Mufti Ahmet Unsal's Instruction to Dutifully Accept A Husband's “Invitation to Bed” Angers Turkish Cypriots
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 January 2023
ABP Photo/Petros Karadijas
----
• In UP Women Students Denied Entry to Campus in
Burqa, Moradabad College Cites ‘Dress Code’
• ‘Ittehadul Mujahideen-i-Khurasan’ Behead Teenager in
Lakki on Spying For Army Charge
• Thai Muslims Enjoy Acceptance in Thailand: Call for
Dialogue between Buddhist and Muslim Scholars
• Amid Outrage over Normalization with Israel,
Bahraini ‘Security’ Delegation Visits Occupied Territories
Europe
• Jimmie Akesson, Swedish Far-Right Leader Calls
Erdogan 'Islamist Dictator'
• European Parliament urges EU to list Iran’s IRGC as
terrorist group
• European Parliament calls for sanctions against
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik
• North Macedonia signals more military cooperation
with Türkiye amid Ukraine war
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India
• UP Madrasa Board Rejects NCPCR Advice to Shift
Non-Muslim Students to Other Institutions
• SIMI’s Aim of Realising Islamic Rule Can’t Be
Permitted, Centre Tells SC
• J&K Waqf Board Forms District-Level Panels for
Takeover Of Shrines, Mosques
• Tension Grips Kerala Capital As Muslim Youth League
Workers Clash With Police before Secretariat
• PM Modi Asked Us to Win Confidence of Muslims:
Yediyurappa to K'taka BJP
• Opposition distorting BJP’s stand on Muslims: UP
Minority Welfare Minister
• Clerics in UP welcome Centre’s decision to do away
with VIP Haj quota
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Pakistan
• ‘Appeasement’ Of Militants Created Problems, Bilawal
Accuses Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
• Broken pledges behind fresh wave of terror, says
Imran
• LHC Orders Punjab Govt to Issue Divorce Certificates
to Non-Muslims
• PTI has no contact with new military leadership:
Imran Khan
• Pakistan is proof that Islamism as State policy
kills the economy
• ECP decides to notify Imran’s victory on 7 NA seats
• World Bank delays approval of $1.1bn for Pakistan
• Pakistan backs ‘two-state formula’ to end
Palestinian-Israel conflict
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South Asia
• Qatar opposes Taliban’s decision of banning women,
says it will worsen the situation
• UN Officials Hold Talks with Taliban (IEA)
Authorities on Protecting Women’s Rights
• Afghan-Uzbek Joint Market Enhances Visa-Free Trading
Opportunities for Afghans
• Last two Sikh’s Holy Scriptures arrive in New Delhi
from Afghanistan
• China slams US ‘blatant and egregious’ plundering of
Syria’s natural reserves
--------
Arab World
• Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala to Focus on Asia with Eye on
China Recovery
• Saudi Arabia Mulling ‘Creative Ways’ To Support
Pakistan
• IS attacks still claim Iraqi lives five years after
defeat
• Saudi FM ‘positive’ about Middle East, but calls for
return of Yemen truce, solution to Palestine crisis
• Saudi Arabia a ‘bright spot’ for global economy
• UAE rolls over $2B loan as Pakistan's foreign
reserves fall to record low of $4.3B
--------
Mideast
• Judiciary Spokesman: Hysterical Reactions to
Execution of MI6 Spy Show British Enmity towards Iran
• Iran: Killing of Black teacher an example of US
hypocrisy concerning human rights
• Iran Rejects West's Allegations on Secret Nuclear
Program
• Houthis Put Two Yemeni YouTube Activists On Trial
for Critical Videos
• Iran Raps US Inaction on Israeli Murder of
Palestinian Journalist
• Iran Detains German National on Espionage Charges
• Iran Condemns US Human Rights Violations Following
Grisly Murder of Unarmed Black Man
• Iran warns EU against listing Revolutionary Guards
as terrorist entity
• Israeli military kills two Palestinians in West Bank
raid
• Two killed in Israeli raid in Jenin: Palestinian
ministry
--------
North America
• Türkiye 'Important Partner, Not Only In Region but
Around World': Pentagon
• US Muslim Inmate Wins Second Chance in Religious
Freedom Lawsuit against Jail
• Israel, US meet to smooth relations under new
government
• Top US military general for Middle East discusses
regional threats in Israel
• US sees Türkiye 'as a reliable ally,' says White
House
--------
Southeast Asia
• State Islamic Religious Councils to Appear as Amicus
Curiae in Govt’s Appeal In ‘Allah’ Case
• Ministry to provide funding assistance to Islamic
schools soon
• Illegitimate non-Muslim child entitled to share in
father’s estate, says court
• Ulama council can help draw Umno closer to PAS, says
spiritual leader
--------
Africa
• Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Tinubu’s
Disqualification over Muslim-Muslim Ticket
• 2023: Islamic group attacks Dino Melaye over
statement on Tinubu
• Algeria frees opposition figure after vow to quit
politics
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mufti-ahmet-unsal-turkish-cypriots/d/128913
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Mufti Ahmet Unsal's Instruction to Dutifully Accept A
Husband's “Invitation to Bed” Angers Turkish Cypriots
ABP Photo/Petros Karadijas
----
By Menelaos Hadjicostis
January 18, 2023
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- A Muslim religious leader’s
instruction to women to dutifully accept a husband's “invitation to bed” to
procreate has sparked outrage among many Turkish Cypriots, who saw the remarks
as an imported encroachment of fundamentalist Islam on their secular community.
“We don’t live in a theocratic regime. This is neither
Afghanistan nor Iran, sir!” said Dogus Derya, a prominent female lawmaker with
the left-wing CTP party in ethnically divided Cyprus’ breakaway Turkish Cypriot
north.
Derya has led a chorus of condemnation against Ahmet
Unsal, the Turkish-appointed head of the Turkish Cypriot Department of
Religious Affairs. Unsal reportedly told women during a lecture earlier this
month on marriage obligations under Islam that it was essential for women to
marry without delay and have children because matrimony “isn’t about having
fun.”
Unsal also said women must stay away from men except
their husbands to “protect their virtue” and to safeguard their men’s property.
In turn, men are obliged to pay for their wives’ food, shelter and clothing, he
said, noting that Allah abhors divorce.
Derya blasted Unsal as presenting “his fantasies about
subjugating women as the word of Allah” and insisted that there’s no place for
religious diktats in a state that functions under the rule of secular law.
Recent Stories from ABC News
“He has exceeded his authority and area of
responsibility,” Durya said of Unsal.
“He considers women as incubators and men as money
machines. He sees women not as human beings but as 'goods' subjugated to men,”
the lawmaker continued.
“We want him to know that Cypriot women don’t ask
their men how many children they’ll have, what job they’ll do, whether they’re
going to divorce or not," she said. "We won’t allow you to impose
your fundamentalist way of life on us women or on our country.”
Unsal defended his remarks, saying his expressed views
were in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
Several hundred protesters from 46 trade unions and
other organizations braved the rain on Monday and took to the streets of the
northern part of the divided capital Nicosia to voice their anger at Unsal.
The protesters chanted “Onsal go home, what do you
care about Cyprus.” A joint statement read at the event said there would be no
stop to efforts to block “”all those who are trying to change our way of life.”
Turkey has for decades tried to fit Turkish Cypriot
society into its own mold, which has become more religious under Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Although the Religious Affairs head is
technically appointed by Turkish Cypriot authorities, Ankara has final say.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following
a coup aimed at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot
declaration of independence and keeps more than 30,000 troops in the north.
Source: ABC News
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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In UP Women Students Denied Entry to Campus in Burqa,
Moradabad College Cites ‘Dress Code’
The female college
students said that they were denied entry into the college for wearing Burqa,
and were allegedly being compelled to remove the black robe at the entrance
gate. File Image.
-----
January 19, 2023
Several students of the Hindu college in Uttar
Pradesh’s Moradabad district alleged that they were denied entry into the
college for wearing burqa, with college authorities maintaining that the
college has implemented a dress code for all students, reported ANI.
The female college students said that they were denied
entry into the college for wearing burqa, and were allegedly being compelled to
remove the black robe at the entrance gate.
Following this, a scuffle broke out between students
belonging to the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha group, and the professors, who said
that rules had to be followed. The group submitted a memorandum to include
wearing burqa as dress code for Muslim women and demanded that the college
allows Muslim girls to attend their classes wearing the robe.
Speaking about the incident, Professor AP Singh said
that the dress code has been implemented by the college, and anyone who doesn’t
follow it, will be barred from entering the college.
Hijab row started in Jan 1, 2022
A row over wearing hijab at educational institutions
began in India on January 1, 2022, when Muslim students studying in the
government pre-university (PU) college in Karnataka’s Udupi were barred from
wearing the hijab on campus. The college administration stated that they were
following the state government’s orders. A day later, six students were
suspended for protesting.
Reacting to Muslim students waning to wear their
traditional attire, students of different colleges had arrived at Shanteshwar
Education trust in Vijaypura wearing saffron stoles.
On January 26, the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government
set up an expert committee to find a solution to the issue. On January 31, one
of the protesting students filed a petition in the Karnataka high court
challenging the ban.
In February, the Karnataka government issued an order
under the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 prescribing a uniform for all students
to wear in state-run educational institutions. In March, a three-judge bench of
the Karnataka HC upheld the hijab ban in all state educational institutions.
They held that the wearing of the Hijab was not an ‘Essential Religious
Practice’ and hence, would not receive constitutional protection.
Later, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board filed
an appeal against the Karnataka HC decision at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court’s split verdict in hijab case
A top court bench delivered a split verdict in the
hijab ban case. Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia set aside the High Court ruling and
quashed the state government’s order in his judgement, while Justice Hemant
Gupta dismissed the appeals. The case is now before the Chief Justice of India
for his direction.
Over 1,000 Muslim students dropped out after hijab
row: PUCL report
Meanwhile, a report by the People’s Union for Civil
Liberties – Karnataka unit (PUCL-K) on the impact of the hijab ban on Muslim
girl students in Karnataka revealed that a total of 1,010 hijab-wearing girls
dropped out of PU colleges “because of the hijab ban and other reasons as
well”.
The report, ‘Closing the Gates to Education:
Violations of Rights of Muslim Women Students in Karnataka’, study for which
was conducted by the PUCL in five Karnataka districts – Hassan, Dakshina
Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, and Raichur, stated that Muslim women students were
not only “actively prevented from accessing their right to education but also
bore the brunt of a climate of hate, hostility, and misinformation”.
Source: Financial Express
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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‘Ittehadul Mujahideen-i-Khurasan’ Behead Teenager In
Lakki On Spying For Army Charge
Representative photo? The
Truth International
----
January 19, 2023
LAKKI MARWAT: A teenager was found beheaded in a
remote area of Lakki Marwat, police said on Wednesday.
They said that beheaded body of a teenager was found
in Bargai village. The victim was identified as Raheedullah, 19. He was killed
by unidentified armed men believed to be militants on charges of spying.
Murad Khan, an uncle of the slain boy, told police
that his nephew had gone to the fields on January 15 but did not return home.
He said that they came to know that armed men took him
away along with his motorcycle.
An official said that the militant group ‘Ittehadul
Mujahideen-i-Khurasan’ had left a dagger and a hand written chit in Pashto
language along the body, carrying a message that Raheedullah was found guilty
of spying for army and counter-terrorism department.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1732331/militants-behead-teenager-in-lakki-on-spying-charge
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Thai Muslims Enjoy Acceptance in Thailand: Call for
Dialogue between Buddhist and Muslim Scholars
Photo: Buddhist-Muslim
Inter-religious Dialogue in Songkhla, Thailand
-----
January 19, 2023
Former Head of the Department of International
Relations & Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University of Bangkok
Prof. Dr Jaran Maluleem has called for dialogue between the Buddhist and the
Muslim scholars of Pakistan and Thailand to promote interfaith harmony.
During an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer,
Dr Jaran who is also Professor Emeritus and currently faculty member at Krirk
University said both Islam and Buddhism gave a universal message of peace,
harmony and brotherhood and those few individuals linking militancy or
terrorism with Islam had in fact nothing to do with religion. They are the ones
who have gone astray from the righteous path i.e. the path of universal brotherhood.
The interview was part of the efforts by Chief Monk of
Thailand Most Venerable (MV) Arayawangso to promote inter-faith harmony between
the followers of Islam and Buddhism.
“I have decades of experience in teaching and
lecturing not only at the Thammasat University, but in other univer sities of
Thailand also but never have I seen discrimination against the Muslims or any
other religious minority in Thailand,” Dr Jaran Maluleem said.
In fact, the constitution and the law of Thailand both
disallow any such singling out, he said adding the Thailand society has
complete acceptance for the followers belonging to all the faiths, and the
Muslims being the second largest population (around 5pc of the total
population) after the Buddhists have been enjoying complete religious,
political, social, cultural and economic freedom in Thailand society.
There is no compulsion or ban on member of any
community, let alone tbe Muslims with regard to participating in politics.
We have had a Foreign Minister, a military commander,
Members of the Parliament and top business executives who were all Muslims, he
said. They contributed to the uplift of Thai society which is multi-cultural
and multi-ethnic, said the learned professor. To a question, he said tolerance
was the essence of Islam and Buddhism too preached respect for others’ faith.
In this sense, both the religions have many things in common.
Majority of the Muslim population in Thailand are the
Muslims, he said, adding however there were Shias also but they are living in complete
peace and harmony.
We celebrate/observe all our religious festivals like
Ramadan, Eid al-Fitri (Eidul Fitr), Eid al-Adha and the month of mourning
Moharram al-Haram without any problem.
About the current phase of the revival of Buddhist
tourism between Thailand and Pakistan, Prof Jaran said it was quite encouraging
to see the Buddhists visiting the ancient sites in Taxila, Peshawar and the
Khyber Pass which once used to be the centre of the Buddhist civilizations.
The credit for this revival of Buddhist tourism
between the two countries goes to the untiring efforts of Most Venerable monk
Arayawangso who through Dhamma Diplomacy has brought the two nations together,
he said.
In fact MV Arayawangso is the pioneer of Dhamma
Diplomacy, he said.
MV Arayawangso spent
three-month (mid-July to mid-October 2022) rain
retreat in Taxila and also wrote a book “The Buddhist Civilization of Gandhara”
during that period.
He has done a marvellous job and the book will serve
to introduce the rich Buddhist heritage to the followers of Lord Buddha, the
professor said.
MV Arayawangso while speaking on the occasion said he
was happy to listen to Prof Jaran’s views and agreed that the Muslims in
Bangkok were living in complete peace and harmony with the fellow Buddhists, Christians,
Hindus or other communities.
We have Masjids in far and wide of Thailand and the
Muslim brothers offer their prayers in their places of worship just like other
communities, he said
About some insurgent elements in the southern part of
the country, MV Arayawangso said they were doing no service to Islam by
challenging the writ of the state.
He urged them to surrender all their weapons and
return to the mainstream society just like the rest of their Muslim brothers
and sisters in other parts of Thailand.
At the end, MV Arayawangso presented his book about
Gandhara Civilization to Dr Jaran.
Source: Pak Observer
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://pakobserver.net/thai-muslims-enjoy-complete-acceptance-in-thailand-society/
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Amid Outrage over Normalization with Israel, Bahraini ‘Security’
Delegation Visits Occupied Territories
In this undated picture, a
high-level Bahraini security delegation visits the Israeli-occupied territories
in January 2023. (Photo via Twitter)
-----
18 January 2023
Bahrain’s Al Khalifah regime has dispatched a
“security” delegation to the Israeli-occupied territories, amid outrage among
the public in the Persian Gulf kingdom over normalization with the regime in
Tel Aviv.
The New Khalij news website, citing a post published
by Israel in the [Persian] Gulf Twitter account of the Israeli Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, reported that the visit took place recently, without
specifying its location.
The account, which defines itself as the official
account of the virtual Israeli embassy in the Persian Gulf region, announced on
Tuesday evening that a delegation headed by Bahrain’s Public Security Deputy
Chief Major General Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifah, arrived in Israel on
an official visit and met with the Commissioner-General of the Israel Police.
Bahrain has made no official comment about the visit
as of yet.
Bahrainis have repeatedly expressed their opposition
to the normalization of ties with the Israeli regime by holding demonstrations.
Bahrain’s main opposition group al-Wefaq and the
kingdom’s top cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim have also repeatedly condemned the
normalization move made by the al-Khalifah dynasty.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed
US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in an event in Washington in
September 2020.
Sudan and Morocco followed suit later in the year and
inked similar US-brokered normalization deals with the occupying regime.
The move sparked widespread condemnations from the
Palestinians as well as nations and human rights advocates across the globe,
especially within the Muslim world.
Palestinians slammed the deals as a treacherous “stab in
the back” and a betrayal of their cause against the decades-long Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories. Palestinians are seeking an independent
state in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East al-Quds as its
capital.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Europe
Jimmie Akesson, Swedish Far-Right Leader Calls Erdogan
'Islamist Dictator'
18/01/2023
Jimmie Akesson, whose party is currently propping up
the Swedish government, made the comments in an interview with the Dagens
Nyheter newspaper published Wednesday.
There are limits on how far the country would go to
appease Turkey to secure its NATO membership "...because it is ultimately
an anti-democratic system and a dictator we are dealing with," Akesson
told the newspaper.
Akesson also questioned whether Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who prides himself on having never lost a national
election over 20 years of rule, could be called democratically elected.
"I'm the party leader for the anti-islamic party
SD and I have strong views on an Islamist dictator like Erdogan. He is elected
by the people, yes. But so is Putin in that sense," Akesson said.
The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) rose to be
the country's second largest party in the September general election with 20.54
percent of the vote. Their support is crucial in order to prop up Prime
Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing coalition government.
Turkey's conditions
Turkey and Hungary are the only two countries who have
yet to ratify Sweden's NATO membership.
Ankara wants Stockholm to crack down on activists
close to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) before it will approve
Sweden's NATO aspirations.
It also wants them to go after people accused of ties
to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based preacher it accuses of involvement over a failed
2016 coup, but who Washington has refused to extradite.
Akesson's comments come a week after pro-Kurdish
activists hung an effigy of Erdogan by its legs outside Stockholm city hall.
The display was meant to evoke the fate of Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini,
whose body was strung up after he was shot dead in 1945.
Both the Turkish and Swedish governments condemned the
act, but that sparked a debate in Sweden about the need to avoid making
sacrifices on freedom of expression.
Turkey and Sweden signed a memorandum of understanding
at the end of June, paving the way for the membership process to begin. But
Ankara says its demands remain unfulfilled -- in particular for the extradition
of Turkish citizens Turkey wants to prosecute for "terrorism".
The Swedish government has stressed that the Swedish
judiciary has the final say in these cases -- and that the courts are independent.
Source: France24
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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European Parliament urges EU to list Iran’s IRGC as
terrorist group
18 January ,2023
The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to urge
Brussels to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terror group, amid mounting
pressure on Western powers to do so.
MEPs backed an amendment added to an annual foreign
policy report calling for “the EU and its member states to include the IRGC on
the EU’s terrorist list in the light of its terrorist activity, the repression
of protesters and its supplying of drones to Russia.”
The vote does not oblige the European Union to act,
but it comes with foreign ministers already due to discuss tightening sanctions
on Tehran at a meeting in Brussels next week.
Iran has launched a brutal crackdown on
anti-government protests since the September 16 death in custody of 22-year-old
Mahsa Amini. Several detainees have been condemned to death.
Tehran has also been criticized for supplying its ally
Russia with kamikaze drones, which Moscow has in turn used to bombard Ukrainian
cities, often hitting civilian homes and infrastructure.
Some EU capitals have begun to move towards adding the
IRGC to the terrorist blacklist, which would expose another important plank in
the Islamic republic’s government to sanctions.
In the past, some have resisted this call, fearing it
would be based on shaky legal grounds and further poison already dreadful ties
with the West.
Europe’s position is hardening, however, and the
opening of this week’s parliamentary session in Strasbourg was marked by a
rally of Iranian expatriates demanding the terror listing.
“I guarantee that all options allowing the EU to react
to events in Iran remain on the table,” EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders
told the parliament earlier this week.
The MEPs are expected to repeat their plea on Thursday
in another vote to accept a non-legislative report on Europe’s response to
protests and executions in Iran.
This amendment will go into more detail about which IRGC-linked
groups will be targeted, and the crimes that they are alleged to have
committed.
This would urge Brussels to blacklist the IRGC
military force, the paramilitary Basij militia involved in protest crackdowns
and the covert Quds Force sent to spread Iran’s revolution abroad.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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European Parliament calls for sanctions against
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik
Talha Ozturk
18.01.2023
BELGRADE, Serbia
The European Parliament on Wednesday called for the
introduction of sanctions against Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.
“The EP reiterates its call for the adoption of
targeted sanctions against destabilizing actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH),
including those who threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity,
especially Milorad Dodik,” said a resolution adopted by the European
Parliament.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 407-92, with
142 abstentions.
Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, the
Serb-controlled half of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that European Parliament
can vote on anything but that not all of it is useful or appropriate.
He said the policy of sanctioning instead of a policy
of dialogue and understanding others and differences has unfortunately appeared
in the European Parliament as well.
“Nobody suffered due to my policies. The European path
was not brought into question, nor its territorial integrity, so I’m curious
what inspired the Euro parliamentarians to propose such a measure,'' said
Dodik.
The resolution also expressed concern about the
timing, content, and manner of changes to Bosnia's electoral law and the
Constitution, which were initiated by the high representative of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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North Macedonia signals more military cooperation with
Türkiye amid Ukraine war
Aysu Bicer and Muhammet Ikbal Arslan
18.01.2023
North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski has
signaled further military cooperation with Türkiye in the coming period, saying
"the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine is only making the whole matter
more urgent."
Military cooperation between the two countries started
many years ago and many high-ranking soldiers in the North Macedonian army were
trained at Turkish military schools, Stevo Pendarovski told Anadolu on the
sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland.
Asked whether the purchase of military drones from
Türkiye is on Skopje's agenda, Pendarovski said in the last one-and-a-half
years, North Macedonia made new arrangements for purchasing some military
equipment and weapons from Türkiye.
"But of course, that is a sensitive matter, and I
would not like to discuss in detail all of that publicly," he underscored.
The president described bilateral relations as
excellent, saying Türkiye was one of the staunchest supporters of North
Macedonia's independence in early 1990s and at the moment, economic cooperation
is slowly building up year by year.
OSCE presidency 'great challenge' for North Macedonia
On Jan. 1, North Macedonia assumed the rotating 2023
presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Pendarovski said the term presidency would be "a
great challenge" for them as they are a small country with limited
resources.
"We have taken the lead of an organization with
57 member countries, spanning from the US and Canada, including Russia, Central
Asia, so it's not an easy task, but we are prepared well for that task. We
started from the first of January and will chair that organization for the
whole year."
He said North Macedonia is carrying out its efforts
for easing the conflict in Ukraine.
"We are in contact with both sides. I recently
dispatched a Macedonian ambassador to Moscow in order to hear the other side,
despite it being beyond doubt that the Russian invasion is completely illegal
and it is not allowed by any international rule or principle."
Pendarovski also said they have been trying their best
to solve the problem from the very beginning.
Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's foreign minister and
OSCE term chairman, visited Ukraine a couple of days ago and met with Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar
Kovachevski will also hold talks in Ukraine next month.
Türkiye has 'legitimate security concerns,' says
Pendarovski
On a question whether North Macedonia supports
Türkiye's concerns over NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland, Pendarovski
said Ankara has "some legitimate security concerns" which should be
addressed.
"I am not saying that it should happen this time
as well. But I'm quite confident that with the help of third countries, with
NATO's secretary general, with our friends, that Finland and Sweden will as
soon as possible complete the ratification process, including in the Turkish
parliament, because there is no doubt that we do need as an alliance, we do
need these two countries, which are democratic countries with a long tradition,
and they can only help all of us in this situation with the war on the
continent after so many decades," he added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is exerting
great diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Pendarovski said.
"President Erdogan is probably the only politician in the world who
communicates with both Russia and Ukraine about the crisis," he added.
Serbia-Kosovo conflict
About recent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo over
border, Pendarovski said he does not believe that the conflict between the two
countries will turn into a war in the Balkans.
"I do not believe that kind of development will
unfold in the Western Balkans. It's important for the security of our people.
Of course, the situation in Kosovo is completely under control," he said.
According to Pendarovski, the most important concern
in Kosovo is the human rights, stability, and security for all people living
there.
Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Albanians, broke
away from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. But Serbia has not
recognized the move and sees its former province as part of its territory.
Tensions have been simmering between the two Balkan
countries after a series of events in the region.
In November 2022, there was a row about license
plates, with the government in Pristina demanding ethnic Serbs surrender
Serbian-issued vehicle license plates to replace them with plates issued by
Kosovo.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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India
UP Madrasa Board Rejects NCPCR Advice to Shift
Non-Muslim Students to Other Institutions
January 19, 2023
The Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Board on Wednesday rejected
the recommendation of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) to shift non-Muslim students from madrasas to other educational
institutions. The decision was announced by Board chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Javed
after a meeting of Board members in Lucknow Wednesday.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Javed said the Board
is against such a “discriminatory” practice where students are categorised
based on their religion. “We follow the ideology ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath, we won’t indulge in a practice where students of non-Muslim faiths
are removed from madrasas and transferred to other schools. This kind of
practice should not be implemented in the education sector. If parents are
sending their children to our madrasas, they will continue to study there,”
said Javed. “The madrasa education board unanimously rejected the NCPCR
recommendations,” he added.
In December, the NCPCR had written to Chief
Secretaries of all states and UTs, recommending a detailed inquiry into all
government-funded and recognised madrasas admitting non-Muslim children. The
NCPCR had also recommended all non-Muslim children studying in madrasas be
admitted to other schools after the inquiry.
Source: Indian Express
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SIMI’s Aim of Realising Islamic Rule Can’t Be
Permitted, Centre Tells SC
19th January 2023
By Shruti Kakkar
NEW DELHI: Justifying the ban imposed on Students
Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Centre has told the Supreme Court that
the outfit is against Indian Constitution, including its secular nature, and
works to replace it with an Islamic order.
“Their stated objectives are contrary to the laws of
our country. Especially their object of establishing Islamic rule in India can,
under no circumstances, be permitted to subsist,” said the affidavit, filed by
an undersecretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The ‘constitution’ of SIMI in sum and substance not
only disclaims, questions, and intends to disrupt the sovereignty and integrity
of our country; but also cause disaffection against India and the Constitution
of India. Furthermore, the objects as mentioned in the constitution of SIMI are
liable to be qualified as offences under sections 153A and 153B of the IPC,”
the affidavit states.
The government’s response has been filed in a plea
challenging the September 27, 2019 order passed by the UAPA Tribunal in which
the tribunal confirmed the declaration of SIMI as an unlawful association under
the UAPA.
Denying allegations of SIMI being deprived of
fundamental right, the affidavit states that Centre’s opinion is based on
grounds that SIMI is knownto be indulging in activities which are prejudicial
to the integrity and security of the country.
“SIMI continues to indulge in unlawful activities
causing a serious threat to the internal security of the country. In this
regard various intelligence inputs
received, further establishes that SIMI has been continuing its activities
throughout the country,” the affidavit states. The Centre has further stated
that SIMI, since the ban, is carrying out its activities under cover
organisations in several states.
Source: New Indian Express
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J&K Waqf Board forms district-level panels for
takeover of shrines, mosques
Jan 19, 2023
By Ashiq Hussain
Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has decided to compile a
list of properties, including shrines, mosques and khankahs, not under the
administrative control of the board, a month after taking over the jurisdiction
of local auqaf (management) committees in the union territory.
The board had on Tuesday sanctioned formation of
district-level committees as a first step towards the takeover of the
administrative control of notified waqf properties. It also mentioned about
takeover of properties which are not notified by the waqf, but there are
“complaints” by the public over their administration.
“The J&K Waqf Board has a large number of notified
properties that have not been administratively controlled till date, and were
being managed privately by local committees. However, in view of receipt of a
large number of complaints and representations by chairperson…regarding
mismanagement and irregularities, it has become imperative to directly
administer all such important shrines, jamia masjids, khankahs and other assets
to ensure transparency and accountability,” said the order by Ishtiyaq
Mohiuddin, executive magistrate, Waqf Board.
The Waqf Board under the chairpersonship of Darakshan
Andrabi, who is also BJP’s national executive member, has issued a slew of
orders after the Waqf Act, 1995, was extended to the union territory post-2019
constitutional changes.
It has also ordered a ban on priests from collecting
offerings from people in major shrines, removed donation boxes and banned
felicitation of politicians like turban tying in shrines. The orders have
prompted antagonism against the board with people alleging that waqf was being used
as a tool by the BJP to control Muslim religious places of J&K.
The latest order, in order to compile the list, gave
sanction to the constitution of district-level committees for verification and
submission of reports within a period of 21 days.
The terms of reference for the committees are to
submit detailed reports of assets, finances and administrative affairs of such
properties.
It also mentioned about the takeover of the properties
which are not notified by the Waqf Board.
“A separate list of those shrines, mosques and allied
properties be also prepared that are not waqf-notified properties, but are to
be brought under administrative control on the basis of representations or
complaints of general public,” the order said.
On December 17 last year, the Waqf Board had taken
over the jurisdiction of local auqaf committees in the UT and warned of action
for any kind of interference by local management bodies of waqf religious
places.
It said that no association, self-styled local auqaf
committee or management has any legal standing under the provisions of the
Central Waqf Act. The board notified that all the local waqf or auqaf
committees will be deemed as void ab initio throughout J&K.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Tension grips Kerala capital as Muslim Youth League
workers clash with police before Secretariat
January 18, 2023
Tension prevailed for hours in the city on Wednesday
after the police fired tear gas shells and used batons to disperse Muslim Youth
League (MYL) workers who had taken out a march to the Secretariat alleging
corruption, nepotism in government appointments and failure to address
unemployment.
The police resorted to lathi-charging when the
protesters hurled chairs, bottles and flagpoles, pelted stones and tried to
forcibly remove the barricades in front of the Secretariat gates. The protest
turned violent after P.K. Kunhalikutty, MLA, and MYL State general secretary
P.K. Firoz addressed the sit-in staged by the protesters.
The police then fired several rounds of tear gas
shells and lathi-charged the protesters to disperse them. Several MYL workers
were injured in the melee.
Source: The Hindu
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PM Modi Asked Us To Win Confidence Of Muslims:
Yediyurappa To K'taka BJP
18th January 2023
SHIVAMOGGA: Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS
Yediyurappa said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the party leaders to
take along Muslim leaders to bring the party back to power.
Yediyurappa told reporters here on Wednesday that the
National Executive Committee meeting was successful on Tuesday and the
strategies to win elections were discussed.
"Modi delivered a speech for over one-and-a-half
hours and guided us. Now the task is to strengthen the party and bring it back
to power in the state. We will utilise the time which will be given by Modi,
Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda. We assured them
that the BJP will win over 140 seats in the state. Leaders and workers have
been asked to visit every house and meet voters," he said.
Source: New Indian Express
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Opposition distorting BJP’s stand on Muslims: UP
Minority Welfare Minister
18th January 2023
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority
Welfare Danish Azad Ansari on Wednesday accused the opposition parties of
distorting the stand of the BJP and the RSS on Muslims and claimed that the
minority community considers Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath as their well-wishers.
Ansari, the only Muslim minister in Uttar Pradesh,
said the opposition parties are spreading falsehood that the BJP is against
Muslims as they want to restrict the community members to a vote bank.
“The Opposition does not want Muslims to be associated
with development. Today’s reality is that the common Muslim considers PM Modi
and CM Adityanath as their well-wishers,” Ansari told PTI.
He said, “All Muslims have welcomed the statement made
by the Prime Minister regarding the Muslim community on Tuesday. They will
unite and play their role in the progress of the country under the leadership
of the prime minister. The Pasmanda (backward) class of Muslims is a very large
section. The progress of the Muslim community cannot be imagined without
empowering them. The BJP government has worked to empower the Pasmanda
community at every step.”
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday asked BJP members to
reach out to every section of society, including minorities such as Bohras,
Pasmandas and Sikhs, and work for them without electoral considerations, party
sources said in New Delhi.
Asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent
statements on Muslims, Ansari said the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak was “never
anti-Muslim”.
“It would not be fair to say that Sangh’s attitude
towards Muslims is now softening. Sangh has always been a benevolent
organisation of the country. As I said that the Opposition works to confuse the
society in the wrong direction, it did the same for the Sangh,” Ansari said.
Bhagwat had recently said Muslims have nothing to fear
in India but they must abandon their claim of supremacy.
The Sangh chief had also visited a madrassa in Delhi a
few days back. “There should be a better dialogue among every society, this is
the thinking of the RSS,” the minister said.
Source: Siasat Daily
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Clerics in UP welcome Centre’s decision to do away
with VIP Haj quota
18th January 2023
Lucknow: The Centre’s recent decision to do away with
the discretionary Haj quota has had a positive response from the Muslim clerics
who said that it will end discrimination among pilgrims.
Registration for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage will
start in a couple of days.
The discretionary Haj quota was available with people
in top constitutional posts and the minority affairs ministry. Union minister
Smriti Irani had last week said the step to end the quota has been taken as
part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to end ‘VIP culture’.
“This is certainly a welcome move and a positive
development since there is no place for any VIP culture in Islam. In the
‘darbar’ of Allah, everybody is equal,” Mohsin Raza, the chairman of the Uttar
Pradesh State Haj Committee told PTI.
He also said of the 1,75,025 Haj pilgrims this year,
around 31,000 are from Uttar Pradesh. Last year, the number of pilgrims from
Uttar Pradesh was around 8,700.
Welcoming the Centre’s move, prominent Muslim cleric
of Lucknow and Eidgah Imam Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali termed the
decision “positive”.
“This will end discrimination. The number of Haj
pilgrims will increase. Most importantly, if one has to visit the home of the
almighty, then one does not need any source or seek any form of
discrimination,” he told PTI here.
General secretary and spokesperson of All India Shia
Personal Law Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas welcomed the Centre’s move, saying it
will enable a poor Muslim to undertake the Haj pilgrimage.
Drawing a comparison between Haj and Namaaz, Nasir
Qureshi, media co-ordinator of Bareilly-based Ala Hazrat Dargah told PTI,
“There should be no quota for Haj, similar to the practice in ‘Namaaz’ where
there is no VIP quota.”
Uttar Pradesh’s minister of state for minority
welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari told PTI, “Islam teaches that
everyone is equal and there is no VIP. During namaaz in mosques, the rich, the
poor, the rickshaw pullers and the vendors offer it together.”
The state government is doing everything possible to
make the Haj pilgrimage smooth and a better experience for the pilgrims, he
added.
Source: Siasat Daily
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Pakistan
‘Appeasement’ Of Militants Created Problems, Bilawal
Accuses Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
January 19, 2023
KARACHI: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has
accused the previous government of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of
adopting an appeasement policy towards the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP),
saying that it has created problems for the people of Pakistan.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Mr Bhutto-Zardari
stated that the current coalition government has ended the ‘wrong’ approach,
which was initiated by the previous [PTI) government.
Earlier this month, the top military and political
leadership of the country decided to take to take strict action against all
terrorist groups in the country.
In the interview, the foreign minister also reiterated
the stance that the international community should engage with the Taliban and
to convince them about their promises, despite the ban on women’s education and
restrictions imposed by the Afghan Taliban on NGO workers and media.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1732433/appeasement-of-militants-created-problems-bilawal
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Broken pledges behind fresh wave of terror, says Imran
January 19, 2023
KARACHI: Former prime minister Imran Khan once again
apportioned blame for the recent resurgence of terrorism in the country on the
unwillingness of the current government to abide by the commitments made by the
previous regime, saying that despite an agreement among all political parties, no
resources were provided for the rehabilitation of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) fighters and their families.
In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Urdu, published
on Wednesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief said that the Pakistan
Democratic Movement (PDM) government did not pay heed to those returning from
Afghanistan.
He recalled that as soon as the regime changed in
Kabul, the outlawed TTP fighters in Afghanistan were asked by the Afghan
Taliban to return to Pakistan.
“The previous Ghani administration used to patronise
them and they used to attack Pakistan from there,” Mr Khan claimed, saying that
at this point, the country had two options.
“We could either line up those 40,000 people,
including fighters and their families, and shoot them, or we could rehabilitate
them.”
He claimed there was consensus among all political
parties on the issue, but regretted the fact that this did not happen.
“When the militants came, they were not rehabilitated
or given any proper attention, and no money was spent on them. We were afraid
that if we did not pay attention to them, then terrorism would start in
different places, which [is what] has happened.”
Earlier, on Jan 10, Mr Khan had told a seminar in
Islamabad that his government had planned to resettle TTP fighters in
Pakistan’s tribal districts with the help of the Afghan Taliban, but the plan
hit a snag owing to non-cooperation of the provinces.
At the time, he said, the plan did not materialise,
because two provinces refused to foot the bill for this initiative. Sindh and
Balochistan refused to give 3 per cent share from the National Finance
Commission (NFC) for the uplift of tribal districts and then the federal
government stopped its cooperation after PTI’s ouster, he said.
Relations with new brass
Asked about his relationship with the new army chief
and whether he had established contacts with the new army leadership with the
help of President Arif Alvi, Mr Khan said he had no contact with the fresh
brass at present.
Speaking on the current political and economic
instability, the ex-premier continued to blame retired former army chief Qamar
Javed Bajwa, saying that the root cause of this instability was the ouster of
his government.
He added that he and Shaukat Tareen (then-finance
minister) had told Gen Bajwa that if he created political instability to ensure
the success of this conspiracy, then nobody would be able to handle the
economy, and that was what happened.
Reiterating that the current government was incapable
of handling the economy, he said the market had lost faith in it and chaos
began to take hold. “Just ask (any) business personality today. Is it because
of us? As soon as the current government arrived, it realised that it did not
have a road map.
“What Gen Bajwa has done together with them (PML-N),
even the enemy would not have done this to Pakistan”, he added.
Early elections
On early elections, Mr Khan said he could not tolerate
the current regime for even a couple of more months, as his prediction was that
“this government will be forced to hold elections in April”.
He also claimed that the establishment had put
pressure on Parvez Elahi to either join hands with the PML-N or not to leave
the chief ministership, but he was loyal to the PTI.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1732432/broken-pledges-behind-fresh-wave-of-terror-says-imran
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LHC orders Punjab govt to issue divorce certificates
to non-Muslims
January 19, 2023
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Wednesday directed
the Punjab government to frame, within 90 days, rules under which union
councils would issue divorce certificates to members of Christian and other
non-Muslim communities in Pakistan.
In many parts of the country, the divorce certificates
are not issued to non-Muslims by union councils that instead claimed such
certificates were “not issued to the Christian community.” The issue was brought
to the attention of the LHC during the case Shumaila Sharif vs the secretary
union council etc.
The petitioner in her appeal requested that the court
to diect the relevant union council to issue her the divorce certificate. The
petition was heard on December 16 last year and the presiding judge was Judge
Tariq Saleem Sheikh. During the proceedings, the counsel of the petitioner,
Advocate Umar Saeed, said Punjab Local Government Act 2022 and Article 36 of
the Constitution, expressly requires the state to protect the minorities’
legitimate rights and interests. He said by refusing to issue the requisite
certificate, the council was failing to fulfil its legal duty. Additionally,
Advocate Kashif Alexander, the court’s amicus curiae, contended that obtaining
a divorce certificate is a legal right that cannot be denied.
Source: The News
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PTI has no contact with new military leadership: Imran
Khan
Jan 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman
Imran Khan on Wednesday said that currently his party has no contact with the
new military leadership, Pakistan based The News International newspaper
reported.
Khan said that he has no links with the current
Pakistan army chief, General Syed Asim Munir and claimed that the general
elections will take place in April 2023.
He blamed the former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed
Bajwa for helping the present Pakistan government in ruling the country and
said that now, the government will be forced to hold the general elections in
April.
"When they came to power, they ended their
corruption cases worth Rs1,100 billion," he said, as quoted by The News
International newspaper.
He blamed the incumbent government for the country's
economic crisis and said that Pakistan's economic conditions were never like
this, emphasising that fair and transparent polls were the only solution to
these problems.
"The current government led by Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif has come to power through horse trading," Khan said.
According to the PTI chief, the coalition rulers kept
themselves above the law and ended the corruption cases that they were booked
in years ago. "Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Maryam
Nawaz, all of their cases have been forgiven," he said, as quoted by The
News International newspaper.
Khan said that PTI sacrificed two assemblies, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to move towards free and fair elections. "Now this
government will be forced into holding elections in April."
He said that no investor or business person trusts the
government and neither do foreign investors.
"Pakistan has been plunged into a quagmire. To
save the country from a Sri Lanka-like situation, we need free and fair
elections," Khan said.
Khan recently said that "establishment is a
reality" and "above the law." Speaking on the existence of the
establishment in the country's politics, Khan said that the situation in
Pakistan will improve when the establishment starts working for the rule of
law, Daily Times reported.
"The establishment is a reality and it is above
the law. The situation [of the country] will improve when it starts working for
the rule of law," Daily Times quoted Imran Khan as saying.
Source: Times Of India
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Pakistan is proof that Islamism as State policy kills
the economy
Abhijit Majumder
January 19, 2023
Jihad as the centrepiece of State policy does not
augur well for a nation’s economy. Unless one has oil. Pakistan doesn’t.
Even the Arab world is realising that as the oil
economy weakens and fades — as it inevitably will with new technology and newer
forms of energy — Islamist instincts need to be curbed.
Mohammed bin Salman has launched a slew of economic
and social reforms in Saudi Arabia, the capital of Sunni Islam and the leader
of oil producing countries. Men and women have started mingling freely, bans on
women driving or leaving home unescorted have been lifted, cinemas and concerts
have opened, MBS has said hijab or abaya in public is not necessary.
Prodded by Donald Trump, the UAE made its historic
reconciliation with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Flights started.
Bahrain and Morocco joined the accord. Even Sudan, got off the ‘State sponsor
of terrorism’ list and got a $1.2 billion economic bailout after agreeing to
kiss and make up with Israel and sign the accord.
Strategic and economic ties between Egypt and Israel
today are the warmest in history. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak with each other quite often,
mainly on economy, counterterrorism, and fighting the Islamist threat in the
Sinai Peninsula.
But as the rich and smart parts of the Islamic world
move away from fundamentalism as State policy, Pakistan kept pushing extremism
within and across its border through its alliance of three Ms — Military,
Mullah, and Mujahideen. The sheer reason of its birth perhaps leaves it with no
choice, no room to reform.
Pakistan is a nation not born out of unity of race,
language, ethnicity, or cultural oneness. It was born out of bigotry,
rejection, and fear of the ‘other’, that is Hindus, partitioned from unbroken
India.
Under the disguise of a democracy, it really chose
theocracy, with the three Ms appointing themselves as the chief power brokers
in Allah’s dominion. They have also been covering for one other not just in
matters of state-sponsored terrorism, sectarian murders, rapes and forcible
conversions of minorities, but also gross corruption and economic
indiscretions.
The generals run an entire parallel economy.
“Milbus, or the military’s ‘internal economy’, is
military capital that is used for the personal benefit of military personnel,
especially officers, but is neither recorded nor a part of the defence budget.
Its most significant component is entrepreneurial activities that are not
subject to state accountability procedures,” journalist Ayesha Siddiqa writes
in her book, Military Inc: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy. “There is also a
high financial and opportunity cost in building and sustaining the military’s
influence in power politics. Evidence shows that military businesses are not
run more efficiently than others. Some of the military’s larger businesses and
subsidiaries have required financial bailout from the government. Further, the
companies use government resources, which distorts the market.”
While in 2007 Siddiqa estimated the 100 seniormost
military officials to be worth UK pound 3.5 billion, today the Pakistan Army
does not have money to feed its troops two meals a day. The International
Monetary Fund is apparently insisting on a second massive defence budget cut in
a year.
The government has no money for salaries of its
employees. With forex reserves down to $4 billion or just enough for two weeks,
it has outlawed all bonuses to staff.
While no reasonable human will wish such misery on the
citizenry of even an enemy nation, for a moment imagine what would happen to
India and the rest of the subcontinent if Pakistan were to become an
economically strong nation with its core political ideology of radical Islam
and jihad as a State tool intact.
It would embolden the radicals in the community across
the subcontinent to look up to its model, militate against their host nations,
and try to overthrow governments and replace democracies with Islamist rule. An
economically strong and politically radical Pakistan would export
radicalisation and terror with much more money and might.
It would have been much easier for jihad handlers to
market Pakistan and its ideology to an Indian or Sri Lankan Muslim youth as the
beacon. It is Pakistan’s and to an extent Bangladesh’s failure to mature as
democracies and flourish as economies that quietly tell the Muslim youth of the
region that there is no Sharia alternative to a secular democracy.
Contrary to what Left or ‘liberal’ political and
economic experts have been telling us, a stable and prosperous Pakistan would
not be good for India and its other neighbours.
But that hypothesis itself is flawed. Pakistan was not
born out of the love for Islam as much as its hatred and fear of India and
Hindus. If you take out that loathing and paranoia, what remains of its
identity?
Islam? Perhaps not. Because blinding Sunni supremacy
ensures regular killing and persecution of not just non-Muslims but also Shias,
Sufis, Ahmediyas and Ismailis.
To run that kind of a hate machine, you need to put in
motion certain imaginary god’s laws instead of man-made regulations needed to
run a society, polity, and economy.
Running real factories is totally antithetical to
running a massive Islamist terror factory. For the former, you need to
establish transparency, rule of law, economic fundamentals, and trust in the
system. To run the latter, you need to obfuscate, operate in secrecy, nurture
the corrupt, bribe citizens with doles, channelise funds into the state’s dark
arts.
To do business, you need fewer enemies. To run a
bigoted State, you have to have enemies.
For your economy to prosper, you need friends who
embrace your honesty and openness. To run a terror state, you need allies like
China or Turkey who can benefit from your dark enterprises and eventually throw
you out when the job is done.
Source: Firstpost
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ECP decides to notify Imran’s victory on 7 NA seats
Irfan Sadozai
January 19, 2023
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday
decided to issue a notification confirming PTI chief Imran Khan’s victory in
by-elections on seven National Assembly seats that was earlier withheld for his
alleged failure to submit the party’s funding details to the electoral body.
A five-member ECP body headed by Chief Election
Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja announced the decision that was reserved on
Dec 20 last year.
The electoral watchdog had taken notice of Imran’s
failure to submit the details of the expenses incurred during the by-polls and
subsequently withheld the notification of his victory over non-compliance of
the commission’s orders.
The PTI chief had contested by-elections on six out of
eight National Assembly seats — NA-22, NA-24, NA-31, NA-108, NA-118, and NA-239
on Oct 16, 2022 while the election on NA-45 was held on Oct 30.
He had emerged victorious on seven seats, while the
PPP had managed to bag two constituencies.
In its verdict today, the ECP noted that the former
premier had furnished all required details to the watchdog, hence paving the
way for the issuance of the notification of his victory.
In the last hearing, PTI lawyer Anwar Mansoor Khan had
urged the ECP to allow him to cross-examine witnesses, including the bank
managers who furnished PTI’s bank statements on the instructions of the State
Bank of Pakistan.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1732470/ecp-decides-to-notify-imrans-victory-on-7-na-seats
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World Bank delays approval of $1.1bn for Pakistan
January 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has delayed the approval of
two loans for Pakistan worth $1.1 billion until the next fiscal year pending
some steps on the country’s energy debt and tariffs, a finance ministry source
told Reuters on Wednesday.
The approval of the loans have been pending since
June, said the source, declining to be named as they were not authorised to
talk to the media. Pakistan’s next fiscal year starts in April.
“The major issue is the circular debt management plan
in the energy sector and tariff revision,” said the source.
“These actions are pending on our side.” The World
Bank and the finance ministry did not immediately respond to requests for
comment.
Pakistan is still reeling from devastating floods that
have led to losses of more than $30 billion.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1732445/world-bank-delays-approval-of-11bn-for-pakistan
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Pakistan backs ‘two-state formula’ to end
Palestinian-Israel conflict
Anwar Iqbal
January 19, 2023
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told the UN Security Council
(UNSC) on Wednesday that the ‘two-state formula’ offers the only viable
solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the rising extremism in
Israeli leadership “must not be allowed to foreclose the two-state solution”.
Ambassador Munir Akram rejected all Israeli measures
and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo of Al Aqsa mosque and
demanded full respect for the status quo at Al Aqsa and all other holy sites in
the occupied Palestinian territories.
Pakistan urged the Security Council to “act swiftly
and resolutely to bring a halt to all such Israeli violations, ensure its full
compliance with international law, and implement its own resolutions”.
Ambassador Akram said Pakistan was looking forward to
the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal
implications of Israeli occupation.
Ambassador Akram says Islamabad looks forward to
advisory opinion of ICJ on legal implications of Israeli occupation
“We expect that the court’s opinion will lead to
Israeli accountability for its crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory. It
is a measure of Israel’s sense of impunity that it has taken punitive measures
against the Palestinian authorities and people for merely seeking the court’s
opinion,” he said.
Israel is incensed over a UN General Assembly
resolution in late December requesting that the ICJ offer an opinion on the
Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and has imposed fresh sanctions
on Palestinian authorities.
UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Tor
Wennesland, told a special UNSC session on the situation in the occupied
Palestinian territories that he was “very concerned about the impact” on the
finances of the Palestinian Authority from a series of retaliatory Israeli
sanctions.
The council heard a worrying assessment of the
situation from a senior UN official, who informed the world body about
spiralling insecurity in the occupied West Bank.
According to UN radio, Mr Wennesland described how
armed exchanges between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians were creating new
tensions in the region. He said that between Dec 8 and Jan 13, at least 14
Palestinians were killed — including five children — “during demonstrations,
clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks against
Israelis”.
Israeli settlers or other civilians also perpetrated
more than 60 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in injuries to 28,
including six children, Mr Wennesland said.
The UN official pointed out that the areas under PNA’s
control saw “a high proportion” of all casualties.
Mr Wennesland reiterated that “all perpetrators of all
acts of violence must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice”.
According to a UN statement, participants at
Wednesday’s debate underscored the importance of the two-state solution and the
need to avoid all measures and actions that would undermine its realisation.
Mr Wennesland told the Security Council that it was
“imperative” for both Israel and Palestinians to refrain “from provocations and
unilateral steps that undermine... the ability to achieve a negotiated peace”.
Ahead of its Dec 29 swearing-in, the new Israeli
government declared that the Jewish people had an exclusive right to all parts
of the occupied land and issued fresh eviction notices.
Source: Dawn
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South Asia
Qatar opposes Taliban’s decision of banning women,
says it will worsen the situation
By Fidel Rahmati
January 18, 2023
On Tuesday, 17 January, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs-Qatar tweeted a short video of External Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani while talking at the World Economic Forum,
directly warning about what happened recently by the Taliban government in
Afghanistan.
Qatar has had a lengthy relationship with the Taliban.
Since the beginning of the 2010s, senior Taliban figures have been based in
Doha, Qatar. Opening an office to promote political reconciliation between the
Taliban, the former Afghan government, the US, and other countries.
As early as 2013, Qatar allowed the Taliban to open an
office in Doha. According to DW, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the
Taliban’s founding members, has served as the Taliban envoy since 2018 in the
Qatar office.
The current policies of the IEA, particularly about
the ban on Afghan women’s education, and women staff working with international
communities and organizations, have created a considerable reaction in Muslim
countries and international communities.
The Al Thani remarks also came after the recent
decision by the interim administration in Afghanistan.
He commented, “What happened recently and the recent
measures by the Taliban government in Afghanistan has been very disappointing
for us”.
Moreover, he added, “we have been warning them (the
Taliban government) from taking such decisions that will make the situation
much worse for the Afghan people and the International community to deal with
them.”
Source: Khaama Press
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UN Officials Hold Talks With Taliban (IEA) Authorities
on Protecting Women’s Rights
By Nizamuddin Rezahi
January 19, 2023
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed
and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous visited Kabul and met with the
Taliban authorities to discuss Afghan women’s rights and other issues.
The senior UN delegation held meetings with UN staff,
national and international NGOs, and Afghan women to get a good understanding
of the situation and discuss ways to protect women’s and girls’ rights in
Afghanistan, according to Farhan Haq, the UN Deputy Spokesperson.
In a meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign
Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday, Amina Mohammed stressed the need to
uphold human rights, especially for women and girls, and were encouraged by
exemptions being introduced that have allowed the resumption of some
humanitarian activities that had been hampered following the ban.
Minister Muutaqi expressed his gratitude and hoped
that the UN delegation would portray Afghanistan’s true image to the
international community.
“Women are engaged in educational and health sectors
in significant numbers whereas those who used to work in government offices are
paid salaries at home. The number of female inmates has reduced considerably
and broad facilities have been provided in the business sector,” Muttaqi said.
Muttaqi also reiterated that not recognizing the
Afghan government, travel bans on the Islamic Emirate authorities and
restrictions on the banking system have led to numerous problems. To overcome
these challenges, the international community needs to take positive in this
regard.
Since the return of the Taliban to power in August
2021, followed by the disruption of international financial assistance, the
war-torn country has been left once more in dire economic, humanitarian, and
human rights crises.
Source: Khaama Press
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Afghan-Uzbek Joint Market Enhances Visa-Free Trading
Opportunities for Afghans
By Nizamuddin Rezahi
January 18, 2023
The construction of the initial phase of the
Afghan-Uzbek joint market on the border area between the two counties has been
completed, according to Uzbek officials.
Qut Jore Youf, the deputy of the Afghan-Uzbek joint
market stated that this project was created to expand business relations and
create job opportunities for Afghans and the people of Uzbekistan. Afghan
traders along with Uzbek entrepreneurs can sell their products in this market.
According to Uzbek officials, more than four thousand
shops, health centers, restaurants, and guest houses will be built in this
market, and the distribution of shops for traders has already begun.
The announcement adds that Afghan citizens can shop in
this market for ten days without receiving a visa.
“At least $75 million has been invested in this big
project, creating big trade facilities for traders of Afghanistan and
Uzbekistan,” Bakhtiar Roziof, head of the trade center said.
The creation of this market can provide a great
opportunity to showcase the country’s domestic products and the economic
activities of traders, according to the officials of the Balkh Chamber of
Commerce, Investment and Traders.
The market will also pave the way for the expansion of
economic activities and bilateral trade relations between Afghanistan and
Uzbekistan. This comes as the country is plagued with a dire humanitarian and
economic situation, with almost zero foreign investment. The de facto
authorities of Afghanistan look for every single opportunity to ease the
economic pressure and convince national and international investors to invest
in Afghanistan.
Source: Khaama Press
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Last two Sikh’s Holy Scriptures arrive in New Delhi
from Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
January 18, 2023
The last two holy religious scriptures of Sikhism
(Saroops) of the Guru Granth Sahib arrived from Afghanistan’s Kabul in Delhi on
Wednesday. The two Scriptures were carried out by three Afghan Sikhs from Kabul
to New Delhi by a non-Scheduled Kam Air flight.
Six Holy Scriptures were successfully flown into New
Delhi on August 24, 2021, and December 10, 2021, in two groups. These were
transported on a particular evacuation flight of Afghan Sikhs from Kabul.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan,
bringing back the symbols of faith and heritage associated with Sikhism has
been going on continuously. As a result, the last two versions of Guru Granth
Sahib were brought to Delhi, ANI reported.
On September 11, 2022, the four copies of the holy
scriptures of Sikhs and 60 delegations were supposed to deliver to New Delhi
but were refused permission by the Taliban-led Afghan government.
Officials from the foreign ministry of Afghanistan
stated that unless an official confirmation letter from the Afghan Culture and
Information Ministry was not issued, the scriptures could not be allowed to be
taken out of Afghanistan, the Tribune reported.
After the intervention of the government of India and
talks between the two governments, the two holy books were delivered to New
Delhi in a non-scheduled Kam Air flight organized by Shiromani Gurdwara
Prabandhak Committee.
Source: Khaama Press
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https://www.khaama.com/last-two-sikhs-holy-scriptures-arrive-in-new-delhi-from-afghanistan/
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China slams US ‘blatant and egregious’ plundering of
Syria’s natural reserves
18 January 2023
China has denounced the United States over its
“blatant and egregious” attempts to further plunder natural resources in Syria,
stating that American occupation forces are massively smuggling crude oil and
grain from the northeastern part of the war-torn country to their bases in
northern Iraq.
“We are struck by the blatancy and egregiousness of
the US’s plundering of Syria. According to Syrian government data, in the first
half of 2022, over 80% of Syria’s daily oil output was smuggled out of the
country by US occupation troops,” Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry
Wang Wenbin said at a weekly press briefing in the capital, Beijing on Tuesday.
He added that US forces used 60 tankers and trucks
earlier this month to steal oil and wheat from Syria.
“Such banditry is aggravating the energy crisis and
humanitarian disaster in Syria. The Syrian nation’s right to life is being
ruthlessly trampled on by the US. With little oil and food to go by, Syrians
are struggling even harder to get through the bitter winter,” the Chinese
diplomat pointed out.
“The level of US greed in stealing resources from
Syria is as striking as its generosity in giving out military aid often in the
amount of billions or even tens of billions dollars. Whether the US gives or
takes, it plunges other countries into turmoil and disaster, and the US gets to
reap the benefits for its hegemony and other interests,” Wang said.
The spokesman emphasized that the US must answer to
Syrians and the international community for its oil theft.
“We urge the US to stop trampling on international
rule of law and breaking international rules,” he stated.
The US military has for long stationed its forces and
equipment in northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment
is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of
Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
Source: Press TV
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Arab World
Abu
Dhabi’s Mubadala to focus on Asia with eye on China recovery
18
January ,2023
The
head of Mubadala Investment Co. said Asia will be an area of focus for the Abu
Dhabi sovereign wealth fund this year as China recovers from the pandemic and
India continues to grow.
“Asia
is very promising, particularly if you see what’s happening in the post-COVID
era,” Chief Executive Officer Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said on a Bloomberg
Television interview at Davos on Wednesday. “We are seeing very exciting
opportunities in Indonesia, South East Asia and even Japan and Korea.”
The
$284 billion Abu Dhabi wealth fund will continue to invest in semiconductors,
technology, energy transition, digital infrastructure and credit in the
short-to-medium term, Al Mubarak said, and is also looking potential
investments in technology and venture capital globally.
Mubadala
is among sovereign wealth funds from the oil-rich Gulf region that continue to
be active acquirers even as global deal volumes fall and banks cut bank lending
for acquisitions.
Buoyed
with cash from last year’s commodity boom and spurred on by equally ambitious
neighbors such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates — home to
about 6 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves — is investing billions of
dollars to diversify its economy away from crude.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
Arabia mulling ‘creative ways’ to support Pakistan
January
19, 2023
DAVOS:
After extending the term of a $3 billion deposit to boost its foreign-currency
reserves late last year, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister has said his country
is also discussing with the World Bank and other institutions how can it be
“more creative to provide that support” to Pakistan.
Speaking
at the World Economic Forum, Mohammed Al-Jadaan also indicated the kingdom is
changing the way it provides assistance to allies, shifting from previously
giving direct grants and deposits unconditionally.
“We
used to give direct grants and deposits without strings attached and we are
changing that. We are working with multilateral institutions to actually say we
need to see reforms,” the minister said.
“We
are taxing our people, we are expecting also others to do the same, to do their
efforts. We want to help but we want you also to do your part.”
Earlier
this month, Saudi state media reported the kingdom could boost its investments
in cash-strapped Pakistan to $10 billion, from the $1 billion announced in
August, as well as increase the ceiling on deposits into the Pakistan central
bank to $5 billion.
“We
are providing even oil and derivatives to support their energy needs,” Al
Jadaan said. “So there is a lot of efforts, but we wanted this to be
conducted.”
Separately,
the minister also indicated that Saudi Arabia is open to discussions about
trade in currencies other than the US dollar.
“There
are no issues with discussing how we settle our trade arrangements, whether it
is in the US dollar, whether it is the euro, whether it is the Saudi riyal,”
Al-Jadaan told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday.
“I
don’t think we are waving away or ruling out any discussion that will help
improve the trade around the world,” he said.
The
world’s largest oil exporter, which has maintained a currency peg to the dollar
for decades, is seeking to strengthen its relations with crucial trade partners
including China. The kingdom is a pillar of the petrodollar system established
in the 1970s that relies on pricing crude exports in the US currency.
Asked
about Saudi ties with major trade partner China, Jadaan said Riyadh was taking
a “wider approach” in which relations with both Beijing and Washington were
important as well as building ties with other countries.
“We
are looking to enhance our relationship with Europe. We are actually advancing
our relationship with Latin America, with Asia,” he said.
During
President Xi Jinping’s visit to Riyadh last year, the two countries agreed to
boost coordination on energy policy and exploration. During that trip Xi said
that China would make efforts to buy more oil from the Middle East and also
wanted to settle that trade in the yuan.
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1732421/saudi-arabia-mulling-creative-ways-to-support-pakistan
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IS
attacks still claim Iraqi lives five years after defeat
January
19, 2023
BAGHDAD:
The attack came after sunset in the quiet Iraqi village of Albu Bali when
so-called Islamic State group gunmen drove into town and unleashed fire with
automatic rifles.
“I
heard the shots, I went out and I saw my nephew lying on the ground,” recalled
Ali Menwar about the deadly violence that shattered the local calm on December
19.
The
group of extremists “arrived at about 8:15 pm and started firing randomly”,
said another local from the mainly Shiite village, Abbas Mazhar Hussein, 34.
As
Menwar rushed inside, bullets smashed into the wall around him and two grazed
his neck, which now bears angry red scars, before he could slam the gate shut
behind him.
Others
were less lucky in the village of 5,000 people, about 70 kilometres (40 miles)
north of the capital Baghdad.
“My
son, my grandson and my cousins fell as martyrs,” said Menwar’s neighbour
Jabbar Alwan, his eyes welling up with tears.
“It’s
very painful,” said the elderly man, who lost four relatives. “We didn’t expect
this.”
When
it was all over, eight people lay dead and another six were wounded in Albu
Bali.
None
of the attackers have been caught.
Fear
of reprisals
Iraq
has come a long way since major fighting ended over five years ago against IS,
putting an end to their self-declared “caliphate” which once stretched across
swathes of Iraq and Syria.
After
a gruelling urban battle in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, forces backed by
a US-led coalition declared victory over IS in the country in late 2017.
But
periodic attacks still claim lives among Iraq’s war-weary citizens who have
endured decades of conflict which flared especially after a 2003 US-led
invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
An
IS ambush last December 18 killed nine federal policemen in Kirkuk, 100
kilometres north of Baghdad — but all too often it is civilians who fall
victim.
The
residents of Albu Bali, like the majority of Iraqis, are predominantly Shiites,
a branch of Islam that the Sunni extremists of IS consider apostates and label
“rawafid” or “rejectors”.
Claiming
the bloody attack on the Telegram messaging service, IS did not refer to
civilians but claimed it had targeted “rawafid militiamen”, a term used to
describe members of the Shiite-led former paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi.
Sheikh
Khalis Rashid, the local chief, said Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
al-Sudani had called him after the attack and “begged me to prevent any”
violent reprisal.
Such
reprisals would likely have taken the form of attacks on nearby Sunni-majority
villages sometimes accused of providing a safe haven to the jihadists, the
local chief said.
‘Gangster
operations’
According
to a police colonel who asked not to be named, “the terrorists hide in the
countryside and continue to attack sporadically”.
The
municipality of Al-Khalis, where Albu Bali is located, is used as a “transit”
zone for jihadists, explained mayor Uday al-Khadran.
The
surrounding Diyala province and neighbouring Salaheddin are crossroads for
jihadists to the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, which according to
Khadran “is not secure”.
A
United Nations report last July estimated that “between 6,000 and 10,000” IS
fighters remained across Iraq and Syria, “concentrated mostly in rural areas”.
According
to Khadran, the group “no longer conducts military operations or seizes
territory”.
Instead,
he labelled IS attacks as “gangster operations”, noting that while there were
security forces in the village at the time of the attack, there were not enough
military forces.
Since
the bloody attack on Albu Bali, nearly 200 army, police and Hashed forces have
been stationed there, and surveillance cameras have been installed, said the
police colonel.
Source:
Pakistan Today
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Saudi
FM ‘positive’ about Middle East, but calls for return of Yemen truce, solution
to Palestine crisis
January
18, 2023
DAVOS:
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the World
Economic Forum on Wednesday that progress is being made on Yemen, but much work
still needs to be done.
Prince
Faisal called for a truce brought in last year in the country to be reinstated
and said work must begin toward making the ceasefire permanent.
The
conflict will end only “through a political settlement” and “negotiated
solutions,” he said.
Speaking
on the same panel, Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy for Yemen, said that ending the
war will “not be easy” and that mistrust remains.
However,
he said that serious steps have been taken recently, and thanked Saudi Arabia
and other regional parties for their role in brokering last year’s truce.
Speaking
on the panel that discussed the changing face of the Middle East from
“battleground to meeting place,” the Saudi foreign minister also said that the
Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform program is allowing the economies of the region as
a whole to build and grow.
Prince
Faisal highlighted the fact that the Kingdom’s economy will be the fastest
growing this year, and that it wants to focus on dialogue and investment to
boost neighboring regional economies.
“We
seek solid and strong economies in the region, and we cooperate with all
neighboring countries,” he said.
The
Kingdom is excited about building sustainable economic growth not only for
itself but also for the entire region, with “fewer slogans, more projects,” the
minister said.
Prince
Faisal said that he is optimistic about situation in the region, adding: “The
Middle East has proven to be very much the meeting space of the world, in the
intersection between the East and West.”
He
added: “There’s a true spirit of cooperation building in the region, and it can
be infectious, and also help to resolve the still existing conflicts in the
region and beyond.”
However,
referring to the Palestinian crisis, which he called the “biggest drag” on the
region, Prince Faisal said he hoped the new government in Israel sees that it
is in their interest to engage seriously with the Palestinians in order to
resolve the issue.
He
said that Israel’s government is sending “some signals that maybe are not
conducive to that,” but expressed hope it will work toward resolving the
conflict in the interests of the Palestinian people and the wider region.
Source:
Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2234851/middle-east
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Saudi
Arabia a ‘bright spot’ for global economy
SHEROUK
ZAKARIA
January
18, 2023
DAVOS:
Saudi Arabia is a “bright spot” for a global economy facing slowdown this year,
a panel of finance experts and Saudi ministers said at the World Economic Forum
in Davos on Wednesday.
Finance
Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the Kingdom had predicted the trend of global
inflation before other countries, meaning it was able to take measures to
insulate itself.
“Because
of the stimulus packages that the world has put in the global economy, by July
2021 we saw the signs, and we realized we needed to take steps to protect the
Saudi economy, and we have done that successfully,” he said.
He
added that freezing local energy prices was among the mitigation measures.
While
global inflation is above 8 percent, Saudi Arabia’s average is 2.6 percent.
Forecasts show that inflation in the Kingdom “will not be as high” in 2023, the
minister said, adding: “There is a lot of work being done to insulate the Saudi
economy but also help the global economy.”
He
said that the Kingdom is changing the way it provides assistance to allies. “We
used to give direct grants and deposits without strings attached, and we are
changing that.”
Panelists
pointed to the long-term approach of Vision 2030 as a contributing factor in
the resilience of the Kingdom’s economy.
The
vision, they said, helped Saudi Arabia adapt when dealing with global
challenges including COVID-19, the Ukraine-Russia war, rising inflation and
food and energy insecurity.
Kristalina
Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, said that
Vision 2030 had made Saudi Arabia a “bright spot for the world economy and in
its own region in a particularly difficult time for the world.”
The
Kingdom, she said, would provide the economic growth that the world needed as a
global slowdown was expected to persist in 2023 due to the Russia-Ukraine war
and China’s latest COVID-19 emergency.
She
said Saudi Arabia had an effective fiscal policy, had tackled energy and food
insecurity and was striving for a more diversified economy.
“I
don’t know how many countries during this difficult time had the courage to
increase their debt-to-income ratio from 6 to 15 percent. Saudi Arabia did,”
she added.
“Saudi
Arabia takes its good fortunes to heart to play an important role in energy and
food security and in addressing the incredible challenge of debt.”
US-Saudi
relations
Finance
Minister Al-Jadaan said the Kingdom aimed to “bridge the divide” and encourage
communication with the US and Europe for the “benefit of the world” and find
collective solutions for food and energy insecurity and the transition to green
energy.
China
was “very important” for the Kingdom and its largest trade partner, “but also
the US is a very important and strategic partner.”
“Our
aim is really to bridge the divide, our aim is to be a force of communication
and we are encouraging communication, whether it is China, the US or others. We
are playing our part globally and you can count on Saudi Arabia to continue.”
Princess
Reema Bandar Al-Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the US, said maintaining the
long-standing strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington was “beyond
critically necessary” for global stability.
“Yes,
there was a moment of conflict and disagreement, but that doesn’t take away
from the fact that we are both strategic allies and we are friends, and this
relationship is critical for the world,” said Al-Saud.
Gender
reforms
IMF’s
Georgieva said increased female participation in work was a key driver of the
economy, and Saudi Arabia had already exceeded by seven percentage points its
own 2030 target of making 30 percent of the country’s workforce female.
Abdullah
Al-Swaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and IT, said Saudi Arabia
jumped from 7 percent female participation in technology to 32 percent, which
is higher than the EU, G20 and Silicon Valley averages. “It is the most
audacious and bold reform story in the 21st century,” he said.
Ambassador
Al-Saud said female empowerment was at the baseline of the design of the Saudi
Vision 2030.
“Today,
women have equal pay in the Kingdom. Today, they have equal opportunities,”
said Al-Saud.
Society
had changed, she said: Women occupied senior roles in Saudi Arabia, female
participation in sports had risen and five female diplomats were representing
the Kingdom across the world.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2234741/saudi-arabia
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UAE
rolls over $2B loan as Pakistan's foreign reserves fall to record low of $4.3B
Amir
Latif
19.01.2023
KARACHI,
Pakistan
The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rolled over a $2 billion loan to a cash-strapped
Pakistan that was payable over the next two months, in an attempt to shore up
the country's depleting foreign reserves.
"Abu
Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has rolled over their deposit of $2 billion
with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), as discussed by (Premier Shehbaz Sharif)
with His Highness the President of UAE during last week’s official visit,"
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in a late-night tweet on Wednesday.
“Long
live Pak-UAE friendship!” he stated.
The
oil-rich Gulf state agreed to roll over the deposit it made in 2019 for an
unspecified period of time, and pledged to provide another $1 billion loan to
Islamabad during Sharif's recent visit to Abu Dhabi.
The
loan was scheduled to be paid off in February and March of this year, which
would have depleted the country's already dwindling foreign reserves even
further.
Currently,
Islamabad's foreign reserves stand at $4.3 billion, a record low since 2014,
forcing the government to slap strict control on imports, affecting the
country's manufacturing sector.
The
latest rollover, according to economists, would provide Islamabad an
opportunity to rebuild its foreign exchange reserves, and revive a $6 billion
International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, following a delay in the release of
a $1.8 billion tranche.
The
IMF has refused to release the tranche until Islamabad agrees to a slew of
demands, including the imposition of additional taxes and the withdrawal of
subsidies, primarily on petroleum products.
Saudi
assistance
Pakistan
has been facing a serious cash crunch in recent months, making it difficult for
the South Asian nuclear nation to pay off its foreign debts on time.
The
country's current account deficit has contracted to $3.33 billion in the first
half of the ongoing financial year, amid the melting down of the economy.
The
recent super floods and torrential rains that inundated a third of the country
last year caused a colossal loss of $30 billion to the country's already
sputtering economy, which has been trying to recover from the shocks of the
global coronavirus pandemic.
Aside
from the UAE, a longtime ally, Saudi Arabia is also mulling over depositing
another $3 billion with the SBP.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Mideast
Judiciary
Spokesman: Hysterical Reactions to Execution of MI6 Spy Show British Enmity
towards Iran
2023-January-18
Addressing
reporters on Tuesday, Setayeshi the hasty and hysteric reactions to the
execution of one of the well-known spies of the UK is another example of the
wicked measures of the British Government against the Iranian nation in the
last two centuries.
"The
British Government was expected to officially apologize the Iranian nation due
to the scandal of spying on Iran, but the reactions showed the
institutionalized hatred of the UK government and their wicked acts among the
Iranian people has its roots in deep and correct awareness about Britain,"
he added.
The
initial investigation, interrogation and proceeding of the charges of Ali-Reza
Akbari were carried out at the Iranian judicial system very inclusively and
precisely, so the sentence indicates the judiciary’s sensitivity in dealing
with the malice of the UK’s government, the official noted.
Dual
British-Iranian citizen and former Iranian defense official Alireza Akbari was
executed on Saturday after being sentenced to death over spying for the UK
Secret Intelligence Service to undermine Iran’s internal and external security
by passing on sensitive information.
The
convict had been sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth” and
“extensive activities against the country's internal and external security”
through espionage for the British government’s spy agency.
Akbari
had received 1,805,000 euros, 265,000 pounds, and $50,000 for espionage
activities for the United Kingdom.
Among
other crimes, Akbari is said to have played a role in the assassination by
Israel of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020.
The
UK has a long history of spying activities in Iran which can be traced back to
the 1953 coup against the democratically-elected government of Mohammad
Mosaddeq.
Tehran
has in recent months identified and captured several members of spy networks
affiliated to foreign secret services.
Back
in July, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps
(IRGC) detained several foreigners, including Britain's second most senior
envoy in Tehran, for acts of spying such as taking earth samples in restricted
areas.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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--------
Iran:
Killing of Black teacher an example of US hypocrisy concerning human rights
18
January 2023
Iran
says the US police's recent brutal murder of an African-American teacher
reflects Washington's hypocritical approach towards the issue of human rights.
Speaking
to Press TV on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said such
instances of violent behavior "against citizens, especially the people of
color" were happening "frequently" across the United States,
describing the unwelcome development as "totally inhumane and
hideous."
"That's
a clear sign of a contradiction between actions and words," he added, referring
to how the US would host such incidents on a recurrent basis, at the same time
as it seizes on every opportunity to preach the rest of the international
community on the subject of human rights.
"The
US cashes in on minor incidents around the world, especially in the countries
that are under Washington's political pressure," the spokesman noted,
stating, "Washington uses the human rights issue as a tool to pursue its
political interests and goals and to exert pressure on independent nations."
According
to reports, the American schoolteacher was repeatedly tasered by Los Angeles
police officers and heavy-handedly restrained following a traffic accident
earlier in January.
In
a 13-minute body-cam footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department,
Anderson was seen begging for help as multiple officers were holding him to the
ground and one officer was pressing his elbow along with his body weight onto
his neck.
"They’re
trying to George Floyd me. They’re trying to George Floyd me," Anderson
could be heard saying in the footage, in reference to the US police's killing
of Floyd in May 2020 in Minneapolis in
an incident that triggered racial justice protests around the world.
Kan'ani
had also reacted to the recent grisly murder in a tweet earlier, reminding that
the incident had coincided with the day that marks the birth of Martin Luther
King Jr., the legendary American civil rights leader, who dedicated his life to
the realization of equal treatment for the United States' African-American
community.
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran
Rejects West's Allegations on Secret Nuclear Program
2023-January-18
Speaking
to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday in Tehran,
Iran’s nuclear chief once again dismisses claims about the existence of
“undeclared” nuclear sites or activities in Iran.
"All
this claims are part of a propaganda campaign against Tehran," he added.
Eslami
noted the accusations leveled against the Iranian nuclear program are rooted in
the claims by “counter-revolutionary elements” abroad.
In
spite of that, the official added, Iran has been cooperating with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in addressing the claims.
Eslami
said such allegations are nothing new and have been fabricated for 20 years,
stating that the 2015 nuclear deal was in fact supposed to close the case of
those claims.
The
Western side abandoned the nuclear deal and now that it is seeking a return to
the agreement, those allegations are renewed, the top nuclear official
stressed.
“We
declare that there have been no undeclared activities and undeclared sites in
the Islamic Republic of Iran. These are the remarks of the Agency itself,” he
continued.
Iran
has always had full cooperation with the IAEA and allowed it to visit the
country’s nuclear sites, but calls the nuclear agency's approach unconstructive
and destructive. But Tehran has asked the IAEA to avoid politicizing the issue
and focus on technical aspects in line with the organization’s mandate.
Iranian
officials have repeatedly called on Director general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi
to stop Israeli-influenced approach, and emphasized that Tehran would never
surrender to the political behavior of the UN nuclear watchdog that is affected
by the Zionist pressures.
They
rejected remarks by the IAEA chief over "unexplained traces of
uranium" amid efforts to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, and advised the
IAEA director general not to raise accusations against Iran based on claims
made by the Tel Aviv regime and anti-Tehran groups.
Back
in September, AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi stated that Tehran has fully
cooperated with the IAEA about three sites in question inside the country,
adding that detection of nuclear traces at Iranian sites does not mean Tehran
has undeclared nuclear material.
"Iran
has been fully cooperative regarding the three alleged sites brought up by the
nuclear watchdog and has sent information and answers to the nuclear agency's
questions and has also held meetings to resolve the ambiguity," the AEOI
spokeperson asserted.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14011028000694/Iran-Rejecs-Wes's-Allegains-n-Secre-Nclear-Prgram
--------
Houthis
Put Two Yemeni YouTube Activists On Trial for Critical Videos
SAEED
AL-BATATI
January
19, 2023
AL-MUKALLA:
Two Yemenis arrested by the Houthis after posting critical YouTube videos are
to be put on trial, prompting rights groups to accuse the militia of using the
courts to harass dissidents.
Mustafa
Al-Mumari and Ahmed Hajar were arrested last month after they accused the
Houthis of being “thieves and robbers”, named officials they said were corrupt
and criticized taxation levels. The Houthis accuse them of spreading false
information, defaming leaders and inciting violence.
Abdul
Majeed Sabra, a defense lawyer in Sanaa, told Arab News that two others
arrested at the same time, Ahmed Elaw and Hamoud Al-Mesbahi, had been freed on
bail.
Elaw
was detained for a video in which he urged the Houthis to tackle corruption and
expressed compassion for prisoners. Al-Mesbahi was with Al-Mumari at the time
of his arrest.
All
four, who had previously expressed support for the movement on social media,
appeared at the Houthi-run Specialized Criminal Court of First Instance in
Sanaa.
Houthi
official media said that all had expressed sorrow and vowed not to repeat their
actions.
However,
the militia’s crackdown on YouTubers and social media users has prompted rights
organizations to accuse them of harassing free speech advocates and using the
courts to settle scores with opponents.
The
Geneva-based SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties said that human rights
violations and abductions have escalated since the Houthis’ takeover in late
2014. The militia established political courts to justify the execution of
their opponents and the confiscation of their properties.
“The
Ansar Allah (Houthi) organization in Yemen has committed extreme breaches
against people it considers to be its opponents, and as a result, it has opened
jails and formed political tribunals,” SAM said on Twitter.
The
international rights group Euro-Med Monitor accused the Houthis last week of
using “tenuous pretexts” to suppress, kidnap, and punish opponents and vocal
internet influencers.
In
Sanaa, the UN Yemen envoy, Hans Grundberg, declared the completion of a two-day
visit to Houthi-held Sanaa on Tuesday evening, without mentioning any outcomes
of his discussions with Houthi officials.
“The
visit is part of the UN envoy's continued efforts to reach an inclusive,
negotiated political settlement in #Yemen,” Grundberg’s office said on Twitter.
He
arrived in Sanaa on Monday for discussions with Houthi leaders about renewing
the UN-brokered truce and other matters, days after Omani mediators returned to
Sanaa to know Houthi demands to end the war.
Meanwhile,
during the last 24 hours, sporadic fighting has erupted between government
troops and the Houthis in disputed regions around the besieged city of Taiz.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2235086/middle-east
--------
Iran
Raps US Inaction on Israeli Murder of Palestinian Journalist
2023-January-18
Amir
Abdollahian made the remarks at a joint press conference on Tuesday, following
a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.
Iran's
diplomat said that the Iranian women enjoy a high level of rights.
He
stated that the death of Mahsa Amini was regretful while noting that the
Western media waged a planned propaganda against Iran.
"Why
the United States showed no reaction to the murdering of a Palestinian female
reporter Shirin Abu Akleh," the foreign minister asked, adding, “Why there
is no reaction to the massacre of women and children as a result of the US
intervention?”
Elswhere
in his remarks, Amir Abdollahian underlined that Tehran fully supports the
efforts toward Turkish-Syrian reconciliation, stressing that any development in
relations between the two countries would be in the interest of the entire
region.
"We
are very pleased by the fact that relations between Damascus and Ankara are
undergoing change," he said, adding, "We believe any positive
development in relations between Ankara and Damascus will benefit our region
and our countries."
The
top Iranian diplomat further underscored that Iran will make every effort to
achieve this goal, given its close relationship with both Turkey and Syria.
On
nuclear talks, the foreign minister said that he and Turkish officials also
discussed Tehran’s negotiations with the West over the removal of sanctions.
"If
the US side gives up making contradictory statements and raising new
conditions, and begins to act realistically, the agreement is within the
reach," the senior diplomat stressed.
On
the Caucasus developments, Amir Abdollahian stated Iran believes that
respecting the territorial integrity of the countries is a basic principle and
that no kind of geopolitical change has to take place in the region.
He
stressed the need for keeping transit routes open among regional countries.
The
minister stated he has made the necessary planning during his trip to Ankara
for a visit to Turkey by President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi, confirming that the
visit will take place soon.
Cavusoglu,
for his part, said Turkey was on the same page with Iran that the territorial
integrity of Syria should be preserved.
The
Turkish diplomat added he intends to hold his first official meeting with
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad "in the upcoming period."
The
Turkish official had earlier suggested that he might meet his Syrian
counterpart next month for talks aimed at setting up a historic summit between
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"Today,
we emphasized that Iran's contribution to this process is very important,"
he continued.
The
minister said President Erdogan has commissioned foreign ministry to arrange
for President Rayeesi's state visit to Turkey.
Abu
Akleh was shot in the head and killed by the Israeli Army in mid-May while she
was covering their raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. At
the time of her killing, the 51-year-old journalist was wearing
easily-recognizable press attire.
Palestinian
officials, international rights groups and media outlets carried out
independent investigations since the journalist was shot dead, and concluded
that Abu Akleh was killed by the Israeli military.
The
Israeli sniper who killed Abu Akleh was able to clearly tell that there were
journalists in the area, the investigation concluded, after examining the
sniper’s precise angle of fire.
According
to a probe, the Israeli sniper shot for two minutes and deliberately targeted
those who tried to rescue Abu Akleh. The sniper shot three rounds of bullets,
including an initial six bullets followed by seven more which killed the
Palestinian journalist and then three more to stop efforts to rescue her.
The
family of Abu Akleh has submitted an official complaint to the International
Criminal Court (ICC) to demand justice for her cold-blooded murder.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran
Detains German National on Espionage Charges
2023-January-18
The
German national has been detained while taking photos of Aghajari oilfield in
Khuzestan province.
A
source in Berlin has stated that Germany has taken note of the Iranian report
and the embassy in Tehran is working to clarify the situation.
The
detention of German citizen on spying charges comes days after Iran executed a
dual Iranian-British national Alireza Akbari for spying for the British
intelligence agency.
The
convict, who had been sentenced to death on charges "extensive activities
against Iran's internal and external security" through espionage for the
British government’s spy agency, was hanged on Saturday.
Akbari,
who was arrested in 2019, had received 1,805,000 euros, 265,000 pounds, and
$50,000 for espionage activities for the United Kingdom.
Iran’s
Intelligence Ministry described Akbari, as “one of the most infiltrating agents
of the spying service of the UK in the country’s sensitive and strategic
centers", noting that he was
identified and arrested after a “long and multi-layered process” involving
“counter-intelligence” and “deception operation.”
The
“key spy,” according to the ministry, had sent the acquired information from
sensitive centers to the enemy’s spy service on several occasions while being
“completely aware” of his actions.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14011028000691/Iran-Deains-German-Nainal-n-Espinage-Charges
--------
Iran
Condemns US Human Rights Violations Following Grisly Murder of Unarmed Black
Man
2023-January-18
Kan'ani
made the remarks in a tweet on Tuesday, commenting on the death of Keenan Anderson after he was repeatedly
tasered by police officers in Los Angeles.
Anderson,
a 31-year-old father and English teacher, who is the cousin of Black Lives
Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, died from cardiac arrest last week after he
was tased by US police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
In
a 13-minute body-cam footage released by LAPD, Anderson is seen begging for
help as multiple officers hold him to the ground and one officer presses his
elbow along with his body weight onto his neck.
“They’re
trying to George Floyd me. They’re trying to George Floyd me,” Anderson can be
heard saying in the footage, in reference to the US police killing of Floyd in
May 2020 in Minneapolis that sparked
racial justice protests around the world.
The
Iranian diplomat described his death as "tragic".
The
spokesperson reminded that the murder had coincided with the day that marks the
birth of Martin Luther King Jr., the legendary American civil rights leader,
who dedicated his life to the realization of equal treatment for the United
States' African-American community.
The
murder, Kana'ani said, indicated that "despite the passage of five decades
following Luther King's murder, his dreams of the Black Americans' equal
entitlement to civil rights...has not been realized."
"The
people of color," the diplomat added, "are still subject to severe
violation of basic human rights and racist treatment."
According
to Mapping Police Violence, the police across the United States killed an
average of more than three people a day, or nearly 100 people every month in
2022.
United
States police have killed at least 1,176 people in 2022, making it the
deadliest year on record for police violence since experts first started
tracking the killings, a new data analysis reveals.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran warns EU against listing Revolutionary Guards as terrorist entity
19
January ,2023
Iran
warned on Thursday that the European Union would “shoot itself in the foot” by
listing the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist entity, Foreign Minister
Hossein Amirabdollahian told the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Josep Borrell, state media said.
“We
have repeatedly said the Revolutionary Guards are a formal and sovereign
organization whose role is central for guaranteeing Iran’s security. Steps
taken by the European Parliament to list the organization as terrorist are in a
way a shot in the foot of Europe itself,” Iran’s foreign minister said.
On
Wednesday the European Parliament called for the EU to list the Revolutionary
Guard as a terrorist organization, blaming it for the repression of domestic
protesters and the supply of drones to Russia’s military engaged in Ukraine.
Widespread
anti-government demonstrations erupted in Iran in September after the death of
Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who had been detained over flouting the
strict dress code imposed on women.
The
European Parliament condemned the crackdown on protesters by Iran’s security
forces, which include the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps, as “brutal”.
“It
is necessary to respect mutual security in the world of diplomacy and increase
mutual trust instead of following the language of threats and unfriendly
actions. In any case of a terrorist listing, Iran will take reciprocal
measures,” Amirabdollahian said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Israeli
military kills two Palestinians in West Bank raid
19
January ,2023
Israeli
troops shot and killed two Palestinians during a military raid in the occupied
West Bank early Thursday, Palestinian media reported, as Israeli-Palestinian
violence continued to surge.
The
official news agency Wafa identified the dead as Jawad Bawatqa, 58, and Adham
Jabarin. They were shot in the Jenin refugee camp in northern West Bank.
The
Palestinian media said Bawatqa was a teacher, while the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’
Brigade — an armed militia affiliated with Fatah, the secular political party
that controls the Palestinian Authority — claimed Jabarin as a fighter.
The
Israeli military said it had no immediate comment.
Palestinian
media also reported that the Israeli forces arrested a local official of the
militant group Islamic Jihad in Jenin.
Tensions
have soared in the West Bank, where the Israeli military has been conducting
near-nightly arrest raids since last spring, after a wave of Palestinian
attacks against Israelis that killed 19 people. Another 10 Israelis were killed
in a second string of attacks later last year.
Israel
says the raids are meant to dismantle militant networks and thwart future
attacks. The Palestinians see them as further entrenchment of Israel’s
open-ended, 55-year occupation of lands they seek for their future state.
Thursday’s
deaths put at 17 the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military in
the West Bank since the beginning of 2023.
Nearly
150 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east
Jerusalem in 2022, according to figures by the Israeli rights group B’Tselem,
making it the deadliest year since 2004.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Two
killed in Israeli raid in Jenin: Palestinian ministry
January
19, 2023
RAMALLAH:
Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire during an Israeli army raid in the
northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian health ministry said
on Thursday.
The
ministry announced the “martyrdom of Jawad Farid Bawaqna, 57, killed by a
bullet in the chest, and Adham Mohammed Bassem Jabareen 28, after he was shot
in the upper abdomen by the Israeli occupation army during its aggression on
Jenin.”
The
Israeli army had no immediate comment.
Palestinian
social media indicated that Jabareen was a militant.
The
Jenin incident raises the toll of Palestinians killed this month in the West
Bank to 17, including civilians and militants, according to an AFP tally.
The
majority have been killed by Israeli forces, which have occupied the West Bank
since the 1967 Six-Day War.
A
surge in violence in 2022 made it the deadliest year in the West Bank since
United Nations records began in 2005.
At
least 26 Israelis and 200 Palestinians were killed across Israel and the
Palestinian territories last year, according to AFP figures.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2235186/middle-east
--------
North America
Türkiye
'important partner, not only in region but around world': Pentagon
Servet
Günerigök
18.01.2023
WASHINGTON
Türkiye
has an important partnership with the US on the global stage, a spokesman for
the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Speaking
to reporters at a press conference, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder responded to a
question on the Pentagon's possible message to Congress on the conclusion of a
deal to sell F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye.
Ryder
said it is a Congressional decision to make, adding "the United States and
Turkey share an alliance and they're an important partner, not only in the
region but around the world.”
Asked
by Anadolu how important this potential sale is for military relations, which
have been strained over the years due to several issues, he stressed that the
US views Türkiye as "an important ally."
"Certainly
when it comes to the bilateral relationship between the United States and
Turkey, we've always said that Turkey is an important partner and important
ally.
"And
so we'll continue to work closely with Turkey's leaders on how we can bolster
that relationship and insure that our mutual defense needs are considered,"
he added.
The
US State Department sent Congress its decision on the potential sale of F-16
fighter jets to Türkiye for a tiered review last week, sources told Anadolu on
Friday.
The
notification on the sale has been conveyed to the chairs and ranking members of
relevant committees in the House of Representatives and Senate, according to
sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
US
Muslim Inmate Wins Second Chance In Religious Freedom Lawsuit Against Jail
18
January 2023
A
US federal court has partly undone a decision made against a Muslim inmate,
ruling that a Virginia jail must defend its practice of broadcasting Christian
services on every television screen on Sundays, which the inmate argues is a
violation of the Constitution's freedom of religion clause.
The
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit stated the case should return back
to the district court for reconsideration.
The
court cited the allegation of the inmate, who said that prisoners have no way
of avoiding the broadcasts in every common area other than retreating to their
cells, which he said "felt like an ultimatum: Be Christian or be
penalized".
"Prisons
are required to provide religious accommodations; the question here is when
those accommodations go too far and when they do not go far enough," the
decision said.
The
appeals court's decision comes as a result of a 2017 lawsuit filed by David
Nighthorse Firewalker-Fields, a Muslim former inmate at the Middle River
Regional Jail who claims the weekly broadcasts unconstitutionally favoured
Christianity. Firewalker-Fields spent three months at the jail.
In
the lawsuit, Firewalker-Fields argued that while the jail had offered Sunday
services, it did not offer a Friday prayer service for Muslim inmates. He said
he wanted to be transferred to the Virginia Department of Corrections, where
inmate-led group prayer was allowed for Muslims.
The
jail argued that the lack of Muslim services was the result of a lack of
donations, given that all religious classes and services are based on donations
and volunteers.
The
jail added that it offers Muslim inmates a number of accommodations, including
access to religious texts, "special mealtimes during Ramadan and a pork-free
diet all year round".
The
district court ruled in favour of the jail, and the inmate filed an appeal.
In
the appeals court's ruling, Judge Julius Richardson, writing for the court,
said the lawsuit offered "an array of historical sources" to back up
the claim that the broadcasts throughout the jail violated the First
Amendment's establishment clause, which generally bans the government from
prioritising one religion.
However,
Richardson said that "many questions remain" and that the question of
whether the broadcast services violate the First Amendment should be answered
by the lower court.
The
court also rejected a separate challenge by the inmate, who argued that the
jail should allow inmate-led Friday group prayer for Muslims.
The
ability of Muslim inmates to exercise their faith has been a prevailing issue
in US jails across the country.
In
2019, following a legal battle originating from a prison in Kentucky, the
Federal Bureau of Prisons changed its national guidelines to recommend the
accommodation of group prayers.
Between
2017 and 2019, 16 religious freedom cases related to Muslim inmates were filed
in federal court. More than 60 of those were about dietary needs, and another
34 were linked specifically to violations during the holy month of Ramadan.
Source:
Middle East Eye
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Israel,
US meet to smooth relations under new government
18
January ,2023
Israel
and the US sought to smooth relations between their countries Wednesday in the
allies' first meeting since Israel's new ultranationalist government, its most
right-wing ever, assumed power.
Israel's
ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, hosted National Security Adviser Jake
Sullivan in Jerusalem a day ahead of Sullivan's expected meeting with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hovering over all of the discussions were the new
government's policy changes that directly conflict with President Joe Biden's
efforts to improve the lives of Palestinians and hold back Jewish settlement
construction in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu's
new government, made up of ultranationalists and ultra-Orthodox parties, poses
a big quandary for the Biden administration and has laid bare the deep
divisions between the US and its top Mideast ally as both countries grapple
with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat of Israel's archrival Iran.
“You
are coming at the right time, as we meet so many challenges together,” Herzog
said, addressing Sullivan, who noted that Biden wants to visit Israel again after
his first trip as president last summer.
Beneath
the niceties lay delicate dynamics, with the agendas of the two nations
diverging in important respects.
Netanyahu's
coalition government has riled US diplomats from its first days in power with a
visit to a Jerusalem holy site by an extremist Cabinet minister and raised
concern about expansions of Jewish settlement construction on land claimed by
the Palestinians. Netanyahu's Cabinet also is pursuing sweeping changes to
Israel's judicial system, drawing fierce criticism from many Israelis. Tens of
thousands protested the proposed overhaul last weekend.
Israeli
leaders this week meeting with Sullivan and a US Senate delegation have sought
to focus on what Netanyahu called, “the potential for tightening cooperation”
on Israeli-Arab accords and Iran policy.
But
the new government's early moves have vexed Biden's national security team as
it seeks to shift attention away from the Middle East and toward rivals like
China and Russia.
Israel's
careful effort to avoid antagonizing Moscow shadowed the meetings Wednesday as
the military confirmed that American equipment stored in Israel had been
transferred a few weeks ago, without saying where it had been sent. The
statement followed a New York Times report that the US sent the munitions to
Ukraine for use in the war against Russia.
The
report was a counterpoint to Israel's balance on the Russian invasion.
Netanyahu has built a rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Israel
has been keen to stay largely on the sidelines of the war so as not to damage
its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Russia has troops stationed in
Syria, a frequent target of Israeli airstrikes.
Israel
has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine but it has refused Kyiv’s frequent requests
to send air defense systems and other military equipment. It also has refrained
from enforcing strict economic sanctions on Russia and the many Russian-Jewish
oligarchs who have second homes in Israel.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Top
US military general for Middle East discusses regional threats in Israel
18
January ,2023
The
top US military general for the Middle East met with senior Israeli military
and defense officials this week to discuss regional threats, the United States
Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.
Gen.
Erik Kurilla met with the new Israeli Defense Forces chief of general staff and
the outgoing chief of staff in Tel Aviv to discuss common threats, ways to
strengthen ties between the two militaries and an upcoming joint training
exercise.
The
meetings, which took place on Monday and Tuesday, were also a chance for
Kurilla to thank Aviv Kohavi, the outgoing chief of general staff, for his
commitment to the CENTCOM-IDF partnership. Under Kohavi, Israel was transferred
from the US European Command area of responsibility to CENTCOM, allowing more
coordination with its Arab neighbors.
“Kohavi
quickly established the foundation for a strong, abiding relationship between
the IDF and CENTCOM,” a statement from CENTCOM read.
The
CENTCOM commander also met with Israel’s new defense minister, Yoav Gallant,
where discussions focused on deepening defense and technological cooperation.
Kurilla
also stopped at the Israel Air Force headquarters, receiving briefings,
demonstrations of Israeli military capabilities, updates on regional threats,
and “an overview of integrated air and missile defense.”
Washington
has been pushing for an integrated missile and air defense system among Israel
and its Arab neighbors in the face of growing Iranian threats. Bomb-laden
drones and unmanned aerial vehicles have been a strength of Tehran’s in recent
years, and the Pentagon believes that sharing of intel and coordination can
help better counter these threats.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
US
sees Türkiye 'as a reliable ally,' says White House
Servet
Günerigök
19.01.2023
WASHINGTON
The
US sees Türkiye as "a reliable ally," the White House said Wednesday,
as the two nations’ top diplomats met in Washington, D.C.
White
House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre made the remarks in response to a question
about Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids. A reporter asked if President Joe Biden
considers Türkiye "a reliable NATO ally," citing "an
impasse" over the accession of the Nordic nations to the military
alliance.
"We
do see Turkey as a reliable ally," Jean-Pierre responded.
The
Biden administration also hailed US relations with Türkiye, with State
Department spokesman Ned Price saying, “We have a very constructive
relationship with Turkey.”
"We
are grateful for the role that Turkey has played in helping to address many of
the most pressing challenges of our time," said Price.
Earlier,
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu as part of the Türkiye-US Strategic Mechanism.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-sees-turkiye-as-a-reliable-ally-says-white-house/2791298
--------
Southeast Asia
State
Islamic religious councils to appear as amicus curiae in govt’s appeal in
‘Allah’ case
19
Jan 2023
PUTRAJAYA,
Jan 19 — The Court of Appeal here today allowed three state Islamic religious
councils to appear as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the government’s
appeal against a High Court’s ruling on a Sarawakian native Christian’s right
to use the word “Allah” in her religious education.
The
three councils are the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP),
the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Kedah state Islamic
Religious Council.
An
amicus curiae is not a party to a legal suit but is one who is permitted to
assist the court by giving information or advice with respect to some matter of
law that directly affects the case.
A
Court of Appeal three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Yaacob Md Sam,
Datuk S.Nantha Balan and Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allowed the councils’
applications to come in as amicus curiae in the appeal.
Justice
Yaacob, who led the bench however said the councils would have to apply to the
panel of judges that would hear the appeal on whether they could address the
court during the appeal hearing.
Earlier,
Justice Yaacob allowed the councils to withdraw their applications to intervene
in the appeal and struck out the applications with no liberty to file afresh.
He also did not make any orders on costs.
An
intervenor is one who intervenes as a third party in a legal proceeding.
In
the proceedings conducted online, lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla
representing the councils informed the court that following a discussion by
parties in the appeal, it was agreed that the councils withdraw their
intervener applications and instead they will appear as amicus curiae.
Lawyer
Lim Heng Seng representing Sarawakian Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill confirmed and
asked the court to strike out the applications with no liberty to file afresh.
He also asked for costs.
Federal
Counsel Noor Atiqah Zainal Abidin representing the Home Ministry and the
government also told the court that she has no objection to the withdrawal of
the intervener applications and well as for the councils to appear as amicus
curiae.
On
March 10, last year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, in a landmark decision,
ruled that Christians nationwide can use the word “Allah” and three other
Arabic words in their religious publications for educational purposes.
It
had allowed Jill Ireland’s judicial review and granted her declaratory orders
including a declaration that she had the constitutional rights under the
Federal Constitution to import the publications in the exercise of her rights
to practise her religion and right to education.
The
High Court also ruled that a 1986 Home Ministry’s directive of banning the use
of the words “Allah, Baitullah, Kaabah and solat” by non-Muslims were unlawful
and unconstitutional.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Ministry
to provide funding assistance to Islamic schools soon
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry will soon disburse the 2023 School
Operational Assistance (BOS) to private Islamic schools (madrasas), with the
total allocation pegged at Rp4 trillion.
"Some
time ago, I had approved the disbursement (of the assistance)," director
general of Islamic education at the ministry, M. Ali Ramdhani, informed here on
Wednesday.
According
to the procedures, the funds were to be disbursed by the Directorate General of
Treasury of the Finance Ministry to the Directorate General of Islamic
Education at the Religious Affairs Ministry’s BOS channeling bank account (RPL)
on Wednesday, he said.
The
ongoing disbursement is the first phase of madrasas’ BOS distribution, he
added. The funds will be provided to 49,074 private madrasas.
Director
of madrasa curriculum, facilities, institutions, and student affairs (KSKK) at
the Religious Affairs Ministry, M. Isom Yusqi, informed that Rp1.7 trillion of
the Rp4 trillion assistance will be handed to 24,034 private Islamic elementary
schools (MIs).
Meanwhile,
Rp1.4 trillion will be disbursed to 16,667 private Islamic junior high schools
(MTs) and Rp801 billion to 8,373 private Islamic senior high schools (MA).
Starting
from 2023, the Gradual BOS policy for madrasas will be implemented, he added.
The
Gradual BOS will provide financial assistance of varying amounts based on the
operational expense of each madrasa.
"With
the Gradual BOS policy, it is hoped that madrasas can better meet their
operational needs and improve the quality of education in the schools. Utilize
the budget according to their designation and in an accountable manner,"
Yusqi noted.
He
said that the Religious Affairs Ministry has prepared the EDM ERKAM V.2
application, which can be used in the transfer process of the BOS.
Source:
Antara News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://en.antaranews.com/news/269937/ministry-to-provide-funding-assistance-to-islamic-schools-soon
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Illegitimate
non-Muslim child entitled to share in father’s estate, says court
V
Anbalagan
January
18, 2023
PUTRAJAYA:
In a landmark ruling today, the Federal Court unanimously held that an
illegitimate non-Muslim child is entitled to a share in the estate of a parent
who dies intestate (without a will).
Justice
Mary Lim, who delivered the ruling, said the word “issue” as defined in the
Distribution Act 1958 must include a child with blood lineage to a deceased
parent regardless of the child’s legitimacy.
Lim
said this when allowing an appeal by a 21-year-old woman fathered by a wealthy
businessman who was not legally married to her mother.
She
said the central issue in the appeal was whether the terms “child” and “issue”
in the Distribution Act should be read in a non-discriminatory way in light of
Article 8 in the Federal Constitution.
Article
8 provides that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal
protection of the law.
Chief
Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli and Justice Hasnah Hashim were
the other members who heard the appeal.
The
bench also allowed costs of RM50,000 to the woman, who was represented by Cyrus
Das and AG Kalidas.
The
dispute began in 2010 when the woman sought to lay claim to her share of her
deceased father’s estate.
The
claim was refused by the lawful wife of the deceased businessman, leading the
woman to file a suit in 2015, seeking her entitlement under the Distribution
Act.
The
High Court was called upon to determine the child’s legitimacy for inheritance
purposes as her late father had died without leaving a will.
The
widow of the deceased sought a declaration that the child, who had been
fathered by the deceased with another woman, was illegitimate, and did not have
a claim to the deceased’s estate.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Ulama
council can help draw Umno closer to PAS, says spiritual leader
Anne
Muhammad
January
19, 2023
PETALING
JAYA: PAS welcomes Umno’s move to set up a council of ulama (religious
scholars) as this can help bring the two parties closer, said the head of the
Islamic party’s version of the council.
PAS
spiritual leader Hashim Jasin said this was possible through Islamic programmes
that transcend political differences.
“If
they hold any programmes, whether for the party or the people, these will be
based on religion, such as Maulidur Rasul, so there is no reason not to invite
PAS.
“I
welcome this move as it is a step towards unity,” he told FMT.
Hashim
does not view Umno’s ulama council as a rival to his panel, saying “we are open
to the agenda of a united ummah”.
“If
the goals are the same, there is no reason for PAS not to support or recommend
activities that will benefit both parties,” he said.
Umno
veteran Dusuki Ahmad has been named the first chairman of the party’s ulama
council, which was mooted at the Umno general assembly 12 years ago but only
now realised.
Asked
whether PAS would invite Umno’s ulama council members to its programmes, Hashim
said such interaction was not out of the ordinary among members of both
parties.
“At
the grassroots level, Umno members attend PAS events and vice versa,” he said.
Umno
ulama council member Khairuddin Aman Razali sees it as a platform to educate
party members and strengthen their understanding of Islam.
Its
programmes will be in line with the party’s efforts to “put Islam first” and
will also involve members’ families and neighbourhoods, he said.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Africa
Court
dismisses suit seeking Tinubu’s disqualification over Muslim-Muslim ticket
January
18, 2023
By
Fadehan Oyeyemi
Justice
Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed
a suit seeking disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola
Ahmed Tinubu over their Muslim-Muslim candidacy for the 2023 presidential
election.
The
suit instituted by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr Osigwe Ahmed Momoh was
thrown out by the Judge on grounds of lack of locus standi by the plaintiff.
Justice
Mohammed held that the lawyer not being a member of APC and having not
participated in the process that produced Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim
Shetima cannot query them on the nominations.
The
legal practitioner had in the suit prayed the Court for an order nullifying the
candidature of APC and Tinubu from participating in the presidential election
on the ground that the nomination of Muslim-Muslim candidacy is
unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of sections 14, 15 and 224
of the 1999 Constitution.
Specifically,
the lawyer who claimed to be an apostle of the rule of law and social justice
argued that the Muslim-Muslim candidacy runs counter to the spirit of national
cohesion, integration and unity.
He
asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction to the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of APC and its
presidential candidate for the purpose of the 2023 election.
However,
in his judgment, Justice Mohammed disagreed with the plaintiff on the legal
right to institute the case and subsequently dismissed it in its entirety.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
2023:
Islamic group attacks Dino Melaye over statement on Tinubu
January
18, 2023
By
Don Silas
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC) has slammed the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Management Committee (PCC), Dino Melaye, for
saying Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) for the 2023 election, is not a Muslim.
Melaye
had, in a tweet on Monday, challenged Tinubu to recite the Fatiha and three
suras to demonstrate that he is a true Muslim.
He
tweeted: “Fathia challenge: Dino defeated Tinubu in Quranic citation. Emilokan
is not a Muslim but an emergency Muslim trying to learn the basics of Islam for
political purposes. Vote him out.”
However,
MURIC has now fired back at Melaye, insisting he had no moral right to question
Tinubu’s level of faith.
MURIC’s
reaction was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the director of
the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The
statement reads in part: “We are astonished by Dino Melaye’s statement. To say
the least, it is false, baseless and unfounded. It is a product of oral
diarrhoea. It is also an intrusion into Muslim affairs by a non-Muslim who does
not enter the mosque with us. It is, therefore, provocative, preposterous and
ill-advised.
“Dino
Melaye is not qualified to utter such a statement. The last time we checked,
Dino was busy climbing trees. There is no record of him ever attending a
madrasah (Quranic school) talk of being an Islamic scholar. Can he, therefore,
tell us when Tinubu came to him to learn Surat al-Fatihah which he claimed
Tinubu does not know? Is he Tinubu’s Alfa?
“Dino
comes across as a meddlesome interloper and confusion who, faced by an
eminently qualified and indubitably superior opposition candidate, clings at
straws in a desperate search for foul means to demonize this primus inter pares
presidential material called Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“He
knows very well that Tinubu is the numero uno among all the presidential
candidates for the 2023 elections. Dino is currently frustrated because he is
aware that Tinubu is the doyen of Nigerian Muslims and their choice for the
presidency despite the fact that his principal, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is also
a Muslim.
“This
is where Dino is going. His message was meant to be digested by Nigerian
Muslims. That is why it is MURIC’s business to tackle him. He appears to be
saying, ‘Drop Tinubu. He is not Muslim enough. Stop following him. My principal
is a better Muslim’.
“But
Nigerian Muslims are not being parochial. They did not pick Tinubu because he
is a Muslim. They picked him because of his pedigree. They picked him because
they knew that he is capable of managing the Nigerian economy in this turbulent
world, just as he did in Lagos State when the going got rough.
“Melaye
has failed, however. We know Tinubu is not a Shaykh or an Islamic scholar. Not
every Muslim must be an Islamic scholar anyway. It is enough for us that he is
a Muslim. We are also aware that only a tolerant Muslim can unite Nigeria in
its present condition and Tinubu happens to be the round peg in the round hole.
“Why
should that be a problem for Dino? Why is he taking panadol for our perceived
headache? Dino should realize that he cannot weaken the resolve of Nigerian
Muslims to support Tinubu.
“A
similar smear campaign was engineered when Tinubu sat on a chair during Salat
(prayer) inside a mosque. It is only ignoramuses that can criticize a Muslim
for using a chair during Salat. It is a common practice even in Makkah and
Madinah. It is Shariah-compliant.
“Muslims
who have knee problems are allowed to sit on chairs during Salat. Even the
director of MURIC sits on a chair during Salat, and he goes about with a
foldable chair in his car boot. Dino’s tag of ‘emergency Muslim’ for Tinubu
holds no water. It is a misnomer. Tinubu is not a convert. So what necessitated
that label?
“Neither
is Tinubu homo sapien incognito to the Muslims of Lagos, nay, the whole of
Yorubaland. We can also confirm that Tinubu is the most popular and most loved
Southern Muslim in the North. We assert clearly, categorically and
unequivocally that Tinubu is a bona fide Muslim. Dino Melaye should shut up.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://dailypost.ng/2023/01/18/2023-islamic-group-attacks-dino-melaye-over-statement-on-tinubu/
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Algeria
frees opposition figure after vow to quit politics
January
18, 2023
ALGIERS:
An Algerian businessman and activist imprisoned for urging a boycott of the
country’s 2019 presidential election was released Wednesday, a rights group
said, after he announced this month he would quit politics.
Rachid
Nekkaz was released on “humanitarian grounds,” the National Committee for the
Liberation of Detainees said on Facebook.
Algerian
daily Le Soir d’Algerie reported the 51-year-old had been granted a
presidential pardon.
Nekkaz
had unsuccessfully tried to stand as a candidate in the 2019 poll.
In
a letter from prison published on his Facebook page on January 2, Nekkaz said
he had written to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune the previous month to
“officially” inform him of his decision to “give up politics in Algeria.”
Nekkaz
said in the letter he would dedicate himself “exclusively” to writing, his
family and addressing health issues.
He
had previously been jailed between December 2019 and February 2021 for
“incitement to violence on social media,” where he has a large following.
The
French-born Nekkaz was arrested again in May 2021 and last year sentenced to
five years in prison.
Despite
having renounced his French citizenship, he had been ruled ineligible to run in
2019 because of a law banning candidates who had ever possessed a nationality
other than Algerian.
Instead,
he put forward his cousin, a mechanic by trade, who has the same name.
Tebboune,
a former premier under long-time ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika, won the 2019
elections after mass protests forced his predecessor to resign.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2235056/middle-east
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