PM Narendra Modi Remembers Martyrdom of Imam Hussain On Day of Ashura
New Age Islam
News Bureau
30 August 2020
Narendra Modi has tweeted
remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
-----
• Pro-Islamic
State Supporters Have Administered Home-Based Schooling in Indonesia
• Al-Qaeda
Reacts To UAE-Israel Peace Deal with Image Criticizing Abu Dhabi Rulers
• Israeli
Minister Hopes for UAE Normalization Ceremony in US Next Month
• Top US
Official to Be On 1st Israel-UAE Flight
• Karbala
Incident, A Message to Wage Jihad Against Oppression: Pak Punjab CM
• Ashura Being
Observed Differently Without Tazia Processions in Bangladesh
• Riots in Sweden’s
Malmo City After Quran Burning by Far-Right Activists
India
• PM Narendra
Modi Remembers Martyrdom of Imam Hussain On Day of Ashura
• Delhi HC
refuses to vacate stay on Sudarshan TV show after controversy
• NCRB data:
Higher share of Dalits, tribals, Muslims in prison than numbers outside
• At least 19
injured in pellet firing, teargas shelling on Shia mourners in J-K's Srinagar
• Soldier, Hizb
trio killed in Pulwama encounter
--------
Southeast Asia
• Pro-Islamic
State Supporters Have Administered Home-Based Schooling in Indonesia
• Zaidi thanks
PAS and PN allies for massive win
• Muhyiddin sad
at not having Shafie beside him at the top
• Think of
Sabah’s future when voting next month, urges Muhyiddin
--------
Arab world
• Al-Qaeda Reacts
To UAE-Israel Peace Deal with Image Criticizing Abu Dhabi Rulers
• UAE Scraps
Israel Boycott in New Step Towards Normal Ties
• Hezbollah’s
Hassan Nasrallah calls for boycott of Al Arabiya, Al Hadath
• Nasrallah:
Millions of dollars being spent on media war against Hezbollah
• Shiite Muslims
mark holy day of mourning in virus’ shadow
• Syrian
opposition calls on major powers to back nationwide ceasefire
--------
Mideast
• Israeli
Minister Hopes for UAE Normalization Ceremony in US Next Month
• Spokesman:
Iran Deems Case of Imam Musa Al-Sadr as Important
• Iranian Envoy
Lauds China for Resistance against US Unilaterlism
• ‘Israeli tanks
shell southern Gaza on 24th day of attacks’
• Israeli
protesters decry corruption, keep pressure on Netanyahu
• Yemeni forces
arrest senior al-Qaeda leader in Sana'a: Interior ministry
• Israel
demolished, sized 25 Palestinian-owned structures in West Bank in 2 weeks: UN
• Palestinian
groups ready for 'long-term' battle against Israel amid Gaza escalation
• Thousands gather
in Israel for anti-Netanyahu weekly rallies
--------
North America
• Top US
Official to Be On 1st Israel-UAE Flight
• Muslim-American
groups mobilise to get voters registered for election day
• US hails close
partnership with Libyan prime minister
--------
Pakistan
• Karbala
Incident, A Message to Wage Jihad Against Oppression: Pak Punjab CM
• Sacrifices of
Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family and companions commemorated
• Parties seek
written deal before opposition conference
• Justice Isa’s
wife seeks income tax details of PM, others
• Officials
involved in fraud must face dismissal: SC
• CM Usman
Buzdar for following teachings of Imam Hussain (RA)
--------
South Asia
• Ashura Being
Observed Differently Without Tazia Processions in Bangladesh
• Hezb-e-Islami
Leader Hekmatyar: India-Afghanistan to Form a Militia, India Refutes
• The rise of
Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban's new military chief
• Ghani Approves
Members of HCNR
--------
Europe
• Riots in
Sweden’s Malmo City After Quran Burning by Far-Right Activists
• Turkey
condemns Islamophobic incident in Sweden
• Belgium:
Ex-advisor supports Turkey on Mediterranean
• German
specialist supports Turkish views on East Med.
--------
Africa
• UN Expresses
Concern Over ‘Dramatic Turn’ In Libya Crisis
• Jordan Court
Affirms Muslim Brotherhood 'Does Not Exist' In Latest Twist Over Rival Groups
• Nigerians
migrants attack medics at Rome coronavirus centre
• Mali’s
military junta postpones first meeting over transfer of powers
• Boko Haram
militants kill two, kidnap two in northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri
• Thousands
still missing in South Sudan: Rights group
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pm-narendra-modi-remembers-martyrdom/d/122752
--------
PM Narendra Modi remembers martyrdom of Imam Hussain on day of Ashura
Aug 30, 2020
Narendra Modi has tweeted
remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
-----
NEW DELHI: Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday remembered the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS)
on the Day of Ashura.
"We recall
the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS). For him, there was nothing more important
than the values of truth and justice. His emphasis on equality as well as
fairness are noteworthy and give strength to many," PM tweeted.
This year, in
the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the annual procession has been barred in
most parts of the country.
The Day of
Ashura is being observed today across the world to commemorate the martyrdom of
Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Sunday is the
tenth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar. On this day, Imam
Hussain, along with several of his companions and family members were martyred,
while his surviving family members were taken prisoners.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-narendra-modi-remembers-martyrdom-of-imam-hussain-on-day-of-ashura/articleshow/77830911.cms
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Pro-Islamic
State Supporters Have Administered Home-Based Schooling in Indonesia
August 30, 2020
By V. Arianti
and Ahmad Saiful Rijal
"We Are All ISIS,"
propaganda from Islamic State.
-----
Islamic State
supporters have administered tens of home-based schools, mostly in Java,
according to estimates by PAKAR, an Indonesian NGO that studies radicalism in
Indonesia. They name the schools Rumah Qur’an (RQ), which literally means
Qur’anic House. It is technically a
“boarding school” run in a house where the students live and study in a cramped
environment.
Depending on the
capacity of the house, a pro-IS RQ can accommodate eight to two dozen students,
either single or mixed genders (segregated) in one compound. How are the
schools grooming the potential “cubs” of IS, also known as ISIS?
Assessing the
School’s Curriculum
Based on the
publicly available social media accounts of some pro-IS schools, they offer
tahfidz (memorising the Qur’an) programmes. However, their curriculum appears
to be beyond merely memorising the verses. In essence, the schools offer
religious classes with a Salafi curriculum. Two subjects highlighted as core
subjects are Arabic language and Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism).
According to the
posts, Arabic language is important in order to understand the Holy Quran as
well as the Prophetic Tradition while Tawhid is central to a Muslim’s faith.
While both subjects are traditionally important for all Muslims, the Salafi
doctrinal orientation emphasises a rigid understanding of Tawhid that requires
the abolition of all manifestations of shirk (polytheism), bara’
(disassociation) as well as takfir (excommunication) of so-called polytheists.
It is important
to note that Salafism is not the root cause of terrorism; however for IS, it is
pivotal for them to plant the seeds of antagonism towards the ‘enemies’ of
Islam by exploiting certain religious concepts such as the Salafi doctrine of
takfir.
The latter has
been used to legitimise the IS’ killing of Muslims as well as others. As a
result, IS supporters who run the RQs in Indonesia have co-opted Salafi
principles as their correct theological approach to Islam.
“Nullifiers of
Islam”
Much has been
discussed about the idea of Caliphate espoused by IS and how it has managed to
attract fighters across the world, but the concept of ‘nullifiers’ of Islam
legitimises the atrocities that IS has committed against Muslims. This idea
forms the basis for IS to isolate and excommunicate Muslims for supposedly not
adhering to the ‘true’ teachings of Islam.
Pro-IS schools
have adopted the book titled “Pembatalan Islam” as the core reference for the
study of Tawhid, the fundamental principle of monotheism in Islam. The book is a
translated treatise known as “The Nullifiers of Islam” written by Muhammad ibn
‘Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of the Islamic doctrine known as Wahhabism.
According to
‘Abd al-Wahhab, as explained by the scholar Shaikh Abdullah an-Najmi, this set
of ten nullifiers can invalidate one’s religion and good deeds. If a person
commits any one of these nullifiers and his good deeds become void, he will be
relegated to the rank of unbelievers. One of the nullifiers notes that “Whoever
does not excommunicate the polytheists, or is doubtful about their unbelief, or
affirms the validity of their doctrine – he is an unbeliever by consensus”.
Among the posts
by the home-based pro IS schools, one argues that parents who love their
children should let them study Tawhid instead of Mathematics, English and
National Civic Education. This is because they are the next generation of
Muwahhid (monotheist). This term Muwahhid has been used by IS in its propaganda
videos as well as publications. It refers to those who not just profess God’s
unity but also those who perform jihad against the enemies.
In another post,
a screenshot of a related WhatsApp group highlighted the achievement of some
students who have completed several topics on Tawhid based on a booklet called
“Alwaajibat” (the obligatory upon Muslims), also written by ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab.
The post mentioned that it is imperative to educate the young against the
polytheistic peril of modern times ─ such as democracy and other forms of political
systems which do not recognise Sharia law. Such posts have garnered a lot of
‘likes’ and ‘comments’ among its followers.
Slowing Growth
of Militant ‘Cubs’
The number of
pro-IS home-based schools will likely grow as the administrators aim to
establish more such schools across the country. Law enforcement agencies are
not able to arrest such growth as the administrators of the schools are not
technically involved in terror acts.
The home-based
pro-IS schools have attracted both parents who are supporters of IS and parents
in the local neighbourhood who are not IS supporters. Just as parents involved
in Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the largest jihadi group in Indonesia, enrol their
children to study at JI schools, IS parents and supporters would see such
schools as important institutions to instil IS values in their children.
Moreover,
children of the pro-IS followers who are detained and slain pro-IS militants
are sponsored by pro-IS charity groups when they go to such schools. For the
unsuspecting non-IS parents, who live in the vicinity of a pro-IS school, they
may be enticed by the school’s claim that it offers the “true” teachings of
Islam.
To slow the
creation of a new generation of militant ‘cubs’, more needs to be done to stem
the growth of such schools if they purvey values that are antithetical to the
security of the country. The Indonesian government and civil society
organisations could mitigate it by first, ensuring that the children of radical
inmates and slain militants do not study at those schools.
This would help
to stop the cycle of radicalism within IS families. Second, there should be
general education within the community about such schools, especially among
unsuspecting parents who merely want a religious education for their children.
*V. Arianti and
Ahmad Saiful Rijal are both Associate Research Fellows at the International
Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), a constituent
unit in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/30082020-pro-islamic-state-home-based-schooling-in-indonesia-analysis/
--------
Al-Qaeda reacts
to UAE-Israel peace deal with image criticizing Abu Dhabi rulers
Tommy Hilton
29 August 2020
An image reportedly showing
an al-Qaeda video responding to the Israel-UAE peace deal. The Arabic reads Who
is for Bin Zayed? He has wronged Allah & his Prophet. (Twitter, Elisabeth
Kendall)
-----
The terrorist
organization al-Qaeda in Yemen appears to have reacted to the historic peace
deal between Israel and the UAE with a video thumbnail criticizing Abu Dhabi’s
rulers, according to a post by an analyst on Twitter.
Earlier this
month Israel and the UAE agreed to normalize ties in exchange for Israel
halting its proposed annexation of the West Bank, paving the way for commercial
deals, telephone links, and flights between the two countries.
While many,
including the US and Bahrain, have praised the agreement, others have
criticized it as premature and lacking solid concessions for the Palestinians.
For all the
latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
On Friday, the
global terrorist organization al-Qaeda, the same group behind the infamous
September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, also appeared to weigh in on the issue.
According to a
post by Oxford University’s Dr. Elisabeth Kendall, whose specialisms include
Middle Eastern terrorist organizations, the group has released a video
featuring graffiti that criticizes Abu Dhabi’s ruling family on an image of the
al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
“Who’s for Bin
Zayed? He has wronged Allah & his Prophet,” says the graffiti, in reference
to the UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan or
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The video, which
Al Arabiya English could not access for verification, appears to be from the
organization’s al-Malahem Media channel. It shows an image of Ibrahim al-Qusi,
a Sudanese paymaster for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) who was
previously held in the US Guantanamo Bay detainment camp.
According to
Kendall, the image of al-Qusi and not AQAP leader Khalid bin Umar Batarfi,
could suggest infighting in the group.
Despite the US
and its allies killing former al-Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden and hunting the
group globally, al-Qaeda and its affiliates remain active in many countries
including Yemen and Libya.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/08/29/Al-Qaeda-reacts-to-UAE-Israel-peace-deal-with-image-criticizing-Abu-Dhabi-rulers.html
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Israeli minister
hopes for UAE normalization ceremony in US next month
30 August 2020
Israel hopes to
hold a Washington ceremony solemnizing its normalization deal with the United
Arab Emirates by mid-September, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
cabinet said on Sunday.
For all the
latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“This agreement
is expected to be signed in the month of September in the city of Washington,”
Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis told public broadcaster Kan.
“It will happen
- is meant to happen, so I hope – before our Rosh Hashanah. There is still no
date, but this is certainly the desire of the government of Israel.”
Rosh Hashanah,
the Jewish new year, is on September 18.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/08/30/Israeli-minister-hopes-for-UAE-normalization-ceremony-in-US-next-month.html
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Top US official
to be on 1st Israel-UAE flight
Michael
Hernandez
28.08.2020
WASHINGTON
US President
Donald Trump’s national security advisor said on Friday that he will be on the
first commercial flight to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Israel.
Robert O'Brien
confirmed his plan in a virtual address to the Atlantic Council think tank, ending
speculation sparked by reports earlier this week that he and Trump’s son-in-law
Jared Kushner would be on the historic flight.
O’Brien said he
will be departing for Israel on Saturday.
An Israeli
delegation is also expected to be on the flight, which is scheduled to depart
from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport for Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The flight will
likely be operated by Israel’s national flag carrier El Al, said O’Brien.
“What a great
thing to have the UAE, which is a finance center in the Middle East and a great
partner of the United States, and the start-up nation, the center of innovation
in the Middle East, Israel, our great democratic ally, come together,” he said.
The flight will
be the first between the nations since the US brokered the opening of bilateral
diplomatic relations.
The deal,
however, has already hit turbulence over the UAE's desire to purchase F-35
jets, which Israel has vocally opposed on national security grounds.
Shortly after
announcing the normalization agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said the agreement includes direct flights from Tel Aviv to UAE
airports, passing through Saudi airspace.
Saudi Arabia has
not issued any confirmation or denial about allowing Israeli airplanes to cross
its airspace, with Riyadh also refraining from issuing any public criticism of
the agreement.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/top-us-official-to-be-on-1st-israel-uae-flight/1956612
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Karbala
Incident, A Message To Wage Jihad Against Oppression: Pak Punjab CM
August 30, 2020
LAHORE -
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that
Muharram-ul-Haram commemorates the glorious sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain
(R.A) for upholding of Islam.
Incident of
Karbala gives us the lesson that forces of evil have to face defeat while Islam
will remain forever.
Hazrat Imam
Hussain (R.A) upheld the truth and did not bow before evil.
The grief of
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and other martyrs of Karbala will remain
forever. He said that the great
sacrifices of martyrs of Karbala have revived the universal principles of Islam
including patience, tolerance and sacrifice till the Day of Judgment.
The battle
between truth and falsehood in Karbala teaches Muslims to wage Jihad against
oppression and evil.
The battle
between good and evil has been going on for many decades in Indian Occupied
Jammu & Kashmir and thousands of Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives and
fulfilling the greatest tradition of Karbala.
The tyrant Modi
has perpetrated brutality and barbarism in Occupied Kashmir and has become the
Yazeed of the present era. The day is
not far away when the sacrifices of the martyrs will bear fruits and the name
of Modi will be erased from history.
He said that the
glorious sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and his companions in
the Karbala are a beacon for us.
The journey of
the martyrs of Karbala, their courage and immortal sacrifices will continue to
provide encouragement and enthusiasm to the oppressed nations till the end of
the time.
The Prophet’s (PBUH)
grandson, with his deeds and actions taught us to raise the voice for truth and
protect human values. He said that the
struggle of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) is an everlasting message of being strong
against oppression.
Directs peaceful
atmosphere be ensured at any cost on Ashur
Buzdar on Saturday visited the central control room at the Civil
Secretariat to monitor the security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram.
The Chief
Minister also inspected different sections of the central control room. Additional Secretary Home briefed the Chief
Minister about the security arrangements.
Usman Buzdar
said that majalis and processions held across the Punjab have been geotagged
and Pakistan Army and the Rangers have been called for the assistance in
security arrangements.
Majalis and
processions are being monitored through CCTV cameras. He directed that a
peaceful atmosphere should be ensured at any cost.
He directed to
observe route and punctuality for Majalis and processions.
He directed
members of Peace Committees to play a vibrant role for promoting religious
harmony. He said that there will be no compromise on the publication and
distribution of objectionable material and indiscriminate action should be
taken on violation. He said that code of conduct should be ensured at any
cost. Law enforcement agencies should
remain vigilant and all energies and capabilities should be utilised for
maintaining law & order.
He said that
more than two lac 40 thousand police officers and officials will perform duty
in Punjab. Whereas, 676 places across the province have been declared sensitive
and security has been made alert.
He said that a
timely meal should be provided to the on duty police personnel. He said that today (Ashura day) police,
administration and other agencies should display ideal cooperation.
He said that law
enforcement agencies should maintain close liaison with each other. Police officials should remain on duty till
the peaceful dispersal of the processions.
The Chief
Minister appreciated the arrangements made in the central control room and
praised the performance of the officers and staff. He directed them to perform
their duties wholeheartedly.
Chief Minister was
briefed that special arrangements have been made for CCTV coverage, dashboard
and media monitoring in the central control room.
He was further
informed that digital monitoring of 37,562 and 9,717 processions are being
carried out throughout the province.
Central control
room has been linked with divisional and district control rooms. Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police,
Additional Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary to CM,
Special Secretary (Home), Secretary Information and concerned authorities were
present on the occasion.
https://nation.com.pk/30-Aug-2020/karbala-incident-a-message-to-wage-jihad-against-oppression-cm
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Ashura Being
Observed Differently Without Tazia Processions in Bangladesh
August 30th,
2020
President Md
Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the
eve of the holy Ashura
The holy Ashura,
commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hossain Ibn Ali (RA), is being
observed across the country on Sunday, without any Tazia procession from Dhaka.
Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned all kinds of Tazia, mourning and pike
processions in the Dhaka metropolitan area on the occasion of the holy Ashura
due to the ongoing pandemic.
However, devoted
city dwellers will be able to perform religious rite in compliance with the
health rules. But carrying of knives, daggers, scissors, spears, swords, sticks
and displaying of fireworks and crackers is strictly prohibited in these
programs.
The DMP urged
not to allow anybody to enter the function venue without wearing masks and
asked everyone to apply necessary health protective measures at all stages.
Sunday is the
10th day of the month of Muharram in Hijri calendar. Muslims across the world
recall the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA) along with his family members
and 72 followers, who embraced martyrdom in 680 AD for establishing truth and
justice in the fight with soldiers of Yazid on Karbala Maidan in Iraq.
President, PM
issued separate messages
President Md
Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued separate
messages on the eve of the holy Ashura, paying deep respect to Hazrat Imam
Hossain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala.
In his message,
the president said, “The holy Ashura is a significant and mourning day for the
whole Muslim Ummah.”
On Muharram 10
in Hijri 61, Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA), grandson of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad
(PBUH), his family members and his companions embraced martyrdom for
establishing truth and justice in the fight with soldiers of Yazid on Karbala
Maidan, he added.
Their supreme
sacrifice for upholding the ideals of Islam remains as a glorious event in the
history, Hamid said.
He said the
tragic incident of Karbala inspires “us” to be vocal against any injustice and
repression and lead the life in the path of truth and beauty.
“Islam is a
religion of peace and harmony. There is no room here for confrontation,
jealousy and envy,” the president added.
The president
hoped that the lesson of Ashura would act as the source of inspiration for all
to spread the light of truth and beauty in the society along with establishing
the social and religious values.
The prime
minister, in her message, said the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA) and
his companions to establish truth and justice in society is a glaring and
emulating example for the Muslim Ummah across the world.
“We, however,
are observing the Ashura this year in a crisis period. The coronavirus has
paralyzed the whole world. Our government is taking all necessary steps to face
the situation. We continue all sorts of support to the people,” said Sheikh
Hasina.
Allah tests the
patience of people when they are in trouble, the premier said, adding that
everyone should come forward to help each other with patience and tolerance
during this time.
She urged all to
follow health guidelines and offer special prayers to the Almighty Allah
seeking relief from the lethal virus.
“Let’s build a
discrimination-free, happy, prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh being imbued
with the spirit of the holy Ashura by participating in welfare-oriented works
from our respective positions in establishing truth and justice at the national
level,” the prime minister said.
During the
ongoing coronavirus crisis, a short program has been taken all over the
country, including Dhaka, on this occasion. Police have taken special security
measures in the capital marking the occasion.
The day is a
public holiday.
Bangladesh
Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels will air special programs
while newspapers and online news portals publish supplements highlighting the
significance of the day.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/08/30/ashura-being-observed-differently-without-tazia-processions
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Riots in
Sweden’s Malmo city after Quran burning by far-right activists
Posted by: Harshit
Sabarwal
Aug 29, 2020
Far-right activists
burned a Quran in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, sparking riots and unrest
after more than 300 people gathered to protest, police said Saturday.
Rioters set
fires and threw objects at police and rescue services Friday night, slightly
injuring several police officers and leading to the detention of about 15
people.
The violence
followed the burning Friday afternoon of a Quran, near a predominantly migrant
neighbourhood, that was carried out by far-right activists and filmed and
posted online, according to the TT news agency.
Later, three
people were arrested on suspicion of inciting hatred against an ethnic group
after kicking the Muslim holy book.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/riots-in-sweden-s-malmo-city-after-quran-burning-by-far-right-activists/story-PMaVht4z3H0HMb4n6sweTN.html
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India
Delhi HC refuses
to vacate stay on Sudarshan TV show after controversy
Edited by Arpan
Rai
Aug 29, 2020
Delhi High Court
on Saturay refused to vacate the stay on the telecast of the show ‘Bindas Bol’
to be telecast by on private television channel Sudarshan TV. The court has
asked Centre to decide on the notice given to the channel within 48 hours from
September 1.
The private
television channel’s controversial programme which claimed a ‘big expose on
conspiracy to infiltrate Muslims in government service’ came under judicial
scrutiny before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.
In the viral
clip, channel’s editor-in-chief Suresh Chavhanke had alleged a conspiracy in
the “overwhelming” number of Muslim students clearing the Union Public Service
Commission exams and was scheduled to broadcast big expose on conspiracy to
infiltrate Muslims in government service’. While the apex court has fixed next
date of hearing on September 15, the high court will hear the matter on
September 7.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-hc-refuses-to-vacate-stay-on-sudarshan-tv-show-after-controversy/story-xVJQ0Zs6aBJB2pjAapyOjO.html
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NCRB data:
Higher share of Dalits, tribals, Muslims in prison than numbers outside
by Deeptiman
Tiwary
August 30, 2020
The latest data
on prisons released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show that
Dalits, tribals and Muslims continue to be jailed in numbers disproportionate
to their share in the population, unlike OBCs and those belonging to the
general category or upper castes.
The data, for
the year 2019, also show that among the marginalised groups, Muslims are the
one community which has more undertrials than convicts.
At the end of
2019, Dalits made up 21.7% of all convicts in jails across the country. The share
of Scheduled Castes among undertrials languishing in jails stood at 21%. The
2011 Census put their share in the population at 16.6%.
In the case of
tribals, the gap was equally big. While the Scheduled Tribes made up 13.6% of
the convict population, and 10.5% of all undertrials in jails, the Census put
their numbers at 8.6% of the population.
With a
population share of 14.2%, Muslims formed 16.6% of all convicts, but 18.7% of
all undertrials. This convict to undertrial ratio was reversed in case of both
the Dalits and tribals.
“The data show
that our criminal justice system is not only tardy but also loaded against the
poor. Those who can hire good lawyers get bail easily and also have a fair shot
at justice. The poor also tend to get sucked into petty crimes for lack of
economic opportunities,” former chief of Bureau of Police Research and
Development N R Wasan said.
The numbers are
stark when compared to the share of OBCs and non-marginalised population in the
various categories. While forming 41% of the population as per the National
Sample Survey Organisation 2006 data, they represented 35% and 34% of the
convicts and undertrials respectively.
The others
broadly include upper caste Hindus and non-marginalised sections from other
religions. Estimated to form 19.6% of the population, they formed 13% of the
convicts and 16% of the undertrials.
Compared to the
NCRB data from 2015, the Muslim proportion among undertrials fell in 2019,
while rising slightly among convicts. In 2015, Muslims formed 20.9% of all
undertrials in jails, and 15.8% of all convicts — compared to 18.7% and 16.6%
in 2019.
For SCs and STs,
the situation has not changed much over the past five years. Dalits formed
around 21% of the convicts and undertrials in jails as per the 2015 NCRB data —
almost the same as 2019. The tribal numbers have remained almost constant among
convicts (13.7% in 2015, 13.6% last year), while falling among undertrials
(12.4% in 2015 to 10.5% in 2019).
State-wise, the
maximum number of Dalit undertrials in jails were in Uttar Pradesh (17,995),
followed by Bihar (6,843) and Punjab (6,831). Most ST undertrials were in
Madhya Pradesh (5,894), followed by UP (3,954) and Chhattisgarh (3,471). The
maximum Muslim undertrials were in UP (21,139), followed by Bihar (4,758) and
Madhya Pradesh (2,947).
A similar
analysis for convicts showed the largest Dalit numbers (6,143) in UP, followed
by MP (5,017) and Punjab (2,786). Most tribal convicts were in MP (5,303),
Chhattisgarh (2,906) and Jharkhand (1,985). At 6,098, the largest number of
Muslim convicts were in UP, followed by West Bengal (2,369) and Maharashtra
(2,114).
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ncrb-data-higher-share-of-dalits-tribals-muslims-in-prison-than-numbers-outside-6575446/
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At least 19
injured in pellet firing, teargas shelling on Shia mourners in J-K's Srinagar
Aug 29, 2020
SRINAGAR: At
least 19 mourners were injured when the police fired teargas canisters and
pellet shotguns to disperse a Muharram tazia procession in Srinagar’s Bemina
area on Saturday.
The hospital
sources and witnesses said that 12 of the injured were hit by pellets and that
the condition of, at least, one of them who received multiple pellet entrance
wounds in the face is stated to be critical.
The police burst
teargas canisters to disperse the Shia mourners in Shalimar area too on the
outskirts of the city later during the day.
However, a large
number of mourners took to the streets in congested Gaw Kadal area of the
summer capital, and amid chanting of slogans in praise of Imam Hussain began
intense self-flagellation. The witnesses said that the police and other
security forces watched them from a distance and did not try to interfere
unlike at Bemina and Shalimar.
Imam Hussain was
the grandson of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred along with 71 of his
family members and companions in the Battle of Karbala (Iraq) in October 680.
The police
authorities said that only “mild force” was used against groups of people at a
couple of places after they violated restrictions in force in parts of Srinagar
in view of COVID-19 and tried to take out tazia processions, ignoring the
appeals of the authorities to the contrary.
On Friday, the
police detained dozens of Shia mourners to foil their repeated attempts to take
out a tazia procession through the streets of uptown Srinagar. The authorities
at dawn on Friday imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC on areas falling
under eight police stations- Batamaloo, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar, Maisuma,
Kothi Bagh, Shergari, Krala Khud and Ram Munshi Bagh to hold back tazia
processions.
Kashmir’s
Divisional Commissioner, Pandurang K Pole, on Thursday night announced a
complete ban on holding of such rallies in view of the spike in COVID-19 deaths
and positive cases in the Valley and urged the heads of religious organizations
to use their influence and make people aware of the importance of following
Coronavirus related SOPs including social distancing protocol and use of face
masks while commemorating martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
Several Shia
religious organizations and leaders had earlier announced that no mass rallies,
processions or congregations (gatherings) would be held this year to
commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in view of coronavirus and appealed
the devotees to follow SOPs strictly while even holding restricted majalis
(mourning assemblies) in their respective areas. However, such appeals were
ignored in some areas, including the central town of Budgam where the police
used force to break up a large mourning procession on Wednesday.
The authorities
said that curfew-like restrictions being enforced in parts of Srinagar and some
other towns will be extended to more areas from Saturday midnight to hold back
tazia and zuljinah procession on Sunday, the 10th day of Muharram.
In Kashmir
Valley, an official ban remains in force on organizing mourning rallies and processions
along select traditional routes on the 8th and 10th day of Muharram, the first
month of Islamic calendar, mainly in Srinagar ever since the separatist
campaign became violent way back in 1989. Only small mourning rallies and
processions with certain restrictions would be permitted in the areas having
sizable Shia populations.
However this
year, the authorities decided to impose a blanket ban on such rallies and
procession in view of COVID-19.
http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/290820/at-least-19-injured-in-pellet-firing-teargas-shelling-on-shia-mourners-in-j-ks-srinagar.html
--------
Soldier, Hizb
trio killed in Pulwama encounter
Aug 29, 2020
SRINAGAR: Three
Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and an Army jawan were killed in an anti-terror
operation at Zadoora area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday.
The slain ultras
— identified as Pulwama residents Adil Hafiz, Arshid Ahmad Dar and Rouf Ahmad
Mir — had a long criminal history and were part of groups involved in planning
and carrying out numerous terror attacks in the area, including on police and
security establishments. Adil was also wanted for an attack on a naka (check
post) party at Prichoo Bridge in which a cop was killed and another injured,
police said in a statement.
Based on
intelligence inputs, a joint team of Army’s 50RR, CRPF’s 180 and 183 Bn, and
J&K Police launched a cordon-and-search operation in Zadoora in the
morning. “During the operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained,
they were given the opportunity to surrender but the terrorists opened
indiscriminate fire at the security forces, which was retaliated leading to an
encounter,” the statement said. In the fire exchange, the Hizb trio was killed
while a soldier sustained critical injuries. The injured, Sepoy Prashant Kumar
Sharma, was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed, police said.
Incriminating
materials including arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of
the encounter and taken into case records for further investigation.
In view of the
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the bodies of the slain terrorists will be sent to
Baramulla for burial after the completion of medico-legal formalities. Their
immediate family members will be allowed to participate in the last rites
there, police said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/soldier-hizb-trio-killed-in-pulwama-encounter/articleshow/77826849.cms
--------
Southeast Asia
Zaidi thanks PAS
and PN allies for massive win
Faiz Zainudin
August 29, 2020
TANJUNG MALIM:
Victorious Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Zaidi Aziz said tonight he was not
surprised by his huge majority at the Slim by-election today.
He said strong
cooperation among the parties in Muafakat Nasional had succeeded in attracting
many voters, thus leading to his thumping success.
Zaidi, who is
acting head of Tanjung Malim Umno division, thanked PAS for the party’s high
commitment in terms of machinery and logistics to bring out as many voters as
possible. “It is not easy for PAS, which has been Umno’s rival for a long time
but because of MN, they voted for Umno,” he said.
“The same goes
for the votes of the Chinese and Indian communities who voted for BN,” he said,
thanking supporters of MCA, MIC, PAS, PPBM and friends in Perikatan Nasional.
Zaidi polled
13,060 votes while his main rival Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi of Parti
Pejuang Tanah Air obtained 2,115 votes. Amir stood as an independent as the
party is awaiting registration. A third candidate, former teacher S.
Santharasekaran polled 276 votes.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/08/29/zaidi-thanks-pas-and-pn-allies-for-massive-win/
--------
Muhyiddin sad at
not having Shafie beside him at the top
August 29, 2020
KOTA KINABALU:
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed his sadness at not having Sabah
caretaker chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, whom he described as his good
friend, with him in leading the government.
Muhyiddin said
that he and Shafie were comrades, especially in Umno until he was sacked and
Shafie decided to leave the party.
“But what I am
sad about is that now that I am the Prime Minister, the leadership of Sabah is
not with me. He (Mohd Shafie) is my good friend.
“In politics,
one day you can be friends and the next moment you are enemies. But when it
comes to the administration of the country, as far as possible the federal and
state governments must be the same, and of one heart and one mind,” he said.
However,
Muhyiddin disclosed that Shafie had been at Kota Kinabalu airport today to
welcome him on his first official visit to Sabah since becoming prime minister.
Photographs of
the two leaders doing the fist bump at the airport has been widely shared by
many social media and Internet users.
Muhyiddin made
his remarks about Shafie when speaking at a social event with state political
leaders at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/08/29/muhyiddin-sad-at-not-having-shafie-beside-him-at-the-top/
--------
Think of Sabah’s
future when voting next month, urges Muhyiddin
Durie Rainer
Fong
August 29, 2020
KOTA KINABALU:
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today urged the people to think of Sabah’s
future when voting in the coming state election.
In his first
address to a Sabahan gathering since becoming head of government last March,
Muhyiddin said he did not want the state to be left behind in terms of development
just because the state and federal governments were not of like mind.
“I’m in Sabah
also because the election is almost here,” he said at a get-together with local
ethnic groups and NGOs.
“And I would
like to take this opportunity to urge the people of Sabah to decide their
future carefully.
“As a PM who
heads Perikatan Nasional (PN), I don’t want Sabah to be left behind. But I am
saddened the state leadership is not with me … he (caretaker chief minister
Shafie Apdal) is my friend.
“In politics,
people can be enemies but in government administration, we must be ‘sehati
sejiwa’ (of one heart, one mind).”
Muhyiddin
stressed that although Sabah had the resources to manage itself, being a
resource-rich state, “there are so many things that need to be done and
achieved, and if we leave this to either the state or federal government only,
it won’t work.
“But together,
many things can be resolved, that’s the logic. Sabah must be saved. The one
that can guarantee that is PN,” he said.
As such, he said
he wanted the people to compare the differences between the state seeing eye to
eye with the federal powers on the one hand, and being not aligned to each
other, on the other hand.
“I want the
people to think carefully when the election comes. I think it’s a good thing we
have this election … we (can) improve on the previous result,” he said.
The election
will be held on Sept 26 with nomination day on Sept 12 and early voting on Sept
22.
Earlier today,
Muhyiddin addressed the state federal service and Rela members. He said the
volunteer corps was one of the best platforms for the government to foster
unity among the people, and announced a RM10 million allocation for the
purchase of uniforms for Rela personnel in Sabah.
Musa Aman among
those at meeting with Muhyiddin
Former chief
minister Musa Aman was among those present at a meeting between Muhyiddin and
Sabah community leaders at the Kota Kinabalu International Convention Center
here tonight.
Musa arrived at
about 7.30pm and was greeted by several leaders including Sabah PPBM chairman
Hajiji Noor.
Leaders from
PPBM, Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah, STAR, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), MCA
and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) are expected to attend the meeting.
Also present was
Bung Moktar Radin, chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional and Sabah Umno.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/08/29/think-of-sabahs-future-when-voting-next-month-urges-muhyiddin/
--------
Arab world
UAE scraps
Israel boycott in new step towards normal ties
30 Aug 2020
DUBAI: The president
of the United Arab Emirates scrapped an economic boycott against Israel,
allowing trade and financial agreements between the countries in another key
step towards normal ties, the UAE’s state news agency reported on Saturday.
Israel and the
UAE said on Aug 13 they would normalise diplomatic relations in a deal brokered
by US President Donald Trump that reshapes the order of Middle East politics
from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran.
President
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a decree abolishing a boycott law as part of
“the UAE’s efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel,
leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting
technological innovation,” the WAM news agency said.
Israeli Foreign
Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the UAE had taken “an important step towards
peace, which will yield substantial economic and commercial achievements for
both people while strengthening the stability in the region.”
The announcement
came as Israeli flag carrier El Al Israel Airlines Ltd prepared to operate the
country’s first direct flight between Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and the
UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi.
An Israeli
government delegation and top aides to Trump, including his senior adviser
Jared Kushner, are due to travel on the flight on Aug 31, a US official said.
Before the Aug
13 deal can be officially signed, details must be agreed on issues such as the
opening of embassies, trade and travel links.
Israel's Channel
13 TV said bilateral trade could initially be worth $4 billion a year, a figure
it said could soon be tripled or quadrupled. Government officials did not
immediately confirm that estimate.
Israeli
Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster said Israel was working on potential joint
projects that could help improve the oil-rich Gulf nation’s food security, such
as water desalination and crop cultivation in the desert.
“With their
money and our experience, we could go a long way,” he told Tel Aviv radio
station 102 FM in an interview on Friday.
Officials from
the two countries recently said they were looking at cooperation in defence,
medicine, tourism and technology.
The decree
announced on Saturday means UAE citizens and businesses will be free to do
business with Israel.
The two
countries do not yet have official air links, and it was unclear whether
Monday’s El Al flight would be able to fly over Saudi Arabia — which has no
official ties with Israel — to cut down on flight time.
In May, an
Etihad Airways plane flew from the UAE to Tel Aviv to deliver supplies to the
Palestinians to help fight coronavirus, marking the first known flight by an
UAE carrier to Israel.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1577103/uae-scraps-israel-boycott-in-new-step-towards-normal-ties
--------
Hezbollah’s
Hassan Nasrallah calls for boycott of Al Arabiya, Al Hadath
29 August 2020
Hezbollah leader
Hassan Nasrallah has called for a boycott of the Al Arabiya and Al Hadath
channels during a televised speech marking Ashoura.
Nasrallah was
speaking in a live television address marking the tenth night of the Islamic
month of Muharram and the day of Ashoura.
“They pay money
to spread poisons and go beyond lying to provocation and insults against
Hezbollah,” Nasrallah said in his attack of the media against his group, naming
Al Arabiya, Al Hadath and UAE’s Sky News Arabia during his speech.
“They depend on
a policy of pumping media via attack articles and social media. When you turn
on the television, each attack comes at the same time, because they all have
the same management, brothers and sisters, in a dark room the runs,” Nasrallah
said.
“You’ll find the
report on Al Arabiya, Al Hadath, Sky News, us Lebanese what do we need from
them? This and that television channel … The newspapers, the same report
sometimes has the same text. So if you have media outlets which are built on
hostility, lying, deception and forgery, why should you watch it?” he added.
Nasrallah then
jokingly threatened to alternatively “cut off the broadcasts” of Al Arabiya, Al
Hadath, and Sky News Arabia.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/08/29/Hezbollah-s-Hassan-Nasrallah-calls-for-boycott-of-Al-Arabiya-Al-Hadath.html
--------
Nasrallah:
Millions of dollars being spent on media war against Hezbollah
30 August 2020
Hezbollah’s
secretary-general says Arab and Western embassies in Lebanon are spending
“millions” of dollars on a media war targeting the Lebanese resistance
movement.
The foreign
embassies pay the hefty sums to “media outlets to target Hezbollah by spreading
false news and lies,” Lebanese news website al-Ahed cited Hezbollah’s chief,
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, as saying in a speech on Saturday.
“They are paying
money in exchange for spewing venom,” Nasrallah said. “They have gone beyond
the realms of lying, [going as far as] provocation, insults, and slurs against
Hezbollah.”
He said the
smear campaign of such proportions against the group was unprecedented.
The Hezbollah
chief said the media war was being directed from a command center that
sometimes fed the same misinformation to all of its subsidiary news outlets.
Hezbollah has
resisted pressure targeting Lebanon by Israel and its biggest ally, the United
States. In the 2000s, it forced the Israeli military to retreat during two wars
on Lebanon.
Nasrallah said
the propaganda campaign was aimed at demoralizing the group and making it
abandon the causes for which it has been making many sacrifices.
He said,
however, that “neither intimidation nor murder can scare us.”
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/30/632902/Lebanon-Hezbollah-Nasrallah-media-war-Arab-Western-embassies
--------
Shiite Muslims
mark holy day of mourning in virus’ shadow
August 29, 2020
BEIRUT: Shiite
Muslims are observing the solemn holy day of Ashoura that they typically mark
with large, mournful gatherings, in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashoura
commemorates the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the
Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq with the army of
then Caliph Yazid, to whom Hussein had refused to pledge allegiance.
“At its heart,
It’s the story of the sacrifice of an extraordinary religious figure,” said
Noor Zaidi, who teaches history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
and researches Shiite Islam. “It’s (also) the story of familial love between
Hussein and those who were with him in Karbala. ...It also has this real, sort
of revolutionary component to it,” she said.
“What has made
it endure so powerfully ... is the fact that it has at its core the ability to
meld itself to what, I think, people need to get from it.”
The Day of
Ashoura falls on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram and is preceded by
days of commemorations and remembrance. The public expressions of communal
mourning are generally associated with Shiites. For many Sunnis, Ashoura is a
remembrance of more than one event, including the Moses-led exodus from Egypt.
In Iraq,
pilgrims ordinarily converge on the holy city of Karbala, site of the battle
and home to a shrine to Imam Hussein.
But with the
pandemic, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, encouraged
people to observe the mourning in other ways such as watching online or
televised commemorations from home.
Those attending
public commemorations must adhere to health guidelines, including social
distancing and wearing masks, with caps on the numbers of participants in
accordance with the local regulations of different countries, a statement from
his office said.
Saif Badr,
spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment, praised
Al-Sistani’s statement and call for adhering to health regulations.
“Our opinion is
clear,” said Badr. “Generally speaking, we are against congregations in all
their forms, including on religious occasions” due to the pandemic. Some Iraqis
are not heeding the call to avoid congregating.
In Pakistan,
thousands of minority Shiite Muslims rallied in various parts of the country
ahead of tomorrow’s Day of Ashoura amid a decline in coronavirus deaths and infections.
In his speech to a gathering of Shiite Muslims in the city of Multan, Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked people to adhere to social distancing rules
when they observe Ashoura. Security forces deployed around Shiite places of
worship to help secure public rallies which had been targeted by militant
groups in the past.
In interviews
with The Associated Press, several Shiite Muslims told of how they are
observing commemorations this year.
Najaf, Iraq
On a typical day
in the mourning period leading up to the Day of Ashoura, Sayyid Sahib
Al-Yasseri buys rice, meat and other foodstuffs in the mornings for dinners
served to those attending nighttime commemorative gatherings.
Clad in black
clothes, he and others listen to recitations of the Qur’an, religious lectures
and lamentations. Some bury their faces in their palms as they weep. Mourners
rhythmically beat their chests in grief.
“There are tears
and heartbreak for Imam Hussein,” Al-Yasseri said.
This year the
rituals were held outside, he said, and men distributed disposable masks and
pumped sanitizer into outstretched hands.
Al-Yasseri wore
a mask out of coronavirus considerations but didn’t consider skipping the
commemorations.
“If God wants me
to get infected, I will,” he said.
Al-Yasseri
estimated that about 750 people have been taking part each night in the
gathering, fewer than in previous years due to the pandemic.
On Ashoura Day —
which in Iraq falls on Sunday — at least one tradition of his will remain
unchanged: donating blood.
“I donate to
benefit others,” Al-Yasseri said, “and out of love for Imam Hussein.”
Nabatiyeh,
Lebanon
Ashoura comes as
Lebanon reels from not only the pandemic but economic hardship and the
aftermath of a massive explosion that ripped through its capital this month.
Amid a partial
coronavirus lockdown, the two largest Shiite groups in Lebanon, the militant
group Hezbollah and the Amal movement of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, have
urged people to mark Ashoura at home with the help of television and social
media.
Yasser Qameh,
who for decades in the past attended public gatherings every night during the
mourning period, has been watching from home this year.
“I watch it on
TV or YouTube — as long as I don’t mingle with people,” Qameh said by phone
from his southern Lebanese city, which in normal years is a site of massive
Ashoura observations. “The difference is like watching a football match on TV
rather than being at the stadium.”
This year, Qameh
said, despite a curfew, some people are gathering every night in a city square
with masks, temperature checks and plastic chairs spaced out.
Typically,
Nabatiyeh’s annual Ashoura ceremonies are attended by tens of thousands of
people with some men cutting and beating their heads to symbolize and recall
the pain of Imam Hussein, their dripping blood soiling white clothes. Such
scenes are criticized by some Shiite clerics who denounce the ritual.
Qameh is also
forsaking another tradition this year. Normally he would help distribute water,
juice and a special dish called Harisa — that consists of wheat and chicken or
beef — to participants who come from other areas.
Hicksville, New
York
In the United
States, some Shiite communities are broadcasting commemorations online.
In Hicksville,
on New York’s Long Island, Fatima Mukhi-Siwji had been feeling sad that her
10-month-old daughter will miss out on the rituals.
“I have grown up
in the mosque,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “How are we supposed
to teach our children religion? How are we supposed to teach them (about) Imam
Hussein?”
But shortly
before the start of Muharram, a number of Shiite Muslims from different
communities, including Mukhi-Siwji’s father, teamed up to organize drive-in
commemorations to safely mark the occasion, she said.
Held at a movie
theater’s outdoor parking lots, they feature scholarly sermons, poetry
recitals, chanting and lamentations as families listen from their cars and
watch on large screens. Some get out of their cars and watch or engage in chest
beating mourning rituals while social distancing, she said.
The daily events
have attracted hundreds of cars and, Mukhi-Siwji said, revived a feeling of
togetherness she sorely missed.
“It’s such an
electrifying experience,” she said. “It goes through your whole body.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1726561/world
--------
Syrian
opposition calls on major powers to back nationwide ceasefire
29 August 2020
The main Syrian
opposition called on major powers on Saturday to help clinch a nationwide
ceasefire in coming months to pave the way for a political transition after
nearly a decade of war.
Hadi al-Bahra,
the Syrian opposition co-chair of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, was
speaking to reporters in Geneva after week-long UN-sponsored talks.
For all the
latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The 45-member
committee composed of representatives of the government, opposition and civil
society, has a mandate to draw up a new Constitution leading to UN-supervised
elections.
UN Special Envoy
Geir Pedersen said that there were “many areas of disagreement,” but also
“quite a few areas of commonalities.” “My hope is with continued calm on the
ground...we will also see some progress,” he told a briefing.
Pedersen,
referring to a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia in March in the last
remaining opposition-held bastion of Idlib in northwest Syria, said it was “by
and large holding” despite violations.
Al-Bahra said
that as long as there was no nationwide ceasefire, the political process would
remain stalled.
It was the
responsibility of the international community and countries supporting either
warring side to push for a full and permanent ceasefire, he said.
“When we see
that happen we will see the political process moving faster, because all sides
they will know that there is no way for them to achieve a final victory on
military terms,” he said.
Troops from the
United States, Russia, and Turkey as well as Iranian militias are present in
Syria, Bahra said.
“They will not
permit any victory for any one side. My expectation is that within the coming
months we will see a complete, comprehensive ceasefire through all of Syria,
that then we will see more international effort to move the political process
forward to make it move faster,” he added.
Ahmad Kuzbari,
the Syrian government co-chair, did not speak to reporters. No date was
announced for the next round.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/08/30/Syrian-opposition-calls-on-major-powers-to-back-nationwide-ceasefire.html
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Mideast
Spokesman: Iran
Deems Case of Imam Musa Al-Sadr as Important
Aug 29, 2020
“Disappearance
of Imam Musa al-Sadr is one of the important issues that the Islamic Republic
of Iran has always pursued in the past few years and will keep it on its agenda
until yielding results and clarification of the reality,” Khatibzadeh said on
Saturday on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of Sadr’s disappearance in
Beirut.
He reminded of
al-Sadr’s efforts to fight against occupation and hegemony in the region and
support for the Palestinian and Lebanese people, and said the opponents of
Lebanon’s freedom and independence were after his omission but today al-Sadr
belongs not only to Lebanon and Iran but also to the entire region.
Iranian Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh
“We, at the
foreign ministry in cooperation with the Lebanese friends, are pursuing Imam
Musa Sadr’s case in different ways despite its complications, and follow ups
and talks have been held at bilateral and international levels to clear his
fate and his two companions’ fate and God willing, they will continue until
gaining results,” Khatibzadeh said.
The Lebanese
parliament speaker said in 2017 that he strongly believed that the country’s
prominent Shiite leader Imam Musa al-Sadr, who went missing with two companions
over 40 years ago in Libya, was still alive, calling for collective efforts to
find out about the fate of the cleric and his companions.
Speaking at a
ceremony marking the 39th anniversary of Sadr’s disappearance in Beirut, Nabih
Berri called on Lebanese media outlets to follow up on the clergyman’s fate,
stressing that Lebanese judicial officials are also looking into the case,
presstv reported.
The fact-finding
mission formed to inquire about the case has however been unable to visit Libya
due to violence and political instability in the North African country, the top
Lebanese legislator argued.
Imam Musa
al-Sadr was a highly revered Shiite cleric of Iranian descent, who founded the
Lebanese Amal (Hope) Movement in 1974. He came to Lebanon in 1959 to work for
the rights of Shiite Muslims in the port city of Tyre, located about 80
kilometers (50 miles) South of Beirut.
The prominent
Shiite cleric disappeared on August 31, 1978, during an official visit to the
Libyan capital Tripoli.
Imam Musa
al-Sadr was accompanied by Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoub and journalist Abbas
Badreddine.
Lebanon still
holds former Libyan officials responsible for the disappearance of the trio.
Since Muammar
Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011, Lebanon and Iran have repeatedly called
on the Libyan government to launch an investigation into Sadr's disappearance.
Hannibal
Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan dictator, is currently in custody in Lebanon,
facing charges of withholding information regarding Sadr’s case.
In August 2016,
Sadr's family filed a lawsuit against Gaddafi over his role in the
disappearance of the senior Shiite cleric.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990608000436
--------
Iranian Envoy
Lauds China for Resistance against US Unilaterlism
Aug 29, 2020
Keshavarzzadeh
lauded China’s standing against the US bullying at the United Nations Security
Council to exert more pressure on Iran.
He wrote on his
twitter page on Saturday that China’s position was actually rejection of the US
unilateral policies.
In relevant
remarks on Saturday, Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the
United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi blasted the US violation of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the UNSC Resolution 2231, and said
that Washington's unilateralism is threatening the UN's authority.
"US's
contempt for int'l law has reached a new low," he added.
“US is in
violation of JCPOA and UNSCR 2231; deliberately misinterprets 2231 and
threatens UN members—including its closest allies—for standing up to
bullying," Takht Ravanchi wrote in his Twitter account.
"US's
unilateralism is undermining UN. Council's authority is on the line," he
added.
US President
Donald Trump, a stern critic of the historic deal, unilaterally pulled
Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the “toughest ever”
sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism in an
attempt to strangle the Iranian oil trade, but to no avail since its
"so-called maximum pressure policy" has failed to push Tehran to the
negotiating table.
In response to
the US’ unilateral move, Tehran has so far rowed back on its nuclear
commitments four times in compliance with Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, but
stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as Europe
finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.
Tehran has
particularly been disappointed with failure of the three European signatories
to the JCPOA -- Britain, France and Germany -- to protect its business
interests under the deal after the United States' withdrawal.
On January 5,
Iran took a final step in reducing its commitments, and said it would no longer
observe any operational limitations on its nuclear industry, whether concerning
the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, the volume of stockpiled uranium
or research and development.
Now the US has
stepped up attempts aimed at extending the UN arms ban on Iran that is set to
expire as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has
been endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2231.
The US first
sought to extend the Iran's arms embargo in a fresh UNSC resolution in
contradiction to the contents of the Resolution 2231 in two attempts within a
month, but failed.
The United
Nations Security Council resoundingly rejected last week the second US bid to
extend an arms embargo on Iran, which is due to expire in October.
The resolution
needed support from nine of 15 votes to pass. Eleven members abstained,
including France, Germany and Britain, while the US and the Dominican Republic
were the only “yes” votes.
The United
States has become isolated over Iran at the Security Council following
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the multilateral Iran nuclear deal
2018.
Iran had said
that the US resolution would fail to gain the required support at the Security
Council, pointing out that Washington has no legal right to invoke a snapback
mechanism to reinstate sanctions against Tehran under the 2015 nuclear deal
that the US unilaterally left in May 2018.
In relevant
remarks earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said
it is by no means justifiable for the US to use Dispute Resolution Mechanism
with regard to UNSC Resolution 2231.
"US
recourse to Dispute Resolution Mechanism in 2231 has NO LEG TO STAND ON,"
Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.
"AmbJohnBolton
has repeated today what he said on May 8, 2018, while National Security Advisor
in the Trump administration," he noted, adding, "At least he is
consistent—a trait notably absent in this US administration."
Zarif' tweet
came in reaction to former US National Security Advisor John Bolton's article
in Wall Street Journal where he criticized US' decision to trigger ‘snapback
mechanism’ against Iran, saying, "The agreement [Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action]’s backers argue that Washington, having withdrawn from the deal, has
no standing to invoke its provisions. They’re right. It’s too cute by half to
say we’re in the nuclear deal for purposes we want but not for those we
don’t."
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990608000374
--------
‘Israeli tanks
shell southern Gaza on 24th day of attacks’
30 August 2020
Israeli tanks
have reportedly shelled the southern part of the Gaza Strip for a 24th straight
day of incessant attacks by the occupying regime against the besieged
territory.
The Israeli
military alleged in a statement on Sunday that the tank fire had hit positions
belonging to the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas, AFP reported.
There was no
immediate report of casualties or confirmation from Hamas.
The Israeli
military claimed that the fire had come in response to balloon-borne incendiary
devices flown from the direction of the enclave toward the occupied Palestinian
territories.
The regime has
been using the same excuse to conduct strikes against Gaza since August 6,
saying that the alleged devices had caused fires in the part of the occupied
territories that are close to Gaza.
On Tuesday, a
Qatari envoy reportedly met with Palestinian and Israeli officials in an
attempt to ease tensions.
Gaza has been
under Israeli siege since 2007, when Hamas rose to power there.
The Israeli
regime recently tightened the siege even further by shutting down a crossing
through which much of Gaza’s necessities entered the enclave, and completely
cut off fuel supplies to the territory. The measures have brought about a
closure of Gaza’s sole power plant.
Israel has also
barred fishing along Gaza’s coast, where armed Israeli vessels conduct regular
patrols, denying the Palestinian territory another key source of livelihood.
Israel targets
medical centers in West Bank
Separately,
Palestinian media outlets reported that Israeli forces launched a “deliberate”
attack against Palestinian medical centers in the occupied West Bank on Sunday.
The attacks
targeted the ward reserved for treating coronavirus-infected patients at the
Aaliyah Medical Center in the city of al-Khalil (Hebron) in the southern West
Bank.
The media said
Israeli forces tear-gassed the patients there, hurting as many as 25 of them.
They said a number of medical staff were also harmed during the attack.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/30/632907/Palestine-Israel-tanks-attack-Gaza
--------
Israeli
protesters decry corruption, keep pressure on Netanyahu
30 August 2020
Thousands of
people protested in Jerusalem al-Quds on Saturday (August 29) against Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, decrying alleged corruption and his handling
of the pandemic.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/30/632893/Israeli-protesters-decrying-corruption-keep-pressure-on-Netanyahu
--------
Yemeni forces
arrest senior al-Qaeda leader in Sana'a: Interior ministry
29 August 2020
Yemeni forces
have arrested a senior leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist group who planned to
carry out a terrorist operation in the capital, Sana'a, Yemen's Interior
Ministry says.
The spokesman of
the ministry, Brigadier General Abdul Khaleq al-Ajri, who did not reveal the
name of the al-Qaeda commander, said he was arrested in Sana'a on Saturday,
according to Yemen's official Saba Net news agency.
The Yemeni
official said that the terrorist was coming from the central province of Ma'rib
to carry out a terror operation in the capital.
Al-Ajri added
that the detained al-Qaeda commander had led the terrorist forces in the Qaifa
area of the central province of al-Bayda, where they were forced to flee after
suffering defeat from the Yemeni forces.
On Wednesday,
the ministry’s Security Information Center said that both the Daesh and
al-Qaeda terrorist groups had carried out more than 320 attacks in the province
of al-Bayda during the past five years.
Earlier this
week, the Yemeni military announced that more than 1,000 square kilometers of
al-Bayda had been cleared of terrorists. It said over 250 members of Daesh and
al-Qaeda had been killed or wounded during the cleansing operations.
The Yemeni
military is also fighting off a Saudi-led war on the country.
Saudi Arabia
invaded Yemen in March 2015 in an unsuccessful attempt to subdue a popular
uprising that overthrew a Riyadh-friendly regime.
The ongoing war
has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis and pushed the country close to the
brink of famine. It has also taken a heavy toll on the country’s
infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories.
The aggressor
countries have also imposed a blockade on impoverished Yemen.
The war has
provided an opportunity for terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula to secure a foothold in Yemen.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/29/632876/Yemen-Sana-a-al-Qaeda-leader
--------
Israel
demolished, sized 25 Palestinian-owned structures in West Bank in 2 weeks: UN
29 August 2020
The United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine
says Israel forces have either demolished or seized a total of 25
Palestinian-owned structures in the occupied West Bank in just two weeks.
On Saturday
morning, Israeli bulldozers, heavily guarded by the regime’s soldiers,
demolished the structures under the pretext of lacking the necessary
Israeli-issued building licenses, which are almost impossible to obtain, the
OCHA said in a report carried by Palestine's official Wafa news agency.
The report added
that the demolitions were carried out from 11 to 24 August, displacing at least
32 Palestinians and affecting 169 others.
Most of these
structures were located in different communities in the so-called Area C, which
is under full Israeli military control, it further said, adding that nearly all
of these structures were livelihood-related.
A number of
these structures were also situated in the East Jerusalem al-Quds, including an
under-construction residential building in the Jabal al-Mukkabir neighborhood,
the demolition of which triggered clashes resulting in one injury.
The report added
that five of these structures in East Jerusalem al-Quds were razed by their
owners, who were forced to do so to avoid Israeli-imposed demolition costs.
According to the
OCHA, since January, about half of all 118 demolitions in East Jerusalem
al-Quds were carried out by the owners, following the issuance of demolition
orders by Israeli authorities for lack of construction licenses.
The Tel Aviv
regime presses ahead with its expropriation of Palestinian land for the
expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
More than
600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli
occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem
al-Quds.
All Israeli
settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security Council has
condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in several
resolutions.
Palestinians
want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/29/632871/Israel-UN-demolition-West-Bank
--------
Palestinian
groups ready for 'long-term' battle against Israel amid Gaza escalation
29 August 2020
Amid the
relentless Israeli acts of aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip, all
Palestinian resistance groups have expressed their preparedness for a
"long-term" battle against the occupying regime's acts of terror.
Citing informed
sources in the Joint Chamber of Palestinian resistance factions, the
Arabic-language news website Palestine al-Youm reported on Saturday that all
military wings of the Palestinian resistance groups announced their readiness
to engage in a long-term battle against the occupiers under the command of the
chamber.
Meanwhile, the
Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, warned Israel against continued siege
of Gaza and repeated acts of aggression.
Hamas spokesman
Fawzi Barhoum said on Friday that the movement would not hesitate to enter into
war with Israel in case Tel Aviv continued acts of aggression against the
coastal enclave.
“Whoever lays
siege to our people will pay a heavy price in their security and stability,” he
said.
"We will
not hesitate in our national mission and in our commitment to our people,”
Barhoum said, adding that Hamas was committed to “protecting the people from
all aggression and fighting the occupation if there is an escalation and the
siege continues."
On Friday, the
Israeli military carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks on various sites
across the Gaza Strip over what it cited as a volley of rockets launched from
the Palestinian enclave into the occupied territories.
The military
said that underground infrastructure and military positions belonging to Hamas
were targeted in strikes by Israeli tanks and military aircraft, after
resistance fighters fired six rockets at southern Israel overnight.
The rockets came
shortly after the Israeli military initially bombed Hamas facilities in Gaza
over alleged launch of incendiary and explosive balloons into the occupied land
throughout Thursday.
There have been
no immediate reports on possible damage or casualties in the attacks.
For the past
several weeks, the Israeli war machine has been pounding different areas of
Gaza either by its warplanes or through artillery fire, claiming that the
attacks were mainly in response to incendiary balloons sent by Gazans to cause
bush fire in the southern parts of the occupied territories.
The coastal
sliver, home to some two million people, has been under an Israeli-imposed
crippling siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in the living
standards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting
poverty there.
Israel has also
launched three major wars against the enclave since 2008, killing thousands of
Gazans each time and shattering the impoverished territory’s already poor
infrastructure.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/29/632865/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-Hamas-Islamic-Jihad
--------
Thousands gather
in Israel for anti-Netanyahu weekly rallies
August 29, 2020
JERUSALEM:
Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday in Jerusalem in a continuation of
summer-long weekend rallies demanding the resignation of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a corruption trial and accusations of mishandling
the coronavirus crisis.
Smaller protests
also took part in other parts in Israel, including overpasses and outside
Netanyahu’s private house in the upscale town of Caesaria.
At the main
rally in Jerusalem, protesters gathered at the entrance of the city and marched
to Netanyahu’s official residence, holding Israeli flags and black flags
symbolizing one of the protest movements. “Enough with Division!” and “This is
not politics, this is crime” read some of the placards.
Netanyahu’s
governing coalition temporarily survived collapse this week after an agreement
with “alternate prime minister” Benny Gantz, his rival and main coalition
partner, to delay a budget vote until December. If the two coalition partners
had failed to agree on delaying the budget’s approval, the government would
have collapsed and Israel would have gone to its fourth general elections in
less than two years.
Netanyahu of the
Likud party and Gantz’ Blue and White formed the coalition in May after three
inconclusive elections, but differences between the two remain.
The coronavirus
crisis is fueling the protest movement. After controlling the virus in its
first stages in the spring, Israel reopened the economy too fast in May,
leading to a spike of cases. Israel is struggling with a number of confirmed
infections exceeding 113,000 cases and the death toll is approaching 1,000.
Business owners,
day-to-day workers and smaller, vulnerable entrepreneurs who were hard hit by
the pandemic-triggered closures take part in anti-Netanyahu demonstrations. The
unemployment rate is hovering over 20%.
Netanyahu’s
three corruption cases also have added momentum to the protests. Last year, he
was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Many protesters
say Netanyahu should not serve as a prime minister at a time when he is on
trial for serious charges.
In January, his
trial will move to a witness phase with three sessions a week.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1726656/middle-east
--------
North America
Muslim-American
groups mobilise to get voters registered for election day
28 August 2020
Muslim-American
activists are rallying across the country on Friday in an attempt to ensure
every eligible voter from the faith group is registered for November's presidential
election.
MPower Change,
which bills itself as the biggest Muslim digital advocacy organisation in the
US, launched National Muslim Voter Registration Day, which falls on 28 August,
as part of its #MyMuslimVote campaign.
According to the
organisation, almost half a million registered Muslim voters have been
contacted and encouraged to vote in person or by mail.
"The stakes
in [the] 2020 elections couldn't be higher for our community," the
#MyMuslimVote campaign says on its website.
"We're
calling Muslim voters in key states to ensure they cast their votes on primary,
caucus, and election days."
Linda Sarsour,
the executive director of MPower Change, told Middle East Eye that the campaign
was "focused on engaging Muslim American voters in Michigan, Ohio,
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Texas".
The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will also host virtual phone and text banks
to assist in the effort.
"If there
was the full participation of Muslim voters in this election, we'd have the
ability to tip the vote in Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan and
Connecticut," Robert McCaw, CAIR's director of government affairs, told
CNN.
"We need to
make sure Muslims are inspired to vote for the candidates in front of us."
While Muslims in
the US only make up roughly one percent of the population, or about three
million people, the Muslim advocacy Emgage group says their votes may be
crucial in the battleground states of Florida, Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.
In 2016,
President Donald Trump won Michigan - which happens to be home to large Arab
and Muslim communities - by a mere 10,000 votes.
"[Muslim
Americans] are not a large voting bloc but we are definitely a strategic voting
bloc, and when we put our forces behind key pivot counties, we can win the
policy changes that we want to see," Aysha Ahmed, deputy national
organising director at Emgage, said during a news conference on Tuesday.
Still, according
to a 2,000 person survey by CAIR in March, roughly 17 percent of Muslims identify
with the Republican Party.
The Trump
campaign launched "Muslim Voices for Trump" earlier this month, and
while the site includes a sign-up form, no policy initiatives are listed.
"Muslim
Voices for Trump will energise and mobilise the Muslim community in re-electing
President Donald J Trump by sharing the many successes of the Trump
Administration," the site states.
"Re-electing
President Trump will ensure the protection of religious liberties, economic
prosperity, and educational opportunities for Muslims in America."
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/muslim-american-us-election-voters-registered
--------
US hails close
partnership with Libyan prime minister
29.08.2020
The United
States on Saturday expressed appreciation to its close partnership with Libyan
Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and his Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.
In a tweet, the
US Embassy called for cooperation in the interests of providing good governance
to the Libyan people.
“US supports
rule of law, appreciates close partnerships with PM Sarraj and MOI Bashaga and
urges cooperation in the interests of providing good governance to the Libyan
people,” the embassy said on Twitter.
Earlier on
Saturday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for a
full and inclusive political process that will meet the aspirations of the
Libyan people.
On Monday,
al-Sarraj pledged a cabinet reshuffle amid protests against corruption and
deterioration of public services.
Libya has been
torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The
Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) was founded in 2015 under a
UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed
because of a military offensive by forces loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-hails-close-partnership-with-libyan-prime-minister/1957277
--------
Pakistan
Sacrifices of
Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family and companions commemorated
Faraz Khan
August 30, 2020
To commemorate
the sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), his family and his
companions, Karachi’s central procession of 9th Muharram was held peacefully on
Saturday amid strict security measures.
After passing
through its traditional routes, the procession ended at the Hussainian Iranian
Imambargah in Kharadar while the participants and clerics paid homage to Hazrat
Imam Hussain (RA), his family and his companions.
The procession
started from the Nishtar Park after the cleric highlighted the great sacrifices
of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), his family and his companions in a Majlis-e-Aza
that was attended by a large number of mourners.
Before the
central procession started marching towards the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah,
religious scholar Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi highlighted the life and
sacrifices of Hazrat Ali (RA).
He said Hazrat
Ali’s (RA) life is a great model for all Muslims to follow. He shed light on
the life of Hazrat Ali (RA) and also on the advice the fourth caliph gave to
his children before leaving this world.
Allama Naqvi
highlighted the various aspects of the life of Hazrat Ali (RA), explaining why
the fourth caliph is considered a source of knowledge as well as a symbol of
tolerance, bravery, generosity and eloquence even today.
After emerging
from the Nishtar Park, the central procession of the city marched through the
Mehfil-e-Shah-e-Khorasan and ended at the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah in
Kharadar.
Before moving
the procession towards the Hussainian Iranian Imambargah, the participants
offered prayers. They kept reciting Marsiyas to commemorate the sacrifices of
Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), his family and his companions.
After the
Majlis, the procession moved out of the Nishtar Park and passed through Sir
Shahnawaz Bhutto Road, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Boulton Market, Bombay
Bazaar and Nawaz Mahabat Khanji Road before ending at the Hussainian Iranian
Imambargah. The mourners offered their Zohrain prayers during the procession.
Strict security
measures were taken by law enforcement and security agencies to avoid any
untoward incident, with over 20,000 police and Rangers officials deployed
across the city.
A spokesperson
for the Karachi police said 6,368 officials were deployed across Karachi, with
90 snipers of the Special Security Unit deployed at Imambargahs and rooftops of
buildings along the route of the central procession of the city.
The procession
route and the adjoining streets and alleys were cordoned off with containers.
Besides the deployment of police and Rangers officials for security, the
procession was also monitored through CCTV cameras.
The police
spokesperson said that 1,095 officials of the traffic police were deployed to
ensure smooth flow of traffic along the route. Police appealed to the citizens
to remain vigilant about their surroundings and contact the police helpline if
they find something or someone suspicious.
Mourners were
allowed to enter the procession by way of walk-through gates only after they
were frisked. Besides police and Rangers officials, nearly 5,000 volunteers
from various scouts organisations and rescue services as well as the city
administration made necessary arrangements to facilitate the participants of
the mourning procession.
Round-the-clock
surveillance was also conducted at a central control room through more than 1,200
CCTV cameras. Shops in Saddar and those located along the procession route were
closed and sealed. All roads linking to the procession route and Majalis venues
were blocked with containers.
The Government
of Sindh had earlier announced that a ban on pillion riding would be in effect
on the 9th and 10th of Muharram to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain
law and order across the province.
The provincial
government has also imposed a ban on the carrying of weapons and on gatherings
of five or more people, with the exception of those in connection with Muharram
processions.
Sindh government
spokesman Barrister Murtaza Wahab had said in a tweet on Friday that
restrictions on mobile phone networks would “only be in selected areas where
the Moharram processions take place on the 9th and 10th of Moharram”.
Senior police
and Rangers officials also visited the central procession to review the
security arrangements. The Sindh Health Department and the Karachi Metropolitan
Corporation had declared an emergency at all public hospitals of the city and
ordered ensuring the availability of doctors, nurses, paramedics and medicines.
Moreover, the
Karachi health director had declared an emergency at 18 town health offices of
the city until the 12th of Muharram and established medical camps.
Federal Minister
for Religious Affairs & Inter-faith Harmony Dr Noorul Haq Qadri said in a
statement that the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) in Karbala is
a lesson for everyone to stand firmly against tyranny and injustice.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/707786-sacrifices-of-hazrat-imam-hussain-his-family-and-companions-commemorated
--------
Parties seek
written deal before opposition conference
Amir Wasim
30 Aug 2020
ISLAMABAD: Angry
with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP) over their recent act of supporting the government in the parliament
during the passage of the FATF-related legislation, a number of smaller
opposition parties now want the country’s two major parties to sign a Charter
of Democracy (CoD)-like document or an agreement to formalise the opposition’s
alliance before convening an already-delayed Multi-Party Conference (MPC).
This demand from
the smaller parties, including the nationalist parties from Balochistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, came during a meeting of nine opposition parties — other
than the PPP and the PML-N — at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief
Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad late on Thursday night, Dawn learnt from
sources here on Saturday.
The final
decision in this regard, however, has been left with the Rehbar Committee,
which is expected to meet next week under its convener Akram Durrani. The
sources said the demand to sign the agreement would be put before the PPP and
the PML-N in the committee’s meeting.
The Rehbar
Committee had been constituted in October last year when the JUI-F held an
anti-government long march and staged a protest sit-in in Islamabad. The main
purpose of the committee was to devise a joint strategy for the sit-in and to
hold negotiations with the government to resolve the standoff.
However, the
Rehbar Committee remained ineffective as the PPP and the PML-N only
participated in the sit-in symbolically and it was Maulana Fazlur Rehman
himself who negotiated with the government team and finally called off the
13-day sit-in abruptly.
Besides
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Qaumi Watan
Party (QWP) president Aftab Sherpao, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Amir
Haider Khan Hoti and Senator Mir Kabur and Ayub Malik of the National Party
(NP), the meeting at the Maulana’s residence was also attended by chief of his
own faction of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
One of the
participants told Dawn that a number of leaders who had attended the meeting
harshly criticised the PPP and the PML-N for “damaging the opposition’s unity”
in the past by ditching them at crucial junctures. He said they had a very
candid discussion on the country’s political issues and called for devising a
strategy to stop the interference of other “institutions” in the elections and
key state affairs.
The sources said
some senior leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, tried to pacify the angry
members, telling them that they had no options but to trust these two major
parties and take them along if they wanted to launch a forceful campaign
against the government.
During a brief
news conference after the meeting, when a reporter asked if they had decided to
seek any written commitment from the PPP and the PML-N, the JUI-F chief simply
said that such a proposal could only be decided by the Rehbar Committee.
The Maulana,
however, dispelled the impression that there was any rift within the
opposition’s ranks. He said the opposition was united in their demand that the
country needed fresh and transparent general elections in the country without
any outside interference.
The Maulana said
the opposition parties were of the view that there was a need to reconstitute
the Election Commission of Pakistan and devise a system that no other
institution could interfere in the election process. Similarly, he said that
all the opposition parties wanted supremacy of the Constitution and parliament.
He claimed that most of the reservations of the parties had been removed after
PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif had visited him last week.
The JUI-F chief
said that he had arranged the meeting as he had already called it before Mr
Sharif’s visit and it was delayed because of the death of NP president Mir
Hasil Bizenjo.
When contacted,
the leaders of both the PPP and the PML-N said that so far they had not
received any demand regarding the written commitment from the smaller
opposition parties.
PML-N’s
information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb claimed that after last week’s meeting
between Maulana Fazl and Mr Sharif, the Rehbar Committee had already been given
the task to decide the agenda, time and place for the MPC.
Similarly,
PML-N’s secretary general Ahsan Iqbal dispelled the impression that there was
disunity in the opposition’s ranks.
Commenting on
the meeting of the nine parties at the Maulana’s residence, Mr Iqbal said the
JUI-F chief had informed Mr Sharif that since he had already convened this
meeting of the smaller parties, therefore, it had become necessary for him to
hold this meeting before convening the meeting of the Rehbar Committee.
When asked about
the demand of the smaller parties regarding signing of an agreement, the PML-N
secretary general said that his party also wanted to expand and renew the CoD
which had originally been signed by the PPP and the PML-N in 2006 during the
military rule under Gen Pervez Musharraf. He, however, said the document could
be signed at the MPC, instead of the Rehbar Committee.
It was after
fully facilitating the government in the passage of a number of FATF-related
bills in parliament at the cost of the opposition’s unity that Mr Sharif had
met Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the latter’s residence last week and vowed to make
efforts to unite the opposition parties on one platform in order to convene the
MPC in the near future.
“It has been
decided that all the parties will be united. It has been decided that we will
go together. The Rehbar Committee will meet and the all parties’ conference [of
the opposition] will also be held,” Mr Sharif had stated during a brief media
chat with Maulana Fazl after their meeting.
However, in
response to a question as to who would host the MPC, the JUI-F chief said: “I
don’t know” and then in the second breath stated that “Shahbaz Sharif is the
opposition leader”, meaning thereby that like the PPP, the JUI-F also wants the
PML-N to host the opposition parties’ gathering for the purpose of devising a
strategy to launch an anti-government drive in the country.
Maulana Fazl had
stated that he had told the PML-N president that he had already convened a
meeting of other smaller parties, including the nationalist parties, which were
unhappy with the PPP and PML-N for their role in parliament during the passage
of the bills to fulfil the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force and
that he would come back to the two major opposition parties after consulting
them.
The Maulana said
they were in an agreement that they needed to move forward under a “joint
strategy” as “division within the opposition and lack of unity at this stage
will be detrimental for Pakistan and its people”.
Asked if the
JUI-F was again ready to believe the two major opposition parties despite their
past role of “ditching” the smaller opposition parties on a number of crucial
occasions, Maulana Fazl simply said that Mr Sharif’s arrival at his residence
had removed most of the concerns in this regard and it would not be an issue.
Initially, some
two months back, it was PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who had announced a
plan to convene an MPC to devise a final strategy to oust the present rulers.
Mr Bhutto-Zardari then met Mr Sharif and the JUI-F chief in Lahore and all the
leaders vowed to convene the MPC and launch an agitation movement against the government.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1577096
--------
Justice Isa’s
wife seeks income tax details of PM, others
Nasir Iqbal
30 Aug 2020
ISLAMABAD:
Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s wife, Sarina Isa, on Saturday alleged that since her
confidential and legally-protected income tax and bank records were illegally
accessed, she also wanted similar information about those who were provided her
details.
In a statement,
Ms Isa stated that she wanted information about the people who accessed or were
provided her confidential information and documents, especially Prime Minister
Imran Khan, Law Minister Dr Farogh Nasim, Asset Recovery Unit Chairman Mirza
Shahzad Akbar, Dr Mohammad Ashfaq Ahmed and complainant Abdul Waheed Dogar.
“They should not
object because they have held or hold public office, while one of them, who is
a government servant, complains that my family and I are not tax compliant,”
she alleged in the statement.
The statement is
annexed with her Aug 28 reply to the notices issued by commissioner (IR) FBR on
Aug 21 under Section 122(9) and Section 111(1)(b) of the Income Tax Ordinance
(ITO) 2001.
It stated that
she was a private person who had never held public office or a position in
government and had worked and paid a total of Rs809,970 and Rs576,540 as tax during
the last two years.
Says FBR wants
her to explain every rupee she earned during last 38 years
Earlier, she
issued two similar statements, explaining her position in response to notices
issued by the board.
In her reply,
she asked the FBR to furnish her income tax returns on which the authority was
relying, adding that the board wanted her to reconstruct her life and explain
every rupee earned by her since she started working in Karachi American School
some 38 years ago.
Highlighting
Section 174(3) of the ITO, she recalled that the ordinance did not require an
individual to maintain any record for more than six years after the end of the
tax year to which they relate.
She argued that
she was under no legal obligation to keep providing information to the FBR, but
still she did voluntarily.
“Without
prejudice to all my constitutional and legal rights, I also do not want to give
you a pretext to allege that I did not provide information,” she stated, adding
that it had become painfully clear to her that the Federal Board of Revenue
intended to pass an alleged unjustified and illegal order since it did not
consider to be bound by law.
She alleged that
the FBR claimed that she could not have earned and saved enough to justify her
purchase of three properties in London — one for £236,000 in the year 2004 and
two in 2013 for £245,000 and £270,000, respectively.
Referring to
Section 116A of the ordinance which was inserted through the Finance Act 2018,
when for the first time foreign income and asset statement was required to be
filed, she complied with the new legal requirement and filed her returns and
statements with regard to foreign income and assets for the tax year 2018 and
again for tax year 2019.
But the FBR has
not explained under which provision she was required to disclose the foreign
income and assets before the stated amendment.
Likewise, the
FBR disregarded her agriculture income by purportedly relying on Section 111 of
the ITO and treating it as unexplained income.
The board
intentionally disregarded the fact that the proviso to Section 111 of the
ordinance accepted income derived from agriculture on which income tax paid
under the relevant provincial law was added through the Finance Act 2013, the
statement added.
Therefore, the
agricultural income cannot be disregarded irrespective of whether the
provincial income tax was paid or restricted to adjustment to the extent of
such payment.
She said she
owned about 278 acres of agricultural land which was run and managed by her
late father, who passed away on June 25, 2020.
She said she
continued to derive substantial income from her agricultural land, investing
some amount in saving certificates issued by the government.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1577091/justice-isas-wife-seeks-income-tax-details-of-pm-others
--------
Officials
involved in fraud must face dismissal: SC
30 Aug 2020
ISLAMABAD: The
Supreme Court has held that doling out public property or funds by officials to
private persons or even to themselves amounts to fraud and those committing fraud
or embezzlement of government property or money can’t be treated leniently in
disciplinary proceedings or be allowed to continue in service.
Thus, maximum
penalty like dismissal from service should be imposed on the government
employees involved in embezzling state lands rather than forfeiture of certain
service years, explained a five-page order authored by Chief Justice Gulzar
Ahmed.
A two-judge SC
bench that also comprised Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan passed the order on an appeal
against the March 3, 2017 decision of the Service Tribunal, Lahore. The appeal
was moved by the commissioner of Faisalabad division against one Allah Bakhsh.
“Where the
respondent himself has admitted the commission of the offence that he
transferred the government land measuring 270 kanals, situated in Chak No. 492/
JB, District Jhang, causing loss of millions of rupees to the government
exchequer, such conduct of the respondent could not be considered as mere
negligence, rather it constitutes misconduct and maximum penalty under the law
has to be imposed upon him,” the chief justice observed.
Additional
Advocate General Chaudhry Faisal Hussain earlier told the court that the
respondent had himself admitted to the offence. But the Punjab Service Tribunal
had held that the conduct of the respondent Allah Bakhsh of signing mutation of
the government land in favour of the private person did not constitute
misconduct, because no loss was caused to the government. Therefore, it was
stated, the penalty of dismissal from service imposed upon him by the
department did not commensurate with the gravity of the offence.
Apex court sets
aside service tribunal’s ‘lenient’ order in land scam
The service
tribunal then converted the penalty imposed on the respondent by departmental
authorities into forfeiture of two years’ approved service.
However, the
Supreme Court in its order held that the tribunal had taken a lenient view of
misconduct by government servants even where an employee of the department has
admitted the commission of the offence constituting serious misconduct. Despite
this, the SC bench observed, the tribunal reduced the penalty imposed on the
employee by the department considering that it was harsh and did not
commensurate with the gravity of the offence.
The apex court
held that the tribunal instead of assigning any legally sustainable reasoning
stated that it enjoyed vast powers under Section 5 of the Service Tribunals
Act, 1973 to confirm, set aside, vary or modify orders passed by the
departmental authorities.
“The question is
how vast are the powers of the tribunal,” the Supreme Court said, also asking
whether these powers were discretionary at the whims of the tribunal and
totally un-structured and unlimited.
When the conduct
of the respondent came to light, the government machinery took steps to rectify
such transfer of the government land to the private persons. The mere fact that
despite commission of the offence no loss was caused to the government
exchequer or the loss caused was recovered cannot be a mitigating factor in
punishing a government servant whose misconduct stood established, the verdict
declared. “If he gets scot-free or with a minor penalty what is there to
prevent him from repeating the same offence and the next time loss may actually
be caused and not recovered,” the apex court questioned.
This was the
inherent flaw in the argument of the counsel for the respondent, the order
added.
“In view of the
matter, we have found the order of the tribunal to be self contradictory in
excess of jurisdiction and devoid of any reasoning let alone cogent and legally
acceptable,” the order said, adding that the impugned judgement of the tribunal
could not be sustained. Thus, the appeal was accordingly allowed and the
impugned judgement was set aside, the order said.
Consequently,
the order passed against the respondent for his dismissal from service was
restored, the Supreme Court held, adding the copy of this order should also be
supplied to the chairman as well as members of the Federal Service Tribunal and
all the provincial service tribunals.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1577089/officials-involved-in-fraud-must-face-dismissal-sc
--------
CM Usman Buzdar
for following teachings of Imam Hussain (RA)
August 30, 2020
LAHORE: Chief
Minister Usman Buzdar has said Muharram commemorates the glorious sacrifice of
Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) for upholding Islam.
Incident of
Karbala gives us the lesson that forces of evil have to face defeat while Islam
will remain forever. Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) upheld truth and did not bow to
evil. The grief of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala will
remain forever, the CM said.
The CM in his
message on Youm-e-Ashoor has said the great sacrifices of the martyrs of
Karbala have revived the universal principles of Islam including patience,
tolerance and sacrifice till the Day of Judgment.
On the occasion
of Ashura, we have to reaffirm our lives to follow the enlightened teachings of
Imam Hussain (RA) in the true sense, the CM said.
The battle
between truth and falsehood in Karbala teaches Muslims to wage jihad against
oppression and evil. The battle between good and evil has been going on for
many decades in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir and thousands of Kashmiris
have sacrificed their lives and fulfilling the greatest tradition of Karbala.
Tyrant Modi has perpetrated brutality and barbarism in occupied Kashmir and has
become Yazeed of present era. The day is not far away when the sacrifices of
the martyrs will bear fruits and the name of Modi will be erased from history,
he said.
He said glorious
sacrifices rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Karbala a
beacon for us. The journey of the martyrs of Karbala, their courage and
immortal sacrifices will continue to provide encouragement and enthusiasm to
the oppressed nations till the end of the time.
Prophet’s (PBUH)
grandson with his deeds and actions taught us to raise the voice for truth and
protect human values, the CM said and added struggle of Hazrat Imam Hussain
(RA) is an everlasting message of being strong against oppression.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/707751-cm-usman-buzdar-for-following-teachings-of-imam-hussain-ra
--------
South Asia
Hezb-e-Islami
Leader Hekmatyar: India-Afghanistan to Form a Militia, India Refutes
By Mohammad
Haroon Alim
29 Aug 2020
Hezb-e-Islami
leader says with the support of India, Afghanistan intends to create a militia
group.
In a Friday
prayer sermon, Hekmatyar stated, that the Afghan government is taking stands
against the process and is taking steps that is dangerous for Afghanistan’s
consequences.
He added, India
opposes the peace process in relation to Pakistan and wants to form a Militia
group with the Afghan government.
The
Hezb-e-Islami leader also said that efforts are ongoing in the Northern parts
of Afghanistan for the formation of the Militia group, he added the Afghan
government is creating obstacles in regards to the peace process, but “Taliban
agreement with the United States will be implemented” he added.
This comes as
national peace council Director Abdullah Abdullah previously announced the
start of the Intra-Afghan talks in Qatar for the coming week.
PREVIOUSLY
The government
of Indian reacted to Pakistan’s move for hosting the leader of Hezb-e Islami of
Afghanistan, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to speak on the issue of Kashmir.
According to
local media reports, Hekmatyar participated in a webinar hosted by the
government of Pakistan last week and spoke about the situation in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Hekmatyar said
India should “learn a lesson from the Afghan jehad” and the only solution to
the Kashmir issue is to give Kashmiris the right to self-determination,
according to Hindustan Times.
Reacting to
Hekmatyar’s presence in the event, Anurag Srivastava, a spokesperson for the
Ministry of External Affairs of India, said “We have seen the media reports of
the participation of the former UN-designated terrorist in an event organised
by the government of Pakistan.”
“This is nothing
new. Pakistan not only harbours terror outfits but also encourages them. We
hope that such participation in public events by a former UN-designated
terrorist would not go unnoticed,” Srivastava added.
According to
reports, Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia also
participated in the event.
https://www.khaama.com/hekmatyar-india-afghanistan-to-form-a-militia-234324/
--------
The rise of
Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban's new military chief
FRUD BEZHAN
August 30, 2020
Mohammad Yaqoob
was virtually unknown five years ago when the Taliban disclosed the mysterious
death of his father and its founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar.
The Taliban
acknowledged that its spiritual leader had been dead for more than two years,
soon after Afghan intelligence said he had died of illness in 2013 at a
hospital in neighboring Pakistan, from which the reclusive, one-eyed leader had
commanded the insurgency in Afghanistan.
In his
first-ever public statement at the time, the twentysomething Yaqoob called for
unity within the Sunni extremist group and dismissed rumors that his father's
death was the result of an inside job.
Since that first
audio message in 2015, the ambitious Mullah Yaqoob has soared through the
Taliban's ranks. He has consolidated power since his failed bid to succeed his
father that year, first becoming deputy leader before more recently being
handed the powerful post of military chief.
The military
appointment in May of Mullah Yaqoob, who is thought by some outsiders to
support the peace process, followed the signing of a landmark deal between
Taliban and the United States in February aimed at withdrawing foreign troops
and ending the 18-year insurgency.
But the
selection of such an inexperienced commander has also hinted at possible
divisions within the Taliban, which has undergone bitter leadership transitions
and growing internal dissent in recent years.
'Moderate' Camp
Antonio
Giustozzi, a Taliban expert with the Royal United Services Institute in London,
describes Mullah Yaqoob as part of a moderate camp that favors a negotiated end
to the war.
Under the
U.S.-Taliban agreement, international forces should withdraw from Afghanistan
by May 2021 in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban, which
pledged to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and power-sharing deal with the
Afghan government.
Under Mullah
Yaqoob's leadership, the Taliban appears to have been upholding its commitment
not to attack departing U.S. forces. The militants, however, have failed to
fulfill a pledge to renounce the Al-Qaeda terrorist network behind the 9/11
attacks, a longtime ally.
Meanwhile, the
Taliban has intensified attacks on Afghan government forces and sought to seize
more territory, despite widespread calls for the militants to reduce violence.
Experts
speculate that the escalating violence might be an attempt to appease more
hard-line elements in the Taliban who view the U.S. deal with suspicion.
"The
moderates are committed to showing a tough Taliban face to Kabul, perhaps as a
trade-off for having been given more prominence," said Giustozzi, who has
written numerous books on the Taliban.
The more
moderate camp includes Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban
and a former deputy to Mullah Omar. Baradar, who spent years in a Pakistani
prison, recently served as the Taliban's political chief and head negotiator in
talks with the United States.
The Saudis' Man?
Mullah Yaqoob's
appointment as military chief was part of the militant group's biggest
leadership reshuffle in years.
The shakeup was
seen as an attempt by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to remove potential
spoilers and tighten his grip on the group's military and political wings ahead
of peace talks with the Afghan central government.
Mullah Yaqoob's
predecessor, Ibrahim Sadr, a powerful field commander, opposed peace efforts. Sadr,
who has close links to neighboring Iran, was among eight Taliban members
designated as global terrorists by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018.
Giustozzi said
Mullah Yaqoob had the strong backing of Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally and Iran’s
regional archrival, adding that Riyadh was providing him with tactful support.
"The Saudis and the U.S. wanted people who were too close to Iran
out," Giustozzi said.
Sadr is said to
be among a number of commanders and factions that support continued fighting
against Afghan and foreign troops.
A new breakaway
Taliban faction that has close links to Iran and opposes peace has emerged in
recent months. The Hezb-e Walayat-e Islami (Party of Islamic Guardianship) is
believed to have split from the mainstream Taliban soon after the deal was
reached with the United States. The faction is believed to include supporters
of Sadr.
Other
Iran-linked Taliban leaders who oppose peace efforts include Mullah Qayum
Zakir, a powerful battlefield commander and the former military chief of the
Taliban until 2014. A former inmate in the infamous U.S. prison at Cuba's
Guantanamo Bay, Mullah Zakir has the backing of some hard-line field
commanders.
Rise To
Prominence
Before 2015,
Mullah Yaqoob did not even have an official position in the Taliban.
He was a
graduate of several hard-line Islamic seminaries in Pakistan's port city of
Karachi, where his family had resided since the U.S.-led invasion of
Afghanistan toppled the brutal Taliban regime in 2001.
But experts say
the prestige of being Mullah Omar's eldest son elevated his standing among the
Taliban's field commanders and its rank and file.
"Mullah
Omar was a charismatic leader and there remains huge respect for him, his
family, and even his close associates, many of whom have been promoted to
influential positions," said Obaid Ali, an expert on the insurgency at the
Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul.
Experts said
Mullah Omar’s family also has the financial clout to buy loyalty.
The Taliban is
thought to earn as much as $1.5 billion annually from the opium trade, illegal
mining, extortion, and donations from abroad. And many Taliban leaders own
businesses and property in Pakistan.
Mullah Yaqoob
was promoted to the Taliban's leadership council in 2015, soon after his
father’s death. An uncle, Mullah Abdul Manan, was also elevated to the council,
which is based in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, near the Afghan
border.
Mullah Yaqoob
was appointed as head of the Taliban's military commission for 15 of
Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
Mullah Mansur
was accused of covering up Mullah Omar's death and assuming leadership of the
extremist group without formal approval. He struggled to reconcile feuding
factions, with some commanders splitting from the group and challenging his
leadership.
He was killed in
a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan in May 2016.
Mullah
Akhundzada, a low-key Islamic scholar who was Mullah Mansur's deputy, was appointed
as the new leader soon afterward, although his selection was also opposed.
He named Mullah
Yaqoob as deputy leader.
'Somewhat
Entitled'
Despite his
elevated positions, Mullah Yaqoob is not believed to be widely admired among
the militant group or its followers. An Afghan intelligence official who spoke
on condition of anonymity described Mullah Yaqoob as a "shrewd young man
who is somewhat entitled and self-centered."
As someone
raised outside his homeland, Mullah Yaqoob is "unaware of the realities in
Afghanistan," an Afghan security official told RFE/RL on condition of
anonymity.
Afghan
intelligence says Mullah Yaqoob was trained in guerrilla warfare by the
Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e Muhammad, which has been blamed for
deadly attacks on Indian targets in Afghanistan and the disputed Himalayan
region of Kashmir, where archrivals Islamabad and New Delhi have fought three
wars.
Pakistan's
military leadership has long been accused of backing Afghan and Kashmiri
militant groups to achieve its strategic goals in the region.
Copyright (c)
2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
https://taskandpurpose.com/analysis/afghanistan-taliban-military-leader
--------
Ghani Approves
Members of HCNR
By Mohammad Arif
Sheva
30 Aug 2020
KABUL,
Afghanistan – President Ashraf Ghani on a decree Saturday approved members of
the High Council for National Reconciliation, marking a major step towards the
forthcoming intra-Afghan dialogues.
He called on
religious scholars, the parliament, private sector, media and provincial
councils to “introduce their picks for membership of the council” within a
week.
The approved
members of the Council are:
Former President
Hamid Karzai,
Former
Mujahideen leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf
Hizb-e-Islami
leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Former Vice
President Mohammad Karim Khalili
Former Deputy
Chief Executive Mohammad Mohaqiq
Former Vice President Marshal Abdul Rashid
Dostum
Former Vice
President Mohammad Yunus Qanooni
Former Foreign
Minister Salahuddin Rabbani
Former
Mujahideen leader and former Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismalil Khan
Former Balkh Governor
and CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami Atta Mohammad Noor
Head of
Maaz-e-Milli party Sayed Hamid Gailani
Zabihullah Mujaddedi,
Political and
religious figure Sayed Mansoor Nadery
Political and
religious figure Enayatullah Shahrani
Former Deputy
Chief Executive and political figure Engineer Mohammad Khan
Head of
Afghanistan’s Ulema Council
Former head of
the Administrative Office of the President Sadiq Modabir
Mohammad Ismail
Ghazanfar
Mawlawi
Khodaidad Saleh.
According to the
decree, members of the Council amongst high-ranking government officials are:
First Vice
President Amrullah Saleh
Second Vice
President Mohammad Sarwar Danesh
Acting Foreign
Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar
National
Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib
Meshrano Jirga
Speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar
Wolesi Jirga
Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani
Presidential
Adviser Almas Zahid
State minister
for peace affairs (Country’s State Minister for Peace Affairs has not yet been
appointed.)
Presidential
Advisor Mawlawi Jora Tahiri.
Meanwhile, women
members of the Council are:
Civil society
activist Safia Sediqqi
Former MP Najiba
Ayubi
Member of the
Afghan Women’s Network Mari Akrami
Civil society
activist Zia Gul Rezaee
Member of the
Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission Alia Yulmaz
Former Higher
Education Minister Farida Mohmand
Chairperson of
medical council of Afghanistan Nasrin Oryakhil
Civil society
activist Zarqa Yaftali.
Lastly,
leadership members of the council are
Chairman of the
High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah
Deputy Head of
the Council Abdul Salam Rahimi
Deputy Head of
the Council Enayatullah Farahmand
Deputy Head of
the Council Asadullah Saadati
Former Deputy
Governor of Paktia Zuhra Mutahari
Member of
Afghanistan Ulema Council Atta-Ur-Rahman Salim
Head of
Hizb-e-Islami Nawin Din Mohammad
Political figure
Akram Khpulwak
Head of
negotiation team Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai
Special
Presidential Envoy Noor-Ul-Haq Olumi
The list came
days after Chairman of the HCNR Abdullah Abdullah exclaimed on Thursday the
intra-Afghan negotiations will start in the coming week.
The first round
of the most awaited intra-Afghan dialogues are expected to be held in Qatari
capital, Doha.
https://www.khaama.com/ghani-approves-members-of-hcnr-234235/
--------
Europe
Turkey condemns
Islamophobic incident in Sweden
Erdogan Cagatay
Zontur
29.08.2020
Turkey on
Saturday vehemently condemned an Islamophobic incident in Sweden where a group
of neo-fascist politicians burned the Muslim holy book Quran.
"We
strongly condemn the hideous provocations by an Islamophobic and racist
politician and his followers who came to Denmark from Sweden's Malmo city,”
Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Rasmus Paludan,
the leader of the anti-Islamic group Tight Direction (Stram Kurs), along with
his supporters burned the Quran on Friday evening.
After the
footage emerged on the internet, anti-racist groups in Malmo reacted to the
incident and the activists who blocked the traffic and burned tires on the
road.
The police
detained three people who burned the Quran.
Danish racist
leader Paludan was banned from entering Sweden for two years.
“These
provocative acts are a heavy blow to the culture of coexistence and European
values,” the Foreign Ministry statement added.
Stressing that
Muslims living in Europe have been systematically exposed to discriminatory and
racist attitudes in their daily lives, the statement said: “This despicable act
against our holy book is an exemplary act, as it reveals the extent to which
the threat Muslims face in Europe has come.”
The statement
also underscored that the Swedish authorities did not allow the demonstration
against the Quran and imposed a ban on the so-called politician on Aug. 28.
The ministry
further said that the Swedish authorities should take all necessary measures
against those who act to provoke Muslims in the country in the future.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-condemns-islamophobic-incident-in-sweden/1957439
--------
Belgium:
Ex-advisor supports Turkey on Mediterranean
Agnes Szucs
29.08.2020
BRUSSELS
A former advisor
to the Belgian prime minister said Turkey’s position on the Eastern
Mediterranean is relevant.
“Turkey actually
has a point,” Koert Debeuf said in a tweet.
He also shared a
map highlighting territorial waters based on the agreement between Greece and
Italy on the countries’ exclusive economic zones.
“Greek
territorial waters are a bit out of proportion compared with the Turkish
one," he added.
Debeuf, who is a
political expert on the Middle East, in an opinion piece published Saturday in
Belgian daily De Standaard shed light on the division between European nations.
Titled, Is the
EU Sinking in the Mediterranean, the piece argued that the conflict between the
two main political alliances of the Middle East -- Turkey, Qatar, the Muslim
Brotherhood and Iran on the one hand and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab
Emirates and Israel on the other -- has the potential to exacerbate cracks in
relations between European nations.
“This is very
dangerous. It is not clear how this will end,” the piece cites a letter that
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic wrote in 1914, at the
start of World War I.
Turkey resumed
energy exploration earlier this month in the Eastern Mediterranean after Greece
and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal.
Greece and other
countries have tried to box in Turkey’s maritime territory and energy exploration
rights.
Turkey has
consistently opposed Greek efforts to declare a huge exclusive economic zone,
violating the interests of Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in
the Mediterranean.
Ankara has also
said energy resources near the island of Cyprus must be shared fairly between
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) -- which has issued Turkish
state oil company Turkish Petroleum a license -- and the Greek Cypriot
administration of Southern Cyprus.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/belgium-ex-advisor-supports-turkey-on-mediterranean/1957284
--------
German
specialist supports Turkish views on East Med.
Cuneyt Karadag
29.08.2020
BERLIN
Turkey's
position is not bad regarding tensions between Ankara and Athens in the Eastern
Mediterranean, a German law professor said Friday.
Nele Matz-Luck,
a specialist in the law of the sea at the Christian-Albrecht University of
Kiel, told local media the boundaries of continental shelves and economic zones
do not necessarily have to be determined according to a midline.
"In this
context, justice and equity are taken as a basis," she said.
Matz-Luck said
she does not think Turkey's position is a bad one on tension in the Eastern
Mediterranean and the agreement signed between Greece and Egypt should be examined
in the context of Turkey's claims.
Matz-Luck
stressed If Turkey's legitimate rights in the Mediterranean are not considered,
the deal between Greece and Egypt cannot produce an effect.
Greece and other
countries have tried to box in Turkey’s maritime territory and energy
exploration rights.
However, Turkey
has consistently opposed Greece’s efforts to declare an exclusive economic
zone, violating the interests of Turkey.
Greece disputed
Turkey's current energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, trying to box
in Turkish maritime territory based on small islands near the Turkish coast.
Turkey -- the
country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean -- has sent out drill
ships to explore for energy on its continental shelf, saying that Anakra and
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have rights in the region.
After Germany's
diplomatic calls, Turkey stopped activities in the region, however, it resumed
energy exploration earlier this month in the Eastern Mediterranean after Greece
and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal.
Ankara has also
said energy resources near the island of Cyprus must be shared fairly between
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) -- which has issued Turkish
state oil company Turkish Petroleum a license -- and the Greek Cypriot
administration of Southern Cyprus.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/german-specialist-supports-turkish-views-on-east-med/1956805
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Africa
UN expresses
concern over ‘dramatic turn’ in Libya crisis
August 29, 2020
CAIRO: The
United Nations on Saturday voiced alarm over what it called “a dramatic turn of
events” in Libya’s civil war, after a power struggle between leaders of the
Tripoli-based government surfaced in the wake of anti-corruption protests.
“Libya is
witnessing a dramatic turn of events that underlines the urgent need to return
to a full and inclusive political process,” the UN support mission in Libya
said.
Protests over
deteriorating economic conditions erupted earlier this week in the capital and
elsewhere in western Libya, which is controlled by forces loyal to the
UN-supported government.
In Tripoli,
local militia allied with the government opened fire on the demonstrators using
rifles and truck-mounted guns, and abducted some of the protesters.
Prime Minister
Fayez Sarraj and his interior minister, Fathi Bashaga, initially accused
“outlawed infiltrators” over the violence. The prime minister also said the
protesters “did not obtain necessary permits” for their rally and described
their demonstrations as “riots.”
However on
Friday, Sarraj suspended Bashaga and referred him to an administrative
investigation after the interior minister accused a government-allied militia
of attacking the peaceful protesters in Tripoli this week.
Bashaga, who was
excluded from two high-profile military and security meetings in the capital
over the past few days, quickly responded. He said in a statement he accepted
the premier’s decision but demanded a public and live questioning “to expose
the facts” of the incident.
Following the
suspension of the interior minister, militias in Tripoli celebrated the
decision by firing into the air, while others in Bashaga’s hometown of Misrata
took to the streets to show support for the minister.
The UN mission
in Libya, known as UNSMIL, said it was still concerned about “the excessive use
of force against demonstrators as well as the arbitrary arrest of a number of
civilians.” It did not say how many people were detained.
Retweeting the
UNSMIL’s statement, the US embassy in Libya urged Sarraj and Bashaga toward
“cooperation” in the interests “the Libyan people.”
Over the past
two days, militias sealed off main streets and roads to prevent the
demonstrators from reaching Tripoli’s Martyrs Square, the epicenter of the
protests, according to two residents who spoke on condition of anonymity for
fear reprisals.
A group of women
however protested in the city center before being dispersed. Two women were
wounded and four others were arrested, according to the protest movement, known
as “Hirak Aug. 23.”
The movement
called for civil disobedience until achieving their demands that include
handing over power to the Supreme Judicial Council to work toward presidential
and parliamentary elections.
Protests also
spread to the southern town of Sabah and the eastern town of Quba, both under
the control of rival east-based Libyan forces led by Khalifa Haftar.
The UN also said
it is concerned about “on-going human rights violations and abuses” in the
coastal city of Sirte, which is controlled by Haftar’s forces since January. It
said at least one civilian was killed and several others were arrested.
“The prolific
use of hate speech and incitement to violence appears designed to further
divide Libyans, increase polarization and tear at the country’s social fabric,”
the UN mission said.
Oil-rich Libya
was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime
dictator Muammar Qaddafi, who was later killed. The country is now split
between rival east- and west-based administrations, each backed by different
armed groups and foreign governments.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1726481/middle-east
--------
Jordan court
affirms Muslim Brotherhood 'does not exist' in latest twist over rival groups
By Mohammad
Ersan
23 July 2020
Over the years,
as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in turn declared the Muslim
Brotherhood to be “a terrorist” organisation, Jordan stood by.
But as Amman’s
relationship with the Islamist group has deteriorated since the Arab Spring,
the Jordanian Court of Cassation ruled on 15 July to officially dissolve the
organisation’s branch in the country.
At the same time
as Jordan has legalised the splinter group Muslim Brotherhood Society (MBS), it
has closed the offices of the main Brotherhood organisation, under the pretext
that it wasn’t licensed.
The Jordanian
legal system has confiscated Muslim Brotherhood properties, offices and funds
since 2015, transferring the assets to the MBS, which is headed by former
Brotherhood leader Sheikh Abdel Majed Thnibat.
The 15 July
court decision, which affirmed that the original Muslim Brotherhood
organisation in Jordan has no legal basis to exist, has become the latest
milestone in relations between the movement and the Jordanian government.
Ebb and flow
Relations
between the Hashemite monarchy and the Muslim Brotherhood have ebbed and flowed
over the decades, influenced by local and regional politics.
The Brotherhood
was officially established in Jordan in 1945, according to the country’s laws at
the time. It renamed itself in 1953 simply as al-Jamaa (“the group”) and
received accreditation through a cabinet-level decision to exist and operate in
Jordan.
But the latest
court decision has ruled that the “Muslim Brotherhood Jamaa no longer exists and
has lost its legal status because it has not adhered to the legal requirements
of Jordanian law,” as well as reportedly failing to renew its political license
under the terms of a 2014 law on political parties.
The court made
this judgment in response to a case brought by the Brotherhood against Jordan’s
land department, calling on the government entity to rescind its decision to
hand over lands and buildings owned by the Brotherhood to the MBS, which has
been registered since 2015.
In response to
the ruling, the Muslim Brotherhood said that “the decision of the Court of
Cassation is not final - it simply returned the case to the appeals court,
which will continue looking into the case”.
“The timing of
this decision is strange,” Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu Bakr told
Middle East Eye. “We will continue to pursue this case legally, because this is
not a final decision.
“The Muslim
Brotherhood exists and has been around for decades and has a wide audience. It
will continue to carry out its activities during these difficult circumstances
affecting Jordan, including Zionist threats,” he added, before noting that it
was “strange to have such a decision during this critical period in which
Jordan needs a united internal front to be united.”
Abu Bakr was referring
to ongoing Israeli efforts to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank,
including the Jordan Valley, which would constitute a security issue for the
Hashemite kingdom.
Friends
yesterday, enemies today
Historically,
the Muslim Brotherhood stood by the Jordanian monarchy during political and
security circumstances that could have brought down the Hashemite leadership in
the 1950s. It aligned itself with King Hussein against leftist Prime Minister
Suleiman Nabulsi, who was backed by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Tensions were high, and culminated in a failed coup by Jordanian generals in
1957.
At the time, the
Brotherhood filled the streets with protesters against Nabulsi’s pan-Arab
government, which was later removed by Hussein. In the following elections, the
Muslim Brotherhood won 22 seats and took control of the parliament’s presidency
for three consecutive terms, in addition to holding five ministries in the
government of Prime Minister Mudar Badran in 1991.
But the
Brotherhood’s support of the Arab Spring in 2011 soured the organisation’s
relationship with Amman.
Amman blamed the
Brotherhood for seeking to push its agenda of Islamist politics during the wave
of uprisings across the region. In 2014, King Abdullah II accused the Brotherhood
in an interview of having “hijacked the Arab Spring”.
Angered by the
Brotherhood’s demands, the Jordanian government launched a counterattack,
aiming to delegitimise the Islamist movement and restrict its activities.
A number of
Islamist leaders, like Zaki Bani Rushaid, were imprisoned over charges of
damaging Jordan’s relations with the UAE.
King Abdullah II
met with parliamentary representatives of the Islamic movement at his palace in
May 2019, which was interpreted at the time as a sign of rapprochement. But
this detente was shortlived.
Ongoing legal
process
According to the
Muslim Brotherhood, Jordanian courts have affirmed the organisation’s legal
status in a number of cases, but most have yet to receive a final ruling.
The Amman
appeals court ruled on 14 July against a request that the Brotherhood vacate a
building that it has been using as a headquarters. The court said the Muslim
Brotherhood had the legal right to sign rental agreements and that no other
party could take its place and void its lease agreements.
“The Jordanian
Court of Cassation had ruled in a different case that the Brotherhood Society
(MBS) is not the legal heir of the Jamaa, and that the Jamaa has a right to
sign contracts and leases and deal with properties,” the former head of the
Jordanian Bar Association, Saleh Armouti MP, told MEE. “So, the latest decision
is certainly not final and can be appealed.”
Armouti, who is
a member of the Islah parliamentary bloc affiliated with the Brotherhood’s
Islamic Action Front political arm, believes that the political disagreements
are coinciding with plans for new parliamentary elections - which are expected
to be announced any day now by royal decree.
“We will
experience new security-inspired restrictions on political leaders to dissuade
them from creating alliances with the Islamic Action Front,” Armouti predicted,
adding that many people “have been sharing this court decision as if it is a
final decision about the dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood, but this is not
true.”
What options for
the Brotherhood?
Marwan Shehadeh,
an expert in the political affairs of the Islamic movement, agrees with Armouti
that the court decision has implications beyond a simple legal decision.
“The decision
was expected because of the tense relations between the Muslim Brotherhood and
the government,” Shehadeh told MEE.
“The government
took advantage of internal conflicts within the Brotherhood and supported one
side over the other, leading to this decision that supports one side (the MBS),
which is closer to the government.”
Regarding the
Muslim Brotherhood’s possible next steps, Shehadeh said: “There is a strong
political arm to the movement, which is the Islamic Action Front, and this
front and the Muslim Brotherhood will be able to carry out its outlook and its
effectiveness.
“The other
choice is the legal one, but from my personal observations the government will
continue to insist that the properties owned by the Muslim Brotherhood will be
transferred to the new organisation with the same name, even though the
government has been unable to stop the mother organisation in other areas.”
The Muslim
Brotherhood makes no secret of the fact that it would like to ease tensions
with the Jordanian government.
In an attempt to
protect itself from government pressure, Islamists in Jordan have sought to
create political alliances during elections, whether during municipal or
parliamentary polls, or within professional unions and student elections at
universities.
They won 15
seats in the 2016 parliamentary elections under the National Alliance for
Reform - consisting of 10 Islamists and five independents reflecting an array
of political persuasions. The same has happened in professional union
elections, and in university student elections.
It remains to be
seen whether this strategy will keep working in the next elections.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jordan-muslim-brotherhood-dissolution-ruling-king-abdullah-arab-spring
--------
Nigerians
migrants attack medics at Rome coronavirus centre
30 August 2020
Three Nigerian
migrants attacked staff in a military hospital in Rome after testing positive
for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Saturday.
The incident at
the Celio military hospital, now turned into a COVID-19 treatment center,
occurred when they saw a Bangladeshi migrant walking out after testing negative
and then tried to flee but were stopped.
They are accused
of violence, resistance and causing bodily harm.
“The attacks at
the military hospital are serious and unacceptable,” Defense Minister Lorenzo
Guerini said.
The incident was
seized upon by Italy’s anti-immigration former interior minister Matteo Salvini
who said the government was putting “Italy in danger.”
Migration has
for years been a hot-button political issue in Italy, a main EU landing point
for people crossing the Mediterranean and arriving in Sicily and sister island
Lampedusa.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/08/30/Nigerians-migrants-attack-medics-at-Rome-coronavirus-center.html
--------
Mali’s military
junta postpones first meeting over transfer of powers
29 August 2020
Mali’s military
junta on Saturday postponed the first meeting over the transfer of power after
rising tensions with the main leaders who sparked the August 18 coup.
The junta had
invited civic groups, political organizations and former rebels to
consultations on Saturday, but said in a statement that the meeting was
postponed at the last minute to a later date due to “organizational reasons.”
A protest
coalition that had campaigned against former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita,
the June 5 Movement, had not been invited to participate in the meeting.
For all the
latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The group has
demanded that the military junta give it a role in the transition to civilian
rule which the military has promised, though without a timetable.
The June 5
movement accused the new military rulers of trying to hijack the coup.
“We state with
bitterness that this junta which had sparked hope in the hearts of all
Malians... is in the process of drifting away from the people,” said Tahirou
Bah, from the Espoir Malikoura association, one of the pillars of the June 5
movement.
After an
escalating series of mass protests, young army officers mutinied on August 18,
seizing Keita and other leaders and declaring they now governed the country.
The coup shocked
Mali’s West African neighbors and ally France, heightening worries over instability
in a country already struggling with an insurgency, ethnic violence and
economic malaise.
Mali’s
influential imam Mahmoud Dicko, a key player in the mass opposition protests
that led to Keita’s ouster, said Friday that the new military rulers did not
have “carte blanche.”
“We will not
give a blank cheque to anyone to run this country, that’s over,” he said.
“We led the
fight,” he said. “People have died and the soldiers who have completed (this
fight) must keep their word.”
Dicko’s
spokesman Issa Kaou Djim later expanded on this saying the imam “said the
people have started to doubt” the junta.
“A revolution
cannot be confiscated by a group of soldiers,” he said.
His comments
came as a new document published on the Malian government’s Official Journal
said the junta’s head had been effectively invested with the powers of head of
state.
West African
leaders, meanwhile, on Friday demanded an immediate civilian transition and
elections within 12 months as they considered sanctions.
The West African
regional bloc ECOWAS closed its borders with Mali after the coup, banning trade
and financial flows as it demanded the release of Keita and other detained
officials.
Keita, 75, was
elected in 2013 as a unifying figure in a fractured country and was returned in
2018 for a second five-year term.
But his
popularity crashed as he failed to counter the raging insurgency and brake
Mali’s downward economic spiral.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/08/29/Mali-s-military-junta-postpones-first-meeting-over-transfer-of-powers.html
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Boko Haram
militants kill two, kidnap two in northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri
29 August 2020
Boko Haram
terrorists have killed two men and seized two others when they attacked farmers
outside Maiduguri city in northeast Nigeria.
The militants
rode into fields in Alau village on horseback on Friday, seizing four farmers,
hacking two to death and kidnapping the others after inflicting machete cuts on
them.
"We
recovered the bodies of the two slain farmers, bearing deep machete wounds to
the head and torso," militiaman Mohammed Bukar said.
"Farmers
who escaped the assault said two others were injured and abducted by the
attackers," Bukar added.
The farmers were
from a displaced camp on the outskirts of the city who grow crops in the
village, said militia leader Babakura Kolo, confirming the death toll.
Around two
million people have been displaced by the decade-long militancy. Many now live
in camps where they rely on food and humanitarian assistance from aid agencies.
Some have turned
to felling trees from the surrounding bushland to sell as firewood to make
money to buy extra provision while others engage in subsistence farming in
nearby fields.
Boko Haram has
increasingly targeted loggers, herders and fishermen in their violent campaign,
accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local
militias fighting them.
Boko Haram's
militancy, launched in northeast Nigeria in 2009, has killed more than 36,000
people and displaced more than two million from their homes.
The violence has
since spread to Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
A regional
military coalition involving troops from the four countries, is fighting to end
the violence.
A report said on
Wednesday that at least 75 members of a community were killed by the terrorist group in
Nigeria’s northeastern province of Borno.
The massacre
occurred in the town of Gwoza, Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency quoted Ali
Ndume, a senator and chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, as saying.
On Monday,
Amnesty International said in a report that at least 1,126 people had been
killed in rural areas across several states in central and northeastern Nigeria
amid an alarming escalation in raids and kidnappings by armed bandits since
January.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/08/29/632869/Maiduguri-Nigeria-Boko-Haram-farmers-
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Thousands still
missing in South Sudan: Rights group
Benjamin
Takpiny
28.08.2020
The US-based
Human Rights Watch on Friday called on South Sudan to investigate the fate and
whereabouts of thousands of victims of enforced disappearances and those still
missing from years of civil war in the country.
“Since the
conflict broke out in December 2013, the United Nations and other organizations
including Human Rights Watch have documented major human rights violations
including attacks on civilians and targeted killings, abductions, and
detentions by the parties to the conflict,” the rights group said in a report
that came ahead of the Aug. 30 International Day of the Disappeared.
“People have
vanished in South Sudan, and are presumed detained or dead,” said Jehanne
Henry, East Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“The government
needs to acknowledge that people are still missing and take concrete steps to
investigate and hold those responsible to account,” Henry added.
The report
referred to The Ones We Lost, a local initiative launched in 2014 which
documented some “280 names of missing people since December 2013, some of whom
were abducted or detained by security forces and meet the definition of
enforced disappearance.”
“The
International Committee of the Red Cross reported in 2014 that over 4,000
people were still missing since the war started and their fate or whereabouts
remained unknown,” the report noted.
The authorities
have not started to “address Sudanese government abuses during the South’s long
war for independence, which ended in 2005,” it said.
The rights group
urged the South Sudanese government to take immediate, concrete steps by
ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance and end the practices of unlawful and secret detentions
by its security forces.
“They should
also set up the transitional justice bodies provided for in the 2015 and 2018
peace agreements,” it added.
Meanwhile, the
South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth dismissed the report.
“These are mere
stories that are being concocted by people who need to secure or to grantee
their own livelihood, this is not correct,” Lueth told Anadolu Agency over the
phone.
He called on the
rights group to come up with areas where it said the people got disappear.
“They should
differentiate between the transitional government and the current revitalized
government,” he said.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/thousands-still-missing-in-south-sudan-rights-group/1956296
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