Remove Videos Demonising Muslims: News Broadcasting Authority to News18 India
New Age Islam News Bureau
01 March 2023
Live Law/ Twitter
----
• Shias Live In Terror As Sectarian Violence Increases
In Pakistan: Baltimore Post-Examiner Report
• Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria Warns
Politicians against Harassing INEC at National Collation Centre
• Nikki Haley Bashes Pakistan; Reiterates US Won't Be
World's 'ATM' If She Voted To Power
• Islamist Video Clip Featuring Men Dressed In
Military Uniforms Carrying Replica Swords, Spears and Shields Fuels Concern in
Moderate Malaysia
India
• Scholars Discuss History and Relevance of Islamic
Architecture in a Conference on the “Legacy of Islamic Architecture”
• Muslims in Achan Village of Kashmir Stand With
Pandits in Good As Well As Bad Times
• Kashmiri Pandit assassin among 2 terrorists, one
soldier killed in Pulwama shootout
• MP man detained after NIA 'terror' alert, freed
• No child marriage in last one month in Assam: CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
--------
Pakistan
• ‘Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’ Wants To Push
Government Out Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Establish Sharia’
• ‘Love Doesn’t Exist’: Children Of Pakistan Immigrants
Defy Forced Marriage Abroad
• Pakistan court grants ex-PM Imran interim bail in
Toshakhana case
• Lax security gives PTI activists a free hand in
Islamabad
• PNS NASR with 1000-tonne relief goods leaves for
Syria, Turkiye
--------
Africa
• Nigeria's Bola Tinubu Declared Winner of
Presidential Vote
• Benghazi is Islamic Culture Capital for 2023
• Al-Sunni urges Security Council to give Libya access
to its frozen assets
• Sudanese protester killed as marches enter 17th
month, despite talks
--------
North America
• Murals to be source of inspiration for Whitehorse
Muslim community
• US remains committed to regional partners in battle
against Daesh, officials say
• US House passes resolution mourning deaths in
Türkiye, Syria earthquakes, slamming Assad
--------
Southeast Asia
• Guan Eng: Hadi is lying, there are more Muslim MPs
in Unity govt than PN
• Malaysian Official Says Halal Market Value to
Contribute to 11% of Country’s GDP by 2030
• Cops probing discarded copies of Quran incident in
Klang Valley
--------
Europe
• German Foreign Minister Concerned About Judicial
Independence in Israel
• EU follows developments in Tunisia with ‘great
concern’
• UN confident Iraqis will overcome difficulties,
challenges: Secretary-general
• EU condemns ‘deadly cycle of violence’ in occupied
Palestinian territory
• Munich conference losing importance in absence of
Tehran, Moscow: Russian envoy
--------
South Asia
• Taliban Kill ISIS Terrorist Who Planned Attacks on
Diplomats In Kabul
• Islamic Emirate Diplomats Restart Official
Activities in Istanbul
• Afghanistan No Longer Celebrates Armed Forces Day
• Afghan Interim Government Cabinet Members Pass
Fiscal Year (1402) Budget
• 80 Afghan citizens dead in Italian shipwreck, says
Taliban foreign ministry
• Swiss-based trust holds second meeting to discuss
plans for Afghan funds
--------
Arab World
• Saudi Arabia Affirms Human Rights Commitment and
Equality among Peoples
• Lebanon plans to hike import tariffs for second time
in three months
• Lebanon top prosecutor tells judge investigating
banks to pause probe
• Saudi Hajj minister meets Malaysian PM
• Activists call on Trinidad to repatriate citizens in
Syria
--------
Mideast
• Iran Has Enriched Uranium to Nearly Bomb Grade: IAEA
• Spokesman: Iran Views Recent Development in
Syria-Arab States Ties As Positive
• Settler attacks continue amid ‘timid’ Israeli
government response
• Israel minister says Palestinian planned to kill him
• Israeli forces demolish two Palestinian-owned houses
in al-Quds, orders owners to pay heavy fines
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/demonising-muslims-shia-pakistan/d/129224
--------
Remove Videos Demonising Muslims: News Broadcasting Authority to News18 India
Live Law/ Twitter
----
1st March 2023
The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards
Authority (NBDSA) ordered news broadcaster News18 India to take down videos
that mislead news and give it a communal narrative. It fined the channel Rs
25,000 and warned them against repeating this action in the future.
The five orders issued by NBDSA relate to primetime
shows anchored by Aman Chopra. In all five cases, News18 India was found to
have violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards.
The first order mentions the show aired on October 4
last year when Chopra called out public flogging in Kheda village of Gujarat as
“Gujarat Police ne unke saath dandiya khela (Gujarat police played dandiya– a
popular Gujarat dance form performed during Dussehra– with them).”
Chopra, in his primetime show gleefully shows a group
of Gujarat police officials publicly assaulting a few Muslim men who are
allegedly accused of pelting stones at a Garba event last week during Navratri
festivities.
Chopra used statements such as “Gujarat police ne unka
ilaaj kia,” (Gujarat police cured them) “Garbe mei itna interest kyun hai
Muslim yuvakon ko? (Why are Muslim young men interested in Gujarat) Koi aur
tylohar mein itna interest nahin hain. Lekin pehchan chupakar kyun jaate
hai,”(They are not interested in other festivals but here they hide their faces
and join) and“Aisa kya mil raha hai garbe mei ki Islam ki rigidness khatam ho
jati hai. (What is so uniquely found at Garba programs that the rigidity of
Islam ends?)”, Asked Chopra suggestively.
Two complaints were filed against Chopra- one by an
Indrajeet Ghorpade and the other by the Citizens for Justice and Peace.
The NBDSA stated, “News18 India failed to condemn the
police violence e. Furthermore tickers used in the show gave an impression
“that all Muslim men had attended garba celebrations only with ulterior
motives”.
The second order was based on the show aired on
September 29. The complaint filed by Ghorpade stated that the programme was
aired to portray all Muslim men are criminals, trying to harm/deceive Hindu
women. “The entire Muslim community and in particular the men were demonized in
the impugned broadcast,” the complaint stated.
The NBDSA ordered News18 India to remove the video
from the public domain and cautioned the channel to use tickers that could
generate communal disharmony.
The third order was based on a program anchored by
Chopra on August 5. The complaint was filed by M Huzaifa who said the said
programme titled “Desh Nahi Jhukne Denge Ghazwa e Hind” (Country will not let
you bow down Ghazwa-e-Hind) was reporting on demographic changes near the
borders regions of Uttar Pradesh, Assam with Bangladesh.
Taglines such as “Border par Ghazwa-e-Hind
Pura”(Ghazwa-e-Hind is finally over at the Indian border), “Border ka
Islamikaran Pura” (Islamization is finally over at the Indian border) “Border
par Badhe-Bhaijaan, Khatarnaak hai Plan” (Increase of Muslim population is a
dangerous plan) were aired and terms such as ‘Muslim Corridor’, ‘Muslim
Borders’, ‘Jansankhya Jihad’ etc. were used by Chopra.
The complainant said that Chopra mentions India as a
Hindu Rashtra implying that he did not believe in secularism and the democratic
fabric of the country.
Anti-Muslim tickers such as “#BorderParPanIslam”,
“Border par Islamikaran pura?”, “Border par badhe ‘bhaijan’, Khatarnak he
Plan?” and “Border par Ghazwa-e-Barood bichh gya he” was used.
“The impugned show clearly violated the Code of Ethics
& Broadcasting Standards, particularly the principles of Self-Regulation
and Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage,” said the complaint.
The NBDSA said there would have been “no problem” if
News18 India had “raised only national security concerns in respect of
demographic changes around the border areas of the country due to infiltration”
and had sought the government’s response on this. Instead, the channel
“attempted to communalise the issue” without seeking “accountability” from the
government.
The NBDSA fined News18 India Rs 20,000/- and ordered
it to take down the videos from the public domain immediately.
The fourth order was based on a show aired on January
18, 2022, during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections where now chief minister
Yogi Adityanath made a statement, “it’s 80% vs 20%”. Complaints were filed by
Citizens for Justice and Peace and one Anuj Dubey.
The NBDSA, in its order stated that the tone used by
the channel’s anchor Aman Chopra had “religious undertones” and was “communal
in nature and not appropriate”.
NBDSA pointed out that Chopra had made statements like
“Ye 80 k khilaf hai mahagathbandhan” (This Grand Alliance is against 80% of the
population– meaning Hindus) and “Wo keh ray lwi kay unhey Hinduo sey problem
hai aur wo 80 kay khilaaf hai” (They do not like Hindus and are against the
majoritarian population). “A news anchor should be objective, impartial and
neutral,” the NBDSA commented.
News18 India was fined Rs 50,000 and told to remove
videos of the broadcast. It was also instructed to publicise the NBDSA’s orders
on its ticker once every hour for 24 hours from 8 am on March 6 to 8 am on
March 7.
The fifth order was based on a show that was aired on
July 28 last year. It was about the murder of Karnataka BJP Yuva Morcha leader
Praveen Nettaru in Dakshina Kannada.
The complaint was filed by Utkarsh Mishra and Vidya
Mittal. They stated in the complaint that the channel failed to report on two
Muslim deaths that happened before and after Nettaru’s murder – 19-year-old
Masood who was killed by members of the Bajrang Dal on July 20 and 32-year-old
Fazil, who was murdered BY Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on July 28.
“The broadcaster also failed to inform the viewers
about the statement made by Praveen’s father wherein he claimed that Praveen
was a part of the Hindu right-wing outfit and he was destined for this and that
there was little possibility of justice as he was part of such outfits,” the
complaint stated.
Chopra further did not allow one of the panelist to
speak and kept interrupting throughout the show.
News18 India was instructed to take down videos of the
show and “not repeat” the violations in the future.
Source: Siasat Daily
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Shias Live In Terror As Sectarian Violence Increases
In Pakistan: Baltimore Post-Examiner Report
Photo: The Times of India
----
Mar 1, 2023
ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, unarmed and helpless Shias are
marching on a one-way street to annihilation, as the mercenaries who treat
Shias like sitting ducks on the receiving end still remain at large and
protected by the military, reported Baltimore Post-Examiner (BPE).
After Iran and India, Pakistan has the world's
third-largest Shia community, accounting for ten per cent of the total
population, however, more than half of Pakistani Muslims are wary of
identifying with Shias as fellow believers, the report said.
Shias feel more vulnerable to prejudice and
persecution as perception shifts, and as a result, Shia killers feel more
confident attacking them. Shia assassinations were not uncommon prior to the
establishment of Pakistan, but they became more frequent and severe during and
after the Afghan War, the report stated further, adding that the Pakistani army
trained and recruited many anti-Shia individuals for the Soviet-Afghan war.
Pak army provided them ammunition, weapons, vehicles,
and judicial immunity, which simultaneously increased their effectiveness
against Shias, reported BPE.
Moreover, numerous anti-Shia organizations have become
immortal over time by forming alliances with ISIS, Al-Qaida, and the Taliban.
Shias consistently question the state's neutrality in the face of free-roaming
Shia killers, it added.
Human Rights Watch's 2013 report acknowledges
anti-Shia terrorists' ties to the Pakistani military, the report said, adding
that under military pressure, the police and judiciary disregard sectarian
crimes, which stimulate terrorists to kill Shias wherever and whenever they
please.
Canada's International Forum for Rights and Security
reported that over 4,000 Shias were reportedly murdered for their religious
beliefs between 2013 and 2021. The Washington-based United States Institute for
Peace said 3,800 Shias were murdered between 2007 and 2013, with 325 of those killings
occurring in 2012.
Pakistan's Human Rights Commission reported more than
200 terrorist attacks resulted in nearly 700 Shia deaths and over 1,000 Shia
injuries in 2013. The United States Commission on International Religious
Freedom also reported that over 600 Shias were killed for their faith between
1999 and 2003.
The assassins also target and destroy Shia religious
centres in order to discourage festivals and rituals and stifle cultural
identity, the BPE said, adding that between 2002 and 2018, state-sponsored
terrorists attacked and destroyed 104 Shia centres.
The military kidnaps Shias for allegedly opposing the
Taliban or cooperating with Iran's mullah regime. Shias are being held captive
by military intelligence and Rangers with no opportunity for evidence
gathering, a hearing, or an appeal, it said.
According to Shia organisations, 300 Shias were
presumed missing as of the end of 2018. That figure rose to 700 by 2021, but
the government only acknowledges a small percentage of such cases.
In places like Karachi, the military conducts illegal
home raids and confines Shia suspects in secret torture cells for indefinite
periods of time. Despite their reservations about the judicial system's
fairness, Shias would prefer formal indictment and court trial to illegal
abduction and torture, the report said.
However, the Pakistan Army is not willing to oblige
because the policymakers consider illegal detentions and extra-judicial torture
and murder as effective tools in combating existential threats to the country,
reported BPE.
The Federal Commission on Enforced Disappearances
appears powerless to track down or prevent these kidnappings. In this regard,
the International Commission of Jurists has chastised the Pakistani government
for allowing and maintaining impunity for forced disappearances and failing to
compensate victims.
Terrorist organisations such as TTP, Jaish-e-Muhammad,
Lashkar-e-Islami, and Ansar-ul-Islam, which have access to military weapons,
add fuel to the fire during attacks on Shias, stated the report, adding that
Mast Gul, a member of the Harkatul Mujahideen and the Al-Qaida-linked
International Islamic Front, was among the terrorists involved in the Shia
attacks in Kurram.
Chitral was once a stronghold of Ismailia Shias. They
now make up less than 35 per cent of the district's population. Chitral is
strategically important for the Pakistani military and Taliban because it
provides an easy road link to Tajikistan via the Wakhan Corridor, the report
said.
Forced conversion of locals and the arrival of Sunni
Afghans pushed Shia Ismailia to the brink of socio-economic collapse, reported
BPE.
The situation in the neighboring Ghizer district of
Gilgit-Baltistan, where Shia-Ismailia forms a small majority, is similar to
that in Chitral. Decades of conversion forced marriages of girls to Sunnis, and
the settlement of Sunnis from Pakistan have reduced the Ismailia ratio from
more than 80 per cent of the population to less than 60 per cent.
Pakistani Shias, like Ahmadis, are sitting on a
ticking time bomb, and the fear of ex-communication is forcing Shias to abandon
their core beliefs in order to be considered Muslims.
Like Ahmadis, thousands of Pakistani Shias are
currently facing blasphemy cases for merely proclaiming their beliefs and
observing religious festivals. (ANI)
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria Warns Politicians
against Harassing INEC at National Collation Centre
Photo: The Daily Post
------
February 28, 2023
By Fadehan Oyeyemi
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG has
called on politicians that contested in the just concluded presidential
election and their supporters not to turn the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC National Collation Centre into a battlefield where the
commission is harassed or intimidated since it’s not a contestant but an
umpire.
Rather, it enjoined them to abide by the agreement
signed under the Peace Accord spearheaded by the former Head of State, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar and his team.
Reacting to the interruption of the INEC election
results declaration by some interested parties at the National Collation Centre
in Abuja, MMWG, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Alhaji
Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the action as destructive and condemnable, adding
that INEC was following the official process of election declaration as
contained in the electoral law.
It, therefore, called on anyone or group with genuine
complaints to raise them there peacefully or in a court of law.
The group called the attention of security agencies to
the destructive interference of the result declaration process of last Sunday
and advised them to be alert by taking absolute control of the proceedings at
the National Collation Centre to ensure that such a disruptive attempt is
henceforth nipped in the bud.
It commended INEC for doing a good job, stating that
this year’s election has been seamless, good and transparent.
MMWG affirmed that with the nation moving to 72 hours
after the conclusion of the election, all political parties and their
flag-bearers now have the whole results as conveyed to them by their party
agents and they are only waiting for the INEC official declaration which must
not be delayed any longer.
“Let no loser shift the battlefield from polling units
to Collation Centre, please. As the Orubebe drama failed in 2015, so will the
Melaye gimmick fail this 2023, Insha Allah.
“Reports that an opposition party and their
collaborators are working on using a court order to stop the declaration
process shows how desperate some contestants are. This means that they are not
for a better Nigeria but are only interested in their selfish ambitions. No
responsible court will grant such an order,” the group stressed.
It finally called on INEC to declare the balance of
the entire results today, as the group warned on the consequences of its
further delay stating that no individual or group interest is greater than that
of the entire citizens of this country.
“Nigerians are anxious to know their president-elect
without further delay,” the group stated.
Source: Daily Post Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Nikki Haley Bashes Pakistan; Reiterates US Won't Be
World's 'ATM' If She Voted To Power
Republican presidential
candidate Nikki Haley. File | Photo Credit: AP
-----
Feb 28, 2023
WASHINGTON: Indian-American Republican presidential
candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday reiterated that if voted to power, the US will
not pay the "bad guys" like Pakistan hundreds of millions of dollars.
"A weak America pays the bad guys: Hundreds of
millions to Pakistan, Iraq, and Zimbabwe last year alone. A strong America
won't be the world's ATM," the former Ambassador to the United Nations
tweeted.
In another tweet, Haley said: "America can't be
the world's ATM. As president, we'll make sure to shake up the foreign policy
establishment. More on our plans to stop sending money to our enemies ..."
"I will cut every cent in foreign aid for
countries that hate us. A strong America doesn't pay off the bad guys. A proud
America doesn't waste our people's hard-earned money. And the only leaders who
deserve our trust are those who stand up to our enemies and stand beside our
friends," the 51-year-old two-term Governor of South Carolina, who earlier
this month formally launched her 2024 presidential bid, wrote in an op-ed in
the New York Post.
In the op-ed, Haley wrote that America spent USD 46
billion on foreign aid last year, which is given to countries like China,
Pakistan, and Iraq. American taxpayers deserve to know where that money is
going and what it's doing, she added.
According to Haley, the Biden administration resumed
military aid to Pakistan, though it's home to at least a dozen terrorist
organisations and its government is deeply in hock to China.
She said that as the US ambassador to the UN, she
strongly supported then president Donald Trump's decision to cut nearly USD 2
billion of military aid to Pakistan because that country supported terrorists
who kill American troops.
"It was a major victory for our troops, our
taxpayers, and our vital interests, but it didn't go nearly far enough. We've
still given them way too much in other aid. As president, I will block every
penny,” she added.
Less than a fortnight after entering the race for the
White House, Haley is leading against President Joe Biden in a hypothetical
match, according to the latest opinion poll on Friday.
But she trails badly against leading GOP candidate
former president Trump, Rasmussen Report said based on a survey it conducted
between February 16 and 19.
Among the Republicans, she comes in the third position
after Trump (52 per cent) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (24 per cent).
Born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to immigrant Punjabi Sikh
parents, Haley is the third Indian-American to run for the US presidency in
three consecutive election cycles. Bobby Jindal ran in 2016 and Vice President
Kamala Harris in 2020.
Days after Haley announced her White House bid,
Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, another Republican, also
launched his 2024 presidential bid.
Before entering the presidential ballot, Haley has to
win the Republican Party's presidential primary which will start in January next
year. The next US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 5,
2024.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Islamist Video Clip Featuring Men Dressed In Military
Uniforms Carrying Replica Swords, Spears and Shields Fuels Concern in Moderate
Malaysia
A motorbike passenger
waves a Malaysian Islamic Party flag on the eve of a general election in
Penang, Malaysia, on Nov. 18, 2022. ©
Reuters
------
March 1, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR -- Video of a gathering of young
Malaysian Islamists began circulating on social media in the middle of
February, featuring men dressed in military uniforms carrying replica swords,
spears and shields.
Some around the country were concerned about possible
extremism and felt unsettled. The parade, part of a two-day gathering organized
by the youth wing of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) in Terengganu State, was
criticized by Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Na'im Mokhtar on Feb. 19.
"Parading in such a way is unnecessary," the
minister said, noting it could send wrong messages about Islam and the country.
Mohd Harun Esa, the head of Terengganu's PAS youth
wing, which organized the event, was unapologetic, and defended the parade as
being akin to cosplay.
"The event is similar to the 'cosplay' parades
and competitions that are held all over the country showing favorite
superheroes and their weapons," he wrote on Facebook.
The opposition Islamist PAS party made huge gains in
the general election last November as the majority Muslim population became
more conservative.
A survey last year by pollster Merdeka Center of 1,200
Muslims aged 15 to 25 showed that 82% agreed that the Quran should replace the
country's constitution, up from 72% in 2010. These developments only stoked
concerns about the viral video footage.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail condemned the
controversial public display, and urged all parties to refrain from acts that
could disturb people and the country.
Saifuddin said the parade "had caused concerns
among the public -- not to mention raising political temperatures in several
states that will face elections soon."
He also questioned the intention of the march, which
was uploaded to social media with Arabic martial music in the background.
This invited the question of whether this parade was
meant to incite the spirit of war, said Saifuddin.
Analysts and politicians said the parade smacked of
inciting extremism amid rising political tensions as the country prepares to
hold six state elections. Dates have not been set, but local press reports
suggest state legislatures will be dissolved in the last fortnight of June.
Analysts said the "armed parade" was a
further display of extremism by PAS, which exploited racial and religious
issues during November's general elections to its advantage, winning 49 seats
in the 222-seat parliament -- the largest number by a single party. PAS openly
aims to turn Malaysia's democracy into an Islamic state.
PAS seems intent on fomenting strong ideas among its
people, according to Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, a professor of politics and
international relations at Universiti Utara Malaysia.
"Extreme sentiments are dangerous in Malaysia's
multireligious society," he said. "Moderation should be
promoted."
Mohd Faizal Musa, a visiting fellow at Singapore's
ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute said the parade was a symbolic expression of
militancy.
"It is not a common cultural practice or a
ritualistic one," he said. "We cannot explain a march with replicas
like this as cosplay."
Faizal is also a research fellow at the Institute of
the Malay World and Civilization. "Cosplay is based on animes, and we can
understand the craziness -- but this is based on what? What is the context as
it's not based on any credible Islamic rituals."
Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah, a member of parliament from
Terengganu, reported the event to the police. He told Nikkei Asia that the
parade "was provocative -- designed to intimidate the public as a show of
force."
PAS employs intimidation and fear in its politics,
according to Raja Kamaru. He is a member of the Amanah Party, which is part of
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition government.
In January, the United Malays National Organization
(UMNO) in Terengganu filed a court petition to annul the Marang parliamentary
election won by PAS President Hadi Awang.
Local media reported that the Terengganu chief of
UMNO, the political party in the ruling coalition, alleged that PAS bribed
voters by distributing financial aid from the state government days before the elections.
The case is still in court. Some experts, including Raja Kamarul, think the
parade was a thinly veiled threat suggesting what might happen if PAS loses the
case.
Professor Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani of Universiti Utara
Malaysia (UUM) said the parade was about maintaining visibility from November
in the run-up to the state elections.
"PAS is concerned that the momentum is shifting
to the Unity Government led by Anwar Ibrahim at the federal level," said
Azizuddin. "Therefore, PAS has to come out with rhetoric that makes people
support the PAS agenda."
Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy
for Strategic Research in Selangor, said that since race and religion were
played up during the general election, the parade has caused further concern to
the public.
"The general population is concerned because the
parade with swords looks like people going to war," said Azmi.
He noted that PAS has become more extreme in recent
years. "They have been very successful," he said. "In the last
general election, many Malay voters who voted for UMNO before now choose PAS. I
think PAS realizes that being very conservative -- being very extreme -- is
basically good for them," said Azmi.
He said PAS has tried to portray the ruling Pakatan
Harapan government as being unable to safeguard Islam and the Malay identity
despite having two Malay-Muslim parties in the coalition, namely Anwar
Ibrahim's People's Justice Party and Amanah.
Azmi expects the parade to backfire on PAS in states
like Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan as it reinforces the view that the
party is extreme, but not in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, where "they
are very strong."
Professor Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi of UCSI University in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's top private campus, said a conservative outlook among
Malay Muslims has become more mainstream. The country's development has lifted
living standards and Malay Muslims now seek greater spiritual fulfillment, he
said.
"Most Muslims are very conservative now, and
there is not much critical thinking," said Rajuddin. "They think of
protecting Islam, and this simple narrative is played up to win votes."
Source: Asia Nikkei
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Islamist-youth-video-clip-fuels-concern-in-moderate-Malaysia
--------
India
Scholars Discuss History and Relevance of Islamic
Architecture In A Conference On The “Legacy Of Islamic Architecture”
Mar 01, 2023
The department of architecture, Zakir Husain College
of Engineering and Technology (ZHCET), Aligarh Muslim University organised a
national conference on the “Legacy of Islamic Architecture” with an objective
to engage academicians and researchers in deliberations on the history and
relevance of Islamic architecture.
In his presidential remarks at the inaugural session,
AMU VC Prof Tariq Mansoor discussed the special features of Islamic
architecture in different regions of the world like the Middle East, Turkey,
Europe, Qatar and Spain. With the special mention of the Pari Mahal garden
palace in Srinagar, he highlighted the contribution of Dara Shikoh in
developing an Indian version of Islamic architecture.
The guests of honour, Prof SM Akhtar, former dean,
faculty of architecture and ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Prof
Jagbir Singh, director, Amity School of Architecture congratulated the
department for organising the conference on an interesting theme.
The dean, faculty of engineering and technology, Prof
Mohammad Altamush Siddiqui also shared his views regarding achievements of the
faculty.
Source: Hindustan Times
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Muslims in Achan Village of Kashmir Stand With Pandits
in Good As Well As Bad Times
01st March 2023
By Fayaz Wani
SRINAGAR: After
helping in restoring an old temple in 2019, the Muslim community of Achan, a
sleepy hamlet in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, once again displayed the
bond they share with the Kashmiri Pandit community by not only sharing the
grief of Sanjay Sharma’s family but also making arrangements for his last
rites.
Sanjay, a security guard in a J&K Bank ATM, was
shot dead by militants while he was on his way to the local market in the
village on Sunday. Sanjay’s family had
decided not to migrate from Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in the
1990s.
“He was like our brother. The entire village shares
the grief of the family and condemns the killing. This killing has brought a
bad name to our village. Our village has been an example of communal harmony,”
said one of the family’s Muslim neighbours.
Source: New Indian Express
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Kashmiri Pandit assassin among 2 terrorists, one
soldier killed in Pulwama shootout
Mar 1, 2023
SRINAGAR: The killer of a Kashmiri Pandit man was
among two terrorists shot dead around 1am Tuesday in an operation lasting
several hours at a village mosque in Awantipora of south Kashmir’s Pulwama
district that also left a soldier of 55 Rashtriya Rifles killed and one of his
colleagues wounded, J&K police said.
According to a military statement, Sepoy Pawan Kumar
died of multiple bullet wounds following a “hand-to-hand combat” with one of
the terrorists whom he overpowered and killed.
He is survived by his mother Bhajun Dassi. His last
rites will be done at his native Pithyt village in Shimla district of Himachal
Pradesh with full military honours.
Additional DGP Vijay Kumar said the slain terrorists
were Aqib Mushtaq of Pulwama, who was responsible for bank guard Sharma’s
murder this Sunday, and his associate Ajaz Ahmad Bhat of Tral in south Kashmir.
“Killer of late Sanjay Sharma neutralised,” J&K police claimed in a tweet.
Naik Hemraj was wounded in the gunfight at Padgampora
village of Awantipora, 20km north of Achan in the same district where Sharma
was killed when he was out buying groceries. He was quickly shifted to 92 Base
Hospital, Srinagar, for treatment.
The gunfight broke out after a combined team of Army,
CRPF and J&K police surrounded the mosque late Monday following information
that terrorists were holed up there.
“Security forces exercised extreme caution and limited
firepower was used to ensure there was no damage to the mosque. Civilians were
evacuated beforehand to prevent collateral damage,” Kumar said. Photos from the
site later showed no substantial harm caused to the shrine, other than
bullet-riddled window panes.
The officer said the other terrorist had escaped to an
adjacent building and hid in a bathroom. “Fourteen civilians were safely
removed from the place before he was shot dead,” he said.
Two AK-series rifles, a pistol, two grenades, seven
magazines, and two Aadhaar cards were found on the two terrorists.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
MP man detained after NIA 'terror' alert, freed
Mar 1, 2023
INDORE: A 40-year-old Indore man, who was in China and
Hong Kong for several years, was detained for 24 hours and released by Indore
police late Tuesday night.
He had been summoned for questioning by Indore police
on Monday night on the basis of an alert from the Mumbai police after the NIA
flagged a potential "threat" following an anonymous email.
Indore police officers told TOI on Tuesday night that
they hadn't found anything suspicious and he would be freed. He walked out of
Chandan Nagar police station just after 11 pm.
Indore police commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra
said, "Sarfaraz Memon, a resident of Green Park colony in Chandan Nagar of
Indore, was detained in the presence of Mumbai police and NIA officials. He was
interrogated about his suspected terror links but was released late at night
after nothing substantial was found." Officers from NIA, IB and other
agencies who had arrived in Indore to question Memon also left on Tuesday
night.
According to sources, NIA had received an anonymous
mail with allegations against Memon on February 26. The agency sent details of
his Aadhaar card, driving licence and passport to the Mumbai cops, who traced
him to Indore where he runs a medical shop in the Khajrana area.
Memon's parents were detained on Monday afternoon and
police called him on his phone.
Memon went to Chandan Nagar police station late at night
and was taken for questioning by national security agencies.
DCP (intelligence) Rajat Saklecha said: "During
questioning, the detained person gave us his version in which he said that
during his time in Hong Kong, he married a Chinese national. They separated
recently and decided to get a divorce. But four days ago he got into a dispute
with the woman's lawyer in China over a phone call. The detainee says the
lawyer had threatened to malign his image in the country and suspects he sent
the anonymous email. This is being verified."
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
No child marriage in last one month in Assam: CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Feb 28, 2023
GUWAHATI: Justifying the crackdown on child marriages
in Assam, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said not a single such
incident has taken place in the state in the last one month.
The Assam government on February 3 started an intense
drive against child marriages across the state, registering over 4,000 cases.
Till Tuesday, 3,145 people have been apprehended.
"In the last one month, not a single child
marriage has taken place in Assam. This is a big achievement. Everyone has
welcomed our steps against this social menace," Sarma said at a press
conference here.
He said that of the total number of persons arrested,
around 900 have received bail from the courts.
"I thought that they would be released from the
jails within seven-eight days. But most of them got bail after 14-15 days. The
judiciary also appreciated our move," Sarma claimed.
Observing that making a large number of arrests in the
crackdown on child marriage created "havoc in the private lives of
people", the Gauhati high court on February 14 said there was no need for
custodial interrogation of the accused in such cases.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
‘Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’ Wants To Push Government
Out Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Establish Sharia’
Anwar Iqbal
March 1, 2023
WASHINGTON: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) aims to push the government of Pakistan out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
establish Sharia by waging a terrorist campaign against the military and state,
a US State Department report warns.
According to the 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism,
the TTP uses the tribal belt along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to train
and deploy its operatives.
TTP draws ideological guidance from Al Qaeda, while
elements of AQ rely in part on TTP for safe haven in the Pashtun areas along
the Afghan-Pakistan border.
“This arrangement has given TTP access to both AQ’s
global terrorist network and its members’ operational expertise.”
State Department report notes action taken against
India-focused militant groups, regrets failure to dismantle such outfits
The report also names major terrorist groups that
focused on conducting attacks in Pakistan, including TTP, the Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA), and the militant Islamic State-Khorasan group (IS-K).
The report on terrorism notes that Pakistan
“experienced significant terrorist activity” during the year in review, i.e.
2021.
Underlining the link between terrorism and lack of
economic activities, the report points out that “the United States provides
assistance to support trade and economic growth” in Pakistan.
The US assistance to Pakistan includes partnering with
US businesses, civil society, and the regions bordering Afghanistan.
“This assistance is intended to improve the lives of
the Pakistani people and support US objectives,” the report explains.
“The United States continues to support people-to-people
exchanges to alleviate misunderstandings and complications in the bilateral
relationship.”
In 2021, separatist militant groups conducted
terrorist attacks against varied targets in Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
Terrorists used a range of tactics
to attack varied targets, including Improvised
Explosive Devices, Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide
bombings, and targeted assassinations.
The report acknowledges that Pakistan took steps in
2021 to counter terror financing and to restrain some India-focused militant
groups. Pakistan reviewed and revised its 2015 National Action Plan (NAP) to
counter terrorism, reducing the NAP from a 20-point plan to 14 key points.
But the report complains that Pakistan made meagre
progress on the most difficult aspects — specifically its pledge to dismantle
all terrorist organisations without delay or discrimination.
The report identifies IS-K as another group which
poses a significant threat to Pakistan and is composed primarily of former TTP
members, the Afghan Taliban, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. It is
estimated to have between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters and has claimed
responsibility for attacks on civilians and government officials in Pakistan.
IS-K, elements of Al Qaeda, and terrorist groups
targeting Pakistan, like TTP, have continued to use the Afghanistan-Pakistan
border region as a safe haven.
The report notes that Pakistan-focused terrorist
groups continue to conduct attacks against Pakistani military and civilian
targets.
The report also mentions Pakistan’s pledge to “ensure
that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country,” but complains
that attackers continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2021. The report
identifies the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed
(JeM) as the groups that carry out such attacks.
The report claims that although “Pakistan took some
steps in 2021 to counter terror financing and to restrain some India-focused
militant groups, authorities did not take sufficient action to dismantle them”.
The report commends Pakistan’s commitment to combat
the trafficking of items that could contribute to the development of WMDs and
their delivery systems. “Pakistan was a constructive and active participant in
IAEA-hosted meetings and in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism,”
it adds.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1739661
--------
‘Love
doesn’t exist’: children of Pakistan immigrants defy forced marriage abroad
February
28, 2023
GUASTALLA:
From the day of her birth in Pakistan, Iram Aslam was betrothed to a cousin 17
days older. But to the young woman, who emigrated as a teenager to this Italian
farm town on the Po River plain, the cousin felt like a brother. So on a visit
to her homeland, she played for time, telling her aunts she wasn’t ready for
marriage.
“They
did everything possible to make me marry him,″ said Aslam, now 29. She said she
told them: ”‘I don’t want to marry him and please don’t ask me anymore.’”
Her
family, in both Italy and Pakistan, kept scheming to have her wed a man of
their choice — and their caste. Aslam dismissed around 30 potential husbands.
“In
the end, I made everyone angry, and no one talks to me anymore,” she said of
her relatives in Pakistan.
In
two murder trials this month, Italian prosecutors are seeking justice for
Pakistani immigrant women allegedly killed because they refused marriages
imposed by their parents. The cases highlight differences, often misconstrued
as religion-based, between centuries-old immigrants’ cultural traditions and
Western values prizing individualism.
“I
liked another person, wanted another one,″ Aslam said of her own situation.
“But they didn’t want it, because, among us, love doesn’t exist.”
Love
is viewed “as a sin,” she added, her thick, wavy brown hair covered by a
multicoloured headscarf. She asked that her face not be fully shown for fear of
further antagonising Pakistani neighbours in Guastalla, a town of 15,000 where
they are the dominant immigrant community.
To
escape marriage-obsessed relatives, Aslam went for a time to live in Germany.
But
there was no escape for 18-year-old Saman Abbas.
Like
Aslam, she emigrated as a teenager from Pakistan to an Italian farm town,
Novellara, 11 kilometres (seven miles) from Guastalla.
In
what appears to be an identity card photo taken shortly after her arrival,
Abbas’ face is framed by a black hijab, or headscarf. But the young woman
quickly embraced Western ways, appearing in social media posts with her hair
tumbling out from under a bright red headband. In one, she and her Pakistani
boyfriend were shown kissing on a street in the regional capital, Bologna.
According
to Italian investigators, that kiss enraged Abbas’ parents, who wanted their
daughter to marry a cousin in Pakistan.
In
November, her body was dug up in the ruins of a Novellara farmhouse. She had
last been seen alive a few hundred yards away on April 30, 2021, in surveillance
camera video as she walked with her parents on the watermelon farm where her
father worked. A few days later, her parents caught a flight from Milan to
Pakistan.
Abbas
had reportedly told her boyfriend she feared for her life, because she refused
to be married to an older man in her homeland.
An
autopsy revealed a broken neck bone, possibly caused by strangulation.
An
uncle and a cousin were extradited from France, and another cousin from Spain.
They are now on trial in Reggio Emilia, the provincial capital with
jurisdiction over Novellara, accused of Abbas’ murder.
Also
indicted is her father, Shabbir Abbas, arrested in his village in Punjab. The
whereabouts of her mother, who is also charged, are unknown.
A
lawyer for her father, Akhtar Mahmood, told Italian state television that the
young woman’s family is innocent. He disputed prosecutors’ allegations,
contending that she had wanted to return with her family to Pakistan to flee
Western ways.
Asked
about Italy’s request for Shabbir Abbas’ extradition, Pakistan’s ambassador to
Italy, Ali Javed, told The Associated Press that Islamabad would “not hesitate”
to do so. However, Italy has no extradition treaty with Pakistan.
Javed
blamed “individual ignorance″ for forced marriage, which is illegal in
Pakistan.
In
2019, Italy made coercing an Italian citizen or resident into marriage, even
abroad, a crime covered under domestic violence laws.
Late
this month, police in Spain detained the father of two sisters who were
allegedly murdered while visiting family in Pakistan. The women had reportedly
refused to have their husbands come to Spain after being forced to marry their
cousins.
In
the United Kingdom, home to Europe’s largest Pakistani community, the
government’s Forced Marriage Unit cautioned that the problem of forced marriage
isn’t “specific to one country, religion or culture” and said statistics don’t
reflect “the full scale of the abuse” since forced marriage is a “hidden crime.”
Under
the Italian justice system, civil plaintiffs can attach lawsuits for damages to
criminal trials, and two organisations representing Islamic communities in
Italy are among those suing in the Abbas trial.
Other
plaintiffs include women’s advocacy organisations.
Tiziana
Dal Pra, whose group, Trama delle Terre, promotes intercultural relations, said
that while violence surrounding forced marriage “gets interpreted as
religious,” what’s really at play is “patriarchal control” of women’s bodies.
In
December, a court in the northern city of Brescia convicted and gave five-year
prison sentences to three Pakistani immigrants — the parents and older brother
of four girls — for beating them and keeping them out of school.
According
to court documents, the parents threatened their daughters that if they refused
arranged marriages, they would end up like that “girl in Pakistan.”
The
court said that threat referred to 25-year-old Sana Cheema, who was slain when
she returned from Italy to Pakistan in 2018, allegedly at her parents’
insistence.
By
her friends’ accounts, Cheema, who had taken Italian citizenship, loved her
life in Brescia, where she worked out at a gym, went out for coffee with
girlfriends and danced with them at a disco. She was proud of her job teaching
at a driving school in the northern city.
Brescia
prosecutors are now trying Cheema’s father and brother in absentia on a novel
charge: murder in violation of the political right to marry one’s own choice.
In
2019, a court in Pakistan acquitted the two on murder charges, citing
insufficient evidence. But Italy’s justice ministry ruled the Brescia trial
could go forward since Pakistan and Italy have no agreement governing cases
involving so-called judicial double jeopardy.
Cheema’s
family initially told Pakistani authorities that she died of a heart attack the
day before she was supposed to fly back to Italy. Two friends testified in
Brescia this month that Cheema told them her parents wanted her to marry a
cousin in Pakistan.
They
also quoted from Facebook messages in which Cheema said her parents had
confiscated her passport and phone in Pakistan.
With
the Italian Embassy closely following the case, Cheema’s body was exhumed. An
autopsy indicated she was likely strangled.
Prosecuting
the case in Italy sends the message that “exercising the right of who you want
to live with, above all, who you want to marry, is a political right” to be
guaranteed “with the utmost firmness,” Brescia Prosecutor General Guido Rispoli
told the AP.
At
the edge of a field near the farmhouse where Saman Abbas’ body was found,
mourners have left a stuffed toy squirrel and bunches of flowers at an
improvised shrine.
“It
will continue to happen, I tell you, that’s how it is,″ Aslam said of violence
linked to forced marriage.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Pakistan court grants ex-PM Imran interim bail in Toshakhana case
Mar
1, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan's Islamabad high court granted interim bail to former prime minister
and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday, hours after
a sessions court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him for skipping
hearings in the Toshakhana case pertaining to purchase of gifts from the state
depository.
Imran
was required to appear in person in four cases, including one for attempted
murder, that were scheduled to be heard in different courts in Islamabad during
the course of the day.
Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Moshin Nawaz Ranjha had filed the
attempted murder case against Imran last October after being attacked outside
the Election Commission's office in Islamabad, where PTI workers and supporters
were protesting against the disqualification of their party chief from parliament
over the Toshakhana case.
A
terrorism case was also filed against him over a violent protest by PTI
supporters outside the electoral body's office against its decision to
disqualify him.
The
civilian Federal Investigation Agency had booked Imran and other PTI leaders
weeks earlier in connection with their party allegedly receiving prohibited
funding. The case was filed by the state through the agency's corporate banking
circle in Islamabad.
Imran
travelled from Lahore, where he has been recuperating from a gunshot injury, to
reach Islamabad’s judicial complex, which houses the banking court as well as
the anti-terrorism court.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-court-grants-ex-pm-imran-interim-bail-in-toshakhana-case/articleshow/98316850.cms
--------
Lax security gives PTI activists a free hand in Islamabad
Ikram
Junaidi | Munawer Azeem
March
1, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
As former prime minister Imran Khan arrived at the judicial complex to secure
bail in multiple cases, fragile security measures put in place by the police
provided Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters and some “unidentified
individuals” who were armed with automatic weapons to storm the complex without
facing resistance from police.
The
visit of the police chief and the DIG Operations failed to boost security
measures as they remained inadequate giving supporters who had accompanied Mr
Khan a free hand to enter the complex.
However,
the police were quick to beat up a number of journalists who had converged at
the Islamabad High Court for the coverage of the PTI chief’s visit.
Police
officials told Dawn that the capital police imposed “fragile security measures”
in and around the judicial complex as mere 64 police were deployed at the main
entrance of the complex.
A
party of 18 policemen was posted at the back gate whereas a similar number of
police officials were deployed in front of the complex, they added. The
anti-riot unit deployed by the police had 18 members only and they were
deployed without their gear.
Though,
as a pre-emptive measure, barbed wire was laid in front of the complex and 39
armed personnel – 29 FC and 10 policemen – were deployed on the premises of the
complex, including the porch, main gate, judges’ entry gate, other entry points
and the rooftop, they added.
On
other hand, at least 240 personnel, including 50 Counter-Terrorism Department
officials and 54 ARU members equipped with teargas were deployed at the
district and sessions courts in Islamabad, they said, adding that later the
contingent was moved to the Islamabad High Court.
The
officials claimed that the police were laid back to provide “easy access to the
PTI supporters and the activists to the complex so more cases could be registered
against the leaders and activists of the former ruling party.
The
officials said at least two dozen persons, some of them armed with Kalashnikov
and pistols, were picked up from near the vehicle of Imran Khan and the complex
premises.
As
per the security plan, the police deployed in and around the complex were
directed to intercept journalists on the spot for the coverage. As a result, a
contingent of police thrashed and injured a few mediapersons in the presence of
DIG Operations Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, who also participated in the
manhandling, as Imran Khan arrived on the premises.
25
people detained
In
a statement on Twitter, the police said people who barged inside are being
identified through CCTV cameras.
“Action
would also be taken against those who opened the complex’s gate from the
inside,” the spokesperson added.
A
case was registered against suspects on different charges, including 7-ATA
(Anti-Terrorism Act) and Section 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The police
statement said that leaders of a political party incited the mob to create a
law and order situation.
It
further said the police have arrested 25 people and Kalashnikovs and pistols
were recovered from some of them.
“They
are yet to be identified, besides their affiliation is also being ascertained,”
the police PRO added.
A
press release issued by the National Press Club strongly condemned the
manhandling of senior journalists as it demanded legal action against those
involved in the incident and the officer who ordered it.
Visit
after four months
Earlier,
a large number of workers and supporters arrived at the Motorway toll plaza,
Kashmir Highway and other places to welcome former prime minister Imran Khan
who returned to the federal capital after a gap of over four months.
While
some of the supporters came along with Mr Khan from Lahore, a large number of
workers hailed from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, and other nearby
areas.
Former
MNA Ali Nawaz Awan, while taking to Dawn, said the federal government wanted to
arrest Mr Khan on Tuesday but the PTI supporters foiled the bid by turning up
in such large numbers.
“The
show was unprecedented and it proved that the PTI is the most popular political
party in Pakistan. It is the same city in which Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz appeared
in hearings but managed to gather just a few dozen persons,” he said.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1739668/lax-security-gives-pti-activists-a-free-hand-in-islamabad
--------
PNS
NASR with 1000-tonne relief goods leaves for Syria, Turkiye
February
28, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
The National Disaster Management (NDMA) on Tuesday dispatched the first
shipment through Naval Ship NASR from KTP West Wharf Karachi as part of
continuous relief assistance being extended on Prime Minister’s instruction to
the quake-affected people of Tukiye and Syria.
Federal
Minister for Maritime Affairs Faisal Subzwari, Turkish Consul General Jamal
Sangu and Commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Faisal Abbasi saw off the ship.
This
consignment contains large family-sized winterized tents & blankets as per
the current need of quake affectees in Türkiye whereas generators, dry rations,
medicines and clothing for the victims in Syria. The ship carrying 1,000 tonnes
of relief goods for the people two brotherly countries, would reach the
destination within 14 days.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Africa
Nigeria's
Bola Tinubu declared winner of presidential vote
Mar
1, 2023
ABUJA,
NIGERIA: Ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu was declared winner of Nigeria's
presidential election early Wednesday and soon after thanked his supporters and
appealed to his rivals who are already demanding a revote in Africa's most
populous nation.
The
announcement by election officials overnight was likely to lead to a court
challenge by the second- and third-highest finishers in the weekend vote, Atiku
Abubakar and Peter Obi. Abubakar also finished second in the last vote in 2019,
then appealed those results before his lawsuit ultimately was dismissed.
Tinubu's
ruling All Progressives Congress party urged the opposition to accept defeat
Tuesday and not cause trouble after they had demanded a revote saying that
delays in uploading election results had made room for irregularities.
Tinubu
received 37% of the vote, or nearly 8.8 million, while main opposition
candidate Abubakar won 29% with almost 7 million. Third-place finisher Obi took
25% with about 6.1 million, according to the results announced on live
television by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The
president-elect thanked his supporters in the capital, Abuja, after his victory
was announced and struck a reconciliatory tone in a message directed at his
political adversaries.
“I
take this opportunity to appeal to my fellow contestants to let us team up
together," Tinubu said. “It is the only nation we have. It is one country
and we must build together.”
The
announcement of his victory came after 4 a.m., but celebrations already had
started late Tuesday at the ruling party’s national secretariat where Tinubu’s
supporters had gathered in anticipation of his victory.
“None
of the others matches his record!” said Babafemi Akin as he chatted excitedly
about the prospects of a Tinubu administration. “I am sure he will do well.”
Tinubu,
70, is the former governor of Lagos state, home to Nigeria's megacity of the
same name. However, he lost the state in Saturday's election to Obi, who drew a
strong following among younger voters eager for change.
The
parties now have three weeks to appeal results, but an election can be
invalidated only if it's proven the national electoral body largely didn’t
follow the law and acted in ways that could have changed the result.
The
Supreme Court of Nigeria has never overturned a presidential election, though
court challenges are common, including by outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari,
who doggedly fought his past election losses for months in vain.
Nigeria’s
presidential election has been closely watched as the country is not only the
continent’s largest economy but it is also one of the continent’s top oil
producers.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Benghazi
is Islamic Culture Capital for 2023
February
28, 2023
The
city of Benghazi in eastern Libya is preparing to be named: "The Capital
of Islamic Culture for the year 2023”, which will include cultural, Islamic,
literary, artistic and other events with the Libyan identity, after about 16
years of choosing Tripoli as the capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2007.
The
Minister of Education of the Government of National Unity, Musa Al-Magreg,
issued a decision to form a committee for the technical and financial
preparation of the program to celebrate the city of Benghazi, whose mayor,
Al-Saqr Bojwari, reaffirmed the city's readiness to celebrate “Benghazi, the
Capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2023".
During
the second meeting held by the newly-formed committee in Benghazi, Bojwari
explained that the municipality will seek to initiate urgent maintenance of the
infrastructure of the cultural centers and headquarters that will be used in
the celebration.
Source:
Libya Observer
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://libyaobserver.ly/culture/benghazi-islamic-culture-capital-2023
--------
Al-Sunni
urges Security Council to give Libya access to its frozen assets
February
28, 2023
Libya's
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, has urged the
Security Council to review the international sanctions imposed on Libya.
Such
a step will allow the Libyan authorities to manage its frozen assets and
prevent their erosion and loss, Al-Sunni told the Security Council during a
session on Libya on Monday.
He
urged support for "the national will" and to respond to the call of
millions of Libyans seeking to reach a state of stability and safety.
Regarding
the UN Envoy Bathily's new initiative, Al-Sunni insisted that any new mechanism
must focus on controversial points and set a timetable for the constitutional
path to complete parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
He
called on the UN mission in Libya to build on the previous experiences led by
the United Nations, as the current situation does not bear more transitional
stages, as he put it.
While
welcoming the UN envoy's efforts to advance the political process, Al-Sunni
noted that the country continues to suffer from the consequences of adverse
interventions.
Source:
Libya Observer
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://libyaobserver.ly/news/al-sunni-urges-security-council-give-libya-access-its-frozen-assets
--------
Sudanese
protester killed as marches enter 17th month, despite talks
28
February ,2023
A
Sudanese protester was killed on Tuesday after being shot in the chest during a
demonstration against military rule, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors
said in a statement.
Sudanese
police said in a statement the shooting was an individual action that went
against orders and that legal procedures had been immediately taken against the
policeman involved.
The
protester, who was killed in the Sharg al-Nil area near Sudan’s capital, became
the 125th protesters killed in weekly protests set off by a coup in October
2021.
Protesters
seen marching towards the presidential palace in Khartoum and neighboring
Omdurman were met with tear gas from police, a Reuters witness said.
Khartoum
State police said in a previous statement they were investigating the death,
and said that protesters had been “aggressive” towards police, using tear gas,
rocks, and molotov cocktails, and injured several policemen.
The
protests come as military leaders who took over in the coup are negotiating a
deal with the civilian political parties previously in power to restore a
civilian government.
Most
recently, tensions have emerged within the military, with army leaders
demanding a clear timeline for the integration of the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces as well as a wider group of participants in the negotiation.
Leaders
of the Rapid Support Forces have denied the desire for any tension with the
military, and said they are committed to forming one army.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
North America
Murals
to be source of inspiration for Whitehorse Muslim community
Feb
28, 2023
Israr
Ahmed calls the creation of the Yukon's first mosque in 2018 a "beautiful
metamorphosis" from a storage facility.
Ahmed,
who moved to Whitehorse from India two and a half years ago, did not witness
the metamorphosis himself, but as the current president of the Yukon Muslim
Association he is doing his part to assist in the continuous evolution of both
the space and the community.
This
past week, the association brought an artist from Windsor, Ont., to turn the
mosque's plain, gray walls into a source of inspiration for the community.
Artist
Salwa Najb arrived in Whitehorse on Feb. 21 with her assistant, Ahsia Aghbari,
and the two women spent a week painting multiple, elaborate pieces of Arabic
scripture on the walls.
Najb
says she has spent the better part of 20 years painting Islamic architecture,
and calligraphy is an important part of that. However, focusing solely on
calligraphy is relatively new to her, as is working on vertical walls.
"It's
very challenging," she said. "But I like it more than I expected. It
is very spiritually fulfilling, and it's even better if I can travel and meet
people in remote communities like here in the Yukon."
Najm
says she proposed painting various pieces of Arabic scripture from the Qur'an,
and Ahmed made some additional suggestions for names of people to be included
in the works.
"This
type of art connects people with their spirituality," Najm said.
"When you see calligraphy on the walls, it is usually a religious message.
You'll see verses from the Qur'an, and names of people respected in the
religion. Each time people come in and see the walls, they will be reminded of
those people and those verses."
Ahmed
says his motivation to make this work happen comes from an Islamic value of
pursuing excellence.
"If
you look around the Muslim world, you will find architectural marvels, and
these are all, in essence, acts of worship because we are commanded to pursue
excellence in whatever we do," he said.
"Calligraphy
was also an art form that developed from that thought — that whatever you
write, let it be so beautiful that it inspires people, and when you look at it
you have that spiritual connection."
Ahmed
says he hopes that when people walk into the mosque, they will see the murals
and be spiritually nourished.
Source:
CBC
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-mosque-murals-najb-1.6763100
--------
US
remains committed to regional partners in battle against Daesh, officials say
February
28, 2023
WASHINGTON:
The US government remains committed to defeating Daesh and its ideology in
Iraq, Syria, the wider Middle East and all around the world, even though the
extremist group no longer holds any territory, according to military and
defense chiefs.
Maj.
Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force — Operation
Inherent Resolve, which supports efforts by allied forces to defeat Daesh, and
Dana Stroul, the deputy assistant secretary of defense, on Tuesday gave details
of the US military and political strategies for confronting the threat from the
extremist group, alongside allies in the Middle East, Europe and around the
world.
They
said the US government is still committed to supporting its regional partners
in the battle against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
McFarlane
said the group persists as an ideology and in the aspirations of extremists who
continue to represent a terrorist threat to the region.
However,
the US military’s role in Iraq is non-combat in nature, he added, with forces
providing training and support so that the Iraqi military can effectively
confront the Daesh elements in its territory.
“We
are not here to fight on behalf of Iraq,” he said.
The
US military supports the Peshmerga, the military force that is part of the
autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq, McFarlane added, and also
continues to back and train the Syrian Democratic Forces, a mix of Arab and
Kurdish anti-government militias in northeastern Syria that are partners of the
US in the fight against Daesh.
Although
Daesh largely has been defeated and lost the territories it occupied in Iraq
and Syria in 2014, elements remain at large in the region around the border
between the countries.
The
US launched its war against Daesh in 2014 after the group’s forces occupied
much of northern Iraq and the strategically important city of Mosul.
In
2017, Iraqi authorities declared victory over Daesh after the recapture of
Mosul following bloody battles. In addition, the Syrian city of Al-Raqqa, which
was also under Daesh control, was recaptured by US and SDF forces.
Operation
Inherent Resolve cost the US government more than $14 billion between between
2014 and 2017, according to a US Department of Defense report.
A
US military report on anti-Daesh operations last year in Iraq and Syria
revealed that nearly 700 extremists were killed and 374 detained. No Americans
died.
Stroul
said the war against Daesh continues, with the help of US allies.
“There
still much work to be done in the enduring defeat of ISIS,” she said, using an
alternative name for Daesh.
As
long as Daesh’s ideology is present in the region and elsewhere in the world,
it could “reconstitute” itself, she added, so the US government will continue
to work with Iraqi authorities, the SDF, and “84 coalition members and (the)
NATO mission,” to eliminate the threat.
The
officials said about 900 US military personal remain in Syria to target Daesh
and provide support to the SDF.
Stroul
also said Washington remains aware of the Iranian regime’s political and
military activities in the Middle East, which constitute a threat to the
interests of the US and its partners.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2259921/middle-east
--------
US
House passes resolution mourning deaths in Türkiye, Syria earthquakes, slamming
Assad
Servet
Günerigök
28.02.2023
WASHINGTON
The
US House of Representatives passed a resolution Monday mourning the loss of the
life in the earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria and condemning Syria’s
Bashar al-Assad regime for blocking UN aid through its border.
The
resolution, which cleared the House floor in a 412-2 vote, also expressed its
deep condolences to the families of the many earthquake victims and applauded
the work of humanitarian aid and rescue workers on the ground.
Those
who voted against the resolution were Republican Representatives Marjorie
Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie.
Introduced
by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, it "condemns the efforts
by the Assad regime of Syria to exploit the disaster to evade international
pressure and accountability."
"American
families offer sincere sympathies to the families who are mourning loved ones
and nursing others back to health," said Wilson ahead of the voting.
"The
Republic of Türkiye for over 70 years has been a valued NATO ally, and as
co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on US-Türkiye relations and Turkish
Americans, I'm particularly supportive of their efforts to meet the needs of
the impacted earthquake victims," he added.
Wilson
also called for the UN not to politicize humanitarian assistance bound for
Syria and to circumvent the obstructions of Assad and Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
"It
is significant that this resolution calls on President (Joe) Biden to use all
diplomatic means to push the UN to get aid to those in need," he added.
Rep.
Bill Keating, a Democrat, noted that the resolution sends a strong message of
solidarity to the peoples of Türkiye and Syria from the US and pledged support
for quake-affected victims.
The
devastating Feb. 6 twin earthquakes have claimed more than 44,300 lives in
Türkiye’s southern region.
The
magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes, centered in Kahramanmaras province, have impacted
some 13 million people across 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman,
Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa.
Over
10,200 aftershocks have been reported, including a 5.6 magnitude earthquake
that jolted Malatya on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring 110
others.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Southeast Asia
Guan
Eng: Hadi is lying, there are more Muslim MPs in Unity govt than PN
By
R. Loheswar
01
Mar 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, March 1 — DAP’s Lim Guan Eng has chastised PAS President Datuk Seri
Abdul Hadi Awang for saying there are fewer Muslims in the unity government
than previous governments.
The
MP for Bagan said Hadi was lying when he said that 98 per cent of the turnout
during the 15th general elections were non-Muslims while only 68 per cent of
voters were Muslims.
“This
is false and must be exposed as a lie,” said Lim in a statement.
“The
actual overall turnout for the election was 74 per cent. Researcher Bridget
Welsh had contradicted Hadi by stating that Malays had the best voter turnout
amongst all races at 79 per cent.
“Hadi
again lied by stating that the unity government is a non-Muslim government. Out
of the 148 MPs supporting the unity government, more than half or 77 are Muslim
MPs, dispelling the false narrative that the unity government is dominated by
non-Muslim MPs.”
Two
weeks ago, Hadi decried that the unity government consisted of more non-Muslims
than Muslims. In a Facebook post, he said there are 50 non-Muslims and 31
Muslims MPs.
He
said calling it a unity government was misleading. He said it does not have an
opposition or the opposition is too small like a mosquito.
Lim,
however, rebuked this statement by stating that the 77 Muslim MPs in the unity
government contrast with the 72 out of 74 Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs who are
Muslims.
“In
other words, there are more Muslim MPs in the unity government than the
opposition PN. And yet, Hadi continues with falsehoods to project the extremist
sentiments to corral the Muslim votes without any regard whatsoever for
non-Muslims in Malaysia.
“Malaysia
belongs to all citizens, including non-Muslims. For Hadi to continue to exclude
non-Muslims is not only wrong but also opposed to the royal command of the King
to respect diversity and tolerance in our multi-racial society,” he added.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Malaysian
Official Says Halal Market Value to Contribute to 11% of Country’s GDP by 2030
February
28, 2023
This
is according to Deputy Prime Minister Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who added
that the value would contribute to 11% of the country’s gross domestic product
(GDP).
“The
global halal industry is projected to reach RM22.34 trillion by 2030 with the
total Muslim population estimated to reach 1.6 billion people.
“Meanwhile,
the value of Malaysia's domestic halal market is projected to increase to
RM400bil, thus contributing 11% to the GDP by 2030,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is
also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, during a working visit to the
Mara Food Industry Complex (Kimar) in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Feb 28).
Ahmad
Zahid also said 12,500 entrepreneurs had benefitted from Mara’s halal industry
development through grants, funding and premises rentals last year.
“These
entrepreneurs have successfully generated RM12bil in annual sales and created
over 15,000 job opportunities,” he added.
The
minister also said that to enhance the productivity of the factories in Kimar,
he approved Mara’s request to increase the electricity voltage.
“I’ve
received requests on the voltage capacity, and I would like to announce that
the ministry will approve it.
“I
hope with this, Kimar would be able to be a step ahead in the halal industry,”
Ahmad Zahid added.
Source:
IQNA
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Cops
probing discarded copies of Quran incident in Klang Valley
28
Feb 2023
PETALING
JAYA: Police have confirmed they are investigating the discovery of discarded
copies of the Quran in several parts of the Klang Valley.
Inspector-General
of Police (IGP) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the authorities had recorded
statements from eight individuals.
“The
case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for damaging the
Quran, and Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing racial disharmony,” he
said in a statement today.
The
investigation centres around whether there was an intention to insult Islam by
disposing of copies of the holy book.
Acryl
Sani advised people to remain calm and refrain from speculating.
“If
anyone wants to dispose of the holy book, they should seek advice from the
local religious councils,” he said.
In
a video that went viral earlier this month, a man was seen picking up several
copies of the Quran from a drain near Taman Sri Murni in Gombak.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Europe
German
foreign minister concerned about judicial independence in Israel
28
February ,2023
German
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday expressed concern about judicial
independence in Israel as well as plans by the Israeli government to allow the
death penalty.
“I
will not deny that we abroad are concerned about some of the legislative plans
in Israel,” Baerbock said at a news conference with her Israeli counterpart Eli
Cohen in Berlin.
“Among
the values that unite us is the protection of constitutional principles such as
the independence of the judiciary,” she said. “That was always Israel’s
hallmark.”
The
new nationalist-religious government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu ploughed ahead this month with its proposed changes as parliament
took first steps in legislating limits to the Supreme Court’s power to strike
down laws.
Another
change pushed by the ruling coalition would give it more sway in picking
judges. Some of the bills have won initial votes in parliament but have yet to
be written into law.
Germany’s
ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, said earlier this week that Germany was
closely watching the dispute over the plans for judicial change.
“At
the end of the day, our judicial reform will strengthen democracy,” said Cohen,
underscoring Israel’s openness to free speech and welcoming recent protests.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
EU
follows developments in Tunisia with ‘great concern’
Agnes
Szucs
28.02.2023
BRUSSELS
The
EU is following the developments in Tunisia “with great concern” as the North
African country is experiencing “difficult times,” the European Commission’s
spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“The
European Union has been following the developments very closely and with great
concern in Tunisia,” Nabila Massrali, the spokesperson of foreign affairs,
replied at the European Commission’s daily news briefing to a question about
the recent wave of arrests targeting the critics of President Kais Saied.
She
said the country “is going through difficult times” and expressed hope that the
“Tunisian authorities will find the right answers for the numerous challenges”
with the involvement of “all social and political stakeholders.”
“The
European Union is ready and willing to support unity and efforts when it comes
to structural changes,” Massrali further said.
EU
foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Tunisia at their meeting on
March 20.
A
wave of arrests, targeting the critics of the Tunisian president, started on
Feb. 11.
According
to Saied, the detainees – politicians, journalists, activists, judges, and
business people – are responsible for “conspiring against state security” and
thus raising the price of basic commodities.
Tunisia
has been in a deep political crisis since July 2021, when Saied ousted the
government and dissolved the parliament.
Since
then, Saied held a referendum to draft a new Constitution last July and
parliamentary elections last December.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/eu-follows-developments-in-tunisia-with-great-concern-/2833724
--------
UN
confident Iraqis will overcome difficulties, challenges: Secretary-general
Yakoota
Al Ahmad
01.03.2023
BAGHDAD
The
UN is confident that Iraq and its people will overcome all challenges, its
chief Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday.
The
UN secretary-general arrived in Iraq on Tuesday, his first visit to the country
in six years.
At
a joint news conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Guterres said
the UN remains confident that “Iraqis will be able to overcome the difficulties
and challenges they still face,” the Iraqi News Agency reported.
The
UN chief said he would visit internally displaced people in Iraq’s northern
Kurdish region if the opportunity arises, the report said.
Guterres
said he earlier met the Iraqi community in Syria to review efforts for their
return home, and welcomed the Iraqi government’s steps on the issue.
Hussein,
for his part, hailed Iraq’s “strong” ties with the UN.
“Relations
between Iraq and the UNAMI (UN Assistance Mission for Iraq) are strong, and as
a result, so are relations between Iraq and the UN,” he said.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
EU
condemns ‘deadly cycle of violence’ in occupied Palestinian territory
Agnes
Szucs
28.02.2023
BRUSSELS
The
EU on Tuesday condemned the “deadly cycle of violence” in the occupied
Palestinian territory.
“The
European Union is highly concerned by the continuously spiraling violence in
the occupied Palestinian territory,” Peter Stano, the lead spokesperson for the
EU’s diplomatic service, said in a statement.
The
EU condemns the “terror attacks” in the West Bank on Sunday and Monday, in
which three Israeli people lost their lives, as well as “the outbreak of
settlers violence, which resulted in the killing of one Palestinian, injuring
of several hundreds of Palestinians and (…) causing the unacceptable
destruction of Palestinian property,” the statement said.
EU
foreign policy chief Josep Borrell talked to Israeli and Palestinian
authorities, urging them “to end this deadly cycle of violence, prevent further
loss of life, ensure accountability and bring the perpetrators to justice,” it
said.
The
statement also welcomed the role of Egypt, Jordan and the US in “facilitating
the talks and calls on both parties to implement the commitments made."
Violence
has escalated across the occupied territories in recent weeks amid repeated
Israeli military raids into Palestinian towns.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Munich
conference losing importance in absence of Tehran, Moscow: Russian envoy
28
February 2023
A
senior Russian diplomat says the exclusion of Moscow and Tehran from the 2023
Munich Security Conference shows that the annual event is losing its
significance in evaluating the current international situation and offering
solutions to security challenges.
Russia’s
Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail
Ulyanov made the remarks to Iran’s Mizan Online news agency on Tuesday, days
after the conference took place without Russian and Iranian representatives.
“This
year, the Russian representatives and officials did not intend to participate
in the forum. However, the mere fact that the organizers of the Munich Security
Conference decided not to send invitations to Russia and Iran only confirms the
diminishing value and importance of this conference,” he said.
“Moscow
fully agrees with the assessments of its Iranian partners that the organizers
of the event are trying to impose unilateralism on the international world
order.”
The
Russian envoy also noted that the participants at the Munich conference, except
those representing China and some other countries, allocated most of their time
and speeches to praising each other and unilateralism.
“There
was no competition between views or approaches at the Munich conference. It is
obvious that the event is losing its importance, influence and added value in
terms of examining the current international situation and exploring creative
solutions for existing security challenges.”
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/28/699051/Russia-Ulyanov-Munich-conference
--------
South Asia
Taliban
Kill ISIS Terrorist Who Planned Attacks On Diplomats In Kabul
February
28, 2023
Kabul:
Taliban forces killed a top ISIS terrorist who allegedly planned attacks
against diplomatic missions in Afghanistan's capital, a government official
said. Violence in Afghanistan dramatically dipped after the Taliban seized
power in August 2021.
But
in the past year, security has worsened, with a spate of mass casualty attacks
claimed by ISIS's regional chapter.
Taliban
forces killed Qari Fateh, the regional IS "intelligence and operations
chief", during an operation on Sunday night, the Taliban government
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement on Monday.
Fateh
"directly masterminded recent operations in Kabul, including against
diplomatic missions, mosques and other targets", Mujahid said.
Another
ISIS terrorist was killed in the operation against the cell, which was based in
Kabul's Khair Khana area, according to Taliban.
Residents
in that neighbourhood had reported loud gunfire on Sunday night.
Taliban
officials posted footage on Twitter of two bodies lying in debris.
A
United Nations Security Council report in July 2022 described Fateh as a key
ISIS leader, charged with military operations in an area spanning India, Iran
and Central Asia.
ISIS
has emerged as the biggest security challenge to Taliban rule, staging attacks
on foreigners, religious minorities and government institutions.
Both
groups share an austere Sunni Islamist ideology, but ISIS is fighting to
establish a global "caliphate" whilst the Taliban have a more
inward-looking goal of ruling an independent Afghanistan.
ISIS
claimed responsibility for a December gun raid on a Kabul hotel that wounded
five Chinese nationals.
Also
in December, the group attacked the Pakistani embassy in Kabul. Islamabad
described it as an "assassination attempt" on its ambassador.
And
in January, the group claimed a suicide bombing near the foreign ministry in
Kabul that killed at least 10 people.
Two
Russian embassy staff members were killed in a suicide bombing outside their
mission in September last year, another attack claimed by ISIS.
Source:
ND TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Islamic
Emirate Diplomats Restart Official Activities in Istanbul
By
Fatema Adeeb
Diplomats
of the Islamic Emirate restarted official activities in Afghanistan's consulate
in Istanbul on Monday, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The
deputy spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said that efforts are underway to
provide consular services as well as diplomatic services.
“The
Foreign Ministry clarifies that on Monday, the diplomats of the foreign
ministry in Istanbul of Turkey resumed their work officially,” said Zia Ahmad
Takal, deputy spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
“They
want to bring changes just to strengthen the government of the Islamic
Emirate,” said Wali Frozan, a political analyst.
The
former diplomats believe that transferring embassies to the caretaker
government of Afghanistan will be effective in improving the world’s relations
with Afghanistan.
“Transferring
the embassies or consulates of Iran and Turkey ... means the strengthening of
relations and it also means the unannounced recognition of the Islamic
Emirate,” said Aziz Maarij, a former diplomat.
“Another
reason that these missions have been handed over (to the Islamic Emirate) is
the secret relations of the diplomats with the Islamic Emirate during the time
of the former government,” said Fahim Kohdamani, a former diplomat.
Source:
Tolo News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-182275
--------
Afghanistan
No Longer Celebrates Armed Forces Day
By
Nizamuddin Rezahi
February
28, 2023
February
28 marks Armed Forces Day, which is not being celebrated for the past two
consecutive years in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
Afghanistan’s
former president Ashraf Ghani issued a decree in 2017, and named February 28,
as Armed Forces Day, aimed at supporting the country’s national security forces
– which was approved by the then cabinet members.
In
2003, the National Army of Afghanistan for the first time after years of
turmoil and political conflict was established with the support of the United
States and NATO member states.
The
formation of the Afghan army in a relatively shorter time span in terms of the
number of soldiers, employees, weapons and military equipment was well
developed. The number of Afghan soldiers reached 352,000 in 2013, which was
equal to that of the Pakistani army then.
The
countries which had close cooperation with the Afghan army in terms of training
and logistic services included the United States, France, Turkiye, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, England, China, Italy, India, Russia, Nepal, Spain, Pakistan, and
Poland. Nearly 1000 army personnel used to gain military training in different
countries annually.
As
per the existing reports, over the past two decades (2001-2021), more than
66,000 soldiers were killed in the fight against terrorist groups and militants
throughout Afghanistan.
Eventually,
in 2021, Afghanistan’s 350,000 armed forces equipped with sophisticated weapons
and military equipment disintegrated, and the Islamic Emirate entered Kabul
after 20 years of fighting with Afghan forces.
Over
the past years, February 28, knowns as Armed Forces Day was celebrated with
enthusiasm, in which the people of Afghanistan and government organizations
would appreciate the achievements of the Afghan armed forces.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-no-longer-celebrates-armed-forces-day/
--------
Afghan
Interim Government Cabinet Members Pass Fiscal Year (1402) Budget
By
Nizamuddin Rezahi
February
28, 2023
The
Administrative Office of Afghanistan’s interim government has announced that
the cabinet members passed the budget for the fiscal year 1402 and forwarded it
to the Ministry of Finance.
The
Administrative Office of the Taliban regime on Tuesday announced in a statement
that the cabinet members attended the grand meeting on Monday headed by the
Prime Minister.
It
is stated in that the budget for the year 1402 was passed, and assigned to the
ministry of finance for further proceedings.
However,
the interim government’s Administrative Office has not highlighted the amount
of the budget for the coming fiscal year as of now.
The
officials of the ministry of finance have confirmed the development and have
said that further details about the amount of the budget will be shared with
the media once it is approved by the leadership of this ministry.
Ahmad
Wali Haqmal, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate’s Finance Ministry told to
Khaama Press that after the approval of the budget by the leadership of the ministry,
it will be shared with the media.
This
comes as the ministry of finance approved 231 billion Afghanis for the year
1401, out of which 203 billion was allocated for ordinary expenses, and 27.9
billion for developmental projects.
Currently,
Afghanistan is faced with an economic and humanitarian crisis, heavily relying
on foreign aid and donations. According to the World Bank findings, some 28
million populations in Afghanistan are in desperate need of humanitarian
assistance to survive day-to-day life.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-interim-government-cabinet-members-pass-fiscal-year-1402-budget/
--------
80
Afghan citizens dead in Italian shipwreck, says Taliban foreign ministry
Feb
28, 2023
Afghanistan's
Taliban-led foreign ministry said on Tuesday that 80 Afghan citizens, including
children, had died in Sunday's shipwreck off the southern coast of Italy.
Rescuers
have so far confirmed at least 64 people were killed after a sailboat sank in
heavy seas near Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort on the eastern coast of
Calabria. Eighty people had been rescued and more people were believed to be
missing.
"With
great sadness, we learned ... that 80 Afghan refugees, including women and
children, who were travelling from Türkiye to Italy in a wooden boat, drowned
and died in the southern sea of Italy," the Afghan foreign affairs
ministry said in a statement.
"The
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan prays for forgiveness for the martyrs and
patience for the families and relatives of the victims, urging all citizens
once again to avoid going to foreign countries through irregular
migration," the statement added, referring to the Taliban's name for its
government.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Swiss-based
trust holds second meeting to discuss plans for Afghan funds
01
March ,2023
The
board of the Swiss-based trust fund managing some $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan
central bank assets met for a second time last month, one of its trustees said,
and discussed options for disbursing funds in line with achieving monetary
stability.
The
frozen central bank reserves were transferred from Washington into the “Fund
for the Afghan People” last year where US officials say it will be shielded
from the Taliban. The latter has condemned the transfer, calling it a violation
of international norms.
Trustee
Shah Mehrabi, a US academic who also remains on the Afghan central bank’s
Supreme Council, said a meeting of the four trustees was held virtually on Feb.
16.
“The
issue of disbursements of funds and the options for that was discussed,”
Mehrabi told Reuters.
“The
idea clearly here is the necessary steps to disburse funds and potential
options for achieving monetary stability.”
Mehrabi
said he believed the funds should only be used for achieving monetary stability
and reducing volatility in Afghanistan’s exchange rate. He said he was against
the funds being used to make payments for electricity, paying off Afghanistan’s
loans at multilateral institutions and other payments the state should be
responsible for.
He
said one way to achieve price stability, if needed in future, was to engage in
foreign exchange auctions to sell dollars and take some of the Afghani currency
out of circulation, which would help keep inflation in check.
Economists,
including Mehrabi, have noted that Afghanistan’s currency has remained
relatively stable in recent months - after an initial depreciation when the
Taliban took over in 2021 - partly due to large inflows of US dollars shipped
to Afghanistan last year by the United Nations to carry out humanitarian
operations.
Mehrabi
said the board had also agreed at the meeting to seek external funding to cover
the fund’s operational and administrative expenses so that the costs of running
it would not eat into the assets.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Arab World
Saudi
Arabia Affirms Human Rights Commitment and Equality among Peoples
February
28, 2023
RIYADH:
President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission Hala Al-Tuwaijri affirmed the
Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing and protecting human rights, as well as
respecting cultural diversity and equality among peoples, the Saudi Press
Agency reported on Tuesday.
Addressing
high-level meetings of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva, Al-Tuwaijri, who headed the delegation representing the Kingdom, said:
“Today marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, which serves as the foundation for all human rights. As we
recall this historic event, let us affirm that the promotion and protection of
human rights require relentless and continuous efforts and the realization of
transformations on the ground.
“We,
in Saudi Arabia, are witnessing historical changes due to numerous reforms and
advancements in a range of human rights areas that have significantly
influenced growth and quality of life.”
She
highlighted the significant and unprecedented reforms the Kingdom is undergoing
as part of its development Vision 2030.
Al-Tuwaijri
also said that the Kingdom has worked to develop its legislative system by
issuing and amending numerous laws, including the law of evidence and the
personal status system, and that work is taking place concerning two
initiatives on civil transactions law and the penal code for discretionary
sanctions.
According
to Al-Tuwaijri, between 2016 and 2022, the Kingdom had a considerable drop in
the unemployment rate from 11.6 percent to 5.8 percent. In order to eradicate
any discrimination in this field, a national policy was also released to
promote equal opportunity and equal treatment in the labor market.
The
Kingdom has made significant strides recently in the field of women’s
empowerment, as a strategic goal of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 was adopted to
increase their participation in the labor market in addition to establishing a
gender balance center in 2021, she said.
“Women’s
participation in the labor force increased from 17 percent to 37 percent
between 2017 and 2022, and their rate of economic participation increased from
28.6 percent to 39 percent between 2017 and 2021. Women’s representation in
high and middle administrative positions also increased during this time, from
21.2 percent to 34.7 percent,” she said.
Al-Tuwaijri
highlighted the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts to help earthquake victims in
Turkiye and Syria, with total aid so far exceeding $160 million.
She
said that the Kingdom is sparing no effort in supporting humanitarian issues,
including its keenness to mediate in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis in addition
to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s mediation in the release of a number of
prisoners.
She
expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the burning and
destruction of copies of the Holy Qur’an by a number of extremists in a number
of EU states, asserting the Kingdom’s affirmation of the need to abide by the
principles and regulations outlined in international human rights standards,
which forbid any promotion of national, racial, or religious hatred that would
constitute an incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
Al-Tuwaijri
emphasized the Kingdom’s keenness of the need to give all human rights the same
amount of attention so that no focus is placed on rights at the expense of
others.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2259616/saudi-arabia
--------
Lebanon
plans to hike import tariffs for second time in three months
28
February ,2023
Lebanon
will triple the tariffs it charges on imports in local currency, according to
copies of government decisions seen by Reuters on Tuesday, as the state seeks
to boost its revenues amid a worsening economic crisis.
Caretaker
finance minister Youssef Khalil requested to change the rate at which customs
fees are calculated from 15,000 pounds per US dollar to 45,000 pounds,
according to correspondence seen by Reuters.
Cabinet
responded with a letter saying it had no objections given the move would
“secure additional revenues to help revive the public sector.”
Lebanon’s
local currency has lost more than 98 percent of its value since its economic
collapse began in 2019, trading at an all-time high of 87,000 per US dollar on
Tuesday on the parallel market.
State
coffers have been drained and public services have suffered as a result, with
school teachers on strike for weeks.
Lebanon’s
government had already effectively increased tariffs on imported goods about
10-fold at the end of last year by changing the rate at which they were
calculated to 15,000 per US dollar from the then-official rate of 1,507.5.
In
February, it amended the exchange rate to match, so that the official government
rate was 15,000 to the US dollar.
Unifying
Lebanon’s various exchange rates is among pre-conditions set by the
International Monetary Fund nearly a year ago for Lebanon to get a $3 billion
bailout, but the lender of last resort says reforms have been too slow.
The
country has been moving towards a cash-based and dollarized economy given
spiraling inflation and restrictions by banks on transactions.
Also
on Tuesday, Lebanon’s caretaker economy minister Amin Salam said supermarkets
would be mandated to display the pound-to-dollar rate at which goods were
priced.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Lebanon top prosecutor tells judge investigating banks to pause probe
28
February ,2023
Lebanon’s
top prosecutor on Tuesday told a judge investigating the financial transactions
of commercial banks to temporarily halt her work, a week after the country’s
caretaker prime minister also moved to block her investigations.
Lebanese
judge Ghada Aoun has been investigating the banking sector since it collapsed
in 2019 following decades of corrupt government, profligate spending and
financial mismanagement.
On
Tuesday, top prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat sent her a letter, seen by Reuters,
requesting she “stop her investigative and probing procedures temporarily,
until decisions are taken on the issues raised.”
Aoun
did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
She
faces several complaints over her work. Last week, caretaker premier Najib Mikati
told the interior minister to order security forces not to carry out Aoun’s
judicial decisions, which Mikati said were “overstepping” authority.
Mawlawi
issued a directive, seen by Reuters, telling Lebanon’s General Security
directorate and the Internal Security Forces not to act on Aoun’s orders.
Aoun
responded on Twitter that the moves represented “a total breakdown of justice
in this poor country.” She called it “an unprecedented interference in the work
of the judiciary.”
Politicians
retain significant influence over judges’ appointments and prerogatives in
Lebanon, where commercial banks also have sway.
The
banks have been on strike since February 7 following a meeting to discuss the
snowballing legal measures they have been facing since Lebanon’s economy began
to unravel in 2019.
Those
measures include steps Aoun has taken. This month, she has filed charges of
money laundering against two banks.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Saudi
Hajj minister meets Malaysian PM
February
28, 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and his
accompanying delegation met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Perdana
Putra in Putrajaya on Tuesday.
During
the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and
issues related to the quota for Hajj and Umrah. They also discussed initiatives
that can be implemented to improve cooperation in tourism, education, investment
and trade.
The
Malaysian prime minister also praised the services provided by the Kingdom to
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
Recently,
the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched a program to train the leaders of
foreign Hajj pilgrim groups before their arrival in the Kingdom.
The
first session was held in Tabung Haji, Kuala Lumpur, and was attended by more
than 30 group leaders.
The
aim of the program is to improve the quality of services for pilgrims,
facilitate their trips and enrich their religious and cultural experiences, in
line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The
training session was held on the sidelines of Al-Rabiah’s official visit to
Malaysia, accompanied by a delegation from government agencies and the Saudi
private sector.
Further
sessions will be organized in other countries before the start of this year’s
Hajj season.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2259981/saudi-arabia
--------
Activists
call on Trinidad to repatriate citizens in Syria
February
28, 2023
SAN
JUAN: Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on Trinidad & Tobago to
repatriate more than 90 of its citizens who have been detained as Daesh
suspects and family members in war-torn Syria, noting that at least 56 of them
are children.
Some
of them were whisked to Syria as children by relatives, while others said they
erroneously thought they were going to visit a Muslim utopia.
“These
children never chose to live under Daesh, yet they are suffering because of
their parents’ decisions,” said Jo Becker, the Human Rights Watch child
advocacy director.
Most
of the Trinidadians were detained in late 2018 and early 2019 by US-backed
Syrian forces fighting the Daesh group in northeast Syria and are currently
held in makeshift camps that activists say are dangerous and lack food, water,
medical care and education.
Of
the more than 90 Trinidadians detained in Syria, some 21 are women, and 44 of
the at least 56 children detained are 12 years old or younger, according to the
human rights organization, which said it interviewed six Trinidadians held in
camps.
Among
them is a 17-year-old boy whose father took him to Syria in 2014. “My father
lied to me. He told me that we were going to Disneyland,” the organization
quoted the boy as saying. “It’s not my fault. It’s my father’s fault … I just
want to come back home.”
A
19-year-old Trinidadian man said: “My dad told me I was going to go to a hotel
in Egypt and swim in a pool. I was 11 years old,” according to the
organization. Trinidad & Tobago has repatriated only a handful of its
citizens in recent years despite at least 130 of them traveling to Daesh-held
territories from 2013 to 2016, the most people per capita of any country in the
Western Hemisphere, according to Human Rights Watch.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2259951/middle-east
--------
Mideast
Iran
has enriched uranium to nearly bomb grade: IAEA
March
1, 2023
VIENNA:
The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed on Tuesday it had detected particles of
uranium enriched to 83.7 per cent in Iran, just under the 90pc needed to
produce an atomic bomb.
Asked
about the particles found in Iran, the government in Tehran said “unintended
fluctuations” during the enrichment process “may have occurred”.
In
2015, Iran reached a deal with world powers to limit the enrichment of uranium
and allow IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear sites, in return for the
lifting of economic sanctions. But the deal stalled in 2018.
The
IAEA report said that during an inspection “on 22 January 2023, the agency took
environmental samples… at the Fordow (sic) plant, the analytical results of
which showed the presence of high enriched uranium particles containing up to
83.7pc U-235”.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1739748/iran-has-enriched-uranium-to-nearly-bomb-grade-iaea
--------
Spokesman: Iran Views Recent Development in Syria-Arab States Ties As Positive
2023-February-28
"The
recent developments in the Arab countries' relations with Syria, including the
trip of the delegation of the Arab parliaments to Damascus to declare
solidarity with Syria after the recent devastating earthquake, in addition to
being realistic, is a positive step in the path of Islamic solidarity,"
Kana'ani tweeted.
He
pointed out that by using dialogue and regional mechanisms, the countries of
the region will be able to solve their problems with realism, a national approach,
and ignoring foreign domination seekers' wishes.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Settler attacks continue amid ‘timid’ Israeli government response
MOHAMMED
NAJIB
February
28, 2023
RAMALLAH:
Settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank continued for the third
day running, with Palestinian sources and human rights activists condemning the
“complete silence” of Israel’s security forces and “timid” government response
to the violence.
Israeli
settlers went on a rampage on Monday, torching dozens of cars and homes in a
Palestinian town. One Palestinian was also killed in the violence following the
killing of two Israelis by a suspected Palestinian gunman in the northern West Bank.
On
Tuesday, another motorist was shot to death in the same manner in the occupied
West Bank. The victim held both US and Israeli citizenship.
So
far this year, 62 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and
civilians. In the same period, 14 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian
attacks. Since the beginning of 2023, confrontations have escalated in the West
Bank, including in East Jerusalem.
On
Monday, Hussein Al-Sheikh, chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s
executive committee, met with Hady Amr, US special envoy for Palestinian
affairs, to discuss ways to protect Palestinians against settler and military
attacks.
Al-Sheikh
and Amr spoke about the brutal settler violence in Nablus, Hawara and other
West Bank cities.
Amr
visited Hawara on Tuesday in the aftermath of the attacks, hearing testimonies
from residents. He was briefed on the damage and losses suffered by residents.
The
US Embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement that Amr visited “the victims of
the Hawara attack and expressed his deepest condolences, and condemned the
indiscriminate, widespread and unacceptable acts of violence by settlers.”
According
to the statement, Amr said that he is “very concerned about the escalation of
violence in the West Bank. We want to see full accountability and prosecution
through the law of those responsible for these heinous attacks, and
compensation for those whose property has been lost or otherwise damaged.”
Al-Sheikh
said on Twitter: “We discussed many regional and international issues,
especially the brutal attacks against the Palestinian people, including killing
and burning homes by the occupation and settlers, the latest of which was in
Nablus, Hawara and the cities of the West Bank.”
He
added that the meeting “is a continuation of a series of meetings between the
Palestinian leadership and the US administration.”
Israeli
authorities have yet to announce any arrest or prosecution related to the
Hawara violence.
An
anonymous high-ranking Palestinian official told Arab News: “What happened in
Hawara is very terrible, and the ugliness of that event forced the US to use
firmer and tougher language against Israel in an attempt to protect it from its
madness that will bring destruction to the region.
“While
the Israel army and settlers were taking turns to abuse the Palestinians, their
roles became integrated during the burning of Hawara residents’ homes and
vehicles.”
Palestinian
political analyst Ghassan Khatib told Arab News that the Biden administration
is approaching the Israeli government “with great caution.”
The
shift in policy, he said, is “limited to speech and condemnations of Israel’s
actions. Israel does not take verbal criticism seriously, so its effect is
almost limited.”
Khatib
added that the US should take punitive measures against Israel to end its
destructive policies toward Palestinians.
Political
analyst Majdi Halabi told Arab News: “Netanyahu’s condemnation of the Hawara
arson incident came late and was timid.”
Palestinians
in Israel are organizing a protest in solidarity with the victims of settler
attacks.
Israeli
forces, meanwhile, tightened their lockdown of Jericho city, with all primary
and secondary entrances closed, and citizen movement restricted. Jericho
residents said that on Monday evening, the Israeli army raided several homes in
Aqabat Jabr camp, south of the city.
On
Tuesday, the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality demolished a Palestinian home in
Jabal Mukaber village on the outskirts of the city.
In
another development, an ultra-nationalist ally of Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu tendered his resignation as a deputy minister in the new
government.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2259846/middle-east
--------
Israel
minister says Palestinian planned to kill him
March
01, 2023
JERUSALEM:
Israel’s controversial far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
said on Tuesday police had arrested a Palestinian who planned to assassinate
him.
A
statement from his office said the man, who was not identified, was arrested
several weeks ago.
“The
Arab suspect, a Jerusalem resident, who was planning to assassinate National
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, was arrested a few weeks ago by police in
cooperation with Shin Bet, the internal security service,” the statement said.
Ben-Gvir,
who heads the Jewish Power party, has a history of inflammatory remarks about
Palestinians.
The
statement came after an upsurge of deadly violence in the occupied West Bank,
where he lives.
Dozens
of settlers went on the rampage in the northern West Bank overnight
Sunday-Monday after two Israeli brothers were shot dead as they drove through
the town of Huwara.
Ben-Gvir
was appointed to his key security post in the new government sworn in on
December 29 and led by Israel’s veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ben-Gvir
advocates the annexation by Israel of the West Bank and the transfer to
neighboring countries of some of the Israeli Arabs, descendants of Palestinians
who stayed on their land after Israel’s creation in 1948.
Ben-Gvir
has also been pushing a controversial bill on the death penalty for those
convicted of “terrorist” attacks that cost the lives of Israelis.
The
statement said the suspect allegedly gathered information on the minister’s
movements and received funds from “terrorist elements from a neighboring
state,” which was not named.
Ben-Gvir
was once deemed a pariah in Israel’s political arena.
In
his youth, he was charged more than 50 times for incitement to violence or hate
speech.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2260021/middle-east
--------
Israeli
forces demolish two Palestinian-owned houses in al-Quds, orders owners to pay
heavy fines
28
February 2023
Israeli
forces have demolished two Palestinian-owned homes in the occupied al-Quds,
amid ongoing land grab policies by the Tel Aviv regime.
The
Palestinian Information Center reported on Tuesday that Israeli bulldozers,
accompanied by troops, raided the neighborhoods of Issawiya and Jabal
al-Mukaber of East al-Quds, razing down two houses belonging to Palestinian
residents.
Apart
from demolishing the houses, the occupying regime has also ordered the owners
to pay heavy fines.
Meanwhile,
Israeli authorities have handed a demolition notice to a Palestinian homeowner
in the village of Marda, north of Salfit in the occupied West Bank.
Nisfat
Khuffash, head of Marda village council, told Palestine’s official Wafa news
agency on Tuesday that the Palestinian-owned house is one of the 32 homes that
are going to be demolished in the area under the pretext of construction
without a permit.
He
went on to say that an Israeli military soldier broke into the village and
handed a local resident the demolition order against his 150-square-meter,
one-story house where his family of three people lives.
Khuffash
further noted that the other homeowners in the village who received demolition
orders last year have appealed the orders at Israeli courts in the hope of
stopping them.
The
demolition of Palestinian homes across the occupied territories has increased
since an extreme far-right administration led by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu took office.
Palestinians
regard ministers of the new cabinet, especially Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel
Smotrich, as racist and fascist for publicly advocating the expulsion of
Palestinians and the demolition of their homes, supporting Israeli extremist
groups repeatedly attacking Palestinians, and stirring incitement to racism
against Arabs and non-Jews.
Israel
routinely demolishes Palestinian houses in the occupied West Bank and East
al-Quds. The regime argues that the homes were built without a permit. However,
the Israeli regime rarely, if ever, approves such permits for Palestinians. The
Israeli forces also sometimes order Palestinian owners to demolish their own
houses or pay the costs of the demolition.
Israel
has already occupied thousands of dunums of Palestinian agricultural land to
construct and expand new illegal settler units in various areas in the West
Bank.
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 al-Quds.
All
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The United Nations
Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied
territories in several resolutions.
Source:
Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/demonising-muslims-shia-pakistan/d/129224
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism