Mecca Allows Spa And Personal-Care Services For Both Men And Women, Including Home Services
New Age Islam News Bureau
24 May 2023
Owners of
businesses providing spa and personal care services can now apply for permits
that allow them to operate from residential spaces.
------
Arab World
• Saudi Arabia Executes 3 Young Shia Men from Qatif
• Saudi orchestra, choir hits high note at Jeddah’s
Islamic Arts Biennale
• Two Gulf Companies Tap Favourable Islamic Bond Market
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet
Session
• Kuwait’s emir congratulates King Salman, crown prince
on Saudi astronauts’ arrival at space station
• Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief carries out aid projects in
Bangladesh and Sudan
--------
India
• UP Imam Booked For Throwing Out Muslim Man In Saffron
Kurta From Masjid
• Congress MLA U T Khader Unanimously Elected As New
Speaker Of Karnataka Assembly
• Man Spends Life Savings To Build Temple In Memory Of
His Wife, Muslim Artists Perform Carvings
• Bareilly police book 2 Muslim organisations after
video of harassment of inter-faith couple goes viral
• Varanasi court consolidates eight cases on Gyanvapi
mosque
--------
Europe
• France's 'Authoritarian' Minister Of Interior Warns US
Of 'Sunni Islamist Terrorism'
• Hajj Packages 'Sold Out' For British Muslims After
Introduction Of New Portal
• Tributes to 'selfless' shopkeeper and mosque volunteer
• Ex-Russian president backs pirating foreign content
• UN expresses ‘concern’ over Ukrainian attack on
Belgorod
--------
South Asia
• Australian Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell Renews
Calls To Strip Medals From Afghanistan War Veterans
• Old Video From Afghanistan Falsely Shared As NATO
Troops in Ukraine
• Bangladesh PM confident country able to repay IMF
loans
• Bangladesh: Several injured as Opposition BNP, police
clash in Dhaka
• Afghan Culture and Values Should Not be Undermined,
Says Afghan Minister
• 2,400 Afghan Refugees Return Home From Iran
----------
Africa
• Niger: France is testing its new military approach in
Africa
• Haji right choice for spymaster, says Muslim leader
• Opposition leader's rape trial resumes despite his
absence from court
• Nigeria: Group protests outside court over SeunKuti's
delayed release
• Ceasefire in Sudan appears to bring some respite for
citizens
• Families of detained opposition leaders in Tunisia
head to the African court
--------
Mideast
• Israel Trying To Add 'Muslim-Majority African State'
To Negev Summit: Report
• Islamic Jihad may ease way for Hashemite Kingdom of
Palestine
• Clash Of The Feminists And Islamists Reflects Larger
Lebanese Crisis
• Iran's president calls for unity among Muslims as 'US
dominance coming to end'
• Expanding Iran-Indonesia ties to benefit Islamic world
• Islamic Jihad chief: Gaza commanders were killed
because they carried Cellphones
• Diyanet dismisses imam after asking congregation to
'prepare their weapons' on election night
• OIC head vows efforts for Muslim countries' economic
recovery will continue
• Starzplay Arabia sees 70% viewership growth during
Ramadan
--------
Pakistan
• Repentant Baloch Separatist Group Founder Gulzar Imam Says
'Armed War' Complicated Province's Problems
• Islamist Militants Storm Hungarian-owned Refinery
• Ex-BNA chief asks insurgents to shun guns, embrace
peace for Balochistan
---------
Southeast
Asia
• Insisting Malaysia Opposes LGBT, Religious Minister
Says JakimFormed Committee To Address Issue Among Muslims
• Attorney-General Deems Malaysian Government’s ‘Allah’ Appeal
‘Weak,’ Backs Withdrawal
• Malaysia to streamline rules on non-Muslims using the
word ‘Allah’: PM Anwar
• Lawyer: Govt only needs 24 hours to amend laws on
‘Allah’ usage
--------
North
America
• CAIR-NY Condemns CUNY Law Censorship of Muslim
Student’s Pro-Palestinian Commencement Speech
• CAIR Offers Condolences on Passing of Muslim Activist
Issa Smith
• Children from mixed backgrounds with one Muslim parent
have plural identities
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mecca-spa-women-saudi-arabia/d/129844
-------
Mecca Allows
Spa And Personal-Care Services For Both Men And Women, Including Home Services
Owners of
businesses providing spa and personal care services can now apply for permits
that allow them to operate from residential spaces.
------
May 23, 2023
Dubai: The
Mecca Municipality has announced that it has started issuing permits for spa
and personal-care services for men and women, as well as for home spa services.
The move is in
accordance with the requirements and conditions established by the Ministry of
Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRA), which oversees these services.
Osama Zaytoni,
official spokesperson for the municipality, said that the decision is part of
an effort to accommodate professionals who wish to provide these services from
home.
“The spa and
personal care activity falls within the professions that MOMRA has started to
allow in homes under certain conditions,” Zaytoni said.
Owners of
businesses providing spa and personal care services can now apply for permits
that allow them to operate from residential spaces.
These permits
are tied to licenses registered over the facility. “The permits are also linked
to a number of other available activities such as men’s barber shops, women’s
salons, and sewing shops,” Zaytoni added.
He went on to
explain that the move to issue permits for home-based services is part of a
wider initiative by the municipality to support the expansion of these service
providers and provide increased convenience to citizens.
This allows
residents to benefit from the comfort and convenience of services made
available in their homes.
Source: gulfnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-mecca-allows-spa-and-personal-care-services-for-both-men-and-women-including-home-services-1.95952037
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Muslims Will
Never Come Up If Sub-Standard Education In Madrasas Continues, Says NHRC
Chairperson
Retired
Justice Arun Mishra, Chairperson of, the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC), at a meeting of the human rights body on Tuesday, said that if
sub-standard education for children in madrasas continues, Muslims would “never
come up”. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
-----
May 24, 2023
Ishita Mishra
Retired Justice
Arun Mishra, Chairperson of, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), at a
meeting of the human rights body on Tuesday, said that if sub-standard
education for children in madrasas continues, Muslims would “never come up”. He
maintained that there is a need to standardise education for children.
The NHRC’s
ex-officio members pointed out issues related to reservation to people who had
“intruded into India’s borders”. They also spoke of the courts rejecting the
commission’s recommendations.
Justice Mishra,
who was chairing the ‘Statutory Full Commission’ meeting of the Chairpersons
and representatives of the seven National Commissions, also stressed that a
policy of reservation to benefit the neediest among the reserved categories
should be considered.
Hansraj Gangaram
Ahir, Chairperson of, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), a
participant at the meeting, pointed out that some States do not implement
national welfare schemes that are necessary to end inequality and
discrimination in society. He also said that a dangerous trend was being
noticed in the benefits of reservation being given to those who had intruded
into India’s borders, thereby usurping the benefits of welfare schemes meant
for the citizens of the country which. He stressed that this needed to be
checked.
“It’s a matter
of concern that, many times, the High Courts reject the recommendations and
directions of the NCSC (National Commission for Scheduled Castes) merely on
technicalities and not on merits. It needs to be impressed upon the judiciary
to give a hearing also to the commission on merits before rejecting its
recommendations,” Subhash RamnathPardhi, Member, NCSC said.
Rekha Sharma,
Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), who was also present in
the meeting, expressed serious concern over human trafficking. She said that
the trafficking of women from West Bengal to Srinagar had increased. She also
said that forceful conversion in the name of marriage was a serious issue of
violation of rights that had to be addressed.
“There is a
need to standardise education for children. Vernacular languages are being
forgotten. Also, if sub-standard education for children in madrasas continues,
Muslims will never come up,” Mr. Mishra said while speaking of the NHRC and
other commissions.
NHRC
Chairperson maintained that India has an unparalleled institutional mechanism
to address the issues of human rights violations. He added that, after
participating in various international human rights forums, he realised that
India could not be ignored for its overall progress along with its democratic
values, which are “the best in the world”.
“No doubt
certain improvements may be required but freedom of speech and the kind of
debates which happen in India are not heard of anywhere,” he further said.
Iqbal Singh
Lalpura, Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities (NCM), highlighted the
issue of non-payment of compensation to several victims of the 1984 riots even
after so many years.
PriyankKanoongo,
Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR),
said that running an orphanage had become a kind of racket to siphon off funds
that were received through “massive donations”.
Praveen Prakash
Ambashta, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, said that
accessibility in public places continues to remain a concern for persons with
disabilities. He said that, over the years, there had been a change in
perceptions regarding disabilities but more requires to be done.
Dnyaneshwar M.
Mulay suggested that a museum of human rights should be built to showcase human
rights in Indian art and culture since the ancient era till date.
D.K. Singh,
Secretary General, NHRC, said that the commission had disposed of 1,09,982
cases during 2022-23, and recommended payment of ₹13.69 crore as
relief in 279 cases to victims
or their next of kin.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/muslims-will-not-be-able-rise-if-sub-standard-education-in-madrasas-continues-says-nhrc-chairperson/article66886341.ece
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'The Kerala
Story' Won’t Be Shown In UK Blackburn and Burnley Cinemas: REEL Cinemas
The film
depicts a fictional story of three Indian women from the southern state who
join the Islamic State group. (Image: The Kerala Story)
-----
By Shuiab Khan
A Lancashire
cinema chain said it won’t be showing a controversial Indian movie.
‘The Kerala
Story’ has been criticised for depicting Muslims as terrorists and opened in
the UK on Friday 19 May. On a promotional poster among the list of cinemas said
to be showing the movie were the REEL Cinemas in Blackburn and Burnley.
However, REEL
cinemas confirmed it had no plans to show the movie.
The film has
been criticised for being ‘anti-Muslim’ and for propagating stereotypes. It is
said to falsely claim that thousands of women from the Indian state of Kerala
have been converted to Islam and recruited into ISIS over the past decade. The
true figure according to independent human rights groups was said to be around
200.
There have been
concerns over the plot and content which has been described as ‘right-wing’
Indian propaganda.
Some parts of
India have banned the film whilst others have attempted to promote it. The film
has also found support among some Indian politicians but others have said it
was not based on true events and could cause communal clashes.
The film
depicts a fictional story of three Indian women from the southern state who
join the Islamic State group.
The plot
revolves around Shalini Unnikrishnan, a woman who converted to Islam. She
shares her harrowing journey of aspiring to become a nurse, only to be abducted
from her home and coerced by extremist groups. She is eventually manipulated
into joining ISIS and ends up imprisoned in Afghanistan.
Earlier this
week, a screening of the movie at Cineworld in Birmingham was disrupted by
protestors. The cinema chain said the screening resumed following the delay.
In a YouTube
video posted by 5Pillaz demonstrators can be heard saying, ‘This movie is an
absolute lie.
“This is lies
and we will not accept this type of propaganda.”
The screening
was not half full and following arguments with some customers the protestors
are escorted from the screening by cinema staff.
Last week, more
than 100 people were arrested in the Indian state of Maharashtra after one
person died and eight others were injured.
The violence
was said to be triggered by a social media post on the movie.
Source: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23541129.indian-film-the-kerala-story-wont-shown-local-cinemas/
---------
Dutch Delegation
To Bangladesh To Investigate Genocide Committed By Pakistan Army In 1971
Image: AP
-----
May 23, 2023
Dutch
politician and former Member of Parliament Harry van Bommel, along with a
European delegation is on a visit to Bangladesh from May 20-26, where the
delegation will investigate the genocide committed by Pakistan in 1971.
The mission is
an initiative of the European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) and will also consist of
genocide scientist AnthonieHolslag (VU), political analyst Chris Blackburn,
British EBF chairman Ansar Ahmed Ullah and Dutch EBF chairman Bikash Chowdhury
Barua.
The mission's
goal is to obtain firsthand information on the genocide committed by the
Pakistani army in Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
The delegation
tends to meet victims, witnesses, genocide researchers, academics, policymakers
and government representatives in Bangladesh. In addition, the team visits a
number of killing fields and war museums in and around the capital Dhaka and
the second major city Chittagong, according to an official statement.
The mission to
Bangladesh takes place at a time when there is worldwide attention for the
genocide in Bangladesh.
Recently, two
members of the US Congress submitted a resolution to the US House of
Representatives calling on the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to
recognize the crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistani military at
the time.
In the United
Kingdom, too, recognition of the 1971 genocide has been discussed in
parliament. According to delegation leader Van Bommel, "Dutch recognition
of this genocide is relevant because in 1972 the Netherlands was one of the
first countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh."
According to
the official statement, the fact-finding mission will communicate its findings
to the Dutch government and the House of Representatives. The European Bangladesh
Forum will also organise a conference on the findings.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dutch-delegation-to-bangladesh-to-investigate-genocide-committed-by-pakistan-army-in-1971-101684808125893.html
--------
Turkey Muslim Cleric
Uses Hate Speech Against Armenians
During a
prayer service in a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey,
-----
23.05.2023
During a prayer
service in a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Muslim cleric Murat Gundogdu called on
the faithful to be armed on the day of the presidential runoff election this
Sunday and, also, used the expression "Armenian progenies," reports
Ermenihaber.am.
It is clear
from the video recordings made on the smartphone that Gundogdu had said as
follows, in particular: "For 80 years, what has this country suffered from
you, wheat has it suffered from the Armenian progenies? We have so many
martyrs.”
From another
video, it becomes clear that a faithful reacted negatively to Gundogdu's call
to prepare the weapons and a fight started in the mosque.
The Directorate
of Religious Affairs in Turkey announced that it has launched an investigation
into Gundogdu's call to prepare the weapons. But there has been no official
comment yet on the aforesaid hate speech against Armenians.
Source: news.am
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://news.am/eng/news/761376.html
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India
UP Imam Booked
For Throwing Out Muslim Man In Saffron Kurta From Masjid
May 24, 2023
AGRA: A
45-year-old imam of a mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad district has been
booked for preventing a local resident in saffron kurta from entering the place
of worship and insulting him in front of others, police said on Tuesday.
Asif Ali Khan,
40, who was asked to leave the mosque, had subsequently filed a complaint at
Shamshabad police station in the district.
Khan said,
"I was humiliated in front of others for wearing 'Bhagva'. I countered the
imam saying religion has no colour, but he sternly warned me not to enter the
masjid again if I wear saffron."
Staion house
officer (SHO) of Shamshabad police station, Manoj Kumar Bhati, told TOI,
"The incident took place two days ago. The imam, identified as Mehtaab
Hafiz, has been booked under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation)."
"Further
investigation is underway in the matter," the SHO added.
Deputy
superintendent of police (DSP) of Kaimganj, Sohrab Alam, said, "We're
trying to find out why the imam stopped the man from entering the mosque. Was
the saffron kurta the only reason or was there something more to it."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/up-imam-booked-for-throwing-out-man-in-saffron-kurta-from-masjid/articleshow/100459255.cms
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Congress MLA U
T Khader Unanimously Elected As New Speaker Of Karnataka Assembly
May 24, 2023
Former Minister
and five-time Congress MLA U T Khader on Wednesday was unanimously elected as
the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Khader (53)
will be the first Muslim leader to serve as Speaker of Karnataka Assembly.
Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah proposed Khader's name for the post of Speaker and it was seconded
by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
As there was no
other contender for the post, Protem Speaker R V Deshpande put the proposal
made by the Chief Minister to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the
House.
As per
convention, the ruling party's nominee is generally elected unanimously as the
Speaker.
Khader had
served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the previous Assembly and also as
a minister in the past.
Source: outlookindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/congress-mla-u-t-khader-unanimously-elected-as-new-speaker-of-karnataka-assembly-news-288974
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Man Spends Life
Savings To Build Temple In Memory Of His Wife, Muslim Artists Perform Carvings
May 24, 2023
Chhatarpur:
Setting an example, a retired teacher of Bundelkhand etched his name in history
by spending his entire life's savings on the construction of a grand 'Radha
Krishna' Temple in memory of his late life in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur.
The day his
wife died, BP Chansoria, took the resolution to build a temple in Chhatarpur,
fulfilling her lifelong wish.
The
construction of the temple, required, carving special art on marble stones and
enhancing its beauty. This work was done by several Muslim artists from Rajasthan,
who put in their sweat and efforts over a period of three years.
Speaking about
the temple, Mr Chansoria told ANI that he got it built as his wife always
wanted a 'Radha Krishna' temple in Chitrakoot.
"After the
death of my wife in November 2016. I took a resolution that I will get the
temple built. It took six years and seven days to get the temple finally built
at a cost of ₹ 1.50 crores. Radha Krishna is the symbol of love which people
should remember for centuries.
Also, along with Radha Krishna, Radha Ji's friends Lalita and Visakha will also
be enshrined here," MrChansoria said.
He added,
"This temple will be dedicated to the society on May 29. At the same time,
I also want to give a message to the youth that love is everything after
marriage. So, one should not abandon love or wife on small petty issues".
Pandit Ramesh
Chandra Dixit, the local priest in the temple, said that this temple will serve
as an example of how love remains intact even after the passing away of one's
partner.
"The work
went on continuously for six years, it got paused for some time in 2010, but
again started. The work was finally completed after seven years. Lord Radha
Krishna, who is the symbol of love will be enshrined here. The temple will
serve as an example for people, that how someone can have so much love for his
partner despite her not being alive. Several programs are going on continuously
regarding the establishment."
Mohammad Asif,
one of the artists told ANI that this is a 'Taj Mahal' like example in today's
generation.
"At one
time, Shah Jahan had got a Taj Mahal built for his late wife Mumtaz, and today
he (BP Chansoria) has got a temple built for his late wife. The idol Radha
Krishna will be enshrined in the temple. The work is almost complete and it is
looking very beautiful. The locals are very happy and excited about this,"
he said.
The temple
built at a cost of ₹ 1.50 crores, has come up as an example of both love and
communal harmony and has become the centre of attraction in Chhatarpur.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/man-spends-life-savings-to-build-temple-muslim-artists-perform-carvings-4061165
--------
Bareilly police
book 2 Muslim organisations after video of harassment of inter-faith couple
goes viral
May 24, 2023
The Bareilly
police in Uttar Pradesh have booked activists of the Jamat Raza-E-Mustafa and
the All India Raza Action Committee, among others, for assaulting and
misbehaving with an Indian Railways employee, who was with a Muslim woman in a
guest house in the Subhash Nagar locality, on Saturday.
The Bareilly
police lodged an FIR at Subhash Nagar police station on Tuesday after a video
of the incident went viral on social media.
According to
the police, the man and the woman, a college student, are residents of
Shahjehanpur. On Saturday afternoon, the police said they reached the guest house
and asked for a room, which was given to them after they submitted copies of
their IDs. An hour later, the accused reached the guest house and forced them
to open the door. While three to four of the accused allegedly assaulted the
man, the others asked the woman her name, even as she kept on pleading that
they should not record the incident, the police said.
“We have
gathered information that the guest house staff members informed activists of
the two organisations after they realised from the ID that the woman is a
Muslim. We will also take action against the guest house staff member who
leaked the information to the two Muslim organisations,” Bareilly
Superintendent of Police Rahul Bhati said.
The FIR was
lodged by Virendra Singh, a sub-inspector at the Subhash Nagar police station.
“The FIR has
been registered under IPC sections 354C (voyeurism), 354D (stalking), 228 A
(disclosure of the identity of the victim), 509 (intending to insult the
modesty of any woman) and relevant sections of the IT Act. We have named the
two organisations in the FIR as we do not know the names of those involved in
the incident. Arrests will be made after we complete our investigations and
those involved are identified,” Akhilesh Pradhan, the in-charge of Subhash
Nagar police station, told The Indian Express on the phone.
The police
action followed a complaint sent on Twitter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath and Bareilly Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) P C
Meena by one Himanshu Patel, an office bearer of the GaurakshaPrakosth.
“We have lodged
the FIR and are identifying those involved in the incident through our sources
and also the available video footage. Strict action will be taken against all
those involved,” said Prabhakar Chaudhary, the Bareilly senior superintendent
of police.
In the tweet,
Patel wrote, “Aatankmacharakhahai Muslim sanghathon ne. Jin logo ne
ladkiaurladkekesathabhadratakihaiaurladkikesaathashlilvyavharkiyahai,
unkekhilafjald se jaldkanoonikaryavahikarein (Muslim organisations have created
terror. Those who have misbehaved with the man and molested the woman should
immediately face legal action).”
In the
2.20-minute video, the activists of the two Muslim organisations purportedly
asked the woman why she was in a room with a Hindu. They also asked for their
IDs and contacted the family members of the woman. They were allegedly only
allowed to leave after they apologised to the activists.
The police said
that the accused asked the man to name the organisation with which he was associated
and sought to know the “real motive” for taking a Muslim woman to a private
room.
“I was not in
Bareilly when the incident happened. I am in no position to give a statement in
this regard as I am not aware of the details,” said Imran Raza, the secretary
of the Raza Committee’s Bareilly unit.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/bareilly-police-muslim-harassment-interfaith-couple-8625888/
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Varanasi court
consolidates eight cases on Gyanvapi mosque
23rd May 2023
By Namita
BajpaiIANS
LUCKNOW: The
Varanasi District Court allowed the consolidation of eight pending suits in
relation to the Gyanvapi mosque dispute, on Tuesday. The eight cases are posted
for the next hearing on July 7.
Varanasi
district judge Dr AK Vishwesha observed that since the cases were almost
similar, they should be tried and consolidated together.
The Court also
reiterated its earlier observation that if the cases remained pending in
different courts, there was a possibility of contradictory orders being passed
in them.
"I am of
the opinion that it will be expedient in the interest of the justice that all
the suits mentioned here should be tried together and may be consolidated as
all these suits and proceedings shall be decided upon the evidence in any such
suits and proceedings and Civil Suit (18/2022) Smt Rakhi Singh and others Vs
State of UP and Others shall be the leading case and evidence shall be recorded
in the leading case," the judge said.
The Varanasi
district judge passed the order under the provision of Section 4A of CPC. The
counsel for the applicants stated that in Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh
Civil Laws (Reforms and Amendment) Act, a new order 4A was inserted in the Code
of Civil Procedure (CPC) for consolidation of suits and proceedings.
Moreover, the
district judge also acted in the wake of the Supreme Court's order of November
11, 2022, wherein the apex court had empowered the district court judge to
determine whether consolidation of similar suits was warranted if an
application was made before him.
One of the
pleas to transfer cases concerning the Gyanvapi dispute to the Court of
District Judge was moved by some petitioners -- Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju
Vyas, and Rekha Pathak -- in suit no. 18/2022. They had claimed that since all
the suits were of similar nature, they
should be tried together to save time, money and to avoid legal challenges.
Through suit no
18/2022, five Hindu women petitioners had sought year-long access to worship at
Maa Shringar Gauri site on the western wall of Gyanvapi mosque premises.
Of the seven
suits, six are pending in the court of Varanasi Civil Judge (Senior Division)
and one is pending before the fast-track court of civil judge (senior
division). The case pending in fast track court pertains to the one filed by
Lord Vishweshwar Virajman (Swayambhu) through his next friend Kiran Singh, the
international general secretary of Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh. Through the suit,
the plaintiff has sought to hand over Gyanvapi premises to Lord AdiVishweshwara
Virajman.
Last year, the
civil court had ordered a survey of the mosque premises by an advocate
commissioner, who then videotaped the premises and submitted the report to the Varanasi
Civil Court (Senior Division). The report, among other things, stated that an
object similar in appearance to a Shivling was found in the Wuzu Khana of the
mosque premises during the survey.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
The matter was
later transferred to the Varanasi District Court on orders passed by the
Supreme Court.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/may/23/varanasi-court-consolidates-eight-cases-on-gyanvapi-mosque-2577867.html
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Europe
France's
'authoritarian' minister of interior warns US of 'Sunni Islamist terrorism'
23 May, 2023
French Interior
Minister Gerald Darmanin has warned of a "resumption" of the
terrorist threat in Europe during a visit to the US last Friday in a bid to
prompt the US government to “strengthen Franco-American counterterrorism
cooperation” prior to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Darmanin, who
has been described as "authoritarian" in his approach to law and
order, said: "We have come to remind them [America] that for Europeans and
for France the primary risk is Sunni Islamist terrorism and that anti-terrorist
collaboration between intelligence services is absolutely essential."
The French
minister met with US law enforcement officials and Secretary of Homeland
Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
He criticised
what he called the US's "national vision" of security threats and its
focus on white supremacism and conspiracy theorists, imploring the US to
"not forget what appears to us be the primary threat … Sunni
terrorism".
Without citing
any specific threat, Darmanin highlighted what he called the "exogenous
threat" to France and Europe from Islamic terrorism.
Darmanin's
remarks are likely to alarm France’s large Muslim population, which is overwhelmingly
Sunni. The government of French
President Emmanuel Macron has been accused of deliberately fostering
Islamophobia and persecuting Muslims in the name of secularism and
counterterrorism.
Darmanin, as
interior minister, was a key figure in the passing of the 2021
“anti-separatism” law, which was slammed by activists for targeting the
country's Muslim population, restricting their basic liberties and
criminalising Islam in the sphere of civil society.
Along with
this, Darmanin has led moves to shut down Muslim—oriented charities in the name
of "counterterrorism". Macron’s France is widely seen to have drawn
close to the UAE in their hardline outlook on “political Islam”, which has
targeted charities and other Muslim-NGOs as "terrorist" organisations.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/frances-darmanin-warns-us-sunni-islamist-terror-threat
--------
Hajj packages
'sold out' for British Muslims after introduction of new portal
23 May 2023
By AreebUllah
British Muslims
can no longer continue booking the Hajj pilgrimage after the limited number of
spaces given to UK pilgrims ran out.
Nusuk, a new
portal designed by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to handle Hajj packages
for western pilgrims, confirmed on Tuesday that all the slots for UK Muslims
had been used up.
"We would
like to confirm that our current packages for UK are indeed sold out and the
full capacity is reached," Nusuk said on Twitter.
"However,
we recommend periodically checking the availability as new packages may be
released."
The Council for
British Hajjis (CBH), a charity that supports British Muslims hoping to fulfil
the Hajj, also confirmed that the quota for 2023 had been filled.
"Nusuk
have confirmed that the Hajj quota for the United Kingdom has now been
filled," CBH UK said in a statement.
The CBH added
that spaces might open if UK pilgrims cancelled their packages and urged
British Muslims to keep checking the Nusuk website.
It remains unclear
how many places Saudi Arabia allocated to the United Kingdom for the upcoming
Hajj, set to start on 28 June and end on 1 July.
Muslims view
Hajj as a key pillar of the Islamic faith and are obligated to attend at least
once in their lifetime if they are healthy and financially able to do so.
Ten year wait
for British Muslims
Last week,
Middle East Eye revealed that Saudi Arabia had told British MPs it would
drastically cut the number of Muslims allowed to attend the Hajj from the UK
from 25,000 to 3,600.
British MPs
from the All Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah warned that the reduction in
the quota could lead to 10-year waits for British Muslims hoping to complete
the Hajj.
The final
figure has yet to be announced, with the CBH telling MEE that MPs from the APPG
on Hajj and Umrah planned to meet with the Saudi ambassador to Britain this
week to push them to increase the number of places given to the UK for the
Hajj.
According to
the minutes of the APPG meeting, Saudi officials told the MPs that new quotas
for the UK and other western countries would align with Muslim-majority
countries, which have historically been allocated one place per thousand
Muslims in the population.
The quota
figure for Muslim-majority countries can vary depending on the arrangements
between Saudi Arabia and individual countries.
Whether the
Saudi government intends to revise the number yearly or what data it will draw
on to calculate how many Muslims would be eligible to go from western countries
remains unclear.
Concerns over
new system
Concerns around
the quota have also come to light after the Ministry of Hajj launched a new
booking system known as Nusuk, replacing the decades-old system of allowing
local travel agencies to organise Hajj tours for western pilgrims.
British Muslims
who used Nusuk told MEE that the portal had taken thousands of dollars from
their bank accounts without giving any official confirmation that their
packages had been secured.
Last year,
Saudi Arabia also ended the use of travel agencies organising the Hajj and
introduced a new system where western pilgrims had to book the Hajj via a
company called Motawif - similar to Nusuk.
Before the
pandemic, around 25,000 Muslims from the UK were allocated to go to Hajj each
year.
But after Saudi
Arabia announced that the pilgrimage was to be scaled down in 2022 - with
numbers cut to one million pilgrims worldwide instead of the pre-pandemic total
of 2.5 million - the UK quota was cut to 12,348.
Source: middleeasteye.net
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-muslims-hajj-packages-sold-out-new-portal
---------
Tributes to
'selfless' shopkeeper and mosque volunteer
23rd May
More than a
thousand people from across the country turned out to pay their final respects
to a shopkeeper and mosque volunteer.
Ahmed Dhorat
died aged 90 last Thursday and was buried at Pleasington Cemetery, in one of
the largest local Muslim funerals seen in recent years.
Mr Dhorat came
to the country in 1966 and later settled in the Audley area of Blackburn. It
was here in 1981 he took over a newsagents in Queen’s Park Road.
The shop was
managed by Mr Dhorat for the next 40 years and he was well known across the
town for his efforts to help others in their time of need.
His grandson,
Hafiz Mehboob Daud, said: “He loved to go to work and the shop would open each
and every day without fail.
“He was such a
hard worker and taught all his family and extended family the importance of
working and to helping the community no matter who you were and where you were
from.
“We all learnt
these ideals from him. He wanted to pass on the hard work ethic to all his
extended family to ensure they remained self-sufficient.
“I think that
is why he was so well-loved. He was unique and his advice was something we will
always remember.
“He was also
someone who loved being organised. He never missed paying a bill nor ever
wanted to owe anybody anything.”
Mr Dhorat was a
father to eight children (two sons and six daughters), and has 49 grandchildren
and 70 great grandchildren.
Of those 21
went on to become hafiz, 12 became alims and two muftis.
Mr Dhorat's
daughter Sayeeda revealed how her father was never one to complain and had a
'heart of gold'.
She said:
"My loving father endured much difficulties in his life but never once
compared or complained, he would share stories of his struggles in the early
years of his life.
"He was a
hard working individual who instilled his values and qualities into my life, he
taught me how to respect all young and old.
"My father
taught me many lessons and he always used to more so recently as he spent more
time with me reflect saying I see you in me and would also say this to my
children, he used to say that over and over again.
"I can’t
compete any any level with my dearest father who had a heart of gold. He never
wanted for himself but only for others.
"My father
taught me to work and pray and balance life, never to take what wasn’t mine and
never to get into debt, he never directly said how proud he was of me but would
indirectly assure me I was doing a great job of myself and my family and how
happy he was for me.
"He was a
tough father who had tough parenting styles but that was to make me a better
and strong person.
"What more
could I have asked for, he taught me right from wrong and I am the person I am
today due to the qualities my father has instilled in me."
Mr Dhorat would
work to establish one of the biggest mosques in Blackburn and also support
fundraising efforts to support those less fortunate than him in India.
He was one of
the first people to be involved in the established of the Noorul Islam mosque.
Mehboob added:
“He was a mountain of a man and quite unique.
“He was always
giving his time to local and charitable causes. I think it was important for
him to give his time to support people who needed it most.”
Mehboob said
the ‘love and respect’ people had for him was evident in the number of people
who turned up to his funeral and have continued to pay his tribute to him.
Mehboob said:
“People travelled from across the country to be at his funeral.
"He had
such a wide-reaching friendship with people and it was heartening to see so
many people here in Blackburn.”
His popular
shop Dhorat’s, based on the corner of Pringle Street and Queen’s Park Road, was
taken over by his daughter in 2021.
Mr Dhorat died
on Thursday (May 18) and he had been praying standing up only a day earlier. In
many cases people who are frail and elderly tend to sit whilst praying.
Mehboob added:
“It was remarkable to see a man of his age still going about his daily business
and prayers as if he was a lot younger.
“He had a
wealth of advice to people to people but something he would always say is
‘never waste a day’.”
In online
tributes posted following his death people remembered how generations were
inspired by this humble local shopkeeper.
One wrote:
"Top bloke he will be sadly missed. My dad went down to his shop for
papers for 30 years. He got dementia but still went down for his paper.
"It must
have been a year later that Mr Dhorat he just came in as normal to say 'Hi' and
pick up the paper and walk out without paying. He never minded!"
Source: asianimage.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/23540194.a-heart-gold-tributes-much-loved-blackburn-shopkeeper/
--------
Ex-Russian
president backs pirating foreign content
23 May, 2023
Former
President Dmitry Medvedev has no problem with Russians pirating Western
intellectual property in the face of sanctions the US and its allies have
imposed, he told RT on Tuesday.
In an interview
with RT’s Maria Finoshina, Medvedev dodged the question of whether Russia
should amend its intellectual property law, which is based on the Berne and
Geneva conventions. He admitted, however, that he fully endorses online piracy.
“That I welcome
the use of pirated content in an environment where we have been besieged from
all sides is absolutely true. The more varied content, the better. And
preferably free,” he said.
Major Hollywood
studios – including Universal, Sony, Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros. –
embargoed their releases in Russia in March 2022, in protest at Moscow’s
military operation in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly said it considers the
sanctions illegitimate and will work around them.
In January, the
Russian legislature proposed a workaround that would allow Western features to
be shown without regard to copyright, but it has not yet been approved.
Meanwhile, domestic productions have rushed to fill the vacuum, with early 2023
becoming a bumper season for Russian cinema.
Medvedev first
called for piracy back in March, urging Russians to “find proper pirates and
download everything from them” and inflict “maximum damage” so the Western
companies that left would go broke. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreed,
saying the Western governments had engaged in actual piracy by seizing Russian
assets and funds.
A jurist by
trade, Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, and prime
minister until 2020. He is currently the deputy chair of the National Security
Council, which is formally chaired by President Vladimir Putin.
His efforts to
negotiate with the West at the time were “a waste of time and effort” in
hindsight, Medvedev admitted to RT. The
West wants Russia destroyed, or at the very least contained, he added.
“They were not
ready for dialogue,” the former president told Finoshina. “They don't want
peace, they want war. They don’t want cooperation, they want confrontation.”
Asked if there
is any hope for future negotiations, Medvedev was skeptical. “Not yet,” he told
RT. “There’s no one to talk with.”
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/576788-medvedev-piracy-sanctions-justified/
-------
UN expresses
‘concern’ over Ukrainian attack on Belgorod
24 May, 2023
The United
Nations has voiced concerns over a recent cross-border attack on Russia’s
Belgorod Region, while saying it was unable to confirm who carried out the
operation. Russian officials have condemned the incursion as a “terrorist act”
organized by Kiev to divert attention from its battlefield failures.
Asked about
this week’s border raid during a Tuesday press briefing, a representative for
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the agency was aware of the
incident, urging all parties to avoid any further escalation.
“We’re
obviously following with concern the reports of incident in the Belgorod region
of the Russian Federation. We've seen the statements... made by officials both
in Ukraine and the Russian Federation,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said,
adding “As far as the UN is concerned, we’re not in a position to confirm the
reports or any information concerning the groups allegedly involved in what we
are seeing in the media.”
The Kremlin
said the “Kiev regime” had resorted to “terrorist actions against the civilian
population” after a major defeat by Russian forces in the city of Artyomovsk,
known as Bakhmut in Ukraine. One civilian was killed and 12 injured in the incursion,
while around 100 people, including children and the elderly, were evacuated.
The Ukrainian
government, however, has denied any involvement in the attack, in keeping with
its usual policy, claiming it was staged by the so-called ‘Freedom of Russia
Legion’ and the ‘Russian Volunteer Corps’ (RDK) – an armed neo-Nazi group said
to be made up of far-right militants.
The Russian
Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the incursion was repelled, with at least
70 Ukrainian militants, four armored vehicles and several pickup trucks
destroyed in the process. It added that the remnants of the group returned to
Ukrainian territory, “where they continued to be hit until they were completely
eliminated.”
Photos shared
by the ministry showed the wreckage of US-made military vehicles, though
Washington has denied any involvement and said it was “skeptical” that American
gear might have been used in the attack. The Pentagon also insisted that the US
government had only provided the equipment to Kiev, and not to any “paramilitary
organizations outside the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
A similar
attack took place in Russia’s Bryansk region last March, leaving two civilians
dead, according to officials. The RDK claimed responsibility for the incident
at the time, but also stated that Ukrainian authorities had explicitly “signed
off” on the operation.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/576805-belgorod-raid-un-concern/
--------
Arab World
Saudi Arabia Executes
3 Young Shia Men from Qatif
2023-May-23
TEHRAN (FNA)-
Saudi authorities executed three young men from the Shia-populated Qatif region
over charges of involvement in sabotage activities, which critics say are part
of a crackdown to silence political dissent.
The Saudi
Ministry of Interior alleged in a statement on Monday that the death sentences
were carried out against Hassan bin Issa Al Muhanna, Haider bin Hassan Muwais
and Muhammad bin Ibrahim Muwais, presstv reported.
The ministry
claimed that the Saudi nationals “had joined a foreign-based network in order
to carry out acts of terror against the kingdom. They were found guilty of
having received training in the use of firearms and making bombs, smuggling men
wanted on security charges out of the country, bringing in ammunition and
storing them for the purpose of disturbing internal security”.
Back on May 9,
Saudi authorities executed Anwar bin Jaafar bin Mahdi Al-Alawi, a Saudi
national from the Eastern Province, on charges of “attacking a police station,
aiding and harboring a man wanted on security charges and possessing
ammunition”.
Alawi was found
guilty by a criminal court and a royal order was issued to carry out the death
sentence.
Saudi Arabia’s
oil-rich and predominantly Shia Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful
demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms,
freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to
economic and religious discrimination against the region.
The protests have
been met with a heavy-handed crackdown, with regime forces increasing security
measures across the province.
Ever since
Mohammad bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader in 2017, the kingdom
has ramped up arrests of activists, bloggers, intellectuals, and others
perceived as political opponents, showing almost zero tolerance for dissent
even in the face of international condemnations of the crackdown.
As a result,
Muslim scholars have been executed and women’s rights campaigners have been put
behind bars and tortured as freedoms of expression, association, and belief
continue to be denied.
Source: farsnews.ir
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020302000232/Sadi-Arabia-Execes-3-Yng-Shia-Men-frm-Qaif
--------
Saudi
orchestra, choir hits high note at Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale
May 23, 2023
JEDDAH: The
Saudi National Orchestra and Choir hit all the right notes with an “exquisite”
performance at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah.
Seventy
musicians and singers on Monday belted out a selection of Islamic chants,
instrumental pieces, and traditional Saudi musical numbers in a show titled
Beauty and Grace.
Performing
under the umbrella of the Saudi Music Commission, the tunes were picked to
blend with the artwork on display at the Western Hajj Terminal venue.
Aya Al-Bakree,
chief executive officer of Diriyah Biennale Foundation, told Arab News: “The
exquisite Saudi Orchestra’s performance is part of Diriyah Biennale
Foundation’s Creative Experiences public programming series for audiences of
all ages, marking the final days of the incredible Islamic Arts Biennale.
“We are
profoundly grateful to the Ministry of Culture’s Music Commission for enabling
this meaningful collaboration that celebrates exceptional Saudi Arabian talent
and artistic expression on an international platform, which is a central tenet
of our work at the foundation,” she said.
By combining
music and visual art, event organizers aimed to highlight the importance of music
in local and global culture, celebrating national pieces representing the
Kingdom’s rich heritage.
DonyaAbdulhadi,
senior adviser at the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, said: “Diriyah Biennale
Foundation’s Islamic Arts Biennale was not only the first biennale dedicated to
the Islamic arts in world history, but has also been recognized among the most
impactful cultural initiatives in Saudi Arabia, showcasing homegrown talent on
an international stage.
“Working with
the Music Commission in hosting the Saudi Orchestra represents the spirit of
continued collaboration within the cultural ecosystem nationwide and is
symbolic of Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the arts at an international scale.”
Mohammed Ghani,
who attended the event with his family, said: “We are proud of Saudi cultural
music, and these kinds of platforms create not only music enthusiasm among the
young people but also help in shaping the future of the country’s music scene.”
The
contemporary arts and culture event hosted by the foundation, which ended on
Tuesday, featured artworks by 60 established and emerging artists from Saudi
Arabia and around the world, along with more than 60 new commissions and 280
historical artifacts.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2309016/saudi-arabia
--------
Two Gulf
Companies Tap Favourable Islamic Bond Market
23 May ,2023
Majid Al
Futtaim (MAF) and Banque Saudi Fransi both launched Islamic bonds, or Sukuk, on
Tuesday, as investor demand and favourable conditions drive issues from the
Gulf region.
Emirati retail
conglomerate MAF launched a $500 million 10-year green Sukuk at 140 basis
points (bps) over Treasuries, capital markets publication IFR reported, tighter
than earlier guidance, after order books hit more than $3 billion.
Dubai-based
MAF, a leading family-owned business group with assets of $18 billion at the
end of 2022, said on Monday it had mandated banks ahead of a sale.
Saudi lender
Banque Saudi Fransi launched a $900 million five-year Sukuk at 105 bps over
Treasuries, tightening from guidance of 130 bps over Treasuries, with order
books of over $2.5 billion, IFR reported.
The bank
announced on Monday that it had mandated banks to arrange investor calls ahead
of a possible issue under its $4 billion trust certificate issuance program.
There has been
a pick-up in Islamic debt issuance from the Gulf recently as borrowers look to
tap a broader investor base and meet demand for an under-supplied asset class.
Source: english.alarabiya.net
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/05/23/Two-Gulf-companies-tap-favorable-Islamic-bond-market-
---------
Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet Session
23 May, 2023
Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet
session held today at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
The Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the message he
received from the King of Bahrain regarding relations between the two
countries.
The Cabinet
reviewed the results of the 32nd Arab Summit presided over by the Kingdom,
which were positive and went over the Jeddah Declaration, which is bound to
promote joint action and solidarity to face the challenges and difficulties
that the Arab world is going through, and thus contribute to achieving the
goals and aspirations for a promising future.
The Cabinet
reaffirmed the Kingdom's constant keenness to unite the Arab world and interest
in everything that would provide conditions for stability and prosperity in the
region, particularly issues related to sustainable development in its various
dimensions, including working on a number of initiatives aimed at advancing
joint cooperation in the cultural, economic, social and environmental fields
during the presidency of the current summit.
After the
session, Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari said in a statement to
the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Cabinet was briefed on the meetings of
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with the leaders of several Arab countries
and with the president of Ukraine.
The Cabinet
also reviewed the outcome of the fourth session of the Saudi-Algerian Political
Consultation Committee and the fourth meeting of the Political, Security and
Military Committee of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, commending the
steps taken to boost relations and saying that it was looking forward to
continuing efforts to boost prospects of cooperation in various areas.
The Cabinet
tackled several reports on developments and events in the regional and
international arenas, including updates on the situation in Sudan, and welcomed
the Kingdom’s contribution to the signing of a short-term ceasefire agreement
and the humanitarian arrangements made by the parties to the conflict,
expressing hope that talks will bring about a permanent halt of hostilities and
activate the political process.
The Cabinet
also commended the Kingdom's launch of the scientific mission at the International
Space Station (ISS), where two Saudi astronauts are on board, which is bound to
contribute to attaining scientific results that serve humanity and help achieve
the aspirations of this country and the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 in
this area. The Cabinet wished the astronauts success in their mission and a
safe return.
The Cabinet
applauded the Kingdom's talented students who received awards at the Regeneron
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2023), which is the result of
continuous government efforts to improve the quality of education and bring it
in line with the best global practices.
The Cabinet
also said that the Kingdom’s improved indicators concerning the number of
international tourists and revenues for 2022, as per the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO), is a reflection of the country's interest in promoting
and developing this sector and raising its contribution to the GDP, in
accordance with the Saudi Vision 2030.
First:
Authorizing the Minister of Energy – or his deputy – to sign a draft general
agreement for the establishment of the Arab common market for electricity.
Second:
Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of
Indonesia regarding cooperation in the energy field.
Third:
Approving a cooperation agreement between the government of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field of
combating crime.
Fourth: Approving
a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the
Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic World
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
Fifth:
Authorizing the Minister of Culture – or his deputy – to hold talks with the
Indian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in
the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the Ministry of Culture of India.
Sixth: Approving
a memorandum of understanding in the field of tourism between the Ministry of
Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism
of Oman.
Seventh:
Authorizing the Minister of Investment – or his deputy – to hold talks with the
Chilean side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry
of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Economy of
Chile for cooperation in encouraging the direct investment.
Eighth:
Approving a memorandum of understanding in the field of academic, medical,
training and research services between Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the General Command of the Bahrain Defence
Force of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Ninth:
Authorizing the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services - or his deputy -
to discuss with the Kuwaiti side a draft agreement between the government of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the State of Kuwait regarding
the railway link project between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of
Kuwait.
Tenth:
Authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for
Competition - or his deputy - to discuss with the Omani side a draft memorandum
of understanding for cooperation in the field of promoting competition and
combating monopolistic practices between the General Authority for Competition
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Competition Protection and Monopoly
Prevention Centre in the Sultanate of Oman.
Eleventh:
Approving a memorandum of understanding between the General Authority for
Competition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Competition Authority of the
Arab Republic of Egypt regarding cooperation in the field of promoting
competition and combating monopolistic practice.
Twelfth:
Authorizing the Minister of Media, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
General Commission for Audiovisual Media - or his deputy - to discuss with the
Azerbaijani side a draft memorandum of understanding between the General
Commission for Audiovisual Media of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of audiovisual
media.
Thirteen:
Authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Education and
Training Evaluation Commission - or his deputy - to discuss with the GCC
General Secretariat (Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States) regarding a
draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of training and
educational work between the Education and Training Evaluation Commission of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia And the GCC General Secretariat (Arab Bureau of
Education for the Gulf States).
Fourteenth:
Approving a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of news
between the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
South African Government News Agency of the Republic of South Africa.
Fifteenth:
Approving the document of mechanisms and requirements for issuing visit and
transit visas.
Sixteen:
Amendment of the Cabinet Resolution No. (94) dated 5/2/1442 AH issued regarding
the controls for transferring students on scholarships outside the Kingdom to
study inside the Kingdom.
Seventeen:
Appointing Dr. Saad bin Mohammad Al Hamlan as a member representing the private
sector on the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Survey and
Geospatial Information.
Eighteen:
Renewing the membership of Dr. Awad bin Metrik Al-Juhani, Dr. Mohammad bin
YaslamShubraq, and Dr. Mohammad bin Khalid Al-Saadoun in the Board of Directors
of the National Center of Wildlife, among the specialists and experts in the
field of work of the centre.
Nineteen:
Approving the final accounts of the Human Resources Development Fund and Imam
Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, for a previous year.
Twentieth: Approving
appointments to the posts of (Ambassador) and (Minister Plenipotentiary).
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
The Cabinet
also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures
regarding them.
http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/40f691a9e246466bb6f601f6f4f181b3
--------
Kuwait’s emir
congratulates King Salman, crown prince on Saudi astronauts’ arrival at space
station
May 23, 2023
KUWAIT:
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent two cables to Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, congratulating them
on the arrival of Saudi astronauts RayyanahBarnawi and Ali Al-Qarni at the International Space Station, Kuwait
News Agency reported.
In his cables,
Sheikh Nawaf lauded the Kingdom’s scientific achievement and highlighted its
significant progress in the fields of science, technology and space. He added
that this achievement is a source of pride for the Arab world.
The Kuwaiti
ruler also wished for more prosperity for Saudi Arabia and its people under the
leadership of King Salman.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2308861/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi Arabia’s
KSrelief carries out aid projects in Bangladesh and Sudan
May 23, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia’s aid agency carried out aid projects to help unprivileged communities
in Sudan and Bangladesh.
In Sudan, the
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed food aid
and shelter supplies to 1,565 displaced families in Wad Madani, the capital of
the state of Gezira.
The initiative
was part of the Saudi relief airlift, led by KSrelief, aimed at assisting the
Sudanese people whose country has been reeling from violence triggered by
clashes between the army and paramilitaries.
The aid agency
concluded its ‘Noor Saudi Arabia’ voluntary program to combat blindness in
Bangladesh, which was held in cooperation with Al-Basar International Foundation,
reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
During the
one-week campaign, the KSrelief’s volunteer medical team examined 4,749 cases,
distributed 1,205 glasses, and performed 484 successful cataract operations.
“This comes
within the voluntary projects provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
represented by KSrelief, to support the medical sector in many different
countries,” read the SPA statement.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2308566/saudi-arabia
--------
South Asia
Australian
Defence Force chief Angus Campbell renews calls to strip medals from
Afghanistan war veterans
24-05-23
Defence Chief
Angus Campbell has launched a fresh attempt to remove awards from some soldiers
who held command positions in the Afghanistan war, following the damning
findings of the Brereton inquiry.
The ABC can
reveal General Campbell in recent days has written to several current and
former Australian Defence Force members, informing them their honours for
distinguished and conspicuous service on warlike operations could soon be
cancelled.
In formal
correspondence to a small group of Afghanistan veterans, the Defence Chief
declares his "consideration of your command accountability is now closed"
and revealed he had referred the termination of their decorations to Defence
Minister Richard Marles.
"It is
then for the minister to independently determine whether he accepts the
assessment in my letter after considering the relevant information including
your response," the general writes.
"If he is
of the view that your award should be cancelled, the minister will make a
recommendation to the governor-general. The governor-general will then make a
decision."
When releasing
the findings of the Brereton inquiry in November 2020, General Campbell
initially announced he had accepted a recommendation to remove the meritorious
unit citation from the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) following
revelations of alleged war crimes.
Several months
later, then-defence minister Peter Dutton announced he would overturn the
recommendation, allowing around 3,000 SOTG personnel who served between 2007
and 2013 to keep their citations.
Last month
General Campbell indicated "work was continuing" on possible internal
disciplinary action related to failures of command accountability during the
Afghanistan war when alleged crimes occurred.
Veterans groups
are furious
Veterans groups
have reacted furiously at the latest attempt to revoke honours awarded from the
Afghanistan war, demanding the Albanese government again overrule the defence
chief.
"Peter
Dutton threw this out straight away in the last government when it was put
before him," says Martin Hamilton-Smith, the national president of the
Special Air Service Association.
"I think
Australians, veterans and their families are now going to wait and see whether
the current government is going to stand with the veterans and their families
or stand with the general who's looking increasingly isolated."
Mr
Hamilton-Smith, a former SAS soldier and South Australian politician, has also
suggested General Campbell should consider handing back his Distinguished
Service Cross (DSC) as a sign of leadership.
“General
Campbell was one of the very commanders in 2011/12 of all of the Australians in
Afghanistan — on the back of the fighting effort of the SAS and Commandos he
was awarded a DSC but he's not offering that
— he's not offering that onto the table.”
Steve Pilmore
from the Commandos Association has also criticised General Campbell’s recent
actions, saying no action should be taken until allegations have been dealt
with in courts.
"This has
dragged on for so long and I'm sure it's causing havoc in the families of some
people when they're probably already dealing with some fairly major
circumstances that come out of five, six, seven, eight [or] nine trips to
Afghanistan."
In a statement,
the Defence Department told the ABC the defence chief had considered the
command accountability of personnel who held command positions in Afghanistan
and presented his findings and recommendations to the minister.
“As it is
ongoing, and to protect privacy and support the welfare of our people, Defence
will not comment on the circumstances of individuals,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson
for Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed he was "considering the
recommendations" from the defence chief and "seeking advice as
appropriate".
Source: abc.net.au
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-24/adf-chief-calls-to-remove-medals-from-afghan-soldiers/102383514
--------
Old Video From
Afghanistan Falsely Shared As NATO Troops in Ukraine
23 May 2023
An old video
from Afghanistan of a large crowd gathered at the airport runway with several
helicopters taking off is being shared with the false claim that it shows the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops landing in Ukraine. NATO is an
intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states from North America
and Europe, prominently consisting of the United States, Germany, United
Kingdom. Ukraine is not part of the NATO. The video was tweeted by a Twitter
user Dane (@UltraDane) with the caption. "In case you missed it, NATO
soldiers now in Ukraine."
FACT-CHECK BOOM
found that the viral video dates back to August 2021 from Afghanistan during
the Taliban takeover of the country and the subsequent United States
withdrawal. The video pre-dates the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February
2022 and is not recent as being claimed. Taking a hint from the replies that
the video is from Afghanistan, we ran a reverse image search using Google which
search results showed that the video was uploaded on YouTube back in August
2021. The video was uploaded by the channel - "FUNKER530 - Veteran Community
& Combat Footage" on August 18, 2021, with the caption, "US
Soldier Films Chaos From MRAP Gunner Turret In Kabul". The description of
the video reads, "There has been piles of videos coming out of the chaotic
effort to evacuate US and partner nation personnel from the Hamid Karzai
International Airport (HKIA), but this is the first footage we have received
that was filmed by an actual service member taking part in the evacuation
security operations." It further reads, "The footage is filmed by a turret
gunner in a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, and it shows the
use of AH-64 Apache gunships to clear the runway for C-17 aircraft. It also
gives scope of the massive crowd of desperate Afghans that are hoping to hitch
a ride out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan."
We also found
another video shot during the US evacuation at the InternationAiport where
similar helicopters can be seen flying around and the background matches the
viral video which indicates that it is the same location.
Additionally,
we did not find any credible news reports on NATO intervening in the Russia -
Ukraine conflict and sending troops to Ukraine to combat Russia. BOOM could not
independently verify the incident in the viral video, however we were able to
establish that it is not recent showing NATO troops in Ukraine as being claimed
Source: boomlive.in
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.boomlive.in/fact-check/world/fake-news-viral-video-afghanistan-nato-troops-in-ukraine-factcheck-22047
--------
Bangladesh PM
confident country able to repay IMF loans
By Andrew Mills
May 24, 202
Bangladesh's
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina waves as she arrives for a dinner on the first day
of the Paris Peace Forum, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 11,
2021. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
DUBAI, May 24
(Reuters) - The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday
she was confident that the country would be able to meet its commitments to the
International Monetary Fund.
"The IMF
only assists countries that can repay the loans they are taking.. Bangladesh is
in a position that yes, we took the loan as long as we need it, and yes I am
very much sure that definitely we are able to use the loan for our progress and
side by side we are able to pay it back," Hasina said at the Qatar
Economic Forum, organised by Bloomberg.
In January, the
IMF approved loans of $4.7 billion to Bangladesh for immediate disbursement,
considered a boost for Sheikh Hasina ahead of a general election early next
year.
Amid a
worsening economic crisis, Bangladesh has seen a sharp widening of its current
account deficit, depreciation of the taka currency and a decline in its foreign
exchange reserves.
Sheikh Hasina
also said Bangladesh would buy oil from Russia if the price was appealing.
Source: reuters.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-pm-says-very-much-sure-country-able-repay-imf-loan-2023-05-24/
--------
Bangladesh:
Several injured as Opposition BNP, police clash in Dhaka
24-05-23
According to
police, the BNP workers started throwing brickbats at the police when the
procession reached the Science Lab area which had started earlier from
Dhanmondi. The BNP activists tried to set a government bus on fire and
vandalised several vehicles. Police lobbed tear gas shells and led a baton
charge on the protestors to control the situation.
The clashes
resulted in injury to at least 10 police personnel, local police officials told the media. The
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the police
attacked the procession without any provocation in which at least 100 BNP
activists were injured.
The BNP
programme was part of the protest marches organised across 10 cities including
Dhaka for its 10-point demand which includes resignation of the Sheikh Hasina
government to have a neutral, caretaker government to conduct the forthcoming
general elections scheduled for January next year. Another protest event of the
BNP scheduled in Rajshahi was not allowed to take place by the police.
Earlier, on
19th May, the district BNP convenor of Rajshahi Abu Sayeed Chand had said in a
public rally that the only demand they have is to send Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina to ‘graveyard’. His statement went viral on social media. The police
have registered a case against him for issuing a death threat against the Prime
Minister. The ruling Awami League organised protests at district level against
the statement of the BNP leader. Awami League General Secretary ObaidulQuader
declared that the ruling party will not hold ‘peace rallies’ but will actively
resist the BNP if it tries to disrupt the forthcoming elections.
The US Embassy
in Dhaka also issued a statement condemning ‘the use of any inflammatory
language, intimation for threats of violence’.
Source: ddnews.gov.in
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://ddnews.gov.in/international/bangladesh-several-injured-opposition-bnp-police-clash-dhaka
---------
Afghan Culture
and Values Should Not be Undermined, Says Afghan Minister
May 24, 2023
Afghanistan’s
acting Minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadim in a meeting with
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul said that foreign countries should not interfere
in Afghanistan’s affairs under the pretext of human rights.
On Monday, in a
meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani,
Minister Nadim discussed various critical issues and emphasized that both
countries should respect each other and foster stronger ties. Regarding the change in the Taliban’s
policies, Minister Nadim said, “No one would be allowed to criticize the Afghan
culture and lifestyle.”
He further
reiterated that the Taliban are fully committed to implementing Islamic Sharia
laws, the state news agency Bakhtar reported.
Taliban
minister’s sharp criticisms are mainly aimed at the United Nations and Western
countries, which have repeatedly demanded that the Taliban should respect human
rights, including the right to work and education for Afghan women. However,
the Taliban have their own policies and priorities to be implemented.
Nadim described
these demands as interfering in the affairs of Afghanistan. Pointing to the
so-called repressive policies against women, he said that Afghans live in a
traditional society and Taliban’s policies protect the beliefs and cultures of
the people.
Irrespective of
their differences in views, Russia, China and Western countries have repeatedly
called on the Taliban-run administration to revert their policies regarding
Afghan women and girls.
Furthermore,
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) urged the Taliban regime to allow
women to return to education and work. OIC sent a high-level delegation to
Kabul a few months ago to discuss this matter with the Taliban authorities.
Taliban’s
minister described certain nations and international organizations as wrongful
supporters of the previous government and human rights, and has said that they
want to “interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs under various pretexts of
human rights.”
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-culture-and-values-should-not-be-undermined-says-afghan-minister/
---------
2,400 Afghan
Refugees Return Home From Iran
May 23, 2023
Afghanistan’s
Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs said on Monday about 2,400 Afghan
refugees had returned home from Iran.
“A total of
2,348 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland Afghanistan on Sunday after
years of living as refugees in Iran, and the process of returning the refugees
to their country continues,” the statement said.
The reports
indicated over the past few months, more than 54,000 Afghan refugees returned
from Iran.
The migrants
returned home from Iran via the Islamqala crossing point in the eastern Herat
province of Afghanistan.
The ministry
reported that more than 2700 Afghan nationals returned home from Iran on
Saturday.
Meanwhile, some
547 returnees have been introduced to the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) to receive humanitarian aid.
In a telephone
talk with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Iranian Foreign
minister said that Afghan migrants living in Iran exceeded five million in numbers
and asked for immediate international support.
The increasing
issues in the neighbouring countries, including unemployment, restrictions lack
of jobs and earnings, led to the return of thousands of Afghan refugees to the
country voluntarily.
Most Afghan
nationals immigrate to the neighbouring countries due to the country’s lack of
employment, prosecution, security issues and threat.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/2400-afghan-refugees-return-home-from-iran/
----------
Africa
Niger: France
is testing its new military approach in Africa
24-05-23
Acting in
support and not instead of: the French armies had to learn the lessons of their
forced exit from Mali in the summer of 2022 and are today testing a discreet
partnership in Niger, tailored to the demands of Niamey.
"In Niger
and even globally everywhere in Africa, the philosophical position is different
from what was done in Mali. Today our aid starts first from the need of the
partner", summarizes the commander of the French Forces in the Sahel ( FFS
), General Bruno Baratz.
A change of
paradigm necessary after the departure from Mali of the French soldiers of
Operation Barkhane, under the pressure of a hostile junta which appealed to the
Russian mercenaries of Wagner, although it denies it.
Neighbouring
Burkina Faso, also led by putschist soldiers, in January demanded the
withdrawal of French special forces from its territory and is in Wagner's
sights.
To lessen the
flank of criticism against the military presence in Africa of the former
colonial power, President Emmanuel Macron has ordered action strictly adhering
to the specific demands of the countries concerned and remaining low noise.
An instruction
respected to the letter in Niger, which accepts in return 1,500 French soldiers
on its soil to increase its armies, while the Islamic State group in the Sahara
(EIS) has regained the hair of the beast on the Malo border -Nigerian.
"Niger
serves as a laboratory for the French army for its renewed approach" ,
sums up Michael Shurkin, an American expert specializing in the tricolor
military world. "France was waging its own war in parallel with what the
Malian armed forces were doing. Today it wants to do things differently".
Staying on the
second line, however, requires a "debarkhanization of minds" , slips
a French officer, recalling that an entire generation of soldiers tracked down
jihadist groups for a decade in the Sahelian sands, in much more autonomous
conditions than today.
Engaged in a
rise in power of their armed forces (FAN), which should reach 50,000 men in
2025 then 100,000 in 2030, Niger seems satisfied.
"Today the
command is Nigerien, master of the terrain and of the needs. We can only
congratulate ourselves on this. The French bring us the military training,
equipment, intelligence, and air resources that we lack", underlines to
AFP the former Nigerien Minister of Defense (2016-2019), KallaMoutari.
"We must
leverage their presence and that of other partners, as the threat is
increasingly rooted in central Mali and to the east and spills over into
Niger."
While Niger
previously served mainly as a transit base for operations in Mali, the French
have reinforced their presence there and detached hundreds of men to the south-west
of the country, near the Malian border.
The
Franco-Nigerian Almahaou operation, in the Tillaberi region, has already
produced positive effects, argues Colonel GrégoireServent, commander of the
French projected air base (BAP) in Niamey.
"We have
gone from 33% of cultivated land in this sector a year ago to 65% today. This
area is considered a priority because it is the breadbasket of the
country".
Cooperation
works all the better because "Niger has a particularly effective
counter-insurgency strategy", which aims to "secure populations and
allow the return of the State to areas contested by terrorist groups",
adds the general. Baratz.
In Mali,
despite undeniable French tactical victories against armed groups, the
political power has never managed to reestablish its authority in the
semi-desert areas raked by Barkhane. And the national army (FAMa) has remained
fragile, despite efforts to toughen it up for years.
From now on,
the fields of cooperation extend to the air domain, according to the needs of Niger.
"The BAP, at the time of Barkhane, had much less interaction with the
Nigeriens. A shift really took place with the withdrawal from Mali", notes
the combat partnership assistant, Lieutenant-Colonel Fabien.
French drones
and fighter planes take off daily from Niamey to support Nigerien operations on
the ground. And a seminar recently brought together French and Nigeriens on the
use of their respective drones - American Reaper for the first, Turkish
Bayraktar for the others.
"As the
Nigerien army increases in power, the objective is to adapt our system
downwards", promises the commander of the French forces in the Sahel.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/23/niger-france-is-testing-its-new-military-approach-in-africa/
--------
Haji right
choice for spymaster, says Muslim leader
23-05-23
President
William Ruto made the right choice in the appointment of DPP Noordin Haji as
the next head of the National Intelligence Service, the National Grand Mufti of
Kenya Sheikh Omar Buya has said.
Haji was
appointed as the Director General of the intelligence agency last week to take
over from Philip Kameru. Kameru is serving his final term in office following
the renewal of his contract by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019.
Kameru rose
through the ranks in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to the position of Director
of Military Intelligence before he was appointed NIS boss back in 2014.
On Tuesday,
Buya said Haji, who had previously served as the NIS Deputy Director of the
Counter Organised Crime Unit, has what it takes to lead the agency.
“He [Haji] is a
person who understands this office very well. We are confident that he is going
to deliver on this new mandate,” Sheikh Buya told journalists in his office in
Mombasa.
Parliament will
on May 30 vet Haji on his suitability for the position. He holds a Bachelor of
Laws and a Master’s degree from the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Additionally,
he holds a second Master’s degree in National Security Policy with Merit
(MNSPO) from the Australian National University.
“I urge
Parliament to vet and approve his nomination so he can proceed to continue
serving the nation,” he said.
Sheikh Buya
blasted those opposed to Haji’s appointment on allegations that as the DPP, he
(Haji) was coerced to drop cases and charges levelled against President Ruto’s
close allies.
“As the DPP, I
believe that he was guided by the law in his administration and dispensation of
justice. His duties as described in the Constitution allowed him to prosecute
or withdraw cases depending on the availability of evidence,” he said.
“He did well as
the DPP, why are those opposed to his appointment only seeing the cases he
withdrew and turning a blind eye to those he prosecuted?”
At the same
time, Sheikh Buya lauded President Ruto for his war against graft in the
country.
He said Kenya
is a country blessed with a lot of resources that can spur development, but
corruption continues to drag the country behind.
“As clerics, we
welcome the new zeal that the President has demonstrated to end the vice.
Corruption continues to be a thorn in the flesh for the government and has
stalled development and the improvement of the lives of Kenyans for years,”
Buya said.
Last week, Ruto
fired the chairman, CEO, board members and top management of Kemsa over a
botched Sh3.7 billion mosquito net tender.
Sheikh Buya
also urged Kenyans to give the President time to deliver on his promises even
as they complain about the harsh economic times.
He urged
leaders to support the head of state and stop politicking all the time for the
country to realise any meaningful development.
“The problem is
that we like politicking a lot, let us focus on how we can work together to
develop the country. The President I believe has the best interest of Kenyans
at heart, let us give him time to deliver on his promises,” he said.
Source: the-star.co.ke
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2023-05-23-haji-right-choice-for-spymaster-says-muslim-leader/
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Opposition
leader's rape trial resumes despite his absence from court
23-05-23
The trial of
Senegalese opposition leader OusmaneSonko on rape charges resumed in a court in
Dakar on Tuesday despite the fact that he failed for the second time running to
attend the proceedings.
There was a
strong security presence in the capital amid fears of protests that have flared
sporadically since the opposition leader and presidential candidate was first
detained in 2021.
Sonko has been
charged with rape and making death threats against an employee of a beauty
salon in Dakar.
He denies all
wrongdoing saying the trial is a political plot aimed at scuttling his bid for
the 2024 presidency. The government has rejected the accusation.
On Friday, the
opposition party leader said he would attend Tuesday’s hearing if his safety
could be guaranteed. His lawyers say he did not receive a summons to appear in
court.
"So,
that's why today the lawyers intervened to say firstly there was this element,
this irregularity. And then there’s also the fact that there were security
concerns which meant that Sonko could not come, even if he wanted to,"
said his lawyer, Massokhna Kane.
In court on
Tuesday, Sonko's lawyers requested another adjournment, while the lawyer for
former salon owner, NdèyeKhadyNdiaye, who is accused of complicity in the
alleged rape, asked for more preparation time.
When the
prosecutor dismissed their demands, both parties decided to withdraw from the
case.
"All the
defendants are free, there is absolutely no urgency to try this case today. So,
what happened is, all the lawyers, both those of NdèyeKhadyNdiaye and of
OusmaneSonko, decided to withdraw from the room," said Ndiaye’s lawyer,
MacodouNdour.
A conviction for
Sonko could put an end to his plans to run again for president. He came in
third in the 2019 election against incumbent MackySall.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/23/opposition-leaders-rape-trial-resumes-despite-his-absence-from-court/
--------
Nigeria: Group
protests outside court over SeunKuti's delayed release
23-05-23
Nigerian
protesters held a demonstration on Tuesday to demand the release of Afrobeat
star SeunKuti, who was arrested earlier this month after being accused of
assaulting a police officer in the commercial hub of Lagos.
Kuti is the son
of Nigerian musical icon and political agitator Fela, who himself was serially
detained by Nigerian military regimes.
Despite meeting
the requirements for his bail, the police have refused to release him.
Originally
scheduled for May 23, Kuti's court appearance was delayed as the presiding
Magistrate Justice was absent, without an official explanation.
The court clerk
confirmed that the case has been adjourned until Wednesday.
Outside the
court, a group identifying themselves as members of the "Free SeunKuti
campaign" staged a protest, demanding the immediate release of the artist.
Gideon Adeyeni,
one of the protesters campaigning for Kuti's release, said the way the
government and the police have dealt with him shows that they are
"interested in persecuting him."
Kuti was
charged by the Lagos State Police Command with assaulting a police officer.
The incident
between SeunKuti and the police officer was captured on video by a passer-by
and shared on social media, quickly going viral.
The police then
issued a warrant for his arrest, and he voluntarily turned himself in to the
Lagos police.
During court
proceedings, the police prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded for
21 days until legal advice is received from the Directorate of Public
Prosecutions.
Seun'sdefense
team has opposed this motion.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/23/nigeria-group-protests-outside-court-over-seun-kutis-delayed-release/
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Ceasefire in
Sudan appears to bring some respite for citizens
23-05-23
Sporadic
artillery fire was reported in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, early on Tuesday
morning, but residents said fighting calmed down later on what was the first
full day of the country’s latest ceasefire.
The seven-day
cessation of hostilities between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support
Forces, brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, came into force at
19h45 GMT on Monday.
Although
fighting has continued through previous ceasefires, there is some hope that it
will hold this time as it is the first to be agreed to formally following
negotiations in Jeddah.
The United
Nations has urged the warring generals to honour the agreement.
"I call on
both to end the fighting and to return to dialogue in the interest of Sudan and
its people. In Khartoum, in Darfur, and elsewhere, the warring parties have
fought their war with little regard for the laws and norms of war,” said Volker
Perthes, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan.
Activists have
complained to the UN of severe human rights abuses against civilians during the
fighting, saying these must be investigated.
Across the
country, people could be seen taking advantage of the ceasefire on Tuesday to
stock up on food and other essential supplies.
Witnesses in
Khartoum reported a welcome respite in the fighting after a rocky start to the
humanitarian truce. By around noon on Tuesday, they said a relative calm had
taken hold.
"We have
not heard shelling in our neighbourhood since last night," a resident of
southern Khartoum said.
More than five
weeks of war have pitted the army, led by Sudan's de facto leader Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of his former deputy
Mohamed HamdanDaglo.
An estimated
1,000 people have died in the battle and more than a million Sudanese have fled
their homes, including some 250,000 who left the country.
The United
Nations says more than half the population, 25 million people, are now in need
of humanitarian aid.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/23/ceasefire-in-sudan-appears-to-bring-some-respite-for-citizens/
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Families of
detained opposition leaders in Tunisia head to the African court
24-05-23
Yusra
Ghannouchi, who is the daughter of jailed Tunisia’s opposition leader Rached
Ghannouchi, has condemned her father’s arrest citing gross human rights
violation by the current regime of President Kais Saied.
Alongside other
family members of Tunisian opposition figures detained in a government
crackdown, she is seeking the immediate release of her loved ones with a case
bought to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.
"Tunisia
is bound by the decisions of the African Court of Human and peoples rights. We
have also applied for targeted sanctions against Kais Saied, and his justice
minister, his interior minister, and his defense minister all his accomplices
that are implicated in human rights violations," said Yusra Ghannouch.
Ghannouchi, 81,
has been imprisoned since April 17 after claiming that Tunisia would be
threatened with a "civil war" if left-wing parties or those of
political Islam such as Ennahdha were eliminated.
"There is
the will to establish fear and a police state but Tunisians are not accepting
that and that's why my father, our fathers, and other political leaders, and
members of the civil society are imprisoned because they are not accepting this
coup and the return of dictatorship. They are not silent, and we will not be
silent," said Yusra Ghannouch.
Since early
February, the authorities have arrested more than 20 political opponents and
other personalities, an act that has been condemned by the international
community and rights groups.
Reports of
harassment to the lawyers representing the victims have been echoed by the
affected parties with the detainees allegedly tortured.
"Lawyers
themselves for the detainees have been threatened and charged. In the case of
some of the detainees, there has been very poor treatment up until now. In the
case of one, an allegation of torture which will also be raised at the African
court," said Rodney Dixon, lawyer to families of Tunisian opposition
figures detained taking to his clients.
President Saied
has described those arrested as "terrorists", claiming that they were
involved in a "conspiracy against state security".
After
dismantling the institutional edifice put in place by the semi-parliamentary
Constitution of 2014, Saied ushered his country into the era of
hyper-presidentialism.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/24/families-of-detained-opposition-leaders-in-tunisia-head-to-the-african-court/
--------
Mideast
Israel trying
to add 'Muslim-majority African state' to Negev summit: report
23 May, 2023
Israel has attempted
to get a "Muslim-majority African country" it has no official ties
with to join an Arab-Israeli summit scheduled to take place in Morocco next
month.
Israeli Foreign
Minister Eli Cohen had already discussed the issue with US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, and it came up again during talks between Israeli foreign
ministry director-general Ronen Levy and officials in Washington last week,
Haaretz reported on Monday.
The African
country has not been named but reports earlier this year claimed that channels
of communication were open between Israel and Mauritania, something which
Nouakchott later denied.
Mauritania
ended its ties with Israel in 2009 after an Israeli war on the Gaza Strip which
claimed over 1,400 Palestinian lives.
Israel's
attempts are part of efforts to expand the Negev Forum, an economic and
security summit which includes Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco - the last
three normalising relations with Israel in 2020.
Morocco will
host the summit on 25 June, initially held in the Negev region of Israel, but
the exact location is yet to be revealed.
The summit was
previously postponed after Israel’s current far-right government was formed in
late 2022. This year has seen Israel launch a wave of deadly attacks on
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip, killing
over 150 Palestinians.
The purpose of
the Negev Forum - which began as a summit in March last year - is to expand
regional economic and security integration between Israel and Arab states which
have normalised ties with it.
Palestinians
and some Arab states have strongly condemned the normalisation moves,
particularly with the continued occupation of the West Bank and Israel's
stranglehold on Gaza.
Egypt
established ties with Israel in 1979 and it was followed by Jordan in 1994. But
the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, as well as Sudan, all formally established ties with
Israel in 2020 in a controversial deal dubbed the Abraham Accords.
The US is also
reportedly pushing for Israeli-Saudi normalisation before the year ends, but
Riyadh has said it does not intend to take such a move before Palestinian
statehood is achieved.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-trying-add-african-muslim-country-negev-summit
--------
Islamic Jihad
may ease way for Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine
May 23, 2023
The
decapitation of Islamic Jihad’s senior leadership in Gaza should help
facilitate negotiations to successfully implement the creation of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Palestine and end 100 years of conflict between Jews and Arabs.
The current
conflict between Israel and Islamic Jihad was initiated when 100 rockets and
mortars were fired into Israel from Gaza by Islamic Jihad following the death
of a senior Islamic Jihad figure – Khader Adnan - after an 87 day hunger strike
in an Israeli jail.
A targeted
counter-response by Israel killed three Islamic Jihad commanders. A further
1000 missiles fired into Israel saw another three Islamic Jihad leaders eliminated
by Israel.
A fragile
ceasefire now exists.
Hamas stayed
out of this current conflict – but threatened to enter the fray if Israelis
hold a Flag March through Jerusalem on 19 May to commemorate the reunification
of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six Day War. It, however, refrained from any
action and the flag march took place.
Israel and
Islamic Jihad last clashed in August 2022 – when Hamas also did not become
involved.
The Saudi-based
Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution published on 8 June 2022 – and
subsequently amended – provides:
“The proposal
for this expanded kingdom includes Jordan with its current borders, the Gaza
Strip, and the 'West Bank' (areas inhabited by Palestinians that border Jordan,
which means that they are not divided into islands). Hence the Israeli
arguments about the need to preserve the Jordan Valley and other areas will
become weak since these lands will then be under the control of a Jordanian
government that has the credibility of keeping the peace with Israel. And the usual
Israeli claim that it has no "peace partner" will also end.
Neither the PLO
nor Hamas shall govern the new entity - whose capital will be located in Amman
– not Jerusalem, which will become the capital of Israel only.
Israel’s Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it very clear that Israel alone will be
seeking complete security control over all territory west of the Jordan River
in any peace agreement:
“...West of the
Jordan River ... Israel and Israel alone controls security. We control the airspace,
we control the ground security, underground security in case they want to do
tunnels... We’re not going to commit suicide for a favourable op-ed in the New
York Times”
Islamic Jihad
has demonstrated once again how it and other similar terrorist groups can
freely exist in Gaza – smuggling in weapons from Iran through Sudan and Sinai
and target Israel without any attempt being made by Hamas to stop them.
The Hashemites
could hardly be expected to fare any better.
Jordanian
Member of Parliament Imad al-Adwan’s arrest on April 22 - while carrying 12
rifles and 194 pistols in his car - at an Israeli-controlled border crossing -
will strengthen Netanyahu’s demand for total security control of all territory
west of the Jordan River – including the Arab population of the newly-created
Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine living there.
The failure of:
Jordan’s King
Abdullah
PLO Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas
Hamas Leader
Ismael Haniyeh
Saudi Crown
Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and
Benjamin
Netanyahu
to reject the
Saudi Plan since its publication 11 months ago – could see Israel’s security
concerns being agreed to - allowing the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine to
become a reality.
Expediting
negotiations to implement the Saudi Plan will reduce increasing tension in Gaza
and Judea and Samaria ('West Bank') that could trigger a major humanitarian
disaster.
Netanyahu’s
decision to delay demolishing an illegal Bedouin encampment – Khan al-Ahmar –
indicates Israel’s willingness to end – not perpetuate - conflict.
It would be a
tragedy if this game-changing Saudi-based solution was consigned to the garbage
bin of history before negotiations to successfully implement it have been fully
exhausted.
Source: israelnationalnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371830
--------
Clash of the
feminists and Islamists reflects larger Lebanese crisis
05/23/2023
Beirut
(AsiaNews) - The Lebanese feminist groups have taken up a new battle over
swimming costumes on public beaches, further mirroring a struggle within the
Muslim world over clothing and costumes ranging from the hijab in Iran to
"multi-coloured" clothes in Saudi Arabia.
Dozens of
female activists demonstrated on 21 May in Saïda (40 km south of Beirut), a
Sunni-majority town, to defend the wearing of swimming costumes on the public
beach. The group was attacked by Islamic radicals, both men and women, who
flocked to the seafront in large numbers to defend what they consider to be the
'good customs'. The presence of internal security forces and municipal police
at the scene prevented the incident from escalating into open confrontation.
The feminist
demonstration was a response to the attack on the public beach in Saïda last
week against a woman in a swimming costume sitting on the seashore in the
company of her husband. The troublemakers hurled water bottles filled with sand
at the couple, eventually forcing them to leave the place in a hurry to prevent
an escalation.
The incident
prompted the president of the municipality, Mohammad Saoudi, to ban a
demonstration planned for 20 May in support of the citizens' right to freely -
and without constraints - enjoy the sandy beach and a counter-protest by
radical groups.
The latter
wanted to take to the streets to claim the fight 'in favour of modesty, virtue
and against nudity'. However, the tensions and clashes that had been avoided on
Saturday were punctually repeated the following day when dozens of people,
mostly women, violated the regulations and gathered in front of the beach with
placards and slogans 'in defence of freedom'.
The struggle
between (Islamic) faith and freedom
these clashes
and differing views point to a much broader issue concerning customs and
freedoms, in Lebanon as in much of the Muslim world. Signs have been hung at
the entrance to the seaside resort demanding 'decency in dress' for access.
At the same
time, there are also other directives, such as the prohibition to bring in and
consume alcoholic beverages as is traditionally the case on many western
beaches where cocktails are sipped to the sound of music.
Nevertheless,
returning to the Lebanese issue, how is it possible to identify and define such
a vague notion as 'decency' on the beach, in a plural society where scales of
values contradict each other?
During a press
conference held on the seafront women's rights activist JoséphineZgheib said
" a woman simply wanted to exercise her right to go to the beach in the
dress that suits her best. But Lebanese women, are victims of 'unjust laws and
a patriarchal system that seeks to impose its protection on bodies and
lives."
Asked about the
affair, Marie-Claude Najem, former Lebanese Minister of Justice and university
lecturer, emphasises that it is one of the collateral damages of the 'every man
for himself' drift, otherwise known as 'federalism', which at this stage tempts
the communities that make up society.
In her opinion,
while the municipalities are charged with enforcing public order, it is the
task of the central state 'to make individual freedoms prevail, and every
effort in terms of conciliation must go in the direction of freedoms'. 'There
is a central state that must make itself heard clearly and distinctly'.
Finally, the
former minister warns against the phenomenon of 'freedoms in small doses'.
With regard to
the prohibition of alcohol on the beach, the issue is more 'nuanced' and could
be justified 'not so much on religious grounds, but because of the danger posed
by broken glass to bathers'. However, he concludes, the call to 'remain
vigilant' remains valid.
For political
scientist FadiaKiwan, director general of the Arab Women's Organisation, an
institution operating under the aegis of the Arab League, radical Islamic
currents do not have the right to impose their rules in the public space of a
democratic state.
She herself
deplores the issue and the ensuing controversy, seeing it as a threat to
freedoms even though she considers Lebanon to be 'on the threshold of a
promising season in terms of tourism'. Nevertheless, the expert wants to issue
a warning against the formation of 'ghettos' based on community membership.
"Without diversity, without the principle of accepting the other, the
different, and respect for democratic freedoms, which have always been its
strong points, Lebanon,' she adds, 'loses its raison d'être."
Sharia and the
Constitution
Another
critical voice, that of MP Marc Daou, who was present on the spot when the
controversy flared up. 'The Lebanese Constitution,' he emphasises, 'is clear:
it protects freedom of faith and expression.These public spaces are subject to
the Constitution. We ask everyone to follow personal convictions, without
imposing their views on others'.
"You have
Jounieh [a famous seaside resort and tourist centre some 20 km north of
Beirut], let us preserve Saïda,' some women covered in veils argued loudly
during the demonstration. However, for Daou, 'the Lebanese have every right to
go to public beaches dressed as they please. Freedom of expression and belief,'
he added, 'is a right for everyone, and it is the same along all Lebanese
coasts'.
For its part,
the League of Local Ulemas denounced 'a suspicious and systematic media
campaign targeting Saïda, its customs, its sheikhs and the population', while
denying accusations of violence committed by religious leaders and their
supporters against bathers.
For Salafist
Sheikh Houssam al-Ilani, quoted in the press, the issue has transcended the
boundaries of the controversy 'over swimming costumes, going so far as to
challenge God'. "We do not accept, the presence of people who defy and
provoke the city by drinking alcohol and denuding themselves on our
beaches," thus violating the principles of sharia he retorted, closing the
door to any mediation or dialogue.
Source: asianews.it
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Clash-of-the-feminists-and-Islamists-reflects-larger-Lebanese-crisis-58439.html
--------
Iran's
president calls for unity among Muslims as 'US dominance coming to end'
Tuesday, 23 May
2023
Iranian
President Ebrahim Raeisi has called for stronger unity among Muslim countries,
saying the era of the United States’ dominance and hegemony has come to an end
with the rise of emerging powers.
Raeisi made the
remarks in a meeting with a group of Indonesian people at the Islamic Center of
the Southeast Asian country’s capital of Jakarta on Tuesday.
Raeisi pointed
to Islam's call for unity and described unity and cohesion as two strategies
used by the Islamic Ummah against enemies’ divisive policies. “Muslim countries
... should have very close relations with each other."
He said that
enemies seek to foment various types of sedition in Muslim countries, adding,
“The enemy, once with the creation of Daesh, another time through the media
empire, and once by insulting the Holy Prophet, etc. looks to create disunity
in the Islamic Ummah.”
The Iranian
president said the hegemonic system is after the continuation of its dominance
across the world.
“Today, the
reason behind opposition to the Islamic Republic [of Iran] is that the Islamic
Republic does not want to abide by the hegemonic system," he said.
"With the
rise of emerging powers, the era of the US dominance and the hegemonic system
has come to an end,” he added.
Raeisi rejected
the US and the West's claims about democracy as a lie and said, “If you are
looking for democracy, let the Palestinians determine their own fate. Let
people in Yemen and Afghanistan decide for themselves, why are you interfering
in their affairs?”
The Iranian
president added that Western countries, and the US in particular, are not after
democracy, "they are looking for hegemony and plundering the wealth of
nations.”
Earlier in the
day, Raeisi arrived in the Indonesian capital on an official two-day visit
aimed at enhancing the Islamic Republic's relations with the Southeast Asian
country in political and economic arenas.
Heading a
high-ranking political-economic delegation, the Iranian president was
officially welcomed by his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo shortly after his
arrival.
Raeisi held
meetings with the speakers of the House of Representatives and the People's
Consultative Assembly of Indonesia. He will also meet with Iranian and
Indonesian businessmen, hold talks with Indonesian scholars and thinkers, and
meet with Iranians residing in Indonesia.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/05/23/703963/Iranian-President-Ebrahim-Raeisi-unity-Muslim-countries-Islamic-Ummah-US-dominance-emerging-powers
---------
Expanding
Iran-Indonesia ties to benefit Islamic world
May 23, 2023
Seyed Ebrahim
Raeisi, who is on a two-day visit to
Indonesia, made the remarks in the meeting with Speaker of People's
Consultative Assembly of Indonesia BambangSoesatyo on Tuesday.
"The
progress of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of science and
technology has placed Iran among the countries with advanced sciences such as
space and nuclear sciences", Raeisi said.
Referring to
Iran's advances in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals, the Iranian
president said, "Today, a remote-controlled surgeon robot made by Iranian
scientists was unveiled in Indonesia, with the help of which a doctor can
operate on a disease in another city."
Elsewhere in
his remarks, president Raeisi stated that the period of unilateralism is over
and added, "With these changes, new powers will be formed in the world,
which is in the interest of developing countries."
"Based on
this, we believe that the oppressed people of Palestine, Yemen and Myanmar are
very close to reaching their rights," he continued.
BambangSoesatyo,
for his part, described the relations between the two countries as historical,
and considered the development and deepening of the relations between Tehran
and Jakarta to the benefit of the Islamic world.
He also
expressed concern over the increase in violence against the oppressed people of
Palestine and stressed their right to determine their own destiny.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/201113/Expanding-Iran-Indonesia-ties-to-benefit-Islamic-world
---------
Islamic Jihad
chief: Gaza commanders were killed because they carried cellphones
By CANAAN LIDOR
23 May 2023
The top leader
of Gaza-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad offered rare insight into his terror
group’s latest conflict with Israel, saying that senior members killed in the
fighting negligently kept their cellphones with them.
ZiadNakhaleh,
who is believed to be living in Syria or Lebanon, offered the analysis during
an interview with the Haya Washington website published Tuesday.
Nahkaleh was
asked whether Islamic Jihad had been infiltrated, with the interviewer noting
top commanders were killed despite efforts to conceal their whereabouts.
“This was done
with the enemy’s technology and tracking. We committed mistakes that the enemy
seized on,” Nahkaleh said, dismissing such a possibility.
The admission
of mistakes was unusual for Islamic Jihad, whose messaging typically favors
pathos over particulars and claims the ultimate invincibility and righteousness
of its cause.
“Despite all
the measures that are taken by our fighters and our commanders — who at the
minimum shouldn’t use phones — unfortunately the brothers do not adhere to
these necessary instructions in this field, so I am certain that there was no
infiltration,” he said.
“There is
complacency regarding the use of communications. Unfortunately, I say that our
brothers were negligent in assessing the situation, and how the enemy monitors
these devices,” Nakhaleh added in a rare rebuke.
His interviewer
pressed him on the issue, noting “leaders were assassinated while at home,”
where they had presumably adhered to a no-cellphone policy.
Nakhaleh
offered a twofold explanation. Initially, he asserted the dead commanders “did
not leave their homes at all.” But the Israeli military held its fire after the
initial rocket launches on May 2, creating “an atmosphere of calm, and it
seemed that they [the slain Islamic Jihad leaders] were able to visit their
families in a secret way.”
“But
unfortunately, it was without taking other security precautions, as the mobile
phone is the most dangerous thing because it is a mobile spy whose carrier can
be located easily by the enemy,” Nakhaleh reiterated.
Source: timesofisrael.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.timesofisrael.com/islamic-jihad-chief-gaza-commanders-were-killed-because-they-carried-cellphones/
---------
Diyanet
dismisses imam after asking congregation to 'prepare their weapons' on election
night
May 23 2023
Turkey’s
Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) temporarily dismissed an imam working
in the Cebeci Mosque in Istanbul’s Sultangazi district, Demirören News Agency
reported on May 23.
The move came
after imam Murat Gündoğdu called the congregation to “prepare their weapons” on
the night of the run-off presidential election on May 28.
While
delivering the Friday sermon, imam Murat Gündoğdu said to the congregation that
“Prepare your weapons. Prepare your weapons on May 28 night. My two guns are
fully loaded. What is this we suffer from them (the opposition)? For 80 years,
what has this country suffered from them, from Armenian progenies?,” the daily
BirGün reported on May 21.
İmam Gündoğdu’s
remarks stirred a reaction among the congregation of the mosque, as well as on
social media as the footage of the moments spread.
Diyanet on May
21 announced that they launched an investigation into the incident.
Turkey held
parliamentary and presidential elections on May 14. In the presidential
elections, Erdoğan officially received 49.52% of the votes, whereas
Kılıçdaroğlu received 44.88%. This is the first time Turkey will experience a
run-off election on May 28.
Source: duvarenglish.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.duvarenglish.com/diyanet-dismisses-imam-after-asking-congregation-to-prepare-their-weapons-on-election-night-news-62455
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OIC head vows
efforts for Muslim countries' economic recovery will continue
Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General HisseinBrahim Taha vowed on Tuesday
that the bloc's efforts for the economic recovery and development of Muslim
countries will continue.
Taha was
speaking at the 39th meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and
Commercial Cooperation of the OIC (COMCEC), which kicked off in the Turkish
capital Ankara.
The official
also conveyed his condolences to the victims of the Feb. 6 twin earthquakes
centered in Türkiye's southern Kahramanmaras province.
Stating that
COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying measures caused an unprecedented
slowdown in economic activities on a global scale, Taha said: "In
mid-2022, the world started to take the pandemic under control. However, global
economic growth weakened due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the subsequent
sanctions."
"The war
had effects on both countries and it also had global repercussions, which were
felt especially in countries with close economic relations to Ukraine and
Russia. The food supply system was disrupted due to the war. The food security
of many Islamic Cooperation member countries was severely affected by
this," he added.
According to
the estimates of the World Bank, the crisis will push 75-95 million extra
people to live in extreme poverty, Taha said.
"We are
making efforts to support economic recovery and increase economic cooperation
among our member countries. We hold many meetings for this. We held a meeting
in Qatar on food security and agricultural development. Our second meeting will
be held in the 4th quarter of 2023 within the framework of the labor
ministers," he added.
The secretary
general also said that ministerial-level meetings will be held to support
agriculture, food security and employment-creating sectors.
"Member
countries are invited to the 18th OIC Trade Fair. The third tourism fair will
also be held in Qatar in November 2023. I would also like to thank our
institutions for their hard efforts. I call on these institutions to support
the projects so that we can support all our countries. Our efforts for economic
recovery and development will continue," he said.
On the other
hand, Said Albraidi, head of National and Regional Development Department of
Qatar's Ministry of Trade and Industry, underlined the need to strengthen
cooperation and fight against difficulties together.
Emphasizing
that Türkiye has put forth a lot of effort and realized projects at this point,
Albraidi said: "Türkiye is taking firm steps forward on the road to
2025."
"When it
comes to cooperation, the more we support and intensify it, the better it will
be for our trade, until 2025," he added.
"Our
relevant secretariats will work day and night to achieve this target."
Albraidi
further stated that they have faced serious difficulties in economic terms on a
global scale in the last few years, but they will continue their efforts.
Providing the
information that they will strengthen the physical traditional trade and
e-commerce opportunities between the countries, Albraidi said: "The
digitalization process has started for the countries in terms of services and
trade. The steps taken in this regard are very important."
"The
opportunities that countries will face are also essential for development. Many
programs have been laid out," he added.
"It covers
very important issues. There is no doubt that we will be successful in these
efforts as well, and we will take firm steps towards the future by obtaining
concrete, reliable and strong outputs," he concluded.
Türkiye became
a candidate to host the OIC 51st Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, which is
planned to be held in 2025. The candidacy was recorded in the Islamabad
Declaration.
*Writing by
Emre Basaran
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/oic-head-vows-efforts-for-muslim-countries-economic-recovery-will-continue/2904172
--------
Starzplay
Arabia sees 70% viewership growth during Ramadan
The Dubai-based
streaming platform Starzplay experienced a 70% growth in viewership during
Ramadan 2023.
According to a
recent viewership analysis by Starzplay, the platform saw a significant
increase in viewership across the GCC markets with nearly a 70% increase in
unique users compared to Ramadan 2022. UAE witnessed the maximum increase in
viewership, a 62% increase in unique users in 2023 from last year, while the
rest of the GCC recorded nearly a 60% increase in unique users.
During Ramadan,
the streamer also gained a 50% increase in new sign-ups compared to Ramadan
2022. Its drama content was key in driving viewership group. Among the top
performing titles were Serou Al Batea, Al Moasses Osman, KashfMestaagel, Bab Al
Hara and Harb.
Tony Saab,
senior vice president of content and strategic partnerships, Starzplay added:
“Ramadan is a month of family gatherings and celebrations with friends and
families and a time where viewers consume a greater amount of entertainment
content. Over the last few years STARZPLAY has witnessed a significant increase
in streaming during the Holy Month and this year was no different. Our platform
recorded nearly a 70% uplift in consumption vis-à-vis last year which is a
clear indication of the increase in demand of video streaming consumption
across the MENA region. The Ramadan viewership figures evidently indicate the
appetite for Arabic language content in the region and therefore an opportunity
for streaming services like ours to deliver even more original Arabic content.”
Source: digitaltveurope.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2023/05/23/starzplay-arabia-sees-70-viewership-growth-during-ramadan/
--------
Pakistan
Repentant
Baloch separatist group founder Gulzar Imam says 'armed war' complicated
province's problems
May 23, 2023
Founder of
banned Baloch National Army Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, who was arrested by
security forces last month, expressed on Monday remorse over taking up arms and
said the fight for Balochistan's rights was only possible in a constitutional
and political manner.
Imam — whose
arrest was described by the military as a major counter-terrorism achievement
against separatist insurgency in Balochistan — repented his past actions and
urged other insurgents to lay down arms while addressing a press conference in
Quetta alongside Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove and Senator Prince Ahmed
UmerAhmedzai.
Imam began by
introducing himself as the native of a village located in the Panjgur district
of Balochistan, saying he had been actively involved in the armed insurgency in
the province for the past 15 years.
"I spent a
long time being a part of that insurgency, and I have faced all kinds of
situations," he said, adding that as a Baloch, "my objective is to
protect the rights of my people, national language and area".
Referring to
his arrest in April, Imam said he got a chance to think over his past
"with a new perspective" while in detention.
"During
this time, I closely analysed the ... literature I prepared for armed groups
and also met the leaders of peaceful movements in Balochistan.
"After
having a discussion with them, I have reached the conclusion that the fight for
Balochistan's rights was only possible in a constitutional and political
manner," he added.
Imam went on to
say that "we started this war without understanding the state" and
regretted having lost his loved ones and friends.
"After a
painful experience, I realised that the path I chose was the wrong one,"
he added, explaining that the "armed war" further complicated
Balochistan's problems rather than resolving them.
Imam said one
of the main reasons behind this was that "some particular forces"
wanted to "use the Baloch as a pressure group, and I believe that the
Baloch nation is the only party at a loss in all of this".
"So, I am
here of my own will and want to say today that Balochistan has regressed to the
stone age in terms of development because of this armed war.
"And so, I
appeal to my friends, who remain involved in armed campaigns, to retract from
this path so that we may resolve Balochistan's issues through, dialogue and
rationale," he stressed.
Imam further
appealed to Baloch students not to "waste their time in fighting and
instead, play their role in the province's development".
Imam held the
federal and provincial governments, state institutions and "armed
groups" in Balochistan responsible for its problems, but added that state
institutions realised what problems the province had been facing.
"I feel
that they do listen," he said, adding he hoped that the state would play
the role of a mother and "give us a chance to mend [our ways]".
He also asked
for forgiveness from the heirs of those whose loved ones were "martyred or
injured in this war" and those who suffered financial losses.
Who is Gulzar
Imam?
Hailing from
Panjgur district in Balochistan, Imam joined student politics in 2002 from the
platform of the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO).
Over the years,
when several factions of BSO merged and formed the now proscribed BSO-Azad — a
BSO faction openly supporting the insurgency — Imam was made president of its
Panjgur region around 2006. Allah Nazar Baloch and Bashir Zaib, who are
currently leading the other two major separatist groups, the Baloch Liberation
Front (BLF) and the Baloch Liberation Army, respectively, also headed the BSO-Azad
during their student lives.
When a
crackdown began against BSO-Azad, Imam went underground and joined the Baloch
Republican Army (BRA) — a proscribed separatist group led by BrahumdaghBugti.
He soon rose to be the group’s operational commander, according to political
activists and journalists from Panjgur.
Between 2016
and 2018, three major Baloch separatist groups — the Hyrbyair Marri-led Baloch
Liberation Army (BLA), the BrahamdaghBugti-led Baloch Republican Army (BRA),
and the Mehran Marri-led United Baloch Army (UBA) — started developing internal
rifts.
“The
fragmentation in these groups began when their field commanders from the
lower-middle classes challenged the groups’ heads, who are wealthy traditional
Baloch tribal chieftains living in self-exile in Europe,” explains Fahad
Nabeel, a security analyst at Geopolitical Insights, an Islamabad-based
research firm.
Within the
BRA’s ranks, which is again banned by the Government of Pakistan, Imam
developed differences with the BRA chief BrahumdaghBugti over several issues,
particularly his leadership style. “Switzerland-based Bugti was attempting to
exert more control in the overall affairs of the BRA, while Imam, who was
managing the group’s operational command, was not happy with it,” says Nabeel, who
has conducted extensive research on the Baloch insurgency.
Another reason
behind the differences that emerged between Imam and Bugti was the fact that
the latter was more inclined toward negotiations with Pakistani authorities,
says Nabeel.
In October 2018,
the BRA issued a statement, expelling Imam from the group over his alleged
involvement in extortion and extrajudicial killings. From that point onwards,
the BRA was divided into two factions. Imam reportedly had more control over
the group in the Makran region and in some other urban areas of Balochistan,
while the faction loyal to BrahumdaghBugti, had strongholds in Dera Bugti and
neighbouring districts.
“In BLA too,
Aslam Achu and Bashir Zaib revolted against Hyrbyair Marri and formed their own
faction of BLA on the ground,” says Nabeel.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1755259/repentant-baloch-separatist-group-founder-gulzar-imam-says-armed-war-complicated-provinces-problems
--------
Islamist
Militants Storm Hungarian-owned Refinery
2023.05.23.
Islamist
militants stormed a natural gas and oil extraction plant in northwest Pakistan
on Tuesday, killing four police officers and two private guards, reported
Reuters.
The attack by
up to 50 militants took place at a plant run by the MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas
Company in Hangu district near the Afghan border. No group has claimed
responsibility.
Police said the
militants targeted two wells with heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled
grenades. “The security guards at M-8 repulsed the terrorists’ attack but the
casualties took place at M-10″. The militants also damaged a solar power plant
at the gas power plant before fleeing to adjoining North Waziristan, where they
had come from, he said.
According to
media reports, the Taliban or its affiliated groups are suspected to have
perpetrated the attacks. No reports have been published about any Hungarian
victims, no one has been reported as missing either.
MOL Pakistan is
a fully owned subsidiary of MOL Group, operating in the country since 1999 with
some 400 employees. Pakistan is a key contributor of the international
portfolio in terms of production and exploration. The company is one of the key
condensate, crude oil, LPG and gas producers in the country, contributing to Pakistan’s
energy supply.
Source: hungarytoday.hu
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://hungarytoday.hu/islamist-militants-storm-hungarian-owned-refinery/
--------
Ex-BNA chief
asks insurgents to shun guns, embrace peace for Balochistan
23-05-23
Former chief of
the Baloch National Army (BNA) Gulzar Imam was presented before the media
persons on Tuesday and appealed to insurgents to shun guns and embrace peace to
bring prosperity to Balochistan.
He appealed
from those who are fighting against the state, must give up arms struggle and
prioritize dialogue for the betterment of the province.
’I was on the
wrong path,“ he declared.
Former
insurgents said unemployment, and missing persons issues despite rich resources
are one of the main issues of Balochistan.
“I was the
former contractor and believed that there is an unfair distribution of
resources in the province,” he said.
Read Also:
Security forces capture proscribed Baloch National Army’s Chief in IBO
Imam said that
he believed that the state has shown seriousness in solving the Balochistan
insurgency issue.
Gulzar Imam
said, “I belong to Prom area of Panjgur.”
Imam said he
started armed operations 15 years ago and arrested some time ago.
“During this
time I got an opportunity to examine the past,” he added.
Imam said the
struggle for the rights of Balochistan is possible through political struggle
instead of armed struggle.
“Started the
war without understanding the state,” Gulzar Imam said.
He said
Balochistan’s development stopped due to armed struggle and pinned hope that
the state will give treat him nicely.
“I will try to
fulfill all legal requirements,” Gulzar vowed.
Senator Agha
Umar Ali said enemies wanted to disrupt the peace of Balochistan and the
country.
Balochistan
Interior Minister Zia Langu said the Balochistan government will always be open
to talking with the persons.
In April this
year, In a high-profile and successful intelligence operation, the lead
intelligence agency successfully apprehended a high-value target (HVT) Gulzar
Imam alias Shambay, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
The
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said he has been a
hardcore militant as well as the founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch
National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of the Baloch
Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA).
“BNA had been
responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan including
attacks on law enforcement agencies (LEAs) installations in Panjgur and
Noshki,” the ISPR said.
Who is Gulzar
Imam?
The statement
mentioned that Gulzar Imam also remained as deputy to BrahamdaghBugti in Baloch
Republican Army (BRA) till 2018.
The military’s
media wing stated that the apprehended militant was also instrumental in the
formation of Baloch RajiAajoiSangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head.
“His visits to
Afghanistan and India are also on the record; his linkages with hostile
intelligence agencies (HIAs) are being investigated,” it stated.
Source: samaaenglish.tv
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/40036224/pakistan-bna-chief-gulzar-imam-asks-insurgents-to-shun-guns-embrace-peace-for-balochistan
--------
Southeast
Asia
Insisting
Malaysia opposes LGBT, religious minister says Jakim formed committee to
address issue among Muslims
Tuesday, 23 May
2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
May 23 — The government’s Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim)
has established a special committee to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) Muslims in Malaysia, said minister Datuk MohdNa’im Mokhtar.
The religious
affairs minister said the committee comprises representatives from ministries,
departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations — but no LGBT groups —
who will coordinate matters such as education, advocacy, evangelism and
enforcement.
“The committee
had recently met on April 11, 2023,” he said in a Parliamentary written reply
dated yesterday.
“Based on
reports and observations, throughout the period from January 2021 until April
2023, there were several programmes and enforcement actions that have been
implemented by inter-agencies regarding LGBT issues, they cover aspects of
education, prevention and advocacy.
The minister
insisted that “LGBT practices” are against religion, morality and culture in
Malaysia. Despite his assertion, not all religious groups in the country oppose
or demonise the LGBT.
“Not only that,
but homosexual acts are against the law of the country. Not only Shariah law,
but also civil law,” he added.
Section 377A of
the Penal Code criminalises anal and oral sex for everyone, including
heterosexuals.
“Despite this,
the government still does not discriminate against any group, including LGBT,
to enjoy their basic rights as stated in the Federal Constitution such as the
right to education, the right to practice religion, and the right to work in
accordance with Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution,” the minister said.
He was
responding to Pokok Sena MP Datuk Ahmad Saad from the Islamist party PAS, who
asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the steps taken to prevent
the normalisation of “LGBT lifestyle” in the country.
Earlier today,
two PerikatanNasional MPs from PAS said the LGBT community should be considered
as suffering from mental health illnesses.
Just yesterday,
it was reported that the Malaysian authorities had raided the Malaysian stores
of Swiss watchmaker Swatch and confiscated items from its “Pride Collection”
bearing the rainbow flag associated with the LGBT movement.
Similar
controversy emerged over the news of British band Coldplay’s scheduled concert
in Malaysia, which parties in PN want to be cancelled due to the group’s
support for the LGBT movement.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/23/insisting-malaysia-opposes-lgbt-religious-minister-says-jakim-formed-committee-to-address-issue-among-muslims/70596
--------
Attorney-General
deems Malaysian government’s ‘Allah’ appeal ‘weak,’ backs withdrawal
May 23, 2023
Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim today revealed that Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun deemed
the government’s initial appeal against the high court’s groundbreaking ruling
in 2021, which allowed non-Muslims to utilize the term “Allah,” as “weak.”
Speaking in the
Dewan Rakyat, he said that when the withdrawal of the appeal was discussed with
the attorney-general, Idrus supported it for various reasons, including the
belief that the protracted court process would not be advantageous for the
government.
“The attorney
general’s viewpoint is crucial because the appeal is weak due to regulations
previously issued by the Home Ministry,” Anwar explained.
“Additionally,
the attorney-general believes that pursuing the appeal would contradict an
earlier decision made by the Conference of Rulers, which the Yang
di-PertuanAgong had requested the cabinet to uphold for all matters concerning
the rulers,” The Vibes quoted him as saying.
The prime
minister provided this response to a supplementary question posed by PAS
secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PN) regarding the government’s
choice not to proceed with the appeal.
Anwar had
earlier clarified that the cabinet had agreed, during its meeting on February 7
this year, to adhere to the Agong’s orders.
Highlighting
that the Conference of Rulers had decided that the word “Allah” should not be
used by non-Muslims in West Malaysia, with conditional usage allowed in East
Malaysia, Anwar noted that the attorney-general had been consulted to examine
the case “from an administrative perspective.”
“The attorney
general’s decision to forgo the appeal aligns with the stance taken by the
Conference of Rulers. The predicament we face now is that there is a directive
from the Home Ministry issued in 1986 that contradicts the rulers’ stance,”
Anwar stated.
As
PakatanHarapan chairman, Anwar said that the government plans to amend and
revoke laws that are incongruent with the Conference of Rulers’ position as
part of its efforts to prevent future legal disputes on this matter.
“The priority
of the unity government is currently focused on harmonizing relevant laws to
reflect the Conference of Rulers’ position. If we were to pursue the appeal, the
case would resurface due to the persistent contradictions,” he said.
“By concluding
the appeal process, we can establish clear laws that would prevent any further
litigation. If the opposition is willing to be objective, they would recognize
that this review of laws is not problematic.”
On May 15, it
was disclosed that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had informed the Court of
Appeal on April 18 that they do not intend to proceed with the appeal.
This decision
has attracted criticism from Muslim rights groups and figures within the
opposition party PAS.
Previous news
reports on the high court’s March 2021 ruling in favor of Sarawakian Jill
Ireland have highlighted the judge’s findings that the Home Ministry’s
directive in December 1986, which banned the word “Allah” and three other terms
from non-Muslim usage, contradicted a cabinet decision.
The high court
judge at that time was Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin, who now serves as a Court of
Appeal judge. In her 2021 ruling, she concluded that the 1986 directive was
unlawful and irrational, further noting that the four words could be used by
Christians for educational purposes, as they have been in use for over 400
years.
According to
past reports, the cabinet in 1986 left it to the deputy prime minister at the
time, the late TunGhafar Baba, to determine which words should be prohibited
for Christians. Ghafar apparently decided that four words, namely “Allah,”
“Kaabah,” “Baitullah,” and “solat,” were permissible with the condition that
“For Christians” be printed on the cover of books or materials.
However, the
Home Ministry’s December 1986 circular imposed an outright ban on the usage of
these four words.
Source: coconuts.co
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://coconuts.co/kl/news/attorney-general-deems-malaysian-governments-allah-appeal-weak-backs-withdrawal/
--------
Malaysia to
streamline rules on non-Muslims using the word ‘Allah’: PM Anwar
23 May 2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday (May 23) that the
government will streamline conflicting regulations regarding the use of the
word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
This is so that
the regulations will be in line with the Malay rulers’ earlier decision that
“Allah” cannot be used by non-Muslims in the Peninsula while conditional use is
permitted for non-Muslims in the Borneo states.
“What needs to
be done … is for the government to streamline (the rules) so that there are no
regulations that are seen to be in conflict with the decisions of the Malay rulers,”
said Mr Anwar in parliament during the Minister's Question Time (MQT).
He added that
the government “fully (complies) with the decisions” of the Malay rulers.
He was
responding to Mr Idris Ahmad, the Bagan Serai Member of Parliament (MP), who
asked for clarification regarding Mr Anwar’s comments that the use of the word
“Allah” can be used by non-Muslims in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.
Looking ahead,
Mr Anwar also told parliament that the streamlining process, which was
presented to and approved by the king, involves amending or removing parts of
the old regulations.
A proposal to
improve the regulations relating to the use of the word by non-Muslims will be
presented at the Conference of Rulers meeting in July, he added.
Mr Anwar also explained:
“What was decided by the court (in 2021), whether it is the court in Borneo or
the high court here, is based on two conflicting rules which are the Ministry
of Home Affairs rules that were made before (in 1986).”
On Mar 10,
2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that Christians can use the word
'Allah' and the three other Arabic words - Baitullah (house of God), solat
(pray) and Kaabah (the building at the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca,
which is the direction of prayer for Muslims around the world) - in the
publication of their religious material for learning purposes.
The ruling
reportedly came after Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, a Christian woman from
Sarawak, applied for judicial review on Aug 20, 2008, for the return of eight
compact discs (CDs) with titles containing the word "Allah" which
were confiscated from her on May 11 of the same year.
She had also
applied for a declaration of her constitutional rights to use the word
"Allah" in her Christian publications.
According to
Bernama, under the Cabinet Directive 1986, Christians are allowed to use the
four Arabic words in their religious publication for educational purposes on
condition that the words “For Christians” are written on the cover of such
books. However, the Administrative Directive issued by the Home Affairs
Ministry in December of the same year prohibits the use of the four Arabic
words in all Christian publications in Malaysia.
On Mar 12,
2021, the federal government filed an appeal against the ruling but this appeal
was withdrawn on May 15 this year, sparking controversy over the decades-long
debate.
Following this,
questions were raised on whether the Malay rulers and state religious councils
had been consulted.
Mr Anwar on
Tuesday stated: “The issue of (the Conference of Rulers and state religious
councils) not being consulted does not even arise.”
Explaining the
government’s decision to withdraw the appeal, Mr Anwar told parliament that it
was so that the government could strengthen the regulations so that there is no
room for such matters to be brought to the court in the future.
“The AG
(attorney-general) thinks that the case is weak because of the regulations made
by the Home Affairs Ministry.
“The decision
(to withdraw the appeal), in the AG’s view and (after I referred to) the king,
is (so that we can) improvise and streamline (the regulations).
“Otherwise, the
case will arise again because there is a contradiction (in the regulations).
For that reason, we (withdrew the case) to amend all the rules so it is clear
that there is no case that can be brought to the courts (in the future),” he
said.
Source: channelnewsasia.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-non-muslims-allah-malay-rulers-anwar-christians-sarawak-high-court-3508301
--------
Lawyer: Govt
only needs 24 hours to amend laws on ‘Allah’ usage
MAY 24, 2023
The government
only needs 24 hours to amend laws to ensure the word “Allah” can only be used
by Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia and with restrictions for non-Muslims in
Sabah and Sarawak, according to a lawyer.
Mohamed Haniff
Khatri Abdulla said yesterday that the government cannot afford to delay this
following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of this intent during the
Dewan Rakyat session yesterday morning.
Haniff, in a
media statement made through a video uploaded to his Facebook account,
contended that it is only right for the government to get this done within 24
hours because the federal and state authorities are hindered from carrying out
their duties over the “Allah” usage.
Haniff (above)
said the government should not have withdrawn its appeal at the Court of Appeal
over a High Court case involving Sarawakian Jill Ireland’s right to use the
word “Allah” for religious and educational purposes, as the court process then
could have gone all the way up to the apex court.
“Now, without
the appeal and without the enactment of new laws, how are the enforcement
authorities as well as state religious councils supposed to carry out their
responsibilities (in relation to ensuring proper use of the word ‘Allah’).
“Following the
prime minister’s announcement on enacting new laws so that it could be the same
as the stance of the government then in 1986, then the enactment should not
take more than 24 hours.
“It can be done
instantly and without further delay. I believe our friends in the
Attorney-General’s Chambers have the expertise and experience to ensure the
amendments be done as soon as possible,” Haniff said.
The lawyer added
that the expediting of the amendments is critical as 10 states in Peninsular
Malaysia alone have enactments that forbid the dissemination of non-Islamic
faiths to Muslims.
Haniff
contended that following the court case, the police and Customs Department as
well as state religious authorities are facing problems with related
enforcement.
Amendment and
revocation
In Parliament
yesterday, Anwar said the amendment and revocation of laws - that are in
conflict with a Rulers Council's decision over the word “Allah” - was part of
his administration's efforts to ensure that the issue may no longer be
contested in the courts after the 2021 landmark decision in the Ireland case.
"The
decision made, on the advice of the attorney-general, is to streamline (all
related regulations). Otherwise, if we (the government) appeal, the case may
surface again because of existing conflicts.
"So,
because of that, we are putting an end (to it) by amending all regulations to
make it clear and no further cases can be brought to court," said Anwar
during the Prime Minister's Question Time.
He said this in
response to Takiyuddin Hassan (PerikatanNasional-Kota Bharu) who urged the
government to justify its decision to withdraw an appeal in the Ireland case.
In raising his
additional question, Takiyuddin also cited then deputy prime minister Ghafar
Baba's note in 1986 to then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad - which
eventually led to a Home Ministry directive prohibiting the use of four
specific words including “Allah” by non-Muslims.
He said the
note was one of three documents cited in the grounds of judgment in Ireland’s
case, the other two being Mahathir’s letter dated May 19, 1986, to then Home
Ministry secretary-general and the final Home Ministry circular dated Dec 5,
1986.
Earlier
yesterday, Anwar, in response to Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai), reaffirmed that
the Yang di-PertuanAgong had consented to the government's decision to withdraw
the appeal and that it was consulted with state Islamic councils.
Further, he
said all proposed amendments to the current regulations will be presented to
the Malay Rulers Council during its next sitting in July. – Mkini
Source: malaysiakini.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/666207
--------
North
America
CAIR-NY
Condemns CUNY Law Censorship of Muslim Student’s Pro-Palestinian Commencement
Speech
May 23, 2023
(NEW YORK, NY,
5/23/2023) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-NY) today condemned CUNY Law for reportedly censoring Yemeni-American
Fatima Mohammed’s pro-Palestinian commencement speech.
Mohammed was
selected by her peers to give the student commencement speech. In her
commencement address, Mohammed discussed the unique nature of CUNY Law and the
values it embodies as a public interest law school. Mohammed also explained
that many students joined CUNY Law to gain the necessary legal skills to
confront the systems of oppression and to apply principles consistently.
She reminded
the audience that “Palestine can no longer be the exception to our pursuit of
justice,” and discussed the various human rights violations inflicted by Israel
on Palestinians.
Mohammed gave
the commencement speech on May 13, 2023. Like all the commencement speeches for
the last nine years, CUNY Law livestreamed the speech. However, in the past
week, Mohammed’s commencement speech was taken down. According to reports, CUNY
Law removed the video due to false allegations that Mohammed’s speech was
antisemitic.
SEE: Fatima
Mohammed’s Commencement Speech
More than 15
CUNY Law student groups, including the Jewish Law Students Association,
condemned CUNY Law’s decision to taken down the video and issued a statement in
support of Mohammed.
SEE: CUNY
JLSA’s Statement
CUNY Law is
also being accused of taking down and censoring last year’s student
commencement speech by NerdeenKiswani. Both speeches were given by Muslim women
and highlight the suffering of Palestinians.
SEE: Within Our
Lifetime Post
In a statement,
CAIR-NY’s Executive Director AfafNasher, Esq. said:
“We strongly
condemn the apparent decision by CUNY Law to remove Fatima Mohammed’s
commencement speech, particularly considering its focus on social justice and
the plight of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. Academic
institutions should embrace robust discussions on international issues,
including human rights, without fear of censorship or reprisal.
“The silencing
of voices that seek to shed light on human rights abuses undermines the
principles of academic freedom and respectful dialogue that universities should
uphold. It is essential that diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but
encouraged, even when they challenge prevailing narratives. Anything less is an
affront to CUNY Law’s alleged values as a public interest law school and to the
Constitution.
“CAIR-NY stands
in solidarity with the student commencement speaker who bravely sought to
elevate the plight of Palestinians and the human rights abuses they face. We
affirm their right to express their views freely and without interference.
“CAIR-NY calls
on CUNY Law to rectify this situation immediately, issue a public apology, and
ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future. It is imperative that
CUNY Law takes steps to create a safe, welcoming environment for Muslims and
student supporters of Palestinian human rights.
“CAIR-NY
remains committed to supporting all individuals who strive to advocate for
justice, equality, and human rights.”
Nasher also
condemned CUNY Law’s removal of NerdeenKiswani’s commencement speech.
Last year, in
an open letter, five former European ministers labeled Israel’s policies
against Palestinians as “the crime of apartheid.” Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch, and the Presbyterian Church USA have labeled Israel an apartheid
state. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing also
recognized that Israel is committing apartheid against Palestinians.
CAIR has
previously called on the Biden administration to stand up to the new Israeli
government composed of openly racist and genocidal far-right politicians.
Last year, CAIR
welcomed an investigation by a UN commission of inquiry into the Israeli
government’s system of apartheid against Palestinians.
CAIR-NY’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de
CAIR-NY esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam,
promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Become a Fan of
CAIR-NY on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNewYork
Subscribe to
CAIR-NY’s Email List
https://www.cair-ny.org/stay-connected
Subscribe to
CAIR-NY’s Twitter Feed
https://twitter.com/CAIRNewYork
Subscribe to
CAIR-NY’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/CAIRNYtv
Follow CAIR-NY
on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairnewyork
Donate to
CAIR-NY
https://www.cair-ny.org/donate
Do you like
reading CAIR-NY’s press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can
help contribute to CAIR-NY’s work of defending civil rights and empowering
American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or
becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR-NY’s advocacy work
possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to
CAIR-NY.
END
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-ny-condemns-cuny-law-censorship-of-muslim-students-pro-palestinian-commencement-speech/
---------
CAIR Offers
Condolences on Passing of Muslim Activist Issa Smith
May 23, 2023
(WASHINGTON
D.C., 5/23/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s
largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today offered its
condolences on the passing of Muslim activist Issa Smith.
Issa advocated
for human rights worldwide through leadership and activism in organizations such
as the Bosnia Task Force, Americans for Soviet Muslim Rights and the American
Muslim Council. He also advocated for Imam Jamil Al Amin, as well as
African-American and Native American causes.
In a statement,
CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“To God we
belong and to Him we return. Br. Issa was a pioneer of activism in the American
Muslim community and will be fondly remembered for his humor, his hard work and
his defense of human rights in this nation and worldwide. We ask God to grant
his loved ones patience in this difficult time and to admit Br. Issa to the
highest level of Paradise.”
Awad noted that
his funeral prayer will be offered today (Tuesday, May 23) after Duhur prayer
(1:30) at ADAMS Sterling (46903 Sugarland Road Sterling, Virginia 20164).
CAIR’s mission
is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice,
and empower American Muslims.
La misión de
CAIR esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam,
promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Become a Fan of
CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to
CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to
CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to
CAIR’s YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv
Follow CAIR on
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to
CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like
reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help
contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American
Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a
monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and
defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would
like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
— For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-offers-condolences-on-passing-of-muslim-activist-issa-smith/
---------
Children from
mixed backgrounds with one Muslim parent have plural identities
MAY 23, 2023
How do
Quebec-born children in mixed families with one Muslim parent self-identify?
How do they combine the different values transmitted by their parents and those
of the society in which they grow up?
These are some
of the questions that led Josiane Le Gall, an assistant professor of
anthropology at Université de Montréal, to conduct a qualitative study with colleagues
in religion, social work, anthropology and psychology at UdeM, Université Laval
and Morocco's Al Akhawayn University.
The findings
were published last August in a special issue of the journal Social Compass on
how Muslim / non-Muslim families around the world navigate identity and
religious issues in their daily lives and the social constraints they face.
Le Gall's
research grew out of a larger study on plural identity in about 100 people of
mixed ethnicity in Quebec. She interviewed 23 people aged 18 to 40 with one
Muslim immigrant parent. The Muslim parents came from Morocco, Tunisia,
Lebanon, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Egypt, Gambia and Bangladesh.
Two-thirds were non-practicing.
Quebecers first
and foremost
Le Gall found
three different patterns of cultural transmission in the subjects' families:
total absence of any cultural transmission, explicit transmission of identity
markers (language and/or culture), and exposure to cultural references (the
religion was not actively transmitted but cultural and religious practices were
present in the home).
Participants
were unanimous in saying they identified first and foremost as Quebecers and,
to a lesser degree, as Canadian, regardless of whether the non-Muslim parent
was born in Quebec or elsewhere.
"They were
influenced above all by the place they were born; this is where they feel at
home," said Le Gall. "School and the friendships they formed shaped
their identities more than anything else."
At the same
time, most of them were also attached to the cultural heritage transmitted to
them by their immigrant parent.
"They
claim a plural identity that combines cultural influences from the immigrant
and non-immigrant parent," explained Le Gall. "As the expression
goes, they're 100-per-cent mixed."
Limited
transmission of language and religion
Growing up in a
multi-ethnic home has shaped these individuals in many ways. They have a
connection to the cultural and culinary traditions of their Muslim parent's
native country, but in many cases little or nothing of the Muslim parent's
religion and language was passed down to them.
The majority of
the subjects reported speaking French at home, and some spoke English.
"As
adults, some regretted that their parent hadn't taught them Arabic or other
native language and made an effort to learn it," Le Gall noted. "They
would have liked to be able to speak it, especially when visiting relatives in
their immigrant parent's country of origin."
Religion was an
important dimension of identity for the handful of subjects whose parents were
both practicing Muslims. The others said they had been exposed to some Islamic
rituals but generally did not practice Islam or any other religion.
"Having
been born in Quebec, they exhibited a certain reticence, if not indifference,
about religion in general," commented Le Gall.
Plural identity
is enriching
It was in early
adulthood that many of the subjects felt a stronger desire to claim their
Muslim parent's cultural markers. "As teens, they were more likely to
reject or minimize the importance of their minority culture, " said Le
Gall.
In most cases,
their identification with the minority culture was rooted mainly in their daily
experiences and practices with their immigrant parent, rather than knowing the
language and religion or having the nationality.
"While the
identities constructed by the subjects varied widely, they all felt that their
mixed cultural identity was enriching, not limiting," said Le Gall.
"They reject any rigid, predefined notion of identity and can easily
reconcile the different facets of their identity, which they do not see as
incompatible in any way."
Source: phys.org
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://phys.org/news/2023-05-children-backgrounds-muslim-parent-plural.html
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