New Age Islam News Bureau
1 Feb 2013
Pakistan
• Nukes Could Be Hijacked By Radicals: Pervez Hoodbhoy
• 21 killed in suicide blast near mosque in Pakistan
• Lashkar-e-Islam gains more control, support of tribesmen of Khyber Agency
• Strike across Balochistan against governor rule
• Kargil conflict: Musharraf crossed LoC, spent night in India: Aide
• Lal Masjid commission summons Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz
• ANP calls for army deployment in Karachi
• Hafiz Saeed: Lahore High Court appoints amicus curiae
• Pak publishers yet to get visa for World Book Fair
• Mobile phone services resume in Karachi
• Only 30 Pakistanis left in Syria
Southeast Asia
• ‘Allah’ For Muslims Only, Says Former Malaysian Chief Justice
• Part blood money paid by KSA spares Filipino from death
• Indonesian Actor Faces 12 Years under Drug Charges
• HRW Slams Indonesia for Minority Rights, Imprisoned Activists
• Police quiz Ibrahim Ali over ‘Bible-burning’ threat
Arab World
• End the gap between Islamic and manmade legal systems: A Saudi Legal Expert
• Egypt stages new protests against President Morsi
• Syria Says It Has Right to Counterattack Israel
• Egypt factions seek dialogue, condemn bloodshed
• Syria threatens retaliation over 'Israel strike'
• Syria opposition says talks must focus on Assad departure
• Exhibition on Holy Qur’an studies to open in Jeddah
• 60% of Saudis own homes, economy chief says
• Saudi-Sudan ferry service resumes
• Anger over death of Saudi girl after father's an Islamic preacher, 'beating'
• Bahrain policeman jailed for death of protester
Africa
• Timbuktu Liberation Brings New Hopes, Fears of Freedom in Mali
• Mali rebels in custody say tortured by military
• Darfur gold battle: Tens of thousands of Sudanese flee
Mideast Asia
• Suicide bombing at US Embassy in Turkey, 2 dead
• U N report calls Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas 'illegal'
• Israel strikes chemical weapons convoy in Syria
• Israeli warplanes fly over Lebanon: Official
• KSA, Yemen sign cooperation accord; murder, kidnap cases still unsolved
India
• Centre okay with granting passport to pro-Pakistan, Syed Geelani
• Urdu Fiction Writer Intezar Hussain Nominated for Man Booker Prize
• Acid attacks: J&K cops told to report on steps taken
• Commend Musharraf for crossing LoC to be with troops: General VK Singh
• 'Promises by Pak must be based on action': AK Antony
• Bengal CM ordered police to block my arrival at Kolkata: Salman Rushdie
• Hate speech: Akbaruddin's custodial interrogation begins
• Kamal Haasan says film ban is an insult to him, country
• Shehla murder: CBI to probe BJP legislator’s role
• A month after communal riots, Dhule residents struggle to cope
• Omar Abdullah meets PM, seeks security, fund for sarpanches
North America
• Guantanamo trials: Judge Orders end to secret censor
• US make available Arabic educational materials for free
• US Archbishop Releases Abuse Records, Raps Cardinal
• Senators grill Obama's defence chief nominee on Iran, Israel
• Iran stepping up Syria support, Hillary Clinton warns
• Pak too dangerous area to simply walk away: Hagel
• Pressure on Iran to continue: White House
Europe
• United Nations deplores Tahrir Square rapes, demands action
• Britain will train Libyan security forces
• France backs possible UN force in Mali
• Muslim Family Driven From Bingham Home after Islamophobic Abuse and 'Ham Cross'
• France's President to visit Mali
South Asia
• Strike over war crimes trials hits Bangladesh, 6 killed
• Deadly bomb blast hits Afghan bird fight, 1 Killed 8 injured, Taliban Takes Responsibility
• 2,400 Bangladesh Jamaat-Shibir men sued for Bogra violence
• We will defeat you in a single round: Nasheed challenges Gayoom
• Afghanistan human rights conditions likely to worsen: HRW
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
Photo: Suicide blast near mosque in Pakistan
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Pakistan
Nukes Could Be Hijacked By Radicals: Pervez Hoodbhoy
Feb 1, 2013
LONDON: Increasing radicalisation within Pakistan's military could lead to its nuclear weapons being hijacked by radical Islamists, a Pakistani scientist has warned.
"Safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is of a major concern. The growing radicalisation within the military, given attacks on its own internal bases, could lead to these nuclear weapons being hijacked by radical Islamists," said Pervez Hoodbhoy, who was here for the London launch of his book 'Confronting the Bomb'.
The nuclear physicist and defence analyst estimated Pakistan's arsenal to be similar to India's, at around 120-130 warheads.
He was answering questions from members of the Indian Journalists' Association at the Indali Lounge here last evening.
"Earlier, such weapons were seen just as a means of deterrence. The most dangerous development is the increasing search for fissile material as a new dimension of tactical nuclear war has entered the picture. This means the number of weapons will steadily increase," he said.
Hoodbhoy, who received his PhD in nuclear physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), stressed that the issue needs to be addressed for the sake of sub-continental as well as global security.
"India and Pakistan have come close to nuclear war at least five times - in 1987, 1990, during Kargil (1999), after the attack on the Indian Parliament (2001) and the Mumbai attacks in 2008. Given the history of nuclear tension, we can't afford to be passive on this issue. The fallout, from the blast itself to the radioactive effects, will be felt not just in the sub-continent but around the world," he said.
"Confronting the Bomb: Pakistani & Indian Scientists Speak Out", published by Oxford University Press and edited by Hoodbhoy, is a compilation of essays by scientists from both sides of the border.
It kicks off with the atomic age in India in 1974, followed by Pakistan and traces the furious nuclear race after the 1998 nuclear tests.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Nukes-could-be-hijacked-by-radicals-Pakistani-scientist/articleshow/18287343.cms
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21 killed in suicide blast near mosque in Pakistan
February 1, 2013
The attack on the mosque took place in the town of Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has experienced previous clashes between the Sunni and Shia communities that live there.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside a Shia mosque in northwestern Pakistan as worshippers were leaving Friday prayers, killing at least 21 people and wounding 36 in the latest apparent sectarian attack in the country, police said.
Shia Muslims in Pakistan have increasingly been targeted by radical Sunnis who consider them heretics, and 2012 was the bloodiest year for the minority sect in the country’s history.
The attack on the mosque took place in the town of Hangu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has experienced previous clashes between the Sunni and Shia communities that live there.
The bomber staged his attack at one of the mosque’s exits leading to a bazaar, said Hangu police chief Mian Mohammad Saeed.
The blast damaged several small shops and peppered a wall with shrapnel, leaving scores of pockmarks, according to local TV footage. Ambulances rushed in to pick up the dead and wounded, as police tried to keep back onlookers in the crowded bazaar.
At least 21 people were killed and 36 wounded, said Saeed. One policeman who was guarding the mosque was killed and another was injured, he said.
Most of the dead and wounded were Shias, but some of the casualties were also from the country’s majority sect since there is a Sunni mosque nearby, said another police officer, Naeem Khan.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but suspicion will likely fall on the Pakistani Taliban or Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which have both carried out bombings against Shias.
The worst sectarian violence in Pakistan in recent years has been in southwestern Baluchistan province, which has the largest concentration of Shias in the country. A twin bombing last month at a billiards hall in the provincial capital, Quetta, killed 86 people, most of them Shias.
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 400 Shias were killed in targeted attacks in Pakistan in 2012, including over 120 in Baluchistan.
Sectarian militant groups, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, have increased their strength through alliances with al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban, which has been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for the past several years.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/21-killed-in-suicide-blast-near-mosque-in-pakistan/article4368792.ece
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Lashkar-e-Islam gains more control, support of tribesmen of Khyber Agency
February 1, 2013
HANGU / BARA: As clashes in the troubled Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency entered the seventh consecutive day, Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) announced that it has successfully captured all the check posts from the peace militia in Takhtaki area.
This won over the Qamarkhel tribesmen, who, along with peace volunteers, announced they were joining hands with the LeI and they hoisted its black flag at their houses and check posts.
On day seven, six more militants were killed in clashes among militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ansarul Islam (AI), LeI and Qamarkhel peace militia.
More than 90 TTP militants, three dozen AI members, over 10 LeI men and seven Qamarkhel vigilantes have been killed during the week. However, the death toll of civilians could not be confirmed.
On Tuesday, LeI militants had captured two check posts of Zarha Kandao and Naray Pail from the Qamarkhel peace militia. As a result, the peace militia started negotiating with the LeI militants to leave the check posts, insisting that they would remain impartial during the ongoing clashes. While LeI militants refused to relinquish control they did say that they would not advance into Qamarkhel areas.
However, on Wednesday and early Thursday morning, the peace militia hoisted flags in favour of LeI militants. Talking to journalists from an undisclosed location, LeI spokesperson Abu Rasheed Lashkari announced that his outfit had captured all the check posts from the peace militia in Takhtaki and the Qamarkhel tribesmen have decided to join hands with his outfit.
The Qamarkhel tribesmen confirmed the development and said it was done to avoid further bloodshed.
Ten killed in Orakzai Agency
Jet fighters pounded militant hideouts in Orakzai Agency for the fourth consecutive day Thursday when 10 militants were killed, security forces announced.
An official said that at midnight two fighter planes bombed TTP Orakzai militant trenches, destroying three of them in Arghanjo and Sarkani of Momozai in upper parts of the agency.
He said that in the recent operation, around 38 militants were killed while 11 of their hideouts were destroyed. However, the exact number of the wounded men could not be ascertained.
Thursday was the fourth bombing since the beginning of 2013 when security forces targeted militant hideouts of group led by Moulvi Gul Zaman and his deputy Maulana Toufan.
Talking to journalists, a TTP commander from Mamozai said that their trenches were bombed by fighter planes but very few of their fighters were killed or injured as the hideouts were vacated before the attack.
Orakzai is the second smallest agency in Fata after Bajaur Agency and the only area which doesn’t share a border with Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st
http://tribune.com.pk/story/501314/tirah-turf-war-day-7-lei-gains-more-control-support-of-tribesmen/
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Strike across Balochistan against governor rule
February 1, 2013
QUETTA: A complete shutter down strike was being observed across Balochistan on Friday against the governor rule imposed in the province, DawnNews reported.
The strike was being observed on the call of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) and Balochistan National Party – Awami (BNP-A).
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/strike-across-balochistan-against-governor-rule/
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Kargil conflict: Musharraf crossed LoC, spent night in India: Aide
Feb 1, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Weeks before hostilities erupted between Indian and Pakistani troops in the Kargil sector in 1999, Gen Pervez Musharraf crossed the Line of Control in a helicopter and spent a night at a location 11 km inside Indian territory, a former aide to the military ruler has said.
Col (retired) Ashfaq Hussain, who was a senior officer in the Pakistan Army's media arm, said Musharraf flew across the LoC on March 28, 1999 and travelled 11 km into the Indian side.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Weeks-before-Kargil-conflict-Musharraf-crossed-LoC-spent-night-in-India-Aide/articleshow/18290778.cms
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Lal Masjid commission summons Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz
February 1, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The one man commission constituted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to probe the 2007 Lal Masjid operation has decided to summon former military ruler General (retired) Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz for questioning.
According to an official not wanting to be named, said that Musharraf and Mr Aziz would be summoned in the second week of February.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/lal-masjid-commission-summons-musharraf-and-shaukat-aziz/
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ANP calls for army deployment in Karachi
February 1, 2013
ISLAMABAD: During Friday’s session of the Senate, the Awami National Party (ANP) demanded that army be deployed in Karachi in order to improve the city’s security situation, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to media representatives after the session, Senator Haji Adeel of the ANP said law and order could not be established in the city without a military deployment, adding that an indiscriminate operation against criminal elements in the country’s financial capital was necessary.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/anp-calls-for-army-deployment-in-karachi/
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Hafiz Saeed: Lahore High Court appoints amicus curiae
February 1, 2013
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday appointed an amicus curiae for assistance on a petition filed by Jamatud Dawa (JD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed seeking a direction to the government to defend him before a US Court which had issued summons to him, former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha and other officials in a law suit filed by relatives of US citizens killed in Mumbai attacks.
Full report at:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/501258/hafiz-saeed-lahore-high-court-appoints-amicus-curiae/
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Pak publishers yet to get visa for World Book Fair
February 1, 2013
With only a couple of days left for the 40th international book fair, publishers from Pakistan are yet to get visas to participate in the week-long event in New Delhi, even as organisers said they have provided all necessary clearance.
Beginning on February 4, the World Book Fair 2013, being held for the past 40 years and now a major calender event in the publishing world, is set to showcase 1,100 Indian and foreign publishers from countries like Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, South Korea, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pak-publishers-yet-to-get-visa-for-world-book-fair/article4369150.ece
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Mobile phone services resume in Karachi
February 1, 2013
KARACHI: Mobile phone services resumed in Karachi on Friday after remaining suspended from 12-3 pm upon the orders of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik amid security concerns, DawnNews reported.
Malik had said on Thursday that there was a terror threat in Karachi for Friday, hence mobile phone services were to be suspended during Friday prayer timings from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/rehman-malik-orders-closure-of-mobile-phone-services-in-karachi/
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Only 30 Pakistanis left in Syria
February 1, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Only 20 to 30 Pakistanis are residing in Syria while all of our students there returned home when the conflict started, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Palwasha Khan told the House on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar informed the lawmakers that the government has a mechanism to help those who require evacuation from Syria.
Full report at:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/501316/na-question-hour-only-30-pakistanis-left-in-syria/
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Southeast Asia
‘Allah’ For Muslims Only, Says Former Malaysian Chief Justice
February 1, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — The use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims does not arise for it is enshrined in the constitutions of 10 states which restricted its usage just to Muslims.
Former chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said all quarters must respect the laws and should not question or raise the issue.
He said the Federal Constitution also clearly stated that Islam is the official religion of the country, hence all parties, including non-Muslims should understand it and should not make inappropriate demands.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/allah-for-muslims-only-says-former-chief-justice/
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Part blood money paid by KSA spares Filipino from death
1 February 2013
RIYADH: Filipino expats in the Kingdom expressed gratitude late yesterday following a Saudi government decision to shoulder the unpaid balance of the blood money sought by the Saudi family of a victim slain by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
“We thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and may the Almighty keep him in good health always so that he could continue extending humanitarian acts not only to Filipinos but other nationals as well,” Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago told Arab News from Manila.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/part-blood-money-paid-ksa-spares-filipino-death
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Indonesian Actor Raffi Faces 12 Years Under Drug Charges: BNN
Jakarta Globe | February 01, 2013
Indonesian actor Raffi Ahmad was charged with drug possession on Friday after narcotics agents allegedly seized marijuana and illegal stimulants from his South Jakarta home earlier this week.
Raffi faces a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted under Indonesia’s drug code. He was charged in violation of Article 111, which bans the possession and distribution of category one narcotics, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Spokesman Sr. Comr. Sumirat Dwiyanto said in a press conference Friday afternoon.
Full report at:
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-actor-raffi-faces-12-years-under-drug-charges-bnn/568924
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Human Rights Watch Slams Indonesia for Minority Rights, Imprisoned Activists
Hayley Davis | January 31, 2013
Indonesia must do more to defend minority rights and free imprisoned activists to set an example for other consolidating democracies in the wake of the Arab Spring, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday.
The annual World Report, which reviews progress on human rights in over 90 countries, identified religious violence, discriminatory local by-laws and the imprisonment of Papuan and Moluccan peaceful activists as inhibiting Indonesia’s path to becoming a “rights-respecting democracy.”
Full report at:
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/human-rights-watch-slams-indonesia-for-minority-rights-imprisoned-activists/568821
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Police quiz Ibrahim Ali over ‘Bible-burning’ threat
February 1, 2013
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 31 — Penang police have recorded statements from two Perkasa leaders — its president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and information chief Roslan Kassim — over the alleged “festival” to burn Malay and Jawi versions of the Bible containing the word “Allah”.
Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said rumours had been spread that the “Bible-burning” gathering would be held at Padang Bandaran, Bagan Luar in Butterworth on the mainland last Sunday.
Full report at:
“Allah”, with the former claiming it referred exclusively to the Islamic God.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-quiz-ibrahim-ali-over-bible-burning-threat/
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Arab World
End the gap between Islamic and manmade legal systems: A Saudi Legal Expert
1 February 2013
There is a conflict between Shariah authorities and non-Shariah legal experts in areas such as legal studies, methodology and execution of law in Kingdom, according to Ahmed Al-Saqih, a Saudi legal expert.
He stressed the need to close the widening gap between the Islamic legal system and the manmade legal system, and ending the disputes between the two sides.
“Even the word ‘manmade law’ was unacceptable for some Shariah experts in the past,” Al-Saqih said in a lecture delivered at the Hamad Al-Jassar Center yesterday. “The situation has now changed, especially after legal experts have realized that the non-Shariah law also has the goal of reaching at just legal rights.”
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/expert-end-gap-between-islamic-and-manmade-legal-systems
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Egypt stages new protests against President Morsi
01 Feb, 2013
Thousands of opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are staging new protests, after the deadliest week of violence since he came to power.
More than 60 people have been killed in the unrest.
On Thursday, leaders of some of the main political factions condemned the violence. But youth groups later called for more street demonstrations.
The protesters are marching on the presidential palace in Cairo and rallying in the city of Port Said.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21289729
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Syria Says It Has Right to Counterattack Israel
By ANNE BARNARD and JODI RUDOREN
February 1, 2013
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Tensions over the Israeli airstrike on Syrian territory appeared to increase on Thursday as Syria delivered a letter to the United Nations declaring its right to self-defense and Israel’s action was condemned not only by longstanding enemies, including Iran and Hezbollah, but also by Russia.
Israeli officials remained silent about their airstrike in Syrian territory on Wednesday, a tactic that experts said was part of a longstanding strategy to give targeted countries face-saving opportunities to avoid worsening a conflict. But Syria’s own confirmation of the attack may have undercut that effort.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/world/middleeast/syria-crisis.html
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Egypt factions seek dialogue, condemn bloodshed
January 31, 2013
Rival factions in Egypt on Thursday condemned the violence which has killed dozens in a week of unrest and pledged support for a national dialogue to resolve the political crisis gripping the country.
Top Islamic scholar Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayyeb chaired talks between liberal opposition heads, Islamists, youth groups, independents and church members at the headquarters of Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/africa/Egypt-factions-seek-dialogue-condemn-bloodshed/Article1-1004694.aspx
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Syria threatens retaliation over 'Israel strike'
Feb 1, 2013
DAMASCUS: Syria threatened on Thursday to retaliate over what it says was an Israeli air raid, as Damascus allies rushed to denounce the strike which threatened to take the conflict beyond Syria's borders.
Israel maintained a stony silence over Syria's claims, as well as over separate reports that its jets had hit a weapons convoy near the Lebanon border.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Syria-threatens-retaliation-over-Israel-strike/articleshow/18282207.cms
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Syria opposition says talks must focus on Assad departure
February 01, 2013
The opposition Syrian National Coalition said on Thursday that any talks on the country's political future must be about the departure of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
A day after SNC chief Moaz al-Khatib expressed openness to discussion with members of the regime, the political commission issued a statement reaffirming the group's charter that "any negotiation or dialogue must be about the departure of the regime and its pillars."
Meeting in the Egyptian capital, it added that it welcomed "any political solution or international effort aimed at achieving that objective."
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/africa/Syria-opposition-says-talks-must-focus-on-Assad-departure/Article1-1004824.aspx
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Exhibition on Holy Qur’an studies to open in Jeddah
1 February 2013
Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed will open an exhibition on the Holy Qur’an studies on Sunday.
The 12 pavilions in the exhibition being organized by the College of Education in the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah will showcase 30,000 items including books, publications, copies of the Holy Qur’an and flyers that are directly related to the study of the holiest book for Muslims. The exhibitors in the event include the King Fahd Holy Qur’an Printing Complex, the International Commission for Memorization of the Holy Qur’an, the Saudi Scientific Society for the Holy Qur’an, and Scientific Wonders in the Holy Qur’an and the Imam Al-Shatibi Institute of the Jeddah Charity Society for the Memorization of the Holy Qur’an.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/exhibition-holy-qur%E2%80%99-studies-open-jeddah
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60% of Saudis own homes, economy chief says
1 February 2013
Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammad Al-Jasser has criticized those who have raised doubts about the validity of the latest statistics from the General Statistics and Information Department that show that 60 percent of Saudis own houses, according to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
He asked that the data be analyzed, not debated. “These numbers are very accurate and based on a survey implemented by an army of field workers,” he said.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/60-saudis-own-homes-economy-chief-says
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Saudi-Sudan ferry service resumes
1 February 2013
Passenger ferry services between Saudi Arabia and Sudan are back to normal following months in hiatus.
People familiar with the maritime transportation industry in Jeddah confirmed late yesterday that after delays due to ship maintenance requirements operations between the two nations Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/saudi-sudan-ferry-service-resumes
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Anger over death of Saudi girl after father's an Islamic preacher, 'beating'
01 Feb, 2013
The case of a five-year-old Saudi girl who died after allegedly being beaten by her father has sparked outrage and an online campaign in the kingdom.
The girl, Lama, was the daughter of Fayhan al-Ghamdi, an Islamic preacher who made regular appearances on TV.
He was arrested after Lama's death in November but was reportedly absolved by the judge in the case.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21281992
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Bahrain policeman jailed for death of protester
01 Feb, 2013
A Bahraini police officer has been jailed for seven years for killing of an anti-government protester.
Ali Abdulhadi al-Mushaima died on the 14 February 2011, the first fatality in a wave of unrest that swept the Gulf island kingdom.
Mr Mushaima was hit at close range by birdshot in the Sanabis district of the capital city Manama.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21293191
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Africa
Timbuktu Liberation Brings New Hopes, Fears Of Freedom In Mali
By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI
01/31/13
TIMBUKTU, Mali — A leaflet listing the regulations for women under Islamist rule now lies in dirt here at the tribunal in Timbuktu. Rule No. 1: The veil should cover the entire body. Rule No. 4: The veil cannot be colored. And Rule No. 8: The woman should not perfume herself after putting on the all-enveloping fabric.
Several days after French special forces parachuted in and liberated this storied city, there is a growing sense of freedom. Though in the houses immediately facing the Islamic tribunal, many of the 8- and 9-year-old girls are still wearing the head covering.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/timbuktu-liberation-mali-freedom_n_2589539.html
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Mali rebels in custody say tortured by military
February 1, 2013
TIMBUKTU: Three suspected jihadists arrested in the days since they liberated the town of Timbuktu said Friday that Malian soldiers were torturing them with a method similar to waterboarding.
The three are being held in an earthen cell in what remains of the military camp in Timbuktu, which was liberated earlier this week by French and Malian soldiers after nearly 10 months under the rule of radical rebels.
The men, who were tied together with a turban and one handcuff, all acknowledged to The Associated Press having been members of the Al Qaeda-linked group known as Ansar Dine, or Defenders of the Faith.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/mali-rebels-in-custody-say-tortured-by-military/
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Darfur gold battle: Tens of thousands of Sudanese flee
01 Feb, 2013
Some 100,000 people have fled fighting over a gold mine in Sudan's Darfur region, the UN has said.
It said many were living in the open in appalling conditions, while others had fled to a nearby town where offices and schools had shut to accommodate them.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21289737
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Mideast Asia
Suicide bombing at US Embassy in Turkey, 2 dead
Feb 1, 2013
ANKARA: A police official says a suicide bomber has detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the US Embassy in the Turkish capital and at least two people are dead.
An Associated Press journalist on Friday saw a body in the street in front of an embassy side entrance.
The bomb appeared to have exploded inside the security checkpoint at the entrance of the embassy.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Suicide-bombing-at-US-Embassy-in-Turkey-2-dead/articleshow/18291055.cms
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U N report calls Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas 'illegal'
Feb 1, 2013
NEW DELHI: A new report by the UN Human Rights Council says that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian lands are illegal and may be challenged in the International Court of Justice. Released yesterday, the report is based on evidence collected by a fact finding mission set up last year by the Council.
The Israeli government did not give permission to the three member commission to visit Jerusalem or West Bank, and refused to cooperate with it. Reacting to the report, an Israeli government statement described it as "unfortunate" and "counterproductive".
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/New-United-Nations-report-calls-Israeli-settlements-in-Palestinian-areas-illegal/articleshow/18288987.cms
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Israel strikes chemical weapons convoy in Syria
February 01, 2013
Israel’s air force launched a rare airstrike on a military site inside Syria, the Syrian government and US officials said on Wednesday, adding a potentially flammable new element to regional tensions already heightened by Syria’s civil war. The strike appeared to be the latest salvo in
Israel’s long-running effort to disrupt the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah’s quest to build an arsenal capable of defending against Israel’s air force and spreading destruction inside the Jewish state.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/restofasia/Israel-strikes-chemical-weapons-convoy-in-Syria/Article1-1004730.aspx
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Israeli warplanes fly over Lebanon: Official
February 1, 2013
BEIRUT: Israeli warplanes flew over southern Lebanon Friday, two days after an airstrike near Damascus, as Syria’s army chief of staff warned against testing his country’s capabilities.
General Ali Abdullah Ayoub made his comments Thursday during a visit to some military units in the country. The Al-Baath newspaper, the mouthpiece of President Bashar Al Assad’s ruling party, quoted Ayoub as saying Syria will never change its stance ”no matter how much the enemy carries out provocative and hostile acts.”
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/israeli-warplanes-fly-over-lebanon-official/
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Israel may feel need to strike Syria again
Feb 01 2013
Beirut : An Israeli air attack staged in Syria this week may be a sign of things to come.
Israeli military officials appear to have concluded that the risks of attacking Syria are worth taking when compared to the dangers of allowing sophisticated weapons to reach Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/israel-may-feel-need-to-strike-syria-again/1067861/
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KSA, Yemen sign cooperation accord; murder, kidnap cases still unsolved
1 February 2013
Two months after the gruesome murder of a Saudi diplomat and about 10 months after the abduction of another diplomat in Yemen, Yemeni security officials have failed to solve the murder mystery and made no headway in the case of the diplomat’s abduction.
“Not much progress has been made in the two cases so far,” said Alauddin Alaskary, deputy foreign minister for protocol affairs, here yesterday. He was speaking on the occasion of the signing of two executive programs for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the information and media sector in Riyadh.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/ksa-yemen-sign-cooperation-accord-murder-kidnap-cases-still-unsolved
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India
Centre okay with granting passport to pro-Pakistan, Syed Geelani
Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times
February 01, 2013
Even though the Centre is in no hurry to engage the Kashmir separatist Hurriyat Conference in a dialogue, it has no objection to issuance of passport to pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for travelling to Islamabad or any other third country.
Geelani had last applied for passport in 2011.
Top sources said despite Omar Abdullah government advocating that the Centre or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in particular engage the Hurriyat, the UPA government is yet to firm up its view on the need to hold talks with Kashmir separatists, considering their weakening hold in the Valley.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/newdelhi/Centre-okay-with-granting-passport-to-Syed-Geelani/Article1-1004759.aspx
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Urdu Fiction Writer Intezar Hussain Nominated for Man Booker Prize
New Age Islam News Bureau
London: Renowned Urdu fiction writer and novelist Intezar Hussain has been nominated for the Man Booker International Prize this year. He is among the ten fiction writers for this coveted award. Other writers are from India, Israel, America, China, France, Canada and Switzerland. This is the first time an Urdu writer has been nominated for this prize.
Intezar Hussain who was born in 1923 in Meerut, India had migrated to Pakistan. He has published 8 collections of Urdu short stories, 4 novels, two volumes of autobiography and a novelette apart from writing columns in Urdu and English newspapers. Four collections of his short stories and a novel have been translated into English.
Man Booker International is conferred to a writer who either writes in English or his works have been available in English through translation.
The winner will be announced in May this year.
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Acid attacks: J&K cops told to report on steps taken
February 01, 2013
The J&K human rights commission (SHRC) has demanded details from the state’s police chief about the steps taken to stop acid attacks on women.
The direction comes a month after a 30-year-old woman, a teacher, sustained serious burns in Srinagar. The police have given no details about why Reyaz Ahmed Nath, 30, who is in police custody, attacked the woman. But her family members have accused Nath of stalking her for a while.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/srinagar/Acid-attacks-J-amp-K-cops-told-to-report-on-steps-taken/Article1-1004754.aspx
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Commend Musharraf for crossing LoC to be with troops: General VK Singh
February 01, 2013
Amid a controversy over whether Pakistani army chief General Pervez Musharraf crossed the Line of Control in 1999 and spent a night on Indian-controlled territory, the former chief of the Indian army General VK Singh has said, "As a military commander, I commend General Musharraf that he came 11 kms into enemy territory and spent the night with his troops. It is a testament to his internal courage... on the other hand, from our side, what was happening all of you know..Why did we let them in? There were some lapses on our part."
Full report at:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/commend-musharraf-for-crossing-loc-to-be-with-troops-general-vk-singh-325273
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'Promises by Pak must be based on action': AK Antony
Feb 01 2013
New Delhi : Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday talked tough, and said that promises made by Pakistan must be translated into sincere action.
"At the moment, tension in the LoC is much reduced. Again I told yesterday that even though the tensions have reduced, we cannot relax. We have to be on vigil 24x7 because lot of promises were made. Promises are not enough, we want to see that how these promises are translated into sincere action," Antony told media here.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/promises-by-pak-must-be-based-on-action-ak-antony/1067923/
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Bengal CM ordered police to block my arrival at Kolkata, Salman Rushdie says
Feb 1, 2013
NEW DELHI: Controversy over Salman Rushdie's plan to visit Kolkata refuses to die down with the Booker prize-winner author on Friday alleging that the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself ordered the police to block his arrival. According to TV reports, the author has left for London.
Salman Rushdie was to visit Kolkata on Wednesday for the promotion of the film Midnight's Children which is based on his Booker-winning novel. He, however, had to cancel his visit as, he claimed, the Kolkata Police did not want him to be there.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mamata-Banerjee-ordered-police-to-block-my-arrival-at-Kolkata-Salman-Rushdie-says/articleshow/18287187.cms
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Hate speech: Akbaruddin's custodial interrogation begins
Feb 1, 2013
HYDERABAD: The Nizamabad Police is today interrogating MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, facing sedition charges for his alleged "hate speech" in December last year.
Akbaruddin, who is in judicial remand and lodged at the Adilabad district jail, was brought to Nizamabad town this morning and was being questioned by investigating officer at the Armed Reserve headquarters, they said.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hate-speech-Akbaruddins-custodial-interrogation-begins/articleshow/18288587.cms
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Kamal Haasan's brother talks to Muslim groups to solve Vishwaroopam crisis
Feb 01 2013
Chennai : Talks have begun in Chennai today to break the deadlock over the release of Kamal Haasan's 'Vishwaroopam'.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had said yesterday she would broker peace between actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan and protesting Muslim groups.
The meeting is being attended by representatives of Muslim organisations, Chandra Haasan, Haasan's brother, and the state Home Secretary. The Commissioner of Police, S George, is also present.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kamal-haasans-brother-talks-to-muslim-groups-to-s.../1067920/
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Shehla murder: CBI to probe BJP legislator’s role
Abhishek Sharan, Hindustan Times
February 01, 2013
Eight months after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gave him a clean chit in its probe into the murder of activist Shehla Masood by hired killers in Bhopal in August 2011, BJP legislator Dhruv Narayan Singh is back under its scanner. The CBI will soon grill two key female accused who had allegedly hatched Masood's murder conspiracy, Bhopal-based interior designer Zahida Parvez and her colleague Saba Farooqui, “to verify their allegations that it was Singh who was the main brain behind the crime but slipped away,” a CBI source told HT.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/newdelhi/Shehla-murder-CBI-to-probe-BJP-legislator-s-role/Article1-1004776.aspx
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A month after communal riots, Dhule residents struggle to cope
February 01, 2013
Dhule, Maharashtra: Almost a month after communal riots tore through Machchli Bazaar in Dhule, Maharashtra, Jebunissa says she still hears the sound of guns firing. One wall of her modest home has a jagged hole where a bullet fired by cops deployed to control riotous mobs hit. On a shelf inside, every utensil has a hole, made, she says, by bullets that flew in.
Full report at:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/a-month-after-communal-riots-dhule-residents-struggle-to-cope-325329
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Omar Abdullah meets PM, seeks security, fund for sarpanches
Jan 31, 2013
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought assistance in providing security and honorarium to newly-elected Panches and sarpanches so that panchayati raj institutions are further strengthened.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Omar-Abdullah-meets-PM-seeks-security-fund-for-sarpanches/articleshow/18275539.cms
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North America
Guantanamo trials: Judge orders end to secret censor
01 Feb, 2013
The judge overseeing a military trial at Guantanamo Bay has ordered an end to secret government censors after courtroom sound was cut during a discussion about CIA prisons.
Army Col James Pohl ordered an unnamed government agency to remove censorship equipment, as a second round of pretrial hearings finished on Thursday.
The order could add further delays to the proceedings, correspondents say.
Defence lawyers want assurance talks with their clients were not tapped.
The judge said in his ruling that he had sole authority to decide when to close a hearing or stop spectators - including journalists and relatives of the victims - from listening to testimony.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21288201
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US makes available Arabic educational materials for free
1 February 2013
Arabic language educational materials with a focus on science and technology will be available for free online without cost, according to Mofid Deak, the US Embassy Press Attaché and spokesman.
The Open Book Project (OBP) provided the materials. It was developed by the US Department of State in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/us-makes-available-arabic-educational-materials-free
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US Archbishop Releases Abuse Records, Raps Cardinal
Michael Thurston | February 01, 2013
The archbishop of Los Angeles stripped his predecessor of all church duties as he released files on more than 100 clerics, as required under a 2007 lawsuit deal over alleged sex abuse.
Archbishop Jose Gomez said retired Cardinal Roger Mahony will "no longer have any administrative or public duties," while Mahony's former top adviser on sex-abuse issues, Thomas Curry, has stepped down as a regional bishop.
Full report at:
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/us-archbishop-releases-abuse-records-raps-cardinal/568947
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Senators grill Obama's defense chief nominee on Iran, Israel
Jan 31, 2013
WASHINGTON: Chuck Hagel, named to be President Barack Obama's defense chief, defended his record on national security matters on Thursday at a heated Senate hearing where a senior Republican accused him of seeking to appease America's enemies.
Critics in Congress have sought to portray Hagel, a former Republican senator and decorated Vietnam war veteran, as a soft on Iran and anti-Israel, pointing to past comments that Hagel's supporters say were taken out of context or distorted.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Senators-grill-Obamas-defense-chief-nominee-on-Iran-Israel/articleshow/18277281.cms
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Iran stepping up Syria support, Hillary Clinton warns
Feb 1, 2013
WASHINGTON: Iran is stepping up its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Russia is continuing to send money and arms to the regime, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned on Thursday.
"The Iranians have made it clear for some time that keeping Assad in power was one of their highest priorities. We believe they have acted on that by sending in more personnel, not only Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Iran-stepping-up-Syria-support-Hillary-Clinton-warns/articleshow/18282990.cms
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Pak too dangerous area to simply walk away: Hagel
February 1, 2013
Nuclear-powered Pakistan is too dangerous area of the world to simply walk away, U.S. Defence Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing.
“I think Pakistan is too dangerous and that area of the world is so clearly in the national security interests of this country that we just can’t walk away from it and not deal with them,” Mr. Hagel, the two-time former Senator from Nebraska said on Thursday in his answers to a 112-page questionnaire for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pak-too-dangerous-area-to-simply-walk-away-hagel/article4368145.ece
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Pressure on Iran to continue: White House
February 01, 2013
The US on Friday said that the world pressure on Iran would continue as long as Tehran refuses to live up to its international obligations on its controversial nuclear programme, warning that the window for diplomacy remains open, but not indefinitely. "We
judge Iran not by its words but by its actions. And they are consistently in violation of their United Nations obligations, their international obligations. And because of that, they are enduring the most intense sanctions regime in history,White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said. "That has had a dramatic impact on their economy as well as on their politics. And, you know, that pressure will continue, and it will increase as long as Tehran refuses to live up to its international obligations with regards to its nuclear programme," he said in response to a question.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/NorthAmerica/Pressure-on-Iran-to-continue-White-House/Article1-1004900.aspx
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Europe
United Nations deplores Tahrir Square rapes, demands action
Feb 1, 2013
UNITED NATIONS: UN officials deplored reports that 25 women were sexually assaulted during protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and demanded that Egyptian authorities take steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The executive director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women said the agency "is deeply disturbed by the gravity of recent attacks against women".
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/United-Nations-deplores-Tahrir-Square-rapes-demands-action/articleshow/18287197.cms
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Britain will train Libyan security forces
February 1, 2013
TRIPOLI, Feb 1 — British Prime Minister David Cameron used a surprise visit to Tripoli yesterday to pledge Britain’s help in training Libya’s security forces, part of broader European efforts to counter Islamic militancy in North Africa.
In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers approved the outline of a mission to help Libyan authorities tighten border security to combat arms-smuggling and stop militants crossing the border. The training and advisory mission is expected to involve about 70 civilian experts and to be launched by summer.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/cameron-says-britain-will-train-libyan-security-forces/
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France backs possible UN force in Mali
Jan 31, 2013
PARIS: French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday backed the idea of sending a United Nations peacekeeping force into Mali, saying France would play a role in any such plan.
The UN Security Council is to begin discussing the possibility of deploying UN troops in the stricken West African nation, envoys said of an idea it had previously been uncomfortable with before France's recent military intervention.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/France-backs-possible-UN-force-in-Mali/articleshow/18273774.cms
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Muslim Family Driven From Bingham Home After Islamophobic Abuse And 'Ham Cross'
31/01/2013
A Muslim family had a pork-wrapped wooden cross placed outside their home, their mother abused in the street and smoke blown into the face of a child by an elderly man, after moving into a middle-class Nottinghamshire village.
The BBC reports that Murad Alam, 39, had found his young son plotting an "escape route" on Google Earth from their home in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, after becoming afraid that racist vigilantes would attack their house.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/31/muslim-family-driven-from_n_2588862.html
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France's President to visit Mali
Muslim Family Driven From Bingham Home After Islamophobic Abuse And 'Ham Cross'
31/01/2013
A Muslim family had a pork-wrapped wooden cross placed outside their home, their mother abused in the street and smoke blown into the face of a child by an elderly man, after moving into a middle-class Nottinghamshire village.
The BBC reports that Murad Alam, 39, had found his young son plotting an "escape route" on Google Earth from their home in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, after becoming afraid that racist vigilantes would attack their house.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/31/muslim-family-driven-from_n_2588862.html
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South Asia
Strike over war crimes trials hits Bangladesh, 6 killed
Jan 31, 2013
DHAKA: Violence gripped Bangladesh on Thrusday as activists of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami clashed with police, leaving six people, including a constable, dead and several others injured, during a nationwide strike called to protest the 1971 war crimes trials.
The nationwide general strike was enforced by the Jamaat- e-Islami and backed by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to halt an ongoing trial of their top leaders for 1971 war crimes charges.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Strike-over-war-crimes-trials-hits-Bangladesh-6-killed/articleshow/18276682.cms
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Deadly bomb blast hits Afghan bird fight, 1 Killed 8 injured, Taliban Takes Responsibility
February 1, 2013
KANDAHAR: A bomb exploded among spectators at a bird fight in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing a teenager and wounding up to eight other people, police said.
Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was launched against a “gambling match where local police were present”.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/deadly-bomb-blast-hits-afghan-bird-fight-police/
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2,400 Jamaat-Shibir men sued for Bogra violence
Star Online Report
A number of 2,400 Jamaat and Shibir men have been sued in two separate cases for Thursday’s violence in Bogra during their countrywide hartal.
Police in a drive arrested 32 Jamaat-Shibir activists at different parts of the town from Thursday afternoon to Friday noon, said Riaz Ahmed, inspector (Investigation) of Bogra Sadar Police Station.
Full report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44483
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We will defeat you in a single round: Nasheed challenges Gayoom
By Mariyath Mohamed | January 31st, 2013
The Maldivian Democratic Party held a several thousand strong rally on Wednesday night despite a police takeover of Usfasgandu, the party’s rally ground in Male’, and a warning from Minister of Home Affairs Mohamed Jameel that the police would not allow the rally to be held in the area.
Police cordoned off the main rally ground and surrounding streets, with MDP members and supporters standing just beyond police lines. The rally was held adjacent to the protest site.
Crowds gathered an hour before the scheduled start of the rally and heated verbal exchanges took place between the protestors and approximately thirty police officers at the location. Full report at:
http://minivannews.com/politics/come-and-contest-this-time-we-will-defeat-you-in-a-single-round-nasheed-challenges-gayoom-52185
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Afghanistan human rights conditions likely to worsen: HRW
February 1, 2013
KABUL: Afghanistan’s human rights situation remains poor and will likely deteriorate even further with the departure of Nato-led forces from the country next year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its annual global report on Thursday.
Increasing international fatigue over the 11-year war has led to reduced pressure on the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to limit the role of warlords, corrupt politicians, and other human rights abusers, the report said.
Full report at:
http://dawn.com/2013/02/01/afghanistan-human-rights-conditions-likely-to-worsen-hrw/
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