Iran Wants Sweden, Denmark to Hand Over Quran Desecrators to Muslim States
New Age
Islam News Bureau
25 July 20123
Nasser
Kanaani, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry
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Mideast
• Tweets Campaign Launched to Denounce
Burning of Holy Qur'an
• Algeria summons Denmark, Sweden envoys
over Qur'an sacrilege
• Israeli Forces Clash with Palestinian
Islamic Jihad in Northern Samaria
• Jihad's prisoners in Negev sit in
squares to protest over overcrowding rooms
• Dubai launches Dhs40m campaign to fund
50 mosques
• Sharjah Islamic Bank's net profit
increased by 37% in the 1st half of 2023
------
South Asia
• Bangladesh Minorities Outperform
Muslims in Functional Literacy
• Islamic Emirate to Implement Balanced
Development Plans Across Country: Hanafi
• Minister Mansoor Meets Afghanistan
Ambassador to China
• About 500 New Mines Surveyed in the
Past Year: MoMP
• Flood Victims in Wardak Call for
Assistance
--------
Europe
• Fully funded Islamic studies course
provides stepping stone to higher education
• UK hits Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary
with multiple terror charges
--------
Africa
• Nigerian Army Detains Newly Converted
Muslim-Born Soldier ‘For Preaching About Jesus Christ in Service Uniform’
• Kano Gov’ship: NNPP Closes Case
Without Witness as Trial Ends
--------
India
• Gujarat: HC notice to 32 policemen for
public flogging of Muslim men in Junagadh
• Gyanvapi Mosque Survey Put on Hold By
SC: Timeline of The Row
---------
Southeast Asia
• Renounce Islam: Appeals Court Sets Aug
28 for Decision in Woman’s Appeal
• Philippine President Marcos Says To
Explore Halal Exports, Islamic Banking In Malaysia Visit
• Desecration of Kemunting Muslim
cemetery in Bintulu draws criticism online
• Lau: PN study shows non-Muslim support
rose from 1pct to 7pct
• Johor cops accuse SiHulk followers of
taunting Islamic authorities, vow action against those spreading teaching
online
--------
Arab World
• OIC Chief Receives Muslim World League
Official in Jeddah
• Saudi authorities convict 23 in million-dollar
money laundering case
• Saudi Arabia offers condolences to
Algeria on victims of wildfires
• Deputy governor meets Japanese envoy
in Riyadh
• Saudi Ministry of Education, King
Salman Global Academy sign memorandum of understanding
• Saudi commission to host meeting on
fashion education needs
---------
Pakistan
• Pakistan Ranked Third in The World for
Imposing Internet Restrictions
• Teenage maid ‘severely tortured’ by
judge’s wife in Islamabad
• Blinken, Bilawal discusses Pakistan's
economic recovery, Afghanistan-related issues
• PML-N workers urged to ‘gather in
large number’ during PTI chief’s court hearing
• Police get go-head to arrest Imran
Khan in ECP contempt case
• US cypher: High-level FIA team interrogates
PTI's Qureshi
---------
North America
• UFC Star Justin Gaethje Reveals Who He
Feels Is Most Likely To Dethrone Lightweight Champ Islam Makhachev
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/iran-sweden-denmark-quran-desecrators-muslim/d/130299
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Iran Wants Sweden, Denmark To Hand Over Quran
Desecrators To Muslim States
Nasser
Kanaani, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry
------
July 24, 2023
TEHRAN - Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman
for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, has once more denounced the recent acts of
desecration against the holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark and urged the European
nations to extradite those involved to Muslim nations.
During his regular weekly news briefing
on Monday, Kanaani said Tehran firmly condemns the heinous crimes of Quran
desecration that have happened in Europe, a continent claiming to be civilized.
The Islamic Republic of Iran once more
appeals to the governments of the countries where those despicable deeds
occurred to stop similar actions from happening again and deal with offenders
or extradite them to Islamic states.
“U.S. to blame for stalemate in nuclear
talks”
Kanaani also touched upon the U.S.
departure from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPOA), pinning the blame on the U.S. for any moratorium in the talks
to revitalize the agreement.
He also emphasized that a return to the
nuclear agreement will be feasible if Washington has the political will, noting
that Tehran believes changes in administrations should not influence U.S.
obligations.
Tehran hails peace talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan
Kanaani also said Iran encourages talks
between Armenia and Azerbaijan to bring about durable peace in the Caucasus.
He continued by saying that Iran is
prepared to use its influence to help the Caucasus region achieve lasting
peace.
BRICS backs Iran’s membership
The foreign ministry spokesman also
announced Ali-Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security
Council, has attended the BRICS National Security Advisors (NSA) meeting.
Regarding Iran’s potential membership in
BRICS, Kanaani stated that Iran was among the first countries to apply for
membership in the group, and that BRICS members support Iran’s membership.
BRICS is acronym for Brazil, Russia,
India, China and Russia.
Iran will do everything to release
frozen funds
The spokesman also pointed to Iran’s
frozen assets in several countries, saying that Iran will do everything
possible to preserve and repatriate those funds.
Kanaani stated that Iran is still
negotiating with several nations, including South Korea, regarding the funds,
and that authorities in Seoul have lately pledged to make measures to get them
back.
Iranian authorities are hopeful that the
funds would be returned, he highlighted.
According to the spokesperson, the U.S.
administration recently stated that it has allowed Iraq to return a portion of
the Iranian funds, but Tehran is continuing to pursue the matter until Iraq
fulfills its commitments to Iran.
Goals of Iranian deputy FM trip to
Poland
Kanaani also mentioned the recent trip
to Poland by Ali Bagheri Kani, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, noting that
the trip was in response to a shared desire between the two nations to
strengthen their ties.
He continued by saying that there are
plans in place for Poland and Iran to continue their bilateral negotiations.
Source: tehrantimes.com
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Islamic Emirate’s Qatar-Based Political
Office Calls to Lift Travel Ban
Islamic
Emirate’s Qatar-based Political Office once again asked the United Nations
Security Council to lift the travel ban on current government officials.
------
25 July 2023
Islamic Emirate’s Qatar-based Political
Office once again asked the United Nations Security Council to lift the travel
ban on current government officials.
Suhail Shaheen said to TOLOnews that the
interaction of the Islamic Emirate with the international community is a
necessity, and the United Nations should lift the travel ban on the current
government officials for better interaction.
“Solving some issues in a peaceful way
is a need, and in this regard, the ban on the travel of high members of the
Islamic Emirate is an obstacle that must be removed as soon as possible,” said
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s Qatar-Based Political Office.
Meanwhile, some experts said that until
the current government complies with the demands of the international community,
the ban on the travel of current government officials will not be lifted and
the travel exemption of these officials will not be extended.
“They should find a common language with
the international community, in which case it will be possible for the Islamic
Emirate to be recognized, the banks to be freed, and the existing rules and
restrictions to be removed,” said Wahid Faqiri, a political analyst.
Nearly a year has passed since the end
of the travel exemption for thirteen officials of the Islamic Emirate, but the
UN Security Council has not yet extended this exemption.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184342
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Hagia Sophia Marks Third Anniversary of
Reopening as A Mosque
Hagia Sophia
in Istanbul
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24th July 2023
One of the world’s greatest buildings –
the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – has marked the third anniversary of its
reopening as a mosque.
Ali Erbas, the head of the Turkish
Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), led fajr prayer at the Hagia Sophia
Grand Mosque this morning.
Calling the reopening of Hagia Sophia as
a mosque as “one of the happiest days” of his life, Erbas said: “Three years
ago, on July 24, 2020, 86 years of longing came to an end.
“With the decision of our president,
Hagia Sophia was reopened for worship,” he recalled, adding that a total of 21
million people have visited the historical site since.
Noting that the Hagia Sophia is the most
important symbol of the conquest of Istanbul, Erbas said he wishes that
millions of people worship in there until the end of time.
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conquerer
performed his first Friday prayer after conquering Istanbul in 1453.
The Hagia Sophia’s history spans over
1,500 years, and it has served various roles throughout the ages, from a church
to a mosque and eventually a museum.
The construction of the Hagia Sophia
began in the year 532 CE during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It
was designed by the architects Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles and
was completed in just five years, opening its doors to the public in 537 CE.
The name “Hagia Sophia” means “Holy Wisdom” in Greek and was dedicated to the
Wisdom of God.
The Hagia Sophia served as the principal
church of the Byzantine Empire and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, playing
a significant role in the religious and political life of the empire. Its grand
architecture and innovative engineering, including a massive dome, vaulted
ceilings, and elaborate mosaics, made it an architectural marvel of its time.
In 1453, during the reign of Sultan
Mehmed II, the Hagia Sophia faced a significant transformation. Following the
Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul), the building was converted
into a mosque. The Ottomans added Islamic architectural elements, such as
minarets, a mihrab and a minbar while preserving much of the original Byzantine
structure.
The Hagia Sophia then served as a mosque
for nearly 500 years, becoming one of the most important religious and cultural
centres in the Ottoman Empire.
But after the fall of the Ottoman Empire
and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 under the leadership of
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, there was a significant push towards secularisation.
Thus, in 1935, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a museum as part of Atatürk’s
efforts to transform Turkey into a more secular state.
However, on July 10, 2020, the Turkish
Council of State issued a ruling that the Hagia Sophia’s conversion to a museum
in 1935 was illegal. Subsequently, on July 24, 2020, Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan signed a decree that converted the Hagia Sophia back into a
mosque.
This decision sparked various reactions
from around the world, with some countries expressing concerns about the
preservation of its cultural and historical significance.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/07/24/hagia-sophia-marks-third-anniversary-of-reopening-as-a-mosque/
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Nigerian David Adeleke Bows to Pressure,
Deletes Music Video Offensive to Islam
Photo: Nigerian Tribune
------
July 24, 2023
Nigerian Afrobeat star, David Adeleke,
popularly known as Davido, has deleted a controversial music video following
criticism from the Muslim faithful.
Davido Music Worldwide label boss and
his signee, Olamilekan Taiwo, aka Logos Olori, caused a stir online, sparking
mixed reactions from netizens following the release of the latter’s new record,
‘Jaye Lo.’
A 45-second clip of the new video posted
Friday on Instagram by Davido has since got tongues wagging.
Many Muslim devotees have labelled the
video offensive and are now calling for a retraction while also threatening the
artistes with a lawsuit.
The controversial scene featured some
men depicting praying Mallams seen dancing in front of a mosque instead of
praying. This dancing act has since been deemed offensive by some Muslim
devotees.
But checks by The Punch on Davido’s
social media accounts showed that the video had been deleted from his handles.
Reacting to the development, former
President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Bashir Ahmad, hailed the singer for removing
the video.
He wrote on Twitter, “It is good to
discover that Davido deleted that offensive and hurtful video.
“Hopefully, the entire scene will also
be deleted from the actual footage before releasing it to the market, and we
humbly urge that the same grave mistake should never happen again from him or
anyone else.
“Nigeria is a beautiful country. It is
always amazing when we celebrate the beauty of living in unity and harmony
while embracing our differences.”
Source: dailynigerian.com
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https://dailynigerian.com/davido-bows-pressure-deletes/
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Amarnath ‘Bias’ Finger at Jammu and
Kashmir Govt, Shia Leader Walks Out of Meeting
J&K
lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha
File picture
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25.07.23
Muzaffar Raina
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor
Manoj Sinha and his top officers on Monday faced uncomfortable questions over
the government’s alleged bias for Amarnath Yatra at the expense of Muharram,
triggering a heated argument at a high-profile meeting and prompting a senior
Shia leader to walk out over purported humiliation.
Shia leader and former minister Imran
Ansari said he walked out of the meeting headed by Sinha after chief secretary
Arun Kumar accused him of airing sectarian views and the LG “dictated” him to
sit down.
According to local belief, since the
scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the government has
been devoting all its resources to the success of the Amarnath Yatra. The yatra
takes precedence over all other issues during the two-month-long pilgrimage and
the administration brazenly wears it on its sleeves, although there have been
widespread complaints of harassment faced by locals because of excessive
security measures.
Sinha was chairing a meeting to review
the preparations for the Muharram, which marks the anniversary of the battle of
Karbala where Prophet Mohammed’s grandson and other family members were killed.
Ansari is the second man in the
hierarchy in the Sajad Lone-led People’s Conference that had in 2021 parted
ways from the multi-party Gupkar Alliance, fighting for the restoration of
Article 370. The party is seen as close to the BJP, making the allegation of
Ansari all the more serious.
Ansari, whose father was also a minister
and a senior cleric, said Sinha asked him how much support the community was
getting from the government.
“I told him that the visits of some
officers to Muharram functions were just for a photo opportunity. I told
governor sahab that I have a complaint against you,” Ansari told the media
after the walkout.
“I told him that you made no visit to
any Muslim locality. I gave him the facts, telling him that he visited the
Amarnath shrine six or seven times. I told the chief secretary, who was sitting
there, that he too visited the Amarnath shrine five or six times. I told the
same thing to police officers sitting there.”
Ansari said the chief secretary was
deeply agitated by his remarks and accused him of giving a “different
direction” to the meeting.
“I asked which direction? He said I was
making sectarian remarks by saying they (the administration) were taking more
interest in the Amarnath Yatra. I told him that it was a fact. I said we all
want Amarnath Yatra to be successful but if they were taking so much interest
in that, what about Muharram,” Ansari said.
Ansari claimed the LG was sitting silent
when the chief secretary levelled the allegations of being sectarian against
him.
“I told him that I won’t tolerate it and
I do not want the word to go out that I was sectarian or that I have spoken
about (against) a particular religion. At this, governor sahab (angrily) asked
me to sit. It sounded like a dictation. I told him that we had come for
something else and that I do not like the dictation. I walked out of the
meeting.”
Ansari accused the government of
humiliating him after having invited him to the meeting.
The Jammu & Kashmir government, in a
statement, referred to the meeting but did not react to Ansari’s allegations.
“This (Muharram) is the occasion of
utmost religious importance for all of us. The UT administration and the
government of India are working with sensitivity and commitment to ensure that
all arrangements are made for smooth, safe and hassle-free conduct of
Muharram,” Sinha said.
The People’s Conference strongly
condemned the behaviour of the administration in the meeting. A party
spokesperson said the administration was setting a “dangerous precedent.”
“It started with the humiliation of
political leaders, and now they are moving on into the domain of humiliating
religious leaders,” the spokesperson said.
He said the UT is administered in a new
“hybrid model” in which some bureaucrats have donned the hats of politicians.
“These politico-bureaucrat variants of
the bureaucracy feel that it is their divine duty to humiliate the political
class. We would like to remind those bureaucrats that they are mere tools in
this ‘operation humiliation’. It is the central leadership that has imposed a
selected group on the masses of Jammu and Kashmir and we are facing the brunt,”
he added.
The People’s Conference challenged them
to dare to do it in any other part of the country.
“This too will pass. But these hybrid
entities will be held up in odium and contempt and will go down in history as
molesters of the sacred institution of bureaucracy,” the spokesperson said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Tweets Campaign Launched To Denounce
Burning Of Holy Qur'an
SANA'A July 24. 2023 (Saba)-Tweets
campaign will be launched at nine o'clock this evening on the social networking
site "Twitter" to denounce the crimes of burning the Holy Qur'an and
express anger and rejection of these offenses that affect the most important
Islamic sanctities.
The organizers called for wide
participation in the campaign, since the Holy Qur’an is the holiest book and
the greatest miracle that guides the one who is the most righteous.
#The _ Quran _ is _ the _ book _ of _
God
And the link to the tweet bank:
bit.ly/Quran212
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3253707.htm
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Algeria summons Denmark, Sweden envoys
over Qur'an sacrilege
Jul 24, 2023
Algeria summoned the Danish and the
Swedish envoys to slam the continuation of the attacks on copies of the Qur'an,
the Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday cited by Reuters.
The Algerian authorities have expressed
to the Danish and Swedish diplomatic representatives “their strong condemnation
of these immoral acts”, as well as the uncivilized acts that violate the
religious sentiments of the Muslim population, said rivaltimes.
“They have also been told that such
behavior, with its atrocity and horrible nature, has nothing to do with freedom
of expression as falsely and slanderously claimed by those who promote and
benefit from it,” Algerian diplomacy added in a statement.
The Sweden-based Iraqi refugee once
again desecrated the Muslim holy book on Thursday during a demonstration
outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm while receiving strict protection from
the Swedish police.
The move sparked widespread protests
across the Muslim world.
Jesper Vahr, Denmark's envoy to Tehran
has been summoned by the foreign ministry to convey Iran's strong condemnation
of the Friday desecration of holy Qur'an and Islamic sanctities by a radical
group in Copenhagen.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the severest punishment for the
perpetrator of desecration of the Holy Qur'an is the consensus of all Islamic
scholars.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/203720/Algeria-summons-Denmark-Sweden-envoys-over-Qur-an-sacrilege
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Israeli Forces Clash With Palestinian
Islamic Jihad In Northern Samaria
JULY 24, 2023
Israeli forces engaged Palestinian
Islamic Jihad terrorists on Sunday night in the Nur Shams camp east of Tulkarm
in northern Samaria, Ynet reported. “The clashes erupted after more than 60
Israeli military vehicles entered Tulkarm and Nur Shams, with army bulldozers
destroying streets and infrastructure in the camp to clear potential roadside
bombs,” said Ynet. Islamic Jihad is known to oppose the peace process and the
negotiation approach with Israel. It adopts an armed struggle against the
Israeli occupation like Hamas. Islamic Jihad is a very close ally with Iran.
Because of the links to Iran, we are seeing one of the causes of Israel’s
attack,” said Ibrahim Fraihat from the Doha Institute to Al Jazeera.
The Tulkarm battalion of Palestinian
Islamic Jihad published a video appearing to show an IED detonating next to an
Israeli bulldozer. The IDF has been deploying bulldozers to clear IEDs since a
roadside bomb exploded next to an armored vehicle during a counterterror
operation in Jenin in June, wounding several soldiers.
Palestinian media reported several
injuries during Sunday's confrontation. No Israeli casualties were reported.
According to the European Council on Foreign relations; Islamic Jihad acts as
an elite vanguard rather than a broad community-based movement and is opposed
to political engagement with Israel. It has a long history of attacking Israeli
soldiers and civilians, dating back to the 1980s. Iran remains a key source of
funding to this day.
Three Arab teens arrested for Jerusalem
knife attack “On Saturday, police arrested three residents of Bethlehem (ages
17, 18 and 19) in connection with last Thursday night’s suspected terror attack
in Jerusalem’s Giloneighborhood,” said police forces. Police said the arrests
came after the completion of a joint investigation carried out by the Jerusalem
District Attorney’s Office and the Israel Security Agency. One person was
wounded in the attack. Large police forces were called to the scene after the
stabbing, and a search was launched for the assailants. Two knives were found
at the scene.
Source: heraldonline.com
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https://www.heraldonline.com/news/nation-world/world/article277591973.html
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Jihad's prisoners in Negev sit in
squares to protest over overcrowding rooms
[24/July/2023]
NEGEV July 24. 2023 (Saba) - The
prisoners of "Islamic Jihad" announced on Monday their sit-in in the
courtyards of the Zionist "Negev" prison, to protest against the
overcrowding they face inside their rooms, while the enemy's prison
administration continues to transfer more new prisoners and detainees to the
prison.
The Palestine Today news agency quoted
the Palestinian Prisoners Club, in a press statement, as saying the suffering
of the prisoners in the Negev prison has exacerbated recently, as it is
considered one of the largest central prisons in which the prisoners are held,
and their number is about (1400) prisoners.
The club pointed out that the issue of
overcrowding affected the prisoners on several levels and aspects related to
the daily detention life of the prisoners.
It is noteworthy that there is a
decision by the Supreme Court of the Zionist enemy to specify the space for
each prisoner inside the room, yet the prison administration neglects to
implement the decision or abide by it.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3253571.htm
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Dubai launches Dhs40m campaign to fund
50 mosques
Dubai’s Endowments and Minors’ Trust
Foundation (Dubai Endowment) has launched a campaign to support the Mosques
Endowment Fund in the emirate. The campaign seeks to establish a sustainable
charitable endowment whose proceeds will fund the needs of 50 mosques in the
emirate.
As part of the initiative, Dubai
Endowment will build a commercial complex in the Al Khawaneej area, consisting
of 29 shops, a large shopping mall, a medical centre and parking lots at a cost
of Dhs40 million. The complex is expected to generate an annual revenue of Dhs8
million, which will used to cover the expenses of about 50 mosques in Dubai
that do not have endowments or sponsors.
Since its establishment, Dubai Endowment
has launched 21 Islamic-affairs endowment projects featuring a total cost of
Dhs403 million. The total rate of return of these projects is estimated at 20%
of their total value.
Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of
Dubai Endowment, said that as part of its commitment to caring for mosques, the
Government of Dubai has entrusted Dubai Endowment with the task of providing
for the needs of mosques. The new campaign’s ultimate goal is to dedicate an
endowment for each mosque in Dubai, he noted.
Al Mutawa said Dubai Endowment has
appointed several consultants to develop the Al Khawaneej commercial complex
project. The process of preparing the exterior and interior designs of the
building has commenced, he added.
Al Mutawa called on government and
private entities, charities, community institutions and individuals who wish to do good to contribute
to the campaign to support mosques and participate in building the sustainable
endowment. He emphasised that all agencies and individuals contributing to the
campaign will be registered officially as major supporters.
Source: gulftoday.ae
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https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2023/07/24/dubai-endowment-launches-campaign-to-fund-the-needs-of-50-mosques
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Sharjah Islamic Bank's net profit
increased by 37% in the 1st half of 2023
Mon 24-07-2023
SHARJAH, 24th July, 2023 (WAM) – Sharjah
Islamic Bank (SIB) announced an increase in its operating profit before
provisions by 31%, reaching AED 648.7 million for the first half of 2023,
compared to AED 497.2 million for the same period in the previous year.
The bank’s net profit amounts surged to
AED 494.6 million for the first half ended 30 June 2023, showing a growth rate
of 36.7% from AED 361.9 million in the corresponding period last year.
Net income from financing and investment
products witnessed a substantial increase of 22%, equivalent to AED 129.4
million, to reach AED 716.7 million for the first half of 2023, compared to AED
587.3 million in the same period last year. Moreover, net fees, commissions and
other income rose by 34.6% to reach AED 247.8 million, compared to AED 184.1
million for the same period in the previous year.
General and administrative expenses
amounted to AED 315.7 million at the end of the first half of 2023, compared to
AED 274.3 million for the same period in 2022, an increase of AED 41.5 million
but an improved cost-to-income ratio of 32.7% compared to 38.0% last year.
SIB recorded an increase in net
impairment provisions amounting to AED 154.2 million, compared to AED 135.3
million in the previous period, marking an increase of AED 18.9 million by
14.0%.
The bank’s balance sheet stabilized at
AED 61.1 billion, with an increase of AED 1.9 billion or 3.3% compared to AED
59.1 billion as of 31 December 2022.
The bank maintains strong liquidity,
with AED 12.2 billion, equivalent to 20.0% of total assets, compared to AED
14.1 billion, or 23.9% of the total assets at the end of the previous year.
Additionally, the investment in Islamic
financing to customer deposits ratio stands at a robust 74.9%, aligning with
management’s strategic objectives.
SIB continues diversifying its financing
portfolio in various economic sectors as the total customer financing reached
AED 31.6 billion, with an increase of AED 906.3 million or 3% compared with AED
30.7 billion at the end of last year.
Sukuk payables decreased by AED 1.8
billion, standing at AED 1.8 billion at the end of June 2023, as against AED
3.7 billion at year-end 2022. This reduction was attributed to the repayment of
USD 500.0 million in the 2nd quarter from the bank’s sources, evidence of an
excellent liquidity position.
The total investment securities
increased by 3.0 billion dirhams, or 34.6%, to reach 11.5 billion dirhams,
compared to AED 8.5 billion at the end of the previous year.
The bank’s customer deposits reached an
amount of AED 42.1 billion, compared to AED 39.5 billion at the year-end of
2022, with an increase of AED 2.6 billion or 6.6%.
SIB maintains a solid capital base, with
total shareholders’ equity amounting to AED 7.8 billion, representing 12.7% of
the bank’s total assets. Thus, the bank maintained a high capital adequacy
ratio in accordance with Basel III at 19.4% compared to 19.09% last year.
The rate of return on average assets and
average equity increased significantly, at 1.65% and 12.84% annualized,
respectively, compared to 1.14% and 8.49% at the end of the previous year
Source: wam.ae
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https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303180317
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South Asia
Bangladesh minorities outperform Muslims
in functional literacy
July 24, 2023
Minorities in Bangladesh have
outperformed the majority Muslims in functional literacy despite socio-economic
challenges.
Whether in rural or urban areas,
minorities were found more functionally literate than Muslims, said the
Literacy Assessment Survey, released by the state-run Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics.
In all four areas – reading, writing,
numeracy, and perceptual skills – of functional literacy, Hindus, Buddhists,
and Christians, who account for less than 9 percent of the South Asian nation’s
population of over 165 million, top the survey, the government agency
responsible for statistics and census data said.
“Minorities are always for getting a
firm social footing and education is the best way for it,” said Serajul Islam
Choudhury, a former professor at Dhaka University.
The survey whose findings were released
on July 18 was conducted among 81,920 participants across all 64 districts in
the Muslim-majority country.
Educationists and minority leaders
pointed out two main reasons for minorities doing better than majority Muslims
despite their socioeconomic challenges, including access to education and
employment and forced eviction from their land.
Their access to quality education force
them to take education seriously, the educationists said.
“Christians performed better because of
Churches, particularly the Catholic Church, running schools almost everywhere,”
said Jyoti F. Gomes, secretary of the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board of
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh.
"There is also the community
pressure that all children must go to school,” he said.
There are 1,000 educational institutions
across Bangladesh run by the Catholic Education Board, claimed Jyoti.
“Christian educational institutions are
considered the best in any given area where many students compete to get a
seat,” said Shankar Dominic Gomes, principal of St. Joseph School and College,
Bonpara in the northern Natore district.
At St Joseph School and College, nearly
90 percent of its 3,500 students are Muslims.
Ethnic minorities in Bangladesh’s plains
like Santal, Garo, and Oraon also benefited from Christian educational
institutions, according to the survey
District-wise, Hindus achieved their
highest 95 percent functional literacy in Sylhet, a northeastern district
bordering India.
The highest functional literacy that Muslims
could achieve anywhere in Bangladesh was 82 percent in the capital Dhaka
division.
Buddhists and Christians in rural
Barishal, a coastal division, were found to be 100 percent functionally
literate.
Their counterparts in the urban areas of
Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Rangpur districts were also found to be 100 percent
functionally literate.
Historically, Hindus were ahead of
Muslims in education in Bangladesh because of their better socio-economic
conditions.
Dhaka University had a greater number of
Hindu students than Muslims even during Pakistan rule after 1947, said Kajal
Bandyopadhyay, who taught English at Dhaka University.
“But, the Hindus fell behind gradually
as they lost land and livelihoods,” said Bandyopadhyay, also a former leader of
the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
Hindu leaders believe many minorities
are now serious about their education because they want to leave Bangladesh to
escape repression.
An interesting point in the survey was
the emergence of Hijras (hermaphrodites). Recognized as the third gender in
Bangladesh, they possessed more ICT (information, communication, and
technology) skills than females.
In nine of the 12 ICT skills, they
outperformed females.
They edged out males in two ICT skills –
transferring files or applications and using the Excel program.
Hijras in Bangladesh do not have access
to any formal education and live in isolated clusters. Most of them live by
begging.
Source: ucanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ucanews.com/news/bangladesh-minorities-outperform-muslims-in-functional-literacy/102061
---------
Islamic Emirate to Implement Balanced
Development Plans Across Country: Hanafi
2023-07-24
KABUL (BNA) Deputy Prime Minister for
Administrative Affairs in a meeting with a group of scholars and influential
people of Sar-e-Pul province said that there are many development programs that
will be implemented in all parts of the country in a fair manner.
A statement from the office of the Prime
Minister said that Mullah Mohammad Nader Haqjo, deputy governor, and Mawlavi
Mohammad Sadiq Hakimi, revenue director of Sar-e-Pul who spoke on behalf of the
scholars and influential figures expressed their contentment about the improved
security and the establishment of the Islamic system in the country.
They said that the local officials have
continually worked for addressing the problems of the public and providing
better services for everyone in the province.
Sar-e-Poul is a mineral-rich province
that was neglected by the previous administration; however, now that the
Islamic Emirate has gained power, there is a need for the implementation of
development projects and investments in various areas, according to scholars.
Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi
praised the sacrifices of the Sar-e-Pul people in Jihad against foreign
invaders which resulted in the freedom of Afghanistan, saying that the Islamic
Emirate has many development plans that will be implemented in all parts of the
country in a balanced manner.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-to-implement-balanced-development-plans-across-country-hanafi/
--------
Minister Mansoor Meets Afghanistan
Ambassador to China
2023-07-24
KABUL (BNA) Acting Energy and Water
Minister, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor met with Afghanistan’s ambassador to
China, Sayed Mohiuddin Sadat, in his office in Kabul.
The two sides discussed the development
of cooperation between the two countries and inspiring Chinese investors to
invest in Afghanistan and implement water and energy projects in the country,
according to a statement received by BNA.
Meanwhile, Minister Mansoor urged for
better coordination and better integration of affairs for the investment of
Chinese investors in water and energy projects in Afghanistan.
For his part, Ambassador Sadat reminded
saying that many China investors are interested to invest in solar power, wind,
coal and water resources projects in Afghanistan, asked for ground
opportunities to be provided for them.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/minister-mansoor-meets-afghanistan-ambassador-to-china/
--------
About 500 New Mines Surveyed in the Past
Year: MoMP
2023-07-24
KABUL (BNA) In series of annual
government accountability to the nation, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum
today, Monday shared its one-year development, achievements, missions, and
future plans with the nation through media.
In a press conference, held at the
government’s information and media center, the Mines and Petroleum Minister,
Sheikh Hadith Shahabuddin Delawar sharing the annual reports of the Ministry
said: “Mines are the wealth of the Afghan nation and the Islamic Emirate is
working hard to maintain this wealth and for the well-being of the nation and
for its sustainable and resourceful use.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is
committed to building transparency in the mining sector and devoting its
revenue to the enactment of basic and national projects for the economic
development of the country and the welfare of the people, Minister Delawar
said.
He assured that the Ministry of Mines
and Petroleum, taking into account the principle of balanced development in the
country, gives priority to the development of reserves and oil and gas
resources and ensures transparency and accountability by using electronic
systems.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the
Ministry, Hamayun Afghan, said: “In the past year, the survey teams of the
ministry have discovered 493 mineral deposits in 25 provinces.
By contracting many mines source in
different provinces of the country including Kabul 7000 people have been
directly employed and thousands of other people have been indirectly employed,
over the course of a year, the Ministry said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mines and
Petroleum has 200 contracts for small-scale mining in the country, added
Afghan.
The discovering of new mines, inspiring
domestic and foreign investors, contracting new mines, reassuring the
processing within the country, and making efforts related to major mining
economic projects, are the important plans of the Ministry of Mines and
Petroleum for this year, according to the officials of the Ministry.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/about-500-new-mines-surveyed-in-the-past-year-momp/
--------
Flood Victims in Wardak Call for
Assistance
The residents of Wardak, who have been
affected by the recent floods, called on the Islamic Emirate and aid
organizations to provide them with assistance.
The residents said that the floods have
destroyed their shelters and lands.
On Saturday night, floods hit Jalriz,
Chak, Narkh and Jaghato districts in the province.
“We call on the international community
and the interim government to provide urgent assistance with these people” said
Mohibullah, a resident of Wardak.
“Their condition is severe. There is no
street, no bridge, no land, no livestock, and everything has been damaged,”
said a flood affected person in Wardak.
Meanwhile, provincial officials in a
joint conference with the representatives of humanitarian NGOs, urged the
domestic and international organizations to provide essential assistance to the
vulnerable people.
“I hope you help in the reconstruction
of the houses, providing food. Those organizations who mentioned giving
cash-aid, I thank them,” said Bakhtiar Maaz, governor of Wardak province.
However, officials of some aid
organizations said that assistance has been provided to people affected by
flooding in the province.
“The families which are being surveyed
will receive food assistance and tents,” said Mohammad Omar Hashimi, a UN
official for the central zone.
Earlier, the provincial department of
Disaster Management told TOLOnews that at least 30 people have been killed and
25 others injured by the floods.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184336
--------
Europe
Fully funded Islamic studies course
provides stepping stone to higher education
24 JUL 2023
A Birmingham-based college is providing
West Midlands residents with access to a free higher education programme, as
part of its ongoing mission to help adults progress to higher education via
recognised mainstream routes, whilst developing their religious knowledge.
City Hasanat Centre (CHC) was
established in 2013, as part of a social investment project by charity Muslim
Hands, to provide free higher education for locals who may have previously not
been afforded access.
For the past 10 years, the centre has
offered quality-assured, faith-based higher education, with a particular
emphasis on combining traditional learning and cutting-edge methods to reflect
and suit the contemporary world - and is currently taking applications for its
Higher Arabic and Islamic Studies course.
The comprehensive modular programme aims
to help students develop their understanding and knowledge of the Arabic
language and Islamic religion, whilst contextualising and applying learned
concepts and principles to a modern - and continuously evolving - society.
Upon completion of the course, students
can progress to further, mainstream education at established universities.
City Hasanat Centre's college
administrator, said: “The course is a mixture of traditional knowledge, modern
teaching methods and a modern approach to pedagogy. It is marked at an
undergraduate level, is quality-assured, and can be a pathway to mainstream
education, enabling students to go to university.
“We’ve had students progress to
postgraduate study at the University of Warwick and the University of Leeds, as
well as the Markfield Institute where they have ‘skipped’ the first year of
their bachelor's programme and achieved a degree within two years.
“The course is a chance for people who
haven't had the opportunity of getting a recognised education, for whatever
reason. It will give them the opportunity to get into mainstream education, in
addition to giving them a foundation in Arabic and Islamic studies.”
What’s more, thanks to charity funding
and community donations, students can undertake and complete the course for
free.
CHC's Higher Arabic and Islamic Studies
programme is a comprehensive, innovative course for students seeking to acquire
a thorough understanding of the Islamic faith and its teachings through a
modern lens to address current global issues and needs.
The three-year programme covers various
areas, from theoretical and linguistic concepts and the exploration of key
religious scriptures, to investigation, research and practical applications.
Module highlights include:
Arabic language learning
Hadith principles
Critical thinking
Islamic finance
Contextualised Islamic law
CHC's college administrator added: “We
teach traditional learning and cover some contemporary issues. Our indicative
modules, such as Arabic language, critical thinking and contextualised Islamic
law are popular - and what people tend to look for.
“And in contextualised Islamic law, for
example, we don’t teach purely from the textbook but we will contextualise it
and add contemporary issues that are affecting Muslims in this day and age.”
The course is suitable for students with
a rudimentary understanding of Arabic and a basic knowledge of Islamic studies
who wish to study both and the theological aspects of Islam at an advanced
level.
Who can enrol?
Over the years, City Hasanat Centre has
trained faith leaders, community workers, academics and teachers, among others.
The Higher Arabic and Islamic Studies
course is open to people across the West Midlands, as well as further afield as
long as they are able to commute to the Birmingham campus for in-person
learning.
One graduate came all the way from Italy
to undertake the centre’s Arabic and Islamic Studies course.
Hind Talibi said: “I came to Birmingham
from Italy to join the programme. I had a rich experience with really
supportive lecturers who helped me connect to my faith and to progress to
postgraduate studies.
There’s no age limit either. The centre
sees students of all ages join, from teenagers who have just completed their
GCSEs and are looking for their next step, to mature students such as full-time
mothers who previously not had the opportunity to get into mainstream education,
or have missed out on going to university in the past.
Not to mention, individuals who possess
teaching experience within formal and informal educational settings and want to
upskill and further develop their understanding.
What else is on offer at the centre?
City Hasanat Centre offers various
extracurricular activities for students and members of the community to get
involved in, from celebratory college events and social gatherings to academic
writing workshops.
The college also runs a journal-type
blog where students can write about modern issues and topics that interest
them.
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/special-features/fully-funded-islamic-studies-course-27308282
--------
UK hits Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary
with multiple terror charges
24 July, 2023
British Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary
has been charged with three terrorism offences, London's Metropolitan police
said on Monday.
Choudary, 56, faces charges of belonging
to a proscribed organisation, addressing meetings to encourage support for a
proscribed organisation and directing a terrorist organisation, the force said.
A 28-year-old Canadian, Khaled Hussein,
was also charged with membership of a proscribed organisation.
Counter-terror officers
"investigating alleged membership of a proscribed organisation"
arrested both men last Monday, the Met added.
Officers detained the high-profile
Choudary in east London and held Hussein at Heathrow Airport after he arrived
on a flight.
They are both set to appear at
Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London later on Monday.
Source: newarab.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-hits-muslim-preacher-anjem-choudary-terror-charges
--------
Africa
Nigerian Army Detains Newly Converted
Muslim-Born Soldier ‘For Preaching About Jesus Christ In Service Uniform’
July 24, 2023
Asoldier identified as Musa Adamu has
been detained by the Nigerian army authorities for preaching about Jesus Christ
while in service uniform on social media, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Adamu, a Lance Corporal with service
number 13NA/70/6100 is attached to Amphibious Training School Personnel
(ATSCalabar) unit in Calabar, Cross River State.
He is currently being locked up at
Eburutu barracks custody at 146 battalion upon which further action would be
taken.
In some videos seen by SaharaReporters,
the soldier with the Facebook name “Aaron Abraham” is heard telling his
followers to repent and turn from their evil ways as he prayed for them.
According to a military source, Adamu
was born a Muslim and recently converted to Christianity.
The Benue state-born soldier is said to
have been in detention for over 45 days while his salary was stopped over 6
months ago.
“One of my colleague soldiers in the
Nigerian Army that preaches on Facebook with the uniform is currently being
locked up by the Army authorities and today makes it 49 days,” a soldier told
SaharaReporters.
“They are not paying his salary as well
and not feeding him, his name on Facebook is Aaron Abraham but Musa Adamu is
his name in the military. He was born a Muslim but converted.
“His offence according to the GOC is
preaching the gospel on uniform. I heard they already blocked his account for
over 10 months now.”
When contacted, a senior army officer
confirmed Adamu’s detention.
“Yes, I'm aware of his detention, I’m a
Christian as well but his action was absolutely wrong. As a soldier, you are
expected to be non-partisan and secular at least when in uniform.”
In 2019, a video of a police officer
preaching in a place that looks like an entrance to a market went viral.
The policeman was in his service uniform
while moving on the streets to preach to local traders, shoppers, and
passers-by.
Wearing a police uniform, sky blue top
and black trousers, he was heard shouting through a microphone about his
“encounter” with God and how the then police commissioner in Abia State
summoned him over his style of preaching.
“Yesterday, I did not go out for
outreach because I was summoned by the commissioner of police, Abia State,
warning me, saying ‘Why did you wear a police uniform and preach the gospel?
What is it that gives you the courage?” he had said.
“I said, ‘Ma, by the special grace of
God, I did not wear the uniform to preach on my own, God directed me to wear
the uniform and preach the gospel, and that is why I do it.
The man further said in the clip that he
came out “well-prepared in the spirit.”
“Whether you like it or not, if you
like, be the highest demon in the whole world, God will bring you down today. I
am boasting in my father in the Lord, in heaven, the one that called me, the
one that gave me the mandate and said go out and preach the gospel,” he had
said.
Source: saharareporters.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/07/24/exclusive-nigerian-army-detains-newly-converted-muslim-born-soldier-preaching-about
--------
Kano Gov’ship: NNPP Closes Case Without
Witness As Trial Ends
By
Salim Umar Ibrahim
Mon, 24 Jul 2023
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP),
the third respondent in the ongoing Kano Governorship Election Petition
Tribunal, has closed its case without calling any witness as the trial came to
an end.
Daily Trust reported that the petitioner,
the APC, is challenging Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for
declaring Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP winner of the election conducted on
March 18, 2023.
The petitioner is also asking the
tribunal to declare that the NNPP has no candidate as Yusuf was not in the
register of voters submitted to INEC at the time of the election.
The respondents are INEC, Yusuf and the
NNPP.
Oshiomhole: APC didn’t promise miracle,
Tinubu not a magician
Jega, Mbari lead ECOWAS, AU pre-election
fact-finding mission to Liberia
At the resumed hearing on Monday,
counsel to the third respondent, Tijjani Yahaya told the court that, “we had
wanted to call a witness, however, following a careful review of evidence that
has so far been laid before this court, the witnesses called by the petitioner,
also review of evidence by the sole witness of the second respondent, we did
not see the need for us to present any witness.
“In the case of the third respondent, we
pray to close the case without calling any witness.”
Counsel for the petitioner, Professor
Sam Erugo, that of first respondent (INEC), Emmanuel Osayomi and the second
respondent’s counsel, EyitayoFatigun did not object to the request.
Daily Trust reported that the
petitioner, APC had presented 32 witnesses whereas the first respondent, INEC
did not call any, the second respondent, Abba Kabir Yusuf presented one witness
and the third respondent.
The three-man panel led by Justice
OluyemiAkintanOsadebay thanked all parties for good conduct, cooperation and
show of professionalism during the trial.
She, however, ordered the parties
involved to file in their written addresses by 15th of August. She said there
would be no entertainment of any excuse, insisting that the court would reject
any attempt by parties to seek extension of time.
She adjourned the matter to August 15
for filing of final written addresses and
August 21 for adoption.
Source: dailytrust.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailytrust.com/kano-govship-nnpp-closes-case-without-witness-as-trial-ends/
--------
India
Gujarat: HC notice to 32 policemen for
public flogging of Muslim men in Junagadh
lSatish Jha, DHNS, Ahmedabad , JUL 24
2023
In the Junagadh public flogging of
several Muslim men last month, the Gujarat High Court Monday issued notices to
32 policemen, ordering them to file their affidavits in response to a petition
alleging custodial torture and pressurizing a lawyer by a...
The division bench of justice A S
Supehia and justice M R Mengdey issued notices returnable by two weeks. The
issuance of notices came on a contempt petition filed by two of the victims of
alleged police atrocities who have levelled serious allegatio...
The petition has been filed by Jakir
Makwana and Sajid Kalamudin Ansari, both residents of Junagadh and co-accused
in the June 16 violence. They have claimed to be victims of "custodial
violence, torture, brutality and severe beatings by police perso...
The two petitioners are among dozens of
men arrested on June 16 after a major clash between Muslim community and police
erupted over the issue of demolition of HazratGebanshah Pir Dargah at Majevadi
in Junagadh town.
The police had detained over 170 men
including many minors. Some of them were flogged in public on charges of being
part of the mob which was involved in stone pelting in which several policemen
including a Deputy Superintendent of Police was injured...
The reason behind the clash was said to
be issuance of a notice dated June 14 by the civic body asking for showing
documents related to the ownership of the dargah, which have been in existence
for many decades. According to petitioners, the Muslim c...
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate
Anand Yagnik told the bench a group of policemen went to the Junagadh central
Prison and pressurized the petitioners and others, who are behind bars since
their arrest after June 14 violence, to take back compl...
Yagnik also told the court that
son-in-law of Junagadh lawyer Shabbir Sheikh, who is representing six victims
of alleged police torture, was reportedly detained by local police in order to
pressurize him for withdrawal of the case. Similarly, Yagnik,...
The petition has been filed under
contempt rules for violating guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the
cases of Aarnesh Kumar and D.K.Basu. These guidelines deal with how police
should treat a person in police custody.
Source: deccanherald.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/gujarat-hc-notice-to-32-policemen-for-public-flogging-of-muslim-men-in-junagadh-1240225.html
--------
Gyanvapi Mosque Survey Put On Hold By
SC: Timeline Of The Row
July 24, 2023
The Supreme Court on Monday halted till
5 pm of July 26 a "detailed scientific survey" by the ASI to
determine if the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi
was built upon a temple. The apex court said "some breathing time"
needed to be granted to appeal a district court order.
Last Friday, a Varanasi court directed
the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct the survey, including
excavations, wherever necessary, to determine if the mosque was built at a
place where a temple existed earlier.
Here Is The Timeline Of the Gyanvapi
row: Aug 2021: Plea filed before a Varanasi civil court by five Hindu devotees
seeking permission to offer daily prayers at the Gyanvapi mosque.
April 8, 2022: Civil court orders a
survey of the premises and appoints Ajay Kumar Mishra as in-charge of the
exercise. May 13, 2022: Supreme Court refuses interim order of status quo on
the survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex. May 17, 2022: SC passes
interim order directing the district magistrate of Varanasi to ensure
protection of the area inside the complex.
May 20, 2022: SC transfers the case from
a civil judge to a district judge. Oct 14, 2022: Varanasi district court
rejects plea for carbon dating of the Shivling. Nov 10, 2022: SC agrees to set
up a bench to hear the case. May 12, 2023: Allahabad High Court orders
determination of the age of the Shivling using modern technology. May 19, 2023:
SC defers scientific survey to determine the age of Shivling. July 21, 2023:
Varanasi district court directs the ASI to conduct the survey -- including
excavations, wherever necessary -- to determine if the mosque was built at a
place where a temple existed earlier. July 24, 2023: SC halts ASI's survey at
premises till 5 pm on July 26, asks HC to hear mosque panel's plea.
Source: oneindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.oneindia.com/india/gyanvapi-mosque-survey-put-on-hold-by-sc-timeline-of-the-row-3592399.html
---------
Southeast Asia
Renounce Islam: Appeals Court Sets Aug
28 for Decision in Woman’s Appeal
24-07- 2023
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has set
Aug 28 to decide on a woman’s appeal to obtain leave to commence judicial
review to challenge the Syariah Court’s decision to disallow her to renounce Islam.
A three-man bench comprising Justices
Datuk Azizah Nawawi, Datuk See Mee Chun and Datuk Azizul Azmi Adnan set the
date to deliver their decision after the woman’s lawyer, FahriAzzat, and senior
federal counsel Ahmad HanirHambaly@ Arwi completed making their submissions in
the appeal today.
The 33-year-old woman, who was born to a
Muslim convert father and a Muslim mother, is appealing against the June 15
High Court ruling in dismissing a legal suit she filed for leave to commence
the judicial review.
In her judicial review filed in the
civil High Court on March 4 last year, the woman named the Syariah Court of
Appeal, the Syariah High Court, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious
Council (MAIWP) and the government of Malaysia as the four respondents.
She is seeking at least 12 court orders
as part of her lawsuit, including declarations that she is no longer a Muslim
and that she is entitled to profess her religion of Confucianism and Buddhism.
She is also asking the civil High Court
to declare the decisions by the Syariah High Court and Syariah Court of Appeal
which rejected her bid to be recognised as no longer a Muslim, as illegal,
unlawful and void.
The Syariah High Court on July 27, 2020,
dismissed the woman’s bid to be declared no longer a Muslim and ordered her to
go through “istitabah” or repentance and Islamic classes and further akidah
counselling. Shen then appealed to the Syariah Court of Appeal, which also
rejected her appeal on Dec 8, 2021.
Earlier, during the court proceeding,
Fahri submitted that the judicial review filed by his client in the civil High
Court is not an application to renounce Islam but it is to review the Syariah
Court’s decision in disallowing her to renounce Islam.
Fahri pleaded with the court to give his
client a chance to be heard, saying that she would not have any other remedy
left if the court refuses to give her leave for her judicial review to be heard
on the merits.
Ahmad Hanir, however, argued the court
should not give leave to the woman to commence judicial review because the
decisions made by the Syariah High Court and the Syariah Appeals Court were not
amenable to judicial review.
He said this is by virtue of Article 121
(1) and (1A) of the Federal Constitution which states that the civil courts
have no jurisdiction in Syariah matters.
He said the “law is clear” in stating
that the civil courts did not have the power to review decisions made by the
Syariah courts, adding that if the Syariah Courts’ decisions could be reviewed
in the civil courts on grounds of illegality or procedural impropriety, it
would open the floodgates and would even result in child custody disputes
subject to review. –Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/renounce-islam-appeals-court-sets-aug-28-for-decision-in-woman-s-appeal-FF11275918
--------
Philippine President Marcos Says To
Explore Halal Exports, Islamic Banking In Malaysia Visit
Jul 25 2023
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
on Tuesday headed to Malaysia for a 3-day state visit, which he said would
explore "new areas of synergies" such as halal certified exports and
Islamic banking.
"Building on past successes, this
state visit to Malaysia aims to identify new areas of synergies that can propel
our partnership and serve as a roadmap for our respective agencies to work on
for the mutual benefit of both our countries and the peoples of the new
century," Marcos said in his pre-departure speech.
"I believe that this is an
opportune time to harness the potentials of a revitalized relationship between
the Philippines and Malaysia," said the President, a day after delivering
his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The Halal industry "is expected to
grow to a trillion dollar industry in the international market as its global
demand continues to expand," Marcos noted.
"Malaysia is one of the global
leaders in this sector and this visit aims to forge synergies with Malaysia for
the Philippines to enjoy a share of this market," he said.
Manufactured in keeping with Islam's
Sharia law, halal certified products do not contain traces of pork, alcohol or
blood.
Marcos said his Malaysia visit would
also explore cooperation on Islamic banking "to assist our nation’s trajectory
of economic growth."
Islamic banking follows principles such
as the sharing of profit and risks, and bans on interest payments, according to
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Marcos said his Malaysia trip would also
focus on "renewed partnership" in agriculture, food security, digital
economy, tourism, and people to people exchanges.
He will have an audience with Malaysian
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and meet the Filipino community during
the state visit.
Malaysia is the Philippines' 10th
biggest trading partner and the 22nd source of approved investments last year,
the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
In March, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim visited the Philippines and agreed with Marcos to boost security, trade
and investment cooperation.
Vice President Sara Duterte is the
government's officer-in-charge while Marcos, Jr. is in Malaysia until July 27,
Press Secretary CheloyGarafil told Palace reporters.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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Desecration of Kemunting Muslim cemetery
in Bintulu draws criticism online
Tuesday, 25 Jul 2023
BINTULU, July 25 — Many people online
condemn the act of vandalism at the Kemunting Muslim cemetery here, where more
than 50 graves were defaced with words in red and blue paints.
Based on the photos uploaded on
PengurusanJenazah Bintulu’s Facebook page yesterday, the culprits had used
paint to scribble profanities and other markings on the graves.
“God has given them (vandals) brains,
but they’re not using them at all,” one person wrote on the post’s ‘comments’
section.
“This is desecration. The authorities
must go and catch the culprits immediately,” remarked another.
It is informed that police have gone to
the cemetery to assess the situation, and investigation is underway. — Borneo
Post Online
Source: malaymail.com
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Lau: PN study shows non-Muslim support
rose from 1pct to 7pct
INTERVIEW | A study by Perikatan Nasional
has revealed that its support among Peninsula Malaysia-based Chinese and
Indians have increased beyond the one percent it garnered in the 15th general
election.
This was revealed by Gerakan president
Dominic Lau, who told Malaysiakini in an interview that support among
non-Malays in Selangor, for instance, had improved to around six and seven
percent.
"If we want PN to win during the
six-state elections, we not only have to maintain Malay support but also
increase non-Malay and non-Muslim support," he said.
Lau said that he received a lot of
complaints from the non-Malays, mostly on how the new unity government failed
to keep their promises, especially in controlling inflation, after seven months
in power.
"If you are unhappy, vote PN. If
you are unsatisfied, vote PN," he said.
Building trust
Gerakan will be fielding 36 candidates -
mostly in non-Malay majority constituencies - in the upcoming election across
four states.
Lau could not reveal the list of seats
that will be allocated to the party, stressing the coalition will only reveal
details on July 27.
He explained that although the number of
seats allocated to each party has been confirmed, there is still the
possibility of last-minute changes.
The party has very high hopes for this
election, as it has not won a single election since 2013.
However, Lau was very candid when asked
what would be considered the party's goal for this election.
"We will break the zero mark, the
more the better," he said.
Lau explained that Gerakan's biggest
challenge was convincing the public to support them, even if they spoke the
truth.
"(In contrast) even if the DAP says
something that is not true, people will believe them. This is our biggest
challenge," he said.
One example he cited was DAP chairperson
Lim Guan Eng's controversial speech where he accused PAS-ruled Kedah of
demolishing Hindu temples and warning that the same problem could arise in
Penang if PN was in power there.
Following this, Penang Gerakan chief Oh
Tong Keong refuted Lim's mark and claimed that four Hindu temples in Penang had
been demolished between 2008 and 2016.
Tangible results
Meanwhile, Lau promised that the PN
manifesto will provide the six states with a concrete plan and promises that
can truly be fulfilled.
"During PN meetings, we comb
through every detail. Can this (promise) be fulfilled? How much will it cost?
"We want to discuss this in detail
because we want to govern," he said.
He added that the plan will have
practical solutions, thus providing tangible results.
"Our manifesto will not be like
Pakatan Harapan's, which merely states things that won't be done, or promising
things that cannot be achieved.
"We can even show you what we can
accomplish after 100 days in office," he said.
Source: ktemoc.blogspot.com
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Johor cops accuse SiHulk followers of
taunting Islamic authorities, vow action against those spreading teaching
online
By Ben Tan
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
JOHOR BARU, July 24 — The police have
assured the public today that they will continue their investigations against
those who upload videos spreading the SiHulk deviant teachings on social media.
Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman
Mamat said the actions of the followers are unacceptable, and there have been
several police reports lodged in Johor on their activities.
“The act of uploading videos of deviant
[Islamic] teachings is considered as challenging the authorities,” Kamarul
Zaman told a media conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters here.
“The police will work together with the
Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) to ensure that action is taken
against these people.”
The state’s top police officer was
commenting on the recent videos on social media where a group of youths said
from Johor were seen promoting the SiHulk teachings and challenging religious
authorities.
Kamarul Zaman said initial
investigations revealed that the group of people in the video are abroad.
“These followers are challenging the
authorities and also challenging our nation as Islam is our official religion,”
he said.
He added that their actions have also
caused anger among the Muslims.
“Police are still continuing
investigations on the group. We have laws [in the country] and we will make
sure that they can be brought to court,” he said.
Kamarul Zaman said police are also
concerned that the younger generation is being influenced by such deviant
teachings, advising families to exercise caution and be aware of their
children’s activities.
Last Thursday, the state’s Islamic
Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid asked Muslims in
Malaysia to stay away from social media sites featuring the SiHulk deviant
teachings.
He urged the Muslim public to refrain
from uploading and spreading the SiHulk deviant teachings that are believed to
have been recorded from abroad.
The Johor fatwa, gazetted on July 22,
2021, has categorised SiHulk teachings as heretical, deviant and runs contrary
to the Islamic faith.
The SiHulk deviant teaching is said to
be founded by Suhaini Muhammad, who is currently believed to reside in New
Zealand.
He has made various claims, including
the controversial fact that Prophet Muhammad is actually God.
Religious authorities and police have so
far failed to progress their investigations as the SiHulk followers are
believed to be abroad.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/07/24/johor-cops-accuse-sihulk-followers-of-taunting-islamic-authorities-vow-action-against-those-spreading-teaching-online/81529
---------
Arab World
OIC chief receives Muslim World League
official in Jeddah
July 25, 2023
RIYADH: The head of Organization of
Islamic Cooperation received a top official from the Muslim World League on
Monday, the OIC said.
HisseinBrahim Taha, the
Secretary-General of the OIC, welcomed, in Jeddah, Deputy Secretary-General of
the MWL Abdulrahman Al-Zaid.
They discussed prospects of cooperation
between the OIC and the MWL as outlined in the memorandum of understanding
signed between the two parties in 2020.
Taha praised the work of the MWL in
“clarify the moderate teachings of Islam, as well as promote dialogue and
understanding among peoples,” said a statement on the OIC’s twitter account.
“He also highlighted the significance of
the Charter of Makkah, which was signed by more than 1200 Muslim scholars in
May 2019, and which was adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi authorities convict 23 in million
dollar money laundering case
July 25, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi authorities wrapped up a
case involving an attempt to smuggle a million dollars out of the Kingdom,
convicting 23 individuals, the Public Prosecution announced on Monday.
An investigation revealed how they were
found with over SR4 million ($1.07 million) in cash, which they divided among
themselves before attempting to leave the country via one of the Kingdom’s land
borders.
Authorities said the individuals, all
expats from south Asian countries, had acquired the money through illegal
means.
Sixteen of the accused were given 15
year prison terms and a fine of SR7 million each.
The rest were given between 4 and 8
years in prison, in addition to various fines.
Once they serve their penalties, they
will be deported from the Kingdom.
The money they tried to launder was
confiscated.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia offers condolences to
Algeria on victims of wildfires
July 25, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia offered condolences
to Algeria over victims of wildfires that killed over 30 people and forced mass
evacuations.
The Kingdom shared its sympathy through
a foreign ministry statement issued early on Tuesday, wishing the injured a
speedy recovery.
As temperatures hit 48 degrees Celsius
(118 Fahrenheit) in parts of the North African country, it recorded 97 blazes
across 16 provinces, fanned by strong winds, said Algerian interior ministry.
10 soldiers were among those killed, as
wildfires raged through residential areas.
Some 1,500 people were evacuated from
the Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel provinces east of the capital Algiers, according
to the ministry.
The three provinces in Algeria’s
Mediterranean coastal region have seen the worst of the fires.
President AbdelmadjidTebboune on Monday
expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
The interior ministry said that 7,500
firefighters and 350 firetrucks were mobilized with aerial support to fight the
flames.
Source: arabnews.com
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Deputy governor meets Japanese envoy in
Riyadh
July 24, 2023
RIYADH: Deputy Riyadh Gov. Prince
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz met Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Iwai Fumio in Riyadh on Monday.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged
cordial discussions.
Earlier, Fumio said 2025 would mark the
70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
“We look forward to working even closer
with Saudi Arabia, so that the two countries can celebrate this important
occasion with tangible and future-oriented achievements,” he added.
Source: arabnews.com
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---------
Saudi Ministry of Education, King Salman
Global Academy sign memorandum of understanding
July 24, 2023
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Education
and the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language have signed a memorandum
of understanding to expand cooperation in language education services, the
Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The memorandum was signed by Ohoud bint
Abdullah Al-Faris, general supervisor of the General Administration of
E-learning and Distance Education at the Ministry of Education, and Abdullah
bin Saleh Al-Washmi, acting secretary-general of the academy.
The agreement lays out a framework for
launching joint programs, applications and modern means of education.
The memorandum encourages the two sides
to urge international universities, schools, and educational institutions to
take advantage of the King Salman Academy’s language proficiency test and
grants offered by the Saudi government to international students who want to
learn Arabic.
In addition, the agreement outlines
developing Arabic dictionaries and school curricula, as well as organizing
conferences, programs, seminars, forums and training courses to boost the
skills of employees in fields related to the Arabic language.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi commission to host meeting on
fashion education needs
July 24, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Fashion
Commission is organizing an open meeting on Thursday to discuss educational
needs in the fashion industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting will bring together fashion
academics, entrepreneurs, individuals interested in fashion education, and
female students specializing in fashion.
The virtual meeting will address the
current state of the fashion education sector, with the goal of identifying
specific educational needs, and will enable the Fashion Commission to better
understand and meet the educational requirements of the fashion industry in the
Kingdom.
This initiative aims to provide
practitioners, individuals and students interested in the fashion sector with
scientific skills and knowledge.
The goal is to empower and educate
future generations who can contribute to the development of the industry across
various fields and elevate Saudi talent to an international level.
This meeting is part of a series of open
meetings organized by the commission to engage with the fashion community in
the Kingdom.
The commission’s objective is to address
the diverse educational needs of the sector and advance the field of fashion
education.
Through discussions with educational
establishments, the commission aims to identify and address any shortcomings,
while also seeking solutions, ideas, and visions that can help bridge the gaps
and drive progress in the industry.
Source: arabnews.com
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Pakistan
Pakistan ranked third in the world for imposing
internet restrictions
July 25, 2023
KARACHI: Pakistan has been ranked third
in the world over the imposition of internet restrictions in the first half of
2023.
According to a report by Surfshark, a
virtual private network company headquartered in Lithuania, a half-year
analysis of internet shutdown based on the Internet Shutdown Tracker reveals
that Pakistan was responsible for three of the 42 new restrictions worldwide,
which were imposed following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on
May 9.
At the time, access to Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube was restricted in the country, while several
temporary cellular network disruptions were also witnessed across the country
for several days afterward.
The Surfshark report ranks Pakistan
behind Iran and India as the countries leading the list of regimes who imposed
internet restrictions during the first half of 2023. With Asia being the focal
point of most internet shutdowns.
Iran witnessed the most internet
disruptions in this time, with 14 cases in total, all of which occurred in
Zahedan during Friday protests over the Zahedan massacre.
India and held-Kashmir
India closely trailed Iran, with at
least nine cases, the majority of which occurred during protests.
Interestingly, the report mentions two
separate internet shutdowns in ‘Jammu and Kashmir’, which were ostensibly also
ordered by the Indian government. If these are added to the country’s tally,
India’s count rises to 11 instances of internet shutdowns in a six-month
period.
According to the report, protests were
the main cause of government-imposed internet restrictions.
More than two-thirds of the new
disruptions, the count of which is 30 were triggered by public outrage over
social and political issues. This survey also highlights that the internet is
the primary battleground for important information during periods of civil
unrest.
Surfshark’s Internet Censorship Tracker
analyses reports from the news media and digital rights organisations such as
Netblocks and Access Now and collects data from social media companies to
document cases.
Overview of apps restricted in 2023
Facebook continued to face heavy
restrictions in the first half of 2023. The app was restricted in Ethiopia,
Guinea, Senegal, Pakistan, and Suriname. All of these countries have had a
history of government-imposed internet restrictions.
Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube shared
the second spot on the list of most-blocked social platforms, each facing
restrictions in four countries. WhatsApp and Twitter were close and shared the
third spot on the list, each facing restrictions in three countries.
While TikTok was restricted by just one
country in the first half of the year, Ethiopia. However, the United States is
on its way to becoming the eighth country to ban this platform, the report
stated.
Global decline
According to the report, the first half
of 2023 saw a 31 per cent decline in new internet disruption cases as compared
to the same period in 2022. But the number of countries imposing these
restrictions went up from 13 to 14.
Overall, Asia led the world for internet
disruptions, accounting for 71pc of new global cases. An estimated 2.35 billion
people experienced internet censorship throughout the year, Surfshark found.
The report also states that the decrease
in global restrictions primarily comes from the drop in cases from Jammu and
Kashmir, which fell from 35 in the first half of 2022 to just 2 in the same
period in 2023.
Source: dawn.com
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--------
Teenage
maid ‘severely tortured’ by judge’s wife in Islamabad
July 25,
2023
ISLAMABAD/SARGODHA:
A minor housemaid, who was hired by a civil judge. was subjected to “severe
torture” by her employers at their residence in the federal capital, but the
police are reluctant to register a case regarding the torture of the 13-year
girl, Dawn has learnt.
The
civil judge of the Punjab Judicial Service is working in the Federal Judicial
Academy, Islamabad, on deputation for about three years.
Police
officers told Dawn that the Sargodha police contacted the officers of the
Islamabad police, from the police chief’s office to the relevant SHO, and
provided them with all the documents, including the complaint and the
medico-legal certificate requesting them to register the case.
The
response of the police was “unprofessional and non-serious”.
After
the issue was highlighted in the media, the Sargodha police again contacted the
capital police to register the case. At this, the police asked for the presence
of the complaint at the police station concerned even though they had received
relevant documents from the Sargodha police, they added.
The
Sargodha police registered a report after the girl was brought to DHQ Sargodha
with injuries. According to the report, the injured girl was brought to
hospital at 7:21am in poor condition. “She was working at a house of a judge
where she was subjected to torture,” the report added.
According
to hospital sources, there were wounds on the head, face, and body of the girl
which were reportedly caused by a “blunt weapon” while there were some burn
injuries on her body as well.
The
mother of the girl said that she would lodge a complaint against the wife of
the judicial officer over theft allegations against her daughter. She alleged
that the wife would also beat her daughter whenever she asked for the salary or
to see her parents.
She
alleged that her daughter was “thrashed mercilessly with a blunt as well as a
sharp-edged weapon” and was also burned with a hot iron.
Talking
to Dawn, Sargodha District Police Officer Mohammad Faisal said the 13-year-old
girl hailed from Sargodha. She was hired by the judge through a contractor as a
housemaid against a salary of Rs10,000 per month about six months ago, he
added.
The DPO
quoted the girl’s family as saying that her employer was not happy with her and
asked the parents to take her back. Her family came to Islamabad in response to
a call from the employer and took her to Sargodha, he added.
On her
way back to their native town, the mother spotted injuries on her daughter’s
body, SSP Faisal said, adding that her family took her to a local hospital in
Sargodha where the hospital demanded a medico-legal certificate (MLC) for her
treatment treating it as a case of torture.
In
response, the Sargodha police issued an MLC for her treatment, he said, adding
that according to the MLC, she had multiple injuries, including two fractures
and lacerations. Her wounds were infected apparently due to a delay in
treatment. She had bruises and swelling as well.
The
doctors advised the family to take her to Lahore due to her head injuries, the
DPO said, adding that the Sargodha police arranged a police ambulance to move
her to Lahore.
The
Lahore police were also approached to facilitate the girl and her family at the
hospital, SSP Faisal said, adding that the Sargodha police also arranged the
traveling of the family to Lahore in a passenger vehicle.
The
Sargodha police also assisted the father of the girl, Manga Khan to write a
complaint for the registration of the case, he said, adding that all the
relevant documents were sent to Islamabad police for further legal action.
A police
officer of the capital police told Dawn that the complaint from the girl’s
father was received by the capital police for the registration of the case
against her employer at the Humak police station. Police sources said that a
case could also registered against the judge for hiring an underage maid and
concealing facts.
Complaint
by girl’s father
According
to the complainant, he sent her daughter Rizwana Bibi, 13, to the house of the
civil judge at Zarta Housing Society six months ago to work at a salary of
Rs10,000 per month.
On
Sunday, he along with her wife, and brother-in-law came to Islamabad to meet
her at the house of the judge and found the girl crying and in deteriorated
condition.
She had
injuries on her head, hands, and legs, besides her teeth were broken and there
was swelling around her eyes, lips and nose, the complaint said, adding that
her ribs were also fractured and marks of injuries were found on her back.
On
inquiry, she told her family that she was subjected to torture by the judge’s
wife on a daily basis and the employer also refused to give her food at times.
She said she was detained in a room.
Meanwhile,
the civil judge told media persons that the girl injured her head by herself.
He said that her spouse was investigating her regarding the alleged theft of
some gold ornaments. He claimed that the girl was used to eating clay and some
marks on her face appeared due to this habit.
Previously,
an additional sessions judge (ADSJ) of Islamabad and his spouse were arrested
on the same charges. The judge was terminated from service and also imprisoned
for three years.
— Malik
Asad in Islamabad also contributed to this report
Source: dawn.com
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--------
Blinken, Bilawal discuss Pakistan's
economic recovery, Afghanistan-related issues
July 25, 2023
United States Secretary of State Antony
Blinken and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spoke about Pakistan's
economy and Afghanistan-related issues on Monday.
According to State Department's
spokesperson Matthew Miller, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed a "productive
US-Pakistan partnership" in a phone conversation with FM Bilawal.
Pakistan has been facing rising
cross-border terrorism, with local authorities blaming Kabul for harbouring
terrorists — especially the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The secretary noted the Pakistani people
have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks and affirmed the United
States' commitment to continued partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism.
The secretary and foreign minister also
discussed the destabilising effects of Russia's war against Ukraine as well as
the United States and Pakistan's shared interest in a peaceful and stable
Afghanistan.
The call came hours after US Central
Command (Centcom) chief, General Michael Erik Kurilla, discussed the regional
security situation with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during a
meeting in Rawalpindi.
Apart from the regional security
situation, matters of mutual interest and defence cooperation were also
discussed, the military's media wing mentioned in a statement.
Both nations — Pakistan and US — have
called on war-torn Afghanistan to ensure that its soil isn't used as a safe
haven by terrorists.
The US had last week reiterated that the
Afghan Taliban must ensure that their country isn't used for terror attacks,
while the Pakistan Army's top brass said that sanctuaries and liberty of action
available to terrorists of proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk in
Afghanistan is one of the major reasons impacting the security of Islamabad.
United States 'top priority'
During the call with FM Bilawal,
Secretary Blinken underscored the United States steadfast commitment to the
people of Pakistan, highlighting that the economic success of Pakistan remains
a top priority for the US.
The secretary noted that the US would
continue to engage with Pakistan through technical and development initiatives
and through our robust trade and investment ties.
He also welcomed the International
Monetary Fund's (IMF) approval of a programme to support Pakistan and encouraged
continued reforms to promote economic recovery and prosperity.
Secretary Blinken stressed that
democratic principles and respect for the rule of law are central to the
US-Pakistan relationship and these values will continue to guide this
partnership forward.
The lender approved a much-awaited $3
billion bailout for Pakistan earlier this month, a move that's saved the nation
from defaulting on its debt repayments. Pakistan sought the United States' help
in convincing the IMF to approve the loan.
Grain initiative
Separately, the foreign minister held a
telephone conversation with European Union's High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
Expressing Pakistan's concerns over the
expiry of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), the foreign minister said that
the resulting food inflation and food security-related challenges would
adversely impact developing countries like Pakistan, which were already under
economic pressure.
The deal allowing the safe Black Sea
export of Ukraine's grain expired last week after Russia quit and warned it
could not guarantee the safety of ships.
According to United Nations
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, millions of people facing hunger will
"pay the price" of Russia's decision to exit the Ukraine grain deal,
and the move will "strike a blow to people in need everywhere".
FM Bilawal had, in a presser alongside
his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, also said that it was "in the
world's interest" to restore the grain initiative.
The foreign minister, during the call,
told Blinken that he had also spoken to his Ukrainian and Turkish counterparts
on this subject.
He hoped that efforts aimed at reviving
the initiative would come to fruition through dialogue and constructive
engagement, accommodating the concerns of all parties.
The foreign minister requested the EU
High Representative to play his role to help find a solution that would allow
the renewal of BSGI, and conveyed Pakistan's readiness to contribute to
collective efforts in that regard.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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--------
PML-N workers urged to ‘gather in large
number’ during PTI chief’s court hearing
July 24, 2023
An alleged audio clip of Special
Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Attaullah Tarar revealed that Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers were asked to gather in large numbers at a
local court in Islamabad to outnumber Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists
during Imran Khan’s appearance.
The PTI legal team on Monday played the
alleged audio of the PM’s aide during Toshakhana case proceedings in the trial
court.
The SAPM and the PTI chief were also
present in the courtroom when the audio clip was played in the court.
In the alleged audio, Tarar asked the
workers to gather in his office at 10am to go to the court together for the
court hearing.
Tarar purportedly said in the audio clip
that PTI workers gather in large numbers ahead of Imran Khan’s appearance in
the court.
“Our presence in the court should be
more [than PTI],” the SAPM allegedly added.
He further asked the workers to show
their strength in the court by gathering in large numbers.
“Journalists are also requested to
assist. The PTI acts like thugs while our only two people present [in the
court],” the SPAM purportedly said.
Speaking to the media, Tarar said he was
present in the court where PTI workers misbehaved with the judge and raised
slogans in the court.
“The court issued a warning due to the
PTI people's sloganeering,” he said adding that the PTI workers tried to
violate the sanctity of the court
The SPAM also said that the former
ruling party tried to make the courtroom a political rally.
“If this environment continues in the
courts, no judge will be able to conduct proceedings of a case against them
[PTI],” he added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Police get go-head to arrest Imran Khan
in ECP contempt case
July 24, 2023
Due to his non-appearance before the
Election Commission of Pakistan, the electoral watchdog on Monday asked the
Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) to carry out its obligation for
complying with a non-bailable arrest warrant issued for Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a case relating to contempt of the
election body on July 11.
The development came hours after the
former prime minister, who was removed from power via a parliamentary vote last
year, got relief as the Supreme Court restricted the police from arresting Khan
till August 9 in the case of senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar's murder in
Quetta.
Irked by his persistent absence from the
hearings, the ECP instructed the Islamabad IG to arrest Imran and present him
before the electoral watchdog tomorrow (Tuesday).
The former prime minister was skipping
the hearings despite being summoned in a personal capacity time and again.
‘Imran Khan will appear before ECP bench
tomorrow’
The PTI chairman will appear before the
four-member ECP bench tomorrow (Tuesday), confirmed his counsel Sher Afzal Khan
Marwat.
Khan’s counsel made the remarks as the
ECP has instructed the Islamabad police chief to arrest the deposed prime
minister and present him before the bench tomorrow at 10am. The non-bailable
arrest warrant was issued for the PTI chief in a case registered against him
for using foul language against the election authority and his chief in public
meetings.
It is pertinent to mention here that the
PTI chief had started targeting the ECP and its chief after being disqualified
by the electoral watchdog in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p)
for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.
In August last year, the ECP issued
notices to Khan and other leaders of his party for passing inappropriate
remarks and levelling allegations against the commission and its members.
The content of the notices stated that
Khan used "insulting and indecent language" against Chief Election
Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in his rallies on July 12, 18, 21, 27, August
4 and 8.
“You have used contemptuous remarks and
levelled baseless allegations against the CEC,” the notice sent to Khan read.
The commission further stated that these
leaders have “willfully and intentionally scandalised, ridiculed, and maligned
the integrity” of the CEC which has brought into disrespect the reputation of
Sikander Sultan Raja.
The ECP further accused them of instigating
the public against the CEC by using contemptuous language which is an “attempt
to prejudice the process of forthcoming election which constitute a clear
contempt of the commission.”
'Whatever I said was related to the
party's narrative'
On July 20, former PTI leader Fawad
Chaudhry tendered an apology to the ECP in the contempt case filed against him
by the electoral watchdog.
Fawad, after being instructed by the
Islamabad High Court (IHC), appeared before the ECP with his lawyer Faisal
Chaudhry, during which he tendered an apology to the commission and pleaded to
withdraw the show-cause notice issued to him.
He said whatever he said was related to
the party's narrative while he was its spokesperson.
"It was the party's position that I
described. I respect the institutions including the ECP," The former
information minister.
He further said whatever he said was
related to the party's narrative while he was its spokesperson. "It was
the party's position that I described. I respect the institutions including the
ECP."
Fawad was then asked by the CEC if he
would kill anyone on the orders of the party chief. Raja also lamented about
the ill language spoken against him, his family, and the commission during
public gatherings.
The former federal minister was then
asked to submit a written apology to the ECP, which it will review later. The
hearing was adjourned until August 1.
Earlier this week, the IHC, on Fawad's
plea, suspended a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him by the
electoral body due to his non-appearance in a hearing.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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US cypher: High-level FIA team
interrogates PTI's Qureshi
July 24, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was interrogated Monday for nearly two
hours by a high-level Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team.
Qureshi appeared before an eight-member
team headed by FIA Islamabad Zone Director Rana Abdul Jabbar after it had
summoned him — as he is one of the central characters in the cypher saga due to
his position as the foreign minister during PTI's tenure.
Officers from different FIA wings and
one grade-19 officer each from three different intelligence institutions were
also present during the PTI vice chairman's interrogation.
Former PTI secretary general Asad Umar
also appeared before the FIA team. PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also been
summoned on July 25 (tomorrow).
The investigation into the cypher picked
pace after the Lahore High Court withdrew the stay order on summons to the
ex-premier, and a day after it, Khan's then-principal secretary Azam Khan
"recorded" a statement, terming the US cypher a
"conspiracy" used by the ex-PM to "manipulate for creating a
narrative against establishment and opposition".
Cypher's a 'reality'
The PTI vice chairman, after the
grilling, told journalists during a media talk that the controversial US cypher
was a "reality" and that the National Security Committee (NSC) — the
country's top security apparatus — had accepted it.
Qureshi told journalists that he was
interrogated for around two hours, during which he answered the questions
"with honesty" and presented his side of the story.
"I have said this before: cypher is
a reality and was a reality. Serious people, not part of my party, claimed it was
a political drama," Qureshi, a close aide of PTI Chairman Imran Khan,
said.
Cable gate
The controversy first emerged on March
27, 2022, when Imran — just days before his ouster — brandished a letter,
claiming that it was a cypher from a foreign nation, which mentioned that his
government should be removed from power.
He did not reveal the contents of the
letter nor mention the name of the nation that had sent it. But a few days
later, he named the United States and said that Assistant Secretary of State for
South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal.
The cypher was about former Pakistan
ambassador to the US Asad Majeed's meeting with Lu.
The former prime minister, claiming that
he was reading contents from the cypher, said that "all will be forgiven
for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".
Then on March 31, the NSC took up the
matter and decided to issue a "strong demarche" to the country for
its "blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan".
Later, after his removal, Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the NSC, which came to the conclusion that
it had found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy in the cypher.
Months later, two audio leaks took the
internet by storm and shocked the public after these events. The former prime
minister, then-federal minister Asad Umar, and then-principle secretary Azam
could allegedly be heard discussing the US cypher and how to use it in their
interest.
On September 30, the federal cabinet
took notice of the matter and constituted a committee to probe the contents of
the audio leaks.
In October, the cabinet gave the green
signal to initiate action against the former prime minister and handed over the
case to the FIA.
Once FIA was given the task to probe the
matter, it summoned Khan, Umar, and other leaders of the party, but the PTI
chief challenged the summons and secured a stay order from the court.
On July 18, the Lahore High Court
recalled the stay order against the call-up notice to Khan by the FIA.
The FIA then again issued summons to
Khan, Umar, and Qureshi.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1093633-us-cypher-high-level-fia-team-interrogates-ptis-qureshi
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North America
UFC Star Justin Gaethje Reveals Who He
Feels Is Most Likely To Dethrone Lightweight Champ Islam Makhachev
JULY 24, 2023
Islam Makhachev currently sits atop the
throne as the king and champion of the UFC‘s lightweight division.
But fellow lightweight star Justin
Gaethje says that Makhachev is not unbeatable.
In fact, Gaethje thinks he’s far from
it.
And ahead of Gaethje’s UFC 291 showdown
with former No. 1 contender Dustin Poirier, he revealed who he believes is the
one most likely to dethrone Makhachev.
“If we’re going off of what we know then
it’s gonna be [Alexander] Volkanovski because he already fought him and it was a
really close fight,” Gaethje told ShakielMahjouri. “I’ve never fought him,
Poirier’s never fought him. I guess if you want to say someone it could be the
125-pound champion (Alexandre Pantoja). Who knocked him out? I was gonna make
fun of [Brendan Schaub]…I’ve made fun of him so much.
“I think Volkanovski is the answer for
now, but I can’t wait to get in there. I know for a fact he’s not Khabib and I
want to go in there and prove that.”
Now, it appears that Gaethje was only
talking about fighters who have squared off with Makhachev in the past. But it
is pretty surprising not to see him outright claim that he would be the one to
take his title.
Volkanovski and Makhachev fought at UFC
284 in February and it was Makhachev who walked away with a unanimous decision
victory (48-47, 48-47, 49-47).
Now Makhachev looks in line to face a
familiar test.
Former champion Charles Oliveira, whom
Makhacehv submitted at UFC 280 to win the title, is back for his belt. Oliveira
made short work of BeneilDariush at UFC 289 with a first-round TKO to solidify
his spot as the best of the rest.
However, the UFC has not yet scheduled
that fight. Should Gaethje take care of Poirier, he could well be next in line
to face either Makhachev or Oliveira.
Source: brobible.com
Please
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https://brobible.com/sports/article/justin-gaethje-most-likely-to-dethrone-islam-makhachev/
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