Muslim Poet Allah Yaar Khan Jogi, Who Wrote Marsiya For Sons Of Guru Gobind Singh Finds Space At Central Sikh Museum

New Age Islam News Bureau

10 April 2024

  

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh unveils the portrait of Allah Yaar Khan Jogi at Central Sikh Museum, in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Express Photo)

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·         Muslim Poet Allah Yaar Khan Jogi,  Who Wrote Marsiya For Sons Of Guru Gobind Singh Finds Space At Central Sikh Museum

·         Hamburg College Student, Raheem Boateng, And His 'Pop-Islamist' Followers Want To Establish A Caliphate In Germany

·         Spain Set To Lobby EU Partners To Recognize Palestinian State

·         At Michigan Quds Day Rally, Protesters Chant ‘Death To Israel’ And ‘Death To America’

·         Taliban’s Hyper-Reclusive Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, Makes Rare Appearance On Eid

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India

·         Hazratbal Imam Removed By J&K Waqf Board Over Conversion Row For Presiding Conversion Of A Hindu Man To Islam

·         Delhi: BSF Soldiers Assault Muslim Man Carrying Iftari At Metro Station

·         Poll 2024: Self-appointed champions of Muslim creating roadblocks to give united fight

·         Who allied with British during freedom struggle: Rahul takes on Modi over ‘Muslim League’ remark

·         Hindus, Muslims unite for renovation of 400-year-old Durga temple in Kerala

·         Tight security measures at Mecca Masjid, says Hyderabad police

·         Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala to celebrate Eid tomorrow, rest of the country on April 11

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Europe

·         Ireland poised to recognize Palestinian statehood: minister

·         Pro-Palestine Activists Paint UK Labour Party Office Red

·         Muslim civil servants being targeted in witch-hunt

·         Marcos to Muslim community: Be examples of humility, peace, strength

·         Suspected shotgun fire targets mosque in northwestern France

·         Champions League soccer matches to go ahead despite Islamic State terror threat

·         Israel’s ‘disproportionate response’ in Gaza a global threat, says Spanish PM Sanchez

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North America

·         US Muslim Group Slams US Defence Chief For Denying Israeli Genocide In Gaza

·         Report Shows Increase In Anti-Muslim Hate Across The US — Including San Diego

·         Forced By Court, Philadelphia Theatre Shows Israeli Film After Initial Cancellation

·         Israel hasn't informed US of date for Rafah invasion: Blinken

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South Asia

·         Media Group Speaks Out Against Plans to Limit Facebook Access

·         IEA Says That They Will Not Give In To Any Pressure From The International Community

·         WHO: Deportations May Spread Polio from Pakistan to Afghanistan

·         BNP hatches conspiracies to undermine democratic stability: Quader

·         PM to exchange greetings at Gono Bhaban on Eid day

·         Amnesty International welcomes Sediqullah Afghan’s release

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Southeast Asia

·         Thousands Of Muslims Gather Across Taiwan For Eid Al-Fitr Prayers

·         Indonesian Muslims Welcome Eid al-Fitr Following Gov’t Announcement

·         How Mosques Signify Jokowi’s Close Ties with UAE’s MBZ

·         Akmal to heed King's advice to embrace peace, harmony and sanctity of Islam

·         Istiqlal Mosque to accommodate 250 thousand Muslims during Eid prayer

·         Eid al-Fitr momentum for Indonesians to get reunited: Home Minister

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Africa

·         Islamic Scholar In Sokoto, Defies Sultan, Leads Eid Prayer Today

·         South African Politician Calls To Close Jewish School, Says 'Grooming Zionist Killers'

·         Moroccan Protesting Israel Ties, War In Gaza Given Five-Year Prison Sentence

·         I Didn’t Threaten First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu Abdul’aziz Life, Says Bauchi Islamic Preacher

·         Take lessons of sacrifice, compassion beyond Ramadan season ‐ Buni tells Muslims

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Arab World

·         Symphony Of Colours As Pilgrims Mark Eid In Makkah

·         Saudi king, crown prince exchange Eid Al-Fitr greetings with leaders of Muslim countries

·         Attacks on Palestinian people must end, King Salman says in Eid speech

·         Islamic Affairs Ministry Says over 50 Million People inside Kingdom and abroad Benefited from its Programs in Ramadan

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Australia

·         Australian FM Says Canberra To Consider Recognizing Palestinian State

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Mideast

·         Muslims Have Human, Religious Duty To Stop Israeli Genocide In Gaza: Raeisi

·         Eid celebrations overshadowed by military operations in southern Lebanon

·         Israel blocks food trucks 3 times more than other aid in Gaza

·         Iranians, Muslims in other countries celebrate Eid al-Fitr at end of Ramadan

·         Coalition of Muslim armies will do away with Israel: IRGC general

·         Netanyahu sets date for Rafah invasion, shrugs off international outcry

·         Turkish president's visit to Iraq to have meaning for Muslims: Descendant of Iraqi Sufi leader

·         UN chief says he is heartbroken that many Muslims in Gaza, Sudan not able to celebrate Eid

·         UAE worshippers focus their Eid prayers on Gaza while marking end of Ramadan

·         First UAE land convoy carrying 370 tonnes of aid arrives in northern Gaza

·         Over 60,000 Palestinians offer Eid al-Fitr prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque

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Pakistan

·         Maneka Denied Differences With Wife Caused By Imran: Bushra’s Lawyer

·         President, PM extend Eid greetings to Muslim Ummah

·         Nation celebrates Eidul Fitr with prayers for Gaza

·         President Zardari felicitates nation, Muslim Ummah on Eidul Fitr

·         Nation celebrates Eidul Fitr with special prayers for Palestinians, Kashmiris

·         Up to 400,000 beggars visit 'Karachi during Ramadan to cash in on Eid season'

·         Imran, Quershi offer Eid prayers at Adiala jail

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:    https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslim-poet-allah-yaar-khan-jogi-sikh/d/132119

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Muslim Poet Allah Yaar Khan Jogi,  Who Wrote Marsiya For Sons Of Guru Gobind Singh Finds Space At Central Sikh Museum

 

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh unveils the portrait of Allah Yaar Khan Jogi at Central Sikh Museum, in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Express Photo)

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April 10, 2024

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Tuesday installed the portrait of Allah Yaar Khan Jogi, a poet, at Central Sikh Museum on the premises of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Jogi had written the Marsiya for the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh.

Three more portraits were installed at Museum Tuesday including of Baba Hazara Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Sri Anandpur Sahib Giani Harcharan Singh Mahlon and Professor Kartar Singh.

The ceremony to unveil the portraits was conducted by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh. “Allah Yaar Khan Yogi has expressed the sacrifices of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in poetic form as Shahidan Wafa and Ganji-e-Shahidan, which is an inspiration for the Sikh Sangat,” said Jathedar. Jogi wrote two compositions, ‘Shahidan-e-Wafa’ describing the sacrifice of younger sons Sahibzada Jorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fathe Singh, and the second one ‘Ganj-e-Shahidan’, depicting the valour of the elders sons Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh in the battle of Chamkaur.

Born in 1870 in Lahore, Jogi was also a hakeem. The poem ‘Shahidan-e-Wafa’ was written in 1913. It consists of 110 stanzas and a total of 660 lines. In 1915, he penned the poem ‘Ganj-e-Shahidan’. Jogi also traveled and sung his poems with a resonating voice, stirring the souls of people.

During the last phase of his life, he resided in Anarkali Bazaar, Lahore. He was proficient in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian, holding a high degree of expertise in classical literature. He passed away in 1956.

“He also faced opposition from some groups in Muslim community for singing and writing marsiya for sons of Guru Gobind Singh. He was labeled as an infidel and prohibited from ascending the steps of the mosque for 30 years,” said Chetan Singh, former director of Bhasha Vibhag.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/muslim-poet-wrote-marsiya-sons-of-guru-gobind-space-central-sikh-museum-9261543/

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Hamburg College Student, Raheem Boateng, And His 'Pop-Islamist' Followers Want To Establish A Caliphate In Germany

 

Raheem Boateng

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09 April 2024

At just 26 years old, Raheem Boateng is already the intellectual leader of a radical Muslim group in Hamburg that greatly concerns the German security authorities. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, Boateng and his group's influence have been steadily increasing. They have hundreds of active followers who attend conferences and lectures, supporting the idea of ??establishing an Islamic caliphate in Germany.

Officials who are monitoring the group refer to its followers as "pop-Islamists," indicating they are seemingly ordinary Germans navigating their way confidently through social media landscapes, dressing in modern Western style, are familiar with every word in the hip-hop scene, and drive sports cars.

The Federal Criminal Intelligence Service (BKA in German) and Hamburg's security services claim that this organization is the face of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization whose activities have been banned in Germany since 2003. Boateng, who converted to Islam in 2015, has recently increased his exposure on social media, exploiting the month of Ramadan to showcase its importance to his viewers on YouTube and Instagram, along with his messages of hatred and incitement against Israel.

According to an officer in the Hamburg police, the local police are aware of the group's meetings and the content presented in them, including the anti-Israel rhetoric. However, the police's hands are tied because Boateng's organization is not operating outside the law.

Boateng is considered a magnet for young Islamists looking for direction in life. He is active on all social networks, especially on TikTok and Instagram, where their minds are being shaped, where he exploits his exposure to present himself as a Western German until he reveals the purpose of Islam and Sharia law.

According to German internal security, Boateng has tens of thousands of followers on social media, and the number of young people attending his weekly meetings has grown from dozens to hundreds since October 7. Surprisingly, according to officials, the majority of the guests attending the meetings are non-religious young people, who dress secularly.

Source: ynetnews.com

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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1tgapglr

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Spain Set To Lobby EU Partners To Recognize Palestinian State

 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at a press conference during his visit to an UNRWA school, at the Jabal el-Hussein camp for Palestinian refugees in Amman, Jordan April 2, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

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09 April 2024

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain will meet several of his European Union counterparts over the next week in an attempt to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The government spokesperson Pilar Alegria told reporters on Tuesday that Sanchez’s agenda includes meetings with the prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium.

The meetings will also be focusing on the EU’s position regarding the brutal Israeli campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“We want to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and help kickstart a political peace process leading to the realization of the two-state solution as early as possible,” Alegria said.

Sanchez believes there would soon be a “critical mass” within the EU to push several members to adopt the same position with respect to the Palestinian statehood.

Also on Tuesday, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra would consider recognition of a Palestinian state.

The developments mark a shift in policy as the international community looks for an end to the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians.

At least 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state. They include members of the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

The monthly UN Security Council meeting on April 18 will consider the issue of Palestine’s full membership.

The United States has vowed to block a new attempt by the Palestinians for full membership in the United Nations.

After the initial bid for full UN membership was rejected in 2011, the Palestinians went to the 193-member UN General Assembly, where there are no vetoes. They succeeded by more than a two-thirds majority in having their status raised from a UN observer to a non-member observer state in November 2012.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long ruled out the idea of the Palestinian statehood.

Source: presstv.ir

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At Michigan Quds Day rally, protesters chant ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America’

 

The White House condemned the Dearborn, Michigan protest on Tuesday. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer remained silent following the pro-Palestinian protests. (Getty Images)

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Michael Horovitz

9 April 2024

Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters chanted “Death to America” and Death to Israel” as an activist spoke about bringing down “the entire system of the United States” at an al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday.

Speakers Tarek Bazzi and Michigan Imam Usama Abdulghani, associated with the Hadi Institute, a Muslim community center in the city, compared Israel to “Nazis” and the Islamic State, while praising Iran’s former supreme leader and leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini, at the event marking Quds Day, when Tehran and its allies stage marches in support of the Palestinians.

Dearborn, which has America’s highest per-capita population of Arab Americans, has witnessed major pro-Palestinian rallies since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the terror group’s October 7 massacre. The city is represented on Capitol Hill by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American elected to Congress, who has fronted progressive Democratic calls for a ceasefire.

In his speech, circulated by Arabic media watchdog MEMRI, Bazzi justified the focus on the US at such rallies because of their funding “for all of the atrocities that we just heard about” in the Gaza Strip.

“This is why Imam Khomeini, who declared the International Al-Quds Day, this is why he would say to pour all of your chants and all of your shouts upon the head of America,” Bazzi said. “Malcolm X said, and I quote: ‘We live in one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this Earth,'” he continued, quoting the late civil rights leader.

“It’s not Genocide Joe that has to go, it is the entire system that has to go. Any system that would allow such atrocities and devilry to happen and would support it – such a system does not deserve to exist on God’s earth,” he stated, referencing US President Joe Biden, who has received the nickname among pro-Palestinian activists for his support of Israel in the face of the October 7 Hamas assault and the subsequent war.

He called chants of “Death to Israel… the most logical chant shouted across the world today” due to the war.

Israel strongly denies its military campaign amounts to genocide, and maintains that Hamas, which rules the Strip, purposely situated military assets within residential areas and is, therefore, to blame for the high level of destruction and death in the crowded enclave.

In his address, Abdulghani praised Khomeini for recognizing “that Israel is an evil settler colonialist project. He realized it was a cancer, and he established” al-Quds Day.

“Israel before this, brothers and sisters, was a sacred cow. Nobody could criticize Israel. Everybody was terrified of being antisemitic. Everybody was afraid of them, but now the people of conscience very openly will criticize Israel. They recognize Israel for what it is. Israel is ISIS, they are Nazis, they are fascists, they are racists. The people of the world now know this,” he said.

At the end of the clip, Bazzi encourages a child to lead chants of “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” viewed by many as a call to eliminate the Jewish state and replace it with a Palestinian state.

Over the weekend, video emerged of a rally in Dearborn where some attendees were chanting statements that were unacceptable and contrary to the heart of this city. We reject all inflammatory and violent statements made at the gathering.

Dearborn is a city of proud Americans; the…

Dearborn’s Mayor Abdullah Hammoud slammed the “inflammatory and violent statements made at the gathering,” in a post on X on Monday.

“Over the weekend, video emerged of a rally in Dearborn where some attendees were chanting statements that were unacceptable and contrary to the heart of this city,” he wrote.

“Dearborn is a city of proud Americans; the hateful rhetoric heard on Friday does not reflect the opinion of the members of this community. The Dearborn community stands for peace and justice for all people. We are proud to call this city and this country home,” he said.

Hammoud has recently found himself at odds with MEMRI after the institute’s executive director published a Wall Street Journal op-ed dubbing Dearborn America’s “jihad capital” due to the apparent prevalence of such rhetoric, which led the mayor to beef up security in the city and elicited condemnation from Biden.

Antisemitic rhetoric, including support for Hamas’s October 7 massacre, has also been prevalent. The founder and executive director of the Council on American–Islamic Relations said in November that he was “happy” to see the terrorist group perpetrate its attack.

Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel on October 7 and massacred some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapped over 250, sparking the Israel-Hamas war. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 33,000 people in the Strip have been killed in the fighting so far, a figure that cannot be independently verified and includes some 13,000 Hamas gunmen Israel says it has killed in battle. Israel says it also killed some 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7. Some 260 IDF soldiers have been killed in Gaza.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/protesters-chant-death-to-israel-and-death-to-america-at-michigan-quds-day-rally/

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Taliban’s Hyper-Reclusive Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, Makes Rare Appearance On Eid

 

Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban’s hyper-reclusive supreme leader

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10 Apr 2024

KABUL, April 10 — The Taliban’s hyper-reclusive supreme leader made a rare public appearance today, an Afghan government spokesman said, leading thousands of worshippers in prayers marking Eid al-Fitr.

Hibatullah Akhundzada has made only a handful of public appearances since inheriting leadership of the Taliban in 2016 and leading the movement back to power with the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said prayer in the largest mosque in Kandahar was “performed under the leadership of the supreme leader”.

In a statement on social media platform X, he said the early-morning service “was attended by thousands of compatriots” in the southern province considered the birthplace of the Taliban movement.

There is only one photograph of Akhundzada. Press have generally been barred from attending his public engagements and Afghan attendees forbidden from taking photos or recording on their phones.

He previously appeared in Kandahar marking 2022’s Eid al-Fitr with a speech congratulating Afghans “on victory, freedom and success”, his back to the crowd to preserve his anonymity.

The bearded “Emir” of the Taliban rules by decree from Kandahar, and has handed down a string of orders enforcing an austere vision of Islam since the collapse of the foreign-backed government.

Kabul’s religious affairs ministry on Tuesday issued instructions that imams across Afghanistan should read aloud a message published by Akhundzada earlier in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In it, Akhundzada urged Afghans to respect sharia law and called for good relations with the international community.

“Injustice and being opposed to Sharia leads to insecurity,” the statement said.

In the capital Kabul, the third Eid al-Fitr festivities under the Taliban government were marked under heightened security.

Extra checkpoints were erected around mosques as morning prayers began, with police and Taliban government security forces deployed and mobile phone signals disrupted.

Security forces prevented AFP journalists from recording services at numerous sites in Kabul.

Nonetheless worshippers gathered in the thousands, spilling out into the streets as mosques were packed to capacity. — AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/04/10/reclusive-taliban-leader-makes-rare-appearance-on-eid/128254

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India

Hazratbal Imam Removed By J&K Waqf Board Over Conversion Row For Presiding Conversion Of A Hindu Man To Islam

 10.04.24

Muzaffar Raina

The Jammu and Kashmir government-led Waqf board has barred Dr Kamal ud din Farooqi, the imam of Kashmir’s holiest Muslim shrine Hazratbal, from leading the prayers there for at least a week after he presided over an alleged public conversion of a Hindu man to Islam.

Farooqi told The Telegraph that he did not lead the prayers at the shrine on Tuesday but questioned the power of the Waqf to prevent him from performing religious duties.

“I am not their (Waqf) employee. Our family has been performing the duties of Imam-o-Khateeb (imam and orator) at Hazratbal for the past 350 years,” he said.

Hazratbal houses the relic attributed to Prophet Mohammad and is visited by lakhs of devotees every year.

Jammu and Kashmir police last week lodged an FIR against Srinagar resident Anayat Muntazir for alleged forced conversion of his domestic help Sandeep Kumar at the shrine during Jumat-ul-Vida (the last Friday of Ramzan). The police have detained Muntazir and Sandeep and investigations are on.

“The waqf board served me a notice informing me that I was presiding over the meeting of (the alleged) forced conversion. It claims that the conversion has created confusion and chaos among the general public,” Farooqi said.

“It says that it is not proper for me to retain the position of Imam-o-Khateeb and that I have been relieved of the duties till the completion of the inquiry, scheduled to be completed in seven days”, he added.

Farooqi, a retired professor and chief scientist at Kashmir Agriculture University and an imam, denied coercion and said Sandeep converted out of his own will.

The event that took place in the presence of thousands of people, whose videos were widely circulated, is seen as an affront to the BJP-led government at the Centre.

“That man (Sandeep) is even fasting in lock-up. Why should he do it if he is in their custody?” he asked.

“The event was not planned. While I was delivering a lecture, a few men approached me saying he (Sandeep) wanted to convert. I said there was little time left for Nimaz (but they insisted). How could I say no before a two-lakh-strong crowd to a man seeking to take Shahada? I asked him all questions about whether he was doing it voluntarily, faced any coercion or was he doing it for some allurement to which he responded positively. It all happened in front of waqf officials and the police,” he said.

The Hazratbal imam said there was not “an iota of doubt” that there was an effort to remove him permanently. “They (waqf) want a dummy, a puppet, who will listen to their diktats. They could not afford to dictate to me. There was no question of taking dictations from them,” he said.

BJP leader Dr Darakshan Andrabi is the chairperson of the waqf. When contacted, she initially denied that such a development had taken place and said she had no comments to offer.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hazratbal-imam-dr-kamal-removed-by-jammu-and-kashmir-waqf-board-over-conversion-row/cid/2012277

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Delhi: BSF soldiers assault Muslim man carrying Iftari at metro station

 9th April 2024

A Muslim man carrying ‘Iftari’ in his lunchbox was reportedly stopped and thrashed up by BSF Soldiers at Delhi-Seelampur Metro Station causing widespread outrage on social media platforms.

The incident at Delhi-Seelampur Metro Station on Sunday, April 7, went viral on social media and news outlets.

The man was halted and interrogated by the BSF soldiers when he was reportedly carrying Iftari in his lunchbox. The man alleged that after he objected to their behaviour, they beat him up.

In the purported video, the Muslim man, donning kurta pajama and a skull cap is seen having a verbal spat purportedly over a tiffin box with BSP personnel at the metro station. A second clip soon afterwards depicts the man and a BSP soldier fighting physically.

Following the circulation of the incident on social media platforms,  many expressed their shock and anger at the treatment of the Muslim man.

“This is absolutely shameful @CISFHQrs This Muslim youth was beaten up by BSF soldiers for carrying iftari in his lunchbox. Why are we creating such an atmosphere of hate and violence in our country (sic)?” a prominent Indian actress, Swara Bhasker expressed her aghast on X.

Terming the altercation as a hate crime based on religion, Bhasker demanded legal action and an investigation into the matter.

However, the BSF has not yet issued an official statement. The event has sparked worries about the growth of Islamophobia in the country.

The incident comes amidst a rise in incidents of communal violence and hate crimes against Muslims in India. In recent months, there have been several incidents of provocative and offensive slogans being raised, causing tension and fear among the Muslim community.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/delhi-bsf-soldiers-assault-muslim-man-carrying-iftari-at-metro-station-3006253/

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Who allied with British during freedom struggle: Rahul takes on Modi over ‘Muslim League’ remark

April 10, 2024

In a sharp retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Muslim League” remark on the Congress manifesto, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said history does not change by “showering lies” from political platforms.

Asserting that the 2024 Lok Sabha election is a battle between two ideologies, the Gandhi scion said, “History is witness to who joined hands with forces which wanted the division of the country and strengthened them, and who fought for the unity and independence of the country.”

Referring to BJP ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Gandhi asked, “Who stood with the British during the ‘Quit India Movement’? When India’s jails were filled with Congress leaders, who was running the government in the states with the forces that divided the country?”

He further added, “On one side, there is Congress party which has always united India and on the other side, there are those who have always tried to divide the people.”

His strong reaction came days after PM Modi slammed the Lok Sabha election manifesto of the Congress party, saying it reflected the thinking of Jinnah’s Muslim League during the freedom struggle.

“The manifesto released by the Congress reflects the same thinking that was prevalent in the Muslim League during the freedom struggle. The Congress manifesto completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League and the little remaining part, it is dominated by the Leftists. Congress is not visible in this,” Modi said during an election rally last week.

Following his remarks, the Congress party moved the Election Commission and lodged a formal complaint against the Prime Minister.

“By propagating false, uninformed and vexatious claims, Shri Narendra Modi has attempted to evoke an emotional response from the electorate by using the horrors of Partition, in a bid to polarise voters,” said the memorandum submitted by the Congress party to the EC.

The poll panel is yet to respond to the Congress party’s complaint against the prime minister.

Source: thestatesman.com

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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/who-allied-with-british-during-freedom-struggle-rahul-takes-on-modi-over-muslim-league-remark-1503289010.html#google_vignette

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Hindus, Muslims unite for renovation of 400-year-old Durga temple in Kerala

 Apr 10, 2024

KOZHIKODE: The small village of Muthuvallur in Kerala's Muslim-majority district of Malappuram has scripted a heart-warming tale of communal harmony over the renovation of a 400-year-old Durga temple, reaffirming in this Ramzan season a centuries-long tradition of Hindu-Muslim generosity centred on places of worship.Muthuvallur Sree Durga Bhagavathy Temple, near Kondotty, stands out as an exemplary symbol of the syncretism, with the first phase of its renovation complete and the idol-installation ceremony set for May. The religious camaraderie has been evident through the temple renovation since 2015 in which Muslims contributed generously. Continuing with the tradition, the shrine authorities have again sought the help of people across religious divides for next month's installation of the new idol to replace one that was broken decades ago. A temple brochure is a testament to communal amity.

Muslims aided in temple dome’s copper-plating

A brochure brought out by temple authorities on May 7-9 idol installation is testament to communal amity. It prominently features photos of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief Panakkad Sadikkali Shihab Thangal (the qazi of hundreds of mosques in state and beyond), and temple thantri (vedic head) Thekkiniyedathu Tharananellur Padmanabhan Unni Namboodiripad. The temple, which comes under state-run Malabar Devaswom Board, is located in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood. Muslims’ involvement in its conservation included copper-plating of the dome some years back.

“As thantri, I reached out to the Muslim community and its leaders, including Thangal. Cooperation and goodwill cutting across religious lines is required for the temple. We received them in plenty,” said Namboodiripad, who is thantri of several temples across Malabar.

Thangal told TOI that in a community where people live in harmony, it was natural to help each other, even in matters concerning faith and places of worship. Thangal even visited the temple at an event organised in 2023 to raise funds for renovation. There, a state Haj committee member, KP Sulaiman Haji, donated Rs 1 lakh.

A “message of love” from the thantri addressed to IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty read out at a temple function on March 30 recounted its history steeped in religious camaraderie.

According to the message, people of Kondotty once had to walk a long way to Tirurangadi for Friday prayers, with many often missing it as they could not reach in time. They decided then that it will be better to build a mosque and approached family of Thalayur Moosad, who owned the temple. The temple owners readily handed over land for the current Pazhayangadi mosque, which was built in the 18th century.

According to temple committee president Chandran P, Muslims have contributed a major chunk of the Rs 38 lakh spent on the temple’s renovation in past few years, besides providing construction material and other aid. “When we approach them for anything connected to the temple, they extended full cooperation,” Chandran said. Muslims have also been providing vegetables for temple festivals. Vinaya Raj, a member of the Thalayur family, held up division-free Muthuvallur as a model for the country.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/hindus-muslims-unite-for-renovation-of-400-year-old-durga-temple-in-kerala/articleshow/109174308.cms?pcode=461

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Tight security measures at Mecca Masjid, says Hyderabad police

April 10, 2024

Syed Mohammed

Days after concerns were raised over the security apparatus at the historic Mecca Masjid, after an unidentified person made his way across the rows of worshippers at night, the Hyderabad City Police sought to allay fears and assured that the place of worship is safe.

After the incident, that happened on last Saturday, the khateeb of the Mecca Masjid, Maulana Rizwan Qureshi, wondered how despite the security arrangements at the mosque, the man could have pushed through the rows of namazis and made his way to the mehrab, from where he was leading the congregation.

“A man jumped over people and came and sat beside me. After finishing the prayer, he was doing weird things,” Maulana Rizwan Qureshi said, adding that he was handed over to the police. “Police were there and how did this incident happen?”

Maulana Qureshi said that the administration must ensure that such incidents do not happen. He urged that security be tightened at the masjid.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) P Sai Chaitanya said that the accused was nabbed within a few minutes of the incident. A case of creating public nuisance was booked against him. Mr. Chaitanya said that while police are always vigilant at the Mecca Masjid, given that this is the month of Ramzan, police have made more efforts to ensure that no security breach happens. He said that all CCTVs are working and an investigation into the issue is underway.

Source: thehindu.com

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/tight-security-measures-at-mecca-masjid-says-hyderabad-police/article68047374.ece

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Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala to celebrate Eid tomorrow, rest of the country on April 11

9th April 2024

Marziya Sharif 

New Delhi: Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, will be celebrated in the country on Thursday except Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala.

Delhi’s Fatehpuri Masjid Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad told PTI that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of the mosque contacted many places and was informed that moon was not sighted.

Therefore, Eid will be celebrated in India on Thursday and on Wednesday the 30th fast of Ramzan will be observed, he said.

Eid will, however, be celebrated across Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, April 10.

Muslim clerics in Kerala including Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, Jifri Muthukkoya Thangal and Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar said the Shawwal moon was sighted and so Eid will be celebrated across the state on Wednesday.

Former Imam of Shahi Jama Masjid Delhi Syed Ahmed Bukhari said there is no news of sighting of the moon of Shawwal.

“Contacts were made in different parts of India – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Bihar, but the moon was not sighted anywhere,” he said.

“Eid will be celebrated on Thursday, April 11,” Bukhari said.

Lucknow’s Markazi Chand Committee also declared that Eid will be celebrated on April 11 as the moon has not been sighted this evening.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated across the world on different days and it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon which is supposed to denote the start of the Shawwal month in the lunar Islamic calendar.

It marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/eid-to-be-celebrated-in-kerala-ladakh-on-wednesday-rest-of-the-county-on-apr-11-3006444/

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Europe

 

Ireland poised to recognize Palestinian statehood: minister

April 10, 2024

DUBLIN: Ireland will move to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming weeks, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said Tuesday in Dublin.

Martin said he will bring a formal proposal on recognition of a Palestinian state to the government when “wider international discussions” are complete.

“Be in no doubt, recognition of a Palestinian state will happen,” he told the Irish parliament during a speech.

Delaying recognition “is not credible or tenable any longer,” he said.

Martin later told local news site the Journal that the formal proposal will happen “in the next couple of weeks.”

He said that for the past six months he has been in discussions about recognition with other countries involved in peace initiatives.

Last month the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovakia and Malta said in a joint statement that they stand ready to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Ireland has long said it has no objection in principle to officially recognizing the Palestinian state if it could help the peace process in the Middle East.

But the war in Gaza has given the issue new impetus.

The war broke out with Hamas’s October 7 attack against Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,360 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

“I am in no doubt that war crimes have been committed and I utterly condemn the ongoing bombardment of the Gazan people,” said Martin.

Statehood recognition “could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative,” he said.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490831/world

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Pro-Palestine activists paint UK Labour Party office red

 09 April 2024

Pro-Palestine activists in London protesting against Israel’s savagery in the besieged Gaza Strip have painted the Labour Party office red.

Video footage and photos showed red paint on both the interior and exterior of the Labour headquarters in Southwark London.

“Labour has blood on their hands,” Youth Demand activists said. “They are complicit in the murder of Palestinians, and millions of people around the world, as they continue to drive genocide.”

One protester said Labour leader Keir Starmer is an accomplice in the “mass murder” in Gaza.

“Young people will not stand by and watch Keir Starmer allow mass murder by selling weapons to Israel and allowing the development of new oil and gas,” said Chris Faulkner, 21, an earth sciences student from Oxford.

“Over 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza and the breakdown of our climate will kill hundreds of millions more in the coming decades.”

Another demonstrator said the Conservative and Labour parties were both “complicit in genocide.”

Ella Taylor, 19, a student from Southampton, said, “Our politicians are out of control.”

“They are complicit in genocide and we cannot wait patiently till the election to have our say. If we want change we must take matters into our own hands.”

Police reported at least 12 people had been arrested.

“They are complicit in the murder of Palestinians, and millions of people around the world, as they continue to drive genocide,” the group posted on X.

The Youth Demand group, which describes itself as “a new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide,” has links with the environmental group Just Stop Oil.

The activist group is calling on the British government to ban arms sales to the Israeli regime.

Before painting the Labour office red, 60 members of the group had marched around central London from Embankment, through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus to Downing Street and on to Parliament Square.

The protesters waived Palestinian flags and held placards reading “Youth demand better,” “Profit Kills” and “Labour, Tory genocide enablers.”

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

“Stop the UK war machine.”

Those were slogans the protesters chanted.

Israel launched the campaign in Gaza on October 7, 2023 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the regime in response to its decades-long suppression of the Palestinians. The regime has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/09/723372/youth-demand-Pro-Palestine-activists-Labour-Party-red

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Muslim civil servants being targeted in witch-hunt

10 April 2024

The British government's anti-Muslim witch-hunt has now extended beyond the secretary of state for leveling up using parliamentary privilege to smear Muslim organizations. Now Muslim civil servants are being targeted.

The British government assault on all things pertaining to Muslims carries on apace. No sooner had the toxic Minister for Leveling up, Michael Gove, smeared five specific Muslim groups as potentially extremist, than he widened the attack by turning on Muslims in the civil service, echoing the shift in policy from individual extremism to targeting Muslim institutions.

The Civil Service Muslim Network was in the crosshairs.

The Times reported that meetings held under the auspices of the network featured numerous anti-Semitic tropes, however, the only alleged trope The Times was able to identify was one in which an official involved in the webinars allegedly told staff that the Israel lobby had an insidious influence on British politics, widely regarded as a common anti-Semitic trope.

The Times also reported that the official had shared anecdotes from a lecture given by Lowkey, a controversial anti-Zionist rapper, claiming the Western media was covering up US and UK involvement in the war against Hamas.

 The same official claimed that the mainstream media was biased and full of lies.

None of this is anti-Semitic or even inaccurate. The only way to make this seem a real story was for The Times to fabricate a quote in its headline by claiming the term 'Jewish Lobby' had been used.

In fact, the term used in the story was the 'Israel Lobby'. The headline was later corrected.

The response was swift; the government claimed that the Civil Service Muslim Network had suspended itself.

The Public Service Union, PCS, objected that Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden suspended the Civil Service Muslim Network.

The action raises deep concerns of Islamophobia at the heart of government, they said, but this was not all.

Fiyaz Mughal, the controversial anti-Islam campaigner, was set to be unveiled as the British government's new anti-Muslim-hatred czar. After damning information about him was published online, Downing Street reportedly quashed his appointment leaving Mughal to pretend that he had withdrawn of his own volition as a result of attacks from Islamists.

He also alleged some officials in Whitehall are sympathetic to Islamists, which he said was a part of the problem.

The narrative was taken up by the extremist Jewish Chronicle citing leaks of the contents of Gove's speech in the days before he gave it, including the names of organizations that were to be assessed.

And second, the leaking of the names for the post of government czar on Islamophobia.

The Jewish Chronicle claims that the source of the leak was likely to work in the Department for Leveling Up, which is Gove's department.

Gove said he had already commissioned a leak inquiry, and thus the wave of anti-Muslim panic fanned inside Whitehall.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/10/723408/UK-Civil-Service-Islamophobia

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Marcos to Muslim community: Be examples of humility, peace, strength

April 10, 2024

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged the Muslim community to become ''shining examples'' of humility, peace, and strength in the community.

In his Eid'l Fitr message, Marcos reminded the Muslim community the essence of occasion, which he said is an opportunity to give thanks for the spiritual renewal and nourishment that come after a month-long prayer, sacrifice, and penance.

“Truly, the Festival of Breaking the Fast marks not only the culmination of Ramadan, but also the rededication of one’s journey towards a more disciplined, dignified, and gracious life,” Marcos said.

“As you take to heart the insights from your devotion, may you become shining examples of humility, peace, and strength among our people as they overcome challenges and nurture their trust in the Almighty,” he added.

Marcos also said he is hoping ''for the sustained provision of wisdom and fortitude from Allah amid the continuous work for harmony, prosperity, and compassion in everyone’s home and community.''

The President also sought unity by shared aspiration for a more progressive and resilient nation with the Muslim community despite diversity in beliefs and philosophies.

“Let us strive to forge a society where love prevails over indifference, where faith outshines doubt and fear, and where oneness conquers division and discord. May the deepest desires of our hearts be granted. Eid Mubarak,” Marcos said.

Eid’l Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is one of the most important occasions in Islam and is known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.

Marcos has declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024, as a regular holiday throughout the country "in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid'l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness." —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News

Source: gmanetwork.com

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https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/903188/bongbong-marcos-muslim-community/story/

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Suspected shotgun fire targets mosque in northwestern France

10/04/2024

A mosque in the northern French department of Manche was targeted by suspected shotgun fire, according to media reports Tuesday.

The front door of the mosque in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin was damaged during the attack late Monday.

Police were deployed to ensure the security of the mosque.

Police presence will be increased around the mosque during Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, according to authorities.

The Le Mans Governorship expressed solidarity with the mosque management and community in a post on X.

Source: yenisafak.com

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https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/suspected-shotgun-fire-targets-mosque-in-northwestern-france-3680977

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Champions League soccer matches to go ahead despite Islamic State terror threat

9 April 2024,

France, Spain and Britain will step up security ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals being held in Madrid and in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, top government officials said, citing threats from the Islamic State terror group.

A media outlet linked to the terror group has issued multiple posts calling for attacks at the stadiums hosting quarterfinal matches in Paris, Madrid and London on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“UEFA is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues,” UEFA said in a statement. “All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.”

British police said they were aware of reports of such threats and had a robust policing plan in place ahead of Arsenal’s match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in London.

“Regarding the game that will take place in the Paris region, the head of police has considerably strengthened security,” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters at a press event on Olympic Games security.

Paris Saint-Germain are due to play Barcelona in Paris on Wednesday night.

“We have seen, among other things, a communication from the Islamic State that particularly targets stadiums. It is not new,” he added.

Islamic State’s alleged threats targeted four venues for this week’s Champions League matches, including the Parc des Princes in Paris and two games in Madrid hosted by Real Madrid on Tuesday and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, who face Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

London police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said, “We’re aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London.”

“However, I want to reassure the public that we have a robust policing plan in place for tonight’s match and we continue to work closely alongside the club’s security team to ensure that the match passes peacefully.”

Spanish police forces will deploy more than 2,000 officers to boost security in the capital for the two games there, Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegria told reporters on Tuesday.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crocus Hall concert venue outside Moscow on March 22 in which 144 people were killed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin later said that the gunmen who carried out the attack were “radical Islamists,” but repeated his accusation that Ukraine could have played a role despite its strong denials.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/champions-league-soccer-matches-to-go-ahead-despite-islamic-state-terror-threat/

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Israel’s ‘disproportionate response’ in Gaza a global threat, says Spanish PM Sanchez

10 Apr 2024

MADRID, April 10 — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned today that Israel’s “disproportionate response” in the Gaza war with Hamas risks “destabilising the Middle East, and as a consequence, the entire world”.

Sanchez also insisted that the recognition of a Palestinian state, long resisted by Israel and its key allies, is “in Europe’s geopolitical interests”.

Sanchez had already raised the subject of statehood during a visit last week to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, when he indicated that Spain could recognise Palestine as a nation by the end of June.

“The international community cannot help the Palestinian state if it does not recognise its existence,” Sanchez told lawmakers Wednesday.

Since the start of the war in Gaza more than six months ago, the socialist premier has pushed for Europe to accord such recognition.

In late March, Sanchez signed a joint statement alongside his Irish, Maltese and Slovenian counterparts announcing they were ready “to recognise Palestine” if that could help bring about a resolution to the conflict.

He is also due to meet with several other leaders, including those of Norway and Portugal, in the coming days to discuss the issue, Spanish government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria said on Tuesday.

Sanchez has been a major critic of Israel since it launched its invasion of Gaza after the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.

Palestinian gunmen also took more than 250 hostages, 129 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli army says are dead.

Speaking on Wednesday, Sanchez said Israel’s “absolutely disproportionate response” had “overturned decades of humanitarian law and threatened to destabilise the Middle East and, as a consequence, the whole world”.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,360 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. — AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/04/10/israels-disproportionate-response-in-gaza-a-global-threat-says-spanish-pm-sanchez/128258

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North America

 

US Muslim group slams US defense chief for denying Israeli genocide in Gaza

Diyar Guldogan 

09.04.2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) slammed US defense chief Lloyd Austin on Tuesday for rejecting accusations that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.

"We strongly condemn @SecDef Austin for his dishonest and delusional genocide denial, which ignores the fact that the Israeli govt made openly genocidal threats at the start of the war and has spent six months acting on those threats by sparking a famine, destroying civilian infrastructure, ethnically cleansing entire cities & massacring 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children," CAIR wrote on X.

The condemnation came shortly after Austin said the US has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

"We don't have evidence of that," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Pentagon budget hearing, where he was interrupted several times by protesters.

Austin reiterated that the US is committed to assisting Israel in defending its territory and people by providing security assistance.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, which killed nearly 1,200 people.

More than 33,200 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 76,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-muslim-group-slams-us-defense-chief-for-denying-israeli-genocide-in-gaza/3187528

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Report shows increase in anti-Muslim hate across the US — including San Diego

April 9, 2024

The Council on American Islam Relations (CAIR) held a hews conference in San Diego to draw attention to what it's calling a spike in anti-Muslim hate.

Nearly half of the anti-Muslim hate incidents in 2023 occurred between October and December, according to CAIR report.

“8,061 complaints were filed for anti-Muslim incidents across the nation," said Tazheen Nizam, the executive director at CAIR San Diego. "In San Diego alone, our increase has been 300%, and a majority of these cases have been happening in the last three months of the year, since Oct. 7.”

CAIR San Diego and speakers hosted by the organization stressed that the incidents impact every facet of life.

“A lot of the cases that we receive in our office reflect employment discrimination — hate incidents happening in the community against businesses – [and] against students in K–12 and college campuses,” Nizam said.

Students from UC San Diego and San Diego State University also attended the press conference.

“With an insurgence of Islamophobic and anti-Arab hate, it’s really important for us to share our side of the story, along with sharing the stats that back it up,” said UC San Diego student Samar Ishmael.

Local Arab and Muslim leaders are calling on local elected officials to speak out against and take action on anti-Muslim hate incidents.

“Islamophobia is real and Islamophobia hurts,” said Taha Hassane, imam at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Source: nbcsandiego.com

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https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/council-on-american-islamic-relations-calls-attention-to-spike-in-anti-muslim-hate/3484015/

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Forced by court, Philadelphia theater shows Israeli film after initial cancellation

10.04.2024

Following a court order, a Philadelphia-area movie theater screened an Israeli documentary on Tuesday, less than a day after the theater’s Jewish director tried to call the screening off.

The injunction issued by Montgomery County Court instructed the Bryn Mawr Film Institute to move forward with its planned screening of “The Child Within Me,” a documentary about the Israeli musician Yehuda Poliker.

The Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia had filed a last-minute lawsuit against the theater alleging breach of contract, after it announced Monday night that it was no longer planning on screening the film owing to what its director called the “current climate.”

“This is not the way I wanted to do it,” Karnit Biran, the festival’s incoming chair, told Haaretz, an Israeli newpaper. Neither the festival nor the theater responded to Jewish Telegraphic Agency requests for comment Tuesday.

The legal director of the Deborah Project, a legal nonprofit that frequently litigates on behalf of pro-Israel causes, told JTA it represented the festival in court in order to compel the film center “to fulfill its obligations under the contract it signed with the Israeli Film Institute and show the Israeli movie it agreed to screen tonight.”

In his Monday letter to his board and in a public statement by the theater, Bryn Mawr Film Institute director Samuel Scott said the theater decided to cancel the showing with only a day’s notice.

He described a perception that showing the movie was tantamount to endorsing Israel’s conduct during its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

“Although BMFI has always strived to be apolitical in selecting the films that we show, public sentiment lately has escalated to the point that continuing with the IFF screening is being widely taken among individuals and institutions in our community as an endorsement of Israel’s recent and ongoing actions,” Scott wrote.

He added, “This is not a statement we intended or wish to make,” but said he felt it was in the theater’s “best interests in light of the current climate.”

Local pro-Palestinian college student groups, including a chapter of the anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace, had planned to protest the screening, citing the festival’s inclusion of Israel Bonds and the Israeli Consulate General as sponsors.

The blowback from the Jewish community was severe. A local rabbi denounced the move as antisemitic, while at least one Jewish board member of the theater resigned after learning of the director’s decision. The local Jewish federation and Anti-Defamation League office published a joint statement condemning the decision and urging the theater to reverse course. An online petition pushing the theater to reverse its cancellation has amassed more than 3,000 signatures in less than 24 hours, and a state senator who serves as a special representative on the theater’s board also criticized the decision.

The Bryn Mawr blowup offered the latest example of how deepening divisions over the war have affected Jewish and Israeli cultural events that bear little direct connection to it. A movie theater in Hamilton, Ontario, similarly backed out of an agreement to host a local Jewish film festival in recent weeks, while concert halls across the US have canceled tour dates by Jewish pro-Israel singer Matisyahu and multiple art institutions in the Bay Area — including the Contemporary Jewish Museum — have been affected by anti-Zionist protests.

It is also the latest flareup in especially sharp tensions over Israel in the Philadelphia area, where the Philly Palestine Coalition has targeted a wide array of Jewish and Israeli businesses and organizations over months of activity. The group rallied against the Goldie falafel shop run by Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov, for example, and now is pressing for the remainder of the Israeli Film Festival screenings to be canceled.

Yet the film whose screening was briefly scrapped — part of festival programming that began Saturday and continues through this coming Sunday at various venues in the city — has nothing to do with Gaza or the war. “The Child Within Me” is instead an experimental biography of Poliker, the son of Greek Jewish Holocaust survivors who became a rock star in Israel by drawing on his Mediterranean roots in his music. The film also explores Poliker’s gay identity.

Despite the film’s content, the theater’s director noted that, through conversations with “key staff,” he believed that showing the film would indicate to certain parties that he was taking a political stance. Scott has also served on the board of a local Reform synagogue.

The Bryn Mawr Film Institute is also currently screening “One Life,” a biopic about a non-Jewish man who saved Jewish children during the Holocaust.

Online, the institute issued a slightly different statement than Scott’s email to his board of directors that emphasized its years-long partnership with the festival. “In past years, we have not regarded hosting a screening from the Israeli Film Festival as a political partnership or taking a stance on any issues,” the theater wrote in a statement posted to its website and Instagram. “However, as the situation in Israel and Gaza has developed, it has become clear that our showing this movie is being widely taken among individuals and institutions in our community as an endorsement of Israel’s recent and ongoing actions.”

It was in stark contrast to a statement in defense of its participation in the festival that the film center had issued just days earlier. In that earlier statement, published Friday, the theater categorized the documentary as “nonpolitical” and about “one of Israel’s most popular entertainers.” The center added, “Art expresses and exposes universal humanity when governments foreign and domestic may overshadow it. At BMFI, we strive to present diverse, independent cinema from around the world to bring our community together, not divide it.”

While Scott did not specify which “individuals and institutions” objected to the Israeli film in the second statement, he did mention “a demonstration by local college students” that he said was being planned in protest of the screening. This correlates to social media statements made by local college pro-Palestinian groups, in which they discussed organizing to oppose the screening and meeting with the film center to encourage them not to host it.

On Instagram prior to the court ruling, the local JVP called off a protest they had planned for Tuesday evening and added, “We are grateful that they listened and our pressure worked.”

In an earlier post, the group wrote, “This festival is funding Israeli apartheid and genocide. Stop watching, take action.”

In a letter to Scott viewed by JTA, local rabbi Eric Yanoff of the Conservative congregation Adath Israel compared the move to recent incidents of antisemitism in the region, saying it was “arguably more insidious” than the recent targeting of another synagogue with a swastika.

“In the stated interest of avoiding conflict, you have aligned yourself, purposefully or not, with purveyors of the world’s oldest hatred,” Yanoff wrote. “Your silencing of this film speaks volumes, and even if it is not as bald-faced as a swastika on a synagogue, it gives mainstream credence and standing to those who would sympathize with such overt hatred.”

In a joint statement, the local federation and ADL office decried the cancellation, saying it “only serves to blacklist Israeli culture, playing into the hands of antisemites who try to deny the Jewish people their voice and existence.”

“We will not stand by as the normalization of such hate becomes commonplace,” the statement continued, praising the Israeli film festival as offering “a multifaceted view of Israeli society” and calling on the film center to reinstate the program.

On the same day Scott announced the film’s cancellation, several Jewish institutions throughout the state — including the Philadelphia federation and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, also based in Philadelphia — received bomb threats that authorities later determined were hoaxes. At least one target, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center of Allentown, evacuated over the threat.

Misha Galperin, CEO of the Weitzman, told JTA the threat to the museum came in the form of a physical letter that referenced both Israel and the Nazis, and also named him personally. It followed several acts of vandalism at the museum, including two instances of Israeli hostage posters in its windows being defaced. He called the threat “pure, unadulterated antisemitism” and said he had been in contact with both local authorities and Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor, Josh Shapiro.

While Galperin hadn’t known about the Israeli Film Festival controversy, he said it all collectively pointed to a need for the broader community to show more visible support for Jewish institutions.

“With the cancellation, with the threats against the synagogues, with what happened with us, the community [and] the authorities really have to stand up,” he told JTA. “And we really have to have our allies do the right thing.”

Source: timesofisrael.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.timesofisrael.com/forced-by-court-philadelphia-theater-shows-israeli-film-after-initial-cancellation/

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Israel hasn't informed US of date for Rafah invasion: Blinken

APR 09, 2024

Israel has not informed the U.S. regarding the date for the start of its invasion of Rafah, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, adding that officials from both countries are in touch regarding the matter.

Blinken spoke a day after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that a date has been set to invade Rafah. The city is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians.

Israel’s incessant attacks on Gaza, including on refugee shelters, hospitals, houses of worship, schools and civilian infrastructure, have pushed the blockaded enclave into a humanitarian crisis, leaving more than 1 million people on the brink of starvation.

International efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas are taking place in Cairo this week. Egyptian officials said Tuesday that mediators have presented a new cease-fire proposal to Hamas and Israel that would include a six-week pause in fighting and a swap of 40 Hamas-held hostages for at least 700 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel says more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with about a quarter of those believed dead.

The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/world/americas/israel-hasnt-informed-us-of-date-for-rafah-invasion-blinken

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South Asia

 

Media Group Speaks Out Against Plans to Limit Facebook Access

Sial Yousof

Following comments made by Najibullah Haqqani, the acting Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews regarding the policy of restricting Facebook in Afghanistan, there have been widespread reactions.u

The Committee to Protect Journalists has responded to this decision by calling for its cancellation, stating that it will impede the free flow of information.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Taliban not to move ahead with their plans to restrict or block access to Facebook in Afghanistan, saying that would further impede the free flow of information in the country,” the SPJ said in a press release.

However, the spokesperson for the Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Enayatullah Alkozai told TOLOnews that this decision is currently only a proposal and only content that is in conflict with the national interests and culture of Afghanistan will be restricted.

He believes that Facebook itself hinders access to information.

"In fact, Facebook restricts access to information, and the restrictions applied to the official government pages have resulted in neither the government being able to present its views to the people nor the people being able to send their messages to the government," said Enayatullah Alkozai.

Alkozai added that this decision is so far only a proposal and there has been no discussion about its implementation.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188223

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IEA says that they will not give in to any pressure from the international community

April 9, 2024

The Islamic Emirate says that they will not give in to any pressure from the international community and it is better for the world to engage with Afghanistan instead of applying pressure and sanctions.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, emphasized that just as the pressures and sanctions did not bring positive results in Afghanistan in the past, repeating the bitter experiences cannot help to solve the problems in Afghanistan.

After nearly three years of the Islamic Emirate’s rule in Afghanistan, the international community still has not lifted sanctions against the Islamic Emirate for what it considers as the failure to form a comprehensive government, the violation of human rights laws and strict policies against women.

“The people of Afghanistan are not and will not submit to any kind of pressure, but it is better to interact with the Afghans and what we hear called pressure or applying pressure will not reach the goal, it has not reached the goal so far and it will not from now on. even when the whole world came to Afghanistan and tested their power, but they didn’t get that results,” said Mujahid.

He added that a large number of countries have established good relations and interactions with the Islamic Emirate in the two and a half years; but according to him, some western countries still have a hostile policy towards the Islamic Emirate due to past wars.

“It is not the global community, but there are several countries that have problems with us. Many countries, including neighboring countries and countries in the region, interact with us. Some of the western countries that had a war in Afghanistan and were defeated naturally still have some of their problems, but Afghanistan wants the hostile positions to change and interact with Afghanistan.

But experts believe that the international community and the Islamic Emirate should abandon the politics of confrontation and solve the issues related to Afghanistan through diplomatic means. According to them, considering the current situation in the country, it is necessary for the Islamic Emirate to take a soft position in its policy with the international community in accordance with the national interests and Islamic values.

This is despite the fact that in the last two and a half years, no countries have agreed to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and the international community has also warned that it will not be recognized until the Islamic Emirate revises its strict policies. But the Islamic Emirate always emphasizes that it has all the conditions of a legitimate government, but the world has taken a hostile stance against the Islamic Emirate.

Source: ariananews.af

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WHO: Deportations May Spread Polio from Pakistan to Afghanistan

Hadia Ziaei

The World Health Organization expressed concern about the potential transmission of polio, or childhood paralysis, from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

In a report, the WHO stated that the deportation of migrants from Pakistan and their entry into Afghanistan could increase the number of polio cases in the country.

According to the report, the World Health Organization plans to administer 175 million doses of the polio vaccine at the Afghanistan-Pakistan crossing area from the beginning of the current year to June, targeting migrants.

“In 2024, two new cases of WPV1 were reported in Pakistan's Balochistan province, with sustained significant environmental detections indicating WPV1's spread across regions. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are intensifying vaccination campaigns, aiming to administer at least 175 million doses by mid-2024 to counteract the spread, compounded by the return of over 600,000 undocumented migrants. This situation underscores the ongoing challenge and critical efforts to eradicate WPV1 in the region,” the report reads.

The report indicates an increase in polio cases in Pakistan, stating that two new incidents have been recorded in the country in 2024.

Mojtaba Sofi, a doctor, said: "It's better to assign mobile teams and dedicated, expert, and compassionate teams at the country's border areas to ensure everyone entering Afghanistan is educated about polio and its vaccination."

Syed Abdullah Ahmadi, another physician, said: "There's a significant responsibility on the Ministry of Public Health to establish health stations at the Afghan borders and places where migrants return to Afghanistan to vaccinate their children."

Based on the World Health Organization's numbers shared in the report, more than 600,000 deported migrants from Pakistan have been registered by the International Organization of Migration, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, estimates it will affect up to 1.7 million people to date.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/health-188235

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BNP hatches conspiracies to undermine democratic stability: Quader

Apr 9, 2024

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said BNP, a symbol of undemocratic force, always hatches conspiracies to destabilise the democratic and stable environment of the country.

"BNP's principle, ideology and activities are opposed to democratic values and its stance is at the opposite pole of democracy in the political arena," he said in a statement issued today.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister said BNP is the enemy of the country's democracy.

BNP's origin is in the era of military dictatorship and it harbours an undemocratic spirit disguised within democratic rhetoric. So, they have no respect towards constitutional and systematic approach, he said.

The AL general secretary accused BNP of resorting to terrorism and instigating chaos to disrupt elections, opting to avoid participation altogether. He alleged that BNP endeavours to conceal its inherent terrorist tendencies under the guise of political activities, yet its true nature is now evident both nationally and internationally.

He said the BNP was dubbed as a terrorist organisation by the Canadian Federal Court.

Quader further stated that BNP's persistent adoption of flawed policies and programmes has led the party into a quagmire of errors, resulting in despondency among its leadership and supporters.

Perplexed leaders and workers of the failed BNP are now making evil attempts to sow seeds of frustration among the people. As BNP has no dream ahead, its leaders don't see any positive thing in the country, he said.

Quader said AL leaders and workers are making all-out strides to sustain the country's independence, sovereignty and democracy under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.

He expressed his optimism that the country will overcome its challenges and emerge as a developed, prosperous, and safe and smart Bangladesh.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-hatches-conspiracies-undermine-democratic-stability-quader-3585671

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PM to exchange greetings at Gono Bhaban on Eid day

 Apr 10, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will exchange greetings with mass people, including party leaders and workers, as well as judges and foreign diplomats at Gono Bhaban tomorrow on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Hasina, the Awami League chief, will exchange Eid greetings with the party colleagues, poets, litterateurs, writers, journalists, teachers and intellectuals from 10:00am, PM's speech writer M Nazrul Islam told UNB.

Later, she will exchange greetings with judges, cabinet secretary, chiefs of three services of Bangladesh Army, foreign diplomats, senior secretaries, secretaries and other civil and military officials with rank equivalent to secretaries.

Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in Bangladesh tomorrow.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Amnesty International welcomes Sediqullah Afghan’s release

Fidel Rahmati

April 10, 2024

Amnesty International Welcomes Release of Sediqullah Afghan, Education Rights Activist, as Positive Development.

The organization, on Tuesday, April 9th, hailed the release of Sediqullah Afghan, an education activist, as a “positive sign.”

In a statement posted on its social media platform X, the organization demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ahmad Fahim Ahmadi, another education activist, and other defenders of education who have been imprisoned.

Amnesty International emphasized that Ahmad Fahim Ahmadi and Sediqullah Afghan, who worked for an organization called “Better Thinking,” were detained on October 17, 2023, in the Kart-e-Char area of Kabul.

Earlier, Amnesty International had called for the release of these educated activists.

According to the organization’s report, Ahmad Fahim Ahmadi and Sediqullah Afghan have been accused of assisting the robotics team of girls to leave Afghanistan, supporting protesting women, and organizing demonstrations.

Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, they implemented oppressive policies, leading to restrictions on free media. Consequently, many media workers fled the country due to the censorious environment, including female journalists who continued their work with media outlets abroad.

Despite the support of national and international media organizations, the Taliban persists in enforcing suppressive policies. They have banned higher education for females and restricted their employment opportunities.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/amnesty-international-welcomes-sediqullah-afghans-release/

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Southeast Asia

 

Thousands of Muslims gather across Taiwan for Eid al-Fitr prayers

04/10/2024

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Around 3,000 Muslims gathered at the Taipei Grand Mosque on Wednesday morning for Eid al-Fitr prayers, while hundreds of Indonesian fishers did the same at a port in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan to welcome the holy day.

In Islam, Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan.

Three prayer sessions were held at the Taipei Grand Mosque on Wednesday morning, drawing around 3,000 people, said Sulaiman Wang (王孟揚), an assistant Imam at Taiwan's largest mosque.

Among those who attended, Wang estimated that 60 to 70 percent were from Indonesia, the largest ethnic group within the Muslim community in Taiwan.

Another 10 percent were Chinese Muslims, and the rest were worshipers from other countries, such as Pakistan and India.

There are now more than 300,000 Muslims, including migrant workers, living in Taiwan, according to Wu Shih-wei (吳世瑋), the head of the Taichung Civil Affairs Bureau.

Anindya Nismara, an Indonesian master's student at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, said this was the first time she participated in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Taiwan, and called the experience "incredible" because she was able to meet a lot of people.

When asked about Taiwan's acceptance of Muslims, the 23-year-old told CNA she was surprised how welcoming Taiwanese are toward Islamic culture.

"When I get to introduce my religion and culture to my [Taiwanese] friends, they've been really welcoming, even though they're not Muslims," she said.

As a Taiwanese Muslim, Mary Ma said she has taken part in Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Taipei Grand Mosque every year since childhood, and she has seen an increase in Taiwan's Muslim population because of the influx of migrant workers and foreign nationals in recent years.

"Exchanging the cultures of many countries and coming together to share their foods or languages, is a wonderful experience," the 21-year-old said.

Taiwan is now a more Muslim-friendly country, she said, with an increase in prayer rooms in public spaces and restaurants and convenience stores providing halal foods.

In Pingtung County's Donggang Township, a major southern fishing port, hundreds of Indonesian fishers gathered under a shed at a port Wednesday for the Eid Salah prayers to welcome the holy day.

After finishing praying, the fishers shook hands, a custom symbolizing forgiving each other of any sins and becoming holy again.

Some of the celebrations for the holy day began the night before.

On Tuesday night, members of Fospi, the largest Indonesian migrant fishers' association in Taiwan, gathered for the fast-breaking dinner, feasting on such tastes of home as sup ikan sayur asin (fish soup), telur dadar (omelet), cumi pedas (stir-fried spicy squid), tempe (fried soybean cake), and spicy stir-fried spinach.

Following the meal, dozens of fishers took to the streets of Donggang to take part in a parade, during which they rolled a miniature mosque on a cart and sang the takbir, the Islam phrase praising Allah.

Source: focustaiwan.tw

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https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202404100014

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Indonesian Muslims Welcome Eid al-Fitr Following Gov’t Announcement

 April 10, 2024

Jakarta. Many Indonesian Muslims awaited confirmation until Tuesday evening that Eid al-Fitr, their most significant religious holiday, would commence the following day after a month of fasting.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced the much-anticipated decision following a conference of Muslim scholars and clerics regarding the sighting of the new moon marking the month of Syawal, which follows Ramadan.

The stipulated date aligns with the version by the country’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah. However, Muhammadiyah's followers began observing the current fasting month a day earlier than the government’s stipulation.

"May you have a blessed Eid al-Fitr! We seek forgiveness for any mistakes and shortcomings, both seen and unseen," President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana said in a video message posted on the government’s YouTube account.

The president urged the people to utilize the religious momentum to strengthen “the fabric of our nation” following the presidential and legislative elections in February.

He will perform the Eid prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta this morning, marking his last as president before leaving office in October.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto will celebrate Eid at his private residence in Bogor, where he will receive guests, a spokesman said in a text message.

In some areas of Jakarta, residents welcomed Eid by beating drums and chanting praises to God in vehicle convoys along the streets.

Children across many provinces marched in neighborhoods with kerosene torches to celebrate the last day of fasting and embrace Eid, when they usually wear new clothes and receive money from adult family members.

In Palopo, South Sulawesi, celebrations went a bit too far as young men rode motorcycles with noisy exhausts until after midnight, and other vehicle convoys blocked main roads and disrupted traffic, prompting police intervention.

In the city of Manado, whose majority population is Christian, an Eid parade was held from the North Sulawesi governor’s office to the city’s Miftahul Jannah Mosque in the evening.

“This celebration has been regularly held here for a long time, involving not only Muslims but also followers of other faiths,” Manado Mayor Andrei Angouw said.

In his message, the mayor also called for unity and religious tolerance in the city.

In the Central Kalimantan capital of Palangka Raya, a convoy of decorated vehicles drove slowly with loudspeakers playing “takbir” or praises to God.

Source: jakartaglobe.id

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https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-muslims-welcome-eid-alfitr-following-govt-announcement

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How Mosques Signify Jokowi’s Close Ties with UAE’s MBZ

 April 10, 2024

Jayanty Nada Shofa

Jakarta. The Joko “Jokowi” Widodo government saw Indonesia forming closer ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and mosques have become integral to the president’s relations with his Emirati counterpart Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also known by his initials MBZ.

Late last year, the Joko Widodo Mosque in Abu Dhabi officially opened its doors to the public. The mosque lies in Abu Dhabi’s diplomatic area --  on the street also named after the Indonesian president. It can accommodate up to approximately 2,500 worshippers. The Emirati government fully funded the project, with construction commencing in 2021 and eventually reaching completion last October. The mosque is built over a land spanning  3,766 square meters. The place of worship was originally a smaller mosque prior to the construction works.

A 2020 social media post by the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi revealed that MBZ was the one who instructed the construction of the Joko Widodo Mosque as a means to honor the latter’s efforts in strengthening bilateral ties. MBZ at the time was the Abu Dhabi crown prince. He rose to power in 2022 after his half-brother then-President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed’s passing.

And this is not the only mosque that the UAE has built to honor Jokowi.

In 2022, Jokowi and MBZ inaugurated the $20 million Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the former’s hometown Surakarta, popularly known as Solo. The mosque is a gift from the UAE to Jokowi. It sits on a 3-hectare land, and has a capacity of around 10,000 worshippers. It is also a smaller replica of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

“The two countries are getting closer across all fields, be it economy, education to the relations between the two leaders. We are so close that we have the Jokowi Street in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed flyover in Indonesia,” Jokowi wrote on the social media platform X during the Joko Widodo Mosque’s launch last December.

“Surakarta also has the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and now we have the Jokowi Mosque in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Both Indonesia and the UAE are Muslim-majority countries. Jokowi last met with MBZ when Dubai hosted the COP28 climate forum in December. In 2021, Indonesia renamed the Jakarta-Cikampek II elevated toll road to the MBZ flyover.

Source: jakartaglobe.id

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https://jakartaglobe.id/news/how-mosques-signify-jokowis-close-ties-with-uaes-mbz

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Akmal to heed King's advice to embrace peace, harmony and sanctity of Islam

09-04- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO Youth Chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh today pledged to heed His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia’s decree to embrace peace, harmony as well as preserve the sanctity of Islam.

In a Facebook posting today, he said the decision was to maintain religious harmony and reduce the polemic.

Sultan Ibrahim had today cautioned political leaders in the country to not engage in extreme rhetoric when discussing religious and racial matters.

The King emphasised that leaders from all parties should serve as an unifying force within the nation’s diverse society, examplifying maturity and responsibility in their conduct.

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim had today granted an audience to senior leaders from UMNO and DAP at Istana Negara, which focused on current developments related to sensitive religious and racial issues.

Apart from Dr Muhamad Akmal, leaders present at the audience were UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Melaka UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and DAP deputy-secretary general Liew Chin Tong.

On April 5, police detained Dr Muhamad Akmal who has been leading boycott calls against local convenience store chain KK Mart at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to assist investigations under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1958 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.

The issue started with photographs circulated on social media showing socks bearing the word “Allah” sold at KK Mart’s Bandar Sunway outlet on March 13 which incited Muslim anger.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/akmal-to-heed-king-s-advice-to-embrace-peace-harmony-and-sanctity-of-islam-JB12316953

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Istiqlal Mosque to accommodate 250 thousand Muslims during Eid prayer

 April 9, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, Istiqlal, has been making preparations to accommodate 250 thousand people planning to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer, grand imam of the mosque Nasaruddin Umar stated.

"Based on experiences, this mosque can accommodate around 250 thousand congregants," he remarked during a press conference on the performance of Eid prayer at Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

He added that Istiqlal Mosque could serve an even higher number of congregants by utilizing areas around it.

Umar explained that the mosque's management decided to prepare for accommodating an enormous number of congregants based on the fact that the house of worship had been serving about 50 thousand people participating in i'tikaf every day during Ramadan.

The grand imam then stated that President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin are planning to join hundreds of thousands of Muslims in performing Eid prayer at the mosque.

Related news: Muslims should celebrate Eid al-Fitr in simplicity: Minister

On that note, he said the management of the mosque had been in coordination with the National Police (Polri) to ensure a proper security system during the prayer activity that will also feature a preaching titled "Solidifying Togetherness by Safeguarding National Unity and Integrity."

Umar revealed that his side had been coordinating with several offices located around the mosque to add more parking spaces.

"(Coordinating with) offices that have parking lots, such as Pertamina. For buses, we will use spaces around the National Monument. God Willing, everything will run smoothly if we follow directives of the police," he stated.

He expressed hope that this year's Eid al-Fitr prayer would be held in a safe, comfortable, smooth, and solemn manner.

Source: antaranews.com

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Eid al-Fitr momentum for Indonesians to get reunited: Home Minister

 April 10, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Minister Tito Karnavian stated that Eid al-Fitr celebrated nationwide on Wednesday hopefully became a momentum for all Indonesians to get reunited and move forward, as the 2024 General Elections had ended.

"Happy Eid Mubarak. Insya Allah (God willing), Eid al-Fitr will bring us happiness and a better, calmer, and more peaceful situation as the parliamentary and presidential elections had been over," he remarked.

Speaking to journalists after joining an Eid mass prayer at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque here, Wednesday morning, the minister noted that the people currently await the Constitutional Court's (MK's) final ruling.

Karnavian further spoke of having urged all regional leaders across the country to keep the situation in their respective administrative regions conducive during and after the post-election period.

"People can also get reunited regardless of their different political choices in elections," he added.

MK has been handling the presidential election result disputes, filed by candidate pairs Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD against the General Elections Commission (KPU), since March 25.

The court is scheduled to resolve the result disputes within 14 working days since the camps of the two candidate pairs registered the disputes.

The long wait for the results of the 2024 presidential elections ended with an official announcement from KPU Chairperson Hasyim Asy'ari in Jakarta on Wednesday evening, March 20.

Accompanied by other KPU commissioners, he declared Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka as winners of the presidential race, with 96,214,691 of 164,227,475 national valid votes.

Rival candidate pairs — Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md — secured 40,971,906 and 27,040,878 valid votes, respectively.

In response to the KPU's official election result announcement, President-elect Prabowo Subianto delivered his victory speech in which he promised to steer all citizens on the path to prosperity.

Elected president/vice president for the 2024–2029 leadership term will be officially sworn in on October 20.

Source: antaranews.com

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minister?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=top_news

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Africa

 

Islamic Scholar In Sokoto, Defies Sultan, Leads Eid Prayer Today

Greenbarge Reporters

 April 9, 2024

A Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Musa Lukwa, today, April 8, led his followers to observe eid praye against the announcement by the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Muhammad III, that the crescent of the moon was not sighted yesterday evening.

Sheikh Lukwa, who is believed to, over the years disobeyed the Sultan’s directive on moon sighting, led prayers at his Juma’at mosque around 8:30 am on today, April 9.

The scholar insisted that the moon of Shawwal was sighted in neighbouring Niger Republic yesterday, April 8.

“There were reports of sightings on the new crescent in many places, including here in Nigeria, but the one that we were sure of is that of Niger Republic,” he declared.

“We have a verified video clip of their council of Ulamah authenticating the report after which the country declared Tuesday as Sallah day. So it is now binding on us to observe Eid on Tuesday because this is what the teachings of the Holy Prophet says.

“If we can accept that of Saudi Arabia, why can’t we agree with that of Niger Republic which is nearer to us.

“I am not saying all Nigerian Muslims must observe their Eid prayer on Tuesday but we have no moral justification not to observe our prayer on Tuesday because the new moon was sighted by our neighbors. And remember there is no fasting on Sallah day, it is prohibited,” he said.

Source: greenbreporters.com

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https://greenbreporters.com/news/islamic-scholar-in-sokoto-defies-sultan-leads-eid-prayer-today.html

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South African politician calls to close Jewish school, says 'grooming Zionist killers'

 MICHAEL STARR

APRIL 10, 2024

The Western Cape premiership candidate of a small South African political party has made his fight against Zionism a central aspect of his campaign, rallying against a local Jewish school and blaming Zionists for local issues.

Turkish-born Mehmet Vefa Dag, a Land Party member, has sworn a vendetta against the Cape Town United Herzlia Schools. The Jewish schools teach Hebrew and foster a connection to Jewish tradition, religion, and Israel.

"As Premier, the first thing I will do is shut down this Zionist diaspora," Vefa Dag said on X on Monday. "Zionist killers are groomed in Cape Town, South Africa. Shut down this killer school in South Africa."

Vefa Dag also described the Jewish school as a "devil school" in a March 27 TikTok video.

Last Tuesday, Vefa Dag claimed that Zionists were attempting to kill South Africans with genetically modified organism (GMO) products, sharing a picture of the 2023 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Johannesburg.

"Zionists are killing us with GMO production," Vefa Dag said on Instagram. "They chose South Africa as their home base. My dear citizen, let us know the companies engaged in GMO production, and we will take care of all of them. Everyone has the right to live."

Vefa Dag accuses Israel of leeching finances off of South Africa

Vefa Dag has blamed Israel for corruption in South Africa as he has labeled the provincial leading party Democratic Alliance on Tuesday as "Zionists vampires."

On Wednesday, Vefa Dag wrote on Twitter that the "DA is stealing billions from poor people of Western Cape and financing Israeli war against children of Palestine."

Vefa Dag, whose party advocates for land distribution, claimed, "Zionists are believing Western Cape is chosen land for children of Israel," on Tuesday on X.

"Zionists will leave," he also wrote on Tuesday. "The Land Party is coming to take back the stolen lands and give them back to women and youth."

Vefa Dag has also promised a complete boycott and divestment from Israel's economic relationships with the Western Cape.

"As the new Western Cape management, we will reconsider all the projects with Israel and, if necessary, stop them all," Vefa Dag said on Tuesday. Israel no longer has anything to say about the Western Cape Economy."

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-796295

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Moroccan protesting Israel ties, war in Gaza given five-year prison sentence

9 April 2024

RABAT  — An activist who criticized Morocco’s decision to normalize relations with Israel was sentenced to five years in prison, as some of the Arab world’s largest pro-Palestinian protests continue to sweep the country.

Abdul Rahman Zankad of Mohammedia, Morocco, was arrested in March after posting on Facebook about the Israel-Hamas war and Morocco’s 2020 decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, the Moroccan Space for Human Rights said in a statement.

A court on Monday found him guilty of insulting a constitutional institution and incitement. He was also fined 50,000 Moroccan dirhams ($5,000). The civil liberty advocacy group, which organizes the legal defense of protesters, called the charges baseless and said the proceedings violated Zankad’s right to a fair trial.

Tens of thousands of protesters across the political spectrum have taken to the streets in Morocco to denounce Israel and express support for Palestinian groups, including Hamas. The protesters have criticized Israel’s allies, including the United States, and chanted demands for the government to “overturn normalization.”

Morocco was one of four Arab nations to establish ties with Israel in 2020, as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords, which led to both the US and Israel recognizing Morocco’s claim over the disputed Western Sahara.

The fledgling rapprochement between the North African country and Israel had made steady progress since 2020, but that has been thrown into reverse by the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict.

Authorities have allowed protests, with few exceptions, including not allowing a recently planned rally at a northern Moroccan university. Some members of parliament have backed their demands. Both the Foreign Ministry and the Royal Palace have issued statements denouncing the war and expressing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, but have not signaled any intent to cut ties with Israel.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations had declined in recent years in Morocco, but have surged since the Israel-Hamas war broke out. This past Saturday saw thousands of people demonstrating in Morocco’s commercial capital of Casablanca against what they termed as “massacres” carried out by Israel in Gaza.

War erupted on October 7, when 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, massacring 1,200 people and abducting 253 — half of whom are still held captive in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims that more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in the Israel-Hamas war, but the number cannot be independently verified and is believed to include both Hamas terrorists and civilians. The IDF says it has killed over 13,000 gunmen in Gaza, in addition to some 1,000 terrorists who were killed inside Israel on and immediately following October 7. The IDF has lost some 260 soldiers fighting in Gaza.

Morocco’s constitution generally allows for freedom of expression, although it is illegal to criticize the monarchy or King Mohammed VI, and those who do can face prosecution. Human rights associations have raised concerns about a rise in prosecutions stemming from online posts in recent years.

Zankad is a member of Morocco’s Al Adl Wal Ihsane, a banned but tolerated Islamist association that has been a driving force behind many of the country’s protests since the war began.

On Monday, the group said his sentence “only serves to solidify the certainty that we are in a state riddled by authoritarianism and tyranny.”

“We condemn this unjust ruling in the strongest terms. It is a continuation of the unjust rulings targeting opponents from Al Adl Wal Ihsane, journalists, and leaders of the Rif Movement,” it added, referencing a 2016 protest movement whose leaders were later sentenced and imprisoned.

The group has also condemned the prosecutions of other opponents of normalization. That includes Said Boukioud, who in November was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting the king in a series of Facebook posts about normalization.

It also includes 13 protesters who were arrested in Sale, Morocco, in November for incitement and organizing an unauthorized demonstration after they blocked the entrance to the French grocery store Carrefour. In Morocco and elsewhere, the chain has faced boycotts since its franchises in Israel announced they were providing food to Israel’s military last year.

Their case has not yet been decided.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/moroccan-protesting-israel-ties-war-in-gaza-given-five-year-prison-sentence/

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I Didn’t Threaten First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu Abdul’aziz Life, Says Bauchi Islamic Preacher

David Adenuga, Bauchi

April 10, 2024

Controversial Islamic preacher and the Chief Imam of Dusten-Tanshi Jumma’ah Mosque in Bauchi, Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz, has denied threatening the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Abdul’aziz spoke during his first public preaching after his return from self-imposed exile.

During his preaching during the close of this year’s Ramadan commentary of the Holy Qur’an (tafsir) yesterday in Bauchi, he said: “I have no business with her whatsoever. I don’t even know her correct name.

“I have never commented on her husband, the President, let alone herself. I don’t have anything to do with the wife of the President.

“It was a smearing campaign orchestrated from Bauchi to cause disaffection between me and the wife of the President. Two groups are responsible for this.”

Abdu’aziz described the allegations as a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

“I challenge those behind this to bring forward the authentic video or audio evidence where I issued a threat to the wife of the President,” he added.

Source: thenationonlineng.net

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Take lessons of sacrifice, compassion beyond Ramadan season ‐ Buni tells Muslims

 April 9, 2024

 Shehu Usman

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has tasked Muslim faithful to take the lessons of sacrifice, care and compassion exhibited during the fasting period beyond the Ramadan season.

Buni in a Sallah message through his Director General Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, also enjoined the Muslims to extend the spirit of the season to their neighbours.

“As we celebrate the Eid-el-fitr, marking the end of the one month religious obligation, l enjoin us all to take the lessons of sacrifice, care and compassion exhibited during the fasting period beyond the Ramadan season.

“I am particularly impressed with the massive feeding programme provided by government, individuals, and corporate organisations to orphans, indigent families, and vulnerable groups. This should be encouraged even after Ramadan,” Buni said.

He commended security agencies for their contributions to peace and stability of the state, and reminded the people to continue praying for the unity, peace, security and prosperity of the entire country.

The governor said government would this year launch a programme to facilitate agricultural revolution in Yobe State to enhance food sufficiency and security.

“I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to the good people of Yobe state, especially our energetic youth, to take advantage of this intervention to explore, exploit and expand the agricultural potentials in your various communities.

“Our government is committed to making agriculture productive, attractive, and profitable in the state. This is to promote food sufficiency and security in the state,” the governor said.

He assured the people that government would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure to fastrack development to improve the lives of the people.

Source: dailypost.ng

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Arab World

 

Symphony of colors as pilgrims mark Eid in Makkah

April 10, 2024

TAREQ AL-THAQAFI

MAKKAH: During Eid Al-Fitr, pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah don their best outfits to celebrate, transforming areas of the Grand Mosque into a bright symphony of colors that showcase the diversity of the Muslim community.

Adorned in elegant attire, pilgrims from all corners of the globe share in the joyous atmosphere, each embracing their unique heritage as they celebrate Eid with fellow visitors.

Arwa Al-Harbi, a hotel employee, drew attention to the growing fascination with Saudi culture among visitors and pilgrims, spurred by the Kingdom’s increasing openness to the world.

“Visitors now eagerly inquire about traditional Saudi attire like the mishlah and the occasions for wearing the iconic white and red ghutra, appreciating the sophistication and heritage behind these garments,” she said.

Dispelling misconceptions perpetuated by media portrayals, Al-Harbi praises the beauty and elegance of Saudi attire.

“Gulf youths are frequently depicted disheveled in television dramas and films, perpetuating a stereotype ingrained in the minds of many observers. Yet, on closer inspection, these notions are found to be erroneous, with visitors acknowledging the sophistication, elegance, and charm of Saudi attire. This serves to reaffirm the authentic image of Arab youth,” she said.

Al-Harbi said that the diverse array of clothing styles showcased in Makkah during Eid adds to the festive ambiance, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a beacon of cultural diversity and Islamic unity.

“This sends a powerful message to the world: Despite the variety in attire, Muslims represent a cultured community with diverse cultural and civilizational backgrounds,” she said.

Saad Al-Joudi, a specialist researcher in Makkah affairs, emphasized the distinguished status of Makkah and Madinah, the two holiest cities in Islam.

“Set apart from all others worldwide, Makkah and Madinah serve as spiritual havens and pilgrimage destinations for Muslims across every continent,” he said.

Pilgrims resound Eid takbirs through Makkah’s streets, pathways, and bustling markets, infusing the air with joy and jubilation.

Saad Al-Joudi, Makkah researcher

“Pilgrims eagerly await the opportunity to visit and spend their holidays in these cities, considering it the ultimate fulfillment of their spiritual aspirations.”

He added that during Eid festivities “one witnesses the grandeur of these holy cities, as pilgrims resound Eid takbirs through Makkah’s streets, pathways, and bustling markets, infusing the air with joy and jubilation. They even exchange traditional Eid sweets, bringing a taste of home to their fellow pilgrims from distant lands.”

Al-Joudi said that retail outlets have geared up to cater to all the clothing needs of pilgrims, be it during the sacred month of Ramadan or the festive occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.

“This underscores the robust purchasing power exhibited by pilgrims during Eid Al-Fitr, as they eagerly seek out items unavailable in their home countries,” he said.

“Furthermore, it highlights the resilience and diversity of the Saudi market and its swift responsiveness to the requests of pilgrims hailing from various corners of the globe.”

Ahmed Mohammed, an Indian pilgrim, shared his excitement at being in Makkah, saying that he looked forward to celebrating Eid Al-Fitr alongside fellow Muslims who have come to the holy city from around the world.

Amid the festivities, he delights in the sight of diverse clothing styles, particularly favoring the traditional Indian attire, including the Indian turban and customary dress.

This sentiment found resonance with Taqi Al-Din from Nigeria, who shared how Africans embrace vivid, striking colors for formal occasions, intricately embroidered to make a lasting impression.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490906/saudi-arabia

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Saudi king, crown prince exchange Eid Al-Fitr greetings with leaders of Muslim countries

April 09, 2024

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday sent cables of congratulation to leaders of Islamic countries for Eid Al-Fitr.

The cables were sent “based on the keenness” of the leadership to “communicate annually with the leaders of the Islamic countries on the blessed holiday,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In their message, the king and crown prince called for further security, stability and prosperity for the Islamic world.

The Saudi leadership also received cables from heads of Islamic states offering greetings for Eid Al-Fitr.

Source: arabnews.com

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Attacks on Palestinian people must end, King Salman says in Eid speech

April 09, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman emphasized the necessity of stopping attacks on the Palestinian people during an Eid Al-Fitr speech on Tuesday.

He also called for the provision of safe relief corridors, and an end to Palestinians’ suffering by enabling them to obtain all their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state and living in safety.

King Salman thanked God for the honor of serving the two holy mosques and its visitors, and the public sectors for their efforts to facilitate the millions of pilgrims who performed Umrah this Ramadan.

The king wished everyone a happy Eid, and prayed that God preserve the safety, security, and stability of the Kingdom.

The speech was delivered by the Kingdom’s Minister of Media, Salman Al-Dosari, on behalf of the king.

Source: arabnews.com

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Islamic Affairs Ministry Says over 50 Million People inside Kingdom and abroad Benefited from its Programs in Ramadan

09 Apr, 2024

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has announced the success of its works, programs, and dawah activities during the holy month of Ramadan, 1445 Hijri, benefiting 53,201,751 people inside and outside the Kingdom.

The ministry noted that it implemented the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program to provide iftar meals in 60 countries, benefiting 1,500,000 individuals. It also implemented the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Gift Program to distribute dates in 93 countries, benefiting 2,000,000 individuals through the distribution of 500 tons of dates. Additionally, the ministry held the Imam Program abroad with the participation of 192 imams to lead Taraweeh and Qiyam prayers in 44 countries, benefiting nearly 1,750,000 worshippers. These programs are provided by the ministry during Ramadan each year, in response to requests from sheikhs and Islamic centers and associations in various countries.

The ministry prepared some 85,000 mosques and prayer halls in various regions of the Kingdom to receive worshippers and those observing etikaf. Also, the ministry issued 6,777 permits, upon requests from some mosque staff and dawah and guidance associations, to hold iftar banquets for fasting people, benefiting 5,769,017 individuals.

Furthermore, the ministry awarded contracts for several projects for the maintenance, cleanliness, and operation of 1,993 mosques and prayer halls in several regions of the Kingdom, with a total value of SAR149,506,147.68.

In the Umrah program, the General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness in Hajj and Umrah Affairs in Makkah provided 1,482,718 services to Umrah performers during Ramadan, benefiting 7,705,707 people. During Ramadan, the ministry displayed more than 40 million guidance messages for Umrah performers through electronic monitors in various areas, benefiting nearly 4,000,000 people.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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https://alriyadhdaily.com/article/ebee8932531f433da30e9004f9893c32

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Australia

 

Australian FM says Canberra to consider recognizing Palestinian state

9 April 2024

SYDNEY — Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong said Tuesday that Canberra would consider recognition of a Palestinian state, a shift in policy as the international community looks for a two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

In a speech on Tuesday, Wong backed comments by Britain’s foreign minister David Cameron who has said that recognizing a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations, would make a two-state solution irreversible

Wong also said that recognizing a state of Palestine could restart the moribund Middle East peace process and undermine extremist forces in the region.

“Recognizing a Palestinian state — one that can only exist side by side with a secure Israel — doesn’t just offer the Palestinian people an opportunity to realize their aspirations,” she said. “It also strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism. It undermines Hamas, Iran and Iran’s other destructive proxies in the region.”

The foreign minister also said that “there is no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state.”

For decades, the formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been seen as the endgame of a peace process between Palestinians and their Israeli neighbors.

The United States, Australia, and most Western European nations have said they are willing to one day recognize Palestinian statehood, but not before thorny issues like the status of Jerusalem and final borders are agreed upon.

But after Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack, in which nearly 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted — with about half still held hostage in Gaza — and the ensuing six months of war, diplomats are reconsidering once-contentious ideas.

“The failures of this approach by all parties over decades — as well as the Netanyahu government’s refusal to even engage on the question of a Palestinian state — have caused widespread frustration,” Wong said, “so the international community is now considering the question of Palestinian statehood as a way of building momentum towards a two-state solution.”

“Those who claim recognition is rewarding an enemy” are wrong, Wong added,  because “there is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognized by the countries of its region.”

Her comments come after the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Slovenia and Spain have floated the idea of recognizing a Palestinian state.

In 2014, Sweden, which has a large Palestinian community, became the first European Union member in Western Europe to recognize a Palestinian state.

Palestinian statehood had earlier been recognized by six other European countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

The Knesset in February voted resoundingly against what it called the “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood, and said any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations.

Spain, among other Western countries, is pushing for such recognition, and is a main proponent for an analogous move within the European Union.

The Palestinian Authority on April 2 formally asked for renewed consideration by the United Nations Security Council of its 2011 application to become a full member of the world body. The Palestinians share with the Holy See the status of non-member observer state at the UN.

The UN Security Council president on Monday referred the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full UN member to the admission committee.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/australian-fm-says-canberra-to-consider-recognizing-palestinian-state/

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Mideast

 

Muslims have human, religious duty to stop Israeli genocide in Gaza: Raeisi

 09 April 2024

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says putting an end to the Israeli regime’s months-long genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza is a human and religious responsibility for the Islamic countries.

Raeisi made the statement in a message on Tuesday on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

“Islamic countries have a human and religious duty to stop, through immediate measures, the continuation of the Zionist regime’s attacks, which are a crime against humanity and genocide, and reduce the suffering of the defenseless people of Gaza,” the Iranian president said.

Raeisi said Iran was ready for any cooperation within the framework of the initiatives of the Islamic countries to resolve hunger, famine and other humanitarian crises in Gaza.

Praising worldwide rallies in support of Palestinians on International Quds Day, the last Friday of Ramadan, Raeisi said, “It is necessary to use this valuable turnout to end the bombing and siege of Gaza by the Zionist occupation regime and send humanitarian aid.”

Israel launched its atrocious onslaught on the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship, after Palestinian resistance movements launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping regime on October 7.

The regime has so far killed over 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

Source: presstv.ir

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Eid celebrations overshadowed by military operations in southern Lebanon

April 09, 2024

BEIRUT: On the final day of Ramadan, villages and towns along the Lebanese border with Israel were not as active as usual while preparing for Eid Al-Fitr, despite occasional periods of calm in fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

There was barely any Eid shopping in the markets, particularly in the big cities such as Bint Jbeil, Khiam, Naqoura and Mays Al-Jabal.

In towns farther from the border, to which residents of the frontline towns had fled, “Eid has no meaning as long as the firing of destructive rockets and shells at homes and anything that moves on the roads continues,” said Samer, a father of two. “The terrifying sounds of these explosions have instilled fear in our souls.”

More than 27,000 people have been displaced in the city of Tyre and its nearby areas, with hundreds living in shelters.

The city’s markets reported reasonable shopper activity, but purchases were restricted to children’s clothing and food supplies.

Maryam, a mother of five, said that “people are facing extreme hardships and cannot afford necessities for their children … because their salaries have been greatly affected by the economic downturn in the south. Additionally, the prevailing atmosphere of fear and anxiety caused by Israeli attacks has further worsened the situation.”

During a visit to southern commercial markets, Mohammed Saleh, leader of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry in Sidon and South Lebanon, said that Israeli attacks in the region had caused a 40 percent fall in economic activity.

Saleh added: “Today I visited the markets of Sidon and found them to be the most affected among the cities in the south, with a decline rate of 70 percent, while the decline rate in Nabatiyeh and Tyre is only 30 percent.

“The reason is that these two cities host the largest percentage of displaced people from the border areas, and they want to eat, drink and shop for their children.”

Saleh’s comments came as Hezbollah launched a series of operations against Israeli military sites in the southern border area on Tuesday.

According to a statement, the party targeted “Zibdin barracks in the Shebaa Farms with missile weapons, causing direct hits.” The group also claimed to have killed and injured Israeli soldiers and destroyed a Merkava tank in an attack on Doviv barracks.

Israeli news websites reported the launch of four missiles from Lebanon toward Israeli army positions in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.

Lebanese border towns Debl and Tayr Harfa faced Israeli artillery shelling, as did the village of Yaroun.

A security source in the region noted “a new pattern of the rules of engagement, following Israeli threats of open war against Lebanon.”

The source said: “Any Israeli targeting of the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon is met with Hezbollah targeting military sites in the occupied Golan, without claiming responsibility for the operations.

“This is what happened after the downing of the Israeli drone, a Hermes 900, two days ago, as Israeli warplanes shelled Hezbollah centers in the Bekaa hours later, and the party responded the next day by launching a barrage of Katyusha rockets at the Israeli Keila barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan and targeting the Yoav barracks.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2490701/middle-east

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Israel blocks food trucks 3 times more than other aid in Gaza

Apr 9, 2024

TEHRAN, Apr. 09 (MNA) – The United Nations says Israel blocks food convoys three times more than other humanitarian convoys in the Gaza Strip, where famine is either already happening or will have arrived before July.

Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN said according to statistics from March, it was much more difficult to get clearance for delivering food than other aid in the besieged Palestinian territory.

"Food convoys that should be going particularly to the north, where 70 percent of people face famine conditions, are ... three times more likely to be denied than any other humanitarian convoys with other kinds of material.”

Laerke told reporters in Geneva that "half of the convoys that we were trying to send to the north with food (in March) were denied by the very same Israeli authorities".

He said "the obligation is on the warring parties, and in particular... on Israel as the occupying power of Gaza, to facilitate and ensure humanitarian access does not stop at the border.”

Israel is facing growing international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, which is facing a humanitarian catastrophe six months into the regime’s bombardment, blockade and full-scale ground offensive.

The regime, however, claims that the main problem is with UN aid distribution within the territory.

Laerke said those remarks are “meaningless."

The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that at least 300 trucks are needed to enter Gaza every day and distribute food to meet only the basic hunger needs.

The UN agency, however, said it has only managed to take nine convoys into northern Gaza since the start of the year.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) published a report in March, warning that famine is imminent in northern Gaza where 70% of the population is facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The entire population of 2.2 million people in Gaza do not have enough food to eat, with half of the population on the brink of starvation and famine projected to arrive in the north “anytime between mid-March and May 2024,” said the IPC.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said later that this is the “highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded… anywhere, anytime,” by the IPC.

Source: mehrnews.com

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Iranians, Muslims in other countries celebrate Eid al-Fitr at end of Ramadan

10 April 2024

Muslims in Iran and many other countries are celebrating Eid al-Fitr at the conclusion of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, after the new moon of the lunar month of Shawwal was sighted the previous night.

Naqareh drums were played at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, in Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad on Wednesday morning, and Muslim worshippers who had fasted for a month took part in Eid prayers there and across the country early in the morning of the occasion of the festive event, which marks the end of Ramadan – the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

In the capital, Tehran, people gathered at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla (Congregational Prayers Site) to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei led the prayers.

Along with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Senegal, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast as well as Mauritania are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday.

Eid al-Fitr is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world. It marks the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

The occasion falls on the first day of the 10th lunar calendar month of Shawwal, the start of which varies based on the sighting of the new moon by local religious authorities.

Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) which is generally offered in an open field or a large hall with congregation in attendance.

Source: presstv.ir

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Coalition of Muslim armies will do away with Israel: IRGC general

 09 April 2024

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the only way to put an end to the Israeli regime and its atrocities in the region is for the armies of Muslim countries to unite.

“The only way to fight the Zionists is through the formation of an Islamic power and a coalition of Islamic armies,” said commander of the IRGC's Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri in an interview with the Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday.

“The solution to removing the corrupt and criminal parasite is the unification of all Muslim nations and their armies. If we were united, we could bring an end to it,” Tangsiri added in the interview.

The remarks come as the Israeli regime continues with a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 34,000 Palestinians since it began in October.

The war has triggered a united response to Israel and its main ally the United States from resistance groups in Arab countries of the region.

However, the situation escalated last week when the Israeli regime carried out an airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria, killing senior IRGC commanders, in what officials said was a desperate reaction to Iran’s support for the Palestinian cause and the Axis of Resistance.

Tangsiri said that Iran’s response to the April 1 attack in Damascus would be definite, adding that the country will act when authorities see fit.

“... we do not act impulsively or hastily. We are not the kind of people who turn the other cheek after being hit. At the appropriate time, the relevant officials will deliver a strong blow, God willing,” he said.

“Do you expect me to say what we will do? That is not correct. We are 100% ready for any order that may be issued,” said the IRGC Navy chief.

Tangsiri also said that Iran sees the presence of Israel in countries in the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, as a threat as he insisted that welcoming the Israelis under the pretext of economic cooperation is not acceptable.

“What does it mean for a country to take pride in welcoming Zionists to the region? .. We know full well that they do not come for economic purposes or to establish bilateral relations ...,” he said.

Source: presstv.ir

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Netanyahu sets date for Rafah invasion, shrugs off international outcry

09 April 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu says a date has been set to invade the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

The prime minister of the Israeli regime made that blatant statement on Tuesday despite growing international warnings that such an invasion could lead to high civilian casualties.

In the video statement, Netanyahu reiterated his position that Israel will proceed with the ground military operation.

Rafah borders Egypt and more than 1.5 million Palestinians are now sheltering in the city.

“It will happen. There is a date,” Netanyahu said.

“There is no force in the world that will stop us. There are many forces that are trying to do so, but it will not help since this enemy, after what it did, will never do it again.”

Israel faces tremendous international pressure to end its genocidal war in Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid into the starving territory as dire shortages push its population on the brink of famine.

The United Nation says Israel is blocking far more convoys carrying food aid within Gaza, than convoys carrying other kinds of aid.

Netanyahu is also being pushed to agree a captive-prisoner swap and ceasefire deal by many Israeli protesters as well as it key Western allies, including the US. His popularity has plummeted after six months of savagery in Gaza.

The United States continues to publicly oppose Israel’s invasion of Rafah.

Following Netanyahu’s announcement, US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington has not been fully briefed on any new Rafah developments.

“We have made clear to Israel that we think a full-scale military invasion of Rafah would have an enormously harmful effect on those civilians and that it would ultimately hurt Israel’s security,” Miller said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and France wrote a joint op-ed that called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as demanded by a United Nations Security Council resolution passed in late March.

“We warn against the dangerous consequences of an Israeli offensive on Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians have sought refuge. Such an offensive will only bring more deaths and suffering, heighten the risks and consequences of mass forcible displacement of the people of Gaza and threaten regional escalation,” said the leaders.

Rafah invasion can blow up truce talks

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas was presented with a new proposal in ceasefire talks at the end of the weekend in Cairo.

The resistance group confirmed in a statement that it is reviewing the proposal, but said Israel “has not responded to any of the demands of our people and our resistance."

Senior Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zahry said Netanyahu’s remarks "raise questions about the purpose of resuming negotiations."

“The success of any negotiations depends on ending the aggression,” said Zahry, adding that the group’s "demands are clear: an end to aggression against our people."

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/09/723382/Netanyahu-Rafah-Israel

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Turkish president's visit to Iraq to have meaning for Muslims: Descendant of Iraqi Sufi leader

Haydar Karaalp 

09.04.2024

A descendant of an Iraqi Sufi leader who lived nearly a millennium ago said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Iraq would have great meaning for local Muslims as well as for the mausoleum in Baghdad of Abdul-Qadir Gilani, who died in 1166 in the Iraqi capital.

Speaking to Anadolu, Sayyid Khalid Abdul Qadir Gilani said that under Erdogan's leadership, the Turkish development aid agency, the Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has been caring for pieces of Ottoman legacy at the Gilani Mausoleum in Baghdad.

He added that the renovation of the minbar (imam’s pulpit) in the mosque and a clock tower built by the late-era Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II are both nearing completion.

On Erdogan's expected visit to Iraq, whose date has not yet been set, Gilani said: "We are awaiting this visit and wholeheartedly support those who are preparing for it. President Erdogan's visit to Iraq will have a dimension for both Muslims and our followers of the Qadiriyya order.

"This visit by Erdogan will also convey the message that Iraq is a country that is open, safe, and stable for both political engagements and religious visits to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, Imam Hussein (Husayn Ibn Ali), Imam Azam, and Gilani."

Saying that they want Erdogan to visit the mausoleum, he added: "All Ottoman sultans have left some mark at the mausoleum. His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also leave a trace at the Gilani Mausoleum by inaugurating projects to be completed by TIKA."

Abdul Qadir Gilani was the Islamic philosopher, scholar, preacher, and Sufi leader who gave his name to the Qadiriyya, one of the oldest Sufi orders.

He was born in 1077 or 1078 in the town of Na'if, Rezvanshahr in Gilan, Persia, and died in 1166 in Baghdad.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-presidents-visit-to-iraq-to-have-meaning-for-muslims-descendant-of-iraqi-sufi-leader/3187134

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UN chief says he is heartbroken that many Muslims in Gaza, Sudan not able to celebrate Eid

10.04.2024

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that his heart is "broken" knowing that many Muslims in Gaza, Sudan and other places will not be able to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan because of conflict and hunger.

"Every year, I express my best wishes for Eid al-Fitr to the Muslim community around the world," Guterres said in his Eid message on X.

"My heart is broken knowing that in Gaza, Sudan and many other places -- because of conflict and hunger -- so many Muslims will not be able to celebrate properly," he added.

Sudan has been ravaged by clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April last year. More than 13,000 people have been killed and over 8 million have been displaced according to the UN, while half the population, or 25 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians since an Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas which claimed 1,200 lives.

Much of Gaza's infrastructure has since been destroyed and 1.9 million residents forcibly displaced, leaving them at risk of disease and famine.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-chief-says-he-is-heartbroken-that-many-muslims-in-gaza-sudan-not-able-to-celebrate-eid/3187615

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UAE worshippers focus their Eid prayers on Gaza while marking end of Ramadan

Patrick Ryan

Apr 10, 2024

The plight of the people in Gaza was the focus of prayers from worshippers marking the beginning of Eid Al Fitr in one of Dubai's busiest mosques.

Thousands attended the first Eid prayers at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Jumeirah.

There was a palpable sense of joy in the air as worshippers celebrated the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, after fasting for Ramadan.

But they admitted their thoughts kept coming back to those living in Gaza, as Israel continues its war on the enclave.

“It's sad what is happening there and we are praying that changes, all we can do is pray that something good happens there,” said Syrian resident Zaher Fdloun.

“We want to see peace everywhere and it's not about one place but, of course, we care about what's happening in Palestine. Palestine, and what's happening in Gaza, is in our prayers for sure.”

These echo the sentiments of Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, who wrote on X: “Best congratulations on Eid Al Fitr, and our hearts are with the people of Gaza in their ordeal, as the fierce Israeli war casts a shadow on the holiday and its joy.

“The UAE continues to support the Gazans in these difficult times, and in parallel with its political efforts with our Arab brothers, it will spare no effort to help the people of Gaza through its comprehensive relief programme.”

More than 33,300 people have been killed in Gaza, and almost 76,000 injured, the enclave's health authorities said.

The war began on October 7, when Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took 240 hostages in attacks on southern Israel.

Coming together

Crowds of families and friends gathered at mosques across the UAE to mark the first day of Eid together.

“It's important to come together as a community and celebrate Eid Al Fitr,” said Mr Fdloun, 40. “You meet so many friends this morning and you share what you have gained in Ramadan.”

Another worshipper who included Gaza in her prayers was Amajda El Moudden from France.

“We are thinking about our brothers in Palestine,” said Ms El Moudden, 42. “We are praying for peace somehow.”

She added it was important to be grateful for what we have and that Eid is the perfect occasion to show that gratitude.

“We pray for God to accept our prayers and wish each other love and joy,” she said.

Palestinian Marah Alasadi was also hoping to see an end to the violence in her homeland, as she attended a mosque on Eid for the first time.

'We are praying for a peaceful world,” said Ms Alasadi, 29, who would previously perform Eid prayers at home.

She said she had no regrets about choosing to spend the morning at the mosque.

“After all of these days during Ramadan fasting there's something that also unites us when we're breaking our fast,” she said, adding that going to the mosque for first Eid prayers was likely to become a tradition for her.

“It felt like you belong to something and we need to practice this as much as we can and not neglect the small things in our religion because it will make a difference.”

She was not the only Palestinian to attend Eid prayers at the mosque. “I never thought in the past I would wake up at 6am and actually come,” said Ali Tarsha, 29, from Palestine.

“It's unique. There's a sense that it's a prize for a long month of patient fasting. It makes you feel purer.”

Such was the demand to worship with others on the morning of Eid, there were crowds standing outside the mosque during prayers.

Some sprinted along the middle of the road to attend on time.

“It's a very important occasion as you need to be able to celebrate and pay thanks after fasting for an entire month,” said Theasleem Eranikath from India.

“Ramadan is a very important time. If you want to have good fortune in your life then it's important to remember you need to do good and make sacrifices.”

Source: thenationalnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/04/10/uae-worshippers-focus-their-eid-prayers-on-gaza-while-marking-end-of-ramadan/

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First UAE land convoy carrying 370 tonnes of aid arrives in northern Gaza

April 09, 2024

The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence announced the arrival of the first UAE aid convoy, comprising 17 trucks, bound for the northern Gaza Strip, as part of Operation "Chivalrous Knight 3.”

It is the first aid convoy by a country to arrive in the northern Gaza Strip, entering through the Rafah Border Crossing before arriving through the Karam Abu Salem border crossing to deliver aid to the Palestinians.

A part of Operation "Chivalrous Knight 3”, the convoy carried over 370 tonnes of relief aid, including food and medical supplies, food supplements, clothing, shelter materials and other necessities.

With this new batch, the total amount of aid that the UAE provided to northern Gaza by air and land during Ramadan has reached 2,102 tonnes. This includes aid shipped by land through the Karam Abu Salem crossing and by air through the Birds of Goodness operation.

This initiative comes within the framework of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to intensify humanitarian aid efforts to support the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan.

Source: gulftoday.ae

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/04/09/first-uae-land-aid-convoy-arrives-in-northern-gaza-through-karam-abu-salem-crossing

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Over 60,000 Palestinians offer Eid al-Fitr prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Abdelraouf Arnaout 

10.04.2024

More than 60,000 Palestinians offered Eid al-Fitr prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, but there was no festive atmosphere, instead mourning the victims of Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip for over six months now.

Large contingents of Israeli police officers were deployed at the entrances, surroundings, and alleys of the city.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said in a statement that more than 60,000 faithful offered their prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Eid al-Fitr day, the main Muslim festival following the end of the holy Ramadan month.

According to an Anadolu correspondent, despite the rain, the Muslim faithful began to reach the mosque even before the Fajr, or morning prayers.

However, witnesses told Anadolu that Israeli police assaulted some people as they entered and exited the mosque in the Bab al-Asbat and Bab al-Silsila areas of the Old City.

Israeli police barred some of them from entering Al-Aqsa, so they prayed at the mosque's outer gates.

Israel has restricted Palestinian Muslims' access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growing tensions across the occupied West Bank due to the Israeli army's ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: aa.com.tr

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/over-60-000-palestinians-offer-eid-al-fitr-prayer-at-al-aqsa-mosque/3187766

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Pakistan

 

Maneka denied differences with wife caused by Imran: Bushra’s lawyer

April 10, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and ex-PTI chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Tuesday failed to get relief in an illegal marriage case before Eidul Fitr after Rizwan Abbasi, counsel for Bushra’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka, again failed to appear in the court, prompting the judge to say that he would pronounce the verdict on the next hearing even if Abbasi again skipped the hearing.

District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad, Shah Rukh Arjumand, heard the appeals, seeking suspension of the sentence awarded to Imran and Bushra in the case.

Speaking on the occasion, Bushra’s lawyer Usman Gill said that the trial court heard the case in an urgency. “There were several persons who could not record their statements in the court,” he said, adding, “Suspects in the case were indicted in their absence.”

Gill said that the trial court had deprived the suspects of a fair trial by not fulfilling legal requirements. He lamented during the hearing of the US cipher case, the defendants’ lawyer reached the court late. “But a state prosecutor was appointed in his place instead and the court gave the decision,” he said, adding, “Abbasi has not appeared in the court today, and I can say it with surety that he will not appear for a week.”

Bushra’s lawyer went on to say that the trial court would conduct the hearing of the case till late at night. “On one day, the hearing began at 10:00 in the morning and continued till 11:30 at night after the court asked the lawyers to give their final arguments,” he recalled.

Gill said that Maneka divorced Bushra thrice. “Now what else is left in the case?” he questioned and cited the decisions given by different sessions courts on divorce. He argued that when Maneka had divorced Bushra thrice, then there was no question of a patch-up.

The video of Maneka’s statement about her ex-wife was also played in the court. Afterwards, referring to Maneka’s statement, Gill said Maneka had said that now he was Bushra’s ex-husband. In his statement Maneka had described his former wife as the most pious woman in the world, the lawyer said, adding, “Maneka had also denied that differences had developed between him and Bushra due to Imran.”

The video of the statement given by Nikah Khawan Mufti Saeed to a senior journalist was also played in the court in which he talked about Imran’s marriage with Bushra and the controversy surrounding their period of iddat. Advocate Salman Akram Raja said that Saeed, who was also a witness in the case, had said that Aun Chaudhry met him. The lawyer told the court that Saeed had said that he still held the same opinion about Imran-Bushra’s marriage and iddat he had expressed before. Quoting Bushra, he said she was satisfied with the validity of her marriage.

Raja said that Imran was of the view that such cases were filed for his victimization. “Those who fabricated these cases were under the impression that this would dent the PTI’s popularity in the masses. But the latter proved them wrong by voting in favour of party candidates in the general elections in large numbers,” he said.

The lawyer also complained that the trial court did not give him time to present evidence in the case. “Nikah was solemnized in Lahore, while the case was filed here in Islamabad,” he complained. He argued that in the absence of any proof, suspects were acquitted in the case. He said that Maneka’s lawyer Rizwan Abbasi has deliberately not shown up today. “He has wasted precious time of the court,” he added.

Pronouncing the decision of today’s hearing, the judge said that the complainant had not submitted his medical certificate. “If the complainant does not appear on the next hearing, the hearing will not be adjourned,” the judge said categorically.

Source: thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1177404-maneka-denied-differences-with-wife-caused-by-imran-bushra-s-lawyer

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President, PM extend Eid greetings to Muslim Ummah

April 10, 2024

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have felicitated the nation and the Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul- Fitr and urged them to show compassion and generosity and share their happiness with the poor and needy.

In a message, the President prayed to Allah Almighty to bring immense blessings, happiness, peace and security to everyone on this blessed day.

Asif Ali Zardari said the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr sends us the message that as a nation we are determined to overcome challenges, extend a helping hand to the needy and ready to work for a bright and prosperous future for everybody.

He called for making an effort to become a united and strong nation by showing brotherhood and tolerance and ensuring social and economic justice and mutual unity and solidarity.

The President, on behalf of the Pakistani nation, he expressed solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of Gaza and Palestine..

He impressed upon the international community to ensure immediate peace in Gaza and provision of assistance to the Palestinians. He said the oppression, barbarity and genocide by Israel is the gravest violation of human rights.

Asif Ali Zardari further said that, on this occasion of happiness, we should not forget the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He assured that the entire Pakistani nation stands with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

The President said Pakistan would continue moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said this day marks the end of Ramazan, a month of immense blessings, spiritual growth, forgiveness, patience, tolerance and resilience.

The Prime Minister said the underlying message of Eid is that of solidarity, compassion, generosity and harmony and inspires us to build a peaceful and prosperous society. While we enjoy the celebratory delight of this great occasion, we must not forget the least fortunate amongst us.  He appealed to the entire nation to help those around who deserve our support so that they could also share the joys of this occasion.

Paying rich tribute to martyrs, Shehbaz Sharif said we should also remember those, who have sacrificed their lives so that the nation lives in peace and tranquility. He said the entire nation salutes the gallant veterans who work tirelessly to protect country's borders, maintain internal security and contribute to peacekeeping missions abroad. They deserve our utmost respect and recognition.

Shehbaz Sharif also urged Muslims around the world to remember their Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters who are facing the worst kind of atrocities of the occupation forces and they will be constrained to enjoy the joys of Eid. We all pray to Almighty Allah to ease their difficulties.

Source: radio.gov.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.radio.gov.pk/09-04-2024/president-pm-extend-eid-greetings-to-nation-muslim-ummah

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Nation celebrates Eidul Fitr with prayers for Gaza

April 10, 2024

ISLAMABAD:Pakistanis are celebrating Eid ul Fitr today with religious fervour and devotion with large prayer gatherings organized in mosques, Eidgahs, and open grounds.

Special prayers were offered for national security, prosperity, and the well-being of fellow Muslims, particularly those in Palestine.

Strict security measures were also taken on the occasion to avoid any untoward incident.

President felicitates nation

President Asif Ali Zardari felicitated the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah on today's auspicious occasion . He urged everyone to show compassion and generosity and share their happiness with the poor and needy. In a message, he said, “On this auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr I felicitate and express my sincere wishes to the Pakistani nation and Muslim Ummah.”

“I pray to Allah Almighty to bring immense blessings, happiness, peace and security to everyone on this blessed day.”

“After all the fasting, prayers and charity in the sacred month of Ramazan, we should be thankful to Allah Almighty for bestowing all the blessings and happiness on us.”

“During Ramazan we submitted to will of Allah and followed the principles of compassion and generosity,” he said adding, “Eidul Fitr is the day to share our happiness with others and show generosity to the deprived sections of society.”

“On this auspicious day we should help the needy, poor, orphans, and destitute and share happiness of Eid with them,” he continued.

The president said, “This auspicious occasion of Eid sends us the message that as a nation we are determined to overcome challenges, extend a helping hand to the needy, and are ready to work for a bright and prosperous future for everybody.”

“In our everyday lives we should make an effort to become a united and strong nation by showing brotherhood and tolerance and ensuring social and economic justice and mutual unity and solidarity,” he said, adding, “On behalf of the Pakistan nation, I want to give the message to the oppressed Muslims of Gaza and Palestine that the whole Pakistani nation expresses solidarity with you.”

He said, “We impress upon the international community to ensure immediate peace in Gaza and provision of assistance to the Palestinians. The oppression, barbarity, and genocide by Israel is the gravest violation of human rights.”

Zaradi further added, “On this occasion of happiness, we should also not forget the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

He assured that the whole Pakistani nation stood with Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

Pakistan would continue moral, diplomatic, and political support to Kashmiris for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to the United Nations resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people, he added.

“On the occasion of this blessed day, I pray for the welfare and prosperity of every Pakistani and the whole Muslim Ummah. May Allah Almighty shower His blessings on our nation, and keep us on the path of righteousness and bless us with unity, peace, and prosperity. Ameen!” the president added.

PM’s pledge to make Pakistan ‘Islamic welfare’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered Eidul Fitr prayers in Lahore on Wednesday.

He made a special prayer for the progress and prosperity of the country and the nation and the solidarity of Muslim Ummah.

After offering the Eid prayers, he exchanged Eid greetings with people.

The PM extended his heartfelt greetings to his countrymen and the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr and asked everyone to help the least fortunate among them.

In a message, he said, “On the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr, I extend my heartfelt greetings to my countrymen and the entire Muslim Ummah. This day marks the end of Ramazan, a month of immense blessings, spiritual growth, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, and resilience.”

“The underlying message of Eid is that of solidarity, compassion, generosity, and harmony, and inspires us to build a peaceful and prosperous society. While we enjoy the celebratory delight of this great occasion, we must not forget the least fortunate amongst us. I appeal to you to help those around you who deserve our support so that they can also share the joys of this occasion.”

“On this day, let us also remember those martyrs who have sacrificed their lives so that the nation lives in peace and tranquility,” the prime minister remarked.

“We salute our gallant veterans who work tirelessly to protect our borders, maintain internal security, and contribute to peacekeeping missions abroad. They deserve our utmost respect and recognition.”

He also urged Muslims around the world to remember their Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters who were facing the worst kind of atrocities of the occupation forces and they will be constrained to enjoy the joys of Eid.

“We all pray to Almighty Allah to ease their difficulties.”

“May the underlying meaning and significance of Islam spread among us all as a guide to the emancipation of humanity and may the world be filled with peace and harmony. Ameen,” he added.

Later talking to the media, he said while celebrating Eid, the nation should remember those brothers and sisters who needed help.

He asked the nation to pledge to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

“Let us reaffirm to take care of those who need our kindness and let us raise our voice in support of oppressed Kashmiris and Palestinians whose blood is being shed even today,” he added.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Hamza Shehbaz also offered prayers along with the prime minister.

Prayer gatherings held across country

In Islamabad, a large gathering of Eid prayers was held at Shah Faisal Mosque, where the Secretary General of the Islamic Association of Islam, Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Kareem Al-Eisa, led the prayers.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori offered Eid prayers at Polo Ground Karachi, while Mufti Taqi Usmani presided over the congregation at Nazimabad Eidgah.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and the deputy mayor, the UAE consul general, ambassadors of various Muslim countries, and former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar also reached the Polo Ground to offer Eid prayers.

In Lahore, the historic Badshahi Masjid witnessed one of the largest Eid gatherings in the country, where Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman offered Eid prayers

Source: tribune.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462283/nation-celebrates-eidul-fitr-with-prayers-for-gaza

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President Zardari felicitates nation, Muslim Ummah on Eidul Fitr

 April 10, 2024

ISLAMABAD   -   President Asif Ali Zardari felicitated the entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah, on the happy occasion of Eidul Fitr and urged them to show compassion and generosity and share their happiness with the poor and needy. In a message, he said, “On this auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr, I felicitate and express my sincere wishes to the Pakistani nation and Muslim Ummah.”

“I pray to Allah Almighty to bring immense blessings, happiness, peace and security to ev­eryone on this blessed day.” “After all the fasting, prayers and charity in the sacred month of Rama­zan, we should be thankful to Allah Almighty for bestowing all the blessings and happiness on us.” “During Ramazan, we submitted to will of Allah and followed the principles of compassion and generosity,” he said adding, “Eidul Fitr is the day to share our happiness with others and show generosity to the deprived sections of society.”

“On this auspicious day, we should help the needy, poor, orphans and destitute and share happiness of Eid with them,” he continued. The President said, “This auspicious occasion of Eid sends us the mes­sage that as a nation we are determined to overcome challenges, extend a helping hand to the needy and ready to work for a bright and prosperous future for everybody.” “In our everyday lives, we should make an effort to become a united and strong nation by showing brotherhood and tolerance and ensur­ing social and economic justice and mutual unity and solidarity,” he said, adding, “On behalf of the Pakistani nation, I want to give the message to the oppressed Muslims of Gaza and Palestine that the whole Pakistani nation express solidarity with you.”

He said, “We impress upon the international community to ensure immediate peace in Gaza and provision of assistance to the Palestinians. The oppression, barbarity and genocide by Israel is the gravest violation of human rights.” The President said, “On this occasion of happiness, we should not forget the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.” He assured that the whole Pakistani nation stood with their Kashmiri broth­ers and sisters. Pakistan would continue moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dis­pute according to the United Nations resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people, he added. The President said, “On the occasion of this blessed day, I pray for the welfare and prosperity of every Pakistani and the whole Muslim Ummah. May Al­lah Almighty shower His blessings on our nation and keep us on the path of righteousness and bless us with unity, peace and prosperity. Ameen!”

Source:

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.nation.com.pk/10-Apr-2024/president-zardari-felicitates-nation-muslim-ummah-on-eidul-fitr

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Nation celebrates Eidul Fitr with special prayers for Palestinians, Kashmiris

April 10, 2024

The nation is celebrating Eidul Fitr that falls after the culmination of the holy month of Ramazan along with the Muslims world over on Wednesday seeking Allah's special blessings for the opperssed Palsetinians, Kashmiris and other regions.

Big gathering for offering Eid prayers were held in Eidgahs, mosques, grounds and other open places throughout the city and all over the country with prayers for prosperity, progress and peace in the country and world over. People offered Eid greeting by bracing their near and dear ones after prayers.

After saying Eid prayer, people visited graveyards. They placed flowers on the graves of their loved ones and prayed for their forgiveness.

A large number of beggars thronged Eidgahs and graveyards seeking alms from the worshippers and visitors.The city life remianed dull in the morning with Metro bus and Orange Line train services suspended till 9 am.
Source: nation.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.nation.com.pk/10-Apr-2024/nation-celebrates-eidul-fitr-with-special-prayers-for-palestinians-kashmiris

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Up to 400,000 beggars visit 'Karachi during Ramadan to cash in on Eid season'

April 09, 2024

KARACHI: Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Imran Yaqoob Minhas claimed on Tuesday that 300,000 to 400,000 professional beggars head towards the metropolis during the month of Ramadan to cash in on the Eid season.

The top police officer said that beggars and criminals see Karachi a major market who used to crowd the metropolis during the Eid season. AIG Minhas pointed out that street criminals came to Karachi from interior Sindh, Balochistan, and other parts of the country.

“We cannot trace crimes through conventional steps,” he said in a statement, urging authorities to install more cameras to trace and track the criminals in the provincial capital.

It is noteworthy to mention here that at least 19 citizens lost their lives in street crime incidents only during the month of Ramadan in Karachi, whereas, more than 55 were killed over resisting robberies since January 2024.

A few days ago, the Sindh High Court (SHC) give a one-month ultimatum to the provincial authorities to restore law and order in the province amid rising incidents of street crime in Karachi, Geo News reported.

The directives were issued after SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi chaired a session on the law and order situation in Sindh.

Justice Abbasi ordered the provincial authorities to restore law and order across the province within a month. He also directed strict actions against “influential persons” who were involved in sabotaging the law and order situation.

The SHC chief justice also summoned a detailed report regarding the law and order in 15 days.

Following the SHC orders, Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon said that the high court’s top judge was briefed on the situation and gave instructions. He added that the police department also gave a briefing to the high court regarding the implementation of previous court orders.

He admitted that street crimes were among key elements behind deteriorated peace situation in Karachi while bandits of katcha (riverine) were also a big challenge to maintain law and order in other parts of the province.

“Discussions were also held on increasing patrolling of police contingents to curb street crimes in Karachi. There is a need to improve our criminal justice system, whereas, key points were also discussed regarding the interrogation process,” he added.

The Sindh police chief assured the SHC that the department will ensure that no fake cases are registered against the citizens.

Source: geo.tv

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.geo.tv/latest/538656-up-to-400000-beggars-visit-karachi-during-ramadan-to-cash-in-on-eid-season

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Imran, Quershi offer Eid prayers at Adiala jail

April 10, 2024

RAWALPINDI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan offered Eidul Fitr prayers at the Central Jamia Masjid in Adiala jail on Wednesday.

According to prison sources, the former prime minister was accompanied by ex-foreign minister and detained PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

After the prayers, the PTI chief hugged Qureshi, and the two exchanged Eid wishes.

The prison officers were also present in the congregational prayers along with Imran.

Security was set on high alert at Adiala jail on the occasion.

Imran is currently detained at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail while his wife is confined at their residence in Bani Gala, which was declared a sub-jail after Bushra’s conviction.

Imran is also expected to meet Bushra Bibi at the prison following court orders to facilitate a between the two on the occasion of Eid.

A day earlier, on April 9, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had directed the office of the capital’s advocate general (AG) to ensure the implementation of the court’s order regarding the arrangement of meetings between Imran and his wife on Eid days as well as weekly.

On April 8, the IHC expressed displeasure over the jail authorities' failure to comply with court orders regarding the arrangement of meetings between Imran and Bushra.

The incarcerated former premier Imran and his Bushra were granted permission to meet over Eidul Fitr, as per IHC's order on April 1.

Source: tribune.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462291/imran-quershi-offer-eid-prayers-at-adiala-jail

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