Will Burn Your Palaces in Islamabad and Lahore: TTP Spokesman
New Age Islam News Bureau
16
Jun 2014
Iraqi Shiite fighters deploy with their weapons in Basra on Saturday. (Photo: AP)
Pakistan
• Will Burn Your Palaces in Islamabad and Lahore: TTP Spokesman
• Operation Zarb-I-Azb: Sindh Ready to Face Terrorist Backlash
• 10 Militants Killed In Pakistan Airstrikes
• Pakistan Taliban Warn Foreign Firms to Leave Country Amid Offensive
• Punjab CM assured that Army was fully prepared for every situation
• Culture of intolerance breeds terrorism: CJP
• Sharif, Fazl set to fix cracked ties
• PTI endorses Zarb-e-Azb operation
Arab World
• Iraq Forces Kill 279 Militants in 24 Hours: Spokesman
• Militants Infiltrate into Iraq via Saudi Arabia: Official
• Saudi Press Blames Iraq PM's 'Sectarianism' For Unrest
• Don’t Waste Time Watching Soccer: An Ultra-Conservative Egypt Cleric
• ISIL seizes mainly ethnic Turkmen city of Telafer after heavy fighting
• Activists: 20 dead in Syria barrel bomb attack in Aleppo
• Arab foreign ministers to huddle on 'critical' Iraq
• Rise of Shiite militias could fracture Iraq
• Militants post images of mass killing of 1,700 Iraqi soldiers in Tikrit
• Egypt Interior Ministry bans religious slogans on vehicles
• Iraq: ISIL as a tool in a regional axis of conflict
• Jeddah: Crimes against close relatives on the rise
• Ban hate speech against women, says rights Chief Bandar Al-Aiban
North America
• ‘See You in New York,’ ISIS Chief Told U.S. Captors
• U.S., Iran ‘Near Talks’ On Iraq Militants
• ISIS direct threat to Jordan, US senator says
• West evacuates Iraq staff as US-Iran talks broached
• US lawmakers, in Nigeria, urge fund for Boko Haram victims
Europe
• We’re As British as Fish ‘n’ Chips, UK Muslims Tell PM
• UN chief warns against sectarian rhetoric in Iraq
• Cameron takes tough line on Islamist radicals
• Spain arrests eight in 'ISIS cell'
• Ireland announces more funds for Syrians in Lebanon
• Al Qaeda a big threat to Afghanistan and the region: UN
• NATO chief calls for immediate release of Turkish citizens held in Iraq
Southeast Asia
• Malaysian Militants Returning From Syria Will Be Charged: Home Minister
• Christians Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Build Mega Churches, Says Controversial Columnist
• Competing Halal Standards Leave Food Industry with Indigestion
• Federal Court can decide whether Malaysia a secular state or not, says MP
• Public Schools in Indonesia Feel Islamic Pressure
Africa
• 48 Kenyans killed; witnesses say gunmen spared Muslims
• Gunmen kill at least 15 in northern Nigerian market
• Borno: Boko Haram writes Chibok on plan attack town again
• Libya: ISIS Menace Al-Qaeda in Derna
South Asia
• 3 Muslim Separatists Sentenced To Death in Beijing Attack
• Afghan election: Taliban 'removed voters' fingers'
• Indefinite curfew clamped in Sri Lanka after Buddhist-Muslim clashes
• Judge delays verdict over Bangladesh New Year bombings
• More attacks reported by Abdullah backers on Ghani’s supporters
• IO: Azhar responsible for crimes against humanity
India
• Al-Qaeda video a threat: Jaitley
• Modi urged to secure release of Indian workers held in Iran
• As jihadists advance in Iraq, Indians call for rescue of trapped kin
Mideast
• Iraqi Kurd PM in Iran for talks over ISIL insurgency
• PA condemns Israel for wide-scale arrest of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members
• Turkey’s main opposition parties to nominate İhsanoğlu for presidency
• Iranian President Blasts Trans-Regional States for Supporting Takfiri Groups in Region
• Netanyahu: Israel will take all action necessary against 'scourge of terrorism'
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/will-burn-palaces-islamabad-lahore/d/87575
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Pakistan
Will Burn Your Palaces in Islamabad and Lahore: TTP Spokesman
June 16, 2014
ISLAMABAD- The Pakistani Taliban have warned foreign firms to leave the country after thousands of troops launched a long-awaited offensive in a troubled tribal district along the Afghan border.
"We warn all foreign investors, airlines and multinational corporations that they should immediately suspend their ongoing matters with Pakistan and prepare to leave Pakistan, otherwise they will be responsible for their own loss," said spokesman Shahidullah Shahid in a statement today. The Islamist group also vowed to take revenge on the government.
"We hold Nawaz Sharif's government and the Punjabi establishment responsible for the loss of tribal Muslims' life and property as a result of this operation," the statement said. "The retaliatory actions of the Mujahedeen will make you a cautionary tale in history."
Shahid added that the Taliban would "burn your palaces in Islamabad and Lahore" referring to the capital city and Sharif's hometown, from where he derives his support base. "Remember that you will once again crave for negotiations and peace, but then it would be too late," he added.
http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jun-2014/will-burn-your-palaces-in-islamabad-and-lahore-ttp-warns-foreign-firms-and-nawaz-government
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Operation Zarb-I-Azb: Sindh Ready to Face Terrorist Backlash
June 16, 2014
KARACHI: The Sindh government said that it had done its home work to face any possible backlash from the militants and stop free flow of internally displaced people or militants in their guise from the tribal badlands after the Zarb-i-Azb military operation was launched in North Waziristan.
“We were already on alert for terrorist attacks after the carnage on Karachi airport, but now after the launching of the operation we are extra alert and vigilant,” said Sharfuddin Memon, adviser to the chief minister on home affairs, while speaking to Dawn.
He said all sensitive installations had been doubly protected and the intelligence network had been further consolidated to check any possible violent reaction against the military operation.
Officials said they were going to focus on the endlessly mushrooming squatter settlements in the sprawling metropolis which posed a clear threat.
“We are focusing on such localities to document who resides there as an instrument to ensure improved security in future,” said Mr Memon.
Provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said a red alert had been notified in the province as soon as the operation had formally been launched.
Speaking to Dawn, he said all entry and exit points of Sindh – Karachi in particular – would be checked, which would include buses and trains coming south from the upcountry.
He said a meeting was going to be summoned by the chief minister to devise a comprehensive action plan vis-a-vis the situation.
Meanwhile, the (Karachi) city police chief has sought deployment of around 5,000 policemen from other districts of Sindh to meet any eventuality.
“Though police are not trained to fight terrorism, yet we have to face it with the fullest of our potential,” said Additional Inspector General of police, Karachi, Ghulam Qadir Thebo.
He said there was a strong likelihood that the militants might target sensitive installations, including those of police, and plan attacks on political personalities who were ‘outspoken’ against terrorists.
Mr Thebo said a special force of 40 policemen each had been set up in three zones of Karachi to deal with any situation. Besides, he said, a request had been made to the Sindh IGP for deployment of 5,000 policemen in the city from other districts.
Furthermore, checking at three entry points of Karachi has been increased to prevent possible influx of militants.
“It is the general red alert as we have not received any specific threat,” said Mr Thebo.
IDPs ON SINDH BORDER: Unlike what it did five years ago when a military operation had been planned to cleanse the scenic Swat valley of Taliban, the provincial government has – as it claims – a plan to check, investigate and document every single person from tribal badlands who enter the boundaries of Sindh as an internally displaced person (IDP), senior officials said.
“We have got our preparedness right. Actually, we completed our home work a few months ago since the possibility of an operation began to become a reality,” Dr Sikander Mandhro, provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, told Dawn.
He said matching arrangements had been planned to control the migration juggernaut, which would start right on the borders of North Waziristan.
“The federal government has told us about its arrangements to register each and every individual who intends to migrate from their native place in the northwest. The IDPs would be first placed in the camps in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,” said Mr Mandhro. But those who wanted to head for Sindh or any other province would be allowed after documenting all details about every individual or an entire family, he added.
Similar arrangements are being made in the districts of Sindh bordering Punjab and Balochistan from where IDPs could enter the province.
“We have got the office of the National Database and Registration Authority and the United Nations organisations concerned in our loop to register and fingerprint everyone from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas who want to enter Sindh. We’ll not spare anyone as it could give a shelter to the militants in the guise of IDPs,” he said.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1112999/operation-zarb-i-azb-sindh-ready-to-face-terrorist-backlash
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10 Militants Killed In Pakistan Airstrikes
Jun 16, 2014
Pakistani officials say the air force pounded militant targets in North Waziristan, killing about 10 militants.
Two intelligence officials said the airstrikes early Monday hit the Shawal area near the southern border with South Waziristan, a neighbouring tribal region.
The officials said some of the militants were foreigners.
The airstrikes are part of an offensive announced Sunday by the Pakistani military in North Waziristan to go after local and foreign fighters who have used the region as a base from which to attack the rest of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The region is essentially lawless with little or no government control and also serves as a safe haven for insurgents who attack neighbouring Afghanistan.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/10-militants-killed-in-pakistan-airstrikes/article6119237.ece
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Pakistan Taliban Warn Foreign Firms to Leave Country amid Offensive
AFP | Jun 16, 2014
PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The Pakistani Taliban on Monday warned foreign firms to leave the country after thousands of troops launched a long-awaited offensive in a troubled tribal district along the Afghan border.
"We warn all foreign investors, airlines and multinational corporations that they should immediately suspend their ongoing matters with Pakistan and prepare to leave Pakistan, otherwise they will be responsible for their own loss," said spokesman Shahidullah Shahid in a statement.
The Taliban's main stronghold is in the North Waziristan tribal district, where the Pakistan military began its offensive on Sunday night.
It came one week after brazen insurgent attack on Pakistan's main airport in Karachi which left dozens dead and marked the end of a troubled peace process. The Islamist group also vowed to take revenge on the government.
"We hold Nawaz Sharif's government and the Punjabi establishment responsible for the loss of tribal Muslims' life and property as a result of this operation," the statement said.
"The retaliatory actions of the Mujahedeen will make you a cautionary tale in history."
Shahid added that the Taliban would "burn your palaces in Islamabad and Lahore" referring to the capital city and Sharif's hometown, from where he derives his support base.
"Remember that you will once again crave for negotiations and peace, but then it would be too late," he added.
North Waziristan is the only tribal region where the military has not launched a large military operation against militants, despite insistence from the US. The region until recently was harbouring several militant groups of local and foreign militants, including Chechens, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Tajiks and Uighurs. According to sources, many insurgents had recently vacated the main towns of the region and fled towards the rugged mountains on the border with Afghanistan.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-Taliban-warn-foreign-firms-to-leave-country-amid-offensive/articleshow/36652891.cms
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Punjab CM assured that Army was fully prepared for every situation
June 16, 2014
LAHORE- Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant Naveed Zaman called on Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and exchanged views on security situation in the back drop of North Waziristan offensive.
According to reports, the Corps Commander called on CM Punjab at his Model Town residence and security situation affairs in the back drop of possible lash back of NWA offensive was discussed in length.
The corps commander expressed the army’s complete cooperation. He said that all security measures are in place and concerned departments are on full alert. CM Punjab said the NWA operation would be a decisive one against the anti state elements. The whole nation stands by the armed forces and fully supports them.
http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jun-2014/punjab-cm-assured-that-army-was-fully-prepared-for-every-situation
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Culture of intolerance breeds terrorism: CJP
June 16, 2014
Quetta- Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani said terrorism comes into being due to the culture of intolerance and we have to change this culture if we want peace.
Addressing a book launching ceremony on the issue of terrorism organized by the Baluchistan High Court, the CJP said that the culture of intolerance would need to be eliminated. He added that non-state actors promoted terrorism in the country and it was these same elements which distorted Islam.
According to the CJP these elements had created a mindset which had to be changed. He added that a murder of any individual regardless of their religious beliefs was the murder of entire humanity.
The CJP further said that terrorism had existed throughout history and in every religion. Chief Justice said that the intention behind declaring the current year of Supreme Court the year of tolerance was to develop the culture of tolerance on the basis of true Islamic identity and spirit. He also said that there was a time when Muslims ruled more than half of the world.
http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jun-2014/culture-of-intolerance-breeds-terrorism-cjp
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Sharif, Fazl set to fix cracked ties
June 16, 2014
ISLAMABAD - A crucial meeting between Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, primarily to discuss the grievances and demands of the former with the government, is expected in a next few days, informed sources in the ruling alliance.
The sources aware of the developments taking place on this front informed The Nation that a couple of days back Prime Minister Sharif rang Fazl ur Rehman to fix a meeting with him, but the meeting was deferred for time being due to some pressing engagements of the JUI-F chief and now both the leaders would likely meet sometime during the next week.
Full report at:
http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jun-2014/sharif-fazl-set-to-fix-cracked-ties
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PTI endorses Zarb-e-Azb operation
June 16, 2014
ISLAMABAD. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday endorsed the military operation underway in North Waziristan.
Last week, reiterating his party’s stance on peace talks with militants, Imran had said that an offensive in North Waziristan would unite militant forces against the Pakistani state.
"Conducting such a military operation when most of the groups in NWA want talks is suicidal," Imran said in a statement, adding that most groups in North Waziristan desire peace talks with the government.
He also criticised the US Congress' move to link aid to a military offensive in North Waziristan, terming the move as an effort by the US to “purchase” the government’s favour to carry out a military operation in the tribal region.
On Sunday, PTI MNA Arif Alvi expressed reservations against the government's announcement of the operation.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1113121/pti-endorses-zarb-e-azb-operation
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Arab World
Iraq forces kill 279 militants in 24 hours: spokesman
June 16, 2014
BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces have killed 279 "terrorists" in the past 24 hours, as they push back against a major militant offensive, a security spokesman said Sunday.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's security spokesman, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta, made the announcement during a televised news conference.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-15/260200-iraq-forces-kill-279-militants-in-24-hours-spokesman.ashx#ixzz34qlwzxwt
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Militants infiltrate into Iraq via Saudi Arabia: Official
Jun 16, 2014
Armed elements have infiltrated into Iraqi border areas through Saudi Arabia in a bid to launch further attacks on the country, a senior provincial official says.
According to our intelligence, armed militants have infiltrated into the desert area bordering Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The intelligence confirmed that the militants have used vehicles with Saudi license plates, the senior member of the security committee in the province of Dhi Qar told Al Sumaria network on Monday.
The terrorists are collecting information and planning acts of sabotage in the region, the official said.
Iraqi security forces are monitoring the situation and set up security checkpoints in the region to prevent any possible attack, the official added.
Full report at:
http://en.alalam.ir/news/1603292
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Saudi press blames Iraq PM's 'sectarianism' for unrest
Jun 16, 2014
Newspapers in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia on Sunday blamed Shiite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for unrest sweeping his country, saying his "sectarian" polices are taking Iraq to a "devastating civil war".
Militants spearheaded by powerful jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and joined by supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, have since Monday overrun a large chunk of northern and north-central Iraq.
"Policies of sectarianism and monopolisation of power that have been followed by Maliki... have led Iraq to the brink of a devastating civil war," Alriyadh newspaper wrote.
Relations between Riyadh and Iran-backed Maliki have been strained. In March, Maliki accused the kingdom and neighbouring Qatar of supporting terrorism, a charge that drew harsh criticism from Riyadh.
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/103764/World/Region/Saudi-press-blames-Iraq-PMs-sectarianism-for-unres.aspx
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Don’t Waste Time Watching Soccer: An Ultra-Conservative Egypt Cleric
Jun 16, 2014
At the height of international world cup fervour, an ultra-conservative Egyptian cleric has said that watching soccer matches was unacceptable in Islam because it is a distraction and “destroys nations.”
Yasser Borhami, a founding member of the main Salafi movement in Egypt, the Salafi Call, said spending time watching the games was “a disaster that makes me very irate.”
Stopping short of forbidding it entirely, Mr Borhami said that there are conditions that would make it “haram,” or unacceptable in Islam- if it distracts you from your religious duties, reveals body parts that some Muslims believe should be covered, or causes Muslims to love and support unbelievers. And, he said, soccer matches usually meet all of those conditions.
Asked by a presenter who is an ardent soccer fan on the private Egyptian channel CBC about his edict, Mr Borhami back pedalled, but only slightly. “I just said don’t waste your time.” He said that his words had been taken out of context by those eager to attack him for political reasons.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/fifa-2014/dont-waste-time-watching-soccer-egypt-cleric/article6119078.ece
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ISIL seizes mainly ethnic Turkmen city of Telafer after heavy fighting
Jun 16, 2014
Insurgents seized a mainly ethnic Turkmen city in northwestern Iraq on June 15 after heavy fighting, solidifying their grip on the north after a lightning offensive that threatens to dismember Iraq.
Residents reached by telephone in the city of Telafer said it had fallen to the militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after a battle that saw heavy casualties on both sides. “The city was overrun by militants. Severe fighting took place, and many people were killed. Shiite families have fled to the west and Sunni families have fled to the east,” said a city official who asked not to be identified.
Full report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/isil-seizes-mainly-ethnic-turkmen-city-of-telafer-after-heavy-fighting.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67841&NewsCatID=352
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Activists: 20 dead in Syria barrel bomb attack in Aleppo
16 June 2014
Syrian regime helicopters on Monday dropped barrel bombs on an opposition-held district in northern Aleppo city, killing at least 20 people, including several children, activists said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 20 people were killed and others injured, including some in serious condition, in the attacks on the Sukkari neighborhood.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/16/Activists-20-dead-in-Syria-barrel-bomb-attack-in-Aleppo-.html
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Arab foreign ministers to huddle on 'critical' Iraq
16 June 2014
Arab foreign ministers are set to meet this week in Saudi Arabia to discuss what the Arab League on Monday called the "critical situation" in Iraq.
The talks on Wednesday and Thursday come as Baghdad battles a lightning offensive by Islamic militants advancing on Baghdad after seizing parts of the north, including Iraq's second-largest city Mosul.
Iraqi security forces on Saturday launched a counter-offensive, recapturing two towns north of the capital.
Arab League chief Nabil Al-Arabi said the meeting in Jeddah will "study developments in the critical situation in Iraq and the steps that need to be taken to deal with it", a statement received by AFP said.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/16/Arab-foreign-ministers-to-huddle-on-critical-Iraq-.html
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Rise of Shiite militias could fracture Iraq
16 June 2014
Emboldened by a call to arms by the top Shiite cleric, Iranian-backed militias have moved quickly to the center of Iraq's political landscape, spearheading what its Shiite majority sees as a fight for survival against Sunni militants who control of large swathes of territory north of Baghdad.
The emergence of the militias as a legitimate force enjoying the support of the Shiite-led government and the blessing of the religious establishment poses a threat to Iraq's unity, planting the seed for new sectarian strife and taking the regional Shiite-Sunni divide to a potentially explosive level.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/analysis/2014/06/16/Rise-of-Shiite-militias-could-fracture-Iraq.html
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Militants post images of mass killing of 1,700 Iraqi soldiers in Tikrit
Jun 16, 2014 | AFP | Baghdad
As the Iraqi government bolstered Baghdad's defences Sunday, the Islamic militant group that captured two major cities last week posted graphic photos that appeared to show its fighters massacring dozens of captured Iraqi soldiers.
The pictures on a militant website appear to show masked fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, loading the captives onto flatbed trucks before forcing them to lie face-down in a shallow ditch with their arms tied behind their backs.
The final images show the bodies of the captives soaked in blood after being shot.
The grisly images could further sharpen sectarian tensions as hundreds of Shiites heed a call from their most revered spiritual leader to take up arms against the Sunni militants who have swept across the north. ISIL has vowed to take the battle to Baghdad and cities further south housing revered Shiite shrines.
Full report at:
http://www.asianage.com/international/militants-post-images-mass-killing-1700-iraqi-soldiers-tikrit-124
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Egypt Interior Ministry bans religious slogans on vehicles
Jun 16, 2014
Security forces will be removing from vehicles the widespread sticker asking onlookers “Have you praised the Prophet (Mohamed) today,” among other religious slogans, Deputy Interior Minister for Media Affairs Abdel-Fattah Osman said in a televised interview on Sunday.
The phrase, which has spread extensively on cars and street shop façades of late, is inspired by a Quranic verse in which Muslims are clearly requested to emulate God and his angels' praise of Prophet Mohamed.
Talking to TV host Amr Adeeb in the Al-Qahera Al-Youm TV programme, Osman said this is not the first time the interior ministry launches a campaign against banners or stickers betraying religious affiliations which, he argued, could lead to “sectarian tendencies”.
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/103846/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-Interior-Ministry-bans-religious-slogans-on-.aspx
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Iraq: ISIL as a tool in a regional axis of conflict
Jun 16, 2014
Within hours the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) succeeded in taking control of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, as well as the Iraqi city of Tikrit. Both fell to militants last week. Iraqi security forces withdrew completely, leaving room for militants to control cities of strategic importance in being near central oil wells.
Today, the scene in Iraq is reminiscent of the withdrawal of Iraqi security forces from Baghdad during the US invasion in 2003.
During the past decade, the question has often been posed: Will Iraq be able to build a strong national army that protects the state amid violent variables in the region? Further: Is Iraq the centre of a regional strategic shift, or do political and sectarian loyalties play a role in this context?
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/103568/World/Region/Iraq-ISIL-as-a-tool-in-a-regional-axis-of-conflict.aspx
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Jeddah: Crimes against close relatives on the rise
June 16, 2014
JEDDAH — The number of crimes committed by a family member against another has been on the increase lately.
In Yanbu, a father in his 40 killed his only son, 15, by stabbing him in front of the building where he was staying with his mother and sisters. This happened after the mother got custody of her children when she divorced the father.
In Tabuk, a father killed his 10-year-old son after a dispute with him.
The father had asked his son to memorize verses of the Holy Qur’an, but he did not.
So the father scolded his son and beat him with an electric cord and then tied him to the air-conditioner.
Full report at:
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140616208608
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Ban hate speech against women, says rights chief Bandar Al-Aiban
Jun 16, 2014
Human Rights Commission chief Bandar Al-Aiban stressed the importance of finding initiatives and policies to stop violations of human rights, especially those related to women, such as rape.
He called for a ban on hate speech against women, stressing that women who have been victimized should be given protection. Women should be educated about their rights. He called on the international community to put a stop to inhumane crimes and practices, and punish all those who commit these crimes.
Al-Aiban was speaking at the international summit to fight sexual violence in areas of conflict, which was held in London from June 10-13, under the aegis of the British foreign secretary and special envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with the participation of more than 120 countries.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/news/587496
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North America
‘See you in New York,’ ISIS chief told U.S. captors
Jun 16, 2014
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issued a chilling final words to his U.S. captors in 2009 upon his release from a detention camp in Iraq, saying he would see them in “New York,” a former member of the prison has told The Daily Beast.
“He said, ‘I’ll see you guys in New York,’” U.S. army Col. Kenneth King, referring to the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria militant group.
King, then the commanding officer of Camp Bucca, said he didn’t regard al-Baghdadi’s remarks as a threat as the Iraqi had known many of his captors were from New York, reservists with the 306 Military Police Battalion, a unit based on Long Island, according to the report published Saturday.
King, according to the report, believed the remark was al-Baghdadi’s way of saying he had “known all along that it was all essentially a joke, that he had only to wait and he would be freed to go back to what he had been doing.”
“Like, ‘This is no big thing, I’ll see you on the block,’” King was quoted as saying.
ing said he had not imagined that in such a short space of time he would be seeing news reports that al-Baghdadi was the leader of ISIS, a militant group that has gained swathes of Iraqi territory in recent days which is also threatening to storm the capital Baghdad.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/16/-See-You-in-New-York-ISIS-chief-told-U-S-captors.html
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U.S., Iran ‘near talks’ on Iraq militants
16 June 2014
The United States is preparing to launch direct talks with Iran on how the longtime foes can halt a radical Sunni insurgency that has seized a swathe of Iraq, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Set to begin next week, the dialogue comes with Shiite Iran's neighbor mired in crisis once more with Sunni militants seizing a large swathe of Iraq and advancing toward Baghdad.
"We haven't engaged and [have] nothing to preview," a U.S. official told AFP.
But there is a prevailing sense in Washington that the United States has not ruled out talks with Tehran either. The White House, while declining to comment on the Journal's report, did not deny it.
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, who has led back-channel negotiations with Iran, traveled to Vienna, where he will join Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, the State Department said.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/06/16/U-S-Iran-near-talks-on-Iraq-militants-.html
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ISIS direct threat to Jordan, US senator says
Jun 16, 2014
Top Republican lawmaker Sen. Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) suggested on Sunday that a deal with Iran might be necessary in the short term to stop the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from marching on Baghdad – not dissimilar to America’s alliance with Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union at the height of the Second World War.
“We’re going to have to have some dialogue with the Iranians,” Graham said.
CBS News confirmed that Qasem Suleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is in Iraq for consultations over how Iran might assist Baghdad’s efforts to fight ISIS.
Full report at:
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-direct-threat-to-Jordan-US-senator-says-359456
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West evacuates Iraq staff as US-Iran talks broached
Jun 16, 2014
Western embassies began evacuating staff from Baghdad Monday despite Iraq's claim it was repelling militants who have captured vast amounts of territory in a lightning offensive that has shaken regional stability.
The possibility of direct talks between the US and Iran, foes for decades, has even been broached in a bid to resolve the crisis that has seen key cities overrun by anti-government fighters, led by the powerful Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group.
ISIL militants are also said to have killed scores of Iraqi soldiers as they pushed an advance on the capital, a "horrifying" massacre that has drawn international condemnation.
The diplomatic evacuation, confirmed thus far by the United States and Australia, was coupled with the announcement from Washington that the country's sprawling embassy -- which sits in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone -- would receive even more security.
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/103818/World/Region/West-evacuates-Iraq-staff-as-USIran-talks-broached.aspx
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US lawmakers, in Nigeria, urge fund for Boko Haram victims
Jun 16, 2014
Four visiting US lawmakers called during a visit to Nigeria on Sunday for a special fund for victims of the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and seen the abduction of dozens of schoolgirls.
"Today we call upon the government of Nigeria to establish a national victim fund for all the victims who are suffering at the hands of Boko Haram," delegation co-chair Sheila Jackson Lee told reporters in the capital Abuja.
The delegation was in Nigeria as part of global efforts to drum up support for the rescue of the teenage girls kidnapped on April 14 from their school in the northeastern town of Chibok.
While 57 of the girls escaped, 219 remain in the hands of the Islamists, prompting global outrage and street protests to press for their rescue.
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/103782/World/International/US-lawmakers,-in-Nigeria,-urge-fund-for-Boko-Haram.aspx
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Europe
We’re as British as fish ‘n’ chips, UK Muslims tell PM
16 June 2014
Muslim groups in the United Kingdom have hit back at the prime minister’s suggestion that the community needs to be more “British,” saying that Islamic values are in line with those being pushed by David Cameron.
Writing in yesterday’s Mail on Sunday, Cameron said it is time to stop being “squeamish about Britishness,” adding that it was “not an option” for people to live in the UK without accepting British laws and the British way of life.
“Belief in freedom, tolerance of others, accepting personal and social responsibility, respecting and upholding the rule of law [are as vital and] as British as the Union Flag, football and fish and chips,” the PM wrote.
The Mail on Sunday interpreted Cameron’s statements as a direct message to UK Muslims – prompting strong responses from several prominent community members.
“Freedom, tolerance, accepting personal and social responsibility, upholding the law of the land: these are Islamic values. These are the values described by our prime minister as British values,” he added.
Full report at:
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2014/06/16/We-re-as-British-as-fish-and-chips-UK-Muslims-tell-Cameron.html
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UN chief warns against sectarian rhetoric in Iraq
Jun 16, 2014
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the recent upsurge of violence in Iraq by terrorist groups including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
A statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson Sunday night stated that reports of mass executions by ISIL were deeply disturbing and underscored the urgency of bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice, Xinhua reported.
“The secretary general warns against sectarian rhetoric that could further exacerbate the conflict and carry grave implications for the entire region,” the statement said.
Calling on all Iraqi leaders — political, military, religious and community — to ensure that their followers avoid acts of reprisal, Mr Ban urged them to “coalesce behind an inclusive national security plan as well as political and social measures aimed at addressing, on the basis of the constitution, the substantial threat to the country.”
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/un-chief-warns-against-sectarian-rhetoric-in-iraq/article6119195.ece
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Cameron takes tough line on Islamist radicals
June 16, 2014
LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain had been too tolerant of Islamist radicalism in the past and allowed violent rhetoric to flourish, pledging a “muscular” approach to combat the problem.
Facing re-election next year, Cameron’s tougher line comes days after the chief schools inspector said a culture of “fear and intimidation” existed in some schools due to what parts of the media called a Muslim extremist plot.
The findings, which included evidence of faith and gender segregation and funding misuse, caused tensions in Cameron’s coalition government, with two of his most prominent ministers in a public spat about the authorities’ response to the issue.
Questions about British identity have shot up the political agenda, with immigration joining the economy at the top of voter concerns for the first time in years. The U.K. Independence Party, which has promised to sharply restrict it, won European elections last month, pushing Cameron’s Conservatives into third place.
Full report at:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/Jun-16/260276-cameron-takes-tough-line-on-islamist-radicals.ashx#ixzz34pY95Fl0
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Spain arrests eight in 'ISIS cell'
Jun 16, 2014
Spanish police say they have detained eight people on suspicion of recruiting militants to fight in Syria and Iraq.
They suspect the cell of trying to send jihadists to join the militant group ISIS - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
Raids were carried out in Madrid in the early hours of Monday, officials say.
The leader of the cell had been held at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba after being arrested in Afghanistan, a statement said.
Unconfirmed reports in Spanish media said one of the eight was from Spain, another from Argentina and the other six from Morocco.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27865046
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Ireland announces more funds for Syrians in Lebanon
June 16, 2014
BEIRUT: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny announced additional funds Monday to assist Syrian refugees in Lebanon and communities hosting them.
Kenny announced the additional assistance of $2.7 million to support the influx of thousands of refugees from Syria, as he held talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.
Half of the new contribution, which will be channeled through the UNHCR and UNRWA, will go to a UNHCR program providing food relief to poor Lebanese communities who have hosted refugees from Syria.
Full report at:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jun-16/260314-ireland-announces-more-funds-for-syrians-in-lebanon.ashx#ixzz34qlrweR1
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Al Qaeda a big threat to Afghanistan and the region: UN
Jun 16 2014
Al-Qaeda fighters and supporters are a big threat to peace and stability of Afghanistan and it will affect the region soon.
Al Qaeda affiliates from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, China and Uzbekistan are participating regularly in attacks on Afghan military forces and pose “a direct terrorist challenge” for Afghanistan, south and central Asia and the global community, UN experts said in a new report.
The UN experts says that Afghan and international officials believe these Al Qaeda affiliated groups are unlikely to leave Afghanistan in the near future, which would keep them in the country as the US withdraws most of its troops.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/al-qaeda-a-big-threat-to-afghanistan-and-the-region-un-6189
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NATO chief calls for immediate release of Turkish citizens held in Iraq
Jun 16, 2014
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on June 16 for the immediate release of Turkish diplomatic and security staff held by insurgents in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
"We follow the dangerous developments in Iraq with great concern. I condemn the unacceptable attack on the consulate general in Mosul," Rasmussen said during a visit to Ankara, standing beside Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.
Some 49 members of Turkey's Mosul Consulate and 31 truck drivers were kidnapped by the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) after they seized Mosul late June 9. One of the Turkish drivers had managed to escape over the week-end.
Full report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/nato-chief-calls-for-immediate-release-of-turkish-citizens-held-in-iraq.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67847&NewsCatID=510
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Southeast Asia
Malaysian Militants Returning From Syria Will Be Charged: Home Minister
Jun 16, 2014
The government is committed to taking a hard-line against Malaysians who go overseas to participate in militant activities, the Home Minister said today.
Bernama reported Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) as saying that Malaysians who join the militants in Syria will be dealt with under the law if they return to Malaysia.
"Information is collected, and if they step foot in Malaysia we will definitely nab them and charge them," he told media after receiving a courtesy call from United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Joseph Y Yun at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.
Zahid said his ministry, with the help of the police, were now working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to monitor online activity where militants are using social media sites to recruit new members.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysian-militants-returning-from-syria-will-be-charged-says-zahid#sthash.V9tOMUtG.dpuf
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Christians Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Build Mega Churches, Says Controversial Columnist
Jun 16, 2014
Controversial columnist Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is now perturbed by the size of the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) in Bukit Jalil, the largest church in Southeast Asia, saying that Christians did not deserve such a big place of worship given that they only make up 10% of Malaysia's population.
The lecturer said instead, Buddhists deserved bigger temples because they accounted for 20% of the population.
"We have been too good in allowing them to build the biggest church here when they make up less than 10% of the population.
"This does not include the churches in each state, district and also those in shophouses and in Orang Asli settlements.
"To be fair, the Buddhist deserve more as they make up more than 20%," he said in his article in Sinar Harian titled “What is fair and what is not”.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/christians-dont-deserve-to-build-mega-churches-says-ridhuan#sthash.l9o69HYE.dpuf
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Competing Halal Standards Leave Food Industry With Indigestion
June 16, 2014
Kuala Lumpur. The storm of bad publicity that hit confectioner Cadbury in Malaysia after its chocolates tested positive for traces of pork highlights the costly, religious minefield food companies must navigate as they rush to tap the surging $1 trillion global halal market.
One of the biggest headaches for corporations like Mondelez International, Nestle and Unilever is the lack of a unified standard for what exactly is halal, or permissible under Islamic law, despite years of efforts by Muslim authorities to come up with a global benchmark.
As a result, global food firms face higher production costs as they must comply with a mix of national processing standards that can vary widely even within the same country.
Failing to navigate these differences leaves companies exposed to the risk of using ingredients permissible under one standard but not another.
Full report at:
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/competing-halal-standards-leave-food-industry-indigestion/
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Federal Court can decide whether Malaysia a secular state or not, says MP
June 16, 2014
The Federal Court should be the right authority to determine whether or not Malaysia is a secular state, said a Pakatan Rakyat lawmaker.
DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may refer to the Federal Court for its opinion any question on this matter.
“This issue will keep arising and it is best to refer it the Federal Court,” he said today in a statement.
Gobind was responding to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datul Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who in a written reply in Parliament had told Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP-Sibu) that Malaysia was not a secular state.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/federal-court-can-decide-whether-malaysia-a-secular-state-or-not-says-mp#sthash.SdID4kHb.dpuf
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Public Schools in Indonesia Feel Islamic Pressure
16 June 2014
When Lies Marcoes heard that her daughter’s high school, in Bogor, Indonesia, required all female Muslim students to wear a head veil once a week, she was furious. Although she herself was a Muslim and a graduate of an Islamic university in Jakarta, she went to the school to object to the imposition of the religious uniform in a state school.
As a result of her protest, she said, the order was rescinded — though her teenage daughter decided to wear the head scarf anyway to fit in with her friends.
About 400 kilometers, or 260 miles, away, in Yogyakarta, central Java, another parent, Tri Agus Susanto Siswowiharjo, says he would like to send his daughters to a public secondary school, but he, too, is worried that they would have to wear Islamic dress.
Mr. Tri Agus, a political communications lecturer at a rural-development college whose wife is Catholic, now sends his daughters to a private Catholic primary school. Although he is a Muslim, he said he believed that religion belonged in the private sphere and should not be imposed.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/world/asia/public-schools-in-indonesia-feel-islamic-pressure.html?_r=0
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Africa
48 Kenyans killed; witnesses say gunmen spared Muslims
Jun 16, 2014
Dozens of extremists attacked a Kenyan coastal town for hours, killing those who couldn’t answer questions about Islam and those who didn’t know the Somali language, officials and witnesses said Monday. At least 48 people were killed and two hotels were set on fire.
The assault in Mpeketoni began on Sunday night as residents watched World Cup matches on TV and lasted until early Monday, with little resistance put up by Kenya’s security forces. Cars and buildings still smoldered at daybreak.
Authorities blamed al-Shabab, Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked terror group, who have vowed to carry out terror attacks to avenge the Kenyan military presence in Somali. Along with its Somali fighters, the group also has many Kenyan adherents.
Like the gunmen who attacked Nairobi’s Westgate Mall last year, the Mpeketoni attackers gave life-or-death religious tests, a witness said, killing those who were not Muslim.
“They came to our house at around 8 p.m. and asked us in Swahili whether we were Muslims. My husband told them we were Christians and they shot him in the head and chest,” said Anne Gathigi.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/48-kenyans-killed-witnesses-say-gunmen-spared-muslims/article6119876.ece
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Gunmen kill at least 15 in northern Nigerian market
Jun 16, 2014
At least 15 people were killed when suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed a market in northern Nigeria late on Sunday, witnesses and a security source said.
Villagers in the farming community of Daku, in Borno state, described how they were surrounded by at least 20 gunmen who fired indiscriminately and threw petrol bombs, engulfing the market in flames.
"Sunday is normally a market day and people from neighbouring villages had gathered at the local market in Daku when the insurgents laid siege," said grocery seller Laraba Simon.
"Scores of people escaped with bullet wounds while dozens of shops, stalls, houses, vehicles, motorcycles and assorted foodstuff were set ablaze by the rampaging attackers."
Laraba said the insurgents "surrounded the village with sophisticated weapons and petrol bombs".
Full report at:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/103863/World/International/Gunmen-kill-at-least--in-northern-Nigerian-market.aspx
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Borno: Boko Haram writes Chibok on plan attack town again
June 16, 2014
Fear has gripped residents of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State following a letter purportedly written to the people by the Boko Haram sect members informing them of their plans to launch fresh attack.
Chibok is the same council area where over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School were abducted by the Islamic militants.
A top local government official in Chibok town, who spoke under anonymity, revealed this to DailyPost in Maiduguri the Borno State capital on Monday.
According to him, when they met the police with the letter, they were assured of maximum protection.
Full report at:
http://dailypost.ng/2014/06/16/borno-boko-haram-writes-chibok-plan-attack-town/
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Libya: Isis Menace Al-Qaeda in Derna
June 16, 2014
A Libyan jihadist just home from Syria was shot dead in Derna this week during a feud between rival terror groups.
The al-Battar Brigade, which is affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), issued a statement on Monday (June 9th) saying that heads would be cut off, stomachs slit and Libya filled with graves to avenge Mahdi Saad Abu al-Abyadh al-Gaithi.
Al-Ghaithi was killed in a clash with the Abu Slim Martyrs Brigade, inflaming the conflict between the jihadist groups.
“The people of Derna are disempowered,” said Tahani Obeidi, a 28 year old housewife. “Most hope that the army enters Derna to save them from the pressure they are suffering at the hands of the terrorists.”
“Takfirists are in control and [we] fear assassinations,” she added.
For his part, media figure Mahmud Shammam described extremist groups as “forces of darkness and evil”.
Full report at:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/16062014-libya-isis-menace-al-qaeda-derna/
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South Asia
3 Muslim Separatists Sentenced To Death in Beijing Attack
Jun 16, 2014
A court in western China sentenced three people to death Monday for planning a deadly car ramming at Beijing’s iconic Tiananmen Gate that was blamed on Muslim separatists, state media reported.
The three were accused of helping prepare for the Oct. 28 attack, in which a car plowed through tourists and ended up in a fiery crash in the heart of Beijing, killing two bystanders and the three attackers.
A court in the Xinjiang regional capital of Urumqi sentenced the three to death, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Five other people were given prison sentences, with four receiving terms of five to 20 years and one getting a life sentence. It was not clear what role those five had played in the attack.
The eight were arrested within days of the incident. A Chinese visitor and a tourist from the Philippines were killed in the attack, along with the vehicle’s driver, his wife and mother—in—law, according to Chinese authorities.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/3-sentenced-to-death-in-beijing-attack/article6119073.ece
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Afghan election: Taliban 'removed voters' fingers'
Jun 16, 2014
Taliban insurgents cut the index fingers off 11 Afghans who participated in this weekend's presidential run-off poll, officials say.
The incident, a punishment for voting, occurred in western Herat province, police spokesman Raoud Ahamdi said.
The Taliban had warned people not to participate in Saturday's vote.
The two candidates are former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
They have both pledged to improve ties with the West and sign a delayed security pact allowing nearly 10,000 US troops to remain in the country for a further two years.
Voting in Saturday's poll was described as relatively peaceful despite a series of Taliban attacks that officials said had killed more than 50 people.
Full report at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27857343
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Indefinite curfew clamped in Sri Lanka after Buddhist-Muslim clashes
Jun 16, 2014
Sri Lanka on Monday extended indefinitely the curfew imposed in two of its popular southern tourist spots fearing spread of an ethnic flare-up between Buddhists and Muslims that has left nearly 100 wounded.
Authorities said the curfew would remain in effect in Aluthgama and Beruwala, a Muslim-dominated area, after Muslim-owned shops and homes were torched last night in a rampage by a Buddhist mob.
“The curfew will continue even though the situation is under control,” police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.
Nearly 100 people were injured in clashes after the Buddhist majority nationalist group BBS or the Forces of Buddhist Power staged a rally in the Muslim-dominated areas of Beruwala, Dharga Town and Aluthgama on the south-western coast.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/indefinite-curfew-clamped-in-sri-lanka-after-buddhistmuslim-clashes/article6119764.ece
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Judge delays verdict over Bangladesh New Year bombings
June 16, 2014
DHAKA: A Bangladesh court Monday delayed its verdict against a group of militants accused of carrying out a 2001 bomb attack on the main Bengali New Year celebrations which killed 10 people.
Nine of the 14 accused were in the dock amid tight security at the court in the capital Dhaka when Judge Ruhul Amin announced he would now hand down his verdict next Monday, June 23, saying he “needed more time”.
Prosecutors accuse the militants, including the head of the outlawed Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (HuJI) outfit, of targeting the popular secular celebrations in Dhaka's main park which they deemed offensive to Islam.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1113106/judge-delays-verdict-over-bangladesh-new-year-bombings
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More attacks reported by Abdullah backers on Ghani’s supporters
June 16, 2014
Several people supporting Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai have been killed or injured by supporters of runoff poll contender Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
A teacher was among the victims who killed by supporters of Dr. Abdullah in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.
According to the local residents, the teacher – Shaida, was returning from the polling station after voting for Dr. Ghani and was attacked by supporters of Dr. Abdullah in Sarqul Yaftal district.
The supporters of Dr. Abdullah also opened fire on a group of people chanting in support of Dr. Ghani in eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday.
At least two people including a child were killed and another one was injured following the shooting spree.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/more-attacks-reported-by-abdullah-backers-on-ghanis-supporters-6188
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IO: Azhar responsible for crimes against humanity
June 16, 2014
Idris also exhibited some documents before the tribunal as evidence, which included the admit card of Azhar for SSC and HSC examinations, and tabulation sheets
The investigation officer against war crimes accused Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam yesterday concluded his testimony before the International Crimes Tribunal 1, claiming that he has found evidence of Azhar’s crimes against humanity committed at Rangpur during the Liberation War.
Submitting deposition as the 19th prosecution witness, the investigator, SM Idris Ali, said he began his investigation against Azhar on April 15, 2012, and visited different places where Azhar had allegedly committed crimes against humanity in 1971.
Idris also exhibited some documents before the tribunal as evidence, which included the admit card of Azhar for SSC and HSC examinations, and tabulation sheets.
The probe officer said he had reviewed many books and magazines as part of his investigation, as well as collecting newspaper clippings from 1971 and different government reports and contemporary writings.
Full report at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-rights/2014/jun/16/io-azhar-responsible-crimes-against-humanity#sthash.lXXAfjy2.dpuf
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India
Al-Qaeda video a threat: Jaitley
AHMED ALI FAYYAZ
Jun 16, 2014
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday admitted that the al-Qaeda’s Kashmir-related video was a threat to Indian security, but asserted that it would not cow down the people or security forces of the country.
Winding up his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Jaitley said forces inimical to India and its economy would continue to try to disrupt peace in Kashmir. However, neither the people nor the security forces would be cowed down by any threat. “We have to watch the situation how it develops. With our level of preparedness, I am confident — with an element of caution — that our security forces will be in a position to repulse any such attempt [of infiltration and disruption],” Mr. Jaitley said. The al-Qaeda’s Afghanistan unit has purportedly released a video on social media calling for full-fledged Jihad against India and asking the Kashmiris to prepare for a major combat offensive.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/alqaeda-video-a-threat-jaitley/article6117241.ece
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Modi urged to secure release of Indian workers held in Iran
Jun 16, 2014
A Goan company has submitted a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, during latter’s Goa visit, seeking intervention at the highest level in Government of India for taking up the matter with the Iranian government to ensure speedy return of two of their Indian employees stuck in Iran since December 2013.
The memo submitted by Mr. Atul Pai Kane, Managing Director of Power Engineering (India) Pvt. Ltd.(PEIPL), said that the two were suffering in Iran due to completely false and an unjust case initiated by Iranian company M/s Vazhar Jahan instead of seeking recourse to arbitration as provided in supply agreement. Mr. Kane told The Hindu on Monday that the family members of the duo, Mohammed Hussain Khan and Sanket Pandya had already filed a writ petition in Delhi High Court making Government of India and PEIPL as parties in this regard, with the next hearing being posted for sometime in July.
Full report at:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modi-urged-to-secure-release-of-indian-workers-held-in-iran/article6119373.ece
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As jihadists advance in Iraq, Indians call for rescue of trapped kin
Yudhvir Rana,TNN | Jun 16, 2014
AMRITSAR: Family members of as many as 41 Punjabi and Himachali youths trapped in Mosul and Tikrit towns of Iraq have urged the Indian government to airlift their children from the trouble-torn country at the earliest.
Both cities have been captured by the Sunni jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in lightning-fast strikes in the last few days. On Sunday, the jihadists took over the control of Tal Afar — a key town along a critical corridor to war-torn Syria.
Jihadists also took control of the Al-Adhim area, in Diyala province, north of Baghdad, on Saturday.
The Indian government on Sunday issued an advisory asking its citizens to refrain from travelling to Iraq and warned of escalation of violence.
Though there is no official record of these men, but of the 41 of them, as many as 14 are believed to be from Amritsar and nearby districts. They were duped by various travel agents on the promises of plum jobs in Dubai, but were later pushed in Iraq to work in various factories.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/As-jihadists-advance-in-Iraq-Indians-call-for-rescue-of-trapped-kin/articleshow/36669067.cms
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Mideast
Iraqi Kurd PM in Iran for talks over ISIL insurgency
Jun 16, 2014
The prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan regional government is in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials, media reported on June 16, amid efforts to thwart a Sunni insurgent offensive north of Baghdad.
The unannounced visit by KRG premier Nechirvan Barzani comes after Iranian leaders pledged support for Iraq's central government against jihadist fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Iran's Mehr news agency said Barzani would meet the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, to discuss "the recent developments in Iraq." No more details were provided by Iranian media.
ISIL militants are said to have killed scores of Iraqi soldiers as they pushed towards the capital, a massacre that has drawn international condemnation and prompted diplomatic evacuations in Baghdad.
Full report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iraqi-kurd-pm-in-iran-for-talks-over-isil-insurgency.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67846&NewsCatID=352
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PA condemns Israel for wide-scale arrest of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members
Jun 16, 2014
The Palestinian unity government on Sunday condemned Israel for arresting more than 100 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members in the West Bank in response to the Thursday kidnapping of three Israeli youths.
The government also condemned Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip in response to the firing of rockets at Israel in the past few days.
Palestinian government spokesman Ehab Bessaiso told reporters in Ramallah that the latest escalation in security measures was in the context of Israel’s “collective punishment” against the Palestinians.
He called on the international community to intervene and demand that Israel halt its latest measures, including the siege on Hebron and its refusal to allow families of prisoners held in Israel to visit their sons.
Full report at:
http://www.jpost.com/Pillar-of-Defense/PA-condemns-Israel-for-wide-scale-arrest-of-Hamas-and-Islamic-Jihad-members-359454
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Turkey’s main opposition parties to nominate İhsanoğlu for presidency
Jun 16, 2014
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) agreed to nominate the former head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, as the opposition's common presidential candidate following a meeting of the party leaders in Ankara, June 16. İhsanoğlu served as the OIC head between 2005 and 2014.
CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli in Ankara on June 16 to discuss the prospects for a shared opposition candidate in the upcoming presidential elections, to be held in August. Kılıçdaroğlu had told reporters on June 15 that he would propose a name during his meeting with Bahçeli.
Full report at:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-main-opposition-parties-to-nominate-ex-head-of-islamic-body-ihsanoglu-for-presidency.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67850&NewsCatID=338
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Iranian President Blasts Trans-Regional States for Supporting Takfiri Groups in Region
Jun 16, 2014
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at the trans-regional states for supporting the terrorist Takfiri groups which have intensified their attacks against certain countries of the region, including Syria and Iraq.
A senior Iranian legislator, Bahram Beiranvand, quoted President Rouhani as saying in a recent meeting with a number of lawmakers that "extremist elements in different countries have paved the ground for their presence in the region and have created some problems for the regional countries".
The Iranian president also referred to the emergence of the Takfiri groups in the region, and underlined the role of the trans-regional states in creating these groups, Beiranvand told FNA on Monday.
According to the MP, Rouhani stressed that the enemies which are concerned about the existing unity in the Muslim world are attempting to turn this unity into animosity and discord.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13930326001212
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Netanyahu: Israel will take all action necessary against 'scourge of terrorism'
Jun 16, 2014
Israel will take what ever action is necessary to protect its citizens, warned Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday. He spoke just hours after charging that Hamas had kidnapped the three missing Israeli teenagers and as the IDF issued a limited call up of its reservists.
The bulk of the reservists are heading to Hebron, to help the IDF maintain its closure on the city and to step up its efforts to hunt for the three teenagers who disappeared last Thursday night after hitching a ride in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank.
At the same time the air force deployed a number of Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries in southern Israel, to prepare for any escalation of its larger battle with the Hamas, which rules Gaza and has strengthened its foothold in the West Bank.
“Israel will act in all ways under its province, in all ways under our control, to bring home the three kidnapped teenagers,” Netanyahu said in a special statement that he issued in English to explain Israel’s position to the international community.
Full report at:
http://www.jpost.com/Pillar-of-Defense/Netanyahu-Israel-will-take-all-action-necessary-against-scourge-of-terrorism-359389
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/will-burn-palaces-islamabad-lahore/d/87575