Qutub Minar Lit Up With The Colours Of The Rwandan National Flag In Remembrance Of Rwanda Genocide Of 1994
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 April 2024
On
7th April 1994, a genocide was unleashed against the Tutsi minority of Rwanda,
leaving over a million dead in just 100 days, in full view of the world.
(Image: MEA/X)
------
·
Qutub
Minar Lit Up With The Colours Of The Rwandan National Flag In Remembrance Of
Rwanda Genocide Of 1994
·
ISIS And Al-Qaeda
Recruit Radicalized Muslim Lone Wolves OnlineTo Plan Terrorist Attacks: Northwestern
University
·
Man In
Karachi Sentenced To 80 Lashes For Denying Child’s Paternity; Accusing Ex-Wife
Of Adultery
·
Taliban
Official Announces Plan To Block Facebook In Afghanistan: Najibullah Haqqani
·
Norway
Removes Pakistan From Its National Threat Assessment List
---
India
·
BJP's 'Ideological
Ancestors' Supported British, Muslim League Against Indians: Mallikarjun Kharge
·
Intricate
Jaalis At SidiSaiyyed Mosque In Ahmedabad Reflect ‘Epitome Of Ganga-Jamuna
Tehzeeb’
·
Secular Parties
Don’t Want Muslims In Leadership Positions, Want Them To Be Their Slaves — Owaisi
----
Mideast
·
’Stay
Strong!’ Thousands Rally For Gaza Hostages In Jerusalem
·
No
Israeli Embassy Safe Anymore, Top Iranian General Warns
·
Iraq's
Islamic Resistance hits Israeli barracks, base in support of Gaza
·
Israeli
army says it killed senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon
·
Egypt
decides to increase aid trucks to Gaza to 300 daily through Rafah crossing
·
Israel
says 322 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, highest number since war started
·
Outlining
a global role model for good governance is one of Islamic Republic's
aspirations: Leader
·
Hezbollah
fires 40 rockets at Israeli outposts in occupied Golan Heights
----
Pakistan
·
Info
minister rebuts Imran’s ‘fabricated, baseless’ allegations about Toshakhana
case
·
Shangla
attack: Report reveals vehicle carrying Chinese nationals wasn’t bulletproof,
bombproof
·
Most-wanted
TTP commander killed in Khyber
·
Islamabad
pressures Afghan Taliban, stressing similar threats of ISIS and TTP: Pakistani
media
----
South
Asia
·
Mawlawi
Abdul Kabir: No One Should Publicize, Strengthen Image of Daesh
·
Prison
Administration: Islamic Emirate Holds 40 Foreign Citizens in Detention
·
Two
thousand Afghan prisoners will be released on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr
·
Over 200
Afghan migrants return, 33 prisoners freed from Pakistani prisons
·
BNP
demands release of party’s detained leaders, activists before Eid
----
Europe
·
German
Lawyers File Case Against Govt. To Stop Arms Sales To Israel
·
Pope
Francis calls on leaders to negotiate path to peace in Ukraine, Gaza
·
Ireland
divests millions from six Israeli companies
·
British
FM: Support for Israel is conditioned on its adherence to international law
·
Bolton Mosque
Opens Its Doors For Inter Faith Iftar
----
Southeast
Asia
·
Selangor
Islamic Council Member Asks To Work Together To Curb Spread Of Deviant
Teachings For The Sake Of Enjoining Right And Forbidding Wrong
·
MUI lauds
Papua police for maintaining peace, harmony during Ramadan
·
BNPT head
urges officials to tigthen anti-terrorism measures for Eid
·
Malaysian
Company Apologises Over Logo On Shoe Sole, Says It Is Not ‘Allah’ Word But
Stylised Heel
·
Israeli
man caught with six guns expected to be charged this week - IGP
-----
Africa
·
Officer
Killed, Four Soldiers Injured In Terrorists’ Ambush In Borno
·
With
Support From People, Terrorism Will Be Surmounted In Northwest — Nigerian COAS
·
Islamic Cleric
Advises Muslims To Prioritise Piety, Religion In Choosing Spouses
·
Umrah:
Pursue peace, progress, AbdulRazaq tell Muslims
·
KagameBlames
World's 'Cowardice' As Rwanda Remembers 1994 Genocide
·
Mozambique
ferry accident kills at least 96, authorities say
------
North
America
·
Morale At
US State Department ‘Worse Than During Iraq War’: Human Rights
·
US: We’ve
Been Increasingly Frustrated By Israel's Handling Of Gaza War
·
Cities In
North America, Europe Hold Rallies Marking Hostages’ Six Months ‘In Hell’
·
Father of
US aid worker killed by IDF urges Blinken to exert pressure on Israel
·
Trump
increasingly ambiguous on Israel amid Gaza war
------
Arab
World
·
Yemeni
Forces Strike British, Israeli Vessels, US Frigates In Solidarity With Gaza
·
Experts Laud
Jeddah’s Heritage Restoration Efforts
·
Saudi
Arabia’s Zaabal Castle Area Nears Completion In Major Urban Revitalization
Effort
·
Over 2.5
Million Worshipers Witness Quran Recitation Completion at Grand Mosque on 29th
Night of Ramadan
·
Supreme
Court calls for Shawwal crescent sighting on Monday
·
Religious
Affairs Presidency Operates Quran Programs for Mutakifs at the Two Holy Mosques
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/qutub-minar-rwanda-genocide-national-flag/d/132105
-----
Qutub Minar Lit Up With The Colours Of The Rwandan
National Flag In Remembrance Of Rwanda Genocide Of 1994
On
7th April 1994, a genocide was unleashed against the Tutsi minority of Rwanda,
leaving over a million dead in just 100 days, in full view of the world.
(Image: MEA/X)
------
April 08, 2024
The Qutub Minar was lit up with the colours of the Rwandan
national flag on April 7 in solidarity with the people of the east-African
nation in remembrance of the 100-day massacre that claimed the lives of
8,00,000 people in 1994.
On the occasion, Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu
Ravi of the Ministry of External Affairs represented India at the 30th
commemoration of the genocide in the Rwanda capital, Kigali.
Sharing a post on X, the official spokesperson of MEA,
Randhir Jaiswal, wrote, “In solidarity with the people of Rwanda, India lit up
the Qutub Minar today, marking the UN International Day of Reflection on the
1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.”
“Secy (ER) Dammu Ravi represented India at the 30th
commemoration of the genocide today in Kigali,” the post read.
Rwanda marked 30 years of the genocide orchestrated by
armed Hutu extremists, who tore apart the nation. The 1994 Rwanda Genocide
(Kwibuka 30) is considered one of the bloodiest massacres of the 20th century.
President
Kagame of Rwanda calls out global apathy that caused 1994 genocide
According to Al Jazeera, Rwanda’s President Paul
Kagame led the commemoration on Sunday by placing wreaths on the mass graves in
the country’s capital, Kigali. The event was flanked by several foreign
dignitaries, including the South African leaders, as well as dignitaries from
Ethiopia.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was also present,
who had called the genocide the biggest failure of his administration.
Macron seeks
forgiveness over Rwanda genocide
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group captured
Kigali in July 1994 after a 100-day killing spree that started on April 7,
1994, and claimed the lives of almost 800,000 people, most of them Tutsis but
also moderate Hutus, according to Al Jazeera.
Notably, Dammu Ravi, the Secretary of the Ministry of
External Affairs (Economic Relations), is on a visit to Rwanda, Uganda, and
Kenya from April 7-12, accompanied by the Additional Secretary (East and
Southern Africa), Puneet R Kundal.
On Sunday (April 7), Dammu Ravi called on MoS for
Foreign Affairs James Kabarebe, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning
UzzielNdagijimana and MoS for Agriculture Eric Rwigamba of Rwanda in Kigali.
“Secy (ER) Dammu Ravi called on MoS for Foreign
Affairs James Kabarebe, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning
UzzielNdagijimana and MoS for Agriculture Eric Rwigamba of Rwanda in Kigali.
Discussions covered issues of bilateral interest,” the MEA wrote in a post on
X.
“He is also expected to hold meetings with Ministers
and senior officials of the Government of Rwanda,” the MEA said in a press
release.
Additionally, he will also meet with Ministers and
officials of the Ugandan government, besides chairing a business session
comprising captains of Indian and Ugandan industry. He is also expected to
interact with the Indian community in Uganda.
Furthermore, the press release disclosed that
“Secretary (ER) will then travel to Kenya heading a large delegation comprising
officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Indian agricultural companies and
business chambers from April 10-12.”
This visit will fulfil the decision taken in the
meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the President of Kenya during his visit
to India in December 2023.
The delegation will, inter alia, explore the
possibility of agricultural farming in Kenya.
Source:
thehindu.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/qutub-minar-illuminates-in-remembrance-of-rwanda-genocide-of-1994/article68041764.ece
----
ISIS And Al-Qaeda Recruit Radicalized Muslim Lone
Wolves Online To Plan Terrorist Attacks: Northwestern University
Taliban fighters celebrate
on the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul on a street near the US embassy
in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 15, 2023.
(Photo credit: REUTERS)
------
APRIL 7, 2024
Both the Islamic State group (ISIS) and al-Qaeda have
been recruiting lone wolves online to plan terrorist attacks. While
counterterrorist organizations worldwide are trying to respond to this
phenomenon, they are finding it difficult to prevent all the threats.
“ISIS has used social media to recruit and do its
activities,” V.S Subrahmanian, a professor of computer science at Northwestern
University, told The Media Line.
Explaining the difficulties in monitoring them, he
said: “As experts, we cannot blindly enter online chats of terrorists; this
could compromise us for two reasons: The terrorists may recognize us as
potential threats to them if we lack proper training for undercover work or if
they consider us unsuitable as new members. On top of that, intelligence
organizations may target us as suspicious if we’re in certain groups.”
According to Michael Barak, a researcher at the
Institute for Counter-Terrorism of the Launder School of Government Diplomacy
and Strategy at Reichman University, “RocketChat is a very famous tool used by
both organizations. They have inner chat rooms where they can find new
contacts. In addition, there is Discord, another tool used to explain to new
militants the instructions to join the ranks.”
With al-Qaeda in particular, Barak said, “We see the
example of Inspire magazine, written in 13 different languages. Languages are
important to locally target the Muslim audience but, overall, the message is
basically the same on how to plan terrorist attacks worldwide by building
explosives, targeting specific people, and so on.”
He explained further: “This magazine [Inspire] is very
useful to target lone wolves in the West, because they are already within the
Western countries, but the call to jihad also applies to people living in the
MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region, as much as the militants pursue the
goals of the terrorists’ agenda.”
Both organizations attract new assets offline as well.
They use various methods, ranging from radical speeches in mosques and prisons
to applying pressure through friends or relatives already in the circle who are
used as mediators in the recruitment process.
“There is the case of Birmingham, where there is a huge
Salafi community. Within the mosque, they recruit people for ISIS,” said Barak.
“The targets are mostly young Muslims who radicalized themselves once they came
in contact with European society, which they perceive as different from their
own.”
The recruitment has historically been directed toward
“transnationals,” who identify with jihadist ideas and live in Western
countries as members of the Muslim diaspora, as in the case of Birmingham.
“Terrorist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda have tried to convince those
who live in the diaspora that jihadism is the only remedy for racial and social
inequities,” Herbert Ferguson Tinsley, an analyst at the Government
Accountability Office and former senior researcher at START, the National
Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, told The
Media Line.
This phenomenon extends beyond the UK; there are also
examples of such recruitment methods occurring in the US. “In recent years,
there have been cases of recruiting for ISIS among the Somalian immigrants in
Minnesota, and this created a huge asset for terrorist groups to have someone
already in ‘enemy’ countries, such as America,” said Subrahmanian.
Terrorist groups have long used social media
platforms, but this trend has significantly increased after the Oct. 7 Hamas
attacks on Israel. Highlighting the ISIS-K newspaper Voice of Khurasan, Barak
said: “In response to the war in Gaza, they have been publishing an operative
manual on how to carry out a genocide against the Jews and asked Muslims in the
West to target synagogues and community centers. Their rhetoric calls for a
jihad to punish Israel and the West, which is affiliated with it.”
“Through its online channels, al-Qaeda has always
mentioned that in order to defeat Israel it is necessary to overthrow the
Jordanian and Saudi kingdoms and [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi for
being involved with Israel in the first place,” added Barak.
In Turkey, ISIS-K, the terror group behind the recent
Moscow attack, has strengthened its presence, using the country as a financial
and transit hub, enabled by the growing number of Afghan refugees crossing into
the country through Iran. Since 2014, Turkey has permitted many jihadists to
enter the country and has adopted a policy of nonintervention, which has
allowed foreign fighters to pass through its borders to join ISIS in Syria.
Those involved in the recent ISIS-K Moscow attack reportedly came straight from
Turkey.
Source:
jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/terrorist-groups-recruit-radicalized-muslims-online-as-security-operatives-work-to-stop-terror-795781
---
Man In Karachi Sentenced To 80 Lashes For Denying
Child’s Paternity; Accusing Ex-Wife Of Adultery
April 8, 2024
Sumair Abdullah
KARACHI: A sessions court has sentenced a man to 80
lashes for refusing to admit paternity of his child and falsely accusing his
ex-wife of adultery.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (Malir) Shehnaz
Bohyo convicted Fareed Qadir under Section 7(1) of the Offence of Qazf
(Enforcement Of Hadd) Ordinance, 1979 for disowning his legal child and making
false accusations against his ex-wife.
The said section of the ordinance reads: “Whoever
commits qazf liable to hadd shall be punished with whipping numbering eighty
stripes.”
The judge wrote in his verdict: “It is crystal clear
that the accused is a liar and had fabricated an allegation of Qazf upon the
complainant regarding illegitimacy of her daughter… Thus, he is convicted and
sentenced to 80 stripes each under section 7(1) of the Qazf Ordinance, 1979.”
The court ruled that after the conviction, his
evidence shall not be admissible in any court of law following the confirmation
of the conviction from the Federal Shariat Court.
Flogging punishment awarded under Qazf Ordinance
“As the accused is sentenced to whipping only… he
shall remain on bail, provided that he agrees to appear at the time and place
designated by this court for the execution of the punishment of whipping,
following the confirmation of the conviction and sentence by the court of
appeal, and submits a bail bond in the sum of Rs100,000,” said the verdict.
The convict’s ex-wife had filed a complaint in court
and stated that she got married in February 2015 and they lived together for
one month. In December 2015, she gave birth to a baby girl. However, her
ex-husband failed to provide maintenance or take her back to his home. When she
moved a family court the judge rendered a decree in her favour and directed the
convict to provide maintenance for his daughter and former wife.
However, the husband submitted two applications in
court during the proceedings of the execution application, requesting a DNA
test for the baby girl and disowning his daughter. These applications were subsequently
withdrawn by the convict.
However, the complainant filed an application under
Sections 200, 203-B of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) read with Sections 3,
5, 7, and 11 of the Qazf Ordinance, 1979, before the district and sessions
court (Malir), seeking legal remedy against her ex-husband for levelling
serious allegations against her.
During the trial, the accused denied allegations
regarding his ex-wife, stating that she had only lived with him for six hours
after their marriage and then left the home and never returned.
However, the court noted that the accused neither
testified under oath nor produced any witnesses to support his claims, adding
that the defence also failed to bring any evidence regarding the accused making
an apology or filing applications over a misunderstanding.
The court also highlighted that the accused in his
recorded statement under Section 342 of the CrPC admitted that a baby girl was
his legitimate daughter.
Prosecutor Saira Bano told Dawn that she did not
witness any convictions of flogging under Section 7 of the Qafz Ordinance
during her 14 years of service as a lawyer.
She explained that the implementation of the
punishment of 80 lashes is subject to confirmation or otherwise by the court of
appeal.
She believed that the recent conviction could be the
first instance of corporal punishment in many decades.
Source:
dawn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1826325/man-in-karachi-sentenced-to-80-lashes-for-denying-childs-paternity
----
Taliban Official Announces Plan To Block Facebook In
Afghanistan: Najibullah Haqqani
Photo: Khaama Press
------
Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2024
According to a report,” Najibullah Haqqani, the acting
Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology for the Taliban in
Afghanistan, announced in an interview with Tolo News on Saturday night, April
6th, that the ministry has finalized the plan to block the social network
Facebook in Afghanistan.
The report states: “The Taliban official stated that
the plan to block Facebook has been finalized, emphasizing that the youth of
their country currently need education and should not be preoccupied with
social networks.”
He added: “Our youth are in a situation where they are
academically weak and the majority of them are illiterate, yet they continue to
waste their time and spend money on these things to the benefit of the company
and the detriment of the nation.”
He further emphasized: “Therefore, a policy has been
developed for this matter to restrict or block Facebook.”
The acting Minister of Telecommunications for the
Taliban has not provided information regarding the implementation time frame
for this plan.
It is worth mentioning that since the Taliban took
power in Afghanistan, they have imposed extensive restrictions on people’s
access to independent and free media in the country.
They have blocked numerous websites of these media
outlets, but they have not yet taken action to block social networks such as
Facebook in Afghanistan.
Facebook is one of the popular social networks among
the citizens of Afghanistan and has the highest number of users compared to
other social networks in Afghanistan. Therefore, following the statements of
the Minister of Telecommunications regarding the readiness to implement a policy
to restrict or block this social network, these statements have faced a wave of
reactions from users.
This social platform is popular among various segments
of the Afghan population and is used for various purposes such as commerce,
education, information dissemination, entertainment, and other goals
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-official-announces-plan-to-block-facebook-in-afghanistan/
----
Norway Removes Pakistan From Its National Threat
Assessment List
Armed police officers are
seen outside the Nobel Institute in Oslo. — AFP/File
------
April 08, 2024
Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: Norway has removed Pakistan from its
‘National Threat Assessment List’.
The decision has been taken by the Norwegian
government keeping in view the “non-existent” circumstances that brought
Pakistan in the list.
Diplomatic sources pointed it out here on Sunday that
diplomatic efforts by Pakistan persuaded the Norwegian authorities to exclude
Pakistan’s name from their list of nations of security concern.
The announcement came through the latest report issued
by Norway’s Police Security Service (NPSS), which holds responsibility for
intelligence and security matters within the country.
The sources reminded that Pakistan, among other
nations, had been listed in Norway’s National Threat Assessment for years,
causing complexities for students and researchers from Pakistan. who
encountered obstacles due to their country’s inclusion in the list, while their
documents were processed for traveling requirement.
Sources maintained that Pakistan’s diplomatic
initiatives bore fruit, leading to its removal from the list. The decision is
anticipated to bolster Pakistan’s positive image on the global platform and
create new educational opportunities for its students and researchers. The
Foreign Office (FO) has presented a detailed report on the development to
Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, added the sources.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1176741-norway-removes-pakistan-from-its-national-threat-assessment-list
---
India
BJP's 'ideological ancestors' supported British,
Muslim League against Indians: Mallikarjun Kharge
08.04.24
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday hit back at
the BJP leadership, alleging that their "ideological ancestors"
supported the British and the Muslim League against Indians in the freedom
struggle.
Kharge's reaction came after Prime Minister Narendra
Modi attacked the Congress, charging that its poll manifesto bore the imprint
of the Muslim League and utterances of its leaders showed hostility towards
national integrity and Sanatan Dharma.
In a post on X, Kharge said, "Modi-Shah's
political and ideological ancestors supported the British and the Muslim League
against the Indians in the freedom struggle." "Even today, they are
invoking the Muslim League against the 'Congress Nyay Patra', guided and shaped
according to the aspirations, needs and demands of common Indians," he
added.
BJP chief JP Nadda had also accused the Congress of
appeasement in its manifesto and asked the party to explain why it was against
the majority.
In his post, Kharge alleged, "Modi-Shah's
ideological ancestors opposed Mahatma Gandhi's call for 'Quit India' in 1942,
which was the movement chaired by Maulana Azad." Everyone knows how Shyama
Prasad Mukherjee formed his governments in Bengal, Sindh and the North-West
Frontier Province in the 1940s in coalition with the Muslim League, the
Congress chief said.
"Did Shyama Prasad Mukherjee not write to the
then British governor about how the Quit India movement of 1942 can be
'combated' and how the Congress should be suppressed? And for this, he said
that 'Indians have to trust the British'?," Kharge asked.
"Modi-Shah and their nominated president are
today spreading falsehood about the Congress manifesto," he alleged.
"There is a stink of RSS in Modi ji's speeches,
the BJP's electoral graph is plunging day by day, therefore the RSS has started
remembering its best friend -- the Muslim League!," Kharge said.
"There is only one truth -- the Congress' Nyay
Patra reflects the hopes and aspirations of 140 crore people of India. Their
combined strength will put an end to Modi ji's 10 years of injustice," he
claimed.
Earlier in the day, the Congress said Modi is scared
over the prospect of the BJP struggling to cross the 180-seat mark in the Lok
Sabha polls and again resorted to the "same cliched Hindu-Muslim
script".
Source:
telegraphindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bharatiya-janata-partys-ideological-ancestors-supported-british-muslim-league-against-indians-mallikarjun-kharge/cid/2011944
----
Intricate Jaalis At SidiSaiyyedMosque In Ahmedabad
Reflect ‘Epitome Of Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb’
Ritu Sharma
April 8, 2024
At the call for prayer, men gather for ablutions
before settling down to offer Namaz in the 450-year-old mosque largely open to
the public and located in the heart of Ahmedabad, locked by the busy public roads
circumventing it. The uniqueness of the SidiSaiyyed mosque, popularly known as
the ‘SidiSaiyyednijaali’ in Gujarati, is that it does not have a dome and is
famous for its several intricately carved stone lattice jaalis on the walls
that let the filtered rays of the sun into the prayer area.
With no place to park around it, most tourists take
slow drives around the mosque to see the latticework. One of the themes in the
lattice windows is the tree of life which inspired the logo of the Indian
Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).
Express photo by Nirmal Harindran The iconic grill –
‘SidiSaiyyed heritage Mosque Jali’ is barely visible to public owing to
overgrown vegetation in the Mosque compound. (Express photo by Nirmal
Harindran)
However, historians and the Sunni Muslim Waqf
Committee which manages the mosque, have raised concerns about the erosion of
these unique stone works due to the pollution that comes with the traffic.
Ten feet wide and seven feet high, the jaali is carved
from square rocks and gives a view of a small garden that came up in 1572 AD
when the mosque of SidiSaiyyed was built. Two of its latticeworks – the tree of
life and another one of intertwined trees, foliage and a palm motif – are the
most popular. The tree of life was once part of the official mementos of the
Gujarat government.
In fact, in 2022 when the IIM-A decided to tweak its
logo, it had to put the decision in abeyance following opposition from various
quarters, including faculty members, students, alumni and design fraternity.
Later that year when the institute launched its new logo, it had to retain the
legacy of the original logo – the ‘jaali’ inspired brand mark – which, in its
new form, has been made more “amenable” to communication in digital media.
Saeed is said to have come from Ethiopia via Yemen to
Gujarat. Sidi Saeed was originally a slave of Rumi Khan, a Turkish general who
had come to Gujarat from Yemen, bringing along with him his African-origin
slaves, and later served Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud III. The grave of Sidi
Saeed is situated within the compound of the mosque. He died on December 24,
1576 AD.
“He was known as a nobleman who helped the poor and
had a large collection of books. He built this magnificent monument during the
reign of Sultan Muzaffar Shah III, the last ruler of Gujarat,” says
Ahmedabad-based historian Rizwan Kadri.
Detailing the history of the mosque, Kadri tells The
Indian Express that a description of this mosque by foreign tourists in their
travelogue mentions it is made of marble. “This was due to the whitewashed
interiors with limestone during the British colonial period when it served as
an office for the mamlatdar of Daskroi taluka. Doors were installed and the
mihrabs (that indicate the direction of Mecca) were converted into presses. It
was when Viceroy of India Lord Curzon, with his interest in historical
monuments, ordered to vacate the office and restore the mosque while visiting
Ahmedabad,” says Kadri.
While there are ten intricately carved latticework
windows on the side and rear arches, the central window arch of the mosque has
stone blocks. There are many theories floating for this blackout, one being
that the latticework was probably taken away by foreign rulers.
Historians believe, however, that the construction of
the mosque remained incomplete as it ran out of funds. Sources say that when
Saeed retired from military services, the income from the jagir granted to him
by the Abyssinian general Jhujhar Khan, which was used to construct this, was
taken back. Thus, the work of the mosque remained incomplete.
Historians claim that among people who could not
resist praising the jaalis include Jahangir who had called Ahmedabad gardabad
(city of dust). The other admirers have included Queen Elizabeth and a Russian
Czar on their visits to India. The latticework on this mosque has been
replicated even on furniture, apart from panels on luxury hotel chains that
have come up in the city lately.
Pollution and other concerns
The heavy traffic in the area and adjoining central
bus stand Lal Darwaja is said to affect the monument badly. “The diesel buses
and other vehicles moving around the mosque have caused major deterioration to
the building. Due to the wind direction and pollution, one jaali on the left
side has been reduced to half its thickness. To avoid this, there should be
proper plantation around the building. Also, there should be proper lighting
along with basic facilities like toilets and drinking water which are missing
from the site,” says Waqf Committee president Rizwan K.
The ASI-protected monument is managed by the Ahmedabad
Sunni Muslim Waqf Committee, a trust formed in 1914. Even today, namaz is
offered five times a day in the mosque.
Adding to the concerns, the historian Kadri says, “The
menace of rodents is grave around the monument. This should be checked, else it
will severely damage the heritage monument.” The mosque is a few metres from
the city’s central bus station at Lal Darwaja, and from the Bhadra fort which
was part of the walled city.
“From Sidi Saeed, over a period of time, it became
SidiSaiyyed mosque. Saeed is a name while Saiyyed is a surname but like many
other places in Ahmedabad this too changed from Saeed to Saiyyed,” he adds.
Visitors from across the world turn up at the mosque
just to see the jaalis. The 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his
Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to the mosque brought it into the spotlight,
with foreign delegates putting it on their must-visit lists.
The waqf committee president, who is an architect by
profession, tells The Indian Express, “The jaalis are an epitome of the
Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb, reflecting communal harmony through the depiction of
kalpvriksh and khajurivriksh in the intricate work.”
Source:
indianexpress.com
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----
Secular parties don’t want Muslims in leadership
positions, want them to be their slaves — Owaisi
SHIKHA SALARIA
08 April, 2024
Lucknow: Secular parties want Muslim leaders to be
their slaves, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin
Owaisi has claimed, rejecting allegations that his party helps the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) by splitting Opposition votes.
Speaking to ThePrint, Owaisi, whose AIMIM has tied up
with OBC party Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) and smaller parties like the Rashtra Uday
Party (RUP) of Babu Ram Pal and the Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party (PMSP) of
Prem Chand Bind for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, called
the INDIA bloc’s claim that it stands for marginalised PDA groups “a joke”.
PDA stands Picchde, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak or the
backward, Dalit, and minority group — the same section that the AIMIM-led PDM
(for Picchde, Dalit, and Muslims) Nyay Morcha claims to represent.
“They have given this name (PDA) in a non-serious way.
Why didn’t you give a ticket (to a Muslim) in Rajya Sabha? Who stopped you?”
the Hyderabad MP asked.
In a wide-ranging interview with ThePrint, Owaisi
spoke about his party’s object of defeating the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha
elections, the possibility of an alliance with the Congress in Telangana, and
his suspicions on the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Here
are excerpts:
Muslims are politically invisible’
According to Owaisi, while the BJP doesn’t give
tickets to Muslims, the INDIA bloc also remains silent about issues concerning
them. As a result, Muslims are politically invisible, he said.
The Opposition does nothing for Muslims and doesn’t
want to see them in leadership positions. As an example, he pointed to the
Samajwadi Party’s (SP’s) decision to not give a ticket to its Moradabad MP,
S.T. Hasan.
This, he said, was like “humiliating someone
publicly”.
“You made a tamasha. This is just a way to show that
we are chaudharys (protectors) of Muslims,” he added.
He further said: “If someone’s house is torn down with
a bulldozer, they (the Opposition) sit silently, if someone is shot, there is
no reaction. If someone is killed over meat, there is no reaction…the limit was
crossed that there was an attempt to humiliate their own party MP from
Moradabad, S.T. Hasan.”
He also said he wondered why the allegation of
“dividing Muslim votes” was never levelled against the Congress and the Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP), neither of which had made significant gains in the 2022
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
While Congress won two seats in that election, the BSP
could score only one. “It is simply because only the AIMIM is talking about the
empowerment of Muslims,” he said.
However, he made it clear that the AIMIM’s object was
to beat the BJP, especially in the party citadel and his own seat, Hyderabad.
The BJP has been AIMIM’s principal opposition there since 1984, he said.
“Inshallah, this time too, we will defeat the BJP.
There’s no doubt.”
Questioning his critics, he said that despite the
larger Opposition’s failure to stop the BJP, it was the AIMIM that was being
watched and scrutinised constantly.
“Narendra Modi got 31 percent vote for the majority
community in 2014. This rose to 37 percent in 2019. Am I responsible for this?
Not a single Muslim MP has won in Gujarat since 1984. Who is responsible for
this? In the Indian Parliament, only 27 Muslim MPs win, which is only 4 percent
of the population. Will you hold me responsible for this too?”
His meeting with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth
Reddy after the Congress party’s sweep of the state last December led to
speculation of the AIMIM’s possible alliance with the party. But Owaisi said it
was a congratulatory visit.
“When the result came and Telangana’s public gave him
a mandate, I congratulated him and he spoke to me. He asked me if any work
needed to be done in Hyderabad. I told him there was a lot,” he said.
He did not, however, reject an alliance with the
Congress outright, saying only he didn’t think that was the case “as of
now”. “As far as the other 16
constituencies of Telangana are concerned, it will be our effort that BJP be
stopped there,” he added.
Talking about UP, he said the PDM (Pichhde, Dalit, and
Muslim) alliance with Apna Dal (K) and others was to provide “a strong
alternative to the public before the 2027 state assembly polls”. He also
invited OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya and Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief
Chandra Shekhar Azad to join the alliance.
While the former is fighting the election from
Kushinagar as a candidate for the Rashtriya ShoshitSamaaj Party, the latter is
contesting from Nagina.
Significantly, Apna Dal (K) chief leader Pallavi Patel
had said on 1 April that her party had allied with the AIMIM “with blessings
from” Maurya, sparking speculations that he could join the front.
“We will welcome them. Let’s see what happens. If they
come with us, it will send a strong message against NDA, Narendra Modi and
INDIA alliance,” he said.
On Mukhtar Ansari’s death
During his interview, Owaisi also cast doubts on the
death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari. The BSP ex-legislator, who had 65
criminal cases against him and eight convictions, had been unwell and died of
what authorities said was cardiac arrest in UP’s Banda jail on 28 March.
However, his family, whom Owaisi met Wednesday, claim
he was slow-poisoned.
Ansari’s death came a year after gangster-politician Atiq
Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead while they were being brought for a
court hearing.
In his interview, the Hyderabad MP questioned the UP
government’s decision to send Ansari back to jail just after his discharge from
a hospital. He also wondered why the government did not comply with the
family’s request for a post-mortem by an independent set of experts.
Ansari’s family, he said, had repeatedly been saying
that his life was in danger and had even filed a petition in the Supreme Court
last December seeking more security. “The UP government said that it wouldn’t
happen and they would provide security (to Mukhtar). The family’s apprehensions
have now been proven true,” he said.
This, he said, is the second death in judicial
custody, referring to Ahmed’s death.
“An ex-MP who was sentenced by the court and his
brother (Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf) were shot dead in police presence. Now, this
family is saying he has been given slow poison. We can’t discard (these
statements),” he said.
What happened was “very wrong”, he said, claiming that
the fundamental right to life had been “snatched way” in the case.
“Once, you open this door, it can never be closed.
Today, it has happened with him, tomorrow, it will be someone else. Where will
this end? And where did the rule of law go?” he asked.
Source:
theprint.in
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----
Mideast
’Stay strong!’ Thousands rally for Gaza hostages in
Jerusalem
April 08, 2024
JERUSALEM: Thousands gathered on Sunday in front of
Israel’s parliament to demand the return of the hostages abducted by Hamas
militants in Gaza exactly six months ago.
“Stay strong you who are still there,” cried
17-year-old former hostage Agam Goldstein with tears in her eyes.
The teenager was freed in a deal with Hamas at the end
of November.
About 250 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage
by militants on October 7.
The army says 129 are still being held in Gaza,
including 34 who are presumed dead.
In another moment of high emotion at the rally,
OfriBibas appealed for the lives of her brother Yarden, his wife Shiri and
their sons, Ariel, 4, and one-year-old Kfir — the youngest of the hostages.
After a massive anti-government demonstration in Tel
Aviv on Saturday, which also heard emotional calls to free the hostages,
organizers of the Jerusalem rally attempted to be apolitical.
But LishayMeran, whose husband Omri is among those
held captive in Gaza, took aim at the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu who is frequently accused of not doing enough to free them.
“We were abandoned on October 7, and we have been
abandoned since,” said the mother of two as protesters carried banners reading
“Free them now!” and “Bring them home.”
Other hostage families have accused Netanyahu of
trying to blacken their reputations and accusing them of being “traitors” for
protesting in wartime.
But Netanyahu vowed on Sunday that the war would not
end until all the hostages are released.
The Gaza war broke out on October 7 with an attack by
Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians,
Israeli figures show.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least
33,175 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health
ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The latest round of indirect talks between Israel and
Hamas were set to resume in Cairo on Sunday, with the United States, Egypt and
Qatar as mediators.
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of dragging
out the negotiations.
Source:
arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2489711/middle-east
----
No Israeli embassy safe anymore, top Iranian general
warns
April 7, 2024
TEHRAN - In a recent development, a top military
advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,
has issued a grave warning, stating that no Israeli embassy is safe anymore.
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi delivered these
remarks at a solemn ceremony on Sunday, held to honor the martyrs of a heinous
terrorist attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, Syria.
Safavi emphasized the Leader's unwavering
determination to retaliate against the Israeli regime for its brazen assault on
Iran’s consulate in Syria. He noted, "The Leader promised a slap on the
face of the Israeli regime such that the regime will regret attacking Iran’s
consulate in Syria."
Furthermore, Safavi highlighted the preparedness of
the Resistance Front to decisively act upon this solemn pledge.
A former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps, Safavi provided profound insights into the transformative impact
of the Gaza conflict on regional dynamics, events, and strategies, sparking
fervent discussions among attendees and observers alike.
Additionally, Safavi shed light on a recent trend,
revealing that 28 Israeli embassies have shuttered their doors out of fear for
their security, serving as a testament to the escalating tensions and the
growing unease within Israeli diplomatic circles.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Safavi
addressed the palpable fear gripping Israel in the aftermath of the consulate
attack.
On Monday afternoon, Israeli warplanes launched a
devastating airstrike on the consular annex of Iran's embassy in Damascus. This
brazen act of aggression resulted in the loss of 13 lives, including seven
members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps stationed on a mission in Syria.
The strike has sent shockwaves throughout the region, further exacerbating
tensions between the two adversaries.
In response to this egregious violation of
international law and conventions, Iranian officials have vehemently reiterated
the country's inherent right to deliver a resolute and proportional response.
Source:
tehrantimes.com
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---
Iraq's Islamic Resistance hits Israeli barracks, base
in support of Gaza
07 April 2024
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has carried out
three anti-Israeli operations, this time targeting two barracks and a military
base in the occupied Golan and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is an umbrella
group of the country’s anti-terror movements, made the announcement in three
separate statements on its Telegram channel late Sunday and early Monday.
“The Islamic Resistance fighters in Iraq this morning
on Sunday, 7/4/2024, targeted the western Yarden barracks in the occupied Golan
with a drone,” it said in the first statement.
The resistance added that the second operation, also
on Sunday, "targeted the southern Yonatan barracks in our occupied
territories."
The third operation, which was carried out with
drones, “targeted the Zionist Elifalit base, north of Lake Tiberias” in the
occupied Palestinian territories.
The Iraqi resistance noted that new anti-Israeli
operations came “in support of our people in Gaza and in response to the
massacres committed by the usurping entity against Palestinian civilians,
including children, women, and the elderly.”
It asserted that the resistance fighters will continue
to strike the enemy's strongholds.
The new operations came just hours after the Islamic
Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a “vital” site
in the port city of Eilat in the southernmost part of the 1948 Israeli-occupied
territories.
Earlier on Saturday, the Iraqi resistance said it had
targeted oil refineries in Haifa in the occupied territories with drones.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has vowed to continue
its retaliatory operations as long as Israel’s genocide in Gaza goes on.
The Iraqi resistance has also carried out several
attacks on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport using drones.
Earlier on Sunday, an Iraqi legislator said the
country’s anti-terror resistance groups will continue their support for
Palestinians and conduct more operations against Israeli interests until the
usurping regime stops its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
Hassan Salem, a member of the Iraqi parliament and
head of the al-Sadiqun (the Honest Ones) political party, said the Islamic
Resistance in Iraq will continue standing by its “brothers in Palestine” and
pound Israeli targets.
“The presence of US soldiers in Iraq and the region is
shrinking thanks to operations being carried out by resistance fighters. The
resistance front played a significant role in diminishing the United States’
influence on Iraq. The resistance groups’ retaliatory operations place
Washington and its allies under pressure in Iraq and elsewhere in the region,”
he pointed out.
Source:
presstv.ir
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----
Israeli army raids West Bank cities, detains more
Palestinians
Mohammad Sio
08.04.2024
The Israeli army stormed early Monday several cities
in the occupied West Bank, including Tulkarm and its refugee camp, demolishing
infrastructure and detaining people, Anadolu learned.
Military bulldozers excavated and destroyed
infrastructure and there were armed clashes throughout the raid, witnesses
said. Houses and shops were also ransacked.
The forces imposed tightened restrictions around the
refugee camp deploying snipers in buildings while beginning to excavate the
streets, Palestine's official news agency Wafa said.
Other towns and cities raided included Balata refugee
camp east of Nablus, and the town of Dura in Hebron.
Tensions have been high across the West Bank since
Israel launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip after a cross-border
attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
At least 459 Palestinians have since been killed and
around 4,750 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory,
according to the Health Ministry.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-raids-west-bank-cities-detains-more-palestinians/3186226
----
Egypt decides to increase aid trucks to Gaza to 300
daily through Rafah crossing
Rania R.a.Abushamala
08.04.2024
Egypt has decided to increase the number of truckloads
of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing to 300 per
day effective Sunday, said an official.
The move coincides with six months passing since
Israel began its brutal war on the enclave, which is home to 2.3 million
Palestinians.
DiaaRashwan, head of the Egyptian Information Service,
said in a statement that his country had decided to increase the number of
humanitarian aid trucks carrying food, medical supplies and daily necessities
in accordance with the directives of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Rashwan neither specified whether all of the aid is
Egyptian or also comes from other countries and entities nor the number of
trucks currently entering Gaza through Rafah.
He said the number of aid trucks that entered from the
Egyptian side to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip alone since the beginning
of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 11 amounted to 322.
The number of trucks that have entered Gaza through
Rafah since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023 has reached 19,354 carrying
19,952 tons of medical supplies, and 23,453 tons of food, according to Rashwan.
He added that the trucks also carried 10,435 tons of
fuel, 26,692 tons of water and 44,103 tons of other relief materials along with
123 equipped ambulances.
Rashwan further said that 3,764 injured and sick
people entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip for treatment along with 6,191
companions and 66,759 foreign and dual nationals as well as 6,330 Egyptians.
Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the
Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack early last October by the Palestinian
group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.
Nearly 33,200 Palestinians have since been killed and
almost 75,900 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the
Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on
the verge of starvation.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population
into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or
destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice (ICJ), which recently asked it to do more to prevent famine in
Gaza.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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---
Israel says 322 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday,
highest number since war started
EMANUEL FABIAN
7 April 2024,
The Defense Ministry body that coordinates Israeli
activity in Palestinian territories said that 322 aid trucks entered the Gaza
Strip on Sunday, the highest one-day total since the beginning of the war.
The Coordinator for Government Activities in the
Territories (COGAT) emphasized that Israel places no limit to aid that can
enter the Strip, but the boost in transfers Sunday appears to be a result of
mounting international pressure on Israel to improve the humanitarian situation
in the enclave.
According to COGAT, 70 percent of the trucks entering
Gaza on Sunday carried food.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US
Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew toured the IDF’s new Humanitarian Coordination
and Deconfliction Cell on Sunday, which was established earlier this week as
part of a series of steps to improve the situation of Palestinians in Gaza.
“As we work to achieve the goals of this war, namely
the destruction of Hamas and the return of the hostages, we recognize the
importance of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Gallant
said during the tour.
According to a Defense Ministry statement, Gallant and
Lew were briefed on “measures being taken to increase the effective inspection,
transfer, and distribution of humanitarian aid.”
The statement added that the humanitarian coordination
cell was established in order to “enable key partners to work closely in order
to facilitate the delivery of aid in a manner that will enable the IDF to
continue operating against Hamas terrorism, while also ensuring the security of
aid workers.”
Gallant also said Israel is working closely with the
US to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the United Nations has
warned of looming famine.
“I would like to express my appreciation to the US
administration for their longstanding support during this war, and for their
leadership on the humanitarian issue as it pertains both to the hostage issue
and to aid being delivered to Gaza,” he said.
In the wake of the deadly strike on the World Central
Kitchen convoy and US President Joe Biden’s tense conversation with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s security cabinet decided to take
immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Prime
Minister’s Office announced Friday.
The measures included temporarily opening up Ashdod
Port for humanitarian deliveries and opening the Erez Crossing in the northern
Gaza Strip for the first time since it was significantly damaged, and many
Israelis were killed and abducted there, during the Hamas-led October 7 terror
onslaught that sparked the ongoing war.
Israel also committed to increase the amount of aid
from Jordan moving through the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of
Gaza.
The United Nations on Saturday said Israel had
authorized the opening of 20 bakeries in the northern Gaza Strip and a
waterline to supply the area as part of the fresh measures.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on
Sunday that Baghdad would be sending 10 million liters of fuel to the Gaza
Strip in support of the Palestinian people. Iraq also agreed to receive wounded
Palestinians from Gaza and provide them treatment in government and private
hospitals, the prime minister added in a statement.
It was not immediately clear how such a transfer would
be coordinated with Israel, which inspects and approves all aid entering the
Strip.
The Israel-Hamas war erupted when the Palestinian
terror group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack against Israel on
October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking another 253 hostages, some half
of whom are still being held in the Strip.
Since the start of the war, more than 33,000
Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
These figures can not be verified and do not differentiate between civilians
and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 13,000 gunmen in Gaza and
another 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7. As of Sunday, 260 IDF
soldiers have been killed during fighting in Gaza.
Source:
timesofisrael.com
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----
Outlining a global role model for good governance is
one of Islamic Republic's aspirations: Leader
April 7, 2024
TEHRAN- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyed Ali Khamenei met with a number of university students and representatives
from student associations on Sunday in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah.
In this meeting, a number of students and
representatives of various student organizations presented their views and
opinions on the current issues.
"We must pursue a cause. The Islamic Republic can
summarize its ideals under two general headings: one heading is the
administration of the country in an Islamic way; The second title is providing
a role model to the people of the world for the good administration of a
country. These are two ideals. You must strive for these two ideals. You have
to think about this, you have to work on the ways to achieve these two general
titles," the Leader said, addressing students.
During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei described
justice as the negation of the class gap in using public opportunities, saying
that “the realities should guide the young minds of today’s students in a
direction that is closer to solving problems.”
“Today, there are people working in the government
body who participated and spoke in the same meeting as you did a few years
ago,” he added.
The Leader went on to add, “Some sins are committed
without realizing that they are sins. Many of our words, many of the statements
we make in the virtual space require a response, eventually we must be
careful.”
“If our inappropriate behaviors are recognized, they
can be corrected, repentance can be sought, and seeking forgiveness is
possible. If the wrongdoing goes unnoticed, the person does not repent, it accumulates,
the heart deviates from righteousness.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed that “my
recommendation is to be careful about what you say, think about not committing
an act in your speech, in your writing that you cannot provide an answer for
later.”
“This year, thanks to God, the month of Ramadan was
good, especially the prevalence of Quran recitation. Reciting the Quran was
very satisfying for me. Seeing many individuals, sometimes even young people,
reciting the Quran from memory, was one of my great desires that, thanks to
God, I see it coming true, it has come true.” The Leader noted.
“It is appropriate to use the books of the late Mr.
Mesbah. Truly, the thoughts of this great man are helpful in guiding the young
minds in the right direction.”
He added, “The active gatherings in this month, the
street iftars in this month, all of these are valuable things.”
The Leader said that today’s young students must know
that they are grown in such a revolutionary academic environment.
“The system in which you live has come into being
through struggle and with effort. The most fundamental realities of our lives
now are this. This is a revolutionary system,” he averred.
“Many of the revolutionary aspirations have not been
realized, this is true. But the system in which we currently live is a system
that has such expectations of it, why? Because it is a revolutionary system.”
The Leader pointed out that “during the Pahlavi era,
which university did have various scientific, technological, and industrial
products? However, it was considered self-evident that Iranians could not
access high and precise technologies.”
“The notion that Iranians could not access high and
precise technologies was considered self-evident, it was considered a fact that
Iranians could not reach high scientific positions, and they could not access
the forefront of science.”
The Leader recommended that all student gatherings,
intellectual discussions, academic studies, and student communications should
be done with those who have faith in the Revolution.
He also highlighted that “the management of a country
must continuously progress both materially and spiritually without regression.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said that “this progress entails
general welfare, physical and moral security, and justice.”
“Justice involves eliminating class gaps in accessing
public opportunities. All opportunities should be equally available to the
people. Unequal access to opportunities is injustice. Justice extends beyond
financial matters to issues of honor, work, dignity, and more. Justice is
essential for scientific advancement, health expansion, maintaining a youthful
population, various developments, and innovations in the Islamic management of
a country.”
The Leader went on to note that “if we want to define
a university, the main pillar of its definition is science. A university has
three main duties: first, to educate scholars; second, to produce knowledge;
and third, to provide education and knowledge production for scholars.”
“While universities around the world educate scholars
and produce knowledge, they lag in this third pillar. The result is that the
products of educating scholars and producing knowledge become tools in the
hands of Zionist and hegemonic powers. All university components must focus on these
three points: administrators, professors, students, curriculum, educational
processes. All should serve these three directions.”
The Leader underscored that “if organizations do not
strengthen themselves theoretically, problems arise in their work. Have a
critical view but also a proud view towards the country’s progress.”
Ayatollah Khamenei continued by highlighting that
“criticism should be voiced, no doubt, but be proud that important works have
been done in various sectors.”
“Students organizations are one of the great
opportunities of the country. I consider student organizations, all of you, as
part of the great opportunities. I know you have differences of opinion, you
have different perspectives, it’s okay, having intellectual differences is not a
problem, as long as it doesn’t lead to quarreling and fighting.”
Source:
tehrantimes.com
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---
Hezbollah fires 40 rockets at Israeli outposts in
occupied Golan Heights
April 7, 2024
Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement says it has
launched dozens of rockets at Israeli military positions in response to strikes
on eastern Lebanese districts and in support of Palestinians amid a genocidal
war on Gaza.
The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news
channel, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 40
rockets were launched from Lebanon towards Israeli outposts in the occupied
Golan Heights and the Galilee panhandle, which lies in the northernmost section
of the Upper Galilee, on Sunday.
Hezbollah later announced in a separate statement that
it fired tens of Katyusha rockets at aerial warfare and missile defensecenters
inside Israeli Kila and Yoav barracks, Press TV reported.
The resistance group stated that the strikes were in
retaliation for Israeli offensives against districts in the Beqaa region,
situated about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the Lebanese capital city of
Beirut.
Earlier, the Israeli military said its warplanes had
struck Hezbollah sites in eastern Lebanon in retaliation for one of its drones
being shot down.
A source close to Hezbollah told AFP news agency in
eastern Lebanon’s Baalbek region that the strikes targeted Janta and Sifri in
the Beqaa Valley.
The Israeli military said on its Telegram channel that
“fighter jets struck a military complex and three other terrorist
infrastructure sites belonging to Hezbollah’s air defense network” in the
region.
It said the strikes were “in retaliation for the
attack” in which an Israeli army “drone was shot down” by a surface-to-air
missile on Saturday.
An unnamed source from Lebanon’s civil defense said
there were no casualties.
The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern
Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has
killed more than 33,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily
rocket attacks on Israeli positions.
At least 349 people have been killed on the Lebanese
border, including 68 civilians.
Israel says at least ten soldiers and eight settlers
have been killed in the area.
The fighting has forced the evacuation of tens of
thousands from the northern part of the occupied territories, amid rocket fire
and shelling carried out by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian groups.
Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars
against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat
in both conflicts.
Source:
tehrantimes.com
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https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/496865/Hezbollah-fires-40-rockets-at-Israeli-outposts-in-occupied-Golan
-----
Pakistan
Info minister rebuts Imran’s ‘fabricated, baseless’
allegations about Toshakhana case
April 7, 2024
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday
rebutted former prime minister Imran Khan’s allegations against the senior
military leadership in connection with the Toshakhana case, saying they were
“false, fabricated and baseless”.
The former premier had alleged that the senior
military leadership “implicated” him and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana
reference “in an attempt to stifle my spirits”.
Imran and his spouse were sentenced to 14 years in
jail in the case in January, days before the February 8 general elections.
Last week, the Islamabad High Court suspended the
sentences. However, appeals against the convictions in the case are still
pending.
A post shared on Imran’s official account on X gave a
transcript of his conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail — where he is
currently incarcerated — on Saturday. Imran claimed that the senior military
leadership was “driving the state affairs”.
The PTI founder, referring to a “London Plan” — which
he has also spoken about on previous occasions — alleged that it was “plotted
with the nexus” of the current army chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif, and
that “in order to execute it, judges were on-boarded, and they were appointed
by the Inter-Services Intelligence”.
The former premier further claimed that he had also
relayed a message to the military leadership through former president Arif Alvi
that he knew about the so-called “London Plan” and that “we are not your
enemies”.
Last year, Imran had challenged the army chief to
prove any corruption case against him and his wife.
Responding to his allegations today, Tarar said they
stemmed “from a state of panic and despair”.
“Totally false, fabricated and baseless allegations
without any proof or evidence,” the minister said in a post on X.
“[Imran Khan] and his spouse have both been involved
in the Toshakhana heist, audios have proven the level of involvement in
corruption and embezzlement,” Tarar asserted.
“Attacks on state institutions like the one on May 9
and running disrespectful campaigns against martyrs have been his policy,” he
stated, adding that the “truth cannot be concealed through propaganda and
blatant lies”.
The information minister said a “state of panic” at
the Adiala jail was evident from Imran’s statements.
Never fought with or maligned army: Imran
Meanwhile, in the transcript of yesterday’s talk with
reporters that was shared on X, Imran also said some PTI leaders were still in
contact with the military establishment.
He said that former PTI leader Ali Zaidi “was also in
contact”. “I will not accept anyone’s slavery and would prefer death over it,”
the ex-prime minister said.
The PTI founder said he “never fought with or maligned
the army” despite ex-army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa “stabbing us in the
back”.
Imran further said that when he was arrested in August
last year, the police “took away” his passport and cheque book from his
bedroom. “Then the ISI forced Inam Shah and an employee of Toshakhana to become
witnesses against me,” he claimed.
The ex-PM alleged that intelligence agencies had asked
his staffers to turn “approver” against him. According to the ex-premier, the
country was facing a 1970s-like situation.
About the incumbent government, Imran claimed that
“the ‘king’ is covertly handling the affairs, while [interior minister] Mohsin
Naqvi is operating as a viceroy”. He further claimed that Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif “commands no power”.
Referring to the recent letter by six IHC judges,
Imran said, “The judges are revealing that intelligence agency operatives are
blatantly threatening them.”
Recalling that former information minister Fawad
Chaudhry had “denounced PTI”, Imran claimed he was “still kept in detention in
an attempt to force him to become a witness against me”.
Fawad was released from the Adiala jail on Friday
after he was granted bail by the IHC in a graft case.
“If Parvez Elahi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi hold a press
conference today, all charges against them will be dropped,” the PTI founder
asserted.
Source:
dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1826274/info-minister-rebuts-imrans-fabricated-baseless-allegations-about-toshakhana-case
----
Shangla attack: Report reveals vehicle carrying
Chinese nationals wasn’t bulletproof, bombproof
April 08, 2024
ISLAMABAD: A police report on the deadly suicide
attack in Shangla’sBisham city has revealed that the vehicle carrying Chinese
nationals was neither bullet-proof nor bomb-proof.
The report, which has been sent to the federal
government, reveals that the bus targeted in the attack was travelling at a
distance of 15 feet from the other bus and fell into a 300-feet-deep ditch
after a suicide bomber crashed his explosive-laden vehicle into the vehicle
carrying the victims on the Karakoram Highway.
The report, the second of its nature, further mentions
that the buses, which were part of the convoy carrying Chinese nationals, were
equipped with close circuit television cameras (CCTV).
The development comes a day after Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif, as per Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, ordered
disciplinary action against senior police officers for “negligence” in the
light of an inquiry report over the March 26 incident which killed five Chinese
citizens, including a woman and a Pakistani driver.
“The PM has directed to take action against the
regional police officer (RPO) Hazara Division, district police officer of Upper
Kohistan and Lower Kohistan; director security, Dasu Hydropower Project and
commandant special security unit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 15 days,” the
minister said while speaking to the media in Lahore.
Also, the report says that the authorities have
gathered the parts of vehicle used by the attacker to target the Chinese convoy
at the incident site, which is located at a distance of around six and 77
kilometres from Bisham police station, and Dassu Dam, respectively.
Earlier this week, Geo News, citing sources, reported
the “arrest” of more than 10 terrorists, facilitators involved in the deadly
attack by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
The CTD sources added that the terrorist commander,
responsible for bringing the suicide bomber to Pakistan from Afghanistan, has
also been arrested as well as four other facilitators. The arrests came as the
country’s civil and military leadership reacted strongly to the attack vowing
that the perpetrators responsible for the heinous attack would be brought to
justice. PM Shehbaz has directed authorities concerned to provide Chinese
nationals with foolproof security in Pakistan through a comprehensive action
plan for regular audit of security standard operating procedures.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1176740-shangla-attack-report-reveals-vehicle-carrying-chinese-nationals-wasn-t-bulletproof-bombproof
---
Most-wanted TTP commander killed in Khyber
April 07, 2024
A most-wanted commander of the outlawed
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was among three terrorists killed in two
separate encounters with the security forces in the Khyber and North Waziristan
districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.
TTP commander, identified as Hazrat Ali alias Gagga,
was killed in a ground offense by the
military in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber district. The operation is aimed at
eliminating the remnants of the Lashkar-e-Islam outfit, who trying to settle in
the Tirah Valley, while coming from neighbouring Afghanistan.
Lashkar-e-Islam was led by Mangal Bagh, who was later
killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan over three years ago. Gagga was stated to
the main operational commander of the terrorist outfit, which had sided the
TTP.
Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)
said in a statement that two terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire
between the security forces and terrorists in the North Waziristan district in
the night between April 6 and 7.
According to the media wing of the military, security
forces effectively engaged terrorists’ location as a result of which “two
terrorists were sent to hell” and weapons and explosives were recovered from
them.
Also read: Female engineer among Chinese nationals
killed in Besham attack: report
A “sanitisation operation is being conducted to
eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as the security forces of
Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,”
the military’s media wing concluded.
Terrorist violence continues unabated in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the regions near the border with Afghanistan.
On Saturday that at least a dozen terrorists were eliminated in
intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the northwest and southwest of the
country.
Security forces killed eight terrorists in Dera Ismail
Khan district during an intense exchange of fire. According to the ISPR, the
terrorists were engaged in various criminal activities, including attacks on
security forces and deliberate targeting of innocent civilians.
Two more terrorists were killed in another IBO in
North Waziristan district, the ISPR said. A third IBO was launched in Panjgur
district of Balochistan and two terrorists identified as Asad and Hasrat, were
killed, according to the ISPR.
Also on Saturday, a senior police official and his two
guards were martyred in an ambush in the southern LakkiMarwat district. Gunmen ambushed
the vehicle of DSP Gul Muhammad Khan near Manjiwala Chowk on a link road of
Indus Highway with automatic weapons late on Friday night.
A spokesperson said that DSP Khan and Constable Naseem
Gul succumbed to their injuries en route to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in
Sarai Naurang, while Constable Salamat died while being driven to Peshawar for
treatment of his life-threatening wounds.
Source:
tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461984/most-wanted-ttp-commander-killed-in-khyber
----
Islamabad pressures Afghan Taliban, stressing similar
threats of ISIS and TTP: Pakistani media
Fidel Rahmati
April 8, 2024
According to Pakistani media, Pakistan seeks to
convince world countries that groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
pose a threat to all nations, not just Pakistan.
The Express Tribune reported that Islamabad hopes that
countries take the TTP threat seriously and exert pressure on the Afghan
Taliban.
The Pakistani officials, in a meeting with foreign
officials, said that there is no difference between the Pakistani Taliban and
ISIS and Islamabad urged representatives of countries to treat them like ISIS,
as reported by the newspaper.
According to Express Tribune, many Pakistani officials
consider ISIS a threat to themselves and the region but label the TTP as
Pakistan’s problem.
ISIS has raised global concerns by conducting attacks
in Pakistan, Iran, and recently Russia. Some former military and American politicians
have warned of potential ISIS attacks on the United States. Additionally, some
European countries have heightened their security measures after ISIS attacked
Moscow.
A diplomatic source told Express Tribune that
Pakistani officials have recently claimed cooperation between the Pakistani
Taliban and ISIS. They said that ISIS in Afghanistan is largely launched by
“terrorists who were previously part of the Pakistani Taliban movement and
other associated groups.”
Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban has rejected Pakistan’s
requests to expel or control commanders and fighters of the Pakistani Taliban,
who Pakistan claims operate in Afghanistan. The Taliban stated that the TTP has
always been Islamabad’s internal problem and should be resolved by Pakistan itself.
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry announced last January
that ISIS seeks to establish a base and intensify attacks against Shiites and
religious minorities in the country.
Pakistan, at a recent Shanghai Cooperation
Organization meeting, warned of the ISIS-Pakistani Taliban threat. The
organization expressed concern over international terrorist presence in
Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to uphold promises.
Pakistani officials have stated that Afghanistan has
once again become a “hub for terrorists.”
Despite the Taliban denying the presence of ISIS in
Afghanistan and claiming to suppress the group, American officials have
repeatedly warned about the extensive presence and activities of ISIS-Khorasan
in Afghanistan.
Source:
khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/islamabad-pressures-afghan-taliban-stressing-similar-threats-of-isis-and-ttp-pakistani-media/
----
South
Asia
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir: No One Should Publicize,
Strengthen Image of Daesh
Nazir Shinwari
April 7, 2024
The deputy prime minister for political affairs at an
iftar program attended by a number of ambassadors, United Nations
representatives, and the European Union representative, said that the Islamic
Emirate has suppressed Daesh in Afghanistan, and no one should publicize it and
strengthen it.
Without naming any individual or country, Mawlawi
Abdul Kabir said that some circles in the region and the world are pushing
propaganda highlighting Daesh in Afghanistan.
"Not only for Afghanistan, but Daesh is also an
enemy of humanity, the region, and the world. The Islamic Emirate has
suppressed this group in Afghanistan, and no one should present it as strong
and support it,” he added.
This Islamic Emirate official, welcoming the presence
of political representatives of countries in Kabul, said that he expects the
number of diplomats in Kabul to increase next year and that more countries will
reopen their embassies.
According to Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, after the return of
the Islamic Emirate, positive changes have occurred, and this country has been
directed toward a stable path.
"We expect that next year, the number of
diplomats and ambassadors in Kabul will be even more, and other countries will
also reopen their embassies in Kabul," the deputy prime minister for
political affairs said.
The deputy PM emphasized the need for good relations
with all countries in his speech and said that they wish to have political,
economic, and cultural relations with the world and also participate in
regional projects.
He once again assured neighboring countries that they
will not allow Afghanistan's territory to be used against other countries.
"Based on its economy-focused foreign policy, the
Islamic Emirate wants to have good relations with all countries, and we can
initiate and strengthen regional initiatives," Mawlawi Abdul Kabir said.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also said that for those who have
been defeated in Afghanistan, widespread regional relations and interactions,
undertaking infrastructural and developmental projects, the eradication of
narcotics and corruption, and ensuring nationwide security in the country are
unacceptable.
He asked countries to avoid forced the deportation of
Afghan refugees and to act in this regard with full patience, considering
international laws.
Source:
tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188197
----
Prison Administration: Islamic Emirate Holds 40
Foreign Citizens in Detention
April 7, 2024
The deputy head of the Office of the Prison
Administration, Habibullah Badr, said that currently about 40 foreign citizens
are being held by the Islamic Emirate.
Habibullah Badr said that these foreign nationals have
been detained for committing various criminal offenses, and most of them are
from neighboring countries.
"The number of foreign prisoners across
Afghanistan in our custody has reached 40 -- those whose cases are criminal,
including murder and other issues, and they are from various countries,
including neighboring ones,” said Habibullah Badr.
A number of military and political affairs experts
expressed their views on the issue of detaining foreign nationals in the
country.
"The host country must deal with a prisoner, or a
foreign citizen who is imprisoned for any reason, based on international laws,”
said Sayed Moqadam Amin, a political analyst
"Every citizen is obligated to comply with all
the domestic laws of any country they travel to,” said Mohammad
ZalmayAfghanyar, a military analyst.
Previously, the military deputy of the Office of the
Prison Administration stated in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews that 25
foreign nationals were being held in the prisons of the Islamic Emirate, and
the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate also told TOLOnews that two American
citizens were being held.
Source:
tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188202
----
Two thousand Afghan prisoners will be released on the
occasion of Eid ul-Fitr
Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2024
The Taliban authorities have announced that they will
release two thousand prisoners across Afghanistan on the occasion of Eid
ul-Fitr.
The Bakhtar News Agency, under Taliban control,
reported on Sunday, April 7th, that Abdul Wali Mahmood, the deputy director of
the Taliban’s court inspection department, said the process of identifying
deserving prisoners for release continues.
He added that by the arrival of Eid ul-Fitr, two
thousand prisoners are expected to be released from Afghan prisons.
It is unclear what charges these prisoners were
detained on and how long they have been in prison.
Meanwhile, Taliban authorities at the Qandahar Central
Prison announced that 103 prisoners were released on the orders of the group’s
leader in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.
Since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan,
numerous individuals have been imprisoned as a result of the group’s stringent
policies. Many of these detainees include human rights activists, education
advocates, and other members of civil society who have spoken out against the
Taliban’s rule.
The harsh measures implemented by the Taliban have led
to the incarceration of numerous individuals, particularly those who have been
vocal in advocating for human rights, education, and various other causes
deemed contrary to the group’s ideology.
This crackdown has significantly affected the
landscape of civil society in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s resurgence.
Source:
khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/two-thousand-afghan-prisoners-will-be-released-on-the-occasion-of-eid-ul-fitr/
----
Over 200 Afghan migrants return, 33 prisoners freed
from Pakistani prisons
Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2024
Following the expulsion of Afghan migrants, the
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations announced the return of over 200 Afghan
migrants and the release of 33 prisoners from the country’s prisons.
The ministry stated in a newsletter on Sunday, April
7th, that 231 migrants and detainees have been released from detention as of
that date, returning to the country through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border
crossings.
The head of the Spin Boldak border directorate in
Kandahar province said the returnees include 16 families comprising 99 individuals
who entered Afghanistan after being expelled from other countries.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations added that
the returnees have been introduced to the International Organization for
Migration offices, the World Food Programme, and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees for assistance.
Afghan migrants are being expelled from Iran and
Pakistan at a time when the expulsion of Afghan migrants from neighboring
countries, especially Iran and Pakistan, has significantly increased in recent
months.
Yesterday, 347 Afghan migrants entered the country
through the Torkham and Spin Boldak borders of Kandahar province on Friday and
Saturday.
Source:
khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/over-200-afghan-migrants-return-33-prisoners-freed-from-pakistani-prisons/
---
BNP demands release of party’s detained leaders,
activists before Eid
Apr 7, 2024
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
today demanded unconditional release of the party's detained leaders and
activists before Eid-ul-Fitr.
He made the call at a press conference at the BNP's
Nayapaltan central office.
Rizvi said showing respect to law, the BNP men
appeared before the court for bail when the "subservient court" sent
them to jail.
"People are suffering due to oppression by
BaKSAL-2 (Bangladesh KrishakSramik Awami League) government. Ruling Awami
League is enjoying all facilities solely to hold meeting, rally in the country
whereas other political parties have no right to do that," he claimed.
They grabbed the state power by contaminating the
electoral process, Rizvi alleged further adding that Awami terrorism has
exceeded all of its limit.
"By burying the principles of democracy, AL has
made the country a totalitarian state. In this situation, the feeling of joy
for Eid has disappeared from people's mind," Rizvi said.
Especially this time, Eid seems pale for people in the
middle- and lower-income groups, he said.
"Torture, robbery is everywhere in the country.
By using state power, AL is continuing oppression, forced disappearance,
killing, filing ghost and false cases against oppositions," he added.
The BNP leader said the AL government has filed 1.5
lakh false cases in the last 16 years against 50 lakh BNP leaders and
activists, including its Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique
Rahman.
Source:
thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-demands-release-partys-detained-leaders-activists-eid-3584371
---
Europe
German lawyers file case against govt. to stop arms
sales to Israel
08 April 2024
A team of lawyers has filed an urgent legal action
against the German government to stop arms sales to Israel, arguing that the
occupying regime uses the weapons to commit genocide against Palestinians.
The case, brought by several organizations, including
the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine, and the Palestine
Institute for Public Diplomacy was filed in an administrative court in Berlin
on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza.
“Germany has an international obligation to fulfill,
following the International Court of Justice’s findings and the forensic
report, to stop its arms export to Israel now more than ever. A demand
Palestinians have been calling for in the past six months of the genocide,”
PIPD said.
The lawyers said in a statement that the arms exports
and support Germany has provided to Israel violated the country’s obligations
under the War Weapons Control Act.
They cited a January order from the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) for Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide in
Gaza.
“Just the assumption that the weapons are used to
commit acts that violate international law is sufficient to revoke arms exports
under the Act,” lawyer Ahmed Abed said at a news conference in Berlin on
Friday.
He said a ruling is expected within two to three
weeks.
International law experts have ruled out that the case
would force a halt to such arms sales under administrative law.
They, however, maintain that it could push Berlin to
review its stance.
“It could build up political pressure on the German
government ... to be more transparent and declare which arms it is planning to
transfer or which arms it actually has transferred to Israel,” said Max
Mutschler, a senior researcher at the Bonn International Center for Conflict
Studies.
In February, a Dutch court ordered the Netherlands to
halt all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over the war in Gaza.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa
Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s
intensified violence against Palestinians.
Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime
has killed 33,175 Palestinians and injured nearly 75,886 others.
Germany is one of the main allies of Israel after the
US. Last year, German arms exports to Israel increased 10-fold compared to the
previous year, hitting 326.5 million euros ($353.70 million), according to
Economy Ministry data.
Source:
presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/08/723283/German-lawyers-file-case-stop-arms-Israel
---
Pope Francis calls on leaders to negotiate path to
peace in Ukraine, Gaza
Giovanni Legorano
07.04.2024
Pope Francis on Sunday urged political leaders to
pause and make efforts to mediate and negotiate a path to peace in the Middle
East and Ukraine.
Speaking during the Regina Coeli address, the pontiff
invited the faithful not to fail in continuing to pray for peace.
“A just, lasting peace, especially for the tormented
Ukraine and for Palestine and Israel,” he said.
“May the spirit of the Risen Lord enlighten and
sustain all those who work to decrease the tension, and encourage gestures that
make negotiations possible,” he added. ?
The pontiff has repeatedly appealed for the two
conflicts to end, urging leaders to negotiate to end the violence.
On Wednesday, the pope renewed the appeal “for the
exhausted and suffering civilian population to be allowed access to
humanitarian aid and for the hostages to be released immediately.”
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/pope-francis-calls-on-leaders-to-negotiate-path-to-peace-in-ukraine-gaza/3185796
---
Ireland divests millions from six Israeli companies
Apr 7, 2024
TEHRAN, Apr. 07 (MNA) – The Irish government has
pulled millions of euros of investment from several Israeli companies.
According to YediothAhronoth on Friday, the Irish
National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) confirmed that it had decided to
divest almost three million euros from its global equity portfolio in the
Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
The decision to divest reportedly encompasses
shareholdings valued at a total of 2.95 million euros in six entities: Bank
Hapoalim BM, Bank Leumi-le Israel BM, Israel Discount Bank, Mizrahi Tefahot
Bank Ltd, First International Bank, and Rami Levi Chain Stores. Irish Finance
Minister Michael McGrath called the move the “correct decision."
“ISIF has determined that the risk profile of these
investments is no longer within its investment parameters and that the
commercial objectives of these investments can be achieved via other
investments. The decision will be implemented as soon as possible over the
coming weeks,” he said.
The ISIF is managed by the NTMA on behalf of the state
and is comprised of discretionary and directed portfolios to support economic
activity and employment in Ireland.
Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik welcomed the
decision. “The relentless violence and suffering endured by the people of Gaza
demands urgent international attention. It is heartening to see the NTMA taking
steps to divest from investments in companies operating in the occupied
territories, but this is just the beginning,” she said.
“The scale of destruction witnessed by the people of
Gaza is nothing short of horrific. The case for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
becomes even more compelling each day, as the death toll mounts. We are bearing
witness to awful devastation, unleashed by the Israeli government upon this
civilian population trapped in a small, besieged enclave.”
The Irish National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA)
confirmed that it had decided to divest almost three million euros from its
global equity portfolio in the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).
Source:
mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/213625/Ireland-divests-millions-from-six-Israeli-companies
---
British FM: Support for Israel is conditioned on its
adherence to international law
7 April 2024
Britain’s support for Israel depends on it abiding by
international humanitarian law, UK Foreign Minister David Cameron said in a
newspaper column on Sunday, days after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid
workers in Gaza, including three Britons.
“Our backing is not unconditional,” Cameron wrote in
The Sunday Times.
The British government has been a staunch ally of
Israel since Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel, which triggered
Israel’s war to eliminate the Palestinian terror group. But Cameron has
hardened his language in recent months over the dire humanitarian situation in
the Gaza Strip.
Of course, our backing is not unconditional: we expect
such a proud and successful democracy to abide by international humanitarian
law, even when challenged in this way,” he said of Israel.
Israel took responsibility for the killing of seven
World Central Kitchen food aid workers in what Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu acknowledged was a “tragic” and “unintentional” incident while vowing
to “do everything” to prevent a recurrence. But the incident further ramped up
pressure from the international community over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
caused by the fighting.
Noting the “grim milestone” of six months of war,
Cameron wrote, “We must not forget how this conflict started — with the Jewish
people suffering the worst and most murderous pogrom since the Holocaust.”
Israel launched its war against the Hamas regime in
Gaza after terrorists who invaded southern Israel in a shock assault on October
7 killed close to 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 253 people,
more than half of whom remain in the Strip. Israel has pledged to destroy the
terror regime
Six months of fighting in the enclave has killed more
than 33,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, an
unverified figure that is believe to include at least 13,000 Hamas operatives
Israel says it has killed in the Strip. The fighting has flattened much of Gaza
and aid agencies have warned it is on the brink of famine.
“Calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire are
easy to make but, alongside US and other allies, we are clear that unless you
deal with the cause of the conflict — the rule of Hamas over Gaza and the
presence of those responsible for October 7 — no ceasefire would last,” Cameron
wrote. “Israel cannot be expected to live next to an organization that carried
out such brutal attacks and has declared that, if possible, it would do the
same all over again.”
He also noted that Israel had agreed to a “difficult” deal
for a temporary ceasefire that would involve releasing Palestinian prisoners
charged with “serious terrorism” in exchange for the release of hostages, but
that “so far Hamas has said no.”
Should Hamas refuse a deal and the fighting continue,
the international community “cannot stand by with our head in our hands,
wishing for an end to the fighting that may well not come.”
“That means ensuring the protection of people in all
of Gaza including Rafah,” Cameron said and warned of the risk of mass starvation
unless Israel allowed more aid in.
Cameron also noted the UK’s calls for “a new
Palestinian Authority government and for a political horizon for the
Palestinian people that should include — at the right time — the recognition of
a Palestinian state as part of our long-held support for a two-state solution.
”
On Saturday, Britain said it would supply a naval
vessel to ship aid as part of an international effort.
Britain’s top envoy also issued a video message that
was shared on social media to mark six months of war in which he urged that
Hamas immediately release the hostages it is holding.
“Hamas must release them,” Cameron said. “Every one of
them. Right now.”
He noted that two of those held are British nationals.
Cameron said that he and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
have met with the families of hostages and “they are showing incredible courage
in the most unimaginably difficult circumstances. It is utterly inhumane to
extend their agony.”
“Six months on from October 7, we renew our solidarity
with the victims, we stand with the families. We condemn the terrorists. And we
call again, send the hostages home.”
Cameron made no mention of the fighting in the Gaza
Strip or a call for a ceasefire.
In a statement on Sunday to mark six months since the
initial Hamas attack, Sunak repeated his call for the Palestinian group to
release Israeli hostages and for an immediate pause in fighting.
“We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the
threat from Hamas terrorists … but the whole of the UK is shocked by the
bloodshed, and appalled by the killing of brave British heroes who were
bringing food to those in need,” he said.
In his own message, UK Ambassador to Israel Simon
Walters, speaking in Hebrew, reiterated that the UK government “stands in
solidarity with the families of victims and hostages, and we wish for them to
return home.”
The UK government, he said, is working “with its
partners in the region to secure the release of all the hostages.”
“The British government demands that Hamas release the
hostages immediately, without conditions. What Hamas is doing is a war crime,”
Walters said.
“There is an urgent need in a humanitarian pause,”
Walters said of Gaza. “It is the best way to return the hostages and to enter a
significant amount of aid into Gaza.”
Urging empathy, he said, “everyone is suffering as a
result of the Hamas terror attack of October 7 and the war following it.”
Walter’s video came with English-language subtitles
though, in a slight divergence, the subtitles cited him as saying only all
“were suffering as a result of the horrific events of October 7.”
Britain’s government is also under pressure to publish
its latest legal advice about Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, which would
potentially affect British arms exports.
Last week, three former Supreme Court justices joined
more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the
government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit
in genocide in Gaza.
Britain supplied 42 million pounds ($53 million) of
arms to Israel in 2022. In December, the government decided these exports
should continue but would be kept under review.
Cameron said on March 8 that a fresh judgment on that
was underway and due in the “coming days.”
David Lammy, the opposition Labour Party’s would-be
foreign minister, called for the government to publish a summary of its latest
legal advice.
“I do have very real concerns that our obligations in
relation to international humanitarian law and… our export and licensing
regime… might have been breached,” he told the BBC.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden told Sky News that
the government did not plan to publish legal advice but denied it was giving
Israel “carte blanche.”
“Of course, Israel has made mistakes and made big
mistakes, and we should hold them to account for that,” he said.
“It’s right that we hold Israel to high standards. But
I just think there’s a bit of relish from some people about the way in which
they are pushing this case against Israel.”
Source:
timesofisrael.com
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----
Bolton Mosque Opens Its Doors For Inter Faith Iftar
08 April 2024
More than a hundred guests were invited to an
multi-faith Iftar event at Bolton’s biggest mosque.
The Ramadan gathering was hosted by the Bolton Council
of Mosques (BCOM) and the Zakariyya Jaa’me Mosque.
Guests were given a tour of the mosque, found out more
about the significance of the fasting month and joined in with worshippers for
the Iftar meal.
The month of Ramadan began on March 10 and will
culminate in the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr later this week.
A number of community groups and mosques have been
hosting Iftar events in recent weeks, inviting non-Muslims to join in the
evening meal to break the fast as well as find out more about Ramadan.
Speaking on the day Imteyaz Ali from the Bolton
Council of Mosques (BCOM) said he was ‘proud’ about what the event had achieved
over the years.
He said: “This can only be possible with the help of
our key stakeholders and partners who are here today, working with us for the
betterment of the community.”
Imteyaz pointed out the work BCOM had done with the
local council, Greater Manchester Police, Royal Bolton Hospital, the Coroner’s
Service and the fire service. HHJ Nick Clark KC was thanked for his help in
allocating work experience for young people in the community.
Imteyaz added: “We have a trusted working relationship
in working together on many aspects which benefits our communities in different
ways.
“It is time like these we value our relationships and
the trust we have working together and having a good understanding of each
other’s values and how can achieve so much together.
“We hope and pray we continue with all the good work
we do, on community cohesion and maintain what we have, which is more
important.
“Can I also extend our gratitude to all of our
volunteers, who help us to make these events possible, thank you so much.”
Source:
theboltonnews.co.uk
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---
Southeast
Asia
Selangor Islamic Council Member Asks To Work Together
To Curb Spread Of Deviant Teachings For The Sake Of Enjoining Right And
Forbidding Wrong
7 Apr 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Local community leaders have
been urged to work together to combat the spread of deviant teachings in their
respective areas and contain the problem effectively.
Selangor Islamic Religious Council Faith Control
Committee member Prof MadyaMohdSukki Othman said village chiefs and residents’
associations play a crucial role in efforts to nip the problem at the
grassroots level.
“It’s because (deviant teachings) do not bring
goodness, but instead they ruin people’s thinking, social system, etc.
(Combatting these teachings) are part of Amar MakrufNa’hiMungkar (Enjoining
Right and Forbidding Wrong), which is an obligation within the community.
“So, the unity (of local leaders) is necessary to
ensure such teachings can be eradicated more efficiently and effectively,
alongside efforts to increase knowledge about faith based on the Quran and
Sunnah,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
MohdSukki said the uncertain state of the world is
also a contributing factor for individuals to spread deviant teachings to
attain wealth, power, status or respect, adding that knowledge is crucial to
tackling the problem.
Earlier, Pahang Mufti Prof Datuk Asmadi Mohamed Naim
reminded Muslims to be cautious and reject deviant teachings such as the
Khawarij, Takfiri ideologies and any other teachings that deviate from the true
path of Islam.
Perlis Mufti Datuk MohdAsri Zainul Abidin said deviant
teachings emerged from followers who excessively venerate their teachers,
considering them sacred and having a direct connection with Allah.
“The teachings spread because the followers reject the
fundamentals that Islam should be sourced from the Quran and Sunnah. They rely
on dreams, stories of the miracles of their teachers, superstitions, myths and
all sorts of tall tales associated with wali (saints).
“This disease is spreading in Malaysia. They will
claim that all these are the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah from the
Ashairah and Maturidiyyah schools of thought. Using this ticket, they allow
absurdity and superstitions,” he said.
He also claimed the al-Arqam teaching, which has been
eradicated, is being revived, leading to claims that someone receives direct
instructions from Allah, Prophet Muhammad or wali. — Bernama
Source:
malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/04/07/selangor-islamic-council-member-tells-local-community-leaders-to-work-together-to-curb-spread-of-deviant-teachings/127815
---
MUI lauds Papua police for maintaining peace, harmony
during Ramadan
April 8, 2024
Biak, Papua (ANTARA) - Head of Papua's Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI) KH Syaiful Islam Al Payage commended the Papua police for
successfully maintaining peace and religious harmony among members of
communities in 29 regions during Ramadan.
On behalf of the Muslim communities in Papua, Payage
thanked Papua Police Chief Inspector General MathiusFakhiri and all police
officers for their services that have contributed to peace and calm during
Ramadan.
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims across the world,
including those in Papua, during which they observe a full month of fasting. It
ends on the first day of the month of Syawal, marked by a religious festivity
called Eid al-Fitr.
Speaking at a "Safari Ramadhan" event in
Biak Numfor District on Sunday, Payage stated that local Muslims in Papua have
been able to experience a peaceful Ramadan owing to respectful and peaceful
coexistence among members of local communities throughout the province.
The conducive situation in Papua that has enabled
Muslims to practice their religious obligations peacefully at mosques during
the fasting month is the result of the Papua police's excellent performance, he
added.
In this regard, owing to its residents' peaceful and
harmonious co-existence, Biak Numfor District could serve as a good example for
other regions, he remarked while urging communities to continue to live in
harmony.
"May Ramadan become a great momentum for
strengthening national unity," he added.
At the event, Fakhiri stated that police officers in
Papua have made utmost efforts to be friendly and polite while serving the
people as part of their loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of
Indonesia.
However, if insufficient service and also mistakes
continue to be found concerning the police officers' duties during Ramadan,
Fakhiri said he promised to continue to improve the quality of the police's
performance in the future.
"I say sorry and am committed to improving the
quality of our services to our people. Please support us and work together with
us to make Papua more peaceful, secure, and conducive," he stated.
Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim
organization after Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has determined that Eid al-Fitr, which
marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will fall on April 10, 2024.
Source:
antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/310368/mui-lauds-papua-police-for-maintaining-peace-harmony-during-ramadan
----
BNPT head urges officials to tigthen anti-terrorism
measures for Eid
April 7, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Counterterrorism
Agency (BNPT) Mohammed RyckoAmelzaDahniel has called on all his officials to
invest even greater efforts to thwart any acts related to terrorism ahead of
Eid al-Fitr.
"We must step up preventive measures as well as
alertness during the moment of Eid al-Fitr," he remarked during the
inauguration of new officials in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday (April 4), as
cited from BNPT's statement received here on Saturday (April 6).
He urged all BNPT officials to tighten security
measures in order to ensure a secure and conducive 2024 Eid al-Fitr by taking
into account the results of field assessments conducted by the agency.
Dahniel also addressed the newly inaugurated BNPT
officials specifically, expecting them to quickly adapt to the new work environment
to take part in ensuring that this year's Eid al-Fitr is free from matters
related to terrorism.
"I want you to quickly adapt to the new
environment, so that you can bolster preventive measures and vigilance,
especially during Eid-al Fitr," he told the new officials.
Meanwhile, BNPT Secretary BangbangSurono underscored
the need for the agency to make breakthroughs and think creatively to deal with
increasingly complex challenges presented by terrorism.
"Creative thoughts and acts are needed to address
terrorism-related issues and challenges that have grown even more
complex," he pointed out.
On the occasion, BNPT installed a total of 32 new
employees, with eight of them being high-ranking officials.
Among the high-ranking officials were Commodore Imam Subekti
as director of international law instruments, Marine Colonel EdyCahyanto as
head of the Administration and Internal Affairs Department, and
RachmatSurawibawa as head of the Supervision Sub-directorate.
Source:
antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/310347/bnpt-head-urges-officials-to-tigthen-anti-terrorism-measures-for-eid
----
Malaysian company apologises over logo on shoe sole,
says it is not ‘Allah’ word but stylised heel
APR 07, 2024
PETALING JAYA - The company behind the controversy
over a shoe which had a logo said to resemble the word “Allah” in Arabic script
has apologised, explaining that the graphic is actually a stylised high-heeled
shoe with straps.
The company, Verns Holding SdnBhd, apologised for
having been offensive, especially to Muslims.
“We had no intention of designing a logo that
undermines or insults any religion or belief, and we hope to be given the
opportunity to explain its design,” said the company in a statement on April 7.
“Our management would like to humbly apologise to all
and we hope to be given a chance to correct the oversight,” read the statement.
The company also said it had taken immediate steps to
stop sales of the shoes affected and will offer refunds to customers who had
purchased them.
“This is a very valuable lesson for us to be more
careful in our every decision to ensure that such incidents do not repeat,”
added the company.
Verns Holdings said the logo was “100%” based on the
silhouette of a high-heeled shoe with straps.
“However, we admit that there are flaws in the logo
design that may result in it being misinterpreted and thereby offending
others,” it added.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain
told The Star earlier on April 7 that the police would look into an allegation
that the word “Allah” in Arabic script had been found on the sole of a shoe.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious
Affairs) Datuk Dr MohdNa’im Mokhtar said he instructed Jakim to summon all
relevant parties involved in the controversy to explain themselves on April 8.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Source:
straitstimes.com
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-company-says-logo-on-shoe-sole-not-allah-word-but-stylised-high-heel-with-straps
---
Israeli man caught with six guns expected to be
charged this week - IGP
08-04- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: The Israeli man arrested with six
pistols and 200 rounds of ammunition at a hotel here on March 27 is expected to
be charged in court this week, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri
Razarudin Husain.
He said police are continuing with investigations and
gathering more information.
“We are investigating the man’s real motive for
possessing the six firearms. So, maybe charges will be brought against the
Israeli man this week after Raya,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after attending a
ceremony for handing over the duties of the Traffic Investigation and
Enforcement Department (JSPT) director at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol)
here today.
Razarudin said a married couple, aged 42 and 40, are
expected to be charged at the Klang Court Complex in Selangor this morning in
connection with this case. They were arrested at a Ramadan bazaar in Kuala
Selangor on March 29 on suspicion of selling the firearms to the Israeli man.
At the ceremony, JSPT deputy director 1 Datuk
MohdNasri Omar assumed duties as acting JSPT director, replacing Datuk
MohdAzman Ahmad Sapri, who retired today.
Source:
thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/local_news/israeli-man-caught-with-six-guns-expected-to-be-charged-this-week-igp-GB12311788
----
Africa
Officer killed, four soldiers injured in terrorists’
ambush in Borno
Musa Umar Bologi, Abuja
April 8, 2024
The Nigerian military has lost a Lieutenant to an
ambush by terrorists on the Buratai-BuniGari Road in Borno State.
Four soldiers were also injured in the encounter that
occurred around 9:35 a.m on April 4.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen.
Edward Buba, confirmed this in à statement at the weekend.
Buba said after reinforcement troops “pursued the
terrorists to their hideout within the Timbuktu Triangle” and killed six of
them in an exchange of fire.
The statement said the troops also recovered five
AK-47 rifles and 103 rounds of the 7.62mm special ammunition.
It added: “The remaining terrorists ran in disarray.
However, troops are in hunt of the remnant terrorists that fled the firefight.”
The military said the wounded soldiers were receiving
treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.
Also, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said the Air
Component of Operations HadarinDaji and Hadin Kai have killed dozens of
terrorists in Katsina and Borno states in different air interdictions at the
weekend.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information,
AVM Edward Gabkwet, announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Gabkwet said the streak of successful air strikes
denied terrorists freedom of movement aimed at targeting soft targets,
especially innocent civilians.
He said one of such strikes was carried out on April 5
at a terrorist enclave located in the Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in
Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to him, a set of 11 armed terrorists were
sighted moving toward a mountainous area at the location.
“Soon after, two separate sets of terrorists joined
the first set of terrorists, and all were observed heading toward the same
direction toward the mountainous high ground.
“The need not to let the opportunity of neutralising
the terrorists thus became imperative.
“Subsequently, the terrorists were effectively engaged
by NAF aircraft in several passes with several neutralised and the few
survivors scampering in disarray,” he said.
Gabkwet said the air strikes by the Air Component of
Operation Hadin Kai had on Saturday at Grazah in Gwoza Local Government Area of
Borno State also yielded the requisite outcome.
He said the previous intelligence had revealed that
Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a
logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating their Improvised Explosive
Devices and other ammunition.
According to him, recent intelligence also revealed
significant terrorists’ activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around
some makeshift structures at the location.
“Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the
location with Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealing
several terrorists neutralised.
“These operations, carried out deep into terrorists’
enclaves, will continue as these areas are believed to aid their recruitment,
training and nurturing of potential terrorists.
“Attacking their logistics hubs also help in reducing
their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians
and troop’s location.
“The provision of timely information/intelligence by
the populace has also been key to the successes recorded and will remain so if
sustained,” he added.
Source:
thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/officer-killed-four-soldiers-injured-in-terrorists-ambush-in-borno/
----
With Support From People, Terrorism Will Be Surmounted
In Northwest — NigerianCOAS
Attahiru Ahmed
April 7, 2024
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen TaoreedLagbaja,
has expressed confidence that terrorism and insurgency in the North West region
will be overcome with the unwavering support and cooperation of the people.
Lt Gen Lagbaja commended the resilience and sacrifice
of the troops of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army in the ongoing fight against terrorism
and insurgency in North West Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday in Gusau by the
Director of Army Public Relations, Major General OnyemaNwachukwu, the COAS
praised the troops’ dedication and assured them of continued support in their
efforts to address security challenges in Zamfara State.
During his operational visit to the 1 Brigade Area of
Responsibility in Gusau, Zamfara State on Saturday, April 6, 2024, Lt Gen
Lagbaja received a briefing from the Commander of 1 Brigade, Brig Gen Sani
Ahmed, on the activities and successes of the troops in the ongoing Operation Desert
Sanity II in Zamfara and neighbouring states.
The COAS pledged additional support for the Brigade,
including combat enablers and operational requirements, to enhance their
effectiveness in safeguarding their Area of Responsibility.
The visit underscores the commitment of the Nigerian
Army to combatting insurgency and ensuring the security and safety of the
people in the North West region. With continued cooperation and support, Lt Gen
Lagbaja expressed optimism in overcoming the security challenges facing the
region.
The COAS also seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy
visit to the Emir of Gusau, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Bello SarkinKatsinanGusau,
where he expressed appreciation to the royal father and the good people of
Gusau for their support to the troops and the Nigerian Army in general.
He assured the Emir that with continued support and
cooperation of the people, terrorism and insurgency will be surmounted.
Source:
tribuneonlineng.com
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https://tribuneonlineng.com/with-support-from-people-terrorism-will-be-surmounted-in-northwest-coas/
----
Islamic Cleric Advises Muslims To Prioritise Piety,
Religion In Choosing Spouses
8 Apr 2024
An Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Shuaib Agbarere, has advised
Muslims faithful to prioritise piety and religion in choosing their spouses.
Agbarere gave the advice on Sunday in an interview
with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a weekly Ramadan
lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.
Synthesize Beautiful Scenes of Ha Giang Via Super
Quality Travel Video - FlycamNem TV
He noted that, ‘’It is important for Muslim to marry a
woman who devotes to religious practices. If you marry a religious woman, you
have married the most beautiful woman.
“If you marry a religious woman, you have married the
richest woman. Therefore, tell your children to prioritise piety and religion
while going into marriage.
” Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said a woman is
married for four reasons: for her wealth, her status, her beauty, and her
religion.
” However, he (prophet Muhammad) advised that we
should go for a religious woman.”
The cleric noted that all the socioeconomic and
security challenges bedeviling the country could be addressed if the couple got
right marriage. (NAN)
Source:
dailytrust.com
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---
Umrah: Pursue peace, progress, AbdulRazaq tell Muslims
TajudeenAdebanjo
April 8, 2024
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahmanAbdulRazaq has urged
Muslims to pursue peace and progress in the country.
AbdulRazaq stated this in a message sent to Nigerian
Muslims from Saudi Arabia, where he had gone to perform lesser hajj.
He described the mammoth crowd at the holy Mosque in
Makkah as a remembrance of the oneness of the human community and the need to
strive for peace and progress.
“The large gathering at the blessed House of Allah is
a remembrance of the oneness of the human community and the need for us to act
as such in our daily endeavours for peace and progress,” he said.
The governor also enjoined Muslims in the country to
take advantage of the end of Ramadan to seek God’s blessings on the human race,
Kwara, Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, his team and everyone.
“It is a moment for introspection and a time to seek
the blessings of God on the human race, our state, Kwara, Nigeria, President
Tinubu and his team, and everyone,” he said.
Also speaking from Saudi Arabia, Lagos State Deputy
Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stressed the need for the citizens to
always pray for the nation and governments at federal, state and local
government levels.
Dr. Hamzat who gave the charge in Makkah, on Saturday,
during a Ramadan lecture organised by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare
Board for its Umrah (lesser hajj) pilgrims, noted that it was the prayers of
Prophet Ibrahim that metamorphosed the hitherto desert nation of Saudi Arabia
into what it is today.
He added that no leader deliberately goes out to
inflict pains and agonies on the citizenry or desire to fail, stressing that
the importance of divine intervention cannot be over emphasized.
According to him, the reform of the federal government
in the subsidy removal is already bearing fruits as the nation’s monthly oil
consumption has reduced by a billion litre, wondering where the reduced billion
litre was going before the subsidy removal.
The Deputy Governor opined that the total amount hitherto
spent on subsidy was much more than the total budgets of the Federal Ministries
of Works, Education and Health combined.
He said that those hitherto benefitting from subsidy
removal were powerful people and as such, it should be expected that they would
fight back, hence, he urged the citizens to support the President with their
prayers for him to succeed.
Hamzat noted that nations do not develop by the curses
or vituperation of citizens on social media, hence, he admonished them to
desist from such acts.
Dignitaries in attendance at the lecture include the
Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon Justice KazeemAlogba; members of the Governor’s
Advisory Council such as Prince TajudeenOlusi, Messrs Tunde Balogun and Mutiu
Are.
Others are members of the State Executive Council;
current and former members of the Lagos State House of Assembly; members of the
Board of Permanent Secretaries and some General Managers and Heads of Agencies.
Source:
thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/umrah-pursue-peace-progress-abdulrazaq-tell-muslims/
----
Kagame blames world's 'cowardice' as Rwanda remembers
1994 genocide
April 7, 2024
Rwandan President Paul Kagame blamed the inaction of
the international community for allowing the 1994 genocide to happen as
Rwandans on Sunday commemorated 30 years since an estimated 800,000 people were
killed by government-backed extremists.
Rwanda has shown strong recovery and economic growth
in the years since, but scars remain and there are questions about whether
genuine reconciliation has been achieved under the long rule of Kagame, whose
rebel movement stopped the genocide and seized power. He has been praised by
many for bringing relative stability but vilified by others for his intolerance
of dissent.
Kagame led somber commemoration events in the capital,
Kigali. Foreign visitors included a delegation led by Bill Clinton, the U.S.
president during the genocide, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose country
has been accused bySouth Africa of committing genocide in Gaza at the
International Court of Justice.
The killings were ignited when a plane carrying
then-President JuvénalHabyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down over Kigali. The
Tutsis were blamed for downing the plane and killing the president. and became
targets in massacres led by Hutu extremists that lasted over 100 days. Some
moderate Hutus who tried to protect members of the Tutsi minority were also
killed.
Rwandan authorities have long blamed the international
community for ignoring warnings about the killings, and some Western leaders
have expressed regret.
Clinton, after leaving office, cited the Rwandan
genocide as a failure of his administration. French President Emmanuel Macron,
in a prerecorded video ahead of Sunday’s ceremonies, said that France and its
allies could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so. Macron’s
declaration came three years after he acknowledged the “overwhelming
responsibility” of France — Rwanda’s closest European ally in 1994 — for
failing to stop Rwanda’s slide into the slaughter.
“It was the international community which failed all
of us, whether from contempt or cowardice,” Kagame said in a speech after
lighting a flame of remembrance and laying a wreath at a memorial site holding
the remains of 250,000 genocide victims in Kigali.
He also shared the story of a cousin whose family he
tried to save with the help of U.N. peacekeepers. She did not survive.
“We will never forget the horrors of those 100 days,
the pain and loss suffered by the people of Rwanda, or the shared humanity that
connects us all, which hate can never overcome,” U.S. President Joe Biden said
in a statement.
Rwanda’s ethnic composition remains largely unchanged
since 1994, with a Hutu majority. The Tutsis account for 14% and the Twa just
1% of Rwanda's 14 million people. Kagame’s Tutsi-dominated government has
outlawed any form of organization along ethnic lines, as part of efforts to
build a uniform Rwandan identity.
National ID cards no longer identify citizens by
ethnic group, and authorities imposed a tough penal code to prosecute those
suspected of denying the genocide or the "ideology” behind it. Some
observers say the law has been used to silence critics who question the government’s
policies.
Rights groups have accused Kagame’s soldiers of
carrying out some killings during and after the genocide in apparent revenge,
but Rwandan authorities see the allegations as an attempt to rewrite history.
Kagame has previously said that his forces showed restraint in the face of
genocide.
Kagame said Sunday that Rwandans are disgusted by
critics who have “questioned and revised” the history of the genocide.
“Rwandans will always challenge it,” he said, adding that preventing another
genocide requires political measures such as those now in place.
“Our journey has been long and tough," he said.
"Rwanda was completely humbled by the magnitude of our loss, and the
lessons we learned are engraved in blood. But the tremendous progress of our
country is plain to see and it is the result of the choice we made together to
resurrect our nation.”
He added, “The foundation of everything is unity. That
was the first choice — to believe in the idea of a united Rwanda and live
accordingly.”
A night vigil will be held later on Sunday as part of
a week of remembrance activities.
NaphtalAhishakiye, the head of Ibuka, a prominent
group of survivors, told The Associated Press that keeping the memory of the
genocide alive helps fight the mentality that allowed neighbors to turn on each
other, killing even children. Mass graves are still being discovered across
Rwanda 30 years later, a reminder of the scale of the killings .
“It’s a time to learn what happened, why it happened,
what are the consequences of genocide to us as genocide survivors, to our
country, and to the international community,” said Ahishakiye.
He said his country has come a long way since the
1990s, when only survivors and government officials participated in
commemoration events. “But today even those who are family members of
perpetrators come to participate.”
Kagame, who grew up a refugee in neighboring Uganda,
has been Rwanda’s de facto ruler, first as vice president from 1994 to 2000,
then as acting president. He was voted into office in 2003 and has since been
reelected multiple times. A candidate for elections set for July, he won the
last election with nearly 99% of the vote.
Rights activists and others say the authoritarian
Kagame has created a climate of fear that discourages open and free discussion
of national issues. Critics have accused the government of forcing opponents to
flee, jailing or making them disappear while some are killed under mysterious
circumstances. Kagame’s most serious political rivals are his Tutsi ex-comrades
now living in exile.
Though mostly peaceful, Rwanda also has had troubled
relations with its neighbors.
Recently, tensions have flared with Congo, with the
two countries’ leaders accusing one another of supporting armed groups.
Relations have been tense with Burundi as well over allegations that Kigali is
backing a rebel group attacking Burundi. And relations with Uganda are yet to
fully normalize after a period of tensions stemming from Rwandan allegations
that Uganda was backing rebels opposed to Kagame.
Source:
africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/07/kagame-blames-worlds-cowardice-as-rwanda-remembers-1994-genocide/
----
Mozambique ferry accident kills at least 96,
authorities say
08 Apr, 2024
A makeshift ferry sank off Mozambique’s northern
coast, killing more than 90 people including children, local media reported.
The overcrowded boat was carrying 130 people and many
of those who drowned were children, according to TV DiarioNampula, a local
online outlet. The boat was operating between Lunga and the Island of
Mozambique in Nampula province in the north of the country when it capsized on
Sunday, the report said.
Rescue efforts continued on Monday, as people were
still reportedly missing.
"Five more (bodies) have been found in the last
few hours, therefore we are talking about 96 deaths," SilverioNauaito, the
administrator of the small island near the northern Nampula province where the
disaster occurred, told AFP news agency in the latest report available on
Monday.
Earlier, at least 94 people were dead and 26 were
missing, Lourenco Machado, an administrator of the country's Maritime Transport
Institute, said on state television on Monday.
Some people had been traveling to attend a fair while
others were trying to “flee from Lunga to the Island of Mozambique for fear of
being contaminated by cholera, which has affected that region in recent days,”
TV DiarioNampula reported.
Other news reports quoted Jaime Neto, the secretary of
state in Nampula province, as saying that misinformation about an alleged
cholera outbreak caused people to panic and board the boat, which ordinarily
serves as a fishing vessel, in an attempt to flee.
Mozambique and neighboring southern African countries
Zimbabwe and Malawi have in recent months been affected by a deadly cholera
outbreak that authorities are battling to contain.
Many areas of Mozambique are only accessible by boats,
which are often overcrowded. The country has a poor road network and some areas
are unreachable by land or air.
Source:
trtworld.com
Please
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https://www.trtworld.com/africa/mozambique-ferry-accident-kills-at-least-96-authorities-say-17694023
----
North
America
Morale At US State Department ‘Worse Than During Iraq
War’: Human Rights
April 07, 2024
LONDON: A former director of the US State Department’s
Office of Security and Human Rights has claimed the mood in the department is
worse than during the Iraq war, on account of President Joe Biden’s policy on
Gaza.
Charles Blaha told The Independent he had “never seen
this much dissent,” adding: “I was in the State Department for 32 years,
including during the Iraq War, and I have never seen this much unhappiness. It
was even worse than Iraq. So yes, people are concerned.”
Pressure is growing on Israel to cease its military
operation in Gaza, now in its sixth month, while the Biden administration has
been criticized for its continued support for the Middle East country.
That pressure has only grown after the killing of
seven aid workers, including a US citizen, earlier this month. Around 33,000
Palestinians are thought to have died in the conflict since Hamas attacked
Israel on Oct. 7 last year.
The White House recently approved a new delivery of
bombs to Israel and is considering an $18 billion deal to sell fighter jets and
other equipment to the Israeli military.
Josh Paul, who resigned as the director of the State
Department’s bureau of political-military affairs over “an unprecedented
unwillingness to consider the humanitarian consequences of our policy
decisions” in Gaza, told The Independent that discontent in the department was
growing and he was aware of at least seven internal memos critical of the White
House’s stance.
“I’ve certainly heard from a lot of people in the
department in recent weeks, at an increasing clip, who are just deeply upset, I
can say horrified, by the way the department is working and moving forward on
arms transfers in the context of what we’re seeing in Gaza,” he said.
“My impression is that there are a number of people
who are trying to push things in a better direction. There are also probably a
larger number of people who are just saying ‘I’m not going to touch this
stuff.’
“The absence of a willingness to hold that debate when
it comes to Israel is not proof of our commitment to Israel’s security. Rather,
it is proof of our commitment to a policy that, the record shows, is a dead end
— and proof of our willingness to abandon our values and turn a blind eye to
the suffering of millions in Gaza when it is politically expedient.”
AnnelleSheline, who also resigned from the department
because she “no longer wanted to be affiliated with this administration” over
its arming of Israel, told The National: “There were certainly many people
inside the State Department who are so distraught by what’s happening.”
Former State Department legal adviser Brian Finucane
told The Independent: “Based on my conversations since October with people at
the department, there is a real disconnect between the analysis and policy
recommendations of State Department personnel relating to Gaza and
Israel-Palestine generally, and decisions ultimately being made by the White
House.”
Finucane, who specialized in advising on issues related
to the laws of war, war crimes and arms transfers, added: “The president is the
ultimate decider and on Gaza he’s been largely immune to the facts of this
disastrous conflict, at least with respect to actual US policy as opposed to
rhetoric.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to
internal discontent with a letter to staff in November, saying: “I know that
for many of you the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound
personal toll.”
In the letter, subsequently reported by Reuters, Blinken
added: “The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies,
children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis
is wrenching. I feel it myself.”
In a call between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the president reportedly warned that the US’
future policy on Gaza would be determined by Israel announcing and enforcing “a
series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm,
humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”
Source:
arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2489491/world
----
US: We’ve been increasingly frustrated by Israel's
handling of Gaza war
TOVAH LAZAROFF
APRIL 7, 2024
There is growing American frustration over IDF actions
in Gaza, even as it continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself, US
National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said on Sunday as Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took steps to soothe tensions between Jerusalem and
Washington.
There has been a “growing degree of frustration that
we've had with the way these operations are being [executed] and the way that
the Israelis are acting on the ground in terms of civilian casualties,” Kirby
told ABC’s Meet the Press.
Kirby said that “frustration” was at the core of US
President Joe Biden's message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their
phone call this week, as he recalled the terse half-hour conversation between
the two leaders on Thursday.
Israel has “got to do more,” it’s “got to make
changes.,” Kirby said. He acknowledged that Netanyahu had pledged to take steps
to improve the situation, which he welcomed, but more needed to be done.
COGAT: 322 humanitarian aid trucks enter Gaza, most
since October 7
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories said that the 322 humanitarian aid trucks that entered Gaza marked
the most aid that had entered the enclave through its land crossings in a
single day since the start of the war on October 7.
The Security Cabinet last week also took steps to
improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, including an agreement to open the
Erez Crossing and to allow goods to be transported to the enclave through the
Ashdod port.
The issue of Israel's failure to ensure adequate
provision of humanitarian aid and the high casualty civilian casualty count in
the war came to a boiling point last week after the IDF mistakenly killed seven
aid workers from the World Central Kitchen.
People thought hearing aids were expensive till they
saw this. Read more
Israeli has apologized, opened an investigation, and
fired two officers related to the incident.
Kirby told ABC that Israel has to improve its
deconfliction process over aid so “that this kind of targeting can't happen
again.”
Kirby ducked a question by ABC over whether Washington
would slow down or pause weapons sales to Israel should the IDF fail to make
changes in Gaza.
“It's not my place to rule anything in or out today,”
Kirby said as he reiterated Biden’s threat to Netanyahu that it would change
its Gaza policy unless there were an improvement in the treatment of
Palestinians in Gaza.
He emphasized, however, that “Israel has a right to
defend itself. And I think it's important to remember they live in a tough
neighborhood. We're all focused on the fight in Gaza, as we rightly should be,
but they're facing threats from Iran and from Iran back groups throughout the
region. We got to make sure that they're ready for that.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned Israel
that its support for the Jewish state was “not unconditional” in a column he
wrote in the Sunday Times.
"We expect such a proud and successful democracy
to abide by international humanitarian law, even when challenged."
In a statement on Sunday to mark six months since the
initial Hamas attack, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak repeated his call for
the Palestinian group to release Israeli hostages and for an immediate pause in
fighting.
"We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat
the threat from Hamas terrorists ... but the whole of the UK is shocked by the
bloodshed and appalled by the killing of brave British heroes who were bringing
food to those in need," he said.
Britain's government is also under pressure to publish
its latest legal advice about Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza, which would
potentially affect British arms exports.
Last week, three former Supreme Court justices joined
more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the
government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit
in genocide in Gaza.
Britain supplied 42 million pounds ($53 million) of
arms to Israel in 2022. In December, the government decided to continue these
exports but keep them under review.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Source:
jpost.com
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-795854
----
Cities in North America, Europe hold rallies marking
hostages’ six months ‘in hell’
08 Apr, 2024
Former hostages, relatives of captives still held in
Gaza and political rivals of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined rallies
in several major Western cities Sunday to mark six months since the devastating
October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
In Washington, former hostage Aviva Seigal, whose
husband Keith remains kidnapped, as well as the families of captives RomiGonen,
Or Levy, SaguiDekel Chen and Omer Neutra rallied alongside Opposition Leader
YairLapid and supporters in front of the Lincoln Memorial, calling for a deal
to free the 129 people abducted from Israel six months earlier.
“The need to put together a deal that’s agreed upon by
all sides is urgent more than ever,” said Nuetra’s mother OrnaNeutra.
Some 2,000 people attended the rally in Washington,
including US Representative Jamie Raskin, who said freeing the captives should
be the priority in Gaza, US news outlet The Hill reported.
“We say to all the governments of the world that the
freedom, the security and the peace of the hostages and all civilians is the
paramount ethical imperative and consideration at this moment,” he said.
“It takes precedence over all other political and
ideological agendas.”
Marching today in Washington DC with families of the
hostages.
It’s been six months and 133 hostages are still being
held in Gaza. We have to bring them home. pic.twitter.com/4AdrutZKlR
In New York, thousands rallied at Dag Hammarskjold
Plaza outside the United Nations headquarters, including the father of Itai
Chen, a slain captive whose remains are being held in Gaza.
Speaking at the rally, former prime minister Naftali
Bennett rejected international calls for a ceasefire without the hostages being
freed.
“No one call tell us to stop while there is even one
hostage there,” he told the crowd.
US Rep. Jerry Nadler, who also addressed the rally,
was booed and heckled as he called for increased humanitarian aid for
Palestinians in Gaza.
“We must do more, because we are better than Hamas. We
must do more to bring food and assistance to those who are suffering,” he said,
as participants shouted “Shame” or “Bring them home,” The New York Times
reported.
Near the rally, a group of activists staged an
installation in which several people were locked in cages or chained to poles,
wearing clothes smeared with red paint and holding signs in Hebrew and English
begging to be rescued.
Midtown Manhattan, New York City, it has been six
months since Hamas abducted several innocent individuals. Demonstrators are
highlighting the harsh reality of what the hostages are enduring.
In Toronto, an estimated 2,000 people gathered
downtown to call for the release of the hostages under the banner “six months
in hell,” as a small group of pro-Palestinian counter-protesters gathered
nearby.
Two people were arrested amid police attempts to keep
the groups separated, the Toronto Star reported, though there were no
additional details.
In a video posted online from the event, a man wearing
a Palestinian flag yells into a speaker threatening that “your happy days are
over,” and calls participants “prophet killers” who killed Jesus, a common
antisemitic trope, to cheers from those next to him.
This is Toronto, where a mob openly screams at Jews:
"Your happy days are over. Every time you come
out to celebrate we'll be here….you guys are known as the prophet killers. Ask
your parents what you guys did to Jesus. Ask them what you did to Moses. Look
at this filth right… pic.twitter.com/6G9fWDxbq8
Rallies were also held in several European cities
including Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Milan and Paris.
Thank you to the hundreds of people that marched today
in Brussels marking 6 months since 7.10 and calling for the released of the
hostages.
The events, marking six months since thousands of
Hamas-led terrorists burst into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and
kidnapped another 253, coincided with a large rally in Jerusalem where
demonstrators urged the government to reach a deal with Hamas for the release
of hostages.
Reports in Hebrew-language media Sunday indicated that
Israeli officials were cautiously optimistic as talks were set to resume in
Cairo. An Egyptian outlet reported early Monday that the sides had left Cairo
but were set to convene in two days to finalize an agreement.
Speaking to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster from the
sidelines of the rally in Washington, Lapid urged the government to grab the
opportunity, even if the concessions it gives up are not popular.
“The government needs to be pressured into taking the
deal. It’s going to be a painful deal. It’s not going to be liked, but it needs
to be done so we can bring them home.”
Source:
timesofisrael.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/cities-in-north-america-europe-hold-rallies-marking-hostages-six-months-in-hell/
----
Father of US aid worker killed by IDF urges Blinken to
exert pressure on Israel
7 April 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — When America’s top diplomat
called to offer condolences over the killing of his son in the Israeli
airstrikes that hit a World Central Kitchen convoy delivering aid in Gaza, John
Flickinger knew what he wanted to say.
The grieving father told US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken that the killings by Israel in the Hamas-run territory must end, and
that the United States needs to use its power and leverage over its closest
Mideast ally to make that happen.
Flickinger’s 33-year-old son, Jacob Flickinger, a dual
US and Canadian citizen, was among the seven humanitarian workers killed in the
April 1 drone strikes.
“If the United States threatened to suspend aid to
Israel, maybe my son would be alive today,” John Flickinger told The Associated
Press in describing his 30-minute conversation Saturday with Blinken.
Flickinger said Blinken did not pledge any new policy
actions but said the Biden administration had sent a strong message to Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the relationship between the United States and
Israel may change if the Israeli Defense Forces do not show more care for the
fate of Gaza’s civilians.
“I’m hopeful that this is the last straw, that the
United States will suspend aid and will take meaningful action to leverage
change in the way Israel is conducting this war,” John Flickinger said.
Flickinger said Blinken also spoke with his son’s
partner, Sandy Leclerc, who is left to care for their 1-year-old son, Jasper.
In addition to Jacob Flickinger, three British
nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, and a Palestinian were killed in
the strikes.
John Flickinger described his son as “larger than
life,” a “loving son, a devoted dad and new father and a very loving companion
to his life partner.”
Jacob Flickinger was remembered as a lover of the
outdoors who ran survival training retreats and was involved in mountaineering,
rock climbing and other adventure activities. He spent about 11 years serving
in the Canadian Armed Forces, including eight months in Afghanistan.
The elder Flickinger said his son knew going to Gaza
was risky, but he discussed it with family members and volunteered in hopes of
helping Palestinians in Gaza that aid groups say face imminent famine.
“He died doing what he loved, which was serving and
helping others,” said Flickinger, whose own nonprofit, Breakthrough Miami,
exposes underrepresented students to academic opportunities and prepares them
for college.
World Central Kitchen representatives have said they
informed the Israel Defense Forces of their movements and the presence of their
convoy.
Israeli officials have called the drone strikes a
mistake, and on Friday the military said it dismissed two officers and
reprimanded three others for their roles. The officers mishandled critical
information and violated rules of engagement, the IDF said.
But John Flickinger said that, in his view, the strike
“was a deliberate attempt to intimidate aid workers and to stop the flow of
humanitarian aid.”
World Central Kitchen has since ceased food deliveries
in Gaza, Flickinger noted, and he said it looks like Israel is “using food as a
weapon.”
The Canadian government has been communicating with
the family and is offering financial support to move Leclerc and Jasper from
Costa Rica, where the family lives, back to Quebec province to be closer to
family, Flickinger said.
Flickinger said his son’s remains are in Cairo pending
the issuance of a death certificate by Palestinian authorities. Once that
happens, the family has made arrangements for them to be transported to Quebec.
Organizations such as World Central Kitchen have been
assisting in providing aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, which according
to the UN has become dangerously close to suffering a famine since the war
between Israel and Hamas broke out.
The war broke out following Hamas’s October 7 attack
on Israel which saw terrorists kill nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and
kidnap 253. Israel’s ensuing offensive has killed over 33,000 people, according
to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. These numbers cannot be independently
verified and do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas operatives. Israel
says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas operatives since the beginning of the
war.
Source:
timesofisrael.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/father-of-us-aid-worker-killed-by-idf-urges-blinken-to-exert-pressure-on-israel/
----
Trump increasingly ambiguous on Israel amid Gaza war
April 07, 2024
WASHINGTON: At the start of Israel’s war with Hamas in
October, Donald Trump loudly presented himself as the key US ally’s ultimate
champion.
But six months and more than 33,000 deaths in Gaza
later, the Republican White House hopeful has become increasingly vague on the
intensity of that support.
The former US president, not usually known for biting
his tongue on any given topic, has only halfheartedly commented on the issue in
two recent interviews.
“I’m not sure that I’m loving the way they’re doing
it,” he told a conservative radio host on Thursday about Israel’s offensive.
And in an exchange with Israeli media, Trump warned
that videos “of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza” offer “a very bad
picture for the world.”
“Israel is absolutely losing the PR war,” the
77-year-old told radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Despite allusions to his concerns, Trump has not
explicitly mentioned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where experts warn a
famine is looming, the Palestinian civilian death toll, or the seven aid
workers killed Monday by an Israeli drone strike.
Still, any comment critical of Israel is a major
departure for the Republican White House hopeful, and his remarks have garnered
notice in Israel and Washington.
Trump has long boasted of having done more for Israel
than any other US president.
In 2018, his administration reversed decades of US
policy and snubbed a major tenet of an eventual two-state solution with the
Palestinians by unilaterally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and
moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking international backlash.
It’s not clear whether the billionaire’s shift in tone
since the war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’ unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel,
would correlate to any real change in policy if he were to be elected president
again in November.
“Nobody’s entirely sure what Trump’s views are on
this,” Danielle Pletka, a senior fellow at conservative think tank AEI, said,
adding that his recent rhetoric sounds more like it’s coming from a “media
consultant” than an Oval Office candidate.
“That’s not presidential, that’s not policy — that’s
more punditry,” she said.
For some observers, Trump’s non-committal attitude is
best explained by the conflict’s high electoral stakes in the US, as he battles
President Joe Biden — who has faced increasing criticism over his handling of
the crisis — for votes.
The otherwise outspoken Trump is employing the same
strategy of deliberate ambiguity on other flashpoint issues as well, including
abortion, aware that staking out an extreme position on either side could cost
him dearly at the polls.
Source:
arabnews.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2489676/world
----
Arab
World
Yemeni forces strike British, Israeli vessels, US
frigates in solidarity with Gaza
07 April 2024
The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the
country’s naval units have conducted multiple operations against British and
Israeli commercial vessels.
The Yemeni forces also targeted US military frigates
off the nation's coast in support of Palestinians amid Israel’s genocidal war
on Gaza, the spokesman added.
Speaking at a televised press briefing broadcast live
from the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a on Sunday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree
said the country’s forces struck the British container ship HOPE ISLAND in the
Red Sea.
He noted that the vessel was struck with “appropriate”
naval missiles, emphasizing that the hit was direct.
Yemeni naval units also struck the Israeli general
cargo ship MSC GRACE F in the Indian Ocean. In addition, they targeted
Israeli-owned container ship MSC GINA in the Arabian Sea, Saree said.
The high-ranking Yemeni military figure noted that the
operations were carried out with several ballistic and winged missiles,
stressing that the designated targets were precisely struck.
Furthermore, Yemeni naval forces launched several
combat drones during two separate operations in the Red Sea, targeting several
US military frigates.
Saree underscored that the missile attacks came in
support of the oppressed Palestinian population in Gaza and in response to
joint American-British aggression against Yemen.
He stated that Yemeni military forces will continue
their military operations, and will prevent the passage of Israeli-owned vessel
and ships destined to ports in the Israeli-occupied territories until a
permanent ceasefire in enforced in the Gaza Strip and the all-out siege on the
coastal territory is lifted.
Yemenis have declared their open support for
Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a
devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian
resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won’t stop
their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza,
which have killed at least 33,175 people and wounded another 75,886
individuals, come to an end.
Leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement,
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has said that it is “a great honor and blessing to be
confronting America directly.”
The attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest
shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most
important maritime trade routes. Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles
to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa
rather than going through the Suez Canal.
Source:
presstv.ir
Please
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/07/723257/Yemeni-naval-units-hit-British,-Israeli-vessels,-US-frigates-in-support-of-Palestinians
---
Experts laud Jeddah’s heritage restoration efforts
April 07, 2024
Jeddah: NawafAlfadly, the projects manager of the
heritage assets restoration department for the Jeddah Historic District
Program, emphasized the initiative’s goal of revitalizing heritage buildings to
enhance the experience of visitors and residents, aiming to transform the area
into a prominent tourist destination.
In an interview with Arab News, Alfadly highlighted
the importance of safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s historical heritage, citing Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2018 project to preserve 56 heritage buildings in
Al-Balad as evidence of commitment to this cause.
The historic significance of Jeddah’s buildings lies
in their spiritual and material value, serving as a cultural hub and pilgrimage
gateway due to the city’s unique location and commercial role. To this end, the
crown prince allocated SR50 million ($13.3 million) from his personal funds to
strengthen and preserve 56 heritage buildings in Al-Balad, underscoring the
commitment to safeguarding the Kingdom’s architectural and cultural legacy.
The program seeks to enrich the experiences of
visitors and residents alike while preserving the Kingdom’s historical
heritage. With the engagement of local and international specialists, the
program ensures the preservation of buildings’ historical authenticity and
architectural identity.
Alfadly said: “The Jeddah Historic District Program
aims to preserve the historical significance of Al-Balad’s ancient buildings,
covering an area of approximately 2.5 sq. km.”
The restoration program not only focuses on restoring
the structural integrity of these buildings but also aims to repurpose them for
hotels, residences, and cultural spaces. By revitalizing these heritage
buildings, the program seeks to enhance the experience of visitors and
residents, making the area a major tourist attraction while safeguarding the
Kingdom’s historical heritage.
“In general, the program involves restoring 650
historic buildings through specialized studies and detailed planning, followed
by comprehensive structural and architectural restoration. These buildings are
then repurposed for hotel, residential, and cultural uses, aligning with the
overall plan for Historic Jeddah,” Alfadly said.
The Historic Jeddah area gained UNESCO World Heritage
Site status in 2014. Consequently, all activities there adhere to charters and
guidelines set by international organizations, notably UNESCO. Restoration of
these houses involves collaboration among specialists, utilizing both local and
international expertise to preserve their historical authenticity and
architectural identity.
Anoud Al-Shaikh, assistant director of heritage and
preservation at the Jeddah Historic District Program, said: “One of the main
challenges encountered during the restoration of heritage buildings in the
Historic Jeddah area is preserving the historical value of the building.
Restoration, reinforcement, and rescue efforts not only focus on restoration
but also prioritize the preservation of architectural features.”
Under the crown prince’s direction, the Ministry of
Culture formed teams for restoring Jeddah’s historic buildings, prioritizing
preservation of its unique architectural heritage.
In 2021, the crown prince initiated the Revitalization
of Historic Jeddah project to develop the area into a business and cultural hub
while safeguarding its charm. Several buildings, some dating back 500 years,
were preserved with a focus on architecturally significant structures including
mosques, marketplaces, and squares.
The district boasts over 600 buildings, including 36
mosques and five historical markets, significant to Muslim pilgrims. Besides
the alleys and squares, the old waterfront, a crucial pilgrimage route, will be
reconstructed to narrate the history of pilgrimage to Historic Jeddah visitors.
Source:
arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s Zaabal Castle area nears completion in
major urban revitalization effort
April 07, 2024
RIYADH: Jouf municipality has announced that a project
to develop the area surrounding Zaabal Castle is 95 percent complete, the Saudi
Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The development is part of an initiative to combat
urban blight in Saudi cities, according to the SPA report.
The mayor of Jouf region, Atef bin Mohammed
Al-Shara’an, said the project will not only contribute to the growth of its
tourism sector, but also the preservation of archaeological landmarks while
integrating the urban and heritage identity of the region.
Al-Shara’an expressed the municipality’s ambition to
redesign and improve selected areas in the city of Sakaka to revamp the urban
environment and quality of life for its residents.
This includes the resurfacing of streets and sidewalks
around the castle and its neighboring zones with stone from Dumat Al-Jandalm, a
city of ruins in northwest Saudi Arabia, selected to mirror the region’s
natural surroundings.
Al-Shara’an also highlighted the installation of
lighting poles with traditional designs and the creation of green spaces.
Source:
arabnews.com
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Over 2.5 Million Worshipers Witness Quran Recitation
Completion at Grand Mosque on 29th Night of Ramadan
08 Apr, 2024
Over two and a half million worshippers gathered at
the Grand Mosque for Isha and Tarawih prayers on the 29th night of Ramadan,
participating in completing the Quran recitation.
Since early morning, the Grand Mosque has been filled
to capacity, with Umrah performers continuously arriving in Makkah throughout
the day.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais led the prayers, asking
for forgiveness and salvation for all Muslims.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand
Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque arranged transportation carts, oversaw cleaning
and disinfection, and directed Umrah performers and worshipers to assigned
prayer to areas, ensuring the comfort of visitors. The mosque offered
additional services such as escalators, air conditioning, restrooms, and
well-organized entry and exit procedures to ensure smooth movement within the
areas of the mosque.
The visitors were grateful for the outstanding
services provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They praised the leadership's
commitment to the Two Holy Mosques and their dedication to ensuring a
comfortable experience for everyone.
The prayers were offered for Allah to bless the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince and reward them
abundantly.
Source:
alriyadhdaily.com
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Supreme Court calls for Shawwal crescent sighting on
Monday
April 06, 2024
RIYADH — The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has issued
a call to all Muslims within the Kingdom to attempt the sighting of the Shawwal
moon on the evening of Monday, Ramadan 29, 1445 Hijri, which falls on April 8,
2024.
The court has urged those who are able to observe the
crescent moon, either with the naked eye or through binoculars, to approach the
nearest court and record their testimony.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has encouraged
individuals who are capable of participating in the crescent sighting to join
the designated committees established in various regions.
Source:
saudigazette.com.sa
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Religious Affairs Presidency Operates Quran Programs
for Mutakifs at the Two Holy Mosques
07 Apr, 2024
The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand
Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque is operating the “KhitmatMutakif” program,
aimed at deepening the Mutakif’s (a person in the state of Itikaf (retreat)
during Ramadan) understanding of the Quran.
This is facilitated by a group of qualified Saudi teachers
of Quranic recitation and sciences, as well as Quranic Ijazah (certifications)
linked to the Prophet’s tradition, experienced in serving the Holy Quran
through reading, teaching, memorization, guidance, and proper pronunciation
training.
The program operates on two tracks: “Intensive
Review”, with the Mutakif getting to choose one of three levels: complete Quran
review, review of 20 parts, or review of 10 parts; and “Recitation Guidance”.
Some 3,000 Mutakifs of both genders followed the two tracks.
Flexible periods are allocated for the two tracks,
enabling Mutakifs to enrich their religious experience at their convenience.
It is part of the programs designed to enable
worshippers to use the blessings of the last 10 days of the holy month of
Ramadan to enrich their religious experience.
Source:
alriyadhdaily.com
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https://alriyadhdaily.com/article/b9be6800f6d04c5c80b1cdfb0599395b
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/qutub-minar-rwanda-genocide-national-flag/d/132105