, November 17,
rejected Gyanvapi Masjid committee’s objection to a petition seeking the right
to worship ‘Shivling’ claimed to have been found in the mosque complex.
Chinese Construction of Waterfalls in the building 350,
फीट ऊंची इमारत से बह निकला झरना - Travel
Nfx
The court rejected the objection filed by Anjuman
Intezamia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, questioning the
maintainability of the plea.
The mosque committee had objected to the plea citing
the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Act states that the
religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947,
must be maintained.
The court, however, ruled that an application filed by
the Hindu plaintiffs seeking to bar Muslims from entering the mosque premises
was maintainable, the Hindu reported.
It agreed to hear the petition, which was filed by
Kiran Singh on May 24, seeking the possession of the entire Gyanvapi complex be
handed over to the Hindu side.
The petition also said that the Hindu plaintiffs be
allowed to worship the ‘Shivling’ reportedly found inside the mosque premises
on May 16.
Source: The Wire
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After Reservation Trap, Minority Bandhu Scheme
Introduced To Lure Muslims By The TRS Government
Sameer Khan
18th November 2022
Hyderabad: After tricking Muslims into 12 percent
reservation, the TRS government has once again playing with their sentiments by
adopting an evasion policy in introducing the Muslim or Minority Bandhu Scheme.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had promised 12 percent reservation to
Muslims within 4 months after coming to power in 2014 election campaign.
However, a special session of the Assembly was convened and a resolution was
passed to extend the ST reservation from 6% to 10% and the 4% Muslim
reservation to 12%.
Eight years are passed and the promise to Muslims
remains unfulfilled, while the GO was issued to increase the ST reservations
from 6% to 10% in the Munugode by-election. Strict action orders have been
issued and are being implemented by the authorities providing 10% reservations
to ST classes in academic admissions and government jobs and also in
development.
On September 17, 2022, Chief Minister KCR introduces
the Gijiran Bandhu scheme on the lines of the Dalit Bandhu scheme. According to
the sources, the Girijan Bandhu scheme will be approved as a pilot project in
12 assembly constituencies allocated for tribals. After that, it will be
extended across the state. The plan is to give Rs 10 lakh to deserving ST
families.
The population of SC category in the state is 56 lakh,
for which a budget of Rs.17,000 crore has been provided. The population of
minorities is 50 lakhs for which a budget of Rs.1400 crores has been allotted,
while the population of STs is 43 lakhs and a budget of Rs.10,000 crores has
been allotted for them. An alternate sub-plan is in place for SCs and STs , if
by chance their budget is not spent, it will be shared through green channel
next year budget. While even 50 percent of the minority budget is hardly spent.
And what remains after spending the budget goes back to the treasury.
Meanwhile, the budgets of SC, ST and BC categories
have been drastically increased. It is a pity that once the minority budget was
raised to Rs 2000 crores, it was reduced to Rs 1400 crores from the next year.
Minority and BC Bandhu schemes have been all but
forgotten. Muslims have not been given 12% representation in Telangana government’s
welfare schemes, double bedroom houses, Asra pension, 12% budget provision and
other schemes under the government’s control.
In the 20-year history of TRS, no Muslim has been made
a member of the Rajya Sabha till date, nor has more than one been represented
in a ministry. 18 leaders were elected as MLCs including late Muhammad
Fariduddin, but no other Muslim was appointed as a member of the Council in his
place.
Source: Siasat Daily
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https://www.siasat.com/after-reservation-trap-muslims-lure-with-minority-bandhu-scheme-2459830/
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MCD Polls: BJP Fields 4 Candidates From Pasmanda
Muslim Community
17 NOV 2022
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded four
candidates, including three women, from the backward Pasmanda Muslim community
in the upcoming Delhi civic body polls. Among these candidates is a social activist,
a would-be lawyer, and a scrap dealer.
The Pasmanda community comprises 41 castes such as
Ansari, Qureshi, Mansoori, Salmani and Siddiqui, in professions such as
butchers and weavers, and are considered most backward in social, economic and
political terms. The saffron party has fielded Irfan Maliq from Chandni Mahal,
Samina Raja from Quraish Nagar, Saba Ghazi from Chauhan Bangar, and Shabnam
Maliq from Mustfabad wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
"The mentality of Muslims is changing with time.
People are now focused on the delivery of services and how can they get
benefits from the government rather than sticking to the Hindu-Muslim
cliche," says candidate Samina, on how she was convincing people to vote
for her. Samina, whose family is associated with Delhi BJP, says she has been a
social worker as well as an office-bearer in BJP's Mahila Morcha.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Yasir Gilani says although less
number of Muslims have been fielded by the party, "our focus is to prove
that the BJP can get votes of the minority community and win on seats dominated
by them". Underlining the BJP's motto of “sabka saath, sabka vikas”, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi had in July advised party workers to reach out to
deprived and downtrodden sections among the minorities also.
The party had also recently promoted a Gujjar from the
Pasmanda community in Jammu and Kashmir—Ghulam Ali Khatana—to the Rajya Sabha.
Chandni Mahal BJP candidate Irfan Maliq, a scrap
dealer, says the party slogan of "sabka sath sabka vikas" is now also
having an impact on Muslims. "I have been associated with the BJP's
minority morcha for the last 10 years. In my ward, the people, including 95 per
cent Muslims, are grabbling with the problem of drinking water. People are
falling sick, losing their teeth and hair, and facing other problems due to the
use of deep borewell water."
Party candidate Shabnam Maliq notes that it is time to
remove the misgivings of Muslims about the BJP. "I meet people from my
community every day and as a BJP candidate, I do not feel any negative vibes
from them," the social worker says, adding that she has pinned her hope of
victory on the dominance of Pasmanda Muslims in the Mustafabad area.
Source: Outlook India
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Amend laws for stricter punishment in 'love jihad'
cases: BJP MLA to UP CM after Mehrauli killing
17.11.22
BJP MLA Rajeshwar Singh on Thursday urged Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to amend the state laws dealing with
heinous crimes and proposed stricter punishment for 'love jihad' in view of the
gruesome killing of a woman by her inter-faith partner in Delhi recently. He
also recommended changes, including fast-track trial, no bail to accused,
automatic special protection to witnesses besides death penalty for rape and
murder, and life imprisonment for rape in such (love jihad) cases.
Love jihad is a term used by right-wing groups and
activists to allege a concerted effort by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to
Islam through marriage.
Demanding amendments to the criminal procedural law,
Singh said there is a need to broaden the definition of allurement in cases of
'love jihad' and it must include marriage, or a promise of marriage or conjugal
relationship or live in relationship.
A copy of the MLA's letter has also been marked to
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.
“The bone-chilling incident of a Muslim man brutally
murdering and then chopping the body of the Hindu girl into 35 odd pieces, in
the city of Delhi, is reminiscent of the 'love jihad' crimes that have been
reported recently from across the nation,” the ruling party legislator stated
in the letter.
The police officer-turned-politician said a series of
such similar events have led to a scenario of “perpetual fear and profound
distrust bordering on a sense of alarm in the community” and is, therefore,
definitely a “cause of great concern” for all legislators across the country.
“These hate crimes perpetuated by radicalised members
of a certain community do not deserve to be treated as regular criminal acts,
necessitating a fast-track approach to investigations, charge-sheet and trial,
within the framework of our rule of law, thereby ensuring that the trust
reposed by the common man on our criminal justice system is not impacted
adversely,” Singh said.
He said he has personally engaged with different
sections of the society and compiled their thoughts for the chief minister's consideration.
The MLA said there is consensus amongst his
constituents that it is necessary to carry out amendments to the statute
through the state legislature, as has been done in the past “to ensure the
safety of women and thereby maintain public order”.
Singh was referring to the killing of Shraddha Walkar
(27) allegedly by her partner Aftab Poonawala (28) in Delhi's Mehrauli area in
May this year.
Poonawala had allegedly strangled Walkar and sawed her
body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks
at his residence before dumping them across the city over several days past
midnight, according to police.
In the proposed legislative amendments in the letter,
the BJP MLA stated, “In order to ensure that such offences are not repeated in
the future, it is necessary that we adopt a time-bound schedule for
investigations and trial such that the investigation is completed within 60
days of the registration of the offence and the trial within 60 days
thereafter.”
“It is also necessary to consider stricter punishment
for the offences relating to 'love jihad', including mandatory death penalty
for offences of 'rape' and 'murder' and life imprisonment for those involving
rape,” Singh said.
Source: Telegraph India
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NIA cites Navlakha-ISI links to oppose house arrest
order
Nov 18, 2022
NEW DELHI: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on
Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking vacation of the November 11 order for
keeping UAPA accused Gautam Navlakha under house-arrest by narrating three
important aspects - the so-called house was “unsafe” being a library under
Communist party of India, his health report suffered bias as it was prepared by
a panel doctors that included his real brother-in-law, and that he had links
with Pakistan’s nefarious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Navlakha’s counsel Nithya Ramakrishnan complained to
CJI D Y Chandrachud-led bench that the accused has not yet been shifted to the
house-arrest location in breach of the SC's November 11 directions and
requested urgent listing of his application before a bench headed by Justice K
M Joseph for expeditious implementation of the order.
When the bench was agreeing for a listing Navalakha’s
application on Friday, solicitor general Tushar Mehta intervened and said the
NIA has found several incidents of deliberate suppression by the accused to
mislead the court into passing an order of house-arrest, even though his health
conditions are such that it could be easily managed in Taloja Jail hospital.
The bench agreed to list applications of Navlakha and
NIA together before a bench headed by Justice Joseph on Friday. NIA said that
the house chosen by Navalakha for house-arrest purposes is a public library “in
the name of secretary of Communist Party” and is unsafe from security-aspect,
to house Navlakha and his companion Sabha Husain. It is neither a house nor a
residential unit, as the cout was made to believe by the accused, NIA said,
adding that he should be kept in jail.
The anti-terror agency alleged that Navlakha, an
active member of banned CPI (Maoist), was “working in urban areas and was
assigned to unite intellectuals against government forces to defeat them both
physically and otherwise”. The agency said Navlakha had visited the USA thrice
to address Kashmir American Council Conference organized by Ghulam Nabi Fai,
who was arrested by FBI for failing to report receipt of funds from Pakistan’s
ISI as required under US laws.
Navlakha had written a letter to a US court judge for
grant of clemency to Fai. “It is established (from documents) that Navlakha was
introduced to a Pakistani ISI general for his recruitment by Fai on the
direction of the ISI, showing his nexus and complicity with Fai and ISI,” the
NIA claimed.
NIA said in fairness it had on September 29 agreed
before the SC for a health check of Navlakha from his chosen Jaslok Hospital at
Mumbai. It accused Navlakha of not disclosing to the SC that Dr S Kothari, his
real brother-in-law, has been associated with Jaslok Hospital for the last 43
years.
Source: Times Of India
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Pakistan to skip global meet in Delhi on terror
funding
Nov 18, 2022
NEW DELHI: Lack of universal consensus on laws
regarding cybercrimes, weak control mechanisms of social media platforms and
their misuse by terrorist and extremist groups, dark web and the threats posed
by crypto-currency will be among the issues taken up during a two-day
international ministerial conference on countering terror financing, beginning
here on Friday.
PM Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address at
the third 'No Money for Terror' conference, hosted by the home ministry, which
will focus on latest global trends in terror financing, especially the use of
formal and informal channels of funds for terrorism and emerging technologies.
Addressing a presser on the eve of the meeting, NIA DG
Dinkar Gupta said social media is being used to raise financing, funding or as
crowdfunding platforms. "We do have evidence of this kind of thing
happening. This is an issue that needs to be discussed because such platforms
are being used for raising finances which are being used in terror
activities."
He said while Pakistan and Afghanistan are not
participating at the event, a confirmation from China is awaited. Around 78
countries and multilateral organisations are set to participate.
Gupta said terror activities have declined in India
during the last eight years in all "theatres of conflicts", be it
J&K, Punjab, the Northeast, or the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
Crowdfunding and anonymous, decentralised and
untraceable nature of terror financing; effective multilateral and
multi-stakeholder approach in identification and mitigation of threats of
emerging terror-financing mechanisms; and misuse of non-profit and
non-government organisations as front structures for financing terror will also
be part of the agenda, officials said.
Gupta made it clear that no country-specific
discussion is part of the agenda.
Source: Times Of India
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2 Islamic teachers held for allegedly torturing
student in Madrasa: Assam police
Nov 17, 2022
Assam’s Cachar police arrested two Islamic religious
teachers for allegedly torturing a 14-yr-old student who accused them of
teaching Jihad in a Madrasa, officials said.
According to the police, two teachers from Swadhin
Bazar Islamia Madrassa Ethim Khana, both from Sonai town in Assam were arrested
on Wednesday night and an FIR was registered against them after a student’s
complaint.
A case under various sections of the IPC was
registered against them at the Sonai police station.
Joseph Keivom, an official from Sonai police station,
said the arrested accused have been identified as Abdul Hussain Laskar (51) and
Dilowar Hussain Mazumder (28).
Speaking to the media, the student alleged, “the
teachers used to tell them if they destroy Hindus, they’ll get special
blessings from Allah.”
The FIR mentions that the teachers used to threaten to
kill those who refuse to attend the post 11pm special classes.
The boy said he was facing some health issues and
refused to join the special class but they threatened to kill him.
“They came to my room, burnt my medicines and beat me
mercilessly and locked me in a room,” the student said. The boy was taken home
by his father after the alleged incident.
The Madrasa authority, however, denied the allegations
and said that the student was involved in some wrongdoings.
“He learnt many criminal activities . The teachers
were trying to bring him back from his bad company and they used sticks to beat
him. This much a teacher can do I think,” said Fakrul Islam Laskar of Swadhin
Bazar Islamia Madrassa Ethim Khana.
Fakrul further alleged that the boy’s father demanded
money from the Madrasa as compensation and threatened to lodge FIR if they
refuse to pay.
“He took his son back home on October 20. We gave ten
thousand rupees as compensation but he demanded more (one lakh). He is trying
to put pressure with this false allegation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the superintendent of police of Cachar
district, Numal Mahatta said that the police are investigating the matter.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Hamdard India welcomes ban on Amazon sale of Pakistani
Rooh Afza
SANJAY KUMAR & AAMIR SAEED
November 17, 2022
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: The CEO of Hamdard Laboratories
in India on Thursday welcomed a decision by the Delhi High Court to
“permanently restrain” retailers on Amazon India from selling Rooh Afza that is
made in Pakistan.
The concentrated fruit squash was first sold in Delhi
by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed in 1907. After the partition of British India in
1947, one of his sons set up Hamdard National Foundation, India and another
Hamdard Laboratories, Pakistan. They each manufactured Rooh Afza and the
trademark was registered in both countries.
The high court issued its verdict in September after
the product’s owner in India filed a lawsuit claiming products listed as Rooh
Afza on Amazon.in were not manufactured in the country.
Hamdard India CEO Hamid Ahmed told Arab News that the
ruling would “safeguard local business” and protect against illegal imports.
“Basically, whoever has got the trademark in a
particular country Amazon can sell only those products,” he said.
A representative for Hamdard Pakistan said on Wednesday
that the company was “never involved” in any business with India as “that is
neither our domain nor do we sell our products in that country.”
“Hamdard Pakistan has got nothing to do with the ban
on Rooh Afza in India as the company does not export its product to that
country,” Faiz Ullah Jawad, the company’s marketing and business development
director, told Arab News.
“Some individuals sell our product on different
e-commerce platforms … We don’t even know who these sellers are who have been
banned from selling Rooh Afza in India.”
Source: Arab News
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of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2201631/world
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South Asia
Taliban Reaffirm Afghanistan Not a Threat to Other
Nation: OIC Meeting
By Arif Ahmadi
November 17, 2022
KABUL, Afghanistan – In a meeting with representatives
of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the second deputy prime
minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi reaffirmed Afghanistan soil will not be a
threat against other countries.
Previously, the Taliban leadership has multiple times
exclaimed that Afghanistan is not and will not be used as a threat against any
country, including the United States, saying its government has proven that
claim since its rule in August 2021.
In a meeting with the OIC secretary-general’s envoy to
Afghanistan Tarig Ali Bakheet, the acting defense minister Mawlawi Yaqoob
Mujahid emphasized that Kabul adheres to the Doha Agreement.
“In this meeting, the acting minister of defense said
that the Islamic Emirate is adhering to the Doha agreement and said that
Afghanistan soil will never be used against other countries,” said Enayatullah
Khwarazmi, spokesman of the Defense Ministry.
However, the world leaders – including international
community – have repeatedly denied that the Taliban leadership has violated
Doha agreement, depriving Afghan people of their basic rights, including
right to education, work and freedom of expression.
“Islamic countries are concerned about the economic
and human situation in Afghanistan, and they want to recognize the Islamic
Emirate, but they cannot take this step until girls’ schools are opened,” said
Tariq Farhadi, political expert, as TOLOnews quoted.
In July, the Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin
Haqqani during his visit to the southeastern province of Khost asked the
international community to recognize the Islamic Emirate rule, saying its
government has proven not be a threat against any country.
“Based on international principles and our Islamic and
national traditions they (the world leaders and international community) should
recognize the Islamic Emirate, but if they don’t recognize it, I assure our
people that Afghans are not without resolve,” he said, as TOLOnews quoted.
Praising Afghans strength and resistance during the
war, Haqqani said people can still fight economic challenges and similar crisis
by themselves if the world refuses to provide any resources.
“They (Afghans) have fought for 20 years without
foreign resources, and with their faith and zeal, they will fight against the
economic situation with the strength of their arms,” he added.
Emphasizing on joint-venture and mutual interest, the
Acting Interior Minister said Afghanistan’s relations with the world with
benefit both sides, asking on what basis the world will approach Afghan leaders
if they won’t recognize their government officially.
“I want to say that it is in their best interest to
create diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, they need us and we need them, if
tomorrow they need us in any matter, then based on what principles they will
talk to me,” he exclaimed.
Source: Khaama Press
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https://www.khaama.com/taliban-reaffirm-afghanistan-not-a-threat-to-other-nation-oic-meeting/
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Taliban Publicly Flogs a Boy and a Girl in Central
Afghanistan
By Saqalain Eqbal
November 17, 2022
A boy and a girl who were allegedly in love with one
another were ruled guilty of having premarital affairs by a Taliban court in
the central Afghan province of Bamyan and were sentenced to receive lashes in
public.
The Taliban local court in Bamyan province sentenced a
young boy and girl to 39 flogging on Thursday, November 17, on the basis of
having a premarital relationship, the sources said.
Arezoo and Mohammad Essa reportedly traveled to Bamyan
province for fun when they were detained by Taliban forces, according to
domestic media.
About a thousand people are alleged to have witnessed
the Taliban’s execution of the punishment as it was carried out in public.
The Taliban local officials have yet to respond to the
situation and the implementation of the punishment given publicly.
The Taliban have previously lashed people accused of
committing adultery in various parts of the country.
This comes as the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah
Hibatullah Akhundzada, in a meeting with judges told them to not hesitate in
applying Hadd and Qisas punishments.
The Taliban official told them that it is a religious
obligation, Wajib, to apply the Hadd and Qisas punishments as well as obeying
his orders as the Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Faithful), a title given
to the supreme leader of an Islamic community.
Source: Khaama Press
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https://www.khaama.com/taliban-publicly-flogs-a-boy-and-a-girl-in-central-afghanistan-46476/
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UNAMA: Taliban Should Explain Reasons for ‘Continued
Detention’ of Activists
By Saqalain Eqbal
November 17, 2022
Following the unjustified detention of several women
activists in Kabul, the Afghan capital, the United Nations Assistance Mission
in Afghanistan (UNAMA) demanded that the Taliban provide an explanation for its
actions.
The UNAMA demanded “reasons” for Zarifa Yaqoubi and
other activists’ “continued” detention on Wednesday, November 16, in a
statement on its social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
“The rights of [Zarifa Yaqoubi] & other activists
must be respected. Reasons for their continued detention should be made
public,” UNAMA wrote.
The UN agency in Afghanistan further added that it is
seeking to contact and access the detainees and learn their whereabouts.
The Taliban’s approach of concealment and secret
courts was criticized by UNAMA, which also argued for the detainees’ access to
legal counsel and the revelation of the reasons for their detention.
UNAMA has emphasized that the detainees should be able
to contact family members, even though the Taliban has detained the women
activists in unidentified locations.
Following the detention of Zarifa Yaqoubi and her four
colleagues from the west of Kabul, several others have disappeared or been
arrested by the Taliban.
Less than a week after Zarifa Yaqoubi and her
colleagues were taken into custody, the Taliban Intelligence Agency detained
another female activist, Farhat Popalzai, sparking outrage on social media.
Source: Khaama Press
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Afghanistan: Five ISIS members killed in clashes with
Taliban forces
18 November, 2022
Kabul [Afghanistan], November 17 (ANI): Five ISIS
members were killed following clashes with Taliban forces in the Herat province
of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported on Wednesday.
The clashes took place in the Haji Abbass area of
Herat province’s police district 12, the report stated.
Meanwhile, the Taliban also allegedly killed 5 members
of ISIS in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar in a “special operation.”
Previously in a meeting with European Union’s special
envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, the Taliban said ISIS has been defeated
and is no longer capable of carrying out attacks However, blasts and attacks
continue to be carried out with impunity in Afghanistan.
According to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan
Muttaqi, who spoke with an EU official, ISIS and other terrorist groups in
Afghanistan “have now been struck, they lost their ability to resist and
attack”, Khaama Press reported.
The international community is concerned about the
return of global terrorist organisations in the aftermath of the killing of
Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by the US in Afghanistan.
A key 9/11 plotter, al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul by
a US drone on the morning of July 31.
US President Joe Biden had said that justice had been
delivered, adding, “No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if
you are a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out.”
Following the statement by the US president, Taliban
spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the strike saying, “An air strike was
carried out on a residential house in the Sherpur area of Kabul city on July
31.”
“The nature of the incident was not apparent at first
but the security and intelligence services of the Islamic Emirate investigated
the incident and initial findings determined that the strike was carried out by
an American drone,” he had said.
Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
“strongly condemns this attack on any pretext and calls it a clear violation of
international principles and the Doha Agreement.”
Source: The Print
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Southeast Asia
Singapore’s Fatwa Committee receives global award in
recognition of Covid-19 efforts
Aqil Hamzah
NOV 17, 2022
SINGAPORE - The Republic’s Fatwa Committee, chaired by
Singapore’s Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, has been conferred an award by a global
Islamic authority for its contributions in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic
and other contemporary issues affecting Muslims.
The committee, which issues religious guidance to
Muslims in Singapore, is the second recipient of the Imam Al-Qarafi Award for
Distinction in Fatwa. The award is presented by the General Secretariat for
Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, led by Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta or fatwa authority, and
the Fatwa Committee is its first recipient from a minority Muslim community.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said
in a statement on Thursday that Dar al-Ifta “recognises that the religious
guidance and positions issued by the Fatwa Committee... placed emphasis on
peaceful coexistence and social cohesion”.
“It also believes that the Muslim community in
Singapore is a model for others to emulate in how communities can coexist
peacefully and harmoniously whilst preserving their religious identities and
teachings,” added Muis.
The Fatwa Committee comprises a group of senior
Islamic scholars that provides religious rulings to Muslims. At the height of
the pandemic, when gatherings were restricted, the committee issued a ruling
that allowed congregational Friday prayers at mosques to be substituted with
midday prayers that could be performed anywhere. This was to help contain the
spread of the virus. And when restrictions were eased, it continued to allow
this dispensation for those who were at higher risk of contracting the virus,
and those who could not secure a prayer slot at mosques.
Muis said Dar al-Ifta had also commended the
committee’s efforts in providing reliable and practical solutions to new issues
and challenges, as well as its use of digital technologies to connect with the
public.
“The Fatwa Committee not only preserves the
authenticity of the Islamic tradition but also effectively engages with
contemporary issues in various fields, such as in sociology, economics and
health. This has allowed the Singapore Muslim community to continue to practise
its religious life and deal with contemporary challenges with confidence,” it
said.
Dr Nazirudin highlighted the importance of religious
leadership in dealing with current issues. “The pandemic is one of the most
difficult and gruelling challenges we have faced. Fatwas today require an
accurate understanding of our context and challenges, as well as a progressive
and forward-thinking approach,” he said.
Source: Straits Times
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Islamists vs Islamists in GE15 — Hew Wai Weng
17 Nov 2022
NOVEMBER 17 — In Malaysia’s 15th general election
(GE15), the political Islam landscape is becoming more complex and fluid. Many
candidates with Islamist backgrounds are competing with each other in multiple
constituencies.
In the last few decades, much attention has been on
the “Islamisation race” between Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Malaysian Islamic
Party – PAS) and United Malays National Organisation (Umno). However, with the
entry of Parti Amanah Negara (National Trust Party – Amanah), a splinter party
of PAS, in the last GE, the focus shifted to how PAS and Amanah competed to
gain the support of pious Muslim voters. In this election, multi-cornered
fights between coalitions are expected.
Notably, each coalition includes Islamist
representation – PAS in Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance – PN) led by
Muhyiddin Yassin, Amanah in Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope – PH) led by
Anwar Ibrahim and Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic
Front – Berjasa) in Gerakan Tanah Air (Homeland Movement – GTA), led by
Mahathir Mohammad.
The Islamists in the above-mentioned coalitions claim
to oppose the corrupted Umno yet differ in their political strategies and
social attitudes. Overall, the Islamists in PH are relatively moderate and
willing to work with non-Muslims; the Islamists in PN are more conservative and
advocate for “Malay Muslim leadership”, and; the Islamists in GTA take a
hardline position and exclude non-Muslims in the alliance. Comparatively
speaking, while Umno appears to have the least Islamist element, it also fields
candidates with Islamic backgrounds, such as its youth chief Asyraf Wajdi and a
Salafi preacher, Fathul Bari.
Collectively, this sets the scene for Islamists versus
Islamists in GE15. To provide context to this competition, this article focuses
on five political parties with significant Islamist presence (PAS, Amanah,
Parti Bahtera Sejahtera [Prosperous Ark Party – Bahtera], Berjasa and Partai
Keadilan Rakyat [People’s Justice Party – PKR]) and three politically-active
Islamist organisations (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia [Muslim Youth Movement of
Malaysia – Abim], Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia [Ikram] and Ikatan Muslimin
Malaysia [Malaysian Muslim Solidarity – Isma). By looking at these parties and
organisations, it would demonstrate their complex and entangled relationships,
including competitions and collaborations between them.
PAS
Being the oldest Islamist party, PAS has undergone
numerous changes in its strategy over the decades. For example, PAS leaders
appeared to be more moderate and inclusive when the party was in Pakatan Rakyat
(the People’s Pact – PR) together with PKR and Democratic Action Party (DAP),
touting “PAS for all”. However, the party took a more exclusivist position with
an emphasis on “Islamic leadership” and “Malay unity” upon its departure from
PR. Instead of working with multi-ethnic parties, PAS preferred to cooperate
with Malay nationalist parties in the name of “Muslim unity”. Recent statements
by its president Hadi Awang have also become increasingly right-leaning such as
blaming non-Muslims as the root cause of corruption in Malaysia.
For GE15, PAS seems to take a pragmatic approach but
that does not mean it has abandoned its conservative stance. As PAS leaders
were unsuccessful in fostering cooperation between Umno and Parti Pribumi
Bersatu Malaysia (Malaysian United Indigenous Party – Bersatu), the party chose
to form an electoral alliance with Bersatu and Gerakan under PN. By working
with multi-ethnic Gerakan, it is indicative of PAS’ pragmatism and willingness
to work with non-Muslims.
However, PAS continues to espouse conservative
narratives. On its social media campaign, PAS has attacked both Barisan
Nasional (National Front – BN) and PH. On one hand, it criticises Umno for
corruption and, on the other, it accuses PH of supporting the “liberals”, the
“communists” and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) group. By
doing so, it positions itself as a clean party and “defender of Islam”,
appealing to anti-corruption conservative voters.
Amanah
PKR, DAP and Amanah are the backbone of multi-ethnic
PH. By promoting the idea of a “compassionate Islam”, Amanah positions itself
as a moderate and inclusive Islamist party. However, in recent years, there has
been a lack of youth and female representations in the party leadership.
Based on the author’s observations, Amanah leaders
have also been less effective in promoting progressive Islamic discourses and
expanding its grassroots base. During the PH administration, the party has been
accused of being a “DAP puppet” and “unable to defend Islam”, an accusation
that the party leaders failed to address.
After PH downfall as government, some of Amanah’s
leaders and supporters have been continuously trolling PAS for not being able
to implement Islamic policies such as blanket ban of alcohol and the
implementation of Hudud laws. To attack PAS, Amanah machinery used race-baiting
narratives peddled by right-wing and conservative elements on the “Timah”
issue, a whisky brand in Malaysia. For example, Malaysia Dateline – a portal
closely linked to Amanah – published an article claiming that the name Timah
was a derivative of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah and questioning PAS’
silence on the issue.
Despite going on the offensive against PAS, the party
is encountering infighting for the upcoming GE15. Tensions are further
escalated when several grassroot leaders have expressed unhappiness after
perceiving that the party were at the losing end in GE15 seat negotiations with
DAP and Muda. Such an environment has led several former Amanah leaders to
contest under PKR (Husam Musa in Pasir MAS) and DAP (Ahmad Tarmizi) in GE15.
One positive development for the party in GE15 is the fielding of more youth
and female candidates such as Razak Ridzuan and Aiman Athirah Sabu.
Bahtera
Besides former PAS leaders, leaders and activists of
various Islamist organisations, especially Ikram (formerly Jamaah Islah
Malaysia – JIM), played an essential role in forming Amanah. Key Amanah leaders
closely-linked to Ikram include the former Minister of Religious Affairs
Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the former Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, Amanah’s Vice
President Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus and the former JIM chairperson Saari Sungib.
In the last election, many Ikram members actively
campaigned for Amanah candidates. In the lead-up to GE15, however, the tension
between Ikram activists and ex-PAS members in Amanah has surfaced. Based on the
author’s research, this tension stemmed from Ikram activists perceiving to have
been sidelined in Amanah, while ex-PAS members in the party believed some Ikram
activists were out of touch with the grassroots.
Such tension has led a few disgruntled former young
Ikram activists to form another new party, Bahtera. However, as the party has
not unsuccessfully registered itself in GE15, its activists will run as
independent candidates in five parliament seats. It is important to note that
Ikram leadership does not endorse the establishment of Bahtera and that the
party’s activists, formerly from Ikram, downplay their relationship with Ikram.
Currently, Bahtera activists are also running another youth movement called
Gelora whose name is simlar to Partai Gelora Indonesia, a splinter of Partai
Keadilan Sejahtera (Prosperous Justice Party – PKS), an Islamist party in
Indonesia. This similarity in names may highlight how Islamist parties in
Malaysia and Indonesia take references with each other.
Berjasa and Isma
Another small Islamist party in Malaysia is Berjasa,
which takes a more exclusive and hardline stand than PAS. Berjasa is a splinter
party of PAS and now linked to Isma, an Islamist organisation. During the GE13,
Berjasa disagreed with the cooperation between PAS and DAP under PR. Therefore,
it contested in several Malay-majority urban seats to provide a “more Islamic”
option.
However, in GE14, after PAS left PR, Berjasa worked
with PAS as an electoral pact under Gagasan Sejahtera (Ideas of Prosperity).
Under the slogan “Vote Muslim First”, Berjasa has always proposed that Malay
voters support “credible Muslim candidates” and reject candidates who were
non-Muslim and Muslims perceived to be “liberal.”
In GE15, Berjasa is part of Mahathir-led GTA (together
with Pejuang, the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party [Iman] and Parti
Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia [Malaysia Mighty Bumiputera Party – Putra]), a
Muslim-only political coalition. Berjasa has often lost its deposits in past
elections and it hopes that by working with Mahathir, the party might gain more
votes to expand its influence. Some Berjasa leaders have proposed that PN and
GTA cooperate in the election to consolidate anti-corruption and conservative
Malay votes. However, such an attempt was unsuccessful.
PKR and Abim
Unlike the four aforementioned Muslim-majority
parties, PKR is a multi-ethnic centrist party with members of various ethnic,
religious and ideological backgrounds. However, moderate Islamists, especially
those with Abim and Ikram backgrounds, have played an essential role in the
party’s leadership since its establishment.
Urban pious middle-class Muslims are one of the PKR’s
key vote bases. In GE15, PKR candidates include at least five Abim activists
and nine Ikram-linked figures. Abim candidates include: 1) Anwar Ibrahim,
former Abim president; 2) Fadhlina Sidek, a female ABIM leader and; 3) Jufitri
Joha, former Abim vice president.
Meanwhile, Ikram-linked candidates include: 1) Hassan
Basri, former deputy president of Ikram; 2) Fuziah Salleh, former JIM’s women
chief; 3) Rodziah Ismail, a Selangor State Executive Council member; 4) Maszlee
Malik, former education minister during the PH administration and; 5) Nik Omar,
the eldest son of well-respected Nik Aziz, the former PAS spiritual leader.
When PH was in power, its rivals and right-wing groups
accused the coalition of being “unable to uphold Islam.” Thus, by including Nik
Omar and other Islamist figures, PKR attempts to demonstrate its Islamic
credentials to convince pious Muslim voters that PH can safeguard their
interests.
Same ideology but different outcomes
Though Islamists, Abim, Ikram and Isma are not monolithic.
These three tarbiyah and dakwah organisations have, in different ways, been
influenced by the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. This explains their
shared conservative views on numerous religious, moral and gender issues. They
also hold similar positions on certain international issues, such as
Palestinian, Uyghur and Rohingya rights.
However, these three organisations have different
views on domestic politics, multicultural engagement and democratic
participation. As of today, Abim and Ikram are pro-PH, endorsing
multiculturalism and cooperating with non-Muslims. In line with such positions,
Abim recently promoted the agenda of “cosmopolitan Islam” while Ikram endorses
the vision of “compassionate Islam”. In contrast, Isma is anti-PH, advocating the
closure of vernacular schools and viewing non-Muslim politicians as a threat to
the Malay agenda. The current slogan of Isma is Melayu Sepakat, Islam Berdaulat
(Malay Unity, Islamic Sovereignty) and its support towards Muslim-only GTA
reflects its ultra-nationalist and Islamist stand.
Notably, these three groups are both civil society
actors and political players. As civil groups, both Ikram and Abim have
developed close relationships with non-Muslims in various social movements such
as Bersih 2.0, the electoral reform group. Currently, Ikram is also a key
player in Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (Malaysian Action Coalition – GBM), a
multi-ethnic NGO coalition, and has supported the campaign of Manifesto Rakyat
(People’s Manifesto). It also actively participates in Rasuah Buster, an
anti-corruption campaign led by Sinar Harian, a Malay daily.
During this election, Abim and Ikram initiate a
cross-religion declaration by various religious leaders and NGOs, to call for
institutional and political reforms. In contrast, Isma takes an exclusivist
position in socio-political participation.
During the PH administration, Isma played an active
role in popularising perceptions of Malay insecurity and Islam being under
threat. In the last election, Isma launched Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (Voter
Awareness Movement – GPS), a campaign that urged Muslims to vote for calon
Muslim berwibawa (credible Muslim candidates) who uphold the Malay-Muslim
agenda. In the aftermath of GE14, GPS has become an active Facebook fan page
that posts messages almost daily “revealing” incidents which prove that “Islam
is under threat”.
During the Johor and Melaka state elections, GPS
criticised BN for fielding non-Malay candidates in Malay-majority
constituencies. This shows that being a far-right group, Isma holds a much more
exclusivist stand as compared to PAS and U which are both currently against DAP
yet still willing to work with other non-Malay parties such as Malaysian
Chinese Association (MCA), MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress) and Gerakan. In this
election, GPS continues its efforts in “revealing” and attacking candidates who
are perceived as “anti-Islam”, “liberal” and “pro-LGBT”. While Isma and its
activists have relative success in shaping opinions, Isma-linked Berjasa does
not perform well in elections.
In terms of political participation, Abim and Ikram
members are more successful in their political careers. Most of Abim
politically-active members are with PKR such as Anwar Ibrahim, Fadhlina Sidek
and Shamsul Iskandar, while others such as Asyraf Wajdi and Saifuddin Abdullar
are in Umno and Bersatu respectively.
For Ikram members who are contesting in elections, PKR
and Amanah are their preferred choices. Interestingly, there are also three
candidates with Ikram backgrounds in Mahathir-led Pejuang – Ikram's former
women chief Che Asmah Ibrahim, Hidayah (a preaching unit under Ikram) former
Chairperson Nicholas Sylvester and former Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin
Hamzah.
In this election, most Isma activists run as Berjasa
candidates by using the logo of Pejuang, as the GTA coalition has not yet
secured official registration. The list of Berjasa candidates includes its
president and a former Seremban Isma chief Zamani Ibrahim, its deputy president
and the former chairman of Studio Kembara (which produced the hit film Mat
Kilau) Rosli Ramli, ex-Hulu Langat ISMA chief Annuar Salleh and ex-Seberang
Perai Isma chief Hamidi Abu Hassan.
However, instead of joining Berjasa, another outspoken
Isma activist Aminuddin Yahaya joined GTA as part of the Malay Muslim civil
societies coalition called Gagasan Bangsa (Ideas of the Nation). He was most
recently the president of Malay-Islamist pressure group Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan
Pembela Islam (Defenders of Islam – Pembela) and was the president of Isma.
Combining both conservative Islamism and exclusivist
Malay nationalism, Aminuddin Yahya is a right-wing figure has made numerous
controversial statements, racist remarks and hate speeches. He was one of the
key leaders of the December 2018 rally opposing the ratification of the United
Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (ICERD). He has also filed a lawsuit to challenge against
vernacular schools in Malaysia. In his election manifestation, he outlines his
aims of struggles which include the establishment of an Islamic State,
promoting Buy Muslim First campaign, protesting against the ratification of
ICERD and Rome Statute, defending Malay reserve lands, and objecting non-Muslim
from using the term “Allah”.
Currently, he is appointed as GTA’s Pahang chairperson
and national deputy chairperson. He is also the GTA parliamentary candidate for
Temerloh, marking his first political debut in national politics. He will face
a four-corner fight, including Umno’s Mohd Sharkar, PAS’s Ustazah Salamiah and
Amanah’s youth chief Hasbie Muda. Hence, we witness a competition between three
Islamist parties or figures– PAS, Amanah and Aminuddin Yahaya in Temerloh.
Conclusion
Most Islamists in Malaysia recognise that they could
not win the election alone due to the country’s first-past-the-poll electoral
system, multireligious demography and diverse political realities. Therefore,
they engage with various social and political players, as well as infiltrate
both state and non-state spheres to expand their influence.
Source: Malay Mail
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Council of Churches denies Muhyiddin’s claim of plot
to ‘Christianise’ Malaysia
By Ashley Yeong
18 Nov 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The Council of Churches of
Malaysia (CCM) today rejected any covert agenda to “Christianise” the country
as alleged by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the
run-up to the 15th general election taking place tomorrow.
CCM general secretary Reverend Jonathan Jesudas said
the former prime minister’s remarks that Christians were conspiring with a
group of Jews to convert Muslim-majority Malaysia was not only untrue but also
irresponsible for an influential person of his standing and wants the
authorities to take action.
“We live in a multireligious and multiracial country
and the sensitivity of each community must be taken into account when
addressing public forums.
“Such statements, carelessly uttered, have a tendency
to create racial and religious tension and strife,” Jonathan said in a
statement.
“It must be addressed by the authorities to ensure
that such a blatant disregard of the truth and of the sensitivities of the
various religions are not condoned or repeated,” he added.
Videos of Muhyiddin delivering a speech in which he
made controversial remarks have been circulating on social media.
A YouTube video uploaded by Malay news outlet Agenda
Daily yesterday showed Muhyiddin urging voters to reject Pakatan Harapan (PH)
while on stump at the PNBest ceramah in Muar, Johor on November 16.
The Pagoh defender claimed that PH was being backed by
a group of Jews and Christians pushing their religious agenda in Malaysia.
“Pakatan Harapan is a huge danger.
“I saw a video where a group of Jews was talking about
Malaysia, and they were praying for the country to fall into the hands of the
Opposition, which has been sponsoring these groups of Jews and Christians.
“For me this is dangerous. Is it a process of
Christianisation happening?
“You can see it in Kuala Lumpur, in Petaling Jaya. If
there are churches, there are Malays and it looks like they have already
converted to being Christians,” Muhyiddin said in his speech at Padang Bukit
Mor in Muar.
Source: Malay Mail
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Social media monitor finds ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ narrative
on the rise ahead of GE15, PAS’ Hadi ‘key amplifier’ of hate speech
By Zurairi A.R.
17 Nov 2022
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — An initiative to monitor hate
speech on social media during campaigning said it found that race-based
narratives especially espousing “Ketuanan Melayu” or Malay supremacy have
ramped up ahead of the 15th general election (GE15).
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)’s Social
Media Monitoring Initiative said its interim findings for the campaigning
period between October 20 and November 15 also pointed to PAS president Datuk
Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as what it called “one of the key amplifiers of divisive,
racist, intolerant and hate-based narratives”.
“Race and religion-based hate speech have been
weaponised to create fear and antagonism against the Chinese, thus attempting
to influence Malay-Muslim voters to vote against Pakatan Harapan (PH) if they
want their Malay and religious rights not to be eroded and influenced by
non-Muslims.
“It continues to narrow the space for more inclusive
politics in our democracy,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia’s communications
expert Mahyuddin Ahmad in a statement.
It pointed to a remark by Hadi, who is contesting in
Marang under Perikatan Nasional (PN), for using a dog-whistle remark calling
for violence against certain ethnic groups, with an anti-DAP social media post
invoking God’s power in punishing certain ethnic groups by eliminating them.
This remark was also flagged by #KamiNampak another
initiative to monitor the use of racial and religious rhetoric in the 15th
general election, which yesterday categorised it as “public incitement to genocide”
as it contains elements that justify the erasure of individuals based on
identity-based characteristics.
CIJ also highlighted other PAS campaigners such as Sik
PAS Youth chief Mohd Shahiful Nasir Mhd Nasir, as well as celebrity supporters
like Jamal Abdillah and Zul Huzaimy for using inflammatory narratives and
resorting to trigger fear among Muslim voters, inciting violence against
“infidels”, and calling for Malays to unite and fight against the ethnic
Chinese and Indians.
The initiative highlighted how Hadi and PAS have used
a tactic it called “red-tagging” by continuing to accuse rivals DAP of being
Communists, citing alleged atheism and “promotion” of the queer community.
It also flagged Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) for
emphasising that the fate of the Malays here only rests with it, and PH’s use
of race card by saying PN will rule the country like the Taliban.
The initiative monitors the severity of hate speech
during the election period, with partners from USM, University of Nottingham
Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
It reviewed 52,012 unique posts during the interim
period, and found that race-based narratives topped the chart with 32,066
posts.
This was followed by religion (13,338), gender and
comments targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community
(5,161), royalty (3,968), and comments targeting migrants and refugees (2,246).
It said was prevalent across the four major platforms
monitored: Facebook at 31,969 posts, Twitter (18,165), TikTok (1,803 posts) and
YouTube (75).
Source: Malay Mail
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Mideast
Iran’s UN Deputy Envoy Blasts Western States for
Unreal Support for Iranian Women
2022-November-17
Ershadi made the remarks at the Wednesday meeting of
the UN in New York, noting that the Iranian women are "intelligent,
educated, selfless and patriotic"; so, there is no need that the Western
countries play the role of supporters for the Iranian women.
"The countries, which pursue an anti-Iran human
rights resolution, promote dissemination of fake information, provocation of
public opinion, training of sabotage, as well as financial and military support
for terrorist groups under the guise of backing the rights of the Iranian
women," she noted.
The Iranian ambassador addressed the UN General
Assembly Third Committee, saying that the Islamic Republic categorically
rejects and condemns the draft resolution against Iran, which has been prepared
based on "unfounded data and biased treatment of a special
rapporteur".
The General Assembly’s Third Committee on Wednesday
approved the draft resolution titled “Situation of human rights in the Islamic
Republic of Iran” by a vote of 80 in favor to 28 against, with 68 abstentions.
The draft resolution was proposed by the Canadian
government over claims of a "violent crackdown” of protests in Iran.
Tehran’s delegate called the draft an “insincere
political move” that exposes a deliberate policy of incitement to
“Iranophobia”.
She denounced that the cosponsors — Canada, the United
States and “the child killer Israeli regime”, the main proponents of racism,
occupation and abhorrent treatment of indigenous peoples — have come together
to lecture others on human rights.
Protests erupted in several cities across Iran over
the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police
station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The
demonstrations soon turned violent.
An official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine
Organization announced that Amini’s controversial death was caused by an
illness rather than alleged blows to the head or other vital body organs.
Iranian officials blame Western countries for
orchestrating the riots to destabilize the country.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured the deadly riots, saying they were
orchestrated in advance by the United States and the Israeli regime.
“I state it clearly that these developments were
planned by America, the Zionist regime and their acolytes. Their main problem
is with a strong and independent Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian
nation proved to be fairly strong during recent events and will bravely come
onto the scene wherever necessary in the future,” he added.
Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the
European Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal
affairs over the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source: Fars News Agency
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Protesters burn home of Iran’s ex-supreme leader as
demonstrations enter third month
18 November ,2022
Protesters in Iran set fire to the old home of the
country’s former supreme leader and regime founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
on Thursday, footage circulating on social media showed, as anti-regime
protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini entered their third month.
Protesters took to the streets in at least 23 cities
across Iran on Thursday, according to videos posted by the activist group
1500tasvir on Twitter.
In the city of Khomein, birthplace of Khomeini,
protesters set fire to the home-turned-museum of the Islamic Republic’s
founder, footage circulating on social media showed.
Other videos from Khomein showed protesters shouting
slogans against Iran’s clerical leaders.
“This year is the year of blood, [Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei] will be toppled,” chanted protesters in the capital Tehran, a video
posted by 1500tasvir showed.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said five
members of the security forces were killed during Thursday’s protests.
Protests have swept across Iran since September 16
when 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Amini died three days after collapsing
in police custody. She had been detained by Tehran’s morality police for
allegedly not complying with the regime’s strict hijab rules.
Demonstrators have been calling for regime change in
the protests which have become one of the boldest challenges to the regime
since its establishment in 1979.
More than 300 people have been killed by security forces
and thousands have been detained, according to rights groups.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Interior Minister: French Intelligence Agents, Daesh
Militants Captured by Iran
2022-November-17
“People of other nationalities were arrested in the
riots, some of whom played a big role," Vahidi told reporters on the
sidelines of the cabinet session on Wednesday.
"There were elements from the French intelligence
agency. They are in custody and Iran’s Judiciary will deal with them under the
law,” he added.
Last week, France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna
stated a total of seven French nationals were detained in Iran.
The official also confirmed that some individuals from
other nationalities were arrested in the turmoil.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the minister said that the
enemy tried to create insecurity and instability and impede the country’s
scientific path.
"It could not achieve its aim because Islamic
Republic’s intelligence and security bodies faced them with might," he
stressed.
Last week, Vahidi revealed that some organizers of the
riots have received training in eight different states.
"In the course of the recent plot, in addition to
the United States, which in shortest possible time voiced its support for the
rioters, such countries as Germany and Britain, too, alongside Saudi Arabia and
the Zionist regime, had openly established a headquarters and were busy
supporting the rioters," he noted.
Protests erupted in several cities across Iran over
the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police
station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The
demonstrations soon turned violent.
An official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine
Organization announced that Amini’s controversial death was caused by an
illness rather than alleged blows to the head or other vital body organs.
Iranian officials blame Western countries for
orchestrating the riots to destabilize the country.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured the deadly riots, saying they were
orchestrated in advance by the United States and the Israeli regime.
“I state it clearly that these developments were
planned by America, the Zionist regime and their acolytes. Their main problem
is with a strong and independent Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian
nation proved to be fairly strong during recent events and will bravely come onto
the scene wherever necessary in the future,” he added.
Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the
European Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal
affairs over the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source: Fars News Agency
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FM: Israel, Western Spy Agencies Seeking Civil War in
Iran
2022-November-17
Amir Abdollahian made the remarks in a Twitter post a
day after ten people, including civilians and security forces, were martyred in
two separate terror attacks in Southwestern and Central Iran.
The foreign minister accused the Tel Aviv regime and
Western intelligence agencies of planning to divide Iran and start a civil war.
“Security services, the fake Israeli regime and
certain Western politicians that have hatched conspiracies to trigger a civil
war in Iran to destroy and disintegrate the country should know that Iran is
neither Libya nor Sudan," the top diplomat tweeted.
He added that the enemies have taken aim at Iran’s
territorial integrity and identity, emphasizing that people’s prudence
disappointed them.
At least seven people were martyred after terrorists
opened fire at civilians and security forces at a crowded market in Izeh in the
Southwestern province of Khuzestan on Wednesday. Later, three Basij members
were martyred in the Central province of Isfahan.
Last Thursday, President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi
stressed that the enemies have failed to destroy security and stability of
Iran.
He said that sanctioning and destabilization are two
strategic blunders of the foes about the Iranians that have always failed,
adding, "The enemy's sanction policy has failed and the policy of
destabilizing Iran has also failed."
The incidents came just three weeks after 15 pilgrims,
including a woman and two children, were martyred and 19 others wounded in a
terrorist attack on Shah Cheragh holy shrine in the city of Shiraz in Fars
province.
Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) terror group has
claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement on their telegram
channel.
Source: Fars News Agency
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In West Bank, undercover troops nab Islamic Jihad man
accused of planning attacks
By EMANUEL FABIAN
17 November 2022
Undercover Border Police officers arrested a wanted
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror operative in a village near the West
Bank city of Jenin on Thursday, a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said the suspect, Abdullah Loubani, was
in contact with members of the PIJ in the Gaza Strip and was involved in
planning terror attacks in Israel on behalf of the terror group.
There were no clashes during the daytime raid in the
village of Bir al-Basha, some 15 kilometers southwest of Jenin.
Loubani was transferred to the Shin Bet security
agency for further questioning, the spokesman added.
On Saturday, troops arrested another PIJ member in the
town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, during a daytime raid.
Officials said Muhammad Abu Zina had been conducting
“significant terror activity,” which included work to finance and arm PIJ
operatives in the northern West Bank.
This spring, the military launched a major anti-terror
offensive mostly focused on the northern West Bank to deal with a series of
Palestinian attacks that have left 29 people in Israel and the West Bank dead
since the start of the year.
The operation has netted more than 2,000 arrests in
near-nightly raids, but has also left over 130 Palestinians dead, many of them
— though not all — while carrying out attacks or during clashes with security
forces.
In arrests raids early Thursday, troops arrested 13
wanted Palestinians.
In recent months, Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly
targeted troops operating in the West Bank, as well as military posts, troops
operating along the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements, and
civilians on the roads.
Source: Times Of Israel
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At Least Ten Martyred in Separate Terror Attacks in
Iran
2022-November-17
“Unfortunately, at 17:30 local time (14:00 GMT),
riders of two motorcycles in a act of terrorism opened fire on people and
security forces using military weapons,” deputy director of security affairs at
Khuzestan provincial governor's office Valiollah Hayati said on Wednesday
night.
Seven citizens, including a child and a woman, have so
far been martyred, medical officials have confirmed. At least 10 other people
were also wounded.
Hayati informed that some of the injured had been
admitted to hospitals in critical condition, noting that calm has been restored
in the city in Southwestern Iran.
Iran's security forces have captured three people
involved in the deadly attack at a crowded market in Izeh.
"Three of the main elements of the incidents and
unrest in [Khuzestan's] Izeh County have been placed under arrest,"
director-general of the Justice Administration Department of Khuzestan Ali
Dehqani confirmed.
"[Further] efforts are on the agenda for
identification and apprehension of other elements connected to the
incidents," he continued.
Later on Wednesday night, three Basij volunteer force
members were martyred in an armed attack in the Central province of Isfahan.
An informed source said that one wounded was taken to
the hospital, adding that the incident took place in the Northern part of
Isfahan city.
It comes just three weeks after 15 pilgrims, including
a woman and two children, were martyred and 19 others wounded in a terrorist
attack on Shah Cheragh holy shrine in the city of Shiraz in Fars province.
Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) terror group has
claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement on their telegram
channel.
Source: Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010826000074/A-Leas-Ten-Maryred-in-Separae-Terrr-Aacks-in-Iran
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IRGC Commander: Enemies’ Dream of Disintegrating Iran
Never Comes True
2022-November-17
Maj. Gen. Salami made the remark at the final session
of the Second National Congress for Martyrs of Qom province on Thursday, which
was held at Jamkaran Mosque on the outskirts of the provincial capital Qom.
"The United States is seeking to create division
in Iranian society and disintegrate the country, but the satanic dream will
never come true, because the Iranians are strong and remain steadfast," he
said.
The senior commander noted that the US wants unrest in
Iran where people are gripped by poverty and disappointment while they lack
access to medicine and basic supplies.
But, the military official stressed, Washington will
fail to make its dream come true, because Iranians including women safeguard
their values.
In addition, Maj. Gen. Salami stated, "Iran will
keep its regional influence, continue to boost its defense power and overcome
the economic problems it is facing."
The IRGC top commander further said that enemies have
hatched plots against the Iranian nation, from the 1980s imposed war to other
attempts over the past years, because they are angry with the nation over its
support for Islam.
"The US and the UK even created Takfirism with
the aim of spreading a fake Islam to stop the increasing influence of Iran’s
Islamic Revolution, but that project failed in light of the leadership of
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and efforts by Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani
who was martyred by the US," he added.
He noted that the enemies also impose sanctions on
Iran to hinder its progress, but the country foiled that plot as well and made
progress in every field including nuclear energy due to the leadership of the
Supreme Leader who turned sanctions into opportunities for growth.
His remarks came a day after ten people, including
civilians and security forces, were martyred and several others wounded in two
provinces of Khuzestan and Isfahan. Also in late November, 15 pilgrims,
including a woman and two children, were martyred and 19 others wounded in a
terrorist attack on Shah Cheragh holy shrine in Shiraz.
The officials caution that the bloodshed proved
enemies are after disintegration of Iran.
During a meeting with students from across Iran ahead
of the national Student Day and the National Day of Fight against Global
Arrogance, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei noted that "this day is the embodiment of the evil of the United
States and its defeat".
"So, for those who think that the US is an
unwavering power, it becomes evident that it is not the case when we look at
the events that took place on this day," he stated.
"The US is completely vulnerable," he
affirmed.
"In its propaganda, the US says the overtaking of
the Spy Den was the start of the conflict between the Iranian nation and the
US. They lie. The conflicts between Iran and the US started with the 1953 coup.
Why did you overthrow a national government elected by popular vote?" the
Leader added.
He recounted atrocities committed by the Americans
against the Iranian nation over the last 70 years, saying that the nation, to
the Americans’ chagrin, has thwarted all their enmities.
"The US today is the same US of August 1953, but
with 2 key differences. First, the ways it shows its hostility have become more
complicated. Second, the US was the dominant power at the time of the 1953
coup. It is not today. The US's power is diminishing little by little,"
the Supreme Leader added.
"One can see a trace of the US in most of the
events that take place against Iran. Then they claim they care about the
Iranian nation! You have imposed the most severe sanctions - the like of which
they admit have never been imposed on any nation in history - against
Iran," Ayatollah Khamenei declared.
"The world is approaching a new order in which
the US will be isolated and Asia will rise to power," he stressed.
"The signs of the US decline are obvious. They
have economic, social, and moral problems inside the US. There are discords and
bloody divisions. These are their domestic problems. And there are their
miscalculations in global affairs," the Leader noted.
Source: Fars News Agency
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Iranian FM Blasts US Hypocrisy over Talks
2022-November-17
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of
a cabinet session in Tehran, Amir Abdollahian pointed to the latest
developments in the stalled talks on reviving the nuclear deal, formally known
as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and lifting sanctions.
"Messages with the American side are constantly
being exchanged," he asserted, adding that the last message was conveyed
"in the past 72 hours".
“Americans are sending messages through some foreign
ministers that they are in hurry for [returning to] the JCPOA, but when [US
Special Iran Envoy] Rob Malley speaks to media, he hypocritically says the
JCPOA ‘is not our focus right now’ and points to provocations that they seek to
have about riots … in Iran,” the top diplomat stated.
Americans are pursuing a “completely clear” objective
and that is to “exert pressure on us so that we would cross our redlines”, the
foreign minister noted.
“What is important for us in the negotiations is the
national interests of people,” Amir Abdollahian continued, saying, “However, we
will strongly continue our efforts for removal of sanctions through
negotiations."
The remarks come as Malley reiterated on Monday
Washington’s contradictory stance vis-à-vis Iran and stated his country would
leave the door open to resume diplomacy “when and if” the time came, but for
now it would continue a policy of sanctions and pressure in dealing with
Tehran.
He blamed Iran for the nuclear talks' failure to bear
fruit.
Late last month, the US envoy for Iran noted that
nuclear negotiations with Iran were not currently a priority for the Joe Biden
administration.
Iran stresses it has not quit the negotiating table
with the world powers, but will not put all its eggs in the negotiation basket
and will not wait for the United States to return to its commitments under the
2015 nuclear deal. Iranian officials stress Tehran has maintained its
constructive attitude towards a good, strong and lasting agreement on the
revival of the 2015 accord and arriving at a deal requires the US pragmatic
attitude.
Tehran says it will not be able to trust Washington as
long as President Joe Biden continues the wrong policy of maximum pressure and
sanctions practiced by Donald Trump against Iran. Iranian officials say the
Biden administration has yet done nothing but hollow promises to lift sanctions
against Tehran. They blast the US addiction to sanctions, and slammed the POTUS
for continuing his predecessor's policy on Iran.
Tehran and the five remaining parties to the nuclear
deal have held several rounds of negotiations since April last year to restore
the agreement, which was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in May 2018.
The talks remain stalled since August, as Washington
continues to insist on its hard-nosed position of not removing all sanctions
that were slapped on Tehran by the previous US administration.
In quitting the agreement, Trump restored sanctions on
Iran as part of what he called the “maximum pressure” campaign against the
country. Those sanctions are being enforced to this day by the Biden
administration, even though it has repeatedly acknowledged that the policy has
been a mistake and a failure.
Iranian officials say the ball is in the US' court,
and the Biden administration should assure Tehran that it will not repeat
Trump's past mistakes.
Diplomats have also criticized Washington for raising
excessive demands from Tehran during the nuclear talks, and blocking efforts to
reach an agreement on the JCPOA. They emphasized the Tehran's will to reach a
good, strong and lasting agreement, and stressed that the US should lift
unilateral sanctions, and assure Iran that it will not repeat its past
mistakes.
Source: Fars News Agency
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https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010826000130/Iranian-FM-Blass-US-Hypcrisy-ver-Talks
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Spokesman Describes Anti-Iran UN Resolution as Biased,
Unrealistic
2022-November-17
Kan’ani on Thursday said the resolution, which was
drafted by Canada with the backing of some Western countries, was a mere
repetition of “baseless accusations” leveled against Iran based on
“misinformation” and “dishonest generalizations".
The “one-sided” and “unrealistic” resolution thus
lacks legitimacy and is categorically rejected, he added.
“The move by the Canadian government and other
supporters of the resolution is a clear example of misusing sublime concepts
and values of human rights in order to advance short-sighted political goals,”
the diplomat stated.
“Such unconstructive measures will not only fail to
help improve the human rights situation at a global level, but will lead to
constant recourse to negative stereotyping and political labeling against independent
countries,” the spokesperson contnied.
Pointing to the Western countries’ attempts to spread
Iranophobia and defame Iran, Kana'ani said such states, which have a long
record of systematic human rights violations, are not in a position to make recommendations
on human rights to the Iranian government and nation.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is based on religious
democracy and has always been very serious about promoting human rights and
fulfilling its [relevant] international obligations,” the official added,
expressing Tehran’s readiness to “engage in dialog and constructive cooperation
based on its lofty principles in order to improve the human rights position in
the world.”
Such dialog should be based on “mutual respect,
equality, justice and fairness,” free from political purposes, and within the
framework of all legitimate international mechanisms aimed at improving and
supporting human rights, the Iranian spokesperson continued.
The General Assembly’s Third Committee on Wednesday
approved the draft resolution titled “Situation of human rights in the Islamic
Republic of Iran” by a vote of 80 in favor to 28 against, with 68 abstentions.
The draft resolution was proposed by the Canadian
government over claims of a "violent crackdown” of protests in Iran.
Protests erupted in several cities across Iran over
the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police
station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The
demonstrations soon turned violent.
An official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine
Organization announced that Amini’s controversial death was caused by an
illness rather than alleged blows to the head or other vital body organs.
Iranian officials blame Western countries for
orchestrating the riots to destabilize the country.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured the deadly riots, saying they were
orchestrated in advance by the United States and the Israeli regime.
“I state it clearly that these developments were
planned by America, the Zionist regime and their acolytes. Their main problem
is with a strong and independent Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian
nation proved to be fairly strong during recent events and will bravely come
onto the scene wherever necessary in the future,” he added.
Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the
European Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal
affairs over the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source: Fars News Agency
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At least 21 killed, several others hurt in Gaza Strip
fire
17 November ,2022
A large fire that ripped through a home north of Gaza
City killed at least 21 people including seven children on Thursday, official
and medical sources said.
Hamas members, who control the Israeli-blockaded
Palestinian enclave, said that firefighters had managed to contain the blaze in
Jabalia.
Gaza's civil defense unit confirmed in a statement
that 21 people had been killed.
The head of the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia, Saleh
abu Laila, told AFP that the facility had received the bodies of at least seven
children killed.
While the cause of the fire remained unknown, a
spokesman for the civil defence unit told AFP that supplies of fuel were being
stored in the house.
The Palestinian Authority, based in Israeli-occupied
West Bank -- a separate Palestinian territory -- offered to send help.
President Mahmud Abbas “gave instructions to send all
forms of medical and other urgently needed assistance,” senior PA official
Hussein Al Sheikh said on Twitter.
He also urged Israel to open the Erez crossing that
connects Gaza with southern Israel and is normally closed at night.
“We called on the Israeli side to open the Erez
crossing to transport dangerous cases in order to treat them outside the Gaza
Strip if necessary,” Al Sheikh said.
A spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry
unit that manages the Erez crossing, told AFP that Israel “will provide help...
as needed” through the transit point.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered on the street
outside the multi-story home as the blaze raged, sending plumes of smoke
billowing out the top of the building.
Jabalia is a refugee camp, but like many such
Palestinians camps, now includes large buildings and in many respects resembles
a city.
Gaza, densely populated with 2.3 million people, has
been under Israeli blockade since 2007, a measure Israel says is necessary to
contain threats from armed groups in the strip.
With electricity supply sparse in the impoverished
territory, domestic blazes are common, as Gazans seek alternative sources for
cooking and light, including kerosene lamps.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Israeli president Herzog plans first visit to Bahrain
17 November ,2022
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday he
would be the first Israeli head of state to travel to Bahrain with a visit to
the kingdom planned during a tour of the Gulf next month.
Israel normalized diplomatic relations with Bahrain
and its Gulf neighbor the United Arab Emirates (UAE) two years ago under US
sponsorship.
Bahrain already hosted an Israeli prime minister
earlier this year when Naftali Bennett made a two-day visit to Manama,
highlighting an increasing Israeli presence in the Gulf amid tensions with
regional power Iran.
The presidency in Israel is largely a ceremonial post,
but Herzog has assumed a more prominent role since there has not been a stable
government for several years.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came out on
top in a parliamentary election earlier this month, the country's fifth in less
than four years, but he has yet to form a government.
Herzog, according to his office, will make a state
visit to Bahrain at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. He will
then travel to the UAE where he will meet President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
al-Nahyan.
Source: Al Arabiya
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IAEA board passes resolution ordering Iran to
cooperate with probe
17 November ,2022
The UN atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors
passed a resolution on Thursday ordering Iran to cooperate urgently with the
agency's investigation into uranium traces found at three undeclared sites,
diplomats at the closed-door vote said.
The resolution drafted by the United States, Britain,
France and Germany says the board “decides it is essential and urgent” that
Iran explain the origin of the uranium particles and more generally give the
International Atomic Energy Agency all the answers it requires.
While it is not the first resolution the board has
passed against Iran on the issue - another was adopted in June - its wording is
stronger and hints at a diplomatic escalation down the line - possibly
referring Iran to the UN Security Council for not complying with its nuclear
obligations.
“Iran must now provide the necessary cooperation, no
more empty promises,” the United States said in its statement to the board
shortly before the resolution was adopted with 26 votes in favor, five abstentions
and two countries absent, according to diplomats in the meeting. Only Russia
and China voted against.
“Iran must know that if it fails to provide the
cooperation necessary to resolve these matters, the Board will have to be
prepared to take further action, including under Article XII.C of the Agency's
Statute,” it added, referring to a clause that lays out options including
referral to the Security Council.
More immediately, Iran tends to bristle at such
resolutions and it remained to be seen what action it would take. In June Iran
removed additional IAEA monitoring equipment including surveillance cameras
installed under its 2015 deal with world powers to curb its disputed uranium
enrichment program.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Turkey’s Erdogan tells Netanyahu relations should be
maintained with mutual respect
17 November ,2022
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Israel’s former
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won an election this month, that it is
important to maintain relations on a basis of respect for mutual interests, the
Turkish presidency said on Thursday.
In a phone call, Erdogan told Netanyahu he was
saddened by “events two days ago in the West Bank.” Netanyahu offered his
condolences for those who died in a bomb attack in Istanbul on Sunday, the
presidency said.
“The two leaders agreed to work together to create a
new era in relations between Turkey and Israel,” Netanyahu’s Likud Party said
in a statement, adding that they discussed how to strengthen economic and
diplomatic ties.
The call comes amid a thaw in long-strained ties
between Turkey and Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Ankara this
year in the first visit to Turkey by an Israeli leader since 2008.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have been strained
for more than a decade, with Ankara having expelled Israel’s ambassador
following a 2010 Israeli raid on an aid ship to Gaza, which killed ten Turkish
citizens.
Diplomatic relations were restored in 2016, but two
years later Turkey recalled its diplomats from Israel and expelled Israeli
envoys when Israeli forces killed a number of Palestinians who had taken part
in protests in the Gaza Strip.
The two countries mutually appointed ambassadors this
year.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Africa
Greek Foreign Minister Dendias snubs Libya counterpart in spat over Turkey deal
17 November ,2022
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias snubbed his
Libyan counterpart on Thursday, abandoning a planned visit to Tripoli to avoid
being welcomed by the top diplomat of a government allied with arch rival
Turkey.
Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush was left
waiting on the tarmac at Tripoli airport when Dendias refused to disembark from
his plane and instead flew on to second city Benghazi, where a rival
administration holds sway.
Athens blamed the incident on Tripoli, where Dendias
had been scheduled to meet the head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed
el-Manfi, without meeting members of the executive, according to the Greek
foreign ministry.
Dendias’s visit to the politically divided North
African nation comes after Libya’s Tripoli-based government signed a memorandum
of understanding with Ankara over exploration for Mediterranean oil and gas
that is bitterly contested by Athens.
Mangoush had been waiting on the tarmac to welcome
Dendias “in keeping with diplomatic norms,” a statement from her ministry said.
But “in a surprising and insulting move, the Greek
minister refused to disembark from his plane and left without any
clarifications,” it added.
Mangoush’s ministry said it would take “appropriate
diplomatic measures” in response.
Shortly afterwards, it recalled its ambassador from
Athens and summoned his Greek counterpart in Tripoli, government spokesman
Mohamad Hamouda told Al-Ahrar, a satellite news channel.
Built on a 2019 border deal between Tripoli and
Ankara, the energy exploration agreement signed last month angered Greece,
Egypt and Cyprus which argue that neither side has a right to drill in those
areas.
The rival administration which holds sway in Benghazi
also condemned the deal, insisting the Tripoli-based government of Abdulhamid
Dbeibah no longer has a mandate to rule or sign international agreements.
The Libyan ministry said Dendias had been invited in
response to a request from Athens, “despite (him) taking offensive positions...
and making unbalanced statements about Libya’s sovereignty and its right to
establish relations that meet the hopes of its people.”
After the signing of the hydrocarbons memorandum in
October, Dendias had said it “threatens stability and security” in the region.
“Ms Mangoush tried to impose on me by her presence at
the airport to meet with her. As a result I interrupted the visit in Tripoli
and we flew to Benghazi, where the schedule was followed,” the Greek minister
said in the eastern city of Benghazi.
There, he delivered three small boxes of coronavirus
vaccines and a 550,000-euro ($568,000)donation towards a World Food Program
reconstruction of the port.
He also met members of the eastern-based parliament,
tweeting that he had thanked them for “their clear stance on condemning the
Turkish-Libyan ‘memorandum’ in 2019 and the one signed in October.”
Later, Dendias met military strongman Khalifa Haftar,
for talks he said focused “on the need for #Libya stabilization & promoting
peace and stability in the wider region,” according to his Twitter account.
Libya has been plagued by violence since the overthrow
of President Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.
Dbeibah was appointed as part of a United Nations-guided
peace process following the last major battle in Libya in 2020.
Tripoli’s troops, backed by Turkey, pushed back
Haftar’s forces – backed by Egypt and others – after their year-long attempt to
capture the city.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Police bust alleged Tunisia-Italy migrant traffickers
17 November ,2022
Police in Italy said Thursday they had arrested 12
people allegedly involved in a ring that transported migrants from Tunisia to
Sicily, with six suspects still unaccounted for.
The suspects, 11 Tunisians and seven Italians,
allegedly used small boats with powerful engines to transport between 10 to 30
migrants at a time from various towns on the Tunisian coast to Sicily off
Italy.
The journey took under four hours, police said in a
statement.
The migrants were “subjected to inhumane and degrading
treatment,” and the trip put their lives in “serious danger,” police said.
The ring was run by a Tunisian man and woman from the
Sicilian town of Niscemi – despite both being under house arrest at the time.
They relied on the help of a series of other people
tasked with logistics such as money collection and putting up newly-arrived migrants.
Source: Al Arabiya
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