If Indian Secular Parties Want Muslim Votes, They Will Have To Treat Them As Equal Citizens
New Age Islam News Bureau
12 November 2020
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president
Asaduddin Owaisi addresses an election rally in Bihar
Image Credit: ANI
----
• Military Intelligence And UP Police Suspect That ISI
Or Anti-National Forces May Have Sneaked Their Men Into The Army
• Austria Seeks To Criminalise 'Political Islam' As It
Unveils Broad New Anti-Terror Measures
• Pak Court Jails Spokesperson Of Hafiz Saeed-led JuD
for 32 Years In Terror Financing Cases
• Who Is Going To Take Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s
Helm After Shah Ahmad Shafi’
• Muslim Brotherhood Responds To Saudi Council Of
Senior Scholars
• Lebanon's Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah: Glad About
Trump's 'Humiliating Downfall'
India
• If Indian Secular Parties Want Muslim Votes, They
Will Have To Treat Them As Equal Citizens
• Military Intelligence And UP Police Suspect That ISI
Or Anti-National Forces May Have Sneaked Their Men Into The Army
• AMU organises national webinar on Allama Iqbal’s
‘legal philosophy’
• Asaduddin Owaisi’s ‘vote-cutter’ AIMIM sends jitters
in Bengal after Bihar show
--------
Europe
• Austria Seeks To Criminalise 'Political Islam' As It
Unveils Broad New Anti-Terror Measures
• UK Counter-Terrorism: Lockdown Is Fuelling Online
Extremist Recruitment
• Azerbaijan: Muslim prayer call resounds across
Shusha
• Russia denies Erdogan’s claim of Turkey jointly
monitoring Nagorno-Karabakh deal
--------
Pakistan
• Pak Court Jails Spokesperson Of Hafiz Saeed-led JuD
for 32 Years In Terror Financing Cases
• Maryam asks GB people to elect PML-N for development
• Shehbaz, Hamza, eight others indicted in assets case
--------
South Asia
• Who Is Going To Take Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s
Helm After Shah Ahmad Shafi’
• Bangladeshi Christians And Other Minority Groups In
Peaceful Protest Against Islamist Attacks
• CID Arrests Missing JnU Student Tithy For Hurting
Religious Sentiment
• Muslims attack ethnic Christian villagers in
Bangladesh
• 50 Taliban Killed in Defence Operations
• Radio Azadi Reporter Killed in Helmand Blast
--------
Arab world
• Muslim Brotherhood Responds To Saudi Council Of Senior
Scholars
• Recognize Iran’s role in supporting terrorism,
extremism: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman
• Arab Coalition intercepts two explosive-laden boats
launched by Houthis in Yemen
• Two injured in attack on non-Muslim cemetery in
Jeddah: Authorities
• Four injured in bomb blast at WWI memorial in Saudi
Arabia's Jeddah
• Assad says US hampering return of Syrian refugees
• Bahrain’s crown prince appointed new prime minister
--------
Mideast
• Lebanon's Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah: Glad About Trump's
'Humiliating Downfall'
• Iran State TV Airs Opposition Figure’s Purported
Confession To ‘Terrorism’
• ‘Not The Actions Of An Ally’: Close Biden Ally
Blasts Turkey’s Foreign Involvement
• Turkey Forewarns US Secretary Of State Pompeo On
Religion Ahead Of Visit
• FM: Pakistan Never Allows Hostile Acts against Iran
• Iran Proposes Establishment of Int’l Fund to
Reconstruct Syria
• Over 120 Palestinian inmates infected with
coronavirus inside Israeli jails: Rights group
--------
North America
• US Embassy In Pakistan Apologizes After Retweet That
Pakistan President Is ‘Dictator’
• US urges release of Jewish hostage in Yemen held by
Iran-backed Houthis
--------
Africa
• Libya Talks Reach Breakthrough On Election Roadmap:
UN Envoy
• Libyan man pleads guilty to murder over UK 'terror'
stabbings
--------
Southeast Asia
• Dr Mahathir: If Najib Can Be In Parliament, His
Corruption Trials Should Resume Too, But With Cap On Media, Observers
• PM Muhyiddin reiterates Malaysia’s solidarity with
Palestine at Asean Summit
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/if-indian-secular-parties-want/d/123452
--------
If Indian Secular Parties Want Muslim Votes, They Will Have To Treat Them As Equal Citizens
November 12, 2020
Shivam Vij
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president
Asaduddin Owaisi addresses an election rally in Bihar
Image Credit: ANI
----
In a corner of a Hindu-majority India lies a
Muslim-majority district, Kishanganj. In India’s politics Kishanganj has a rich
history. It was from here that a journalist friend of Rajiv Gandhi, MJ Akbar,
had won a seat in India’s parliament in 1989. Akbar is today a member of the
Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which in itself speaks volumes about
Indian politics today and the thorny place Indian Muslims find themselves in.
With the rise of Hindu nationalism in electoral
politics, Muslims have found it harder and harder to be represented in India’s
central and state legislatures, reducing their ability to be heard in the
corridors of power. “Secular” parties that do not subscribe to Hindu
nationalism find it tough to put up Muslim candidates in election for the fear
that he or she may not get the votes of Hindus.
Amid such a political reality, there are small
enclaves where Muslims are in large enough numbers to make sure they can elect
a Muslim to the legislature. Kishanganj in India’s east with 68% Muslims is one
such place. The old city of Hyderabad in the south is another. Asaduddin Owaisi
has been the member of parliament from Hyderabad since 2004. He leads a party
whose name suggests it is a party of Muslims: All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen. Before him, his father held this seat continuously since 1984.
In 2014, Narendra Modi became India’s prime minister,
and with him, his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party gained a clear
majority in the national parliament for the first time. Hindu nationalism had
arrived, front and centre. In 2015, Asaduddin Owaisi arrived in Kishanganj. His
AIMIM announced it will contest 6 seats in the Bihar assembly elections that
year. Consider the many levels at which Owaisi’s politics is ambitious, daring
and even a little crazy. Firstly, given that a ‘Muslim party’ the Muslim
League, had managed to Partition India in 1947, it is a tribute to Indian’s
multiparty democracy that a ‘Muslim party’ even exists.
Secondly, it is daring to be expanding this party in pockets
of Muslim concentration across India since secular parties have been on a
campaign labelling AIMIM as an extremist party, a mirror image of Hindu
nationalism. It is, in fact, not extremist at all, if you discount a crazy
speech or two by Owaisi’s hot-headed brother.
Asaduddin Owaisi is a fierce Constitutional
nationalist, his speeches in Parliament envied by parties across the board. He
appeals to so many Muslims, especially the youth, because he tells Indian
Muslims they do not need to think of themselves as second-class citizens: the
Constitution gives them equal rights.
Thirdly, it is quite unconventional for a bunch of
Hyderabadi Muslims to travel into remote places across India and lay the ground
for electoral politics. I’d love to hear all the funny anecdotes of the
exchange of Hyderabad humour with Bihari lingo. There are only two truly
national parties in India, the BJP and the Congress. Regional parties which
dominate the politics of their states have found it difficult to expand their
footprint to even more state. The only other people who have managed to do so
in the past are the Communists.
Rise of Muslim leadership
In Kishanganj in 2015, I met Asaduddin Owaisi. I asked
him what he really wanted. His critics compare him to Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the
founder of Pakistan. The more charitable ones say he’s funded by the BJP to
split Muslim votes, helping the BJP candidates win in a multiparty democracy.
Owaisi patiently explained he only wants a few Muslim
representatives in India’s assembly and parliament who can speak up for the
rights of Muslims, the developmental neglect of Muslim concentration areas.
Secular parties that seek Muslim votes in the name of saving secularism fail to
do justice to these voters, he complains. And if he was really out to divide
Muslim votes and help the BJP win, why would he contest a handful of seats?
Working with the poorest
In that election in 2015, I met voters who said they
loved Owaisi, but wouldn’t vote for him, as he was not going to be in a
position to form government. A secular alliance led by Nitish Kumar was going
to get their votes. The AIMIM did not win a single seat.
What has happened since then tells you why the AIMIM
has just won 5 seats in and around Kishanganj. Nitish Kumar betrayed the trust
of Muslim voters and joined the BJP. Secular parties have failed miserably in
speaking up for Muslims on various issues, especially the issue of amendment of
India’s citizenship laws.
When Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi, hailed
the inauguration of the construction of a temple on the site of a mosque
demolished by Hindu fundamentalists in 1992, the AIMIM made sure every voter in
Kishanganj got to know what Priyanka Gandhi had said.
In this Bihar election, another secular alliance tried
to come to power, but failed. It is now blaming Owaisi. But the AIMIM’s vote
split may have helped the BJP win at most one seat out of 243. There is a
message the Muslim voter is sending through Owaisi’s 5 seats. The Indian Muslim
voter does not feel represented or even heard by secular parties, who think
they will win elections if they can pretend their Muslim voters do not exist.
Along with Bihar, there were critical by polls in
Madhya Pradesh that could have replaced a BJP government with a Congress
government. The Congress party in Madhya Pradesh, led by Kamal Nath, tried to
appeal to Hindu identity to win the election but failed miserably. This is the
message from Kishanganj: if secular parties want Muslim votes, they will have
to treat them as equal citizens and give up their tried-and-failed strategic
silence about secularism and minority rights.
https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/the-message-from-bihar-indian-muslims-want-secular-parties-to-stop-pretending-they-dont-exist-1.75224360
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Military Intelligence And UP Police Suspect That ISI
Or Anti-National Forces May Have Sneaked Their Men Into The Army
Nov 12, 2020
BAREILLY: A joint team of Military Intelligence (MI)
and UP Police on Wednesday unearthed a racket —involving an ex-serviceman, two
policemen and five others — which allegedly helped several youths land jobs in
the army on fake documents in the last two years. The investigators suspect
that Pakistan’s spy agency ISI or some other anti-national forces may also have
sneaked their men into the army using the racket. Police have arrested the
retired soldier, one of the policemen and three others so far.
At a press conference attended by senior police
officers and a representative of the MI, the number of those who got jobs in
the army through the racket was put at 21. UP Police have also roped in the
Intelligence Bureau as it has started reverification of all the candidates who
made it to the Indian Army starting January 2019 in four districts where the
racket was active.
DIG of Bareilly range, Rajesh Pandey, told TOI, “I
have ordered reverification of all the successful candidates in Bareilly,
Pilibhit, Budaun and Shahjahanpur. We have also asked the IB and other security
agencies to join the investigation. I am monitoring the case and coordinating
with all the agencies.”
The accused were arrested from a rented apartment in
Banda area, Shahjahanpur. They were later identified as Suresh Som, 55, Hukum
Singh, Paramveer Singh, Mukesh Kumar and police constable Manveer Singh. The MI
officer from Bareilly said, “Suresh Som was a havildar in 26 Rajput Regiment
and retired in February 2010. Our Bareilly unit is thoroughly investigating the
case with police. A separate internal investigation is also going on. The
possibility of the involvement of anti-national groups like ISI cannot be ruled
out as Som had leaked inside information to recruit the candidates on fake
documents.”
He said that the MI Bareilly is scanning antecedents
of 21 candidates as of now. “The numbers can go up after the investigation,” he
said. Two other accused, including police constable Moolchand and one Arvind
Kumar are on a run, police said.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Shahjahanpur,
S Anand, said that arrested constable Manveer Singh used to ratify the fake
documents of candidates in Shahjahanpur district using his position.
The SSP said, “It is a very big scam. Data of 21
candidates, shortlisted in the army through fake documents and showing them as
residents of Bareilly division, has been found so far.
“We have seized 23 fake stamps of government offices
and village heads. Several forged mark-sheets and other fake documents were
also recovered from the accused. We are trying to find out the total number of
candidates who were recruited through fraudulent means. This is a matter related
to national security and no one will be spared. One of the accused constables,
Manveer, had accepted a bribe of Rs 52,000 from the accused for the
verification of a candidate. The accused were getting huge amounts of money for
the recruitment. The involvement of ISI or some other anti-national forces
behind this racket cannot be denied," he added.
During the press conference, ex-servicemen Som said
that he wanted to make quick money to start a career in politics.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isi-link-in-army-recruitment-scam/articleshow/79181458.cms
--------
Austria
Seeks To Criminalise 'Political Islam' As It Unveils Broad New Anti-Terror
Measures
11
November 2020
Austrian
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says measures target both terror suspects and
ideology that drives them (AFP/File photo)
-----
Austria
plans to introduce a series of anti-terrorism measures following last week's
deadly attack in Vienna, including the criminalisation of political
interpretations of Islam that are deemed to encourage violent extremism.
Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz said on Wednesday that the measures were intended to protect
society from extremists he described as "ticking time bombs".
The
proposals include the ability to keep individuals convicted of terror offences
behind bars for life, facilitate electronic surveillance of people convicted of
terror-related offences upon release, and criminalise political activity that
encourages violence.
Kurz
said the measures, which will be brought to a vote in parliament in December,
take a two-pronged approach, targeting both terror suspects and the ideology
that drives them.
"We
will create a criminal offence called 'political Islam' in order to be able to
take action against those who are not terrorists themselves, but who create the
breeding ground for them," Kurz tweeted after the meeting.
He
also said the government planned to simplify the process of shutting down
associations or mosques deemed to play a role in radicalisation, and to enable
the public to report potential "jihadist" activities on an online
platform.
A
central register of imams will also be created.
Also
among the measures is a proposal that would make it possible for authorities to
strip people of Austrian citizenship if they are convicted of terror-related
offences.
Vice-Chancellor
Werner Kogler, who leads the junior coalition party, the Greens, said the new
measures would apply to "all forms of terror", including "terror
by neo-Nazis".
Homes
and businesses raided
On
Monday, almost 1,000 police and intelligence service officers raided homes,
businesses and associations allegedly tied to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas,
seizing millions of euros in cash across four provinces.
Prosecutors
insisted the raids were not connected to the attack last week, but were the
result of an investigation stretching back more than a year.
Four
people were killed and 22 wounded when Kujtim Fejzulai, described as a
20-year-old Islamic State sympathiser, opened fire with a Kalashnikov in a busy
area of the Austrian capital the night before the country went into a new
Covid-19 lockdown.
A
dual Austrian and Macedonian national, Fejzulai had been convicted of a terror
offence in April last year for trying to travel to Syria to join the Islamic
State group.
An
investigation has been launched into why Austria didn't have Fejzulai under
observation despite being tipped off by Slovakian authorities that in July he
had tried to purchase ammunition at a shop in the Slovakian capital,
Bratislava.
Austrian
authorities said they have been working closely with the FBI on the
investigation, and the State Department said separately that US Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo talked on Wednesday with his Austrian counterpart, offering
further support from Washington.
The
attack in Vienna followed an attack in the French city of Nice in which four
people were killed.
France
has also begun to close mosques and is cracking down on organisations it
suspects are spreading hatred.
However,
there are fears of collective punishment and rising Islamophobia in France,
especially after Barakacity, a prominent charity, was dissolved in late
October.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/austria-agrees-broad-new-anti-terror-measures
--------
Pak
court jails spokesperson of Hafiz Saeed-led JuD for 32 years in terror
financing cases
November
12, 2020
A
Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Wednesday handed down 32 years imprisonment
to the spokesperson of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s Jammat-ud-Dawah
(JuD) terror group in two terror financing cases.
The
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here also convicted two other JuD leaders, including
the brother-in-law of Saeed, in terror financing cases.
“ATC
Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar handed down 32 years imprisonment to JuD spokesperson
Yahya Mujahid in two FIRs. Prof Zafar Iqbal and Prof Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki
(brother-in-law of Saeed) were awarded 16 and one-year jail terms in two
cases,” a court official told PTI.
He
said that the two other JuD leaders — Abdul Salam bin Muhammad and Luqman Shah
— were indicted in more terror financing cases.
The
court directed the prosecution to present its witnesses on November 16.
The
suspects were presented in the court in high security and media was not allowed
to enter the court premises during the case proceedings.
Last
week, the ATC Lahore convicted JuD’s Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Zafar Iqbal and
Muhammad Ashraf in two more cases of terror financing registered by the Counter
Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police.
Zafar
Iqbal and Muhammad Ashraf have been given a collective imprisonment of 16 years
each under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Makki has been
sentenced to one-year imprisonment in a case with a fine of Rs 170,000.
In
September last year, the ATC Lahore handed down over 16 years imprisonment to
Prof Zafar Iqbal and Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad and one-and-a-half-year
sentence to Makki in a terror financing case.
In
February last year, Saeed had been sentenced to jail for 11 years on terror
finance charges by an ATC in Lahore.
The
ATC sentenced Saeed and his close aide Zafar Iqbal to five-and-a-half years
each in two cases. A total of 11 years sentence will run concurrently. Saeed is
serving his term in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail. He was arrested in July last
year.
The
CTD of Punjab police had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices
on the charges of terror financing in different cities of the province.
Saeed-led
JuD is the front organisation for Lashkar-e-Taiba which is responsible for
carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six
Americans.
The
US named Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012,
has offered a USD 10-million reward for information that brings Saeed to
justice.
He
was listed as a terrorist under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in
December 2008.
https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/hafiz-saeed-jud-spokesperson-jail-terror-financing-case-7048677/
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Who
Is Going To Take Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Helm After Shah Ahmad Shafi’
Anwar
Hussain
November
11th, 2020
Schism
out in the open as the organization prepares to hold its first council on
November 15 after Shah Ahmad Shafi’s death
Hefazat-e-Islam
Bangladesh is preparing to hold its first council after the demise of the
platform’s supreme leader Shah Ahmad Shafi amid swirling speculations as to who
will take the helm of the Qawmi madrasa-based radical Islamist party.
Speculation
is rife that incumbent Secretary General Junayed Babunagari and Nayeb-e-Ameer
and Dhaka city unit President Nur Hossain Kasemi are likely to be made the next
ameer and secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam, respectively.
Azizul
Haque Islamabadi, central organizing secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh,
told Dhaka Tribune that the organisation had taken all-out preparations to hold
the council scheduled for November 15.
“Several
hundred councillors, advisers, top Islamic leaders and scholars are going to
attend the council to be held at Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam,
known as Hathazari Madrasa. The existing committee of the organization will be
restructured through the council. The council will also pick the next Ameer of
Hefazat-e-Islam,” said the Hefazat leader.
Meanwhile,
the rift within the party has resurfaced as a faction of Hefazat-e-Islam
announced that it would boycott the forthcoming council.
Speaking
to Dhaka Tribune, Hefazat’s central Joint Secretary General Mainuddin Ruhi said
they had decided to boycott the council as they were not invited.
“So
far as I know, the five joint secretaries general, including myself, and 26 out
of 35 Nayeb-e-Ameers have not been invited to the council. Allama Shafi’s two
sons, Anas Madani and Md Yusuf, have not been invited to the council as well.
Under such circumstances, it is embarrassing for us to attend the council
uninvited,” said Ruhi.
Replying
to a query, the Hefazat leader said the followers of Ahmad Shafi had been left
out of the council on purpose and instead of being a participatory council, it
would be a unilateral one.
Ruhi
went on to say that militant elements would infiltrate Hefazat if Junayed
Babunagari was made ameer.
“The
chain of command will collapse if Junayed Babunagari and Nur Hossain Kasemi are
made ameer and secretary general, respectively. Babunagari will supersede
Kasemi since he is the nayeb-e-ameer of Hefazat,” said Ruhi.
“Hefazat
will lose its strength as an organization under the leadership of Babunagari.
Hefazat will no longer remain a force to be reckoned with if the division
deepens,” said Ruhi.
Ruhi
also feared that the Babunagari-led faction might swoop on them if they
attended the council.
It
is mentionable that Ruhi came under attack during the two-day long student
unrest at Hathazari Madrasa which led to the resignation of Shafi from the post
of rector of the Madrasa and removal of his younger son Anas Madani from the
post of assistant director.
Junayed
Babunagari began to consolidate his position after the death of Ahmad Shafi.
As
Babunagari began to strengthen his position, the followers of Shafi were
increasingly being cornered.
Earlier
on June 17, the Madrasa Shura Committee relieved Junayed Babunagari of his post
of Assistant Director.
Soon
after the death of Shafi, Babunagari became chief shaikul hadith and
nazim-e-talimat (director of education).
On
September 18, Shafi breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Asgar Ali
Hospital in the capital.
Hefazat
was formed in 2010 and came to prominence by mobilising opposition to the
Shahbagh Movement in early 2013. It was then that its leaders issued their now
infamous 13-point charter, which included demands for a ban on the free mixing
of men and women, and death penalty for atheists.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/2020/11/11/who-is-going-to-take-hefazat-s-helm
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Muslim
Brotherhood responds to Saudi Council of Senior Scholars
November
12, 2020
The
Muslim Brotherhood (MB) responded on Tuesday evening to the statements of Saudi
Arabia's Council of Senior Scholars accusing it of terrorism, and stressed that
the organisation is based on a reformist ideology that advocates for Islam and
not terrorism.
p
announced: "The brotherhood, which was founded in 1928 in Egypt, is
distant from acts of violence, terrorism and disseminating division between the
nation's components."
Fahmy
added: "The MB has been, since its establishment, a reformist advocacy
group that calls to obeying Allah through sharing wise and pious advice without
excess or negligence."
He
indicated that the brotherhood denies all the accusations of the Council of
Senior Scholars, emphasising that: "The approach of the group is founded
on the Holy Quran and the sahih of authentic hadith without exaggeration or
extremism, and its history attests to that."
The
MB spokesperson continued: "The group, which is completely distant from
acts of violence and terrorism, has always been a victim of the violence and
terror of dictatorships." Fahmy confirmed that: "The brotherhood
remained biased towards the correct foundations of Islam and the just causes of
the nation, the Palestinian cause first and foremost."
Fahmy
relied on the views of prominent Saudi scholars of the brotherhood's
activities, namely, Abdul Aziz Ibn Baz, Abdullah Ibn Jibreen and Safar
Al-Hawali, as well as the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta.
He
asserted: "All of those scholars said that the brotherhood is one of the
closest groups to truth, among Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama and the sects which achieved
salvation, and attested that the group is moderate and intends to reform and
advocate the teachings of Islam."
Fahmy
called on everyone to work on uniting the nation, spreading the teachings of
Islam, defending the Sunnah of the Prophet, and confronting the dangers and
conspiracy against Muslims.
The
Council of Senior Scholars considered the brotherhood a terrorist organisation,
following in the footsteps of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, which took a
similar step in March 2014.
Meanwhile,
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdul Latif Al Al-Sheikh tweeted that the
council's statement was: "Satisfactory and adequate, and leaves no excuse
of ignorance after reading it."
The
council conveyed: "The brotherhood is a terrorist group that does not
represent the approach of Islam. It is a perverted organisation that disobeys
legitimate rulers, stirs up discord, conceals foul doings under the cover of
religion, and practices violence and terrorism. The brotherhood did not show
keenness to follow the teachings of Islam or the Sunnah and hadith, but aimed
rather to reach power," adding that the group was the incubator for many
terrorist organisations.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201112-muslim-brotherhood-responds-to-saudi-council-of-senior-scholars/
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Lebanon's
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah: Glad about Trump's 'humiliating downfall'
12
November 2020
The
leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Wednesday he was pleased about "the
humiliating downfall" of US President Donald Trump but urged regional
allies to be on alert for any US or Israeli "folly" during the rest
of his term in office.
Hassan
Nasrallah, in a televised speech, described Trump's administration as
"among the worst, if not the worst" in the United States, but said
that the new US president would not alter Washington's pro-Israel policy in the
Middle East.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
He
added that US sanctions imposed on ally Gebran Bassil, an influential Lebanese
Christian politician, are aimed at exerting political pressure.
The
United States last week blacklisted Bassil, the son-in-law of Lebanon's
president, on accusations of corruption and ties to the Iran-backed Shia
Hezbollah that Washington deems a terrorist group.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/11/12/Lebanon-s-Hezbollah-leader-Nasrallah-Glad-about-Trump-s-humiliating-downfall-
--------
India
AMU
organises national webinar on Allama Iqbal’s ‘legal philosophy’
Sameer
11th
November 2020
Aligarh:
A national webinar on the topic “Legal Philosophy of Sir Muhammad Iqbal (Allama
Iqbal) was organized by the Law Society, Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim
University. People from 15 different countries of the world participated in
this webinar.
Chief
Guest of the webinar, Prof. Abdul Haq, Professor Emeritus, University of Delhi
and an authority on Allama Iqbal said that if we look at the history of poets,
then we cannot find any match of Allama Iqbal. He is the greatest poet in the
world. Allama Iqbal has done a lot of work in the field of law but people have
not highlighted that work. He congratulated Prof. Shakeel Samdani for
organizing a webinar on this aspect of Allama Iqbal’s life.
Prof.
Haq further said that law was an important part of Iqbal’s life and one can
find many legal terms in Iqbal’s poetry. Legal terms from Urdu like Daleel,
Gawah, Insaaf, Huqooq, etc are repeated simultaneously in his writings. He
practiced law for 30 years in his life. Allama Iqbal was the only Urdu poet who
was a very successful barrister and he wrote successfully in three different
languages, that is, English, Persian, and Urdu. He said that Iqbal was a
farsighted man who advocated modern education in the early 20th century and
gave the concept of compulsory education. He said that it is the duty of the
Law faculties throughout the subcontinent to do research in the legal works of
Allama Iqbal. He also suggested that AMU must have a Chair in his name.
Presiding
over the webinar, Prof. Shakeel Samdani, Dean, Faculty of Law and President,
Law Society said that Sir Muhammad Iqbal is a very well known personality
throughout the world. The song ‘ Sare Jahan Se Accha, Hindustan Hamara ‘ is a
song which takes our patriotic spirits to the next level and is a gift to all
Indians from him. Prof. Samdani further said that about 90 years ago, Iqbal was
a human rights activist who talked about fundamental rights, freedom of
expressions, labour rights, compulsory education and patriotism. Iqbal has
contributed a lot in Urdu poetry and there is no substitute for him.
Giving
a detailed information on Iqbal, Prof. Shakeel Samdani said that Iqbal’s poetry
is based on social justice. Over 4500 books in all major languages have been
written on Allama Iqbal which is a record in itself. He also discussed the
journey of Iqbal to Europe.
At
last Prof. Samdani promised the participants that he will make all efforts to
establish a chair in the Faculty of Law, AMU in the name of Sir Muhammad Iqbal
and also announced that a lecture on the legal aspect of Sir Muhammad Iqbal
will be organized every year by the Law Faculty.
Chief
Speaker of the webinar, Prof. Saud Alam Qasmi, Former Dean, Faculty of
Theology, AMU said that Prof. Shakeel Samdani and the Law Society has done a
very commendable job by organizing a webinar on the legal philosophy of Allama
Iqbal. He said that Iqbal was very much fond of Sir Syed Ahamd Khan and Aligarh
Muslim Univeristy and this can been seen in his writings. He has praised Sir
Syed for bringing Muslims in the mainstream of education. Prof. Qasmi further
said that Iqbal was of the view that both old and new laws should be taught in
AMU. Iqbal was also very much attached to Sir Ross Masood.
This
conference was inaugurated by Prof. Zahiruddin, PVC, AMU who said that Allama
Iqbal was a great poet, reformer and politician. He was a highly educated man
who has contributed a lot for the development of Indians. Personalitites like
him are very rare.
Addressing
the participants, Ayesha Samdani, MBBS Student, AMU said that the parents of
Iqbal played a very important role in his personality building by giving two
examples from Iqbal’s life. She further said that Sir Iqbal has completed his
legal education from England and he was a great Barrister of his time. Ayesha
said that there are more than 100 reported cases of Iqbal and his first
reported case was in the first year of his legal career. Some of his principles
were adopted by the British courts and are still being used today. She also
discussed in detail about some of the leading cases from his life time.
Prof.
Mohd. Asharf welcomed the guest and Abdullah Samdani, Secretary, Law Society
proposed the vote of thanks. This webinar was conducted by Ayesha Nasir Alavi.
Afif
Jilani, Mahelaka Abrar and Nikita Motwani introduced the guests. Shalja Singh,
Somya Agarwal and Fozia were rapporteurs in this webinar. Sadaf Khan started
this webinar by reciting verses from the Holy Quran. This webinar was a great
success with the efforts of Pawan Varhsney, Shubham Kumar, Hunain Khalid, Sheob
Ali, Kashif Sultan, etc.
https://www.siasat.com/amu-organises-national-webinar-on-allama-iqbals-legal-philosophy-2020509/
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Asaduddin
Owaisi’s ‘vote-cutter’ AIMIM sends jitters in Bengal after Bihar show
Indrajit
Kundu
Kolkata
November
12, 2020
The
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won the 2020 Bihar Assembly Election.
After Bihar, the focus now shifts to West Bengal. In most parts, the Bihar
result is unlikely to have a direct bearing, but the election in Bengal is six
months away, and in politics, that’s a long break.
There
is, however, one factor that may weigh in heavily across the border -- the
success of Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party AIMIM has been levelled by many as a
'vote-cutter'.
Asaduddin
Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) picked up five crucial
seats in the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region of north Bihar, securing 1.24
per cent of total votes polled, and denting the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar. Of
these five, two were won by the Congress and one by the RJD in 2015.
Buoyed
by the success in Bihar, especially in bordering areas of Bengal, Asaduddin
Owaisi on Tuesday announced that his party will contest election in West Bengal
next.
Reacting
to allegations that his party was dividing anti-BJP votes, Owaisi said he was
running a political party that has a right to contest on its own.
“You
mean we should not fight elections. You [Congress] went and sat in the Shiv
Sena’s lap [in Maharashtra]. If anyone asks why did you fight the elections...I
will fight in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and will fight every election in the
country... Do I need to ask anyone’s permission to fight the polls,” he said
when asked if the party will contest in other states.
TMC-Congress
on the back foot
With
AIMIM fast gaining ground among Muslim youth across states, parties in Bengal,
especially the ruling Trinamool Congress is wary of this challenge. Already,
both the TMC and the Congress have accused Owaisi of being a proxy for the BJP.
“Muslims
got fooled by him. The BJP used him. Those votes should have gone to the
secular front but went to him. All secular parties should be cautious of vote
cutter Owaisi sahab,” said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Chowdhury
is a five-time MP from Behrampore in Mursdidabad district, which has the
highest concentration of Muslim population in Bengal.
In
Birbhum, TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal echoed Chowdhury and said, “You all know
AIMIM. They are BJP’s biggest dalal. They have spoilt the result of several
seats in Bihar. They claim to be pro-Muslim but they are actually a proxy for
BJP. No one should trust them.”
The
Muslim factor in Bengal
Bengal’s
27 per cent Muslim vote has been the deciding factor on who wrests power in the
state. In the recent election, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress got the
lion’s share of the Muslim vote, while Congress managed to retain its old
bastions in Muslim majority Malda and Murshidabad districts.
With
the AIMIM’s entry as a popular Muslim party, the situation may change.
Three
districts in north Bengal have a clear Muslim majority -- Murshidabad (66 per
cent), Malda (51 per cent) and North Dinajpur (49 per cent). Six districts --
Coochbehar (25 per cent), Birbhum (37 per cent), South 24 Pargana (35 per
cent), North 24 Paraganas (25 per cent), Howrah (26 per cent), Nadia (26 per
cent) -- have more than 25 per cent Muslim population.
The
other districts with more than 10 per cent of the population are Bardhman 20.73
per cent Dakshin Dinaj 24.63 per cent, Hooghly 15.77 per cent, Kolkata 20.6 per
cent, Pashchim Medinipur 10.49 per cent and Purba Medinipur 14.59 per cent.
Overall,
there are 16 districts in Bengal which have more than 10 per cent Muslim
population. Of these16 districts, 12 have more than 20 per cent Muslim
population.
Of
the total 294 Assembly constituencies, there are about 90 seats that have a
sizeable Muslim electorate. Which way they swing will be a deciding factor. The
AIMIM may not win many seats, but it can surely play a spoiler.
Advantage
BJP?
In
case of a four-cornered fight between the TMC, BJP, Congress-Left combine
(possible alliance) and AIMIM, fragmentation of the Muslim vote will give a
definitive edge to the BJP. Last year’s Lok Sabha election result in Raiganj
(North Dinajpur) being a case in hand.
A
long-time Congress stronghold under Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, the BJP got a
chance victory in Raiganj securing a 40 per cent vote share, defeating CPIM
veteran MD Salim. TMC secured 35 per cent vote, CPIM got 14 per cent while the
Congress bagged 6 per cent votes.
Well
aware of the threat to her prized possession, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had
sounded caution well ahead of time last year.
Warning
against the rise of “minority extremism” propelled by groups based outside
Bengal, Banerjee said, “There are some extremists within the minority
community. They are being funded by the BJP. They are based out of Hyderabad.
They are conducting meetings here, telling Muslims that they will protect them.
Do not fall for it my minority brothers and sisters.”
Experts
feel Owaisi’s rise as a pan-Indian Muslim face has been in the making for quite
some time, especially with Muslims losing space in the mainstream parties with
the rise of Hindutva politics.
“Owaisi
sees himself as a pan-Indian leader. Naturally, he is putting up candidates
everywhere. Rise of such a pan-India Muslim leader will surely give some
advantage to the BJP. There cannot be a Hindu Mahasabha without a Muslim
league. If you don't have a modern Jinnah in Owaisi, then how can the RSS/BJP
move ahead. They need Owaisi more than he needs himself!” says veteran
journalist Suvojit Bagchi.
https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/asaduddin-owaisi-vote-cutter-aimim-jitters-bengal-bihar-show-1740284-2020-11-12
--------
Europe
UK
counter-terrorism: Lockdown is fuelling online extremist recruitment
11
November 2020
The
coronavirus lockdown in England is not only impacting on the nation’s mental
health but it is now claimed it could even potentially pose a threat to
national security.
According
to a senior counter-terrorism officer, the second lockdown in England is
exposing young people to online grooming by “extremists”.
Superintendent
Matthew Davison, who works in Counter Terrorism Policing, has drawn a direct
connection between the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic
and the dissemination of “hate” and “disinformation” by extremists on online
platforms.
In
a briefing to the media, Supt Davison, who is the regional Prevent coordinator
in north-east England, claimed that young people are being targeted “in their
bedrooms”.
Prevent
– which seeks to pre-empt terrorist actions well before they take shape – is
one of the central elements of the British government’s counter-terrorism
strategy.
According
to Davison, referrals to Prevent have declined during the pandemic.
He
attributed the drop in referrals to young people staying away from educational
institutions due to coronavirus restrictions, notably the lockdown.
Traditionally,
higher education institutions, and especially universities, have provided the
bulk of Prevent referrals.
Davison
said that Counter Terrorism Policing is “really concerned” about extremists
making “proactive plans” to reach into people’s homes with a view to winning
the “hearts and minds” of young people.
"They're
[extremists] monitoring the migration of young people, particularly on
different platforms, and targeted [sic] them with all sorts of propaganda with
a view to recruiting them", Davison added.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/11/638411/UK-Extremism-Recruitment-Activity-Coronavirus-Lockdown
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Azerbaijan:
Muslim prayer call resounds across Shusha
Ruslan
Rehimov
11.11.2020
BAKU,
Azerbaijan
The
Muslim call to prayer, known as the adhan, was heard Wednesday in
Nagorno-Karabakh's symbolic city of Shusha for the first time in nearly three
decades.
Footage
on social media showed an Azerbaijani soldier reciting the adhan at Shusha's
historical Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque.
Shusha,
which was occupied by Armenian forces on May 8, 1992, is a strategically
important city in the Upper Karabakh region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. It is located
on the road to Khankendi, the region's largest city.
Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev announced on Nov. 8 that Shusha had been liberated from Armenian
occupation.
"After
28 years, the adhan [call to prayer] will be heard in Shusha," Aliyev,
wearing a military uniform, said in an address to the nation.
Relations
between the ex-Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian
military occupied Upper Karabakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory
recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
Fresh
clashes erupted on Sept. 27, and the Armenian army continued its attacks on
civilians and Azerbaijani forces, even violating humanitarian cease-fire
agreements, for 44 days.
Baku
liberated several cities and nearly 300 of its settlements and villages from
Armenian occupation during this time.
On
Nov. 10, the two countries signed a Russia-brokered agreement to end the
fighting and work towards a comprehensive resolution.
Turkey
welcomed the truce, which resulted from Baku's military successes against
Yerevan.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/azerbaijan-muslim-prayer-call-resounds-across-shusha/2040684
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Russia
denies Erdogan’s claim of Turkey jointly monitoring Nagorno-Karabakh deal
Tuqa
Khalid
11
November 2020
The
Russian Kremlin denied on Wednesday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
claim that Ankara and Moscow were jointly monitoring the ceasefire deal signed
by Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Erdogan
had said that Turkey and Russia signed an agreement to establish a joint center
to coordinate efforts for monitoring the ceasefire and that Ankara would
participate in the peacekeeping force.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
However,
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Turkey’s statement on
creating a monitoring center in Karabakh runs counter to Kremlin’s stance,
according to state news agency TASS.
“This
is not how we understand it,” he said, adding that the presence of Turkish
peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh was not agreed on.
Peskov
had told reporters on Tuesday “the creation of a center to monitor the
Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire in Azerbaijan was not mentioned in the joint
statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia and was subject to a
separate agreement," TASS reported.
The
ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia was announced on Tuesday, ending the
worst fighting in the region in decades, and celebrated as a victory in
Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey.
Speaking
to members of his AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said Turkey would participate
in the peacekeeping force and that the agreement ended Armenia's 28-year
occupation of Azeri lands - an allusion to Nagorno Karabakh, a mountainous
enclave within Azerbaijan ruled by ethnic Armenians.
"Turkey
will take part in the joint peace force to be formed to monitor the ceasefire
along with Russia," Erdogan said. "The relevant agreement on the
formation of the Joint Turkish-Russian Centre to monitor the ceasefire was
signed this morning. It will be formed on Azeri lands liberated from
occupation."
Protests
in Armenia
Thousands
of Armenians took to the streets in the capital Yerevan on Tuesday to protest
the agreement Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian signed with Azerbaijan and Russia
to end the war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Pashinian
said the deal was "extremely painful" for him and the Armenian
people. "The decision was the result of an in-depth analysis of the
military situation and based on the assessment of the best experts in the
field," he said in a Facebook post.
"I
believe this is the best possible solution for the current situation,"
Pashinyan added.
"This
is not a victory but there is not defeat until you consider yourself defeated.
We will never consider ourselves defeated and this shall become a new start of
an era of our national unity and rebirth," he said.
The
agreement calls for Armenian forces to turn over control of some areas it held
outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the eastern district of
Agdam.
That
area carries strong symbolic weight for Azerbaijan because its main city, also
called Agdam, was thoroughly pillaged, and the only building remaining intact
is the city's mosque.
Armenians
will also turn over the Lachin region, which holds the main road leading from
Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The agreement calls for the road, the so-called
Lachin Corridor, to remain open and be protected by Russian peacekeepers.
Soon
after the announcement, thousands of people streamed to the main square in the
Armenian capital Yerevan to protest the agreement, many shouting, "We
won't give up our land!"
Some
of them broke into the main government building, saying they were searching for
Pashinian, who apparently had already departed. A few hundred entered the
building, ransacking offices and breaking windows, an AFP journalist said.
Armenian
and Azerbaijani forces have been fighting for six weeks over the region of
Nagorno-Karabakh. The region lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the
control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war there ended in
1994. The latest outburst of hostilities began September 27 and has left
hundreds — perhaps thousands — dead, marking the worst escalation of fighting
since the war’s end.
Azerbaijan
has relied on strong support from its ally Turkey, which has trained
Azerbaijani military and provided it with strike drones and long-range rocket
systems. Meanwhile, Russia has a defense pact with Armenia and a military base
there.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/11/11/Russia-denies-Erdogan-s-claim-of-Turkey-jointly-monitoring-Nagorno-Karabakh-deal
--------
Pakistan
Maryam
asks GB people to elect PML-N for development
12
Nov 2020
GILGIT:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice-president Maryam Nawaz insisted on Wednesday
the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government will go home before this year
end.
Addressing
a corner meeting in Nagar Khas on Wednesday, she said the Nov 15 elections were
very important for the people of GB as they would decide their fate through
their votes.
She
insisted the Imran Khan-led government had done great injustice to her father
and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
She
termed Imran Khan a tyrant who had the ghost of revenge and jealousy in his
mind, but she and her father faced the tyranny with bravery.
Addressing
the participants of the gathering, she said: “You are brave people as you
respect your mothers, sisters and daughters.”
Maryam
Nawaz declared that Imran Khan did not know what was happening in the country
as country was being run by others. She also came down hard on the government
for failing to check the unbridled inflation.
“People
from every corner of this country are cursing Imran Khan and his fake
government for the current mess the country is in,” she said, adding people
were unable to pay gas, electricity bills, fees of children and run their
kitchens.
The
PML-N leader insisted that Imran Khan was surrounded by thieves, and asked the
GB people that they should not vote for a person ‘whose government was going to
end’.
Ms
Nawaz claimed that Nawaz Sharif was the person who could heal the people’s
wounds, and asked the people to vote for him as he had brought huge development
to the region.
“You
should realise that you are not voting for PML-N but for your development,
success, welfare, empowerment,” she said.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1589930/maryam-asks-gb-people-to-elect-pml-n-for-development
--------
Shehbaz,
Hamza, eight others indicted in assets case
12
Nov 2020
LAHORE:
An accountability court on Wednesday indicted Leader of Opposition in National
Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, his son Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza
Shehbaz and eight other suspects in a Rs7 billion reference of money laundering
and assets beyond means.
However,
all the suspects pleaded not guilty and decided to contest the trial.
Denying
the charges as false and fabricated, Mr Shehbaz said he had been victimised on
political grounds. He said all the cases pending against him had been
engineered by his political opponents.
Presiding
Judge Jawadul Hassan also asked Hamza as if he wanted to say something in his
defence.
Hamza
also denied the charges levelled in the reference filed by the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) and termed them politically motivated. He said his
family had been subjected to vindictive actions at the behest of the
government. He pledged to prove his innocence in the trial.
As
the suspects pleaded not guilty, the judge directed the NAB to present its
witnesses on the next hearing for their evidence.
Shehbaz’s
daughter Javeria Ali was also indicted through her pleader while four members
of the opposition leader’s family had not so far joined the proceedings before
the court. They are Nusrat, wife of Shehbaz, his son Suleman Shehbaz and
son-in-law Haroon Yousaf. The proceedings to declare them absconder are under
way.
Other
suspects indicted on Wednesday include Fazal Dad Abbasi, Rashid Karamat,
Muhammad Usman, Masroor Anwar, Nisar Ahmad, Shoaib Qamar and Qasim Qayum. The
NAB also nominated four approvers in the reference including Yasir Mushtaq,
Muhammad Mushtaq, Shahid Rafiq and Aftab Mahmood.
The
reference mainly accused Shehbaz of being a beneficiary of the assets held in
the name of his family members and benamidars, who had no sources to acquire
such assets. It said the family members and benamidars of the Shehbaz’s family
received fake foreign remittances of billions in their personal bank accounts.
In addition to these remittances, the bureau said, billions of rupees were
laundered by way of foreign pay orders, which were deposited in personal bank
accounts of Hamza and Suleman.
The
reference said Shehbaz and his family failed to justify the sources of funds
used for acquisition of assets.
Outside
the judicial complex, the police used force to control charged workers of PML-N
who tried to climb the armoured vehicle that brought Shehbaz to the court from
the jail.
MNA
Rana Sanaullah Khan, MPA Rana Mashood Ali Khan, Raja Hanif Abbasi, Azma Bukhari
and other leaders also reached the court to express solidarity with the party
president.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1589872/shehbaz-hamza-eight-others-indicted-in-assets-case
--------
South Asia
Bangladeshi
Christians And Other Minority Groups In Peaceful Protest Against Islamist
Attacks
Nov
12, 2020
Bangladeshi
Christians, and other minority groups, took to the streets of Dhaka in a
500-strong peaceful protest march on 7 November against relentless Islamist
extremist attacks on minority communities.
Rana
Dasgupto, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Hindu, Bouddha, Christian
Oikya Parishad (BHBCOP), the march organisers, stated that at least 17 people
from ethnic and religious minority communities were killed between March and
September this year, with attacks continuing throughout the Covid crisis.
The
protesters say that the Islamist attacks against minority communities ‘‘hurt
religious feelings’’, and minority leaders claimed that communities are living
with “uncertainty” because “the government failed to protect them’’.
A
placard stating, ‘‘Stop Using Facebook for Community Attack” highlighted the
role of social media in persecution-related incidents, with some arrests of
Hindu students made after accusations of “offending religious sentiment” in
Facebook comments.
The
1% Christian minority has typically enjoyed greater religious freedom in
Bangladesh than in many other Muslim-majority countries but, along with the 9%
Hindu and small Buddhist populations, is subject to discrimination from the 90%
Muslim majority. Violence against Christians, particularly in rural areas, has
been growing, with those active in evangelism and converts from Islam
particularly targeted. The country’s constitution gives religious minorities
the right to practise and share their faith, but Islam is the state religion.
https://news.barnabasfund.org/Bangladeshi-Christians-and-others-in-peaceful-protest-against-Islamist-attacks/
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CID
arrests missing JnU student Tithy for hurting religious sentiment
Hasan
Al Javed
November
11th, 2020
She
had been missing since October 25
Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) of police has arrested suspended Jagannath
University (JnU) student Tithy Sarkar for allegedly making derogatory remarks
about Islam and Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) on Facebook.
She
was arrested on Wednesday evening, CID's Senior Assistant Superintendent of
Police (ASP) Jisan Ul Haque confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
Cyber
Police Centre of CID will hold a press briefing at 12pm on Thursday in this
regard.
Earlier
on October 23, some screenshots of Tithi’s Facebook account making derogatory
comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) went viral.
Following
the incident, Tithy, a third-year student of the zoology department at JnU,
went missing on October 25. Since then, the law enforcement agencies were
looking for her.
Tithy’s
sister, Smriti Rani Sarker filed a general diary (GD) on October 27 in this
regard with Pallabi police station.
On
October 26, authorities of JnU issued a suspension order against Tithi for
reportedly hurting religious sentiments.
On
November 5, Tithy was sued under the Digital Security Act for allegedly making
derogatory comments about religion on Facebook.
Abu
Musa Rifat, a student from Tithy’s department, filed the case with the Cyber
Tribunal in Dhaka.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/11/11/cid-arrests-missing-jnu-student-for-hurting-religious-sentiment
--------
Muslims
attack ethnic Christian villagers in Bangladesh
November
12, 2020
A
group of Bengali Muslims, allegedly led by a land grabber, attacked ethnic
Christian villagers and left houses and a village chapel ransacked and at least
one person injured in northeastern Bangladesh.
About
50-60 men armed with weapons attacked Ichhachhara village in the Kulaura area
of Moulvibazar district on Nov. 9 evening.
The
assailants vandalized a grocery shop, houses and the chapel. They were led by
Rafiq Ali, a Bengali Muslim who recently lost a legal battle over ownership of
land to a Khasia villager and was evicted by the local administration only
hours earlier.
The
village, inhabited by ethnic Khasia Christians, is covered by Immaculate
Conception Church of Lokhipur of Sylhet Diocese.
Oblate
Father Joseph Gomes, the parish priest, said that Rafiq Ali was angry as the
local administration had supported a villager whose land he had occupied
illegally.
“The
land and betel leaf plantation belong to a Khasia man, Jasper Amalrang, but
Rafiq grabbed it by force with fake documents. The land and the plantation are
the only source of income for the family. Police and the administration were
supportive in ruling in favor of Jaspar and evicted Rafiq Ali duly,” Father
Gomes told UCA News.
The
priest expressed dismay that the attackers dared to vandalize the chapel used
for Sunday liturgy and left its fences broken and altar desecrated.
“They
have also pelted bricks and stones at village houses and one villager was hurt.
We demand justice for the attack and the end of abuses against ethnic people,”
Father Gomes said.
Police
confirmed the incident and vowed to take further action.
“Rafiq
Ali used a fake land document to illegally occupy five acres of land of
villager Jasper Amalrang. The local land office issued a verdict in favor of
Jaspar and the administration handed over the land by evicting Rafiq Ali. He
was aggrieved over the decision, so he attacked the village at night,” Binay
Bhushay Roy, officer in-charge of Kulaura police station, told UCA News.
Roy
said that police and the local administration are ready to support the
community and would take action against the perpetrator once a case is filed.
“The
local administration is trying to forge a compromise deal. If that does not
happen, we will take action against attackers as per the law,” he added.
Land
grabbing, eviction and violence against ethnic Khasia people in northeast of
Bangladesh are not uncommon. A series of incidents has targeted the community
in recent years.
Khasia
is a matrilineal mongoloid ethnic group, mostly living in Bangladesh and
northeastern Indian states. An estimated 40,000 Khasia live in Bangladesh,
mostly Christians, living in forested cluster villages called punji and relying
largely on betel leaf plantations for a livelihood.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/muslims-attack-ethnic-christian-villagers-in-bangladesh/90260#
--------
50
Taliban Killed in Defense Operations
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
12
Nov 2020
11
Taliban were killed and four were wounded after they attacked ANDSF positions
in Pashtun Zarghon district of Herat Province Wednesday night.
According
to Ministry of Defense, ANA repelled the attack and large amounts of Taliban’s
ammunition and weapons were seized.
Meanwhile,
Kandahar officials say 39 insurgents have been killed in teh province.
Kandahar
governor’s spokesman, Ahmad Bahir Ahmadi told the media on Wednesday night that
the clearance operation had taken place in several districts.
He
added, “In the last 24 hours, clearing operations have been carried out in
different districts of Kandahar with the aim of suppressing the enemy”.
“39
opposition members were killed and 18 others were injured during the
operation.” Bahir said.
He
says that in addition to destroying a minefield, 175 planted mines were
discovered and defused.
Bahir
also said that a Taliban rocket had hit a residential area in Zherai district
of the province, killing four women.
On
the other hand, 12 taliban militants were killed and 8 others were wounded in
Trinkot and Gizab districts last night,
Mod
reports, “A large amount of Taliban’s weapons and ammunition were destroyed as
a result of reciprocal attacks,”.
https://www.khaama.com/at-least-50-taliban-killed-in-defense-operations-786876/
--------
Radio
Azadi Reporter Killed in Helmand Blast
By
Mohammad Arif Sheva
12
Nov 2020
HELMAND,
Afghanistan – Elias Dayee, an Afghan journalist at Radio Azadi, is killed after
a magnetic mine blew a vehicle early Thursday morning in southern province of
Helmand, local authorities confirmed.
No
group or individual has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Omar
Zwak, spokesman for the Helmand Governor, told local media the incident took
place in Police District 1 of the Lashkargha city.
Officials
did not provide further details but said investigation is underway through the
case. It, however, remained unclear whether the vehicle targeted was of Dayee’s
own car.
The
blast came days after a similar attack in Makroyan-e-Char area of Kabul city
killed at least one former TOLOnews presenter Yama Siawash and further two
civilians.
The
incident sparked a widespread criticism over the currents government’s
incompetency to protect its citizen, including journalists throughout Afghanistan.
https://www.khaama.com/radio-azadi-reporter-killed-in-helmand-blast-34534/
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Arab world
Recognize
Iran’s role in supporting terrorism, extremism: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman
Joseph
Haboush
11
November 2020
Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz called on the international community to
recognize the danger of Iran’s role in supporting terrorism, extremism and
sectarianism, a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency reported on
Wednesday.
“The
Kingdom affirms the danger of the regional project by the Iranian regime, and
we reject its interference in internal affairs and its support for terrorism,
extremism and sectarianism,” King Salman said in his opening speech to the
Shura Council.
For
all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“We
call on the international community to take a strong position against Iran to
ensure it does not obtain weapons of mass destruction and develop its ballistic
missile project,” the king added.
The
new Shura Council is made up of 150 members and will serve a four-year term.
The
Shura Council was restructured last month with Sheikh Abdallah Al-Sheikh
appointed as its head.
Yemen
King
Salman also condemned the Iran-backed Houthi militia's continued attacks,
violating international law by launching bomb-laded drones and rockets at Saudi
Arabia.
However,
King Salman voiced Saudi Arabia’s support for the Yemeni people to reclaim
their independence and sovereignty.
Palestine
Saudi
Arabia continues to stand by the Palestinian people and their call for an
independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Saudi Arabian king
said.
“We
support the efforts for peace in the Middle East via negotiations between
Palestinians and Israelis in order to reach a fair and permanent solution,”
King Salman said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/11/12/Recognize-Iran-s-role-in-supporting-terrorism-extremism-Saudi-Arabia-s-King-Salman
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Arab
Coalition intercepts two explosive-laden boats launched by Houthis in Yemen
Rawad
Taha
11
November 2020
Arab
Coalition successfully intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden boats in
the Red Sea, launched by Iran-backed-Houthi militia in Yemen, Spokesperson
Colonel Turki al-Maliki said on Wednesday, according to state news agency SPA.
"The
boats represented a threat to regional and international security, maritime
routes and international trade," al-Maliki said.
The
spokesman said the boats were launched from Hodeidah Governorate, which the
Houthi militias use "as a base to launch ballistic missiles, drones,
booby-trapped remote-operated boats, as well as the random deployment of sea
mines in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a violation
of the provisions of the Stockholm cease-fire agreement in Hodeidah.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/11/12/Arab-Coalition-intercepts-two-explosive-laden-boats-launched-by-Houthis-in-Yemen
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Two
injured in attack on non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah: Authorities
Tamara
Abueish
11
November 2020
An
employee of the Greek embassy and a Saudi Arabian security guard were slightly
injured during an attack on a non-Muslim cemetery in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah,
according to authorities from the Mecca Governorate.
The
Khawajaat Cemetery has been secured and the situation is currently stable, an
Al Arabiya correspondent said.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The
incident occured earlier on Wednesday when several members from different
foreign embassies were attending an event at the cemetery, the authorities said
without providing more details.
In
a joint statement, the embassies of France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom
and the United States said that they support Saudi Arabian authorities in their
investigation into the attack and its perpetrators.
The
embassies also thank the Saudi Arabian first responders who helped everyone who
was at the site of the attack, the statement added.
Al-Ekhbariya
TV also showed footage of security cordons around the cemetery.
People
of different nationalities, including British and Portuguese soldiers, have
been buried in the Khawajaat Cemetery, according to Al Arabiya.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/11/11/Several-injured-in-blast-at-non-Muslim-cemetery-in-Saudi-Arabia-s-Jeddah
--------
Four
injured in bomb blast at WWI memorial in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah
11
November 2020
As
many as four people have reportedly been wounded after a purported bomb
explosion hits a World War I memorial ceremony that was being attended by
European diplomats in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah.
The
blast hit a non-Muslim cemetery, where the ceremony was being held, on
Wednesday.
The
French Foreign Ministry said the event had been joined by “by several
consulates, including that of France.”
The
Armistice commemoration “was the target of an IED (improvised explosive device)
attack this morning, which injured several people," the Ministry added.
Roads
leading up to the cemetery in central Jeddah were blocked by the Saudi traffic
police, an AFP photographer said.
Last
month, a Saudi citizen wounded a guard at the French Consulate in Jeddah with a
knife. France, itself, has also been witnessing a spate of similar violent
attacks.
Western
officials, media outlets, and observers have, meanwhile, been rushing to
suggest that those, who have been staging such attacks, have been informed by
“Islamic beliefs” and acted out of outrage over French President Emanuel
Macron’s multiple insults against Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over
the past several months.
Over
the past months, the French head of state has attacked the sentiments of nearly
two billion Muslims worldwide on several occasions.
In
September, he defended the “right to blaspheme” in France after French
satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo republished sacrilegious cartoons of Prophet
Muhammad. On October 2, he claimed in a speech that Islam was “in crisis
globally” and announced his plan “to reform Islam” to make the faith, what he
called, more in line with French values.
Later,
Macron supported a French teacher’s displaying of cartoons insulting the
Prophet in his class. “France will never renounce caricatures,” Macron
declared, defending the teacher for “promoting freedom.”
The
French president’s effrontery has opened the floodgates of backlash from Muslims
around the world, with numerous Muslim states and leaders issuing condemnatory
statements against him and people rising in thousands-strong protests. Many
Muslim companies and associations have also boycotted French items in protest.
At
the same time as denouncing profanity and condemning attempts at justifying it
under the pretext of “free speech,” Muslim countries, authorities, and scholars
have also invariably condemned extremism and violence, including the type that
has been witnessed across the world since Macron’s comments.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/11/638385/Saudi-Arabia-explosion-ceremony-Jeddah-European-diplomats-WWI-memorial
--------
Assad
says US hampering return of Syrian refugees
11
November 2020
Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad has blamed the United States for hampering the return
of refugees to Syria.
"Today
we continue working persistently for the return of every refugee who wants to
return and participate in the restoration of the homeland," Assad said in
a speech delivered via video at the opening of the two-day International
Conference on the Return of Refugees in Damascus on Wednesday.
"But
there are big obstacles,” he added, citing the US sanctions and the blockades
imposed by Washington and its allies, which he said are hindering the
rebuilding of Syria.
Assad
further said the return is not only humanitarian but a “national issue.”
"They
refuse to be a number in politically-motivated statistics or a pawn in the
hands of the regimes that support terrorism against their homeland," he
explained.
The
Syrian leader noted that some host countries are exploiting the refugees to
benefit from international aid for them.
He
added that millions of refugees were being forced to stay in some host
countries by "pressure or intimidation" or by financial enticements.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Assad thanked Russia, which co-organized the conference, for
the "tremendous effort" it made to support it, despite the West's
attempts to "disrupt the forum".
Last
month, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem denounced the Western role in
setting conditions and fabricating flimsy pretexts to halt the return of Syrian
refugees to their homeland, slamming the West for politicizing the purely
humanitarian issue and its use as a card for advancing their political agendas.
Since
2011, some 5.6 million Syrians have been forced to flee abroad as refugees,
mostly to the neighboring countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/11/638393/Assad-US-return-Syrian-refugees
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Bahrain’s
crown prince appointed new prime minister
12
November 2020
Bahrain’s
Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has been appointed as new prime
minister of the Persian Gulf kingdom.
A
royal order carried by the official BNA news agency on Wednesday said Bahrain’s
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had named the crown prince, his eldest son, as
the kingdom’s new premier after his uncle, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al
Khalifa, who died a day earlier at a hospital in the US.
The
BNA said the new appointment takes effect immediately.
Bahrain
declared a week of official mourning for the 84-year-old prime minister, who
held the post since 1970, making him the world’s longest-serving head of
government at the time of his death.
Bahrain’s
new premier, 51, has studied in the United States and Britain, including a
master’s degree from Cambridge University. He has also served as first vice
prime minister and deputy supreme commander of the Bahraini military.
His
predecessor’s tenure saw a heavy-handed crackdown on dissent in Bahrain.
Commenting
on the premier’s death in a statement, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of the
Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, an opposition human rights monitor,
said Prince Khalifa had “left behind a legacy of abuse and power.”
Since
2011, Bahraini people have been holding peaceful protest rallies regularly,
demanding that the Al Khalifa family relinquish power and let a just system
representing all citizens be established.
Bahraini
protesters have also been complaining about widespread discrimination against
the country’s Shia majority.
Manama
has responded to the anti-regime demonstrations with an iron fist. The
authorities have detained rights campaigners, broken up major opposition
political parties, revoked the nationality of several pro-democracy activists
and deported those left stateless.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/12/638436/Bahrain%E2%80%99s-crown-prince-appointed-new-prime-minister
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Mideast
Iran
state TV airs opposition figure’s purported confession to ‘terrorism’
Yaghoub
Fazeli
11
November 2020
Iran’s
state television aired a short video on Wednesday in which a Sweden-based
Iranian Arab opposition figure that Tehran said it recently detained abroad
appeared to confess to involvement in terrorist attacks.
An
Iranian lawmaker said earlier this month that Iranian intelligence agents
captured Habib Chaab – also known as Habib Eseywed – abroad and took him to the
capital Tehran.
Iran
has not revealed the location of Chaab’s arrest, but the Arab Struggle Movement
for the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA), an Iranian Arab separatist group
previously headed by Chaab, has accused the Iranian regime of abducting him
after “luring” him to Turkey.
For
all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
In
the video, Chaab was shown confessing to involvement in terrorist attacks and
armed robberies in Ahwaz, as well as cooperation with foreign intelligence
services.
Iran’s
state broadcaster IRIB has a long history of airing purported confessions that
activists and rights groups say are obtained through threats and torture.
The
International Federation for Human Rights and London-based Justice for Iran
said in a report in June that IRIB has aired the forced confessions of at least
355 individuals and defamatory content against at least 505 others between 2009
and 2019.
Chaab
was also shown saying that ASMLA was responsible for an attack on a military
parade in Ahwaz in 2018 that killed 25 people.
ASMLA
denies Iranian accusations that it was behind the attack, which ISIS had
claimed responsibility for.
Chaab
was arrested “while planning a new terrorist operation,” according to the video
narrator, who added that longer footage with more details on Chaab and ASMLA is
to be aired.
ASMLA,
considered a terrorist organization by the Iranian regime, seeks a separate
state for the indigenous Ahwazi Arab population inside Iran’s oil-rich
southwestern Khuzestan province, with its capital city of Ahwaz.
An
ethnic minority in Iran, Ahwazi Arabs say they are deprived of decent living
standards and civil rights, and face discrimination due to their Arab identity
and heritage.
Some
see themselves as living under Persian occupation and demand independence or
autonomy.
Ahmad
Mola Nissi, ASMLA’s founder, was shot dead in the Netherlands in 2017.
In
recent years, a number of Iranian dissidents have been arrested in neighboring
countries and taken to Iran.
In
August, Iran said it arrested US-based opposition figure Jamshid Sharmahd.
Details of his arrest and subsequent travel to Iran remain a mystery.
Last
year, Iran announced the arrest of Iranian journalist-turned-activist Ruhollah
Zam.
Zam,
who was given political asylum in France and was also based in other parts of
Europe, was sentenced to death in June for allegedly fuelling anti-government
unrest in late 2017 on social media.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/11/12/Iran-opposition-Iran-state-TV-airs-opposition-figure-s-purported-confession-to-terrorism-
--------
‘Not
the actions of an ally’: Close Biden ally blasts Turkey’s foreign involvement
Emily
Judd
11
November 2020
A
member of Joe Biden’s “inner circle” blasted Turkey’s foreign involvement on
Monday, saying the moves were “not the actions of an ally” of the United
States.
Michael
Carpenter, a former adviser to Biden when he served as vice president, is
likely to be a “key staffer” to Biden during his presidency, according to the
Atlantic Council.
While
Carpenter acknowledged Turkey as a “NATO ally and strategic partner for the
United States,” he said that Ankara has “engaged in a number of different
arenas where it is acting irresponsibly and aggressively.”
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ramped up Turkish presence in a number of
key regional disputes over the last year.
Turkey
is “undermining what we think are our shared interests – whether it be
Nagorno-Karabakh or whether it be Libya, or tensions in the Aegean, or whether
it be the purchase of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia,” said
Carpenter during a virtual panel hosted by the Hellenic Foundation for European
and Foreign Policy.
“This
is a set of problems that require a lot of attention at the very start of the
next administration,” he said.
Biden
said last year that the US should be taking “a very different approach” to
Erdogan.
“He
has to pay a price for whether or not we’re going to continue to sell certain
weapons to him,” Biden said in an interview with the New York Times.
Erdogan’s
foreign policy
Under
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has become involved in conflicts in
Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, while isolating European nations like Greece and
France over the eastern Mediterranean dispute.
In
January, Turkey became directly involved in Libya’s civil war when its
parliament approved Erdogan’s proposal to deploy troops to Tripoli, to help the
Government of National Accord (GNA), which Turkey backs, compete for power in
the country against the Libyan National Army (LNA).
In
September, Turkey publicly backed Azerbaijan’s claims to the disputed province
of Nagorno-Karabakh after tensions flared.
France
and Armenia have accused Turkey of sending Syrian fighters to the region to
support Azerbaijani forces against Armenian troops, but Turkish officials have
denied these claims.
Seven
European Union leader condemned Turkey’s expansionist actions in the gas-rich
eastern Mediterranean Sea in a September statement that warned of potential EU
restrictive measures against Turkey.
Carpenter
said that many of the US problems with Turkey will have to be resolved in
coordination with the European Union.
Agitating
America
The
current Trump administration has warned Turkey of “potential serious consequences”
for the US-Turkish relationship after Turkey tested its Russian-made S-400
defense systems last month.
State
Department Spokesman Morgan Ortagus told Al Arabiya English at the time that
the US “has been clear on our expectation that the S-400 system should not be
operationalized.”
“We
have also been clear on the potential serious consequences for our security
relationship if Turkey activates the system,” said Ortagus.
Turkey
confirmed the testing of the Russian defense systems it purchased in 2019,
arguing that the move did not conflict with its NATO commitments.
“We
are not going to ask America for permission,” said Erdogan.
Ortagus
said the US condemns “in the strongest terms the S-400 test missile launch as
incompatible with Turkey’s responsibilities as a NATO Ally and strategic
partner of the United States.”
Turkey
and the US are both part of the 29-member international military alliance, the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was founded to create a
counterweight to the Soviet Union's military capabilities at the time of the
organization's establishment.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/11/11/-Not-the-actions-of-an-ally-Close-Biden-ally-blasts-Turkey-s-foreign-involvement
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Turkey
forewarns US Secretary of State Pompeo on religion ahead of visit
11
November 2020
US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s planned visit to Turkey got off to a rocky
start Wednesday when Ankara criticized his decision to raise the issue of
religious freedom.
Washington’s
top diplomat will be in Istanbul next Monday and Tuesday as part of a
seven-nation tour that also takes him to France and parts of the Middle East.
The
Istanbul leg is notable for an absence of scheduled meetings with any top
Turkish officials.
The
State Department said Pompeo wanted to “discuss religious issues in Turkey and
the region and to promote our strong stance on religious freedom around the
world.”
The
meeting with the patriarch will come four months after President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan converted Istanbul’s emblematic Hagia Sophia monument into a mosque.
Pompeo
publicly criticized the conversion in July.
The
Turkish foreign ministry called Pompeo’s chosen subject matter for the visit
“completely irrelevant.”
“It
would be more suitable for the US to first look in the mirror and show the
requisite sensitivity towards human rights violations in the country such as
racism, Islamophobia and hate crimes,” it said in the English-language
statement.
Relations
between Washington and its strategic NATO ally have run hot and cold during
Donald Trump’s presidency.
Erdogan
has cultivated close personal relations with Trump and been able to call him up
directly to try to influence specific policy decisions.
But
Ankara and Washington have also sparred over US support for a Syrian Kurdish
militia that Turkey views as a grave security threat.
Erdogan
congratulated Joe Biden for his election victory on Tuesday – three full days
after it was called by US media.
He
followed that up by sending a separate message to Trump a few hours later
expressing thanks for his “warm friendship” and saying he stood by his side “no
matter how the official election result is certified.”
The
Turkish foreign ministry did not explain why none of its officials had planned
meetings with Pompeo.
But
it noted that its “reaction” to his visit “has been duly conveyed to the US
side, together with our advice to focus instead primarily on increasing the
cooperation between our countries regarding regional and global matters.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/11/11/Turkey-forewarns-US-Secretary-of-State-Pompeo-on-religion-ahead-of-visit
--------
FM:
Pakistan Never Allows Hostile Acts against Iran
2020-November-11
“Establishment
of peace and security at Iran-Pakistan borders is highly important and Pakistan
will not allow hostile measures against Iran,” Qureshi said at the meeting in
Islamabad on Wednesday.
He
described Iran as an important friendly and neighboring state, and said, “The
Pakistani government has decided to further develop trade and economic
cooperation with Iran.”
Bilateral
ties, regional developments, issues related to the Muslim world, confronting
Islamophobia, regional cooperation, specially strengthening of the ECO, joint
fight against terrorism, illegal immigration and facilitation of pilgrimage, as
well as the formation of a joint economic commission in the near future were
among issues discussed in the meeting.
Zarif,
for his part, underscored Iran’s preparedness to develop all-out relations with
Pakistan, specially the trade and economic ties.
He
also referred to the importance of reinvigoration of security at common
borders, reminding the need for continued consultations in this regard.
Zarif
traveled to Pakistan on Tuesday evening for a two-day official visit.
Earlier
today, Zarif conferred with Pakistan’s Army Commander Qamar Javed Bajwa on
defense relations between Tehran and Islamabad, stressing cooperation in the
fight against terrorism and border security.
Zarif
and Javed Bajwa discussed various issues, including the fight against terrorism
and strengthening border security cooperation and expansion of military
relations between the two neighboring countries.
The
two sides also reviewed the latest security developments in the region,
specially the situation in Afghanistan.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13990821000926/FM-Pakisan-Never-Allws-Hsile-Acs-agains-Iran
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Iran
Proposes Establishment of Int’l Fund to Reconstruct Syria
2020-November-11
“Iran
proposes establishment of an international fund to reconstruct Syria,” Khaji,
also Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political
Affairs, said, addressing the conference in Damascus on Wednesday.
He
also blasted the US government for imposing inhumane sanctions against Syria
amid the war-torn country’s fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
“Iran
insists on the political settlement of the crisis in Syria. The international
community wants increased assistance and partnership in reconstruction of Syria
to accelerate repatriation of the refugees,” Khaji said.
Khaji
and Syria’s Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal Mikdad in a meeting
in Damascus on Tuesday had conferred on ways to accelerate return of Syrian
refugees to their home, stressing the need for strengthening peace and
stability in the country.
During
the meeting, Khaji and Mikdad discussed the latest developments in Syria,
specially the conference for the repatriation of refugees and the constitution
committee’s activities, as well as bilateral ties between Tehran and Damascus.
They
also underlined support for the activities of the constitution committee to
resolve the political crisis in Syria and strengthen peace and stability in the
country.
Khaji
has traveled to Syria to participate in the international conference on the
return of refugees and hold talks with the high-ranking Syrian officials.
In
relevant remarks early November, Khaji said various parties should converge to
tackle the challenges facing Syria, insisting the dire need for international
participation to this end.
Khaji
made the remarks in a phone call with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Otto
Pedersen.
The
Iranian diplomat underlined the need for collective efforts to help resolve
Syria’s challenges as a humanitarian and positive move.
Pedersen,
for his part, elaborated on the results of his negotiations with the
representatives of several regional countries over the Syrian issue.
The
two sides also exchanged views on the political process and activities of the
Syrian Constitutional Committee.
They
also addressed the issue of the Syrian refugees which will be discussed during
a conference in Damascus in the coming weeks.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13990821000571/Iran-Prpses-Esablishmen-f-In%E2%80%99l-Fnd-Recnsrc-Syria
--------
Over
120 Palestinian inmates infected with coronavirus inside Israeli jails: Rights
group
11
November 2020
A
Palestinian human rights group says more than a hundred Palestinian prisoners
have contracted coronavirus inside Israeli-run detention centers across the
occupied territories, expressing grave concern over the health condition of the
inmates.
The
Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said in a report that eleven Palestinian
detainees had tested positive for coronavirus in the Gilboa prison in northern
Israel.
It
added that the new infections brought to 123 the number of Palestinian inmates
diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The
news came on the same day that a Palestinian prisoner suffering from laryngeal
cancer passed away following a sharp deterioration in his health due to medical
negligence.
Qadri
Abu Bakr, head of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees
Affairs, said 46-year-old Kamal Abu Wa’er died on Tuesday, condemning his death
as a premeditated crime committed by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and
holding Israeli authorities fully responsible for his loss.
Abu
Bakr noted that the IPS was fully aware of the seriousness of Abu Wa’er’s
health condition, but it ignored numerous calls for his release.
He
said such a crime demonstrates the failure of the international community and
relevant institutions to hold Israel accountable for its violations, warning
that the world’s continued silence on these practices will embolden the Tel
Aviv regime to continue perpetrating crimes against Palestinians.
Hamas:
Israel commits war crimes against Palestinian prisoners
Meanwhile,
the Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement denounced Israeli authorities over the
death of the cancer-stricken prisoner.
Hamas
spokesman Hazem Qasem said in a statement that the death shed light on the
exercise of deliberate medical negligence by the Israel Prison Service.
Qasem
noted that the death of Abu Wa’er brings the number of Palestinian prisoners
who had died in Israeli jails since 1967 to 226.
“This
means the Israeli Occupation perpetrates a calculated war crime against the
(Palestinian) detainees in Israeli jails,” the Hamas official said.
Qasem
went on to say that the IPS deliberately violates international laws in dealing
with the Palestinian prisoners and is exercising a “bullying policy” towards
them.
He
underlined that the Palestinian nation and resistance movements will continue
their unflinching support for prisoners until they obtain freedom.
PLO:
Israel bears full responsibility for death of Abu Wa’er
Separately,
a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stated that the
death of Abu Wa’er as a result of deliberate medical negligence pointed to the
brutal and cruel treatment that Palestinian inmates endure in Israeli prison
facilities.
“The
martyrdom of Abu Wa’er adds to Israel’s long list of crimes and deliberate
violations of international law and human rights. The absence of a system of
protection and accountability and the international community’s inaction
vis-à-vis the practices of the Israeli apartheid regime have given the Israeli
Occupation the green light to continue its crimes against our defenseless
people,” PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi said.
She
added that the Tel Aviv regime is legally and morally accountable for the
death.
Ashrawi
then called on the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Health Organization
and all international bodies to assume their moral, humanitarian, legal and political
responsibilities regarding Palestinian prisoners.
More
than 7,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in some 17 Israeli jails,
with dozens of them serving multiple life sentences.
Over
350 detainees, including women and minors, are under Israel’s administrative
detention.
The
administrative detention, which is a form of imprisonment without trial or
charge, allows authorities to incarcerate Palestinians for up to six months.
The duration could be extended for an infinite number of times.
Some
prisoners have been held in administrative detention for up to 11 years.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/11/638373/123-Palestinian-detainees-have-contracted-coronavirus-in-Israeli-jails-Group
--------
North America
US
embassy in Pakistan apologizes after retweet that Pakistan president is
‘dictator’
Emily
Judd
11
November 2020
The
US embassy in Pakistan apologized on Wednesday after its Twitter account
retweeted a post that called Pakistani President Arif Alvi a “dictator,”
causing social media backlash with the hashtag #ApologiseUSembassy.
The
US Embassy in Islamabad retweeted a post on Tuesday from a member of the
National Assembly of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal.
Iqbal
shared a screenshot of a Washington Post article titled: “[US President Donald]
Trump’s defeat is a blow to the world’s demagogues and dictators.”
“We
have one in Pakistan too. He will be shown way out soon,” said Iqbal in the
post.
Social
media quickly noticed the US embassy account retweeted Iqbal’s comparison of
Pakistan’s president to a dictator and demagogue. Within hours, the hashtag
#ApologiseUSembassy was trending on Twitter.
The
American embassy responded in a post saying that the account was “accessed last
night without authorization.”
“The
U.S. Embassy does not endorse the posting or retweeting of political messages.
We apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from the unauthorized
post,” the embassy said in a tweet.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/11/11/US-embassy-in-Pakistan-apologizes-after-retweet-that-Pakistan-president-is-dictator-
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US
urges release of Jewish hostage in Yemen held by Iran-backed Houthis
Emily
Judd
11
November 2020
The
US called on the Iran-backed Houthi militia to release a Yemeni Jewish hostage
on Tuesday.
Levi
Salem Musa Marhabi, a member of Yemen’s dwindling Jewish community, has been
wrongfully imprisoned for four years, according to the US State Department.
“We
call on the Houthis to respect religious freedom, stop oppressing Yemen’s
Jewish population, and immediately release Levi Salem Musa Marhabi,” the State
Department said in a statement.
Marhabi
was allegedly targeted by the Houthis for visiting Israel, according to a
report in Jewish news outlet, Ami magazine.
The
report, based on conversations with Marhabi’s relative, said the Houthis are
holding Marhabi in “terrible conditions.”
Houthi
hostage-taking
The
Houthis have frequently taken hostages, mostly civilians and even humanitarian
workers.
Last
month, two American hostages were released from Houthi custody. Washington
thanked Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman for
their efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
Journalists
have also been targets of Houthi kidnapping amid the ongoing war for the
country. The Iran-backed Houthis took over the capital Sanaa from the
internationally recognized government in 2014.
The
Houthis have since frequently launched drone attacks against Saudi Arabia,
including deadly attacks against the Kingdom’s Abha Airport.
Anti-Semitism
The
official Houthi slogan includes the phrases “Death to America, Death to Israel,
Curse on the Jews.”
On
Saturday, the Yemeni embassy in Washington condemned a Houthi graduation
ceremony for its use of the motto, calling it “appalling anti-American and
anti-Semitic rhetoric.”
In
August, Israeli media reported that the Houthis were ordering Yemen’s remaining
Jewish citizens to leave the country or be deported.
The
current Jewish population is estimated to be around 100 people.
The
majority of Yemen’s indigenous Jewish community fled the country in 1949 after
the creation of the state of Israel.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/11/11/US-urges-Iran-backed-Houthis-to-free-Jewish-hostage-in-Yemen
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Africa
Libya talks reach breakthrough on election roadmap: UN envoy
12
November 2020
Political
talks in Tunis on Libya's future have reached a breakthrough, the United
Nations acting Libya envoy said on Wednesday, paving the way towards elections
within 18 months.
The
participants reached a preliminary agreement on a roadmap to parliamentary and
presidential elections that includes steps to unite Libya's institutions,
Stephanie Williams said at a news conference in Tunis.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
She
said Tuesday's "heinous killing" of dissident lawyer Hanan al-Barassi
in the eastern city of Benghazi showed there was a crisis of accountability
across Libya.
After
years of chaos and warfare in Libya, with key institutions held by rival
factions riven by political, regional and ideological divisions, and foreign
powers pouring in arms, many Libyans remain skeptical of peacemaking efforts.
However,
the Tunis talks, which began on Monday, follow a ceasefire agreed last month
between the main warring sides - the internationally recognized Government of
National Accord (GNA) in the west and the eastern-based Libyan National Army
(LNA).
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2020/11/12/Libya-talks-reach-breakthrough-on-election-roadmap-UN-envoy
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Libyan
man pleads guilty to murder over UK 'terror' stabbings
11
November 2020
A
Libyan man on Wednesday pleaded guilty to three murders and three attempted
murders after stabbing six people in an English park earlier this year.
Khairi
Saadallah, 26, had been due to stand trial over the attack in Forbury Gardens
in Reading, west of London, on the evening of Saturday June 20.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
But
at a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey court in central London, he pleaded
guilty to the charges.
Saadallah
was initially arrested by police on suspicion of murder but then re-arrested
under counter-terrorism legislation.
The
prosecution's case is the stabbings were a terror attack -- but judge Nigel
Sweeney told the court Saadallah had denied being motivated by an ideological
cause.
Prosecutor
Alison Morgan said the case merited a "whole life" term in prison.
Sentencing was adjourned until the week of December 7.
The
court will examine whether Saadallah was motivated by religion, politics or
ideology, any pre-meditation and planning and the influence of his mental state
at the time.
Three
friends -- history teacher James Furlong, 36, US expat Joe Ritchie-Bennett, 39,
and David Wails, a 39-year-old scientist -- each died from a single stab wound
in the attack.
Three
other people were taken to hospital for their stab injuries to be treated and
later released.
The
stabbings followed two high-profile knife attacks near London Bridge, central
London, in November last year, and another in Streatham, in the south of the
capital, in February.
Two
people were killed in the first and three people injured in the second.
The
perpetrators, who were both shot dead by armed police, were both convicted
terrorists released early from prison.
Saadallah
was known to Britain's security services after intelligence that he planned to
travel abroad, possibly for terrorism purposes.
But
the threat was deemed to be "insubstantial".
Britain's
domestic Press Association news agency quoted court documents as saying
Saadallah arrived in the country as a refugee, after fleeing conflict in his
native Libya.
He
had six previous convictions for 11 crimes between June 2015 and January last
year, including racially aggravated assault, knife offences and criminal
damage.
In
November 2018, he was detained under the Mental Health Act, and was said to
have a history of debt, homelessness, alcohol and substance misuse.
He
had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and a personality
disorder, which made him "aggressive and unpredictable", the
documents showed.
He
had been released early from prison in June after a previous sentence had been
reduced on appeal.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2020/11/11/Libyan-man-pleads-to-guilty-to-murder-over-UK-terror-stabbings
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Southeast Asia
Dr
Mahathir: If Najib can be in Parliament, his corruption trials should resume
too, but with cap on media, observers
12
Nov 2020
BY
THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today took a swipe at former prime
minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by saying that if the latter can be present in
Parliament for debates, his pending corruption trials should resume as well.
Dr
Mahathir’s comments came about during the Budget 2021 debate in Parliament
today where he shared that he was not confident with Perikatan Nasional’s (PN)
ability to solve the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis with the
recently tabled Budget.
He
also said that he does not agree with the decision to cap the number of MPs
present in the Dewan Rakyat hall to 80.
“With
today’s record, I’m not confident PN can solve the Covid-19 crisis. In this
crisis, cash is no more king. Even though the ‘Cash is King’ is giving advice
in here. Don’t forget what happened,” he said referring to Najib.
“It
is strange that his court cases have stopped but he can be in this hall. Why
can’t the court case go on then? You just have to limit the number of media and
observers in the courtroom.
“Just
follow the SOPs. If you’re waiting for Covid-19 to end, it might take years.
The supposed prisoner will be free,” he added, again referring to Najib.
Dr
Mahathir also said the Dewan Rakyat should be able to have 222 MPs present
without any issues as so many SOPs are in place.
“A
lot has been done with SOPs in here. We have tested all MPs. Even though there
are 80 MPs present, it still feels like 222 MPs because there is distancing.
They are still sitting in their own places because there are plastic dividers.
“So
there is no need to reduce the number if it still feels like there are 222 MPs
present. The plastic dividers keep us safe. While I thank the Speaker’s
intention to keep everyone safe, it shouldn't be this way until we cannot
perform our duties,” he said.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/11/12/dr-mahathir-if-najib-can-be-in-parliament-his-corruption-trials-should-resu/1921927
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PM
Muhyiddin reiterates Malaysia’s solidarity with Palestine at Asean Summit
12
Nov 2020
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Malaysia remains in strong solidarity with the people of
Palestine and supports concrete and honest efforts to find a just and lasting
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and
relevant United Nations resolutions through negotiations involving the parties
concerned.
Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in his intervention at the 37th Asean Summit
plenary session today, said the only viable solution to the Israel-Palestine
conflict is through the two-State solution — based on the pre-1967 borders —
with East Jerusalem as the Capital of Palestine.
The
prime minister is leading the Malaysian delegation to attend the biannual
summit virtually from here (Kuala Lumpur), which runs from today until this
Sunday.
The
summit is chaired by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his capacity as
Asean Chair 2020 under the theme ”Cohesive and Responsive Asean.”
In
his intervention, Muhyiddin also strongly condemns the actions by irresponsible
individuals or groups “who cloak themselves in the name of religion to justify
their heinous acts of terrorism”.
Touching
on freedom of speech, the prime minister said although essential to democracy,
it is a tool that must be expressed with responsibility, and should not be
utilised to justify harm, stoke hatred and propagate Islamophobia.
Also
part of the Malaysian delegation to the 37th Asean Summit is Foreign Minister
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein as well as Senior Minister and
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Asean,
established in 1967, comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. — Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/11/12/pm-muhyiddin-reiterates-malaysias-solidarity-with-palestine-at-asean-summit/1921933
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