Row over whether Pope called Gaza situation ‘genocide’
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 November 2023
Pope Francis speaks with a Palestinian who currently has family living in
Gaza.—AFP
------------
· Row over whether Pope called Gaza situation ‘genocide’
· Teacher Asks Muslim Student If She Ate "Beef", Parents Allege Harassment
· 1.7 million people displaced due to Israeli war on Gaza: UNRWA
· Former Obama Adviser Who Said Killing 4,000 Palestinian Children ‘Wasn’t Enough’ Charged With Hate Crime
· Tuan Ibrahim says polygamy permitted in Islam, not PAS’ teaching
· UN agency urges Pakistan to halt expelling Afghans during winter
· Over 2,000 Afghan migrants return home from Iran
-----
Europe
· Who is Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam, anti-EU populist who could be next Dutch PM
· Putin to G20: Must think how to stop war in Ukraine
· NATO welcomes deal between Israel, Hamas for humanitarian pause
· Putin says deaths in Gaza as shocking as those in Ukraine
· Europe hails Israel-Hamas humanitarian pause, hostage swap deal
· Pro-Palestinian activists stage protest in UK Parliament to demand permanent Gaza ceasefire
-----
India
· UP: Hindu extremists abduct and torture Muslim man in Hapur
· Minister urges Bihar CM to ban halal-certified products, links it to ‘jihad’
· Supreme Court agrees to consider review petitions on same-sex marriage verdict
· Israel war should not escalate: Modi at G20
· PM Modi welcomes release of Israeli hostages, calls for regional stability in G20 virtual summit
-----
Mideast
· Israeli strike kills five Hezbollah fighters, including senior member's son
· No Gaza hostage release before Friday, Israel says
· Israel Displays Tunnel Under Gaza Hospital It Claims Was A "Hamas Terror Complex"
· Israel says no pause in Gaza fighting, continues to pound enclave despite truce
· President Erdogan urges Muslim unity against Israel's Gaza occupation
· Iran top diplomat meets Hamas, Islamic Jihad officials
· Israel fell short of all of its goals in Gaza: Raeisi
· Islamic ministers call on Paris to play balanced role in supporting Palestinian cause
-----
North America
· US calls for safe resettlement of Afghan refugees
· Western politicians condemn anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim bigotry
· Biden's approval craters as 70% of young voters oppose pro-Israel stance
· Young adults convert to Islam, some flash hate for West by justifying Hamas, lauding bin Laden
· Hard-right firebrand Geert Wilders wins election in Netherlands: 'Dutch Donald Trump'
------
Southeast Asia
· Indonesia hopes humanitarian pause in Gaza leads to permanent end to conflict
· MACC freezes Aman Palestin's accounts, raids premises amid RM70m misappropriation probe
· MyAqsa Foundation submits evidence, testimony of Israeli war crimes to ICC
· Muis develops guidebook for S’porean Muslims on how to approach Middle East conflict
-----
Pakistan
· Pakistan court orders jailed Imran Khan to appear in public trial
· Imran, spouse among 27 whose names proposed to be put on ECL
· Imam-e-Kaaba to lead Friday prayers at Faisal Masjid
· Afghan border trade resumes after Pakistan suspends new visa rule
· SC to hear plea against eviction of Afghans
· Speakers at seminar advocate boycott of all Israeli products
· Nishan-e-Pakistan conferred on Dr Syedna Saifuddin
------
South Asia
· Thousands of Afghanistan-bound containers remain stranded at Karachi port
· US State Department and Islamabad collaborate closely for Afghans awaiting US visas
· Ministers’ Council Meeting Led By Islamic Emirate Leader Held in Kandahar
· UN: Intl Community Must Increase Support For Afghan Population
· Cultural Event Held to Mark Intl Day of Islamic Art
· Another Shipment of EU Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Kabul
-----
Arab World
· Saudi FM, Blinken discuss Gaza truce, relief efforts
· Saudi minister meets Canadian official in Riyadh
· Saudi Arabia: Gaza disaster exposes double standards and selective application of
· international laws
· Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah Inspects Progress of Saudi Humanitarian Aid Entering Gaza Strip to Support Palestinian People
-----
Africa
· Ramaphosa welcomes Israel-Hamas deal
· Chad struggles with soaring refugee crisis
· Police arrest seven over Kano protest
· Nigeria records over 25,000 missing persons in 10 years – ICRC
· Hostage crisis in Gaza draws attention to scourge of kidnappings in Africa’s Sahel
· Sudan War: Years On, Cries Of Genocide Remain Unheard
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
----------
Row over
whether Pope called Gaza situation ‘genocide’
November
23, 2023
Pope
Francis speaks with a Palestinian who currently has family living in Gaza.—AFP
-----------
VATICAN
CITY: A messy dispute broke out on Wednesday over whether Pope Francis used the
word “genocide” to describe events in Gaza, with Palestinians who met with him
insisting that he did and the Vatican saying he did not.
The
opposing versions emerged at an afternoon press conference with 10 Palestinians
who met the pope on Wednesday morning at his Vatican residence. That meeting
followed a separate one with Israeli relatives of prisoners in Gaza.
“When we
shared the stories of the families that have been killed (in Gaza) he mentioned
‘I see the genocide’,” said Shireen AwwadHilal, who teaches at the Bethlehem
Bible College. “It was very clear, the word genocide did not come from us. It
came from His Holiness, Pope Francis,” she said.
But a
statement sent by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, in response to question
texted by a reporter, said the opposite. “I am not aware that he (the pope)
used such a word. He used terms that he expressed during the general audience
and words that in any case represent the terrible situation that is being lived
out in Gaza,” Bruni’s statement said.
Other
participants at the Palestinian news conference concurred that they had heard
the pope use the word genocide.
“We were
all there. We heard it and no one has a hearing problem,” Hilal said when
pressed by reporters.
The
participants said the pope was very informed about the situation in Gaza and
the lack of water, medicine and basic necessities.
“Terror
should not justify terror”
The
Palestinians at their news conference said the pope condemned Hamas’ action as
‘’terror’’, with more than one quoting the pope during the meeting as saying
“terror should not justify terror”.
Earlier
on Wednesday, in unscripted words at his general audience, Pope Francis said,
“This is what wars do. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This
is terrorism,” he said.
He asked
for prayers so that both sides would “not go ahead with passions, which, in the
end, kill everyone”.
Most
said they were not aware of the pope’s comments because they happened after the
meeting.
During
the general audience, a group of Palestinians in the crowd held up pictures of
bodies wrapped in white cloth and a placard saying “the Nakba continues”.
Nakba is
the Arab word for catastrophe and refers to the displacement and dispossession
of Palestinians in the 1948 war.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1791696/row-over-whether-pope-called-gaza-situation-genocide
-----
Teacher
Asks Muslim Student If She Ate "Beef", Parents Allege Harassment
November
22, 2023
The
district school authorities have commenced enquiries into the complaint.
(Representational)
----------
Coimbatore:
The Muslim parent of a Class 7 girl student on Wednesday alleged that a woman
teacher at a government high school, where his child studied, harassed her by
asking whether she ate beef.
In the
class, the child was tasked to clean the shoes of other students using her
'parda' and was tormented this way too, the parent alleged.
"The
child was asked if she ate beef. She was told by the teacher that such people
will only be arrogant," he alleged.
In the
meanwhile, a video clip of the child making the allegation also surfaced in the
social media. She has alleged that she was also slapped by the teacher.
Speaking
to reporters, the father of the child said though the matter was taken up twice
with the school chief and a petition was lodged with police authorities, the
issue has not been resolved.
A police
official, after holding enquiries, assured them that there would be no trouble
of any sort for the child.
The
response from the school head, over their complaint, was not satisfactory and a
male teacher also used abusive language against the child, the parent and
another person who represented the family told reporters here.
The
scenario of harassment has not changed in the state-run girls school during the
past about two months, they alleged.
Now, the
district education authorities have been petitioned and they have assured swift
action, they said.
The
district school authorities have commenced enquiries into the complaint.
Source: ndtv.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/cities/teacher-asks-muslim-student-if-she-ate-beef-parents-allege-harassment-in-tamil-nadu-4597961
------
1.7
million people displaced due to Israeli war on Gaza: UNRWA
22
November 2023
Internally
displaced Palestinians take refuge in a United Nations school, in the Rafah
refugee camp, in the southern of Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
-------------
The main
United Nations agency in Gaza has announced that almost 1.7 million people,
nearly 80 percent of the population, have been displaced since October 7 when
Israel launched its aggression against the besieged territory.
On the
47th day of the Israeli war on Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provided some updates on its
operations in the bombarded and besieged territory.
UNRWA
said that nearly 945,000 internally displaced people were sheltering in its premises
across Gaza as of November 19.
At least
798 internally displaced people sheltering in UNRWA schools have been injured
and at least 191 were reportedly killed, it added.
The
shelters are already severely overcrowded and have no more room for new arrivals,
the agency noted.
The UN
organization announced the displacement of so many people was resulting in a
significant spread of diseases.
On
average, there is one shower unit for every 700 people and 160 people share a
single toilet, according to UNRWA.
UNRWA
also added it was told 120 liters of fuel would be allowed into Gaza every
second day — but even that would only cover half of the critical daily
requirement.
Without
more fuel, the agency said it would be forced to handle a reduced number of aid
trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossing daily into Rafah, and large parts of
Gaza would continue to be flooded with sewage, further increasing risks of
disease.
UNRWA
also said 23 of its installations were directly hit and 45 were impacted by
collateral damage.
As of 20
November, UNRWA was able to verify that 89 incidents had impacted 69 UNRWA
installations since the beginning of the Israeli aggression.
The UN
agency received confirmed reports that at least two UN-run schools were
completely demolished by Israeli strikes.
The
number of children killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel
At least
108 UNRWA workers have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli war on
the besieged strip. At least half have been killed south of Wadi Gaza, in the
area where Israel’s military has told civilians to move.
On
Tuesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund warned that heavy rain and limited
access to water and sanitation in Gaza were also posing a “serious threat of a
mass disease outbreak” among children.
The
assault on medical facilities, and the targeting of children, by the Israeli
regime is very much part of the sinister plot to eliminate Palestinian
resistance.
“Let’s
be clear: the control of fuel and the access to water is to control whether
thousands – perhaps tens of thousands – of children live or die,” UNICEF
spokesperson James Elder told a press briefing in Geneva.
Catherine
Russell Executive director of UNICEF has told UN Security Council during a
briefing on Wednesday that "The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in
the world to be a child," the UN official said. "Based on these
figures, children account for forty percent of the deaths in Gaza. This is
unprecedented," she added.
The
Palestinian health minister says Israel is committing "genocide"
against the Gaza Strip
Israel
still committing ‘crimes': Gaza media office
Ismail
al-Thawabta, director general of the government media office in Gaza, said
Israel is still committing “crimes” against the Indonesian Hospital in the
north.
Israeli
forces are also still occupying al-Shifa Hospital, “turning it into military
barracks, a mass grave and area of destruction and killing,” he noted.
The
humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated in an “unprecedented manner,”
he said, as markets experienced a lack of basic necessities, while bakeries
have “stopped operating completely”.
The
Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement says captive Israeli soldier will
not be freed until all Palestinian inmates are released from the Yel Aviv
regime’s jails.
Al-Thawabta
also called for the opening of the Rafah border crossing to allow for the entry
of fuel, desperately needed by hospitals, as well as sewage and water networks.
More
than one hundred Palestinians, killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza,
are laid to rest in a mass grave in Khan Yunis.
The
number of Palestinians killed since October 7 has risen to 14,532, including
about 6,000 children.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/22/715099/UNRWA-Gaza-Palestine-Israel--
-----
Former
Obama Adviser Who Said Killing 4,000 Palestinian Children ‘Wasn’t Enough’
Charged With Hate Crime
23 NOV
2023
Displaced
Palestinians in a camp at Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hosptial in the central Gaza Strip.
Photo: Getty Images
--------------
Stuart
Seldowitz, a former adviser to Barack Obama, has been arrested on preliminary
charges of hate crime and stalking after a series of racist incidents directed
at an Arab food vendor in New York.
The
64-year-old, who served as acting director for the National Security Council
South Asia Directorate under Obama and deputy director in the US State
Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003, faces
second-degree aggravated harassment, stalking causing fear, and stalking at
employment charges.
Several
videos posted on social media show Seldowitz harassing the vendor on multiple
occasions, making Islamophobic comments, insulting the Qur'an, and taunting the
man about his citizenship status.
In one
video, Seldowitz accused the vendor of supporting Hamas, referencing Israel's
recent war on Gaza. So far, more than 14,500 people have ben killed in Gaza
since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas’s attacks stands
at about 1,200.
Seldowitz's
remarks in one video include: “You support killing little children. You’re a
terrible person.”
The vendor
replied: “You kill children, not me.”
Seldowitz
said: “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what, it wasn’t enough. It
wasn’t enough.”
Council
member Julie Menin announced that the New York Police Department has launched a
hate crime investigation, condemning Seldowitz's actions as "truly
abhorrent."
Seldowitz
later apologised for the incident, acknowledging that he said things he
shouldn't have in the heat of the moment.
"I
regret the whole thing happened and I’m sorry… In the heat of the moment, I
said things that probably I shouldn’t have said," he said on Tuesday.
The
incident comes amid an increase in reported anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias
incidents in the US since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, according to
the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Concurrently, reports of antisemitic
incidents have also surged after Israel’s retaliation, making Gaza an open-air
prison. FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted a "historic levels"
threat of antisemitic incidents, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a
388% increase in reported incidents in the weeks following October 7 compared
to the same period last year.
Source: outlookindia.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/former-obama-adviser-who-said-killing-4-000-palestinian-children-wasn-t-enough-charged-with-hate-crime-news-332391
------
Tuan
Ibrahim says polygamy permitted in Islam, not PAS’ teaching
23 Nov
2023
RAHIMY RAHIM, GERARD GIMINO and TEH ATHIRA
YUSOF
KUALA
LUMPUR: Polygamy is not the teaching of PAS but is permitted in Islam, says
Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic).
The PAS
deputy president said it was disrespectful and rude for Bayan Baru MP Sim
TzeTzin to upload a posting on social media alluding that polygamy was a
teaching of PAS.
"He
(Sim) has to understand that I did not raise the issue of polygamy. I was
merely asking the role of the government in addressing various social issues
faced by the people, including the majority of those who are late in getting
married.
"Polygamy
is not a teaching of PAS but a matter that is permitted in Islamic laws,"
he told reporters at the Parliament media centre on Thursday (Nov 23).
The
Kubang Kerian MP was asked to comment on a now deleted posting by Sim, that
implied that PAS had disagreed to concerts including Coldplay, Blackpink, and
Bollywood stars but was fine with polygamy.
On
Wednesday (Nov 23) Yeo Bee Yin slammed Tuan Ibrahim (PAS-Kubang Kerian) for his
remarks on polygamy, which the Puchong MP said were sexist.
In his
debate, Tuan Ibrahim had said that polygamy could be among the 'solutions' to
address the issue of late marriage among women.
"It
is impolite to encourage polygamy and it hurts the feelings of women and wives
in the Dewan Rakyat and outside," said Yeoh while Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri was winding up her
ministerial reply on the Budget 2024 in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22).
Tuan
Ibrahim said that Sim should not meddle in matters pertaining to Islam and
called on the authorities to take action against the latter.
"I
hope that the authorities will take stern action for hurting the feelings of
Muslims.
"We
are firm in our stance of opposing matters that are outside our norms such as
concerts and this is our responsibility as Malaysian citizens.
"Such
remarks have caused an uncomfortable situation, especially among Muslims,"
added the senior PAS lawmaker.
Asked if
he was prepared to make an apology for his polygamy remarks as demanded by certain
DAP MPs, he said there is no need to do so.
"There
is no reason for me to apologise and what is the point? I don't see the issue.
"Those
who make such demands were not in the Dewan when I was debating," he said.
On
social media, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that the issue of
getting married late is not a problem that needed solving.
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/23/tuan-ibrahim-says-polygamy-permitted-in-islam-not-pas-teaching
------
UN
agency urges Pakistan to halt expelling Afghans during winter
2023-11-23
ISLAMABAD:
The UN refugee agency on Wednesday urged Pakistan to halt deportation of
undocumented Afghan refugees during the harsh winter season, as police
continued to search homes and expel Afghanis who had not already left.
Islamabad
last month announced it would expel over a million undocumented refugees,
mostly Afghans, amid a row with Kabul over charges that it harbours
anti-Pakistan.
Over
370,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since Oct. 1.
“UNHCR
is calling upon the government of Pakistan to halt these mass numbers of
returns during this harsh season of winter because the cold in Afghanistan is
really deadly and it can take lives,” the agency’s regional spokesman, Babar
Baloch, told Reuters TV in an interview.
“We’re
talking about desperate women, children and men being on the move, leaving
Pakistan in droves,” he said.
The
agency has said the Afghans’ return should be voluntary and that Pakistan
should identify vulnerable individuals who need international protection.
Pakistan
is home to over 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of
whom are undocumented. Many came after the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021,
and a large number have been present since the 1979 Soviet invasion.
Pakistani
police have been searching door to door in refugees settlements for those who
have not left voluntarily, beginning with the port city of Karachi, where
hundreds of thousands of Afghans live. Anyone remaining may be forcefully
expelled.
Thousands
of Afghans have gone underground in Pakistan to avoid deportation, fearing for
their lives if they return to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan following the hasty and
chaotic withdrawal of US-led western forces in 2021. Islamabad has thus far not
entertained calls by international organizations and refugee agencies to
reconsider its deportation plans.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274742/un-agency-urges-pakistan-to-halt-expelling-afghans-during-winter
------
Over
2,000 Afghan migrants return home from Iran
Fidel
Rahmati
November
23, 2023
The Ministry of Migrants’ Affairs of
Afghanistan reported that approximately 2,000 Afghan migrants have returned
from Iran voluntarily or forcibly compulsively as part of the ongoing migration
process.
The
ministry reported on Wednesday that a total of 1,957 Afghan migrants have
returned from Iran via the Islam Qala border crossing.
The
Ministry of Migrants’ Affairs, citing the head of the Herat border authority,
has reported that 24 families, consisting of 91 individuals, were forcibly
repatriated. Additionally, 23 families, totalling 87 people, returned voluntarily.
Furthermore, 734 single individuals were repatriated involuntarily, while
another 1,045 individuals chose to return voluntarily to the country.
The
ministry has noted that among these returning migrants, 341 individuals have
been identified as needing assistance and have been referred to the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) for support.
The
interim government’s Ministry of Migrants’ Affairs has announced the return of
2,000 Afghan migrants amidst a recent surge in the deportation of Afghan
citizens from Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey.
On
Wednesday, more than 3,000 Afghan migrants made their way back to Afghanistan,
with both forced and voluntary returns, from Pakistan and Iran. This
significant repatriation effort reflects the complex migration dynamics in the
region.
The return of over 3,000 Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday underscores the ongoing challenges during a dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/over-2000-afghan-migrants-return-home-from-iran/
------
Europe
Who is
Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam, anti-EU populist who could be next Dutch PM
Nov 23,
2023
In a
significant shift in Dutch politics, Geert Wilders, known for his far-right and
anti-Islam populist stance, was on track for a substantial victory in the
parliamentary elections on Wednesday. This outcome, considered one of the most
notable political surprises in the Netherlands since World War II, is expected
to have a profound impact across Europe.
Here is
all you need to know about Wilders:
Early
life and background
Birth
and Upbringing: Geert Wilders was born on September 6, 1963, in Venlo, a small
town in the Netherlands. His father was a manager at a printing company and his
mother was a housewife. He has three siblings. He was raised as a Roman
Catholic, but left the church at his coming of age. He studied law and health
insurance at the Open University. His upbringing in a relatively conservative environment
played a significant role in shaping his perspectives.
Education
and early career: Wilders' early career was not immediately political. He
initially worked in health insurance and social services, which gave him
insights into the workings of public policy and social welfare systems.
Political
trajectory
Early
political involvement: Wilders' political career began with the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as a speechwriter and an assistant
to the party, gradually rising through the ranks.
Formation
of the Party for Freedom (PVV): Disenchanted with the VVD's stance on various
issues, particularly on the EU and immigration. Wilders left the party in 2004
over support for Turkey’s accession to the EU. He then founded the Party for
Freedom (PVV) in 2006, which quickly gained attention for its right-wing
populist and nationalist stances.
Political
views and controversiesAnti-Islam stance: Wilders is most notorious for his
vehement criticism of Islam. Wilders' inflammatory views on Islam have prompted
death threats and he has lived under heavy police protection for years. He has
called the prophet Mohammad a "pedophile". He has described Islam as
a "fascist ideology" and a "backward religion." Wilders has
called for banning the Quran and shutting down mosques in the Netherlands,
equating these measures with fighting an ideological battle against what he
perceives as the Islamization of Europe.
Views on
immigration: Closely tied to his views on Islam are his opinions on
immigration. Wilders advocates for stringent immigration policies, particularly
targeting Muslim-majority countries. He argues that such measures are necessary
to preserve Dutch culture and societal values.
Electoral
success and influence: Under Wilders' leadership, the PVV has made significant
electoral gains, becoming a notable force in Dutch politics. The party's
success is indicative of a broader populist wave in Europe, reflecting growing
skepticism about multiculturalism and the EU.
Implications
for the European Union
Euroscepticism:
Wilders is a staunch critic of the European Union. He advocates for the
Netherlands' exit from the EU, commonly referred to as "Nexit." His
stance reflects a growing Eurosceptic sentiment in parts of Europe, where the
EU is seen as infringing on national sovereignty.
Influence
on EU Politics: Wilders' views and the PVV's success have implications beyond
the Netherlands. They contribute to the broader debate on the future of the EU,
particularly regarding issues of immigration, national identity, and
sovereignty.
Polarization
and political discourse: Wilders' rise has contributed to political
polarization, not just in the Netherlands but across Europe. His rhetoric has
influenced the political discourse, pushing some mainstream parties to adopt
tougher stances on immigration and EU policies.
However,
some analysts and experts argue that Wilders’ influence and impact could be
limited by the checks and balances of the Dutch political system and the
realities of the international arena. They point out that Wilders will have to
compromise and cooperate with other parties in order to form a viable and
durable government, which could moderate his radical proposals. They also note
that Wilders will face strong opposition and resistance from the Dutch public,
the civil society, the judiciary, and the EU institutions, which could
constrain his actions and ambitions.
(With
inputs from agencies)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/who-is-geert-wilders-the-anti-islam-anti-eu-populist-who-could-be-next-dutch-pm/articleshow/105429333.cms
------
Putin to
G20: Must think how to stop war in Ukraine
Nov 23, 2023
Moscow:
Russian President Putin told leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) Wednesday
that it was necessary to think about how to stop "the tragedy" of the
war in Ukraine, some of his most placatory remarks to date about the conflict.
Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, Putin
said some leaders had said in their speeches they were shocked by the ongoing
"aggression" of Russia in Ukraine. "Yes, of course, military
actions are always a tragedy," Putin told leaders.
"And
of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy," he said.
"By the way, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine."
The
remark, although clearly intended for international consumption, is one of
Putin's most dovish on the war for months and contrasts with his sometimes long
diatribes about the failings and arrogance of the US.
Putin
used the word "war" to describe the conflict instead of the current
Kremlin term of "special military operation". "I understand that
this war, and the death of people, cannot but shock," Putin said, before
setting out the Russian case that Ukraine had persecuted people in eastern
Ukraine.
"And
the extermination of the civilian population in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip
today, is not shocking?" Putin asked.
Putin
skipped previous G20 summits in New Delhi and Nusa Dua, Indonesia, sending
foreign minister Sergei Lavrov instead. He addressed the 2021 and 2020 summits
from Moscow. He last attended a G20 summit in person in Osaka, Japan, in 2019.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/putin-to-g20-must-think-how-to-stop-war-in-ukraine/articleshow/105429103.cms
-----
NATO
welcomes deal between Israel, Hamas for humanitarian pause
Talha
Ozturk
22.11.2023
The
chief of NATO on Wednesday hailed the new deal between Israel and Hamas for a
four-day humanitarian pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip.
''I
welcome the agreement between Hamas and Israel that will allow the release of
hostages, the suspension of conflicts, and the delivery of humanitarian aid,''
said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of a NATO meeting in North
Macedonia's capital Skopje.
Early on
Wednesday, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced that an agreement on a
four-day humanitarian pause was achieved between Israel and Hamas, with Israel
later saying a hostage swap would begin on Thursday.
The
Qatar-mediated agreement suggests the announcement of a four-day pause in
fighting, the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, including
much-needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip, and the release of 50 Israelis held by
Hamas in exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The
agreement also allows an extension of the pause and the potential release of
more children and women held by the two sides.
Israel
has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following a
cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Authorities
in Gaza said Tuesday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on
the besieged enclave since then has risen past 14,100 people – including over
5,800 children and 3,900 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around
1,200, according to official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/nato-welcomes-deal-between-israel-hamas-for-humanitarian-pause/3061934
-----
Putin
says deaths in Gaza as shocking as those in Ukraine
BurcEruygur
22.11.2023
Russian
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the deaths in Gaza are as shocking
as those that are occurring in Ukraine.
“I
understand that this war (in Ukraine) cannot but shock me. Isn’t the bloody
coup in Ukraine in 2014, followed by the war of the Kyiv regime against its
people in Donbas, shocking? Isn’t the extermination of the civilian population
in Palestine and the Gaza Strip shocking today?” Putin said in an address at
the virtual G-20 leaders' summit.
“Isn’t
it shocking that the secretary-general of the United Nations (António Guterres)
said Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children?"
Putin
said what is happening in Ukraine is a tragedy, and they must look for ways to
stop it. “Yes, of course, military action is always a tragedy. Specific people,
specific families, and the country as a whole. And, of course, we must think
about how to stop this tragedy."
He said
it was Ukraine that refused to negotiate and closed the way for dialogue
through its adoption of an order prohibiting such a step, whereas Moscow was
always ready to take such a step.
Russia
says it launched its "special military operation" to “denazify” and
“demilitarize” Ukraine, and protect the country's Russian-speaking population.
The West, however, see the military campaign that started in February 2022 as a
war of aggression.
Arguing
that Moscow is trying to achieve justice in Ukraine, Putin said the stress in
the global economy is not because of Russia, but due to the "ill-conceived
macroeconomic policies" of other countries.
"The
injection of trillions of dollars and euros into the economy and into the
banking system, of course, provoked a surge in global inflation and a rapid
rise in food and energy prices. This is precisely what lies at the heart of the
events I spoke about. Not our actions and not our attempts to achieve justice
in Ukraine. No. Precisely the actions of the world's largest economies,"
he said.
He added
that "unfair methods of competition" are being used by some
countries, which he said include not only the destruction of transport and
logistics chains and international payment channels, but also "acts of
state terrorism."
"A
blatant example of this is the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline
system, laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea," he said.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/putin-says-deaths-in-gaza-as-shocking-as-those-in-ukraine/3061886
------
Europe
hails Israel-Hamas humanitarian pause, hostage swap deal
22.11.2023
Top
leaders and diplomats of European countries and European Union officials on
Wednesday welcomed the new agreement between Israel and Hamas for a
humanitarian pause in Gaza.
Israel
and the Palestinian group Hamas announced a hostage swap and a humanitarian
pause, expected to start on Thursday or Friday, according to Israeli Channel
12.
"I
wholeheartedly welcome the agreement reached on the release of the 50 hostages
and on a pause in hostilities," EU Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen said in a statement, voicing her "gratefulness" to those who
"have worked tirelessly through diplomatic channels in recent weeks to
broker this agreement."
On X, EU
Council President Charles Michel welcomed “the agreement on the release of
women and children held hostage in Gaza," and also thanked Qatar and Egypt
for their efforts to reach the deal.
Leaders,
foreign ministers hail deal
German
Foreign Minister AnnalenaBaerbock hailed the deal as a "breakthrough"
and added: "The humanitarian pause must be used to bring vital aid to the
people in Gaza."
French
President Emmanuel Macron praised the deal on X, stressing that Paris is
working relentlessly for the release of all the hostages.
French
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told broadcaster France Inter: "We must
hail this agreement, this is a moment of true hope."
She
expressed hope that French nationals would also be released.
UK
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement: "This agreement is a
crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and
addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
He urged
all parties "to ensure the agreement is delivered in full," and
emphasized the UK's continued commitment to working with all partners in the
region to secure the release of all hostages.
"This
pause provides an important opportunity to ensure much greater volumes of food,
fuel, and other life-saving aid can reach Gaza on a sustained basis,"
Cameron added.
Italy's
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: "It is now necessary to ensure that
the pause in fighting is used to bring humanitarian aid to civilians (in
Gaza)."
Greek
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis issued a statement welcoming the deal and
said: "In the implementation of the agreement, there must now be an
immediate and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid and the provision of medical
care to those in need, as well as an intensification of the effort for
permanent peace in the region."
Belgian
Foreign Minister HadjaLahbib also wrote on X that her country welcomed the
agreement.
"This
is a crucial first step that needs to be followed by further actions in
compliance with international law. The pause should ensure that sustained
humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza," she stressed.
Also on
X, the Polish Foreign Ministry stressed that the "humanitarian aid needs to
reach civilians suffering in the harrowing conflict."
The
ministry urged all parties to "ensure it’s delivered in full & call
for the immediate release of all hostages."
Denmark's
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen shared a message on Facebook, hoping for
a longer-lasting cessation of violence and a two-state solution.
British
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was "something that we have
consistently pushed for, and is a crucial step towards ending the nightmare for
families of those taken hostage in Hamas' terror attack and also addressing the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
While
also welcoming the deal, World Health Organization chief TedrosAdhanom
Ghebreyesus said on X that it was not enough "to end the suffering of
civilians."
"Efforts
to free the remaining hostages must continue, and I reiterate that those still
in captivity must receive any needed medical care," he said.
Ghebreyesus
repeated a call for a cease-fire to the fighting "so that civilians in
Gaza can receive sustained, safe and scaled up support for recovery."
UK
charity Oxfam's head of policy and advocacy, Katy Chakrabortty, stressed the
need for the international community to commit to "the hard work towards
peace for all Israelis and Palestinians."
Calling
the deal a "band-aid to a bleeding wound," Chakrabortty urged
diplomatic action for long-term peace.
The UN's
special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, noted
that it was "critical that we see safe access and a continuous flow of
humanitarian aid to all those in need."
He
voiced appreciation for the governments of Egypt, Qatar, and the US for
facilitating the agreement.
Details
of Israel-Hamas deal
Under
the Qatar-mediated agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in
exchange for 150 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The deal
also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded
with humanitarian aid, including badly needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip.
The
agreement also allows for an extension of the pause and the potential release
of more women and children held by both sides.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/europe-hails-israel-hamas-humanitarian-pause-hostage-swap-deal/3061562
------
Pro-Palestinian
activists stage protest in UK Parliament to demand permanent Gaza ceasefire
November
23, 2023
LONDON:
A UK-based pro-Palestinian activist organization on Wednesday organized a
sit-in demonstration in Parliament to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The
Palestine Solidarity Campaign said that 25 activists timed the protest in
Central Hall, Westminster, to coincide with Prime Minister’s Questions.
According
to PSC, the protest sought to draw attention to the need for a permanent ceasefire
to bring an end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza “and to
create the conditions to begin to address the root causes of the current
crisis, including action to end the siege of Gaza.”
Under
Wednesday’s temporary ceasefire deal, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day
pause in fighting to allow the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange
for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and the entry of humanitarian aid
into the enclave.
PSC
earlier on Wednesday released a separate statement welcoming the “temporary
truce,” but said that “a four-day respite will not end the killing of
civilians, nor will it be long enough to address the humanitarian catastrophe
in the Gaza Strip caused by 46 days of relentless bombing and ground attacks,
which have killed over 14,000 Palestinians, over 40 percent of whom were
children.”
Ben
Jamal, PSC’s director, said that without a permanent ceasefire, the temporary
cessation of hostilities “could prove to be little more than a stay of
execution for thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children.”
He added: “Now more than ever we need to raise our voices to demand that this truce is made permanent, that the cruel siege on Gaza is lifted, and the root causes of the crisis in Palestine are addressed. That is the demand we took to the heart of Parliament today.” Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2413596/world
------
India
UP:
Hindu extremists abduct and torture Muslim man in Hapur
November
22, 2023
On
October 17, 2023, in MaujaNidhooli, Tehsil Dhaolana, Hapur district, Uttar
Pradesh, Muhammad Nadim bin Babu fell victim to the heinous acts of some Hindu
extremist goons from the neighbouring village of Hay.
The perpetrators,
identified as Bini Sharma, Deepanshu Sharma, Prince Sharma, and several others,
abducted Nadim from Nidhooli during the night and took him to their village,
Milkalpur, Solana.
Throughout
the night, Nadim endured relentless beating with sharp weapons at the hands of
these assailants. When even the brutality of the assault seemed insufficient to
them, they hung Nadim upside down in a water tubewell, soaking his face in
water before further assaulting him. This ruthless act led to water filling Nadim’s
stomach.
Upon
realizing that Nadim had succumbed to the inhumane torture, the culprits
callously disposed of his lifeless body in the jungles of Nidhooli during the
night of October 17. As of now, Nadim lies on a ventilator at Rama Hospital in
Pulkhawa, fighting a battle between life and death.
The
assailants, flaunting their Hindu extremist ideology, have been boasting about
their heinous acts on social media, even suggesting that they plan to repeat
such atrocities in two months. Nadim, a father of two young children, hails
from a financially struggling family.
The
police have registered a case against the criminals, treating them as minors.
However, instead of swift action, the authorities have issued a warning to
Nadim’s family, urging them not to share the incident on social media.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/eng/up-hindu-extremists-abduct-and-torture-muslim-man-in-hapur/
-----
Minister
urges Bihar CM to ban halal-certified products, links it to ‘jihad’
Nov 23,
2023
Union
minister calls for ban on Halal certificates in Bihar, raises concerns about
alleged link between Halal certification and discriminatory activities.
Union
minister Giriraj Singh has called for an immediate ban on Halal certificates on
food products in Bihar by following the lead of Uttar Pradesh. In a letter
addressed to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, the union minister for rural
development raised concerns about the alleged link between Halal certification
and potential involvement in socially discriminatory and terrorist activities.
The
minister asserted that such certification, which has no connection to Islamic
standards, is an attempt to Islamize products unrelated to the religion. He accused
institutions of becoming self-proclaimed authorities in issuing Halal
certificates, allegedly receiving substantial payments from companies
manufacturing the goods.
“The
fear that there is a big conspiracy behind Halal certification and business is
not unfounded,” he wrote in Hindi.
Citing
the recent actions against Halal certification by the Uttar Pradesh government,
Singh urged the Bihar CM to take similar strong measures in the state.
“I
request you to take strict action against such divisive and conspiratorial
elements by imposing a ban against the kind of jihad going on in the name of
Halal products even in a big state like Bihar,” the minister said.
Uttar
Pradesh recently imposed a ban on the distribution and sale of certain
Halal-certified products, including dairy, garments and medicines, with
immediate effect, while exempting products manufactured for export.
Bakery
products, sugar, edible oil and other products which were labelled as
'Halal-certified' by the companies manufacturing them would be banned from
distribution and sale, a state government notification said on Saturday.
"Halal
certification of food products is a parallel system which creates confusion
regarding the quality of food items," the notification said.
The Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the country's apex body in
charge of determining standards for most food products sold in the country and
determines the standards food products should meet, the notification said.
Union
finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday backed the move saying food
certification should be done only by governmental agencies, and not by
non-governmental organisations.
“Food
quality and food testing are essentially a government job. Government should do
it. We have our Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)," she
said.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/minister-urges-bihar-cm-to-ban-halal-certified-products-links-it-to-jihad-101700711304778.html
Supreme
Court agrees to consider review petitions on same-sex marriage verdict
Nov 23,
2023
By a 3-2
majority, the Oct 17 judgment had refused to accord legal sanction to same-sex
marriage, & also declined to grant constitutional protection to civil
unions and adoption rights for queer couples
The
Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider on November 28 a bundle of
petition seeking a reconsideration of its October 17 judgment that had refused
to grant legal recognition to same-sex couples and said only Parliament and
state legislatures can validate their marital unions.
Senior
counsel Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India
Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, requesting the CJI to ensure that the review petition
comes up for consideration before five judges on November 28 – the tentative
date assigned by the court registry.
Several
other lawyers, who had earlier appeared in the matter, were also in attendance
when Rohatgi made the request.
“We have
also sought an open court hearing. It is tentatively listed on November 28. Let
it not be deleted. Apart from this, majority or minority, both views have held
that there is a discrimination (against LGBTQ+ couples). If there is
discrimination, there also has to be a remedy. This is why we have pressed for
an open court hearing,” Rohatgi submitted.
Responding,
the CJI said that he was still to go through the review petitions and that the
lawyers’ plea for an open court hearing would be considered appropriately.
A review
petition comes up before the same composition of judges through circulation in
their chambers and is mostly decided without an open court hearing. However, if
the judges find some merit in the review plea, they can allow an open court
hearing and oral arguments.
Of the
five judges on the same-sex marriage bench, justice S Ravindra Bhat retired on
October 20, which means the CJI will have to add a new judge to the bench for
considering the review petitions. It is for the CJI, as the master of the roster,
to assign a date for considering the review plea inside judges’ chambers.
By a 3-2
majority, the October 17 judgment had refused to accord legal sanction to
same-sex marriage, and also declined to grant constitutional protection to
civil unions and adoption rights for queer couples, noting that mandating the
State to grant recognition or legal status to some unions will violate the
doctrine of separation of powers and could lead to unforeseeable consequences.
While
CJI Chandrachud and justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul ruled in favour of recognition
of civil unions — considered the world over as the first step towards granting
full marriage equality — and adoption rights, justices Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS
Narasimha held that right to a civil union cannot be assigned the status of a
constitutionally protected right when the right to marry has not been given the
same status.
Udit
Sood, a US-based lawyer who was among the 52 petitioners seeking marriage
equality in India, filed the first review petition in the matter on November 1,
complaining that the majority judgment of the court was “manifestly unjust” and
“self-contradictory” in not protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community
despite acknowledging its travails.
“The
majority ruling is self-contradictory, facially erroneous and deeply unjust.
The majority found that queer Indians endure severe discrimination at the hands
of the State, declared that discrimination must be prohibited, and then did not
take the logical next step of enjoining the discrimination,” Sood said in his
petition filed through Karanjawala& Co.
In his
petition, Sood picked out parts of the judgment authored by justice Bhat,
complaining that though the judgment extensively wrote on “unjust
discriminatory consequences” and violation of the fundamental rights of the
LGBTQ+ community, it failed to take the logical next step of prohibiting the
discrimination.
Terming
the contradiction an error apparent on the face of the record, Sood said that
it was nothing short of “abdication of the duty” by the Supreme Court to not
correct a wrong after having acknowledged it.
“Our
Constitution primarily tasks this Hon’ble court — not the respondents (Centre)
— with upholding fundamental rights. To find that the petitioners are enduring
discrimination, but then turn them away with best wishes for the future,
conforms neither with this Hon’ble court’s constitutional obligation towards
queer Indians nor with the separation of power contemplated in our Constitution
,” said his petition, disputing the majority view that the government should
take appropriate steps to remove the stigma of discrimination and protect queer
couples.
Almost a
week later, Supriya Chakravarty and Abhay Dang also moved the top court seeking
a review of the October 17 judgment. They argued that constitutional courts are
empowered to review statutory law to ensure its conformity with constitutional
values and that such courts do not need to wait for the legislature to enact or
amend laws to recognise same-sex marriage.
“There
is a right to a relationship, a right to union, and a right to civil union
under the Constitution, yet the majority decision fails to secure any legal
status for such rights..The bench unanimously finds that the exclusion of queer
couples from the existing statutory regime is discriminatory, yet the majority
decision grants no relief,” complained the petition.
The top
court’s ruling on October 17 unanimously held that the right to marry was not a
fundamental right, and that it was beyond the remit of courts to issue a positive
direction to the legislature to characterise same-sex marriages and queer
relationships through a new instrument of law.
The
judgments — separately authored by the CJI, and justices Kaul, Bhat and
Narasimha — also refused to annul or read down the provisions of the Special
Marriage Act (SMA) to include non-heterosexual couples within its fold.
The
judges, however, were divided in deciding how far a court can go despite
acknowledging that queerness is not an “urban, elitist concept” and required
the State to ascertain protection to such couples.
While
the CJI and justice Kaul maintained that the right to enter into a union by
queer couples is a constitutionally protected right and that the State has an
obligation to recognise such civil unions and grant them benefit under law,
including adoption rights, the other three judges overruled this view.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-agrees-to-consider-review-petitions-on-same-sex-marriage-verdict-101700720218720.html
-----
Israel
war should not escalate: Modi at G20
Nov 23,
2023
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the ongoing war between Israel
and Hamas should not escalate into a regional conflict, condemned both
terrorism and the death of civilians, welcomed the news of the release of
Israeli and American hostages, and expressed the hope that all hostages will be
released soon.
Speaking
at a virtual meeting of G20 leaders, the final major event during India’s
presidency of the grouping, Modi reiterated India’s careful and balanced
position on the conflict, asserting that terrorism was “unacceptable”, and the
death of civilians “anywhere” was “condemnable”.
“We
welcome the news of the release of hostages today, and hope for the swift
release of all hostages. Ensuring the timely and continuous delivery of
humanitarian aid is imperative. It is also crucial to ensure that the conflict
between Israel and Hamas does not take on any kind of regional form,” Modi
said, drawing attention to the instability in West Asia.
His
comments came on a day the two warring sides, with help from the US, Qatar and
Egypt, agreed to a four-day ceasefire in Gaza as a part of a wider package deal
that involved the release of a set of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli prisons. They also come in the backdrop of rising global
outrage against Israel’s response to the Hamas terror attacks.
“It is
important that humanitarian assistance reaches [Gaza] in a timely manner,” Modi
said in his opening remarks at the virtual leaders’ summit, a follow up to the
in-person summit held in New Delhi on September 9-10. India hands over the G20
presidency to Brazil on December 1.
The war
erupted after Hamas militants launched an audacious assault against Israel on
October 7 and Tel Aviv responded with a massive bombing campaign and ground
invasion of Gaza. India has condemned the terror attack, but also highlighted
the need to protect civilian lives in the Gaza strip, and reaffirmed its
support for a two-state solution to resolve the decades-old Israel-Palestine
conflict and bring lasting peace to the troubled region.
“The
clouds of crises that we are witnessing today, as One Family, we possess the
strength to work towards peace. From the point of view of human welfare, we can
strengthen our voice against terror and violence, and for humanity. Today,
India is prepared to walk together shoulder to shoulder, to meet the
expectations of the world and of humanity,” Modi said. ‘One Family, One Earth,
One Future’ has been the theme of India’s G20 presidency.
In his
address, Modi also touched upon the implementation of digital public
infrastructure (DPI) in the countries of the Global South, the challenges posed
by artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for its regulation, challenges
related to environment and climate crisis, women empowerment, sustainable
development goals and Africa’s inclusion in G20 under the Indian presidency.
“To
implement DPI in the Global South, I propose the creation of a social impact
fund. India will make an initial contribution of $25 million to this fund. I
hope you all will join this initiative,” the PM said.
The need
to regulate AI was a key message in his address. Its negative application is a
cause for concern for the world, Modi said, adding, “We need to work together
towards AI regulation. Deepfake is dangerous for society and individuals. We
want AI to reach the people and it must be safe for society.” India will host
the Global AI Partnership Summit in December, he said, asking the G20
member-states to support the initiative. There is a major international push
towards AI regulation, with the US administration unveiling an ambitious
executive order to ensure the responsible use of the new technology, the UK
hosting an international summit on AI which saw India’s participation, the US
and China agreeing to discuss AI, and G7 drawing up a set of principles on AI
in recent months.
Modi
also said India’s aspirational district programme exemplified progress in
sustainable developments goals at the local level. “I invite the G20 countries
and the Global South to study the programme. You will see how this campaign has
helped transform the lives of 25 crore people.” The programme seeks to transform
112 underdeveloped districts in the country by tapping into their strengths.
The PM
also recounted India’s G20 journey.
“When I
was handed over the gavel, I said we will together make G20 inclusive,
ambitious, action-oriented and decisive. We made that happen and we have taken
G20 to newer heights. In a climate of mistrust and challenges, it is mutual
trust that has bound us together. It is a matter of pride that Africa got a
voice under India’s presidency. It was a message of inclusivity to the world.”
The
virtual summit was an opportunity to assess what has been done since the
in-person summit in September, people tracking India’s G20 presidency said.
The
joint leaders’ declaration unveiled at the G20 Summit in September was seen as
a key diplomatic achievement for India given the differences over the Ukraine
conflict, which previously held up joint statements at all ministerial
meetings.
The
declaration said that, in line with the UN Charter, all countries must refrain
from the use of force to “seek territorial acquisition against the territorial
integrity and sovereignty” of any state. Without naming Russia, it emphasised
the importance of sustaining food and energy security and called for a
cessation of military destruction or other attacks on infrastructure.
There
have been past instances of a country holding the G20 presidency hosting more
than one summit. Italy, which held the presidency in 2021, organised an
extraordinary leaders’ summit on Afghanistan some months after the Taliban
assumed power in Kabul.
Modi
also extended his best wishes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Brazil
takes over the G20 presidency. The PM hoped that G20 would move forward with a
human-centric approach.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/israel-war-should-not-escalate-modi-at-g20-101700678526693.html
------
PM Modi
welcomes release of Israeli hostages, calls for regional stability in G20
virtual summit
22nd November
2023
NEW
DELHI: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, while addressing the G20 virtual summit
welcomed the release of 50 hostages by Hamas, and made seven observations on
the Israel-Hamas conflict which included zero tolerance on terrorism. He called
the killing of civilians unacceptable, urged that humanitarian aid should
arrive soon, urged for need for regional stability and suggested dialogue and
diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
"When
I proposed this virtual summit, there was no anticipation of what the global
situation would be like today. New challenges have arisen in the last months.
The situation of insecurity and instability in the West Asia region is a matter
of concern for all of us. Our coming together today symbolizes that we are
sensitive to all issues and stand together to resolve them. We believe that
terrorism is unacceptable to all of us. The death of civilians, wherever they
happen, is condemnable,’’ said Modi adding that he hoped that all Israeli
hostages would be released soon.
"It
is necessary to ensure timely and continuous delivery of humanitarian aid. It
is also important to ensure that the war between Israel and Hamas does not take
any regional form. Despite the clouds of crisis that we are seeing today, One
Family has the power to work for peace. From the perspective of human welfare,
we can raise our voice against terrorism and violence, and towards humanity.
Today, India is ready to move step by step to fulfil this expectation of the
world and humanity,’’ Modi added.
The
Summit was attended by 22 heads of government, though some leaders were not
present. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Japanese
PM Fumio Kishida, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese took part in the Summit,
while Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden skipped it.
"It
is for a country to decide on who represents them,’’ said External Affairs
Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, after the conclusion of the Summit.
"Russia
has never refused peace negotiations in Ukraine and I understand that this is
war and the loss of life cannot but shock. But isn’t the extermination of the
civilian population in Gaza shocking? Isn't it shocking that doctors have to
perform operations on children without anaesthesia? Isn't it shocking that the
UNSG said that Gaza has turned into a huge children’s cemetery,’’ said Russian
President Vladimir Putin during his address adding that helping the people of
Gaza is our sacred duty.
Australian
PM, Anthony Albanese, suggested that the economies of G20 countries should work
together.
"Today
in the age of Artificial Intelligence, there is a need to use technology in a
responsible manner. There is increasing concern about the negative use of AI
all over the world. India has a clear thinking that we should work together on
the global regulation of AI. Understanding the seriousness of DeepFake, and how
dangerous it is for society and the individual, we have to move forward. We
want AI should reach the people, and it must be safe for society. With this
approach, the Global AI Partnership Summit is being organized in India next
month. I am sure that all of you will cooperate in this also,’’ Modi added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/nov/22/pm-modi-welcomes-release-of-israeli-hostages-calls-for-regional-stability-in-g20-virtual-summit-2635270.html
-----
Mideast
Israeli
strike kills five Hezbollah fighters, including senior member's son
23.11.23
An
Israeli strike on the village of Beit Yahoun in south Lebanon on Wednesday
evening killed five Hezbollah fighters, including the son of a senior Hezbollah
member, according to Hezbollah and three sources with knowledge of the
situation.
The
group announced on late Wednesday night the death of five of its members,
bringing the total toll of Hezbollah fighters killed since violence broke out
along the border to 85.
Among
those named was Abbas Raad, who sources said was the son of senior Hezbollah
figure and member of parliament Mohammad Raad, who was sanctioned by the United
States in 2019.
Two
Hezbollah sources and one security source told Reuters that the five were
killed in an Israeli strike on the village of Beit Yahoun.
Israel
and Hezbollah - an ally of militant group Hamas - have traded escalating rocket
fire along the Lebanese border following Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
In a
statement, the Israeli military said its fighter jets struck Hezbollah
infrastructure in Lebanon, and that its troops and aircraft hit two cells that
fired at Israeli troops or attempted to launch rockets into Israel.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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-----
No Gaza
hostage release before Friday, Israel says
Nov 23,
2023
GAZA:
The release of hostages under a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian
Hamas militants will not happen before Friday, Israel's national security
adviser said, thwarting hopes of relatives that some would be freed on
Thursday.
Israel
and Hamas agreed early on Wednesday to a ceasefire in Gaza for at least four
days, to let in humanitarian aid and free at least 50 hostages held by militants
in the enclave in exchange for at least 150 Palestinians jailed in Israel.
The
starting time of the truce and release of hostages captured by Hamas during its
Oct. 7 attack on Israel has yet to be officially announced. An Egyptian
security source said mediators had sought a start time of 10 a.m. on Thursday.
"The
negotiations on the release of our hostages are advancing and continuing
constantly," Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a
statement released by the prime minister's office.
"The
start of the release will take place according to the original agreement
between the sides, and not before Friday," it said.
Israel's
public broadcaster Kan, citing an unidentified Israeli official, reported there
was a 24-hour delay because the agreement was not signed by Hamas and mediator
Qatar. The official said they were optimistic the agreement would be carried
out when it was signed.
"No
one said there would be a release tomorrow except the media ... We had to make
it clear that no release is planned before Friday, because of the uncertainty
that hostages' families are facing," Kan quoted a source in Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as saying.
Israeli
media, citing anonymous officials, reported the pause in fighting with Hamas
also would not start before Friday. Israel's Ynet news website reported that
Israel had not yet received the names of the hostages slated for release by
Hamas.
Since
the Hamas attack on southern Israel that surprised the government and shocked
Israelis, five hostages have been recovered alive. Israel says 1,200 people
were killed, mostly civilians and about 240 hostages of different nationalities
taken hostage by Islamist gunmen.
In
retaliation, Israel has subjected Hamas-ruled Gaza to a siege and relentless
bombardment. More than 14,000 Gazans have been killed, around 40% of them
children, according to medical officials in the territory.
Palestinian
media reported that Israeli aircraft and artillery struck Gaza's southern city
of Khan Younis in at least two waves early on Thursday.
In
Israel, sirens warning of incoming rocket fire from Gaza blared in communities
near the border with the enclave early on Thursday, the military said. There
were no reports of damage or injuries.
Need to
know they are alive
Netanyahu
made no mention of a potential delay in implementation of the agreement during
a press conference late on Wednesday. Hanegbi's statement was released about an
hour after the press conference.
"We
need to know they are alive, if they're okay. It's the minimum," said
Gilad Korngold, who said he drew just a measure of comfort from the deal
between Israel and Hamas and was among those who was still awaiting word of
relatives. Seven of his family members, including his 3-year-old granddaughter,
were taken hostage.
"I
want everybody back. But I think - and it's a very tough decision - but I think
the children and women must be (first). they are most fragile. You know, they
need to get out."
The U.S.
also hoped that aid would begin reaching Gaza in large volumes within the next
few days, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.
The 50
hostages would be released over four days at a rate of at least 10 daily,
Netanyahu's office said. The truce could be extended day by day as long as an
additional 10 hostages were freed per day, it said.
Israel's
justice ministry published a list of 300 names of Palestinian prisoners who
could be freed.
Hamas
said the initial 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian
women and children imprisoned in Israel. Hundreds of trucks of humanitarian,
medical and fuel supplies would enter Gaza, while Israel would halt all air
sorties over southern Gaza and maintain a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window
in the north, Hamas said.
The
truce agreement, the first in a nearly seven-week-long war, was reached after
mediation by Qatar and seen by governments around the world as potentially
easing the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza is
the "most dangerous place in the world to be a child," Catherine
Russell, head of the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, told the U.N.
Security Council on Wednesday. More than 5,300 Palestinian children had
reportedly been killed since Oct. 7, Russell said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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-----
Israel
Displays Tunnel Under Gaza Hospital It Claims Was A "Hamas Terror
Complex"
November 23, 2023
New
Delhi: The Israel Army today posted several visuals of a reinforced tunnel
under Gaza's largest hospital which they claimed was part of a vast underground
network Hamas uses for military purposes. The Al Shifa Hospital in north Gaza
has been the focal point of the war between Israeli troops and Hamas for the
past few weeks. Israeli officials say Hamas has been using the hospital to hide
weapons and command centres –- a claim denied by medical staff and the
Palestinian group.
After
days of intensive raids at the hospital, Israel Defence Forces posted videos of
one tunnel complete with a bathroom, kitchen, and an air-conditioned meeting
room that it said had served as a command post for Hamas operatives.
The
tunnel shaft, some two meters (6-1/2 feet) high, was accessed through an
outdoor shaft in the hospital complex grounds, which were once crowded with
tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians the army said had served as a human
shield from war.
Sharing
drone footage of the tunnel, the IDF said that Hamas hides behind hospitals.
"Al-Shifa
Hospital from above, Hamas terror complex below, Hamas hides behind hospitals,
And here's the drone footage, That incontrovertibly proves it," Israel
Defence Forces posted on X (Formerly Twitter).
The
troops also took some reporters down the shaft which led to a narrow tunnel
"It's
a very long tunnel. The tunnel goes from the city to the hospital,"
Colonel EladTsury, commander of Israel's Seventh Brigade, told reporters.
"When
they are trying to survive, they go down, use hospitals as human shields and
they can stay here for a long time," he added.
The
reporters were not taken inside the hospital and allowed to see only a portion
of the sprawling complex.
Outside
the hospital, the military displayed guns, ammunition, and explosives they said
were found in the Al-Shifa complex.
Israel
has faced international criticism for its Gaza campaign, including its attacks
on Shifa, the enclave's largest hospital. Medical officials say Israel has killed
around 13,000 people in the strip since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel in which
Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage.
Source: ndtv.com
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------
Israel
says no pause in Gaza fighting, continues to pound enclave despite truce
23
November 2023
Israel
says there will be no halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip, as it continues
to bombard the besieged enclave despite agreeing to a four-day truce with the
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
An
unnamed Israeli official told AFP early on Thursday that the temporary
ceasefire and the planned release of prisoners have been delayed and will not
come into effect until Friday at the earliest.
The
official’s comments came after Tzachi Hanegbi, an adviser to Israeli prime
minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said none of the prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza
would be freed before Friday.
“The
release will begin according to the original agreement between the parties, and
not before Friday,” he said in a statement on Wednesday night, adding that
talks on the deal were continuing.
Hanegbi
gave no reason for the delay, and it was not clear when Israel would begin a
four-day pause in its attacks on Gaza, which was expected to take effect at 10
a.m. local time Thursday.
Hamas
has announced a four-day truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip that will see the
cessation of Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip.
Early on
Wednesday, Hamas announced a four-day truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip that
will see the cessation of Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas
said in a statement that the deal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, will allow the
entry of hundreds of humanitarian, medical and fuel aid trucks to Gaza.
The deal
will also see the release of 50 Israeli war prisoners in exchange for the
release of 150 Palestinian women and children from the occupying entity’s jails.
Meanwhile,
Israel has continued to attack Gaza in the hours after an agreement was reached
between the two sides for a truce, striking various parts across the blockaded
territory and leaving many injured.
Local
sources reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted a house in Rafah in the south
of the Gaza Strip, wounding a number of people, according to Palestine’s
official WAFA news agency.
Israeli
warplanes also bombed the town of al-Fokhari, east of the southern city of Khan
Yunis.
The
Israeli military also pounded Beit Lahia town in the north of the Gaza Strip,
as well as Beit Hanoun and the Jabalia refugee camp, leaving dozens of citizens
dead or injured.
More
than 100 Palestinians, most of them children and women, have been killed and
many others injured in ongoing Israeli occupation bombing of the besieged Gaza
Strip.
Israel
waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a surprise attack,
dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, into the occupied territories in response to
the occupying regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.
According
to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 14,500 Palestinians have been
killed in the strikes, most of them women and children, and injured around
35,000 others.
Tel Aviv
has also imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity,
food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.
Source: presstv.ir
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-------
President
Erdogan urges Muslim unity against Israel's Gaza occupation
2023-11-22
Israel's
occupation of Gaza means a deep wound to the unity and solidarity of the
Islamic world, Muslim countries should show their reaction against Israel,
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on his return to Algeria on
Wednesday.
"Breaking
the blockade is not through one or two countries, but through steps and
strategies formed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab
League," Erdogan said.
He also
stated that Israel must account for the genocide it committed in Gaza and
emphasized that it must comply with international law.
Erdogan
referred to the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and
the Arab League held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, which he attended
recently.
"The
Islamic world must act in a spirit of unity, implement the decisions taken in
Riyadh, and stand by its resolve," he stated.
The
Turkish President noted that the final declaration of the OIC summit rejected
claims that Israel was acting in "self-defense" and demanded that the
United Nations Security Council adopt a "definitive and binding
resolution" to stop Israel's "aggression".
Erdogan
also called for an end to arms sales to Israel and stated that he opposed any
political solution that would separate Gaza from the Israeli-occupied West
Bank.
However,
Erdogan emphasized that he was hopeful about the ceasefire in Gaza, saying that
the suffering of civilians could lead to the peace of the Palestinian state
that the region has been longing for years.
He also
said that Turkiye would work for the continued transfer of Gazan patients to
the country and would discuss this issue during a possible visit to Egypt soon.
Erdogan
once again criticized the obsessive attitude of Western countries on this issue
and said that European countries kept silent and did not make efforts to stop
the massacre. However, he said that Spain's attitude was positive and that he
would meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez next week.
Finally,
he reminded Turkiye's readiness to take responsibility for the establishment of
a regional security mechanism in Gaza and reiterated its offer of
guarantorship.
Source: turkiyenewspaper.com
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https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/politics/17311
------
Iran top
diplomat meets Hamas, Islamic Jihad officials
Nov 22,
2023
TEHRAN,
Nov. 22 (MNA) – The Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with
different Lebanese officials as well as the senior officials of Palestinian
Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Beirut on Wednesday.
The
Iranian top diplomat arrived in Beirut, Lebanon's capital on a new regional tour.
"Without
a doubt, the future of Gaza and the future of Palestine will be decided only by
the Palestinian people. We have heard from the resistance leaders in the region
that the hands of the resistance will remain on the triggers until the full
rights of the Palestinian people are realized and until the confrontation with
the occupation in the region is reached," he said upon his arrival in the
Lebanese capital.
"Today,
we are in Beirut to consult with high Lebanese authorities about how to
maximize security in the region and how to materialize Palestinian
rights," the top Iranian diplomat further said.
Iran top
diplomat meets Hamas, Islamic Jihad officials
He first
held a meeting with the speaker of the Lebanese parliament nabih Berri during
which they conferred on and exchanged viewpoints on the latest situation of the
war of the usurping Zionist regime against Gaza, the imminent ceasefire, the
ways of stabilizing the possible ceasefire and providing aid to the oppressed
Palestinian nation as well as strengthening stability and security in the
region.
Iran top
diplomat meets Hamas, Islamic Jihad officials
In
addition to Nabih Berri, the Iranian foreign ministers held a meeting with
senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas movement in Lebanon. In this
meeting, the latest developments in Gaza and the imminent cease-fire process in
the region was the most important topic discussed.
Amir-Abdollahian
also held a meeting with the caretaker prime minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati.
Source: mehrnews.com
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------
Israel
fell short of all of its goals in Gaza: Raeisi
Nov 23,
2023
TEHRAN,
Nov. 23 (MNA) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi underscored the desperation of
the Israeli regime in the face of Palestinian resistance, saying the Tel Aviv
regime has fallen short of realizing the goals in its ongoing war against Gaza.
Raeisi
made the remarks in an interview in Tehran on Wednesday with representatives of
five Arabic-language television networks, namely Lebanon's al-Manar, Iraq's
al-Etejah TV, and the Palestinian al-Aqsa TV and Palestine Today as well as
Yemen's al-Masirah.
"Israel
did not achieve any of its goals of occupying Gaza and eliminating the
resistance," he said.
Still
referring to the war waged by the Israeli regime, Raeisi said, "What the
Zionist regime has done shows that it has grown desperate in the face of the
Palestinian Resistance."
The
regime launched the war on October 7 following an operation, dubbed al-Aqsa
Storm, by the territory's Resistance groups, which killed some 1,200 Israeli
settlers and military forces and led to the captivity of hundreds more.
Raeisi
described the operation as the Palestinian people's "legitimate defense of
their right," which was prompted by their growing "impatient with
[the Israeli regime's] incessant oppression."
"A
nation, whose home is usurped, whose family members are imprisoned and
martyred, and whose farms are destroyed, enjoys the right to legitimate
self-defense" by whatever logical standard, the president said.
The
Palestinian operation, Raeisi added, inflicted "military, security, and
intelligence defeat" upon the Israeli regime.
The
president, meanwhile, pointed to the regime's killing of more than 14,500
Palestinians so far during the war, saying, "Killing of women and children
does not translate into victory."
The
massacre of women and children "has created an unprecedented atmosphere of
anti-Zionist hatred across the world," Raeisi concluded.
Source: mehrnews.com
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------
Islamic
ministers call on Paris to play balanced role in supporting Palestinian cause
November
22, 2023
PARIS —
The Islamic Ministerial Committee, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal
Bin Farhan, met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday.
The
delegation, on the fourth leg of its tour, engaged with members of the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) in efforts to halt the military escalation,
achieve a truce, protect civilians, and expand humanitarian corridors in Gaza.
The
ministers urged members of the Security Council and the international community
to take effective and urgent measures for a complete ceasefire in the Gaza
Strip, emphasizing its priority for all Arab and Islamic countries.
The
committee members, present at the meeting with Macron, included Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman
Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Al-Maliki, Turkish Minister of Foreign
Affairs HakanFidan, Indonesian Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi, Nigeria’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Secretary-General of the
Arab League Ahmed AboulGheit. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna was
also in attendance.
The
meeting welcomed the joint mediation efforts of Egypt and Qatar, along with the
United States, resulting in an agreement for a humanitarian ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip. The timing of its commencement will be announced within 24 hours,
with a duration of four days, extendable.
The
ministers affirmed the significance of securing safe passages for the delivery
of humanitarian aid, food, water, fuel, and electricity to Gaza.
The
committee called upon France to play a balanced role in accordance with
international law and humanitarian law to achieve an immediate and complete
cessation of fire and to implement all relevant international resolutions.
They
urged the international community to fulfill its responsibility by rejecting
all forms of selectivity in the application of international legal and ethical
standards, and to protect the Palestinian people from the crimes committed by
the occupying forces and settler militias against the Palestinian people in the
Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The meeting
also addressed the necessity of revitalizing the peace process. Committee
members stressed the importance of ensuring a just, permanent, and
comprehensive peace by implementing international decisions related to the
two-state solution.
They
highlighted the need to enable the Palestinian people to achieve their
legitimate rights in establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian
state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Paris is
the fourth stop of the tour of the members of the Islamic Ministerial
Committee, deputed by the Arab and Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on Nov. 11 to
undertake a high-level diplomatic mission to end the conflict in Gaza.
The
extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic Summit issued a resolution that tasked the
foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia,
Nigeria, and Palestine to initiate immediate international action, on behalf of
all member states of the OIC and the Arab League, for this purpose.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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------
North America
US calls
for safe resettlement of Afghan refugees
November
23, 2023
WASHINGTON:
The US State Department has urged Pakistan to prioritise the safety and
efficient resettlement of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.
The call
comes amid concerns that hasty or unscrupulous deportations could pose a
significant risk to the lives of these vulnerable individuals.
“Our key
concern is the safety of vulnerable and at-risk individuals,” State Department
spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a Tuesday afternoon news briefing.
Highlighting
the shared responsibility in addressing the plight of refugees, he emphasised
the need for collaborative efforts to navigate the complexities of
resettlement.
“We
believe it is in both our countries’ interest to ensure the safe and efficient
resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers.”
State
Dept official sidesteps question about ambassador’s reported meeting with Imran
Mr
Miller said, “We join all of our partners in urging all countries, including
Pakistan, to uphold their respective obligations in the treatment of refugees
and asylum seekers. We strongly encourage all of Afghanistan’s neighbours to
allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and coordinate with
international humanitarian organisations to provide assistance.”
As the
situation evolves, the diplomatic engagement between the US and Pakistan takes
centre stage in addressing the challenges associated with the resettlement
process.
Mr
Miller expressed particular concern about the safety of those awaiting American
visas, but Pakistan has assured Washington that it would not deport 25,000
Afghan refugees waiting for their US visas.
Aid for
Balochistan
About
the fund for Balochistan police, Mr Miller said the package, announced in
Islamabad, supports four key initiatives including $2m to expand anti-terrorist
training facilities and $2m for the repair of 10 flood-hit police stations, $2m
for building 10 new police stations, with an additional $250,000 for purchasing
safety equipment.
Responding
to Pakistani media reports about the US ambassador’s alleged meeting with
former prime minister Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, the State Department
representative reiterated Washington’s stance of not taking a position on
candidates for political office in Pakistan or any other country.
Source: dawn.com
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------
Western
politicians condemn anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim bigotry
Nov 23,
2023
Ellie
Sennett
The
leaders of the foreign affairs committees of the US and several European
nations on Wednesday condemned a surge in anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic
“bigotry”.
The
signatories of a joint statement noted “an alarming rise in anti-Semitic and
anti-Muslim bigotry and violence” since the October 7 Hamas attack and Israel's
devastating siege on Gaza in its aftermath.
The
message comes as anti-Semitic hate crime investigations have “tripled in New
York and London” over the past month in comparison to last year.
And in
France, the Interior Ministry documented “1,040 anti-Semitic incidents in the
month following the October 7 attack”, noting Jewish and Muslim community
organisations have “reported even more incidents throughout our countries”.
“We are
proud to represent diverse constituencies in vibrant democracies. None of this
is acceptable,” the statement read.
“We urge
our governments to intensify all efforts to safeguard Jewish and Muslim
communities, to condemn these actions when they occur and to implement our
national strategies to combat the dark tide of bigotry and hatred."
The
signatories are the foreign committee heads of Armenia, Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the European
Parliament, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, US and Ukraine.
They say
hateful acts have included “online hate, verbal assaults, vandalism,
desecration of Holocaust memorials and cemeteries, intimidation, death threats,
and physical attacks".
Chairman
of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin represented Washington
with his signature.
The
declaration specifically noted the brutal murder of six-year-old Wadea Al
Fayoume in the US, who was targeted for being Palestinian, as well as Paul
Kessler, a Jewish man who died following an altercation at a pro-Israel rally
in California.
In the
aftermath of Wadea's killing, President Joe Biden's administration announced
Washington would develop the first National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia.
The
administration said it was working “with community leaders, advocates, members
of Congress and more” to solidify “a joint effort led by the Domestic Policy
Council and the National Security Council”, White House Press Secretary Karine
Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
That
strategy follows the earlier announcement of a national strategy to combat
anti-Semitism earlier this year.
Anti-Palestinian
and Muslim hatred in the US again caught attention this week, with video
circulating on social media of Stuart Seldowitz, deputy director of the US
State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003,
delivering racist tirades against Arab and Halal food vendors in New York.
In one
of the numerous incidents uploaded to social media, MrSeldowitz declared “if we
killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, it wasn't enough”.
Source: thenationalnews.com
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------
Biden's
approval craters as 70% of young voters oppose pro-Israel stance
23
November 2023
At just
40%, the approval rating of United States President Joe Biden has reached its
lowest level ever, and the record is being attributed to vast disapproval from
young adults for Biden's support of Israel. An NBC news poll found that a
whopping 70% of Americans aged 18 to 34 years old disapprove of Biden's
approach to the illegal siege, indiscriminate bombings and war crimes of Tel
Aviv.
Overall
just 34% of voters approve of Biden's handling of the conflict, with 56% openly
disapproving of Biden's unequivocal siding with Israel.
Analysts
say that unprecedented access to the regular suffering of Palestinians via
social media has overturned decades of biased support for Israel by the
mainstream media and the two dominant political parties.
Pro-Palestinian
demonstrations have become a near-daily occurrence in the United States, and
it’s the largest social movement since the protests following the death of
George Floyd at the hands of police.
Biden
has even earned a new nickname among America's youth which reveals the depth of
support for Palestine: "Genocide Joe".
Youth
voters are often derided as inexperienced, but young Americans grew up with the
two-decade war on Afghanistan and the so-called "War on Terror". Many
of them want American warmongering in the Middle East to end, and instead have
seen Biden openly embrace another massacre of Palestinians.
Source: presstv.ir
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------
Young
adults convert to Islam, some flash hate for West by justifying Hamas, lauding
bin Laden
November
22, 2023
Young
people are converting to Islam, praising Osama bin Laden, and justifying Hamas'
Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel despite acknowledging that it was genocidal in
what commentators are calling the latest expression of hatred for the West and
its values.
A
growing number of young people are claiming to converting to Islam, documenting
their journeys on TikTok and citing the Israel-Hamas war as their motivation,
after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdering approximately 1,200 civilians
and kidnapping about 240 others.
Many
videos show Western women telling their stories with the hashtag
"#revert," referring to the Islamic belief that everyone is born a
Muslim and rather than converting, people are just returning to the religion. A
search for "#revert" on TikTok reveals 2.9 billion views and a
seemingly endless number of videos.
One
woman, who identifies as a 24-year-old Canadian named Callie, said on Sept. 9
that she wanted more followers. "Do I still want to have 200 followers
when I'm 30? No I don't," she said.
The same
woman posted a video on Oct. 17 of her wearing a hijab and taking the Shahada,
which is the Islamic profession of faith a person recites to convert to Islam.
Now she has nearly 26,000 followers and posts daily videos documenting her life
professing to be a Muslim. In most Muslim countries women are officially
second-class citizens with restricted rights under the rule of law, ranging
from voting rights to property ownership and credibility in sexual assault
cases, though she does not address any of these issues.
Other
people gained significantly more followers online after their conversions. On
Oct. 20, Megan Rice, a black American millennial-aged activist, posted a video
on TikTok about how "impressed" she is with the "Palestinian
faith." By Nov. 10, she appeared on TikTok in a hijab and her number of
followers more than doubled from 400,000 to more than 865,000. She officially
converted to Islam the next day, per The Free Press.
One
Instagram page, "reverted_muslims," frequently posts videos of people
telling their "reversion story" about how they converted to Islam.
For example, one post this week featured the caption, "A Jewish girl
taking the Shahadah," with a video of her reciting the required phrase to
convert.
Another
video this week shows three girls with their hair covered with keffiyehs, a
black and white Palestinian scarf, with the caption, "She came for Protest
and decided to accept Islam."
A man on
TikTok who identifies as "Robin" and has more than a quarter of a
million followers despite only having three videos, posted his first video on
Oct. 18 showing himself "before" and "after" his
conversion.
The
phenomenon of converting to Islam after a horrific terror attack is nothing
new. In the year after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, at least 8,000 U.S.
women are estimated to have converted to Islam, according to a projection from
the Hartford Institute for Religious Research.
The
number of Muslims in America more than doubled in the decade after the attacks,
according to the 2010 U.S. Religion Census. This was largely attributed to
immigration from Muslim countries and conversions.
Hoover
Institution research fellow Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former Muslim who was subjected
to female genital mutilation and had to escape a forced marriage, told Fox News
this week that the conversion trend is "a manifestation of the moral
dislocation of the West that we're going through."
She also
blamed the U.S. education system for being politicized and said: "They use
the word hate this and safe to death, but it's really the introduction of a
political ideology that is anti-Western. It's anti-American. It's all about
tearing things down."
Daily
Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro, who is an Orthodox Jew, also said in an
interview posted on X, that anti-American and pro-Hamas sentiment is coming out
after the Oct. 7 attacks.
"Young
people do not understand what America stands for, and they hate America in many
of the same ways that they hate Israel," he said. "There's an
enormous number of young people in the country who despise everything the
country stands for. They think it's an oppressor colonialist state ... They
hate Israel because they hate America."
The
hatred of Israel is reflected in polls. Even though nearly two-thirds (64%) of
people aged 18-24 say that Hamas' attack on Israel was "genocidal in
nature," most of the young people polled (58%) say that the attack
"can be justified by the grievance of Palestinians," according to the
latest Harvard CAPS / Harris poll released this week.
Additionally,
61% of people ages 18-24 say that President Joe Biden should "pull
back" his support of Israel in the conflict, and 64% of people in that
group say that a "ceasefire is right." This is somewhat confusingly
juxtaposed with the survey also revealing that 51% of people in that age group
saying that Israel's military should "keep going until Hamas is defeated
and the hostages are released."
While
that poll was conducted Nov. 15-16 with 2,851 registered voters, young people's
lack of support for Israel and their hatred of the West is particularly
pronounced in other areas of society.
For
example, the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's "Letter to
America," justifying the Sept. 11 terror attacks, went viral on TikTok
last week.
Hundreds
of videos praising the letter and sympathizing with bin Laden received more
than 15 million views on the app last week before TikTok began removing the
videos and banning hashtags on the topic, according to The Washington Post.
Searches
for the letter were so overwhelming that The Guardian, which originally
published the letter online in 2002, removed it from its website. That still
did not stop the deleted page from being one of the top ones trending on the
website. The deeply antisemitic letter slams the West for everything from
homosexuality to support of Israel.
"Ideally,
our youth would find inspiration in texts that aren’t written by a guy who
wanted us all dead or converted to Islam, but here we are," commentator
Jamie Sarkonak wrote last week in The National Post.
He said
the popularity of the letter is driven in part because students are
"taught that the West is inherently bad."
"This
is what happens after many years of cultural demoralization. It’s no surprise
that young people would eventually start to believe in men who wish death to
Jews and keep women in harems," Sarkonak wrote.
Source: justthenews.com
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https://justthenews.com/nation/culture/converting-islam-justifying-hamas-attack-praising-bin-laden-us-youth-show-western
------
Hard-right
firebrand Geert Wilders wins election in Netherlands: 'Dutch Donald Trump'
November
22, 2023
Controversial
Dutch politician Geert Wilders has won a massive victory in an election,
positioning him to form the next ruling party and potentially become
Netherland’s next prime minister.
Wilders,
60, has long been likened to the "Dutch Donald Trump," for his brand
of populist politics. But unlike the former U.S., he seemed destined to a
lifetime in the opposition.
An exit
poll revealing his landslide appeared to take Wilders by surprise.
In his
first reaction, posted in a video on X, formerly Twitter, he spread his arms
wide, put his face in his hands and said simply "35!" — the number of
seats an exit poll forecast his Party for Freedom, or PVV, won in the 150-seat
lower house of parliament.
The only
time Wilders came close to governing was when he supported the first coalition
formed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in 2010. But Wilders did not formally join
the minority administration and brought it down after just 18 months in office
in a dispute over austerity measures. Since then, mainstream parties have
shunned him.
"The
PVV wants to, from a fantastic position with 35 seats that can totally no
longer be ignored by any party, cooperate with other parties," he told
cheering supporters at his election celebration in a small bar in a suburb of
The Hague.
Wilders’
incendiary rhetoric against Islam has made him a target for extremists and led
to him living under round-the-clock protection for years. He has appeared in
court as a victim of death threats, vowing never to be silenced. He has moved
from one safe house to another over nearly two decades.
In 2009,
the British government refused to let him visit the country, saying he posed a
threat to "community harmony and therefore public security."
To court
mainstream voters this time around, Wilders toned down his rhetoric and sought
to focus less on what he calls the "de-Islamization" of the
Netherlands and more on tackling practical issues such as housing shortages, a
cost-of-living crisis and access to good health care.
His
campaign platform nonetheless calls for a referendum on the Netherlands leaving
the European Union, an "asylum stop" and "no Islamic schools,
Qurans and mosques," although he pledged Wednesday night not to breach
Dutch laws or the country's constitution that enshrines freedom of religion and
expression.
Source: foxnews.com
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https://www.foxnews.com/world/anti-islam-firebrand-geert-wilders-wins-election-netherlands-dutch-donald-trump
-----
Southeast Asia
Indonesia
hopes humanitarian pause in Gaza leads to permanent end to conflict
Riyaz ul
Khaliq
22.11.2023
Hailing
the new humanitarian pause and prisoner swap between Palestinian resistance
group Hamas and Israel, Indonesia Wednesday said it hoped the deal will lead to
a permanent end to the conflict.
“Indonesia
has consistently called for a sustainable cessation of violence in order to
allow for a wide access of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including aid from the
government and people of Indonesia,” said the Foreign Ministry of the Southeast
Asian nation, which also has the world’s largest Muslim population.
Israel
and Hamas announced the deal early Wednesday, with the pause to start within
the next 24 hours, according to the Gulf nation of Qatar, which helped broker
the deal.
It said
the humanitarian pause agreement is “expected to open the door for a permanent
end to the conflict and the start of serious discussions towards a
comprehensive and just peace.”
Indonesia’s
Foreign Ministry also said it will use the humanitarian pause to try to locate
three Indonesian citizens working at the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, “who
until now have been unable to be directly contacted.”
Jakarta
also hailed the mediation efforts of Qatar, which led to announcement of the
deal.
Under
the agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150
Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, Israeli media reported.
The deal
also includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded
with humanitarian aid, including badly needed fuel, into the Gaza Strip.
The
agreement also allows for an extension of the pause and the potential release
of more children and women held by the two sides.
Israel
estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following its
cross-border attack on Oct. 7.
Israel
has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following the
Hamas attack, killing more than 14,128 Palestinians, including 5,840 children
and 3,920 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.
Thousands
of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been
damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged
enclave.
The
Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/indonesia-hopes-humanitarian-pause-in-gaza-leads-to-permanent-end-to-conflict/3061512
-------
MACC
freezes Aman Palestin's accounts, raids premises amid RM70m misappropriation
probe
ShathanaKasinathan
23 Nov 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 23 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today it
has frozen 41 bank accounts linked to Aman Palestin and several other companies
following the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RM70 million
by the charity organisation.
The MACC
also said it has raided Aman Palestin's premises to acquire documentation
regarding the organisation's financial activities and operations spanning the
last five years.
“The
MACC has frozen as many as 41 bank accounts of the charity organisation and
several other company entities with a total of RM15,868,762.00, yesterday,” it
said in a statement here.
The
anti-corruption commission said it also gathered statements from key witnesses
as part of its ongoing investigation.
“The
preliminary investigation has identified several issues involving the
embezzlement of funds estimated to amount to RM70 million which were channelled
for purposes other than the objective of establishing the company in question,”
it said.
MACC
said its investigation is ongoing and is being held under the MACC Act 2009,
the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful
Activities Act 2001 (Amla), and the Penal Code.
On
November 7, its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that MACC forensic
officers were still looking into the documentation obtained from Aman Palestin,
especially records from 2020 to 2022.
Azam
said there has not been an official complaint but MACC initiated the
investigation as the case involves public funds and is of significant public
interest.
Perlis
Mufti Datuk MohdAsriZainulAbidin through a letter dated August 24 had
instructed the Perlis State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) not to
permit the collection of funds by Aman Palestin in places of worship and
relevant religious premises within the state.
Subsequently,
the state religious authority suspended fund collections by Aman Palestin in
Perlis effective October 12, pending the completion of a probe.
Formed
in 2004, the Bangi-based Aman Palestin's website said it was formed to collect
donations and channel them to those affected by conflicts in Palestine, Syria
and Lebanon.
Its
executive director is Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, formerly the president of the
controversial Islamist group IkatanMuslimin Malaysia (Isma). Another director,
Zaini Awang, is also an Isma leader while its adviser Zainur Rashid is
currently Isma's vice-president.
Its
chief executive is Awang Suffian Awang Piut.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/23/macc-freezes-aman-palestins-accounts-raids-premises-amid-rm70m-misappropriation-probe/103687
-------
MyAqsa
Foundation submits evidence, testimony of Israeli war crimes to ICC
23 Nov
2023
PETALING
JAYA: MyAqsa Foundation, a Malaysian foundation that advocates human rights and
justice, says it has submitted evidence and testimony of Israeli war crimes to
the office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague,
Netherlands.
In a
statement Thursday (Nov 23), MyAqsa said a team led by Professor Datuk Dr
Rahmat Mohamad and lawyers Lukman Sheriff Alias and AzniMohd Amin had
officially lodged the petition on Tuesday (Nov 22).
They
were supported by MyAqsa Foundation chairman Suwardi Yaacob and trustees
MohdGunawan Che Ab Aziz and Datuk Abd Rasyid Idris.
"The
submission was compiled by MyAqsa's team of researchers and submitted to
highlight and address the alarming genocide, war crimes and crimes against
humanity committed in various healthcare facilities within Gaza.
"The
focus of our submission encompasses the deplorable attacks and bombardments
inflicted upon essential medical institutions, namely al-Shifa Hospital,
al-Quds Hospital, Indonesia Hospital and the al-Ahl Hospital, all situated in
Gaza," the statement added.
MyAqsa
added that the collection of evidence would not have been possible without the
assistance of the Palestinian Government.
"We
implore the initiation of a thorough investigation by the ICC based on the
information and evidence provided in Articles 15 and 53 of the Rome Statute.
"There
is compelling evidence for the ICC to initiate and complete its evidence,"
MyAqsa said.
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the
full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/23/myaqsa-foundation-submits-evidence-testimony-of-israeli-war-crimes-to-icc
-----
Muis
develops guidebook for S’porean Muslims on how to approach Middle East conflict
NOV 22, 2023
SINGAPORE
– The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and its partner religious
organisations have developed a guidebook with advice for the local Muslim
community on how to understand and approach the Middle East conflict.
Together
with the Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association,
Religious Rehabilitation Group and Asatizah Youth Network, Muis compiled the
28-page advisory after the Religious Leadership Forum 2023 that was held on Nov
2.
The
forum was convened by local Muslim leadership to discuss how best to provide
guidance for the different segments of the Singapore Muslim community on the
Middle East conflict, Muis said in a statement on Nov 22.
The
guidebook, which is available only in Malay for now, contains religious advice
for processing the conflict that rests on Islamic values. An English version is
in the works.
The
advice emphasises Islam’s rejection of all forms of oppression, no matter the
perpetrator, said Muis, adding that Islam prioritises the pursuit of world peace.
At the
same time, Islam acknowledges human emotions like sorrow and grief, and
encourages Muslims to express these feelings in appropriate ways.
In
responding to global crises like the one unfolding in Gaza, the reaction of the
Muslim community should be guided by religious principles and the “immutable
values” of Islam, added Muis.
It
cautioned that the war in the Middle East had led to the proliferation of
apocalyptic religious texts and hadiths on social media.
Muslims
should refer to the interpretations of “authoritative scholars” to understand
the context of these texts, Muis said, so as to avoid confusion and panic that
would prevent them from making contributions to the well-being and prosperity
of their community.
The
Singapore Muslim community is in a unique position and Muslims here should
continue to preserve the atmosphere of peace, protecting it from any threat of
division or strife caused by geopolitical conflicts, Muis said.
The
advice also recognises and supports the contributions of the youth, calling on
Muslims to avoid dismissing young people as naive or uninformed, even though
they may seem idealistic about making positive change in the world.
Muis
underlined the importance of providing a “good support network” to the young,
whether of family, friends, teachers or asatizah (religious teachers). The
support network should give them someone to rely on and the safety to share
their feelings and concerns with others, Muis added.
Those
supporting Muslim youth can help them renew their intentions, put their
thoughts into perspective and allow young people to take a more balanced view
on issues close to the community’s hearts.
The
guidebook also offers tips on how to recognise signs of burnout in those
engaged in advocacy work.
“It is
our hope that this guidebook will be of benefit to the community in navigating
the myriad and complex challenges that we face today,” said Muis.
The
advice will be shared with the community at Muis’ weekly Friday sermon and
disseminated on social media and other online platforms.
The full
text of the advice in Malay can be viewed here.
Source: straitstimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/muis-develops-guidebook-for-s-porean-muslims-on-how-to-approach-middle-east-conflict
------
Pakistan
Pakistan
court orders jailed Imran Khan to appear in public trial
23 Nov
2023
ISLAMABAD,
Nov 23 — A Pakistani court today ordered authorities to produce former Prime
Minister Imran Khan for trial on November 28 on charges of leaking state
secrets, his lawyer said, in what would be his first public appearance since he
was jailed in August.
The
former cricket star has been embroiled in a tangle of political and legal
battles since he was ousted as prime minister in a vote on no-confidence in
2022, which he denounced as unfair.
“The
court has ordered that Imran Khan be produced on November 28,” Khan’s lawyer,
Naeem Panjutha, said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known
as Twitter.
“We now have
to see that this order is implemented.”
The
court cited procedures, without elaborating, in stipulating the November 28
date for Khan’s appearance. A spokesperson for the law ministry, which will
decide if Khan is to appear, did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
The
71-year-old was jailed on August 5 for three years for unlawfully selling state
gifts during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022.
He
denied wrongdoing and has dismissed all of the various charges brought against
him, including graft and the leak of a state secret, as cooked up at the behest
of the military to block him from a February 8 general election.
Khan’s
state secret trial was being held in prison after authorities cited security
risks but the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday declared the prison trial
illegal, and ordered that it be re-started, which it did again on Thursday in a
public court.
Khan’s
legal woes threaten to overshadow the election campaign and both he and his
party can be expected to take advantage of a court appearance to reiterate
their condemnation of what they say is his unfair treatment.
The
election is shaping as a fight between Khan’s party, even though his conviction
prevents him from standing, and that of another ousted former prime minister,
Nawaz Sharif.
The
military, which has ruled directly or overseen civilian governments since
Pakistan’s creation in 1947, denies any involvement in Khan’s troubles. —
Reuters
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/11/23/pakistan-court-orders-jailed-imran-khan-to-appear-in-public-trial/103731
------
Imran,
spouse among 27 whose names proposed to be put on ECL
November
23, 2023
Shakeel Anjum &Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Interior has proposed placing on the Exit Control List (ECL)
the names of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, along
with 27 other leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allied party,
who were allegedly involved in the events of May 9, and Al-Qadir Trust scandal.
PTI
President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Murad Saeed, Dr. Yasmin
Rashid, Chaudhry Ejaz, MianMahmoodur Rashid, Shafqat Mehmood, Asad Qaisar, Shah
Farman Ali, Ali Amin Gandapur, Umar Ayub Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Hammad
Azhar, Shahzad Akbar, Shaharyar Afridi, Fawad Chaudhry, and ZulfiBokhari are
among those recommended to be included in the ECL, according to sources within
the interior ministry.
The
decision was reached during a meeting of the subcommittee of the federal
cabinet, chaired by caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday.
The
subcommittee, tasked with reviewing 41 names involved in various cases,
received recommendations from different investigative agencies to place the
names of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and others on the ECL in
connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. The National Accountability Bureau
(NAB) had submitted a list of 29 individuals allegedly involved in the Al-Qadir
Trust scandal.
The
subcommittee recommended removing 13 names from the ECL while seven names were
removed on the court orders, and three were recommended for removal upon appeal
for review.
In an
official statement, the interior ministry said that a meeting of the
subcommittee of the federal cabinet was held. On the recommendation of NAB, the
names of 29 people, including Imran Khan, were proposed to be placed on the ECL
in connection with the £190 million scam.
Meanwhile,
the Supreme Court Wednesday issued notices to the Federation and the interior
ministry in the bail plea of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan
in the cipher case.
A
three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising
Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ayesha A. Malik, heard the appeal of Imran
Khan, seeking bail in the cipher case.
The
court, after conducting the initial hearing and listening to arguments of the
counsel, admitted the petition for regular hearing, issued notices, sought
replies from the Federation and the interior ministry and adjourned the matter
for date-in-office (an indefinite period).
During
Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Yahya Afridi observed that the cipher case inquiry
had said the role of the co-accused would be determined during the investigation.
Justice Afridi asked the counsel about the outcome of the final investigation
into the case and what it said about Azam Khan.
Salman
Safdar submitted that the investigation did not convey a clear stance in that
regard. He submitted that Azam Khan was abducted, his family had even lodged a
case and afterwards, his statement came forward, recorded under Section 164.
The PTI
counsel contended that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was being subjected to political
victimisation, adding that he argued before the subordinate court for hours.
Justice
Tariq Masood observed that that happened because the cases were being run in a
political manner.
Justice
Ayesha A. Malik asked the counsel for Imran as to what were his basic arguments
in the instant case. Salman Safdar replied they believed that the case should
not have been registered in the first place. The PTI counsel contended that the
sections invoked apply to crimes such as espionage. Salman Safdar further
contended that the investigation into the instant case did not mention anywhere
how an enemy state benefitted.
Justice
Sardar Tariq Masood observed that it was alleged that the code of the cipher
was compromised.
Salman
Safdar argued that the cipher was declassified as per the law and then
presented in the National Security Committee, adding that the same was also
mentioned in the SC verdict on the no-confidence motion against Imran.
Justice
Yahya Afridi asked the counsel whether the cipher was a secret document. Safdar
replied that it was not a secret document after declassification.
Justice
Yahya Afridi asked the counsel as to whether the accused had shown the cipher
before its declassification. Salman Safdar replied in negative.
During
the hearing, Justice Tariq Masood questioned whether the cipher was waved in
the air and its contents were revealed. If so, then whether it did not fall
under the category of communication.
Salman
Safdar argued that the allegation levelled against his client about keeping the
cipher with him was wrong, adding that after removal of his client’s government
on the issue of cipher a meeting of the National Security Committee was held on
April 24, 2022. “If the cipher was missing, then it should have been mentioned
in the minutes of the National Security meeting,” the counsel argued.
Justice
Ayesha A. Malik asked the counsel about the interior ministry’s role in this
matter. The counsel replied that the interior ministry’s role was filing of a
false case, adding that when nobody lodged a complaint, then a case was
registered on the behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
Meanwhile,
the court issued notices to the Federation and interior ministry and adjourned
hearing for date-in-office. Salman Safdar, counsel for Imran Khan, pleaded with
the court to give the date of next hearing; however, Justice Sardar Tariq told
the counsel not to make it a special case, adding the Registrar’s office will
fix the case.
The
court also accepted the plea of Hamid Khan, counsel for Imran Khan in the
matter related to indictment of PTI chairman in cipher case and adjourned the
matter for date-in-office (an indefinite period).
Hamid
Khan submitted that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) the other day gave its
decision in the intra-court appeal (ICA), filed by Imran Khan regarding his
indictment in cipher case. He submitted that in lieu of the IHC decision, he
wanted to make some amendments to his application.
Justice
Sardar Tariq Masood, however, observed that he could file a new appeal against
the fresh IHC order, adding that the court could hear the main appeal filed by
him in the apex court.
Hamid
Khan sought some time for reviewing the IHC verdict, which the court accepted
and adjourned the matter for an indefinite period of time.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1131691-imran-spouse-among-27-whose-names-proposed-to-be-put-on-ecl
------
Imam-e-Kaaba
to lead Friday prayers at Faisal Masjid
November
23, 2023
Muhammad
Anis
ISLAMABAD:
Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will lead the Friday Prayer at the Faisal
Masjid tomorrow.
The
Imam-e-Kaaba arrived in Pakistan on a four-day visit on Wednesday. He was
welcomed by prominent figures, including Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz
Bugti, Federal Minister for Education Madad Ali Sindhi, Pakistan Ulema Council
Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said
Al-Malki and other senior officials.
He will
also meet key figures, including the president, prime minister, chief of the
army staff and other high-ranking officials.
PUC
Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said the visit of Imam-e-Kaaba
will further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi
Arabia.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1131668-imam-e-kaaba-to-lead-friday-prayers-at-faisal-masjid
-------
Afghan
border trade resumes after Pakistan suspends new visa rule
November
22, 2023
Cross-border
trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was back to normal on November 22,
officials in both countries said, after Islamabad suspended a new visa rule.
Commercial
traffic ground to a halt on November 21 when Pakistan began requiring the crew
of commercial vehicles to have passports and visas to enter, and Afghanistan
responded by refusing to allow any trucks to pass.
"Yesterday,
when Pakistan enforced its new rules, the Afghan side responded by suspending
trade in protest," a Pakistan customs official told AFP on November 22.
"Last
night, officials from the Ministry of Commerce held a meeting with Afghan
officials, reaching an agreement to grant another two-week extension for Afghan
drivers."
The
official said Pakistan had already twice deferred implementing the new rule.
The
media office of the governor of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan confirmed
that cross-border trade had resumed.
"Afghan
and Pakistani officials held talks... and it was assured that this problem will
be solved permanently," it said in a post on X.
Long-fraught
relations between Kabul and Islamabad have worsened since October, when
Pakistan announced plans to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants it
said were in the country illegally.
So far
about 3,40,000 Afghans have been deported or returned voluntarily.
Pakistan
has said only Afghans with passports and visas will be allowed to enter the
country, ending a decades-old practice of allowing people to cross with only
their national identity cards.
Landlocked
Afghanistan is heavily dependent on its neighbour for imports — both locally
made goods and foreign items sourced through Pakistan's Karachi port.
But
Pakistan, in the grip of a massive economic crisis, says it loses hundreds of
millions of dollars each year allowing Afghan-bound goods to enter the country
duty-free.
Some
items never make it across the border, while others are smuggled back into
Pakistan and sold illegally.
Islamabad
says the mass deportation of illegal migrants is necessary to protect its
"welfare and security" after a sharp rise in attacks that the
government blames on militants operating from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's
Taliban government insists it does not allow foreign militants to use its soil,
and says Pakistan's security issues are a domestic affair.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/afghan-border-trade-resumes-after-pakistan-suspends-new-visa-rule/article67562338.ece
-----
SC to
hear plea against eviction of Afghans
November
23, 2023
ISLAMABAD:The
Supreme Court on Wednesday finally entertained a constitution petition seeking
a restraining order against the forcible deportation of Afghan citizens.
The SC
registrar’s office had returned the plea on the grounds that it failed to
mention what questions of public importance in the present case were involved
with the enforcement of any fundamental right guaranteed under the
Constitution.
The
appellants, including former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar and National
Democratic Movement Chairman MoshinDawar, through Advocate Umer Ijaz Gilani
challenged the objections through an appeal.
“This
appeal may very kindly be accepted and order dated 08.11.2023 of the assistant
registrar returning the [constitution petition] as ‘Not Entertainable’ be
kindly set aside with direction to entertain the [constitution petition] and
after registration and allotment of number, the same be put up for hearing
before the honourable court for [a] decision in accordance with [the]
law," it read.
SC's
Justice Yahya Afridi on Wednesday in his written order observed that the
objections raised by the registrar’s office were "legal in nature"
and propriety demanded that they should addressed by a court.
“Accordingly,
this CM [civil miscellaneous] appeal is allowed and the office is directed to
fix the matter for hearing before the court," the order read.
The
petition was later allotted a number.
The
petitioners' lawyer, Gilani, has moved an application seeking an early hearing
of the matter.
Earlier
this month, a petition was filed before the apex court seeking a restraining
order against the forceful deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan.
In the
petition, the former PPP senator and others sought a restraining order against
the forcible deportation or harassment of anyone born in Pakistan and having a
claim to birthright citizenship in accordance with Section 4 of the Citizenship
Act, 1951, as well as the ruling of the Islamabad High Court in the 2021 case
of Hafiz HamdullahSaboor.
The
petitioners' counsel contended that the "impugned directive" being
undertaken by the "apex committee" of the caretaker cabinet
"effectively amounted to a reversal of a 45-year-old Pakistani state
policy of hospitality and leniency towards refugees, asylum-seekers and other
migrants from the Afghan borders".
The plea
argued that the federal government should be asked to permit the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
and its partner organisations to register, expedite the processing, and decide
on all asylum-seeking applications filed by foreigners currently residing in
Pakistan.
The
petitioners claimed that the government’s policy had failed to provide any
mechanism for distinguishing between birthright citizens and illegal
immigrants.
The
federal government initiated a crackdown against "undocumented"
Afghan nationals - essentially people seeking refuge in the country and
awaiting legal formalities.
Since
November 1, 2023, the state has kicked off a campaign to forcibly evict around
1.3 million such people under the garb of addressing the issue of "illegal
migrants" on whom it has placed the burden of the country's worsening
economic and security concerns
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2447609/sc-to-hear-plea-against-eviction-of-afghans
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Speakers
at seminar advocate boycott of all Israeli products
2023-11-23
KARACHI:
The city’s business community and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Wednesday underscored
the need to replace the Israeli products with the local brands in a bid to
stamp out the Zionist nation on the economic fronts globally.
A
seminar titled “Lets Support Brands of Pakistan”, which the JI Karachi and
Pakistan Business Forum jointly organised at Idara Noor-e-Haq, has helped reach
a unity amongst the participants to promote the locally made goods against the
Israeli ones.
The
gathering of business fraternity and the JI condemned the Zionist state’s cruel
war on Gaza, where it left no schools, hospitals and residential areas without
bombing, killing thousands of children alone.
It
observed that there is a deep perception about the Israeli brands globally
collects billions of dollars revenues to stoke the Zionist’s war industry,
which the Jewish state unilaterally and indiscriminately uses to kill
Palestinians frequently, especially in Gaza.
“Pakistanis
cannot join Hamas in a war that Israel has waged on Gaza but can damage the
Zionist’s economy, seriously,” Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the JI Karachi Chief told
the seminar.
He
encouraged the country’s business community to promote the local brands of
Pakistan to cancel out the Israel’s global economic dominance somewhat. “The JI
will support the business community in the effort,” he assured.
The
Israeli war on Gaza has virtually left the world into a clear division, he said
adding that the war crimes against the humanity by the Jewish nation has
outgrown. “The global community largely is boycotting Israeli products in a bid
to force Israel into a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said and added that the seminar
aims to bring in new ideas to promote the local brands on the global markets.
The
continuing political instability in the Middle East can be seen as an
opportunity to help the country’s products take over the Israeli brands there
through global marketing, he was of the view.
Similarly,
he proposed to local traders to transform the local brands into high quality
products to oust the Israeli items from the local and global markets.
Hafiz
Naeem also appealed to the local stores and malls to prioritise the local
brands over the Israeli ones.
Sohail
Aziz, representing the PBS at the seminar, said that his organisation is ready
to work with the JI in promoting local brands and supporting their exports to
the world markets.
Leading
trader, Shakeel, representing Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry coined a
chant “Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani”, underscoring the need for promoting “the
culture of honesty and production of quality products”.
Chairman
Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Babar Khan offered
training programs for traders and makers through the PBS in bid to help local
brands reach quality standards.
Head of
Pakistan Vegetables and Fruits Exporters Association, Abdul Waheed wanted to
see “honesty in the business sector” to promote the export sectors.
Founder
of the United King, Tehseen Shaikh, F&M Director Farukh Shaikh, JI leader
Qazi Sadaruddin and others also addressed the seminar.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274691/speakers-at-seminar-advocate-boycott-of-all-israeli-products
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Nishan-e-Pakistan
conferred on Dr Syedna Saifuddin
2023-11-23
ISLAMABAD:
President Dr ArifAlvi has accorded his approval to conferment of country’s
highest civil award Nishan-e-Pakistan on Dr SyednaMufaddal Saifuddin.
Dr
Mufaddal Saifuddin is the 53rd Da’i al-Mutlaq and Mumbai-based head of
DawoodiBohras, the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on
Wednesday.
The
President approved the conferment of the civil award under Article 259 (2) of
the Constitution and the Decorations Act 1975.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40274724/nishan-e-pakistan-conferred-on-dr-syedna-saifuddin
-----
South Asia
Thousands
of Afghanistan-bound containers remain stranded at Karachi port
Fidel
Rahmati
November 22, 2023
Afghan
traders are facing delays as Pakistani officials have not yet allowed the
release of goods stranded at the Karachi seaport, according to officials from
the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.
During a
recent visit by Afghanistan’s acting commerce minister to Pakistan, Pakistani
officials agreed to release the goods; however, the promised implementation has
yet to commence, stated Naqibullah Safi, the executive chief of the
Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.
The
Ministry of Industry and Commerce acknowledges the delay and reveals that
Pakistan is actively working on a plan to facilitate the release of these
containers.
Abdul
Salam Javad, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce spokesman, emphasized that
although permission hasn’t been granted yet, Pakistan is making efforts to
initiate the implementation process soon.
Economic
experts are urging the Taliban administration to take decisive action in
resolving trade issues between the two nations, particularly in ensuring the
release of the stranded goods.
Despite
existing trade agreements between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Afghan traders
continue to encounter obstacles in transit through Pakistan, with approximately
4,000 Afghanistan-bound containers remaining stranded at Karachi port for
several months.
The
Pakistani government has escalated the expulsion of Afghan refugees since November
1, resulting in over 320,000 Afghan migrants being forcibly deported back to
Afghanistan.
A
significant portion of those forced to return are women and children,
exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, especially with the harsh
winter conditions.
Many
returnees face an uncertain future as they lack jobs, shelter, and
opportunities, raising concerns about their well-being and survival in their
home country.
Additionally,
restrictions on education for female children within Afghanistan add to the
challenges faced by these vulnerable returnees, further highlighting the need
for humanitarian support.
The
situation underscores the pressing need for international efforts to address
the plight of Afghan refugees and provide assistance to those returning to
Afghanistan in these difficult circumstances.
Source: khaama.com
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US State
Department and Islamabad collaborate closely for Afghans awaiting US visas
Fidel
Rahmati
November
22, 2023
On
Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller revealed that Washington
is actively engaged in continuous communication with Islamabad regarding the
25,000 Afghans in Pakistan awaiting their US visas.
Miller
emphasized the importance of collaborating in good faith with the Government of
Pakistan to address any concerns related to the safety of individuals in the US
visa pipeline.
The
primary focus of the United States is ensuring the safety of vulnerable and
at-risk individuals, with a shared interest in the safe and efficient
resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers between both countries.
Miller,
on behalf of the US government, urged all countries, including Pakistan, to
fulfil their obligations in treating refugees and asylum seekers. He also
called on Afghanistan’s neighbours to permit entry for Afghans seeking
international protection.
“Our key
concern is the safety of the vulnerable and at-risk individuals. We believe it
is in our countries’ interests to ensure the safe and efficient resettlement of
refugees and asylum seekers. And we join all of our partners in urging all
countries, including Pakistan, to uphold their respective obligations in the
treatment of refugees and asylum seekers and strongly encourage all of
Afghanistan’s neighbours to allow entry for Afghans seeking international
protection and coordinate with international humanitarian organizations to
provide humanitarian assistance,” Miller said.
Simultaneously,
the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its humanitarian
partners actively provide critical aid at border crossing points between
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Responding
to the forced return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans, the IOM has reported
that nearly 375,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the past two months,
primarily through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.
The
surge in border crossings is attributed to Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners’
Repatriation Plan, which established a November 1 deadline for the “voluntary
return” of all undocumented Afghans in Pakistan to their home country.
The
IOM-led border consortium delivers essential services such as shelter, water,
sanitation, household items, healthcare, protection, nutrition, cash assistance
for basic needs, transportation, and food.
The
critical aid is a response to the escalating humanitarian situation and aims to
address the immediate needs of forcibly returned Afghans.
As the
international community continues to grapple with the Afghan refugee crisis,
the cooperation between the United States, Pakistan, and humanitarian
organizations reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the well-being and
safety of those affected by the ongoing challenges in the region.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/us-state-department-and-islamabad-collaborate-closely-for-afghans-awaiting-us-visas/
-----
Ministers’
Council Meeting Led By Islamic Emirate Leader Held in Kandahar
November
22, 2023
A
meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Islamic Emirate was held in Kandahar
under the leadership of MawlawiHebatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Islamic
Emirate.
The
Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement that
during the meeting, MawlawiHebatullah Akhundzada tasked the members of the
political commission under the leadership of the acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs, to prepare internal and foreign policy procedures for the
implementation of constructive policies.
"All
of Afghanistan's ministers of the Islamic Emirate attended this meeting, and
significant topics were discussed. All of the ministers received the
appropriate advice from Amir al-Mu'minin to put in a lot of effort in the areas
of governance, civil conduct, the handling of justice, and the security and
facilities for the people,” Mujahid said.
According
to the statement, the leader of the Islamic Emirate also discussed the
development of relations with neighbors and other countries and solving
existing problems, with the cabinet members during the meeting.
The
statement said that the meeting was held on November 19 and 20.
"The
members of the political commission led by the foreign minister were tasked
with preparing internal and external policies and solutions in order to
implement a constructive policy,” the statement reads.
"A
government that does not have specific policies, especially a clear foreign
policy towards its neighbors and the countries of the world, can never be
successful,” said Najibullah Shamal, a political analyst.
Based on
the statement, the leader of the Islamic Emirate in the meeting considered the
implementation of Sharia rules and service to the people as the primary responsibility
of the officials of the Islamic Emirate and asked the officials to work with
the people instead of by force, through encouragement, persuasion and good
manners.
The
leader of the Islamic Emirate also ordered all the acting ministers to
prioritize serving the returnees.
“The
leader of the Islamic Emirate ordered all the ministers to prioritize serving
the immigrants. Instead of force, try to invite people to Islam with
encouragement and good morals. People will oppose you if it is with force.
Necessary decisions were made regarding the supply of food and fuel and their
timely delivery in the coming winter,” the statement reads.
Mullah
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and
Nooruddin Azizi, the acting minister of industry and commerce, both reported on
their recent trips to Iran and Pakistan to the leader of the Islamic Emirate at
the Council of Ministers meeting.
The
statement added that in this meeting there was a discussion about the
improvement of scientific capacity in religious and contemporary departments
and solving the problems of professors and students.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186151
-------
UN: Intl
Community Must Increase Support For Afghan Population
Bibi
Amina Hakimi
November
22, 2023
Farhan
Haq, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that the number of
returnees from Pakistan has dramatically increased from 200 daily to 17,000,
and he urged the International community to increase its support for Afghans.
Addressing
media, Farhan Haq said that nearly 375,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the
past two months, primarily through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border
crossings.
“The
International Organization for Migration warns that the situation for women and
girls in Afghanistan is exceptionally difficult, and needs are only likely to
increase as winter approaches. IOM stresses that the international community
must increase its support at a time when funding for the Afghan population is
rapidly declining,” the deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said
at a briefing.
“Returning
Afghans have been through massive upheaval and now face great hardships and
risks. Many don’t know where to go, what to do or what the future holds for
them,” said Caroline Gluck, UNHCR spokesperson, Afghanistan.
US State
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, at a press briefing asked Pakistan to
uphold its obligation in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.
“And we
join all of our partners in urging all countries, including Pakistan, to uphold
their respective obligations in the treatment of refugees and asylum speakers –
or asylum seekers, and strongly encourage all of Afghanistan’s neighbor to –
neighbors to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection, and
coordinate with international humanitarian organizations to provide
humanitarian assistance,” Miller noted.
Meanwhile,
Amnesty International in its recent report asked the government of Pakistan to
immediately halt the continued detentions, deportations and widespread
harassment of Afghan refugees.
"Our
money is in Pakistan, and all our belongings are left in Pakistan and we were
facing many problems while staying there,” said Azad Khan, an Afghan refugee
deported from Pakistan.
However,
the Ministry of Economy said that they are trying to provide more aid to the
refugees returning from Pakistan.
"Referring
to the issue of immigrants, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is prepared in
all sectors, accommodation, transportation and shelter,” said Abdul Latif
Nazari, deputy of the ministry.
Earlier,
the Minister of Information of Balochistan of Pakistan said that all illegal
Afghan immigrants will be expelled from Pakistan by January 2024.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186154
------
Cultural
Event Held to Mark Intl Day of Islamic Art
November
22, 2023
The
Ministry of Information and Culture held a cultural gathering and an exhibition
of Islamic art work in Kabul on the occasion of the International Day of
Islamic Art.
Emphasizing
the commitment to the development of Islamic art in the country, the deputy
minister asked the international community to cooperate with the caretaker
government for the awareness of the past and contemporary art of Islam.
"Afghanistan
is a rich country in terms of art and Islamic civilization. It has artists,
miniatures, fountains and rich mosques. Holding this day and developing this
sector is one of our priorities," said Atiqullah Azizi, deputy minister of
culture and arts.
In this
program, the Deputy Minister of Interior also emphasized supporting Islamic art
works.
"Today,
I pledge that the Ministry of Interior will support and provide security for
all affairs, programs, scientific and cultural meetings and exhibitions of
Islamic art work throughout Afghanistan based on Islamic and national
values," said Abdul Haq Makhdoom, Deputy Minister for Policy and Strategy
of the Ministry of Interior.
This
exhibition, which was held for the purpose of introducing Islamic art, has
exhibited nearly 200 works of contemporary Islamic art.
"We
learned about the Islamic world, the works and arts of the Islamic world, and I
am very pleased. I ask the Ministry of Information and Culture to increase such
exhibitions," said Zabihullah, a visitor.
International
Day of Islamic Art was announced at the 40th session of the UNESCO General
Conference in 2019 which is celebrated on this day for the purpose of
increasing knowledge of the past and contemporary art of Islam and the
contribution of culture through Islamic art to civilization in Islamic
countries.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-186158
------
Another
Shipment of EU Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Kabul
2023-11-22
KABUL
(BNA): Another shipment of humanitarian aid from the European Union (EU) has
reached Kabul, according to the EU Charge de’Affairs in Afghanistan, Raffaella
Iodice.
She
posted on her X page that the aid arrived last night and was jointly provided
by Italy, Ireland, and relief partners.
The aid
is intended to support the people affected by the earthquake in Herat province,
as well as those who are suffering from the crisis in Afghanistan.
The EU
has previously delivered over 1,300 tons of essential materials to Afghanistan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/news/another-shipment-of-eu-humanitarian-aid-arrives-in-kabul/
------
Arab World
Saudi
FM, Blinken discuss Gaza truce, relief efforts
November
23, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Wednesday received
a phone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Kingdom’s Foreign
Ministry said.
The two
discussed ways to stop the military escalation in Gaza and surrounding areas,
and to adhere to any humanitarian truce and ceasefire agreement.
They
also discussed efforts to bring in humanitarian, relief and medical aid.
Prince
Faisal “stressed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the forced displacement
of the population of Gaza, and the importance of the international community
moving seriously and effectively to confront all the ongoing violations of the
Israeli occupation forces, and their repeated violations of international law
and international humanitarian law,” the ministry said.
He also
noted the importance of the “international community fulfilling its moral and
principled responsibility toward adhering to international legitimacy
resolutions, the latest of which was the Security Council resolution last week,
in a way that achieves credibility for international order, maintains
international peace and security, and prevents the causes of extremism and
violence.”
Prince
Faisal received the call in Paris while on a tour of capital cities of UN
Security Council permanent member states, where he is heading an Arab-Islamic
delegation to discuss the conflict in Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2413606/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi
minister meets Canadian official in Riyadh
November
22, 2023
Saudi
Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati on Wednesday received the
executive director of Middle East relations at the Canadian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Martine Larose, in Riyadh.
During
the meeting, the two sides reviewed recent developments in the Middle East,
along with bilateral relations and topics of common concern.
Canadian
Ambassador to the Kingdom Jean-Philippe Linteau was also present in the
meeting.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2413761/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi
Arabia: Gaza disaster exposes double standards and selective application of
international laws
November
22, 2023
RIYADH —
Saudi Arabia emphasized on Wednesday that the Gaza disaster has exposed the
double standards and selective application of international laws and UN
resolutions by the global community.
In his
speech, on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman,
at the virtual summit of the leaders of the G20 countries, Finance Minister
Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the Israeli military escalation and violence are raging
in the besieged Gaza in flagrant violation of international laws and it had
resulted in one of the history’s worst humanitarian catastrophes.
“The
Gaza conflict would inevitably lead to consequences that go beyond this crisis
and jeopardize the credibility of the current international system, which will
have a negative impact on the world’s future ability to maintain international
peace and security,” he said.
Al-Jadaan
stressed Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of targeting civilians,
infrastructure, residential and medical facilities, and displacing Palestinians
from Gaza.
He
reiterated the Kingdom’s demand to spare bloodshed and stop Israeli military
operations immediately.
He underlined
the need for urgent and safe access of relief and medical supplies to the
residents of the Gaza Strip, and create conditions to restore stability and
achieve a peaceful solution that guarantees the Palestinian people’s access to
their legitimate rights and the establishment of their independent state within
the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Regarding
climate change, Al-Jadaan underscored that everyone should work seriously and
diligently, taking advantage of the latest cutting-edge technologies and
various approaches, including the circular carbon economy approach, which
enhances the management of carbon emissions and contributes to achieving
climate goals. He stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to continuing its
comprehensive efforts to confront climate change.
The
minister of finance indicated that the worsening debt vulnerabilities and
increasing pressures on many countries require a coordinated global response.
“The Kingdom gives a high priority to implementing the G20 common framework,
and stresses the importance of intensifying efforts to establish a sustainable
approach to this framework,” he added.
The
virtual meeting comes as a continuation of G20 summit of leaders, held in New
Delhi, India in September, and it aimed to discuss the outcomes of its final
statement and a number of topics, including the role of multilateral
development banks, climate action and green finance, technical transformation,
digital infrastructure, and the role of women in development.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/638005/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-Gaza-disaster-exposes-double-standards-and-selective-application-of-international-laws
------
Dr.
Abdullah Al Rabeeah Inspects Progress of Saudi Humanitarian Aid Entering Gaza
Strip to Support Palestinian People
22 Nov,
2023
Advisor
at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid
and Relief Center (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, along with
the Saudi Ambassador to Egypt, Osama bin Ahmed Nugali, a specialized team from
KSrelief, and representatives from the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Palestine
Red Crescent Society, inspected the progress and mechanisms for the entry of
the humanitarian aid provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Palestinian
people in Gaza Strip.
Dr. Al Rabeeah launched a relief convoy from
Saudi Arabia heading to the Rafah border crossing. He also supervised the
preparation and management of the Saudi convoys at the warehouses and inspected
the coordination procedures with the relevant authorities responsible for the
entry of aid to the Gaza Strip.
In an effort to expedite providing aid to
those affected, Dr. Al Rabeeah and the delegation visited the Rafah crossing
and were briefed on the arrangements made, the size of the relief convoys, and
the progress of humanitarian operations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is
striving to ensure that the largest amount of relief materials can enter the Strip
as soon as possible to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, in a press statement,
explained that KSrelief launched the Saudi National Campaign to support the
Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through the Sahem platform, in line with
the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince. Today, the relief aid provided by
Saudi Arabia was inspected, which included food and shelter materials, medical
supplies, and ambulances that were transported via air and sea relief bridges.
He stated that a total of 15 Saudi relief planes have been sent to date, while
the load of the first vessel in the relief sea bridge has reached 1,050 tons.
The second vessel will sail this Saturday, 25 November, while the third will
sail the following Tuesday.
Dr. Al Rabeeah pointed out that the convoy
launched today included 326 trucks. These trucks will move towards the Rafah
crossing and then to the Gaza Strip, as part of the Saudi relief convoys that
have been entering the Strip in the past few days. More convoys are expected to
follow during the upcoming period. Dr. Al Rabeeah extended sincere thanks and
appreciation to the Egyptian government for facilitating KSrelief’s
humanitarian efforts to receive the Saudi air and sea bridges and transport the
aid to Gaza.
At the end of his statement, Dr. Al Rabeeah
expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and
HRH the Crown Prince for their noble humanitarian initiative and unwavering
support. He also thanked all those who contributed and supported the cause by
making donations through KSrelief’sSahem platform.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/f5c8ce9ed85d429996a8b05f24a7547f
------
Africa
Ramaphosa
welcomes Israel-Hamas deal
23
November 2023
South
Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the deal between Israel and
Hamas for a four-day pause in fighting.
The
start of the pause is due to be announced within 24 hours.
As part
of the deal, Hamas will free 50 hostages it seized last month; Israel will
release about 150 Palestinian prisoners.
In a
statement, MrRamaphosa said: "As a member of the international community that
stands for peace, justice and the rule of international law in all parts of the
world, South Africa welcomes the agreement reached.
“It is
my hope that the achievement of this pause will strengthen efforts to achieve
an outright end to the current conflict."
South
Africa's government - led by the African National Congress (ANC) - is a
long-standing ally of the Palestinians.
It has
asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by mid-December over Israel's
military operation in Gaza.
The
government accuses Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza.
Israel
has said that it is acting in self-defence.
It
launched a major military operation in Gaza in response to a cross-border
attack by Hamas on 7 October, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and
more than 200 others taken hostage.
Gaza's
Hamas-run health ministry says at least 14,000 people have been killed in the
territory since Israel launched its retaliatory campaign.
Source: the-star.co.ke
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https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/africa/2023-11-23-ramaphosa-welcomes-israel-hamas-deal/
-----
Chad
struggles with soaring refugee crisis
23
November 2023
Chad
accommodates over one million refugees, constituting one of Africa's largest
and rapidly growing refugee populations.
Ongoing
conflict in neighboring Sudan has propelled hundreds of thousands across the
border, exacerbating humanitarian needs while resources to address them are
diminishing.
Sudanese
refugee numbers in Chad have doubled in the last six months, paralleling the
total arrivals over the past two decades since the Darfur crisis in 2003. The
refugee influx, particularly from the recent surge near Darfur's border,
intensifies tensions between host communities and newcomers in a country
grappling with multiple crises.
Chad
confronts acute food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among children,
worsened by climate challenges, economic pressures, declining agriculture, and
intercommunal tensions.
The
refugee crisis further strains food-insecure communities, with 2.1 million
people facing acute food insecurity in 2023. Chad experiences its worst lean
season in a decade, notably in the east since the Sudan crisis. Malnutrition
affects 1.36 million children, with 8.6% under 5 suffering and 1.5% severely
malnourished, particularly concerning in refugee sites.
Emergency
Food Security Assessment in Eastern Chad reveals poor or borderline food
consumption in 90% of new refugees, 77% of pre-existing refugees, and 67% of
local communities.
The
World Food Programme (WFP) aims to aid 2.85 million people, including refugees,
IDPs, and vulnerable locals, through emergency interventions, school feeding,
and malnutrition prevention and treatment, including food and cash-based
assistance for sudden onset emergencies like floods.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/11/22/chad-struggles-with-soaring-refugee-crisis/
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Police
arrest seven over Kano protest
23rd
November 2023
Tukur
Muntari
The Kano State Police Command confirmed the
arrest of seven suspects on Wednesday for protesting the Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed the
sacking of Governor Abba-Kabir Yusuf of
the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
The
State Police Commissioner, Mr.
HussainiGumel, who confirmed the arrest on Wednesday night, said the
seven protesters were arrested around Kano Line while heading towards State
House Road.
“We have
succeeded in stopping the protesters and we have arrested seven of them.
“We have
deployed armed policemen in the area; we have since commenced an intensive
investigation and we will update you in due course,” Gumel said.
The
police boss enjoined residents to go about their lawful activities as the
police along with other security agencies had taken adequate security measures
to prevent a recurrence.
“I am
appealing to residents not to hesitate to report to the nearest security outfit
any person or group of people engaging in any form of protest in and outside
the metropolis for prompt action”, Gumel said.
The
PUNCH reports that some youths suspected to be supporters of the NNPP took to
the streets in Kano on Wednesday protesting the appeal court judgment that
sacked the governor.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/police-arrest-seven-over-kano-protest/
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Nigeria
records over 25,000 missing persons in 10 years – ICRC
23rd
November 2023
Gift
Habib
The
International Committee of the Red Cross Nigeria on Wednesday said Nigeria has
a missing caseload of over 25,000 people registered with the Red Cross in the
last 10 years.
Speaking
with our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer, ICRC Nigeria, Aliyu
Dawobe, noted that the 25,000 missing people were those whose relatives came
and requested for the Red Cross to register their cases.
Dawobe
said, “ICRC Nigeria started family unification in 2013 in Nigeria alongside the
Nigerian Red Cross society.
“The
25,000 missing persons is only a fraction of people who are aware that ICRC is
helping to reunite separated/missing family members. They register their cases
and there are over 25,000 cases of such.”
However,
the PRO added that though the number of missing persons in Nigeria in the last
10 years might have dropped as a result of some families re-uniting without the
help of the Red Cross.
He
stated, “Though, this figure could drop because some people can get reunited
with their families without the ICRC knowing or being informed.”
Also,
according to a document made available to our correspondent by ICRC Nigeria,
over 400 people were traced and contact with their families was restored, while
the families of 563 people in detention received news of their loved ones. In
addition, 580 civilians were able to restore contact with their families
through Red Cross Messages, while 17 unaccompanied children were reunited with
their families from January to September 2023.
Our
correspondent gathered that the ICRC is currently organising the 3rd
international conference for the families of the missing persons.
The
international conference aims to gather families of missing persons from all
around the world to share their plights and to communicate on mechanisms and
methods they have been coping with over the years.
The
conference, which assembles families from different places, countries and
continents can virtually meet each other to share experiences, develop
peer-to-peer support, learn from each other, and adopt some positive
experiences in their contexts.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/nigeria-records-over-25000-missing-persons-in-10-years-icrc/
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Hostage
crisis in Gaza draws attention to scourge of kidnappings in Africa’s Sahel
November
23, 2023
TUNIS:
The hostage situation in the Gaza Strip is receiving saturation media coverage,
but attacks and kidnappings by extremist groups in the countries of the Sahel have
been occurring for years with tragic regularity, garnering little attention.
The
abduction of a group of mostly Christian girls in Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko
Haram in 2014 was a particularly high-profile incident. But since then,
extremist groups have continued to target civilians and military forces alike
in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad with increasing regularity.
It
remains to be seen whether interest in Gaza, where more than 200 Israeli and
foreign hostages are being held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, will
prove helpful or harmful to the struggle to draw global attention to the
situation in the Sahel.
The
statistics speak for themselves. More than 180 kidnappings were documented in
Mali and Burkina Faso in the first half of 2023 alone, averaging one per day.
This aligns with the trend since 2019, with figures recording about 400 victims
in each country annually.
Both of
these countries recently experienced military coups, which led to the removal
of French forces stationed there to support counterterrorism operations. These
shifts in the security balance likely benefited those behind the kidnappings.
However,
the overall landscape of kidnappings in the Sahel region has changed with time.
Once
primarily driven by financial motives, with groups like Al-Qaeda amassing
substantial amounts in ransom, the nature of abductions has since evolved into
a strategic tool of warfare.
Despite
occasional instances of foreigners being targeted, there is a discernible shift
toward the kidnapping of Sahelians.
“This
change is propelled by the expansionist objectives of insurgents,” Beatrice
Bianchi, a Senegal-based consultant and Sahel expert with Med-Or Leonardo, an
Italian think tank, told Arab News.
Conflict
zones in the region are now seeing a surge in abductions, “reflecting the
multifaceted role kidnapping plays in influencing, recruiting and gathering
intelligence in the evolving conflicts of Africa,” she said.
However,
within the region, “the prevalence of kidnapping extends beyond the actions of
Islamist groups to encompass self-defense organizations and governmental
forces,” as arbitrary arrests, detentions, and forced disappearances also
classify as kidnappings.
As a
result, the utilization of kidnapping by forces ostensibly tasked with safeguarding
the civilian population has far-reaching repercussions.
The
erosion of trust in state forces among the local population becomes a catalyst
for a troubling dynamic — people either reluctantly accept dealings with
extremists or resort to armed resistance as a desperate response to the
deteriorating security situation,” Liam Karr, an analyst at the American
Enterprise Institute, told Arab News.
The
recent rescue of two Nigerian women abducted by militants nine years ago
highlights the distressing cycle of kidnapping violence in Nigeria, further
eroding public trust in state institutions.
In
response to Nigeria’s perceived failure to protect its citizens from
insurgencies, vigilante groups have emerged in the northeastern part of the
country, where militant groups like Boko Haram are active.
Boko
Haram’s overarching strategy is to establish an Islamist state in Nigeria and
neighboring West African countries, governed by strict Shariah law, with a
fundamental aim of opposing Western education and influence.
Despite
efforts to free some individuals, the infamous 2014 Chibok incident remains a
haunting reminder of the state’s failure, with almost 100 girls still missing.
Since
Boko Haram was founded in 2002, it has been held responsible for up to 50,000
deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people. Its later
affiliation with Daesh appears to have only intensified its brutality.
Analysts
have also underlined a significant correlation between the number of
kidnappings and the contested nature of specific regions.
In
conflict-ridden areas like the eastern part of Burkina Faso, kidnappings have
surged, with a particular focus on representatives of the state and other
influential actors.
Conversely,
in regions where extremist groups wield influence, kidnappings primarily target
non-conforming individuals associated with opposition groups.
Bianchi
points out the role of Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, another
transnational extremist organization, whose expansion has been a driving force
behind the surge in abductions in the Sahel.
“As the
group infiltrates communities, kidnappings spike, targeting individuals
associated with authorities and influential local figures,” Bianchi told Arab
News.
Such
attacks are designed to intimidate locals, gather intelligence and reduce
potential threats to the group’s imposed order.
The
impact of this dynamic is evident in the targeting of local populations caught
between insurgent groups vying to expand their reach.
In the
Mopti region of central Mali, JNIM’s strongholds see a focus on strategic
targets like health workers, while contested areas witness a greater focus on
suspected collaborators and rule-defying individuals.
Compounding
the crisis, the surge in kidnappings is further exacerbated by the displacement
of more than 3.2 million Africans due to conflict in the past year alone.
The
total number of forcibly displaced Africans, now at 40.4 million, has more than
doubled since 2016. This figure, exceeding the populations of Angola, Ghana, or
Morocco, underscores a growing humanitarian challenge.
Displaced
individuals, grappling with the challenges of relocation, are especially
vulnerable to kidnapping, particularly women searching for food in rural areas.
“These
incidents extend beyond individual tragedies, causing not only loss of life,
displacement, trauma, and disruption on a personal level, but also leaving a
lasting impact on the social fabric of the region,” Alex Nkosi, a Togo-based
security and migration expert, told Arab News.
“This,
in turn, undermines stability efforts in the affected areas.”
To
improve trust in governing institutions, Bianchi said that proper documentation
of incidents must be prioritized and robust security mechanisms put in place.
“Monitoring
and documenting such violations is crucial not only for shaping government and
international strategies but also for mapping incidents to enhance security
measures and plan actions to reduce the population’s vulnerability,” she said.
Experts
believe economic factors are also significant contributors to the heightened
risk of kidnapping in the Sahel region. Although the region’s agricultural
industry has lately seen growth, low-productivity and poor investment still
prevail.
“In
areas with a reduced presence of the state and little economic opportunities,
parts of the population — especially youth — may be more attracted to join
extremist groups,” Domenico Vincenzo Papisca, a Sahel expert at the Tony Blair
Institute for Global Change, told Arab News.
Papisca
also highlighted the impact of poverty on the confidence of the population in
their government and the overall stability of the region.
“This
dual threat not only amplifies the risk of kidnapping but also poses challenges
to state authority and trade.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2413601/world
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Sudan
War: Years On, Cries Of Genocide Remain Unheard
23 NOV 2023
For
almost three days, gunmen went from home to home in a refugee camp in Darfur,
Sudan, looking for Masalit men and killing them. This was early this month as
the war in the North African country rages on with more than 10,000 people
estimated to have been killed so far, and 4.8 million displaced internally,
with another 1.2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries.
In
Sudan, the tussle of power between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Gen
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RAF) under Lt Gen Mohamed
Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has catapulted into a war for the past seven
months filling the streets with corpses as terrified people crowd into what
appears to be a mass grave.
Early
this month, more than 1,000 of the Masalit community are believed to have been
killed by the RAF and other allied Arab militants. Besides, reports of
enslaving women and men have seen a steep rise.
Sudan
has witnessed 15 military coups since its independence in 1956 with two civil
wars claiming more than 1.5 million lives. With fresh tensions breaking out
between the two clashing parties in April, early this year, the situation in
Sudan has stoked fears of another 2003-like genocide. The current situation has
led the European Union to warn that the world cannot allow a repeat of the
genocide of the early 2000s, through which the Janjaweed militia rose, later
formalising into the RSF, reports the Guardian. Earlier this month, Clementine
Nkweta-Salami, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the country, said that the
violence against civilians is “verging on pure evil”.
However,
the war that has been ongoing below the eye line seems to receive minimal
interest against the ongoing war on Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which
has rightfully been taken up by the global media. The threatening environment
of the country has made it nearly impossible for the media to reach the
grounds.
While
one wonders whether there’s an end to this genocide in Sudan, it cannot be
missed what causes the lack of it -- a dearth of international engagement and
the silence of the West --- a precarious situation sweeping most of the world’s
war-torn regions, today. The response of Western democracies to civilian
killings in Sudan, Ukraine and that of Palestinians in Gaza has exposed their
double standards.
And amid
all of these, it’s the innocents who are terrorised.
Outlook’s
recent coverage has brought focus on the wars that are tearing the world apart
and how they break all the international war rules with impunity. Once again,
while observing the situation in Sudan, we delve deep into what has spun the
war for so long, who are the key beneficiaries, and ultimately the mounting
humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Source: outlookindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/sudan-war-years-on-cries-of-genocide-remain-unheard-news-332318
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/row-gaza-situation-genocide/d/131167