US, Canada Imams and Scholars Denounce Same-Sex Marriages, Uphold Islamic View on Gender
New
Age Islam News Bureau
03
June 2023
Hundreds of
American and Canadian imams and scholars issued a statement clarifying the
sexual and gender ethics in Islam.
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North America
• Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by
First Lady Jill Biden at a Conversation with Young Leaders at Al-Azhar Mosque
• Edison Mourns Muslim Leader Sam Khan
Who Had 'Tremendous Impact'
• The Chinese Regime Is Committing
Muslim Genocide, Biden and Islamic States Must Act
• Canadian city where Muslim family
killed gets funds to fight hate
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Mideast
• Armed Forces, IRGC stress commitment
to Imam Khomeini ideals
• Jihad Azour's nomination ignites
tension in presidential file amid grim outlook for Lebanon
• Algerian minister lauds initiatives of
Islamic cultural centre in Doha
• Over 68,000 Hajj pilgrims reap the
benefits of Mecca Route Initiative
• Erdogan backs Kurdish Islamist party –
and women pay the price
• Islamic Republic Releases One Danish,
Two Austrian-Iranian Hostages
--------
Southeast Asia
• PM Anwar: Kids Must Learn To Clean
Toilets, It Will Teach Them Humility
• Lawyer says Dr M under police
investigation for ‘Malay Proclamation’ campaign
• 'Umno inviting Anwar to general
assembly shows unity govt is stable'
• PM defers comment on Sulu heirs'
claims
• India, Malaysia discuss ways to
strengthen bilateral relations, people-to-people connect
--------
Europe
• Civil society groups protest
‘Islamophobic’ decision to sanction Islamic centre
• Teenage Muslim convert radicalised in
lockdown was '24 hours from terror attack' when arrested
• British Muslims oppose UK gov't
appointment to lead inquiry into Leicester riots
• Southampton religious leader accuses
some of 'just not wanting mosque' over planning row
--------
Pakistan
• No Pakistanis left in Guantanamo Bay
• Seized PIA aircraft returns from
Malaysia
• PM to attend Erdogan’s inauguration
ceremony
• 2 soldiers martyred in terrorist
attack along Pak-Iran border in Balochistan’s Kech: ISPR
• Ex- Federal Minister Sheikh Waqas
Booked On Terrorism Charges
• PTI wants talks with real decision-makers:
Hammad
-------
India
• Gay Love, Not 'Love Jihad': 3 of
Family Booked For Kidnapping Get Clean Chit
• 18 Undocumented Bangladesh Nationals
Detained InAhmedabad
• Single Miyazaki mango from West Bengal
mosque goes for Rs 10,000
• Rahul Gandhi Right, BJP Spreading
Propaganda That We Are Not Secular: Muslim League
• Rahul’s Remarks on Condition of
Dalits, Muslims a ‘Bitter Truth’: Mayawati
• 5 held for assaulting 3 Muslim men in
Mangaluru
--------
Africa
• Sacrificial Worship in the Islamic
Month ofZil Hijjah Develops Empathy, SayBorneo Imams
• Muslims, police clash after prayers in
Ethiopia capital
• Tinubu commissions NASS Central
Mosque, urges Muslims on humility
• Islamic Council expresses discontent
with Oromia region statement on demolition of Mosques, engaged in discussion
with federal gov’t
--------
Arab World
• Saudi Foreign Minister Urges
Developing Cooperation with BRICS to Achieve Prosperity
• Education ministers call for
nominations for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative
• Saudi Arabia’s development program
hosts Yemeni scholarship students
• International artists explore Saudi
landscape in new exhibition
• Father of slain Saudi student details
depths of family’s tragedy
• KSrelief distributes aid packages in
Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan
-------
South Asia
• UN Security Council to Hold a Meeting
on Afghanistan’s Situation
• Every Girl Deserves to Access Quality
Education, Says US Envoy
• EU Does Not Recognize Taliban’s
Authority in Afghanistan: Charles Michel
• EU-Central Asia Holds 2nd Meeting On
Afghanistan and Region
• UN Slashes Food Rations for Rohingya
in Bangladesh Camps
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/us-canada-imams-scholars-islamic-gender/d/129918
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US, Canada Imams and Scholars Denounce Same-Sex Marriages, Uphold Islamic View on Gender
Hundreds of
American and Canadian imams and scholars issued a statement clarifying the
sexual and gender ethics in Islam.
-------
02-06-23
Imams and scholars on Islam have
released a joint statement on same-sex relationships and transgender marriages,
saying that sexual relations can only occur through the institution of
marriage, and only between a man and a woman.
The statement, which was released on May
23 under the title "Navigating Differences: Clarifying Sexual and Gender
Ethics in Islam", aims to clarify Islam’s position on “sexual and gender
ethics”, while also “recognising our constitutional obligation to exist
peacefully with those whose beliefs differ from ours.”
God’s absolute knowledge and wisdom
The statement highlights the fundamental
principle of Islam, which is the complete submission to God and the recognition
of His absolute knowledge and wisdom. It emphasises that the ultimate source of
morality is Divine guidance, as explicitly outlined in the Quran and the
teachings of Prophet Muhammed. The scholars reaffirm the following key
principles:
“By submitting to God, we declare that
only He possesses absolute knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, it follows from
this submission that the ultimate source and basis of morality is Divine
guidance, not just reason or societal trends."
Marriage
The scholars assert that Islam
recognizes the institution of marriage as the only permissible context for sexual
relations, emphasizing that it can only occur between a man and a woman. The
Quran explicitly condemns sexual relations within the same sex and prohibits
premarital and extramarital sexual acts. These principles have gained the
status of religious consensus among Muslims.
"By a decree from God, sexual
relations are permitted within the bounds of marriage, and marriage can only
occur between a man and a woman."
Humanity consists of males and females
Regarding gender, scholars affirm that
Islam defines humanity as consisting of males and females, spiritually equal
before God. While men and women have different characteristics and roles,
scholars stress that imitating the appearance of the opposite gender is
explicitly condemned in Islam. They call upon Muslims to respect God's wisdom
in creation.
"God defined humanity as consisting
of males and females and declared that He… ‘created (humans) from a male and a
female and made them into peoples and tribes so that you may come to know one
another’ (Quran, al-Ḥujurāt: 13; see also al-Najm: 45)."
Actions and feelings
The statement also addresses the
distinction between feelings, actions, and identity in Islam. While individuals
are accountable for their words and actions, Islam does not hold them
accountable for their involuntary thoughts and feelings. The scholars emphasise
that the sinful actions of an individual should not dictate their identity.
They assert that it is impermissible for Muslims to take pride in identifying
with labels that categorise them by their sins.
"Islam distinguishes between
feelings, actions, and identity. God holds individuals accountable for their
words and actions, not for their involuntary thoughts and feelings."
A constitutional right to hold religious
beliefs
Amidst societal debates and
misunderstandings, the scholars underline that moral disagreement on the LGBTQ
issue does not equate to intolerance. They affirm their commitment to peaceful
coexistence, recognizing the constitutional rights of all individuals to hold
differing beliefs. They clarify that peaceful coexistence does not necessitate
agreement, acceptance, affirmation, promotion, or celebration.
"We refuse the false choice between
succumbing to social pressures to adopt views contrary to our beliefs or facing
unfounded charges of bigotry."
A call on policymakers
Furthermore, the statement calls on
policymakers to safeguard the constitutional rights of faith communities to
practise their religious beliefs freely. It urges policymakers to oppose any
legislation that may infringe upon these rights, contributing to an atmosphere
of intolerance toward religious communities.
"We call on policymakers to protect
our constitutional right to practise our religious beliefs freely, without fear
of harassment, and to oppose any legislation seeking to stifle the religious
freedoms of faith communities."
A message for struggling Muslims
In concluding the statement, the
scholars extend a message of compassion and understanding to Muslims who may
struggle with desires that fall outside the boundaries set by God. They remind
individuals of the concept of repentance and forgiveness, urging them to
prioritise devotion to God over their desires and to seek self-restraint.
"To those among us who struggle
with desires that fall outside the boundaries set by God: know that even the
most righteous can commit sins and that every Muslim, no matter how sinful, has
the potential to be forgiven."
With this statement, the prominent Imams
and scholars seek to provide clarity on Islamic sexual and gender ethics while
promoting a peaceful coexistence that respects diverse beliefs and
constitutional rights. Their unified voice serves as a guide for Muslims
grappling with these complex issues in a rapidly changing world.
Source: trtworld.com
Please click the following
URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/us-canada-imams-denounce-same-sex-marriages-uphold-islamic-view-on-gender-13467987
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Threat to Human Rights: Mullahs’ Regime
Representative Appointed Vice President of UNGA
Photo: National Council of Resistance of Iran
------
2nd June 2023
Appointment of the mullahs’ regime
representative among the 21 vice presidents of the UNGA and as the speaker of
the Disarmament Committee tramples on human rights and international peace,
encourages the regime to engage in hostage-taking, terrorism, accelerating
nuclear projects, and warmongering in the region
The Iranian Resistance vehemently
denounces the appointment of representatives from the ruling religious fascist
regime of Iran as one of the 21 vice presidents of the 78th session of the
United Nations General Assembly, as well as the spokesperson of the First
Committee of the United Nations (International Disarmament Committee). This
move is seen as a clear violation of the United Nations’ core principles, which
aim to promote human rights, international peace, and security.
At a time when this regime has carried
out a staggering number of executions, with at least 146 prisoners executed in
May 2023 alone, and another 6 executions taking place on the morning of June
1st, granting the regime the position as the vice president of the United
Nations General Assembly is nothing short of a dagger to the heart of human
rights, and is considered an award to the record holder of execution in the
world and encouragement to commit more crimes.
Moreover, the regime’s occupation of the
role of spokesperson for the International Disarmament Committee while it
actively pursues the development of an atomic bomb deploys drones to carry out
killings of innocent civilians in Europe, sponsors terrorist activities across
America, Europe, and beyond, and spends
most of the Iranian people’s capital on exporting terrorism and war-mongering
and building mercenary forces in different countries of the region, not only
mocks the principles of international peace but also aids in the regime’s
relentless pursuit of nuclear capabilities and fuels the export of terrorism,
thereby paving the way for further destabilization and war in the Middle East
and beyond.
The ruling religious fascist regime in
Iran stands as a disgrace to contemporary humanity and the world as a whole. It
does not represent the Iranian people in any capacity. It should be expelled
from the United Nations and other international organizations, and its leaders,
who have been responsible for four decades of continuous crimes against
humanity, war crimes, and genocide, must be held accountable and brought to
justice.
Secretariat of the National Council of
Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
Source: ncr-iran.org
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/statement-human-rights/mullahs-regime-representative-appointed-vice-president-of-unga-threat-to-human-rights-and-international-peace/
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Chinese Communist Party May Take Tough
Stand on Hui Muslims for Protests to Save 900-yr-Old Mosque
Protesters
from the Hui Muslim community clashed with over 1,000 police personnel and
forced them to temporarily backtrack plans to alter the 14th-century Najiaying
mosque in China’s southwestern Yunnan province. (Image: @AyishaMuhamad/Twitter)
------
JUNE 03, 2023
The predominantly Muslim town of Nagu in
southwestern Yunnan province of China witnessed a rare phenomenon last week.
Thousands from the minority Hui Muslim community held protests, clashed with
over 1,000 police personnel and forced them to temporarily backtrack plans to
alter a 14th century mosque.
The police had a court mandate to
dismantle parts of the Najiaying mosque, to which more domes and minarets were
recently added. These features are considered to be distinguishing in mosque
architecture. The protests were driven by past examples: in Chinese crackdown
on places of external religions, the larger objective is to give the structures
a Chinese-style architecture by donning it with traditional flooring, wall
patterns and roofing similar to Buddhist-style pagodas.
What is worrying and important to note
is the fact that the protesters turned violent this time, hurling stones and
chairs – something rarely heard of and reported in external media. In doing so,
they have not only challenged the local administration and the ideology of the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but also raised questions on one of the commands
directed from the country’s highest office. They have challenged President Xi
Jinping’s words and his authority.
WHAT IS THE ‘SINICISATION OF RELIGION’
POLICY?
Jinping’s ‘sinicisation of religion’
policy seeks to transform every religion born outside China in the traditional
Han Chinese way. To the outside world, China says its sinicization policy is
about realigning external religious values to make them compatible to the
socialist core values of the country. The CCP says the motto is never to change
the ideology, or Islamic belief system and/or the Muslims residents’ habits.
To the targets inside China, especially
Buddhists and Muslims, following religion is almost banned. The sinicisation
policy does not allow followers of external religions to perform most religious
practices and go for religious teachings. It also does not allow
religious-styled architecture, either at homes or outside in community centres.
Jinping coined the term in 2015 and his
targets were Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism and Protestantism. The clear
message was: sinicise them in the Chinese context, socialise and indigenise
them. The unspoken directive was: ban most of the non-Chinese religious
practices inside China.
Two out of five religions, Buddhism and
Islam, were specifically chosen to be targeted. Two independent countries
forcefully occupied by China follow these religions and their natives consider
themselves different from the CCP’s China and its majority Han population.
Islam is followed by the Uyghur
community of the Xinjiang region, the largest province in the current Chinese
geographical territory. Tibet, China’s second largest province, is home to
Buddhist history, culture and politics.
WHO ARE THE HUI MUSLIMS?
According to the Chinese Census 2020,
Hui Muslims are China’s fourth largest ethnic group. They are largely located
in the Ningxia region, also officially known as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
(NHAR), in north-central China. The other three ethnic groups in China are 1.29
billion-strong Han Chinese, Zhuang (19.6 million) and the Uyghurs (11.8
million).
The 11.8 million-strong Islamic
community has a significant presence across China’s entire northwestern
territory, but is also present in many mainland provinces. Yunnan province,
where the current crackdown has happened, has around seven lakh Hui Muslims.
HUI MUSLIMS ONCE CONSIDERED ASSIMILATED
They immigrated from Arab and Persian
empires to the Chinese border and mainland areas some 1,500 years ago. Most of
them are Sunni Muslims practising Sufi Islam and are considered largely
assimilated in the Han Chinese culture, speaking Mandarin. Their Islam is
considered mostly indigenised and they even intermarry with the Han Chinese.
For this reason, the CCP was not too hostile towards their religious practices
earlier.
The Hui Muslim population was used as a
prop against the crackdown on the Uyghur Muslim community in Xinjiang. The
province had around seven lakh Hui Muslims, as per China’s 1990 Census, which
reached one million as per the 2010 Census. They were a better propaganda tool
with CCP-loyal Muslims in Xinjiang as compared to the native rebel Uyghur
Muslim population, to coax them to leave Islam and follow its CCP version.
BUT XI JINPING’S CCP DOESN’T THINK SO
The CCP, following Xi Jinping’s 2015
core doctrine, does not think that Hui Muslims are completely indigenised and sinicised.
They are seen as coming from a different external faith following their
religious structures, practices and teaching that needs socialisation and more
indigenisation, on the lines of what is being done with Uyghur Muslims in the
Xinjiang province.
Xinjiang has few Uyghur mosques left. A
report by the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) states that
China destroyed 10,000 to 15,000 mosques and religious places between 2016 and
2019. Children are separated from their parents and trained in the CCP
ideology, Han culture and Mandarin language. They are even arrested for
following Islam and sent to re-education camps that many critics consider
concentration camps.
LIVING IN FEAR?
June 6 is the deadline: the protesters
must surrender, or they will be arrested and sent to jails or correctional
homes to be re-educated, like over 350 in the Xinjiang province with over a
million interns or detained people. In different reports and human rights
investigations, the number of arrested people has gone up to 3.5 million.
The act of trying to save their
900-year-old mosque has been labelled as a criminal act, which has disturbed
the social order of the area. Is it the beginning of the process to kill their
religiosity? Will Hui Muslims, once considered assimilated, join other such
concentration camps designed for other Chinese minorities in the Xinjiang
region?
CAN PARALLELS BE DRAWN WITH XINJIANG?
The 2009 riots in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s
capital city, started as a silent protest movement against the CCP’s ill
treatment. Protesters were demanding action against the killing of two migrant
Uyghur workers by Han Chinese co-workers in a factory in Shaoguan in China’s
southeast. In response, the police carried out a violent crackdown that led to
rioting.
In the ensuing riots, both Han Chinese
and Uyghur Muslims were killed. The scale of extreme crackdown, being currently
witnessed in the region, has its genesis in that year’s violence.
In 2018, after peaceful protests by Hui
Muslims in the Ningxia region, a mosque’s demolition was stopped but its domes
and minarets were later removed. By 2019, almost every mosque in the rural
Ningxia region was altered with its domes and minarets removed and replaced by
Chinese architecture and Buddhist-style pagodas.
Protests during such changes were
routine. In June 2022, while the administration was demolishing domes and
minarets of a mosque in Zhaotong city in Yunnan province, protesting Hui
Muslims were beaten up by riot police.
Now, with yet another such protest last
week that turned violent, the CCP is likely to take a tough stand on the Hui
Muslim community’s religious practices. An NPR analysis wrote back in September
2019, “Since April 2018, Hui mosques have been forcibly renovated or shuttered,
schools demolished, and religious community leaders imprisoned. Hui, who have
travelled internationally, are increasingly detained or sent to re-education
facilities in Xinjiang.”
The CCP may now fasten the pace of
internments and subsequent arrests, placing Uyghurs and Hui Muslims in the same
basket.
Source: news18.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.news18.com/world/after-uyghurs-hui-muslims-in-chinese-gulags-ccp-may-take-tough-stand-on-protests-to-save-900-yr-old-mosque-7987933.html
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British Teen Gets Minimum Of 6 Years
After Islamic Terror Plot Reported By Mother
Matthew
King, an ISIS-sympathetic British teenager who planned an attack on the
Commonwealth's Army, has been sentenced to life in prison and must serve at
least six years before becoming eligible for release. (Metropolitan Police/PA
via AP)
----
June 2, 2023
A teenage man who was reported to
British anti-terror authorities by his mother was jailed for life on Friday.
Matthew King, 19, will serve a minimum term of six years for plotting a terror
attack on police officers or soldiers.
In what was the first terror sentencing
in England and Wales to be televised, the judge praised King's mother for
taking her suspicions to the Prevent counter-terror program.
"She took the very bold step of
alerting Prevent when she had concerns for her son," Judge Mark Lucraft
said during sentencing at the Old Bailey, the central criminal court in central
London. "That cannot have been an easy thing to do in the first place, and
in my view she absolutely did the right thing."
King, who was radicalized online during
the coronavirus pandemic, had expressed a desire to kill military personnel as
he prepared to stake out a British Army barracks in east London. He also
expressed a desire to travel to Syria to join so-called Islamic State.
His desires were thwarted when his
mother reported him. Authorities were also tipped off through an anti-terror
hotline after he posted a video on a WhatsApp group in April 2022.
The judge found that King was a
dangerous offender who carried a risk of future harm to the public, despite
claims by his lawyer that the defendant was on the path to deradicalization.
"It is clear that you are someone
who developed an entrenched Islamist extremist mindset, extreme anti-Western
views and that you intended to commit terrorist acts both in the U.K. and
overseas," the judge said.
King could be out in five years. He has
already spent 367 days in prison, which will be taken into account and deducted
from the length of time he has to serve.
Source: foxnews.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.foxnews.com/world/british-teen-gets-minimum-6-years-islamic-terror-plot-reported-mother
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Pakistan Outlines Barter Trade Plans with
Afghanistan, Iran, Russia
Pakistan
outlines barter trade plans with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia. PPI/File
------
June 03, 2023
ISLAMABAD: In another step to release
pressures on dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan has opened up barter
trade with Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia for certain items including petroleum,
LNG, coal, wheat, pulses, minerals, metals, and several food items.
According to a statutory regulatory
order (SRO), issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, the government of
Pakistan allowed the import and export of goods under B2B barter trade with
three countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Russia. At a time when the CPI
[Consumer Price Index] touched 38 per cent and Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)
based inflation clocked to 48 per cent, Pakistan took a decision to allow
barter trade with neighbouring countries, in the wake of the IMF not coming up
to rescue ailing economy of the country. The list allowed items to export to
Afghanistan Iran and Russia included 26 items including milk, cream, eggs,
cereals, meat and fish products, fruits and vegetables, rice, confectionary and
bakery items, salt, pharmaceutical products, essential oil, perfumes,
cosmetics, toiletries, soaps, lubricants, waxes and matches, tanning, chemical
products, plastic and rubber products, finished leather, textile (intermediaries)
readymade garments, textile made-ups, iron and steel, copper, alumimuium, tool
and cutlery, electric fans and home appliances, electric equipment, motorcycles
and tractors excluding components, surgical instruments, furniture items, and
sports goods. The government order, called the Business-to-business (B2B)
Barter Trade Mechanism 2023 and dated June 1, lists goods that can be bartered.
“Application for authorisation of import
and export of goods under the B2B barter trade facility shall be submitted
online by the trader or their authorised agent through the online system to the
regulatory collector,” the notification said. The regulatory collector having
territorial jurisdiction may allow export and import of goods against an
authorisation, subject to the conditions stipulated under the order.
The barter trade facility under this
order may be admissible to the state-owned enterprises; and (2) private
entities, subject to following conditions, namely:- (i) its name appears on
active taxpayers’ list of Federal Board of Revenue; (ii) it is subscribed to
Pakistan Single Window (PSW) System; and (iii) it possesses a valid import and
export contract registered by Customs authorities in the Customs computerised
system (WeBOC).
The government has notified the products
to be imported from Afghanistan, which include fruits and nuts, vegetables and
pulses, spices, minerals and metals, coal and its products, raw rubber items,
raw hides and skins, cotton, and iron and steel.
From Iran, Pakistani importers are allowed
to import fruits, nuts, vegetables, spices, minerals and metals, coal and
related products, petroleum crude oil, LNG and LPG, chemical products,
fertilisers, article of plastics and rubber, raw hides and skins, raw wool and
articles of iron and steel.
From Russia, Pakistani traders will be
allowed to import pulses, wheat, coal and related products, petroleum oils
including crude, LNG and LPG, fertilisers, tanning and dying extracts, articles
of plastic and rubber, minerals and metals, chemicals products, articles of
iron and steel, and items of textile industrial machinery.
The Ministry of Commerce, in its
statement, said that they held several meetings with high-level delegations of
various countries in this regard to make the barter trade system possible. It
was an ideal step taken by the current administration to stabilise the
country’s economy.It will not only increase foreign reserves of the country but
also increase the quantum of trade, it added.
Sources said that the barter trade would
help overcome banking transactions because, in the case of Iran, there was no
possibility of transactions through official channels because of the economic
sanction imposed by the United States of America. When contacted Dr Khaqan
Najeeb, former advisor to Ministry of Finance, said it is hoped the barter
trade mechanism would help the economy in the middle of prevailing gaps in
Pakistan’s import and export potential.
He said regional trade is key to
reaching a vast number of people so to facilitate barter trade with the three
countries is a good idea. Barter can help discover innovative products, and
trading opportunities and can help citizens near border areas to earn a better
living.
The business community has been
advocating proposals aimed at moving forward to operationalise the barter trade
arrangement with the three very important countries. The government has agreed
with the business community proposals at a time when the country faces a severe
dollar liquidity crunch to pay for important supplies, he concluded
Sajid Amin, deputy director of the
Sustainable Development Policy Institute, told a foreign news agency that
Pakistan could gain particularly from oil and energy imports from Russia and
Iran without adding to dollar demand. He added that the barter opportunity is
important considering the dollar shortages the countries face.
“While it may not solve currency
smuggling, particularly at the Afghanistan border, it can discourage smuggling
of goods from Iran, such as diesel, and Afghanistan which is hurting the economy,”
Amin added. After Pakistan’s first purchase of discounted Russian oil in April,
petroleum minister Musadik Malik said that Pakistan would only be buying crude,
not refined products, under the deal.
There was no confirmation about how
payment would be made but Malik said purchases could rise to 100,000 barrels
per day (bpd) if the first transaction went smoothly. The trade of goods under
a B2B Barter Trade arrangement will be allowed on the principle of “import
followed by export” and export would meet the value of imported goods. The
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said in a
statement its years Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said of relentless policy advocacy
initiatives for the barter trade with Russia, Iran and Afghanistan had borne
fruit.
“We pitched barters trade, border
markets and currency swap mechanisms very diligently in tens of top-level
meetings with the concerned ministries and relevant governmental institutions
over the past three-and-a-half years,” FPCCI president Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1076468-pakistan-outlines-barter-trade-plans-with-afghanistan-iran-russia
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North America
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by
First Lady Jill Biden at a Conversation with Young Leaders at Al-Azhar Mosque
JUNE 03, 2023
It’s truly my honor to be here at
Al-Azhar. Thank you to the Grand Imam for welcoming us today.
And Dr. Daoud, Dr. Saddik, Ambassador Moussa,
and Dr. Nossair: I am also grateful for your welcome and work on today’s
program.
This is my second trip to Umm al-Dunya, my
first to Cairo. And I just had a very special lunch with Mrs. Amer and a warm
welcome by your President.
In addition to being First Lady of the United
States, I teach writing at a community college just outside of Washington, D.C.
Many of my students are your age—and there are two lessons I use to get to know
them better.
The first is inspired by a poem called, “Where
I’m From.” Its verses tell the story of the author’s hometown, not in
locations, but in sensations, and experiences, and memories. Then I ask
students to think about their own lives: Where does their inner strength come
from? What made them who they are?
Ad the second of these assignments is from a
show called “This I Believe,” where people were asked to share
something—anything—that they deeply believe. An idea that has shaped who they
are. The assignments are simple. But the responses I get back are often deeply
profound. My students show me their hearts—where they come from and how they
see the world.
And as I thought about how we could get to
know each other today, I knew I wanted to do the same with you.
We’ve asked you to pick one of these prompts
to share, but to get us started, I thought I’d share mine. “Where I’m From:”
Ribbons of pasta, drying on the linoleum
counter in my grandfather’s Italian kitchen, tomato sauce bubbling on the
stove.
I’m from five sisters, glued together—messy
rooms and borrowed jeans and standing up to bullies who lived on our
block.
I’m from running through the yellow
streetlights on hot July nights, feeling like summer would never end. That’s
what made me who I am today.
And
here is my second, This I Believe: I believe the youth of Egypt—just like your
peers around the world—are our future.
And I believe that you are also our present.
I
believe that as you learn and grow, you will imagine new ideas and innovations
that our world needs. That your unique perspectives and vision can transform
medicine, and clean energy, and technology, and art.
All of you are here today because you’re
engaged and curious about the world around you. Because you understand that we
owe each other more than indifference.
And each day you shape your communities
in big ways and small ones.
I believe that faith enriches our
lives—helps us through the darkest times and reminds us of our place in the
universe.
believe that understanding each other
can help us find more common ground—see that, even if we are different, we’re
united by our desire for truth, love, justice, and healing.
I believe—and so does my husband,
Joe—that the United States must be a partner to Egypt—working side by side.
And most of all, we believe that work is
not just about government-to-government relationships. It’s people to people.
Heart to heart.
And that’s why I’m here today. To listen
and get to know you. And to take your stories home to the United States.
So thank you again for joining me today.
And now, I’ll turn it over to Dr. Makhlouf. Thank you so much for moderating
our discussion.
Source: whitehouse.gov
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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/06/03/remarks-as-prepared-for-delivery-by-first-lady-jill-biden-at-a-conversation-with-young-leaders-at-al-azhar-mosque/
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Edison Mourns Muslim Leader Sam Khan Who
Had 'Tremendous Impact'
Jun 2, 2023
EDISON, NJ — Local Muslim community
leader, Sam Khan, has died. Khan was the founder and chair of the South Asian
Community Outreach and had made an unsuccessful run for mayor back in 2013 and
2017.
Mayor Sam Joshi released a statement
remembering Khan as a friend and community leader with a “tremendous” impact.
“Sam Khan was a good friend and a
well-respected local leader who had a tremendous impact on the Edison
community,” Joshi said.
“I will remember him for his kindness,
wisdom, sincerity, and boundless generosity in all he did. His legacy of love
and dedication to his family and his community will continue to inspire us
all.”
Khan promoted interfaith harmony through
community outreach programs and holiday celebrations.
The Washington-based American Pakistani
Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), which fights against hate, bigotry and
prejudice, condoled Khan’s death calling him an “exceptional individual” who
dedicated his life to advocating for the betterment of the community.
Khan played an instrumental role in
bringing about positive change and empowering people, the APPAC said.
“His passion, dedication, and tireless
efforts have left an indelible mark on our community, and his absence will be
deeply felt by all. We remember him as a visionary leader who tirelessly worked
to bridge divides, inspire unity, and uplift the marginalized. His unwavering
commitment to social justice and equality has had a profound impact on
countless lives,” APPAC said in a Facebook statement.
“During this difficult time, our thoughts
and prayers are with Sam Khan’s family, friends, and all those who had the
privilege of knowing and working alongside them.”
Khan migrated to the United States in
1993 and has a master’s degree in Life Sciences.
He began his political career in 2011 by
joining the Republican Party and running for Council. Khan then unsuccessfully
ran for mayor in 2013 and 2017.
His daughter Aisha Khan is an elected
member of the South Brunswick Board of Education.
Source: patch.com
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https://patch.com/new-jersey/edison-metuchen/edison-mourns-muslim-leader-sam-khan-who-had-tremendous-impact
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The Chinese Regime Is Committing Muslim
Genocide, Biden and Islamic States Must Act
Bradley A. Thayer
June 2, 2023
The Biden administration’s efforts to
sustain a dialogue with Beijing must be questioned in light of the Chinese
regime’s gross and consistent human rights violations against its own people.
While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
consistently violates human rights and has done so since it came to power in
1949, the intense focus on Islam is part of a new wave of repression against
religious freedom in China. Communist leader Xi Jinping has launched a campaign
to “Sinicize” and “deradicalize” religions in China, that is, to pressure
organized religions to conform to “Xi Jinping Thought” and the CCP’s demands.
This is part of the sharp crackdown against Chinese citizens and enforced
compliance with Xi’s oppression. Xi’s regime is characterized by universal
human rights violations, but he has a particularly intense and targeted pattern
of human rights abuses against religion. Last year, the United Nations
condemned the regime for its abuses against Muslims in Xinjiang as a “crime
against humanity.”
In the most recent outrage, the Chinese
police demolished a mosque in Najiaying village in Yunnan Province. Thousands
of the 11-million-strong Hui Muslim minority in China attempted unsuccessfully
to stop the destruction of the mosque. Over the last few years, the CCP has
removed overtly Islamic architecture in China. This has included destroying
domes and minarets from more than a thousand Hui mosques across the country.
The pattern of cultural destruction and
genocide against Muslims in Xinjiang appears to be spreading to Hui Muslims in
Yunnan. As it first occurred in Xinjiang, the brutal coercion is now spreading
to Yunnan. Beijing has moved to restrict the religious practices of Hui Muslims
across China, including closing Islamic schools, terminating Arabic language
classes, enforcing edicts on facial hair, and hindering Islamic religious
education and practice.
Epoch Times Photo
A photo obtained from Chinese social
media shows Chinese Muslim protesters in a standoff with riot police outside
Najiaying Mosque in Nagu town in Yunnan Province, China, on May 27, 2023.
(Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
While this is occurring, the Biden
administration is attempting to promote engagement with China. U.S. Defense
Secretary Lloyd Austin attempted to meet with Li Shangfu, China’s new defense
minister, on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Security Dialogue in
Singapore, which started on June 2. It was one of Austin’s several efforts to
meet with his Chinese counterpart but was rebuffed each time by China. Austin’s
failed efforts follow an earlier meeting in May when national security adviser
Jake Sullivan met with his Chinese counterpart in Vienna and Commerce Secretary
Gina Raimondo met with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, in Washington. The
meeting in Beijing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken has not been
rescheduled despite U.S. efforts to do so. The scheduled meeting was postponed
due to the outrage over the Chinese spy balloon.
The outreach to Beijing is not in the
U.S. national interest; it is unseemly and illustrative of the triumph of the
failed engagement policy that, with the exception of the Trump presidency, has
governed U.S. policy toward China for a generation.
Given the CCP’s gross human rights abuse
against its own citizens, immediate steps are necessary to be taken by the
Biden administration, key U.S. allies and partners like India and the European
Union, human rights organizations, and especially by Islamic states.
First, the Biden administration must
pressure the CCP by canceling Blinken’s trip to Beijing. No U.S. secretary of
state should meet with Chinese officials while the regime persecutes its
population. The genocide of Chinese Muslims compels a response from the
international community, and the Biden administration has the opportunity to
lead and mobilize the world’s population against the CCP. Immediate measures
must be employed against the regime to end its actions and ensure the
persecution does not escalate.
Second, the Biden administration should
freeze all contact with China and pressure the regime to allow third-party
human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to monitor human rights
violations.
Third, the Biden administration must
formulate and release a strategy for documenting human rights abuses against
Muslims in China as another avenue to pressure the CCP to end the abuse and
avoid greater persecution in the future.
Fourth, President Joe Biden should
coordinate with leaders from major Islamic states—such as Egypt, Turkey, Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan, and Indonesia—to condemn the CCP for its genocide against
Muslims and its sustained effort to erase Islam from China’s present and past.
The administration should make a point of asking Iran to condemn these actions
explicitly. It is unfathomable that Islamic states would allow this to occur
without bold action to protect Muslims within China, including severing ties
with Beijing, ending their relationships with the Belt and Road Initiative,
boycotting Chinese goods and services, and imposing an embargo on China’s
energy imports.
The CCP commits genocide against Muslims
in Xinjiang—it continues to do so without effective sanctions. Now the
persecution has spread to the Hui. It appears that Beijing’s abuses have spread
and that the past is prologue. Strong measures should be taken against the
Chinese regime now. This should commence with an embargo of energy exports to
China by Iran, Iraq, the Gulf states, and Saudi Arabia. The Biden
administration and the energy-producing Islamic states have the power to
pressure China to end the persecution of Chinese Muslims. Now is the time to
use all diplomatic and economic measures to aid the Chinese Muslim minority.
Views expressed in this article are the
opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch
Times.
Source: theepochtimes.com
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https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-chinese-regime-is-committing-muslim-genocide-biden-and-islamic-states-must-act_5302562.html
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Canadian city where Muslim family killed
gets funds to fight hate
2 Jun 2023
Muslim community advocates in Canada
have welcomed an effort aimed at combatting hate and Islamophobia in an Ontario
city where a driver ran down a Muslim family two years ago, killing four
people.
The government of Ontario announced this
week that it was investing about $372,000 (500,000 Canadian dollars) to help
the city of London develop an anti-hate public education campaign and an online
library of resources.
On Friday, the National Council of Canadian
Muslims advocacy organisation embraced the move as “another step … towards
positive change”.
“That night two years ago changed the
way our community sees itself in Canada,” the group’s CEO, Stephen Brown, said
in an earlier statement.
“We were forced to confront hate
directly, and that is an ongoing task for all Canadians of good will. This
commitment toward public education will hopefully be a catalyst in that
direction, as we still have a lot of work to do as a country to reckon with
Islamophobia.”
Four members of the Afzaal family,
including a 15-year-old, were killed on June 6, 2021, when a driver ran them
over with a pick-up truck while they were out for a walk in London, a city of
about 420,000 residents 200km (125 miles) west of Toronto.
Authorities said at the time that they
were “targeted because of their Islamic faith”.
The attack renewed trauma for Muslim
community members across Canada, many of whom were still reeling in the
aftermath of a deadly 2017 assault on a Quebec mosque that left six worshippers
dead and a fatal stabbing at another mosque in Toronto in 2020.
The London attack prompted Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to hold a national summit on Islamophobia,
and in January of this year, Canada appointed its first special representative
on combatting Islamophobia.
“Diversity truly is one of Canada’s
greatest strengths, but for many Muslims, Islamophobia is all too familiar,”
Trudeau said in a statement welcoming the new envoy, Amira Elghawaby, to her
post.
A string of other incidents targeting
Muslim Canadians have taken place in recent months, spurring new calls to
tackle Islamophobia in the North American country.
London Mayor Josh Morgan said on
Thursday that the new investments would help the city “promote acceptance for
all Londoners”.
“Not only must we speak out against
hatred, we must also take decisive and tangible action – and that’s exactly
what this funding allows us to do,” Morgan said in a statement.
“Together, we will build a culture of
respect and understanding that leaves no room for racism, intolerance or
discrimination.”
Source: aljazeera.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
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Mideast
Armed Forces, IRGC stress commitment to
Imam Khomeini ideals
Jun 3, 2023
TEHRAN, Jun 03 (MNA) – Issuing separate
statements on the occasion of the demise anniversary of Imam Khomeini (RA), the
IRGC and General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
re-assured their commitment to Imam's ideals.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, in a statement, expressed readiness to fight any
threats and attacks of enemies to the ideals of the Imam (RA), calling on
Iranians to gloriously participate in the ceremony of 34th anniversary of Imam
Khomeini's demise.
The noble nation of Iran, despite a
chain of numerous and continuous conspiracies and seditions created by enemies,
is now more determined than ever on its allegiance with Imam Khomeini and the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the statement
reads.
In another statement issued by the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on this occasion, the IRGC considered the
1963 demonstrations in Iran (The 15 Khordad uprising) as the beginning of the
process of the collapse of the 2,500-year-old imperial system, as well as the
decline of American domination and global arrogance in Iran.
Offering condolences over the demise
anniversary of Imam Khomeini, the IRGC further stressed that his thoughts could
guide the Iranian nation to overcome the enemies' conspiracies.
The statement also dubbed the IRGC an
outstanding achievement of Imam Khomeini's movement.
Source: mehrnews.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/201531/Armed-Forces-IRGC-stress-commitment-to-Imam-Khomeini-ideals
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Jihad Azour's nomination ignites tension
in presidential file amid grim outlook for Lebanon
2023-06-03
With the expected official announcement
of the opposition forces aligning with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), and
the former minister Jihad Azour's nomination for the presidency, the
presidential file enters a new phase of confrontation, with the anticipated
field being the Parliament.
However, the available information
indicates that the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, will not call for a
session promptly.
It appears that Maronite Patriarch
Bechara Boutros al-Rahi had informed the French that he would engage in a new
round of contacts with Muslim counterparts to persuade them to proceed with
consensus, considering the existence of multiple candidates. He stated that he
cannot endorse one candidate without the other if both receive significant
support in Parliament. He is also incapable of pressuring either of them to
withdraw. All he can do is intensify dialogue between all parties in hopes of
reaching an understanding on a name that is not considered a challenge to any
faction or sect.
For this reason, coordination meetings
among the supporters of former minister Sleiman Frangieh have pointed out the
necessity of giving some time for the tension accompanying Azour's nomination
to cool down, especially since vote-counting at this moment does not yield
consistent results. Many are betting that the quorum battle will reemerge at
the forefront.
Opposition sources have revealed
"coordinating meetings that took place in the past two days to finalize
the announcement of endorsing Azour's nomination and sending a strong signal
for Christian unity behind one name."
"The Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb
Party aspired to hold a press conference that includes all the forces endorsing
Azour's nomination or issue a joint statement signed by all," the sources
stated.
However, this point has not been settled
yet, revealing that "the most acceptable scenario so far is to announce
Azour's nomination from the residence of former opposition candidate MP Michel
Moawad, who is supposed to read a statement announcing his withdrawal in favor
of Azour, in the presence of representatives from the Lebanese Forces, the
Kataeb Party and Change MPs."
According to this scenario, the FPM is
expected to announce its support for Azour independently. The process of
scrutinizing the votes that the movement will mobilize in favor of Azour will
begin amid some MPs insist on rejecting voting for him or Frangieh. These MPs
have entered into a conflict with the head of the movement, MP Gebran Bassil,
and it is still unknown how they will react if Bassil restricts the movement's
stance to supporters without returning to them.
The past few hours witnessed an
acceleration in the pace of the presidential movement after Patriarch al-Rahi's
speech upon his return from Paris regarding "a move he will initiate
towards all components, including Hezbollah."
This is especially significant as the
details of the talk about Azour's nomination and the hype it generated
confirmed that there is no possibility of achieving any positive breakthrough
in the presidential file, according to prominent political sources who
considered these developments as painting a grim picture awaiting Lebanon.
Quoting a senior reference, they said, "what is happening does not only
take us back to square one but makes things even gloomier."
Moreover, Al-Rahi met with Bassil on
Friday and briefed him on the results of his visit to Europe, which raised
concerns for some opposition forces, expressing fears that "Bassil would
exploit the patriarch's call for dialogue to postpone the announcement of
supporting Azour and gain more time as he had done repeatedly." He still
calls for consensus and shows concern about confronting Hezbollah.
While sources pointed out that "the
opposition is currently focusing on communicating with Sunni MPs to convince
them of the Azour option," everyone is waiting for the position of the
Progressive Socialist Party.
In addition, the sources revealed that
"in the past hours, there has been continuous contact with the Democratic
Gathering bloc MPs, causing great confusion within the Socialists." This
coincided with information indicating that Walid Jumblatt, who strongly
supports Azour, is currently considering his stance concerning the significant
challenges and his fear of Azour's transformation from a settlement candidate
into a challenging candidate. Jumblatt still prefers not to side with anyone.
In this context, well-informed sources
mentioned the visit of former minister Ghazi Aridi to Ain al-Tineh, where he
met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri before the bloc announces its final
stance after a meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.
Source: lbcgroup.tv
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Algerian minister lauds initiatives of
Islamic cultural centre in Doha
JUNE 02, 2023
Minister of Religious Affairs and
Endowments of Algeria Youssef Belmahdi lauded Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al
Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center's efforts in introducing the Islamic culture
and Qatari heritage and providing awareness programs to Qatar's residents and
visitors in multiple languages.
The Algerian minister's visit to the
centre, under the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs, came as a part of
his official visit to country during the past week. During his visit, Sheikh
Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center's General Manager Dr. Saleh
bin Ali al-Marri introduced the centre's departments and the nature of its
work.
He also gave an introduction to the
heritage hall and how it presents Qatar's heritage to visitors, as well as the
main cultural hall in the centre, which presents a comprehensive understanding
of Islam and Muslims. He noted the importance of the cultural elements and
quality of visual and spatial presentation when learning about the Islamic
culture.
The Algerian Minister of Endowments
appreciated the efforts made by Qatar during its hosting of the FIFA World Cup
Qatar 2022 with the cultural messages that appeared at the opening and closing
ceremonies and all the accompanying efforts made.
As part of the centre's initiative, a
program was held to visit the Imam Mohammed Bin Abdul Wahab Mosque, which was
attended by 212 people from various nationalities, including English, Spanish,
and Russian. The participants learned about the mosque's landmarks, religious
rituals, and its most prominent roles in the Muslim community.
Seventeen students from Virginia
Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) visited the
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, where they learned
about the features of Islamic culture and Qatari heritage.
The centre also organized a program to
teach new converts in the presence of 199 converts in the three branches of the
centre: the main headquarters, the industrial branch, and Al Khor branch,
coming in line with the centre's interest to provide converts with the best
programs and knowledge that suit their needs.
Source: gulf-times.com
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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/662256/qatar/algerian-minister-lauds-initiatives-of-islamic-cultural-centre-in-doha
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Over 68,000 Hajj pilgrims reap the
benefits of Mecca Route Initiative
June 02, 2023
Dubai: The Mecca Route initiative has
facilitated the journey of 68,721 pilgrims until Wednesday, according to the
Ministry of Interior.
The Ministry of Interior, in cooperation
with its partners, is proceeding with the Mecca Route initiative as part of
Saudi Arabia’s Pilgrim Experience Programme, one of the Saudi Vision 2030
programmes.
This year, Mecca initiative is being
rolled out in a number of countries including Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and, marking a first, in Turkey and Ivory Coast.
The pilgrims, arriving via 189 flights,
touched down at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince
Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina.
With a focus on increasing efficiency
and convenience, the initiative enables pilgrims to complete the necessary
travel procedures within their own countries.
This includes the electronic issuance of
visas, recording of vital characteristics, completion of passport procedures at
the country of departure, meeting health requirements, and meticulous handling
of luggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the
Kingdom.
The Mecca Route initiative not only
simplifies the pilgrimage process but also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s commitment
to enhancing the Hajj experience as part of its Vision 2030 strategy.
Largest operational plan
The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques
Affairs on Thursday launched the largest operational plan for the upcoming Hajj
season.
Aimed at facilitating Hajj 1444AH in
line with Saudi Vision 2030, the plan takes into account several key aspects
related to the presidency’s strategic objectives.
“This year’s operational plan for Hajj
is the largest in the history of the presidency, made possible after the
cessation of the pandemic and the declaration of the return of millions of Hajj
pilgrims through an elaborate service system established by our wise
leadership,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Aziz Al Sudais, Head of the
presidency, at a media forum.
The announcement was made by Al Sudais
accompanied by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah.
8,000 volunteering opportunities
The initiative builds upon the remarkable
successes and enduring accomplishments set forth by the directives of the
government.
Dr. Al Sudais also highlighted the
significant strides made in volunteering and humanitarian efforts, with the
Presidency having provided over 8,000 volunteering opportunities across ten
fields at the two Holy Mosques. This resulted in more than 200,000 volunteer
hours being clocked during the Hajj season.
Underscoring the guiding role of the two
Holy Mosques, Al Sudais noted that the presidency provides translation
services, spatial guidance, and information to the pilgrims in 51 international
languages across 49 stations, aimed at enhancing the pilgrim experience.
In his address during the unveiling of
the operational plan, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah,
discussed the importance of integration and coordination between the Ministry
of Hajj and the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and
the Prophet’s Holy Mosque.
He emphasized their collective role in
serving the pilgrims, especially with their numbers returning to millions, and
in ensuring they can perform their rituals with comfort and tranquility.
Source: gulfnews.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/over-68000-hajj-pilgrims-reap-the-benefits-of-mecca-route-initiative-1.96156404
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Erdogan backs Kurdish Islamist party –
and women pay the price
02-06-23
As the sun dipped into the Bosphorus
Strait dividing Istanbul’s European and Asian sides just days before Turkey
held a presidential runoff, Zainab Bilgin explained what was at stake for women
in the 2023 vote.
“Religion is dominating politics in this
country and this election can change women’s lives and rights,” she declared.
“Huda-Par is making public statements that women should not vote, that all
women should be married before the age of 30 years. Huda-Par is very powerful
and I am very worried,” she said, referring to a fringe Turkish Islamist party.
Bilgin was so afraid of publicly voicing
her fears, she asked for her name to be changed and only agreed to be filmed
with her back to the camera.
Days later, in the Kurdish stronghold of
Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey, a woman approached FRANCE 24 at a polling
station after casting her vote in the May 28 runoff between President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and his secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
“This is the women’s last vote,” she
said slowly and emphatically in English. “Maybe we will lose our voting rights.
They will change everything. We will be like Iran because of Huda-Par.”
That night, not long after Erdogan vowed
in his victory speech “to be here until I’m in my grave”, the middle-aged woman
at the polling station kept calling and texting to ensure she was not quoted or
identified. Her fears over the stakes of the election for Turkish women was as
strong as her certainty that retribution against opposition supporters,
especially Kurds, would be severe.
From north to south, and east to west in
a deeply divided country, many women who voted for the opposition appeared
convinced that the new Erdogan term would not mean more-of-the-same for them.
This time, they explained, it would be worse.
One of the main reasons given for the
fatalism was a fringe Kurdish Islamist party from the country’s periphery that
was barely known on the national stage before the 2023 campaign.
Huda-Par is the acronym for the Hur Dava
Partisi (Free Cause Party). The acronym can also be literally translated in
Turkish as “party of God” – which appears to instil the fear of God into some
secular Turks.
A political party that emerged from the
brutality of the 1990s dirty war between shadowy branches of the state’s
security apparatus against an armed Kurdish group, Huda-Par was largely
overlooked by Turks in the major cities. Its rise to prominence exposes the
dangers of ignoring the periphery in a
rigidly centralised nation that has long overlooked the injustices committed
against minorities.
That changed this year, when the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced it had struck an alliance with
Huda-Par that would see the Kurdish Islamist party running on the ruling
party’s list.
The condemnations from critics were
swift and strong – and mounted to alarm when the May 14 legislative election
saw four Huda-Par members elected to the 600-seat national parliament.
The alliance has raised questions in
Turkey over how far the government intends to push its Islamist agenda as
Erdogan enters his third decade in power.
Kurds killing Kurds in state-directed
fratricidal war
Much of the consternation over
Huda-Par’s entry into parliament stems from its shadowy past, which has never
been adequately acknowledged or addressed by the Turkish state.
Huda-Par’s roots can be traced back to
the now-defunct Hezbollah, a Kurdish Sunni Muslim group that has no connection
to its Lebanese namesake.
Experts say that in the bloody 1990s,
Hezbollah was used by the Turkish security services to murder members and
supporters of the Kurdistan Workers's Party (PKK). It then turned into a
takfiri jihadist group killing anyone – particularly women’s rights activists –
who disagreed with the group’s hardline interpretation of Islam.
“Hezbollah was infiltrated by the
security services and encouraged to conduct attacks against Kurdish activists
and civilians. There were many unsolved murders, persecutions, tortures,
especially of women, religious leaders and activists,” explained Mashuq Kurt, a
leading expert on Hezbollah at Royal Holloway, University of London.
But when Hezbollah turned its sights on
the police, killing the Diyarbakir police chief, the state finally cracked down
on the group it had once used as an attack dog against leftist Kurdish groups
in a fratricidal war. Hezbollah was crushed in 2000, with thousands of members
arrested in the security operation.
The crackdown was followed by a “silent
period”, according to Kurt, until 2004, when the movement reappeared in the
public space in the form of civil society organisations soon after the AKP came
to power.
The AKP's liberalisation measures opened
the space for Islamist groups operating underground, enabling Huda-Par to
emerge as a legal entity, establishing offices in Diyarbakir.
"They reappeared in the public
space via legal entities, I definitely see a continuation in ideology; their
social base draws from the same support. But I don't see an organic link. What
has changed is the implementation of these ideals; their methods have changed.
Previously, they were very secretive, underground, and reliant on a core group
ready to engage in violence. Now they are a legal entity,” said Kurt.
As a political party, Huda-Par routinely
denies links to Hezbollah, but it does admit that some of its members belonged
to the armed group in the past.
Huda-Par’s chief, Zekeriya Yapicioglu,
however has publicly said he does not believe Hezbollah is a terrorist group.
Yapicioglu’s comments were highlighted by the opposition and the media ahead of
the runoff, sparking scenes of football fans in stadiums chanting, “We don’t
want Hezbollah in parliament."
Criminalising adultery, scrapping
domestic violence laws
he football fans were too late. With
four Huda-Par members already elected to parliament, the party began its
first-ever national legislative chapter on a disruptive note.
Nearly two weeks after the legislative
polls, the new MPs had still not been sworn in since Huda-Par refused to accept
the oath of office taken by Turkish parliamentarians, Turkish media reported.
The Islamist party was also objecting to female employees in parliament,
according to the secular opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Women’s rights have been in the
crosshairs of Huda-Par, along with another hardline Islamist party allied to
the AKP, the New Welfare party (YRP). Huda-Par and the YRP have called for a
re-evaluation of laws to “protect the integrity of the family”, which translate
into rollbacks on personal as well as domestic violence laws protecting women.
“The two parties share the same views on
gender and bringing the family into a patriarchal structure. Their positions
are homophobic, xenophobic – they are very anti-Western and anti-Israel – and
quite controversial especially when it comes to women’s rights and LGBTs,” said
Kurt.
Huda-Par has proposed criminalising
extra-marital sex and adultery, getting rid of alimony rights for women, and
scrapping Turkey’s Law 6284, which protects domestic abuse victims.
‘Axis of conservatism’ in Kurdish areas
uda-Par’s extreme positions have led
many Turks to surmise that Erdogan’s position in the lead-up to the May 14
elections was so weak, he was forced into an embarrassing embrace of the
discredited fringe party.
But Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman
Soylu provided some insight into the ruling party’s strategy when he called the
AKP alliance with Huda-Par “the most important step taken by the Turkish
Republic and Turkish politics in recent years”.
In an interview with CNN Turk, Soylu
noted that the “strategic significance” of the alliance will be seen in ten
years when “the axis of conservatism in eastern and southeastern politics will
be reactivated with this step in Turkey”.
The AKP’s strategic process of spreading
the “axis of conservativism” is well under way in the Kurdish southeast, where
the secular, progressive HDP remains the most popular party.
The HDP’s sway over the Kurdish vote – a
largely cohesive and important component of opposition’s vote base – has held
despite Erdogan’s severe crackdown on the party.
>> Read more: Turkey's Kurdish
areas are a petri dish for illiberal democracy
Over the past few years, “the AKP has
been struggling with gaining support from the Kurdish people,” noted Kurt.
“Huda-Par provides the AKP with a footing to work on those policies.”
Targeting Kurdish mayors, women's rights
activists
ulcihan Simsek, a former mayor of the
Bostanici district in the southeastern Van province, was arrested in April 2009
and jailed for five years without charges in the notorious Diyarbakir Military
Prison No. 5 in the heart of Turkey’s largest Kurdish city.
Since a failed coup attempt in 2016,
Erdogan has dismissed and jailed dozens of democratically elected HDP mayors,
accusing them of “supporting an illegal organisation”, referring to the banned
PKK. Human rights groups however say the Turkish president merely labels anyone
opposing him as “terrorists”.
Once dismissed, the mayors’ positions
are then occupied by AKP-appointed trustees.
“The AKP is now intending to replace the
HDP with Huda-Par as the legal representative of the Kurdish people and promote
an Islamic fraternity to divert Kurdish people from national aspirations,” said
Kurt. “After the state appoints trustees to replace mayors, many facilities are
provided to Huda-Par supporters and civil society organisations.”
In Turkish politics, the secular CHP has
not competed for Kurdish votes, leaving the terrain open to Kurdish parties. In
turn, the Kurdish parties have solidly stood by the CHP over the past few
elections.
The AKP, however, competes fiercely for
Kurdish votes. The ruling party’s strategy in the southeast is to promote
traditional, family roles for women in a bid to enlarge and capture the
conservative Kurdish vote.
That means actively targeting the
women’s movement, according to Simsek.
Since her release from Diyarbakir
Military Prison No. 5 in 2014, the former mayor has been active in the Kurdish
women’s movement, which has led the way in the Turkish women’s movement. But
that has not saved her from frequent arrests, detentions, releases, and
overlapping trials that drag on for so long, the 51-year-old dismissively waves
her hand rather than go into the details of her legal battles.
“This government is restricting our
freedom, they’re trying to make women stay at home. It’s a state policy to
divide Kurdish people. These Huda-Par people owe the Kurdish people an apology
for what they did in the 1990s. That’s the reason the Kurdish people are
outraged by them,” said Simsek. “Now suddenly they’ve become friends with the
AKP. But the Kurdish people will not be fooled. We will continue our struggle.”
Source: france24.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230602-erdogan-backs-kurdish-islamist-party-%E2%80%93-and-women-pay-the-price
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Islamic Republic Releases One Danish,
Two Austrian-Iranian Hostages
02-06-23
Iran has released two Austrian-Iranian
hostages with reports suggesting the regime is about to free other prisoners
with dual-nationality.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry said in a
statement on Friday that Kamran Ghaderi and Massud Mossaheb have been freed
after years of persistent diplomatic efforts. They are among unknown numbers of
diplomatic hostages held by the regime.
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg
said: "I am very relieved that we can finally bring Kamran Ghaderi and
Massud Mossaheb home after years of arduous imprisonment in Iran. They are
already on their way to Austria, where their families are eagerly waiting for
them.”
Ghaderi was arrested in January 2016
upon his arrival in Iran from Austria for a routine business trip. In October
2016, the Iranian judiciary sentenced him to 10 years in prison for espionage,
along with the dual and foreign nationals Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, and
Nizar Zakka.
Mossaheb, a 73-year-old was also serving
a 10-year prison term over vague national security offences. The regime
arrested Mossaheb in late January of 2019 when he traveled to Iran with a delegation
from MedAustron, an Austrian radiation therapy and research firm seeking to
establish a center in Iran. He had worked in Iran for the International Atomic
Energy Agency in 1977–78, prior to the Islamic Revolution
Reuters says a Danish national was also
released but it did not release his/her name. In a statement, the Belgian
government said that the Danish person was arrested in Iran in November 2022 in
connection with women's rights demonstrations.
After medical tests, the three will be
flown to Belgium's military airport in Melsbroek following a stop in Oman.
Schallenberg thanked his Belgian
counterpart Hadja Lahbib as well as Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr
Albusaidi “for their valuable support," suggesting that the release was
part of the recent Muscat-brokered prisoner exchange between Tehran and
Brussels.
Asadollah Assadi, a former attaché at
the Iranian embassy in Austria who was convicted of plotting to bomb a
gathering of the exiled opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)
near Paris on June 30, 2018, was released and arrived in Tehran last Friday.
Belgian aid worker Olivier
Vandecasteele, who was detained last year and sentenced to 40 years in prison
and 74 lashes for alleged “spying and cooperation with the United States, money
laundering and smuggling $500,000 out of Iran,” was also released as part of
the deal.
Source: iranintl.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202306021079
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Southeast Asia
PM Anwar: Kids must learn to clean
toilets, it will teach them humility
03 Jun 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Humility can be
instilled from young if children were taught how to clean toilets, Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He said many children from rich
backgrounds had no respect nor concern for the daily hardships the lower income
groups have to face, and that his Malaysia Madani concept will not tolerate
such behaviour.
He added that children of all ages and
backgrounds can learn to appreciate what the common man does if they were made
to clean toilets at home or at school.
“Kids must be taught to learn to clean
toilets to learn what humility and good values are. If they’re taught so they
will appreciate the work their moms or public lavatory workers do, they will
know its difficulties.
“This was practised during my time when
I was the minister of education. Even then I faced resistance when an upper
class professional family wrote a telegram to me protesting their kids cleaning
toilets. They said their kid was there to study, not clean toilets.
“See the mentality? Education is about
respecting people, even those cleaning toilets.
“If our kids are taught this then they
will learn to appreciate people and the hard work they do. And for those kids
who don’t want to comply with the rules, so be it; they will be barred from
using the school toilets,” Anwar said while opening the Selera Madani food
court at Jalan Jujur, Bandar Tun Razak here this afternoon.
In his speech, Anwar said his government
is focusing on people-centric projects rather than pushing out mega projects
costing billions of ringgit.
He said places like Kuala Lumpur have
enough six-star hotels, trendy restaurants and upper class areas to cater to
the hip crowd.
However, he said there is a severe lack
of public facilities such as parks and public toilets.
Anwar also announced a RM200 reduction
in rent for food stall owners at the D’Anjung Selera food court that he just
opened, under the Program Lestari Niaga.
The previous monthly rental was RM400.
The food court houses 24 stalls and has a surau, toilet and a waste disposal
section.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/06/03/pm-anwar-kids-must-learn-to-clean-toilets-it-will-teach-them-humility/72301
--------
Lawyer says Dr M under police
investigation for ‘Malay Proclamation’ campaign
02 Jun 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Former two-time
prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was questioned by police today in
relation to the “Malay Proclamation” campaign, which is suspected of being an
activity detrimental to Malaysian democracy, his lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid
Ali said this afternoon.
Rafique said that Dr Mahathir is investigated
under Section 124B of the Penal Code for committing an activity detrimental to
parliamentary democracy.
“Tun has said that he is ready to be
charged at court and will answer questions at court,” Rafique said in a video
on Facebook page InspirasiChannel.
He said that Dr Mahathir was questioned
by investigators from the federal police headquarters between 11am and 12pm.
The police later confirmed in a
statement that officers from the Classified Crime Investigation Unit recorded
Dr Mahathir’s statement at Yayasan Al Bukhary here around 10.30am, as part of
an investigation.
They said the investigation was on the
“Malay Proclamation” and Dr Mahathir’s statements that allegedly belittled the
royal institution.
“Is talking about Malays or the Malay
Proclamation illegal?” Rafique asked, urging others who may be investigated on
the same matter not to be cowed.
Dr Mahathir has purported his “Malay
Proclamation” to be an initiative to unite the Malay community by addressing 12
key problems they face and bridging the group’s political differences, despite
his leading role in at least four Malay political parties so far.
Last month, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul
Hadi Awang, as well Bersatu leaders such as Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri
Ahmad Faizal Azumu and information chief Datuk Razali Idris signed on to Dr
Mahathir’s proclamation.
Dr Mahathir developed his proclamation
after a humiliating defeat in the 15th general election, when he and all other
Pejuang candidates lost their deposits due to failing to receive the minimum
number of votes.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/06/02/lawyer-says-dr-m-under-police-investigation-for-malay-proclamation-campaign/72148
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'Umno inviting Anwar to general assembly
shows unity govt is stable'
June 2, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim being invited to the Umno general assembly next week shows the
unity government is going into the six state elections as a united front.
Analysts said the inclusion of top
leaders from the unity government's component parties at Umno's annual
gathering solidified the ruling government's stability.
They believed that the unity government
was sending a signal to the opposition that it would continue to uphold the
Malay cause and that it placed a high priority on the Malay vote.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research
senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said Umno inviting other unity government
component parties to its general assembly was critical in showing cohesiveness,
especially in facing Perikatan Nasional (PN).
"This shows the people that the
government is stable and all parties are working together.
"The move is critical to show that
they are united in facing the attacks from other parties, such as PN, which is
greatly relying on Islamic sentiments to gain Malay support," he told the
New Straits Times.
Earlier today, Umno secretary-general
Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that Anwar would be a guest of honour at
the party's four-day general assembly starting next Wednesday.
Azmi said Umno's decision to include
Anwar and other unity government leaders was imperative in wooing Malay voters
in Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan, which have Pakatan Harapan-led state
governments.
He said having Anwar as a guest of
honour showed that Umno was willing to face its long-time rival-turned-ally DAP
and other parties.
He said this proved that Umno could work
with its former enemies while still protecting Islam and the interest of the
Malays.
He said most Malay voters in Kelantan,
Terengganu and Kedah had already made up their minds about supporting PN.
"The kingmakers for the state
elections will no doubt be Malay voters. This is important for them (Umno) to
prove that they are better than Pas or Bersatu.
"They can demonstrate this through
debates and passing resolutions during the general assembly."
Political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie
Hasnul said Umno inviting Anwar to the general assembly will have a strong
effect on PH-Barisan Nasional ties.
"The prime minister is chairman of
the 19 parties in the unity government and inviting him shows that the
solidarity between the parties in the government is intact.
"Even though Umno leaders have
criticised PH leaders, it does not affect the government as a whole.
"Criticism is normal in politics
and both PH and BN leaders are preparing to work together to face the state
elections."
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/06/916061/umno-inviting-anwar-general-assembly-shows-unity-govt-stable
--------
PM defers comment on Sulu heirs' claims
June 3, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim has deferred further comments on the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs
asserting a claim against the Malaysian government, leaving the matter to
responsible parties.
"Someone else will answer that
issue," he told reporters after launching D'Anjung Selera Madani Jalan
Jujur in Bandar Tun Razak here today.
Present were Chief Secretary to the
Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat
Salleh and Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan
Ismail.
Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department (Legal and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had
on June 2 said Anwar and the cabinet had given the directive to fight the Sulu
heirs for their unreasonable claims against Malaysia.
She also did not dismiss the possibility
that the heirs to the defunct Sulu Sultanate were being "influenced by
certain Western groups" in pressuring the Malaysian government with their
exorbitant demands.
Azalina did not explain her theory but
stated that the claimants' demand for US$16 billion was ridiculous.
She revealed that Attorney-General (A-G)
Tan Sri Idrus Harun recently received a disrespectful letter from the lawyers
representing the Sulu heirs.
The letter, she said, not only claimed
rights over Sabah but also demanded compensation from Malaysia.
The initial claim amounting to US$14.92
billion has now increased to US$16 billion due to alleged interest, she added.
Azalina said the A-G responded to the
letter and emphasised that Malaysia's status as a sovereign and independent
country should not be underestimated.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/916220/pm-defers-comment-sulu-heirs-claims
--------
India, Malaysia discuss ways to
strengthen bilateral relations, people-to-people connect
Jun 2, 2023
Minister of State (MoS) for External
Affairs V Muraleedharan on Friday met Member of the Malaysian House of
Representatives M. Kula Segaran. The two discussed ways to strengthen
India-Malaysia bilateral relations and people-to-people connect.
“Pleased to meet YB @mkula, National
Vice Chairman of Democratic Action Party and other senior members in Kuala
Lumpur. Discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and people-to-people
connect,” the MoS tweeted on Friday.
Muraleedharan on Friday interacted with
the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur.
“Delighted to interact with the vibrant
Indian diaspora in Malaysia during the Pravasi Bharatiya Utsav, hosted by
@hcikl. Commended the significant contributions of Indian diaspora to all walks
of life in Malaysia & in nurturing India-Malaysia ties,” he tweeted.
MoS V Muraleedharan also attended
cultural performances organised as part of an event titled ‘Pravasi Bharatiya
Utsav’.
Sharing pictures of the event, MoS
further said, “Brilliant cultural performances at the Pravasi Bharatiya Utsav.
Commend Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia, Sutra Foundation led by Padma Sri
Datuk@Ramli_Ibrahim_7, Sitar Maestro Samuel Dass &@iccr_hqtroupe Shri Patel
Raas Mandali for the excellent show.”
Minister of State (MoS) Muraleedharan
arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday for the last leg of his 4-day visit to two
countries. After summing up his visit to Brunei, Muraleedharan reached Kuala
Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.
On Thursday, he met members of the
Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veteran Association (MAFSVA) in Kuala Lumpur on
Thursday, appreciating their valour and courage.
Muraleedharan tweeted, “Pleased to have
met with committee members of Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association
(MAFSVA) in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciate their valour and courage.”
During his visit, he also met and
interacted with the office bearers of Netaji Welfare Foundation and Netaji
Service Centre. The MoS commended their efforts in preserving the legacy of
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in Malaysia.
Source: thenewsmill.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thenewsmill.com/2023/06/india-malaysia-discuss-ways-to-strengthen-bilateral-relations-people-to-people-connect/
--------
Europe
Civil society groups protest
‘Islamophobic’ decision to sanction Islamic centre
2nd June 2023
Around 35 civil society organisations
and individuals have protested to the Charity Commission over its decision to
impose a non-Muslim manager to oversee the Islamic Centre of England.
n a strongly worded letter to Orlando
Fraser, Head of the Charity Commission this week, the signatories accuse the
charities watchdog of continuing a vendetta against Muslim charities that has
seen dozens investigated in recent years.
Earlier this month the Commission
imposed an interim manager to run the ICE, which is one of the UK’s largest
Shia mosques and is affiliated to Iran. The centre has since closed its doors
to worshippers.
The Charity Commission move followed a
campaign against the centre by secularist opponents of the Iranian government,
Zionists and right-wing MPs.
Their objections centre on activities and
statements made by a trustee and attendees of the centre supporting Iran and
its policies.
This, say the signatories, is an
unwarranted intrusion into the Centre’s affairs. They say that it is not the
business of the Charity Commission or any other state body to tell religious
communities what they can say or believe in their places of worship.
They accuse the Charity Commission of
acting heavy-handedly and failing to ensure the best interests of the centre
and its congregation.
The letter goes on to say that the
measures will result in the alienation of Muslims from their places of worship.
The regulator appointed managers to take
over the charity last month as part of an ongoing statutory inquiry, saying the
trustees had failed to comply with their legal duties.
The Commission opened its inquiry into
ICE in 2022, saying it was acting after “extensive engagement with the charity
over several years”.
That included an official warning after
two events held at the charity’s premises in 2020 that honoured Major General
Qasem Soleimani, who was subject to UK sanctions.
The regulator said in October last year
that it was also assessing a speech made by Seyed Moosavi, one of the charity’s
trustees, in which he described protesters in Iran as “soldiers of Satan.”
A Charity Commission spokesperson said:
“The circumstances in which we can appoint an interim manager to any charity
under inquiry are set out in the Charities Act 2011 and the Commission must
determine when it is considered necessary and proportionate. It is a temporary,
protective measure.
“The Charity Commission is an
independent regulator. Any suggestion we have acted beyond our statutory
objectives, functions and obligations as a public body is misleading.”
The letter by the complainants was
published in full here and can be read below:
Dear Sir,
Re: Interim Manager at Islamic Centre of
England
We, the undersigned, are writing to
protest your recent decision to impose an interim manager to run the Islamic
Centre of England.
We believe that this decision is
politically motivated and serves the interests of Islamophobes who have been
targeting this diverse community centre and place of worship.
Rather than remaining a neutral
arbitrator and serving to address any genuine shortcomings that may exist, you
have shown a biased approach and used punitive measures that unfairly penalize
Muslim charities.
It is concerning that the Charity
Commission continues to tell religious communities what they can say and who
they can invite to their centres. The Commission is not qualified to determine
what religious communities should be discussing, it is not the business of any
state body to tell its citizenry what they can say or believe in their places
of worship.
The appointment shows a clear lack of
understanding of the needs of the Islamic centre and its congregation. To
appoint an interim manager who is not from that faith community, not aware of
its spiritual and religious needs, nor aware of the specific needs of that
particular congregation, shows us that the Charity Commission has yet again
failed to protect the best interests of a Muslim religious centre and its
congregation.
It is wholly unfair that a Muslim
charity is treated in this way due to the perception of it not conforming to Western
foreign policy interests. Naturally, this behaviour will add to the chorus of
voices accusing the Charity Commission of deliberately harassing and hindering
the work of Muslim-run charities and adds to the litany of oppressive measures
carried out in aid of furthering Islamophobic British state policies and the
agendas of politically motivated and divisive pressure groups.
The outcomes of such actions by the
Charity Commission will result in the alienation of Muslims from their own
places of worship.
In the interests of fairness and
justice, we call upon you to urgently reconsider this decision.
Yours sincerely,
Massoud Shadjareh, Islamic Human Rights
Commission
Sayyid Samir Al-Haidari, Ahlulbayt
Islamic Mission
Mohammad Reza, Idara e Jaaferiya
Shia Welfare Association, Manchester
Shaykh Ghulam Hurr Shabbiri, Al Zahra
Foundation Nottingham
Roshan M Salih, 5 Pillars News
Hossein Ataei, Union of Islamic Students
Associations in Europe
Ahammed Hussain, Muslim Public Affairs
Committee UK
Sayyid Wajahat Ali, Imamians UK
Muhammad Rabbani, Cage
Ahmed Faqih, Qaem Foundation
Abbas Ali, Inminds Human Rights Group
Syed Hashmi, Al Mahdi Foundation,
Glasgow
Sayyid Mohammad Sibtain Razavi, S.I.
Education Society
David Cannon, Jewish Network for
Palestine
Reverend Stephen Sizer, Convivencia
Alliance
Mick Napier, Scottish Palestinian
Society
Scottish Lebanese Society
Scottish Friends of Palestine
Ali Rabetnejad, Tawheed Islamic Centre,
Newcastle
Sajjad H Shah, Anjum-e-Hussainiya
Daud Abdulla, Founder of British Muslim
Initiative, Director of Middle East Monitor, Chairman of Masjid Annoor
Glenn Bowman, Emeritus Professor of
Socio-Historical Anthropology, University of Kent
Prof. Haim Bresheeth, Lecturer at SOAS
University
Inayat Bunglawala, Activist and TV
Broadcaster
Avi Shlaim, Emeritus Professor of
International Relations, University of Oxford
Shaykh Suliman Gani, Imam of Purley
Masjid
Reverend Frank Gelli, Anglican Priest
Shaykh Meisam Ghasemi, Islamic cleric
Ibrahim Hewitt, Chairman, Interpal
Prof. Nur Masalha, Lecturer at SOAS
University
David Miller, Professor of Sociology,
Co-Founder of Public Interest Investigations
Diana Neslen, Member of JfJfP and JVL
Syed Taqi Jaffer Razvi, Islamic cleric
Duncan Taylor, Member of Lewes Amnesty
International
Chris Williamson, Former MP and
broadcaster
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/06/02/civil-society-groups-protest-islamophobic-decision-to-sanction-islamic-centre/
--------
Teenage Muslim convert radicalised in
lockdown was '24 hours from terror attack' when arrested
2 June 2023
A teenage Muslim convert who became
radicalised online during lockdown was 24 hours away from carrying out a
terrorist attack when he was arrested, police have revealed.
Matthew King, 19, carried out
reconnaissance on a police station and an army barracks in east London and
researched buying knives and a sword on the internet.
After covertly taking photographs of
police officers standing outside a magistrates court, King posted a message on
Snapchat which read: “Target acquired.”
Commander Dom Murphy from Scotland
Yard’s SO15 counter terrorism command said he believed King had been as little
as 24 hours away from launching a low sophistication terrorist attack when he
was arrested on May 18 last year at his home in Wickford, Essex.
Earlier this year, King admitted one
count of preparing a terrorist act and at a hearing at London’s Old Bailey on
Friday was sentenced to life with a minimum term of six years.
King, who lived with his mother and two
sisters, had a troubled childhood. He was expelled from school and referred to
a special educational unit in Basildon.
He converted to Islam after spending
hours online while isolated during the Covid lockdown.
His mother said it initially helped him
have some focus, but he quickly became more extreme in his views, questioning
how his sisters dressed and calling them “slags”.
King soon became obsessed with Islamic
State and began researching notorious terrorists including Mohammed Emwazi aka
Jihadi John and Salman Abedi, the Manchester Arena suicide bomber.
In December 2021, King registered with
an online knife supplier and made inquiries about purchasing a sword.
He also bought military-style equipment
including special ops glasses, a balaclava and technical combat gloves.
In online conversations with a Muslim
girlfriend, King discussed wanting to travel to Syria to become a martyr and
spoke of how he dreamed of torturing and killing British and US soldiers.
‘Kill all non-Muslims’
He also changed his WhatsApp status to:
“Kill all non-Muslims wherever you see them.”
King, who had been attending a mosque in
Chelmsford, Essex, was asked to leave after posting messages on social media
praising jihad.
His behaviour became so concerning that
the police received numerous reports from members of the public including calls
to the anti-terror hotline.
In April 2022, he carried out internet
searches for Usman Khan and Karim Butt who were responsible for separate terror
attacks in London in 2017.
At an Eid event in Southend he spoke
about the importance of jihad and picked up a water pistol and squirted a
community support officer.
With help from MI5, counter terror
police mounted a covert surveillance operation on King and observed him
carrying out hostile reconnaissance on police stations in Stratford, east
London.
On May 17, King was spotted scoping out
the 7th Battalion The Rifles barracks in West Ham and the following day,
fearing he was just hours from launching an attack, counter-terror police
raided his home and arrested him.
Commander Murphy praised the actions of
those who had reported King and said lives had probably been saved.
He said: “I know public confidence is a
real challenge for the Met at the moment but this is a story about people being
saved from a terrorist attack by members of the public.
“If it had not been for the public
reports our investigation would have been all the more challenging. It’s thanks
to that support from the public that we were able to keep the public safe.”
When King was arrested he told officers:
“I don’t believe in the UK law, the only law I believe in is the law of Allah.”
Mr Murphy said while he had pleaded
guilty to the offences, King had shown no remorse since his arrest and had not
changed his mindset.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC told the court:
“Having reflected on all the matters that have been set out and summarised in
these remarks and in particular on the level of danger to the public you pose
... I am of the view that there must, in this case, be a discretionary life
sentence.
“There will be a sentence of custody for
life. The risks around you, albeit as a young man, are clear and concerning.
“The way in which you say some things to
professionals and yet say the contrary to others means that there is in my
judgment no clear picture of when those risks may abate.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/02/teenage-muslim-convert-radicalised-lockdown-terror-attack/
--------
British Muslims oppose UK gov't
appointment to lead inquiry into Leicester riots
June 2, 2023
The UK government's appointment of Lord
Ian Austin to lead an independent review into last year's Leicester riots has
been met with strong criticism. Mainstream British Muslim organisations, local
councillors and activists have raised serious concerns over the suitability of
the former Labour MP.
Austin's impartiality and ability to
conduct such a sensitive review in a fair manner has been questioned due to the
58-year-old's "divisive record and the serious allegations of
Islamophobia."
Communities Secretary Michael Gove
announced last month that he had appointed Austin to lead the review. A panel
of experts appointed by the government will investigate the causes of the
violence and vandalism seen across the east of Leicester following a cricket
match between Pakistan and India. Citing British intelligence, the Mail on
Sunday reported days prior to Austin's appointment that elements close to
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) incited
British Hindus to confront Muslim youths in last summer's explosive riots.
Expressing "deep concern" at
the appointment of Austin, umbrella group the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)
said that "it is crucial to have an independent reviewer who is impartial,
fair, and capable of gaining the trust and confidence of all stakeholders."
Urging Gove to reconsider, the MCB said: The appointment of Lord Austin, given
his divisive record and the serious allegations of Islamophobia against him,
has created deep apprehension among Muslims and other communities in Leicester.
This casts doubts on his suitability to oversee a review aimed at building
trust and harmony within our communities. Any such review led by Lord Austin
will face questions about its credibility and legitimacy."
In an open letter to the UK Prime
Minister, Rishi Sunak, the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO), which has
150 affiliates, also expressed "grave concern" at Austin's
appointment. FMO cited a list of Austin's polarising comments.
Labour councillors in Leicester have
also objected to Austin's appointment and said that they will not participate
in the review. Councillors Hanif Aqbany, Misbah Batool, Mohammed Dawood,
Kulwinder Singh Johal, Mustafa Malik, Rafik Mohammed, Yasmin Surti and Manjit
Kaur Saini have all signed the letter, which urges the government to reconsider
Lord Austin's appointment.
It reads: "Failure to do so would
severely hamper the integrity of the review, and in turn, its recommendations
will have no value. Regrettably, as elected members answerable to our
constituents and in the best interest of our city and communities, we will not
participate in the inquiry if the appointment of Lord Austin remains."
Austin has come under-fire for
controversial remarks he made in the past. In 2021 he was accused of racism
after tweeting a mocked up image of Ben and Jerry's ice cream after the
confectionary brand's decision to stop selling its products in the occupied
West Bank. The tweet read: "Ben and Jerry's have stopped selling ice cream
in the West Bank, but they've introduced new flavours for Gaza." The
accompanying image showed an ice cream tub labelled 'Hamas Terror Misu'. Austin
defended the tweet, stating it made no mention of race.
Austin was forced to issue a public
apology and pay £40,000 ($50,000) in damages to Laura Murray, ex-aide of former Labour leader Jeremy
Corbyn, after making false allegations of anti-Semitism. In an article, Austin
– who quit the party alleging sections of it had become anti-Semitic –
described Murray as an "anti-Jewish racist" and part of the
"vile anti-Semitism of Corbyn's Labour".
Austin's connection with the right-wing
group Henry Jackson Society (HJS) is also a source of concern. A report by
HJS into the Leicester unrest said that
it had found no evidence of a role played by Hindu ultra-nationalist groups.
The report accused some members of the Muslim community of spreading a
"false narrative" about the involvement of supporters of the Hindu
nationalist movement.
Austin has hosted and spoken at a number
of Henry Jackson Society events in parliament and has praised the neoconservative
think tank's "important and valuable work".
Nearly 200 Hindu youths marched through
Leicester's Highfield area, leading to confrontations with the city's Muslim
community, chanting "Jai-Shri-Ram", a chant appropriated by Hindu
nationalists in India and frequently used to intimidate the country's minority
Muslim population.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-british-muslims-oppose-uk-govt-appointment-to-lead-inquiry-into-leicester-riots/
--------
Southampton religious leader accuses
some of 'just not wanting mosque' over planning row
2 JUN 2023
Calls have been made to shut down a
Muslim centre in Woolston, with some residents saying ‘a mosque will have a
negative impact all-round’ – while Muslim leaders say there is nothing to fear
and that it’s ‘a positive addition’ to the area.
The Woolston Learning Centre in Victoria
Road offers worship and education to Muslim residents and has been open since
2017. Hamza Oztas, a volunteer at the centre said that the place has never
caused any problems and has received ‘widespread support’.
The site was originally an off-licence
and now the applicant, Yonus Yorulmaz, has had to apply to Southampton City
Council for retrospective planning permission to keep the centre.
In a consultation sent out to residents,
twice as many (84) objected to the site being kept open as were in favour (42).
Despite having been open for six years,
many residents are still concerned about its positioning on Victoria Road. One
said they are ‘aghast’ that there is a ‘mosque’, citing parking problems and
claiming that a ‘mosque will have a negative impact all round’.
Another spoke about their neighbour
feeling ‘intimidated and scared’. They said: “A neighbour told me there was an
obstruction on the footpath with crowds of men outside it and it made her feel
very intimidated and scared. We should feel safe walking around Woolston to
shop.”
One resident said there is ‘not a demand
for this population’ in Woolston and there are other religious centres ‘already
available elsewhere’ in the city. They added the centre would not benefit the
greater need of the local community.
However, one Woolston resident who uses
the centre, Yasir, 55, said that ‘this is the only religious centre’ to observe
prayers.
He said: “Since the centre has opened, I
don’t need to drive 15 minutes into the city centre, try to find a parking
space, offer prayers – and then drive back another 15 minutes. Now, I just walk
to the centre to offer my Friday prayer and quickly go back to my work. It is
eco-friendly to have a local prayer space.
“If it is closed that would be a massive
loss of time, energy – and it would not help the environment either.”
Woolston’s Muslim demographic is almost
three times lower than Southampton as a whole, with Muslim people making up
under two per cent of the ward’s population, compared to 5.6 per cent of the
city’s.
Council planning officers replied to
comments about there being ‘not a demand’ by saying: “The planning assessment
is focused on the land use issues associated with a place of worship/learning
centre. This does not include judgements on faiths or assessment of the type of
worship facilities within the community.
“This religious and learning centre
would form part of a wide range of facilities within the district centre to
meet the needs of the community.”
Mr Oztas said that it has received
‘widespread support’ from the local Muslim community and business owners alike.
He said: “The retrospective planning
application submitted by the Woolston Learning Centre, which has been operating
in Woolston for six years, has been met with enthusiasm from residents and
business owners who have expressed their belief that the learning centre should
certainly continue to serve the community as it is a positive addition to the
area and the local economy.”
Mr Oztas also spoke about how the centre
has never caused any problems whatsoever and how it offers a reading class for
children and women, a tea circle – and has raised £100,000 for victims of the
2022 earthquake in Turkey.
Specific objections to the centre
include parking concerns, noise – and the need for more shops.
Rashidul Islam, secretary of the Muslim
Council in Southampton is under the impression that some residents of Woolston
are ‘using any excuse’ to divide the community – and the truth is, ‘they don’t
want to see a Muslim place of worship’.
Mr Islam said: “It is disappointing to
note a lot of objections which the majority seems to have undertone of fear of
a mosque operating from this site. They have used the site for a number of
years and they have had no complaints, no issues with neighbours, parking or
noise. Suddenly they have put in an application for a mosque and all these
become factors.
“I have lived most of my life in
Woolston. I still have family who live there and on the whole, it’s a good
place to live – but there is still an element which I believe will use any
excuse to divide the community and make excuses for their actual motives, which
is they don’t want to see a Muslim place of worship.”
Mr Islam went on to talk about what can
be done to combat Islamophobia in the city. He said: “Educate people, allow
places like this to get planning so they can open the door to the public, Muslim
and non-Muslim so they can better educate people.
“The benefit will be immense for the
local business, the local services and the local community. I believe the
council needs to consider the application on merit and consider the well-being
of the community that wants this.”
Not everybody in Woolston wants the
centre to close. Many residents have expressed their support, citing the fact
that the place has been open for six years and never had any problems.
One resident echoed Mr Islam’s comments
by saying: “Religious centres should not be judged in terms of their faith. The
centre would be a positive step for the community, increase the resilience and
strength of the community, and promote inclusivity and diversity in the area.
“It is the only mosque on the eastern
side of the city. It offers opportunities for families, children’s education,
youth programmes, and activities for Muslim ladies.”
Another added: “The re-use of the vacant
building has benefited the local shopping area. The centre has operated for
many years without any problems. People visit local shops while they wait for
their children and this helps the local economy and businesses. The users are
respectful to their neighbours, shops and residents surrounding it.”
The city council’s planning panel will
decide whether or not the Woolston Learning Centre can stay open on Tuesday
(June 6).
Source: hampshirelive.news
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/southampton-religious-leader-accuses-just-8490031
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Pakistan
No Pakistanis left in Guantanamo Bay
June 03, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Three Pakistani men who had been
imprisoned without any charges for decades in the notorious Guantanamo Bay
Detention Camp have finally been released, and no Pakistani is currently being
held there.
Two of them have returned to Pakistan,
while one has chosen not to come back. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
confirmed the release of the Rabbani brothers, who had been arrested in 2000
and unjustly detained for 21 years. Majid Khan, another Pakistani citizen, was
also released after spending 19 years in jail.
During a meeting chaired by Chairman
Waleed Iqbal of the Senate Human Rights Committee, officials from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs briefed the committee on the return of the Rabbani brothers.
The committee was informed that the brothers were held in custody for 21 years
without any charges and were finally released on February 24.
Throughout their imprisonment, they
expressed their experiences through artwork, and currently, they are residing
in Karachi with their families, it was told.
Dr Humayun Mohmand raised concerns about
the government's responsibility and questioned why the issue was not raised
earlier. Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi suggested inviting the Rabbani brothers and
their families to share their ordeal with the committee.
The chairman of the committee agreed to
arrange a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Interior to address the matter. It was mentioned that no new
documents regarding the Rabbani brothers have been produced.
Senator Humayun proposed compensating
the Rabbani brothers with four million dollars for the losses they suffered
during their wrongful imprisonment.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials
informed the committee that Majid Khan was also released in February, but he
did not choose to return voluntarily to Pakistan. The committee expressed
concern about the lengthy detention of Majid Khan, who had spent 19 years in
jail.
The committee was informed by the
additional secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that a comprehensive
record had been compiled regarding Pakistani prisoners in various countries and
plans were in place for their release. The Rabbani brothers had faced
difficulties in proving their Pakistani identity, the committee was told.
In response, the committee instructed
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide detailed information about the four
Pakistanis who were recently released from American prisons after prolonged
detention at the next meeting.
It also emphasised the need to address
the issue of wrongful imprisonments and ensure the protection of citizens'
rights.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2420054/no-pakistanis-left-in-guantanamo-bay
--------
Seized PIA aircraft returns from
Malaysia
June 3, 2023
RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) aircraft, which was stopped at Kuala Lumpur International
Airport on Tuesday over a legal dispute, took off for Islamabad at about 9:30pm
on Friday, hours after the issue was resolved.
According to sources, the release of
Boeing 777 came about after a local court set aside a previous decision and issued
orders in favour of the national carrier to release the aircraft.
The plane, carrying AP-BMH as its
registration number, was operated from Kuala Lumpur to Islamabad as a ferry
flight with no passenger on board.
The court order said: “The ex parte
injunction order dated May 26, 2023 is set aside; and the originating summons
dated May 24, 2023 is stuck out with no order as to costs.”
The aircraft’s leasing company had
approached the court with a claim that PIA owed it $4.5 million.
The claim had been disputed by the PIA,
which stated that it owned the aircraft and the leasing company only owned one
of the mounted engines.
PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan
confirmed that the aircraft stopped at Kuala Lumpur International Airport was
released on Friday after a local court set aside the May 26, 2023, order.
He said that the passengers of the
flight had been accommodated on an alternative aircraft when it was stopped
there three days ago. The aircraft, released on Friday, is operating with no
passenger on board.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1757638/seized-pia-aircraft-returns-from-malaysia
--------
PM to attend Erdogan’s inauguration
ceremony
June 3, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
left for Turkiye on Friday to attend the inauguration ceremony of President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Leaving for Turkiye today at the
invitation of my brother, President [Recep Tayyip Erdogan], to attend his
inauguration ceremony. I will convey our warmest greetings to the President on
behalf of the government and people of Pakistan on his re-election,” the PM
wrote in a Twitter post before departing on the two-day official visit.
He also hailed the “fraternal ties” between
Pakistan and Turkiye which will further deepen “in line with our shared resolve
and common destiny”.
“The upcoming 7th Meeting of the
High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad will provide the right
avenue to take the momentum of our strategic partnership forward. We have yet
to unlock the potential of our multifaceted relationship and efforts are being
made in that direction.”
During the visit, PM Shehbaz will also
interact with Turkish investors and business leaders.
President Erodgan secured a third term
after winning the run-off election last week. He bagged 52.14 per cent of the
votes, beating his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who won 47.86pc.
The swearing-in ceremony for President
Erdogan will be held today (Saturday) at the parliament building, according to
Turkiye’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.
The ceremony will be attended by several
world leaders, including the Armenian prime minister, Greece’s foreign minister
and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg, AFP reported.
The Turkish president will also host the
world leaders at a dinner after the ceremony.
First lady contacts Turkish counterpart
Separately, First Lady Samina Alvi on Friday held a telephonic conversation
with her Turkish counterpart, Emine Erdogan, and felicitated her over the
victory of President Erdogan.
Ms Alvi highlighted the exemplary
brotherly relations between the two countries, a press release issued by the
Presidency said.
She expressed the hope that bilateral
relations would continue to grow and strengthen through the unwavering
solidarity of Pakistani people with the people of Turkiye.
Ms Erdogan thanked the first lady and
expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s generous support during the devastating
earthquake in Turkiye earlier this year.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1757637/pm-to-attend-erdogans-inauguration-ceremony
--------
2 soldiers martyred in terrorist attack
along Pak-Iran border in Balochistan’s Kech: ISPR
June 1, 2023
Two soldiers were martyred when
terrorists attacked a security forces’ check post in the Singwan area of
Balochistan’s Kech district along the Pakistan-Iran border, the military’s
media affairs wing said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR), a group of terrorists opened fire at a check post.
“Since troops at the post were already
alert, they responded gallantly with all available weapons, and a heavy fire
exchange ensued,” it said.
The ISPR stated that the security forces
successfully pushed the terrorists back. However, during the “intense exchange
of fire”, 34-year-old Sepoy Hasnain Ishtiaq, a resident of Dera Ghazi Khan, and
27-year-old Sepoy Inayatullah, hailing from Jhal Magsi, embraced martyrdom.
“Security forces have launched an
immediate sanitisation operation in the area and are in communication with
Iranian authorities across as well,” the statement concluded.
Earlier in January, four security
personnel were also martyred during “terrorist activity” from across the
Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan’s Panjgur district.
The incident was roundly condemned by
Pakistan’s senior officials and the Foreign Office had asked Iran to punish the
culprits and ensure a thorough investigation.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1757281/2-soldiers-martyred-in-terrorist-attack-along-pak-iran-border-in-balochistans-kech-ispr
--------
Ex- Federal Minister Sheikh Waqas Booked
On Terrorism Charges
June 3, 2023
TOBA TEK SINGH: Jhang’s Kotwali
policemen raided the house of Sheikh Waqas Akram on Friday evening after police
registered a case against the PTI leader and former federal minister for
allegedly inciting people against the state.
Carrying arrest warrants, the police
searched his house situated opposite the DPO house but could not find him
there.
Complainant Muhammad Tanveer Abbas Noul,
a resident of Islamnagar, Jhang, alleged in the first information report (FIR)
that when Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, Mr Akram released a video
statement, asking the people to come out of homes and attack those who had
arrested their leader, army installations and the government property.
It added that due to Mr Akram’s
instigation, a lot of damage to important installations of the army and
government property was done during the riots. The FIR alleged that the
statement of the PTI leader was tantamount to terrorism, anti-nationalism and
treason. The complainant did not explain why he had delayed registration of the
case for 24 days. .
The police registered the case under
Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code and
Section 16 of Maintenance of Peace Order.
Since Sheikh Waqas Akram’s cell was
switched off, his father, the owner of a countrywide bus transport company and
former Jhang tehsil Nazim Sheikh Muhammad Akram, said the case was baseless as
no protest was launched by his son in Jhang.
Sheikh Waqas Akram had joined the
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in March this year. Earlier, he served as a
federal minister during the tenure of PML-N government from 2013-18. Before
that he was a part of the PML-Q and remained a minister in the PPP tenure in
the federal government from 2008-13 as a coalition partner of the ruling party.
He had contested the 2018 election as an independent candidate but lost it.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1757573/ex-minister-sheikh-waqas-booked-on-terrorism-charges
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PTI wants talks with real
decision-makers: Hammad
June 03, 2023
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader and former
minister Hammad Azhar has said that his party’s offer for negotiations was only
extended to the real decision-makers and not the puppets (rulers) imposed on
the nation.
Azhar’s reaction followed after Prime
Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif categorically rejected talks with PTI leadership
due its alleged involvement in arson and vandalism. In a statement issued here
on Friday, Hammad Azhar said, “we do not want to waste time negotiating with
these puppets, who do not have any vote bank. These puppets were imposed on
people who had no vote bank and were hiding behind crutches”. He contended that
the PTI offered negotiations only with the real decision-makers for the sake of
restoration of the constitution and democracy.
Meanwhile, ex-finance and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Asad Umar blamed the government for the
current economic mess and said that it should take steps to pull the country
out of the economic quagmire instead of spending time on keeping the innocent
jailed.
About the ‘backbreaking inflation’, Asad
Umar said in a statement issued here that Pakistan has left Sri Lanka far
behind in inflation, as Pakistan had the highest inflation rate in Asia. He
added that Pakistan witnessed record-breaking inflation during the past 75
years. Asad, who had resigned recently from the party slots, including that of
its secretary general, compared the inflation rate in Pakistan was 38percent,
and in India, it was only 4.7 percent. He raised the question that where was
the man who went out to end inflation by selling his clothes.
He emphasised that instead of ‘working
hard’ to keep these innocent people detained, the government should spend its
time on taking the people out of the extreme economic hardships. PTI leader
said, “thanks to the tireless hard work of our lawyers, the release of
thousands of workers was made possible. However, innocent people in huge
numbers are still detained”. In another development, PTI senior leader Haleem
Adil Sheikh has been appointed as PTI Sindh President with immediate effect.
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan issued the notification to this effect.
Omar Ayub said PTI has devised a
mechanism for safe communication of organizational structures from the centre
to the grassroots level. For this purpose, he issued special directives for the
party workers.
“Elements and facilitators who wish to
weaken PTI to achieve goals by spreading confusion through rumour-mongering and
false messages will fail. Regarding organizational responsibilities,
office-bearers should turn to notified responsibilities for internal
communication of the movement,” he noted.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1076470-pti-wants-talks-with-real-decision-makers-hammad
--------
India
Gay Love, Not 'Love Jihad': 3 of Family
Booked For Kidnapping Get Clean Chit
Jun 3, 2023
BAREILLY: Four days after UP police
registered an FIR against two men of the minority community, both brothers, and
their mother for "kidnapping" a 28-year-old woman of a different
faith, it was found she had eloped with her 21-year-old girlfriend and now
wants to "marry her".
After the woman allegedly went missing
on May 26, an FIR was registered under IPC section 366 (kidnapping, abducting
or inducing a woman to compel her for marriage) against the two brothers and
their mother on May 30 following a complaint by her family and some right-wing
activists, who protested outside Aonla police station in Bareilly district,
claiming it to be a case of "love jihad".
On Thursday, police traced the woman and
found her with her "girlfriend". The woman, in her statement, told
the police: "We've known each other for three years and are in love, and
want to get married. We're in fact waiting for the Supreme Court ruling on
'same-sex marriage'... Since my family wants me to settle down with someone
else, I decided to run away from home."
Realising the twist in the case, her
elder brother told TOI on Thursday, "Our parents died nine years ago and
I've been taking care of the family since then. I'd ensured a good education
for my sister. When she went missing, I thought the two brothers, who live in
the same locality, had a role in her disappearance. So, we filed a case against
them."
He further said, "I have now spoken
with my sister and her friend and tried to convince her not to take this
path... It seems her friend's influence on her is much more. In any case, we
now don't want any action against the brothers or their family."
Sharing the case details, station house
officer of Aonla, OP Singh, said, "The two women want to live together and
get married. They have also submitted an affidavit saying that they are 'living
together on their own'. We will present the matter before the court."
ASP (Bareilly rural), Rajkumar Agarwal,
added, "After preliminary investigation, we found that it is not a case of
'love jihad' as some people were claiming it to be... The accused family named
in the FIR doesn't have any role in the matter. They have been given a clean
chit."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/gay-love-not-love-jihad-3-of-family-booked-for-kidnapping-get-clean-chit-in-up/articleshow/100715645.cms
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18 Undocumented Bangladesh Nationals
Detained InAhmedabad
Jun 3, 2023
AHMEDABAD: Eighteen Bangladesh nationals
residing and working in Ahmedabad without valid documents were detained by the
Special Operations Group (SOG), said police on Friday.
The SOG acted on directives from the
city crime branch and the Gujarat anti-terrorist squad to address the issue of
illegal Bangladesh nationals in the city, stated a SOG release.
The SOG formed five teams and detained
18 individuals from areas like Bapunagar, Odhav, Isanpur, and Chanakyapuri over
the past few days.
Preliminary investigation revealed that
these men, aged between 20 and 40, entered the country illegally through the
India-Bangladesh border and had been residing in Gujarat's commercial hub
without legal permits or registrations.
While most were working as daily
labourers, some had taken up jobs as tailors, masons, or factory workers.
The SOG has initiated a comprehensive
investigation to determine if they were involved in criminal activities. This
crackdown on illegal migrants followed the recent ATS arrests of four Bangladesh
nationals, alleged members of an al-Qaida module who lived in Ahmedabad
illegally.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/18-undocumented-bangladesh-nationals-detained-in-abad/articleshowprint/100715854.cms
--------
Single Miyazaki mango from West Bengal
mosque goes for Rs 10,000
Jun 3, 2023
SURI: Miyazaki, a variety of mango from
Japan that is among the costliest mangoes in the world, has been found growing
in a mosque compound at Dubrajpur in Birbhum. One such mango was sold on Friday
for Rs 10,600.
Kazi Abu Taleb, the president of the
Gausia Mosque management committee, said, "A youth, Syed Nizamuddin, from
our neighbourhood, had brought and planted the sapling in the mosque a couple
of years ago. He left this world a year ago and no one knows where he got this
mango tree sapling from. Earlier, no one knew about this mango species either.
But this year, the ripe red fruits drew the attention of everyone."
There are nine mangoes. On Friday, one
of those was sold by auction. Mirza Izaz Beig, a small businessman from
Dubrajpur, bought the fruit for Rs10,600. Every Friday, the committee will sell
a mango. Local resident Seikh Oli Mahammad said, "Now it has become our
duty to nurture this tree properly and protect it from harm."
Samarendra Nath Khanra, state
horticulture deputy director, horticulture department, said, "I have seen
the photographs and this is the Miyazaki variety. It is the most expensive
mango in the world and is also called the "Egg of the Sun" mango. It
is one of the top-rated mangoes in terms of beauty, price, weight, aroma and
taste. This mango is cultivated in the city of Miyazaki. It is said that the
first Miyazaki mangoes were cultivated from 1970 to 1980. It was first grown in
Miyazaki in Kyoshu region of southern Japan. In Japanese, it is known as 'Taiyo
no tamago',"
"According to Japanese media
reports, these mangoes were sold for Rs 2.7 lakh per kg. In 2017, a packet of
two mangoes weighing 700g was sold for $3,700 in the international market - the
highest price ever," he said.
Arijul Mondal, a nursery owner at
Chakla, said, "One Miyazaki sapling may cost Rs 600-Rs 700."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/japanese-mango-grown-in-birbhum-sells-for-rs-10600/articleshow/100716280.cms
--------
Rahul Gandhi Right, BJP Spreading
Propaganda That We Are Not Secular: Muslim League
Jun 2, 2023
By Shibimol KG: "Whatever Rahul
Gandhi said is true. The Muslim League is a secular party," said PK Firoz,
the general secretary of the party's youth wing in Kerala on Friday. This comes
after the Gandhi scion, while interacting with reporters at the National Press
Club in Washington DC, said Congress' ally in Kerala is a "completely
secular party".
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's remark and
slamming Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) PK Firoz said that the Muslim League has
been working for the last 75 years and never aligned with any communal forces.
"We only worked towards ensuring the secular fabric of our country and the
BJP has been trying to propagate fake news about the Muslim League and Muslims
in Kerala," said the party leader.
He also referred to The Kerala Story as
BJP's propaganda push and said, "Last time, they spread the propaganda
that 32,000 non-Muslims were converted to Islam and sent to Syria to join
ISIS...Now they are trying to propagate that the Muslim league is a non-secular
party."
He said there has been no evidence to
prove the claims in The Kerala Story despite him announcing a reward of Rs 1
Crore for anyone who could prove it.
He said Rahul Gandhi's statement was
true that the Muslim League is secular and that the people of Kerala "know
the truth".
Source: indiatoday.in
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Rahul’s remarks on condition of Dalits,
Muslims a ‘bitter truth’: Mayawati
Jun 02, 2023
Slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
for his recent remarks on the “pathetic condition” of Dalit and Muslim
communities in the country, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has
alleged that the previous Congress government was responsible for it. She also
‘blamed’ the BJP government for their miserable condition.
Speaking at an event in San Francisco in
the US on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi had said, “What is happening to the Muslims
in India today has happened to Dalits in the 1980s and it has to be fought with
affection.”
In a series of tweets in Hindi on
Friday, Mayawati said, “The statement given by the former Congress president
during his US tour about the pathetic condition of crores of Dalits and Muslim
society of India and insecurity of their life-property, religion etc is such a
bitter truth for which Congress, BJP and other parties’ governments that have
been in power at the Centre are entirely to blame.”
“Whether it is the government of the
Congress or BJP or SP in other states, including UP, injustice, atrocities and
exploitation of poor and deprived (sections of society) are common at every
level. It was only the BSP government in UP that delivered justice to the
weaker section by establishing rule of law in the state,” she said.
“Along with this, history is full of
dark chapters of incessant and countless communal riots and casteist incidents
for political and electoral interests, for which allegations and
counter-allegations are made, but due to these reasons people of these classes
are constantly exploited and victimised,” the BSP chief tweeted.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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5 held for assaulting 3 Muslim men in
Mangaluru
Jun 02, 2023
An investigator said a group of about 10
people asked the three their names on Thursday before assaulting them for
hanging around with Hindu women friends
Five people, including a minor, have
been arrested for allegedly assaulting three Muslim men for hanging around with
their Hindu women friends at a beach in Karnataka’s Mangaluru, police said on
Friday.
An investigator said a group of about 10
people asked the three their names on Thursday before assaulting them. “Our 112
[emergency response] vehicle reached the spot after learning about the incident
and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital for treatment. An FIR [first
information report] was registered based on their complaint,” said the
investigator, who did not want to be named.
Police commissioner Kuldeep Kumar R Jain
said the FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code’s Section 146
(rioting) and 307 (attempt to murder). He added some suspects are yet to be
arrested.
The arrested accused have been
identified as Yatish, 48, Sachin, 23, Suhen, 19, and Akhil, 24. The fifth
accused is a minor aged 17. The accused allegedly assaulted the three at
Someshwar beach near Ullal on the outskirts of Mangaluru.
Another police officer said the three
from Kerala’s Kasaragod were visiting their childhood friends studying at a
college in Mangaluru.
The assault was the first such case
reported from Mangaluru since the new Congress government took office last
month.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah has promised
to deal firmly with cases of moral policing. “No more moral policing. We will
put an end to this,” he told reporters. He warned the police brass that they
would be held responsible if the law-and-order situation deteriorated in their
areas.
Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar
also held a meeting with top police officers in Bengaluru and directed them to
take strict action against those disturbing harmony in society. “No moral
policing will be encouraged in Karnataka, and we will be promoting friendly
policing,” said Siddaramaiah.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/five-arrested-for-assaulting-muslim-men-with-hindu-women-friends-at-beach-in-mangaluru-101685694002313.html
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Africa
Sacrificial Worship In The Islamic Month
Of Zil Hijjah Develops Empathy, SayBorneo Imams
June 3, 2023
Azlan Othman
Muslims are urged to perform sacrificial
worship in the Islamic month of Zil Hijjah where all Muslims will celebrate
Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Imams highlighted in yesterday’s Friday
sermon that the act of the sacrificial worship is a Sunnat Muakkadah and one
would deem to develop praiseworthy attributes and have noble Islamic values.
They also said that a majority of
Islamic scholars consider the worship to be a Sunnah by following Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) traditions. The imams said that the blood from the sacrifice
spilling on earth will have an honourable place in the sight of Allah the
Almighty.
The time for sacrificial worship is after
sunrise on Hari Raya Aidiladha, which is after the completion of the Sunnat
(supererogatory) Aidiladha prayers on 10th of Zulhijjah, until sunset on the
last day of Tasyrik on 13th of Zulhijjah.
Commendable attributes that may be
formed during the sacrificial worship will teach compassion and develop a
charitable attitude towards the underprivileged as well as being patient when
facing a test in life, they said.
Source: borneobulletin.com.bn
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Muslims, police clash after prayers in
Ethiopia capital
02 Jun 2023
ADDIS ABABA, June 2 — Police fired
teargas at worshippers today outside Addis Ababa’s largest mosque, in the
latest clashes fuelled by the destruction of mosques in the Ethiopian capital.
Several Muslim places of worship have
been destroyed in Addis Ababa in recent months as part of a controversial urban
planning project which has sparked anger among worshippers.
Last Friday, clashes erupted outside the
Grand Anwar Mosque, leaving two people dead and dozens injured, said police who
said they had made 114 arrests.
Ahead of this week’s Friday prayers, AFP
journalists saw police in riot gear deployed outside the mosque.
Members of the Republican Guard, an
elite unit responsible for protecting government institutions and officials,
were also present.
Worshippers were leaving the mosque
calmly when some youths began to shout “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest), and
shots rang out, sowing panic, AFP journalists saw.
Some in the crowd threw stones at
police, who responded with tear gas.
It was unclear whether the police used
live ammunition, plastic projectiles or blank shots.
Shots continued to be heard for about
two hours before calm returned and police cordoned off roads around the mosque.
Amir, a young worshipper who was at the
mosque for Friday prayers said: “We more or less knew what was going to happen
after prayers.”
“Hundreds of our brothers and sisters
were arrested last week... people are furious our mosques are being destroyed.”
The urban planning project, known as
Sheger City, involves the fusion of several municipalities in the Oromia region
on the outskirts of the capital.
It has led to the demolition of homes
and businesses, and local rights activists have slammed it as “illegal”. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
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Tinubu commissions NASS Central Mosque,
urges Muslims on humility
June 2, 2023
By Naomi Sharang
President Bola Tinubu on Friday,
commissioned the National Assembly Central Mosque urging the Muslim Faithful to
exhibit humility in their daily living.
Tinubu who was represented by
Vice-President Kashim Shettima while noting the vanity of life, called on the
Ummah to “walk the earth with humility.
“Fifty years from now, half of the
Assembly members will not be around and very few people will know that we
existed. So we should work the earth with humility.
“As much as possible, let us strive to
be humble and as much as possible let us strive to be kind to each other.
“Power, wealth are gift from Allah to
humanity. May Allah make our contributions toward the construction of this
mosque a blessing.
“Even if we are gone, reward from the
construction of this mosque will follow us,” he said.
He felicitated the Muslim Ummah in the
National Assembly for contributing resources in building the edifice.
The president recognised the crucial
role played by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in the construction of the mosque.
“I recognise their contributions without
whose consent not a single erection plan would have been effected for the
construction of the mosque.”
Similarly, the Sultan of Sokoto and
President, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar III,
felicitated the Muslims on the realisation of the construction of the mosque.
The Sultan who was represented by the
Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero thanked the leaders, the senators and
members of the house of representatives for the contributions made to the
success of the edifice.
“Certainly it is Allah’s will that the
9th National Assembly did this great work.
“We thank Allah for giving them the
opportunity to build the mosque. We pray Allah will reward them with what he
has promised to whoever contributes to the building of a mosque.
“We pray Allah will continue to guide
and bless the national assembly so that they will continue to work for the
betterment of humanity.”
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said that
“We consider ourselves very lucky that God has chosen us for this mosque to be
a reality.
“This is one investment that will
continue to yield dividends even after we depart this world.
“May Allah continue to give us the
opportunity to serve him and serve humanity.”
He said that the mosque provided not
only environment for them to pray the Jumma’t and other prayers “it could even
enhance the productivity of staff
because they may not need to go far away from here for prayers.
“Maintenance should be our business;
that is by those who made the contribution; 400,000 per month for a senator and
250, 000 per member of the house of representatives of the 9th assembly.
“We have our brothers and sisters in the
10th national assembly. I believe that the next assembly, that the maintenance
of the mosque should be our business as well.”
Chairman, Mosque Construction Committee,
Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau (PDP-Kano) said that the idea for the construction of the
new National Assembly Mosque began in 2021.
This, he said was when the joint
leadership of the two legislative chambers set up the National Assembly Mosque
Project Management Committee.
“It comprised of four senators, 10
members of the House of Representatives and three members from national
assembly management.
“It was to look into the possibility of
providing a permanent and more befitting mosque to replace the makeshift mosque
which proved to be very inadequate.
“All 227 of us agreed to bear the brunt
of the project, and within eight months of this agreement, we had contributed
well over N570 million.
“Apart from earning Allah’s pleasure,
these lawmakers have set the pace and made history by providing what is long
overdue to the Muslim members of this huge legislative community.
“Arguably, this is the first Mosque
built in the 42-year existence of the National Assembly,” Shekarau said.
Also speaking, Clerk of the National
Assembly, Sani Tambuwal said that the desire for a Jumm’at mosque became
necessary due to the demanding nature of
legislative work.
“This is as it relates to
parliamentarians and legislative staff which makes it tasking to attend Jumma’t
mosque by worshiping outside the assembly.
“The mosque is now a great relieve,’
Tambuwal said.(NAN)
Source: newsdiaryonline.com
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Islamic Council expresses discontent
with Oromia region statement on demolition of Mosques, engaged in discussion
with federal gov’t
JUNE 2, 2023
Addis Abeba – The Ethiopian Islamic
Affairs Supreme Council has expressed its discontent with a recent statement
issued by the Oromia regional government communication bureau, citing a failure
to accurately represent the sentiments and needs of the wider Muslim community
in Ethiopia.
The Supreme Council said in a statement
on Thursday, that a nine-member committee, which was established following the
council’s emergency meeting on 28 May, is currently engaged in discussions with
high-ranking officials from the federal government, with the aim of resolving
the issue of demolition of Mosques.
Calling on the Muslim community to
patiently wait for the outcome of the ongoing discussions, the council
cautioned against potential exploitation of the situation by certain groups
with political agenda, and urged them to refrain from any illegal acts.
The Oromia region communication bureau
said in a presser on Wednesday, that it is carrying out a campaign of
demolishing “illegal buildings” in more than 600 cities across the region, and
defended the process as “constitutional and legal”.
Head of the bureau, Hailu Adugna noted
that the campaign is not limited to Shaggar city and Mosques are not the only
target as opposed to “false and politically tuned propaganda” waged by “organized
internal and external extremists who work under the guise of religion”.
The statement came days after at least
two civilians were killed and more than 40 people, including police officers
suffered minor and serious injuries during a crackdown against Muslim
protesters in and around the Grand Anuwar Mosque in the capital Addis Abeba on
Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Human Rights
Commission (EHRC) emphasized the need for security forces to exercise restraint
in protest responses. In a statement released in connection to the protest
about demolition of mosques in Shaggar city, the commission confirmed the death
of two individuals on the Friday’s event.
The commission said an investigation to
identify security officers who committed the killing is underway by an
investigation team comprising officials from the Federal and Addis Abeba police
commissions.
EHRC urged the release on bail of 140
individuals who had been arrested in the aftermath of the protests unless there
is sufficient proof of criminal act and credible charges to be filed against
them.
On 23 May the Supreme Council of Islamic
Affairs of the Oromia Regional State said 19 Mosques were illegally demolished
in Shaggar city alone & urged the regional government to immediately stop
the demolitions and return to resolving the problem through dialogue. Earlier,
the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Ethiopia has sent a letter to Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed seeking an end to the demolitions and a solution to the
problem. AS
Source: addisstandard.com
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Arab World
Saudi foreign minister urges developing
cooperation with BRICS to achieve prosperity
June 03, 2023
CAPE TOWN: Saudi Arabia is keen to
develop future cooperation with the BRICS group to achieve collective
prosperity, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah
said on Friday.
The BRICS group consists of Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The Saudi foreign minister participated
on Friday in the ministerial meeting of Friends of BRICS in Cape Town, South
Africa, held under the theme, “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth,
Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.”
In his speech at the meeting, Prince
Faisal bin Farhan said that the Kingdom was keen to advance its future
cooperation with BRICS by benefiting from the potential and capabilities
possessed by both sides.
This aimed to fulfill joint interests
and achieve prosperity for all, the foreign minister said.
Saudi Arabia was the BRICS group’s
largest commercial partner in the Middle East, Prince Faisal said, affirming
that trade relations with the BRICS countries had witnessed great growth.
“This reflects the growing and developed
relations with the countries of the group,” he said.
The total value of bilateral trade with
the countries of the BRICS group increased from $81 billion in 2017 and $128
billion in 2021 to surpass $160 billion last year, the foreign minister said.
The Kingdom shared basic values with the
BRICS countries, represented in the belief that relations between countries were
based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, non-interference and
adherence to international law, Prince Faisal said.
These principles also included the
existence of multilateral frameworks and collective action as reference points
in the face of mutual challenges.
Saudi Arabia, along with BRICS
countries, also believed in the importance of peace, security and stability in
order to refocus efforts toward national development and common prosperity,
Prince Faisal said.
The Kingdom maintained its commitment to
working with international partners to achieve the UN Sustainable Development
Goals by 2030, he said.
He added that Saudi Arabia also worked
on intensifying global efforts to enhance food and energy security amid
recurring crises and supply-chain issues.
The Kingdom was a pioneering country
worldwide in humanitarian and development aid and was among the top 10 donors
to low- and middle-income countries, Prince Faisal said.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, undersecretary
of the foreign affairs ministry for international multilateral affairs, and
Saudi Ambassador to South Africa Sultan Al-Liwiahan Al-Anqary were also part of
the Saudi delegation at the meeting.
Source: arabnews.com
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Education ministers call for nominations
for ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative
June 02, 2023
RABAT: Arab countries have been asked to
nominate students to take part in the Saudi-led “Gifted Arabs” initiative, the
Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The call was made during the Arab
education ministers’ 13th conference, which was held recently in Rabat under
the auspices of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
The initiative is organized by the King
Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity in
collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific
Organization.
“The Kingdom’s initiative has been very
successful and focuses on investing in young … gifted and creative people,”
said Dr. Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazzaa, secretary-general of the foundation,
known as Mawhiba.
Such investment was nurturing for gifted
Arabs and empowered them to lead change and create the future, she added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Al-Sharif,
director general of Mawhiba’s Center of Excellence, thanked the Arab ministers
and the conference organizers in Morocco for their interest in the initiative,
which was launched in 2021.
He stressed the need to invest in
education in general and specific programs for gifted and creative individuals.
The ministers’ conference was organized
by Morocco’s Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in
cooperation with the National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, and
in partnership with ALECSO. Its title was: “Future of Education in the Arab
World in the Digital Transformation Era.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s development program hosts
Yemeni scholarship students
June 02, 2023
RIYADH: The Saudi Development and
Reconstruction Program for Yemen hosted Yemeni scholarship students at King
Saud University in Riyadh to support their studies and scientific research, the
SPA reported on Friday.
Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, general
supervisor of SDRPY, said that the Kingdom is keen to improve the lives of the
Yemeni people with the leadership of the country’s government by providing
education and learning opportunities.
The university provides programs that
develops students’ skills and enhances their knowledge and skill capabilities.
The ceremony in Riyadh, held at the
university’s headquarters, also showcased the development efforts launched in
Yemen through the SDRPY, including in the education sector.
Of SDRPY’s 229 development projects, 52
have been education initiatives, targeting improved teaching and learning
opportunities, and promoting inclusive environments.
SDRPY’s projects and initiatives have
distributed more than 500,000 textbooks, constructed and equipped 31 new model
schools, secured buses to transport school and university students, and
provided about 13,000 pieces of furniture to model schools.
The University of Aden has also been
supported through several projects, including a scheme for the Faculty of
Pharmacy to equip 18 scientific laboratories. The university’s Faculty of Law
also had its criminal laboratory equipped with new technology, and an SDRPY
initiative was launched to provide safe transportation for male and female
students.
Other SDRPY projects in the education
sector include a project to rehabilitate and equip universities and develop the
University of Sheba Region in Marib Governorate. This project has increased the
university’s capacity and improved access to tertiary education.
Source: arabnews.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2314886/saudi-arabia
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International artists explore Saudi
landscape in new exhibition
June 02, 2023
RIYADH: The Misk Art Institute’s latest
Masaha Residency art showcase features 11 global and local artists and two
writers whose projects explore tradition in the context of social development.
The fifth cycle of the three-month
cross-cultural program brought together an international cohort of artists to
develop fresh, research-driven art projects. Through architecture, music, and
culture, several artists discovered traces of their own homes in the Saudi
landscape.
Fahdah Althonayan, director of the education
department at Misk, told Arab News: “Each cycle has its own uniqueness. Within
this one, we had the opportunity to experiment with dual artists … it is a new
thing that we tried with (them) to work together on their artwork, which
surprised us as well.
“The variety of Saudi, khaleeji, and
foreigners from different continents was amazing. It is an enriching
experience.”
Ilyas Hajji, a photographer, and Nastya
Indrikova, a researcher, are a Russian duo who worked on reconstructing the
Hajj pilgrimage route, which was often dangerous.
Although it was modernized, many still
struggled to make the trip from Russia, including the Muslim population in
Dagestan during and after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The pair used items brought back from
Hajj to highlight the effect on millions who were free to travel after the
union’s dissolution.
Palestinian artist Areej Kaoud, who
lives and works in London, took to the marketplaces of Riyadh to find a sense
of belonging in her piece “Still Hungry.”
“In all these spaces, they pick things.
You think that the owner is just trying to sell you things but he’s also trying
to heal his own uprootedness,” Kaoud told Arab News.
Kaoud’s studio is the backdrop for a
video documenting the offerings of a market staffed by diaspora from other
countries, who preserve and share the traditions of back home.
The studio wall is covered with phrases
including “Can one heal uprootedness with food?,” “Is being home a state of
‘non-hunger’?” and “Insatiable in diaspora.”
Liao Lihong, a Chinese artist living in
Paris, merged an abacus with the shapes of a qanun and an oud to create a
unique musical instrument.
“When I studied in China in elementary
school, we had a class using the abacus, but now we do not use it anymore
because we have calculators,” she said. “But the sound (they make) was always
in my mind. The idea is when people use the abacus to calculate numbers, it
also plays music."
Aleena Khan bolsters Saudi Arabia’s
historical first — a female astronaut and her colleague reaching the
International Space Station last month.
Her artwork “A Calling from the Moon”
toys with a popular myth in Pakistan that the Adhan, the call to prayer, was heard
by Neil Armstrong on the moon.
Her work draws comparisons between the
moon’s landscape and an Arabian desert.
She said: “I started to draw what the
material on the moon looks like and then I sourced anything that looks similar
to it and took it to the desert and shot it.
“What if these landscapes were one?”
In the fragments of Riyadh’s demolished
architecture, artist Dia Mrad found hope for their new beginning in his studio.
The Lebanese photographer spent months researching and photographing changes in
the city’s neighborhoods to create the work “Traditions of Change.”
In line with his practice, which looks
to extract narratives from a built environment, he screen-printed fallen pieces
of debris with photos of homes that are scheduled for demolition in Riyadh.
“The Kingdom goes through cycles of
change — every 30 or 40 years, a big change happens. The latest change that’s
happening is Vision 2030, and it’s such a massive change that it’s affecting
everything and it’s manifesting largely within the built environment. The
history of a city is embedded within its materiality,” Mrad explained.
The exhibition, which spans various
mediums including installation, textile, silkscreen and Arabic writing among
others, can be viewed at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall in Riyadh until
June 10.
Source: arabnews.com
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following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2314866/saudi-arabia
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Father of slain Saudi student details
depths of family’s tragedy
June 03, 2023
CHICAGO: Abdullah Al-Ghareibi was in his
home in Riyadh about to go to sleep on Jan. 23 when he received an email from
the Philadelphia Police Department.
Al-Ghareibi said that he had spent an
enjoyable weekend in Washington D.C. with his two sons and returned to Riyadh
days earlier, sharing happy memories of the trip with his wife and daughter.
However, Al-Ghareibi told The Ray
Hanania Radio show, sponsored by Arab News, that he was “shocked” by an email
from police asking him to “immediately” contact their offices regarding a
“homicide” and his eldest son, Al-Waleed Al-Ghareibi, 25. Waleed was a
university student in his final year studying network engineering.
The father was told his son had been
murdered in his Philadelphia apartment building by a 19-year-old suspect,
Nicole Marie Rodgers, who was from Atlanta, Georgia. Rodgers was moving out of
the building and may have targeted the son for robbery, police told the father.
Believing no one was in the building, Rodgers allegedly stabbed Waleed multiple
times after she asked for his help.
“Nobody knows exactly what happened. It
is just like a logic explanation from police, and the landlady. She (the
suspect) didn’t speak and obviously my son cannot talk on his behalf. She tried
to befriend just him in the recent days, try to get close. We understand from
my son, he was like kind of annoyed. She knocked at his door. His room is on
the first floor. She knocked on his window and she said I had forgot the keys
and can you open the door for me. She tried to engage in conversation with him.
She wanted to find a way just how to rob him,” Al-Ghareibi told The Ray Hanania
Radio show on Wednesday, May 31, struggling with his grief.
Al-Ghareibi said that the police believe
the murder was driven by the suspect wanting to rob Waleed before she moved out
of the building. Police said that Waleed was allegedly stabbed multiple times
by Rodgers, who was accompanied by her parents in court. She had expressed no
remorse, police said.
Al-Ghareibi said that his family had received
extensive support from the Saudi embassy in Washington D.C. as they worked
through their pain. Waleed was scheduled to graduate from the university in
May, and his father was invited to accept the degree.
“I really thank them, thank the (Saudi)
government. They are taking all the financial burden on it,” Al-Ghareibi said.
“But still, just emotionally, it is very
hard on us as a family. We need to see the end of it. We need her to get what
she really deserves. You think something might happen along the way with the
court and lawyers and stuff, jury. You know it is not going to be easy. It’s
not going to be easy, but we hope she gets what she really, really deserves.
What she deserves is a life without the possibility of parole. That’s what she
really deserves. But what will happen, I don’t know. It has caused a lot of
hurdles we have to jump.”
Al-Ghareibi said that the university his
son attended had contacted him and invited him to a memorial service, and
presented him with his son’s diploma during graduation ceremonies.
“It was very touching,” he said. “I
wished he received the degree by himself. That’s what happened. You have to
live with it. It’s very needless,” Al-Ghareibi said, noting that his wife and
daughter had not seen Waleed for nearly three years because of COVID-19
pandemic restrictions.
Waleed Al-Ghareibi was one of three
Saudi university students who died in the US in 2023, including Abdulrahman
Al-Anzi, 29, who was with friends at a tourist location along the shores of
Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio on Jan. 30 when he fell into the freezing lake
waters. He was recovered from the lake but pronounced dead at the scene.
On May 22, Atheer Al-Khalban, 28, was
touring Glacier National Park in Montana with friends when she strayed off the
trail and fell over a rocky cliff down a gorge into Avalanche Creek. She was
spotted by other tourists who tried to resuscitate her but Al-Khalban, who was
attending college in Kansas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Glacier National Park Public Affairs
Officer Gina Kerzman expressed condolences to the Al-Khalban family.
“Atheer was hiking a very popular trail
in Glacier National Park that is known as the Avalanche Lake Trail. Sometime
during her hike, early on in her hike, she went near the water. Nobody saw what
happened exactly, but she ended up going in the water. She was swept down
through the Avalanche Creek gorge and was pulled from the water by visitors who
saw her in the water down below,” Kerzman said, noting that there was a steep
drop-off along the rocky edge several feet from the visitor’s path.
“Every year we have fatalities in the
park. Last year, I think, we had seven fatalities. The number one cause of
death is drowning. Number two is falling, people being up on high levels either
mountain climbing or just being at high elevations and falling.”
Al-Khalban was walking several feet
behind her friends when she disappeared into the gorge and waters. Kerzman said
that more than 3 million people visit Glacier National Park every year. May is
the beginning of the most popular season for tourists.
Saudi Arabia embassy spokesman, Fahad
Nazer, said that the embassy does everything possible to help Saudi families
who are in need and suffer tragedies such as these.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of
Saudi citizens living or visiting a foreign country is among the highest
priorities for any diplomatic mission around the world. It certainly is the
case for us here in the embassy in Washington D.C. Over the decades, hundreds
of thousands of Saudis have visited or studied in the United States. The
overwhelming majority have a pleasant and productive stay,” Nazer told Arab
News during the radio show interview, saying that it is one of the Kingdom’s
“highest priorities” to keep Saudi citizens safe.
“However, occasionally accidents and
tragedies do occur. As you said, over the past couple years we have had some
tragic incidents that led to the deaths of a few young Saudis. As soon as we
became aware of such tragedies, we immediately contacted the families of the
deceased to provide any assistance that they may need. We also stay in touch
with local authorities to make sure that we have all the details and we share
these details with the families as soon as we obtain them.”
Nazer added: “Of course, our hearts go
out to the families of these young Saudis. There is nothing more tragic than
the death of a young person. However, I do have to stress that these are
isolated incidents. We have no reason to believe that Saudi students or Saudis
in general are being targeted in the United States.”
Al-Ghareibi, Kerzman and Nazer made
their comments during an appearance on “The Ray Hanania Radio Show,” broadcast
on Wednesday, May 31 live in Detroit and Washington D.C. on the US Arab Radio
Network and sponsored by Arab News.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2314636/saudi-arabia
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KSrelief distributes aid packages in
Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan
June 03, 2023
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid
and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed food packages in Afghanistan,
Syria and Sudan.
In Afghanistan, around 350 food packages
were distributed to orphans and widows as well as needy residents in Kandahar
Province, and benefited 350 families affected by the floods this year.
In Jindires of Syria’s Aleppo
governorate, 1,580 food packages and 1,580 hygiene kits were given out to
families affected by the earthquake in February.
The center has also sent its first aid
shipment to Sudan via the Saudi relief sea bridge, comprising 50 tons of food
products.
The KSrelief aid aims to alleviate the
suffering of people affected by natural disasters of floods and earthquakes
across the world in different cities, benefiting thousands of families in need.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2315046/saudi-arabia
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South Asia
UN Security Council to Hold a Meeting on
Afghanistan’s Situation
June 3, 2023
United Arab Emirates’ Permanent
Representative to the UN Lana Nusseibeh spoke about an upcoming Security
Council meeting to be held on Afghanistan, adding the cooperation of the
Security Council members on Afghanistan should be maintained.
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh and President
of the Security Council said, “We will hold a comprehensive meeting on
Afghanistan’s situation on June 21.” “Our focus will be concentrated on
Afghanistan’s situation, women’s rights in particular, over which all the
members of the Security Council have agreed,” she added.
On Thursday, Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh
told to media in New York that the UN Security Council will continue working on
the issues of Afghanistan, women’s rights in particular.
According to the UAE ambassador, Fraidoon
Oglu, the UN Special Coordinator for Afghanistan Affairs will provide a
comprehensive report about the situation of this country to the Security
Council in November this year.
The UAE occupies the presidency set of
the UN Security Council and the organization held its last meeting on
Afghanistan issues in May.
This comes as Fox News on Friday
reported that several US Senators proposed a bill to sanction the Taliban’s de
facto authorities in response to human rights violations in Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in
August 2021, the group has systematically repressed women, youth and minority
groups and has allowed Afghanistan to turn into safe haven for terrorist groups
once again, Fox News reported.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/un-security-council-to-hold-a-meeting-on-afghanistans-situation/
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Every Girl Deserves to Access Quality
Education, Says US Envoy
June 3, 2023
The US Special Envoy for Afghan Women,
Girls and Human Rights Rina Amiri on Friday at the Human Rights Council meeting
said that currently more than 2.5 million girls have been deprived of education
in Afghanistan.
Amiri stressed the urgent need for
girls’ education in Afghanistan and said, “Every single girl deserves to access
quality education.”
Taliban’s repressive policies towards
women and girls have led to the closure of secondary schools and universities
for female students throughout Afghanistan.
In the latest wave of restrictions,
Afghan female employees were barred from working for the United Nations
agencies and international aid organizations, which prompted widespread
condemnations.
The international community, including
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has repeatedly asked the de
facto authorities of Afghanistan to reconsider its gender-based policies, which
clearly violate basic human rights.
However, the Taliban have resisted the
claims and have their own priorities and policies regarding the internal matters
of Afghanistan.
Since the return of the Taliban to power
in August 2021, the group has persistently imposed restrictive policies on
women and girls barring them from accessing education, work and public life.
Taliban authorities have not only
ignored the international community’s call regarding women and girls’ demand
for education and work but have also warned countries to refrain from
interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/every-girl-deserves-to-access-quality-education-says-us-envoy/
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EU Does Not Recognize Taliban’s
Authority in Afghanistan: Charles Michel
June 3, 2023
European Council President, Charles
Michel, said on Friday at the second meeting of EU-Central Asia that the
European Union does not recognize the authority of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Michel emphasized the European Union’s
no-recognizing the Taliban’s rule while reiterating their commitment to
protecting women’s rights.
He said the European Union is actively
working to make sure Afghanistan complies with its duties under international
obligations.
He also mentioned that the European
Union is providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
The second European Union-Central Asia
Union was held on Friday, 2 June, in Kyrgyzstan to address the situation in
Afghanistan and regional issues.
“The Participants articulated common
concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and re-affirmed their
commitment to see Afghanistan develop into a secure, peaceful, stable,
prosperous country,” according to a statement.
Meanwhile, the meeting also underlined
the significance of forming an inclusive and representative government to
respect Afghan citizens’ human rights and freedoms, particularly women, girls
and ethnic groups.
The first meeting of the groups on
Afghanistan was held on 25-26 May, where they urged the Taliban authorities to
lift all restrictions on women, including education, work and participation in
public space.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/eu-does-not-recognize-talibans-authority-in-afghanistan-charles-michel/
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EU-Central Asia Holds 2nd Meeting On
Afghanistan and Region
June 2, 2023
European Union-Central Asia Union Holds
Second Meeting on Friday to Address Situation in Afghanistan and Regional
Issues.
The Presidents of Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the Vice Cabinet of
Ministers of Turkmenistan and the President of the Council of Europe, attended
the second meeting of the Europe-Central Asia Union on Friday, according to a
joint press release by the European Council.
The meeting’s main discussion topics
were the situation in Afghanistan and regional cooperation.
“The Participants articulated common
concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and re-affirmed their
commitment to see Afghanistan develop into a secure, peaceful, stable,
prosperous country,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Participants called on
the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of
Afghanistan. They noted the crucial role of the UN in providing humanitarian
assistance to Afghanistan in a principled manner.
“They underlined the importance of the
establishment of an inclusive and representative government and the importance
of promotion of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all
Afghans citizens, particularly women, girls and ethnic groups,” the statement
read.
Earlier, European Union (EU) and Central
Asia special envoy for Afghanistan met in Turkmenistan Capital, Ashgabat, on
25-26 May, where they urged the de facto regime to lift all bans on Afghan
girls and women that restricted their rights to education, work and
participation in public life.
They also “underlined the importance of
establishing an inclusive and representative government and upholding all
Afghans’ civil, political, social economic and cultural rights.”
Source: khaama.com
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/eu-central-asia-holds-2nd-meeting-on-afghanistan-and-region/
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UN Slashes Food Rations for Rohingya in
Bangladesh Camps
02-06-23
On Thursday, the United Nations World
Food Programme dealt Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh a new round of deep cuts
in food rations, from US$12 per month several months ago to just $8 a month,
building pressure to return to dangerous conditions in Myanmar.
UN special rapporteurs warned that the
cuts will have the “devastatingly predictable” consequence of “spiking rates of
acute malnutrition, infant mortality, violence, and even death.” Some refugees,
they said, might be compelled to “risk their lives at sea, [rather] than to
face hunger and even death in the camps.”
These food ration cuts, along with
escalating restrictive measures imposed by Bangladesh authorities and violence
in the squalid, overcrowded refugee camps, are increasing pressure on the
refugees to repatriate.
This is not the first time slashes in
food rations have accompanied other pressures on Rohingya refugees to leave.
In 1978, the Bangladesh government
weaponized food to force starving Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, which
remained intent on persecuting them. Then, as now, the Rohingya refugees were
confined to camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar area and were not allowed to
work, so they depended on food rations to survive.
A 1979 report by Alan C. Lindquist,
then-head of the UN Refugee Agency’s Sub-office in Cox’s Bazar quoted
Bangladesh’s then-secretary of the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed
All Khasru, as saying, “It is all very well to have fat, well-fed refugees. But
…we are not going to make the refugees so comfortable that they won’t go back
to Burma [Myanmar].”
The Lindquist report said that by
December 1978 between 80 and 85 people were dying daily in Bangladesh’s camps.
“More and more showed themselves ready to go back to escape the terrible
conditions in the Bangladesh camps,” Lindquist wrote. “From November 15th
onwards, at least 2,000 were returning every three days, the maximum rate
specified in the July [1978] agreement between the two countries.”
By the end of March 1979, more than
107,000 Rohingya had returned to Myanmar – and more than 11,900 had died.
This time around, the World Food
Programme, facing donor shortfalls, is making the cuts. International donors,
no less than Bangladesh, have a responsibility not to repeat history. Myanmar
is far from safe for Rohingya.
But Bangladesh should also ease
restrictions and allow refugees to earn money to buy food and help prevent
another horrible death toll.
Source: hrw.org
Please click the
following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/02/un-slashes-food-rations-rohingya-bangladesh-camps
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/us-canada-imams-scholars-islamic-gender/d/129918