Prison Guard Who Shot Blasphemy Accused Claimed ‘Divine Visitations’
A woman holds a placard reading "No to
terrorism" during a demonstration to denounce the "barbarism" of
IS militants, outside Paris's main mosque (AFP Photo/Dominique Faget)
Pakistan
Prison
Guard Who Shot Blasphemy Accused Claimed ‘Divine Visitations’
Imran,
Qadri Misleading Nation through Lies: Minister
Pakistanis
don't differentiate between good, bad terrorists: Husain Haqqani
Kashmir
dispute is about people’s right to self-determination: Sartaj
Court
orders FIR against PM Nawaz, 10 others
Four
including a woman killed in Karachi violence
Altaf
says will tell nation about double standard of establishment today
South Asia
Bangladesh
Militants Use Facebook to Recruit People In The Name Of IS
Ajristan
residents hang 4 Taliban militants to death
Taliban
publicly executes 3 people over kidnap charges
Karzai
signs death penalty for Kabul rape convicts
PM
Sheikh Hasina for effective measures to stop war
Arab World
U.S.-Led
Strikes Pressure Al Qaeda's Syria Group to Join With ISIS: Reuters
Iraq's
Army Kills Several ISIL Terrorists in Baghdad
Iraqi
Soldiers Kill Top ISIL Commander in Anbar
IS militants’
siege of Syria town draws widespread European support
Saudi
Arabia set to unveil newly sewn Kiswa for Kaaba
For Arab
immigrants, a Canadian passport and a GCC job may no longer mix
Air
strikes hit Islamic State in eastern Syria: Monitor
Grand Mufti:
Avoid politics at Haj
Scholar:
Haj Firms’ Offers to Hajis Shouldn’t Vary
Europe
Muslims
Gather In Paris to Denounce IS ‘Barbarism’
Germany
Plans Tougher Controls on Would-Be Jihadists
After IS
beheading, France tells citizens to be on guard in Malaysia
Video
Imagines Pushing Rewind On Devastation in Syria, Will Stop You in Your Tracks
British
lawmakers vote to join US-led Iraq air strikes
US
should coordinate air strikes with Syria: Russia
India
‘Like
Never Before, I the Muslim Am Seen as the Root Cause of Nation’s Problems’
Posters
Go Up At Garba Venues in MP: No Non-Hindus Allowed
Pakistan
praises India over MOM's success
India
rejects Sharif’s ‘untenable comments’ on Kashmir, says the Pak PM made
‘unwarranted references’
BJP not
to stop campaign against ‘love jihad’
North America
Senior
Isil commander raised £1.25 million from Qatari nationals, says US Treasury
US in
'near continuous' strikes against ISIL in Syria
Syrian
rebel force of 12,000-15,000 needed to roll back IS group: US
US not
trying to help Assad stay in power: Kerry
Mideast
Islamists
attack students protesting ISIL at Istanbul University
Abbas’
UN speech labelled ‘diplomatic terrorism’
Turkey
offers troops to secure haven in Syria for refugees
Two
killed as Yemen rebels tighten grip on capital
Deadlock
in Iran’s latest round of nuke talks
Doubts
linger over Turkey’s stance on fighting ISIS
Southeast Asia
Islamist
appeal must go beyond ‘Haram and Halal’, says PAS leader
Religious
curbs used to keep Malays subservient, DAP MP claims
Regional
Elections Law Raises SBY Legacy Questions
Malaysian
producer held in UK over terrorism suspicions
Africa
‘Killed’
Boko Haram leader continues to threaten Nigeria
Nigeria:
Fulani Herdsmen Kill 4, Scores Missing
Libya:
Head of sexual violence compensation fund named
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
----------
Pakistan
Prison
Guard Who Shot Blasphemy Accused Claimed ‘Divine Visitations’
27 Sep,
2014
RAWALPINDI:
Mohammad Yousaf – the prison guard who shot a man accused of blasphemy at the
Adiala Jail on Thursday – had told friends he had dreams where he received
‘divine guidance’ and would often say that he was willing to put his life on
the line for the sake of his religious beliefs.
Much
like Mumtaz Qadri – the policeman who shot and killed former Punjab Governor
Salmaan Taseer in cold blood - Yousaf also had marked religious leanings and
belonged to the Barelvi school of thought.
The
25-year-old from Chiniot joined the force in 2009 in Lahore. He was transferred
to the Kot Lakhpat Jail, and also worked in Gujranwala, where he received Elite
Force training for six month. He came to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on April 28,
2013 and was last deployed at the prison’s Gate No. 5.
The
eldest of four brothers and a sister, he was the sole breadwinner for his
family, who live in Chiniot.
One of
his colleagues from Adiala told Dawn that he was convinced that a divine entity
would appear in his dreams. He said that Yousaf had wanted to lead prayers at
the prison mosque and did so for some time. “Yousaf was also inspired by
(Mumtaz) Qadri, who had also been detained at Adiala Jail for some time,” the
policeman said.
Investigators
looking into possible links with religious groups, Mumtaz Qadri
He spent
some time in the barracks where Qadri was being held. “I don’t remember the
exact dates, but it was in the winter, maybe January or February. Duties are
rotated on a monthly basis,” he said.
Dawn
tried to independently confirm this claim with other people who knew the
shooter, but this was not immediately possible.
Talking
about his motivation, the policeman said, “Yousaf believed that the blasphemy
accused could possibly be freed by the courts and he believed that the man
should be punished,” he said, adding that Yousaf had learned that the accused –
who is a British national – would regularly meet with embassy officials.
Investigation
Police
obtained a three-day remand of the shooter in order to investigate further
before they produced him before a court. The shooter also recorded his
statement.
Saddar
Bairooni SHO Raja Rasheed told Dawn the accused accepted that he shot the
inmate accused of blasphemy, insisting that he had a dream which compelled him
to do so. He said that he was sure the man would be set free and wanted to kill
him to punish him properly.
However,
the SHO said that police interrogate all the suspect’s colleagues to establish
whether he acted on his own, or he was compelled to do so by a religious group.
“I think
he is mentally unstable. I might be wrong, but anyone who claims to have dreams
of divine guidance cannot be a normal person,” he said, giving his personal
opinion about the suspect.
Mr
Rasheed told Dawn police were looking into all possible aspects and would
examine the shooter’s phone records, as well as checking up on who he met with
in the past few months. “We are also looking into his links with Mumtaz Qadri,”
he said.
Regional
Police Officer Akhtar Umer Hayat Laleka told Dawn the police had started
scrutinizing officers, especially those deployed in prisons or those appointed
for security detail at key installations.
Police
also recorded the statement of the wounded inmate on Friday, who is currently
undergoing treatment at a local hospital and is said to be in a stable
condition.
In the
brief statement, the British-Pakistani man said he had never seen his attacker
in his barracks and did not have any enmity with the man.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1134657/adiala-shooter-claimed-divine-visitations
----------
Imran,
Qadri misleading nation through lies: Minister
27 Sep,
2014
LAHORE:
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that sit-in organisers are
misleading the people by telling lies.
Talking
to media at Punjab Food Festival, organised by a local hotel on Friday, Saad
Rafique said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was visiting the United Nations
with a limited delegation and PAT chairman Tahirul Qadri was giving false
statements about the PM’s visit.
He said
the sit-in parties including PTI and PAT should inform the nation about the
sources of funds of billion of rupees which were being spent on protests and
sit-ins in the capital.
The
minister alleged Imran spent few hours in the sit-in and then went to his home
at Bani Gala, adding the people who had come to Islamabad for getting
resignation of the prime minister presented their resigns from the national
assembly.
He
questioned how could a leader bring revolution who himself feels smell from his
workers.
He asked
Imran and Qadri to participate in relief work for the restoration of flood
affectees and Internal Displaced Persons.
Saad
said Imran should answer the questions raised by Hanif Abbasi, Hameed Gul and
Javaid Hashmi. He said after all London plan was accepted by sit-in leaders
which was being rejected earlier. (APP)
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-160936-Imran,-Qadri-misleading-nation-through-lies:-Saad
----------
Pakistanis
don't differentiate between good, bad terrorists: Husain Haqqani
27 Sep,
2014
Although
the Pakistani establishment may have a different view, the people of Pakistan
do not make a distinction between good and bad terrorists, Pakistan's former
ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani said on Friday at the India Today Global
Roundtable in New York.
Most
Pakistanis believe, like the country's founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah, that both
India and Pakistan can live side by side in peace, Haqqani said. The government
must abandon the idea of good and bad Taliban for the sake of Pakistan, he
added.
He
warned that Pakistan's internal political battle will be more intense in the
near future and the fight will also be between those who care about good
relations with other nations and those who don't.
He added
that there can't be good and bad terrorists, as "People like Hafiz Saeed
belong in jail".
When
asked about how to tackle global jihadi groups, he said that there should be
concerted efforts to target their safe havens through "grand global
coalitions".
"It
will not be easy, as it will be an ideological war and it will be
long-drawn-out," he said.
Referring
to India's preparations in the fight against terrorism, former Intelligence
Bureau Director Nehchal Sandhu said that the border fencing and other defence
preparations have helped tackle terrorist movements to a great extent in India.
"Unfortunately,
we have very few engagements with Pakistan on terror. Although the people of
Pakistan dread terrorism, elements in Pakistan like Hafiz Saeed are spewing
venom and allowing terrorists to set up camps in that country," Sandhu
said. "The terrorism unleashed by LeT has even reached Afghanistan. This
monster has to be dealt with firmly," he added.
He said
that India is working hard to build a coalition against terrorism. India was
able to convince the world about the threat posed by the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, he
said.
Although
India has sought to fight this menace through several fronts like
people-to-people contacts, most favoured nation status to Pakistan, food
exchange programmes, the defence preparations will be vital, Sandhu added.
Congress
MP Shashi Tharoor, who also spoke in the session, said the weak civilian
government in Pakistan has compounded problems for India.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-today-roundtable-husain-haqqani-nehchal-sandhu-shashi-tharoor/1/392991.html
----------
Kashmir
dispute is about people’s right to self-determination: Sartaj
27 Sep,
2014
UNITED
NATIONS: Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs
Sartaj Aziz said Jammu and Kashmir is not a territorial dispute and the
decades-old issue primarily centers around the Kashmiri people’s right to
self-determination, as members of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir called for a
fair resolution to the long-standing issue.
The OIC
Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met at the UN Headquarters on the sidelines
of the 69th Session of UN General Assembly, with Secretary General OIC Iyad
Ameen Madani in the chair. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Saudi Permanent Representative to OIC
Mohammad Tayyab attended the meeting on behalf of their countries. Niger’s
Minister for Foreign Affairs was represented by Director General of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing
the meeting, the Advisor emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir was not a
territorial dispute between Pakistan and India but it was primarily about the
exercise of the right to self-determination by the Kashmiri people, as promised
to them in the UN Security Council resolutions and the assurances of Indian
leadership. Yet this fundamental right was denied to Kashmiri people despite
passing of more than six decades. During this period, the Indian security forces
had unleashed the worst form of torture and oppression, but the valiant people
of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir had neither abandoned hope nor given up
their legitimate struggle for self-determination.
He said
Cathy Scott-Clark report had confirmed over 6,000 unmarked graves in Indian
Occupied Kashmir. The recent discovery of mass graves at 38 sites in North
Kashmir had added new dimension to this gory saga, he said. “The OIC, UN, EU
and international human rights organizations had, time and again, voiced
concern over these gross and systematic human rights violations but the Indian
security forces had shown little regard for international opinion.”
The
Adviser urged the international community to take meaningful steps to put an
end to the ordeal of the Kashmiri people and to call upon India to stop
violations of their fundamental human rights. The Advisor reiterated that
Pakistan wanted a peaceful resolution of the dispute in the best interest of
peace and stability in the region. Pakistan had sincerely embarked on a
composite dialogue process with India. “India’s decision to call-off the 25
August Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan on a flimsy pretext was a
setback to the negotiations process,” the Advisor added.
Speaking
of the recent devastating floods in Kashmir, the Advisor expressed concern over
the reports of selectivity in distribution relief assistance by the Indian
authorities. He appealed to OIC to provide relief assistance to the flood
affected people on both sides of LoC, and conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to
facilitate its delivery among the affected without any discrimination. In his
statement, the Foreign Minister of Turkey stressed that Kashmiri’s aspirations
for self-determination must be addressed in accordance with relevant UNSC
resolutions. The international community had a moral and legal responsibility
to resolve this longstanding issue.
Turkey
wanted a peaceful settlement of Kashmir, which should be acceptable to
Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir. Turkey was ready to play its due
role in this regard. Expressing concern over cancellation of talks by India and
the rising tensions across LoC, the Turkish Foreign Minister called on the
parties resume the negotiations process without delay and engage in a
meaningful and result-oriented dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the
Kashmir dispute. He conveyed his Government’s heartfelt condolences to the
families of flood victims and expressed Turkey’s readiness to provide relief
assistance to the affectees. The Saudi Permanent Representative to the OIC
stated that Jammu and Kashmir was a long-standing conflict on the agenda of the
UN Security Council, which needed resolution by the international community.
Saudi
Arabia strongly supported the realization of the national rights of Kashmiri
people through peaceful dialogue, which was the only way out for both India and
Pakistan. Any settlement of the conflict must take into account the aspirations
of Kashmiri people. Saudi Arabia wanted India and Pakistan to resume
negotiation process and the United Nations to invest more efforts in a peaceful
resolution of the conflict. It was high time that they Kashmiri people are
given their fundamental human rights and a chance to live in peace and dignity.
AJK
President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and delegation of the True
Representatives of Kashmiri people, represented by Ishtuyaq Hameed, also
delivered statements in which they highlighted the ground situation arising
from the continued Indian occupation, oppressions, and the recent devastating
floods in Kashmir. The Kashmiri delegation also presented a Memorandum to the
Secretary General containing proposals for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir
issue.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/27-Sep-2014/kashmir-dispute-is-about-people-s-right-to-self-determination-sartaj
----------
Court
orders FIR against PM Nawaz, 10 others
27 Sep,
2014
ISLAMABAD:
An additional sessions judge has ordered the Secretariat police to register a
case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and 10 others while disposing of a
petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) over the alleged killing of
three political activists on August 30.
The
party had approached the Secretariat police station to register a First
Information Report (FIR) on the matter against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif,
Chaudhry Nisar, Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique, IG Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner
Islamabad, IG Railways and three others over the incidents of August 30 that
led to the deaths of three people during the protests by PTI and Pakistan Awami
Tehreek (PAT) in the federal capital.
Full
report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1134695/court-orders-fir-against-pm-nawaz-10-others
----------
Four
including a woman killed in Karachi violence
27 Sep,
2014
KARACHI:
Four persons including a woman were killed and three persons injured in
separate firing and violent incidents across the metropolis, Geo News reported
on Saturday.
According
to rescue sources, a man was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire in Faqeer
Colony area of Orangi Town while another was injured in North Nazimabad who was
shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.
A body
bearing torture marks was found from Keamari gate no.1 while a drowned body of
a woman was also found from Keamari and was shifted to Civil Hospital for
medico-legal formalities.
Another
body was found from Yusuf Plaza in FB Area and was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed
Hospital where he was identified as Syed Akhtar Manzoor.
A man
was also injured in firing incident that occurred in Ancholi in FB area.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-160949-Four-including-a-woman-killed-in-Karachi-violence
----------
Altaf
says will tell nation about double standard of establishment today
27 Sep,
2014
LONDON:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has said that he will address
general workers meeting at party’s headquarter ‘Nine Zero’ today and will
apprise the nation over the double standard of the establishment, Geo News
reported.
Altaf
appealed that mothers, sisters, elderly people and party workers should
actively participate in the meeting at 5:00PM today (Saturday).
MQM
chief said establishment becomes active whenever he talks about ‘cleansing’ in
the party.
He said
life and death is in the hands of Allah Almighty, adding that he will disclose
a secret in the address to the workers.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-160933-Altaf-says-will-apprise-nation-over-double-standard-of-establishment-today
--------
South Asia
Bangladesh
Militants Use Facebook to Recruit People In The Name Of IS
27 Sep,
2014
Militants
in Bangladesh are reportedly using social networking site Facebook to recruit
members for the international militant outfit Islamic State (IS), as well as
disseminating promotional posts about the organisation.
The
Detective Branch of police came up with the information following the arrest of
Md Hifzur Rahman, a 22-year-old student of Sylhet’s Government Tibriya College,
who claimed to be the chief of the Bangladesh unit of the Islamic State.
“Although
the arrestee claimed to be the chief of the IS in Bangladesh, we are yet to
find any proof that he had been able to establish any direct link or
communication to the central committee of the IS,” said Joint Commissioner of
DB Monriul Islam, following the arrest of Hifzur early yesterday.
“Based
on information, members of Counter Terrorism and Trans-national Crimes unit of
the DB arrested him in front of Surma Tower at Comrade Moni Singh Road in
Purana Paltan,” Monirul told a press conference at the DMP’s Media and
Community Centre.
Detectives
were able to make the arrest after tracing the Facebook activities of Hifzur
for a long time, the joint commissioner said, adding that Hifzur administrated
a fan page titled “ISIS Bangladesh.”
Full
report at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/sep/27/local-militants-use-facebook-recruit-people-name#sthash.dYxrbGev.dpuf
----------
Ajristan
residents hang 4 Taliban militants to death
Sep 27
2014
At least
four Taliban militants were hanged to death by local residents in Ajristan
district as heavy clashes continue in different parts of the district between
Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents.
According
to local government officials, the Taliban militants were hanged to death in
Azargi village while they were fleeing the area after Afghan Special Forces
were deployed.
Deputy provincial
governor, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, said Afghan Special Forces were deployed in
Ajristan on Friday evening to assist police forces in fight against the Taliban
militants.
Around
800 Taliban militants including foreign fighters launched coordinated attacks
in Ajristan district late Thursday night and killed around 100 people and
beheaded 15 relatives of the police forces.
In the
meantime, Ahmadi said the Taliban militants are fleeing the area after Afghan
Special Force were deployed and the operations are still being conducted to
clear the area from the militants.
The
Taliban militants group has not commented regarding the report so far.
http://www.khaama.com/ajristan-residents-hang-4-taliban-militants-to-death-8727
----------
Taliban
publicly executes 3 people over kidnap charges
Sep 27
2014
The
Taliban militants group publicly executed three people over robbery and
kidnapping charges in eastern Paktia province of Afghanistan.
Taliban
group spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said the three individuals were found
guilty during a public court hearing.
Mujahid
claimed that the convicts were public executed in Gurji area of Zurmat district
on Friday.
He said
the local residents had filed a complaint against the convicts, alleging that
they were involved in kidnapping of people and robbery.
The
local security officials have not commented regarding the report so far.
Paktia
is among the volatile provinces in eastern Afghanistan where anti-government
armed militant groups including the Taliban militants are active in its remote
districts.
http://www.khaama.com/taliban-publicly-executes-3-people-over-kidnap-charges-8731
----------
Karzai
signs death penalty for Kabul rape convicts
Sep 27
2014
Afghan
President Hamid Karzai signed death penalty for Kabul rape convicts.
Aimal
Faizi, spokesman for President Karzai said the death penalty for the
perpetrators of Paghman gang rape was signed by the President on Saturday.
“President
Karzai signed off today on the order for execution of five criminals convicted
of rape & kidnapping in Paghman incident,” Faizai said.
The
Appeals Court of Kabul awarded death sentence to five of the seven convicts of
a group involved in brutal beating, robbery and gang-rape of four women in
capital Kabul on September 15th.
The
convicts facing death penalty includes Azizullah, Nazar Mohammad, Qaisullah,
Samiullah and Habibullah, who were involved in gang rape of 4 women.
The
women were initially abducted while they were returning from a wedding ceremony
and were repeatedly raped besides their belongings were robbed by the gang.
http://www.khaama.com/karzai-signs-death-penalty-for-kabul-rape-convicts-8728
----------
PM
Sheikh Hasina for effective measures to stop war
27 Sep,
2014
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has appealed to the world leaders to take effective
steps to stop wars and conflicts across the world.
"Let
us reject war and work for peace. And the UN can play the central role in
stopping wars," she said adding Bangladesh is committed to working with
all to make that a reality."
Sheikh
Hasina was addressing a function arranged at UN Headquarters marking the 40th
anniversary of Bangladesh's membership of the United Nations on Saturday.
UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN Under Secretary General Ameerah Haq, US
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal,
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadiy Gatilov, UK Ambassador to the United
States Peter Westmacott, Senior Official of the Ministry of External Affairs of
India Binod Kumar, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and UNESCO Director General
Irina Bokova also spoke on the occasion.
The PM
said Bangladesh and the UN have a common mission. "Bangladesh would
continue its struggle to empower people and make the world safer for succeeding
generations," she said.
Sheikh
Hasina sought support of the UN and member states to the stride of Bangladesh
in realizing Vision 2021 and building a knowledge-driven middle-income economy
before the country's golden jubilee of independence.
Full
report at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/sep/27/pm-effective-measures-stop-war#sthash.4Pk2sfHR.dpuf
----------
Arab World
U.S.-led
strikes pressure al Qaeda's Syria group to join with ISIS: Reuters
27 Sep,
2014
Al
Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front, is facing mounting pressure from its
own members to reconcile with its rival Islamic State and confront a common
enemy after U.S.-led air strikes hit both groups this week.
But that
move would require pledging loyalty to Islamic State, which has declared a
caliphate in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria, which would effectively
put an end to the Nusra Front, fighters in the group say.
Nusra,
long one of the most effective forces fighting Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, was weakened this year by battles with Islamic State, an al Qaeda
splinter group that routinely employs ruthless methods such as beheadings and
mass executions.
The two
share the same ideology and rigid Islamic beliefs, but fell out during a power
struggle that pitted Islamic State head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi against al Qaeda
chief Ayman Zawahri and Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani.
But
U.S.-led air and missile strikes, which have hit Nusra as well as Islamic State
bases in Syria, have angered many Nusra members who say the West and its allies
have joined forces in a "crusader" campaign against Islam.
Full
report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111767/World/Region/USled-strikes-pressure-al-Qaedas-Syria-group-to-jo.aspx
----------
Iraq's
Army Kills Several ISIL Terrorists in Baghdad
27 Sep,
2014
Iraqi forces inflicted heavy casualties on the
ISIL terrorists in Baghdad in fresh operations on Saturday, killing several
members of the Takfiri group.
A
military source told state news agency that eight members of the so-called
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group were killed during
a series of operations carried out by the Iraqi Army on Saturday in the
Northern areas of the Capital.
The
Takfiri terrorists currently control parts of Syria and Iraq. They have
threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi
Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.
Senior
Iraqi officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab
states for the growing terrorism in their country.
The ISIL
has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be indirectly supported by
the Israeli regime.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930705000574
----------
Iraqi
Soldiers Kill Top ISIL Commander in Anbar
27 Sep,
2014
Iraqi
troops scored major advances in the province of Anbar against the ISIL
terrorist group, killing a large number of them including a top commander.
A
military source told National Iraqi news agency that the army soldiers carried
out a series of operations in the western city of Haditha, al-Anbar province,
and claimed the lives of too many terrorists, including a senior commander
called Muhammad Bakr al-Dulaimi.
The
Takfiri terrorists currently control parts of Syria and Iraq. They have
threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi
Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.
Senior
Iraqi officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab
states for the growing terrorism in their country.
The ISIL
has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be indirectly supported by
the Israeli regime.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930705000451
----------
IS
Militants’ Siege of Syria Town Draws Widespread European Support
SEPTEMBER
27, 2014
KARACA (Turkey),
Sept 27 ― Islamic State fighters tightened their siege of a town on Syria's
border with Turkey yesterday despite US-led air strikes aimed at defeating the
militants in both Syria and Iraq, in a coalition which has now drawn widespread
European support.
Britain,
Washington's closest ally in the wars of the last decade, joined an alliance
after weeks of weighing its options. Britain's parliament voted 542 to 43 to
back Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to take part in air strikes in
Iraq.
Belgium's
parliament also voted 114 to 2 to take part and Denmark said it would send
planes. Six Belgian F-16s took off for a staging post in Greece even before the
vote.
“This is
not a threat on the far side of the world. Left unchecked, we will face a
terrorist caliphate on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a NATO
member, with a declared and proven intention to attack our country and our
people,” Cameron told British lawmakers.
Until
this week France was the only Western country to answer President Barack
Obama's call to join the campaign. Since Monday, Australia and the Netherlands
have also joined. Yesterday Germany expressed support for the mission despite
saying it would not send aircraft of its own.
Full
report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/world/article/is-militants-seige-of-syria-town-draws-widespread-european-support#sthash.pQQtqSqZ.dpuf
----------
Saudi
Arabia set to unveil newly sewn Kiswa for Kaaba
27 Sep,
2014
Saudi
Arabia is preparing to unveil the newly sewn Kiswa, or cover of the holy Kaaba
structure, as per tradition.
Each
year, a specialized factory in Makkah sews a new Kiswa which will be used to
cover the Kaaba during the upcoming hajj pilgrimage.
Sheikh
Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, the head of the presidency of the Two Holy Mosques,
said: “The cover is… completely manufactured in Saudi Arabia after it had
previously been manufactured and transferred from Egypt or other countries.”
According
to Sheikh Dr. Saleh al-Shebi, caretaker of the Grand Mosque, a full-time
maintenance team is tasked with preserving the Kiswa as some pilgrims try to
take pieces of the fabric home with them.
Misconceptions
have led some pilgrims to swallow the threads of the Kiswa, thereby setting off
a practice that leads to the disfiguring of the cover.
They
remove the threads using rings and scissors in the hope that it will bring them
good luck and blessings. This continued action has disfigured the Kiswa, Makkah
daily said in a report published earlier this year.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/26/Saudi-Arabia-set-to-unveil-newly-sewn-Kiswa-for-Kaaba.html
----------
For Arab
immigrants, a Canadian passport and a GCC job may no longer mix
27
September 2014
Gone are
the days when you could benefit from Canada and the Gulf at the same time.
Nima and
her husband—a Jordanian couple with two children—arrived in Ontario last year
with an unequivocal goal after staying nearly ten years in Qatar: To grab
Canadian citizenship within three years and go back to the oil-rich Gulf region
to stack up tax-free dollars. But now that Canada has stretched the time frame
required to become a Canadian citizen to four years, in addition to obliging
prospective citizens to commit to living in the country, Nima’s longtime dream
seems to be evaporating.
“We
really don’t know what to do; everything has been ruined,” Nima says, referring
to the new, partially implemented law.
Full
report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2014/09/27/For-Arab-immigrants-a-Canadian-passport-and-a-GCC-job-may-no-longer-mix-.html
----------
Air
strikes hit Islamic State in eastern Syria: Monitor
27 Sep,
2014
Air
strikes, believed to have been carried out by U.S.-led forces, hit Islamic
State and other Islamist groups in eastern Syria early on Saturday, a monitoring
group said.
The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 31 explosions
were heard in the province of Raqqa, a stronghold of IS, and casualties were
reported.
The
monitoring group said warplanes also struck areas east of the desert town of
Palmyra in Homs province.
The
United States is leading a military coalition supported by some Gulf and
European nations against Islamic State, a powerful force in Syria which swept
across northern Iraq in June.
The
campaign has brought Washington back to the battlefield in Iraq that it left in
2011 and into Syria for the first time after avoiding involvement in a war that
began the same year.
Militant
groups in the region, and websites commonly used by supporters, did not
immediately mention any attacks on Saturday.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111785/World/Region/Air-strikes-hit-Islamic-State-in-eastern-Syria-Mon.aspx
----------
Grand
Mufti: Avoid politics at Haj
27 Sep,
2014
Grand
Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has advised pilgrims to avoid politicizing
the Haj.
Speaking
during his Friday sermon at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, he said
the main aim of the Haj should be remembering Allah while performing the
rituals.
He said
pilgrims must be wary of their Haj being dominated by “evil and wrong thoughts,
deviant ideologies or abhorrent sectarianism.”
He said
pilgrims must abide by the regulations that have been put in place by the Saudi
government for the safety and comfort of all those on the holy journey.
The mufti
said pilgrims should not undermine efforts to ensure the Haj is conducted
safely and peacefully. “Strive to be close to Allah with the words and deeds
that He loves, because you are in a great and blessed land ...”
He said
Allah has warned in the Qur’an that there would be a “most grievous penalty”
for those whose purpose is “profanity or wrongdoing,” the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
More
than 2 million pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year.
They
will assemble in Mina, 12 km outside Makkah, on Thursday Oct. 2 at the start of
the pilgrimage in preparation for their journey to Arafat the next day. About
one million foreign pilgrims have already arrived for Haj.
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/636376
----------
Scholar:
Haj Firms’ Offers to Hajis Shouldn’t Vary
27 Sep,
2014
RIYADH —
A prominent scholar here has called upon domestic Haj operators not to divide
Haj packages into expensive and cheap ones because he claimed it is
impermissible in the Shariah. Sheikh Salih Fawzan, a member of the Senior Board
of Scholars, condemned the questionable marketing practices of some domestic
Haj providers. He said companies should provide full services to clients who
pay them money in order to go for Haj. Some companies leave customers with two
choices: Full Haj or incomplete Haj. If one wants the former, he will have to
pay a certain amount of money to spend the first night in Mina. For the latter,
one cannot spend the first night in Mina, rather, at Al-Aziziyah neighbourhood,
which is close to Mina, thus the fees of the latter are less. Sheikh Al-Fawzan
called upon these companies to fear Allah in what they do.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140927219481
----------
Europe
Muslims
gather in Paris to denounce IS ‘barbarism’
27 Sep,
2014
PARIS:
Hundreds of people gathered in Paris on Friday answering a call by Muslim
leaders to denounce the “barbarism” of IS militants, as flags across France
flew at half mast after the beheading of a French national.
Imams
and ordinary Muslims have rallied to condemn the execution of 55-year-old
mountaineer Herve Gourdel this week by militants in Algeria with ties to the IS
jihadists, as the country mourns the brutal murder.
“This
gathering is the strong and vibrant expression of our desire for national unity
and of our unwavering will to live together,” Dalil Boubakeur, head of the
French Council of the Muslim Faith, an official representative for the
country’s roughly five million Muslims, told the gathering outside Paris’s main
mosque.
“Islam
is a religion of peace,” he said, adding it “orders respect for life.”
Leading
Muslim figures also signed a message published in French newspapers Friday
condemning “atrocities committed in the name of a murderous ideology hiding
behind the Islamic religion.”
Full
report at:
A
passionate photographer, Gourdel liked going off the beaten track, his friends
have said.
http://www.arabnews.com/world/news/636186
----------
Germany
plans tougher controls on would-be jihadists
27 Sep,
2014
The
German government plans tougher controls on would-be jihadists such as marking
personal identity cards to alert border guards that the traveller may be en
route to join the Islamic State militant group.
An
interior ministry spokeswoman said some kind of marking on identity cards could
identify suspected jihadists so border guards in Germany or other Schengen
countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands could prevent them from leaving.
Germans
can also use their identity cards to enter Turkey, a main transit point for
militants travelling to Syria to join Islamic State, so border guards there
could also spot them.
"We
have to prevent fanatics from leaving Germany and heading to Middle Eastern
crisis points to join the terror," said Burkhard Lischka, an interior
affairs spokesman for the Social Democrats, junior partners in Angela Merkel's
coalition government.
Thousands
of Western volunteers have travelled to the Middle East to join militant groups
including Islamic State. The trend has raised fears in Europe and the United
States of attacks by returning fighters.
Full
report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/111759/World/International/Germany-plans-tougher-controls-on-wouldbe-jihadist.aspx
----------
After IS
beheading, France tells citizens to be on guard in Malaysia
27 Sep,
2014
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 27 — France has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to be
vigilant in several countries including Malaysia over fears of a threat from
militants from Islamic State.
The
advisory comes after French tourist Hervé Gourdel was beheaded in Algeria on
Wednesday by terrorists claiming to belong to Islamic State, and as local
police intelligence revealed that Malaysian nationals are among those who have
travelled to Syria to join the terror group.
In a
posting on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website yon Thursday, French
authorities advised its citizens residing in or passing through Malaysia to be
extra-vigilant.
This was
due to the risk of kidnappings and “hostile” acts against those from France and
other member countries, which is a member of an international coalition against
the “Daech”, the ministry said on its travel advice page.
Full
report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/after-is-beheading-france-tells-citizens-to-be-on-guard-in-malaysia#sthash.zHYVBUij.dpuf
----------
Video
Imagines Pushing Rewind On Devastation in Syria, Will Stop You in Your Tracks
27 Sep,
2014
Children
run backward in slow motion as a bomb retreats into the sky. Demolished houses
rebuild. A burning teddy bear is resurrected.
This
striking video from The Syria Campaign, a U.K.-based nonprofit, shows scenes of
devastation playing in reverse, reminding us that we cannot turn back the clock
on the chaos in Syria. The video is a call to action for people to sign the
#WithSyria petition urging world leaders -- and through them, the United
Nations Security Council -- to address the situation.
The
conflict in Syria, which began as a popular uprising against President Bashar
Assad, has turned the country into a battlefield between the regime, opposition
groups and various extremist organizations that have found a fertile ground in
the war-torn nation. The violence has left at least 191,000 people dead since
March 2011 and forced nearly half of all Syrians to leave their homes.
Full
report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/24/syria-in-reverse-campaign-video_n_5870794.html
----------
British
lawmakers vote to join US-led Iraq air strikes
27 Sep,
2014
Lawmakers
in Britain's House of Commons voted overwhelmingly on Friday in favour of
joining US-led air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq.
The
motion proposed by Prime Minister David Cameron's government was passed by 524
votes to 43, a majority of 481.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/111750/World/International/British-lawmakers-vote-to-join-USled-Iraq-air-stri.aspx
----------
US
should coordinate air strikes with Syria: Russia
27 Sep,
2014
Russia
believes US-led air strikes against jihadists in Syria should be carried out in
coordination with Syrian authorities and in accordance with international law,
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
Lavrov
was speaking after the United States this week extended an air assault against
the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq to Syria with the support of five Arab
countries.
"We
believe that any action taken globally, including use of force, to overcome
terrorist threats should be done in accordance with international law," he
told reporters at the United Nations.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin warned ahead of the strikes in Syria -- a Moscow ally
-- that the offensive should not be carried out without the permission of
Damascus, in a phone call with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Full
report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111768/World/Region/US-should-coordinate-air-strikes-with-Syria-Russia.aspx
----------
India
‘Like
Never Before, I the Muslim Am Seen as the Root Cause of Nation’s Problems’
September
27, 2014
With six
MPs, the Lok Janshakti Party may not count for much in the 330-plus ruling NDA.
But ABDUL KHALIQ, secretary general of LJP, is the first ally to speak out
against ‘the unfettered hate being spewed’ against Muslims by ‘a long list of
hate mongers’
The
by-election results in Bihar and UP are being viewed as a vindication of the
deep-rooted and strong secular credentials of the nation. As heartening to the
secular devotees is the Prime Minister’s statement that Indian Muslims would
live and die for the country. However, the fact that the PM has thought it
necessary to underline the patriotism of Muslims is in itself deeply
disturbing. Implicit in the statement is the frightening reality of how the
Muslim is viewed in today’s India.
I am an
Indian but the fact that I am a Muslim has endangered my claim to equal
citizenship. I say this not because of our laws which are unexceptionable but
because of the mind-numbing environment of hostility and prejudice, the
inexorable growth of sheer distrust and hatred for the Muslim and all that he
represents.
Although
the Muslims are near the bottom of the socio-economic ladder and at par with
the Dalits in almost every human development index, the public discourse today
is not about the economic and educational backwardness of this beleaguered
community but about the huge affliction they are in the nation’s social fabric.
Full
report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/like-never-before-i-the-muslim-am-seen-as-the-root-cause-of-nations-problems/99/#sthash.tSpDptpJ.dpuf
----------
Posters
Go Up At Garba Venues in MP: No Non-Hindus Allowed
September
27, 2014
Several
posters prohibiting ‘non-Hindus’ from entering Garba venues came up in Madhya
Pradesh’s Dhar town Thursday, the first night of Navratri festival.
Police
removed the posters hours after they were put up at the entrance of several
venues in the town. BJP MLA Usha Thakur had started the campaign to ban Muslim
men from attending Garba events from Indore, 75 km from Dhar.
Dhar SP
Bhagwant Singh Chouhan told The Indian Express that the posters — which stated,
“Non-Hindus are not allowed inside Garba Pandals” — appeared to have been put
up by the same group. He said the posters were issued in the name of “Garba
organising committee, Dhar”, but no individual had taken responsibility for
putting them up. No case has been registered so far, he added.
Full
report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/posters-go-up-at-garba-venues-in-mp-no-non-hindus-allowed/#sthash.sOeOrBfV.dpuf
---------
Pakistan
Praises India over MOM's Success
Srinivas
Laxman,TNN | Sep 27, 2014
MUMBAI:
Praise has come from an unlikely quarter for India's Mars mission success,
although in the form of a backhanded compliment. Pakistani nuclear scientist
Abdul Qadeer Khan - a known India baiter - on Wednesday tweeted that India had
reached Mars at a price seven times less than that of a metro bus project while
Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif was enjoying his US visit spending $1 Lakh per day of
taxpayers' money.
Khan,
who was born in Bhopal in undivided India, was instrumental in Pakistan's missile
development programme. He has time and again stated that his country's missiles
were aimed against India.
In
another tweet, three hours after Mangalyaan reached Mars, Khan said,
"India was once a child to us in terms of technology, but corrupt politicians
arrested our scientists, closed researches on US direction."
Full
report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pakistan-praises-India-over-MOMs-success/articleshow/43573147.cms
----------
India
rejects Sharif’s ‘untenable comments’ on Kashmir, says the Pakistan PM made
‘unwarranted references’
September
27, 2014
India on
Saturday strongly rejected the “untenable comments” made by Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif on Jammu and Kashmir in the UNGA, asserting that the
people of the state have peacefully chosen their destiny in accordance with
universally accepted democratic principles.
Exercising
its Right of Reply on the floor of the General Assembly to the comments made by
Sharif, India said that the Pakistan Prime Minister made “unwarranted
references” in his address to the UN session earlier yesterday.
“I would
like to bring to the notice of this august House that the people of Jammu and
Kashmir have peacefully chosen their destiny in accordance with the universally
accepted democratic principles and practices and they continue to do so. We,
therefore, reject in their entirety the untenable comments of the distinguished
delegate of Pakistan,” Abhishek Singh, First Secretary in the Indian mission to
the UN said in the General Assembly.
Full report
at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/india-rejects-sharifs-untenable-comments-on-kashmir-says-the-pakistan-pm-made-unwarranted-references/99/#sthash.UnQKCTm8.dpuf
----------
BJP Not
To Stop Campaign against ‘Love Jihad’
MOHAMMAD
ALI
27 Sep,
2014
Party
sources told The Hindu that their campaign would go on with the "same or
even more vigour and focus".
Despite
the Bharatiya Janata Party’s loss to Samajwadi Party in the recent by-elections
in Uttar Pradesh, it’s campaign against the so-called ‘love jihad’ in Western
UP will go on.
Party
sources told The Hindu that their campaign would go on with the “same or even
more vigour and focus”.
Ajay
Tyagi, an industrialist who formed ‘Hindu Bahen Beti Bachao Sangharsh Samiti’,
refused to buy the argument that Mahant Adityanath’s campaign focussing on
“love jihad” was responsible for the electoral drubbing.
As part
of his Samiti’s work, Mr. Tyagi has started a Helpline to attend calls,
according to him, by “distressed” Hindu parents about their daughters being
lured in ‘love’ by Muslim men.
He told
this correspondent that the BJP would have won more seats, had Adityanath
visited more constituencies and raised the polarising issue. “Look at the
facts. Mahant Adityanath Ji visited two constituencies -- Noida and Lucknow --
and spoke of ‘love jihad’. The BJP won both of them,” he said.
Full
report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-not-to-stop-campaign-against-love-jihad/article6452122.ece
----------
North America
Senior
Isil commander raised £1.25 million from Qatari nationals, says US Treasury
27 Sep,
2014
One of
Isil’s senior commanders, who serves as “Emir of suicide bombers”, raised
$2?million (£1.25?million) for “military operations” from a donor in Qatar,
according to the US Treasury.
The
latest allegations about the flow of funds from individuals based in Qatar to
Syria-based terrorists led to more calls for the Gulf state to prevent its
citizens from supporting Isil.
The US
Treasury also named a Qatari national who allegedly serves as a middleman
between al-Qaeda’s core leadership in Pakistan and terrorist financiers in the
Gulf.
A third
individual, newly designated by America as a “global terrorist”, was arrested
in 2012 while trying to fly to Qatar with thousands of dollars “intended for
al-Qaeda”.
The US
Treasury accusations follow disclosures by The Telegraph of how individuals in
Qatar supplied money and weapons to groups fighting alongside al-Qaeda linked
terrorists in Syria, including Islamic rebels who have secured the city of
Raqqa as Isil’s “capital”.
Qatar,
whose London property portfolio includes Harrods and the Shard, has joined the
US-led offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). The
Gulf monarchy has contributed two Mirage jet fighters to the air campaign.
Full
report at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/qatar/11124714/Senior-Isil-commander-raised-1.25-million-from-Qatari-nationals-says-US-Treasury.html
----------
US in
'near continuous' strikes against ISIL in Syria
27 Sep,
2014
The
U.S.-led coalition widened its air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) targets in Syria on Sept. 27 as part of "near
continuous" raids against the jihadists.
The
expanded operations in Syria by Washington and its Arab allies came after three
more European governments deployed fighter jets for strikes against ISIL in
Iraq, freeing up U.S. air power.
Belgium,
Britain and Denmark approved plans to join France and the Netherlands in
carrying out air raids against the militants in Iraq, allowing Washington to
focus on the more complex operation in neighboring Syria, where ISIL has set up
its headquarters.
But
Washington warned that the jihadists could not be defeated in Syria by air
strikes alone, saying that up to 15,000 "moderate" rebels would need
to be trained and armed to beat them back.
The
U.S.-led coalition hit ISIL targets in Syria's central province of Homs for the
first time on Sept. 27 as well as in the town of Minbej, near the western limit
of ISIL control, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Full
report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-in-near-continuous-strikes-against-isil-in-syria.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72247&NewsCatID=352
----------
Syrian
rebel force of 12,000-15,000 needed to roll back IS group: US
27 Sep,
2014
A Syrian
rebel force of 12,000 to 15,000 would be needed to take territory held by
Islamic State militants in the country's east, three times the number of
fighters due to be trained by the United States, the top US military officer
said Friday.
"We've
had estimates anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 is what we believe they would need
to recapture lost territory in eastern Syria," General Martin Dempsey told
a news conference at the Pentagon.
But he said the 5,000 recruits scheduled to be
trained and armed by American instructors was never intended to represent the
total number of troops for the "moderate" rebel forces.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111763/World/Region/Syrian-rebel-force-of-,,-needed-to-roll-back-IS-gr.aspx
----------
US not
trying to help Assad stay in power: Kerry
27 Sep,
2014
America's
war on Islamic militants is not aimed at helping Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad stay in power, US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Friday.
The top
US diplomat sought to dispel wariness that the "laser focus" on
fighting Islamic State (IS) militants has distracted from efforts to end the
three-year civil war in Syria in which over 200,000 people have been killed.
Damascus
has long insisted that defeating the "terrorists" must take
precedence over everything else, including negotiations about political reform.
And the
Syrian regime welcomed the US-led air strikes on its territory as part of that
fight against "terrorists" which it insists includes the moderate rebels.
"This
campaign is not about helping President Bashar Assad of Syria," Kerry shot
back in an opinion piece Friday in the Boston Globe.
"We
are not on the same side as Assad -- in fact, he is a magnet that has drawn
foreign fighters from dozens of countries to Syria."
Full
report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111762/World/Region/US-not-trying-to-help-Assad-stay-in-power-Kerry.aspx
----------
Mideast
Islamists
attack students protesting ISIL at Istanbul University
27 Sep,
2014
One
person was injured on Sept. 26 after a group of jihadist sympathizers attacked
students who had opened a stand at Istanbul University to denounce the
brutality of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The
masked attackers, who were filmed attacking with sticks studded with nails
inside a foyer in one of the school’s buildings, were allegedly affiliated to
the Muslim Youth organization.
One
student was apparently injured in the head by a soda bottle allegedly hurled by
the attackers.
The
assailants, three of whom were reportedly detained after the attack, also tore
down a pancard that said “ISIL, get out of the Middle East.”
In
response, hundreds of students began staging a counterprotest against the
pro-ISIL assault in front of the university's science faculty.
Full
report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/video-islamists-attack-students-protesting-isil-at-istanbul-university.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72219&NewsCatID=341
----------
Abbas’
UN speech labeled ‘diplomatic terrorism’
27 September 2014
The United
States on Friday slammed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ speech at the United
Nations, saying it was “offensive” and undermined peace efforts.
“President
Abbas’ speech today included offensive characterizations that were deeply
disappointing and which we reject,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen
Psaki.
“Such
provocative statements are counterproductive and undermine efforts to create a
positive atmosphere and restore trust between the parties,” she said.
In his
address to the U.N. General Assembly, Abbas demanded an end to occupation,
accused Israel of waging a “war of genocide” in Gaza and asserted that
Palestinians faced a future in a “most abhorrent form of apartheid” under
Israeli rule.
Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also blasted Abbas, accusing him of
“diplomatic terrorism” and saying his
remarks "highlight once again how he does not want and cannot be a
partner for a reasonable diplomatic agreement."
In the
speech, Abbas stopped short of saying he would pursue war crimes charges
against Israel.
Full
report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/27/Abbas-U-N-speech-slammed-as-diplomatic-terrorism-.html
----------
Turkey
offers troops to secure haven in Syria for refugees
27 Sep,
2014
STANBUL:
Turkish troops could be used to help set up a secure zone in Syria, if there
was an international agreement to establish such a haven for refugees fleeing
Islamic State fighters, President Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published on
Saturday.
Turkey
has so far declined to take a frontline role in the US-led coalition against
Islamic State but officials said earlier this week Erdogan has been negotiating
on what Turkey’s role might now be.
“The
logic that assumes Turkey would not take a position militarily is wrong,” Erdogan
said in an interview with the Hurriyet newspaper on his way back from New York,
where he attended the United Nations General Assembly meetings.
Erdogan
said negotiations are underway to determine how and by which countries the air
strikes and a potential ground operation would be undertaken and that Turkey is
ready to take part.
“In the
distribution of responsibilities, every country will have a certain duty.
Whatever is Turkey’s role, Turkey will play it,” he said, adding that an air
operation alone was not sufficient.
Full
report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/featured/news/636421
----------
Two
killed as Yemen rebels tighten grip on capital
27
September 2014
Two
Yemeni rebels were killed Saturday in clashes with troops loyal to President
Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in the capital which was largely overran last week by the
Shiite insurgents.
Fierce
battles erupted overnight Friday near the presidential complex in southern
Sanaa after Huthi rebels attacked the nearby residence of the head of the
national security apparatus, witnesses said.
The
attack, the second of its kind since last week, took place a day after Hadi
urged the northern rebels to pull out of the capital, accusing them of
pillaging houses, military bases and government institutions.
The
Huthi rebels, who had besieged Sanaa for a month, seized key state
installations Sunday without any resistance, after clashes on the city's
outskirts with Islamists from the Sunni Islah party and tribes killed more than
270 people.
Full
report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/27/Two-killed-as-Yemen-rebels-tighten-grip-on-capital-.html
----------
Deadlock
in Iran’s latest round of nuke talks
27
September 2014
Iran and
six world powers made little progress in overcoming significant disagreements
in the most recent round of nuclear talks, including on uranium enrichment,
Iranian and Western diplomats close to the negotiations said on Friday.
Officials
from Iran and the six countries had cautioned ahead of the talks in New York
that a breakthrough was unlikely to end sanctions on Tehran, although they had
hoped substantial progress could be made in narrowing disagreements.
A senior
State Department official said gaps “are still serious” with just eight weeks
to go before a Nov. 24 deadline.
“We do
not have an understanding on all major issues, we have some understandings that
are helpful to move this process forward and we have an enormous number of
details still to work through,” the official told reporters.
“We
still have some very, very difficult understandings yet to reach, and everyone
has to make difficult decisions and we continue to look to Iran to make some of
the ones necessary for getting to a comprehensive agreement,” said the
official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Full
report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/09/27/Iran-nuclear-talks-reach-deadlock-.html
----------
Doubts
linger over Turkey’s stance on fighting ISIS
27 September 2014
Turkish
reluctance to take part in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in
Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was largely explained by fears over the fate of 49
citizens abducted by the group.
Now that
the hostages are free, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey’s
position “has changed,” and “what follows will be much different.”
However,
he stopped short of saying whether Ankara would join the coalition against
ISIS, which has captured large swathes of neighboring Iraq and Syria.
Some
experts say Turkey’s lacklustre response to the U.S.-led campaign goes beyond
the fate of the hostages.
Turkey
is backing moderate rebel groups, and “doesn’t want to see itself engaged
heavily in threatening ISIS,” said George Joffe, a research fellow at the
Centre of International Studies at Cambridge University.
Sinan
Ülgen, chairman of the Istanbul-based Center for Economics and Foreign Policy,
said “the number one reason" is that “ISIS can retaliate against Turkey,
given that Turkey has a very long border with Iraq and Syria.”
Full
report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2014/09/27/Uncertainty-lingers-over-Turkey-s-stance-on-fighting-ISIS.html
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Southeast Asia
Islamist
appeal must go beyond ‘haram and halal’, says PAS leader
27 Sep,
2014
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 27 — The Islamist movement must move beyond the punitive aspects
of Shariah laws and focus instead on the underlying values behind the Islamic
moral code, PAS Research Centre chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.
Referring
to his own party, Dzulkefly said Islamists can no longer rely on divine
authority to appeal to voters, but must instead convince the public of the
ability to deliver justice, good governance, and benefits to every citizen
regardless of creed.
“We’re
moving away from just the literal interpretation, what is haram what is halal,”
Dr Dzul said in the Symposium on Islam, Democracy and Secularism here.
“[We’re]
transcending above the usual do’s and don’ts, and moving ahead with what is the
wisdom behind them. What are the precepts, principles, underlying, overarching
intentions of Shariah or Islamic law.”
According
to the PAS central committee member, this challenge in communicating their
goals become harder in coalition politics, as experienced by PAS in the federal
opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
“I
daresay in the discourse of hudud ... I think this is always the Achilles’ heel
of the Islamists, it’s how they communicate their messages, namely the issue of
the punitive Islamic law,” said Dzulkefly.
Full
report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/islamist-appeal-must-go-beyond-haram-and-halal-says-pas-leader#sthash.IN5yNfLK.dpuf
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Regional
Elections Law Raises SBY Legacy Questions
27 Sep,
2014
Jakarta.
He claimed to be a firm supporter of the idea that regional leaders should be
elected by the people and said he had done all he could to prevent direct local
elections from being eliminated.
But many
now believe President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s claims to have been only for
show.
The
regional elections bill was passed into law in the early hours of Friday after
a heated 10-hour discussion which ended in a vote of 226-135 in favor of the
bill that takes away people’s right to vote for mayors, district heads and
governors, and gives it instead to regional legislatures.
Yudhoyono’s
Democratic Party, which, with 148 out of 560 House seats, held the balance of
power, dropped the ball by refusing to take part in the vote. It argued that
its conditional 10-point list of measures for improving the administration of
regional elections was not considered.
Full report
at:
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/regional-elections-law-raises-sby-legacy-questions/
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Religious
curbs used to keep Malays subservient, DAP MP claims
BY
ZURAIRI AR
SEPTEMBER
27, 2014
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 27 — Religious conservatism is being used to perpetuate the
Malay-Muslim community’s dependency on the patronage and “protection” of the
ruling class, Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari suggested today.
Consequently,
Islamic authorities’ clampdown on ideologies such as secularism and liberalism
is a part of preserving the dominance that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)
coalition has over the people, asserted the DAP MP.
“It’s
clear greater freedom doesn’t pose any threat on Islam. Malaysian authority
fears the freedom that secularism and liberalism entail,” the Penang Institute
chief executive said while officiating the Symposium on Islam, Democracy and
Secularism here.
“They
fear losing their ideological monopoly over the people, and hence their
political legitimacy,” he added, referring to the status quo.
Full
report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/religious-curbs-used-to-keep-malays-subservient-dap-mp-claims#sthash.LO6dZNWh.dpuf
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Malaysian
producer held in UK over terrorism suspicions
27 Sep,
2014
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 27 — A self-employed Malaysian TV producer was arrested in the UK
yesterday after being suspected as a terrorist, amid the growing spotlight on
Malaysia over the participation of its citizens in the Islamist State (SI)
jihadist movement.
According
to the Astro Awani news portal, local film producer Farihin Abdul Fatah and his
team of six were detained in Manchester shortly after arrival there from Wales,
where the group were filming a documentary.
The
group was immediately approached by a group of 20 British police officers at
the immigration checkpoint and had their luggage inspected.
“After
four hours of waiting, a police officer came, passed us uniforms to wear and
said that we were arrested as suspect terrorists. It was dodgy and the arrest
has left us puzzled,” Farihin was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.
He added
that they were told they were being arrested as UK authorities discovered a
chemical in the group’s belongings that was suspected to be a form of
explosive.
Farihin
and his six British crew members were later charged under Schedule 7 of UK’s
Anti- Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/malaysian-producer-held-in-uk-over-terrorism-suspicions#sthash.dvdINrWL.dpuf
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Africa
‘Killed’
Boko Haram leader continues to threaten Nigeria
September
27, 2014
ABUJA :
Nigeria’s Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, or a man claiming to be him, has
been killed at least three times so far, according to the military, yet each
time he apparently returns in the group’s numerous jihadist videos.
Dead or
alive, he appears to be fuelling violence which rights groups say is killing
more people than at any time during Boko Haram’s five-year-old reign of terror
in the north of the 175 million-strong state. Officials say Shekau may be a
name adopted by leaders of various wings of Boko Haram, raising the possibility
the death of one may make others more amenable to negotiating an end to the
fighting and release of 200 schoolgirls whose kidnap in April caused an
international outcry. The last time the military said he was dead a year ago, a
man looking similar to Shekau but slightly fatter continued to appear in videos
issuing threats and taunting authorities.
The
insurgents have killed thousands of people, many of them civilians, since
launching an uprising in 2009, and abducted hundreds of children in a tactic
reminiscent of Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army in central
Africa.
Shekau’s
face has often appeared on video claiming attacks.
Now
Nigeria’s military says this video imposter - real name Bashir Mohammed - has
died in fighting in the town of Kondugu, prompting the question whether there
is another Shekau lookalike ready to continue the fight in Africa’s top
economy.
Full
report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/27-Sep-2014/killed-boko-haram-leader-continues-to-threaten-nigeria
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Nigeria:
Fulani Herdsmen Kill 4, Scores Missing
27 Sep,
2014
Gunmen
suspected to be Fulani herdsmen yesterday attacked the Tse Shima, Mbatsoho
community of Mballagh council ward in Makurdi local government area of Benue
State, raping women and killing four persons.
The
armed herdsmen also destroyed farmlands, just as scores were declared missing.
The ugly incident occurred at about 3pm when the villagers had gone to their
farms.
Survivors
of the attack who narrowly escaped death, narrated that they had gone to their
farms, situated behind the NASME Barracks to fetch firewood when the herders
attacked them and raped girls in the process.
Yesterday,
at the Police C Division in the Northbank area of Makurdi, LEADERSHIP Weekend
witnessed the mutilated corpses of the deceased been conveyed to the place by
an armed security search party that had combed the attacked village.
The
corpses were later deposited at the General Hospital, Northbank mortuary.
Family members and sympathisers thronged to the hospital to confirm the fates
of their loved ones and fellow villagers.
A
13-year-old girl, Nyieshile, had a deep cut on her neck and could not speak
while she was being attended to by medical personnel at the General hospital in
Northbank.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201409270037.html
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Libya:
Head of sexual violence compensation fund named
27 Sep,
2014
The
Ministry of Justice has moved a step closer to compensating victims of sexual
violence during the revolution by appointing the head of the commission set up to oversee the compensation fund.
Sawsan
Ali Salim Haneesh will serve the a sixth-month term as commissioner of the
committee that will administrate the fund.
The fund
itself, however, meagre – just LD 190,000 – although this is supposedly an
initial amount. The committee has to establish rules for the formation and
working of the commission.
The
committee has also been told that its must take all measure to protect the
identities of those who have been victims of sexual crimes. It has also been
charged with providing adequate training for all members who will work with the
victims or have access to their information.
A
compensation decree was first issued in February this year and again in June
declaring that rape committed during the revolution was a war crime and that
reparations had to be paid to rape victims.
http://www.libyaherald.com/2014/09/26/head-of-sexual-violence-compensation-fund-named/#ixzz3EZIZBJMu
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