Young Girls in Pakistan’s Lal Masjid Being Trained How to Behead Those Who Insult Prophet Muhammad, Expert Weighs in on Root Cause
New Age Islam News Bureau
06 September 2022
Photo: The Sentinel
----
• Hijab Row: Can Students Come Dressed In Minis,
Midis, Whatever They Want? Asks SC Judges
• Friendship Can Solve Any Problem, Says Sheikh Hasina
As She Begins India Visit
• No Privileges, Exceptions in Islamic Justice: King
of Malaysia,
• Saudi Film Commission Reviews Industry Prospects in
Kingdom at Venice Intl Film Fest
Pakistan
• After More Than Two Decades, Pakistan Army Accepts
Body of LeT Terrorist Tabarak Hussain
• Imran Khan under fire from Pakistan Army, government
over anti-military speeches
• Pakistan Foreign Office summons Indian diplomat over
terrorist's death in J&K hospital
• 'Legislation regarding transgender community against
Quran and Sunnah'
• Pakistan: Thousands of people in Khyber Pakhtunkwa
province protest against targeted killings
• Future uncertain for Pakistan’s blasphemy victims
• Bilawal, Maryam condemn Imran Khan’s “defamatory”
statement regarding Pakistan army
• Four men detained for laughing at PML-N leader
--------
India
• 'Muslim-Sounding' Wards Renamed as Part of
Delimitation Exercise in Gorakhpur
• Gyanvapi issue: Court grants time to Muslim side to
present reply on September 13
• Babri Mosque Case: CBI Files Objection in High Court
against Plea Challenging Acquittal
• SC Seeks Centre’s Response on Feasibility of Uniform
Civil Code
• AIMPLB opposes pleas on uniform laws
• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to talk with PM Modi
while in India to boost ties
• Terrorists fire upon SOG camp in Shopian
• Cook's bullet-riddled body found in Kashmir's
Shopian, rivalry between terror groups suspected behind murder
-------
South
Asia
• Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Visits Delhi's
Nizamuddin Dargah
• Two Russian embassy staff dead, 11 injured after
suicide bomb blast near Russian Embassy in Kabul
• Taliban won’t last long like last time, resistance
on the rise, says Afghan ex-minister Balkhi
• Afghanistan: Taliban Using India's Aid for Their
Families, Claims Ahmad Massoud
• Taliban-led Afghan govt condemns explosion near
Russian Embassy in Kabul
--------
Southeast
Asia
• You’re Why PAS Can’t Break into Non-Muslim Seats, Kit
Siang Tells Hadi
• With eye on GE15, GTA sends registration application
to RoS
• Japan Embassy in UAE hosts orientation session for
20 Emirati students
--------
Arab
World
• Qatar to open three new five-star hotels ahead of
FIFA World Cup
• Saudi foreign ministry condemns ISIS attack on
Russian embassy in Kabul
• Iraq powers agree to work toward snap elections
following unrest
• Hate crimes against Syrian refugees in Turkey on
rise: Experts
• US, Western sanctions on Tehran, Damascus ‘most
heinous kind of terrorism’: Syria FM
• Saudi-led coalition impounds another Yemen-bound
fuel ship in violation of UN ceasefire
--------
Mideast
• Iran Seizes Huge Haul of Crystal Meth from
Afghanistan
• Top Aide: Iran Supports Extension of Ceasefire in
Yemen
• Palestinian killed, 16 wounded in West Bank raid by
Israeli army: Sources
• Iran says has not received US response on nuclear
proposal
• Abu Akleh’s family reject Israeli findings into
journalist’ death
• Yemen minister calls on international community to
condemn Houthi truce violations
• Israel has multiple-nationality Palestinians in
cross hairs: PA minister
--------
North
America
• US Calls for Accountability after Israel Admits
Soldier Likely Shot Reporter
• US simulates bombing mission over Middle East amid Iran
tensions
• US flies nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over Middle
East amid tensions with Iran
--------
Europe
• National Crime Agency Officer Unfairly Sacked After
Offensive Muslim Remarks
• Türkiye Urges Greece to Stop Denying Recognition To
Elected Muslim Clerics
• Trial opens in French court over 2016 terror attacks
in Nice
• Top Turkish diplomat calls Macron's remarks in
Algeria 'unfortunate'
• EU foreign policy chief ‘less confident’ about
closing Iran nuclear talks
--------
Africa
• Irresponsible Leaders Causing Rift between
Christians, Muslims In Nigeria – Bishop Kukah
• Kenyan president gives assurances of smooth
transition of power after apex court ruling
• Kenya’s top court upholds Ruto's victory in Aug. 9
presidential election
• UN humanitarian chief: Somalia on brink of famine
for second time in over a decade
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/girls-pakistan-behead-lal-masjid-prophet/d/127891
--------
Young Girls in Pakistan’s Lal Masjid Being Trained How
to Behead Those Who Insult Prophet Muhammad, Expert Weighs in on Root Cause
Photo: The Sentinel
----
September 06, 2022
New Delhi: Young girls in Pakistan’s Lal Masjid in are
being taught how to behead people who insult Prophet Muhammad.
In a video doing the rounds on social media, a teacher
is seen demonstrating to young girls wearing Burqa how to hold and use a sword
to behead people.
Through this exercise, the girls are being taught that
those who ‘insult’ the Prophet will have only one punishment, and that will be
decapitation. Girls, dressed in pink, can be heard raising slogans and
glorifying decapitation.
Speaking about the issue on News18, Analyst Amina
Begam Ansari said, “In Islam, blasphemy is a subject of intellectual discussion
rather than a subject of physical punishment.”
She said we see the form of blasphemy where we
literally, read, listen to and discuss how there should be physical punishment
for blasphemy, which is a root cause and which has to be discussed as a
community and condemned.
“We have to totally remove this kind of teaching from
our community,” she said.
On politicisation of Islam, she said, “I think this is
not only threatening and dangerous for India but also for the Indian Muslims.
What will it do to our next generation is that they will become foot soldiers
for such an idea and commit a heinous crime which will only add up falling into
the fault line.”
She further said that fact-checker and co-founder of
Alt News website Mohammed Zubair and people like him who started a blasphemy
campaign should be held accountable. It started from India and then Pakistani
side used it, she added.
“We should look at the whole picture where we should
discuss the root cause and how it gets politicised for the bigger agenda
without that we won’t be able to find a solution,” she added.
Source: Firstpost
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Hijab
Row: Can Students Come Dressed In Minis, Midis, Whatever They Want? Asks SC Judges
Representative
image via PTI
----
5th
September 2022
The
Supreme Court of India on Monday started hearing arguments based on the Hijab
Ban in Karnataka educational institutions.
The
apex court was hearing arguments from 23 petitioners against the Karnataka High
Court’s earlier verdict of upholding the ban on hijab at educational
institutions, mainly schools and colleges across the state.
While
hearing the petitioners, the bench, comprising of Justice Hemant Gupta and
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, seems to agree with the Karnataka HC’s verdict by
stating it did not violate Right to Education even as everyone has the right to
practice their religion.
“You
say educational institution cannot issue a rule but what about the state unless
there is a statute which prohibits dress code. So tell me can a student come in
minis, midis, whatever they want. You may be entitled to wear the hijab or
scarf, can you carry the right within an educational institution which
prescribes uniform. They are not denying right to education what they are
saying as State is you come in the uniform,” the bench said.
The
next hearing of the case will continue on September 7.
Arguments
made in the Court:
There
were many arguments made in the court on Monday. Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan,
who represents the petitioners, observed that the current issue is affecting
the education of millions of Muslim girls in Karnataka.
To
which Justice Hemant replied that a religious clothing worn in a secular
country in a government-run institution can be argumentative.
“When
there is a prescribed code then can turban be worn? Look around you milord.. in
court 2 there is a picture of judge wearing pagdi,” Dhavan responded.
“Pagdi
is not religious. My grandfather used to wear it while practicing law. Don’t
equate it with religion,” Justice Gupta replied.
Dhavan
then went on to request that due to the intensity of the case and as the whole
country as well as the world is watching it with close lens, a larger bench is
required to understand the nitty-gritty of the case.
“As
per Article 145(3) deals with minimum number of judges who can hear a
substantial question of law. Here the question is can the right of religious
clothing be reconciled with uniform,” he submitted.
Apart
from this the senior advocate pointed out rulings of two high court orders. One
was from the Kerala High Court where an exact opposite ruling was given as
compared to the Karnataka High Court.
What
the Indian Supreme Court holds in this regard will be very important,” he
argued.
Senior
counsel Sanjay Hegde, who is also appearing for one of the 23 petitioners,
argued that the Karnataka GO (government order) was not in tune with the
Karnataka Education Act.
“The
GO says no attire can be worn which shows religion being professed. The GO is
contrary is object and purposes of the act and it cannot be used to give a
direction etc. Even under Rule 11A uniform prescribed must be in consonance
with the mandate of the Act,” Hegde submitted.
When
asked to further explain his argument, Hegde said that there is no mention of
uniform in the Education Act by the legislature (which is the state government
here). “Hence, GO cannot create a new set of disabilities and cannot take away
right to attend schools and college,” Hegde summed up.
Karnataka
Advocate General (AG) Prabhuling Navadgi explained why the GO came into action.
“School
authorities wrote to us seeking guidance since after Hijab students wore bhagwa
shawls and which then led to unrest in educational institutions. This is the
background of the GO,” he explained.
Still
not satisfied by Hegde’s arguments, Justice Gupta remarked, “You may have a
religious right and can you take that right within an educational institution
where an uniform is prescribed. You may be entitled to wear the hijab or scarf,
can you carry the right within an educational institution which prescribes
uniform. They are not denying right to education what they are saying as state
is you come in the uniform.”
To
which Hegde pointed out that Chunni (a clothing piece used as a shawl mostly by
women)is also a part of the uniform.
“But
Chunni is there as uniform,” Hegde replied.
“Chunni
is used to cover shoulders. Please don’t compare Chunni to hijab. Sikh women
wear it to cover head in Gurudwara,” the bench responded.
Background
of the Hijab ban
The
hijab issue began in December last year when six pre-university female students
were not allowed inside their classrooms as the administration insisted they
remove their hijab or headscarf.
The
issue soon spread like wildfire throughout the state where many government
educational institutions started following the procedure and stopped hijab-clad
students from entering the premises.
The
issue then took a nasty turn when Hindu students, dressed up in saffron shawls
started protesting against their hijab-clad Muslim classmates. Schools and
pre-universities were shut down in order to maintain law and order.
On
March 15, the Karnataka high court upheld the decision of the state government
stating the hijab is not necessary and students should adhere to the rules of
their respective institutions.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/hijab-row-can-students-come-dressed-in-minis-asks-sc-judges-2405941/
-------
Friendship
Can Solve Any Problem, Says Sheikh Hasina As She Begins India Visit
Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad
house prior to the delegation level talks in New Delhi on Tuesday | Photo
Credit: V. V. Krishnan
-----
Sep
6, 2022
NEW
DELHI: With friendship one can solve any problem, Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said as she embarked on a four-day State visit to
India.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Hasina at the Rashtrapati Bhawan forecourt here
where she was accorded a tri-services guard of honour.
Interacting
with reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Hasina said her talks with Modi would
focus on improving the condition of the people in their respective countries,
poverty alleviation and economic development.
"Our
main aim is to develop the economy and fulfill the basic needs of our people.
With friendship you can solve any problem. So we always do that," Hasina
said.
She
also offered floral tributes at Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Hasina
arrived in Delhi on Monday afternoon and is scheduled to hold bilateral talks
with Modi later Tuesday.
External
Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Hasina on Monday evening.
Adani
Group Chairman Gautam Adani also called on the Bangladeshi prime minister
Monday evening.
During
her stay, Hasina will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President
Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Hasina
also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in the national capital on Monday and is
scheduled to travel to Ajmersharif on Thursday.
Bangladesh
is now India's biggest trade partner in South Asia and the bilateral trade has
grown from USD 9 billion to USD 18 billion in the last five years. It has also
become the fourth largest export destination for India with the exports
registering a growth of over 66 per cent from USD 9.69 billion in 2020-21 to
USD 16.15 billion in 2021-22.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
No
Privileges, Exceptions in Islamic Justice: King of Malaysia
Yang
di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah
----
09-
05- 2022
KUANTAN:
Islamic justice does not at all give any privilege or exception to anyone who
commits a wrongdoing, be it oneself, close friends, family members or parents,
said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa
Billah Shah.
His
Majesty said the principle of Islamic justice does not allow any form of
injustice, including to those unliked, besides also Upholding justice without
favouritism that was practiced successfully and which raised the dignity of
Islam during the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW.
“The
principle of justice that is transparent also succeeds in developing a just,
fair and prosperous society. The principle of justice according to Islam is
upholding God’s trust.
“Based
on the same principle, Sariah courts must also be wise in using discretionary
powers and to be always fair to all parties when sentencing, especially those
involving family cases.
“If
the law is not implemented consistently and fairly, justice will certainly not
be achieved as the philosophy behind the enactment of a law would have been
tainted, and as a result, the disadvantaged party would end up being victimised
by those in power,” His Majesty said when officiating at the opening of the
Pahang Sariah Court Complex here today.
Construction
of the court complex, officially named Kompleks Syariah Al-Sultan Abdullah,
began on June 22, 2015 with a cost of RM44.75 million and was completed on Sept
23, 2021.
Gracing
the event were the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah
Iskandariah and the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah
Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Also
present were were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious
Affairs) Senator Datuk Idris Ahmad, members of the Pahang state administration
led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Pahang Chief Syariah
Judge Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Md Yunos.
Al-Sultan
Abdullah also said that the power to punish and pardon should not be used
arbitrarily because it will be held accountable in the ‘afterlife’.
In
addition, His Majesty also reminded Syariah judges to ensure cases are handled
fairly and for judgments not to be delayed, besides calling on court officials
and Syariah lawyers to also facilitate the smooth running of court proceedings.
His
Majesty also expressed hope that the concept of ‘diyat’, or financial
compensation to the kin of victims, that he had proposed over the past few
years can be studied and implemented in Pahang, and the country in general.
“I
would also like to ask Syariah judges to conduct a detailed study on
punishments in the form of community service because there are offences that
are not so serious, this should be considered so that they can serve the
community... which can be resolved with discretion,” His Majesty said.
On
the new court complex, Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed hope it would provide
helpful services to the community in addition to conveying and developing the
teachings of Islam and improving the country’s Syariah court institution. –
Bernama
Source:
The Sun Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/no-privileges-exceptions-in-islamic-justice-agong-EH9779622
--------
Saudi
Film Commission reviews industry prospects in Kingdom at Venice Intl Film Fest
Discussion
panel on the future of the film industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its
regional and international influence, as part of the official program organized
by the Venice production bridge at the Venice International Film Festival in
Italy. (Courtesy: SPA)
------
05
September, 2022
The
Film Commission has participated in a discussion panel on the future of the
film industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its regional and international
influence, as part of the official program organized by the Venice production
bridge at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy, according to Saudi
Press Agency (SPA).
Abduljalil
al-Nasser, Director General of the Sector Development and Attracting
Investments, at the Commission participated in the panel along with Charlene
Deleon-Jones, Film AlUla CEO , Shivani Pandya, Managing Director at Red Sea
International Film Festival, and Wayne Borg , Managing Director of Media,
Entertainment, Culture and Fashion Industries at NEOM.
The
panel went over the incentives program that the commission has launched to
support films with up to 40 percent of financial recovery, which aims at
attracting international production and stimulating the local production in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The
program is part of a series of enablers that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys
in the film industry, such as filming locations, logistical support and
technical personnel, which make the Kingdom among the most attractive countries
for cinematic production.
Al-Nasser
said that there is a high level of coordination between public and private
sector institutions in Saudi Arabia to build all parts of the value chain
related to the film industry, which is a result of the commission’s awareness
of the importance of the creative cycle of the film industry to build a
comprehensive sector that serves filmmakers. He noted that all participants in
the panel discussion praised the rich reserve of filming locations in Saudi
Arabia, which forms a fertile land to host several stories from across the
world in high-quality production projects.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
After More Than Two Decades, Pakistan Army Accepts Body of LeT Terrorist Tabarak Hussain
Sep
6, 2022
JAMMU:
For the first time in more than two decades, Pakistan on Monday accepted the
body of a trained Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist who had infiltrated into Jammu and
Kashmir and died during treatment after he was captured along the Line of
Control (LoC) in Naushera sector of Rajouri district on August 21.
The
body of Tabarak Hussain (32), a resident of Sabzakote in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir, was handed over to Pakistan by the Indian Army in the presence of
police and civil officers at Chakan Da Bagh crossing point on the LoC in Poonch
district, two days after he died of cardiac arrest at a military hospital in
Rajouri.
Hussain
was shot at and critically injured by the Indian troops. He was later shifted
to military hospital in Rajouri where he underwent a surgery during which the
soldiers donated three units of blood to save his life.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Imran
Khan under fire from Pakistan Army, government over anti-military speeches
Sep
6, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan army reacted strongly on Monday to former prime minister Imran
Khan’s remarks that the incumbent coalition government was opposing fresh polls
as the ruling “Sharif and Zardari” families wanted to appoint an army chief of
their choice to protect their alleged corruption.
Taking
exception to Khan’s comments about the appointment of the new army chief, Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media arm, said it was aghast at the
defamatory and uncalled for statement about the institution’s senior
leadership. “Regrettably, an attempt has been made to discredit and undermine
the senior leadership of the Pakistan army at a time when the institution is
laying (down) lives for the security and safety of the people of Pakistan every
day,” ISPR said.
The
ISPR said it was “most unfortunate and disappointing” when senior politicians
try to stir up controversies regarding the appointment of the chief of army
staff (COAS), the procedure for which is well defined in the constitution.
The
army’s senior leadership, according to ISPR, had a decades-long, impeccable and
meritorious service to prove their patriotic and professional credentials
beyond doubt.
Addressing
a public rally in Faisalabad, central Punjab, on Sunday night, Imran Khan had
said that former PM Nawaz Sharif and erstwhile president Asif Ali Zardari,
through joint efforts, wanted to appoint their favourite as the next army chief
because they are afraid that if a patriotic army chief comes in, he will ask
them about their looted wealth. To support his argument, Khan had even aired
past video clips related to alleged corruption of the two ruling families.
“Whoever is on the top of the merit list should be appointed to head the
institution,” Khan remarked.
ISPR,
however, responded that politicising the senior leadership of the Pakistan army
and scandalising the process of selection of the COAS is neither in the
interest of the state of Pakistan nor of the institution. “Pakistan army
reiterates its commitment to uphold the constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan,” the statement added.
In
a related development, Islamabad high court chief justice Athar Minallah asked
whether Imran Khan wanted to hurt the morale of the armed forces by delivering
anti-military speeches.
“Did
you hear Imran Khan’s speech from yesterday? Do political leaders deliver such
speeches? Will everything be put at stake just for the sake of a ‘Game of
Thrones’,” Justice Minallah asked Khan’s counsel, who had filed a petition
against the electronic media regulator over a ban on Imran Khan’s live
speeches. “How can you say in public whether an army chief is a patriot or
not,” the CJ asked, and ordered the media body to regulate Imran’s speeches
before wrapping up the case.
Following
the military’s response, defence minister Khawaja Asif lashed out at Imran for
questioning the process of the appointment of the army chief, saying the PTI
chief’s statement was tantamount to disrespect for the armed forces. “Their
only work as per the constitution is to give security to borders and the
country. It is not their oath or commitment to shelter any political leader,
and if they do so, it will be a deviation from their oath,” he added. The
minister said some legal actions were in the offing against Imran, adding a few
of them had been initiated.
In
response to a question, Asif said it was the PM’s prerogative to appoint the
army chief and that he would consult the government. “But, more importantly,
advice from the army chief and the Pakistan army will be given top priority,”
he said.
Foreign
minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Imran had proven time and again to be “an
unguided missile for the country”.
In
a statement, he said that targeting senior officials and handing out
“certificates of patriotism and traitors” to members of different institutions
were the “hallmarks of this anarchist”.
The
appointment of a new army chief is always considered the toughest decision for
a Pakistan PM. The current army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, retires this
November.
Last
month, background discussions with PML-N stalwarts suggested the PM could
initiate a dialogue on the appointment by the end of August, and possibly take
a decision by mid-September.
As
per rules, the president appoints the services chiefs on the recommendation of
the PM. The tradition is that General Headquarters (GHQ) sends a list of the
four to five senior-most lieutenant-generals, along with their personnel files,
to the defence ministry, which then forwards them to the PM to pick the officer
he finds best suited for the job.
Theoretically,
the defence ministry has to screen the names before presenting them to the PM,
but that does not usually happen and the ministry acts merely as a post office
between the PM and GHQ.
Following
deliberations on the appointment to Pakistan’s most powerful position either at
the PM’s office or in the cabinet, the matter is then discussed at an informal
consultation with the outgoing army chief. It is, however, the PM’s prerogative
to take the final call.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Foreign Office summons Indian diplomat over terrorist's death in J&K
hospital
Sep
5, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Foreign Office on Monday summoned the Indian Charge d'Affaires
(Cd'A) here to lodge a protest over the death of a Pakistani citizen, who had
infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir to attack an army post.
Tabarak
Hussain, a trained guide of Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group and a Pakistani Army
agent, attempted to infiltrate into Nowshera sector of Rajouri on August 21
when he was shot at and critically injured by the Indian troops, officials in
India said.
He
was later shifted to military hospital Rajouri where he underwent a surgery
during which the soldiers donated three units of blood to save his life.
However, he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on September 3, they said.
The
body of Hussain, a resident of Sabzkot village of Kotli in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir (PoK), was handed over to Pakistan by the Indian Army at Chakan Da Bagh
crossing point on the LoC in Poonch district on Monday, an Indian Army official
said, adding this is probably the first instance in more than two decades of
Pakistan accepting the body of a terrorist.
In
Islamabad, the Foreign Office said it summoned the Indian diplomat and
registered a strong protest over what it called "the extra-judicial
killing" of Hussain.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
'Legislation
regarding transgender community against Quran and Sunnah'
05
September, 2022
ISLAMABAD
(Dunya News) - Senator Mushtaq Ahmad on Monday presented the bill for
amendments in the Transgender Protection Act, 2018 to the Senate Standing
Committee on Human Rights.
The
meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Standing
Committee on Human Rights, Senator Waleed Iqbal, while representatives of the
transgender community and human rights were present in the meeting.
During
the meeting, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad said that "Transgender is an American
term, it has no place in Islam, and the legislation regarding the transgender
community is against Quran and Sunnah and it will promote homosexuality."
He
suggested to the committee that the Islamic Ideological Council and the Muftis
should be specially invited to take a decision in this regard.
On
this, transgender representatives said they would not allow the Transgender
Protection Act, 2018 to change.
Source:
Dunya News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan:
Thousands of people in Khyber Pakhtunkwa province protest against targeted
killings
5
September, 2022
Islamabad
[Pakistan], September 5 (ANI): Thousands of people in the Khyber tribal
district of Khyber Pakhtunkwa province demonstrated against the targeted
killing and demanded the government to restore peace in the district and
provide security to them.
The
huge gathering titled Khyber Amn (peace) March was organised by Khyber Siyasi
Ittehad. The protestors holding white flags marched through the different roads
before converging at the main Bara Bazaar, Dawn reported.
They
demanded that the government take notice of acts of terrorism, targeted
killings of personnel of law enforcement agencies and rising incidents of
extortion.
According
to Dawn, the former Member of the National Assembly, Malak Waris Khan, while
addressing the gathering, said that the residents of Khyber were peace-loving
people and had always raised the slogan of peace but now they could no more
tolerate militancy and insecurity.
“The
last decade of militancy from 2005 to 2015 caused huge losses to them,” he
said, asking the federal government to take steps for ensuring peace in all the
tribal districts at the pattern of Islamabad, Lahore and other big cities of
the country.
“It
is the responsibility of the state to restore peace. We demand of the state
authorities to provide a peaceful environment to the people of
militancy-affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as they can no more tolerate terrorism
and militancy,” said the former lawmaker.
A
local leader of Jamaat-i-Islami, Haji Momin Khan, said that their youth were
the first target of extremism with most of them losing their lives while scores
of educational institutions were also destroyed that seriously affected the
education of the tribal youth.
“The
peace march awakened the tribal youth of their deep slumber and they were now
demanding lasting peace in the entire merged region,” said a young political
activist Naseeb Gul.
He
further said that living in peace was a universal right of every human being
and the people of Khyber in particular and the rest of the merged districts, in
general, were demanding that constitutional right.
The
protests against the targeted killing have been rampant in North Waziristan as
several such cases of targeted killings were reported in North Waziristan over
the past months. Earlier, the workers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Utmanzai
tribes also been protesting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan against
the killing of its local leaders and lawlessness in the district.
Source:
The Print
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Future
uncertain for Pakistan’s blasphemy victims
September
05, 2022
By
Kamran Chaudhry
The
return of the young son after spending more than four-and-a-half years in a
Pakistan jail as a blasphemy suspect has not enthused his Christian family
living in hiding for fear of death.
Patras
Masih, 22, who was arrested in February 2018 for allegedly sharing a photo of a
man with his shoes at a Muslim holy place, was granted bail by a Supreme Court
bench on Aug 24 against a surety of 100,000 rupees (US$ 449.90).
Patras
returned home on Sept 2 to an undisclosed location where his family now resides
in a ‘safe house’ provided by the Voice Society, a Lahore-based rights
organization.
Indrias
Masih, his 47-year-old father, had never thought he would have to flee home and
live in hiding with his family.
But
on Feb 19, 2018, a mob of dozens of enraged protesters stormed Shahdara, their
Christian neighborhood on the outskirts of Lahore, accusing Patras and his
cousin, Sajid, of committing blasphemy.
They
called for the cousins to be produced before them so that they could be
lynched, according to media reports.
The
family had to flee Shahdara along with around 1,000 Christians in the area amid
violence by angry mobs.
Indrias
does not move out of the safe house without a face mask. His eldest son, an
electrician, works “privately” as he cannot go out and work or run a business.
The youngest son passed his Grade 10 exams last week by studying at home.
“It
is big news for us after years of waiting. Patras used to cry because the jail
is not a good place,” Indrias told UCA News.
The
young man complained of being crammed inside a chaki (isolated cell) with six
other Christians accused of blasphemy. He is still haunted by memories of
having to sleep near the toilet due to the shortage of space, his father said.
But
what really worries Indrias is what happens now after his son is released. He
complains of a lack of support from Church leaders.
“Our
bishops avoid giving us shelter. They say educating people is their top
priority. I hope my voice reaches the rulers of the Church and the [Pakistani]
government. We are poor and don’t have anything to offer or even save our
children,” he said.
A
majority of Christian victims of blasphemy and their hapless families in
Pakistan may be feeling the same. “All we want is to live in peace,” Indrias
said as if echoing the collective sentiment.
Patras,
who worked as a sanitary worker, is among the three Christians, accused in
separate cases of blasphemy, granted bail by Pakistan’s top court last month.
There
is Pastor Raja Waris who was put behind the bars in 2020 for publishing a
faith-based post on Facebook that some Muslims claimed hurt their religious
sentiments. He was granted bail by the same Supreme Court bench as Patras.
The
third Christian to be granted bail is Salamat Mansha Masih, another sanitary
worker who spent more than 18 months in jail for allegedly preaching the gospel
to young Muslims and insulting Islam.
Eight
blasphemy accused have been either acquitted or granted bail this year,
according to Catholic Bishop’s National Commission for Justice and Peace
(NCJP).
However,
rights activists say they have nowhere to go and little hope for the future.
The
Voice Society is supporting three more Christian families besides Patras’
living in hiding in two other cities of the Punjab province.
“Funding
is a major challenge in resettling those accused in blasphemy cases or their
families. Every organization has mechanisms to provide households to such
families,” NCJP Deputy Director Kashif Aslam told UCA News.
Aneeqa
Maria, the Catholic counsel of Patras and chief executive of the Voice Society,
says though out on bail, Patras will have to face trial.
“We
shall steer as per circumstances,” she told UCA News.
She
felt there must be some political change behind these back-to-back granting of
bail.
“The
case of Patras was of no evidence and yet we had to struggle for years,
especially in opposition of the radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik
Pakistan. It was very difficult to get bail for blasphemy victims in the
government of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” Maria said.
Aslam
attributes the change in approach to the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment
directing the federal government to create a national council for the rights of
minorities and asking provincial governments to set up a task force to promote
religious tolerance, protect places of worship and crack down on hate speech,
among other measures.
The
recent granting of bail in these cases is the result of international pressure,
especially from the European Union. The Pakistan government is lobbying hard to
be taken off the so-called "gray list" of the Financial Action Task
Force (FATF), a terrorism funding watchdog, according to Khalid Shahzad, a
Catholic rights worker.
Shahzad
though conceded that acquittals or bail meant little for the victims of
blasphemy.
“Challenges
will remain for vulnerable minorities who cannot return to their homes even
after acquittal in blasphemy cases. They’ll spend the rest of their lives in
trauma, worrying for their safety and unable to work for a living,” he
explained.
Shahzad
said the Pakistan government and Church leaders should work on a rehabilitation
plan to empower and integrate the blasphemy victims into society.
Blasphemy
is both a sensitive and potent issue in Pakistan society. The Lahore-based
Center for Social Justice (CSJ) has noted that at least 1949 persons have been
accused under the blasphemy laws between 1987 and 2021. A large number of these
blasphemy cases are still awaiting justice.
Activists
underlined the need for fast-tracking the hearings as the superior and lower
judiciaries are already dealing with a huge backlog running into millions of
cases.
Cecil
Chaudhry, South Asia deputy team leader of Christian Solidarity Worldwide
(CSW), UK, hoped the back-to-back granting of bail is part of a long-term
strategy.
“Obviously
it’s a national image building. FATF and the Universal Periodic Review of
Pakistan scheduled in Jan. 2023 may be other factors," he said.
Historically,
the Supreme Court has always been lenient to blasphemy victims as compared to
the session courts and generally has an impartial way to look at things on
merit.
“The
recent comments from judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan have been
positive. We hope they inspire the lower courts as well,” Chaudhry added.
At
least 84 persons have been killed extra-judicially between 1987 and 2021 after
allegations related to blasphemy and apostasy, according to CSJ.
The
lynching of Sri Lankan national, Priyantha Kumara Diyawadanage, a factory
manager in Sialkot, Punjab province, caused an uproar globally.
Source:
UCA News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/future-uncertain-for-pakistans-blasphemy-victims/98653
--------
Bilawal,
Maryam condemn Imran Khan’s “defamatory” statement regarding Pakistan army
6
September, 2022
Islamabad
[Pakistan], September 6 (ANI): Coalition leaders, Foreign Minister Bilawal
Bhutto-Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam
Nawaz on Monday condemned former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
(PTI) chief Imran Khan’s “defamatory” statement about the Pakistan army.
“Imran
Khan has proved time and again to be an unguided missile for the country, its
economy, politics and social cohesion,” Bilawal said, urging the PTI chairman
to desist from questioning the Pakistan army, reported Geo News.
In
a public rally in Faisalabad, the PTI chairman criticized the government,
saying that it was delaying the elections to appoint an army chief of its own
and that if a “patriotic chief of army staff comes in, he will not spare the
incumbent rulers.”
Since
then, the former prime minister is under fire for targeting the Pakistan army,
reported Geo News.
Commenting
on Khan’s statement, Bilawal said, “Targeting senior officials and handing out
certificates of patriotism and traitors for the members of different
institutions have been hallmarks of this anarchist.”
Meanwhile,
Maryam called the PTI chief a “double-dealer” saying that Pakistan will never
reel from the shock and “continue to go downhill if he’s (Khan) not declared
and dealt with as a double-dealer by all the stakeholders including the
judiciary.”
She
further added that Khan should not be treated like a “political leader because
he’s not,” reported Geo News
“He
has been launched and funded to wreck and ruin Pakistan and plunge the nation
into pits of misery and despair,” she wrote on Twitter, adding that he has
waged a war on our country by attacking its stability, economy, society, media
and now its armed forces.
In
his speech at a jalsa in Faisalabad this Sunday, the PTI chairman said the
coalition government was stalling the elections as they wanted to “appoint an
army chief of their own choice.”
The
PTI chairman said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali
Zardari and former premier Nawaz Sharif “feared” a strong and patriotic army
chief, who could hold them accountable for the looted money they had stashed
abroad, reported Geo News.
The
former prime minister said a new army chief was going to be appointed in November
this year, and they (Zardari and Nawaz) jointly wanted to appoint a favourite
[general] as the next army chief.
Imran
Khan alleged that both have committed corruption worth billions, and they
wanted to appoint an army chief who could protect them and their corruption.
Source:
The Print
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Four
men detained for laughing at PML-N leader
Munawer
Azeem
September
6, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The capital police detained four people in a police station for hours without
any formal complaint and written application after they allegedly laughed at a
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) politician and his guests.
The
Kohsar police arrested the four persons from Monal Restaurant without registration
of a case and formal complaints and detained them for a day, senior police
officers said, adding that later they were released after their arrest went
viral on social media and turned into one of the top trends.
According
to the officers, the management of Monal Restaurant informed the capital police
that some people were laughing at the PML-N leader Atta Tarrar and his guests,
who were in the restaurant, making them uncomfortable.
The
matter was brought to the knowledge of the area police who reached there, they
added.
However,
they found no offence as it was revealed that they were spotted laughing at the
PML-N leader and his companions and passing remarks, the officials said.
Shortly, the police reported the matter to a senior officer who directed the
Kohsar SHO to arrest the four persons.
Later
the SHO arrested them and brought them to Kohsar police station and put them
behind bars, without registering a case, they said.
Inspector
General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan was approached for his comments but he
preferred to remain silent.
The
capital police’s public relations officer was also approached for his version
but he refused to reply and instead sent a written statement, saying that the
police reached Monal Restaurant in response to a call made by the security
staff deployed there that the family of the prime minister’s aide, Atta Tarrar,
was being harassed.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1708621/four-men-detained-for-laughing-at-pml-n-leader
--------
India
Gyanvapi
issue: Court grants time to Muslim side to present reply on September 13
September
5, 2022
Gorakhpur:
A draft delimitation order issued by the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation has
changed the “Muslim-sounding names” of around a dozen wards, prompting a sharp
reaction from leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.
The
changing of names was part of the delimitation exercise under which the number
of wards went up to 80 in Gorakhpur, with several of these named after iconic
personalities and freedom fighters.
A
senior official said on Saturday, September 3 that people can file their
objections within a week and after their disposal, the delimitation will be
approved.
Samajwadi
Party leader and Ismailpur (which has been changed to Sahabganj) corporator
Shahab Ansari charged that changing of names is an attempt at polarisation.
Ansari
said the party will hold a meeting in this regard on Sunday and a delegation
will meet the district magistrate to raise the objection on Monday.
Congress
leader Talat Aziz termed the name-changing exercise as a waste of money.
“I fail
to understand what the government will achieve through this exercise,” the
leader asked.
Mayor
Sitaram Jaiswal said the new names evoke a feeling of pride. He said wards were
named after personalities like Ashfaqullah Khan, Shiv Singh Chetri, Baba Gambhir
Nath, Baba Raghavdas, Rajendra Prasad and Madan Mohan Malviya.
Municipal
commissioner Avinash Singh said objections can be sent within a week to the
additional chief secretary, Urban Development Department, Lucknow. After the
disposal of the objections, the delimitation will be approved, he said.
Gorakhpur,
the home town of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, will now have 80
wards.
Below
is a list of wards which have had their names changed:
Old
Name New Name
Humanyunpur
(North) Hanumant Nagar
Turkmanpur Shaheed Ashfaqullah Nagar
Rasoolpur Maharana Pratap Nagar
Daudpur Raghupati Sahay Firaak Nagar
Jafra
Bazaar Atma Ram Nagar
Ismailpur Sahabgang
Miya
Bazaar Maya Bazaar
Qazipur
Khurd Jagannathpur
Alinagar Aarya Nagar
Chaksa
Hussain Sant Jhoole Lal Nagar
Mutipur Ghanta Ghar
Bheriyagar Vishnupuram
Mohaddipur Sardar Bhagat Singh Nagar
Hansupur Sri Ram Chowk
Rustampur Chandra Shekhar Azad Chowk
Elahibahg Bandhu Singh Nagar
Since
Yogi Adityanath first became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, many such
revisions in the ‘Muslim-sounding’ names of areas within the state have taken
place.
In
October, 2018, the name of Allahabad was changed to ‘Prayagraj’ through a
proposal cleared by the state cabinet. Just two weeks later, Adityanath
announced that Faizabad would be renamed to Ayodhya.
In
the same year, the railway station, Mughalsarai, was renamed after RSS
ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhayaya and Hazratganj Chaurah in Lucknow was renamed
‘Atal Chowk’ after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
And
this process is not unique to Uttar Pradesh; Bharatiya Janata Party governments
in other states as well have attempted to change ‘Muslim-sounding’ or
‘Mughal-era’ names of places.
In
April this year, leaders of the BJP in Delhi took it upon themselves to change
the name of Muhammadpur to ‘Madhavpuram’ through a renaming ceremony, even
though officials of the AAP-ruled Delhi government insisted that the name
change has no official basis.
Thereafter,
Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta wrote a letter to chief minister Arvind
Kejriwal identifying 40 villages with “Muhgal-era” names, requesting that he
change them.
https://thewire.in/government/gorakhpur-muslim-sounding-ward-names-changed
‘Broken
our hearts’: Assam madrasa demolitions have left Bengali-origin Muslims feeling
besieged
Hazrat
Ali had just finished his evening prayers around 4 pm on August 30 when he saw
the madrasa compound flooded with security personnel.
By
6 pm, the local administration in Assam’s Bongaigaon district had issued orders
– everyone living in the Markazul Ma-Arif Quariayana Madrasa complex had to
leave by 10 pm that night. It was going to be demolished the next morning. The
order cited sections of the Disaster Management Act to say the building was
“structurally vulnerable and unsafe for human habitation”.
“We
started crying when we heard we had to leave the madrasa as it would be
demolished,” said the 17-year-old, one of the 224 students who lived and
studied at the madrasa. “The police were telling us to leave the campus. My
friends, Abdul Badshah and Asanul Islam, are from other districts. They didn’t
know where to go at night.”
At
10 am the next day, the bulldozers arrived and started work on the two-storeyed
madrasa in Bongaigaon’s Kabaitary IV village. It had been built in 1985, using
donations from residents of the greater Kabaitary area.
“It
took 12 hours, eight JCBs and three excavators to demolish the madrasa
building. Was it a weak and vulnerable building?” demanded Musarof Hussain,
president of the madrassa committee since 2005. “The demolition is an injustice
to all the residents of Kabaitary.”
On
August 26, five days before the demolition, the police had arrested Mufti
Hafizur Rahman, a teacher at the madrasa, on terror charges.
VV
Rakesh Reddy P – superintendent of police in Goalpara district, where the
teacher was arrested – alleged he had links to groups such as al-Qaeda in the
Indian Subcontinent and the Ansarullah Bangla Team, an outfit based in
Bangladesh that has claimed responsibility for several attacks there. The two outfits
allegedly have organisational links.
It
has become part of a pattern in Assam over the last month – a crackdown on
terror outfits is accompanied by demolitions. As of September 3, 40 people have
been arrested in seven cases, according to police figures.
Most
of those arrested are Bengali-origin Muslims, a community that is often
labelled as “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants”. While the government alleges it
is only cracking down on terror outfits, the community as a whole feels
increasingly under siege.
“They
have broken our hearts, not the madrasa,” said a tearful 24-year old Hasina
Akhtar, who had gone to the Bongaigaon madrasa the day after it was demolished.
“Is being a Muslim and practising Islam a crime now? If any bad thing happened
in the madrasa, we would raise questions. Give us proof that they have
recovered arms.”
Demolition
spree
A
day before the Bongaigaon madrasa was demolished, another seminary was brought
down in the nearby Barpeta district. Earlier, on August 4, a madrasa in
Morigaon district was demolished.
The
official orders issued by the district administration cited concerns about
structural safety or alleged “illegal encroachment”. But each demolition
followed the arrest of teachers, clerics and others with links to the madrasas
– mostly on terror charges.
Assam
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also kept up a steady stream of press
conferences implicitly linking the demolitions to a crackdown on alleged terror
networks.
On
August 4, as the Morigaon madrasa was razed to the ground, Sarma announced that
the state was becoming a “hotbed of jihadi activities” with five modules linked
to al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and the Ansarullah Bangla Team busted
since March.
Sarma
distinguished between “jihadi activity” and “terrorist or insurgency activity”.
The former, he said, started with “indoctrination” at the madrasa, usually by
imams from outside the state, which then led to “subversive activities”.
On
August 22, Sarma announced that imams from outside the state had to register
themselves online and go through police verification. The four organisations
running most non-government madrasas in Assam have now been asked to survey
them within six months.
On
August 30, as the Barpeta madrasa went down, Sarma said it had been “used as a
hub for terrorism”.
Then
on September 1, Sarma said that the government did not intend to go on
demolishing madrasas. “So, once madrasas are not used for jihadi works or for
the purpose of expanding jihadi ideology then why there will be demolition?” he
reasoned. “But, if we get specific inputs that an institution is being used,
under guise of a madrasa, for anti-India activities and jihadi activities, we
will take the strongest possible action in each and every case.”
‘A
conspiracy’
According
to Superintendent Reddy, Hafizur Rahman was arrested on the basis of statements
made by two imams from Goalpara district, Abdus Subhan and Jalaluddin Sheikh,
held on August 21.
Both
had confessed to being members of al-Qaeda and Ansarullah, to recruiting and
training new members in Assam as well as sheltering Bangladeshi operatives of
the groups, Reddy claimed.
“Hafizur
had joined the terror groups in 2019,” Reddy said. “We found he had links with
Abdus Subhan.”
In
addition to teaching, Rahman also ran a stall selling books and food items in
the Bongaigaon madrasa campus. On August 30, the police raided this shop. Reddy
claimed they found a Bengali leaflet on the Ansarullah Bangla Team and a logo
“suspected to be AQIS”.
Rahman
was one of 22 teachers at the madrasa and had taught there since 2014. The
madrasa committee is dismayed at the demolition drive, carried out despite the
fact that they were willing to cooperate with the police administration.
“We
had suspended the teacher after he was summoned by the police on August 3,”
said Hussain, the committee president. “We were providing all the necessary
support to the police investigation and repeatedly maintained that if anyone is
involved in jihadi activity, he should be punished as per the law of the land.”
According
to committee vice president Sujal Hoque, the police did not have any existing
cases against the madrasa.
“In
the last 37 years, the district administration never doubted [us] or found any
anti-national activities in our madrasa,” he said. “The madrasa was demolished
in a conspiracy. The government has a blueprint to target all Muslim religious
institutions.”
‘We
want our madrasa back’
The
madrasa committee was also disturbed by how suddenly the demolition was carried
out. The seminary housed students not only from various districts in Assam but
also from states like West Bengal and Meghalaya.
“We
had requested the authorities to give us till morning to vacate so that we
could send the students home safely,” Hussain said. “But they denied us time.”
On
the morning after the demolition, 12-year-old Johurul Islam was still in shock
after seeing security forces enter the campus. His home is some distance away
in Chirang district and he had camped overnight at a nearby mosque.
“We
are feeling terrible – they brought down the school,” the 12-year-old said. “It
was like our home as we studied there and stayed here. How would you feel if
someone breaks down your school? What bad thing did we do?”
Shah
Kamal, a 15-year-old student, worried about losing a whole academic year. “I
already enquired at other institutions but they refused to admit us now as it
is the middle of the year,” he said.
It
was not just teachers and students who were disturbed by the demolition. The
madrasa, built with public donations, had deep roots in the local community. On
September 1, a large crowd gathered in the rain to survey the ruins of what
they had helped to build. As anger mounter, the entire district was placed
under Section 144, which prohibits large gathering.
“We
donated from our savings to build the madrasa,” said 24-year-old Akhtar, who
had gone to see the demolished madrasa on September 1. “The government has not
built it. Why did they break the madrasa? We want an answer. We want our
madrasa back.”
Forty
nine-year-old Asma Khatun, who said the madrasa provided general as well as
religious education, was indignant that students had been asked to leave at a
few hours’ notice. “Do they have sense or empathy?” she asked.
‘Illegal
encroachment’
In
contrast, the Shaikhul Hind Mahmudul Hasan Jamiul Huda Islamic Academy located
in Barpeta district’s Joshihatipara village, was privately owned. When the
district administration demolished it on August 30, it claimed the madrasa had
been built “illegally” on government land.
However,
both the chief minister and the police linked it to alleged terror networks.
“All jihadi-related works started from this madrasa and the madrasa gave
shelter to ABT operatives and cadres from Bangladesh,” said Barpeta
Superintendent of Police Amitava Sinha. “This madrasa has been used to
radicalise people and as a training camp.”
According
to the police, the seminary was built by Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam,
also known as Mohammad Suman, who entered India from Bangladesh with at least
five other members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team, allegedly to indoctrinate
Muslim youth so that they could be recurited.
Saiful
Islam, who was an Arabic teacher at the madrasa and an imam at the nearby
mosque, was arrested on March 4. The other five Bangladeshi nationals are still
absconding, the police said.
On
August 31, Scroll.in visited the madrasa and spoke to at least six residents of
Joshihatipara as well as teachers at the madrasa and the families of three of
the accused. All were bemused by the charges against the madrasa, which was
located in the heart of the village.
They
believed Saiful Islam was from West Bengal and not Bangladesh. Abdul Barrek,
who lives near the demolished madrasa, said Saiful Islam had moved to the
village three years earlier but the madrasa had been there for eight years.
There
were two campuses, said a teacher at the madrasa who did not want to be named,
one was a school for general education while the other offered religious
education. He added that there were about 200 students, divided almost equally
between the religious seminary and the private school. The two campuses,
separated by a village road, included six buildings, all of which were
demolished.
“As
far as I know, neither was any kind of jihadi literature taught nor was there
any anti-national activity in the madrasa,” he said.
Raids
and arrests
Sinha
told Scroll.in that they had arrested 22 people under terror charges in three
different cases in Barpeta district. According to him, all had links to the
madrasa or visited it often.
Among
those arrested in the police sweep in Joshihatipara is Abu Bakkar Siddique, a
48-year-old farmer booked for criminal conspiracy, waging war against India and
under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“The
police came to our house on the night of August 1 and asked that my uncle
surrender. He had gone out fishing that night,” said Saruwar Alom, his nephew.
“So my uncle surrendered the next day. But he was arrested on August 6.”
Alom
said that the police had paid a second visit to their home around 12.30 am on
August 6.
“They
entered with my younger cousin and searched the house,” said Alom. “The police
found a bag. Inside, there was a pamphlet wrapped in a newspaper. The pamphlet
had ‘Ansarullah Bangla Team’ written in it. It was wrapped in a newspaper dated
August 1.”
However,
he said, the family had never seen the pamphlet before, and they had combed
through the house after Siddique was detained on August 1. “I had even
personally looked at the bag – there was no such pamphlet covered with a
newspaper dated August 1,” said Alom. “Someone had planted it, we don’t know
who.”
Alom
and his family maintained Siddiqui was innocent.
“My
uncle had known Saiful as he was the imam of the mosque and my uncle used to
pray five times a day,” he said. “We are very poor people. My uncle also cannot
walk properly as he has had an accident.”
The
relatives of Taimur Khan, a resident of the neighbouring Dhakalia Para village,
have a similar story to tell. Khan was also arrested on terror and conspiracy
charges the same day as Saiful Islam. He runs a tailoring shop and his house is
about 300 metres from the demolished madrasa.
“The
police came to our house in three vehicles around 3.40 am on March 4,” said his
wife, 46-year-old Basia Parbin. “They asked us to go outside and started
searching the house. After some time they took me inside and showed me a piece
of paper. But I know it was not from my house. I don’t know where it came
from.”
Parbin,
who cannot read, could not say what was written on it but believes it led to
her husband’s arrest. “The police took my husband after finding the piece of
paper and he never returned,” she said.
Parbin
also insists her husband, who has chronic heart problems and went through
surgery in Hyderabad seven years ago, is innocent.
“I
don’t know why they were here,” she said. “And my husband is a sick person. We
spend Rs 3,000 [a month] on his medicines. I have to keep the shop going to run
the house.”
Source:
Scroll
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Gyanvapi
issue: Court grants time to Muslim side to present reply on September 13
05.09.22
A
fast track court here on Monday granted time to the Muslim side to present its
reply on a petition seeking permission to hold 'darshan' of an idol in the
Gyanvapi mosque complex.
General
secretary of Vishwa Vaidik Sangh Kiran Singh Bisen had filed the petition in
the court of civil judge senior division, seeking regular 'darshan' (glimpse)
and worshipping of "Adivisheshwar" in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. He
had also sought a ban on the entry of Muslims in the complex and handing over
it to Hindus.
The
Muslim side has questioned the maintainability of the petition and on Monday
sought time to present its reply. The court granted it permission and posted
the matter for next hearing on September 13.
Maan
Bahadur Singh, advocate representing the Hindu side, said he also made his
arguments in the court against the views presented by the Muslim side.
Source:
Telegraph India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Babri
Mosque Case: CBI Files Objection In High Court Against Plea Challenging
Acquittal
05
SEP 2022
The
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday objected to a petition in the
Allahabad High Court that challenges the acquittal of all accused in the 1993
Babri Mosque demolition case.
The
CBI has argued that the two petitioners were not the victims in the case and
hence did not have the right to file the present appeal against the acquittal.
The
Babri Mosque was demolished by karsevaks on 6 December 1992. The accused that
were all acquitted included top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders LK Advani,
Murali Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharati, and Kalyan Singh.
The
petitioners, Ayodhya residents Haji Mahmood Ahmad and Syed Akhlaq Ahmad, argued
that the trial court had made an error in its verdict as ample evidence was on
record.
Notably,
the trial judge had refused to believe newspaper cuttings and video clips as
evidence as the originals of the same were not produced, while the entire
edifice of the case rested on these pieces of documentary evidence. The trial
judge also had held that the CBI could not produce any evidence that the
accused had a meeting of mind with karsevaks who demolished the structure.
The
grounds for not accepting video evidence was that the CBI never sent video
cassettes to forensic laboratories to ascertain their veracity.
The
petitioners had said, "The trial judge did not appreciate the evidence of
conspiracy in the right perspective."
The
CBI on Monday submitted objections on the maintainability of their criminal
appeal. A bench of justices Ramesh Sinha and Renu Agrawal of the Allahabad High
Court fixed 26 September for the next hearing on the appeal.
Earlier,
the appellants had filed a revision petition against the acquittal but Justice
Dinesh Kumar Singh had held that it was not maintainable under Section 372 of
CrPC, which deals with the provision of appeals in criminal cases. On request
of the petitioners, the court had directed its office to convert and treat it
as a criminal appeal. Accordingly, the criminal revision was converted into a
criminal appeal and listed before the appropriate division bench.
The
appellants said that they were witnesses in the trial and were victims owing to
the demolition of the disputed structure.
Source:
Outlook India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
SC
seeks Centre’s response on feasibility of Uniform Civil Code
Sep
06, 2022
The
Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to make its stand clear, within three
weeks, on the feasibility of implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the
country.
A
bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) U U Lalit and justice S Ravindra
Bhat was dealing with a batch of petitions seeking uniformity in laws for age
of marriage, grounds of divorce, succession, adoption, guardianship and
maintenance when it noted that these issues are various “facets” of UCC and
directed the Centre to file its response on each aspect.
“These
petitions are seeking common marriage, divorce, adoption, succession and
maintenance laws. What is the difference between these matters? They are all
facets of Uniform Civil Code,” the bench said.
“Let
a comprehensive response be filed, indicating the stand of the Union government
in respect of issues raised in this batch of petitions,” it added.
A
clutch of pleas filed by lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini
Kumar Upadhyay and another petitioner, Lubna Qureshi, has pointed at anomalies
in various laws on divorce, marriage, succession, adoption and maintenance
prevailing for different religions.
In
his plea, Upadhyay sought uniformity in grounds for which divorce is granted.
Adultery is a ground for Hindus, Christians and Parsis but not for Muslims, he
said.
Likewise,
incurable leprosy is a ground of divorce for Hindus and Muslims but not for
Christians and Parsis. Also, under age marriage is a ground of divorce for
Hindus but not for Christians, Parsis and Muslims, he said.
In
case of adoptions, only Hindus have a codified law under which an adopted child
has the right to inherit property and be recognised as a biological child of
the adopted parents, Upadhyay said. The case is not the same for Muslims,
Christians and Parsis, he added.
Upadhyay’s
petition also said women across religions ought to be treated equally.
Religious practices which deny them their fundamental rights should not be
protected, he said.
“We
are considering what response the Centre will file and what kind of judicial
process we can issue in this matter. Assuming we might issue a mandamus (writ
giving a direction), can we issue a mandamus itself is in question and also
whether you intend to place such a bill in Parliament,” the bench said.
Appearing
for the Centre, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said it would essentially be a
question of law. “If need be, we will put in a reply in three weeks,” he said.
Opposing
the pleas, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and a Muslim woman, Amina
Sherwani, filed intervention applications in the top court, alleging attempts
were being made to bring in the UCC through the backdoor.
Appearing
for the Muslim Personal Law Board, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi along with
advocate M R Shamshad said Upadhyay, in 2015, had raised similar prayers in a
writ petition filed in the top court which he withdrew.
The
BJP leader later filed a petition seeking enforcement of UCC before Delhi high court,
which is still pending, the lawyers said.
The
petitioner has not mentioned this fact in the present set of petitions and
should be asked to summon the record of his earlier petition, Huzefa told the
bench.
Though
the top court, in the past, had advised the Centre to give a thought for having
UCC, the judiciary has left it to the legislative wisdom without entering the
domain reserved for Parliament.
Taking
note of the submissions, the bench told Upadhyay: “You should be fair to this
court. Check your petition and file the same before us on the next date of
hearing.”
Upadhyay
said his earlier petition was on implementing Article 44 of the Constitution
which says “the state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform
civil code throughout the territory of India.”
He
said he withdrew this (earlier) plea with a liberty to approach the Law
Commission of India on this aspect. The present petitions are not on UCC, he
said.
“I
am not seeking UCC. In these petitions, I have endeavoured to show anomalies
that exist in the country which make laws on marriage, divorce, adoption,
maintenance, and succession apply differently to women of different religions.
This violates their fundamental rights under Articles 14 (equality), 15 (right
against discrimination) and 21 (life and liberty),” he said.
To
this, the bench said: “Even matrimonial issues are one of the facets of UCC.”
The
Muslim Personal Law Board also informed the bench that the same petitioner has
challenged ‘nikah halala’ and other forms of marriage under Muslim laws and
that his prayers are of similar nature and pending before a Constitution Bench.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
AIMPLB
opposes pleas on uniform laws
Sep
6, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta on what could
be the judicial process in deciding religion-neutral uniform law on several key
issues and whether the court can pass direction to frame the law.
Mehta
said he would take instructions on the issue from the government and brief the
court on the next date of hearing. The court was hearing a batch of petitions
filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay pleading it to examine these contentious
issues. He also pleaded that there should be gender- and religion-neutral
uniform marriage age.
Upadhyay's
plea was strongly opposed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which
told the bench that the BJP leader had filed a similar petition on Uniform
Civil Code in the SC in 2015 and had withdrawn it with a liberty to approach
the high court. Advocate M R Shamshad, appearing for the Board, said it was
disturbing that the petitioner was not truthful to the court, which is an abuse
of the process of law. Upadhyay refuted the allegation and argued that the
earlier petition was not similar to the present one being heard by the bench.
The SC, while deferring the hearing, said the counsel should be fair to the
court.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Bangladesh
PM Sheikh Hasina to talk with PM Modi while in India to boost ties
Sep
6, 2022
NEW
DELHI: Bangladesh's prime minister was welcomed to India with a ceremony in the
capital, New Delhi, on Tuesday during a four-day visit aimed at boosting
bilateral ties.
Sheikh
Hasina shook hands with PM Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential
Palace, and officials said the two leaders later in the day are expected to
discuss deals on connectivity, energy, food security, and trade.
Hasina
said the two countries enjoy a friendly relationship focused on alleviating
poverty and economic advancement. "We can work together so that people not
only (in) India, Bangladesh, and also the South Asian people, they can get
better life. That is our main focus," she said.
In
Bangladesh, her visit is seen as politically significant as it comes ahead of
general elections next year. Hasina, who has maintained a warm relationship
with India since becoming prime minister in 2009, will push to bolster
investment and trade as well as make progress on long-standing issues such as
water-sharing of common rivers, observers say.
Over
the weekend, Bangladesh's foreign minister told reporters that the two
countries are likely to ink seven agreements covering science and technology,
water management, and information and broadcasting.
"We
hope the visit will be very successful. It will help achieve our goals,"
Dr AK Abdul Momen was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
he
relationship between the neighbors is crucial, with India being Bangladesh's
largest trading partner in South Asia. While China is involved in almost all
major infrastructure development schemes in Bangladesh, India is also more
eager to take up joint projects.
Meanwhile,
Bangladesh runs a significant trade imbalance with India, an issue that may be
discussed during Hasina's visit. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Bangladesh
imported goods worth around $14 billion from India while exports to its
neighboring country ran lower at $1.8 billion, according to official figures.
Authorities and trade bodies often blame tariff and non-tariff barriers as well
as anti-dumping obstacles imposed by India for the low exports.
Another
priority for Hasina may be to make progress on agreements for water sharing of
the Teesta River, a major transboundary river that begins in India's Sikkim
state and runs through the north of West Bengal state before flowing into
Bangladesh.
For
decades, there was no movement on this issue until 2011 when India agreed to
share waters during the lean season, between December and March but the deal
never went through due to strong opposition from the West Bengal state's chief
minister, Mamata Banerjee.
When
Modi visited Bangladesh last year, he reiterated India's commitment to conclude
this agreement but the impasse has dragged on.
Hasina
last visited India in 2019, when she and Modi agreed on the need to boost
efforts to facilitate the safe return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya
refugees who fled violence in Myanmar and have since taken refuge in
Bangladesh.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Terrorists
fire upon SOG camp in Shopian
Sep
6, 2022
SRINAGAR:
Terrorists on Monday evening opened fire at a Special Operations Group (SOG)
camp in Imam Sahib area in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. There was no loss
of life or injury in the attack, said a police officer.
The
terrorists managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of the darkness,
the officer said. Soon after the attack, the entire area was cordoned off and a
search was initiated to trace the perpetrators.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Cook's
bullet-riddled body found in Kashmir's Shopian, rivalry between terror groups
suspected behind murder
Sep
6, 2022
SRINAGAR:
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday recovered the bullet-riddled body of a cook
in Narpora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. He had been abducted by
terrorists the previous evening. Two of the cook's brothers are active
terrorists while a third, also a terrorist, was killed in an encounter in 2014.
The
Kashmir Police tweeted that the body of 30-year-old Manzoor Ahmad Nangroo, a
resident of Hanjan in Pulwama, was found in an orchard. A murder case has been
registered and probe launched.
Additional
DGP of Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the killing appeared to be a result of rivalry
between militant groups.
One
of the brothers of the deceased cook, Ashiq Nangroo, is a JeM terrorist and is
currently in Pakistan. His second brother, Abbas Nangroo, was killed in an
encounter in Pulwama while third brother Reyaz Nangroo is in jail in connection
with a terror attack in Jammu. Kumar said Reyaz owned trucks and used to ferry
terrorists from Jammu to Kashmir.
Preliminary
investigation revealed that on Sunday evening, the deceased, along with two
others, including a chef, was returning from work in an auto-rickshaw after a
function at Chraripora area of Budgam. On the way, another person, a baker,
boarded the auto when terrorists waiting in a Tata Mobile intercepted the
vehicle and abducted its occupants.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
South
Asia
Bangladesh
PM Sheikh Hasina Visits Delhi's Nizamuddin Dargah
September
05, 2022
New
Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday visited the
much-revered Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi on the first day of her four-day
visit to India and offered prayers.
PM
Hasina, who arrived here earlier in the day, went around the almost
700-year-old Dargah - the nerve centre of Sufi culture in India.
"Prime
Minister Hasina offered prayers and munajat, seeking development, prosperity
and welfare of the country, the nation as well as the entire Muslim
community," PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon told
journalists.
PM
Hasina was a regular visitor to the dargah during her stay in Delhi from 1975
to 1981 following the assassination of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman.
Source:
ND TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-visits-delhis-nizamuddin-dargah-3318501
--------
Two
Russian embassy staff dead, 11 injured after suicide bomb blast near Russian
Embassy in Kabul
Sep
5, 2022
KABUL:
Two Russian embassy staff in Kabul were killed when a suicide bomber detonated
explosives near the entrance of the embassy, in a blast that injured 11 others,
the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Police
said two people had died in the incident but did not give their identities,
while the attacker was shot dead by armed guards as he approached the gate.
"The
suicide attacker before reaching the target, was recognised and shot by Russian
embassy (Taliban) guards ... there is no information about casualties
yet," Mawlawi Sabir, the head of the police district where the attack took
place, told Reuters.
The
Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that an unknown militant set off
an explosive device near the entrance to the consular section of the embassy
around at 10:50 a.m. Kabul time.
"As
a result of the attack, two employees of the diplomatic mission were killed,
and there are also victims among Afghan citizens," the ministry said.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
Taliban
won’t last long like last time, resistance on the rise, says Afghan ex-minister
Balkhi
NAYANIMA
BASU
6
September, 2022
New
Delhi: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which completed one year last month,
will be short-lived compared to the last time they were in power (1996-2001),
says former Afghan minister and diplomat Mirwais Balkhi.
Balkhi,
who was education Minister of the erstwhile Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
from 2018 to 2020, also said the Taliban are not just shutting down girls’
schools but gradually ruining the country’s education ecosystem by converting
general schools into madrasas (Islamic religious schools).
“The
past year under the Taliban has been a total catastrophe. Not only has there
been a gradual collapse of the achievements of the past 20 years, but also a
complete collapse of the governance system,” Balkhi told ThePrint in an
interview.
According
to Balkhi, who no longer lives in Afghanistan, the Taliban — after having
seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 — are running the country with
“nationalism, radicalisation and tribalism” as the pillars of their governance
model.
The
Taliban first came to power in Afghanistan in 1996 but were eventually ousted
by a US-led military coalition in 2001.
“I
do not think any country will now recognise the Taliban at all, including those
which are engaging with them,” said Balkhi, adding that unlike the last time
they were in power, this Taliban regime will not even last a full five years.
Building
on his argument, Balkhi said the Taliban regime currently is facing “enormous
resistance”, not just from former vice-president Amrullah Saleh and the
National Resistance Front (NRF), led by Ahmad Massoud, son of ‘Lion of Panjshir’
Ahmad Shah Massoud. Resistance against the Taliban is gradually rising in the
provinces of Baghlan, Badakhshan, Takhar, Balkh and Faryab, he claimed.
“On
one side, of course, it is the NRF which is fighting the Taliban militarily,
but there is otherwise also enormous resistance against the Taliban across the
country. There is resistance from women, there is resistance from
intellectuals, there is resistance from ethnic and religious groups, they are
all resisting against the Taliban,” he said.
The
NRF, he added, will gain more strength and legitimacy among the people going
forward.
“There
will be more and more recruitment from the NRF and they have that passion and
they are fighting. They will be able to suppress and convince the Taliban that
they cannot rule Afghanistan with such a radicalised ideology,” he told
ThePrint.
“The
Taliban is afraid of the NRF and other resistance groups. They know these
people are potential threats to their existence,” he added.
‘Taliban
converting schools into madrasas’
On
23 March, less than a year since they overran Kabul, the interim Taliban
government decided to shut down girls’ secondary schools across Afghanistan.
But according to Balkhi — who has also worked as a lecturer at the American
University of Afghanistan — both young boys and girls are being denied proper
education under the new regime.
“The
education system is in a state of collapse. Even general schools are being
converted into madrasas. And not just girls, they are not even allowing boys to
study properly,” he said, adding that Taliban are neither in favour of distance
learning, nor free education for poor children or teaching of certain skill
sets in schools.
Expressing
concern about the quality of education in Afghanistan, Balkhi said that
expanding the influence of madrasas will “pave the way for more recruitment of
the young generation by terrorist networks”.
“That
is why they are destroying the educational infrastructure of Afghanistan,” he
said.
The
Taliban, Balkhi said, have long-term plans to change school curriculum and make
it “anti-secular, anti-democratic and anti-West”.
Source:
The Print
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Afghanistan:
Taliban Using India's Aid for Their Families, Claims Ahmad Massoud
05
Sep 2022
Ahmad
Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the 'Lion of Panjshir,' in an exclusive
interview to the Indian Express, has alleged that the Taliban regime in
Afghanistan has India's "humanitarian support for their own forces and
their families, not the people truly in need."
"They
are not distributing aid justly, and they give it to one area more than the
others based on ethnicity," he added.
He
went on to say that, "with all his heart, he is thankful and grateful for
the support that India has been giving. I thank the Indian government and
amazing Indian people. And I urge them to continue the support because
Afghanistan is going towards a humanitarian crisis. The people have nothing to
eat."
Via
the United Nations' World Food Programme, India is sending 50,000 tonnes of
wheat to Afghanistan as a part of its humanitarian aid.
Massoud
was also asked about the Indian government's approach to the current Taliban
regime compared to the 1990s, when India had covertly aided Ahmad Shah
Massoud's Northern Alliance's resistance.
"I
think the difference in approach is the hesitation. India is still in the
process of assessing the situation. This hesitation is fatal. It is very wrong.
And we need immediate action before the ideology takes root or before the
terrorist finds a foundation," Massoud said.
He
also spoke about Kashmir, and how "the rule of the Taliban will be a safe
haven, and especially when there is no legitimate government in Kabul. It is a
safe haven for many terrorist groups, Jaish-e-Mohammed and many others, which
are a threat to India and to all countries in the region."
Source:
The Quint
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Taliban-led
Afghan govt condemns explosion near Russian Embassy in Kabul
5
September, 2022
Kabul
[Afghanistan], September 5 (ANI): Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Taliban-led Afghan government condemned the attack near the Russian embassy
that killed 10 and injured several others.
The
blast resulted in the death of two Russian Embassy staff and injury of several
locals, Taliban spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar
Balkhi, said in a tweet.
The
spokesperson said that a comprehensive investigation had been launched into the
matter and further measures will be taken to safeguard the Embassy and prevent
such probable incidents in future.
“Our
security has launched a comprehensive investigation, & will take further
measures to safeguard the Embassy & prevent such probable incidents from
hindering the Embassy’s activities,” Balkhi wrote on Twitter adding that the
Islamic Emirates has close relations with the Russian Federation and will not
allow the enemies to sabotage relations between both countries with such
negative actions.
The
explosion occurred on Monday morning in the vicinity of the Consular Department
gate of the Russian Embassy in Kabul leaving ten dead and several wounded.
UN
mission in Afghanistan on Monday condemned the blast outside the Russian
Embassy in Afghanistan’s Kabul and stressed the need for the Taliban to take
steps to ensure the safety and security of the people as well as diplomatic
missions.
“UNAMA
condemns today’s explosion outside @RusEmbassyKabul. We express our condolences
to the families of those killed and wishes for a speedy recovery to the
injured,” the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in
a tweet.
This
explosion comes days after at least 20 people were killed in a blast that
rocked a mosque in northwestern Afghanistan during Friday prayers. In recent
months, a number of blasts have been reported in the capital city of Kabul,
claiming dozens of innocent lives.
This
series of blasts comes on the heels of one year of the Taliban’s atrocious rule
in Afghanistan. Rights groups said the terror outfit had broken multiple
pledges to respect human and women’s rights. After capturing Kabul in August
last year, the Islamic authorities have imposed severe restrictions on women’s
and girls’ rights, suppressed the media, and arbitrarily detained, tortured,
and summarily executed critics and perceived opponents, among other abuses.
Source:
The Print
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast
Asia
You’re
why PAS can’t break into non-Muslim seats, Kit Siang tells Hadi
By
Zarrah Morden
05
Sep 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 5 — PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was the very reason why
his party was not making headway outside of Malay-Muslim constituencies, DAP’s
Lim Kit Siang said today.
Responding
to Hadi’s challenge for the Non-Muslim PAS Supporters Congress (DHPP) to
emulate DAP in breaking down racial barriers of electoral constituencies, Lim
said the movement was ineffectual as its leaders lacked the courage to stand up
to the PAS president.
“Hadi
is behind time and continues to spout irrational, extremist and even racist
views.
“He
does not realise that Islam does not differentiate among the races, religions,
cultures or nationalities on the question of corruption,” the Iskandar Puteri
MP said in a statement today.
Lim
again challenged Hadi, who is the prime minister’s special envoy to the Middle
East, to deny if he was banned from visiting Saudi Arabia and possibly other
countries in the region.
“Wouldn’t
a self-respecting political leader resign his appointment under these
circumstances or is he more attracted to the emoluments and perks of the
appointment without having to do any work?” Lim asked.
On
August 20, Abdul Hadi accused non-Muslims and non-Bumiputera of being the
“roots of corruption” in the country on his Facebook page.
This
led to dozens of police reports being lodged against him, which has resulted in
an ongoing investigation against him under Section 505(C) of the Penal Code for
issuing statements likely to incite the community and Section 233 of the
Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities or
network services.
Lim
previously questioned if Abdul Hadi had been barred from Saudi Arabia last year
following the latter’s absence from the entourage during then-prime minister
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s visit to the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
With
eye on GE15, GTA sends registration application to RoS
By
Shahrin Aizat Noorshahrizam
06
Sep 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Malay nationalist political coalition Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA)
submitted its registration papers to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) today, as
it mulls fielding candidates for the next general election (GE15).
According
to news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT), the group expects its application to
be approved within the next 30 days without any interference from the
government.
Parti
Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya reportedly
said that the party’s chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be GTA chairman,
while four other party presidents will serve as deputy chairmen.
GTA
comprises Pejuang, Parti Pikatan India Muslim Nasional (Iman), Parti Barisan
Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia
(Putra).
The
coalition is open to participation from non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
individuals, academics and professional groups from the Malay community.
On
August 4, Dr Mahathir announced the establishment of GTA, a coalition which he
said was aimed at strengthening the Malays, especially in the economic field.
Previously,
it was reported that the coalition hopes to contest 120 parliamentary seats,
especially in Malay-majority areas, in the GE15.
Commenting
on forming alliances, Marzuki said that the coalition was open to talks but
none were happening at the present.
Meanwhile,
Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir reportedly defended the
coalition’s stance to form a clean government to tackle the issues caused by
corrupt Malay politicians, while also upholding non-Malay rights.
“If
you consider fighting for our race, for Malays, as unprincipled, I don’t know
what to say.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Japan
Embassy in UAE hosts orientation session for 20 Emirati students
September
06, 2022
DUBAI:
The Japanese Embassy in the UAE hosted on Thursday an orientation session
titled “Youth Ambassador Program (YAP)- Japan” for 20 young Emirati students,
who also met with Japan Ambassador to the UAE ISOMATA Akio.
YAP
is a UAE educational program that encourages Emirati students to study abroad
and expand their knowledge of the world’s culture.
The
year-long program, designed by the by Japan International Cooperation Center
(JICE), helps students prepare themselves to study in Japan. YAP encourages a
short trip to Japan, a Japanese language course, a cultural experience and a
study consultation.
This
year’s batch of Emirati students is the first.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2157161/world
--------
Arab
World
Qatar
to open three new five-star hotels ahead of FIFA World Cup
06
September, 2022
Qatar
is gearing up to open three new five-star hotels ahead of the FIFA World Cup
2022 as the country prepares to host more than a million international football
fans for the world’s greatest football tournament.
With
less than 100 days to go before fans descend on the region for the month-long
event, which will kick off November 20, new hotels are opening their doors in
the Gulf state – the host nation for the first-ever FIFA World Cup in the
Middle East - in September and October.
They
include the Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach – a 278 -room resort near Doha
Corniche – and the St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island on the Pearl-Qatar – a resort
spanning a whole island, which will open on October 1.
A
third - the Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha - is also slated to open in October near
Hamad International Airport.
About
1.2 million fans, roughly half the population of Qatar, are expected to descend
upon the country state during the event but providing sufficient rooms for
visiting fans, teams and tournament staff has been a key challenge for Qatar
and organizers have tried everything from cruise ships and desert camps to help
ease the accommodation squeeze.
Berthold
Trenkel, chief operating officer of Qatar Tourism, said the new hotels are in
line with the country’s plans to expand its hospitality industry to fulfil the
country’s ambitious goal of attracting more than six million international
visitors a year by 2030.
“We
are pleased to witness the continuous addition of world-class hotels to Qatar’s
thriving hospitality landscape,” he said. “The exemplary service provided by
our hotels plays a key role in the overall visitor experience, which in turn
helps boost the tourism sector and diversify Qatar’s economy.”
“With
new hospitality, cultural and retail offerings, Qatar continues to attract
growing numbers of visitors each month, as demonstrated by our current summer
season which sees peak figures compared to the past five years.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Saudi
foreign ministry condemns ISIS attack on Russian embassy in Kabul
06
September, 2022
Saudi
Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday condemned an attack on the Russian
embassy in Kabul that was claimed by ISIS.
Monday’s
attack on the Russian embassy killed two embassy staff and four others.
“The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the Kingdom’s total rejection of all
terrorist acts targeting innocent people and diplomatic missions
everywhere," the ministry said in a statement on Twitter. It stressed “the
Kingdom’s support for all intensive international efforts aimed at eliminating
terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations, tackling and
drying up its sources of financing.”
The
statement went on to express the ministry’s condolences for the families of the
victims and to the Russian government.
ISIS
claimed the attack and said that one of its fighters detonated his suicide vest
in a gathering, the group said in a statement via its Telegram channels.
At
least 11 others were also injured in the attack, which took place at around
10.50 a.m. Kabul time.
Russia
is one of the few countries that still maintains an embassy in the Afghan
capital after the Taliban took over the country more than a year ago.
Although
Moscow does not officially recognize the Taliban government, they have been in
talks to supply gasoline.
The
attack was the latest in a string of incidents in the country, which is under
regular threat from the local branch of ISIS.
On
Friday, at least 18 people, including a pro-Taliban cleric, were killed in the
city of Herat in an explosion near a mosque during prayers.
The
Taliban say they have improved security in the country despite the recent spate
of deadly explosions.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iraq
powers agree to work toward snap elections following unrest
September
05, 2022
JEDDAH:
Iraq on Monday moved closer to a snap parliamentary election after crisis talks
in Baghdad.
Prime
Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi chaired a meeting with President Barham Salih, UN
representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and representatives from the
Iran-backed Coordination Framework political bloc.
They
“agreed to form a technical committee comprising the various political forces
... to bridge differences with the aim of reaching early elections,”
Al-Kadhimi’s office said after the talks.
Representatives
of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr failed to attend the meeting,
but the dissolution of parliament and an immediate election are key demands of
Al-Sadr and his bloc.
Al-Sadr
and his Iran-backed political rivals have been at odds since parliamentary
elections in October last year. Al-Sadr won the largest share of seats but
failed to form a majority government. Since then Iraq has been mired in
political deadlock without a new government, president or prime minister.
Al-Sadr’s
rivals agree in principle to holding early polls but disagree on the mechanism.
The cleric is demanding that the judiciary dissolve the legislature but the
Coordination Framework insist parliament should convene to do this. The rival
camps are also at odds over the electoral law that would govern the polls,
which the Coordination Framework wants amended.
Monday’s
talks came a week after Al-Sadr’s supporters stormed government headquarters in
the capital’s fortified Green Zone and clashed with fighters from the
Iran-backed Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi militia. More than 30 Sadrists were killed and
hundreds injured in nearly 24 hours of violence that ended when the cleric
called on his supporters to pull out.
However,
Al-Sadr supporters in the central city of Najaf on Monday pledged allegiance to
the cleric and said the fight was far from over. “Blood was spilt, but there is
plenty more where that came from,” said Al-Sadr loyalist Moussa Abbas, 21. “For
every martyr we lose, 10 will come in his place. The same way they sacrificed
themselves for us, we will stand up for them.”
Another
Sadrist, Sadeq Jaber, said: “We obey the orders of our leader and commander —
whatever he wants, we are ready. All of us, with our children, houses and
families, we are all under his command. There will continue to be martyrs as
long as this ruling class is in power.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2156616/middle-east
--------
Hate
crimes against Syrian refugees in Turkey on rise: Experts
September
05, 2022
ANKARA:
Syrian refugees, once welcomed with open arms to Turkey, are now living in fear
amid a rise in hate crimes against them, experts have claimed.
Many
believe they are being used as political leverage in the upcoming Turkish
elections scheduled for next year.
Syrian
teenager Fares Elali became one of the latest victims of the backlash when he
was recently stabbed to death in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.
The
17-year-old, whose father died during the Syrian conflict in 2011, had managed
to get a place to study medicine at a Turkish university and had ambitions of
becoming a doctor. His body will be now moved to Syria’s northwestern province
of Idlib.
Elali
had been working in a tomato pastry factory and was allegedly killed in a
revenge attack following a disagreement with a female worker.
Turkey
is home to around 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees, the world’s largest
refugee population. Physical and verbal racial attacks against them have been
steadily increasing in Turkey amid rising inflation and cost-of-living rates
that have fueled hostile attitudes toward foreigners.
The
country’s economic downturn has seen the official inflation rate hit 80.2
percent and the unofficial one more than 181 percent.
With
Turkish parliamentary and presidential elections on the horizon, the issue of
repatriating 1 million Syrians back to northern Syria has become a hot topic in
domestic politics.
Some
right-wing opposition figures have capitalized on the growing resentment by
pledging to send Syrians back to their homeland.
There
are no official figures relating to violent attacks on Syrian refugees in
Turkey.
But
in June, two young Syrians — Sultan Abdul Baset Jabneh and Sherif Khaled
Al-Ahmad — were reportedly killed by angry Turkish mobs in separate incidents in
Istanbul.
On
May 30, Syrian woman Leila Muhammad, 70, was hit in the face by a man in the
southeastern province of Gaziantep, and recently a 17-year-old Syrian student
was verbally abused in the street by an angry Turkish crowd.
Metin
Corabatir, president of the Research Center on Asylum and Migration (IGAM), an
Ankara-based think tank, told Arab News that increased provocation was being
orchestrated by certain elite circles in Turkey.
He
said: “Umit Ozdag, leader of the far-right Victory Party who pledged to expel
all refugees, is using Syrians as a political card to stoke tensions against
foreigners as elections loom.
“Popular
figures in the media are also fueling these tensions by disseminating
misinformation about Syrians and by drawing a rosy but unreal picture about
their living standards in Turkey,” he added.
Omar
Kadkoy, a migration policy analyst at Ankara-based think-tank TEPAV, told Arab
News that Turkish public opinion was becoming increasingly unfriendly toward
foreigners.
He
said: “In parallel, resentment is particular toward Syrians and this feeling is
not new. Along with an ambiguous harmonization policy, the deeper the nosedive
of the economy, the greater the resentment and anger Turks feel about Syrians.”
He
pointed out that the death of Elali highlighted the dangers of what could
happen when misunderstandings got out of control.
“The
deterrent here is the rule of law where the penalty is proportionate to the
crime. It is skewed justice to make announcements of deporting Syrians for sharing
videos on social media, for example, and not informing the public about the
punishment of Fares’ killer or killers,” Kadkoy added.
Although
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu reportedly passed on his condolences to
Elali’s family there has been little public condemnation of the attack from
political parties in Turkey.
Corabatir
said all political groups should include in their election manifesto proposals
on how they planned to deal with the Syrian refugee situation, adding that
under international law Turkey could not unilaterally send Syrians back home.
“Political
parties, ahead of the elections, should lay down their alternative integration
proposals in their manifesto in order to convince voters and contribute to
peace rather than triggering more tensions,” he said.
Recent
reports have hinted at the prospect of a normalization of relations between
Turkey and Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, but Kadkoy noted that many
Syrians did not wish to return to their country while Assad remained in power.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2156836/middle-east
--------
US,
Western sanctions on Tehran, Damascus ‘most heinous kind of terrorism’: Syria
FM
06
September 2022
Syrian
Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has denounced as “immoral” the unilateral
coercive measures imposed by the United States and its Western allies on both
Syria and Iran, saying the sanctions represent the “most heinous kind of
terrorism.”
Mekdad
made the remarks in a meeting with Meysam Latifi, Iran’s Vice President and
Head of the Administrative and Recruitment Affairs Organization, in Damascus on
Monday.
The
top Syrian diplomat said the unilateral sanctions form real obstacles to
attempts aimed at achieving administrative reform and comprehensive
development.
“These
unilateral measures are immoral and are the most wicked kind of terrorism,” he
said.
Over
the past years, the US has been maintaining an illegal military presence on
Syrian soil, collaborating with anti-Damascus militants, and stealing the
country’s crude oil resources.
Washington
has slapped rounds of crippling sanctions on Damascus as well. Parts of the
restrictive measures have been imposed under the so-called Caesar Act, an
American piece of legislation that purports to target the Syrian government of
Bashar al-Assad government, despite sharp criticisms that the bans affect
civilians.
The
US also restored its sanctions against Tehran after unilaterally leaving the
2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, officially called the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), three years after its conclusion. The US,
under former president Donald Trump, launched what it called a maximum pressure
campaign against Iran at the time, targeting the Iranian nation with the
“toughest ever” sanctions.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, the Syrian foreign minister said Iran has managed to act wisely
and courageously in dealing with the nuclear issue. He expressed his country’s
determination to stand firmly by Tehran in this regard.
Mekdad
said Iran and Syria enjoy deep relations in political, economic, and
development fields, adding that Damascus would make more efforts to remove all
obstacles in the way of enhanced coordination and cooperation with Tehran.
The
Iranian vice president, for his part, said the two nations are keen to improve
their deep-rooted relations in all fields.
Latifi
also reiterated Iran’s unwavering support for Syria’s national sovereignty and
territorial integrity.
He
noted that the two countries are interested in taking necessary steps to
improve administrative cooperation and implement the agreements already signed
between them.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Saudi-led
coalition impounds another Yemen-bound fuel ship in violation of UN ceasefire
05
September 2022
The
Yemen Petroleum Company (YPC) says the Saudi-led coalition, in blatant
violation of a UN-sponsored ceasefire agreement to end the tight siege and
devastating military campaign against the country, has banned a Yemen-bound
ship carrying tons of fuel from docking at Hudaydah port.
Essam
al-Mutawakel, a spokesman for the YPC, said in a tweet on Monday that the
Saudi-led coalition seized the ship named Princess Halima, which was carrying
thousands of tons of diesel fuel, despite securing UN clearance.
Mutawakel
added that the Riyadh-led military alliance forced the vessel to sail towards
Jizan Port, which is Saudi Arabia's third largest, and impounded it there.
The
latest incident brings to ten the number of fuel ships impounded by the
coalition despite having undergone inspection, the senior Yemeni energy
official noted.
Mutawakel
stressed that the continued detention of Yemen-bound fuel ships will lead to
substantial fines over lengthy delays in offloading the shipments, and will
subsequently increase the suffering of the Yemeni nation.
The
YPC spokesman held the Saudi-led coalition of aggression and the United Nations
fully responsible for the adverse humanitarian and economic repercussions of
the ongoing blockade.
The
detention of the fuel ships and a blanket ban on their sailing towards the port
of Hudaydah have further exacerbated living conditions in Yemen, Mutawakel
pointed out.
Last
month, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said the
extended UN-sponsored truce, running from August 2 to October 2, included a
commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded
truce agreement as soon as possible.
Under
the terms of the truce, commercial flights have resumed from the Yemeni capital
of Sana’a to Jordan and Egypt, while oil tankers have been able to dock in the
lifeline port city of al-Hudaydah.
Moreover,
in line with the agreement, the coalition agreed to end its attacks on Yemeni
soil and end a simultaneous siege that it has been enforcing against Yemen.
Yemen
has, however, reported many violations of the truce by the Saudi-led forces.
Saudi
Arabia launched the devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in collaboration
with its Arab allies and with arms and logistics support from the US and other
Western states.
The
objective was to reinstall the Riyadh-friendly regime of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
and crush the Ansarullah resistance movement, which has been running state
affairs in the absence of a functional government in Yemen.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Iran
Seizes Huge Haul of Crystal Meth from Afghanistan
2022-September-5
IRICA’s
legal and supervisory deputy Farideh Zobeidi said on Sunday that the
500-kilogram haul of crystal meth, which is also known as ice, was seized
earlier in the day from a fuel tanker traveling through the Mahiroud crossing
on the eastern border with Afghanistan.
Zobeidi
stated the shipment was a sixth large haul of drug discovered by IRICA officers
in the calendar year starting late March.
“These
shipments were mostly ice and originated in Afghanistan,” she noted.
IRICA
had announced the seizure of 1,118 kg of crystal meth in the middle of August,
the biggest ever haul of the drug, again from a fuel tanker entering Iran via
Mahiroud.
The
other four large hauls of ice discovered this calendar year included shipments
weighing 580 kg, 400 kg, 153 kg and 61 kg, Zobeidi continued.
For
decades, Iran has been fighting a relentless battle against international drug
networks, but the war has cost it the loss of many lives and finances. Iranian
security forces confiscate tons of narcotics every year in ambush operations
against drugs traffickers.
The
war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan - the major supplier of the vast
majority of the world’s opium and heroin even during the 20-year occupation of
the county by US-led forces - has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 Iranian
police officers over the past four decades.
In
late June, the head of the Iranian anti-narcotics police said European
countries owe Tehran a lot for blocking the transit of drugs destined for
Europe, adding that the country confiscated over 1,200 tons of illicit
narcotics last year.
Majid
Karimi, however, slammed Europe for depriving the Islamic Republic of the
latest technology to fight drug trafficking in line with sanctions spearheaded
by the US, while they directly benefit from Iran’s anti-drugs measures.
“If
the Islamic Republic of Iran stops the fight (against drugs) for only a month,
the European countries will have to gather every gram of the huge hauls of
drugs from their streets,” he warned.
Iran’s
Interior Minister has also criticized the Western governments for their “poor
performance” in the fight against narcotrafficking.
Ahmad
Vahidi stated in late June the main culprits behind the promotion of drug use
are some Western intelligence agencies and Western politicians.
He
noted that the production of industrial drugs is a lucrative business for the
Western countries.
He
demanded that Western banks control the financial operations of
narcotrrafickers, saying it’s questionable that financial institutions in the
West turn a blind eye to the issue.
Vahidi
underlined Iran is now going it alone in the fight against narcotics but
instead of being thanked, it’s getting accused by its adversaries under various
pretexts.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010614000201/Iran-Seizes-Hge-Hal-f-Crysal-Meh-frm-Afghanisan
--------
Top
Aide: Iran Supports Extension of Ceasefire in Yemen
2022-September-5
Khaji
made the remarks in a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General’s
Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.
During
the meeting on Sunday, Khaji called for the rapid removal of obstacles to the
transfer of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, particularly the lifting of
the country's economic blockade.
Grundberg,
for his part, outlined the steps taken by the United Nations to advance peace
talks in Yemen, stressing the need for continued political dialogue aimed at
building more confidence between the parties.
Describing
the extension of the ceasefire as the best option available for achieving peace
goals, he invited the parties to be more flexible on this issue.
In
a relevant development on Sunday, Head of Iran's Foreign Policy Strategic
Council Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran is ready to fully support the UN mission
to keep the ceasefire in Yemen.
Head
of Iran's Foreign Policy Strategic Council, Kamal Kharrazi held a meeting with
the visiting Grundberg on Sunday.
In
the meeting, Kharrazi said that "Iran is ready to fully support the UN
mission to preserve the ceasefire in Yemen. The final result of these efforts
should be the start of Yemeni-Yemeni negotiations without foreign intervention,
the establishment of a political system based on people's votes, and the
reconstruction of Yemen."
The
Iranian diplomat added that "An important factor that makes the UN mission
successful in maintaining the ceasefire in Yemen is proving the neutrality of
that organization and putting pressure on America and Europe to refrain from
selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, because if arms sales to these
countries are not stopped, the conflict will continue."
He
described the people of Yemen as wise and resolved people who have in the past
seven years, despite all the sanctions and pressures, succeeded in producing
all kinds of weapons, including drones and missiles, in order to defend
themselves.
He
stressed that everyone is aware of the suffering of the Yemeni people, warning
that if the war resume, more destruction, killing and poverty will follow.
Kharazi
emphasized that UN neutrality in the mediating role to reach a solution for the
Yemen crisis plays an important role.
He
continued that the ruling Ansarullah movement in Yemen has a negative view of
the UN mission since former UN chief Ban Ki-moon removed the name of Saudi
Arabia from the list of killing Yemeni children regimes in exchange for
receiving financial aid from that regime, adding that UN should do more to
attract the cooperation of the Yemeni side.
He
stressed that the ceasefire should not be violated by the Saudi-led side
anymore and that the Yemeni National Salvation Government's conditions must be
paid attention to keep the ceasefire in place.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010614000309/Tp-Aide-Iran-Spprs-Exensin-f-Ceasefire-in-Yemen
--------
Palestinian
killed, 16 wounded in West Bank raid by Israeli army: Sources
06
September, 2022
A
Palestinian was killed and 16 wounded Tuesday when Israeli troops entered Jenin
in the occupied West Bank to carry out a home demolition, the Palestinian
health ministry said.
“The
outcome of the Israeli aggression on Jenin at dawn today: a 29-year-old martyr
and 16 wounded with bullets and shrapnel were admitted to hospitals,” the
ministry said.
Palestinian
official news agency Wafa identified the dead man as Mohammed Musa Mohammed
Sabaaneh, 29.
The
Israeli army said it entered Jenin overnight “in order to demolish the
residence” of the perpetrator of a deadly shooting attack in Tel Aviv in April.
Raad
Hazem killed three Israelis in a shooting spree in Tel Aviv's busy Dizengoff
Street nightlife district on April 7, before being shot dead after a massive
manhunt.
His
father Fathi Hazem and brother Hamam are both wanted by Israel.
The
Tel Aviv shooting was part of a wave of attacks on Israeli targets in which 19
people -- mostly Israeli civilians inside Israel -- were killed, mostly by
Palestinians. Three Israeli Arab attackers also died.
In
response, Israel launched near nightly raids on West Bank towns and cities. On
Monday, armed forces chief Lieutenant General Aviv Kohavi said “around 1,500
wanted people were arrested and hundreds of attacks prevented” in the
operations.
He
added that the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas was “unable” to control
certain areas of the West Bank.
Human
rights activists say Israel's policy of demolishing the homes of suspected
attackers amounts to collective punishment, as it can render non-combatants,
including children, homeless.
But
Israel says the practice is effective in deterring some Palestinians from
carrying out attacks.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
says has not received US response on nuclear proposal
05
September, 2022
Iran
has not received the United States’ official response to its last proposal on
the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani
said Monday.
“Iran
is waiting to receive the response from other parties, notably that of the American
government,” he said during his weekly news conference in Tehran.
His
remarks come after the United States last Thursday said Tehran’s latest
response on reviving the 2015 accord was “not constructive.”
“We
can confirm that we have received Iran’s response through the EU,” State
Department spokesman Vedant Patel said late Thursday in Washington.
“We
are studying it and will respond through the EU, but unfortunately it is not
constructive.”
Kanani
said on Monday that Tehran had “never received a response... saying that its
position was not constructive.”
He
characterized Iran’s response as “constructive, clear and legal.”
“Iran
is trying to cancel sanctions to economically benefit the Iranian nation and
this is one of its top priorities,” Kanani said.
The
European Union put forward on August 8 what it called a final text to restore
the 2015 nuclear accord, which was abandoned by former US president Donald
Trump in 2018.
Talks
to revive the 2015 accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have
been ongoing in Vienna since April 2021.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
Abu
Akleh’s family reject Israeli findings into journalist’ death
AbdelRaouf
Arnaout
05.09.2022
JERUSALEM
The
family of veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh on Monday rejected
Israeli findings into her killing and called for an investigation by the
International Criminal Court (ICC).
The
Israeli army said earlier Monday that the Palestinian journalist was likely
killed by "wrong" gunfire from an Israeli soldier, citing a
"high possibility" that the reporter was killed by "wrong
gunfire" from soldiers shooting at Palestinian gunmen during clashes.
In
a statement, Abu Akleh’s family accused the Israeli government and army “of
attempting to obscure the truth and avoid responsibility” for the reporter’s
death.
"We've
known for over four months now that an Israeli soldier shot and killed Shireen
as countless investigations conducted by CNN, the Associated Press, the New
York Times, Al Jazeera, Al-Haq, B'tselem, the United Nations, and others have
all concluded,” it said. “And yet, as expected, Israel has refused to take
responsibility for murdering Shireen.
"Our
family is not surprised by this outcome since it's obvious to anyone that
Israeli war criminals cannot investigate their own crimes. However, we remain
deeply hurt, frustrated, and disappointed,” the statement said.
“As
Israel is unable to bring itself to accountability, we demand a comprehensive
investigation by the ICC,” the family added.
Abu
Akleh was killed on May 11, and the Palestinian Health Ministry said she was
shot in the head while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city
of Jenin.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Yemen
minister calls on international community to condemn Houthi truce violations
September
06, 2022
DUBAI:
Yemen’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammer Al-Eryani called
on the international community, the UN and US envoys to Yemen to openly condemn
the Houthi militia’s actions against efforts to maintain the truce and end the
war in the country.
The
“Iran-allied Houthi militias have continued to maneuver, refusing to implement
its obligations under the UN-brokered truce’s article, including lifting the
aggressive besiege it has imposed upon millions of civilians in Taiz
governorate,” Al-Eryani said a statement carried by the Yemeni News Agency.
The
minister added that “Houthi militias’ continuous rejection to open the
passageways and ease the peoples movement between the governorates has proved
that the militia is fully responsible for blocking the efforts to maintain the
truce and bring peaceful solution to the crisis in Yemen.”
Al-Eryani
particularly called on the international community to take a decisive stance
toward the militia’s sabotage practices to get it fulfilling its obligations
under the truce.
The
first and foremost obligation shall be lifting a blow made on Taiz to put an
end to the civilians’ suffering since seven years, he said.
Yemeni
Parliament Speaker Sheikh Sultan Al-Barakani meanwhile discussed with EU
Commission head Gabriel Muneera Vinales latest developments in the
strife-ridden country.
Al-Barakani
said the Houthi attack on Taiz was meant to block the sole road that links the
city with Aden, and emphasized need to open roads and ports to Yemeni people.
He
pointed out that Houthi militia was not serious in lifting its siege on Taiz.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2157126/middle-east
--------
Israel
has multiple-nationality Palestinians in cross hairs: PA minister
05
September 2022
Palestinian
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has said Israel’s new “racist” restrictions on
the entry of foreigners into the occupied territories are meant to target the Palestinians
holding multiple nationalities.
Speaking
at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday in Ramallah, the seat of the
Palestinian Authority (PA), in the occupied West Bank, Shtayyeh said the
restrictions will in large part impact Americans and Europeans of Palestinian
origin, activists, volunteers, employees of foreign companies as well as
lecturers at Palestinian universities.
The
prime minister said Washington, the great supporter of Israel, should compel
the regime to retract the restrictions, which will be implemented next month.
The
Palestinian minister also called on the United Nations and its member states to
express opposition to Israel’s demolition of Palestinian-owned structures
across the occupied land.
According
to UN reports, Israel has razed 9,000 buildings since 2009. It has led to the
displacement of 13,000 Palestinians.
The
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied
Palestinian territory said in a recent report that Israel had demolished 55
Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank and East al-Quds in a time span
of over two weeks.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/09/05/688674/Palestinian-Prime-Minister-Shtayyeh
--------
North
America
US
calls for accountability after Israel admits soldier likely shot reporter
06
September, 2022
The
United States urged accountability from Israel Monday after the army admitted
one of its soldiers had likely shot Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu
Akleh after having mistaken her for a militant.
“We
welcome Israel's review of this tragic incident, and again underscore the
importance of accountability in this case, such as policies and procedures to
prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” State Department
spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
simulates bombing mission over Middle East amid Iran tensions
05 September,
2022
The
US said Monday that two long-distance warplanes flew across the Middle East as
part of a simulated international bombing exercise amid tense haggling on
restoring a nuclear deal with Iran.
Top
US general Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich said the “Bomber Task Force”
simulation on Sunday showed that the US and its allies can “rapidly inject
overwhelming combat power into the region on demand.”
“Threats
to the US and our partners will not go unanswered,” added Grynkewich, commander
of the combined forces air component of US Central Command, an area that covers
Northeast Africa, the Middle East and as far as Central and South Asia.
The
general did not name potential adversaries but the US is locked in intense
negotiations over reviving a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program.
The
US said last week that Iran's response to the latest proposed deal was “not
constructive”.
Iran's
foreign ministry said Monday that it had not received any official US reaction
to its demands.
European-brokered
talks on restoring the 2015 accord -- abandoned by the US in 2018 -- have been
ongoing in Vienna since April last year, but have repeatedly stalled.
The
European Union has said that a text put to Iran last month was the final one.
The
US air force has recently hit Iranian-backed militia in Syria while Grynkewich
said last month that the US was “committed to regional stability whether that
means deterring Iran, (or) countering violent extremist organisations.”
A
Central Command statement said fighter jets from Britain, Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia escorted the two B-52H Stratofortresses from the US Global Strike
Command on Sunday.
In
the fourth exercise of its kind this year, the planes started at the Fairford
air base in England and flew above the eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula
and Red Sea “before departing the region”, the statement said.
US
ground and naval units as well as 16 other nations, including Canada, provided
logistical support, the US military said. The US army “simulated firepower from
the ground”.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
flies nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over Middle East amid tensions with Iran
05
September 2022
The
US military said it has flown two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Middle
East, the latest such simulated bombing exercises in the region, even as
diplomatic efforts are ongoing to restore a nuclear deal with Iran that
Washington walked away from four years ago.
The
long-distance bombers took off from Britain’s Royal Air Force base at Fairford,
England, and flew over the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula and the
Red Sea on Sunday, accompanied by Kuwaiti and Saudi fighter jets before
departing the region.
The
“Bomber Task Force” simulation meant to send the message that the United States
and its allies can “rapidly inject overwhelming combat power into the region on
demand,” Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich said.
The
top US commander for the Middle East, General Frank McKenzie, also said in a
statement that sending “strategic bombers halfway across the world in a nonstop
mission and to rapidly integrate them with multiple regional partners
demonstrates our close working relationships and our shared commitment to
regional security and stability.”
“We
do not seek conflict,” McKenzie said, “but we must remain postured and
committed to respond to any contingency or in opposition to any aggression.”
Iran
has frequently warned that US military activities in the region are a source of
tensions and insecurity, warning that the country’s Armed Forces will respond
resolutely to any aggression.
Israeli
warplanes also took part in the simulated bombing mission, though their
presence was omitted from the US Air Force release, according to media reports.
The
Israeli military said that several of its fighter jets joined the exercise in
the Persian Gulf, describing cooperation with the US military as critical to
“maintaining aerial security in Israel and the Middle East."
The
US military has frequently dispatched B-52 bombers to the Middle East as
tensions simmer between the United States and Iran. The last flyover drill of
this kind took place in June.
Some
US allies in the Middle East are anxious as Washington and Tehran, through
European intermediaries, have been attempting to narrow their differences to
revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name of the
2015 nuclear deal.
A
dwindling US military presence, characterized by troop cuts and planned departure
of the Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf, has further
fueled their fears that the United States is abandoning the region.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Europe
National
Crime Agency Officer Unfairly Sacked After Offensive Muslim Remarks
September
5, 2022
A
National Crime Agency (NCA) officer who made offensive remarks about Muslims
was unfairly sacked, an employment tribunal has found.
Abbey
Brooke made the comments at a training session led by Abrar Javid, a Muslim
community leader in Rotherham.
The
tribunal said the intelligence officer's conduct had contributed to her
dismissal.
But
it found the dismissal was unfair due to procedural failures during the NCA
disciplinary process.
Ms
Brooke was awarded over £6,500 in compensation.
Details
of the employment tribunal heard in Leeds in December 2021 are now reportable
for the first time after BBC News successfully argued that a number of
reporting restrictions imposed by the court should be lifted.
The
tribunal heard that in 2020 the NCA summarily sacked Ms Brooke for making the
remarks during a training session in Sheffield which was examining best
practice for arresting suspects and searching homes where Muslim women were
present.
The
NCA found that Ms Brooke said words to the effect: "If I was in their
country I wouldn't expect an English-speaking Christian officer to be on the
search. In their country they wouldn't expect this so why should they expect it
here?
She
had also used the phrase: "They can always go home".
The
tribunal did not rule on whether she had made those particular remarks, which
she denied, but did find she had made comments which others had found racially
offensive.
The
training session had been led by Mr Javid.
In
evidence to the tribunal, Ms Brookes claimed she had believed Mr Javid was a
suspect in Operation Stovewood - the NCA's investigation into the historical
sexual abuse of more than 1,000 young female victims in Rotherham.
The
NCA, however, confirmed to the tribunal that Mr Javid is not and has never been
a Stovewood suspect.
Ms
Brooke went on to claim the NCA had sacked her after she had raised concerns
about Mr Javid. The tribunal held, however, that the reason for her dismissal
was the conduct alleged against her.
The
tribunal accepted that Ms Brooke's belief that Mr Javid had been a suspect was
wrong.
Concerns
raised
Two
other former NCA officers, who appeared as witnesses for Ms Brooke, said they
too had raised concerns with senior management about the appointment of Mr
Javid to deliver training on the basis that an associate of his had been a
suspect in Operation Stovewood.
In
evidence, former NCA officer Derek Hatton stated that, in his opinion, allowing
Mr Javid to conduct training sessions inside a police building might have
allowed Mr Javid to gather information which could have been passed to
individuals being investigated by Operation Stovewood.
A
third former NCA officer, Peter Sayer, stated that Mr Javid had been present as
officers from the crime agency arrested a suspect of Operation Stovewood.
When
approached by the BBC News about the statements made at the tribunal, Mr Javid
declined to comment.
In
written evidence senior officers from the NCA said Mr Javid was the
"community engagement lead" for Stovewood.
NCA
Regional Head Robert Burgess told the tribunal he had been advised that Mr
Javid "is not, nor has ever been, a suspect within Operation Stovewood and
as such, has been someone that my predecessor, and then subsequently I, have
spoken to in order to ensure ongoing community engagement".
In
April 2022, Employment Judge Olivia-Faith Dobbie ruled that Ms Brooke had been
unfairly dismissed by the NCA.
She
stated the crime agency had acted reasonably in dismissing Ms Brooke in the
"belief that the claimant (Ms Brooke) had made the comments alleged (or
similar such comments)".
However,
because the internal disciplinary process took a total of 16 months to complete
and the NCA had lost vital evidence as part of the process, the dismissal of Ms
Brooke was unfair.
'Wholly
inappropriate'
A
spokesman for the NCA said: "The NCA expects the highest standards of
conduct and integrity from all its officers.
"This
is especially true for those working on a sensitive investigation like
Operation Stovewood, where maintaining the trust and confidence of the
community is vital to our success.
"Where
those high standards are not met we reserve the right to take action swiftly.
"In
this case it was our view that the attitudes shown were wholly inappropriate
for a law enforcement officer, and the tribunal agreed that our decision to
dismiss the individual concerned was reasonable.
Source:
BBC
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62754098
--------
Türkiye
urges Greece to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim clerics
Merve
Gül Aydoğan Ağlarcı
06.09.2022
Türkiye
on Monday again urged Greece to respect the rights of the Turkish minority in
its Western Thrace region and to stop denying recognition to elected Muslim
clerics (muftis).
Talking
to Twitter, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Türkiye expects Greece to
respect the right of the Turkish minority to elect their religious leaders,
"which is guaranteed by international agreements, especially the Lausanne
Peace Treaty, and to end its pressures in this regard."
In
a statement, the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, on behalf of
the Turkish minority, stressed that it will stand by its rights to elect its
religious leader and protect its elected muftis.
The
statement also called on minorities to fill all mosques this Friday to show
solidarity and to protect their identity, religion, muftis, and usurped rights.
Greece's
Western Thrace region – in the country’s northeast, near the Turkish border –
is home to a substantial, long-established Muslim Turkish minority numbering
around 150,000.
The
rights of the Turks of Western Thrace were guaranteed under the 1923 Treaty of
Lausanne, but since then the situation has steadily deteriorated.
After
a Greek junta came to power in 1967, the Turks of Western Thrace started to
face harsher persecution and rights abuses by the Greek state, often in blatant
violation of European court rulings.
The
Turkish minority in Greece continues to face problems exercising its collective
and civil rights and education rights, including Greek authorities banning the
word “Turkish” in the names of associations, shuttering Turkish schools, and
trying to block the Turkish community from electing its muftis.
In
addition to violating longstanding treaties, these policies are also often in
blatant violation of European Court of Human Rights rulings.
-
Elected muftis in Greece
In
Western Thrace, muftis have legal jurisdiction to decide on family and
inheritance matters for the local Turkish Muslim community.
The
issue of mufti elections has been an issue since 1991.
The
election of muftis by Muslims in Greece was regulated in the 1913 Treaty of
Athens with the Ottoman Empire and was later included in Greek law.
However,
Greece annulled this law in 1991 and started appointing muftis itself.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Trial
opens in French court over 2016 terror attacks in Nice
Busra
Nur Cakmak
06.09.2022
A
trial opened in a French court on Monday over a July 2016 attack in the
Mediterranean city of Nice which left 86 people dead.
On
July 14, 2016, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel plowed a 19-ton truck at a crowd
gathered on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, leaving 86 people dead and more
than 450 injured. The crowd was attending Bastille Day celebrations.
Three
of the suspects are being tried for terrorism charges and criminal association
and five for having provided weapons to the assailant, according to BFMTV news.
The
attack was later claimed by the Daesh/ISIS terror group. But French
investigators could not find any evidence linking the attacker, who had a
history of domestic violence and minor offenses, to Daesh/ISIS.
French
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also shared a message of support with the
victims of the attack on Twitter.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/trial-opens-in-french-court-over-2016-terror-attacks-in-nice/2677635
--------
Top
Turkish diplomat calls Macron's remarks in Algeria 'unfortunate'
Merve
Gül Aydoğan Ağlarcı
05.09.2022
French
President Emmanuel Macron's recent remarks in Algeria were
"unfortunate," as Türkiye does not see any country as a competitor in
Africa or in other places, the Turkish foreign minister said on Monday.
"Türkiye
comes among the top countries that countries trust. Thus it is not right to see
Türkiye as a competitor," Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference
in the capital Ankara with Catherine Colonna, his visiting French counterpart.
On
a three-day visit last week to France’s former colony Algeria, Macron claimed
that networks originating from Russia, China, and Türkiye are carrying out
"anti-French propaganda" in Africa.
Noting
that Türkiye sees the African continent as an equal partner, Cavusoglu said:
"If France is finding it difficult to go back to some African countries,
we can help France, because Türkiye is a trustworthy partner."
On
topics of special concern to Türkiye, Cavusoglu said, "We believe that
France will not give up on common sense," decrying the rise in xenophobia
and racism in Europe and stressing that it is in both countries’ best interests
to continue fighting Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, extremism, and xenophobia.
Cavusoglu
also said his country expects necessary measures to be taken for the security
of mosques in France as well as Turkish and Muslim community groups there.
Deep
bilateral ties
Saying
that he hopes the Turkish community living in France adapts to French society
as well as possible while maintaining their ties with Türkiye, Cavusoglu added
that it is important for France to take steps to facilitate and encourage them.
Saying
that Türkiye and France have deep political, economic, and cultural ties,
Cavusoglu said they have agreed to continue cooperation against regional and
global challenges.
"It
is clear that we do not agree with France on everything,” he added. “We may not
agree on everything, but that does not prevent us from having a dialogue and
working together. We have also seen that we reduced our differences of opinion
through dialogue."
"It
is healthier to talk to each other than to talk about each other in different
settings," he added.
For
her part, Colonna congratulated her Turkish counterpart on Ankara's “important
success” in unblocking Ukraine grain shipments this July.
Haling
the Turkish-brokered Istanbul grain deal, she said a different energy deal
under the UN could be reached amid the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war.
Colonna
added: “Let's increase the number of topics we agree on and discuss them even
if we have differences of opinion from time to time."
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
EU
foreign policy chief ‘less confident’ about closing Iran nuclear talks
Agnes
Szucs
05.09.2022
BRUSSELS
EU
foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday he is “less confident” about
the success of a compromise for reviving the Iranian nuclear deal.
Borrell
told reporters that the positive outcome of the EU-mediated negotiations
between Iran and the US on reactivating the nuclear deal is “in danger” and
that the parties won’t be able to close the deal quickly.
He
explained that the positions “diverge” based on the reactions he recently
received, which he called “very worrisome.”
“I
am less confident today than 28 hours before about the conversions of the
negotiation process and about the prospect of closing the deal," he
stated.
After
a five-month break, negotiations resumed in the Austrian capital Vienna on Aug.
5 to revive the Iran nuclear by finding a compromise between Washington and
Tehran.
As
coordinator of the deal, Borrell presented a proposal on lifting US sanctions
and ensuring Iran’s compliance with nuclear requirements.
As
he told reporters, it was “the most balanced texts I can produce, taking into
account all points of view.”
His
draft received “positive feedback from our partners” but the positions didn’t
converge during indirect talks through the EU coordinator, he added.
The
Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2015 by Iran, the US, China, Russia, France,
the UK, Germany, and the EU.
Under
the agreement, Tehran committed to limit its nuclear activity to civilian
purposes and in return, world powers agreed to drop their economic sanctions on
Iran.
Then-President
Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed
sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Africa
Irresponsible
leaders causing rift between Christians, Muslims in Nigeria – Bishop Kukah
September
5, 2022
By
Seun Opejobi
The
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah has blamed
Nigeria’s problem on irresponsible leaders.
Bishop
Kukah alleged that irresponsible leaders were using religion as a tool to
divide Nigerians.
He
pointed out that there was no rift between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.
Featuring
on TVC on Monday, the clergyman said irresponsible leaders use religion to
oppress Nigerians.
“There
is a problem between irresponsible leaders who don’t want to govern properly;
irresponsible Christian religious leaders who have now seen religion as a tool
of oppression instead of a tool for liberation.
“This
has been the thrust of my argument because these are two areas of study. With
all sense of modesty, I have spent a good part of my life studying theology and
studying religion and society.”
Kukah
accused the government of failing to establish a system that prioritises the
need of Nigerians.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Kenyan
president gives assurances of smooth transition of power after apex court
ruling
Andrew
Wasike
06.09.2022
NAIROBI,
Kenya
In
his first address to the nation since the Aug. 9 elections, outgoing Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday said he was committed to upholding the law
and executing a Supreme Court ruling validating the election of his deputy,
William Ruto.
However,
he did not issue any congratulatory message to Deputy President Ruto, who is
now set to take over as the country’s new leader.
In
a unanimous verdict, Kenya’s top court on Monday upheld Rutos’s electoral
victory, dismissing nine petitions seeking to nullify the result.
“In
keeping to the pledge that I made to uphold the rule of law when I took the
oath of office, I commit to executing the orders of this court to the letter,”
Kenyatta said.
He
said he intends to oversee a smooth transition of power and that all the
necessary orders to facilitate this process have been issued.
Kenyatta
thanked Kenyans for holding a peaceful election.
“I
want to wish well all who have won as they guide our country into the future
and I thank you all for the opportunity to serve,” the Kenyan leader said,
without any mention of the president-elect’s name.
President-elect
Ruto welcomed the top court’s ruling upholding his victory.
“The
court returned its verdict and I welcome it with tremendous humility. I thank
the judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court for staying strong and remaining
the shining beacon of constitutionalism and the rule of law even in the most
daunting of circumstances,” he said.
“I
extend a hand of brotherhood to all my competitors and all their supporters. We
are not enemies, we are Kenyans,” Ruto said at the press conference at his
residence in Karen, Nairobi.
He
said that at the top of his agenda in his first 100 days in office will be to
fight graft.
Ruto
said that for months he has not spoken to his boss, President Kenyatta, who
openly supported opposition leader Raila Odinga but added: “Shortly I will be
making a call to him so that we can have a conversation on the process of
transition.”
“We
will respect our President Uhuru Kenyatta in his retirement. We will give him
the dignity as the former head of state deserves. He will have his place in the
history of Kenya.”
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Kenya’s
top court upholds Ruto's victory in Aug. 9 presidential election
Andrew
Wasike
05.09.2022
NAIROBI,
Kenya
In
a unanimous verdict, Kenya’s top court on Monday upheld William Ruto's win in
the Aug. 9 presidential election, dismissing nine petitions seeking to nullify
the result.
His
rival, 77-year-old Raila Odinga, had alleged massive fraud in the last month's
election, calling them "flawed" and a "major setback" to
democracy in the East African country.
Leading
a 7-member judge, Chief Justice Martha Koome said Ruto was properly elected
president, who received 7.18 million votes, or 50.49% of the total, in the
closely fought election. Odinga, meanwhile, got 48.85% or over 6.94 million
votes.
“The
court found that the illegalities and irregularities pointed out by the
petitioners were not of such magnitude as to affect the final result of the
presidential election,” Koome said. “We declare the election of 1st respondent
[William Ruto] as president-elect to be valid under Article 140(3) of the Constitution."
The
court said it is not convinced that the technology used by the Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the country’s electoral commission, did
not meet legal standards as claimed by the petitioners.
There
was no credible evidence that electoral forms were accessed and tempered with
before being uploaded to the servers of the electoral commission, the top court
said.
The
chief justice said a full judgment would be issued in three weeks' time.
Five-time
presidential candidate Odinga, who had filed legal challenges in 2013 and 2017
as well, said he will respect the court's decision.
"We
have always stood for the rule of law and the Constitution. In this regard, we
respect the opinion of the court although we vehemently disagree with their decision,”
Odinga said in a statement.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UN
humanitarian chief: Somalia on brink of famine for second time in over a decade
05
September 2022
The
United Nations warned Monday that Somalia was on the brink of famine for the
second time in just over a decade, and that time was running out to save lives
in the drought-stricken country.
"Famine
is at the door and we are receiving a final warning," visiting UN
humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told a press conference in the Somali
capital Mogadishu.
"The
unprecedented failure of four consecutive rainy seasons, decades of conflict,
mass displacement, severe economic issues are pushing many people to... the
brink of famine," he added.
Millions
of people are at risk of starvation across the Horn of Africa, which is in the
grip of the worst drought in four decades after four failed rainy seasons wiped
out livestock and crops.
There
are "concrete indications" that famine will strike Baidoa and
Burhakaba in the Bay region of south-central Somalia between October and
December, said Griffiths, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
"I've
been shocked to my core these past few days by the level of pain and suffering
we see so many Somalis enduring," he said, adding, "We are in the
last moment of the 11th hour to save lives."
Humanitarian
agencies have been ringing alarm bells for months and say the situation across
the Horn of Africa -- including Kenya and Ethiopia -- is likely to deteriorate
with a likely fifth failed rainy season in the offing.
In
Somalia alone, about 7.8 million people or half the population face crisis
hunger levels, including about 213,000 in danger of famine, UN agencies say.
Around
one million have fled their homes on a desperate quest for food and water.
'World
must act now'
Griffiths
said the situation was worse than during Somalia's last famine in 2011 when
260,000 people died, more than half of them children under the age of six.
He
described scenes of heart-rending suffering during a visit to Baidoa,
describing it as the epicenter of the crisis where he saw "children so
malnourished they could barely speak" or cry.
Around
1.5 million children across the largely pastoral country were at risk of acute
malnutrition by October if nothing changed, he warned.
The
conflict-wracked nation is considered one of the most vulnerable to climate
change but is particularly ill-equipped to cope with the crisis.
A
long-running political crisis has diverted attention away from the drought, but
new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud used his inauguration speech in June to
appeal for international help to stave off disaster.
In
recent years, increasingly extreme droughts and floods have added to the
devastation caused by a locust invasion and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The
UN's World Food Program (WFP) last month said the number of people facing
hunger across the Horn had increased to 22 million.
"Our
worst fears for Somalia are now a reality: Famine is imminent if funds do not
arrive immediately," WFP executive director David Beasley said on Twitter
Monday.
"The
world MUST act now - this is a global call to action."
A
joint report by UN and other humanitarian agencies published Monday said famine
conditions in Somalia, facing its fifth straight failed rainy season in the
final months of this year, "are likely to last until at least March
2023."
The
UN said at the end of August it had received 67 percent of its $1.5 billion aid
target for Somalia.
Funds
were initially slow in coming, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine among other
crises drawing attention from the disaster in the Horn.
The
war has also sent global food and fuel prices soaring, making aid delivery more
expensive.
In
June, British charity Save the Children had issued an alert that the
international community was "sleepwalking towards another catastrophic
famine" in Somalia.
Last
month, OCHA said about 2.3 million children were at risk of "violence,
exploitation, abuse, neglect, and death from severe acute malnutrition"
across the country.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/09/05/688686/UN-Somalia-famine-decade
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/girls-pakistan-behead-lal-masjid-prophet/d/127891
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism