Protest against Israel not allowed in Mumbai, 13 detained
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 November 2023
·
Protest
against Israel not allowed in Mumbai, 13 detained
· Bangladesh’s top court upholds ban on Jamaat-e-Islami
· Khamenei urges Muslim states to cut ties with Israel for ‘limited period’
· US Senator supports reassessment of aid to Israel
· France reiterates support for Palestinians’ ‘legitimate aspiration to have a state’
· More than 5,500 children are among the dead, alongside 3,500 women, with 30,000 more
· people wounded.
-----
India
· Muslim groups highlight risks to India’s exports if halal standards not followed
· BJP raises only Hindu Muslim issue, can’t point out flaws in Gehlot’s tenure: Pawan Khera
· India sends second batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war
· ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ can’t be an empty slogan, patriotism entails empowerment of ordinary citizens: Rahul Gandhi
· Muslims must let go of victimhood. India is far more secular than West, writes Shehla Rashid
· Ajmal lands into scarf row, faces entry ban in seven Assam districts
· Chhath Puja, when inter-religious bonhomie is celebrated
· Grabbing of Waqf properties: Mutawalli issued me threats, alleges Sunni Waqf Board caretaker
-----
South Asia
· Sharia Punishment Does Not Violate Human Rights: Supreme Court Official
· 108 Cases of Violence Against Journalists in 2023 in Afghanistan: Watchdog
· More than 400,000 Afghan migrants return home from Iran
· Human Rights Activists in Pakistan Demand End to Forced Expulsion of Afghans
· CSTO takes measures to counter Afghan terrorist threat
· Work on Constitution Underway: Mujahid
· From Monday, 300 Containers will Arrive from Karachi Daily: ACCI
· WHO Warns of Disease Outbreak Risk Due to Afghan Refugee Crisis
-----
Mideast
· Israel expands Gaza operation as Palestinian death toll crosses 13,000
· Israel strikes Lebanon’s Nabatieh for first time since 2006 war
· At least 30 premature babies evacuated from Gaza's main hospital, will be transferred to Egypt
· With the world's eyes on Gaza, attacks are on the rise in the West Bank, which faces its own war
· Kuwaiti, Egyptian charities sign $500,000 Gaza aid deal
· Supreme Leader urges Muslim countries to cut Zionist regime's lifeline
· Doctors Worldwide Türkiye sets out to deliver aid to Gaza
· Kuwaiti FM, US envoy discuss Gaza conflict
------
North America
· Toronto police arrest man in several hate-motivated attacks on Muslims
· Rabbi, imam try to help NY Jewish, Muslim students find common ground. It doesn’t go well
· Investigation underway into 7 US colleges over complaints of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
· Colombia's president slams Netanyahu, compares him to Herod
-----
Europe
· Protests continue in Sweden against Israeli attacks on Gaza
· Palestine Mission in UK raises alarm over repeated attacks on its building
· Germany police raid Islamic Center of Hamburg, accuses group of Hezbollah support
· French performers lead a silent Paris march for peace between Israelis and Palestinians
· France sending warship to provide medical aid to Gaza
-----
Arab World
· Prisoner deal ‘edges closer’ despite fierce fighting in Gaza
· Yemen's Houthi rebels hijack India-bound, Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea; 25 crew members held hostage
· Saudi Arabia urges world to hold Israel accountable for blatant violations in Gaza Strip
· PM to visit Russia, UK as part of Arab-Islamic initiative to stop war in Gaza
· Ministry of Islamic Affairs Distributes over 8,000 Copies of the Holy Quran to Jusoor Exhibition Visitors in Albania
· Islamic Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Chairs 3rd Session of International Conference of Muslims of Latin America and the Caribbean
· Gaza mission: 14th Saudi relief plane arrives in Egypt
· Bahraini interior minister receives Islamic counter-terrorism chief in Manama
-----
Australia
· Australia wants to take next steps towards cease-fire in Gaza, says top diplomat
-----
Southeast Asia
· In Beijing, Arab and Muslim ministers urge end to Gaza war
· Over 500 Rohingya refugees land in Indonesia
· Over 5,000 Johorians attend Palestinian solidarity gathering at Sultan Iskandar Mosque
· At Palestinian aid event, Dr Mahathir and Hadi won’t endorse call to let Muslim refugees work or go to school
· Coldplay concert in Indonesia protested by hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ Muslims
· Penang Opposition accuses state of sidelining Malay heritage, cites neglect of 18th-century BatuUban mosque and Silicon Island as examples
· Sik religious school teacher claims trial to hurting pupil
-------
Pakistan
· Siraj raps political leadership for silence over Gaza
· Seven Pakistanis escape ‘deportation’ to Afghanistan
· IHC to take up Imran’s appeal today
· Ashrafi highlights reason behind expulsion of illegal Afghans
· Tens of thousands rally in Pakistan against Israel's bombing in Gaza
· CM condemns killing of children in Gaza
· Afghan refugees: UNHCR, PPAF join hands to improve livelihoods
------
Africa
· 32 killed in an attack in the Abyei region, which is disputed between Sudan and South Sudan
· Nigeria frees 4,000 prisoners to ease jail crowding
· Heavy rain in Kenya affects tens of thousands, disrupts cargo
· NAF bombs B’Haram commander’s hideout in Kaduna
· Tinubu Arrives In Berlin For G20 ‘Compact With Africa’ Conference
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
------
Protest
against Israel not allowed in Mumbai, 13 detained
20/11/2023
Syed Ali
Mujtaba
Mumbai police picked up 13 individuals, 11 of
whom are students belonging to the Muslim community for taking part in a prayer
meeting in solidarity with children who were killed in Palestine. The prayer
meeting was held on November 14, 2023, the Children’s Day, at the Juhu beach.
The
detainees were charged under sections 37 (1), 37 (3), and 135 of the
Maharashtra Police Act (MPA), according to a press note from the People’s Union
for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Maharashtra.
According
to the PUCL handout, the youth detained had responded to a multi-city call
emanating from an Instagram account ‘solidaritymovement’ and had gone to Juhu
beach to attend a peaceful prayer gathering there.
However, after the prayer, some students went
to collect the posters and ply cards that they had earlier voluntarily kept in
the police cabin near the beach. The
police there started questioning them and asked them to pose with the posters
and placards and photographed them.
The
police told them they would escort them to the Bus Stop to ensure they leave
safely. As they proceeded, a police van arrived and they were forcibly pushed
into the van and taken to the Juhu Police Station. Among the detainees 4 were
under-age youth (2 boys and 2 girls), the PUCL press release said.
The
youth were detained for almost 8 hours and when they were released were asked to
return the next day and provide all their personal details along with their
Aadhar Card xerox copy and 2 photographs.
PUCL
Maharashtra expressed grave concern at the increasing trend of criminalizing
public protest and deplored the manner in which police in Mumbai lodge cases
against those participating in such democratic events.
The
right to protest is a fundamental right of citizens guaranteed under the Indian
Constitution. However, the increasing number of such instances shows that the
right to protest of citizens is not only being infringed upon but being met
with harsh and intimidatory police action and criminal sanctions. In many
places in India, Civil society organizations are being denied and met with
sanctions that are gatherings for anti-war public protests on the ongoing
Israeli war on Palestine.
Source: countercurrents.org
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------
Bangladesh’s
top court upholds ban on Jamaat-e-Islami
November
20, 2023
Supreme
Court of Bangladesh´s building can be seen. — AFP/File
-----------
DHAKA:
Bangladesh´s highest court on Sunday upheld a ban on the country´s largest
Islamist party taking part in polls, lawyers said, as political tensions worsen
ahead of key January elections.
Jamaat-e-Islami,
a major opposition party with millions of supporters, was banned from
contesting polls in 2013 after high court judges ruled its charter violated the
secular constitution of the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million people.
Jamaat
was also barred from participating in elections in 2014 and 2018, and so moved
to the Supreme Court to challenge the order.
Chief
Justice Obaidul Hassan dismissed the appeal. “By virtue of the High Court
order, which is upheld by the Supreme Court today, Jamaat as a political party
is banned,” Ahsanul Karim, one of the lawyers representing the original
petitioners, told AFP.
“It
means they are banned from holding assembly, association or any political
activities under the platform of Jamaat-e-Islami.” But Matiur Rahman Akand,
Jamaat´s lawyer and also party spokesman, said the order does not ban the
party, but rather bars members from contesting polls under the party banner.
“This
order doesn´t bar Jamaat-e-Islami from regular political activities and
rallies,” Akand told AFP. “It is solely related to the electoral process of the
country.”
Jamaat
has joined the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in holding a
two-day nationwide strike that began Sunday. Bangladesh´s opposition --
including the BNP, Jamaat and dozens of smaller parties -- have demanded Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina quit power ahead of the January 7 election and let a
neutral government hold polls.
The
government has rejected the call as unconstitutional. Hasina has overseen
phenomenal economic growth during her 15 years in power but Western nations
have sounded the alarm over democratic backsliding and thousands of
extrajudicial killings.
Late
last month the opposition held a giant rally sparking clashes in which a police
officer was killed. Hasina then launched a crackdown, with most of the top BNP
leadership arrested, as well as more than 10,000 of its supporters.
Jamaat
said at least 2,300 of its activists and leaders were arrested.Despite Sunday’s
decision by the High Court, it again remained unclear if Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami could continue its activities. Usually, the Ministry of Home
Affairs is the entity that bans radical groups deemed as anti-state.
Jamaat-e-Islami
has been a key partner to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by
former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has been the archrival of the current
head of government, Hasina, for decades. The Islamist party and Zia shared
power in 2001-2006 when the latter was the premier.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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-----
Khamenei
urges Muslim states to cut ties with Israel for ‘limited period’
November 20, 2023
Valencia
(Spain): A protester shouts slogans as she holds a sign reading ‘Stop bombs’
during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian people, on Sunday.—AFP
-------------
DUBAI:
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appealed to Muslim states with
political ties with Israel to at least cut them for “a limited time”, state
media reported on Sunday, weeks after he called for an Islamic oil and food
embargo on Israel.
“Some
Islamic governments have condemned Israeli crimes in assemblies while some have
not. This is unacceptable,” Khamenei said before reiterating that the main task
of Islamic governments should be to cut off Israel from energy and goods.
“Islamic governments should at least cut off political ties to Israel for a
limited time,” Khamenei added.
In a
speech at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace force centre in the
capital Tehran, Khamenei said “the defeat of the Zionist regime (Israel) in
Gaza is a fact.” “Advancing and entering hospitals or people’s homes is not a
victory, because victory means defeating the other side,” he said.
Khamenei
said Israel has “killed thousands of children without any remorse” because, as
he claimed, “Zionists consider themselves to be a superior race.” During his
visit, the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace force unveiled new defence systems
and drones, state media said, and Khamenei inspected a drone which carried the
name “Gaza”.
Jordan’s
King Abdullah said on Sunday the international community should push for an
immediate ceasefire in Gaza to stop a humanitarian catastrophe caused by what
he termed Israel’s “ugly war against civilians”.
In
remarks made during a meeting with European Commission chief Ursula von der
Leyen, the monarch said global powers should force Israel to comply with
international law to protect civilians and ensure Israel heeds calls to allow
uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave.
But
Abdullah said Israel was not acting in self-defence, as it maintains, by
“indiscriminate strikes” that killed thousands of civilians.
A White
House official said, Israel should not embark on combat operations against
Hamas in the south of Gaza until military planners have taken into account the
safety of fleeing Palestinian civilians.
“In the
event that Israel is likely to embark on combat operations, including in the
south, we believe … that they have the right to do that,” White House deputy
national security adviser Jon Finer told CBS’ Face the Nation programme. Finer
urged Israel to draw lessons from its military operations in the north of Gaza
and provide enhanced protections for civilians by narrowing the area of active
combat and by specifying where civilians can seek refuge.
Source: dawn.com
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-------
US
Senator supports reassessment of aid to Israel
EsraTekin
20.11.2023
US
Senator Bernie Sanders said Sunday that aid to Israel should be contingent on
changes in the country's "political and military positions.”
“The
Netanyahu government, or hopefully a new Israeli government, must understand
that not one penny will be coming to Israel from the US unless there is a
fundamental change in their military and political positions,” Sanders said in
a statement.
He noted
that the US provides $3.8 billion a year in aid to Israel and President Joe
Biden’s administration had requested at least $14.3 billion in additional
assistance.
“While
Israel has the right to go after Hamas, (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s
right-wing extremist government does not have the right to wage almost total
warfare against the Palestinian people,” Sanders said.
Sanders
also highlighted that the displacement of 1.6 million people in Gaza and
depriving them of food, water, medicine and fuel as well as the killing of some
12,000 Palestinians constitutes both a violation of international law and a
"violation of every code of human decency,” stressing the need for it to
stop.
He
listed the conditions that need to be imposed for aid to Israel.
“An end
to the indiscriminate bombing which has taken thousands of civilian lives and a
significant pause in military operations so that massive humanitarian
assistance can come into the region.
“The
right of displaced Gazans to return to their homes. No long-term Israeli
re-occupation or blockade of Gaza, an end to settler violence in the West Bank
and a freeze on settlement expansion, (and) a commitment to broad peace talks
for a two-state solution in the wake of the war.”
Source: aa.com.tr
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-----
France
reiterates support for Palestinians’ ‘legitimate aspiration to have a state’
Ahmet
Gencturk
20.11.2023
FILE
PHOTO
-----------
France
on Sunday reiterated its support for Palestinians’ “legitimate aspiration to
have a state.”
Citing
presidential sources, French broadcaster BFMTV announced that President
Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi to discuss the latest developments related to the ongoing
Israel-Palestine conflict.
He
stressed the need for the protection of civilians in Gaza and underscored the
importance of the "resumption of the peace process, intending to respond
to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have a state, living in
peace and security alongside Israel.”
On the
rapidly worsening health crisis in Gaza, Macron said “France wishes to rapidly
accelerate humanitarian aid, given the emergency Gazans are in.”
He noted
that France will send an additional 10 tons of humanitarian aid to Egypt, where
aid is collected before being sent to Gaza.
He also
said France would welcome sick or wounded children from Gaza to its hospitals.
The
death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached
13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in the
besieged enclave said on Sunday.
The
number of injuries has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being
children and women, it said in a statement.
The
administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of
them suspected of lying under the rubble of fallen buildings.
Thousands
of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have either been
damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on the besieged enclave.
An
Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water
supplies and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.
Israel
has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of hostages held
by Hamas.’
Source: aa.com.tr
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-----
More than 5,500 children are among the dead, alongside 3,500 women, with 30,000 more
people wounded.
November 20, 2023
A
Palestinian medic tends to premature babies evacuated from Al Shifa Hospital to
the Emirates hospital in Rafah, on Sunday.—AFP
-------------
DOHA:
Hamas fighters battled Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza’s largest
refugee camp on Sunday, but despite the fighting, US, Qatari and Israeli
officials said a deal to free some of the prisoners being held in the besieged
enclave was edging closer.
Separately,
a top health official said all 31 premature babies at Al Shifa Hospital had
been evacuated on Sunday from the facility.
A deal
to free some of the about 240 prisoners Hamas seized in its Oct 7 attack on
Israel now hinges on “minor” practical issues, Qatar’s prime minister said on
Sunday, without giving details or a timeline.
“The
challenges that remain in the negotiations are very minor compared to the
bigger challenges, they are more logistical, they are more practical,” Mohammed
bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a joint press conference with EU foreign policy
chief Josep Borrell.
“The
deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few
weeks,” the premier said. “I think that I’m now more confident that we are
close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their
homes.”
Israeli
Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog said Tel Aviv was hopeful that a
significant number of prisoners could be released by Hamas “in coming days”.
“I’m
hopeful we can have a deal in the coming days,” he said in an interview on
ABC’s This Week on Sunday.
A White
House official also said the “very complicated, very sensitive” negotiations
were making progress.
“I
believe we are closer than we have been in quite some time, maybe closer than we
have been since the beginning of this process, to getting this deal done,”
White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told NBC’s “Meet the
Press”.
Israel
has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the Oct 7 attacks, which Israeli
officials say killed about 1,200 people and saw the prisoners taken.
The
army’s relentless air and ground campaign has since killed thousands of people
in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas government said on Sunday the death toll in the
enclave has reached 13,000 since Oct 7.
More
than 5,500 children are among the dead, alongside 3,500 women, with 30,000 more
people wounded.
The
civilian death toll in Gaza was “staggering and unacceptable”, UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres said, again appealing for an immediate humanitarian
ceasefire.
Since
Oct 7, Israeli troops and settlers have also killed more than 200 Palestinians
in the West Bank.
31
premature babies evacuated
Mohammed
Zaqut, director general of hospitals in Gaza, told AFP that “all 31 premature
babies in Al Shifa hospital... have been evacuated” along with three doctors
and two nurses.
“Preparations
are under way” for them to enter Egypt, he added.
The move
was confirmed by the Palestinian
Red
Crescent Society (PCRS), which said its teams carried out the evacuation in coordination
with UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation.
Al Shifa
Hospital has become a focal point for Israeli operations with the army claiming
Hamas uses it as a base. Since Nov 11, when fuel supplies ran out at Al Shifa,
eight babies have died due to the lack of electricity to run incubator units,
the health ministry in Gaza has said.
Three
Israeli soldiers killed
The
Israeli army said on Sunday three more soldiers had been killed in fighting in
the Gaza Strip, raising the number of troop deaths there to 62 since the Oct 7
attacks. All three were reservists and died on Saturday in northern Gaza, the
military said in a statement.
Witnesses
reported heavy fighting overnight on Sunday between Hamas fighters and Israeli
forces trying to advance into Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s camps with nearly
100,000 people.
Via
social media in Arabic, Israel’s military on Sunday urged residents of several
Jabalianeighbourhoods to evacuate towards south Gaza “to preserve your safety”
and to that end said it would pause military action from 10am to 2pm.
After
the “pause” period expired, 11 Palestinians in Jabalia were killed by an
Israeli air strike on a house, the enclave’s health ministry said.
Israel
also said on Sunday that Yemen’s
Houthis
had seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red
Sea, describing the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with consequences
for international maritime security.
Meanwhile,
top foreign policy officials from the Palestinian Authority and four
Muslim-majority countries will visit China on Monday and Tuesday, Beijing
announced on Sunday.
Officials
will include the foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority in the West
Bank, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia, as well as the secretary-general
of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“During
the visit, China will have in-depth communication and coordination with the
joint delegation of foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries to promote
a de-escalation of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, protecting
civilians, and justly resolving the Palestinian issue,” Chinese foreign
ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a statement.
Source: dawn.com
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------
India
Muslim
groups highlight risks to India’s exports if halal standards not followed
19 Nov
2023
NEW
DELHI, Nov 19 — Prominent Islamic organisations have highlighted the risks to
exports by Indian companies if proper halal standards are not maintained
following a ban on halal products by the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Global
demand for halal-certified products is robust and it is “imperative for Indian
companies to obtain such certification” for exporting their goods to Muslim
countries, the Halal Trust of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind organisation said in a
statement.
The
certification is not merely a requirement by many importing countries, but also
helps tourists visiting India in choosing products, the Islamic body said.
It said
the propaganda against halal certification may “directly undermine our national
interests” as India benefits from halal exports and tourism in its relations
with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation members and regions like Southeast
Asia.
Halal
certification means a product has been manufactured in compliance with Islamic
teachings, which define what is permissible to consume and set strict hygienic
and ethical standards in its preparation.
For
example, halal-certified products must be free from traces of pork and alcohol.
India’s
most populous state Uttar Pradesh, which is ruled by the Hindu nationalist
Bharatiya Janata Party, on Saturday banned the production, storage,
distribution and sale of products with halal certification with immediate
effect.
However,
the ban exempted products meant for export.
The ban
follows a police complaint by a local man that alleged that halal certification
was unfairly and misleadingly used by some companies to boost their sales.
Indian
food and consumer product companies seek halal certification in order to sell
to Muslim countries and political controversies may undermine trust in Indian
goods.
“This is
a strange decision. It shows that halal standards in India can be different for
the domestic market and export markets,” said Mufti Habib Yusuf Patel,
president of the Mumbai-based Halal Council of India.
“The
propaganda against halal is driven by politics and communal thinking. It will
erode trust in Indian companies that use the halal label to export cosmetics,
meat, poultry and food items,” he told Bernama.
He said
a large number of companies approaching his organisation are owned by
non-Muslims and they seek advice on Sharia standards because they want to
attract Muslim customers.
“We
advise them on what is halal and what is forbidden and how they can make their
products fit for Muslim consumers by following certain rules. It helps them in
growing their business,” Habib said.
About 20
per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s 240 million people are Muslims, while the Muslim
population in India exceeds 200 million.
Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind said the allegations raised against halal certification are
baseless and is an attempt to spread misinformation.
Some
people commenting on social media pointed out that India is a major exporter of
buffalo meat produced in halal-certified plants.
The
Halal Council chief said consumers must be free to decide whether they want to
buy a halal-labelled product or not.
“People
must have the freedom to choose their products. For example, some bakery
companies label their products as egg-free as some people in India do not eat
eggs. Similarly, companies label their products as suitable for vegetarian and
non-vegetarian consumers,” Habib said.
“India should
look at Malaysia, where the halal commerce is thriving because of high
certification standards,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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------
BJP
raises only Hindu Muslim issue, can’t point out flaws in Gehlot’s tenure: Pawan
Khera
November
19, 2023
Jaipur :
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday said the central BJP leaders coming to
Rajasthan to campaign for the assembly elections only raise the Hindu-Muslim
issue as they cannot point out any flaws in the work done by the Ashok Gehlot
government in the last five years.
Addressing
media persons at a press conference, Khera expressed confidence that Congress
would once again come to power in the state.
“Many
union ministers and chief ministers of BJP came to Rajasthan but not a single
one talked about development. The central leaders of BJP who are coming to
Rajasthan have nothing to say against the guarantees given to the people by the
Ashok Gehlot government of Rajasthan, so they just talk about the Hindu-Muslim
issue and go away,” a party statement quoted the Congress leader as saying.
The BJP has
nothing to point out against the public welfare work done by the Congress
government in Rajasthan in the last five years. BJP leaders “do not have the
courage and capacity” to point out flaws in the governance, he added.
Khera,
chairman of the media and publicity department of the All India Congress
Committee, said that he is proud of the development model given to the country
by the Congress-led Rajasthan government and if anyone wants to discuss this
model, he is open to debate.
Voting
for the assembly elections in the state is to be held on November 25. ( With
PTI inputs)
Source: muslimmirror.com
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India
sends second batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war
Nov 19,
2023
Israel
has stepped up its massive retaliatory strikes on Gaza as the war entered its
seventh week.
India on
Sunday sent the second batch of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip amid the
escalating war between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists that has killed more
than 12,000 people so far. Announcing the development on X, (formerly Twitter)
external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India “continues to deliver
humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine".
“Second
@IAF_MCC C17 aircraft carrying 32 tonnes of aid departs for the El-Arish
Airport in Egypt,” he added.
We're
now on WhatsApp. Click to join.
The
El-Arish airport is nearly 45km away from the Rafah crossing on Egypt’s border
with Gaza. Notably, Rafah is the only crossing point for any humanitarian aid
into the Gaza Strip.
On
October 22, India sent the first batch of around 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and
32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the Palestinians suffering amid the
war. The aid included essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents,
sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, and water purification tablets
among other necessary items.
Israel
has stepped up its massive retaliatory strikes on Gaza as the war entered its
seventh week following the Hamas' October 7 attack in which over 12,00 Israelis
were killed.
Gaza's
largest hospital a ‘death-zone’
Gaza's
largest hospital - Al-Shifa - has been struggling to keep operating and has
become a focus point of the war. The Hamas health ministry in Gaza said that
dozens of people have died at the hospital due to power cuts caused by fuel
shortages.
On
Saturday, Israel ordered an evacuation of the hospital immediately - two days
after the Israeli troops combed the hospital facility for Hamas hideouts and
claimed to have uncovered a Hamas tunnel shaft and a vehicle with weapons
inside the complex. Amid this, a team led by the World Health Organisation
(WHO) and other UN officials visited the hospital for an assessment, following
which WHO claimed that the place has become a “death zone”.
While
several patients were evacuated, a UN team on Sunday said that around 291
patients, including 32 babies in critical condition were left at the hospital.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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‘Bharat
Mata ki jai’ can’t be an empty slogan, patriotism entails empowerment of
ordinary citizens: Rahul Gandhi
20.11.23
Sanjay
K. Jha
Rahul
Gandhi on Sunday said that "Bharat Mata ki jai" cannot be an empty
slogan and that patriotism entails the empowerment of ordinary citizens.
"We
all say, 'Bharat Mata ki jai'. But what does that mean? Who is Bharat Mata? The
people of India," Rahul, who addressed election meetings at Dausa and
Bundi in Rajasthan, said.
"So,
we have to empower the people of India: the farmers, workers, Dalits, tribal
people, OBCs. Our welfare schemes target these sections of society. But Modi
works for Adani. He waived off Rs 14 lakh crore (worth of loans taken by)
select industrialists. We (Congress governments) give cheap gas cylinders and
(follow the) old (and higher) pension scheme."
He
added: "Crores of our youths are being cheated every day. Money is stolen
in front of their eyes. I am demanding a caste census because we must know the
composition of our population. But (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, who
presented himself as OBC, now says there are no castes.
"When
we talk of representation, Modi says there is only one caste and that's the
poor. When he wants to divide, castes and religions emerge. He can't order a
caste census because he works for Adani. He should say, 'Adani ki jai'. We
can’t accept Adani’s Hindustan.”
The
tenor and content of Modi’s speech at a rally in Taranagar, in the Churu
district of Rajasthan, were entirely different.
"Even
taking the name of God has become difficult in Rajasthan," he said.
"The
BJP opened the Kartarpur Corridor through Pakistan and brought the copy of the
Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan. Here, the Congress government even stops
religious yatras. But the PFI’s (banned outfit Popular Front of India) rally is
allowed."
Modi
said his government was poised to make the Indian economy the third largest in
the world and recalled how grandly the G20 summit had been organised in New
Delhi.
He then
asked the people in the crowd to switch on their mobile phones to wish success
to the Indian cricket team playing the World Cup final against Australia.
Rahul,
at his meeting, accused the Prime Minister of engaging in gimmicks, recalling
how he had asked people who were struggling for survival during the Covid
pandemic to bang on plates and flash their mobile phone lights.
Modi
attributed the high price of petrol in Rajasthan to corruption, asking who was
pocketing the loot.
"Prices
and unemployment have become uncontrollable because of the Congress’s misrule.
What’s the price of petrol in Churu? Around Rs 109,” he said.
“You get
petrol in neighbouring Haryana for Rs 97 a litre. In whose pocket is this extra
Rs 10-11 going (in Rajasthan)? This is Congress loot. The central government
made petrol cheaper for you. The BJP-ruled states offer double benefits to the
people. After December 3, the (prospective) BJP government in Rajasthan will
review the petrol pricing in Rajasthan.”
The
average price of petrol in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is Rs 109.70 while some
cities charge Rs 110.30 for a litre. In Maharashtra, where the BJP is a ruling
partner, the average price of petrol is Rs 106.96. In Mumbai, the price is Rs
111 a litre.
Modi
never mentioned the price of petrol in his campaign speeches in Madhya Pradesh.
The
price of petrol crossed the 100-rupee mark for the first time on Modi’s watch,
while that of LPG cylinders reached a mindboggling Rs 1,100. The Congress had
accused the Modi government of robbing people, flagging the high domestic fuel
prices even when the price of crude had crashed in the international market.
Modi has
countered the criticism merely by highlighting the high VAT levied by the
states.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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-----
Muslims
must let go of victimhood. India is far more secular than West, writes Shehla
Rashid
SHEHLA
RASHID
20
November, 2023
The
recent events in the Middle East have illustrated the poverty of international
law, human rights discourse, and the rather fickle nature of the so-called
international community. Following a bewildering terror attack by Hamas—which
killed hundreds of civilians—Israel has retaliated with a no-holds-barred
vengeance to decimate the Gaza Strip, leading to a massive humanitarian crisis.
While the Western world largely supported Israel’s right to retaliate, their
appeals to alleviate the crisis in Gaza have been mostly ineffective. By
extending unqualified support to Israel, the West is losing moral ground to
lecture developing nations on how to deal with strategic challenges.
At the
core of the Gaza crisis lies an age-old conflict among the Abrahamic religions
in Europe. This conflict initially resulted in the Holocaust across Europe,
followed by a model of settler colonialism backed by the might of the British
Empire.
The
Middle East crisis, therefore, is at its root a European problem exported
abroad. While Europe has tried to project itself as the epitome of secularism
and human rights post-World War II—justifying its moral interventionism in
other countries’ affairs—the current crisis is an occasion to remind ourselves
that the continent has been at war forever. A Hundred Years’ War here and the
Crusades there. A Seven Years’ War here and a Holocaust there. In fact, the two
‘World’ wars of the 20th century could be termed ‘European’ wars instead.
It is
pertinent to quote India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar’s
observations on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as to how “Europe’s
problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s
problems.” To its credit, the Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy has
carefully resisted this import of ideology and taken principled and rational
stances.
Indian
vs Western secularism
The
current crisis reminds us that the model for Indian secularism cannot be based
on Western secularism. India’s secularism is civilisational and not merely
rooted in a statute. It is, more appropriately, pluralism. While Western
secularism relies on a ‘separation’ of Church and state, political theorist
Rajeev Bhargava the Indian model of secularism a “principled distance model”.
Even
though the Indian state has no religion, it protects, for example, the right of
minorities to run their educational institutions that receive government aid,
but this is not seen as an affront to secularism or a paradox. Unlike Europe,
where the default has been homogeneity, with multiculturalism being a recent
phenomenon, the Indian civilisation has always been home to innumerable
cultures, Little and Great Traditions—a beautiful mosaic of linguistic,
religious, and ethnic diversity. As opposed to the Western model of melting pot
multiculturalism, Indian secularism is better described as a salad bowl where
each identity sits side-by-side rather comfortably. It is more normal to wear
the hijab in India than in France. Viewed as a civilisational tradition,
temporary setbacks to Indian secularism such as the Partition are aberrations
in a much longer tradition of co-existence, a proverbial blip on the radar.
Muslims
are only a numerical minority in post-Partition India, not a ‘civilisational’
minority. Political sociologist Dr. Tanweer Fazal in his 2014 article titled
‘Being Muslim’ in Contemporary India: Nation, Identity and Rights’ shows—in the
context of New Delhi—how Muslims resist categorisation as a minority, by
claiming that they are ‘the second biggest majority’ in India.
Most of
us who advocate secularism have been guilty, at one point or another, of
holding up the West as a model for multiculturalism and tolerance. Western
values of multiculturalism, human rights, secularism and even liberty are
facing immense challenges right now. From clashes between pro-Palestine and
pro-Israel protesters across the West to the suppression of demonstrations in
liberal democracies, along with the murder of a six-year-old Muslim boy in
Illinois in a hate crime and the killing of the president of a synagogue in
Detroit, the fragility of secularism in the West and its relatively short
tradition are evident. We do not witness this proverbial ‘clash of
civilisations’ playing out in India, because India is one civilisation.
Civil
rights advocates in India often feel frustrated with the inadequacies of Indian
secularism compared to the strong statutory protections in the West. However,
the past few weeks have demonstrated the shortcomings of the Western model of
plurality: helpless in the face of a great humanitarian crisis in Gaza,
ineffective in ensuring a ceasefire, unable to rein in antisemitism or
Islamophobia domestically, and incapable of brokering long-term peace in the
Middle East. It is the biggest challenge to Western multiculturalism since
9/11.
Journalist
Claire Porter Robbins pointed out how Canada, an oasis within the West, is
witnessing backlash from both the left-wing and the right-wing against
increasing immigration in the country. Hence, efforts for secularism in India
must be rooted in home-grown traditions rather than in an appeal to Western
values. For advocates of secularism in India, Western interventionism should no
longer be a reference point or a possible source of refuge. At the same time,
the Modi government must address the perception of injustice prevalent in the
minority communities.
Model
minority
The
government’s welfare initiatives are not only faith and caste-agnostic, they
also actively benefit the backward sections across all communities. The Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY), the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), etc. provide a social
security net to the poor, regardless of faith.
The
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation will ensure unconditional
reservation for the poorest of Muslims who are excluded from the Scheduled
Caste category. But in order to realise the benefits of these initiatives,
Muslims need to come forward and participate in the vision of a rapidly
progressing India. We need to equip ourselves with education, relevant skills,
and a growth mindset. Community leaders need to ensure that the young Muslim
population of the country is steered toward the right opportunities. As India
reaches for the Moon and beyond, Muslims need to ignore the noise that is meant
to distract them from national progress and carry on like a model minority.
In a
liberal democracy, rights are as much a function of political citizenship as
they are of economic empowerment. Public intellectual Noam Chomsky recently
said that Gazans “don’t have wealth, they don’t have power, so they don’t have
rights—it’s the way the world works; your rights correspond to your power”.
Both critical and realist perspectives acknowledge that it isn’t enough to
claim political rights; empowering ourselves to be able to benefit from the
opportunities available is equally crucial. As Prime Minister Modi famously
said, “Development is only possible when Muslim youth will hold the Holy Qur’an
in one hand and the computer in the other.” This statement is a testament to
the uniqueness of Indian secular values where freedom of conscience goes along
with development.
Peace,
at all costs, is essential for the development of all communities and the
growth of India as a nation. For all its advanced weaponry, technological
finesse, and hawk-eyed surveillance, Israel’s failure to invest in organic
peace and harmony has cost it badly. India, too, faces numerous security
challenges, both continental and maritime in origin. With porous borders, a long
coastline and huge ethnic diversity, it is essential that all communities come
together to be prepared for such threats.
Set to
become the third largest economy, India is sure to ruffle some feathers in the
neighbourhood, and it is now that we need all hands on deck and everyone on
board. The country cannot afford any social tension to be exploited by enemy
nations at this point.
Views
are personal.
(Edited
by Ratan Priya)
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read
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------
Ajmal
lands into scarf row, faces entry ban in seven Assam districts
November
19, 2023
Guwahati
: Badruddin Ajmal, Lok Sabha MP and chief of the All India United Democratic
Front (AIUDF), has sparked a huge controversy in Assam after he allegedly
disrespected ‘cheleng’, a traditional Vaishnavite scarf.
The
Upper Assam Muslim Kalyan Parishad, a social organisation, has issued a stern
warning to Ajmal for his ‘act’ and imposed a ban on his entry in seven Assam
districts. “Badruddin Ajmal has disrespected the whole Assamese community
through his action,” according to Manirul Islam Bora, a leader of the
organisation.
He said,
“The AIUDF leader has insulted Vaishnav and traditional civilization and
culture, besides hurting the self-esteem of the Assamese people. Therefore,
until he apologizes for his actions, Ajmal will not be allowed to enter the
seven districts — Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat,
and Shivsagar.
“Badruddin
Ajmal knows nothing about Assamese tradition. He grew up in Arab culture,” Bora
claimed.
Assam
Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma also launched a veiled attack at the AIUDF
chief.
He said,
“Badruddin Ajmal is a symbol to me, not a person. When I say Ajmal, I mean
countless enemies of the state. The Barpeta Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khaleque is also
in the circle of these Ajmals because he ignored the Assamese language.”
According
to Sarma, these people have been quiet for the last few years. “Earlier, they
used to do and say a lot of things. They were never warned during the tenure of
earlier governments. But now the situation has changed. We have taken a lot of
measures. Now Ajmals have to think thousands of times to wage Jihad or talk
badly about Assamese. Ajmals have nothing to do but write on Facebook or other
social media”, the Chief Minister added.
He also
said, “The individual Badruddin Ajmal is not a problem to me. But the cattle thieves
and anti-social elements of Ajmals are real threats.”
Sarma
also advised the Assamese organisations not to show any respect to Badruddin
Ajmal.
“A
person who does not bother to understand the culture of Assam will obviously
disrespect it. Our people must understand this fact,” he added.
Meanwhile,
a police complaint was also lodged against Badruddin Ajmal for allegedly
disrespecting Assamese culture.
Assam
SatraMahasabha lodged the FIR against the Dhubri MP at the Morigaon police
station. They claimed that Ajmal threw away the ‘cheleng’ from his shoulder
when it was presented to him at a meeting in Lahorighat in Morigaon district
recently.
The
Mahasabha secretary, Bimal Chandra Borkakoti, said, “Such disrespect to our
honoured ‘cheleng’ will not be tolerated. We have lodged a police complaint
against Badruddin Ajmal.”
According
to a senior police official in Morigaon, the charges made in the complaint are
being investigated, and legal action will be taken as required.
On the
other hand, Badruddin Ajmal has dismissed the charges brought against him.
He said,
“I never threw the ‘cheleng’ and I was giving it to another person. I have
great respect for Assamese culture, and no other politician in the state puts
on ‘cheleng’ like me.”
The
AIUDF leader claimed that he had been unnecessarily dragged into a controversy.
— IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
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-----
Chhath
Puja, when inter-religious bonhomie is celebrated
November
19, 2023
AMIT
BHELARI
Chhath —
the four days festival that began with nahaykhay (a ritual river bath) on 17
November and will end on the morning of arghaya (prayer and dedication) on 20
November — is seeing hundreds of Muslim potters prepare earthenware stoves sold
to devotees to cook their offerings on.
Raisa
Khatun has been making these terracotta stoves (mitti ka chulha) for 30 years,
and currently sits at Beerchand Patel path near the income tax office
roundabout. “At this time, I don’t eat meat, and even avoid garlic and onion,”
she says, with the knowledge that devotees believe these are inauspicious. Ms.
Khatun follows the way Hindu women begin preparation a week ahead. This
includes getting wheat pounded at a local mill rather than buying a packeted
version, and making thekua, a sweet made at home with this wheat and jaggery.
“Even the daily rotis are out of this wheat,” she says, knowledgably.
It takes
more than three hours to prepare one chulha and she sells it at different
prices, ranging between ₹250 to ₹500, depending on the size.
Hailing from Vaishali district of Bihar, the chulha makers on this stretch buy
clay at ₹2,500 per tractor from Naubatpur village in Patna district. Each chulha is made with 3-5 kg of
clay, and a potter can sell anywhere from 200-250 stoves at this time. Ms.
Khatun is one of hundreds of Muslim families engaged in this work for the
festival. They make these stoves the traditional way, for a festival in which
lakhs of women gather at the Ganga ghats to pray for family, without the
presence of a priest.
Chandni
Khatun, another potter on the same stretch, busy working with her husband
Mohammad Shahnawaz, says that just as they enjoy Eid, they revel in Chhath as
well. “Devotion is not restricted to religion. That’s why devotees have total
faith in what we make,” she says, as buyers praise the potters.
“This is
the beauty of Chhath — anyone from any religion can contribute. Everyone is
equal in front of ChhathiMaiya,” says Rashmi Kumar, a resident of Mithapur in
Patna. Bihar’s latest caste survey showed that of approximately 13 crore people
in the State, 17% were Muslim.
Najma
Khatun, a resident of Police Line colony in the city has been observing this festival
for the past 10 years. “I had two children. Both died soon after the birth,”
she says. “A Hindu friend suggested I perform Chhath. My wish of having a child
was fulfilled; in fact, now I have five children,” she says. She admits that
initially people of her community boycotted her, but now the festival has
become a part of her life, and people around have accepted her belief.
Festival
preparation
Before
Chhath’s commencement, Patna’s eight Ganga ghats are spruced up and decorated
with pandals. Arrangements are made by the district administration, including
the provision of watch towers, temporary changing rooms and toilets, a medical
centre, and drinking water points. Every year about 1.5 to 2 lakh women
assemble at each ghat.
The
first day of the festival is nahay-khay in which vratis (women who are fasting)
have a bath in the morning and offer prayers to the rising sun at home or on
the ghats, before eating rice and bottle gourd. Gourd prices, usually ₹15-20,
soar to ₹70-80 per piece at this time. The second day is observed as kharna, in which kheer and
roti with dollops of ghee are eaten. This is the last meal before fasting for
two continuous days. Thekua is also cooked as prasad. It is these food items
that are prepared on earthen stoves.
On the
third day, devotees offer arghaya to the setting sun while standing in water at
the ghats. However, many devotees pay obeisance to the sun god using artificial
ponds on their terraces as well. The festival ends on the fourth day after
offering araghya to the rising sun, followed by breaking the two-day-long fast
with thekua.
Source: thehindu.com
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------
Grabbing
of Waqf properties: Mutawalli issued me threats, alleges Sunni Waqf Board
caretaker
Nov 20,
2023
Sunni
Waqf Board caretaker Mabood Ahmad, who on Saturday lodged an FIR against slain
Mafioso-politician Atiq Ahmed’s younger brother Kahlid Azeem aka Ashraf’s wife
Zainab Fatima and six others here for illegally occupying Sunni Waqf Board
land, selling plots from it, on Sunday alleged that Mutawalli MohdAsiyam, who
was also named in the FIR, had threatened him when he raised objection to their
grabbing of Waqf properties through forged documents.
The six
others named in the FIR include Ashraf’s two brothers-in-law, Zaid and Saddam,
a village head Shibli of Hatwa village, a Mutawalli, Asiyam and his wife
Zeenat, as well as one Tariq of Hatwa village. Officials aware with the matter
on Sunday said Asiyam Ahmad may also be removed from the post of Mutwalli of
Waqf properties. Waqf officials said Asiyam had been issued a notice by Sunni
Waqf Board to appear before the Board and give clarification failing which he
may be removed.
Divisional
commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant had constituted a committee comprising ADM
(City) Madan Kumar; SDM (Sadar) Abhishek Singh and district minority welfare
officer Krishna Murari to inquire into the complaint made by caretaker Mabood
Ahmad.
Primary
investigations revealed that Waqf properties at Bamrauli were illegally sold.
MutwalliAsiyam Ahmad failed to provide any clarification over the anomalies
following which further action was taken.
Meanwhile,
the Sunni Waqf Board caretaker has now demanded razing of the illegal
constructions done on the land. Caretaker Mabood Ahmad alleged that first
Asiyam offered him cash for not raising objection to grabbing of Waqf land.
Later,
he allegedly started issuing threats to kill him when he refused. The piece of
land the accused are alleged to have occupied using forged documents is worth ₹50
crore, police said.
“The FIR
was registered under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating),
467 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 468 (forgery of document for purpose of
cheating), 471 (knowingly using a forged document pretending it as genuine,)
and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and an investigation
is now on,” SHO of Puramufti police station Ajeet Singh had confirmed on
Saturday.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/grabbing-of-waqf-properties-mutawalli-issued-me-threats-alleges-sunni-wa
------
South Asia
Sharia
Punishment Does Not Violate Human Rights: Supreme Court Official
November
19, 2023
An
official of the Supreme Court said that the implementation of Sharia Hudod
(rules of punishment) are not against human rights or violate freedom.
Speaking
at a gathering held in the Academy of Science of Afghanistan, head of the
DarulIftah (a decision-making entity within the Supreme Court),
AzizullahMutaheri, said that the implementation of Sharia Hudod has its certain
conditions.
“What is
the biggest wisdom of Qisas (retribution)? When someone kills someone, if the
Qisas is implemented, it becomes a message to others,” he said.
“The
fundamental issue is justice… The Sharia Hudod should be implemented.
Conditions are important to be paved for Sharia Hudod,” said Mohammad Sharif
Rahmani, head of the appeals court.
The
gathering was held under the title of “implementation of Sharia Hudod and its
role in society."
The
deputy head of the Academy of Science, Amir Jan Saqib, said that with
implementation of the Sharia law in the country, justice will be paved.
“The
developed countries around the world don’t have good security because of the
lack of Sharia Hudod, but in the countries where there is an Islamic
government, there is security,” he said.
An
official of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Yahya, said that the
implementation of Sharia Hudod will improve the security of the country as
well.
“The
Sharia Hudod is being implemented on the people who are threatening the
security of the society,” he said.
This
comes as many international human rights groups have repeatedly voiced concerns
over the violation of human rights in Afghanistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-186105
------
108
Cases of Violence Against Journalists in 2023 in Afghanistan: Watchdog
NaweedSamadi
November
19, 2023
NAI, a
media-supporting organization in Afghanistan, said that nearly 110 cases of
violence against journalists have been recorded in 2023 in Afghanistan.
The head
of NAI, Zarif Karimi, said that the cases include arrests, harassment and
humiliation of journalists by the security forces.
“Our
reports show that we have recorded 108 cases of violence against journalists,
which includes various cases including beating, arrest, humiliation and insult
and other unlawful action against the
journalist,” he said.
This
comes as the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that from March 21 to
November 17, 2023, at least 13 directives concerning the media have been
issued, exceeding the limited adjustments proposed by the Islamic Emirate in the
country's media laws.
Journalists
and media organizations continue to face repercussions based on these
directives, they reported.
“The
Afghanistan Journalists Center documented a total of 75 incidents violating
media freedom in the first six months of the ongoing solar year,” AFJC said.
“These incidents involved 33 arrests and 42 instances of threats against
journalists and media personnel.”
“The
situation of the media family is concerning and we will not have a good future.
So we call for early implementation of media law,” said Masror Lutfi, head of
the Union of Journalists of Afghanistan.
The
journalists, who were interviewed by TOLOnews, called on the Islamic Emirate to
support the Afghan media.
“The
media family and the journalists call on the government to accept freedom of
speech meaningfully,” said Zabiullah Sharifi, a journalist.
“We call
on the government to be cooperative with the media and solve the challenges
ahead of the media,” said Islamuddin Ahmadi, a journalist.
But the
Islamic Emirate’s deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi, told TOLOnews that he cannot
confirm the figures provided by the media watchdogs about the situation in
Afghanistan.
“We
cannot confirm these figures but the Islamic Emirate supports the media within
Islamic law and the interest of the country,” he said.
The
Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that the media law has been prepared and
sent to the office of the supreme leader, MawlawiHibatullahAkunhdzada.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-186108
-----
More
than 400,000 Afghan migrants return home from Iran
Fidel
Rahmati
November
19, 2023
According
to reports, so far, approximately 450,000 Afghan migrants have voluntarily
returned to the country from Iran to address the issue of illegal immigration.
Tasnim
news agency, citing JavadKhani, the official in charge of managing illegal
migrants at the National Organization for Migration, has reported that there is
a possibility of approximately four million illegal migrants being present in
the country.
According
to this Iranian official, 92% of illegal Afghan migrants in Iran are located in
eight major cities, including Tehran, Sistan and Baluchistan, Khorasan Razavi,
Qom, Kerman, Yazd, Fars, and Alborz.
He
emphasized that one million illegal migrants in the country have received
identity cards to date.
This
Iranian authority considers border closures as one of the main policies of the
National Organization for Migration, and the process of expelling illegal
migrants began initially in the parliament and has been further expanded
through the Supreme National Security Council.
Additionally,
JavadKhani pointed out that the majority of migrants in Iran are Afghan
citizens, and efforts to organize individuals without proper documentation have
begun. Identity cards will soon be distributed to them.
This
comes as, according to reports, approximately five million Afghan migrants are
living in Iran.
Previously,
the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan has faced international
reactions, with international organizations calling for the halt of their
expulsion.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/more-than-400000-afghan-migrants-return-home-from-iran/
------
Human
Rights Activists in Pakistan Demand End to Forced Expulsion of Afghans
2023-11-19
KABUL
(BNA): Several human rights activists in Pakistan held protests in Karachi,
condemning the forced expulsion of Afghans.
They
labeled the eviction of Afghan refugees as “hateful and irresponsible.” The
Joint Action Committee for Refugees organized the protests, criticizing the
Pakistani government for engaging in “hateful and irresponsible” actions of
harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention of Afghan migrants and
Pakistani Pashtuns.
The
committee called on the interim Pakistani government to immediately halt the
unlawful expulsion and detention of migrants and provide free legal recourse
for detained refugees by the constitution.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/news/human-rights-activists-in-pakistan-demand-end-to-forced-expulsion-of-afghans/
------
CSTO
takes measures to counter Afghan terrorist threat
Fidel
Rahmati
November
19, 2023
The
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is actively addressing the
terrorist threat originating from Afghanistan, according to Colonel-General
Anatoly Sidorov, the chief of the CSTO Joint Staff.
Sidorov
stated that there is currently no significant military security issue in
Afghanistan. However, concerns persist due to the Afghan government’s limited
control, especially in the northern areas near CSTO member states.
“As of
today, there is no overarching problem regarding military security or military
danger coming from the territory of Afghanistan. However, at the same time, we
realize that the current leadership of Afghanistan does not yet fully have the
situation in the country under control, including in the northern areas that
border CSTO member states. Therefore, certain measures are being taken,”
Sidorov said in a press conference, TASS news agency reported.
Drug
trafficking remains a persistent problem originating from Afghanistan, but
efforts are underway to find solutions to this issue, according to Sidorov.
A
Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism and
Security Challenges recently convened in Islamabad, focusing on global and
regional terrorist threats, emphasising Afghanistan, Central and South Asia,
and North Africa.
The
dialogue highlighted the complex nature of the terrorism landscape and the
importance of sustained vigilance, as noted by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
The
Taliban administration claims to have complete control over all Afghan
territories and asserts that borders are now more secure than ever.
The
situation in Afghanistan remains a dynamic and evolving concern for regional
security, with various stakeholders actively monitoring and responding to
developments in the region.
Source: khaama.com
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-----
Work on
Constitution Underway: Mujahid
November
19, 2023
Mitra
Majeedy
The
Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that work on the formation
of the constitution is underway.
However,
he stressed that after the improvement of governance and economic condition of
the citizens, the grounds will be paved for the formation of the constitution.
“There
are some priorities which we need to do until we reach a phase where the
grounds for the constitution is paved,” he said.
Meanwhile,
some Afghan legal analysts in Geneva in a meeting stressed the need for a
constitution in Afghanistan, saying that the “2004 constitution was drafted
through a legitimate and popular process."
They
also expressed concerns over the absence of a constitution in the country.
“The
draft for a new constitution and even work with the human rights groups is…,”
said Nasratullah Rahimi Nabil, a legal analyst.
“When
there is no constitution, it means that there is no domestic and foreign policy
of a country. The fundamental rights of the people are not ensured and the type
of the government is not clear,” said Abdul ShokorDadras, a legal analyst.
Earlier,
Mujahid said that after completion of the constitution and formation of a
council, the official cabinet of the Islamic Emirate will also be announced.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186103
------
From
Monday, 300 Containers will Arrive from Karachi Daily: ACCI
Habib
Rahman Qooyash
The
Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that based on the agreement between the
authorities of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan, up to 300 containers of goods
currently stopped at the port of Karachi are going to go to Afghanistan
starting tomorrow (Monday).
The head
of the Administration of this chamber told TOLOnews that Pakistan's stopping of
containers full of transit goods in Karachi port has caused huge financial
losses to the merchants of the country.
"According
to the agreements, starting from Monday, tomorrow, Pakistanis will allow 300 cars
a day and Afghan businessmen's property to come to the country so that our
businessmen can get rid of this problem." said Khan Mohammad Sarfraz, head
of the secretariat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
However,
the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said that all the ports in the neighboring
countries are important areas for the growth of trade and development of
transit and asked the businessmen to use the ports of various neighboring
countries, including the port of Karachi.
"All
our businessmen should participate in this process and import goods through
different routes so that the volume does not overwhelm one port and one route,
so if we face problems like we did in Karachi port it will not cause much
loss," Zabihullah Mujahid said.
At the
same time, some economic analysts, referring to the unilateral decisions of the
Pakistani government against the commercial and transit goods of Afghan
merchants in the port of Karachi, emphasize the expansion of commercial and
transit activities through the alternative ports of Karachi.
"The
best way would be if we think of alternative ways. Because the Pakistanis have
always created transit and border problems, whenever the time for exports
reaches them, they open the discussion,” said AbdulnasirReshtya, an economic
analyst.
Meanwhile,
relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense in the past few
months.
Border conflicts, stoppage of transit goods at Karachi port, and the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from this country are some of the actions that cast a shadow on the relations between the two countries.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/index.php/business-186110
------
WHO
Warns of Disease Outbreak Risk Due to Afghan Refugee Crisis
2023-11-19
KABUL
(BNA): The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the
possible spread of diseases such as polio in Afghanistan, as the country faces
a massive influx of refugees from Pakistan.
According
to the WHO, Pakistan has intensified its expulsion of Afghan migrants, forcing
more than 700,000 people to return to Afghanistan since January 2023.
The
organization estimates that another 1.3 million people will enter Afghanistan
by the end of the year due to Pakistan’s decision.
The WHO
says that $10 million is urgently needed to provide essential health services
to the returning refugees, who are vulnerable to diseases and lack access to
basic health care.
The
organization also urges Pakistan to respect the rights and dignity of the
Afghan refugees and to facilitate their voluntary and safe return.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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------
Mideast
Israel
expands Gaza operation as Palestinian death toll crosses 13,000
November
20, 2023
GAZA:Israeli
troops were "expanding" their operation in the Gaza Strip Monday, as
Qatari mediators said they were inching closer to a deal to free some of the
240 hostages held by Hamas militants.
The
Palestinian health authority says the death toll from Israel's aerial
bombardment and ground operations in Gaza has reached 13,000, thousands of them
children.
Israel
has warned residents of Gaza's largest refugee camp Jabalia and a nearby
coastal camp to evacuate, as the military said Sunday it was "expanding
its operational activities in additional neighbourhoods... of the Gaza
Strip."
After
intense bombardment, an AFP journalist in Gaza saw columns of smoke rising from
Jabalia on Sunday.
A health
official said more than 80 people were killed in twin strikes on Jabalia ,
including on a UN school sheltering displaced people.
Social
media videos verified by AFP showed bodies covered in blood and dust on the
floor of a building, where mattresses had been wedged under school tables.
Israel's
military has claimed Jabalia is among the areas of focus as they "target
terrorists and strike Hamas infrastructure".
Without
mentioning the strikes, the Israeli army said "an incident in the Jabalia
region" was under review.
UN
rights chief Volker Turk on Sunday condemned the purported strike on the school
as "horrifying", adding that "the horrendous events of the past
48 hours in Gaza beggar belief."
On
Monday, Palestinian news agency Wafa said the Indonesian hospital near Jabalia
had also come under shelling.
Six
weeks into the war, Israel is facing intense international pressure to justify
its bloody toll.
Israel
officials have warned a "window of legitimacy" for the war to rout
Hamas may be closing.
Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for urgent action to stop the
"humanitarian disaster" unfolding in Gaza.
"The
situation in Gaza affects all countries around the world, questioning the human
sense of right and wrong and humanity's bottom line," Wang told visiting
diplomats from Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
Israel
on Sunday presented what it claimed was evidence Hamas fighters used Gaza's
largest hospital, Al-Shifa, to hide foreign hostages and to mask underground
tunnels.
The
Israeli military released what was claimed to be CCTV footage from October 7 of
two male hostages from Nepal and Thailand being brought into the hospital.
"We
have not yet located both of these hostages," army spokesman Daniel Hagari
told reporters.
One clip
showed a man in shorts and a pale blue shirt being dragged into an entrance
hall by five men, at least three of whom were armed.
In a
second clip, an injured man in underwear is wheeled in on a gurney by armed men
as several others wearing blue hospital scrubs look on. AFP could not
immediately verify the footage.
Israel
also accused the Palestinian resistance group of executing a 19-year-old
Israeli soldier Noa Marciano at Al-Shifa and presented images of what it
claimed was a 55-metre-long underground tunnel under the hospital.
Israel
has repeatedly claimed that Al-Shifa doubles as a base for Palestinian
fighters, a charge Hamas and hospital administrators deny.
The
World Health Organization has called the hospital a "death zone".
Over the weekend, hundreds of people fled Al-Shifa hospital on foot as loud
explosions were heard around the complex.
Columns
of sick and injured were seen leaving with displaced people, doctors and
nurses. At least 15 bodies, some in advanced stages of decomposition, were
strewn along the route, an AFP journalist said.
The WHO
on Sunday said it evacuated thirty-one premature babies from the facility.
Al-Shifa
head of surgery Marwan Abu Sada told AFP that Israeli troops were still in the
hospital and it was surrounded by tanks.
"I
heard at least two explosions since this morning," he said Sunday.
Other
doctors said the troops were going from building to building and detonated
explosives on the ground floors and hospital basements searching for Hamas
tunnels.
The
bodies of two female hostages were recovered in Gaza this week, the Israeli
military claimed. Four abductees have so far been released by Hamas and a fifth
rescued by troops.
On
Sunday, Qatari mediators said they were inching closer to a deal to free some
of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Qatar's
prime minister said efforts to bring hostages "safely back to their
homes" in return for a temporary ceasefire was now within reach, raising
hopes that Israeli, Nepali, American or other captives could soon be free.
"I'm
now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal," said
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, adding that only "minor" practical
details remained unresolved.
The
hostages include infants, teens and pensioners. Their fate has racked not just
their families but the Israeli public at large.
US
deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told US media that negotiators were
"closer than we have been in quite some time" to securing a deal.
But he
added: "The mantra that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed
really does apply."
In
London, the teary father of missing 9-year-old Emily Hand begged for her to be
brought home.
"There's
just a big, big hole in all our hearts that won't be filled until she comes
home again," he told AFP.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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-------
Israel
strikes Lebanon’s Nabatieh for first time since 2006 war
November
19, 2023
Beirut :
An Israeli drone attacked the Lebanese southern city of Nabatieh for the first
time since the July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told
the media.
The
drone fired two missiles on Saturday at a local aluminum factory on the road
between Toul and Kfour, destroying part of the factory, but no injuries were
reported, Xinhua news agency reported.
The
sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also indicated that Israeli warplanes,
helicopters and drones carried out 10 airstrikes in the southern villages of
Blida, Aitaroun, Aita al-Shaab, MajdelZoun and Naqoura, causing material
damages.
The same
sources said that Israeli heavy artillery shelled about 26 Lebanese towns and
villages, including 11 in southeastern Lebanon and 15 in the southwest, burning
five homes and causing damage to 13 others.
For the
first time, the shells hit the outskirts of the towns of KfarTibnit and Shukin,
near the city of Nabatieh, more than 20 km north of the border, according to
the sources.
They
added that Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system intercepted missiles launched
from Lebanon toward northern Israel, with two of them exploding in the air over
the MajdelZoun village.
For its
part, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said its fighters targetted several
Israeli sites along the borderline in Al-Raheb, Hadab Al-Bustan, Ramim
Barracks, Al-Bayadah, and the Israeli military command headquarters in Wadi
Sa’sa, causing casualties.
Hezbollah
also reported the downing of an Israeli multi-mission combat drone, a Hermes
450, by firing a surface-to-air missile.
The
Lebanon-Israel border has witnessed increased tension for six weeks after
Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Shebaa Farms on October 8 in support
of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. — IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
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------
At least
30 premature babies evacuated from Gaza's main hospital, will be transferred to
Egypt
20.11.23
At least
30 premature babies were evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital on Sunday and will
be transferred to facilities in Egypt, the territory’s health ministry said, as
scores of other critically wounded patients remained stranded there days after
Israeli forces entered the compound.
The fate
of the newborns at Shifa Hospital had captured global attention after the
release of images showing doctors trying to keep them warm. A power blackout
had shut down incubators and other equipment, and food, water and medical
supplies ran out as Israeli forces battled Palestinian militants outside the
hospital.
A World
Health Organisation team that visited the hospital on Saturday said
291
patients were still there, including 32 babies in extremely critical condition,
trauma patients with severely infected wounds, and others with spinal injuries
who
are
unable to move.
Medhat
Abbas, a spokesman for the ministry, confirmed the evacuation of the babies in
a phone call with The Associated Press, without providing further details.
There was no immediate comment from the WHO, and it was not clear if all the
babies had been evacuated.
Underscoring
the perils of movement inside the coastal enclave, Doctors Without Borders said
a convoy of clearly marked vehicles carrying staff and their families was fired
upon in Gaza City on Saturday. A relative of a staff member was killed and
another person was injured, the aid group said.
About
2,500 displaced people, mobile patients and medical staff left Shifa Hospital
on Saturday morning, the WHO said. It said 25 medical staff remained, along
with the patients.
“Patients
and health staff with whom they spoke were terrified for their safety and
health, and pleaded for evacuation,” the agency said, describing Shifa as a
death zone.
Israeli
troops who have been based at the hospital and searching its grounds for days
say they have found guns and other weapons, and showed reporters the entrance to
a tunnel shaft. The AP couldn’t independently verify Israel’s findings.
Elsewhere
in northern Gaza, dozens of people were killed on Saturday in the urban
Jabaliya refugee camp when what witnesses described as an Israeli airstrike hit
a crowded UN shelter.
“The
scenes were horrifying. Corpses of women and children were on the ground.
Others were screaming for help,” Ahmed Radwan, who was among the wounded, said
by phone. AP photos from a local hospital showed more than 20 bodies wrapped in
bloodstained sheets.
The
Israeli military, which has repeatedly called on Palestinians to leave northern
Gaza, said only that its troops were active in the area “with the aim of
hitting terrorists”. It rarely comments on individual strikes.
Heavy
clashes were reported in the Jabaliya camp overnight into Sunday. “There was
the constant sound of gunfire and tank shelling,” Yassin Sharif, who is
sheltering in a UN-run hospital in the camp, said by phone. “It was another
night of horror.”
In
southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near the town of
Khan Younis on Saturday, killing at least 26 Palestinians, according to a
doctor at the hospital where the bodies were taken.
Doctors
Without Borders said staff members and their families were trying to evacuate
northern Gaza in a clearly marked convoy on Saturday but turned back after
shots rang out at a crowded Israeli checkpoint. On their way back, the convoy
was attacked, it said, without identifying the attackers.
More
than 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health
authorities. Another 2,700 have been reported missing, believed buried under
rubble. The count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants;
Israel says it has killed thousands of militants.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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------
With the
world's eyes on Gaza, attacks are on the rise in the West Bank, which faces its
own war
Nov 20, 2023
QUSRA:
When Israeli warplanes swooped over the Gaza Strip following Hamas militants’
deadly attack on southern Israel, Palestinians say a different kind of war took
hold in the occupied West Bank.
Overnight,
the territory was closed off. Towns were raided, curfews imposed, teenagers
arrested, detainees beaten, and villages stormed by Jewish vigilantes.
With the
world’s attention on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, the violence of
war has also erupted in the West Bank. Israeli settler attacks have surged at
an unprecedented rate, according to the United Nations. The escalation has
spread fear, deepened despair, and robbed Palestinians of their livelihoods,
their homes and, in some cases, their lives.
“Our
lives are hell,” said Sabri Boum, a 52-year-old farmer who fortified his
windows with metal grills last week to protect his children from settlers he
said threw stun grenades in Qaryout, a northern village. “It's like I'm in a
prison.”
In six
weeks, settlers have killed nine Palestinians, said Palestinian health
authorities. They've destroyed 3,000-plus olive trees during the crucial
harvest season, said Palestinian Authority official Ghassan Daghlas, wiping out
what for some were inheritances passed through generations. And they've
harassed herding communities, forcing over 900 people to abandon 15 hamlets
they long called home, the U.N. said.
When
asked about settler attacks, the Israeli army said only that it aims to defuse
conflict and troops “are required to act” if Israel citizens violate the law.
The army didn't respond to requests for comment on specific incidents.
U.S.
President Biden and other administration officials have repeatedly condemned
settler violence, even as they defended the Israeli campaign in Gaza.
“It has
to stop,” Biden said last month. "They have to be held accountable."
That
hasn't happened, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din. Since Oct. 7, one
settler has been arrested — over an olive farmer's death — and was released
five days later, the group said. Two other settlers were placed in preventive
detention without charge, it said.
Naomi
Kahn, of advocacy group Regavim, which lobbies for settler interests, argued
that settler attacks weren't nearly as widespread as rights groups report
because it's a broad category including self-defense, anti-Palestinian graffiti
and other nonviolent provocations.
“The
entire Israeli system works not only to stamp out this violence but to prevent
it,” she said.
Before
the Hamas assault, 2023 already was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the
West Bank in over two decades, with 250 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire,
most during military operations.
Over
these six weeks of war, Israeli security forces have killed another 206
Palestinians, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, the result of a rise in
army raids backed by airstrikes and Palestinian militant attacks. In the
deadliest West Bank raid since the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, of
the 2000s, Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp Nov.
9, most of them militants.
While
for years settlers enjoyed the support of the Israeli government, they now have
vocal proponents at the highest levels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
coalition. This month, Netanyahu appointed Zvi Sukkot, a settler temporarily
banned from the West Bank in 2012 over alleged assaults targeting Palestinians
and Israeli forces, to lead the subcommittee on West Bank issues in parliament.
Palestinians
who've endured hardships of Israeli military rule, in its 57th year, say this
war has left them more vulnerable than ever.
“We’ve
become scared of tomorrow,” said Abdelazim Wadi, 50, whose brother and nephew
were fatally shot by settlers, according to health authorities.
Conflict
has long been part of daily life here, but Palestinians say the war has
unleashed a new wave of provocations, disrupting even their grim routine.
Israel
captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war. Settlers
claim the West Bank as their biblical birthright. Most of the international
community considers the settlements, home to 700,000 Israelis, illegal. Israel
considers the West Bank disputed land, and says the settlements' fate should be
decided in negotiations. International law says the military, as the occupying
power, must protect Palestinian civilians.
Palestinians
say that in nearly six decades of occupation, Israeli soldiers often failed to
protect them from settler attacks or even joined in.
Since
the war's start, the line between settlers and soldiers has blurred further.
Israel’s
wartime mobilization of 300,000-plus reservists included the call-up of
settlers for duty and put many in charge of policing their own communities. The
military said in some cases, reservists who live in settlements replaced
regular West Bank battalions deployed in the war.
Tom
Kleiner, a reservist guarding Beit El, a religious settlement near the
Palestinian city of Ramallah, said the Oct. 7 Hamas attack's brutality cemented
his conviction that Palestinians are determined to “murder us.”
“We
don’t kill Arabs without any reason,” he said. “We kill them because they’re
trying to kill us.”
Rights
groups say uniforms and assault rifles have inflated settlers' sense of impunity.
“Imagine
that the military supposed to protect you is now made of settlers committing
violence against you,” said Ori Givati, of Breaking the Silence, a
whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers.
Bashar
al-Qaryoute, a medic from the Palestinian village of Qaryout, said residents
from the nearby settlement Shilo, now wearing fatigues, have blocked all but
one road out. He said they smashed Qaryout’s water pipeline, forcing residents
to truck in water at triple the price.
“They
were the ones always burning olive trees and creating problems,” al-Qaryoute
said. “Now they're in charge.”
“Close
it!” a soldier barked at Imad Abu Shamsiyya when he met the young man's eyes
through his open window. Then, he pointed his rifle.
Over 52
years, Abu Shamsiyya has witnessed crises strike the heart of Hebron, the only
place in which Jewish settlers live amid local residents, not in separate
communities.
He
thought life in the maze of barbed wire and security cameras couldn't get
worse. Then came the war.
“This
terror, these pressures,” he said, "are unlike before."
The
Israeli military has barred 750 families in Hebron's Old City — where some 700
radical Jewish settlers live among 34,000 Palestinians under heavy military
protection — from stepping outside except for one hour in the morning and one
in the evening on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursday, said residents and Israeli
human rights organization B’Tselem.
Schools
have closed. Work has stopped. Sick people have moved in with relatives in the
Palestinian-controlled part of town. Israeli settlers often roam at night,
taunting Palestinians trapped indoors, according to footage published by
B'Tselem.
Checkpoints
instill dread. Soldiers who in the past just glanced at Abu Shamsiyya’s ID now
search his phone and social media. They pat him down, he said, gawking and
cursing.
“Hebron
is a blatant microcosm of how Israel is exerting control over the Palestinians
population,” said DrorSadot, of B'Tselem.
The
Israeli military didn't respond to a request for comment on the curfew.
The
grinding of a bulldozer's gears. The crack of a gun. With a glance, parents let
each other know the drill: Grab the children, lock the doors, keep away from
windows.
Palestinians
say settlers storm the northern village of Qusra almost daily, covering olive
orchards in cement and dousing cars and homes in gasoline.
On Oct.
11, settlers tore through dusty streets, shooting at families in their homes.
Within minutes, three Palestinian men were dead.
Israeli
forces sent to disperse armed settlers and Palestinian stone-throwers fired
into the crowd, killing a fourth villager, Palestinian officials said.
The next
day, settlers heeded social-media calls to ambush a funeral procession the
village coordinated with the army. They cut off roads and sprayed bullets at
mourners who sprang from cars and sprinted through fields, attendees said.
Ibrahim
Wadi, a 62-year-old chemist, and his 26-year-old son Ahmed, a lawyer, were
killed. The funeral for four became one for six.
Settlers’
online posts rejoicing at the deaths, shared with The Associated Press, stung
Ibrahim's brother, Abdelazim, almost as much as the loss.
“The
mind breaks down, it stops comprehending,” he said.
Finance
Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should “wipe out” Palestinian town Hawara
after a gunman killed two Israeli brothers in February, sending hundreds of
settlers on a deadly rampage.
Another
far-right religious lawmaker, Zvika Fogel, said he wanted to see the commercial
hub “closed, incinerated."
Today,
Hawara resembles a ghost town.
The army
shuttered shops “to maintain public order” after Palestinian militant attacks,
it said. Abandoned dogs roam among vandalized storefronts. Posters with a
Talmudic justification for killing Palestinians adorn road blocks: “Rise and
kill first."
From the
war's start, much of the West Bank's main north-south highway has been closed
to Palestinians, said anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now. Commutes that took 10
to 20 minutes now take hourslong detours on dangerous dirt roads.
The
restrictions, said Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, “have divided the
West Bank into 224 ghettos separated by closed checkpoints.”
The
160,000 Palestinian laborers who passed those checkpoints to work in Israel and
Israeli settlements before Oct. 7 lost their coveted permits overnight, said
Israel's defense agency overseeing Palestinian civil matters. The agency
allowed 8,000 essential workers to return to factories and hospitals earlier
this month. There's no word on when the rest can.
“My
grandfather relies on me, and now I have nothing,” said Ahmed, a 27-year-old
from Hebron who lost his barista job in Haifa, Israel. He declined to give his
last name for fear of reprisals.
“The
pressure is building. We expect the West Bank to explode if nothing
changes."
Palestinians
wait all year for the autumn moment that olives turn from green to black. The
two-month harvest is a beloved ritual and income boost.
Violence
has marred the season. Soldiers and settlers blocked villagers from reaching
orchards and used bulldozers to remove gnarled roots of centuries-old trees,
they say.
Hafeeda
al-Khatib, an 80-year-old farmer in Qaryout, said soldiers shot in the air and
dragged her from her land when they caught her picking olives last week. It's
the first year she can remember not having enough to make oil.
In a
letter to Netanyahu this month, Smotrich called for a ban on Palestinians
harvesting olives near Israeli settlements to reduce friction.
Palestinians
say settlers' efforts have done the opposite.
“They've
declared war on me,” said Mahmoud Hassan, a 63-year-old farmer in Khirbet Sara,
a northern community. He said reservist settlers have surrounded it. If he
ventures 100 meters (yards) to his grove, he said, soldiers standing sentry
scream or fire into the air. He needs permission to leave home and return.
“There
is no room anymore for talking to them or negotiating," he said.
The
military said it “thoroughly reviewed” reports of violence against Palestinians
and their property. “Disciplinary actions are implemented accordingly,” it
said, without elaborating.
Rights
groups say the goal of settler violence is to clear Palestinians from land they
claim for a future state, making room for Jewish settlements to expand.
The
Bedouin hamlet of Wadi al-Seeq was pushed to its breaking point by three detained
Palestinians' ordeal over nine hours Oct. 12. The harrowing accounts were first
reported by Israel’s Haaretz daily. Weeks of vigilante violence had already
forced 10 families to flee when masked settlers in army uniforms barreled
through that day, slamming a Bedouin resident and two Palestinian activists
onto the ground and shoving them into pickups, villagers said.
One of
the activists, 46-year-old Mohammed Matar, told AP they were bound, beaten,
blindfolded, stripped to their underwear and burned by cigarettes.
Matar
said reservist settlers urinated on him, penetrated him anally with a stick,
and screamed at him to leave and go to Jordan.
When
released, Matar left. So did Wadi al-Seeq’s 30 remaining families. They took
their sheep to the creases of the hills east of Ramallah and abandoned
everything else.
The
Israeli military said it fired the commander in charge and was investigating.
Matar
said that to move on, he needs Israel to hold someone accountable.
“I'd be
satisfied with the bare minimum," he said, “the tiniest shred of justice.”
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/with-the-worlds-eyes-on-gaza-attacks-are-on-the-rise-in-the-west-bank-which-faces-its-own-‘
war/articleshow/105345993.cms
------
Kuwaiti,
Egyptian charities sign $500,000 Gaza aid deal
November
20, 2023
KUWAIT:
Officials from Kuwait’s Society for Relief on Sunday signed a $500,000 deal
with Egypt’s Dar Al-Orman charity to provide urgent humanitarian aid to
Palestinians in Gaza, Kuwait News Agency reported.
Dr.
Mohammed Al-Sharhan, a member of the Kuwaiti charity’s board of trustees, said
the agreement was in line with the directives of Kuwait’s leaders to “amplify”
the scope of aid to the Palestinians.
He
highlighted previous aid programs aimed at Palestinians in Gaza, including an
air bridge that transported approximately 500 tons of humanitarian aid.
Ahmad
AI-Gendi, the head of Dar Al-Orman, said that supporting the Palestinians was a
legal and moral obligation and he praised the efforts of Kuwaiti charities in
responding to the urgent needs of civilians in Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411916/middle-east
------
Supreme
Leader urges Muslim countries to cut Zionist regime's lifeline
2023/11/20
Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei made these remarks during his visit to the IRGC Aerospace
Forces exhibition on Sunday.
Ayatollah
Khamenei said that Zionists consider themselves to be a superior race and
consider the rest of human beings to be inferior, and that is why they have
killed thousands of children without any remorse.
He
described scientific achievements, such as the ones showcased in the
exhibition, to be the result of a motivation based on determination and faith.
Whatever
field our young people entered with determination and faith, they have been
able to do great jobs, he stressed.
The
signs of determination and faith were clearly evident in this exhibition, he
stated.
The
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to innovation as another
feature of the event, saying, "We should not be content with the current
level of success because various military and civilian sectors in the world are
progressing, and we must try not to stay behind."
Referring
to the developments in Palestine and the continuation of the Zionist regime's
crimes in Gaza, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the developments in Gaza revealed
many hidden truths to the people of the world, one of which is the support of
the heads of Western countries for racial discrimination.
When the
US president, the German chancellor, the French president, and the British
prime minister aid and abet such a racist regime, it means that they support
racial discrimination as the most detestable issue in the world, he noted.
The
people of Europe and America should clarify their stance on this situation and
show that they are not in favor of racial discrimination, he stressed.
Despite
extensive bombings in Gaza, the Zionist regime has failed to achieve its goal
of destroying Hamas and the resistance, even after more than 40 days of using
all their military power, he stated.
Ayatollah
Khamenei described the brutal bombing of hospitals and women and children in
Gaza as a sign of the extreme frustration of the Zionist regime's leader about
their defeat, saying that the defeat of the Zionist regime in Gaza is a fact
and entering hospitals or people's houses is not a victory.
Victory
means defeating the other party, which the Zionist regime has not been able to
achieve so far and will not be able to in the future, he reiterated.
Some
Islamic governments apparently condemned the Zionist regime's crimes in public
gatherings, he said adding that some others have not done so yet, which is not
acceptable.
He urged
Islamic countries to stop exporting energy and goods to the Zionist regime and
to cut off their political relationship with the Zionist regime, at least for a
limited period.
Source: ilna.ir
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https://www.ilna.ir/Section-politics-3/1419908-supreme-leader-urges-muslim-countries-to-cut-zionist-regime-lifeline
------
Doctors
Worldwide Türkiye sets out to deliver aid to Gaza
20.11.2023
Members
of Doctors Worldwide Türkiye headed Sunday to the Rafah border crossing to
deliver medical supplies and food aid to Gaza.
“Every
day, a limited amount of humanitarian aid materials are being transported to
Gaza through the Rafah border crossing. We are also on our way to Egypt today
to deliver the specified medical equipment and supplies from the Rafah crossing
to our team in Gaza, and from there to Kuwait Hospital,” the association said
on X.
It said
that part of their medical team in Gaza has moved from Al-Shifa Hospital to
Kuwait Hospital in southern Gaza, where they are striving to provide health
services.
The
association added that its efforts will continue to ensure the most efficient
delivery of healthcare services to Gaza.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/doctors-worldwide-turkiye-sets-out-to-deliver-aid-to-gaza/3058953
------
Kuwaiti
FM, US envoy discuss Gaza conflict
November
20, 2023
KUWAIT:
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met with US
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf on Sunday to
discuss the latest developments in Gaza, Kuwait News Agency reported.
Sheikh
Salem said that Kuwait remained “unwavering in its support for the Palestinians
and their statehood rights,” and he reiterated the need to reach a peaceful
solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
The
minister also urged for an immediate ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid
to Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411906/middle-east
-----
North America
Toronto
police arrest man in several hate-motivated attacks on Muslims
November
20, 2023
TORONTO:
Chandler Marshall, a Canadian man, has been arrested by police in Toronto after
being charged with several counts in connection with hate-motivated crimes that
occurred outside a Toronto mosque and two other areas.
In a statement
released on Saturday night, Toronto Police said that at approximately 6:40am,
officers were called to the Toronto Islamic Centre (TIC), located close to the
intersection of Yonge Street and Davenport Road.
TIC
issued a statement which was shared by the National Council for Canadian
Muslims (NCCM) on X, formerly known as Twitter, with details of the Marshall’s
attack where he vandalised the centre and yelled Islamophobic slurs and threats
at congregants.
“This is
not the first time TIC has faced Islamophobia. We previously received threats
that someone was coming to commit another Christchurch attack at our centre,”
the TIC statement said in part. “We want to be clear: We will not be
intimidated. While our first priority is to ensure the ongoing safety of
worshippers, we need to see long-term change to fight all forms of hate.”
Worshippers were asked by the TIC message to participate in prayers and to
oppose antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hatred. The NCCM revealed that footage
of the incident was also submitted to the Toronto police. Toronto police also
revealed that the 28-year-old suspect was also charged in connection with two
incidents on Wednesday morning with the first incident occurring before 4:30am
when a victim, driving a taxi, asked Marshall if he needed a ride. Marshall
asked if he was Muslim before spraying his face with an unknown substance. The
second incident occurred three and a half hours later when a woman wearing a
hijab was approached by Marshall, who made derogatory statements before
spraying her face with an unknown substance.
The
victim was treated for minor physical injuries, according to City News.
Additionally,
Marshall is scheduled to appear in a Toronto bail court Monday morning, after
being charged with “four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of
assault, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, two counts of mischief, two
counts of administering a noxious substance, two counts of possession of a
prohibited weapon, two counts of weapons dangerous, and uttering threats.”
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1130740-toronto-police-arrest-man-in-several-hate-motivated-attacks-on-muslims
-----
Rabbi,
imam try to help NY Jewish, Muslim students find common ground. It doesn’t go
well
November
20, 2023
New York
Jewish Week via JTA – Students crammed into a meeting room on the leafy Queens
College campus, some wearing keffiyehs, others kippahs. Kosher and halal food
were served on a table at the back of the room, while late arrivals gathered at
the door, listening to the rabbi and imam holding court at the center of the
gathering.
“There
are no two faith communities that have more in common than Islam and Judaism,”
Rabbi Marc Schneier said, sitting next to his longtime partner in interfaith
work, Imam Shamsi Ali. “We can agree to disagree, without being disagreeable.”
The
meeting between the Muslim and Jewish students was meant to build bridges
between the two groups amid fallout from the war between Israel and Hamas in
Gaza that began with Hamas’s massacre of 1,200 people across southern Israel on
October 7. But, in actuality, the gathering further exposed the deep chasms
between their two communities, which did disagree — and were often disagreeable.
As the
conversation on Thursday descended into shouting, a Jewish student fired across
the room, “October 7 is resistance?”
A Muslim
student said, “Yes, October 7 is resistance, according to the Geneva
Convention.”
“At
least someone said it,” the Jewish student said.
The
conflict between Israel and Hamas has riven campuses in New York City and
elsewhere, sparking heated clashes between student groups, as well as between
students and administrators. An Israeli student was assaulted and a swastika
was drawn on a bathroom wall at Columbia University, which later suspended two
prominent pro-Palestinian groups. At Manhattan’s Cooper Union, Jewish students
sheltered in a library as pro-Palestinian activists pounded on the doors and
shouted slogans. Campuses across the city, including in the CUNY system, have
seen tensions soar between rival pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups.
The
Queens College gathering was similarly tense. At times, it devolved into
shouting and mutual recriminations, although some individual students did
appear to forge ties with classmates from the other side.
The New
York Jewish Week was invited to cover the meeting on the condition that its
student attendees not be identified by name so they could speak freely.
“Israelis
are doing, in my opinion, what the Nazis did to them,” said the opening
speaker, a Muslim. “This is how you create Hamas. If you want to know how to
create Hamas, just keep bombing Gaza.”
“In my
eyes as a Muslim, Palestinian and Israeli life – equal,” he said. “We have to
be direct with each other.”
A Jewish
student said, “A lot of our pain and suffering has been invalidated since
October 7. Right away, there was not a second to mourn. Automatically we had to
defend ourselves.”
Citing
student organizations on social media that had denied the atrocities, she said,
“People were slaughtered. The world doesn’t care.”
She
added, “I want to see my pain acknowledged.”
Queens
College is part of the sprawling City University of New York system, which has
been grappling with allegations of antisemitism for years. Jewish students and
faculty have said Israel criticism often spills over into outright
antisemitism, while Palestinians and their supporters have decried alleged
attacks on free speech.
Around
50 students attended the hourlong meeting, perhaps the first formal gathering
between Jewish and Muslim students on a New York City campus since Oct. 7,
according to its organizers. Schneier and Ali previously held two meetings for
students from several CUNY schools, one with only Muslims, and another with
just Jewish students. They plan to hold several more gatherings.
“We are
not here to convince you, whatever you have in mind, but we’re here to listen
with the hope that we can build a sense of sympathy or empathy for one another,”
Ali said.
Schneier
is a prominent rabbi involved with outreach between Jews and Gulf countries;
his Foundation for Ethnic Understanding focuses on Jewish-Muslim relations. He
is also a member of CUNY’s Jewish advisory council. Ali is the leader of the
Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens, one of the largest mosques in New York, with
20,000 members.
The
students present included members of the campus Hillel and the Muslim Student
Association. Muslim students outnumbered Jewish students at the meeting and held
the floor for more of the discussion, using the forum to air historical
grievances and complaints against the college administration. Jewish students
said their pain after the Hamas attack had been dismissed, or even exacerbated,
as some student groups denied or endorsed the atrocities.
One
Jewish student read out a threat posted online to the group, her hands shaking,
saying, “We were terrified.” Both groups also felt that their voices had been
stifled.
A Jewish
student said that graffiti threatening Jews had been etched around campus and
that she hadn’t seen similar hate directed toward pro-Palestinian students. The
Muslim students in attendance forcefully disagreed, with one woman saying,
“It’s absolutely appalling to disregard all the hate that the Muslims on this
campus have been receiving.”
The
Jewish speaker said she understood and had not been aware of anti-Muslim
incidents.
The
rabbi and imam made repeated efforts to guide the conversation toward
interfaith relations and the atmosphere on campus, and the students all
unequivocally condemned discrimination against Muslims and Jews as well as
civilian casualties. At one point, Ali said, “Both communities are victims, but
it looks like we are opponents to each other, and that’s what we need — to find
a way to make sure that actually we are not enemies to one another.”
Still,
the discussion repeatedly turned to the war, with the students unable to agree
on its basic facts. Muslim students disputed that Hamas was using civilians as
human shields, frustrating the Jews in attendance, or that Hamas had targeted
Israeli civilians on October 7, citing a conspiracy theory that the Israeli
military was responsible for most civilian casualties.
The
Muslim students repeatedly objected to the pro-Israel position, bringing up the
Palestinian death toll of 13,000, a figure provided by the Hamas-run Gaza
health ministry that cannot be independently verified. Hamas has been accused
of inflating the toll and of designating gunmen in their late teens as
children. It is not known how many among its total are combatants, and how many
among the dead were victims of hundreds of rockets aimed at Israel that
misfired and exploded inside Gaza.
In one
heated exchange, a Muslim student said she had asked Israel supporters around
campus if they condemned Israel. “I have not received a single yes,” she said.
Pro-Israel students asked if she condemned Hamas, and she said she condemned
the killing of innocent civilians on any side. Both groups said they were not
“spokespeople” for the conflict’s combatants.
“What
they accuse Hamas of doing today, they did — they’ve been doing for 75 years,”
a Muslim student said. “The start date for you guys is October 7,” another
student said.
“A
people who are occupied have a right to armed resistance. I know you don’t like
hearing it but those are the facts,” a Muslim student said.
“People
like you think they should lay back and let Israel slaughter them. No, we don’t
want two states, we want one solution under pre-1948 borders,” he said, to
applause, while one student held up a sign that said, “Bombing hospitals is not
self-defense.”
“We are
trying to move forward as a community. We cannot fix the issues that present
themselves in the Middle East,” a Jewish student said.
“It
tears my heart hearing his pain, his family’s pain, it’s just awful,” a Jewish
student said about the Palestinian speaker. “I think it would be great for us
all to understand that there are bad people on both sides and there are great
people on both sides.”
Later in
the discussion, several Muslim students berated Ali, appearing to oppose his
partnership with Schneier.
“Who
told you to come here? Which Muslim? How much did they pay you?” one student
said. “Say you’re a Zionist. You’re not welcome. Nobody wants you here.” He
then led the room in several chants of “Allahuakbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning
“God is the greatest.”
The
Muslim students also repeatedly criticized the Queens College administration,
saying the college had been overly supportive of Israel and that they had not
been given a forum to express their grievances. The college president, Frank
Wu, opened an investigation earlier this week into the Muslim Student
Association after the group posted online that there was no evidence
Palestinians had killed women and children, and justified Hamas taking
civilians hostage.
In the
October 7 attack, 3,000 terrorists killed 1,200 Israelis and other nationals,
mostly civilians, slaughtered amid horrifying acts of brutality, and took more
than 240 others captive, including infants and children. The attack was the
worst in Israel’s history, and the biggest single-day massacre of Jewish people
since the Holocaust.
Wu’s
investigation sparked furious protests against the administration. Slogans
attacking Wu and Israel were chalked on the sidewalk around campus.
“We’re
not here representing CUNY. What do you want from us?” Schneier said.
After
the meeting let out, the arguing continued outside the room, although some
students seemed to forge connections in individual discussions.
A Muslim
student spoke with a Jewish student, saying he had grown up in an environment
that was not welcoming to Jews, but that his closest friend, whom he met in
school, was Jewish. The two students bonded over the religions’ shared
traditions, including fasting on holidays and eschewing pork.
“This is
turning into a very Israel and Palestine thing, which it shouldn’t have,
because it was an interfaith thing,” the Muslim student said. “It really hurts
me a lot hearing terrible things being said about you guys because I for one
don’t align with that.”
“I’m
really happy that you came here,” the Jewish student said. “Jews, our religion,
our values, it’s about a good world, good people, not doing violence.
Everyone’s rights matter.”
Nearby,
two students engaged in a heated but measured argument about the war, while two
others showed each other information on their phones.
“I
thought it was a good beginning,” Schneier told the New York Jewish Week after
the meeting, pointing out that the complaints surrounding discrimination and
stifled voices were mirrored on both sides. He said that an overflow room had
been set up in case the two groups needed to be separated, which didn’t happen.
“You’re planting a seed here,” he said.
“For
some of the students, they grow in terms of their sense of empathy for the
other side. It’s important for people to see it’s everyone’s pain,” Schneier
said. “These kinds of discussions need to take place.”
Source: timesofisrael.com
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-------
Investigation
underway into 7 US colleges over complaints of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
20.11.2023
The US
Department of Education has launched an investigation of seven colleges under
Title IV, a law that bans discrimination based on race or a person’s shared
ancestry.
Five
instances of antisemitism and two cases of Islamophobia are under investigation
at colleges including Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and Columbia
University, ABC News reported Sunday.
If the
investigations reveal violations, the schools may lose federal funding or be
referred to the US Department of Justice for further action.
“The
goal is not to punish students by withdrawing money from universities. That's
never the goal. The goal is to create safe learning environments,” said US
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, according to ABC News.
Source: aa.com.tr
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-----
Colombia's
president slams Netanyahu, compares him to Herod
Laura
Fadul
20.11.2023
Colombia's
president said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a "crazy
man" who is "killing many people" in Gaza in the style of Herod,
the king of Judea who ordered the slaughter of innocents according to the
Christian New Testament.
"Today
we are seeing a crazy man who is Netanyahu," Gustavo Petro said over the
weekend in Caracas at the Book Fair of Venezuela, where he also criticized the
United States for supporting Israel's war on the Gaza Strip because "the
Israeli capital owns American banking."
"They
don't realize that they are killing a lot of people, not just people and
babies," said Petro, who compared Netanyahu to "a very powerful Herod
killing and killing children on Earth.”
Petro
has constantly defended the Palestinian cause on his X account and has harshly
criticized Israel for the bombings and attacks against the Gaza Strip, in which
at least 13,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Hospitals,
mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless
air and ground attacks since last month.
He has
frequently compared the situation in Gaza with the Nazi concentration camps in
World War II, which has led the Jewish state to describe his statements as
"anti-Semitic."
Petro
has also announced that Colombia will propose to the UN the recognition of
Palestine as a fully independent state and he has threatened to actively join
the complaint filed before the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu
for alleged war crimes. He also said that Bogota will cease purchasing weapons
from countries that voted against or abstained from a UN resolution calling for
a cease-fire in Gaza.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/colombias-president-slams-netanyahu-compares-him-to-herod/3058940
------
Europe
Protests
continue in Sweden against Israeli attacks on Gaza
AtilaAltuntas
20.11.2023
Protests
were held in Sweden on Sunday against Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.
Crowds
rallied near parliament in the capital Stockholm with around 1,000 people
carrying Palestinian flags and chanting “Stop the Genocide,” “Palestine
Forever” and “Freedom for Palestine.”
They
then marched to the city center while chanting slogans condemning the
government’s policy toward the conflict, saying Sweden is complicit in Israel's
war crimes.
The
rally ended without any incidents.
Meanwhile,
in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, thousands of people organized a
demonstration in support of Palestine.
Approximately
15,000 people took part in the event, which was organized to protest Israel's
attacks on Gaza.
They
initiated a march from Binnenrotte Square, passing through the city center and
concluding at the same square.
Carrying
banners with messages such as "From the river to the sea, Palestine will
be free," "Cease-fire now," "Stop the genocide" and
"Baby killers," the demonstrators chanted slogans like "Free
Palestine," "Shame on Rutte, your hands are bloody" and
"Israel is a terrorist, Netanyahu is a terrorist."
The
death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached
13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in the
besieged enclave said on Sunday.
The
number of injuries has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being
children and women, it said in a statement.
The
administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of
them suspected of lying under the rubble of fallen buildings.
Thousands
of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have either been
damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on Gaza.
An
Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water
supplies and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.
Israel
has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of hostages held
by the Palestinian group Hamas.
*EsraTekin
in Istanbul contributed this story.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/protests-continue-in-sweden-against-israeli-attacks-on-gaza/3058948
------
Palestine
Mission in UK raises alarm over repeated attacks on its building
AysuBicer
20.11.2023
The
Palestine Mission in the UK expressed deep concern and frustration on Sunday
over a recent surge in attacks on its London-based building, accusing the
British government of neglecting repeated requests for diplomatic protection.
In a
statement shared on X, it revealed that the embassy had been targeted in yet
another assault on Saturday night, marking the fourth such incident in recent
weeks.
It
included security camera footage capturing one of the attacks, underscoring the
severity of the situation.
"All
attacks and threats have been reported to the British police, and the president
of the State of Palestine has requested immediate diplomatic police protection
to the Mission in London from the UK prime minister, holding the UK government
responsible for the safety of the Palestinian ambassador, staff and
families," it said.
"Until
today, the UK government has failed to provide such diplomatic protection in
line with international norms. The lack of any action by the British
government, ignoring Palestinian rights and concerns, is inexplicable and
unacceptable," it noted.
"It
is the responsibility of the UK government to enable the Palestinian Mission in
London to function unhindered. We urge, yet again, the British government to
take immediate steps to ensure the security and safety of the Palestinian
Mission, its ambassador and staff," it added.
The
death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached
13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in the
besieged enclave said on Sunday.
The
number of injuries has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being
children and women, it said in a statement.
The
administration said the number of missing persons crossed 6,000, with most of
them suspected of lying under the rubble of fallen buildings.
Thousands
of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have either been damaged
or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on Gaza.
An
Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water
supplies and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.
Tel Aviv
has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of hostages held
by the Palestinian group Hamas.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that “we will only agree to a
temporary cease-fire and only in exchange for the return of our hostages.”
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/palestine-mission-in-uk-raises-alarm-over-repeated-attacks-on-its-building/3058943
-----
Germany
police raid Islamic Center of Hamburg, accuses group of Hezbollah support
NOVEMBER
19, 2023
Amora
Evans
German
police, through order of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), raided the
Islamic Center of Hamburg (IZH) and five other organizations, saying the groups
were pro-Hezbollah and support the Hezbollah’s activities on Thursday. Authorities
say the other organizations are subsidiaries of IZH. The raid involved police
forces from several regions, and 54 objects were seized and evaluated by the
federal security authorities.
Hezbollah
is an Iran-back militant group opposed to Israel that operates in Lebanon, and
it has been supporting Hamas in its current war with Israel. It is designated
as a terrorist organization by Germany and a number of Arab states described it
using similar language in 2017.
According
to BMI, IZH is suspected of being non-compliant with the constitutional orders
of Basic Law and the Association Act. Basic Law article 9 paragraph 2 (Freedom
of association) prohibits associations with objectives that break criminal law
and go against constitutional order and “international understanding.”
According to Association Act, scheme 3 paragraph 1, IZH assets will be seized
and confiscated, and the association dissolved if they are found to be opposed
to the law of constitutional order. Furthermore, all third parties are banned
from “intentionally promoting” the unconstitutional aims of an association
through various means, such as “transferring of goods”.
Federal
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that Germany has an “Islamist scene” and
that the country does not tolerate Islamist propaganda or antisemitic hate
speech. Faeser said they are therefore taking a “high vigilance and tough
approach.” BMI claims that the IZH aims to spread the “revolutionary concept of
the Supreme Iranian leaders,” and that this violates the German constitution.
The Association of Iranian Democratic Society issued a statement supporting the
Interior Minister’s decision to search the IZH Mosque and the other supporting
groups, saying that IZH supports fundamentalism, supports the Iranian regime and
uses Islam and Islamic culture to pursue espionage and terror. According to
Speigel Politics, IZH denies the allegations, asserting that they “condemn all
violence and extremism.”
After
the raid, the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD) suspended IZH’s
membership, saying:
The
presumption of innocence applies and we have full confidence in our
constitutional state. Nevertheless, it is in the interest of all those affected
to take this step until the matter is clarified.
The
board has been holding intensive discussions with the IZH for a long time
regarding the allegations made against it with the aim of preserving the
mosque, which is over 60 years old, and the long tradition of Shiite life in
Germany.
Israel
and Hezbollah have exchanged cross-border fire since Hamas’s October 7 attacks
and Israel’s subsequent siege of Gaza.This has escalated tensions and resulted
in casualties on both sides, including journalists. More than 20,000 Israelis
and more than 4,200 Lebanese have been forced to evacuate or flee. Germany has
supported Israel in its war with Hamas, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledging
“friendship and solidarity with Israel” and the protection of Jews. Earlier in
November, Faeser formally banned supporting Hamas and pro-Palestinian
organization Samidoun.
Global
hate, particular antisemitism and Islamophobia, has surged since October 7.
Germany itself has experience a marked rise anti-semetism, with increased hate
crimes, including the targeting of a Berlin synagogues with homemade firebombs,
defaced Jewish gravestones and swastikas drawn on Jewish institutions. The
European Jewish Congress stated on social media that “blatant anti-semitism
cannot be tolerated and needs to be condemned at the highest levels.” The
country’s Coordinating Council of Muslims has said that Germany is also
experiencing a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment, expressing particular concern
about children being stigmatized in schools.
Source: jurist.org
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-----
French
performers lead a silent Paris march for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians
November
19, 2023
PARIS:
Holding olive branches and white banners, French performers from different
religious and ethnic backgrounds led thousands of people on a silent march
through central Paris on Sunday to call for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians and unity in France.
The
crowd, which included actors Isabelle Adjani and Emmanuelle Beart as well as
singers and other cultural figures, marched from the Arab World Institute
toward the Museum of Art and History of Judaism, located across the Seine
River.
“We have
a blue sky on top of our head today and in Israel, in Palestine, they’re having
bombs, they’re having war. We’re not helping the situation by choosing sides or
throwing hate on one side or another,’’ Nadia Fares said.
The
silence at Sunday’s march ‘’will balance, hopefully, the cacophony we have all
over the world,” she said.
France,
home to significant Jewish and Muslim populations, has seen weeks of protests
and tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.
The
French government is pushing for a truce to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian
civilians in Gaza and also trying to negotiate the release of eight French
hostages held by Hamas. Another 40 French citizens were killed in the Oct. 7
Hamas attack in southern Israel.
French
President Emmanuel Macron spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and with the leaders of Qatar and
Egypt on Saturday, as part of his diplomatic efforts.
Macron
confirmed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself but denounced ‘’too
numerous civilian losses” in Gaza. according to a French presidential
statement. He urged an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a cease-fire.
Macron
also expressed concern about violence against Palestinian civilians in the West
Bank and called for resumed diplomatic efforts toward a two-state solution.
On
Saturday, thousands of pro-Palestinian and left-wing activists rallied in Paris
and around Britain on to call for a cease-fire, the latest of several such
protests in major cities around the world since the Israel-Hamas war started.
Survivors
of Nazi atrocities during World War II also joined young Jewish activists
outside the Paris Holocaust memorial to sound the alarm about resurgent
antisemitic hate speech, graffiti and abuse linked to the war in the Mideast.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411781/world
------
France
sending warship to provide medical aid to Gaza
November
19, 2023
PARIS:
France is preparing to send its Dixmude helicopter carrier to the eastern
Mediterranean to offer medical assistance in Gaza, the office of the French
president said on Sunday.
The
Dixmude will set sail “at the start of the week and arrive in Egypt in the
coming days,” President Emmanuel Macron’s office said.
A charter
flight carrying more than 10 tons of medical supplies is also planned for the
start of the week.
“France
will also contribute to the European effort with medical equipment on board
European flights on November 23 and 30,” the presidential office said.
It added
that “France is mobilizing all its available means to contribute to the
evacuation of wounded and sick children requiring emergency care from the Gaza
Strip to its hospitals.”
Macron
on Saturday spoke with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and with
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi about ongoing negotiations to free
hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
French
Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu was also in Qatar on Saturday, leading the
mediation efforts.
The
French president and his Egyptian counterpart agreed on the “need to increase
the number of trucks entering Gaza and to reinforce coordination to deliver
humanitarian aid and treat the wounded,” Macron’s office said.
Also on
Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel had suffered a “defeat”
in its war against Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas, and that it
was “a fact.”
In a
speech at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace force center in the
capital Tehran, Khamenei said, “The defeat of the regime (Israel) in Gaza is a
fact.”
“Advancing
and entering hospitals or people’s homes is not a victory because victory means
defeating the other side,” he said.
Khamenei
charged that Israel “has so far failed” in achieving its declared goal of
destroying Hamas “despite the massive bombings” of Gaza.
“This
incapacity reflects the inability of the US and Western countries,” which back
Israel, he added.
Iran,
which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the Oct. 7 attacks
a “success” but denied any direct involvement. Tehran has made support for the
Palestinian cause a centerpiece of its foreign policy since the 1979
revolution.
Khamenei
said Israel has “killed thousands of children without any remorse.”
During
his visit, the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace force unveiled new defense
systems and drones, state media said, and Khamenei inspected a drone that
carried the name “Gaza.”
The
force also unveiled Fattah 2, an upgraded version of a hypersonic missile
unveiled in June.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411716/world
----
Arab World
Prisoner deal ‘edges closer’ despite fierce fighting in Gaza
November 20, 2023
DOHA:
Hamas fighters battled Israeli forces trying to push into Gaza’s largest
refugee camp on Sunday, but despite the fighting, US, Qatari and Israeli
officials said a deal to free some of the prisoners being held in the besieged
enclave was edging closer.
Separately,
a top health official said all 31 premature babies at Al Shifa Hospital had
been evacuated on Sunday from the facility.
A deal
to free some of the about 240 prisoners Hamas seized in its Oct 7 attack on
Israel now hinges on “minor” practical issues, Qatar’s prime minister said on
Sunday, without giving details or a timeline.
“The
challenges that remain in the negotiations are very minor compared to the
bigger challenges, they are more logistical, they are more practical,” Mohammed
bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a joint press conference with EU foreign policy
chief Josep Borrell.
“The
deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few
weeks,” the premier said. “I think that I’m now more confident that we are
close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their
homes.”
Israeli
Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog said Tel Aviv was hopeful that a
significant number of prisoners could be released by Hamas “in coming days”.
“I’m
hopeful we can have a deal in the coming days,” he said in an interview on
ABC’s This Week on Sunday.
A White
House official also said the “very complicated, very sensitive” negotiations
were making progress.
“I
believe we are closer than we have been in quite some time, maybe closer than
we have been since the beginning of this process, to getting this deal done,”
White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told NBC’s “Meet the
Press”.
Israel
has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the Oct 7 attacks, which Israeli
officials say killed about 1,200 people and saw the prisoners taken.
The
army’s relentless air and ground campaign has since killed thousands of people
in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas government said on Sunday the death toll in the
enclave has reached 13,000 since Oct 7.
More
than 5,500 children are among the dead, alongside 3,500 women, with 30,000 more
people wounded.
The
civilian death toll in Gaza was “staggering and unacceptable”, UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres said, again appealing for an immediate humanitarian
ceasefire.
Since
Oct 7, Israeli troops and settlers have also killed more than 200 Palestinians
in the West Bank.
31
premature babies evacuated
Mohammed
Zaqut, director general of hospitals in Gaza, told AFP that “all 31 premature
babies in Al Shifa hospital... have been evacuated” along with three doctors
and two nurses.
“Preparations
are under way” for them to enter Egypt, he added.
The move
was confirmed by the Palestinian
Red
Crescent Society (PCRS), which said its teams carried out the evacuation in
coordination with UN agencies, including the World Health Organisation.
Al Shifa
Hospital has become a focal point for Israeli operations with the army claiming
Hamas uses it as a base. Since Nov 11, when fuel supplies ran out at Al Shifa,
eight babies have died due to the lack of electricity to run incubator units,
the health ministry in Gaza has said.
Three
Israeli soldiers killed
The
Israeli army said on Sunday three more soldiers had been killed in fighting in
the Gaza Strip, raising the number of troop deaths there to 62 since the Oct 7
attacks. All three were reservists and died on Saturday in northern Gaza, the
military said in a statement.
Witnesses
reported heavy fighting overnight on Sunday between Hamas fighters and Israeli
forces trying to advance into Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s camps with nearly
100,000 people.
Via
social media in Arabic, Israel’s military on Sunday urged residents of several
Jabalianeighbourhoods to evacuate towards south Gaza “to preserve your safety”
and to that end said it would pause military action from 10am to 2pm.
After
the “pause” period expired, 11 Palestinians in Jabalia were killed by an
Israeli air strike on a house, the enclave’s health ministry said.
Israel
also said on Sunday that Yemen’s
Houthis
had seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red
Sea, describing the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with consequences
for international maritime security.
Meanwhile,
top foreign policy officials from the Palestinian Authority and four
Muslim-majority countries will visit China on Monday and Tuesday, Beijing
announced on Sunday.
Officials
will include the foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority in the West
Bank, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia, as well as the
secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“During
the visit, China will have in-depth communication and coordination with the
joint delegation of foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries to promote
a de-escalation of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, protecting
civilians, and justly resolving the Palestinian issue,” Chinese foreign
ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in a statement.
Source: dawn.com
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------
Yemen's
Houthi rebels hijack India-bound, Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea; 25 crew
members held hostage
November
20, 2023
Yemen's
Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping
route on November 19 and took its 25 crew members hostage, officials said,
raising fears that regional tensions heightened over the Israel-Hamas war were
playing out on a new maritime front.
The
Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they hijacked the ship over its connection to
Israel and would continue to target ships in international waters that were
linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel's campaign against
Gaza's Hamas rulers.
“All
ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become
legitimate targets,” the Houthis said.
Mohammed
Abdul-Salam, the Houthis’ chief negotiator and spokesman, later added in an
online statement that the Israelis only understand “the language of force.”
“The
detention of the Israeli ship is a practical step that proves the seriousness
of the Yemeni armed forces in waging the sea battle, regardless of its costs
and costs,” he added. “This is the beginning.”
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had blamed the Houthis for the attack
on the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier affiliated with an
Israeli billionaire. It said the 25 crew members had a range of nationalities,
including Bulgarian, Filipino, Mexican and Ukrainian, but that no Israelis had
been on board.
The
Houthis said they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their
Islamic values,” but did not elaborate on what that meant.
Mr.
Netanyahu's office condemned the seizure as an “Iranian act of terror."
The Israeli military called the hijacking a “very grave incident of global
consequence."
Israeli
officials insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated. However,
ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners
with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known
as one of the richest men in Israel.
Mr.
Ungar told The Associated Press he was aware of the incident but couldn’t
comment as he awaited details. A ship linked to him experienced an explosion in
2021 in the Gulf of Oman. Israeli media blamed it on Iran at the time.
International
shipping often involves a series of management companies, flags and owners
stretching across the globe in a single vessel.
Two U.S.
defense officials confirmed that Houthi rebels seized the Galaxy Leader in the
Red Sea on Sunday afternoon local time. The rebels descended on the cargo ship
by rappelling from a helicopter, the officials said, confirming details first
reported by NBC News. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because
they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. That resembles other
vessel seizures conducted by Iran, which long has armed the Houthis.
Twice in
the last month, U.S. warships have intercepted missiles or drones from Yemen
that were believed to be headed toward Israel or posing a threat to American
vessels. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, intercepted three land attack cruise
missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces toward the
northern Red Sea last month.
On Nov.
15 the USS Thomas Hudner, another destroyer, was sailing toward the
Bab-el-Mandeb strait when the crew saw a drone, reported to have originated in
Yemen. The ship shot down the drone over the water. The officials said the crew
took action to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel, and there were no
casualties or damage to the ship.
Satellite
tracking data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by the AP showed the Galaxy
Leader traveling in the Red Sea southwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, more than a
day ago. The vessel had been in Korfez, Turkey, and was on its way to Pipavav,
India, at the time of the seizure reported by Israel.
It had
its Automatic Identification System tracker, or AIS, switched off, the data
showed. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but
crews will turn them off if it appears they might be targeted or to smuggle
contraband, which there was no immediate evidence to suggest was the case with
the Galaxy Leader.
The
British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides
warnings to sailors in the Persian Gulf and the wider region, put the hijacking
as having occurred some 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Yemen’s port
city of Hodeida, near the coast of Eritrea. In later cited a security officer
with the ship's company saying the vessel had been taken to Hodeida.
The Red
Sea, stretching from Egypt’s Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait
separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, remains a key trade route for
global shipping and energy supplies. That’s why the U.S. Navy has stationed
multiple ships in the sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
Since
2019, a series of ships have come under attack at sea as Iran began breaking
all the limits of its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Israel expands
its devastating campaign against Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip following the
militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel, fears have grown that
the military operations could escalate into a wider regional conflict.
The
Houthis have repeatedly threatened to target Israeli ships in the waters off
Yemen. Such attacks both back its Iranian benefactors, as well as bolsters the
Houthis' position in Yemen as anger has grown against their rule in recent
months as that country's civil war grinds on without resolution, said Gregory
D. Johnsen, a Yemen expert with the Arabian Gulf States Institute in
Washington.
“The
Houthis view the war between Israel and Hamas as an opportunity to mute some of
this domestic criticism,” Johnsen wrote in an analysis earlier this month. “If
they are attacking Israel, their local rivals will be less inclined to attack
them.”
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/yemens-houthi-rebels-hijack-india-bound-israeli-linked-ship-in-the-red-sea-25-crew-members-held-hostage/article67553187.ece
------
Saudi
Arabia urges world to hold Israel accountable for blatant violations in Gaza
Strip
November
20, 2023
Saudi
Arabia has urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its
blatant violations and crimes in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank
including East Jerusalem.
In a
statement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said a delegation of Arab
Ministers and OIC led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will visit
the capital of several permanent members of the UN Security Council to
highlight the situation in Palestine.
According
to China's state media, the delegation is in Beijing to discuss with Chinese
leadership the much needed ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians and a
just settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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----
PM to
visit Russia, UK as part of Arab-Islamic initiative to stop war in Gaza
NOVEMBER
20, 2023
Official
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed bin Mohamed al-Ansari
announced that HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh
Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani would begin Tuesday a tour that
includes Russia and the United Kingdom as part of a tour carried out by a number
of foreign ministers of fraternal countries to a number of permanent members of
the UN Security Council to push for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Dr
al-Ansari said that the tour comes in implementation of the mandate decision
issued by the extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh on Nov 11 to
formulate international action to stop the war raging in Gaza.
He said
that this initiative, which is undertaken on behalf of all member states of the
Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, aims to reach an
immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, exert pressure to launch a serious and
genuine political process to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in
accordance with established international references, and to take deterrent
measures to stop the crimes of the colonial occupation authorities against
humanity, while ensuring urgent relief corridors to avoid a humanitarian
catastrophe.
He said
that besides HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Arab-Islamic initiative would see the participation of Jordan's Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, along with the
foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the State of Palestine, Turkiye,
Indonesia, Nigeria, as well a the Secretary-General of the Arab League and the
Secretary-General of the OIC.
Source: gulf-times.com
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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/672108/qatar/pm-to-visit-russia-uk-as-part-of-arab-islamic-initiative-to-stop-war-in-gaza
-----
Ministry
of Islamic Affairs Distributes over 8,000 Copies of the Holy Quran to Jusoor
Exhibition Visitors in Albania
19 Nov,
2023
The
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance distributed 10,000 copies of
the Holy Quran and a translation of its meanings to visitors of the Jusoor
(Bridges) Exhibition, currently held in the Albanian capital, Tirana, from
November 9 to 24.
The translation is in Albanian, Macedonian and
English; it was issued by King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran in
Madinah as a gift for visitors to the exhibition.
Meanings of the Quran verses translated into
77 languages are also on display at the exhibition.
The exhibition displays a detailed explanation
of the stages of printing and production of the Holy Quran, showing visitors
the Kingdom's care for this holy book that it prints and distributes to Muslims
around the world.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/5ad889cb054f4bb0bdb161676de87f38
------
Islamic
Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Chairs 3rd Session of International Conference
of Muslims of Latin America and the Caribbean
19 Nov,
2023
Undersecretary
of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance for Islamic Affairs
Sheikh Awad bin Sabti Al-Enezi yesterday chaired the third session of the 36th
International Conference of Muslims of Latin America and the Caribbean, which
discussed intellectual, social, and legal obstacles encountered by Muslim
families within minority communities.
Hosted by the Islamic Dawah Center in Brazil
and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance under the theme
"Muslim Family among the Values of Islam and Contemporary
Challenges," the conference, held from November 17 to 19 in Sao Paulo,
focused particularly on the Islamic perspective on the resolution of
divorce-related issues within Muslim families.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/5f2b72cd7f9947afbc39010627e913b0
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Gaza
mission: 14th Saudi relief plane arrives in Egypt
November
20, 2023
RIYADH:
A 14th plane carrying aid from Saudi Arabia for Gaza on Sunday arrived at
El-Arish International Airport in Egypt, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Its
cargo consisted of two ambulances out of 20 scheduled to be sent to Palestine.
And a national fundraising campaign launched by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief via the Sahem platform had by Sunday seen more than 876,000 people donate in excess of $132 million. Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411791/saudi-arabia
------
Bahraini
interior minister receives Islamic counter-terrorism chief in Manama
November
19, 2023
MANAMA:
Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen.
Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi was received by Bahraini Interior Minister Gen.
Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa in Manama on Sunday.
The pair
discussed recent developments in the coalition’s counterterrorism initiatives
as well as areas of cooperation between the two sides.
While in
the Bahraini capital, Al-Moghedi also took part in the 19th Manama Dialogue as
part of the coalition’s desire to engage further with member states.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2411696/saudi-arabia
------
Australia
Australia
wants to take next steps towards cease-fire in Gaza, says top diplomat
Riyaz ul
Khaliq
20.11.2023
Australian
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday said Canberra wants to take next steps
towards a cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
“Australia
has been clear in our calls for safe, sustained and immediate humanitarian
access so essential assistance can reach people in need and civilians can reach
safety,” Wong said after 31 people including Australian citizens left Gaza via
the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt early Monday.
“We all
want to take the next steps towards a cease-fire, but it cannot be one‑sided,” Wong added.
So far,
she said, “the Australian government has facilitated the departure of a total
of 62 people from Gaza.”
The
death toll in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has reached
13,000, including over 5,500 children and 3,500 women, the media office in Gaza
said on Sunday.
The
number of injured has exceeded 30,000, with more than 75% of them being
children and women, it said in a statement.
The
number of missing people crossed 6,000, with most of them suspected of lying
under the rubble of the fallen buildings, it added.
An
Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water
supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle in the narrow area, which has
been under relentless air and ground attacks by Israel since the surprise
offensive by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Tel Aviv
has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until the release of hostages held
by Hamas.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that “we will only agree to a
temporary cease-fire and only in exchange for the return of our hostages.”
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/australia-wants-to-take-next-steps-towards-cease-fire-in-gaza-says-top-diplomat/3059138
------
Southeast Asia
In
Beijing, Arab and Muslim ministers urge end to Gaza war
November
20, 2023
BEIJING:
Arab and Muslim ministers called on Monday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,
as their delegation visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour to push for an
end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.
The
delegation, which is set to meet officials representing the permanent members
of the UN Security Council, is also piling pressure on the West to reject
Israel’s justification of its actions against Palestinians as self-defence.
The
officials holding meetings with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday are from
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine and the Organisation of
Islamic Cooperation, among others.
The
extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh this month also urged the
International Criminal Court to investigate “war crimes and crimes against
humanity that Israel is committing” in the Palestinian territories.
Hamas
battles Israeli forces in north Gaza, amid hopes of hostage deal
Saudi
Arabia has sought to press the United States and Israel for an end to
hostilities in Gaza, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de
facto ruler, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce that message.
The
summit also demanded an end to the siege of Gaza, access for humanitarian aid,
and a halt to the sale of arms to Israel.
Source: brecorder.com
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-----
Over 500
Rohingya refugees land in Indonesia
November
20, 2023
BIREUEN:
Three boats filled with more than 500 Rohingya refugees landed in Indonesia’s
westernmost province on Sunday, a UN agency said, in one of the biggest
arrivals since Myanmar launched a military crackdown on the minority group in
2017.
The
mostly Muslim Rohingya are heavily persecuted in Myanmar, and thousands risk
their lives each year on long and expensive sea journeys, often in flimsy
boats, to try to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.
United
Nations refugee agency protection associate Faisal Rahman said one boat had
arrived in Aceh province’s Bireuen district with 256 people aboard, while at
least 241 others arrived in Aceh’s Pidie region and a smaller boat carrying 36
arrived in East Aceh. “They were found in several spots,” Rahman said on
Sunday.
Of the
256 aboard the Bireuen boat, 110 were women and 60 were children, he said.
It was
the same boat that locals had pushed back out to sea on Thursday, leaving it
stranded off the coast for several days, according to Rahman. “It’s confirmed…
because many people were identified by security officials during the landing,”
he said.
The
latest arrivals mean more than 800 refugees have landed in Aceh province this
week alone, after 196 arrived on Tuesday and 147 on Wednesday, according to
local officials. A journalist saw the Rohingya boat docked on the beach in
Bireuen after the refugees had disembarked.
The refugees
were being held at a temporary shelter while awaiting a decision from
authorities on their fate, and were mostly in good health. Bireuen regional
secretary Ibrahim Ahmad told reporters on Sunday the refugees’ cases would be
handled by other institutions, without elaborating.
In
Pidie, Marfian, a spokesperson for the local fishing community who like many
Indonesians goes by one name, confirmed that a boat of nearly 250 refugees
landed overnight.
One of
them, 20-year-old Aziz Ullah, said he was living in a camp in Cox’s Bazar,
Bangladesh before the group started their journey 16 days ago.
“The
(reason) behind our journey was that… the Myanmar government committed violence
(against us) again and again,” he said. “I just want a peaceful life, anywhere.
If I will get a peaceful life here, I will stay here.”
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1790816/over-500-rohingya-refugees-land-in-indonesia
-----
Over
5,000 Johorians attend Palestinian solidarity gathering at Sultan Iskandar
Mosque
19-11-
2023
JOHOR
BAHRU: Over 5,000 Muslims thronged Sultan Iskandar Mosque at Bandar Dato’ Onn
here to attend a Palestinian solidarity gathering this evening.
The
attendees, decked in white, arrived as early as 3 pm some wearing mufflers and
waving Palestine flags as signs of solidarity with the besieged Palestinians in
Gaza.
Johor
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi Seri said the support of such a large crowd
showed their determination to stand up for the oppressed Palestinians and their
right to be heard by everyone, especially at the international stage.
“The
reason why we’re gathered here as ‘bangsa Johor’ is to give our undivided
support to our fellow Muslims in Palestine.
“We also
demand that world leaders restore humanitarian rights to the Palestinians and
that Palestine’s sovereignty be restored. We also seek a stop to the cruel and
merciless killings happening there.
“I was
informed two days ago that did not attend his convocation as 44 members of his
family were killed in Palestine and this is what they have to go through, not
knowing the fate of their families,” he said during his speech today at the
gathering, in the presence of Johor state secretary Tan Sri Datuk Dr Azmi
Rohani, Johor Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, former
Johor MenterisBesar, Datuk Hasni Mohamad and Dr Sahruddin Jamal, along with
renowned rock singer Suhaimi Abdul Rahman also known as Amy Search.
He also
presented a cheque of over RM2.5 million in donations collected from mosques
and suraus, as well as government-linked companies and non-governmental
organisations in Johor, which will be channeled to the Foreign Ministry’s
Palestinian Humanitarian Fund.–Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local/over-5000-johorians-attend-palestinian-solidarity-gathering-at-sultan-iskandar-mosque-HB11766144
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At
Palestinian aid event, Dr Mahathir and Hadi won’t endorse call to let Muslim
refugees work or go to school
By Syed
JaymalZahiid
20 Nov
2023
PUTRAJAYA,
Nov 20 — At a symbolic event to hand over donations for Palestinians besieged
by Israeli troops in Gaza, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PAS president Datuk Seri
Abdul Hadi Awang were non-committal about the call to grant Muslim refugees
equal access to basic rights such as employment and education.
Dr
Mahathir, seen as a leading voice in the global fight to Palestinian
liberation, said he supported giving assistance “to those desperate for help”
but said discussions about allowing refugees to get jobs or letting their
children attend public schools should be held “later”.
He
acknowledged that some 180,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia live in
a precarious state.
“This is
something that is up to the government but I think those who don’t have money
to eat, (and are) desperate should be helped,” he said in a brief press
conference held at the end of the aid handover event organised by PAS-led civil
society groups.
“The
rest (we can discuss) later,” the 97-year-old added.
Hadi,
who was seated next to the two-time former prime minister at the Aid4Palestine
event here, refused to answer.
The
United Nations High Commission for Refugees said as of October this year, there
were over 180,000 refugees and asylum-seekers either residing in Malaysia or
waiting for placement in other countries, including some 600 Palestinians.
Over 85
per cent of all the asylum seekers here are Muslims, with the majority being
Muslim Rohingyas who fled persecution in their homeland Myanmar.
Past and
current administrations remain opposed to calls to ratify the United Nations’
1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of
Refugees, which human rights groups said have put refugees and asylum seekers
in perpetual poverty because they are denied the right to work and access to
public schools.
Without
the ratification, Malaysia officially considers all refugees and asylum seekers
to be undocumented migrants.
While
children of asylum seekers can still get education from private schools, these
schools tend to rely heavily on donations or grants that make them susceptible
to shocks. During the Covid-19 crisis, many of these schools were forced to
shut down as funding was redirected elsewhere.
Meanwhile,
many of the adults are forced to work in the shadow economy where abuses are
rife. Their refugee status, which makes work illegal, means many are denied the
right to redress.
Grassroots
activists and journalists who work with refugees said there is jarring
dissonance between the Malaysian government’s international position about
conflicts in the Muslim world and how it treats Muslim refugees at home,
drawing accusations of hypocrisy.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/20/at-palestinian-aid-event-dr-mahathir-and-hadi-wont-endorse-call-to-let-muslim-refugees-work-or-go-to-school/103073
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Coldplay
concert in Indonesia protested by hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ Muslims
November
19, 2023
John Russell
Conservative
Muslims turned out in the hundreds to protest a Coldplay concert in Indonesia
on Wednesday over the band’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Agence
France-Presse reports that several Muslim groups had called to cancel the
sold-out show at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, the band’s only stop in
Indonesia on its “Music of the Spheres World Tour.”
On
Wednesday, between 200–300 protesters gathered outside the venue, where they
chanted, held signs reading “Reject, cancel and disband Coldplay concerts,” and
accused the band of being LGBTQ+ “propagandists.” They also booed concertgoers
and clashed with police.
A
spokesperson for the Jakarta police said that the protesters, many of whom
identified themselves as part of the “anti-LGBT movement,” did not have a
permit to rally outside the stadium.
“We know
that Coldplay supports LGBT, but now the question is, is the LGBT behavior in
line with… our constitution?” Anwar Abbas, deputy chairman of the Indonesian
Ulema Council, the country’s most powerful Islamic regulatory body, said in a
statement on Wednesday. “There are six religions recognized in this country,
and not one of them allows and tolerates LGBT practice.”
As LGBTQ
Nation contributor Sheany noted in June, while homosexuality is not illegal
under Indonesian law, the Muslim-majority country’s regional governments have
the authority to enact bylaws criminalizing LGBTQ+ communities and behavior,
and a rise in religious conservatism has given way to increased persecution of
queer Indonesians in recent years.
According
to the Associated Press, the anti-LGBTQ+ group also staged demonstrations at
several locations around Jakarta last week.
Coldplay
frontman Chris Martin has been known to appear onstage waving the LGBTQ+ Pride
flag during concerts. In 2016, the band was accused by anti-LGBTQ+
conservatives of “promoting homosexuality” during their appearance with Beyoncé
and Bruno Mars at the Super Bowl.
Earlier
this year, the leader of the Malaysian Islamic Party urged the country’s
government to cancel the band’s concert at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil,
specifically citing Martin’s appearances with the Pride flag onstage at
previous shows. Homosexuality is outlawed in the majority-Muslim nation, where
Muslims are also subject to additional penalties up to capital punishment under
Sharia Law.
Source: lgbtqnation.com
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https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/11/coldplay-concert-in-indonesia-protested-by-hundreds-of-anti-lgbtq-muslims/
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Penang
Opposition accuses state of sidelining Malay heritage, cites neglect of
18th-century BatuUban mosque and Silicon Island as examples
20 Nov 2023
GEORGE
TOWN, Nov 20 — Penang Opposition Leader Muhamad FauziYusoff today accused the
DAP-led state government of sidelining Malay Islam heritage to prioritise
colonial heritage.
He said
it was as if the state is proud of its British colonialism past, adding that
there did not seem to be any effort to correct the fact that Malay Muslims
arrived in Penang long before Francis Light of the English East India Company
did.
“The
Malay Muslim village in BatuUban existed at least 50 years before the arrival
of Francis Light,” Muhamad Fauzi, the Sungai Dua assemblyman from PAS said in
his speech at the state legislative assembly here.
He cited
the existence of BatuUban mosque built in 1734 by one “Nakhoda Nan Intan” also
known as “Haji Muhammad Saleh”, as historical proof.
“Sadly,
the oldest mosque in Penang was not gazetted as a heritage building,” he added.
According
to Muhamad Fauzi, there were many other mosques before that, but there were no
tangible records that could show that except for historical accounts of an
Islamic preacher who was named as “DatokKeramat” said to have been living in
Penang 30 years prior to “Nakhoda Nan Intan”.
“I would
like to propose that the state government turn the BatuUban area surrounding
the mosque as a heritage site and to gazette the mosque as a heritage
building,” Muhamad Fauzi said.
He said
the mosque is the most important heritage building in the state that proved the
early existence of Muslim communities in Penang.
He said
similarly, the remaining Malay villages in the state should also be protected.
“Don’t
destroy these villages in the name of development and do not assume that there
is no value in preserving these villages,” he said.
He hoped
that the local plan will not ignore this aspect of the Malay Muslim heritage.
Muhamad
Fauzi also raised the issue of the impact of Penang Silicon Island.
He asked
if the project was to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan or is now an
economic project for the state.
“Which
is correct? Is the implementation of this project not well thought out? Or is
the direction of project unclear?"he asked.
He asked
if the implementation of the project will not lead to a loss in food source and
affect food security.
He said
the project will also lead to loss of income for fishermen in the area, a
majority of whom are Malays.
"Previously,
the catch from the aquaculture area provided substantial income, benefiting
local entrepreneurs and supporting the livelihoods of fishermen in Northern
Perak and Kedah,” he said.
He
pointed out that the impact of the reclamation in Tanjong Tokong previously had
resulted in 80 per cent loss of marine resources in the area, negatively
affecting fishermen there.
“Have
the fate of the fishermen in Tanjong Tokong not provided sufficient lessons on
the impact of such projects on them?” he asked.
He also
said the Fisheries Impact Assessment had also confirmed his concerns over the
negative impact of the project.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/20/penang-opposition-accuses-state-of-sidelining-malay-heritage-cites-neglect-of-18th-century-batu-uban-mosque-and-silicon-island-as-examples/103051
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Sik
religious school teacher claims trial to hurting pupil
20 Nov
2023
SIK, Nov
20 — A male teacher of an Islamic religious school pleaded not guilty in the
Baling Sessions Court near here today, to injuring one of his pupils, aged
eight years recently.
Amirul
Hakim Johari, 27, was charged with causing physical and emotional injuries to
the boy at Madrasah BaituttaqwaWarahmah in Kampung Durian Burung, Sik on Nov
11.
The
charge framed under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 provides for a
maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to 20 years or both, if
convicted.
The
father of one from Petaling Jaya, Selangor was later granted bail of RM10,000
with one surety and ordered to report to the nearest police station once a
month.
Judge
Najwa Che Mat then set January 21 as the next remention date.
Deputy
public prosecutor Muhamad IkmalAffandiZulkifli conducted the prosecution while
the accused was represented by lawyer Al-Sabri Ahmad Kabri. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/20/sik-religious-school-teacher-claims-trial-to-hurting-pupil/103044
------
Pakistan
Siraj
raps political leadership for silence over Gaza
November
20, 2023
LAHORE:
Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has condemned the mainstream political
leadership’s silence on Israeli atrocities in Gaza, attributing it to a fear of
the United States.
Addressing
the Gaza March in front of the Shaikh Zayad Hospital near the Punjab
University’s Old Campus on Sunday, he criticised the politicians for
prioritising ‘self-interest’ and focusing on winning the upcoming elections in
regions like Balochistan or Sindh, while neglecting the dire situation in
Palestine, where innocent children and women are being massacred by the Zionist
state.
He
regretted that these leaders never truly represented the nation’s sentiments on
crucial issues, always aiming to please Washington and secure power with its
backing.
Thousands
of people, including women and children, participated in the march to show
solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Palestinian
representative Dr Nawaf al-Takrouri also attended the event, expressing
gratitude to the people and the JI for raising their voices for Palestine.
JI naib
emir Liaquat Baloch and secretary general Amirul Azeem also addressed the
gathering.
Mr Haq
urged the people to vote for JI in the upcoming elections, emphasising the need
to eliminate the influence of ‘US agents’ in the country.
He
stated that over four billion people would cast their votes in 76 countries of
the world with elections scheduled next year. “One could never expect rigging
in any country except in Pakistan,” he lamented, calling for free and
transparent general elections in February 2024.
The JI
chief pointed out that Pakistan’s ambassador did not meet with the Palestinian
leadership in Doha due to fear of the US, contrasting it with diplomats from
other countries who expressed solidarity with Palestine.
He
questioned the absence of the caretaker prime minister or any government
representative in the Gaza march, stating that people knew the reason well.
While
acknowledging global pro-Palestine rallies and public pressure in the Western
countries to revise policies supporting Israel, he criticised the Muslim rulers
for failing to take practical steps to support Gazans.
Referring to the OIC’s ‘ineffective’ declaration, he stressed that history would remember the cowardice of Islamic world rulers in the face of the ongoing crisis.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1790799/siraj-raps-political-leadership-for-silence-over-gaza
------
Seven
Pakistanis escape ‘deportation’ to Afghanistan
November
20, 2023
Umer
Farooq
PESHAWAR:
The deportation of seven Pakistani nationals to Afghanistan was stopped when
authorities involved in processing repatriation of illegal immigrants confirmed
their identities on Saturday night, according to sources.
They
said that the individuals were arrested in Punjab after they failed to confirm
their identity. They said that the seven people could not speak Urdu or Punjabi
and faced issues in communicating with the authorities to tell them that they
were Pakistani nationals.
“They
were arrested under Section 14 of Foreigners Act, 1946,” an official said.
However, he added, since the data was available with National Database and
Registration Authority (Nadra), they were identified and sent back to Punjab.
The
official also said that two cases were reported in the past where ‘jail
inmates’ had tried to escape and gave wrong information to authorities. He said
that both the Pakistani prisoners were identified as Pakistani citizens and
were sent back to jail in Punjab.
“They
tried to escape. They had planned to enter Pakistan again via Ghulam Khan
border crossing,” the official said. He said that the case of seven individuals
was totally different as they were not prisoners but failed to prove their
identities. He added that they were taken into custody and directly brought to
the border crossing for repatriation to Afghanistan.
He said
that Nadra had all the details of Pakistani nationals. He added that during the
repatriation of illegal immigrants, they also maintained details of every adult
Afghan male in the database for future use.
According
to official statistics, a total of 594 individuals, arrested under Foreigners
Act, were brought from Punjab for their repatriation to Afghanistan. However,
only 565 could be deported and the remaining 29, who turned out to be
Pakistanis, were sent back to Punjab.
Officials
stated that data of every single individual being repatriated to Afghanistan
was part of Nadra record. He said that initially, data of every single Afghan
illegal immigrant was being maintained but later the government exempted women
and children below the age of 14 from it.
On
Sunday, authorities deported 398 illegal immigrants with 333 from Peshawar and
65 from Khyber, they said.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1790774/seven-pakistanis-escape-deportation-to-afghanistan
----
IHC to
take up Imran’s appeal today
November
20, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
The
Islamabad High Court will take up PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan’s
intra-court appeal on Monday (today) against a single-judge bench’s decision
that had approved his jail trial in the cipher case and the appointment of the
judge for the special court of the Official Secrets Act.
An IHC
division bench, comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice
SamanRafat Imtiaz, will hear the matter. At the previous hearing held on
Thursday, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan read out the
judgment of the single-judge bench. He argued that the intra-court appeal was
not maintainable as the single-judge bench had clarified that the jail trial
was open proceedings.
Justice
Aurangzeb remarked that open proceedings meant that they should be open for
everyone. He judge asked whether the two notifications about the jail trial
were in accordance with the law. The AGP replied that the notification of the
jail trial of the PTI chairman was issued because of security issues, adding
that the judge of the special court wrote to the law ministry about this issue.
Awan
noted that PTI leader and co-accused Shah Mahmood Qureshi had filed an
application for a trial in the regular court, but it was rejected.
He added
that a co-accused could not be tried separately in a regular court in the same
case. The AGP informed the bench that the judge had requested a jail trial for
the first time on September 12. The bench noted that it was for one time only,
asking why the judge had written to the federal government after rejecting the
application of the prosecution,
Awan
replied that the prosecution had given an application to stop the public entry
to the court. He continued that jail trial and keeping the public out of the
proceedings were not the same. The AGP said lawyers had permission to go to the
courtroom. He added that a big room had been allocated in jail for the
proceedings,
The
attorney general concluded his arguments by saying that the jail trial was not
in-camera proceedings. The bench then adjourned the hearing till Monday,
seeking counter-arguments from the PTI chairman’s lawyer. On Wednesday, IHC
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq directed the special court trying the cipher case
against Imran and Qureshi to complete the proceedings in four weeks.
In his
verdict, the IHC CJ directed the authorities to ensure an open and transparent
trial and ensure maximum possible attendance in the court, keeping security
issue in mind. The court ordered the jail authorities to ensure the dignity of
the accused. The judgment read that immunity under Article 248 of the
Constitution did not apply to this case. It continued that the article applied
to criminal charges made in the course of official duty.
The
verdict noted that the PTI chairman was the head of a major political party and
that his trial inside the jail was being conducted because his family had
previously expressed concerns about his security. It added that bringing Imran
to court on every hearing could create security issues.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2447301/ihc-to-take-up-imrans-appeal-today
-------
Ashrafi
highlights reason behind expulsion of illegal Afghans
2023-11-20
ISLAMABAD:
Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony and the
Pakistani Diaspora in Middle East and Islamic Countries, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir
Mehmood Ashrafi on Sunday said Pakistan not only prioritises peace in
Afghanistan but also places equal importance on maintaining peace within its
own borders.
He, in
an exclusive talk with APP, highlighted the objective behind the removal of
illegal Afghans to restore order to the homeland, expecting that registered
Afghan refugees and the Afghan government would collaborate with the Pakistani
government in this effort.
Ashrafi
who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council mentioned that in a meeting
with the Army Chief, the religious scholars of all schools of thought
emphasised the importance of complete cooperation on matters concerning
Pakistan. They explicitly declared any armed struggle by groups other than
state institutions as forbidden, reassuring the state of their unwavering
support.
He said
Pakistan was actively engaging with friendly nations, including Saudi Arabia,
to effectively manage the situation in Gaza, adding that Pakistan had not only
doubled its aid to Palestine but was also open to considering additional
increases to provide further support.
Ashrafi
emphatically refuted the propaganda, clarifying that there was not placement of
security glass between both the Army Chief and the scholars.
He
emphasised that such misleading information serves as an adversary to Pakistan,
aiming to sow chaos within the nation. He made it clear that the Army Chief not
only briefed all the scholars on the current state of affairs but also
personally visited each of them to inquire about their well-being.
In
recognition of the positive strides in the country’s economy and decisive
actions against wrongdoers, the scholars commended the Army Chief and
unequivocally expressed their full support for the ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan’
doctrine, he added.
Ashrafi
urged the Interior Ministry and Federal Investigation Agency officials to take
decisive action against those who undermine state institutions and tarnish
Pakistan’s credibility on social media.
Addressing
the issue of Afghan refugees, he highlighted that a significant number of
Afghan nationals were implicated in recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan. When
questioned about this to the Afghan government, the response was that Pakistan
should address the issue domestically, he maintained.
In
response, he said the government was taking steps to address the situation by
deporting unregistered and illegal Afghan nationals from Pakistan. However, the
hospitality extended to registered Afghan refugees would persist, as it had in
the past, he clarified.
He
emphasised that no country could permit citizens of another nation to stay
illegally, asserting the right to expel unregistered and illegal foreigners
from Pakistan.
Responding
to an inquiry, Ashrafi affirmed that Pakistan maintained active communication
with the Afghan government adding that currently, a delegation from Afghanistan
was engaging in discussions with Pakistani officials.
Discussing
the situation in Gaza, Ashrafi stated that the government’s stance aligned with
the principles set by Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He
reiterated Pakistan’s non-recognition of Israel and vehemently condemned the
Israeli aggression in Palestine. Both the Pakistani Prime Minister and Army
Chief were closely monitoring developments in Gaza, he maintained.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274124/ashrafi-highlights-reason-behind-expulsion-of-illegal-afghans
-------
Tens of
thousands rally in Pakistan against Israel's bombing in Gaza
November
20, 2023
LAHORE —
Tens of thousands of supporters from Pakistan’s main religious political party
have rallied in the eastern city of Lahore against Israel’s bombing of
Palestinians in Gaza and what it said is the world’s failure to protect Gazans.
Amid
anti-Israeli and anti-American slogans the emotionally charged crowd also
called for jihad, or holy war.
Earlier
this month, Jamaat-e-Islami held massive rallies in the port city of Karachi
and the capital, Islamabad.
Supporters,
including women and children, marched for several kilometres to reach the
location of the rally, holding banners and posters with slogans opposing Israel
and the United States and in support of the Palestinians.
Senator
Sirajul Haq, the JI chief, said the ongoing rallies in support of Palestinians
around the world awaken world governments and give a voice to the innocent.
He said
the resolutions and words issued by the Organization for Islamic Cooperation
will not work, and that Muslim rulers have to rise and to stop the hand of the
aggressor.
Meanwhile,
a delegation of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority and four
predominantly Muslim countries will visit China on Monday and Tuesday to
discuss the situation in Gaza, Beijing announced on Sunday.
The
foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia — a non-Arab country but with the largest Muslim
population in the world — as well as the secretary general of the
TheOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation will be part of the delegation.
"During
the visit, China will maintain in-depth communication and coordination with the
delegation... to promote de-escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
protection of civilians and a fair settlement of the Palestinian issue," a
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
The
conclusion of an agreement on the release of hostages kidnapped by the
Palestinian movement Hamas during its attack on 7 October against Israel now
rests on "minor" practical questions, the Qatari prime minister said
on Sunday, without providing a timetable. — Euronews
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637897/World/Asia/Tens-of-thousands-rally-in-Pakistan-against-Israels-bombing-in-Gaza
-----
CM
condemns killing of children in Gaza
November
20, 2023
KARACHI:Sindh's
Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has strongly condemned
the ongoing killing of innocent Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip, calling
for a global condemnation of the Israel atrocities.
Justice
Baqar expressed his concerns while addressing the media after leading a walk
organised by the Sindh Child Protection Authority (SCPA) of the Social Welfare
Department at Sea View to mark World Children's Day. The event, attended by
Minister of Health Dr Saad Niaz, Social Welfare Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, as
well as secretaries and senior officers from various departments, aimed to
raise awareness about children's rights and needs.
The
caretaker CM underlined the significance of children's rights, their promising
future, and the government's commitment to child protection. "As we
observe World Children's Day globally, it is disheartening to witness the
killing of innocent children in Palestine by Israel. We must strongly condemn
such acts and keep these children in our thoughts and prayers for their
protection and care," he said.
World
Children's Day, observed annually worldwide, is dedicated to promoting and
advocating for the rights and well-being of children. CM Baqar applauded the
Social Welfare Department's efforts, including the reunification of 2,275
missing children with their families, prevention of around 200 child marriages,
and the rescue of 235 kidnapped children with police assistance.
Read No
appeal filed against SC order: interim Sindh set-up
The
interim CM highlighted the department's diligence in addressing 883 cases of
child abuse and violence, providing essential support and care to affected
children, and rescuing 1,472 children from child beggary, ensuring them the
chance to lead lives full of promise and opportunities.
CM Baqar
said that World Children's Day serves as a powerful reminder of our
responsibility to protect and nurture the future leaders of our nation. He
commended the Sindh Child Protection Authority for its commitment to
implementing policies prioritising the well-being and rights of every child in
Sindh.
The
caretaker CM praised the Social Welfare Department for achieving remarkable
milestones, managing 5,497 cases, establishing an efficient 24/7 Sindh Child
Helpline (1121), which handled 129,750 calls over the past five years. The
department has also established 30 Child Protection Units in each district of
Sindh, constituted District Coordination Committees (DCC) for Child Protection
in every district, and operationalised a Shelter Home in Karachi with the
capacity to accommodate 300 destitute children.
Moreover,
the department enforced the Child Protection Amendment Act 2021 and the Child
Marriage Restraint Act 2013, which strengthened legal protections for children.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2447248/cm-condemns-killing-of-children-in-gaza
------
Afghan
refugees: UNHCR, PPAF join hands to improve livelihoods
2023-11-20
PESHAWAR:
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has embarked upon the distribution of
productive livelihood assets to Afghan refugee families under the UNHCR-funded
Poverty Graduation Programme (PGP) for Afghan refugees.
According
to a press release issued here, currently in its fourth phase, the programme is
committed to empowering over 3,000 families of Afghan refugees residing in six
refugee camps in Nowshera, Quetta, Pishin Districts and Islamabad.
This
would enhance their self-reliance and livelihoods by equipping them with
transferable skills applicable in both Pakistan and Afghanistan upon their
return.
In the
initial distribution phase, a total of 1,200 livelihood assets are being
distributed across the Turkmen, Khesgi, and AkoraKhattak camps in District
Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A
ceremony in this connection was held in AkoraKhattak Refugees’ Camp wherein the
Acting Chief Executive Officer, PPAF, Nadir Gul Barech and Livelihood Focal
Point Officer, UNHCR Peshawar, Ashfaq Hussain distributed livelihood assets
among the eligible Afghan refugee families.
Arshad
Rashid, Chief Programmes, PPAF and Muhammad Amad, Executive Director,
Initiative for Development & Empowerment
Axis
(IDEA), PPAF’s implementing partner were also present on this occasion.
Expressing
gratitude to UNHCR for their enduring trust, Nadir Gul Barech highlighted the
positive sustainable change brought about by the PPAF and UNHCR partnership,
impacting over 7,000 Afghan refugee families since 2017.
Beneficiaries,
equipped with productive assets and comprehensive training, have progressed
significantly in enterprise development, asset management, and financial
literacy, leading to enhanced self-sufficiency.
Ashfaq
Hussain, UNHCR Peshawar shared that UNHCR is committed to fostering sustainable
solutions for displaced populations, ensuring their protection, and promoting
their self-reliance.
The
ongoing partnership with PPAF stands as a testament to this dedication and is
enabling Afghan refugee families to lead dignified lives marked by
self-sufficiency.
Muhammad
Amad thanked UNHCR and PPAF for their support, acknowledging the programme’s
role in addressing vulnerabilities, improving livelihoods, and enhancing
psychological well-being among Afghan refugee families.
Notably,
each household receiving livelihood assets underwent mandatory 3-day enterprise
development training to ensure efficient and sustainable asset utilization.
The
programme also emphasizes gender equality, particularly focusing on enhancing
skills among female Afghan refugees. The UNHCR is committed to fostering
sustainable solutions for displaced populations, ensuring their protection, and
promoting their self-reliance.
The
ongoing partnership with PPAF stands as a testament to this dedication and is
enabling Afghan refugee families to lead dignified lives marked by
self-sufficiency.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274129/afghan-refugees-unhcr-ppaf-join-hands-to-improve-livelihoods
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Africa
32
killed in an attack in the Abyei region, which is disputed between Sudan and
South Sudan
20th
November 2023
NAIROBI,
Kenya: Heavy fighting Sunday in a disputed region claimed by both Sudan and
South Sudan killed at least 32 people, including a UN peacekeeper, authorities
said.
The
civilians and a Ghanaian soldier serving with a peacekeeping force died when
unknown gunmen attacked two villages in the southern part of the Abyei
administrative region, local media reported.
A South
Sudanese radio station, Eye Radio Juba, quoted Abyei information minister
BolisKuoch as saying 32 people were killed and 20 others wounded, “but the
clashes have now stopped and the situation calmed down.”
Inter-communal
and cross-border clashes have escalated since South Sudan deployed its troops
to the contested territory in March. The peacekeeping mission there condemned
the troop deployment, saying it would create “untold suffering and humanitarian
concerns” for civilians.
International
solders were sent to Aleel and Rum Ameer counties as part of the UN Interim
Security Force for Abyei to help quell the growing conflict.
The
Security Council last week voted unanimously to renew UNIFSA’s mandate until
Nov. 15, 2024.
Earlier
this month, the UN special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh
warned that the “unprecedented” 7-month war between Sudan’s army and a rival
paramilitary force was getting closer to South Sudan and the Abyei region.
The UN
says more than 9,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in
mid-April, displacing millions of people within Sudan and into neighboring
countries.
Sudan
and South Sudan have disagreed over control of the oil-rich Abyei region since
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan after a 2005 peace deal ended
decades of civil war between Sudan’s north and south.
The deal
called for both sides to settle the final status of Abyei through negotiations,
but it has never been implemented.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/nov/20/32-killed-in-an-attack-in-the-abyei-region-which-is-disputed-between-sudan-and-south-sudan-2634604.html
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Nigeria
frees 4,000 prisoners to ease jail crowding
November
20, 2023
LAGOS:
Thousands of detainees across Nigeria have been released from prison in an
effort to tackle overcrowding, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said on
Sunday on social media.
The move
marks part of a drive by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was elected
earlier this year, to decongest Nigeria´s overpopulated prisons.
“Yesterday,
we flagged off the release of 4,068 of the 80,804 inmates in our 253
correctional facilities nationwide, who have been held in custody due to their
inability to pay fines,” Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo posted in a statement on X,
formerly Twitter.
He made
the announcement after visiting the Kuje detention centre near the capital
Abuja. The ministry´s spokesman AjibolaAfonja told AFP that “only inmates whose
fines do not exceed one million naira have been chosen to benefit from this
mass release.”
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1130704-nigeria-frees-4-000-prisoners-to-ease-jail-crowding
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Heavy
rain in Kenya affects tens of thousands, disrupts cargo
November
20, 2023
NAIROBI:
Kenya on Sunday said tens of thousands of people across the country had been
impacted by heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides that had also interrupted
cargo services at Mombasa port.
The Horn
of Africa has experienced intense rainfall linked to the El Nino weather
phenomenon in recent weeks that has claimed dozens of lives, including at least
46 in various parts of Kenya.
Deputy
President RigathiGachagua said at least 80,000 households in Kenya had been
affected “with numbers rising every day”. He said the government was responding
to “save our people” including with helicopters and other emergency services to
deliver aid and rescue marooned families.
“This situation
has continued to threaten lives,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday,
urging the public to avoid floodwaters and evacuate homes in low-lying areas.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1130699-heavy-rain-in-kenya-affects-tens-of-thousands-disrupts-cargo
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NAF
bombs B’Haram commander’s hideout in Kaduna
20th
November 2023
Solomon
Odeniyi
Several
terrorists were killed during an air operation conducted by the air component
of Operation Whirl Punch in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The
operation was carried out following an intelligence report that a terrorist
kingpin, identified as Boderi and his members, was at the location.
The Director of Public Relations and
Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air
Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said, in a statement on Sunday, that the air
operations were successful, prompting the service to embark on another
operation targeted at Boderi’s brother.
He said
the two brothers were responsible for several attacks on communities in the
state and its environs.
He
said, “Nigerian Air Force aircraft under
Operation Whirl Punch have sustained air strikes against terrorists operating
in the North-West and North Central region of the country, leading to the
decimation of several terrorist elements at Tsauni Doka at Igabi Local
Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The
strikes became necessary following credible intelligence revealed the presence
of a terrorist kingpin known as Boderi and his foot soldiers at Tsauni Doka.
“Subsequently,
air strikes were carried out on the location in the early hours of 16 November
2023, with devastating consequences on the terrorists. Similar strikes with
positive outcomes were also carried out at a location about 500 metres east of
Boderi’s hideout, believed to be the hiding place of Boderi’s brother, Nasiru.
Both strikes were termed very successful as several terrorists were neutralised
and their motorcycles destroyed.
“Boderi
and his brother, Nasiru, alongside their cohorts, have been blamed for several
attacks and abductions along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Kaduna-BirninGwari
Road as well as in several communities in Niger and Kaduna states. “
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/naf-bombs-bharam-commanders-hideout-in-kaduna/
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Tinubu
Arrives In Berlin For G20 ‘Compact With Africa’ Conference
November
19, 2023
LanreLasisi
President
Bola Tinubu has arrived in Berlin, Germany where he is scheduled to attend the
G20 Compact with Africa (CWA) Conference.
The
President, who left Nigeria some minutes past 7pm on Saturday, was received on
arrival by a delegation made up of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf
Tuggar, the Nigerian Head of Mission in Berlin, Amb. Regina Ocheni, and other
dignitaries.
The G20
CWA conference will be taking place alongside the fourth G20 investment summit,
co-hosted by the German Government and German business associations.
President
Tinubu will be joining other heads of state and government of CWA member
countries, bilateral partners, as well as heads of international organisations
to deliberate on the immediate enhancement of economic and business cooperation
with a view to outlining concrete measures to boost investments in critical
areas such as energy, trade, infrastructure, and new technologies, among
others.
Source: channelstv.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.channelstv.com/2023/11/19/tinubu-arrives-in-berlin-for-g20-compact-with-africa-conference/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/protest-against-israel-mumbai13-detained/d/131147