US Says It Condemns Remarks against the Prophet and Encourages India to Promote Respect for Human Rights
New Age Islam News Bureau
17 June 2022
Protestors in Karachi take
part in a demonstration against comments made by a former spokesperson of the
BJP | Photo Credit: AFP
-----
• Several Thousand Supporters Of, Bangladesh’s Islami
Andolan Party Demands Resolution to Be Passed in the Parliament Condemning the
Remarks over Prophet in India
• Masjid-e-Tur, a Bengaluru Mosque Invites Non-Muslims
to Promote Communal Harmony and Fight Communal Elements
• Child Soldiers Aged 10 ‘Are True Men,’ Say Houthis
• Saudi Arabia Calls for Ensuring Safety of Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar
North
America
• America-Islamic Group Calls for Federal Hate Crime
Charges against Alleged Northwest Minnesota Arson Suspect
• US targets Chinese, Indian brokers in new Iran
sanctions
--------
South
Asia
• Taliban: No Police Has the Right to Stand at a
Police Checkpoint Wearing Civilian Attire
• Afghanistan’s Representative in Geneva: Interaction
with the Taliban Becomes Impossible for the International Community
• Red Cross: Afghanistan Experiences the “Worst
Humanitarian Crisis on Earth”
• Taliban seizes weapons in Afghan province meant to
be smuggled to Pakistan
• China places hold on US, India joint proposal to
list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under UNSC sanctions
--------
India
• Nupur Sharma Protests: The Police Brutality ‘Return
Gift’ Video That Shocked India
• Why Uttarakhand Govt Is Cracking Down On ‘Illegal’
Mazars, Mosques, Temples & Churches In Forests
• Prophet Remarks Row: Slap NSA against Muslim Clerics
Provoking Violence, Demands Bajrang Dal
• Efforts On to Identify Who Beat Up Muslim Brothers
after Asking Their Names: Ranchi Police
• Karnataka Hijab Row: 19 Muslim Students on Verge of
Dropping out From College
• Vishal Dadlani stands for Indian Muslims, Shashi
Tharoor applauds
• Court raps NIA, frees 4 in terror funding case
--------
Mideast
• Iran's Home-Made 'Zoljanah' Satellite Carrier under
Launch Tests
• Iranian Intelligence Forces Arrest Element Connected
with Detained French Spies
• Israel announces new entry permits for Palestinians
in Gaza
• Israeli forces shoot dead 3 Palestinians in Friday
morning operation
--------
Arab
World
• Mohammed bin Salman, hard-charging heir reshaping
Saudi Arabia
• ‘So much at stake,’ Biden’s pick to be US envoy to
Saudi Arabia says
• Russia, Turkey, Iran call for calm in Syria’s Idlib
• Saudi, US officials discuss ways to boost economic
partnership
• Lebanon’s Hariri hails life sentence against 2
Hezbollah members over father’s assassination
• Iran says last talks with Saudi Arabia 'positive'
• Head of Libya’s High Council of State invited to
meet rival in Egypt
• Qatar ruler receives message from Saudi king on
bilateral ties
• Egyptian leader affirms depth of country’s strategic
ties with EU
--------
Europe
• Swedish Imam Charged For Incitement against Jews In
Sermon
• Over 800 mosques attacked in Germany since 2014:
Rights group
• New terrorism law takes effect in Sweden as of July
1
--------
Pakistan
• All Eyes on FATF As Pakistan Hopes To Come Off 'Grey
List' Today
• PM Shehbaz to share details on PTI govt’s deal with
IMF soon
• Bilawal pitches for engagement with India, says it
serves Pakistan’s interests
• Pakistan hikes fuel prices by 29% to secure IMF
funding
• Security boost for Chinese living in Islamabad
• MQM-P claims victory as violence mars by-poll in
Karachi's NA-240
• Sikh Yatrees Attend ‘Akhand Bhog Sahib’ To Mark
Martyrdom of Guru Arjun
--------
Southeast
Asia
• State Govts Enable Discrimination, Moral Policing,
Says Komuniti Muslim Universal, a Religious Group
• Govt’s claim of looking after Muslims and
Bumiputeras questioned
• Selangor Sultan says state PAS chief's statement
after royal audience about Bon Odori inaccurate
--------
Africa
• Uganda's Army Says It Discovers Training Facility
for Islamist Militia
• Nearly 40 extremists killed in drone strikes in
Niger: French military
• Morocco’s king tests positive for COVID-19
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/us-prophet-blasphemous-human-rights/d/127265
--------
US Says It Condemns Remarks against the Prophet and
Encourages India To Promote Respect For Human Rights
Protestors in Karachi take
part in a demonstration against comments made by a former spokesperson of the
BJP | Photo Credit: AFP
-----
17.06.22
The US has said it condemns the controversial remarks
made by two now-suspended BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad and encourages
India to promote respect for human rights.
The BJP on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson
Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal after their
controversial remarks against the Prophet.
Amid protests by several Muslim countries and groups
over the remarks, the party also issued a statement aimed at assuaging the
concerns of minorities and distancing itself from these members, asserting that
it respects all religions and strongly denounces the insult of any religious personality.
"Well, this is something that we've condemned. We
condemn the offensive comments made by two BJP officials, and we were glad to
see that the party publicly condemned those comments," State Department
spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.
He was responding to a question by a Pakistani
reporter.
"We regularly engage with the Indian government
at senior levels on human rights concerns, including freedom of religion or
belief," he said.
"We encourage India to promote respect for human
rights. The Secretary (of State) said, when he was in New Delhi last year, that
the Indian people and the American people believe in the same values: human
dignity, human respect, equality of opportunity, and the freedom of religion or
belief," Price said.
He was referring to US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken's visit to India in July last year.
"These are fundamental tenets," Price said.
"These are fundamental values within any
democracy, and we speak up for them around the world," Price said.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said that India
accords the highest respect to all religions.
The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a
religious personality were made by certain individuals. They do not, in any
manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. Strong action has already
been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies, the MEA Spokesperson
said in New Delhi recently.
Countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia,
the Maldives, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Afghanistan were among the several
Muslim nations that have condemned the offensive remarks against the Prophet.
Source: Telegraph India
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original story:
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Several Thousand Supporters Of, Bangladesh’s Islami
Andolan Party Demands Resolution to Be Passed in the Parliament Condemning the
Remarks over Prophet in India
Photo: Swarajya
----
Sahidul Hasan Khokon
Bangladesh
June 17, 2022
One of the largest Islamist political parties in
Bangladesh, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, on Thursday organised a protest rally in
the capital city of Dhaka against the remarks made by suspended BJP
spokesperson Nupur Sharma on the Prophet Muhammad.
The protestors demanded that a resolution be passed in
the Parliament condemning the remarks made by the former BJP spokespersons and
that the Indian ambassador be summoned along with the demand to arrest the
former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
Several other like-minded parties also took part in
the protest under their own banners.
Several thousand protestors staged a demonstration in
front of the downtown Baitul Mokarram Mosque and then headed towards the Indian
High Commission in Dhaka, several kilometres away from the spot, defying rains.
However, the riot police blocked the protesters in the Shantinagar area.
Indian High Commission Receives Memorandum
Police, however, allowed a delegation of five
representatives of the outfit to present a memorandum to the deputy police
commissioner's office at Dhaka’s diplomatic enclave in Baridhara area, where
the Indian High Commission is located.
"We received the memorandum and handed it over to
the Indian High Commission," Deputy Police Commissioner Mohammad
Asaduzzaman told reporters.
The protesters also demanded that Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina should publicly condemn the controversial remarks and that the
Indian authorities should arrest the two now-suspended BJP leaders.
What Was Said At Rally?
Speakers from the rally spoke out against India and
former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
The speakers also called for a boycott of Indian
products.
Meanwhile, the rally drew criticism from Bangladesh PM
Sheikh Hasina and her government for not holding formal protests.
Second Protest In Dhaka In A Week
The protest was the second such demonstration in Dhaka
in a week. Last Friday, hundreds of people took to the streets in Dhaka and
several other major cities in Bangladesh over the issue.
Earlier this week, Information and Broadcasting
Minister Hasan Mahmud said that the controversy triggered by remarks made by
two former BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad is India’s "internal
issue" and it is not an attention-grabbing matter in Bangladesh unlike in
some other Muslim nations.
Talking to a group of visiting Indian journalists
here, Mahmud said, "It is not an internal matter (of Bangladesh), but an
external issue. This is India's internal issue. Whenever something like this
happens in the world, some Islamic parties protest here too and it usually
happens."
Source: India Today
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original story:
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Masjid-e-Tur, a Bengaluru Mosque Invites Non-Muslims to
Promote Communal Harmony And Fight Communal Elements
Representative image
----
Jun 17, 2022
Bengaluru: A mosque in Bengaluru has invited
non-Muslims to the mosque in an attempt to promote communal harmony and fight
communal elements. The authorities of Masjid-e-Tur at Kaval Byrasandra invited
guests from all faiths on Sunday for an hour.
The devotees at the mosque also performed Zuhr
(afternoon) prayer before the non-Muslim visitors and explained to them the
importance and meaning of every namaz.
The mosque officials said they have received a positive
response to their masjid darshan initiative. The programme was attended by 70
non-Muslims including women, according to a report in Times of India.
Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivas supported the
initiative.
"We told the guests why we chant Allah hu Akbar
four times only. It is because nature is made up of four elements-Earth, air,
fire and water. The purpose behind this was to tell them that our faith also
teaches us the same values," said Abdul Hameed, an office-bearer of
Masjid-e-Tur.
A computer study room was also inaugurated at the
masjid in the presence of MLA Murthy whose house was set ablaze by protesters
during violence at DJ Halli and KG Halli.
According to Murthy, the Muslim devotees gave us a
tour of the masjid and informed us about the namaz and what is spoken in the
Azan (call to prayer). Murthy said he has also donated some desktops to the
mosque computer room.
Authorities said that the masjid was never closed for
non-Muslims. Hameed said there is a misconception that Muslim clerics are
training youth for sinister purposes. He said they decided to invite people
from other faiths to let them know what namaz and azaan is.
Source: Times Now News
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original story:
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Child Soldiers Aged 10 ‘Are True Men,’ Say Houthis
FILE - Kahlan, a
12-year-old former child soldier, demonstrates how to use a weapon, at a camp
for displaced persons where he took shelter with his family, in Marib, Yemen,
July 27, 2018. emen’s Houthi rebels continue to recruit children into their
military ranks to fight in the country’s civil war, despite an agreement with
the U.N. in April 2022, to halt the practice. Two Houthi officials acknowledged
to the Associated Press that the rebels have recruited several hundred
children, some as young as 10, in the past two months. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty,
File)
----
June 16, 2022
JEDDAH: Fighters from the Iran-backed Houthi militia
have openly boasted of recruiting child soldiers as young as 10 to fight in the
Yemen war.
New video footage on social media shows dozens of
children in uniforms standing in military formation in a camp in Dhamar
province, declaring allegiance to Abdul-Malek Al-Houthi.
“Soldiers of God,” they shout. “We are coming.”
An aid worker who operates in remote northern areas
described watching children manning checkpoints along the road, with AK-47
assault rifles hanging on their shoulders. Others were sent to the front line,
he said, and children had returned wounded from fighting at Marib.
One hard-line Houthi fighter said: “These are not
children. They are true men, who should defend their nation.”
Nearly 2,000 Houthi-recruited children were killed on
the battlefield between January 2020 and May 2021, according to UN experts.
Overall, the UN says over 10,200 children have been killed or maimed in the
war, though it is not known how many were combatants.
A UN panel of experts said this year that the Houthis
had a system to indoctrinate child soldiers, including the use of humanitarian
aid to pressure families. Children are told they are joining a holy war against
Jews and Christians and Arab countries that have succumbed to Western
influence, and seven-year-olds are taught weapons cleaning and how to dodge
rockets.
Two farmers in Amran province said Houthi
representatives came to their homes in May and told them to prepare their
children for camps.
Their five children aged between 11 and 16 were taken
in late May to a training center in a nearby school. One father said he was
told that if he didn’t send his children, his family would no longer receive
food rations.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2105041/middle-east
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Ensuring Safety of Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar
Dr. Al-Wasel called for
the renunciation of violence and the resolution of the crisis through dialogue.
@KSAPermanentGVA
----
June 16, 2022
GENEVA — Saudi Arabia has reiterated its firm stance
in supporting civilians in Myanmar, especially the Rohingya Muslims.
The statement came in a speech delivered by Saudi
Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Dr.
Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, who renewed the Kingdom’s call for ensuring the safety and
security of the Rohingya Muslims and recognizing their fundamental rights.
The Kingdom said recognition of the Rohingya Muslims'
rights should include their right to full citizenship, in addition to providing
conditions conducive to the safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
While calling for the renunciation of violence against
the Rohigya, Dr. Al-Wasel said Saudi Arabia considers the issue of the Rohingya
Muslims as “one of the most important issues that it pays great attention to.”
"The crisis must be resolved through dialogue and
commitment to international recommendations to address the root causes of the
problem and the miserable conditions in Rakhine State in order to achieve
lasting peace in Myanmar," he said.
Dr. Al-Wasel pointed out that Saudi Arabia stressed
the importance of doing everything that would contribute to finding an urgent
solution to the crisis of Rohingya Muslims and guarantee their safety and
security as well as other minorities.
Source: Saudi Gazette
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original story:
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North
America
America-Islamic group calls for federal hate crime
charges against alleged northwest Minnesota arson suspect
By Meghan Arbegast
June 16, 2022
EAST GRAND FORKS — The Minnesota chapter of the
Council on America-Islamic Relations has called for federal hate crime charges
to be made for the alleged arson attempt that happened at the East Grand Forks
Islamic Center on Sunday, June 5 .
During a news conference Thursday at the Islamic
Center, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein called for an FBI probe of
the incident and for federal hate crime charges to be brought against the
suspect in the case, Suzette Gay Thompson, 57, of Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
Thompson has been charged with two counts of first-degree arson.
Hussein said the incident has impacted those not only
in East Grand Forks, but also communities across Minnesota. He called for the
Department of Justice to “properly” charge Thompson with a federal hate crime.
“Minnesota Muslims are facing unprecedented attack
against our centers,” Hussein said. “We are now the highest per-capita in the
country of attacks against Muslims and we rank among the highest, fourth in the
country, of all attacks against Muslims in America.”
Hussein said the reason is linked to anti-Muslim
movements, along with a rise in white supremacists and white nationalists who
he says have targeted communities throughout Minnesota.
“This incident, it marks the type of worst form of
attack against our community,” Hussein said. “An attack against one place of
worship is an attack against all places of worship. And our community deserves
to be safe and in peace.”
Hussein said work is being done to get federal support
to secure the building, but there are still additional needs to ensure the
community feels safe.
The Imam/Director of the East Grand Forks Islamic
Center, Mohamed Mohamed, said he believes Thompson was “meticulous " about
what she was doing and believes she knew when prayer would be going on and was
dressed in attire that is common to East African women.
“She came to terrorize us while we were
defenseless," Mohamed said. "She knew what she was doing and she
targeted us because of our faith.”
East Grand Forks Police were alerted of a potential
arson at the Islamic Center at 4:38 a.m. on June 5. According to a press
release, after arriving on scene police were notified that the suspect fled
westbound. Police were able to identify Thompson from surveillance videos and
located her a short time later.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in
prison and/or $20,000 fine.
Mohamed said since the incident, attendance to
services has been down.
“I would like to reiterate and make it clear that our
community is traumatized,” Mohamed said. “We are fearful of what happened.
We’ve been terrorized.”
Mohamed said the fire that happened on June 5 isn’t an
isolated incident — he has seen similar incidents in previous summers since the
Mosque opened in 2018.
The need for community support was another point
Mohamed said is crucial.
“We need to know that our friends and community
members care for us,” Mohamed said. “The first thing in helping someone else is
to show empathy, and we would like to see that publicly being spoken out. We
are part of this community, too. We exist and we deserve to be heard and
appreciated.”
Several faith leaders from the East Grand Forks
community also showed up in support of the Islamic Center. Pastor Sonja
Brucklacher at Bethany/Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Paul Trenne at Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church and Pastor Jeff Brown at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in
Crookston all spoke during the news conference.
Source: Inforum
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US targets Chinese, Indian brokers in new Iran
sanctions
16 June, 2022
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on
Iranian petrochemical producers as well as Chinese and Indian brokers,
expanding pressure amid a deadlock in negotiations on restoring a nuclear deal.
President Joe Biden’s administration said that it
still remained committed to diplomacy with Iran to restore a 2015 agreement on
curbing its nuclear program.
“Absent a deal, we will continue to use our sanctions
authorities to limit exports of petroleum, petroleum products and petrochemical
products from Iran,” said Brian Nelson, senior Treasury Department official.
The Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions
on a network of Iranian petrochemical firms including alleged front companies
in China and the United Arab Emirates for Iran’s state-owned company and
Triliance, a Hong Kong-based company already under US sanctions for its dealing
with Iran.
It also took action against China-based broker Jeff
Gao and Indian national Mohammad Shaheed Ruknooddin Bhore for allegedly
managing business for Triliance.
The United States has sought to prevent any nation
from buying Iranian oil since 2018 after the US walked away from a negotiated
agreement, in which Iran drastically scaled back its nuclear program in return
for promises of sanctions relief.
China has remained the top buyer of Iranian oil while
India reluctantly ended imports under US pressure.
Biden has sought to restore the nuclear deal, saying
that the United States would ease sanctions if Iran returns to compliance, but
his chief negotiator recently said it was more likely than not that the
diplomacy will fail.
Source: Al Arabiya
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South
Asia
Taliban:
No Police Has the Right to Stand at a Police Checkpoint Wearing Civilian Attire
By
Saqalain Eqbal
16
Jun 2022
According
to Taliban security officials, no police officer in plain and civilian clothes
is allowed to check people after the uniforms were distributed to the group’s
police force.
The
Taliban’s chief of police in Kabul, Wali Jan Hamza, said the process of
distributing uniforms to the group forces had begun and that once the it was
completed, no one in plain, local and civilian clothes would be allowed to
check the people.
National
Television, which is now under the Taliban’s control, states that the process
of distributing uniforms in Kabul and Kandahar has begun in order to improve
city order.
The
Taliban’s Ministry of Interior introduced the new police uniform last week,
which is dark blue rather than the grey-blue uniform in use by police under the
previous administration.
Previously,
at a news conference, the Taliban revealed a uniform that they said was
suitable according to Mullah Hibatullah and was made by an in-house factory.
However,
ten months later, Taliban forces are still roaming the cities in plain civilian
clothes, and locals have repeatedly complained.
Source:
Khaama Press
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Afghanistan’s
Representative in Geneva: Interaction with the Taliban Becomes Impossible for
the International Community
By
Saqalain Eqbal
16
Jun 2022
Afghanistan’s
representative in Geneva, Nasir Ahmad Andisha, said the Taliban’s actions over
the last ten months had convinced the international community that interaction
with the Taliban was impossible and nothing more than a “dead end” and “deep
disappointment”.
Andisha
told the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday that the international community
had tried every possible way to engage with the Taliban, but that “broken
promises” and deep disappointment brings it all to a “dead end”.
The
Taliban, he said, are “violent extremists” who oppose and challenge all human
values.
Afghanistan’s
representative in Geneva also stated that the Taliban in Afghanistan had denied
women of their most basic rights, and that women were no longer participating
in public gatherings and had become virtually invisible in society and social
life.
Michelle
Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also told the meeting that
information received about the Taliban’s treatment of battle wounded, rape of
civilians in the northern provinces, and incarceration and killing of civilians
by the Taliban was concerning.
Bachelet
said in a statement that the Taliban’s recent acts against women constituted an
“institutionalized, systematic’ oppression of Afghan women”.
Source:
Khaama Press
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Red
Cross: Afghanistan Experiences the “Worst Humanitarian Crisis on Earth”
By
Saqalain Eqbal
16
Jun 2022
The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has requested
80 million francs to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and to
provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
While
Afghanistan’s economy is in shambles and international organizations have
repeatedly warned about it, the Red Cross has expressed alarm about the present
situation and requested 80 million francs in emergency relief for Afghanistan.
According
to the federation, more than half of Afghanistan’s population required
humanitarian assistance on Thursday, June 16.
According
to a Red Cross report, people in Afghanistan are suffering from severe food
insecurity as a result of a series of crises.
The
organization’s report suggested Afghanistan is in the midst of the biggest and
the “worst humanitarian crisis on Earth”, with about 20 million Afghans facing
food insecurity.
Half
of children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, according to
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
As
the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan worsened, the organization requested an
increase in funding from 36 million to 80 million francs.
Source:
Khaama Press
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Taliban
seizes weapons in Afghan province meant to be smuggled to Pakistan
Jun
16, 2022
The
Taliban claimed to have seized another cache of weapons in the Nangarhar
province of Afghanistan. General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI),
Afghanistan's spy agency, believes that the arms and ammunition were to be
smuggled out to the neighbouring Pakistan.
The
seizure comes weeks after a Canada-based think tank warned that rampant
smuggling of weapons from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to Pakistan will
“eventually be used in cross-border skirmishes against India”.
"Taliban
has been insisting that there are proper security checks to prevent any weapons
smuggling because they are an improved Taliban. But the weapons market is
thriving and the weapons that are being smuggled into Pakistan will eventually
be used in cross-border skirmishes against India and make their way into
India," International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) said.
The
think tank, however, warned that the Pakistan will have to pay a huge price
when the separatist and terrorist organisations operating from its land get a
hand on these weapons on a large scale.
The
US made a hurried exit from Afghanistan in August last year, leaving much of
the military equipment and weapons at the disposal of the Afghan forces. The
weapons left behind by the fleeing Afghan forces eventually fell into the hands
of Taliban after the Sunni Pashtun group took control of the war-torn country.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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China
places hold on US, India joint proposal to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul
Rehman Makki under UNSC sanctions
Jun
17, 2022
UNITED
NATIONS: China has put a hold in the UN at the last moment on a joint proposal
by India and the US to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki as a
global terrorist under al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the Security Council.
Makki
is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief
and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
It
is learnt that New Delhi and Washington had put a joint proposal to designate
Makki as a global terrorist under the 1267 ISIL and al-Qaida Sanctions
Committee of the UN Security Council but Beijing placed a hold on this proposal
at the last minute here.
Earlier
also, China, an all-weather friend of Islamabad, has placed holds and blocks on
bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists. In May 2019,
India had won a huge diplomatic win at the UN when the global body designated
Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "global
terrorist”, a decade after New Delhi had first approached the world body on the
issue.
A
veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China was the sole
hold-out in the 15-nation body on the bid to blacklist Azhar, blocking attempts
by placing a "technical hold".Jaish-e-MohammedAll decisions of the
committee are taken through consensus.
In
2009, India had moved a proposal by itself to designate Azhar. In 2016 again
India moved the proposal with the P3 - the US, the UK and France in the UN's
1267 Sanctions Committee to ban Azhar, also the mastermind of the attack on the
air base in Pathankot in January 2016.
In
2017, the P3 nations moved a similar proposal again. However, on all occasions,
China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, blocked
India's proposal from being adopted by the sanctions committee.
Keeping
up the international pressure to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, the US,
supported by France and the UK, had moved a draft resolution directly in the UN
Security Council to blacklist him.
In
November 2010, the US Department of the Treasury had designated Makki as a
Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
As
a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property, and
interests in property, of Makki that are subject to US jurisdiction are
blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any
transactions with Makki.
“In
addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to
provide, material support or resources to the Foreign Terrorist Organisation
LeT,” the US said.
The
US Department of State's Rewards for Justice programme is offering a reward of
up to $2 million for information on Makki, “also known as Abdulrahman Maki.
Makki has occupied various leadership roles within Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a
US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). He has also played a role
in raising funds for LeT operations.
Source:
Times Of India
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India
Nupur
Sharma Protests: The Police Brutality ‘Return Gift’ Video That Shocked India
June
17, 2022
A
video showing Indian police beating a group of Muslims in custody has been
viewed by millions after it was shared by an elected member of the ruling BJP
party who praised their brutal actions as a "gift" to the men.
No
action has been taken against the officers involved. The families of those who
were attacked say their loved ones are innocent and should be freed.
"This
is my brother, they are beating him a lot, he's screaming so much."
Zeba
breaks down in tears, hands shaking, as she holds her mobile phone to watch a harrowing
video of her younger sibling Saif.
"I
can't even look at this, he's being hit so badly," she says, as she's
comforted by relatives at her home in the north Indian city of Saharanpur.
The
distressing footage shows two Indian policemen taking aim at a group of Muslim
men in custody, including Zeba's brother.
The
officers can be seen thrashing the men with rods which they swing like baseball
bats. The sound of the thwack as each blow lands is punctuated by screams.
"It
hurts, it hurts…NO!" some of the group yell as they cower in fear, backs
against the wall.
As
the pounding continues, a man in a green t-shirt folds his hands in prayer.
Saif can be seen in a white tunic raising his arms in the air as if to
surrender.
Saif,
24, was one of dozens of Muslim men who were rounded up and detained by police
last week.
Thousands
demonstrated at the town's mosque after Friday prayers, joining nationwide
protests over inflammatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed made by Nupur
Sharma, a national spokesperson for the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP).
The
party later suspended her amid an outcry from Muslim nations, and said it
opposed insulting any religion.
The
protests in Saharanpur were largely peaceful, with crowds marching from the
mosque past shops in the city.
As
tensions rose, some stores owned by members of India's Hindu majority were
attacked, and two businessmen sustained minor injuries. Officers used batons to
disperse some of the crowds.
Police
documents accuse Saif and 30 others of being involved in rioting, instigating
violence, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant and endangering
life, among other charges.
The
family, which ekes out a modest living selling cardboard, says Saif wasn't even
at the protests and is innocent.
They
say he left home at around 5pm local time on Friday, to book a bus ticket for a
friend, when he was arrested by officers and taken to Kothwali police station,
in Saharanpur.
When
Zeba visited him there she said she saw bruises on her brother's body: "He
was blue from all the beating, he couldn't even sit."
The
video, which clearly shows police brutality, went viral after it was shared by
an elected official from the BJP, Shalabh Tripathi, who posted it with the
caption, "a return gift for the rebels".
Mr
Tripathi is a former media adviser to one of India's most powerful politicians,
Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of the state of Uttar Pradesh, where this
incident happened.
There
has been no condemnation of the footage from party officials, or anyone in the
BJP government.
Human
rights groups say there's been a growing climate of intolerance in India since
the BJP swept to power in 2014, with a rise in hate speech and attacks
targeting the country's Muslim minority.
The
BBC has gathered testimony from half a dozen Muslim families who say their
relatives were beaten in police custody at Kothwali police station in
Saharanpur, after they were detained on Friday.
The
relatives have also identified them in videos, which show police using
violence. In other footage the men can be seen being led into a van before
being taken to another location - in these images the sign for the Kothwali
police station is clearly identifiable.
The
police report also cites the station. Despite this, earlier in the week local
police denied the incident had happened there.
"No
such incidents have happened in Saharanpur, there are two to three videos
circulating on social media. If you watch one video on slow motion - you will
see the name of some other district in the video," Akash Tomar, a senior
police officer, told the BBC.
Mr
Tomar has since said he is working to verify the authenticity of the video, and
will take action if required.
Other
relatives of men seen in the video say their loved ones were detained as they
went to visit the station for more information.
Fahmida's
son Subhan, who's 19, went to find out what had happened to his friend Asif
who'd been arrested, when he was also taken in and beaten.
Dressed
in pale yellow, Subhan can be seen dropping to the ground as a policeman
strikes a baton in his direction. The family say Subhan didn't even go to the
main mosque on Friday, let alone take part in the protests there.
"My
son was beaten mercilessly," Fahmida cried.
Officials
say they've arrested 84 people they accuse of violence in Friday's protests.
Superintendent
Kumar told the BBC that only criminals were arrested. "When we arrest
someone we first show their footage of participating in a violent protest and
then only we make arrests," he said, his statement at odds with accounts
we've heard from families of some of the arrested.
Across
town from the police station, the force of the law has been displayed in other
ways - bulldozers have destroyed parts of the homes of two Muslim men officials
accuse of instigating violence.
Millions
of Indians live in makeshift homes without proper planning permissions, but
using this as a means of punishment has become a more common tactic deployed by
the BJP.
The
orders to demolish illegally constructed properties belonging to those accused
in recent protests have been endorsed at the highest level.
Uttar
Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted that bulldozer action would
continue against alleged lawbreakers.
And,
in a tacit reference to Muslims who worship on Fridays, his media adviser
Mrityunjay Kumar tweeted a photo of a bulldozer with the caption "After
Friday, there is a Saturday."
Last
Saturday afternoon, a digger arrived at Muskaan's house and started to demolish
the front gate.
The
BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Police
showed up at the rented property with a photo of her brother asking if he lived
there. The 17-year-old had been taken into custody the day before.
"My
father confirmed that that was his son, and asked if something had happened,"
Muskaan said. "They didn't reply, they just suddenly started using the
bulldozer."
Officials
accuse the teenager of encouraging violence on Friday. An official showed the
BBC a video they say shows him instigating the crowd.
In
it he can be seen making a speech to those gathered: "The Muslims of this
country are sleeping. History is a witness to the fact that whenever a Muslim
has risen, he has risen with wrath," he says.
Muskaan
denies all the allegations against her brother: "He is not the one to cause
destruction, he is not this kind of a boy to break things… All of this is a
lie."
Officials
told the BBC that the families of those arrested were given notice that their
homes were illegally constructed without proper approvals.
"When
we investigated we found that his family is living in an unauthorised house of
a relative," Rajesh Kumar, a senior police official, told the BBC,
justifying their actions.
"The
municipal team visited the homes under tight police security and action was
taken," Mr Kumar told the BBC, as he warned the homes of more people
who've been arrested could be bulldozed.
"The
bulldozer will roll if anything illegal comes against those who are arrested
and sent to jail," he added.
The
bulldozer action was all done according to the law and "as per
procedure…nothing is done against the law", Navneet Sehgal, an adviser to
Mr Adityanath, told the BBC.
A
group of India's top legal experts, including former judges and pre-eminent
lawyers, have petitioned the country's Supreme Court over these latest
instances of police beatings and the unwarranted use of bulldozers.
Their
letter accuses Mr Aditynath of emboldening the police to "brutally and
unlawfully torture protesters", and says these latest actions are
"shaking the conscience of the nation".
"Such
a brutal clampdown by a ruling administration is an unacceptable subversion of
the rule of law and a violation of the rights of citizens, and makes a mockery
of the Constitution and fundamental rights guaranteed by the state."
Rights
group Amnesty international has also accused India's government of suppressing
any form of dissent: "The government of India is selectively and viciously
cracking down on Muslims who dare to speak up and peacefully express their
dissent against the discrimination faced by them.
"Cracking
down on protesters with excessive use of force, arbitrary detention and
punitive house demolitions by Indian authorities is in complete violation of
India's commitments under international human rights law and standards,"
Aakar Patel, chair of Amnesty International India Board, wrote in a statement.
Back
in Saharanpur, Munni Begum is also in distress, as she waits on news of her son
and husband, who she says were also beaten by police.
Source:
BBC
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61822271
--------
Why
Uttarakhand govt is cracking down on ‘illegal’ mazars, mosques, temples &
churches in forests
PRITHVIRAJ
SINGH
17
June, 2022
Dehradun:
“Illegal” religious structures are now under the scanner of the Uttarakhand
government. The forest department has been instructed to conduct a special
drive to identify unauthorised mazars (mausoleums), mosques, temples, and
churches that have come up on its land, ThePrint has learnt.
The
department, according to a source in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), was
instructed to present a report and plan the demolition of such structures as
soon as possible. Similar “anti-encroachment drives” will likely also be
carried out on other types of government land in the coming days.
The
development comes barely three weeks after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar
Singh Dhami said that his government was aware of mazars “coming up on
encroached government land”.
Uttarakhand’s
Head of Forest Force and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Vinod Kumar
Singhal confirmed that his department had already begun the exercise to
identify all illegal religious structures in forest areas. On 6 June, Singhal
wrote to all divisional forest officers (DFOs) to ensure that such structures
do not come up on forest land.
“A
report will be submitted to the government once complete details are
available…. Information is being collected from all the forest divisions,”
Singhal said. Uttarakhand has more than 30 forest divisions.
Officials
in the know about the development, meanwhile, are expecting that a
comprehensive report is likely to be ready within a period of 14-30 days.
‘Action
will be taken against mazars’
At
a function in Delhi on 22 May. Dhami had expressed concerns about the allegedly
rising number of mazars, especially those constructed on encroached government
land. “The government will not tolerate encroachments of its land and action
will be taken against these mazars,” he said at an event commemorating the 75th
anniversary of the launch of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) magazines
Organiser and Panchjanya.
Dhami
also said that his government had launched a verification drive to identify
“infiltrators” as Uttarakhand was witnessing “demographic shifts” in certain
pockets. The chief minister had also announced that his state would make its
2018 anti-conversion law stronger, and that a five-member committee had been
formed to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the hill state.
The
comments by Dhami were in line with the BJP manifesto for the state assembly
polls held in February, that it would take steps to check alleged demographic
changes in the hill districts.
In
response to a query on why only one department was undertaking such a survey
when illegal religious structures are allegedly present on other government
land as well, the CMO official claimed that action in this respect is lined up
for the future.
“This
is the beginning of a big task taken up by the government. More is yet to come.
It’s being done in tune with the announcement made by the CM in Delhi.
Currently, the forest department has been asked to conduct the survey as such
religious structures are mostly located inside forest areas,” the official
said, adding that “illegal mazars and mosques constructed on other government
land would also be addressed in the coming days”.
“The
government is committed to freeing its encroached land. Now that the CM has won
the bypoll with a record margin, the Dhami government will set an example on
how to free its encroached land.”
After
Dhami, the incumbent chief minister, lost his own seat during the assembly
polls — despite his party’s overall victory — he was re-elected to the House
through a by-election in the Champawat constituency, which he won by more than
55,000 votes.
Push
for expediting the survey
While
the forest department was not given a deadline to table the report, there were
instructions to expedite the process, said forest authorities.
Referring
to Singhal’s order, several forest officials informed ThePrint that
instructions in accordance with the government order were issued to all the
state’s DFOs.
Chief
Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden Parag Madhukar Dhakate said
that the forest department had already received government instructions to
conduct a survey to identify illegal religious structures inside forest areas.
Source:
The Print
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Prophet
remarks row: Slap NSA against Muslim clerics provoking violence, demands
Bajrang Dal
16th
June 2022
GHAZIABAD:
Bajrang Dal activists on Thursday staged a protest at district headquarters
here chanting Hanuman Chalisa and demanding the slapping of the stringent NSA
against Muslim clerics who are "provoking violence".
The
National Security Act (NSA) allows preventive detention of an individual for
months if the authorities feel that the individual is a threat to the national
security, and law and order.
The
Hindu outfit activists handed over a memorandum addressed to the President to
the SDM (Sadar) Vinay singh and held a sit-in chanting Hanuman Chalisa.
Bajrang
Dal convener Neeraj Singh Bajrangi said the NSA must be invoked against Muslim
clerics and secular leaders who are spitting venom in their speeches and they
must be expelled from the district.
"During
the Hanuman Jaynti Yatra, stones were thrown from the mosques in various cities
of the country. All Muslim outfits spreading hate and provoking people to
violence must be banned," he said.
After
Friday prayers, people coming out from mosques should also be monitored so that
they do not spread communal violence, he said.
Source:
New Indian Express
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Efforts
On to Identify Who Beat Up Muslim Brothers After Asking Their Names: Ranchi
Police
JUNE
16, 2022
The
police on Thursday said that efforts are on to find out the members of a group
that allegedly asked two brothers, who were out to buy pizza, their names and
assaulted them after coming to know they were Muslims on June 10 in Ranchi. The
incident occurred hours after a violent protest against controversial remarks
on Prophet Mohammad by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who was suspended later.
Two persons were killed and more than two dozen others were injured during the
protest.
The
father of the two men lodged a complaint and we registered an FIR on the night
of June 10. We are trying to identify the persons involved in the attack,
Chutia police station in-charge Venkatesh Kumar told PTI. According to the
complaint, Md Zeeshan Ashfi (24) and his brother Faizan (20) went to buy pizza
at around 8 pm from a local shop on Ranchi's Main Road when they were
surrounded by a group of about 20 people near Sujata Chowk. They asked the two
their names and assaulted the youths with sticks after knowing they were
Muslims.
Source:
News18
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Karnataka
Hijab Row: 19 Muslim Students On Verge Of Dropping Out From College
16
JUN 2022
Three
months after Karnataka High Court ruled that Muslim girl students should abide
by the decisions of the college development committees (CDCs) and wear
prescribed uniforms without hijab, 19 students of government first grade
college at Haleyangadi in Karnataka’s Mangaluru have been skipping classes.
The
students, who are adamant on wearing hijab in classrooms, are now on the verge
of dropping out of the college as they have neither written examinations nor
attended classes for the last three months.
Similar
issues at university college of Mangalore, government first grade college at
Uppinangady were solved after discussions with students and parents.
However,
the 19 students at Haleyangadi college are facing loss of education after the
college authorities strictly prohibited wearing of hijab inside the institution
as per the High Court verdict on March 15.
Though
the students say that the High Court order is only applicable to pre-university
colleges, the Court clarified that the order is confined to all institutions
where the CDCs have prescribed specific dress code or uniform.
Some
students have made up their mind to discontinue studies though they still have
a distant hope that the college authorities will reverse their decision,
sources said.
College
principal K Sridhar said the 19 girls, who are third year degree students, did
not appear for the exams and skipped the new semester classes. Though they
tried to convince the students to comply with the High Court order, they are
insisting on wearing hijab, he said.
Source:
Outlook India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Vishal
Dadlani stands for Indian Muslims, Shashi Tharoor applauds
17th
June 2022
Mumbai:
Bollywood’s most renowned singer and composer Vishal Dadlani took to Twitter
recently to voice his support for the Muslims of India amid the ongoing Prophet
remark row.
For
the unversed, in the last week of May, BJP’s national spokesperson, Nupur
Sharma had insulted Prophet Mohammad during a prime-time news show conducted by
Times Now Group Editor Navika Kumar. Following this demonstrations and protests
by Muslims in India erupted across the country. Many instances of anti-Muslim
crime and violence against Muslims have been coming in since then.
Taking
the matter into consideration, Vishal Dadlani tweeted, “I want to say this to
Indian Muslims on behalf of a majority of Indian Hindus. You are seen &
heard, loved & treasured. Your pain is our pain. Your patriotism is not in
question, your identity is not a threat to India or to anyone else’s religion.
We are one nation, one family.”
Within
a few minutes, Vishal Dadlani’s comment has gone viral with many applauding him
for his courage and bravery. Furthermore, Vishal Dadlani won politician Shashi
Tharoor’s approval who replied, “Warmly echoed, @VishalDadlani– shabash for
speaking for the vast silent majority!”
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/vishal-dadlani-stands-for-indian-muslims-shashi-tharoor-applauds-2350572/
--------
Court
raps NIA, frees 4 in terror funding case
Jun
17, 2022
NEW
DELHI: Discharging four accused in a terror funding case, a Delhi court has
pulled up the NIA for booking A K Jain, one of them, under strict provisions of
the UAPA just because illegal arms were allegedly recovered from his house,
reports Usha Das.
“This
reveals a sad state of affairs where the high-handedness of police officers
makes a person suffer for the crime he has not committed,” additional sessions
judge Parveen Singh said, adding, “there is no evidence at all of the accused
(Jain) of either being involved in the conspiracy or terrorist activities or
activities related to terror funding,” the judge said.
The
court said Adish Kumar Jain could not have been made an accused in this case
unless it was shown that evidence that was collected for the hawala
transactions of this accused, some of which are on record, reflected that he
was engaged in receiving or disbursing terror funds to some module of a
terrorist organization or on behalf of terrorist organisation, however, there
is not even an allegation of this kind against him.
When
the court inquired from the NIA as to why this accused was arrayed as an
accused in the case, the agency stated that he would not have been made an
accused in the case but for the alleged recovery of illegal arms from his
house.
“This
is a very surprising submission... (making) a person suffer for the crime he
has not committed as just by the reason of recovery of illegal arms/ weapons
from his house, the person has been arrested and charge-sheeted under the
stringent provisions of UAPA and has been claimed to be involved in terror
activities," it said in an order on June 10.
It
further said that Jain has been in custody since his arrest despite the fact
that the only offence for which he could have been charge sheeted was under the
Arms Act for alleged recovery of illegal arms.
"Apart
from that, there is no evidence at all of accused Jain of either being involved
in the conspiracy of present case or otherwise being involved in any terrorist
activities or activities related to terror funding," the judge said.
According
to the prosecution, on November 28, 2017, accused Shaikh Abdul Naeem was
arrested from Uttar Pradesh, for his alleged involvement in raising funds from
the main operatives of proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
based in Pakistan, for terrorist activities in India.
During
investigation, it was revealed that accused Bedar Bakht, Towseef Ahmad Malik,
Mafooz Alam, Habib-ur-Rehnam and Amzad had allegedly provided shelter,
logistics, mobile phones to Naeem, raised funds for him and had also
facilitated him in engaging fake identity as Sonu Sohel Khan. It was further
revealed during investigation that Abdul Samad, accused Dinesh Garg and Jain
were allegedly involved in receiving, collecting and delivering funds received
from Saudi Arabia.
The
court discharged Samad, who turned an approver in the case, Garg, Jain and Gul
Nawaz for all the offences, including sections under the UAPA.
The
court noted that surprisingly they have also been chargesheeted for the
offences punishable under sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471
(forgery) IPC, sections under the Passports Act and Aadhar Act.
"There
is neither any allegation nor any evidence that these accused had either
committed or conspired to commit any of these offences. This reflects the
callous manner in which the charge-sheet was prepared," it said.
The
court, however, framed charges for criminal conspiracy and raising funds for
terrorist activities against Naeem, Bakht, Malik, Habib-ur-Rehman and Javed.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Iran's
Home-Made 'Zoljanah' Satellite Carrier under Launch Tests
2022-June-16
“Three
launches of the Zoljanah satellite carrier were planned for research; one has
so far been conducted and two others will be carried out later,” Hosseini said
on Wednesday.
The
performance of the three-stage carrier, which uses compound fuel, can be
evaluated in each launch, he said.
The
satellite carrier weighs 52 tons and is 25.5 meters in length. It can carry
loads of up to 220 kilograms at an orbit of 500 kilometers above the surface,
Hosseini said.
Last
week, the Iranian Space Agency said work has been underway to prepare seven
more satellites for launch into the orbit.
The
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force successfully launched a
new reconnaissance satellite named 'Nour-2' into the orbit in March.
'Nour-2'
satellite was sent to the space on the back of the home-built launcher Qassed
(messenger) and was placed into the orbit at an altitude of 500 km.
The
satellite is tasked with reconnaissance, and was placed into the orbit after
480 seconds at the speed of 6.7 km/s.
'Nour-1',
the first military satellite of Iran, was successfully launched and put into
orbit by the Qassed carrier in April 2020. It was placed into the orbit at an
altitude of 425km.
In
July, the IRGC Aerospace Force released images taken by Nour-1, showing
al-Udeid base in Qatar, which hosts thousands of US forces.
The
images taken through mosaicking method by Nour-1 Satellite, which was launched
successfully on April 22, were high resolution and showed the US biggest
airbase in the Middle-East in Qatar which hosts nearly 13,000 American forces.
The
IRGC launched the satellite aboard Qassed (Carrier) satellite carrier during an
operation that was staged in Dasht-e Kavir, Iran’s sprawling Central desert.
The Launcher Qassed is a three-stage launcher using compound solid-liquid fuel.
Iranian
officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs
serve defensive purposes.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iranian
Intelligence Forces Arrest Element Connected with Detained French Spies
2022-June-16
The
Iranian intelligence forces in the Northwestern province of West Azerbaijan
announced the detention of a person who was linked with the espionage operations
performed by the two French nationals in Iran.
They
arrested the convict while trying to flee the country with the support of
dissident groups.
The
detainee had coordinated two French spies' actions who sought to foment chaos
in the country last month.
Last
month, Iran announced detention of two French nationals who practiced espionage
operations and sought to foment chaos in the country.
The
Iranian intelligence ministry said that its forces have arrested two French
spies, Cécile Kohler, 37, and Jacqeus Paris, 69, for attempting to stoke chaos
and social disorder in Iran during protests by teachers.
The
two French nationals traveled to Iran on April 28 as tourists but turned out to
be spies for the Western agencies.
The
duo attempted to foment instability and social disorder earlier this month when
some teachers took to the streets in peaceful protests to demand fair wages and
better working conditions, according to the ministry.
In
a video, released by local media, two French spies are shown entering Iran and
participating in the protests.
In
an audio file, which has poor quality, a woman and a man are heard talking
about a "battle to gather majority" to produce a "revolutionary
doc".
The
video also features some photos of the French pair visiting activists in Iran
who were imprisoned on spying charges or attempting to cause social disorder.
Some
photos show that the two were linked with teacher's unionists, including Rasoul
Bodaqi.
The
video concludes that the French nationals' were arrested on charges of spying.
In
January, Benjamin Brière, another French national, was sentenced to eight years
in prison on spying charges after he had photographed "prohibited
areas" with a drone.
In
a relevant development in April, the Iranian intelligence ministry detained
three agents cooperating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, in Sistan and
Balouchestan province in Southeastern Iran.
The
intelligence ministry said in a statement that the spies were involved in
disseminating classified information and documents.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Israel
announces new entry permits for Palestinians in Gaza
16
June, 2022
Israel
announced an extra 2,000 entry permits for Palestinians in Gaza Thursday,
bringing the total number of permits for workers from the blockaded enclave to
14,000.
“Following
a security assessment, the minister of defense has decided to raise the quota
of entry permits for work and commerce in Israel by an additional 2,000,”
COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the
Palestinian territories, said.
“All
the latest civil measures regarding the Gaza Strip are dependent on the
continued maintenance of stable security over time, and their expansion will be
considered in light of the situation as evaluated,” it said in a statement.
Israel
has maintained a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, when the
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas seized power.
Only
the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is outside Israeli control and it too
has remained largely closed.
A
recent World Bank report put the unemployment rate among Gaza’s more than two
million people at nearly 48 percent.
Work
in Israel provides a lifeline for thousands of Gazans, who can earn far higher
wages on Israeli farms and construction sites than they do in Gaza.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Israeli
forces shoot dead 3 Palestinians in Friday morning operation
June
17, 2022
JERUSALEM:
Israeli forces shot dead three Palestinians and wounded eight others early
Friday during a military operation in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian
Health Ministry said.
The
ministry did not say how the casualties occurred.
Palestinian
media quoted witnesses as saying Israeli troops opened fire at a car in the
northern West Bank town of Jenin and killed three passengers.
Heavy
exchanges of gunfire were heard in videos circulated on social media before the
incident involving the car. Afterward, footage on social media showed a
bullet-riddled vehicle with bloodstains and residents inspecting it.
There
was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which carries out frequent
overnight raids in Palestinian-controlled parts of the West Bank to arrested
suspected and wanted Palestinian militants. Most of the arrest raids were in
Jenin, the hometown of several Palestinian assailants who took part in a recent
string of attacks that killed at least 19 Israelis.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2105201/middle-east
--------
Arab
World
Mohammed
bin Salman, hard-charging heir reshaping Saudi Arabia
Jun
17, 2022
DUBAI:
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shaken up his conservative kingdom
with head-spinning reforms while quashing any threats to his status as de facto
ruler -- a role he assumed five years ago.
The
hard-charging heir has earned plaudits for allowing women to drive and
envisioning an economy less dependent on oil, but he has also drawn widespread
revulsion over the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and other
state abuses.
A
towering man with a full-face beard, a deep growling voice and seemingly
boundless energy, Prince Mohammed is known for his super-sized ambitions, from
building the futuristic megacity known as NEOM to waging the seven-year-old war
in neighbouring Yemen.
The
brash 36-year-old, said to have a fondness for fast food and the "Call of
Duty" video games, is also fabulously rich, owning a $500 million yacht, a
French chateau and, according to officially denied reports, a $450 million
Leonardo da Vinci painting.
Unlike
other Saudi princes with British accents, sharp suits and Oxford degrees, he
has embraced the country's Bedouin roots, usually donning a traditional robe
and sandals, and treating friends and relatives to lavish roast lamb meals in
luxury desert camps.
Having
plotted his path to power from relative obscurity, he has overseen the biggest
transformation in the modern history of Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude oil
exporter and host of Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina.
Under
his rule, the Islamic religious police have been de-fanged, cinemas have
reopened, foreign tourists have been welcomed, and Saudi Arabia has staged a
film festival, operas, a Formula One Grand Prix, professional wrestling and a
huge rave festival.
Yet
he has also jailed critics and, in a sweeping purge of the nation's elite,
detained and threatened some 200 princes and businessmen in Riyadh's
Ritz-Carlton hotel in a 2017 anti-corruption crackdown that tightened his grip
on power.
His
image was most severely tarnished by the brutal murder and dismemberment of
Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October 2018, which
prompted an international outcry despite Riyadh's insistence that rogue agents
carried out the killing.
"MBS
is a hugely divisive character, praised by supporters as a long-awaited
game-changer in a region aching for it and dismissed by foes as a brutal
dictator in the making," wrote Ben Hubbard in "MBS: The Rise to Power
of Mohammed bin Salman".
"He
is determined to give Saudis a shining, prosperous future and exercises an
unflinching willingness to crush his foes. Combined in different doses, those
attributes will likely guide his actions far into the future."
-
'Mr Everything' - Prince Mohammed was born on August 31, 1985, as one of the
hundreds of grandchildren of the country's founder, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. He
grew up in a Riyadh palace with his mother, Fahda, one of his father's four
wives, and his five brothers.
"As
the sixth son of the 25th son of the founding king, there was little reason to
expect that he would rise to prominence," wrote Hubbard. "And for
most of his life, few people did."
He
earned a law degree from Riyadh's King Saud University but never studied
abroad, and soon worked as a special adviser to his father, the then-Riyadh
governor.
When
King Salman assumed the throne in early 2015, he named Prince Mohammed as
defence minister.
Soon
the young man also coordinated economic policy, oversaw the state oil company
Saudi Aramco and supervised the kingdom's military intervention in Yemen.
Within
a year, he held so many portfolios that diplomats called him "Mr
Everything".
The
prince -- now a father of three boys and two girls, who unlike other Saudi
royals has only one wife -- reportedly worked 16-hour days and drew inspiration
from Winston Churchill and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War".
His
stunning ascent seemed almost Shakespearean. He replaced his elder cousin
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef to become heir to the throne in 2017. Three years
later Prince Nayef, along with a brother of King Salman, were reportedly
detained.
Prince
Mohammed has pledged to forge a "moderate" Saudi Arabia and wooed
international investors for his wide-ranging Vision 2030 plan to diversify the
oil-reliant economy.
"We
want to live a normal life," he once told business leaders in Riyadh.
"All we are doing is going back to what we were -- a moderate Islam that
is open to all religions and open to the world.
"Seventy
percent of the Saudi population is under 30 and, honestly, we will not spend
the next 30 years of our lives dealing with extremist ideas. We will destroy
them today."
-
'Fire hose of ideas' - As he rose to prominence, he toured the United States
and charmed leaders in the White House and on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley
and Hollywood.
New
York Times writer Thomas Friedman recounted how in an interview that lasted
late into the night, the prince "wore me out with a fire hose of new ideas
for transforming his country".
Perhaps
his most hyper-ambitious project is the $500 billion NEOM project on the Red
Sea coast, to be powered by solar energy and staffed by robots, which the
prince describes as a "civilisational leap for humanity".
Reflecting
the hopes of the country's youthful population, Prince Mohammed has eased
restrictions on women's rights, allowing them to drive, attend sports events
and concerts alongside men, and obtain passports without the approval of a male
guardian.
Along
with the reforms, though, came a crackdown on dissidents, including
intellectuals and women's rights activists, part of an apparent strategy to
stamp out any trace of opposition before a formal transfer of power from King
Salman.
Internationally,
he has pursued a more assertive foreign policy, plunging the kingdom into the
quagmire of regional rivalries: the Yemen war, hostility toward Shiite power
Iran, a three-year blockade of Qatar until 2021, and the reported detention of
Lebanon's prime minister for several tense days.
Prince
Mohammed, who once publicly berated US president Barack Obama for criticising
Saudi Arabia's rights record, forged a strong bond with Donald Trump and
especially his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, which would serve him well after
Khashoggi's death.
The
prince faced renewed scrutiny of his human rights record under US President Joe
Biden, who released an intelligence report that said MBS had "approved an
operation" to capture or kill Khashoggi.
Source:
Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
‘So
much at stake,’ Biden’s pick to be US envoy to Saudi Arabia says
16 June,
2022
President
Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next US ambassador to Saudi Arabia said Thursday
that there was “so much at stake” in the relationship between Washington and
Riyadh.
Michael
Ratney said he was committed to a strong and sustainable US-Saudi partnership,
adding that energy supplies would be a big part of his talks with the Saudi
government. “Energy supplies and encouraging a Saudi energy policy that aligns
with US priorities will be a major focus of my discussions with the Saudi
government,” he said at his nomination hearing in front of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
“If
confirmed, I am committed to a strong and sustainable US-Saudi partnership that
advances US interests and reflects US values,” Ratney said.
He
also said he would encourage the modernization project in Saudi Arabia and
build on the “vital” counterterrorism cooperation.
Ratney
will look to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory and deter Iran’s
“aggressive” behavior. Ending the war in Yemen and deepening engagement on
human rights would also be priorities, Ratney said.
The
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launched more than 400 cross-border attacks last
year on civilian targets, endangering 70,000 US citizens and the Saudi
population. Ratney said he wanted to help strengthen Saudi defenses through
security cooperation and training, “demonstrating the durable American
commitment to our partners and allies and to our values.”
The
Yemeni group’s principal backers, Iran, pose a significant threat to US and
Saudi interests, Ratney said. “We must work with our Saudi partners to counter
Iranian threats to global energy flows, regional stability, and the lives of
our fellow US citizens in the region.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Russia,
Turkey, Iran call for calm in Syria’s Idlib
16
June, 2022
Russia,
Turkey, and Iran have agreed to make further efforts to ensure calm in Syria’s
Idlib de-escalation area, the three countries said in a joint statement after
talks in Kazakhstan.
They
“highlighted the necessity to maintain calm on the ground by fully implementing
all agreements on Idlib” without specifying what that meant for Turkey’s plans
to conduct a military operation against the Kurdish-led YPG group there.
Ankara
says it must act in Syria because Washington and Moscow broke promises to push
the predominantly Kurdish group YPG 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border
after a 2019 Turkish offensive, and says attacks from YPG-controlled areas have
increased.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Saudi,
US officials discuss ways to boost economic partnership
16 June,
2022
Saudi
and US officials discussed ways to better an existing economic partnership
between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
The
Saudi delegation was led by the Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah
al-Qasabi alongside Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador to
the US.
They
met with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, where they discussed building
a green economy, strengthening the role of women in business, developing small
and medium enterprises (SMEs), and promoting innovation.
Other
topics discussed included “hydrogen production, waste management, promoting
innovations through protecting intellectual property, enhancing the knowledge economy
based on artificial intelligence, cloud storage, data flow, developing SMEs,
and the role of women and their participation in the economic development,” SPA
reported.
Al-Qasabi
also held a meeting at Georgetown University to discuss cooperation opportunities.
The
Saudi minister also met with President of the Export-Import Bank of the United
States (EXIM) Reta Jo Lewis over “means to enhance Saudi-US economic
partnership,” according to the SPA.
These
meetings came ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Kingdom in July at
the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The
president is scheduled to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman.
Separately,
Biden’s nominee to be the next US ambassador to Saudi Arabia said Thursday that
there was “so much at stake” in the relationship between Washington and Riyadh.
Michael
Ratney said he was committed to a strong and sustainable US-Saudi partnership,
adding that energy supplies would be a big part of his talks with the Saudi
government.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Lebanon’s
Hariri hails life sentence against 2 Hezbollah members over father’s
assassination
Wassim
Seif El Din
16.06.2022
BEIRUT,
Lebanon
Former
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday hailed a life sentence slapped
by a UN-backed court against two Hezbollah members in connection with the 2005
assassination of his father.
Hariri,
the head of the Future Movement, said on Twitter that the conviction of the two
Hezbollah members was the "clearest condemnation to the group
[Hezbollah]" in the assassination of former Premier Rafic Hariri.
"After
the conviction of Salim Ayyash in the crime of the assassination of martyr
premier Rafic Hariri [...] the Appeals Chamber of the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon unanimously sentenced two other Hezbollah members, Hassan Merhi and
Hussein Oneissi, to life imprisonment," Hariri said.
He
added that Hezbollah can't evade responsibility of handing over the convicts.
There
was no comment, so far, from Hezbollah on Hariri's remarks or the court
verdict.
Early
on Thursday, the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon sentenced in absentia two
members of Hezbollah to life imprisonment for Hariri’s assassination in 2005
along with 22 other people.
In
2020, the court also convicted in absentia Hezbollah member Salim Ayyash, whose
whereabouts remain unknown.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Iran
says last talks with Saudi Arabia 'positive'
Mohammad
Rajawi
16.06.2022
TEHRAN,
Iran
Iranian
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday described the last round
of talks between his country and regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia as "positive.”
In
a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussain, Amir-Abdollahian said
Tehran welcomes the outcome of the Iranian-Saudi talks in Baghdad, the
semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
The
top Iranian diplomat said Iraq intends to continue its efforts to facilitate
the talks between the regional rivals to help the two countries restore their
normal relations.
Since
2021, Baghdad has been hosting talks between Riyadh and Tehran to end their
diplomatic rift and reach an understanding on the conflict in Yemen and Iran's
nuclear file.
Iran
and Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations in January 2016 following an
attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran after Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr was
executed by Saudi authorities.
The
relationship between the two rivals deteriorated further after Iran in
September 2016 accused Riyadh of deliberately causing the death of around 400
Iranian pilgrims in a 2015 stampede in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-says-last-talks-with-saudi-arabia-positive/2615620
--------
Head
of Libya’s High Council of State invited to meet rival in Egypt
16.06.2022
TRIPOLI,
Libya
Head
of the Tripoli-based High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri said Thursday he
was invited to meet Libya’s Parliament Speaker Aquila Saleh for talks in Egypt.
In
a statement, al-Mishri said he was invited by UN special adviser on Libya,
Stephanie Williams, to review the conflicting points in the country's political
and constitutional path.
The
High Council of State, which acts as a senate, is a rival to east Libya-based
House of Representative (parliament).
“What
is important is to find the other partner serious about reaching national
consensus to end the transitional period in Libya,” al-Mishri said.
The
third and last UN-sponsored talks kicked off in Cairo on Sunday in an effort to
reach consensus on the constitutional framework to hold Libya’s long-awaited
elections.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Qatar
ruler receives message from Saudi king on bilateral ties
Yaqut
Dandashi
16.06.2022
DOHA,
Qatar
Qatar’s
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday received a written message
from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on bilateral relations between the two
Gulf neighbors.
The
message was delivered by Saudi Ambassador Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan,
who discussed with the Qatari ruler ways of boosting relations between Doha and
Riyadh, the state news agency QNA reported.
The
message came as US President Joe Biden plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month
where he will hold a summit with the leaders of the Gulf countries as well as
Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.
On
Saturday, Biden announced that any trip to Saudi Arabia would be for a
"larger meeting" on regional security.
In
January 2021, relations between Doha and Riyadh witnessed positive steps after
signing a reconciliation agreement in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, which brought down
the curtain on the Gulf crisis that broke out in the summer of 2017.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Egyptian
leader affirms depth of country’s strategic ties with EU
MOHAMMED
ABU ZAID
June
16, 2022
CAIRO:
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed that his country is
“continuously working to deepen the partnership with the EU in order to achieve
a qualitative leap in the relationship between the two sides.”
In
a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen, El-Sisi said that the EU is a key partner for Egypt.
The
Egyptian president also indicated that “his country is working to strengthen
cooperation with the EU, especially in the field of energy,” pointing out that
an agreement was reached that will lay the foundations of a strategic
partnership in the field of energy with Europe.
“The
international community is going through a delicate circumstance and the
language of dialogue must prevail to resolve disputes,” he said, adding that he
had discussed food security and high energy prices with the European Commission
president.
El-Sisi
that Egypt “has agreed with the EU to coordinate international efforts to
mitigate the repercussions of the global food crisis.”
In
addition, an Egyptian-European statement stressed “the priority of promoting
sustainable development, confronting climate change and environmental
degradation, and ensuring energy security.”
El-Sisi
said that “the security of gas supplies is a common concern. Egypt and the EU
will work together on the stable delivery of gas to the EU, and on the
sustainable use of natural gas resources within the framework of long-term
carbon reduction goals and measures related to managing and reducing methane
emissions.”
In
this context, Egypt and Brussels welcomed the signing of the relevant
memorandum of understanding between Egypt, Israel and the EU on June 15.
The
statement said that “both Egypt and the EU realize that geopolitical realities
and the current state of the energy market require accelerating and
intensifying this partnership.”
It
added: “By working together as partners, Egypt and the EU will face common
challenges in the security of energy supplies and diversification of energy
sources.”
In
this regard, he said that “the EU and Egypt will intensify cooperation,
focusing on renewable energy sources, hydrogen, work on energy efficiency, and
the production of clean fuels, especially hydrogen, in an economically feasible
manner.”
The
statement said that Egypt and the EU “realize that the full implementation of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change are essential pillars to make the world more resilient to future shocks,
and that trade, investments and policy reform to support the implementation of
these documents, based on their common principles, are the drivers of
sustainable recovery and sustainable development.”
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2105011/middle-east
--------
Europe
Swedish
imam charged for incitement against Jews in sermon
16.06.22
An
imam in Malmo, Sweden who during a sermon called Jews “the offspring of monkeys
and pigs” has been charged with incitement to hatred by Swedish authorities.
According
to Swedish news outlet STV, imam Basem Mahmoud said during an October 2020
sermon at Malmo’s al-Sahaba mosque: “Everyone hears and sees exactly what the
West takes for granted, what their masters the Jews, the descendants of monkeys
and pigs, the enemies of Islam and Muslims, dictate to them.”
The
sermon was subsequently uploaded to Mahmoud’s Youtube channel, where it was
discovered by Swedish media.
Source:
Israel National News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355029
--------
Over
800 mosques attacked in Germany since 2014: Rights group
16
JUNE 2022
More
than 800 mosques in Germany have been the targets of threats and attacks since
2014, but in most of the cases, the crimes were not properly investigated,
according to Brandeilig, an initiative of rights group FAIR International.
The
group, which has founded Germany’s first reporting center for attacks on
mosques, recorded nearly 840 incidents of attacks, vandalism and threats
between 2014 and 2022.
A
detailed analysis of the crimes in 2018 revealed that the perpetrators remained
unidentified in most of the attacks, fueling further attacks against Muslim
worship sites by neo-Nazis or left-wing extremists.
Among
the 120 attacks recorded against mosques in 2018, only in nine cases
perpetrators could be identified.
“This
rate is a cause for concern,” Brandeilig’s experts stressed, pointing out that
in at least 20 cases, which included arson attacks, suspects intended to cause
death or great bodily harm.
“In
general, the police officers arrived on the scene very quickly and immediately
started the investigation. Nevertheless, almost none of the incidents could be
solved until today,” the experts said.
-
‘First, current danger to Muslims should be accepted by German authorities’
Sociologist
and political scientist Yusuf Sari told Anadolu Agency: “In our opinion, one of
the most important findings is that the mosque communities did not inform about
this even though they had been attacked many times before.”
“Additionally,
half of the attacks are from the far right, and in most cases the perpetrators
have not been caught.
“This
means that the perpetrators still pose a threat to Muslims,” he said.
“It
is also important to note that communities are often left alone after an attack
and receive no help, both spiritual and material,” Sari noted.
He
made suggestions for solutions to the problems mentioned in the report and
explained his expectations from the German authorities: "As a first step,
the current danger to Muslims should be accepted.”
“In
general, we expect the authorities to do more in the fight against anti-Muslim
racism. Solidarity with Muslim communities should increase, and mosque
communities should be supported, including financial support, after an attack.
“But
one of the most important points is the elucidation of cases and the capture of
the perpetrators, otherwise this would be an incentive for the
perpetrators," he said.
“We,
of course, recorded the updated numbers and attacks,” Sari said, adding that
they observe an increase in the number of attacks against mosques and Muslims.
-
Need for change
“The
presence of a very small number of suspects is alarming,” he pointed out,
mentioning that it was surprising that German authorities have captured a very
small number of perpetrators to date.
“Something
needs to change, especially at this point, if we want to tackle far-right and
prevent people from being seriously harmed in the future,” he stated.
“Attacks
on mosques should not be underestimated under any circumstances,” he added.
“We
hope that we have made a small contribution to the issue of anti-Muslim racism
with our report.
“We
wish to increase solidarity with the mosque communities and we hope that the
attacks against Muslims in Germany will decrease,” Sari said.
Left-wing
extremists and followers of the YPG/PKK terror group were behind several
attacks targeting mosques, while majority of them were committed by right-wing
extremists or neo-Nazi groups, according to the report.
Source:
Yenisafak
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
New
terrorism law takes effect in Sweden as of July 1
Atila
Altuntaş
16.06.2022
STOCKHOLM
The
anti-terror law, which was adopted by the Swedish Parliament on May 31, will
come into force at the beginning of July, according to local media.
Swedish
official news agency TT reported the new anti-terrorism law will enter into
force as of July 1.
According
to the law, attempts to harm a country with the aim of terrorism and to commit
an intentional crime can be considered as a terrorist crime.
The
maximum prison sentence of a person who is proven to have committed an act
while being an active member of a terrorist group has been increased from six
years to seven years.
The
statute of limitations for simple terrorist crimes will be lifted.
Crimes
such as funding terrorism, calling to disrupt public order, recruiting staff
for a terrorist organization and providing terrorist training can be sentenced
to one year to six years in prison. The crimes in question were punishable by
six months in prison.
Swedish
courts will be able to try and decide on all crimes, regardless of who
committed the crime and where it was committed.
In
a statement, the Swedish Intelligence Agency, SEPO, said that the increased
penalties in the new law are a signal value for criminals.
The
statement stressed the country should not be a haven for violence-prone
individuals and extremists.
The
Swedish Parliament had adopted the new terrorism law on May 31, which foresees
an increase in penalties for terrorist crimes.
Sweden
is under pressure from Türkiye to end its support for the PKK/YPG terror group
if it wants to join NATO, with Ankara saying the bloc is a security alliance
and that any potential members must take a clear stance against terrorism.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/new-terrorism-law-takes-effect-in-sweden-as-of-july-1/2615107
--------
Pakistan
All
eyes on FATF as Pakistan hopes to come off 'grey list' today
June
17, 2022
The
Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog for combatting money
laundering and terrorist financing, is expected to announce today (Friday)
whether Pakistan will be removed from or retained on its increased monitoring
list, also known as the "grey list", but the government is hopeful
the outcome will be in the country's favour.
The
four-day plenary session began in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday. FATF officials
will hold a press conference at 7:30pm today to share the outcome of the
session, according to the watchdog's website.
Delegates
representing 206 FATF members and observers are attending the plenary session.
The observers include the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United
Nations, the World Bank, and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.
Diplomatic
sources earlier told Dawn that China and some other allies are quietly working
to get Pakistan off the grey list latest during the latest plenary session.
Recent
reports in the international media also mentioned this "quiet
lobbying", led by China, and one Indian media outlet reported that the
plenary session "is likely to decide to move Pakistan out from the list of
countries under increased monitoring, commonly known as its grey list".
Several
politicians, mostly from the PTI, and journalists posted on social media today
that the FATF had removed Pakistan from the grey list. However, Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is leading Pakistan's
delegation in Berlin, cautioned that prejudging the outcome and speculative reporting
should be avoided.
She
pointed out that the plenary meetings were still ongoing and the FATF would
issue a statement tonight after their conclusion.
She
added that a press conference would be held at the foreign ministry on Saturday
(tomorrow) in this regard.
A
spokesperson for the government told BBC Urdu that the outcome was expected to
be in Pakistan's favour according to information available at the moment. He
clarified, however, that even if the country was removed from the list, it
would take seven to eight months to "settle matters".
If
Pakistan exited the list, a FATF team would visit the country so it
"satisfy itself that work on its recommendations has been completed",
the spokesperson added.
Pakistan
has been on the grey list since June 2018.
Sources
told Dawn that an April 9 judgement by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore could
also help Pakistan in removing this stigma. The court sent Lashkar-e-Tayyaba
chief Hafiz Saeed to prison for 33 years on terrorism charges.
Those
who support the move to remove Pakistan from the list point out that the two
cases that led to his imprisonment were filed by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism
Department.
In
its last plenary, held in Paris in March, the FATF noted that "Pakistan
has completed 26 of the 27 action items in its 2018 action plan". The FATF
encouraged Pakistan "to address, as soon as possible, the one remaining
item, — investigating terrorism financing and targeting" senior leaders
and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups.
FATF
acknowledged that Pakistan had also met six of the seven action plans it was
asked to follow in June 2021 to counter money laundering.
For
the latest plenary session, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had prepared a
presentation for the FATF plenary, showing how Pakistan has completed all the
27 tasks that it was given.
PTI's
'success'
As
speculation mounted on Pakistan's possible exit from the list, members of the
former PTI cabinet, claimed credit for the purported development.
Former
finance minister Shaukat Tarin said the "removal" was another feather
in the cap of Hammad Azhar, who was the former energy minister and also the
government's top coordinator for efforts on anti-money laundering and counter
terror financing.
"Another
success of PTI govt. #FATF #ThankYouImranKhan," tweeted former human
rights minister Shireen Mazari.
Senator
Ejaz Chaudhry said he hoped Pakistan would exit the grey list today, terming it
the result of the Imran Khan-led government's work.
Chaudhry
feared that the incumbent government would take credit for it.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1695279/all-eyes-on-fatf-as-pakistan-hopes-to-come-off-grey-list-today
--------
PM
Shehbaz to share details on PTI govt’s deal with IMF soon
June
16, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday promised the nation that his
government would release details regarding the previous PTI regime’s deal with
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) soon.
His
message on Twitter comes a day after the government raised fuel prices by as
much as nearly Rs60, with petrol reaching Rs233.89 — unprecedented in the
country’s history.
“Acutely
aware of the impact that a fuel price hike causes. Govt is left with no choice
but to raise the prices due to IMF deal that PTI govt signed. Will take the
nation into confidence on the specifics of the IMF-PTI deal soon,” wrote the
prime minister.
“We
will get out of these economic difficulties, InshaAllah,” he added.
PM
Shehbaz followed by criticising the past government’s handling of negotiations
with the global lender, saying: “I wonder whether those who struck the worst
ever deal with IMF and took patently bad economic decisions have the conscience
to face the truth. How can they pretend to be innocent when what the nation is
going through is clearly their doing?”
“Details
soon,” he reiterated.
The
surge in prices, although a highly unpopular move that has the nation fuming,
had been a key demand of the IMF for a long time.
Finance
Minister Miftah Ismail on Monday said that if the government does not abolish
the subsidies on petroleum products by July (in effect raising the prices),
then the country will default.
Speaking
in Geo News programme “Capital Talk”, the finance minister said the IMF has
“insisted” on abolishing the subsidies on petroleum products.
In
a bid to bring economic stability and revive the stalled multi-billion-dollar
IMF programme, the government had increased the price of petrol by a whopping
Rs60 per litre last month.
Additional
measures needed, says IMF
Pakistan
had signed a 39-month, $6 billion Extended Fund Facility with the IMF in July
2019. It received disbursements of about $3bn but further tranches were stopped
when an agreement could not be reached with the previous government. The lender
had expressed concerns over the status of some of its objectives, including
fiscal consolidation.
IMF’s
resident representative on Monday said that additional measures will be needed
to bring Pakistan’s budget for FY2022-23 in line with the key objectives of its
IMF programme.
The
next tranche that Pakistan is to receive upon a successful review is $900
million, and a green light from the IMF would also open up other global funding
avenues.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Bilawal
pitches for engagement with India, says it serves Pakistan’s interests
Jun
17, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed on engagement with
India on Thursday, saying that it was the only way to influence policy-making
in the neighbouring country.
“Does
it serve our interests or do we achieve our objectives, whatever they may be,
be it Kashmir, be it the rising Islamophobia, be it the Hindutva supremacist
nature of the new regime and government in India? Does it serve our objective
that we have practically cut all engagement?” Bilawal asked during his address
at the Institute of Strategic Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank.
The
FM said he believed that diplomatic, economic, cultural and political
engagement was the only answer. “When I say that we’re cutting our nose to
spite our face, I mean that if we’re not even going to try and engage on the
basis of one issue or the other, then
how
can we hope to impact or change the course of events,” he asked, before
narrating the list of issues, including Kashmir, that Pakistan has been raising
against India time and again. “That I, as foreign minister of Pakistan, as the
representative of my country, not only don’t speak to the Indian government but
I also don’t speak to the Indian people — Is that the best way to communicate
or achieve Pakistan’s objective?” he asked.
He
then referred to his sla- in mother former PM Benazir Bhutto’s engagement with
her Indian counterpart when she was first elected PM. “If at that point in time
we had achieved economic engagement with India and our economic engagement on
both sides had been to such a level. . . perhaps we would be in a position to
more effectively influence Indian policy-making. . ,” hesaid.
Source:
Times Of India
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Pakistan
hikes fuel prices by 29% to secure IMF funding
Jun
17, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s government has hiked fuel prices by up to 29%, removing fuel
subsidies in an attempt to trim the fiscal deficit and secure critical support
from the IMF for the cash-strapped economy. This is the third cut in fuel
subsidies by the government headed by PM Shehbaz Sharif in about 20 days. The
new prices came into effect from Wednesday midnight and showed a massive hike
of Rs 24 per litre in petrol prices and Rs 59. 16 per litre of high-speed
diesel (HSD) – the two products used by everyone directly or indirectly,
finance minister Miftah Ismail said.
The
latest rise came on top of an already Rs 60 increase in the prices of petroleum
since May 25. The new petrol price has been fixed at Rs 233. 89 per litre, HSD
at Rs 263. 31 per litre and kerosene oil at Rs 211. 47 per litre. He said the
prices of all products had now been brought to their purchase price and the
element of subsidy or price differential claim had been eliminated. “There is
no more government loss on the sale of petroleum products,” he said, hoping to
conclude an agreement with the IMF for reviving loan support.
Source:
Times Of India
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Security
boost for Chinese living in Islamabad
Jun
17, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
In the wake of increasing attacks on Chinese nationals living in the country,
Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad has announced a slew of security measures
to boost their safety. At a meeting held to review the performance of a cell
established by Islamabad police for the security of foreigners, over 1,000
Chinese nationals in the capital will be urged to keep the police abreast of
their movements at all times, Dawn newspaper reported.
Officials
said that those involved in the CPEC projects are provided extra cover by
security forces and paramilitary troops. It was also decided that either SHOs
of police stations, security division or patrolling unit will provide security
cover to the China nationals. They will also be responsible for patrolling
around the residences of China nationals. CCTV cameras are to be installed
around the residences as well as on the roads leading to their houses.
Source:
Times Of India
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MQM-P
claims victory as violence mars by-poll in Karachi's NA-240
Imtiaz
Ali | Imran Ayub
June
17, 2022
KARACHI:
Marred by low turnout, mismanagement on part of the Election Commission and
poor performance of the law-enforcement agencies, the by-election in Karachi’s
NA-240 turned into a deadly episode on Thursday.
Armed
attacks, clashes between workers of rival parties and an assault on election
camps left at least one man dead and over a dozen people injured amid
complaints of rigging by the key contesting parties.
According
to late-night unofficial results, Mohammad Abubakar of the Muttahida Qaumi
Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) won the by-election by securing 10,683 votes,
defeating Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) candidate Shehzada Shahbaz who
bagged 10,618 votes. Muhajir Qaumi Movement’s Syed Rafiuddin came third with
8,383 votes. The TLP rejected the results and decided to challenge the outcome
in court.
Tensions
prevailed right from the first hour of polling, when the parties raised
objections against each other for harassing their respective workers. The
situation, however, turned violent hardly an hour or two before polling was due
to close. Three major parties — MQM-P, TLP and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) — were
primarily involved in the violence, both as alleged perpetrators and victims.
MQM-P
claims victory, TLP disputes result; rivals fight pitched battle in Landhi as
law enforcers look on
First
it was Korangi 2 1/2 Degree College where an activist was caught by
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras stealing ballot paper books from one
of the polling booths. After he was arrested, the TLP accused him of being an
MQM-P worker, but the party denied the allegation.
Within
a few minutes, workers on both sides — TLP and MQM-P — were seen engaged in a
scuffle outside the polling station where a heavy contingent of police appeared
helpless and unmoved. However, the real showdown began around 4pm when the
intersection of Landhi No. 6 became a battleground.
First,
it was a convoy of the PSP, led by senior party leader Anis Kaimkhani, which
came under heavy fire at the main roundabout, followed by a TLP convoy led by
its chief Allama Saad Rizvi.
Karachi
police chief Javed Alam Odho told Dawn after initial findings: “There were
reports of some irregularities at a Landhi No. 6 polling station. In the
meantime, several workers of a religious party also arrived there. Contingents
of the police rushed to the spot after receiving information. The police found
the presiding officer of the polling station in connivance with one of the
political groups and his matter was taken up with the ECP. When all this was going
on, a senior leader of another party along with around 300-400 workers arrived
there and forcibly entered the polling station. When both groups were returning
amid a tense situation, violent episodes happened on the main road near the
roundabout.”
The
free use of arms and intense firing in the presence of a heavy police
contingent left around a dozen people injured, including former Sindh Assembly
member and senior PSP leader Iftikhar Alam. All injured were shifted to Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where 60-year-old Saifuddin died during
treatment. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said they received one body and nine
injured at the JPMC. Another injured person was moved to a private hospital on
Stadium Road.
Indiscriminate,
heavy and consistent firing sowed fear and panic in the densely populated
neighbourhood, where many people were seen running for cover amid little or no
action from law enforcement agencies.
Grim
reminder
When
the guns finally fell silent and the situation was brought under control by law
enforcers, political parties continued to indulge in a blame game about who was
responsible.
PSP
chairman Mustafa Kamal blamed the TLP, calling it a “militant party” which had
attacked his workers and harassed his voters after sensing defeat in the
by-poll. The TLP spokesman, while rejecting the allegation, accused the PSP of
bringing its whole city workforce to the constituency “with heavy arms and a
plan of rigging.”
MQM-P
senior leader and Federal Minister Aminul Haq referred to a number of his party
workers who were injured during the “daylong attacks” and claimed that the
violence was staged to make the process controversial.
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1695221/violence-mars-na-240-by-poll
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Sikh
yatrees attend ‘Akhand Bhog Sahib’ to mark martyrdom of Guru Arjun
June
16, 2022
Thousands
of Sikh yatrees from across the world attended ‘Akhand Bhog Sahib’ rites
to
mark martyrdom day of Guru Arjun Dev G at Gurdwara Shri Dera sahib here on
Thursday.
144
Sikh yatrees, including Sikhs from Canada, United Kingdom (UK) and the United
States (US) had travelled from India to attend Jorr Mela. A 16-member Raagi
group led by Sardar Sukhwinder
Singh,
144 Indian Sikh yatrees and a large number of pilgrims from Pakistan attended
the
ceremony.
Chairman
Roet e Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad and Chairman Evacuee Trust
Property Board (ETPB) Habib-ur-Rehman Gillani attended the ceremony held under
the auspices of the ETPB.
Bhog
of Akhad Path was offered on this occasion after recitation from the Gurur
Grantham Sahib to mark death anniversary of the fifth master Guru Arjun Dev.
Hymns were also sung by the Raagi Group.
Speaking
on the occasion, Maulana Syed Abdul Khabeer Azad said Islam puts special
emphasis on the rights of minorities, adding that: “All minorities enjoy
complete religious freedom and opportunities to self-aggrendizement in
Pakistan”.
He
said his father started the mission of promoting inter-faith harmony from the
platform of the Badshahi Mosque. He said: “It is our collective responsibility
to promote inter-faith harmony and human dignity in the face of various
challenges faced by the world”.
Maulana
Syed Abdul Khabeere said Pakistan is a bouquet made up of different flowers,
adding that the white coloUr in the Pakistan flag represents minorities.
The
ETPB Chairman Habib ur Rehman Gillani said Pakistani minorities enjoyed all
rights in the light of the constitution of Pakistan.
He
welcomed the followers of Sikh and Hindu religions across the world to
Pakistan, adding that:” Our doors are always open for the pilgrims”.
The
chairman ETPB wished that more and more Sikh yatrees arrive from the
neighbouring India and perform their religious rites at the shrines and
gurdwaras.
Sardar
Sukhwindar Singh said:” Pakistan is our second home and love and affection, we
have been accorded, cannot be expressed in words”.
He
said, no doubt, the religious sites of Sikh religions were very well looked
after in Pakistan and the Sikh nation across the globe was obliged to Pakistan
for the favours.
Source:
Pakistan Today
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Southeast
Asia
State
Govts Enable Discrimination, Moral Policing, Says Komuniti Muslim Universal, A
Religious Group
Danial
Azhar
June
16, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: A religious group laments that “state-sponsored discrimination” against
ethnic minorities of different faiths through laws and fatwas, or religious
edicts, is facilitating intolerance.
Giving
examples of how this intolerance was affecting the Muslim community, Hisham
Muhaimi of Komuniti Muslim Universal said state governments had enabled the
rise of vigilante groups to police Muslims.
He
cited Skuad Badar, which operated in Sungai Petani, Kedah, as a prime example.
Skuad
Badar refers to an anti-vice group in Sungai Petani that would raid budget
hotels and target couples for allegedly commiting khalwat (close proximity).
“State
governments, such as in Kedah, have created an enabling environment for
intolerance to thrive.
“This
has opened the doors for moral vigilante groups to police people when they have
no right or authority to do so,” he said at the launch of Sisters in Islam
(SIS) and Merdeka Center’s survey on Malaysian Muslim youth.
Hisham
also cited PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s decree in 2018 as a “dangerous”
example of misusing religion.
Four
years ago, Hadi said it was compulsory for Muslims to oppose and openly protest
the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
Hisham
said Malaysia must revamp its education system to teach youth about the
constitution as well as the ethnic and religious rights enshrined in it. This,
he added, was essential to ensure religious and ethnic harmony and tolerance
within society.
He
said that while the country prided itself on multiculturalism, it only celebrated
the food and festivities of the different ethnicities but continued to shy away
from the real issues or conflicts between the various cultures.
Hisham
was commenting on the Malaysian Muslim youth survey conducted by Merdeka Center
and SIS, which found, among other things, that 81% of the 1,216 respondents
believed that Islam should be a priority in matters of public life.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Govt’s
claim of looking after Muslims and Bumiputeras questioned
Danial
Azhar
June
16, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: The notion that the government looks after the welfare of Muslims and
Bumiputeras is “wearing thin”, says a research centre.
Merdeka
Center programmes director Ibrahim Suffian said the government could no longer
claim to protect the welfare of Muslims and Bumiputeras as many among them were
struggling.
“We
see this now with the increasing prices of goods and basic necessities.
“How
can the government claim to look after Muslims and Bumiputeras when a large
portion of these communities are suffering just as much as other ethnic groups
in the country?” he asked at the launch of Sisters in Islam and Merdeka
Center’s survey on Malaysian Muslim youth.
Ibrahim
said the government had resorted to providing subsidies and aid to those most
in need rather than actively implementing measures to improve their condition
of life.
“There
is a big disconnect between the ideals the government preaches and the policies
it actually implements.”
He
said it was evident from the political instability in the country that many
politicians and political leaders put their own interests ahead of the people.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Selangor
Sultan says state PAS chief's statement after royal audience about Bon Odori
inaccurate
By
Radzi Razak
17
Jun 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, June 17 ― The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today
said that Selangor PAS Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi's statement after
he was summoned for an audience to discuss matters pertaining to the Bon Odori
festival was not accurate.
His
Majesty’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said the part where Roslan
said “His Majesty wanted to know our stance on the Bon Odori celebration. His
Majesty gave his views and we also conveyed to His Majesty that we respect His
Majesty's stand,” is not accurate at all and clarified that this was not what
happened during the audience.
Mohamad
Munir said His Majesty only stated about His Majesty's stance not to restrict
the Japanese cultural festival “Bon Odori” which will be held in Selangor since
it is only cultural in nature.
“His
Majesty also did not prevent any Muslim from attending it until an in-depth
study was done on the festival whether it was religious or cultural in nature
to avoid confusion among the community, especially the Muslim community,” he
said in a statement today.
Datuk
Munir said other than Yunus, during the audience before His Majesty at Istana
Bukit Kayangan Shah Alam on Tuesday evening, several members of the House of
the Ruler of Selangor were also invited to witness the meeting, namely, the
Chairman of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd
Yusof, Tengku Seri Wangsa Diraja Tengku Datuk Ramli Alhaj Tengku Shahruddin
Shah and Datuk Setia Salehuddin Saidin.
Previously,
Yunus had urged the Selangor state government on June 10 to prohibit Muslims
from participating in the Bon Odori festival.
Source:
Malay Mail
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Africa
Uganda's
army says it discovers training facility for Islamist militia
June
16, 2022
KIKUBAJINJA,
Uganda, June 16 (Reuters) - Uganda's military said on Thursday it had
discovered bomb making material at a training facility for an Islamic
State-allied rebel group around 60 kilometres west of the capital Kampala, and
that three people had been detained.
Authorities
blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia based in the dense forests
in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, for a series of bombings in
Kampala and elsewhere late last year which left at least nine people dead.
In
one of the worst attacks, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a
police station in the centre of Kampala. Three minutes later two other suicide
bombers detonated along a road that leads to the parliament.
The
training facility was found at the home of a local man, army spokesman Felix
Kulayigye said during a media tour of the village of Kikubajinja in Luwero
district.
A
tunnel used for training had been dug in one of the rooms, he said.
Security
personnel had become suspicious after reports emerged from neighbours that
"nobody was allowed to enter, nobody would be seen getting out,"
Kulayigye said.
Authorities
recovered bomb making materials including metal, nails and wires as well as
bullets and a pistol fitted with a silencer, he said.
Source:
Reuters
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Nearly
40 extremists killed in drone strikes in Niger: French military
16
June, 2022
French
drone strikes killed nearly 40 extremists earlier this week who were traveling
on motorcycles near Niger’s border with Burkina Faso, France’s military
announced Thursday.
In
a statement, the French military called the strikes a “new tactical success”
for France’s counterterrorism efforts in Africa’s Sahel region, named Operation
Barkhane.
“Intelligence
obtained from Nigerien units in contact with the column confirmed that the
motorcycles belonged to an armed terrorist group moving between Burkina Faso
and Niger,” Barkhane said in the statement.
“In
close coordination with Niger’s Armed Forces, the Barkhane force conducted
several strikes against the column. Nearly 40 terrorists were neutralized.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Morocco’s
king tests positive for COVID-19
16
June, 2022
King
Mohammed VI of Morocco has tested positive for COVID-19 but has exhibited no
symptoms, his doctor said on Thursday.
The
king will be on sick leave for a couple of days, his doctor Lahcen Belyamani
said in a statement carried by state media.
Professor
Lahcen Belyamani recommended “a period of rest for a few days”, according to a
statement published by the official MAP news agency.
King
Mohammed, who holds sweeping powers, has headed the regions longest-serving
dynasty since 1999.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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of the original story:
https://english.alarabiya.net/coronavirus/2022/06/16/Morocco-s-king-tests-positive-for-COVID-19
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/us-prophet-blasphemous-human-rights/d/127265