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Islamic World News ( 15 March 2020, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Islamic State Asks Terrorists to Avoid Travel to Coronavirus-Affected Countries, Wash Hands

New Age Islam News Bureau

15 March 2020

YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) is written over a wall painting of ISIS flag inside a house in Syria. (Reuters)

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• Islamic State Asks Terrorists to Avoid Travel to Coronavirus-Affected Countries, Wash Hands

• Linwood Mosque Imam's Message of Unity on Anniversary of Terrorist Attack - 'The Blood That Runs in Me, Runs In You'

• India Supreme Court Must Use Legal Methods to End Discrimination Against Muslims: Iran’s Guardian Council

• Ending Religious Violence: How Aggrieved Imam, Pastor Brought Peace To Plateau Community, Others

• National Solidarity Calls by Iranian Resistance Leaders to Combat Coronavirus and the Role of Mullahs’ Regime in Spreading the Virus

• Papering Over the Fissures Inherent in the Afghan Reconciliation Process

• No Cremation for Mindanao’s First COVID-19 Mortality; Burial in Accordance with Islamic Rites but With Some Modifications

• Muslim Leaders Fear Christchurch-Style Attack Could Happen In UK

• Trump Tests Negative for Virus As US Expands Europe Traveller Ban

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Arab world

• Islamic State Asks Terrorists to Avoid Travel to Coronavirus-Affected Countries, Wash Hands

• Head of Syrian regime postpones legislative elections and “Scientific Jurisprudence Council” suspends public prayers in mosques

• Imams called upon to not prolong reading in Oman mosques

• Coronavirus in UAE: Sheikh Zayed Mosque closed from Sunday

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New Zealand

• Linwood Mosque Imam's Message of Unity on Anniversary of Terrorist Attack - 'The Blood That Runs in Me, Runs In You'

• Bikies And A Muslim Imam Share A Powerful Traditional Embrace As They Come Together To Commemorate The One-Year Anniversary Of The Christchurch Mosque Shootings

• Kilbirnie Mosque Cancels Open Day at Last Minute, One Year on From Christchurch Terror Attacks

• Christchurch mosque attacks: 'We were all impacted by the ripples'

• Christchurch mosque shooting footage still on Facebook, one year on

• Christchurch attack, one year on: 'We are stronger and more united' - Cashmere head boy

• Cancelled open day fails to prevent people from paying respects at Wellington mosque

• Shot 9 times during mosque massacre, survivor overcomes fear

• Hate-motivated crime data collection being strengthened as Muslim leaders demand action

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India

• India Supreme Court Must Use Legal Methods to End Discrimination Against Muslims: Iran’s Guardian Council

• In Bangladesh, Protest Against PM Modi On Hold, Only Until He Pays A Visit

• Muslim Outfits Meet Tamil Nadu Chief Secy, Demand Resolution Against NPR, NRC and CAA

• India treads with caution on Iran’s take on riots

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Africa

• Ending Religious Violence: How Aggrieved Imam, Pastor Brought Peace To Plateau Community, Others

• Coronavirus in SA: Ridgeway Muslim School in Joburg closes after pupil’s mom tests positive

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Mideast

• National Solidarity Calls by Iranian Resistance Leaders to Combat Coronavirus and the Role of Mullahs’ Regime in Spreading the Virus

• Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque shut as precaution against coronavirus

• Coronavirus: Palestinians Suspend Prayers at Mosques, Churches

• Islamic Republic Fails Again. This Time, the Coronavirus Outbreak Management Test

• Coronavirus: Jordan cancels flights and bans prayers at mosques

• Iran says worsening outbreak could strain health facilities

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South Asia

• Papering Over the Fissures Inherent in the Afghan Reconciliation Process

• ‘They’re Not Acting in Good Faith’, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Says Reacting To Taliban Attacks

• Jamiyyathul Ulama Urges Muslims To Stop Prayer Gatherings

• Unequal Bangladesh-India relationship

• Banks target to utilize religious sentiment for tapping business

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Southeast Asia

• No Cremation for Mindanao’s First COVID-19 Mortality; Burial in Accordance with Islamic Rites but With Some Modifications

• Mosque in Shah Alam closed in Covid-19 shutdown

• Covid-19: Thai Embassy in KL urges Thai Muslims who attended Sri Petaling event to get tested

• Jais says ordered Shah Alam mosque to cancel closure over Covid-19

• Malaysia reports 190 new coronavirus cases, most linked to mosque event

• Beijing to send all travellers from abroad to quarantine facility for 14 days

• M’sia reports highest-ever spike of 190 new Covid-19 cases in 1 day, most linked to mosque event

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Europe

• Muslim Leaders Fear Christchurch-Style Attack Could Happen In UK

• ISIS tells its terrorists not to travel to Europe for jihad because … coronavirus

• County Lines kingpin Bodrul Islam who flooded Class A drugs into Hereford via Birmingham jailed

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North America

• Trump Tests Negative for Virus As US Expands Europe Traveller Ban

• Coronavirus: Over 300 American soldiers quarantined after returning from Afghanistan

• The Latest: Republic of Congo reports 1st coronavirus case

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Pakistan

• Govt, Judiciary Vying to Take Over Khyber Levies Training Centre

• Pre-arrest bail hampers probe, prosecution processes, SC rules

• Speaker cancels meetings of NA committees

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/islamic-state-asks-terrorists-avoid/d/121307

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India

Muslim Outfits Meet Tamil Nadu Chief Secy, Demand Resolution Against NPR, NRC And CAA

15th March 2020

CHENNAI: Muslim organisations which held discussions with Chief Secretary K Shanmugam on Saturday were firm on their demand that a resolution against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) should be adopted in the Assembly. Besides, they also demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. The outfits also told government that the ongoing protests were not instigated by anyone but had been happening spontaneously.

In all, 49 representatives of Muslim organisations from the State took part in the discussions. Abdul Rahim, vice president, Tamil Nadu Tauheed Jamaat, said the meeting called by the Chief Secretary was a big disappointment to them since the apprehensions of Muslims were not clarified satisfactorily. As such, the protests against CAA, NPR and NRC will be intensified in the coming days across the State. On March 18, a ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation will be staged.

Talking to reporters after the 90-minute discussions with the Chief Secretary, at the Secretariat, MH Jawahirullah, on behalf of Federation of Tamil Nadu Islamic Organisations, said there was no legal barrier for adopting a resolution against NPR as it was being carried out as per rules of CAA. Jawahirullah said that during the discussions, the Chief Secretary said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had clarified that no documents would be required for the NPR and no one would be classified as doubtful.

To this, the Muslim outfits had said, “If this is true, the guideline that the local enumerator who is updating NPR can mark as doubtful if any person is unable provide any information, should be deleted. Also, the rule that providing information to NPR is a duty and that those who default will be punished should also be deleted. The Assembly resolution on CAA and NPR should include these points.”

Asked whether the meeting was satisfactory, Jawahirullah said, “The Chief Secretary has assured us to convey the views expressed by Muslim representatives to government. Only when we come to know about the response of the Chief Minister, we can say whether this meeting was useful or not.” He also said the federation would take a decision on the future course of agitation depending upon the government’s response to their demands.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/mar/15/muslim-outfits-meet-chief-secy-demand-resolution-2116868.html

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The lawless Indian jails demand attention and reforms

Mar 15, 2020

By Humra Quraish

With news-reports coming in of Dr. Kafeel Khan’s wife fearing his very survival cum safety in the Mathura Jail, where he sits imprisoned, I have been wondering the vulnerability of an Indian Muslim prisoner, in the backdrop of the terribly horrifying communal times we are living in. What, with the Hindutva Agenda holding sway to such an extent that none of the communally-twisted politicians have been arrested or even questioned in the backdrop of the Delhi pogrom of 2020. This, when there are videos after videos playing out their communal provocative speeches, and also many victims holding them responsible for this pogrom. Ironically, instead of getting booked, these very tainted politicians are roaming about with security cover! State protection for the culprits…for politicians terrorizing us day and night!

In this Delhi pogrom 2020, if Muslim boys and men could be very blatantly attacked and assaulted by the Hindutva goons on the streets and mohallas and residential colonies of North East Delhi, all under the watchful gaze of the cops, then one can well imagine what could be taking place behind the high walls of the prisons.

Not to overlook the news reports, focusing on the Kashmiri prisoners battling severe health problems in far-away jails and with that finding it very, very difficult to survive in the prisons of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and in the other Northern states of the country.

I would say it’s a double whammy for prisoners from the disadvantaged minority backgrounds…Yes, I am saying so after reading, rather re-reading books written by several former prisoners and also by those who have been interacting with the imprisoned population – Anjum Zamarud Habib’s ‘Prisoner No. 100’ (Zubaan). Mohammad Aamir Khan’s ‘Framed As A Terrorist’(Speaking Tiger), Abdul Wahid Shaikh’s Begunah Qaidi (Pharos Media), Mufti Abdul Qayyum Ahmad Husain Mansuri’s ‘I Am A Mufti & I Am Not A Terrorist - 11 Years Behind the Bars’ (Jamiat Ulama,Ahmedabad and Maharashtra), Nandita Haksar's "Framing Geelani, Hanging Afzal - Patriotism In The Time of Terror" (Bibliophile South Asia,) and Iftikhar Gilani’s ‘My Days in Prison’ (Penguin) …

Read what these former prisoners had to face in prison and you’d realize how tough and unsafe and humiliating it got for them …I repeat double whammy for them!

Triple whammy, when their tormentors are released and set free. Yes, though it gets almost impossible to nail or arrest any of the tainted cops but even if that happens in some rare cases, there is every possibility of they getting bailed out …set free!

I must hasten to add that nothing comes as a shocker in these RSS-ridden times. I recall when in the first week of August 2017, the special CBI court discharged former IPS officer D.G. Vanzara and also the Rajasthan-cadre IPS officer Dinesh MN in the case of alleged fake encounters of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati, there was little hue and cry from the opposition.

This, when there is this vital backgrounder to this encounter specialist’s killings. After all, DG Vanzara, a DIG-rank officer, was arrested on April 24, 2007, in connection with the alleged fake encounter of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi, who were abducted by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad from Hyderabad on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra. Sheikh was killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in 2005, after which his wife ‘disappeared’, killed! Prajapati, an eyewitness, was also allegedly killed by the police in 2006…The Sohrabuddin case was transferred to Mumbai in 2012 on the CBI’s request for a fair trial. In 2013, the Supreme Court clubbed the “fake encounter” case of Prajapati with that of Sheikh.

DG Vanzara’s this particular letter published in RB Sreekumar’s book Gujarat - Behind The Curtain (Revised edition to be published by Pharos Media) carries pointers. I’m quoting from this book, “DIG D. G. Vanzara, jailed since April 2007 for the alleged guilt of committing fake encounters, in his resignation letter to the government of Gujarat, dated 1st September2013, said ‘Tendering of resignation from my service with renunciation of all post-retirement benefits …Gujarat CID / Union CBI had arrested me and my officers in different encounter cases, holding us to be responsible for carrying out alleged fake encounters, if that is true then the CBI investigating officers of all the 4 encounter cases of Sohrabuddin, Tulsi Ram, Sadiq Jamal and Ishrat Jahan have to arrest the policy formulators also, as we, being field officers have simply implemented the conscious policy of this government, which was inspiring, guiding and monitoring our actions from very close quarters. By this reasoning, I am of the firm opinion that the place of this government, instead of being in Gandhinagar, should either be in Taloja Central Prison at Navi Mumbai or in the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad.’”

After reading these books, one wonders: Why are the communal cum corrupt jail officers not booked or dismissed? Where is transparency? Why should we go only by police hand-outs? Why shouldn’t a non-governmental agency be allowed to carry out simultaneous investigative probes? Why should minorities always sit in fear of the police and its ways!

After all, it is not difficult to arrest an innocent and heap terror charges on him; with that he sits languishing. Not to overlook the patent one-liners that go along with the arrests —the arrested has ‘confessed’ his or her ‘crime’ to the police. Who will believe that the arrested ‘confessed’ without those torture sessions. Aren’t we aware of the fact that the police can make one confess any possible crime in the midst of torture sessions. And as we are more than aware that the police can arrest and detain just about anyone.

Though big-bodied commissions had been set up to look into the living conditions of the Muslims of the country yet it seems unfortunate that there's no looking into the condition of the imprisoned Muslim population.

Here it gets relevant to point out that when I had suggested to Justice Sachar who was heading the Sachar Committee that why don’t they extend the Committee’s findings to jails and the jailed population, he made it very clear that doesn't come under their mandate. As he put across, “The Sachar Committee had tried to go a little extra finding, in terms of doing headcount of the Muslim in the Indian Army and see what a volley we faced.”

http://www.milligazette.com/news/16882-the-lawless-indian-jails-demand-attention-and-reforms

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India Supreme Court must use legal methods to end discrimination against Muslims: Iran’s Guardian Council

14 March 2020

A member of Iran's Guardian Council, Hadi Tahan Nazif, has called on India's Supreme Court to use all legal methods and procedures to pave the way for the repeal of a discriminatory law against Muslims in the South Asian country.

In the worst communal violence in decades in New Delhi on February 23, more than 50 people were killed and over 100 wounded as groups chanting Hindu nationalist slogans torched mosques and dozens of Muslim houses after looting shops and businesses.

The violence began amid widespread protests across India over a citizenship law that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government introduced in December last year offering citizenship to six religious groups from neighboring countries, specifically excluding Muslims.

Critics insist the law is discriminatory, coming in the wake of other severe government measures against the country’s Muslim population such as the withdrawal of autonomy for Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir.

There are 200 million Muslims in India, comprising more than 14 percent of the country’s population.

Critics of Modi’s government have blamed the anti-Muslim violence on members of the prime minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was crushed in local Delhi elections early last month. The party has embraced a militant brand of Hindu nationalism and its leaders have openly vilified Indian Muslims.

In a letter to Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde, Nazif said, "Our respected colleagues in the Supreme Court of India are expected to use the legal methods and procedures enshrined in the Indian Constitution and pave the way for repeal of this discriminatory law against Muslims."

As your Excellency well know, supporting basic rights and freedoms and safeguarding their human and citizenship rights are among the principal aims and objectives of judicial and constitutional review bodies that supervise laws and regulations approved by parliaments and other bodies. As we and you, at two judicial and constitutional review bodies that supervise parliamentarian laws, feel it incumbent upon ourselves to prevent the establishment of norms that can contribute to the deterioration of people’s rights.

Sadly, however, today’s images and news coming out of India show the scale of violence used against oppressed Muslims and denial of their very basic rights, including their right to life. This is while India has always been a key supporter of peace in the world and promoted peaceful coexistence of followers of different faiths and ideologies.

Moreover, India is best known for exercise of tolerance and invitation to peace and friendship among Buddhists and members of other religious minorities, particularly Muslims, issues stressed by the country’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi in the diverse and multi-cultural India.

Undoubtedly, the Indian government will take the necessary measures to prevent a religious conflict from escalating. But what our colleagues in India as a friendly and brotherly country can do to end the ongoing protests as well as brutality against Muslims is to reconsider a controversial citizenship law that was ratified by the Parliament of India in December 2019.

It seems that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is discriminatory as it excludes Muslims from the fabric of Indian society by eliminating their rights to equality and citizenship, which runs contrary to basic human rights principles.

According to articles 1 and 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”. …

Again, according to article 15 of the same document, “Everyone has the right to a nationality and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality”.

Articles 2 and 26 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the Government of India is a party, also emphasize that “all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law”.

Article 14 of the Indian Constitution attaches importance to equality before law and equal protection of laws as well while Article 15 prohibits discrimination against citizens on the basis of religion and race.

Our respected colleagues in the Supreme Court of India are expected to use the legal methods and procedures enshrined in the Indian Constitution and pave the way for repeal of this discriminatory law against Muslims.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/03/14/620864/Muslims-Guardian-Council-Iran-India-Hadi-Tahan-Nazif

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India treads with caution on Iran’s take on riots

March 14, 2020

New Delhi: India is treading cautiously on Iranian leaders’ recent remarks on the Delhi violence and is not overreacting on the issue.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei recently commented on the incident asking “India to stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India’s isolation from the world of Islam”.

Before that, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also posted a comment on Twitter saying “Iran condemns the wave of organised violence against Indian Muslims”.

Though India reacted after Zarif’s remarks and subsequently summoned the Iranian Ambassador to India to lodge its protest, it preferred not to comment after Khamenei’s remarks. This is seen as India’s calculated strategy not to overreact. As regards summoning of Zarif, it is seen by experts as normal diplomatic exercise.

A.K. Mohapatra, a Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies at Jawahalal Nehru University (JNU), told The Sunday Guardian: “The concerns voiced by the Iranian leaders are more of political nature rather than showing any genuine concern. There is a competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran on becoming a leader of Muslim nations. Since, for Iran, India appears to be having a tilt in favour of Saudi Arabia, it has tried to given a message to India not to ignore Iran’s interests.”

“India has interests in Iran. So it cannot antagonize the South Asian country. Islamic fundamentalism has links with Sunnis whereas Iran is a Shia-dominated country. That is the reason it has sided with India when it comes to issues related to India and Pakistan. It will be good for India not to react much on the comments made by Iranian leaders. Rather it should try to explain India’s position and placate them. The gesture of donating a lab to test COVID-19 virus in Iran is a welcome step which will help in placating the Iranians. India should try to do the balancing act and neutralize the opposition from Iran diplomatically. There is no need to be vindictive or reactive,” he said.

Sources said Iranian leaders’ remarks were unexpected given that Iran normally avoids public criticism of internal matters of India. Following the revocation of Article 370, Tehran had limited its reaction to expressing concerns over the “condition of the people” in the Valley and urging New Delhi to adopt “a fair policy” towards the people of the region. Tehran has also avoided taking Islamabad’s side whenever tension between India and Pakistan escalated in recent years. The relations between India and Iran have been on an upswing in the last few years.

Despite US sanctions against Iran, India has been maintaining cordial ties with Tehran and has been actively involved in the development of Chabahar port there. India, however, had to reduce its oil imports from Iran despite the fact that it acknowledges that Iran is an energy source.

“The hearts of Muslims all over the world are grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. The Government of India should confront extremist Hindus and their parties and stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India’s isolation from the world of Islam,” said Khamenei in an official statement issued recently.

This came following a similar comment by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif earlier. India took strong exception to his comments. Iranian ambassador Ali Chengeni was summoned to the foreign office to protest the remarks.

“The Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni was summoned and a strong protest was lodged against the unwarranted remarks made by the Iranian foreign minister. It was conveyed that his selective and tendentious characterisation of recent events in Delhi are not acceptable. We do not expect such comments from a country such as Iran,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/india-treads-caution-irans-take-riots

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In Bangladesh, Protest Against PM Modi On Hold, Only Until He Pays A Visit

15 March 2020

Pranay Sharma

The anti-Indian protests planned during Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka has now been put on hold in view of the former's deferred trip to Bangladesh. But his Bangladeshi detractors claim they will be out in the streets in numbers whenever the Indian prime minister touches down in their country.

“Our protests have been held back, they have not been called off,” says Kafi Ratan, member of the Bangladesh Communist Party’s presidium. “We will take to the streets in large numbers to protest whenever he comes to Dhaka,” he adds.

The communists, the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam and sections of students had held a series of protests in Dhaka and other Bangladeshi cities this month to express displeasure with the BJP-led government in India in the wake of the Delhi riots.

They had plans of holding a series of protests next week but decided to hold them back since the Indian Prime Minister’s scheduled two-day visit to Dhaka from March 17 had been deferred because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Modi was to participate in Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s centennial and hold bilateral meetings with his host, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A fresh date for his visit to Dhaka will be announced later at the convenience of both leaders.

During his 2015 visit to Dhaka, the Indian Prime Minister was given a very warm welcome. He and Sheikh Hasina have met several times in the intervening period and both enjoy an extremely warm and cordial relations.

Despite the claim of the communist party members to come out in numbers to protest against Modi, it is highly unlikely that the Sheikh Hasina government will allow street agitations during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. The protests held in Dhaka in the wake of the Delhi riot do not necessarily mean they could have been held at a time when Modi was in Bangladesh.

Since the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), had also distanced itself from holding any such demosntration during Modi’s visit to Dhaka, therefore, even if some sections were keen to hold such protests, they would have been easily marginalised by the Hasina government.

But resentment and frustration had been rising against India in sections in Bangladesh. They stemmed mainly from pending issues like sharing water of the Teesta and other rivers that run between the two countries, the border killings as well as frequent reports of attacks on Muslims in India. The recent Delhi riot was perhaps the tipping point for a number of street demonstrations against India in Bangladesh.

But the main grouse against Delhi seems to be over Bangladesh being the target of attack in the ruling party BJP’s political rhetoric.

“The atmosphere for India is not very conducive in the Bangladeshi society,” says Saheb Enam Khan, a professor of international relations at the Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka referring to the widespread resentment.

Khan is of the view that the Indian Prime Minister should be welcomed to Dhaka. “But when he comes, he should give a categoric assurance that the anti-Bangladesh tirade that comes out of India at regular intervals should stop for good.”

He points out that while India claims Bangladesh to be a close friend, it does not stop from clubbing it Pakistan and Afghanistan as countries that indulge in religious persecution of its minorities. At a time when Bangladesh is playing host to over a million Rohingya refugees, such remarks by the Indian leadership look completely untrue and as something being deliberately said to malign Bangladesh, says Khan.

Similar views are also expressed by the BNP leaders who are keen to build good relations with Delhi. “We want PM Modi to clarify what he wants to do with those people who have been identified as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are kept in camps in India,” former minister and BNP foreign affairs committee head Amir Khusro Chaudhary said.

He also stressed that while the BNP leadership too is keen on developing good relations with India, it is totally confused as to what Delhi wants to achieve by the anti-Bangladeshi remarks that senior BJP leaders making in their public speeches.

India-Bangladesh relations have shown a significant improvement since Sheikh Hasina came to power in Dhaka in 2009. But she was disappointed with the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government for its failure to sign the Teesta River Water treaty—a highly emotive issue in Bangladesh.

Though even under Modi’s BJP government that treaty has remained elusive, the two sides have managed to expand and deepen their cooperation in a number of areas from which both sides benefit. The marked improvement in Indo-Bangladesh relations is also a high-point in Modi’s “ neighbourhood first” policy. But domestic developments in India, especially legislations like the Citizens’ Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register for Citizens have brought the focus squarely on illegal immigration into the country from Bangladesh. Additionally, BJP leaders frequent attempt to club Bangladesh with Pakistan where Hindus are being persecuted has deeply hurt the Bangladeshi sentiment, putting PM Hasina in an awkward position as questions are raised on growing Indo-Bangladesh ties.

PM Modi has often assured the Bangladesh leadership that NRC and the CAA are internal affairs of India that will not affect Bangladesh. But the sporadic anti-Bangladeshi criticism, often terming the illegal immigrant from across the border as “termites” have raised doubts in Dhaka as the kind of relation that is on offer from Delhi.

“We are not slaves who can be abused by India whenever it wants,” says political commentator and Dhaka University professor Asif Nazrul.

For some like him, the anger against the Hasina government has also merged with that against India. “Sheikh Hasina may be indebted to India for its support and keeping her in power. But there is a growing resentment in Dhaka against her and the Modi government for its anti-Bangladeshi policies,” he adds.

Indications suggest that in the coming days the anger, especially over the Delhi riot and perceived anti-Muslim policies of the Modi government, might not be as strong as they are now among many in Bangladesh. But whenever the Indian Prime Minister visits Dhaka, he will have to reassure his hosts that India will not pursue any policy that will jeopardise the strong Indo-Bangladesh relations that have so far, benefitted both countries immensely.

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/world-news-demonstrations-planned-against-pm-modi-during-bangladesh-visit-will-hasina-govt-let-it-happen/348814

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Pakistan

Pre-arrest bail hampers probe, prosecution processes, SC rules

March 15, 2020

Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has held that the grant of bail to an accused required in a cognizable and non-bailable offence before his arrest clogs the very mechanics of the state authority to investigate and prosecute violations of law designated as crimes.

“The grant of bail to an accused required in a cognizable and non-bail offence prior to his arrest is an extraordinary judicial intervention in an ongoing or imminent investigative process,” observed Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed.

The observation came on an appeal filed by Ghulam Farooq Channa, secretary of Jamshed Town Union Council, Karachi, against the Feb 13 Sindh High Court (SHC) order of denying him the same remedy.

A two judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin Ahmed had taken up the appeal on March 3.

“To prevent arrest of an accused required by a law is a measure with far reaching consequences that may include loss or disappearance of evidence,” the judgement feared, adding that the statute did not contemplate such a remedy besides it was also judicially decided way back in 1949 in the case of Hidayatullah Khan versus the Crown.

Such a grant of bail was always intended with a purpose sacrosanct and noble, the judgement observed, explaining that essentially such a relief was meant to provide judicial refuge to the innocent and the vulnerable from the rigours or abuse or process of law with an intention to protect human dignity and honour from the humiliation of arrest intended for designs sinister and oblique.

The remedy oriented in equity could not be invoked in every run of the mill criminal case, Justice Ahmed observed, adding that prima facie the post arrest bail certainly was not a substitute in cases not supported by material and evidence, constituting a non-bailable/cognizable offence, warranting arrest which was an inherent attribute of the dynamics of the criminal justice system with a deterrent impact.

The petitioner had been avoiding arrest since Aug 28, 2019 when he was accused of having fabricated a fake death certificate of a woman namely Naseem Begum Chotani. The fake death certificate had helped his co-accused to attempt to hoodwink judicial process and grab valuable properties whose ownership vested in the woman.

When disclosed, the scam was reported to the Anti-Corruption Authorities and after an inquiry the petitioner was booked as an accused alongside with other accomplices.

Senior lawyer Ghulam Sajjad Gopang, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that alleged fabrication was reported after five years and it was committed by the officials at the higher rung. But his client was being hounded as a scapegoat to save the real culprits, the counsel said, adding that co-accused in the case had since been released on post-arrest bail and thus the petitioner’s remission into custody was not likely to serve any useful purpose in the investigation process.

In the judgement, Justice Ahmed observed that the petitioner was at the helm of affairs when the bogus certificate was issued and that cognizance on belated disclosure did not mitigate the culpability nor should be equated with mala fide.

The judgement held that the view taken by the SHC and the special judge, (Central-I) Karachi in the first round of litigation was in accord with the law being consistently followed by the Supreme Court.

“Thus the petition is dismissed and the leave denied,” the judgement said, adding that the release of the petitioner on post- arrest bail would frustrate the investigation purposes.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1540990/pre-arrest-bail-hampers-probe-prosecution-processes-sc-rules

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Speaker cancels meetings of NA committees

March 15, 2020

Amir Wasim

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has cancelled all the meetings of the house committees till further order as part of the measures taken by the government to fight coronavirus in the country.

This was announced by a spokesman for the National Assembly Secretariat here on Saturday, a day after the National Security Committee (NSC), headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, took a number of decisions, including closure of educational institutions and bar on all kinds of public gatherings for the next three weeks.

It is worth mentioning that Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had cancelled the meetings of all the standing and functional committee on Friday even before the meeting of the NSC.

The spokesman for the NA Secretariat stated that notices had been issued regarding the cancellation of all the meetings for an indefinite period as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Interestingly, the official websites of the two secretariats have not been updated till filing of this report on Saturday night and according to them, most of the meetings are still scheduled to be held on time.

The speaker’s decision has affected the meetings of 25 committees that were scheduled be held from March 16 to March 31. Similarly, the Senate chairman had cancelled meetings of 18 various committees which were scheduled to be held between March 16 and 26.

The decision to cancel the NA committees meetings will definitely affect the working of the parliament since more than 150 government and private member’s bills are pending before these committees which had been constituted very late by the speaker due to a row between the government and the opposition over the nomination of the Opposition Leader and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif as chairman of the all-powerful Public Accounts Committee.

Meanwhile, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the civic body responsible for the maintenance of the Parliament House has been directed to initiate immediate measures in order to protect Parliament House from the coronavirus.

The CDA had been directed to complete the fumigation, cleaning and washing exercise positively by today (Sunday).

According to another handout issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, Speaker Asad Qaiser called federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and expressed his deep concern over the sudden raise of airfares of flights intended for Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia.

The speaker said the aviation ministry should take necessary measures before expiring of the 72-hour deadline set by the Saudi government for the return of their own nationals and other Iqama holders.

The speaker said no one should be allowed to extort money from anyone at this juncture of time. He said airlines were overcharging rather extorting money from the Pakistanis intending for Saudi Arabia. He asked the minister for aviation to immediately address that issue.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1541002/speaker-cancels-meetings-of-na-committees

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Containing the virus

March 15, 2020

THE National Security Council has met to discuss a strategy for a looming healthcare crisis of unprecedented proportions — the contagious coronavirus, which has sparked panic across the world owing to its rapid spread and potential to kill.

The government has announced the formation of a national coordination committee along with a string of measures which include the sealing of borders with Iran and Afghanistan, restricting international flights and barring mass public events.

The advisory also declared the shutdown of educational institutions, cinemas, theatres and marriage halls, the adjournment of civil cases in courts and changes in hearing procedures for criminal cases.

The decisions came as Pakistan reported some 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which include at least one individual who did not travel abroad, indicating that community spread within the country could be a reality.

Given that Pakistan is straddled by China and Iran which have among the highest reported cases, the authorities’ response to the fast-spreading virus has been lethargic and more reactive than proactive — a circumstance which has led the virus to thrive in other countries.

States including China, Iran and Italy were unable to contain the spread and have reported thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.

One illustration of this is that until just a couple of days ago, Punjab, the most populated province, had ostensibly taken no measures to limit public gatherings or establish health protocols.

The ijtima at Raiwind, a congregation of thousands, began despite the provincial government’s pleas to organisers not to hold it.

This defies logic. Pakistan is a developing country with poor healthcare infrastructure and low hygiene standards, so authorities ought to have sounded the alarm by enforcing strict screening and cancelling mass public events when the first case was reported at the end of February.

Moving forward, the government must share its resources and work with the provincial governments to contain the virus.

This would include effective screening at entry ports, which until recently involved filling out a form.

Resources must be allocated to establish health desks at ports which check symptoms and isolate passengers who show signs of being infected.

Across cities, the government must kick off mass multilingual awareness drives about hygiene, symptoms and the availability of medical help.

The federal government must take on board religious authorities to examine the roles that mosques can play to create awareness and limit the spread.

Prime Minister Imran Khan should follow in the footsteps of other world leaders and be visible in the COVID-19 messaging campaign, which he had stayed away from until yesterday.

Given the potentially high mortality rate and the ensuing economic losses, this is not the time to bicker over the 18th Amendment or the availability of funds. Our politicians ought to show leadership and focus on action, transparency and communication.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1541040/containing-the-virus

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Govt, judiciary vying to take over Khyber Levies training centre

March 15, 2020

Zulfiqar Ali

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the judiciary are vying to take over the US-funded under construction Shakass Levies Training Centre in Khyber tribal district, while the donor has insisted that the facility should be specifically used for the purpose for which funds were approved by the US Congress.

Sources told Dawn that Khyber district’s judiciary wanted to relocate from its transitional premises in Peshawar to the training centre temporarily.

The provincial cabinet in a meeting on Feb 25 decided to convert the facility into a training centre for Rescue 1122.

The sources said the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs-Pakistan, which provides $5.9 million funds for the construction of the training centre at Shakass, had strongly opposed the use of the facility for any other purpose.

Sources said the INL, which funded other projects, had conveyed to the relevant authorities that the violation of the memorandum of understanding would not only create misunderstanding between the government and donor but it was also likely to impact future financial assistance to the province.

“The INL (Pakistan) has conveyed to the authorities that funds are approved by the US Congress for a specific purpose and the facility is meant for the same. Any violation in the mode of utilisation of the funds or facility will not only create a grave concern but will also lead to the stoppage of further aid in all fields by the US government,” according to official documents.

INL head of public affairs section Scot Robinson did not reply to an email of this correspondent.

“We are being sandwiched between the provincial government and the judiciary in the prevailing scenario,” said an official dealing with the development side in the district.

Interestingly, the provincial government has fixed gaze on the takeover of the training centre but it ignored around 35 employees including ministerial staff hired for the project and training of the Levies Force.

“The government seems interested only in taking over the property and is not ready to own us,” said an employee at the facility.

The centre is being set up over 300 acres of land in Shakass area of Bara tehsil of Khyber district. It will initially cater to the training needs of 28,000 personnel of Levies and Khasadar forces, the law-enforcement arm of the administration in the erstwhile Fata.

The contract for the construction of the training facility having capacity to accommodate 400 trainees with boarding facilities, parade ground and firing range was awarded to the Frontier Corps (North). Work on the project began in 2011 and is likely to finish by the end of April 2020.

Following the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 28,000 Levies and Khasadar personnel have been absorbed into the provincial police, while the law and order section of the defunct Fata Secretariat was handed over to the home department.

The merger and subsequent developments, including the absorption of tribal districts’ law- enforcement agencies into police, gave other departments ideas about taking over the training centre.

Sources told Dawn that on Feb 17, the additional district and session judge of Khyber district chaired a meeting, which discussed the taking over of two blocks of the training centre for shifting of the district courts temporarily until the construction of the district judicial complex.

The meeting was informed that the registrar of the Peshawar High Court visited the training centre in Oct 2019 regarding the establishment of a judicial complex and making necessary modifications and arrangements in the training centre to meet the requirements of the district judiciary.

The meeting decided to bring the issue to the notice of the PHC registrar with a request to convene a meeting of the chief secretary, inspector general of police, inspector general of Frontier Corps (North), secretary of the home and tribal affairs department and INL officials for the early handing and taking over of the proposed building.

In the meanwhile, the relief, rehabilitation and settlement department managed to push a summary proposing to shift the centre into training academy for Rescue 1122 through the provincial cabinet on Feb 25.

Sources said after the cabinet’s approval, the department concerned would approach the FC for handing over the facility to Rescue 1122.

Official sources said the police were interested to retain the control of the sprawling facility instead of handing it over to any other department.

They said after the absorption of Levies and Khasadar forces, the strength of the province’s police had totalled over 100,000.

They said the existing police training college in Hangu did not have sufficient space and capacity to cater to the needs of the police.

The sources said the police department had pointed out security issues of the building in case of utilisation other than the training school for Levies.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1541035/govt-judiciary-vying-to-take-over-khyber-levies-training-centre

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Middle East

GC member urges India to abolish discriminatory law against Muslims

Mar 15, 2020

He wrote, “respected colleagues of the Justice of India are expected to provide the possibility of abolishing the discriminatory laws against Muslims using the legal methods predicted in the Indian Constitution.”

The full text of the letter is read as follows, “supporting the fundamental rights and freedoms of the nation and guaranteeing human rights and their citizenship is one of the missions and objectives behind the formation of judicial bodies in judicial oversight of the laws and regulations approved in parliaments and legislation bodies. As we and you, in two observing institutions on laws of parliament, are duty-bound to prevent the formation of norms that undermine the rights of the nation."

“A part of the news and images, which is communicated from India to the international community these days, depicts violence and human rights abuses. An image that we have had from India in our mind is nothing but peace and peaceful life of followers of different religions and groups. Tolerance, inviting to peace and friendship between Buddhism and other minorities especially Muslims by the Great Gandhi is famous in the world.

“Undoubtedly, the Indian government will take necessary measures to prevent religious war. It seems that the CAA Law approved in Dec. 2019 in Indian Parliament includes discriminatory articles against Muslims such as right of equality and citizenship law which contradicts with the initial principles of the Human Rights and various documents of human rights such as Article (1), (2) and (15) of the World Proclamation of Human Rights, Articles (2) and (26) of protocol of civil-political laws as well as Articles (14) and (15) of the Indian Constitution which points to the equality right of Indian citizenship explicitly.”

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/156720/GC-member-urges-India-to-abolish-discriminatory-law-against-Muslims

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Coronavirus: Palestinians suspend prayers at mosques, churches

14 March 2020

The Palestinian Authority (PA) suspended prayers in mosques and churches in the occupied West Bank on Saturday to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and Gaza's Hamas rulers said all the enclave's border crossings would be closed to travel.

The PA's Religious Affairs Ministry asked Palestinians to worship at home, Reuters reported.

"In light of the Health Ministry's recommendation to minimise contact between people and to reduce gatherings as much as possible we call upon our Muslim people in Palestine to hold their prayers at home," a ministry statement said.

In Ramallah, a prayer leader reciting the Muslim call to prayer at one mosque in the early evening added the words: "Pray at home, pray at home."

Palestinians in Gaza are trying to prepare for the novel coronavirus outbreak. But the Israeli blockade is making it much harder.

Last week, MEE reported that the PA declared a state of emergency in the occupied West Bank and locked down Bethlehem after seven cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in the city.

According to Palestinian health officials, 38 coronavirus cases have now been confirmed in the occupied West Bank, where the Palestinians have limited self-rule under the Palestinian Authority. None have been reported in the densely populated Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.

The Hamas-led government said it was closing Gaza's border crossings with Israel and Egypt for travel, excluding life-threatening cases that required medical treatment outside the enclave. Gatherings would be limited to 100 people and schools were to remain shut through March.

Citing security reasons, Israel and Egypt keep the coastal Gaza Strip under a blockade with tight control of movements over their border land crossings.

Religious authorities have so far kept Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third-holiest site, open for prayers.

The Jordan-appointed council that oversees Islamic sites on Jerusalem's sacred compound has kept it open for Friday prayers, encouraging faithful to congregate on the 35-acre complex's outdoor grounds rather than inside its covered shrines.

The Waqf council reassured worshippers in a statement this week that the entire compound, including its golden Dome of the Rock shrine, was being "sterilised continuously."

In Israel, where 164 coronavirus cases have been confirmed, gatherings have been limited to 100 people. Some religious authorities in the Holy Land, including the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, have moved to implement crowd controls at places of worship.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/coronavirus-palestinians-suspend-prayers-mosques-churches-0

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National Solidarity Calls by Iranian Resistance Leaders to Combat Coronavirus and the Role of Mullahs’ Regime in Spreading the Virus

14 March 2020

The Resistance Units, and the youth supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),distributed messages of Mr. Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI, in various cities calling for national solidarity to combat Coronavirus.

Some of the slogans were: "Velayat-e-Faqih virus is taking down the Iranian children, the response is in the Liberation Army", "To save the people’s lives, publicize information about Coronavirus," "to get your rights, one must raise up against the inhumane mullahs", "the bigger catastrophe is the mullahs' virus(rule) in Iran, the response is in the Liberation Army", "Iranian people do not want Coronavirus, neither do they want the mullahs", "hail to the doctors and nurses who have sacrificed their lives to care for their patients" , "Medical and preventive equipment and resources must be seized from the regime and returned to the people "

https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/iran-protests/27557-national-solidarity-calls-by-iranian-resistance-leaders-to-combat-coronavirus-and-the-role-of-mullahs-regime-in-spreading-the-virus

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Islamic Republic Fails Again. This Time, the Coronavirus Outbreak Management Test

14 March 2020

The coronavirus outbreak has plunged the Islamic Republic’s decision-making system into unprecedented chaos and has distracted the government from the day-to-day affairs of the country.

President Hassan Rouhani reportedly wanted to appoint his First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri to head the National Headquarters to Contain and Fight Coronavirus (NHCFC) – but Jahangiri was infected with the virus before he could do it. And the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds the real power in the country and heads the “hidden government,” of Iran through organizations and entities under his command, is against Rouhani’s decision.

Khamenei directly interferes in all affairs of state and insists on showing off these interventions. But as of now, he has shown no sign that he is taking any specific actions to manage the current crisis. His only contribution was to send a video message, thanking doctors and nurses for their service and exhorting them to take safety measures seriously.

The NHCFC, supervised by President Rouhani, has complained that its decisions are not taken seriously and it is reported that the government wants to create a “Support Council for NHCFC”.

Religious institutions, especially in the holy city of Qom where the coronavirus epidemic in Iran started, believe that they are only accountable to Ayatollah Khamenei and have refused to shut down religious sites and shrines. For instance, the director of Jamkaran Mosque in Qom has promised that his mosque would receive visitors during Iran’s new year’s holidays that starts on March 20. This is one of Khamenei’s favorite mosques and there have been many reports about his hours-long visits there.

Qom’s local officials and influential religious figures prevented a city-wide quarantine, with the government saying that such a measure was “outdated” and belonged to the past. The result was the spread of coronavirus to the whole country. This mismanagement must be compared to the decision by Italy’s government to quarantine the whole country to fight this lethal epidemic.

The official statistics about coronavirus infections and fatalities were announced by the Ministry of Health but, on March 13, it was Abdulali Ali Asgari, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) who quoted the health minister as saying that the epidemic will reach its peak [Persian link] in late March and early April.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), which is supposed to toe the government line and publish official reports, has now strayed and is publishing reports from hospital sources that show the coronavirus mortality rate is much higher than official figures say.

A number of members of parliament (MP), especially from northern Iran and the shores of Caspian Sea, have criticized the government for not taking seriously the need to control traffic among cities. The MPs threatened that if things continue as they have, they would mobilize the people to stop the movement.

In a strange and unprecedented move, Mohsen Rezaee, the Secretary of Expediency Council, announced [Persian link] that bank borrowers do not have to settle their accounts until June 20. This council has no power to issue executive orders but its secretary has taken an action that will cost the government money. It remains to be seen what would be the consequences of such an unprecedented and unilateral order.

The public does not see much action from President Rouhani and he does not appear to have affairs of the state under his control. Less than a week after the coronavirus outbreak in Iran was officially announced, he said that things would go back to normal starting from Saturday, February 29 — a statement that undermined the remaining credibility of the government.

This chaos occurs at a time when parliament has been closed because an outbreak among MPs. Meetings of the Expediency Council, the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council have also been suspended. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, for the first time in 41 years the regime is absent from everyday life.

The coronavirus epidemic has put the decrepit and dilapidated body of the Islamic Republic in full public view. In his desperation, government spokesman Ali Rabiei said that an authoritative mediator [Persian link] trusted by the public is needed so that, in such a crisis, the public will take seriously solutions offered by the government. It does not appear that they have found one.

A clear illustration of the lack of public trust in the government emerged three weeks into the epidemic. Rumors spread that gas stations were to be closed; and although the government denied the rumors, long lines formed at midnight at gas stations, out of widespread fear that people would not have another chance to refuel.

Over the years, the Islamic Republic has discredited and repressed voices of authority whom the public could trust and has rendered them ineffective on the national stage. Repeated exhortations to take decisions by the NHCFC seriously only show that, even in a time of crisis, government institutions are still rebuffing each other and tensions among them are increasing.

The NHCFC was approved by the Supreme National Security Council and decisions by this body must be approved by Ayatollah Khamenei before they can be executed. In other words, decisions by the Council show what powers that the Supreme Leader had delegated to it – but now the weakening of government institutions by Khamenei himself is manifesting itself in multiple ways.

The coronavirus crisis does not merely demonstrate the regime’s inability and irresponsibility in preventing the outbreak in Qom. More than anything else, the regime has tried to justify its failings by accusing the “enemy,” by denying unofficial figures of coronavirus infections and mortality and even by threatening and arresting [Persian link] people such as the staff of medical centers who publish accurate figures which show that the government is lying.

Another reality that has been laid bare is the unprecedented discrimination between government officials and ordinary citizens in terms of access to tests and treatment. Even among medical staff who have died of coronavirus, the cause of death had been identified as COVID-19 only after their deaths; but various officials of the Islamic Republic, even those without noticeable symptoms, have been treated as “first-class” citizens and have used scarce test kits to assure themselves that they are healthy.

The coronavirus crisis that, as of now, has claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent citizens will eventually subside. But this unprecedented chaos in managing the affairs of the country have exposed for a vast group of Iranians the broken-down and decrepit system of the Islamic Republic, a system that believes the cure for any crisis is to deny that it exists and then to intimidate and arrest those who dare to speak the truth.

https://iranwire.com/en/features/6813

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Coronavirus: Jordan cancels flights and bans prayers at mosques

14 March 2020

By Areeb Ullah

Jordan said it would stop all passenger flights leaving the country from Tuesday and ban all public gatherings to prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus.

The country has already closed its borders with Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Syria, and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Other measures introduced by the Jordanian government include shutting down of all schools and universities for two weeks, and closing cinemas, sporting facilities and tourist sites.

The government also said public prayers at mosques and churches would be banned and that visits to hospitals and prisons would be halted.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Saturday announced the measures during a televised press conference and urged Jordanians to stay at home.

"The situation around us is from bad to worse, and we are not isolated," Razzaz said, adding that the restrictions would be reviewed periodically.

Razzaz also said that Jordan would close all tourist sites, sporting facilities and cinemas to help prevent the further spread of the disease.

The prime minister made his announcement after Jordan confirmed that its first Covid-19 case left hospital on Friday after receiving treatment.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/coronavirus-jordan-cancels-flights-and-bans-prayers-mosques