Pakistan Attempts to Convert Lahore Gurdwara Into Mosque, India Lodges Strong Protest
New Age Islam News Bureau
28
Jul 2020
• Separatist Geelani Gets Pakistan's Top Civilian Award
•
Turkish Magazine Calls for Founding Islamic Caliphate After Hagia Sophia
Conversion
•
Hagia Sofia Well Protected by Turks, Greek Priest Says
•
Taliban Push to Control Private Companies, Aid Agencies in Afghanistan
•
Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Bin Salman: We Thank the US for Its Efforts to Protect
Region
India
•
Pakistan Attempts to Convert Lahore Gurdwara Into Mosque, India Lodges Strong
Protest
•
Separatist Geelani Gets Pakistan's Top Civilian Award
•
Chennai: Two detained under Goondas Act for hurting sentiments of Hindus,
Muslims
•
In Pakistan’s 18-point Kashmir plan for Aug 5, outreach to Turkey, Malaysia and
China
•
NIA files charges against six people for ‘providing logistical support to JeM
militants’
•
UN report on ISIS in Karnataka: Home Ministry seeks report on security from top
official
--------
Mideast
•
Turkish Magazine Calls for Founding Islamic Caliphate After Hagia Sophia
Conversion
•
Hagia Sophia prayers ignites war of words between Turkey, Greece
•
FM Spokesman: Iran’s Presence in Syria upon Damascus’ Request, Netanyahu
Prattling
•
Minister: Concrete Measures Needed against US Terrorist Regime
•
Israeli settlers vandalize, firebomb mosque in West Bank: Palestinian Authority
•
Israel, Hezbollah launch attacks near Israel-Lebanon border
•
At Red Cross office, Gazans continue support for Palestinian prisoners
--------
Europe
•
Hagia Sofia Well Protected by Turks, Greek Priest Says
•
'Greek protest means nothing to us': Turkish party head
•
Being Muslim In Germany's Bundeswehr Means No Pastoral Care
•
Spain Sees Thaw in Europe-Turkey Tensions on Energy Drilling in Mediterranean
•
Turkey hails OSCE pact on eastern Ukraine cease-fire
--------
South Asia
•
Taliban Push to Control Private Companies, Aid Agencies in Afghanistan
•
Explosion in Kabul city leaves at least 3 dead, wounded
•
Taliban killed 580 civilians, wounded 893 others in first half of 2020: UNAMA
•
Taliban’s deputy shadow governor among 7 killed in Wardak province
--------
Arab World
•
Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Bin Salman: We Thank the US for Its Efforts to Protect
Region
•
Lebanon now rated as low as Venezuela after Moody’s rating cut to lowest grade
•
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirms support for Iraq’s
security
•
Three Syrian regime fighters killed; others injured in car explosion in Syria’s
Daraa
•
Lebanese Hezbollah fighters carry out op against Israel in response to Syria
aggression
--------
Pakistan
•
Jadhav Case: Pakistan Govt Presents Ordinance in National Assembly
•
All businesses to reopen if Covid figures remain low, says PM
•
Outcry over Rangers ‘raid’ on Karachi Press Club
•
Consensus among opposition to get rid of PTI govt: Fazl
•
Pakistan seeks world help for coronavirus-hit nations
--------
Southeast Asia
•
Malaysia Ex-PM Najib Fails to Raise Reasonable Doubt on Abuse of Power Charge: Court
•
Malaysia's ex-PM Najib Razak found guilty on all corruption charges
--------
Africa
•
Somalia Congratulates Turkey on Reverting Hagia Sophia
•
'Libya, Turkey made clear deal to repel Haftar attacks'
•
At least 60 killed in Sudan at fresh Darfur clashes
•
Morocco sees travel mayhem after snap movement restrictions to curb coronavirus
--------
North America
•
‘People Were in Tears’ - Muslim Community’s Devastation at Mosque Arsonon
Aylsham Road
•
US, Europe call for release of businessman jailed in Turkey for 1,000 days
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pakistan-attempts-convert-lahore-gurdwara/d/122486
--------
Pakistan
Attempts to Convert Lahore Gurdwara Into Mosque, India Lodges Strong Protest
July
28, 2020
Gurdwara ‘Shahidi Asthan’
----
New
Delhi: India on Monday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan High Commission
over reports of attempts being made to convert a famous gurudwara at Naulakha
Bazaar in Lahore into a mosque, a spokesperson in the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) said.
"A
strong protest was lodged with the Pakistan High Commission today on the
reported incident whereby Gurdwara ‘Shahidi Asthan’, site of martyrdom of Bhai
Taru Singh ji at Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan has been claimed as the
place of Masjid Shahid Ganj and attempts are being made to convert it to a
mosque," MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
He
said India expressed its concerns, in strongest terms, on the incident and
called upon Pakistan to investigate the matter and take immediate remedial
measures.
"Pakistan
was also called upon to look after the safety, security, well-being of its
minority communities, including protection of their religious rights and
cultural heritage," Srivastava said, responding to a query on the matter.
He
said Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan Bhai Taru Ji is a historical gurdwara where Bhai
Taru Ji made supreme sacrifice in 1745.
"The
gurdwara is a place of reverence and considered sacred by the Sikh community.
This incident has been viewed with grave concern in India. There have been
calls for justice for the minority Sikh community in Pakistan," he added.
https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-lodges-strong-protest-over-attempts-to-convert-lahore-gurudwara-into-mosque-8647561.html
--------
Separatist
Geelani gets Pakistan's top civilian award
Jul
28, 2020
Syed Ali Shah Geelani had last month resigned from
All Party Hurriyat Conference. (Photo:AFP File)
------
SRINAGAR/ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistani senate on Monday unanimously passed a resolution conferring the
country’s highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, on Kashmiri separatist
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, besides proposing an engineering university in his name.
The
resolution was moved by Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mustaq Ahmad and passed
unanimously with a voice vote. The senate also decided to hold its session in
the “legislative assembly” of Muzaffarabad in POK on August 5, which marks the
first anniversary of the defanging of Article 370 in J&K.
The
resolution lauded Geelani’s “the selfless and relentless struggle and sacrifices”
of Geelani for the “right to self-determination” of the people of J&K, and
proposed inclusion of the ‘life and struggle’ of Geelani in the country’s
academic curriculum.
The
development comes less than a month after Geelani quit his Hurriyat faction and
named Rawalpindi-based Abdullah Geelani as successor amid speculation that he
was doing ISI’s bidding.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/separatist-geelani-gets-pakistans-top-civilian-award/articleshow/77210355.cms
--------
Turkish
Magazine Calls for Founding Islamic Caliphate After Hagia Sophia Conversion
27
July 2020
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
accompanied by his wife Emine, poses for photographs in the Hagia Sophia on
July 23, 2020. (AP)
-----
A
Turkish magazine called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate on Monday
following the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
The
latest cover of the magazine “Gercek-Hayat,” translated as “True Life” in
English, reads “Now Hagia Sophia and Turkey are independent…Get together for
Caliphate.”
“If
not now, when? If not you, who?” it goes on to say, in both Turkish, English,
and Arabic. Some have interpreted this as a call for Erdogan to establish
Islamic rule that transcends Turkey’s borders.
The
cover displays the Arabic words of the Islamic declaration of faith known as
the shahada.
Earlier
this month Erdogan announced the conversion of the ancient Hagia Sophia - originally
built as a church in the sixth century – from a museum into a mosque.
It
officially opened as a mosque on Friday with Erdogan in attendance for prayers
and Turkey’s top government imam delivering a sermon holding an Ottoman sword.
Erdogan
as ‘caliph’
Turkish
journalist Abdurrahman Dilipak, who shared the magazine cover on his Twitter
account, said last year that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has earned
the title of “Caliph.”
“The
Caliphate now rests with President Erdogan,” Dilipak said during an interview
last March, according to Ahval news outlet.
Erdogan
has styled himself to be a global Islamic leader in line with Turkey’s Ottoman
history, whose rulers used the title caliphs to perpetuate a claim that they
are the true rulers of the Islamic world.
The
term caliph has been used by terrorist organizations like ISIS to symbolize
their desire to control the Muslim world and bring it under an extremist
Islamic rule.
Magazine
links to the Turkish government
Gercek
Hayat is an Islamist weekly magazine that has links to the Turkish government,
according to former Turkish parliament member AykanErdemir.
The
publishers of Gercek Hayat own one of the leading pro-Erdogan daily newspapers
in Turkey, which has received “significant economic support from government and
pro-government entities over the years,” said Erdemir who is now senior
director of the Turkey Program at the US thinktank Foundation for Defense of
Democracies.
The
magazine has a history of making comments against religious minorities in
Turkey including Christians and Jewish people, according to Erdemir.
In
May, religious minorities in Turkey condemned the magazine for linking three
religious minority leaders – the Chief Rabbi, the Armenian patriarch, and the
Greek Orthodox ecumenical patriarch – to terrorism.
The
anti-Christian and anti-Semitic incitement in Gercek Hayat is “in-part
government-funded and hence government-sanctioned,” according to Erdemir.
“If
Erdogan’s government was truly concerned about Gercek Hayat’s targeting of religious
minorities, they could have stopped providing economic support to its
publishers,” he said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2020/07/27/Turkish-magazine-calls-for-founding-Islamic-caliphate-after-Hagia-Sophia-conversion.html
--------
Hagia
Sofia well protected by Turks, Greek priest says
Ayhan
Mehmet
27.07.2020
If
the Turks had not protected Hagia Sofia, it would have fallen a long time ago,
a Greek Orthodox priest said.
EvangelosPapanikolaou,
the priest at Analipseos Church in Rafina near Athens, said in a speech that
Turks protected many churches in Greece and did not close them.
“Who
would protect a massive building like Hagia Sofia? Turks did,” he said, adding
that Turks never shut any churches in Crete but many monasteries and churches
were closed down in Greece on the orders of Otto I,” he said, referring to a
Catholic Bavarian prince who was declared the king of Greece in 1832.
Othonas
refused to adopt Orthodoxy and remained as a heretic in the eyes of Greek
population.
Papanikolaou
said people were able to practice their religion under the Turkish rule in
Greece.
“That’s
why [Byzantine] people had said ‘I’d rather see Turkish turban than Latin
mitre’. I would wish to see none of those two but if I have to make a decision,
I would prefer the Turks,” he said.
The
famous phrase "I would rather see a Turkish turban in the midst of the
City (i.e., Constantinople) than the Latin mitre" reflects the suffering
of Orthodox Christians in the hands of Catholics following the Great Schism of
Christianity on July 16, 1054.
Papanikolaou
went on to say that many tourists visited Hagia Sofia in improper clothes while
it was a museum but from now on they will take off their shoes and wear long
dresses and headscarves in accordance with the attire rules in a place of
worship.
“Isn’t
it a sign of respect?,” he asked rhetorically.
“Maybe
we need to take this not as a damnation but a correction,” he said referring to
Turkey's restoring of Hagia Sophia's status as a mosque.
On
July 24, Friday’s prayers in the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque marked the first
acts of worship there in 86 years.
Some
350,000 Muslims took part in Friday prayers both inside and outside the
historic mosque in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest metropolis.
On
July 10, a Turkish court annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that turned Hagia
Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use as a mosque.
Hagia
Sophia served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and a
mosque from 1453 to 1934 -- nearly 500 years -- and most recently as a museum
for 86 years.
In
1985, during its time as a museum, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World
Heritage List.
Besides
being a mosque, Hagia Sophia is also among Turkey’s top tourism destinations
and will remain open for domestic and foreign visitors.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/hagia-sofia-well-protected-by-turks-greek-priest-says/1924386
--------
Taliban
push to control private companies, aid agencies in Afghanistan
Jul
28, 2020
KABUL:
The Taliban wants all private companies and aid organisations operating in
Afghanistan to register with the hardline Islamists, officials from the group
said.
The
order was issued last week and comes as the Afghan government and Taliban
officials prepare to engage in intra-Afghan talks aimed at ending the fighting
in the war-torn country.
The
negotiations, slated to be held in the Qatari capital Doha, are part of a
February deal between the United States and the Taliban to end the nearly
two-decades-old war. Washington is trying to iron out difficulties and bring
the Taliban and the Afghan government to the table.
The
militant group has been running a armed rebellion since it was toppled from
power in a U.S.-led invasion in 2001 and has regained control over thousands of
check-points across a broad swathe of the country, with commanders overseeing
distribution of foreign aid.
A
spokesman for the group said its officials had noticed that some companies and
NGOs, including national and international organisations, were pursuing
activities that they deemed were against the national interest.
"We
will not allow any agency to work against the interest of our beloved
Afghanistan, Islam...so we want to register all of them to have information
about their activities," said the spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.
Foreign
aid forms the backbone of Afghanistan's economy and over 2,200 NGOs operate in
the country providing education, health and financial support to the poor.
Last
year, the Taliban briefly banned the International Committee of the Red Cross
and the World Health Organization from operating in the country and accused
them of conducting "suspicious" activities during vaccination
campaigns.
Afghan
government officials said the Taliban was making desperate attempts to assert
control over government functions. "Taliban is a terrorist group. They
have no right to force companies, NGOs to register themselves with them,"
said Dawa Khan Minapal, deputy spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/taliban-push-to-control-private-companies-aid-agencies-in-afghanistan/articleshow/77210708.cms
--------
Saudi
Arabia’s Khalid bin Salman: We thank the US for its efforts to protect region
27
July 2020
Saudi
Arabia’s Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman thanked on Monday the
United States for its efforts to protect the region and for sending forces and
defense systems to the Kingdom.
Prince
Khalid’s comments came after he met with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff General Mark Milley in Riyadh.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“Met
with the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley to
confirm our two countries' resolve in securing the region, within the context
of our historical partnership with the USA,” Prince Khalid said in a tweet.
He
added: “I also conveyed to him the Kingdom’s leadership’s thanks for the
efforts of the US in preserving the security of the region by sending forces
and defense systems to the Kingdom.”
The
Saudi Ministry of Defense said the Prince and the US official discussed the
military and defense strategic partnership of the two countries and reaffirmed
agreement on “confronting all forms of terrorism and threats to the security of
the region through advanced defense coordination.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/07/27/Saudi-Arabia-s-Khalid-bin-Salman-We-thank-the-US-for-its-efforts-to-protect-region.html
--------
India
Chennai:
Two detained under Goondas Act for hurting sentiments of Hindus, Muslims
by
Janardhan Koushik
July
27, 2020
An
anchor of a YouTube channel and a member of political outfit Hindu
TamilarPeravai were Monday detained under the Goondas Act, for hurting the
religious sentiments of Hindus and Muslims respectively.
Surendra
Nataraj alias Nathigan, an anchor for DK-Periyarist YouTube channel
KarupparKootam, had been arrested on July 16 by the Chennai police for posting
a video “ridiculing” Hindu deity Murugan and Hindu hymn KandhaSasthiKavasam.
The
complaint against him was filed by RS Paul Kanagaraj, the head of the state’s
BJP legal division, on behalf of Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President MN Raja. Other
outfits like Hindu MunnetraKazhagam and Hindu MakkalKatchi too demanded stern
action against him and the people involved in bringing out the video.
The
Cyber Crime Wing has booked Surendra under sections 153, 153 (A) (1), 295 (A),
505 (1) (b), 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code. Two other persons involved with
the channel KarupparKootam have also been arrested. All the videos of the
channel have been removed.
The
Hindu TamilarPeravai member, SJ Gopal, was arrested on July 17 for circulating
defamatory content on Prophet Mohammad. Based on a complaint by the Popular
Front of India’s Chennai division, which claimed that the defamatory content
had been spread over social media with intent to hurt religious sentiments and
promote enmity between religious groups, Gopal was arrested by the cyber wing
of Chennai police under sections 153 (A), 295 (A), 505 of the IPC.
On
Monday, both were detained under the Goondas Act on the orders of Chennai City
Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Agarwal.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/chennai-two-detained-under-goondas-act-for-hurting-sentiments-of-hindus-muslims-6526171/
--------
NIA
files charges against six people for ‘providing logistical support to JeM
militants’
July
28, 2020
The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a chargesheet in a special
court in Jammu against six people for allegedly providing logistical support to
three Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants who had infiltrated into
the country in January.
The
six accused — all residents of Kashmir — were stated to be part of JeM’s
“infiltration-transportation” module.
They
have been identified as Sameer Ahmed Dar, Asif Ahmed Malik, Sartaj Ahmed
Mantoo, Suhaib Manzoor, Zahoor Ahmed Khan and Suheel Javid alias Suhail Lone.
All have been charged under IPC Sections 120B, 121,121A, 122 and 307 IPC,
besides provisions of the UAPA, the Arms Act, the Explosive Substances Act and
the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.
As
per the chargesheet, a truck carrying three Pakistani militants was stopped on
January 31 at the Ban Toll Plaza near Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar national
highway. While Sameer Ahmed Dar, Asif Ahmed Malik and Sartaj Mantoo managed to
escape, heavily armed militants hiding inside the the truck opened fire at the
police party, before fleeing.
In
the ensuing searches, the security forces killed all three Pakistani militants
and arrested the truck driver and his two associates. The other three accused
were JeMoverground workers (OGWs) and they had provided to the militants
shelter, logistics and communications. They had also purchased ‘pherans’ for
the militants to make them look like Kashmiris, and to help them hide their weapons.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-files-charges-against-six-people-for-providing-logistical-support-to-jem-militants-6526551/
--------
UN
report on ISIS in Karnataka: Home Ministry seeks report on security from top
official
by
Darshan Devaiah BP
July
28, 2020
Taking
note of a United Nations report on the “significant numbers” of ISIS terrorists
in Kerala and Karnataka, the B S Yediyurappa-led government has sought a report
from Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG and IGP) Praveen Sood
on the internal security of the state.
The
report on terrorism released last week said there are “significant numbers” of
ISIS terrorists in the two states and that the al-Qaida in the Indian
Subcontinent terror group, which reportedly has between 150 and 200 militants
from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, is planning attacks in the
region.
Speaking
to indianexpress.com, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “The UN
report on ISIS terrorist activities in Karnataka is based on the arrests made
by the state police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the past year.”
“Our
government is co-ordinating with the Centre and other neighbouring states and
closely tracking the suspected terror groups in the state. However, following
the UN report, we have decided to strengthen the internal security of the state
and have directed the Director-General of Police to submit a detailed report,”
he added.
The
minister also said that the ISIS is operating via various modules, some of
which are active in the southern states of the country. “Along with the NIA,
Karnataka has busted two modules in Bengaluru and Udupi districts. We are
working closely with Tamil Nadu and Kerala state police,” he said.
On
July 13, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against 17 ISIS suspects who had
allegedly formed a terror group named Al-Hind to carry “out terrorist attacks
in South India, especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and for establishing
Islamic Khilafat in India”.
According
to the investigating agency, Mehboob Pasha, one of the chargesheet accused and
a resident of Gurappanapalya in Bengaluru, in association with Khaja Mohideen
and Sadiq Basha (another chargesheeted accused), formed a terror group for
spreading the ideology and activities of the terror outfit in India through its
offshoot known as Al-Hind in Bengaluru.
“They
were conspiring with other co-accused at the house and Al-Hind office of
Mahboob Pasha in Guruppanpalya and other places in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
since April, 2019, for carrying out terrorist attacks in south India,
especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and for establishing Islamic Khilafat
in India,” the NIA chargesheet read.
According
to the NIA, Pasha and Mohideen recruited vulnerable youths, and procured arms
and ammunition and large quantities of explosive materials to make powerful
improvised explosive devices (IED).
“They
also collected jungle training material to conduct training at an identified
place at Shivanasamudra and Gundelpet area and for securing hideouts. The
accused persons were also communicating with an unknown foreign ISIS handler
through secure chat (Dark Web) for perpetrating ISIS activities,” NIA has said.
On
February 24, NIA conducted searches at 15 locations in Karnataka in connection
with the case. “This case pertains to a criminal conspiracy with an objective
of murdering Hindu leaders, creating communal riots and to do anti-national
activities by forming a terrorist gang, being inspired by ISIS… The members of
the terrorist gang conducted meetings at Bengaluru and other parts of
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and propagated ISIS ideology, procured arms and
ammunition and other incriminating material for executing their plans,” they
said.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/united-nations-report-isis-kerala-karnataka-home-ministry-6525386/
--------
Mideast
Hagia
Sophia prayers ignites war of words between Turkey, Greece
25
July 2020
Neighboring
Turkey and Greece have traded barbs over the disputed conversion into a mosque
of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a day after
Friday prayers were held in the medieval spot for the first time in nearly nine
decades.
The
iconic site, now officially known as the Great Mosque of Ayasofya, was
constructed in the 6th century AD as a cathedral, during the Byzantine Empire,
but was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in
1453.
In
1934, Turkey’s cabinet declared it a museum. However, on July 10, Turkey’s
Council of State, which is the highest administrative court in the country,
annulled the 1934 decision, saying the move had been unlawful.
The
court ruling has drawn criticism.
Following
the court order, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that henceforth the
monument would serve as a mosque again.
Greece,
apart from being at odds with Turkey over a number of issues, has been
scathingly critical of Ankara’s decision so much so that church bells tolled in
mourning across Greece on Friday as Erdogan joined prayers at Hagia Sophia.
“Greece
showed once again its enmity towards Islam and Turkey with the excuse of
reacting to Hagia Sophia Mosque being opened to prayers,” Turkish Foreign
Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement, carried by Turkey’s
official Anadolu news agency, on Saturday.
He
also denounced “hostile” statements by Athens and legislators at the Greek
Parliament to what he described as stirring up the public.
Aksoy
further lambasted the Greek authorities for allowing a Turkish flag to be
burned by far-right Greek extremists in the city of Thessaloniki late on
Friday.
“We
strongly condemn hostile statements made by members of the Greek Government and
Parliament provoking the public opinion and allowing the burning of our
glorious flag in Thessaloniki,” he said.
“These
racist mindsets, who have not drawn the required lessons from history, those
who disrespect our glorious flag should remember their fate in the Aegean,”
Aksoy said.
In
response, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “the
international community of the 21st century is stunned to observe the religious
and nationalist fanatic ramblings of today’s Turkey.”
It
also slammed the burning of the Turkish flag, saying the ministry condemned in
the “strongest possible terms any act of insulting the national symbol of any
country, in this case, Turkey.”
Late
last week, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in a television
interview that mosaics depicting Mary and Gabriel that face Qiblah, the
direction in which Muslims stand while saying their prayers, would be covered
with curtains or lasers during the upcoming prayers.
“Our
goal is to avoid harming the frescoes, icons, and the historic architecture of
the edifice,” the official said.
There
are other such mosaics at the site that would not be covered because they do
not face Qiblah, he added.
Turkish
authorities say the mosque will be open to all visitors outside prayer time and
all mosaics will be uncovered.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/07/25/630395/Turkey-Greece-Hagia-Sophia
--------
FM
Spokesman: Iran’s Presence in Syria upon Damascus’ Request, Netanyahu Prattling
Jul
27, 2020
"Iran's
presence in Syria is upon the request of the Syrian legitimate and lawful
government," Mousavi reiterated.
Emphasizing
Iran's advisory presence in Syria, he said in view of Iran and many countries
it is the very existence of the Zionist regime that is illegitimate as it has
occupied and usurped the Palestinian territories.
"Israelis
are in no position to talk about Iran's presence," he noted.
Netanyahu
said on Sunday that Israel will not “allow” Iran’s presence on its “borders”,
referring to the Syrian borders with the Occupied Lands of Palestine.
In
a statement last week, Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the
UN Majid Takht Ravanchi blasted the US unilateral “shameful” sanctions against
Syria, and added that all foreign forces who are not permitted by Damascus
should leave the country.
Addressing
a United Nations Security Council session dubbed as "Middle East: Syria –
Political", Takht Ravanchi emphasized that all should fully respect
Syria’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial
integrity.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990506000868
--------
Minister:
Concrete Measures Needed against US Terrorist Regime
Jul
27, 2020
"Approaching
a civilian aircraft is a clear violation of the Chicago Convention and all
countries are required to comply with it," Eslami said.
The
Iranian road and urban development minister retreated that the airplane was
flying in its routine route, and this aggression is doomed to failure.
Two
US fighter jets approached a Mahan Air Tehran-Beirut flight over the Syrian sky
in a highly risky move and the captain of the Iranian passenger plane was
forced to make a sudden change of direction and altitude, causing several injuries.
The
captain of Mahan Air Flight No. 1152 later said the pilots of the two hostile
planes have identified themselves as US army pilots during a radio contact.
A
video posted by a reporter of Iran's state-run TV who was aboard the plane
showed an F-15 fighter jet from the window of the plane and comments from a
passenger who had blood on his face.
In
a later interview from Beirut, the reporter said three passengers have been
wounded during "the US planes' intentional move".
Iranian
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi said Iran's Ambassador to the UN
Majid Takht-Ravanchi has informed the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of
the incident, and warned that "in case of any incident for this plane on
the way back home, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the United States
responsible".
"A
similar message has been sent to the Swiss ambassador to Tehran," the
spokesman added. The Swiss embassy hosts the US interests section in Iran in
absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Mahan
Air told FNA later that several passengers have been wounded during the
incident and have been taken to a hospital in Beirut and others have evacuated
the plane sound and safe.
It
said the passenger jetliner refueled to fly back to Iran.
The
jetliner flew back home early Friday morning.
Minister
of Road and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said threatening of Iran’s
passenger plane by US fighter jets is a terrorist move, and added that CAOI has
filed a complaint at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Speaking
to FNA on Friday about the hostile move of the US fighter jets against the
Iranian Mahan Airbus late on Thursday, Eslami said, “This is a terrorist act
which has been carried out by the US lawless and oppressive government. This is
considered an international aggression typical of the lawless American
government.”
The
Civil Aviation Organization of Iran called for urgent investigation by ICAO
into the threat posed by the US fighter jets to the Iranian passenger plane.
"Iran
considers the US fighter jets' threats as blatant instance of the violation of
international law, regulations and aviation standards," the CAOI wrote in
a communique on Friday.
Iranian
Vice President for Legal Affairs LayaJoneidi also said disturbing a passenger
plane is equal to the violation of indispensable international rules and
regulations.
Causing
of disturbance for a passenger plane amounts to violation of the inalienable
principles of international rules, Joneidi wrote in a note on Friday.
“The
behavior of the fighter jets against Flight No. 1152 of Mahan Air and creating
trouble for the passenger plane, and that in a third country’s soil [airspace],
is in flagrant violation of aviation security and infringing the principle of
freedom of flight for civil planes,” she said, and noted, “Furthermore, it is
in contrast to article 3 and article 44 of Chicago Convention, the relevant
appendices and Montreal 1971 Convention."
Joneindi
underlined that the explanations presented by the US are unjustifiable and unconvincing;
thus, “the measures taken by these fighters have caused international
responsibility for their government and is liable to legal prosecution,
including at the ICAO and International Court of Tribunal.”
In
relevant remarks, Iran's Judiciary Deputy Chief for International and Human
Rights Affairs Ali Baqeri said the two US fighter jets' violation and
threatening move against Iran’s Mahan Air passenger flight is a clear
manifestation of aerial piracy, and noted that the body is legally and judicially
following up the “systematic breach of international aviation” by the American
regime.
Baqeri
said that failure to address the issue seriously and effectively will lead to
violation of international peace and security.
He
referred to the “systematic audacity” of the American regime in blatant
violation of international rules and regulations, saying, “Aggression of the
terrorist US Army central command [CENTCOM] against Iran’s passenger plane over
Syria is in violation of freedom of flight for civil airplanes and is also in
violation of fundamental principles and regulations of international human
rights.”
Stressing
that the recent aggression of the US fighter jets against the Iranian Mahan
Airbus is not the first of such measures by the American terrorist army, the
Judiciary Deputy Chief said, “The American drone attack on the convoy of
Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3, the US Navy’s
shooting down of Iranian Passenger Airliner over the Persian Gulf in June 1988
and interception of Aseman Airliner in April 2017 indicate that “systematic
violation” of freedom of flight and aviation security has turned into a routine
conduct of the American criminal regime in the face of international rules and
regulations.”
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990506000303
--------
Israeli
settlers vandalize, firebomb mosque in West Bank: Palestinian Authority
27
July 2020
The
Palestinian Authority said Monday that a group of Israeli settlers has tried to
burn down a mosque near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Hussam
Abu al-Rub, the Palestinian deputy minister for religious affairs, said
settlers attacked the mosque after midnight, spray painting anti-Palestinian
slogans in Hebrew and then hurling firebombs inside that burned part of the
structure.
The
mosque in el-Bireh, near Ramallah, is on a hilltop opposite an Israeli
settlement. On one of its walls read the slogan: “A siege on the Arabs, not on
the Jews.”
Abu
al-Rub said a firebomb came in through a window and burned part of the
bathroom.
“Had
the firebomb got to the carpet floor of the prayer hall, the mosque would have
burned completely,” he said. “The Israeli government is responsible for the
attack because they are the ones who opened the way for settlers to take our
land and terrorize our people.”
Israeli
police had no immediate comment and there was no claim of responsibility. But
it appeared to be the latest case of the so-called “price tag” attacks that
hard-line nationalist Israelis have been known to carry out against Arabs in
recent years.
These
attacks have mostly been directed at Palestinians in response to militant
attacks or perceived efforts by Israeli authorities to limit settlement
expansion, while others have targeted Christian and Muslim sites.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/07/27/Israeli-settlers-vandalize-firebomb-mosque-in-West-Bank-Palestinian-Authority.html
--------
Israel,
Hezbollah launch attacks near Israel-Lebanon border
27
July 2020
Hezbollah
carried out an operation against the Israeli military on Monday at the
Lebanon-Israel border, Lebanese sources familiar with the operation said.
The
Israeli military said there had been a “security incident” on Israel’s northern
border with Lebanon and Israeli media reported there was an exchange of fire in
the area with militants of the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia group.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Israel’s
N12 TV News said the military had foiled an attack by Hezbollah. The Israeli
military ordered residents in the area to stay indoors. There were no immediate
reports of casualties.
A
Reuters witness in Lebanon counted dozens of Israeli shells hitting the Shebaa
Farms area, landing near an Israeli position. Fires were burning and smoke was
rising from the area.
A
Lebanese source said Hezbollah’s attack was made in retaliation for the death
of one of its fighters, killed in an apparent Israeli strike on the edge of
Damascus last Monday.
“Lebanon
and Hezbollah will bear the responsibility for any attack from Lebanese
territory,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in broadcast
remarks, shortly before the reports of the incident.
Following
the killing of two Hezbollah members in Damascus last August, Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah, the group’s leader, vowed it would respond if Israel killed any more
of its fighters in the country.
Hezbollah
has deployed fighters in Syria as part of Iranian-backed efforts to support
President Bashar al-Assad in a conflict that spiraled out of protests against
his rule in 2011.
Israel
sees the presence of Hezbollah and its ally Iran in Syria as a strategic threat
and has mounted hundreds of raids on Iranian-linked targets there. It captured
the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/07/27/Lebanon-s-Hezbollah-carry-out-operation-against-Israeli-army-Sources.html
--------
At
Red Cross office, Gazans continue support for Palestinian prisoners
27
July 2020
In
a regular display of solidarity with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a
sit-in was held at the office of the Red Cross in Gaza City on Monday.
Over
200 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since 1967.
The
suffering of the prisoners has intensified during the coronavirus pandemic.
On
Thursday, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that Palestinians held in Israeli jails
have no right to social distancing protection against COVID-19.
During
a press conference outside the Red Cross office, the Islamic Jihad’s Muhjat
al-Quds Foundation for Prisoners accused the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) of
endangering the lives of the prisoners.
Palestinian
prisoners are subjected to degrading conditions, including administrative
detention, solitary confinement, and bans on family visits.
Currently
some 5,000 Palestinian political prisoners are reportedly being held in 24
Israeli prisons and detention centers.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/07/27/630547/Gaza-Palestinian-prisoners
--------
Europe
'Greek
protest means nothing to us': Turkish party head
Mehmet
Tosun
28.07.2020
Greece
flying flags at half-mast and tolling church bells over last week’s opening of
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Mosque are its internal matters and no concern of
Turkey, said a Turkish opposition party leader on Monday.
Athens
seeing some claim over Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is well within Turkey’s
legitimate and sovereign borders, is proof that Greece is stuck at 567 years
ago, when the Ottomans conquered Istanbul, said a statement by DevletBahceli,
head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Hagia
Sophia Mosque was opened through the joint efforts of the People's Alliance
made up of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and MHP after a court
annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree that had made Hagia Sophia a museum. Before
that, it had been a mosque for nearly 500 years.
Bahceli
hailed the court ruling as the most important event in recent history, calling
the Greek actions in response “fascistic."
“This
attitude of Greece does not serve stability, peace, or tranquility,” he added.
Hagia
Sophia served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and a
mosque from 1453 to 1934 – nearly 500 years – and most recently as a museum for
86 years.
In
1985, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Besides
being a mosque, Hagia Sophia is also among Turkey’s top tourism destinations
and will remain open for domestic and foreign visitors.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/greek-protest-means-nothing-to-us-turkish-party-head/1924427
--------
Being
Muslim in Germany's Bundeswehr means no pastoral care
25.07.2020
"I've
had situations where I've thought, 'it's crunch time. It's no longer practice.
They are real shots and real missiles being fired at you,'" Nariman
Hammouti-Reinke, a 41-year-old soldier in the German army, the Bundeswehr,
remembers. When she talks about her Bundeswehr mission, one can sense the
pressure and fear from weeks and months of dangerous foreign deployment.
Lieutenant
Hammouti-Reinke is Muslim, German-Muslim. The daughter of Moroccan parents, she
was born near Hanover in Germany's north. For her, preparing for deployment
abroad affected her profoundly on both a personal and religious level.
"I
took my own shroud with me," the author of the book "Ich diene
Deutschland" (Which translates to: I serve Germany) told DW. "I had
to write a sort of manual for my boss in the event I was killed. And I had to
think about and arrange who would tell my parents if I died."
Military
pastoral care only for Christians and Jews
A
Muslim soldier deployed on a dangerous mission needs to plan in detail. Even
more so, because there is no Muslim military pastoral care offered in the
German army — unlike for Christians and in the near future people of the Jewish
faith. "That's still discrimination and unequal treatment," Hammouti-Reinke
says.
Things
were supposed to be different. At the end of January, Defense Minister Annegret
Kramp-Karrenbauer met the Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims,
AimanMazyek, at a meeting of high-ranking Jewish and Muslim religious
representatives. Kramp-Karrenbauer spoke with one of the rabbis about the
agreement to have military rabbis in the Bundeswehr in future. She then turned
to Mazyek and said: "And the next step should follow. We will start talks
at some point and see how we will achieve that."
Many
discussions, no concrete actions
Mazyek
isn't the only one who recalls this. Journalists were also present. Half a year
on and the Central Council representative tells DW that since the talks,
"nothing has happened. They just have to start — take a step and organize
pastoral care for Muslims."
Since
the historic decision was made one and a half years ago toestablish a Jewish
military chaplaincy by the federal government and the Central Council of Jews,
there have been negotiations, politicians have talked about it, cabinet
ministers and both houses of parliament have deliberated and decided it should
happen. The agreement for a Jewish chaplaincy was signed, in the presence of
the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, by Kramp-Karrenbauer and Josef
Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Sometimes a
mumbled sentence was heard that Muslim military chaplaincy should follow. At
some point. Without a doubt.
A
right to religious pastoral care
The
numbers speak for themselves. Almost 185,000 soldiers are currently serving in
the Bundeswehr. Of those, around 53,400 are Protestant and almost 41,000 Catholic.
Estimates suggest some 300 soldiers are followers of the Jewish faith and some
3,000 are Muslim. Not too long ago, the outgoing Protestant military bishop,
Sigurd Rink, estimated there were between 3,000 and 4,000 followers of Islam
currently serving in the Bundeswehr.
But
there is no Muslim contact person. More than 3,000 soldiers, "that's is a
significant number," Lieutenant Hammouti-Reinke says. "Every single
soldier is a relevant number. Now Jewish pastoral care is being managed, which
was long overdue. But Islamic pastoral care, they just don't seem to want
it." A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense told DW that in the armed
forces, "more and more soldiers with Muslim religious affiliation are
serving in the military. All of them are entitled to pastoral care in their
religion."
Bundestag
election campaign slows down reform
In
principle, Germany's Defense Ministry calculates one pastor for every 1,500
soldiers. It has long been talked about: After all, the right to exercise
freedom of religion is laid out in the constitution. Military Bishop Rink
recalls talks which took place when the former Defense Minister Ursula von der
Leyen was in office.
Von
der Leyen, he says, took the issue very seriously soon after taking office, but
then the 2017 Bundestag election got in the way of things. The search for a
contact person remains, and the ministry is holding back on negotiations with
the Central Council of Muslims.
The
Defense Ministry spokesman emphasizes that the institution is anxious to expand
the offer of pastoral care to "as many denominations as possible" and
is currently in talks on the matter. However, "due to the very different
organizational forms of Muslim religious associations, a concrete
implementation is not foreseeable at present."
In
the meantime, the Central Contact Point for Soldiers of Other Faiths (ZASaG),
founded in 2015, will provide the "necessary care," he added. Should
a German-Muslim be killed in active duty on a foreign mission, one can only
speculate that the ZASaG would quickly find an imam. Currently, there are
thousands of Muslim soldiers ready to risk their lives for Germany without the
state offering them any form of pastoral care.
Assistance
to Muslims serving in the US Army
And
so the legal pussyfooting remains. Rink spoke of the possibility of finding
chaplains who were not necessarily imams. Mazyek finds that odd, and suggests
this is another example of the non-integration of Muslims.
Various
social groups, including religious groups, are represented on the Bundeswehr's
Internal Advisory Council, but there is no one representing the Muslim
community. Invitations are handed out personally, not as a group. That could
also apply to Nariman Hammouti-Reinke, who fought for Germany in Afghanistan.
"You
have to want it," said AimanMazyek, before adding that he could imagine
cooperating with the churches on the issue. When it comes to imams working as
military pastoral carers, he uses the example of the US Army. Hammouti-Reinke
knows of female British soldiers who wear the hijab. And Germany — is still
finding its way. Will anything happen before the federal election in the autumn
of 2021? It's highly unlikely when you look at the Jewish military rabbis, who
everyone wanted but nevertheless still took a year and a half to implement.
"That
is unfair," says Hammouti-Reinke. "It says to me that Islam still
hasn't arrived in Germany, although we are already serving our country — our
country is Germany — and we would also give our lives for Germany."
https://www.dw.com/en/being-muslim-in-germanys-bundeswehr-means-no-pastoral-care/a-54317757
--------
Spain
sees thaw in Europe-Turkey tensions on energy drilling in Mediterranean
27
July 2020
Spain’s
foreign minister said that talks in Turkey on Monday had helped to reduce
tensions between some European Union members and Ankara over Turkish energy
exploration in the Mediterranean, adding that a one-month pause in drilling was
possible.
Foreign
minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya, at a news conference in Ankara with Turkish
counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, said an “inflexion point” had been reached on the
dispute over drilling for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey
is at loggerheads with Greece and Cyprus over overlapping claims for offshore
reserves and the two EU members, along with France, have rejected Turkey’s plan
to explore between Cyprus and Crete.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Paris
and Athens have called for sanctions against Turkey for what they view as an
encroachment on Greek and Cypriot waters, while Berlin has warned Ankara to
cease “provocations”. Turkey has rejected the criticism and said it is abiding
by international law.
The
Turkish lira has, meanwhile, slipped to near a record low versus the euro.
“We
have reached some inflexion point mainly on the drilling in the eastern
Mediterranean and this was a useful dialogue with Mevlut to deescalate tensions
that exist,” Gonzalez Laya said.
“I
think his will to pause exploration for at least a month to give space to dialogue
between parties is a signal of confidence,” she said.
Cavusoglu
did not mention any plans to pause, and Turkey’s foreign ministry was not
immediately available to comment.
Last
week Turkey’s navy issued an advisory for seismic surveys at sea in a move
Greece said was an attempt to encroach on its continental shelf. The Turkish
research ship is still anchored outside Antalya.
Ibrahim
Kalin, chief adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said last week
that threatening sanctions “will never fly here and will have no impact on
Turkey’s sovereignty or determination in pursuing the national interest.”
Last
week, French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU should also take action
against Turkey over its role in Libya’s conflict.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2020/07/27/Spain-sees-thaw-in-Europe-Turkey-tensions-on-energy-drilling-in-Mediterranean.html
--------
Turkey
hails OSCE pact on eastern Ukraine cease-fire
ErdoğanÇağatayZontur
27.07.2020
Turkey
has welcomed the consensus within the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) on reaching “a comprehensive and lasting” cease-fire on Monday
for eastern Ukraine.
“We
welcome the agreement reached by the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group on
additional strengthening measures to establish a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine
as of 27 July 2020,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Sunday.
“We
expect all relevant parties to act in line with this agreement,” the statement
added.
“Turkey
will continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring peace in the region on the
basis of preserving the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the implementation
of the Minsk Agreements,” said the statement.
The
Minsk Agreement, signed in 2015 by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and
Germany and overseen by the OSCE, was drafted to stop hostilities in eastern
Ukraine.
Moscow
and Kiev have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's
Crimea Peninsula, a move widely viewed as illegal, including by Turkey and the
UN General Assembly.
Ukraine
also blames the Kremlin for separatist violence in Donbass, in the country's
east, near its border with Russia, which has claimed some 13,000 lives.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-hails-osce-pact-on-eastern-ukraine-cease-fire/1923340
--------
South Asia
Explosion
in Kabul city leaves at least 3 dead, wounded
28
Jul 2020
An
explosion in Kabul city left one person dead and two others wounded, the
officials in Kabul Police Headquarters said.
FerdawFaramuz,
a spokesperson for Kabul Police Headquarters, confirmed the incident and said
an explosion ripped through a police vehicle at around 7:15 am local time.
According
to Faramurz, the explosives were planted in a police vehicle which went off in
the outskirts of 4th district of Kabul city.
He
also added that the explosion left a security officer dead and two others
wounded while the police vehicle was totally damaged.
No
individual or group including Taliban has so far claimed responsibility for the
incident.
https://www.khaama.com/explosion-in-kabul-city-leaves-at-least-3-dead-wounded-08992/
--------
Taliban
killed 580 civilians, wounded 893 others in first half of 2020: UNAMA
28
Jul 2020
The
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its latest report
regarding civilian casualties during the first half of 2020, attributing the
majority of civilian casualties to anti-government armed militants.
UNAMA
said in its report “Anti-Government Elements (AGE’s) continued to be
responsible for the majority of civilian casualties, with UNAMA documenting a
disturbing increase in civilian casualties attributed to the Taliban from
pressure-plate improvised explosive devices, as well as from abductions that
led to ill-treatment and summary executions.”
The
report further added that a total of 58 per cent of civilian casualties were
caused by AGE’s, with the Taliban responsible for 1,473 (580 killed and 893
injured) representing 43 per cent of the total number of civilian casualties in
the 1 January-30 June 2020 period.
Meanwhile,
UNAMA said civilian casualties attributed to Afghan national security forces
increased by nine per cent, mainly due to airstrikes and the use of indirect
fire during ground engagements. “Civilian casualties from airstrikes by the
Afghan Air Force during the first six months of 2020 have tripled as compared
to the same time period in 2019. Afghan national security forces were
responsible for 23 per cent of the total number of civilian casualties in the
first half of the year, 789 people (281 killed and 508 injured). Pro-Government
Forces remained responsible for most child deaths.”
UNAMA
did not document any civilian casualties attributed to international military
forces from active hostilities during the second quarter of 2020.
According
to UNAMA the first half of 2020 witnessed fluctuating levels of violence
impacting civilians in Afghanistan, which resulted in 3,458 civilian casualties
(1,282 killed and 2,176 injured).
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-killed-580-civilians-wounded-893-others-in-first-half-of-2020-unama-08991/
--------
Taliban’s
deputy shadow governor among 7 killed in Wardak province
28
Jul 2020
The
Afghan forces killed the deputy shadow governor of Taliban for central Maidan
Wardak province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
According
to a statement released by MoD, the Taliban militants were planning to launch
an attack on security posts in Nerkh district of Maidan Wradak province.
However,
the Ministry of Defense said the Afghan forces launched pre-emptive operations
to prevent the attack and killed at least 7 militants during the operation.
The
statement further added that preliminary indicate the deputy shadow governor of
Taliban was among 7 Taliban militants killed during the operation.
The
Afghan forces also destroyed a Dshk heavy machine gun of the group during the
operation, the Ministry of Defense added.
The
Taliban group has not commented in this regard so far.
https://www.khaama.com/talibans-deputy-shadow-governor-among-7-killed-in-wardak-province-08990/
--------
Arab World
Lebanon
now rated as low as Venezuela after Moody’s rating cut to lowest grade
28
July 2020
Lebanon
had its rating cut to the lowest grade by Moody’s Investors Service, which said
that bond investors will likely suffer major losses on their holdings as the
government struggles to secure aid to ease a crippling financial crisis.
Moody’s
lowered Lebanon’s credit score to C from Ca, the same level as crisis-ravaged
Venezuela. It reflects Moody’s “assessment that the losses incurred by bondholders
through Lebanon’s current default are likely to exceed 65 percent,” the agency
said in a statement.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Lebanon,
which has already defaulted on billions of dollars in debt this year, is
struggling to secure an International Monetary Fund loan deal amid sharp
domestic divisions over how to tally losses in the financial system.
“The
collapse of the currency in the parallel market and the concomitant surge in
inflation fuel a highly unstable environment,” Moody’s said. “In the absence of
key steps toward plausible economic and fiscal policy reform, official external
funding support to accompany a government debt restructuring is not
forthcoming.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/economy/2020/07/28/Lebanon-now-rated-as-low-as-Venezuela-after-Moody-s-rating-cut-to-lowest-grade.html
--------
Saudi
Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirms support for Iraq’s security
28
July 2020
Saudi
Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Iraq’s
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, during which the Iraqi official inquired
about the health of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, state news agency SPA
reported on Monday.
During
the call, Prince Mohammed reiterated “the Kingdom’s keenness on the security
and stability of Iraq and on developing the relations between the two countries
in various fields,” according to SPA.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
King
Salman had been admitted to the hospital last Monday and the Royal Court
announced on Thursday that he had a successful laparoscopic operation to remove
his gallbladder.
Riyadh
and Baghdad had agreed to postpone al-Kadhimi’s scheduled visit to the Kingdom
until King Salman is released from the hospital.
“The
Kingdom appreciates the choice of the Iraqi Prime Minister to visit [Saudi
Arabia] as the first country after taking office,” Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Faisal bin Farhan had said on Monday.
“To
celebrate this extremely important visit and to provide all means for its
success, our rational leadership, in coordination with our brothers in Iraq,
opted to postpone the visit until the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is
released from the hospital,” he added.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/07/28/Saudi-Arabia-s-Mohammed-bin-Salman-reaffirms-support-for-Iraq-s-security.html
--------
Three
Syrian regime fighters killed; others injured in car explosion in Syria’s Daraa
27
July 2020
Three
Syrian regime forces were killed and several others were injured when a car
exploded Syria’s Daraa city, a war monitor reported on Sunday.
This
comes after a group of unidentified gunmen stormed the house of a former leader
of one of the regime’s factions and opened fire, killing five people, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Attacks
in the Syrian city have been on the rise, according to the monitor, several of
which have been carried out by using exploding devices.
More
than 589 attacks have been carried out since last June, in which over 393
people, including 104 civilians, were killed, the monitor said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/07/27/Three-Syrian-regime-forces-killed-others-injured-in-car-explosion-in-Syria-s-Daraa.html
--------
Lebanese
Hezbollah fighters carry out op against Israel in response to Syria aggression
27
July 2020
Israeli
military says it has ordered residents along Lebanese border to remain indoors
after explosions and exchange of fire were reported between Israeli soldiers
and Lebanese forces along Lebanon’s southern border.
The
Israeli army is also closing major roads and has asked residents to avoid
unnecessary trips, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Jerusalem
al-Quds that the Tel Aviv regime is “in the midst of a complicated event.”
Meanwhile,
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Lebanese source as saying on Monday that
Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement has carried out an operation against
Israeli army in Shebaa farms area in response to Israeli attack in Syria in
which a Hezbollah member was killed last week.
According
to the Lebanese source, Hezbollah has fired a guided missile at an Israeli
military vehicle in its operation, inflicting casualties on Israeli troops.
A
reporter for the local Arabic-language al-Manar television network reported
that Israeli forces were shelling an area of Kfarchouba village in the southern
Lebanese province of Nabatieh as Israeli fighter jets flew over occupied Shebaa
farms.
Later
in the day, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, called for
"maximum restraint," adding that the firing had stopped.
"Major
General (Stefano) Del Col has been in contact with both parties to assess the
situation and decrease tension while urging maximum restraint," UNIFIL
spokesman Andrea Tenenti said, adding, "The firing has now stopped."
Last
Monday, Syrian media reported a new Israeli aggression in which Israeli forces
fired missiles from the Syrian Golan Heights, killing a member of the Hezbollah
movement.
The
Israeli missiles flew over the Syrian Golan Heights where they conducted raids
around the capital, according to a Syrian military spokesman, and that the
Syrian air defenses thwarted most of the missiles before reaching their targets
and inflicted only “material losses.”
Hezbollah
said in a statement on Tuesday that one of its members, Ali Kamel Mohsen, had
been killed the night before during an Israeli attack near the Syrian capital
of Damascus.
Hezbollah
had vowed in the past to retaliate for any of its members that were killed by
Israeli forces in Syria. The resistance group fired a barrage of anti-tank
missiles into the occupied territories in September last year after two of its
members were martyred in an Israeli aggression near Damascus.
“The
war between us and this enemy [Israel] will continue and this path that the
martyrs have taken with their blood will continue,” Hezbollah-affiliated
Lebanese legislator Sheikh Hassan Ezzedine said during Mohsen's funeral.
Terrified
of Hezbollah’s retaliation, Israel sent a message to the Lebanese resistance
movement saying that it didn’t intend to kill Ali Kamel Mohsen in its
aggression on Damascus.
In
the message, which has been sent to the Lebanese group through the United
Nations, Israel has told Hezbollah that it was unaware that its fighters were
in the area, the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channel reported Saturday night.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/07/27/630517/----------Israeli-military-orders-residents-along-Lebanese-border-to-remain-indoors
--------
Pakistan
Jadhav
case: Pakistan govt presents ordinance in National Assembly
Jul
27, 2020
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan government on Monday presented an ordinance in the National
Assembly in view of the International Court of Justice's ruling in the case of
Indian death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav, despite protests by the Opposition
parties.
Under
the ‘International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance 2020',
which was enacted on May 20, a petition for the review of a military court's
decision can be made to Islamabad High Court through an application within 60
days of its promulgation.
Jadhav,
the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a
Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.
India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to
Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.
The
Hague-based ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan must undertake an
"effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence
of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.
Under
the law, the ordinance should be presented in Parliament. The Prime Minister's
advisor on parliamentary affairs, Babar Awan, placed the ordinance before the
lower house, Geo TV reported.
Last
week, a similar effort was foiled by Opposition parties - Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People-s Party (PPP) – which staged a walkout
by pointing out lack of quorum to transact any business in the house.
Law
Minister Farogh Naseem on Friday asked the Opposition parties to ‘avoid
politics' on the issue and warned them that India would take the matter to the
UN Security Council if the ICJ verdict was not implemented.
In
a unilateral move, Pakistan last week filed a petition in the Islamabad High
Court, seeking appointment of a "legal representative" for Jadhav.
However,
the main parties, including the government of India, were not consulted ahead
of the filing of the application by the Ministry of Law and Justice under the
ordinance.
In
New Delhi, External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday
said Pakistan has once again exposed its "farcical" approach by
denying available legal remedies to Jadhav against his death sentence which is
also in contravention of the ICJ verdict, and asserted that it will explore
further options in the case.
Srivastava
said Pakistan has blocked all the avenues for an effective remedy available to
India in the case, while noting that New Delhi has so far requested consular
access to Jadhav for 12 times over the past one year.
"The
whole exercise of not providing documents related to the case even after
repeated requests, not providing an unimpeded consular access and some reported
unilateral action of approaching the High Court on part of Pakistan again
exposes the farcical nature of Pakistan's approach," he said.
The
MEA spokesperson said Pakistan is not only in violation of the judgment of ICJ,
but also of its own ordinance.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/jadhav-case-pakistan-govt-presents-ordinance-in-national-assembly/articleshow/77202992.cms
--------
All
businesses to reopen if Covid figures remain low, says PM
28
Jul 2020
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said all businesses, including marriage
halls, restaurants, educational institutions as well as those associated with
the tourism sector, might reopen if the present trend of low Covid-19 cases
persisted throughout Muharram.
Addressing
the nation, Prime Minister Khan urged citizens to continue taking precautionary
measures during EidulAzha and Muharram to prevent a spike in novel coronavirus
cases as was seen soon after EidulFitr.
“Be
careful. If we pass Eid and Muharram with caution, there are chances that all
closed businesses might reopen,” the prime minister said.
The
country cannot afford another surge in cases as it will hit the country’s
economy hard and also affect those in the vulnerable age group, Prime Minister
Khan said, urging people to observe their animal sacrifice ritual online and
follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) if they had to visit the animal
market.
“I
urge people to go for online Qurbani and avoid visiting animal markets,” he
said, adding that in case people do visit these markets, they must adopt all
SOPs and wear masks.
“Opt
for online sacrifice of animals to avoid gatherings in a bid to control mass
spread of the virus,” he added.
He
also advised shopkeepers and customers against violating the SOPs, asking them
to observe social distancing during shopping and not to adopt the same careless
approach they did during EidulFitr two months ago.
“If
we are not cautious during Eid and Muharram, cases might rise again and the
situation can worsen. Allah Almighty has blessed our country as the number of
cases is declining,” he said in his address.
“If
we are not careful, it could prove dangerous for our economy and for the aged
and ailing people,” he added.
The
prime minister gave the example of Australia and Spain where the virus cases
had jumped again after initially falling.
“I
appeal to everyone not to be complacent about Covid-19; adopt safety measures
and do not risk the lives of the elderly and patients,” he added.
The
prime minister took the credit of going for smart lockdown, saying his
government was the first in the world to follow this policy, later adopted by
other countries.
“Our
government was the first to introduce smart lockdown in March instead of the
strict curfew-like measures imposed in India, Europe and China,” the prime
minister added.
”Despite
pressures and criticism by various segments of the society, the government
preferred the smart lockdown instead of complete closure as it had realised
that Pakistan’s situation was nothing compared to that of Europe and China. We
had to save our people both from coronavirus and starvation,” he said.
The
prime minister said since Pakistan was faced with challenges like poverty, slum
population, and informal and unregistered labour, smart lockdown was the best
option to maintain a balance that allowed the poor and daily-wage labourers to
earn their livelihood under the cover of safety SOPs.
He
said his government took pride in launching the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme
through which an unprecedented number of deserving people was given financial
assistance after necessary verification from Nadra in a short span of time.
The
prime minister lauded his team for giving its best during the difficult
situation, adding that construction and agriculture sectors were opened to
boost the economy during the crisis.
Later,
in a separate meeting, the prime minister was apprised of the food supply
situation in the country, especially about wheat and flour. He was informed
that permission had been given to import 1.5 million tonnes of wheat to meet
the local demand.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1571540/all-businesses-to-reopen-if-covid-figures-remain-low-says-pm
--------
Outcry
over Rangers ‘raid’ on Karachi Press Club
28
Jul 2020
KARACHI:
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Monday said that Pakistan Rangers personnel
barged into its premises, condemning the action and terming it a violation of
the sanctity of the KPC.
In
a statement, the KPC governing body said law and order and security were
matters of special importance but on its basis, ‘intrusion’ into the KPC
premises was a matter of concern.
The
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) took serious notice of the KPC
“raid” by the Sindh Rangers.
The
KPC governing body urged the Rangers chief to take action against the personnel
involved.
While
talking to Dawn, KPC secretary Arman Sabir quoted the KPC staff as saying the
paramilitary force personnel entered the club without informing them and
conducted some security rehearsal there. He said the KPC had some traditions
and they would not compromise on them.
In
a statement issued from Islamabad, PFUJ president Shehzada Zulfiqar and
secretary general Nasir Zaidi termed the raid an act of terrifying the
journalist community.
“It’s
an act which has desecrated the sanctity of the press club and cannot be
tolerated,” they said.
The
PFUJ said that media and journalists could not be deterred by such low and
dirty tactics and methods which gave a bad name to the country and raised
questions on the capacity of the Sindh and federal governments. They demanded
an immediate probe into the incident through a three-member judicial commission
of judges of the Sindh High Court. They said the act was unprecedented and had
not happened even during any the dictatorships right from Ayub Khan to Zia and
from Zia to Musharraf.
“It
is the responsibility of the Sindh government to constitute a judicial
commission immediately as the raid was conducted under the garb of a security
drill at Karachi press club,” they said.
The
PFUJ also demanded apology from the Sindh Rangers for insulting the sanctity of
the press club.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1571551/outcry-over-rangers-raid-on-karachi-press-club
--------
Consensus
among opposition to get rid of PTI govt: Fazl
Zulqernain
Tahir
28
Jul 2020
LAHORE:
The opposition has agreed to get rid of the “incompetent government” of PTI and
a strategy for achieving this objective will be made at a multi-party
conference to be held after EidulAzha, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief
Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced here on Monday after holding a 90-minute
meeting with PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif at the latter’s Model Town
residence.
During
the meeting, Maulana Fazl and Shahbaz Sharif discussed the proposed MPC and
problems being faced by the masses because of the bad governance of the PTI
government.
According
to a PML-N source, Maulana Fazl talked about the old issue of PML-N’s skipping
the JUI-F’s Azadi march in Islamabad last year. The Maulana was of the view
that had the PML-N joined hands with JUI-F at the latter’s march, the PTI
government might have been sent packing by now.
“Maulana
Fazl complained about the ‘lost opportunity’ of sending Imran Khan home during
the march last year. Mr Shahbaz Sharif, however, assured him that this time the
PML-N will not disappoint him (Fazl) and move together along with other
opposition parties for a ‘common cause’,” the source said.
While
winding up the three-week Azadi march in Islamabad last year, Maulana Fazl had
claimed that he had ended his protest on the assurance that Prime Minister
Imran Khan would immediately step down and new elections would be held three
months after his resignation.
Talking
to reporters after the meeting with PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazl
said: “All opposition parties have agreed that no more time would be given to
the PTI government that came to power through rigging. Agenda to send the
government home will be presented in the MPC,” the JUI-F chief said, adding
that every segment of society was disappointed with the poor performance of the
government.
Mr
Shahbaz Sharif said that the PTI government was the worst in the history of the
country because of its bad governance.
“The
PTI government has done nothing for the masses whose life has become miserable
because of unprecedented inflation,” he said and lamented that the government
had destroyed the economy as one US dollar was equivalent to Rs170.
“Now
time has come to send this government home. The meeting of the Rahbar Committee
has been called and the MPC will be held after EidulAzha,” the PML-N leader
said.
When
asked if he would oust Mr Khan’s government with the help of the umpire (a
reference to the powers that be), Mr Shahbaz Sharif said: “Come to the cricket
ground then I will tell.”
Last
week, Pakistan People Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met a delegation of
PML-N, led by former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and agreed to
convene the MPC after EidulAzha for making a joint anti-government strategy.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1571537/consensus-among-opposition-to-get-rid-of-pti-govt-fazl
--------
Pakistan
seeks world help for coronavirus-hit nations
28
Jul 2020
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Monday called for international cooperation to help the countries
affected by Covid-19 rehabilitate their economy.
This
was stated during a virtual quadrilateral meeting of ministers from China,
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal for jointly dealing with the pandemic. The
meeting was convened by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“Pakistan
was ready to both enhance cooperation in combating Covid-19 and in
post-pandemic economic recovery with the participating countries,” Minister for
Economic Affairs KhusroBakhtiar said. He represented Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi at the conference.
Talking
of the effects of the pandemic, he said it inflicted a punitive human and
economic cost globally and had disrupted the social and political architecture
of the world.
Virtual
meeting held among ministers from China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal
MrBakhtiar
mentioned the steps taken by Pakistan to curb the spread of the disease,
strengthen the health system and alleviate the economic sufferings of the
people.
“Pakistan’s
smart lockdown policy has delivered demonstrable results with new infection and
fatality rate substantially going down,” he said.
He
emphasised on building strong and effective quadrilateral mechanism for joint
prevention and control of Covid-19 and urged to take pragmatic and practical
steps for economic recovery of the pandemic-stricken countries.
The
minister said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the
Belt and Road Initiative, could play an important role in boosting regional
growth and recovery in the post-Covid-19 period.
Drawing
attention to the worsening plight of the people of India-occupied Jammu and
Kashmir in the wake of Covid-19, MrBakhtiar called for lifting of the military
siege, allowing international health experts to access Occupied Kashmir, and
immediately extending requisite medical help to the besieged Kashmiris.
In
his video-message for the conference, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
lauded the quadrilateral initiative for joint response to the pandemic and
stressed that the global community needed unity, solidarity and multilateral
cooperation to fight Covid-19 that knew no boundaries, no religion and no
ethnicity.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1571548/pakistan-seeks-world-help-for-coronavirus-hit-nations
--------
Southeast Asia
Malaysia
ex-PM Najib fails to raise reasonable doubt on abuse of power charge: Court
Jul
28, 2020
KUALA
LUMPUR: A Malaysian judge said on Tuesday the defence team of former Prime
Minister Najib Razak had failed to raise reasonable doubt on a charge of abuse
of power in the first graft trial linked to scandal-tainted state fund
1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
When
reading out his judgment, high court judge Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali did
not spell out a verdict but said Najib's lawyers had failed in "rebutting
the presumption on the balance of probabilites or raising reasonable
doubt" on the charge of abuse of power.
Najib
faces seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of
power against Najib for allegedly illegally receiving nearly $10 million from
former 1MDB unit SRC International. He had plead not guilty.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/malaysia-ex-pm-najib-fails-to-raise-reasonable-doubt-on-abuse-of-power-charge-court/articleshow/77211915.cms
--------
Malaysia's
ex-PM Najib Razak found guilty on all corruption charges
28
July 2020
Malaysia’s
former prime minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of corruption over the
misappropriation of state funds.
High
Court Judge MohdNazlanMohd Ghazali declared Najib guilty of one count of abuse
of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and three counts of money
laundering on Tuesday.
“I
find the accused guilty and convict him on all seven charges,” said the judge.
Each
charge carries a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years.
Billions
of dollars were stolen from the 1MDB state fund and spent on everything from
high-end real estate to pricey art in the years leading to 2018.
Najib
is facing several 1MDB-linked trials. The first, which began almost 16 months
ago, centers on the transfer of 42 million ringgit (9.9 million dollars) from a
former unit of the fund into his bank accounts.
Anger
at the looting played a large part in the shock loss of Najib’s long-ruling
coalition in elections in 2018, and he was arrested and hit with dozens of
charges following his defeat.
Najib,
free on bail, has consistently denied wrongdoing and says the charges against
him are politically-motivated.
“This
is my chance to clear my name,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday night. “Whatever
the decision tomorrow at the High Court, it does not end here,” he said, adding
that both sides would appeal any decision at the federal court.
The
former prime minster arrived at the court in Kuala Lumpur to shouts of “Long
live Najib!” by hundreds of his supporters who had gathered outside the court.
Najib
would still be allowed to keep his parliamentary seat in Pekan Harapan (PH),
the former ruling coalition party, but he will not be able to contest in
general elections while the guilty verdict stands.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/07/28/630576/Malaysia-former-prime-minister-Najib-Razak-guilty-1MDB
--------
Africa
Somalia
congratulates Turkey on reverting Hagia Sophia
Omer
Erdem
26.07.2020
Somalia
congratulated Turkey on Saturday on the reopening Hagia Sophia as a mosque
after 86 years.
"Somalia
Ministry of Endowments & Religious Affairs congratulates the whole Muslim
world, and specifically the Turkish public, our brothers; for taking the
decision to revert Hagia Sophia to its origins as a mosque,” it said on
Twitter.
The
reopening of Hagia Sophia was celebrated with various events in the capital of
Mogadishu.
Hagia
Sophia served as a church for 916 years until the conquest of Istanbul, and a
mosque from 1453 to 1934 -- nearly 500 years -- and most recently as a museum
for 86 years.
One
of the most visited historic buildings in Turkey by domestic and international
tourists, Hagia Sophia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985,
during its time as a museum.
A
Turkish court annulled a 1934 Cabinet decree July 10 that had turned Hagia
Sophia into a museum, paving the way for its use again as a mosque after an
86-year hiatus.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somalia-congratulates-turkey-on-reverting-hagia-sophia/1922576
--------
'Libya,
Turkey made clear deal to repel Haftar attacks'
28.07.2020
Libya
and Turkey last fall forged a clear agreement to repel the attacks of warlord
Khalifa Haftar’s militias, a top Libyan official said on Tuesday.
Last
November’s Turkish-Libyan security cooperation pact was in no way imposed on
Turkey, said Khalid al-Mishri, the chair of Libya’s High Council of State Al-
Mishri, speaking in Rabat, Morocco’s capital alongside Foreign Minister Nasser
Bourita.
He
said Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) asked Turkish forces for help
after Haftar was supported by several countries and added that Libya had no
power to defend its legitimacy against all of those countries.
Since
2013 Libya has been subjected to military intervention by Egypt and other
countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is against its
international rights, he said.
Al-Mishri
said Libya had no choice but ask help from Turkey after Haftar was supported by
many countries and came to the outskirts of the capital Tripoli.
Libya’s
High Council of State and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, allied
with Haftar, have the potential to reach a solution, he said.
Bourita
also said arrangements need to be made to the 2015 Suheyrat Agreement to allow
the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) to manage the transition
process in Libya.
Visiting
Morocco at the same time as Al-Mishri, Aguila Saleh Issa, the head of the House
of Representatives, met with Bourita and Moroccan Parliament Speaker Habib El
Malki.
Libya
has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in
2011. The government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts
for a long-term political settlement failed due to a military offensive by
forces loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar.
The
UN recognizes the government headed by al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate
authority, as Tripoli has battled Haftar's militias since April 2019 in a
conflict that has taken more than 1,000 lives.
Turkey
continues to support the internationally recognized government, but Haftar has
been backed by Russia, France, Egypt and the UAE.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/libya-turkey-made-clear-deal-to-repel-haftar-attacks/1924492
--------
At
least 60 killed in Sudan at fresh Darfur clashes
27.07.2020
At
least 60 people were killed and 54 others injured in tribal clashes in Sudan’s
western Darfur region, the Central committee of the Sudanese Doctors said on
Monday.
In
a statement, the committee said the clashes erupted in Mesteri village,
accusing government militias of involvement in the fighting.
Adam
Ahmed, an eyewitness from Mesteri who fled to the Geneina city, told Anadolu
Agency over the phone that the clashes erupted on Saturday between Massalit and
Zahgawa tribes in the area.
The
clashes were still ongoing, he added.
Meanwhile,
a local official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to
the media, said the government has sent military reinforcements to the area
from Elgenena, the capital of the state.
He
said the situation began to improve after the forces arrived in the village.
Darfur
and other parts of Sudan has witnessed an increase in tribal clashes after the
ousting of President Omar al-Bashir.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/at-least-60-killed-in-sudan-at-fresh-darfur-clashes/1924171
--------
Morocco
sees travel mayhem after snap movement restrictions to curb coronavirus
28
July 2020
Morocco’s
roads and transport hubs saw chaotic scenes after authorities announced snap
movement restrictions affecting eight cities and towns to curb the spread of
the novel coronavirus.
The
measures shutting off all entry and exit to the cities, which together account
for more than half of Morocco’s population, were announced on Sunday, just five
hours before they came into effect at midnight (2300GMT).
A
joint statement from the interior and health ministries said the new
restrictions applied until further notice to economic capital Casablanca and
tourist capital Marrakesh as well as port city and second economic hub
Tangiers, along with Fez, Tetouan, Meknes, Berrechid and Settat.
Visit
our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.
Local
media reported that there were several road accidents after the announcement,
adding there were still traffic jams on the Marrakesh-Ouarzazate mountain route
on Monday morning due to the high volume of traffic.
There
was mayhem as people converged on Casablanca’s main bus station on Sunday
evening, while the train station in nearby Mohammedia was still crowded on
Monday, AFP correspondents said.
Authorities
announced the restrictions after a “considerable rise” in novel coronavirus
cases just days before the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, when families
traditionally come together.
The
North African country registered record numbers of new daily infections over
the weekend, with 811 cases on Saturday and 633 on Sunday.
The
total number of cases in the kingdom reached 20,887 on Monday, including 316
deaths.
The
decision was made “in view of the majority of citizens failing to comply with
preventive measures” of social distancing and mask-wearing, the statement said.
Earlier
this month, authorities had announced an easing of some restrictions imposed in
March, with steps to encourage domestic tourism and facilitate travel over the
Eid al-Adha holiday.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/07/28/Morocco-sees-travel-mayhem-after-snap-movement-restrictions-to-curb-coronavirus.html
--------
North America
‘People
Were In Tears’ - Muslim Community’s Devastation At Mosque Arson on Aylsham Road
28
July 2020
Firefighters
were called to the mosque at the former King Edward VII pub site on Aylsham
Road at around 1.40am on Monday, July 27 following reports of a fire.
Following
the blaze, which primarily damaged an extension containing the mosque’s washing
and toilet facilities, police have launched an arson investigation.
Sirajul
Islam, inset right, the secretary of the Norwich Central Mosque and Islamic
Community Trust, which is in the process of carrying out a £1m renovation of
the site, said it was still too soon to know the extent of the damage caused by
the blaze.
He
said: “We are still in the early stages; the main building wasn’t affected but
the extension where the toilet and washing facilities are have been.”
Mr
Islam said he was shocked when he went to the mosque and saw the fire.
“I
was really devastated, we have worked hard for the last three, four years to
get this building up and running and people put their fortunes into it,” he
said. “We’re still working on the building, we were just working on the car
park this week, so it’s devastating.
“Some
people were in tears, it was shocking, we don’t see the point of why someone
would do this. They did it out of ignorance, we’re not here to cause any problem
to anybody this is our faith, we need to practice.”
Mr
Islam said following the fire the mosque had been overwhelmed by the support of
the wider community: “We want to thank everybody for their support - a lot of
people have been coming around from the community to show their support and see
us,” he said. Addressing whoever was responsible for the fire, he said: “Our
message is to understand we are doing our practice and what we believe, we are
not against anybody or harming anybody, we’re here to help the community.”
Chloe
Smith, MP for Norwich north said on Twitter: “This crime is very concerning.
I’m thankful no one was hurt or killed. Norwich is a peaceful, tolerant city
and I would encourage anyone with information to assist the police.”
Witnesses
should contact
Sgt Steve Harrowing at
Norwich North Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101
quoting crime reference 36/50641/20. Alternatively, call
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/alysham-road-mosque-arson-community-support-1-6765611
--------
US,
Europe call for release of businessman jailed in Turkey for 1,000 days
28
July 2020
The
United States and Europe called on Turkey to release jailed businessman and
philanthropist Osman Kavala, who on Monday marked his 1,000th day in prison
without a conviction and despite an acquittal from a previous case.
Kavala
has been in jail since November 2017. He was initially accused of financing
nationwide protests in 2013, but he was acquitted on those charges in February
and was ordered to be released.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Hours
after the acquittal, however, he was ordered to be detained for another case
related to a failed 2016 coup attempt and later formally arrested again. The
charge on the same case was changed in March to espionage but an indictment has
not been prepared.
US
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown called for Kavala's
release given he has not been convicted.
“We
call upon Turkey to comply with its own commitment to justice and rule of law
and to release Osman Kavala from detention, while pursuing a just, transparent,
and speedy resolution to his case,” Brown said in a statement late on Monday.
Nacho
Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur, said Kavala had
become a test for Turkey's sincerity with regards to human rights.
“We
are pushing and pushing again for real justice in Turkey,” he said.
Critics
say the independence of Turkey's judiciary from politics has been badly eroded
in recent years. President Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party say the
judiciary makes its decisions independently.
In
a statement marking his 1,000 days in detention, Kavala said: “A parallel law
enforcement system has been set in motion, which enables to keep in prison the
persons who 'needed' to be punished, regardless of the established facts and
concrete information about their activities.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/07/28/US-Europe-call-for-release-of-businessman-jailed-in-Turkey-for-1-000-days.html
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pakistan-attempts-convert-lahore-gurdwara/d/122486