RSS Group Issues CAA Eligibility Certificates To Pakistan Hindus in Rajasthan

New Age Islam News Bureau

03 April 2024

 

The Jodhpur unit of the Seemajan Kalyan Samiti organises an aid camp to solve citizenship issues of migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh | Photo Credit: Facebook/Seemajan Kalyan Samiti Rajasthan

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·         RSS Group Issues CAA Eligibility Certificates To Pakistan Hindus in Rajasthan

·         Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf Targeted With Islamophobic Graffiti Near Home

·         More than 70 Malaysian NGOs Seek Action Against Islamic PreachersSpreading Hate And Inciting Religious Discord

·         White House Hosts Muted Ramadan Event As Biden’s Israel Policy Draws Anger

·         FIR Registered As All 8 IHC Judges Receive Threatening Letters Laced With ‘White Powder’

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India

·         Petitioner Claims Hindu Symbols Found During ASI’s Bhojshala/Kamal Maula Mosque Survey

·         35-Yr-Old Muslim Man, Returning Home After Offering Taraweeh Prayers, Lynched To Death In UP; Probe Launched

·         In Tamil Nadu, Jama'athul Ulama Sabai Backs INDIA Bloc, Christian Outfit Bats For 'Secularism'

·         Madrassa Teacher’s Murder: Kerala Govt Issues Order To Approach HC On Appeal

·         Consider Muslim Couples’ Mutual Divorce Pleas: HC

·         First Batch Of 64 Indian Construction Workers Leave For Israel Amid Gaza War

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Europe

·         The Islamist Leader Responsible For Erdogan’s Local Election Loss Attributes Defeat To Sweden And Israel

·         Birmingham Contributes To Major Global Charter Encouraging Muslims To Save The Planet

·         UK police say suspects left country hours after stabbing Iranian journalist

·         Tourism ministry beefs up inspection campaigns in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan

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Southeast Asia

·         Sabah Islamic Religious Council Lodges Police Report Over Abuse Of Power Allegations

·         Islamic economy consistently included in development strategy: VP

·         Indonesia sends Rp30 billion in aid to Palestine, Sudan

·         Continuing to find ways to deliver aid to Palestinians: Marsudi

·         BNPB urges evacuation zones in tourist areas during Eid holidays

·         Harmony Committee To Address Racial, Religious Controversies In Meeting This Friday

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North America

·         Anti-Muslim Complaints Surged To Record High In US In Past Year: CAIR

·         US envoy warns Iran not to attack Americans over Syria consulate strike

·         Man pleads guilty to attacking Muslim politician outside prayer meeting in US

·         CAIR, JVP Baltimore, AMP Strongly Condemn Alleged Assaults, Islamophobic Slurs Against Peaceful Protesters Objecting to Israeli Real Estate Event

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Pakistan

·         MQM Hints At Quitting Coalition Govt If Crime Wave, Killings Not Stopped In Karachi

·         JUI-F leader, cop shot dead in ‘targeted attacks’ in North Waziristan

·         Christian community satisfied with probe into church fire

·         Imran Claims Judge In NikahCase Pressured To Pronounce Verdict Before Celebrating Son's Walima

·         Pakistan’s Asif says terrorist training camps are based in Afghanistan

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Arab World

·         Children’s Hospitality Centres At Grand Mosque Are A Great Service For Families

·         Hadiyah Launches Itikaf Program for over 5,000 Worshippers at Prophet's Mosque

·         OIC decries crime of targeting humanitarian workers in Gaza

·         Qatar’s faithful throng mosques to offer special night prayers

·         Saudi Arabia To Bear Costs Of Displaced Persons Who Relocate To Kingdom

·         Crown prince receives Spanish prime minister in Jeddah

·         KSrelief and World Food Programme sign $5m agreement to deliver food aid to Gaza

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South Asia

·         Three New Radios Inaugurated in Herat Province, Islamic Emirate Emphasizes Media Compliance with Laws

·         Afghan Migrants Complain of Mistreatment by Iranian Police

·         Kabul Rejects Afghan Involvement in Attack on Chinese Nationals in Pakistan

·         180 Myanmar troops to return home, 170 Bangladeshis to be brought back: Hasan

·         Court accepts charges against Prof Yunus in graft case

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Africa

·         Several Islam Worshippers Killed, Wounded In Drone Attack In N. Sudan

·         Uganda Constitutional Court Declines To Block Anti-Gay Law But Sees Rights Infringed

·         Chief Imam Resignation: Accused Persons Exonerate Self from Controversy

·         Oyo Muslim Community Distributes Palliatives Donated by Three Senators

·         Religious crisis averted in Gombe as extremists pelt stones on ECWA youths during procession

·         Sheikh Al-Garyani's Fatwa: Break Gaza borders to aid brethren

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Mideast

·         Netanyahu Admits ‘Unintentional’ Israel Strike Killed Gaza Aid Workers

·         UN chief calls aid worker deaths in Gaza ‘unconscionable’

·         World Bank: Israel’s war causes $18.5bn in damage to Gaza’s infrastructure

·         Save the Children: Israel keeps blocking food for famine-stricken Gaza

·         45,000 Palestinians perform Isha, Tarawih prayers in al-Aqsa

·         Israel’s destruction of Shifa hospital rips heart out of Gaza health system: WHO

·         Around 200 aid workers killed by Israel since October: UN

·         Perpetrators, supporters of terrorist Israeli attack on Iran's consulate 'will be punished': Raeisi

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:     https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/rss-caa-pakistan-hindus/d/132072

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RSS Group Issues CAA Eligibility Certificates To Pakistan Hindus in Rajasthan

 

The Jodhpur unit of the Seemajan Kalyan Samiti organises an aid camp to solve citizenship issues of migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh | Photo Credit: Facebook/Seemajan Kalyan Samiti Rajasthan

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New Delhi, April 01, 2024

Vijaita Singh

For the past one week, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated group has been organising camps and issuing “eligibility certificates” to members of the Hindu community from Pakistan to help them apply for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).

The group, Seemajan Kalyan Samiti, which operates in the areas along the Pakistan border, has helped around 330 people from Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan upload their documents on the citizenship portal - indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in– launched by the Home Ministry.

The CAA grants citizenship to members of six “persecuted” non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The certificate, a mandatory document to be issued by a “locally reputed community institution”, is to be enclosed with an affidavit and uploaded on the CAA portal along with other documents.

18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan get Indian citizenship at camp in Ahmedabad

Vikram Singh Rajpurohit, an advocate and a member of the group, told The Hindu that since the Samiti is a registered organisation, it could issue the certificate. “One of our mantris [office-bearers], Tribhuvan Singh Rathore, is signing the eligibility certificates, we are a community-based organisation,” said Mr. Rajpurohit.

The certificates, which could also be issued by a local priest, are to validate the religion of the applicant, and that he or she continues to follow the faith.

A photograph posted on the Samiti’s Facebook page said the group was organising “free citizenship application camp” in Jaisalmer. Around 60 people are seen sitting on the floor in a room, which has posters of Bharat Mata and pictures of former RSS chiefs K.B. Hedgewar and M.S. Golwalkar.

‘Hundreds waiting’

Mr. Rajpurohit said, “There are hundreds of people who came to India before 2010 and are yet to receive citizenship. I met a woman who came here in 1998 but does not have citizenship. In Jodhpur alone, there are around 5,000-6,000 such people.”

There are around 400 Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements in cities like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur in Rajasthan where an estimated two lakh people are said to be living. These people came to India in different phases.

It is to be noted that since the Pakistani Hindus entered India legally, on pilgrim or tourist visas, they were eligible for citizenship under Section 5 and Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

The CAA, a law for undocumented migrants, helps the legal migrants as it reduces the eligibility criteria from 12 years’ stay in India to five years.

The CAA also intends to benefit the Matuas, a Scheduled Caste community in West Bengal who came from Bangladesh during and after the 1971 war. Most of them possess documents such as passport, voter identity card among others, proving their Indian citizenship. However, the portal requires them to furnish at least one document tracing their roots to Bangladesh as well as the date of entry in India to be eligible for citizenship under the CAA.

‘Religion card’

Mamata Bala Thakur, a Trinamool Congress leader from the community, earlier told The Hindu that no one has applied under the CAA as the portal asked for “all sorts of documents”. She added, “They say that a pujari (priest) can issue an eligibility certificate. If he has more value than the law of the land, then what was the need to pass the Bill in Parliament? The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made it a money-making service and is providing religion card to people.”

Union Minister and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur is the chief of the All India Matua Mahasangha, which is issuing the pink cards certifying the religion of the community members in Bongaon district of West Bengal.

On March 11, days ahead of the announcement of the general election, the Home Ministry notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024, enabling the implementation of the CAA, four years after the legislation was passed in 2019.

Source: thehindu.com

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-rajasthan-an-rss-group-issues-caa-eligibility-certificates-to-pak-hindus/article68016529.ece

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Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf Targeted With Islamophobic Graffiti Near Home

 

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf

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April 02, 2024

LONDON: Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf was targeted with Islamophobic graffiti near his home on the same day the country’s new hate crime law was enacted, The Times reported.

Racist remarks referencing Yousaf’s Pakistani heritage appeared on walls and fences near his house in Dundee, where he lives with his family, on Tuesday.

The vandalism was quickly removed and Police Scotland said it had launched an investigation into the incident.

Yousaf, who made history last year as the Scottish government’s first ethnic minority and Muslim leader, shared on social media: “I do my best to shield my children from the racism and Islamophobia I face on a regular basis. That becomes increasingly difficult when racist graffiti targeting me appears near our family home.

“A reminder of why we must, collectively, take a zero-tolerance approach to hatred.”

Members of the public in Broughty Ferry described the graffiti as “absolutely shocking.”

One resident told local media: “It’s awful what’s been plastered on the walls but I don’t think the timing is a coincidence. Whoever has done this is clearly targeting Humza and one of the walls mentioned something about the new law.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Nationalist Party stated: “This graffiti was sickening and completely unacceptable … we are grateful to the authorities for acting to remove it so quickly because this type of vile, racist language can have a serious impact on the individuals, families, and wider community who are forced to see it.

“Racism has absolutely no place in our society and everyone must play their part to challenge it.”

Scots Asians for Independence, an affiliated SNP group, said on X: “The abuse included a P-word slur aimed at the SNP leader. Is this still considered free speech? This is why we need hate crime laws that deter this kind of obscene behavior.”

A representative from Police Scotland confirmed that the investigation into the graffiti was ongoing, emphasizing the commitment to addressing and curbing hate crimes, The Times reported.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2486996/world

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More than 70 Malaysian NGOs Seek Action Against Islamic Preachers Spreading Hate And Inciting Religious Discord

 

Muslim devotees walk in a street market as they buy food before breaking their fast during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur on March 18. Race and religion are thorny issues in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969. (Photo: AFP)

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 April 2, 2024

More than 70 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia have submitted a memorandum urging government action against Islamic preachers spreading hate speech and inciting religious discord against non-Muslims in the country.

Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) along with 71 other organizations and concerned citizens slammed Malaysia’s Attorney General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh on April 1, alleging double standards on the issue, the Dayak Daily reported.

In a press statement, GHRF president S. Shashi Kumar urged Terrirudin to “act fairly and equitably without bias and favouritism.”

GHRF deputy president Peter John Jaban and a delegation of some 250 individuals including representatives of NGOs from Sabah and Sarawak along with other Malaysians handed over the memorandum to the attorney general’s assistant.

Kumar accused Terrirudin of conducting hasty prosecution action against two Chinese individuals who were arrested, charged, and imprisoned simply for commenting on Facebook regarding the issue of printing the name ‘Allah’ on socks sold at KK Mart.

Pictures of socks with ‘Allah’ written on them went viral on social media last month, sparking public outrage among some Muslims who regarded them as insulting, especially because they went up for sale during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, AFP reported.

The mini-market chain's executives were charged with hurting religious feelings over the sale of the socks while some of the outlets have faced attacks including people throwing incendiary substances causing damage.

Kumar alleged that no prosecution was conducted against Islamic preachers attacking non-Muslims even though thousands of police reports have been made, the Dayak Daily reported.

“The actions of the Honorable Attorney General portray as if only those who are convicted of insulting Islam are punished and imprisoned while those who insult the religion and belief of the helpless non-Muslim minorities are allowed to enjoy legal immunity,” Kumar said.

“These controversial preachers or speakers continue to fan the flames of racism,” he added.

Kumar pointed out that the Islamic preachers were turning their backs on the principles of Rukun Negara (national principles) and Articles 8 and 11 of the Malaysian constitution without any concern because no legal action would be taken against them.

“Actions or inactions” of the attorney general’s office would “not only cause feelings of disappointment, but also result in a loss of trust,” in the attorney general’s office as the guardian of the sovereignty of the federal constitution and law in Malaysia, Kumar added.

Meanwhile, Jaban shared a list of Islamic preachers who have allegedly insulted non-Muslim religious beliefs and practices to the Dayak Daily on request.

The list included Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, Shakir Nasoha, as well as United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh, the Dayak Daily reported.

Islam is the official religion in Malaysia and Malay Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the population of 34 million.

Race and religion are thorny issues in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly racial riots in 1969.

Source: ucanews.com

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/malaysianngos-seek-action-against-islamic-preachers/104639

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White House Hosts Muted Ramadan Event As Biden’s Israel Policy Draws Anger

 

Photo: rappler.com

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April 03, 2024

WASHINGTON: The White House held a scaled-down iftar dinner on Tuesday to celebrate Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, after some invitees turned the president down over frustrations in the Muslim community over his policy toward the Israel-Gaza war.

President Joe Biden met with Muslim leaders before having a small dinner with senior Muslim officials in his administration, first lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband.

“President Biden will host a meeting with Muslim community leaders to discuss issues of importance to the community,” the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday, explaining these leaders would rather have a meeting than a dinner.

The White House “adjusted the format to be responsive,” she said.

One of the attendees, Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency room doctor who spent at least three weeks in Gaza, told CNN that he walked out of Tuesday’s meeting before it ended.

“Out of respect for my community, out of respect for all of the people who have suffered and who have been killed in the process, I needed to walk out of the meeting,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad, who said he was the only Palestinian-American in the meeting, said “there wasn’t a lot of response” from Biden.

“He actually said he understood, and I walked away,” Ahmad told CNN. The event is a sharp contrast to last May, when Biden hosted a reception for Eid to mark the end of Ramadan.

Dozens of attendees cheered Biden at the White House as he told the crowd: “It’s your house.” Muslim members of Congress who attended that event included Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian American, are now among the biggest critics of his Gaza policy.

Emgage Action, a Muslim American advocacy group, said it declined an invitation to Tuesday’s dinner, citing Biden’s “continued unconditional military aid to Israel,” which they say has led to a “humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.”

Many Muslims, Arabs and anti-war activists have been angry with the administration’s support for Israel and its military offensive in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands and caused a starvation crisis in the narrow coastal enclave of about 2.3 million people.

Israel is the leading recipient of US foreign aid, and the US vetoed multiple votes at the United Nations calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza assault that began after Palestinian Hamas group attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The US abstained from a vote in late March.

Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s subsequent military assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has killed over 32,000 people, according to the local health ministry, displaced nearly all its population and led to genocide allegations that Israel denies.

Muslim and anti-war groups plan a protest iftar in Lafayette Park near the White House.

They said they will distribute dates and water bottles to break the fast at sunset.

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40297015/white-house-hosts-muted-ramadan-event-as-bidens-israel-policy-draws-anger

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 FIR Registered As All 8 IHC Judges Receive Threatening Letters Laced With ‘White Powder’

 

Photo: Pakistani Judges

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April 2, 2024

Umer Burney

Islamabad police on Tuesday filed a case on terror charges after all eight judges of the high court received threatening letters laced with a “white powder”.

The first information report (FIR) was registered at the capital’s Counter Terrorism Department police station on the complaint of duty clerk Qadeer Ahmed under Section 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

In the FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Ahmed said he worked at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and eight letters were received a day ago for each of the court’s judges, including Chief Justice (CJ) Aamer Farooq. He said that the letters were dispatched today and received by the personal secretaries of the judges.

He said the sender was stated as a woman named Resham but there was no address mentioned. Qadeer said that shortly after, he was alerted that there was a “chemical powder” found in one of the letters. He added that the judges’ staff were subsequently instructed to not open the remaining letters.

He said the police were immediately informed about the matter, adding that the sender had attempted to influence judicial decisions by spreading “fear and harassment”.

Ahmed went on to say that police personnel reached the IHC around 2pm and seized all of the letters, four of which had been opened by this time while the remaining four were sealed. He said that a “white powder” was found in the unsealed envelopes.

He said that a police team arrived to conduct an initial analysis of the powder. The complainant said the content of the letters that had been opened referred to an outfit, Tehreek Namoos-i-Pakistan, and criticised the judicial system and used the word “BacilusAnthracis” to issue a threat.

The anthrax germ Bacillus Anthracis sickens and causes death by proliferating in the bloodstream, where it releases powerful toxins. Infection is usually treated by a long course of antibiotics.

CJ Farooq had referred to the incident earlier today while hearing PTI founder Imran Khan’s appeal against his conviction in the cipher case. During the hearing, he had said the issue was one of the reasons for a delay in the proceedings.

“Basically the high court has been threatened,” the IHC chief justice had remarked.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police said an investigation into the “threatening letters” has begun and would be completed soon by using all available resources.

The PTI also demanded an “immediate and comprehensive investigation” into the matter, saying the incident was “clearly intended to intimidate” the IHC judges.

The development comes days after after six IHC judges wrote a startling letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members last week, regarding attempts to pressure judges through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes.

The letter was signed by Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

A day later, calls had emerged from various quarters for a probe into the investigation, amid which Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa had summoned a full court meeting of the apex court judges.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met CJP Isa, and the two had decided to form a commission to investigate the concerns of interference in judicial affairs following the cabinet’s approval.

On Saturday, the federal cabinet had approved the constitution of an inquiry commission headed by ex-CJP Tassa­duq Hussain Jillani to probe the allegations and decide whether these are true or otherwise.

On Sunday, lawyers and civil society members — in a joint letter — had urged the top court to take “cognisance of the matter in its jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as this issue eminently relates to public interest and to the enforcement of fundamental rights”.

They had called on the top court to initiate suomotu proceedings as it rejected the “powerless” one-man commission appointed by the federal cabinet to probe the claims.

A day ago, Jillani refu­s­ed to become part of the one-man commission esta­bli­s­hed to probe the allegations of the executive’s int­erference in judicial affa­irs, after which the apex court constituted a seven-member bench to probe the claims of meddling with its first hearing set for tomorrow (Wednesday).

Tehreek Namoos-i-Pakistan

In September last year, the Bomb Disposal Squad had recovered a bag containing three grenades, a pistol and an alleged threatening letter on the capital’s Trail 5.

The threatening letter from the unknown outfit Tehreek Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Pakistan was addressed to judges and generals. A map, having information about important buildings in the federal capital, was also found in the bag.

The letter found in the bag had stated that the situation in Pakistan was worsening with inflation rising without a check and the then-caretaker government had become a slave of the International Monetary Fund while generals were continuously interfering in politics.

“The justice system of the country has been rotten and brain drain is on its peak. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are hopeless. We have decided to teach a lesson to judges and generals,” the letter had stated.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1825279/fir-registered-as-all-8-ihc-judges-receive-threatening-letters-laced-with-white-powder

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 India

 Petitioner Claims Hindu Symbols Found During ASI’s Bhojshala/Kamal Maula MosqueSurvey

April 2, 2024

A petitioner on Tuesday claimed that a basement with Hindu religious symbols and objects has been found during the ongoing survey at the Bhojshala/Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district.

The Muslim side, however, alleged that it was a misleading claim.

The survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), ordered by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in response to an application filed by a Hindu organisation, started on March 22.

On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to stay the survey at the medieval structure which both Hindus and Muslims claim as their own. No action should be taken without its permission on the outcome of the exercise, the apex court said.

Kuldeep Tiwari, a petitioner on the Hindu side, told reporters here that things which were not visible earlier were coming to light now.

A basement was found on the right side of the sanctum sanctorum of Goddess Saraswati, he said, adding that vandalised idols were believed to be kept there, and would be found during the survey.

Hindu religious objects and symbols such as `Ashtavakra Kamal’, Sanskrit inscriptions, `Shankh’ and `Hawan Kund’ besides idols including one of Lord Hanuman have been found in the basement and it indicated that Bhojshala was a Hindu temple, Tiwari claimed.

Kamal Moula Welfare Society’s Abdul Samad said the Muslim side was happy with the SC order which stopped excavation. The Hindu litigants were spreading misleading information through the media, he alleged.

Hindus consider Bhojshala, an ASI-protected 11th-century monument, to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community calls it Kamal Maula mosque.

After the dispute began, the ASI formulated an arrangement on April 7, 2003, whereby Hindus perform puja on the premises on Tuesday, and Muslims offer namaz on Friday.

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra on Monday issued notices to the Centre, Madhya Pradesh government, ASI and others on a plea filed by Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society challenging the March 11 order of the High Court ordering the survey.

“It is made clear that no physical excavation should be taken which will change the character of the premises,” the SC said.

In its order, the high court directed the ASI to carry out the survey within six weeks. The order came on an application filed by the Hindu Front for Justice.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/petitioner-hindu-symbols-found-asi-bhojshala-survey-9247353/

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35-Yr-Old Muslim Man, Returning Home After Offering Taraweeh Prayers, Lynched To Death In UP; Probe Launched

3rd April 2024

A 35-year-old Muslim man who was returning home after offering Taraweeh prayers around 11 pm on Monday was reportedly beaten to death on his way home by unidentified persons in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich City. The brutal lynching of the Muslim man identified as Wakil Ahmed has sparked outrage in his hometown.

Videos post the incident are being circulated on social media platforms, where the deceased’s naked body is seen lying on the ground with extensive wounds.

Following the heinous killing, Bahraich police officials launched an investigation and ensured that perpetrators would be swiftly brought to justice.

According to the police, the deceased ran a shop and went home late in the evening after closing his shop.

Talking to the media, a senior police official informed that the body was sent for post-mortem examination. “We have sent the body for autopsy and a probe has been launched to nab all culprits involved in the heinous crime. Further investigation is underway,” said the police officer.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/35-yr-old-muslim-man-lynched-to-death-in-up-probe-launched-3003240/

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In Tamil Nadu, Jama'athul Ulama Sabai Backs INDIA Bloc, Christian Outfit Bats For 'Secularism'

 Apr 3, 2024

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Jama'athul Ulama Sabai, an influential body of Muslim clergies in the state, has declared its support to the constituents of INDIA bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council has exhorted members of the community to vote and preserve 'secularism' to ensure religious faith and human rights of all people.

In a statement, Jama'athul Ulama Sabai said LS polls were the last chance to save India's democracy, and Congress should get the opportunity and strength to be an alternative to BJP at the national level. "In the past 10 years, BJP govt acted as an anti-people regime. A lot of atrocities took place in the last decade. BJP snatched the rights of religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities, destroying pluralistic India which is the beauty of democracy," the organisation said.

Meanwhile, in an epistle, TN Bishops' Council appealed to the community to reject "communal forces", and the parties that directly support them or indirectly do opportunistic politics that divides votes and hinders chances of candidates the community wants to win.

BJP govt has made mockery of CBI, ED, NIA: Ulama Sabai

Jama'athul Ulama Sabai alleged that BJP govt made a mockery of investigating agencies such as CBI, ED, NIA for its political machinations. India and Constitution are suffocating under the grip of the fascist BJP regime, and democratic forces fear there won't be elections in the country if BJP wins this one, it said.

Accusing the BJP regime of nursing animosity against Muslims and Islam, Ulama Sabai said govt had become a threat and should be unseated immediately. "To protect the country, democracy, Constitution, pluralism, marginalised sections, lives and properties of minorities, including Muslims, right to life on the basis of Sharia law, which is more than life, it is necessary to work together to unseat BJP," the organisation said.

TN Bishops' Council alleged that Union govt had been destroying diversity and imposing one religion, one language and one culture on minorities. "Christians and Muslims are labelled anti-nationals and their fundamental rights, right to worship, places of worship and religious events are under attack," the council said, accusing BJP govt at Centre of trying to impose Uniform Civil Code.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/in-tamil-nadu-muslim-group-backs-india-bloc-christian-outfit-bats-for-secularism/articleshow/108989007.cms

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Madrassa teacher’s murder: Kerala govt issues order to approach HC on appeal

2nd April 2024

Thiruvananthapuram: Facing intense criticism over the acquittal of RSS activists in the sensational madrassa teacher murder case, the Kerala government issued an order on Tuesday sanctioning the filing of an appeal in the high court to challenge the trial court’s decision.

The decision to approach the higher court was taken based on legal opinion received in this regard, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) BishwanathSingha said in today’s order.

“As per the legal opinion, the sanction is accorded for filing appeal before the High Court of Kerala against the judgment of acquittal passed by the Court of Sessions Judge, Kasaragod,” the order said.

Mohammed RiyasMaulavi, a 34-year-old muezzin (a person who proclaims the Islamic call to prayer) and a madrassa teacher from Choori near Kasaragod, was found murdered in his room in the mosque on March 20, 2017.

The court in Kasaragod on Saturday acquitted three RSS activists in the case, saying the prosecution was not able to prove that the accused had any kind of enmity with the Muslim community.

Kasaragod Principal Sessions Court Judge K K Balakrishnan on Sunday acquitted Akhilesh, Nidhin, and Ajesh, all three residents of Kelugude, in the case.

The LDF government came out with a quick decision to approach the high court against the verdict, as the opposition Congress started targeting the government in its ongoing Lok Sabha poll campaign over the issue.

The Congress has continued to criticise the state government over the verdict and demanded a reinvestigation into the case by a high-level police team.

KPCC acting chief M M Hassan said the case should be reinvestigated as the court itself made it clear that the police and the prosecution had failed.

In a statement, he also questioned the state government’s decision to approach the high court against the present verdict and asked what was its use after all evidence had been sabotaged in the trial court.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/madrassa-teachers-murder-kerala-govt-issues-order-to-approach-hc-on-appeal-3002784/

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Consider Muslim Couples’ Mutual Divorce Pleas: HC

 Apr 3, 2024

Bengaluru: Family courts are empowered to consider applications for divorce by mutual consent filed by Muslim couples, the high court ruled recently.

“In view of the fact that the parties have entered into a Mubarat agreement (divorce by mutual consent) and have decided to dissolve marriage, we are of the opinion that the prayer sought for a declaration as to dissolution of marriage ought to have been granted by the family court,” said a division bench comprising Justices AnuSivaraman and Anant Ramanath Hegde.

The Sunni Muslim couple in question got married on April 7, 2019 in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). They signed the Mubarat deed on April 3, 2021. However, on April 21, 2022, a family court rejected their request holding that though divorce by mutual consent is provided under the Muslim Personal Law, such a petition for dissolution of the Mohammedan marriage isn’t contemplated under the provisions of Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939.

Challenging this, the couple moved the high court, contending that under the provisions of the 1939 Act and Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 — read with Section 7 of the Family Courts Act, 1984 — the Mubarat agreement entered into by the parties dissolving their marriage with full consent and knowledge is liable to be accepted, and a declaration thereof is liable to be granted by the family court.

They placed reliance upon the Supreme Court’s decision in the Shayara Bano vs Union of India and others case, as well as the Karnataka high court’s decision in the Asif Iqbal vs Rafiah@Feena case. After perusing the judgments cited, the division bench pointed out that theSC had held that Mubarat is a form of divorce by consent of both parties and is well recognised under the Muslim Personal Law. It said, “The finding of the family court that it isn’t empowered to consider the application for divorce by mutual consent when the parties are Muslim can’t be said to be the correct proposition,” it observed, while holding that the marriage between the couple stood dissolved as per their Mubarat agreement.

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Baba Kalyani's niece, nephew move court over family assetsSameerHiremath& Pallavi Swadi sue Baba Kalyani for family assets share, incl. Bharat Forge, Kalyani Steel. Lawsuit involves SugandhaHiremath, GaurishankarKalyani, SheetalKalyani, VirajKalyani, Amit Kalyani, Mahabaleshwar, Hikal, Pune, AnnappaKalyani, joint family wealth.108801120

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/consider-muslim-couples-mutual-divorce-pleas-hc/articleshow/108986190.cms

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First batch of 64 Indian construction workers leave for Israel amid Gaza war

April 3, 2024

The first batch of 64 construction workers from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are leaving for Israel amid the war on Gaza, The Hindu reported.

In November, reports stated that the construction industry in Israel has asked the Indian government to allow companies to recruit one lakh Indian workers to replace the 90,000 Palestinians whose work permits have been cancelled since Israel’s war on Gaza started in October.

In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had said that he had discussed “advancing the arrival of foreign workers from India to the State of Israel” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s external affairs ministry had said at the time that India had not discussed with Israel the possibility of Indians workers replacing Palestinian labourers in the West Asian nation. However, the National Skills Development Corporation had issued a detailed document calling for workers soon after.

On Tuesday, National Skill Development Council officials, during a farewell event organised by the Israeli embassy for the Indian workers, said that they had received a demand for 10,000 construction workers from the Population and Immigration Authority, the Israeli employment agency, on November 15, The Hindu reported.

Subsequently, an employment drive was carried out in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. As many as 9,727 workers were found to be qualified for the jobs and were offered contracts to work in Israel, the officials were quoted as saying.

The 64 workers are part of the nearly 10,000-strong workforce that will be flown to Israel, The Hindu reported. Batches of workers will fly out on chartered flights almost daily, with an estimated 1,500 Indians scheduled to leave in April, the newspaper quoted National Skill Development Council officials as saying.

NaorGilon, the Israeli ambassador to India, said in a social media post that the farewell event was organised for the first batch of Indian workers going to Israel under the government-to-government agreement.

“This is an outcome of hard work of many, including @NSDCINDIA [National Skill Development Council],” Gilon said. “I am sure that the workers [will] become ‘ambassadors’ of the great P2P [people to people] relations between India and Israel.”

Over the past nearly six months, Israel has been carrying out air and ground strikes on the besieged Palestinian territory. The attacks have killed nearly 33,000 persons in Gaza and injured almost 75,000.

The war began after Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 persons. The militant group had also taken over 200 people hostage. Some of the hostages were released in November as part of a brief ceasefire in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and humanitarian aid.

Source: scroll.in

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https://scroll.in/latest/1066160/first-batch-of-64-indian-construction-workers-leave-for-israel-amid-gaza-war

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Europe

 

The Islamist leader responsible for Erdogan’s local election loss attributes defeat to Sweden and Israel

April 3, 2024

Fatih Erbakan, a former political ally of the Turkish president and a notorious, antisemitic politician, attributed the government’s poor performance in local elections on Sunday to Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership and its failure to impose a trade embargo on Israel.

In the May 2023 elections, Erbakan, leader of the Islamist New Welfare Party (YRP), entered into an alliance with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and supported Erdogan in the presidential election. In return the YRP gained five parliamentary seats and secured promises for various policy changes.

The two leaders failed to forge a new alliance before the local elections on March 31. Tensions arose when the AKP refused to accept the YRP’s demand for mayoral positions in several districts of Istanbul, leading his party to run as independents in the elections. Erdogan was angered by the YRP’s decision to nominate as mayoral candidates some politicians who had split from the AKP. Erbakan accused Erdogan of continuing trade relations with Israel despite the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

 A week before the elections, Erbakan announced that support for Erdogan would be forthcoming if the government increased pensions, halted trade with Israel and closed the Kürecik Radar Station, a NATO facility situated in the southeastern province of Malatya. This statement can be seen not just as an offer, but also as a political maneuver.

A significant number of AKP voters turned to the YRP in the local elections for economic and political reasons, resulting in a backlash against the AKP. For the first time in its history, the AKP came in second in the elections, behind the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The YRP, on the other hand, was third, garnering 6.19 percent of the vote.

In his speech on election night, Erbakan said the government lost votes because it had failed to improve the economy. Additionally, he emphasized that the continuation of trade with Israel, whom he referred to as “Zionist murderers,” was shameful and disgraceful. He also pointed out that the approval of NATO membership for Sweden, “a country that opens its arms to terrorist organizations and is hostile to Islam and the Quran,” was another factor contributing to the loss of votes.

Similar to his late father, former prime minister Necmettin Erbakan, who was known for his antisemitic views and played a pivotal role in establishing political Islam in Turkey, the younger Erbakan is a staunchly anti-Western politician and a leading spreader of conspiracy theories in Turkey against the Jews, promoting antisemitism among the Turkish population. His party openly supported the Hamas terrorist attacks that occurred on October 7.

 The YRP has been one of the leading organizations in mobilizing Turks to hold rallies in front of the Israeli Embassy in Ankara and its Consulate General in Istanbul.

With government support Erbakan significantly expanded his outreach to a larger audience in Turkey by making frequent appearances on national television, openly propagating his antisemitic views on live TV.

Since 2015 the number of critical and independent media outlets in Turkey has significantly diminished, rendering the Turkish media landscape virtually subservient to the authority of President Erdogan’s office. Content published by the media is subject to scrutiny by Erdogan’s Communications Office, and the selection of guests and commentators appearing on TV networks requires approval from the same office

Erbakan was one of the approved politicians and commentators whose appearances on TV were actively promoted by the Erdogan government. During an interview with the pro-government Haber Global on October 17, he repeated well-known anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and claimed that an unwritten rule has existed in the US since the country’s establishment, stipulating that the president, vice president, national security advisor and the secretaries of State and Defense must all be committed Zionists.

 He claimed that both Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress were under the influence of wealthy Jewish families, including the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds. According to Erbakan, US policies in the Middle East would remain unchanged regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in 2024.

 During the program, presenter Buket Aydin, a pro-government propagandist, and Erbakan discussed a conspiracy theory involving Jews purportedly assisting in Hitler’s rise to power. When Aydin brought up this conspiracy, Erbakan claimed that Jewish bankers had financed Hitler’s political campaigns and had intentionally orchestrated the persecution of Jews, thereby forcing them to emigrate to Palestine and establish the Israeli state.

Erbakan and his party are just one of several groups in Turkey that promote hatred of non-Muslims and encourage antisemitism. They appear to operate with impunity, benefiting from the political protection afforded to such hate-mongering groups by the Erdogan government. They often voice opinions and ideas that align with the beliefs held by Erdogan and his cronies in Turkey’s government but which they may be hesitant to express openly due to concerns about potential international repercussions.

 After the success of the YRP in the local elections, Erdogan’s perception of them as rivals and a threat may soon become evident in the consequences. However, the YRP has certainly become a new destination for unhappy AKP voters, which undoubtedly greatly concerns Erdogan.

Source: nordicmonitor.com

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https://nordicmonitor.com/2024/04/the-islamist-leader-responsible-for-erdogans-local-election-loss-attributes-defeat-to-sweden-and-israel/

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Birmingham contributes to major global charter encouraging Muslims to save the planet

2 APR 2024

Husna Anjum

A leading green Birmingham charity has contributed to a major global charter urging the Islamic world to tackle climate change. Al-Mizan, a Covenant for the Earth, is a document drafted by influential Islamic scholars from around the world, outlining an Islamic strategy on fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Spearheading this initiative is Birmingham's Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) based in Balsall Heath, the organisation run various eco-friendly projects inspired by Islamic scriptures and teachings. The charter launched on February 27 in Nairobi at an event alongside the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6).

The document uses key teachings from the Quran stating that Muslims must respect the Earth and not abuse it. It says the faith is rooted in the idea that all things in the heavens and the earth support one another to the glory of the Lord of all.

Read more:Brummie eco warrior on why ethnic minorities should not be 'tick boxes' in green movement

Join our Brummie Muslims WhatsApp group to get the latest news on Ramadan 2024 here

Humans are responsible to protect it, rather than 'wreak devastation' upon it. Fazlun Khalid, founder of IFEES and a member of the core team that put the charter together, says it identifies what Islam can do to ensure future generations inherit a sustainable planet.

The charter emphasises the Quran does not contain the words 'environment' or 'environmentalism' but references to natural phenomena. One chapter The Cosmic Equilibrium, explains how verses from the Quran 'presents a rich and vivid portrayal of the Earth and the wider cosmos full of meaning, purpose, order, and beauty'.

Another chapter The Ecological Ethos and Ethics of Islam, outlines Islamic references to environmentalism including sections titled 'Revering God in His Creatures' and 'Show Compassion toward those on Earth'.

Khalid's co-author and mentee Kamran Shezad, Birmingham based Director of IFEES, said: "It does not shy away from thorny issues such as human population growth, the insatiable global economic system, how we produce and harvest the food we eat, genetically modified organisms, the loss of wildlands and wilderness, the lack of ecological literacy in our educational institutions.

"The authors do not set out to tell Muslims or non-Muslims what to believe, but to raise questions and challenge them to seek solutions within the context of Islamic values and teachings."

Talking about Birmingham and other cities, Shezad said: "we have seen faith communities step up during crises like the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, and the environmental crisis we are facing is no different.

"Local authorities across the country have included faith actors in their Net Zero strategies, environmental campaigning groups are reaching out to faith groups. I believe Al-Mizan will give the Muslim community an additional tool to utilise and the confidence to engage in meaningful change for a better and healthier environment."

Khalid describes Al-Mizan "as a guiding light, inspired by faith and fuelled by responsibility". He added: "the ethos of Islam is that it integrates belief with a code of conduct which pays heed to the natural world.

"Islam proves a holistic approach to existence. I was hardly able to find a page in the Quran that did not mention the cosmos, or the Earth, or the sentient beings that thrived in it and numerous other aspects of the natural world."

Source: birminghammail.co.uk

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UK police say suspects left country hours after stabbing Iranian journalist

APRIL 3, 2024

British police on Tuesday said three suspects believed to be involved in the stabbing of a journalist working for a Persian language media organization in London last week left the country within hours of the attack.

"Detectives have established the victim was approached by two men in a residential street and attacked. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle driven by a third male," London's Metropolitan Police (the Met) said in a statement.

The victim in his 30s sustained an injury to his leg in the attack in Wimbledon, southwest London, on Friday afternoon. Police said he has since been discharged from hospital.

Police said that after abandoning the vehicle, the suspects traveled directly to Heathrow Airport and left the United Kingdom a few hours after the attack.

Britain's National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the victim was British-based Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati, who hosts a show on the Persian language television news network Iran International, which is critical of Iran's government.

Police said it remained unclear why the victim was attacked and officers are "keeping an open mind as to any motivation behind this."

The incident was being investigated by counter-terrorism detectives because the victim was a journalist at a Persian language media organization based in Britain, and previous threats had been directed towards this group of journalists, the Met said.

In January, Britain imposed sanctions, in coordination with the United States, on Iranian officials it said were involved in threats to kill journalists on British soil, and others it said were part of international criminal gangs linked to Iran.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-795049

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Tourism ministry beefs up inspection campaigns in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan

April 03, 2024

RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism has intensified its supervisory and inspection campaigns on hospitality facilities and tourism service providers in Makkah and Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan. This is in line with the directives of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb to ensure the provision of best ever services for Umrah pilgrims and visitors as well as to directly address their complaints and redress their grievances.

The ministry has reinforced its workforce in the operation rooms established for this purpose in Makkah and Madinah during the last 10 days of Ramadan. This contributed to an increase in the number of supervisory and inspection tours.

The ministry carried out more than 900 such tours in Makkah, and recorded over 160 violations, of which 140 were related to poor quality of services while 24 pertaining to activities without a license.

In Madinah, the ministry carried out more than 210 supervisory and inspection tours, and recorded 60 violations, of which there were 54 cases of poor quality of services and six related to activities without a license, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

These tours are proof of the ministry’s keenness to ensure that pilgrims and visitors are provided with excellent services, and that is in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership.

According to the ministry, operation rooms in Makkah and Madinah receive complaints about hospitality facilities and tourism services round the clock throughout Ramadan. To date, over 1,060 complaints were received in Makkah, and more than 220 in Madinah and these were all dealt with within less than 24 hours.

The ministry stressed that feedback on the services provided by hospitality facilities and tourism service providers may be received through the ministry’s official channels on social media platforms or by calling the unified care center on 930

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/641769/SAUDI-ARABIA/Tourism-ministry-beefs-up-inspection-campaigns-in-Makkah-and-Madinah-during-Ramadan

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Southeast Asia

 

Sabah Islamic Religious Council lodges police report over abuse of power allegations

03 Apr 2024

KOTA KINABALU, April 3 — The Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) lodged a police report on March 28 regarding alleged abuse of power in its administration.

Its president Datuk Yahya Hussin said the police report was made for further investigation as the accusations labelled against Muis were baseless and defamatory.

“Muis is always open to any investigation process by the authorities whether from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“This is to ensure that the image and integrity of Muis in its administrative affairs remains clean without any element of abuse of power as alleged,” he said in a statement here today.

Yahya said that yesterday (April 2) a letter of demand had been sent to parties who have made and spread the accusations which, among other things, demanded a public apology to Muis within 24 hours.

He said if the parties fail to do so, a lawsuit will be filed immediately to demand justice.

Recently, it went viral on social media platforms regarding the allegation that a senior Muis official had ordered the payment of staff bonuses by using the Zakat Fund without approval.

It was also alleged that the senior official ordered the transfer of the Zakat Fund money to the General Fund (Management) amounting to RM14 million, without approval.

In the meantime, Yahya said that the distribution of zakat money last year showed a total collection of RM141,181,101.74 which was disbursed among 91,060 recipients. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/04/03/sabah-islamic-religious-councillodges-police-report-over-abuse-of-power-allegations/127089

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Islamic economy consistently included in development strategy: VP

April 2, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said on Tuesday that Indonesia has been consistent in making Islamic economic and financial policies a part of its national development strategy.

"In the context of global Islamic economy and finance development, Indonesia has received acknowledgments, one of which is Indonesia is deemed consistent in making Islamic economic and financial policies a part of national development strategy," he added.

Amin made the statement at the opening of the Banten Ramadan Halal Festival in Tangerang district, Banten, which was followed on the YouTube channel of the Vice President's Secretariat.

He said that the strategy is essential for sustainable and equitable national development.

"The challenge of development is not just about achieving the highest economic growth, but ensuring that the growth is able to support the community down to the lowest levels," he expounded.

To this end, he underlined, there is a big task to continue welfare development that has a real impact on the community and increases Indonesia's contribution to global development, especially through the Islamic economic and financial sectors.

"In the future, sustainable economic and financial development that is contributive nationally must continue to be encouraged, including by disseminating information on policies and programs at the regional level, so that literacy and community participation increases," he said.

He welcomed all positive efforts made by regional governments and the regional committees for Islamic economy and finance (KDEKS) in advancing Islamic economy and finance.

"Through this Ramadan festival, I hope there will be concrete results, especially in increasing the contribution of the halal industry from Banten to the world," he said.

He further said that in responding to development challenges and advancing the Islamic economy and finance up to the global level, Indonesia must continue to bolster its role as a key player in the global trade of halal products.

Source: antaranews.com

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/309900/islamic-economy-consistently-included-in-development-strategy-vp

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Indonesia sends Rp30 billion in aid to Palestine, Sudan

 April 3, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Wednesday sent humanitarian assistance worth Rp30 billion (around US$1.89 million) for the people of Palestine and Sudan.

At the send-off ceremony held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, he remarked that the assistance is a form of the Indonesian government’s commitment to maintaining world peace.

“The government is committed to maintaining world peace and participating actively in humanitarian missions for crises arising from both war and natural disasters,” Jokowi said.

He added that the Indonesian people are concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Palestine, and the internal conflict in Sudan that has caused many victims.

"The aid sent today is worth Rp30 billion, in the form of medicines and health equipment as well as other assistance tailored to the needs in the field according to the official request of the governments of Egypt and Sudan," he explained.

Earlier, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received diplomatic notes from Egypt and Sudan regarding a request for humanitarian assistance for the people there who are facing conflict and diseases.

In the note, the Egyptian government is expecting aid from the Indonesian government for Palestinian refugees who fled to Egypt due to Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Jokowi said that the assistance delivery delegation is led by the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto.

The Indonesian government projected that assistance for civilians affected by the conflicts in Palestine and Sudan will arrive in Cairo, Egypt, and Port Sudan, Sudan, on April 4.

Israel’s attacks in Gaza have killed 32,333 people, leaving 74,694 people injured and 8,100 people missing, according to local authorities. Palestinians in northern and central Gaza, have fled to Rafah in the enclave's southern part.

Currently, there are more than 1.5 million Palestinian refugees in Rafah, which borders Egypt.

Source: antaranews.com

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/309915/indonesia-sends-rp30-billion-in-aid-to-palestine-sudan

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Continuing to find ways to deliver aid to Palestinians: Marsudi

 April 2, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is continuing to find "whatever ways" it can to get aid packages delivered to Palestinians who have been suffering under the Israeli aggression in Gaza since October 7, 2023, Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi said.

Aid deliveries to Gaza remain hampered by Israel, she informed on the sidelines of an iftar (breaking-of-the-fast) gathering at the Indonesian parliament building here on Monday.

Despite the tense situation, the Indonesian government is continuing to find ways to have the aid packages delivered and received by those in dire need of help, Marsudi said.

She also reiterated Indonesia's support for the Palestinian people's struggle for independence, saying all Indonesians are united with the government in the fight for Palestinians and efforts to provide assistance to them.

During the iftar gathering held by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Marsudi met with MPR leaders and visiting Palestinian imams.

"This 'silaturrahim' (gathering for maintaining social ties) is so important to restrengthen our commitment to supporting the struggle of Palestinians," she said.

The struggle has been difficult, she noted, adding that the road that must be taken now and in the future remains tough.

Marsudi then shared the latest developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, informing that on March 25, 2024, the UN Security Council finally passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to UN News, Resolution 2728 also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and underlines the urgent need to expand the flow of aid into Gaza.

ANTARA reported earlier that the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip erupted following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel early in the morning of October 7, 2023.

Prior to the assault by Palestinian liberation fighters in Israel, the Israeli government had continued its closure of Gaza crossings.

Palestine's news agency WAFA reported on September 25, 2023, that Israeli closure of the crossings had worsened the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.

According to WAFA, the Palestinians were already suffering from the severe impacts of "more than 17 years of tight Israeli land, sea, and air blockades."

Al Jazeera quoted Hamas, which governs Gaza, as stating that its assault on Israel was "a response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence."

In response to the unprecedented surprise attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and, according to Al Jazeera, pledged that Israeli forces would "turn all Hamas hideouts into rubble."

Al Jazeera reported that since the war began on October 7, the Israeli aggression has killed more than 32,782 Palestinian civilians and wounded at least 75,298 others.

It has also triggered a humanitarian crisis. According to Al Jazeera, the Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,139 people in Israel.

Source: antaranews.com

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BNPB urges evacuation zones in tourist areas during Eid holidays

 April 3, 2024

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) called on natural tourism operators to create an evacuation zone to minimize disaster impacts during the upcoming Eid holidays.

"The request for the establishment of evacuation zones has been distributed in the form of the BNPB Circular Letter to all natural tourism destination managers, both those managed by the government and private," said LilikKurniawan, BNPB Deputy for Logistics and Equipment, on Wednesday.

He said that the BNPB and Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) seek to ensure the presence of evacuation zones at natural tourism destinations.

The BNPB considers evacuation zones to be important because the majority of the natural tourism destinations fall into the category of regions prone to wet hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, landslides, and tornadoes, including tsunamis and earthquakes.

Based on the analysis conducted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), most parts of Indonesia have the potential for light, moderate, or heavy rainfall during the Eid holidays this year.

The weather agency forecast that a week before Eid on April 3–9, moderate to heavy rains will occur, and then, in the second phase, during the Eid week on April 10–16, Indonesia will experience sunny and cloudy conditions, with the likelihood of rain.

On April 17–23, or the week after Eid, northern and central Indonesia can potentially receive light to moderate rain.

"Especially in the Java Island region, which during the Eid holiday period is vulnerable to disaster because of the high potential for rain and increased movement of people," Kurniawan added.

The BMKG has mapped disaster-prone locations in Java, such as Puncak Bogor in West Java, Mount Bromo and Banyuwangi in East Java, and Yogyakarta's Pantai Selatan (southern coast).

Source: antaranews.com

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/309921/bnpb-urges-evacuation-zones-in-tourist-areas-during-eid-holidays

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Harmony committee to address racial, religious controversies in meeting this Friday

02-04- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: The Interfaith Harmony Committee will convene an emergency meeting this Friday to address the ongoing racial and religious controversies of recent weeks.

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (pix) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr MohdNa’im Mokhtar issued a joint statement today, announcing that the committee, overseen by the National Unity Ministry and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, will take immediate measures to ensure the harmony of the people and the country.

According to the statement, the meeting will be attended by representatives from all religious communities in Malaysia.

The two ministers also issued a strong warning against individuals inciting racial and religious conflict to the extent of causing social tension among Malaysia’s diverse population of multiple races, religions and cultures.

In addition, both ministers reiterated their call for all parties to avoid provoking religious sensitivities and to abide by the Federal Constitution.

They also urged the people to uphold and embody core values ??of integrity, responsibility and harmony, safeguarding the stability and security of the nation against any threats of conflict, provocation or hostility. –Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/harmony-committee-to-address-racial-religious-controversies-in-meeting-this-friday-CI12290031

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North America

 

Anti-Muslim complaints surged to record high in US in past year: CAIR

APR 02, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the U.S., announced that anti-Muslim complaints hit the highest level in 2023.

The Muslim civil rights group said it received 8,061 complaints nationwide last year, marking the highest it has ever recorded in its 30-year history.

"We received 3,578 of those complaints between October 1 and December 31. In other words, nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year," said the report.

That period was marked by an escalation of hostilities by Israel in the Gaza Strip after an Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, against southern Israel.

"The primary force behind this wave of heightened Islamophobia was the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine in October 2023," said CAIR.

The 2023 wave of anti-Muslim incidents, a 56% jump compared to the previous year, surpassed the period following the implementation of former President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban in 2017, which saw a 32% jump against the previous year.

The report said the highest-recorded number of complaints previously occurred in 2021, but the number of complaints in 2023 marks a 20% increase from the 6,720 complaints reported in 2021.

"At 1,637 complaints, immigration and asylum cases comprised 20% of total complaints received in 2023. Employment discrimination (1,201 complaints, or 15%), education discrimination (688 complaints, or 8.5%), and hate crimes and incidents (607 complaints, or 7.5%) are among the highest reported categories," it said.

More than 32,800 Palestinians have been killed and 75,300 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities since Israel began its onslaught against Gaza.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which last Thursday asked it to do more to prevent famine in Gaza.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/world/americas/anti-muslim-complaints-surged-to-record-high-in-us-in-past-year-cair

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US envoy warns Iran not to attack Americans over Syria consulate strike

April 03, 2024

NEW YORK CITY: Israel must bear the full responsibility for the consequences of its attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and Iran reserves its right to deliver a “decisive response to such reprehensible acts,” Tehran’s deputy permanent representative to the UN told members of the Security Council during a meeting on Tuesday.

“Iran has exercised considerable restraint but there are limits to our forbearance,” said Zahra Ershadi.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike destroyed Iran’s Consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing 12 people, including two Iranian generals and a member of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah. At least six Syrian citizens were also killed by the strike.

Ershadi called on the Security Council to condemn the attack, which she said “goes beyond mere criminality and represents a profound affront to the shared principle of the inviolability of representatives and diplomatic and consular premises.”

The envoy accused Israel of escalating and perpetuating the conflict in Gaza while evading accountability while it “kills civilians and uses starvation as a method of warfare.”

She continued: “Israel’s primary concern is to use force to advance its apartheid policies, ethnic-cleansing, genocidal acts, and military objectives in Gaza at all costs.

“The absence of accountability and the Security Council's inaction has only encouraged this regime to continue its violations unchecked.”

Ershadi also accused the US of bearing responsibility “for all crimes committed by the Israeli regime.”

US ambassador Robert Wood reiterated that Washington has communicated to Iran that it “had no involvement” in the strike on the consulate, nor did it have any knowledge of it ahead of time.

“We cannot confirm any information about this event,” he said, adding that “as we gather details, one thing is clear: Iran and its proxy and partner groups need to avoid escalating tensions in the region.”

Wood said that since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the US has repeatedly warned Iran not to take advantage of the situation by escalating its “longstanding proxy war against Israel and other actors,” but Iran has ignored that warning.

“Terrorists and other armed groups, some backed by the Syrian regime and Iran, have used Syrian territory to plot and launch attacks on Israel and US facilities and personnel,” he added.

He warned that US authorities “will not hesitate to defend our personnel, and repeat our prior warnings to Iran and its proxies not to take advantage of this situation to resume their attacks on US personnel.”

Wood also expressed his sadness and grave concern about the recent Israeli air strike that hit a World Central Kitchen aid convoy.

“This incident is yet a further reminder that Israel needs to do much more to protect humanitarian personnel and facilities in Gaza,” he said. “It is unacceptable and inexplicable that nearly six months into this conflict, Israeli military deconfliction mechanisms are not functioning appropriately.”

Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, VasilyNebenzia, who had called for the emergency meeting of the Security Council, said he condemned the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in the strongest terms, and stressed that it followed a trend of escalating Israeli attacks on Syrian soil and other neighboring countries.

“We’re of the view that such aggressive actions by Israel are designed to further fuel the conflict,” he said. “They are absolutely unacceptable and must stop.

“We urge West Jerusalem to abandon the practice of provocative acts of force in the territory of Syria and other neighboring countries, which is fraught with extremely dangerous risks and consequences for the entire region, a region that is already destabilized as the results of the six-month escalation of violence around Gaza.”

Nebenzia warned council members that should they fail to condemn attacks on diplomatic premises then “next time, the diplomatic mission of any state could be targeted by an air raid.”

Slovenia’s permanent representative to the UN denounced “attacks on diplomatic premises, that are unacceptable and unjustifiable.”

Samuel Zbogar expressed his country’s profound concern about the spillover effects of the war in Gaza across the region, which has already “had a strong impact on the situation along the Blue Line and in the Red Sea,” and he called on all parties to show restraint.

“It should be in no one’s interest to have further dangerous escalation in the Middle East,” he added. “Any of the geographically separated but ultimately intertwined crises could take on a life of their own.

“People of the region have suffered enough and this includes people in Palestine, Israel, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. We should all place their interests first, and this is why it is crucial for this council to send a clear call for restraint by all, starting with compliance with Resolution 2728, demanding a ceasefire.”

China’s deputy ambassador, GengShuang, strongly condemned the attack “of an extremely vicious nature” on Iran’s consulate and reaffirmed the inviolability of diplomatic institutions.

Since the conflict in Gaza began in October, Geng said, there have been attacks on homes, schools, hospitals, humanitarian facilities, UN agencies, “and today attacks on diplomatic premises. The red line of international law and the basic norms of international relations have been breached time and again, and the moral bottom line of human conscience has been crushed time and time again. Such a situation, such a tragedy must stop immediately.”

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2487181/middle-east

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Man pleads guilty to attacking Muslim politician outside prayer meeting in US

Apr 3, 2024

A man who attacked a Muslim politician outside a prayer service in Connecticut pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and other crimes in a plea deal that calls for a five-year prison sentence.

Andrey Desmond, 30, appeared in Hartford Superior Court in connection with the June 2023 assault on Representative Maryam Khan, the first Muslim to serve in the state House of Representatives. He pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree sexual assault, attempted first-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a minor — all felonies, Hearst Connecticut Media Group reported.

Khan's lawyer, Aaron Romano, told a judge that Khan believed Desmond deserved a longer prison sentence given how serious the attack was. Khan attended the hearing but did not comment afterward.

"Representative Khan is requesting privacy at this time to process today's events, but she looks forward to her attacker's sentencing on June 4," Romano said in a statement later in the day.

Desmond's lawyer, public defender John Stawicki, told Judge David Gold that Desmond wanted to apologise to Khan. Desmond held off on apologising after Gold warned that anything he said could be used against him if the plea agreement ended up being cancelled for any reason.

The plea deal would also require Desmond, after the prison term, to register as a sex offender, undergo counselling and take his medication.

Court records show Desmond, who was living in New Britain, has a history of mental illness. After a court-ordered evaluation, he was found competent to stand trial.

Khan, a Democrat, had called for hate crime charges. She was attacked while attending a service at the XL Centre arena in Hartford with her family to mark Eid al-Adha, the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca.

She has said she and her family, including her 15-year-old daughter, were taking photos outside the arena when Desmond approached and said he "intended to have sexual relations" with one of them.

Desmond then followed them inside, and Khan said he started to pursue her in particular, grabbing at her face and shirt and demanding a kiss.

He followed her back outside and tried to grab her face again, she said, and became angry when she "dodged him." She said he slapped her across the face and later put her in a "chokehold," holding up his hand and mimicking having a gun before slamming her into the ground.

Khan said she was diagnosed with a concussion and injured her right arm and shoulder.

The Associated Press doesn't generally identify people who report attempted sexual assaults unless they publicly identify themselves, as Khan has done.

Desmond was chased down and held by two bystanders until police arrived and arrested him. One of the bystanders, a military veteran, was charged with assault and has applied for a pretrial diversion program that could erase the charge.

Source: 9news.com.au

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.9news.com.au/world/man-pleads-guilty-to-attacking-muslim-politician-in-connecticut/d0c0c04f-6f94-416e-b9cd-8ba384580534

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CAIR, JVP Baltimore, AMP Strongly Condemn Alleged Assaults, Islamophobic Slurs Against Peaceful Protesters Objecting to Israeli Real Estate Event

Ibrahim Hooper

April 2, 2024

(BALTIMORE, MD, 4/2/2024)?— The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore (JVP Baltimore) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) today strongly condemned reports of anti-Palestinian counter-protesters’ alleged violent behavior and hate speech toward peaceful demonstrators at a vigil last night protesting the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian land outside the Congregation ShomreiEmunah Synagogue in Baltimore where the Israel-based CapitIL Real Estate Agency had scheduled an event to educate vetted participants about “buying their home in Israel.”

VIDEO: Anti-Palestinian Protestor Violently Confronts Peaceful Demonstrators

SEE: Protests erupt on Greenspring Avenue over Israeli-Palestinian conflict (WBFF 45)

Video footage and news coverage of the event captured vigil participants reportedly exposed to violent behavior and hate speech, including multiple incidents of physical and verbal assaults and Islamophobic slurs from anti-Palestinian counter protestors. 

Examples of incidents reported or witnessed at the vigil include:

a peaceful demonstrator who was allegedly shoved to the ground by an anti-Palestinian counterprotester who reportedly pushed past him in an aggressive manner

an anti-Palestinian counterprotester who allegedly shouted Islamophobic slurs while attempting to break a human shield formed by allies surrounded Muslims praying the sunset prayer after breaking their fast at the action

a peaceful demonstrator who was reportedly shoved while attempting to shield another demonstrator from an anti-Palestinian counterprotester

multiple accounts of anti-Palestinian counterprotesters reportedly aggressively confronting peaceful demonstrators, allegedly accusing them of being terrorists, calling for the nuking of Gaza, shouting provocative, hostile speech

an anti-Palestinian counterprotester on a bike allegedly attempting to swing towards a woman’s megaphone, shoving yard signs into another peaceful demonstrator’s face, leaving her face visibly bruised and scratched, then reportedly fleeing police during questioning

anti-Palestinian counterprotesters allegedly attempting to physically assault or grab megaphones out of the hands of peaceful demonstrators

an anti-Palestinian counterprotester allegedly assaulting a peaceful demonstrator and reportedly “attempting suffocation” with an Israeli flag

The victim Samantha Kellerman, whose face was reportedly bruised and scratched, provided a written statement and photo of the alleged attacker to CAIR. CAIR is calling on police to investigate the incident, identify the suspect and take appropriate corrective action.

In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said: 

“The virulent display of anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic hate at last evening’s JVP Baltimore-led action is a reflection of today’s toxic political climate in which we’ve observed an unprecedented surge of bigotry and violence towards our communities. We urge Baltimore City police to take swift action to investigate the attack on Samantha and bring the perpetrator to justice. We applaud the courage of those who courageously protested against the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, and we condemn in the strongest terms the malicious vitriol and hateful attacks our group faced. Jewish, Palestinian and Muslim communities in Maryland remain united in our commitment to demand justice and freedom for Palestine, and to hold accountable those who may seek to profit off of the sales of stolen land.”

Earlier today, CAIR released its 2024 civil rights report, which reveals the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history.

In a statement, Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore Spokesperson Cassidy Cohen said:

“We protested the CapitIL Real Estate Agency’s ‘Buying Property in Israel’ event because by ignoring this genocide and facilitating the sale of land in Jerusalem to exclusively Jews, CapitIL Real Estate Agency is complicit in 75+ years of occupation and apartheid. Especially in Baltimore, where fair housing is a key struggle, we know it’s like for communities to be kicked out of their homes and off their land. And that’s exactly what was happening at yesterday’s event. As Jews, we oppose all forms of displacement and land theft, from Baltimore to Palestine. We say never again for anyone. We come from a Jewish tradition that has for millenia opposed empire, colonization, and nationalism, that values every human life, and is rooted in social justice. Against the backdrop of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli settlers are further expanding into the occupied West Bank and the Israeli military is raiding refugee camps and arresting and killing civilians.”

In a statement, American Muslims for Palestine’s Director of Outreach and Community Organizing TaherHerzallah said:

“Characteristic of how Zionism manifests itself in Palestine, Zionists in the US appear to be perpetuating the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through hosting land grab events at institutions of worship while spewing hate and vitriol at anyone who opposes them. By hosting this event at a synagogue, the organizers seemingly sought to blur the distinction between Zionism and Judaism in order to play the victim card when they face opposition or criticism. The strong presence of our Jewish allies opposed to this troubling event shattered that facade, inciting anti-Palestinian counterprotesters to inflict violence. We cannot allow this blatant support of ethnic cleansing and racism to continue any longer.”

In a statement, Palestinian Assembly for Liberation (PAL) Commission on War Crimes founder LamisDeek added:

“The PAL Law Commission served notice and demand to cease letters on all relevant parties and filed complaints with several government agencies. It’s appalling that the City of Baltimore has allowed such divisive and unlawful events to go on. We were happy to see the intended hosts extricate themselves from further liability, but the role they would have played in perpetuating such potential crimes, including helping recruit Americans to colonize Palestine – during genocide in Palestine – is abhorrent, as was the violent response by the pro-Israeli, pro-settlement protesters yesterday. Palestinians are traumatized, doubly victimized, and betrayed daily:  in Palestine when their property is stolen with U.S. support, in the U.S. by Americans who move into their stolen lands, and by a justice system that fails them on this count and in protecting their right to object to these egregious crimes when they’re assaulted without protection. The government’s inaction won’t stop us from pursuing all avenues for justice available to us, inside and outside the U.S.”

Such real estate events, which appear to exclusively prioritize the sale of land in Israel to Jewish communities in the U.S. and Canada, have led to growing public outcry and concern over the Israeli government’s apartheid policies, illegal land grabbing, and the continued forced displacement of Palestinians.

Advocates of different faiths and backgrounds have expressed mounting concerns that the Jerusalem-based CapitIL Real Estate Agency’s events may encourage, enable or facilitate the sale of illegally occupied Palestinian land. One of the companies involved in the CapitIL event has allegedly been screening guests and clients by asking invasive pre-screening questions about their religious beliefs and cultural practices, raising additional concerns about potential illegal discrimination.

Similar real estate events in other cities have also raised concerns and been strongly condemned.

CAIR-NY Calls for AG Probe into Real Estate Events Across New York State Advertising Sale of Occupied Palestinian Land

The Baltimore vigil was attended by some one hundred demonstrators who called for a free Palestine, condemned the Israeli government’s settler colonial violence, and asserted the right of return for Palestinians barred from their homeland.

Vigil organizers hailed the success of public pressure forcing the real estate agency to have to re-locate its Baltimore event as confirmed by officers on the scene, but the groups are doubling down on calls for a federal probe into this and similar events.

The groups have also written to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates urging they investigate and take appropriate action.

More than 40,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces in the last 172 days, mostly women and children. An additional 420 Palestinians, including 110 children, in the West Bank have been killed by Israel since October 7, 2023.  The targeting of Palestinians has continued despite the UN Security Council passing a ceasefire resolution earlier this week.

CAIR, AMP, and Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore stand in unwavering solidarity with coalition partners for justice and liberation for Palestinians.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.             

AMP works to educate, organize, and mobilize the Muslim-American community, as well as allies in other communities, to advance Palestinian rights.

JVP is the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world, organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all people.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-jvp-baltimore-amp-strongly-condemn-alleged-assaults-islamophobic-slurs-against-peaceful-protesters-objecting-to-israeli-real-estate-event/

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Pakistan

 

MQM Hints At Quitting Coalition Govt If Crime Wave, Killings Not Stopped In Karachi

April 3, 2024

Tahir Siddiqui

KARACHI: Perturbed at an alarming rise in cases of muggings and killings of citizens in the metropolis, a senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan has demanded an operation against street criminals and hints at parting ways with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led coalition government if the killing of innocent people is not stopped.

“The MQM-P will leave any government if people continued to be killed in Karachi during street crime,” said former federal minister and Senator Faisal Subzwari.

Senator Subzwari’s veiled threat came after Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah admitted that the law and order situation in Karachi had worsened during recent months.

Talking to the media on the premises of the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, where he came with MPAs of his party for the Senate election, Senator Subzwari said that over 50 citizens had been killed in street crime in Karachi during the past three months but there was no one to catch the killers.

He said that earlier every targeted killing was blamed on the MQM-P and the institutions would come into action against his party.

He said that demands of an operation would have surfaced, if there had been such a slaughter elsewhere. “However, an operation against street criminals is not being demanded by political parties in Karachi,” he lamented.

Underlining the need of an operation against street crimes, he said that people of the city did not have the same weapons as criminals did. “I don’t know why the operation is not being started in Karachi,” he wondered.

He said that youth of Karachi was being killed after a few thousand rupees.

Senator Subzwari urged the federal interior ministry and the director general of the Rangers to take notice of the alarming surge in the street crime and killing of innocent citizens.

Taking exception to a recent statement of Home Minister Zia Lanjar on street crime situation in the city, the MQM-P leader said that the home minister was making mockery of the situation. “He is home minister, not a joke minister,” he jibed.

He said that it was the job of the home minister to enable police intelligence to curb street crimes in the city.

The MQM-P leader said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had been in power in the province for the past 15 years, but the law and order situation remained alarming during its successive tenures.

He said that people of the city were in a state of confusion as to who would solve their problems.

He said that the agreements with the IMF belonged to the state and not the government. “If the country defaults, the price of bread will reach Rs200,” he apprehended.

When asked about replacement of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Senator Subzwari said that there was no discussion about the change of the governor and it was not even under consideration.

CM admits law and order unsatisfactory

Meanwhile, talking to the media on the premises of the Sindh Assembly a little before casting his vote in the Senate election on Tuesday, CM Shah said that the provincial government was implementing strict measures to improve law and order in the province.

“These measures include addressing street crime in Karachi and kidnapping for ransom in the riverine area,” he added.

He also acknowledged that the law and order during their last tenure was not satisfactory, and it further deteriorated during the caretaker government. He said that the situation was not that bad during his previous tenure as it was in the months of January and February.

“However, the provincial government is committed to improving the situation and is taking steps to achieve this goal,” he added.

To a question, CM Shah stated that during his last term, he implemented effective measures to improve law and order in the province.

He said that street crime in the city was brought under control and police pickets were established along the Indus River embankment to restrict the bandits in the riverine area.

CM Shah further added that his government was taking strict measures to crush street criminals and dacoits and he promised that the situation would improve shortly.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1825311/muttahida-hints-at-quitting-coalition-govt-if-crime-wave-killings-not-stopped-in-karachi

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JUI-F leader, cop shot dead in ‘targeted attacks’ in North Waziristan

April 3, 2024

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: A JUI-F leader and a police sub-inspector lost their lives in two separate incidents of apparent targeted killing in the Miramshah and Mir Ali areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district on Tuesday.

Police and local sources told Dawn that unidentified attackers targeted the JUI-F leader, Noor Islam Nizami, in Miramshah. The suspects managed to escape from the scene after the shooting.

The second incident took place in the Khasu Khel village of Mir Ali, where unidentified motorcyclists killed the sub-inspector, Malik Samiullah Khan Dawar, outside his home minutes before iftar.

Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1825312/jui-f-leader-cop-shot-dead-in-targeted-attacks-in-north-waziristan

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Christian community satisfied with probe into church fire

April 3, 2024

Hamid Asghar

GUJAR KHAN: Representatives of the Christian community visited the Presbyterian church that was gutted in a ‘mysterious’ fire last week, and examined its burnt interior.

Albert David, member of the National Commission for Minority (NCM), under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony; Pastor Adeem Alfanso, Jawaid Masih and other members of the community exchanged their views on the unfortunate incident.

Pastor Alfanso, while talking to Dawn, said: “We would accept all developments and outcomes of the probe. All institutions are subservient to God, according to the teachings of the Holy Bible. We have no doubt that any institution or any person would do us injustice, and there is no doubt in our minds. We are satisfied with the developments. It is our city and our people, and we cannot allow doubts and differences to crop up among the residents who are living in complete harmony.”

The pastor said the church had been functioning since 1930 and no such incident had ever occurred.

NCM member says govt and police authorities are providing security and safety to minorities

When asked whether he was satisfied with the safety measures taken by the police and local administration, Adeem Alfanso said: “Yes, the police are providing protection to our worship gatherings regularly. We are especially thankful to Rescue 1122, who had promptly extinguished fire on the call of the salesman of a pharmacy.”

He said the police’s forensic wing had collected evidence and their expert opinion would be accepted with open hearts.

The community members, including their Pastor, were of the view that the charred building had outlived its strength and a new and well-designed building should be constructed by the government as a gesture of love for the Christian fraternity.

Albert David expressed his resolve to bring the demand into the notice of the higher authorities. He hoped that the building department would prepare a feasibility report after carrying out technical assessment of the structure.

Mr Alfanso said the forensic report would clarify everything, whether the fire had broken out due to short circuiting or there was any nasty attempt. He reiterated that they would accept the report and investigations of the police.

The police investigator, Sub-inspector Malik Karamat, briefed the NCM member about the preliminary investigation and the latter expressed satisfaction over it.

It transpired that the CCTV camera of the building was not working when the fire broke out and its footage was also not available with surrounding buildings as their cameras were not covering the venue. The police investigator said the wooden switchboard was the starting point of the fire as its surrounding and doors and windows had received serious blows.

Mr David said, “We are living in complete harmony like a family and would not allow any foreign enemy to exploit this situation and spoil the interfaith harmony. We have full confidence in our government and police authorities who are providing security and safety to minorities.”
Source: dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1825366/christian-community-satisfied-with-probe-into-church-fire

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Imran claims judge in Nikkah case pressured to pronounce verdict before celebrating son's valima

April 02, 2024

Former prime minister Imran Khan has claimed that a judge who sentenced him and his spouse in un-Islamic nikkah case was "pressured" to pronounce a verdict of the case before celebrating his son's valima.

His remarks came a day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suomotu notice of the IHC judges’ letter to the Supreme Judicial Council seeking to probe the alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs.

Last month, the IHC judges — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Fafat Imtiaz — wrote the letter to the SJC.

Following a meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a one-member commission headed by former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was formed but later Jillani recused himself from heading the probe commission.

During his interaction with journalists in Adiala Jail today, Khan hailed the IHC judges for raising their voice against spy agencies’ alleged interference in judicial affairs and claimed that judges would send him "messages of helplessness".

The former premier said: “I salute the judges for raising their voice and hope they will save the country."

Everyone knew about the "regime change operation," he said while referring to his ouster from power in April 2022 that former PM alleged result of a conspiracy hatched by the US in collusion with his political rivals.

Referring to his convention in multiple cases, the PTI founder said: “Judges used to send him messages that they are helpless.”

Responding to a question, he welcomed the decision of former CJP Jillani for refusing to lead an inquiry into the judges' letter and the formation of a seven-member bench of the SC on the matter.

However, the PTI founder demanded the formation of the full court to hear the matter of the judges' letter. “It is a serious matter and should be heard by full court,” he added.

The seven-member bench, however, is better than the commission, he said.

Backing the IHC judges’ allegations, Khan said that senior civil judge Qudratullah, who had handed seven-year sentences, each, to Khan and his wife Bushra in the "un-Islamic nikah" case in February, had told him that he could not organise valima reception of his son until he announced the verdict.

During the cipher case trial, the PTI founder claimed a judge went out for 10 minutes and handed him 10-year sentence while his statement was being recorded.

“Interference in the judiciary and the investigation of the judges’ letter must start with the [former IHC judge] Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui case.”

Firing a fresh salvo at the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, Khan said that he was the main character in the implementation of the “London plan”.

“The caretaker government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) jointly implemented the London plan.”

To another query, the PTI founder claimed that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would not be able to bring investment in Pakistan no matter what steps they take.

Source: thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1174979-imran-says-judge-in-nikkah-case-pressured-to-pronounce-verdict-before-celebrating-sons-valima

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Pakistan’s Asif says terrorist training camps are based in Afghanistan

April 3, 2024

Khawaja Mohammad Asif, the Minister of Defense of Pakistan, has once again said that terrorism in Pakistan originates from Afghanistan and that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have training camps and shelter in the country.

He said however that Islamabad should have a comprehensive dialogue with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).

However, the IEA has repeatedly denied these allegations and says they will not allow any militant group to pose a threat to another country from Afghanistan.

Source: ariananews.af

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.ariananews.af/pakistans-asif-says-terrorist-training-camps-are-based-in-afghanistan/

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Arab World

 

Children’s hospitality centers at Grand Mosque are a great service for families

April 02, 2024

MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, in partnership with the relevant government agencies, is running two hospitality centers to take care of children while their parents are performing Umrah and offering worship at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The hospitality centers were established next to the Haram Emergency Hospital in the Third Saudi Expansion area inside the Grand Mosque. The centers have the capacity to accommodate approximately 1,500 children per day. It entertains girls between the age of one and 10 years and boys between the age of one and eight years.

The centers are supervised by a specialized team of consultants and specialists. The children are provided with meals. The facilities at the center include a dining hall, a sleeping area, a physical play area, a skill activity area, and an area for watching visual performances. The center hosts educational models of the landmarks of the Two Holy Mosques and the methodology of performing religious rituals.

The center provides its services free of charge to families who come to perform Umrah and worship at the Grand Mosque. The Haram authorities have ensured the highest quality standards and safety at the hospitality center, which works around the clock.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/641750/SAUDI-ARABIA/Childrens-hospitality-centers-at-Grand-Mosque-are-a-great-service-for-families

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Hadiyah Launches Itikaf Program for over 5,000 Worshippers at Prophet's Mosque

03 Apr, 2024

The Hajj and Umrah Charity Association (Hadiyah) branch in Madinah has initiated the Itikaf project at the Prophet's Mosque, welcoming over 5,000 worshippers in collaboration with the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, along with other relevant agencies.

The Director of Hadiyah branch in Madinah, Eng. Ahmad Al-Harbi, stated that the association is committed to delivering high-quality services to visitors of the Prophet's Mosque throughout their stay in Madinah, from their arrival until their departure.

Al-Harbi further explained that worshippers register for Itikaf prayer electronically through the system, and they are issued special bracelets containing their relevant information.

Additionally, worshippers receive a variety of amenities for use during Itikaf, such as eye covers, earplugs, mattresses, pillows, and a designated bag containing these items, ensuring a comfortable experience. Moreover, private bathrooms are available for both men and women, further enhancing the quality of service provided.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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https://alriyadhdaily.com/article/37a6edcc79c74f12aa9b39da60dc67e7

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OIC decries crime of targeting humanitarian workers in Gaza

APRIL 03, 2024

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned in strongest terms the crime of bombing perpetrated by the Israeli occupation on a team of staff operating in international relief organizations in the Gaza Strip, deeming it an extension of a series of the Israeli violations against the international laws and norms and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

Consequently, OIC called on the international community to uphold its responsibility towards compelling Israel- the occupation power- to respect its obligations under the international humanitarian law and the relevant UN resolutions.

The organization reiterated its call for the importance of stopping the Israeli aggression fully and immediately, in addition to protecting the civilians and their objects, including relief staff and ensuring that humanitarian aid is adequately and sustainably delivered to all regions across the Gaza Strip,

Source: gulf-times.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.gulf-times.com/article/680061/international/oic-decries-crime-of-targeting-humanitarian-workers-in-gaza

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Qatar’s faithful throng mosques to offer special night prayers

APRIL 03, 2024

SHAFEEQ ALINGAL

With Ramadan having entered the final ten days, mosques across the country are witnessing the faithful thronging to perform the Qiyam-ul-layl (voluntary night prayer).

“The last ten days of Ramadan is a divine opportunity to achieve the greatest benefit from Ramadan. Also, it’s the opportunity for those who got less engaged in worship during the first two parts to benefit from the holy month.

Attaching yourself to the mosque during the night lends a spiritual elevation,” said Jabir bin Abdulrahman.

Mosques host special night prayers. Named Qiyam-ul-layl, the prayer is considered by the faithful as one of the best acts of worship that bring one closer to Allah. “To stand in front of the almighty with devotion and dedication and listen to the Imam sweetly reciting the Qur’an make your nights worthwhile and filled with fervour,” said Abdul Rasheed.

The last ten days of Ramadan are blessed by Allah with unique virtues. Among such virtues is that Laylat Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) is among them. Many prefer to remain in the mosques to perform I’tikaaf (staying in mosque) and recite the Qur’an while expecting Laylat Al-Qadr. “I opt to stay some hours inside the mosque where I can draw myself close to Allah and gain such immense feeling about him,” Jabir said.

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has allocated 189 mosques in various regions across Qatar for I’tikaaf (staying in the mosque) during the last 10 days of Ramadan. Awqaf published the list of the names of the mosques where worshippers can practice I’tikaaf. Awqaf has published a set of guidelines and urged the worshippers to follow them while going for I’tikaaf.

Meanwhile, scholars have urged the worshippers to make use of the last ten days of Ramadan and engage in good deeds.

Ali Mohyi al-Din al-Qaradaghi, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), while talking to Qatar TV, urged the believers to increase good deeds and charity. “Islam recommends Muslims to pay Zakat al-Fitr during the last ten days of Ramadan to ensure that Zakat is paid properly,” he said.

Source: gulf-times.com

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Saudi Arabia to bear costs of displaced persons who relocate to Kingdom

April 03, 2024

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday agreed that the state will bear the costs of relocation and change of status for displaced persons from neighboring countries who are granted permission to live in the Kingdom.

Authorities will pay fees relating to residency, work permits, changes of employment and employer, service transfer fees, profession amendment fees, and the costs to private sector businesses of employing the expatriate for a period of four years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Kingdom will also cover all fees previously incurred and any fines for violations of residency regulations by individuals and those accompanying them.

The decision was taken during the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah.

At the start of the session, the crown prince praised King Salman and the efforts of state agencies to provide services to the people of the country during Ramadan.

He then briefed the ministers on a message he received from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about ways in which relations between the countries might be supported and enhanced in various fields.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said the Cabinet discussed ways to improve cooperation and coordination between the Kingdom and other countries to ensure alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The ministers hailed the launch of the GCC’s Vision for Regional Security, which aims to maintain stability in the region and ensure the prosperity of member nations.

Council members said the selection of the Kingdom to chair the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in the UN in 2025 was testament to the country’s commitment to international cooperation on gender issues.

On the local front, the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the 31st annual meeting of the governors of Saudi Arabia’s regions, and stressed the desire to enhance development across the Kingdom.

Al-Dossary said the ministers noted the success of the government in providing education and jobs for the nation’s young people. This has helped reduce unemployment to 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the lowest in the country’s history.

Cabinet members also praised state agencies for completing a project to support and protect 56 buildings at risk of collapse within the Jeddah Historic District.

The Cabinet also approved agreements with several countries.

The ministers approved a memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the foreign affairs ministries of the Kingdom and the Dominican Republic.

They further approved two memorandums of understanding with the Ministry of Justice in the Kingdom and its counterparts in North Macedonia and the Comoros.

They also authorized the minister of investment to sign a draft memorandum of understanding with San Marino.

The Cabinet ministers further authorized the minister of economy and planning to sign a draft economic cooperation agreement with Serbia.

They approved a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi government and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for cooperation in public policy.

Another memorandum of understanding was approved between the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority in the Kingdom and the Iraqi Authority for the Control of Radioactive Sources.

Two agreements with the governments of Barbados and Mali in the field of air transport services were also approved, along with a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi General Authority for Statistics and Bahrain’s Information and e-Government Authority.

The Cabinet further authorized a draft memorandum of understanding between the Presidency of State Security and Pakistan’s Military Intelligence Service on combating terrorism financing.

In addition, the Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Saline Water Conversion Corporation and the Korea Maritime and Ocean University in South Korea.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2487131/saudi-arabia

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Crown prince receives Spanish prime minister in Jeddah

April 02, 2024

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez at the Al-Salam Royal Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the reception, Prince Mohammed and Sanchez discussed relations between their two countries as well as regional and international developments.

Discussions focused on events in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings and the international efforts made to stop Israel’s military operation in the enclave and ensuring its abides by international and humanitarian law.

They spoke about ways to deal with the security and humanitarian repercussions of the Israeli offensive and how to advance the peace process in accordance with recent resolutions of the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

The crown prince and Sanchez disuccsed the need to implement the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution to the crisis and establishing an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with its capital as East Jerusalem.

Several Saudi ministers also attended the meeting, including foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki.

Spanish officials who attended the reception included secretary of state for the Secretariat of Economic Affairs and the G20 Manuel de la Rocha Pazquez, the secretary-general of the General Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of the Prime Minister Emma AparrethePazquez de Braga and Spain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jorge Ibia Serra.

Source: arabnews.com

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KSrelief and World Food Programme sign $5m agreement to deliver food aid to Gaza

April 02, 2024

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a $5 million agreement with the World Food Programme to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The assistance provided by the initiative, in the form of ready-to-eat meals, is expected to benefit 377,855 displaced Palestinians, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The deal was signed by Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, an adviser at the Saudi Royal Court and supervisor general of KSrelief, and the WFP’s executive director, Cindy McCain.

Following the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, authorities in Saudi Arabia launched a fundraising campaign through the national Sahem platform to help support Palestinians.

The Kingdom has organized 44 flights that delivered more than 800 tonnes of aid, including medical supplies, food and materials for shelters, as well as six relief ships packed with almost 5,000 tonnes of similar relief supplies. In addition, it has provided 20 fully-equipped ambulances.

KSrelief has signed five agreements, worth a total of $80 million, with international organizations to help and support Palestinians in Gaza.

Source: arabnews.com

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South Asia

 

Three New Radios Inaugurated in Herat Province, Islamic Emirate Emphasizes Media Compliance with Laws

 2024-04-02

HERAT (BNA) On Monday the province of Herat witnessed the official inauguration of three new radio stations named Hurrit, Omid, and Shariat.

During the ceremony, MawlaviHayatullahMuhajer emphasized the positive role of media and acknowledged the impact of media on the improvement of good governance within the Islamic Emirate. He reiterated that the Islamic Emirate supports media outlets whose publications comply with the laws of the Islamic Emirate and serve national interests.

Mawlavi Ahmadullah Muttaqi, the head of information and culture in Herat, emphasized the significance of healthy media in expressing truths and disseminating information within society.

Engineer Mohammad Nabi Qazizada, representative of Radio Shariat, expressed his aim to inform listeners through various programs. The three radios—Hurrit, Omid, and Shariat—will operate 24 hours a day, with their main broadcasts targeting the central part of the country.

These new radio stations commence their activities amid the presence of 28 other audio and visual media outlets currently active in Herat province.

The expansion of media channels in the province reflects the growing importance of providing diverse sources of information and entertainment to the local population.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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Afghan Migrants Complain of Mistreatment by Iranian Police

 2024-04-03

Some Afghan migrants deported from Iran complain about what they perceive as mistreatment by the police of that country.

According to them, the Iranian police, after arresting and beating Afghan migrants, forcibly deport them back to their country.

Noorullah and his friends, who have recently been deported from Iran, say that despite being forcibly returned to their country by Iran numerous times, economic challenges and unemployment compelled him to return to that country again.

Noorullah, deported from Iran, said: "I went back to work, to finish my jobs and settle my accounts. They arrested me and took me to a camp. They took us there, seized our passports, and said you will be released tomorrow. They did not release us the next day and detained us for twenty days. In those twenty days, there was neither water nor bread."

Eimal, another deportee from Iran, said: "They came at night, tied up about ten to twelve of us, and took us to a camp, and we were in the camp for four to five nights. It's very miserable in Iran, going there is a problem, coming back another."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations said that in the past day, three thousand Afghan migrants have been returned to the country from the Islam Qala and Nimroz borders.

Abdul MatinHaqani, the spokesperson for this ministry, said that deputy prime minister for administrative affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi has assured the Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriations of addressing the challenges faced by migrants.

Haqani said: "With the arrival of spring and after Eid, many families may voluntarily and in groups return to the country. Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi also assured that all these challenges have been shared with the leadership authority, and the cabinet members are also striving to facilitate these processes."

Previously, Iranian media reported, quoting the Director-General of Foreign Nationals of Kermanshah, Iran, that according to a plan, all illegal migrants will be deported from this country.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188130

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Kabul Rejects Afghan Involvement in Attack on Chinese Nationals in Pakistan

April 02, 2024

The Islamic Emirate rejected the claim made by Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) alleging Afghanistan's involvement in the recent attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Denying this claim, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, reiterated that Afghan soil will not be used against any country.

“Ensuring security in Pakistan is the responsibility of the Pakistani security forces. They have made significant expenditure in this sector, and when they fail, they must justify it to the people and levy these accusations to change the public's mindset,” said Zabihullah Mujahid.

Previously, the Counter-Terrorism Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had claimed Afghanistan's involvement in the recent attack on Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to some Pakistani media reports citing the CTD, the vehicle carrying explosives for this deadly attack was prepared in Afghanistan and then transferred from the Chaman crossing to Balochistan, Pakistan, and thereafter to the Dera Ismail Khan area in the Drazinda region.

The department also stated that four individuals had been arrested in connection with this event.

“The investigation has revealed that the explosive-laden vehicle used in the deadly attack was prepared in Afghanistan and was subsequently transported to Dera Ismail Khan's Darazinda via the Pak-Afghan Chaman border crossing in Balochistan,” the report reads.

Political analysts said that the Pakistani government is incapable of securing the country and thus points fingers at Afghanistan.

'Pakistan might have said this for domestic consumption, but the important thing is whether the Chinese accept this narrative or not? The Chinese have currently halted their work in this region,” Tariq Farhadi, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

A suicide bomber targeted a vehicle carrying Chinese engineers in the Shangla area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, resulted in the death of five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver last week.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188121

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180 Myanmar troops to return home, 170 Bangladeshis to be brought back: Hasan

Apr 3, 2024

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said yesterday that measures were being taken to bring home 170 Bangladeshis trapped in Myanmar and send back 180 members of Border Guard Police (BGP) and army personnel of Myanmar who took refuge in Bangladesh.

He said this while exchanging views with journalists at the foreign ministry in the afternoon.

Hasan said a total of 177 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) and later three of their army personnel took shelter in Bangladesh.

"Myanmar government agreed to take them back after discussions with us.

"They proposed the sea route [for sending them back]. We wanted to send them back this week but as the sea is not favorable, they will be sent next week or as soon as the sea becomes calm," he said.

"Besides, we proposed bringing back 170 Bangladeshis detained in Myanmar. They [Myanmar] responded positively to our proposal," he said.

About the international response to the Joint Response Plan (JRP) meeting held in Geneva on March 13 to deal with the Rohingya crisis, the foreign minister said the foreign secretary and the prime minister's principal secretary attended the JRP meeting in Switzerland.

"The response to our proposed funding and cooperation is better than last year," he said.

Responding to a query over BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi's allegation of corruption against Awami League and comments that the country has become full of beggars, Hasan said the FBI of the US has given testimony against the corruption and "money-laundering" of the BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Laundered money of Arafat Rahman Koko, Tarique's younger brother and second son of Begum Khaleda Zia, has been recovered from Singapore, he mentioned.

Earlier, UK Liberal Democrat Party's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (Lords Spokesperson) Lord Jeremy Purvis called on the foreign minister at the ministry.

About the meeting, the minister said he extended thanks to Lord Jeremy for UK's continued cooperation in the development process of Bangladesh and in dealing with the Rohingya crisis and various areas of mutual interest.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Court accepts charges against Prof Yunus in graft case

Apr 2, 2024

A Dhaka court today accepted the charges pressed against Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and 13 others in a case filed over misappropriation of about Tk 25.22 crore of Grameen Telecom Workers' Profit Participation Fund.

Judge Mohammed Ash-shams Joglul Hossain of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka passed the order, an official of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) told The Daily Star.

The court also set May 2 for next hearing in the case.

On February 1, Investigation Officer Gulshan Anwar Prodhan, a deputy director of the ACC, placed the charge sheet before the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka.

The 13 other accused are Grameen Telecom Managing Director Nazmul Islam, Directors Ashraful Hassan, Naznin Sultana, Parvin Mahmud, M Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum, and SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee, Sramik-Karmachari Union President Kamruzzaman, General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan and representative Mainul Islam, Jatiya Workers Federation Office Secretary Kamrul Hasan, and lawyers Zafrul Hasan Sharif and Yusuf Ali.

On May 30 last year, Gulshan Anwar filed the case with the ACC's integrated district office in Dhaka.

The ACC approved the charge sheet on January 29.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Africa

 

Several Islam worshippers killed, wounded in drone attack in N. Sudan

APRIL 03 2024

XINHUA

A number of people were killed and wounded on Tuesday in a drone attack on a gathering of an Islamist brigade in Atbara city in northern Sudan's Nahr al-Neel State, said the state's security committee.

"A group of worshipers were attacked by a drone while performing sunset prayer after the iftar meal," the committee said in a statement.

The attack left several people dead and wounded, said the statement, adding the wounded had been transferred for treatment.

Meanwhile, local media reported that a drone attack targeted the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade during an iftar meal after the sunset prayer.

According to eyewitnesses, the attack left seven people dead and about 17 others injured, while no official information on the number of casualties has been issued yet.

No party has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.

The al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade has been fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (Saf) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman city, northwest of the capital Khartoum.

Sudan has been engulfed in violent clashes between the Saf and the RSF since April 15, 2023. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled) Project has recorded approximately 13,900 fatalities since the onset of hostilities.

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/rest-of-africa/several-killed-wounded-in-drone-attack-in-n-sudan-4577048

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Uganda Constitutional Court declines to block anti-gay law but sees rights infringed

APRIL 03 2024

Uganda's constitutional court on Wednesday declined to nullify or suspend an Anti-Homosexuality law that prescribes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts but found it inconsistent with certain fundamental rights.

Activists say the law has unleashed a torrent of abuse against LGBT people by both private individuals and state agents.

"We decline to nullify the anti-homosexuality act 2023 in its entirety, neither will we grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement," said Richard Buteera, lead judge, reading the judgment on behalf of his colleagues.

The court did find, however, that some sections of the law violated the right to health, and that it was "inconsistent with right to health, privacy and freedom of religion".

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/uganda-top-court-declines-to-block-anti-lgbtq-law-4577192

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Chief Imam Resignation: Accused Persons Exonerate Self from Controversy

ShojobiAbisola

 Apr 2, 2024

Recently, the chief imam of walaJumuat mosque and the oldest mosque in Kebbi, Ahmad Ibrahim Bashar Wala resigned his position alleging being short changed over N500,000 from the Kebbi State government.

The imam then accused the people who brought the money of demanding fifty thousand which he sought to find out but was instead insulted.

To put the record straight, one Bello Dankulu said that, they have not met with the imam when they went to deliver the money but gave the money to his deputy Nataalah in the presence of some mosque committee who took the money from us and signed against the name of the mosque acknowledging receipt of the money.

He added that, his anger was because the usual thing was not done of sending him money direct to his account without the knowledge of his deputy and other committee members and eats the money alone ” we know why he is not happy and levelling all the allegations, because its no longer business as usual where he takes all the money alone leaving his lieutenants high and dry”.

We have evidence of the money sent directly to his account which he has not inform or share with his deputies and mosque committee members and let him come out clean that he received money directly from us not his deputy malamNataalah.

He advised him to stop mixing religion with politics nobody cares which party he belongs to, he should go to same social media and tell them how he has been receiving the monies, what he has been doing with them and why did he resigned.

Source: independent.ng

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https://independent.ng/chief-imam-resignation-accused-persons-exonerate-self-from-controversy/

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Oyo Muslim Community Distributes Palliatives Donated by Three Senators

Apr 2, 2024

ShojobiAbisola

The Muslim Community in Oyo state took a significant step on Monday as they distributed palliatives generously donated by the three Senators in the state to Muslims in all 33 local government areas.

The distribution took place at the Bodija Central Mosque in Ibadan, where representatives from each LGA received the items for onward distribution to Muslims in their respective councils.

The palliatives, which included bags of rice, semovita, and other essential items, were contributed by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), Senator SharafadeenAlli (Oyo South), and Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central).

Speaking on behalf of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, AlhajiKunleSanni, expressed gratitude for the donation, emphasising that the items would greatly assist beneficiaries in fasting with ease during the holy month.

He highlighted the economic challenges faced by many individuals even before Ramadan, underscoring the importance of providing support and relief to those in need.

Sanni urged the responsible parties involved in the distribution to carry out their duties diligently, ensuring that the palliatives reach the intended recipients without bias or discrimination.

Additionally, he commended the three Senators for their continuous support and generousity towards the Muslim community, acknowledging their efforts in making a positive impact during Ramadan.

Source: independent.ng

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Religious crisis averted in Gombe as extremists pelt stones on ECWA youths during procession

 Jerry Wright-Ukwu

April 3, 2024

A skirmish was timely averted by the Gombe Police Command on Easter eve as youths in a mosque pelted the brigade squad with stones and other objects, destroying their drums and inflicting injuries on others.

No fewer than 300 members from different ECWA churches who were in a procession to celebrate Easter with the Boys Brigade squad comprising parishioners from Nazareth NayiNawa, Pantami, Bagadaza and Macedonia were allegedly attacked by the suspected hoodlums and miscreants who attacked the very peaceful and orderly procession.

Narrating his ordeal, an eyewitness who identified himself as Ephraim decried the action of the angry youths who pelted them with stones.

He disclosed that they were attacked around a mosque in Jekadafari, notorious for extremism and crime.

“We went out for Easter rally at night, but when we reached Jekadafari in the night near the Jaurawa mosque, they didn’t talk or say anything to us, they just started throwing stones at us and because there were only a few people that are in front that was why they attacked us.

“The ones I saw injured were just two, and I don’t know whether others got injured too,” Ephraim told Punch.

However, reacting to the incident, Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, confirmed that a woman was injured during an alleged disagreement between Evangelical Church Winning All Boys Brigade members in procession.

Usman said:

“I received a phone call roughly around 2 am this morning. It was a good samaritan who called to tell me that something was about to happen in the Jekadafari area here between Christians and Muslims.

“The Muslims pray at night during Ramadan from 12:30 am to 4am in a congregational prayer. As they were praying, the boy’s brigade wanted to also pass towards the direction of the mosque that they were praying, and the hisbah people asked them not to pass through there because prayer was ongoing, especially when they were beating their drums.”

Usman noted that while some members in the procession had to divert their direction but, the rest insisted on following the route.

“Some changed direction, and few among them insisted that they must pass through that same direction. and the misunderstanding attracted some few among the Muslims, and they started throwing stones at the Christians who insisted on passing in their direction. we are lucky that we have patrol vans around that area, which include Hattara, and immediately, they were able to control the matter and escorted them,” he added.
Source: politicsnigeria.com

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Sheikh Al-Garyani's Fatwa: Break Gaza borders to aid brethren

02/04/2024

SAFAALHARATHY

Libya's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Al-Sadiq Al-Garyani, has issued a fatwa demanding the people of the neighbouring countries of Gaza to break into the borders of the besieged Strip and help their brothers.

"It is the duty of every single person to defend their brothers, to defend the physical wellbeing of their brothers, to defend Muslims, to defend the sanctity of Muslims, to defend their brothers' mothers and women," the Mufti said during his weekly program on the Tanasuh TV channel on Wednesday.

Sheikh Al-Sadiq called on people to gather around these crossings, collectively and individually, and to storm the blockaded enclave in support of its people.

He emphasized that it is not permissible to remain idle while their brothers suffer in this way at the hands of their enemies.

In his fatwa, the Mufti underscored that the security men at the crossing points around Gaza and the West Bank are forbidden to stand guard and prevent people from crossing the border.

"Anyone working in the police or security forces in Jordan and Egypt, it's forbidden for him to stand guard to protect the Zionists."

The Sheikh considered those guarding the borders with Gaza as being part of the Zionist forces and participating in the killing of their Muslim brothers, reaffirming that it is forbidden for them to perform this service or engage in such actions, even if ordered by their state.

Source: libyaobserver.ly

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Mideast

 

Netanyahu admits ‘unintentional’ Israel strike killed Gaza aid workers

April 02, 2024

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that its armed forces “unintentionally” killed seven aid workers in an air strike in Gaza.

“Unfortunately, in the last day there was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip,” he said as he left hospital in Jerusalem after a hernia operation.

“It happens in war, we will investigate it right to the end... We are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again.”

The seven victims worked for the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK), which has been delivering food aid to war-torn Gaza by sea from Cyprus.

It paused its Gaza operations after what it called the “targeted Israeli strike” on Monday. It said those killed were “from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the US and Canada, and Palestine.”

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari earlier said that he had talked to WCK founder celebrity chef Jose Andres to express their “deepest condolences.”

He said the probe would be carried out by the Israeli military’s Fact Finding and Assessment Mechanism, and “we will share our findings transparently.”

Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, HerziHalevi, will “personally review the findings of the initial inquiry tonight,” an army spokesman said.

UN agencies have warned repeatedly that northern Gaza is on the verge of famine, calling the situation a man-made crisis.

The bloodiest-ever Gaza war erupted with the October 7 attack, which resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign, aimed at destroying Hamas, has killed at least 32,916 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2486861/middle-east

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UN chief calls aid worker deaths in Gaza ‘unconscionable’

April 03, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, United States: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called the deaths of seven aid workers in an Israeli air strike in Gaza “unconscionable” and said it highlighted the need for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Seven staff from food aid charity World Central Kitchen, a group founded and run by Spanish-American celebrity chef Jose Andres, were killed in the besieged Palestinian territory on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that his country’s military has “unintentionally” targeted the group’s convoy. Among the dead were Australian, British, Palestinian, Polish and US-Canadian employees.

The incident brings “the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196 — including more than 175 members of our own UN staff,” Guterres said in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

“This is unconscionable — but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted,” he said.

“It demonstrates yet again the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza — as the Security Council demanded in its resolution.”

Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire — thanks to an abstention from the United States, Israel’s closest ally. The measure sparked ire from Netanyahu’s government.

“The resolution must be implemented without delay,” Guterres said.

Earlier, Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the deaths had highlighted a “disregard for international humanitarian law and a disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2487186/middle-east

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World Bank: Israel’s war causes $18.5bn in damage to Gaza’s infrastructure

03 April 2024

A joint report by the World Bank and the United Nations shows that Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza has caused damages of around $18.5 billion to the coastal territory’s critical infrastructure.

The report published on Tuesday said the structural damage caused by the Israeli carpet bombing of Gaza has affected every sector of the Palestinian territory’s economy.

The damages are equivalent to 97 percent of the combined GDP of the occupied West Bank and Gaza in 2022.

It has found out that more than half of the territory's population is on the brink of famine.

The report also said over 70 percent of the Palestinians in Gaza has been displaced due to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and bombing.

The report, produced with the United Nations and the European Union, found structural damage affected "every sector of the economy," with more than 70 percent of the estimated costs due to the destruction of housing.

"For several sectors, the rate of damage appears to be leveling off as few assets remain intact," the Bank said.

An estimated 84 percent of Gaza's health facilities have been damaged or destroyed.  Three quarters of the population have been displaced by the war. One million people are without homes.

The report found that Gaza's water and sanitation system had "nearly collapsed," and was delivering less than 5 percent of its pre-war output.

The report covers only the first four months of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and embodies some aspects of the besieged strip's humanitarian crisis as well.

The report called for "an increase in humanitarian assistance, food aid and food production; the provision of shelter and rapid, cost-effective, and scalable housing solutions for displaced people; and the resumption of essential services."

Nearly 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its one-sided war on the territory in early October.

A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza, with unimaginable and unnecessary suffering.

Nearly all the 1.1 million children in Gaza are at imminent risk of famine. Families are struggling to find enough food and water, with children already dying because of malnutrition and disease.

Almost every child who has managed to survive the past four months of war is now in the line of fire in Rafah.

The majority of the displaced population – more than 1.3 million people – are trapped in an area of just 62 square kilometers.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/03/722968/World-Bank--Israel%E2%80%99s-war-causes--18-5bn-damage-Gaza%E2%80%99s-infrastructure

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Save the Children: Israel keeps blocking food for famine-stricken Gaza

 02 April 2024

The Save the Children charity organization says Israel is restricting the flow of much-needed humanitarian relief as the population of the besieged Gaza Strip faces the threat of famine.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the charity warned that malnourished children in Gaza were not getting the food and medical care they need to survive with food being blocked at every turn and the health system obliterated.

“Life-saving supplies which could be used to treat malnourished children are being delayed and denied entry by the Government of Israel,” the statement read.

“Essential food and medical items are obstructed from entering Gaza for days, weeks, or even months. Others are being denied entry altogether by the Israeli authorities, with reports of oxygen cylinders, ventilators and water purifiers being turned away at the border.”

Country Director Xavier Joubert also censured Israel for using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians.

“Starvation must never be used as a weapon of war – 27 children have already been killed by starvation and disease. If the world fails to act now countless more children will be added to that number.”

Gaza's 346,000 children under the age of five are at the greatest risk of malnutrition as the already catastrophic situation rapidly deteriorates across the besieged Palestinian territory.

In the north, it is estimated that one in three children under the age of two is now suffering from wasting, the most severe form of malnutrition, compared to one in six children in January.

A senior US State Department official said on Friday that famine was quite possibly present in parts of the northern Gaza Strip,

Humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza, with unimaginable and unnecessary suffering.

Nearly all the 1.1 million children in Gaza are at imminent risk of famine. Families are struggling to find enough food and water, with children already dying because of malnutrition and disease.

Almost every child who has managed to survive the past four months of war is now in the line of fire in Rafah.

The majority of the displaced population – more than 1.3 million people – are trapped in an area of just 62 square kilometers.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/02/722940/save-children-gaza

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45,000 Palestinians perform Isha, Tarawih prayers in al-Aqsa

[03/April/2024]

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS April 03. 2024 (Saba) - Around 45,000 Palestinian worshipers performed Isha and Tarawih prayers in the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque despite the restrictions imposed by the Zionist enemy authorities.

The Palestinian Information Center quoted the Islamic Endowments Department in al-Quds as saying “About 45,000 Palestinians performed the two prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the occupation’s measures.”

Enemy forces deployed at the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Old City, and searched a number of Palestinians as they arrived to pray.

On the first day of the month of Ramadan, the Zionist enemy forces placed barbed wire on the fence adjacent to the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque, in “Bab Al-Asbat” area, aiming to preventing worshipers from entering al-Aqsa Mosque.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3318172.htm

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Israel’s destruction of Shifa hospital rips heart out of Gaza health system: WHO

02 April 2024

Israel’s total destruction of al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip, has ripped the heart out of the healthcare system in the besieged Palestinian territory, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

Israeli forces imposed a siege and started a raid on the hospital on March 18.

On Monday, the regime confirmed the withdrawal of its forces from the complex, which, according to officials and eyewitnesses, is left in an "indescribable" situation.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said on Tuesday that al-Shifa is “no longer able to function in any shape or form as a hospital.”

“Destroying al-Shifa means ripping the heart out of the health system,” Harris said.

“It was the place people go to for the kind of care that a really good health system provides, that we in all our societies expect to have should we be in need.”

Israel’s military claimed its troops had killed Hamas fighters and seized weaponry and intelligence documents in the hospital.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has repeatedly denied the claims, saying those who were killed in the raid on the hospital were patients, medical workers and displaced civilians.

Palestinian officials have said the raid on the hospital that was treating severely wounded patients is “a war crime and is part of the war of genocide conducted by the Israeli occupation.” Al-Shifa has also sheltered thousands of Palestinians who fled Israel’s hostilities in northern parts of the territory.

Hundreds of people returned to the hospital and the surrounding area after the regime’s forces withdrawal early on Monday.

One of those who returned, Mohammed Mahdi, described a scene of “total destruction.”

He said several buildings had been burned down and that he had counted six bodies in the area, including two in the hospital courtyard.

According to residents, Israel’s bulldozers had ploughed over a makeshift cemetery inside the hospital compound, where there were patients, medical workers and displaced people still sheltering.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/02/722938/Gaza-Shifa-Hospital-WHO

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Around 200 aid workers killed by Israel since October: UN

APR 02, 2024

Israel killed at least 196 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza since October, according to the United Nations.

Describing the besieged Palestinian territory as "one of the world's most dangerous and difficult places to work" as a humanitarian aid worker, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference reaffirmed that all attacks against healthcare workers and militarization of hospitals are "unacceptable."

He stressed that hospitals need to be protected for civilians to receive the life-saving aid they may need.

Reiterating the U.N.'s urgent call for an immediate cease-fire, Dujarric said U.N. Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, met with workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Gaza one day before they were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Noting that Kaag is "appalled" by the attack, Dujarric conveyed her condolences to the families of those killed.

Asked about U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' message on the killing of the aid workers, Dujarric said, "The message is let humanitarian workers do their job. They need to be able to do it and safety."

Dujarric noted that Israel launched an investigation into Israel's attack on WCK aid convoy and the U.N. is awaiting the results.

He also added that numerous U.N. personnel had been killed in the region, with some killed in locations previously communicated to Israeli authorities.

Dujarric described Israel's lack of comment on the deaths as a "very interesting contrast."

Expressing sorrow for all civilian deaths, Dujarric emphasized the need to respect all individuals.

Earlier Tuesday, World Central Kitchen said seven of its humanitarian aid workers were killed in Monday's Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

The seven workers for the U.S.-based group who were killed on Monday were nationals of Australia, Poland, the U.K., and Palestine, as well as a U.S.-Canadian dual citizen.

After the "targeted attack," the group said it was pausing operations in the region.

In addition to killing 33,000 people since Oct. 7, the Israel offensive and siege of the Strip has been blamed for near-famine conditions among more than 2 million Palestinians, and for attacks killing aid workers and civilians seeking humanitarian aid.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/around-200-aid-workers-killed-by-israel-since-october-un

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Perpetrators, supporters of terrorist Israeli attack on Iran's consulate 'will be punished': Raeisi

03 April 2024

President Ebrahim Raeisi has vowed punishment for those responsible for the Israeli regime’s terrorist attack against the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital.

Raeisi made the remarks during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a day after Israeli airstrikes destroyed the consular annex of Iran's embassy in Damascus and killed 13 people, including seven members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

He offered condolences to the Iranian nation over the killing of the IRGC advisors.

“The perpetrators and supporters of this huge crime will be punished by warriors of Islam, and they will pay for their shameful act,” the Iranian president added.

Israel’s deadly attack proves that the criminal Zionist regime is not committed to international regulations and treaties, as well as humanitarian and moral principles, he noted.

In an earlier statement, Raeisi said Israel has resorted to indiscriminate assassinations after back-to-back failures in the face of the resistance, warning that the regime’s latest crime in Syria “will not go unanswered.”

On Monday afternoon, Israeli warplanes bombed the Iranian consulate, situated next to the embassy building in Damascus’s Mezzeh district.

The air raid killed two senior Iranian military personnel who were on an advisory mission to Syria as well as five of their accompanying officers.

Iranian officials have emphasized the country’s right to deliver a firm response to the Israeli crime that violated all international obligations and conventions.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/03/722980/Iran-Raeisi-Israel-attack-Syria

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