New Age Islam
Tue Jun 09 2026, 01:25 AM

Islamic World News ( 6 Nov 2023, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Comment | Comment

Hizb-ut-Tahrir Terrorists Wanted to Create Shariat-Based Islamic National India Through Violent Acts: NIA Files Charge Sheet Against 17

New Age Islam News Bureau

06 November 2023

 

Hizb ut Tahrir

-----

India

·         CPM To Hold Solidarity Programmes Supporting Palestine Across Kerala

·         749 Hindu Kids Enrolled In 30 Uttarakhand Madrassas: Report

·         BJP Expels Party Leader in Rajasthan Who Called for Uprooting Gurdwaras, Mosques

·         Yadav, Muslim numbers inflated in Bihar caste survey, says Amit Shah

-----

Europe

·         UK Plans to Expand Extremism Definition Amid Pro-Palestine Protests: Report

·         Israel-Palestine Conflict: Oxford Mosque Hate Crime 'Not Being Treated As Terrorism', Police Confirm

·         Four police officers injured in pro-Palestinian protests in UK; 29 protesters arrested

·         France delivers three planes of aid to Gaza, French boats in Mediterranean

-----

Mideast

·         Americans' Weapons and Intelligence Support Encourages Zionists to Kill Palestinians: President Raeisi

·         Israel’s Netanyahu Appears to Backtrack on Reported Comment Linking Hamas Attack to Reservist Protest

·         Jordan says airdropped urgent medical aid on Gaza field hospital

·         Iran's Jewish community joins global voices against Israel's war on Gaza

·         More killings as Israeli targets children’s hospital in Gaza

-----

Pakistan

·         Shehbaz condemns Israel’s threat of dropping N bomb on Gaza

·         Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Chief Fazl Meets Hamas Chief in Qatar

·         People of Pakistan want independent Palestine: Ashrafi

·         Uptick in terror attacks: Neighbouring countries trying to ‘blackmail’ Pakistan: minister

·         Ulema condemn India for its involvement in acts of terrorism

·         US move to stop deportation of 25,000 Afghan workers

·         Over 170,000 Afghans left Pakistan since Sept 17: officials

·         TLP workers rally in support of Palestinians

-----

North America

·         US Troops Came Home Feeling 'Cursed' And Seeing Ghosts After Intense Artillery Battles with The Islamic State

·         Drone attacks target four bases housing US occupation troops in Iraq, Syria

·         Americans, Britons have left Gaza, hopeful of getting more out

·         Washington sees 'largest pro-Palestine march in US history' as Israel bombs Gaza

·         Muslim Stanford University Student Victim of Alleged Racially-Motivated Hit-And-Run, Hate Crime Investigation Underway

------

South Asia

·         IEA’s Chief Justice Calls on International Court to Take Urgent Action Over Israel’s ‘Crimes’

·         Bangladesh Arrests 8,000 Opposition Activists: Report

·         Iran Arrests Three On ‘Mossad Espionage’ Charges with Taliban Cooperation

·         South Korea donates one million Dollars to Afghanistan

·         Mullah Baradar Meets Iranian FM During Tehran Visit

·         Islamic Emirate Allocates 2 billion Afs for Returnees

·         Pakistan deports more than 6,500 Afghans; total repatriated to Afghanistan touches 1,70,000:

-----

Southeast Asia

·         ‘Solidarity For Humanity’: Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Jakarta to Support Palestine

·         Branded ‘Biggest Enemy of Islam’, Ex-Penang DCM Ramasamy Wants Action Against Dr Zakir Naik

·         PM Anwar says good Malaysia-Egypt ties facilitate despatching of humanitarian aid to Palestine

·         Anwar: OIC to meet on Palestine, date being fixed

·         Leaders of Arab world, Turkiye and Iran to meet over Palestine-Israel conflict, says Anwar

------

Africa

·         Senegal: People Demonstrated in Support of Palestinians

·         More Than 20 Killed in Sudan After Shell Hits Market: NGO

·         Islamic groups canvass adoption of orphans, homeless children

·         Tinubu attends Saudi-Africa summit in Riyadh

·         Police, Thugs Attacked, Shot At My Convoy After Preventing Me From Attending Church

------

Arab World

·         Qatar Says Gaza Hostage Releases Need ‘Period of Calm’

·         Saudi Arabia Decries Israeli Minister's Shocking Nuclear Bomb Threat To Gaza

·         Foreign law firms to broaden Saudi Arabia’s legal landscape

·         Saudi projects help people in Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon

·         Saudi family council, UNICEF to work on child online safety framework

·         Saudi Arabia, Russia to continue additional voluntary oil cuts

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hizb-tahrir-shariat-india-nia-terrorist/d/131057

-----

Hizb-ut-Tahrir Terrorists Wanted to Create Shariat-Based Islamic Nation in India Through the Means of Violent Acts: NIA Files Charge Sheet Against 17

 

Hizb ut Tahrir

-----

Manjiri Joshi

NOVEMBER 05, 2023

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a comprehensive charge sheet against 17 individuals in connection with the Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) case.

The NIA investigations revealed that the members of HuT were clandestinely recruiting and building their cadres in Madhya Pradesh. It has also been established that “the accused were inspired by the HuT’s radical ideology, which aimed at creating a Shariat-based Islamic nation in India through the means of violent acts".

As an organisation, they kept their activities secret to avoid being caught, added like-minded people to their group and organised training camps secretly. Their preparations included training in arms-shooting and commando tactics to their group members. Their plans and tactics extended to attacks on police personnel and targeting individuals of different communities.

This intent was to threaten the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of India, with the explicit goal of striking terror among people.

THE 17 ACCUSED

The accused are:

Mohammad Alam, s/o Mohammad Saeed Khan

Misbah ul Hasan, s/o Nadeem Akhatar

Mehraj Ali, s/o Syed Masroor Ali

Khalid Hussain, s/o Sajid Hussain

Syed Sami Rizvi, s/o Late Syed Izhar Rizvi

Yasir Khan, s/o Mushtaq Khan

Salman Ansari, s/o Abdul Saeed

Syed Danish Ali, s/o Syed Anwar Ali

Mohammad Shahrukh, s/o Mohammad Saeed

Mohammad Wasim, s/o Mohammad Salim

Mohammad Kareem, s/o Mohammad Haneef

Mohammad Abbas Ali, s/o B Cheriyalu

Mohammad Hameed, s/o Mohammad Khwaja Pasha

Mohammad Saleem, s/o Ashok Rajvaidhya

Abdur Rahman, s/o Ravi Narayan Panda

Sheikh Junaid, s/o Late Sheikh Jaleel

Mohammad Salman, s/o Mohammad Yakub

The case was initially registered as FIR No: 05/2023 dated 09.05.2023 by STF/ATS Bhopal under sections 120B, 153B and 121A of Indian Penal Code-1860, and sections 13(1)(b), 17,18 & 18B of UA(P) Act-1967.

Source: news18.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.news18.com/india/hijb-ut-tahrir-trained-terrorists-want-to-create-shariat-based-islamic-nation-nia-files-charge-sheet-against-17-exclusive-8649777.html

------

‘Enough Is Enough This Must Stop Now’: UN Agency Chiefs Say in Joint Statement Urging Gaza Cease-Fire

 

This handout picture released by the Israeli army on November 5, 2023, shows Israeli tanks and soldiers stationed at a location in the northern Gaza Strip as battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continue. (AFP)

-----

November 06, 2023

UNITED NATIONS: The heads of all major UN agencies issued a rare joint statement Sunday expressing outrage at the civilian death toll in Gaza and calling for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” in the war between Israel and Hamas.

“For almost a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in shock and horror at the spiralling numbers of lives lost and torn apart,” the UN chiefs said.

The heads of 18 organizations including UNICEF, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization described the horrific toll on both sides since the October 7 Hamas cross-border attack from Gaza into Israel, which left about 1,400 people dead, mainly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel has retaliated with relentless air and artillery strikes that have killed at least 9,770 people, also mostly civilians, says the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

The UN statement also pointed out that more than 23,000 injured people require immediate treatment within overstretched hospitals.

It said "the horrific killings of even more civilians in Gaza is an outrage, as is cutting off 2.2 million Palestinians from food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel."

“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable,” the statement added.

It noted that more than "100 attacks against health care" have been reported, "scores of aid workers" have been killed since October 7. Among the slain aid workers were 88 members of the UNRWA, acronym for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The statement called on Hamas to release the more than 240 hostages it took in its attack, and urged both sides to respect their obligations under international law as the war rages on.

The UN leaders said more food, water, medicine and fuel must be allowed into Gaza to help its besieged population as Israel attacks with the stated goal of destroying Hamas.

“We need an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” the statement said.

The UN further said the siege of Gaza by Israeli forces has created "serious challenges for medical staff."

"In Gaza, thousands are seeking refuge from violence in hospitals, creating serious challenges for medical staff to ensure safe childbirth," the UN said in a post on the X platform.

Source: Arabnews.Com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

Https://Www.Arabnews.Com/Node/2403981/Middle-East

--------

All Abrahamic Religions Approve of Supporting Palestine: Raeisi to Pope Francis

 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

----

Nov 5, 2023

TEHRAN, Nov. 05 (MNA) – President Ebrahim Raeisi of Iran spoke with Pope Francis by phone on the situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing that all Abrahamic religions' teachings approve of supporting the oppressed Palestinian nation.

In a telephone conversation with Pope Francis on Sunday evening, President Ebrahim Raeisi described the horrific and unprecedented crimes of the Zionist usurping regime in martyring nearly 10,000 people, including 4,000 children and 2,500 women, as the biggest genocide of the century.

Raeisi went on to say that supporting the oppressed people of Palestine today is in accordance with the teachings of all Abrahamic religions, including Christianity and appreciated the position adopted by the Pope on the necessity of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He further asked him to use his status to pressure the Western countries for a cessation of the Israeli regime's crimes.

The President further emphasized the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the oppressed people of Gaza and vowed to use all diplomatic potential to immediately stop the attacks and send humanitarian aid to that region.

Pope Francis, for his part, appreciated the stances adopted by Raeisi in supporting the oppressed people of Palestine and emphasized the need to try to stop the attacks on Gaza and establish a ceasefire in that region.

"As the leader of the world's Catholics, I will do everything within my authority to stop these attacks and prevent more women and children from being killed in Gaza," the Pope promised.

Source: mehrnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207990/All-Abrahmic-religions-approve-of-supporting-Palestin

-------

Gaza Genocide: PDP Underscores Need for Forming ‘Muslim Union’On the Pattern of The European Union

 

Photo: Business Recorder

-----

 2023-11-06

KARACHI: The inability of the Muslim countries to save the citizens of Gaza from genocide at the hands of occupying army of Israel has underscored the need of forming a ‘Muslim Union’ on the pattern of the European Union (EU), said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday.

He said political disunity amongst the Muslim countries has allowed Israel to continue its war crimes in Gaza with impunity. He said the role of the Arab nations to get stopped the genocide in Gaza is more shameful, while all

other major Muslim countries have also just paid a lip service.

He said the killings of innocent children and women in Gaza by Israeli bombardment on civilian population, even on schools, hospitals and ambulance vans show that despite the Western sermons about human rights we live in world where might is right.

He said the United Nations has proved to be an instrument of the Western countries which is blind to the human rights violations against the Muslim populations. He said we have seen this in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iraq and now in Gaza. He said the killers of the Muslim populations have got the silent backing of the Western countries and the United Nations, which takes care of their interests.

He said Iraq was attacked over false information about so-called weapons of mass destruction, but the United Nations and the Western nations are blind to the mass destruction of Gaza at the hands of anti-human Israel.

Altaf Shakoor said the Muslim world is facing a crisis of leadership. There is not a single courageous Muslim leader that can realise the gravity of situation and get united the Ummah at this crucial juncture of history.

He said the OIC is a paper tiger, having no power to defend the Muslim people.

He said a broad based political and military alliance between all the Muslim countries is a must to save their women and children from mass killings and genocide. He said political and military alliances are common in the world and the EU and NATO are a few examples. The Muslim nations could also establish such political and military alliances easily.

He said the Gaza genocide has exposed not only the Western countries and Arab kings, but also the rulers of big Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, who are playing the role of the silent spectator over the killing of Gaza civilians including women and children.

He said this situation would surely result in political unrest in the Muslim countries, particularly the Arab nations. He said it demands that the people of the Muslim world should think about making their own block on the pattern of the European Union (EU).

He said a strong political and military alliance of all Muslim countries is a must to safeguard their interests, saving their people from aggressions and genocide and getting resolved the issues like Kashmir and Palestine. He said that the social media in the Muslim countries could play a huge role in this regard to promote unity in the Ummah.

He urged China and Russia to play a more assertive role in getting stopped the genocide of civilians in Gaza and ensure a corridor of aid for relief of Gaza people including immediate supply of fuel, water, food and medicine. He said teams of rescuers, doctors and social workers should be rushed to Gaza.

He said thousands of the slain people including women and children are buried in the rubble of the civilian buildings destroyed by the occupying army of Israel and it needs an urgent attention of all the peace loving people of the world.

Source: brecorder.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40271839/gaza-genocide-pdp-underscores-need-for-forming-muslim-union

-------

Poll Shows Muslims Feel Hamas Attack on Israel Was Justified, Americans Blame Iran

 

Smoke rises during Israeli strikes in Gaza

------

November 5, 2023

 Adam Devine

NEW YORK, NY – A recent poll by Cygnal reveals nuanced American perceptions of the Israel-Hamas conflict and broader Jewish-Muslim relations following recent violence. Conducted October 16-18, the poll highlights divergent views among American demographics, influenced by recent geopolitical developments and a string of violent incidents attributed to Hamas.

The survey, emphasizing responses from Jewish and Muslim Americans, indicates complex sentiments shaped by the escalating tensions. Cygnal’s President, Brent Buchanan, noted the poll reflects a shift in American consciousness, likening the impact of the recent attacks to a post-9/11 sentiment.

Key findings from the poll include:

Unfavorability ratings of US President Joe Biden and the Hamas leader are notably similar among Americans. Muslim Americans, however, show a comparatively higher regard for the Hamas leader and the Palestinian Authority, paralleled by a substantial appreciation for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Around 60% of participants equate Hamas with terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS, while a third consider Hamas more egregious. Among Muslim Americans, there’s a slight tendency to view Hamas as less severe than the aforementioned groups.

A majority of Muslim Americans affirm Israel’s right to self-defense but diverge from other groups by opposing an Israeli invasion of Gaza and justifying Hamas’s attacks on Israel.

Consensus leans toward strong US support for Israel, including financial aid, and holding Iran accountable for Hamas’s actions against Israel.

Americans are divided on US military engagement in support of Israel, with nearly equal parts for and against. Similarly, they are split on prioritizing support for Israel over Ukraine, despite a majority acknowledging the rise of antisemitism in the US.

Cygnal’s findings suggest that Americans are drawing clear distinctions between different foreign policy issues, urging lawmakers to address each on its own merits. With the American public’s awareness of rising antisemitism, the implications for US foreign aid to Ukraine seem less intertwined in the public’s view than they are in the legislative and media narratives.

Source: shorenewsnetwork.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2023/11/05/poll-shows-muslims-feel-hamas-attack-on-israel-was-justified-americans-blame-iran/

-------

India

 

CPM to hold solidarity programmes supporting Palestine across Kerala

 06th November 2023

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following an initial display of support from the Muslim League, the state leadership of the CPM has now come out with the plan of organising Palestine solidarity programmes throughout the state. In opposition to the United States of America’s logistical support for Israel, the party has also decided to stage protest programmes on November 7, coinciding with the visit of US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken to India. These protests will continue until November 9.  

At the conclusion of the two-day state committee meeting on Sunday, CPM state secretary M V Govindan accused the Congress of maintaining a pro-Zionist and imperialist stance concerning the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

“The CPM will coordinate Palestine solidarity programmes in all districts. During the programme scheduled for November 11 in Kozhikode, the party anticipates the participation of workers from the Muslim League and Congress, alongside other organisations and individuals. The CPM’s unwavering position on Palestine remains resolute, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The recent statement by League leader P K Kunjali Kutty suggesting a mere technical withdrawal from the programme stands as proof that the Congress is the sole reason behind the League’s non-participation. Nevertheless, the Congress failed to organise a solidarity programme, having even issued a show cause notice to its leader AryadanShoukath for arranging a Palestine solidarity event in Malappuram under a trust. The Congress is fundamentally opposed to the idea of organising a Palestine solidarity programme, both politically and organisationally,” he said.

Govindan further emphasised that the CPM welcomes all individuals and groups supportive of the Palestinian cause, except for the Congress leadership and extremist organisations. “The Congress is closely aligning with the BJP. The CPM’s decision to invite all pro-Palestine supporters is grounded in its non-electoral political stance. If a party chooses to collaborate with the LDF and CPM, it must first make a political decision.

Nevertheless, the Palestine solidarity programmes constitute people’s gatherings. Whether the League participates or not does not pose a problem for the CPM,” he clarified. Govindan also derided the state Congress leadership for their unsuccessful attempt to prevent senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyar from attending the Keraleeyam seminar.

CPM misusing Palestine issue for political gain, says Satheesan

Kochi: Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan on Sunday alleged that the CPM is misusing the Palestine issue for political gains. His comments follows the Muslim League’s (IUML) decision to deny the CPM’s invitation for Palastine solidarity rallies. “The IUML clarified its stand within 48 hours after it received an invitation for the programme. There is no need for confusion,” he told mediapersons at North Paravoor. Satheesan added that not a single IUML member will participate in the CPM rally. “The CPM is misusing the Palestine issue for political gain. Amidst expressing solidarity towards Palestinian people, the Muslim League, Samastha and UDF are the subjects of discussion of the CPM,” he said.

Source: newindianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/nov/06/cpm-to-hold-solidarity-programmes-supporting-palestine-across-kerala-2630374.html

-------

 

749 Hindu Kids Enrolled In 30 Uttarakhand Madrassas: Report

Nov 6, 2023

DEHRADUN: Taking cognisance of a report of Uttarakhand madrassa education board, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to the principal secretary of the minority welfare department and directed him to appear personally before the commission on November 9.

Of the total 7,339 students enrolled in 30 board-affiliated madrassas, 749 are Hindu children, as per the report. NCPCR has now asked minority welfare department to explain "why these children are not enrolled in schools under the Right to Education Act as madrassas do not fall within the definition of school under the Act."

In its report, the state madrassa board said all students are being taught the NCERT syllabus. "About 131 Hindu children are studying in KhediShikohpur, followed by 112 in Tilakpur and 85 in Bhagwanpur of Haridwar district... All these children are receiving education in madrassas with their parents' consent," the report added.

NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanungo on October 17 directed the board director to "provide details of all government-aided seminaries where Hindu children are enrolled". TNN

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/749-hindu-kids-enrolled-in-30-state-madrassas/articleshow/104998691.cms

-------

 

BJP expels party leader in Rajasthan who called for uprooting gurdwaras, mosques

Nov 06, 2023

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sandeep Dayma was on Sunday expelled from the party for his remarks from last week about mosques and gurdwaras.

The BJP said that he made statements “contrary to the party’s ideology”.

On November 1, Dayma had said that mosques and gurdwaras in the town of Tijara had become “ulcers” and should be uprooted. He made the remarks while campaigning for Balak Nath, the BJP candidate from the Tijara constituency in Rajasthan. Assembly polls will be held in Rajasthan on November 25.

“See how many mosques, gurdwaras have been built here,” Dayma said. “This will become an ulcer for us in the future. That is why it’s our duty that this ulcer be uprooted and thrown out...”

The remarks faced backlash from members of the Sikh community and party leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who demanded that Dayma be expelled. “Nobody should be allowed to get away with a mere apology after provocative hate speeches,” Singh had said in a tweet.

BJP Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar also said on Sunday that the Rajasthan leader’s remarks could not be condoned.

Dayma had apologised on November 2, saying that he meant to refer to mosques and madrasas in his speech, but mistakenly spoke about gurdwaras.

However, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee – the body that manages Sikh places of worship in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh – said that speaking against religious sites of Muslims was as condemnable as speaking against those of Sikhs.

Source: scroll.in

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://scroll.in/latest/1058674/bjp-expels-party-leader-in-rajasthan-who-called-for-uprooting-gurdwaras-mosques

-------

 

Yadav, Muslim numbers inflated in Bihar caste survey, says Amit Shah

Nov 06, 2023

Addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Shah said that decision to hold caste survey in the state was taken when the JD(U) was a part of the NDA.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday termed the Bihar caste survey an “illusion” as he accused the chief minister Nitish Kumar-led state government of inflating the Muslim and Yadav population in the enumeration exercise for “appeasement politics”.

Addressing a rally in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Shah said that the decision to hold the caste survey in the state was taken when the Janata Dal (United) was a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) but it was conducted this year to fulfil the “ulterior motives” of the current state government.

“The decision to conduct the caste survey in Bihar was taken when the JD(U) was part of the NDA. But the way the survey was conducted reveals the ulterior design of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government. The population of Muslims and Yadavas were deliberately inflated during the exercise. The state government is indulging in politics of appeasement and is not interested in the welfare of people belonging to other backward communities,” he said.

On October 2, the Bihar government released the results of the landmark caste survey, which said that the backward communities comprise nearly two-thirds of the state’s population. Among the backwards, Yadavs were found to be the biggest caste group, forming 14.26%; and theMuslims 17.7% of the population, according to the survey.

“This survey is an illusion. We had supported it. But we had no idea that under the pressure of Lalu[Prasad], Yadav and Muslim population will be increased and the backward and extremely backward classes will be wronged,” Shah said.

Read Here: In Chhattisgarh, Congress vows caste survey, higher price for paddy in its manifesto

The exercise has the potential to upend heartland politics and propel caste into the core of the electoral discourse in the 2024 polls. The Congress has sought to make the caste census a core poll plank and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of 28 opposition parties has included it in its key agenda. The Congress has also promised the survey in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana if it wins the upcoming state polls.

Bihar’s ruling coalition partners rejected Shah’s allegation and urged him to conduct a nationwide caste census to prove that the results of the state’s survey were incorrect.

“If (the survey) is wrong then conduct a caste census across the country, who has stopped you? Why aren’t you doing that?,” Bihar deputy chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav said. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan ‘Lallan’ Singh said that the BJP was against the caste survey from the start.

“If the findings of our caste survey are wrong, why didn’t you (Shah) announce conducting a caste survey in India to prove us wrong,” he said.

Congress leader and MLC Prem Chand Mishra said Shah was indulging in “petty politics” in the name of caste survey. “You had to do the census, but you did not. You are now criticising the caste survey when the state government has done it out of its resources. If you have any proof of any wrongdoing in the caste survey, then please make it public, otherwise do not indulge in petty politics,” he said.

On Friday, Shah said that the BJP was not against a caste census but contesting polls using this plank is not correct as he decried attempts by Opposition parties to “politicise the issue”.

Nawal Kishore Chaudhary , former professor at Patna University, said the enumeration exercise has given the Opposition an opportunity to challenge the BJP’s electoral dominance in 2024. “The Opposition has realised that the only way to defeat the NDA is by fragmenting their consolidated Hindu vote bank through caste politics. Indian politics is going through a transition,” he said.

Source: hindustantimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yadav-muslim-numbers-inflated-in-bihar-caste-survey-says-shah-101699210366203.html

--------

 

Europe

 

UK plans to expand extremism definition amid pro-Palestine protests: Report

November 05, 2023

London: The UK government is planning to widen extremism laws to punish people who “undermine” the country’s values and institutions amid massive pro-Palestinian protests across Britain, The Observer reported on Sunday.

The newspaper said it had seen official documents that could label several Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups — including the Muslim Council of Britain, Palestine Action and Muslim Engagement and Development — as extremist organizations.

It also reported that government insiders said the new definition of extremism could ban legitimate criticism of the state, with one saying: “The concern is that this is a crackdown on freedom of speech. The definition is too broad and will capture legitimate organisations and individuals.”

The news comes at a difficult moment for the government, which has backed Israel in its assault on Gaza, as mass pro-Palestinian protests continue for a fourth week on the streets of London and other major British cities.

Last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman caused controversy when she referred to the protests, which have repeatedly drawn hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, as “hate marches.”

The proposals, being finalized by civil servants working for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister Michael Gove, come after a review of non-violent extremism in the UK was launched earlier in 2023.

The documents, marked “official — sensitive,” state: “Extremism is the promotion or advancement of any ideology which aims to overturn or undermine the UK’s system of parliamentary democracy, its institutions and values; or threaten the rights of individuals or create a permissive environment for radicalisation, hate crime and terrorism.”

Also included is the suggestion that “sustained support for, or continued uncritical association with organisations or individuals who are exhibiting extremist behaviours” would fall under the new definition, which should be supported with public guidance that enables “consistent use and application.”

The documents state that “stakeholders have thus far agreed this sets a clear threshold for identifying extremism.” So far, there has been no public consultation on the proposed definition.

Akiko Hart, interim director of human rights group Liberty, called the proposals “reckless and cynical.”

She told The Observer: “Expanding the definition so far beyond the current guidance risks further discouraging individuals and groups from legitimately exercising their right to free speech, while allowing the government to crack down on community groups, charities or faith groups they disagree with.”

She was echoed by Martin Bright, editor-at-large of the Index on Censorship, who said: “This is an unwarranted attack on freedom of expression and would potentially criminalise every student radical and revolutionary dissident. It has never been the British way to arrest people for thought crime.”

Ilyas Nagdee, Amnesty International’s racial justice director for the UK, told The Observer: “This definition must not be accepted or implemented. The definition of extremism and its usage in counter-terrorism policies … is already being applied so broadly it seeks to effectively hinder people from organising and mobilising. The proposed definition takes this even further and could criminalise any dissent.”

The Prevent strategy, introduced in 2011, defines extremism as “active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.”

The MCB told The Observer that the government “needs to challenge its own extremists who are intent on dividing our communities.”

Palestine Action told the newspaper: “This new definition is clearly an attempt to undermine and intimidate our movement. We refuse to be deterred.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are clear there is no place for extremism, and over the last few years we have taken action to tackle hatred and those who seek to divide us.

“As you would expect, we keep our approach to tackling extremism under review to ensure it meets the evolving challenge it poses.”

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2403631/world

-------

 

Israel-Palestine conflict: Oxford Mosque hate crime 'not being treated as terrorism', police confirm

5 NOV 2023

Jasmine Carey

Police investigating a hate crime in Oxford have released images of someone who they believe may have "vital" information regarding the incident. At around 10.30am on Saturday, October 28, an empty petrol can was thrown into the car park of an Oxford mosque.

The can had writing on it relating to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. It was thrown over a wall into the Oxford Mosque and Islamic Cultural Society on Manzil Way.

No one was injured by the incident. An investigation has been launched and Thames Valley Police have released CCTV images of an individual officers believe may have important information about the hate crime.

Local Policing Area Commander for Oxford, Superintendent Bruce Riddell, said: “I would like to appeal to anyone who recognises the individual in these images or anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and may have dash-cam footage, to please get in touch as they may have vital information about the incident. As part of our investigation, we are working with the mosque and local community to reassure them of their safety following this unacceptable hate crime incident, as well as conducting further patrols in the area."

He continued: "We are aware of some local concerns that this incident is being treated as terrorism. I would like to clarify and reassure people that this is not the case.

"Anyone with concerns should speak to a uniformed officer or contact us by calling 101 or online via our website. All reports of hate crime are taken seriously as we know that they have a significant impact on individual victims and targeted communities

"Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and all other racial and faith-based discrimination will not be tolerated in any form. You can get in touch by calling 101 or making a report on our website, quoting reference number 43230484992.

"Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can also provide information to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.”

Source: oxfordshirelive.co.uk

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.oxfordshirelive.co.uk/news/oxfordshire-news/israel-palestine-mosque-hate-crime-8883409

------

 

Four police officers injured in pro-Palestinian protests in UK; 29 protesters arrested

05th November 2023

LONDON: Four police officers were injured after pro-Palestinian protesters set off fireworks into crowds in central London, with 29 arrests made on suspicion of racially motivated crimes.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 1,300 officers were on duty on Saturday as tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the Israel-Gaza conflict, adding that it had adopted a more "sharpened and proactive" intervention approach to the protests.

The protest came as both British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for tougher action against extremist acts during these protests, especially one planned next weekend to coincide with Armistice Day when Britain's war martyrs are commemorated.

"It is disappointing that various splinter groups were again responsible for behaviour which has no place in London, and we are determined to deal with this robustly. Fireworks were directed towards officers, and four officers were injured," said Met Police Commander Karen Findlay, who is responsible for policing in London this week.

"We dealt with breakaway groups from the main protest quickly. Officers intervened to prevent further disruption, using the full range of powers at their disposal. This effective intervention ensured Londoners were able to go about their business," she said.

Of the 29 arrests, nine people were held for public order offences, including racially aggravated crimes; two were arrested on suspicion of breach of the UK's Terrorism Act about the wording of a banner; three were arrested for assaulting a police officer; 10 were arrested for breaching a police dispersal order; and the others have been held on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, causing actual bodily harm, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

"I have full confidence in the Metropolitan Police to ensure public safety and take all factors into account as they have done in similar situations in the past," Braverman said ahead of the protests.

With a reference to similar protests planned next weekend, she noted, "I agree with the Prime Minister. It is entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London."

"If it goes ahead, there is an obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence and damage as well as offending millions of decent British people," she said.

Earlier this week, Sunak had posted a statement on X warning that a planned pro-Palestinian protest in London next weekend would be "provocative and disrespectful", as he deputed his Home Secretary to intervene.

"To plan protests on Armistice Day is provocative and disrespectful, and there is a clear and present risk that the Cenotaph and other war memorials could be desecrated, something that would be an affront to the British public and the values we stand for," said Sunak.

"The right to remember, in peace and dignity, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for those freedoms must be protected. I have asked the Home Secretary to support the Met Police in doing everything necessary to protect the sanctity of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday," he said.

Armistice Day on November 11, also known as Remembrance Day, commemorates the end of hostilities during World War I in 1918 and honours the martyrs of both World Wars.

On Saturday, an estimated 30,000 demonstrators gathered in Trafalgar Square for a rally led by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, and a group of protesters also brought traffic to a standstill on Oxford Street with a sit-in protest.

In some train stations in London and Scotland, protesters staged sit-ins, with protests also taking place across other UK cities, including Manchester.

Source: newindianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/nov/05/four-police-officers-injured-in-pro-palestinian-protests-in-uk-29-protesters-arrested-2630316.html

-------

 

France delivers three planes of aid to Gaza, French boats in Mediterranean

06 Nov 2023

PARIS, Nov 6 — Three French planes delivering 54 tonnes of aid for Gaza arrived in Egypt this weekend and France has three naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean ready to respond to the evolving situation, senior officials said yesterday.

The announcements came as French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called for an “immediate humanitarian truce”, during a trip to Doha, and warned against allowing the conflict to spread in the region.

Israel has rebuffed repeated international calls for a ceasefire in the four weeks since fighters from Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, burst over the border, killing 1,400 people and taking more than 240 others hostage.

Israel has since struck Gaza from the air, imposed a siege and launched a ground assault, stirring global alarm at humanitarian conditions in the enclave and, Gaza officials said on Sunday, killing more than 9,770 Palestinians.

The French aid was delivered over the weekend by two Airbus A400M planes, which are partially armoured, the French army said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu later said a third A400M plane of aid had arrived.

“This humanitarian cargo, which is destined for the civilian populations of the Gaza Strip, contains medicine, food aid, generators,” the captain for one of the planes, Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas, said on Saturday morning before taking off.

A French helicopter carrier, the Tonnerre, which has medical support facilities, and two naval vessels were in the Mediterranean, the French Army said on X.

They were part a “robust and versatile apparatus that is capable of integrating the evolutions of the situation in the region,” it added without going into details.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Lecornu announced that a second helicopter carrier, Dixmude, would be sent. — Reuters

Source: mehrnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/11/06/france-delivers-three-planes-of-aid-to-gaza-french-boats-in-mediterranean/100505

------

 

Mideast

Americans' Weapons and Intelligence Support Encourages Zionists to Kill Palestinians: President Raeisi

Nov 6, 2023

TEHRAN, Nov. 06 (MNA) – Americans' weapons and intelligence aid to the Zionist regime has encouraged the regime to kill the people of Gaza, President Raeisi says.

Tehran and Baghdad believe that the bombing of the people of Gaza should be stopped as soon as possible and a ceasefire should be implemented, President Raeisi said on Monday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi made the remarks in a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammed S. Al-Sudani in Tehran's Sa'dabad palace.

Americans' weapons and intelligence aid to the Zionist regime has encouraged the regime to kill the people of Gaza, Raeisi added.

Americans' claim about helping a ceasefire in Gaza is completely false and has no compatibility with their actions, and they paved the way for the Zionist regime to kill the Palestinians, he said.

The Zionist regime collapsed after the disgraceful defeat by the Palestinian resistance forces, and the US wants to cover up this scandal with a crime, Raeisi noted.

Saying that the Israeli regime commits genocide in Gaza with the support of the Americans and some European countries, he added, "We believe that all supporters of the Zionist regime are complicit in this crime."

"We cooperate and support any action by Islamic countries, at the regional and international level, to prevent the Zionist regime and the American governing body from killing the innocent, oppressed people of Gaza, he said.

In the end, Raeisi appreciated the position of the Iraqi Prime Minister on the Palestinian issue.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, said for his part, "We emphasize the firm and principled position of Iraq in relation to the Palestinian issue and the struggle of the Palestinian people to realize their freedom and form an independent state with the capital of holy Quds."

The recent crisis was not just caused in the wake of the October 7 operation, but this crisis was the result of the Zionist regime's criminal policies against the Palestinian nation, which took place with the killing and displacement of the Palestinian nation, settlement policies and desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Al-Sudani said, "Today, we talked about the privileged bilateral relations between Iran and Iraq. We witnessed that these relations have grown and expanded in many fields, so it will certainly benefit both Muslims and neighboring countries."

Referring to the recent Tehran-Baghdad security agreement, he said, "Fortunately, we witnessed that the security committee between Iran and Iraq succeeded in fulfilling its obligations regarding the border areas and places that created tension on the border and eliminated these tensions."

Source: mehrnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/208004/US-military-support-encourages-Zionists-to-kill-Palestinians

-------

Israel’s Netanyahu appears to backtrack on reported comment linking Hamas attack to reservist protest

November 06, 2023

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to backtarck on a comment he was reported to have made earlier about the need to check if a pre-war protest among army reservists pushed Hamas to carry out its attack last month.

Israel's Channel 12 and other news outlets reported that Netanyahu said there may be a need to examine whether months of protests against his government, including by reservists who said they would no longer report for regular duty, added to Hamas' motivation to carry out the Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel that triggered the current war.

But after public backlash, Netanyahu posted on X that Hamas started a war "because it wants to kill us all and not because of any argument within us."

"Hamas was wrong - and therefore will be eliminated. Only together will we win," Netanyahu said.

Earlier, Benny Gantz, who joined Netanyahu's war cabinet from the opposition as part of an emergency government, said Netanyahu must retract his comment.

"Avoiding responsibility and slinging mud at the time of war is a blow to the country," Gantz wrote on social media platform X.

On Saturday, protesters gathered outside Netanyahu's residence, chanting "Jail Now!" in a public display of anger at the failures that led to last month's deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip.

The protest, which coincided with a poll showing more than three quarters of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign, underlined the growing public fury at their political and security leaders.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2403971/middle-east

------

 

Jordan says airdropped urgent medical aid on Gaza field hospital

06 November, 2023

Jordan airdropped medical aid on Gaza early on Monday, according to a post on social media platform X from Jordan's king and state media.

"A royal air force plane dropped urgent medical aid using parachutes to the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza whose supplies were about to run out due to the delay of delivering aid through Rafah crossing", Jordan's state news agency said citing a military source in the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces.

Jordanian King Abdullah II said on X that the country's "fearless air force personnel" dropped the aid at midnight.

"This is our duty to aid our brothers and sisters injured in the war on Gaza. We will always be there for our Palestinian brethren," he added.

Jordan announced last week recalled its ambassador to Israel and told the Israeli ambassador to stay away in protest at the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, saying the attacks had killed innocents and caused a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel's indiscriminate military campaign against the besieged strip has killed more than 9,770 people.

Israel has occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, for decades and has launched several previous assaults on the territory.

The current war started when Hamas launched a surprise attack inside Israeli territory on 7 October, killing over 1,400 people and taking more than 240 hostage.

Source: newarab.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newarab.com/news/jordan-says-airdropped-urgent-medical-aid-gaza-hospital

-------

 

Iran's Jewish community joins global voices against Israel's war on Gaza

06 November, 2023

Amid a growing wave of support from Jewish communities around the world expressing their opposition to the ongoing war by Israel on Gaza, the Iranian Jewish society has demonstrated its support for the Palestinian people, with protests taking place in various cities throughout Iran.

Last week, Iranian Jewish people in cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Isfahan and Yazd joined together to raise their voices against Israel's war on Gaza.

On 30 October, one of the anti-war protests by the Iranian Jewish community unfolded in the Iranian capital, as Jewish people gathered at Tehran's Yousef Abad Synagogue to express their anger over Israel's ongoing killing of civilians in Gaza.

Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, the current religious leader of Iranian Jews, made a powerful statement during the protest, saying that the Zionist regime needed to reassess its approach in Palestine.

"If the Zionist regime comes to its senses, it must understand that their strategy in Palestine won't be successful in the long term," he stressed.

In the protest, members of the Iranian Jewish community held placards with slogans that highlighted their stance, such as "Do not commit crimes in the name of Judaism" and "We urge the international community to help the people of Gaza."

Homayoun Sameh Yah, a representative of the Iranian Jewish community in the Iranian parliament, expressed deep concern over how the Zionist regime has misused the name of Judaism.

"Unfortunately, the Zionists have abused the name of Judaism, attempting to buy credibility for themselves in the international community," he said, urging the world to recognise the distinction between the actions of a political regime and the beliefs of a religious community.

Similar sentiments echoed in the city of Isfahan, where Zion Mahgrefteh, the head of the Jewish community, read a statement denouncing Israel for its role in the Gaza conflict.

"We, the Jews of Iran, together with all the free Jews of the world, condemn the crimes of the Zionist regime and consider the governments that support this regime to be complicit in these crimes and the killing of the defenceless people of Palestine," read the statement.

"The behaviour of this brutal regime is in sharp contrast to the teachings of Judaism and the Holy Torah. We sympathise with the oppressed people of Gaza, who have been under siege by the Zionist regime for a long time and are now deprived of basic necessities such as water, food, and gas," the statement highlighted.

Iran is home to one of the most prominent Jewish communities in the Middle East, second in size only to Israel. Despite facing challenges, estimates suggest that around 10,000 to 25,000 Jewish individuals reside in Iran, where they maintain their cultural traditions and religious practices.

Source: newarab.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newarab.com/news/irans-jewish-community-joins-global-solidarity-gaza

--------

 

More killings as Israeli targets children’s hospital in Gaza

 06 November 2023

Israel has targeted a children’s hospital in Gaza as the regime’s brutal aggression on the besieged strip has entered its 31st day.

Palestinian sources said the Israeli army hit Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in the early hours of Monday, leaving an unspecified number of people killed and injured.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have repeatedly targeted hospitals, residential buildings, mosques, and churches. Under the Geneva Convention, attacks on hospitals are strictly prohibited.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas urged the United Nations secretary-general to form an international committee to visit hospitals in the besieged strip to counter Israel’s “false” claims that they are used as launch pads for anti-Israel operations.

Hamas noted that the claims are aimed to “justify” Israel’s attacks on hospitals in Gaza.

According to the statement, the Israeli army targeted more than 100 hospitals and medical centers since the start of the aggression which left 16 hospitals out of service.

On October 17, hundreds of civilians were killed and injured by Israeli airstrikes on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The attack has been condemned as an act of genocide by many governments around the world.

Several hospitals in Gaza City have become refuges for Palestinians hoping to be spared Israeli bombardments, which began early in October.َ

A doctor working at a Gaza hospital tells about his treatment of patients injured with white phosphorus burns.

Also on Monday, fifteen Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike that targeted a residential building in Tel al-Sultan neighborhood in the southern province of Rafah.

The Israeli strikes also hit a home in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, leaving three people killed and several others injured.

Fierce strikes were also reported in other areas across the coastal sliver, including Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

Other reports said that Israeli airstrikes also killed three people in Khan Yunis City, while three other deaths were recorded in the northern city of Beit Hanoun.

Israeli army conducted 450 strikes overnight, according to the regime’s military.

Medical sources said 45 Palestinians were killed in overnight strikes on Deir al-Balah and al-Zawaida Town.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of violence against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

The regime has further ordered 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate and move south of the coastal sliver.

However, it has continued to rain down bombs on the south.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 9,770 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes, 70 percent of whom are women and children.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/06/714099/Israel-targets-children-hospital-Gaza

------

 

Pakistan

 

Shehbaz condemns Israel’s threat of dropping N bomb on Gaza

November 06, 2023

LAHORE: Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned Israel for threatening to drop atomic bomb on Gaza.

In a tweet on Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif said, “I strongly condemn the Israeli minister’s reprehensible threat to drop atomic bomb on the occupied and innocent people of Gaza.” He said this extremist mindset with access to nuclear power posed a grave danger to global peace.

The IAEA must immediately monitor the Zionist state’s nuclear sites and the world must respond decisively to this extremism and nuclear madness.

Shehbaz Sharif demanded the Security Council and international community not to stay silent on the massacre of innocent Palestinians and Israel’s plan for global catastrophe.

“We also call for a united diplomatic effort among Islamic countries to address this imminent danger,” he suggested.

Source: thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1126393-shehbaz-condemns-israel-s-threat-of-dropping-n-bomb-on-gaza

------

 

Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamChief Fazl Meets Hamas Chief in Qatar

November 6, 2023

DOHA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called on the leaders of Hamas in Qatar. Reportedly, JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held important meetings with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Mashal, and other Hamas leaders, in which the issue of Palestine was discussed in detail.

Maulana Fazl said that the hands of the leaders of developed countries are stained with the blood of innocent children and women of Gaza and it is high time for the Muslim Ummah to stand practically alongside their besieged Palestinian brothers.

Ismail Haniyeh said that Israel is making a sinister attempt to turn the first Qibla into a temple by oppressing Palestine. It is the duty of the Muslim Ummah to get united against Israeli atrocities. The Muslim Ummah should come out to support the Palestinian brothers, mothers and sisters.

Lawmakers condemn Israel’s atrocities on Palestinians

Khaled Mashal said that atrocities on Kashmir and Palestine for a long time are a slap in the face so-called champions of human rights.

JUI Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will also hold consultations with the leaders of the Gulf countries regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and delivery of the aid to Palestinians.

Informed sources have said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also likely to visit the camps of the people from war-torn Gaza in Turkey, Lebanon or Egypt.

It is to be noted here that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the first Pakistani leader to visit Gulf countries to play a role in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Maulana will return home on November 11. His visit is being kept secret for security reasons, said the sources.

The JUI chief will also visit Turkey after visiting Qatar. Maulana will also meet the government officials of Qatar and Turkey to find ways for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Recently, Maulana had arranged a video address of the Hamas leadership in a big JUI rally in Karachi.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman will also discuss with the leadership of Arab countries on other issues including the delivery of relief goods for the oppressed Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman will discuss with the leadership of Hamas and Arab countries the method of providing aid to the Palestinians on behalf of the Pakistani people.

Source: brecorder.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40271850/fazl-meets-hamas-chief-in-qatar

------

 

People of Pakistan want independent Palestine: Ashrafi

November 06, 2023

MULTAN/LAHORE:Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashraf said on Sunday that the people of Pakistan maintained a resolute position on the Palestine issue, aligning with the stance originally articulated by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He made these remarks while addressing a conference to express solidarity with the people of Palestine. There are two big issues of Muslim ummah: Palestine and Kashmir. Pakistan wants to provide complete justice to the people of Kashmir and Palestine, he said.

We wish Palestine should have the status of an independent and sovereign government with its capital in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, Ashrafi added.

He, however, hoped that the upcoming conference of Arab countries in Riyadh on the issue of Palestine would bring good news.

Ashraf strongly condemned the new wave of terrorism in the country. He stated that enemies wanted to sabotage the peaceful environment of the country through terror. Now, Pakistan is heading toward economic stability, and the terrorists want to destabilize it.

The Afghans are our brothers, and we want Afghanistan to make progress, he noted, adding that illegal Afghans could not be allowed to stay illegally in the country.

The PUC chairman maintained that Pakistan had always served the people of Afghanistan and that peace in the country was vital for peace in Afghanistan, and vice versa.

He criticized propaganda against security institutions.

If the culprits of May 9 were punished, then there would not have been propaganda, Ashrafi observed, and called for strict action against the people involved.

He demanded that the chief justice of Pakistan improve the system of justice and suggested filing a review petition with the apex court regarding the military courts.

Meanwhile, the Central Executive and Consultative Body of PUC convened a significant meeting, addressing the current situation in Pakistan, Palestine, and the Islamic world.

More than 200 members of the PUC executive and consultative body participated in this gathering, which was presided over by Ashrafi.

In a comprehensive declaration, the meeting emphasized that hostile forces, including India and its allies, were allegedly involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan. It called on the international community to take immediate action against India’s alleged involvement in terrorism.

The meeting commended the Pakistani nation, army, and security agencies for their response to recent terrorist incidents.

It highlighted the united stance of Ulema and Mashaikh and religious scholars from across the country, supporting Pakistan’s efforts to combat extremism and terrorism.

Source: tribune.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2445045/people-of-pakistan-want-independent-palestine-ashrafi

-------

 

Uptick in terror attacks: Neighbouring countries trying to ‘blackmail’ Pakistan: minister

2023-11-06

QUETTA: Balochistan’s Caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai has said neighbouring countries are “blackmailing Pakistan” as the country witnesses an uptick in terror attacks.

Recent terror attacks proved that the neighbouring countries were attempting to blackmail Pakistan, Achakzai said during a press conference in Quetta on Sunday.

The interim minister’s remarks come as 14 soldiers were martyred after terrorists attacked two vehicles carrying security forces in Gwadar on Friday.

Six Afghan nationals are involved in the Zhob terrorist attack, he added.

“We all know that one day before the attack on PAF’s Mianwali base RAW operated social media accounts were conveying advance congratulations and warning of a major inciden the said, adding, “Seeing the sophistication of the attack only RAW can be the mastermind of such attack.”

A day earlier, security forces killed nine terrorists thwarting a major terrorist attack on the training base, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Pakistan has seen a significant rise in terrorist attacks in recent times.

The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), in a report released last month, noted that the security forces lost at least 386 personnel in the first nine months of 2023, marking an eight-year high.

Source: brecorder.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40271811/uptick-in-terror-attacks-neighbouring-countries-trying-to-blackmail-pakistan-minister

-------

 

Ulema condemn India for its involvement in acts of terrorism

2023-11-06

LAHORE: The Central Executive and Consultative Body of Pakistan Ulema Council on Sunday convened a significant meeting, addressing the current situation in Pakistan, Palestine, and the Islamic world.

More than two hundred members of the PUC executive and consultative body participated in this gathering, presided over by Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi.

In a comprehensive declaration, the meeting emphasized that hostile forces, including India and its allies, are allegedly involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan. It called on the international community to take immediate action against India’s alleged involvement in terrorism.

The meeting commended the Pakistani nation, army, and security agencies for their response to recent terrorist incidents. It highlighted the united stance of Ulema and Mashaykh and religious scholars from across the country, supporting Pakistan’s efforts to combat extremism and terrorism.

The declaration also lauded the Pakistan Army and security agencies for thwarting a terrorist attack on the Mianwali PAF Airbase.

The PUC expressed its support for the Paigham-e-Pakistan narrative and announced that Paigham-e-Pakistan conventions would be held nationwide.

Furthermore, the declaration emphasized that attacks on Pakistan’s armed forces, security institutions, government, non-government installations, and civilians are not permissible under any circumstances. It underscored that armed struggle by individuals, parties, or groups is not legally permissible in Pakistan, and the government has the right to take legal action against those who engage in such activities.

Turning to the situation in Palestine, the declaration expressed grave concern over the ongoing siege of Gaza by the Zionist state of Israel. It reported the suspension of essential supplies to 2.3 million people, resulting in a dire humanitarian crisis with thousands of casualties.

The declaration strongly condemned the inhuman attacks and criticized the United States and its Western allies for their alleged complicity in Israel’s war crimes.

The United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Human Rights Organizations were called upon to take immediate steps to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent the conflict from further escalating and impacting the entire world.

The declaration characterized the situation in Palestine as a test for the entire Ummah and called upon Saudi Arabia, as the current head of the OIC, to play a leadership role. It urged countries like Turkey, Bahrain, and Jordan, which have cut diplomatic ties with Israel, to encourage other Islamic nations to do the same, including a boycott of Jewish products.

Russia and China received gratitude for their support to the Palestinian people, and the declaration reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering stance on the Palestinian issue, echoing sentiments expressed by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir in his meeting with the Palestinian ambassador.

In conclusion, the declaration reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Afghans while emphasizing the need to address the issue of illegal residents in the country. It stated that the operation is not targeted at any specific nationality but rather at all illegal residents without proper documentation.

The declaration also urged Afghan leaders to engage in negotiations with Pakistan and cease making baseless accusations and threats against Pakistan.

The meeting involved several prominent figures, including PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi and numerous religious scholars and leaders from across the country.

Source: brecorder.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40271834/ulema-condemn-india-for-its-involvement-in-acts-of-terrorism

-------

 

US move to stop deportation of 25,000 Afghan workers

November 6, 2023

Iftikhar A. Khan

ISLAMABAD: The United States embassy has issued letters to over 25,000 Afghan nationals under the process of relocation to and resettlement in America and shared their names with authorities in Pakistan, diplomatic and other sources told Dawn.

However, these Afghan nationals face an uncertain future as Pakistan has raised objections over the list, according to a senior Interior Ministry official. At present, these Afghan nationals are living in Pakistan, awaiting resettlement in the US.

The crisis emerged when Pakistan started detaining illegal Afghan refugees in holding centres after the Nov 1 deadline for their voluntary departure to Afghanistan expired.

After the Afghan Taliban took over Kabul in 2021, the US government evacuated thousands of Afghans who had worked for them and feared retribution at the hands of the new government.

Reportedly, these Afg­han nationals also faced action during the ongoing purge against illegal foreign nationals, forcing the US officials to reach out to the Pakistani administration to address the issue.

The US officials believe these letters would serve for the Afghan nationals concerned as a guarantee to live in Pakistan without the fear of being arrested and subsequently deported.

“We are in close and constant contact with the Gover­nment of Pakistan on the safety of individuals in the US pipelines. Our key concern is the safety of vulnerable and at-risk individuals,” US embassy spokesman Jonathan Lalley told Dawn.

“It was in both countries’ interest to ensure the safe and efficient resettlement of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.”

The US embassy has shared a list of Afghan nationals — who are under process for resettlement and relocation — with the Pakistan government, said Mr Lalley.

‘No legal value’

The sword of deportation might still hang over these Afghan nationals as the government has refused to attach any legal value to the letters issued by the US embassy.

A senior interior ministry official told Dawn that there was no agreement or understanding between the two sides that the letters to the over 25,000 individuals will have a legal validity.

The official also raised objections over the list, claiming that it also included those who were not Afghan nationals.

The list has many flaws as it only mentioned the names of individuals without providing the fathers’ names and addresses, the official added.

After an objection was raised over the missing information and inclusion of non-Afghans, the US embassy promised to provide an updated list, according to the ministry official.

The US embassy spokesperson said the information was not provided “for privacy and security reasons”.

“[T]he United States shared only what was necessary to ensure that Afghans who were applying to resettle in the United States were not deported from Pakistan and were able to depart Pakistan…”

Delayed resettlement

Pakistan has also blamed US for delaying the resettlement process during the past two years.

Since 2021, there was ample time for the US to process the cases of these individuals for resettlement, the ministry official said, adding the US was again intending to “delay the matter further”.

There are indications that the process may take 18 months to two years, and in the meantime, these individuals will continue to stay in Pakistan.

“There are no guarantees that the individuals in the list will be given visas or approved for resettlement in a third country.”

The official also revealed that the list carries the names of more than 25,000 individuals who are only principal candidates.

Even if you assume a family size of four for each individual, the total will go well over 100,000, he remarked.

Mr Lalley said the US government is “actively exploring all possible options to expand our refugee and immigrant visa processing capacity in Pakistan”.

“Working together to increase our processing capacity is something we continue to actively discuss with the Government of Pakistan, including in Ambassador Blome and USAID Administrator [Samantha] Power’s conversations with Foreign Minister Jilani.”

He reiterated the call to establish a screening mechanism and added that a hotline had been set up with information available in English, Dari and Pashto for Afghan nationals to seek help and guidance.

The spokesperson added that even before Pakistan announced its deportation policy, the US was working with the government “to ensure the protection of Afghan refugees, asylum seekers, and those in the US resettlement pipeline”.

“We remain committed to processing Afghans eligible for immigration to or resettlement in the United States … We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to raise these issues at all levels with the Pakistani government, in coordination with UNHCR and other like-minded countries”, he said.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.dawn.com/news/1786864/us-move-to-stop-deportation-of-25000-afghan-workers

-------

 

Over 170,000 Afghans left Pakistan since Sept 17: officials

 November 6, 2023

Umer Farooq

PESHAWAR: More than 6,500 Afghan nationals left Pakistan through the Torkham border on Sunday, taking the number of repatriated Afghans to over 170,000, according to border officials.

The voluntary evacuation has been going on since the government gave an ultimatum to all unregistered foreign nationals to leave Pakistan by Oct 31, after which action would be taken against them as per law.

According to officials, a total of 174,358 Afghan nationals left for Afghanistan since Sept 17, adding that voluntary repatriation was still underway, but the number was dropping with each passing day.

“There was a huge number of illegal immigrants at the border crossing soon after the deadline expired. It is now coming down,” an official involved in processing voluntary repatriation of Afghan nationals told Dawn.

Around 6,584 return voluntarily on Sunday as exodus ‘slows’; Achakzai claims Pakhtuns being targeted during purge

According to official data, 6,584 Afghans, including women and children, exited Pakistan on Sunday.

On Saturday, 209 deportees from different prisons across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were sent back along with 46,936 men, 35,507 women and 85,331 children.

On Nov 3, 148 deportees, 44,718 men, 33,699 women and 82,221 children were repatriated, while the number stood at 24 deportees, 40,899 men, 30,399 women and 76,675 on Nov 2.

Around 7,195 families, with 34,639 men, 25,710 women, and 68,280 children, besides 115 deportees, were refouled on Nov 1.

Apart from the voluntary repatriation, Afghan nationals imprisoned for involvement in petty crimes were also being deported, according to official documents.

Over 500 prisoners from KP, Punjab and Islamabad were deported between November 1 and 4.

According to official numbers, 194 prisoners were transported from different districts of Punjab to the Torkham border crossing for repatriation.

On Saturday, around 700 Afghan nationals also returned through the Chaman border, according to caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai.

Addressing a press conference along with Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat on Sunday, the minister said more than 54,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland so far.

Govt to bear expenses

Officials have also assured Afghan families that the government will bear all expenses for repatriation to convince them.

Sources have said that some illegal Afghan nationals in Nowshera were willing to go back but unable to do so due to a lack of resources.

The district administration, along with the police, have met with the families and convinced them that the government would bear all the expenses for their repatriation, the source added.

A total of 21 families, comprising 152 individuals including 23 men, 22 women and 107 children, were transported to the holding areas established in the district in 15 vehicles.

The vehicles were rented by the district administration, which also paid for the labourers to the families’ belongings in trucks.

“They were willing to repatriate to Afghanistan but lacked resources, including food and finances. We promised them facilitation, and they were all transported to the holding area,” Additional Deputy Comm­­i­ssioner (relief) Umar Bin Riaz told Dawn.

Those moved to holding areas were provided with meals and later transported to the border crossing, the official added.

Breach of international conventions

The government’s actions have also attracted strong rebukes from political leaders and social activists.

Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has said the refoulement of Afghan refugees is a “matter of international humanitarian concern”.

Addressing a press conference with party leaders on Saturday, he said the policy was a breach of international conventions and Pakistan’s naturalisation laws.

He lamented that during the crackdown on Afghan refugees, law enforcement agencies had apprehended Pakhtuns, hailing from Pakistan, in various cities.

He also expressed concerns over blanket restrictions on cross-border movement, asserting that they would create “significant discontent” among Pakhtuns, particularly those residing near the border.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.dawn.com/news/1786812/over-170000-afghans-left-pakistan-since-sept-17-officials

--------

 

TLP workers rally in support of Palestinians

November 6, 2023

ISLAMABAD: A large number of workers of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) held ‘Storm Al-Aqsa Million March’ in the federal capital on Sunday.

The march started from Faizabad and culminated at D-Chowk after passing through Jinnah Avenue. Marchers were holding flags of Palestine as well as placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Israel.

Addressing workers, TLP leader Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi said the whole Ummah was standing along with the innocent people of Palestine and urged the rulers of the Muslim countries to unite and make collective efforts to protect the Palestinians from the brutalities being committed by Israel.

He said the dual face of the West, which had been criticising Russian attack on Ukraine, lay exposed.

Earlier a large number of TLP workers gathered at Faizabad and then marched towards Islamabad.

According to the TLP media coordinator, the district administration had allowed them to march and hold public meeting at D-Chowk.

Meanwhile, the district administration deployed 3,000 police officials and also completely sealed the Red Zone of the city so that marchers would not go to the Constitution Avenue or the Diplomatic Enclave.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.dawn.com/news/1786779/tlp-workers-rally-in-support-of-palestinians

-------

 

North America

 

US troops came home feeling 'cursed' and seeing ghosts after intense artillery battles with the Islamic State

Charles R. Davis

 6 November 2023

US soldiers who took part in the fight against ISIS are now struggling with their mental health.

The New York Times reported that some troops returned seeing ghosts and feeling "cursed."

The Times pointed to the soldiers' own intense artillery fire as a possible cause.

When the United States intervened in Iraq and Syria to destroy the Islamic State, it relied on local militias to do most of the actual on-the-ground fighting, largely sparing US soldiers from the worst of it.

But many of those troops have nonetheless come back with debilitating psychological issues, The New York Times reported Sunday, an apparent product of that US strategy.

At issue, it seems, is the sheer number of times US soldiers fired artillery rounds at Islamic State targets. Tens of thousands of explosive shells were fired during the course of the fighting, each soldier firing more rounds than at any point since the war in Vietnam, the Times noted.

"The cannon blasts were strong enough to hurl a 100-pound round 15 miles, and each unleashed a shock wave that shot through the crew members' bodies, vibrating bone, punching lungs and hearts, and whipping at cruise-missile speeds through the most delicate organ of all, the brain," the Times reported.

The constant exposure to the blasts appears to have contributed to more than half the Marines in one artillery unit being diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. In interviews, veterans said those injuries have manifested themselves in frightening and bizarre ways.

One man came back seeing "the ghost of a dead girl" in his kitchen, an apparition he believed was an Islamic State hex. Others began hearing voices. Some reported becoming overcome with intense, sudden emotions. Indeed, many of those deployed in artillery units "came home feeling cursed," The Times reported.

Although the science is not settled, a former Army researcher, Gary Kamimori, suggested that repeated exposure to blasts could be the culprit, the shock waves causing cerebral scarring.

"Think of it like a rubber band," Kamimori told the newspaper. "Stretch a rubber band a hundred times, and it bounces back, but there are micro-tears forming. The hundred-and-first time, it breaks."

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/us-troops-came-home-feeling-192806359.html

-------

 

Drone attacks target four bases housing US occupation troops in Iraq, Syria

06 November 2023

Two American-run bases in Iraq and two others in neighboring Syria have come under separate drone attacks, amid simmering tensions in the region over Israel’s deadly war on Gaza.

Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that several explosive-laden drones targeted the US-run Ain al-Asad Airbase, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, early on Monday morning.

There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage and possible casualties at the military facility.

This came shortly after the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for a drone attack on US forces based near the Erbil International Airport.

It noted that the base was targeted by a drone, linking the assault to the US support for Israel’s bloody military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Two military facilities housing US occupation forces in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah have come under separate drone strikes.

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of violence against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal sliver into a humanitarian crisis.

The regime has further ordered 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate and move south of the coastal sliver. However, it has continued to rain down bombs on the south.

At least 9,922 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, 70 percent of whom are women and children.

Local sources also reported that the al-Tanf base in Syria’s Homs province had been targeted by several drones, and the designated targets were precisely struck and destroyed.

There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

US military bases come under rocket and drone attacks in Syria’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr, and neighboring Iraq.

Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units, also reported the incident.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also said in a statement that it used drones to attack the Tel Baydar base that houses the US troops in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province.

According to reports, the drones coming from the direction of Iraq targeted American troops in the base, and the sound of at least one explosion was heard near the facility.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/06/714106/Drone-attacks-target-four-US-run-bases-Iraq-Syria

---------

 

Americans, Britons have left Gaza, hopeful of getting more out

November 6, 2023

WASHINGTON: More than 300 Americans, over 100 Britons and their families have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip, officials said on Sunday.

The evacuation of dual nationals, carried out in recent days, was the result of “pretty intensive negotiations with all sides relevant to this conflict,” White House deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer told CBS News.

Despite these efforts, the United States believes there are still “a number” of Americans inside Gaza, he added. “This is obviously a major priority and one that we’re going to continue to work out until every American who wants to leave is able to do so,” Finer said.

The Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt opened up on Wednesday after weeks of unrest, allowing a trickle of wounded Palestinians and people with dual nationality to leave, all desperate to escape Israel’s bombardment.

UK’s Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden hopes more nationals will be able to leave, as he urged the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

“Over 100 UK nationals were able to cross out of Gaza into Egypt through the Rafah crossing. It is very disappointing that the crossing was closed yesterday,” Dowden told the BBC.

“We are engaging very closely and we’re hopeful that the crossing will reopen again today enabling further UK nationals to leave.” Britain has urged humanitarian pauses in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, but has not called for a “full ceasefire”.

Asked about comments by interior minister Suella Braverman that pro-Palestinian protests in London were “hate marches”, he said that there had been hateful conduct in some slogans that had been chanted, especially ones that can be interpreted as “denying the right of Israel to exist.”

“What the other people attending those marches need to ask themselves is: are they inadvertently standing alongside those people that are preaching hate,” he said.

Dowden added he had “grave concerns” over whether it was appropriate for more marches to take place next weekend, when commemorations for Armistice Day — the anniversary of the end of World War I — are also planned.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.dawn.com/news/1786834/americans-britons-have-left-gaza-hopeful-of-getting-more-out

------

 

Washington sees 'largest pro-Palestine march in US history' as Israel bombs Gaza

05 November, 2023

For one day in Washington, Palestinian flags outnumbered American flags on Pennsylvania Avenue, as tens of thousands of demonstrators descended on the US capital in what is believed to be the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration in US history.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, protesters gathered to demand a ceasefire of Israel's nearly month-long assault on Gaza. The military campaign – which has far killed almost 10,000 Palestinians – has been continuous since the surprise attack by Hamas on 7 October that killed more than 1,400 Israelis.

Before the official start of the demonstration, it was clear it would be substantial. Hours before the gathering at Freedom Plaza (now nicknamed by protesters as Gaza Plaza) in downtown Washington, DC, protesters could be seen with their signs, keffiyehs, embroidered clothes, and flags throughout the city and suburbs; chartered buses from different states lined the streets downtown; and multiple cars parked along the protest route were decorated with Palestinian symbols.

As the crowd grew in numbers at Freedom Plaza, their chants and drumbeats could be heard from blocks away.

One by one, the speakers took the stage, defiantly insisting that they would not stop demonstrating until a ceasefire was reached.

Among the most adamant was Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Speaking in his personal capacity as a Palestinian American, he warned that US President Joe Biden could lose votes in 2024 if he did not pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a ceasefire.

"The language that President Biden and his party understand is the language of votes in the 2023 elections and our message is: No cease-fire, no votes," said Awad to a cheering crowd, noting that 66 percent of Americans support a ceasefire.

"No votes in Michigan, no votes in Arizona, no votes in Georgia, no votes in Nevada, no votes in Wisconsin, no votes in Pennsylvania," he said, naming the swing states that Biden won in 2020, starting with Michigan, the US state with the highest proportions of Arabs and Muslims.

He said he was told that voters have short memories and that they'd forget by next November. But he warned that wouldn't happen, as led a chant saying, "In November, we remember."

The crowd continued to chant: "Free Palestine"; "Ceasefire now"; "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free"; "From Palestine to Mexico, the border walls have got to go"; and "Biden, Biden, you can't hide! We charge you with genocide!"

Across the sea of flags and keffiyehs, many attendees represented themselves and their affiliations through their signs. One sign read 'Queers for Gaza', while another read 'Jews demand a ceasefire'. Some held signs representing their state or city, with one reading 'Michigan for Palestinians', and another reading 'Baltimore for Palestinians'.

Ed Trager, a healthcare worker, who had traveled to Washington on a chartered bus from Michigan, had a suggestion for where his tax dollars should go. "Instead of bombing hospitals and schools, they should be building them," he told The New Arab.

There were strong Black and Native American contingencies, and Black vendors selling T-shirts reading: Palestinian Lives Matter, using the same logo as the Black Lives Matter T-shirt. A Black speaker from the state of Georgia discussed their local struggle to shut down plans for a police training compound nicknamed Cop City. He also brought up the practice of US law enforcement traveling to Israel for training.

A short walk away from Freedom Plaza, near the Washington Monument, the Mexican community had set up a display for Day of the Dead. Listed on their publicly displayed schedule of events was a moment of silence for Palestinians; a display with their traditional marigold flowers included a keffiyeh; and a large white board featured the iconic sketch of the Palestinian boy Handala, and this time he had a Native American sister drawn in the same style.

It took the entire crowd at least two hours to make the 10-minute walk from Freedom Plaza to the White House, a testament to the high turn-out, with the numbers difficult to gage, as participants continued to join the demonstration well into the evening.

Some appeared to be joining the march spontaneously. One woman, wearing her medical scrubs and a backpack, as though she's just finished her shift at a nearby hospital, joined the march midway, yelling as she started walking, "Does anyone need a medic?"

Among the protesters that had packed into the front of the White House was Mohammad Lafi, who had traveled with a group of Arab friends from North Carolina.

"I have family in Palestine, and Palestinians have been facing persecution and genocide for over 75 years. I don't even know where to begin to be honest with you," he told TNA.

"We hope we can raise awareness and reach some hearts and minds that may be listening to us, and hopefully get some people off their butts in Washington so that they can help with the ceasefire," he said.

His friend, Walid Bouche, whose family is from Algeria, said: "They're trying to erase and destroy the Palestinian culture. We're here to say Palestine will always be here."

As the sun set, and marchers continued to crowd into the walkway in front of the White House, a large group sat down on the ground in protest. Others marched in circles. As night fell, many held up their phone flashlights for light.

Some formed dance circles, as others danced to the rhythm of the roaring chants. Protest leaders said they wanted to be loud enough for the US administration to hear them. The news, however, had reported that the Bidens were away on vacation for the weekend in Delaware.

Source: newarab.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newarab.com/news/washington-sees-largest-pro-palestine-march-us-history

-------

 

Muslim Stanford University Student Victim of Alleged Racially-Motivated Hit-And-Run, Hate Crime Investigation Underway

Nov 06, 2023

Tuhin Das Mahapatra

A hate crime investigation is underway after a Muslim student at Stanford University was injured in a hit-and-run incident.

A Stanford University student who is Muslim was injured by a hit-and-run driver who allegedly shouted “f**k you and your people,” and the incident is being investigated as a hate crime motivated by race, the university said Sunday.

The student was struck by a car on a Friday afternoon. The driver, as reported by Stanford's Department of Public Safety, allegedly made eye contact with the student before rapidly driving away, yelling from the car's open window.

According to the account, the driver was described as a white male in his mid-20s, sporting short dirty-blonde hair, a brief beard, and donning round-framed eyeglasses.

The car was reportedly a Toyota 4Runner.

“I never thought I would be the victim of a hate-driven attack,” the student said in a statement to ABC News.

“His hateful screams … still echo in my ears.”

The student was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening, but he said the attack left him with psychological wounds.

“The physical wounds will heal with time, but the emotional scars — the feeling of being targeted just because of my physical appearance, heritage and beliefs — are likely to stay.”

“As I lay in my hospital bed, trying to cope with a reality I never imagined, I think about the importance of spreading love kindness, and compassion in a world that seems to be increasingly falling to hatred and prejudice,” he said Stanford University said it was “deeply disturbed” by the reports of the incident, adding “hate-based violence is morally wrong.”

“We denounce it in the strongest terms,” the school said.

The school faced backlash after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel when banners calling the Jewish state an “occupation” were hung on campus buildings.

The school removed the banners, clarifying their action by stating, "based on the location of the banners, not the content or viewpoint expressed," and affirming their neutrality regarding the conflict.

It was the latest incident of violence to affect US campuses since the fighting started in Israel after Hamas attacked the Jewish nation on October 7.

Source: hindustantimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/muslim-stanford-university-student-victim-of-alleged-racially-motivated-hit-and-run-hate-crime-investigation-underway-101699243501756.html

--------

 

South Asia

 

IEA’s Chief Justice calls on international court to take urgent action over Israel’s ‘crimes’

 November 5, 2023

Chief Justice of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Abdul Hakim Haqqani, on Sunday called on the International Criminal Court to take urgent and serious action over “crimes” committed by Israel in Gaza.

In a statement issued by the Supreme Court, Haqqani said that thousands of Palestinian women, children and adults have been killed while hospitals, mosques and houses have been destroyed in Israeli attacks.

He also said that Israel, against international laws, has cut off all basic food, water, medicine, electricity and other necessities of life from the residents of Gaza.

He said that Israel’s actions are brutal and violate human rights.

Haqqani also called on Islamic countries to help the oppressed Palestinians and not remain indifferent to the “great divine test.”

Source: ariananews.af

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.ariananews.af/ieas-chief-justice-calls-on-international-court-to-take-urgent-action-over-israels-crimes/

-------

 

Bangladesh Arrests 8,000 Opposition Activists: Report

November 06, 2023

DHAKA: Bangladesh police have arrested nearly 8,000 opposition figures in a nationwide crackdown since officers broke up a major rally in the capital a week ago, a report said on Sunday.

The sweeping wave of detentions comes ahead of a general election due in January.

The country’s major opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its allies have been staging giant rallies in recent months demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down and allow a neutral government to supervise the vote.

Hasina has overseen impressive growth in her 15 years of power, but she has been accused of ruling the South Asian nation with an iron fist. The United States has imposed sanctions on some of its most senior police figures for widespread human rights violations.

More than 100,000 opposition supporters joined a “grand rally” in central Dhaka last Saturday, when a policeman was killed in clashes.

Since then police have launched a widespread crackdown on the BNP, arresting thousands of activists and accusing at least 162 of its top leaders of murdering the officer.

The country’s best-read and most respected newspaper Prothom Alo reported on Sunday that at least 7,835 people had been held, based on reports from its correspondents across the country. National police spokesman Abir Siddique Shuvra, could not give an exact number of detentions, but said those arrested faced criminal cases and warrants.“It is impossible to give an exact figure. Police are doing our regular work,” he said.

Source: thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1126366-bangladesh-arrests-8-000-opposition-activists-report

------

 

Iran arrests three on ‘Mossad Espionage’ charges with Taliban cooperation

Fidel Rahmati

November 5, 2023

Iran’s IRNA news agency has reported that the Ministry of Intelligence of the country, in collaboration with the Taliban administration, has apprehended three Israeli intelligence operatives (Mossad) who were planning to launch suicide drones towards Iran at the Afghanistan-Iran border.

This Iranian media outlet reported the detention of these three individuals on Sunday and added that the detained individuals have been transferred to Iran.

According to the report, these three individuals have been detained in cooperation with the intelligence forces of the Taliban administration. It is said that the detained individuals hold Iranian nationality.

This marks the first intelligence cooperation between Iran and the Taliban administration in response to Israeli threats. The interim regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan has not immediately responded to this development, but Zabihullah Mujahid stated that details on this matter will be shared later.

This came at a time when the high-level delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the de facto administration of Afghanistan, embarked on a diplomatic mission to Iran. The delegation’s primary agenda is to discuss with Iranian officials, covering many topics, including bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

One of the key focuses of these talks will be the improvement of trade, transit, and transportation links between Afghanistan and Iran. These discussions aim to enhance connectivity and facilitate the movement of goods and people, which is crucial for the economic development of both countries.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.khaama.com/iran-arrests-three-on-mossad-espionage-charges-with-taliban-cooperation/

-----

 

South Korea donates one million Dollars to Afghanistan

Fidel Rahmati

November 5, 2023

South Korea has given one million dollars to Afghanistan through the United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordination Office as part of ongoing humanitarian aid efforts.

On Sunday, the United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA) shared on social media that South Korea has donated one million dollars to Afghanistan. This generous contribution highlights South Korea’s dedication to assisting with humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.

OCHA has stated that this funding will be used for “life-saving activities” in Afghanistan.

In parallel with South Korea’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, OCHA added that the country has contributed over 18 million dollars to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund since 2014.

The recent increase in the forced return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran, the deadly earthquake in Herat, and recent climate changes have exacerbated Afghanistan’s need for humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme recently reported that approximately 15.3 million people in Afghanistan are facing severe food insecurity.

While around 28 million people in Afghanistan require emergency assistance, the organization has reduced aid to needy families due to budget constraints.

The World Food Programme also noted that thousands of earthquake-affected people in Herat still need assistance to rebuild their homes and are forced to sleep outside in the cold.

This comes as a significant number of newly expelled migrants from Pakistan express concern about the lack of shelter, particularly with the onset of winter.

Source: khaama.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.khaama.com/south-korea-donates-one-million-dollars-to-afghanistan/

-------

 

Mullah Baradar Meets Iranian FM During Tehran Visit

 Bibi Amina Hakimi

November 5, 2023

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran, the office of the deputy PM said in a statement.

Mullah Baradar, while accompanied by a senior delegation of the Islamic Emirate, left Kabul for Tehran on Saturday.

The statement further said that the two sides discussed issues “concerning collaborative efforts in various domains, including politics, economics, education, culture, and more.”

Mullah Baradar emphasized the historical friendship and neighboring ties between Afghanistan and Iran, the statement reads, saying that he also highlighted the positive political, economic, and cultural connections between the two nations.

Mullah Baradar “provided a comprehensive overview of their trade and transit expansion plans with Iran, the establishment of technical committees to facilitate cooperation across various sectors, Afghanistan's engagement with regional and global partners through Iran, increased trade opportunities, and investment prospects for Iranian investors in Afghanistan, streamlining visa issuance for Afghan citizens, and addressing the challenges faced by Afghan refugees residing in Iran,” the statement said.

Abdollahian pledged to the Deputy Prime Minister he would work for the enhancement of bilateral trade, provide necessary facilities in transit, establish committees for joint initiatives in diverse sectors, and resolve refugee-related issues, based on the statement. 

“He also expressed his encouragement for Iranian investors to engage in Afghanistan and affirmed that relevant authorities would collaborate on these matters,” the statement said.

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the Islamic Emirate officials’ visits to regional countries will yield "achievements."

“This visit will be full of achievements in the creation of trust as well as economic and trade improvements,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said the delegation that traveled to Iran should discuss the transit challenges faced by Afghan traders.

“I think there are various problems. Our exports to Iran are very low. We don't even have $5 million in exports to Iran but we have $2 billion in imports,” said Mohammad Younus Momand, deputy head of the ACCI.

The two sides also stressed the significance of the Wakhan-corridor, the deputy PM office's said.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185896

-------

 

Islamic Emirate Allocates 2 Billion Afs for Returnees

Bibi Amina Hakimi

November 5, 2023

Officials said that the Islamic Emirate is working to provide facilities for migrants returning from Pakistan.

At the same time, the Chinese ambassador in a meeting with the acting foreign minister also pledged that Beijing is ready to cooperate with the refugees returning from Pakistan.

The Islamic Emirate recently allocated two billion afghanis to refugees returning from Pakistan.

The officials of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that this fund was allocated for the purpose of providing shelter, food items and providing medical service to returnees.

“According to the decree of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, two billion Afs have been allocated for transfer to provide basic and necessary supplies for the refugees who return,”  saidLatifullah Hakimi, Inspector General of the MoD.

"Refugees coming from Pakistan to Afghanistan are well appreciated and they are getting registered, they receive financial assistance and also food assistance with families, and if anyone needs treatment, our mobile team is there,” Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Meanwhile, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister, met with the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul to discuss the security and economic issues and challenges for Afghan refugees following Pakistan's decision to deport them.

China's ambassador to Kabul pledged that Beijing is ready to cooperate with the refugees from Pakistan.

The Ministry of Economy also said that the Islamic Emirate has provided necessary assistance to returnees.

“A specific amount by the Islamic Emirate has been allocated for returning refugees to meet the basic and urgent needs of our compatriots,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of the economy.

The returning refugees said that all of their assets remain in Pakistan and they are facing many economic challenges.

"We call on the government to help us and they must do so urgently. Among these people are women with various illnesses,” said Zekrya Khan, a returnee.

According to the Islamic Emirate, more than 180,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan in the past four days.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-185903

-------

 

Pakistan deports more than 6,500 Afghans; total repatriated to Afghanistan touches 1,70,000: Official

November 06, 2023

More than 6,500 Afghan nationals left Pakistan through the Torkham border on November 5, taking the total number of repatriated Afghans to more than 1,70,000, border officials said on November 6.

The voluntary evacuation has been going on since the government gave an ultimatum to all unregistered foreign nationals to leave Pakistan by November 1 after which action would be taken against them according to law.

A total of 1,74,358 Afghan nationals left for Afghanistan since September 17, adding that voluntary repatriation was still under way, but the number was dropping with each passing day, the Dawn newspaper reported, quoting officials.

"There was a huge number of illegal immigrants at the border crossing soon after the deadline expired. It is now coming down,” an official involved in processing voluntary repatriation of Afghan nationals said.

According to official data, 6,584 Afghans, including women and children, exited Pakistan on Sunday.

On Saturday, 209 deportees from different prisons across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were sent back along with 46,936 men, 35,507 women and 85,331 children.

On November 3, 148 deportees, 44,718 men, 33,699 women and 82,221 children were repatriated, while the number stood at 24 deportees, 40,899 men, 30,399 women and 76,675 on November 2.

Around 7,195 families, with 34,639 men, 25,710 women, and 68,280 children, besides 115 deportees, were repatriated on November 1.

“Apart from the voluntary repatriation, Afghan nationals imprisoned for involvement in petty crimes were also being deported,” the official data said.

More than 500 prisoners from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad were deported between November 1 and 4.

According to official numbers, 194 prisoners were transported from different districts of Punjab to the Torkham border crossing for repatriation.

On Saturday, around 700 Afghan nationals also returned through the Chaman border, according to caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai.

Pakistan government says crackdown on illegal immigrants not aimed at any nationality

Addressing a press conference along with Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat on Sunday, the Minister said that more than 54,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland.

Officials have also assured Afghan families that the government will bear all expenses for repatriation to convince them.

However, international human rights bodies have criticised Pakistan's move to deport millions of illegal migrants in the country.

They have said that Afghans fleeing Pakistan to avoid arrest and deportation are sleeping in the open, without proper shelter, food, drinking water and toilets once they cross the border to their homeland.

Arshad Malik, country director for Save the Children, said many of those returning are coming back without education documents, making it difficult for them to continue their learning, as well as lacking the local Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto because they studied Urdu and English in Pakistan.

He warned that child labour in Afghanistan as well as their involvement in smuggling are likely to increase due to poverty as most returning families were among the poorest migrants in Pakistan.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Hina Jilani in a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi stated that the Pakistan decision to expel Afghans could “trigger a humanitarian crisis”.

“The decision amounts to forced repatriation, which is not recognised under international customary law, and will invariably affect vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, which include women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, persons from low-income groups, and Afghans at risk because of their professions - many of whom fled Afghanistan after the Afghan Taliban took over the government in August 2021,” the letter stated.

Similarly, the National Commission on the Status of Women wrote a letter to Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, saying that there were approximately 2.5 million widows in Afghanistan, some of whom came to Pakistan in search of livelihood.

“These women are journalists, doctors, software engineers, and others who are undocumented due to various circumstances beyond their control,” it stated.

Source: thehindu.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-deports-more-than-6500-afghans-total-repatriated-to-afghanistan-touches-170000-official/article67503419.ece

-------

 

Southeast Asia

 

‘Solidarity for humanity’: Hundreds of thousands rally in Jakarta to support Palestine

November 05, 2023

JAKARATA: Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in central Jakarta on Sunday in Indonesia’s biggest display of solidarity with Palestinians since the beginning of Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza.

Indonesia has been a staunch supporter of Palestine for decades, with its people and authorities seeing Palestinian statehood as mandated by their own constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism.

Since the beginning of Israeli operations in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Indonesians have been taking to the streets in small-scale protests to show their support, with activists declaring November as Palestine Solidarity Month.

On Sunday morning, Indonesians dressed in white and wore traditional Palestinian scarves as they crowded the National Monument square, waving Palestinian flags, carrying posters, and chanting slogans calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and a free Palestine, making it the biggest pro-Palestine demonstration the country has seen so far.

The interfaith rally was organized by the Indonesian Ulema Council with the support of other main religious organizations, including Christians and Buddhists. It was attended by government officials and prominent public figures, including Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi.

“Every 10 minutes, a child is killed in Gaza. Thousands of parents have lost their children, while thousands of children have lost their parents,” Marsudi said as she addressed the crowd. 

“My Indonesia and I will never back down from helping. My Indonesia and I will always be with you until the colonizers leave your home. Palestine, you are my brother. And I, and my Indonesia, will always be with you.”

The Southeast Asian nation has no diplomatic relations with Israel, and the Indonesian government has repeatedly called for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.

“On behalf of the Indonesian government, we want to reaffirm Indonesia’s support for the struggle of the Palestinian nation. Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today in diversity to show our solidarity for humanity,” Marsudi said.

More than 9,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, when Israel began its daily bombardment of the densely populated enclave in retaliation for the attack by the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, which left more than 1,400 people dead.

Tel Aviv has cut off food, fuel, water and power supplies to the enclave while airstrikes have hit hospitals, ambulances, schools and refugee camps.

Some Indonesians who attended the rally said it was important for them to show up for Palestine, including 40-year-old Isyana Artharini, who told Arab News that she was driven by her conscience.

“I think I’m actually powerless as a person, and showing up is the least that I can do,” Artharini said.

“When we read history books and wondered how the Holocaust happened, how did people then ‘allowed’ it?” she said. “At least for your conscience, don’t be on the side that allows this genocide to happen.”

Berlian Idriansyah Idris, a 46-year-old cardiologist, said the images of wounded Palestinian children and the devastation caused by Israel’s bombing in Gaza have brought him to tears.

“We are still humans with conscience. We condemn Israel’s atrocities, we support Palestine, and we demand immediate ceasefire,” Idris, who was at the rally with his family on Sunday, told Arab News.

For 22-year-old Syifa, taking part in the demonstration was about standing up for humanity.

“I wanted to take part in this march so that I can show to the public that here in Indonesia we have a huge number of people who care about Palestine,” Syifa told Arab News.

“I think it’s important, while you are able, to give out your voice for humanity. Especially because this Palestine issue is clearly not a conflict, it’s genocide.”

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2403621/world

-------

 

Branded ‘biggest enemy of Islam’, ex-Penang DCM Ramasamy wants action against Dr Zakir Naik

By Opalyn Mok

 06 Nov 2023

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 6 — Former Penang deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy has accused controversial Muslim missionary Dr Zakir Naik of slandering him in a recent lecture in Nigeria.

Ramasamy said Dr Zakir had sullied his name by calling him the “biggest enemy of Islam” during a talk in Sokoto.

“Those are serious accusations against our client that are baseless and the police report was to urge the authorities to investigate Zakir for criminal defamation, abuse of multimedia and other offences,” lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind, representing Ramasamy, said in a press statement today.

A video recording of the talk with the caption “Dr Zakir Naik Donates US$ 320,000 towards Palestine Cause”, was uploaded on Facebook on November 4.

The lawyer had earlier accompanied Ramasamy to file a police report against Dr Zakir at the Bukit Mertajam police station at 11.31am.

Shamsher said a legal letter of demand has also been sent to Dr Zakir’s residence in Putrajaya to retract and remove the allegations from all social media platforms and to issue an unconditional written apology for the remarks to Ramasamy.

Shamsher said Dr Zakir must publish the apology on his verified Facebook page for 30 days with his privacy settings fixed to “public” as well as in six Malaysian newspapers in four languages.

He names the newspapers as Sinar Harian and Berita Harian that publishes in Malay, The Star and New Straits Times that are in English, Sin Chew Daily, which is in Mandarin and Makkal Osai which is in Tamil.

Dr Zakir told to give a writen undertaking to never repeat the same or similar allegation against Ramasamy and that he pays compensation to Ramasamy, the amount of which shall be agreed by the parties.

Shamsher said his client will immediately file a defamation suit against Dr Zakir if the latter fails to fulfil any of the demands within 14 days of receiving the legal notice.

“In fact, there was no necessity whatsoever for you to make any remark about our client in your lecture, especially when our client was not even present at the event to defend himself,” he said in the notice.

This is not the first time Ramasamy and Mumbai-born Dr Zakir have traded barbs.

Last week, Dr Zakir won two defamation suits against Ramasamy filed in 2019.

In the November 4 decision, the High Court ruled that Ramasamy must pay RM1.52 million in compensation to Dr Zakir within 30 days and make a public apology.

However, Ramasamy is planning to appeal the order for a public apology, his other lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli said last Saturday.

Source: malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/06/branded-biggest-enemy-of-islam-ex-penang-dcm-ramasamy-wants-action-against-dr-zakir-naik/100552

-------

 

PM Anwar says good Malaysia-Egypt ties facilitate despatching of humanitarian aid to Palestine

06 Nov 2023

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the cordial relations between Malaysia and Egypt enabled the country’s humanitarian aid to be sent to the people of Palestine.

He said the matter was proven when Eqyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi facilitated the despatching of humanitarian aid from Malaysia.

“In the meeting with (the President of Egypt), his sentiment was good and I requested him to give priority to the humanitarian aid from Malaysia.

“Alhamdulillah, he (Abdel Fattah) kept his promise. Our aircraft arrived among the fastest and was allowed to cross the border... that’s why bilateral relations need to be improved,” he said when speaking at a gathering with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) here today.

Last Saturday, the 9M-WCA cargo plane carrying the first shipment of Malaysian humanitarian aid for Palestine through Ops Ihsan, landed safely at El-Arish Military Airport in Egypt.

Twenty tonnes of assistance in the form of medical items, baby products and food were handed over to representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to be brought into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

Ops Ihsan was mobilised by the Malaysia Humanitarian Aid and Relief (Mahar), Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia, Red A Humanitarian Development Global, Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor, BeVital and Majlis PerundinganPertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Mapim) as the main coordinator besides 38 other non-governmental organisations.

Anwar said the issue in Palestine is seen as getting more worrying with no signs that Israel will stop its attacks in the country.

In this regard, he said discussions with the leaders of the Arab world should be held immediately to enable the fate of the Palestinian people to be defended.

Anwar said that developments in the western world regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict showed positive signs because the issue in Gaza had never been discussed openly before.

“There are huge gatherings and demonstrations in Europe,” he said and stressed the need for the international community to call for an end to the attacks in Palestine.

According to Anwar, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who met him during their visits to Malaysia also supported the stand to stop the attacks in Palestine.

“He (Rutte) is aware that two-thirds (of the Dutch people) sympathise with Palestine and I have also asked to convey Malaysia’s views to the European leader,” he said.

The latest fighting in Palestine involving Hamas, the authorities in Gaza, and the Israeli regime since October 7, has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/06/pm-anwar-says-good-malaysia-egypt-ties-facilitate-despatching-of-humanitarian-aid-to-palestine/100495

--------

 

Anwar: OIC to meet on Palestine, date being fixed

 MARTIN CARVALHO

 06 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: Several Muslim nations have agreed to an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Palestine issue, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said the timing of the meeting was still being discussed, as well as extending invitations to like-minded non-Muslim nations such as China, Russia, Bolivia, Ireland and Brazil.

"Brazil seems to be of the same stand but we have to discuss (invitations) as a consensus is needed on attendance.

"If not, only Muslim nations will meet.

"This has been decided and a date is being discussed.

"If there is (a date), God willing, I will go by whatever means," he told reporters when met after launching the Malaysian Digital Expo 2023 Grand Finale here on Monday (Nov 6).

On Wednesday (Nov 1), Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir had been instructed to contact Turkiye and Saudi Arabia on the appropriateness of holding an emergency OIC meeting.

Anwar had expressed Malaysia's support for a proposal by the two countries to convene an OIC meeting to discuss the Palestine issue.

Meanwhile, Anwar chided certain quarters for taking advantage of others' misery by politicising the crisis in Palestine.

"It is not appropriate to over-politicise the issue by berating and scolding when people are dying, homes and places destroyed.

"Don't exploit the misery of others," he said.

Without naming names, he noted that there were some who spoke ill of others, yet had done nothing to help ease the Palestinians' suffering.

Source: thestar.com.my

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/06/anwar-oic-to-meet-on-palestine-date-being-fixed

-------

 

Leaders of Arab world, Turkiye and Iran to meet over Palestine-Israel conflict, says Anwar

MAZWIN NIK ANIS

06 Nov 2023

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has contacted leaders of the Arab world as well as Turkiye and Iran for a discussion on the Palestine-Israel conflict, says the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he also proposed for the discussion to be extended to countries “with a positive approach” to the issue such as Brazil, Ireland, Russia, China and Bolivia.

“I have raised the idea for these countries to be included because of their approach and stand in defending human rights.

“However, there has been no consensus to bring in other countries (into the discussion).

“The decision now, after discussions with Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye, is for a meeting to be held as soon as possible,” he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly gathering here on Monday (Nov 6).

Anwar added that a date for the meeting was expected to be known in a few days.

The Prime Minister said since the Israeli attacks, the crisis plaguing Palestine, specifically in Gaza, had been openly debated by the Western world, with mass gatherings and demonstrations.

Anwar said during his recent meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the latter pointed out that in the early days of the latest Palestine-Israel conflict, two-thirds of the Dutch population was pro-Israel.

“Rutte observed that since then, two-thirds of the people have openly expressed their sympathy and support for Palestine and Gaza,” he said.

Source: thestar.com.my

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/06/leaders-of-arab-world-turkiye-and-iran-to-meet-over-palestine-israel-conflict-says-anwar

--------

 

Africa

 

Senegal: people demonstrated in support of Palestinians

 06th November 2023

Thousands of people demonstrated around the world on Saturday, in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hit by Israeli bombing in retaliation for Hamas's bloody attack on October 7.

In Senegal, 200 supporters were gathered outside the Grand Mosque in Dakar, with the Palestinian flag  and placards denouncing a genocide going on.

"I'm here today, as people are all over the world, to call for a halt to the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, to tell Israel to stop this massacre, to tell Israel that the children it is massacring have done nothing wrong, to tell Israel to respect international law"

"I'm not here as an Arab or a Muslim. I'm here as a human being because the atrocities that I've seen happening in Gaza.. I'm here today to support my people, to stop the appartheid, to stop the genocide and to save the people of Gaza."

The Israeli army has been conducting ground operations in parallel with its strikes, and on Sunday it once again call the population to evacuate to protect themselves from the fighting.

However, few Gaza residents have access to internet as Israel cut off electricity early on in its offensive then proceeded with a complete network blackout imposed on the Gaza Strip on at least two occasions.

Source: africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.africanews.com/2023/11/05/senegal-people-demonstrated-in-support-of-palestinians/

-------

 

More than 20 killed in Sudan after shell hits market: NGO

 06th November 2023

WAD MADANI: More than 20 people were killed Sunday after shells hit a market in a suburb of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, a committee of pro-democracy lawyers said in a statement.

It was the latest bloodshed in the fighting since April between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

A statement from the committee for pro-democracy lawyers said the shells hit the market in Omdurman during an intense exchange of fire between the two sides.

"More than 20 civilians have been killed and others have been wounded," said the statement, which was sent to AFP. The committee keeps track of rights violations during the conflict and its civilian victims.

On Saturday, a medical source said shells that hit houses in Khartoum had killed 15 civilians.

Omdurman has repeatedly been the site of fierce battles between the two sides.

Though most of the fighting was previously contained to the capital and the western region of Darfur, it has also spread to areas south of Khartoum according to witnesses.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the Sudan conflict so far, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

But aid groups and medics have repeatedly warned the real toll exceeds recorded figures, with many of those wounded and killed never reaching hospitals or morgues.

The war has caused an estimated 5.5 million people to flee, both within Sudan and across borders, according to the United Nations.

Source: newindianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/nov/06/more-than-20-killed-in-sudan-after-shell-hits-market-ngo-2630533.html

-------

 

Islamic groups canvass adoption of orphans, homeless children

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Some Islamic religious groups have called on Nigerians to adopt orphans and homeless children for them to attain their potential.

They made the appeal during the 2023 awareness walk with the theme “Fostering…Reviving Sunnah,” organised by Halal Children’s Home in Abuja.

President of the home, Hajiya Ramatu Abubakar emphasised the benefits of fostering less-privileged children and reintegrating them into homes.

Ms Abubakar said fostering the children would make them feel loved and guide them towards harnessing their potential, adding that the organisation had found several families and homes for some of the orphaned and vulnerable children.

“The increasing cases of orphans, we can do better. Being able to take a child into your home does not diminish your love, but increases your capacity to love, so let’s not let the fear of poverty stop us from doing what we can for these children.

“Our aim is to make them productive citizens. We rehabilitate them so that they can enter into society easily. So let us open our homes and let’s build a better future for our country,” she urged.

She also appealed to the government to make more provisions or modifications for fostering in the constitution that would allow Muslims take up such children legally.

“For the government, we would like to see a drive for making fostering more visible, each state has a different Child’s Rights Act.

“So we would like to see the provision for fostering as it is in the Islamic sense of the word because there are differences between the adoption process and the fostering.

“The fostering is what Muslims can do. A lot of Muslims do not go through the adoption process because our faith is an important part of us. So, if we can have the laws changed or modified to allow more Muslims take up these children and even the documentation should be made easier,” she advised.

In her contribution, Chief Executive Officer, Baynakum Family Counselling Centre, Abuja, Dr Abdulfattah Adeyemi, expressed concern over the increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children roaming around the streets.

“Many of these children that we see have a bright future ahead of them, only if we contribute or do something for them.

“If we allow them to roam around the streets, they can be susceptible to criminals, who may adopt them and make them carry out some criminal activities. There are people who do a lot of nefarious activities against the law and they recruit these vulnerable children on the street.

“So, we are helping ourselves as individuals and as a nation, when we carry out the responsibility. It is godly, civic and what we need now for humanity, especially in action building,” he said.

He, therefore, urged religious leaders to encourage people to adopt or foster vulnerable, orphans and street children to enable them reach their potential and contribute to national development.

“I urge religious leaders to discuss and encourage people to foster so that the humanity in us is not just to worship God and go to paradise, we should also be concerned about humanity,” he said.

Also, Public Relations Officer, Amani Muslim Women Empowerment Initiative, NaimatAkewusola, the group came to support Halal Home and sensitise the public on ways to keep the homeless children off the street.

“With this awareness, many people are now aware that they can actually foster these children and take them into their homes as this will help to reduce the number of street children in our society,” she said.

Also speaking, a consultant neurologist, Dr Saheed Alimo, commended the organisers for engaging the public not only on religious aspects, but health talks and free medical care to improve their health and wellbeing.

Mr Alimo also advised the public to engage in regular exercise, adopt a healthy lifestyle and eat well to improve their health.

Source: gazettengr.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://gazettengr.com/islamic-groups-canvass-adoption-of-orphans-homeless-children/

------

 

Tinubu attends Saudi-Africa summit in Riyadh

November 6, 2023

President Bola Tinubu will attend the Arab-African and Saudi-Africa summits in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 10-11 November.

AjuriNgelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, disclosed this on Sunday while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja.

He said the attendance of the president was predicated on the administration’s drive to use all avenues to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the various sectors of the economy.

‘’The president will use the summit to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country. The two summits will surely yield tangible economic benefits for the country and Africa.

He added that the president would be aggressive, like in all other of his engagements, in attracting genuine foreign investors into different sectors of the economy.

Mr Ngelale said the president would be accompanied to the summit by cabinet members, the business community as well as other relevant government functionaries.

He said a detailed briefing would be made in the course of the various meetings by the president with investors

The Arab-African Summit is aimed at establishing practical solutions for developing Arab-African cooperation and catching up with the emerging and influential international powers in Africa.

The summit seeks to identify fields for cooperation, build a common vision for sharing knowledge and experience, and identify projects and frameworks for improving bilateral and multilateral ties between Arab and African countries.

Some of the objectives of the summit include reinvigoration of Arab-African relations, addressing issues relating to conflicts and counter-terrorism as well and tackling challenges such as poverty, education, health, food security, developmental matters, debt crises, and global challenges like climate change, migration, and humanitarian aid.

The summit was last held in 2016.

Source: premiumtimesng.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/640403-tinubu-attends-saudi-africa-summit-in-riyadh.html

-------

 

Police, Thugs Attacked, Shot At My Convoy After Preventing Me From Attending Church Service Because Gov Uzodimma Was There—Imo LP Candidate

November 6, 2023

AttanAchonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the Novermber 11 governorship election in Imo State, on Sunday accused the police of attacking him and his convoy.

He also accused the police of preventing him from attending a church service in Owerri, the state capital.

Achonu told journalists on Sunday that he had gone to the church to honour an invitation but was prevented by police personnel and some thugs from gaining access to the church premises.

The LP governorship candidate said the police told him that the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election, was in church, therefore, he would not be allowed in.

Achonu alleged that the police personnel and some thugs attacked his convoy when he questioned them.

He also accused them of shooting at his vehicles.

Achonu said, "Today, I was attacked by policemen together with thugs working for APC. Myself and my supporters were attacked and they shot at us. We were at St Peter's Anglican church at Obibiezena in Owerri North to attend a church service. I was dully invited by the church to attend its synod but policemen stationed Amoured Personnel Carriers and thugs said I was not going to be allowed to enter the church. They said that the governor was worshipping there.

"I confronted them and asked them why should I be stopped from worshipping God in my own state simply because the governor is there. I called the Director of the DSS who called the state Commissioner of Police who spoke to one Officer Ola, who literally disobeyed the Commissioner of Police. A lower ranked officer disobeying a Commissioner of Police. I have not seen this one before. I confronted them but my wife held me and I was with women, I had to obey her.

"We turned our vehicles around and went home. They attacked my vehicles and shot at them. If not that my cars are bullet proof, there would had been casualties.

"I want to put the president of Nigeria and all Nigerians on notice about what Hope Uzodimma is using the police and thugs to do in Imo State. They want to annihilate us but I am more emboldened to lead this charge. I am leading the charge to liberate my people.

"Imo people should come out and vote Labour Party and defend their votes so that we will take back our state. I am happy that everybody has embarrassed Labour Party in Imo state and we are working towards having the Imo state of our dreams."

However. the spokesperson for the state police command, Henry Okoye, denied the attack.

He said that the police only advised Achonu not to campaign in the area since the candidate of the APC was already campaigning there.

Okoye said, "Nobody attacked the Labour Party candidate. We only advised him not to campaign in the area at the same time the APC candidate was campaigning in the area to avoid a clash of interest and possible breakdown of law and order in the state.

"The Labour Party candidate didn't inform us about his campaign in the area but the APC candidate informed us and we were there to provide security. The Commissioner of Police advises political players in the state to stop misinforming the public. This misinformation is capable of escalating things which may lead to breakdown of law and order in Imo State."

Source: saharareporters.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://saharareporters.com/2023/11/06/police-thugs-attacked-shot-my-convoy-after-preventing-me-attending-church-service

-------

 

Arab World

 

Qatar says Gaza hostage releases need ‘period of calm’

November 6, 2023

DOHA: Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that without a “period of calm” in Gaza its mediators would not be able to secure the release of Israeli hostages held there.

“Any hostage release has to be linked to a period of calm that allows for the hostage release to work, which is something we have not seen for a while,” Majed Al Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday rejected US calls for a temporary stop to Israel’s offensive against Hamas to facilitate work to free more than 240 hostages seized by the Palestinian group.

Israel would not pause its attacks unless the hostages held by the group are freed first, Netanyahu said.

The Gulf state of Qatar has, in coordination with the US, led mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials over the release of hostages since the group led a rampage into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and bundling more than 240 others into Gaza.

Since then, Israel has steadily escalated its assault on Gaza and its 2.3 million residents and overnight on Saturday struck by air, sea, and ground.

Gaza health officials said on Sunday that more than 9,700 Palestinians, including 4,008 children have been killed in the war.

Qatar’s Prime Minister said on Sunday that the negotiations were at risk of failing because of Israel’s attacks and misinformation circulating about the talks.

“The process of this mediation is at risk in light of the spread of false reports and leaks about the negotiations, in addition to the complexity of the field situation due to the practices of the Israeli occupation army,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, said at a press conference with his French counterpart in Doha.

Qatar, which has faced criticism over its hosting of top Hamas officials and a political office, said the group’s presence in Doha serves as a “channel for peace”.

“It is a channel that is used for the mediation of the release of hostages, the exit of the foreign nationals and in various aspects of the mediation that is taking place. So I don’t foresee any reason to close that channel now,” Al Ansari said.

Source: brecorder.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40271798/qatar-says-gaza-hostage-releases-need-period-of-calm

-------

 

Saudi Arabia decries Israeli minister's shocking nuclear bomb threat to Gaza

November 05, 2023

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the extremist statements made by a minister in the Israeli occupation government regarding the prospect of dropping a nuclear bomb on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The comments underscore the penetration of extremism and brutality within members of the Israeli government.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “The failure to immediately dismiss the minister from the government, settling instead for the suspension of his membership, reflects the pinnacle of disregard for all humanitarian, ethical, religious, and legal standards by the Israeli government.”

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said on Sunday that dropping an “nuclear bomb” on the Gaza Strip is “an option,” according to local media.

Eliyahu, a minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said that “one of Israel’s options in the war in Gaza is to drop a nuclear bomb on the Strip,” daily Times of Israel reported.

Speaking a radio interview, Eliyahu also “voiced his objection to allowing any humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The far-right minister also said that the Palestinian population “can go to Ireland or deserts, the monsters in Gaza should find a solution by themselves.”

Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid called for Eliyahu’s dismissal over his remarks.

Lapid dubbed it as “a shocking and crazy statement by an irresponsible minister.”

“He harmed the families of the abductees, harmed Israeli society and harmed our international standing,” he said in the social media platform X.

“The presence of the extremists in the government endangers us and the success of the war goals — defeating Hamas and returning all the kidnapped,” the opposition leader added.

He also stressed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “must fire him this morning.”

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637395/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-decries-Israeli-ministers-shocking-nuclear-bomb-threat-to-Gaza

--------

 

Foreign Ministry: Saudi Arabia Strongly Denounces Extremist Statements by Minister in Israeli Occupation Government to Drop Nuclear Bomb on Besieged Gaza

05 Nov, 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has strongly denounced extremist statements of a minister in the Israeli occupation government on dropping a nuclear bomb on the besieged Gaza Strip, where the statement shows the extent of extremism and brutality among members of the Israeli government.

 In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Not dismissing the minister from the government immediately and sufficing with freezing his membership reflects the level of indifference in all humanitarian, moral, religious and legal standards and values in the Israeli government."

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/e3d2ab8a85354f65a52e2ee5b8f3f4de

-------

 

Saudi projects help people in Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon

November 05, 2023

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief is continuing to help people in Yemen, Lebanon and Pakistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In the city of Al-Ghaydah in Yemen a kidney dialysis center supported by the agency served 130 patients in a single month, including 46 who received dialysis and 84 who had examinations.

KSrelief also helps to fund a project that provides primary healthcare and water services to displaced people in the Razih district of Yemen’s Saada governorate. In one week it served 152 people.

In the last week of October, a 42-truck convoy from KSrelief delivered 741 tons of food to Yemen’s Aden, Dhale and Abian governorates.

The agency has also provided support for 1,575 people affected by the floods in Pakistan in the form of “winter bags” and shelter.

In Lebanon, as part of the Al-Amal Charitable Bakery project, KSrelief distributed 150,000 bundles of bread to disadvantaged people, including local families and Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

Since its inception in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 2,587 projects worth more than $6.4 billion in 94 countries, in cooperation with 175 local, regional and international partners.

According to a report by the agency, the bulk of the support has gone to Yemen ($4.3 billion), Syria ($376 million), Palestine ($370 million) and Somalia ($222 million).

KSrelief’s programs cover food security, health, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, telecommunications and logistics.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2403801/saudi-arabia

------

 

Saudi family council, UNICEF to work on child online safety framework

November 05, 2023

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Family Affairs Council will introduce the National Framework for Children’s Online Safety at the sixth Saudi Family Forum in Riyadh on Nov. 12-13 in collaboration with UNICEF.

The forum will be supported by Ahmed Al-Rajhi, the council’s chairman and the minister of human resources and social development, along with UNICEF, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The framework will align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international treaty safeguarding individuals under the age of 18.

UNICEF will contribute with two dialogue sessions: “Protecting Children in the Cyber World” by Amanda Third, a professor at Western Sydney University, and “The Digital World and Children” presented by UNICEF’s Gulf area representative, Al-Tayeb Adam.

Adam commended the Saudi government’s commitment to online child safety and lauded the initiatives of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The framework comprises 10 initiatives addressing critical areas, including regulations, data protection, and online support procedures for children.

The Saudi Family Forum aims to address key issues related to the digital revolution, empowering Saudi families by offering solutions from experts and officials in various family-related sectors.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2403791/saudi-arabia

------

 

Saudi Arabia, Russia to continue additional voluntary oil cuts

November 05, 2023

Top oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia confirmed on Sunday they would continue with their additional voluntary oil output cuts until the end of the year as concerns over demand and economic growth continue to weigh on crude markets.

Both countries said their cuts would be reviewed next month to consider extending, deepening or increasing it.

Saudi Arabia confirmed it would continue with its additional voluntary cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) translating into a production of around 9 million bpd for December, a source at the ministry of energy said in a statement.

"This additional voluntary cut comes to reinforce the precautionary efforts made by OPEC+ countries with the aim of supporting the stability and balance of oil markets," the source was quoted as saying in the statement.

Following the Saudi statement, Moscow also announced it would continue its additional voluntary supply cut of 300,000 bpd from its crude oil and petroleum product exports until the end of December.

OPEC+, which comprises the countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and leading allies including Russia, has been cutting output since last year in what it says is preemptive action to maintain market stability.

Oil hit a 2023 high in September at near $98 a barrel for Brent crude, although it has since weakened to trade around $85 a barrel on Friday, despite support from the conflict in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, OPEC's de-facto leader, first made the voluntary cut for July as an addition to a broad supply-limiting deal first agreed by some members of OPEC+ in April.

The kingdom said in September it would extend its additional voluntary cut until the end of the year, and review the decision monthly.

Analysts had widely expected the kingdom to confirm it would extend its cut in December.

A June decision by OPEC+ already limits supply into 2024.

The alliance is next due to meet on Nov. 26 in Vienna.

Source: thehindu.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/saudi-arabia-russia-to-continue-additional-voluntary-oil-cuts/article67501970.ece

-------

 

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hizb-tahrir-shariat-india-nia-terrorist/d/131057


New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Loading..

Loading..