VHP, Bajrang Dal Sets UP Garba Action Plan ‘Women Helpline’ To Report Harassment, Prevent ‘Love Jihad’
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 August 2025
File photo of women performing Garba during Navratri in Surat | ANI
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· VHP, Bajrang Dal Sets UP Garba Action Plan ‘Women Helpline’ To Report Harassment, Prevent ‘Love Jihad’
· Gazan Students Granted Approval To Study In UK
· Anti-terrorism Squad Arrest Head Of Palestinian Community In Nigeria, Ramzy Abu Ibrahim
· Virtual Panel ‘United Against Hate’: Protecting Texas Communities’ From Anti-Muslim Hate, Bigoted Rhetoric, And Fearmongering
· Dozens of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, Perform Talmudic Rituals
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India
· Facing Online Backlash, Content Creator of Maharashtra Deletes Video Promoting Religious Harmony, Apologises
· Radical Hindutva Links Of The Men Arrested For Lynching A Muslim ManSitting With A Hindu Woman In A Cafe In Maharashtra
· Court Rebukes Sanjay Nirupam For 'Housing Jihad' Claims In Mumbai
· Drones along LoC prompt search operation in Poonch
· Mehbooba Mufti in rare protest for freeing separatists, CM tells PDP leader to go to Delhi
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Europe
· Azerbaijani Religious Leader To Attend OIC Event In Iran
· Ukraine imposes Covid mask regime in two regions
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Africa
· Displaced residents return to war-shattered Khartoum
· AboreAwujale apologises to religious leaders over utterances
· Buni mourns Yobe 100-level student killed in road crash
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North America
· UC Berkeley a ‘Hostile Campus’ - Safety Threats, Harassment, and Suppression of Palestine Advocacy
· CAIR Designates Wayne State University a “Hostile Campus” for Repeated Silencing of Gaza Genocide Protestors
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Mideast
· Israeli Rights Group Accuses Israeli Major General Of War Crimes In West Bank
· Amnesty Urges War Crimes Probe Into Israeli Destruction In Lebanon
· Islamic Countries To Work To Suspend Israel's UN Membership
· Hamas: Zionist Violations At Al-Aqsa Mosque Dangerous Escalation & Attempt To Judaise It
· Tunisia rights groups denounce closure of freedom of information agency
· OIC Chief Demands Immediate Ceasefire, End To Israeli Aggression In Gaza
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysia Confident In Handling Threats Over Pro-Palestine Stance
· High Court orders exhumation of UTM Palapes cadet’s grave for second post-mortem
· Hajiji urges religious institutions to confront bullying culture
· King of Malaysia welcomes Brunei’s Sultan HassanalBolkiah at Istana Negara on four-day state visit
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South Asia
· ‘We Want Justice, We Want Accountability’For Atrocities Against The Rohingyas: Speakers In Cox Bazar
· PurbachalPlot Scam: Testimony Begins Against Hasina, 11 Others For 2nd Day
· Over 2,300 Foreign Nationals Visits Afghanistan in One Month
· Trump, Vance Label Biden Incompetent During Kabul Anniversary Memorial
· Islamabad High Court Blocks Deportation of 18 Afghan Refugees with Expired PoR Cards
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Arab World
· Saudi-Owned Artificial Intelligence App Humain Chat Launches To Users In Kingdom
· Initiative to boost AI learning across Saudi Arabia
· Third Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces unit completes THAAD training in US
· Scientists seek to tap Kingdom’s geothermal energy
· Saudi FM discusses Gaza with Iranian, Syrian counterparts
· 9,900 Students Join Mawhiba Classes Program
· Saudi, Iraqi foreign ministers discuss Gaza crisis on sidelines of OIC meeting
· Environment Ministry app aims to bolster agricultural sector
· KSrelief distributes 1,500 food parcels in Sudan’s White Nile
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/vhp-bajrang-dal-garba-women-love-jihad/d/136612
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VHP, Bajrang Dal Sets UP Garba Action Plan ‘Women Helpline’ To Report Harassment, Prevent ‘Love Jihad’
Neelam Pandey
25 August, 2025
File photo of women performing Garba during Navratri in Surat | ANI
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New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal have announced setting up a dedicated helpline for women to report harassment and check the cases of so-called ‘love jihad’ at Garba events during Navratri in Gujarat. They also said they will conduct inspections and thoroughly check the identity of those entering Garba Pandals.
In Surat, the Bajrang Dal has also asked Garba organisers to ensure those performing on the stage during the festivity are not scantily clad. Surat Bajrang Dal district president Jay Patel said females attending Garba events should refrain from wearing ‘backless’ and ‘deep neck’ clothes and maintain the sanctity of the place.
He said their effort is to reach the spot even before the police once they receive a call on the helpline number. “Three separate helpline numbers will be announced—for north, south and Saurashtra pranth. More details on it will be provided later. As far as our jurisdiction is concerned, we will be launching the helpline for South Gujarat. Our effort will be to reach before the police though we will also inform the police immediately once we receive any complaint,” Patel said.
“We will be supporting the law-enforcement agencies fully,” he added.
Navratri this year falls between 22 September and 2 October.
Giving details about the helpline in Surat, Patel said a team of 150 people comprising 90 women and 60 men will be tasked to respond to such calls, and reach Garba pandals and adjoining areas once they receive any such call.
“We will work in tandem with the police and if we reach before the police we will then handover the culprits to the police,” he added.
Over the past few years, there have been violence, disruptions and police action at and around Garba folk dance events, the mainstay of the nine-day festival of Navratri, with allegations that Muslim youths were allegedly trying to enter these venues. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal have been at the forefront of highlighting this issue with their workers apparently keeping a watch during the dance events in Gujarat.
Hindu women are the target during such programmes and fears of love jihad and concerns over “women’s security” during Garba events were the reason behind the launch of the helpline, Patel said.
“We have been noticing that during Garba celebration some anti-social elements and Muslims try to trap Hindu sisters and daughters in ‘love jihad’. Our workers will be present at the venue and will carry out surprise inspections. Those who talk about communal harmony should also answer why don’t they bring their wives and daughters to these Garba pandals? A thorough check will be conducted to check the identity of those entering these pandals,” he added.
‘Why no Garba at their own religious places’
In Surat district especially, the VHP and Bajrang Dal have announced a slew of measures including carrying out surprise inspections of Garba grounds.
“If communal unity is to be maintained then Salman should also bring his wife or sisters Salma to pay Garba too. Why don’t they organise Garba at their own religious places? They trap our Hindu sisters by hiding their true identity and by the time truth is revealed it is too late,” he added.
Asked if such a helpline will be announced for other states too, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the view of the organisation is very clear on the matter that those “who have faith in the religion should be allowed here”.
“This is not a tourist place, Navratri is linked to our religion and culture,” he said. “Why do they want to go to these Garba pandals? What is their agenda? If they really want to attend it then they should come with their families…their wives, daughters and should clearly identify themselves.”
He also pointed out that every year the local VHP and Bajrang Dal in Gujarat announce several initiatives. “To maintain the purity, sanctity, and religious atmosphere of the place and for overall law and order, the administration has in the past also announced several initiatives,” he added.
Bansal further said the demand for introducing such initiatives is in fact coming from society now. “People have seen how impersonating as Hindus, many Muslim men trap our girls and then they are found in a blue drum. We are clear about not letting non-believers attend our religious programmes as is also followed by them. In fact, they don’t even allow their women to visit mosques but are keen to attend Garba,” he said.
In Gujarat’s Ahmedabad in the past, Bajrang Dal members had allegedly assaulted Muslim men trying to enter Garba venues.
Source: theprint.in
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https://theprint.in/politics/vhp-bajrang-dals-garba-action-plan-women-helpline-to-report-harassment-prevent-love-jihad/2728608/
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Gazan students granted approval to study in UK
Nick Eardley & Daniel Wittenberg
26 Aug, 2025
Mahmoud (in glasses) is one of the nine students with scholarships under the Chevening scheme
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The government has agreed plans to allow around 40 students in Gaza to come to the UK in the coming weeks to take up funded university scholarships.
Nine have been told they will be given assistance to leave Gaza to pursue scholarships under the Chevening scheme, a predominantly government-funded initiative for international students to study one-year master's degrees.
The BBC understands the home secretary has also approved plans to help around 30 others who have fully funded scholarships through other private schemes.
They would be the first to leave Gaza to study in the UK since the Hamas-Israel war began in 2023. However, Israel must agree that each student can leave the territory.
Relations with Israel have deteriorated since the UK said it would recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel did not meet certain conditions related to its war in Gaza.
There will also be considerable logistical challenges evacuating students from a war zone. They will be taken to a third country in the region for visa biometric checks before being brought to the UK.
A Home Office source described the plan as "complex and challenging", but said that the home secretary had made it "crystal clear" that she wanted the students to take up their places in the UK".
The approvals come a day after the BBC reported that the nine Chevening students had been emailed about their study programmes.
The decision follows months of campaigning by politicians, academics, and others on behalf of more than 80 Palestinian students who hold offers from UK universities this year.
Although around 40 students are covered by the latest decision – there are others without funded places.
Several students have spoken to the BBC in recent days, before the latest development, with some raising fears they might die before they can be evacuated.
Others have said they would find it difficult to leave loved ones behind.
The UK government is also planning to evacuate a group of critically ill and injured children to the UK for medical treatment in the coming weeks.
Other countries, including Italy, Ireland, and France, have already evacuated students. France however suspended its evacuation programme earlier this month after a Palestinian student in the country was accused of making antisemitic remarks online.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others in its attack on southern Israel in October 2023. More than 60,000 people have since been killed in Gaza, and Palestinians have largely been unable to leave the territory without diplomatic assistance.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqnjqgp719o
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Anti-terrorism Squad Arrest Head Of Palestinian Community In Nigeria, Ramzy Abu Ibrahim
August 25, 2025
Operatives of the Anti-terrorism Squad have reportedly arrested the Head of the Palestinian Community in Nigeria, Ramzy Abu Ibrahim.
Family members disclose that Ibrahim, a Palestinian-Nigerian who has lived in the country for decades, was arrested on Friday at his residence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking to Sahara Reporters, a relative said: “He was arrested on Friday by the security operatives. They identified themselves as the Anti-Terrorism squad. This man is not a stranger in Nigeria. He has been here for over 35 years, and he went to school in this country.
“As we speak, we (the family) don’t know where he is, and we don’t know which station he is being detained. The only reason we might link to his arrest was his recent advocacy on the growing attacks on journalists and other vulnerable people in Gaza.”
In recent weeks, Ibrahim has intensified public commentary on the rising killings of journalists in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes.
Confirming the arrest, an official at the Palestinian Embassy in Nigeria said the mission was still awaiting details.
“Yes, we heard about it and we are still trying to process the information,” an official of the Palestinian Embassy in Nigeria told SaharaReporters.
Nigerian security agencies had not released any official statement regarding his arrest as at press time.
Naija News reports that on Monday that 15 people, including four journalists, were killed after Israeli airstrikes hit al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza.Nigerian cultural tourism packages
This was confirmed by the Palestinian health officials, stating that those killed include Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters cameraman; Mariam Abu Dagga, a freelance reporter with the Associated Press; Mohammed Salam of Al Jazeera; and Moaz Abu Taha, who worked with NBC.
Another Reuters journalist, photographer Hatem Khaled, was seriously injured.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/08/25/anti-terrorism-squad-arrest-head-of-palestinian-community-in-nigeria-ramzy-abu-ibrahim/
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Virtual Panel ‘United Against Hate’: Protecting Texas Communities’ From Anti-Muslim Hate, Bigoted Rhetoric, And Fearmongering
August 25, 2025
More than two dozen organizations — representing nearly one million Muslims across the state — have issued a joint statement to state leaders condemning the rise of anti-Muslim hate, bigoted rhetoric, and fearmongering across the state.
The letter emphasizes that Texas Muslims are integral to the fabric of the state, contributing to education, healthcare, technology, law, agriculture, energy, and more, while calling on leaders to uphold justice, accountability, and dignity for all Texans.
“For decades, the Muslim community in Texas has worked to build civic engagement, driven by the belief that we as Texans together can champion justice and democracy. We will not remain silent while our faith and identity are used for political gain,” the statement reads.
The coalition calls on state leaders to:
Publicly and unequivocally condemn all bigoted rhetoric against all faiths, ethnicities and races.
Hold individuals accountable – including state leaders and party officials – in upholding our shared values.
Recognize that silence in the face of adversity is complicity.
Read the full joint statement here: bit.ly/unitedagainsthateTX
As part of this effort, the undersigned organizations are also inviting the public to a virtual panel discussion:
The panel will feature community leaders and elected officials discussing the rise of anti-Muslim hate in Texas and how communities can work together to confront it.
Signed by:
Council on American Islamic Relations – Texas (CAIR-Texas), CAIR Action Texas, Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), Muslim American Society chapters, Islamic Circle of North America Council for Social Justice (ICNA-CSJ), Muslim Legal Fund of America, and more than 25 Organizations representing Muslims statewide.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-texas-joins-other-muslim-groups-in-release-of-joint-statement-on-rising-hate-announce-virtual-panel-united-against-hate-protecting-texas-communities/
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Dozens of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, Perform Talmudic Rituals
25 Aug 2025
Dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Mughrabi Gate on Monday morning, under heavy protection from Israeli police.
According to the Palestinian Safa News Agency, the Islamic Endowments Department in occupied Quds reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in successive groups and organized provocative tours of its courtyards.
The Department explained that the intruders performed Talmudic rituals and prayers in the eastern area of the mosque.
Israeli police imposed strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinians to the mosque, checked their IDs, and detained some at its gates.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3541239.htm
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India
Facing Online Backlash, Content Creator of Maharashtra Deletes Video Promoting Religious Harmony, Apologises
Soham Shah
August 26, 2025
Marathi content creator Atharva Sudame deleted a reel promoting religious harmony and pluralism following backlash on social media. Anand Dave of the Brahmin group Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh also opposed the video. Sudame later put out an apology video saying he did not intend to hurt sentiments and that he had previously created multiple reels on Hindu festivals, Marathi culture and Marathi language. Dr Hamid Dabholkar of the Maharashtra AndhshraddhaNirmoolan Samiti (MANS) opposed the hate directed towards Sudame by saying that taking down the reel was a sign of an intolerant society.
In the now-deleted reel, Sudame was shown walking into a Ganpati idol shop to buy an idol and selects one he wants to purchase. The shopkeeper’s son then walks in with a skullcap, revealing that the shop belongs to a Muslim family. The shopkeeper says that Sudame could buy an idol from any other shop if he wished. However Sudame buys the idol from him saying, “While making the Ganpati you had good intentions in your heart, right? My father says we should be like sugar that sweetens both shev kheer as well as sheer khurma, like a brick that makes both a mandir and a masjid, like a flower that is used in a garland as well as a chaddar (holy sheet) as well.”
Objecting to the reel, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh Anand Dave said in a video, “In a viral video Hindu-Muslim unity is being taught. The only thing we want to tell you (Sudame) is that you make people laugh and fill your belly. There is no need to speak on other issues where you have no expertise… Hindu-Muslim unity, how to buy Ganpati idols are not your topics. You do not need to focus on them. Hindus know what to buy and from whom to buy.”
Similarly, an X account, @paakittadnya, posted, “Marathi ReelstarAtharvSudame posted this video on Instagram and deleted within a couple of hours due to backlash. Gen Z is being brainwashed by such influencers and the influencers are nurtured and promoted by the language chauvinist lobby. Beware.”
Dr Hamid Dabholkar of the Maharashtra AndhashraddhaNirmoolan Samiti (MANS) opposed the hate directed towards Sudame by saying that taking down the reel was a sign of an intolerant society. “Respecting each other’s religion and participating in each other’s religious activities are age-old traditions in this country. The… withdrawal of a reel promoting these values is a sign of how intolerant we are becoming in the name of religion. It’s high time that we as a community stop supporting such polarising activities and stand firmly behind the culture of religious harmony,” he said.
City-based lawyer and activist Asim Sarode wrote on Facebook, “…Such attacks on freedom of expression should be firmly repelled… now that some religious fanatics are threatening Atharva, I have just spoken to Raj Saheb that he and MNS should stand with Atharva. Atharva should re-upload that video. Let’s see who does what.”
Sudame could not be reached for a comment.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/maharashtra-after-backlash-from-brahmin-group-content-creator-deleted-video-promoting-religious-harmony-apologises-10211280/
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Radical Hindutva Links Of The Men Arrested For Lynching A Muslim ManSitting With A Hindu Woman In A Cafe In Maharashtra
Tabassum Barnagarwala
On August 11, Suleman Rahim Khan Pathan was sitting with a Hindu woman in a cafe in Maharashtra’s Jamner town when a group of men forced him to go along with them.
The 21-year-old was driven around in a van and brutally assaulted before finally being dropped off at a bus stand in his village. Khan died of his injuries.
Eight men who were allegedly part of the mob that killed him have been arrested for the crime. At least four of them were involved with radical Hindutva groups, Scroll found by tracking their social media presence. Residents alleged that four others were members of the Bajrang Dal.
According to the police, of the eight accused, four men – AadityaDevre, KrushnaTeli, SojwalTeli, and Rishikesh Teli – were from nearby villages. MurlidharKasar, investigating officer in the case, told Scroll that they led the mob and assaulted Khan and his family.
Scroll’s analysis of their social media accounts showed that the four were active members of Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, an organisation formed by the Hindutva hardliner Sambhaji Manohar Bhide, who was formerly associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
In December 2022, Dalit groups and political activists had accused Bhide of instigating violence in BhimaKoregaon village through provocative speeches.
A senior leader of Shiv Pratishthan, Anant Karmuse, told Scroll that he had no information to share about the links of the accused men to his organisation.
However, Nitin Chougule, a former senior leader of the organisation who is associated with an allied organisation, said the four accused “did not intend to kill” Khan.
“They were only protecting the girls of the community,” he said.
The Bajrang Dal link
Also in the mob were four young men who lived in Khan’s village, Betawad – and who, Khan’s father and sister alleged, were members of the local unit of the Bajrang Dal. “Suleman was friendly with them,” his sister Muskaan told Scroll.
Last year, the four men and Suleman Khan were part of the team organising Ganesh Chaturthi festivals in the village. “Suleman worked with all four in the Ganpatimandal last year,” a resident said on condition of anonymity.
Vivek Kulkarni, a senior leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, did not confirm or deny that the four men from Betawad were members of the organisation. He said they “do not hold any official position in Bajrang Dal”.
Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. “We should not focus on who did it and which organisation they belong to,” Kulkarni said. “We should focus on the love jihad matter here.”
Love jihad is a Hindutva conspiracy theory that claims that Muslim men entrap Hindu women in romantic relationships with the aim of converting them to Islam.
In a letter to the Jalgaon police, Khan’s family also accused a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyayarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, of having played a leading role in the attack. The RSS is the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
“But the police are yet to arrest him,” Rahim Khan, Suleman Khan’s father, told Scroll. “We told the police that he assaulted our son in front of us. He threatened us and hit me too.”
The investigation officer, Kasar, said the police had “not yet looked into the affiliations of the accused”.
Jalgaon superintendent Maheshwar Reddy did not respond to repeated calls and messages from Scroll.
The attack
Suleman Khan had gone to Jamner to fill a police recruitment form on the day he was killed, a relative named Abdullah Pathan said.
That afternoon, he met a Hindu woman at Brand Cafe in Jamner, when the group of men barged in.
According to the remand application submitted by police in court on August 18 and accessed by Scroll, CCTV footage showed the men leading Khan away from the cafe.
AadityaDevre, the Shiv Pratishthan member, and another man, Shivaji Ashok Mali, first took Khan away on a bike, the police said in the remand application.
Later, they forced him into a van, in which they drove him around. The vehicle, a MarutiEeco, was found with another man of the organisation, KrushnaTeli. Khan’s phone was recovered from a third member of the organisation, SojwalTeli, according to the remand application.
Khan was taken to a spot near the Sonbardi temple in Jamner and assaulted. He was then driven to BadaBetawad, the village where the woman lives, and beaten up again.
Devre was among those who drove around with Khan, the police said in its remand application.
Khan was finally brought to his own village, ChhotaBetawad, and assaulted at the village bus stand, according to his family and the police. The mob warned villagers against helping him and left him severely injured on the road.
Khan’s family rushed him on a bike to the nearest hospital and then to the civil hospital. “He died on the way,” Suleman’s cousin Shahrukh Pathan said.
After his arrest, Sojwal told the police the spot where the men had thrown Khan’s SIM card, along with a stick and an iron rod they used to assault him, the remand application stated. He helped the police recover torn bits of the clothes Khan was wearing – a light-blue T-shirt and jeans.
The police said that all eight accused were in touch with each other over phone during the crime.
The social media trail
Sojwal has a YouTube page and a Facebook profile in which he often posts messages about meetings of Shiv Pratishthan members in Jamner. He lives in Waki village, a few kilometres from Betawad. He earns his living by renting out heavy equipment used in construction work.
In several posts on his Facebook page, he can be seen with Shiv Pratishtan founder Bhide.
On his Instagram page, Rishikesh Teli, who lives in the same village, regularly posts reels and videos of meetings of Pratishthan members in Jamner. Several of these videos have teenage boys in attendance.
KrushnaTeli, also a resident of Waki, is a regular at these meetings.
“It was a premeditated plan to corner Suleman,” said Javed Mullah, a former corporator in Jalgaon, adding that all the accused managed to travel from different villages to Jamner surprisingly quickly to corner Khan.
In the mob were four men who Suleman Khan knew because they lived in his village – Abhishek Rajkumar Rajput, Suraj Bihari Lal Sharma, Deepak BajiraoGhisadi and RanjitRamkrishnaMatade. The four were arrested on August 12 after being identified by Khan’s family.
Khan’s sister Muskan said, “They were not enemies and there was never a quarrel between them. My brother was friendly with them.”
Both Rajput and Sharma are farmers. Matade owns a five-seater van that he uses to ply passengers between Jamner and Bodwad. Ghisadi moved to Betawad a few years ago to work as a driver.
Abdullah Pathan, Khan’s relative, said some of the men called themselves gaurakshaks or cow protectors.
Residents of Jamner said both the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Pratishthan have been organising Hindu Sakal Samaj rallies and Hindutva rallies in Jalgaon over the last couple of years.
These rallies, as Scroll has reported, urged Hindus to isolate the Muslim community economically and socially and raised the alarm over what they claim are the growing number of relationships between Muslim men and Hindu women.
On August 15, several social activists met Jalgaon guardian minister Gulabrao Patil to demand a fair investigation into Khan’s murder. Karim Salar, an activist, said they have “demanded that the government ban Shiv Pratishthan”. Farukh Shaikh, another activist, claimed that in recent years “several young Hindu boys were getting fascinated by SambhajiBhide” and joining him.
“This is affecting the social fabric of Jalgaon,” he said.
Defaming the victim
So far, the police have arrested the eight accused on charges of murder, abduction, rioting, criminal intimidation and breach of peace.
But Khan’s family say the investigation into his murder has been derailed. No more arrests have been made and that the victim was being defamed in death, they alleged
For instance, Vivek Kulkarni, the senior leader in Vishwa Hindu Parishad, alleged that Khan was involved in trapping Hindu women. “The boy had nude photos of Hindu girls on his phone,” Kulkarni claimed.
Chougule, the former senior leader of Shiv Pratisthan, made similar accusations. “[He] was locally known to be involved with several girls,” he claimed. “These boys secretly film girls, then threaten and rape them later.” Chougule said that the Shiv Pratishthan members came to know about him and decided to “intervene”.
He, however, could not provide the names any women who had complained about being blackmailed by Khan.
Khan’s family alleged that the police are under pressure to not act against the ABVP member they claim was also involved in the murder. However, investigating officer Kasar said they are yet to find any evidence against the man. “We are looking at call data records,” he said. “We cannot arrest on the basis of what the family tells us. We need more evidence.”
Complained Khan’s father Rahim Khan, “The police are focused more on cafes and their demolition. They are not making any effort in arresting the culprits.”
He was referring to the fact that the Jalgaon administration has demolished half a dozen cafes in Jamner after the murder.
Source: scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/article/1085864/the-radical-hindutva-links-of-the-men-arrested-for-lynching-a-muslim-man-in-maharashtra
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Court Rebukes Sanjay Nirupam For 'Housing Jihad' Claims In Mumbai
Aug 26, 2025
The Bombay High Court has barred Shiv Sena leader and former MP Sanjay Nirupam from making further remarks against a Mumbai-based developer, after observing that he had made “communal allegations” related to a slum redevelopment project by using remarks including the term "housing jihad".
Justice RI Chagla, hearing a plea by Chandiwala Enterprises, passed an interim injunction order, observing: “Defendant is restrained by way of temporary order of injunction from making or publishing any defamatory, slanderous or libellous statement or imputation against the plaintiffs.”
ALLEGATIONS OF 'HOUSING JIHAD'
The developer’s counsel, senior advocate JanakDwarkadas, along with advocates CheragBalsara, Yogesh Patil and Ritesh Singh, pointed to public remarks made by Nirupam earlier this year, where he alleged that Muslim developers were rejecting Hindu applicants in Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects and described the practice as “housing jihad.”
Nirupam had also written to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and to the SRA chief, seeking action against the developers. Chandiwala Enterprises argued that these claims were baseless and damaging.
The court noted that Nirupam’s allegations about Muslim families being given preference over Hindu families in the redevelopment of Mumbai’s Shree Shankar Society were “prima facie wholly untrue.” Justice Chagla said, “Considering that out of the 67 residents of the Shree Shankar Society, there are seven Muslim residents, the allegation that redevelopment is a secret campaign by Muslim developers, aided by SRA officials, is, in my prima facie view, wholly untrue.”
COURT PULLS UP NIRUPAM FOR CONDUCT
The bench also took note of Nirupam’s absence from earlier hearings despite being served notices. On August 20, senior advocate Dwarkadas produced before the court a torn copy of an advocate’s notice dated August 19, which had been served at Nirupam’s residence. The court recorded that Nirupam had “torn the said notice and returned the same to the messenger.”
When Nirupam’s counsel, advocate Mahesh B Gupte, sought more time to file a vakalatnama, Justice Chagla declined, stating: “I am not inclined to grant adjournment in the matter, particularly in view of the conduct of the defendant. The defendant has no respect for the proceedings before this court, as is evident from his conduct of tearing the notice dated 19th August 2025.”
INTERIM ORDER AND NEXT STEPS
Granting Nirupam limited time to file his reply, Justice Chagla nonetheless reiterated his prima facie findings: “I am of the prima facie view that the allegations made by the defendant with regard to the redevelopment of other societies by the plaintiff-developer are false.”
The court’s interim injunction now bars Nirupam from making any further public remarks against the developer while the matter proceeds.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/bombay-high-court-bars-sanjay-nirupam-from-making-housing-jihad-remarks-against-slum-developer-chandiwala-enterprises-2776467-2025-08-25
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Drones along LoC prompt search operation in Poonch
Aug 26, 2025
JAMMU: Security forces launched a search operation on Monday after more than six drones, suspected to be from Pakistan, were spotted hovering above multiple forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district’s Mendhar sector the previous night.
Blinking lights from suspected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were spotted in Balakote-Langote area around 9.15pm on Sunday. Moments later, about six drones were seen in Gursainallah area around 9.18pm, official sources said.
The devices may have been launched for surveillance, as they were flying at a very high altitude. The UAVs returned towards Pakistan within five minutes, said an official source.
Despite inclement weather, the areas were cordoned off and a combing operation was launched early Monday to check for air-dropped consignments of weapons or narcotics.
The use of drones by Pakistan to push arms, ammunition, and drugs into India and fuel narco-terrorism in J&K has emerged as a major challenge for security agencies over the past few years. J&K Police had earlier announced cash rewards — ranging from Rs 1-5 lakh — for providing information about subversive activities.Jammu: Security forces launched a search operation on Monday after more than six drones, suspected to be from Pakistan, were spotted hovering above multiple forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district’s Mendhar sector the previous night.
Blinking lights from suspected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were spotted in Balakote-Langote area around 9.15pm on Sunday. Moments later, about six drones were seen in Gursainallah area around 9.18pm, official sources said.
The devices may have been launched for surveillance, as they were flying at a very high altitude. The UAVs returned towards Pakistan within five minutes, said an official source.
Despite inclement weather, the areas were cordoned off and a combing operation was launched early Monday to check for air-dropped consignments of weapons or narcotics.
The use of drones by Pakistan to push arms, ammunition, and drugs into India and fuel narco-terrorism in J&K has emerged as a major challenge for security agencies over the past few years. J&K Police had earlier announced cash rewards — ranging from Rs 1-5 lakh — for providing information about subversive activities.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drones-along-loc-prompt-search-op-in-poonch/articleshow/123511193.cms
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Mehbooba Mufti in rare protest for freeing separatists, CM tells PDP leader to go to Delhi
Muzaffar Raina
26.08.25
Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti on Monday staged a rare protest flagging the plight of separatist prisoners and asked chief minister Omar Abdullah to prod the Centre to release them or return them to jails in Kashmir.
Omar advised her to go to Delhi with her demand, saying that protesting in Kashmir would serve no purpose unless the objective was to “do it just for show”.
The hundreds, mainly separatists, arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act or the anti-terror law UAPA are mostly detained outside Jammu and Kashmir. Their families have long been complaining of their state of health.
Mehbooba and her supporters carried placards and chanted “Bail, not jail” as they tried to march from their party headquarters in Srinagar to Lal Chowk. Police were deployed to prevent the march, which also featured slogans against the ruling National Conference.
Omar’s government has no say in law-and-order issues or the detention policy but the PDP and other political parties have been trying to corner it on such matters, accusing it of complicity with the Centre.
“We are here for the thousands of prisoners languishing in different jails, both in Jammu and Kashmir and outside. Many of them are innocent,” Mehbooba, a former chief minister, said.
She advised Omar to lead a joint delegation to Union home minister Amit Shah and seek the prisoners’ release or return to Kashmir’s jails. She also asked Omar to send a ministerial inspection team to jails outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba said the families of most of the detainees hadn’t got the money to fight the legal battle.
“Whether it’s our leaders, the elders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, or Shabir Shah or others — when they suffer from serious illness, their families have to make desperate efforts to ensure their treatment,” she said.
Hours later, Omar said that protesting in Srinagar would not yield results, and that security decisions are taken in Delhi.
“We are all worried about this issue, but nothing will be achieved by doing it in Srinagar,” he said. “So it would be better if they go to Delhi and meet the home minister.”
Omar said his government had already raised the issue with the Centre.
“We put these things in front of the home minister in Delhi because the decision has to be made from there. If we have to do it just for show, then do it here,” he added.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric, urged all individuals and groups in Jammu and Kashmir to unite and flag the suffering of Kashmiri prisoners.
“Playing politics even on this humanitarian issue will be a shame,” he posted on X.
All the political parties in Kashmir have been calling for the release of political detainees, but public protests have been rare for fear ofthe government.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mehbooba-mufti-in-rare-protest-for-freeing-separatists-cm-tells-pdp-leader-to-go-to-delhi-prnt/cid/2119718
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Europe
Azerbaijani religious leader to attend OIC event in Iran
26 Aug, 2025
The Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), Sheikh ul-Islam, AllahshukurPashazade, has been invited to an international conference taking place in Iran.
The invitation was extended by Iran’s newly appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan, MojtabaDemirchilu, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.
The ambassador also provided details about the event, which will be held in Iran as part of the celebrations marking the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, organised under the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
During the meeting, the importance of strengthening historical and traditional ties between the states and peoples of Azerbaijan and Iran was emphasised, including in religious and spiritual spheres.
The discussion also highlighted the significance of fostering an atmosphere of peace and cooperation both regionally and globally, noting the need for joint efforts to promote friendship, good neighbourliness, and brotherhood.
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijani-religious-leader-to-attend-oic-event-in-iran
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Ukraine imposes Covid mask regime in two regions
25 Aug, 2025
Face-mask mandates have been reintroduced in hospitals in two regions of Ukraine amid a rise in Covid-19 cases.
In a post on his Telegram channel on Monday, the head of the Rovno regional council, Andrey Karaush, announced the introduction of masks at a major local hospital. Other medical facilities in the Western Ukrainian region will be considering mask mandates in the coming days, he added.
“Since the beginning of August, almost half a thousand cases of the disease have been officially confirmed in the region,” Karaush announced.
Several Telegram channels and media outlets have also reported that mask mandates were put in effect in several hospitals in Odessa Region, with visits allegedly restricted as well.
According to data circulating in the media, in Kiev alone there have been 1,121 confirmed Covid-19 cases over the past week.
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Health Ministry stated that the new ‘Nimbus’ and ‘Stratus’ strains of the Omicron variant had been detected in the country.
The strains are said to be behind a rising number of Covid-19 cases in multiple countries over the past few weeks, including the US and the UK.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, sweeping mask mandates were enacted in numerous countries across the globe. Many nations also launched mass vaccination drives, some going as far as to make the shots mandatory. In the vast majority of jurisdictions, drastic measures have since been rolled back as the virus seems to have become less deadly over time.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/623520-covid-mask-mandates-reintroduced-ukraine/
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Africa
Displaced residents return to war-shattered Khartoum
August 25, 2025
Khartoum residents displaced by years of fighting are returning home. But the Sudanese capital's infrastructure has been decimated and it will take years - and billions of dollars - to rebuild.
After more than two years of war, Sudan’s capital Khartoum is slowly returning to life.
Residents forced out by the fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are trickling back to the city. But it's a bittersweet homecoming.
"We lost precious belongings that we had for a long time. We lost many things, stuff that we concealed under the house floor and we found that it was taken," says Afaf al-Tayeb, who returned to her home in the Al-Qawz district of Khartoum City in June.
"I had gold, brand new food mixers, our clothes that we concealed were all taken, they left nothing for us except the clothes we are wearing, we wash it and wear it again."
When the civil war erupted in April 2023, Khartoum was the epicentre of the fighting and homes and buildings in the city still bear the scars.
"After the liberation we came to find the house as you can see it, a shell that hit the house and burnt everything," says al-Tayeb's son, Mohamed al-Khedr.
Reconstruction
Despite the devastation, people have been returning to the city since the army announced its recapture earlier this year. But the task ahead is immense.
Altayeb Saad al-Din is a spokesperson for the Khartoum province government:
"The destruction has completely affected the electric infrastructure, all the electric facilities starting from the huge electrical substations of Khartoum which hosts more than seven or eight electrical substations that are completely damaged and looted as well as the electrical transformers which distributes electricity inside the residential neighborhoods."
The United Nations says it expects 2 million people to return to Khartoum by the end of the year. The estimated cost of reconstruction runs into the billions.
Across the country, more than 12 million people have been forcibly displaced since the start of the war, while some 40,000 people have lost their lives.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/08/25/displaced-residents-return-to-war-shattered-khartoum/
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AboreAwujale apologises to religious leaders over utterances
August 26, 2025
The OlowaIberu and AboreAwujale, Chief RasakAdeneyeOshimodi, has apologised to all Christian, Muslim clerics, as well as other various organisations in Ijebuland over his recent viral comment on social media which denigrated them.
Oshimodi has unconditionally withdrawn his statement that some Christian and Muslim clerics have been coming to him to seek extra powers, spiritual fortification and assistance with the aim of increasing the membership of their congregations.
The AboreAwujale expressed regrets that his utterances, which were circulated on various social media platforms, had been affecting the churches and mosques negatively, saying he has withdrawn all his previous utterances on the matter.
He pleaded with the affected Christian and Muslim clerics and their organisations for forgiveness, saying: “Whoever I have wronged should forgive me from the bottom of their heart.”
Oshimodi also disclosed that all the necessary sacrifices regarding the late Oba Adetona’s passage had been concluded, assuring that everything will continue to be well with the kingdom.
He noted that anyone opposing and claiming that the tradition and culture of Ijebu people do not exist or are no longer potent is actually deceiving himself.
The AboreAwujale commended the ruling house for the unity and orderliness they have been displaying in the ongoing selection process.
He advised members of the next ruling house to cooperate with their family elders in ensuring the selection of the most qualified, experienced and globally connected individual, who is also intellectually endowed, to emerge as candidate.
Oshimodi commended the Fusengbuwa royal family led by OtunbaAdedokunAjidagba for the peaceful handling and effective administration of the ongoing selection process in the family.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
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https://tribuneonlineng.com/abore-awujale-apologises-to-religious-leaders-over-utterances/
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Buni mourns Yobe 100-level student killed in road crash
26th August 2025
By Ahmed Amshi
The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni has said he received with deep shock the sad news of the demise of Amina Yakubu, a 100-level student of Yobe State University in a tragic traffic accident.
In a statement by the Director General Press and Media Affairs to the Governor, Mamman Mohammed, on Sunday, Governor Buni condoled the parents, friends, and relations of the deceased, describing it as a sad loss.
“My heartfelt condolences also go to the Vice Chancellor, staff, students, and the entire university community over the loss of this young promising student.
“As faithful Muslims, we always believe in the power of creation and death as in the hands of our creator, Allah the almighty,” Governor Buni consoled the family.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the departed student in Aljannah Firdaus and urging Allah to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, the governor also prayed for a quick recovery of those injured and directed free treatment of the victims.
Meanwhile, Governor Buni has called on motorists and other road users to be cautious on the roads, especially now in the rainy season.
Arewa PUNCH recalls that Amina Yakubu, a 100-level student of Yobe State University’s Education Biology department, tragically lost her life in a road accident near the institution’s gate on Gujba Road on Saturday.
According to the Yobe State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP DungusAbdulkarim, the crash occurred due to diversions caused by military operations in the area, which often forced motorists into a single lane. This situation, combined with impatience and other factors, has led to frequent accidents along that stretch of road.
Abdulkarim further explained that the accident involved a tricycle and a vehicle, resulting in Amina’s death and causing serious injuries to four others, including a university matron.
“Yesterday, (Saturday) there was an incident like that. Amina and a few other students got injured.
“Eventually, Amina lost her life. She was one of the passengers on board the tricycle,” he said.
The university community has been plunged into mourning, with the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. BukarJamri also extended his heartfelt condolences to Amina’s family.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority, and we are deeply shaken by this tragic incident,” Jamri said.
Amina has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/buni-mourns-yobe-100-level-student-killed-in-road-crash/
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North America
UC Berkeley a ‘Hostile Campus’ - Safety Threats, Harassment, and Suppression of Palestine Advocacy
August 25, 2025
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will hold a press conference to announce CAIR’s designation of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), as a hostile campus due to its ongoing suppression of Palestinian advocacy, surveillance of student protests, and failure to protect students and faculty from harassment and retaliation.
Despite professing support for free speech and academic freedom, UC Berkeley has escalated policing, expanded surveillance, and selectively enforced policies that chill protected expression and endanger students and faculty advocating for Palestinian rights.
CAIR-SFBA will discuss UC Berkeley’s designation, and impacted students will speak about their experiences.
CAIR’s UnHostile Campus Campaign aims to foster an environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza can exercise their free speech rights without fear of state force or university discipline.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/media-advisory-cair-cair-sfba-to-designate-uc-berkeley-a-hostile-campus-citing-safety-threats-harassment-and-suppression-of-palestine-advocacy/
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CAIR Designates Wayne State University a “Hostile Campus” for Repeated Silencing of Gaza Genocide Protestors
August 25, 2025
(08/25/2025) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today designated Wayne State University (WSU) a “Hostile Campus” for its repeated repression of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and allied students who oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“Wayne State University has criminalized peaceful dissent and silenced the voices of its Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and allied students who speak out against the Gaza genocide,” said Dr. Maryam Hasan, CAIR Research and Advocacy Specialist.
“Our organization has a long history of defending the rights of students and community members at Michigan’s universities.” Said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “It is deeply concerning that in 2025 we are still witnessing the same discriminatory tactics used to silence student voices—particularly those advocating for social justice and human rights. WSU must change course and respect the First Amendment rights of all its students.”
In May 2024, WSU police dismantled a peaceful Gaza solidarity encampment, arresting students and community members. Protesters and faculty have documented discriminatory enforcement of campus policies. Major university decisions reportedly excluded student and faculty input, and virtual public board meetings were reportedly intended to silence dissent.
CAIR’s Unhostile Campus Campaign gave WSU a score of 32% out of 100%, citing the filing of a federal Title VI complaint by CAIR-Michigan and a reported lawsuit by a group of Gaza genocide protestors.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-designates-wayne-state-university-a-hostile-campus-for-repeated-silencing-of-gaza-genocide-protestors/
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Mideast
Israeli Rights Group Accuses Israeli Major General Of War Crimes In West Bank
August 25, 2025
JERUSALEM: A leading Israeli rights organization said Monday that it had requested a military investigation into a senior commander over suspected war crimes in the occupied West Bank.
The request comes days after Major General Avi Bluth, head of the Israeli military in the West Bank, appeared in a video in which he called for curfews and encirclements of Palestinian villages.
Contacted by AFP about the request, the Israeli military did not provide immediate comment.
In a letter to the military advocate-general, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) urged an inquiry into Bluth, citing comments and actions it said amounted to collective punishment of Palestinians.
“We ask you to order the opening of an investigation against Major General Bluth on suspicion of war crimes,” ACRI wrote in the letter, which was dated Sunday.
Bluth had said on Friday that “every (Palestinian) village and every enemy... will pay a heavy price” for attacks against Israelis.
His remarks, made in a video widely circulated in Israeli media, followed the arrest of a Palestinian man from the village of Al-Mughayyir who was accused by the army of carrying out a “terrorist attack” nearby.
In the same video, Bluth added that the villages of Palestinian attackers could face curfews, encirclements and terrain “shaping actions” with the aim of deterrence.
On Sunday, Israeli bulldozers uprooted hundreds of trees in Al-Mughayyir in the presence of the Israeli military.
The army said it had “cleared” the area after a “series of terror attacks originating from that village,” adding the vegetation “obstructed the identification of enemy movement.”
In a press statement on Monday, ACRI accused the army of having cut down the trees to impose “collective punishment” on Palestinians in Al-Mughayyir after a resident carried out a shooting attack.
“For months, lawlessness in the West Bank has made war crimes and crimes against humanity part of daily life. Alarmingly, the army has begun to boast about it,” the group said in its letter to the army’s prosecutor.
“We ask you to order the army to immediately cease all acts of collective punishment, including the destruction of property.”
Military Advocate-General YifatTomer-Yerushalmi has so far not confirmed to AFP his receipt of the letter.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and violence there has soared since the start of the war in Gaza almost two years ago.
Bluth has in recent months been criticized by Israeli settler groups in the West Bank for his condemnation of acts of violence they are accused of committing.
Born in a West Bank settlement, Bluth served in the past as military secretary to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2612997/middle-east
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Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Israeli destruction in Lebanon
August 26, 2025
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Amnesty International said Tuesday that the Israeli army’s extensive destruction of civilian property in south Lebanon, including after a ceasefire with Hezbollah was struck, should be investigated as a war crime.
The November 27 truce largely ended more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah that culminated in two months of open war during which Israel sent in ground troops and conducted a major bombing campaign.
“The Israeli military’s extensive and deliberate destruction of civilian property and agricultural land across southern Lebanon must be investigated as war crimes,” Amnesty said in a statement.
The rights group’s Erika Guevara Rosas said in the statement that the destruction had “rendered entire areas uninhabitable and ruined countless lives.”
Israel has said its military action targeted Hezbollah sites and operatives, and it continues to strike Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
Under the truce, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back from near the border, with the Lebanese army deploying to the south and dismantling the militant group’s infrastructure there.
Israel was to fully withdraw its troops from Lebanon, but it has kept them in several border areas it deems strategic.
Amnesty said it sent Israeli authorities questions in late June about the destruction but had not received a response.
The group said its analysis covered from October 1 of last year — around the start of Israel’s ground offensive — until late January of this year, and showed “more than 10,000 structures were heavily damaged or destroyed during that time.”
It noted that “much of the destruction took place after November 27,” when the truce took effect.
“Israeli forces used manually laid explosives and bulldozers to devastate civilian structures, including homes, mosques, cemeteries, roads, parks and soccer pitches, across 24 municipalities,” it said.
The rights group said it used verified videos, photographs and satellite imagery to investigate the destruction.
“In some videos, soldiers filmed themselves celebrating the destruction by singing and cheering,” it said.
It added much of the destruction was done “in apparent absence of imperative military necessity and in violation” of international humanitarian law.
Amnesty noted that “the previous use of a civilian building by a party to the conflict does not automatically render it a military objective.”
In March, the World Bank put the war’s total economic cost on Lebanon at $14 billion, including $6.8 billion in damage to physical structures.
Authorities in cash-strapped Lebanon have yet to launch reconstruction efforts, and are hoping for international support, particularly from Gulf countries.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2613015/middle-east
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Islamic countries to work to suspend Israel's UN membership
Aug 26, 2025
"The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) … urges the OIC Member States to examine further whether Israel's membership in the United Nations aligns with the UN Charter, given Israel's evident violations of the requirements for membership and its consistent disregard for UN resolutions. Additionally, efforts should be coordinated to suspend Israel's membership in the United Nations," the ministers' final declaration says. The document is published on the OIC website.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned Israel's rejection of peace initiatives to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip and its unwillingness to cooperate with mediators to establish a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.
"The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) …expresses its condemnation of Israel's obstinacy and rejection to respond to the mediators' attempts to reach an appeasement although almost two years have passed since the start of the aggression against the strip," the statement said.
"It holds Israel completely responsible for the ongoing war and the deliberate disregard of appeasement initiatives, accordingly prompting the deteriorating humanitarian disaster, the ongoing detention of hostages and captives and the deprivation of civilians of basic humanitarian assistance."
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/235761/Islamic-countries-to-work-to-suspend-Israel-s-UN-membership
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Hamas: Zionist Violations At Al-Aqsa Mosque Dangerous Escalation & Attempt To Judaise It
25 Aug 2025
AbdulrahmanShadid, a senior leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, said Monday that the serious escalation represented by a settler blowing a horn inside the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police constitutes a blatant assault on its sanctity , Islamic status, and a disregard for the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide.
In a press statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), Shadid stressed that Hamas rejects this grave violation, which exposes the extent of the Zionist scheme against Al-Aqsa and its persistent attempts to Judaize it through the performance of Talmudic rituals and daily protection for the intruders.
He held the Zionist entity fully responsible for the repercussions of these dangerous provocations, affirming that such practices will not succeed in imposing new realities or altering the purely Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Shadid also called on the Palestinian people in Al-Quds, the occupied territories, and everywhere they are present to march toward Al-Aqsa, confront these violations with steadfastness, and keep the mosque vibrant with worshippers.
He further urged Arab and Islamic leaders, along with their official and popular institutions, to take immediate action and fulfill their duty in protecting Al-Aqsa Mosque and supporting the resilience of Al-Quds’s residents in confronting this systematic aggression.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3541452.htm
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Tunisia rights groups denounce closure of freedom of information agency
August 25, 2025
TUNIS: Tunisian rights groups on Monday condemned the dissolution of an authority that sought to guarantee access to information for citizens and journalists.
The groups denounced as a setback for freedoms the closure of the National Authority for Access to Information (INAI), an independent body established in 2016 in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprising of 2011, aiming to safeguard rights to access information.
The government told AFP it had shut down the agency earlier this month and reassigned its staff to other government roles.
The National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) said the move was made “in secret” with no major public announcement, criticizing the government’s tighter restrictions on information.
“Access to information is increasingly locked now,” SNJT head ZiedDabbar told AFP.
“We cannot speak of press freedom if there is no access to information,” he added. “From now on, there will only be the official narrative, which will lead to propaganda.”
The journalists union described the measure as “the demolition of one of the fundamental pillars” of Tunisia’s fragile democracy.
President Kais Saied, elected in 2019, has ruled Tunisia by decree since a 2021 power grab, with local and international organizations decrying a decline in freedoms in the North African country.
Many of Saied’s critics are currently behind bars, including dozens of journalists and public figures who have been prosecuted under a 2022 law incriminating “spreading false news.”
“It has become clear that the authorities want to lock all sources of information,” said Romdhane Ben Amor, head of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights. “This is a political choice to break with the constitutional bodies.”
“The space of rights and freedoms is more and more suffocated,” Ben Amor told AFP, warning that other institutions could also face closure.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2613012/middle-east
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OIC chief demands immediate ceasefire, end to Israeli aggression in Gaza
August 25, 2025
JEDDAH: The secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, HisseinBrahim Taha, on Monday called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, urging an end to Israeli aggression and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, Taha condemned what he described as genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, systematic destruction, and the illegal blockade of Gaza, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.
He also denounced the expansion of Israeli settlements, particularly in the E1 area of Jerusalem, and the targeting of journalists, saying such actions require legal prosecution under international law, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Taha said Israel’s “horrific war crimes” against the Palestinian people demanded a more effective international response, warning that the Israeli government’s stated intention to impose full military control over Gaza and pursue a “greater Israel vision” was a flagrant violation of international law.
The session also addressed the escalating humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Taha urged member states to implement resolutions adopted at the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh and welcomed the growing number of countries recognizing the State of Palestine, calling on others to follow suit.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2612985/middle-east
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia confident in handling threats over pro-Palestine stance
theSun Local
2025-08-26
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains capable of managing any threats or intimidation resulting from its strong stance in defending Palestinian rights according to Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
“On the question of possible threats or intimidation against us for being vocal in championing the Palestinian cause, I believe this is something we can handle because our position is strong and well-founded,” he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He responded to concerns about potential economic sidelining due to Malaysia’s pro-Palestine narrative raised by Datuk Willie Mongin from GPS–Puncak Borneo.
Mohamad stressed that Malaysia’s position on Palestine has been consistent for decades, rooted in humanitarian principles and not solely on religious grounds.
He highlighted Malaysia’s strong backing at various international platforms including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement and ASEAN.
The conflict in Palestine has so far claimed over 60,000 lives and injured nearly 150,000 others while also destabilising the region and involving Lebanon, Iran and Syria.
“The uncertainty in the Middle East not only affects regional and global stability but also has implications for Malaysia’s economic interests, trade, energy and the safety of Malaysians in the region,” he said.
Malaysia maintains a comprehensive, principled and pragmatic foreign policy on the Middle East that emphasises diplomacy and close cooperation with countries including Jordan, Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar.
Mohamad provided this response to the original question regarding armed conflicts in the Middle East and potential foreign policy reviews to safeguard Malaysia’s economy, security and citizens. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/malaysia-confident-in-handling-threats-over-pro-palestine-stance-CE14765263
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High Court orders exhumation of UTM Palapes cadet’s grave for second post-mortem
26 Aug 2025
SHAH ALAM, Aug 26 — The High Court today ordered the exhumation of the grave of UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia (UTM) Reserve Officers Training Unit (Palapes) cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, 22, buried at the KampungRinching Ulu Muslim cemetery in Semenyih, Hulu Langat.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet granted the application filed by the deceased’s mother, UmmuHaiman Bee Daulatgun, 45.
In delivering the ruling, Bhupindar Singh directed that the Inspector-General of Police or his officers oversee the exhumation and conduct a second post-mortem on the remains of UmmuHaiman Bee’s eldest son.
“The first respondent may seek assistance from any relevant parties if deemed necessary,” he said, reading the decision.
Senior federal counsel Nurul Huda MohdSalehuddin appeared for the IGP, while Selangor prosecution director KalmizahSalleh represented the Attorney-General, and Datuk Naran Singh acted for UmmuHaiman Bee.
Bhupindar Singh further ordered that a forensic pathologist from Hospital Kuala Lumpur conduct a second post-mortem on the remains of Syamsul Haris within 14 days of exhumation.
“The post-mortem shall be carried out in the presence of forensic expert Datuk Seri Dr Bhupinder Singh and counsel appointed by the family, Datuk Naran Singh, or a representative from Messrs Naran Singh & Co.
“Further, the forensic pathologist conducting the examination is directed to prepare and deliver the post-mortem report within a reasonable time from the date of the procedure, and a copy of the report must be provided to the applicant’s solicitors, Messrs Naran Singh & Co,” he ruled.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Naran Singh said preparations were underway to ensure the exhumation could be carried out promptly, with the date to be set by the IGP.
“The IGP and relevant state religious authorities are involved in the matter. They will set the date for the exhumation. For example, if they decide on this Friday, the post-mortem must be conducted within 14 days from that date,” he said.
Meanwhile, UmmuHaiman Bee expressed gratitude for the court’s decision allowing her son’s grave to be exhumed.
“At the very least, we can now learn the true cause of death. I hope the post-mortem findings will be accurate, transparent and conclusive,” she said, adding that a thorough and impartial investigation must be conducted, without shielding any party.
On Aug 19, she filed the application seeking, among others, a second post-mortem and the initiation of an inquest into her son’s death.
Syamsul Haris, 22, died on July 28 at Hospital Kota Tinggi, Johor, while undergoing training at the Combat Inoculation Firing Range, Army Combat Training Centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor.
He was buried the following day at the KampungRiching Ulu Muslim cemetery in Selangor. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Hajiji urges religious institutions to confront bullying culture
By Julia Chan
26 Aug 2025
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 26 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor today said the tragic death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir should serve as a wake-up call for religious institutions to confront the culture of bullying in their schools.
“What is even more disheartening is that this culture of bullying among students has also taken place in religious schools...I too want to know what exactly happened,” he said when opening the Du’at Convention at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
He said that the Islamic religious affairs convention is the right avenue to reflect on and evaluate weaknesses, correct shortcomings not only in schools but also in all organisations, whether they belong to the government or the private sector.
Hajiji said that as citizens in a multi-racial country, Muslims cannot avoid facing issues related to their religion, especially on social media but expressed concern about the spread of false propaganda, including fake news and slander.
He said this was a malicious tactic used by anti-government groups aimed at demeaning or
destroying the reputation of certain leaders as the state election draws near.
“Apart from political issues, there are also other matters that have been sensationalised,
such as those concerning the economy, security, health, the environment, and the 3R, where even the institution of the Yang Di-PertuaNegeri has been attacked and belittled,” he said, referring to issues concerning race, religion and royalty.
He also pointed at how the death of Zara was used as fodder by some irresponsible netizens, to the extent that they resorted to lying, spreading fake news and slandering targeted individuals, he said.
Zara Qairina, 13, was found unconscious near her school dormitory in Sabah on July 16 and pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the next day.
The Form One student is believed to have suffered bullying, neglect, and sexual harassment.
The case led to a police investigation, including analysis of her diary, exhumation of her body for a second post-mortem, and charges against five teenagers accused of bullying her, marking the first case under a new section of the Penal Code in Malaysia.
An inquest into Zara Qairina’s death is scheduled to begin next week.
The Education Ministry has temporarily reassigned the principal, senior assistant of Student Affairs, and all wardens of SMKA TunDatu Mustapha to the Sabah State Education Department pending the completion of investigations.
Source: malaymail.com
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King of Malaysia welcomes Brunei’s Sultan HassanalBolkiah at Istana Negara on four-day state visit
26 Aug 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan HassanalBolkiah, was accorded a state welcome at Istana Negara today in conjunction with his four-day state visit to Malaysia, which began yesterday.
His Majesty, who arrived at the palace at 10 am, accompanied by Prince ‘Abdul Mateen Bolkiah, was received by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and TunkuTemenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim.
Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, and several cabinet ministers.
The state welcome, held at the palace’s main lobby, began with the national anthems of Brunei and Malaysia performed by the Central Band of the Royal Malay Regiment, followed by a 21-gun salute.
After the ceremony, the Brunei Sultan held a meeting with the King, during which both monarchs discussed various matters, including the longstanding close bilateral relations.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong then hosted Sultan HassanalBolkiah and the Bruneian delegation to a State Banquet.
Sultan HassanalBolkiah is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Sultan Ibrahim.
The state visit is the third by a foreign head of state to Malaysia since Sultan Ibrahim ascended the throne as the 17th King, following visits by the Presidents of China and Indonesia.
Tomorrow, the Brunei ruler will attend the 26th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC) and is also scheduled to hold a separate meeting with the Prime Minister in conjunction with the ALC.
The ALC is the highest bilateral mechanism between Malaysia and Brunei, serving as a platform for both leaders to review the progress of existing cooperation, discuss current issues and exchange views on regional and international matters of mutual interest.
The visit and annual meeting underscore the longstanding special relationship between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, reaffirming both countries’ continuous commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation for mutual prosperity and the well-being of their peoples.
In 2024, Brunei was Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in ASEAN, with total trade amounting to RM7.53 billion (US$1.77 billion).
Between January and June this year, Malaysia-Brunei trade reached US$690 million (RM3.02 billion), comprising exports of US$500 million (RM2.18 billion) and imports of US$190 million (RM840 million). — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
‘We Want Justice, We Want Accountability’For Atrocities Against The Rohingyas: Speakers In Cox Bazar
Aug 26, 2025
Justice and accountability for atrocities against the Rohingyas must remain central to any resolution of the crisis, speakers said at a stakeholders' dialogue in Cox's Bazar.
Nicholas Koumjian, head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, stressed the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable, saying the Rohingya want to return home safely and rebuild their lives.
"We want justice. We want accountability," he said, citing evidence of civilian targeting by both the Myanmar military and other armed groups, including drone strikes and executions in violation of the laws of war.
Speaking on the second day of the three-day event yesterday, Koumjian urged decisive international action, noting that long-term solutions require both legal accountability and political will.
The three-day dialogue aims to engage global stakeholders in finding solutions to the prolonged crisis and relay the takeaways to the High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, which is scheduled to begin on September 30.
Huma Khan, head of OHCHR Bangladesh, said justice provides the guarantee of non-recurrence.
She outlined the pillars of transitional justice -- truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence -- with memorialisation as a new element, but noted that Myanmar's ongoing ethnic cleansing challenges the immediate implementation of such processes.
She also stressed complementary local justice mechanisms alongside international processes, citing crimes by both the Myanmar military and armed rebel group the Arakan Army over the past year.
Antonietta Ann Trapani, programme coordinator of Legal Action Worldwide, pointed to recent progress: 25 arrest warrants issued in Argentina under universal jurisdiction, ongoing International Criminal Court investigations, and the case brought by The Gambia at the International Court of Justice.
She stressed that justice goes beyond court judgments to reparations, the restoration of citizenship, and recognition of the Rohingya as equal members of society.
"Justice is ensuring that children who survive will never again face the same persecution," she said, calling for an integrated approach at international, regional, and local levels.
Rohingya diaspora representative Nay San Lwin urged global action against ongoing crimes by both the Myanmar military and Arakan Army.
He called for ICC cases to be expanded to cover the Arakan Army and for stronger international pressure to ensure ICJ rulings are enforced, stressing that transitional justice, reparation, and security are essential for the safe and permanent return of the Rohingyas.
Addressing humanitarian challenges, Juliette Murekeyisoni, deputy representative of UNHCR Bangladesh, highlighted critical funding shortages affecting 1.1 million Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.
Aid cuts, she said, have strained food, shelter, education, and protection services, particularly for women and children.
"We must involve refugees themselves in these processes and ensure they acquire skills and education to rebuild their country when conditions allow safe return," she said.
Lance Bonneau, chief of International Organization for Migration's Bangladesh mission, stressed a dual approach of providing essential services while preparing refugees for voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation.
He cited achievements in literacy, skills development, and the Rohingya Cultural Memory Center, underscoring the importance of preserving culture and preparing refugees to contribute to Myanmar's future.
Lucky Karim, executive director of Refugee Women for Peace and Justice, echoed the urgency of improving conditions for both camp residents and internally displaced Rohingya within Myanmar.
She called for a medium-term plan to protect remaining populations and sustained international support to prevent further loss of life and ensure a safe, dignified, and permanent return.
Source: thedailystar.net
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PurbachalPlot Scam: Testimony Begins Against Hasina, 11 Others For 2nd Day
Aug 26, 2025
A Dhaka court is recording statements for the second day in a case against 12 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New Town project.
Around 11:30am, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Special Judge's Court-5 started recording testimony of the prosecution witness, Dhiraj Chandra Barman, an assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On August 11, the court started recording statements of the witnesses.
The ACC between January 12 and 14 lodged six separate cases with its Dhaka Integrated District Office-1 over the allegations of irregularities in the allocation of Purbachal New Town plots.
According to the anti-graft body, Hasina, in collusion with senior Rajuk officials, unlawfully secured six plots -- each measuring 10 kathas, in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27 of the Purbachal New Town project for herself and her son SajeebWazed Joy and daughter Saima WazedPutul; Rehana and her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby and daughter Azmina despite their ineligibility under existing regulations.
On March 25, the ACC filed six charge sheets with the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka where Hasina was named as a common accused in all six cases.
The commission has listed all accused as fugitives.
On April 10, 13 and 15, the same court had issued arrest warrants against Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Azmina, Radwan and British MP Tulip Siddiq, along with others, after taking cognisance of the charges.
On July 1, the court ordered the relevant authorities to issue six gazette notifications summoning the 29 individuals to appear at the court.
On July 31, charges were framed against 29 people, including Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Bobby, Tulip and Azmina, in their respective cases.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Over 2,300 Foreign Nationals Visits Afghanistan in One Month
2025-08-25
KABUL(BNA): The National Statistics and Information Authority has reported that from July 23 to August 22, a total of 2,337 foreign citizens entered and exited Afghanistan through various ports and airports.
According to the report, of these, 67 were women and 1,305 were men who entered the country, while 1,032 individuals, including 30 women, departed.
The data reveals that 1,283 people entered through land ports, while 22 arrived via airports. Notably, 236 visitors came to explore historical and archaeological sites, while the remainder traveled for work and study purposes.
The highest number of foreign arrivals was recorded at Nimruz Port, followed by other land ports and the airports in Herat, Torghund, Aqina, Faryab, Hairatan, and Balkh.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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Trump, Vance Label Biden Incompetent During Kabul Anniversary Memorial
By Fidel Rahmati
August 26, 2025
Trump and Vice President Vance marked the Abbey Gate bombing anniversary, denounced Biden’s “incompetence” in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, and pledged to honor the memory of fallen US troops.
US President Donald Trump marked the fourth anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport with a White House ceremony honoring the 13 American service members killed in the 2021 attack.
Addressing the families of the fallen on Monday, August 25, Trump described the incident as “the most shameful day in American history.” He pledged that the United States had learned hard lessons from that tragedy and vowed that “such an event will never be repeated.”
Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined Trump at the ceremony. Vance told grieving families that former President Joe Biden’s failures had cost their loved ones’ lives, declaring, “Today, we correct that injustice.”
During the event, Trump signed an official proclamation designating August 26 as a remembrance day for the Abbey Gate victims. He assured families that his administration would continue to honor the sacrifices of US troops and would not allow their service to be forgotten.
The Abbey Gate suicide bombing on August 26, 2021, struck during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, killing 11 Marines, one Army soldier, one Navy medic, and more than 170 Afghan civilians.
Trump’s commemoration highlights how the Afghanistan withdrawal remains a powerful symbol in US political discourse, both as a reminder of military sacrifice and as a critique of Biden’s leadership.
By formally enshrining the anniversary as a day of remembrance, Trump not only seeks to honor the fallen but also reinforces his message that Biden’s handling of the withdrawal was a historic failure.
Source: khaama.com
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Islamabad High Court Blocks Deportation of 18 Afghan Refugees with Expired PoR Cards
By Fidel Rahmati
August 25, 2025
The Islamabad High Court has halted the deportation of 18 Afghan refugees with expired PoR cards, granting temporary relief amid Pakistan’s broader repatriation plan starting September.
The Islamabad High Court has issued a temporary reprieve preventing the deportation of 18 Afghan refugees holding expired Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. Notices were sent to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, Immigration Department, and Federal Investigation Agency.
Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar ruled in response to petitions filed by the individuals, who are reportedly linked to the family of the late Fazlur Rahman—who had sought Pakistani citizenship in 2008 after legally fulfilling all requirements.
The court’s directive prohibits deportation of these 18 individuals until further notice. This order comes amid intensifying enforcement under Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” which targets refugees with PoR cards whose documentation expired on June 30.
The federal government has notified that deportations of PoR cardholders will begin from September 1, following a voluntary return period from August 4 to August 31.
Meanwhile, human rights agencies and the UNHCR continue to express serious concerns. They warn that coercive repatriations may violate the principle of non-refoulement and strain refugees who have lived in Pakistan for decades.
While the court’s ruling provides a temporary safeguard for a small group of Afghans, it underscores the fragile legal status faced by over a million PoR cardholders at risk of expulsion. Many have longstanding ties to Pakistan, raising urgent humanitarian and policy challenges.
As implementing agencies prepare deportations, international observers urge Pakistan to adopt a more measured approach; extending documentation, permitting peaceful transitions, and preserving the dignity and stability of refugees who have sought shelter in the country for decades.
Source: khaama.com
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Arab World
Saudi-Owned Artificial Intelligence App Humain Chat Launches To Users In Kingdom
August 26, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched Humain Chat, an Arabic AI app, to users in the Kingdom on Tuesday.
The chat is Humain’s first application in its AI suite and is powered by an Arabic model called ALLAM 34B and built in Saudi Arabia by Saudis.
Humain, an artificial intelligence company wholly own by the Public Investment Fund, was launched in May by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and aims to develop Arabic large language models and place the Kingdom as a global hub for AI innovation.
The app is available on iOS and Android devices as well as through a web browser and is expected to roll out to other Arabic speaking countries soon.
HUMAIN Chief Executive Tareq Amin said: “The launch of HUMAIN Chat is a point of pride for Saudi Arabia, marking a historic milestone in our mission to build sovereign AI that is both technically advanced and culturally authentic.”
ALLAM, which was built from the ground up by a team of over 120 AI specialists, including 35 Ph.d.-level researchers in the Kingdom, has been designed to serve the 350 million people who speak Arabic across the globe.
The model is culturally mindful, capable of dialect comprehension, and able to understand the different types of Arabic spoken across the region, from classical to more locale specific forms of the language.
The model, which is also available in English, is trained on one of the largest Arabic datasets ever collected, then refined with input from over 600 domain experts and 250 evaluators. The result is unmatched fluency in Arabic and deep alignment with Islamic, Middle Eastern, and cultural nuance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“We are proving that globally competitive technologies can be rooted in our own language, infrastructure, and values — built in Saudi Arabia by Saudi talent,” Amin said.
“This is not the end state, but the beginning of a journey to serve the Kingdom, the Arabic-speaking world, and beyond. The potential is limitless, accelerating innovation and progress across every dimension of commercial and social life.”
If you are in Saudi Arabia, you can access Humain Chat at https://chat.humain.ai/.
Source: arabnews.com
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Initiative to boost AI learning across Saudi Arabia
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and AI Authority has launched new educational materials for students and teachers to raise awareness of artificial intelligence tools and facilitate their integration into the educational process.
Part of the Ministry of Education’s “Back to School” campaign, and promoted on the authority’s social media platforms, the SAMAI initiative focuses on using AI to develop cognitive and technical skills, supporting modern teaching methods.
This effort aligns with Vision 2030’s goal of building a knowledge-based society capable of competing globally, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
It also supports the integration of the new AI curriculum across all levels of general education. Developed with the National Centre for Curriculum and other relevant ministries, the curriculum features interactive units tailored to different age groups.
The initiative, a collaboration between SDAIA, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to empower 1 million Saudis in AI. It complements the new curriculum and helps nurture a generation equipped to meet future challenges.
Source: arabnews.com
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Third Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces unit completes THAAD training in US
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces has graduated a third unit capable of operating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system following weeks of specialized training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
The operation and maintenance crews were trained to use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, which is one of the world’s most advanced missile defense technologies and a key component of the country’s air defenses.
The graduates completed a range of programs, including technical and operational training, combat simulation and advanced field exercises.
These were conducted under the supervision of the manufacturer’s experts and in cooperation with the US military as part of a joint defense agreement, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia’s training program aligns with the Ministry of Defense’s strategy to enhance military capabilities and improve combat readiness in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Kingdom introduced its first THAAD battery with a ceremony in Jeddah in July.
US-built THAAD systems are capable of intercepting short (up to 1,000 km), medium (1,000-3,000 km) and intermediate (3,000-5,000 km) range missiles inside or outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
According to the US Congress website, a THAAD battery is usually made up of 90 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radar units and a communications component.
As part of its Vision 2030 goals to localize defense manufacturing, Saudi Arabia successfully manufactured parts for the THAAD system for the first time earlier this year.
The achievement followed two contracts signed during the 2024 World Defense Show in Riyadh, as part of a broader strategy to localize key THAAD components. They built on previous efforts announced at the 2022 show, including initiatives to produce missile containers and launch platforms.
Source: arabnews.com
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Scientists seek to tap Kingdom’s geothermal energy
HAJAR ALQUSAYER
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: A constant source of energy beneath the Earth’s surface is showing promise for Saudi Arabia’s cooling and desalination needs, and some experts believe it could even surpass the potential of solar and wind in some cases.
Unlike other renewables that depend on sunshine or wind, geothermal energy flows steadily underground, offering year-round baseload power. It can be tapped by drilling wells to bring heat to the surface, which is either turned into steam to turn turbines and generate electricity, or used directly for cooling and desalination.
For the Kingdom, which faces soaring demand for air conditioning and potable water, it could provide a cleaner and more resilient alternative to fossil fuels.
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in partnership with KSA-headquartered TAQA Geothermal, is testing the potential of geothermal energy through a pilot project that seeks to guide national energy policies and encourage wider development of geothermal resources.
Thomas Finkbeiner, a research professor at KAUST and one of the leaders of the initiative, said the energy source could play a central role in the Kingdom’s future.
“I think it should be a major part of the effort and not just because of the sustainable energy it provides,” he told Arab News.
“Alternative solutions for district cooling and desalination would reduce domestic petroleum consumption … and decentralize the grid, which makes the grid less vulnerable and more resilient.”
Geothermal required “a multidisciplinary collaboration that will lead to new technologies in multiple fields and generate employment opportunities for young engineers and scientists,” he said.
He also highlighted its global potential.
“Absolutely it can play a major role, and unlike solar, wind and water, which are limited by geography and climate, geothermal is available everywhere and all the time … it provides baseload and complements all other renewable energies. Thus it is not a competition and a question of one or the other.”
Hurdles and perceptions
Despite these advantages, geothermal accounts for less than 0.36 percent of global electricity generation, according to a paper by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center. Current installed capacity worldwide is just 16 gigawatts, compared with about 2,000 GW of solar.
Finkbeiner said limited understanding and perception had contributed to the discrepancy.
“I think part of it is marketing and not scientific. The efficiency and reliability of geothermal in some cases surpasses solar and wind but these two get more attention in the news,” he said.
“Another factor is the high upfront capital expenditure resulting from drilling — in other words, economics.”
The cost of geothermal development remains one of its biggest hurdles. Exploration is expensive and construction demands major investment in drilling, infrastructure, power plants and transmission lines — factors that have deterred energy firms from venturing into the sector.
“The main challenges lie in successful drilling. This is the most expensive part of any geothermal project,” Finkbeiner said.
“Maintaining hole integrity during well construction is key … finding an aquifer with sufficient sustained flow rate is another challenge.
“However, all of these are well known and mitigated given the tremendous amount of pre-existing experience from the petroleum industry in KSA.”
On the environmental risk, he said: “Risks of minor earthquakes can never be excluded but should be minimal. Our project will not induce major pressure changes in any of the targeted aquifers.”
Saudi applications
Saudi Arabia’s geography makes cooling and desalination especially critical. About 90 percent of the Kingdom is desert and with water scarcity a pressing issue, desalination plants on the Red Sea remain vital for drinking water and agriculture.
But desalination is highly energy intensive and geothermal heat can provide a cost-effective and steady power source to drive the process.
“In the KSA it is mostly useable for district cooling and desalination, while some areas may also benefit from heating (during winter months),” Finkbeiner said.
“Another use is algae cultivation (algae as feedstock for animals). More important to temperature is the flow rate with which hot fluids come to surface — the higher the flow rate the more effective the geothermal system.”
The pilot project has already drilled a 400-meter well to measure subsurface temperatures and collect acoustic and thermal data. This is equipped with fiber optic sensors and geophones to guide future drilling campaigns.
“This information is very valuable for planning deeper geothermal wells, which is the next step in our project,” Finkbeiner said.
Economic and policy support
Experts believe geothermal could also provide new economic opportunities. Finkbeiner said that subsurface brines could hold valuable minerals such as lithium. If proven viable, this could create an additional income stream alongside clean energy production.
Preliminary assessments suggest Saudi Arabia has the potential to add 1 GW of geothermal installed capacity by 2035, contributing to its target of generating 50 percent of electricity from renewables.
However, reliable estimates of reserves will require further exploration and drilling, according to the KAPSARC paper.
HeshamAbualkhair, an economic policy expert, told Arab News that geothermal energy’s main edge was its reliability.
“Unlike solar and wind, it operates 24/7 without the need for large-scale energy storage,” he said.
“This characteristic can strengthen grid stability and reduce reliance on fossil fuel backup plants.”
For Saudi Arabia, ground source heat pumps could cut cooling demand by up to 60 percent compared with conventional air conditioning, while geothermal-powered desalination could lower costs and improve efficiency over time.
Still, Abualkhair said that geothermal was underrepresented in investor portfolios across the Middle East.
“While solar PV and wind projects attract multibillion-dollar investments backed by the Kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Program, geothermal remains at the pilot and feasibility stage,” he said.
He argued that policy measures could unlock investment, including risk-sharing funds, long-term power purchase agreements and streamlined licensing for subsurface resources, and pointed to models from Iceland, Turkey and Kenya, where government-led mapping, incentives and risk mitigation have spurred large-scale geothermal adoption.
Vision 2030
Geothermal could help Saudi Arabia achieve its Vision 2030 target of deriving half of its electricity from renewables, while ensuring grid stability, Abualkhair said.
Its 24/7 dispatchable nature would complement solar and wind, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel backup plants and support the growth of new green industries such as renewable-powered desalination and sustainable district cooling.
“Geothermal fits squarely within Vision 2030’s ambition to have 50 percent of power from renewable sources by 2030 while ensuring grid stability,” he said.
“Additionally, it can unlock new industries, enhance export potential and provide long-term, low-carbon infrastructure opportunities aligned with global ESG trends.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM discusses Gaza with Iranian, Syrian counterparts
August 25, 2025
JEDDAH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday on the sidelines of the 21st extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinians.
The two also reviewed Saudi-Iranian ties and prospects for strengthening them, alongside regional and international developments, with a focus on the situation in Gaza and efforts to address it, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal also met with the Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani to discuss similar topics, SPA added.
Earlier during the extraordinary session, Prince Faisal said that the Palestinian people were facing “the most horrific forms of oppression and genocide” due to Israel’s ongoing assault, calling it an unprecedented violation of international law.
Speaking during the meeting held at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah, Prince Faisal stressed that “international silence regarding these crimes exacerbates the tragedy and undermines prospects for peace and security in the region and the world.”
The Saudi foreign minister also held talks with counterparts from Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan and The Gambia.
Source: arabnews.com
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9,900 students join Mawhiba Classes program
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: More than 9,900 students have enrolled in the Mawhiba Classes program at the start of the new academic year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The initiative is offered by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, in partnership with distinguished schools across the Kingdom.
The Mawhiba Classes program is currently implemented in more than 190 schools across 17 cities, targeting public and private schools that meet high standards in infrastructure, teaching methods, and assessment practices.
The program aims to provide gifted students with support through specialized classes taught by highly qualified teachers.
Students benefit from Mawhiba’s enrichment curricula, designed to develop their skills and creative abilities, the SPA reported.
Since its first edition in 2009, the program has grown significantly — from 185 students in 28 schools to the more than 9,900 students this year.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi, Iraqi foreign ministers discuss Gaza crisis on sidelines of OIC meeting
August 25, 2025
JEDDAH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday met with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Mohammed Hussein on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two sides discussed the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, reviewed Saudi-Iraqi relations, and exchanged views on regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza and efforts to address the humanitarian crisis.
Earlier on Monday during the OIC meeting, Prince Faisal said that Israel's continued violations in the enclave were undermining international efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
Source: arabnews.com
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Environment Ministry app aims to bolster agricultural sector
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched an app as part of its “With You Always” campaign to provide nationwide support to farmers.
The smart agricultural guide — Murshiduk Al-Zira’i — delivers swift technical assistance to those working in the agricultural sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The digital platform offers immediate consultation services connecting farmers, landholders and members of the public directly with 441 accredited specialists across diverse agricultural disciplines.
Users can receive expert guidance on a range of topics, from initial land preparation through to final harvest operations.
The ministry said the initiative directly supported Vision 2030’s objectives for agricultural modernization, economic diversification and sustainable sector development.
By offering scientifically validated guidance, the app aims to reduce dependence on non-evidence-based farming practices while enabling data-driven decisions that enhance productivity, minimize operational costs and prevent cultivation errors.
The app has already won multiple awards including the Digital Government Award (Best Arabic Application) and the UN Award for Sustainable Development, as well as attaining the internationally recognized ISO quality certification.
Additional functions include weather condition alerts sourced directly from the National Center of Meteorology, live-streamed guidance sessions and publication of educational articles and informational resources. There are also detailed soil and water analysis reports to optimize irrigation and fertilization practices.
The ministry said the app embodied the “With You Always” campaign, which is committed to providing continuous support through the agricultural cycle.
It is available free of charge on both iOS and Android devices and everyone working in the agriculture sector is encouraged to download it.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2612979/saudi-arabia
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KSrelief distributes 1,500 food parcels in Sudan’s White Nile
August 25, 2025
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief distributed 1,500 food parcels in Sudan’s White Nile state on Sunday, benefitting 9,750 people.
This assistance is the third phase of KSrelief’s 2025 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The initiative is a part of KSrelief’s broader aid support for vulnerable communities worldwide.
The agency has also provided aid for people in Gaza, Yemen and Pakistan.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2612960/saudi-arabia
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