Iran Compels A Dubai-Bound Jet To Land, Removes Family Of Outspoken Iranian Football Icon Ali Daei
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 December 2022
Iranian soccer legend Ali Daei
----
• Over 300 US Rabbis Sign Petition To Boycott
Far-Right Members Of Incoming Israeli Administration
• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Bans Two Female
Training Centres in Kabul & Hera, Accommodating More Than 1200 Female
Students
• Pig Heads At South Korea Mosque Site Condemned As
‘Islamophobia ‘By Rights Activists And Muslim Students
• Islamabad Gets Three Bids For Washington Property
Which Once Housed The Defence Section Of The Country’s Embassy In The US
Capital
Mideast
• Al-Quds Centre: Israel Seriously Working To Change
Status Quo In Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
• Israeli businesses decry calls to revise
anti-discrimination law
• Iran hangs two murder convicts in latest executions
• Iran says UK-linked arrests reflect ‘destructive
role’ in protests
• Israeli air force veterans say incoming government a
danger
• New blow to ‘normalization’: Oman parliament votes
to ramp up criminalization of ties with Israel
• Prisoners' commission: Israel placed 600+
Palestinian minors under house arrest in 2022
• Ronaldo 'political ban': Erdogan says legendary
player benched in World Cup over Palestine
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North America
• Okotoks Muslims Now Have Prayer Space In Partnership
With Local Church
• US families sue after French cement maker pleads
guilty to supporting Islamic State
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South Asia
• More NGOs, Like Christian Aid And Actionaid, Halt
Work In Afghanistan After Taliban Ban On Women
• Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan banned since the
Emirate’s establishment: Taliban
• ISIS claims car bombing that killed local police
chief in Afghanistan
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Southeast Asia
• Indonesian cosmetics brands see opportunity in halal
products
• Saudi Islamic affairs minister meets heads of
Indonesian universities on sidelines of ASEAN conference
• At least 20 reported dead as Rohingya boats land in
Indonesia
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Pakistan
• Imran Blames ‘Incompetent Rulers’ For Failure To
Protect Pakistanis From Terrorism
• 25 police checkpoints set up in Islamabad as part of
‘special’ security plan
• Shehbaz renews pledge to crush terrorism menace
• Investigators suspect suicide bomber came from KP
• Russia can send natural gas to Pakistan, Afghanistan
in long term: Deputy PM
• FM Bilawal, Saudi counterpart reaffirm to further
deepen bilateral cooperation
• Maulana Fazal lauds PM development initiatives for
KP province
• FIRs registered against three consecutive blasts in
Quetta
• Army searches for attackers after six soldiers
killed
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India
• Muslim Writers Ignored At The Upcoming Kannada
Sahitya Sammelan, Alternative Jana Sahitya Sammelan On Cards
• Clash Between Two Groups, Between Kashmiri Students
And Ghazipur's Group At Aligarh Muslim University
• Salute Rahul For Promoting Unity, Secularism Through
Bharat Jodo Yatra: Mehbooba
• BSF troops shoot down suspected Pak drone in
Punjab's Amritsar
• Muslim group holds protest in Latur seeking quota
• Muslim shopkeeper murdered in Karnataka; community
suspects political gain
• Indian coast guard, anti-terrorist squad stop Pakistani
fishing boat with drugs, arms
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Europe
• Recognized As Terror Group PKK Openly Maintains
Dangerous Foothold In Europe
• Terrorist PKK supporters' violence in Paris upset
French residents, shop owners
• Parisians shocked as streets descend into chaos on
Christmas Eve amid pro-PKK protests
• UK ‘red tape’ is putting former British Council
staff in Afghanistan at risk: British MPs
• Turkey summons French ambassador for failing to stop
‘black propaganda’ after Paris shooting
--------
Arab World
• Iraq Commemorates General Soleimani Ahead Of US
Assassination Anniversary: 'His Path Will Continue’
• Islamic State Group Attacks Former Stronghold in
Syria, Killing 6
• UAE panel on cybersecurity warns against cyber
attacks during New Year celebrations
• UAE condemns Taliban decision to ban women from
working in NGOs across Afghanistan
• Islamic Affairs drops some Friday preachers for
deputizing others without permission
• CPR saves Asian pilgrim who collapsed outside
Prophet's Mosque
• Pro-Turkish fighters killed in northwest Syria
clashes: Monitor
• Eight dead in Daesh attack on Syrian jail
• Omani mediators leave Sanaa empty-handed as Houthis
reject truce renewal
• Saudi Arabia and Japan sign 15 investment agreements
during bilateral forum
• Saudi Design Festival to take place in January
• Turkish president meets Saudi Shura Council head for
talks
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Africa
• Boko Haram Kills 17 Civilians In Nigeria
• Kabara: Islamic Sect Accuses Ganduje Of Influencing Shariah
Court Ruling
• Blasphemy: Kano Islamic cleric’s supporters to
appeal judgment
• Taher Al-Sunni: We have no choice but to work
together to achieve reconciliation and national harmony.
• Death toll from Sudan tribal violence rises to 12
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
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Iran Compels A Dubai-Bound Jet To Land, Removes Family Of Outspoken Iranian Football Icon Ali Daei
Iranian soccer legend Ali Daei
----
26 December ,2022
Iranian authorities ordered a Dubai-bound flight to
land on Monday, barring family members of an outspoken Iranian football icon
from leaving the country and accusing them of taking part in anti-government
protests.
The wife and a daughter of Ali Daei were removed from
the Mahan Air flight after it was ordered to land on Iran’s Kish Island, some
200 kilometres (124 miles) off Dubai in the Gulf, the state-run IRNA news
agency reported. The flight originated in Tehran.
In response to protests against the country’s clerical
leadership, the Islamic Republic is widening a crackdown on dissent that began
in mid-September over the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She was
arrested by Iran’s so-called morality police for supposedly breaching strict
Islamic dress codes.
Daei, who retired from football in 2007, has publicly
voiced his support for protests. He is one of the country’s most-celebrated
players and has emerged as an increasingly influential figure in Iran.
IRNA said Daei and his family engaged in “backing
anti-revolutionary groups and rioters, and calling for strikes, adding that
Daei’s wife and daughter were free to return to Tehran. Separately, the
semi-official Tasnim news agency said Daei’s wife has been barred from leaving
the country but had “nullified the ban through illegal channels and had managed
to board the flight.
Authorities shut down a jewelry shop and a restaurant
owned by Daei, following social-media posts that both properties would close in
solidarity during three days of protests and strikes in early December,
according to state media. He previously boycotted the World Cup and stayed at
home to show solidarity with the demonstrators.
Iran this month hanged two men in connection with
protests, the country’s first known executions from among thousands arrested in
the unrest. Human rights groups say more than 400 people have been killed in
the government’s crackdown on protests while dozens are in danger of being
executed.
Iran’s supreme court on Dec. 24 upheld a ruling to
execute Mohammad Ghobadlou, a 22-year-old man accused of allegedly running over
and killing a police officer in the town of Parand near Tehran, Tasnim
reported.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Over 300 US Rabbis Sign Petition To Boycott Far-Right Members Of Incoming Israeli Administration
File photo/ English Wafa
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26 December 2022
Hundreds of US rabbis have signed an open letter
protesting Israel’s new far-right administration and pledging to block the
extremist members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet from speaking at their
religious centres and communities.
The letter, drafted by two prominent retired rabbis,
drew more than 300 signatures from rabbis in the Reform, Conservative, Renewal
and Reconstructing movements. There were no Orthodox signatories.
Among the signatories were current and former members
of the boards of rabbis in Chicago and Los Angeles; rabbis who lead the largest
Conservative and Reform congregations in the Washington, DC, area; former
leaders of major Reform and Conservative movement bodies; the current leader of
the Reconstructionist movement; and the rector of the Conservative movement’s
Los Angeles-based American Jewish University.
The letter was organized by David Teutsch, a leading
Reconstructionist rabbi in Philadelphia, and John Rosove, the rabbi emeritus of
Temple Israel in Los Angeles.
The letter said the US rabbis will not invite members
of the far-right political parties “to speak at our congregations and
organizations. We will speak out against their participation in other fora
across our communities. We will encourage the boards of our congregations and
organizations to join us in this protest as a demonstration of our commitment
to our Jewish and democratic values.”
The letter’s uncompromising tone and the breadth of
the signatories is a signal of a burgeoning crisis in relations between Israel
and the US Jewish community triggered by the election of the far-right parties.
Netanyahu announced his new cabinet including the
far-right Religious Zionism, Otzma Yehudit and Noam factions late on Wednesday,
although he has yet to finalize coalition agreements with his political
partners.
Leaders of far-right parties have secured positions in
Israel’s incoming cabinet that may help them push through policies such as
annexing large swaths of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal
settlements, and allowing Jewish prayer at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the
Old City of al-Quds.
After the Israeli aggression on Gaza in May 2021, 25
percent of American Jewish voters said Israel was an apartheid regime, in a
poll conducted by the Jewish Electorate Institute.
Another 38 percent of voters said Israel's treatment
of Palestinians was similar to general racism in the US.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Bans Two Female Training Centres in Kabul & Hera, Accommodating More Than 1200 Female Students
Photo: Khaama Press
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By Nizamuddin Rezahi
December 27, 2022
Authorities of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
closed two educational centres in Kabul and Herat accommodating more than 1200
female students.
Roya Mahboob, the Founder of the Afghan Girls Robotic
Team tweeted on Monday that the Taliban authorities forcibly shut the education
centers in Herat and Kabul. More than a thousand female students were taking
pieces training in business, Robotics, coding, and Information Communications
Technology.
Following the latest decree by the Ministry of Higher
Education of the interim regime banning women’s university education, the
dreams of thousands of school and university girls were buried.
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime gradually started
implementing extremely strict practices with regard to women’s education and
employment, prompting worldwide criticisms. According to the ruling regime’s
interpretations of Islamic Sharia, girls and women in Afghanistan were not
fully complying with the established rules and regulations in universities and
work environments. As a consequence of which, women have been barred from
attending universities, and training centers as well as working with private or
foreign non-governmental organizations until further notice.
The extremely harsh move of the Taliban administration
was accompanied by condemnations on national and global levels, calling on the
ruling regime to revoke their decisions. It also sparked protests in different
parts of the country, as female university students and female toot the streets
and chanted “education is our right”.
Whether the Taliban authorities change their policy
regarding girls’ and women’s education is up to them, however, women have been
completely erased from public life in Afghan society, with no hope, prospect,
or future ahead.
Source: Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-iea-bans-two-female-training-centers-in-kabul-hera/
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Pig Heads At South Korea Mosque Site Condemned As ‘Islamophobia ‘By Rights Activists And Muslim Students
Muslim residents gather for
prayer near the mosque’s construction site in Daehyeon-dong, Daegu. Photo:
Handout
-----
Park Chan-kyong
27 Dec, 2022
Rights activists and Muslim students in South Korea
have condemned the Islamophobic act of displaying pig heads at a construction
site for a mosque that has attracted vehement opposition from locals.
Residents in the south-eastern city of Daegu have for
the past year been trying to block the mosque near Kyungpook National
University from being built, including physically blocking access to the site,
putting up banners, and throwing a pork barbecue party.
In the latest incident, three pig heads were placed on
stools at an alley outside the site. The first one was put there on October 27,
followed by another on November 14 and the third on December 6, according to
Mian Muaz Razaq, a representative of Muslim students at the university.
Students who go to the site to pray pass through the alley every day.
“We’ll fight against the mosque construction till our
last breath,” read one banner that decorates the wall of a home next to the
construction site, as pigs’ feet and tails are seen strung along the wall.
Razaq denounced the residents actions as “pure
Islamophobia”.
“They held rallies against Islam, they called us
terrorists, they hung banners against our religion, they distributed hate
pamphlets against Muslims in our area, what can these acts be called? This is
pure Islamophobia,” he said.
A group of local human rights activists called on the
UN Special Rapporteur on religious freedom to urge South Korea’s central and
local government officials to intervene to stop the residents’ obstruction of
the construction work and “remove the pig heads immediately”, a spokesman said
on Monday.
The appeal to the United Nations made by the task
force for peaceful resolution of the mosque issue came after local authorities
failed to heed an earlier request from the Muslims to remove the pig heads.
City officials said they had no power to clear the pig
heads without approval from residents as they were useful items bought by
private citizens.
The petition also requested the UN Special Rapporteur
recommend the government and local authorities to publicly condemn all forms of
discrimination based on a particular religion or race, conduct education on the
duty of religious neutrality and anti-racism for all public officials of Daegu
City, and remedy all damage.
The conflict pitted residents in Daehyeon-dong
subdistrict near the Kyungpook National University and Muslim students enrolled
at the university who started the construction of the mosque after acquiring a
local government permit in 2020.
The two-storey mosque, with a total floor space of 245
square metres, is being built on a site previously used as a prayer centre.
The residents objected to the construction and
submitted a petition signed by more than 10,000 people to the Daegu Buk-gu
district office in February 2021, calling for the project to be stopped.
The residents said the proposed mosque would create
noise, crowd the narrow alley and undermine the neighbourhood’s real estate
value as potential buyers and tenants would turn away from an area frequented
by Muslims.
The local government ordered an immediate halt to the
construction.
The Muslims students then took the issue to court,
where the Daegu District Court nullified the construction halt order. The
ruling was affirmed by the Supreme Court in September this year.
South Korea has no official state religion, but in the
2015 census, 28 per cent of South Koreans said they belonged to Christianity,
with another 15.5 per cent described themselves as Buddhist.
The number of Muslims in the country is estimated to
be around 200,000, or 0.4 per cent of the 52 million population, according to
the Korea Muslim Federation.
Despite the court ruling, residents continue
obstructing the construction.
“Why should we put up with it? Who would like to have
a mosque frequented by many people right next door to your home?” Kim Jung-ae,
a representative of residents opposed to the proposed mosque, told This Week in
Asia.
The alley is part of private land belonging to
residents, she stressed.
“We want to continue with our way of living, no matter
what may come”, she said.
Razaq said the Muslim community was open to dialogue
from day one and offered solutions to residents’ concerns, but “unfortunately
the response of the neighbours and the people who were supporting them was very
rude”.
“They just wanted us to go away from this place, and
nothing less,” he told This Week in Asia. “Now as the construction is resumed,
and they are trying their best to annoy us [with actions such as] placing pig
heads, I am not sure what kind of dialogue is possible in such a situation.”
Razaq said it was “very disappointing” that
authorities had failed to implement the rule of law by allowing residents to
obstruct the construction and block the street despite the court orders.
“About pig heads, they are also silent,” he said.
Seo Chang-ho, a representative of activists who
campaigned for the peaceful settlement of the conflict, called on the
government to actively intervene to enforce the court ruling to let the
construction proceed.
“Should government authorities continue failing to
take actions for fear of upsetting residents, it would set a bad precedent,” he
said.
Source: SCMP
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original story:
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Islamabad Gets Three Bids For Washington Property Which Once Housed The Defence Section Of The Country’s Embassy In The US Capital
The abandoned Pakistani
consulate building in Washington DC. ─ Wikimedia Commons
------
Anwar Iqbal
December 27, 2022
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has received three bids for a
building which once housed the defence section of the country’s embassy in the
US capital.
The highest bid of almost $6.8 million is from a Jewish
group that wants to build a synagogue in the building, diplomatic sources in
Washington told Dawn.
The second bid of about $5 million is from an Indian
realtor and the third of about $4 million is from a Pakistani realtor, the
sources added.
Pakistani-Americans in the realty market say that the
building should go for the highest bidder. “We should follow this tradition,
also because it will create a lot of goodwill in an influential American
community, which wants to use it as a place of worship,” a Pakistani realtor,
who requested to remain anonymous, said.
Earlier this month, Pakistan embassy officials told
Dawn that one of the country’s three diplomatic properties in Washington — a
building on the prestigious R Street NW — was up for sale.
The officials, however, clarified that neither the new
nor the old embassies were being sold. The R Street building housed the
embassy’s defence section from the mid 1950s to early 2000s.
Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet Committee on
Privatisation (CCoP) asked the privatisation commission to appoint a financial
adviser for leasing the Roosevelt Hotel site in New York.
The government is considering a joint venture for a
prospective mixed-used development of the site, which Pakistan owns. Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting.
In Washington, embassy officials told Dawn that they
were also consulting an appraiser to assess what’s better: to sell the building
as it is, or to do so after renovation. “We are in no rush, and we will not
conclude a deal that does not benefit Pakistan,” the embassy official said. The
federal cabinet has already approved the sale.
Earlier posts on social media displayed two buildings:
both the present and the old embassies, claiming that these two buildings were
also up for sale.
But embassy officials said none of these two buildings
were on the market. The current embassy is in a new building constructed in the
early 2000s while the old embassy was in the heart of town, on Massachusetts
Avenue, close to the Indian embassy.
The embassy moved to the new building in the early
2000s, but it is also keeping the old building and has spent close to seven
million dollars in renovating it and the nearby official residence of the
ambassador.
The amount spent on the renovation, however, surprised
many, with some demanding a probe to determine why it cost so much. The R
Street building, however, has never been renovated and a visit to the site
showed that it was in dilapidated conditions.
Other residents of the area confirmed that they had
complained to the local authorities about the state of the building which, they
said, was now “a security hazard”. The R Street building was purchased by
Ambassador Syed Amjad Ali between 1953 and 1956.
The old embassy was purchased by Pakistan’s first
ambassador to the US, M.A.H. Ispahani. Both buildings have remained unoccupied
for almost 20 years now. A former Pakistani ambassador told Dawn that two
ambassadors Jalil Abbas Jilani and Sherry Rehman had previously come close to
selling the old embassy building but the government withdrew after a media
uproar. “Personally, I am in favour of selling all unoccupied buildings,” the
former ambassador said.
“We have already wasted a lot of money in retaining these
buildings for so long.” Yet another embassy official rejected the suggestion
that the embassy was unable to pay its diplomatic and other staff and that’s
why it was selling its properties. “Every embassy employee — diplomatic or
non-diplomatic — is paid on time,” the official said.
Amin Ahmed in Islamabad also contributed to this
report
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728482/islamabad-gets-three-bids-for-washington-property
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Mideast
Al-Quds Centre: Israel Seriously Working To Change
Status Quo In Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
26 December 2022
Israel is desperately attempting to change the status
quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds, says
the head of al-Quds Research Centre.
Ziyad al-Hammouri said on Monday there were Israeli
attempts to construct a Jewish temple on the ruins of al-Aqsa.
He said the regime along with its settlers have built
an entire city under the Old City.
Hammouri accused the United States, Israel’s key
supporter and great benefactor, of encouraging the occupying regime to keep
violating the rights of the Palestinians and desecrating their holy sites.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Diyab, a member of the Islamic
Commission in al-Quds, said Israeli authorities had started work on
establishing settler outposts around the mosque to tighten the grip on the holy
site as a prelude to changing its status quo. He warned the regime was seeking
to grab and steal more land belonging to al-Quds citizens.
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has already
warned the Tel Aviv regime against crossing “red lines” at the al-Aqsa Mosque
compound.
Extremist right-wing groups openly call for turning
al-Aqsa into a Jewish worship area and tearing down the Islamic shrines in
order to build a Jewish temple on the location. Israeli settlers have
frequently marched on the al-Aqsa Mosque to place the foundation stone of their
‘third temple’ inside the mosque. The provocative moves have infuriated the
Palestinians.
Under the current status quo, only Muslims are allowed
to worship within the compound while non-Muslims may visit the site, but are
not allowed to pray there.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/12/26/695193/Aqsa-temple-Quds-Israel
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Israeli businesses decry calls to revise
anti-discrimination law
26 December ,2022
Calls by far-right members of Israel’s incoming
government to revise anti-discrimination laws have triggered criticism from
some of the country’s leading businesses and prompted them to announce new
policies of their own to combat discrimination.
On Sunday, Orit Struck told public radio that hotels
and doctors should be allowed to refuse services to people on religious
grounds, provided others are available.
Leading hospitals and healthcare providers, apparently
in response to that suggestion, then put out a video declaring: “We treat
everyone.”
On Monday, Israel Discount Bank, the country’s fourth
largest bank, updated its credit policy and said it would not lend money to
groups that discriminate against customers on the basis of religion, race,
gender or sexual orientation. Its chairman said the update “officially
formalizes the obvious”.
Cyber security firm Wiz, which is valued at $6
billion, also said on Monday it would work only with companies committed to
prevent such discrimination and said it would terminate its business
relationships if this was violated.
“Recent calls for revoking basic rights heard in the
political arena in Israel are of grave concern to our society,” Wiz said in a
statement.
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, who
intends to hold a confidence vote in parliament on his new
religious-nationalist coalition on Thursday, has vowed to preserve principles
of tolerance.
But his political rivals have accused the veteran
conservative leader of being vulnerable to his far-right allies’ policy
demands.
Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, whose role is
largely symbolic, also warned on Sunday against causing potential harm to
individuals’ rights.
The head of Microsoft’s R&D center in Israel also
waded into the debate on Monday.
“Israel is a democratic and moral country and it must
remain so if it wants to stay alive,” Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk posted on
LinkedIn.
“A discourse that encourages racism and discrimination
of any kind has no place in a proper society.”
Netanyahu has already drawn criticism from scores of
local authorities after naming a far-right politician with a history of
anti-LGBTQ speech, Avi Maoz, to head a new “National Jewish Identity” authority
with powers over some school activities.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Iran hangs two murder convicts in latest executions
26 December ,2022
Iranian authorities have hanged two men convicted of
murder in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province in the latest executions
carried out by the Islamic republic, the judiciary said Monday.
Elias Raisi was found guilty of murder in a family
dispute in 2020, and Ayoub Rigi of a killing using a military weapon over
“personal differences” with the victim, said the judiciary's Mizan Online news
website.
They were put to death Saturday after the victims'
families refused to grant them clemency under Islamic law, the chief prosecutor
in the provincial capital Zahedan, Mehdi Shamsabadi, was quoted as saying.
The latest executions came two days after the
judiciary confirmed three people had been hanged for rape and armed robbery in
the southern city of Shiraz.
Earlier this month, Iran's judiciary executed two men
in connection with the protests over the September 16 death of Iranian-Kurdish
woman Mahsa Amini, 22, after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country's
strict dress code for women.
Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, was hanged in public on
December 12 after being sentenced by a court in Mashhad for killing two members
of the security forces with a knife.
Four days earlier, Mohsen Shekari, also 23, had been
executed for wounding a member of the security forces.
The judiciary has said that so far 11 people have been
handed death sentences over the protests, of whom two have been executed and
two have been allowed retrials.
Campaigners say about a dozen other defendants have
been charged with offences that could see them receive the death penalty.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Iran says UK-linked arrests reflect ‘destructive role’
in protests
26 December ,2022
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the
arrests of citizens linked to the United Kingdom showed London’s “destructive
role” in the recent protests in Iran.
Asked by a reporter to comment on Sunday’s
announcement in Tehran of the arrest of seven people linked to Britain, foreign
ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: “Some countries, especially the one
you mentioned, had an unconstructive role regarding the recent developments in
Iran.”
“Their role was totally destructive and incited the
riots.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that the seven, including
some who held dual nationality, were arrested over anti-government protests
that have rocked the country.
The British foreign ministry had said it was seeking
further information from Iranian authorities on the reports that
British-Iranian dual nationals had been arrested.
Kanaani said Tehran had notified the detainees’
respective governments and had “communicated their crimes” to them.
For “humanitarian reasons,” he said, the detainees had
been allowed to contact their families over the Christmas holidays.
Tehran has blamed foreign enemies and their agents for
orchestrating the protests, which have turned into a popular revolt by Iranians
from all layers of society, posing one of the boldest challenges to the
country’s clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution.
It has also taken increasingly aggressive steps
against dual nationals, arresting dozens since the unrest began. Such moves
have brought more international condemnation and isolated the Islamic Republic.
Rights group HRANA said that as of Sunday, 507
protesters had been killed, including 69 minors. It said 66 members of the
security forces had also been killed. As many as 18,516 protesters are believed
to have been arrested, it said.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Israeli air force veterans say incoming government a
danger
December 27, 2022
JERUSALEM: Over 1,000 senior Israeli air force
veterans, including a former Israeli chief of staff, on Monday urged the
country’s top legal officials to stand tough against the incoming government.
In a letter to the chief of Israel’s Supreme Court and
other top officials, they said the alliance of religious and ultranationalist
parties threatens Israel’s future. The letter was delivered days before the new
government is to take office.
“We come from all strata of society and from across
the political spectrum,” the letter said. “What we have in common today is the
fear that the democratic state of Israel is in danger.”
It called the legal officials “the final line of defense”
and implored them to “do everything in your reach to stop the disaster that is
affecting the country.”
Among the nearly 1,200 signatories were Dan Halutz,
who served as military chief from 2005-2007; Avihu Ben-Nun, a former commander
of the air force and Amos Yadlin, a former head of military intelligence. All
three are former fighter pilots.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his
ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners captured a parliamentary majority in Nov.
1 elections.
While they have not yet completed coalition
negotiations, Netanyahu has reached a series of deals that would grant his
far-right partners authority over the national police force and settlement
construction in the occupied West Bank.
They are promoting legislation to allow a politician
who spent time in prison in a bribery case to serve as a Cabinet minister while
on probation for a separate conviction on tax offenses. They also are expected
to promote a series of changes in the legal system that critics say will weaken
the judiciary and potentially dismiss criminal charges against Netanyahu.
On Sunday, Netanyahu rebuked an ally over anti-LGBTQ
comments.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222606/middle-east
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New blow to ‘normalization’: Oman parliament votes to
ramp up criminalization of ties with Israel
27 December 2022
Oman’s parliament has voted on a draft amendment to
expand a law banning relations and contacts with Israel, as the Tel Aviv regime
faces growing challenges to its hopes of integrating into the region two years
after the US brokered normalization deals between the regime and four Arab
countries.
The 86-member Majlis al-Shura, or Consultative
Assembly, voted to amend the first clause of its Israel boycott law to include
any sports, cultural or economic contact for private and public figures.
The amendment also specifically bans in-person or
online interaction with Israeli settlers.
Assembly Vice-President Yaaqoub al-Harethi said the
amendment, proposed by several legislators, will “expand the criminalization
and boycott of the Zionist entity,” according to the Omani WAF news agency.
The amendment now moves to debate by the Majlis
legislative committee before a final vote.
Omani law already states that citizens are barred from
making contact with individuals or entities based in Israel for any purpose,
whether directly or through a third party.
Muscat officially adheres to the Arab League’s stance
that any form of diplomatic relations with the Israeli regime is contingent on
the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Oman and the
United States held talks to secure Omani approval for Israeli commercial
flights to fly over the Persian Gulf state’s airspace, in a bid by Washington
to push for more Arab states to normalize ties with Tel Aviv. Muscat, however,
refused to comply..
Upon signing the so-called Abraham Accords, the United
Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabia, authorized Israeli planes
to use their airspace.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi said in
an interview in July that his country will not be the third Persian Gulf nation
to normalize ties with Israel but also affirmed his country’s support for what
he called “achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace on the basis of
the two-state solution.”
He said the sultanate seeks to differentiate itself
from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and therefore, any future
advancement in ties would require a separate and direct link between Muscat and
al-Quds.
In May, Oman’s foreign minister also told the French
Le Figaro daily newspaper that Oman will not go for open full-fledged
normalization with Israel until the Palestinian issue is settled.
“Oman will not join the [Persian] Gulf countries that
have announced the normalization of their relations with the Israeli
occupation,” he said, adding that Oman “prefers initiatives that support the
Palestinian people.”
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
visited Oman in 2018, and met with then-Sultan Qaboos bin Said, becoming the
first Israeli ruler to travel to the Sultanate since 1996.
Netanyahu signed the Abraham agreements with Emirati
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain’s Foreign
Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani during an official ceremony hosted by former US
president Donald Trump at the White House in September 2020.
The normalization deals, to which Sudan and Morocco
later joined, have sparked widespread condemnations from the Palestinians as
well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe, especially within
the Muslim world.
Source: Press TV
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Prisoners' commission: Israel placed 600+ Palestinian
minors under house arrest in 2022
26 December 2022
The Israeli regime has so far this year placed more
than 600 Palestinian children under house arrest, a Palestinian prisoners'
commission reports, recounting the horror of their plight.
The Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs
released the information in a statement on Monday, saying the restraining
method has been mostly used against children and youths in the eastern side of
the occupied city of al-Quds in the West Bank.
The Israeli authorities, the statement noted, resort
to the method since it enables the occupying regime to bypass its own laws that
prohibit imprisonment of children under the age of 14.
While under house arrest, Palestinian minors are
forced to wear a bracelet monitor at all times, and are not allowed to go to
school or even a clinic without being accompanied by a supervisor, the body
said.
During that period, the Israeli court examines their
file until the judicial procedures against them end and a ruling is issued,
which may take a few days or up to a year or more. That period is not counted
as part of the actual sentence, which is later issued against the child.
Some children are removed from their family homes and
are placed under arrest at another house outside their city, which belongs to a
relative or a friend. In the latter case, the family is forced to rent the
outlying house.
In either case, "the parents are often forced to
sell property or use their savings to deposit large sums of money in the
treasury of the court [that hears their child's case] to ensure the
implementation of the conditions for the release of their child," the
Palestinian Wafa news agency reported, citing the commission.
According to the commission, the house arrest
conditions leave "difficult psychological effects" on children and
their families.
It cited some of the adverse effects as a constant
feeling of anxiety, fear, and deprivation, which force the child into a state
of "psychological instability."
A leader of the Palestinian Fatah resistance movement
said in late November that the Israeli regime is keeping hundreds of prisoners,
including children, behind bars, stating that the minor detainees are subjected
to various forms of torture and Israeli prison officials deal with them as
criminals.
Ayman al-Raqab, who is also a professor of political
science at Quds University, denounced the Tel Aviv regime’s gross mistreatment
of Palestinian children and flagrant violation of their rights, stating that
the condition of Israeli detention centers and relevant policies contradict
international principles and regulations.
Raqab noted that Israeli officials have subjected a
number of jailed Palestinian children, including teenage girls, to brutal forms
of torture, and treat them as serious criminals even though they are not of
legal age.
The current year has also prove to be the deadliest
for Palestinians so far, since 2005, when the United Nations started keeping a
tally of the Israeli-caused Palestinian fatalities.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/12/26/695201/Israel-Palestinian-children-house-arrest
--------
Ronaldo 'political ban': Erdogan says legendary player
benched in World Cup over Palestine
26 December 2022
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to a “political ban”
during the recently-concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar over his support for
Palestine.
Speaking at an event with youth in the country's
eastern Erzurum province on Sunday, the Turkish president said Ronaldo was
"wasted" at the World Cup.
“They have wasted Ronaldo. Unfortunately, they have
imposed a political ban on him. Sending a footballer like Ronaldo to the pitch
with just 30 minutes remaining in the match ruined his psychology and took away
his energy,” Erdogan said.
“Ronaldo is someone who stands for the Palestinian
cause,” he hastened to add, comparing the Portuguese footballer to Argentina’s
Lionel Messi.
The star striker was called in as a substitute in
Portugal’s World Cup 2022 quarter-final against Morocco and arrived at the
pitch in the second half, much to the chagrin of Portuguese football fans.
Ronaldo, the first male international footballer to
score at five World Cups, was seen leaving the field in tears after his team
was eliminated by Morocco.
He had been dropped from the starting lineup for
Portugal’s match against Switzerland in the World Cup’s round of 16, making an
appearance as a substitute.
Source: Press TV
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--------
North America
Okotoks Muslims now have prayer space in partnership
with local church
Dec 26, 2022
Muslims in Okotoks finally have a place to pray.
Muslims in the city have previously had to travel to
Friday prayers in south Calgary or as far as High River.
Now the community has partnered with Okotoks United
Church, who've agreed to rent the community a place for prayers every Friday
going forward.
It means the growing Muslim community there now has a
focal point and gathering place that it's been missing for many years.
"It was very important for me when I moved here
six months ago from Toronto. That's one thing I was missing," said Salam
Akhtar.
"Now with the support of our extended community
in Calgary, we were able to establish this, and it's just a first step. And it
means a lot," said Akhtar.
For others it means less time away from work on
Fridays.
"I used to go pray in High River," said Mohamed
Desouki, who lives in Calgary but works in Okotoks.
"I had to leave work for an hour-and-a-half and
now it's two minutes away. It's more convenient," said Desouki.
Desouki's great uncle came to Alberta in 1905 and was
involved in building the first mosque in Calgary.
Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy made the trip down to
Okotoks to host the historic first Friday prayers there, calling it an historic
event for their community.
"We had been planning to have Friday prayers and
finally the church allowed us to rent the space," said Soharwardy.
"There was nothing in Okotoks and there's a large
Muslim population now growing so there's a need for it.
Source: CBC
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/muslims-okotoks-alberta-friday-prayers-islam-1.6683423
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US families sue after French cement maker pleads
guilty to supporting Islamic State
26 December 2022
The families of US soldiers killed by the Islamic
State (IS) group have filed a lawsuit in New York against Lafarge, the French
cement company that earlier this year pleaded guilty to making payments to the
militant group to maintain operations through the Syrian civil war.
"Defendants put their economic self-interest
above all else - ultimately making over $70 million in sales through their
partnership with ISIS - even while ISIS was slaughtering innocent civilians,
including Americans," the lawsuit read, as seen by Middle East Eye.
The families include relatives of three US servicemen
who were killed in attacks that were blamed on the IS group.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Jason Finan of California was
killed in Iraq on 20 October 2016, and his family are among those suing the
company.
The plaintiffs also include the family of Navy Senior
Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton, who was killed in Ayn Issa, Syria, on 24
November 2016, as well as the family of former Marine David Berry, who was
killed in an attack on the Corinthia Hotel in Libya on 27 January 2015.
"Plaintiffs ... are entitled to recover for the
severe mental anguish, extreme emotional pain and suffering, and loss of their
relatives’ society, companionship, comfort, advice, and counsel that they
experienced as a result of Defendants’ criminal misconduct," the lawsuit
said.
The civil case was filed under a US law, referred to
as the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows individuals to seek civil damages
against an entity that has provided payments to a "foreign terrorist
organisation".
The lawsuit is seeking an unspecified economic and
compensatory damages package, and also is demanding a trial by jury.
"This lawsuit is intended to hold it accountable
to the military families devastated by its heinous and unlawful conduct,"
Lee Wolosky, partner at Jenner & Block LLP, a lawyer for the plaintiffs,
said in a statement to ABC News.
"We expect more families to join the lawsuit and
we look forward to bringing the case to trial before a jury of New
Yorkers."
Lafarge pleads guilty
In October, Lafarge pleaded guilty in US court to
charges of conspiring to provide material support for terrorism by making
payments to the IS group and other US-designated "terrorist groups",
so the company could keep operating in Syria.
As a part of a plea deal, Lafarge agreed to pay $778m
in forfeiture and fines.
US officials say that from approximately May 2010 to
September 2014, Lafarge, through its now-defunct subsidiary Lafarge Cement
Syria, operated a cement plant in northern Syria that was built at a cost of
approximately $680m.
As the civil war broke out in 2011, fighting erupted
across the country between armed rebel groups and the Syrian government, and
the IS group took control of swathes of Syria.
US prosecutors said Lafarge and its Syrian subsidiary,
Lafarge Cement Syria, paid the IS group and the Nusra Front, through
intermediaries, about $5.92m between 2013 and 2014 to allow employees,
customers, and suppliers to pass through checkpoints amid the country's civil
war.
The payments led to the company earning $70m in sales
revenue from a plant it operated in northern Syria, according to prosecutors.
Lafarge eventually evacuated the cement plant in
September 2014, prosecutors said. At that point, Islamic State took possession
of the remaining cement and sold it for the equivalent of $3.21m.
In a statement, Lafarge's parent company Holcim said
none of the deals made with the IS group involved Holcim, "which has never
operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States,
and it is in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for".
Source: Middle East Eye
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-families-sue-french-cement-maker-supporting-islamic-state
--------
South Asia
More Ngos, Like Christian Aid And Actionaid, Halt Work
In Afghanistan After Taliban Ban On Women
December 27, 2022
LONDON: Christian Aid and ActionAid on Monday became
the latest foreign aid groups to suspend operations in Afghanistan after the
country’s Taliban rulers ordered all NGOs to stop women staff from working.
Announcements by the two groups take to six the number
of bodies who have paused their operations in the country.
Christian Aid was “rapidly seeking clarity... and
urging the authorities to reverse the ban”, head of global programmes Ray Hasan
said in a statement. “Whilst we do this, we are unfortunately pausing the work
of our programmes,” he added.
ActionAid said that if women were banned from working
with the group it would “prevent us from reaching out to half of the population
that are already reeling from hunger”.
“ActionAid has made the difficult decision to
temporarily halt most of its programmes in Afghanistan until a clearer picture
emerges,” it said in a statement.
On Sunday Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee
Council and CARE all announced they were putting their operations on hold.
The International Rescue Committee, which provides
emergency response in health, education and other areas and employs 3,000 women
across Afghanistan, also said it was suspending services. “Millions of people
in Afghanistan are on the verge of starvation,” Christian Aid’s Hasan said on
Monday.
“Reports that families are so desperate they have been
forced to sell their children to buy food are utterly heartbreaking,” he said,
adding that a ban on women aid workers would “only curtail our ability to help
the growing number of people in need”.
The ban is the latest blow against women’s rights in
Afghanistan since the Taliban reclaimed power last year.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728451/more-ngos-halt-work-in-afghanistan-after-taliban-ban-on-women
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Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan banned since the
Emirate’s establishment: Taliban
26 December, 2022
Kabul [Afghanistan], December 26 (ANI): Afghanistan’s
Ministry of Interior under the caretaker Taliban regime reported that poppy
cultivation has been banned nationwide since the establishment of the Islamic
Emirate and that no one is allowed to farm poppy on their lands, according to
Tolo News.
Nafi Takor, the spokesman for the ministry, said that
preventing the cultivation of poppy is part of the Taliban’s counter-narcotics
campaign.
“The Ministry of Interior has been fighting in the
field of poppy cultivation and trafficking for a year and the fight will
continue to avoid this bad phenomenon,” he said, as quoted by Tolo News.
Following the Taliban decree, some farmers said that
cotton production is a good alternative to poppy cultivation. The farmers asked
for the Taliban’s assistance in this regard.
Raz Mohammad, a farmer, as quoted by Tolo News, said:
“Last year, farmers cultivated poppy but this year, they haven’t.”
“We started cotton cultivation when poppy farming was
banned. Over the past 10 days, the price of cotton has dropped from 1,000 Afs
to 800 Afs,” said Mohammad.
Analysts, however, say that poppy cultivation is still
underway in Afghanistan and that the Taliban should stop it.
The United Nations earlier reported that 85 per cent
of the world’s opium is being produced in Afghanistan.
A recent report by Khaama Press said the drug trade in
Afghanistan has boomed under the Taliban.
The Taliban after taking power in Afghanistan in
August 2021, promised to crack down on narcotics and ban the production,
processing, and sale of illicit drugs. The Taliban issued a decree to ban the
production and sale of illicit drugs. They, however, failed in their
implementation. Afghanistan’s drug trade, thus, started flourishing under the
Taliban regime, according to Khaama Press.
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the
country’s economy crashed and unemployment skyrocketed. Citizens started to
struggle to live a normal life. Many people who were employed by the previous
government, lost their jobs and struggled to meet their daily needs. Amidst
adversities, many migrated to neighbouring countries such as Iran, Pakistan,
and Turkey.
“My husband was an addict, he convinced me to take
drugs. He died some time ago, and I joined a group of addicts for I had no
place to live and none of my relatives would accept me,” a female drug addict
was quoted as saying by Sky News.
Source: The Print
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ISIS claims car bombing that killed local police chief
in Afghanistan
27 December ,2022
ISIS has claimed responsibility for a car bombing that
killed a local police chief in Afghanistan.
The ISIS regional affiliate — known as the Islamic
State in Khorasan Province — has increased its attacks since the Taliban
takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Abdulhaq Abu Omar, the police chief of the country’s
northeastern Badakhshan province, died on Monday morning when a car bomb
exploded near his headquarters.
The interior ministry spokesman, Abdul Nafi Takor,
said two others were killed in the blast and two people were wounded. Four
suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, he said.
In a brief statement late on Monday, ISIS said it
parked an explosive-laden car on the road used by the police chief on his way
to work and detonated it when he was close by.
Earlier this month, the militant group claimed
responsibility for a coordinated attack on a Chinese-owned hotel in the Afghan
capital, Kabul, which left three assailants dead and at least two guests
injured as they tried to escape by jumping out of a window.
The assault on the Kabul Longan Hotel, in the central
Shar-e-Naw district, prompted the Chinese government to urge its citizens to
leave Afghanistan.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Southeast Asia
Indonesian cosmetics brands see opportunity in halal
products
NANA SHIBATA
December 27, 2022
JAKARTA -- Companies offering halal cosmetics in
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, are aiming to boost the
international appeal of their products in Southeast Asia and beyond as they see
potential in attracting more non-Islamic consumers.
In 2014, Indonesia enacted a law requiring halal
certification for a wide range of consumer products sold in the country. The
new "halal product assurance" regulations will be obligatory for
cosmetics by 2026. Being certified as halal means products are manufactured in
compliance with Islamic law and contain no forbidden ingredients.
Consumers, especially millennials and Generation Z,
are seen as increasingly becoming more knowledgeable regarding what ingredients
go in each product as well as general safety.
"People used to think that halal brand was for
Muslims only, but now everyone chooses [it] mainly for health reasons,"
Kezia Trihatmanto, co-founder of Indonesian beauty brand Esqa, told Nikkei
Asia.
Keva Cosmetics International, owner of the Esqa brand,
offers halal-certified makeup with vegan ingredients. Although starting in
Indonesia, Trihatmanto said, "we created Esqa in 2016 as a halal beauty
brand that is up to par with the global cosmetics scene."
Esqa has expanded into other Southeast Asian markets,
including Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, and aims in the near future to go
beyond the countries where it currently operates. Besides offering products online,
the brand is also sold at stores such as Indonesia's Sociolla, Sephora of
France and Hong Kong-based Watsons. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Esqa is
expected to be profitable this year, as it also was in 2021.
According to market insight provider Precedence
Research, the global halal cosmetics market amounted to $45.32 billion in 2022
and is expected to more than triple to around $162 billion by 2030, thanks to
the increased purchasing power of the growing female Muslim population.
Trihatmanto pointed out that halal certification is a
strength for beauty brands "because healthy ingredients are now one of the
top considerations for customers when they purchase cosmetic products."
She also said the "halal certificate should not
only be about religion; it is supposed to be an industry standard which we
think is relevant to all consumers, regardless of religion."
Angela Cahyanti, 28, is one non-Muslim sold on the
products.
"I use halal cosmetics and skin care mainly
because they are high-quality local products with an affordable price,"
said the 28-year-old homemaker from Bekasi in West Java province. "I
initially never cared [about] halal certification because it might be the same
as food or drinks, which doesn't affect me as a Christian. But when I compared
them with nonhalal products, especially imported cosmetics and skin care, these
local halal products are better."
Yaumi Fauziah Sugiharta, co-founder and CEO of Base,
another Indonesian vegan cosmetic brand, agrees with Trihatmanto. "We see
vegan and halal beauty products gaining a growing interest in the market with a
less Muslim population, say in Australia, as the products containing vegan or
plant-based ingredients have a strong association with an organic, natural
product that is gentle yet [with an] effective result on skin."
But Sugiharta also underscored the importance of
Muslim consumers.
"The demand for halal cosmetic products will
continue to increase due to the increase in the purchasing power of the
population, the increasing number of Muslims and also the desire of the Muslim
community to associate their interest in cosmetic products that adhere to
religious loyalty,"
In Indonesia, beauty startups are increasingly raising
funds from foreign investors. Esqa in November raised $6 million, led by
consumer giant Unilever and venture capital firm East Ventures, while Base
announced in the same month that it had raised $6 million from investors
including Rakuten Ventures.
"There is a growing demand for high-quality,
hyperlocal and affordable beauty products, and we are certain that Esqa's
innovative, natural ingredients and wide product offerings will propel Esqa to
be a leader in the beauty market in Southeast Asia," said Avina Sugiarto,
partner at East Ventures.
According to Euromonitor data, Indonesia's overall
cosmetics market -- the largest in Southeast Asia -- surpassed Thailand's in
2021 and is expected to reach $11 billion in 2026, up 54% from 2021.
With female purchasing power on the rise, more
consumers are spending more on cosmetics than ever, and also are gaining
knowledge on social media. Though Japanese brands like Shiseido are more
focused on the high-end sector, South Korean cosmetics companies are leveraging
the popularity of their country's dramas and K-pop music to tap into Southeast
Asia's biggest economy.
With demand for halal-certified goods and services
growing in Asia -- home to over 60% of the world's Muslim population -- foreign
companies are also gearing up to cash in.
Japanese trading company Marubeni and drug and cosmetics
store operator Ain Holdings opened their first Ainz & Tulpe outlet in May
in Malaysia, where more than half of the population is Muslim.
Source: Asia Nikkei
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Saudi Islamic affairs minister meets heads of
Indonesian universities on sidelines of ASEAN conference
December 26, 2022
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs
Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh has met with several presidents of Indonesian
public universities on the island of Bali, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the second
Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ international conference, which was
organized by the ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of
Religious Affairs.
The minister was briefed on the programs and
activities of Indonesian public universities, and held discussions on various
issues of common interest.
The university presidents praised the Kingdom’s
efforts, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in serving
the Indonesian people and providing scholarships in Saudi universities, from
which thousands of Indonesian students have benefited.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222566/saudi-arabia
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At least 20 reported dead as Rohingya boats land in
Indonesia
December 27, 2022
PIDIE, Indonesia: At least 20 Rohingya have died at sea
in recent weeks, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday, as boats
carrying hundreds of the persecuted Muslims landed in Indonesia while others
were believed to be adrift in the Indian Ocean.
A boat washed ashore in Indonesia’s Aceh province on Monday
carrying 174 Rohingya, most of them dehydrated, fatigued and in need of urgent
medical care after weeks at sea, local disaster agency officials said.
Chris Lewa of the Arakan Project, which provides
support to Rohingya, said the boat was the same as one earlier reported missing
and feared to have sank.
The UNHCR on Monday said 2022 could be one of the
deadliest years at sea in almost a decade for the Rohingya, as a growing number
of them flee desperate conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya have long been persecuted in
Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which borders Bangladesh. For years many have fled
to countries like Thailand, and Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia between
November and April when seas are calmer.
Nearly 1 million live in crowded conditions in
Bangladesh, including many of the hundreds of thousands who fled a deadly
crackdown by Myanmar’s military in 2017.
Rights groups have recorded a significant increase in
the number leaving the camps, from about 500 last year to an estimated 2,400
this year. It is not clear what is driving the larger exodus. Some activists
believe the lifting of COVID restrictions around Southeast Asia, a favored
destination for the Rohingya, could be a factor.
“We came here from the largest Bangladesh refugee camp
with the hope that the Indonesian people would give us the opportunity of
education,” said Umar Farukh, who spoke in a shelter crowded with Rohingya men,
women and children receiving care from Indonesian medics.
The group is the latest in a series of boat landings
and rescues around the region in recent weeks.
There were 57 other Rohingya who reached Aceh on
Sunday, while two other boats carrying a combined 230 people landed in
November.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222691/world
--------
Pakistan
Imran blames ‘incompetent rulers’ for failure to
protect Pakistanis from terrorism
December 26, 2022
LAHORE: Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran
Khan has expressed serious concern over the rapidly rising terrorism incidents
across the country, saying that “incompetent rulers” have miserably failed to
protect the lives and property of the people.
“After the economic crisis, there has been an
extraordinary increase in the incidents of terrorism in the country,” he said
while chairing a meeting of the party leadership in Lahore on Monday.
The PTI leader deliberated at length on crucial matters
including the overall political situation in the country, deteriorating
economic conditions, and rising terrorism.
The former prime minister said that the “corrupt,
dishonest and incompetent rulers responsible for the economic chaos have now
miserably failed to protect the lives and property of the people”.
“Eight months ago, the country was economically stable
while terrorism was practically over. These corrupt and dishonest people at the
helm of affairs were given the power to play with the economy and national
security and award themselves with NRO-2,” he added.
“In recent days, the country has seen a 52% increase
in terrorism incidents in which 270 people have died and more than 550 were
injured. I had warned of the consequences before my government was changed
through a conspiracy. Since the last eight months, we have continuously warned
that the imposed, corrupt, and incompetent rulers were pushing the nation
towards disaster,” Imran said.
According to him, independent economic experts were
suggesting that Pakistan was facing a very serious situation and added that a
two-fold increase in the price of flour would most likely deprive millions of
poor people of food.
“After ruining the economy, the imported government
failed to provide security, which is very worrying. Despite America’s
withdrawal from the region, our government shielded the nation from its fallout
with the best diplomatic strategy,” he added.
He was of the view that leaving national security at
the mercy of “immature” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was criminal
negligence.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in the
country and we will strongly resist any attempt to lead the nation to a major
disaster,” he added.
He reiterated his demand for snap polls, which in his
opinion was the only way to save the country from destruction. “Only a
government with a public mandate in the true sense will be able to manage the
economy and control terrorism”.
During the meeting, the PTI leaders discussed the
strategy for the resignations of the PTI members of the National Assembly.
The meeting condemned National Assembly Speaker Raja
Pervaiz Ashraf for going on a foreign trip, knowing that the PTI MNAs were
coming to meet him to verify their resignations. The participants termed the
speaker’s act as an “insult” to the parliament.
On this occasion, former finance minister and head of
the PTI economic team Shaukat Tareen briefed the meeting about the impact of
the increase in the prices of food items, especially flour, on the common man.
The PTI leaders also showed concern over the United States and the European
Union’s travel advisories for their citizens.
Meanwhile, as per the sources, the PTI chairman was
briefed by his legal team on the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly in light of
the Lahore High Court verdict. He was told that the Punjab Assembly cannot be
dissolved before January 11, as the matter has been conditionally attached to
the court’s verdict.
The legal experts further informed the former premier
that the legal status of a no-confidence motion also ended after Punjab
Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan’s ruling. They were of the opinion that Punjab
Governor Balighur Rehman has to ask Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi again to take
a vote of confidence from the house.
White paper on economy
Later, addressing the media, PTI Senior Vice President
Fawad Chaudhry said that his party was going to issue a white paper on the
country’s economic situation.
The PTI chairman has summoned a meeting of the
economic experts wherein the country’s economic situation will be discussed in
detail and the white paper will be issued by the party based on the proposals
of the economic experts, he added.
He went on to say that the PTI has formed working
groups for basic reforms, which will prepare the proposals on the country’s
economy and governance. “The PTI believed that after getting rid of the current
rulers, the country could not get out of the quagmire without major reforms,”
he added.
Talking about the meeting of the party’s senior
leadership, he disclosed that it was also attended by PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi
and the leaders were very clear on the strategy for the Punjab Assembly’s
dissolution. “We have decided on the date for Punjab’s parliamentary party
meeting, which will be revealed in due course of time. All of our 187 MPAs will
attend the meeting,” he added.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/12/26/235367/
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25 police checkpoints set up in Islamabad as part of
‘special’ security plan
December 27, 2022
In light of growing security concerns, Islamabad
police issued on Tuesday a “special” plan that introduces 25 temporary
checkposts in the city and requires citizens and foreigners to carry their
identification documents with them.
According to the security plan, shared on Islamabad
police’s official Twitter, entry points of the Red Zone will be recorded via
Safe City cameras while video surveillance of metro bus passengers would also
be conducted.
Police asked the capital’s citizens, as well as
foreigners, to carry their identification documents with them.
Authorities also warned of action over non-specimen
number plates and unregistered vehicles, directing citizens to ensure their
vehicles had number plates issued by the excise office.
Measures under this plan also require landlords and
employers to register their tenants and employees at a nearby police station or
khidmat marakiz (facilitation centres).
Police said citizens who had employed unregistered
local or foreign workers would also be investigated.
They appealed to citizens to inform authorities of any
unusual activity on the 15-helpline.
This plan has been devised as Pakistan continues to
see a rise in terror incidents in recent days, particularly after the militant
Tehereek-i-Taliban Pakistan called off the ceasefire between them and the
government in late November.
Last Friday, a bomb blast in the capital’s I-10 sector
claimed the life of a police constable and left six others injured — the first
major incident of terrorism in Islamabad following the onset of the recent wave
of militancy that was initially limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Two days after the blast, the US embassy in Islamabad
had issued a security alert, prohibiting its staff from visiting the city’s
Marriott Hotel due to concerns of a “possible attack”.
The same day, Islamabad police had raised security to
high alert in the capital.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Shehbaz renews pledge to crush terrorism menace
Muhammad Irfan Mughal | Mansoor Malik
December 27, 2022
D.I. KHAN / LAHORE: As the country reels from multiple
incidents of terrorism, claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) over the past few days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday vowed to
eradicate militants across the country amid criticism by his predecessor Imran
Khan, who grilled the government over a steep rise in militancy during its
eight-month stint.
Addressing a gathering in Dera Ismail Khan, PM Shehbaz
said that with the help of provincial governments and security forces, the
government will eliminate terrorism in all its forms. He added that a meeting
of the National Security Committee (NSC) would be summoned in a few days to
take stock of the security situation.
The premier said the menace of terrorism was on the
rise but the state would crush it very soon and no effort would be spared to
prevent its return.
In a comment on an attack on a security compound in
Bannu last week, PM Shehbaz said the Bannu incident was heart-breaking and
added that the law enforcement agencies conducted a successful operation,
killing all terrorists who had taken over the compound.
“We offer our condolences; the officers and personnel
who were martyred in this incident are our heroes, their sacrifices will always
be remembered,” he added.
‘Failure to rein in terror’
Meanwhile, former prime minister Imran Khan, who wants
snap polls in the country at all costs and is likely to dissolve Punjab and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, lambasted the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)
government for its “failure” to rein in terrorism after coming to power in
April this year.
During a PTI meeting at Zaman Park, his residence in
Lahore, Mr Khan claimed that his government had “controlled terrorism and was
proudly leading the country towards making it one of the world’s top tourism
destinations”.
The PTI chairman appeared concerned over the situation
at the Pak-Afghan border as well. He claimed that there was a 52 per cent increase
in terror incidents since April and chided the government for the resurgence of
terrorism.
“At least 52 per cent increase has been recorded in
terrorism cases across the country that claimed some 270 precious lives and
left over 550 people injured,” the former premier claimed.
Separately, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told reporters
that terrorism was returning to Pakistan.
In our stint in the federal government, he said, the
PTI was proudly projecting Pakistan as the world’s top tourist destination and
major news channels like CNN and magazines were referring to this South Asian
country as a world’s top tourist destination.
Unfortunately, he said the nation was being pushed
into the “fire of terrorism and the embassies were issuing advisories to their
employees to avoid five-star hotels” in Islamabad.
‘Economic crisis’
Speaking about the economic crisis plaguing the
country, PM Sharif said the federal government was determined to steer the
country out of the current difficulties.
The PM inaugurated multiple development projects,
including 50-kilometre motorway section of CPEC’s western route from Yarik to
Saggu, the rehabilitation of Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC), Tank Zam Dam,
Chashma Hydel Power Project, and Gomal University’s Paharpur campus. He also inaugurated
the repairing work from Pezu to Tank road, DI Khan bypass, and two 132 KV Grid
stations for Abdul Khel and Band Kurai.
He said the plan for the western route of CPEC to Zhob
was completed in 2017. But, the previous government of PTI had stopped this
“important project”, he said, accusing it of destroying the national economy.
The premier also welcomed a suggestion put forth by
Maulana Fazlur Rehman that an industrial estate should be established near the
new airport. He added the ministry of industries and production would discuss
the matter with the provincial departments and other stakeholders.
Film festival
Separately, PM Sharif formed a committee to discover
youth talent in all fields. Addressing the National Amateur Short Film Festival
in Islamabad, he said our youth should take a leading role in this purpose.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728504/shehbaz-renews-pledge-to-crush-terrorism-menace
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Investigators suspect suicide bomber came from KP
Munawer Azeem
December 27, 2022
ISLAMABAD: Investigators of last Friday’s bomb blast
in the capital have suspected that the terrorist had reached the capital the
same day in a passenger vehicle from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Sources close to the investigation said the investigators
had detected the presence of a person at Karak, Pirwadhai and I-10/4 the same
day and suspected that he might be the bomber.
The suspect’s presence was spotted at Pirwadhai bus
terminal and later at I-10/4 through geo-fencing.
The investigators also found that his presence at the
Pirwadhai bus terminal had coincided with the arrival of a passenger vehicle
from Karak there.
So far, no evidence has been found either he met
someone at the bus terminal or not, the sources said.
There is a possibility that he had travelled with a
ready-to-blow suicide jacket and a detonator.
The man also made a call and talked to someone on his
mobile phone after reaching Pirwadhai, they said.
Investigation conducted so far also showed that either
he was wearing the jacket or holding it when it was detonated, as nothing was
left or found intact on his body.
Along with other human parts, some fingers, intestine
and a bone were found from the crime scene and it was believed that these
belonged to the terrorist. A DNA test was being conducted to identify the human
remains.
Meanwhile, security around hotels housing foreign
visitors was further tightened, police officers said, adding deployment of
police and paramilitary troops had also been made around them.
Besides, temporary bunkers were made and pickets set
up on roads near the hotels. Policemen were also conducting physical checking
of individuals and vehicles.
Issuance of security alerts and advisory by foreign
missions in the capital to their countryman continued, keeping in view the
situation arising out of Friday’s terror incident and a threat alert issued by
the local authorities.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728470/investigators-suspect-suicide-bomber-came-from-kp
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Russia can send natural gas to Pakistan, Afghanistan
in long term: Deputy PM
December 26, 2022
MOSCOW: Russia is ready to resume gas supplies to
Europe through the Yamal-Europe Pipeline and it can also send supplies to
Pakistan and Afghanistan in the long term, Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Alexander Novak told state TASS news agency.
“The European market remains relevant, as the gas
shortage persists, and we have every opportunity to resume supplies,” TASS
cited Novak as saying in remarks published by the agency on Sunday.
“For example, the Yamal-Europe Pipeline, which was
stopped for political reasons, remains unused.”
The Yamal-Europe Pipeline usually flows westward, but
has been mostly reversed since December of 2021 as Poland turned away from
buying from Russia in favour of drawing on stored gas in Germany.
In May, Warsaw terminated its agreement with Russia,
after earlier rejecting Moscow’s demand that it pays in roubles.
Russian supplier Gazprom responded by cutting off
supply and also said it would no longer be able to export gas via Poland after
Moscow imposed sanctions against the firm that owns the Polish section of the
Yamal-Europe pipeline.
Novak also reiterated that Moscow is discussing
additional gas supplies through Turkey after creation of a hub there.
He also said that Moscow expects it will have shipped
21 billion cubic metres (bcm) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe in 2022.
“This year we were able to significantly increase LNG
supplies to Europe,” Novak said. “In the 11 months of 2022, they increased to
19.4 bcm, by the end of the year 21 bcm are expected.”
In a wide-ranging interview with the TASS agency,
parts of which have been published throughout the weekend, Novak also said that
in the long term, Russia can send its natural gas to the markets of Afghanistan
and Pakistan, either using the infrastructure of Central Asia, or in a swap from
the territory of Iran.
He also said that Russia has agreed with Azerbaijan to
increase gas supplies for its domestic consumption.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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FM
Bilawal, Saudi counterpart reaffirm to further deepen bilateral cooperation
December
26, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Reaffirming the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Foreign
Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin
Farhan Al Saud on Monday reiterated their mutual commitment to further enhance
and deepen bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.
FM
Bilawal, during a telephonic conversation with Prince Faisal, thanked the
leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for valuable flood relief assistance
to Pakistan, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement.
The
two foreign ministers also discussed the recent developments in Afghanistan.
They
reaffirmed the importance of guaranteeing women’s rights, and their full and
equal participation in all aspects of life.
They
also reiterated their support for security, stability and peace in Afghanistan
and the importance of international engagement for building a more sustainable
future for the Afghan people.
Foreign
Minister Bilawal apprised his Saudi counterpart of the upcoming International
Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, which is being held in Geneva on
January 9, 2023.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Maulana
Fazal lauds PM development initiatives for KP province
December
26, 2022
D.I.KHAN:
Jamiat Ulemai-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman on Monday said
that development initiatives inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would
herald an era of social and economic prosperity for the people of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa.
Highlighting
the significance of the geographical location of Dera Ismail Khan, he said it
was linking all the provinces, adding it deserved such mega projects to make it
an economic hub.
He
expressed these views while addressing a ceremony where Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif inaugurated a host of development initiatives for the southern districts
of KP, especially Dera Ismail Khan.
He
recalled that he had already said on several occasions that one day the Dera
Ismail Khan would become a trade hub for the entire world and today his vision
was being given practical shape.
He
said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government had put the
country on a path of development by initiating concrete measures to enhance
trust of other countries in Pakistan.
The
JUI-F chief, who also heads the PDM, said the restoration of trust which the
country lost during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) tenure was currently a big
challenge for the present coalition government and expressed the strong resolve
that the PDM leadership would overcome this challenge like it successfully tackled
other inherited challenges.
He
said that besides other countries, China pumped in massive investment in the
mega development projects of the country, but when PTI came to power “it
stalled all mega development projects including the key mega project of
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)” by expounding the philosophy that
country could not afford such mega development initiatives.
As
a result, the country’s economy was shattered with even citizens avoiding
investing due to the “flawed and shaky policies of the PTI government”.
He
said that Gwadar port played a crucial role in the economic development of the
country and it was one of the deepest ports in Asia, but its depth was
drastically reduced and work had started again to deepen it.
Fazl
also underlined the need for providing funds to the development of merged
tribal districts as agreed under the merger plan of those areas.
He
said that inhabitants of the merged tribal districts were still lacking
facilities and infrastructures that were yet to be developed.
He
said the people of those areas don’t have houses and feared that the situation
would further aggravate in view of growing terrorism incidents and it was not
certain if any development project could be undertaken or not.
He
also asked the authorities concerned to revisit the map of Tank Zam dam to
address all relevant grievances. He said this would be a multi-purpose project,
and adding such dams would help bring about 12 lac acre rain-fed land under
cultivation.
Source: Pakistan Today
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FIRs
registered against three consecutive blasts in Quetta
December
26, 2022
QUETTA:
Balochistan Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has registered the first
information reports (FIR) of three consecutive blasts that occurred on Sunday
in different areas of Quetta.
At
least one person was killed and 15 others, including three policemen and women,
were injured in five grenade attacks in different parts of Balochistan on
Sunday.
The
CTD spokesperson said the FIRs against all three blasts have been registered,
including Sabzal Road, and Mosa Colony blasts. The FIR was registered under
sections 302 (punishment for premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder) of
the Pakistan Penal Code and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Source: Pakistan Today
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Army
searches for attackers after six soldiers killed
December
26, 2022
QUETTA:
Pakistan Army on Monday expanded its search for the perpetrators behind
multiple attacks that killed six troops and wounded 17 civilians in restive
Balochistan the previous day.
The
chief secretary of Balochistan, Abdul Aziz Uqaili, said there were a total of
nine attacks in the province on Sunday. No civilians were killed in the
attacks, he tweeted. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the violence in
Balochistan.
Earlier,
the military in a statement said five soldiers, including an army captain, were
killed when a roadside bomb exploded near a security forces’ vehicle during a
clearance operation in Kahan, a remote area in Balochistan bordering
Afghanistan. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The
sixth soldier was killed in a shootout with militants belonging to the
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group in the Sambaza town of Zhob district,
according to Ghulam Azfar Mahesar, a deputy inspector general (DIG) of police.
A
militant was also killed in the shootout, he said.
In
Quetta, 12 people were wounded when assailants threw a hand grenade in a bazaar
near a residential area, Mahesar added. Elsewhere in Balochistan, five people
were wounded in attacks in the towns of Kalat, Khuzdar and Hub.
Based
in Afghanistan, the TTP has stepped up attacks across Pakistan since November,
when they unilaterally ended a cease-fire after accusing the military of
violating the truce.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/12/26/army-searches-for-attackers-after-six-soldiers-killed/
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India
Muslim
Writers Ignored At The Upcoming Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, Alternative Jana
Sahitya Sammelan On Cards
27th
December 2022
By
Amit S Upadhye
HUBBALLI:
Voices of dissent are growing louder as it is alleged that organisers of the
upcoming Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Haveri are ignoring Muslim writers and
poets. In rebellion, some senior Kannada writers are planning to organise an
alternative meet, Jana Sahitya Sammelan, in Bengaluru on January 8.
Last
week, when the Kannada Sahitya Parishat announced the names of writers and poets
who are taking part in the sammelana, a section of Kannada writers objected to
the list, saying Muslim writers have been ignored. While the state has hundreds
of Muslim Kannada writers, only a few have been considered for the sammelana,
they pointed out.
Since
then, there has been a campaign on social media to organise an alternative
event or Paryaya Sammelana, parallel to the Haveri meet. Many writers have
agreed to be part of this rebel lit fest.
But
organisers alleged that petty politics is being played in the name of
sammelana. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat has no intention of avoiding writers
based on their religion, they said. “There are six Muslim writers and poets who
are part of the Haveri Sammelana. It has become a routine for some people to
create a controversy during the mega Kannada event,” an organising committee
member said.
In
1979, when the sammelana was held in Dharmasthala, a parallel Bandaya Dalit
Sammelana was organised, as the interests of Dalit writers were compromised.
The then sammelana president, Hampa Nagarajaiah, had turned down a demand to
hold a discussion on Dalit issues and the then Chief Minister Devaraj Urs had
to intervene for the smooth conduct of the sammelana.
That
was the trigger and soon, the Bandaya Dalit literature became hugely popular
across the state. Later, journalist and writer P Lankesh had called for an
alternative Sammelana to the Hubballi meet, but did not meet with much success.
Source: New Indian Express
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Clash
Between Two Groups, Between Kashmiri Students And Ghazipur's Group At Aligarh
Muslim University
December
26, 2022
Agra:
Dramatic scenes were witnessed at the Aligarh Muslim University Campus on
Sunday night after a clash broke out between two groups.
The
AMU Centenary Gate was immediately closed after the fight by the Kashmiri
students, police said.
Two
teams each from Proctor's office and Police Administration immediately reached
the spot and pacified the agitating students after assuring them of a meeting
with the District Magistrate to solve their grievances.
Sartaj
Hafeez, an AMU Student from Kashmir said, "The increasing number of
attacks on students from Kashmir are ignored. No action is being taken. We are
demanding that there should be an inquiry into the attacks that have taken
place and strict action should be taken against the culprits. The culture of
fighting should also end."
Additional
City Magistrate (II) Sudhir Kumar, who reached the spot with police personnel,
said, "We have received information that there was some problem between
Kashmiri students in AMU and Ghazipur's group".
Mr
Kumar further said the Centenary gate was closed by the Kashmiri students in
connection with the fight, which was reopened shortly only after the arrival of
a team from the university administration.
Source:
ND TV
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of the original story:
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/clash-between-two-groups-at-aligarh-muslim-university-3638948
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Salute
Rahul for promoting unity, secularism through Bharat Jodo Yatra: Mehbooba
Dec
27, 2022
JAMMU:
Lauding Rahul Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
chief and former chief minister of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti, on Monday said she
saluted the Congress leader for undertaking the march to strengthen secular
values and promote unity and brotherhood in the country.
She
also appreciated his gesture of paying tributes to former prime minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee and accused the BJP of vitiating the atmosphere in the country.
Talking
to media persons at the party office in Jammu, Mehbooba said the BJP was
constantly attacking Rahul, taking the “shehzade” jibe at him, as he was on the
road braving the frigid weather for “uniting the country and protecting its
democratic institutions”. People needed to support the Congress leader as he
was fighting to save the country, she added.
Accusing
the BJP of tearing apart the country’s secular fabric, she said. “The
foundation of secularism and brotherhood in India has been shaken and weakened
in the last seven-eight years.”
The
PDP chief also praised Rahul for paying tributes to Vajpayee, calling it “a
good gesture”. “This is the beauty of this country — to even pay tributes to
opponents,” she added, ruining that this “is missing now”.
Source:
Times Of India
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BSF
troops shoot down suspected Pak drone in Punjab's Amritsar
Dec
26, 2022
AMRITSAR
: Officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered one drone, believed to
have entered from Pakistan's side, lying in a farming field ahead of border
fence in Amritsar district, a BSF statement said.
BSF
troops, deployed at the border, on Monday around 7:40 pm heard a buzzing sound
of a suspicious flying object near Rajatal village in Amritsar district. The
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was intercepted by the troops by firing. Following
this, a search operation was launched which resulted in the recovery of a
drone.
"On
December 25, 2022, at about 1940 hrs, Border Security Force troops deployed at
the border heard the buzzing sound of a suspected flying object/drone entering
from Pakistan into Indian territory in the area falling near Village-Rajatal in
District-Amritsar. As per the drill, the troops tried to intercept the drone by
firing. The whole area was cordoned and Police and concerned sister agencies
were informed," BSF said in a statement."Further, during the search
BSF troops recovered one drone (Quadcopter) lying in farming fields ahead of
the border fence," the statement further read.
Further
information is awaited.
The
BSF has foiled several drone intrusions attempts recently.
Earlier
on December 21, BSF troops shot down a drone that entered India from Daoke
Border Outpost (BoP) in the Amritsar sector from the Pakistan side on the
International Border.
"The
Pak drone which had entered India at 1920 hrs in the AOR of BOP Daoke in the
AOR of 144 Bn, Amritsar sector was found fallen this morning in Pak area, 20
meters in their territory opposite the AOR of BOP Bharopal. It hovered in the
sky for a few minutes when counter-drone measures were taken and fell while
returning," BSF said in a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier
on November 26, a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistani side was
shot down by the security personnel deployed at Daoke Border Outpost (BoP) in
the Amritsar sector on India-Pakistan international border.
Security
personnel fired six rounds from their INSAS rifles and downed a drone.
Source:
Times Of India
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Muslim
group holds protest in Latur seeking quota
26th
December 2022
Latur:
A Muslim organisation held a protest in front of the tehsil office in Latur in
Maharashtra on Monday seeking reservations for the community.
The
memorandum of the Muslim Arakashan Samiti said the community was educationally
backward and must get quota in jobs to improve its plight.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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https://www.siasat.com/muslim-group-holds-protest-in-latur-seeking-quota-2488766/
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Muslim
shopkeeper murdered in Karnataka; community suspects political gain
25th
December 2022
In
an incident reported from Karnataka on Saturday, a Muslim shopkeeper was
reportedly stabbed to death. Despite the deceased trying to save himself the
attackers chased and killed him.
The
deceased was identified as 45 -year-old Abdul Jaleel, the incident took place
near the Suratkal district at around 8:00 pm. The victim succumbed to injuries
while undergoing treatment at a hospital. “The murder looks like it was done to
gain political mileage by inciting Muslims to take revenge,” the president of
Dakshina Kannada Muslim Okkoota, K. Ashraf, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
“We
will not fall to this design and create trouble. But we want the police to
catch the real persons behind the attack. The assailants and people who hatched
the conspiracy should be punished. The chief minister should visit and console
the family members of Jaleel,” he added.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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Indian
coast guard, anti-terrorist squad stop Pakistani fishing boat with drugs, arms
27
December ,2022
Indian
authorities have apprehended a Pakistani fishing boat carrying arms, ammunition
and narcotics off the coast of Gujarat.
In
a statement on Monday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said that a Pakistani
fishing boat ‘Al Soheli’ was stopped and searched in a joint operation with the
Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
Crewed
by 10, the boat was reportedly carrying six pistols, 120 rounds of ammunition,
and 40 kilograms of narcotic substances worth $36.2 million (INR 3 crore).
“On
being challenged by the ICG ship, the boat started evasive maneuvering and did
not stop even after firing warning shots,” a statement from the maritime security
authority said.
The
move was enforced by patrol ship ICGS Arinjay which was in the area on December
25 and 26 after receiving information about the Pakistan-origin boat earlier
from the Gujarat ATS.
The
fishing boat set sail from Karachi and is now being brought to Okha, Gujarat
for investigation, the Times of India reported on Monday.
This
is reportedly the seventh joint operation by the ICG and Gujarat ATS in the
last 18 months.
Over
346 kilograms of heroin worth $233 million (INR 1,930 crore) have been seized
and 44 Pakistani and seven Iranian crew have been apprehended in the last 18
months, the statement added.
Such
incursions by Pakistani vessels into Indian waters have been reduced greatly
following the November 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 175 and was
carried out in 2008 by 10 members of the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba group over
four days.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Europe
Recognized
as terror group PKK openly maintains dangerous foothold in Europe
Busra
Nur Cakmak
26.12.2022
As
supporters of the PKK, a known terrorist organization, openly protested in
major European cities this weekend, Türkiye has been sounding the alarm over
members of the group, responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands and for
supporting human trafficking, drugs, and organized crime, being free to walk
the streets.
On
Friday, a 69-year-old gunman opened fire on a cultural center and nearby hair salon
in Paris, killing at least three people and wounding three others. Local media
reports named the shooter as William M., a retired train driver and gun
enthusiast with a history of armed offenses.
PKK
supporters soon gathered in the area after Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
visited the scene.
In
the ensuing protest, they perpetrated acts of violence and clashed with the
police, of whom more than two dozen were injured.
Supporters
of the terrorist group disrupted peace again on Saturday, this time in London,
in another violent encounter with police.
Gathering
in front of the French Embassy in London, a group of the terror group's
proponents chanted slogans against Türkiye and France over the Paris shooting.
For
its part, Türkiye reminded Europe on Sunday of the threat the PKK poses.
"These
developments have emerged as a hint that the patronage of terrorist groups in
Europe just because of their opposition to Türkiye will eventually cause great
trouble for Europe," Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development
(AK) Party, told a group of reporters.
The
PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the EU, and the US, and
is responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and
infants. The YPG – which also has a presence in Europe, openly sanctioned by
several governments – is the terrorist PKK's Syrian branch.
Vandalism
Several
European countries have told EU law enforcement agency Europol that the terror
group was also involved in serious and organized criminal activities, according
to the report.
PKK
sympathizers have vandalized mosques and shops frequented by the Turkish
community in Germany. Similar incidents were also reported in Belgium and
Switzerland, Europol reported in 2020.
Over
the weekend, thousands of PKK supporters marched in Paris, chanting pro-PKK
slogans and carrying posters of the terror group's so-called leaders.
They
then ripped off pavement stones and lobbed them at police, nearby homes, and
shops. The attackers also used fireworks and sparklers, destroying bus stops.
The
police intervention was rather subdued, with security forces occasionally using
tear gas against the attackers.
In
London, the terror group's supporters marched towards the Turkish Embassy,
carrying banners reading "Freedom for Ocalan," referring to convicted
terrorist ringleader Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence in
Türkiye.
Protesters
also disrupted traffic as they marched through central London on a day while
residents were rushing to complete their last-minute Christmas shopping.
When
they arrived in front of the embassy, police clashed with terror supporters
after one of them threw what is thought to most likely be a stone at the
building.
They
also chanted slogans for "revenge" and "no justice, no
peace."
Recruitment
Europol
classifies the PKK as an "ethno-nationalist" and
"separatist" terrorist organization, saying in its 2020 and 2021
reports that the group still uses European countries for its propaganda,
recruitment, and fundraising activities, even though it is officially banned in
most of these nations.
"The
group maintained an apparatus that provided logistical and financial support to
its operatives in Turkey and neighbouring countries and promoted its political
objectives. This apparatus mainly operated under the guise of legally
recognised entities, such as Kurdish associations," said Europol's EU
Terrorism Situation & Trend Report.
According
to the report, PKK recruitment networks within Europe also played a part in EU
citizens or residents joining conflicts in the Middle East, such as in Syria
and Iraq.
The
PKK/YPG, which is the terror group's Syria branch, has recruited nearly 300
people in Germany to travel to the war-torn country, as well as to Iraq, to
fight in its ranks, according to the German government.
Authorities
made the figure public in response to a parliamentary question by the
opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Nov. 25.
Since
2013, German intelligence services identified nearly 300 people who traveled to
northern Syria and Iraq, where they joined the terrorist PKK and affiliated
groups, the government said.
It
was not possible to determine whether these volunteers actually fought against
the Daesh/ISIS terror group, or took part in other conflicts, the government
had noted.
Nearly
150 of the foreign fighters have returned to Germany, the government confirmed.
However, it did not release any more details on investigations or judicial
proceedings against them.
Fundraising
The
PKK continues "to use Europe for fundraising by legal and illegal
means," according to Europol, explaining that these activities include
fundraising campaigns and donations, as well as "extortion and other
organised criminal activities."
For
example, Germany's spy chief in June admitted that the country has become a
platform for the terrorist organization's fundraising and recruitment
activities targeting Türkiye.
"The
PKK is organizing various fundraising campaigns in Germany, and then using this
money to finance terror attacks in Türkiye," Thomas Haldenwang, head of
the German domestic intelligence agency BfV, told a news conference in Berlin.
He
said the terror group was also using various associations in Germany to recruit
young people as foreign fighters to be sent to Türkiye, Syria, or Iraq.
"The
PKK remains an international terror organization, it continues violent attacks
and killings in the region," he stressed.
According
to the BfV's annual security report released on Tuesday, the PKK is the biggest
foreign extremist group in the country, with around 14,500 followers.
It
raised an estimated €16.7 million ($17.8 million) in Germany in 2021 and more
than €30 million in Europe via various fundraising campaigns, the report said.
Drug
trafficking
Having
flourished for more than three decades, the PKK's continent-wide drug
trafficking network in Europe is no secret to security and intelligence
services, either.
The
terror group reaps over $1.5 billion annually from its control over some 80% of
the European illicit drug market, according to figures provided by Turkish
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu last month. It uses these funds to wage its
decades-long terror campaign against Türkiye.
According
to Europol's EU Terrorism Situation and Trend 2022 report, PKK activities in
European countries include money laundering, extortion, and drug trafficking,
and are coordinated by the so-called European Democratic Kurdish Society
Congress (KCDK-E) headquartered in Belgium.
Further
out from the continent, threats, beatings, and brutal murders have been common
practice for the PKK in Britain, which also lists it as a terror group.
Using
gangs in its profitable drug trade across the UK, the PKK is especially active
in London, according to a former member of north London's notorious Tottenham
Boys group.
An
intelligence report by the UK Metropolitan Police highlighted how the Tottenham
Boys, a Kurdish gang based in London, targeted local Kurdish businesses, used
extreme violence, and was involved in racketeering to raise money for the
terror group.
The
gang of around 400 men has the monopoly on distributing Class A and B drugs in
north London, the former member, who will be referred to only as Ali in this
article due to security reasons, told Anadolu Agency.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Terrorist
PKK supporters' violence in Paris upset French residents, shop owners
Umit
Donmez
26.12.2022
PARIS
Acts
of violence in Paris since Friday, committed by the PKK terror group's
supporters, upset French people in the area.
On
Friday, a 69-year-old gunman -- retired train driver William M., reportedly a
gun enthusiast with a history of weapons offenses -- opened fire at a cultural
center and nearby hairdressing salon, killing at least three people and
wounding three others, according to local media reports.
PKK
supporters gathered in the area soon after Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
visited the scene on Friday.
They
then started acts of violence and clashed with the police.
During
the weekend, thousands of supporters of the terror group marched in Paris,
chanting pro-PKK slogans and carrying posters of the terror group's so-called
leaders.
They
then ripped off paving stones and threw them at the police, nearby homes, and
shops. The attackers also used fireworks and sparklers, destroying bus stops.
The
police partly intervened, occasionally using tear gas against the attackers.
Residents
and shop owners expressed their shock and sorrow to Anadolu Agency.
A
Parisian woman -- who wanted to remain anonymous -- said she regrets seeing so
much violence and vandalism in Paris streets.
"It's
very saddening to see this on Christmas day," she added.
A
shop owner said he had to close his shop due to violence by PKK supporters who
set vehicles on fire near his shop.
He
also added that those incidents "deteriorate Paris' image." The shop
owner also deplored the loss of revenue caused by the acts of violence.
Another
restaurant owner said their revenue was cut from €20,000 ($21,250) to €3,000 on
Saturday since he had to close his restaurant early.
A
resident explained that many shops will not be able to open soon due to the
reparations of the public areas that have been damaged during the clashes.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Parisians
shocked as streets descend into chaos on Christmas Eve amid pro-PKK protests
Muhammed
Enes Calli and Umit Donmez
26.12.2022
Paris
turned into a battleground over the weekend as violent protests by supporters
of the PKK terrorist organization clashed with police, injuring 30 officers on
the French capital's streets as residents were preparing to celebrate
Christmas.
Thousands
of the terror group's supporters marched to the Boulevard du Temple chanting
pro-PKK slogans and carrying posters of the terrorist organization's
ringleaders.
The
police intervention at the scene was rather subdued, as they occasionally used
tear gas against the protesters who ripped off paving stones from the road to
lob at security forces, as well as nearby homes and shops.
The
clashes erupted after a shooting in a busy Paris district left three dead and
three others injured at the hands of a 69-year-old gunman on Friday.
PKK
supporters took to the streets as they used fireworks and sparklers to descend
the city into turmoil, destroying bus stops and other public and private
property.
In
its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a
terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for
the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
Though normally officially banned, the terrorist group also has a presence in
numerous European countries.
'Political
exploitation'
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, French journalist Jean-Michel Brun, editor-in-chief of the
Musulmansenfrance news website, said the violence raised the "question of
political exploitation."
"When
we see the images of these demonstrations where people come to smash cars or
set fires, throw projectiles at the police, we can clearly see that it is most
definitely not a demonstration of support for the families of the victims, but
a question of political exploitation," he said.
I
hope that this political exploitation will not fool the French people and the
French government."
He
added that the attackers were members of the PKK terror group and have
expressed hostility to Türkiye and the Turkish government.
Some
have also voiced hatred for the Turkish people, he claimed.
'Very
saddening' on Christmas day
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, residents of Paris have also shared their concerns and
expressed how they were shocked by the violence that erupted in their city.
"They
broke everything," said one French citizen. "Trucks, cars, scooters.
Everything."
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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of the original story:
--------
UK
‘red tape’ is putting former British Council staff in Afghanistan at risk:
British MPs
December
26, 2022
LONDON:
A cross-party group of British MPs warned on Monday that former British Council
staff and their families in Afghanistan are at risk because of a “blockage of
red tape” preventing them from returning to the UK.
Conservative
MP John Baron spearheaded the appeal to British Foreign Secretary James
Cleverly to ensure the country repays the “debt of gratitude and honor” to the
200 British Council contractors and their families.
“People’s
lives are at risk,” said Baron. “For more than 16 months since Operation
Pitting and the fall of Kabul, there remain around 200 British Council
contractors and their families stuck in Afghanistan.”
Referring
to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, Baron claimed that “not a single
contractor has been assisted out of Afghanistan via this scheme.”
ACRS
is one of two resettlement plans available to Afghan citizens who worked for
the British government. The second one is known as the Afghan Relocation and
Assistance Policy.
In
a letter signed by more than two dozen MPs and peers, Cleverly was told that
GardaWorld contractors who offered protection to the British Embassy in Kabul
were treated similarly.
“Until
this blockage of red tape is solved, the contractors and their families will
remain in danger,” the letter reads.
“No
one questions that security checks are necessary, but they must be urgently
completed so that the work of getting the contractors, to whom we owe a debt of
gratitude and honor, can begin the active work of leaving Afghanistan and
traveling to the UK.”
In
response to the letter, a British government spokesperson said: “We have
brought around 23,000 people to safety, including over 6,300 vulnerable Afghan
nationals through the first pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme,
and a further 1,500 eligible people are due to be offered resettlement places
under pathway 3.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222366/world
--------
Turkey
summons French ambassador for failing to stop ‘black propaganda’ after Paris
shooting
26
December 2022
The
Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned France's ambassador over what it calls
the French government’s failure to stop the dissemination of "black
propaganda" against Turkey following the killing of three Kurds in Paris.
The
move was made on Monday after widespread protests engulfed the French capital
in the wake of a deadly shooting by a "racist" gunman that claimed
three lives at a Kurdish cultural center and a nearby café.
Friday's
shooting drew Kurdish groups and their supporters onto the streets of the
French capital, with some of the protesters waving flags of the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK), which is viewed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and
its Western allies.
Other
protesters chanted anti-Turkey slogans and held banners with mottoes accusing
Ankara of being a “killer state” and connected to the shooting.
The
French ambassador was summoned after Ankara said French officials did little to
stop the anti-Turkey propaganda promoted by the PKK, according to a Turkish
diplomatic source.
"We
expressed our dissatisfaction with the black propaganda launched by PKK circles
against our country and with the fact that the French government and some
politicians are used as a tool in this propaganda," the source said.
The
source added that the PKK's false allegations were used "by French
government officials and some politicians" against Ankara.
"We
expect France to act prudently in the face of the aforementioned
incident," the source said.
French
police arrested a 69-year-old suspect who the authorities said had recently
been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a saber attack on a migrant
camp in the capital last year.
The
69-year-old suspect confessed to a "pathological" hatred for foreigners
and spent nearly a day in a psychiatric facility before being returned to
police custody on Sunday.
Judicial
officials in France charged the man on Monday with murder and attempted murder
because of race, ethnicity, nationality or religion as well as for the
unauthorized procurement and possession of a weapon.
Over
the past years, Turkey's relations with France have been stained by their
opposing stances on the war in Syria and a range of other disputes.
The
PKK militants — designated as terrorists by Turkey, the United States and
European Union — regularly clash with Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated
southeast of the country, which is attached to northern Iraq.
A
shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015.
Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.
Source:
Press TV
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Arab World
Iraq
commemorates General Soleimani ahead of US assassination anniversary: 'His path
will continue’
26
December 2022
The
Iraqi people have held a ceremony in Salahedine Governorate to commemorate the
former commander of the IRGC Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani and his
comrades ahead of the third anniversary of their assassination by the United
States.
Pople
as well as official figures attended the ceremony in the city of Dujail north
of the capital Baghdad to honor the memory of the martyrs, including General
Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd Al-Shaabi or
Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
In
the ceremony, the memory of the victory commanders and their key role in
defending the Muslim society and confronting the criminal plots of the Daesh
Takfiri terrorist group and their masters were honored.
The
Iraqi officials also emphasized the importance of continuing the path of the
martyrs.
The
US military assassinated the two influential commanders and their comrades in a
drone strike near the Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020, which
was directly ordered by former US president Donald Trump.
Both
commanders are globally recognized for their role in eliminating the Daesh
Takfiri terrorist group in the region, especially in Iraq and Syria. The
terrorist group had carried out the most savage attacks and crimes against
Muslim and Christian civilians since it emerged in the two Arab countries.
People
in Iran and Iraq hold annual events to commemorate the two commanders’ leading
role in defeating Daesh and reversing its advances. Prior to its defeat, Daesh
had taken control over a large part of Iraq and Syria.
In
2014, when Daesh unleashed its campaign of terror in Iraq, Iranian military
advisers led by General Soleimani and upon invitation by the Iraqi government
headed to the neighboring country to the aid of Iraqi armed forces, helping
them ultimately liberate their entire territories from the US-backed terrorist
groups, a battle that took three years to end.
Salahedine
Governorate is famous for its city of Amerli, which has a population of 26,000
and was under an 80-day siege by Daesh terrorists from June to the end of
August 2014 during the Daesh invasion of Iraq. General Soleimani entered the
city in a very dangerous operation by flying over the terrorists in a
helicopter to save Amerli from falling.
In
November, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
that the name of General Soleimani infuriates the US and its allies.
“Haj
Qassem Soleimani was the epitome of the Islamic Republic’s policy in
confronting the enemy’s plans. He foiled the enemy’s comprehensive plan,” he
said in a speech at a meeting with the country’s Basij Forces.
Iran
and Iraq have set up a joint investigation committee to legally pursue the
assassination. Based on the latest findings of the legal team, 120 people have
been identified in connection with Soleimani’s assassination, with Trump
topping the list.
Almost
two years after the assassination, at least 78 Iraqis filed a lawsuit in an
Iraqi court on November 27 against Trump and other officials of his
administration. The plaintiffs demanded legal action against the accused, in
the petitions filed at Baghdad’s federal court of appeal.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
Islamic
State Group Attacks Former Stronghold in Syria, Killing 6
December
26, 2022
The
Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for an attack Monday that
killed six fighters affiliated with U.S.-backed security forces in northeast
Syria.
Local
officials said the attack targeted a security headquarters in the city of
Raqqa, which was the de facto capital of IS until 2017, when U.S.-backed Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) removed the militant group.
The
incident, in which one of two IS attackers was killed, prompted local
authorities to declare an emergency and a citywide curfew as security forces
started a sweeping campaign to search for potential sleeper cells belonging to
IS, also known as ISIS or Daesh.
The
other attacker, who was reportedly wearing an explosive belt, was detained by
the SDF, according to a statement by Ali Hajo, co-chair of the department of
the interior at the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in northeast Syria.
Mazloum
Abdi, the general commander of the SDF, said Monday that his forces have
received intelligence about “dangerous preparations by Daesh cells in Raqqa.”
IS
militants ruled large swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq until 2019, when
U.S.-backed forces declared the military defeat of the terror group. However,
IS has remained active in many parts of both countries, relying on surprise
guerrilla attacks on civilians and security forces.
Last
week, nine policemen were killed in an attack claimed by IS militants in the
northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk.
U.S.
forces said last week they conducted three helicopter raids in eastern Syria,
which resulted in the detention of six IS operatives.
Source:
VOA News
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UAE
panel on cybersecurity warns against cyber attacks during New Year celebrations
27
December ,2022
The
UAE Cybersecurity Council has warned all public and private institutions, as
well as individuals, of the risk of cyber attacks, especially during the New
Year celebrations and the holiday season, reported the official Emirates News
Agency (WAM).
The
council highlighted the need for all authorities and institutions to activate
their cyber defense systems and raise the security awareness of individuals
about cyber attacks, as well as cooperate with relevant authorities to share
relevant information proactively.
It
also noted that hacking tools have now become easier to use, enabling hackers
to take advantage of the holiday season, especially with the increasing
dependence on digital services.
The
council warned of all types of cyber attacks against vital sectors, stressing
the importance of adopting cybersecurity policies and protection mechanisms, as
well as raising the awareness of public and private institutions and
individuals, which will play a key role in protecting the community against
malicious cyber attacks.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
UAE
condemns Taliban decision to ban women from working in NGOs across Afghanistan
27
December ,2022
The
UAE has condemned the Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in NGOs
across Afghanistan, the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
Afghanistan’s
economy ministry on December 24 ordered all non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) not to let female staff work until further notice.
Assistant
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Representative of the UAE to the United Nations
Lana Nusseibeh warned that “the decision will further impede the provision of
humanitarian relief in the country and affect the most vulnerable in society,
including women, children, and the elderly.”
She
said that two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population is in need of humanitarian
assistance, and six million people are at risk of starvation.
“Islam
honors the role of women and upholds their rights,” Nusseibeh reportedly added.
The
order does not apply directly to the United Nations, but many of its programs
are carried out by local and international NGOs subject to the order
The
latest statement comes only four days after the UAE denounced the Taliban-run
government’s decision to suspend university access for female students.
Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation and his counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, discussed the decision in a phone call,
Emirates News Agency WAM reported last week.
The
two top diplomats emphasized that Islam as a religion devoted significant
attention to women, granted them a privileged position, and safeguarded their
rights.
They
affirmed the need to guarantee women's rights, as well as the importance of
full and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of life.
Saudi
Arabia’s foreign ministry also called on the Taliban to reverse the move.
On
Monday, the acting head of the United Nations’ mission to Afghanistan told the
Taliban administration’s acting economy minister to reverse the decision to ban
female NGO workers during a meeting, according to a statement.
“Millions
of Afghans need humanitarian assistance and removing barriers is vital,” UNAMA
said in the statement, adding that UNAMA’s acting head and humanitarian
coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov had met with Economy Minister Mohammad Hanif.
Afghanistan’s
already struggling economy has tipped into crisis since the Taliban took over
in 2021, with the country facing sanctions and cuts in development aid.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
Islamic
Affairs drops some Friday preachers for deputizing others without permission
December
26, 2022
RIYADH
— The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance have dispensed with a
number of Friday preachers for deputizing others to deliver the Friday sermon
(Khutba) without notifying the ministry, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned.
The
Friday preachers who were dispensed were also deputizing others to perform the
prayer, which tempts the representative of choosing the sermon's topic on their
own, ignoring the ministry' circular of specifying the topic of the week's
Khutba in advance.
According
to one of the ministry's employees, the preachers must avoid being absent from
their pulpits and also avoid deputizing, if they are asked to address a topic
previously nominated by the ministry.
Many
preachers who have been in pulpits for decades have been dispensed with and
subjected to accountability, due to their absence and deputizing others to
deliver a sermon that contradicts the sermon asked by the ministry.
It
is noteworthy that the ministry has previously tuned the voice of the pulpit
and also improved the selection of topics for Friday sermons, so that it
touches reality and impacts daily life of people.
The
ministry also contributed to selecting topics for Friday sermons that would
warn against disunity and warn against the approaches of terrorist groups,
including (the terrorist Brotherhood and terrorist Al-Sururiya organization)
and keep the sermon away from extremist ideology and politicization.
The
era of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif
Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh is distinguished by wisdom, moderation, and preserving
the country's position and its wise leadership.
Dr.
Al-Sheikh is characterized for being known for his communication with mosque
preachers in various regions and governorates of Saudi Arabia.
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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--------
CPR
saves Asian pilgrim who collapsed outside Prophet's Mosque
December
26, 2022
MADINAH
— Medical teams at the Bab Jibril Health Center, next to the Prophet's Mosque
in Madinah, have managed to save the life of an Asian Umrah pilgrim who
collapsed in the mosque's yard after his heart stopped.
Madinah
Health Complex said that the emergency department of Bab Jibril Health Center
was informed about the patient's condition by the Red Crescent. When emergency
units arrived at the location, the man was unconscious, and an initial
examination showed that his heart and breathing had stopped.
Medical
teams at the center applied cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 20 minutes
until the man's heart beating was revived and he started breathing. The man was
transferred to Madinah Munawwarah Hospital for complete tests and necessary
treatment. A medical regime was prepared after his health condition stabilized.
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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Pro-Turkish
fighters killed in northwest Syria clashes: Monitor
26
December ,2022
Eight
Turkey-backed Syrian fighters were killed in clashes with regime troops that
raged Monday in the country’s northwest, a rebel alliance said.
A
statement from the Faylaq al-Sham group said six of its fighters were killed
and three more wounded in an offensive launched by Syrian government forces
backed by Kurdish fighters from Sunday night.
It
later said two more fighters had been killed in the clashes in the Afrin region
near the Turkish border, bringing the death toll to eight.
Faylaq
al-Sham is an alliance of pro-Turkey rebel groups considered close to the
Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The
fighting died down early Monday evening, an AFP correspondent said.
The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a wide network of
sources on the ground, said the regime troops and Kurdish forces took control
of two Faylaq al-Sham positions in intense fighting involving heavy weapons.
Exchanges
of fire occur regularly between Syrian regime forces and pro-Turkish rebels who
control part of the border.
Faylaq
al-Sham has taken part in Turkish army offensives launched since 2016 in
northern Syria, mainly against Kurdish fighters.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
Eight
dead in Daesh attack on Syrian jail
December
26, 2022
JEDDAH:
Six members of Kurdish-led security forces and two militants were killed on
Monday in an attack by Daesh aimed at freeing extremists from a jail in
northern Syria.
The
assault targeted a Kurdish security complex in Raqqa, the group’s former de
facto capital in Syria, which includes a military intelligence prison housing
militants, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The
prison houses hundreds of extremists, including 200 high-level militants, said
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory, a Syrian war monitor in the UK.
“The jihadists were targeting the military intelligence prison,” he said.
Kurdish-led
authorities announced a state of emergency in Raqqa and put the city on
lockdown as security forces hunted down Daesh fighters still at large.
Daesh
admitted carrying out the attack and said two of its fighters had launched it,
one of whom it claimed had escaped. The group said the aim of attack was to
avenge “Muslim prisoners” and female relatives of militants living in the
Kurdish-administered Al-Hol camp.
Al-Hol,
home to more than 50,000 people, is the largest camp for displaced people who
fled after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces led the battle that
dislodged Daesh fighters from the last scraps of their Syrian territory in
2019.
Farhad
Shami, spokesman for the SDF, which controls Raqqa and Al-Hol, said Daesh had failed
to come close to freeing the prison inmates. “Daesh failed to attack the prison
because our forces thwarted their attack,” he said.
Security
forces were still searching the area to arrest members of the cell, he added.
The
attack was the most significant Daesh attempt to free prisoners since they
launched their biggest assault in years in January, when they attacked the
Ghwayran prison in the Kurdish-controlled city of Hasakeh.
Hundreds
were killed in the assault that lasted for a week and aimed to free extremists
held there.
Daesh
took over vast swaths of Iraq and Syria in 2014, including Raqqa which was its
main seat of power, but since losing its last significant piece of territory in
Syria in 2019 it has resorted to guerrilla attacks.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222286/middle-east
--------
Omani
mediators leave Sanaa empty-handed as Houthis reject truce renewal
December
26, 2022
AL-MUKALLA,
Yemen: Efforts to renew the UN-brokered truce and bring peace to Yemen have
been dashed after Omani mediators left Sanaa without any reported progress, and
the Iran-backed Houthis threatened to renew the fight if their demands are not
met.
The
Omani mediators, who arrived in Sanaa last week, departed the city on Sunday
after meeting top Houthi officials and hearing their requests for extending the
ceasefire and participating in peace negotiations to end the conflict.
The
Houthis said that their leaders told the Omanis that the movement would not
agree to extend the October ceasefire until the internationally-recognized
government of Yemen pays public servants across the country, which would
include their fighters, and shares oil and gas revenues with them. They
threatened to resume extensive military operations if their demands were not
met.
Mohammed
Abdulsalam, a chief negotiator for the Houthis, said: “Our troops on the ground
have imposed new rules of engagement, and the other side should realize that we
have entered a new phase and currently we have no commitment under the truce.”
He
added that attacks on oil infrastructure in government-controlled regions would
continue until earnings are shared and wages paid.
Abdulsalam
went on to say that the Houthis had enjoyed “fruitful” discussions with the
Omanis.
The
UN-brokered ceasefire that went into effect on April 2, and was extended twice,
fell apart when the Houthis refused to open roads in the besieged city of Taiz,
a key condition of the deal, despite the Yemeni government allowing the
resumption of commercial flights from Sanaa Airport and facilitating the
arrival of fuel ships to Hodeidah port.
In
October, the Houthis began drone attacks on two oil facilities in the southern
provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa to prevent the Yemeni government from
exporting the fuel. As a result, one of the facilities was shut down and the
country’s oil shipments were halted.
In
response to the Houthis’ demands, a Yemeni government official told Arab News
that the government would only pay salaries based on the 2014 payroll, and
after removing the names of Houthi fighters or those added by the militia.
The
official, who requested anonymity, added that even if the government agreed to
transfer wages, the Houthis would not pay public employees who had not signed
their occupational code of conduct, a set of rules and guidelines that the
militia introduced at the start of the month and which effectively require
workers to pledge formal allegiance to the Houthis.
Najeeb
Ghallab, undersecretary at Yemen’s Information Ministry, and political analyst,
told Arab News the Houthis had ratcheted up their war rhetoric during the Omani
delegation’s visit to demonstrate that they are in control of the decision to
make peace or start war, and to prevent anyone from challenging them about the
public money they control.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222516/middle-east
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Saudi
Arabia and Japan sign 15 investment agreements during bilateral forum
December
26, 2022
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia and Japan on Monday signed 15 strategic investment agreements
spread across various industries during the Saudi Japan Investment Forum held
in Riyadh, as both countries look to deepen business ties.
The
agreements were signed to drive investment in the sector of metals, marine,
petrochemicals, and automotive among others, with around 99 Japanese companies
investing in the Kingdom as both countries want a further boost in their
economic relations.
Speaking
during the forum Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said the two
countries have bolstered their relationship with tremendous dedication as the
Kingdom targets $3.3 trillion worth of investments with Japan by 2030.
The
minister added that Saudi Arabia will utilize its relationship with the east
Asian country to build more than 500,000 electric cars annually by the end of
the decade.
Moreover,
the Kingdom aims to build five largest marine industry parks in the world in
Ras Al-Khair, Al Falih said during the forum.
He
added that the Kingdom aims to become the world’s leading energy nation as the
two countries intend to cooperate for a smoother energy transition.
Al-Falih
said Saudi Arabia aims to become a major hub for gaming and e-sports by 2030
with content that can be exported in the region and globally.
One
day before the forum, Saudi Arabia and Japan held a ministerial meeting in
Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi
Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, and Japan’s Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi, signed a memorandum of
cooperation in the circular carbon economy and carbon recycling fields as well
as hydrogen, fuel ammonia, and derivatives.
Both
ministers agreed to focus on emissions reduction rather than energy sources through
the effective deployment of carbon recycling and a circular carbon economy.
The
dialogue also expressed the two countries’ ambitions to collaborate in the
fields of petrochemicals to maximize integration across the value chain, SPA
reported.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222291/business-economy
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Saudi
Design Festival to take place in January
December
27, 2022
RIYADH:
The Saudi Architecture and Design Commission, one of the 11 commissions under
the Ministry of Culture, has announced plans to launch the second Saudi Design
Festival between Jan. 12-23.
Organized
by the creative cultural consultancy &bouqu, this year’s edition will be
the biggest yet, unveiling a new vision and format for the festival, with a
range of events and activations that celebrate local and international design.
Sumayah
Al-Solaiman, CEO of the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission, said: “The
Saudi Design Festival provides a platform for emerging and established
designers, small and medium businesses, creatives and industry players to
exchange knowledge, enable collaborations and find opportunities for growth and
development.
“We’re
excited to bring together designers from across the Kingdom and showcase their
work. Together, we’re building a more advanced sector and making sure local
talents are equipped with the tools and skills to succeed — that’s why the festival
will be hosting discussions, workshops, masterclasses and networking sessions.”
SDF
2023 commences with a Design Forum and opening weekend at the City Hub of the
Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh from Jan. 13-14. It will feature
leading local and international experts who will discuss a range of topics on
design, such as the effects of urban landscapes on quality of life, exporting
culture through design and building better cities for the future.
Workshops
will touch on important industry trends such as sustainable design, creative
entrepreneurship and the power of typography in graphic design and
communication. Alongside the on-stage discussions will be off-stage mentorship
sessions, open-call announcements and exhibitions to explore.
The
festival promises participants and audiences a comprehensive calendar of
activities, transforming Riyadh into a creative hub with Design Destinations
(Oud Square, The Boulevard Riyadh and Gallery Design), alongside activations
taking place in multiple venues across more than 40 locations in Riyadh. The
festival will also roll out an online program, expanding its reach across the
region and internationally.
Basma
Bouzo, co-founder and CEO of &bouqu and director of the SDF, said: “Since
we launched this festival, formerly known as Saudi Design Week, our aim has
always been to give local designers and creatives a space where they can have
constructive discussions and be heard across the region.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2222586/saudi-arabia
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Turkish
president meets Saudi Shura Council head for talks
Diyar
Guldogan
26.12.2022
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday received Saudi Shura Council Speaker
Abdullah Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sheikh in the capital Ankara for talks.
The
Turkish presidency did not share any further information about the closed-door
meeting between Erdogan and Al-Sheikh.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Africa
Boko
Haram kills 17 civilians in Nigeria
Adam
Abu-bashal
27.12.2022
ABUJA,
Nigeria
More
than one dozen civilians were killed late Monday by Boko Haram terrorists in
northeastern Nigeria, according to media reports.
The
terrorists attacked herders guarding cattle in a pasture near the of village
Airamne in Borno state, said reports.
Seventeen
herders were killed in the fight and their cattle were taken away.
Boko
Haram launched a bloody insurgency in northeastern Nigeria in 2009 before
expanding to neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/boko-haram-kills-17-civilians-in-nigeria/2773353
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Kabara:
Islamic sect accuses Ganduje of influencing Shariah court ruling
By
Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi
27
December 2022
He
didn’t criticise govt before police wanted him, says commissioner
Mujama’U
As’habil Kahfi Warraqeem in Bauchi State has accused Kano State Governor,
Abdullahi Ganduje, of ‘influencing’ the judgment of the Shariah court that
sentenced Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, on December 15, to death by hanging,
citing blasphemy.
While
addressing journalists in Bauchi, yesterday, the Islamic sect described the judgment
as un-Islamic, alleging that the cleric’s criticism of government led to his
ordeal.
But
the Kano government said the convicted cleric never criticised it before he ran
into trouble.
The
group stated: “The so-called judgment by Torahim Sarki Yolu is totally wrong
and un-Islamic. Therefore, we reject it because the judgment was negatively
manipulated from the beginning to the end.
“We
are not satisfied with the judgment, because we believe it was influenced by
the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and some clerics in the state, who
are known to be at loggerheads with him for a long time. They, therefore,
ganged up against him and levelled false allegations of blasphemy against him
in order to smear him and eliminate him through the court.”
Leader
of the group, Musa Pali, said: “We caught him inciting Kano citizens to riot
against our spiritual leader. Also, we caught him gathering with pressmen
telling Islamic clerics in the state to preach dirty words against our
spiritual leader. There was a time he was telling a gathering that our leader
is someone to be afraid of, but they discovered he is like a goat, so sent him
to a slaughterhouse. You know what that means?”
They
group, however, has resolved to approach a higher court of law to quash the judgment
and enforce Kabara’s fundamental human rights, especially of freedom of
religion and thought as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
“We
call on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Amnesty International
(AI), national and international human rights organisations and human rights
lawyers such as the revered Femi Falana, as well as respected human rights
activist/’Ordinary President’, Ahmad Isa, and others to join us to counter this
unfair and unjustified gang-up against our religious leader by providing legal
aid to him.
“Kano
government and the hostile clerics to Abduljabbar have teamed up to exterminate
him for an offence he has been pleading not guilty. We don’t have the strength
to protect him in the court alone; hence, our call for legal aid from human
rights individuals and organisations to bring us succor,” the sect added.
The
Commissioner for Justice, Lawan Musa, said several complaints were received
from the residents to prosecute Kabara for blasphemy to avoid jungle justice
against him.
Musa
stated: “There was pressure from the people that he should be prosecuted like
the ordinary citizen for blasphemy. There were plans to burn his house and
cause chaos in Kano.
“Abduljabbar
Kabara has never been a critic of the government. Before he was arrested, there
was never a time he criticised the government. Just recently, when he knew he
was going to be arrested by the police, he started criticising the government.”
Source:
Guardian Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://guardian.ng/news/kabara-islamic-sect-accuses-ganduje-of-influencing-shariah-court-ruling/
--------
Blasphemy:
Kano Islamic cleric’s supporters to appeal judgment
27th
December 2022
Followers
of popular Kano Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, have alleged that
the recent Shari’a court judgment which condemned their leader to death was
influenced.
Kabara’s
followers under the auspices of As’habul Kahfi Warraqeem, Bauchi State Chapter,
described the judgment as “un-Islamic and negatively manipulated from the
beginning to the end.”
The
organisation made its position known at a press conference in Bauchi on Monday.
The
group’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Musa, read the text on behalf of
the Chairman, Musa Santuraki.
According
to the group, the blasphemy allegation against their leader was a deliberate
campaign of calumny and character assassination because they feel threatened by
his popularity.
While
vowing to appeal the judgment, they said, “The allegation of blasphemy against
the Sheikh is nothing but a campaign of calumny and character assassination on
the popular cleric by his detractors.
“Thus,
they purported an allegation of blasphemy to give him a bad name and have
justification for their evil plan to exterminate him.
Source:
Punchng
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://punchng.com/blasphemy-kano-islamic-clerics-supporters-to-appeal-judgment/
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Taher
Al-Sunni: We have no choice but to work together to achieve reconciliation and
national harmony.
2022-12-26
New
York, 25 December, 2022 (Lana) - Libya's representative to the United Nations,
Taher Al-Sunni, has expressed his pride in Libya's history and struggle that
the ancestors and founding fathers carried out to achieve independence and laid
the first building block for building the state of Libya.
Source:
Lana
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=265543&lang=en
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Death
toll from Sudan tribal violence rises to 12
Adel
Abdel-Rahim
26.12.2022
KHARTOUM,
Sudan
The
death toll from tribal clashes in western Sudan has risen to 12, according to
an aid group on Monday.
The
violence first started on Wednesday when herders attacked a group of farmers in
Amuri village, east of South Darfur.
In
a statement, the General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur said
42 people, including women and children, were also injured in the clashes.
The
aid group said 12 villages were set ablaze amid the violence, forcing hundreds
of families to flee their areas.
Local
authorities have declared a state of emergency over the violence and imposed a
night-time curfew.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/death-toll-from-sudan-tribal-violence-rises-to-12/2772991
--------
URL:
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