Ulema Of All Islamic Sects of Pakistan Declared Terrorism, Extremism, Sectarian Violence In Name Of Religion as Anti-Islam
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 September 2020
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• Pak Hindus Converted to Islam: Rights Activist,
member of the National Assembly, a Hindu, Expressed Ignorance About the
Incident
• Bangladesh Muslim Man Labelled as Christian,
Ostracized Over Notre Dame College Studentship
• Xinjiang Government Confirms Huge Birth Rate Drop
but Denies Forced Sterilization of Women
• Trump Decisions to Repeat 9/11, Says Former US
Security Advisor, H.R McMaster
• Sudan Ready to Normalize Israel Ties in Return For
$3bn: Report
• Israel’s Continuous Overflights in Violation of UNSC
Resolution, Lebanon’s Sovereignty: UNIFIL
• US, Israel Source of All Acts of Evil in World:
Yemen’s Ansarullah Leader
Pakistan
• Ulema Of All Islamic Sects of Pakistan Declared Terrorism,
Extremism, Sectarian Violence In Name Of Religion as Anti-Islam
• Bill Against Sexual Abuse of Women to Be Tabled In
Next NA Session: PM’s Aide
• Govt terms Nawaz’s speech ‘anti-Pakistan’
• Consensus on GB’s Provisional Status as Province
• Opposition Leaders Told Not to Drag Military into
Politics
• SC restrains extradition of terror suspect to US
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India
• Pak Hindus Converted to Islam: Rights Activist,
member of the National Assembly, a Hindu, Expressed Ignorance About the
Incident
• Pakistan An Epicentre of Terrorism, Which Hails Them
as Martyrs and Persecutes Its Ethnic and Religious Minorities: India at UN
• NIA raids several locations in Jammu and Kashmir in
ex-DSP Davinder Singh case
• One terrorist killed by security forces in J&K's
Budgam encounter
• ‘385 Pakistanis Among 409 To Get Citizenship’
• Terror, pelting cases see drop post 370 move
• India summons Pak high commission official over
abduction of minor Sikh girl
• NIA detains 2 from airport in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram
for suspected extremist links: Report
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South Asia
• Bangladesh Muslim Man Labelled as Christian,
Ostracized Over Notre Dame College Studentship
• Afghanistan Making Efforts to End the Long-Fought
War, Peace Process Not A ‘Drama Series’, Ghani Says
• A Peace Day Tweet, 98 Civilians Killed Amid Doha
Talks
• Dozens of Afghan soldiers have been killed in
clashes with Taliban since peace talks began
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Southeast Asia
• Xinjiang Government Confirms Huge Birth Rate Drop but
Denies Forced Sterilization of Women
• Perak Sultan Calls for Wider Acceptance of Fatwas
Among Muslim Community
• Top Court Grants Sisters In Islam Leave To Continue
Challenge Against Selangor Law Allowing Shariah courts to decide on judicial
reviews
• No more 'balik China' slurs since Muhyiddin became
PM, SAPP president says
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North America
• Trump Decisions to Repeat 9/11, Says Former US
Security Advisor, H.R McMaster
• Leaked Docs: US Branches of Deutsche Bank Suspected
of Facilitating Funds to Daesh In Iraq
• US goes it alone after UN rejects demand to restore
Iran sanctions
• Trump’s anti-Iran agenda not only illegal, it’s also
harebrained
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Africa
• Sudan Ready to Normalize Israel Ties in Return For
$3bn: Report
• Tunisia’s coastguards pick up 246 migrants at sea in
a single night
• Kenya: Al-Shabaab Militant Jailed for Attack on U.S.
Base in Kenya
• Somalia: Al-Shabab attacks intensify as election
looms
• Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Three Persons In Borno
Communities
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Europe
• Israel’s Continuous Overflights in Violation of UNSC
Resolution, Lebanon’s Sovereignty: UNIFIL
• Calls for expired Swedish school permits to be axed
after ISIS school exploits loophole
• Irish terrorists in Hezbollah weapons sting met with
Iranian embassy officials
• Observers Remain Sceptical as Uzbek Government Says
Religious Extremism Rising
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Mideast
• US, Israel Source of All Acts of Evil in World:
Yemen’s Ansarullah Leader
• Iraqi Baath Documents Reveal Pahlavi Regime’s
Collaboration with Saddam in Bombing Iranian Cities
• IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Downplays US “Hollow”
Threats against Iran
• Iran’s Deputy Judiciary Chief: Israel Not to Show
Mercy to Arab States
• After UAE-Israel deal, Tel Aviv’s defense minister
jets to US to ensure military edge
• Hamas sets 2-month deadline for Israel to end Gaza
siege
• After Algeria opposition to normalization with
Israel, Palestinian factions urge Arab rulers to follow suit
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Arab world
• Form Cabinet, Or Lebanon Will Go to Hell, President
Aoun Warns
• 60 US trucks loaded with military equipment enter
Syria’s Hasakah: SANA
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ulema-all-islamic-sects-pakistan/d/122918
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Ulema Of All Islamic Sects of Pakistan Declared Terrorism, Extremism, Sectarian Violence In Name Of Religion as Anti-Islam
Kalbe Ali
22 Sep 2020
President
Dr Arif Alvi speaks at the Wahadat-i-Ummat Conference at the Presidency on
Monday. Allama Arif Wahidi, Allama Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Allama Hafiz Tahir
Mehmood Ashrafi, Religious Affairs Minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, AJK President
Sardar Masood and Pir Naqeebur Rehman are also pictured. — APP
------
ISLAMABAD: Religious leaders from various Islamic
sects said they would disassociate from those in their ranks who make
derogatory comments about religious figures, or fan hatred and sectarianism in
the country.
They made the decision at the Wahdat-i-Ummat
Conference held at the Presidency, chaired by President Dr Arif Alvi.
“We should keep check not to take ideological
differences to the level of confrontations and bilateral anarchy,” Dr Alvi
said.
The conference was organised by the Pakistan Ulema Council
(PUC) to counter extremist rhetoric in recent days. Clerics who participated
said they were not connected to banned organisations and elements fanning
sectarianism and religious violence in the country.
Addressing the conference, Dr Alvi said no one should
make derogatory comments and remarks about religious figures.
Say will disassociate from those making derogatory
comments about religious figures, fanning hatred and sectarianism in country
He said people with different religious beliefs and
sects live in Pakistan.
He added that this Muharram, there were some
unpleasant incidents by individuals with the objective to cause anarchy and
chaos, and the government has ensured prompt action against them.
“I assure you all that proper legal action will be taken
against all these elements who bid to fan religious anarchy in the country and
these conspiring elements will not be allowed to make chaos and religious
anarchy in the country and interfaith harmony and brotherhood will be ensured,”
he said.
Dr Alvi also spoke about Kashmir and Palestine, saying
world peace was connected to peace and stability in these regions.
We hope that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
headed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will play a more effective and proactive
role on the issues of Palestine and Kashmir, he said.
Dr Alvi also praised the joint declaration issued by
the conference, saying it was a positive note for the unity of Muslims and the
eradication of extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence in Pakistan.
The conference was attended by around 200 religious
leaders and scholars from various sects, as well as envoys of Arab and European
countries and government ministers.
Speakers at the conference demanded that the
government handle derogatory comments about religious figures according to the
National Action Plan and take action against elements fanning sectarianism,
violence and hatred through social media.
Key points of the declaration included that terrorism,
extremism, sectarian violence and killings in the name of religion were against
Islam and Shariah.
It said that the leaders of religious sects and
schools of thought should unanimously disassociate themselves from those
involved in sectarian violence, terrorism and extremism.
Scholars, orators and clerics will not make derogatory
remarks about religious figures in public sermons and no sect should support or
endorse any person who does so, it added.
The declaration said that no Muslim sect should be
declared ‘infidel’ and no non-Muslim or Muslim should be declared ‘worthy of
killing’.
It said the people of Pakistan and the believers of
all religions and sects will live according to the rights defined in the
Constitution.
Non-Muslims live in Pakistan with the Muslim majority
population, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the holy
sites and places of worship of religious minorities are protected, it said.
It also demanded that the government implement the
National Action Plan without discrimination and that legislation and
consultations should be ensured as a priority on the unanimously approved draft
of the Paigham-i-Pakistan project.
The declaration also said that action should be taken
against those issuing irresponsible religious decrees — known as fatwas — that
are against the teachings of Quran and Sunnah.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580925/ulema-vow-not-to-take-differences-to-level-of-confrontation
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Pak Hindus Converted to Islam: Rights Activist, member
of the National Assembly, a Hindu, Expressed Ignorance About the Incident
Sep 22, 2020
Photo of alleged mass
conversion event held in Sindh, Pakistan
-----
Amritsar: A Pakistani rights activist Rahat Austin has
claimed that as many as 171 Hindu in Sindh province were converted to Islam on
Sunday.
Rahat told TOI on Monday that the conversion of Hindu
men, women and children was done at a mass conversion ceremony held at madarsa
Ahsan-ul-Taleem, Sanghar in Sindh province of Pakistan. A former member of
Islamic Ideology Council Noor Ahmad Tashar converted them to Islam, he claimed.
However, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader and
member of the National Assembly (MNA) Kheal Das Kohistani, a Hindu, expressed
ignorance about the incident, while MNA and patron in chief of Pakistan Hindu
Council Ramesh Kumar Vankwani did not pick the phone despite repeated attempts.
Sources here informed that all the Hindus, who were
converted to Islam on various allurements, were from Bhil community, which is
considered as most vulnerable and marginalised community among the minority
communities of Pakistan.
Earlier in June, over a hundred Hindus were converted
to Islam in Badin district of Sindh province.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Hindu MNA Lal Chand
Malhi said he had also heard the same in the social media but did not confirm
the incident.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/171-pak-hindus-converted-to-islam-rights-activist/articleshow/78244562.cms
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Bangladesh Muslim Man Labelled As Christian,
Ostracized Over Notre Dame College Studentship
September 22nd, 2020
Jewel Khan, left Dhaka
Tribune
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The victim Jewel Khan is a resident of Torafpur
Pathaliapara village of Mirzapur upazila in Tangail
Some influential locals have ostracized a family of a
Muslim meritorious student in Tangail’s Mirzapur upazila accusing him of a
Christian and an atheist as he studied in Notre Dame College in Dhaka, an
institution administered by the Congregation of Holy Cross, Society of Priests.
The victim Jewel Khan, a resident of Torafpur
Pathaliapara village of Mirzapur upazila, passed Higher Secondary School
Certificate (SSC) Examination from Notre Dame College. He obtained a Bachelor
of Arts (BA) and a Masters of Arts (MA) in Bangla from Dhaka University.
According to sources, Jewel Khan’s family has been in
a longstanding dispute with a neighbour named Shariful Islam, son of Abdur
Rashid Khan of Torafpur Pathaliapara village of Mirzapur upazila, over the
boundaries of their home.
As a sequel to this enmity, on May 1, Shariful along
with a gang of his cohorts- Abdul Baset Miah, Ramjan Ali, Abdul Latif, Tarikul
Islam and Litu Anam- carried out an attack on Jewel’s family.
At one point, they accused Jewel Khan of being
Christian as he studied in Notre Dame College. Shariful and his gang also
claimed those who study in Notre Dame College and Dhaka University are
Christian and atheist.
Labelling Jewel a Christian and an atheist, Shariful
and his gang ostracized Jewel Khan and his family. They even threatened the
locals not to contact with the family members.
Since then, Jewel’s family are not allowed to take
part in social activities and religious ceremonies in the village. The family
was barred from slaughtering animals during last Eid-ul-Azha.
Jewel mother Amena Begum alleged: “Shariful and his
gang are harassing my family by implicating us in a false case although they
attacked us.”
Mahmudul Hasan, a health worker from Torafpur village,
said:J"ewel's family does not respect anyone in the society. Moreover,
Jewel's father does not care about the mosque, even the family do not pay
donation at mosque. That is why the elders of the society have decided to
ostracized them."
Regarding the matter, Mirzapur police station
Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Giasuddin, said: "I have heard that some
influential locals of the village labeled Jewel Khan as a Christian as he
studied in Notre Dame College.
Besides, Mirzapur police station Officer-in-Charge
(OC) Sayedur Rahman, said: "Some influential locals threatened to expel
Jewel’s family from society. The matter is very inhumane. We have investigated
the matter and found it true. We will take actions.”
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/09/22/muslim-man-labelled-as-christian-ostracized-over-notre-dame-college-studentship
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Xinjiang government confirms huge birth rate drop but
denies forced sterilization of women
Sep 22, 2020
Chinese officials have recently confirmed that there
has been a birth rate drop in Xinjiang following allegations that the
government was forcing Uyghur Muslim women within the region to take birth
control or undergo sterilization procedures. The birth rate dropped by almost a
third in 2018 when compared to the previous year. However, Chinese authorities
have denied all allegations of forced sterilization and genocide. The
documented campaign against the Uyghur Muslim minority population gained
traction in the news cycle and drew attention from several global human rights
organizations.
In July, CNN published an article documenting the
abuse campaign by China targeting the minority women, who belong to a larger
group of more than 10 million Uyghur minorities. Alongside claims of mass
sterilization, up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Chinese ethnic minorities were
reportedly placed in mass detention centers, according to the US State
Department, where they were subject to abuse and indoctrination. China has
claimed that the detention centers offer vocational training as part of a
de-radicalization program that is voluntary.
https://www.oodaloop.com/briefs/2020/09/21/xinjiang-government-confirms-huge-birth-rate-drop-but-denies-forced-sterilization-of-women/
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Trump Decisions to Repeat 9/11, Says Former US
Security Advisor, H.R McMaster
By Mohammad Haroon Alim
Sep 22, 2020
Former US National Security Advisor, H.R McMaster said
US-backed peace talks in Afghanistan are doomed to end in “failure” and warned
the risk of another 9/11 is high.
“In many ways more at risk today than we were on Sept.
10, 2001,” McMaster told USA Today.
Trump’s Decisions would endanger Afghanistan, the
world, and particularly the United States, he added
Trump had made a big mistake by establishing a peace
process and withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, McMaster told in his exclusive
interview.
He said, the absence of enough pressure would not make
the peace process a success, and that it would pose a greater threat not only
to Afghanistan but also to the region and the world.
He previously indicated at his interview with CBS that
President Trump has joined forces with the Taliban against the Afghan
government.
https://www.khaama.com/mccmaster-trumps-decisions-to-repeat-9-11-987654/
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Sudan ready to normalize Israel ties in return for
$3bn: Report
21 September 2020
Sudan is apparently prepared to join the UAE and
Bahrain in normalizing relations with the Israeli regime in return for over $3
billion in economic aid, a new report reveals.
A “decisive” meeting is to be held in Abu Dhabi on
Monday on a possible normalization agreement between Sudan and Israel, a report
by the American news website Axios revealed late Sunday.
According to Sudanese sources cited by Axios, an
announcement on a normalization agreement with Israel similar to the ones
struck with the UAE and Bahrain could be made within days should Washington and
Abu Dhabi accommodate Khartoum’s request.
What Sudan demands is more than $3 billion in
humanitarian assistance and direct budgetary aid in order to deal with an
economic crisis and fallout from devastating floods, as well as a commitment by
the US and the UAE to providing Sudan with economic aid over the next three
years.
In addition to economic aid, the Sudanese government
wants the Trump administration to remove Sudan from the State Department's
state sponsors of terrorism list. This issue is indirectly connected to the
normalization deal with Israel.
The Monday talks are to be attended by the White House
National Security Council's senior director for Middle Eastern Affairs
Directorate, Brig. Gen. Miguel Correa, Emirati national security adviser
Tahnoun bin Zayed, and members of the civilian and military branches of the
Sudanese government, mainly the chief of staff to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
and Minister of Justice Nasredeen Abdulbari, who is also a US citizen.
Correa was the American official involved in the
efforts to draft the Israel-UAE agreement, and Tahnoun bin Zayed is also in
charge of the UAE's talks with Tel Aviv.
Axios says Israel is following Monday’s meeting very
closely. Since the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the
chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
last February in Uganda, both countries continued quiet talks on the
possibility of normalization.
The issue of normalization between Sudan and Israel
was raised last Tuesday in a meeting in Washington between Netanyahu and Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo.
The Monday meeting is to be held on the sidelines of
Burhan’s trip to Abu Dhabi. However, Burhan only represents the military
faction of the Sudanese government. The civilian faction and Prime Minister
Hamdok had reservations about the move for a long time out of concern for
domestic protests.
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed
controversial normalization agreements with Israel at the White House last week
amid outrage across Palestine and elsewhere throughout the Muslim world at the
Arab regimes’ sheer betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
The deals were signed between Emirati and Bahraini
Foreign Ministers, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullatif bin
Rashid Al Zayani, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US President
Donald Trump also penned his blessing into the accords.
With the US-brokered deals, the UAE and Bahrain have
become only the third and fourth Arab states to ever normalize their relations
with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634644/Sudan-ties-nornalization-israel-us-uae-aid
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Israel’s continuous overflights in violation of UNSC
resolution, Lebanon’s sovereignty: UNIFIL
22 September 2020
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
has censured the Israeli regime's incessant military flights over Beirut and
the southern sector of the Arab country, stating that such practices are in
flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution and infringe upon
Lebanon’s sovereignty.
In a statement to Lebanon’s state-run National News
Agency on Monday, Major General Stefano Del Col, the head of the UN mission,
reported a rise in the number of Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace in
recent days and said he had asked Tel Aviv to stop such moves.
“The continuous overflights in the Lebanese airspace
constitute a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanese
sovereignty, and have previously been condemned by the Security Council,” he
said.
Such relentless violations, the UN official added,
“lead to an escalation of tensions and can lead to incidents that threaten the
cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. They also go against our
goals and undermine our efforts to reduce tensions and create a stable security
environment in south Lebanon.”
The Lebanese army and the Hezbollah resistance
movement have, in recent months, brought down several intruding Israeli spy
drones.
Earlier in the day, the Lebanese army announced in a
statement that Israeli military aircraft had crossed into Lebanon’s skies and
flown over different parts of the Arab country nine times.
The statement read that the aircraft entered Lebanon’s
airspace at around 00:25 a.m. local time on Monday (2125 GMT Sunday) and left
at around 20:50 p.m. They hovered over southern Lebanon, Beirut and its suburbs
as well as Baabda and Aliya districts.
On September 10, Lebanese military forces intercepted
and targeted an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle as it was on a reconnaissance
mission in the skies over the southern part of the country.
The Lebanese army said the drone had been shot down
200 meters away from the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from the
Israeli-occupied territories.
Israel’s military, however, alleged that one of its
drones had fallen inside Lebanon during “operational activity” along the
frontier.
Lebanon’s government, the Hezbollah resistance
movement and the UNIFIL have repeatedly condemned Israel’s overflights, saying
they are in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the
country’s sovereignty.
The resolution, which brokered a ceasefire in the war
Israel launched against Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tensions have been running high between Israel and
Hezbollah since July 20, when Tel Aviv killed Hezbollah member Ali Kamel Mohsen
in an airstrike in Syria.
The Israeli military has placed its forces near the
Lebanese and Syrian borders on high alert after Hezbollah promised retaliation.
Israeli forces shelled the Lebanese village of Habaria
in late July to stop an alleged Hezbollah offensive, but the Lebanese movement
dismissed the allegation, calling it the result of tension and confusion among
Israeli forces.
Last month, a leading US news website said the recent
developments have “shed light on Israel’s impossible situation” along the
Lebanese border.
According to Business Insider, Hezbollah has
established a high level of deterrence in southern Lebanon, where as many as
"150,000 rockets and missiles” are pointed at Israel.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/22/634722/Israel-continuous-overflights-in-violation-of-UNSC-resolution-Lebanon-sovereignty-UN
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US, Israel source of all acts of evil in world:
Yemen’s Ansarullah leader
21 September 2020
The leader of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement has
censured the United States and Israel over their fiendish policies and
conspiracies against world nations, saying Washington and Tel Aviv are the main
source of all evil acts across the globe.
“The policies of the US and Israel have only caused
crises and wars across the world. We (the Yemeni people) are confronting the
sources of evil and aggression in order to secure peace in our country,”
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni
capital of Sana’a on Monday afternoon.
He highlighted that Washington has been seeking to sow
seeds of discord within the Yemeni nation, and to create sectarian rift in the
country.
Houthi said that US statesmen had set their sights on
Yemen long before the September 21 Revolution – the 2014 popular uprising that
toppled the Saudi-backed Hadi’s government -- as the Arab country enjoys a
fairly strategic location and has large reserves of natural resources.
“Enemy plots have deprived Yemeni people of revenues of
the country’s natural resources. The previous government [of former president,
Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi] collaborated with the US in order to plunder Yemen's
resources,” the Ansarullah chief further pointed out.
"The US pursued colonial policies during the
previous Yemeni government," he said, adding, previous US Ambassador to
Yemen Matthew H. Tueller used to meddle in the work of all Yemeni state
institutions and ministries.
Houthi noted that the September 21 Revolution was
deeply rooted in the Yemeni people’s demand for reforms and change and said,
“After the revolution, the US realized that Yemen is not an easy prey, and is
never akin to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to be exploited to the
fullest."
The Ansarullah chief underlined that Saudi Arabia and
its allies have miserably failed to force Yemeni people into abandoning their
revolutionary spirit after more than four years of devastating military
campaign and crippling siege.
“The Saudi-led coalition of aggression has perpetrated
the most heinous crimes against Yemeni people over the past years. Saudi Arabia
has failed to wrest control over Yemen despite US' generous support for its
vicious onslaught,” Houthi said.
Commenting on recent US-brokered normalizations deals
between Israel and two Arab states of UAE and Bahrain, Houthi said the US has
been taking advantage of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to advance its agendas in the
Middle East region, saying all actions of the Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Manama
regimes are meant to serve the interests of Washington and the Tel Aviv regime.
“Palestinians are not left alone in the face of the
recent agreements by some Arab states to normalize ties with Israel. The UAE
and Bahrain simply brought to light their illegitimate and clandestine
relations with the Zionist regime,” Houthi said.
“The US, Saudi Arabia and their regional allies have
all paid heavy price only to safeguard the interests of Israel in the region,”
he noted.
Houthi concluded, “Peace, independence and dignity can
only be achieved through deterrence, and not by means of complete surrender.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed
agreements with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani in a US-brokered event
hosted by Trump at the White House on September 15.
Palestinians, who seek an independent state in the
occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital view the deals
as a betrayal of their cause.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas protested the normalization
deals with Israel, saying they will be fruitless as long as the United States
and the Israeli regime do not recognize the rights of the Palestinian nation
and refuse to resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees.
He reiterated that there will be no peace, security or
stability for anyone in the region unless the Israeli regime ended its
occupation of Palestinian land, and Palestinians could restore their full
rights as stipulated in international resolutions.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634685/US-Israel-are-sources-of-evil-in-world-not-peace-Yemen-Ansarullah-leader
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Pakistan
Bill against sexual abuse of women to be tabled in
next NA session: PM’s aide
22 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: The government will introduce two important
bills in the next session of the National Assembly — one related to removal of
camp offices of the president and the prime minister and the other against
sexual abuse of women and children.
Both bills were discussed by Prime Minister Imran Khan
during a meeting with his Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan on
Monday.
Talking to Dawn after the meeting, Dr Awan said the
prime minister was keen to introduce a law against sexual abuse of women and
children and stressed the need for protecting the victims by giving exemplary
punishment to the rapists.
The law is being introduced against the backdrop of a
recent tragic incident in which a woman was reportedly raped by two persons on
motorway near Lahore. One of the accused has reportedly been arrested while the
other is still at large.
On Sept 14, Prime Minister Khan had called for public
hanging of those involved in sexual abuse of women and children and said that
habitual rapists should be “chemically or physically” castrated so that they
could not commit such crimes in future.
In an interview with a private TV channel, the prime
minister had said that habitual sex offenders should be registered and they
should remain under a vigilant eye of police. “Those who rape women and
children should be hanged publically and their castration should be carried out
through surgery,” the prime minister had said. “They [rapists] should be given
exemplary punishment. In my opinion, they should be hanged at the Chowk
(square),” he added.
Babar Awan said that in the second bill it had been
proposed that there would be no camp offices of the president and the prime
minister in the country and they would have only one official residence. He
said both bills would be introduced in the next session of the National
Assembly.
Meanwhile, media reported that Prime Minister Khan
discussed with his spokespersons the opposition’s multi-party conference (MPC)
and gave them guidelines how to nullify the opposition’s narrative. He was of
the view that the government should give a robust and comprehensive response to
the opposition’s allegations and decisions made at the MPC on Sunday.
However, Babar Awan said the prime minister did not
discuss the opposition’s MPC during his meeting with Mr Khan. “In fact the MPC
and ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech are being discussed in India, not
in Pakistan,” he added.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580986/bill-against-sexual-abuse-of-women-to-be-tabled-in-next-na-session-pms-aide
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Govt terms Nawaz’s speech ‘anti-Pakistan’
Syed Irfan Raza
22 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday termed the speech
of former premier Nawaz Sharif at the opposition’s multiparty conference (PMC)
“anti-Pakistan” and said Prime Minister Imran Khan was leading the country and
the army was assisting him in important national affairs.
At a joint press conference, a day after the MPC,
senior federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry and
Shibli Faraz, while responding to the opposition leaders’ speeches and their
decision to launch a three-phased anti-government movement from next month,
said the opposition, especially Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had
pleased “anti-Pakistan forces” by levelling allegations against national
institutions like the army, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Election
Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“Nawaz Sharif promoted the agenda of anti-Pakistan
forces as Indian media gave top slot to Nawaz’s remarks with headlines ‘Nawaz
has declared a war against Pakistan Army’,” Minister for Planning and
Development Asad Umar said.
He said that in the current set-up, the army and
civilian leadership were working together to solve the country’s problems, and
there was “no doubt that the leadership is with Prime Minister Imran Khan [and]
he makes the decisions”.
Accuses opposition of pleasing enemies by levelling
allegations against national institutions
“If this is not disturbed and if cracks are not
developed, the opposition and enemy forces think that Pakistan will not be
stopped on the way to progress,” he added.
Mr Umar said the prime minister had stated at the
start of his government’s tenure that “the opposition has everything at stake
... and when accountability moves forward they will all get together”, adding
that Sunday’s MPC was a manifestation of the premier’s “words coming true”.
He said the opposition hoped that “the economic
recession they left behind would be enough to oust the government”, but the
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government brought the country out of the economic
crisis.
“Then came the global coronavirus crisis. If you look
at the initial days, these [opposition] leaders had a lot of enthusiasm [and]
some came running back from London in the hopes that destruction and
devastation would befall Pakistan, and [they] would make that the basis of
finishing the government. What I found entertaining in yesterday’s speech was
that the people who did not leave a single thing to criticise in Pakistan, did
not mention corona or Covid,” he said, adding that international bodies were praising
Pakistan’s response to the pandemic.
Mr Umar accused the opposition of “doing politics” on
legislation related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which, he said,
had “nothing to do with a political party or person and is only for keeping us
out of the [FATF] blacklist”. He said the opposition had tried to directly
“blackmail” the government on the FATF bills to obtain an NRO-like concession.
“But even in that they were defeated. They can’t even
control 200 members in the Senate and National Assembly, so their panic reached
another level,” he said, adding that the passage of the anti-money laundering
law had also panicked the opposition members because “their own properties are
now in danger”.
The minister said the armed forces had through operations
ended terrorism in districts of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
while the security situation in Karachi also improved and a development package
was announced for the city. Prime Minister Imran also called for a development
package to be announced for Balochistan, he added.
Referring to Nawaz Sharif’s speech, he said Indian
news outlets were all reporting that “he has returned to politics...and how? by
attacking the army.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in response to
Mr Sharif’s remarks, asked the opposition not to drag national institutions
into politics. “It is not good for the country, it is not in Pakistan’s
interest,” he said.
The PML-N supreme leader, while addressing the
opposition’s MPC via video link from London, had alleged that there was “a
state above the state in the country”. Breaking his over two-year-long silence,
Mr Sharif declared that the opposition’s struggle was not against Prime
Minister Khan but against “those who had imposed such an incapable person” upon
the nation through a manipulated electoral process.
Mr Qureshi said the opposition’s MPC was a “bundle of
lies” and the happiest one on the event was India. He said the opposition had
given a call for rallies and demonstrations in January next year without
realising that the threat of Covod-19 was not over and experts believed that a
second wave of the deadly disease could come again in winter.
Talking about the opposition’s defeat in the recent
joint session of parliament in which the government had managed to get passed
eight bills, including three FATF-related laws, Mr Qureshi said the opposition
had to look into its own ranks as to who was with it and who was not.
Information Minister Shibli Faraz said Prime Minister
Khan had allowed the regulators to let media air live speech of Nawaz Sharif.
He said the PML-N supremo had in his speech raised suspicions about the
election process because his party was unable to garner votes in the 2018
elections and because he was “not used to a free and fair election”.
“Nawaz Sharif came into power three times after
winning elections but all these elections were right, but the one in which he
lost [2018 elections] was unfair,” Mr Faraz said, adding that when things were
according to their [opposition leaders] plan, they were okay, but when things
turned against them they were wrong.
He said the opposition leaders were not helping
democracy but trying to derail it only for their personal interests, adding
that they pointed an accusing finger at the election system but did nothing to
make electoral reforms in the country when they were in power. “The country has
given you a lot so don’t make the election and democracy controversial,” he
added.
The information minister said Mr Sharif in his address
on Sunday looked quite healthy and fresh contrary to the latter’s claim that he
was ill and staying in London for his medical treatment.
Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry
said the country’s judiciary had given unprecedented relief to Nawaz Sharif but
the latter also lashed out at the judiciary in his speech.
He said the government knew that Nawaz Sharif would
not return to the country when he was going to the United Kingdom for medical
treatment and that was the reason he was asked to submit Rs7 billion as surety
bond. “But it was the judiciary who relaxed it, allowing Nawaz Sharif to leave
the country,” he added.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580983/govt-terms-nawazs-speech-anti-pakistan
--------
Consensus on GB’s provisional status as province
Amir Wasim
22 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development amid political
tensions in the country, the government and the opposition almost reached a
consensus on granting “provisional provincial status” to strategically-located
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) while agreeing to hold consultations on the issue after
the elections of its legislative assembly later this year, it emerged on
Monday.
According to sources, the government and the
opposition had discussed the move prior to the meeting of the political
leadership with the army chief.
The sources said the issue was discussed in a meeting
between a government team comprising Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar with leader of the opposition and
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples
Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and PML-N’s
secretary general Ahsan Iqbal were also present in the meeting, which was held
in Islamabad a few weeks back.
Opposition says any move before election in the area
will be considered pre-poll rigging
When contacted, Mr Iqbal said the government had only
informed them that the plan was on its agenda, but no further discussions were
held on the issue.
Asked about his party position on the issue, the PML-N
secretary general said they believed the people of GB should have their
constitutional rights without affecting the country’s stance on the Kashmir
dispute and it was also mentioned in their party’s manifesto.
However, the elections on 24 general seats of the GB
Legislative Assembly, which were earlier scheduled for August 18, were
postponed due to Covid-19 situation. The five-year term of the previous
assembly had ended on June 24, bringing an end to the five-year rule of the
PML-N.
The opposition parties had already warned the federal
government against any move to interfere in the elections in GB terming it a
sensitive matter and the warning was also mentioned in the 26-point declaration
issued at the conclusion of the opposition’s Sept 20 multiparty conference.
Speaking at a news conference in July, PML-N leaders
had stated that any attempt to rig the GB elections would be against the
national interest and national security of the country. “The interest of
Pakistan lies in free, fair and transparent elections in GB. Pakistan cannot
afford to have any political controversy or dispute in GB which has already
become a flashpoint in the region and many countries are eyeing it to get
benefit,” he had stated before adding that he wanted to give a message to the
national institutions so that free, fair and transparent elections were held in
GB. “The federal government should refrain from horse-trading and interference
[in the polls],” he had remarked.
Mr Iqbal said GB had acquired great significance in
the region due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that was now a
“jugular vein” for the country. GB was a “sensitive area” and a flashpoint in
the region as the enemies were looking for excuses to spoil the law and order situation.
Earlier when Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
claimed that the leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had assured Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen
Qamar Javed Bajwa in a recent meeting that they would support the move to grant
“provisional provincial status” to Gilgit-Baltistan, the leaders of both the
opposition parties said that an understanding had been reached at the meeting
that the issue would be taken up and discussed after the elections in GB.
Talking to Dawn, the railways minister, who had
divulged the details of the meeting of the leaders of key political parties
with the army chief, said Gen Bajwa had left it on the country’s political
leadership to decide the timing of the implementation of the decision about
change in the GB’s constitutional status.
“It is up to you to decide whether you want to make it
(GB) a province after the elections or before the elections,” the railways
minister quoted the army chief as telling the political leadership including
those of the major opposition parties.
A senior opposition member, while talking to Dawn on
condition of anonymity, said the opposition had categorically told the
government and the army chief that any such move before the elections would be
considered a ‘pre-poll rigging’ and that they would also have to look into its
ramifications as it should not disturb the country’s stance on the Kashmir
dispute.
PPP vice president Sherry Rehman talking to a private
TV channel said changing the constitutional status of GB was a “sensitive
matter” as India always made Pakistan a target of criticism on the issue. She
said that in the meeting with the army chief, she had expressed her regret that
the meeting was not taking place at the Prime Minister House or his chamber.
She recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan had not
even bothered to attend a briefing on the Kashmir issue last year and the army
chief had himself then briefed them on the situation when the premier preferred
to stay in his adjacent chamber in the Parliament House instead of attending
the briefing that had been convened after the India’s controversial act of
changing the constitutional status of the Occupied Kashmir through an amendment
to their constitution in August last year.
Ms Rehman said she had heard it on media that there
was a move to grant a provincial status to GB, which was wrong, as they had
only talked about granting it “provisional provincial status”.
Another key government minister, who is privy to the
development, told Dawn that it was on the request of the opposition parties
that the government had agreed to initiate the process of consultations on the
proposal to convert the GB into a province after the elections in the area, as
the opposition believed that if such a move was initiated now then the PTI
could take political advantage of it in the upcoming elections.
“We could have taken advantage in the elections but
this is not an issue to do politics. This is a big decision having
international ramifications and we do not want to send a message that the
nation is divided on it,” the minister said, terming the opposition’s request
“fair enough”.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580980/consensus-on-gbs-provisional-status-as-province
--------
Opposition leaders told not to drag military into
politics
Baqir Sajjad Syed
22 Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and head of the
Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had in a meeting with key
opposition figures days before their multiparty conference counselled them to
refrain from dragging the military into political issues, government ministers
and opposition leaders disclosed on Monday.
The September 16 meeting was attended by about 15
opposition figures including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari,
Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, ANP’s Amir Haider Hoti, JUI-F’s Asad Mahmood,
PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman and few
government ministers.
According to the ground rules set for the session, the
meeting was not to be publicly disclosed, some of the opposition leaders, who
attended it, said.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, while confirming the
meeting and its participants in a conversation with Dawn, said it was held to
discuss the impending changes in the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan.
However, the opposition used this opportunity to flag its concerns about other
matters, especially the military’s alleged interference in politics and
allegations of persecution of its leaders on the pretext of accountability.
Mr Rashid was one of the ministers who attended the
meeting.
The timing of the meeting and its disclosure was
linked by the onlookers to the opposition’s multiparty conference held here on
Sunday in which former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif bitterly criticised the
army, saying there was “a state above the state in the country”.
Criticism by other opposition leaders was, in
comparison to Mr Sharif’s remarks, relatively subtle. A 26-point declaration
issued at the end of the meeting, however, contained assertions about ending
“establishment’s interference in politics” and “no role of armed forces and
intelligence agencies” in future elections.
Mr Rashid said the army chief clearly told the
participants of the meeting that the Army was not in any manner linked to the
political processes and had no involvement in matters concerning election
reforms and accountability.
The army chief, however, said the military only responds
to calls for assistance by the elected civilian government and it would
continue doing so irrespective of who is in office.
Gen Bajwa reportedly categorically conveyed that no
one would be allowed to create chaos in the country.
In remarks addressed to JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman’s
son Asad Mahmood, Gen Bajwa, Mr Rashid said, it’s an irony that the same
parliament is kosher for Mr Rehman for contesting presidential elections, but
it is otherwise unacceptable to him.
The allegations of a political witch hunt in the name
of accountability was raised by PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal.
Responding to him, the army chief said that NAB chief
and election commissioner were picked up by political leaders represented in
parliament, therefore they needed to be careful in choosing people for such
important positions.
A participant, speaking on condition of anonymity
said, NAB’s actions had scared the bureaucracy, which is the reason why
officials are not taking crucial decisions. Gen Bajwa too had purportedly
pointed out that bureaucracy was not delivering.
PML-N remained mum about the participation of its
leaders in the meeting.
PPP said it would issue a formal comment on the
meeting on Tuesday through its spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar. However,
Senator Sherry Rehman, participating in a TV talk show, said her party’s
chairman talked about the status of Gilgit-Baltistan and its upcoming
elections. She said Mr Bhutto-Zardari stressed on the need for fair and free
elections in GB, because of the sensitivities attached to the region.
Senator Rehman denied her party took up its
reservations about the accountability process.
On Monday, Gen Bajwa met Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, the Prime Minister Office did not issue any media statement on the
meeting.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580984/opposition-leaders-told-not-to-drag-military-into-politics
--------
SC
restrains extradition of terror suspect to US
22
Sep 2020
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Monday sought details about exchange of accused people
under the extradition treaties signed with different countries, including the
United States.
A
two-judge SC bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam issued the directives while
hearing a case of Talha Haroon, an American of Pakistan origin accused of
planning a number of terrorist attacks in New York in 2016.
The
Supreme Court also restrained extradition of the accused to the US till a final
decision on the case and asked Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan to assist the
court in the matter. The court also asked the Foreign Office to depute the
relevant officers along with complete record highlighting the number of people
extradited to different countries.
Justice
Qazi Amin Ahmed, another member of the SC bench, wondered on the basis of what
evidence the accused should be extradited to the US, saying Pakistan was a
sovereign state. However, he added, the US could take away whoever it wanted
without any agreement.
According
to the investigation carried out by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), Talha Haroon was in Pakistan in April 2016 and planned multiple
terrorist attacks in New York City. The FBI claimed that with the support of
the militant Islamic State group, he wanted to carry out Paris-style attacks in
New York in June 2016.
The
FBI said the suspects “identified multiple potential targets of their plot to
launch terrorist attacks in New York City”. One of the targets was the New York
City subway, besides Times Square and a concert hall, it added.
In
August, the Islamabad High Court had paved the way for extradition of a
Pakistani-American terror suspect by relaxing tough conditions set for his
handing over to the US authorities.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1580977/sc-restrains-extradition-of-terror-suspect-to-us
--------
India
Pakistan
An Epicentre of Terrorism, Which Hails Them as Martyrs and Persecutes Its
Ethnic and Religious Minorities: India at UN
Sep
22, 2020
UNITED
NATIONS: In a scathing attack on Pakistan, India has said that if there is an
“unfinished agenda” at the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of terrorism
and the country, a globally-recognised epicentre of the menace, which harbours
and trains terrorists and hails them as martyrs.
Exercising
India's right to reply on Monday, First Secretary in the country's Permanent
Mission to the UN Vidisha Maitra said: “Pakistan is a country which is globally
recognised as the epicentre of terrorism, which by its own admission harbours
and trains terrorists, and hails them as martyrs and consistently persecutes
its ethnic and religious minorities”.
She
was referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remarks in the country's
Parliament where he had termed former al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a
“martyr”.
“We
reject the malicious reference made to the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. If there is an item that is
unfinished on the agenda of the UN, it is that of tackling the scourge of
terrorism,” Maitra said.
As
the UN member states marked 75 years of the United Nations in the shadow of the
Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday
raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the high-level
meeting on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the world organisation.
Qureshi
said Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine were the UN's “most glaring and
long-standing disputes” and the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the
fulfillment of the commitment made to them by the UN to grant them their “right
to self-determination.”
With
Pakistan yet again raising the Kashmir issue at a UN platform, Maitra said
India had hoped that during this solemn commemoration of a shared global
milestone, the General Assembly would be “spared another repetition of the
baseless falsehoods that have now become a trademark of Pakistan's
interventions on such platforms”.
“However,
for a nation that is bereft of milestones, one can only expect a stonewalled
and stymied approach to reason, diplomacy and dialogue.
“What
we heard today is the never-ending fabricated narrative presented by the
Pakistani representative about the internal affairs of India,” she said.
Strongly
rejecting the malicious reference made to Jammu and Kashmir, Maitra said
Pakistan "will do well to turn its attention inwards to immediately
addressing these pressing concerns instead of diverting attention from them by
misusing the UN platforms.”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pak-globally-recognised-epicenter-of-terrorism-india-at-un/articleshow/78247704.cms
--------
NIA
raids several locations in Jammu and Kashmir in ex-DSP Davinder Singh case
Sep
22, 2020
NEW
DELHI/ SRINAGAR: Tightening its noose in the suspended deputy superintendent
(DSP) Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu case, the
national investigation agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several
locations in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.
An
NIA official privy to the development told IANS, "NIA is conducting raids
in different parts of Baramulla in HM commander Naveed Babu-Davinder Singh DSP
case."
The
NIA sources in Srinagar said that the anti-terror probe agency teams along with
police raided the house of Rasool Waza in Waza Mohalla Raypora Phalhalan.
According
to the source, Waza is a retired government employee of the state health
department.
The
source said that one of his sons, Farooq Ahmad, a government employee in the
health department, and another son,Mushtaq Ahmad Waza, crossed the LoC for
illegal arms/ammunition training in 1993 and have not returned till date.
The
development comes almost three months after the NIA filed a chargesheet against
six persons, including suspended Jammu and Kashmir deputy superintendent of
police, in a special NIA court in Jammu.
The
NIA has named Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Rather,
Tanveer Ahmad Wani, and Syed Irfan in its chargesheet, besides Davinder Singh.
The
suspended police officer is lodged in the Kathua jail at Hiranagar in the Jammu
division. He was arrested by the police on January 11 on the Jammu-Srinagar
national highway while transporting two HM terrorists - Naveed Babu and Rafi
Ahmad Rather - and a law school dropout Irfan Shafi Mir to Jammu.
Naveed's
brother Irfan was arrested on January 23 for his 'role' in the conspiracy while
Wani came under the scanner for allegedly giving money to Naveed, a former
special police Officer of Jammu and Kashmir who had joined the terrorist ranks.
After
the arrest of Singh, initial investigations were done by the Jammu and Kashmir
police before the case was handed over to the NIA.
Police
had said that the two terrorists and the lawyer had planned to travel to
Pakistan.
The
NIA had earlier claimed that its probe revealed that the accused were part of a
deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizbul and Pakistani state to commit
violent acts and to wage war against India.
"The
investigation has revealed that Pakistan-based leadership of the Hizbul, namely
Syed Salahuddin, Amir Khan, Khursheed Alam, Nazar Mehmood, and others, along
with the Pakistani establishment is extending support to the cadres and
commanders of the terror outfit based in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The
probe also revealed that accused Irfan Shafi Mir aka 'advocate' not only met
Hizbul leadership in Pakistan but also met Umar Cheema, Ahshan Chaudhary,
Sohail Abbas, and others of the inter-services intelligence of Pakistan. He was
tasked to identify and activate the new 'hawala' channels for the transfer of
money to sustain terror activities in the Kashmir valley," a NIA
spokesperson had earlier said.
The
NIA had also claimed that its investigation revealed that certain officials of
the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi were in constant touch with Mir alias
Advocate, who was provided with funds to organise seminars in Jammu and Kashmir
to mobilise the masses against the government of India.
Mir
allegedly used to receive instructions and money from the Pakistan high
commission, and he facilitated the visa applications of a number of Kashmiris
for their Pakistan visits.
Even
Davinder Singh was said to be in touch with certain high commission officials
through secure social media platforms.
Investigation
revealed that he was "being groomed by the Pakistani officials for
obtaining sensitive information".
Singh
was posted with the anti-hijacking wing of the Jammu and Kashmir police in
Srinagar, and was part of the security staff that had received a group of
foreign diplomats who visited Kashmir.
On
June 19, a Delhi court had granted bail to Davinder Singh in a terror case
after the Delhi police failed to file a chargesheet against him and co-accused
within the stipulated time.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nia-raids-several-locations-in-jammu-and-kashmir-in-ex-dsp-davinder-singh-case/articleshow/78248478.cms
--------
One
terrorist killed by security forces in J&K's Budgam encounter
Sep
22, 2020
BUDGAM:
One unidentified terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces in an
ongoing encounter in Chrar-i-Sharief area of Budgam on Tuesday.
Notably,
the gun battle between the terrorists and the security personnel started on
Monday evening.
More
details in this regard are awaited.
The
Kashmir zone police had tweeted yesterday stating, "En
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/one-terrorist-killed-by-security-forces-in-jks-budgam-encounter/articleshow/78247743.cms
--------
‘385
Pakistanis among 409 to get citizenship’
Sep
22, 2020
NEW
DELHI: As many as 385 Pakistanis, six Bangladeshis, 5 US nationals and 3
Malaysians were among the 409 foreigners granted Indian citizenship until
September 17 this year, the government told Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Among
the countries whose nationals became Indian citizens in 2020 are Indonesia (2);
and Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UK, Tanzania, Iran and Switzerland (all one
each). Junior home minister Nityanand Rai said a total 2,729 foreigners were
granted Indian citizenship since 2017. Most of these were from Pakistan, with
2,120 Pakistani were granted Indian citizenship between 2017 and September 17
this year.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/385-pakistanis-among-409-to-get-citizenship/articleshow/78246177.cms
--------
Terror,
pelting cases see drop post 370 move
Sep
22, 2020
NEW
DELHI: Terrorist incidents in J&K fell by 53% and stone-pelting cases by
56% during the 393 days between nullification of Article 370 on August 5, 2019
and August 31, 2020, as compared to the same period spanning from July 7, 2018
to August 4, 2019, the home ministry told RS on Monday.
In
reply to question, junior home minister G Kishan Reddy said 206 terrorist
incidents were recorded and 310 stone pelting cases registered in J&K
between August 5, 2019 and August 31, 2020, down from 443 terrorist incidents
and 703 stone pelting cases between July 7, 2018 and August 4, 2019.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/terror-pelting-cases-see-drop-post-370-move/articleshow/78246015.cms
--------
India
summons Pak high commission official over abduction of minor Sikh girl
Sep
22, 2020
NEW
DELHI: India on Monday summoned a senior Pakistan high commission official and
lodged a strong protest over the abduction of the minor daughter of Pritam
Singh, granthi of Gurdwara Panja Sahib. According to agency reports, the
incident occurred recently in Attock district’s Hassanabdal town, which is home
to the Gurdwara Panja Sahib.
“This
has been going on for years where the Sikh community has been subjected to
violence in Pakistan. Girls have been abducted and are subjected to forcible
conversions. The whole country must be involved in this fight,” said MS Sirsa,
who heads Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, whose members protested
outside the Pakistan mission on Monday.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-summons-pak-high-commission-official-over-abduction-of-minor-sikh-girl/articleshow/78246045.cms
--------
NIA
detains 2 from airport in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram for suspected extremist
links: Report
Edited
by Meenakshi Ray
Sep
22, 2020
The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained two men from the international
airport in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram after a three-hour interrogation on
Monday night, days after three al Qaeda operatives were arrested from the
state, a report said on Tuesday.
HT’s
sister publication, Hindustan, cited sources saying that NIA detained the two
men after they arrived Thiruvananthapuram from Saudi Arabia. Hindustan reported
one of these two men is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the other
belongs to Indian Mujahideen. One of them is Gul Nawaz from Uttar Pradesh and
the other Shuhaib belongs to Kannur in Kerala, it reported. Both of the men
have been detained in connection with the serial blasts in Bengaluru in 2008
and a lookout notice was also issued against them in connection with the case.
They
were interrogated for nearly three hours by several investigative agencies,
including intelligence agency RAW, after they returned from Riyadh, it added.
They will first be taken to Kochi, Hindustan reported citing sources, after
which Shuhaib will be taken to Bengaluru while Gul Nawaz will be taken to
Delhi.
On
September 19, NIA had said it had busted an al Qaeda module and arrested three
terrorists from Ernakulam in Kerala and six from Murshidabad in West Bengal,
who were allegedly planning to carry out major terror strikes in India at the
direction of their Pakistan-based handler.
The
suspects were planning attacks at several locations, including Delhi-NCR, Kochi
and Mumbai, and they were about to leave for Kashmir to receive a consignment of
weapons, which was likely to arrive from Pakistan, the officials added.
Under
the scanner for some time, the nine men were arrested after the agency learnt
that they acquired large quantities of weapons, country-made firearms, locally
fabricated body armour, jihadi literature, and literature used for making
explosives.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-detains-2-from-airport-in-kerala-s-thiruvananthapuram-for-suspected-extremist-links-report/story-ICDdQndYv8jFArQAxuncCI.html
--------
South Asia
Afghanistan
Making Efforts to End the Long-Fought War, Peace Process Not A ‘Drama Series’,
Ghani Says
By
Mohammad Arif Sheva
22
Sep 2020
KABUL,
Afghanistan – On the occasion of International Day of Peace, Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani on Monday said peace is possible only through a political
settlement, adding the government is making efforts to end the long-fought war
in the country.
Ghani
exclaimed the Afghan negotiators are representing the country and should be
supported without interference.
“No
one should interfere in the negotiations. Our delegation should be fully supported
so that they represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with power,” he said
as quoted by TOLOnews. “This is not a drama series… This is the story of the
Afghan people.”
Meanwhile,
Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah
stressed the need for using the current opportunity for ending the war in the
country, warning the possible consequences of a failure in the process.
“We
should keep unity among ourselves for peace. If we lose this process, we will
lose the chance for a real peace even if it is possible,” Abdullah said.
“While
the people of #Afghanistan are yearning for an end to war & demanding a
dignified & inclusive peace, I call on all compatriots to take bold steps,
as required per our holy religion of Islam, to safeguard civilians, lay down
arms & seek a just settlement,” he further said in a tweet later that day.
On
September 12, the Afghan and Taliban negotiators held an opening session to
officially begin the long-awaited talks in Qatari capital Doha, but has been
struggling since then to form an agenda that could lead through the process.
https://www.khaama.com/peace-process-not-a-drama-series-ghani-says/
--------
A
Peace Day Tweet, 98 Civilians Killed Amid Doha Talks
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
21
Sep 2020
Tariq
Aryan, Photo Source: Social Media
Interior
Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian tweeted today (International Peace Day), that
over the past two weeks, 98 civilians have been killed and 330 others wounded
in various Taliban attacks.
He
added, the Taliban had carried out offensive attacks in different provinces
over the past weeks, killing 98 civilians, including women and children, and
wounding 330 others.
According
to Tariq, the Taliban carried attacks in 24 provinces, mostly in Takhar and
Nangarhar provinces.
This
comes at a time that Intra-Afghan talks for establishing peace have started in
Doha, but the Taliban has intensified their attacks over various parts of
Afghanistan which negatively affected civilians.
https://www.khaama.com/a-peace-day-tweet-98-civilians-killed-amid-doha-talks-976543/
--------
Dozens
of Afghan soldiers have been killed in clashes with Taliban since peace talks
began
21
September 2020
At
least 57 members of Afghanistan’s security forces have lost their lives and
dozens of others sustained injuries in clashes with the Taliban militants
across the country over the past week, amid long-awaited peace talks between
the two sides.
Sayed
Mohammad Sadat, the deputy governor of the central Afghan province of Uruzgan,
said Sunday night was the bloodiest clash in the week as 24 members of the
security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on checkpoints.
Clashes
and casualties were also reported in the provinces of Takhar, Helmand, Kapisa,
Balkh, Maidan Wardak and Kunduz, provincial officials told Reuters.
Monir
Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the Balkh provincial governor, said the Taliban
took hostage three members of Afghanistan's intelligence organization, the
National Directorate of Security, in the northern province.
Meanwhile,
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said Taliban attacks had killed
nearly 100 civilians and injured 230 others in the past two weeks across 24
provinces.
Afghanistan
sees the recent bloodshed against the backdrop of peace talks that commenced in
the Qatari capital of Doha on September 12 following months of delay over a
contentious prisoner swap between the two sides.
The
negotiations are the result of a deal between the Taliban and the United States
signed in February, which also paved the way for the withdrawal of all foreign
forces by May next year.
Under
the deal with Washington, the Taliban agreed to stop their attacks on US-led
foreign forces in return for the US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and a
prisoner swap with the government.
The
Afghan government was a party neither to the negotiations nor to the deal, but
it has been acting in accordance with its terms, including by agreeing to free
the Taliban prisoners.
Official
data shows that bombings and other assaults by the Taliban have surged by 70
percent since the militant group signed the February deal.
The
United States invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban-run government in
2001 on the pretext of fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks in
New York.
American
forces have since remained bogged down in Afghanistan through the presidencies
of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and now Donald Trump.
About
2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown numbers of Afghan troops
and Taliban militants. More than 100,000 Afghans have been killed or injured
since 2009, when the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan began documenting
casualties.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634706/Afghan-security-forces-Taliban
--------
Southeast Asia
Perak
Sultan calls for wider acceptance of fatwas among Muslim community
22
Sep 2020
SEPANG,
Sept 22 — The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, said today all fatwa must be
accepted positively as they can strengthen the ummah’s faith, and they should
not be regarded as restrictive and oppressive.
He
said the institution of the mufti should provide ample time for consultation,
including holding discussions with the various stakeholders when addressing new
issues without precedence to ensure that facts can be analysed in depth and comprehensively
before the fatwa are issued.
“Bear
in mind that more ummah have been exposed to more open educational resources,
are highly intelligent, curious, engage in critical thinking, do comparative
research and reference and don’t accept anything easily without being
convinced.
“Advances
in communication technology have changed the role, response and acceptance of
fatwa in modern society. In the Internet era, there has been an emergence of
many websites containing various fatwa, which can be referred to as an
alternative source (to obtain fatwa),” he said when opening the Multaqa of the
Fatwa Councils of Malaysia here.
Sultan
Nazrin said the matter of fatwa does not end at the stage of issuing the fatwa,
instead the mechanism of dissemination and explanation must be implemented via
an effective communication plan so that the fatwa can be understood, accepted
and appreciated.
Sultan
Nazrin Shah said the institution of mufti should be sensitive pertaining to the
realities of the environment of society and country consisting of various
religions, ethnic groups, cultures and political ideologies to ensure that the
fatwa issued does not instigate polemics and controversy and create negative
perceptions of Islam.
“Stay
firm in the interpretation based on the teachings of Islam and remain neutral
from any political affiliation and don’t encourage any attempt to allow ends
justify the means, even if the directive come from any party with authority.
Sultan
Nazrin said the institution of mufti needs a mechanism and approach to address
the challenges of today’s world to remain as a respectable and credible source
of religious reference.
“In
the context of Malaysia, a fatwa represents a view of Islamic law, aimed at providing
clarification and enlightenment on matters relating to Islam, issued by a
certified mufti after obtaining the consent of the Ruler in their respective
states.
He
added that fatwa plays an important role in addressing issues related to the
legitimacy of religion, faith-related disputes and political criticism.
In
this era, he said, the issuance of fatwa requires the capacity to conduct
research based on the current reality so that the fatwa is able to deal with
the latest ideas, technologies, demands and developments.
These
include banking, finance and insurance, online trading and transactions,
enterprises and commerce, education, medicine, artificial intelligence, science
and technology, social services, media networks and open skies, pollution and
global warming.
He
added that the ongoing developments require a mind shift when evaluating and
assessing an issue so that the fatwa issued is able to demonstrate that Islamic
law remains relevant and continues to defend the well-being of Muslims and improve
their lives. — Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/22/perak-sultan-calls-for-wider-acceptance-of-fatwas-among-muslim-community/1905479
--------
Top
court grants Sisters in Islam leave to continue challenge against Selangor law
allowing Shariah courts to decide on judicial reviews
22
Sep 2020
BY
IDA LIM
PUTRAJAYA,
Sept 22 ― The Federal Court today allowed Sisters in Islam (SIS) to proceed
with its hearing to seek for a court declaration to invalidate a Selangor state
law which enables Shariah courts to carry out judicial review of decisions made
by its state religious authorities.
Federal
Court judge Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof decided to grant leave for SIS to pursue
its legal challenge at the Federal Court via Article 4(4) of the Federal
Constitution.
“I
have read the written submission and the application. This is my decision. I am
allowing paragraph 1.1, because I consider it is within Article 4(4) and
Article 4(3),” the judge said.
Under
Article 4(3) and Article 4(4) of the Federal Constitution, the validity of laws
that are made by Parliament or any state legislature can be challenged on the
basis that either Parliament or the state legislature has no power to make such
laws, but with the requirement that a Federal Court judge grants leave before
such court proceedings can start.
In
paragraph 1.1 of its application, SIS had sought for leave to start court
proceedings to seek a declaration that Section 66A of the Administration of the
Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003 is invalid on the ground
that it makes provision regarding matters which the Selangor state legislature
has no power to make laws on, and that Section 66A is therefore null and void.
Today
was the Federal Court's hearing of the application by SIS Forum (Malaysia) Bhd
for leave to initiate its challenge against Section 66A, with the Selangor
state government named as the respondent.
The
Section 66A provision in the Selangor state law enables the Shariah courts in
Selangor to carry out the judicial review function: “The Syariah High Court,
may, in the interest of justice, on the application of any person, have the
jurisdiction to grant permission and hear the application for judicial review
on the decision made by the Majlis or committees carrying out the functions
under this Enactment.”
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/22/sisters-in-islam-wins-leave-to-continue-challenge-against-selangor-law-allo/1905516
--------
No
more 'balik China' slurs since Muhyiddin became PM, SAPP president says
22 Sep
2020
BY
SOO WERN JUN
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 22 ― A former Sabah chief minister has suggested that ever since
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took office as prime minister, there has been no
anti-ethnic Chinese slurs such as “Cina balik China” (Chinese go back to China),
or labeling them as “Communists”.
Datuk
Seri Yong Teck Lee, who was the state's two-term chief minister, from May 1996
to May 1998, told Malay daily Utusan Malaysia that inter-ethnic relations have
improved during Perikatan Nasional (PN) took over Putrajaya.
“The
relationship between races is recovering. Just like it was during the 1980s and
1990s. In Peninsular Malaysia the situation is beginning to improve,” he told
the daily.
Instead,
Yong attributed previous racial slurs to DAP being part of the federal
government, saying such attacks were reaction towards the Pakatan Harapan
component’s “provocations”.
“Human
beings when provoked, surely there are reactions. That is why there are remarks
such as ‘Cina komunis’, 'Cina balik China' and accusing the Chinese of their
desire to control the country,” he reportedly said, but did not elaborate how
DAP had provoked the public.
Yong
who is Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president, also claimed that there is now
a sense of calm among the Chinese community, basing it on his observations.
He
also accused Parti Warisan Sabah of playing with dangerous sentiments, by
focusing on the theme of “unity” for its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal
during the Sabah state election.
“It
is a dangerous sentiment. Unity meant that the people of all race and religion
are united.
“There
are no racial issues in Sabah. Sarawak too has no issues. I think in
Semenanjung think there are no issues too,” he reportedly said.
When
asked on plans to secure ethnic Chinese votes for Parti Pribumi Bersatu
Malaysia, Yong said Muhyiddin, who is party president, has a good image in
Sabah.
“The
prime minister's image is good. We know that in the city, there are Chinese
voters who still side with the Opposition. Although they are strong DAP and
Warisan supporters, they have very good response towards Muhyiddin.
“Whether
it is neutral or positive, when we tell them that Muhyiddin is with PN they
immediately draw a smile,” Yong was quoted saying.
Last
month, SAPP confirmed that it has joined PN.
For
the Sabah election, PN is part of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) together with
Barisan Nasional (BN) and local Sabah Opposition parties, that was cobbled
together to jointly challenge the ruling Warisan Plus pact.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/22/no-more-balik-china-slurs-since-muhyiddin-became-pm-sapp-president-says/1905522
--------
North America
Leaked
docs: US branches of Deutsche Bank suspected of facilitating funds to Daesh in
Iraq
21
September 2020
Leaked
reports have revealed that the US branches of Deutsche Bank are suspected of
facilitating money transfer to Daesh in Iraq at the height of the group's
terror campaign.
The
Daesh terrorist group launched a campaign of bloodshed and destruction against
Iraq in 2014, seizing more than 121 bank branches, before its expulsion in late
2017.
Despite
the terrorists’ control over some financial institutions, some banks, including
Deutsche Bank and particularly its US branches, continued to allow money
transfers to be sent to the Arab country.
Classified
financial reports submitted by banks all over the world to the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network of the US Treasury Department (FinCen), which were leaked
to the Buzzfeed news site and in turn shared with the International Consortium
of Investigative Journalists, revealed suspicious money transfers of at least
$4 billion flagged by Deutsche Bank’s US branches and Bank of America, to a
number of Iraqi banks between June 15, 2014 and June 30, 2015.
According
to the Middle East Monitor, the suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by the
two banks did not specify which Iraqi bank branches were involved, but
"such transfers could be the proceeds of the illegal oil and gas
trade", a primary source of funding for the terrorist group.
Gruesome
violence plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq when Daesh terrorists
launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of portions of the Iraqi
territory, including Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq and the provincial
capital of Nineveh.
The
militants committed heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities
in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.
On
December 9, 2017, then-prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over
Daesh.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634665/Deutsche-Bank-funds-Daesh-Iraq
--------
US
goes it alone after UN rejects demand to restore Iran sanctions
21
September 2020
The
United States has imposed new unilateral sanctions against Iran after it failed
to garner support for its anti-Iran move at the United Nations.
US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, flanked by some other members of the
administration of President Donald Trump, announced the sanctions on Monday, a
day after Washington unilaterally declared that all UN sanctions against Tehran
were re-instated.
Pompeo
said the new sanctions target Iran’s Defense Ministry and the country’s Atomic
Energy Organization.
He
also said that President Trump has issued an executive order "that is a
new and powerful tool to enforce the UN arms embargo."
Pompeo
also told reporters the US had imposed new sanctions on Venezuelan President
Nicolas Maduro for working with Tehran.
"For
nearly two years ... officials in Tehran have worked with the illegitimate
regime in Venezuela to flout the UN arms embargo," he said. "Our
actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide," he added.
US
'has now restored UN sanctions on Iran': Trump
Later
on Monday, President Donald Trump said that he was imposing sanctions on
Iranians demanded enforcement by US allies, who have roundly rejected his demand.
"The
United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran," Trump said in a
statement.
"My
actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the
international community who refuse to stand up to Iran," he added.
Speaking
before a leading US think tank, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
said that the latest US move would have no "significant impact" on
his country.
"The
United States has exerted all the pressure it could on Iran, it has. It had
hoped that these sanctions will bring our population to the knees. It
didn't," Zarif told the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday.
"We
have made it very clear that every member state in the United Nations has a
responsibility to enforce the sanctions," Pompeo told reporters when asked
about European opposition.
"That
certainly includes the United Kingdom, France and Germany."
Treasury
Secretary Steven Mnuchin, appearing with Pompeo, also announced separate
sanctions on the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
The
new sanctions came just a day after Washington unilaterally declared that all
UN sanctions against Iran were re-instated under a mechanism within the 2015
nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA).
Pompeo
announced on Saturday that all UN sanctions against Iran were "back in
effect" under the “snapback” provision in the JCPOA.
The
claim came 30 days after Pompeo notified the UN Security Council of what he
called Iran’s “significant non-performance” with its obligations under the
JCPOA – from which Trump withdrew in May 2018.
Following
Pompeo's announcement, the three European signatories to the JCPOA said in a
statement that the US claim has no legal effect.
The
United Nations secretary-general, for his part, said “uncertainty” prevents him
from taking any action on a US declaration that all UN sanctions have been
reinstated against Iran.
Iran's
president said the Islamic Republic will never give in to US bullying following
Pompeo’s announcement.
Addressing
a cabinet session on Sunday, Hassan Rouhani said that America’s so-called
“maximum pressure” on the Iranian nation in political and legal sectors has led
to Washington's "maximum isolation."
Iran
has been under a series of economic sanctions imposed by the United States
since 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Iran deal.
The
Trump administration has unleashed its “toughest ever” sanctions to bring
Iran's economy to its knees, but it keeps humming and is getting back on its
feet.
For
the first time in ten months, last week a US aircraft carrier sailed through
the Strait of Hormuz and entered into the waters of the Persian Gulf, after
Washington threatened to illegally extend an expiring arms embargo on Iran.
The
US 5th Fleet said in a statement on Friday that the strike group led by the USS
Nimitz and including two guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer
sailed into the Persian Gulf to operate and train with US partners.
The
Nimitz strike group includes the USS Princeton and USS Philippine Sea, both guided-missile
cruisers, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett.
The
United States regularly sends aircraft carrier groups into the Persian Gulf.
But the Nimitz strike group is the first carrier to operate in the Persian Gulf
since USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) made the Strait of Hormuz transit in
November 2019.
This
came just days after Pompeo threatened to enforce an arms embargo and “UN”
sanctions against Iran, despite nearly the entire UN Security Council saying
Washington does not have the grounds to do so.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634684/US-goes-it-alone-after-UN-rejects-demand-to-restore-Iran-sanctions
--------
Trump’s
anti-Iran agenda not only illegal, it’s also harebrained
20
September 2020
By
Stephen Lendman
On
issues relating to the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal, SC Res. 2231 arming it — making
it binding international and US constitutional law — and the upcoming expiring
UN arms embargo on the country next month, the Trump regime is isolated on the
world stage.
His
anti-Iran agenda is not only illegal, it’s harebrained — making him and his
regime a laughingstock internationally.
The
trouble with geopolitical know-nothing Trump on Iran and other nations
threatening no one on the US target list for regime are hardliners he lets
direct his regime’s foreign policy — notably Pompeo.
Giving
new meaning to the ugly American, a militant thug masquerading as chief Trump
regime diplomat, he never met a country not controlled by the US he didn’t want
smashed.
He’s
especially hostile toward China and Iran because everything he throws at them
fails.
According
to the CIA-connected Washington Post, he pushed Trump “for aggressive action
against Iran…culminating in (his recklessly dangerous) decision to approve the
killing of (Iranian Quds Force) commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani” — a
redoubtable anti-terrorism freedom fighter, beloved by the Iranian people and
Arab street.
In
retaliation for killing him in cold blood by the Pentagon, Iran fired ballistic
missiles at two US bases in Iraq, causing significant damage and scores of
injuries, clear testimony to its military capabilities.
On
Friday, Iranian IRGC commander General Hossein Salami slammed Trump’s threat of
military action against the country.
Salami
vowed “decisive, serious and real revenge” for Soleimani’s assassination,
saying the following:
“We
will hit the people who, directly and indirectly, played a role in the
martyrdom of the great man,” adding:
US
military facilities are monitored throughout the region, targets chosen to be
struck if necessary.
He
mocked the Trump regime’s vow to impose and enforce snapback sanctions and an
arms embargo on Iran, saying no bullets will be fired even if he pulls the
trigger.
On
Sunday in defiance of SC Res. 2231, the Trump regime arrogantly, illegally, and
unilaterally imposed JCPOA related snapback sanctions on Iran despite world
community opposition.
Except
for the US and Dominican Republic it controls, other Security Council member
states oppose the Trump regime’s action, including China, Russia, Britain,
France and Germany.
No
longer a JCPOA signatory after abandoning the landmark agreement in May 2018,
actions taken by the US related to the deal have no legal validity.
By
letter to the Security Council on Friday, Britain, France and Germany said
sanctions relief on Iran remains in force.
“We
have worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear agreement and remain committed
to do so,” the letter stated.
According
to an unnamed European diplomat quoted by AFP, “this (Trump regime) action will
have no legal foundation.”
Therefore,
it “cannot have legal consequences.”
Another
unnamed Western diplomat said “I don’t see anything happening. It would be just
a statement. It’s like pulling a trigger and no bullet coming out.”
One
more unnamed diplomat expressed strong opposition to the Trump regime’s move,
adding:
“Russia
and China are sitting, happy, eating popcorn, watching (this) huge
destabilizing fallout” between the US and its European allies.
Days
earlier, Pompeo arrogantly said the Trump regime will “do all the things we
need to do to make sure that those sanctions are enforced (sic),” adding:
“We
are going to act in a way — and we have acted in a way — that will prevent Iran
from being able to purchase Chinese tanks and Russian air defense systems.”
“We
expect every nation to comply with” Washington’s unlawful anti-Iran policies.
In
the coming days, Trump intends issuing an executive order that threatens
sanctions on nations unwilling to observe his regime’s unlawful policies toward
Iran.
In
the coming weeks, it’ll be known which ones illegally bend to his will on Iran
and who’ll observe binding SC Res. 2231 international law that affirmed the
JCPOA.
According
to European Council on Foreign Relations associate fellow Richard Gowan, when
Trump addresses the UN General Assembly on September 22, he may “announc(e)
some sort of financial penalty on the (world body) because of his
dissatisfaction over the snapback process” and expiring arms embargo on Iran.
Weeks
ahead of his reelection bid on November 3, does he have a September and/or
October surprise or two in mind— perhaps on Iran and/or China?
Stephen
Lendman, born in 1934 in Boston, started writing on major world and national
issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now
hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three
times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major
world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored
winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award
recipient.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/20/634609/Trump%E2%80%99s-anti-Iran-agenda-not-only-illegal,-it%E2%80%99s-harebrained
--------
Africa
Tunisia’s
coastguards pick up 246 migrants at sea in a single night
21
September 2020
Tunisia
said Monday that naval patrols had intercepted 19 boats carrying a total of 246
people seeking to cross from the North African nation to Europe overnight
Saturday to Sunday alone.
The
vast majority of those stopped were Tunisians, the interior ministry said, with
just 29 people coming from other countries.
Thousands
regularly risk the dangerous crossing from North Africa’s coasts to reach
Europe.
For
Tunisia, a small Mediterranean country with a population of around 11 million,
the number of people attempting the crossing dropped sharply from a peak in
2011.
For
all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
But
it began rising again in 2017, driven in part by the struggling economy and
deep inequalities in the country, almost a decade after a revolution that many
hoped would bring change.
Tunisia
is currently battling high unemployment and political instability, and
restrictions to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus have hit its economy
hard.
Over
8,580 people have been stopped trying to cross the Mediterranean from the
country’s coasts so far this year, three-quarters of them Tunisians, according
to interior ministry figures.
Many
seek to make landfall in Italy, which has been struggling to deal with daily
arrivals of hundreds of people to its southern shores, and last month announced
plans to repatriate Tunisian migrants.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2020/09/21/Tunisia-s-coastguards-pick-up-246-migrants-at-sea-in-a-single-night
--------
Kenya:
Al-Shabaab Militant Jailed for Attack On U.S. Base in Kenya
17
SEPTEMBER 2020
A
military court in Somalia has sentenced a militant Islamist to life in prison
for his role in a deadly attack on a US base in Kenya.
Farhan
Mohamud Hassan was also convicted of being a member of al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda
affiliate headquartered in Somalia.
Its
fighters cross the border into Kenya to carry out attacks.
A US
soldier and two contractors were killed in January's attack on the base in the
coastal region of Lamu.
It
was the first attack by al-Shabab on US forces in Kenya, which has troops in
the 20,000-strong Africa Union force battling the militants in Somalia.
The
US often carries out airstrikes in Somalia to target al-Shabab.
Hassan
added that he joined al-Shabab in 2010 and took part in many attacks in
southern Somalia.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202009180277.html?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Somalia:
Al-Shabab attacks intensify as election looms
Khadar
Hared
18.09.2020
More
than a dozen attacks by the Islamist militant group al-Shabab were recorded in
Somalia this week, with civilians and military officers among the casualties.
The upsurge in violence comes despite ongoing airstrikes by the US military on
the group.
The
attacks come as Somalis prepare to go to the polls for a staggered general
election. The process is due to start with legislative elections on November 1
and culminate in a presidential election by the beginning of 2021.
The
dates were announced on Thursday following the resolution of a drawn-out
dispute over the electoral model between the federal government in Mogadishu
and the leaders of regional states. After a series of talks, the two sides
reached a consensus on an indirect election similar to that held in 2016.
Some
of the leaders had pushed for universal suffrage, last in force in the country
half a century ago. Somalis who have sought refuge abroad in the face of
drought, famine and al-Shabab attacks and counterattacks had also hoped to
return home to cast their ballots in a one-person, one-vote election.
An
election amid insecurity
The
legislative election will see 101 electoral delegates vote in the members of
parliament, who will then elect the president. President Mohamed Abdullahi
Farmajo's mandate expires in February.
Political
analysts predict a highly contested election and the kind of political
bickering that for months held up the decision on the electoral model. The
elections offer hope to a country that is recovering from around 30 years of
civil war.
Security
analysts are meanwhile warning that the vote is likely to take place against
the backdrop of renewed insecurity. The recent stalled military operations in
the war on al-Shabab have allowed the militants to regroup and launch
significant attacks, according to analysts.
On
August 16, at least 15 people were killed when al-Shabab militants attacked a
hotel in the Lido beach area of Mogadishu.
Targeted
killings — part of the group's modus operandi — have also increased. On September 11, a
lone al-Shabab suicide bomber killed Shafi Rabbi Kahin, a senior Chamber of
Commerce official in the southern state of Jubaland. Scores of people were
injured in the attack. US troops based in the country have also been affected
in the latest wave of attacks. A US military service member was injured in a
car bombing at a military base operated jointly by Somali and African Union
peacekeepers (AMISOM) and US military forces in the small town of Jannay Abdalla near Kismayo.
US
airstrikes continue
In
April, torrential rains and flash floods displaced tens of thousands of people
across Somalia. The destructive weather also contributed to the heightened
al-Shabab activities, according to Hussein Sheikh Ali, a former national
security adviser and founder of the Mogadishu-based security think tank Hiraal
Institute.
"There
was also the absence of countermeasures deployed by the allies, in this
case," Sheikh Ali told DW. "That, coupled with the rains and
logistics that are inadequate for asymmetric warfare, has made it possible for
al-Shabab to intensify its operations," he said. Somalia's war on
al-Shabab is supported by African Union forces and the US military.
US
military air raids targeting key al-Shabab militants and bases have continued.
On August 25, the US Air Force said it had eliminated a senior al-Shabab
militant identified as Abdulkadir Commando during an airstrike near the
southern town of Sakow. Commando had reportedly held numerous positions within
al-Shabab and recently served as a senior commander.
In a
statement issued at the time, the commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM),
Army General Stephen Townsend, said the airstrikes and targeted operations are
critical to downgrading al-Shabab's capability to spread chaos and violence in
Somalia and beyond.
"The
country is entering an uncertain election period due to no agreed model so far,
which would further increase security vulnerabilities for al-Shabab to exploit
and cause great suffering to the population," General Townsend said.
Military operations should continue to keep the pressure on al-Shabab, he
added.
Bent
on thwarting the upcoming election
In
recent months, the militant group beefed up its intelligence-gathering
activities, with moles planted at government institutions. A year ago, a blind
woman staff member of the former mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Osman, came
under suspicion when he was targeted in a suicide bombing.
Abdirahman
Mohamud Turyare, the former director of the National Intelligence and Security
Agency, believes that al-Shabab is exploiting the fragility of the institutions
of government. The militants also want "to show that the situation is
still out of control as part of a plan to thwart the election."
"Because
of the increased attacks, our forces themselves are affected by the transition
period because our government institutions have been dysfunctional for a long
time," Mohamud Turyare told DW. "We know that al-Shabab is now
collecting more taxes. We know that they are recruiting more militia. We know
that they are forcing nomads to bring capital and young people to fight for
them."
In
the run-up to the elections, lawmakers are concerned about their safety. In
various towns, militants have killed dozens of former election delegates.
"It's
easy to be killed and targeted," MP Abdi Ali told DW. "An indirect
election will bring a security risk. Al-Shabab militants will easily target the
people selected for casting the votes," Ali said. However, Ali thinks a
direct election would pose fewer security challenges.
https://www.dw.com/en/somalia-al-shabab-attacks-intensify-as-election-looms/a-54980396?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Boko
Haram Terrorists Kill Three Persons In Borno Communities
SEP
18, 2020
Gunmen
suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists have attacked two villages in Borno,
killing no fewer than three persons while others were injured.
SaharaReporters
gathered that the insurgents attacked Gareri and Kuwami communities both in
Magumeri Local Government Area.
Magumeri
is North and about 40km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital, which had
witnessed series of Boko Haram attacks.
Residents
said many of them escaped to the bush to avoid being abducted during the
attacks.
“Two
people were killed at Gareri while one person was killed by the gunmen in
Kuwani,” a security source told SaharaReporters.
http://saharareporters.com/2020/09/18/boko-haram-terrorists-kill-three-persons-borno-communities?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Europe
Calls
for expired Swedish school permits to be axed after ISIS school exploits
loophole
Nicky
Harley
Sep
18, 2020
Politicians
in Sweden are calling for tougher measures on school permits after a
controversial school with links to the Muslim Brotherhood exploited a loophole.
The
Romosseskolan school, which runs Muslim independent schools, sparked
controversy when it announced it was expanding into an education building that
was shut down after allegedly employing former ISIS fighters as teachers.
Earlier
this year it was accused of gender segregation in lessons and faced criticism
over its policy of not allowing pupils a choice over whether they attended
prayer sessions.
It
had been awarded a permit in 2015 prior to these incidents to create a new
school which expired in 2017.
However,
it has been allowed to use the permit as school officials believed they would
fail in a court bid to reject the continued use of it as they claim they had
not made the timetable for its use clear.
Sweden's
Liberal party school policy spokesman Roger Haddad is now calling for an
overhaul of the system which bans the use of old permits and takes the school
governance into account.
The
principal of the Romosseskolan school, Abdirizak Waberi, is also the former
president of the Federation of Islamic Organisations, which is believed to be
the European arm of the Muslim Brotherhood.
"The
Liberals propose to make it easier to close schools," Mr Haddad said.
"We
will continue to demand political changes and a sharper reaction from the
Swedish Schools Inspectorate."
He is
calling for a new law to impose "tighter" restrictions and give the
schools inspectorate tougher powers.
"In
the case of an application to conduct school activities, the Swedish Schools
Inspectorate conducts an ownership and management review," he told
Expressen.
"But
it is focused on the board, on ownership, on the company's composition and on
its finances. The examination does not include the school principal or the
principal, and we believe that it should do so.
"Such
a law would not only be applicable in the permit examination, but also if there
are later shortcomings in school activities."
The
Romosseskolan school plans to open a new school in the former state-funded
Islamic Vetenskapsskolan school in Gothenburg, which was closed last year after
it was accused of hiring ISIS fighters as teachers after their return from
Syria.
In
2018 it had successfully appealed in court against a decision by the
inspectorate to reject its request to open a school in the city of Boras.
Officials
had argued that the school would increase segregation and would counteract the
initiatives it had introduced to improve integration.
There
are still radicalisation concerns in Gothenburg, where the new school will be
located, as more than one third of Sweden’s ISIS fighters originated from the
area.
In
February Swedish authorities gave a warning that Islamic extremists were still
focusing on the city.
The
Vetenskapsskolan school was closed in December and had its permit withdrawn
over radicalisation concerns.
It
was claimed that one member of the school’s new board had shared ISIS
propaganda online and four former ISIS fighters allegedly taught in the school,
along with another man who had been accused of soliciting funds for terrorism.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/calls-for-expired-swedish-school-permits-to-be-axed-after-isis-school-exploits-loophole-1.1079648?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Irish
terrorists in Hezbollah weapons sting met with Iranian embassy officials
Thomas
Harding
Sep
18, 2020
Members
of an Irish group arrested on terrorist charges after seeking arms from
Hezbollah met with officials at Iran’s Dublin Embassy, security sources told
The National.
Former
members of the Provisional IRA reactivated Hezbollah contacts to obtain finance
and weapons for the New IRA (NIRA).
The
Irish terrorists have been seeking advanced bomb-making technology developed in
Iran and Lebanon that would allow them to penetrate police armoured vehicles in
Northern Ireland, intelligence sources said.
Nine
members of the NIRA, including two women, were arrested last moth after a
long-running undercover operation run by MI5, the British security service.
Among
those who appeared in court after the arrests was Dr Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, a
Palestinian, who was held on remand by a court and charged with a count of
preparatory acts of terrorism. He reportedly travelled to a NIRA meeting, where
he was alleged to have briefed the accused about the situation in Palestine.
Security
sources said that at least two people now in custody were at a commemoration
ceremony in the embassy following the assassination of Iranian general Qassem
Suleimani who was killed by a US drone strike in January.
“It
appears that they were forging the links between the New IRA, Iran and
Hezbollah,” said an intelligence source. “No weapons from Hezbollah had been
received although they were on the verge of concluding some form of agreement,
but now the whole thing has been shattered.”
It is
understood the embassy event also commemorated the death of the IRA hunger
striker Bobby Sands, who has a street named after him in Tehran.
Following
Suleimani's death, the political wing of NIRA, Saoradh, put out a statement
saying they were "outraged at the murder".
There
are warnings of a bombing campaign in Europe by Hezbollah after US intelligence
disclosed that caches of ammonium nitrate had been hidden in several countries
including France, Italy and Spain.
“Going
into an Iranian embassy just shows that the links are strong because that's not
been done on a whim,” said Doug Beattie, an Ulster Unionist politician. “It’s a
deliberate move to show that the New IRA have allegiance to the Iranian regime
and Hezbollah and that’s of great concern. It's clear that without a shadow of
a doubt that the links between the new IRA and Hezbollah are increasing. They
are getting ever more sophisticated in their technologies and passing on their
bomb-making technology.
Mr
Beattie, a decorated former British soldier who served in Iraq and Afghanistan,
said if the political situation in Northern Ireland deteriorated over Brexit or
Covid there was a real fear that experienced former Provisional IRA members
might join NIRA.
There
was also a concern that contacts with Hezbollah might improve NIRA’s ability to
detonate bombs by remote control or other methods. “There is higher level of
sophistication that NIRA might be looking bring in from Hezbollah and that is a
serious danger to police.”
MI5
moved in on the terrorist group after it was established the NIRA was close to
securing weapons from Hezbollah following a visit to Lebanon in 2018 by the
Irish dissidents.
Much
of the information was gathered from covert bugging devices placed behind a
private bar set up at a house in Scotland used by the undercover agent after
taking the NIRA members to Celtic football matches in Glasgow.
Former
police detective superintendent Dr Bill Duff, an intelligence analyst, spoke of
shipping containers being used to bring in weapons and explosives from the
Middle East. “If Iran or Hezbollah were to load up a container with AK47s and
plastic explosives in say, Karachi, bound for Dublin via several other
container hubs then it is possible that it will get through."
He
added that while the dissident republicans were “mad, desperate and pathetic
people” that did not “make them any less dangerous because if they manage to
establish links with groups like Hezbollah who will certainly be inclined to
support them".
Colin
Breen, a former police officer and author, said that it appeared the Hezbollah
connection had been made by “old campaigners” of the Provisional IRA.
“They
are making connections with Hezbollah for arms and cash but also because
Hezbollah has international status as a terrorist group and that's a status the
New IRA don't have.”
In
the past, the IRA received weapons and other support from the Palestine
Liberation Organisation, Libya, the Colombian insurgents FARC and Basque
terrorist group ETA.
https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/irish-terrorists-in-hezbollah-weapons-sting-met-with-iranian-embassy-officials-1.1079651?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Observers
Remain Skeptical as Uzbek Government Says Religious Extremism Rising
By
Asim Kashgarian
September
20, 2020
WASHINGTON
- Uzbekistan’s State Security Service says there is a revival of religious
extremist activities in the Central Asian country, but the government’s history
of alleging extremism accusations to target political opposition has led some
observers to view the warning with suspicion.
The
country’s security body in recent months has announced several operations
against extremist activities, including an operation on September 8 in the
capital, Tashkent. Six Uzbek citizens were detained for allegedly distributing
material on Telegram, the encrypted messaging app, to “call for and encourage
going to Syria to join the ranks of an international terrorist organization.”
Uzbekistan
has a population of nearly 33 million, with about 94% identifying as Muslims,
according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Of the remaining
population, 3.5% of the population identifies as Russian Orthodox. The
remaining roughly 3% includes small communities of Catholics, ethnic Korean
Christians, other denominations of Christian faith, Buddhists, Baha’is, members
of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, and atheists.
Like
some of its neighboring countries, which gained independence from the Soviet
Union in the early 1990s, Uzbekistan has been accused by rights organizations
of restricting basic religious practices. The Uzbek government, however, says
freedom of religion is guaranteed through its constitution and that its
measures are merely to separate religion from the state, as well as uproot violent
extremism that has been a threat for decades.
Uzbek
officials have not disclosed the number of people arrested in recent sweeps.
According to the country’s interior ministry, they mostly involved adherents of
banned Islamist groups, Hizb ut-Tahrir and Jihodchilar.
Banned
groups
Hizb
ut-Tahrir, or Party of Liberation, is an international pan-Islamist movement
founded in 1953 by Taqiuddin al-Nabhani in Jerusalem with the aims of restoring
the Islamic caliphate system. Despite its rejection of violence to establish a
caliphate, individuals affiliated with the group have been linked to several
attacks in different countries.
Almost
nothing is known about Jihodchilar, meaning “Jihadists,” a group banned by the
Uzbek government in 2016. Some regional experts and rights groups have
questioned its existence and claimed it was invented by authorities to afflict
dissenters under the guise of fighting extremism.
“Uzbekistan
has very broad and vague definitions of ‘extremism,’ ‘extremist activity,’ or
‘extremist materials’ in the Counter-Extremism Act,” said Vladislav Lobanov, a
Berlin-based senior research assistant for Human Rights Watch.
Lobanov
said that despite some reforms and occasional presidential pardons of
prisoners, arrests on extremism charges have continued under Shavkat Mirziyoyev
who became president in 2016. Those who practice their faith outside strict
state controls become targets for authorities.
“Many
promising reforms continue to exist only on paper. The government still has a
lot of work to do in the direction of ‘a new era of free society,’ including to
create an independent judiciary, allow independent human rights groups to
register and operate, end forced labor, allow opposition parties to contest
elections, and stop censorship. These are still dreams for Uzbekistan,” Lobanov
said.
VOA
was not able to reach Uzbekistan’s interior and foreign ministries for comment.
Mirziyoyev,
a former prime minister, became president following the death of President
Islam Karimov and vowed significant reforms, including pardoning
"sincerely repentant" religious prisoners and abolishing blacklists
of individuals suspected of participating in extremist religious organizations.
Last
month, Mirziyoyev ordered the release of more than 1,500 “persons serving a
sentence of imprisonment who sincerely repented of their deeds and firmly
embarked on the path of correction," including 113 political and Muslim
religious prisoners, according to a government statement.
A
long way to go
As
part of Mirziyoyev's amnesty for religious prisoners, some members of the
outlawed Hizb ut-Tahrir group were also released. However, authorities arrested
them again later on charges of “conspiring with Hizb ut-Tahrir to spread the
ideas and literature of the group among the population, and to expand the ranks
of the organization,” according to a government statement.
While
Mirziyoyev's progress is welcomed by rights watchdogs, they say the country
still has a long way to go to allow basic freedom of expression. The U.N. Human
Rights Committee in April said it was concerned that the Uzbek government was
still using the country’s legislation to unduly restrict freedom of religion,
expression, assembly and association.
Steve
Swerdlow, a human rights lawyer and an associate professor of human rights at
the University of Southern California, said that the government’s criminal
code, through strict limits on basic religious practices, has had "a
strong chilling effect” on the progress of civil society in Uzbekistan. The
criminal articles, he claimed, were violating the country’s international human
rights obligations.
"President
Karimov used them for a quarter century to go after both political and
religious opponents, and while used less often now, they are still on the books
and still applied periodically under the current president,” Swerdlow said,
adding that the country’s repressive measures against extremism likely have
adverse effects.
“If
the government really wants to fight extremism, it can do so more effectively
by creating an environment where human rights organizations are able to more
freely register and where journalists can perform their work without fear of
harassment or intimidation. Civil society is one of the most important bulwarks
against violent extremism and this is an area where the government must do more
to see that reforms indeed take place,” he said.
While
the 2019 U.S. Report on International Religious Freedom recognized the Uzbek
government for making “substantial progress in improving respect for religious
freedom,” the country still remains on the State Department’s Special Watch
List for “having engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious
freedom.”
https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/observers-remain-skeptical-uzbek-government-says-religious-extremism-rising?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1541669_
--------
Mideast
Iraqi
Baath Documents Reveal Pahlavi Regime’s Collaboration with Saddam in Bombing
Iranian Cities
Sep
21, 2020
The
Arabic-language al-Ittijah news channel reported that the family members of
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former Shah of Iran, who fled the country after the
Islamic Revolution made attempts to help Saddam win the imposed war against
Iran in cooperation with former head of Savak (secret police, domestic security
and intelligence service in Iran during the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty)
Teimour Bakhtiar.
It
added that the documents show that certain military equipment, including the US
and French fighter jets, which had been purchased during the Shah era in Iran
were supplied to Saddam to bomb the Iranian cities with the agreement of
Mohammad Reza’s wife, Farah Pahlavi.
The
weapons had been ordered by the Shah when he was still in power and had been
rerouted for delivery to Iraq at the request of the Pahlavi family after the
revolution when they were in exile.
Led
by the Founder of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini, Iranians confronted the forces
of US-proxy Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi in late 1977 to end his oppressive, cruel and
autocratic rule over the country.
By
December 1978, millions of Iranians would take to the streets in protest
against the policies of the Shah on a regular basis.
Grand
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile to Iran to be received by
millions of cheering crowds after the departure of the Shah in mid-January
1979. Two weeks later, the country saw the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
The
final collapse of the Shah's regime came on February 11 when the military
renounced its loyalty to the Shah and joined the revolutionary forces.
Two
years later, Saddam Hussein started an 8-year-long war on the newly established
Islamic Republic of Iran.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990631000874
--------
IRGC
Aerospace Force Commander Downplays US “Hollow” Threats against Iran
Sep
21, 2020
“Trump
has been tested in confrontation against Iran in the past; they have repeated
these meaningless words several times and like the past that they had declared
a decision to target 52 points in Iran and we saw how they didn’t, they cannot
do any damn thing this time either,” General Hajizadeh told reporters in Tehran
on Monday.
He
also underlined Iran’s self-sufficiency in manufacturing different types of
weapons and military equipment, saying that after the removal of the UN arms
embargos, the country will be able to export its products.
In
relevant comments on Saturday, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami
warned the US officials that any attack on Iran would trigger destruction of
all Washington interests and bases in the region.
“If
the Americans want to fight against us, they should be in the region. They
cannot fight against us from outside the region and when they are deployed in
the region, they are within the range of our bullets everywhere and we are able
to set fire to all their interests and bases in the region and occupy them. We
can swipe the region,” General Salami said in an interview with the state TV on
Saturday night.
General
Salami also referred to the assassination of former IRGC Quds Force Commander
Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and said that when the US assassinated
Iran's great General Soleimani, the whole world protested at their terror
attack.
He
noted that the harsh revenge of the Iranian nation is yet to be fulfilled and
this will be materialized only in the form of the annihilation of the hegemonic
powers.
Referring
to the outstanding and brilliant character of martyred general Soleimani, he
outlined his unrivaled role in fortifying the wave of resistance and defeating
the US, Britain and Israeli regime's policies.
General
Salami said that his martyrdom indeed injected a new life into the body of
resistance in a way that youngsters all across the Islamic world are now after
revenging his assassination.
He
also pointed to the US President's recent threats to strike Iran “1000 times
greater in force” following a false report by the US media on alleged Iran plan
to assassinate a US diplomat.
General
Salami said that Iran is serious about taking Martyr Soleimani’s revenge as it
will target those behind the assassination, but reiterated that Tehran will act
fairly in taking this revenge and would not target those that have not been
involved in the attack.
"Iran
will target those who have had a direct or indirect role in the martyrdom of
Lieutenant General Soleimani," he stressed, reminding that the US
ambassador to South Africa neither has been involved in the attack nor is a
counterweight for the martyred Iranian General.
Referring
to the Iranian forces' January attack on the US airbase in Ein Al-Assad in Iraq
just few days after the assassination of General Soleimani, the commander said
the IRGC proved that it is not afraid of the US.
Through
such attack in retaliation for the assassination of top IRGC commander, the
Iranian nation imposed its will on the enemy, General Salami said, stressing
that the Islamic Republic was not after taking a toll in the missile strike
since the soldiers deployed at the base had not been involved in the terror
attack.
"The
US political system should pay for General Soleimani's martyrdom because
Washington hegemony should be shattered," he noted.
Meanwhile,
killing of several soldiers or an ambassador in a part of the world is no
justice, he said, stressing that there is no US official as important and
worthy as General Soleimani.
However,
the US should know that it will taste tough revenge, he warned, stating that
the US officials have been caught in a dilemma, and will be defeated whether
they leave the region or stay here.
When
the IRGC targeted their airbases in Anbar, it had already prepared hundreds of
missiles that no power, including the US forces, could resist against to
reciprocate any US response to the Ein al-Assad attack, he concluded.
All
IRGC members as well as Basij forces are ready to sacrifice themselves for the great
nation of Iran and will defend the dignity, prosperity, security and peace of
the nation to the last drop of their blood, he said.
Iran
is not intimated by any bluffs and threats and will do the necessary things if
sees its rights in the nuclear deal are violated, IRGC commander said.
He
highlighted that the Iranian nation can curb political, economic and
psychological pressures, adding that the enemies want to intimidate and create
fear in Iranians whereas if the US opts for pulling the trigger, no bullets
will certainly come out because America is absolutely isolated and Iran will
strongly defend itself as this is a matter of politics and the Americans will
certainly fail in this arena, too.
The
commander also pointed to the US futile efforts to extend arms embargo on Iran,
and said the US as a superpower has undoubtedly lost its political influence.
Even
the Europeans did not follow the US [policies], and this shows that Washington
is on its way to collapse, he added.
"The
animosity of hegemonic powers against Iran was due to the fact that victory of
the Islamic revolution in the country put their interests in danger,"
General Salami added.
The
IRGC commander also referred to the normalization deals underway between some
Arab states and the Zionist regime, saying that such moves only add to the
hatred of the regional nations for the Israeli regime.
The
normalization deals which served as part of the election campaign by Donald
Trump put ropes around the necks of some Arab states in the absolute absence of
Palestinians, he added.
General
Salami had also on Saturday morning warned that Iran is resolved to retaliate
for the US assassination of General Soleimani, and said that all collaborators
in the terrorist act are potential targets.
“Mr.
Trump, Do not doubt about our revenge because it is completely destined and
serious,” General Salami said, addressing IRGC commanders and officials in
Tehran.
Iran
will take revenge in a fair manner, he added, noting, “This is why we did not
target your soldiers at Ein al Assad.”
“We
will target those who have had a direct or indirect role in the martyrdom of
Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani,” General Salami said.
“Do
you think that we will target a female ambassador in ransom for the blood of
our martyr,” asked Salami, referring to US media allegations that Iran had
plotted to assassinate US ambassador to South Africa in revenge for the
assassination of General Soleimani.
“Americans
should know that we will target anyone who has had a role in the cowardly
assassination of General Soleimani and this is a serious warning,” he said.
“You
are threatening us with an attack 1000-times greater in force, while being
stranded in your internal problems, but when we targeted Ain al Asad, we were
assuming that you would respond and had then made hundreds of missiles ready to
destroy targets in case you would respond,” General Salami said.
He
underlined that the US is given a crushing retaliation if it even damages “one
hair” of an Iranian national.
“These
are serious warnings. We do not engage in a war of words, but we leave
everything to the field of action,” General Salami said.
He
added that today the US has lost its past military power and has been isolated
in the world.
In
relevant remarks last Tuesday, Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee said
the US has made the biggest strategic mistake by assassinating General
Soleimani, and underlined once again that Tehran will give a strong response to
the terror attack.
“The
assassination of our martyred General who was the General of peace in the
region and symbol of fight against terrorism is a stain (on the face of the US)
that cannot be cleaned,” Rabiyee told reporters in a press conference in
Tehran.
He
referred to the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump on his twitter page
that has threatened to strike Iran “1000 times greater in magnitude” following
a false report of the American media on alleged Iran plan to assassinate a US
diplomat, and said, “I regret that the president of a country which claims to
be able to manage the world and establish global order makes rapid, ordered and
distorted opinion based on such a weak basis.”
“The
US has made its biggest strategic mistake and it cannot conceal its crime
through such moves. Anyway, any strategic mistake by the US will face Iran’s
firm response,” Rabiyee said.
Iran
last Monday strongly rejected a report released by the US media claiming that
the country was weighing plans to kill the American ambassador to South Africa
to take revenge for Washington’s assassination of General Soleimeni.
“Such
baseless remarks are part of the Trump administration’s counter-intelligence
campaign against Iran. The US regime’s resort to allegations and lies against
Iran on the threshold of the US presidential election and concurrent with its
pressures to use the UN Security Council mechanisms with the aim of increasing
pressure on the Iranian nation was predictable,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman
Saeed Khatibzadeh said.
He
also blasted the US media for releasing an ordered, biased and targeted report
against Iran, advising the American officials to give up resorting to repeated
and worn-out methods to spread an anti-Iran atmosphere on the international
scene.
Khatibzadeh
described Iran as a responsible member of the international society which has
proved its commitment to the international diplomatic principles and norms,
saying that it is the US and the current regime in the White House that has
implemented tens of assassination plots and military interventions in other
countries in recent years, an instance of which was the assassination of
General Soleimani in Iraq.
“As
repeatedly said before, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue legally
pursuing the criminal and cowardly assassination of General Soleimani
internationally at all levels and will neither forgive nor forget the terrorist
act,” he stressed.
His
remarks came in response to a report by Politico citing the US officials as
claiming that the “Iranian government is weighing an assassination attempt
against the American ambassador to South Africa” in retaliation for the
assassination of General Soleimeni.
Meantime,
a spokesman for South Africa’s Foreign Ministry said the US official’s
allegation took Pretoria by surprise.
“We
only became aware of this report this morning,” Lunga Ngqengelele said by phone
on Monday.
Department
of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor may issue a
statement later, he added.
Lieutenant
General Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike on Baghdad
International Airport in Iraq on January 3.
The
airstrike also martyred Deputy Commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces
(PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The two were martyred in an American airstrike
that targeted their vehicle on the road to the airport.
Five
Iranian and five Iraqi military men were martyred by the missiles fired by the
US drone at Baghdad International Airport.
On
January 8, the IRGC Aerospace Force started heavy ballistic missile attacks on
US Ein Al-Assad airbase in Southwestern Iraq near the border with Syria and a
US operated airbase in Erbil in retaliation for the US assassination of General
Soleimani.
Ein
Al-Assad is an airbase with a 4km runway at 188m altitude from sea levels,
which is the main and the largest US airbase in Iraq. Early reports said the
radar systems and missile defense shields in Ein Al-Assad failed to operate and
intercept the Iranian missiles. Unofficial reports said the US army's central
radar systems at Ein Al-Assad had been jammed by electronic warfare.
The
second IRGC reprisal attack targeted a US military base near Erbil airport in
Iraqi Kurdistan Region in the second leg of "Martyr Soleimani" reprisal
operation.
Iraq
said the attacks had not taken any toll from its army men stationed at these
two bases. The US army had blocked entrance into Ein Al-Assad to everyone,
including the Iraqi army.
It
was the first direct attack on the US army ever since world war two.
The
IRGC officials said none of the missiles had been intercepted.
Meantime,
Iran announced in late June that it had issued arrest warrants for 36 officials
of the US and other countries who have been involved in the assassination of
the martyred General Soleimani.
"36
individuals who have been involved or ordered the assassination of Hajj Qassem,
including the political and military officials of the US and other governments,
have been identified and arrest warrants have been issued for them by the
judiciary officials and red alerts have also been issued for them via the
Interpol," Prosecutor-General of Tehran Ali Alqasi Mehr said.
He
said that the prosecuted individuals are accused of murder and terrorist
action, adding that US President Donald Trump stands at the top of the list and
will be prosecuted as soon as he stands down presidency after his term ends.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990631000625
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Iran’s
Deputy Judiciary Chief: Israel Not to Show Mercy to Arab States
Sep
21, 2020
“You
will soon become a bait for the hegemonic policies of the occupier regime and
then the US and Europe will not help you,” Baqeri said on Monday, addressing
the UAE and Bahrain which have normalized relations with Israel.
He
added that once Israel starts striking these Arab states, they will approach
Iran shamefully.
Baqeri
reminded of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who took assistance from the
regional Arab countries to invade Iran, but once Saddam used their possibilities,
he attacked the same Arab states.
US
President Donald Trump tweeted the news of the Israel-Bahrain normalization
deal earlier this month after he spoke by phone to Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa
Al Khalifa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following
the announcement at the White House, Palestinian officials condemned the
Israel-Bahrain normalization deal announced by US President Donald Trump as
another "stab in the back" by an Arab state.
The
accord to normalize diplomatic ties between Israel and Bahrain came one month
after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to normalize ties with Israel under
a US-brokered deal.
On
August 13, President Trump announced a deal brokered by his government between
Israel and the UAE which he said would lead to full normalization of ties
between the two.
Critics
see the deal as the latest attempt by Trump to save his presidential campaign
against the Democrat Joe Biden.
In
relevant remarks earlier in September, Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee
said normalization of ties with Israel is a strategic mistake, stressing that
any kind of insecurity in the region will be seen from now on by Tehran as to
be the outcome of this compromise deal.
“It
is a strategic mistake to normalize ties with Israel and the responsibility for
all the consequences of the action falls on the Bahraini government and any
government that has compromised,” Rabiyee said.
“Iran
considers the Zionist regime's interference in the region as a threat,” he
noted.
“The
oppressed people of Palestine and Muslims who have lived with the Palestinian
cause will not allow any normalization of relations,” the spokesman continued.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990631000809
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After
UAE-Israel deal, Tel Aviv’s defense minister jets to US to ensure military edge
21
September 2020
Israeli
Defense Minister Benny Gantz headed to Washington on Monday for talks with his
US counterpart on maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle
East following its historic normalization agreement with the United Arab
Emirates.
Since
the agreement was announced last month, the UAE has made no secret about its
desire to acquire F-35 warplanes and other advanced US-made weaponry. Israel is
the only US ally in the Middle East to possess the stealth fighter jet.
For
all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially said he opposed the sale of the
planes to any other nation in the region, even an Arab country at peace with
Israel. But since then, he has softened his line, signaling he will trust the
US to honor its commitment to ensure Israel’s military edge in the region, even
if the UAE obtains F-35s.
Gantz’s
office said he would meet with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top
Pentagon officials. It said the trip would include “meetings to discuss
maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge, international policy vis-a-vis Iran and
strategy for stopping its expansion and entrenchment in the Middle East, as
well as discussion on defense cooperation and procurement.”
Gantz,
a former chief of staff of the Israeli military, has had cool relations with
Netanyahu since the two rivals formed their coalition government in May. Gantz
was not informed about the deal with the UAE until after it was reached.
President
Donald Trump has said he is fine with selling the aircraft to the UAE and that
the request is under review.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/09/22/After-UAE-Israel-deal-Tel-Aviv-s-defense-minister-jets-to-US-to-ensure-military-edge
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Hamas
sets 2-month deadline for Israel to end Gaza siege
21
September 2020
The
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has set a deadline of two months for
Israel to end more than 12 years of its siege on the Gaza Strip.
Khalil
al-Hayya, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, said Israel has blocked
humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza over the past few months of the
coronavirus pandemic.
If
Israel does not end the siege willingly, he warned, Hamas is militarily capable
of forcing Israelis into shelters.
UN
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov visited
Gaza on September 16 and held talks with Hamas officials regarding the Israeli
blockade.
Ismail
Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, has said the movement and
the people in Gaza are determined to confront the unjust blockade until it is
lifted entirely.
Hamas
has already turned down a $15-billion development aid offer conditioned on
disarming.
Haniyeh
says the hefty offer has been made in the context of US President Donald
Trump’s highly provocative ‘peace' plan, which would allocate billions to Gaza
for development if implemented.
Trump
had given Tel Aviv the green light to annex large parts of the West Bank and
Jordan Valley in his self-proclaimed “deal of the century,” which was unveiled
in January with the aim of legitimizing Israel’s occupation and re-drawing the
Middle East map.
The
scheme has drawn global condemnation. Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu says he is determined to carry on with it.
Trump’s
plan largely gives in to Israel’s demands while carving out a Palestinian state
with limited control over its own security and borders, enshrining the occupied
Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s “capital.”
Gaza
has been under an inhumane Israeli land, air and sea siege since 2007 and
witnessed three wars since 2008. Israeli forces conduct regular air raids on
Palestinians in Gaza under the pretext of hitting Hamas targets.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634695/Hamas-Gaza-deadline
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After
Algeria opposition to normalization with Israel, Palestinian factions urge Arab
rulers to follow suit
21
September 2020
Palestinian
factions have praised Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for his
government's strong opposition to any bids aimed at establishing ties with
Israel, calling on Arab rulers to follow suit and reject normalization.
The
factions, in a joint statement released on Monday, lauded Algeria’s stance as
“the authentic Arab position that embraces and supports the Palestinian cause,”
the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network reported.
On
Sunday, Tebboune strongly criticized the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain over
signing normalization agreements with the Tel Aviv regime at the White House
last week.
The
Algerian president emphasized that his country will never be part of an
agreement to normalize relations with the Tel Aviv regime.
Tebboune
further noted that the Palestinian cause was and remains “sacred” for all
Algerians.
Palestinians,
who seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East
Jerusalem as its capital view the normalization deals with Israel as a betrayal
of their cause.
Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas protested the agreements last Tuesday, saying they will
be fruitless as long as the United States and the Israeli regime do not
recognize the rights of the Palestinian nation and refuse to resolve the issue
of Palestinian refugees.
He
reiterated that there will be no peace, security or stability for anyone in the
region unless the Israeli regime ended its occupation of Palestinian land, and
Palestinians could restore their full rights as stipulated in international
resolutions.
Abbas
also warned against attempts to bypass the Palestinian people, emphasizing that
the US administration and the Tel Aviv regime bear full responsibility for
serious repercussions of such bids.
‘UAE
seeks to rob Jordan of al-Aqsa Mosque guardianship’
Meanwhile,
a senior official with the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has warned
that the UAE is planning to rob Jordan of the guardianship of al-Aqsa Mosque in
the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds, and then pass it over to Saudi
Arabia.
Sheikh
Kamal al-Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, said
on
Monday that the UAE’s plans go beyond investment on real estate sector in
Jerusalem al-Quds, and aggressively seek to deprive Jordan of its guardianship
of the sacred site and grant Saudi Arabia the right.
In
doing so, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s dream of becoming the
custodian of both the Two Holy Mosques as well as al-Aqsa Mosque will come
true, he added.
Khatib
added that Emirati investors had tried to acquire pieces of land north of
al-Aqsa Mosque and close to Bab Huta neighborhood back in 2018, noting that the
plan was under close supervision of UAE’s National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin
Zayed Al Nahyan.
The
high-ranking Hamas official went on to say that Emirati rulers have all
trampled on ethical values.
“They
are playing the role of a slave, who performs whatever he is required to do as
the slave dreads his master, because of the whip,” Khatib commented.
“The UAE wants to bypass Palestinians
regarding the right of sovereignty over al-Aqsa Mosque. Our people will not
allow Emiratis, Bahrainis and Saudis to make regular visits to al-Quds because
they are outsiders,” the senior Hamas official said.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634679/Palestinian-factions-urge-Arab-rulers-not-to-count-on-US-Israeli-hegemony-reject-normalization
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Arab world
Form
cabinet, or Lebanon will go to hell, President Aoun warns
21
September 2020
President
Michel Aoun has warned that Lebanon will go to ‘hell’ unless a
desperately-needed government is formed in the country, where positions have
hardened among rival political factions, more than a month after a gigantic
explosion devastated the Beirut port.
“We
are today facing a government formation crisis, which should not have happened
because the events that await Lebanon do not allow a minute to be wasted,” Aoun
said in a televised address on Monday.
Lebanon
is grappling with an economic crisis.
On
August 4, further complications emerged. At least 190 people were killed and
almost 6,500 others were injured when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly
explosive fertilizer, went up in smoke at the Beirut port.
Up to
300,000 people were also left homeless and much of the downtown areas of the
city suffered major damage.
The
colossal blast, which marked the worst threat to Lebanon’s stability since the
1975-90 civil war, triggered thousands-strong rallies, violent at times,
against the government of then Prime Minister Hasan Diab, who had formed his
cabinet in January in a bid to combat alleged corruption and mismanagement, and
to revive the collapsed economy.
Diab,
whose cabinet had been formed following months of a power vacuum in Lebanon,
ultimately announced his resignation on August 10 under the brunt of mounting
public outrage over the Beirut explosion.
On
August 31, Aoun called on the country's Ambassador to Germany Mostafa Adib, 48,
to form a new government. Despite his efforts, the prime minister-designate has
not yet managed to form his cabinet primarily due to intense rivalry among
parliamentary blocs.
When,
after his speech, asked about where Lebanon would be headed if there was no
agreement on a cabinet, Aoun replied “of course, to hell.”
In
response to another question asking whether his remarks meant there was no hope
of agreeing a government, he said, “No, there might be a miracle.”
“With
the hardening of positions there does not appear to be any solution on the
horizon, because all the proposed solutions amount to a ‘victor and a
vanquished.’”
Lebanon’s
prime minister-designate calls on all to help form overdue cabinet
Separately
on Monday, Prime Minister-designate Mostafa Adib urged competing political
parties and factions to step up and help him in forming an independent cabinet
to save the country.
“Any
further delay will exacerbate and deepen the crisis,” Adib further said in a
statement.
“The
Lebanese people's woes... require the cooperation of all sides to facilitate
forming a crisis government” of independents, he added.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634675/cabinet-Lebanon-hell-Aoun
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60 US
trucks loaded with military equipment enter Syria’s Hasakah: SANA
21
September 2020
A US
convoy of 60 trucks, loaded with military and logistic reinforcement, has
arrived in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah.
Local
sources told Syria’s official news agency SANA that the convoy entered Hasakah
on Sunday evening, in an apparent push to support the Kurdish-led Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF).
The
convoy, coming from Iraq, was heading toward bases run by the US military in
the oil-rich province.
Since
late October 2019, the United States has been redeploying troops to the
oilfields controlled by Kurdish forces in eastern Syria, in a reversal of
President Donald Trump’s earlier order to withdraw all troops from the country.
The
Pentagon alleges that the move aims to “protect” the fields and facilities from
possible attacks by the Daesh Takfiri terrorists, but Trump has said Washington
sought economic interests in controlling the oilfields.
On
July 30 and during his testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed for the first time that an American
oil company would begin work in the SDF-controlled northeastern Syria.
A
US-led military coalition has been bombarding what it claimed was positions of
Daesh inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the
Damascus government or a UN mandate.
The
strikes have on many occasions resulted in civilian casualties and failed to
fulfill their declared aim of countering terrorism.
The
White House has long been providing the SDF with arms and militant training,
calling them a key partner in the purported fight against Daesh. Many
observers, however, see the support in the context of Washington’s plans to
carve out a foothold in Syria.
The
presence of US forces in eastern Syria has particularly irked civilians, and
local residents have on several occasions stopped American military convoys
entering the region.
Syria
says Washington is plundering its oil.
In
early August, Damascus condemned an oil agreement signed between the SDF and an
American company. It said the contract was null and void with no legal effect.
Such
support has also angered Washington's NATO ally, Turkey, which views militants
from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) – the backbone of the SDF – as
a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/09/21/634680/US-trucks-Syria-Hasakah
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