Turkish Officials Claim Capture of New Islamic State Leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 May 2022
In this October 13, 2014
photo, a man shows an IS flag at an Islamic bookstore in the Fatih district of
Istanbul. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
-----
• Reporters without Borders Call the Taliban’s Recent
Actions against Female Anchors a Violation of Human Rights
• Hijab Row Again After a Degree College in Mangaluru
Issues a Ban on Hijab or a Headscarf inside the Campus
• Americans Urge Israel to Avoid Muslim Quarter in
Controversial Flag March
• Iraq Makes It Illegal to Attempt Normalizing Ties
with Israel
Mideast
• Probe finds Israeli soldier shot at Al Jazeera
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
• President: Iran Establishes Headquarters for
Defusing Sanctions
• Iran's UN Envoy: Int'l Humanitarian Law Violated in
Middle East
• Israel informed US officials it killed Iranian
colonel: Report
• Gaza War Survivor Commemorates Family Victims Of
Israeli Airstrike In Paintings
• Iran says US foreign policy 'taken hostage' by
Israel
• Blast in Yemen fish market kills at least 4 people,
wounds over 30
--------
South
Asia
• Eight Members Committee Formed to Reopen Girls'
Schools: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
• US Special Representative Thomas West Meets Dr.
Abdullah Abdullah
• India engages Russia, China, US on Afghanistan;
Taliban say country terror free
• Four bombs kill at least 16 in Afghanistan
--------
India
• 4 Tourists Booked Under Riot Provocation Charge for
Offering Namaz at Taj Mosque
• Claims of petitioners contradictory: Gyanvapi mosque
side in court
• Hindu plaintiffs suit not maintainable, says mosque
panel
• Mathura court directed for speedy disposal of plea
for deputing advocate to survey Shahi Idgah mosque
• Muslim side questions maintainability of Gyanvapi
petition
• Four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed in two
encounters in Kashmir
• Special ties with Afghan people will guide India's
approach: NSA Doval
• Terrorists involved in killing of female TV artist
killed in encounter in Kashmir
• Two held for killing Hindu man over interfaith
relationship in Karnataka: Police
• Karnataka: Muslim students blame ABVP for anti-hijab
protest
--------
North
America
• Former New York resident found guilty of aiding
Islamic State in Syria
• US urges Yemen’s Houthis to free US Embassy’s local
staff
• Mexican envoy highlights multifaceted, historical
ties with Turkiye
--------
Arab
World
• Turkish forces shell Kurdish-controlled areas in
northern Aleppo: Report
• No Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meeting in
foreseeable future: Saudi official
• Turkish soldier killed in northern Iraq during
military operation
• Lebanon’s election sees political vote buying and
intimidation
• Saudi crown prince, Greek PM discuss boosting joint
cooperation
--------
Pakistan
• Pakistan's National Assembly Approves Bill to
Deprive Overseas Citizens from Voting, Stop Use of EVMs
• Pak PM Imran Calls off March, Gives Ultimatum to
Govt to Dissolve NA
• PTI’s march cost government Rs149 million
• Imran Khan, other PTI leaders booked over
‘vandalism, arson’ charges during Azadi March
• FM Bilawal reaffirms Pakistan’s desire to strengthen
trade, economic ties with Iran
• Bilawal rejects foreign intervention claim, rebuilds
ties with West at Davos
• Imran Khan Era Electoral Changes Overturned With
Bill In Pakistan: Report
• Pakistan: Fault lines visible in Shehbaz govt as
PML-N calls for immediate elections
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Penang Allocates 9.24 Acres of Land for Taoism,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Other Religions Places of Worship
• Tokyo government reaffirms connections to Islamic
countries
• Indonesia summons Britain's envoy after furore over
rainbow flag
• Indonesia should become global halal industry’s
major player: MPR
--------
Africa
• Morocco, Israel Sign Agreement on Scientific
Research
• Nigeria’s Insecurity May Become Uncontrollable – Islamic
Leaders
• Security forces descend on capital as Sudanese
protests enter eighth month
• Firefighters contain blaze at Sudan Red Sea port
• Tunisian president decrees a referendum for new
constitution
--------
Europe
• Six Pakistani Peacekeepers Awarded Medals of Courage
• Greece tells UN that Turkey is challenging its
sovereignty
• Afghan asylum seekers being ‘brutally mistreated’ by
Bulgarian authorities: Rights group
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/turkish-islamic-state-hashimi-qurashi-/d/127105
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Turkish Officials Claim Capture of New Islamic State
Leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
In this October 13, 2014 photo, a man shows an IS flag
at an Islamic bookstore in the Fatih district of Istanbul. (AP Photo/Emrah
Gurel)
-----
May 26, 2022
Jeff Seldin
WASHINGTON —
The reign of new Islamic State terror group leader Abu
al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi may be over, less than three months after it
began.
The Turkish website OdaTV first reported the arrest of
Abu al-Hassan Thursday, saying Turkish police captured him without firing a
single bullet during a raid on a house in Istanbul last week.
The website further reported the IS leader was being
questioned and that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to formally
announce the arrest and share additional details in the coming days.
Separately, two senior Turkish officials, speaking on
the condition of anonymity, confirmed the arrest to Bloomberg News, adding that
Erdogan has been informed.
U.S. officials, however, remained cautious.
“[We] can’t confirm the reports about al-Qurashi,”
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Thursday. “Obviously we've
been looking at this all day, but we're just not in a position where we can
actually confirm that press reporting.”
IS named Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as the
terror group’s third leader in March, saying he took over shortly after the
death of his predecessor during a raid by U.S. special forces in northwestern
Syria in February.
IS followers quickly lined up behind the new leader,
with the terror group’s media division sharing photos and videos of fighters
from Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Philippines and elsewhere
pledging their allegiance to Abu al-Hassan.
Yet despite the show of support, there are still
questions about the new leader’s true identity, which may be making it more
difficult to verify Turkey’s claims.
Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi is a nom-de-guerre
meant to indicate the new leader is a descendant of the Hashemite clan of the
Qurashi tribe, which by bloodline would link him to Prophet Muhammed — an IS
requirement for any would-be caliph.
And so far, Western counterintelligence officials have
yet to form a firm consensus about who is really leading IS.
There are, however, several theories.
New Lines Magazine in February identified Bashar
Khattab Ghazal al-Sumaidai as next in line to lead the terror group.
"Known by numerous noms de guerre, including
Ustath Zaid (Teacher or Professor Zaid), Abu Khattab al-Iraqi, Abu al-Moez
al-Iraqi and Abu Ishaq, he returned to Syria from Turkey about a year
ago," New Lines said, adding that al-Sumaidai had become increasingly
popular in jihadist circles.
But Iraqi and Western officials told Reuters in March
that the new leader was actually Juma Awad al-Badri, the brother of former IS
caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Still, no matter who it is that Turkey ultimately
captured, some analysts say as long as Turkish officials have a senior IS
leader, it could help further weaken IS operations.
“It could end up being an intelligence boon once he’s
interrogated and questioned,” Colin Clarke, director of research at the global
intelligence firm The Soufan Group, told VOA.
“We’ve long known that the organization’s financiers
and logisticians had strong networks in Turkey, but now it seems like senior
leadership is active there as well,” Clarke said.
“A country like Turkey is a double-edged sword for
groups like ISIS,” he added, using another acronym for the terror group.
“On the one hand, Turkey has capable security forces,”
Clarke said. “On the other hand, unlike a country like Afghanistan that is
somewhat isolated, Turkey can serve as a safe haven for terrorists, and it’s
connected to the illicit financial system, communications, [and]
transportation.”
Source: VOA news
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.voanews.com/a/turkish-officials-claim-capture-of-new-islamic-state-leader-/6591292.html
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Reporters without Borders Call the Taliban’s Recent
Actions Against Female Anchors A Violation of Human Rights
Photo: The Khaama Press
----
By Saqalain Eqbal
26 May 2022
The Taliban’s recent actions against female TV
presenters have been strongly condemned by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as a
flagrant violation of human rights and media freedom.
With their recent order to require women to wear
masks, the Taliban made a last-ditch effort to crack down on and suppress the
media and violate women’s rights, according to Christophe Deloire, the
organization’s Director General.
Reporters Without Borders stated in a statement that
it stands with and supports Afghan journalists who bravely work in the country.
The organization demanded that the Taliban immediately
lift their unjustified restrictions, which have resulted in breaches of women’s
rights and press freedom.
Nevertheless, the Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of
Virtue and Prohibition of Vice has made it mandatory for presenters in the
visual media to cover their faces.
The Taliban’s action sparked widespread condemnation
around the world.
Rina Amiri, the US Special Envoy for Women and Human
Rights in Afghanistan, and Thomas West, the US Special Representative for
Afghanistan, repeatedly called on the international community to unite against
the Taliban’s strict policies.
Source: Khaama Press
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original story:
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Hijab Row Again After a Degree College In Mangaluru
Issues A Ban On Hijab Or A Headscarf Inside The Campus
The hijab controversy resurfaced in Karnataka’s Mangaluru
district on Thursday, with a degree college in the city issuing a ban on hijab
or a headscarf inside the campus. (ANI)
----
By Arun Dev
May 27, 2022
The hijab controversy resurfaced in Karnataka’s
Mangaluru district on Thursday, with a degree college in the city issuing a ban
on hijab or a headscarf inside the campus.
On May 16, the college decided to ban the hijab on the
college premises, and a notice was issued the next day.
This week, a group of students, some of them
affiliated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), held a protest and
claimed that the order is not being enforced.
Following this, a group of Muslim students approached
the district commissioner KV Rajendra on Thursday, alleging discrimination
inside the campus.
On the same day, hundreds of Hindu students boycotted
their classes and sat in protest outside the Mangalore University College in
Mangaluru’s Hampanakatte.
“We had written a letter to the principal on May 10
asking her to ban hijab in the college. She said that we would take a decision
on May 16 after holding a meeting. We approached them again, and they said a
decision would be taken in a syndicate meeting, but nothing has been conveyed
to us. We will start wearing saffron shawls if hijab is not banned,” a
protesting student said.
The college principal, Anasuya Rai, said that the syndicate
decided to ban the hijab after some students had approached the college
management seeking a ban on the hijab. “On May 16, a syndicate meeting was
held, where a decision to ban hijab was taken. We had put out the same on the
notice board on May 17. After that, a few Muslim students are not attending
classes,” the principal told reporters.
Mangalore University registrar Kishore Kumar visited
the college campus and held a meeting with the principal and lecturers on
Thursday. After the meeting, the registrar also met the protesting students and
assured them that the hijab ban in classrooms would be enforced. Based on the
assurance, students withdrew their protest.
One of the Muslim students who approached the Dakshina
Kannada DC said that the Karnataka high court verdict on the hijab is not
applicable to degree colleges.
On March 15, a three-judge bench comprising chief
justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, justice Krishna S Dixit and justice JM Khazi
delivered a 129-page verdict, in which they ruled that the hijab was not an
“essential religious practice”, paving way for the ban on hijab in
pre-university colleges in the state.
“First of all, the ban of hijab is not as per the high
court order since it clearly says the order will not be applicable to degree
colleges. Secondly, we have a copy of the prospectus of the college which
clearly states that headwear will be allowed. Until now, we were wearing a
hijab, and the new order is politically motivated. No court order has said that
a dress code of the college can be changed during the academic year,” said the
student, who didn’t identify herself.
Mangaluru South MLA, D Vedavyasa Kamath, has called a
meeting with college authorities on Friday to discuss the issue.
“I am in Bengaluru and cannot get there now. But I will
speak to the relevant authorities on the issue as it has not been brought to my
notice yet. It is 100% the college’s responsibility to implement the HC order
and the duty of every citizen to follow it,” Kamat told News 1. Mangaluru DC
was not available for comment on the issue.
In December 2021, at least eight Muslim students were
stopped from entering class wearing the hijab. On January 1, the college
development council (CDC) passed an order banning the hijab inside campuses,
leading to students sitting outside the college building, but within the
campus, in protest.
College authorities maintained that the hijab was
never allowed inside classrooms. By February, as the controversy spread across
the state, there were counter-protests with some students wearing saffron
shawls. On February 3, a video of the government PU college principal shutting
the gates on at least 25 hijab-wearing students in Udupi’s Kundapura turned the
issue into a wider movement.
Source: Hindustan Times
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original story:
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Americans Urge Israel to Avoid Muslim Quarter in
Controversial Flag March
Right-wing flag march
enters Jerusalem Muslim quarter through Old City Damascus Gate in 2021(Photo:
EPA)
----
05.26.22
The U.S. administration on Thursday appealed to
Israeli officials to express their concern over the controversial right-wing
flag march next week and its route through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City
of Jerusalem.
The Americans said the march as it was approved, could
cause further friction and asked officials in Jerusalem to reconsider their
decision.
The annual event, marking the 'reunification' of east
and west Jerusalem after the 1967 Six Day War has become a demonstration of
Israeli sovereignty over the city by the right-wing and religious population,
and includes organized groups of school children from religious schools.
Public Security Minister Omer Barlev said last week
that the police will approve the march based on recommendations from security
agencies.
The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said it was forbidding
its staff and their families from visiting the Old City on Sunday and in fact
ordered them to refrain from entering the ancient city's walls from Thursday
through Monday.
The embassy also published a warning to all Americans
in the area to be especially vigilant.
Israel's security agencies and the IDF recommended the
route remain unchanged from past years in order not to cause the appearance of
weakness after Hamas threatened violence in response to it.
In discussions, the officials said that if Hamas
initiates violence in the wake of the march like it did last year, Israel's
response should be significant. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was also
decisive in the discussions and said the route must remain unchanged.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said
participants in the march intend on destroying the mosque on top of the Temple
Mount compound.
"The Palestinian resistance said the march will
not go unanswered," leader of the Iran-backed terror group said.
Source: Ynet News
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syhty11ad5
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Iraq Makes It Illegal To Attempt Normalizing Ties With
Israel
Followers of Shi'ite
cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold a poster with his photo and wave an Iraqi flag as
they celebrate the passing of a law criminalizing the normalization of ties
with Israel, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq on May 26, 2022.
AP Photo/Hadi Mizban
----
26 May, 2022
Iraq's parliament approved a law on Thursday that will
ban normalizing relations with Israel, at a time when several Arab countries
have established formal ties.
The Iraqi parliament has been unable to convene on any
other issue including electing a new president and forming its own government,
prolonging a political standoff.
Iraq has never recognized the state of Israel since
its establishment in 1948 and Iraqi citizens and companies cannot visit Israel,
but the new law goes further, specifically criminalising any attempts to
normalize relations with Israel.
The law was proposed by influential Shia cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr whose party, which opposes close ties with the US and Israel,
won more seats in parliament in elections last October.
“Approving the law is not only a victory for the Iraqi
people but to the heroes in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon,” said Iraqi
Shia lawmaker Hassan Salim who represents Iranian-backed militia Asaib Ahl
al-Haq.
Lawmakers from Sadr's party said they proposed the law
to curb any claims by Iranian-backed rival parties that Sadr is making
coalitions with Sunni and Kurds who may have secret ties with Israel.
Some Gulf states, including the UAE and Bahrain, are
forging ties with Israel against a backdrop of shared concerns about the threat
that Iran may pose to the region.
Saudi Arabia, a close US ally, has made it a condition
of any eventual normalization with Israel that Palestinians' quest for
statehood on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war must be
addressed.
Source: Al Arabiya
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original story:
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Mideast
Probe finds Israeli soldier shot at Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
May 27, 2022
JERUSALEM: The Palestinian Authority’s attorney
general said on Thursday that its investigation proves an Israeli soldier shot
Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in a targeted killing in Jenin on May
11.
The bullet that killed Abu Akleh is a 5.56mm round
with a steel component used by Nato forces, he said, adding that the
Palestinian Authority will not hand the bullet over to Israel.
Al Jazeera TV Network will refer the killing of its
journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the prosecutor of the International Criminal
Court (ICC), it said in a televised statement on Thursday.
Al Jazeera’s legal team alongside international legal
experts will prepare a file on the killing of Abu Akleh to refer it to the ICC,
according to Reuters.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday in the occupied West
Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian Attorney General Akram al-Khatib said: “It
was clear that one of the [Israeli] occupation forces … had fired a bullet that
hit journalist Shireen Abu Akleh directly in her head” while she was attempting
to escape.
Abu Akleh, 51, was hit with an armour-piercing bullet,
the attorney general said, while she was wearing a helmet and a vest that was
clearly marked with the word “PRESS”.
Al-Khatib was reporting on the findings of a
Palestinian Authority investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh, who was shot
on May 11 while covering an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.
“The only source of firing was by the occupation
forces with the aim to kill,” he said.
Al-Khatib said his investigation was based on
interviews with witnesses, an inspection of the scene and a forensic medical
report.
Witnesses and colleagues who were present at the scene
had previously said Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces. Al Jazeera Media
Network said Abu Akleh was “assassinated in cold blood”.
Al-Khatib said the investigation found there were no
Palestinian fighters near the scene of the shooting, contradicting claims made
by Israeli officials that she could have been killed by armed Palestinians.
He said the Israeli forces were able to see Abu Akleh
and other journalists, who were all clearly marked as members of the press.
According to al-Khatib, an autopsy and forensic
examination conducted in Nablus after Abu Akleh’s death showed she was shot
from behind, indicating that she was attempting to flee as Israeli forces
continued to fire towards the group of journalists.
Source: Dawn
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President: Iran Establishes Headquarters for Defusing
Sanctions
2022-May-26
“We are striving so that the conditions would become
such that these issues are eliminated, and the people’s lives, livelihoods, and
businesses would become such that they can live differently from the past, and
the conditions become better and better,” Rayeesi said, addressing an event on
Wednesday to commemorate 4,000 martyred clerics.
He further said the enemy’s strategy is to dishearten
the Iranian population while the Islamic Republic’s strategy is to hearten the
people.
“Today, anyone who disheartens people with a stroke of
their pen or with taking a step – whether intentionally or unintentionally
and/or knowingly or unknowingly – is taking the enemy’s path, and if they take
a step to hearten people, they are following the Islamic [Republic]’s path,”
Rayeesi added.
He underlined that his administration will not tie the
country’s progress to the removal of sanctions, reiterating that neutralization
of the impact of sanctions is being resolutely pursued, separate from efforts
to remove them through talks in Vienna.
“Just as we do not deem the enemy’s threats a
hindrance, we do not [intend to] put off the country’s progress until the
removal of sanctions,” Rayeesi said.
“We have shown this in practice and announced through
official tribunes that our strategy is that of the Leader, but at the same time
we are pursuing the removal of sanctions as well.”
Rayeesi was referring to negotiations in the Austrian
capital to persuade Washington to remove its illegal sanctions on Iran, four
years after it unilaterally withdrew from the landmark Iran deal and launched a
so-called campaign of maximum pressure against the Islamic Republic.
Source: Fars News Agency
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of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010305000192/Presiden-Iran-Esablishes-Headarers-fr-Defsing-Sancins
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Iran's UN Envoy: Int'l Humanitarian Law Violated in
Middle East
2022-May-26
“The protection of civilians in armed conflicts is a
fundamental principle of humanitarian law,” Takht Ravanchi said on Wednesday,
addressing a UN Security Council meeting.
”However, the international community is witness to
the non-compliance of international humanitarian law as well as the lack of
accountability for its grave violations,” he added.
“Conflicts have had devastating effects on our
volatile region, the Middle East, where international humanitarian law is being
flagrantly violated,” Takht Ravanchi said.
He cited the situation in Yemen, Palestine, and Syria
as cases in point for the places which are witnessing the highest number of
violations against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the already
volatile Middle East region, saying that Yemen is experiencing “acute food
insecurity” due to rampant attacks against schools, hospitals,
telecommunications infrastructure, roads, factories, houses, and other civilian
objects.
Palestine is playing host to deterioration of the
humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli regime's decades of
occupation and apartheid policies, the envoy added.
In Syria, meanwhile, continuing occupation, terrorism,
and unilateral sanctions has displaced millions of people, damaged
infrastructures, limited access to vital resources, and disrupted trade and
supply of food and agricultural inputs, he said.
The ambassador finally urged strongly against
politicization of humanitarian assistance and respect for the international
humanitarian law among other things in conflict zones across the globe.
Also, in March, Takht Ravanchi had said that his
country was highly worried about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in
war-hit Ukraine.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is deeply concerned
about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine,” Takht
Ravanchi said at the time, addressing a UN General Assembly meeting.
“Iran reiterates its principled position regarding the
need for peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law,”
he added.
Source: Fars News Agency
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Israel informed US officials it killed Iranian
colonel: Report
26 May, 2022
Israel has told US officials that it was behind the
assassination of Iranian Colonel Sayad Khodae, according to an intelligence
official briefed on the communications.
Khodaei was killed on Sunday by two motorcyclists who
fired five bullets at him near his house, according to Iranian media reports.
According to the intelligence official who spoke on
condition of anonymity to the New York Times, the Israelis informed Washington
that the aim of the operation was to warn Tehran to suspend the activity of
Unit 840, a secret group within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’-Quds
Force(IRGC-QF).
“Unit 840 is tasked with abductions and assassinations
of foreigners around the world, including Israeli civilians and officials,
according to Israeli government, military and intelligence officials,” the NYT
reported, adding that Iran has never acknowledged the existence of Unit 840.
In the aftermath of the assassination, Iran vowed to
avenge the murder, with Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami saying
Tehran will harshly respond to threats.
“Iran’s response to any threat or action will be
harsh. But we will determine when and how it will be and in what circumstances.
We will definitely take revenge on our enemies,” Salami said on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, Majid Mir-Ahmadi, a member of Iran’s
National Security Council, blamed Israel for the assassination, adding that the
culprits will regret their deeds.
“The assassination of [Khodaei] was unquestionably
carried out by the Zionist regime, and the culprits must brace themselves for a
heavy slap in the face from Iran,” he said, according to state news agency
IRNA.
Iran called on the UN to condemn the “cowardly”
killing of Khodaei.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi,
urged the UN in a letter to denounce the assassination on the basis of “its
responsibilities to genuinely fight terrorism and in a non-discriminatory
manner,” IRNA reported on Thursday.
Describing him as a “martyr,” Ravanchi said Khodaei
who was “cowardly” murdered was a member of the country’s armed forces who
significantly contributed to combating terrorism and ISIS in the region.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reports said Israeli
officials were surprised by the leak, with The Times of Israel saying Israeli
officials were “infuriated.”
MK Ram Ben Barak, who heads the Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee, denied the NYT’s report, noting that such leaks “mainly harm
trust,” and voiced hope that the US investigates the leak to figure out why it
happened.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Gaza war survivor commemorates family victims of
Israeli airstrike in paintings
26 May ,2022
A Palestinian woman artist who lost 22 of her extended
family in an Israeli air strike in last year’s war, has used art to release
sorrow and despair at her loss, drawing paintings to commemorate the victims’
first anniversary.
Among those Zainab Al-Qolaq lost when a series of
Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and roads in Gaza City on May 16,
2021, were her mother and three siblings.
Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes
killed 42 Gaza civilians, including 10 children in Qolaq’s neighborhood
that day.
The Israeli military said the civilian casualties were
unintentional. It said its jets attacked a tunnel system used by militants,
which collapsed, bringing the homes down. Hamas, the militant group that
controls Gaza, called it “premeditated killing.”
Qolaq drew nine paintings to document moments she
recalled from that day. One shows 22 dead people, minors and adults,
wrapped in white cloth, another with several others,
some are headless, and a third shows rescue workers at the rubble of her
house.
“Each of those paintings expresses a tragic moment, a
certain time I had lived because of the occupier,” she told Reuters at a
gallery, named “I am 22 and I lost 22 people,” hosted by the Euro-Med Human
Rights Monitor in Gaza.
“The language of art spreads faster, it is the
language of all people regardless of our languages and nationalities. My
message is that I want the occupier to be punished,”
said Qolaq, surrounded by paintings drawn in grey and black colors.
The 2021 conflict subsided after 10 days following a
ceasefire brokered by Arab and international mediators, but recent tension in
the West Bank and at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem revived concerns of
renewed fighting across the border.
Palestinian officials said at least 254 people were
killed in Israeli military strikes over those 10 days. Israel said 13 people
were killed by Gaza rockets and a guided-missile attack.
Qolaq was pulled out of the rubble of her house, where
she was trapped for 12 hours. When she woke up, she said she was too afraid to
ask who was left alive.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Iran says US foreign policy 'taken hostage' by Israel
Syed Zafar Mehdi
26.05.2022
TEHRAN, Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said
Thursday Tehran is committed to reaching a deal during the Vienna nuclear
talks, adding that US interests and foreign policy have been "taken
hostage" by Israel.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland, he accused the Biden administration of being
"indecisive" in talks to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear deal
following the previous administration's maximum pressure policy against Iran.
The annual event brings together over 2,000
representatives of governments, business organizations, civil society and media
leaders to discuss global challenges.
In a session moderated by CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Iran's
top diplomat said Tehran has put forward a number of initiatives to Washington
to salvage the nuclear deal, but the Biden administration has been dragging its
feet over them.
The marathon talks in Vienna to revive the 2015
nuclear deal, also known as joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA), are
currently stalled due to key disagreements between Tehran and Washington.
Amir-Abdollahian said the pause in the talks has been
due to "lack of economic guarantees" from the US and due to the fact
that the new administration has followed the Donald Trump administration's
policy against Iran.
He said Iran must enjoy "full economic
benefits" of the deal, and the agreement must facilitate the country's
economic and trade activity with the world.
The top diplomat, referring to one of the key sticking
points in the talks — de-listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) from foreign terrorist organizations (FTO) — said the issue has been
magnified by Israel.
He said the "main factor" is the full
economic benefits of the deal for Iran and its people, while adding that the
Biden administration must "show goodwill" in de-listing IRGC.
Amir-Abdollahian added that Iran has endured sanctions
for 40 years and has "other different options" on the table if the
talks in Vienna do not lead to a "good and lasting agreement.”
He also spoke about tension-easing talks with regional
arch-foe Saudi Arabia, saying the two sides have made small but significant
progress and have agreed to hold talks at the level of foreign ministers in
near future.
The talks between Tehran and Riyadh have been underway
since April last year, brokered by the Iraqi government. Despite pauses and
tensions, both sides have noted progress.
Amir-Abdollahian said Iran has "always kept its
door open" for Saudi Arabia and is ready for normalization of ties with
the Gulf neighbor, adding that it will contribute to stability in the region.
His remarks came a day after Saudi Foreign Minister
Faisal bin Farhan told the Davos forum that progress had been made in talks
with Iran, adding that "hands remain stretched" to Tehran.
Commenting on Russia's war in Ukraine,
Amir-Abdollahian said Iran condemns the war, as well as conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan, without mentioning or condemning close ally Moscow. He said Tehran
is willing to mediate between the two warring countries.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-says-us-foreign-policy-taken-hostage-by-israel/2598262
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Blast in Yemen fish market kills at least 4 people,
wounds over 30
May 26, 2022
ADEN: At least four people were killed and more than
30 injured at a Yemen fish market when an explosive device planted in a trash
can detonated, police in the port city of Aden said on Thursday.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders said on
Twitter that its trauma hospital in Aden received 50 wounded patients, five of
whom had died while six were seriously injured.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2090601/middle-east
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South
Asia
Eight Members Committee Formed to Reopen Girls'
Schools: Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
27 May, 2022
The Islamic Emirate said it has formed a committee of
eight members to facilitate the reopening of girls’ schools.
The committee will be chaired by the Supreme Judge,
Abdul Hakim Haqqani, according to Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the
Islamic Emirate.
“This committee has eight members. It includes clerics
and scholars. The committee has done some work to reopen the girls’ high
schools. We hope it can be solved in the near future,” he said.
The female students above grade six have been banned
from going to school for more than 250 days.
Meanwhile, girls said that they are fed up with the
long delay in the reopening of girls’ school.
“These are just excuses they are making, moving the
responsibility from one department to another. We want the schools to be
reopened,” said Hadisa, a student.
“We can reach our dreams through school and can make
progress. Without school we cannot contribute to any development,” said Oranous
Sadat, a teacher.
This comes as women held a protest in the capital city
of Kabul and called for the reopening of girls’ school.
“This is to appeal for the reopening of schools. For
the past nine months, the children of this land have been deprived of education
due to Gender apartheid,” said Monisa Mubariz, a protester.
Source: Tolo News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-178190
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US Special Representative Thomas West Meets Dr.
Abdullah Abdullah
By Saqalain Eqbal
26 May 2022
Thomas West, the US Special Representative to
Afghanistan, tweeted that he had met with Abdullah Abdullah, the former
chairman of the High Council for Reconciliation, after many months.
In a tweet on Thursday morning, May 26th, West
welcomed the Taliban’s decision for permitting Dr. Abdullah Abdullah to visit
his family and return to Afghanistan.
Special Representative West did not specify where he
met the former Afghan official in his tweet.
On 30th April, Abdullah Abdullah, who had been in
Kabul since the collapse of the previous Afghan government on August 15, left
Afghanistan.
Former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah,
chairman of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, are among the
major political figures that have remained in Afghanistan since former
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was ousted from power.
According to the US Special Representative to
Afghanistan, issues crucial to Afghanistan’s future and relations with the
international community were discussed at the meeting with Dr. Abdullah
Abdullah.
Special Representative West also discussed the need
for a political process, human rights violations, the significant role of women
in society, the humanitarian situation, and the threat of terrorism in
Afghanistan with Dr. Abdullah.
Source: Khaama Press
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of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/us-special-representative-thomas-west-meets-dr-abdullah-abdullah37465/
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India engages Russia, China, US on Afghanistan;
Taliban say country terror free
May 26, 2022
NEW DELHI: As the world remains focused on Ukraine,
India is intensifying engagement with all stakeholders in Afghanistan, a
country enormously important for India's own security.
NSA Ajit Doval left for Tajikistan capital Dushanbe on
Thursday to participate in a regional security dialogue that will review the
situation in Afghanistan at a time the Taliban is being accused of reneging on
promises they made after seizing power last year in August, not least for
protection of the rights of women and girls.
However, ahead of the conference on Friday, the
Taliban told TOI they are abiding by the Doha Agreement and not allowing anyone
to use the soil of Afghanistan against any neighboring and regional country.
"If any one has issue, we are ready to talk and
resolve it through peaceful means. We want Afghanistan to become a hub of
trade. For that, we would like to have good relations and cooperation with all.
Now, it is for others to reciprocate. Tactics of pressure have never worked in
Afghanistan," said Suhail Shaheen, currently the head of the Taliban
political office in Doha and also ambassador-designate to UN.
The remarks on terrorism are particularly significant
for India as Doval is expected to emphasise in the Dushanbe meeting that Afghanistan
under no circumstances is allowed to be used by Pakistan based terror groups to
target India and other countries in the region. The Taliban have so far done
nothing to hurt India's security interests and have expressed deep appreciation
for India's decision to send 50000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through the land
route with Pakistan setting aside its differences with Islamabad.
Doval will be joined by his Russia, Chinese, Iranian
and all central Asian counterparts for the conference in Tajikistan on Friday.
He is also expected to have bilateral meetings.
Days before the conference, India on Wednesday also
hosted US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West. The timing of the meeting
is significant and suggests India, despite the hasty US withdrawal last year
that left the government wrong-footed, believes the US remains an important
stakeholder. Foreign minister S Jaishankar had recently, while addressing a
question on India's position on Ukraine, accused the West of throwing the
Afghanistan civil society under the bus.
Thomas West said in a tweet after his meetings here
that India is "providing critical humanitarian aid, has interests to
protect, brings enormous capability and experience to supporting Afghan
people".
"We’ll continue to partner with India and others
in the region to advance shared goals," he said.
The security dialogue in Dushanbe is being held in
continuation of the NSA-level conference that Doval hosted in November. Apart
from focusing on terrorism, he is also expected to underline the need for an
inclusive government in Afghanistan that takes care of the rights of women,
children and minorities.
The Taliban have been slammed by the international
community in the past few months for their clampdown on women's rights and also
for human rights abuses.
Source: Times Of India
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Four bombs kill at least 16 in Afghanistan
May 26, 2022
KABUL: The death toll from four bombs that ripped
through minibuses and a mosque in Afghanistan has risen to at least 16,
officials said on Thursday, with some of the attacks claimed by the Islamic
State group.
A top UN expert called on Taliban authorities to investigate
Wednesday's attacks, as well as a series of previous deadly blasts that
targeted members of the minority Shiite and Sufi communities.
While the number of bombings has dropped across the
country since the Taliban seized power in August, several fatal attacks rocked
the country last month during Ramadan.
On Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed when
three bombs placed on separate minibuses exploded in the northern city of
Mazar-i-Sharif, a health official and police said.
Najibullah Tawana, head of the Balkh health
department, said three women were among the 10 killed in the blasts.
Hours after the explosions the Islamic State group
(IS) said on Telegram that its "soldiers" were responsible.
Late on Wednesday one other bomb exploded inside a mosque
in the capital Kabul, killing six and wounding 18, according to police
spokesman Khalid Zadran.
The interior ministry said the bomb was placed inside
a fan in the mosque.
It was unclear whether Wednesday's bombings targeted
any specific community, and no group has so far claimed responsibility for the
Kabul attack.
- 'Crimes against humanity' - Dozens of civilians were
killed in Kabul and other cities in primarily sectarian attacks during the holy
month of Ramadan, which ended on April 30 in Afghanistan, with some claimed by
IS.
Many of those attacks targeted the Shiite Hazaras and
Sufi communities.
UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan
Richard Bennett told reporters such attacks "reflect elements of an
organisational policy" and so bear the "hallmarks of crimes against
humanity".
Bennett called for an investigation as he wrapped up
his visit to Afghanistan, where he met several Taliban officials and visited
some of the sites targeted by recent attacks.
On April 29, at least 10 people were killed in a Sunni
mosque in Kabul in an attack that appeared to target members of the minority
Sufi community performing rituals.
A week earlier, a bomb at a Shiite mosque in
Mazar-i-Sharif killed at least 12 worshippers and wounded scores more.
The deadliest attack during Ramadan came in the
northern city of Kunduz, where another bomb targeting Sufi worshippers tore
through a mosque on April 22.
At least 33 people were killed in that blast and
scores more were wounded.
The regional branch of IS in Sunni-majority
Afghanistan has repeatedly targeted Shiites and minorities such as Sufis, who
follow a mystical branch of Islam.
IS is a Sunni Islamist group, like the Taliban, but
the two are bitter rivals.
The Taliban have pursued an Afghanistan free from foreign
forces, whereas IS wants an Islamic caliphate stretching from Turkey to
Pakistan and beyond.
Source: Times Of India
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India
4 Tourists Booked Under Riot Provocation Charge for
Offering Namaz at Taj Mosque
MAY 26, 2022
Four people were arrested for offering ‘namaz’ at the
Shahi mosque in the Taj Mahal premises, police said on Thursday. The four were
booked under section 153 of the IPC which punishes “provoking with intent to
cause riots". “Four tourists were arrested for offering namaz at the
mosque in Taj Mahal premises on Wednesday. Three of them are from Hyderabad and
one is from Azamgarh. They have been booked under the section of 153 of IPC.
They have been presented in the court," said Vikas Kumar, Superintendent
of Police (City).
Superintending archaeologist, ASI, Agra Circle Raj
Kumar Patel said there is a Supreme Court order that prohibits offering of
namaz inside Taj premises on all days except Friday. He said even on Friday
only the residents of Tajganj locality – where the mausoleum is located – are
allowed to pray between 12 pm and 2 pm. The four men were spotted offering
namaz at the Shahi mosque at about 5 pm on Wednesday evening. They were
accosted by the officials from the Archaeological Survey of India and CISF and
were handed over to the local police.
According to some, prohibition on offering of namaz
inside the Taj mosque was unheard of till a few days back. “Namaz has been
offered at the mosque of the Taj Mahal regularly.
But some days ago the Archaeological Survey of India
claimed that as per the order of the Supreme Court of India offering Namaz is
prohibited in the mosque premises except Friday, said Ibrahim Zaidi, the head
of the Intezamia Committee at Taj Mahal. Zaidi said the committee has asked the
ASI to give the prohibition in writing with proof and also display a board
announcing the prohibition to the tourists.
Source: News18
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Claims of petitioners contradictory: Gyanvapi mosque
side in court
Lalmani Verma | Varanasi
May 27, 2022
THE CLAIMS of petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque case
is “factually contradictory” with no supporting evidence, lawyers from the
mosque side told the Varanasi District Court as hearings began Thursday on the
application challenging the maintainability of the plea seeking the right to
worship at Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal on the outer wall of the complex.
“We presented our argument for two hours. Our argument
is that their (petitioner’s) claims are factually contradictory and have no
evidence. Their claims are barred by various legal provisions. Our argument has
not been completed. The next date of hearing is May 30, and our argument will
continue on that date,” said Abhay Nath Yadav, counsel for Anjuman Intezamia
Masjid management committee.
The first day of the hearing began at 2 pm with only
the 27 lawyers representing different sides, the five Hindu women petitioners
and six respondents permitted inside the courtroom.
Senior judge picked by top court
On May 20, the Supreme Court had transferred the suit
from the court of the Civil Judge Senior Division to the Varanasi district
court saying an experienced judge should hear the matter, given its
complexities and sensitivity.
District Court judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha is
hearing the matter following directions from the Supreme Court last week.
Incidentally, May 30 is also the date of hearing in a
fast track court of a petition seeking permission to worship a “Shivling”
claimed to have been found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex during a videography
survey mandated by a local court.
On May 17, the Supreme Court, while declining to stay
proceedings before the Varanasi court, had asked the District Magistrate to
secure the area where the “Shivling” was claimed to have been found.
Source: Indian Express
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Hindu plaintiffs suit not maintainable, says mosque
panel
MAY 27, 2022
The Anjuman Intenzamia Masjid Committee, representing
the management of the Gyanvapi Mosque, began its arguments on Thursday in
District and Sessions court, Varanasi. It is challenging the maintainability of
the Hindu plaintiffs’ suit under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
Senior Advocates Abhay Nath Yadav and Mumtaz Ahmad,
appearing for the Muslims’ side, argued that the Places of Worship (Special
Provisions) Act, 1991, barred the suit and it was not maintainable. They
submitted before Judge A.K. Vishvesha that rumours were being spread about the
existence of a “Shivling” inside the premises without it being proven. This was
causing “public disturbance”.
Advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, a lawyer representing one
of the plaintiffs, said the Muslims’ side read out portions of their suit on
Thursday to start their submissions. She said the defendants would continue
their arguments on Monday (May 30) at 2 pm. The plaintiffs would begin their
submissions after the defendants conclude theirs.
The suit currently being heard by the Varanasi
district court has been filed by five Hindu women and seeks the right to pray
at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the mosque all year round.
Source: The Hindu
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Mathura court directed for speedy disposal of plea for
deputing advocate to survey Shahi Idgah mosque
26th May 2022
MATHURA: An additional district judge here on Thursday
directed a lower court for speedy disposal of a plea for appointing a court
commissioner to survey the Shahi Idgah mosque and verify the claims of temple's
signs in it.
The petitioners moved the court of additional district
judge with a revision application after the lower court of civil judge (senior
division) on May 23 asked Shahi Idgah mosque's management committee and others
to file their objections to a plea seeking survey of the mosque and fixed July
1 as the next date of hearing on the reopening of courts after summer vacation.
"Revision application was disposed of with the
direction for the lower court to dispose of the plea regarding sending an
advocate commissioner to the mosque on a day-to-day basis from next
hearing," District Government Counsel Sanjai Gaur said.
Rajendra Maheshwari, the counsel for the petitioners
of the suit, said, "Lower court of civil judge (senior division) has also
been directed by Additional District Judge Sanjai Chaudhari (in-charge district
judge for appeal and revision) not to delay hearing of the application
pertaining to sending an advocate commissioner (to mosque). The application was
submitted by Delhi-based Jai Bhagwan Goyal and four others."
The petitioners had filed an application in the court
of Civil Judge (senior division) Jyoti Singh on May 23 for sending an advocate
commissioner to survey Shahi Idgah Masjid complex claiming presence of temple
marks in the mosque, Maheshwari said.
The court instead of disposing of the application
filed under urgency clause, had set July 1 for next date of hearing, the
petitioners' counsel said.
Aggrieved by the decision, the petitioners moved a
revision application against the order of civil judge (senior division) in the
court of District Judge Mathura, who transferred the application in the court
of ADJ (7th) on Thursday, Maheshwari said.
In the revision application, the order of lower court
was termed defective since the urgency clause mentioned in the application was
not considered, the counsel said.
The lower court is hearing a bunch of suits for the
removal of Shahi Idgah Masjid from near the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in the
Katra Keshav Dev Temple complex and subsequent interim applications for
appointing a court commissioner to survey the mosque.
The petitioners have sought the mosque's survey,
claiming the existence of several signs of temples, like those of "om,
swastika and lotus" inside it besides its alleged "Hindu
architecture".
The pleas have been filed by deity Thakur Keshav Dev
Ji Maharaj virajman (in-situ) in its capacity as a juristic person, represented
by advocates Mahendra Pratap Singh and Rajendra Maheshwari as its "next
friend", among others.
The other petitioners included United Hindu Front
founder Jai Bhagwan Goyal, a Delhi resident, and Vrindavan's Dharm Raksha Sangh
president Saurabh Gaur.
Source: New Indian Express
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Muslim side questions maintainability of Gyanvapi
petition
26th May 2022
Varanasi: The Muslim petitioners on Thursday
questioned the maintainability of the Hindu side’s plea in the Gyanvapi dispute
case.
As the hearing began in the court of District Judge Dr
AK Vishvesha, the Muslim lawyers cited the Places of Worship Act 1991 and
claimed that the petition was not maintainable.
Abhay Yadav, the lawyer for the Muslim side, said that
rumours of a ‘Shivling‘ being found inside the mosque were being deliberated
and floated to create confusion.
He contended that the ‘Shivling‘ had not yet been
established by the court and the court should put an end to such rumours.
Meanwhile, Vishnu Jain, a lawyer for the Hindu
petitioners told reporters outside the court that holes had been drilled into
the ‘Shivling‘ to make it look like a fountain.
Only 36 persons, including the lawyers, were allowed
inside the court where the hearing was heard under tight security.
Source: Siasat Daily
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/muslim-side-questions-maintainability-of-gyanvapi-petition-2335026/
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Four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed in two
encounters in Kashmir
27.05.22
Four Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, including two who were
involved in killing a female TV artist, were killed in two separate encounters
in Pulwama and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.
An encounter broke out at Aganhanzipora locality in
Awantipora area of Pulwama district late on Thursday night, a police spokesman
said.
He said two ultras, who were responsible for killing
TV artist Amreen Bhat in Budgam district a day earlier, were trapped in the
cordon.
"Both killed newly joined local #terrorists
identified as Shahid Mushtaq Bhat R/O Hafroo Chadoora #Budgam & Farhan
Habib R/O Hakripora #Pulwama. They had #killed TV artist on the instruction of
LeT Cmdr Lateef. 01 AK 56 rifle, 4 magazines and a pistol recovered," IGP
Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted.
Another encounter broke out in Soura area of Srinagar
city where two LeT ultras were shot dead, the police said.
Source: Telegraph India
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Special ties with Afghan people will guide India's
approach: NSA Doval
May 27, 2022
NEW DELHI: India has always stood by the people of
Afghanistan and this sentiment will continue to guide its approach, National
Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Friday at the 4th Regional Security
Dialogue on Afganistan in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
National Security Advisers of Tajikistan, India,
Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and China are participating in
the dialogue.
The NSAs discussed the situation in Afghanistan and
the region at a time when the Taliban government in Kabul is being accused of
reneging on promises they made after seizing power in August last year.
They highlighted the need to find constructive ways to
ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan and combating risks from terrorism
emanating from the region.
"India has historical and civilisational
relations with Afghanistan. India has always stood by the people of
Afghanistan. This will continue to guide India’s approach. India has focused on
infrastructure, connectivity and humanitarian assistance over the
decades," said Doval.
He added that since August 2021, India has provided
Afghanistan 17,000 MT of wheat out of a total commitment of 50,000 MT, 5,00,000
doses of Covaxin, 13 tons of essential life-saving medicines and winter
clothing as well as 60 million doses of polio vaccine.
'Enhance Afghanistan's capability'
Doval said there is a need for all present at the
dialogue to enhance the capability of Afghanistan to counter-terrorism and
terrorist groups which pose a threat to regional peace and security.
Calling for an inlcusive government, Doval highlighted
the need for representation of all sections of Afghan society, including women
and minorities, so that the whole Afghan population contributes to nation
building.
"Women and youth are critical for the future of
any society. Provision of education to girls and employment to women and youth
will ensure productivity and spur growth. It will also have positive social
impact including discouraging radical ideologies among youth," Doval
added.
With collective efforts of regional dialogue members,
we can help the proud people of Afghanistan build a prosperous and vibrant
nation once again, he concluded.
Source: Times Of India
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Terrorists involved in killing of female TV artist
killed in encounter in Kashmir
May 27, 2022
SRINAGAR: Four Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, including
two who were involved in killing a female TV artist, were killed in two
separate encounters in Pulwama and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir,
police said on Friday.
An encounter broke out at Aganhanzipora locality in
Awantipora area of Pulwama district late on Thursday night, a police spokesman
said.
He said two ultras, who were responsible for killing
TV artist Amreen Bhat in Budgam district a day earlier, were trapped in the
cordon.
"Both killed newly joined local #terrorists
identified as Shahid Mushtaq Bhat R/O Hafroo Chadoora #Budgam & Farhan
Habib R/O Hakripora #Pulwama. They had #killed TV artist on the instruction of
LeT Cmdr Lateef. 01 AK 56 rifle, 4 magazines and a pistol recovered," IGP
Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted.
Another encounter broke out in Soura area of Srinagar
city where two LeT ultras were shot dead, the police said.
Source: Times Of India
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Two held for killing Hindu man over interfaith
relationship in Karnataka: Police
May 27, 2022
By Arun Dev
Kalaburagi police have arrested two 19-year-old men
for killing a Hindu man who was in a relationship with his sister, officials
said on Thursday. The accused belonged to the Muslim community, police said.
The victim, identified as Vijaya Kamble (25) was
stabbed and attacked with an iron rod in Wadi town in Kalaburagi on Monday
night, said the police. Kamble was a resident of Bheema Nagar Layout and is the
third person to be killed over an interfaith relationship in Karnataka in the
past year.
Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police, Isha Pant,
identified the accused as Shahabuddin (19) and Nawaz (19).
“Kamble was in a relationship with Shahabuddin’s older
sister. The family had come to know about the relationship, and since it was an
interfaith relationship, there was resentment. It over this displeasure that
Shahabuddin murdered him,” said Pant, adding that the accused have been booked
under section 304 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the SP, the murder took place at around
8.30 pm on Monday near a bridge in Wadi railway station. Shahabuddin and Nawaz
found Kamble on the railway bridge at night, and there was an argument, during
which they attacked him using a knife and an iron rod.
“There were multiple injuries on his neck, and there
were hit marks on the head. He died on the spot. From the investigation so far,
we have found that the attack wasn’t pre-planned, but we are in the process of
finding more evidence,” she said.
After the incident, security has been beefed up in the
district, especially in the Wadi town, on Thursday. According to the police,
there are some sensitive areas in town and additional police forces have been
deployed there.
In October last year, after a 24-year-old Muslim man’s
decapitated body was found on a railway track in Karnataka’s Belagavi district,
10 people, including the parents of a woman he was in a relationship with, were
arrested for his murder. Police first registered a case of unnatural death when
Arbaz Mullah’s body was found on September 28, 2021.
The Belagavi Police said the woman’s parents, Eerappa
and Susheela Kumbhar, and Maharaja Nagappa alias Pundalik Mutgekar, a member of
the Hindu group Sri Ram Sena Hindustan, are the prime suspects in the murder.
In a statement, police added the parents opposed the
woman’s relationship with Mullah and approached Nagappa to end it. But the
woman remained adamant. Police said the parents met Nagappa multiple times, and
when Mullah refused to end the relationship, they threatened him. As the
threats did not work, Nagappa allegedly hired seven contract killers to kill
Mullah on September 28. The killers dumped his body on the railway tracks.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Karnataka: Muslim students blame ABVP for anti-hijab
protest
26th May 2022
Mangalore: Karnataka’s hijab row seems to have
resurfaced, as Muslim students on Thursday protested outside the District
Collectorate in Mangalore seeking action against the protest held at Mangalore
University.
The Muslim girls, enrolled at the university claimed
that Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had planned the protest held in
the university. In a video shared on Twitter, a girl can be heard demanding the
collector to allow them in the university while sporting the hijab.
The girl is seen displaying the letter which they
wanted to submit at the collector. The group also displayed WhatsApp messages
which hint at a larger protest being planned in the coming days.
Earlier on Thursday, a group of students held a
protest on Mangalore University campus demanding the varsity to implement the
Karnataka high court order on the Hijab row.
Mangalore University protest
The protest happened in Mangaluru where students of
Mangalore University protested outside the campus on Thursday alleging that the
college authorities have failed to implement the Karnataka High Court’s verdict
that wearing of hijab is not an essential part of Islam.
One of the students speaking in the video says, “There
was a PTA meeting where many parents complained to the management of not
following the HC’s verdict. But nothing was done. Around 40 Muslim students
have been wearing Hijab and they are not stopped by the college management.
That’s why we are protesting outside the college campus”
Background of the Hijab Row:
The hijab controversy erupted and has been raging
since January, after students of a pre-university college in Karnataka’s Udupi
were prohibited from wearing headscarves (hijab), as part of their religious
obligation, on the college premises. The issue blew up after Hindu students turned
up to their colleges wearing saffron scarves in a protest against hijabi
Muslims being allowed to wear headscarves.
The state was forced to form a committee to decide on
the issue and prohibited the students from wearing any religious garment,
including the hijab until a decision is reached.
Source: Siasat Daily
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of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/karnataka-muslim-students-blame-abvp-for-anti-hijab-protest-2335131/
--------
North
America
Former New York resident found guilty of aiding
Islamic State in Syria
May 26, 2022
A former New York resident has been found guilty in
Brooklyn federal court of traveling to the Middle East to recruit Islamic State
fighters and obtain weapons for the militants which US authorities brand a
terrorist group.
Mirsad Kandic, 40, will face up to life in prison at
sentencing in November. Prosecutors said he was a “high-ranking member of ISIS”
who traveled to Syria to join the group in 2013.
He then helped other volunteer fighters from Western
countries travel to Syria, including a fellow New Yorker and an 18-year-old
Australian, prosecutors said.
Court records showed a jury on Tuesday convicted him
on six counts including providing material support to ISIS.
“Kandic’s actions were directly linked to attacks and
significant loss of life,” Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn,
said in a statement on Wednesday.
Lawyers for Kandic did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Kandic, who was a legal permanent resident of the
United States, was arrested in Bosnia and extradited to the United States in
2017.
Source: Syriahr
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.syriahr.com/en/253320/
--------
US urges Yemen’s Houthis to free US Embassy’s local
staff
26 May, 2022
The United States on Thursday urged Yemen’s
Iran-backed Houthi militia to release all US Embassy local staffers that they
had detained, following the death of one of them after seven months in
captivity.
The Houthis seized the headquarters of the US Embassy
in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa last October. They detained dozens of former
staffers, many of whom were later released but at least 11 remained in the
Houthis’ custody.
Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest nation, has been
fractured by a brutal civil war since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa and
much of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government into
exile.
In a tweet, the embassy, now operating outside of
Yemen, said it was mourning Abdulhameed al-Ajami, a retired employee of the US
Agency for International Development, describing him as “an innocent
grandfather” and “a proud Yemeni” dedicated to educating children in his
country.
“We extend our condolences to his loved ones and call
on the Houthis to end this injustice and release every single current and former
US Embassy employee now,” it said.
On Wednesday, the US State Department issued a
statement confirming al-Ajami's death but did not mention any details on the
time or the circumstances of his death.
“The United States has been unceasing in its diplomatic
efforts to secure the release of our Yemeni staff in Sana’a. We demand the
Houthis release detained current and former US employees,” spokesman Ned Price
said.
The Houthis never charged al-Ajami or any of the other
captives or brought them to trial.
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Mexican envoy highlights multifaceted, historical ties
with Turkiye
Ahmet Gencturk
26.05.2022
Mexico’s relations with Turkiye are not only cordial
but also long-standing and deep, the country’s ambassador has said.
Jose Luis Martinez y Hernandez highlighted his
country's multifaceted and historical ties with Turkiye in an exclusive
interview with Anadolu Agency.
The first official contact between the Ottoman Empire
and Mexico was in 1864, when Emperor Maximilian I sent Leonardo Marquez and
Pablo Martínez del Rio as envoys to the Ottoman Empire, he noted.
In May 1927, not too long after the formation of the
modern Republic of Turkiye, the Friendship Agreement was signed, which entered
into force in July 1928 and laid the foundation of the contemporary excellent
relations between the two countries, Hernandez further detailed.
He said bilateral relations gained a particular
impetus in the last decade, and 2013 was a milestone.
That year, President Enrique Pena Nieto became the
first Mexican head of state to pay a visit to Turkiye and bilateral relations
were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, Hernandez said.
What’s more, the two countries closely cooperate
within the framework of international organizations and platforms including the
G-20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and MIKTA,
of which both Turkiye and Mexico are members, he added.
Referring to economic ties, Hernandez said the
bilateral trade volume between Mexico and Turkiye had reached $1.5 billion as
of 2021 with much greater potential.
“If the Free Trade Agreement, whose negotiations are
underway, can be concluded, bilateral trade and investments will soar greatly,”
he said.
Hernandez moreover underscored that there are areas
such as oil drilling and refining in which Mexico has expertise and is willing
to share it with Turkiye.
“For example, Mexico can help Turkiye with
exploitation of newly discovered natural gas reserves in the Black Sea,” he
said.
Hernandez also praised Turkish Airlines -- Turkiye’s
national flag carrier, which files to Cancun and Mexico City from Istanbul --
for its role in improving bilateral cultural, touristic and economic bonds.
The ambassador also indicated that cultural and
academic relations between the two countries’ related intuitions and peoples
are flourishing.
“There is a great interest from ordinary Turkish
people towards any cultural event we organize, including movie festivals,
exhibitions and conferences,” Hernandez said.
Similarly, the Yunus Emre Institute in Mexico City, in
close coordination with the Turkish Embassy, successfully promotes Turkish
culture and the Turkish language to growing numbers of Mexicans, he maintained.
Interest in Turkish culture is expanding in Mexico, he
said, and added that Spanish-translated works of some Turkish authors including
Orhan Pamuk and Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar find avid readers.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Arab
World
Turkish
forces shell Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Aleppo: Report
27
May, 2022
Turkish
forces shell areas under the control of Kurdish forces in northern Aleppo, the
Syrian Observatory reported on Friday.
The
shelling has reportedly impacted the areas of Samouqa, al-Hasakah, and Dam
al-Shahba.
No
information is currently available on the casualties, the report said.
Turkey’s
current and future military operations on its southern borders do not target
its neighbors’ sovereignty but are necessary for Turkish security, the
country’s National Security Council (MGK) said on Thursday, according to
Reuters.
The
MGK statement followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s declaration on Monday
that Ankara would soon launch new military operations on its southern borders
to expand 30-kilometer (20-mile) deep safe zones and combat what he described
as terrorist threats there.
“Operations
being carried out now and in the future to remove the terrorism threat on our
southern borders do not target our neighbors’ territorial integrity and
sovereignty in any way,” it said after a three-hour meeting chaired by Erdogan,
Reuters reported.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2022/05/27/Turkish-forces-shell-Kurdish-controlled-areas-in-northern-Aleppo-Report
--------
No
Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers meeting in foreseeable future: Saudi official
27
May, 2022
No
meeting between Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers has been scheduled in the
foreseeable future, an official from the Saudi foreign ministry said on
Thursday, adding that some progress has been made in talks with Teheran but
“it's not enough”.
Iran
foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on earlier on Thursday that he
may meet his Saudi counterpart soon in a third country.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Turkish
soldier killed in northern Iraq during military operation
26
May, 2022
A
Turkish soldier was killed Thursday during a military operation against Kurdish
fighters in the north of Iraq, Turkey’s defense ministry said.
That
brings the number of Turkish soldiers killed in the region to six since
Tuesday.
Turkey’s
official news agency Anadolu said the Turkish soldiers had clashed with
fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara and its Western
allies say is a terrorist organization.
The
PKK has training camps and bases in autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan and has been
waging a fight against the Turkish state since 1984, a conflict that has killed
40,000 people, many of them civilians.
Ankara
has launched a series of operations against PKK fighters in Iraq and Syria, the
latest one in northern Iraq beginning in April.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Lebanon’s
election sees political vote buying and intimidation
26 May,
2022
As
the Lebanese population went to the polls on May 15, several observers noted a
significant number of violations of the electoral law, potentially affecting
the accuracy and respect of the legislative elections.
On
his way to his polling station in Yarin, a village in southern Lebanon, Hussein
Hamoud, a 35-year-old social media manager, noticed hundreds of cars queued and
waiting for gasoline. This situation is reminiscent of the fuel shortages that
the country experienced last summer, but which can be explained by another
reason on the Election Day.
“All
these people are waiting to fill their tanks with the political parties’
coupons in exchange for their vote. Here, nobody hides from vote-buying, which
is a recurrent practice in Lebanon during elections time,” said Hamoud.
Vote-buying
for cash or food
With
the economic crisis that has gripped the country for over two years, a large
part of the population has become impoverished and more dependent on
traditional political parties. In one of its latest press releases, the World
Bank accused the country’s political elite of deliberately orchestrating the
economic depression by taking over the state and living off its economic rents.
For
Aly Sleem, director of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections
(LADE), an organization that monitored the Lebanese election, the establishment
and, to a lesser extent, emerging political groups have taken advantage of the economic
crisis. With the collapse of public institutions, political groups offer
services to the population in exchange for their electoral support. Unlike in
2018, when vote-buying was using cash, the traditional political parties now
provide medicines, food, and other necessities.
According
to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA),
people who suffered in Lebanon doubled from 42 per cent in 2019 to 82 per cent
today, making the population even more vulnerable. In the largest city of Sour,
where yellow and green flags affiliated with the two Shiite parties Hezbollah
and Amal dominate the streets, Hamoud saw the impoverishment of the population
and the buying of votes with essential resources linked to it.
“The
fact that people struggle daily to survive helps the traditional political
parties in their election campaign. The night before the elections, we could
see the political parties distributing food boxes, trying to convince the
inhabitants to vote for them. On the day of the elections, they distributed
money to citizens in front of polling stations. It ranged from a few dozen
dollars to several hundred, depending on the economic status of the people.”
Although
detrimental to the democratic process, this practice is, however, legalized by
the Lebanese electoral law. Article 62 states that candidates or institutions
owned or managed by candidates or parties can provide gifts and donations with
consistent identical amounts and quantities on a regular and consistent basis for
at least three years before the campaign period are free to continue to do so.
People
involved in the elections distinguish between the Lebanese electoral law that
does not allow equal opportunities for all candidates and the international
standards of free and fair elections. In several cases, some traditional
political parties disregard the election law by breaking the secrecy of the
vote.
“Some
of the polling workers would even go with the candidate to vote, pretexting
that they could not read or that some people were too old to understand what to
do,” Hamoud claimed, adding that he had directly witnessed this while waiting
to cast his vote.
When
traditional political parties feel threatened by the potential outcome of the
election, they can go further and change ballot boxes and replace votes with
fakes that skew the result in their favor. It’s claimed that Hezbollah
delegates were placing ballots in envelopes at a polling station in the Hermel
sub-district of Bekaa III after the closure of polling stations.
A
system of political intimidation
In
addition to increased clientelism and a vigorous crackdown on electoral law,
hate speech campaigns and misinformation also marked the electoral process.
Ayman Mhanna, director of the freedom of democracy organization Samir Kassir
Foundation, tracked the use of electoral armies by traditional parties such as
Hezbollah, the Lebanese Forces, and the Free Patriotic Movement to influence
the elections in their favor.
“Supporters
of these political parties use astroturfing to flood social networks with
content that makes voters believe they hold the majority opinion. Several
studies have shown that this represents a major manipulation of public opinion
as no one likes to be on the losing side,” he claimed.
“I
am not surprised by the undemocratic practices of the traditional political
parties that have had the same leaders for the past thirty years and are
undemocratic by definition. We cannot expect any other behavior from
them," he added.
On
Election Day, the members of the various monitoring missions have suffered from
a culture of intimidation. With the emergence of an opposition challenging the
status quo in the wake of the October 2019 mass protests, online hate campaigns
turned into intimidation and reportedly physical violence against candidates
who claim to be independent.
Hamoud
recalls the assaults that broke out in the town of Sarafand when supporters
affiliated with the political party Amal, according to witnesses there, beat up
candidates who wanted to announce the electoral list "Together for
Change."
"Our
observers in the southern district, as well as in Baalbek-Hermel, and Saida,
were harassed by the traditional political parties. Some were even beaten or
slapped and had to leave the polling stations," Hamoud told Al Arabiya.
"Our inability to monitor certain regions and the fact that voters were
sometimes under significant pressure lead us to raise questions about the
accuracy and respect of the process."
Similarly,
five of the association's observers were not allowed to monitor the second
round of counting inside the primary registration committee stations of Haret
Hreik, Mazboud, and Beirut.
In
addition to vote-buying practices and increased intimidation and threatening
speeches, the official Lebanese Election Supervisory Commission also monitored
at least 324 cases of breaches of electoral silence during voting. In its
latest statement, it noted that "On Sunday, May 15, there was a very large
number of violations of electoral silence by all the media, candidates, lists
and political parties.”
Hope
for positive changes
Despite
all the severe violations of the election law (estimated by LADE to be as many
as 3,600), there were signs of change. For example, Mhanna noted a broader
representation of candidates appearing on national television stations,
including LBCI, MTV, and Al Jadeed. Most TV appearances were paid for, which
favored better-funded candidates.
Significantly,
the quality of debates had improved, with pundits taking a much more in-depth
look at political issues while ensuring the integrity of the information.
Despite these improvements, the media still fell short of international
standards for fair and equal access to all candidates and parties.
In
Beirut, Hamoud carefully analyzes the election results after voting in his
village.
"I'm
quite happy with the results because I'm starting to see a glimpse of change in
the country. People who have been members of parliament for the last few
decades have not been elected for the first time."
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
Saudi
crown prince, Greek PM discuss boosting joint cooperation
May
26, 2022
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call on Thursday
from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Kingdom’s official SPA news
agency reported.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2090676/saudi-arabia
--------
Pakistan
Pakistan's
National Assembly Approves Bill to Deprive Overseas Citizens from Voting, Stop
Use of EVMs
May
26, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to abolish the former
Imran Khan government's election reforms giving expats the right to vote
through I-Voting and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the
country.
The
Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 presented by parliamentary affairs minister
Murtaza Javed Abbasi was passed with a majority vote in the lower house, with
only members of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) opposing it.
Abbasi,
before presenting the bill, presented a motion to allow the bill be sent
directly to the Senate for its approval, bypassing the relevant standing
committee.
The
bill is expected to be sent to the Senate on Friday, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper
reported.
Describing
the bill of "immense significance", Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) minister Azam Nazeer Tarar recalled the ousted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) government had made multiple amendments to the Election Act, 2017,
including those that allowed the use of EVMs and granted overseas Pakistanis
the right to vote in general elections.
The
PTI government had made the amendments through the Elections (Second Amendment)
Bill, 2021, which it had bulldozed through the National Assembly along with 32
other legislations on November 17 last year, Tarar said.
The
minister also said Thursday's bill sought to revive the Elections Act, 2017 in
the shape prior to those amendments, ensuring free, fair, and transparent
elections.
Under
the new bill, Tarar stated, two amendments were being made to Sections 94 and
103 of the act, both pertaining to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
conducting pilot projects for overseas voting and the use of EVMs.
He
said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had also expressed its inability
to hold elections through I-Voting and EVMs in a short span of time and without
proper homework.
The
amendment under Section 94 of the Election Act, 2017, suggests the ECP may
conduct pilot projects for voting by overseas Pakistanis in by-elections to
ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security, and financial feasibility
of such voting and shall share the results with the government.
It
said the report would be laid before both houses of Parliament within 15 days
from the commencement of a session of a house.
According
to the law minister, the Election Commission of Pakistan had also raised
objections to the use of EVMs.
He
however clarified the government was not against the use of the technology, and
that holding polls using EVMs in a single day was "impossible".
"We
only have concerns about the misuse of technology as the Results Transmission
System had failed in last general elections to favour a particular political
party," he said.
He
also dispelled the impression that the amendments were aimed at depriving
overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.
"Overseas
Pakistanis are a precious asset of the country and the government does not
believe in snatching their right to vote," he said.
Meanwhile,
the PTI has strongly criticised the move and termed it a “regressive and condemnable
act” of the government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sherif.
PTI
vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted: "PTI gave over nine million
Overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. Today, this band of thieves and thugs
removed this, disenfranchising a staggering number of Pakistanis and barring
the use of electronic voting machines.”
GDA
lawmaker Ghous Bakhsh Mehr, on the other hand, said that EVMs were being used
across the world and Pakistan should at least try using them. "If not the
whole country, then use them in some areas," he said.
During
the National Assembly session, details of the expenses for the next general
elections were shared.
According
to the electoral watchdog's estimates, fresh polls will cost about Rs 47.41
billion, of which around Rs 15 billion will be for ensuring security.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Pak
PM Imran calls off march, gives ultimatum to govt to dissolve NA
May
27, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Hours after ousted prime minister Imran Khan called off his march to Islamabad
on Thursday after giving a six-day ultimatum to the government to dissolve the
National Assembly and announce election, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed
that the elected house would decide the date for fresh polls after completing
its current term next year.
In
a speech on the floor of the Lower House of Parliament, Sharif lashed out at
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and its chief Imran for violent acts, saying:
“I want to clarify to the leader of this group (PTI), your dictation won’t
work. This House and the coalition government will decide when to hold
elections in the country.”
Following
a busy day of political drama and violence across Pakistan, PTI chairman Imran,
after announcing a deadline, left for his palatial farm house in Bani Gala,
Islamabad, leaving behind scores of his supporters wondering what actually had
happened that changed the entire political scene. Thousands of PTI workers had
arrived with preparations for a prolonged sit-in as they were told by their
leaders. “I was surprised when Khan announced to end the march,” said Adam
Shuja, a PTI supporter.
Till
late on Wednesday night, Islamabad’s high security red zone resembled a war
zone with PTI supporters attempting to counter teargas shelling and crackdown
of law enforcers with stones and sticks, and setting metro bus stations, trees
and green belts on fire.
Imran,
however, could not reach Islamabad’s red zone and delivered his speech to his
supporters at the city’s Jinnah Avenue on Thursday morning. “I have reached
Islamabad after 30 hours of travelling from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government
tried every method to crush our Azadi (freedom) March. They used teargas on
peaceful protesters, our homes were raided and our privacy was violated.
However, I have seen the nation free itself of the fear of slavery,” he said.
Khan
claimed three PTI workers had lost their lives in Karachi, while two workers
were thrown off Ravi Bridge in Lahore and thousands others were arrested.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
PTI’s
march cost government Rs149 million
Munawer
Azeem
May
27, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s ‘Haqiqi Azadi March’ cost the government Rs149
million to maintain law and order in the capital.
This
amount was released to police after officials sent a written request to the
government asking for the amount, police officers on condition of anonymity
told Dawn. Despite repeated attempts, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr
Akbar Nasir Khan could not be contacted for comments.
Police
were not able to participants of the march from reaching Red Zone; the
participants removed blockades, confronted the security personnel and even set
some trees on fire.
The
police officers said request for the supplementary grant was made to the chief
commissioner’s office, it then reached the interior ministry and then it was
forwarded to the finance ministry for release of funds.
In
the written request, the police said they would maintain law and order, and security
personnel were also requisitioned from outside Islamabad.
Funds
released on request of police for a supplementary grant, say officers
Besides
this, other necessary items would be arranged, it stated, adding that a huge
amount was already spent on the maintenance of law and order in the capital
during the 48th session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held in March 2022,
vote of no-confidence against the ousted prime minster and the subsequent
election of the incumbent prime minister.
For
these events, Rs150 million were demanded, however, no funds had been been
approved for the police so far. At present, no funds are available with the
police to cater to requirements and besides this, vendors were reluctant to
provide services due to their pending liabilities.
“In
view of the above, additional funds are required on an urgent basis to ensure
effective security measures during the law and order situation due to the PTI’s
protest and sit-in,” the request said.
The
amount of Rs149 million was demanded to bear expenses for five days,
Rs47,500,000 was sought for hiring 380 containers (each costing Rs125,000 for
five days use), Rs1,300,000 for four cranes (each costing Rs65,000 for five
days) and Rs1,000,000 for four fork lifters (each for Rs50,000 for five days).
Likewise,
Rs2,798,500 for 100 buses for transportation of the force from outside to the
capital (each costing Rs27,985), Rs9794,750 for 350 buses for transportation of
the force within capital (Rs27985 each), Rs2,798,500 for 100 buses for transportation
of the force back to their respective districts (Rs27,985 each), Rs1,685,000
for 100 trucks for logistics teams, food, water (for five days and each costing
Rs16,850), Rs260,000 for 10 water tankers for five days (each costing
Rs26,000).
Moreover,
an amount of Rs41,250,000 was also demanded for food charges for 15,000
officials of the capital and other district police for five days, the officers
said, adding for the purchase of complete anti-riot kits another amount of
Rs35,300,000 was demanded.
Similarly,
Rs4,500,000 were sought for the purchase of miscellaneous items – water,
coolers, torches, electricity, etc).
The
officers further stated that during the current financial year, the capital
police had been allocated very limited funds which have already been consumed.
The police have already made re-appropriation within the allocated budget to
meet the requirements and at present, funds are not available under any head of
account which can further be re-appropriated to meet the requirements.
Sources
in the chief commissioner office told Dawn that an amount of Rs70,001,000 had
been allocated for vehicles and containers in the 2021-2022 budget and later
the police got an amount of Rs67,815,000. So far, Rs157,816,000 have been spent
under the head, they added.
Likewise,
Rs38,500,000 were allocated for diet and food charges in the 2021-2022 budget
and later the police got an additional amount of Rs34,500,000. So far, an
Amount of Rs82,900,000 has been spent under the head.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1691655/ptis-march-cost-government-rs149-million
--------
Imran
Khan, other PTI leaders booked over ‘vandalism, arson’ charges during Azadi
March
May
26, 2022
Islamabad
police on Thursday booked PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other leaders of his
party in two separate cases over allegations of arson and vandalism in the
capital the previous night.
A
first information report (FIR) was registered at 1:50am at Kohsar police
station over the complaint of Sub-Inspector (SI) Asif Raza under Sections 109
(abetment), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly),
186 (obstructing public service), 188 (disobedience), 353 (assault on public
servant), 427 (causing damage) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance
with intent to cause damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
SI
Raza, in the FIR, said he was on duty, along with other police personnel, at
Jinnah Avenue’s China Chowk when at 11pm, 100-150 people with PTI flags
suddenly moved towards Express Chowk. He said the police tried to stop the PTI
supporters due to the imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad but they did not
listen and instead pelted stones at the police officers and also setting fire
to trees.
Raza
said 36 individuals, who were acting at the “behest of Imran and other PTI
leadership”, were “brought under control”.
Meanwhile,
the second FIR was registered at 3:20am on the complaint of SI Ghulam Sarwar
under the same sections as the prior FIR. Sarwar claimed that he and other
police officers were on duty at Express Chowk when at 12:30am, 100-150 PTI
protesters — equipped with rods and inflammatory materials — chanted slogans,
incited people and set fire to the trees and Metro Bus station near Geo Chowk,
along with smashing mirrors of Geo News’ office.
SI
Sarwar said as the police tried to disperse the crowd, the PTI workers resorted
to pelting stones and also damaged a government bus. He added that 39
individuals were subsequently arrested.
The
FIR filed on SI Sarwar’s complaint named Imran as well as Asad Umar, Imran
Ismail, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Nawaz Awan among others.
Both
FIRs revolve around the events that transpired on the streets of Islamabad
during the PTI’s Azadi March last night. PTI party workers and supporters were
present at D-Chowk on Wednesday in the face of intense police shelling.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
FM
Bilawal reaffirms Pakistan’s desire to strengthen trade, economic ties with
Iran
May
26, 2022
DAVOS:
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen
fraternal ties with Iran in all areas of mutual interest.
Talking
to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the
World Economic Forum in Davos, the foreign minister emphasised that there
exists vast scope in bilateral trade and economic cooperation which should be
tapped by both sides through various institutional mechanisms and innovative
ways to identify new sectors.
The
foreign minister underscored the importance of earliest completion of border
markets to improve livelihood in the border region.
He
appreciated Iran’s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause, especially at the
Supreme Leader level.
The
foreign minister also thanked Abdollahian for sending an Iranian aircraft to
Pakistan which helped extinguish the forest fire in Balochistan.
In
the context of the situation in Afghanistan, Blawal noted that as neighbours,
Pakistan and Iran have been closely coordinating. He underlined that sustained
engagement between the international community and the Interim Afghan government
is critical to advance shared objectives of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Bilawal
rejects foreign intervention claim, rebuilds ties with West at Davos
May
26, 2022
DAVOS:
The foreign minister on Wednesday rejected claims by former prime minister
Imran Khan that the United States had plotted his downfall.
Bilawal
Bhutto-Zardari told Reuters that Khan’s ouster last month was in fact a
milestone for Pakistan’s democracy.
“Pakistan
has a history of prime ministers who have been removed undemocratically,
unconstitutionally through various means,” Zardari said in an interview on the
sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss Alpine resort of
Davos.
“We’ve
had a prime minister who was removed and hanged!” Zardari said with reference
to his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, part of a family history repeatedly
marked by violence as well as high office.
At
just 33, he is hoping to appeal to Pakistan’s young population and step into
the shoes of a political dynasty. As the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP), he said will run in the next elections and seek to form a government.
For
the moment, he says he is focused on Pakistan’s foreign policy challenges
around the world.
While
Davos has been dominated by fears around trade blocs and more siloed nations,
Bhutto Zardari said multilateral cooperation with neighbouring countries and
the West is the way forward for Pakistan.
That
has opened his government to attacks from Khan and his supporters. Khan accuses
Washington of conspiring with his political opposition to oust him because of
his independent foreign policy, which included a trip to Moscow to meet Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
Washington
denies Khan’s allegation.
“He’s
doing whatever he can to adopt maximalist extremist positions, whip up
anti-American sentiment and draw parallels to the Taliban’s struggle in
Afghanistan to undermine this space for this democratic transition,” Zardari
said.
ILLUSTRIOUS
LEGACY’
Zardari
has already met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and arrived in Davos
fresh from a trip to China.
He
said he envisaged a role for Pakistan in bridging the gap between the two
nations. His grandfather Zulfikar Ali also served as foreign minister.
“The
initiation of diplomatic relations between China and the United States has a
history that’s connected to my party and my country,” he told Reuters.
“My
grandfather played a role at the time of Henry Kissinger and Nixon in
facilitating the early communications between the two countries.”
“I
am lucky and fortunate that I have such an illustrious legacy, such imposing
historical figures in my own family to look up to, and who still guide me and drive
me in the way that their mission, their ideology, their manifestos are my
driving force,” he said.
Zardari
was 19 when he became the leader of his PPP. Now, he hopes to reclaim both his
family history and the optimism of his youth.
“We
were promised a very different world,” he said.
“I
was born in 1988, so the fall of the Berlin Wall and at a time when we were
going to see the end of history and the international institutions like the
United Nations were going to come together. And unfortunately, we have really
been shortchanged.”
In
a country where 64 percent of the population are under 30, according to a 2018
UN estimate, he says he believes it is “about time” someone of his age was
represented in government.
“We
will grow up in a world that is affected by the climate crisis in a way the
generation before us cannot understand and cannot appreciate. We will be paying
the debts that they incur, and that’ll be a liability on our progress.”
Benazir
Bhutto’s killer has never been caught, and a UN inquiry found that Pakistani
authorities had failed to protect her or properly investigate her death.
Zardari
said that despite growing up in the full glare of the public eye, he was not
afraid for his own safety.
Source:
Pakistan Today
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Imran
Khan Era Electoral Changes Overturned With Bill In Pakistan: Report
May
26, 2022
Islamabad:
Pakistan's National Assembly on Thursday passed a bill to abolish the former
Imran Khan government's election reforms giving expats the right to vote
through I-Voting and the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the
country.
The
Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Murtaza Javed Abbasi was passed with a majority vote in the lower house, with
only members of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) opposing it.
Abbasi,
before presenting the bill, presented a motion to allow the bill be sent directly
to the Senate for its approval, bypassing the relevant standing committee.
The
bill is expected to be sent to the Senate on Friday.
The
current National Assembly would complete its five-year term in August next
year, which would be followed by the general elections. However, the prime
minister can dissolve parliament any time and call fresh elections.
Describing
the bill of "immense significance", Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
(PML-N) minister Azam Nazeer Tarar recalled the ousted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
government had made multiple amendments to the Election Act, 2017, including
those that allowed the use of EVMs and granted overseas Pakistanis the right to
vote in general elections.
The
PTI government had made the amendments through the Elections (Second Amendment)
Bill, 2021, which it had bulldozed through the National Assembly along with 32
other legislations on November 17 last year, Tarar said.
The
minister also said Thursday's bill sought to revive the Elections Act, 2017 in
the shape prior to those amendments, ensuring free, fair, and transparent
elections.
Under
the new bill, Tarar stated, two amendments were being made to Sections 94 and
103 of the act, both pertaining to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
conducting pilot projects for overseas voting and the use of EVMs.
He
said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had also expressed its inability
to hold elections through I-Voting and EVMs in a short span of time and without
proper homework.
The
amendment under Section 94 of the Election Act, 2017, suggests the ECP may
conduct pilot projects for voting by overseas Pakistanis in by-elections to
ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security, and financial feasibility
of such voting and shall share the results with the government.
It
said the report would be laid before both houses of Parliament within 15 days
from the commencement of a session of a house.
According
to the law minister, the Election Commission of Pakistan had also raised
objections to the use of EVMs.
He
however clarified the government was not against the use of the technology, and
that holding polls using EVMs in a single day was "impossible".
"We
only have concerns about the misuse of technology as the Results Transmission
System had failed in last general elections to favour a particular political
party," he said.
He
also dispelled the impression that the amendments were aimed at depriving
overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.
"Overseas
Pakistanis are a precious asset of the country and the government does not
believe in snatching their right to vote," he said.
Meanwhile,
the PTI has strongly criticised the move and termed it a “regressive and
condemnable act” of the government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif.
PTI
vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted: "PTI gave over nine million
Overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. Today, this band of thieves and thugs
removed this, disenfranchising a staggering number of Pakistanis and barring
the use of electronic voting machines.” GDA lawmaker Ghous Bakhsh Mehr, on the
other hand, said that EVMs were being used across the world and Pakistan should
at least try using them. "If not the whole country, then use them in some
areas," he said.
During
the National Assembly session, details of the expenses for the next general
elections were shared.
According
to the electoral watchdog's estimates, fresh polls will cost about ₹ 47.41
billion, of which around ₹ 15 billion will be for ensuring security.
The
election commission had estimated the cost of conducting electronic voting at ₹
5.6 billion, while printing ballot papers would cost ₹ 4.83 billion. Further, ₹
1.79 billion would be spent on training polling staff.
Source:
ND TV
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Pakistan:
Fault lines visible in Shehbaz govt as PML-N calls for immediate elections
27
May, 2022
Islamabad
[Pakistan], May 27 (ANI): A faction of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has
shown its support for holding an immediate election in the country and
expressed that if prices of petroleum products are hiked to meet the latest
International Monetary Fund (IMF) demand it will dent the party’s popularity
among the masses.
This
comes after the Fund rejected giving another tranche of loan to Pakistan while
emphasizing the urgency of concrete policy actions including the removal of
fuel and energy subsidies in the fiscal year 2023 budget, to achieve programme
objectives.
This
latest revelation is also a departure from PML-N and its allies’ earlier
announcement where they said that the current setup will complete its tenure
till August 2023 and the general elections would be held at the stipulated time
next year.
The
PML-N leader added that accepting the IMF conditions will be an unpopular
decision for the party. According to the sources in conversation with ARY News,
the coalition partners of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government are
gripped by confusion, however, the majority of the PML-N leaders have favoured
the immediate organisation of the elections.
Sources
of the media outlet also reveal that Shehbaz will hold meetings with the
coalition partners for making a final decision in which budget recommendations
will also be tabled.
The
IMF rejected the USD 3 billion economic relief program for Pakistan and
demanded that fuel subsidies must be removed.
The
Fund pointed out that there are “deviations” on fiscal sides from the policies
agreed upon in the last review. The Fund emphasized the urgency of concrete
policy actions and including the context of removal the fuel and energy
subsidies in the fiscal year 2023 budget, to achieve programme objectives.
Source:
The Print
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Southeast
Asia
Penang
Allocates 9.24 Acres of Land for Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and
Other Religions Places of Worship
By
Opalyn Mok
27
May 2022
GEORGE
TOWN, May 27 — Penang has increased its allocation for the development of Islam
in the state to RM19.95 million, an increase of RM1.34 million from 2021, said
Penang Yang diPertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
He
said the allocation totalling RM18.61 million last year for the development of
Islam in the state were for projects such as the development of the Falak
Sheikh Tahir Centre, religious schools, Darul Hidayah Complex and Kolej Islam
Teknologi Antarabangsa.
Other
than the increase in allocation for the development and strengthening of Islam
in the state, he said the state also provided basic infrastructure for those of
other religious beliefs.
“The
state has allocated a 9.24 acres of land for non-Islamic places of worship in
Ampang Jajar that is equipped with basic infrastructure,” he said in his
opening speech at the state legislative assembly today.
He
said a total 35 religious associations consisting of Taoism, Buddhism,
Hinduism, Christianity and other religions were offered lands on the site.
“The
state has offered the land in individual lots to the applicants and it is on a
lease rate of 50 per cent less than the value of the land,” he said.
He
said the 35 associations were given the lease on February 15 where the lease
officially starts from June 1 after the infrastructure works on the lands were
issued the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).
Source:
Malay Mail
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Tokyo
government reaffirms connections to Islamic countries
May
26, 2022
TOKYO:
Diplomats from Islamic countries and regions took part in a Tokyo policy
briefing and discussion meeting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office on
Wednesday.
Tokyo
Gov. KOIKE Yuriko, who has strong ties with Arabic and Islamic countries, made
the opening remarks.
“It
is a great pleasure and honor to welcome you to the ‘Tokyo Networking.’ I am
very pleased to have you here in person this year after two years of
cancelations due to COVID-19.
“These
two years have been a long battle against the virus. Through regular
communication with you, we have been able to keep it from spreading
extensively. Thank you everyone for your enormous cooperation,” Governor Koike
said.
“Japan
and the followers of Islam have long enjoyed friendly relations in various
fields. It is my sincere hope that good relations with your countries will
continue.”
Forty-nine
Islamic countries and regions were invited and 27 attended the meeting.
Palestinian
Ambassador Waleed Siam made a speech as a representative of the diplomats.
“Today,
we are here to participate and support the Tokyo Metropolitan Initiative for
improvement of the environment for the multi-faith community,” he said. “The
Muslim community is an important and large part of society as a whole.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2090496/world
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Indonesia
summons Britain's envoy after furore over rainbow flag
23
May 2022
Indonesia
summoned Britain's ambassador on Monday to explain the raising of a lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) flag at its embassy, and urged foreign
missions to respect local "sensitivities" following a backlash among
conservatives.
Barring
the sharia-ruled province of Aceh, homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia,
the world's largest Muslim-majority country, although it is generally
considered taboo.
The
rainbow LGBT flag was flown alongside the British flag at the country's embassy
in Jakarta on May 17 to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia
and Transphobia, according to an Instagram post by the embassy.
Alumni
212 Brotherhood, an influential conservative Islamic movement, in a statement
said the flag sullied the "sacred values of Indonesia".
Teuku
Faizasyah, foreign ministry spokesperson, confirmed British ambassador Owen
Jenkins had been summoned.
"The
foreign ministry reminds foreign representatives to be respectful of the
sensitivities among Indonesians on matters relevant with their culture,
religion and belief," he said.
A
British embassy spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Faizasyah
said that though an embassy is a sovereign territory, the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations stipulates only that nation's flag can be flown.
Indonesia
is becoming less tolerant of its LGBT community as some politicians become more
vocal about Islam playing a larger role in the state, according to activists
and human rights groups.
A
2020 survey by the Pew Research Center also showed that 80% of Indonesians
believe homosexuality "should not be accepted by society".
Last
week, Indonesia's chief security minister said a revision of the criminal code
being deliberated by parliament included some articles aimed at the LGBT
community, a move backed by some conservative lawmakers.
Source:
Bdnews24
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Indonesia
should become global halal industry’s major player: MPR
May
27, 2022
Indonesia,
with the largest Muslim population worldwide, should become a major player in
the global halal industry rather than merely a market target of the industry,
according to the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker.
“Moreover,
last January, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin initiated the Global Halal Hub
ecosystem as part of the national synergy movement to make Indonesia as a
global halal producer hub in 2024,” MPR Speaker Bambang Soesatyo noted in his
statement.
According
to the speaker, the State of Global Islamic Economy Report 2020-2021 revealed
that global consumption of halal products is expected to increase, from US$1.17
trillion in 2019 to US$1.38 trillion by 2024. The same report also highlighted
that the consumption of Islamic fashion globally is expected to rise, from
US$277 billion to US$311 billion, he remarked.
“The
increase not only occurs in Muslim-majority countries, such as those in the
Middle East but also in countries not dominated by Muslims, such as those in
Europe. Non-Muslim consumers have convinced that the halal label in products
not only has religious significance but also proves the products’ cleanliness
and safety,” the speaker noted.
During
his earlier engagement with the Islamic organization Al Muttaqien Care
Foundation in Jakarta, Soesatyo lauded the foundation’s initiatives to assist
the verification process for 10 million MSMEs to obtain free halal
certificates.
“Al
Muttaqien Care Foundation’s assistance (is provided) through the temanQu
digital platform to collect application data more accurately and faster and is
part of their involvement as the Halal Product Assurance Agency’s (BPJPH’s)
strategic partner,” he affirmed.
The
speaker noted that the provision of 10 million free halal certifications for
MSMEs demonstrates President Joko Widodo’s commitment to supporting Indonesian
MSMEs’ entry into the global halal industry.
Source:
Pak Observer
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https://pakobserver.net/indonesia-should-become-global-halal-industrys-major-player-mpr/
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Africa
Morocco,
Israel sign agreement on scientific research
Esat
Firat
27.05.2022
RABAT,
Morocco
Morocco
and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday in the field of
scientific research.
Moroccan
Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Minister Abdellatif
Miraoui and Israeli Science and Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen met in
the Moroccan capital Rabat, according to a statement issued by
Farkash-Hacohen’s office.
Speaking
at the signing ceremony in Rabat, Miraoui said the memorandum of understanding
will encourage rapprochement and exchanges of expertise and experience between
institutions in both countries.
For
her part, the Israeli minister said the agreement signed between the two
ministries is within the framework of the normalization agreement signed
between Morocco and Israel on Dec. 22, 2020.
Noting
that this agreement opens up promising horizons for bilateral cooperation,
Farkash-Hacohen said the two countries will work together to advance common
issues in various fields by strengthening cooperation on issues related to
renewable energies, water technology and science, as well as health and climate
change.
In
December 2020, former US President Donald Trump announced that his country
recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara region and that a US
consulate would be opened in the regional city of Dakhla.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/morocco-israel-sign-agreement-on-scientific-research/2598845
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Nigeria’s
insecurity may become uncontrollable – Islamic leaders
May
26, 2022
By
Wale Odunsi
The
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) on Thursday warned that insecurity in Nigeria may
become uncontrollable.
The
body urged the Federal Government and the States to take concrete actions
against enemies.
A
statement by the Secretary-General, Khalid Aliyu told the authorities to
immediately take control of forests and swampy areas occupied by outlaws.
The
Islamic leaders also demanded the arrest and prosecution of all criminals and
gangs.
“Proactive
measures should be taken in nipping the situations from the bud, before
becoming uncontrollable.
“We
advise the governments to strategise and bring an end to orgies of killings;
desperate situations need desperate measures,” he said.
JNI
further called for the identification and trial of the “unknown gunmen”
terrorizing the South-East.
For
the region, they suggested the constitution of a joint task force to stem the
rising tide of killings.
“Governments
at all levels should act beyond mere verbal condemnations on security related
matters,” he added.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://dailypost.ng/2022/05/26/nigerias-insecurity-may-become-uncontrollable-islamic-leaders/
--------
Security
forces descend on capital as Sudanese protests enter eighth month
26
May, 2022
Security
forces fanned out across a wide swathe of central Khartoum on Thursday, a
Reuters reporter witnessed, as police attempted to block the latest protests
against military rule in seven months.
Thousands
of protesters, the most seen in about two months, the reporter said, marched towards
the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum demonstrating for civilian
leadership and against an Oct. 25 military coup.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“We
will continue until the end,” said Abdallah Mohamed, a 28-year-old protester.
“Either we die or we win civilian rule. Our only hope for life is to achieve
democracy.”
The
country remains without a prime minister since January, amid political deadlock
and an economic spiral after military leadership removed a joint civilian and
military-led government from power. An ongoing United Nations and African
Union-sponsored process has yet to yield an agreement between the country’s
main political factions and the military.
A
Reuters reporter estimated that protesters were met with about 2,000 members of
police as well as the Central Reserve Forces, which have been subject to US
sanctions for alleged human rights violations.
Security
forces blanketed the residential neighborhoods around the protest route, aiming
tear gas at protesters starting about 3.5 kilometers away from the palace.
Protesters
continued marching for about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), burning tires and tree
branches to block roads along the way. Security forces could be seen chasing
protesters down some side streets and some protesters were seen injured and
carried away.
Local
authorities have often stated that the downtown area, about a kilometer away
from the palace, is restricted from protests for security reasons. Barbed wire
and water trucks could be seen blocking the area.
At
least 96 people have been killed in the protests since October by security
forces, according to medics, and thousands have been injured. Lawyers say
dozens of protesters and activists remain in detention.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Firefighters
contain blaze at Sudan Red Sea port
26
May, 2022
Firefighters
have contained a large blaze that erupted in a cargo area of the Sudanese Red
Sea port of Suakin, the port’s director said Thursday.
The
fire, which raged for hours, broke out in the cargo drop off area of the port
on Wednesday sending plumes of acrid smoke into the sky.
It
was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.
“The
fire has been brought under control following the intervention of civil defense
forces and port workers,” port director Taha Ahmed Mokhtar said.
He
said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the fire, and
a commission set up to assess the scale of the losses.
A
port official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had earlier described the
damage as “catastrophic.”
The
blaze at the port came as Sudan is gripped by a chronic economic crisis which
deepened after last year’s military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan.
The
military takeover triggered punitive measures, including aid cuts by Western
governments, who demanded the restoration of the transitional administration
installed after the 2019 ouster of longtime president Omar al-Bashir.
The
historic port town of Suakin is no longer Sudan’s main foreign trade hub, a
role which has been taken by Port Sudan, some 60 kilometers (40 miles) away
along the Red Sea coast.
But
there have been moves to redevelop the port.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Tunisian
president decrees a referendum for new constitution
26
May, 2022
Tunisian
President Kais Saied issued on Wednesday a decree to call voters to a
referendum on a new constitution on July 25, the official gazette said,
ignoring the opposition’s calls to reverse the controversial move.
Saied
last week named law professor Sadok Belaid to head an advisory committee that
included law and political science deans, to draft a new constitution for a
“new republic,” excluding political parties from restructuring the political
system.
The
main political parties have said they will boycott the unilateral restructuring
of politics.
The
powerful UGTT union also refused to take part in a limited dialog proposed by
the president as he rewrites the constitution. The union said it would hold a
national strike at state firms and public services.
Belaid
said earlier on Wednesday he would go ahead with whomever participates in the
panel after prominent academics refused to join it, raising fears the
restructuring of the political system would not have a broad consensus.
The
only question on the referendum will be: “Do you agree the new constitution?”
the gazette said.
The
gazette added that polling will start at 6 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. on July 25.
Saied,
who took executive power and dissolved parliament to rule by decree, has since
said he will replace the democratic 2014 constitution with a new constitution
via referendum and hold new parliamentary elections in December.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Europe
Six
Pakistani peacekeepers awarded medals of courage
Anwar
Iqbal
May
27, 2022
UNITED
NATIONS: Six Pakistanis were among 117 UN peacekeepers who were awarded UN
medals of courage on Thursday for sacrificing their lives for the cause of
peace.
Five
of the six — Tahir Ikram, Tahir Mehmood, Mohammed Naeem, Adil Jan and Mohammed
Shafiq — were from the armed forces, while the sixth, Ibrar Syed, was a
civilian.
At
the UN Headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath to honour
the nearly 4,200 United Nations peacekeepers who have lost their lives since
1948. And later, he presided over a ceremony at which the Dag Hammarskjöld
Medals of Courage were awarded posthumously to 117 military, police and
civilian peacekeepers, including six Pakistanis, who lost their lives serving
under the United Nations flag in 2021.
Captain
Abdelrazakh Hamit Bahar of Chad posthumously received the “Captain Mbaye Diagne
Medal for Exceptional Courage”. Major Winnet Zaharare of Zimbabwe received the
Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award and was declared a champion of
gender equality.
Pakistan
is one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping for
decades. Since joining the United Nations on Sept 30, 1947, Pakistan has
participated in 70 UN peacekeeping missions across the globe. The Pakistan
armed forces are the third largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping
efforts, behind India and Ethiopia.
“We
are committed to helping the vulnerable communities affected by conflict and
will continue to adapt to the changing environment and needs of the
peacekeeping operations,” said Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram.
Recognising
the sacrifices of the six Pakistanis who lost their lives in 2021, Ambassador
Akram said: “We share the grief of their families and will never forget these
heroes who won respect and recognition for their homeland.”
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1691691/six-pakistani-peacekeepers-awarded-medals-of-courage
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Greece
tells UN that Turkey is challenging its sovereignty
26
May ,2022
Greece
has told the head of the United Nations that Turkey is directly challenging its
sovereignty over islands in the eastern Aegean Sea, and pursuing a hostile and
“revisionist” policy that is destabilizing the region.
The
four-page letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, dated May 25 and signed
by Greece's permanent UN representative, Maria Theofili, was seen by The
Associated Press on Thursday.
“Greece
solemnly calls upon Turkey to stop questioning Greece’s sovereignty over its
Aegean islands, in particular through legally baseless and historically false
assertions (and) to abstain from threatening Greece with war,” the letter
reads.
Greece
and Turkey have been at odds for decades over sea boundaries, but the
disagreement flared in 2020 as oil and gas exploration in the eastern
Mediterranean intensified.
Turkey
is demanding that Greece demilitarize its eastern islands, maintaining the
action is required under 20th century treaties that ceded sovereignty of the
islands to Greece. The Greek government calls the demand a deliberate
misinterpretation and has accused Turkey, a fellow NATO member, of stepping up
hostile actions in the area.
“Highly
threatening acts by Turkey (include) repeated overflights of Greek territory by
fighter jets in contravention to international law,” the letter said.
The
Greek-Turkish dispute largely centers around oil-and-gas drilling rights in the
eastern Mediterranean, specifically around Greek islands near Turkey’s
coastline.
A
Turkish survey mission two years ago triggered a tense naval stand-off that
Western allies had warned ran the risk of escalating into a military conflict.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Afghan
asylum seekers being ‘brutally mistreated’ by Bulgarian authorities: Rights
group
Talha
Ozturk
26.05.2022
BELGRADE,
Serbia
Using
police dogs and other violence, Bulgarian authorities are “brutally
mistreating” Afghan and other asylum seekers and migrants before pushing them
back to Turkiye, an international rights group said on Thursday.
“Bulgarian
authorities are brutally and summarily pushing back migrants and asylum seekers
across the land border with Turkey,” Michelle Randhawa, refugee and migrant
rights officer at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement.
According
to the statement, the rights group interviewed 15 Afghan men between November
2021 and April 2022, adding that 14 of the 15 men said that Bulgarian police, or
men they believed to be Bulgarian police, beat them either when they were
detained in Bulgarian territory, and/or in the course of forcibly returning
them to Turkiye.
“Ten
of the men said Bulgarian authorities stole their belongings and stripped them
of their clothes, in some cases leaving them without shoes, only in underwear
and t-shirts in freezing temperatures,” it said.
A
27-year-old Afghan man told HRW: “They were kicking us like soccer balls. They
kicked me on every part of my body, I was just able to protect my head. They
were wearing … [heavy] boots … and the toe of the boots was made of steel. On
the border, they beat us again … and they told us, ‘Don’t come back again’.”
The
HRW official called on the EU to ensure that Bulgaria immediately stops the
“illegal and dehumanizing pushbacks” at its borders and allows asylum seekers
access to fair asylum procedures.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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of the original story:
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/turkish-islamic-state-hashimi-qurashi-/d/127105