New
Age Islam News Bureau
31
January 2021
Some concerns about anti-Semitic themes remain in Saudi Arabia's books
(Representational)
-----
• Saudi
Textbooks Slowly Scrubbed Much Of Anti-Semitic, Misogynistic Passages, Such
As that of Sodomy And Adulations Of Jihadi Martyrdom
• 'Muslims
Are Not Safe In India', Claims Former Vice President Hamid Ansari
• Osama
Bin Laden Used To Support, Fund Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan’s Former Ambassador To
The US
• One Of
The Earliest Mosques Unearthed In Israel Indicates Muslims, Jews, And
Christians Lived In Harmony
• Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina: Refrain From Unnecessary Criticism
• Family
And Friends Had No Clue Of 16-Year-Old Singaporean's Violent Plans To Attack
Mosques, Kill Worshippers
• Bishop
in Spain: Christians in Iran live a peaceful & happy life
• Muslim
Brotherhood Infiltrates U.S. Congress In The Name Of The Egyptian Revolution
‘Look
Africa’ policy yields $5m orders from Sudan
-------
Arab World
• Saudi
Textbooks Slowly Scrubbed Much Of Anti-Semitic, Misogynistic Passages, Such
As that of Sodomy And Adulations Of Jihadi Martyrdom
• Saudi
leadership in Islamic finance set to continue into 2021: expert
• Saudi
Arabia announces death of Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
• Saudi
Arabia’s Jabal Al-Lawz blanketed in snow
--------
India
• 'Muslims
Are Not Safe In India', Claims Former Vice President Hamid Ansari
• Areas
Dominated By Miya Muslim Will Not Vote For BJP In Assembly Polls: Assam Finance
Minister
• MP High
Court Issues Notice to State Govt on Petition against Love Jihad Law
• 'Love
Jihad' Ordinance Is Symbolic of Social Fabric Being Aggressively Changed:
Justice A.P. Shah
• A crude
bomb detonates near Israeli embassy: India
--------
Pakistan
• Osama
Bin Laden Used To Support, Fund Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan’s Former Ambassador To
The US
• Ragheb
Naeemi calls for simplifying mosques’ registration
• PPP to
reject bill on open ballot in Senate polls: leader
• Nadra
cancels 240 promotions on minister’s direction
• Federal
govt to join review proceedings in Pearl case
---------
Mideast
• One Of
The Earliest Mosques Unearthed In Israel Indicates Muslims, Jews, And
Christians Lived In Harmony
• Turkish
Students Depict Sacred Islamic Site Alongside Rainbows. They’re Detained And
Dubbed ‘Deviants’ By Ministers
• Israel
And Sunni States Must Work Together As Biden Brings Change
• Turkey’s
Erdogan Posts Photo Of Armenian Church In Kars As Mosque
• Imam
Khamenei to receive eulogists on Hazrat Zahra birth anniversary
• Israeli
occupation authority continues to impose restrictions at Ibrahimi Mosque
• The
Turkey-Pakistan entente: Muslim middle powers align in Eurasia
--------
South
Asia
• Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina: Refrain From Unnecessary Criticism
• Middle
Eastern ISIS group moves to Afghanistan: SCO
• Rohingya
Relocation: Life getting better in Bhasan Char
• 14
Afghan security forces killed in Nangarhar blast
• EU in
Afghanistan called for an ‘end to violence’
• Taliban
should fulfill previous obligations: Waheed Omar
• NDS
busts deputy shadow governor for Kabul, Taliban deny the allegations
• ANP nabs,
kills two Taliban assassins in Kabul
---------
Southeast
Asia
• Family And
Friends Had No Clue Of 16-Year-Old Singaporean's Violent Plans To Attack
Mosques, Kill Worshippers
• Activists:
Ismail Sabri ‘endorsing’ condo managements’ Covid-19 test for foreign residents
will encourage discrimination
• Azmin,
in response to voters suit, claims Anwar’s ‘immoral sexual practice’ among
reasons he quit PKR
----------
Europe
• Bishop
in Spain: Christians in Iran live a peaceful & happy life
• Muslim
boy, 4, was referred to Prevent over game of Fortnite
• Man
fighting for life after 'targeted stabbing' at Sheffield mosque
• Volunteers
at mosque battle snow to hand out 2,000 meals to vulnerable
--------
North
America
• Muslim
Brotherhood Infiltrates U.S. Congress In The Name Of The Egyptian Revolution
• Canada:
Course on Ahl-ul-Bayt teachings planned for children in Edmonton
• Manitobans
mourn victims of 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting in virtual vigil
• Canada:
Course on Ahl-ul-Bayt teachings planned for children in Edmonton
• Trump
parts ways with impeachment lawyers
---------
Africa
• ‘Look
Africa’ policy yields $5m orders from Sudan
• Iran
opens innovation, technology centre in Kenya, first in Africa
• Sultan,
Miyetti Allah meet to address herdsmen challenges
• DHQ
bungled opportunity to end Boko Haram war — Retired Col Stan-Labo
• Army
thwart Boko Haram attack on Borno community
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/saudi-textbooks-slowly-scrubbed-anti/d/124189
------
Saudi
Textbooks Slowly Scrubbed Much Of Anti-Semitic, Misogynistic Passages, Such
As that of Sodomy And Adulations Of Jihadi Martyrdom
By
Taboola
January
31, 2021
Some concerns about anti-Semitic themes remain in Saudi Arabia's books
(Representational)
-----
Beirut:
Saudi Arabia has been sharply criticized over the decades for school textbooks
that preach women's subservience to men, anti-Semitism and a general enmity
toward religions other than Islam. But those textbooks have been slowly
scrubbed of much of this objectionable content, with particularly significant
revisions made in the fall.
Gone is a
section on sodomy that was supportive of capital punishment for homosexual
relations. Gone are most adulations of jihadi martyrdom. Anti-Semitic
references and calls to "fight Jews" are now far fewer.
The
Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education
(IMPACT-se), an Israel-based group that monitors school curriculums, welcomed
the changes. The group's chief executive, Marcus Sheff, called them "quite
astonishing."
But some
concerns about anti-Semitic themes remain. One textbook still includes a story
about a Jewish boy who is saved from hell by being converted to Islam.
Another
passage refers to a religious text that describes God changing a group of Jews
into "real monkeys." A review by IMPACT-se in December said the Saudi
textbook ruled out "other, gentler interpretations" of this episode
that treat the passage metaphorically.
"Some
of the most demonizing passages about Christians, about Jews and about Shiite
Muslims have in some places been removed or toned down," said David
Weinberg, Washington director for international affairs at the Anti-Defamation
League. Particularly of note, said Weinberg, is that the books no longer
endorse the death penalty for men having sex with men and for apostasy, sorcery
and adultery.
But Saudi
Arabia and Israel have yet to establish diplomatic ties, and the textbooks
continue to reflect the decades-old animosity as well as the kingdom's
traditional support for the Palestinian cause. "There's still a very heavy
focus on enmity with Israel and Zionism - which sometimes involved
anti-Semitism," Weinberg said, adding that maps in textbooks do not
include Israel. "Old hatreds die hard." Although the Saudi government
has recently been softening its tone, he said anti-Israel passages in the
textbooks will probably be the last to be removed.
Saudi
textbooks have long inveighed against anything that diverts from the hardline
Sunni Muslim beliefs that govern the kingdom. Non-Muslims - and in particular,
Jews, who are singled out - are considered infidels and have been the
most-targeted groups. The practices of Shiites, who follow another branch of
Islam and are a minority in Saudi Arabia, have also been heavily criticized.
The
Koran, Islam's holy book, is written in complex, archaic Arabic, leaving
adherents to depend on interpretations and rulings by religious experts.
Conservative sheikhs tend to issue harsher edicts, while liberal sheikhs issue
more tolerant or lenient ones.
The
textbook editions introduced in 2019 had already made strides, removing lessons
that alleged Jewish plans for world domination.
Instead,
themes of female empowerment, especially in education and employment, were
introduced. One seventh-grade textbook cartoon featured a smiling woman saying,
"I think adding material on economics in the course is a positive
thing," and a scowling man responding: "What is this opinion? Who
even are you to express such an opinion!!!" Underneath, in red, is printed
a question - "What is noteworthy in Ahmad's answer?" - to encourage
students to critique his response.
But
schoolbooks in 2019 still emphasized women's subservience to men and continued
to demonize Jews, followers of other religions and gays, and continued to
emphasize men's dominion over women.
IMPACT-se
completed a report on the Saudi curriculum in early 2020 and it was transmitted
to the Saudi royal court and the Ministry of Education, according to
representatives of the monitoring group.
Sheff
said Saudi Arabia then demonstrated a clear institutional effort to make the
content more moderate. The revised curriculum introduced in the fall still
labels non-Muslims as infidels and continues to criticize Shiite practices. But
IMPACT-se's review in December found there had been notable progress.
Saudi
Arabia has been going through a period of dramatic change, ushered in by Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While his ascent to power has brought worsening
human rights abuses, he has also sought to modernize the kingdom with a certain
amount of cultural liberalization and ambitious economic initiatives.
Educational reform has been part of that.
The U.S.
government has long turned a critical eye toward the Saudi curriculum,
especially after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in which Saudi nationals played
a prominent role. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that the curriculum
contains what Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, chairman at the time of the House
subcommittee on terrorism, non-proliferation and trade, said was "the very
ideology that is at the root of many terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaida."
His panel held a 2017 hearing focused on the Saudi curriculum and educational
content, which he said was "full of anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories,
and calls to violence that have incited students both at home and across the
world."
Weinberg
of the ADL testified at that hearing. Three and a half years later, he said he
is amazed by the transformation. "Finally, after years of unremarkable
changes, they've finally excised some of the hate and incitement in very real
ways," he said. "I sure hope they don't treat the current outcome as
sufficient, though, because it's simply not."
A State
Department official praised the revisions, saying, "We are encouraged by
the positive changes in influential textbooks used throughout Saudi
Arabia." The emailed statement added: "In addition to supporting
textbooks free of intolerance and violence, the Department is supporting the
development of a pilot teacher training program for Saudi teachers."
He said
textbooks have outsize influence in the Middle East, where students see the
curriculum as communicating messages formulated by the state and delivered by
government employees in the form of teachers.
"And
so there is a true understanding of the direct link between textbooks' power to
radicalize young people, and it works the other way around: Textbooks have this
power to act as a barrier to radicalization, even if young people are getting
messages from social media or a crazy uncle at the dinner table," Sheff
said.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/saudi-arabia-is-scrubbing-its-textbooks-of-anti-semitic-misogynistic-passages-2360632
-----
'Muslims
Are Not Safe In India', Claims Former Vice President Hamid Ansari
Tanweer
Azam
Jan 31,
2021
Former Vice
President Hamid Ansari
-----
Former
Vice President Hamid Ansari has finally reacted to his statement that
'minorities are feeling insecure in India'. Ansari has spoken at length about
secularism, safety of Muslims in India and other topics in an exclusive
interview with Zee Media.
During
the interview, Ansari said that secularism has “almost disappeared” from
government’s official vocabulary. He added that most of his views on secularism
emanates from Bombai Judgement, which was delivered by Supreme Court.
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-zee-exclusive-muslims-are-not-safe-in-india-claims-former-vice-president-hamid-ansari-2871974
----------
Osama Bin
Laden Used To Support, Fund Nawaz Sharif: Pakistan’s Former Ambassador To The
US
Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States
Abida Hussain
-----
Staff
Report
JANUARY
31, 2021
Pakistan’s
former ambassador to the United States Abida Hussain Saturday revealed that
Osama bin Laden had supported and funded former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Yes, he
(Osama Bin Laden) supported Mian Nawaz Sharif at one time. However, that is a
complicated story. He (Osama) used to extend financial assistance (to Nawaz
Sharif,” she said in an interview with a private television channel. Abida,
also a former cabinet member of Nawaz Sharif’s government, recalled that at one
time, Osama Bin Laden was popular and liked by everyone including the Americans
but later, he was treated as a ‘stranger’.
She said
she was appointed as an ambassador during the first premiership of Nawaz
Sharif, after she lost the election. She said during her stint as envoy to the
US, most of her communication used to be with the then president Ghulam Ishaq
Khan. “Khan had tasked me to keep the Americans engaged in talks till Pakistan
completes its nuclear program in 18 months,” she said, adding that the US
administration, including the diplomats, senators and congressmen, used to advise
Pakistan against the execution of nuclear program.
To a
question, she said though she used to be spied in the US, she had no such
suspicious activities which could be used against her by the intelligence
agencies. Asked about the mode of communication between her and President Ishaq
Khan in the absence of modern tools, she said during the 18 months, she visited
Pakistan for five times to brief the president. “However, I used to avoid using
phone knowing that it could be tapped,” she added.
As the
nuclear program was under the purview of the president, she said, most of her
conversation used to be with him, not the prime minister. This is also because
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan did not trust anyone, she added.
Asked
whether being prime minister, Nawaz Sharif did not feel bad over being bypassed
in communication with the president, she said, “He never expressed it.”
Abida
Hussain said though Pakistan had started its nuclear program in 1983 during
Ziaul Haq’s regime, it was completed in 1992. She also revealed that she was
made ambassador on the president’s recommendation.
According
to Abida Hussain, she would receive directions about foreign policy directly
from President Ishaq Khan. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not aware about the
nuclear program of Pakistan during my stint as US ambassador,” she said. “I
would give briefings only to the president and had never met Nawaz Sharif over
the issue of nuclear program,” she added.
It may be
noted that it has been reported many times that former prime minister Nawaz
Sharif had received funds from Bin Laden for a no-confidence motion against
Prime Minister Benazir Bhuttto in 1989. Earlier, Osama’s confidante Khalid
Khawaja and former president had also confirmed such reports. Former president
Asif Zardari had also alleged the same. However, this is the first time that
someone who has been part of Nawaz Sharif’s close circles at that time has
confirmed the relationship of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with Osama bin
Laden.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/718986/osama-bin-laden-used-to-support-fund-nawaz-sharif-abida-hussain/
----------
One Of
The Earliest Mosques Unearthed In Israel Indicates Muslims, Jews, And
Christians Lived In Harmony
Mia
Jankowicz
Jan 30,
202
The
remains of an ancient mosque have been unearthed in Israel in a find that
archaeologists say indicates historically harmonious relations between Muslims,
Christians, Jews and Samaritans.
The
mosque foundations date back to a generation after the life of the Prophet
Mohammed, putting them among some of the oldest ever found, the Associated
Press (AP) reported.
Dr Katia
Cytryn-Silverman, a specialist with the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew
University, oversees the dig site in the city of Tiberias, just south of the
Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias, Kinneret, or Kinnereth.
Scholars
previously thought the area centered around an old marketplace, according to
Haaretz. But investigation further, Cytryn-Silverman's team found it to be the
remains of an 8th-century mosque - and then, below that, an even older one
dating back to the 7th century, the newspaper reported.
Researchers
figured out the time in which the mosque was in use by examining detritus like
coins and pottery fragments on-site, the newspaper reported.
Mohammed
died in 632 AD, putting him within a generation's reach of the site's earliest
remains. Other, similarly-aged ancient mosques - such as the Prophet's Mosque
in Medina or the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem - are in present-day use and
cannot be excavated for archeological study.
One of
the earliest mosques has been unearthed beside the Sea of Galilee and indicates
Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived in harmony
The
Tiberias mosque was built during a time when the Islamic empire was spreading
across the Levant and Mesopotamia - roughly akin to what is today referred to
as the Middle East.
The
development phases of the ruins suggest that - contrary to what some scholars
previously thought - the Muslim rulers of the area had not been in a hurry to
stamp their authority over the other religious groups at the time,
Cytryn-Silverman told the AP. The older structure was smaller and "more
humble," Cytryn-Silverman told the AP, before being replaced by a grander
mosque around 50 years later.
"You
see that the beginning of the Islamic rule here respected very much the
population that was the main population of the city: Christians, Jews,
Samaritans," Cytryn-Silverman told the AP.
"They
were not in a hurry to make their presence expressed into buildings," she
added. "They were not destroying others' houses of prayers, but they were
actually fitting themselves into the societies that they now were the leaders
of."
She also
told Haaretz: "This was an area that was multireligious and a very moving
symbol of regional coexistence."
https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/one-of-the-earliest-mosques-has-been-unearthed-beside-the-sea-of-galilee-and-indicates-muslims-jews-and-christians-lived-in-harmony/articleshow/80604942.cms
--------
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina: Refrain From Unnecessary Criticism
January
31, 2021
Unb,
Dhaka
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked people to refrain from unnecessary
criticism of the results of the HSC and its equivalents.
She said
futile discussions would only mount pressure on the students who were already
under huge mental pressure due to the closure of educational institutions for a
long time.
"The
negative comments regarding the results will put psychological pressure on the
students. I request those making such comments to refrain from doing it,"
she said while announcing the results of last year's HSC and its equivalents.
The
results were officially announced at the International Mother Language
Institute in the capital's Segunbagicha. The PM joined the event through
videoconferencing from the Gono Bhaban.
Since no
exam took place last year amid the pandemic, the results were prepared based on
the candidates' results in the Junior School Certificate (JSC), Secondary
School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams. The results were published after
coordinating 75 percent marks from the SSC and 25 percent marks from the
JSC-JDC results.
Hasina
said many people are saying many things. "But I think it would be better
not to make unnecessary comments or create bitterness."
"Already,
they are not being able to go to schools, colleges, and universities. This has
created a big obstacle to their lives. In this situation, any negative comment
regarding their results and its system will put mental pressure on them,"
the premier said.
About not
holding the HSC and equivalent exams last year, she said the government was
compelled to look at the health safety of the students, teachers and other
employees and make this decision.
"Many
people are making sentimental comments, but who will take the responsibility if
anyone gets infected while doing this job [holding and attending exams]?"
the PM questioned.
Talking
about reopening of educational institutions, Hasina said if everybody follows
the health safety guidelines properly, then the pandemic situation will come
under control and the government will be able to reopen educational
institutions very soon. "The government will observe the situation in
February as it spread massively in the country in March last year."
"If
a good situation prevails in February, then we will take steps to reopen
educational institutions on a limited scale…we have a plan like that."
The
Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations were
postponed in October last year due to the pandemic situation.
The HSC
batch of 2020 is the first batch of students who are getting certificates
without taking the exams as it is the first time in Bangladesh's history that a
public examination has been cancelled.
The prime
minister said it was a tough job to publish the results without holding any examination.
She thanked the education ministry and all concerned for doing that job
properly.
"We
never want that a precious year gets wasted from the lives of students. Let
their academic life continue… we want that. Hope, all will be happy with their
results and continue their studies," Hasina said.
Regarding
the Covid-19 vaccine, the premier said the government has already procured
vaccine doses and the vaccination programme has started in the country.
She said
the government has asked the authorities concerned to ensure quick vaccination
of teachers and the other people concerned.
https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/refrain-unnecessary-criticism-2036581
-------
Family
and friends had no clue of 16-year-old Singaporean's violent plans to attack
mosques, kill worshippers
ByNG WEI
KAI
JANUARY
31, 2021
SINGAPORE
- The 16-year-old student who planned to attack Muslims here had spent time
online researching hate material and sourcing weapons.
But his
school friends and family had no clue of his online activities and anti-Muslim
beliefs, the Internal Security Department said in a briefing last Wednesday
(Jan 27).
His
source of inspiration was Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, who
killed 51 people in Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019 with weapons including
several rifles.
The
teenager in Singapore had picked the second anniversary of the shootings in New
Zealand — March 15 — to attack Muslims at two mosques here. He also tried, but
failed, to buy a rifle online.
And like
Tarrant, who was sentenced to life in jail without parole last August, the
teenager had planned to leave behind a manifesto.
Dr Adrian
Wang, a psychiatrist who runs his own practice at Gleneagles Medical Centre,
said: "The differentiating factor is the fact that this boy is 16 - teenagers
are impressionable and if they are socially isolated or lack self-confidence
and don't have close ties, he or she may be more easily influenced by online
propaganda."
"It
(the online community) becomes an echo chamber where they are not receiving any
guidance from authority figures," added Dr Wang.
Dr
Natalie Pang, a senior lecturer in the communications and new media department
at the National University of Singapore, listed others, such as strong beliefs
and anger towards certain topics or groups.
"These
are warning signs that should be taken seriously and the first step is to have
someone that the child or youth trusts to talk to them," she added.
But it
may not be so easy if the individuals are socially withdrawn or if they have no
strong peer group, said Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National
Institute of Education.
"People
or educators would then tend to think they are behaving normally, nobody will
notice anything out of the ordinary and there are no warning signs," he
added.
Given these
difficulties, mental health professionals said it is important to build trust
between youth and their caretakers, so extreme views can be expressed and dealt
with instead of being left to fester on their own.
Dr Wang
said: "The Asian approach is always to instruct and to demand respect...
but you have to take an interest in their interests and not dismiss them."
Incontact
Counselling and Training psychotherapist and counsellor Aarti Mundae said there
is also a need to aid the process of empathy for children towards one another,
and minimise any kind of exclusion in academic institutions.
Ms Tan
Siew Hua, a retired teacher who taught English and history in secondary schools
for more than 30 years, said schools must be willing to conduct conversations
on difficult topics.
"Schools
must be open and not hush things up. We have a culture of suppressing
information, being afraid of tarnishing the school's reputation, instead of
having open conversations," she added.
The
Sunday Times spoke to some experts, who gave a few signs that concerned parents
can look out for.
1. Strong
beliefs or anger towards certain topics or groups.
2.
Spending long hours online while remaining secretive and unwilling to talk
about their use of the Internet.
3.
Obsessiveness about certain topics that the youth bring up repeatedly in school
or at home.
4.
Increased isolation from family and friends.
5. Open
expressions of desire to commit violent acts.
Parents
and educators should also be aware that violent or extreme thoughts may not be
expressed verbally but through drawings or writing.
1. Remain
calm: Experts stress that reacting with anger or additional control - such as
restricting devices or Internet access - may push the youth away from parents
and increase their sense of isolation.
2. Engage
rather than dismiss: Do not dismiss their thoughts or ideas but try to
understand them and provide alternative points of view.
3. Seek
professional help: If parents feel out of their depth, they should get help
from mental health professionals.
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/family-and-friends-had-no-clue-16-year-old-singaporeans-violent-plans-attack-mosques-kill
--------
Bishop in
Spain: Christians in Iran live a peaceful & happy life
Source :
ICRO
January
30, 2021
The
Bishop and High Representative of the Syrian Surani Orthodox Church in Spain,
in a meeting with Iranian Cultural Attaché, in reference to the life of
Christians community in Iran, said Christians in Iran experience a peaceful and
tranquil life.
The
cultural envoy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Spain, Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi
met with Nicholas Matti Abdel-Ahad, Bishop and representative of the Syrian
Surani Orthodox Church in Spain.
The top
Iranian cultural official in Madrid said the Syrian people are our brothers and
wherever they are, we see them very close to us adding that we are interested
to do cultural work together in Spain.
Ahmadi
continued by saying that Islam and Christianity are the religions of peace and
they try to look at the world from a good and beautiful perspective. In another
part of his speech, while pointing to the atmosphere of pessimism and fear
created by the United States against Iran in the region, Ahmadi noted that the
reason for this is the interests that the United States is pursuing in our
region. If we had not stood up to the United States, Washington would not have
launched such negative propaganda.
Nicholas
Matti for his part said we Christians have lived alongside Islam for centuries
adding the misleading of the people in the West has created the wrong idea in
this country that Islam is the enemy of Christianity and its opponent, and it
is violent towards Christians. This idea is wrong. We have never had such a
problem in Syria. Everyone has the right to worship God in any way he wishes.
Referring
to Iran he said I have been studying Iran for many years and I know that
Christians in Iran are enjoying peace and tranquility in Islamic Republic of
Iran.
https://en.abna24.com/news//bishop-in-spain-christians-in-iran-live-a-peaceful-happy-life_1110417.html
--------
Muslim
Brotherhood infiltrates U.S. Congress in the name of the Egyptian Revolution
January
30, 2021
BY: Dalia
Ziada
Since its
establishment, in Egypt, almost a century ago, the Muslim Brotherhood group
relied on playing the victim and fabricating delusional grievances, in order to
recruit new members, mobilize local and international supporters, and use as a
justification for waging violent jihad against state institutions and
officials, and also against civilians, who reject the misleading rhetoric of
the group.
Recently,
the Muslim Brotherhood decided to use the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 as their
own grievance, with the purpose to influence policymakers in the United States,
under the new Biden Administration.
Muslim
Brotherhood members living in the U.S., such as Mohamed Soltan, has already
started talking in the name of the Egyptian revolution and the Egyptian people
to public media and members of Congress. This time, the Muslim Brotherhood is
playing their grand deception game on the new Biden Administration; not through
introducing themselves as a political opposition party suppressed by the
Egyptian regime, but through claiming the role of a civil society group
concerned with improving human rights in Egypt.
Unfortunately,
the prevailing media rhetoric in Egypt, over the past few years, which insists
on claiming that Egypt’s 2011 revolution was nothing but a foreign conspiracy,
and the constant denial of the heroic role of the Egyptian liberal democratic
youth in toppling Mubarak’s dictatorship, gave the opportunity, today, to the
members of the Muslim Brotherhood to use the name of the revolution, which they
did not even participate in creating, to legitimize their Islamist agenda in
the west and beautify their ugly truth.
To
perfect their deception game, last week, Mohamed Soltan tweeted that his
recently established organization “Freedom Initiative” cooperated with two
Democrat members of Congress, Don Beyer and Tom Malinowski, on forming “Egypt
Human Rights Caucus” in Congress to mark the 10th anniversary of the Egyptian
Revolution. Among the other human rights organizations involved with the new
Caucus: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and POMED; all of which are,
allegedly, funded by Qatar and hires employees directly and indirectly
affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The names
of the two Congressmen forming the Caucus and the history of the human rights
organizations they are cooperating with for this purpose, raises a lot of doubt
around the real intentions of this Caucus. The Caucus looks more like a
Congressional advocacy group defending the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood
inside the American Congress against the interests of the Egyptian state, more
than it is a group sincerely interested in advancing human rights in Egypt.
When he
was working for the Bureau of Democracy, Labor, and Human Rights at the U.S.
State Department, Malinowski advocated for Soltan’s release from prison in
Egypt, in 2015, wherein he was accused of inciting violence, along with other
Muslim Brotherhood members, including his father Salah Soltan who is a famous
leading figure at the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood.
After Malinowski quit diplomacy to become a member of Congress, he helped
Soltan and his group organize congressional hearings and other events at
Capitol Hill to attack the Egyptian state, and indirectly promoting the Muslim
Brotherhood rhetoric about Egypt, under the umbrella of defending human rights.
There are
published reports claiming that Malinowski received money from Qatar, through
Al-Jazeera and its affiliated offices, to play this suspicious role in
supporting the Muslim Brotherhood group at American policymaking bureaus,
especially after 2017, when some Congress members were publicly condemned for
meeting with members of the Muslim Brotherhood at Capitol Hill. Yet, let us
assume, in good faith, that all these reports are wrong and that Malinowski
provides this continued support to Soltan and his group only because he
believes in human rights, and because he believes that Soltan is really a human
rights activist and not a member of the Muslim Brotherhood as Soltan claims
about himself.
Nevertheless,
there are some difficult questions that one can hardly find a logical
persuasive answer, in this regard:
(1)Why
would an American Democrat Congressman, and a former diplomat, like Tom
Malinowski, work at the service of a Muslim Brotherhood member like Mohamed
Soltan and his affiliates?
(2)why
does Malinowski advocate for human rights in Egypt, through Soltan and his
affiliates only, despite the fact that Soltan has zero experience working for
human rights in Egypt or elsewhere before being arrested in Egypt in 2013?
(3)Why
would Malinowski, the American democrat support members of an Islamist
organization that is threatening the national security of his own country,
according to what is legally proven by FBI investigations and court decisions
which found that the Muslim Brotherhood’s ultimate goal in the U.S. is to
“sabotage America from within” to replace the democratic system of governance
with an Islamist regime?
Until we
get clear answers to these questions, the sincerity of the activities of
Congressman Malinowski in support of the Muslim Brotherhood activist Mohamed
Soltan, shall remain a matter of doubt and suspicion.
https://thelevantnews.com/en/2021/01/muslim-brotherhood-infiltrates-u-s-congress-in-the-name-of-the-egyptian-revolution/
--------
‘Look
Africa’ policy yields $5m orders from Sudan
Staff
Reporter
January
31, 2021
An
official announcement by the Ministry of Commerce said that the orders are the
outcome of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) International
Trade Fair at Khartoum which was held from Jan 21 to 28, 2021. This
participation has opened up new avenues for trade and economic cooperation
between Pakistan and Sudan. The event generated business of around $2 million,
the announcement said. Agriculture machinery, pharmaceutical, glass Industry,
and fruit industry received big orders.
Moreover,
deals worth $3m are under process and will very soon be matured between the
Pakistani exporters and Sudanese buyers. New exporters from PVC, corona-related
personal protection equipment (PPEs) and beauty products also received a very
encouraging response.
The ‘Look
Africa Plan’ was launched in 2017. Under the policy, top 10 African countries
including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Senegal
Tanzania, and Ethiopia were selected for trade promotions. All these countries
constitute 78pc of the total African gross domestic product (GDP), according to
the IMF in 2017-18.
The
announcement said figures for export orders from Sudan were discussed in a
consultative meeting — chaired by Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood — at the TDAP
in Karachi.
Being the
marketing arm of the commerce ministry, the role of TDAP in implementation of
the Look Africa Policy was crucial, Mr Dawood said.
He was of
the view that Africa has immense potential for engineering and pharmaceutical
products. Although the numbers are small, the products and direction are right,
he said.
Mr Dawood
advised the TDAP to strive even harder to promote local exports in new
geographies like Africa so that the geographic basket of markets for Pakistan
is diversified.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604604
---------
Arab World
Saudi
leadership in Islamic finance set to continue into 2021: expert
CHRISTOPHER
HAMILL-STEWART
January
30, 2021
LONDON:
Saudi leadership in the Islamic finance economy looks set to continue into
2021, according to a senior industry expert, who explained that the end of the
GCC rift and growing emphasis on green finance both boost the Kingdom’s
credentials.
“The
region, and specifically I would say Saudi Arabia, is leading the Islamic
finance market globally,” Fitch Ratings’ Global Head of Islamic Finance Bashar
Al-Natoor told Arab News.
Across
the five key sectors of Islamic finance — Islamic banks, Sukuk, Takaful, fund
management and Sharia-compliant corporate sectors — Saudi Arabia was
historically known only to lead in countries where there was dual Islamic and
conventional financing.
The
Kingdom has started to lead the Sukuk market: “The Kingdom has previously
carried out the largest ever Sukuk offering internationally — we expect this
trend to continue.”
Saudi
Arabia is also chasing the top spot in the fund management sector, where,
alongside Malaysia, it has the most fund managers dedicated to Islamic finance.
Across
Sukuk, fund management, Takaful, and the wider Islamic finance world, Al-Natoor
said “you find that Saudi Arabia is leading.”
The
normalization of ties between the GCC bloc and Qatar, Al-Natoor explained, not
only increased investors’ confidence in the region and eliminated a political
risk, but also provided a material boost to the Sukuk market.
“With the
end of the GCC-Qatar rift, we expect Qatari sovereign entities to slowly
re-enter the wider Sukuk market,” Al-Natoor said.
He said
the relatively shallow investor pool for Sukuks, compared with traditional
bonds, means that, for Qatari entities, the importance of accessing the Saudi
Arabian and Emirati markets are even more significant.
In
addition to the favorable political conditions that have cemented Saudi
leadership in Islamic finance, their experience in sustainable, green finance
will also be instrumental in the future.
Saudi
Arabia, Al-Natoor said, issued its first ever green Sukuk last year when the
Saudi Electric Company issued over $1.3 billion in Shariah-compliant bonds to
assist in the company’s green transition.
Green
financing, whether conventional or Islamic, is still at an early stage of
adoption globally, Al-Natoor explained, but green Sukuks represent a smart way
for issuers to attract more investors.
“Because
issuers are trying to widen their investment bases, we have seen the mix of
green and Islamic coming to the forefront. Whether in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or
multilateral organizations like the Islamic Development Bank, we expect this
trend to continue.”
Fitch
Ratings released their Global Sukuk Outlook Dashboard earlier this month. Their
report warned that some Sukuk issuers in the Middle East had taken a hit to
their credit ratings due to the pandemic’s economic conditions and the drop in
oil prices.
The
report said: “In 2021, we expect global sukuk supply to accelerate, as issuers
seek to refinance maturing debt, fund large budget needs, and as GCC investment
restrictions ease following the normalisation of relations between Qatar and
its neighbors.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1800876/business-economy
-------
Saudi
Arabia announces death of Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
ARAB NEWS
January
31, 2021
DUBAI:
Saudi Arabia has announced the death of Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz
Al-Saud, state news agency SPA reported.
The Royal
Court said funeral prayers will be held on Sunday in the Kingdom’s capital,
Riyadh.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1801216/saudi-arabia
-------
Saudi
Arabia’s Jabal Al-Lawz blanketed in snow
ARAB NEWS
January
31, 2021
JEDDAH:
Residents of the Kingdom are enjoying a rare snowy escape this Saudi Winter
Season.
One of
the season’s destinations is Jabal Al-Lawz, Almond Mountain, which takes its
name from the large number of almond trees growing on its slopes. Located in
the northwest of the Kingdom and rising to more than 2,600 meters above sea
level, Jabal Al-Lawz is blanketed in snow every winter and this year, the Saudi
Tourism Authority (STA) has chosen the area as one of its 17 destinations.
The
snowfall on the granite terrain of Jabal Al-Lawz makes the mountain a perfect
winter destination, especially for adventure lovers. For those who haven’t
experienced snow before, this winter season is a great opportunity to head up
north.
The Saudi
Tourism Authority (STA) has provided a wide variety of touristic activities
within the Saudi Winter Season, for citizens, residents and visitors of GCC
countries, to create long-lasting memories and unforgettable family
experiences.
The
mountain offers fun activities such as skiing, snow boarding and tubing — and
who can resist a snowball fight? The areas are also great for camping on the
snow-covered soft sands.
The
gentle snow-covered tracks and starlit sky is nature’s way of inviting
residents of Tabuk and visitors from across the Kingdom to enjoy the magic of
the Saudi winter season.
The Saudi
Tourism Authority (STA) has provided a wide variety of touristic activities
within the Saudi Winter Season, for citizens, residents and visitors of GCC
countries, to create long-lasting memories and unforgettable family
experiences.
During
the season, which will run until the end of March, visitors will be able to
choose from more than 300 experiences and packages by more than 200 tour
operators and tourism companies, to discover the Kingdom’s geographical and
climate diversity.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1801116/saudi-arabia
--------
India
Areas
Dominated By Miya Muslim Will Not Vote For BJP In Assembly Polls: Assam Finance
Minister
By Bikash
Singh
Jan 30,
2021
Guwahati:
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the areas dominated by Miya
muslim will not vote for BJP in assembly polls of this year.
Assam is
likely to go to assembly polls in April this year.
Talking
to mediapersons on Saturday Sarma said, “In areas where there is large number
of Miya muslim BJP will not get votes. We will put up candidates for there are
people who do not identify themselves with this culture and they will get
option to vote for BJP and Asom Ga ..
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/areas-dominated-by-miya-muslim-will-not-vote-for-bjp-in-assembly-polls-himanta-biswa-sarma/articleshow/80605232.cms
---------
MP High
Court Issues Notice to State Govt on Petition against Love Jihad Law
NEWS18
MINIS
30, 2021
The
Madhya Pradesh advocate-general's office said on Friday that the high court has
issued a notice to the state government while hearing a petition against the
anti-religious conversion law.
The court
was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Amratansh Nema, a
student from Bhopal, Hindustan Times reported. The PIL said that that
provisions of the ordinance are a "grave violation of constitutional
provisions and a blatant attack on the religious autonomy of individuals”.
Purushaindra
Kaurav, the state advocate general sought time for instructions and for filing
a counter-affidavit on behalf of the government. The bench comprising chief
justice Mohammad Rafiq and judge Vijay Kumar Shukla gave the government eight
weeks to submit its reply.
The
Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020, provides for ten years in
jail in some cases. It has several provisions that are similar to the ordinance
issued by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh against fraudulent conversions.
Any marriage solemnized in violation of this law will also be considered null
and void.
There is
a provision of three to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 in
cases of marriage carried out by hiding religion. In cases involving religious
conversion of members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minors, a
provision has been made for imprisonment of two to 10 years and Rs 50,000 fine.
The parents, legal guardian or custodian and brothers and sisters of the
converted person can lodge a complaint in this regard.
Those
willing to convert will need to apply to the district administration 60 days in
advance. The victim women will be entitled to get maintenance under the law.
The children born out of such marriages would be entitled to inherit the
fathers properties.
https://www.news18.com/news/india/mp-high-court-issues-notice-to-state-govt-on-petition-against-love-jihad-law-3367157.html
---------
'Love
Jihad' Ordinance Is Symbolic of Social Fabric Being Aggressively Changed:
Justice A.P. Shah
A.P. Shah
31-01-2021
Through
the preamble of the constitution of India, the citizens of India are assured
that four things will be secured for them: first, justice, which is social,
economic and political justice; second, liberty of thought, expression, belief,
faith and worship; third, equality of status and of opportunity; and fourth,
fraternity, where the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of
the nation are protected.
This last
promise, that is, of “fraternity”, with its roots in the Latin for “brother” or
“brotherhood”, points to a desire for a
harmonic coexistence of people of all kinds. But when the idea of fraternity
becomes fragile and on the verge of disintegration, the existence of democracy
itself is threatened.
Unfortunately,
this idea of fraternity is what is especially being tested the most in India
today. We are watching this attack on this most fundamental of democratic
principles play out in our backyard, through the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of
Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020.
This
ordinance has been promulgated to combat the perceived threat of “love jihad”,
a term commonly used by the Hindutva political leadership to describe
interfaith relationships and marriages. The ordinance makes it a criminal
offence for a person to convert another by coercion, misrepresentation, fraud,
and so on.
There is
nothing objectionable in that in itself. But it grossly violates the freedom of
conscience and the fundamental right to practise religion guaranteed under
Article 25 and also strikes at the right to life and liberty guaranteed under
Article 21.
Furthermore,
and perhaps more troublingly, this ordinance operates on the presumption of,
and even reinforces, the notion of exclusion. It presumes that some categories
of the Indian population must be excluded and “othered”, and through this,
reinforces the idea of communalism as a desirable end in itself.
To worsen
matters still, it thrives on and perpetuates the emotion of fear: certain
people are effectively being told, through such ordinances, laws and policies,
that transgression will invite criminal sanction and accompanying ostracism.
How does
it do this? It does in the way the law is structured, with its broad sweep, and
turning many accepted principles of criminal law on their head.
Ordinarily,
in any criminal case, the burden of proof is on the prosecution. Under this
ordinance, however, every religious conversion is presumed to be illegal. The
burden of proof (presumption of guilt) now lies on the person accused of
illegal conversion to prove that it is not illegal. The offence is cognisable
and non-bailable, so the police can arrest the accused without a warrant.
The
ordinance requires that a person intending to convert to another religion will
have to approach the district magistrate who would conduct an inquiry on the
conversion.
If the
conversion is for an “allurement”, or an “inducement” then it is illegal. The
term “allurement” is defined very broadly. The ordinance spans the sacred and
the profane. A gift, gratification, easy money or material benefit, the promise
of a better lifestyle, the illusory wrath of divine displeasure or otherwise –
any or all of these can amount to an allurement.
Interestingly,
reconversion is not illegal even if it is caused by fraud or force. So, if a
person is converted voluntarily, then he might be arrested, but if he’s forced
to reconvert, then there is no criminal offence.
Sentencing
is most problematic. One to five years’ imprisonment is the ordinary term, and
if the victim is a minor, a woman or a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe,
the term is up to ten years. If a woman is a professor, and converts to another
religion, the accused is liable to be sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
Finally,
an aggrieved person can lodge a complaint against anyone, including parents and
siblings. A lot of people can be brought under this net. This law is capable of
great public mischief.
I find it
difficult to believe that such a law could be passed by the government in a
country that is governed by rule of law and the Constitution.
Anti-conversion
laws are not new. Such laws are already in force in eight Indian states,
namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. However, these laws do not
pertain to interfaith marriages.
A version
of anti-conversion laws in interfaith marriages was floated over a century ago
in a 1909 book by U.N. Mukherjee. The Hindu Mahasabha tried to gather support
around the idea that Muslim men are waging “jihad” in India through love
marriages. This “love jihad” is a deliberate campaign which claims that Muslim
men use love, seduction and trickery to convert Hindu (and Christian) women to
Islam.
Khap
panchayats also follow a similar philosophy. The objective is essentially to
subjugate women. A Khap leader even went so far as to infamously say that “only
whores choose their partners”.
In
reality, this is all wrong. There were NIA (National Investigation Agency)
inquiries carried out in cases in Karnataka and Kerala, for instance, in
Hadiya’s case, all allegations of “love jihad” – that Muslim men are waging
jihad through such marriages – has been proven to be wrong.
Actually,
interfaith marriages are still a rarity. Over 90% of marriages in India are
still arranged marriages or approved by families, and involve persons of the
same faith or religion. Very few marriages are inter-caste (I believe less than
5%), and an even smaller number (around 2-3%) are interfaith.
Further,
according to reported 2011 census data, 79.80% of the population of India is
Hindu, 14.23% Muslim, 2.30% Christian, 1.72% Sikh, 0.70% Buddhist, and 0.37%
Jain. So, in practical terms, this ordinance is aimed at the smallest
percentage. This brings us back to full circle to the concept of exclusion and
fear that such laws are attempting to prop up.
In truth,
this ordinance runs contrary to the spirit of interfaith and inter-caste
harmony that has been advocated for decades in India. Ambedkar was a big votary
of this and recorded it emphatically in his Annihilation of Caste. Indeed,
Ambedkar is also credited with demanding that the word “fraternity” be included
in the Preamble to our constitution, which ties in closely with notions of
interfaith and inter-caste harmony.
I have
personally experienced it when a Muslim college friend decided to marry a Hindu
girl from an influential family, which made all efforts to thwart the
relationship, including bringing the police in. The matter eventually reached
the Bombay high court, where Justice G.N. Vaidya quashed all kidnapping and
other charges, and in a very emotional moment, delivered the judgement, giving
them his blessings.
Indeed,
my own marriage is interfaith, as is among one of my children. Such
relationships should be celebrated. Instead, we are criminalising them.
The next
obvious question to ask is, with the executive and the legislature having
failed us on this front, what can the third arm of government, that is, the
judiciary, do?
The
ordinance has already taken its toll. There are large scale arrests of people.
Every day one reads stories of separated couples. It is clear that the
ordinance must be struck down immediately, and certainly not permitted to be
enacted into statute. At least three other BJP-ruled states are contemplating
the adoption of similar laws. We need to stop this utter destruction of
freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. This can only be done by the
judiciary.
As ever,
high courts in India have held their own and have delivered stellar judgements
that reinforce the principle that individual autonomy is all that matters in
interfaith marriages.
In a
recent case, even a division bench of the Allahabad high court in Uttar Pradesh
held that “marriage is a matter of choice, and every adult woman has the
fundamental right to choose her partner”. Even if such a decision encourages
other important decisions, including the choice of religion, the state cannot
intervene. It overruled an earlier decision of a single judge holding that
conversion to Islam was valid only when it was predicated on a change of heart
and on an honest conviction.
Indeed,
at least two high courts (Allahabad and Gujarat) have shown great courage in
granting relief under such discriminatory laws. As far as I am aware, even the
Himachal Pradesh high court has held that the requirement under the Special
Marriage Act of giving prior notice of 60 days is not mandatory.
If we
look at Supreme Court jurisprudence on Article 25, of the Constitution of
India, which guarantees the freedom to profess, practise, and propagate one’s
religion, in the 1954 case of Ratilal Panachand Gandhi versus State of Bombay,
the court held that:
“Every
person has a fundamental right under our Constitution not merely to entertain
such religious belief as may be approved of by his judgment or conscience but
to exhibit his belief and ideas in such overt acts as are enjoined or
sanctioned by his religion and further to propagate his religious views for
edification of others.”
In a 1977
decision in Rev Stainislaus versus State of Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court
examined whether the right to practise and propagate one’s religion also
included the right to convert. The court upheld the validity of the earliest
anti-conversion statutes: the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantraya Adhiniyam,
1968, and the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967.
“It has
to be remembered that Article 25(1) guarantees “freedom of conscience” to every
citizen, and not merely to the followers of one particular religion, and that,
in turn, postulates that there is no fundamental right to convert another
person to one’s own religion because if a person purposely undertakes the
conversion of another person to his religion, as distinguished from his effort
to transmit or spread the tenets of his religion, that would impinge on the
“freedom of conscience” guaranteed to all the citizens of the country alike.”
It has to
be appreciated that the freedom of religion enshrined in the Article [25] is
not guaranteed in respect of one religion only, but covers all religions alike,
and it can be properly enjoyed by a person if he exercises his right in a
manner commensurate with the like freedom of persons following the other
religions. What is freedom for one, is freedom for the other, in equal measure,
and there can therefore be no such thing as a fundamental right to convert any
person to one’s own religion.”
In my
opinion, the decision in Stanislaus is flawed and must be revisited. However,
this is not the subject of discussion today. Neither of these Supreme Court
cases dealt with the question of freedom of choice in the context of religion
and marriage. Most recently, in the now well-known Hadiya case, the Supreme
Court said that the Kerala high court had transgressed on Hadiya’s
constitutional rights by questioning her right to marry.
Already
the Supreme Court has refused to stay this ordinance. The Chief Justice of
India has made some observations about whether falling in love is a crime,
etc., but nothing beyond that.
Unfortunately,
there seems to be no parity when it comes to the exercise of power by the
Supreme Court. Some issues, like farm laws and Maratha reservations capture the
court’s attention, but others, like the Citizenship Amendment Act, Article 370
and Kashmir, electoral bonds, and this “love jihad” ordinance, mysteriously do
not evoke a response.
Hadiya is
an individual case. My fear is that the Supreme Court may not be as proactive
when it comes to the larger question of the constitutionality of the ordinance
itself. It may end up just sitting on the issue when it comes up before the
court.
Our
Supreme Court is regarded as one of the most powerful courts, but is it really,
especially regarding constitutional protections?
The
ordinance itself is mostly rhetoric. This is a mechanism for the ruling party
and politicians to pander to vote banks and create factions in society. So we
should treat all this with appropriate caution and wariness.
More than
whom it targets, the ordinance and the accompanying rhetoric is symbolic of how
social fabric is being aggressively and fundamentally changed by the sheer
brute force of the executive. I think this is what should be troubling us.
You can
see that overall, the ordinance does at least four things: first, it reinforces
the idea of a patriarchal society, a patriarchal Hindu state, to be precise.
Patriarchy and “manhood” feel threatened as women get liberated in modern
society.
The
current BJP-led government has had a long infamous history of revivalism,
seeking to return to some imagined glories of ancient Indian civilisation. This
takes the form of cultural nationalism, where anyone celebrating “western”
festivals such as Valentine’s Day or even couples merely holding hands are
ostracised and attacked.
As
religious nationalism, it endorses the two-nation theory, which envisages a
nation under Hindu rule, a Hindu Rashtra in Akhand Bharat (a United India). As
Sarvakar propounded, “Hindu Rashtra (state), Hindu Jati (race) and Hindu
Sanskriti (culture).” In this context, Muslims and Christians are viewed as
foreigners, who are not indigenous to the territory of India, and whose
religion originated in a separate holy land.
The
government is operating with a stated, explicit communal agenda – of pitting
community against community, whether it is in the Citizenship Amendment Act
protests, where it was Hindus versus Muslims, or in the case of the ongoing
farmers’ agitation, where it is being portraying as a dangerous Khalistani
revival.
This
brand of nationalism that is being practised in India today is no longer about
merely harassing people for public displays of affection. It is much much more
grave, and slowly creeping into every aspect of our lives.
People
are being forced to sign up to a singular ideology. The beef ban and protests
against cow slaughter are ways to prevent people from eating the food they want
and effectively forcing a life choice on them.
What our
leaders and their sycophants forget is that enforced nationalism cannot promote
true culture. When a practice is arbitrarily prescribed and foisted, creative
freedom is suppressed or vanishes completely. Only free souls can create
abiding cultural values
Second,
this ordinance pursues a regressive agenda. It demands that individual autonomy
and free will must always be subjugated to community purpose. And of course,
that community purpose itself is defined by a few individual men, who are
presumed to know what is best for the rest of society.
The
ordinance discusses only third party conversion of a person. It ignores a
person’s own right to convert to another religion, which, surely, is far more
important. Even if no conviction takes place, this has the effect of evoking
fear in the minds of the minority.
Third,
and for me, most troublingly, it denies agency to at least half, if not more,
adult members of the population. Besides minors, the ordinance specifically
identifies women and members of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe as “vulnerable”
individuals. Clearly, it means that a woman cannot think for herself, however
educated or accomplished or experienced she might be. This attitude is
chauvinistic and reeks of male supremacy. If this is not lawmaking at its
paternalistic worst, I do not know what is.
And
fourth, the ordinance and those who support it, effectively support
divisiveness. It creates an unnecessary communal rift in a peaceful society.
https://thewire.in/law/love-jihad-ordinance-communal-rhetoric-divisive-justice-ap-shah
-----------
A crude
bomb detonates near Israeli embassy: India
By Khaama
Press
30 Jan
2021
An
explosion occurred near the Israeli embassy in the Indian capital, Delhi.
Reports
indicate the blast was mild and left no injuries except damaging the nearby
vehicles.
BBC
reported the blast intensity was very low, the incident was regarded as a
“terrorist incident” by Israeli officials.
The crude
bomb was placed in a flower pot on the road divider, but a letter was found
nearby that described the blast as a “trailer”, and referred to two Iranians
killed “Qasem Soleimani and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh”, the Indian Express reported.
Indian
Express quoted unknown sources, that “Forensic experts have found broken pieces
of a cold drink can and ball bearings from the spot. Prime facie it appears
that explosives and ball bearings were stuffed in the can. It was planted in
such a manner that the impact was felt towards the road. The ball bearings hit
the cars. Police have not found any device or battery at the spot,”.
The bomb
is said to have went off at around 5 pm in the evening on Friday.
https://www.khaama.com/a-crude-bomb-detonates-near-israeli-embassy-india-445444/
--------
Pakistan
Ragheb
Naeemi calls for simplifying mosques’ registration
Our
Correspondent
January
30, 2021
LAHORE:
Noted scholar and principal Darul Uloom Jamia Naeemia Dr Ragheb Hussain Naeemi
has asked the government to make easy registration process of mosques and
religious institutions.
He also
called for taking into confidence the respected religious institutions,
organizations and scholars while evolving the registration process. Initial
period should be extended for registration of mosques and institutions, he said
while addressing a gathering on Friday.
He said a
regular advertisement campaign should be started by the government for
registration and number of fines imposed on the organizers for late
registration should be reduced. The penalty on non-provision of information
should also be reduced to a reasonable extent.
He said
that instead of putting registration of mosques under the Department of
Industries, it should be given under the Department of Auqaf. To avoid any
Shia-Sunni dispute, sects must be mentioned in the form issued by Auqaf during
registration, he said, adding that a sect should be mentioned in the
registration form of mosques and madrassas also so to avoid inter-sectarian
disputes. A separate directorate should be set up in the Auqaf Department for
more than 52,000 mosques and more than 2,500 madrassas and other properties of
Auqaf and staff should be appointed accordingly.
The Auqaf
Department should not take over madrassas, mosques on personal lands or the
betterment of madrassas and mosques, he said, adding that amendments to the
1979 Ordinance have become indispensible and Punjab Charity Commission (which
was set up to oversee the financial affairs of NGOs) was not made functional
and even after passing of one year its advertisements for registration are
still being published. He said an effective strategy should be adopted to get
the registration of mosques and Waqf properties with the Auqaf Department.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/782222-ragheb-naeemi-calls-for-simplifying-mosques-registration
----------
PPP to
reject bill on open ballot in Senate polls: leader
Amir
Wasim
January 31,
2021
ISLAMABAD:
Even before discussing the matter in the party’s Central Executive Committee
and four days before a meeting of the heads of the 10-party opposition alliance
Pakistan Democratic Movement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) vice president Sherry
Rehman declared on Saturday that her party would “reject” the
government-proposed constitution amendment bill for open balloting in Senate
elections when it would be put to vote in the upper house, where the opposition
has a majority.
In a
statement, Ms Rehman questioned the government’s move to bring the constitution
amendment bill in the parliament at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a
presidential reference on the issue.
“The bill
is being moved with a mala fide intention and in haste,” said Ms Rehman, who is
also the parliamentary leader of the PPP in the Senate.
The
statement of the PPP senator came two days after the National Assembly Standing
Committee on Law and Justice, headed by Riaz Fatyana of the ruling Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf, approved the constitution amendment bill for open balloting in
the Senate elections, scheduled in March.
The
committee in its meeting, which lasted less than half an hour, considered the
Constitution (Twenty Sixth Amendment) Bill 2020 and recommended with majority
that the bill be passed by the National Assembly.
The
opposition members of the committee had opposed the sudden voting and protested
over what they termed “bulldozing of the bill”.
Later,
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan had said at a
press conference that three amendments to the constitution would be presented
in the parliament next week ahead of the coming Senate elections.
Mr Awan
said that through the bill, a roadmap had been given to the political parties
in the parliament to stop horse trading and buying of votes in elections.
He said
that Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto had signed the Charter of Democracy in May
2006 and one of its points was that indirect elections should be open and
identifiable votes should be cast in them.
He was of
the view that reforms were a national agenda and nobody would want to get
senators elected through use of money or corruption.
Mr Awan,
who had previously served as law minister in the PPP government under the then
president Asif Zardari, urged the opposition parties to support the government
in undertaking electoral reforms in the parliament.
On the
other hand, Ms Rehman said electoral reforms could not be carried out through
just an amendment and only days before the Senate elections.
“Presenting
such a bill only days before the Senate elections shows that the government is
in a panic,” she said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan did not have
confidence in his party’s lawmakers.
Ms
Rehman, who is among those senators who are retiring on March 11 after
completing their six-year term, said that on one hand, the prime minister was
accusing the opposition of stealing the Senate elections and, on the other, he
had himself “fixed a price of the members of the provincial assemblies by
announcing Rs500 million development funds for each of them”.
Terming
the prime minister’s announcement regarding the development funds for the MPs
“political bribe”, she alleged that by doing so, the prime minister had himself
made an attempt to steal the Senate elections.
Ms Rehman
said that the coming Senate elections would be held in accordance with the law
and the constitution and not on the wishes of Imran Khan.
According
to the proposed amendment to Article 59(2) of the Constitution, an open vote
will be cast instead of the single transferable vote in the Senate election.
Through
another amendment to Article 63(1)(c), dual nationals will be able to contest
elections of the parliament and provincial assemblies in future.
In case a
dual national wins an election he will have to give a clear proof before taking
oath as the legislator that he has renounced his foreign citizenship. If he
will lose the elections, the dual national will not need to renounce his
foreign citizenship.
Expressing
apprehensions and casting doubts on the federal government’s decision to move a
constitution amendment bill for holding Senate polls through open vote, both
the PML-N and the PPP have termed it a “delayed move”.
Before
the PPP, the PML-N had hinted that it might oppose the bill when it would be
put for a vote in the National Assembly and the Senate.
“The
constitution amendments are not piecemeal. If you think there are faults in the
election system, then you need to bring a whole package,” PML-N senior
vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had said while commenting on the recent
decision of the federal cabinet to table the bill in the parliament to amend
the constitution for holding Senate polls through open vote.
“Such
things are not done in haste,” the PML-N leader said, suggesting that if the
government was sincere about electoral reforms, then it should bring it in the
form of a package and the opposition would also come up with suggestions. He
said such matters were also negotiated among political parties and recalled
that the PML-N government during its previous tenure had constituted a
parliamentary committee to discuss electoral reforms and the committee had even
accommodated those parties which had only one member in the parliament.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604613/ppp-to-reject-bill-on-open-ballot-in-senate-polls-leader
---------
Nadra
cancels 240 promotions on minister’s direction
Iftikhar
A. Khan
January
31, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has reversed promotion
of its 240 employees earlier identified as top performers by withdrawing its
recent order on the direction of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.
The
office order, which was issued on January 25 only to be cancelled four days
later, stated: “Chairman Nadra is pleased to promote 240 employees (who were
top performers of NIS in Promotion Board 2018) to next grade along with salary
fixation and 2 increments w.e.f. 1st July, 2021 in recognition of their efforts
(except those who were awarded any penalty related to promotion).”
The
interior minister told Dawn that the promotion orders had been withdrawn on his
direction, because it was ‘inappropriate’ for the chairman to take such a
decision towards the end of his three-year term expiring on Feb 8.
Asked as
to who will be the next chairman of Nadra, the minister said the next chairman
would be appointed through a merit-based process. He said the senior most
officer of the authority would get acting charge of the post during the process
for selection of the new chairman.
He said
an advertisement would shortly be published inviting applications for the
position of Nadra chairman. After procedural formalities, three names would be
sent to the federal cabinet which would finalise one of them.
The
minister referred to Section 3(7) of the Nadra Ordinance which reads, “Chairman
shall be an eminent professional of known integrity and competence with
substantial experience in the field of computer science, engineering,
statistics, demography, law, business, management, finance, accounting,
economics, civil or military administration, or the field of registration.”
In a
related development, the promotion board for senior officers of Nadra had also
been deferred, informed sources told Dawn.
They said
the promotion board, which was due in July 2020, was delayed initially due to
stay orders by the courts of law and then again was put off until the
appointment of a new chairman.
The sources
said the decision to defer promotion board had been taken as the interior
minister saw promotions given close to expiry of a department’s head as a
favour and wanted it to be done after the new comer assumed responsibility.
They said
the outgoing chairman had tried to convince the minister that promotion of 240
employees was under a decision of performance-based benefits to the workforce,
but the timing had made the decision ‘controversial’.
The
sources said former Nadra chairman Tariq Malik, who had resigned after
developing differences with then interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and
incumbent chairman Usman Yusuf Mobin, who is serving for the second consecutive
term were most likely to be the hot contenders for the post.
Mr Malik
is currently Chief Technical Adviser of the United Nation’s Development
Programme, and was recently on a visit to Pakistan to support the country in
its agenda for digital transformation.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604615/nadra-cancels-240-promotions-on-ministers-direction
---------
Federal
govt to join review proceedings in Pearl case
Nasir
Iqbal
January
31, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government intends to join the review proceedings initiated by the
Sindh government against the acquittal of the accused ordered by the Supreme
Court in the murder case of US journalist Daniel Pearl.
A
spokesman for the Attorney General Office on Saturday announced that it would
be filing an application with the Supreme Court seeking permission to join as a
party the proceedings before the top court to seek review and recall of its Jan
28, 2021 Supreme Court judgement of acquitting Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh —
believed to be the mastermind of the murder of Mr Pearl — and the co-accused.
By a
majority of two to one, the Supreme Court had ordered release of Sheikh and the
co-accused by extending the benefit of the doubt if they are not wanted in any
other case.
Immediately
after the pronouncement of the judgement, the parents of the slain journalist,
namely Ruth Pearl and Judea Pearl, termed the order “travesty of justice” and
said the release of the alleged killers put in danger journalists everywhere
and the people of Pakistan.
In
response, the Sindh government immediately moved a set of petitions seeking
review and suspension of the Supreme Court order to release Sheikh.
The
review petitions under Article 188 of the Constitution were filed by Prosecutor
General of Sindh Dr Fiaz Shah with a request to the Supreme Court to suspend
the Jan 28 short order and stop the release of Sheikh from the Central Prison
Karachi.
Now the
Attorney General office says that the federal government will also file an
application for constitution of a larger bench of the Supreme Court to hear the
review petitions.
Meanwhile,
Mr Pearl’s parents in a statement also expressed the intention to file a review
petition against the majority decision of the Supreme Court to ensure that
Sheikh and his “co-conspirators” were brought to justice for the kidnapping and
murder of their son.
“It is
beyond belief that Omar Sheikh — who, after 18 years of lies, had finally
admitted in a handwritten letter to the court his role in the kidnapping for
ransom of Daniel Pearl — has been given a clean slate and let loose once again
upon the world to continue his international terrorist activities,” the
statement said.
“We
appreciate the continuing efforts of the Pakistani government, the Sindh
provincial government and the US government to ensure that the killers of
Daniel Pearl are punished and kept in custody,” Mr Pearl’s parents said.
“We also
appreciate the minority judgement of Justice Yahya Afridi for his independence
and courage in bringing to justice Omar Sheikh and Fahad Naseem.
“Let
there be no doubt that our fight for justice for Daniel Pearl is not merely a
personal struggle but a struggle for the independence of all journalists and
all innocent victims of terrorism in Pakistan and worldwide.
“Our
voice for justice may have suffered a temporary setback by this travesty of
justice but it will never be silenced, and we remain committed in our quest for
justice for Daniel Pearl,” the parents of Mr Pearl said.
In
addition to the review petition, a different three-judge bench of the Supreme
Court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, will consider whether it should
suspend the Dec 24, 2020 Sindh High Court (SHC) directive to the extent of the
Sindh government seeking the court’s prior permission before issuing any
preventive detention order against Sheikh.
The
bench, also consisting of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, has
fixed the hearing on Monday to hear the point of view of the other side,
including Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti and Mehmood A. Sheikh,
a lawyer representing Sheikh.
At the
last hearing on Jan 28, Advocate General of Sindh Salman Talibuddin had pleaded
before the Supreme Court that the high court order was an intrusion on the
executive power to issue a detention order in respect of any individual
considered to be an “enemy alien” within the meaning of Article 10(9) of the
Constitution.
The SHC
through its verdict had ordered the provincial government to immediately
release Sheikh and other accused from the jail since the first and the second
preventive detention orders of April 2 and July 1, 2020 had expired.
The short
order of the high court had also struck down the June 29, 2020 notification of
placing all the accused on the IVth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act pursuant
to section 11-ee since it was found to be issued without lawful authority and
therefore of no legal effect.
The high
court had observed that none of the accused was found to be an “enemy alien” as
contemplated under Article 10(9) of the Constitution and as such their
detention under this provision was also found to be illegal and without
authority.
Through
its appeal, the Sindh government had pleaded before the Supreme Court to
explore the true meaning of the “enemy alien” within the meaning of Article
10(9) of the Constitution – a term also used by the high court in its order.
The Sindh
government had argued that Sheikh fell within this category for which they had
provided evidence and material to prove the point but the high court rejected
their plea.
The AG of
Sindh had also contended that the high court through its order had also barred
the provincial government from exercising its authority under Article 10 of the
Constitution except with the permission of the high court when this authority
was vested by the constitution in the Review Board which was always headed by
Supreme Court judges.
This
directive of the high court had divested the provincial government from its
powers to issue any detention order in this regard, the government had argued.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604616/federal-govt-to-join-review-proceedings-in-pearl-case
---------
Mideast
Turkish
students depict sacred Islamic site alongside rainbows. They’re detained and
dubbed ‘deviants’ by ministers
JOSH
MILTON
JANUARY
30, 2021
The Kaaba
is the most sacred site in Islam, being a building in the centre of the Masjid
al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Tensions
have simmered at Boğaziçi University in Instanbul after a supposed loyalist of
Turkey’s governing party, the Justice and Development Party, was appointed as a
senior official by president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Student-led
pushback erupted earlier this month, as demonstrators, many holding LGBT+ Pride
flags, argued that the presidential appointment of professor Melih Bulu as
rector went against the university’s 158-year-long history of electing its own.
According
to Ahval, yet another fever pitch in the weeks-long outcry was sparked when
four students allegedly laid down a piece of artwork that depicted the Kaaba
alongside rainbow symbols commonly associated with LGBT+ Pride.
The
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accused the students of “laying a
photo of the Kaaba on the ground in a Boğaziçi University exhibition”.
The
tinderbox act ignited fierce condemnation from top Turkish officials. After
all, rainbows and other so-called LGBT+ symbols have been reduced by
decision-makers into a volatile culture war.
Indeed,
Turkey’s interior minister, who helms the country’s internal affairs such as
public security and election conduct, lampooned the demonstrators.
“Four
LGBT deviants, who disrespected the Islamic holy site, the Kaaba, have been detained
at Boğaziçi University,” tweeted Süleyman Soylu Friday evening (29 January).
In
Turkey, the sight of tear gas, water cannons and plastic riot shields
squelching Pride events in Istanbul has become a regretful annual tradition.
The
country’s president, Erdoğan, as well as lawmakers, religious leaders, heads of
major humanitarian agencies and even clothing retailers have launched vicious
attacks against the country’s embattled LGBT+ community.
Retail
giant LC Waikiki announced earlier this year that it will ban rainbows,
unicorns and other “LGBT+ images” from being used in its clothing designs.
Meanwhile,
government advertising regulators launched their own chilling clampdown by
claiming rainbows “negatively affect children’s mental health” – so rainbow
merchandise must come with an 18+ warning as a result.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/01/30/turkey-four-students-artwork-arrested-deviants-interior-minister-bogazici-university-kaaba/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pinknews+%28Pink+News%29
--------
Israel
and Sunni states must work together as Biden brings change
Michael
Milshtein
01.30.21
Israel
and the Sunni Arab world have experienced some anxiety over the election of
U.S. President Joe Biden, primarily due to the anticipated negotiations between
his administration and Tehran over the agreement to limit Iran's nuclear
activities that was brokered in 2015 by Barack Obama and abandoned in 2018 by
Donald Trump.
The
biggest concern is that the negotiations between Washington and Tehran will
only serve to give the Islamic Republic a confidence boost, encouraging it to
further entrench itself across the Middle East through its various proxies.
The flags
of the United States, Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are projected on
a section of the walls surrounding Jerusalem's Old City
Jerusalem
fears that, unlike Trump and his cozy pro-Israel policies, the Biden
administration will have a far more draconian approach to the conflict with the
Palestinians.
Meanwhile
in the Arab world, especially in Egypt and the Gulf states, there is a growing
fear that America will endorse the advancement of democracy and human rights in
Arab countries in a way that serves to weaken the authority of certain leaders.
What
comes to mind is Obama’s 2009 speech in Cairo about the furtherment of
comprehensive reforms in Arab countries. Many believe that it was this speech
that served as the kindling for the wildfire of the 2011 Arab Spring.
It is for
this reason that several Arab countries are doing all they can to turn down the
heat on regional crises that could possibly trigger some friction with the
Biden administration.
Several
other Arab countries have also begun working to develop or otherwise strengthen
their lobbying efforts in Washington, all while attempting to improve their
public and political image in the United States, mainly among Democrats.
All of
this is geared at finding favor with the Biden administration, which entered
the White House with a strategy based on a set of stringent views and
ideologies - mainly concerning Iran.
And while
it seems as though the strategy of this new administration is indeed set in
stone, Israel and the Sunni states may yet succeed in changing the new
administration’s attitude towards Tehran, embarking on joint effort to
emphasize the potential dangers of giving Iran too much power.
This will
almost certainly be a better strategy than expressing harsh criticism of the
new White House or projecting unending waves of anxiety.
The Arab
world’s concern about the new U.S. administration can also be leveraged to
improve the reality of the Palestinian people - and by extension Israel.
Countries
like the UAE and Saudi Arabia can be persuaded to deepen their influence and
involvement in the Palestinian political system, mainly through economic
assistance, which will surely paint them as a benevolent presence in the eyes
of the U.S.
Employing
the assistance of the Gulf states with the Palestinians will also create
competition for Qatar, which on the one hand attempts to stabilize the
Palestinian arena with financial aid, but on the other is in a strategic
alliance with the Hamas terrorist organization and Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
Their aid
will also strengthen the stability of the Palestinian Authority’s government
and improve the overall quality of life for the people in the Palestinian
territories, calming the West Bank and paving the way for more amicable
negotiations between the PA and Israel.
And while
the next four years may be tougher and less flexible than the days of the Trump
administration, this new government is by no means a threat.
It may
actually be the best solution for issues such as the Palestinians, which are
growing more and more complicated with each passing day.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1L3v4lxO
--------
Turkey’s
Erdogan posts photo of Armenian church in Kars as mosque
30.01.2021
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted a photo of the Armenian Arakelots
(Apostles) Church in Kars, with the Kars Fortress on the background, on his
Telegram account.
And as
attachment to this photo, Erdogan made a note dedicated to Friday, which is
considered to be the main day of Islamic prayer.
The
Armenian Arakelots Church in Kars was built in the 10th century and was a
functioning church until October 30, 1920. After capturing Kars, the Turks
turned it into an oil depot and arsenal, then left it to the whim of fate, and
in the 2000s it was turned into a mosque and renovated. On the walls of this
church there are frescos and crosses of the Apostles.
https://news.am/eng/news/626225.html
--------
Imam
Khamenei to receive eulogists on Hazrat Zahra birth anniversary
Source :
Mehr
January
31, 2021
Leader of
Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will receive religious
eulogists and panegyrists on Wednesday through an online video conference.
The
meeting will be held on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of Hazrat
Fatima Zahra (PBUH), the daughter of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), which is
celebrated in Iran as National Women’s Day and Mother’s Day.
This
year’s meeting, however, will be held via video conference due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
The
meeting will be broadcast live on state TV channels.
https://en.abna24.com/news//imam-khamenei-to-receive-eulogists-on-hazrat-zahra-birth-anniversary_1110753.html
--------
Israeli
occupation authority continues to impose restrictions at Ibrahimi Mosque
Source :
Palestine Info
January
31, 2021
The
Israeli occupation authority (IOA) in the Old City of al-Khalil only allowed,
for the second consecutive week, the manager of the Ibrahimi Mosque and 15
Awqaf employees to observe the Friday khutba and prayer at the Islamic holy
site.
The
Palestinian Authority ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said that the IOA
continued to impose tight entry restrictions on Muslim worshipers at the
Ibrahimi Mosque.
In
addition, the IOA has been preventing, for over a week, al-Khalil
rehabilitation committee from finishing important renovation and maintenance
works at the Ibrahimi Mosque, claiming that it needs special permits from the
Israeli competent authorities.
https://en.abna24.com/news//israeli-occupation-authority-continues-to-impose-restrictions-at-ibrahimi-mosque_1110777.html
---------
The Turkey-Pakistan
entente: Muslim middle powers align in Eurasia
January
29, 2021
Arif
Rafiq
In the
1950s, at the onset of the Cold War, Pakistan and Turkey were part of the
Central Treaty Organization or CENTO, a pro-Western bloc of Muslim-majority
states. Today, the two countries — both with troubled relations with the United
States — are Muslim middle powers with a growing entente in a multipolar
Eurasia.
In recent
years, cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey has strengthened not just in the
defense, diplomatic, and economic realms, but also in the cultural space,
causing geopolitical ripple effects in the Himalayas, the Arabian Peninsula,
and the South Caucasus.
The
emerging Pakistan-Turkey entente now has the buy-in of Pakistan’s leading
political parties and three military services, as well as the Turkish
leadership. The partnership aids and, at times, complicates the quest of both
countries for strategic autonomy as options in the West narrow. However, the
potential of the Pakistani-Turkish entente will be constrained by the economic
precarity of the two countries and the limited prospects for growth in trade in
the near term.
On Jan.
23, at a ceremony for Turkish-built naval vessels, including a corvette for the
Pakistan Navy, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke of the “great potential”
for defense industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey, which he
described as “brotherly countries.”
Indeed,
as its domestic arms industry has grown rapidly, so too has the profile of
Ankara’s defense deals with Islamabad, quickly shifting from the upgrading of
Pakistani hardware originally procured from other NATO countries — American
F-16s and French Agosta 90-B subs — to the sale of arms made in Turkey.
Turkish
arms transfers to Pakistan totaled $112 million from 2016-2019, according to
the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). During this
period, Turkey was Pakistan's fourth-largest source of arms, surpassing the
United States, and Pakistan was Turkey’s third-largest arms export market, according
to SIPRI. These numbers will grow as Turkey fulfills recent orders from
Pakistan exceeding $3 billion, including the purchase of four MILGEM Ada-class
corvettes, two of which will be built in Pakistan, and 30 T-129 Atak
helicopters.
Pakistani
and Turkish aspirations for defense autarky were both born from bitter
experiences of being sanctioned by the West. Continued Western compellence also
drives — and problematizes — Pakistan-Turkey defense cooperation. The T-129
helicopter deal has been in limbo as Congress has blocked export licenses to
Turkey for its American-British designed LHTEC T800-4A turboshaft engine.
Turkey is developing a replacement for the T800-4A, the TEI TS1400, which could
salvage the deal should U.S.-Turkey relations remain cold. But the TS1400 is
currently in the prototype stage — years away from service.
While
China will remain Pakistan’s main source of imported defense hardware, Turkey
too provides an alternative to increasingly inaccessible American and French
equipment, and modestly eases Islamabad’s dependence on Beijing. The T-129s are
intended to replace Pakistan’s aging fleet of American AH-1F Cobras. Pakistan
has also purchased Turkish armaments for its JF-17 fighter jet, jointly
manufactured with China.
Pakistan-Turkey
defense relations go beyond purchases of Turkish arms by Islamabad. Ankara has
procured training aircraft, drone parts, and bombs from Islamabad. And the two
countries are also increasingly pursuing technological cooperation. The MILGEM
Ada-class ship deal, for example, involves the transfer of technology. Turkish
Aerospace Industries (TAI) has also secured an agreement with Pakistan’s
premier engineering school, the National University of Science and Technology,
for research and development cooperation and faculty and student exchanges. TAI
has also agreed to set up shop at Pakistan’s National Science and Technology
Park, a section of which will focus on defense projects, including
cyberwarfare, drones, and radar technology.
Earlier
in January, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkey held the second round of foreign
minister-level trilateral talks in Islamabad, issuing a joint statement
reflecting alignment on the disputes in Cyprus, Kashmir, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azerbaijan
and Pakistan have for some time sided with one another on their main
territorial disputes. And Turkey has long been a supporter of Azerbaijani
sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. But Turkey’s embrace of the Kashmiri cause
is relatively new. In recent years, Erdoğan has vocally advocated a negotiated
settlement to the Kashmir conflict, including at the U.N. General Assembly,
where he called for the dispute to be resolved “within the framework of the
U.N. resolutions” and “in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir.”
Erdoğan’s
language has angered New Delhi, which bristles at any outside attempt to
internationalize the Kashmir dispute. And Erdoğan has won hearts in Pakistan,
which has struggled to gain diplomatic support, including from Muslim-majority
countries, for its position on Kashmir.
Driven in
part by a desire to expand ties with New Delhi, a leading energy importer, Abu
Dhabi and Riyadh have distanced themselves from support for the Kashmiri cause.
But Pakistan, particularly after India’s effective annexation of Kashmir in
2019, sees Kashmir as an existential issue. As a result, it has doubled down on
alignment with Turkey, even initially partnering with Iran, Malaysia, and
Turkey to hold an Islamic summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 2019. This angered
Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, resulting in Islamabad backing out of the summit. Despite
Pakistan’s compliance, months later, after Erdoğan’s state visit to Islamabad,
Saudi Arabia asked Pakistan to repay short-term loans meant to bolster its
precarious foreign exchange reserves.
The
Turkish-Pakistani bloc has also ruffled feathers elsewhere. In October,
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview with an Indian news
channel partly owned by a member of the country’s Hindu nationalist ruling
party and, without evidence, accused Pakistan of sending mercenaries to
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkey’s
diplomatic reach into Pakistan extends into the soft power space as well. An
Urdu-language version of the series, “Diriliş: Ertuğrul,” which chronicles the
rise of the father of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, is a hit in Pakistan.
The
Turkish state television-produced show airs in primetime on the state-run
Pakistan Television. Views of its first episode on YouTube alone exceed 90
million and the show’s Turkish cast members are now celebrities in Pakistan.
The success of “Ertuğrul” has spurred discussions between the two countries on
the development of a new series, “Turk Lala,” profiling a man from present-day
Pakistan who migrated to Turkey in 1920 and fought in support of the embattled
Ottoman Empire.
Muslim
nationalism, both as a contemporary sentiment and a historical narrative, now
colors a relationship rooted in realpolitik.
Alongside
rising arms sales, Turkish economic investment in Pakistan has grown in the
past decade. Turkish foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 2009 has
exceeded $300 million. Zorlu Energy, a Turkish company, has constructed a
series of renewable independent power projects. In 2016, Arçelik, the home
appliance subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate Koç Holding, bought the
Pakistani company Dawlance for $258 million. Lahore’s waste management has also
been outsourced to two Turkish companies since 2012.
While
Turkish investment in Pakistan has risen, bilateral trade between the two
countries has remained stagnant over the past decade, peaking at around $1.1
billion in 2011, according to U.N. Comtrade, partly due to Ankara’s
protectionism. Talks over a free trade agreement have also stalled.
Late last
year, Turkey’s transport minister said that a rail line connecting Iran,
Pakistan, and Turkey could become operational in 2021. But policies that
inhibit trade and the abysmal state of Pakistan’s rail network will have to be
addressed for their economic connectivity aspirations to go beyond rhetoric.
Pakistan
and Turkey have rapidly formed a strategic partnership in recent years amid a
very fluid global order. The two countries share important elements of national
power — strong militaries, strategic locations, and sizeable populations — that
will drive defense, diplomatic, and technological cooperation in the years to
come.
But the
two countries also share some vulnerabilities: their economies are in their
worst shape in two decades and both countries are net energy importers. In the
case of Pakistan, the structural economic weaknesses are far more deep: chief
among them, the dismal state of human development.
For both
Pakistan and Turkey to succeed in their respective quests for strategic
autonomy and leverage their partnership into firm geostrategic gains, sustained
economic growth is absolutely essential.
https://www.mei.edu/publications/turkey-pakistan-entente-muslim-middle-powers-align-eurasia
---------
South
Asia
Middle
Eastern ISIS group moves to Afghanistan: SCO
By Khaama
Press
30 Jan
2021
Faryab,
Naqibullah Fayaq, the provincial governor said Juma Bay, an Uzbek national-led
Daesh group is also operating in the region, adding that the group has been
living with their families, most of the Daesh leaders are stationed in Faryab
province.
Earlier
on Friday, Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of Shanghai cooperation group in a
webinar organized by Islamabad Policy Research Institute said, That the
Daesh-ISIS has moved from the middle east to Afghanistan, which poses a serious
threat to the region.
“According
to the SCO regional anti-terrorist structure, the numbers of fighters arriving
in the north of the country [Afghanistan] are growing”, he added, the pose a
threat to the SCO member states.
Norov
stressed that the group uses information and communication technologies to
promote their ideology in the region, recruit and manage the group’s sleeper
cells.
Jumakhon
Giyosov, the SCO Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional
Anti-Terrorist Structure, also said “There is an increase in the number of
militants arriving in northern Afghanistan, whose leaders are actively
interacting with the leaders of the other terrorist organizations,”.
Faryab
Governor, also added that the Taliban are now equipped with Iranian-made
armor-piercing sniper (Haidar).
This
comes as Captain Mohammad Hanif, Chief of Crime Branch for Zaranj district was
shot and killed by his subordinate during a security patrol.
Source on
anonymity told Pajhwok News, that the incident happened in Nimroz province on
Friday, as police patrolled the city.
The perpetrator
fled the area but was later captured by the security forces in the region.
According
to the report, the incident occurred on Friday evening, and an investigation is
ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack.
https://www.khaama.com/middle-eastern-isis-group-moves-to-afghanistan-sco-44554544/
---------
Rohingya
Relocation: Life getting better in Bhasan Char
January
31, 2021
Mohammad
Al-Masum Molla
Khaleda
Begum had little to do other than helping her mother with household chores. The
17-year-old would spend most of her time indoors, back at the Rohingya camp in
Cox's Bazar.
Being
from a conservative family, she had not expected her life to change much but
surprisingly it did, and it did for the better.
Khaleda
has been learning to tailor dresses and operate sewing machines since her
arrival at Bhasan Char. She is feeling a drive within herself to become
solvent.
"At
least I've got something to do now. I will be able to make my own dresses and
earn in the future by doing it for others," she told this correspondent at
the island, around 40km off Noakhali, a couple of days ago.
Like
Khaleda, Noor Jahan is also learning tailoring and sewing.
"In
the last four days I have learned how to cut blouse pieces. I'm also learning
sewing. It's exciting. I want to learn how to make other dresses too," she
said.
Khaleda,
Jahan and other Rohingya women, who have recently been relocated to the island
from the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, are taking tailoring and sewing lessons
from two lady trainers.
Trainer Ruhani
Taskin said the Rohingya women have great interest in their work and that they were quick learners.
These
activities are part of a project taken up by the Bangladesh government to train
Rohingya men and women on the island on various activities, like sewing,
poultry rearing, cattle rearing and vegetables farming.
Bangladesh
Rural Development Board has been providing various training to the Rohingyas to
ensure their livelihood.
Officials
said all the adult males and females who have the capability to work would be
given training in phases.
"Currently,
we are providing training to five batches. Each batch has 50 people and they
will be trained for five days," Shankar Kumar Paul, project director of
BRDB, told The Daily Star.
He said
an assessment would be done after the basic training to find out which
profession suited a trainee. Then extensive training will be provided to them.
Ijjat
Ullah, a Rohingya man, was learning how to cultivate land and grow vegetables
in a scientific way.
"There
is huge land. If we get land, we can cultivate our own vegetables and can sell
them too," Ijjat Ullah said adding that he would like to take training on
fishing too.
He said
there were 120 ponds and two big lakes at Bhasan Char and those can be used for
fishing.
The BRDB
started the training activities on January 27.
A total
of 39 NGOs are working at the island. Some are giving poultry assistance while
some farming training.
AA Mamun
Chowdhury, project director of Ashrayan Project-3, official name of the Bhasan
Char project, said a coordinated effort was needed among the NGOs so that the
work could be done smoothly.
"The
government and various NGOs are working to ensure the Rohingyas' livelihood.
The more organised the work is, the more beneficial it will be for the Rohingyas,"
he added.
Yesterday,
the third batch of Rohingyas -- 1,466 -- reached Bhasan Char, while 1,776 had
arrived on Friday.
The
people with luggage, chickens, ducks, goats, solar panels, food and other
belongings had left in ships from Chattogram around 9:00am. They were given
breakfast and lunch on the way.
Four
ships carrying the third batch of Rohingyas arrived at Bhasan char around noon.
https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/rohingya-relocation-life-getting-better-bhasan-char-2036573
---------
14 Afghan
security forces killed in Nangarhar blast
Source :
Tolo news
January
30, 2021
At least
eight security force members were killed in a car bomb explosion that targeted
a civil order forces unit in Shirzad district of the eastern province of Nangarhar
on Saturday morning, the provincial governor’s office confirmed.
The civil
order forces unit operates under the Afghan National Army, according to local
officials.
The
explosion happened in the Gandumak area in Shirzad district, a statement by the
Nangarhar governor’s office read.
Meanwhile,
Obaidullah Shinwari, the deputy head of the provincial council in Nangarhar,
said that at least 14 security force members were killed in the attack.
Taliban
claimed responsibility for the attack.
https://en.abna24.com/news//14-afghan-security-forces-killed-in-nangarhar-blast_1110521.html
--------
EU in
Afghanistan called for an ‘end to violence’
By Khaama
Press
31 Jan
2021
The
European Union’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Ronald Kobia, has called for an
immediate end to violence in Afghanistan and a ceasefire.
He
tweeted, that “If some parties don’t like the term «ceasefire», call it truce,
cessation of hostilities, moratorium, silent period. Whatever the semantics
until it stops rivers of Afghan blood. You have an opportunity with new US
administration to show you -really- want peace. Now”.
Without
naming anyone or party, he stated there is a good opportunity with the new U.S
administration but political parties in Afghanistan have to demonstrate how
much they are intended to have a prolonged peace.
This
comes as the recent peace talks have been hampered in Doha, current hotly
debated issue at the moment is the formation of the interim government, a
recent Taliban demand.
Taliban
said the ceasefire will only happen on the day when Ashraf Ghani resigns from
his post.
Both the
Afghan government and the international allies rejected their demand and
stressed that an interim government would lead to bloodshed.
https://www.khaama.com/eu-in-afghanistan-called-for-an-end-to-violence-443344/
---------
Taliban
should fulfill previous obligations: Waheed Omar
By Khaama
Press
31 Jan
202
Ashraf
Ghani’s advisor and Director general of the Office of Public and strategic
affairs, Waheed Omar, that the Taliban should meet their previous commitments
before laying down new demands.
Omar said
that the Taliban so far haven’t taken even a small step towards peace, adding
that the Afghan government has taken six major steps in an intention to reach
peace.
He called
on the Taliban to fulfill its previous obligations, instead of imposing new
conditions.
A peace
deal between several political figures or “elite peace” will never be sustainable.
Omar
exclaimed by saying – Ask the Talibab what they have done for peace! he also
added that Afghanistan will not go back to its darkest eras.
Earlier,
Taliban claimed that that the main “hurdle for the peace process” is Ashraf
Ghani’s government and demanded his resignation.
Taliban
called for an interim government, on which Ghani replied that responding to the
Taliban’s remarks expressed early in the day who blamed the incumbent
government for hindering the efforts to end the conflicts through a political
settlement.
Talking
to ASPEN Security Forum on Friday, President Ghani stressed that the creation
of an interim government means “bloodshed”, he also expressed himself as a
champion of Afghanistan peace.
President
Ghani rejected the establishment of the interim government saying, “We’ve had
interim governments. They have led to bloodshed,” President Ghani said, and
interim setup would be detrimental and inimical.
“The
citizens of Afghanistan must be empowered… Where would I get the authority to
dissolve the Republic? I have sworn to uphold the constitution,” Ghani added.
Peace
talks in Doha is facing an uncertain fate, and the second rounds of talks have
not yet come up with a result.
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-should-fulfill-previous-obligations-waheed-omar-454333/
--------
NDS busts
deputy shadow governor for Kabul, Taliban deny the allegations
By Khaama
Press
30 Jan
2021
National
Directorate of Security confirmed, that the Taliban’s deputy shadow governor
& military chief for Kabul, Mohammad, also known as Haji Lala, has been
arrested by NDS forces in a special operation.
According
to the NDS, Mohammad had joined the Taliban through Jabbar Agha, one of the
Taliban commanders, and Shadow governor for Kabul.
Haji Lala
was initially appointed as a senior member of the Taliban and was in charge of
a 10 men unit.
NDS
indicated, that Mohammad was appointed as the acting military chief in Kabul
after Jabbar Agha left for Pakistan.
Following
his appointment, the detainee traveled from Kandahar province to central Kabul,
where he was captured and arrested.
Media
outlets reported, the Taliban denied NDS’ allegations, saying he is neither
Haji Lala nor he is the Taliban’s deputy governor for Kabul.
This
comes as an Afghan security force member was killed and four others including
civilians were wounded in an explosion in Kaldar district of northern Balkh
province on Saturday, local officials confirmed.
https://www.khaama.com/nds-busts-deputy-shadow-governor-for-kabul-taliban-denies-allegations-445544/
--------
ANP nabs,
kills two Taliban assassins in Kabul
By Khaama
Press
30 Jan
2021
Kabul
police said an active member of the Taliban has been killed by security forces
in PD12 of Kabul city.
Ministry
of Interior affairs tweeted, that ANP members killed a member of the Taliban
following a special operation.
The
killed Taliban member was assigned for a series of targeted killings and
assassinations in Kabul, and another assailant involved with him in his actions
was detained.
This
comes as the Taliban attacks have increased in the capital and a number of
provinces.
The rage
of violence in the country comes as peace talks between the Taliban delegation
and the Afghan government in Doha, Qatar are ongoing, but since the start of
the second round, there are still no outcomes from the peace process.
https://www.khaama.com/anp-nabs-kills-two-taliban-assassins-in-kabul-565656/
-------
Southeast
Asia
Activists:
Ismail Sabri ‘endorsing’ condo managements’ Covid-19 test for foreign residents
will encourage discrimination
BY
EMMANUEL SANTA MARIA CHIN
31 Jan
2021
KUALA
LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Activists and rights groups here fear that Datuk Seri Ismail
Sabri Yaakob endorsing the management of strata properties’ right to screen
“foreign” residents for Covid-19 before being allowed entry will fan the flames
of xenophobia.
The
Senior Minister’s “support” could easily be used as ammunition to discriminate
against the non-Malaysian community given its ambiguity, they added.
Adrian
Pereira, director and founder of human and minority rights group, the
North-South Initiative (NSI), told Malay Mail that such discrimination towards
migrant workers and even refugees has long existed even before Ismail’s
controversial statement.
His worry
is that this would serve to exacerbate the current situation as many Malaysians
already wrongly equate migrant workers as carriers of Covid-19.
Pereira
even cited a comment made by the United Nations secretary-general Antonio
Guterres who called for an end to the “tsunami of hate and xenophobia” sparked
by the Covid-19 pandemic to back his fear.
Some of
these abuses include foreign tenants being forced by the property’s security
guards to produce swab test results or risk being denied entry, he added.
Pereira
even gave examples of refugee families who were forced to remain indoors by
their building management and made to take Covid-19 tests, purely out of
discrimination.
“More
cases like these are going to come up because of Ismail Sabri’s very
misinformed statement. I don’t know what he was thinking, I don’t know who is
advising him, but it doesn’t look good for the country’s management,” he said.
“What is
the role of the National Security Council (NSC) if your spokesperson is talking
rubbish? So it’s a very risky thing to do and say, irresponsible also,” he
added.
Concurring
with Pereira is Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy’s chief executive
officer, Azrul Mohd Khalid, who said such vague statements being made by the
minister would only give condominiums and apartments unjust authority and
encourage vigilantism.
“Will we
see groups of righteous and self-anointed citizens standing at the gates of
condominiums or knocking on doors of homes, demanding to see test results and
claiming the right to do so in the name of collective protection, safety, and
security?” he questioned.
Azrul
warned that should such measures take place, even Malaysians might not be
spared from the extreme vetting method, adding how it could open the door to
potential widespread abuse.
Also
weighing in is human rights activist K. Sudhagaran Stanley, who penned a
statement outlining the illegality of condominium managements enforcing such
requirements, and the adverse effects towards the non-Malaysian community.
Stanley
said despite Ismail Sabri’s vague statement potentially being an inconvenience
to both locals and non-Malaysians, non-Malaysians here being pushed against the
wall in a country other than their own already puts them at a disadvantage.
“Malaysians
generally know their rights and will be able to tell off the management.
However, the migrants would be in fear due to a lack of support system and many
not being well-versed with their rights and the law.
“The
statement by Ismail Sabri is going to cause huge havoc in many condominium
facilities, problems between owners, migrants and the management body,” he
wrote.
“I urge any
property owner who is being barred to enter their property, to make a police
report and take the management to court. In any way, they have no right to bar
you from entering your units, it’s your right to enter your property,” he
added.
Pereira
added that despite Ismail Sabri’s statement not singling out non-Malaysians,
the usual knee-jerk reactions of Malaysians almost always end up with
foreigners being discriminated against.
“Knowing
Malaysia and from the current abuse cases we are receiving, we know that the
backlash is going to be felt largely by the migrant and refugee population,” he
opined.
Galen
Centre’s Azrul also pointed out that endorsing such overzealous measures on
those just looking to enter their homes would only fuel actions that are based
on fear and stigma.
“Covid-19
stigma is already causing prejudice, widening inequalities, increasing
vulnerabilities to violence, harassment, and ostracisation, and working against
public health objectives intended to manage the epidemic.
He also
questioned the potential impact of such misconceptions towards larger families
having to bear compounded costs needed for testing their entire household.
Meanwhile,
Stanley said making such unfounded statements could see an unnecessary surge in
individuals seeking to be tested, which could overburden the healthcare system
and lead to other strains in public healthcare efforts.
“It is
better to reserve the testing for close contacts and suspected cases to reduce
the strain on the system and help related people get their test results faster.
For
Pereira, Ismail making such ill-informed statements could trigger effects that
go beyond society and also affect the country’s economy.
“When the
country cannot prove that it’s managing Covid-19 well, investors are also going
to say what’s wrong with these guys, you can’t manage the spike in cases, you
call for an Emergency and then you are making misinformed ad-hoc statements,”
he said.
All the
activists were in agreement that Ismail should retract his statement to prevent
further confusion and avoid abuses stemming from misinterpretations.
“He
should retract the statement, get proper legal advice, and make it very clear
the JMB has no business to force people to take Covid-19 tests.
“They
especially have no right to harass migrants and refugees regarding health
because it is not under their purview,” said Pereira, using the acronym for
joint management body (JMB) which oversees the management of condominiums.
“Condominium
and apartment committees should instead focus their collective efforts on
educating their residents, improving adherence to SOPS, and ensuring good
hygiene practices.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/01/31/activists-ismail-sabri-endorsing-condo-managements-covid-19-test-for-foreig/1945634
-------
Azmin, in
response to voters suit, claims Anwar’s ‘immoral sexual practice’ among reasons
he quit PKR
By Syed
Jaymal Zahiid
30 Jan
2021
KUALA
LUMPUR, Jan 30 — Datuk Seri Azmin Ali claimed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was
widely known to have engaged in “immoral acts or sexual practices” in a
response to a suit filed by his voters, who are suing the Gombak MP for alleged
breach of fiduciary duties.
Azmin,
who once vouched for Anwar’s innocence when the PKR president was tried twice
for sodomy, cited the allegation as one of many reasons for his exit from the
Pakatan Harapan party.
The
international trade and industries minister said Anwar’s “devious sexual
behaviour” made him unqualified to be prime minister. Azmin pointed to the
allegation made by Yusoff Rawther to support his claim.
“Defendant
(Azmin) states that apart from the struggle for power, practice of nepotism and
factional politics in PKR, the defendant’s resignation as deputy president and
member of PKR was based on the fact that DSAI (Anwar)...is wholly
unqualified/or is suitable to lead PKR or become prime minister,” the reply
said.
“The
claim is supported by several concrete allegations regarding his behaviour/or
sexual practices that is immoral as a Muslim, especially since DSAI returned
(from jail) to become PKR president and was free to move.”
Yusoff
filed a police report alleging Anwar had sexually assaulted him in 2018 and
later swore by the allegation through a statutory declaration signed in
November 2019.
Anwar had
refused to take a polygraph test and did not sue Yusoff despite accusing the
latter of lying, Azmin noted in his response.
“DSAI had
initially announced that he would file a libel suit against Yusoff Rawther,
thus it was just drama and/or an act that was merely DSAI’s dirty tactic to
prove otherwise in a bid to gain trust from the public and particularly party
members,” the Gombak MP said in his reply.
Azmin
also highlighted a similar allegation by Aidil Azim bin Abu Adam who also
signed a statutory declaration that Anwar had sexually assaulted him.
Gombak
voters filed a lawsuit at the High Court on November 27, 2020, alleging Azmin’s
role of “orchestrating, participating or otherwise being involved in” the
“Sheraton Move” plan which caused the PH government to collapse in February
last year.
In their
lawsuit, the 10 Gombak voters claimed Azmin had made false representations and
had deceived them to gain their votes.
They
further claimed that Azmin, now a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, had
breached his fiduciary obligations and duties towards them after they had
entrusted him to be their elected representative.
Under the
constitutional oath, MPs swear to faithfully discharge their duties to the best
of their abilities and to preserve, protect and defend the Federal
Constitution.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/01/30/azmin-in-response-to-voters-suit-claims-anwars-immoral-sexual-practice-amon/1945476
-------
Europe
Muslim
boy, 4, was referred to Prevent over game of Fortnite
Mark
Townsend
A
four-year-old boy’s referral to the government’s anti-extremism Prevent
strategy after talking about the popular Fortnite video game at his
after-school club has prompted fresh calls to abolish the controversial scheme.
The boy, who is from the West Midlands and is a Muslim, was referred to Prevent
in September 2019 after saying that his father had “guns and bombs in his
shed”.
However,
transcripts of a conversation with a club worker reveal that the reference to
weaponry was linked to Fortnite. The child’s mother believes that if her boy
were white and not a Muslim he wouldn’t have been considered at risk of
radicalisation.
In the
first (anonymous) interview from a parent of an under-six referred to Prevent,
she described her upset at police turning up at the family home at 10.30pm. “It
could have gone really wrong. I worry armed police could have come to my house
and, you know, arrested the parents, with social services getting involved.”
The case
has amplified disquiet over the scheme, which has been labelled anti-Muslim and
called discriminatory and divisive. Last week, the anti-extremism strategy was
criticised again after the appointment of William Shawcross, a former head of
the Charity Commission, to lead the ailing review of Prevent that was announced
two years ago this month.
He has
made a number of contentious comments about Islam. Almost 10 years ago, when he
was director of neoconservative thinktank the Henry Jackson Society, he said:
“Europe and Islam is one of the greatest, most terrifying problems of our
future.”
Meanwhile,
figures obtained under freedom of information laws by the Observer reveal that
the four-year-old is one of 624 under-sixes referred to Prevent between 2016
and 2019 . During the same period, 1,405 children between the ages of six and
nine were also referred to the scheme.
The scale
of referrals is linked to the obligation on public bodies, including nurseries
and schools, to report concerns about radicalisation, which in itself had
provoked fears that the scheme had become too intrusive.
William
Shawcross, currently reviewing the Prevent programme, is previously on record
as saying ‘Europe and Islam is one of the greatest, most terrifying problems of
our future.’ Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA
Following
the four-year-old’s referral, it was soon established that he had been at his
father’s house the previous night, where his cousin was playing Fortnite, which
has more than 350 million registered players and involves characters collecting
guns and bombs.
After
making the Fortnite comment, he told a worker at the care club about his cousin
playing the game. “The office sent me all the information, including the
transcript of that conversation. It’s quite clear he mentioned Fortnite,” said
his mother. “He’s just a little boy with an imagination. The teachers should
know in this setting that [children] have imagination. They know exactly what
kids are like, and what young boys are like. I do think that if it was a white boy,
they wouldn’t have actually gone to that extreme of referring him to the
Prevent scheme.”
Latest
Home Office figures reveal that the largest number of referrals related to
far-right extremism. The police officer who turned up at the boy’s house
appeared, according to the mother, uneasy but explained he had to “follow the
Prevent flowchart”.
She
added: “But he was in the same place as me really. You know: ‘Why have they
done this?’. He said if they had any major concerns, they wouldn’t have sent
him by himself.”
Referrals
thought to pose a real risk are escalated to the Channel programme, which
involves counter-terrorism police. Between 2017 and 2019, only 42 of the
under-sixes referred to Prevent were moved on to Channel.
“Prevent
gives a bad image of Islam. For people who don’t really know much about Islam
and Muslims, they just believe what they hear in the media, it is all very
negative,” said the mother.
Layla
Aitlhadj, director at the community outreach project Prevent Watch, said: “It’s
difficult to fully appreciate the impact this experience can have on a family.”
She said that rather than Shawcross’s review pressing ahead, her group wanted
the scheme to be abolished.
Tabetha
Bhatti, spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “These latest
figures and the example of the four-year-old Muslim boy reaffirm our view that
Prevent is a flawed policy, presenting fundamental issues that must be
subjected to a robust and truly independent review.
”Rosalind
Comyn, Liberty policy and campaigns manager, said: “We should all be free to
express ourselves and go about our daily lives without being monitored for what
we think or believe – and to grow up in a society where we feel safe to express
our thoughts and opinions.
“That’s
why it’s so worrying that hundreds of children barely old enough to tie their
own shoelaces are being profiled as potential future criminals based on things
like the video games they play or the perceived views of their families.”
A Home
Office spokesperson said: “Where someone is concerned a child may have been
deliberately exposed to harmful terrorist narratives, it is right that they
refer them to the necessary authorities. Prevent is first and foremost about
safeguarding, and through this referral, the child will be able to receive the
vital support they need.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/31/muslim-boy-4-was-referred-to-prevent-over-game-of-fortnite
--------
Man
fighting for life after 'targeted stabbing' at Sheffield mosque
ByStephanie
Finnegan
30 JAN
2021
A man has
been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a 'targeted'
stabbing at a Sheffield mosque.
The
35-year-old was stabbed at Markazi Jamia Mosque on Industrial Road in the
Darnall area this afternoon (Saturday).
Police
were called to a report of a man being stabbed at 3.30pm.
Emergency
services attended the scene and he was taken to hospital with life-threatening
injuries.
A
20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
A
spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: "Enquiries are ongoing and
officers remain at the scene. It is believed to be a targeted attack at this
time."
Anyone
who saw what happened or has information that could help the investigation
should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 606 of January 30.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/man-fighting-life-after-targeted-19736782
---------
Volunteers
at mosque battle snow to hand out 2,000 meals to vulnerable
Josh
Layton
30 Jan
2021
Even
before the relief effort run from a Birmingham mosque began, people began
arriving in the biting cold outside a side door.
They
included laid-off workers who were asked to observe social distancing and given
shelter inside Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre as they waited patiently
for food and essential supplies.
Hundreds
of families are turning to the mosque every week after it became of hub of
support for some of the most disadvantaged people in the city.
The
annual ‘Winter Freeze’ campaign, run by the mosque and the Islamic Relief UK
charity, has taken on heightened importance during the pandemic.
Around
200 bags of supplies and more than 100 hot takeaway meals of biryani were
prepared in the red-brick Victorian building this morning before being handed
out in the city centre.
Another
300 parcels were either distributed through the mosque’s on-site foodbank or
delivered to the homes of vulnerable people.
Islamic
Relief, which began in Birmingham, said the equivalent of 2,000 substantial
meals were handed out overall.
The first
people to turn up to the foodbank – arriving half-an-hour before it opened in a
metal container in the car park – had similar stories.
https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/30/volunteers-at-mosque-battle-snow-to-hand-out-meals-to-vulnerable-13993333/
---------
North America
Canada:
Course on Ahl-ul-Bayt teachings planned for children in Edmonton
Source :
Quran News
January
30, 2021
The Imam
Hussein (AS) Islamic Center in Edmonton, Canada, plans to organize an online
course on Ahl-ul-Bayt’s (AS) teachings for children.
The
center said the educational program is held at the request of a group of
parents who wish their children to get acquainted with religious teachings.
It has
invited those who have children aged 5 to 10 to register at https://forms.gle/c۳dafQ۶ccXjcmWxu۵.
The
course will start on February 6 and the classes will be held every Saturday
from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. local time.
“Treaties
of Rights” of Imam Sajjad (AS) will be taught to the children during the first
10 weeks of the course.
https://en.abna24.com/news//canada-course-on-ahl-ul-bayt-teachings-planned-for-children-in-edmonton_1110435.html
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Manitobans
mourn victims of 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting in virtual vigil
Nicholas
Frew
January
30,2021
Dozens of
Manitobans gathered virtually Friday evening to honour the victims of the
Quebec City mosque shooting, a tragedy fuelled by Islamophobia that occurred
four years ago to the day.
Around 8
p.m. Jan. 29, 2017, a gunman opened fire on people practising evening prayer at
the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre. Mamadou Tanou Barry, Azzeddine Soufiane,
Abdelkrim Hassane, Ibrahima Barry, Aboubaker Thabti and Khaled Belkacemi were
killed, and five others were critically injured.
"This
is a way for us to come together to remember, to honour and to reflect,"
said Shahina Siddiqui, executive director of the Islamic Social Services
Association (ISSA) in Winnipeg, one of the groups that organized Friday's
vigil.
Four
years ago, when Siddiqui first heard news of the mosque shooting in Quebec
City, she was shocked — but not overly surprised, she said.
Since the
Twin Towers fell in New York on Sep. 11, 2001, Siddiqui experienced many
instances of Islamophobia, she said. Before the shooting in Quebec City, she
felt something was going to happen, but didn't expect the incident would be in
Canada.
Six men
died in the attack on the Quebec Mosque. They are, clockwise from left, Mamadou
Tanou Barry, Azzedine Soufiane, Abdelkrim Hassane, Ibrahima Barry, Aboubaker
Thabti and Khaled Belkacemi. (CBC)
Since
then, the Muslim community has come together each year on this day. More than
60 community members and leaders, and politicians at all levels in Manitoba,
from various backgrounds and faiths, attended and spoke at this year's vigil.
"We
are stronger when we collaborate, we cooperate, we stand with each other,"
she said. "It's not only that it gives support. It also gives a message to
the hate mongers, to the right-wing supremacist groups, that you cannot get
away with this. We are all together and we reject the othering of people."
"That's
very important for us, as Canadians, to come together and not let a community
suffer in silence, or by themselves — and to recognize that today it's me,
tomorrow it could be someone else."
Harold
Shuster, of Independent Jewish Voices (Winnipeg), spoke during Friday's
ceremony. Marginalized people of different faiths and races cannot only be
concerned about discrimination against themselves, he said.
"Racial
violence and discrimination, no matter who the victim or who the perpetrator, must
be confronted with equal force and determination. We cannot allow ourselves to
be divided or silenced in our struggle for equality," Shuster said.
"We
recognize that for us to feel safe and secure to live our lives, for our
children to not know fear and hatred, our fight to end anti-Jewish racism must
be part of an overall fight to end all forms of racism and
discrimination."
The
federal government announced Thursday that Jan. 29 will forever be a national
day of remembrance for the victims of the Quebec City mosque shooting, and a
day of action to combat Islamophobia.
Federal
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also says the party is drafting legislation that will
target white supremacists and hate groups — though he did not say what it would
include, nor when it would come.
ISSA,
among many Muslim community organizations across the country, had called for
the day of remembrance since the tragedy occurred. The announcement validated
the community, said Siddiqui, with federal recognition that Islamophobia exists
in Canada.
Even
still, Siddiqui worries that increased polarization caused by social media, and
the rise of hate groups such as the Proud Boys and The Base, could lead to
another event like what happened in Quebec City.
"I
am not fully at ease to think that this will not happen again, unless, of
course, we truly – each and every Canadian –stand up against hate. That we
don't turn the other way, that bystanders intervene, that Islamophobia doesn't
become a political ping pong ball."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-vigil-quebec-city-mosque-shooting-1.5894479?cmp=rss
---------
Canada:
Course on Ahl-ul-Bayt teachings planned for children in Edmonton
Source :
Quran News
January
30, 2021
The Imam
Hussein (AS) Islamic Center in Edmonton, Canada, plans to organize an online
course on Ahl-ul-Bayt’s (AS) teachings for children.
The
center said the educational program is held at the request of a group of
parents who wish their children to get acquainted with religious teachings.
It has
invited those who have children aged 5 to 10 to register at https://forms.gle/c۳dafQ۶ccXjcmWxu۵.
The
course will start on February 6 and the classes will be held every Saturday
from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. local time.
“Treaties
of Rights” of Imam Sajjad (AS) will be taught to the children during the first
10 weeks of the course.
https://en.abna24.com/news//canada-course-on-ahl-ul-bayt-teachings-planned-for-children-in-edmonton_1110435.html
---------
Trump
parts ways with impeachment lawyers
Gulf
Today Report
31-01-2021
Former
President Donald Trump has parted ways with his lead impeachment lawyers just
over a week before his Senate trial is set to begin, two people familiar with
the situation said on Saturday.
The move
has left Trump's legal strategy in disarray as the two lead lawyers were
working on his defence for his Senate impeachment trial.
Butch
Bowers and Deborah Barbier, both South Carolina lawyers, are no longer with
Trump's defence team. One of the people described the parting as a "mutual
decision” that reflected a difference of opinion on the direction of the case.
Both insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations, according to
Reuters.
Three
other lawyers associated with the team, Josh Howard of North Carolina and
Johnny Gasser and Greg Harris of South Carolina, also parted ways with Trump,
another source said.
A third
source said Trump had differences with Bowers over strategy ahead of the trial.
The president is still contending that he was the victim of mass election fraud
in the Nov. 3 election won by President Joe Biden.
The
upheaval injects fresh uncertainty into the makeup and strategy of Trump's
defense team as he prepares to face charges that he incited the insurrection at
the US Capitol on Jan. 6. However, all but five Senate Republicans this week
voted in favor of an effort to dismiss the trial before it even started, making
clear a conviction of the former president is unlikely regardless of his
defense team.
It leaves
Trump's defense team in turmoil as he prepares for a trial starting on Feb. 9
to consider an article of impeachment passed by the House of Representatives
charging Trump with inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol by his
followers.
It was
unclear who would now represent the former president at the trial. His White
House lawyers at his first impeachment trial last year, Pat Cipollone and
Patrick Philbin, are not expected to be a part of the proceedings.
"The
Democrats' efforts to impeach a president who has already left office is
totally unconstitutional and so bad for our country," said Trump adviser
Jason Miller.
"In
fact, 45 senators have already voted that it is unconstitutional. We have done
much work, but have not made a final decision on our legal team, which will be
made shortly," Miller said.
Forty-five
Senate Republicans backed a failed effort last Tuesday to halt Trump’s
impeachment trial, in a show of party unity that some cited as a clear sign he
will not be convicted of inciting insurrection at the Capitol.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2021/01/31/trump-parts-ways-with-impeachment-lawyers
--------
Africa
Iran
opens innovation, technology center in Kenya, first in Africa
Source :
Hausa TV
January
30, 2021
Iranian
officials inaugurated an innovation center in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on
Wednesday, as the first center in Africa.
Iran’s
Vice-President for Science and Technology, Sourena Sattari, who headed a
40-member business delegation to Kenya, officially opened the House of
Innovation and Technology (IHIT), IRNA reported on Wednesday.
The
center serves as a base for the creation of innovative ideas, the
commercialization of these ideas, and the export of Iranian knowledge-based
products and services to the East African market.
The IHIT,
by supporting innovative ideas, holding technological and innovative events
will be a platform for the development and promotion of Iranian knowledge-based
companies, startups, and creative industries.
In the
first step, this Innovation House will host the Techstars Startup Weekend event
as a start for innovative and technological activities in East Africa, with
creative and innovative teams.
The
Techstars event, as the first activity of the Iran House of Innovation of
Technology, will be held from February 29 to 30 to pave the way for interaction
and innovative cooperation among the two countries.
At the
event, innovative idea owners, programmers, knowledge-based companies,
startups, creative industries, marketers, and graphic designers come together
to come up with innovative ideas to convert ideas to services.
Despite
sanctions putting pressure on Iran, a unique opportunity was provided for
business development and the activity of knowledge-based companies in the
country.
Currently,
some 5,000 knowledge-based companies are active in the country, manufacturing
diverse products to meet the needs of the domestic market while saving large
amounts of foreign currency.
The
fields of aircraft maintenance, steel, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment,
oil, and gas are among the sectors that researchers in technology companies
have engaged in, leading to import reduction.
In recent
years, Iran’s government has been supporting knowledge-based companies active
in the production of sanctioned items.
Last
year, Iranian companies achieved a record sale of 1.2 quadrillion rials (nearly
$28.5 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials), which is expected to
increase by 40 percent this year.”
To date,
42 knowledge-based companies with a total value of 2.8 quadrillion rials
(nearly $66.6 billion) have been listed on the stock exchange and they will
soon turn into the biggest businesses in the county.
https://en.abna24.com/news//iran-opens-innovation-technology-center-in-kenya-first-in-africa_1110426.html
--------
Sultan,
Miyetti Allah meet to address herdsmen challenges
By
Ripples Nigeria
January
29, 2021
The
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Friday met with the leadership of
the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on the
challenges confronting herdsmen in the country
In his
address at the meeting held in Abuja, the Sultan expressed concern that many
Nigerians have continued to associate Fulani herdsmen with crimes in the
country.
He urged
the leadership of MACBAN to find a workable solution to security and
socio-economic challenges faced by members of the association and urged them to
shun any act that would tarnish their reputations.
The
National Secretary of the association, Baba Ngelzarma, urged the Federal
Government to come up with social support programmes for herdsmen and train
them in other skills in addition to cattle rearing.
He said:
“Even the cattle rearing are they getting money? Their cattle are not competing
with the ones you have in other parts of the world that weigh 700 to 800 kilograms.
“The milk
output is also not competing with the ones we have in other parts of the world
where one single cow gives an output of 50 litres per day.
“We still
hold the outdated species of cow that are weighing between 100 and 120
kilograms and given out an output of milk that is not more than three to five
litres per day.”
https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/sultan-miyetti-allah-meet-to-address-herdsmen-challenges/
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DHQ
bungled opportunity to end Boko Haram war — Retired Col Stan-Labo
JANUARY
31, 2021
By Chris
Onuoha
Col
Hassan Stan-Labo is a veteran and retired officer with a wealth of combat
operational experience spanning his duty tour of Liberia, Sierra Leone, The
West Darfur and Bakassi Peninsula as part of the Army’s Elite Infantry (Special
Forces) Corps. Now a security consultant, defence strategist, resource fellow
and Convener, ‘FIX NIGERIA NOW!’, Stan-Labo speaks on the replacement of
Service Chiefs.
Presidential
spokesman Femi Adesina described the exit of the former Service Chiefs as timely,
contrary to the views in many circles that it was long overdue considering the
level of insecurity in the country. Adesina quoted President Buhari as
congratulating them for their efforts to bring enduring peace to Nigeria. What
is your view of that assessment?
You were
among those who strongly believe the ousted Service Chiefs should have gone
long time ago. How did you feel when you heard the announcement that they had
been finally removed?
To me,
their replacement was the right thing to do though coming belatedly. But rather
late than never, it was only necessary that they pave way for fresh hands,
fresh thinking and ideas to come on board. Their continuous stay had become
inimical to the career progress of other subordinate officers itching for self-expression.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, the President’s men believed Nigeria was safe
and so we were just noise makers bent on bringing down the administration by
insisting on a change. Since they had the President’s ears, it became difficult
convincing Mr. President of the need for the change of Service Chiefs.
When they
assumed office way back in 2015, it was like there was a spark against
insecurity especially with the relocation of General Buratai to Borno, the
epicenter of Boko Haram insurgency, and we began to hear about the terrorists
being defeated or degraded. Was that really the situation at that time? Were
the terrorists really degraded?
The
Service Chiefs on assumption of office actually brought some level of
operational boost to bear on our fight against insurgency. They succeeded in
routing the terrorists and got us temporary relief. That was the stabilization
phase of the operation in which our troops gained some operational stability to
return to the field.
It was a
situation that called for immediate consolidation. That would have been the
right time to appoint a new team of commanders with the requisite attributes
for consolidation. This team would have by now be preparing for the final
onslaught while we continue our deepening effort on winning the hearts and
minds of the people through humanitarian and social welfare initiatives.
Unfortunately however, we wasted so much time and suffered so much loss in
traction and momentum while the belligerent force recouped, reorganised and regained
control.
The
terrorists apparently returned with renewed vigour with attacks and killings
here and there. At what point did the Service Chiefs get it wrong and what were
the problems? And could the problems have been fixed?
I don’t
see the fault of the former Service Chiefs in the way we bungled an opportunity
to end this war. The Defence HQs did not have its eyes on the ground. Its
interpretation of the operational situation was wrong based on its faulty
reading of the battle.
If only
the Defence HQs had got its reading right, it would have been absolutely clear
that the battle was already transiting from the stabilization to consolidation
phase and this would have informed changes in command as consolidators would
have to come on board. We saw this during the Gulf War under Desert Shield and
Desert Storm where Force Commanders were regularly replaced by the Pentagon to
take on the various cycles of command in the theatre as the war progressed.
YES it
could be fixed despite all time wasted subjecting a purely military matter of
replacement of Service Chiefs to a national debate. While the debate was on, we
lost traction and momentum to the belligerent force. Now steps are being taken
to fix it.
Many
people including the National Assembly were vociferous in calls that the
Service Chiefs should be removed. Were you surprised that President Buhari,
being the Commander-in-Chief and a retired general, decided to turn deaf ears
to the calls and the Service Chiefs spent more than five years in office in
spite of the killings?
My
surprised rather is that the President finally yielded to the pressure to
change his Service Chiefs. Since the President listens only to his aides, and
take their pronouncements as sacrosanct, changing his opinion could be a
herculean task. More so when all he hears on a daily basis is that
“Oh
Nigeria is Safe”, “Oh the situation today is better than it was in 2015”, “Oh
corruption is on the decrease”, “The call for restructuring is aimed at
bulkanizing Nigeria” bla, bla, bla. Anything outside that automatically makes
you an enemy of the administration and by extension the state.
The
military was apparently overwhelmed. How do you assess the ousted Service
Chiefs’ handling of kidnapping and banditry especially in the North-West?
There is
no doubt the security agencies including the military were overwhelmed under
the present situation. The military is presently engaged in several fronts in
about 34 states of the federation thus creating a big distraction to its level
of commitment in the North-East. These additional engagements were not
initially expected and so not factored into the initial grand plan. The Service
Chiefs did their very best but got weighed down by several factors:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/dhq-bungled-opportunity-to-end-boko-haram-war-retired-col-stan-labo/
--------
Army
thwart Boko Haram attack on Borno community
By
Njadvara Musa
31-01-2021
Suspected
Boko Haram terrorists in gun trucks and motorcycles attacked Dikwa military
post, Friday, forcing residents to flee the community for safety.
The
border community with Cameroon was attacked severally, before the military
recaptured it, including the Shehu’s palace in 2016.
Confirming
the incident, yesterday, in Maiduguri, Abba Fantami and a Civilian JTF
disclosed that the insurgents came from the Dikwa/Bama Gulumba Forest.
He said
though there was no loss of life, the insurgents attempted to occupy the late
Shehu of Dikwa’s palace that was recaptured by the Army.
“The Army’s
superior fire power, however, prevented the insurgents from torching some Dikwa
houses and a palace,” he said.
He added
that some of the residents that fled for safety had to return Saturday morning.
“On
hearing gunshots, I had to flee along with my family members to the nearest
bush for safety,” said Bukar Modu, while lamenting the incessant attacks on
their community.
Fantami
said the attack occurred a week after Marte military post was overrun by
insurgents, but were killed with the destruction of eight gun trucks.
He said
normalcy had returned to the community, while residents continue with their
farming and business activities.
https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/army-thwart-boko-haram-attack-on-borno-community/
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