Zakir Naik Who Said 'All Muslims Should be Terrorists' May be Deported from Oman
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 March 2023
Zakir Naik, a radical
Islamist preacher
-----
• Kelantan Islamic Law Enforcers Haul Up Seven Men For
Wearing Shorts Baring Thighs Not Covering Their “Aurat”
• Iran’s Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’ Played At White House
Nowruz Celebration
• Bangladeshi, Indonesian Envoys Share Tips For
‘Robust’ Family Planning
• Human Rights Watch Pakistan Calls For End To ‘Over
The Top’ Use Of Terror Charges Against Opposition Protesters
Arab World
• Why Daesh is still not a spent force despite facing
terminal decline in Iraq
• Saudi-Iranian diplomatic deal could boost support
for the Palestinian cause
• Advisor to Iran’s supreme leader meets with Syria’s
Assad
• Lebanon to sell unlimited US dollars to prop up
collapsing pound
• UAE pardons more than 1,000 prisoners ahead of
Ramadan
• King Salman sends best wishes for Ramadan to Saudi
citizens and all Muslims
• GCC, Indian officials hold political dialogue
meeting
--------
Southeast Asia
• Malaysian Body Backs Muslim Visits To Other Worship
Sites
• ‘Immoral’ Thai Hunk Waiters At KL Club During
Ramadan Raise Ire Of Malaysia Politicians
• Education minister: School canteens must remain open
during Ramadan even if fewer than 10pc students are non-Muslim
• Saifuddin Nasution: Be mindful of Muslim
sensitivities when organising events
• Hannah Yeoh contributes RM129,000 from MP allocations
to suraus, mosques in Segambut ahead of Ramadan
• Zahid announces formation of PM-led 'Madani Council'
which will support Islamic groups, scholars
--------
North America
• US ‘Extremely Troubled’ By Israeli Parliament Vote
To Legitimize Settlements
• More US sanctions against Iran for drone and weapons
programs
• US says it 'has nothing' to do with helicopters that
crashed with PKK terrorists onboard
• Racial Discrimination Day: How Turkish Embassy’s
‘Jazz Diplomacy’ helped battle racism in US
• US renews opposition to Assad normalization after
UAE trip
• US report on human rights in Palestinian territories
reflects ‘positive change,’ activists say
--------
South Asia
• Banning women’s education a very serious issue for
Afghanistan, says former Prez Karzai
• Security Forces Destroyed Important ISIS Hideout in
Kabul: Mujahid
• EU condemns large-scale, gender-based discrimination
by Taliban in Afghanistan
• Afghan Taliban raid in Kabul kills 3 Islamic State
members
• Strong earthquake has people fleeing homes in
Afghanistan, Pakistan
--------
Pakistan
• Imran Khan Inspired Me To Convert To Islam, Says
Former MTV Presenter Kristiane Backer
• Afghan Taliban Delegation Quietly Visits Pakistan to
Discuss TTP Issue: Report
• Zakat and Ushr Department Speakers Stress
Implementing Islamic Philosophy of Zakat
• At least 9 dead as powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake
jolts Pakistan
• Imran Khan gets protective bail in 2 terrorism cases
• ISI brigadier killed in terror attack in South
Waziristan
• Govt targets youth in election year with Rs150bn
package
• 7.8m Families In Sindh To Get Rs2,000 Each For
Purchase Of Flour In Ramazan
--------
India
• Post-Partition India A ‘Hindu Rashtra’, Says BJP
General Secretary Vijayvargiya
• UP Power Corporation SDO Sacked For Calling
International Terrorist Osama Bin Laden ‘Best Engineer’
• Why Waqf Board Not Taking Action Against Illegal
Occupants, Including Government And Religious Institutions Of Mosques: Haryana
Congress MLA
• PDA pastes show-cause notice on house of Guddu Muslim
in UP
• NIA chargesheet against Hizbul OGW in J&K terror
conspiracy case
• 6.6 magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan, strong
tremors felt across Delhi-NCR
• Turkey & Kuwait seek more than doubling of
flying rights to India
• Ramzan in India: Moon sighting committee to meet
today in Hyderabad
--------
Europe
• Match Officials Asked To Pause Evening Matches For
Muslim Players Across Premier League And EFL To Break Fast
• UK inquiry into allegations of SAS extra-judicial
killings of Afghans to begin
• France calls Israeli minister's remarks denying
existence of Palestinians 'irresponsible'
• Bosnian students send toys to earthquake victims in
Türkiye, Syria
• Socioeconomically Weak Muslims, Immigrants, Refugees
Most Prone To Becoming Targets Of Islamophobia In Denmark: Expert
--------
Mideast
• Palestinian Prisoners Begin Major Hunger Strike At
Israeli Jails
• Iran Vows to Take Tit-for-Tat Action Against EU, UK
Fresh Round of Sanctions
• President Rayeesi Offers Greetings to
Nowruz-Celebrating Nations
• Iran's Leader Names New Year as Year of
"Inflation Control, Growth in Production"
• Iran Raps Biden's Nowruz Message
• Iran's UN Envoy Urges Human Rights Council to Stop
Political Attitude
• Ten soldiers killed in renewed fighting in Yemen
despite peace efforts: Sources
• Türkiye, Iraq reaffirm commitment to fight all forms
of terrorism
• Israel announces restrictions on Palestinian entry
to Al-Aqsa during Ramadan
--------
Africa
• Nigerian Opposition Leader Petitions Court Over
Election Results
• Jordan says Israel rejects ‘racist’ comments by
minister
• Tunisia rejects ‘overblown’ EU warnings of collapse
• As Ramadan arrives, inflation assails North African
nations
• Claiming secularity, Kalu opposes Muslim Senate
presidency
• Jordan deputy PM discusses efforts to solve Syria
crisis with UN envoy
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/zakir-naik-muslims-terrorists-oman/d/129376
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Zakir Naik Who Said 'All Muslims Should be Terrorists' May be Deported from Oman
Zakir Naik, a radical
Islamist preacher
-----
MARCH 21, 2023
Zakir Naik, a radical Islamist preacher, is likely to
be deported from Oman, sources told News18. Indian intelligence agencies are
already in contact with Oman officials in order to apprehend Naik on his March
23 visit.
Naik has been invited to Oman to give two lectures.
His first lecture, “The Quran as a World Need," is set for the first day
of Ramadan, March 23, by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs of Oman.
The second lecture, “Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] A Kindness to Humankind," is
slated for March 25 evening at Sultan Qaboos University. Read the full report
here
Amid the development, take a look at who Zakir Naik
and why he ran into trouble with Indian authorities:
WHY IS NAIK BANNED IN INDIA
As per reports, that India banned Naik’s Islamic
Research Foundation (IRF) in the latter half of 2016 on the basis that he had
incited and supported the group’s members in their efforts to sow enmity,
hostility, and other unfavourable feelings among diverse religious communities
and groups. Naik migrated to Malaysia after departing from India.
A PTI report in 2018 stated that Malaysia had ruled
out deporting Naik unless he broke Malaysian laws. Naik holds permanent
residency status in the country.
Then, in March 2022, the Islamic IRF was ruled an
unlawful association and consequently banned for five years by the Union Home
Ministry. According to the MHA notification, IRF founder Zakir Naik’s talks
were objectionable since he had been praising known terrorists.
When Theresa May was home secretary in the UK, she
also banned him after he praised Osama bin Laden and declared that “all Muslims
should be terrorists."
MHA NOTIFICATION
An MHA notification (2022) said that the IRF founder
has also advocated for the forced conversion of youth to Islam, supported
suicide bombings, and published offensive comments that are insulting to other
religions and against Hindus, Hindu Gods, and other religions.
The notification continued, “Naik has further inspired
Muslim youth and terrorists in India and abroad to execute terrorist crimes."
Source: News18
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.news18.com/explainers/zakir-naik-deported-oman-all-about-islamist-preacher-7346623.html
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Kelantan Islamic Law Enforcers Haul Up Seven Men For
Wearing Shorts Baring Thighs Not Covering Their “Aurat”
Covering the 'Aurat' is part
of the Islamic modesty concept. — File picture by Sayuti Zainudin
------
By Keertan Ayamany
22 Mar 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — Seven men who wore shorts
exposing their thighs were hauled up by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs
Department (Jaheik) for not covering their “aurat” during a raid on a shop in
Tanah Merah suspected of selling shisha last Friday.
Jaheik enforcement division deputy director Mohd
Fadzuli Mohd Zain said the men whose ages were reported to range from their
teens to their 20s were let off with warnings and ordered to attend a counselling
session, news portal Malaysiakini reported last night.
"As a result of the operation, seven men who were
wearing shorts and exposing their aurat were given warning notices under
Section 23 and could be punished according to the Syariah Criminal Code (I)
Enactment 2019, which carries a fine of up to RM1,000 or six months'
imprisonment,” Mohd Fadzuli was quoted as saying.
Covering the “aurat” is part of the Islamic modesty
concept. For men, the areas of the body deemed a must to be covered are from
the navel to the knees while women are compelled to cover every part of their
bodies except for their hands and face.
The raid was jointly conducted by Jahiek, the Tanah
Merah District Council, the Tanah Merah District Health Office, and the
National Anti-Drug Agency, according to the news portal.
The operation also reportedly saw six shisha apparatus
seized, as well as 16 compounds issued under the Control of Tobacco Product
Regulations 2004 and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, amounting to RM3,400.
Source: Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Iran’s Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’ Played At White House
Nowruz Celebration
US President Congratulates for Nowruz
21 March ,2023
Iran’s protest anthem “Baraye” played at a White House
celebration Monday marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
A video of Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour performing
the massively popular song played in the ornate East Room just before President
Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden entered to host the Nowruz event.
In his speech to a cheering audience including many
Iranian-Americans, Biden said the traditional New Year inspired “hope for women
of Iran who are fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
“Baraye” instantly became associated with the
political upheaval in Iran sparked by the September 16 death, while in custody,
of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old ethnic Kurd had been arrested for an alleged
breach of strict Islamic dress rules for women.
Hajipour was detained after his song went viral and
later freed on bail. He is not allowed to leave Iran.
In February, Jill Biden presented a special Grammy for
Best Song for Social Change, calling “Baraye” a “powerful and poetic call for
freedom and women’s rights.”
Source: Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Bangladeshi, Indonesian Envoys Share Tips For ‘Robust’
Family Planning
Representative Image
----
Ikram Junaidi
March 22, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Envoys of Indonesia and Bangladesh said
population management was central to their agenda for human development, as
they shared how the Muslim-majority states managed to control the fertility
rate through non-partisan political commitment and welfare packages.
“Bangladesh invested in a robust family planning
programme and women’s empowerment through employment and education, which
helped the country achieve the majority of its development goals and improve
its social indices and economic benchmarks, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to
Pakistan Md. Ruhul said while speaking at the 8th meeting of the Parliamentary
Forum on Population organised by the Population Council with the support of the
UN.
The envoy said, “Because of initiatives like subsidies
for entrepreneurship, specific economic zones for women, and awards for
continuing their education, there are currently six million women who work in
the clothing business. Bangladesh was able to accomplish its population
management goals due to a strong, nonpartisan political commitment.”
The high commissioner said that the government ensured
that family planning services were delivered to people’s doorsteps, together
with sanitation, mother and child healthcare, and other components of a
comprehensive health package.
He said that intense media efforts and the engagement
of clerics played a major role in lowering the nation’s overall fertility rate
and bringing it down to sustainable levels.
Speaking at the event, Indonesia’s Ambassador to
Pakistan Adam Mulawarman Tugio stated, “Family planning has long been a top
priority of the Indonesian government’s human development programme as the
fourth most populous country in the world.”
“From 5.41 children per woman in 1971 to 2.27 children
per woman in 2020, Indonesia has seen a dramatic drop in fertility. The total
fertility rate decreased by 54pc in 2000 from 5.6 to 2.6 births per woman...
The next goal is to stabilise population growth by 2025 by achieving a
fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman.”
He emphasised the importance of committed family
planning institutions, which improved information and access and promoted the
National Family Planning Program to all segments of society, as well as the
continued political resolve of succeeding governments.
In her welcome remarks, Dr Zeba Sathar, country
director for the Population Council stated, “We need to follow in the footsteps
of Muslim countries and learn how Indonesia and Bangladesh achieved their
development targets.”
“Legislators played a key role in the investment of
human development goals in these countries which are similar to Pakistan as far
socio-cultural and religious background is concerned,” she added.
The general secretary of the forum, Senator Mushahid
Hussain Sayed claimed that the only way to address economic issues was to bring
down the population growth rate.
The parliamentarians also stressed the need for the
present financial distribution formula, NFC, to be revised so that it is no
longer linked to population numbers and is instead focused on the achievement
of human development goals. In order to change the NFC distribution formula,
they underlined the importance of conducting a national debate on NFC with the
participation of the leaders of all political parties, the prime minister,
chief ministers, and key ministers.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Human Rights Watch Pakistan Calls For End To ‘Over The
Top’ Use Of Terror Charges Against Opposition Protesters
Pakistani journalists and
civil society activists take part in a demonstration called by the journalists’
union to condemn attacks on journalists, in Islamabad, Pakistan, May 28, 2021.
© 2021 AP Photo/Anjum Naveed
-----
March 22, 2023
KARACHI: Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday expressed
concerns over the recent political violence taking place in Pakistan and asked
the government to de-escalate the situation and minimise ‘overbroad
anti-terrorism provisions’ against opposition protesters.
In a statement, HRW termed the current political situation
‘very worrying’ and said that police in Pakistan have used abusive measures
against supporters of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
“The use of Pakistan’s vague and overbroad
anti-terrorism provisions against opposition protesters is very worrying,” said
Patricia Gossman, Associate Asia Director at HRW.
She said if the PTI supporters had taken the law into
their own hands and their actions resulted in violence, they should be charged
under the appropriate laws.
HRW noted that police have used abusive measures in
the escalating the confrontation between wit Mr Khan’s supporters.
It also added that the protesters have a
responsibility to be peaceful and respect the country’s laws.
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1743536/hrw-calls-for-end-to-over-the-top-use-of-terror-charges
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Arab World
Why
Daesh is still not a spent force despite facing terminal decline in Iraq
PAUL
IDDON
March
22, 2023
IRBIL,
KURDISTAN: Having once controlled roughly a third of the country at the height
of its power, including several major cities and oilfields, there are now
growing signs that what remains of the Daesh terrorist organization in Iraq is
in terminal decline.
Unable
to attract new recruits to shore up its dwindling numbers, nor able to mount
significant offensive operations, the group that had in 2014 proclaimed its own
“caliphate” today looks like a spent force — in Iraq at least.
On
March 12, Iraqi General Qais Al-Mohamadawi revealed that Daesh has about 500
active militants remaining in the country. However, he stressed that they are
confined to remote desert areas and mountains and have lost their “ability to
attract new recruits.”
The
following day, the US-led coalition tweeted that Daesh networks “remain under
intense pressure,” with the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga
having “removed from the battlefield at least 55” of the militants in February
alone.
Joel
Wing, author of the “Musings on Iraq” blog and who tracks security incidents in
Iraq attributed to Daesh, recently wrote that recorded incidents from the start
of March are a reminder that Daesh is in its “death throes in Iraq” and
“remains barely active in the country.”
Only
three incidents were attributed to Daesh in the first week of March, down from
eight in the last week of February. Furthermore, since the start of 2023, eight
out of nine weeks have witnessed security incidents in the single digits, which
Wing says continues a trend that began in 2022, when the majority of weeks saw
fewer than ten attacks.
“I
don’t see a Daesh revival any time soon,” Wing told Arab News, using another
name for Daesh. “They’ve had five years to recover from their defeat in Mosul
and all signs point to the group getting weaker, not stronger.”
Mosul
is Iraq’s second city and the largest urban center the group annexed into its
self-styled caliphate, which, at the height of its power in the mid-2010s,
covered about one-third of Iraq and one-third of Syria.
Iraqi
forces recaptured Mosul with the support of the US-led coalition in July 2017
after months of intense fighting. Iraq declared victory over the group the
following December.
Having
lost its territorial caliphate, Daesh mounted an insurgency from rural and
mountainous redoubts. For years, there were fears that the group had reverted
to its pre-2014 status as an insurgent threat and could one day retake
significant swathes of territory.
It
now seems that dire prospect is a remote one.
“They
haven’t been able to recruit many new Iraqis to their cause,” Wing said. “Their
main activities appear to be trying to smuggle members and their families from
Syria into Iraq and protecting the rural areas they control. There are hardly
any offensive operations and they are completely absent from Iraq’s urban
centers.”
And
while Daesh could feasibly continue in this state for years to come, since
there are few people and a minimal government presence in the areas where they
operate, Wing says that they have “little to no effect upon Iraq anymore.”
Michael
Knights, the Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near
East Policy, sees two different scenarios potentially unfolding.
“If
current trends continue, Daesh is headed in the same direction as Algeria’s
terrorist groups — disintegration into criminal gangs, inability to destabilize
the country, and occasional terrorist outrages that are easy to quickly
forget,” he told Arab News, using another acronym for Daesh.
“The
question is whether — as in 2011-2014 — the Iraqi government will politicize
the security forces and adopt a sectarian agenda, thus breathing life back into
Daesh,” he said.
The
government of former prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki adopted just such an agenda
after the US withdrew the last of its troops from Iraq in 2011. Consequently,
when Daesh entered Mosul in June 2014, the ISF infamously did not fight,
despite having vastly superior numbers.
Daesh
invaded northern Iraq in 2014 after gaining a sizable foothold in Syria amid
the chaos of that country’s brutal civil war. If the security situation in
eastern Syria again deteriorates, there are fears this could reenergize diminished
Daesh remnants in Iraq.
After
visiting prisons holding thousands of Daesh militants in northeast Syria
earlier this month, General Michael Kurilla, head of the US military’s Central
Command, CENTCOM, warned of a “looming threat” posed by these detainees.
“Between
those detained in Syria and Iraq, it is a veritable ‘ISIS army in detention,’”
he said in a CENTCOM statement. “If freed, this group would pose a great threat
regionally and beyond.”
The
Al-Hol camp in eastern Syria also houses tens of thousands of the relatives of
alleged Daesh militants, roughly half of whom are Iraqi citizens.
In
January 2022, Daesh detainees in Ghwayran prison in the northeast Syrian city
of Hasakah rioted in coordination with an external attempt to free them,
igniting 10 days of bitter fighting with Kurdish-led security forces. Daesh
reportedly had similar plots for Al-Hol.
“Sneaking
people out of Al-Hol and getting them into Iraq is a major priority because
they haven’t been able to bring many new people to their cause in Iraq,” said
Wing. “So they’re relying upon getting their current members out of the Syrian
camp to try to bolster their numbers, but it hasn’t added to their capabilities
at all.”
Ryan
Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at the risk intelligence
company RANE, emphasizes the importance of recalling the context in which Daesh
initially emerged to “better understand the conditions that would allow it to
return in the future.”
“ISIS
emerged in a power vacuum, one first caused by the US invasion of Iraq and then
the Syrian civil war that began in 2011,” Bohl told Arab News. “It was best
able to grow and exploit local grievances for its radical agenda when its
rivals were split and when it was not the focus of a major power, like the US,
Turkiye, or Russia.
“Today,
Iraq, despite deep political dysfunction and violence, is not nearly as divided
as it was during the run-up to the Daesh blitz in 2014 into Iraq. Syria’s civil
war has stabilized, leaving little room for them to grow there as well.”
Nevertheless,
completely eradicating a group such as Daesh will remain a difficult, if not
impossible, task for Iraqi authorities.
“There
will always be online recruitment and localized grievances that can turn into
small cells or radicalized individual attackers,” Bohl said. “Iraq’s social
contract also remains fractured, and until there is a strong, sustained
governing consensus, radicalism of all stripes will find a home there.”
While
he believes Syria is the most likely place from which Daesh can make a
resurgence in the region, there would first have to be a strategic shift, such
as a US withdrawal or some power vacuum caused by Damascus forcibly
reestablishing its rule over the area.
“Under
those conditions, it would become possible for Daesh to retake some initiative
in that area and use Syria’s northeast to attack Iraq,” he said.
“However,
it shouldn’t be entirely ruled out that Daesh could resurge in Iraq,
particularly if political problems there grow so severe that it reignites
sectarian war.
“Under
those (more remote) circumstances, Daesh would once again have a shot at
restoring territorial control within Iraq, even if Syria remained stable.”
Knights
also stresses that any chance of Daesh making a successful resurgence in Iraq
depends on Baghdad’s management of its security forces.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273221/middle-east
--------
Saudi-Iranian
diplomatic deal could boost support for the Palestinian cause
MOHAMMED
NAJIB
March
21, 2023
RAMALLAH:
The agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic ties could
help mobilize support for the Palestinian cause and might even pave the way for
possible reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, according to Palestinian
sources.
Politicians
and analysts described the deal as a positive step that could enhance security
and stability in the region, thereby improving the ability of Arab and Islamic
countries to respond collectively and effectively to threats and challenges,
and to defend the interests of Palestinian people and support their cause.
On
March 10, following talks in Beijing sponsored by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran
announced that diplomatic relations will resume and their embassies reopen
within two months. Many political analysts and experts said that the agreement
is likely to negatively affect Israel by weakening its position and
strengthening the Palestinian cause.
Jibril
Rajoub, the secretary general of Fatah’s Central Committee, told Arab News that
he believes the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement represents a strategic step that
will significantly affect security, stability and other regional interests and
issues, including the Palestinian cause.
At
the start of the weekly Palestinian Authority cabinet session in Ramallah,
Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh welcomed the agreement.
According
to Ahmed Majdalani, the Palestinian minister of social development, the
agreement between Riyadh and Tehran will undoubtedly have a positive effect on
security and stability in the region, and on the Palestinian cause. It might
also help to improve the relationship between Fatah and Hamas, he told Arab
News.
Nasser
Al-Kidwa, a former Palestine Liberation Organization representative to the UN,
told Arab News he believes the agreement would aid the Palestinian cause by
weakening Israel.
Islam
Shahwan, an expert on security and political affairs from Gaza, said: “The
effect (of the Saudi-Iran agreement) will focus on strengthening support for
the Palestinian cause.”
The
Kingdom’s influence on the Palestinian Authority and Iran’s influence on Hamas
and Islamic Jihad might, in turn, result in Hamas agreeing a long-term truce in
the West Bank, he told Arab News.
Saudi
Arabia might also be more open to dealing with Hamas and Islamic Jihad,
contribute more to projects that support Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and
generally strengthen the Kingdom’s role and image as the most prominent Islamic
country, Shahwan added.
Political
analyst Majdi Halabi said that the Saudi rapprochement might influence Tehran’s
point of view and persuade it to support a two-state solution to end the
occupation of Palestinian territory, rather than calling for the elimination of
Israel.
“Saudi
Arabia’s adopted perspective, represented in the Arab Peace initiative of 2002,
is closer to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict than Iran, which talks
about liberating Jerusalem and erasing Israel from existence, but these hollow
slogans do not benefit the Palestinian cause,” Halabi told Arab News.
Noting
the overwhelming Israeli anger over the agreement, he added that the Kingdom is
one of the few countries capable of persuading Israel to return to the
negotiating table with the Palestinians, thanks to its regional and
international political influence.
However,
Halabi is less optimistic about the ability of Saudi Arabia or Iran to bring
about a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, pointing out that Saudi Arabia
has previously tried to encourage this and failed.
Mukhaimer
Abu Saada, a political science professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, agreed
that there still appears to be little prospect of Fatah and Hamas resolving
their differences. But he told Arab News that there would be no chance of the
Kingdom normalizing relations with Israel, as some other Arab nations have done
in recent years, until the Palestinian issue is resolved.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273181/middle-east
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Advisor
to Iran’s supreme leader meets with Syria’s Assad
21
March ,2023
A
senior foreign policy advisor to Iran’s supreme leader met with Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss international and
regional developments, Iranian state media reported.
The
talks between Kamal Kharrazi and Assad included developments in Syria’s foreign
relations and the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resume diplomatic
relations, the semi-official ISNA agency reported.
Iran
has been a key ally of Assad’s regime since the start of the Syrian conflict in
2011.
Kharrazi,
who served as Iran’s foreign minister from 1997 to 2005, said on Monday that
Iran considers Saudi Arabia “an important country in the region and influential
in the Islamic world.”
“Iran
and Saudi Arabia cannot exclude each other and instead, as the two main powers
of the region, they should use each other’s capacities synergistically to
ensure peace and stability and development of the region,” ISNA quoted Kharrazi
as saying at a seminar on Tehran’s foreign policy in Damascus.
Saudi
Arabia and Iran announced this month that they had reached an agreement,
brokered by China, to reestablish diplomatic relations.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Lebanon
to sell unlimited US dollars to prop up collapsing pound
21
March ,2023
Lebanon’s
central bank will begin selling unlimited amounts of US dollars in a bid to
halt the spiraling devaluation of the Lebanese pound, Governor Riad Salameh
said on Tuesday.
Salameh
set a new rate for Sayrafa, the central bank’s exchange platform, at 90,000
Lebanese pounds per dollar on Tuesday. He set the rate at 70,000 on March 1 but
it has steadily crept up, trading at 83,500 on the platform on Monday.
The
Lebanese pound’s parallel market rate weakened from roughly 121,000 to the US
dollar on Tuesday morning to 140,000 by the afternoon, prompting residents to
briefly seal off roads in anger over their declining purchasing power.
The
pound has lost more than 98% of its value since the economy began unravelling
in 2019. The central bank revalued the pound officially from 1,507.5 to 15,000
per US dollar in February but it has traded at a much lower and varying rate on
Sayrafa.
Tuesday’s
move came with the approval of the caretaker premier and caretaker finance
minister and aimed to “limit the devaluation of the Lebanese pound in the
parallel market,” Salameh said.
Those
willing to trade could use Grade A exchange houses or banks which lift their
strike, he said. Lebanese banks resumed a strike last week to protest against
legal measures taken against them.
The
pound began rising in value on the parallel market immediately after the
decision was announced.
Unifying
multiple exchange rates is one of several steps sought by the International
Monetary Fund for Lebanon to clinch a $3 billion aid package that would help it
emerge from the meltdown.
But
as Lebanon approaches the one-year mark since it signed a preliminary deal with
the IMF, residents are still dealing with a dizzying array of exchange rates.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UAE
pardons more than 1,000 prisoners ahead of Ramadan
21
March ,2023
The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pardoned more than 1,000 prisoners ahead of
Ramadan, official news agency WAM reported on Tuesday evening.
Emirati
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the release of the
prisoners ahead of the Holy Month which is set to begin on Thursday in the UAE.
“The
move comes as part of President Mohamed's humanitarian initiatives and is
reflective of the values of forgiveness and tolerance to give pardoned inmates
an opportunity to start a new life and ease the suffering of their families,”
WAM said in a statement.
The
UAE pardons prisoners every year for Ramadan, as well as ahead of other holy
festivals.
Dubai’s
ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on July 6 last year ordered the
release of 505 prisoners from correctional and punitive establishments in the
emirate ahead of Eid al-Adha in 2022.
The
Ramadan crescent moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening,
meaning the holy month will officially begin on Thursday.
Muslims
follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.
Sighting a crescent moon heralds the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the
Islamic calendar.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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King
Salman sends best wishes for Ramadan to Saudi citizens and all Muslims
March
22, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Tuesday sent his best wishes for Ramadan to
citizens of the Kingdom and Muslims everywhere, expressing his hope that the
holy month will bring hope and peace to Muslims and the entire world.
He
instructed authorities involved in providing services for visitors to the Two
Holy Mosques to continue to work with the highest levels of efficiency and
excellence to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals with ease and
tranquility, the Saudi press Agency reported.
The
king was speaking as he chaired the weekly Cabinet session at Irqah Palace in
Riyadh, after the Supreme Court announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.
Minister
of Media Salman Al-Dosari said ministers reviewed a number of issues that were
discussed during meetings involving senior Saudi officials in the past week
that aimed to develop relations and cement the regional and international
status and role of the Kingdom.
Ministers
reviewed Saudi Arabia’s participation during the 49th session of the Council of
Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, during which its
representatives affirmed the Kingdom’s continued support for joint action,
particularly in the humanitarian and development fields, and its unwavering
stance in support of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect worldwide.
The
Cabinet noted the Kingdom’s pledge, during an International Donors’ Conference
in Brussels on Monday, to support the victims of the earthquakes in Turkiye and
Syria, help mitigate the effects of the disaster, and assist the recovery
process.
Ministers
affirmed that such efforts reflect the Kingdom’s constant commitment to showing
solidarity with communities in need around the world and helping to address
their needs.
The
Council of Ministers said that recent positive evaluations by credit-rating
agencies of the Kingdom’s economy reflected the effectiveness of the reforms
implemented by the state, including the development of public-finance
management, improvements to the quality of financial planning, and the more
efficient use of resources under the financial sustainability program.
Al-Dosari
said that the fact the Kingdom climbed 15 places on the World Intellectual
Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2022 is a reflection of the
continued interest in and support for upgrading the quality of the research,
development and innovation sector, which is helping to enhance the Kingdom’s
global competitiveness and leadership in line with the goals of Saudi Vision
2030.
The
Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cultural cooperation between
the Saudi and Mexican cultural ministries, and another relating to the digital
economy between the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
and its Chinese counterpart.
It
also authorized the minister of Islamic affairs, dawah and guidance to sign a
draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs with the
Somali Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
Ministers
approved two agreements with South Africa, one for cooperation in a feasibility
study for establishing a joint fund to encourage direct investment, and another
for cooperation in the field of maritime transport.
They
authorized the minister of transport and logistics and the chairman of the
board of directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation to sign a draft agreement
for air services with the Polish government.
The
Cabinet also authorized the chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation
Commission to sign a draft cooperation agreement for the evaluation and
accreditation of Arab language curricula and programs with the Arab League
Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
Ministers
approved an agreement between the Saudi Public Prosecution Office and its Tajik
counterpart for combating terrorism and its financing, money laundering, and
other related offenses.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273226/saudi-arabia
--------
GCC,
Indian officials hold political dialogue meeting
March
21, 2023
RIYADH:
The Gulf Cooperation Council recently hosted a political dialogue meeting in
Riyadh for senior officials from the foreign affairs ministries of GCC
countries and India.
The
Indian delegation was led by Dr. Ausaf Sayeed of the Indian foreign ministry
department responsible for consular affairs, passports, visas, and Indian
affairs abroad, while Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg, the GCC’s assistant
secretary-general for political and negotiation affairs, headed the council’s
representatives.
Aluwaisheg
said members discussed political and regional security issues, and ways to
improve strategic dialogue and cooperation following the signing of a
memorandum of understanding in September.
He
added that matters related to a framework agreement for economic, commercial,
investment, and technical cooperation, that concluded in 2004, were also on the
agenda.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273161/saudi-arabia
--------
Southeast Asia
Malaysian
body backs Muslim visits to other worship sites
March
21, 2023
A
major interfaith council in Muslim-majority Malaysia has backed a state-run
youth program involving visits to worship sites of various faiths and dismissed
allegations it covertly promotes proselytizing of Muslims.
In
a statement, Jagir Singh, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism said that visits to
different houses of worship must be encouraged to promote understanding,
respect, and harmony, the Malay Mail reported on March 18.
Singh
urged the government and Islamic authorities to refrain from imposing a
possible ban on Muslims from visiting worship places of other faith amid
allegations of proselytization from opposition politicians and Muslim
hardliners.
“The
unity walks to places of worship are to see and understand the different
cultures. There is no propagation of any religion involved,” Singh said.
“It
is necessary for all races to work together in a spirit of goodwill, mutual
respect to enhance harmony and unity in the country,” he added.
Singh
said that instead of imposing a blanket ban on Muslims from visiting non-Muslim
worship sites, the government and Islamic authorities should clearly state that
“there should not be any propagation of other faiths to Muslims.”
His
response came after Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, a Selangor state executive
councilor who oversees Islamic affairs in the nation, issued a statement that
apparently suggested that even unity walks to houses of worship was not allowed
for Muslims.
Mughni
commended the interfaith activities but warned that “the regulations establish
that any program involving Muslims in the houses of worship of religions other
than Islam is absolutely prohibited,” in a March 15 statement.
Earlier,
a Muslim politician accused Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh of
using the “Jom Ziarah” program to take Muslim youths to visit other places of
worship for evangelization.
The
program aims to promote a better understanding of the different races,
religions, and cultures in Malaysia.
In
a Facebook post, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, a former People’s Justice Party member
slammed the Impact Malaysia event saying "Christian evangelist has started
its work" prompting mixed responses from various quarters of Malaysian
society.
Yeoh,
a Christian, refuted the allegations stating that there was no Muslim youth in
the team that visited various places of worship including a visit to a church
in Klang city.
Singh
pointed out that the visits under the Jom Ziarah program aimed to only
understand the differences between various faiths and there was no
proselytization involved.
“If
there is no propagation of other faiths to Muslims, no offense is committed.
Therefore, the mere visiting of places of worship cannot be an offense,” Singh
pointed out, the Malay Mail reported.
He
cited the Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims)
Enactment 1988 enacted under Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution which
prohibits only “propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons
professing the religion of Islam.”
Singh
also pointed out that for more than 10 years the council with various NGOs
including Islamic ones had taken part in unity walks to various places of
worship to show respect and tolerance which included events organized by the
National Unity and Integration Department.
He
said that these visits “created great goodwill amongst the different races and
religions.”
Christians
make up about 10 percent of the estimated 32 million citizens in
Muslim-majority Malaysia. The majority of Christians live in Sarawak and Sabah
states where they make up two-thirds of the population and form decisive voting
blocs.
Media
reports suggest that Muslim hardliners and Islamist politicians attempted to
vilify Christians by accusing them of running campaigns to convert Muslims.
In
2016, politician Andul Hadi Awang from the Islamist Party of Malaysia accused
Christian missionaries of “preying on poor and uneducated people” in
impoverished communities in Malaysian states like Sabah and elsewhere by paying
them off to convert to Christianity, in an article.
In
2014, in a controversial book, Pendedahan Agenda Kristian (Exposing the
Christian Agenda), a unanimous author labeled Christians “the enemies of Islam”
who harbor ill intentions and spread lies.
In
2021, a Facebook page called Hud Hud Crew published a doctored video that
claimed Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur insulted Muslims in a speech.
Source:
UCA News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.ucanews.com/news/malaysian-body-backs-muslim-visits-to-other-worship-sites/100735
--------
‘Immoral’
Thai hunk waiters at KL club during Ramadan raise ire of Malaysia politicians
Lok
Jian Wen
After
Thai K-pop singer Lisa and her Blackpink bandmates, a group of Thai hunks are
the latest performers to draw flak from local politicians as they prepare to go
on stage in Malaysia.
Parti
Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) on Wednesday denounced the coming opening of Privacy
Club Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, which will feature waiters from Thai restaurant
Staneemeehoi, famed for their cross-dressing, dancing employees in Bangkok.
“It
is clear that this event promotes a culture of hedonism, obscenity and free sex
based on the notice,” said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan in a
statement.
“It
is in conflict with local culture and insensitive to the position of Islam as
the official religion, let alone it being held in the month of Ramadan,” he
added, urging the Kuala Lumpur city authorities to reconsider the legitimacy of
holding this event.
An
aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, political secretary Azman Abidin, on
Wednesday said that he had been informed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)
that the bar has not applied for an entertainment licence or for permission to
carry out entertainment activities.
DBKL
will carry out a review on whether to take action if it is found that the
organisers have violated any rules and regulations, he added.
The
event is slated for next Thursday, during the month of Ramadan when most
Muslims will, during daylight hours, abstain from food and drink, sex and
immoral behaviour ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Ramadan starts on Thursday
this week.
Apart
from the waiters set to headline a programme billed simply as “Thai Hot Guy”,
Privacy Club Tun Razak will invite DJs to make up part of the evening’s
entertainment.
PAS
also expressed opposition towards the club referencing former prime minister
Tun Abdul Razak in its name, saying it “insults the good name of the country’s
leader”.
Staneemeehoi
has been noted for serving up the beefy waiters as a unique selling point that
differentiates it from other seafood eateries in the Thai capital.
Videos
on social media show its well-sculpted employees dressed in women’s lingerie or
‘sailor moon’ outfits cavorting with diners at their tables while music played
at regular intervals on regular nights at the restaurant.
The
photogenic waiters have also been spotted in similarly stripped-down attire
riding motorcycles as live advertising machinery for the restaurant while
delivering meals and posing sultrily for photos with the restaurant’s
customers.
Earlier,
PAS youth chief Fadhli Shaari had rallied opposition against the club’s choice
of guests.
“There
is no need for a programme like this to be given permission to operate, even
more so in the honourable month of Ramadan! Please, stop it. Voice a mass
protest,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
While
the club’s opening has not been called off, Malaysia’s government attempted to
distance itself from the event.
Responding
to a question from Mr Fadhli in Parliament on Wednesday, Deputy Minister in the
Prime Minister’s Department Wilson Ugak Kumbong said the Thai Hot Guy event
should not be associated with the government’s Malaysia Madani agenda, adding
that such “unhealthy” programmes should not take place in Malaysia.
PAS’
disapproval towards the Thai waiters comes after previous resistance against
foreign performers.
Source:
Straits Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Education
minister: School canteens must remain open during Ramadan even if fewer than
10pc students are non-Muslim
22
Mar 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, March 22 ― Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek advised school canteen
operators to continue operating throughout the month of Ramadan even if the
school has less than 10 per cent non-Muslim students.
She
said this is because not all Muslim children are required to fast especially,
at an early age, in addition to respecting non-Muslims during Ramadan.
“This
is the MADANI government, an inclusive government, where both sides respect
each other, those who fast must be polite to those who are not fasting, and
those who are not fasting must learn to respect those who are fasting.
“So
we don't want a scenario where students eat at the (school) store or by the
side of drains, I don't want that kind of situation.
“(Even
if less than 10 per cent of students are non-Muslims) Canteens need to continue
to be open, and they (operators) need to discuss with the school, because I'm
sure there are Muslim children who do not fast at an early age and there is no
obligation for them to fast unless they want to because they want to learn to
fast,” she told reporters after attending the handover ceremony of Yayasan
Petronas' 2023 Back to School Packs at Sekolah Pendidikan Khas Jalan Batu (L)
here today.
Fadhlina
said this when asked about the recommendation of Persatuan Pengusaha Kantin
Sekolah Malaysia (PPKSM) not to open school canteens during the month of
Ramadan if the schools have less than 10 per cent non-Muslim students.
Media
reports yesterday had quoted PPKSM secretary-general Siti Normah Md Desa as
saying that the Ministry of Education (MoE) should leave the decision whether
to open school canteens based on the considerations of school administrations
and canteen operators according to the needs of students.
She
said that if the school canteens remain open, the operators have to bear the
operating costs which cannot be covered by the sales value obtained.
Meanwhile,
Fadhlina said her ministry welcomes the views of the Down Syndrome Community
Rehabilitation Organisation (PPDKSD) in improving the learning syllabus for
children with Down Syndrome to prepare them for the workforce.
“We
have engagement sessions from time to time to ensure that the curriculum meets
the needs of Down Syndrome children, in addition to taking into account the
progress cycle.
“We
have expertise in MoE for changing the curriculum and the engagement sessions
will continue and take into account the inputs from all (parties),” she said.
According
to media reports yesterday, PPDKSD chairman Hanizan Hussin had suggested that
specific measures should be taken including on training and skills to prepare
the group for the world of work.
At
today's event, 30 students with disabilities were the first recipients of the
'Back to School' packs donated by Yayasan Petronas containing vouchers for a
set of school uniform, shoes, socks and sports attire, in addition to equipment
kits such as school bags, stationery sets, colour pencils and scientific
calculators.
Yayasan
Petronas Chief Executive Officer, Shariah Nelly Francis said a total of 21,000
primary and secondary school students nationwide will receive the packs from
mid-March to May.
“Since
its launch 10 years ago, Yayasan Petronas through this programme continues to
be committed to its goal of alleviating the burden of low-income people and is
concerned about their situation in providing school necessities for children.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Saifuddin
Nasution: Be mindful of Muslim sensitivities when organising events
By
Shahrin Aizat Noorshahrizam
22
Mar 2023
PUTRAJAYA,
March 22 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail today advised
organisers to cancel any events that touch on Muslim sensitivities.
Addressing
a question on a night club launching ceremony that involved cross-dressing
muscular men in lingerie dubbed “Thai Hot Guy”, he said that such an event
would only issue a cause for concern and anxiousness among Muslims in the
country.
“It
is best for such events not to be continued because it could create certain
uneasiness. This is because Muslims worldwide will be welcoming Ramadan.
“There
must be mutual respect from those living in a multicultural society. They need
to be aware of certain sensitivities of respective communities,” he said during
a press conference.
He
also said that the ministry needed to establish the facts of the event before
taking any further action against the organisers.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Hannah
Yeoh contributes RM129,000 from MP allocations to suraus, mosques in Segambut
ahead of Ramadan
By
Kenneth Tee
22
Mar 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, March 22 — In the spirit of Ramadan, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh has today
contributed a total of RM129,000 to suraus and mosques within her constituency.
Yeoh
said the contributions were sourced from federal government allocations given
to parliamentarians and it is customary for her to use said allocations for
Ramadan events organised by Muslim houses of worship.
“My
hope is that with the federal government allocations provided to members of
Parliament, more programmes for the rakyat will be organised.
“However,
I will not be organising any programmes but merely wish to ‘top up’ existing
programmes organised by Muslim houses of worship so there will not be wastage,”
she said during a handover ceremony at Taman Tun Dr Ismail here.
On
the breakdown of contributions, Yeoh said nine mosques will receive RM5,000
each while 42 suraus will receive RM2,000 each.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Zahid
announces formation of PM-led 'Madani Council' which will support Islamic
groups, scholars
By
Zarrah Morden
21
Mar 2023
BANGI,
March 21 — A "Madani Council", chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim, will be formed and one of its functions will be to support the
work of Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The
prime minister will announce the formation of the council, Deputy Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters at a press conference
after the Islamic NGOs Unity Convention 2023 at Tenera Hotel in Bangi.
"[The
council] will hold official programmes in administration and definitely to
support the work of Islamic NGOs and Islamic scholars, without leaving behind
scholars from other religions and backgrounds,” he said.
He
expressed his certainty that people of all ethnicities and religions will
support the formation of the Madani Council once its concept and philosophies
are understood.
There
is no word yet as to whether the council will endorse all or just some of the
various Islamic sects, schools of jurisprudence, and schools of thought.
Besides
that, Ahmad Zahid also said that he would ensure that the prime minister will
agree to the tenth resolution of the Unity Convention, in which the Islamic
NGOs requested a complex with facilities such as offices, seminar halls,
multipurpose halls and training rooms for their use.
"It
will require funds and maybe I can suggest to him directly that he can find
room for the request in the Budget 2024 speech.
"And
if he is more kind-hearted, he can announce it before the Budget,” Ahmad Zahid
said.
He
added that a suitable location would have to be found and that he will aid in
the search for an appropriate location.
The
other resolutions were: the acknowledgement that Malaysia Madani will aid in
the unification of the Muslim community while fulfilling demands of the current
time; that the voices and wishes of the NGOs and government agencies must
synergise; to continue initiatives towards a constructive action plan for the
Islamic NGOs; and to empower Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia’s (Yadim) Majlis
Amal Islami Malaysia.
Besides
that, the resolutions also called for Yadim to coordinate funds from the
government to the NGOs; to tackle the country’s social issues through Islamic
teachings; for proactive and reactive measures towards academic and social
issues to ensure the younger generation is nurtured with Islamic morals; inclusive
programmes between governmental agencies and Islamic NGOs to produce dedicated
and skilled youths; and the formation of a strategic action plan in raising
awareness about the importance of the economic agenda to produce entrepreneurs
and to empower institutions that will fight for the economic development of
Muslims.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North America
US
‘extremely troubled’ by Israeli parliament vote to legitimize settlements
21
March ,2023
The
United States said Tuesday it was “extremely troubled” by the Israeli
parliament's vote legitimizing some settlements, calling the move
"provocative" and in violation of promises to ally Washington.
“The
United States is extremely troubled that the Israeli Knesset has passed
legislation rescinding important parts of the 2005 disengagement law,” State
Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
“The
legislative changes announced today are particularly provocative and
counterproductive to efforts to restore some measure of calm as we head into
the Ramadan, Passover and Easter holidays,” he said.
Patel
said the move was in “clear contradiction” of promises made by then-prime
minister Ariel Sharon to then-US president George W. Bush as well as assurances
made just two days ago by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“The
US strongly urges Israel to refrain from allowing the return of settlers to the
area covered by the legislation, consistent with former prime minister Sharon
and the current Israeli government's commitment to the United States,” he said.
The
vote pushed by the hard-right government annulled part of a law that banned
settlers from living in areas of the West Bank evacuated in 2005.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
More
US sanctions against Iran for drone and weapons programs
21
March ,2023
The
US issued more Iran-related sanctions on Tuesday, targeting four companies and
three individuals in Turkey and Iran accused of aiding Tehran’s drone programs.
The
latest sanctions target what the US says is involvement in procuring equipment,
including European-origin engines of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in support
of Iran’s drone and weapons programs.
This
procurement network is working on behalf of the Iranian ministry of defense and
armed forces logistics (MODAFL), according to the Treasury Department.
“Iran’s
proliferation of weapons destabilizes the Middle East,” Secretary of State
Antony Blinken said. And the US will continue to act to disrupt Iran’s
proliferation of UAVs and work with allies and partners to counter Iran’s
weapons proliferation, the top US diplomat vowed.
For
his part, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence Brian Nelson said that “Iran’s well-documented” proliferation of
UAVs and conventional weapons to its proxies continues to undermine both regional
security and global stability. “The United States will continue to expose
foreign procurement networks in any jurisdiction that supports Iran’s
military-industrial complex,” Nelson added.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2023/03/21/US-imposes-fresh-Iran-related-sanctions
--------
US
says it 'has nothing' to do with helicopters that crashed with PKK terrorists
onboard
Servet
Günerigök
21.03.2023
WASHINGTON
The
Pentagon said Tuesday that the US has nothing to do with two helicopters that
crashed in northern Iraq carrying members of the YPG/PKK terror group which
uses the name, SDF.
When
asked by Anadolu if the US had a military role in the alleged training of the
helicopter pilots and if funds used in the mission were provided by the US,
Pentagon Spokesman Brig. Gen Pat Ryder said the SDF conducts its operations.
"The
United States had nothing, no participation whatsoever in the SDF helicopter
flights. The SDF is its own force, they conduct their own operations, we do
partner with the SDF on Defeat ISIS operations regularly," Ryder told
reporters.
"But
again, there was no US or coalition involvement in the helicopter incident, nor
do we have any knowledge either before that mission took place," he added.
Anadolu
also asked how confident the US was that funds provided by Washington would not
be used by the SDF against Türkiye.
"We
train a lot of forces around the world, many of which conduct their own
operations. But again, in this case, again, we had no involvement," he
said.
The
chopper crashed in the Duhok region Wednesday. One day later Iraq’s Kurdish
Regional Government (KRG) said some on board were members of the PKK terror
group.
Initial
findings indicate that it was a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter and some of the
victims were PKK terrorists.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Racial
Discrimination Day: How Turkish Embassy’s ‘Jazz Diplomacy’ helped battle racism
in US
Rabia
Iclal Turan
21.03.2023
WASHINGTON
A
Turkish ambassador and his two sons paved the way for racial integration in the
US several decades before the Black rights movement began.
March
21 is annually observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, which originates in Sharpeville, South Africa, where in 1960 police
opened fire at a peaceful demonstration, killing 69 people.
Several
years later, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as the International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to honor the lives of those
who died fighting for equal human rights for all in South Africa during
apartheid, an institutionally racist system built upon racial discrimination.
The
legal framework of the apartheid in South Africa was repealed by votes in 1991
but racism remains a global problem that millions of people face throughout the
world every day.
However,
the story of a Turkish ambassador and his two sons offers a beacon of hope as
it shows the world that there is still a way out even during the darkest times.
Munir
Ertegun, Türkiye’s second ambassador to the US who served between 1934-1944,
and his two sons, Ahmet and Nesuhi, challenged racism in the US by inviting
African-American jazz performers to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
during the 1930s and 1940s.
At
a time when racism was at its peak in the US and segregation was in full flow
as Black Americans were not allowed to sit next to whites in various places,
the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. broke down prejudices and opened its
doors to these musicians despite warnings from some US politicians.
Among
the many jazz musicians who were attending the concerts at the Turkish embassy
were the most famous performers at the time, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington,
Teddy Wilson, and Lester Young.
According
to Maurice Jackson, associate professor of History and African-American Studies
at Georgetown University, the Turkish embassy’s jazz concerts during the 30s
and 40s were significant in the anti-racism fight in the US.
“The
important thing is that what it did was to show people the possibilities, and
after people saw that they would never go back,” Jackson told Anadolu when
asked about how significant Ertegun brother’s jazz concerts were in terms of
battling racism in the US.
“A
couple of years after this concert, there was a protest at the US State
Department,” he recalled, explaining that Black officers were not allowed to
eat in the cafeteria at the State Department at the time.
Jackson
said those were times when African-American opera singer Marian Anderson was
not allowed to perform at Constitution Hall in 1939 because of her race.
Against
the backdrop of such racial tensions, the Ertegun family organized jazz
concerts and jam sessions at the Turkish ambassador’s residence at the Everett
House in Washington DC, in a neighborhood that is home to many embassies and
diplomatic buildings.
Noting
other demonstrations against segregation of Black Americans at restaurants and
public places, Jackson said: “The musicians set an example of what the
possibilities were.”
When
a US Senator complained to Ambassador Ertegun for allowing Black Americans to
enter the embassy from the front door at that time, he responded by saying:
"We take our guests in from the front door, whoever they are."
Jazz
concerts at Turkish embassy create ‘new venue’
The
Ertegun brothers went further by organizing the city’s first integrated concert
in 1942 at the Jewish Community Center on 16th Street.
“Two
Muslim men bring Black music to a Jewish own institution. I don't even know
that happens today. So you see the progress,” Jackson said.
Those
jazz concerts also created a “new venue” for Black people to record, Jackson
said, adding that Ertegun Brothers ended up launching Atlantic Records in 1947,
playing a role in the nurturing of the careers of many artists and bands,
including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, the Rolling Stones, and
Led Zeppelin.
When
asked about the role of those concerts in the African-American history, he
answered: “Jazz in itself. Music in itself is not going to make the change.”
“It
has to have a big sweep. And this helped create that big sweep”, he said.
“So
when people saw this and so these Blacks going in there and people started
thinking, well, perhaps we can do this,” he added.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
renews opposition to Assad normalization after UAE trip
21
March ,2023
The
United States on Tuesday stood firm against nations normalizing relations with
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after he paid his second visit in as many
years to the United Arab Emirates, a close US partner.
“We
will not normalize with the Assad regime nor will we encourage others absent
authentic and enduring progress towards a political resolution,” State
Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
“We
continue to urge anybody engaging with Damascus to consider sincerely and
thoroughly how their engagements can help provide for Syrians in need no matter
where they live,” he said. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
received Assad on Sunday and told him that it was time for Syria to return to
the Arab fold.
A
growing number of nations have been repairing relations with Assad, believing
he has effectively won in a brutal war that broke out in 2011.The United States
under domestic law rules out any assistance for reconstruction in Assad-ruled
Syria without accountability for abuses.
Assad,
helped by Russian airpower, has largely restored control over Syria after the
conflict that has killed half a million people, displaced half the country’s
pre-war population and saw the rise of the ISIS.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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US
report on human rights in Palestinian territories reflects ‘positive change,’
activists say
MOHAMMED
NAJIB
March
21, 2023
RAMALLAH:
Palestinian politicians and human rights activists believe that the US State
Department’s 2022 report on the status of human rights in the Palestinian
territories reflects a positive change, whether for the presence of terminology
that was absent during the reign of former US President Donald Trump or for its
clear facts about the scale of Israeli violations against Palestinians.
“There
were reports that (Israeli Security Forces) members committed abuses. The
Israeli military and civilian justice systems occasionally investigated such
incidents and, in some cases, found ISF members to have committed abuses,” the
report stated.
The
Palestinian Authority’s Minister of Social Development Ahmed Majdalani told
Arab News that the report reflects the “reality” of “crimes and violations
committed by the Israeli government against Palestinians” as well as its
“violation of international and humanitarian law.”
He
added, however, that it cannot be “considered a fundamental change in the US
position toward Israel without the US taking practical steps to condemn Israel
and hold it accountable for these violations.”
The
report detailed that in 2022, the “ISF killed 152 Palestinians in the West
Bank, including 36 Palestinian children, compared with 17 in 2021.”
It
also noted that “Israel prosecutes Palestinian residents of the West Bank under
military law and Israeli settlers in the West Bank under criminal and civil
law.”
Jibril
Rajoub, Fatah Central Committee secretary-general, told Arab News that the
scale and brutality of Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinians had
embarrassed the US administration to such a degree that it could no longer ignore
them.
“When
the reports of three credible international organizations — Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty, and B’Tselem — speak of unprecedented Israeli violations of human
rights in the Palestinian territories, the US cannot ignore this, especially
since the Israeli crimes have become more evident,” Rajoub told Arab News.
Veteran
Palestinian politician Nabil Amr told Arab News that Israel’s actions against
Palestinians had crossed all lines.
“The
burning of Hawara cannot be attributed to a person but rather to a state, and
the continuation of this occupation...embarrasses the US,” Amr told Arab News.
Israel
has used military courts to prosecute Palestinians from the West Bank since
1967, and 95 percent of cases tried in military courts have ended in conviction.
Source:
Arab News
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273086/middle-east
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South Asia
Banning
women’s education a very serious issue for Afghanistan, says former Prez Karzai
21
March, 2023
Kabul
[Afghanistan], March 21 (ANI): Banning females from attaining education is a
very serious issue for Afghanistan and the children of our country, former
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement to a Canada-based news
organisation, reported Khaama Press on Tuesday.
Calling
girls’ education a ‘primary concern’ for the Afghan people, he added that
education is the foundation of a country’s well-being, not only for Afghanistan
but for every other society.
He
also expressed his concern about how young people are leaving the country at a
tremendous rate since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, which in return
has proved to be a massive loss for the country.
“Leaving
people from the country, especially young, educated ones adding that this is a
disaster and a massive loss for the country, as it is already suffering the
lack of proper human capital,” Khaama Press quoted Karzai as saying.
The
de facto authorities of Afghanistan, after seizing power in August 2021 have
restricted women’s and girls’ freedom of movement, barred girls from attending
secondary school, excluded women from the majority of the workforce, and
forbade women from using public restrooms and gyms, reported the Afghan news
agency.
Taliban
has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression,
association, assembly and movement for women and girls.
The
Taliban’s decision to ban female students above grade six from going to school
has drawn widespread criticism at the national and international levels.
Source:
The Print
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Security
Forces Destroyed Important ISIS Hideout in Kabul: Mujahid
By
Fidel Rahmati
March
22, 2023
The
security forces of the Afghan interim government destroyed an important ISIS
hideout in the capital city of Kabul Tuesday night, according to Zabiullah
Mujahid, the Taliban senior spokesperson.
According
to Mujahid, three important Islamic State (ISIS) members were killed late on
Tuesday night after Taliban security forces attacked an important hideout
during a special operation in Kabul’s provincial district 12.
He
also said that several weapons, grenades, explosives, many remotes, and much
mine-making equipment were seized during the operation.
The
statement added that ISIS used the hideout to plan and carry out an attack on
holy places and civilians of Kabul in the month of Ramadan, which was discovered
and destroyed in advance, Mujahid said.
The
ISIS militants have claimed responsibility for many terror attacks in Kabul,
Mazar-e-Sharif, and other parts of the country.
In
a recent attack, the group claimed two separate attacks in Balkh province; the
first one occurred in the governor’s office, killed the governor of the
province, and the second occurred in an Afghan journalist’ gathering in Tebyan
cultural centers killing many journalists and injuring several others.
The
Islamic State Khorasan terrorists have also carried out several terror strikes
that have left dozens of people dead or injured, including at the Russian
Embassy, Pakistani Diplomatic Mission, and a Chinese-run hotel.
Daesh
is considered to be the main enemy of the Taliban administration, targeting
their forces, Afghan citizens, and foreign nationals.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
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https://www.khaama.com/security-forces-destroyed-important-isis-hideout-in-kabul-mujahid-2/
--------
EU
condemns large-scale, gender-based discrimination by Taliban in Afghanistan
22
March, 2023
Kabul
[Afghanistan], March 22 (ANI): As gender-based discrimination continues to
remain prevalent in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, the European Union
(EU) in an official statement has said that the decision of the Taliban to deny
education to females and work at NGOs has hampered the delivery of humanitarian
aid in the country, TOLOnews reported.
In
its official statement, the EU said, “large-scale and systematic gender-based
discrimination by the Taliban who, through their discriminatory decision to ban
women from working for national and international non-governmental
organisations, are impeding the delivery of humanitarian assistance and basic
needs support to the Afghan people.”
The
de facto authorities have restricted women’s and girls’ freedom of movement
since August 15, 2021, preventing girls from attending secondary education,
excluding them from the majority of the workforce, and forbidding them from
utilising public parks, gyms, and bathrooms.
The
statement, which was released by the EU on March 20 underlined the importance
of women’s participation in the country’s affairs and added the EU remains
committed to continuing its assistance to alleviate the severe humanitarian and
socio-economic crisis.
“Where
activities cannot be continued in line with the EU’s principled approach, the
EU support to those activities will be reconsidered,” the statement said.
Moreover,
the European Union also raised the issue of terrorism and how it’s holding
tight on Afghan soil. “Afghanistan should not once again serve as a base for
terrorism and violent extremism to other countries, and the EU demands that the
Taliban cease all direct and indirect ties with terrorism and reiterates the
Taliban’s responsibility in combatting terrorism,” the statement reads.
However,
the Taliban rejected the idea that there were terrorist organisations in
Afghanistan.
“There
is no group, movement or element, whose existence here anyone can provide
evidence for. No one can show a particular area,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy
spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, TOLOnews reported.
Afghanistan
remains the country most impacted by terrorism for the fourth consecutive year,
despite attacks and deaths falling by 75 per cent and 58 per cent,
respectively, terrorism-index” Global Terrorism Index (GTI) reported on
Tuesday, according to Afghanistan-based Khaama Press.
As
per the FTI, Afghanistan recorded 633 fatalities in 2022, despite
terrorism-related deaths declining by 866 in 2022, a 58 per cent improvement
over 2021.
Source:
The Print
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Afghan
Taliban raid in Kabul kills 3 Islamic State members
March
22, 2023
Islamabad
An overnight raid by Taliban forces in Afghanistan’s capital killed three
members of the extremist Islamic State group, a Taliban spokesman said on March
22.
The
regional affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) group — known as the Islamic State
in Khorasan Province — has been the key rival of the Taliban since their
takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
The
militant group has increased its attacks, targeting both Taliban patrols and
members of Afghanistan’s Shiite minority.
According
to Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban Government spokesman, the operation on March
21 targeted an IS hideout in Kabul and killed three prominent members of the
militant group who were plotting attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan,
which starts at sundown on March 22.
“The
IS members used the hideout to carry out attacks in Kabul city and planned to
target religious places and civilians during the upcoming month of Ramadan,”
Mujahid said.
The
Taliban swept across Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, seizing power as U.S. and
NATO forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
Source:
The Hindu
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--------
Strong
earthquake has people fleeing homes in Afghanistan, Pakistan
Mar
21, 2023
KABUL:
A strong earthquake lasting for at least 30 seconds was felt across much of
Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of India Tuesday night, with the United States
Geological Survey putting the magnitude at 6.5.
"People
ran out of their houses and were reciting the Koran," an AFP correspondent
in Pakistani city of Rawalpindi said, with similar reports coming from
elsewhere in the country and in Afghanistan.
USGS
said the quake was centred near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan and had a
depth of 187 kilometers (116 miles).
Afghanistan
is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range,
which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Source:
Times Of India
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Pakistan
Imran
Khan Inspired Me To Convert To Islam, Says Former MTV Presenter Kristiane
Backer
22
Mar, 2023
Former
MTV presenter Kristiane Backer said that he was inspired to convert to Islam by
former prime minister Imran Khan.
Talking
to Pakistani media at an event, Backer said that Imran Khan influenced her
conversion to Islam. She became a Muslim in 1995.
“I
wish Imran Khan will remain safe and that Pakistan should treat him with
respect that he is due. He is hugely popular. He is a great leader and he has a
vision, not everything worked out the way he envisioned. But his heart is on
the right place. He inspired me so much and I converted to Islam because of his
teachings and inspiration. I can tell you one thing, have you seen a Sufi
terrorist?.”
Source:
Daily Pakistan
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Afghan
Taliban Delegation Quietly Visits Pakistan to Discuss TTP Issue: Report
MARCH
21, 2023
An
Afghan Taliban delegation, comprising intelligence and security officials,
quietly visited Islamabad recently to discuss a way forward towards addressing
Pakistan's concerns regarding the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
according to a media report on Tuesday.
Taliban
ranks in Kabul also confirmed that a mid-level delegation led by Abdullah
Ghazanavi, the head of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), travelled
to Islamabad for discussion on the TTP and threats to Pakistan, the Express
Tribune newspaper reported, citing sources.
The
visit was a follow-up of last month's trip to Kabul by a high-powered
delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, which received a briefing on
the steps taken by the Afghan government to deal with the TTP.
The
Pakistani delegation, however, deemed those steps unsatisfactory and sought
concerted actions. Pakistan also confronted the Afghan Taliban leadership with
proofs about the whereabouts of the TTP leadership.
According
to the paper, during its stay in Islamabad, the Afghan delegation met with the
relevant authorities to discuss the security situation and the fate of the TTP
and its affiliates.
Citing
a source in Kabul with knowledge of the matter, the paper said that the
delegation, comprising 10 members from the Taliban’s intelligence, visited
Islamabad last week.
The
delegation was also assisted by GDI official Muhammad Wardak, the source said,
adding that the delegation was mandated to deliver a message from Kabul that
the concerns of Pakistan would be addressed.
Both
sides stayed mum on the visit. The sources in Islamabad said that given the
sensitivity of the issue, both sides decided to discuss such matters away from
the media glare.
The
source in Kabul revealed that both sides made progress on various issues, but
he was not authorised to make public statements.
The
TTP has become a thorny issue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan
expected the Afghan Taliban to address its concerns regarding the TTP after its
return to power in August 2021. But contrary to the expectations, the TTP
attacks only went up.
The
Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to take on the TTP stemmed from its fears that the
group's fighters might join Da’esh (Islamic State). Second, the Afghan Taliban
and the TTP share the same ideology as they fought alongside the US-led foreign
forces.
Nevertheless,
the two sides have been trying to find a way out of the TTP problem as it has
threatened to undermine their future cooperation, according to the paper.
Pakistan
has witnessed a surge in TTP violence since peace talks between the militant
group and the government began to falter last year. The TTP formally ended the
ceasefire on November 28.
The
TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban and is also known
as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant
outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across
Pakistan.
The
TTP, which is believed to be close to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several
deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in
2009, assaults on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in
Islamabad.
In
2012, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was attacked by TTP. She suffered bullet
injuries and was admitted to the Military Hospital (CMH) Peshawar and then
taken to London for further treatment. The TTP claimed responsibility for the
attack, saying that Yousafzai was a "Western-minded girl".
Source:
News18
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Zakat
and Ushr Department Speakers Stress Implementing Islamic Philosophy of Zakat
March
22, 2023
Speakers
at a conference organised under the auspices of Zakat and Ushr Department on
the topic of ‘Importance and usefulness of Zakat system in the present era’,
emphasised the need for implementation of the Islamic philosophy of Zakat in
letter and spirit.
The
conference, held at the auditorium of Services Institute for Medical Sciences
(SIMS) Lahore, was presided over by Caretaker Minister for Zakat and Ushr
Punjab Barrister Azfar Ali Nasir, while Caretaker Minister for Specialised
Healthcare Dr Javed Akram and Education Minister Dr Mansoor Qadir attended the
event as special guests. Secretary Zakat and Ushr Mian Abrar, Administrator
Zakat Punjab Rana Sajjad Babar, Ulema Maulana Raghib Naimi, Maulana Yusuf Khan,
Maulana Ramzan Sialvi and others were also present.
The
speakers stressed that along with the government, the rich of society must come
forward to help the deserving people.
Source:
Pak Observer
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://pakobserver.net/speakers-stress-implementing-islamic-philosophy-of-zakat/
--------
At
least 9 dead as powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan
Mar
22, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
An earthquake of 6.8 magnitudes shook parts of Pakistan on Tuesday, killing
nine people and injuring over 160 others, local media reported.
The
epicentre of the earthquake was Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region, while its
depth was 180 kilometres, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Earthquake
tremors were felt in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Peshawar, Kohat,
Lakki Marwat, and other areas of the country.
Strong
tremors were also felt in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Kot Momin, Madh Ranjha,
Chakwal, Kohat and in Gilgit-Baltistan areas, local media reported.
Television
footage showed panic-stricken citizens out on the streets.The earthquake killed
nine people, including two women, and injured over 160 others as well as
causing many buildings to collapse, authorities said, according to a Geo News
report.
At
the time of the earthquake, a stampede was reported in the markets of
Rawalpindi, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
Prime
Minister Shahbaz Sharif has asked disaster management officials to remain
vigilant to handle any situation, according to state-run Associated Press of
Pakistan.
An
emergency was declared in the hospitals of the federal capital on the
instructions of Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, The Express Tribune
reported.
According
to the international seismological centre, apart from Pakistan, tremors were
also felt in India, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, China and Kyrgyzstan.
Source:
Times Of India
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Imran
Khan gets protective bail in 2 terrorism cases
Mar
21, 2023
LAHORE:
Pakistan's ousted premier Imran Khan on Tuesday secured protective bail from the
Lahore High Court in three cases, including two related to terrorism,
registered against him over the violence that took place outside the judicial
complex in Islamabad last week.
A
two-judge bench comprising Justice Shehbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider
granted protective bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in the
terrorism cases till March 27.
The
former premier also appeared before the Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Baqir
Naqvi in the NAB investigation in Toshakhana case. The court granted him
protective bail till next Tuesday.
"Mr
Khan told the court today that he came to the court 'secretly' as a heavy
contingent of police was deployed near to his house to stop him from reaching
the court," a court official told PTI after the hearing.
Khan,
70, said he has no issue to appear in any case but during his appearance in
court the government should make sure no chaos is created.
The
number of cases registered against the PTI chief in the last 11 months of the
PMLN-led government has swelled to around 100.
Unlike
his recent appearances in courts, Khan on Tuesday was not accomapained by party
workers to the LHC from his Zaman Park residence here.
The
PTI appears to have changed its strategy on Tuesday regarding sending a huge
number of its workers along with the party chairman to the LHC apparently after
the law enforcement agencies intensified crackdown on them.
The
Punjab and Islamabad police have arrested over 500 PTI workers from different
parts of the province.
Police
said the arrested PTI workers were wanted in the recent incidents of violence
in Lahore and Islamabad.
Khan
appeared before the LHC in two terrorism cases registered against him by the
Islamabad police after intense clashes erupted outside the Islamabad Judicial
Complex on Saturday when he arrived in the capital from Lahore to attend the
hearing in the Toshakhana case.
The
PTI chief also appeared before LHC's Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh in a petition
seeking details of all the cases registered against him in Punjab province.
Khan
informed Justice Sheikh that the Punjab government violated his (judge) order
and "attacked my house in Lahore as my wife was alone who got frightened
during the police attack."
Khan
requested the court to order the police on his plea to register a case against
Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Inspector General Police
for violating the LHC's order restraining police action at his Zaman Park
residence.
Earlier,
an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday reserved the decision on
ousted premier Khan's plea for an exemption from hearing in a case registered
against him under the provisions of terrorism.
The
terrorism case was lodged against the PTI chief in October last year at
Islamabad's Sangjani police station after PTI workers held protests and
demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country after it disqualified
Khan in the Toshakhana case.
Established
in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the
Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians,
bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign
dignitaries.
Khan's
lawyer Sardar Masroof Khan appeared before the court.
The
lawyer said Khan has to appear before the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday.
"As
soon as he leaves, thousands of workers come out with him. Imran Khan wants to
come, but every time people come out and attack and then cases are registered
against him," the lawyer was quoted as saying by The News.
During
the confrontation between PTI workers and police in Islamabad on Saturday, over
25 security personnel were injured, prompting Additional District and Sessions
Judge Zafar Iqbal to defer the court hearing till March 30.
Khan
had moved the LHC for contempt of court proceedings against the police
operation at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on March 18.
Soon
after Khan departed for Islamabad to attend the hearing in the Toshakhana case
on Saturday, over 10,000 armed Punjab police personnel stormed his Zaman Park residence
in Lahore and arrested dozens of his party workers.
The
police personnel, using a power shovel, removed the barricades and tents at the
entrance of the PTI chief's residence and evicted hundreds of his supporters
camping there to prevent Khan's arrest in the Toshakhana case.
They
conducted a search at the house after demolishing its main gate and walls.
Punjab Police, whose action ended later, were reportedly met with resistance
from PTI workers from inside, resulting in violence. About 10 workers were
reportedly injured in the police operation in Lahore.
Khan,
the cricketer-turned-politician, was disqualified by the Election Commission of
Pakistan in October last year for not sharing details of the sales.
The
top electoral body later filed a complaint with the district court to punish
him, under criminal laws, for selling the gifts he had received as prime
minister of the country.
Source:
Times Of India
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ISI
brigadier killed in terror attack in South Waziristan
Mar
22, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Army said on Tuesday night that a brigadier from the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) was killed during an encounter with “hardcore terrorists” in
South Waziristan tribal district.
The
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan army’s media arm, said in a
statement that intense fire was exchanged between the two sides at Angoor Adda
area of South Waziristan. It said Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Burki was “martyred
while leading the encounter from the front” while seven others were injured,
including two who were critically wounded.
The
ISPR said Brigadier Burki and his team “put up a valiant resistance” against
the terrorists during the encounter and the officer sacrificed his life.
“Defence forces of Pakistan and intelligence agencies pledge to reaffirm and
demonstrate firm resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from every inch
of the country,” the ISPR said.
In
another incident, three soldiers and three terrorists were killed in an
exchange of fire in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,
ISPR said. Terrorists had opened fire on a police check post last night in
Khutti area, prompting security forces to immediately block all possible escape
routes. The fleeing terrorists were intercepted in the Saggu area in Dera
Ismail Khan district and three of them were killed after an intense exchange of
fire, the ISPR said, adding that weapons and ammunition were also recovered.
Source:
Times Of India
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Govt
targets youth in election year with Rs150bn package
Khaleeq
Kiani
March
22, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Moving into election mode, the government on Tuesday rolled out a series of
funded programmes for the country’s youth by putting together a total of 15
schemes worth about Rs150 billion, some of them already in place for a few
years.
The
government has now brought all the schemes under the umbrella of the Prime
Minister’s Youth Development Initiatives.
The
rollout — formally launched by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday in the
absence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — came a day after the government
announced that it would provide a fuel subsidy for bikes and rickshaws and
cars of up to 800cc. The mechanism for the youth-oriented scheme has yet to be
worked out.
The
15 youth development initiatives include 60,000 internships, technical and
vocational training for 100,000 youths, 100,000 laptops, 5,000 scholarships for
students of Balochistan and the erstwhile Fata, 1,000 PhD scholarships at the
top 100 US universities, 75 scholarships at top 25 universities of the world,
21 university campuses in remote districts, 250 sports complexes, youth peace
and development student councils in 80 universities, 75 leadership awards, 500
innovation grants worth Rs5-20 million each, Rasta grants for research, 12
Seerat chairs, seven centres of excellence, and uplift of 20 poorest districts
in Pakistan.
“The
two-thirds of the country’s population is based on young people who must be
empowered through education and skills so that they can contribute to the
socio-economic development of the country,” Mr Iqbal told the ceremony
participants.
He
hoped the country would cater to the youth bulge until 2050 in a manner that
they utilise their abilities for economic growth.
Prime
Minister’s Ba-Ikhtiyar Naujawan (Empowered Youth) Internship Programme is
Pakistan’s largest internship scheme and is aimed at addressing critical entry
barriers to the market and enhancing employability. Under this programme,
60,000 paid internships will be given to young graduates nationwide, both in
the public and private sectors.
This
included 30,000 internships in the public sector development projects with an
estimated cost of Rs9.6bn and 30,000 interns in the private industrial sector
at the cost of Rs9bn — both through the Public Sector Development Programme
(PSDP) — for up to one year.
In
addition, about 100,000 youth would be provided free laptops at the cost of
Rs10bn. These projects are in addition to the Rs87bn already approved by the
government for development schemes in the constituencies of 174 MNAs supporting
the prime minister.
Under
the Talented Youth Internship Programme, 30,000 unemployed, graduated youth
would be provided Rs25,000 per month internship for six months in the private
sector with an additional cost of Rs9bn through the Public Sector Development
Programme.
The
government also revived a project to provide laptops to 100,000 youth,
including 20,000 youngsters in Balochistan. In addition, about 75 shining
students who secure admissions to the top 25 universities would be fully funded
by the government.
The
minister said the incumbent government was trying its best to eradicate the
deprivation of Balochistan, which remained neglected in the past, by initiating
a scholarships programme for the students of Balochistan and ex-Fata.
Under
this programme, 5000 scholarships will be given to the students of these two
regions. These scholarships will help the students to pursue their higher
education in their respective fields, he said.
He
said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the government had
started a project to uplift the 20 poorest districts of the country and Rs40bn
has been earmarked for this purpose.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1743528/govt-targets-youth-in-election-year-with-rs150bn-package
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7.8m
families in Sindh to get Rs2,000 each for purchase of flour in Ramazan
Tahir
Siddiqui
March
22, 2023
KARACHI:
The Sindh government on Tuesday approved a Rs15.6 billion Ramazan package to
give relief to over 7.8 million low-income families registered under the
Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) by providing them Rs2,000 extra for
purchase of wheat flour.
Briefing
journalists about decisions taken in the meeting of the provincial cabinet held
on Tuesday, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Chief Minister’s
Law Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the relief would be extended to
the families having Rs50,000 or less monthly income, adding that Rs2,000 per
family would be disbursed for one month under the initiative.
The
information minister said that the cash transfer to the targeted families would
be made through the BISP for which eligible families would receive a message on
their cell phone.
He
said those who do not receive such a message but their average income is less
than Rs50,000 per month could send a message/CNIC number on 8171 for inquiring
about eligibility for the subsidy.
He
said at present there were 7.8m families in the data of BISP having Rs50,000 or
less monthly income. “But if it becomes 10 million, the Sindh government is
committed to providing them relief,” he said.
Amendment
to price control law — fine increased
Minister
Memon said that the cabinet also approved amendments to the Sindh Essential
Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act-2005
to improve price control mechanism during Ramazan.
He
said that under the amendments, the fine for failure to display the price list
of essential commodities had been increased from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 for
producers or dealers, Rs20,000 for retailers other than pushcart vendors, and
Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 for pushcart vendors.
The
minister said that the fine had also been increased over a retailer’s failure
to declare stock of essential commodities from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 and sale
of different commodities at a higher price than the notified/company price the
fine had been increased from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000.
Besides,
he said that the chief minister had directed the chief secretary to ensure
establishment of Bachat Bazaars in each Taluka, where the subsidised provision
of flour, sugar, ghee, and other essential edibles would be ensured.
He
said that the cabinet decided to launch a drive against profiteering and
hoarding. The market committees were directed to ensure the provision of
vegetables and other items at reduced prices.
“In
some areas fruit associations are being encouraged to establish their own
stalls with lower prices,” he added.
The
minister said that the Ghee Mills Association would provide oil and ghee at
subsidised rates from 10am to 4pm at the designated markets to be notified by
commissioners.
Mr
Memon said that the cabinet also decided to enforce an ordinance to discourage
hoarding and profiteering, under which powers of magistrate were being given to
food department officers and other relevant officers.
“Amount
of fine for profiteering and selling goods above official rates is also being
increased,” he said.
Reservations
on census
The
information minister said that the provincial cabinet had also expressed
serious reservations over the ongoing digital census process.
He
said that the provincial government was not satisfied with the measures taken
by the federal government till now. “If our reservations are not removed, the
census will become controversial,” he warned.
He
said that great injustice had been done to Sindh in the previous census, which
was not accepted by the provincial government.
Responding
to a question, he said that the cabinet meeting included the agenda of revision
of fare of the Peoples Bus Service; however, the chief minister decided to
defer it till the end of Ramazan so that maximum relief could be provided to the
people.
Meanwhile,
the cabinet was also told that under the provincial policy directive for the
security of oil pipeline system approved by the provincial cabinet on Feb 6,
2023, the responsibility of neutralising all threats posed to the national
network of oil pipeline system from short to long term basis had been assigned
to the home department — the police and district administrations concerned.
Source:
Dawn
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India
Post-Partition
India A ‘Hindu Rashtra’, Says BJP General Secretary Vijayvargiya
21st
March 2023
Indore:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday
said post-independence and Partition in 1947, whatever was left of India
constituted a “Hindu Rashtra”.
Asked
about the demand from a section of religious leaders to declare India a Hindu
Rashtra, Vijayvargiya told reporters in Indore, “When India was divided, it was
on this issue (on religious lines). After Partition, Pakistan Was formed and
the remaining country is a Hindu nation.”
The
former state cabinet minister claimed a Muslim friend of his living in Bhopal
recites the Hanuman Chalisa every day and also visits a Shiva temple.
“I
asked my Muslim friend how he was inspired to worship Lord Hanuman and Lord
Shiva. My friend replied that when he read the history of his family, he came
to know that his ancestors were Rajputs of Rajasthan and some of his relatives
are still Rajputs who live in Rajasthan and also in Uttar Pradesh,” Vijayvargiya
said without revealing the man’s identity.
The
BJP leader said like his Muslim friend, there are many people in the country
who feel their ancestors once recited the Hanuman Chalisa.
The
veteran politician said he was considering forming a “Hanuman Chalisa Club” to
wean youths away from drugs.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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UP
Power Corporation SDO Sacked For Calling International Terrorist Osama Bin
Laden ‘Best Engineer’
Mar
22, 2023
KANPUR:
The UP Power Corporation Ltd has sacked an engineer for eulogising the slain
international terrorist Osama bin Laden. Sub-divisional officer Ravindra
Prakash Gautam, had been suspended in June 2022 after he put a picture of the
al-Qaeda chief at his Kayamganj subdivision-II office in Farrukhabad.
UPPCL
chairman M Devraj issued his termination order on Monday, after a probe
committee found him guilty of “indulging in an anti-national act that tarnished
the image of the department”.
A
video of Gautam's Kayamganj office with Osama's picture hanging in it had gone
viral last year. The caption of the picture called him “Respected Osama bin
Laden, world's best engineer”. His colleagues said that he used to idolise the
former al-Qaeda chief as he had an engineering degree. Gautam also accepted
that the video was true.
Managing
director of Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam, Amit Kishore, said Gautam was
suspended immediately and a probe initiated against him. The inquiry committee
of DVVNL levelled several other charges against him.
Source:
Times Of India
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Why
Waqf Board Not Taking Action Against Illegal Occupants, Including Government
And Religious Institutions Of Mosques: Haryana Congress MLA
Mar
22, 2023
Questioning
why the Waqf Board is not taking action against illegal occupants of mosques
and other properties of Muslim community, Congress MLA Mamman Khan on Tuesday
alleged that 1,089 mosques have been under illegal possession of private
individuals, including government and religious institutions.
Responding
to the issues the Congress MLA had raised in his question, parliamentary
affairs minister Kanwar Pal said the majority of the properties in question
occupied by other communities are those left behind by the Muslim occupants
during the Partition.
The
MLA wanted to know the details of cases filed/action taken by the Waqf Board
for eviction and recovery of rent against the 12,436 lessees who are defaulters
of lease condition and are in encroachment/illegal possession of waqf
properties in the state. Khan also wanted to know reasons behind no action by
the Waqf Board to remove the illegal possession from 1,089 mosques which he
said have been under illegal possession of private individuals, government,
semi- government or religious institutions in the state.
The
parliamentary affairs minister said the board has issued letters to the
existing defaulting lessees to get their leases renewed/regularised as per the
terms and conditions of the board and issued reminders for the same.
He
informed that about 600 defaulting lessees have got their lease renewed out of
12,436.
Now,
the board is initiating legal action against the defaulting lessees by issuing
legal notices. The board is trying to get the mosques vacated from illegal
possession by persuasive means and also through legal enforcement, he said.
“The
state government will closely monitor and take the required steps through the
Waqf Board for the restoration of the legal possession of the Waqf properties,”
he said.
The
minister said in 2013- 2014 after an Act was passed by the Centre as per which
the land of the Waqf Board would be given through bidding, the lease renewal
stopped and these lease holders kept on becoming defaulters and this number
reached to 12, 436.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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PDA
pastes show-cause notice on house of Guddu Muslim in UP
Mar
22, 2023
PRAYAGRAJ:
A show-cause notice has been pasted on the house of Guddu Muslim at Manja
Chaqniratul locality in Chakia locality. Guddu Muslim is carrying Rs 5 lakh
cash reward on his head, and is wanted by the police in connection with Umesh
Pal and two of his police gunners killing case.
Guddu
was the one among the five key assailants involved in the February 24 Dhoomanganj
shootout incident. His photograph while hurling bombs was also captured in the
CCTV footage. The notice directs the house owner to present the required
documents before the authorities of Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) on
March 25, stating that the house has been constructed without getting the map
sanctioned from the agency concerned. On failure, the PDA authorities seal or
raze the house. Officials said the notice was in fact issued on March 10.
Source:
Times Of India
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NIA
chargesheet against Hizbul OGW in J&K terror conspiracy case
Mar
22, 2023
SRINAGAR:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed the first supplementary
chargesheet against a Hizbul Mujahideen overground worker, Mohammad Rafi Najar,
in a terror conspiracy case in Jammu and Kashmir.
The
case pertains to a conspiracy by terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul
Mujahideen, and Jaish-e-Mohammad, and their offshoots TRF, PAFF, etc., with
their overground workers (OGWs) operating in J&K to carry out terror
attacks in Kashmir Valley and in other major cities of India, including Delhi,
an agency spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“Investigations
in the case had earlier established the connections of the Pakistan-based
commanders of these proscribed organisations with their operatives in Kashmir
Valley to recruit and train youth in handling arms and explosives,” the
spokesperson said. The outfits had floated numerous propaganda materials in
cyberspace to target gullible youth and recruit them as sleeper cells to carry
out terror attacks as well as targeted killings while acting individually or in
small groups, the spokesperson added.
During
further probe, the agency identified and arrested accused Mohammad Rafi Najar,
a close associate of Pakistan-based designated terrorist Imtiyaz Kundoo. A
dealer of handicrafts, Najar was based out of Pokhara, Nepal, and was found
channelising funds for terror outfits on the pretext of the legitimate trade of
Kashmiri handicrafts. The profits obtained from the sale of handicrafts were
then directed to Kashmir Valley through hawala channels and distributed amongst
terrorists operating in the Valley through another OGW, also named in the
chargesheet.
Source:
Times Of India
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6.6
magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan, strong tremors felt across Delhi-NCR
Mar
21, 2023
NEW
DELHI: Strong tremors that lasted several minutes were felt across northern
India as a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit northern Afghanistan late on Tuesday.
Panic-stricken
people rushed out of buildings as the earthquake struck around 10.20 pm and tremors
were felt across parts of north India including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and
Rajasthan.
"I
was sitting on the sofa and talking to my son when everything started shaking.
I raised an alarm. Everyone rushed out ... we felt very strong tremors,"
said a Delhi resident.
A
Noida resident said he first noticed the dining table shaking. "Soon after
we saw that the fans were also shaking. The earthquake was strong in terms of
intensity and stayed for a longer period," the resident said.
There
was no immediate report of any loss of life or property.
The
earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region near the remote northern Afghan
province of Badakhshan. The quake was at a depth of around 180 km.
Initial
magnitude and depth figures varied across various monitoring stations.
Source:
Times Of India
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Turkey
& Kuwait seek more than doubling of flying rights to India
Mar
21, 2023
NEW
DELHI: The CEOs of Turkish Airlines and Kuwait’s budget carrier Jazeera have
sought more flights to more Indian cities as they say the existing bilaterals
are fully exhausted while demand for travel has risen several fold.
The
air service agreement (ASA) between India and Turkey allows a daily flight
between Istanbul and Delhi and Mumbai each. Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi
told TOI at a CAPA summit here Tuesday: “We have requested additional seven
weekly frequencies for Delhi and Mumbai routes each. We have also requested to
be allowed to operate to at least six more Indian destinations including
Ahmedabad.”
Jazeera
CEO Rohit Ramachandran told TOI that an air service agreement (ASA) of 2007
allows 12,000 weekly seats per direction between Kuwait and eight Indian
cities. He said Kuwait has requested for an additional 16,000 weekly seats and
also sought to be allowed to fly to eight more Indian cities. “Kuwait’s
population is 45 lakh, of which 11 lakh are Indians.
When
the bilaterals were given, there were 3 lakh Indians in Kuwait. Over 55% of
people travelling between the two counties do so via the Gulf. So neither
Indian nor Kuwait carriers are able to benefit from the rising travel,”
Ramachandran said.
Jazeera
currently flies to places like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kochi.
Jazeera currently has 20 Airbus A320s in its fleet and will add 13 more over
the next 12 months. “We want to fly to places like Trichy, Goa, Lucknow,
Amritsar and Jaipur. Over 90% of the traffic on our India flights is point to
point and the beyond connecting traffic is in single digits,” he said.
India
— a mega source for international traffic — has in the past few years not been
giving additional bilaterals while taking steps to strengthen desi airlines.
Now the Tata Group has drawn up major plans for its airline business led by Air
India. Over 300-aircraft strong IndiGo has still has over 500 planes on order.
New player Akasa will soon be eligible to fly abroad. The government’s
bilateral policy keeps the interest of Indian carriers and Indian passengers in
mind as bilaterals are now aligned to demand coming to both from Indian side
and not just the foreign side.
Source:
Times Of India
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Ramzan
in India: Moon sighting committee to meet today in Hyderabad
Zahed
Farooqui
22nd
March 2023
Hyderabad:
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee President Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Deccan will hold its
monthly meeting on March 22, 2023, at 6:00 pm at Khanqah Kamil, Astana Shutaria
Dabeerpura, Hyderabad to declare the date for the beginning of Ramzan in India.
The meeting will be held under the supervision of Hazrat Maulana Syed Mohammad
Qabool Pasha Quadri Al-Shatari, Secretary, Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Deccan.
Members
of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee have been requested to participate. Apart from
it, whoever sees the moon before 8 pm should inform the phone number 24603597
and after 8 o’clock on the phone numbers 24513246, 24576832, 24521088 or mobile
numbers 9866112393, 9391964951, 9885151354, 900008138. The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee
has made reasonable arrangements for ruet to facilitate the acquisition of
information.
Ramzan
in India
The
date for the beginning of Ramzan in India will be decided based on the sighting
of the crescent. If it is sighted today, then the holy month in India will
begin tomorrow else, it will start on Friday.
Meanwhile,
many business establishments and restaurants in Hyderabad and other cities in
India completed their preparation for Ramzan.
During
the month, most of the business establishments remain open beyond their normal
hours. All most all restaurants in Hyderabad are gearing up special menus for
‘Sehri’ and haleem.
Ramzan
in Saudi Arabia
In
Saudi Arabia, Ramzan will begin on Thursday as the crescent was not sighted on
Tuesday evening.
In
other middle east countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ramzan
will begin on Thursday.
The
date for the beginning of the fasting month is determined by both lunar
calculations and the sighting of the new moon. Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting
of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. The sighting of a crescent heralds
the beginning of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramzan
is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Fasting during the holy
month is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for all healthy
Muslims. However, young children, sick people, travellers and women who are
pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating are exempt.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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https://www.siasat.com/ramzan-in-india-moon-sighting-committee-to-meet-today-in-hyderabad-2552340/
--------
Europe
Match
officials asked to pause evening matches for Muslim players across Premier
League and EFL to break fast
March
21, 2023
To
allow players to break their fast during Ramadan, referees in the Premier
League and English Football League have been asked to pause evening matches,
according to Sky Sports.
The
holy period of Ramadan, which is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is
set to start on Wednesday and will end on the evening of Friday, April 21.
Match
officials have been advised to allow participants to break their fast by
consuming beverages, energy gels, or supplements on the sidelines during the
pause in play.
Referees
have also been asked to identify players who would need to break their fast
during the game before kickoff and, where feasible, agree on a rough time for
this to occur.
Several
Muslim players, including Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Chelsea midfielder
N’Golo Kante and Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez are among players who are
expected to abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.
However,
this is not the first time that matches in the Premier League have been paused
for players to break their fast. Two years ago, Leicester City’s game against
Crystal Palace was stopped to allow players to break their fast, and it is
thought to be a Premier League first.
Meanwhile,
the Chelsea Foundation on Sunday, March 26, will hold an unprecedented Open
Iftar, along the side of the pitch at the iconic Stamford Bridge stadium,
marking an exciting milestone for the club and the whole Premier League,
according to the club’s official website.
Source:
Indian Express
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UK
inquiry into allegations of SAS extra-judicial killings of Afghans to begin
22
March ,2023
A
public inquiry into allegations that members of British special forces carried
out dozens of extra-judicial killings during night raids in Afghanistan gets
underway in London on Wednesday.
Britain’s
defense ministry ordered the inquiry after a BBC TV documentary last year
reported that soldiers from the elite Special Air Service (SAS) had killed 54
people in suspicious circumstances.
It
also came after two families, who accuse the SAS of killing their relatives in
2011 and 2012, began legal action to demand judicial reviews of their cases.
The
inquiry, led by senior judge Charles Haddon-Cave, will examine whether there
was unlawful activity by British military personnel between mid-2010 and
mid-2013 during ‘deliberate detention operations’, and whether there is
credible information of extra-judicial killings.
It
will also look at whether investigations by the Royal Military were properly
conducted and if any unlawful killings were covered up.
“The
UK’s armed forces rightly hold themselves to the highest possible operational
standards,” junior defense minister Andrew Murrison told parliament when he
announced the inquiry in December.
“Operations
must be conducted within the clear boundaries of the law and credible
allegations against our forces must always be investigated thoroughly.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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France
calls Israeli minister's remarks denying existence of Palestinians
'irresponsible'
Esra
Taskin
22.03.2023
PARIS
France
on Tuesday rejected remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich
concerning Palestinians, describing them as "irresponsible"
In
a statement, the Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli government to refrain
from using words that could escalate tensions in the region.
"We
call on persons who have been called to high office within the Israeli
government to show the required dignity," it said.
During
an event in Paris on Sunday organized in memory of French-Israeli Zionist
activist Jacques Kupfe, Smotrich said there were "no Palestinians because
there isn't a Palestinian people."
Citing
biblical "prophecies" that are "beginning to come true," he
said that "after 2,000 years...God is gathering his people. The people of
Israel are returning home."
"There
are Arabs around who don't like it, so what do they do? They invent a
fictitious people and claim fictitious rights to the Land of Israel, only to
fight the Zionist movement," he added.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Bosnian
students send toys to earthquake victims in Türkiye, Syria
Talha
Ozturk
21.03.2023
BELGRADE,
Serbia
Students
from a primary school in a village in Bosnia and Herzegovina collected toys to
send to children affected by earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
Students
from the Abdulvehab Ilhamija Primary School in Zeljezno Polje, along with their
teachers and parents, packaged the gifts and staged a play in honor of the
victims of two powerful earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye on Feb. 6.
And
in neighboring Montenegro, about $100,000 in cash was collected by the
Association of Pensioners for victims.
Bosnia
and Herzegovina and the Western Balkan countries have launched aid projects and
donation drives to help quake victims.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Socioeconomically
weak Muslims, immigrants, refugees most prone to becoming targets of
Islamophobia in Denmark: Expert
Rabia
Ali
21.03.2023
In
Danish society, Muslims who are socially and economically backward, those who
migrated to the country in recent years, or those seeking asylum are the ones
most likely to suffer from anti-Muslim discrimination and racism, according to
an expert.
“My
worry is that these policies (against Muslims), they often vilify Muslims in
general but the ones they hit the most are the ones who are socioeconomically
vulnerable, the ones who don’t have citizenship, the ones who are more recent
migrants or asylum seekers. I think that’s where my big contention is with
Islamophobia in Denmark,” sociologist Amani Hassani told Anadolu.
Hassani,
a Danish Muslim and a research director at the Center for Muslim Rights in
Denmark, shared her views on the current state of Muslims in Denmark.
The
European Islamophobia Report 2022 released on Tuesday named Denmark as the most
vulnerable country for Muslims, along with France and Austria.
According
to Hassani, Muslims on the lowest rung of the social and economic ladder, as
well as refugees, face discrimination not only due to the rising anti-Muslim
sentiments but also stricter citizenship and the country’s ghetto policies
targeting low-income Muslim communities.
Islamophobia
is taking away their avenues to have a voice in society, and one way of doing
that is by removing citizenship or the ability to gain citizenship, she said.
The
World Population Review of 2019 reported that 313,713 Muslims are living in
Denmark -- around 5.4% of the country's overall population.
The
discourse against Muslims is not sudden, the sociologist said, adding that the
hate speech of politicians against Muslims, which are often openly acceptable
in society, has been the case for several years.
“What
we saw in 2022 has been (happening for) many years leading up to that point.
.... Now, it has become much more acceptable in a political speech to
specifically say ‘Muslims are the problem.
"This
won’t come out in policies themselves as they (politicians) have to adhere to
the Danish constitution which says you can’t discriminate against religious
minorities. But it will come out in different ways, so instead of saying
Muslims, the politician will then write non-Westerners in policy documents and
in legislation,” she stressed.
Vilifying
Muslims, Muslim citizens, and Muslims coming into the country, and seeing them
as potentially problematic have become more acceptable within political
rhetoric, according to Hassani.
Different
levels of anti-Muslim discrimination
As
a Muslim, one can experience different kinds of discrimination, starting from
"microaggressions" from people that question Muslims’ belonging to
Denmark and Danish society.
People
can also undergo structural discrimination, which is seen in policies, where
someone from a Muslim-majority country may have harder access to housing or
jobs.
“Another
way of expressing discrimination is actual hate and violence on the streets. We
have seen an increase in hate crimes against Muslims in recent years,” said the
expert, who was born and raised in Denmark.
A
2018 report by the Danish National Police indicates that out of 112 hate crimes
that were religiously motivated, 56% were Muslim victims.
European
Islamophobia Report 2022 shows that people from Africa or the Middle East have
a significantly greater risk than Danes of being arrested or charged without
being convicted.
"According
to the analysis, the risk of being charged without a conviction is 27% higher
for immigrants and 45% higher for descendants compared to people of Danish
origin," the Institute of Human Rights in Denmark noted, adding that there
is a problem with discrimination and ethnic profiling within the police force.
Human
rights activist Lamies Nassri in the Islamophobia report also noted the ongoing
discussion about the government’s attempt to close Muslim schools in 2022. In
Denmark, the Commission for the Forgotten Women’s Struggle, last year
recommended a hijab ban in elementary schools, Nassri said.
'Good
Muslim' vs 'bad Muslim'
The
Danish society makes a distinction between professionally and financially sound
Muslims possessing Danish citizenship and those who might be asylum seekers or
recent immigrants, according to Hassani.
“There’s
(also) a counter-narrative within society that celebrates ‘the good ones,’
(that) the good Muslims are the ones who are well-educated and have a good
position, and (that) we (Denmark) want to keep them. ... You see that in
political rhetoric as well. ... We want to do everything we can to celebrate
the doctors, the engineers. ... and then, there are the ‘bad ones,’ we got to
do everything we can to make sure that they don’t come in the country in the
first place, and when they are here, try to make it (their life) as difficult
as possible,” she stressed.
Stricter
policies for Muslim immigrants
People
coming to Denmark from MENAPT (Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and
Türkiye), to apply for Danish citizenship are likely to be treated differently,
Hassani warned.
“I
am worried that in the future, we will see policies that will try to limit
people from this region entering the country and gaining asylum at the same
level as anyone else, you know seeking refuge. We haven’t seen it yet, but it
is in the rhetoric in recent years.”
While
Ukrainian refugees were welcomed to the country, and got jobs and housing, with
their asylum applications accepted, the treatment was not the same for Syrian
refugees, who are being pushed back, she also said.
On
average, it takes 19 years for people to get Danish citizenship, according to
Hassani, who said the recent anti-migrant wave might make things harder.
“What
I worry for the future in Denmark is that we are going to have a growing
population ... born and raised in Denmark, who do not have access to citizenship,
which is the main thing that I predict, will be a major issue for democracy in
Denmark essentially.”
Integration
Hassani,
whose family migrated from Yemen to Denmark in the late 1960s, finds it
problematic that discussions of Muslim integration in society are still being
held today.
“I
think it's problematic that we are still talking about integration, as
politicians ... can’t accept the fact that Muslims are part of Danish society
and very much part of the Danish landscape and history," she said.
"You
know, many of us have families who came in the 1960s, over half a century ago,
and then, politicians have this idea of wanting to go back to some sort of pure
Danish nation which I think is the central problem here.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Mideast
Palestinian
prisoners begin major hunger strike at Israeli jails
21
March 2023
A
group of Palestinian inmates in an Israeli jail has gone on an open-ended
hunger strike in protest against the regime’s repressive policies.
In
a statement released on Wednesday, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS)
said more than 2,000 prisoners were also set to join the strike action on
Thursday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
The
major grievance of the prisoners is the repressive measures adopted upon orders
from the far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The
hunger strike is to draw attention to violations of the basic rights of the
Palestinian prisoners. The inmates are denied access to basic medical care and
are frequently subjected to torture.
Hundreds
of Palestinian prisoners are held under administrative detention, in which Israel
keeps the detainees without charge for up to six months, a period which can be
extended an infinite number of times. Rights groups say Israel’s use of
administrative detention is a ‘bankrupt tactic.’
There
are reportedly more than 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Israeli
jail authorities keep the prisoners under deplorable conditions without proper
hygienic standards.
On
Monday, the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, voted to allow settlers
to return to areas in the northern part of the occupied West Bank which were
evacuated in 2005.
The
move prompted a strong denunciation from the Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas. Spokesman Jihad Taha said the passing of the bill was meant to Judaize
Palestinian territories, but that it would only boost the spirit of resistance
among the Palestinian youth.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/03/21/700237/Israel-Palestinian-prisoners
--------
Iran
Vows to Take Tit-for-Tat Action Against EU, UK Fresh Round of Sanctions
2023-March-21
"The
confrontational and sanction policy will be met with Iran's proportional
response," Amir Abdollahian told his Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib
during a telephone conversation on Monday.
Earlier
in the day, the European Union announced that it was imposing restrictive
measures on additional eight individuals and one entity, including members of
the Judiciary, a member of the Iranian parliament, clerics, and a senior
official of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Also on Monday,
Britain imposed sanctions on more senior officials of Iran's Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC), including those whom it claimed were responsible for
managing the elite force's financial investments.
Both
Brussels and London have alleged that they have resorted to the coercive
measures over, what they called were, Tehran's treatment of foreign-backed
unrest that followed the death of a young Iranian woman in police custody last
year.
The
Iranian minister condemned the EU and the UK's recent bans, stressing,
"Some European parties accuse others of seeking recourse to violence,
while themselves have a dark history of dual behavior concerning the issue of
human rights and [tow a history of] systematic violation of these rights."
He
cited the French police's treatment of recent protests against Paris' plans to
raise the retirement age as a case in point.
The
Belgian official, for her part, condemned any instance of dual approach,
insisting on the need for resolution of standing differences between Tehran and
Brussels through negotiation.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini who fainted
at a police station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a
hospital. The demonstrations soon turned violent.
An
official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization announced that Amini’s
controversial death was caused by an illness rather than alleged blows to the
head or other vital body organs.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
The
unrest has claimed the lives of dozens of people and security forces, while
also allowing acts of terror and sabotage across the country. Iran's Interior
Ministry has confirmed the enemy waged a hybrid war against the country to
weaken national solidarity and hinder the country's progress, stressing that
some 200 people lost their lives in the riots sparked by separatist and
terrorist groups.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
President
Rayeesi Offers Greetings to Nowruz-Celebrating Nations
2023-March-21
President
Rayeesi in a message congratulated the arrival of Nowruz and the New Persian
year to the leaders of the countries of Nowruz civilization field.
He
wished the New Year to be a year accompanies by benevolence for the leaders of
Nowruz civilization field and their people.
Nowruz,
the start of the year according to the Persian calendar which marks arrival of
spring was celebrated across Iran.
Nowruz,
which coincides with the first day of spring on the solar calendar is mostly
celebrated in 10 countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
The
International Day of Nowruz was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity in February 2010.
For
Iranians, Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change, a time to visit
relatives and friends, and pay respect to senior family members.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
Iran's
Leader Names New Year as Year of "Inflation Control, Growth in
Production"
2023-March-21
Ayatollah
Khamenei addressed the nation on the occasion of the Persian New Year on
Tuesday morning local time.
The
following is the full text of the Leader’s New Year message:
In
the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O’
Changer of hearts and sights,
O’
Director of nights and days,
O’
Transformer of situations and circumstances,
Transform
our circumstances to the best of circumstances
I
would like to congratulate each and every member of the Iranian nation on the
arrival of Nowruz, especially the respected families of the martyrs, the
wounded and the veterans of the war and those who are serving the people, as
well as all other nations who honor Nowruz and place importance on it. May God
bless all of you on the occasion of this noble Eid.
This
year, the spring of nature coincides with the spring of spirituality – the
month of Ramadan. Regarding spring, it is said that one should not cover one’s
body from the spring breeze. Similarly, regarding the spiritual spring of
Ramadan, we should also adhere to this sentence [by the Prophet (pbuh)]:
"Expose yourself to them" – "Indeed, during your life [you
encounter] fragrant breezes, expose yourself to them" [Awali al-Laali,
Vol. 4].
The
breeze of spirituality that exists in the holy month of Ramadan embraces
everyone and we must prepare ourselves for it. We should expose our hearts to
this spiritual, divine, and sweet-scented breeze.
In
this speech and at this hour, I will briefly look at the year 1401 SH, and I
will also take a quick look at the year that will begin from now, the year 1402
SH. The year 1401, was a year full of various events – economic events,
political events, social events – some were sweet, some bitter, like all the
years of a person’s life, and overall, like the years that the Iranian nation
has experienced, especially after the Islamic Revolution.
In
my opinion, in 1401, the most important issue for the nation was the issue of
the country's economy, which is directly related to people's livelihoods. On
the matter of the economy, there were bitter moments but also sweet ones. There
was bitterness in some sectors which I will mention, and there were also sweet
moments in some cases concerning the economy. These matters should be seen
together, alongside each other, and then an overall evaluation can be made
about them.
The
bitterness was mainly because of inflation and high prices, which is truly
upsetting, especially the increase in the price of food and the basic
necessities of life. When there is a significant increase in food prices and
the prices of basic necessities, the economically weaker sectors of society are
the ones who are impacted the most, because food items and the main, essential
living supplies have the largest share in their household basket. As a result,
the pressure is mainly on them, and this of course, was one of the bitter
occurrences. In my opinion, regarding the major economic issues of the country,
this issue was a more fundamental, significant matter that was bitter.
Of
course, good work has also been done in the economic field and the achievements
that affect the economy, which I will talk about. These achievements should be
pursued so they can affect and be linked to people’s lives and their
livelihoods. There was support for production. Based on the information I have
received, production was supported in the country in the year 1401. Thousands
of factories that had been shut down or were semi-operational started operating
again.
There
was an upsurge in knowledge-based companies. Of course, it was not as much as
what I had asked for in the previous year, but there was still a significant
increase in the numbers of these companies. There was also an increase in the
product value of these companies.
The
issue of employment improved. That is to say, unemployment decreased by a
percentage – even though it was a small percentage – and employment increased a
bit, which is something that should be valued. The exhibition that was
organized by governmental and non-governmental manufacturers, as well as the
meeting in the [Imam Khomeini] Hussainiyah, where the country’s major
manufacturers gathered and spoke, was truly a pleasing event.
I
pass positive judgement on the products that the country’s manufacturers have
produced, they have performed well. There has been growth in several economic
indicators. We have had a good growth index in the insurance industry and we
have performed well in the field of construction, water, gas, roads and
environmental sectors. Of course, as I mentioned before, and I say this with emphasis
now, these tasks must be linked to people’s lives, they must create relief in
people’s lives.
When
will it happen? When will this situation occur in such a manner? When it
continues, when detailed plans have been made about it and God willing, these constructive
activities must continue this year, in the year 1402, so that they can create
prosperity in people’s lives and bring food to their tables, especially among
the weaker social classes.
Of
course, we need to also keep in mind that we are not the only ones faced with
economic problems. Many countries around the world today, or perhaps one can
say all countries have certain economic problems. Even the world’s wealthy
countries [are not immune from this]. Countries that have strong, advanced
economies, are truly plagued by a large number of problems and dilemmas. Some
of them are even worse off than us in this sense. Strong economies are faced
with bank failures, which you heard about recently. Of course, some of them
were reported, and others were not, but you will hear about them soon. In some
countries there are bank bankruptcies and massive, trillions of dollars of
debts. There are problems over there and there are problems here as well.
They
are trying to overcome it and we should do the same. We need to make an effort.
The officials must work hard. Government officials should do everything they
can, in addition to the endeavors that are being made by those working in the
economic, political and cultural fields, to make the year 1402, a sweet and
pleasant year for the Iranian nation. In other words, we all have a duty to God
willing, make this a year full of sweet moments for the Iranian people. The
bitterness should be reduced and the sweetness increased and we should God
willing, add to our achievements.
Now,
as for the year 1402. I believe that in 1402, the economy will continue to be
the main issue that we should focus on. This is not to say that we do not have
other problems. We have various other problems too, such as in the cultural and
political fields. However, the main and central issue this year is the issue of
the economy. So, if God willing, we are able to reduce the economic problems
and if God willing, our officials make an effort, practice diligence and work
hard on important tasks in this field, many of the country’s other problems
will also be solved.
[This
applies to] the administration, the Islamic Parliament, those active in the
economic field, and young, motivated public groups, some of which I know about
and am truly fond of. I am aware that they are accomplishing great tasks in
these economic fields. All of these groups should focus their attention on
helping to solve the country’s problems and the problems that people are faced
with. Now, sometimes, solving these problems is achieved through basic economic
activities, such as production. So, production is a fundamental task in the
economy. [Sometimes it is achieved with] humanitarian and Islamic activities,
such as public aid and assistance and public cooperation with the more disadvantaged
sections of society.
So,
I spoke about production and I place importance on it, but investment is also
important alongside production. I would like to draw the attention of both the
respected government officials and the private sector to this matter. In the
last decade, we fell behind greatly in terms of investment. The issue of
investment is one of the important gaps in our country. Investment needs to
take place. This too is an important task.
Considering
all these different aspects, the things that are important, including both
inflation and domestic production – inflation is the main problem and domestic
production is definitely one of the keys to saving the country from economic
problems. So, considering these matters, I would like to announce that this
year’s slogan is: "Inflation control, growth in production." This is
the slogan for this year.
The
country’s officials should focus all their attention on these two matters. The
country’s officials are the ones who primarily need to focus on these, and
secondly, as I mentioned before, those active in the economic field and members
of the public who are able to do something, and also those working in cultural
fields, such as the radio and television networks, need to create cultural
awareness in these areas.
All
of these groups need to pay attention to these two important issues: They need
to firstly focus on controlling inflation. They need to truly curb and reduce
inflation as much as possible and they need to also focus on boosting production.
Therefore, [the slogan of the year] is "Inflation control and growth in
production."
I
pray that Almighty God will grant everyone success. I offer my greetings,
devotion and sincerity to the spirit of the existent universe, to the vestige
of God remaining on earth - may our souls be sacrificed for his sake.
I
ask Almighty God to elevate the status of our late magnanimous Imam and the
pure souls of our dear martyrs to the highest levels.
And
I pray that Almighty God will grant the Iranian nation prosperity, happiness,
and rejuvenation.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
Raps Biden's Nowruz Message
2023-March-21
On
Monday, Biden said the US stands with the “brave women and all the citizens of
Iran” who are inspiring the world with their conviction and courage as they
fight for their “human rights and fundamental freedoms".
Speaking
at a White House event celebrating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, Biden added
Washington and its partners will “continue to hold Iranian officials
accountable for their attacks against their people".
In
response, Kana'ani criticized the Nowruz message of the US leader.
"Enmity
with the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation is an unchangeable part of the
US regime's foreign policy, which is also reflected in the Nowruz message of
its officials every year," he wrote on Twitter.
"The
claim of supporting Iranian women while simultaneously maintaining and
intensifying the cruel sanctions against the Iranian nation is a display of the
hypocrisy and hostility of the American regime and its anti-Iranian
leaders," the spokesperson added.
Iran
blasts the blatant violations of human rights in the US and Europe, stressing
for the US, human rights is merely a tool for exerting political pressure on
independent states to advance their foreign policy objectives. Officials in
Tehran call on the international community to hold the US accountable for its
crimes. They mocked the US claim over supporting Iranian women and girls amid harsh
sanctions which have disrupted the ordinary lives of the people.
Tehran
has also denounces the disturbing human rights situation in the European
countries, and note the West does not have the authority to be the flag-bearer
in this field.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020101000243/Iran-Raps-Biden's-Nwrz-Message
--------
Iran's
UN Envoy Urges Human Rights Council to Stop Political Attitude
2023-March-21
Bahraini
made the remark on Monday while addressing a meeting of the UN Human Rights
Council.
He
said the conduct of those who deprive the Iranian nation of their basic rights
while alleging to be advocating their human rights is nothing but “sheer
hypocrisy".
“It
is a sheer hypocrisy that the perpetrators of crimes against Iranian people
advocate for the human rights of Iranians and table draft resolutions against
Iran while depriving the same people of their basic rights to health, to
education, and to life,” Iran’s ambassador added.
Bahraini
also slammed false reports prepared on the human rights situation in Iran,
including by UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman, who also addressed the Monday
session of the council before the Iranian envoy’s speech.
Iran’s
ambassador stated such biased reports ignored the realities on the ground in
Iran, adding that Rehman refrained from mentioning the foreign-backed terrorist
attacks in the country, which led to the deaths of dozens of security forces
and innocent people.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Bahraini touched on the role of the foreign-backed media in
inciting terrorism in the country.
Iran’s
ambassador said hundreds of foreign-based TV and radio channels as well as
social networks encourage violence in Iran by providing tutorials on how to
make weapons and engage in armed conflict.
Bahraini’s
remarks came after Rehman presented his report to the council, claiming that Iran's
authorities have committed violations in recent months that may amount to
crimes against humanity, including by cracking down on foreign-backed violent
riots that swept the country for three months.
The
Iranian envoy stated that Rehman’s allegations were imaginary and Iran was
being singled out and targeted in the council.
"They
try to portray their imaginations as the reality of the situation in
Iran," he added.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini who fainted
at a police station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a
hospital. The demonstrations soon turned violent.
An
official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization announced that Amini’s
controversial death was caused by an illness rather than alleged blows to the
head or other vital body organs.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
The
unrest has claimed the lives of dozens of people and security forces, while
also allowing acts of terror and sabotage across the country. Iran's Interior
Ministry has confirmed the enemy waged a hybrid war against the country to
weaken national solidarity and hinder the country's progress, stressing that
some 200 people lost their lives in the riots sparked by separatist and
terrorist groups.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020101000363/Iran's-UN-Envy-Urges-Hman-Righs-Cncil-Sp-Pliical-Aide
--------
Ten
soldiers killed in renewed fighting in Yemen despite peace efforts: Sources
22
March ,2023
At
least 10 soldiers were killed in renewed fighting in Yemen, military sources
told AFP, despite diplomatic efforts to halt the long-running war in the Arab
world’s poorest country.
The
clashes took place in oil-producing Marib province, one of the main
battlegrounds and the scene of sporadic fighting even during a lull in
hostilities over the past year.
The
Iran-backed Houthi militia attacked a mountainous area and have been engaged in
a build-up of forces in the region, two military sources told AFP.
“The
Houthis launched an attack on hills overlooking Harib district, south of Marib,
and made progress on that front, causing the displacement of dozens of
families,” one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“At
least 10 soldiers were killed, in addition to an unknown number of attackers,”
the source added. The details of the clash were confirmed by a second military
official.
The
fighting comes a month after at least four soldiers were killed in the same
district.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Türkiye,
Iraq reaffirm commitment to fight all forms of terrorism
Merve
Aydogan
21.03.2023
Türkiye
and Iraq on Tuesday reiterated their commitment to combat all forms of
terrorism.
It
is clear that terror groups such as the PKK, Daesh/ISIS, and FETO “pose a
threat to both countries,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a
joint news conference with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in the
capital Ankara.
“During
our meeting, we discussed all aspects of our bilateral relations. We reaffirmed
our determination to fight all forms of terrorism,” he said, adding that their
talks focused on Türkiye’s efforts against the terrorist organizations.
“Our
expectation from our Iraqi brethren is that they will designate the PKK as a
terror group and clear their lands of this bloodthirsty terrorist
organization,” Erdogan said.
PKK
terrorists have hideouts in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, which
they use to plot attacks on Türkiye.
In
its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a
terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and EU – has been responsible for the
deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
"Türkiye,
again, is the greatest defender of Iraq's political unity and territorial
integrity," Erdogan said.
Although
differences in understanding may arise between neighbors at times, Türkiye and
Iraq have always proved that they are determined to solve the issues in line with
neighborhood law, he added.
Erdogan
also thanked the Iraq government and its people for their solidarity after the
two powerful earthquakes that shook Türkiye's southern regions on Feb. 6, and
said the premier's visit is viewed as a token of the friendship of the Iraqi
people.
On
transportation corridor from Türkiye's border to the southern Basra province of
Iraq, Erdogan said "We have assigned our ministers who will carry out the
work to realize the development road project extending from Basra to Türkiye."
"I
believe that we will transform the this project into the new Silk Road of our
region," he said, adding that the projects is also strategically important
for the entire region.
The
Turkish president also affirmed that Ankara and Baghdad share the same
sensitivities on further increasing bilateral trade, and the leaders exchanged
views on solutions to solve issues that business people and citizens face.
On
Türkiye’s water issue with Iraq, Erdogan said Ankara views it “not as a
conflict, but an area of cooperation that can serve our common interests.”
“We
have decided to increase, as much as possible, the volume of water released
from the Tigris River for one month to help alleviate Iraq’s distress,” he
said.
Al-Sudani
thanked the Turkish president for the decision on increasing water.
In
Iraq, 98% of its surface water, which is in the high water stress category,
comes from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
The
country depends on water from the two rivers, which flow from Türkiye and Iran,
but in recent years the outflow decreased due to low rainfall.
Al-Sudani
said Iraq conveyed to Türkiye its “desire to enhance relations in all fields.”
On
the fight against terrorism, he stressed that Iraq will not allow any terror
group to use its territory for attacks on Türkiye.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Israel
announces restrictions on Palestinian entry to Al-Aqsa during Ramadan
Zain
Khalil
21.03.2023
Israel
has announced various restrictions on Palestinians during the holy month of
Ramadan with regard to entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“Women
of all ages, male children up to 12 years old, and men over 55 years old will
be allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan without a permit,” the
coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Ghassan
Alyan, said in a statement on Monday.
Israel
will “impose a permit on men from 45 to 55 years old,” he added.
The
Israeli official also said a "security approval" is required for
Palestinians in the West Bank to visit their relatives in the 48 territories,
or for foreigners to visit their relatives in the West Bank.
He
stressed that "working hours will be increased at the various West Bank
crossings during the month of Ramadan."
With
regard to the Gaza Strip, according to the statement, Israel imposed a
"limited quota" for women aged 50 and over, and men aged 55 or over,
from Sunday to Thursday, to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Tension
has been rising across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated
Israeli military raids into Palestinian towns.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Africa
Nigerian
opposition leader petitions court over election results
Timothy
Olanrewaju
22.03.2023
MAIDUGURI,
Nigeria
Nigeria's
opposition Labour Party leader Peter Obi has filed a court petition seeking the
cancellation of last month’s presidential election, an official said Tuesday.
The
head of Obi's media team, Diran Onifade, told Anadolu that Obi is challenging
the process that led to the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) party as the winner of the hotly contested polls.
"Yes,
Mr. Obi filed a petition at the Presidential Election Tribunal on Monday night
in Abuja," he said.
In
the petition, the opposition leader is also asking the court to order fresh
elections, challenging the qualifications of Tinubu and his running mate Kashim
Shettima.
The
country's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 1 declared
Tinubu the winner after he secured over 8.7 million votes.
Obi
came third with 6.1 million votes while Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
candidate Atiku Abubakar garnered 6.9 million votes.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Jordan
says Israel rejects ‘racist’ comments by minister
21
March ,2023
Jordan’s
foreign minister on Tuesday decried an ultra-nationalist Israeli cabinet
minister’s comment as “racist” after the latter spoke from a podium adorned
with a map depicting Israel as including all of Jordan and the Palestinian
territories.
An
official source told Reuters on Tuesday that Amman had received assurances from
Israel that the statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich did not
represent Israel’s position.
Smotrich,
who heads a religious-nationalist party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
hard-right coalition, said on Sunday there was “no such thing as a Palestinian
people,” or Palestinian history or culture.
Amman
late on Monday summoned the Israeli ambassador in Jordan over the map and said
Smotrich’s move violated international norms and Jordan’s peace treaty with
Israel.
“These
statements are provocative, racist and come from an extremist figure and we
call on the international community to condemn it,” Jordan’s Foreign Minister
Ayman Safadi said at a news conference on Tuesday.
The
official source said Israel’s national security advisor had called Safadi to
assure him that Israel respected his country’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
Safadi
said his government could adopt further steps if Israel repeated such
provocations but did not elaborate.
“Israel
has to stop the measures that are leading to a deterioration on the ground and
fueling the violence,” he said.
In
a statement on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates also condemned the map and
Smotrich’s comments about Palestinians.
The
Israeli-occupied West Bank has seen a surge of confrontations in recent months,
with near-daily Israeli military raids and escalating violence by Jewish
settlers, amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians.
Israel’s
Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter, “Israel is committed to the 1994 peace
agreement with Jordan. There has been no change in the position of the State of
Israel, which recognizes the territorial integrity of the Hashemite Kingdom.”
Jordan
was stepping up a diplomatic campaign to pressure Israel to lift heavy-handed
security measures during the fasting month of Ramadan beginning later this
week, Safadi said.
In
previous years, Ramadan has seen violent clashes between Israeli police and
Palestinians, particularly around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s
third holiest site, revered as the Temple Mount by Jews. Ramadan coincides this
year with Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Tunisia
rejects ‘overblown’ EU warnings of collapse
21
March ,2023
Tunisia
on Tuesday dismissed as “overblown” concerns of a looming economic or social
collapse after the EU’s top diplomat warned of a “very, very dangerous”
situation in the North African country.
European
Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had warned Monday that if crisis-torn
Tunisia “collapses economically or socially then we will be in a situation
where new flows of migrants will come to Europe.”
Tunisia’s
foreign ministry rejected his comments as “overblown, both in view of the
well-established resilience of the Tunisian people throughout its history, and
in view of the threat of migration to Europe from the south.”
An
EU delegation was set to visit Tunisia on Tuesday to examine “the political and
socio-economic situation” and discuss cooperation over irregular migration,
according to an EU statement.
In
the statement, it blamed the country’s leadership in the years following the
2011 pro-democracy revolution for the country’s woes.
Tunisia
has suffered over a decade of economic and political crisis, culminating in a
July 2021 power grab by President Kais Saied, whose rivals have accused him of
mounting a coup.
Saied
has since overturned the country’s post-revolution constitution and granted
himself almost limitless powers, as well as launching a crackdown against the
opposition.
Tunisians
have continued to struggle with joblessness and surging inflation, exacerbated
by the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pushing many to try to leave
the country.
Tunis
is in prolonged talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $2-billion
bailout package to help the heavily indebted treasury balance its books.
Southern
European leaders, particularly Italy’s far-right government, are concerned at
inflows of irregular migrants from and via Tunisia, which lies just 130
kilometers (80 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Tunisians
make up a large proportion of those attempting the dangerous journey, but many
other Africans escaping violence and poverty from south of the Sahara also try
to reach Europe via Tunisia.
Saied
in February made an incendiary speech blaming “hordes of illegal migrants from
sub-Saharan Africa” for a crime wave and saying a “criminal plot” was underway
to change the nation’s demographic make-up.
The
World Bank effectively suspended new lending to Tunisia after Saied’s remarks,
a move that put pressure on the IMF not to approve a bailout.
Beyond
the economic situation, the EU has been upset by Saied’s increasing
authoritarianism and a crackdown on opponents that has seen more than 20
political figures arrested in recent weeks.
“We
cannot turn a blind eye to what’s happened,” Borrell said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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As
Ramadan arrives, inflation assails North African nations
March
22, 2023
With
Ramadan starting, households in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia will be struggling
to supply their pantries. Ongoing inflation has pushed up food prices and
caused shortages.
Inflation
was supercharged by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Morocco,
Tunisia and especially Algeria are key wheat importers and saw higher prices
weigh down state budgets during 2022.
Higher
prices for fertilizers and transportation have also pushed up food production
costs globally. But in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the weeks leading up to
Ramadan typically add to inflation, as households stock up for festivities
during the holy month.
Algeria’s
national statistics agency reported overall annual inflation at 9.49% in
January, and food inflation reached 13.53%. Algerians have been especially
penalized by the price of fresh goods, which in the capital, Algiers, jumped by
23.58% year on year.
The
country spends over $10 billion yearly importing food, according to estimates
by the United States Department of Agriculture. Main imports include cereals,
powdered milk, cooking oil and sugar.
But
Algeria’s inflation has also been driven by an injection of money into the
system, after higher energy prices raised the country’s oil and gas export
revenues. Mourad Ouchichi, an economist and lecturer at the University of
Bejaïa in Algeria, told Al-Monitor, “This money is being distributed through a
nominal increase in salaries and unemployment benefits. The government is using
the money to buy social peace, and this has added to inflation.”
Some
key ingredients for Ramadan are especially weighing down on Algerians. The
price of onions in January rose by more than 96% year on year, while orange
prices jumped by 70%. Lamb meat and egg prices rose by 43% and 33% respectively,
according to figures by the national statistics agency.
Annual
inflation in Tunisia reached 10.4% in February, with food prices growing by
15.6%. The country's economic crisis has devalued the currency and left the
cash-strapped government often unable to pay for imports of subsidized goods.
This has led to cyclical shortages and higher prices.
On
average, household consumption in Tunisia rises by 34% during Ramadan. But most
Tunisians are struggling to make ends meet. The price of vegetable oils in February
rose 24.6% year on year, chicken increased by 25.3%, and milk by 16.1%.
On
Thursday, Tunisia’s Ministry of Commerce announced maximum sale prices and
margins for basic goods such as eggs, fruits, and chicken until the end of
Ramadan.
In
Morocco, annual inflation accelerated to 8.9% in January 2023, with food
inflation reaching 16.8%. Besides global commodities such as wheat, Moroccan
inflation is also being driven by transport costs and fragmented distribution
channels.
Since
it eliminated fuel subsidies in 2015, Moroccan domestic fuel prices have
fluctuated according to global prices. Because it imports over 90% of the
hydrocarbons it consumes, Morocco is especially vulnerable to energy and
transport price surges.
Rachid
Aourraz, an economist and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute
in Washington, told Al-Monitor, “If inflation continues to climb over the
coming months, it is highly probable that we will see street protests.”
North
African governments have long been aware of how sudden food price increases can
trigger popular discontent. Faced with escalating high prices, authorities in
the region have been clamping down on speculation by traders.
In
Tunisia, the government passed a law in March 2022 that includes jail terms of
up to 30 years for people or groups accused of food profiteering. Tunisian
media regularly shows security forces seizing food items from warehouses and
detaining alleged speculators.
Algeria,
too, has jailed traders accused of buying subsidized goods such as semolina and
cooking oils to sell in neighboring Tunisia at a profit.
But
speculation is the easiest aspect of inflation to deal with, rather than its
biggest driver. “You cannot eliminate speculation with a law,” says Mourad
Ouchichi. “Governments like to showcase speculation as the main cause for
inflation mostly to show they are working to fight inflation.”
Source:
Al Monitor
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/ramadan-arrives-inflation-assails-north-african-nations
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Claiming
secularity, Kalu opposes Muslim Senate presidency
By
From John Akubo, Abuja
22
March 2023
Lays
claim to seat as ‘most senior’ lawmaker
Chief
Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu has indicated that the 10th Assembly could not
afford to vote for a Muslim Senate President, citing Nigeria’s secularity.
The
former Abia State governor, who backed the same faith ticket of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) that produced President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice
President-elect Kashim Shettima, observed that having another Muslim as Senate
President would not augur well for the country.
The
ruling party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is equally a Muslim
from Nasarawa State.
Speaking
yesterday in Abuja, Kalu noted: “In a secular state, you will need to
accommodate interest and spread to maintain the secularity of the country.
“I
believe in a Muslim-Muslim presidency, but I do not believe in a Muslim Senate
President because it will not go fine for our country.”
Indicating
interest for the seat and stating it was his turn, he restated: “I will not be
comfortable with a Muslim Senate President because this is a secular state.”
The
chief whip urged APC to zone the office to his South East geopolitical zone.
“And
so, I will like the party to zone it to my zone, to my village in Igbere
because President-elect Tinubu needs people of high character to turn around
the economy and work for the masses. I am an economic person, an entrepreneur,”
he said.
Kalu
insisted that he is the most qualified lawmaker for the seat going by Senate
rules and his pedigree.
Source:
Guardian Nigeria
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://guardian.ng/news/claiming-secularity-kalu-opposes-muslim-senate-presidency/
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Jordan
deputy PM discusses efforts to solve Syria crisis with UN envoy
March
21, 2023
AMMAN:
Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir
Pedersen on Tuesday discussed an initiative to solve the Syrian crisis through
direct Arab-Syrian government dialogue.
Safadi,
who is also minister of foreign affairs and expatriates, reaffirmed his
country’s full coordination with the UN on all details of the initiative,
reported Jordan’s News Agency.
During
their meeting in Amman, the deputy prime minister briefed the UN envoy on the
kingdom’s aid to survivors of the earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkiye
last month.
Coordination
is continuing with Arab countries on a date to launch the Syria initiative,
Safadi said, adding that Arab countries are entitled to lead the dialogue.
He
reiterated Jordan’s support for Pedersen’s efforts to reach a political
solution to the crisis in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No.
2254.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2273076/middle-east
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