New Age Islam News Bureau
13
Jun 2018
Sharbari Zohra Ahmed was not involved with scripting the episode, but she has been targeted by internet trolls nonetheless
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• Kashmiri Youth Organises Dawah Programme to Counter Islamophobia, Present Islam’s True Message
• Quantico: The Muslim Writer Targeted In Indian Episode Controversy
• Taliban Launch Fresh Attacks as Afghan Government Ceasefire Starts
• Dutch Anti-Islam Party to Hold Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Competition
• Shahbaz for Resumption of Peace Talks with India
India
• Kashmiri Youth Organises Dawah Programme to Counter Islamophobia, Present Islam’s True Message
• Eid ul-Fitr in India is Expected to Begin on the Evening of June 14, Thursday
• In Delhi's Jamia Nagar, Hindus Too Savour the Joy – and Income – That Ramzan Brings
• Indian-Origin Michelin Star Chef Atul Kochar Blasted for Anti-Islam Tweet, Apologises
• Masjids, Madrasas Not Propagating Real Islam in Kashmir: BJP Leader
• Letter with Bullets Asks BJP's Lone Muslim MLA in Assam to Resign In 15 Days
• 2 Cops Killed, 6 Injured In J&K Twin Terror Attacks
• VHP Members Vandalise Taj Mahal’s West Gate, Say It Blocks Path to A 400-Year-Old Shiva Temple
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North America
• Quantico: The Muslim Writer Targeted In Indian Episode Controversy
• History, Fasting and the Festive Spirit Of Ramadan
• Paul Feig's production company greenlights Muslim-American series
• Trump-Kim meeting will lead to lasting peace: Islamabad
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South Asia
• Taliban Launch Fresh Attacks as Afghan Government Ceasefire Starts
• Wife Says Shahzahan Bachchu’s Name Was On Extremists’ Hit List
• Taliban kill Afghan district governor
• Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States
• Afghan forces to receive 50 helicopters from NATO in near future: Ghani
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Europe
• Dutch Anti-Islam Party to Hold Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Competition
• Police Arrest Man Over Anti-Muslim Letters Sent To MPs
• Breaking Fast In a Mini-Mall, Manchester Muslims Hope To Move into New Mosque Soon
• Time not ripe for Iran, Hezbollah to leave Syria: Russian envoy to Lebanon
• Sweden: Sharp rise in attacks on mosques across Sweden
• Austria emerges as Europe's leader in Islamophobia
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Pakistan
• Shahbaz for Resumption of Peace Talks with India
• MMA A Guarantee for National Security: Baloch
• Extended deadline for hearing in NAB cases to hit party: Nawaz
• Removal of PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari’s name from ECL irks NAB
• 100-year-old woman to stand against Imran Khan in Bannu's NA-35
• Elders to move court against Fata Interim Governance Regulation
• Peace initiative expected to bring more cooperation between Pak, Afghanistan: COAS
• JI concerned over ‘increase in street crimes’
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Arab World
• What Were Qasem Soleimani And Khamenei's Son Doing In Baghdad?
• More Civilians Killed in US Air Raid in Northeastern Syria
• New FSA-Affiliated Terrorist Group Formed against Syrian Army in Aleppo
• Turkish Army Sends Large Group of Allied Militants to Northern Syria
• Iraq’s Sadr and Amiri announce political alliance
• Egypt raises electricity prices, cuts subsidies
• Syrian army boosts air defenses near Golan frontier
• Saudi Supreme Court Calls On Citizens to Report Sighting of Crescent Moon
• Arab coalition condemns Houthi threat against relief organizations
• Iraq's Sairoon, Fatah political parties announce alliance
• Syrian army enhances air defense near Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
• Saudi air force intercepts Houthi-launched missile against Jazan
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Southeast Asia
• PM: Pakatan Government to Run Country Based On Islamic Values
• Indonesia put on terror alert ahead of Eid al-Fitr
• Court decision over Sarawakian Christian’s ‘Allah’ case moved to August
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Mideast
• Hamas Vows To Continue Anti-Israel Protests In Gaza Strip
• Yemen War: Saudi-Led Forces Begin Assault on Hudaydah
• Israeli ‘Crime Minister’ Netanyahu to Be Quizzed By Police
• Police Spokesman: Several Terrorist Groups Disbanded in Iran during Ramadan
• Iran Arrest 27 Terrorists before Carrying Out Sabotage Acts
• How liberating Hodeidah can help in resolving Yemen’s humanitarian crisis
• Iran turns to old friends amid European exodus
• Turkey vows to remain in northern Iraq until end of all terror groups
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Africa
• Tunisia’s ‘Free Thinkers’ Take on Muslim Majority in David and Goliath Fight
• 52nd Division of Somali Army Says Killed 80 Al-Shabaab Fighters in Hiiraan Region
• Somalia: Al-Shabaab Says Killed 4 Soldiers in Attack on Somali Military Base in Bakool
• Boko Haram: Troops kill 23 terrorists in Borno
• Boko Haram: One terrorist killed as security agents repel attack in Adamawa community
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/kashmiri-youth-organises-dawah-programme/d/115534
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Kashmiri youth organises dawah programme to counter Islamophobia, present Islam’s true message
13/06/2018
Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, president of Islamic Fraternity, recently concluded his 9-day Dawah programme at tourist spot Sonamarg.
What was his purpose behind holding the event?
“To present the true image of Islam before the world particularly our non-Muslim brethren, who otherwise are misled by the forces inimical to Islam by their negative portrayal of this religion of peace, is our obligation,” Aamir told Kashmir Narrator.
“So, to dismantle the propaganda that the biased media has created over the period of time among the minds of common people is our prime responsibility which we tried to fulfill through this programme,” says Aamir.
Aamir says that his organisation particularly choose the tourist resorts so that their message reaches a wider audience and to hold maximum conversations with non-Muslim tourists.
During the campaign at Sonamarg and Pahalgam, hundreds of non-Muslim tourists interacted with volunteers of Islamic Fraternity, said Aamir.
“Hundreds of tourists expressed surprise as well as regret about the wrong perception they had about Islam. The response was more than expected,” said Sheeraz-ur-Rehmaan Al Qasami, who participated in the programme.
Hayat Ahmad, who was part of the programme, says that the usual misconceptions he came across among the non-Muslim brethren regarding Islam is that Muslims are terrorists, killers and treat women like slave.
“The misconceptions are meant to be cleared. And when it comes to Islam, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to clear the air,” he said.
“The task assumes much importance in the wake of the tirade launched against Islam the world over by its enemies who link it with terrorism and extremism notwithstanding the fact that Islam and terrorism are antonyms. Islam means peace and peace is what the world, which is mired in the quagmire of uncertainties, is in dire need of,” he added.
The youths who participated in this programme has further resolved to organise more such programmes after Ramadan across the valley.
http://kashmirnarrator.com/kashmiri-youth-organises-dawah-programme-to-counter-islamophobia-present-islams-true-message/
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Quantico: The Muslim Writer Targeted In Indian Episode Controversy
12 June 2018
A Bangladeshi American writer with no role in scripting a controversial Quantico plot implicating Indian nationalists in terrorism is the target of vicious attacks - including rape and violence - on social media platforms.
Sharbari Zohra Ahmed was on Quantico's writing team for just the first season and directly involved in scripting only two episodes - one independently and the other as a co-author.
Despite pointing this out repeatedly on her timeline, Hindu nationalists have trolled her relentlessly, many accusing her of being part of an Islamist propaganda against "peace-loving" Hindus.
One comment on Twitter said: "Care to explain your wildest fantasy while you wrote Quantico with Indians being masterminds of an attack? Does this stem from a deep-rooted bias, hate, anti-Hindu, pro-Islam conditioning of your fragile mind?"
Hyper-nationalist TV news anchors first accused the lead actor, Priyanka Chopra, of insulting India while also pointing fingers at a Bangladeshi American with "vested interests".
Ahmed says she hoped that once they realised she had nothing to do with the episode, the fury would die down. But it did not.
"The level of hysterics crescendoed very quickly," she says, adding, "It has grown really vitriolic with threats of rape and violence even toward people supporting me."
She says the angry voices cast her as the Muslim agent of a "diabolical anti-Indian and anti-Hindu propaganda machine that is deliberately spreading hate through this show".
"All they had to do was search Google or look at the screen credits to find out the facts," she says.
The episode, The Blood of Romeo, aired on 1 June in season 3, and showed the main character, Alex Parrish (played by Priyanka Chopra), stopping an attempted terror attack.
Though ostensibly planned by Pakistanis ahead of a summit about Kashmir, Chopra's character discovers it is in fact Hindu nationalists trying to frame the Pakistanis.
The strong reaction forced ABC, producers of the crime drama, and later Chopra to tender an apology. The Network also strongly defended Chopra but no such statement was issued for Ahmed.
Even though she had nothing to do with the scripting, the apologies came as a disappointment for Ahmed, who has previously also written strongly against the rise of radical Islam and raised her voice against atrocities on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
"I felt like they (ABC and Chopra) were capitulating to bullies. That's how fascism takes hold," she says.
She vented out her feelings on Twitter after she claimed Chopra's team had blocked her, an allegation that could not be verified independently by the BBC.
Hindu-majority India and a predominantly Muslim Pakistan have fought several wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir, and India holds Pakistan responsible for all major terror attacks on its soil.
But in the last few years the country has also witnessed a growing polarisation between Hindus and Muslims, who feel the Hindu nationalist BJP government of Narendra Modi does not speak for them.
Many Hindu nationalists have used social media platforms aggressively to intimidate voices that they feel show the country or Hindus in a poor light.
"It's a misplaced patriotism and nationalism that's now emblematic of a global phenomenon including the United states," says Ahmed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44458171
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Taliban launch fresh attacks as Afghan government ceasefire starts
June 12, 2018
KABUL: Taliban fighters killed a governor and took control of his district in northern Afghanistan as clashes broke out across the country, officials said on Tuesday, accusing the militants of defying the start of a government ceasefire with them.
There was intense fighting between Afghan security forces and Taliban gunmen in the northern provinces of Faryab and Sari Pal, with officials reporting an unspecified number of casualties on both sides.
The governor of Kohistan district in Faryab was killed along with eight others in an ambush overnight, provincial governor spokesperson Jawed Bidar, blaming the Taliban.
He said the militants had seized control of the district. That was confirmed by provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullah Khail.
The Taliban claimed the Faryab attack as well as one in Sayad district of neighbouring Sari Pul where provincial governor spokesperson Zabiullah Amani said fighting was still underway.
“Last night large numbers of Taliban attacked several villages the fighting continues and both sides have casualties,” Amani told AFP.
“We have asked for more reinforcements.”
A suicide bomber driving a Humvee and gunmen also attacked a district government building in the southeastern province of Ghazni overnight, killing five people, all police officers, and wounding 26, including the district governor, provincial governor spokesperson Arif Noori.
Noori blamed the Taliban for the attack, although no group has so far claimed responsibility.
“The ceasefire went on effect this morning,” interior ministry spokesperson Najib Danish said.
“We have ordered our forces to defend with all their power if they are attacked by an enemy that has no respect for anything.”
The Taliban said on Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces but only for the first three days of Eid, the holiday capping Ramazan, that begins at the end of this week.
They said they would continue attacking US-led Nato troops.
If it holds, analysts had expressed cautious optimism that the agreements could help build trust between the government and the Taliban and lay the groundwork for peace talks.
But with myriad armed groups in Afghanistan, there are still fears that IS could continue to carry out attacks or even be helped by the Haqqani Network, a brutal arm of the Taliban that is suspected of partnering with IS on attacks in Kabul in the past.
https://nation.com.pk/12-Jun-2018/taliban-launch-fresh-attacks-as-afghan-government-ceasefire-starts
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Dutch anti-Islam party to hold Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition
by Muhammad Irfan
June 12, 2018
AMSTERDAM – Dutch anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders has confirmed that a Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cartoon contest will be held in his party’s secure offices in Dutch parliament, after receiving approval for the event from security officials.
The divisive right-wing politician and leader of the country’s largest opposition party, the Freedom Party, took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce the news.
“Dutch Counter-terrorism Agency NCTV gives green light to Muhammad cartoon contest in secured PVV quarters of Dutch Parliament later this year,” Wilders tweeted, along with a Muhammad cartoon. “So that’s what we’re going to do and organize! With cartoonist/ex-Muslim Bosch Fawstin! Freedom of speech is most important of all!!” he wrote.
The announcement received a decidedly mixed reception from the Twitterati. While some responded with supportive cartoons, others questioned the wisdom of such an event.
“If we know that Muslims are offended by cartoons of the [prophet], why then do you choose to agitate them even more by doing this kind of ‘stunts’ to get attention for your cause. Surely there are more ways to address this issue?” an apprehensive Twitter user wrote.
Wilders, who has previously called for the Qur’an to be banned in the Netherlands and says Islam is a totalitarian faith, has long planned to host such a competition – but had previously been prevented from doing so.
He has attended a number of exhibits and events focused on mocking the Islamic prophet – usually billed as free speech events. In 2015, Wilders was a keynote speaker at a Mohammed cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, where two gunmen were killed after opening fire on a security officer. He later aired a slideshow on Dutch television of the cartoons from the Texas exhibition – after claiming that he had been barred from exhibiting the cartoons at the parliament.
American cartoonist Bosch Fawstin, the winner of the disastrous contest in Texas, has been asked to judge the Dutch contest.
Critics have accused Wilders of being an unscrupulous provocateur, and it appears that some are already bracing for the inevitable blowback from the cartoon contest.
“Good luck with your competition. I do hope that it won’t become such a mess as the one in Garland, Texas,” one Twitter user commented, in response to Wilders’ announcement.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/dutch-anti-islam-party-to-hold-prophet-muhammad-cartoon-competition/
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Shahbaz for resumption of peace talks with India
June 13, 2018
LAHORE: Following in the footsteps of the United States and North Korea, Pakistan and India should resume comprehensive peace talks, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif suggests.
“Singapore Summit between the US and North Korea should set a good precedent for Pakistan and India to follow. Ever since the start of Korean War, the two nations have been at odds with one another -- both threatening to use military force with their nuclear arsenals facing each other,” Shahbaz said in a tweet on Tuesday.
He further said: “If the United States and North Korea can return from the brink of a nuclear flashpoint, there is no reason why Pakistan and India cannot do the same, beginning with a dialogue on Kashmir whose heroic people have resisted and rejected Indian occupation.”
Asking India to leave behind the past acrimony and move forward, Mr Sharif said: “It’s time for comprehensive peace talks in our region. International community must focus on the peace process in Afghanistan. Dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir should also resume so that the long-festering Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions.”
As Shahbaz’s elder brother and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif often talks about ‘peace’ with India, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been critical of the Sharifs for what it calls not raising the Kashmir issue and Indian forces atrocities in the occupied valley.
The PML-N chief further said peace in Afghanistan was inevitable. He said Pakistan played an important role for peace in Afghanistan.
“After returning to power the PML-N will play its role for peace in the region, especially Afghanistan,” he added.
Earlier, Shahbaz questioned the PTI’s performance in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. He asked the PTI what happened to its promises regarding construction of 350 dams, 250 colleges, 1,000 stadiums, train projects and elimination of corruption in the province.
He also asked Imran Khan as why he awarded PTI tickets to so-called electables instead of the loyal party workers and also questioned his source of income.
Responding to Mr Sharif’s criticism, PTI’s spokesman Fawad Chaudhry claimed the party’s government eliminated corruption from every department in the KP. It also invested hugely in the education sector that would benefit the coming generations, he added.
He said the PTI government in KP made over a dozen hospitals and as many universities there.
“We turned the war-torn province into a better one through better governance,” he said and asked Shabaz to tell the people about his promise of ending power loadshedding which was still there.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1413716/shahbaz-for-resumption-of-peace-talks-with-india
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India
Eid ul-Fitr in India is Expected to Begin on the Evening of June 14, Thursday
June 12, 2018
Eid ul Fitr 2018 Date India: Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a religious tradition where Muslims abstain from food and water between dawn to dusk during the period. They follow the Islamic lunar calendar where the followers of the faith offer Eid prayers in Eidgahs and mosques on the first day of the month of Shawwal.
People observe roza (fast) during the holy month of Ramadan and people are already gearing up to celebrate Eid Al Fitr with great fervour and gaiety. This year, Eid ul Fitr in India is expected to begin on the evening of June 14, Thursday and end on the evening of June 15, Friday.
Eid festivities begin after the sighting of the crescent moon. According to the Sunnah, people wake up early in the morning and offer their daily prayers known as the Salat ul-Fajr. Then they take a bath and wear Ittar (perfume), have their breakfast before heading off to perform special congregational prayers known as Salat al-Eid (Eid prayers). Many Muslims recite the takbir (declaration of faith) on the way to the prayer ground and take part in Zakat al-Fitr or charitable contributions.
Prophet Muhammad is believed to have received the first revelation of the Holy Quran during this month. The exact date of Eid depends on a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. The time when Eid starts also depends on where you are in the world, and when the new moon is seen.
Every year, the dates of Ramadan and Eid change – as the Muslim calendar, which began when Prophet Mohammad migrated from Mecca to Medina (also known as Hijr) in 622 AD – is based on the phases of the moon. According to a Hadith attributed to Anas ibn Malik, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, the first Eid was celebrated in 624 AD after the victory of the battle of Jang-e-Badar in the Hejaz region of western Arabia.
http://indianexpress.com/article/religion/eid-ul-fitr-2018-date-india-when-is-eid-ul-fitr-in-2018-5214449/
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In Delhi's Jamia Nagar, Hindus Too Savour the Joy – and Income – That Ramzan Brings
Afshan Khan
June 13, 2018
New Delhi: Thirty-five-year-old Manisha, who is from Nepal, has been living with her family of six in the Jamia Nagar area of south Delhi since December 2017. She works in a house and her husband is a watchman in an apartment in Batla House. Their relatives from Nepal are engaged in the same profession.
She has five children – one son and four daughters. Four of them are enrolled in a school and the youngest daughter stays at home with her father.
Considering their financial situation, the family faces hardships throughout the year – except during the month of Ramzan, when she says they rarely have to worry about food and money.
People of Jamia Nagar are always friendly and kind to them, but Ramzan is their most cherished time because during the month, the children get to attend iftar feasts and enjoy the flavours of biryani.
“Each family in the apartment gives us Eidi, last year my children saved some money which they got on Eid,” she said.
Ramzan is going on and if one wishes to best experience the celebrations from sunrise to sunset, they should visit areas like Jamia Nagar.
The bustling streets of Batla House and Zakir Nagar speak of the flourishing business of merchants in this area. From a street vendor to a trader, everyone does well at this time. Heading straight from Batla House to Okhla main market, one will find hundreds of shops selling different items – 50 among which are owned by Hindu traders.
Shaina, who owns one such shop, says: “The month of Ramzan is the month of rahmat (mercy) for me. My business of tailoring does not double, but it grows ten times more than in normal days. I am up all night and day to sew dresses. I make a lot of money in this month.”
The demand for clay pots has declined drastically in both urban and rural areas, bringing down the business of pottery. Jamia Nagar has five to six families who are in this profession and have spent several decades in this locality. Fifty-year-old Parmeshwari, who has a shop on rent near the Batla House bus stand in Jamia Nagar, complains: “People know the significance of pottery, still they don’t want to spend money on it, there has been a tremendous loss in this business.”
When asked why she continue this business in Jamia Nagar, she says, “Beti, I spent my whole life in this area. I feel attached to this place because my forefathers lived here and ran the same business. This place is close to my heart. I can’t even imagine leaving this place. My children grew up here, they got educated, and I got my daughters married from here only.”
Parmeshwari then adds with a smile that while her business is slow in other months when only gullaks – piggybanks – are sold, during the holy month of Ramzan, people buy matkas, katoris and haandis for preserving things like milk, curd, kheer and sewai.
Eid is a special time for her because she is able to empty her stock.
On how she feels about the Muslims living nearby, she says that one should not start with the assumption that others are wrong. “Sometimes we have to look at ourselves. I have never quarrelled with them or acted in a wrong way, therefore no one has ever created any problem for us. We invite them on Holi and Diwali and they invite us on Eid. We join each other’s marriages too.”
Her daughter Geeta adds: “We spent our childhood with Muslims in this area. We never felt anything like Hindu-Muslim. We all are like family members. All my friends are Muslims and we share great bonding. They invite us on Iftar and Eid party. We support each other in every matter.”
“My father-in-law and his father’s family lived here but we have never come across any act of misbehaviour towards us by a single Muslim living in this area. My father-in-law and my son used to visit them and enjoy the seviyan and choley on Eid,” says Anarodevi, another potter in the same locality.
Bitta Devi, 58, has spent 45 years in Nai Basti, Jamia Nagar. She fries pakoras on the roadside and believes in self-employment with honesty. According to her, Muslims and Hindus share a beautiful relationship in this area. She is doing this business out of helplessness as her sons have stopped supporting her after her husband’s death.
Talking about the significance of this month, she says, “My business of pakoras flourishes in this month. People usually eat them at Iftar and almost every household in the locality enjoys my pakoras”.
Bhawna, 22, has been helping out at her mother’s small shop ever since her father died after a prolonged illness. According to her, her great grandfather stayed here and enjoyed his life to the fullest. She is enrolled in a graduate course at IGNOU and wants to study mass communication and become a radio jockey. She says that she has never experienced any communal tension in the area.
According to her, the old people never create such problems, her father and forefathers lived here peacefully with Muslims but today’s generation is a bit problematic, because they spend most of their time using internet and abusing each other.
According to Rajdulari, 47, who runs a shop, her children were brought up in the Muslim neighborhood of Jamia Nagar. “I never had to worry about them. They like the food of their Muslim aunts and the Muslim bachhe call me Maa; they love the food that I cook. Here I have spent my whole life, I experienced personal losses but every time the Muslims have stood by my family,” she says.
When asked if people have misbehaved with her or discourage her because is she running a shop despite being a woman, Rajdulari responds, “It has never ever happened with me here.”
According to the data collected from Jamia Nagar police station, Jamia Nagar is spread over 5-6 square km. The total population of area is about 12-14 lakhs – 98-99% of the population is Muslim. There are seven temples and 62 mosques in the area.
One of the specialties about the locality is that the Muslims support and cooperate with the Hindus in organising the Ramleela.
The Hindu population living near Nai Basti believes that they practice their religion without any constraints and during Navratra and Dussehra, celebrations in the area reaches their peak.
Full report at:
https://thewire.in/society/in-delhis-jamia-nagar-both-hindus-and-muslims-keenly-look-forward-to-ramzan
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Indian-Origin Michelin Star Chef Atul Kochar Blasted for Anti-Islam Tweet, Apologises
June 12, 2018
Dubai: An Indian-origin man who is the head chef of a popular Indian restaurant here is facing criticism for his "anti-Islam tweet".
Michelin-star chef Atul Kochhar of the Rang Mahal restaurant at the JW Marriot Marquis hotel received flak after taking a dig at actress Priyanka Chopra for her tweet over a "Quantico" episode that portrayed Hindu nationalists as terrorists, the Khaleej Times reported on Tuesday.
"It's sad to see that you have not respected the sentiments of Hindus who have been terrorised by Islam over 2,000 years. Shame on You (sic)," Kochhar tweeted on Sunday.
He later deleted the tweet and put out an apology, saying the "major error" was "made in the heat of the moment on Sunday".
"There is no justification for my tweet ... I fully recognise my inaccuracies that Islam was founded around 1,400 years ago and I sincerely apologise. I am not Islamophobic, I deeply regret my comments that have offended many," he wrote.
JW Marriot hotel distanced itself from the chef's comments.
"We are aware of the comments made by Chef Atul Kochhar. We would like to stress that we do not share the same views as stated in the remark, nor is it a representation of the culture of diversity and inclusion that we pride ourselves on at the hotel," the hotel tweeted on Monday.
The anti-Islam tweet created a furore on the social media, with twitterati calling for firing the chef.
Responding to the hotel's tweet, a Twitter user, Irena Akbar, said: "But now that there is a clear clash of values (your tolerance vs his bigotry), how can you carry on such a relationship? His contract should be snapped."
Full report at:
https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-origin-michelin-star-chef-atul-kochar-blasted-for-anti-islam-tweet-apologises-1776163.html
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Masjids, Madrasas not propagating real Islam in Kashmir: BJP leader
Amanjeet Singh
New Delhi
June 12, 2018
Hours after two Jammu and Kashmir policemen were killed and six security personnel were injured in twin pre-dawn attacks, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Youth Morcha leader, Aijaz Hussain put out a scathing post on Facebook.
In his post, Hussain wrote, "If killing innocent people is jihad , better change molvis of masjids & teachers in madrasas. we need introspection, real Islam is not been taught rightly in masjids and madrasas."
Hussain, the national vice president of the BJYM, speaking to indiatoday.in stated that he stood by his statement on Facebook and that being a Kashmiri, he was concerned about the situation in the region. He said, "We should introspect whether real Islam is being propagated or not."
The twin attacks coincided with the Shab-e-Qadr event when special night-long prayers are held in the month of Ramzan.
Aijaz claimed that the maulvies (clerics) are responsible for the widespread militancy in Kashmir. "These maulvies are responsible for 99 per cent of the terrorism in Kashmir. They have misguided the youth of Kashmir," he said.
"These people are bringing punks as Maulvis. People there (in Kashmir) should know about their agenda," Aijaz told Indiatoday.in
Giving the instance of one case in which a woman and her paramour, a cleric, were arrested for murdering her husband in Srinagar, Aijaz asked if clerics are involved in such shameful incidents then who will lead the prayers?
Aijaz said, "Policemen in Kashmir are earning to feed their families and militants are killing them. Tell me, is killing people for earning a livelihood jihad"?
Netizens, however, criticised Aijaz for his Facebook post.
Full report at:
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/masjids-madrasas-not-propagating-real-islam-in-kashmir-bjp-leader-1258242-2018-06-12
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Letter with bullets asks BJP's lone Muslim MLA in Assam to resign in 15 days
June 12, 2018
An FIR has been registered against unknown persons after Assam BJP MLA Aminul Haque Laskar received a letter, along with two bullets, directing him to leave the party within 15 days as he was a "Muslim", a PTI report stated.
The letter to Laskar, representing the Sonai constituency in Cachar district, came from an unknown group 'Save Secure and Development Protection Force of Muslim, Barak Valley Zone', police said.
"We have registered an FIR against unknown persons for a threatening letter to Laskar on Sunday. Two live cartridges of .32 pistol also came with the letter," Silchar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Indrajit Chakraborty said.
The case was registered under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
"I received the letter by post. It said the BJP and the RSS are communal organisations and they are working against the Muslims. So, being a Muslim, I should not be in that party," he added.
He said the letter told him to quit the party within 15 days.
Laskar, however, doubted the authenticity of the demand, saying it might be a handiwork of syndicate mafias involved in urea, drugs and land "against which I have been fighting".
Full report at:
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-letter-with-bullets-asks-bjp-s-lone-muslim-mla-in-assam-to-resign-in-15-days-446993
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2 cops killed, 6 injured in J&K twin terror attacks
M Saleem Pandit
Jun 12, 2018
SRINAGAR: Two policemen were killed and six others injured in two separate terror attacks in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Anantnag districts early on Tuesday.
At daybreak, terrorists opened fire at a guard post at Pulwama court complex in Kareemabad, killing two selection grade constables of Jammu and Kashmir Police — Ghulam Rasool Lone and Ghulam Hassan Wagay — and critically injuring another Manzoor Ahmad, who was hospitalized after the strike. The terrorists escaped with the service rifles of the killed cops after the attack.
Five CRPF men were wounded early on Tuesday when terrorists lobbed a grenade at a patrol party in Janglat Mandi area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag. The injured personnel were hospitalized and are in a stable condition, said official sources.
The attacks came right after ‘Shab-e-Qadr’ (night of power), the holiest night of Ramzan when Muslims participate in night-long prayers for penance and peace.
On Monday night, terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire at a Beacon camp in Anantnag’s Verinag area. One Beacon constable — identified as Pintu Sharma — sustained injuries in the attack and had to be hospitalized.
Last year on June 23, a deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir police — Mohammad Ayub Pandit — was stripped naked and lynched inside the Jamia Masjid complex in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area, even as separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was present inside the mosque.
Full report at:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2-cops-killed-6-injured-in-jk-twin-terror-attacks/articleshow/64562631.cms
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VHP members vandalise Taj Mahal’s west gate, say it blocks path to a 400-year-old Shiva temple
June 13, 2018
A group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) members tried to vandalise the west gate of the Taj Mahal on Sunday alleging that the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is blocking the way to a 400-year-old Shiva temple while constructing a closed area for the Taj Mahal.
A video footage of the incident shows VHP workers with hammers and iron rods trying to vandalise the western entrance of the Taj Mahal (on Basai Ghat) even as they removed the turnstile gate installed by the ASI. The right-wing activists were also raising slogans against them. However, police said there’s an optional path to the Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple on the Basai Ghat, but the right-wing members weren’t satisfied with the explanation.
Meanwhile, after the ASI lodged a complaint, an FIR was registered on the same day against five members of the VHP and the 20-25 of their unidentified associates for rioting, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty and under the section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act and section of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
“On Sunday around 25-30 activists from the VHP came near the western gate of the Taj Mahal and started vandalizing the newly installed turnstile gate for ticket collection for Taj Mahal and Saheli ka Burj. The protesters had hammers and iron rods with them. They removed the gate and threw it some around 50 metres from there. Soon the Taj safety police team reached there and stopped them from vandalising more property,” Taj Safety circle officer (CO) Prabhat Kumar said.
The FIR was later registered against VHP members Ravi Dubey, Madan Verma, Mohit Sharma, Niranjan Singh Rathore and Gulla and 20-25 other unidentified VHP members. No arrests have been made so far.
Talking to the Indian Express, VHP Brij Prant Vishesh Sampark Pramukh Ravi Dubey said they took this step as the ASI is removing all things related to the Hindu culture in and around the UNESCO World Heritage monument.
“Till around 15 years ago, there used to be satsang at the Saheli ka Burj on the western gate but it was stopped. Dussehra fair was also stopped near Taj Mahal. Earlier people used to celebrate Amla Nawami here inside the Taj Mahal premises near an Amla tree. That tree was also cut down by the ASI. There were so many other things people used to do here, but it all ended around 14-15 years ago during the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party rule. We cannot let this happen,” Dubey said.
Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/agra-vhp-members-vandalise-western-gate-of-taj-mahal-say-it-blocks-path-to-a-shiva-temple-5214760/
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North America
History, fasting and the festive spirit of Ramadan
June 12, 2018
Abed Awad
Tuesday is Day 28 in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Revealed to the Prophet Mohammed during Ramadan, Muslims believe the Quran is a mercy to humanity containing a guide to a righteous ethical life. “O believers, the fast is ordained upon you, as it was ordained upon those who came before you -perhaps you will fear God,” the Quran announced.
Fasting as a spiritual journey to cleanse the soul toward contentment and peace of mind is a common ritual in most religious traditions. Jews observe a full day fast on Yom Kippur. In addition to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Christians fast 40 days during Lent.
“[E]at and drink until the white streak of dawn can be distinguished from the black streak. Then complete your fast until night time,” God directed the believers. Muslims around the world refrain from food, drink (including water) and sexual relation from sunrise until sunset for the entire 30 days of Ramadan.
Because of the lunar Islamic calendar, Ramadan every year is 10 days earlier. This Ramadan sunset in New Jersey is around 8:20 pm. It is a very long fasting day but Muslims wake up shortly before sunrise to have Suhoor, a meal before starting the full day fast.
Fasting is not only from food and drink. You fast by refraining from gossip, anger and envy. You fast to seek forgiveness and to avoid committing sin. Fasting without purifying the soul of sin, Muslim scholars explained, would be spiritually useless and actually harmful. Fasting makes you relate to the poor and hungry, encourages spiritual focus, self-discipline and performing penance. This is God’s “clear signs to mankind perhaps they will grow pious.”
Muslims in America have been fasting since our founding. Islam is an indigenous American religion with deep roots. Estevancio or Esteban the Moor, a North African Muslim, arrived with the Panfilo de Narvaez expedition in 1527. William Brandon in The Rise and Fall of North American Indians considers Estevanico the discoverer of New Mexico.
A large percentage of African slaves brought to America were Muslim. Like Abdul-Rahman Ibn Ibrahima Sori, a West African Muslim Prince, enslaved in Mississippi in 1788. Fluent in Arabic, Abdul-Rahman sent a letter to his family in Africa that ended up with the Sultan of Morocco. After the Sultan requested his release, President John Quincy Adams freed Abdul-Rahman in 1836 -- after 40 years in slavery. Abdul Rahman’s story was the subject of the PBS documentary: "The Prince Among Slaves."
The most prominent early Anglo-American convert to Islam was Alexander Russell Webb. Converting to Islam in 1888, Webb changed his name to Muhammad Webb. He was a writer, publisher and the United States Consul to the Philippines. He published “Rutherford Times” in Rutherford, New Jersey. In 1893, he represented Islam at the first Parliament of the World’s Religions. Webb died in 1916 and was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Lyndhurst.
Michael Nash’s "Islam Among Urban Blacks: Muslims in Newark New Jersey" is a Newark history treasure trove. While Webb had established a Study Circle in Newark in the 1890s, Islam arrived to Newark in the early 1900s with North Carolinian Timothy Drew. Later changing his name to Noble Drew Ali, he established in 1913 the first documented Moorish American community in America, a community actively reclaiming its African Muslim heritage that was erased by the vicious institution of slavery. In the 1940s, the Moors wore their Fezs in Newark and Montclair without being harassed. Notably, Hesham Jaaber of Jehadi Institute in Newark performed the funeral prayer for Malcolm X.
Muslim immigration to America picked up after World War I. Estimated to be 3.5 to 8 million nationally, close to 400,000 Muslims live in New Jersey. There are more than 2000 mosques in America. Muhammad Webb had a short-lived mosque in Manhattan in 1890s. The oldest still existing mosque in America is the Mother Mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, constructed in 1934 by Arab Muslim immigrants from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.
Ramadan is a month to increase charitable giving. It is also a festive month, Muslims gather every night for Iftar -- break the fast and perform a Ramadan prayer every night called Taraweeh. Many Muslims spend the last ten nights of Ramadan immersed in all night worship known as ‘Itikaf. Ramadan concludes with a three-day celebration called Eid al Firt, which this year will be on June 15.
Take a ride down Main Street in Paterson around 8 p.m. and you will see the festive lights, the hustle and bustle of Ramadan shopping every day and families breaking fast at local restaurants. During Ramadan many Middle Eastern restaurants have delicious Ramadan buffets and make special holiday sweats. Experience Ramadan by going to grab an Iftar dinner in Paterson. Ramadan Kareem New Jersey!
https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/06/12/opinion-history-fasting-and-festive-spirit-ramadan/695711002/
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Paul Feig's production company greenlights Muslim-American series
June 12, 2018
Los Angeles, Jun 12 (PTI) Filmmaker Paul Feig's digital production company, Powderkeg, has greenlighted Muslim-American series "East of La Brea".
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the shortform show, which is the company's first original series, follows Aisha Hassan, a Black Muslim, and her Bangladeshi-American roommate, Farha Munshi.
Sameer Gardezi has created the show using a grant from the philanthropic fund Pop Culture Collaborative and working with MuslimARC to develop a project that is authentic to the Muslim-American experience.
Gardezi will also executive produce the series along with Powderkeg's Feig and Laura Fischer,
"The inception of this show is a story unto itself, but the stories told through this series are beautifully authentic, and we're so excited to partner on telling such a magnetic and diverse story," Feig and Fischer said in a statement.
Full report at:
https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/paul-feig-s-production-company-greenlights-muslim-american-series-1258505-2018-06-12
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Trump-Kim meeting will lead to lasting peace: Islamabad
SHAFQAT ALI
June 13, 2018
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday hoped that the meeting between the United States and North Korean leaders will lead to lasting peace and stability.
Earlier in the day, unprecedented and surreal talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un culminated with declarations of a new friendship but just vague pledges of nuclear disarmament.
“We both want to do something. We both are going to do something. And we have developed a very special bond,” Trump said at the conclusion of the landmark summit. “People are going to be very impressed. People are going to be very happy.”
The document Trump and Kim signed said the North Korean leader “reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” In exchange, Trump agreed to “provide security guarantees” to North Korea.
Foreign office spokesperson Dr Mohamed Faisal said Pakistan welcomed the meeting between the leaders of the US and North Korea and hoped that it would lead to lasting peace and stability in the region.
“Pakistan has consistently supported all efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the issues in the Korean peninsula,” he said. Pakistan, he said, also supported all recent Afghan efforts aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.
Chairman Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Mushahid Hussain said that Trump and Un’s meeting was a positive step. “Pakistan Senate Foreign Affairs Committee welcomes historic summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, dialogue among equals the only path to peace; after Korea, Kashmir must get global attention, world’s oldest armistice, people denied their inalienable right to self-determination,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Security Division Abdullah Hussain Haroon said that Pakistan recognized the role of the United Nations and its specialized agencies “as well as our partners in supporting child-related initiatives of the government of Pakistan.”
In a message on the World Day against Child Labour, he said “the World Day against Child Labour was significant in several respects at national and global levels as it is an important occasion to renew our shared commitment to promote and protect the rights of every child; to demonstrate our collective resolve to do everything necessary to eliminate child labour and to enhance international engagement and cooperation in this important filed.”
He said making a smooth transition from childhood to productive work for everyone was both essential and prudent. “This requires coordinated measures in the fields of education, nutrition, healthcare, vocational training, employment opportunities, and social protection. Such investments are key to a better future for our children and would constitute a net contribution to the realization of Sustainable Developments Goals,” he said.
Pakistan, Haroon said, was a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO core Conventions relating to Child Labour: Minimum Age Convention (No.138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No182).
“Our provinces have enacted substantive legislative and administrative measures with a focus on enforcement and to ensure that children are not forced into hazardous labour. Countering child labour is also among the priorities of Pakistan’s decent work country program for 2016-2020,” he said.
Haroon said apart from preventive measures, “our policy interventions seek to supplement labour rights by reforms in education policies. The federal and provincial governments are continuing to accord priority in terms of incentivizing school enrollment, provision of meals at school, and training teachers.”
Full report at:
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2018/trump-kim-meeting-will-lead-to-lasting-peace-islamabad
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South Asia
Wife says Shahzahan Bachchu’s name was on extremists’ hit list
June 12th, 2018
The motive behind the publisher’s killing is not clear yet
Shahzahan Bachchu, who was gunned down by yet unidentified assailants, has been a target of extremists for quite some time, according to the police and one of his acquaintances.
Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Munshiganj unit President SM Kamal said Bachchu’s killing was a planned one.
“His name was among the list of progressive personalities that the extremists had prepared for execution,” he said, citing the family of the victim.
He was the former Munshiganj unit general secretary of CPB.
A local, who declined to be named, said Bachchu was a free thinking writer. “I cautioned him repeatedly since his name was on the extremists’ hit list but he did not pay heed,” the man said.
Munshiganj Superintendent of Police Jayedul Alam said none had been arrested over the murder yet.
The motive for the killing could not be known yet.
“His wife told us that he had received death threats. Bachchu had informed his wife about the threats about a week ago but did not divulge details,” Jayedul said. “He never sought police protection.”
Several police teams and RAB are looking into the killing.
RAB 11 company commander Nahid Hasan Jony said the RAB headquarters and RAB intelligence were working on the case but added that no progress had been made yet.
“It could be the result of an extremist attack or family feud,” he said. “We can’t say anything for sure at the moment.”
PEN Bangladesh condemns murder of Shahzahan Bachchu
PEN Bangladesh strongly condemned the murder of Shahzahan Bachchu. A press release, published on Tuesday and signed by PEN Bangladesh’s President Syed Manzoorul Islam and Secretary General Mohammad Moheuddin, said the government to give highest priority to the investigation of the murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.
PEN Bangladesh also urged the government to take action "to promote and protect the rights of free expression of the people."
The statement also reads: “PEN Bangladesh believes that opinions and ideas can only be countered by opinions and ideas, and not by stifling thoughts.”
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2018/06/12/wife-says-shahzahan-bachchu-s-name-was-on-extremists-hit-list
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Taliban kill Afghan district governor
June 13, 2018
MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Taliban fighters killed a governor and took control of his district in northern Afghanistan as clashes broke out across the country, officials said Tuesday, accusing the militants of defying the start of a government ceasefire with them.
There was intense fighting between Afghan security forces and Taliban gunmen in the northern provinces of Faryab and Sari Pul, with officials reporting an unspecified number of casualties on both sides. The governor of Kohistan district in Faryab was killed along with eight others in an ambush overnight, provincial governor spokesman Jawed Bidar told AFP, blaming the Taliban.
He said the militants had seized control of the district. That was confirmed by provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullah Khail. The Taliban claimed the Faryab attack as well as one in Sayad district of neighbouring Sari Pul where provincial governor spokesman Zabiullah Amani said fighting was still under way.
"Last night large numbers of Taliban attacked several villages... the fighting continues and both sides have casualties," Amani told AFP.
"We have asked for more reinforcements." A suicide bomber driving a Humvee and gunmen also attacked a district government building in the southeastern province of Ghazni overnight, killing five people, all police officers, and wounding 26, including the district governor, provincial governor spokesman Arif Noori told AFP.
Noori blamed the Taliban for the attack, although no group has so far claimed responsibility. "The ceasefire went on effect this morning," interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said. "We have ordered our forces to defend with all their power if they are attacked by an enemy that has no respect for anything."
The attacks come as Pakistan's powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visits Kabul where he was set to meet with President Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan's military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said.
Pakistan has long been accused of supporting the Taliban and providing safe haven to its leaders - charges Islamabad denies.
Ghani on Thursday announced police and troops would halt hostilities with the Taliban for eight days - though he warned that operations against other groups, including Islamic State group, would continue.
The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces but only for the first three days of Eid, the holiday capping Ramadan, that begins at the end of this week.
They said they would continue attacking US-led NATO troops.
If it holds, analysts had expressed cautious optimism that the agreements could help build trust between the government and the Taliban and lay the groundwork for peace talks.
Full report at:
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2018/taliban-kill-afghan-district-governor
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Taliban supreme leader offers direct negotiations with the United States
Jun 13 2018
The Taliban supreme leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada has offered direct negotiations with the United States in a bid to end the ongoing conflict.
“The only path to rescuing ourselves from all these calamities is for all American and other occupying forces to leave our country and for an independent, Islamic, intra-Afghan government to take root. Our Jihad began for this exact purpose and in conjunction to our armed Jihad, we have kept the doors of understanding and negotiations open to reach this objective and appointed the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate as the exclusive avenue of activity in this regard,” Hebatullah said in a message released ahead of Eid.
He said “If the American officials truly believe in a peaceful end to the Afghan imbroglio then they must directly present themselves to the negotiation table so that this tragedy (invasion) – the destructive effects of which mainly harm the American and Afghan people – can be resolved through talks. The biggest mistake on part of the American officials is that they approach every problem with stubbornness but force cannot yield results in every case.”
This comes as efforts are underway to start negotiations for reconciliation, led and owned by the Afghans.
Full report at:
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-supreme-leader-offers-direct-negotiations-with-the-united-states-05361/
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Afghan forces to receive 50 helicopters from NATO in near future: Ghani
Jun 12 2018
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani says the Afghan armed forces will receive 50 helicopters from NATO in the near future.
Speaking to the officers and personnel of the 205th Atal Corps in Kandahar, President Ghani said the NATO-led Resolute Support will deliver 50 new helicopters to the Afghan armed forces in the near future and the other problems will also be resolved.
He also listened to the information and recommendation shared by the 205th Atal Corps and thanked them for their sacrifices while insisting on the justified efforts of the Afghan armed forces.
President Ghani also hailed the Afghan Air Force personnel for their efforts and issued necessary instructions for the promotion of the soldiers, sergeants, and officers.
In other parts of his speech, President Ghani thanked the personnel of the 205th Atal Corps for their justified demands to equip and strengthen the Afghan armed forces as he emphasized that such demands are not personal but aimed at the bolstering the capabilities of the armed forces.
This comes as efforts are underway by the Afghan government and the international partners of Afghanistan to bolster the capabilities of the Afghan armed forces, specifically the Afghan Air Force.
Full report at:
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-forces-to-receive-50-helicopters-from-nato-in-near-future-ghani-05358/
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Europe
Police arrest man over anti-Muslim letters sent to MPs
13 Jun 2018
A man has been arrested by officers investigating a series of letters calling for a “Punish a Muslim day”, police have said.
The 35-year-old from Lincoln was being held in a West Yorkshire police station on suspicion of conspiring and soliciting to commit murder, as well as sending a hoax noxious substance and threatening messages, after being arrested by officers from the north-east counter-terrorism policing unit.
Police said on Tuesday that they had carried out searches at a residential property in south Lincoln and an office building in the city centre.
Officers investigating the letters previously said they had been circulated among communities in South Yorkshire, Leicestershire and London, as well as in West Yorkshire. Recipients allegedly included the home secretary, Sajid Javid, who was serving as communities secretary at the time, and a host of Labour MPs.
“We take religious hatred extremely seriously and my officers will be carrying out a full and thorough investigation in response to these reports,” Det Ch Supt Martin Snowden, the head of the north-east counter-terrorism policing unit, said as he appealed for information in March.
“These letters seek to cause fear and offence among our Muslim communities. They also seek to divide us. Yet, in spite of this, our communities have shown strength in their response to such hatred and in their support for each other.”
Police said after the man’s arrest: “We understand that people may be concerned following this activity. However, we would like to reassure communities that this activity is a result of an ongoing, intelligence led investigation and was not in response to an immediate threat.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/13/police-arrest-man-over-anti-muslim-letters-sent-to-mps
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Breaking Fast In A Mini-Mall, Manchester Muslims Hope To Move Into New Mosque Soon
June 13, 2018
Seated around a folding table in a mini-mall just south of downtown Manchester, a group of Muslim men have just been Googling the time for sundown. It was 8:14 PM to be exact tonight. Everyone here is waiting to break their fast, which they’ve held since dawn.
Observers begin their Iftar meal, first eating a few dates as is tradition. Then it’s time to jump in the buffet line to really fill up a plate.
“The essence of the month is, try to do as good as you can,” says Mosfeq Talukder as he gets in line for a meal.
Talukder was born in Bangladesh and has lived in the U.S. for 30 years. Now he calls Manchester home with his wife and three daughters.
“It’s a very diverse place, we all get to share each other’s experience,” Talukder says. “We share everyone’s food. Everyone all becomes one in this community.”
That diversity is represented in the food served for this Iftar meal: chicken kebab made spicy in the Pakistani fashion, Moroccan couscous, baklava for desert.
A founding-member of the Islamic Society of New Hampshire says he estimates there are about seven thousand muslims in the Granite State.
“A lot of people don’t know it, but they’re curious and I think a lot of times we kind of fail to reach out to other communities and sort of build the overall community,” Talukder says. “Just because it’s hard. A lot of us don’t speak English very well. Some of us have accent that kind of deters us from getting involved in other communities.”
As this community has grown over the years, they’ve also started to outgrow this interim mosque in a space that originally housed retail stores. The Society has struggled to find a permanent home. Raising enough money has been an issue, so has resistance from from neighbors. This year’s holiday of Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, will be observed with prayer at a rented Gill stadium.
But Society trustee Saeed Ahmed says that might change for next year.
“So hopefully we’ll move in this year and it will become easier,” Ahmed says. “Because once people see it’s a reality, they might be more generous.”
Many people at the temporary mosque were excited by the progress made so far.
Near the entrance, Society Board President Mohamed Ewiess points to construction photos of their new place of worship on Bald Hill in Manchester. There’s a timeline, from foundation to steel skelton to brick exterior. Ewiess explains one part of the motivation behind this project, beginning in Arabic.
“If you build a mosque, or you help to build a mosque for people to get together and share peace and be able to practice their religion and worship god, Allah will build a similar mosque to you in heaven,” Ewiess says.
If everything goes right, Ewiess says they’re hoping to move into just the first floor of three at the new mosque by September. He says he’s looking forward to the serenity of the new space.
“It’s peaceful here, but the problem is, you still have some people shouts at you, you still have some people tells you stuff,” says Ewiess. “A woman goes outside and people try to harass them... So as a president, you still have that little tiny question mark: ‘What if something happens?’”
Ewiess imagines the day he can show people their new place of worship, decades in the making.
“Oh my god... When you go up, you have a balcony all over the building, like around,” Ewiess says. “So if you go out, you have beautiful, beautiful air, garden... green flowers.
Full report at:
http://nhpr.org/post/breaking-fast-mini-mall-manchester-muslims-hope-move-new-mosque-soon#stream/0
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Time not ripe for Iran, Hezbollah to leave Syria: Russian envoy to Lebanon
Jun 12, 2018
Russia’s ambassador to Lebanon says the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement and Iran, which have been helping the Syrian army in its counter-terrorism battles, should not withdraw from the Arab country until the elimination of all terrorists.
Speaking to the Beirut-based al-Nour radio station on Monday, Alexander Zasypkin dismissed calls by “the other camp” for Hezbollah and Iranian military advisory forces to pull out of Syria as an attempt to cause tension between Russia and its allies in Syria.
“It isn’t permissible and it isn’t allowed during these circumstances to discuss Hezbollah and Iran’s departure from Syria, especially since terrorism hasn’t been eliminated yet,” he said, according to a statement by Hezbollah.
Iran has been offering military advisory support to Syria at the request of the Damascus government, enabling its army to speed up its gains on various fronts against the terror groups. Hezbollah forces have also been aiding the Syrian government clear areas bordering Lebanon of terrorist groups.
Concerned over Syrian advances, the US and Israel, which support anti-Damascus terrorists, have called for Iranian advisors and Hezbollah’s fighters to leave Syria.
The Tel Aviv regime launches frequent attacks against targets inside Syria in what is widely viewed as an attempt to prop up the terrorist groups that have been suffering heavy defeats at the hands of Syrian soldiers.
There has been a hike in Israeli strikes since the collapse late last year of the Daesh terror group, something that significantly demoralized the other Takfiri militant groups operating against Damascus.
In one occasion, seven Iranian military advisors lost their lives as the Israeli aircraft violated Lebanon’s airspace to strike a Syrian army base in Homs Province in April.
Israel has also been providing weapons to anti-Damascus militants as well as medical treatment to Takfiri elements wounded in Syria.
Zasypkin further denied the rumors regarding the alleged tensions between the Russian military and Hezbollah along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
“The other camp is focusing on this issue to sow doubt and cause problems between the Resistance axis and Russia; and this is not acceptable,” he said. “The relation between Russia and the Resistance axis in Syria is a relation of cooperation.”
The Russian envoy further criticized the US presence in Syria as a major obstacle to resolving the crisis in the Arab country.
“The US presence in Syria is a major cause behind the complications in this country, as well as behind the failure to reach solutions,” he added.
US forces maintain significant presence in northern Syria, where they back Kurdish militants operating against the Syrian government. Washington has deployed around 2,000 troops to the Arab country.
Besides its unilateral military activities in Syria, Washington has also been leading a coalition of allies in a so-called fight against Daesh since 2014.
The strikes have on many occasions resulted in civilian casualties and failed to fulfill their declared aim of countering terrorism.
Damascus has on several occasions written to the UN, complaining that the US was flagrantly violating its sovereignty. The US supports militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad and has repeatedly attacked Syrian army positions.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564741/Russian-envoy-to-Lebanon-Alexander-Zasypkin
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Sweden: Sharp rise in attacks on mosques across Sweden
13th Jun 2018
By Atila Altuntas
STOCKHOLM (AA):- Attacks on mosques and Muslim gatherings increased by 10 times in 2017 in Sweden compared to previous year, according to a new report.
The Uppsala University report by Mattias Gardell said 38 mosques or Muslim assemblies had come under attack in Sweden in 2017.
Max Stockholm from the Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities, who financed the report, told Swedish TV SVT the attacks on mosques and Muslim assemblies is a threat on freedom of religion, which is established in the Swedish constitutional law.
“We are concerned over the attacks against Muslims and Jews,” he added.
Survey were sent to 173 Islamic congregations in Sweden, of which 106 replied. Well over half (59 percent) said they had been subjected to some kind of physical attack.
38 of the congregations said they suffered physical attacks during 2017, with some being subjected to them on several occasions. Types of attack included fires or attempts to start fires, stone throwing, property damage and graffiti.
Full report at:
http://muslimnews.co.uk/news/islamophobia/sweden-sharp-rise-attacks-mosques-across-sweden/
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Austria emerges as Europe's leader in Islamophobia
13 June, 2018
Earlier this week, Austria's far-right prime minister, Sebastian Kurz, decided to shut down seven mosques and expel 40 imams from his country. The official reason given was that a play about the Battle of Gallipoli was staged at a mosque managed by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation in Austria (ATIB) and Salafi control over the Arab Religious Community, which controlled the remaining six mosques. The imams, Austrian officials say, were expelled because they received financial support from abroad.
It would appear that the Austrian government's controversial decision, which was based on the country's recently adopted "Islam Law," represents a beginning. In other words, there will be more of what just happened. Hailed as a step to "combat political Islam and radicalization," the decision was not surprising since Kurz has been calling for a fight against political Islam.
Kurz is a known Islamophobe who pushed for a controversial headscarf ban at all levels of education, including universities, in April. Under his watch, his party, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), has moved away from its Christian Democrat roots and toward the far-right. Unsurprisingly, Kurz would like the European Union to terminate membership talks with Turkey.
The fact that the government in Vienna dared to close mosques and deport dozens of imams without even paying lip service to their alleged "terror links" is a bad omen. First, however, let us talk about Austria's intentions. The controversial decision made by Kurz's government this week is part of a broader attempt to bring the Austrian Muslim community's religious life under state control.
Officially, such efforts aim to prevent Muslim immigrants from coming under the influence of "radical Islam" in their native countries. In other words, this is an attempt to create an Austrian Islam in the name of "integration." The Austrian government wants to train imams at local universities and appoint them officially. As such, this is an attempt by the country with Europe's first "Islam Law" to take a concrete step toward the idea of "Euro-Islam." The problem with this approach, however, is that such decisions set in motion forces of exclusion rather than facilitate the integration of Muslims in Europe or Austria.
It makes room for Islamophobia within the political mainstream in Europe, marginalizes politicians that stress the importance of multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence, and perpetuates a discriminatory and racist political atmosphere that excludes Muslims. As we all know, this "struggle" against "radicalism" leads to nothing but more "radicalism" in the end. Austria emerges as Europe's leader in the area of Islamophobia.
European efforts to combat "radicalization" are misguided for a very obvious reason. Europeans seem to think that severing the Muslim community's links to their native countries is the answer. Immigrants from Tunisia or Turkey, however, won't become European, Germans or Austrians overnight because they have been deprived of their religious or national identity. Nor are Germans and Austrians eager to consider Muslims as Germans or Austrians. Quite the contrary, young people with no sense of belonging will be radicalized more easily.
For example, the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has been an effective safeguard against radicalization among Turks in Europe. The Turkish community's frequent contacts with their native country prevent them – especially conservative and religious individuals – from isolating themselves from their host society in an attempt to protect their identity.
Full report at:
https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/duran-burhanettin/2018/06/13/austria-emerges-as-europes-leader-in-islamophobia
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Pakistan
MMA a guarantee for national security: Baloch
June 13, 2018
MULTAN - Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) Secretary General Liaqat Baloch has said that the revival of MMA is a guarantee to national security and secular powers are afraid of alliance of religious parties.
Talking to the media here on Monday, he said that only MMA could offer solution to problems being faced by the poor people of Pakistan. He declared that the MMA would get the nation and country rid of American slavery and its candidates would win the election from across the country.
He warned that the seculars and liberals had jeopardized the Islamic identity of Pakistan and the only way to get rid of anti-religion powers is to bring religious people forth. He said that although Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, it still has laws made by the British.
He hoped that the decision of religious parties to contest election from one platform would prove the beginning of a change in the country. He asked nation to reject all those seculars and anti-religion people, who fleeced the country and nation for the last 70 years. He warned that the foundations of Pakistan were being dug and young general was being pushed into a quagmire by promoting obscenity in the society.
He asserted that the enforcement of Nizam-e-Mustafa was imperative to ensure national security. He asked people to give one chance to honest and God fearing leadership in 2018 election. He claimed that 85 per cent youth of the country wanted enforcement of Islamic code in the country. He said that the country could not be left at the mercy of thugs, thieves and looters of national wealth and the time had come to clear the society of this trash.
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2018/mma-a-guarantee-for-national-security-baloch
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Extended deadline for hearing in NAB cases to hit party: Nawaz
Malik Asad
June 13, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who has been facing trial in Avenfield properties, Gulf Steel Mills and Al-Azizia Steel Mills references, on Tuesday claimed that the recently extended deadline by the Supreme Court for the completion of proceedings against him would adversely affect his party (PML-N) performance in the July 25 general elections.
While appearing before the accountability court, Mr Sharif said the trial was being conducted at an unprecedentedly fast pace and there was not a single example of such speedy trial in the past and under direct supervision of a Supreme Court judge. Judge Mohammad Bashir of the accountability court explained to the former premier that there were precedents of appointment of monitoring judge and setting deadlines for disposal of cases.
The ex-premier then claimed: “I want this case should conclude as early as possible since I am also suffering. If the Chief Justice of Pakistan wants to regulate this case, he may transfer it before his own bench to give a verdict to hang me or send me to jail.”
The Supreme Court had issued direction to conduct proceedings even on Saturdays, he complained. The judge explained to him that the apex court in its order of June 10 never made it mandatory to conduct proceeding on Saturdays and it was left to the trial court’s discretion. “If they had left it on the accountability court, then the deadline should also be left to the discretion of this court,” Mr Sharif demanded.
Due to such pressures, he said, his lead defence counsel Khwaja Haris Ahmed filed an application to withdraw his attorney papers from the case. However, when the accountability judge asked him if he had engaged another lawyer, Mr Sharif said: “It is not easy to engage a lawyer in such tough conditions no one may agree to work under pressure.” Judge Bashir explained to Mr Sharif that he had not accepted the application of Advocate Haris for the withdrawal of vakalatnama. Therefore, he could convince his lawyer to take back his decision and resume work on the case, the judge added.
Mr Sharif, who also had assailed the judiciary during his press conference in Lahore on Monday, further complained before the accountability court that Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar’s remarks that for the sake of publicity he had moved applications for exemption from court appearance to visit his ailing wife. “This had really hurt me since I never had filed any such application before the CJP,” he said.
When additional deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi said that the court should conclude the reference within 30 days under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, the defence counsel for Mr Sharif, Amjad Pervez, said it was the prosecution that could not close its evidence despite the lapse of nine months and NAB had conceded before the Supreme Court that the defence counsel had not caused any delay.
When Mr Abbasi insisted the court start final arguments, Judge Bashir said: “Don’t try to overreact. We want to sort out this issue first.” Finally when the judge asked the defence counsel, Amjad Pervez, to start final arguments from Wednesday, Mr Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, who is also one of the accused persons, said she had to appear before returning officer for scrutiny of her nomination papers.
Subsequently, the court put off the proceedings till Thursday.
Earlier when accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir resumed the Avenfield reference proceedings, Mr Sharif asked for time to hire a fresh attorney, saying: “My lawyer has recused himself and so it is my fundamental right to engage a new lawyer of my choice. Since Haris was well-versed with the case, it is not easy for me to engage another lawyer at this stage.”
He said the SC had pressed for the early disposal of the references and that Advocate Haris had made it clear that he could not work in “such an environment”.
The accountability court judge explained to Mr Sharif that the SC’s observations and remarks were not part of the written order and “if Haris chooses not to reconsider his decision then you should engage a new lawyer” by June 19. He said the hearing of Al-Azizia reference would resume on June 19 when the defence counsel would be required to cross-examine the prosecution witness, Wajid Zia.
‘Pre-poll rigging’
While talking to the media persons before the court’s proceeding, Mr Sharif rejected rumours about his deal with the establishment to get rid from the NAB references. He said everyone knew why his conviction was needed before the general elections. “Isn’t this pre-poll rigging? My removal from PM House, party office and disqualification for life could not satisfy the ego of certain quarters and they want my conviction just before polling day,” he alleged.
The ousted prime minister said that the judiciary had relaxed the law of land for a military dictator retired Gen Musharraf who was allowed to contest elections, but an elected PM had been permanently barred from politics. Besides, he added, NAB had recently requested the interior ministry to place him on the exit control list.
Full report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1413872/extended-deadline-for-hearing-in-nab-cases-to-hit-party-nawaz
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Removal of PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari’s name from ECL irks NAB
Syed Irfan Raza
June 13, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The departure of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari aka Zulfi Bukhari to Saudi Arabia on Monday was a shocking development for the National Accountability Bureau as the anti-corruption watchdog was not informed why an accused on the Exit Control List (ECL) was allowed to leave the country.
Sources told Dawn on Tuesday that NAB was taking the issue seriously and was looking to respond to the matter.
NAB was also surprised whether the interior ministry had referred the case of Zulfi Bukhari to a special committee of the ministry which decided the cases of ECL.
According to a letter issued by the interior ministry, one-time “permission” was given to Mr Bukhari for six days for performing Umra.
The letter sent to the director general of immigration and passports said: “It has been decided to grant one-time permission to Mr Syed Zulfiqar Hussain Bukhari son of Syed Wajid Hussain Bukhari (CNIC No-61101-9752485-7) GBR passport No-518157071, for a period of six days. The DG immigration and passports is requested to take further necessary action accordingly under intimation to this ministry and FIA.”
On Monday, a special flight to Madina — in which PTI chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra, PTI’s another leader Aleem Khan and his wife and Zulfiqar Bukhari were travelling — was delayed by an hour because Mr Bukhari’s name was on the ECL, and he was not initially allowed to travel by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) and immigration staff at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, which has recently been closed down after new Islamabad International Airport became functional.
Later the flight was allowed to leave with Mr Bukhari on board.
Interestingly, PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry condemned FIA’s action and said: “The incident was all due to a misunderstanding by the FIA immigration staff as they had confused Mr Bukhari with someone on the ECL with a similar name.”
He said Zulfiqar Bukhari was not a Pakistani citizen and had nothing to do with local laws.
But the FIA director told Dawn that Zulfiqar Bukhari was in fact on the ECL and that he was allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia when he sought permission from the interior ministry for travelling for “one time”.
Sources in NAB said Mr Bukhari was accused of owning an offshore company and having assets beyond his known sources of income.
They said following directions of the Supreme Court to take action against all those who owned offshore firms, NAB had served three notices to Mr Bukhari to appear before it.
“However, Mr Bukhari ignored the notices and did not appear before NAB,” they added.
The sources said if Mr Bukhari did not return to the country and escaped from NAB the bureau would take necessary action and would tell the Supreme Court that he was allowed to leave for Saudi Arabia by the interior ministry.
NAB is also considering issuing arrest warrant for Mr Bukhari as the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, empowers it to do so if the accused does not appear before it after receiving three notices.
The sources said under the law if the interior ministry wanted to remove anyone from the ECL it had to consult the relevant organisation under whose application the accused had been placed on the ECL.
They said an inquiry against Mr Zulfi was under way and it would be mentioned in the inquiry that he had been permitted to leave by the interior ministry without prior intimation to NAB.
Chartered flight costs Rs10 million
Mr Khan went to Saudi Arabia in a chartered aircraft that cost Rs800,000 per hour, according to Geo News.
The PTI chief chartered a 10-seater aircraft, Challenger 604, of private aviation firm Princely Jet. The plane first flew to Lahore from Islamabad to bring Mr Khan’s family to Islamabad.
Quoting Civil Aviation sources, the channel said that the total duration of Mr Khan’s flight was 13 hours with an estimated expense of around Rs10 million. The expenses include the fare of the aircraft as well as fuel charges, etc.
However, in a talk-show on ARY News, PTI leader Faisal Vawda claimed that the jet was chartered by the party for the entire election campaign.
Full report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1413866/removal-of-pti-leader-zulfi-bukharis-name-from-ecl-irks-nab
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100-year-old woman to stand against Imran Khan in Bannu's NA-35
June 12, 2018
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is going up against a female centenarian in the contest for NA-35 seat during the July 25 general election.
100-year-old Hazrat Bibi has decided to challenge the PTI chief in the constituency that covers Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Besides NA-35, Bibi has submitted nomination papers to compete for the provincial assembly seat of PK-89 in Bannu. She will stand in the poll as an independent candidate.
Examine: The women who win
The forthcoming election is not Bibi's first attempt at entering the path of lawmaking — in fact, she has contested in elections five times in the past as well, but was unable to win any.
She has vowed to serve the people of her constituency if she wins the election.
"I will pay extra attention to education for girls if I end up succeeding," Bibi, who is a known personality in her area, promised.
PTI district president Matiullah Khan and leader Malik Khalid Khan had filed Imran Khan's nomination papers for NA-35 with the local returning officer on Monday.
Full report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1413668/100-year-old-woman-to-stand-against-imran-khan-in-bannus-na-35
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Elders to move court against Fata Interim Governance Regulation
June 12, 2018
LANDI KOTAL: The elders of different major tribes of Khyber region have decided to move court against the newly promulgated Fata Interim Governance Regulation and merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after Eidul Fitr.
The decision was taken during a jirga, which was attended by prominent elders of Afridi, Malagori, Shinwari and Shalman tribes. The jirga was held at the jirga hall of Khyber House, the office-cum-residence of deputy commissioner of Khyber tribal agency.
The jirga rejected merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that the decision was not in line with the promises made by the army chief and other high ranking government officials and politicians. They said that they had assured the tribal elders that their consent would be incorporated in any decision regarding future status of tribal areas.
“The merger of Fata is not even in the best interest of the country as it has been imposed at the behest of foreign powers,” said the participants of the jirga. They added that the merger confronted people of the region with an uncertain situation.
The jirga also took exception to the abrupt abolition of agency development fund and contended that suspension of the fund would affect a number of public welfare and charity projects initiated by the political administration in different parts of Khyber. The participants of the jirga said that abolishing of quota for tribal students in various professional institutions and colleges would affect the future of poor students of the region as they would not be in a position to compete on open merit with students of the developed districts of the province.
Full report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1413632/elders-to-move-court-against-fata-interim-governance-regulation
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Peace initiative expected to bring more cooperation between Pak, Afghanistan: COAS
June 13, 2018
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday reiterated his support for peace in Afghanistan and said that the recently agreed Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS) is expected to bring more cooperation and coordination between the two countries.
General Bajwa was on a short trip to Kabul during which he had an exclusive one-on-one meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, followed by delegation-level discussions. The COAS also held meetings with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Commander General John Nicholson.
The COAS congratulated Afghanistan authorities on recent peace initiatives especially in respect of the holy month of Ramazan/Eid and wished that these steps gain more of permanence ultimately leading towards an enduring peace.
The discussions encompassed a wide range of issues especially the ongoing efforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan, measures needed to check the rise of ISIS and the issue of terrorists taking benefit of the porous border to indulge in terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking, being often networked together.
General Bajwa reiterated that it is the regions and not countries that develop for which peace and development remain quintessential. He added that having attained relative peace and stability inside Pakistan, efforts are now focused towards socio-economic development as a route towards enduring peace and stability.
Referring to border fencing, the army chief said that this is an obstacle for checking terrorism and not between people of both sides.
The Afghanistan president thanked Bajwa for his visit and recent security initiatives undertaken for peace and stability. The president shared the contours of his vision about regional development, efforts to extend ongoing temporary ceasefire and steps related to creating conditions for reconciliation.
The Afghan chief executive also thanked COAS for his visit and APAPPS initiative.
Both sides agreed that while results of the bilateral initiatives are extremely important, and even more important is the continuity of the processes to achieve the end state objectives.
Talking to RSM Commander General Nicholson, the army chief said that Pakistan desires that US/NATO forces succeed and leave behind a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
Earlier, upon arrival at the presidential palace, the COAS was presented a guard of honour. The foreign secretary, ISI director general, Pakistan’s ambassador in Afghanistan and other senior officials accompanied General Bajwa while Afghan NSA and senior ministers including NDS officials were a part of Afghan delegation.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa had left for Kabul earlier on Tuesday. The invitation was extended by the Afghan president, ISPR Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted.
Full report at:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/06/12/apapps-initiative-expected-to-bring-more-cooperation-between-pak-afghanistan-coas/
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JI concerned over ‘increase in street crimes’
June 13, 2018
KARACHI - The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Tuesday expressed severe concerns over increasing numbers of street crimes and robberies in the city and demanded of the law enforcement agencies to protect life and property of the citizens.
In a statement issued here, the JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said that the citizens face mental agony as the robbers once again got free hands.
“The robbers started looting those who go out for Eid shopping, snatching their cash and mobile phones but the police have become a silent spectator. The increase in street crimes is ineligibility of the government and the police,” he added.
The JI chief said that the Karachiites are already down in the dumps due to unavailability of water and electricity and now this lawlessness had added their miseries.
He said that after the targeted operation, there was some sort of improvement was witnessed in law and order situation but now the robbers and street criminals once again surfaced on the scene. Due to this lawlessness, the common man faces insecurity as well as business community were facing hardship.
Speaking on the alleged lethargy of police in making strong cases against the arrested criminals, Naeem said that the police use to make weaker cases against the criminals who eventually get acquittal owing to feeble cases.
Full report at:
https://nation.com.pk/13-Jun-2018/ji-concerned-over-increase-in-street-crimes
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Arab World
What were Qasem Soleimani and Khamenei's son doing in Baghdad?
12 June 2018
Just hours after a storage site housing ballots from Iraq’s parliamentary election caught fire, the Iranian ambassador to Iraq has invited on Sunday Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the Iranian Supreme Leader, and Qasem Soleimani, senior Revolutionary Guard officer, for an Iftar meal at the embassy headquarters.
The Iftar feast was also attended by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who heads the State of Law coalition, and Hady al-Amri, head of the Fatah List.
Sources speaking to Al Arabiya English on condition of anonymity said that the Iftar feast prepared by the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad included senior Iranian leaders as well as leaders from Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilization Movement, along with other officials from Al-Maliki and Al-Amri alliances.
Talks during the Iftar meal were mainly focused about the future of selecting the those who will be part of the majority bloc which will be tasked to shape the upcoming government.
The talks mentioned plans to form a coalition that includes the State of Law bloc led by al-Maliki, which has 29 seats, in addition to Al-Fateh with its 48 seats, the Kurdish blocs with 43 seats, along with some other small blocs that intend to merge with the State of Law coalition.
All will form an alliance with more than 120 seats, while direct talks are being conducted with leaders of the Victory Coalition, led by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi, to join to the coalition, in order to reach 175 seats.
This presence of Iranian officials, the sources said, reflect the blatant Iranian meddling in Iraq’s national affairs, with aims to form a coalition majority of more seats than that of Moqtada al-Sadr's list, which has 120.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2018/06/12/What-was-Qasem-Soleimani-and-Khamenei-s-son-doing-in-Baghdad-.html
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More Civilians Killed in US Air Raid in Northeastern Syria
Jun 12, 2018
The warplanes struck residential areas in the village of Tal al-Shayer in Southeastern Hasaka, killing 12 villagers and wounding two more from a single family.
Syria's state news agency, SANA, quoted local sources as reporting earlier today that the US fighter jets pounded a school in the village of Khoweiberah Southeast of al-Shadadi region on Monday, killing 18 Iraqi refugees.
SANA further said that most of the victims were children and women.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970322000937
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New FSA-Affiliated Terrorist Group Formed against Syrian Army in Aleppo
Jun 12, 2018
Field sources in Aleppo reported on Tuesday that the terrorists in the region formed a new militant group named Kata'eb al-Majd affiliated to the FSA.
They added that the group consists of 2,000 militants, noting that it aims to attack the army positions in Aleppo and reoccupy the city.
Meantime, Abdolkarim al-Jassem nom de guerre Abu Laser was appointed as the terrorist group's military commander and Ahmad Fatouh has been declared as the group's top commander.
In a relevant development on Sunday, terrorist groups in Idlib and Aleppo provinces engaged in a fresh round of infighting amid intensified assassination operation that left a number of militants dead or wounded.
Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) stormed the positions of the rival terrorist group of Syria's Liberation Front in the small town of Abin in Western Aleppo that inflicted major casualties on both sides.
In the meantime, a number of Tahrir al-Sham members were killed and wounded after a bomb-laden motorcycle blasted at an al-Nusra base in al-Saharah settlement in Idlib province.
Full report at:
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970322000968
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Turkish Army Sends Large Group of Allied Militants to Northern Syria
Jun 12, 2018
The sources said that almost 800 Ankara-affiliated militants called National Police that had gone under military-security training in Turkish territories were sent to Afrin on Monday.
The sources further said that the newly-forwarded group was the second group of National Police that entered the region, adding that the police will shoulder security affairs in Afrin.
Infighting among Ankara-backed militants and looting of people's assets have gone high after two of months of occupation of Afrin by Turkish troops.
In the meantime, local sources in Afrin reported that al-Shamiyeh Front captured tens of civilians in Ma'abatli region on Monday, adding that al-Shamiyeh gunmen opened fire at people that opposed arrest of civilians in Ma'abatli.
Kurdish-language Hawar news quoted Salahuddin Sino, a member of Afrin Artifact Department, as saying on Monday that the army and Ankara-backed militants were looting historical artifacts of Roza Site in the village of Tarmisha in Shih region in Afrin.
He further told Hawar news that the Ankara forces forced the villagers to leave the region and did not allow anyone to return to the region.
Sino said that the Turkish forces embarked on excavation operation in the entire historical areas in Roza Site and stole valuable artifacts.
Sino further pointed to the destruction of tens of historical sites in Afrin, adding that the army destroyed fifty percent of Tal Ayndara Temple, which was one of the most important historical sites in Afrin listed in the UNESCO list, in the early days of aggression against the Kurds in Northwestern Aleppo.
Full report at:
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970322000547
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Iraq’s Sadr and Amiri announce political alliance
12 June 2018
Nationalist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iranian-backed militia chief Hadi al-Amiri, who won first and second place respectively in Iraq’s May parliamentary election, announced on Tuesday an alliance between their political blocs.
The announcement came at a joint press conference in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, state television said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he opposed any repeat of the May 12 parliamentary election, and warned that anyone who tried to sabotage the political process would be punished, after allegations of electoral fraud raised tensions.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/06/12/Iraq-s-Sadr-and-Amiri-announce-political-alliance.html
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Egypt raises electricity prices, cuts subsidies
12 June 2018
Egypt announced on Tuesday new cuts to electricity subsidies, raising prices by an average of 26 percent from July, the latest in a raft of tough economic reforms.
Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker said electricity costs for factories would rise by 42 percent and for households by 21 percent.
Egypt has committed to deep cuts to energy subsidies and other tough fiscal measures as part of a three-year, $12 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program begun in 2016.
The government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, re-elected for a second term this year, intends to take further tough measures, including fuel subsidy cuts expected in the summer.
Egypt’s economy was hit during the years of unrest following the 2011 popular uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
The IMF has praised Egypt’s economic reforms, which included a currency float in 2016 that halved the value of the pound.
Economists see some grounds for hope in reviving the economy, pointing to indicators such as GDP growth, which rose to 5.4 percent in the third quarter of 2017-2018, up from 4.3 percent during the same period the previous fiscal year.
Egypt’s fiscal year runs from July to June.
The government has said electricity subsidies will be phased out completely by the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
Egypt will be “forced to increase administered prices by more than it otherwise would have done in order to meet IMF mandated fiscal targets,” Capital Economics said in a report in May.
It said fuel price rises would have to rise by 60 percent in July to keep the subsidy reform program on track.
Many ordinary Egyptians have been hit hard by the austerity measures, especially the currency devaluation. But the moves are seen as vital to improve the battered economy, however.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/06/12/Egypt-raises-electricity-prices-cuts-subsidies.html
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Syrian army boosts air defenses near Golan frontier
12 June 2018
The Syrian army has reinforced its anti-aircraft defenses near the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, a commander in the regional alliance that backs President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday.
Additional defenses are set to be deployed in the coming days, the commander told Reuters. The stationing of the Russian-made Pantsir S1 weapon aims “to renew the air defense system against Israel in the first degree”, added the commander, a non-Syrian who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Syria’s multi-sided war has pivoted towards the southwest in recent weeks, risking escalation in an area of major concern to Israel where the conflict has been contained since last year by an agreement underwritten by the United States and Russia.
Last month, Israel accused Damascus-allied Iranian forces of launching a rocket salvo across the frontier, triggering ferocious air strikes into Syria against what Israel described as Iran-backed positions.
The Syrian government has separately been preparing an assault on rebels who hold territory at the border with Israel and Jordan. This led Washington last month to warn of “firm and appropriate measures” against any ceasefire violations.
The commander said preparations for the government offensive in the southwest were complete but government forces were now working to finish off a pocket of Islamic State militants near the government-held town of Sweida.
Israel wants Iran-backed forces such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah kept away from its frontier and removed from Syria more widely. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said last week the group would stay in Syria as long as Assad wanted it there.
Rebel forces in southwestern Syria have played down the prospects of a government offensive in the area, saying the United States and Jordan are committed to upholding the “de-escalation” agreement with Russia.
But they have also prepared for the possibility of an attack. A rebel commander in the southwest, Colonel Nassim Abu Arra of the Youth of Sunna Forces, told Reuters that opposition forces had formed a joint military leadership on Monday.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2018/06/12/Syrian-army-boosts-air-defenses-near-Golan-frontier-.html
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Saudi Supreme Court calls on citizens to report sighting of crescent moon
12 June 2018
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has requested residents who sight the crescent moon of the Islamic calendar month of Shawwal on Thursday evening to report it to the nearest court or register their testimony.
Saudi Arabia and Muslims around the world are eagerly awaiting the crescent moon sighting as it will determine what day Eid al-Fitr will fall, ending the holy month of Ramadan and the fast of millions of Muslims.
The court also called on those interested to join the sighting committees that are in different locations.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/06/12/Saudi-Supreme-Court-calls-on-citizens-to-report-sighting-of-crescent-moon.html
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Arab coalition condemns Houthi threat against relief organizations
12 June 2018
The spokesman for the Arab coalition in Yemen, Colonel Turki al-Malki, condemned the Houthi threat against relief organizations and voiced the importance of protecting relief workers.
During a press conference on Monday, Malki said the Arab coalition issued hundreds of decisions not to strike any targets during relief operations out of concern for relief workers’ safety.
Malki also said that legitimate forces in Yemen are preparing to cut the Houthis’ route of supplies towards Saada.
He also played a video that showed the destruction of Houthi capabilities in Yemen such as destroying a missile launcher in Saada and a factory to manufacture drones in Hajjah and targeting Houthis in Al-Jawf axis.
Residents on the west coast launched a campaign to remove Houthi slogans, he also said, hinting that the Hodeidah Port has become a spot to smuggle weapons to the Houthis.
Malki also commented on the Houthis’ launch of four ballistic missiles towards Saudi Arabia during the past two months, adding that one of these missiles fell in Yemen.
According to Malki, there was an attempt to smuggle forged money and passports to the Houthis in Saada to help them flee the country.
Forged money which nominal value is worth around $22 million and more than 5,000 passports en route to Houthi commanders and their families in Saada were confiscated.
Malki also denied that the coalition targeted any medical facility affiliated with Doctors Without Borders in Yemen on Monday.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/06/12/Arab-coalition-condemns-Houthis-threat-against-relief-organizations.html
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Iraq's Sairoon, Fatah political parties announce alliance
Jun 12, 2018
Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and head of the country’s Badr Organization Hadi al-Amiri have announced a political alliance between their parties.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a joint press conferences held in the Iraqi city of Najaf.
Sadr's Sairoon bloc won 54 out of 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament. The Fatah (Conquest) alliance, led by Badr Organization Secretary General Hadi al-Ameri, and Abadi's Nasr (Victory) coalition finished second and third with 47 and 42 seats, respectively.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says that he is opposed any rerun of the May 12 parliamentary election, and warned that those who try to disrupt the political process would be punished.
“The matter is exclusively in the hands of the judiciary, not politicians. The government and parliament don’t have the power to cancel the election,” he said.
On Sunday, the storage site housing ballot boxes from Iraq’s May parliamentary elections caught fire ahead of a recount.
On Monday, Iraqi state television announced that three of the suspects are members of the country's police force while the other is a employee of the Independent High Elections Commission.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi parliament has voted in favor of a manual recount of votes in the country's May 12 parliamentary elections.
The announcement came a few days after Abadi ordered the creation of a high-powered commission to look into the alleged irregularities in the parliamentary elections.
An official statement said a recent cabinet meeting chaired by the premier had named the Iraqi anti-graft chief as the head of the commission.
The statement further suggested that hackers may have manipulated the election results.
At the time, Sadr rejected calls for an election rerun, warning Iraqis about breaking out of a possible “civil war.”
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564797/iraq-sadr-amiri-alliance
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Syrian army enhances air defense near Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
Jun 12, 2018
The Syrian army has reinforced its anti-aircraft defense systems in the country’s southwest near the border areas of Golan Heights against potential attacks from Israel, a pro-Syrian government commander says.
The commander, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Tuesday that the army plans to deploy additional defenses in the coming days.
The Syrian army has stationed Russian-made Pantsir S1 weapon in an attempt to "renew the air defense system against Israel in the first degree," the commander said.
Meanwhile, the Syrian army forces are gearing up for an offensive against militant groups at the border with Israel and Jordan.
The commander noted that grounds are fully prepared for the offensive in the southwest, but government forces currently focus on eliminating a pocket of Daesh Takfiri terrorists near the government-held southern town of Sweida.
Israel wants Syrian allied forces such Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement away from the Golan Heights, but Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says the group will maintain its presence in Syria as long as Damascus wants them to do so.
Earlier this month, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mualem said Damascus seeks to liberate the country’s southwestern areas from militant groups through a settlement, under which the insurgents can either accept the government’s rule or withdraw from the area.
The Israeli regime waged a full-scale war against Arab territories in 1967, occupying the West Bank, Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms, and the mountainous Syrian region of Golan Heights.
Back on May 10, Israel conducted what it called its most intensive airstrikes on Syria in decades. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Israel had used 28 warplanes in its Syria strikes and fired 70 missiles. Both Damascus and Moscow said that the Syrian army managed to shoot down over half of the missiles.
The Tel Aviv regime, at the time, claimed that its assault was a response to a barrage of 20 rockets that were fired from Syria at Israeli military outposts in the occupied Golan Heights. It also blamed the purported rocket fire on Iran.
Over the past few years, Israel has frequently attacked military targets in Syria in what is considered an attempt to prop up terrorist groups that have been suffering heavy defeats against Syrian government forces.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564789/Syria-Golan-heights-israel
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Saudi air force intercepts Houthi-launched missile against Jazan
June 13, 2018
DUBAI: The Saudi Air Defense Force intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militias from Saada province, Yemen, towards Saudi territories, UAE state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
The official spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, stated that at 3:46am the Saudi Air Force intercepted a missile launched by the Iran-aligned rebels against the Saudi city Jazan.
Al-Maliki explained that the missile was heading towards Jazan and was deliberately launched to target civilian and populated areas.
“Such hostile acts by the Iran-backed Houthi militias prove the continuing involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthi militias with qualitative capabilities in a flagrant and explicit violation of the two UN resolutions No. 2216 and 2231 with the objective of threatening the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the regional and international stability.”
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1320666/saudi-arabia
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Southeast Asia
PM: Pakatan government to run country based on Islamic values
04 June 2018
By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
PUTRAJAYA, June 4 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the new government will continue to run the country based on Islamic values, and denied claims that the Pakatan Harapan administration will not continue protecting Islam.
Speaking before 2,000 Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members at the party’s breaking of fast event, the party chairman said there were leaders who had claimed they upheld Islam but had instead conducted practices that were against the teachings of Islam.
“Some said that we will not protect Islam, but this is not true because we are responsible in governing the country without going against Islamic teachings.
“There were many who claimed they had protected Islam and said they uphold the religion, but they were found to have done things against Islamic teachings.
“This is why we will not hesitate to execute an administration with policies based on Islam and prove that their policies had not followed Islamic teachings,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to the former ruling government under Barisan Nasional.
Dr Mahathir pledged that the government will be formed according to the laws and the Federal Constitution, without going against Islam.
“This is our view. We will get to revive our country and find means to decrease the national debt so that it would not be a burden in our future,” said Dr Mahathir in his speech on his 26th day since becoming prime minister.
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1638351/dr-m-government-will-continue-to-safeguard-islam
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Indonesia put on terror alert ahead of Eid al-Fitr
June 12, 2018
Indonesian police chief Tito Karnavian has warned of terror attacks and ordered increased security at places of worship, as millions of Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid al-Fitr — the end of Ramadan this week.
Vigilance has been a priority since deadly terror attacks on three churches in Surabaya, East Java province last month, which killed 27 people, including 13 terrorists, he said.
"We have to stay alert for the terrorism threat after the bombings in Surabaya," he said June 10.
"We need to be vigilant because terrorists consider an attack during Ramadan as having greater impact," he added.
Since the Surabaya bombings involving members of two families, police have maintained an anti-terrorism drive that has seen the arrest of 96 suspects and 14 others killed, Karnavian said.
In East Java province, the police have deployed 2,650 officers to maintain security during Eid al-Fitr on June 14-15 through June 24.
Surabaya city government has also upped security at 95 churches in the city center and other houses of worship.
"We will conduct regular patrols to review security at these places," Eddy Christijanto, head of city's Public Order Agency told ucanews.com.
"We have also reminded all citizens to immediately report suspicious activity," he added.
Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, chairman of the youth wing of Muhammmadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization, said his members would work with police to secure mosques and churches.
"With the threat of terror attacks, I would urge Muslims to celebrate Eid al-Fitr calmly," he said.
On the Catholic majority Island of Flores, Doni Parera, a Catholic activist in Borong, East Manggarai regency said Catholic youths would help ensure the safety of Muslims during this week's celebrations.
"As they will use an open field to pray in at Eid al-Fitr, we will help them maintain security," he said.
"It is a part of our commitment to show religious tolerance in the midst of rising religious violence," he said.
Since the end of last week, millions of Indonesians have left cities and returned to their villages for the annual homecoming at the end of the fasting month.
The government estimates 8 million people will go home for Eid al Fitr this year.
Full report at:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesia-put-on-terror-alert-ahead-of-eid-al-fitr/82544
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Court decision over Sarawakian Christian’s ‘Allah’ case moved to August
12 June 2018
By Ida Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — The court decision in a Bumiputera Christian’s lawsuit over her constitutional right to religion and over the government’s ban on the word “Allah” in Christian publications has now been shifted to August.
Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill’s lawyer Annou Xavier confirmed the change in decision date to August 13.
It is not known why the court had decided to defer the decision.
“This is to enable the Attorney General's Chambers to get new instructions on this sensitive case and also to enable parties to engage with the new government which is now people friendly," Annou said in a text message to Malay Mail when commenting on the date change.
When contacted by Malay Mail, senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan who is representing the home minister and the government in Jill Ireland’s case said: “Both the applicants have put in representation to the home minister and we need to get fresh instructions from the government.”
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur was initially scheduled to deliver its decision in this case tomorrow, after it was also deferred from the original decision date of March 22.
Jill Ireland filed her lawsuit close to 10 years ago, after the Home Ministry seized eight compact discs (CDs) containing the word “Allah” meant for her personal use, at KLIA upon her return from Indonesia.
Following the May 11, 2008 seizure, Jill Ireland filed for judicial review in August the same year against the home minister and the government of Malaysia.
The High Court had in July 2014 ruled that the Home Ministry was wrong to seize the CDs and ordered that they be returned, but did not address the constitutional points then.
Jill Ireland finally received her CDs in September 2015, pursuant to the Court of Appeal’s June 2015 directive for the Home Ministry to return the discs. However, the Court of Appeal had also sent the constitutional issues back to the High Court to be heard.
The constitutional issues in Jill Ireland’s case were heard by High Court judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin on October 19 and November 15 last year.
During the hearing, Jill Ireland’s lawyers had argued that “Allah”, the Arabic word for God, is not exclusive to Islam and not a copyrighted word that non-Muslim communities cannot use. The word had been adopted into the national language Bahasa Malaysia. The lawyers had also cited multiple Malay translations of Bibles and Christian publications featuring the word “Allah” to as early as 1629 as proof of the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking Christians’ historical and generations-long use of the word, arguing that the use of the word was integral to their religion.
Jill Ireland is seeking several court orders, including a declaration that it is her constitutional right to have access to Christian publications in the exercise of her rights to practise religion and right to education, as provided for by the Federal Constitution’s Article 11 on the freedom of religion.
The Sarawakian native of the Melanau tribe is also seeking a court declaration that the Constitution’s Article 8 guarantees her equality before the law and protection from discrimination on grounds of religion in the administration of law ― specifically the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Customs Act 1967.
Full report at:
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1641329/court-decision-over-sarawakian-christians-allah-case-moved-to-august
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Mideast
Hamas vows to continue anti-Israel protests in Gaza Strip
Jun 12, 2018
The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement says the recent wave of anti-occupation protests in Gaza are a popular reaction to the US’s policy shift on Israeli-occupied Jerusalem al-Quds, emphasizing that the rallies will continue as long as all its objectives are achieved.
Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, told Russia’s Sputnik news agency on Monday that the Gaza residents have managed to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians by staging mass demonstrations against Israel and the US in the blockaded sliver.
The popular protests have been organized by Hamas, which runs Gaza.
“Some goals have been achieved thanks to these protests, and they will continue until we reach all our goals,” he said, noting that the rallies had helped the Palestinian people “confirm their right for the return to the abandoned territories.”
Tensions have been running high near the Gaza fence since March 30, which marked the start of a series of protests, dubbed “The Great March of Return,” demanding the right to return for those driven out of their homeland.
At least 131 Palestinians have been killed and 13,900 others wounded by Israeli forces over the past few weeks, according to the latest figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
The bloodshed in Gaza sparked sharp criticism from the international community and prominent human rights groups.
Palestine called on the UN to adopt a resolution that would deplore the Tel Aviv regime's "excessive use of force," particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Commenting on Washington’s decision late last year to recognize occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital,” Haniyeh said the US’s embassy move is not an issue that can be dealt with by force.
Elsewhere in his interview, Haniyeh hailed Iran and Syria for supporting the Palestinian people.
The Syrian nation and government “always stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and supported its rights,” he said, adding, “Iran has greatly supported the Palestinian people and the resistance, and the connection with Iran today is very special and very developed.”
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564728/Gaza-Hamas-Israel
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Yemen war: Saudi-led forces begin assault on Hudaydah
Jun 13, 2018
Forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition have launched an offensive against Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hudaydah in defiance of warnings by the UN and international rights groups against the catastrophic repercussions of such a military action.
On Wednesday morning, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV network announced the beginning of the Hudaydah operation, which the UN has warned could cause up to 250,000 deaths.
The Saudi-led military alliance is providing air cover to the operation.
Meanwhile, Arabic-language al-Masdar News has reported heavy Saudi-led airstrikes on Hudaydah as the UAE-backed troops stormed the Houthi positions just south of the city’s airport.
Houthi media activists have also reported fierce clashes south of the Hudaydah airport and intense air raids over the entire province.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key member of the Saudi-led coalition waging the war on Yemen, had set a Tuesday deadline for the Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement to pull out of Hudaydah. The port city serves as a lifeline for aid delivery to the war-stricken country.
“These are the last and final hours to get unconditional guarantees that the Houthis will leave the port,” UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told Reuters on Tuesday.
The Saudi-led coalition claims that the Houthi Ansarullah movement is using Hudaydah for weapons delivery, an allegation rejected by the fighters.
The Houthi movement has pledged strong resistance in the face of the assault, which is said to be the largest of its kind since the onset of the war in early 2015.
Shortly after the operation was launched, the Yemeni National Salvation Government’s spokesman, Abdulsalam Jaber, said Yemeni armed forces had targeted a UAE warship off the country’s western coast.
Yemen’s Supreme Revolutionary Committee said the warship was destroyed in the counter-attack, adding that Saudi-led helicopters rushed to save the forces aboard the vessel, which is now burning near Yemen’s coastline.
A second battleship left the site following the incident, it added.
Meanwhile, according to The Wall Street Journal,there are signs that the US military is deepening its role in the assault on Hudaydah, in spite of UN warnings of massive human casualties. Washington, the paper says, is providing its Persian Gulf allies with intelligence on airstrike targets in the port.
It cited American military officials as saying that the US is helping the UAE develop a list of targets meant to be off limits for airstrikes on Hudaydah, with an apparent aim to minimize civilian casualties.
The UN and other aid groups have over the past days withdrawn their staff members from the port city in the wake of UAE threats.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also raised alarm over the impact of the attack on children in Hudaydah and beyond.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/13/564815/Sauid-Arabia-Yemen-Hudaydah
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Israeli ‘Crime Minister’ Netanyahu to Be Quizzed By Police
Jun 12, 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has earned the nickname “crime minister” by the public for his alleged widespread involvement in unlawful practices, is to attend a police interrogation session in a high-profile corruption case.
Netanyahu is to turn up for the session on Tuesday to answer questions regarding damning information provided to the police by a longtime former confidante, who has reportedly reached a deal with the law enforcement to incriminate Netanyahu, Haaretz reported.
In the so-called “Case 4000,” Netanyahu stands accused of favoring the Israeli telephone communications giant Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on its Walla! portal, one of the most popular among Israelis. He reportedly engaged in the corrupt practice between 2014 and 2017 while he was also occupying the post of the communications minister.
The Tuesday questioning would use the testimony of Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu’s former ally, as its subject. Hefetz “gave police text messages and incriminating recordings allegedly indicating a quid-pro-quo relationship” between the premier and Bezeq’s boss, Shaul Elovitch, the paper wrote.
Last month, Haaretz revealed comments made in 2015 by Elovitch, in which he had said that he understood Netanyahu “was willing to commit suicide for me,” referring to the duo’s especial relationship.
Also on Tuesday, police are to question two suspects in “Case 2000.” In that case, Netanyahu is accused of helping the Yediot Aharonot newspaper against its competitor Yisrael Hayom likewise in return for favorable coverage of the prime minister.
For many months now, thousands of Israelis have been holding weekly protests against the premier, urging him to resign.
He also faces two other criminal cases.
The “Case 3000” is also looking into potential wrongdoing involving Netanyahu’s personal lawyer and German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp’s local representative. Its focus is an enormous deal for the purchase of naval vessels and submarines from the company.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564742/Israel-Netanyahu-corruption-questioning-police-Bezeq-Elovitch-Walla
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Police Spokesman: Several Terrorist Groups Disbanded in Iran during Ramadan
Jun 12, 2018
"The Law Enforcement Police's border guards prevented a group of 20 armed terrorists from entering our country in Sardasht region (Western Iran), and 2 border guard officers were martyred in the battle against them," General Montazer al-Mahdi told reporters in a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.
"Also in Saravan region (Southwestern Iran) a team of suicide bombers was trapped by police and a suicide bomber was killed before he could take any action and a large amount of ammunition, suicide jackets and explosive packages were discovered from them," he added.
According to General Montazer al-Mahdi, also 4 suspects who planned to carry out terrorist acts in the final days of the holy month of Ramadan were arrested in South Khorassan province and 6 more individuals were arrested in connection with the terrorists in Qazvin, Fars and Isfahan provinces.
In a relevant development on Sunday, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said that 2 terrorist groups were disbanded in Western Iran.
"As the honorable and revolutionary people of Iran have been informed, a terrorist team planning to sneak into Oshnavieh region on Friday evening was trapped by Hamzeh Base troops, was fully dismantled and 7 of its members were killed and wounded," General Pakpour said.
He also revealed two more cases of clashes in Sarvabad and Oshnavieh region in Kordestan province in Western Iran in the past 24 hours, noting that the terrorist groups were disbanded, 6 terrorists were killed and three others were wounded.
General Pakpour said that a large number of weapons, ammunition and equipment have been discovered and seized from the terrorists, and vowed "a decisive and crushing response to any move aimed at endangering the security of Islamic Iran".
The public relations office of the IRGC's Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base said in a statement on Saturday afternoon that it had dismantled a 7-member terrorist team in Kordestan province in the Western part of the country near the border with Iraq.
"The IRGC forces killed all members of the terrorist team in the Oshnavieh border region in Kordestan Province on Friday evening," the statement said.
The terrorists had planned an attack in Northern Iraq before crossing the border into Iran.
Full report at:
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970322000397
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Iran Arrest 27 Terrorists before Carrying Out Sabotage Acts
Jun 12, 2018
The Iranian security forces managed to identify and arrest the terrorists, who were planning to stir insecurity and carry out acts of terror in the capital, Tehran, and some other cities during the holy month of Ramadan (May 17-June 14) and the International Quds Day, which was observed on June 8, a statement by the Intelligence Ministry said on Monday.
It added that the terrorists had already published pictures on the Internet and threatened the Iranian people with murder and revenge, but they were all nabbed after a series of police and intelligence operations.
The ministry noted that a large amount of weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, grenades, bombs, Colt firearms and explosive materials, were also confiscated from the terrorists in the operations.
In relevant remarks on Sunday, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour announced that two other terrorist groups were disbanded in Western Iran.
"As the honorable and revolutionary people of Iran have been informed, a terrorist team planning to sneak into Oshnavieh region on Friday evening was trapped by Hamzeh Base troops, was fully dismantled and 7 of its members were killed and wounded," General Pakpour said.
He also revealed two more cases of clashes in Sarvabad and Oshnavieh region in Kordestan province in Western Iran in the past 24 hours, noting that the terrorist groups were disbanded, 6 terrorists were killed and three others were wounded.
General Pakpour said that a large number of weapons, ammunition and equipment have been discovered and seized from the terrorists, and vowed "a decisive and crushing response to any move aimed at endangering the security of Islamic Iran".
The public relations office of the IRGC's Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada Base said in a statement on Saturday afternoon that it had dismantled a 7-member terrorist team in Kordestan province in the Western part of the country near the border with Iraq.
"The IRGC forces killed all members of the terrorist team in the Oshnavieh border region in Kordestan Province on Friday evening," the statement said.
The terrorists had planned an attack in Northern Iraq before crossing the border into Iran.
Full report at:
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970322000337
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How liberating Hodeidah can help in resolving Yemen’s humanitarian crisis
12 June 2018
Yemeni officials and experts think that keeping the strategic Hodeidah Port under the Houthis’ control worsens the humanitarian crisis in the country.
Local Affairs Minister Abdul Rakib Fatah said 70% of the relief entered the country through the Hodeidah Port according to international organizations’ reports, adding that the largest warehouses of food aid were in Hodeidah but indicators of famine emerged in the city.
“This is evidence that the militias are using relief supplies to support their war efforts and that they are using the port as a military port and not as a port for relief (supplies,)” Fatah, who is also the head of the higher committee for relief, said.
Meanwhile, Yemeni Human Rights Minister Mohammed Askar warned that the humanitarian crisis will escalate, people’s suffering will worsen and the war will prolong if Hodeidah and its port remain under the Houthis’ control.
Askar told reporters that Hodeidah is the financial vein that nurtures militias, noting that the Houthis use the city’s only port to smuggle weapons and ballistic missiles’ parts.
According to local and international media reports, Houthi militias have ever since seizing control of the city in 2014 prevented dozens of ships carrying humanitarian aid to enter. Houthis have also confiscated plenty of this aid and deprived millions of Yemenis from them.
Yemeni writer Mohammed Anaam said liberating Hodeidah “is a 100% humanitarian decision that mitigates the worsening humanitarian crisis” which is due to the Houthis’ seizure of aid, adding that liberating Hodeidah and its port will mainly represent a “humanitarian victory.”
Anaam also said that liberating Hodeidah will secure navigation and put an end to Iran’s tampering with the security and stability of the region’s countries.
Yemeni army forces, aided by the Arab coalition, are preparing for a military operation to liberate Hodeidah and its port as they are stationed at the outskirts of the Hodeidah Airport. Meanwhile, the Houthis’ defenses and ranks are collapsing due to the heavy losses they’ve suffered.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/06/12/Yemen-experts-Liberating-Hodeidah-the-door-to-resolving-the-humanitarian-crisis.html
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Iran turns to old friends amid European exodus
Jun 12, 2018
The world's biggest container shipper Maersk Line says it is reviewing Iran operations in the face of US sanctions following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from an international nuclear deal.
Verbal pledges by European governments to shield trade with the Islamic Republic have not stopped companies from pulling out of Iran projects as they face a “wind-down” period of up to six months before the US reimposes sanctions.
On Monday, German container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd was reported to have stopped one of its two feeder services to Iran.
The Hamburg-based group, which provides third party services to Iran, will decide on the remaining operation before the Nov. 4 US deadline for companies to halt all trade with Tehran, Reuters reported.
The company was awaiting further clarification as to what operations would be permitted after the wind-down period in order to take final decisions on whether to serve Iran, the news agency reported.
Hapag-Lloyd provides third party feeder ships to Iran from Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates because it does not have direct dealing with the Islamic Republic.
Danish shipping companies Maersk Tankers and Torm were reported last month to have stopped taking new orders in Iran.
The EU has said it remained committed to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the suspension of its own sanctions but European business entities have questioned the viability of continuing their projects after the sanctions kick in.
And in the absence of clear-cut guarantees from the European governments, Iran has started shoring up ties with the countries which stood their ground in the past when Tehran came under similar sanctions.
On Sunday, Iran President Hassan Rouhani met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, with China's foreign policy mouthpiece Global Times writing that the visit saw Iran's "comprehensive strategic" relationship with China "upgraded to a new level".
The meeting with China's president Xi Jinping took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao,
China, the largest buyer of Iranian crude, did not reduce crude imports from Iran even at the height of the previous sanctions against Tehran in 2012.
In the first quarter of 2018, China's imports of Iranian crude rose 17.3% year on year to 658,000 barrels per day, making Iran its sixth biggest supplier.
In their talks, Xi called on the two countries to deepen political relations to enhance strategic mutual trust, increase exchanges at all levels, and continue to support each other on issues of major concern involving their respective core interests, Xinhua news agency reported.
Rouhani also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who stressed the strategic importance of developing Chabahar Port for expansion of economic and regional cooperation.
India is Iran’s second biggest oil customer and its imports are expected to rise this year, even as Nayara Energy, formerly known as Essar Oil, was reported Tuesday to have decided to slash its Iran imports by almost a half.
Another key meeting on Rouhani's itinerary was with Russian President Vladimir Putin who criticized the unilateral US move to pull out of the nuclear agreement and reimpose sanctions on Iran.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/06/12/564752/Iran-shipping-European-companies-sancitons
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Turkey vows to remain in northern Iraq until end of all terror groups
June 12, 2018
ANKARA: Turkey will remain in northern Iraq until all terrorist groups are removed, Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Tuesday amid increasing government warnings of a military operation against Kurdish militants based in the Qandil mountains.
Speaking at a roundtable interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency, Canikli also said Turkey had offered to carry out a potential operation into Qandil with Iran, who has voiced support for the offensive.
There was no immediate confirmation of his assertion from Tehran.
The Turkish military has ramped up airstrikes in northern Iraq targeting Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) bases in Qandil, close to the Iraq-Iran border, where high-ranking members of the militant group are thought to be located.
The government has also said Turkish troops have deployed roughly 30 km (nearly 20 miles) inside northern Iraq, not far from Qandil.
Canikli said Turkey was also in full agreement with Baghdad on a potential operation into Qandil, adding that Ankara was in talks with “all possible countries” on the matter.
Iraq, however, said it would not accept any Turkish operation against Qandil or other PKK strongholds.
“The Iraqi government will not accept any advance on its land by Turkish forces in pursuit of the PKK elements currently present in the Sinjar, Makhmour and Qandil mountains,” Saad Al-Hadithi, a spokesman for Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi told the Iraqi News Agency.
He added that the Iraqi government would “absolutely not allow” any aggression from inside its land against Turkey or other states.
Canikli, however, said there were “serious attacks and infiltration” into Turkey from Qandil, and that Turkey would remain in northern Iraq until all terrorists groups were removed.
With a large Kurdish population of its own, concentrated in the southeast, Ankara has long resisted Kurdish ambitions for independence in Iraq, Syria or Iran, fearing it could inflame separatism inside Turkey.
An offensive against the PKK in Qandil would mark Turkey’s third cross-border operation since 2016, with the first two targeting Kurdish militia fighters in northern Syria.
Last week, Turkey and the US also endorsed a roadmap for the withdrawal of the Kurdish YPG militia, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization linked to the PKK, from the northern Syrian city of Manbij.
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told Pentagon reporters that Turkish and US officials would meet in Germany this week to discuss the details of the roadmap, namely joint patrols inside Manbij to secure the region.
Canikli also said officials would discuss the Manbij roadmap during talks in Germany this week.
Analysts say that a major operation against the PKK in northern Iraq would give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a welcome boost in the snap polls, which are expected to be tighter than initially predicted.
But an extensive ground operation would also be fraught with risk, given the complex mountainous terrain of the Qandil region, which is well known to the PKK but not the Turkish army.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1320471/middle-east
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Africa
Tunisia’s ‘free thinkers’ take on Muslim majority in David and Goliath fight
Carl Collison
13 Jun 2018
To Sofiene Kosksi and a few fellow members of Tunisia’s Association of Free Thinkers the beers they had been given were “like we had hit gold”.
“I hid those beers in my bag because I was very scared to be caught with them. So we went to [our organisation’s] studio and drank them. It felt like we were kings of the world,” he laughs.
Their joy at having hit liquid gold was short-lived. A few days later, a member of the group was attacked by Islamic fundamentalists. After being slapped around, called an infidel and ordered “to repent” and to divulge details of others in the organisation, the 22-year-old was made to open the organisation’s offices. There, his attackers stole “some legal papers” as well as the passport of its president, Hatem Limam.
“They also took the remaining beers as evidence against us,” says Kosksi.
More than just a clampdown on a few young men drinking beer during the holy month of Ramadan, the incident is the latest in a series of clampdowns on an organisation going head-to-head with not only the Tunisian government but, it would appear, also the view held by the majority of Tunisians.
The backlash has been severe: death threats, harassment and insults. In February this year, Limam was attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times.
The organisation’s push for a more progressive approach to what may be done during the month of Ramadan is, according to Kosksi, “just a small fight in trying to reach our main goal: a secular state”.
“We really want government to no longer use religious scriptures to inform policies. Instead, it should create policies based on the human experience, from science and from experts,” he says.
Not a small ask, especially given that the organisation has only 400 members — although there is, according to Kosksi, increased interest from people wanting to join.
“But no matter what our numbers, or how little we have in power, we are more than willing to sacrifice our lives to see our region progress,” he adds.
Another group the country’s laws are not too respectful towards are queer people, whose rights the organisation also campaigns for. And, difficult as they found promoting queer rights in Tunisia, the fightback they are experiencing as a result of their latest drive is proving to be harsher.
“[With our call for a secular state] we are seen as totally anti-religion, when queer activists only argue sexuality and try to have themselves seen as part of the whole population. The argument being one of, ‘We’re not so different and only have sexuality that is different’. So it is not very fundamental. What we are doing now seems to be hitting a very sensitive nerve, which could be considered by many Tunisians as the essence of everything to them — their religion — the essence of all their values and the meaning of their existence.”
In a written question to the country’s minister of internal affairs, Lotfi Brahem, Tunisian MP Hajer Bechikh asked why the ministry did not abolish a 1981 circular that forbids the opening of restaurants and cafés during the holy month. The circular, Bechikh argued, ran contrary to the country’s 2014 Constitution.
The minister responded that opening cafés and restaurants during Ramadan would be a provocation to the feeling of the country’s majority Muslim population. This, he argued, “could generate violent reactions, which could affect the public order”.
The minister pointed out, however, that the ministry authorised the opening of the cafés that “took the necessary precautions to respect the feelings of Muslims”.
Mounir Baatour, president of queer rights organisation Shams Tunisia and an Association of Free Thinkers member, says the country’s Constitution is contradictory.
“For example, the state protects the exercise of religious rites and at the same time … protects the freedom of conscience. Those stipulations are contradictory and make the Constitution ineffective. There are an enormous number of laws that are in contradiction with the Constitution and individual liberties but they are still applied despite that the state [is] obliged by the Constitution to protect individual liberties. This is why we need to make the law suitable to the constitutional provisions.”
Aware of the David and Goliath nature of the fight he and the rest of the Association of Free Thinkers have taken on, Kosksi concedes: “Look, we know that this probably won’t happen in our generation. But in the meantime we really just want the majority of our country’s people, as well as the state, to respect its secular minorities. Because as long as we are here and feel like we belong in this country — but the laws do not respect us — we will keep doing this.”
https://mg.co.za/article/2018-06-13-00-tunisias-free-thinkers-take-on-muslim-majority-in-david-and-goliath-fight
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52nd division of Somali army says killed 80 Al-Shabaab fighters in Hiiraan region
12th June 2018
Gen. Mohamed Ahmed, the commander of division 52 forces, said “ that the operations in the past four months done all over the Hiiran Region have killed at least 80 Al-Shabaab, and we are proud of our successful operations and we will still continue eliminating the terrorist in the region.
“The operation is going very well following commands from the top leaders of national provide, the attack of November in Moqokori the terrorist have succeeded causing heavy loss on our base.
Tareedishe also added that the national armed forces will continue setting foot on every Al-Shabaab base in the whole region.
Al-Shabaab has not commented on any of their casualties in the last four months following the heavy operations done by the national army forces of Hiran region.
Full report at:
https://mareeg.com/52nd-division-of-somali-army-says-killed-80-al-shabaab-fighters-in-hiiraan-region/
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Somalia: Al-Shabaab Says Killed 4 Soldiers in Attack On Somali Military Base in Bakool
12 JUNE 2018
At least four government soldiers were killed after Al-shabab fighter carried out attack on a military base in Teed town, almost 30 kilometers North West of Hudur district in Bakool region.
Al-shabab fighters have retaken control of the area and seized weapons after the fight with government forces in Teed, a claim that Somali military has denied.
The fighters intensified the attacks and ambushes against government forces since the start of the month of Ramadan. The militants raided several army base in southern Somalia in the few days.
Somali army along with AU troops backed by US soldiers have stepped up in recent months attacks against Al Shabaab held towns in the country and killed dozens of fighters in the latest airstrikes.
Full report at:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201806120772.html
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Boko Haram: Troops kill 23 terrorists in Borno
June 13, 2018
By Maina Maina
Troops of 153 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with Cameroonian Defence Forces while on clearance operation on Monday, 11 June, 2018, encountered Boko Haram terrorists.
A statement on Tuesday, from Texas Chukwu, Brigadier General and Director Army Public Relations said, at least 23 of the terrorists were neutralized and several others were wounded during the encounter.
” Items recovered include: Six AK 47 rifles, Two FN rifles, Eight AK 47 rifle magazines, 33 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition, One link of 7.62mm NATO, and Two motorcycles.
“Also, troops had earlier cleared numerous villages in the Lake region including Bulakeisa, Tumbuma Babba, Abbaganaram and Dan Baure, among others.
“The public is advised to report any suspicious activities or movements to the law enforcement agents at all times.” The statement said.
In another development, troops of operation LAFIYA DOLE have been urged to be committed and be steadfast during the final onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists .
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Stevenson Olabanji gave the advice while addressing troops at Gubio and Damasak respectively.
He stated that the end has come for the terrorists in northern Borno state, adding that operation LAST HOLD was designed to end the activities of the insurgents in the enclaves and islands of Lake Chad region.
He further advised the troops to be courageous and be disciplined during the final assault on the insurgents’ enclaves.
Full report at:
http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/13/boko-haram-troops-kill-23-terrorists-borno/
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Boko Haram: One terrorist killed as security agents repel attack in Adamawa community
June 12, 2018
By Don Silas
Security agents have killed a member of Boko Haram terrorist who raided Kaya village of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The Adamawa Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Ahmad Sajoh, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Yola, said it occurred Monday midnight.
Sajoh said the insurgents attacked the village where they looted and destroyed 13 houses before they were repelled.
The commissioner said one of them was killed while a vigilante sustained injury.
“The military, hunters, and vigilantes have repelled the invaders. Adamawa Government commiserates with the victims and salutes the resilience of our people,” he said.
Sajoh said some would be sent to those affected by the incident.
He also called for more public support and understanding in the latest intensified operations of the army and other security agencies in the state which included ‘stop and search.’
“The current operations by the security agencies are intended to ensure enhanced security situation all over the state ahead of the end of Ramadan Sallah celebrations.
“The general public is therefore requested to remain calm and be law-abiding.
Full report at:
http://dailypost.ng/2018/06/12/boko-haram-one-terrorist-killed-security-agents-repel-attack-adamawa-community/
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