ISIS Video Warns U.S.: 'Convert to Islam' or 'You Will Have to Pay the Jizya Tax'
New Age Islam News Bureau
8
Oct 2015
A group of Punjabi NRIs has collaborated with locals to provide fresh bread to nearly 14,000 refugees daily in the strife-torn region for several months now
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North America
• ISIS Video Warns U.S.: 'Convert to Islam' or 'You Will Have to Pay the Jizya Tax'
• Strong Pakistan-India Ties Critical For Peace, Stability in S. Asia: US
• Court Rules Muslim Ads Allowed In NYC Subways
• Islamophobia in US Election Campaign: Why Muslims Have Become a Key Issue
• US school criticized for changing chapel for Muslims
• Obama apologizes to Doctors without Borders for deadly airstrike
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Arab World
• Syrian Army Targets Militants Convoy Coming from Jordan
• Source: 1000s of Terrorists Flee Syria after Russian Airstrikes, Army Ground Assault
• Security Official: Russia Soon to Start Air Attacks on ISIL in Iraq
• Syria-Russia Joint Operations in Hama Results in Recapturing Three Towns from Militants
• Iraqi Forces Seize Back Strategic Regions in Ramadi
• Russia Deploys Mi-24 Helicopter Gunships to Syria Anti-ISIL Operation
• Russia backs Syrian forces in major assault on insurgents
• ISIS executed 70 Sunni tribesmen in Iraq earlier this week: UN
• ISIS kills three Assyrian Christian captives
• Coalition aircraft re-routed to avoid Russians in Syria: U.S.
• Kurds: ISIS used mustard agent in Iraq
• No decision made on no-fly zone in Syria: U.S. State Department
• Syrian Army, Russian Warplanes Repel ISIL Offensive on Deir Ezzur Military Airbase
• Moderates suffer setback as Khamenei bans talks with US
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Pakistan
• Pakistani Senator Calls for Int'l Prosecution of Saudi Arabia over Mina Incident
Three Terrorists Killed In Awaran
• PM working on his personal agenda: JI chief
• None of Punjab Religious School Teaches Extremism
• MQM says Rangers arrest Rabita Committee member in pre-dawn raid
• Mastermind of 2010 attack on American charity held
• SC upholds Mumtaz Qadri’s death sentence
• Imran brands Nawaz ‘most corrupt’
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India
• PM Breaks Silence on Dadri, Urges Hindus and Muslims to Fight Poverty Together
• India Becoming A Hindu Saudi: Taslima Nasreen on Ghulam Ali Concert’s Cancellation
• Sikhs Organize 'Langar' For Yazidis in ISIS Territory
• Haj stampede: Death toll of Indians rises to 81
• 7/11 serial train blasts: Special court trashed defence theory of IM connection
• Another Canadian Sikh Activist Backs Niqab-Wearing Muslim Women
• Workshop of Muslim Ulema on 15th October
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Mideast
• Iranian Commander: Al-Saud Understands Nothing but Language of Force
• Israeli Politicians ‘Barred From Aqsa Compound’
• Ankara wants Moscow to respect borders, keep Daesh in crosshairs
• NATO ‘ready to defend Turkey if needed’
• Angered by air strikes, Turkey's Erdogan warns Russia on energy ties
• White House condemns violence in West Bank, Jerusalem
• Turkey arrests six over ‘minting coins for ISIS’
• Sources: Gaps Widening between Yemen's Fugitive President, PM
• Yemeni Revolution Leaders Vow to Retake Aden Soon
• Iran Optimizing Weapons to Fight against Takfiri Terrorists
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Europe
• Muslim Leaders Voice Concerns about Tory Crackdown on Madrasas
• US Not Targeting Daesh in Syria: Russian Defense Ministry
• Local Muslim Leader Says Campaign’s Focus on Niqab is “Unfortunate”
• Muslim Organisations Criticize David Cameron’s Remarks on Islamic Schools
• France unveils ads to combat jihadism
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South Asia
• Expat Murders Linked to Islamic State Put Bangladesh on Edge
• Afghanistan Likely to Receive Russia’s Support in Fight against Terrorism
• Bangladeshi Pastor Survives Terrorist Attack
• Anti government protest in Kabul
• Former spy chief: Those responsible for Kundoz tragedy must be brought to justice
• Family to meet Mojaheed tomorrow
• Security strengthened at jails: IG prison
• Joy says he has 'reliable information' on BNP-Jamaat involvement in the murders
• Bangladesh ups security for foreigners
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Southeast Asia
• Malaysia Eyes New Regional Facility to Counter Islamic State
• Malaysian Muslims Seek Divine Intervention to End Haze Crisis
• Back to square one for transgenders as Federal Court overturns landmark ruling on Shariah law
• DPM: Malaysia to open door to professional, semi-skilled Syrian refugees
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Africa
• Bomb Attacks Kill 14 in Nigeria’s Yobe State
• The Difference between "Anti-Islam" Patriots and Real Patriots
• Britain Offers Expertise on Development of Islamic Finance in Nigeria
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/isis-video-warns-u.s.-convert/d/104843
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North America
ISIS Video Warns U.S.: 'Convert to Islam' or 'You Will Have to Pay the Jizya Tax'
October 7, 2015
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group released a video on Sunday that concluded with a message for “America, the defender of the cross."
“Convert to Islam, and no harm will befall you,” the narrator said, “but if you refuse, you will have to pay the Jizya tax
The video depicted Christians in the recently captured western Syrian town of Qaryatayn being forced to choose between converting to Islam or signing a “Dhimma” contract pledging to pay a jizya tax and be subservient to ISIS.
The video was translated in part by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) and featured an ISIS member narrating the events taking place in the conquered Christian town.
“Praised be Allah, who bestowed His blessings upon His supporters, and granted them victory and the conquest of the town of Qaryatayn,” the ISIS member said. “Islamic law has taken over the town, and its inhabitants from among the People of the Book became submissive.”
The narrator says the town’s Christians were given “four options.”
“One, for the men to be killed and the women and children to be enslaved, two, to be exchanged [for prisoners, money, or booty], three, to be pardoned [provided they leave the Caliphate],” he says, “Four, to pay the jizya and live as dhimmis under the rule of the Caliphate.”
“Some of the town's Christians converted to Islam, while others chose to sign the dhimma contract and pay the jizya tax,” he said. “They preferred to live in peace and security under Islamic rule in the Islamic State.”
The video featured scenes of an ISIS fighter throwing a cross off the roof of a church and showed the inside of a ransacked church.
“The Caliph of the Muslims displayed kindness and generosity, and agreed to accept their Jizya tax,” the narrator claimed, “and to allow them to live under the rule of the Caliphate as part of the Dhimma contract.”
“He also gave the Christians who fled the town an opportunity to return to their homes and fields within a month from the signing of the Dhimma contract,” the narrator said.
The video concluded with “a message to all the Christians in the East and West, and to America, the defender of the cross.”
“Convert to Islam, and no harm will befall you,” the narrator said, “but if you refuse, you will have to pay the jizya tax. As our Sheikh Al-'Adnan said: The payment of the jizya is a thousand times less than the Christian investment in the futile war against the Islamic State.”
Last month, MEMRI translated the Dhimma contract that Christians in Qaryatayn are being forced to sign. The contract contains 11 articles which include a ban on public “religious rituals” and displays of the cross.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/isis-video-shows-christians-forced-sign-subservience-contract-or-convert
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Strong Pakistan-India ties critical for peace, stability in S. Asia: US
ANWAR IQBAL
October 08, 2015
WASHINGTON: The United States believes that a strong relationship between Pakistan and India is “absolutely critical” to achieving peace and stability in South Asia.
At a daily news briefing, a spokesperson for the US State Department, Mark Toner, also stressed the need for India and Pakistan to work together to defeat terrorists.
Also read: US urges India, Pakistan to resolve issues through dialogue
“We want to see better, stronger, closer counter-terrorism cooperation not only between the US and India but of all the countries in the region, including Pakistan,” he said.
“We all need to be on our guard. We all need to be vigilant. We all need to cooperate and share information and intelligence where we can … to prevent future attacks,” he said.
Mr Toner said the US wanted that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack, that left 166 people dead, to be brought to justice.
“President Obama stated the Mumbai perpetrator’s financiers, sponsors, must be held accountable for their crimes,” he said.
“We continue to follow the criminal proceedings closely, and urge additional actions to prevent such an attack from ever happening again. And recognise that this was a terrible tragedy for India.”
http://www.dawn.com/news/1211597/strong-pakistan-india-ties-critical-for-peace-stability-in-s-asia-us
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COURT RULES MUSLIM ADS ALLOWED IN NYC SUBWAYS
October 07, 2015
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Muslim Advocates are applauding the U.S. District Court in Manhattan for ruling in favour of placing comedic ads about American Muslims on New York City subways. The advertisements sparked controversy when the MTA considered them to be political speech and refused to run them.
The ads were created by Muslim comedians Dean Obeidallah and Negin Farsad, using humour to talk about American Muslims. The two made the ads under Vaguely Qualified Productions (VQP), an award-winning video production company based in Manhattan.
At first, the MTA approved VQP's ads to run on the subways, but revoked the approval after citing new policies that restrict what can be disputed as political speech. The Muslim Advocates, a national legal advocacy and educational organization, filed a lawsuit back in June.
On Wednesday the court ruled that the advertisements' messages are not "'prominently or predominantly political' - unless we have reached the unhappy moment in this country where the mere mention of one of the three Abrahamic faiths is 'prominently or predominantly political' simply because that faith is Islam."
"The court decision upholds our claim that sharing humour and stories by and about American Muslims educates the public about our community and should not be considered political speech," said Glenn Katon, Legal Director at Muslim Advocates.
http://abc7ny.com/news/muslim-ads-allowed-in-nyc-subways/1022391/
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Islamophobia in US Election Campaign: Why Muslims Have Become a Key Issue
October 07, 2015
WASHINGTON: It is being described by sections of the US media as America's autumn of Islamophobia. It began with Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson saying that a Muslim should not be the President of the United States. It was followed by Donald Trump who did not refute a man who got up at a Townhall meeting and said President Barack Obama was a Muslim, and basically saying America was better off without the Muslim community.
Fear mongering over Islam, which has been a sub text of election campaigns since 9/11, is now open and overt. Voters we spoke to in Washington DC reflected that ignorance.
One woman, when asked if she thought a Muslim could be President, said, "I thought we already had one."
"You think President Obama is a Muslim? But he is not," we said.
"That's what they say but I'm not really sure," she replied adding that she didn't understand why Obama celebrates Muslim holidays.
Another voter said "I think it is fine for a Muslim to run for Presidency but he has to remember what this country was built on, and he or she can't be enforcing the laws of Muslim religion because I believe that they don't really fit the country the way they should."
However, another young voter told us, "a good candidate will be a good person and a good candidate regardless of what their religion is."
Ben Carson's campaign manager told The Huffington Post, "I don't think there's any other religion that says that people of other religions have to be killed."
The Washington Post reports that many Republicans privately agree with comments like these. Two recent polls by Pew Research and The New York Times show how negatively republicans view Muslims - a sentiment that Donald Trump and Ben Carson are now feeding off.
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/islamophobia-in-us-election-campaign-why-muslims-have-become-a-key-issue-1229502
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US school criticized for changing chapel for Muslims
Oct 7, 2015
WICHITA: A US university has announced plans to consider changing a campus chapel again after critics took aim at the school for renovating the religious space to accommodate Muslims.
The May renovation of the Harvey D Grace Memorial Chapel removed the tiny altar and pews after Muslims at Wichita State University said in the spring that they wanted space to kneel and pray, a daily reported.
The family that made the chapel possible in 1964 specified that it remain open to all creeds and races. But dozens of Wichita residents learned about the renovation after Wichita State alumna Ann Cusick posted the changes to her Facebook page Friday and said taking out the pews marginalized Christians.
After that, university donors, alumni and others began posting comments and contacting university administrators.
Wichita State President John Bardo said Tuesday in a statement on the university's Facebook page that the school will consider changing the chapel's furnishings once again.
"I don't think that change (the renovation done in May) was undertaken with enough consideration of the feelings of all elements of the campus and broader community,'' Bardo wrote. ``Our goal should be exactly what Mrs. Grace set out to do in her gift, to have an all faiths chapel that is welcoming to all religious groups on campus.''
Muslim students said they feel taken aback by the move. They asked for the accommodation in part, because they had difficulty finding prayer spaces on campus; there are 1,000 Muslims among Wichita State's 14,450 students.
``How would you feel if I said that because you are a Christian that you are bad?'' said Fayez Al-ruwaili, a 20-year-old junior studying biomedical engineering.
Bardo appointed Eric Sexton, vice president for student affairs, to study whether to come up with a plan to hear ideas and concerns. Sexton said Tuesday he'd spend ``whatever time it takes'' to talk to students, donors, alums and the Wichita community.
``We'll do this in a professional way, in a respectful way, in an interfaith way,'' Sexton said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-school-criticized-for-changing-chapel-for-Muslims/articleshow/49263155.cms
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Obama apologizes to Doctors Without Borders for deadly airstrike
By ZABIHULLAH MOOSAKHAIL
Oct 08 2015
President Barack Obama has apologized to the leader of Doctors Without Borders over US airstrike in northern Kundoz province of Afghanistan that left several of the organization’s staffers and patients left dead.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said: “based on what the president has learned,” he thought it was best to “own up to our mistakes and to vow to carry out a full investigation to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”
Called the event a “profound tragedy”, Earnest said the U.S. “mistakenly struck” the hospital.
Earnest said investigators would have to “learn exactly what happened and provide the full accounting that the president has asked for.”
President Obama in a phone call with Joanne Liu, the president of Doctors Without Borders, assured him that a Pentagon investigation of the bombing would provide a “transparent, thorough and objective accounting of the facts” that, if necessary, would result in changes to reduce the likelihood of another attack, Earnest said.
Doctors Without Borders have also confirmed receiving President Obama’s apology regarding the hospital bombing.
But the charity organizations President Joanne Liu said that the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, a group set up under the Geneva Convention, should look into the attack.
After his apology to the President of the charity organization, Obama called President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to express his condolences for the loss of life and commended the Afghan forces in securing Kunduz.
Full Report at:
http://www.khaama.com/obama-apologizes-to-doctors-without-borders-for-deadly-airstrike-3973
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Arab World
Syrian Army Targets Militants Convoy Coming from Jordan
Oct 07, 2015
The army destroyed the 10 SUV vehicles in Khirbet al-Ambashi area in Badiya (desert) in Sweida province on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Syrian fighter jets also targeted a convoy of the Takfiri terrorists in Sweida province and destroyed a major part of the vehicles.
The Syrian warplanes bombed the vehicles in the village of Ghadir Abu Sharshouh on the Eastern outskirts of the Badiya "desert" in Sweida.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715001387
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Source: 1000s of Terrorists Flee Syria after Russian Airstrikes, Army Ground Assault
Oct 07, 2015
Thousands of ISIL Takfiri terrorists have fled Syria to Jordan, Turkey and Europe as the Syrian army continues march on militant-held regions as well as Russia's airstrikes against positions of militias across the Arab country.
"A large number of ISIL terrorists have fled the Syrian territories to Jordan, Turkey and Europe after the Russian warplanes and the Syrian army troops pounded their gathering centers and hideouts," the source underlined.
A local source on Monday told FNA that the ISIL militants, most of them from the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Chechnya, together with their families have left Raqqa province in Syria for Iraq.
The source noted that at least 220 ISIL families have fled to Iraq, and said, "Notorious terrorists such as Abu Talheh Hejazi from Saudi Arabia and ISIL religious police chief Abu Abdullah al-Akidi are among the militants who have fled Raqqa province."
Another military source confirmed that over 3,000 militants from the ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and Jeish al-Yarmouk have left Syria for Jordan after the start of the Syrian army's new wave of attacks and advances and the Russian airstrikes on terrorist groups positions.
The source noted that the Takfiri militants are afraid of the army's advances in all fronts that come with the Russians' air backup.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000519
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Security Official: Russia Soon to Start Air Attacks on ISIL in Iraq
Oct 07, 2015
"The Iraqi government has agreed with Russia's proposal to attack the ISIL positions in Iraq (exactly) like what is happening in Syria," the security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told FNA on Wednesday.
The official said that the Iraqi government will most likely declare its agreement to the Russian officials in the next few days.
"The Iraqi government is studying the mechanisms needed for Russia's imminent attacks on ISIL's positions in Iraq," he added.
Earlier today, Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament's Defense Committee Hakim al-Zamili said Baghdad wants Moscow to have a bigger role in the anti-terrorist campaign in Iraq than the US and may soon officially request to start airstrikes on its soil.
"We might be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes in Iraq soon. I think in the upcoming few days or weeks Iraq will be forced to ask Russia to launch airstrikes and that depends on their success in Syria," al-Zamili said.
"We are seeking to see Russia having a bigger role in Iraq... Yes, definitely a bigger role than the Americans," he added.
The Iraqi official added that the decision would depend on how efficient the Russian campaign in Syria will prove to be.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715001341
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Syria-Russia Joint Operations in Hama Results in Recapturing Three Towns from Militants
Oct 07, 2015
The sources said that the Syrian Armed Forces, in coordinated operations with the Russian air force, launched a large-scale offensive in the Northern Hama towns of Kafr Naboudat, Morek, Qala’at Al-Madayq, Ahaya, Al-Mughayr, Latmeen, Al-Lataminah, Kafr Zita, and Markabat.
The sources further added this has been the first major operation in the province since the summer of 2014.
The Syrian army’s 87th Brigade announced the recapture of Al-Mughayr, Ahaya, and Markabat towns after fierce clashes with the militant forces earlier this morning.
Following the capture of Al-Mughayr, Ahaya, Markabat, the Syrian Armed Forces stormed the towns of Morek, Qala’at Madayq, Latmeen, Al-Lataminah, Kafr Naboudat, and Kafr Zita, where they are currently engaging the terrorist groups in a series of intense firefights for control.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715001328
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Iraqi Forces Seize Back Strategic Regions in Ramadi
Oct 07, 2015
Head of Anbar's Provincial Council Sabah Karhout Sabah Karhout said minutes ago that security forces and the Iraqi popular forces, Al-Hashad Al-Shabi fighters, seized full control over strategic regions in Ramdi.
According to reports, the Iraqi forces have made huge gains in their military campaign against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Ramadi, and succeeded in recapturing Al-Zankura and most parts of Albou Reesha from the militants.
The Iraqi forces also gained control of Albu Jalib and Al-Adnaniyah on Wednesday, and inflicted heavy casualties. According to report, tens of terrorists were killed and dozens were also injured in heavy clashes with the Iraqi troops.
Meantime, Iraqi politicans said Baghdad has asked for Russia's assistance in the ongoing war on Takfiri terrorists after it saw a serious lack of resolve on the part of the US-led coalition to fight ISIL.
"Baghdad turned to Russia after it witnessed lack of seriousness of the US-led coalition in the fight against the Takfiri terrorist group," Head of Iraq's Badr Organization Hadi al-Ameri said.
The top commander of the Iraqi popular forces blasted the western media for supporting the ISIL, and said, "There will be a decisive battle against the ISIL in the coming days which will change the military equations in the region."
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000738
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Russia Deploys Mi-24 Helicopter Gunships to Syria Anti-ISIL Operation
Oct 07, 2015
Russia has deployed its notorious Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria, where they are part of the operation against the ISIL terrorist targets.
According to Colonel Igor Klimov of the Russian Air Force in Hmeymim Air Base in Syria, the Mi-24 helicopters are currently being used for patrolling the area around the airfield and for potential search and rescue missions. The Mi-24 is considered to be one of most deadly and versatile helicopters in the world.
"The Mi-24 accelerates up to 300 kilometers per hour and rises to an altitude of up to 4.5 kilometers," Klimov told RIA Novosti.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000239
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Russia backs Syrian forces in major assault on insurgents
October 08, 2015
BEIRUT: Syrian troops and militia backed by Russian warplanes mounted what appeared to be their first major coordinated assault on Syrian insurgents on Wednesday and Moscow said its warships fired a barrage of missiles at them from the Caspian Sea, a sign of its new military reach.
The combined operation hit towns close to the main north-south highway that runs through major cities in the mainly government-held west of Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group which tracks the conflict via a network of sources within the country.
Ground attacks by Syrian government forces and their militia allies using heavy surface-to-surface missile bombardments hit at least four insurgent positions and there were heavy clashes, the head of the Observatory, Rami Abdulrahman, said.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia took part in the fighting, according to a regional source who is familiar with the military situation in Syria.
Abdulrahman said later there was no sign that Syrian troops and their allies had made any tangible advances on the ground.
They briefly entered one town, but were forced to pull back, he said, and around 15 of their tanks or armoured vehicles had been either destroyed or disabled.
Islamic State militants have seized much of Syria since civil war grew out of anti-government protests in 2011, but the areas targeted in Wednesday's combined assault are held by other rebels, some U.S.-backed, fuelling accusations by Russia's critics that its real aim is to help the government.
Moscow says it shares the West's aim of preventing the spread of Islamic State, and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin during a televised meeting that four Russian warships in the Caspian Sea had launched 26 missiles at Islamic State in Syria earlier in the day.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/08-Oct-2015/russia-backs-syrian-forces-in-major-assault-on-insurgents
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ISIS executed 70 Sunni tribesmen in Iraq earlier this week: UN
October 08, 2015
BAGHDAD - The Islamic State group executed 70 members of a Sunni tribe allied to the government in western Iraq earlier this week, a tribal leader and the United Nations said Wednesday.
The victims, members of the Albu Nimr tribe, were executed on Sunday in the Tharthar area north of Ramadi, the capital of the western Anbar province, tribal elder Naim Gaoud told AFP. “These people who were executed were the fathers and brothers of members of the police, the army and of tribal fighters who are battling Daesh,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.
“Daesh executed them by shooting,” he said. Iraqi security forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, launched a vast operation west of Ramadi Sunday to tighten the noose on IS, which captured the Anbar capital in May and controls most of the province.
Hatem al-Gaoud, another clan member reached by phone, said IS had trapped dozens of tribe members in the Khanzir area of Tharthar since the jihadist group launched its major offensive in Iraq last year.
“They gathered them outside Khanzir and shot them all in the head,” he said. “I don’t know what IS did with the bodies, but it is likely they buried them in mass graves near the site of the execution,” he said. The UN Mission in Iraq’s human rights office said it had been able to confirm the mass execution.
“This is not the first attack on the Albu Nimr, since they have been actively opposed to ISIL (IS),” it said in an email to AFP. Possibly as many as 300 of the tribe’s members were killed around a year ago, when anti-IS forces were still holding out in some parts of Ramadi, which is the Albu Nimr’s main hub. The tribe was very active in the Awakening Councils, groups of Sunni tribal fighters the US military paid and armed a decade ago to fight against IS’ previous incarnation in Iraq.
Local tribal fighters are seen by the United States as a key component of any successful effort to retake control of Anbar and other Sunni regions of Iraq IS took over virtually unopposed last year. They no longer receive direct support from the US, whose assistance is channelled through the Shiite-dominated federal government. IS has massacred hundreds of former Awakening fighters in an effort to intimidate Sunni residents from taking up arms against them.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/08-Oct-2015/is-executed-70-sunni-tribesmen-in-iraq-un
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Coalition aircraft re-routed to avoid Russians in Syria: U.S.
8 October 2015
Coalition aircraft have been re-routed on at least one occasion to avoid a close encounter with Russian warplanes over Syria, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.
“We have an instance, at least, where there’s been action taken to make sure we didn’t have an unsafe separation” distance, Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.
The incident involved two F-16 fighter jets that were forced to abort a bombing sortie over Syria in order to remain within safe distance of the Russian planes, according to a U.S. defense official.
“They had to abort striking the target,” said the official.
Davis said coalition air operations over Iraq and Syria continue and the effort to avoid Russian warplanes was not interfering with their broader mission.
But he said, “We have taken measures to re-route aircraft as necessary when there is an air issue where we might be getting close.”
Earlier, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter denied that the United States had proposed to Moscow coordinating their air strikes.
“What we will do is continue basic, technical discussions on the professional safety procedures for our pilots flying above Syria,” Carter told reporters in Rome.
“That’s it. We will keep the channel open because it’s a matter of safety for our pilots.”
U.S. and Russian officials held discussions last week -- at Russia’s request -- on establishing measures to avoid accidents so warplanes flying over Syria would not be in the same place at the same time.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/08/Coalition-aircraft-re-routed-to-avoid-Russians-in-Syria-U-S-.html
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Kurds: ISIS used mustard agent in Iraq
7 October 2015
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters fired mortar rounds containing mustard agent at Kurdish peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq during clashes in August, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, which oversees Kurdish armed forces there, said on Wednesday.
Blood samples taken from around 35 fighters who were exposed in the attack southwest of the regional capital Erbil, along with an examination of wounds, showed “signatures of sulfur mustard”, the ministry said in a statement.
It did not say if any of the peshmerga had died as a result of the attack or how severely they had been wounded.
Mustard gas, which can burn skin and mucus tissue and cause severe respiratory problems, is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, an arms treaty intended to stop the use of chemical weapons.
The samples were sent to a laboratory outside of Iraq for analysis with the help of members of the “Global Coalition against ISIL,” the statement said, citing an acronym for identifying Islamic State.
It also called on countries fighting ISIS to give Kurdish peshmerga fighters equipment for protection against chemical attacks. The United States is among a handful of countries who are giving military assistance to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.
The ministry’s statement adds to a mounting body of evidence that ISIS has a stockpile of chemical weapons inside Iraq.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/07/Kurds-say-blood-tests-show-ISIS-used-mustard-agent-against-fighters-in-Iraq.html
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Syrian Army, Russian Warplanes Repel ISIL Offensive on Deir Ezzur Military Airbase
Oct 07, 2015
The sources said that the ISIL stormed the Deir Ezzur airbase, the al-Sina’a, al-Amal, and al-Haweeqa districts, and the village of al-Muri’iyah, but their massive attack was repelled by the Syria army troops and the Russian fighter jets, in which the terrorist group sustained heavy losses, including 150 killed members.
On Tuesday morning, the ISIL fighters regrouped to launch another assault on the Deir Ezzur Military Airport; the village of Al-Muri’iyah; the Radio Broadcast Tower; and Sakr Island, but, once again, the Russian Air Force targeted them and pushed them back from the abovementioned areas.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000272
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Moderates suffer setback as Khamenei bans talks with US
8 October 2015
DUBAI — Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday banned any further negotiations between Iran and the United States, putting the brakes on moderates hoping to end Iran's isolation after reaching a nuclear deal with world powers in July.
Khamenei, the highest authority in the republic, already said last month there would be no more talks with the United States after the nuclear deal, but has not previously declared an outright ban.
His statements directly contradict those of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rohani, who says his government is ready to hold talks with the United States on how to resolve the conflict in Syria, where the two countries back opposing sides.
"Negotiations with the United States open gates to their economic, cultural, political and security influence. Even during the nuclear negotiations they tried to harm our national interests," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his website.
"Our negotiators were vigilant but the Americans took advantage of a few chances," he said.
Although he supported the last 18 months of negotiations, Khamenei has not publicly endorsed the nuclear agreement with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia that settled a standoff of more than a decade.
The West feared Iran wanted to develop nuclear weapons, suspicions Tehran denies.
The agreement, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for crippling sanctions being lifted, was welcomed by Iranians who are keen to see their living standards improve and better relations with the rest of the world.
It was also a great political victory for Rohani and his faction in Iran ahead of some key elections next year and as such has deepened the divide in Iran's complex power structure between moderates and hardliners.
Full Report at:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20151008259016
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Pakistan
Pakistani Senator Calls for Int'l Prosecution of Saudi Arabia over Mina Incident
October 7, 2015
Pakistan People's Party Senator Farhatullah Babar underlined the need for an international prosecution of the Saudi regime for its disrespect for the victims of the Mina tragic incident.
"The insult to the dead Hajj pilgrims of Mina tragedy should be dealt with at an international level," Senator Babar said on Wednesday.
He reiterated that investigations into the cause of the Mina incident are very crucial and the Saudi regime should be accountable to the Muslim countries about it.
A stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj season on September 24 killed at least 4,173 people and left thousands wounded.
The stampede occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil" in the tent city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca.
Pakistan is among those nations who have lost the largest number of nationals in the stampede, and Islamabad's leniency towards Saudi Arabia over the Mina crush has angered the Pakistani people.
Reports from Pakistani media and journalists on September 28 revealed that the country's intelligence body, ISI, has issued serious warnings to all the country's media outlets to avoid conducting interviews with pilgrims and their families about the lethal incidents in Mecca this year or releasing figures of those who have lost their lives or gone missing in the stampede.
A senior Pakistani religious leader on September 28 called on Islamabad to declare the real number of the Hajj pilgrims killed during the Hajj stampede in Mina.
"The secrecy concerning the true number of victims of Mina incident not only does not solve anything, but is also make the situation more complicated; therefore the Pakistani government should announce the exact number of Pakistani pilgrims killed in Hajj rituals in Mina," Sahibzada Abu-al-Khair Muhammad Zubair, President of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), said.
A Pakistani citizen has also filed a complaint against the Islamabad government for not declaring true figures of the Pakistani nationals who have died or gone missing in the Thursday stampede in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud Akhtar Naghavi has sued 14 senior Pakistani officials, including prime minister and religious affairs minister, for not providing accurate information on the number of the Pakistanis killed in Mina, the Urdu-language Express newspaper reported on September 28.
"The (Pakistani) government is duty-bound to publish a list of the names and the real number of the victims and the missing Hajj pilgrims in order to remove concerns among the families of the pilgrims," the daily quoted Naghavi as saying.
Muhammad Zubair voiced regret over the prevailing situation in Mecca, and said, "This is very regretting that the Hajj pilgrims lost their lives for the presence of a Saudi royal family member; if this is true. The Saudi royal family is assassin of the Hajj pilgrims."
Sources revealed on September 24 that the convoy of Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud caused panic among millions of pilgrims and started the stampede.
Full Report at:
http://en.abna24.com/service/centeral-asia-subcontinent/archive/2015/10/07/714032/story.html
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Three terrorists killed in Awaran
October 08, 2015
AWARAN:- At least three terrorists were killed and arms and explosives recovered during operation of security forces here on Wednesday.
According to details, the security forces conducted operation against anti-State elements in Mashkey and Pailar areas of district Awaran of Balochistan.
During separate actions exchange of fire took place between the security forces and extremists in which three terrorists were killed.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/08-Oct-2015/three-terrorists-killed-in-awaran
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PM working on his personal agenda: JI chief
October 07, 2015
Jahanian: JI Amir Seraj ul Haq has said, government has no agenda and Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif is working on his personal agenda.
“Government has neither any goal nor has any agenda of its own. Nawaz Sharif is working on his personal agenda. The entire system is running under World Bank and IMF,” he said this while speaking to journalists today.
“I had asked Nawaz Sharif in Medina that country cannot make progress without elimination of interest based system. You can see now that the ruling elite is living life like Mughal princes and the poor segments of society are forced to sell out their kidneys to meet their requirements,” he observed.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/07-Oct-2015/pm-working-on-his-personal-agenda-siraj-ul-haq
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None Of Punjab Religious School Teaches Extremism
October 08, 2015
MULTAN
Punjab law minister and chairman of cabinet committee for law and order Rana Sana Ullah disclosed on Wednesday that the government carried out surveillance of over 500 religious school (seminaries) but none of them was found involved in teaching extremism.
Addressing a meeting held here at Circuit House to review arrangements for Muharram, he added that no seminary of Punjab taught extremism and the surveillance results disclosed that these institutions taught only Quran and Hadith. He said that the clerics fully cooperated with the government during search operations and government was thankful to them.
He declared that no compromise would be made on implementation of amplifier act and all those violating this law or spreading hatred in the society would be brought behind the bars. He said that the misuse of loudspeaker, wall chalking and hate speeches were fatal for inter-sect harmony and all those violating laws would be dealt with iron hand. He declared that ban would be imposed on entry of Zakirs and Ulema famous for delivering hate speeches during Muharram. He said that the members of peace committees and public representatives would remain with the Muharram processions. He directed the district administration to certify the occupants of all properties located on the routes of processions.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/08-Oct-2015/none-of-punjab-eminaries-teaches-extremism
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MQM says Rangers arrest Rabita Committee member in pre-dawn raid
October 08, 2015
KARACHI: Rangers personnel arrested Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee member Kamal Malik during a raid on his house early Thursday, the party said in a statement on its website.
The MQM said Rangers conducted a thorough search of Malik's house, during which they seized his academic records and certificates.
"A heavy contingent of Rangers raided the house of Kamal Malik on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday around 2:30am. They scaled the walls of his home and arrested him. No reason for the arrest has been given," the MQM said.
Malik is believed to be "seriously ill" and had undergone a liver transplant two years ago, the party said.
Full Report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1211690/mqm-says-rangers-arrest-rabita-committee-member-in-pre-dawn-raid
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Mastermind of 2010 attack on American charity held
NISAR AHMAD KHAN
October 08, 2015
MANSEHRA: The counter-terrorism department of police in Hazara division claimed on Wednesday to have arrested the mastermind of the terrorist attack on American charity World Vision on Oct 8, 2010.
Qari Rasheed is said to have planned and carried out the attack on the office of World Vision in Dugai area of Oghi which had left eight of the charity’s staffers dead. After the attack the office was set on fire.
Sources said that Qari Rasheed was arrested in Darband area of Mansehra district and shifted to an unspecified location for interrogation. He was wanted to police in the case of the attack on the charity’s office.
Full Report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1211591/mastermind-of-2010-attack-on-american-charity-held
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SC upholds Mumtaz Qadri’s death sentence
October 08, 2015
ISLAMABAD: The country’s top court Wednesday upheld death sentence for Mumtaz Qadri, who had killed former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. The court also restored charges of terrorism against him. Qadri, a former commando of Punjab Elite Force, was part of governor’s security team when he shot him 28 times during broad daylight in 2011 in Islamabad.
The legal experts say that the convict, who is detained at Adiala Jail, can file review petition against three-judge order in the larger bench of the Supreme Court and also appeal for mercy to the President of Pakistan. He will be hanged if Qadri chooses not to exploit these options or fails to secure any benefit from them as the country has lifted a moratorium on executions. Qadri was feted as a hero by his supporters for killing the politician over his vocal opposition to blasphemy laws of the country. The trigger point for the killer cop was reportedly Taseer’s meeting with blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi in jail and his declaring the blasphemy law as ‘black law’.
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court in October 2011 awarded death sentence to Qadri under Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. However, the Islamabad High Court in March 2015 maintained the death sentence but dropped the charges of terrorism. The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed Mumtaz Qadri’s appeal against the IHC order of death sentence. It allowed the federation’s appeal against the same high court order for dropping terrorism charges, restoring the trial court verdict. The trial court had sentence Qadri to death under Section 302 of PPC and Section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act (ATA). The 7 ATA is related to creating panic and harassment in the public.
Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, heading the three-member bench, before the announcement of the order thanked the counsels, and in one line order declared: “the conviction and sentence allowed by the trial court are restored.” Qadri was hailed as a hero by some religious hardliners and at the hearings at the trial court he was showered with rose petals by some lawyers. Former Lahore High Court judge Mian Nazir Akhtar and former LHC chief justice Khawaja Sharif pleaded his case in the Supreme Court, asking the court to convert the death sentence into some lesser punishment.
Khawaja Sharif did not comment on the short order but said they would decide about filing the review petition after examining the detailed judgment. However, the federation’s counsel Mian Abdur Rauf appreciated the court decision. As the bench was hearing the case Qadri’s supporters had planned to hold protest in front of the Supreme Court building but they could not do so due to tight security. Police arrested many of his supporters.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/08-Oct-2015/sc-upholds-mumtaz-qadri-s-death-sentence
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Imran brands Nawaz ‘most corrupt’
October 08, 2015
OKARA - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan Wednesday declared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as the ‘most corrupt person’ in the country, private TV channels reported.
“Sharif is the biggest tax evader of Pakistan.
He only paid Rs470 in four years in taxes.
Even Zardari was better than Nawaz in governance and controlling corruption in the country,” said Imran Khan while addressing a public gathering in Okara.
“The PM’s job has become only begging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more aid,” Khan alleged.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/08-Oct-2015/imran-brands-nawaz-most-corrupt
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India
PM Breaks Silence on Dadri, Urges Hindus and Muslims to Fight Poverty Together
TNN | Oct 8, 2015
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday broke his silence on the Dadri lynching incident and appealed to fellow countrymen to join hands in fighting communalism in the country. Speaking at a rally in Nawada ahead of Bihar elections, Modi said citizens must follow President Pranab Mukherkjee's words on maintaining India's core values of diversity and tolerance.
President Pranab Mukherjee a day earlier had said that tolerance was core to India's survival. Modi though had been slammed by his political opponents for not commenting on the unfortunate incident in Bhisada village where a Muslim man was lynched over rumours of consuming beef.
The 'long-drawn' silence of the Prime Minister though ended on Thursday when he said that the country must remain united. "Hindus and Muslims should work together to fight poverty. India has to stay united. Only communal harmony and brotherhood will take the nation forward," Modi said.
"Hear the speech of President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday. There can be no bigger thought than that. President has shown us the way, and we have to walk on that path. Only then will we be able to live up to the expectations of the world," the PM said.
Pranab Mukherjee had earlier said that Indian civilization has flourished due to "core civilizational values and adherence to them".
Hitting out at communal forces who were trying to gain political mileage from the Dadri incident, the PM said, "I want to tell the people that because of politics and for petty gains, people are making irresponsible statements. I appeal to citizens not to take them seriously ... It is time to shun politics of polarization."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Narendra-Modi-breaks-silence-on-Dadri-urges-Hindus-and-Muslims-to-fight-poverty-together/articleshow/49273899.cms
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India becoming a Hindu Saudi: Taslima Nasreen on Ghulam Ali concert’s cancellation
October 8, 2015
New Delhi, Oct 8: Controversial writer Taslima Nasreen has expressed shock over cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai. Expressing her anger, she said that India is on its way of becoming Hindu Saudi. “OMG! Pak Singer Ghulam Ali’s Concert in Mumbai Cancelled After Sena Threat? India is becoming Hindu Saudi?”, Taslima tweeted.
Slamming Shiv Sena, she said that noted Pakistani Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali is not a Jehadi but a singer. “Ghulam Ali is not a jehadi, he is a singer. Please try to differentiate between Jehadis and singers”, she wrote on the social media.
Earlier, reacting over the incident, Gulam Ali said he aims at spreading the message of love and peace through his music, and that his admiration for India remains unstirred.
“I’m not angry, but I’m a bit hurt and sad. But there are can be sad moments in love as well. I don’t know why such situations and conflicts arise. We have performed in Mumbai on several occasion before and people have always showered their love on us. Whenever such news come out, it causes commotion in society,” the veteran told.
The 75-year-old singer was scheduled to perform in Mumbai and Pune this week as part of the fourth death anniversary tribute to late singer Jagjit Singh. But the show in Mumbai was called off on Wednesday after Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt his live concert.
The world renowned musician said the cancellation was disappointing as the concert was a tribute to Jagjit Singh, who was like a brother to him.
“The programme was important for me as it marked Jagjit’s death anniversary. And that’s why I got tense and thought that the move was wrong. It shouldn’t have happened. Jagjit was like a brother to me and whenever I met him we looked like one, not from India or Pakistan,” he said.
Full Report at:
http://www.siasat.com/news/india-becoming-hindu-saudi-taslima-nasreen-cancellation-ghulam-ali-concert-848616/
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Sikhs organize 'langar' for Yazidis in ISIS territory
October 07, 2015
Chandigarh: Large-hearted Sikhs have taken their traditional community kitchen to one of the most dangerous places on earth today - Syria. Giving a twist to the concept of langar, a group of Punjabi NRIs has collaborated with locals to provide fresh bread to nearly 14,000 refugees daily in the strife-torn region for several months now.
Langar Aid, an extension of UK-based NGO Khalsa Aid, is located in the Pesh Harbour area, about 35km from the Kurdish city of Duhok and 10km from the Syrian border. Almost 70% of the members of Langar Aid are with Punjabi roots, besides some European volunteers as well.
Instead of the classic kitchen, Langar Aid set up a bakery because IS fighters were destroying any food coming in for the Yazidis. While Khalsa Aid provided the machinery and Joint Help for Kurdistan gave a new building to house the bakery , the local government in Duhok is providing free power.
Full Report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/07-Oct-2015/sikhs-organize-langar-for-yazidis-in-isis-territory
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Haj stampede: Death toll of Indians rises to 81
PTI | Oct 8, 2015, 05
NEW DELHI: The death toll of Indians in the Haj stampede has risen to 81 even as scores of nationals are still missing after the last month's tragedy, worst to hit the annual pilgrimage in 25 years.
Noting that minister of state for external affairs V K Singh was in Saudi Arabia for the identification process of the missing Indians by the Saudi authorities, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said seven more Indian have been identified among the deceased in the Haj stampede taking the toll to 81.
"The minister sought the intervention of the Saudi health minister to find the identities of all the Indian pilgrims. He also conveyed that several missing cases were still pending with the Indian mission and it can only be resolved after the identification process is complete. Singh has been assured of all support and assistance by the Saudi minister," he said.
The spokesperson did not give the number of missing Indians in the tragedy, saying it was not possible given the current situation where many of them were now identified as deceased.
The Haj stampede on September 24 broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five- storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.
It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Haj-stampede-Death-toll-of-Indians-rises-to-81/articleshow/49274229.cms
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7/11 serial train blasts: Special court trashed defence theory of IM connection
By Aamir Khan
Mumbai
Oct 8, 2015
The special court that sentenced five convicts to death in the 7/11 Mumbai serial blasts case on September 30 trashed the defence argument that Indian Mujahideen (IM) was behind the blasts, saying the investigating agency “fell prey to the tactics or the strategy of the terrorists”. To rely on alleged IM operative Sadiq Israr Sheikh’s statement, the court reasoned, was not only “ridiculous and scandalous”, but also an attempt to win “at any cost”. The court reasoned that it was the defence that called him to appear and that his statements were “contradictory” and “inconsistent”.
The court further said a thorough investigation showed that he had indicated his involvement on the direction of other IM operatives — Riyaz Bhatkal and Atif — with the intention of confusing the investigating agency, and this was done as per the Al-Qaida manual.
“His (defense lawyer) submissions about the prosecution leading contradictory and inconsistent evidence is also unacceptable. Why would the prosecution do this and damage its own case?” asked Special Judge Y D Shinde in an order of 1,839 pages. In his confessional statement, the court said, Sadiq had pointed out that when some boys came back after training in Pakistan, another IM operative named Amir Raza told him to show some work. Full Report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/711-serial-train-blasts-special-court-trashed-defence-theory-of-im-connection/
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Another Canadian Sikh activist backs niqab-wearing Muslim women
Gurpreet Singh
Oct 08, 2015
As the niqab (veil) issue refuses to die, another Sikh activist, Avtar Singh Dhillon, has come out in support of Muslim women who are being forced to unveil their faces during citizenship oath ceremonies in Canada.
Dhillon had fought for the right to wear a turban while riding a motorbike in British Columbia. He had won the battle in 1999 and now drives a motorcycle with his turban without any fear. As per rules, Sikhs were forced to wear helmets back then.
Talking to Hindustan Times, Dhillon said that he was opposed to the ban on the niqab. He is the second prominent turbaned Sikh activist who has come out to condemn the ban brought by the Conservative government. Earlier, Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (retd), a World War 2 veteran, had expressed his solidarity with Muslim women. He was denied entry to the Surrey Legion in 1993 for wearing a turban. Like Dhillon, he too won the fight after a sustained campaign.
Harper wants niqab ban for public servants
While the Federal Court of Appeal has rejected the ban on the niqab at citizenship oath ceremonies, the ruling Conservatives are thinking of approaching the Supreme Court of Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has gone to the extent of saying that he will consider banning the niqab for public servants.
Full Report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/another-canadian-sikh-activist-backs-niqab-wearing-muslim-women/story-vAwcyrAaAlCXu4Ct5q16cM.html
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Workshop of Muslim Ulema on 15th October
October 8, 2015
Hyderabad: According to a press note issued by Maulana Mohammed Arshad Ali Qasmi, Secretary, Majlis-e-Tahafuz-e-Nubuwath, a one day workshop for Muslim Ulema has been organized on Thursday, 15th October from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Masjid Akbari, Akbar Bagh Malakpet, Hyderabad.
Full Report at:
http://www.siasat.com/news/workshop-muslim-ulema-15th-october-848577/
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Mideast
Iranian Commander: Al-Saud Understands Nothing but Language of Force
Oct 07, 2015
"The Al-Saud is a hated family and just understands the language of power," Pourdastan said, addressing cadets in the Central province of Isfahan on Wednesday.
"The Al-Saud understands nothing but the language of force and one should speak with it merely with the language of power," he added.
A stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj season on September 24 killed at least 4,173 people and left thousands wounded.
The stampede occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil" in the tent city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca.
At least 465 Iranians lost their lives in the incident and hundreds more were wounded.
Last Wednesday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned Saudi Arabia that the slightest disrespect for the Iranian pilgrims who are in Mecca for the Hajj ceremony would be reciprocated with Tehran's harsh and crushing response.
Ayatollah Khamenei called for setting up a fact-finding committee of Iranian and other Islamic countries' authorities to probe the death of over 4,000 Hajj pilgrims in Mina and missing of hundreds of them, and said, "The Saudi government is not complying with its responsibilities to transfer the bodies of those who have been killed (in Mina stampede) and the Islamic Republic of Iran has so far, respected the brotherhood in the Muslim world by exercising self-restraint and Islamic politeness but they should know that the slightest disrespect for tens of thousands of Iranian Hajj pilgrims in Mecca and Medina and any lack of responsibility to transfer the bodies will result in Iran's crushing and violent reaction."
Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that Iran doesn’t want to have an early judgment of the cause of the incident "but we believe that the Saudi government hasn’t acted upon its responsibilities with regard to the injured pilgrims in the Mina incident and has left them desperate and thirsty".
He said Iran has so far practiced self-restraint over the death of its citizens in Saudi Arabia, "but they should know that Iran's hand is above many others and it enjoys more possibilities too and if it wants to show reaction to annoying and insidious actors, they will not have a good situation and they won't be able to gain victory on any scene of rivalry."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t practice cruelty but it also doesn’t accept anyone's oppression and cruelty; therefore, it doesn’t trample on the rights of any human beings and nations, either Muslim or non-Muslim, but if anyone wants to trample Iran and its nation's rights, he/she will receive a strong response; and thanks God, there is a capability for such a confrontation and the Iranian nation is powerful and resistant," Ayatollah Khamenei underscored.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000520
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Israeli politicians ‘barred from Aqsa compound’
8 October 2015
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered police to bar ministers and lawmakers from visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Occupied Jerusalem, the Haaretz daily reported on Wednesday.
Clashes have rocked the compound in recent weeks amid a spike in tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
The latest reported measure to bar Israeli politicians from the Al-Aqsa mosque compound would be aimed at lowering tensions and reducing the level of Palestinian violence.
The Al-Aqsa compound is the third-holiest site in Islam. It is located in Occupied East Jerusalem, annexed by Israel in 1967 in a move never recognized by the international community.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/08/Israeli-politicians-barred-from-visiting-Aqsa-compound.html
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Ankara wants Moscow to respect borders, keep Daesh in crosshairs
8 October 2015
ANKARA: Turkey’s prime minister demanded Wednesday that Russia respect Turkey’s borders, saying the nation won’t “make any concessions” on matters of border security, after two Russian warplanes strayed into Turkish airspace over the weekend.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also renewed criticism of the Russian airstrikes in Syria, insisting they were mainly targeting the moderate Syrian opposition and therefore helping strengthen the extremist Daesh group. He asked that Russia also respect Turkey’s security concerns over neighboring Syria.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s military reported a new incident, saying surface-to-air missile systems based in Syria locked radar on Turkish jets for 1 minute and 30 seconds Tuesday. It was not clear if they were Syrian or Russian systems.
Russian warplanes violated Turkey’s borders twice over the weekend, drawing strong protests from Turkey’s NATO allies. Turkey scrambled F-16s in response and also summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest. Ankara also reported its jets were harassed during patrols of the Syrian border by fighter jets and surface-to-air missile systems in Syria.
Turkey and Russia are important trade partners and Turkey is strongly dependent on Russian gas imports. The two countries have conflicting positions on Syria — with Russia backing Assad and Turkey insisting on his ouster — but have set their differences aside in the past so as not to harm economic ties.
Full Report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/news/817126
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NATO ‘ready to defend Turkey if needed’
8 October 2015
NATO is ready to send troops to Turkey to defend its ally against threats on its southern flank, the head of the U.S.-led alliance said on Thursday after violations of Turkish airspace by Russia jets conducting air strikes in Syria.
“NATO is ready and able to defend all allies, including Turkey against any threats,” Jens Stoltenberg told reporters before a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels that will be dominated by the Syria crisis.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/08/NATO-ready-to-defend-Turkey-send-troops-if-needed-.html
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Angered by air strikes, Turkey's Erdogan warns Russia on energy ties
8 October 2015
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russia there were other places Turkey could get natural gas and other countries that could build its first nuclear plant, in the wake of Russian incursions into Turkish air space during its air campaign in Syria.
Russian aircraft twice entered Turkish air space at the weekend. Turkish F-16 jets have also been harassed by Syrian-based missile systems and unidentified planes since then.
“We can’t accept the current situation. Russia’s explanations on the air space violations are not convincing,” the Turkish daily Sabah and others quoted Erdogan as telling reporters as he flew to Japan for an official visit.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/08/Turkey-s-Erdogan-warns-Russia-on-nuclear-project-natural-gas.html
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White House condemns violence in West Bank, Jerusalem
8 October 2015
The White House expressed deep concern on Wednesday about the escalating violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem and urged Israelis and Palestinians to restore calm after a spate of attacks.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/08/-White-House-condemns-violence-in-West-Bank-Jerusalem.html
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Turkey arrests six over ‘minting coins for ISIS’
7 October 2015
Turkish authorities on Wednesday arrested six suspected members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) extremist group on suspicion of trying to illegally mint coins for use in areas controlled by the extremists in Syria.
Police in the southeastern region of Gaziantep on the border with Syria also seized coin punches, presses and other coin-making equipment, the official Anatolia news agency said, quoting a statement by the regional governor’s office.
The regional police force issued a picture of the sophisticated equipment piled up in front of the police force’s flag. According to Turkish media reports, 56 coins in four different sizes were seized.
Another picture showed a punch to produce a coin with Arabic writing on one side and a picture of the world on the other.
There have been reports that ISIS is keen to impose its own currency in the areas it controls in Syria to free itself from the global financial system.
Acting on a tip-off, Turkish police raided the would-be mint in the town of Sahinbey just south of Gaziantep city.
Full Report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/10/07/Turkey-arrests-six-over-minting-coins-for-ISIS-.html
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Sources: Gaps Widening between Yemen's Fugitive President, PM
Oct 07, 2015
"Tough disputes have risen between Hadi and Bahah after the recent attacks," informed Yemeni sources said on Wednesday.
Mansour and Bahah have been running a fued for the past several months, and their differences grew noisy when a number of Saudi officials worked out a plan to replace the fugitive president with his premier in order to encourage the revolutionary forces back in Yemen to work with him and allow him to start a new government.
He noted that Saudi Arabia has decided to hold an emergency meeting to be attended by UAE and Bahraini troops as well as forces loyal to Hadi and Bahah in an effort to bring some coordination among its allies.
Meantime, an informed Yemeni source said that several Saudi and Emirati officers were among the casualties of the rocket attack on Aden's Qasr Hotel where Bahah stayed.
On Tuesday, rocket-propelled grenade attacks on hotel of residence of former Yemeni prime minister in Aden killed at least 18 of his Emirati guards.
Bahah escaped to Saudi Arabia once again after his UAE guards were killed in the attack.
A number of officials from the former Yemeni regime, including Khaled Bahah, were reportedly staying at the hotel.
An unspecified number of individuals have also been wounded in the attacks.
It is not clear if any of the former Yemeni officials said to be residing at the hotel are among the casualties.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715000933
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Yemeni Revolution Leaders Vow to Retake Aden Soon
Oct 07, 2015
"Despite the fact that we have withdrawn from Aden, we are still present there and all terrorist, Saudi coalition and pro-Hadi forces are within the range of our weapons," Nayef Qayes, the deputy head of Yemen's revolution council, told FNA on Wednesday.
He underscored that the Yemeni revolutionary and popular forces will return to Aden soon to regain their territories from the foreign occupiers and enemies.
Also representative of Ansarullah resistance group in Yemen peace talks, Abdolrahman Mokhtar, announced that the revolutionary forces have held captive several Saudi and foreign nationals who were fighting against the Yemeni people.
Their remarks came after 18 UAE guards were killed in rocket-propelled grenade attacks on a hotel in the port city of Aden.
Some 20 military troops lost their lives in the attacks mostly soldiers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) guarding Qasr Hotel, where Yemen's former Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resided.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715001338
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Iran Optimizing Weapons to Fight against Takfiri Terrorists
Oct 07, 2015
The Takfiri terrorists are today fighting proxy wars and the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army is optimizing its weapons to confront them, Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan told reporters in the Central city of Isfahan on Wednesday.
He said that one of the weapons which can be effective against enemy attacks is well armed and equipped helicopters, adding that today several Iranian logistical and transportation helicopters were armed with the hi-tech weapons.
These helicopters can empower the Iranian forces "in proxy wars against enemy positions", Pourdastan said.
In relevant remarks last month, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari underscored the IRGC forces' full preparedness to fight against the western and certain regional states' proxy wars.
"The IRGC has come with all its power to confront the proxy wars and opponents of the resistance front and it has (special) plans," Jafari said in a press conference in Tehran.
He underlined that the countries and groups which are members of the resistance front can ask the Islamic Republic for advisors and experience, adding that Tehran would help them as much as it can.
Also in September, Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami warned that enemies had opted for a war of proxies against Iran after they were discouraged from direct confrontation against the country.
Given the spread of the Islamic Revolution's thoughts in the Muslim world, "today, our enemies are fighting against us by proxy wars in different fronts but we will continue the path of progress and growth", Salami told reporters in Tehran.
He underlined that the only way to turn Iran into an international power was resistance against the hegemonic powers and those who sought to spread their influence in other countries.
Full Report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940715001377
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Europe
Muslim leaders voice concerns about Tory crackdown on madrasas
7 October 2015
David Cameron’s announcement that there is to be a crackdown on Britain’s madrasas has prompted complaints from leaders in the Muslim community, concerned once again that they are being unfairly targeted by politicians.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) called on the prime minister to substantiate allegations in his speech to the Conservative party conference, in which he said that pupils in some madrasas were taught not to mix with children from other religions, were beaten, and fed conspiracy theories about Jewish people.
“These children should be having their minds opened, their horizons broadened …not having their heads filled with poison and their hearts filled with hate,” Cameron told conference. He said madrasas – and similar supplementary schools of other faiths – would in future be required to register and be open to inspection.
A statement from the MCB acknowledged there were shortcomings in some madrasas because of a lack of training and support, but warned: “It is neither Islamic nor prevalent in madrasas to be isolationist or to preach hate of other faiths.
“We would hope that these serious allegations can be substantiated and the evidence brought forward, so that appropriate action can be taken,” an MCB spokesperson said.
“We recognise that there is room for improvement as many of these establishments are under-resourced, understaffed and are often not properly trained and supported. In that regard, we welcome the government’s interest to support them in these provisions.
“In our view, that should be done through an approach built on mutual trust, respect and cooperation, which includes respect for their independence. A securitised approach to address these issues will only create mistrust and feed into a grievance narrative that our prime minister is evidently so eager to avoid.”
A 2011 report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimated that 200,000 Muslim children attend roughly 2,000 madrasas in the UK. Many madrasas, which are known as supplementary schools, are attached to mosques, others are run in community centres or even in family living rooms.
According to the IPPR, children typically attend for up to two hours every night until the age of 14-15. While it said many madrasas made a valuable contribution to society, the IPPR found that a “significant minority” did not provide adequate standards of teaching or child protection.
The report also claimed that some madrasas still use corporal punishment. Last month two teachers at a Birmingham Islamic centre who beat a 10-year-old pupil were each jailed for a year.
Full Report at:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/07/muslim-leaders-voice-concerns-about-tory-crackdown-on-madrasas
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US not targeting Daesh in Syria: Russian Defense Ministry
Oct 7, 2015
The Russian Defense Ministry has responded to recent criticisms by NATO regarding its campaign against Daesh in Syria, stating that Washington seems to be the one with accuracy problems.
“The American and other air forces have been carrying out strikes for a year already, but we have grounds to believe that they have not always… been striking terrorist targets," Sputnik quoted Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov as saying on Wednesday.
During a press conference on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg voiced concerns that Russia may not be targeting Daesh Takfiri positions, “but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians."
Remarkably effective strikes
Contrary to claims made by the Western military alliance and media, Russia’s efforts have proven remarkably effective. The Syrian ambassador to Russia says during Moscow’s first week of attacks on Daesh in Syria “about 40 percent” of the Takfiri terrorists’ infrastructure was destroyed.
Full Report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/10/07/432457/Russia-US-NATO-Syria-Daesh-
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Local Muslim Leader Says Campaign’s Focus on Niqab is “Unfortunate”
October 07, 2015
A leader in London’s Muslim community is speaking out about his concerns with the direction of the federal election.
Abd Alfatah Twakkal, the Imam of the London Muslim Mosque, says the discussion around niqabs and other issues related to his faith have distracted from the important concerns of Canadians.
“Unfortunately, these types of issues cause division within Canadian society and bring about negative sentiments,” said Twakkal. “The core issues should always be focused on, more so, in terms of the economy, in terms of jobs, in terms of child care. These are the core issues that matter to all Canadians.”
The Imam, who is from Western Canada but has been with the London Muslim Mosque since 2013, believes most Canadians will reject this turn in the campaign.
“I don’t think this is representative of the majority of Canadians,” he said. “We do feel as Muslims that these negative sentiments are not representative of our country. But unfortunately they are being used in a way to divert from the real issues.”
Twakkal made the comments the day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the CBC the idea of banning the wearing of the niqab while working in the public service is “a matter we are going to examine.”
“Quebec, as you know, has legislation on this and we are looking at that legislation,” Harper told Power and Politics host Rosemary Barton.
Harper said the “vast majority of Canadians” understand the Conservative government’s decision to try to ban face coverings at citizenship ceremonies.”
The policy, however, has been overturned in the courts.
The Federal Court of Canada found the rule unlawful in February and the Federal Court of Appeal recently upheld the decision.
The case was brought by Zunera Ishaq, who refused to take part in a ceremony because she would have to show her face while reciting the oath of citizenship.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau urged Harper to dial back the rhetoric.
“To the prime minister directly, stop this before someone truly gets hurt,” Trudeau told the CBC radio. “We have had women attacked in the streets for wearing hijabs and niqabs. This is not Canada, and the kind of leadership and divisive politics that he’s playing is dangerous and irresponsible.”
Full Report at:
http://www.am980.ca/2015/10/07/local-muslim-leader/
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Muslim Organisations Criticize David Cameron’s Remarks On Islamic Schools
Oct. 7, 2015
David Cameron is facing criticism from British Muslim organisations who say a section of the prime minister’s speech at the Conservative party conference on Wednesday appeared to single out Islamic supplementary schools — known as madrasahs — and implied the schools are teaching students to hate other faiths and social groups.
During his speech, Cameron announced a proposal to give the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted), more powers to inspect all religious schools that operate during evenings and weekends, if they were suspected of teaching inappropriately. All religious schools that teach children “intensively” would also be forced to register to ensure greater scrutiny.
But members of Muslim organisations expressed concern about Cameron’s comments about students attending madrasahs “having their heads filled with poison and their hearts filled with hate.”
“There is nothing wrong with children learning about their faith whether that was in madrasahs, Sunday schools or Jewish yeshivas,” Cameron said. “But in some madrassas, we’ve got children being taught that they shouldn’t mix with people of other religions; being beaten; swallowing conspiracy theories about Jewish people”.
Muslim Council of Britain, one of Britain’s largest Muslim organisations, issued a statement following Cameron’s speech saying “we are concerned at the Prime Minister’s targeting of the supplementary schools. It is neither Islamic, nor prevalent in madrassas to be isolationist or to preach hate of other faiths. We would hope that these serious allegations can be substantiated and the evidence brought forward, so that appropriate action can be taken.”
The MCB also said that the government needed to acknowledge the contributions made by Muslim communities in the UK, adding that Muslims “have a religious duty to act for the common good of society.”
Full Report at:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/david-cameron-has-been-accused-by-muslim-organisations-of-ta#.ffG7DRa7W
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France unveils ads to combat jihadism
OCTOBER 07, 2015
PARIS — A new French government ad campaign features mourning families to discourage young people from joining extremists in Syria — an attempt at a counternarrative against an Islamic State publicity machine that churns out huge amounts of propaganda.
More than 500 people have left France to join Islamic State and other jihadi groups in the war zones of Syria and Iraq — more than any other country in Western Europe. France has tightened some restrictions, including allowing families to flag their children to law enforcement and put a hold on their travel documents, and set up a hotline for worried parents to call. But still, the departures have accelerated.
Full Report at:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2015/10/07/french-government-starts-anti-jihadi-campaign-counter-islamic-state/YF6GLiDv4BtW5ZnWJcBPuI/story.html
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South Asia
Expat Murders Linked to Islamic State Put Bangladesh on Edge
October 8, 2015
Two expat murders in Bangladesh are stoking concerns that Islamic extremists may tarnish the country’s image at a time when its economy is a rare bright spot in Asia.
A Japanese investor was shot and killed in northern Bangladesh on Oct. 3, about a week after three people murdered an Italian aid worker in an area popular with diplomats in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the slayings, an assertion rejected by the government.
“This threat and insecurity currently makes foreigners think twice before they visit Bangladesh," said Daniel Seidl, a representative of the Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association in Dhaka. Despite that, he called Bangladesh a “booming manufacturing hub” where “foreigners are treated as guests."
A spate of high-profile killings this year in the Muslim-majority nation -- including at least four secular bloggers -- is raising concerns that terrorism will deter investment and stunt growth even as Bangladesh stems overall violence. Australia’s cricket team canceled a trip to Bangladesh last month, and countries such as the U.S. have warned citizens to avoid large gatherings in international hotels.
“The sinister specter of extremism is yet again raising its hand, and none of these incidents can be seen as isolated," said Sajjan M. Gohel of the Asia-Pacific Foundation think-tank. “These small cells of ideological extremists need to be dismantled before they inflict more harm."
In recent months, Bangladesh’s export-reliant economy had shown resilience in a region where China’s slowdown is hurting almost every country. The Asian Development Bank last month raised the country’s growth forecast to 6.5 percent this year, with Vietnam the only other nation to see an upgrade.
Bangladesh’s largest business group this week condemned the killings and warned that they may hurt foreign investment and exports. It also called on the government to take more steps to ensure the safety of foreigners.
“For some miscreants Bangladesh must not lose its positive image abroad," the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Abrar A. Anwar, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh, said the country’s economic fundamentals are strong and he’s confident in the growth outlook.
“The recent incidents are unfortunate and deplorable, and may pose as a matter of concern,” Anwar said by phone. “Foreign investors who are in Bangladesh know the ground realities, and I am sure they are looking at the situation closely whilst continuing business as usual.”
SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi networks, said on Twitter this month that Islamic State claimed credit for both murders.
Full Report at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-07/expat-murders-tied-to-islamic-state-rattle-bangladesh-investors
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Afghanistan likely to receive Russia’s support in fight against terrorism
Oct 08 2015
Afghanistan’s First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum in his visit to Russia called on the country’s officials for support in fight against terrorism which was welcomed by a number of Russian officials including the country’s defense minister Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu.
While talking to Radio Azadi by telephone, Dostum’s spokesman Sultan Faizy said that Russia is evaluating the situation in Afghanistan to “see what they can help with.”
“The Russian side is committed to support and help Afghanistan in terms of helping its air and military forces.”
“We’re lacking air support, weapons, ammunition. We need a lot of backing and support to fight against terrorism.” He added.
Faizy emphasized that it does not mean direct military intervention by Russia.
Russian officials were concerned about Islamic State (IS) militants gaining ground in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz last week, Faizy said Dostum was told in Russia.
Meanwhile, a member of Russia’s Federation Council upper house committee on International Affairs has backed Dostum’s call saying that Afghanistan needs Russia’s military-technical assistance to effectively counter terrorism on its territory.
Full Report at:
http://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-likely-to-receive-russias-support-in-fight-against-terrorism-3974
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Bangladeshi Pastor Survives Terrorist Attack
October 07, 2015
A Bangladesh pastor is alive today, thanks to his wife who heard his screams as he was being attacked by three men.
The attackers came to his home Monday pretending to want to learn about Christianity.\
Rev. Luke Sarker, 52, told police the men attacked him with a knife and tried to slit his throat. But as he shouted, his wife came to his rescue and the men fled. Police later recovered a motorbike from outside his home.
The incident in the predominately Muslim country follows the killings of two foreigners last week. Islamic jihadists claimed responsibility for those deaths.
Bangladesh has been struggling in recent months with a rise in violence claimed by hard-line Islamic groups.
Full Report at:
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2015/October/Bangladeshi-Pastor-Survives-Terrorist-Attack/
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Anti government protest in Kabul
October 08, 2015
Kabul, -, AFGHANISTAN : An Afghan civil society activist, impersonating US Foreign Secretary John Kerry, (R) cuts a cake to share power with activists impersonating Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his poll rival Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah during a street performance mourning the first year anniversary of the formation of Afghanistan's National Unity Government in Kabul on October 8, 2015. Dozens of Afghan civil society activists chanted anti-government slogans as they commemorated the anniversary of the formation of National Unity Government of Afghanistan in Kabul.
http://nation.com.pk/international/08-Oct-2015/anti-government-protest-in-kabul
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Former spy chief: Those responsible for Kundoz tragedy must be brought to justice
Oct 07 2015
Former spy chief and leader of the Green Trend has called on government to conduct an investigation into Kundoz attack that led to a tragedy and drag those responsible to justice.
While talking to a gathering organized about Kundoz, Amrullah Saleh said that government published a press release regarding the incident which is not satisfactory.
He said those who showed negligence in their duties need to be dragged to judiciary.
Saleh further said that Taliban infiltrators who are considered to be the fifth pillar of the government must be identified and trialed.
The former spy chief mentioned that at the time of need he is ready to take arm and stand for the defense of the country.
Full Report at:
http://www.khaama.com/former-spy-chief-those-responsible-for-kundoz-tragedy-must-be-brought-to-judiciary-3981
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Family to meet Mojaheed tomorrow
October 08, 2015
Family members of condemned war criminal Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed will meet him at Dhaka Central Jail tomorrow.
Five members of Mojaheed’s family including his son Mabrur Ahmed will visit the secretary general of Jamaat, now 67, at the jail around 11:00am.
“Family members of Mojaheed will meet him for the first time after the Supreme Court released its full judgement,” Shishir Manir, one of Mojaheed’s lawyers, told The Daily Star.
“We are now preparing the review petition that we will file by October 15,” the lawyer said.
On October 3, Mojaheed told his lawyers that he will file the review petition with the apex court that had upheld his death penalty for killing intellectuals during the 1971 Liberation War.
Full Report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/family-meet-mojaheed-tomorrow-153817
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Security strengthened at jails: IG prison
October 08, 2015
- 514 foreign prisoners in country
- No formal alert issued, but jails vigilant
- Keraniganj jail ready for opening by Nov 15
Security has been strengthened in all jails across Bangladesh after the killings of foreign nationals, the chief of prisons said today.
Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin passed the comment in response to a query during a press conference in Dhaka.
“No instruction has been issued from the government in this regard. But we are alert following the recent killing of two foreign nationals,” he said.
A total of 514 foreign prisoners are now being held at different jails across the country, he added. Fifty-five are Indians, 14 Myanmar, 2 Nepalese and two Pakistanis are awaiting release.
Full Report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/keraniganj-jail-ready-open-nov-15-153799
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Sajeeb Wazed Joy says he has 'reliable information' on BNP-Jamaat involvement in the murders
2015-10-08
In his Facebook post, Joy quotes “information from a reliable source” to back his claim.
“They have done this in a desperate attempt to turn foreign governments against our country and destabilise it,” reads Joy’s Facebook post on Wednesday.
Explaining the credibility of the source, Joy said he got information “from within the BNP in London”.
During a media interaction on Sunday, Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat had “definitely abetted these murders in an attempt to undermine Bangladesh's achievements”.
The BNP, however, described the prime minister’s comments as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘uncalled for’.
Full Report at:
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2015/10/08/sajeeb-wazed-joy-says-he-has-reliable-information-on-bnp-jamaat-involvement-in-the-murders
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Bangladesh ups security for foreigners
HAROON HABIB
October 8, 2015
In the wake of the killing of two foreigners within a week, the Bangladesh government has ratcheted up security for foreign nationals living in the country.
The authorities have started identifying the places where about 224,000 foreigners live and work to ensure their security, government sources told The Hindu. Bangladesh’s Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said a “special task force” has been formed in this regard.
The security measures in Dhaka’s Gulshan and Baridhara diplomatic zones, where Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was shot dead on September 28, have been beefed up.
Read: Who’s behind the killings of foreigners in Bangladesh?
Japanese Kunio Hoshi was killed in northern Rangpur on October 3. Several Western counties have issued travel restrictions for their citizens amid security concerns.
Full Report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bangladesh-ups-security-for-foreigners/article7735286.ece
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia Eyes New Regional Facility to Counter Islamic State
By Prashanth Parameswaran
October 08, 2015
Last week, Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak announced that the Southeast Asian state may soon establish a regional center to counter messaging from the Islamic State (IS).
Najib told the Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism at the United Nations on September 29 that Malaysia is eying the formation of a “regional, digital counter-messaging center” because Southeast Asia lacks such a facility. His remarks came after Malaysia became one of the newest members of the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, joining Singapore as the only two ASEAN states in the grouping so far.
Specifics of the proposal still remain unclear. On October 2, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel told reporters that the stationing of a messaging center in Malaysia was an idea “under active consideration.” Russel later clarified that while Malaysia was a leading candidate to serve as host for such a regional hub, no final decision had been made.
Officials say the center would be similar to the one that the United States launched together with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July this year. The Sawab Center based in Abu Dhabi, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel said following its launch, is designed to help both counter IS’s social media strength and sophistication as well as to present a more positive alternative to the vision the group presents. That, Stengel said, would hopefully help stem the flow of new fighters joining IS.
The new center in Malaysia would aim to do something similar. Russel said that it would serve as a hub for active messaging coordinated among coalition partners to counter IS’s distorted narrative with a more moderate vision.
“[W]hat it offers I think is a hub for the regions in which likeminded countries… can ensure that via traditional and social media means, a moderate and more credible set of messages is delivered to the broad public that counter the distorted messaging being broadcast by ISIL,” Russel said.
For Malaysia, taking such a leadership role is consistent with Najib’s idea of a Global Movement of Moderates, an approach that emphasizes moderation to realize world peace and harmony which he called for in an earlier UN speech. This year, promoting moderation in the face of extremism from groups like IS was the main theme of Najib’s remarks to the United Nations General Assembly.
It is also one part of a broader strategy Malaysia is taking against the Islamic State amid its rising threat. As Najib noted in his UN speech, Malaysia has arrested over 100 of its own citizens suspected of links to IS, including civil servants and security personnel who were involved in deadly plots foiled by law enforcement.
Full Report at:
http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/malaysia-eyes-new-regional-facility-to-counter-islamic-state/
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Malaysian Muslims seek divine intervention to end haze crisis
October 8, 2015
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Muslims throughout Malaysia on Thursday were urged to seek divine intervention to help clear smoke from Indonesian forest and agriculture fires that have choked Southeast Asia for weeks.
Religious authorities called on Muslims to hold special sessions to appeal to the almighty, following the usual Friday afternoon prayers.
"Our country is facing a continuing haze phenomena. It has created fear and concern among the people due to its health impact," Othman Mustapha, head of the Department of Islamic Development, a government agency, said in a Facebook posting.
"The aim is to pray that the haze that we are facing will end quickly."
Similar prayers were held during a previous outbreak of the annual haze problem.
Smoke from illegal slash-and-burn farming in Indonesia has plagued Singapore and Malaysia for weeks, causing school closures, the cancellation of flights and sports events, and widespread respiratory problems.
Full Report at:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/29759854/malaysian-muslims-seek-divine-intervention-to-end-haze-crisis/
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Back to square one for transgenders as Federal Court overturns landmark ruling on Shariah law
BY MAYURI MEI LIN
October 8, 2015
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 — The Federal Court has overturned today the Court of Appeal’s landmark decision declaring an anti-crossdressing Shariah law unconstitutional and void, setting back the transgender community’s struggle for its civil rights.
The five-man bench led by Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif set aside the judgments made by the High Court and Court of Appeal and the High Court, citing improper procedures used to commence the lawsuit that they said rendered the lower courts’ rulings invalid.
“We are in view that since the respondent failed to follow procedure as laid out in Clause 3 and 4 of Article 4 in the Federal Constitution, the learned judges of Court of Appeal and the High Court were in great error in determining the validity of Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment as unconstitutional,” Raus said when delivering the judgement.
He explained that the applicants should have started their legal challenge directly at the Federal Court as the matter involved the Federal Constitution.
The decision comes after the lawyer of the appellant, the Negri Sembilan government, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah argued in August that the group of transgenders challenging the Shariah law that forbids cross-dressing among Muslims had used improper channels to file their bid.
The lawyer argued that the Court of Appeal, and the Seremban High Court before it, had erred when it entertained the transgenders’ application for judicial review as the Federal Constitution does not state they have the jurisdiction to do so.
The apex court’s decision today will set a precedent on other cases where state Islamic authorities are arguing that fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed to all Malaysians cannot be applied to determine the validity of Islamic laws.
Lawyer Aston Paiva, who represented the three transgender respondents, said that while the orders declaring Section 66 unconstitutional have been set aside, it does not mean that they will not be allowed to bring the case back to the apex court.
“Today all they’ve said is all the orders have been set aside but the reasoning is still there. So the law is on its point of reason it is unconstitutional but the orders are all set aside so it’s void.
Full Report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/square-one-for-transgenders-as-federal-court-overturns-landmark-ruling-on-s
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DPM: Malaysia to open door to professional, semi-skilled Syrian refugees
October 8, 2015
WASHINGTON, Oct 8 — Malaysia is to give preference to professional and semi-skilled people in accepting the 3,000 Syrian refugees it has agreed to bring to Malaysia over the next three years.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Home Ministry was working out the procedure for these refugees to move to Malaysia.
“This is Malaysia's commitment to the international community," he said, elaborating on the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the acceptance of the Syrian refugees when addressing the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Oct 1.
Referring to the Syrian boy who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Syrian refugee crisis, Najib said the world community should not just sit back and watch what was going on.
It is estimated that more than four million Syrians have fled as refugees from the civil war in their country.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was more committed now than during the war in the Balkan states when the country accepted 200 refugees from Bosnia Herzegovina.
He spoke to Malaysian journalists soon after he began a working visit yesterday to the United States administrative centre.
“The visit is at the invitation of the United States government," said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister.
He is scheduled to sign the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 (HSPD-6) with US Secretary of State John Kerry, the final procedure for Malaysia to be granted exemption of visa for Malaysians visiting the United States.
An announcement on the facility is expected to be made by US President Barack Obama during his visit to Malaysia scheduled for next month.
Ahmad Zahid said all Malaysians eligible to visit the United States would enjoy the visa exemption.
He said Malaysia had already complied with most of the matters on the checklist towards visa exemption, and the rejection rate for visa applications shall not exceed three per cent compared to the existing 4.2 per cent.
Full Report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dpm-malaysia-opens-door-to-professional-semi-skilled-syrian-refugees
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Africa
Bomb attacks kill 14 in Nigeria’s Yobe State
Oct 7, 2015
More than a dozen people have been killed in three separate bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria.
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Wednesday that the bombings were carried out in the town of Damaturu in the state of Yobe. At least 14 people died and ten others were injured.
According to Bashir Idris Garga, NEMA’s coordinator for Yobe, four people were killed in the first attack at a food store.
One person was killed at another bombing near a mosque, while nine others lost their lives in the third attack on the outskirts of Damaturu.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorists have claimed similar assaults in the past.
Earlier in the day, the Nigerian army said its forces had foiled an attack which aimed to target a battalion of soldiers in Goniri, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Damaturu. The army said Nigerian soldiers managed to kill scores of militants in the confrontation.
Full Report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/10/07/432387/Nigeria-bombing-Yobe-Damaturu
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The Difference Between "Anti-Islam" Patriots and Real Patriots
Posted: 08/10/2015
Muslims in America are bracing for a wave of anti-Islam mobs outside of their mosques on October 9 and 10. American bigots of various social backgrounds plan to utilize their Second Amendment right and arm themselves with deadly weapons in places where Muslims pray across the U.S. This provocation, called "Global Rally For Humanity," is a blatant act of intimidation and unquestionably antithetical to the American values of religious pluralism and civil rights.
Ironically, the protestors in these mobs self-describe themselves as "American patriots." This form of identification is not only delusional, but it is disrespectful to the Muslim citizens serving in the U.S. military. Muslims have played -- and continue to play -- an integral part in defending the homeland and fighting for the American government's geopolitical interests.
My article Saluting Muslim American Patriots on Huffington Post Religion provides a brief historical overview of Muslims soldiers fighting for America's cause:
Muslims served in the U.S. military under the command of General George Washington, who was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American War for Independence. Rosters of soldiers serving in Washington's Army lists names like Bampett Muhammad, who fought for the Virginia Line between the years 1775 and 1783. Another one of Washington's soldiers, Yusuf Ben Ali, was a North African Arab who worked as an aide to General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. Peter Buckminster, who fought in Boston, is perhaps Washington's most distinguished Muslim American soldier. Buckminster fired the gun that killed British Major General John Pitcairn at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Years after this famous battle, Peter changed his last name to "Salaam," the Arabic word meaning "peace." Peter Salaam later reenlisted in the Continental Army to serve in the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Stony Point. If Washington had a problem with Muslims serving in his Army, he would not have allowed Muhammad, Ali and Salaam to represent and serve non-Muslim Americans. By giving these Muslims the honor of serving America, Washington made it clear that a person did not have to be of a certain religion or have a particular ethnic background to be an American patriot.
Full Report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-considine/the-difference-between-an_1_b_8257506.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in
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Britain Offers Expertise on Development of Islamic Finance in Nigeria
07 Oct 2015
*SEC seeks liquidity status for non-interest products
James Emejo in Abuja
The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow on Tuesday said the United Kingdom was ready to offer expertise in the development of non-interest financing otherwise known as Islamic finance in the country.
He said given that there are 88 million Muslims with 39 per cent adult population, which remained unbanked in the country, Islamic finance presented an alternative investment and business finance model for development of critical infrastructure as well as suitable for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Noting that Islamic finance represented one of UK's financing strengths, he said regulatory and fiscal amendments has had to be made by the UK government to make it easier to establish Islamic banks, offer shariah-compliant products and enable British Muslims to engage with financial system in a way consistent with faith.
Yarrow said shariah-compliant investment had helped to fund some of London's largest showpiece developments including the Shard and the Olympic Village.
He noted that there are currently six Islamic banks in Britain in addition to 20 lenders offering Islamic financial products and services adding that dozens of Law firms offer services in Islamic finance.
He said as second largest Exchange in sub-Saharan Africa, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a crucial role to play in the development of the Islamic financing system.
He said:"It is truly the gateway to African markets and as such, the whole of Africa, to some extent, relies on Nigeria. From looking at Nigeria's legal framework, to helping to up skill your young, dynamic and ambitious population, London has the expertise, the variety and the capacity to help.
"And most of all, we offer the willingness. I know I speak for all of my colleagues in the business delegation here today not to mention all my colleagues back home when I say that we stand ready to do our bit."
"As the Lord Mayor of the City of London, I am an ambassador for the UK's financial and professional services. And I can say with absolute certainty that the City of London and the London Stock Exchange stand ready to help in any way we can."
He described the UK as the leading centre for Islamic finance outside the Muslim world.
"And it is our tradition to stand alongside Dubai and Kuala Lumpur as the main global hubs for Islamic finance. Britain became the first country outside the Muslim world to issue an Islamic bond or 'simul' last year. The 200m pound bond attracted healthy investor interest and was the first step in encouraging wider investment," he added.
Full Report at:
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/britain-offers-expertise-on-development-of-islamic-finance-in-nigeria/222132/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/isis-video-warns-u.s.-convert/d/104843