Qatar court accepts India's appeal against death penalty to ex- Navy men
New Age Islam News Bureau
24 November 2023
·
Qatar
court accepts India's appeal against death penalty to ex- Navy men
· Imam-e-Kaaba urges world to help stop massacre of besieged Palestinians
· Afghanistan announces permanent closure of embassy in India
· Germany raids homes of alleged Hamas supporters
· Istanbul Bar Association submits evidence to ICC, calls for justice against Israeli war crimes in Gaza
· Muslim World League welcomes humanitarian pause deal in Gaza
· Misunderstanding bin Laden’s 2002 “Letter to Americans”
------
India
· Islamic State Terror Strike On 2 Major Cities, Military Bases Foiled: Sources
· Hamas is synonymous with Palestine in Kerala. CPI(M), IUML have boxed Congress into a corner
· The massacre of Jammu Muslims in 1947 set a template of impunity and violence
· Special IT park for Muslim youths in Hyderabad if BRS voted to power, says KCR
· UP Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act does not prohibit beef transport: HC
· Kashmir journalist Fahad Shah tastes freedom after 21 months in jail
-----
Pakistan
· President Alvi now backs 2-state solution for Palestine
· Jail trial in cipher case ends: Imran to be produced in special court on 29th
· NAB allowed four more days to grill Imran
· JI will hold Gaza bike rally on 26th
------
South Asia
· ‘Afghans in Pakistan wanted to escape Taliban rule but we shattered their hopes’
· CSTO member states assess Afghanistan’s situation
· Pakistan urges Taliban to act swiftly against TTP in Afghanistan
· EU provides € 10 million in aid to healthcare sector in Afghanistan
· Meeting of Islamic Emirate’s oppositions, Foreign Diplomats Held in Moscow
· UNHCR Urges Pakistan to Stop Deporting Afghan Refugees
· US interfered in Bangladesh’s internal affairs
------
Europe
· Police investigating claims of antisemitic hate speech in UK mosques
· 'Curse the Jews': Antisemitic preaching plagues UK mosques - TalkTV report
· Halal Expo London 2023 set to unveil lucrative opportunities in sector
· Spanish PM 'whitewashing war criminal Netanyahu,' outspoken ex-minister says
· Putin provides update on multinational anti-terrorism op
-----
Mideast
· Truce officially starts in Gaza after seven weeks of Israeli aggression
· Lebanon border calm as Israel-Hamas truce takes effect
· Uprooted Palestinians move to check on homes in Gaza as humanitarian pause begins
· Israel-Hamas war: This is the first meal the Israeli hostages will eat once freed
· Israeli army continues West Bank raids as Gaza humanitarian pause starts
· Over 5,000 Children Killed In Gaza War So Far, Says Hamas: Report
· Iran’s top diplomat meets Hezbollah chief in Lebanon
· 130,000 Litres Of Fuel, 200 Aid Trucks To Enter Gaza Daily, Says Egypt
· Israel bombs Indonesian Hospital in Gaza
· Hezbollah steps up rocket attacks after 5 senior fighters die in airstrike
----
Arab World
· Saudi defense minister, UK counterpart discuss Gaza situation
· Saudi, Jordanian ministers discuss water cooperation in Riyadh
· Vice Minister of Human Resources Heads the Kingdom's Delegation in Islamic Meeting of Labor Ministers
· Ministerial Committee Assigned by Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit Meets with French Foreign Minister
· Reef Saudi launches bee clinics in major cities in Kingdom
-----
North America
· U.S. intercepts multiple attack drones launched from Yemen: Pentagon
· Cuban president leads anti-Israel demo in front of US embassy in Havana
· US military bases in Syria, Iraq targeted by explosive-laden drones
· Former Obama administration official arrested after video shows Islamophobic language spewed at food vendor
-----
Africa
· Kenya: U.S. citizen convicted of child sex crimes 9 years ago rearrested on new charges
· 25 killed when truck overloaded with food items and people crashes in Nigeria’s north
· Chief Imam, peace ambassador donate to dam spillage victims
· Niger coup leader visits Mali, Burkina in first foreign trip
· Nigerian Court Frees Six IPOB Members Jailed For Three Years On Trumped-Up Charges In Rivers State
· Army kills six bandits in Kaduna
· Fake stores could surge 135% during Black Friday, FCCPC warms
-----
Southeast Asia
· Malaysia under Anwar, a model Muslim country for Tunisia
· Four-day ceasefire in gaza , a relief - PM Anwar
· Selangor Sultan presents over RM4 million aid to Palestine Musa’adah Fund
· Secondary school teacher, family members lose RM95,000 in umrah fraud packages
· Sultan Sharafuddin launches e-Khutbah Selangor website
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
------------
Qatar
court accepts India's appeal against death penalty to ex- Navy men
Nov 24,
2023
Qatar
court accepts India's appeal against death penalty to ex- Navy menQatar court
accepts India's appeal against death penalty to ex- Navy men
NEW
DELHI: Qatar court accepted India's appeal to study the death sentence handed
down to eight-ex Indian Navy personnels it had arrested last year, the Times
Now reported.
The
Qatar court had announced the death penalty for these Indians on October 26.
The MEA
had expressed shock over the verdict and had assured that the government was
exploring all legal options.
In 2022,
the authorities in Qatar detained eight retired Indian Navy soldiers working
for a defense services provider company.
Since
then, they have been held in solitary confinement without the Qatari
authorities explaining the basis for their detention to the men's families.
Captain
Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht,
Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala,
Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh were arrested in Doha.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/qatar-court-accepts-indias-appeal-against-death-penalty-to-ex-navy-men/articleshow/105460765.cms
----
Imam-e-Kaaba
urges world to help stop massacre of besieged Palestinians
2023-11-24
ISLAMABAD:
Demanding swift action from global powers to halt Israeli crimes against
humanity in Palestine, Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid on Thursday said
that the ongoing massacre of innocent children and people in Gaza is one of the
darkest periods in human history.
Speaking
at the fourth international conference on the protection of human life in
Shariah and Law, jointly organised by International Islamic University and
International Islamic Fiqh Academy Jeddah, he said that the ongoing massacre of
innocent people in Gaza marks one of the darkest periods in human history.
Sheikh
Saleh, who is also an adviser to Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court, is in Islamabad on
a four-day visit to enhance brotherly relations between Islamabad and Riyadh.
“Global
powers must uphold the sanctity of human lives and halt crimes against humanity
in Gaza without any further delay as what is going on in Gaza is cruel,” he
maintained.
Sheikh
said that taking a human life was prohibited by all religions, yet Muslims
continued to face mass atrocities under the pretext of so-called human rights
in Gaza.
“Islam
places special emphasis on the sanctity of human life, and both religion and
human life hold distinct importance in the Islamic law, without discrimination
based on belief,” he added.
“Allah
has sworn to protect human life, and those who unjustly take a life face the
promise of hell,” he declared.
He also
lauded the local hospitality and extended greetings on behalf of the custodians
of the two holy mosques and scholars of Saudi Arabia.
He said
the ongoing collaboration between the Islamic Fiqh Academy and the
International Islamic University was crucial, and educational and research
institutions in Muslim countries should prioritise mutual cooperation.
He will
also lead Friday prayers at Faisal Mosque on Friday (today).
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274907/imam-e-kaaba-urges-world-to-help-stop-massacre-of-besieged-palestinians
------
Afghanistan
announces permanent closure of embassy in India
November
24, 2023
KallolBhattacherjee
The
Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu
-------------
Effective
from 23 November, the Embassy of Afghanistan has permanently closed down, a
statement from the mission announced on Friday. The embassy blamed both the Taliban
rulers in Kabul as well as the Government of India for pressuring it to stop
operations in India permanently. The embassy had stopped functioning on
September 30 when the senior Afghan diplomats and the ambassador representing
the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan left India.
“Unfortunately,
despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and
a shift in the Indian government’s conduct were not realised. Given the
constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish
control, the embassy faced a difficult choice,” an official statement from the
mission said.
Press
Statement
24th
November, 2023
The
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces permanent closure in
New Delhi.
The Embassy
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi regrets to announce the
permanent closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi 1/2
pic.twitter.com/VlXRSA0vZ8
However,
the statement also acknowledged that handing over the property to India is in
the “best interest of Afghanistan.” The mission said that it is now for the
Indian authorities to decide on the future course of action of the Afghan
Embassy. “The responsibility of diplomats appointed by the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan has officially come to an end,” the official declaration informed.
The
statement further alleged that there are some Afghan diplomats who are
affiliated with the Taliban dispensation in Kabul who have tried to “tarnish”
the image of the Afghan diplomats in India. With the permanent closure of the
embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the diplomatic presence of the
pre-Taliban regime in Afghanistan has come to an end.
India
has not recognised the Taliban administration in Kabul and it has not restarted
full-scale diplomatic activities at its embassy in Kabul after closing it in
August 2021. The permanent closure of the embassy of Afghanistan will create a
challenging situation for traders and travellers who want to apply for Afghan
visas. That apart, it also severs the formal link that India had with the
ruling elite of the previous government headed by Dr. Ashraf Ghani.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/afghanistan-embassy-closes-permanently-in-india/article67568717.ece
------
Germany
raids homes of alleged Hamas supporters
November 24, 2023
German
police officers carry boxes taken from an apartment building in Berlin, on
Thursday.—Reuters
------------
FRANKFURT:
Germany on Thursday said raids were underway in four regions on the homes of
members and supporters of alleged Hamas and another Palestinian organisation
which are banned in the country.
Interior
Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement that they are carrying out action “by
banning Hamas and Samidoun in Germany”. The statement added Germany will not
tolerate any ‘‘apology or support for Hamas’’.
The
interior ministry said 15 properties had been raided so far since 6am (local
time) after courts in four regions ordered the raids.
Germany
on Nov 2 banned Hamas and Samidoun. There are an estimated 450 Hamas members in
the country, according to official figures.
The
ministry said that while Hamas members had not staged “violent action” in
Germany so far, they had tried to raise funds to help the group overseas and
“influence the social and political discourse in Germany”.
It said
Samidoun on the other hand “denies the right of Israel to exist”.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1791991/germany-raids-homes-of-alleged-hamas-supporters
-----
Istanbul
Bar Association submits evidence to ICC, calls for justice against Israeli war
crimes in Gaza
Selman
Aksünger
24.11.2023
Photo :
( Selman Aksünger - AA )
------------
Istanbul
Bar Association on Thursday submitted a file of evidence to the International
Criminal Court (ICC) through a delegation of Turkish legal experts, including
photos and videos from Anadolu, proving Israel's war crimes in Gaza.
The
delegation, consisting of Turkish legal experts, including CuneytYuksel,
Chairman of the Justice Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and
AK Party Istanbul Deputy, Ahmet Sorgun, AK Party Konya Deputy of the 27th Term,
Yasin Samli, President of Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, and a delegation of
15 legal experts made a statement in front of the ICC's court building in The
Hague.
Speaking
in front of the ICC's court building, Yuksel emphasized the urgency of
addressing the atrocities committed, stating: "No conscience can remain
silent about this."
During
their visit, the delegation engaged in productive discussions with the ICC
Prosecutor's Office and the Victim Participation Unit, providing a detailed
analysis of Israel's attacks on Gaza within the framework of international
humanitarian law.
Yuksel
revealed disturbing statistics, asserting that since Oct. 7, more than 15,000
innocent civilians have tragically lost their lives in the ongoing attacks.
"We
are faced with an indescribable atrocity," he said.
Yuksel noted
that more than 200 healthcare workers, dozens of civil defense workers and
journalists have been killed in Israel's attacks so far.
"Every
place where civilians gathered together became the direct target of the
attacks. We are faced with a terrible caste, a terrible hatred. A genocide
reminiscent of Srebrenica and Khojaly is being committed," he said.
"It
is necessary to hold the responsible ones accountable," said Yuksel,
explaining that even though Israel is not a party to the International Criminal
Court (ICC), Israeli officials can be prosecuted due to Palestine being a party
country.
"In
this regard, the ultimate destination is the ICC. That's why we are here today.
Our complaint is related to ensuring that the ICC carries out the necessary
processes effectively and efficiently," he said.
Yuksel
emphasized that the path to bringing peace to the region lies in the
establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with its
capital in Jerusalem, within the 1967 borders and possessing geographical
integrity.
"In
this regard, Türkiye will continue its initiatives both among regional
countries and in international organizations such as the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN, to take steps towards solving the
problem," he concluded.
Mustafa
Deniz, one of the lawyers in the delegation who contributed to the preparation
of the petition, stated that in the 3-folder evidence file they prepared for
the ICC, there are video recordings, photographs, witness statements, and
victim statements.
Deniz,
regarding the evidence list that constitutes the annex of their petition, said:
"Our file includes video recordings, photographs, and victim statements.
We obtained video and photo footage from the archives of the Anadolu. I believe
our meeting is significant in clearly stating our support for the Palestinians
and expressing their grievances."
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/istanbul-bar-association-submits-evidence-to-icc-calls-for-justice-against-israeli-war-crimes-in-gaza/3063372
------
Muslim
World League welcomes humanitarian pause deal in Gaza
NOVEMBER
23, 2023
The
Muslim World League welcomed the humanitarian pause deal in Gaza, praising the international
efforts, especially the Qatari, Egyptian and the US, which resulted in reaching
this deal.
The
Muslim World League reiterated in a statement its calls for a comprehensive and
permanent cessation of military operations, the cessation of destruction and
bloodshed, the provision of protection for civilians and the facilitation of
the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
Qatar
announced On Wednesday the success of its joint mediation efforts undertaken
with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America between Israel
and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which resulted in an agreement for
a humanitarian pause. The starting time of the pause will be announced within
the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension. The agreement
includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held
in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women
and children detained in Israeli prisons.
Source: gulf-times.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/672283/region/muslim-world-league-welcomes-humanitarian-pause-deal-in-gaza
------
Misunderstanding
bin Laden’s 2002 “Letter to Americans”
November 24, 2023
Recently
TikTok has posted and highlighted Osama bin Laden’s 2002 “Letter to Americans.”
This letter was originally intended to appeal to Western audiences but failed
spectacularly when it was first promulgated. However, it has now drawn much attention
especially from those now trying to re-interpret him in their own truncated
image as a representative of anti-colonialism.
This is
yet another example of “mirror-imaging” wherein many Westerners project their
parochial interpretation of world events onto very different actors and
interpret those other’s actions into preconceived secular categories. But bin
Laden’s view of the world draws on a very different conceptual universe that
can only be understood in terms of its deep religious roots.
The name
usually given to bin Laden’s organization is “Al Qaeda,” but this is merely a
nickname for an organization that has styled itself officially as the “World
Islamic Front for Holy War against Jews and Crusaders.” The attacks perpetrated
by this network have usually been accompanied by a plethora of videotapes,
audiotapes, declarations, books, letters, fatwas, magazines, e-mails, and
websites that present and explain its theology, its view of history and the
political order, and its understanding of contemporary events, to explain and
justify its actions in terms of its version of Islamic teaching, law, history,
and practice.
These
materials, now collected in several volumes, consistently expound a religiously
shaped program that announces as its goal to unite Muslims worldwide into one
people, the ummah, with one divinely sanctioned leader, a caliph, governed by a
reactionary version of sharia (Islamic law), and organized to wage jihad on the
rest of the world. It targets Muslim regimes in the Middle East that it regards
as “apostates” from Islam, and opponents further afield, usually described as
“Crusaders,” “followers of the cross,” “Jews,” or “infidels.”
Consequently,
Al Qaeda’s attacks have not been confined to America or “the West.” Its members
have sought to kill or silence those opposed to its version of Islam, whether
Muslim or non-Muslim, on the Left or the Right, American, British, Israeli,
Australian, French, Indian, Algerian, Sudanese, Indonesian, Thai, Timorese or
Filipino. Most of its killings are now in West Africa, especially Nigeria,
where it has contributed to deaths in the tens of thousands, whose lost Black
Lives to terrorism are mostly ignored in the West.
Al
Qaeda’s very own training manual begins not by recalling by American concerns
such as the birth of Israel or the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan but an event
little noted in America: “the fall of [the] orthodox Caliphates on March 3,
1924.” That this same event and historical period is a source of continuing
grievance is shown in Osama bin Laden’s November 3, 2001, videotape–his first
statement after the September 11 attacks–which similarly proclaims: “Following
World War I, which ended more than 83 years ago, the whole Islamic world fell
under the Crusader banner.” For bin Laden, his followers, and his imitators, a
key turning points in history was the ending of the Ottoman Empire and the
subsequent shattering of the Muslim ummah by Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal
Atatürk through his creation of modern secular Turkey and his abolition of the
caliphate, the nominal leader of all Muslims.
This
2001 proclamation also declared his basic belief: “This war is fundamentally
religious. . .. Those who try to cover this crystal-clear fact, which the
entire world has admitted, are deceiving the Islamic nation. This war is
fundamentally religious. . . . This fact is proven in the book of God Almighty
and in the teachings of our messenger, may God’s peace and blessings be upon
him. This war is fundamentally religious. Under no circumstances should we
forget this enmity between us and the infidels. For, the enmity is based on
creed.”
Also,
apart from Middle East concerns, he also castigated the United Nations for its
worldwide support for a purported attempt “to divide the largest country in the
Islamic world. . . . This criminal, Kofi Annan [UN Secretary-General], was . .
. putting pressure on the Indonesian government, telling it, you have twenty-four
hours to divide and separate East Timor from Indonesia by force. The crusader
Australian forces were on Indonesian shores, and, in fact, they landed to
separate East Timor, which is part of the Islamic world.”
These
proclamations received support among some Muslims, but clearly, they failed at
convincing many in the West. Hence, for a brief time thereafter, bin Laden
tried a different tactic in his “Letter to Americans,” posted on the internet
in October 2002.
This was
a very marked departure from his many previous statements as in this case he
attempted to appeal to Westerners by submerging his clear and explicit
religious agenda and instead temporarily harped on some peculiarly Western
grievances. He mentioned the Kyoto accord on global warming, environmental
problems, election campaign finances, and the use of nuclear weapons on
Japan—matters he had consistently ignored in his numerous statements over the
previous decade. He also mentioned President Clinton’s “immoral acts” in the
Oval Office, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, charging interest, and using
women in advertising. So far these latter “moral” matters have drawn little
attention from those attempting to recruit bin Laden as a posthumous ally in an
anti-imperialist agenda.
But,
even in this crude attempt to play to American prejudices, he still returned to
his basic religious message and, above all, condemned the U.S. Constitution for
not enshrining Islamic sharia and instead allowing the American people to make
their own laws. He makes a fervent appeal to Americans to repent and become
Muslim: “The first thing we are calling you to is Islam.”
This was
the short-lived propaganda effort that is now gaining attention from those who
now want to enlist bin Laden in their own very different political agenda. It
failed in 2002 but recent attention to it shows our growing historical
ignorance.
This
brief 2002 attempt to appeal to Western sensibilities went nowhere, and so bin
Laden then reverted to reiterating his fundamental beliefs. His January 2004 message not to the West but
“to the Muslim nation” emphasized that because the West “invaded our countries
more than 2,500 years ago[sic],” “It is a religious-economic war. . . .
Therefore, religious terms should be used when describing the ruler who does
not follow God’s revelations and path and champions the infidels by extending
military facilities to them or implementing the UN resolutions against Islam
and Muslims. Those should be called infidels and renegades. . . . [T]he
confrontation and conflict between us and them started centuries ago. The
confrontation and conflict will continue because the conflict between right and
falsehood will continue until Judgment Day.”
Later,
at the end of 2004, he warned Iraqis not to participate in the January 30,
2005, elections because the Iraqi constitution is “a jahiliyya [pre-Islamic]
constitution that is made by man,” and Muslims may elect only a leader for whom
“Islam is the only source of the rulings and laws.” On similar grounds, he
forbade voting in Palestinian Authority elections because “the constitution of
the land is a jahili made by man,” and added the religiously loaded claim that
the then Fatah candidate, and now President, Mahmoud Abbas “is a Baha’i.” Since
he regards Baha’is as apostates who should be killed, this was an especially
damning view of the PLO.
Bin
Laden and his cohorts were indeed concerned about the United States, Israel,
the Palestinians, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But they have an explicit and highly
developed religious worldview and so are especially concerned about Saudi
Arabia’s holy sites and the Al-Aqsa mosque, and continually point to attacks by
infidels in Lebanon, Tajikistan, Burma, Kashmir, Assam, the Philippines,
“Fatani,” “Ogadin,” Somalia, Eritrea, Chechnya, Bosnia, “Bokhara,” Bangladesh,
Turkey, Chad, Mauritania, South Sudan, Darfur, Algeria, the Philippines, Yemen,
“Tashkent,” Indonesia, and East Timor.
Religious
beliefs and ideology are not the only things we need to know to understand al
Qaeda’s goals and actions. But we cannot understand these unless we take their
religious beliefs seriously. Yet many in the West are fixated on their more
familiar categories of globalization, ethnicity, the “West,” colonialism, and
Middle Eastern nationalism, and thus miss the nature of terrorists’ beliefs,
strategy, tactics, justifications, and goals. Hence, to the degree that we
ignore the clearly articulated nature and goals of Islamist terrorism, we
consistently misunderstand the nature of our conflicts.
Source: providencemag.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://providencemag.com/2023/11/misunderstanding-bin-ladens-2002-letter-to-americans/
-----
India
Islamic
State Terror Strike On 2 Major Cities, Military Bases Foiled: Sources
November
23, 2023
New
Delhi: A terrorist plot against two Gujarat cities - Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar
- and Nariman House and Gateway of India in Mumbai has been foiled, police
sources told NDTV Thursday. Strikes against unspecified high-profile military
bases - photographs of which were reportedly sent to Pakistan and Syria - were
also foiled, sources said, claiming these may have been planned by the Islamic
State,
These
could have been among the biggest ever terror strikes on India, sources said,
basing their input on the confession of Shahnawaz alias ShafiUzzama, a
suspected Islamic State operative arrested by Delhi Police from a hideout in
the national capital early last month.
There
are indications Aligarh Muslim University students may have been involved.
According
to sources, the Islamic State has made Pune the focal point of its plans.
Shahnawaz
was wanted in the Islamic State Pune module case. Sources said he fled the city
in July, after two associates were arrested, reached Delhi and has been
underground since.
In his
confession, Shahnawaz told authorities his wife was a Hindu before she
converted to Islam and that the two met at Aligarh University, where they
became involved in terror plots.
'To
Improve Financial Condition'
Sources
said Shahnawaz was looking to improve his financial condition when he got
sucked into illegal activities as a youngster in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh, his
hometown. After becoming radicalised, he was trained by Anbar al-Awlaki, senior
Al Qaeda operative killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011.
Hizbut-Tahrir
As part
of his confession, Shahnawaz said he joined the Hizbut-Tahir, an Islamist
organisation whose stated aim is the re-establishment of the Islamic Caliphate
to unite all Muslims.
In
August the NIA conducted raids in Bhopal linked to the HuT. This was after
raids in May - in Telangana and Madhya Pradesh - led to 16 arrests and several
terror modules being busted.
The HuT
is banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, China and
Germany.
Listen
to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
Meanwhile,
sources said Shahnawaz also told authorities of hawala routes through which
money is sent to modules in Pune, which is used to make bombs and to train
terrorists.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/islamic-state-terror-strike-on-gandhinagar-ahmedabad-military-bases-foiled-sources-4599936
------
Hamas is
synonymous with Palestine in Kerala. CPI(M), IUML have boxed Congress into a
corner
ANAND
KOCHUKUDY
24
November, 2023
Delivering
the Sunday sermon at a Syrian Christian church this weekend in Kanjirappally,
Kerala, the parish priest took an unexpected detour from the scripture into the
conflict raging in the Middle East. The faithful, who were otherwise distracted
by the symphony of raindrops thudding on the roof, were suddenly all ears as
the vicar proceeded to speak about the Promised Land or Canaan—roughly covering
the area from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—which, he asserted,
rightfully belonged to the Jews, based on the Old Testament.
The
clergyman went on to state that all Abrahamic religions, which have the Torah
as part of their scripture, should gracefully accept the fact. He was only
echoing the general unease among the laity. Just last week, Thomas Tharayil,
the auxiliary bishop of Changanassery, had questioned the doublespeak of the
Left and others in the secular pantheon on the provenance of Hamas.
Ever
since the militant group’s attack on 7 October caught Israel off-guard, Kerala
has been undergoing a churn, fuelled partly by political parties targeting the
Muslim vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. There has also been a ratcheting up
of rhetoric in general, despite the Palestine issue not having any direct
bearing on Kerala. This has, in turn, led to a spike in Islamophobia in the
state, as a natural reaction to the hardline positions across the board.
The
genesis
Operation
‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ launched by Hamas on 7 October blew up on Kerala news channels,
with the Left, more specifically the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist),
immediately lending its voice to the issue. From Politburo member MA Baby to
state Secretariat member M Swaraj, CPI(M) leaders had no qualms leaping to the
defence of Hamas without condemning the civilian deaths of 1200-odd Israelis in
equal measure. It was left to KK Shailaja, the former health minister, to offer
a sane response—she condemned the terrorist act of Hamas even as she expressed
solidarity with the people of Palestine—although she didn’t get the backing of
the party.
The
Congress Working Committee (CWC) put out a statement which sounded unambiguous
on its “long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people”, but
the Left—which saw an opportunity to convert the issue into votes—wasn’t
convinced by the intensity of the Congress’ support for Palestine.
The
CPI(M) has been working overtime to take the issue to the streets to create
confusion among the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)’s ranks by
courting the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on this issue.
The IUML
responded by taking the lead in organising a solidarity gathering on Palestine
with CWC member Shashi Tharoor as the chief guest. But things didn’t go
according to its script. The liberal in Tharoor didn’t leave the question of
Hamas’ terrorist act on unsuspecting Israelis unaddressed, and the Left and its
champions were quick to qualify Tharoor’s nuanced position as being
pro-Israeli. The CPI(M) went on to extrapolate Tharoor’s position to that of
the Congress, thus fashioning itself as the sole champion of Muslims.
Ideological
cover
If
anyone pipped the CPI(M) in Kerala to set the agenda on the 7 October attack,
it was the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind that went on a propaganda overdrive on its news
channel, MediaOne. By constantly converting Al Jazeera feeds into Malayalam
capsules and launching into a partisan narrative on its editorial show ‘Out of
Focus’, the channel, which is otherwise professionally run, normalised the
theory that the lives of Israeli civilians are expendable. The MediaOne editors
rationalised everything through the prism of a resistance movement, although
viewers wondered why they were dubbing Israel a terrorist state without
simultaneously qualifying Hamas as one.
Jamaat’s
youth wing, the Solidarity Youth Movement, went one step further and got former
Hamas chief Khaled Mashal to virtually address its gathering in Malappuram,
vitiating Kerala’s public sphere further and shrinking the space for those who
wanted to express solidarity with the people of Palestine without necessarily
supporting Hamas.
The
Kalamassery blasts at a prayer gathering of the Jehovah’s Witnesses on 29
October engendered the worst fears among Keralites—although, people heaved a
sigh of relief when the perpetrator came forward to identify himself as being a
former member of the cult. It robbed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other
Right-wing elements of the opportunity to communalise it to their ends.
IUML’s
hardline positions
Two-and-a-half
years ago, in the run-up to the assembly election in Kerala, the CPI(M) had
unleashed a propaganda campaign to project the UDF as being driven by the
IUML’s agenda. It claimed that the Muslim League was under the spell of the
Jamaat-e-Islami. Although it was then assumed to be a case of CPI(M) making the
most of the wave of Islamophobia spreading across Central Travancore, it gained
traction when the Congress was seen not asserting itself within the UDF as it
did in the past.
The
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Kerala supported the Left from its inception until the
2019 Lok Sabha election, and the withdrawal of support could have been
interpreted as a case of sour grapes on account of this volte-face. Now, they
have moved on to the IUML. The gradual hardening of positions of the generally
moderate IUML is attributed to the twice-banned outfit’s influence.
When the
Babri Masjid was razed by Hindutva hardliners in 1992, the timely intervention
of former IUML state chief Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal is credited with
ensuring that the entire Malabar region remained peaceful. Islamist
rabble-rousers such as Abdul NazerMahdani and the Jamaat-e-Islami (which was
banned in the wake of the mosque’s demolition) had taken more radical positions
back then.
It’s
only in recent times—when the baton passed from Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal
to the incumbent Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal—that the Panakkad family’s
writ seems to have weakened within the IUML and the community. As if to
compensate for this, the party has been taking more hardline positions to keep
its vote base intact.
Sadiq
Ali Thangal’s 2020 op-ed in the IUML organ Chandrika backing Turkey’s
announcement of the Hagia Sophia being turned back into a mosque was a red
flag. Of late, however, the riots in BJP-ruled Manipur rekindled the feeling of
brotherhood among the two minority communities, Christians and Muslims—only to
be frayed in the aftermath of the blanket support for Hamas from the IUML and
other Muslim outfits.
CPI(M)’s
vote-bank politics
This is
not the first time that the CPI(M) has used international issues for vote-bank
politics in Kerala. A member of the Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala admitted how it was
international issues such as Palestine and a common “anti-colonial” plank that
made them bedfellows for so long in the state’s politics.
The Left
has mastered the art of winning elections in Kerala by utilising the dominant
sentiment of the day with subtle communal messaging. If the “principle-based
politics” conceived by EMS Namboodiripad in 1987 translated to ‘soft-Hindutva’,
there was a U-turn of sorts in 1991 when it resorted to minority appeasement.
In the
2016 assembly election, the CPI(M) played on the Hindu psyche by dubbing the
UDF a minority wagon. Then, in 2021, it modified that appeal to pit Central
Travancore Christians against Muslims by tapping into the latent sentiment of
Islamophobia.
It is
curious to note that the previous instance of the IUML rocking the UDF boat by
breaking away was in early 1991 when the Left under Namboodiripad’s stewardship
rode the Saddam Hussein wave. Thus, the significance of the CPI(M)’s invite to
the IUML to partake in its Palestine solidarity rally on 11 November wasn’t lost
on anyone.
Congress
boxed into a corner
It is
the Congress that finds itself boxed into a corner in the current scenario. The
party is being arm-flexed to adapt its pro-Palestine position to the more
hardline pro-Hamas position championed by the Left and the IUML, both swaying
to the Jamaat-e-Islami’s tune.
To
prevent the Left from snitching its Muslim vote-bank and to declare its
pro-Palestine pitch unequivocally, the Congress had organised a rally in
Kozhikode on 23 November.
The
event also saw the participation of IUML leaders, although it didn’t have
representatives of allies such as the Church-backed Kerala Congress factions.
Meanwhile, the BJP, which has found itself out of favour with the Church in
Kerala after the Manipur riots, is making the most of the situation to cosy up
to the clergy; although, it fears that a truce in Gaza could obliterate the
Palestine issue from primetime altogether.
The
Jamaat-e-Islami, which succeeded in making Hamas synonymous with Palestine
through its glorification of the militant outfit on MediaOne, may have also
unwittingly aided the rise of Islamophobia—something it regularly accuses
others of. A Jamaat member had this to say: “Yes, we want to shape the Muslim
consciousness on the issue, against the public consciousness influenced by the
Sangh Parivar.”
Claims
aside, the Palestine issue has only ended up widening the schisms and vitiating
the secular moorings of Kerala.
Anand
Kochukudy is a Kerala-based journalist and political commentator. Views are
personal.
(Edited
by Theres Sudeep)
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://theprint.in/opinion/hamas-is-synonymous-with-palestine-in-kerala-cpim-iuml-has-boxed-congress-into-a-corner/1855603/
-----
The massacre
of Jammu Muslims in 1947 set a template of impunity and violence
24
November, 2023
Sajjad
Hassan
October
22, 1947, is recorded in the history books as the day when Pashtun tribals
invaded Jammu and Kashmir. This set in motion a set of events that resulted in
the accession to India of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir; the newly
independent countries of India and Pakistan going to war; the division of the
territory into two parts; and the beginning of the Kashmir dispute that still
escapes a solution.
What is
less well know is the violence that occurred just before the tribal incursion:
the massacre of anywhere between 20,000 to 237,000 Muslims, according to
varying claims, over the span of a few weeks, in the state’s Jammu province.
These
killings, mentioned only in obscure media reports and recent scholarship, took
place as millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were crossing the new
international border created by Partition. Britain’s colonial machinations,
especially its hastening the Partition Plan, precipitated widespread violence
in the summer of 1947, resulting in one of the biggest slaughters and
population displacements anywhere.
Most of
what is called “Partition violence” took place in British India, and after the
transfer of power, in the successor states of India and Pakistan, outside the
over 600 princely states scattered over the subcontinent. Attacks on road
convoys and trains ferrying refugees towards the borders made up the bulk of
the violence. The princely states managed to escape much bloodletting.
However,
scholars have shown recently that Jammu and Kashmir, Alwar and Bharatpur in
present-day Rajasthan, Patiala and Faridkot in east Punjab and Bahawalpur in
west Punjab were the exceptions. These researchers contend that large-scale
killings took place there with state forces complicit in the violence.
These
were some of the worst massacres in India’s history, involving state actors and
local militias seeking the ethnic cleansing of Muslims. The absence of any
acknowledgment of these mass atrocities by the leadership of the new nation,
let alone accountability for the perpetrators, produced a pattern of state
responses to minority concerns that continues to cast a long shadow.
Pogroms
in Jammu
The most
detailed account of the killings in Jammu are provided by Australian political
scientist Christopher Snedden, a long-time researcher of Kashmir, who published
his Kashmir: The Unwritten History in 2013. Snedden’s marshalling of evidence
of the violence based on interviews with survivors and archival research is
detailed and persuasive.
From the
picture that emerges, thousands of Muslim men and women were allegedly
massacred in four eastern Jammu districts (of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Chani
Jagir) from late September through to early November 1947.
Jammu
and Kashmir state troops along with Hindus and Sikhs escaping violence in West
Punjab have been accused of these mass killings. Some news reports that Snedden
cites claim that 200,000 Muslims were killed and 13,000 Muslim women were abducted.
This was before the Pashtun invasion on October 22, 1947, and before Hari
Singh’s accession to India on October 26 that year.
The
motivation, Snedden posits, was revenge, but also an attempt to change the
demography of the state’s Muslim-majority Jammu region. The massacre led to
mass exodus of Jammu Muslims to the western parts of Jammu and Kashmir that
would soon become to be called Azad Kashmir by Pakistan.
The
voices that have tried to raise awareness of the Jammu killings – including the
role of state forces working hand in hand with Hindu nationalist organisations
such as the RashtriyaSwayamsewak Sangh – have largely been silenced.
Snedden
cites a 1948 publication from West Punjab, based on refugee testimonies,
recording 90 anti-Muslim incidents in Jammu and Kashmir between August 8 and
December 12, 1947, with 118,459 alleged Muslims deaths and 13,360 abductions,
with all incidents related to these deaths “involving state or Dogra troops”.
Snedden
also quotes from an Associated Press of India interview with the former editor
of Srinagar-based Kashmir Times, GK Reddy, published in the the Civil and
Military Gazette newspaper of October 28. He says he witnessed “a mad orgy of
Dogra violence against unarmed Muslims”.
Reddy
reported seeing “armed bands of ruffians and soldiers shooting down and hacking
to pieces helpless Muslim refugees heading towards Pakistan”; watching “civil
and military officers directing a huge armed mob against Muslim refugee convoy,
hacked to pieces” and in Jammu city, counting as many as “twenty four villages
burning one night”. Reddy concluded by warning “by such methods of mass murder
they cannot alter the population scales of the state”.
On
December 18, the Civil and Military Gazette published what Snedden described
as, “the most credible, useful and significant account” of the alleged
killings. This was based on a factual report prepared by two Englishmen, Horace
Alexander and Richard Symonds, of the Society of Friends Ambulance Unit, who
were reported having been commissioned by the governments of India and Pakistan
in November 1947 to investigate the religious violence in the state and
specially the condition of Muslims in Jammu.
The
report recounted ten separate incidents of violence that had occurred between
the beginning of October and November 9, 1947. Two incidents involving at least
23,000 deaths occurred before the Pashtun invasion on October 22. Four
incidents, involving a total of 62,000 deaths, took place before Hari Singh’s
accession to India on October 26, when he was still the sole power in the
state. In all instances, the killers included “state” or Dogra troops, the
report said.
The
incidents included 8,000 Muslims allegedly killed near Khatua, and 15,000
killed near Akhnur bridge, both on October 20, 1947. In another incident, the
report claimed that state officials ordered 25,000 Muslims gathered at Maogoan,
awaiting evacuation to Pakistan, to walk to the new dominion. “But as they were
doing so, their women and all their personal belongings were taken away from
them by Dogra troops, and the rest made to stand in a line, where they were
riddled with machine gun bullet,” it said.
In a
further incident involving a siege of 14,000 Muslims in Sambha village near
Jammu city on October 22, all the Muslim women in the village were reportedly
taken away by state troops and the men were slaughtered. There were only 15
survivors. The report claimed the incident is supposed to have occurred almost
immediately after the visit to Sambha by maharaja Hari Singh.
A United
Nations report on the situation in western Jammu and Kashmir repeated the
allegations of Hari Singh’s direct role in the violence. A ziladar or revenue
collector informed the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan that on
October 20, 1947, he heard the maharaja, while visiting Bhimbar tehsil, give
orders that “the Muslim were to be exterminated and had seen His Highness
shooting two or three”. United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan was
tasked to investigate and mediate the India-Pakistan dispute over the future of
the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It lasted from June 1948 to March 1950.
On
August 10, 1948, The Times of London, in a report titled “Elimination of
Muslims from Jammu”, claimed, out of a total population of 411,000 Muslims in
the districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and eastern part of Reasi, “237,000
Muslims were systematically exterminated”, “ by all the forces of the Dogra
state, headed by the Maharaja in person….”
According
to the report, the elimination of two-thirds of Jammu’s Muslims entirely
changed the composition of the province. Before the violence, Muslims were a
majority in Jammu province (53%, according to the 1941 Census). The 1961 Census
showed that the Muslim population in Jammu had been reduced to a third of that.
(No census was conducted in Jammu and Kashmir in 1951.)
Mahatma
Gandhi referred to the Jammu massacres several times in his public speeches. On
November 27, Gandhi noted “considerable” and “unreported” Hindu excesses in
Jammu. The next day, he met Kashmiri leader Shaikh Abdullah, who had visited
Jammu and confirmed the atrocities. Gandhi reproached Abdullah, who by then
headed the administration in the territory, for betraying his people’s trust by
not having the maharaja’s powers curtailed. On December 25, Gandhi stated that
he held the Maharaja “responsible for the happenings in his state, including
the murder of numberless Muslims and abduction of Muslim girls in Jammu”.
The
backdrop to the massacre was the anti-maharaja uprising by Muslims in Jammu’s
Pooch jagir that culminated in an armed revolt in August 1947. The maharaja was
not a popular figure, especially among Muslims in his state. In Jammu, the
resentment was accentuated by the excessive tax burdens, with Poonchis having
to pay taxes both to the maharaja as well as the local feudal master. A no-tax
campaign in June 1947 invited state repression including the looting and
burning of villages and allegations of some 200 persons being killed.
Snedden
also claims that the Poonch rebellion and the subsequent massacres of Muslims
in Jammu may have motivated the North West Frontier Province Pashtuns, who had
ethnic and cultural links with Jammu Muslims, to carry out the raids from
October 22. This triggered the first war between India and Pakistan.
Media
attention and political discourse quickly moved to the tribal attack, the
battles between the two armies and high politics, with Hari Singh signing the
instrument of accession and Shaikh Abdullah’s National Conference forming the government.
The mass atrocities in Jammu were forgotten.
The
erasure was also made possible by the complete control that Hari Singh’s
administration had on flow of information, especially in the build up to and
during the violence. By October 7, it had imposed rigorous, pre-censorship on
four leading local newspapers, banned entry of newspapers from outside, and
forced the Kashmir Times to cease publication, whilst interning the
correspondent of the Associated Press of India. This prevented information flowing
to the outside world.
But
contributing equally to the silence around the massacres, was how
post-Independence leaders, in Delhi and Srinagar, hushed up the killings
themselves. Despite acknowledging the central role of the maharaja and his
troops in the targeted violence, no effort seems to have been made to
investigate the violence and hold perpetrators to account.
The
historical impunity in Jammu and Kashmir ensures that the cycles of violence
continue unabated, across the entire state now, banishing its people to a life
of constant violence, unfreedoms and insecurity.
Source: scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://scroll.in/article/1059042/the-massacre-of-jammu-muslims-in-1947-set-a-template-of-impunity-and-violence
-------
Special
IT park for Muslim youths in Hyderabad if BRS voted to power, says KCR
23
November, 2023
Hyderabad:
In a bid to woo minority voters, BRS president and Chief Minister K
Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday said if they are voted to power again, the
government will set up a special Information Technology park near here for
minority youths.
Addressing
a rally at Maheshwaram, from where Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy is
contesting in the November 30 polls, KCR said his government treats Muslims and
Hindus as two eyes and takes everyone along.
“Today,
we are giving pensions which Muslims are also getting. We have opened
residential schools in which Muslim students also study. We take everyone along
with us.”
“Today,
we are thinking about Muslim youths and setting up a special IT park for them
near Hyderabad. The IT park will come up near Pahadi Shareef,” he said.
Asserting
that Telangana is “peaceful” without any law and order issues, Rao said the BRS
government has spent Rs 12,000 crore towards minority development during the
past 10 years against Rs 2,000 crore done by Congress during its 10-year
regime.
He said
as long as KCR is alive, Telangana will remain a secular state.
According
to the chief minister, development was possible in Telangana after it became a
separate state.
“Who
achieved statehood for Telangana? Who is able to implement 24-hour free power?
Who brought tap water to every doorstep?” he asked people, who shouted back
saying “KCR”.
Stating
that when Telangana was formed, the situation was chaotic with no proper
drinking and irrigation water facilities, Rao said wealth has been growing as
his government is putting up efforts and maintaining fiscal discipline.
He said
there is no water tax in Telangana, unlike any other state in India even as the
government is providing 24 hours of free “quality” power to farmers.
KCR said
the agricultural situation has improved in the state and if the same measures
are continued for another 10 to 15 years, farmers would come out of the woods.
Alleging
that the Congress is saying that KCR is wasting taxpayers’ money and giving
‘RythuBandhu’, an investment support to farmers, he said if the BRS is voted to
power again, not only the scheme will be continued but the amount under it
would be increased to Rs 16,000 gradually from the existing Rs 10,000 per
annum.
“Congress
leaders are saying carelessly that they would give power only for three hours.
They are also saying that the Dharani (an integrated land administration
portal) will be dumped in the Bay of Bengal,” he said, adding that the
Congress’s move may result in the resumption of the middlemen regime.
Requesting
the people to think and make a decision as to whom they should vote for, he
said the vote would change the future of the state for the next five years.
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://theprint.in/india/kcr-promises-special-it-park-for-muslim-youths-in-hyderabad-if-brs-voted-to-power/1856160/
-----
UP
Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act does not prohibit beef transport: HC
November
23, 2023
Prayagraj
: The Allahabad High Court has observed that the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of
Cow Slaughter Act does not prohibit transportation of beef.
The
above observation was made by Justice Pankaj Bhatia while allowing a criminal
revision filed by one Vaseem Ahmad, who had moved the court challenging an
order of the Fatehpur district magistrate, confiscating his motorcycle on the
allegation that it was used for transportation of beef.
In the
order, the district magistrate had said he had received a report from the
Fatehpur Superintendent of Police that the revisionist’s vehicle was implicated
in transporting beef and further recorded that since the revisionist failed to
provide convincing evidence contradicting the claim, the vehicle was liable to
be confiscated under the anti-cow slaughter law.
“The
restrictions on transportation in terms of the Act and the rules framed
thereunder are only applicable in respect of transportation of cow, bull or
bullock, that too in any place in Uttar Pradesh from any place outside the
state,” the court said on Monday after hearing the lawyers from both sides.
“In the
entire Act or the rules, there exists no provision barring transportation of
beef. The restriction placed under section 5A of the cow slaughter Act is only
in respect of transportation of cow, bull or bullock, that too only from a
place outside the state to any place within the state. There is no bar or
restriction on transportation of beef even from any place outside the state to
any place inside the state,” it observed.
“In the
present case, the alleged transportation of beef on a vehicle (motorcycle)
within two places in the state is neither prohibited nor even regulated and
thus, the foundation for confiscation on the charge of transportation in
violation of the provisions of this Act is prima facie not established,” the
court said.
“I have
no hesitation in holding that the power of confiscation has been exercised
without any authority of law and on a misreading of section 5A(7) of the cow
slaughter Act, and for the said reasons, the confiscation order cannot be
sustained and is liable to be quashed,” it added. ( With PTI inputs )
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/up-prevention-of-cow-slaughter-act-does-not-prohibit-beef-transport-hc/
-----
Kashmir
journalist Fahad Shah tastes freedom after 21 months in jail
November
24, 2023
Fahad
Shah, 33, founder-editor of The Kashmir Walla (TKW), was back home on Thursday
morning following his release from the KotBhalwal Jail-Jammu, six days after a
double-bench of J&K High Court granted him bail.
Mr. Shah
was arrested in February 2022 and stayed in jail for 21 months. He was
back-to-back booked in four different cases later. “It was a very tough phase.
Jail changes a lot in you. It will take time to get back to normal. I am happy
I was released. It has come as a relief for my family, friends, colleagues with
whom I have worked over these years,” Mr. Shah told The Hindu.
His
arrest in 2022 evoked sharp reactions from the media fraternity. At least 50
press freedom organisations, human rights groups and publications wrote to
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on February 14, 2022, and pressed for
his immediate release.
Arrested
for reportage
Mr. Shah
was first arrested for reportage published on his news portal about the Pulwama
encounter. Since then, Mr. Shah has faced three other cases pertaining to
reportage by his news magazine. In October last year, Mr. Shah and scholar
AalaFazili were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in a
“narrative terrorism” case for a write-up published in 2011. The police alleged
the write-up was aimed at “spreading terrorism and creating a false narrative”.
The
J&K High Court, in its order reserved on Friday last, came down heavily on
the administration. It quashed the charges levelled under Section 18 and
Section 15 of the UAPA. “There is no material to suggest that the article has
any content that provokes people to take to arms and resort to violence,” the
double-judge bench observed.
The
court also underlined that an arrest may be justifiable for the purpose of
investigation and unravelling the crime but “once the police have no further
need of the accused in the investigation and the accused is in judicial
custody, then the question arises if he ought to be enlarged on bail or be held
back as an under trial? This is where the dictum of bail and not jail comes
into play.”
This was
the fourth time Mr. Shah has secured bail since 2022 . He was also booked under
the Public Safety Act (PSA) but this was quashed by the court earlier this
year, saying “the detaining authority has used both the expressions “Public
Order” and “Security of the State” with a wavering mind.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kashmir-journalist-fahad-shah-tastes-freedom-after-21-months-in-jail/article67566939.ece
-----
Pakistan
President
Alvi now backs 2-state solution for Palestine
November
24, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Walking back the earlier stance he had adopted on the Palestine issue,
President Dr ArifAlvi on Thursday said that Pakistan firmly supports a just and
peaceful resolution of the Palestine issue, based on the two-state solution.
According
to an official press release issued by the Presidency, he expressed these views
during a meeting with Dr Saleh bin Abdullah Humaid, the Imam Khatib at Masjid
Al-Haram and adviser at Saudi Royal Courts of Saudi Arabia.
According
to the statement, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy,
was also present during the meeting held at Aiwan-i-Sadr.
Earlier
this month, the president had suggested “a one-state solution” to the Palestine
issue, which prompted a strong backlash from different forums, including the
Senate. It also compelled the interim government to respond immediately with
Pakistan’s firm stance on the two-state solution of Palestine.
On Nov
11, the Presidency had issued a statement quoting President Alvi suggesting a
“one state solution” to the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict during a
telephone conversation with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas, but
later sent a “revised” version of the press release with no mention of the
president’s suggestion.
Shehbaz
urges diplomacy, seeks ‘just and equitable’ fix for lasting peace in Middle
East
“If
two-state solution was not acceptable to Israel, then one-state solution is the
only way where Jews, Muslims and good percentage of Christians could live to
exercise equal political rights,” the earlier handout had quoted Dr Alvi as
telling the Palestinian president.
During
the meeting on Thursday, however, the president said the world must realise the
pain of the Palestinian people and play its role in ending Israeli atrocities
in Gaza.
The
meeting discussed the situation in Gaza, Islamophobia, and other challenges
faced by the Muslim world.
Welcoming
the Imam Khatib, the President said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed excellent
brotherly relations, based on common faith, shared history, and
people-to-people contacts.
Dr
Humaid stated that the Muslim world had unanimously adopted a stance on the
Palestine issue, advocating for Palestinians’ rights based on the two-state
solution. He emphasised the need for joint efforts by the Muslim world to end
violence and atrocities in Palestine, offering humanitarian and diplomatic
support.
The
president also highlighted the issue of Islamophobia, particularly in India,
and India’s atrocities against the people of held Jammu and Kashmir. He said
that India was changing the demography of held Kashmir and was involved in
ethnic cleansing of Muslims.
Shehbaz
Sharif urges peace
Separately,
former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the urgent need for lasting
and sustainable peace in the Middle East in a statement on Thursday.
He
emphasised concerted efforts for a permanent solution to the conflict,
asserting that only diplomatic solutions are sustainable for achieving lasting
peace.
Highlighting
the critical situation in Palestine, Mr Sharif affirmed that lasting peace
could only be realised through a just and equitable solution.
Reflecting
on the tumultuous past 48 days, which he described as nothing short of an armageddon,
Mr Sharif drew attention to the global impact of the ongoing crisis, urging a
heightened focus on critical humanitarian needs.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1792017/president-alvi-now-backs-2-state-solution-for-palestine
------
Jail
trial in cipher case ends: Imran to be produced in special court on 29th
November
24, 2023
Khalid
Iqbal
ISLAMABAD:
The Official Secrets Act Special Court Thursday summoned the PTI chief Imran
Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.
Judge
AbualHasnatZulqarnain has directed the authorities concerned to present Imran
and Qureshi in the court at the Federal Judicial Complex on November 28.
The
judge passed the orders in the first hearing of the case held outside the
Adiala Jail after the Islamabad High Court nullified the August 29 notification
for a jail trial.
Qureshi’s
counsel Ali Bukhari and Khalid Yousaf appeared before the court.
The
judge sought a copy of the Islamabad High Court’s decision in the cipher case
and remarked that the trial would now proceed from the position that prevailed
before August 29. The judge has been conducting the trial in jail citing
security concerns since Khan was indicted last month. The PTI chairman is
currently in jail after his indictment by the special court on October 23.
The
judge also told Qureshi’s lawyer Ali Bukhari that the IHC verdict was a big
victory for his client.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1132003-jail-trial-in-cipher-case-ends-imran-to-be-produced-in-special-court-on-29th
-------
NAB
allowed four more days to grill Imran
Qaiser
Shirazi
November
24, 2023
RAWALPINDI:An
accountability court of Islamabad granted four more days to the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday to interrogate Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the £190 million Al-Qadir University reference.
Accountability
Court Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the case inside the Adiala Jail, where Imran
is currently incarcerated. During the hearing, the PTI chairman was present in
the courtroom. His three sisters also attended the proceedings.
The
judge ordered that NAB would investigate the accused inside the jail and that
the PTI chairman would not be shifted to anywhere else. He also directed the
NAB investigation team and the prosecution to complete the investigation by the
next date of hearing on November 27.
So far,
the court had given a total of 15 days to NAB to investigate Imran. The court
was informed that the name of Farah Gogi had also appeared in the reference.
Imran’s lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, later told reporters outside the jail that
NAB presented a 30-point document, which it wanted to investigate.
Meanwhile,
the Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abul HasnatZulqarnain adjourned the hearing of
three cases of the PTI chairman and two cases of PTI Vice Chiarman Shah Mehmood
Qureshi till November 28 because of the non-availability of the investigating
officer.
During
the hearing, the prosecutor sought time for presenting his arguments. PTI
lawyers Khalid Yusuf Chaudhry told the court that an order was issued on the
previous hearing that the state would present arguments on Thursday.
Read
more NAB to interrogate Imran in £190 million settlement case at Adiala jail
Qureshi's
lawyer Ali Bukhari said that his client was suffering because of the delay by
the prosecution. He added that two bail applications of Qureshi were pending.
The judge said that he would see to the matter and adjourned the hearing on the
bail applications of Imran and Qureshi till November 28.
Also,
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri disposed of a plea
moved by Imran's wife Bushra Bibi for provision of details of the cases
registered against her and to prevent her arrest, after it was withdrawn.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2447846/nab-allowed-four-more-days-to-grill-imran
------
JI will
hold Gaza bike rally on 26th
2023-11-24
KARACHI:
Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday announced to take out a bike rally to show support
to the underdog Palestinians in the continuing Israeli war on Gaza, questioning
the PML-N and PPP suspicious silence against the Zionist state.
"The
JI will take out Gaza bike rally on November 26," JI Karachi Chief, Hafiz
Naeemur Rehman told a news conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, saying that the
rally will start from Mazaar-e-Quaid to Teen Talwar, Clifton.
Warning
the interim government, he said that "do not impose anyone on the people
of Karachi, let the people decide instead" in polls, but appealed to it to
ensure a fair and legal election.
The PPP
and MQM, he termed as the "two-sides" of the same coin in evolving
anti-people of Karachi policies, saying that both parties have ruined the city
over the past three decades.
"The
recent alliance of the MQM and PML-N is also against Karachi and its
people," Hafiz Naeem alleged that the PPP and PML-N are silently
supporting Israel in its war on Gaza.
He asked
the country's power corridors to stop its manipulation in election and let the
nation see democracy to sprout. He said that the people of Karachi have already
rejected the aides of K-Electric and other mafias.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274851/ji-will-hold-gaza-bike-rally-on-26th
-------
South Asia
‘Afghans
in Pakistan wanted to escape Taliban rule but we shattered their hopes’
November
24, 2023
Seeing
no end to insurgency in their own country, Afghan immigrants living in Pakistan
for the past many years were hoping that they would become Pakistani nationals
one day, however their dreams shattered as the current caretaker government
suddenly decided to send them back to Afghanistan.
Journalist
Zia Ur Rehman made this remark during a talk at the Institute of Business
Administration (IBA) on Thursday. Rehman along with economist Uzair Younus and
lawyer Abira Ashfaq was on a panel for a discussion titled ‘No country to call
home: Behind Pakistan’s expulsion of Afghan refugees’ moderated by IBA lecturer
Yumna Fatima.
The
journalist shared the story of an Afghan immigrant man who went to buy vegetables
but was stopped by police in the market for checking his identity document,
which he did not carry, and was consequently forced to sit in a bus and sent
along with other persons caught in a similar manner to the Chaman border for
deportation to Afghanistan.
“The man
did not have any money and he contacted his family from Chaman and told them
about the incident,” Rehman said, adding that in many Afghan immigrant families
living in the country, some members are documented and some are undocumented,
and the government’s repatriation drive have been dividing many such families.
Besides
immigrants, he added, there was another category of Afghan people, including
former law enforcement and security personnel and journalists who arrived in
Pakistan a couple of years ago on visas to escape persecution at the hands of
Taliban, but now their visas were not being extended.
He said
that stereotyping against Afghan immigrants had been taking place for long now
and because of this, divisions were formed even in the civil society on the
issue.
The
journalist said the authorities had warned landlords in many parts of the
country not to rent out their places to Afghan immigrants or else they would
face legal action.
Abira
was of the view that a narrative had been built to scapegoat Afghan immigrants
for the failure of the authorities to curb crime and maintain governance. She
called the ongoing repatriation drive an imperialist adventure.
She
added that many Sindhi and Baloch nationalists were divided on this issue, with
some supporting the government’s deportation move while others opposing it.
She said
that instead of talking about the mining for petroleum and minerals happening
in parts of Sindh and Balochistan causing harm to the environment and
indigenous people, people had been indoctrinated through mass media to accept
the state’s narrative. She advised the audience to look at things from a
decolonisation lens.
She said
that Afghan immigrants were not allowed to go to public educational
institutions, but they could opt for private ones if they could afford them.
She remarked that this reeked of an institutional discrimination and a ‘racial
apartheid’ against Afghan immigrants, even though they did contribute to the
country’s economy through taxes.
The
lawyer said Pakistan’s immigration law had problems that led to structural
discrimination. She maintained that there was currently no law that could
protect Afghan immigrants from deportation, even those who were born in the country
and lived here for generations.
She
asked the young audience to resist such moves, or else morality in society may
die forever.
Younus
said that Afghan immigrants were being punished because a superpower, from
which he apparently meant the US, was a bit salty over what happened to it in
Afghanistan in the past 20 years. He said that Afghans were out of their
country because they did not want to live under the Taliban rule, and now
unfortunately were being forced towards it.
He said
the Taliban government in Afghanistan was running a budget deficit of USD8
billion annually with no access to international support. He opined that they
would rely on drug trade and taxation on trade at border. He feared that they
may also react aggressively through the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan against
Pakistan to maintain coherence in their society.
The
economist said that anecdotal data suggested that Afghan immigrants worked in
labour-intensive fields in Pakistan, with investments in local business. He
added that when you expropriate business, it affected the economy negatively.
He
lamented tjat although Afghan immigrants contributed positively to the economy,
a polling data showed deportation drive as a popular policy choice. He said
that even in a half-decent democracy, this repatriation policy would have been
discussed in Parliament before being implemented.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1131946-afghans-in-pakistan-wanted-to-escape-taliban-rule-but-we-shattered-their-hopes
------
CSTO
member states assess Afghanistan’s situation
Fidel
Rahmati
November
24, 2023
The
situation in the region and Afghanistan was discussed in a joint meeting of the
Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers, and the
Secretariat of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Furthermore,
on Thursday, the heads of state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
gathered in Minsk to discuss current international and regional security
issues.
According
to the TASS news agency, in a meeting held in Minsk, the Collective Security
Treaty Organization emphasized strengthening foreign policy, improving crisis
response mechanisms, and expanding cooperation with other international and
regional organizations.
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia also mentioned that several documents
were signed during this meeting to enhance cooperation among member countries
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Tass reported.
The participants
also discussed countering terrorist threats and drug trafficking.
The
Collective Security Treaty Organization had previously announced that terrorist
groups are actively present in Afghanistan, and drug trafficking from this
country continues.
The
heads of state of Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the
Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization participated
in this meeting.
Before
this meeting, Vladimir Putin and Imamali Rahman, the Presidents of Russia and
Tajikistan, discussed Afghanistan and regional security in Moscow.Top of Form
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/csto-member-states-assess-afghanistans-situation/
------
Pakistan
urges Taliban to act swiftly against TTP in Afghanistan
Fidel
Rahmati
November
24, 2023
The
Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Afghan Taliban on Thursday
to take immediate action against the Tehrek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members operating
in Afghan territory.
Mumtaz
Balouch, the spokesperson for the ministry, stated that the Afghan Taliban
ignored the activities and sanctuaries of the TTP in Afghanistan.
She,
like other officials of the country, mentioned that Pakistani militants launched
attacks against Pakistani forces from within Afghanistan.
Previously,
in response to similar statements from Pakistani officials, the Taliban
emphasized that they would prevent the actions of militant groups against
Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries.
However,
the Taliban has reiterated that they will not allow any individual or group to
use Afghanistan soil against neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.
The
Prime Minister of Pakistan has stated that with the rise of the Taliban to
power, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have increased by 60 per cent.
The
spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a
press conference in Islamabad that the Taliban should evacuate the sanctuaries
of the Tehrek-i-Taliban Pakistan from within Afghanistan.
He added
that the Pakistani government is currently negotiating with the Taliban
government on security issues.
Meanwhile,
Pakistani authorities initiated the forced deportation of Afghan refugees
starting from November 1. They assert that the presence of these refugees has
hurt the country’s security situation.
This
move has raised concerns about the well-being of the displaced Afghan
population and the broader implications for regional stability.
The
forced deportation of Afghan refugees is a significant development that not
only affects the individuals and families being uprooted but also has wider
implications for the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as
the overall stability of the region. It remains to be seen how this policy
decision will be received internationally and how it will influence the already
complex dynamics in the region.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-urges-taliban-to-act-swiftly-against-ttp-in-afghanistan/
-----
EU
provides € 10 million in aid to healthcare sector in Afghanistan
Fidel
Rahmati
November
24, 2023
The
European Union has provided €10 million to Afghanistan through the World Health
Organization to combat infectious diseases and strengthen healthcare services.
The
World Health Organization has stated that this latest budget aims to improve
preparedness for disease outbreaks and healthcare in all 34 provinces of
Afghanistan.
The
organization has mentioned that more than two million people are expected to
benefit from these contributions.
Rafaella
Iodice, the acting head of the European Union delegation in Afghanistan, said,
“The European Union is deeply committed to protecting Afghans against disease outbreaks
and other health and nutrition emergencies.” The organization also added that
the European Union has supported more robust and flexible healthcare in
Afghanistan.
Meanwhile,
Luo Dapeng, the representative of the World Health Organization in Afghanistan,
expressed appreciation for the European Union’s support, stating that this
financial assistance will significantly contribute to reducing infectious
diseases among the Afghan people.
The
European Union has previously provided assistance to Afghanistan in various
sectors, including a recent contribution of €61 million in November for support
in nutrition, shelter, protection, and other areas for the people of
Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/eu-provides-e-10-million-in-aid-to-healthcare-sector-in-afghanistan/
------
Meeting
of Islamic Emirate’s oppositions, Foreign Diplomats Held in Moscow
November
23, 2023
Naveed
Samadi
A
meeting under the title of “Afghanistan in the past and future” with the
participation of Islamic Emirate opponents and envoys of various countries was
held on Thursday in Moscow.
The
participants included former officials of the Afghan government and some other
Afghan elites—who oppose the Islamic Emirate’s government, and envoys from
Iran, Russia and some other countries.
They
discussed the formation of an inclusive government, the situation of women, and
the UN activities in Afghanistan.
“I
emphasize that I am not taking sides with any power and military element. We
want an Afghanistan with national consensus and stability with having the
friendship policy towards the neighbors, region and world and have no enmity
with anyone,” said Ahmad Masoud, leader of the so called Resistance Front.
The envoy
of Iran talked about the Islamic Emirate’s fight against Daesh and other groups
in Afghanistan.
“The
Taliban’s fighting against the terrorist groups of Daesh Khorasan and the
security cooperation between Afghanistan and the neighbors regarding fighting
Daesh has been very valuable, as a result, some leaders of this group have been
eliminated,” said an envoy from Iran in the meeting.
“Any
meeting regarding the situation of Afghanistan could be beneficial. If we want
Afghanistan's issue to be solved completely, the Doha agreement could be a
framework for it under the monitoring of the UN,” said Sayed Muqdam Ameen,
political analyst.
The
Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that Kabul was not invited
to the meeting, stressing that such meetings will not benefit Afghanistan.
He also
urged the neighboring countries to not “create sedition among Afghans.”
“Some of
the countries unfortunately want to revive the burned-out circles and create
sedition. This is not a good step, we have made our objection to Russia. They
should not interfere in other country’s affairs,” he said.
The
meeting was held for one-day by a Russian justice institute.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186168
-----
UNHCR
Urges Pakistan to Stop Deporting Afghan Refugees
November
23, 2023
The UN
High Commissioner for Refugees called on Pakistan to stop the deportation of
Afghan refugees, saying they face harsh winter conditions and an existing
humanitarian crisis.
"UNHCR
is calling upon the government of Pakistan to halt these mass numbers of
returns during this harsh season of winter because the cold in Afghanistan is
really deadly and it can take lives," the agency's regional spokesman,
Babar Baloch, said as quoted by Reuters TV in an interview.
Meanwhile,
Leila Jane Nasif, Senior Protection Cluster Advisor, in a video said that
Afghanistan faces many serious protection challenges.
“A huge
influx of Afghans forced them to leave Pakistan in recent weeks. These
emergencies come as winter arrives which can be especially harsh in
Afghanistan,” she said.
Meanwhile,
the Minister for Information and Public Relations of the government of
Balochistan, Pakistan, Jan Achakzai, spoke of the deportation of Afghan
refugees, saying that all police have been instructed to arrest illegal
refugees and deport them to their countries.
“All
government departments are involved in this action. All departments,
particularly the police, have been instructed to send back the illegal refugees
to their countries after they were arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile,
the Afghans who were deported from Pakistan, said that they are facing an
uncertain future.
“We came
back with nothing but bare feet. Everyone [refugee] was destroyed,” said
Marriam, a deportee.
“We were
forced to return in a bid to save our dignity,” said Jamiat Khan, a deportee.
Earlier,
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that the number
of returnees from Pakistan has dramatically increased from 200 daily to 17,000,
and he urged the international community to increase its support for Afghans.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186174
------
US
interfered in Bangladesh’s internal affairs
Nov 24,
2023
Russian
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused US Ambassador to
Bangladesh Peter Haas of grossly interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs.
"At
the end of October, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met a member of the
local opposition to discuss plans for organising anti-government rallies. Such
actions amount to nothing less than gross interference in internal
affairs," she said in a briefing in Moscow.
Russian
Embassy in Dhaka posted Zakharova's statement on its verified Facebook page on
Wednesday.
"We
have repeatedly highlighted the attempts by the US and its allies to influence
the internal political processes in Bangladesh under the guise of ensuring that
the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country are 'transparent and
inclusive'," Zakharova said.
The
statement comes when the BNP and Jamaat are enforcing strikes and blockades
across the country after the October 28 BNP rally that was mired with clashes.
The US
has been calling for holding free, fair, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.
Haas met different political leaders and ministers in recent times.
On
November 13, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald
Lu sent letters to three political parties -- the Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya
Party -- urging them to engage in dialogue without conditions amid escalating
political tensions.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/russia-accuses-us-interfering-bangladeshs-affairs-3477391
------
Europe
Police
investigating claims of antisemitic hate speech in UK mosques
November
24, 2023
Police
are investigating allegations of antisemitic hate speech by preachers at
mosques across England.
It comes
after TalkTV reported that leaked footage showed preachers calling for Jews to
be killed and Israel to be destroyed during sermons at mosques in London,
Birmingham, Liverpool, and Northampton.
Alleged
footage from a sermon at the Redbridge Islamic Centre in Ilford, east London,
shows one speaker praying with his congregation in Arabic to “curse the Jews
and the children of Israel” and to “tear apart their (Jewish) community and ruin
their houses”, TalkTV reported.
Another
clip reportedly from a Liverpool mosque shows a preacher telling his audience
to “march on Israel” and to kill Jews “indiscriminately”.
West
Midlands Police, the Met Police and Northamptonshire Police told the PA news
agency they were investigating the allegations.
Merseyside
Police has been approached for comment on the incident in Liverpool.
Referring
to the incident at Redbridge Islamic Centre, a spokesperson for the Met said:
“Officers have carried out a number of inquiries since being made aware of this
video and officers from the East Area Command are investigating.”
Regarding
footage in Northampton, a spokesperson for the regional police force said they
took the allegations “very seriously” and were investigating to establish
whether criminal offences had been committed.
Source: jewishnews.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/police-investigating-claims-of-antisemitic-hate-speech-in-uk-mosques/
------
'Curse
the Jews': Antisemitic preaching plagues UK mosques - TalkTV report
NOVEMBER
23, 2023
An
investigation by TalkTV has found that multiple mosques across the United
Kingdom have engaged in antisemitic hate preaching since October 7, when war
broke out following Hamas terrorists invading Israel and massacring 1200
people.
The
police have been informed of the separate preachings, many of which involved
the calling for the murder of Jews.
In one
mosque, located in London’s Redbridge Islamic Center, a preacher can be heard
saying “Oh Allah, curse the Jews and the children of Israel. Oh Allah, curse
the infidels and the polytheists. Oh All, break their words, shake their feet,
disperse and tear apart their unity and ruin their houses and destroy their
homes.”
Redbridge
Islamic Centre declined to comment to TalkTV but had previously promised it
would launch an investigation and has also publicly stated they have decided
that the Imam responsible for the above preaching will not be allowed to
address worshippers there again.
In
another mosque, located in Liverpool, a preacher said in English that “If the 3
billion just marched on Israel, it’s all over. These flatten the direction of
Israel, 2 billion it’s all over.”
In a
Birmingham-based mosque, another preacher was recorded saying that “the stones
will speak and say “oh Muslim, behind me there is a Yehuda [Jew], come and kill
him.”
Many of
the preachers were also recorded praying for Hamas, a registered terrorist
organization in the UK under the Terrorism Act. Support for Hamas can lead to a
14-year prison sentence and a substantial fine of up to £5000.
“Oh God,
heal our hearts regarding the usurping Jews and in every enemy of you and the
Muslims,” TalkTV recorded a preacher proclaiming. “Oh God, limit their number.
Kill them indiscriminately and do not leave any of them alive. Oh God, our
lord, disperse them. Weaken their strength, shake the ground beneath their
feet, and freeze the blood in their veins. Make them captive to the Muslims.”
One of
the hate preachings was recorded at Finsbury Park Mosque, which has since been
shut down following a previous location. Despite the hateful preachings, Jeremy
Corbyn had commended the mosque and described it as a “place of peace.”
In
response to TalkTV, Superintendent Sally De Haann from the Metropolitan Police
said “We absolutely understand that this footage has raised concerns in our
local community. It has been assessed by specialists and we have also taken
advice from CPS lawyers and hate crime experts, and no criminal offenses have
been identified.”
Police
from other localities have said that they are still investigating the
incidents, as is the Charity Commission’s office as many of the mosques have
‘charity’ status which would entitle them to government grants.
Gary
Mond, Chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, told the Jerusalem Post
"The issue of Islamist hate speech directed at the UK Jewish community has
been going on for years. Until this investigation, it has largely been ignored.
Even major Jewish groups in the UK do not wish to bring this to light for fear
of it upsetting Muslim friends and interfaith projects. I believe that the
British government must take this issue with the utmost seriousness.
"Mosques
that host hate preachers should be closed and the preachers themselves should
be arrested and charged. Yet the situation is probably considerably worse.
While it is gratifying that Talk TV has conducted this work, nevertheless it
relates to only a handful of mosques. What is going on in hundreds of other
mosques in the UK unvisited by TalkTV? "
Addressing
Haan's comments, Mond said "First[ly], "concerns" is far too
weak a word. Terror is much more appropriate. Second[ly], if the lawyers and
the CPS are correct, then the law needs to be changed so that this type of
oratory is made illegal. If on the other hand, they are wrong and such speech
is already criminal, then there needs to be an investigation."
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-774829
-----
Halal
Expo London 2023 set to unveil lucrative opportunities in sector
November
24, 2023
LONDON:
Halal Expo London is set to take center stage once again in the UK capital,
promising to be “bigger, better, and more compelling than ever before,”
organizers have announced.
They
said in a statement: “Building on the successes of Halal Expo London 2022 and
Halal Expo Manchester 2023, this event is poised to be a pivotal moment for the
halal trade industry.”
The
three-day event, between Dec. 1-3, takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
in London.
The
statement added: “Recognized as the UK’s #1 international leading trade and
business exhibition, Halal Expo London 2023 is supported by the UK Department
for Business and Trade.”
In
partnership with the Halal Products Development Company — a wholly owned
subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund — the event is
strategically designed to bring together halal and non-Muslim suppliers,
buyers, manufacturers, consumers, and professionals, fostering a collaborative
environment for trade, investment, and networking.
Rajesh
Agrawal, the deputy mayor of London for Business, spoke of his enthusiasm for
the event, saying: “With London being the capital hub for rich cultural
experiences and diverse events, I am pleased to be welcoming Halal Expo to
London in December, and celebrate the principles of halal living.”
The
event will showcase products and services within the halal industry, and will
also introduce The Knowledge Hub — an integral component featuring a series of
seminars and podcasts.
Organizers
said: “The Knowledge Hub will delve into current and controversial topics,
including Islamophobia, spirituality of business, Muslim dating, and much more.
Industry experts, globally recognized speakers, well-known artists,
influencers, and ambassadors will contribute to these engaging discussions.”
Zara
Mohammed, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “Halal
Expo London showcases the best of the halal industry, providing a platform for
Muslims and non-Muslims to not only showcase their products but also to share
their areas of expertise at The Knowledge Hub, with educational seminars and
podcasts.”
The
halal industry is experiencing a boom, from consumerism to food production. It
is growing rapidly with the rise in the global Muslim population, which now
stands at 1.8 billion.
The
statement added: “With countries focusing on the halal industry, businesses and
companies are keen to invest in halal-related products to stay relevant in the
current economic climate.
“Halal
Expo London 2023 is positioned as a key player in promoting the halal economy
on an international scale, fostering connections and providing a platform for
industry players to thrive.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414271/world
-----
Spanish
PM 'whitewashing war criminal Netanyahu,' outspoken ex-minister says
24
November 2023
A former
Spanish minister, who has been openly censuring the West's silence over the
Israeli regime's genocidal war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,
persists with her outspoken criticism.
Ione
Belarra was Spain's minister for social rights until she was removed from her
post by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday over her targeting of the
"deafening silence" of her country and the regime's other Western
allies on Tel Aviv's ferocious ongoing warfare against Gaza.
Spanish
cabinet minister removed after criticizing West
Belarra,
currently secretary-general of Spain's ruling left-wing Podemos Party, fired
her latest jab at Madrid on Thursday.
Posting
on X, former Twitter, she said she and her colleagues were
"concerned" that a trip made by Sánchez’s to the occupied territories
earlier in the day "could be used to whitewash [Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin] Netanyahu, who is a war criminal."
Sánchez
should be instead traveling to Brussels, where decisions were made that could
"truly exert pressure on Israel and Netanyahu to achieve a permanent
ceasefire."
The
Israeli regime launched the war on October 7 following an operation, dubbed
al-Aqsa Storm, by Gaza's resistance groups.
More
than 14,800 Palestinians, including over 6,150 children, have been killed in
the war so far.
Israel
has been targeting hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza in defiance of
international condemnations.
Belarra
said, "In Brussels, exemplary economic sanctions against Netanyahu and his
political leadership could be agreed upon..."
Sánchez
should be working with European leaders in Brussels towards suspension of
diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv, she added.
"From
our point of view, people are exhausted, tired of the EU (European Union)'s
doing absolutely nothing while a genocide against the people of Palestine is
taking place, and we need concrete actions."
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/24/715164/Spain-Belarra-Israel-war-Gaza
-----
Putin
provides update on multinational anti-terrorism op
23 Nov,
2023
The
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is continuing its operation
‘Mercenary,’ aimed at disrupting the flow of new recruits into international
terrorist groups, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
The
president made the remarks on Thursday as he attended the CSTO summit in the
Belarusian capital Minsk. The organization has been focused on measures to
“combat extremism, transnational crime, illegal migration and drug
trafficking,” as well as on clamping down on the activities of various
extremist groups, Putin noted.
“Cooperation
between intelligence services and law enforcement agencies has been
consistently strengthening. In particular, the CSTO operation ‘Mercenary’
continues, aimed at clamping down on recruitment and shutting the exit routes
for citizens of our countries [attempting] to participate in the activities of
international terrorist groups,” he stated without naming any particular
terrorist organizations.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/587882-putin-csto-antiterrorism-operation/
-----
Mideast
Truce
officially starts in Gaza after seven weeks of Israeli aggression
24
November 2023
A
four-day truce has taken effect in the besieged Gaza Strip after seven weeks of
massacres committed by the Israeli regime against Palestinians.
The
truce, negotiated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, took effect at 7:00
am (0500 GMT) on Friday, while Palestinians, who were sheltering for weeks at
UNRWA schools and hospitals in southern Gaza, began leaving to go to their
homes and check what has been left of them.
The
truce agreement stipulates the release of Israeli criminals held in Gaza in
exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The prisoner swap will take place later in
the day. The ceasefire took effect after a night of intense Israeli
bombardment.
Aid
trucks are supposed to enter Gaza in these four days, according to Al Jazeera.
Hamas
says it has frustrated the Israeli enemy
Israel
launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas launched the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to Tel Aviv's
decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.
Tel Aviv
has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal
strip into a humanitarian crisis.
The
Government Media Office in Gaza said on Thursday that at least 14,854
Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, have been
killed and over 36,000 others injured in the Israeli strikes.
Some 207
health workers and 65 Palestinians were among those killed. That’s while 7,000
Palestinians are still missing.
According
to the report, 60 percent of homes in Gaza have either been destroyed or
damaged due to the aggression.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/24/715174/Temporary-truce-officially-starts--Gaza
-----
Lebanon
border calm as Israel-Hamas truce takes effect
November
24, 2023
BEIRUT:
Calm returned to Lebanon’s southern border Friday as a temporary truce took
effect in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to state media,
residents and an AFP journalist.
Since
the Gaza war erupted on October 7, Lebanon’s southern border with Israel has
witnessed deadly exchanges of fire, primarily involving the Israeli army and
Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, as well as Palestinian militant groups.
Hezbollah
has yet to say whether it will comply with the terms of the agreement that was
brokered by Qatar with help from Egypt and the United States.
“A
precarious calm reigned on the southern border, with the humanitarian truce in
Gaza coming into effect at 7:00 in the morning (0500 GMT),” Lebanon’s official
National News Agency reported.
The
four-day truce in the Gaza Strip will see Hamas exchange 50 hostages seized
from Israel during the October 7 attacks for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in
Israeli jails.
An AFP
journalist in the Marjayoun border region said he had heard exchanges of fire
10 minutes prior to the truce, before the guns fell silent.
A
resident in the Alma Al-Shaab border region also said the situation was calm
and that he could no longer hear Israeli planes or reconnaissance drones flying
overhead.
On the
eve of the truce, Hezbollah had intensified its cross-border attacks on the
Israeli army, which in response pounded southern Lebanon.
On
Friday, the powerful Iran-backed Shiite group claimed responsibility for 22
attacks on Israeli positions from southern Lebanon, where it lost seven of its
fighters during the day.
Hezbollah
says it has been acting in support of Hamas since the Palestinian Islamist
movement’s October 7 attacks on Israel, which Israeli officials say killed
1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw about 240 people taken hostage.
Israel
has vowed to destroy Hamas and its retaliatory air and ground offensive in the
Gaza Strip has killed nearly 15,000 people, thousands of them children,
according to the Hamas government of the Palestinian territory.
The
cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have claimed 109 lives in
Lebanon, at least 77 of them Hezbollah fighters and 14 civilians, according to
an AFP count.
Among
those killed were three journalists, the son of the head of Hezbollah’s
parliamentary bloc and an official from Hamas’s military wing in Lebanon.
On the
Israeli side, six soldiers and three civilians have been killed, according to
the Israeli authorities.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414411/middle-east
------
Uprooted
Palestinians move to check on homes in Gaza as humanitarian pause begins
Mustafa
Habboush
24.11.2023
Thousands
of Palestinians displaced by weeks of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip began
returning to their homes to check on property and look for family members as a
humanitarian pause commenced early on Friday.
According
to an Anadolu reporter, many left the schools where they had sought refuge from
the Israeli strikes, which have pummeled the besieged enclave since early
October, only coming to a halt at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT) as the four-day
pause began.
Over the
past several weeks marked by conflict, many Palestinians in the densely
populated Gaza strip lost contact with family members due to successive
communications blackouts and difficulties in movement.
Palestinians
in the northern part of the strip, including Gaza city, moved to check on their
homes as well, but will not be able to return to their dwellings under the
humanitarian pause agreement, which also includes a hostage swap and aid
deliveries to the enclave.
Hundreds
of thousands fled southward from intense Israeli strikes and a ground operation
into the northern Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.
On
Friday, the Israeli army also dropped leaflets in the southern part of the Gaza
Strip, warning Palestinians from moving to the north as it remains a war zone.
The
four-day humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Hamas came into effect
on Friday morning in all areas of the Gaza Strip, temporarily stopping attacks
for prisoner exchange and aid.
The
pause commenced at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT).
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/uprooted-palestinians-move-to-check-on-homes-in-gaza-as-humanitarian-pause-begins/3063404
-----
Israel-Hamas
war: This is the first meal the Israeli hostages will eat once freed
Nov 24,
2023
NEW
DELHI: The ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is
scheduled to commence on Friday, marking the first significant break in a
seven-week war that has resulted in numerous casualties.
This
truce comes after extended negotiations and delays. It aims to halt the
violence that erupted following Hamas's incursions into Israel on October 7.
Under
the terms of the ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, a first batch of 13 hostages
currently held in Gaza will be released. Additionally, an unspecified number of
Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli detention.
As
Israeli hospitals gear up to receive hostages released by Hamas in the recent
ceasefire agreement, the Israeli health ministry has issued specific guidelines
to address malnutrition among these individuals, as reported by various
sources.
According
to a report in the New York Post, the guidelines focus on managing
"refeeding syndrome in returning captives," a potentially fatal
condition for those who haven't eaten adequately for extended periods and then
suddenly resume a normal diet, as described by the Israeli news outlet Ynet.
The
guide outlines the dangers of prolonged malnutrition, saying, “Prolonged
malnutrition may lead to significant nutritional deficiencies that can
adversely affect health and even pose a life-threatening risk.” It provides
detailed dietary recommendations based on age groups.
For
children aged one to three, the guide recommends water, a sweet biscuit,
unsweetened applesauce, and tea with a teaspoon of sugar. Adolescents and
adults should receive water, a hot drink with a tablespoon of sugar, three
sweet biscuits, and unsweetened applesauce.
The
National Institutes of Health explains that refeeding syndrome results from
abrupt changes in fluid, electrolyte, and metabolic intake. Individuals who
haven't received proper nutrition for about ten days are at risk.
The
condition of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas during their October 7 surprise
attack remains uncertain. It's believed that most were held in Gaza's extensive
underground tunnel network during their 54-day captivity.
Children
will be taken to the Schneider Children’s Medical Center, while adults will go
to Wolfson, Ichilov, Soroka, and Sheba hospitals, as per Ynet.
Professor
Hagai Levin, leading a medical team for the hostages' families, emphasized the
need for careful refeeding. He advised, “[It’s] necessary to maintain a calm
approach and not rush to fix everything at once but rather gradually over time
and in a proper manner.” Levin also highlighted the importance of gradual
physical activity and mental health care, noting that some conditions, like
dental care, might not be fully addressed in hospitals.
(With
inputs from agencies)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-war-this-is-the-first-meal-the-israeli-hostages-will-eat-once-freed/articleshow/105461377.cms
------
Israeli
army continues West Bank raids as Gaza humanitarian pause starts
Ahmed
Asmar
24.11.2023
The
Israeli army on Friday continued its military raids and arrest campaigns across
the occupied West Bank as the humanitarian pause in Gaza started early morning
to halt fighting in the besieged enclave temporarily.
According
to an Anadolu reporter in the field, the Israeli army raided several cities and
towns in the West Bank and arrested several Palestinians.
Meanwhile,
Palestinian medical sources told Anadolu that at least a Palestinian was
injured during an Israeli raid into the Old City area of Nablus city.
Eyewitnesses
told Anadolu also that Israeli forces detained two Palestinians in a raid to
Nablus.
The
Israeli forces burned two Palestinian cars before their withdrawal from the
city.
Tensions
have been running high across the West Bank since the fighting broke out
between Palestinian groups and Israel in Gaza on Oct. 7.
The
four-day humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Hamas came into effect
on Friday morning in all areas of the Gaza Strip, temporarily stopping attacks
for prisoner exchange and aid.
The
pause commenced at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT).
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-continues-west-bank-raids-as-gaza-humanitarian-pause-starts/3063325
-----
Over
5,000 Children Killed In Gaza War So Far, Says Hamas: Report
November
24, 2023
Gaza
Border: The death number in Gaza from the Israeli offensive since October 7 has
risen to 14,854, with 5,850 children among the casualties, CNN reported, citing
Hamas authorities in the Strip.
Obtaining
current figures has become a challenging task due to Israel's ongoing air and
ground campaign, CNN reported, adding that the Palestinian Health Ministry in
Ramallah, on Monday, reported 12,700 casualties, drawing data from sources in
the Gaza Strip.
Recent
health updates indicate communication disruptions in Gaza, hindering accurate
data collection, the report noted.
The
chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Martin
Griffiths, stood by the casualty figures they quoted, adding that they rely on
data from Gaza.
"We
don't put these figures out without thought," CNN reported Griffiths as
saying.
Meanwhile,
before the multi-day truce takes hold starting Friday, Israeli ground forces
intensified shelling in northern Gaza.
The
pause, set to begin at 7 am (local time), includes the release of the first
group of 13 hostages held by Hamas since October 7.
As part
of the four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, civilian hostages are to
be released on Friday afternoon in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, Qatar
announced on Thursday, according to CNN.
According
to Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, the ceasefire
will begin at 7 am (local time) while 13 women and child captives are to be
released at 4 pm.
According
to Al-Ansari, the list of captives scheduled to be freed has been sent to the
Israeli intelligence service, Mossad.
The
Qatari spokesperson stated that Mossad will provide the Qataris with a list of
Palestinian inmates who are likely to be released. "Whenever we have both
lists confirmed, this is when we can begin with the process of getting people
out," the official went on to say, according to CNN.
The
prisoners will be transferred from two jails, Damon and Megiddo, both southeast
of Haifa, to the Ofer prison, south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, for
final Red Cross examinations, according to the report.
Earlier,
on Wednesday, an Israeli official told CNN that the truce would begin at 10 am
local time on Thursday, followed by the release of at least 50 women and
children among the more than 230 people being held prisoner in Gaza.
However,
those preparations were postponed late Wednesday, just hours before the
cease-fire was supposed to begin.
"Nothing
is finalised until it's actually happening. And even amid the process, changes
might occur at any moment," Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson
Daniel Hagari said in his daily press briefing on Thursday.
According
to CNN, Hagari said the Israeli army continues to fight in the Gaza Strip
"at this hour," pointing out that once the pause goes into effect,
the soldiers of the Israeli Defence Forces will be stationed along the
"truce lines" established inside the territory.
The
conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attacks by Hamas. About 2,500
terrorists breached Israel's southern border from the Gaza Strip, killing
civilians and sneaking back into their territory with hostages.
Hamas
terrorists are believed to have taken 240 hostages during the assault after
they surged across Gaza's militarised border into southern Israel, leaving
1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead, The Times of Israel reported.
Among
the hostages were civilians of all ages, including young children and the
elderly, as well as Thai and Nepal nationals, according to reports.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/israel-gaza-hamas-palestine-over-5-000-children-killed-in-gaza-war-so-far-says-hamas-report-4601900
------
Iran’s
top diplomat meets Hezbollah chief in Lebanon
November
24, 2023
BEIRUT:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has met with Hassan Nasrallah,
the leader of Hezbollah, the Lebanese movement said on Thursday.
In a
statement, Hezbollah said Amir-Abdollahian and Nasrallah “reviewed the latest
developments in Palestine, Lebanon and the region, and… the efforts made to end
the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip”.
Amir-Abdollahian,
who warned on Wednesday that the crisis could spiral out of control, left
Beirut for Doha after their meeting, Iran’s Nour news agency reported.
Hezbollah
said on Thursday morning that it fired 48 Katyusha rockets at a military base
at Ein Zeitim, near the town of Safed in northern Israel, about 10 kilometres
from the border.
It said
it also carried out at least 10 other attacks on Israeli positions near the
frontier, and claimed to have caused casualties.
Son of
lawmaker among five dead in Israeli strike
The
Israeli army shelled several locations in southern Lebanon in response, said
Lebanon’s National News Agency.
In
addition, Hezbollah said on Thursday that five of its fighters, including the
son of a senior lawmaker, had been killed.
Abbas
Raad, son of the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc Mohammed Raad, was
“martyred on the road to Jerusalem”, the group said in a statement. It issued
separate statements with the identities and photographs of four other fighters
who were also killed.
A source
close to the family, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak
to the media, said that Abbas Raad “was killed with a number of other Hezbollah
members” in an Israeli strike on Wednesday on a house in south Lebanon’s Beit
Yahun.
Lebanon’s
official National News Agency said on Wednesday that “an air strike launched by
the Israeli enemy… on a house in Beit Yahun killed four people”. It did not
identify the victims.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1791988/irans-top-diplomat-meets-hezbollah-chief-in-lebanon
------
130,000
Litres Of Fuel, 200 Aid Trucks To Enter Gaza Daily, Says Egypt
November
24, 2023
Tel
Aviv: In a breakthrough agreement, Egypt announced the daily entry of 200
trucks carrying humanitarian aid, a total of 1,30,000 litres of diesel, and
four trucks of gas into the Gaza Strip during a temporary ceasefire starting on
Friday, The Times of Israel reported. The highly anticipated deal involves the
release of 50 Israeli hostages, primarily women and children, by Hamas over a
four-day period, accompanied by the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The
hostage-and-truce agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, follows the abduction
of 240 people by Hamas and other terror groups on October 7 during a violent
rampage in southern Israel, resulting in the death of 1,200 people, mostly
civilians. The negotiations outline a four-day ceasefire, with hostages
released in groups daily. The initial release, set for Friday afternoon,
involves 13 women and children, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Qatar's
foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, confirmed the release but
provided no details on the hostages or the route for security reasons. The
first 50 hostages are expected to exit through Egypt, CNN reported.
Concurrently,
the Palestine Red Crescent Society said that that 80 aid trucks carrying food,
water, medical equipment, medications, and relief supplies entered Gaza through
the Rafah crossing on Thursday.
A large
aid convoy is positioned at the Egypt-Gaza border, ready to move into the strip
immediately after the truce between Israel and Hamas begins, an official told
CNN.
The
entry of fuel was allowed in the besieged enclave on November 18, following
approval by Israel's war cabinet to facilitate regular deliveries to the
besieged enclave.
Israeli
military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that the fuel would support
desalination facilities providing water to the southern strip. The oversight of
this process is led by the United States and Egypt.
The
decision taken earlier allowed two fuel tankers a day to enter Gaza, providing
essential support to the water and sewage systems on the verge of collapse due
to a lack of electricity.
The
decision was made in consultation with the Israel Defence Forces and Israel's
International Security Academy, ensuring it aligns with operational objectives
and does not support Hamas, as clarified by Hanegbi.
The
rationale behind the decision was framed within the context of avoiding the
spread of pandemics, acknowledging the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
However,
as of 6 pm Thursday, only 80 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza
through Egypt's Rafah Crossing, according to the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This falls short of international
agencies' goals, with a pre-war average of 500 aid trucks entering Gaza daily.
Despite the UN's initial target of 100 trucks per day, this has been achieved
only a few times since aid was permitted on October 21, The Times of Israel
reported.
While
the US and other international brokers advocate for over 100 daily trucks to
meet the escalating need, Israel committed to allowing a minimum of 200
humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza each day during the multi-day truce with
Hamas. However, the existing aid delivery mechanisms of the IDF are deemed
insufficient for this required increase, as communicated by two Biden
administration officials to The Times of Israel.
In
addition to the aid trucks, 75,000 litres of fuel reached Gaza from Egypt on
Thursday, aligning with Israel's November 18 decision to permit two fuel trucks
daily. This is intended to support food distribution, hospital generators,
water and sanitation facilities, shelters, and other critical services,
according to UNOCHA.
The fuel
situation has been a key focus of recent discussions, including those with US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv earlier this month. The move to
allow fuel deliveries comes after weeks of pressure from the US, CNN reported.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/130-000-litres-of-fuel-200-aid-trucks-to-enter-gaza-daily-says-egypt-4601482
-----
Israel
bombs Indonesian Hospital in Gaza
Muhammed
Sabry
24.11.2023
Israeli
forces targeted the power generators of the Indonesian Hospital in the northern
Gaza Strip late Thursday, said the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave.
“The
hospital is subjected to heavy shelling that targeted power generators and
large parts of buildings,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a brief
statement.
“The
lives of 200 patients and medical staff are at risk amid the attack,” he
warned.
There
has been no comment so far from the Israeli army on the report.
The
attack came hours before a humanitarian pause is set to start between Israel
and Hamas in the Gaza Strip at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT) on Friday.
Israel
launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following the
Hamas attack on Oct. 7, killing more than 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150
children and over 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.
The
Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-bombs-indonesian-hospital-in-gaza/3063149
-------
Hezbollah
steps up rocket attacks after 5 senior fighters die in airstrike
November
23, 2023
BEIRUT:
Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group fired dozens of rockets at military posts in
northern Israel on Thursday, a day after an Israeli airstrike on a home in
southern Lebanon killed five of the group’s senior fighters, including the son
of a Hezbollah MP who leads the party’s bloc in parliament.
The
attacks were among the most intense since the conflict on Lebanon’s southern
border began on Oct. 8.
Israeli
fighter jets on Wednesday night targeted a house in Beit Yahoun, a village in
the BintJbeil district, 105 km from Beirut, killing several leaders of
Al-Radwan, an elite Hezbollah unit.
Abbas
Raad, the son of MP Mohammed Raad, was among the victims.
Hezbollah
said that it launched Katyusha rockets and guided missiles at more than 14
Israeli sites and military posts in response.
Meanwhile,
villages and towns situated away from the Blue Line held funerals for the
militant group’s victims.
Political
and religious figures expressed sympathy over the death of Raad’s son.
Hezbollah
targeted an Israeli infantry units at the Al-Dhaira site and in Jal Al-Alam,
opposite Al-Naqoura.
It also
attacked outposts at BirkatRisha and Metula, an Israeli infantry deployment in
the Sa’saa settlement, a tank division at Al-Raheb, and launched 48 Katyusha
rockets at the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 91st Division.
Hezbollah
chief Hassan Nasrallah earlier demanded a “civilian for a civilian” response
following an Israeli bombardment that killed two civilians.
A source
close to Hezbollah said that “this equation also applies to military men — for
each Hezbollah member, an Israeli military man of the same rank and
importance.”
The
death of a Hezbollah fighter on Thursday brought the number killed to 78.
Hashim
Safi Al-Din, head of Hezbollah’s executive council, said: “The resistance has
proven that it is strong, and no one can crush it.”
He
added: “All we sought in this battle, and what our resistance and martyrs tried
to say is that we want to put an end to the injustice of the oppressed in Gaza,
and tell the resistance, the people of Gaza and the whole world that these
oppressed people are not alone.”
Sirens
sounded several times in wide areas in the Galilee Panhandle and Upper Galilee
areas.
The
Israeli army said that 35 rockets launched from Lebanon were intercepted by air
defenses.
Israeli
troops raided the Al-Olleik region on the outskirts of the Al-Bustan–Yarin
villages, and also shelled the outskirts of TayrHarfa village, while Israeli
missiles landed near Rmaych, Yaroun and Ain Ebel
Israel
also attacked an anti-tank squad in southern Lebanon with artillery, according
to a statement by Israeli army spokesperson AvichayAdraee.
He said
that Hezbollah launched anti-tank missiles and mortars toward border regions.
An
Israeli drone on Wednesday night targeted a motorcycle in Naqoura village,
severely injuring two men.
Tensions
continue to rise in border villages and towns, as Israel widens its attacks.
A
reporter in the region told Arab News that “any moving body at any moment has
become a target for the Israeli enemy, prompting remaining residents to flee.”
Hezbollah’s
military media unit claimed that Israeli army casualties have risen to 354 in
45 days of operations.
“Five
settlements and 21 Israeli army vehicles were targeted, including Merkava
tanks, armored vehicles and troop transport vehicles, and over 275 attacks were
carried out against up to 40 sites using different weapons,” it added.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414136/middle-east
-----
Arab World
Saudi
defense minister, UK counterpart discuss Gaza situation
November
24, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman discussed the situation in Gaza
with Grant Shapps, UK secretary of state for defense.
Prince
Khalid wrote on X: “I stressed the need to end military operations, protect
civilians and allow unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid.”
Prince
Khalid said they also reviewed the two nation’s strategic defense partnership
and explored ways to strengthen cooperation.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414281/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi,
Jordanian ministers discuss water cooperation in Riyadh
November
23, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin
Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli met Jordanian Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu
Soud to discuss bilateral cooperation in the water sector, Jordan News Agency
reported.
The
meeting took place on Thursday on the sidelines of the 15th session of the Arab
Ministerial Water Council and the 5th Arab Water Conference, which ran from
Nov. 22-23 in Riyadh.
Abu Soud
highlighted the importance of Jordanian-Saudi cooperation in the water sector
as a critical pillar for advancing the prospects of joint Arab collaboration in
agriculture and climate-related issues.
He
congratulated Saudi Arabia on the successful organization of the conference,
which aimed to discuss the future vision for sustainable water security in the
Arab world, as well as to adopt a long-term roadmap for achieving sustainable
water security in the region.
Both
officials discussed methods for exchanging knowledge and expertise to mitigate
the Arab region’s challenges with water scarcity, combating the effects of
climate change, and using alternative water resources such as desalination and
recycled water.
Abu Soud
backed Saudi Arabia’s plan to establish a global water organization, which aims
to improve water resource management and sustainability by helping the exchange
of technical experiences, innovations, research and development, and funding
for priority projects.
Jordan
has launched several initiatives to address the challenges of water scarcity as
a result of its growing population, climate change and the presence of a large
number of refugees, the minister said. He pointed to Jordan’s pioneering work
in treated water reuse in accordance with the best international standards,
improving water supply efficiency, ensuring sustainable water sources and
mitigating water loss.
Al-Fadhli
highlighted the importance of Jordanian-Saudi strategic relations and praised
efforts to secure Jordan’s water needs and find sustainable solutions.
During
the Arab Ministerial Water Council, officials called the Israeli occupation
forces’ attack on the Palestinian people and the cessation of basic services
such as electricity and water to Gaza Strip residents a serious war crime.
The
ministers said that Israel’s assault on Gaza had led to the near-complete
collapse of groundwater wells and fuel supplies, the suspension of desalination
plants and control stations, water supply instability and the closure of the
northern Gaza supply point. As a result, sewage treatment systems were shut
down, causing them to overflow and severely damaging the water infrastructure.
The
council emphasized the importance of the international community fulfilling its
responsibility to use political and legal means to end Israel’s bombardment of
Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414196/saudi-arabia
-----
Vice
Minister of Human Resources Heads the Kingdom's Delegation in Islamic Meeting
of Labor Ministers
23 Nov,
2023
Vice
Minister of Human Recourses and Social Development for Labor Dr. Abdullah bin
Nasser Abuthnain headed the Kingdom's delegation participating in the 5th
session of the Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers of the member states of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was held in the city of
Baku in the Republic of Azerbaijan during the period from 22 to 24 of this
February.
The Chairman of the previous session, Dr.
Abdullah Abuthnain, started the conference with the Kingdom's speech by
referring to the positive developments and results achieved in the Kingdom's
labour market and to the initiatives that focus on the professional development
of national cadres and establishment of sectoral councils of skill in
cooperation with the private sector that aims to planning and developing skills
in 12 major economic sectors.
Dr. Abuthnain reviewed several initiatives
related to issues of occupational health and safety and developing the work
environment.
The Kingdom's delegation has also participated
in the opening of the General Assembly of the OIC Duty Center, in which the
Kingdom was elected as Vice-President of the General Assembly of the Duty
Center for a period of one year and Vice-President of the Executive Council of
the Duty Center for a period of three years.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/5054699bee254337b5ecee5e13eba12c
-----
Ministerial
Committee Assigned by Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit Meets with French
Foreign Minister
23 Nov,
2023
The
Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit,
headed by the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin
Abdullah met in Paris yesterday, with the Minister for Europe and Foreign
Affairs of the French Republic, Catherine Colonna.
The meeting was attended by members of the
Ministerial Committee, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,
Ayman Safadi; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt,
Sameh Shoukry; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of
Palestine, RiadMalki; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Turkiye, HakanFidan; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Indonesia, RetnoMarsudi; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama; and the Secretary-General of the Arab
League, Ahmed AboulGheit.
During the meeting, they discussed the
situation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, the efforts exerted to
achieve a ceasefire and protect civilians, and the importance of consolidating
the truce and building on it, in addition to discussing many topics of common
interest, in a way that enhances the security and stability of the Middle East
and the world.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/781f1cd2047e4ca0bcae03273954f436
-----
Reef
Saudi launches bee clinics in major cities in Kingdom
November
23, 2023
RIYADH:
The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, or Reef Saudi, has
launched bee clinics in Jeddah, Jazan, Madinah and Abha, providing examination,
diagnosis, guidance and aids to beekeepers, and empowering small producers.
The bee
clinics will provide beekeepers with a guide manual, collect and examine
samples, send instructions for development according to the samples, develop
and update a database of pests and diseases affecting bees, and alert relevant
departments if needed.
The
launch of the four clinics aims to protect the “bee wealth” of the Kingdom from
diseases and pests, increase the number of local bee colonies to contribute to
achieving self-sufficiency and maintain and operate mobile clinics, providing examination
services to beekeepers in their locations.
“I am
thankful to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for their
continued support to farmers in the Kingdom,” said Hasan Al-Qarni, owner of
Azhar Tabuk apiaries.
“Bee
clinics serve us greatly as beekeepers, from diagnosing bee diseases, guiding
beekeepers, examining bees, providing consultation to beekeepers, developing
sustainable solutions and overcoming challenges faced by us as beekeepers in
the Kingdom,” he said.
Al-Qarni
recently won first place in the Arab honey competition, competing against
beekeepers from several Arab countries. He also won a gold medal and third
place in beehive product innovations, a clear result of the support provided by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Water for beekeepers in the Kingdom.
Reef
Saudi, targeting the honey sector, has succeeded in making remarkable progress
toward food security and self-sufficiency at a rate of 49 percent.
The
volume of honey production increased from 2,100 tons in 2020 to 3,748 tons this
year, with the program aiming to produce 7,500 tons of honey by 2026.
According
to the Reef Saudi program, since the recent launch of the bee clinics, 6,016
samples have been received, and among them, exploratory, preliminary and
confirmatory examinations have been conducted, along with developing a database
for diseases and pests found during survey campaigns.
The Reef
program aims to support, qualify and enhance the capabilities of farmers and
rural families to improve the agricultural sector, increase efficiency and
productivity, and elevate the standard of living and lifestyle of small
farmers, making it possible for farmers and beekeepers to access markets,
agricultural services and resources.
Reef
plays a crucial role in advancing crop cultivation across Saudi Arabia.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2414026/saudi-arabia
------
North America
U.S.
intercepts multiple attack drones launched from Yemen: Pentagon
November
24, 2023
A U.S.
warship patrolling the Red Sea intercepted multiple attack drones launched from
Huthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Thursday, the U.S. Central Command said.
"On
the morning (Yemen time) of November 23, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) shot
down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi controlled areas in
Yemen," CENTCOM said on X.
"The
ship and crew sustained no damage or injury," it added.
The
Huthis have declared themselves part of an "axis of resistance" of
Iran's allies and proxies retaliating against Israel's war with Hamas.
The
conflict has raised the spectre of a broader Middle East conflagration, with
the frontier between Lebanon and Israel also seeing near-daily exchanges of
fire.
The
Huthis in Yemen have launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel
since the October 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.
On
Wednesday, Israel said it had intercepted a "cruise missile" heading
for the south of the country, a shot claimed by the Huthi rebels.
"Our
forces launched missiles at various military targets" in southern Israel,
Yahia Saree, spokesman for the armed wing of the Huthis, wrote on X.
"We
will continue to carry out military operations until the Israeli aggression
against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops," he added.
The
Huthis have also threatened to target Israeli shipping and on Sunday said they
seized the Galaxy Leader, an Israel-linked cargo vessel and its 25
international crew, at the entrance to the Red Sea.
Israel's
military said the seizure was a "very grave incident of global
consequence", and a U.S. military official said it was "a flagrant
violation of international law".
On
Wednesday, Israel and Hamas said they had agreed on a four-day ceasefire during
which there will be a hostage and prisoner swap.
Around
240 hostages were taken by Hamas and other Palestinian gunmen during bloody
raids into Israel on October 7, which also killed 1,200 people, most of them
civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
The
attack prompted a major Israeli offensive into Hamas-run Gaza, which
authorities there say has killed more than 14,000 people, two thirds of them
women and children.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-intercepts-multiple-attack-drones-launched-from-yemen-pentagon/article67565882.ece
------
Cuban
president leads anti-Israel demo in front of US embassy in Havana
24 November 2023
Tens of
thousands of Cubans have staged a demonstration in front of the US embassy in
Havana condemning Israel for committing “genocide” against Palestinians in
Gaza.
The
protest march on Thursday was led by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Prime
Minister Manuel Marrero.
The
march moved along Havana’s seaside drive, the Malecon where the US diplomatic
headquarters is located, Reuters reported.
This was
the first protest march of its kind in more than a decade. Former Cuban leader
Fidel Castro used to stage such demonstrations to protest American sanctions
and meddling in Cuban affairs.
The
protesters, sporting Palestinian flags and banners, chanted "free, free
Palestine, Israel is genocide" and "up with Palestinian freedom.”
They marched by the building and held a demonstration nearby.
Cuba has
been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause for decades and has trained
more than 200 Palestinian doctors. The island nation does not have diplomatic
relations with the Zionist regime.
"We
are here and it is no coincidence that we have marched in front of the United
States embassy," Anet Rodríguez, a university professor, said.
"The
United States is one of the most responsible for supporting the State of Israel
... it is supporting a massacre of the Palestinians and international laws are
being violated," she said.
Israel
says there will be no halt to the fighting in Gaza until at least before
Friday, as it continues to bombard the besieged enclave.
Israel
waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a surprise attack,
dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, into the occupied territories in response to
the occupying regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.
According
to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 14,500 Palestinians have been
killed in the strikes, most of them women and children, and injured around
35,000 others.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/24/715165/Cuban-president-leads-anti-Israel-demo-in-front-of-US-embassy-in-Havana
----
US
military bases in Syria, Iraq targeted by explosive-laden drones
24
November 2023
Three
military facilities occupied by US forces in Syria’s eastern province of Dayr
al-Zawr and across Iraq have come under separate attacks by explosive-laden
drones, the latest in a series of strikes on American forces in the two
neighboring countries.
The
Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a
statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for the
early Friday morning attack on US forces based at the al-Omar oil field in Dayr
al-Zawr province.
There
were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility,
or possible casualties.
It noted
that the base was targeted by a drone, linking the assault to the US support
for Israel's bloody military campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The
brutal war, which the Tel Aviv regime has been waging against the besieged
Palestinian enclave since October 7, has so far claimed the lives of at least
14,532 people, including 6,000 children and 4,000 women.
The
regime launched the war after Gaza's resistance groups conducted Operation
al-Aqsa Storm, their biggest operation against the occupying entity in years in
response to increased Israeli violence against Palestinians.
Iraqi
resistance groups launch two separate drone strikes against the US-occupied
al-Harir Air Base in the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
The
United States, Israel’s biggest ally, has provided the regime with arms and
ammunitions since the initiation of the Gaza war.
The US
House of Representatives on November 2 passed a standalone $14.3-billion
military assistance package for Israel. The legislation, however, is yet to
clear the Senate.
Washington
has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that called on the
occupying regime to cease its aggression.
Late on
Thursday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone
strike against Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, and
another on a US-run military installation near the Erbil International Airport
in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Earlier,
Kadhim al-Fartousi, the spokesman for the Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada anti-terror
resistance group, stated that the four-day truce between the Israeli military
and Palestinian Hamas resistance movement, which is set to begin at 7 a.m.
local time (0500 GMT) on Friday in Gaza, will not extend to Iraqi resistance
groups.
US
Defense Department deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a media
briefing on Tuesday that “US forces have been attacked approximately 66 times
since October 17. Thirty-two separate times in Iraq and 34 separate times in
Syria.”
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/24/715176/US-military-bases-in-eastern-Syria,-across-Iraq-targeted-by-explosive-laden-drones
------
Former
Obama administration official arrested after video shows Islamophobic language
spewed at food vendor
November
23, 2023
Artemis Moshtaghian
(CNN)— A
former Obama-era National Security Council official was arrested Wednesday
after a series of videos shared widely on social media showed him using
hate-laden, Islamophobic language against an employee working inside a New York
City food cart, police said.
Stuart
Seldowitz, 64, pleaded not guilty Thursday to two counts of fourth-degree hate
crime/stalking and one count of second-degree aggravated harassment, court
records show.
Seldowitz
was released without bail, according to court records. CNN has reached out to
his attorney, Scott Laurence Bookstein, for comment.
Before
his arrest was announced, Seldowitz confirmed to CNN in an email it is him in
the videos, which were recorded by a vendor from inside a food cart on
Manhattan’s Upper East Side and appear to be from different days.
In the
videos posted online this month, Seldowitz mocks Islam, taunts the man about
his citizenship status, accuses him of supporting Hamas and references the
ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“You
support killing little children,” Seldowitz says to the vendor in one video.
The vendor retorts, “You kill children, not me.”
Seldowitz
replies, “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian children, you know what? It wasn’t
enough!”
The
videos come as the US is experiencing an “unprecedented” increase in reported
anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias incidents since the October 7 Hamas attack on
Israel, according to the Council on American-Islamic relations.
At the
same time, the reports of antisemitic incidents across the country have also
spiked, with FBI Director Christopher Wray saying last month the threat was
reaching “historic levels” and the Anti-Defamation League reporting a 388%
increase in reported incidents in the weeks following October 7, compared to
the same period last year.
Tensions
over the ongoing war in Gaza have also been high in New York City in recent
weeks as pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been taking place.
In one
of the videos posted online, Seldowitz tells the vendor, “We’re going to put
big signs here saying this guy believes in Hamas.”
In
another video, Seldowitz asks the man whether he’s familiar with Egypt’s
General Intelligence Service, better known as the Mukhabarat.
“Mukhabarat
in Egypt will get your parents,” Seldowitz says to the vendor. “Does your
father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one.”
The
former government official then holds up his phone, says, “Smile for me,” and
laughs.
Seldowitz
also makes derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed, ridiculing Islam,
which he appears to believe is the vendor’s religion.
When
asked via email for additional comment on the videos, Seldowitz said, “Happy to
talk (Wednesday). What was absent from the video is what (the vendor) said
before the video.”
Seldowitz,
64, told the Daily Beast while he started up the conversation with the food
vendor about current affairs, the video clips only show one side of the story.
He told the outlet the vendor instigated the interaction by allegedly
expressing his support for Hamas.
The
former official also told City & State, “I regret the whole thing happened
and I’m sorry.” He added, “But you know, in the heat of the moment, I said
things that probably I shouldn’t have said.”
Seldowitz
served as acting director for the National Security Council South Asia
Directorate in the early 2000s, according to a since-removed profile page on
lobbying group Gotham Government Relations’ website. According to his LinkedIn
profile, Seldowitz served in the position from February 2009 to January 2011
during former President Barack Obama’s administration.
“Gotham
Government Relations has ended all affiliation with Stuart Seldowitz, an
individual who hasn’t contributed to our work in years,” a statement on the New
York City-based group’s website reads. “The video of his actions is vile,
racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.”
Seldowitz
has been berating vendor for 2 weeks, advocate says
The
managing director of an advocacy group representing street vendors across New
York City told CNN on Tuesday the man who took the videos told him Seldowitz
had been tormenting his food cart since November 8.
Mohamed
Attia, of the Street Vendor Project, said the vendor told him he did not
instigate the conversation with Seldowitz.
Attia
said the Egyptian-born vendor, identified only by his first name, Mohamed,
doesn’t speak English well and for that reason doesn’t engage in many
conversations with his customers, let alone complicated and nuanced
conversations about war.
“Mohamed
told me he doesn’t know how to respond to or know what to say to the guy and
kept playing it safe by asking the guy to go away,” Attia told CNN.
The
advocacy group is “appalled by the racist Islamophobia” seen in the videos,
they said in a statement, adding the vendors at the center of this incident
“feared speaking out would put them at risk of displacement.”
“No one
should have to choose between harassment or displacement,” the statement posted
on social media reads.
New York
City Council member Julie Menin reached out to the organization and reported
the incidents to police, Attia said.
“This is
vile hate speech and harassment and truly abhorrent,” Menin tweeted Tuesday.
“There is no place for hate in our community and city.”
Source: edition.cnn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/22/us/seldowitz-ex-obama-official-islamophobic-comments/index.html
-----
Africa
Kenya:
U.S. citizen convicted of child sex crimes 9 years ago rearrested on new
charges
Nov - 23 - 2023
An
American man convicted of child sex crimes in Kenya nine years ago was denied
bail on new charges of defilement, months after he was mysteriously released
from prison where he was serving a 50-year sentence.
Terry
Ray Krieger, 68, was arraigned on Tuesday (Nov. 21) evening in court in Mavoko
County on the outskirts of the capital Nairobi, accused of sexually assaulting
a 3-year-old earlier this month. He was arrested on Nov. 10.
He faces
additional charges of being in Kenya illegally.
Senior
Principal Magistrate Barbra Ojoo denied Krieger bail after prosecutors argued
successfully that he was a repeat offender and a flight risk. He will remain in
custody until Nov 27, when the case will be heard again. He did not enter a
plea yet.
Krieger
uses a wheelchair and requested bail because he said he needs additional care.
The U.S.
national was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2014 for sexually abusing
Kenyan children and circulating their images online between December 2013 and
May 2014.
He was
released in November 2022 under unclear circumstances after only serving eight
years of his sentence.
Krieger,
from Michigan, was convicted in the United States in 1992 for sexual conduct
with a minor and served three years in jail before his release in in 1995.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/11/23/kenya-us-citizen-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-9-years-ago-rearrested-on-new-charges/
-----
25
killed when truck overloaded with food items and people crashes in Nigeria’s
north
Nov - 23 - 2023
A truck
overloaded with food items and more than 200 people crashed in north-central
Nigeria’s Niger state, killing 25 passengers and injuring dozens of others,
authorities said Wednesday.
The
truck was on its way to Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos on Tuesday when it
crashed in Takalafia village in Niger’s Magama district on Tuesday, according
to Nigeria’s road safety agency.
Niger
Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago said in a statement that the 25 victims have been
taken to a nearby mortuary while other passengers were being treated for their
injuries.
Kumar
Tsukwam, sector commander of Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps in Niger, told
The Associated Press that it's believed some of the passengers wanted to travel
with the trailer through Tuesday night to avoid unsafe roads during the day.
“The
passengers were not mindful of the (nature of the) road and the goods it was
conveying,” Tsukwam said.
Overloading
and speeding are common causes of crashes along major roads in Nigeria where traffic
rules are often not adhered to, with drivers who disobey the rules often
escaping penalties.
Authorities
are going to ensure that “stringent penalties are meted out to traffic rule
violators” in Niger state, Bago said.
Nigerian
President Bola Tinubu mourned the victims and urged commuters to drive safely,
especially as the festive season approaches.
“The
president describes the incident as a harrowing tragedy and directs the agency
responsible for emergency response to immediately move in and ensure that those
injured get the necessary treatment,” Tinubu's office said in a statement.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/11/23/25-killed-when-truck-overloaded-with-food-items-and-people-crashes-in-nigerias-north/
-----
Chief
Imam, peace ambassador donate to dam spillage victims
Nov - 23 - 2023
The
National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the National Peace
Ambassador, Clemence Gyato, have donated relief items to the Akosombo Dam
spillage victims in the North Tongu District.
The
donation, which comprised diverse essential items, including rice, water,
clothing, footwear and hygiene supplies was valued at more than GH₵300,000.
Additionally,
a sum of GH₵70,000 was offered to aid in
alleviating the immediate needs of the affected individuals and families.
The
visit to the Agbetikpo camp, housing approximately 1,200 displaced individuals
among the 12,000 affected, showcased solidarity and compassion in the wake of
the crisis.
Support
Addressing
the gathering, Sheikh Sharubutuemphasised the significance of communal support
during adversity, extending prayers and words of encouragement to the affected
individuals.
He
expressed empathy and reassured the victims that hardship could pave the way
for eventual solace.
The
National Peace Ambassador, Clemence Gyato, commended the Chief Imam's enduring
commitment to peace-building, reflecting on their joint efforts in past
reconciliation endeavours.
He
underscored the importance of maintaining peace, particularly during
challenging times, urging the youth to avoid actions that could disrupt
communal harmony.
The
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel OkudzetoAblakwa, conveyed his
heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the victims, highlighting the substantial
impact of the calamity, with more than 1,500 houses damaged and 21 camps
established to shelter the displaced.
Region’s
needs
Recognising
the overwhelming support and benevolence shown, MrAblakwaemphasised the unity
and compassion exhibited by Ghanaians, particularly praising the Chief Imam's
understanding of the region's needs.
Promising
accountability for the received aid, MrAblakwa pledged equitable distribution
among the remaining camps, ensuring no one was neglected in the recovery
process.
The
Chief Imam's unwavering support and generosity resonate deeply with the
affected populace, signifying a beacon of hope amid their trials.
The
donation not only addresses immediate necessities but also signifies a
collective commitment towards rebuilding lives shattered by the dam spillage
disaster.
Source: graphic.com.gh
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-chief-imam-peace-ambassador-donate-to-dam-spillage-victims.html
-----
Niger
coup leader visits Mali, Burkina in first foreign trip
November
24, 2023
Niger's
military ruler General AbdourahamaneTiani on Thursday met with his counterparts
in Mali and Burkina Faso in his first international visits since seizing power
in July.
Niger's
neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso which are ruled by military leaders who seized
power in 2020 and 2022, respectively -- have pledged solidarity with Niger's
coup leaders.
Tiani
arrived in Burkina Faso on Thursday evening for a "friendship and working
visit" with Captain Ibrahim Traore.
The pair
discussed "issues common to both countries, in particular the fight
against terrorism and socio-economic development", according to a
statement from Burkina's presidency.
In
Bamako earlier in the day, he had thanked his Malian counterpart Colonel
AssimiGoita for "the support and determination of the Malian authorities
and people to work with the authorities and people of Niger, whatever the
obstacles".
The
three Sahel countries in September signed a pact that includes provisions for
mutual defence in the event of an attack on the "sovereignty and
territorial integrity" of any of the countries.
While in
Mali, Tiani said the aim of the alliance was to transform the Sahel region from
an "area of insecurity" to "an area of prosperity".
The
leaders also plan to strengthen economic ties and Tiani thanked his neighbours
for standing by his country after Niger's regional and Western partners
announced a series of sanctions against it following the coup.
"It
would seem that the purpose of the embargo was to exert pressure on the
authorities," Tiani said.
"But
this does not take into account the fact it is actually the people who are
suffering... that is why we are willing to exchange, to negotiate, but with
people motivated by good will, with sincere people, with people who care about
the African people."
The
regimes are also united in the fight against jihadism in their countries.
Shortly
after taking power, Tiani pledged to return Niger to civilian rule within three
years.
Mali,
meanwhile, has indefinitely postponed a presidential election that was
scheduled for early 2024.
Mali
plans to host ministers from the three countries for meetings with the aim of
ironing out the operational details of the new Sahel alliance, it said in a
statement Thursday.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/11/24/niger-coup-leader-visits-mali-burkina-in-first-foreign-trip/
------
Nigerian
Court Frees Six IPOB Members Jailed For Three Years On Trumped-Up Charges In
Rivers State
November
24, 2023
The
Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Thursday
discharged six members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who were
arrested and held in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre for over three years.
IPOB
lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who made this known in a statement said that
the six IPOB members were held in prison for over three years on what he
described as baseless and trumped-up charges.
Ejiofor
said that the discharged IPOB members who include Goodluck Agbulum; Ikechukwu
V. Amaechi; ElekaOnyekachi; Felix Sampson; Nnamdi Peters and Nwankwo Loveday,
were on May 29, 2020 “illegally” arrested by the operatives of the Department
of State Service (DSS), in Odiokwu Community, Ahoda East Local Government Area
of Rivers State.
According
to Ejiofor, “They were subsequently brought before the Chief Magistrate Court
Port Harcourt in charge no: PMC/863C/2020, on a three count charge of
conspiracy, terrorism-related offences and belonging to a terrorist
organisation.
“Upon
being arraigned on the above listed frivolous but unfounded three count charge,
before a court that lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge, these
innocent Biafrans were subsequently remanded in prison custody, simply because
they were on the peaceful candle-night procession observing Biafrans fallen
heroes day.”
He
further stated their preliminary separate applications for their bail filed on
August 13, 2020 were not entertained by the court as the court declined the
jurisdiction to hear the application.
The six
IPOB members were later formally charged before the Federal High Court and were
subsequently granted bail on December 8, 2021 “on a very onerous but tough and
stringent conditions.
“Several
applications to get the charge struck out following the failure of the
prosecution to present their witnesses to prove their case, were not indulged
by His Lordship who insisted on availing the prosecution with every reasonable
opportunity to prosecute their case.
“However,
during the proceedings on the last adjourned date, His Lordship warned of the
consequences of the prosecution’s "hide and seek" if he failed to
proceed with his case at the next adjourned date, and magnanimously granted
them one more adjournment and ordered
for Hearing Notice to be served on the Prosecution, which Order we dutifully
complied with.
“Today,
being the 23rd day of November 2023, the
Federal High Court, sitting in Port
Harcourt Rivers State, Court No. 1, Per Hon. Justice P. I. Ajoku finally delivered a landmark Ruling on our
Application seeking the termination of the criminal trial.
“In
holding our application as meritorious, His Lordship consequently struck out
these most ridiculous charges and accordingly discharged these six innocent
Biafrans. They have since gone home as free men.”
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/11/24/nigerian-court-frees-six-ipob-members-jailed-three-years-trumped-charges-rivers-state
------
Army
kills six bandits in Kaduna
November
23, 2023
The
Nigerian Army’s troops neutralised six bandits in Kaduna state during extensive
clearance patrols conducted across two local government areas.
The
details were outlined in a statement released by Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing
Commissioner of the Ministry for Internal Security and Home Affairs, on
Thursday.
According
to the statement, operational reports provided to the Kaduna State Government
indicated that the troops initiated their operation along the Kaduna-Sabon
Birni-Dogon Dawa Road, clearing locations such as Maidaro and Ngede Allah.
Subsequently, they proceeded to Saulawa and Kidandan general areas during the
operation.
In the
course of these operations, the forces made contact with bandits at Maidaro,
Ngade Allah and Kidandan.
As a
result, according to the statement, “the troops engaged swiftly, subduing the
bandits at each point and killing six bandits in the process.
The
statement added, “The troops exploited the areas and recovered two AK-47
rifles, four AK-47 magazines, 14 rounds of ammunition, along with 40 pairs of
bandits’ uniforms. Nine motorcycles belonging to the bandits were captured.”
Upon
receiving the feedback, Governor Uba Sani expressed his contentment with the
successful progress made by the security forces. He lauded the leadership of
Major General VO Okoro, the GOC (General Officer Commanding) of One Division
and Force Commander of Operation Whirl Punch, for their commendable efforts.
The
Governor also lauded the troops for their fine efforts, as he urged them to sustain
the tempo and focus of operations.
“Citizens
are urged to report suspicious persons or activities to the Security Operations
Room for prompt action by security agencies. Any persons found secretly seeking
medical attention for gunshot wounds around these locations must not be aided,
but should equally be reported via the phone lines 09034000060 and 08170189999,
the statement declared
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribuneonlineng.com/army-kills-six-bandits-in-kaduna/
----
Fake
stores could surge 135% during Black Friday, FCCPC warms
24
November 2023
JimisayoOpanuga
The
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned
consumers to be vigilant during the Black Friday sales, as there is a risk of
increased fraud and scams.
FCCPC’s
executive vice chairman, Babatunde Irukera, said in a statement on Thursday
that it has received “credible intelligence” that there may be a 135% increase
in fake online stores during Black Friday.
Irukera
said that these fake stores may try to scam consumers by misrepresenting
products, prices, or payment methods.
“FCCPC
has received credible intelligence that the customary seasonal sales at deep
discounts on a specific Friday, otherwise known as “Black Friday,” may witness
an increase of fake online stores by 135%, including scams, misrepresentation
and other exploitative conduct,” Irukera stated.
This
information is corroborated by publicly available reports such as Netcraft,
Irukera added, urging consumers to be vigilant and discerning during this
period.
He
recommends that consumers should demand and insist on their rights,
particularly with respect to full and transparent disclosures.
Irukera
also advised consumers to be cautious about providing personal information or
making payments online.
“Consumers
should only patronise trusted and credible platforms and exercise caution to
avoid being victims of fraud and other exploitation,” he added.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://guardian.ng/news/fake-stores-could-surge-135-during-black-friday-fccpc-warms/
-----
Southeast Asia
Malaysia
under Anwar, a model Muslim country for Tunisia
24-11-
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: Malaysia under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can be a role
model for Tunisia to return to the path of democracy and stability, said Moadh
Ghannouchi, son of imprisoned prominent Tunisian politician Rached Ghannouchi.
He said
Malaysia is an exemplary Muslim country that is progressive, upholding
democracy, inclusivity and the rule of law.
“Malaysia
for us is a role model. It is a Muslim majority country but still inclusive of
everyone (in the nation building process).
“It is a
country that adopts democracy, making good progress and development,” he told
Bernama in an interview alongside former Tunisian Youth and Sports Minister and
a key leader in the Ennahdha party, Ahmed Gaaloul during their visit here, this
week.
Ghannouchi
also commended Anwar on his astute statesmanship in the economic and political
scene in the global stage.
“He is a
very well known Muslim personality around the world, known for standing up for
democracy, known for sacrifying for freedom,” he said.
He also
hoped Tunisia can emulate Malaysia’s success.
“That is
a path that we want to follow as a country. I hope my country, Tunisia, will
have what it takes to return to democracy and build along these lines,” he
added.
Tunisia
is facing a political crisis since 2021, following President Kais Saied’s
attempt to enforce authoritarian rule and purging his politcal opponents,
including former Speaker of Tunisian Parliament and head of the Ennahdha party,
Rached Ghannouchi.
The
senior Ghannouchi, 82, was imprisoned without trial since last April on charges
of incitement and plotting against state security. He was a vocal critic of
Saied.–Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thesun.my/local/malaysia-under-anwar-a-model-muslim-country-for-tunisia-PP11789017
-------
Four-day
ceasefire in gaza , a relief - PM Anwar
24-11-
2023
PUTRAJAYA:
While expressing his relief with the news of a ceasefire for four days in Gaza,
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is however apprehensive of the actions
of the violent Israeli regime.
“Its a
relief but facing the violent regime which made the statement that they would
continue with violence, is really worrying us,” he said.
He was
speaking to reporters after performing Friday prayers at Surau Al-Furqan in
Precinct 11, here today.
Asked if
Malaysia will send volunteers to Gaza during the truce, Anwar said the matter
was up to a joint decision with Arab and Islamic nations.
“We are
open to send whatever we agreed. It is subject to our agreement with Arab and
Islamic countries especially the neighbours surrounding Palestine,” he said.
It was
reported that a ceasefire on the Israeli-Palestine war in Gaza for four days
began today and an exchange of hostages followed several hours later.
The
weapon ceasefire agreement facilitated by Qatar with the assistance of Egypt
and the United States should have been effective last night but was delayed
over last minute hitches.
The
ceasefire which began at 7 am local time (1 pm Malaysian time) involved truce
in the entire north and south Gaza. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thesun.my/local/four-day-ceasefire-in-gaza-a-relief-pm-anwar-AO11790451
-----
Selangor
Sultan presents over RM4 million aid to Palestine Musa’adah Fund
24-11-
2023
SHAH
ALAM: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today handed over
donations totalling RM4,374,280.63 to the Palestine Musa’adah Fund of the
Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
His
Majesty said the donations were collected from mosques and suraus throughout
the state.
“I pray
that God will reward the infaq contributed by the people of Selangor to help
Muslims in Palestine,“ he said in a statement issued by Istana Alam Shah.
Sultan
Sharafuddin ordered that the collection and distribution of contributions from
the people of Selangor can be made and coordinated through the
TabungInfakJariahUmat Islam Selangor (TIJARI).
He also
prayed that Allah would protect the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Palestine, so that Muslims can perform prayers and acts of worship in peace.
“I also
pray that Allah will give victory to the fighters of the Palestinian people to
eliminate the tyranny of the Zionist regime and restore their rights and create
a free, independent and sovereign Palestinian state,“ he said. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thesun.my/local/selangor-sultan-presents-over-rm4-million-aid-to-palestine-musa-adah-fund-DP11789903
----
Secondary
school teacher, family members lose RM95,000 in umrah fraud packages
24-11-
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: A secondary school teacher in Kelantan, along with nine members of his
family, lost RM95,000 after being duped by a company offering umrah pilgrimage
packages four years ago.
Che Roni
Mat, 56, said that the loss was compounded by the death of his sister-in-law
who was part of the umrah group last year.
“My
sister-in-law only works in the village, and the income from the sale of kuih
was not much and she gave me the money for the umrah pilgrimage. It was just so
sad her dreams of visiting Makkah and Madinah were unfulfilled when she died in
March last year,” he said in a press conference after lodging a police report
here today.
Che Roni
is among the 123 individuals who lodged a police report regarding the umrah
package scam with a total loss of RM1.3 million.
The
father of five said he was very disappointed when he was repeatedly deceived by
the well-known company in the capital which promised to reschedule the flight
ticket and asked him to make additional payments.
Meanwhile,
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli
Mohamed Yoosuf when contacted by Bernama today confirmed receiving the report
and further investigation will be carried out.
Apart
from that, Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation secretary-general
Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the case has been classified as Refer to Other
Agency and submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.–Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thesun.my/local/secondary-school-teacher-family-members-lose-rm95000-in-umrah-fraud-packages-JP11788032
-----
Sultan
Sharafuddin launches e-Khutbah Selangor website
24 Nov
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has launched the
website e-Khutbah Selangor, which offers all texts of sermons published by the
state Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
Sultan
Sharafuddin said the website compiles a collection of 23 years of sermons in
both Jawi and Roman scripts, which includes sermons delivered during Friday
prayers, Aidilfitri, Aidiladha and eclipse prayers.
"The
website also offers a search menu for sermon texts and multimedia content in
English.
"I
believe that sermons are crucial as a medium for the authorities to convey the
teachings of Islam accurately and responsibly.
"Sermons
serve as a medium for the community to increase knowledge and understanding of
the principles and implementation of Islamic teachings related to aqidah,
syariah, and morals,” the Sultan said in a statement issued by Istana Alam Shah
on Friday (Nov 24).
Sultan
Sharafuddin said sermons also play a role in providing the Islamic perspective
on current issues and challenges, besides serving as a widespread preaching
medium.
His
Majesty also expressed satisfaction and pride in the quality of the sermons
produced, hoping that such efforts can be continued.
"I
extend my congratulations and gratitude for the work carried out by the
Selangor State Sermon Committee,” he said.
Sultan
Sharafuddin is confident that with the website, sermons can also serve as
reading material, guidance and a reference for scholars, teachers, students and
preachers, and at the same time, be accessed by those who are unable to attend
Friday prayers in Selangor for various reasons, including Muslim women and the
general public.
The public can read the sermons at e-khutbah.jais.gov.my. – Bernama
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/24/sultan-sharafuddin-launches-e-khutbah-selangor-website
------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/qatar-court-india-appeal-death-penalty/d/131174