Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Pleas Relating To Release Of Movie ‘The Kerala Story’, Requests The Kerala High Court To Take Up The Case Early If Such A Petition Is Filed Before It
New
Age Islam News Bureau
03
May 2023
'The Kerala
Story' poster
----
India
• ‘Demeans the Entire Muslim Community’: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind
Moves Supreme Court against ‘The Kerala Story’
• Karnataka: BJP Government’s Law Prohibiting Cow
Slaughter Hurts Both Hindus and Muslims
• Karnataka Shocker: 18-Year-Old Muslim Youth Allegedly
Attacked By Bajrang Dal
• UP urban body polls: With 391 candidates, BJP tests
waters on Muslim support base ahead of 2024
--------
Arab World
• Saudi experts highlight importance of digital design
to KSA’s future
• Islamic counter-terrorism chief meets Iraqi military
intelligence director in Riyadh
• Saudi FM discusses situation in Sudan with African
Union Commission chairperson
• Saudi police arrest 11 suspects in drug bust
--------
Pakistan
• Seven terrorists held in Miran Shah Operation
• Saqib Nisar has committed ‘unforgivable crimes’: Nawaz
• Balochistan: A minefield for journalists
• Govt, PTI agree on same-day elections but fail to decide
date
• Evacuation operations out of Sudan ended: Foreign
ministry
--------
Mideast
• Erdoğan Election Poster Hung on Wall of Mosque in
Western Turkey; Accused Of Exploiting Religious Symbols For Political Gain
• Syrian refugees fearful as Lebanon steps up
deportations
• UAE sends humanitarian aid for Sudanese refugees in
Chad
• Iran president arrives in Syria for landmark visit:
state media
• 'Islamic Jihad is playing with us!' Locals grow weary
as Gaza rockets shower southern Israel
• Palestinian terror groups: Israel will pay for
'assassinating' Jihad leader
• Yeshiva University Spans Muslim/Jewish Divide in New
UAE-Based Conference
--------
Europe
• Chilling reason Osama Bin Laden's body was thrown in
the ocean after he was killed
• Ukraine keeping West in the dark about
counteroffensive plans – Politico
• Russia to resume yuan purchases – Bloomberg
--------
North
America
• Muslim Group Demands Biden Apologize to Mayor Blocked
from White House’s Eid Al-Fitr Celebration
• Muslim Mayor Furious After He's Blocked From Joe
Biden's White House Event: 'Reeks of Islamophobia'
• Muslim Prospect Park mayor questions White House
watchlist after he’s barred from Eid event
• Minnesota bail fund promoted by Kamala Harris
previously freed suspected mosque arsonist
• Supreme Court ‘Ethics’ Theatre: Democrats’ Ongoing
Jihad against Conservative Jurists
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Shooter at Islamic Organization HQ Unrelated to
Terrorist Group: Expert
• Siti Bainun Found Guilty Of Neglecting, Abusing Bella
• Malaysian King, Queen to Attend King Charles III
Coronation Ceremony in London
• Mother, stepfather plead guilty of abusing
four-year-old boy in Johor
--------
South Asia
• With Declining Funds, UN Will Stay in Afghanistan,
Says Chief
• World Press Freedom Index: India rank slides to 161,
11 spots behind Afghanistan
• UN Summit in Qatar On Afghanistan Ends, Another
Planned
• BNP-Jamaat demonstrators quit scene as PM invites for
talk
• PM offers SEZ for US businessmen, seeks larger
investment in Bangladesh
• Traffic Accident Kills 6 in Afghanistan
• Over 340 Afghan Refugees Return Back From Pakistan
• Turkmenistan Exports Gas to Pakistan via Afghanistan
--------
Africa
• Arab League, African Union and UN Intensify Efforts
for Peace in Sudan
• Kenya Deadly Cult: Mackenzie To Face Terrorism
Charges; Odero Remains In Custody
• Ugandan lawmakers pass new version of tough anti-gay
bill
• Kenyan police clash with anti-government protesters
• Senegal: Sonko denounces an "assassination
attempt with poison gas"
• Sudan warring parties agree to 7-day truce from May 4
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/supreme-court-kerala-story-movie/d/129691
------
Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Pleas Relating To Release Of Movie ‘The Kerala Story’, Requests The Kerala High Court To Take Up The Case Early If Such A Petition Is Filed Before It
'The Kerala
Story' poster
----
May 03, 2023
The Supreme
Court on May 3 refused to entertain a petition by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to direct
the makers of the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ to carry a disclaimer that it is a
work of fiction.
Responding to
an urgent mention to list the case early, Chief Justice of India D.Y.
Chandrachud asked the Jamiat and other petitioners to instead move the
jurisdictional High Court, possibly under Article 226 (writ petition) of the
Constitution.
Also read:
Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea seeking stay on release of movie ‘The
Kerala Story’
“There are
seasoned judges in High Courts… Why don’t you go there? Why should we become a
super 226 court?” Chief Justice Chandrachud asked advocate Vrinda Grover,
appearing for the Jamiat.
The Bench gave
petitioners the liberty to move the High Court. It requested the jurisdictional
High Court concerned to consider the case for early listing if a petition on
the issue is filed.
The petitioners
sought a copy of the apex court order to be made available so that they could
approach the High Court by afternoon. The film is scheduled to be released on
May 5.
Senior advocate
Harish Salve, for the movie makers, submitted they were not ready to carry such
a disclaimer. Presently, the movie claims it is “inspired by true events”.
During the
brief minutes of the mentioning, the CJI noted this was a film and the
petitioners were seeking to “excise” portions of it.
Ms. Grover said
their request for a disclaimer was balanced. She noted that the movie tended to
“demonise” the entire Muslim community.
The Jamiat
petition said the movie peddled “malicious propaganda” that 32000 girls in
Kerala were lured through ‘love jihad’ and trafficked to West Asia to join
ISIS.
“The movie is
clearly aimed at spreading hatred and enmity between different sections of society
in India. The message the movie imparts is that non-Muslim young women are
being lured into converting to Islam by their classmates and subsequently,
trafficked to West Asia where they are forced to join terrorist organisations.
The movie gives the impression that apart from extremist clerics who radicalise
people, ordinary Muslim youngsters, their classmates, also play an instrumental
role in luring non-Muslims and radicalising them by posing as friendly and
good-natured, in accordance with instructions given by extremist scholars,” the
petition said.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-refuses-to-entertain-pleas-relating-to-release-of-movie-the-kerala-story-asks-petitioners-to-approach-high-court/article66806831.ece
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‘Demeans the
Entire Muslim Community’: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Moves Supreme Courtagainst ‘The
Kerala Story’
'The Kerala
Story' poster
----
May 3, 2023
The Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind has moved the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Centre and
others not to allow the screening or release of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ in
theatres, OTT platforms and other such avenues, besides seeking removal of the
film’s trailer from the internet.
Earlier on
Tuesday, the apex court had declined to immediately hear a plea seeking a stay
on the release of the controversial movie direceted by Sudipto Sen and produced
by Sunshine Pictures.
A bench
comprising justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna observed that the censor
board has already cleared the movie and the petitioners should rather challenge
the film’s certification before an appropriate authority.
The bench said
that the exhibition of films entails a different process, therefore the plea
seeking a stay on the release of the movie cannot be clubbed with hate speech
matters.
Senior advocate
Kapil Sibal and advocate Nizam Pasha urged the bench to hear their plea saying
that the movie will release on Friday.
The fresh plea
filed by Jamiat said: “The movie is clearly aimed at spreading hatred and
enmity between different sections of society in India. The message the movie
imparts is that non-Muslim young women are being lured into converting to Islam
by their classmates and subsequently, they are trafficked to West Asia where
they are forced to join terrorist organisations.”
The plea said,
“The movie demeans the entire Muslim community and it will result in
endangering the lives and livelihoods of the petitioners and the entire Muslim
community, and this is a direct infringement under Articles 14 and 21 of the
Constitution.”
“The movie
gives the impression that apart from extremist clerics who radicalise people,
ordinary Muslim youngsters, their classmates, also play an instrumental role in
luring non-Muslims and radicalising them by posing as friendly and good-natured
people, in accordance with instructions given by extremist scholars,” said the
plea.
The plea, filed
through advocate Ejaz Maqbool, alternatively sought a direction to the Central
Board of Film Certification to further identify incendiary scenes and dialogues
for removal or show a disclaimer stating that it is a work of fiction and the
characters in the movie bear no resemblance to any person living or dead.
The plea said,
“The movie promotes the view that love-jihad is being used to lure non-Muslim
women into converting to Islam and also joining the ISIS. However, an
investigation by the state police carried out in 2009 revealed that there was
no evidence of love-jihad in Kerala.”
As soon as the
teaser of the film was released, the ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the opoosition
UDF in Kerala had demanded that the film should not be screened.
The state
committee of Muslim Youth League has even announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for
the individual who proves the “allegations” levelled in the movie.
A right-wing
activist and founder of the Hindu Seva Kendra PratheeshViswanath also offered
Rs 10 crore to prove the opposite — that no one from Kerala has gone to Syria
to join IS.
The film
starring Adah Sharma, YogitaBihani, Sonia Balani and Siddhi Idnani in key roles
traces the journey of four female college students in Kerala who become part of
Islamic State.
Source: thestatesman.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/demeans-the-entire-muslim-community-plea-in-sc-against-the-kerala-story-1503177728.html
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Grand Mufti Of
Egypt, Dr. Shawki Ibrahim, Calls Upon Muslims To Become Ambassadors Of Peace,
Recognize Differences As A Divine Gift
Prof Mohd
Gulrez honouring Dr. Shawki Ibrahim Abdel Karim Allam in Aligarh on Tuesday (HT
Photo)
-----
May 02, 2023
Grand Mufti of
Egypt, Dr. Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, emphasized the need for Muslims to
engage with people of all faiths and recognize differences as a divine gift.
Speaking at the Aligarh Muslim University, he urged Muslims to reclaim Islam
from those who interpret it wrongly, warning against a "crooked
understanding of faith". The event was part of the Grand Mufti's state
visit to India, hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
“There is a
need to grasp and understand the true spirit of Islam that is engaging and
dealing with people of all faiths, civilizations and philosophies by seeking
common grounds and recognising the diversities and differences which are a
divine gift and blessing from God”, said the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Shawki
Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam in his address to a large gathering of teachers,
students and officials of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Tuesday at the
Kennedy Auditorium.
Delivering his
speech on ‘Dialogue among Civilisations’, Dr Shawki said “building bridges and
engaging with followers of different faiths has been the practice of Prophet
Mohammad”.
Quoting from
the Quran, the Grand Mufti of Egypt said that Prophet Mohammad was an epitome
of mercy and compassion, and he is a role model particularly for Muslims in
respect to their conduct and behaviour towards neighbours, friends, relatives
and humanity at large.
Warning Muslims
against the ‘crooked understanding of faith’ he said, “It is our shared
responsibility to re-claim Islam from those who interpret it the wrong way and
become ambassadors of peace and bridge-building in the world”.
Giving his
presidential remarks, Prof Mohammad Gulrez, vice-chancellor, AMU, said that
engaging with civilisations and people of various faiths is the only way forward
for the peaceful existence and progress of humanity.
“The thesis of
the ‘Clash of Civilization’ propounded by Hutington after the World War was a
dangerous philosophy. Instead, building bridges between civilizations, cultures
and religions and inter-faith dialogue is the only way to foster harmony among
people”, he said.
He praised the
Grand Mufti for spreading the message of peace at various global platforms
including the World Sufi Summit at New Delhi (2016) and the World Economic
Forum at Davos (2016) etc.
Earlier,
Mohammad Imran IPS, AMU Registrar introduced the esteemed guest and also
described the shared bonds between India and Egypt.
The Vice
Chancellor presented a memento, a coffee-table book Jahan-e-Syed and another
book ‘A History of Aligarh Muslim University 1920-2020’ to the Grand Mufti, who
also presented a gift to the Vice Chancellor.
The day-long
AMU visit of the Grand Mufti was a part of his state visit to India hosted by
the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), ministry of external affairs,
government of India.
There were
voices of opposition too on AMU campus as a group of students showed placards
to oppose the visit of the Grand Mufti, blaming him of violation of human
rights and a few even managed to enter the hall where the event was being
organised.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/grand-mufti-of-egypt-advocates-for-interfaith-dialogue-and-understanding-at-amu-warns-against-crooked-interpretation-of-islam-101683032776554.html
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Musarat Bibi, a
Christian Woman and Sarmand,a Muslim Man Arrested For Alleged Blasphemy
Photo:
agenzia fides
------
Tuesday, 2 May
2023
Lahore (Agenzia
Fides) - Musarat Bibi, an illiterate Christian woman, employed at the
"Girls Higher Secondary School" in the city of Arif-Wala, in the
Pakistani province of Punjab, was arrested together with a Muslim man, also an
employee in the school, with the accusation of having desecrated the Quran. The
two were cleaning out the school warehouse cupboards, burning rubbish, old
files, unusable papers taken from the warehouse cupboards.
Sarmand
recognized among the burned papers some pages of the Quran, in Arabic, and
warned the school authorities. When news spread that pages of the Quran had
been burned, some students and teachers began to protest. Thanks to a call from
a man who identified himself as Kashif Nadeem, the police were alerted and
rushed to the scene to investigate. The school administration recounted the
incident, thanked the two workers for doing their best to remove the identified
pages, and called the incident "completely unintentional". The
police, however, arrested Musarat Bibi and Mohammad Sarmand for blasphemy,
under article 295-b of the penal code, which punishes contempt of the Quran.
The woman, a
widow, has three daughters, two of whom are married while the youngest is 14
years old. The youngest was brought to safety by other family members. Musarat
worked at the school after the death of her husband, who was a teacher.
Christians living in the Arif-Wala area now fear for the safety of Musarat and
the other few Christian families living there, as in the past people simply
accused of blasphemy were lynched by mobs of religious fanatics.
According to
Javed Sohatara, a lawyer assisting the family, the accuser, Kashif Nadeem,
brought charges of blasphemy against the Christian widow, because he is steeped
in "extremist religious ideology" and harbors personal hatred
personal against the Christian widow.
According to
the lawyer, Kashif Nadeem - harbors a grudge against the Christian employee
because the school administration gave her the task of managing the school
canteen which was previously managed by a relative of Kashif, who lost the
contract. "In Pakistan, the accusation of blasphemy is a life-threatening
accusation. With this accusation, the man wanted to permanently remove Musarat
Bibi from the school canteen and and from work, and he succeeded", he
added.
According to
Fides sources, the school administration and the civil leaders of the city are
well aware of the reality and support the Christian woman and the Muslim man
unjustly accused. "Community support is an important factor for the
victim's family: this could hopefully lead to a successful outcome of the case",
notes the lawyer.
Commenting on
the incident, Joseph Jansen, head of the NGO "Voice for Justice" in
Pakistan, points out that "human rights violations in Pakistan are
increasing on a large scale and that, in many cases, the laws on blasphemy
serve as a pretext". It notes in particular that "violence is
committed against women belonging to minority religious communities, namely
Hindu and Christian women, and this violence remains unpunished".
"Due to the increase in false accusations, immense fear has taken hold in
the community in the Arif-Wala region, especially among Christian women
workers. Women are discouraged from looking for work and this increases
financial hardships in their families, increases poverty and vulnerability, and
further lowers their social status", he explains.
Mr. Jansen
continues: "In blasphemy cases, complainants and witnesses who have made
false accusations, when proven, do not suffer the consequences and are not
prosecuted for perjury. This provision, if it is implemented, could help change
the climate of impunity and hold those involved accountable for accusations
made to harm others. An action plan to end the misuse of this law, used against
most vulnerable, has been urgently needed for many years. In several cases,
fanatical individuals have used this law to take justice into their own hands
and lynch the accused," he recalls.
Zara Amoon
Gill, spokesperson for "Minorities Rights Watch Pakistan", underlines
another element: "High-ranking police officers, not mere agents, should record
complaints and accusations of blasphemy", agreeing of the need to
"prosecute false witnesses". And he notes, "we urge the
government to ensure the safety of the accused until the verdict of the court
in order to protect them from extremist violence". (PA) (Agenzia Fides,
2/5/2023)
Source: fides.org
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
http://www.fides.org/en/news/73710-ASIA_PAKISTAN_A_Christian_woman_and_a_Muslim_man_arrested_for_alleged_blasphemy
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Iran Resorts To
Security Cameras To Deter Unveiled Women
An Iranian
woman walks in a street in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA
(West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
------
May 02, 2023
DUBAI: Wary of
re-igniting Iran’s worst political turmoil in years, the country’s rulers are
resorting to new, less obtrusive tactics to punish women who refuse to wear the
obligatory hijab.
The methods,
introduced following nationwide anti-government protests last year, combine use
of security cameras with denial of state services to violators, replacing the
morality police whose actions were the flashpoint for the months of unrest.
The measures
have yet to make much headway against opposition to the hijab, and could worsen
economic pressures if they result in the closure of businesses, Iranian
activists say.
“Walking
unveiled in the streets is now my way of keeping our revolution alive,” said
Roya, 31, a private tutor in the northern city of Rasht, who was arrested
during protests in November and detained for three months.
“We are not
scared of the regime’s threats. We want freedom ... This path will continue
until we regain our country from the clerics,” Maryam, a high school girl in
Iran’s western Kermanshah city, said.
For decades
women who refused to wear the hijab were accosted by morality police operating
from vans that patrolled busy public spaces. The vehicles’ mixed male and
female crew would watch for “un-Islamic dress and behavior.”
But those vans
have mostly vanished from streets of cities they used to patrol, residents
said, after the protests confronted Iran’s clerical rulers with their worst
legitimacy crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iranian
officials have also said morality police patrols would no longer spearhead the
campaign against those flouting the dress codes.
In place of the
vans, authorities are installing cameras on streets to identify unveiled women,
providing a more discreet method of detecting breaches of Iran’s conservative
dress code.
Another novel
tactic is a government order to both
private and public sectors not to provide services to “violators.”
Warnings of heavy fines and even imprisonment have been issued.
Yet growing
numbers of women have defied authorities by discarding their veils in the wake
of the protests, which erupted after the death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish
woman who was arrested for allegedly violating hijab rules.
Security forces
violently put down the revolt, and the street demonstrations largely fizzled in
February.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296591/middle-east
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Prince Charles Fancies
Himself A ‘Defender Of Faith’ As He Invites Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim And
Sikh Leaders To His Coronation
Britain's
King Charles III, right, speaks with Professor Gurch Randhawa, a member of the
Sikh Congregation, as they sit on the floor in the Prayer Hall during the
king's visit to the newly built Guru Nanak Gurdwara, in Luton, England, Tuesday,
Dec. 6, 2022.
------
By Danica Kirka
And The Associated Press
May 2, 2023
Rabbi Nicky
Liss won’t be watching King Charles III’s coronation. He’ll be doing something
he considers more important: praying for the monarch on the Jewish sabbath.
On Saturday, he
will join rabbis across Britain in reading a prayer in English and Hebrew that
gives thanks for the new king in the name of the “one God who created us all.”
Liss, the rabbi
of Highgate Synagogue in north London, said British Jews appreciated Charles’
pledge to promote the co-existence of all faiths and his record of supporting a
multifaith society during his long apprenticeship as heir to the throne.
“When he says
he wants to be a defender of faiths, that means the world because our history
hasn’t always been so simple and we haven’t always lived freely; we haven’t
been able to practice our religion,” Liss told The Associated Press. “But
knowing that King Charles acts this way and speaks this way is tremendously
comforting.”
At a time when
religion is fueling tensions around the world — from Hindu nationalists in
India to Jewish settlers in the West Bank and fundamentalist Christians in the
United States — Charles is trying to bridge the differences between the faith
groups that make up Britain’s increasingly diverse society.
Achieving that
goal is critical to the new king’s efforts to show that the monarchy, a
1,000-year-old institution with Christian roots, can still represent the people
of modern, multicultural Britain.
But Charles,
the supreme governor of the Church of England, faces a very different country
than the one that adoringly celebrated his mother’s coronation in 1953.
Seventy years
ago, more than 80% of the people of England were Christian, and the mass
migration that would change the face of the nation was just beginning. That
figure has now dropped below half, with 37% saying they have no religion, 6.5%
calling themselves Muslim and 1.7% Hindu, according to the latest census
figures. The change is even more pronounced in London, where more than a
quarter of the population have a non-Christian faith.
Charles
recognized that change long before he became king last September.
As far back as
the 1990s, Charles suggested that he would like to be known as “the defender of
faith,” a small but hugely symbolic change from the monarch’s traditional title
of “defender of the faith,” meaning Christianity. It’s an important distinction
for a man who believes in the healing power of yoga and once called Islam “one
of the greatest treasuries of accumulated wisdom and spiritual knowledge
available to humanity.”
The king’s
commitment to diversity will be on display at his coronation, when religious
leaders representing the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions
will for the first time play an active role in the ceremonies.
“I have always
thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities,’’’ Charles told faith
leaders in September.
“That has led
me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty — less formally
recognized but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect
the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith
itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs
to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.”
That’s not an
easy task in a country where religious and cultural differences sometimes boil
over.
Just last
summer, Muslim and Hindu youths clashed in the city of Leicester. The main
opposition Labour Party has struggled to rid itself of antisemitism, and the
government’s counterterrorism strategy has been criticized for focusing on
Muslims. Then there are the sectarian differences that still separate Catholics
and Protestants in Northern Ireland.
Such tensions
underscore the crucial need for Britain to have a head of state who personally
works to promote inclusivity, said Farhan Nizami, director of the Oxford Centre
for Islamic Studies.
Charles has
been the center’s patron for 30 years, lending his stature to Nizami’s effort
to build an academic hub for studying all facets of the Islamic world,
including history, science and literature, as well as religion. During those
years, the center moved from a nondescript wooden structure to a complex that
has its own library, conference facilities and a mosque complete with dome and
minaret.
“It is very
important that we have a king who has been consistently committed to
(inclusivity),” Nizami said. “It is so relevant in the modern age, with all the
mobility, with the difference and diversity that exists, that the head of this
state should bring people together, both by example and action.”
Those actions
are sometimes small. But they resonate with people like BalwinderShukra, who
saw the king a few months ago when he officially opened the Guru Nanak
Gurdwara, a Sikh house of worship, in Luton, an ethnically diverse city of
almost 300,000 north of London.
Shukra, 65,
paused from patting out flatbreads known as chapatis for the communal meal the
gurdwara serves to all comers, adjusted her floral shawl, and expressed her
admiration for Charles’ decision to sit on the floor with other members of the
congregation.
Referring to
the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, Shukra said that “all the people
(are) equal.’’ It “doesn’t matter” if you are king, she added.
Some British
newspapers have suggested that Charles’ desire to include other faiths in the
coronation faced resistance from the Church of England, and one conservative
religious commentator recently warned that a multifaith ceremony could weaken
the “kingly roots” of the monarchy.
But George
Gross, who studies the link between religion and monarchy, dismissed these
concerns.
The crowning of
monarchs is a tradition that stretches back to the ancient Egyptians and
Romans, so there is nothing intrinsically Christian about it, said Gross, a
visiting research fellow at King’s College London. In addition, all of the
central religious elements of the service will be conducted by Church of England
clergy.
Representatives
of other faiths have already been present at other major public events in
Britain, such as the Remembrance Day services.
“These things
are not unusual in more contemporary settings,” he said “So I think of it the
other way: Were there not to be other representatives, it would seem very odd.”
Charles’
commitment to a multifaith society is also a symbol of the progress that’s been
made in ending a rift in the Christian tradition that began in 1534, when Henry
VIII broke away from the Catholic Church and declared himself head of the
Church of England.
That split
ushered in hundreds of years of tensions between Catholics and Anglicans that
finally faded during the queen’s reign, said Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the most
senior Catholic clergyman in England. Nichols will be in the Abbey when Charles
is crowned on Saturday.
“I get lots of
privileges,” he said cheerfully. “But this will be one of the greatest, I
think, to play a part in the coronation of the monarch.”
Source: fortune.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://fortune.com/2023/05/02/prince-charles-multi-faith-coronation-jewish-buddhist-hindu-muslm-sikh/
--------
India
Karnataka: BJP
Government’s Law Prohibiting Cow Slaughter Hurts Both Hindus and Muslims
S.N. Sahu
03-05-23
The collapse of
cattle trade in Karnataka has added to the economic woes of farmers in the
state after the BJP government enacted the Karnataka Prevention and
Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020. It has spelt economic ruin to Hindus and
Muslims alike. Hindus fear that their old and unproductive cows and oxen could
never be bought by anyone. The Muslims who used to purchase such cattle are
scared not just of the law, which prescribes stringent punishment to those
engaged in cattle trade, but also of the cow vigilantes who – actuated by the
Hindutva ideology – attack and even kill them.
It may be
recalled that in Uttar Pradesh, the ban on cow slaughter was followed by the
menace of stray cattle, which devastated crops. It became a huge electoral
issue during the 2022 assembly elections but the BJP nevertheless won.
In Karnataka
too, farmers and those engaged in cattle trade are helplessly confronting the
collapse of their economies after the law banning cow slaughter came into
force. People of diverse faiths engaged in farming and those earning their
livelihood by engaging in cattle trade are very bitter against the BJP regime
and its chief minister BasavarajBommai for their mounting economic woes.
Author Johnson
T.A. observed in a recent article, “Across the cattle market, there is a
consensus that the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle
Act, 2020, introduced by the BJP government, has delivered a crippling blow to
farmers by virtually criminalising the trade of cattle and creating an
environment of fear.” Similar observations were made as early as February 2022.
In fact, even
Karnataka’s finance department had earlier cautioned that there would be ‘huge
financial implications’ for the State on account of that law.
In the
aforementioned article by Johnson, he quotes a farmer, Somme Gowda, who said,
“The entire cattle trade market has collapsed after the government introduced
the law banning cattle slaughter in the state.” Gowda further added by saying, “There
are no takers for cattle that used to go to slaughter houses. The Muslim
traders have almost disappeared,”
Johnson quotes
one Yunus, whose brother Pasha was killed by cow vigilantes. According to
Yunus, “the Act had broken a social contract that existed between farmers of
all communities and cattle traders. Do the people who allow all this not
understand the reality on the ground? In the name of protection of Gau Mata,
they are killing people and ruining the lives of farmers. The maximum sellers
are from the majority community (Hindus). They want to sell cattle when they
stop producing milk or fall ill. They bring the cattle to the market themselves
or call middlemen. Now all that has collapsed.”
SwamyGowda, a
middleman in the cattle trade stated that in Karnataka, “many traditional
cattle markets are shutting down. There are few merchants to buy cattle” and
declared his preference to vote either Congress or JD(S) in the election
scheduled to take place on May 10, 2023.
He refers to
the Rs 6,000 paid to the accounts of farmers under the Pradhan Mantri
KisanSammanNidhi Yojana and criticises it by saying that the cost of feed, and
fertilisers is too high and they spend a minimum of Rs 60,000. He described
Narendra Modi as a prime minister indulging in publicity and pushing polarising
agenda. He then sharply observed, “There was only one [A.B.] Vajpayee. The
present government is all about publicity. What is the cost of fuel, the cost
of LPG under this government?… And, even Muslims are citizens of this country.
Do they not eat the food of this earth? In this region, they are a part of our
lives.”
The economic
devastation suffered by the people of Karnataka, regardless of their faith, and
their criticism of the law framed by the BJP regime to ban cow slaughter
without consulting them is in equal measure a clear indication that the
majoritarian agenda of the BJP is failing to mobilise people in its favour.
Gandhi’s letter
of 1927 to the Cow Protection Committee of Mysore
In the context
of such developments taking place in Karnataka, one is reminded of a letter
written by none other than Mahatma Gandhi to the Cow Protection Committee of
Mysore on January 11, 1927. Almost a hundred years ago, what Gandhiji wrote
assumes significance for the people of Karnataka. He stated, “In matters of
religion I am against any State interference, and the cow question is in India
a mixed matter of religion and economy.”
“I have no
doubt that it is the concern of every State, whether Hindu or Mussalman, to
conserve the cattle supply,” he asked, “…whether the State would be justified
in interposing itself between Hindus and Mussalmans and regulating cow
slaughter…”
Gandhi in spite
of being a devout Hindu even went to the extent of saying, “In India which I
consider to be as much the land of Hindus born in it as of Mussalmans,
Christians and others born in it, even a Hindu State may not prohibit cow
slaughter for purposes considered to be religious by any of its subjects
without the consent of the intelligent majority of such subjects so long as
such slaughter is conducted in private and without any intention of provoking
or giving offence to Hindus.”
Was there the
consent of – or even consultation with – the “intelligent majority” before the
BJP government of Karnataka enacted the Prevention and Preservation of Cattle
Act, 2020? Clearly, the aforementioned statements of Somme Gowda, Yunus and
SwamyGowda show that none was consulted and the law was imposed without
following the lawmaking process of deliberation and consultation.
Gandhi very
sensitively observed in his letter, “But in my opinion the economic side of the
cow question, if it is properly handled, automatically provides for the
delicate religious side.” The stark reality is that the economic part of the
cow question has not been handled properly by political regimes, specifically
BJP regimes. We are confronting a situation where people, be they Hindus or
Muslims, are now facing severe economic consequences and their household
economics is getting devastated.
Role of the
state in dealing with cattle
Gandhi
suggested measures which make eminent sense for 21st-century India in the
context of farmers who are facing a bleak future owing to dwindling income from
agriculture :
(1) The State
should in the open market buy out every [head of] cattle offered for sale by
outbidding every other buyer.
(2)The State
should run dairies in all principal towns ensuring a cheap supply of milk.
(3) The State
should run tanneries where the hides, bones, etc., of all dead cattle in its
possession, should be utilised and should offer to buy again in the open market
all privately-owned dead cattle.
(4) The State
should keep model cattle farms and instruct the people in the art of breeding
and keeping cattle
What we are
witnessing now is state policy which causes misery to the farmers and those
involved in the cattle trade. No wonder that they are up in arms against the
BJP government in Karnataka. One has to wait and see how it would impact the
electoral outcome.
Source: thewire.in
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thewire.in/government/karnataka-bjp-cow-slaughter-ban-criticism
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Karnataka
shocker: 18-year-old Muslim youth allegedly attacked by Bajrang Dal
May 03, 2023
A disturbing
incident has emerged from Karnataka's southern state, where an 18-year-old
Muslim youth was allegedly attacked by the Bajrang Dal. The victim has informed
the police that the accused have warned him not to file a complaint. Karnataka
police have lodged an FIR and further investigation is underway.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/city/bengaluru/karnataka-shocker-18-year-old-muslim-youth-allegedly-attacked-by-bajrang-dal/videoshow/99950137.cms
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UP urban body
polls: With 391 candidates, BJP tests waters on Muslim support base ahead of
2024
The 391 Muslim
candidates are in the fray for the posts of chairpersons and members of
nagarpalikaparishads and nagarpanchayats and corporators in the municipal
corporations.
Written by
Lalmani Verma
May 3, 2023
UP urban body
polls, Muslim candidates in local body polls, BJP's test on Muslims, Muslim
support base, Lok Sabha 2024, Yogi Adityanath, indian express, indian express
newsThe two-phase urban local body elections will be held on May 4 and 11 to
elect representatives for 14,864 posts across 760 civic bodies in the state.
(Express Photo)
In the Uttar
Pradesh urban local body elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 391
Muslim candidates, its highest-ever, with majority of them having filed
nominations from seats that have a sizeable presence of the community.
With this, the
ruling party in the state has thrown its hat in the ring — test its support
base among members of the community ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The two-phase
urban local body elections will be held on May 4 and 11 to elect
representatives for 14,864 posts across 760 civic bodies in the state.
The 391 Muslim
candidates are in the fray for the posts of chairpersons and members of
nagarpalikaparishads and nagarpanchayats and corporators in the municipal
corporations.
Mayors for 17
municipal corporations, 199 chairpersons for nagarpalikaparishads and 544
nagarpanchayats along with 1,420 corporators, 5,327 members of nagarpanchayats
and 7,177 members of nagarpalikaparishads will be elected in the polls.
Many of the
nominees are Muslim women, it is learnt.
Of the total
391 Muslim candidates of the BJP, 351 are contesting from muncipal wards for the
posts of coroprators and members, 35 for chairpersons of nagarpanchayats and
five for chairpersons of nagarpalikaparishads.
The party,
however, has not fielded any Muslim candidate for mayoral seats. A party leader
said more than 90 per of these candidates are from the Pasmanda Muslim
community — both Shia and Sunni.
In the 2017
civic body polls, Muslim candidates were given tickets by the saffron party
from only a few seats of corporators and members and there were several seats
where the party could not find even a single candidate to contest, said a party
leader.
Of the 17
municipal corporations in the state, Ayodhya is the only civic body where the
party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate.
The party has
fielded the maximum number of Muslim candidates for corporators’ posts — 21 in
Meerut, 17 in Aligarh, 13 in Saharanpur, 11 in Kanpur, five in Bareilly, eight
in Moradabad, four in Ghaziabad, three each in Prayagraj and Varanasi, two in
Lucknow and one each in Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Agra, Firozabad, Mathura-Vrindavan
and Shahjhanpur.
For
chairpersons of nagarpalikaparishads of Tanda and Rampur, the party has fielded
two women candidates. Also, from the Suar seat in the district, the party’s
ally Apna Dal (S) has fielded a woman candidate.
Likewise, the
party has fielded Muslim candidates from the nagarpalikaparishads of Kakrala in
Badaun district, Mubarakpur in Azamgarh district and Afzalgarh in Bijnor
district.
Most of the
Muslim candidates for nagarpanchayat chairpersons’ posts are from Meerut, Baghpat,
Amroha, Moradabad, Badaun, Rampur and Bareilly districts. All these districts
have a significant number of Muslim voters.
BJP’s minority
morcha state president Kunwar Basit Ali said, “In the past, there was no such
demand from the community for tickets. This change shows that trust of Muslims
in the BJP has increased in the past few years.”
Ali said the
trust of Muslims in the BJP has increased because the Narendra Modi-led
government at the Centre and the Yogi Adityanath-led dispensation in UP provided
them benefits of welfare schemes without discrimination.
Another party
leader said, “Muslim candidates have been given tickets on the seats dominated
by the community only. The response we will receive on the polling day will
test the efficacy of the efforts the party made to reach out to the community.”
The party gave
benefits of welfare schemes to members of all castes and communities and gave
them representation in the UP Legislative Council.
Last month
only, the party nominated then Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice-chancellor
Tariq Mansoor to the state Legislative Council.
The party now
has four Muslim members in the Legislative Council, the highest-ever
representation to the community in the upper House of the Assembly from the
party.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/up-urban-body-polls-with-391-candidates-bjp-tests-waters-on-muslim-support-base-ahead-of-2024-8588337/
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Arab World
Saudi experts
highlight importance of digital design to KSA’s future
02 May 2023
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: The
growth of the digital industry in Saudi Arabia has led to an increased focus on
user experience and interface design.
User experience
is considered a crucial component when designing an app or highly interactive
website for any company that offers a physical or digital product, as it aims
to offer consumers a seamless experience from their first contact to the last.
User interface
is used for digital products only, with a focus on visual touchpoint that
allows users to interact with a product.
More firms are
recognizing the importance of providing a streamlined digital user experience
for their customers.
Hanan
Al-Otaibi, a user experience researcher, said that user experience was the
cornerstone of every online platform before designing its user interface
screens, as changes could be made earlier, quicker, and easier than after a
product was launched.
Legal
blindness, color blindness, and visual impairment are three different sorts of
vision issues, and each of them has a solution for those who design and create
any program from the ground up that aids users with special needs, so they do
not need some one to help them buy or pay bills online.
“By analyzing
user behavior, Amazon discovered that many people abandon their shopping carts
because they are too lazy to register and create an account.
“Using this
knowledge, Amazon developed a button that allows users to make any purchases as
a guest without having to register, and the tactic was a huge success,”
Al-Otaibi added.
A user
interface design can make or break a website or app, as it is the first thing
that users see when they interact with a product, and the user experience can
ease access to a site for those with special needs.
Al-Otaibi, who
gained a master’s degree in human computer interaction from Indiana
University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said: “Legal blindness, color
blindness, and visual impairment are three different sorts of vision issues,
and each of them has a solution, or those who design and create any program
from the ground up that aids users with special needs, so they do not need
someone to help them buy or pay bills online.”
User experience
design involves understanding the needs and behaviors of users and designing
products that meet their expectations.
Designer,
Ashraf Agili, pointed out that it was important for Saudi Arabia to implement
user experience and interface design as a full major in universities.
Currently, the
Misk Foundation offers an immersive 11-week user experience design course that
equips students with skills to begin working as a designer or researcher.
Hemma UX/UI
Development Camp, an intensive technical camp with a focus on user interface
and experience development, is offered by the Saudi Digital Academy.
Agili said: “We
need more designers in the field because everything is moving toward
technology. We buy everything online, and the user numbers are frightening
given that 70 percent of global users use the internet before visiting a mall.
“In Saudi
Arabia, technology is also booming in terms of governmental or shopping apps.”
He noted that
good user experience design led to increased customer satisfaction, improved
brand loyalty, and higher conversion rates.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296641/saudi-arabia
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Islamic
counter-terrorism chief meets Iraqi military intelligence director in Riyadh
May 02, 2023
RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Islamic
Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi on
Tuesday received the Director of Iraqi Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Zaid
Hoshi KhalafWadi and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh.
During their
meeting, they discussed issues of concern to Iraq and the coalition, and the
latter’s role in coordinating and stepping up member nations’ efforts to combat
terrorism, including in the fields of ideology, communications,
counter-terrorist financing, and military.
Wadi and his
delegation toured the coalition’s headquarters and were briefed on the latest
developments in relation to the activities of global terror groups, and the
Iraqi official praised the coalition’s working in fighting terrorism.
Al-Moghedi said
that the coalition was an integrated system that aimed to strengthen
cooperation among member states based on legitimacy, engagement, coordination,
and autonomy, in line with international rules and regulations.
He added that
terrorism was a scourge that must be combated by all countries and global
organizations, aided by the latest methods.
He noted that
the first step toward eradicating extremist violence was by confronting
terrorists’ ideology while also cutting off their sources of funding.
Al-Moghedi
pointed out that Iraq had suffered heavily at the hands of terrorist and
extremist groups, but he lauded its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and
hoped the Iraqi government would join the coalition in helping to defeat
terrorism.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296461/saudi-arabia
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Saudi FM
discusses situation in Sudan with African Union Commission chairperson
May 02, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia’s foreign minister discussed efforts to stop the military escalation in
Sudan during a phone call with the chairperson of the African Union Commission
on Tuesday.
During the
phone call, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and MoussaFakiMahamat also discussed
attempts to end the violence in the war-torn country and provide the necessary
protection for Sudanese civilians and residents.
The officials
discussed the latest developments and the current situation in Africa. They
also discussed issues of common interest.
Sudanese army
chief general Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support forces
leader General Mohamed HamdanDagalo have agreed in principle on a seven-day
truce from May 4, a statement released by South Sudan’s foreign ministry said
on Tuesday.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296451/saudi-arabia
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Saudi police
arrest 11 suspects in drug bust
May 02, 2023
RIYADH:
Security patrols in Al-Jawf governorate have arrested 11 suspects over an
attempt to sell narcotics, the Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.
The suspects,
10 Pakistani residents and a Saudi citizen, the house they were using as their
hideout in the area of Sakaka, was equipped with surveillance cameras, SPA
said.
During the
bust, the security seized hashish and a methamphetamine drug known as Shabu.
As part of the
Kingdom’s drug safety campaign, the General Directorate for Narcotics Control
has created anti-drug programs, while the Ministry of Health has a platform
dedicated to health awareness and educational content regarding drug addiction.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296291/saudi-arabia
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Pakistan
Seven
terrorists held in Miran Shah operation
May 01, 2023
As many as
seven terrorists including their commander were apprehended during an
intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan
district, the military’s media wing said on Monday.
In a statement,
the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the operation was
conducted on the reported presence of terrorists in the Miran Shah area of the
district.
“Resultantly, 7
terrorists, including terrorist commander Mehtab alias Lala belonging to Hafiz
Gul Bahadur group, were successfully apprehended by security forces,” it added.
The detained
militants have been involved in numerous terrorist activities, especially
targeted killings against security forces as well as innocent citizens, and
were highly wanted by the security agencies, the military’s media wing said.
“Locals of the
area appreciated security forces’ operation and assured of their support in
eliminating the menace of terrorism,” the statement added.
Last week, two
Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom during a fire exchange with the
terrorists in the general area of Tirah, Khyber District, the ISPR said.
In a statement
issued by the military's media wing, the soldiers effectively engaged the
terrorists’ location which resulted in the killing of two terrorists while four
others got injured.
As Pakistan
remains gripped by the spate of terror attacks for the last few months, the
country's civil and military leadership has resolved to stand united against
terrorists.
The National
Apex Committee — comprising the country's top military and political leadership
— sought national consensus to root out militancy.
The recent
attacks by terrorists in the country's rural and urban centres, claiming the
lives of innocent Pakistanis and law enforcers, have prompted the security
forces to accelerate action against them.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1066022-seven-terrorists-held-in-miran-shah-operation
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Saqib Nisar has
committed ‘unforgivable crimes’: Nawaz
May 3, 2023
LONDON: In
continuation of his demand to hold the judiciary accountable for alleged
transgressions, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz
Sharif on Tuesday called for action against former chief justice Saqib Nisar.
In response to
a question posed by a reporter outside Stanhope House, Mr Sharif said, “Action
should be taken against Saqib Nisar. He violated the law and the Constitution.
Others who do the same go to jail.”
He also said
that some things about the former judge cannot be said on microphone.
Mr Sharif
criticised the decisions the former chief justice took during his tenure. He
referred to an interview of retired justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who claimed
Nisar was part of a group of judiciary acting against the spirit of democracy.
PML-N supremo
calls for action against former CJP
“Shaukat
Siddiqui, who came on TV yesterday, took Saqib Nisar’s name. How much more can
he [Nisar] defend? He has committed crimes against the nation which are
unforgivable.”
In the last few
months, the former prime minister has made repeated demands to hold the
judiciary, as well as former generals accountable, and criticised the
judiciary’s historic role in alleged political engineering.
Most recently,
Mr Sharif advocated for a reference to be filed in the Supreme Judicial Council
against the bench that delivered the verdict for the Punjab elections schedule.
Mr Sharif has also taken on serving CJP Umar Ata Bandial, and framed the
actions of the serving CJP and past ones as efforts to bring Imran Khan to
power.
Mr Sharif’s
daughter, Maryam Nawaz, has already made several scathing allegations against
the former chief justice, accusing him of facilitating the rise to power of her
arch-rival, Imran Khan.
Last month, PM
Shehbaz Sharif had also accused ex-CJP Nisar of sabotaging development projects
initiated by the previous PML-N regime.
Source: dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1750611/saqib-nisar-has-committed-unforgivable-crimes-nawaz
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Balochistan: A
minefield for journalists
May 3, 2023
Naziha Syed Ali
KHUZDAR:
Outside the Khuzdar Press Club stands a column topped with the likeness of a
hand cast in iron and holding a pen. The imposing structure seems to celebrate
the notion of a free press. The reality could not be more different.
In 2014,
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Khuzdar, the capital of Khuzdar district
in central Balochistan, among the world’s 10 most dangerous cities for
journalists.
The same year,
Amnesty International described the area as a “graveyard for journalists”,
after at least six media persons were murdered here in the preceding few years.
Among them were two of the press club’s presidents and its general secretary.
It was a chilling message to the journalist community as a whole.
The threats
were unrelenting.
“Some of my
colleagues in Khuzdar stopped answering their phones,” recalled a journalist in
Quetta. Several reporters moved to other towns for safety; some gave up
journalism altogether.
Twice, the
press club was shut down: the second time for a year. Khuzdar Press Club
President Mufti Siddique Mengal told Dawn: “We closed it out of fear because we
realised we couldn’t do journalism any longer. When [the state was] faced with
recrimination from the outside world, they forced us to open.”
Khuzdar
district, indeed Balochistan as a whole, still remains a graveyard for
journalism.
Today is World
Press Freedom Day, an occasion to recognise the importance of the media in
strengthening democracy. To hold the authorities accountable, the media must be
independent and free to report on abuses of power, corruption, anti-people
policies, etc.
But in
Pakistan, an increasingly securitised state led to a weakening of civil
institutions; and that, coupled with the corporatisation of the news business,
began eroding hard-won media independence. Journalists that refused to toe the
line were silenced, sometimes with deadly force.
In 2022,
Pakistan ranked 157 out of 180 countries on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, a
drop of 12 places since the previous year. According to a report by Freedom
Network, an independent national media watchdog, at least 53 journalists were
murdered in the country from 2012 to 2022. Only in two cases have convictions
been obtained.
But if
journalism is a dangerous profession in Pakistan, nowhere do journalists have
to navigate the kind of multi-dimensional threat landscape as they do in
Balochistan. Unsurprisingly, most media persons Dawn spoke to in Quetta and
Khuzdar for this report did not want to talk on the record.
“There are so
many actors now that it’s easy to kill anyone and put it on someone else.
Security forces, separatist outfits, tribal sardars, anyone can take offence at
what we say or report,” said a reporter in Quetta. Most conceded that they were
reduced to paper-pushers: “We write what the authorities want us to write. We
can’t present the real facts.”
Enforced
disappearance is among the burning issues many journalists say they cannot
cover.
“When [Supreme
Court Chief Justice] Iftikhar Chaudhry was holding hearings into missing
people’s cases until 1:30am in Quetta, we’d take shelter of the court to report
the statements that victims’ families gave before the bench. Sometimes their
words would even move the judges to tears,” a senior correspondent recalled.
“We can’t even do that now. In fact, on electronic media we’re not allowed to
do so at all.”
Another
reporter in digital and broadcast media said that when missing people’s bodies
are found, CTD Balochistan often claims they were killed in police encounters.
“But journalists here will report it as though they saw the encounter with
their own eyes; they won’t even bother to say this is the CTD’s version.”
What
underscores the glaring gap in the coverage of enforced disappearances in
Balochistan is that the protest camp for missing persons is right next to the
Quetta Press Club.
One journalist
said: “When Mama Qadeer [founder of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons] comes
here to hold a press conference in the hall, even the journalists on the
premises don’t attend it because they know the news won’t be carried.”
He added with a
sardonic laugh, “Though a few journalists will turn up, those whose job it is
to report to the intelligence agencies.”
Their poor
working conditions rub salt into the wounds of Balochistan’s journalists. “Many
media persons are not even getting minimum wage,” says a senior correspondent.
“Sub-editors are getting Rs8,000 to Rs12,000. Even reporters for bigger papers
get no more than Rs25,000 at most.”
That is if they
get paid at all. Very seldom are district correspondents paid by their news
organisations. These reporters have no choice but to moonlight as journalists
while holding paying jobs.
Many are
public-sector employees; quite a few are contractors; some are even members of
political parties. There is an obvious conflict of interest in such a
situation. That is why the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) has only 145
members, including four women.
“Only full-time
journalists with an appointment letter from their employer can be members,”
explained BUJ President Irfan Saeed. “Nevertheless, we always take a stand if
something happens to any journalist, whether he’s a member or not.”
BUJ General
Secretary Manzoor Ahmed believes press clubs in Pakistan should be strengthened
by treating journalism as a profession, much like medicine, law or engineering.
“There should
be a service structure for journalists to be promoted from junior reporter [all
the way up] to bureau chief, shift in-charge and director news,” he told Dawn.
“Similarly,
there should be experience criteria to qualify them to become [current affairs]
analysts. That way journalists from Balochistan will have more of a presence in
important positions in mainstream media.”
In recent
years, media houses have reduced their outlay and, in a province that gets
short shrift in so many respects, the fallout has been brutal. At a gathering
of journalists at the Quetta Press Club, they can barely contain their
resentment.
“Before I had
an office, a DSNG, a SIM and a mobile. Now I get only a SIM with data,” said
one reporter.
“Today I was
asked to do the filming with my mobile, because our camera is out of order and
the one they sent as a replacement is in even worse condition,” claimed
another.
Bureaus are
being run with two individuals, sometimes even one. Considering there is no
‘beat’ system in Balochistan, which means a reporter must cover everything —
from bomb blasts to sports and prices of vegetables — it makes for an
exhausting and demoralising existence.
The lack of
basic knowledge about the province among assignment editors at head offices
elsewhere in the country also rankles.
“When Chinese
engineers were attacked in Gwadar, an assignment editor called their reporter
in Quetta to ask how much time would it take him to get there. I told him, it
takes 12 hours. Put up a map in your office.”
Then there is
the one-dimensional view through which news about Balochistan is filtered.
“The province’s
coverage is limited to bomb blasts,” said a correspondent bitterly. “Media
house owners say ‘What business do we get from Balochistan that we should give
it more space’? It reflects their attitude to Balochistan in general.”
Some days
earlier Irfan Saeed, the BUJ president who is the Quetta bureau chief for a TV
channel, had painstakingly put together an informative and entertaining
package, complete with dinosaur graphics, about the fossil collection in
Quetta’s Geological Survey of Pakistan Museum.
The report ran
only once, at 6:50am.
While
Balochistan has never had a vibrant media, the profession was not quite as
sterile and restrictive as it has now become.
A bureau chief
in Quetta recalled that during the trial for Justice Nawaz Marri’s murder,
which was carried out in 2000 allegedly on the orders of Khair BuxMarri by his
sons, journalists would freely report Mr Marri’s views. Things changed when the
Baloch insurgency broke out. As the security footprint in the province
expanded, the right to free speech was slowly but surely throttled.
The state did
not only respond militarily to the insurgency. Violent extremist groups and
pro-establishment tribal militias were given carte blanche to hunt down Baloch
militants, a strategy that pitched the province into years of hellish violence.
The extremists
began targeting Balochistan’s Shia Hazara community in horrific acts of
sectarian violence while the militias evolved into ‘death squads’ that killed
people for political as well as non-political reasons.
Among the most
notorious of these outfits was the Baloch MusallaDifa Tanzeem (BMDT) led by a
native of Khuzdar named ShafiqMengal. Along with his brother, Attaullah, Shafiq
unleashed a reign of terror in the district, looting coaches travelling between
Quetta and Karachi, kidnapping people for ransom, etc. Journalists, teachers,
doctors and intellectuals died in target killings.
“It was a way
to spread fear in society, and to prevent anything from being reported,” said a
journalist in Khuzdar.
Mohammed Khan
Sasoli was president of the Khuzdar Press Club when he was shot dead on Dec 14,
2010, by two gunmen outside his front gate around 7pm.
“He was
returning from the press club,” his nephew Hidayatullah Sasoli told Dawn. “I
picked up his body myself. The sight will forever be etched in my mind.”
At the time,
Mohammed Khan’s sons were three and two years old; the youngest was four
months. Hidayatullah is a teacher at a private school; his income supports his
own family, as well as that of his slain uncle. Educating his young nephews is
his biggest worry, he said.
According to
him, Mohammed Khan’s widow received no compensation from either the provincial
government or the journalist community. (Mohammed Khan was not a member of the
BUJ and his family was hence not eligible to receive anything from the
journalists’ welfare fund.)
Hidayatullah
claimed his uncle hadn’t received any threats. But according to a source,
Mohammed Khan had been very active in demanding action against the BMDT, especially
when members of the group had allegedly abducted another journalist, Riaz
Mengal. (Riaz obtained asylum in Europe some years later.)
Nadeem
Gurgnari, also a Khuzdar-based reporter, paid the ultimate price for his
journalism: the murder of his two sons, young men who had been married only a
year. The older one, Siraj Ahmed, was working in an NGO and the other, Manzoor
Ahmed, was a physics teacher at a local college. On Oct 25, 2012, the brothers
were on their way to do some Eid shopping when they were targeted by two armed
men on a motorbike. Siraj died on the spot while Manzoor was mortally wounded.
“My wife and I
found ourselves alone at the Civil Hospital. It was such a lawless time that
even doctors weren’t coming to work,” recalls Mr Gurgnari who was the Khuzdar
Press Club president at the time. “I told her to take Siraj’s body home while I
rushed Manzoor to [another] hospital — but he also died later.”
No one has been
held accountable.
Siraj and
Manzoor Ahmed, sons of Nadeem Gurgnari who were attacked and killed in October
2012.
At one point, a
group of senior journalists met with Lt Gen Nasser Janjua, then Commander,
Southern Command. They told him that ShafiqMengal’s criminality — including his
alleged culpability in the Tookak mass graves episode — and his ties with the
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were bringing the security establishment into disrepute.
According to
one of the journalists present at the meeting, “We said that if he does 10
things for you, he does 90 for himself, and all under the flag of Pakistan.
Revisit this policy.”
Shafiq was
subsequently reined to some extent. (However, in 2018 he stood for election as
an independent candidate for Khuzdar’s only National Assembly seat, and later
for a by-election on a provincial assembly seat.)
Even within
Balochistan’s complex dynamics, Khuzdar district is a particularly difficult
place to report from also because of its entrenched tribal culture. Some of the
most powerful Baloch sardars are based here. As one enters the district when
travelling by road, posters of Sanaullah Zehri, IsrarullahZehri, Akhtar Mengal,
etc can be seen intermittently along the highway.
As a reporter
put it: “Even politics here is the preserve of the sardars … If you write
against them or the sardarinizam, they’re not going to do a case of defamation
against you. They’ll settle things the tribal way.”
Stories about
the impunity of the sardars are legion. One allegedly had several women working
in his family home killed after he found they had stolen some gold. Another
story goes that one time the police tried to apprehend a number of non-duty
paid cars on the highway but had to watch helplessly as the convoy disappeared
into the residence of a tribal chief.
Some of the
younger generation is also accused of a gamut of crimes, including rape,
abduction and murder. None of this has ever made it into the news.
“Those who
could write about it are all like us, with no power or money. If we wrote about
these things, our bodies would be found the next day,” said a reporter.
Incidentally, the land for the Khuzdar Press Club was given by Sardar Akhtar
Mengal, and its new building was constructed with Rs10 million donated by
Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.
Back in Quetta,
the Online International News Network‘s office seems to wear its bloody past
with defiance. The walls in the bureau chief’s office are painted red, and the
bullet holes in the wall behind his desk have not been plastered over. This was
where Irshad Mastoi, when he was the bureau chief, used to sit and where he was
shot dead on Aug 28, 2014. Ghulam Rasool Khajjak, a trainee reporter working in
the same room was also gunned down in the attack, as was their accountant,
Mohammed Younus.
A little over a
year later, then interior minister SarfarazBugti called a press conference to
announce the arrest of two suspected BLA militants for the crime. Their video
confession was played on the occasion. Some of Irshad’s colleagues asked the
minister to arrange a meeting with the accused so they could gauge the veracity
of the claim. But a few weeks later, the men were killed in what was claimed as
a police encounter, leaving Irshad’s family and friends with deep misgivings as
to whether the real killers had been caught at all.
They wondered
whether Irshad’s conversations with separatist commanders were a factor in his
murder. Baloch militant groups would almost invariably contact Online News when
they wanted to claim an attack, possibly because giving a statement to a news
agency meant wider dissemination. In November 2015, Afzal Mughal, the current
bureau chief was also picked up in the middle of the night by the agencies. He
was released after over 12 hours of detention.
“They call
everyone from time to time to tell us about national interest,” another
journalist told Dawn. “Once a [Balochistan Liberation Front] commander
contacted me via satellite phone to issue a statement. … Soon a [Military
Intelligence] colonel called me from an unknown number to ask for that
commander’s number. I stalled him by saying I’d have to speak with my editor
first. I was worried that if I gave the number, [the security forces] would
trace and kill him, and then I’d be in trouble with the militants. Luckily, he
didn’t ring back.”
This is the
kind of minefield that journalists in Balochistan have had to walk for years.
In one way,
however, the situation has improved. Whether insurgents or violent extremists,
lawless elements no longer need to threaten journalists to disseminate their
message; they can do that themselves on social media.
But even the
fact that the threat to life has somewhat reduced in recent years means little
in an environment where journalism remains devoid of vitality. Everyone in the
province knows where the many red lines are, and they are careful not to cross
them.
Header
illustration by Radia Durrani
Source: dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1750509/balochistan-a-minefield-for-journalists
--------
Govt, PTI agree
on same-day elections but fail to decide date
By Asim Yasin
May 03, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The
third round of negotiations between the ruling alliance and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf ended on Tuesday night without a major breakthrough on the date
for the same-day election.
Despite
reaching a consensus on the same-day election across the country under a
caretaker government, the meeting failed to determine the date of elections and
dissolution of assemblies.
The third round
of the talks was held at the Committee Room of the Parliament House. The
government team comprised former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Finance
Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister for
Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar, Minister for
National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema, Sanaullah Baloch from
the BNP (Mengal) and Kishwar Zahra from the MQM, while Vice-Chairman Shah
Mehmood Qureshi, Senator Ali Zafar and Fawad Chaudhry formed the PTI
delegation.
Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar announced that both the sides agreed that elections would be
held on the same day under a caretaker government but they could not determine
the date.
PTI
Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said though both sides agreed on the
same-day election yet failed to decide the date.
But, at the
same time, Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that the PTI would approach the
Supreme Court and submit a written report of negotiations to implement the
court’s decision on May 14 polls in Punjab.
However, at the
conclusion of the third round of talks, they did not give any fresh dates for
further negotiations.
Talking to the
media, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that in the third round of talks, all
the issues were discussed in detail in a positive manner, and the overall
result was positive.
He said that
there was an agreement that all the elections should be held on the same day
under a caretaker setup. “The purpose of the elections at the same time is that
no questions be raised on the fairness and transparency of them.”
Dar said that
an important matter is the determination of the date on which the elections
should be held.
“We have to go
and talk to the leadership again; we also have to consult with our coalition
parties and hope for positive progress in the coming days, as I think the
agreement on elections and formation of a caretaker setup is great progress,
which is in accordance with the Constitution and Elections Act 2017,” he said.
The finance
minister said that one of the important things is the determination of the date
of the elections. There are many things in front of us -- the country needs a
budget, trade policy and an ongoing review of the IMF, so the date for these
things is a bit complicated.
“There is a
process, we have shown as much flexibility as we can; they are also showing it,
and we hope that both parties will proceed in the same way with same
sincerity,” he said.
Speaking on the
occasion, former prime minister and Senator Yusuf Raza Gilani said that during
the negotiations, it was also agreed that whichever party wins the elections
will accept the results, so that there is no chaos in the country.
Shah Mehmood
Qureshi, while talking to the media, said: “We thought that we had shown enough
flexibility to reach a national consensus. We accepted the proposal of one day,
and the role of the caretaking government setup, but neither side reached a
consensus on the date of general elections. We and the PDM could not agree on
the dates of dissolution of assemblies and elections.” He said on the 19th, the
Supreme Court had suggested that if the political parties can sit down and find
a way out through negotiation, it will not have any objection.
He said that
keeping this thought in mind, the PTI also expressed its willingness, and Imran
Khan had formed a three-member committee for negotiations.
Qureshi said
that we had three meetings, the first meeting was held on the 27th, and the
second meeting was held on the 28th of April, and we tried to move towards a
consensus. He said that the things we agreed on were that the political parties
should agree on something that is in the interest of the country and the people
and is consistent with the Constitution. He said that the second thing that was
agreed upon was that the negotiation process should not be used as a delaying
tactic and that efforts should be made to carry forward the decision of the
Supreme Court on elections.
Qureshi said:
“We also decided that if we agree on something, we have to make a mechanism for
its implementation to make sure we can move forward.”
He said that
both sides came to the conclusion that the National Assembly, Sindh Assembly
and Balochistan Assembly should be dissolved on or before May 14 because there
was a logic behind it that elections should be held within 60 days, and for
this 60-day election, constitutional protection has to be given, for which the
PTI is ready to go to the National Assembly and they are ready to amend it once
but not to make it a tradition.”
He said: “To
get out of the situation we are stuck in, we put forth this proposal there, we
want the agreement between us to be in writing, and we should submit it to the
Supreme Court for its approval as it can ensure its implementation.”
He said the PTI
also demanded that the elections should be free, fair, and transparent. In the
meantime, according to sources, the government and PTI have prepared their own
written proposals and shared them with each other.
Sources said
the PTI handed over the draft of eight-point proposals to the government
alliance. The PTI has proposed elections between Eidul Adha and Muharram and
suggested that they may be held in the second or third week of August.
Sources said
the PTI has decided to send the draft of its proposals to the Supreme Court.
They said during the negotiations, both sides held detailed consultations with
their leaders.
Earlier, talking
to the media after the dinner hosted by him for the negotiating teams of the
government and PTI, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani was optimistic about the
negotiation process. “I hope the negotiations will be successful,” he said. To
a question, he responded that he was acting as a facilitator.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1066475-govt-pti-agree-on-same-day-elections-but-fail-to-decide-date
--------
Evacuation
operations out of Sudan ended: Foreign ministry
May 02, 2023
The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Tuesday announced that its evacuation operations out of Sudan
have ended after over 1,000 Pakistanis have been safely evacuated from the
conflict-hit country.
In a brief
statement issued by the Foreign Office, the spokesperson shared that while its
operations in Sudan had ended, evacuations through Jeddah would continue until
all Pakistanis are brought back safely.
In the
statement, the ministry thanked China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their
assistance in the evacuation process.
Taking to
Twitter, the spokesperson wrote: "By Allah’s grace and tireless efforts of
our embassy in Khartoum led by AmbRegi, supported by Saudi Arab and China and
our teams in Jeddah and Islamabad, we have successfully [and] safely evacuated
over 1,000 Pakistanis out of Sudan. With this, our evacuation operations out of
Sudan have ended."
Yesterday, the
ministry shared that nearly all 1,000 Pakistanis would be evacuated from the
conflict-hit country within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The FO has been
working to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the war zone ever since the
conflict began earlier this month.
The Pakistanis
in Sudan are first evacuated to Port Sudan and then transferred to Jeddah where
the PAF is bringing them back home.
Yesterday, the
foreign ministry also took to Twitter to thank Saudi Arabia for their support
and assistance to distressed Pakistanis in a difficult time.
What’s
happening in Sudan?
Fighting broke
out in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed HamdanDaglo, who commands the
powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
More than 500
people have been killed in the clashes so far.
Daglo’s RSF
emerged from the Janjaweed fighters whom former strongman Omar al-Bashir
unleashed in the Darfur region, where they were accused of war crimes including
genocide.
The military
toppled Bashir in April 2019 following mass citizen protests.
The two generals
seized power in a 2021 coup, but later fell out in a bitter power struggle,
most recently centred on the planned integration of the RSF into the regular
army.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1066228-evacuation-operations-out-of-sudan-ended-foreign-ministry
--------
Mideast
Erdoğan
Election Poster Hung on Wall of Mosque in Western Turkey; Accused Of Exploiting
Religious Symbols For Political Gain
May 2, 2023
An election
poster of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been hung on the wall of a mosque
in the western province of Bursa, bringing more criticism to the president and
his Islamic-rooted party, both of which are accused of exploiting religious
symbols for political gain.
Turkey is
scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14, and
Erdoğan, who was elected president in 2014 and 2018, is seeking reelection.
Erdoğan’s
election poster on the wall of the Ahmet Dai Mosque in Bursa’s Osmangazi
district was brought to public attention by an opposition politician from the
İYİ (Good) Party.
İYİ Party Bursa
provincial chairman Mehmet Hasanoğlu tweeted a photo of the poster on the wall
of the mosque on Monday, mentioning Bursa Governor YakupCanbolat and the Bursa
Mufti’s Office and asking if they can explain the “scandalous” situation.
“Mosques are
our holy places, and this evil you’ve done to these places is enough to make
you leave power,” said the politician.
The İYİ Party
is part of an opposition alliance that supports Republican People’s Party (CHP)
leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
This is not the
first time Erdoğan has sparked criticism for using religious symbols during his
election campaigns.
He delivered a
speech in the courtyard of the Blue Mosque in İstanbul on the first day of Eid
al-Fitr on April 21 following Friday prayers during which he attacked the opposition
and promised to make them “politically dead” on May 14.
He allowed the
crowd to boo the opposition during the gathering.
In yet another
controversial move, an imam in Turkey’s central province of Yozgat used the
minaret of a local mosque last month to urge people to attend an AKP election
rally at which President Erdoğan was expected to make an appearance.
According to a
video shared by journalist İsmail Saymaz, the imam asked people to attend
Erdoğan’s address planned for April 26 as part of his campaign for the
presidential election.
“Our president
will come Yozgat [today] at 3 p.m. for the opening ceremony of a high-speed
train line and the [election] campaign rally. You are all invited,” the imam
said from the minaret.
The AKP has
frequently been accused of incorporating political issues into mosques and
using the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) as an instrument to serve
its political Islamist aims.
The
directorate, the budget of which outstripped seven out of 17 Turkish ministries
last year, is frequently criticized for being politicized under the AKP
government, to the extent that President Erdoğan compared the staff and imams
of the directorate to “members of an army” in 2018.
Source: turkishminute.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.turkishminute.com/2023/05/02/erdogan-election-poster-wall-of-mosque-in-western-turkey/
--------
Syrian refugees
fearful as Lebanon steps up deportations
May 03, 2023
QAB ELIAS, Lebanon: Lebanese officials are
cracking down on Syrian refugees against the backdrop of a worsening economic
crisis and political stalemate, an escalation that has caused a panic among
Syrians in the country.
In recent
weeks, the army has raided refugee camps and set up checkpoints to review the
documentation of non-Lebanese citizens, arresting and in many cases deporting
Syrians found not to have legal residency, according to refugees and
humanitarian organizations.
“People aren’t
sleeping in their houses … and are afraid even to go to work,” said a woman
originally from the Syrian province of Idlib who is living in Lebanon’s eastern
Bekaa Valley. Her husband was deported on April 10, along with 28 other men,
after a raid on an apartment building in the Beirut suburb of Jounieh, she said,
and she hasn’t heard from him since.
Like other
Syrians interviewed for this story, the woman spoke on condition of anonymity
out of fear of reprisals.
Her 4-year-old
son asks where his father is every day, she said. She fears her husband has
been put in one of Syria’s detention centers because — like many men who fled
to Lebanon — he was wanted for dodging mandatory army service.
Pressure has
increased in other ways. Municipalities have put in place restrictive measures
such as curfews for Syrians. The Interior Ministry announced Tuesday that it
ordered municipalities to survey and register their Syrian populations and make
sure they are documented before permitting them to rent property.
It also asked
the UN refugee agency to revoke refugee status from Syrians who go back and
forth between Lebanon and their war-torn country. Last week, a committee of
government ministers demanded that UNHCR hand over detailed personal
information on refugees in its database.
Lebanon hosts
some 805,000 registered Syrian refugees, whose official status in theory
protects them — although those who fail to keep their residency papers up to
date can face deportation. The actual number of Syrians living in Lebanon after
fleeing their country’s 12-year-old civil war is believed to be much higher as
Lebanon’s government ordered the United Nations to halt new registrations in
2015.
Government
officials have given varying estimates of the number of Syrians in the country,
ranging from 1.5 million to more than 2 million. Lebanon is believed to have a
population of around 5 million to 5.5 million citizens, but no census has been
held for nearly a century.
Since Lebanon’s
economic meltdown began in 2019, officials have increasingly called for a mass
return of Syrians, saying they are a burden on the country’s scarce resources
and that much of Syria is now safe. The rhetoric has grown increasingly heated;
a federation of trade unions recently declared a “National Campaign to Liberate
Lebanon from the Syrian Demographic Occupation.”
In recent
interviews with local media, caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar
claimed that refugees make up 40 percent of Lebanon’s population, which “no
country in the world would accept.”
Hajjar told The
Associated Press that Lebanon’s government can ensure that Syrians who qualify
as refugees would not be deported, by exchanging data with the UN refugee
agency.
He referred
questions about deportations to General Security, the agency in charge of
enforcing immigration laws. Spokespeople for the agency and the Lebanese
military did not respond to requests for comment and neither has made public
statement on the deportations.
The UN refugee
agency said it has observed an increase in raids taking placing in Syrian
communities and has received reports of Syrians being deported, including
registered refugees. It said it “takes reports of deportations of Syrian
refugees very seriously.”
UN officials
did not give a number of confirmed deportations. The Access Center for Human
Rights, a group tracking conditions of Syrian refugees, said it documented at
least 200 deportations in April.
The
anti-refugee campaign comes against the backdrop of stalled negotiations with
the International Monetary Fund and a six-month deadlock in electing the
country’s next president.
MohanadHage
Ali, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, said refugees are
serving as a scapegoat for Lebanese politicians at a time of heightened public
anger over their failure to deal with the country’s economic and political
crises.
Refugees are
“sort of the punching bag that shows up when everyone needs one,” he said. He
suggested the crackdown could also be linked to Lebanon’s ongoing presidential
deadlock.
A leading
presidential candidate, SleimanFrangieh, is close to Damascus and has promised
to use his connections to broker a deal for refugee returns. His likely rival,
army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun, may be “trying to showcase his ability to forcibly
return the refugees,” Hage Ali said.
Lebanese
authorities have periodically deported Syrians over the past few years, citing
a regulation that allows for Syrians who entered without legal authorization
after April 2019 to be forcibly removed.
However, past
deportations mostly involved small numbers and were carried out under formal
procedures, giving the UN and human rights groups a chance to intervene and, in
some cases, halt them.
In contrast,
recent months have seen increasing reports of the Lebanese Army summarily
deporting those believed to be in the country illegally. Human rights organizations
have cited cases of returning refugees being detained and tortured in Syria,
allegations Lebanese authorities deny.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296781/middle-east
--------
UAE sends
humanitarian aid for Sudanese refugees in Chad
May 02, 2023
DUBAI: A plane
filled with food took off from the UAE on Tuesday bound for Abeche Airport in
Chad, as part of an effort to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid for refugees
fleeing the conflict in Sudan, the Emirates News Agency reported.
The aim of the
Emirati initiative, carried out through the Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
Foundation and the Emirates Red Crescent, is to provide food to alleviate the
suffering of refugees who arrive at the border with Chad.
The aid effort
is in keeping with directives from the leadership of the UAE to provide
assistance to the people of Sudan and reflects the country’s desire to help and
support communities worldwide in times of need, the agency said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296661/middle-east
--------
Iran president
arrives in Syria for landmark visit: state media
May 03, 2023
DAMASCUS: Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi arrived in
Damascus on Wednesday for the first visit by an Iranian president since Syria’s
civil war broke out, state media reported.
Raisi, joined
by a large ministerial delegation for his two-day visit, will hold “extensive
political and economic discussions with Syrian President Bashar Assad followed
by the signing of a number of agreements,” Syria’s state news agency SANA said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2296796/middle-east
--------
'Islamic Jihad
is playing with us!' Locals grow weary as Gaza rockets shower southern Israel
02-05-23
Residents of
Sderot and communities in the Gaza envelope once again found themselves rushing
to bomb shelters within minutes, following the death of Khader Adnan, a senior
Islamic Jihad operative in the West Bank who died in Israeli prison after an
86-day hunger strike.
The massive
barrage from Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon coincided with the end of the school
day while many parents were still at work. Meanwhile, after about 4.5 hours of
relative calm, six mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip toward a small
border community. No casualties or damage were reported.
Suddenly, the
order came down from Homefront Command to stay near bomb shelters as the
Israeli military responded to the morning’s rocket fire. This was followed by a
barrage of 26 rockets.
A homeowner in
Sderot told Ynet that his daughter, who was alone at home when she heard the
siren, a rocket crashed in their backyard. "She was panicked, there was a
big blast. I was at work when they called me, and my wife had just left for
work. It’s a huge miracle that the rocket fell in the yard. A big miracle. She
ran to the shelter."
Other locals
couldn’t help but feel helpless as their daily routine was once again disrupted
by rocket fire.
"We are
not a puppet on a string that can be moved like this from routine to an
emergency footing within seconds. Islamic Jihad is playing with us. Suddenly in
the middle of the day, they throw us off balance," RonitKadosh from Sderot
told Ynet, having arrived at a shopping center in the southern city after an
hour after the rocket fire.
"What kind
of reality is this? It's unbearable. All because some terrorist decided to starve
himself to death. People are not aware of this situation, they have no idea
what it does to children.”
The city of
Sderot bore most of the brunt of the latest barrage, and some even crashed in
residential areas within the city. However, an hour later they were already
instructed to go back to normal. Shops reopened and the people, who are already
grown accustomed to projectiles falling from the sky in broad daylight, crept
out of the bomb shelters.
Sderot Mayor
AlonDavidi, who participated just a week and a half ago in a special Cabinet
meeting in his city, called on the political echelon to act and restore peace
to the Gaza border region.
"It is
time to stop mincing words. If there are clear and known goals, we must act and
take care of them," he said.
"Twenty-two
rockets were fired toward Sderot and the surrounding communities with the goal
of murdering Israeli citizens, we cannot continue acting with restraint.
I once again
call on the prime minister, the defense minister, and the Cabinet to eliminate
the heads of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We operate in places much farther afield,
but a kilometer from here we do not do enough to prevent the rocket launches
toward Sderot and the surrounding area."
Barzilai
Medical Center in neighboring Ashkelon received seven casualties after Tuesday
afternoon's attack. One was a Chinese foreign worker who was severely wounded
from shrapnel when a rocket crashed at a construction site where he was
working. His condition later improved and was considered moderate. Two other
colleagues of his also suffered light injuries from shrapnel.
Several parking
vehicles were damaged by shrapnel. Magen David Adom ambulance service reported
that several people suffered from shock, and a 49-year-old woman was lightly
injured when she slipped and fell on the way to the bomb shelter.
A collective of
Gaza terrorist factions claimed responsibility for the attack and added that
"this is a first response" for the death of Adnan.
"We will
remain committed to our fallen and our prisoners, and this issue will always
remain a top priority," the group said in a statement. "We warn the
enemy that any foolish actions they may take will not go unanswered, the
resistance is fully prepared."
Defense
Minister Yaov Gallant after the attack warned that "whoever tries to harm
Israeli citizens will be sorry."
Source: ynetnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1uw56rq3#autoplay
--------
Palestinian
terror groups: Israel will pay for 'assassinating' Jihad leader
MAY 2, 2023
Palestinian
Islamic Jihad said in a statement on Tuesday that Israel bears full
responsibility for the "heinous crime" of the death of Khader Adnan
and "will pay the price."
The statement
described Adnan as a “martyr” and “brave leader” and said that PIJ “won’t
abandon the path of Jihad [holy war] and resistance as long as Palestine
remains under occupation.”
Hamas also
vowed to avenge Adnan’s death, dubbing it an “assassination.”
“We hold the
criminal occupation and its fascist extremist government fully responsible for
this premeditated crime,” Hamas said in a separate statement. “The criminal
occupation will pay the price for this crime.”
Hamas said that
the Palestinian factions will step up the “resistance” against Israel by all
means and tools.”
What did the
Palestinian Authority say?
The Palestinian
Authority also held the Israeli government “fully responsible for the execution
of Khader Adnan," and The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called
for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate
the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Ministry
added that it would bring the case of Adnan before the International Criminal
Court (ICC).
PA Prime
Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israeli authorities of “assassinating” Adnan
by refusing to release him and keeping him in a cell despite his critical
condition.
A general
strike was announced in several areas of the West Bank in protest of the death
of Adnan.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/article-741895
--------
Yeshiva
University spans Muslim/Jewish divide in new UAE-based conference
May 2, 2023
(RNS) — In
April 2021, around Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Muslim
founder of a museum in the Persian Gulf nation of United Arab Emirates welcomed
a small contingent from a flagship U.S. Jewish Orthodox university. The
school’s president would be giving a keynote address at the first Holocaust
commemoration in an Arab country, and before the event the group of Jewish
scholars was invited to view a letter from Theodor Herzl, the father of modern
political Zionism. On the museum’s doorpost, the visitors noted, was a mezuzah.
“When I was
recounting the story to my parents,” said Rabbi Stuart Halpern, “they said,
‘Was the Messiah right behind you? Who can imagine that we would live to see
such a day?'”
Source: religionnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://religionnews.com/2023/05/02/yeshiva-university-spans-muslim-jewish-divide-in-new-uae-based-conference/
--------
Europe
Chilling reason
Osama Bin Laden's body was thrown in the ocean after he was killed
Callum Jones
02 May 2023
The death of
Osama Bin Laden in 2011 will remain a monumental day in world history, as the
man responsible for the 'bloodiest terror attack on US soil' was finally made
to pay for his dreadful crimes.
On 2 May, 2011,
Bin Laden was killed by a team of US Navy SEALS at his compound near Islamabad,
Pakistan, after more than a decade on the FBI's most wanted list.
The tracking
down and eventful killing of the terrorist was a long time coming, but on that
spring day, then-president, Barack Obama, announced the news of Bin Laden's
death.
Former US Navy
SEAL Team 6 member, Robert O'Neill, recalled the moment the leader of al Qaeda
was killed in a conversation held in the 9/11 Memorial Museum, saying: "A
foot and a half in front of me was Osama Bin Laden. And I shot him twice, and
then once more...
"I turned
around, other SEALs were coming in the room, and I kind of stopped there and
looked at them. … [One of the SEALs] was looking at me, and said, ‘Are you OK?’
I said, ‘What do we do now?’
"And he
laughed and put his hand on my shoulder, and he said, ‘Now we go find the
computers.’”
After Bin Laden
was killed, US forces circled back to Afghanistan, where his body was
identified with DNA tests.
But while the
killing of Bin Laden was the main objective, the US still had to decide where
Bin Laden would be buried.
Cremation was
immediately ruled out, as it is banned in Islam, while burying him on land was
never really an option either.
His home
country of Saudi Arabia reportedly wouldn't accept the body and burying him on
land elsewhere was ruled out over concerns his grave would become a 'terrorist
shrine'.
So, it was
decided that Bin Laden would be buried at sea, with every precaution taken to
ensure nobody found his body.
It is Islamic
tradition that a body should be buried within 24 hours of death, with the US
transferring Bin Laden's to the USS Carl Vinson ship.
In the Arabian
Sea, Bin Laden's body was placed in a weighted bag, before loading him on to a
wooden board and pushing him into the ocean, just 12 hours after he was killed.
That came after
his body underwent Islamic burial rights, which included washing his body,
wrapping him in white cloth and bringing in an Arabic translator to provide
religious rites.
Source: unilad.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.unilad.com/news/osama-bin-laden-united-states-20221111
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Ukraine keeping
West in the dark about counteroffensive plans – Politico
3 May, 2023
Ukraine is
reluctant to share details of its planned spring counteroffensive against
Russia with its Western backers due to fears that they could be leaked,
Politico reported on Tuesday.
According to
European officials interviewed by the outlet, Kiev’s concerns are underpinned
by a recent alleged leak of classified Pentagon documents by Massachusetts
National Guard soldier Jack Teixeira.
The trove of
Pentagon files, the authenticity of which has not been officially confirmed,
evaluated Russian and Ukrainian battle readiness and casualties, and weaknesses
in the weapons used by Kiev, as well as containing other sensitive information.
The reported
leak of documents put officials in Kiev “on high alert,” the report says.
Politico sources say that, while Ukraine is still likely sharing some
intelligence with its Western allies, Kiev officials are doing their best to
keep details about the upcoming battlefield push a secret. One unnamed
Ukrainian lawmaker backed up this claim, telling the outlet that “there are
only a few people in the country that know the plan.”
However, a US
defense official told Politico there had been no indications that Kiev is
withholding details from Washington, noting that the level of information
sharing remained basically the same. He added that Ukraine had been “stingy
with information from the very beginning” when it came to its battleplans.
Commenting on
Kiev’s apparent reluctance to share information, US National Security Council
spokesperson John Kirby tried to downplay the report, saying silence ahead of
the offensive would not be surprising, and Ukraine had no “obligation to notify
us or tell us in advance.”
In early April,
days after the Pentagon leak made the headlines, CNN reported that the
development had forced Ukraine to change some of its military plans. Publicly,
Kiev officials attempted to dismiss it as “Photoshop and virtual fake leaks.”
With rumors of
Kiev’s potential counteroffensive swirling around for several months now,
Ukrainian Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov said earlier this week that the
nation’s military is on the “home stretch” when it comes to preparations for
the push. While Western officials have argued that Kiev has all it needs for a
successful operation, behind closed doors the American military has reportedly
expressed doubts about Ukraine’s ability to break through Russian defensive
lines.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/575686-ukraine-counteroffensive-secret-west/
--------
Russia to
resume yuan purchases – Bloomberg
3 May, 2023
Russia could
restart purchases of foreign currency for its reserves in May as growing energy
revenues “stabilize” public finances despite Western efforts to damage the
country’s economy, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
The Finance
Ministry is due to announce the resumption of foreign exchange purchases later
this week, the outlet said. Initial volumes are expected to be equivalent to
about $200 million in yuan per month. The Chinese currency is viewed as the
main asset Russia can use for transactions to refill its $154 billion national
wealth fund.
“It will be
important for the market that the state is starting to accumulate reserves
again instead of spending them,” said Natalia Milchakova, an analyst at Freedom
Holding Corp. “This may even positively affect the ruble,” she added.
Russia halted
foreign exchange purchases in late January 2022 and further suspended the
program following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. At the beginning of
this year, the Bank of Russia resumed operations with foreign currency amid
soaring oil and gas revenues. The move was part of a revamped budgetary
mechanism designed to shield the economy from the volatility of commodity
markets, and transactions are now carried out in yuan.
Moscow has
slashed yuan sales over the past two months to cover the budget deficit, with
sales halving in April compared to February.
The volumes of
foreign exchange purchases will initially be small but will still be “highly
symbolic” as they will show that Russia is building reserves rather than “eating
through” them, according to Bloomberg’s Russia economist, Alexander
Isakov.
The shift from
selling to buying would highlight “Russia’s ability to keep up the flow of
petrodollars in the face of sanctions and the price cap” imposed by the EU, G7,
and their allies, the outlet claimed.
Despite an
“unprecedented deficit” which amounted to 2.4 trillion rubles ($29.8 billion)
by the end of the first quarter, the Russian federal budget “is on the mend”
partly due to changes in the calculations of some oil taxes, Bloomberg
reported.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/business/575646-russia-foreign-currency-reserves-yuan/
--------
North
America
Muslim group
demands Biden apologize to mayor blocked from White House’s Eid al-Fitr
celebration
By Jeff Mordock
Tuesday, May 2,
2023
Muslim
community leaders on Tuesday demanded President Biden publicly apologize to a
longtime Muslim mayor from New Jersey who was abruptly blocked from attending
the White House’s Eid al-Fitr celebration.
The New Jersey
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined with Muslim
community leaders to condemn the White House rescinding its invitation to Mayor
Mohamed Khairullah, who represents Prospect Park, New Jersey.
During a press
conference, the Muslim leaders called for Mr. Biden to invite Mr. Khairullah, a
Democrat and a mayor since 2001, back to the White House for a public apology.
They also urged Mr. Biden to suspend the FBI’s dissemination of the Federal
Terrorist Screening Dataset, a watchlist they say contains about 1.5 million
names.
“Accountability
is the first step in many to rectify this degrading and humiliating
experience,” said Madina Ouedraogo, government affairs manager for CAIR’s New
Jersey chapter.
Mr. Khairullah
said moments before he was set to arrive at the White House on Monday night for
the Eid-al-Fitr celebration to mark the end of Ramadan, he received a call from
a White House aide telling him he could not attend the event. The official said
Mr. Khairullah had not been cleared for entry by the Secret Service, but
offered no explanation why the agency blocked his entry.
“I have no
reason to believe that I am an unsafe person to any elected official,” Mr.
Khairullah said at the press conference. “I have been around with a lot of
elected officials from the national level all the way to the school board
level, and I have supported many of them.”
Mr. Khairullah
says he has not heard from Mr. Biden or anyone at the White House since the
incident.
White House
press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly deferred to the Secret Service
when asked Tuesday about the incident.
“Let me just
first say this is under the purview of the Secret Service,” she said. “I can
say this: I was in the room. The president was very proud to welcome nearly 400
Muslim Americans to the White House to celebrate Eid yesterday.”
When asked if
Mr. Khairullah deserved a more detailed explanation, Ms. Jean-Pierre repeated
the incident was “in the purview of the Secret Service.”
spokesperson
for the Secret Service said in a statement late Monday that the agency regrets
the inconvenience but couldn’t comment further “on the specific protective
means and methods used to conduct our security operations at the White House.”
Mr. Khairullah
was born in Syria and has been a U.S. citizen since 2000. He is now in his
fifth term as mayor of Prospect Park. He said he was a victim of Islamophobia
and profiling by federal agencies.
“Incidents like
this — being flagged on a watch list and denied the honor that every leader
should be given — make me question our progress,” he said.
Mr. Khairullah
believes his trouble comes from his name matching one that appeared on the
Federal Terrorist Screening Dataset, which is essentially a terrorist
watchlist. He said he’s faced incidents of discrimination when flying, which
can be embarrassing for his family.
CAIR attorneys
obtained the dataset, which was leaked earlier this year, and say it includes
roughly 1.5 million largely Arabic and Muslim names.
Muslim leaders
called the list discriminatory and demanded the Biden administration stop
disseminating it to federal agencies. Dina Sayedahmed of CAIR-NJ said the list
has caused Muslims to be harassed and discriminated against at airports, as
well as damaged the reputations of people unfairly placed on it.
Source: washingtontimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/2/muslim-group-demands-joe-biden-apologize-mayor-moh/
--------
Muslim Mayor
Furious After He's Blocked From Joe Biden's White House Event: 'Reeks of
Islamophobia'
By Jack Davis,
Western Journal
May 2, 2023
Accusations of
Islamophobia connected to a White House event are flying, but this time they
are not aimed at former President Donald Trump.
The storm
around President Joe Biden’s White House involves Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah
of Prospect Park, New Jersey, and the official White House commemoration of Eid
al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the month of Ramadan.
Khairullah said
that he had been invited to Monday’s White House event, but as he was nearing
the White House, he was told that the Secret Service could not grant him a
security clearance and that he could not attend, according to Axios.
This action
“reeks of #Islamophobia by certain federal agencies,” Khairullah posted on his
Facebook page.
“The SECRET
WATCHLIST strikes again,” he wrote.
Khairullah told
Axios that he believes he is a victim of racial profiling, saying that someone
with the same name appeared on a terror watch list.
“I have been
experiencing travel difficulties since 2019, which I thought were resolved two
years ago, only to find out today that I’m still on some type of government
list,” Khairullah said.
“To be denied entry
in such a way … and two days prior, I was with the governor of my state, in the
governor’s mansion. It just baffles me,” he said, adding that he has heard
nothing from the White House since the incident.
Secret
Service representative Anthony Guglielmi
said while “we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, the mayor was not
allowed to enter the White House complex this evening.”
The New Jersey
chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations lashed out at the
incident, according to a release on CAIR’s website.
“That a
well-respected Muslim leader would effectively be disinvited from the White
House Eid celebration, just hours ahead of time, is wholly unacceptable and
insulting,” CAIR-NJ Executive Director SelaedinMaksut said.
Maksut blamed a
secret list for the incident.
“Today, in an
affront to the Muslim community and the American public at large, and in what
could be perceived as a continued use of the secret watchlist, the Secret
Service denied Mayor Khairullah entry, on the basis that he was not cleared by
security,” he said.
“This incident
lacks transparency and reeks of government overreach. We call on the White
House to override the Secret Service and reinstate the mayor’s invitation,
disband the secret watchlist, and issue an apology to the Mayor.”
Maksut said the
incident is bigger than one person.
“If these such
incidents are happening to high-profile and well-respected American-Muslim
figures like Mayor Khairullah, this then begs the question: What is happening
to Muslims who do not have the access and visibility that the mayor has?”
Source: ijr.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://ijr.com/muslim-mayor-furious-blocked-joe-bidens-white-house-event-reeks-islamophobia/
--------
Muslim Prospect
Park mayor questions White House watchlist after he’s barred from Eid event
May 03, 2023
The mayor of
Prospect Park publicly commented for the first time about being barred from a
White House ceremony. Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, who is a practicing Muslim,
says that he was kept away from an event celebrating Eid al-Fitr with fellow
members of the Muslim community.
Activists said
that the situation was degrading and humiliating at a news conference held
Tuesday. The mayor and the activists drew renewed attention to what they are
calling a “selectee watch list.” They say that the mayor and 1.5 million people
nationwide – mostly Muslim – are on it.
“I'm not upset
for not being at the White House. I think the point here is, outside of me who
has a platform, who I have friends who can bring you all together, there are
1.5 million entries that could be suffering similarly. I am about human rights.
I am not about me,” Khairullah says.
Khairullah was
driving to Washington D.C. on Monday and was about 30 minutes away from the
White House when he received a call from White House officials telling him that
the United States Secret Service could not clear him for the event with
President Joe Biden.
A spokesperson
for the Secret Service stated that the agency regrets the inconvenience but
couldn't comment on why the mayor was denied.
Khairullah is
Syrian American. He said he noticed an increased level of scrutiny following a
2015 trip to Syria that culminated in his being detained at JFK Airport for
three hours in 2019. The mayor is now demanding answers and an apology.
Gov. Phil
Murphy said on Tuesday that he is trying to get those answers. He declined to
criticize the White House decision but pointed out that Khairullah was at the
Governor’s Mansion on Saturday for a state celebration of Eid.
“What does it
say to our Muslim community? God willing, I hope this is a misunderstanding. I
hope it says nothing to our Muslim community. I assume that the White House was
full of Muslim leaders from throughout the country. But [Mohamed Khairullah] is
a great mayor, he’s a very close personal friend of mine,” Murphy said.
White House
Press Secretary Karina Jean Pierre declined to elaborate on the situation and
deferred questions to the Secret Service. She pointed out that there were 400
Muslim attendees with the president for Monday’s event.
Source: newjersey.news12.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://newjersey.news12.com/muslim-prospect-park-mayor-questions-white-house-watchlist-after-hes-barred-from-eid-event
--------
Minnesota bail
fund promoted by Kamala Harris previously freed suspected mosque arsonist
May 2, 2023
A Minnesota man
accused of setting fires at two mosques and vandalizing Rep. Ilhan Omar's
congressional district office had previously been arrested and sprung from jail
by a bail fund once promoted by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jackie Rahm
Little, 36, was arrested Sunday and charged with arson following fires at two
Minneapolis mosques. He is also accused of spray-painting the text
"500" on the front door of Omar's Minneapolis office.
Court documents
show that Little has a history of violent behavior due to untreated mental
illness, and that he has a prior arrest for burning a former neighbor's car in
2021. Records reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune show Little was released
from jail twice in that case on cash bail paid for by the Minnesota Freedom
Fund.
The Minnesota
Freedom Fund is a far-left nonprofit organization that pays bail for people who
cannot do it on their own. The group's mission is "to end discriminatory,
coercive, and oppressive jailing." The organization did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
In statements
to the Star Tribune, the fund condemned harm against "all people in our
community, especially harm that is based on identity," and defended its
work against critics who say bailing out accused criminals is irresponsible.
"Our
evaluation process is holistic and prioritizes support for people who lack
other avenues to vindicate their legal rights – including people experiencing
mental health challenges, for whom pre-trial release is often the only way to
access needed treatment," the group said.
Harris promoted
the far-left Minnesota Freedom Fund amid the George Floyd-related riots in 2020
that saw parts of Minneapolis burn.
She encouraged
Twitter users to donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund to bail out the
protesters who were arrested as the unrest grew.
"If you’re
able to, chip in now to the [Minnesota Freedom Fund] to help post bail for
those protesting on the ground in Minnesota," Harris tweeted in June 2020.
The group has
since faced criticism after several individuals bailed out on their dime have
gone on to commit crimes, including murder.
Little faces
charges of second-degree arson in connection to the April 23 fire started in
the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center and the April 24 fire that broke
out on the third floor of the Masjid Al Rahma Mosque.
Minneapolis
Police Chief Brian O’Hara called the arsons "incredibly inhumane" in
a statement announcing Little's arrest on Sunday.
President Biden
on Monday issued a statement standing in solidarity with the Muslim community
and condemning "anti-Muslim hate."
"Muslim
culture has been woven throughout American culture from the very start. We must
always stand against anti-Muslim hate. And stand up for the rights and dignity
of all people," Biden tweeted.
"It's
essential to who we are: a nation founded on the idea of freedom and justice
for all," the president said.
Source: foxnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minnesota-bail-fund-promoted-kamala-harris-previously-freed-suspected-mosque-arsonist
---------
Supreme Court
‘Ethics’ Theater: Democrats’ Ongoing Jihad against Conservative Jurists
By ANDREW C.
MCCARTHY
May 2, 2023
Democrats are
waging a multifront jihad to delegitimize the judiciary because the Supreme
Court has a conservative majority that believes the Constitution means what it
says. The campaign would make the Muslim Brotherhood proud, leveraging, as it
does, lawlessness and intimidation ops (e.g., the leak of the Dobbs draft
opinion and protests at the conservative justices’ homes — all ignored by the
Biden Justice Department) with public-relations campaigns (e.g., the ongoing
smears of Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch over trumped-up
financial-disclosure violations, the sideswipe at Scalia Law School) and
legislative gambits.
That last
includes a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this morning. This is the theater
for which committee chairman and No. 2 Dem in the chamber, Dick Durbin (Ill.)
pressured Chief Justice John Roberts to testify, cavalierly ignoring principles
of the separation of powers (to say nothing of the fact that, with the calendar
having turned to May, the Court is entering its crunch time for cranking out
this term’s many remaining opinions). The chief justice rightly declined to
attend this partisan Democrat circus — an attempt to extort the Court into
adopting a Democrat-dictated “ethics code” — which Congress has no
constitutional authority to require the Court to do, much less power to impose
such a code by legislation.
The justices
presumably know that if they were to engage in futile appeasement of the media-Democrat complex by adopting some
ostensibly benign ethics code in these circumstances, Durbin et al. would
instantly brand that gesture as a concession that the justices have behaved
unethically, fueling Democrat calls for further “reform” — the code for Court-packing
schemes (which probably won’t come to fruition), and for continuing the
political harassment and intimidation until a conservative justice or two
“evolve” into part-time progressives à la Anthony Kennedy (just as FDR’s
Court-packing blitz, though it failed legislatively, overcame the
philosophical-judicial resistance to the New Deal administrative state).
One must hope
that Senator John Kennedy (R., La.) was correct, during the Dems’ 2020
Court-packing demagogy, when he observed that their tactic of making manifestly
false assertions about the Court and the justices won’t work because “the
American people are not morons.”
In a related
salvo, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is suddenly on the warpath against
single-judge divisions in federal judicial districts. In large states, the
federal districts are split into divisions. Otherwise, litigants and jurors
might have to travel hundreds of miles to attend court proceedings. Thus, for
example, the vast Northern District of Texas (covering 96,000 square miles) is
headquartered in Dallas, but it also has divisions in Abilene, Amarillo, Fort
Worth, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls. There are only twelve active
judges in the Northern District (active meaning full-time, as opposed to senior
judges with reduced caseloads — of which the district has four). As a result,
some of the divisions are assigned a single judge to ensure that the division
is covered. Civil lawsuits filed in those divisions are thus presided over by
that judge.
Obviously, this
can lend itself to forum-shopping, but there is no way around that because
every state’s geography and residential layout is different, and the
alternative would be to have cases assigned in a way that would force litigants
and jurors to travel for hours to get to court — exactly what the division
system avoids. The possibility of forum shopping is best dealt with by
appellate review and its sobering effects: We presume judges, regardless of
their personal predispositions, will follow the law (including the rules
calling for recusal when there is a real bias issue). If they don’t, they will
get reversed by the appellate court, and if the judge’s actions are clearly
lawless, they can be subject to mandamus orders (i.e., the appellate court can
direct them to knock it off). Judges don’t like to be reversed, and it is
humiliating for a judge — whose job is to uphold the law — to be mandamused.
The Democrats’
sudden concern about forum-shopping was not in evidence when challenges to
President Trump’s policies on southwest border security somehow managed to be
filed thousands of miles away in Hawaii’s federal district court, the court of
Judge Derrick Kahala Watson — who was appointed to that sparsely staffed
tribunal by President Obama, a chum from law-school days. In any event, the
current target of progressive venom is Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, the
conservative and pro-life Trump appointee who mans the Northern District of
Texas’s Amarillo division.
That, of
course, is where pro-life physicians filed their well-grounded objections to
the manner in which the FDA first approved the abortion pill (mifepristone) and
later removed safeguards for its use. As Rich and I discussed in a recent
podcast episode, for all his critics’ hysteria about Judge Kacsmaryk’s audacity,
for example, in referring to an unborn child as, you know, an “unborn child”
(rather, one supposes, than a “clump of cells”), his opinion in the case is
workmanlike. No one could claim that he violated the law or produced an
irrational ruling. Rather than impose it imperiously, he stayed it so the Biden
administration would have recourse to the Fifth Circuit U.S. appellate court
and, finally, the Supreme Court.
The case is
thus working its way up the chain in regular order. Moreover, Kacsmaryk did not
say the FDA lacked authority to approve mifepristone for use (which may not
even be a live issue because the statute of limitations for challenging the
2000 approval may have lapsed) or to remove the safeguards originally placed on
its use. He ruled, instead, that an administrative agency has to follow the law
in promulgating and amending rules. What a concept!
All that aside,
what’s remarkable is Senator Schumer’s chutzpah. In a threatening letter —
which he sent, not on behalf of the Senate, but as a Luca Brasi–like political
tough guy — he warned the Northern District of Texas’s chief judge, David C.
Godbey, that he’d better take some action against single-judge divisions or the
Congress would. Of course, Schumer has no legitimate authority in that regard.
Yes, the Constitution gives Congress significant authority over inferior
federal courts, though not the Supreme Court; but Schumer is not Congress. As a
single senator, even a senior one at the head of one party’s caucus, he has no
prospect of enacting legislation that would make good on his threat.
So it was just
that, a threat: reminiscent of the Democrats’ similarly thug-like brief that
Durbin and four other Judiciary Committee hacks (Senators Sheldon Whitehouse,
MazieHirono, Richard Blumenthal, and Kirsten Gillibrand), submitted to the
Supreme Court in 2019 to warn the justices that they’d better not cross
progressives in a major Second Amendment case; and reminiscent also of
Schumer’s own incitements against Justices Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh (“You have
released the whirlwind and you will pay the price”) on the grounds of the
Supreme Court at an abortion-rights rally. (Mind you, the most impeachable
misconduct by President Trump on January 6 was, as chief executive, to urge a
mob to demonstrate on another branch’s turf and in a manner that could
corruptly influence its operations. What Schumer did was no different in
principle, just in effect — or lack thereof.)
This was not
just outrageous on its face, it smacks of hypocrisy. (This being Schumer,
that’s baked in the cake.) For years, Schumer pushed for the creation of a
federal courthouse in Middletown, N.Y., in Orange County: That far corner of
the Southern District of New York lies about 75 miles from the SDNY’s Manhattan
headquarters and 60 miles from the SDNY’s judicial district in White Plains
(which handles Orange County). Schumer’s monument to patronage never came to
fruition because there was inadequate justification for it — it was opposed by
judges and the executive branch because Middletown did not generate enough
litigation for a stand-alone courthouse. But if established and assigned just
the right judge, it would have been an awfully enticing forum for progressives,
no?
If Democrats on
the Senate Judiciary Committee are really worried about ethics rather than
about the Supreme Court (over which they lack authority), maybe they could turn
their attention to their own glass house. Despite its unseemliness, securities
trading by members of Congress — who uniquely affect market prices and are positioned
to gain access to corporate insider information — plows merrily along. Who
could forget the insider-trading investigation of now-retired senator Richard
Burr, who enriched himself based on information about the coming Covid crisis?
As our former colleague Kevin Williamson memorably put it, “History Called —
and Senator Burr Called His Broker.” When it comes to lawmakers’ ethics, or
lack of same, nothing really changes. CNN recently reported that holdings by
senators and representatives outperformed the S&P 500 by about 17.5 percent
in 2022 — funny how that happens. And according to Business Insider, 78 members
of Congress have violated even the minimal standards enacted to discourage
insider trading and conflicts of interest.
No reason for
the Senate Judiciary Committee to concern itself with such things, apparently.
Source: nationalreview.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/supreme-court-ethics-theater-democrats-ongoing-jihad-against-conservative-jurists/
--------
Southeast
Asia
Shooter at
Islamic Organization HQ Unrelated to Terrorist Group: Expert
2 May 2023
TEMPO.CO,
Jakarta - Terrorism expert from the Community of Ideological Islamic Analyst
Harits Abu Ulya believes the lone gunman behind the shooting at the Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI) headquarters is not linked to the country’s terrorist
groups.
“My initial
suspicion is that this [incident] has nothing to do with any terrorist groups
that exist in Indonesia,” said Harits in a statement on May 2.
Prior to the
incident, the perpetrator apparently had visited the MUI headquarters in
Jakarta twice in 2022 apart from sending six consecutive letters to MUI
management.
"He
physically came to the MUI office wanting to meet the organization’s leaders,
but he was not accepted and his motivation was to convey a message. He
[proclaimed to be] sent by the Prophet Muhammad to deliver a message to MUI
leaders," Harits said.
According to
him, the suspect Mustofa (60) had already planned his attack once his request
got rejected again, “It shows as he was armed with a gun," he said.
Police
initially reported that the suspect died at the scene as law enforcers stopped
him from further carrying out the shooting.
Source: tempo.co
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.tempo.co/read/1721147/shooter-at-islamic-organization-hq-unrelated-to-terrorist-group-expert
--------
Siti
BainunFound Guilty Of Neglecting, Abusing Bella
03-05- 2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
The Sessions Court here today found RumahBonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali
guilty on charges of neglecting and abusing a teenage girl with Down syndrome
known as Bella.
Judge
IzralizamSanusi, when handing down the decision, said the prosecution had
succeeded in establishing the case beyond a reasonable doubt at the end of the
defense case.
Siti Bainun was
charged with neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old Down syndrome girl causing
the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries in a condominium unit in
WangsaMaju between February and June 2021.
The charge,
framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, provides imprisonment for
up to 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution
and defence are currently making their mitigation on the decision.
Deputy public
prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Zilfinaz Abbas, Zahida Zakaria and Shakira
Aliana Alias prosecuted, while Siti Bainun, 31, was represented by lawyer
Mohammad Farhan Maaruf.-Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thesundaily.my/home/siti-bainun-found-guilty-of-neglecting-abusing-bella-AK10927263
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Malaysian King,
Queen to Attend King Charles III Coronation Ceremony in London
03-05- 2023
PUTRAJAYA: Yang
di-PertuanAgong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja
PermaisuriAgongTunku Azizah Aminah MaimunahIskandariah will undertake a special
visit to London, United Kingdom from today until May 14.
According to
the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra), their Majesties were invited by King
Charles III to attend the Coronation Ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
“Their
Majesties have also consented to attend the reception ceremony, which will be
hosted by His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on May 5,” Wisma
Putra said in a statement today.
Wisma Putra
notes that the special visit is significant in the context of consolidating the
existing and close relations shared between Malaysia and the United Kingdom,
especially between the two countries’ royal institutions and the bond of the
Commonwealth.
The special
visit also marks the importance of close ties between the two countries
collaborating in various field which is supported at the highest level of the
country’s leadership, it said.- Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my/
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thesundaily.my/home/king-queen-to-attend-king-charles-iii-coronation-ceremony-in-london-BK10926667
--------
Mother, stepfather
plead guilty of abusing four-year-old boy in Johor
Wednesday, 03
May 2023
JOHOR BARU, May
3 — A man and his wife pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a
charge of abusing their four-year-old son to the extent of causing him physical
injury, last Friday.
The boy’s
stepfather, S. Nagendran, 23, and his mother A. Sangeetha, 23, committed the
offence at Skudai Villa Apartment, Jalan Aman, TamanSkudaiBaru here around
midnight on April 28.
They were
charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2011, read together with
Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or a
maximum jail term of 20 years, or both, if convicted.
Judge Datuk
Ahmad Kamal Ariffin Ismail set June 7 to hear the facts of the case before
passing the sentence.
It was reported
that a four-year-old boy died last Saturday, believed to have been physically
abused by his mother and stepfather.
IskandarPuteri
Police chief ACP Rahmat Ariffin was quoted as saying that the child was rushed
to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital that morning, but was pronounced dead upon
arrival at the emergency department at 8.20am. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/03/mother-stepfather-plead-guilty-of-abusing-four-year-old-boy-in-johor/67471
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South Asia
With Declining
Funds, UN Will Stay in Afghanistan, Says Chief
By
Nizamuddin
Rezahi
May 3, 2023
The UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that the United Nations will
stay in Afghanistan to deliver life-saving aid to millions of desperate Afghans
despite the Taliban’s restrictions on female employees, and the limited funding
the organization is faced with.
After the
two-day meeting of the envoys in Doha to discuss a common international
approach to Afghanistan, Guterres, spoke to the media and said concerns over
the country’s stability were growing.
Speaking at a
press conference after the summit that brought special envoys together from
more than 20 countries, Guterres said collectively all participants were
worried about the stability of Afghanistan – which relates to the persistent
presence of terrorist organizations.
“To achieve our
objectives, we cannot disengage with the Taliban regime, and it is difficult to
overestimate the gravity of the situation in the country,” he said.
The ban on
female Afghan UN employees by the Taliban authorities was a clear violation of
human rights, the UN Chief said. The current ban on local female staff working
for the UN in Afghanistan is unacceptable and puts millions of lives in
jeopardy.
He noted that
97% of the population lives in poverty and that donor funding is drying up,
which will further complicate the living conditions of ordinary people.
Currently, a large majority of the Afghan population relies on humanitarian aid
to survive.
The Taliban
authorities were invited to the Doha meeting hosted by the United Nations,
which prompted immediate reactions from the Taliban group.
Suhail Shaheen,
the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, said the Taliban dismissed
the talks – describing them as one-sided and ineffective.
“One-sided
decisions could not deliver any promising results. Afghanistan is an
independent country. It has its own voice; we want them to listen to our
voice,” Shaheen said.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/with-declining-funds-un-will-stay-in-afghanistan-says-chief/
--------
World Press
Freedom Index: India rank slides to 161, 11 spots behind Afghanistan
03 May, 2023
From the 150th
spot in 2022, India’s rank has further dipped to 161 in the 2023 edition of the
Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. This is several
spots behind Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have improved their rankings this
year to be at positions 150 and 152, respectively.
Countries
ranked lower than India include Bangladesh (163), Turkey (165), Saudi Arabia
(170) and Iran (177). China and North Korea occupy the last spots at 179 and
180, respectively.
The index was
published today, May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.
The ranking is
based on a country’s performance in five broad categories: political context,
legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context and safety of
journalists. Of the five, India’s ranking was lowest in the safety of
journalists category (172) and best in the social indicator category (143).
While India has
ranked consistently low over the past few years, its rank has plunged to the
lowest this year. In February last year, the union government said it does not
agree with the views and country rankings listed in the World Press Freedom
Index since it’s published by a “foreign” NGO.
“The violence
against journalists, the politically partisan media and the concentration of
media ownership all demonstrate that press freedom is in crisis in ‘the world’s
largest democracy’, ruled since 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the embodiment of the Hindu
nationalist right,” the report said.
“Originally a
product of the anti-colonial movement, the Indian press used to be seen as
fairly progressive but things changed radically in the mid-2010s, when Narendra
Modi became prime minister and engineered a spectacular rapprochement between
his party, the BJP, and the big families dominating the media. The prime
example is undoubtedly the Reliance Industries group led by Mukesh Ambani, now
a personal friend of Modi’s, who owns more than 70 media outlets that are
followed by at least 800 million Indians. Similarly, the takeover of the NDTV
channel at the end of 2022 by tycoon Gautam Adani, who is also very close to
Narendra Modi, signalled the end of pluralism in the mainstream media. Very
early on, Modi took a critical stance vis-à-vis journalists, seeing them as
“intermediaries” polluting the direct relationship between himself and his
supporters. Indian journalists who are too critical of the government are
subjected to all-out harassment and attack campaigns by Modi devotees known as
bhakts.”
Source: newslaundry.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/05/03/world-press-freedom-index-india-rank-slides-to-161-11-spots-behind-afghanistan
--------
UN Summit In
Qatar On Afghanistan Ends, Another Planned
2nd May, 2023
U.N.
Secretary-General António Guterres attended the summit, which the world body
described as nations and organizations trying to reach unified stances on human
rights, governance, counterterrorism and anti-drug efforts. No recognition had
been anticipated to come out of the meeting, though activists in recent days
criticized the possibility.
“To achieve our
objectives, we cannot disengage,” Guterres said. “And many called for engagement
to be more effective and based on lessons we have learned from the past.”
He did not
elaborate, though the Taliban previously controlled Afghanistan from 1994 to
2001.
Asked by a
journalist if there would be any circumstance under which he'd be wiling to
directly meet with the Taliban, Guterres said: “When it is the right moment to
do so, I will obviously not refuse that possibility — but today is not the
right moment to do so.”
Absent from the
meeting were the Taliban themselves, who took over Afghanistan in August 2021.
Suhail Shaheen,
the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, told The Associated Press
that the new Afghan government dismissed the talks.
“If they are
not ready to hear us and know our position regarding the issues, how can they
reach a convincing and palatable solution?" Shaheen said. "One-sided
decisions couldn’t deliver. Afghanistan is an independent country. It has its
own voice; we want them to listen to our voice.”
Shaheen on
Sunday met Andrew McCoubrey, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United
Kingdom's Foreign Office, and YueXiaoyong, China’s special envoy for
Afghanistan, in Doha. In the time since the Taliban seizing power, Afghanistan
has become the most repressive in the world for women and girls , deprived of
virtually all their basic rights, according to the U.N.
Girls are
banned from education beyond sixth grade and women are barred from working,
studying, traveling without a male companion, and even going to parks or bath
houses. Women must also cover themselves from head to toe and are barred from
working at national and international non-governmental organizations,
disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid. Afghanistan remains wracked by
poverty and hunger , squeezed like other nations by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Meanwhile,
concerns remain over Afghanistan again becoming a haven for Islamic extremists
wanting to strike out abroad. The U.S.-led 2001 invasion came on the back of
al-Qaida's Sept. 11 attack on New York and Washington . Since the takeover, the
U.S. has carried out drone strikes targeting suspected militants.
Those concerns
have complicated how nations, particularly the West, deal with Afghanistan
today.
Activists had
worried the Qatar summit could see the international community reach a recognition
deal with the Taliban even as women remain largely barred from society.
The Taliban are
“a terrorist group whose deeply repressive regime has systematically sought to
erase more than half of the population from society,” an open letter from the activists
read. “Having denied women and girls almost all of their fundamental human
rights, the Taliban has become the only regime in the world upholding a system
of gender apartheid.”
The countries
that took part in the Doha summit included China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, the United
Kingdom, the United States and Uzbekistan.
Qatar, an
energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula which long hosted a political
office for the Taliban, hosted the talks.
Source: republicworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/middle-east/un-summit-in-qatar-on-afghanistan-ends-another-planned-articleshow.html
--------
BNP-Jamaat
demonstrators quit scene as PM invites for talk
03 May 2023
WASHINGTON DC,
May 2, 2023 (BSS) - A group of BNP-Jamaat supporters, who were demonstrating
outside The Ritz Carlton hotel here where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined a
civic reception on Tuesday (local time), quit the scene as she called them for
an interaction.
"PM's such
good gesture went in vain as BNP-Jamaat demonstrators left position outside the
hotel after the premier desired to talk with them about their problems,"
PM's Speechwriter M Nazrul Islam told a news briefing.
Sheikh Hasina
arrived here on April 28 to attend a World Bank (WB) programme marking the 50
years of Bangladesh-WB partnership.
azrul Islam
said the prime minister expressed her desire to talk with the representatives
of the BNP-Jamaat as she saw them demonstrating outside the hotel amid cold and
rain while coming to attend the civic reception.
"What do
they want to say? Let them do that coming in, here," he quoted the premier
as saying.
PM's PS-II and
one official from the local Bangladesh mission went to the demonstrators to
invite them to the hotel after getting permission from the prime minister.
Source: bssnews.net
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/123537
--------
PM offers SEZ
for US businessmen, seeks larger investment in Bangladesh
02 May 2023
WASHINGTON DC,
May 2, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the US
business community to invest largely in Bangladesh's renewable energy,
shipbuilding, automobile and pharmaceuticals sectors, reiterating her offer of
a dedicated 'special economic zone' (SEZ) solely for them.
"I invite
you to invest in our many vibrant and high-potential sectors, such as renewable
energy, shipbuilding, automobile, pharmaceuticals, light and heavy machineries,
chemical fertilizers, ICT, marine resources, and medical equipment, among
others," she said.
The Prime
Minister also called upon the US business leaders to explore opportunities and
invest in Bangladesh.
She made this
call while presenting a keynote speech at a high-level executive business
roundtable on "US-Bangladesh Economic Partnership: Shared Vision for Smart
Growth."
The Bangladesh
Prime Minister also inaugurated the US Bangladesh IT Connect portal
(us.itconnect.gov.bd) at the event.
The
US-Bangladesh Business Council organised the event at the Great Hall of the US
Chamber of Commerce Washington, DC.
The Prime
Minister hoped that the US-Bangladesh Business Council will play a significant
role in advancing trade and investment cooperation between the two friendly
countries.
"I also
call on you here today to remain and be with us as partners in our journey to a
developed, prosperous, and Smart Bangladesh by 2041," she said.
She said
Bangladesh is currently setting up 100 'Special Economic Zones' (SEZs), and 29
Hi-tech Parks in the different parts of the country.
The premier
reminded again about Bangladesh's most liberal investment policy status in the
region. It includes foreign investment protection by law, tax holiday,
remittances of royalty, unrestricted exit policy, full repatriation of dividend
and capital on exit, she said.
"I assure
you that we are giving topmost priority to improving our investment
environment," she added.
She mentioned
that Bangladesh Investment Development Authority is implementing the
"Bangladesh Investment Climate Improvement Programme".
"The
United States can be Bangladesh's most robust partner. It is currently the
largest single country destination of our exports, largest source of foreign
direct investment, a long-standing development partner, and an important source
of training and technology," she said.
Sheikh Hasina
said she is optimistic that the United States would become Bangladesh's
long-term productive partner in this challenging venture through trade,
investment, technology transfer, and by creating a smooth and predictable
supply chain for mutual benefits.
Describing the
United States as a major economic and development partner of Bangladesh, she
said booth countries have intensive engagements in many areas, including trade
and investment.
"Our
shared aim is to achieve mutual benefit and prosperity for our peoples. This is
evident in our growing bilateral trade, and people-to-people interaction. In
2021-2022," she said, adding Bangladesh exported commodities worth US$
10.42 billion to the United States, and imported goods worth US$ 2.8 billion.
Referring to an
example of Japan's proposal to develop an industrial hub in Bangladesh along
the coastal belt, she said, "Our focus, therefore, now is to promote
economic and commercial relations with regional and global partners, including
the United States."
The premier
said their efforts have led to Bangladesh making remarkable socio-economic
growth over the last 14 years.
"It is now
universally acknowledged as a "Role Model of Socio-Economic
development", she continued.
This has also
been possible due to the continuity of good governance, rule of law, and
stability, investment in rural economy, empowerment of women, and ICT that led
to "Digital Bangladesh", she said.
This is why
lately the brand value of Bangladesh has been growing fast, she said, adding
that in Brand Finance UK estimate, Bangladesh's brand value recorded 37 percent
growth last year, that is, the highest in the world, placing it next to India,
among South Asian countries in Global Soft Power Index 2023.
"Our
vision is to build a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041. This vision is
beyond becoming a high income developed country by 2041, she said.
She added:
"Smart Bangladesh is about being inclusive and founded on its smart
citizens, smart economy, smart government, and smart society."
PM's ICT
Affairs Advisor SajeebWazed and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources Nasrul Hamid spoke on the occasion.
Chairman of
Board of Directors of U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council Board and also president
of Excelerate Energy Steven Kobos, Global Chair Emeritus of Boston Consulting
Group (BCG) Hans-Paul B?rkner, Senior Vice-President of Global Public Policy
and Indo-Pacific Policy Operations at Mastercard Ravi Aurora, Founder and Chief
Executive Officer of bKash Kamal Quadir, President and Managing Director of
Chevron Bangladesh Eric Walker and Global Head of Exploration and New Venture
at ExxonMobil Dr John Ardill spoke at the high-level roundtable meeting.
President of
U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council and Senior Vice President-South Asia at U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Ambassador AtulKeshap delivered the welcome remarks.
Besides,
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Planning Minister MA Mannan, and PM's
Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, President
of Boeing India and South Asia Saill Gupta, Head of South Asia at U.S. Soybean
Export Council Kevin Roepke, Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs-Asia
Pacific of UBER Mike Orgill, Vice President of South Asia at U.S. Chamber Of
Commerce Ryan Miller, Executive Director of U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sandeep
Maini and Director of U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council SidhantaMehra were
present.
The Prime
Minister earlier attended separate meetings with USBBC senior executives, the
US Chamber and Commerce President and CEOs at the Briefing Centre at the US
Chamber of Commerce here.
Sheikh Hasina
said Bangladesh celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence in 2021 as
a proud lower middle-income country.
"It is
today the fastest growing economy in South Asia, and the 35th largest economy
of the world. Projections are this economy will become the 25th largest economy
by 2030," she said.
She said that
Bangladesh is already a trillion-dollar economy in terms of purchasing power.
It is on course to be in a few years a trillion-dollar economy in nominal
terms, she added.
"Our
socio-economic development policies have taken Bangladesh ahead of our South
Asian neighbours in many areas," she said.
Bangladesh's
per capita income is higher than its larger neighbours, she said.
She continued
that the World Economic Forum has rated Bangladesh as the top South Asian
country in women empowerment, and globally among top ten countries in political
empowerment of women.
The Prime
Minister said that Bangladesh is a market of 170 million and its geographical
location puts it in the heart of a market of 3 billion.
"Bangladesh
has now emerged as an ideal place for trade and investment in the region, and
beyond. Meanwhile, our physical, legal, and financial infrastructures are being
improved," she said.
The premier
noted that their efforts to sustain overall growth through investments in
infrastructure are visible across the country.
"Last
year, over the large Padma River, we built with own fund, our longest bridge,
now an important feature in regional development," she said.
The Prime
Minister said her government had also built metro rail, and improved port
infrastructure, including deep seaport. These have heightened domestic and
regional connectivity.
"Our
climate responsible growth policy, labour reforms, and improvement in labour
safety standards deserve appreciation," she opined.
Bangladesh
proudly hosts 53 of the world's top 100 green garments factories certified by
the US Green Building Council (USGBC), she said, adding that Bangladesh will be
graduating from "least developed" to "developing" country
in 2026.
"For this,
we shall need support to increase our global competitiveness, and expand the
export base," said the premier.
Source: bssnews.net
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/123487
--------
Traffic
Accident Kills 6 in Afghanistan
May 3, 2023
In a traffic
accident on Tuesday in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province, six commuters
were killed, and one was injured, according to a statement from the local
police office.
The statement
said that a truck and a car collided on Tuesday morning in the Khwaja Alwan
neighbourhood outside of the province capital Pul-e-Khumri, resulting in six
deaths, including a mother and a kid and injuring another person.
Recently,
several road incidents have been reported in the country, resulting in many
deaths and injuring several others.
On Friday, a
road accident occurred in the northern Takhar province injuring nine people. In
contrast, 13 passengers were injured due to a bus collision with a car in the
Paktia province of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is
one of the countries with the highest number of road accidents due to several
factors, including congested roads, lack of safety measures, reckless driving,
and lack of rules of laws.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/traffic-accident-kills-6-in-afghanistan/
--------
Over 340 Afghan
Refugees Return Back From Pakistan
By
Fidel Rahmati
May 3, 2023
343 Afghan
refugees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan on Tuesday, according to a
statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.
The Afghan
migrants came via the Spin Boldak Crossing in Southern Kandahar province. They
were referred to the International Organization for Migration (OIM).
A further 211
Afghan refugees entered the country from Pakistan on Monday at the Spin Boldak
crossing, while another 120 did so a few days earlier.
According to
the UNHCR’s recent report, most Afghan migrants return from neighbouring
countries due to the high cost of living and lack of job opportunities in the
host countries.
Additionally,
it has been reported that thousands of Afghan migrants have recently returned
to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran. Some refugees returned home voluntarily,
while others were compelled to leave their host country.
Since the
return of the Taliban to power, most migrants have fled the country due to
prosecution, lack of job opportunities, and security threats.
On the other
hand, the vast majority of the population in the country faces several
challenges, including extreme poverty, hunger, unemployment, and security
challenges.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/over-340-afghan-refugees-return-back-from-pakistan/
--------
Turkmenistan
Exports Gas to Pakistan Via Afghanistan
By
Nizamuddin
Rezahi
May 3, 2023
Mohammad Yunus
Mohmand, the head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment in an
official ceremony that took place in Kandahar province earlier in the week
said, that it was an important step towards economic development of the
country.
Truckloads of
liquefied gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan is a new
initiative facilitated by the Taliban authorities, a major step towards
economic development and trade connectivity in the region.
Mr. Mohmand
further explained that previously gas was transferred to Pakistan via Iran,
however, now Afghanistan under the Taliban regime has become a safe transit
option, allowing for large-scale exports in this direction.
Yasser Basir,
an international firm, has started exporting natural gas to Pakistan through
the Spin Boldak land port. Some 50 tankers of gas – each carrying 30 tonnes of
liquefied gas that arrived in Kandahar were sent to Pakistan.
According to
Kandahar Customs officials, Afghanistan has seen a significant increase in
cargo shipments to Central Asia in the past year. In 2021, a total of 22,891
cargo containers were sent to Central Asian countries through Afghanistan. This
number rose to 53,679 consignments in the following year, 2022.
The mega
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project remains stalled
due to the late regime change and security concerns in Afghanistan. However,
the successful export of Turkmen gas from Afghanistan to Pakistan via truck is
a promising step toward the country’s economic development.
The stalled
TAPI pipeline was aimed to connect Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India via
Afghanistan. the project was initiated in 2018 in Afghanistan while the Taliban
was fighting the Western-backed government in Kabul. However, the Taliban
administration has pledged its support for the project, considering it a vital
component of the nation’s future economic infrastructure, and the vital role it
can play towards the economic development of the country.
It is believed
that Kabul could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in transit fees
through this arrangement once the project is completed.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/turkmenistan-exports-gas-to-pakistan-via-afghanistan/
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Africa
Arab League,
African Union and UN intensify efforts for peace in Sudan
02-05-23
The head of the
Arab League held talks n Tuesday with a representative of Sudanese military
leader General Abdel Fattah Burhan at the organisation's headquarters in Cairo.
Speaking after
the meeting, Dafa’alla Al-Haj Ali said that the crisis in his homeland was an
"internal matter" and warned against any external interference.
“I am talking
to you now, and there are contacts regarding the completion of this truce, but
we want this truce to be with the participation of the political institutions
to which we belong, the first of which is the Arab League and also the African
Union, but that it takes place with their approval and in all its details, and
we do not accept anything imposed on us by whichever direction“, said Dafa’alla
Al-Haj Ali, special envoy of General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, president of Sudan's
Sovereignty Council.
On Tuesday, the
African Union, in collaboration with the United Nations and IGAD, announced a
new concerted effort to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in Sudan
During news
briefing at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, African Union
Commission's Chairperson spokesperson Mohamed El HacenLebatt announced that
Union had "agreed on the necessity to intensify, collectively and
individually, all our effort to reach, as soon as possible, a complete and
conditional, efficient, inclusive ceasefire all over Sudan”.
Mohamed El
HacenLebatt, African Union Commission Chairperson and Sudan process
Spokesperson:
“We have agreed
on the necessity to intensify, collectively and individually, all our effort to
reach, as soon as possible, a complete and conditional, efficient, inclusive
ceasefire all over Sudan. They (AU, IGAD, Ed.) agreed to intensify, by all
means, the effort to bring as soon as possible the humanitarian support for the
population inside Sudanese cities and all the borders of all neighbouring
countries where thousands of Sudanese have fled”, said Mohamed El HacenLebatt,
African Union Commission Chairperson and Sudan process Spokesperson.
Thousands of
people have fled fierce fighting in central Khartoum for Sudan’s borders. Some
have been waiting for days in the open air to cross the Ashkit land crossing
into Egypt.
At least 447
civilians have been killed and more than 2,255 injured since the fighting
began, according to figures released on Monday by the Doctors’ Syndicate, which
tracks civilian casualties.
Source: africanews.com
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Kenya deadly
cult: Mackenzie to face terrorism charges; Odero remains in custody
02-05-23
Two pastors
based in coastal Kenya have appeared in court over the deaths at least 110 of
their congregants, many of whom are believed to have starved to death.
Self-proclaimed
pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who set up the Good News International Church in
2003 and is accused of inciting followers to starve to death "to meet
Jesus", appeared in the dock in Malindi.
He will face
terrorism charges over the deaths of more than 100 people found buried in what
has been dubbed the "Shakahola forest massacre," prosecutors said.
The small
courtroom was packed with relatives of victims as Mackenzie, dressed in a pink
and black jacket and brown trousers, was brought in by about half a dozen
police officers along with eight other defendants.
After a brief
hearing, the case was moved to the high court in Kenya's second-largest city of
Mombasa, where the suspects will face terrorism charges, prosecutor Vivian
Kambaga told AFP.
"There is
a court (in Mombasa) that is gazetted to handle cases under the prevention of
terrorism act," Kambaga told a magistrate during the hearing in Malindi,
asking for the case to be moved to the high court.
More than 100
bodies have been exhumed from dozens of mass graves on his property within
Kilifi County. Children are believed to be among the dead, but it is unclear
how many, as some of the bodies are in poor condition.
Autopsies on 40
of the bodies found on Mackenzie’s property revealed that the causes of death
ranged from starvation to strangulation and suffocation.
The higher
court has authorized Mackenzie’s detention until Friday, when an application to
hold him for a further 30 days pending terrorism investigations will be heard.
His wife, Rhoda
Maweu, was arrested on Monday night from a hideout in the coastal town of
Mtwapa after weeks on the run.
Mackenzie past
with the police
Mackenzie had
been charged in 2017 over the deaths of children at his church. In 2019, he
closed the church and moved to a ranch in a forested area of Kilificounty,
where hundreds of families built houses.
One of his
followers told The Associated Press that it was at this time that a plan to
starve till death in order to meet Jesus was hatched and his followers started
dying.
Human rights
groups had been sounding the alarm for months until April, when police began
investigating and mass graves were discovered at the ranch.
Currently,
police are conducting search and rescue missions on the 800-acre (325 hectares)
property and at an even bigger ranch nearby. So far, 48 people have been
rescued alive and 24 arrests made, according to Coast Regional Commissioner
Rhoda Onyancha.
The operation
to dig for more bodies has stalled even as the government announced a
dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area and redeployed all senior police commanders to
pave the way for a thorough probe.
Ezekiel Odero
at the dock
Pastor Ezekiel
Odero, whose church is in the same county as Mackenzie’s, has also appeared in
court. He will remain in custody for a further two days as investigations
continue.
Odero was
arrested last week in connection to the deaths of dozens of his congregants at
his megachurch, which draws thousands of people from across the country.
He is also
being investigated for his links to Mackenzie.
Prosecutors
have linked Odero and Mackenzie, saying in court documents that they share a
"history of business investments" including a television station used
to pass "radicalised messages" to followers.
After Mackenzie
closed his church in 2019, Odero bought a television channel from him.
In his filing
to the court, Odero said he wanted to "strongly disassociate" himself
from Mackenzie and disagreed with his teachings.
His followers
trouped in large numbers outside the court Tuesday, praying for his release.
Source: africanews.com
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Ugandan
lawmakers pass new version of tough anti-gay bill
02-05-23
Uganda's
parliament on Tuesday passed an amended version of an anti-LGBT+ law that had
sparked outrage from many NGOs and Western governments in which it maintained
harsh penalties for same-sex relationships and the "promotion" of
homosexuality.
Faced with the
international outcry, President YoweriMuseveni asked parliamentarians on April
26 to "re-examine" the text, urging them to clarify that "being
homosexual" was not a crime but that only sexual relations were.
The elected
officials heard him on this provision. The new version of the text, consulted
by AFP, stipulates that "a person who is presumed or suspected to be
homosexual, who has not committed a sexual act with another person of the same
sex, does not commit the crime of homosexuality.
In this country
where homosexuality is illegal, "acts of homosexuality" are still
punishable by life imprisonment. This penalty has existed since a law dating
back to British colonization.
Parliamentarians
also maintained, against the advice of the head of state, a provision making
"aggravated homosexuality" a capital offence, which means that repeat
offenders can be sentenced to death. The death penalty has not been used in
Uganda for years.
A provision on
the "promotion" of homosexuality also worries gay rights
organizations.
According to
the law, anyone - individual or organization - who "knowingly promotes
homosexuality" can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. If it is an
organization, it risks a ten-year ban.
- "Culture
to be protected" - Parliamentarians also amended a provision on "the
duty to report acts of homosexuality" which, according to YoweriMuseveni,
presented "constitutional challenges and could be a source of conflict in
society.
The reporting
requirement, which carries a penalty of five years in prison, is now limited to
suspected sexual offences against children and vulnerable persons.
"We have a
culture to protect. The western world will not come and rule Uganda," said
the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, after the vote on the text, which
was approved unanimously minus one vote.
The bill must
now go back to the president, who may or may not sign it into law. If he were
to send it back to parliament again, a "super-majority" of two-thirds
would allow legislators to validate the text definitively.
Frank Mugisha,
executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a gay rights organization whose
activities were suspended by the authorities last year, is not reassured by
this amended version.
"There is
a contradiction because the legislation says you can be gay but you should not
say anything about it," he told AFP.
The unanimous
vote of the text "shows how extreme and homophobic the deputies are and
puts LGBTQ people in even more danger," he stressed.
The law enjoys
broad popular support and opposition reactions have been rare in this country
ruled with an iron fist since 1986 by YoweriMuseveni, where repression against
civil society, lawyers and activists has increased in recent years, according
to many human rights organizations.
- Economic
"consequences" -Homophobia is widespread in Uganda, as it is across
East Africa.
While there
have been no prosecutions for homosexual acts in recent years, harassment and
intimidation are a daily occurrence for homosexuals in Uganda, where an
evangelical Christianity has developed that is particularly vehement against
the LGBT+ movement.
After the vote
of the first version of this law on March 21, the UN, Amnesty International,
the United States, the United Kingdom, and the EU had urged Museveni not to
promulgate this text.
The White House
warned Uganda of potential economic "consequences.
The UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, denounced the text as
"discriminatory - probably the worst of its kind in the world.
In a resolution
on April 20, MEPs deplored "President Museveni's contribution to the
rhetoric of hatred towards LGBT+ people", adding that "relations
between the EU and Uganda will be threatened if the President enacts the
bill".
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/02/ugandan-lawmakers-pass-new-version-of-tough-anti-gay-bill/
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Kenyan police
clash with anti-government protesters
02-05-23
The Kenyan police
on Tuesday used tear gas to disperse a delegation of opposition politicians who
wanted to visit the president's office in the capital Nairobi, in a day of
anti-government protests without major incident.
Elected
officials from the opposition Azimio coalition wanted to petition about the
"unacceptably high" cost of food, fuel, and electricity.
After being
denied access to the presidential building, they were dispersed with tear gas,
according to a video shot by local media.
After a
one-month break, the historic opponent RailaOdinga called for a resumption on
Tuesday of the "maandamano" (demonstrations) against President
William Ruto, whom he accuses of "stealing" the August 2022
presidential election and of being unable to curb the current price hike.
A previous
series of protests in late March led to clashes, looting, and vandalism. Three
people, including a policeman, were killed during these rallies banned by the
authorities.
Tuesday morning
was generally calm in the country, with some isolated clashes and incidents.
In some slums
on the outskirts of Nairobi, scuffles broke out between police and youths who
blocked streets with burning tires.
An empty bus
and a goods truck were also set on fire in the south of the capital.
In Kisumu, an
Odinga stronghold in the west, roads were blocked with burning tires and rocks.
On Sunday,
Nairobi regional police commander Adamson Bungei announced a ban on the
protests, as previous ones had been "marred by violence".
The days of
action had been suspended to allow for discussions between the two sides, but
the process has stalled, notably over the composition of the various
delegations.
Despite the
rejection of his appeal by the Supreme Court, RailaOdinga, who was running for
the fifth time, is still contesting the results of last year's presidential
election, one of the closest in the country's history.
Elected as the
champion of the "resourceful" poor, William Ruto has since faced
criticism, especially after removing costly subsidies on fuel and maize meal,
the prices of which have risen in the wake of the election.
Kenya, the
economic powerhouse of East Africa, is facing skyrocketing inflation, which
reached 9.2 per cent year-on-year in February. Food prices alone rose by 13.3%.
The country is
also battling a depreciating Kenyan shilling and an unprecedented drought in
parts of the country.
Source: africanews.com
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Senegal: Sonko
denounces an "assassination attempt with poison gas"
02-05-23
Speaking to the
press Monday Sonko said a foreign laboratory analysed the substance sprayed in
on him last March and concluded it was "toxic and lethal."
"There was
an assassination attempt," he started. "I did not say murder, because
legally the difference between murder and assassination is preparation,
premeditation even. I consider what happened to have been premeditated."
"We were
sprayed with this product in a confined space as stated in the document, that
is, in a closed car, the objective that was sought was to assassinate us. And
those who did it were all wearing masks, we were not. That is why we will
handle this case as it should be. The lawyers have practically completed the
necessary steps today and we will file them at the beginning of this
week."
The PASTEF
party leader said mid-March that he felt unwell after being tear gased by the
police during a forced transfer to the Dakar court where he was to appear.
The opposition
leader had said after the incident that he spent five days in a private clinic
in Dakar for treatment, and that samples had been taken from his clothes and
sent abroad "for toxicological expertise."
Last month
Senegalese government spokesman, Trade Minister Abdou Karim Fofana, denied
Sonko's accusation that police had been involved.
Sonko insisted
Monday (May 1st) that a judge could write to the facilities for the findings.
He also called
for national civil disobedience against the judiciary that he considers partial
and further rejected any dialogue against President MackySall.
Sonko who came
third in Senegal's presidential election in 2019 is vying for next year's
election.
However, the
journey to get there hasn't been smooth, he has had several brushes with the
law and was accused of rape by an employee of salon where he went for a
massage. That trial is due to begin on May 16.
Source: africanews.com
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Sudan warring
parties agree to 7-day truce from May 4
02-05-23
The warring
parties in Sudan have agreed to a seven-day truce starting May 4, in a phone
conversation with South Sudan's President SalvaKiir, the foreign ministry in
Juba said Tuesday, raising hopes of an end to weeks of bloodshed.
Sudan's army
chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival, Mohamed HamdanDaglo,
who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, "have agreed in
principle for a seven-day truce from May 4th to 11th," the ministry said
in a statement.
Hundreds of
people have been killed and thousands wounded in the fighting as air strikes
and artillery exchanges have pounded swathes of greater Khartoum, sparking the
exodus of thousands of Sudanese to neighbouring countries.
The two sides
have also agreed "to name their representatives to peace talks to be held
at any venue of their choice", the statement from Juba said.
Kiir was
speaking to Burhan and Daglo as part of an initiative by the East African
regional bloc IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development), which has
been pushing for an end to the fighting, echoing calls by the African Union and
the international community.
Source: africanews.com
Please
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