Supreme Court Allows ASI To Carry Out 'Non-Invasive' Scientific Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque; With No Excavation Of The Area Or Destruction To The Structure
New Age
Islam News Bureau
05 August 20123
Gyanvapi
mosque. File photo
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India
• Will cooperate with Supreme Court order: Anjuman
Intezamia Mosque Committee
• Haryana Violence: 202 Arrests, 102 FIRs; Mosques
Cancel Friday Namaz
• As Gurugram Simmers, Muslims Offers Friday Namaz
Indoors
• Question Trinamool For Community's Woes, Suvendu
Adhikari Asks Bengal’s Imams
• IIT-Kanpur team to join ASI in scientific survey of
Gyanvapi Mosque's premises
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Pakistan
• Old Clifton Road Of Karachi Named After Imam Khomeini
• Negotiations or operation: KP lawmaker demands clear
terror policy
• PM Shehbaz’s talks overture draws ‘usual’ Indian reply
• Holding fair elections: SC asks ECP to move it for
writ of mandamus if executive denies help
• KP police fighting militants despite lack of modern
weapons, training: IGP
• JUI-F seeks judicial probe into Bajaur suicide blast
---------
Europe
• May 2024 Trial Set For Islamist Preacher Anjem
Choudary Accused Of Terror Offences
• Kirkcaldy Mosque close to opening - after two decades
of work
• Russia-UAE trade ‘skyrocketing’ – Bloomberg
• Maduro accuses Trump of drone assassination attempt
• China to send delegation to Ukraine peace summit
• Russian president signs law on Islamic banking
experiment
• Young German inspired by Turkish friends converts to
Islam
--------
Mideast
• Has the Muslim Brotherhood turned from friend to foe
as Turkiye restore ties with Egypt?
• Vigils in Hodeida condemn burning Holy Qur'an crimes
& demand unified Islamic position
• Turkey's Islamist Rulers Expand Their Influence
Operations in U.S.
• Media Adopt False Palestinian Narrative on Al-Aqsa
Mosque Compound
---------
North
America
• CAIR Thanks Rep. Al Green for Resolution Recognizing
Islam, Muslim History
• 'Grieving mothers have become a nightmare for the
Islamic Republic': Exploring the reverberations of Mahsa Amini's death
• Congressmen Call for Investigation of Iranian Regime
Control of Mosques in U.S.
------
Arab World
• Saudi Fund For Development Inaugurates $90 Million
King Abdullah Campus At Pakistani University
• UAE-Based Businessman Yusuff AliOf Lulu Group At The
2023 Holy Kaaba Washing In Mecca
• Saudi Arabia to host Ukrainian crisis summit on
Saturday in Jeddah
• Saudi Arabia tells citizens to leave Lebanese
territory
• Adhlal, Baytonia sign deal to empower Saudi designers
• KSrelief repairs 3 Yemen schools for transfer to
Education Ministry
• SFD signs $75m agreement to reconstruct hospital in
Saint Lucia
--------
Australia
• No Interest Or 'Socially Harmful' Business: Australia's
First Islamic Bank, Explained
--------
South Asia
• UN To Cut Aid To 21 Million Amid Dire Humanitarian
Crisis In Afghanistan
• US provided over $75 million to support Afghan
refugees in Pakistan
• Iranian, Pakistan Foreign Ministers Discuss
Afghanistan
• UK ODA Funds for Afghanistan Cut by 59%
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Africa
• Give Us Appointments In Presidential Villa, We Prayed,
Endorsed, Voted For You, Cattle Herders' Union, Miyetti Allah Tells Tinubu
• Police foil bandit attack on police station, Muslims
in Zamfara
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Anwar Says Determined To End Corruption, Which
Hampered Past Administrations
• Don’t Use Govt Assets For Election Campaigning Even If
You Are Ministers, Bersih Tells Anwar, Saifuddin Nasution
• Report: Sanusi ready to face Amirudin in court over
remarks about Selangor
• PM Anwar claims extraordinary support for Pakatan in
Kedah ahead of state elections
• PM says Putrajaya to review salary scheme for fresh
graduates, civil servants
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/sc-asi-scientific-survey-gyanvapi/d/130391
------
Supreme Court
Allows ASI To Carry Out 'Non-Invasive' Scientific Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque;
With No Excavation Of The Area Or Destruction To The Structure
Gyanvapi
mosque. File photo
------
05.08.23
R. Balaji
The Supreme
Court on Friday allowed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out a
"non-invasive" scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi,
laying down that there shall be no excavation of the area or destruction to the
structure.
A bench headed
by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud passed the order on an appeal filed
by the Muslim side against Thursday’s Allahabad High Court order upholding a
trial court judgment directing a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, which the Hindu
petitioners have claimed was built during Aurangzeb's time by demolishing a
portion of the adjoining Kashi-Vishwanath temple.
The bench,
which also had Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, recorded an undertaking
from solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ASI, that the survey
would be completed without any excavation or causing any destruction to the
structure.
The apex court
noted that the high court had also ordered several safeguards to protect the
structure.
On behalf of
the Gyanvapi mosque committee, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi argued that the
high court direction upholding the survey was contrary to the Places of Worship
Act 1991 as the character of an existing structure cannot be changed after the
legislation was passed in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Senior advocate
Madhavi Divan, appearing for the Hindu petitioners, submitted that all issues
had to be raised before the trial court where the Hindus had filed a suit for
handover of the property.
The bench noted
that on the appeal of the mosque committee, the high court had laid down
certain safeguards to protect the interests of both communities.
“The high court
was correct in our view to introduce some directions to circumscribe the order
of the district judge. The ASI has clarified that there is neither excavation,
nor would there be destruction of property," the Supreme Court said.
"We order
and direct that the entire ASI survey shall be completed by a non-invasive
methodology adopted by the ASI. We reiterate the high court order that there
shall be no excavation at the site. The ASI survey report shall be remitted
back to the HC and be taken up for trial in the suit,” CJI Chandrachud said.
Citing Order
26, Rule 9, of the Civil Procedure Code, the Supreme Court said that at the
moment it could not be argued that the order passed by the trial judge for the
conduct of a survey was without jurisdiction.
Justice
Chandrachud noted that the proviso states that when a matter requires
scientific investigation, a court may set up a commission to look into it and
report to the court. According to Rule 10 of the CPC, the commission has to
submit a report in writing to the court.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-allows-archaeological-survey-of-india-to-carry-out-non-invasive-scientific-survey-of-gyanvapi-mosque-in-varanasi/cid/1956825
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Toshakhana
Case: Imran Khan Found Guilty Of ‘Corrupt Practices’, Handed Three-Year Jail
Sentence by Islamabad Trial Court
Imran Khan
(File photo)
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August 5, 2023
An Islamabad
trial court on Saturday declared PTI Chairman Imran Khan guilty of “corrupt
practices” in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison.
The court also
imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the PTI chief.
Imran was
indicted in the case on May 10 after a criminal complaint was filed against him
by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for concealing details of
Toshakhana gifts.
During the
hearing today, presided by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ)
Humayun Dilawar, the trial court ruled that charges against the former prime
minister in the case were proven.
“Imran Khan
deliberately submitted fake details [of Toshakhana gifts] to the ECP and is
found guilty of corrupt practices,” he stated and sent the PTI chief to jail
for three years under Section 174 of the Election Act.
ADSJ Dilawar
also directed that a copy of the order should be sent to the Islamabad police
chief for the execution of the court orders.
Ahead of
today’s proceedings, a large contingent of police was deployed outside the
court premises with only lawyers allowed inside the courtroom. However, neither
Imran nor his lawyers were present during the hearing.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1768528/toshakhana-case-imran-khan-found-guilty-of-corrupt-practices-handed-three-year-jail-sentence
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Letter Of
Threats To Mosque Warns Of Violence Against Muslims In Germany
AA ARCHIVE
At least 35
mosques were attacked in Germany last year, with the majority of these attacks
motivated by Islamophobia and right-wing extremism in the country, according to
DTIB. / Photo: AA Archive
-----
5 August 2023
A mosque in
Germany received a threatening letter, an official has said.
The letter was
addressed to the Eyup Sultan Mosque in the town of Bramsche in the Lower Saxony
state on Friday.
"Continue
like this. What we did to the Jews, we will do to you too. That day is not far
away," it said.
The letter also
contained insults directed at Islam.
Ahmet Irmak,
president of the mosque affiliated with the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious
Affairs (DITIB), said that another mosque in the region received a threatening
letter earlier this week.
Both the
letters were sealed with NSU 2.0, referring to a neo-Nazi group responsible for
a string of murders.
Increased
attacks on mosques in Germany
Irmak noted
that a similar letter had been sent to them about a year ago through the mail.
He expressed
concerns about such threats and requested the authorities to pay attention to
these incidents.
He said they
had filed a criminal complaint with police.
At least 35
mosques were attacked in Germany last year, with the majority of these attacks
motivated by anti-Muslim sentiments and right-wing extremism in the country,
according to DITIB.
Brandeilig, an
initiative of the rights group FAIR International, meticulously documented
approximately 840 incidents between 2014 and 2022.
The threat
warning also comes after a series of Quran desecration acts in Sweden and
Denmark, which drew wide condemnation from Muslim world.
Source: trtworld.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/letter-of-threats-to-mosque-warns-of-violence-against-muslims-in-germany-14340638
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Islamic
Students Association Of Britain Hosts IRGC Talks Calling For War On Jews
Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein
Salami speaks during a parliament meeting in Tehran, Iran, January 22, 2023.
(Photo
credit: Iranian Parliament website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via
REUTERS)
-----
AUGUST 4, 2023
Iranian Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) leadership preached an ultimate war on the
Jewish people in live-streamed talks arranged by the Islamic Students
Association of Britain, according to a Jewish Chronicle report on Thursday.
Some of the
speakers who addressed the Muslim student audiences have, according to the JC,
been sanctioned by Britain for human rights violations.
The Jewish news
outlet obtained recordings of these talks where IRGC leaders encouraged
violence against and parroted conspiracies regarding Jews. The talks have
reached tens of thousands of people.
According to
the JC report, Saeed Ghasemi, an IRGC commander, speaking to the students,
denied the Holocaust, bragged about training al-Qaeda terrorists, and glorified
soldiers who would fight against the Jews in an end-times war on the Jewish
people, advocating for those in the audience to join said war on the Jewish
people.
Mongering for
an ultimate, genocidal war on Jews is not a uniquely IRGC idea. It exists and
has existed in extremist Islamist circles from online spaces to Hamas rallies
on the Temple Mount.
Another speaker
featured at these IRGC talks, Hossein Yekta, advanced the claim that Jewish
people “created homosexuality,” a claim that mirrors assertions made by other
extremist religious and nationalist groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church
and the Goyim Defense League.
Yekta further
encouraged those in attendance to “raise the flag of the Islamic revolution,
Islam, and martyrdom [and to view themselves as] holy warriors,” the JC
reported. He went on to promise that the “era of the Jews” would soon be over.
The JC noted
that the Islamic Students Association of Britain’s chair, Ataee Dolat Abadi,
denied that he remains in the position, and furthermore, that any such events
took place.
"Islamic
Students Associations have never had any direct or indirect affiliation to the
IRGC or any army, government or security group anywhere in the world, and
neither have I," Abadi claimed in comment to the JC. “Islamic Students
Associations have never held any physical gathering/deminar/conference in
Kanoon Towhid or anywhere else with any of the falsely accused
individuals," he added.
Still, the JC
claims that it “has identified eight IRGC leaders who have addressed UK student
audiences since early 2020.”
Additionally,
the antisemitic IRGC talks to UK students have regalvanized calls for the UK to
designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and thus restrict such talks
from occurring.
Such action,
however, the JC notes, has met resistance from the Foreign Office.
Nevertheless,
some British politicians and figures have been exceedingly vocal in support of
a move proscribing the IRGC as a terror organization.
“In organizing
such despicable talks, the Islamic Students Association of Britain acts at best
as a willing propaganda arm of the Iranian regime, and at worst as an agitator
for state-sponsored terrorism,” said Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Alicia Kearns before going on to advocate prosecution of individuals and groups
inciting violence in the UK.
“This kind of
penetration is a perilous development that may well be damaging national
security,” noted Anthony Glees, a Security and intelligence expert and Emeritus
Professor at the University of Buckingham. “America has proscribed these people
and we should too,” he said.
The
conversation regarding such a move has been in progress for months now,
reaching a crescendo in January of this year before slipping out of the public
attention. In fact, in early January, the Jerusalem Post highlighted a report
claiming that the UK was in the process of making the designation.
Israel calls
for UK to designate IRGC as a terror org
Israel as well
has been a heavy advocate for a UK decision designating the IRGC as a terror
organization.
Also in January
of this year, Israel called on the UK to designate the IRGC as a terror
organization following a meeting in Jerusalem between Israeli Foreign Minister
Eli Cohen and British Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Tariq Ahmad.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-753723
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Florida Man And
3 Juveniles Charged With Felony Hate Crimes Over Anti-Semitic And Anti-Islamic Vandalism
Photo: DNYUZ
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August 04, 2023
An 18-year-old
and three juveniles were charged with felony hate crimes over numerous
incidents of vandalism against a Jewish center and an Islamic center in
Pensacola, Florida.
Pensacola
police said they arrested Kessler Ferry and three others aged 17, 16, and 15
years old for the acts of vandalism. Ferry was charged with felony criminal
mischief with a hate crime enhancement while the juveniles were charged with
numerous counts.
In one
incident, someone threw two bricks through the windows of Temple Beth El, the
oldest Jewish house of worship in Florida. The bricks bore anti-Semitic
messages.
Two rabbis were
preparing dinner at the temple when the bricks were thrown through a kitchen
window, narrowly missing one rabbi.
One woman's
home on East Romana Street was vandalized with swastikas and other hateful
messages.
"I wanted
to show this vandal, that we don’t tolerate that and this is a beautiful city
that we are going to keep beautiful. So I will keep fighting back,” said Holly
Benson.
Another
incident of vandalism was reported at the Al-Islam Da’wah Center. Other
vandalism was reported at the old Amtrak train station at a business and a
highway off-ramp.
Pensacola Mayor
D.C. Reeves released a statement about the arrests.
“We will not
tolerate hate crimes in the City of Pensacola," wrote Reeves. "I
greatly appreciate our PPD’s superb investigative work in recent days that
clearly delivers an important message: if you conduct cowardly acts of hate in
this city in an attempt to hurt or intimidate, we will find you and bring you
to justice.”
Police said
that more arrests are possible as their investigation continues.
Rabbi Mendel
Danow said that they would use the bricks with the hate-filled messages as
cornerstones for a new building as a way to further thwart the intension of the
vandals.
“Let’s use the
brick as a cornerstone of the new building,” Danow said. “It’s the ultimate
transformation of using something that was intended for hate and division into
something which will expand Jewish life in Pensacola”.
Source: theblaze.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.theblaze.com/news/swastika-pensacola-hate-crimes
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India
Will cooperate
with Supreme Court order: Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee
Aug 05, 2023
Following the
Supreme Court's refusal to stay the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) led
scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque, the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque
Committee said it will cooperate with the exercise. The mosque committee had
boycotted the survey on Friday owing to its pending appeal in the apex court.
"Considering
the situation emerging from the Supreme Court's refusal to stay the ASI survey,
the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee has decided to honour the SC decision.
We will cooperate with the scientific survey and we hope that directions of the
court will be adhered to in a fair manner and no damage will be caused to our
mosque and our religious rights which the apex court secured in its May 17,
2022 order, will remain protected," SM Yaseen, joint secretary, Anjuman
Intezamia Mosque Committee said in a statement. He also appealed to the
community to maintain peace. The SC in its May 17 order last year had ordered
protection of the area where the claimed shivlinga was said to be discovered
which is inside the wazukhana of the mosque, and had also ordered that Muslims
will not be restrained from offering prayers in the mosque.
A team of over
40 members from the ASI, including additional director general
(archaeology)
Alok Tripathi commenced the survey at the mosque premises on Friday morning
amid heightened security around the compound. The survey went on till the
evening.
Lawyers
representing the Hindu litigants dubbed it a "historical" exercise.
Sudhir Tripathi, one of the counsels on the side of the Hindu litigants likened
the survey to the one carried out in Ayodhya at the Ram janmabhoomi which he
said went on for 7-8 months and reckoned the survey at Gyanvapi will also take
time to get concluded.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/will-cooperate-with-supreme-court-order-anjuman-intezamia-mosque-committee/articleshow/102434730.cms
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Haryana
violence: 202 arrests, 102 FIRs; mosques cancel Friday namaz
Written by Ayushi
Goswami
August 04, 2023
Haryana Home
Minister Anil Vij on Friday said that 202 people have been arrested and 80
others have been detained for questioning after communal clashes erupted in Nuh
and surrounding areas this week.
He added that
the Haryana Police has registered 102 FIRs in connection with the violence.
"Not a
single culprit will be spared," he told reporters.
Held talks with
maulvis on namaz: Vij
Asked about how
namaz was being conducted on Friday, Vij said, "I have spoken to the
deputy commissioners of Nuh, Faridabad, and Gurugram, and instructions have
been issued to ensure adequate security arrangements."
"Adequate
police deployment has also been made. We have also held talks with the maulvis,
appealing to them to offer namaz at home Friday," he added.
Mosques
canceled Friday prayers in violence-hit areas
Vij's statement
about namaz came hours after mosques in the violence-hit areas canceled Friday
prayers.
In Gurugram,
the Muslim Council urged people to offer prayers at home instead of mosques and
open areas.
In Nuh, the
district administration requested the same, and additional security forces were
deployed outside mosques.
Notably, a
cleric was killed in Gurugram when a mob torched a mosque on Tuesday.
Bulldozer
action in Nuh
On Friday, bulldozer
action was initiated by the Haryana Urban Development Authority, which razed
more than 200 illegal shanties housing immigrants in Nuh's Tauru town.
Sources told
India Today that the administration received information about some Bangladeshi
migrants residing illegally in the area.
Meanwhile, some
women attempted to protest against the encroachment drive but they were
prevented by the security forces.
Shop vandalized
in Panipat
Violence was
reported in Haryana's Panipat on Thursday evening as a shop was vandalized near
the house of a victim who was killed in the Nuh incident.
The miscreants
reportedly attacked the chicken shop and damaged two vehicles parked nearby.
The police on
Friday said forces were deployed in the area to prevent such incidents.
Source: newsbytesapp.com
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https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/gyanvapi-mosque-survey-to-continue-in-non-invasive-method-sc/story
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As Gurugram
simmers, Muslims offers Friday namaz indoors
Aug 04, 2023
Friday prayers
across Gurugram were largely offered by Muslims inside their homes or
workplaces, as they stayed away from mosques and public spaces amid heightened
tensions in the city rocked by communal violence earlier this week.
All six public
spaces authorised for namaz in Gurugram were deserted on Friday, after the
city’s Muslim council appealed to devotees a day ago to offer namaz behind
closed doors.
Altaf Ahmad,
spokesperson of the Gurgaon Muslim Council, added that the city’s six mosques
and eidgahs also saw few people turn up for prayers. “No one offered namaz at
the designated open spots. Imams had already made appeals to the community to
not reach mosques for namaz on Friday, because police apprehended trouble,” he
said.
Police and
paramilitary forces, meanwhile, kept watch at more than 50 spots across
Gurugram to prevent fresh flare-ups in a city already scorched by violence and
distrust.
Communal
clashes erupted on Monday in Haryana’s Nuh district, around 50km away from
Gurugram, after a mob attacked a Hindu religious procession organised by the
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.
The ensuing
violence between the two communities barrelled into neighbouring districts and
cities on Tuesday, when mobs burnt down a mosque in Gurugram’s Sector 57,
killing its cleric. Later in the day, mobs set fire to and vandalised dozens of
establishments. Six people died in the violence.
Hardly a
handful of people turned up at the Sadar Bazaar mosque, where hundreds offer
namaz every Friday. Two police patrolling vehicles were deployed at the
entrance of the mosque and at least 20 personnel stood guard around its
perimeter.
Tarique Ahsan,
who works in Sector 27, travelled to a ground in Sector 29 to offer Friday
prayers, but said it was vacant.
“From my
office, it’s the closest spot for Friday prayers. The three of us returned to
work and offered prayers there with a few other colleagues,” he said.
Rehmu Khan, who
runs a shop in Sadar market, said he went to the Rajiv Chowk eidgah to offer
namaz with two others.
“Senior police
and administration officers were present at the spot, and no one stopped us,”
he said.
Sehzad Hussain,
who works with a private company, said he went to a park to offer prayers, with
three colleagues, but said they found “men wearing orange scarves standing
there.” “The situation is still tense and we did not want to take a chance, so
we left,” he said.
Gurugram police
commissioner Kala Ramachandran said there were no disruptions in the city. “Our
teams were deployed in plainclothes and uniform to check activities around
mosques,” she said.
However,
leaders of right-wing groups said they will “not allow namaz in the open”.
The Bajrang Dal
said it kept a close watch on open areas to ensure no namaz was offered. “We
were prepared to stop namaz in public. From now on, we will not allow namaz in
the open,” said Kulbhushan Bhardwaj, a Bajrang Dal member.
Meanwhile, no
Friday prayers were organised at the Anjuman Jama Masjid in Sector 57, which
was set fire on Tuesday and where the deputy cleric Hafiz Saad was killed by a
mob.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/muslims-in-gurugram-offer-friday-prayers-indoors-amidst-tensions-and-violence-mosques-and-public-spaces-remain-empty-101691172837566.html
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Question
Trinamool for community's woes, Suvendu Adhikari asks Bengal’s imams
AUG 04 2023
Mohammed Safi
Shamsi
Holding the
Trinamool Congress (TMC) responsible for the woes of Bengal’s minority
community, Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has asked state’s imams to raise
the issues that affect their community in an upcoming conference. He also
blamed the rul...
In a long post,
shared on social platforms, Adhikari claimed that the loss of Sagardighi
Assembly bypoll earlier this year had left the TMC shocked. The constituency
with 67% of the minority population had been won by TMC with a margin of over
50,000...
“People
belonging to the minority community have now realised that the TMC party has
only engaged in hollow symbolic gestures and they are not bothered about their
real development. Even during the rural polls, the community had turned away
from the ...
Referring to a
recent meeting held between imams and the leaders of the ruling party ahead of
a state-level imam conference that is to take place in the city later this
month, Adhikari said he “hopes that the conference will focus on the wellbeing
an...
“I urge the
respected imam sahibs to kindly bring up the issue of unemployment in the
conference. Nearly 50 lakh people of the state are migrant workers, outside the
state, and 70% of them are from the minority community. Kindly ask the ruling
party ...
The BJP leader
pointed out that a large section of school dropouts are from the minority
community, and very few go for higher education. He alleged that “ornamental
schemes” announced, have no real effect, and the community lacks healthcare
too.
“The government
may make offers to increase your honorarium allowance by Rs 500. But will it
resolve the issues that have plagued your community?” he asked.
Blaming the
ruling party for spreading “false information” and practising divisive
politics, Adhikari stated that the (BJP-led) government at the Centre has
rolled out schemes that benefit the poor, irrespective of their caste and
religious identitie...
Meanwhile, a
body of imams in the state, however, didn’t find the argument convincing.
“We feel the
BJP has lost the right to speak up for us, given what is happening with members
of the community in certain parts of the country. The statements made by some
leaders are also on record. There are issues, but we don’t need their
suggestio...
The
association, Yahiya said, represents around 22,000 imams across the state.
Source: deccanherald.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/question-trinamool-for-communitys-woes-suvendu-adhikari-asks-bengal-s-imams-1243888.html
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IIT-Kanpur team
to join ASI in scientific survey of Gyanvapi Mosque's premises
04th August
2023
By Namita
Bajpai
LUCKNOW: An
expert team from IIT-Kanpur will be assisting the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) in the process of conducting a scientific survey on Gyanvapi mosque
premises in compliance with the court order on Friday.
ASI had reached
out to the Earth Sciences department of IIT-Kanpur in July to assist the agency
in using ground penetration radar (GPR) for the survey.
Professor Javed
N Malik, the head of the Earth Sciences department at IIT-K, would lead the
survey with ASI experts.
According to
Malik, GPR is a robust non-intrusive and non-destructive technique used in
imaging underground structures and sub-surface mapping.
It is a
non-destructive geophysical method conducted using radar pulses to image
something beneath the surface, especially underground.
It is
extensively used in archaeology to detect and locate buried artefacts,
structures, and archaeological features.
It helps
archaeologists in the non-destructive exploration of historical sites and
provides valuable insights into the past. Significantly, the ASI has submitted
an affidavit to the Allahabad High Court assuring it that there would be no
damage to the structure during the survey.
The ASI had
also informed the court during the hearing that it would take technical support
from IIT-Kanpur in the survey.
The ASI
submission had come after chief justice Pritinker Diwaker asked the Additional
Solicitor General of India to call any expert member of ASI from Varanasi to
demonstrate to the court how the survey would be conducted.
Justice Diwaker
was hearing the plea filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC)
challenging the Varanasi district court’s order (dated July 21) for the ASI
survey of the Gyanvapi premises.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/04/iit-kanpur-team-to-join-asi-in-scientific-survey-of-gyanvapi-mosques-premises-2601981.html
----------
Pakistan
Old Clifton
Road Of Karachi Named After Imam Khomeini
August 5, 2023
KARACHI:
Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Hossein Amir Abdullahian on Friday unveiled a
plaque for renaming the Old Clifton Road as Shahrah-i-Imam Khomeini.
Karachi Mayor
Barrister Murtaza Wahab, officials of the Iranian Consulate General and other
dignitaries were also present. Old Clifton Road was decorated with the flags of
Iran and Pakistan.
Speaking on the
occasion, Mayor Wahab expressed his gratitude to the Iranian foreign minister
for participating in the opening ceremony.
“Pakistan has
historical and cultural relations with Iran, which have increased with the
passage of time. In order to further strengthen this relationship, the historic
road of Old Clifton in Karachi has been renamed Shahrah-i-Imam Khomeini,” he
added.
The mayor
pointed out that the Clifton Garden, located on Old Clifton, had been
attributed to Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA).
He said that
under the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation
(KMC) was authorised to name public places and roads within its boundaries
after internationally renowned personalities.
He said that
the visit of the Iranian FM to Pakistan, during which a five-year trade
agreement had been implemented between the two countries, was very important.
He said the Iranian leader visited Pakistan on the invitation of Pakistan
Peoples Party chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Source: dawn.com
Please
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1768438/old-clifton-road-named-after-imam-khomeini
---------
Negotiations or
operation: KP lawmaker demands clear terror policy
August 5, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Angry lawmakers from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) on Friday warned the
government against a possible strong reaction from tribal people over the
ongoing terrorism spate in their area, asking the “responsible authorities” not
to force them to adopt a strategy which might be harmful to Pakistan.
Speaking on a
point of order during the Question Hour in the National Assembly, South
Waziristan MNA Jamaluddin asked “the government and those responsible” to have
a clear and consistent policy regarding the handling of these terrorists.
“Otherwise, the
tribal people will resort to measures that no one will be able to bear,” the
MNA warned, without elaborating.
The MNA, who
survived the deadly July 30 suicide blast at the JUI-F convention in Bajaur,
where he was the chief guest, said during their visit to the blast site, acting
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Azam Khan and the provincial chief secretary
had been given three options.
Either the
state should hold “meaningful dialogue” with the Taliban, or wage full-fledged
war on them, or leave the area to allow tribesmen to handle these terrorists on
their own.
“There should
be a meaningful dialogue with these people [terrorists], not like the one held
previously and abandoned after bringing them here. If you cannot do it or if
there is any compulsion, then have a war with them [terrorists] …… if you can’t
fight or do not want to fight …. then we will not be begging before you, and
will ask you, for God’s sake, leave our area and we will protect ourselves,”
said the MNA.
Deputy Speaker
Zahid Akram Durrani, who also belongs to the JUI-F, allowed members to deliver
speeches on points of order without taking up any agenda items.
Mr Jamaluddin
said that it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens who
regularly paid taxes to it.
The JUI-F MNA
said the people of tribal areas were not ready to digest as to how the suicide
bomber reached the venue without being noticed by anyone, stating that a
suicide jacket could not be prepared just in one day. Moreover, he said, when
the border along Afghanistan had already been fenced, then how were these
terrorists infiltrating it.
“For God’s
sake, have pity on tribal people before forcing them to take steps which can
cause difficulties for the government,” he said.
After
delivering a hard-hitting speech, the MNA thanked the prime minister, the
caretaker KP chief minister and the local administration of Bajaur for
cooperating with them and providing them complete assistance after the tragic
incident in which over 60 people lost their lives and more than 100 received
injuries.
Another JUI-F
MNA Salahuddin said if the terrorism was not controlled effectively then it
would spread like a jungle fire and then “Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad would
also not remain safe”. He regretted that no one had been made responsible or
accountable after such a huge tragedy.
“If the state
is failing then it should tell the people to take measures to protect
themselves,” he said, lashing out at the government, especially Interior
Minister Rana Sanaullah, for the delay in the issuance of arms licences to the
parliamentarians.
PTI dissident
Nuzhat Pathan drew the attention of the house towards increase in
sectarian-related killings in the country. She claimed that during a security
meeting she had told former army chief retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa that those
“who were being cleared by you would tomorrow send dead bodies to our homes and
this is what is happening.”
She said that
the “institutions” should be asked as to how those people who were supposed to
be living in camps were allowed to spread all over the country.
Criticism over
hasty legislation
Dr Fehmida
Mirza of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) lashed out at the government over
the hasty legislation being pushed through the assembly and termed the recent
passage of university bills a “scam”.
She alleged
that the government had silenced the “real opposition”, demanding that her
party should also be consulted in the process of nominating the caretaker
setup.
The deputy
speaker then adjourned the sitting till Monday evening.
Source: dawn.com
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---------
PM Shehbaz’s
talks overture draws ‘usual’ Indian reply
August 5, 2023
NEW DELHI:
India has said that an “environment free of terror and hostility” is necessary
to restart talks after Pakistan’s prime minister expressed readiness for
engagement with the “neighbour”.
India’s
response echoed its customary stance, reiterating what it had also expressed
earlier this year when PM Shehbaz Sharif had extended an offer for talks.
On Tuesday, Mr
Sharif said at an economic summit in Islamabad that Pakistan was “prepared to
talk to them, provided that the neighbour is serious to talk [on] serious
matters… because war is no more an option”. He didn’t name India, but the
inference was obvious.
While
responding to media queries at the weekly briefing, the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said, “We have seen reports regarding comments by
the Pakistan prime minister… India’s clear and consistent position on this
issue is well-known. We desire normal neighbourly relations with all our
neighbours, including Pakistan. For this, an environment free of terror and
hostility is imperative.”
He pointed out
that this was not a new stance. “We have said it before several times and I
will repeat it again today.”
In his speech,
PM Shehbaz noted that Pakistan has fought three wars in the last 75 years,
which resulted in economic deprivation and a shortage of resources. “Is this
the way that we adopt or have economic competition?”
He also felt
that it was up to the “neighbour [who] has to understand that we cannot become
normal neighbours unless abnormalities are removed, unless our serious issues
are understood and addressed through peaceful and meaningful discussions”.
In January too,
the Pakistani PM had made an offer to hold talks with India on all unresolved
matters, The Wire said. However, his office later clarified that such talks
could only occur after the retraction of the August 5, 2019 decision to alter
the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.
India’s
response was that the timing was not suitable because there “should be a
conducive atmosphere which does not have terror, hostility or violence”.
Source: dawn.com
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--------
Holding fair
elections: SC asks ECP to move it for writ of mandamus if executive denies help
August 5, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The
Supreme Court on Friday held the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should
approach the top court to seek a relief if the executive authorities were
reluctant to extend assistance to the commission to fulfill its duties under
Article 220 of the Constitution to hold fair elections.
“It was not for
the ECP to (metaphorically) wring its hand and then bow under the weight of its
own professed inability to persuade or cajole the executive authorities to obey
the constitutional command of Article 220 and pass an unconstitutional order of
pushing forward the election by several months,” observed Justice Munib Akhtar
in a detailed judgment.
The judgment
explained the top court’s April 4 short order in which a three-judge Supreme
Court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had
fixed May 14 as the new date for the conduct of the Punjab Assembly elections
after disregarding ECP’s appointed date of Oct 8.
But for the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections, the court had said since the matter was not
adjudicated upon, therefore, the petitioner can approach any forum as deemed
appropriate for seeking relief. Then the court had also quashed the March 22
ECP notification in which the commission delayed the holding of elections until
Oct 8 and declared the same as unconstitutional.
Now in the
detailed judgment, Justice Akhtar observed that the ECP should approach the
Supreme Court for the relief of writ of mandamus.
There can be no
doubt that ECP would be an aggrieved party, both in its own right and as acting
on behalf of the electorate as a whole, seeking fulfillment of the
constitutional duty for the enforcement of a fundamental right under Article 17
of the Constitution.
Rather than
being diverted into making an unlawful order in purported exercise of a power
that did not exist on the constitutional plane, the commission ought to have
pursued the legal remedy readily available, Justice Akhtar observed.
Article 218(3)
does not impose a duty upon the ECP, the verdict explained, to merely hold
elections, rather requires elections be held honestly, justly and fairly. But
the constitutional duty to hold fair elections does not and cannot convert the
duty into a power vis-à-vis other constitutional provisions, since it will make
the ECP master of all matters electoral.
The verdict was
emphatic in declaring that the ECP was not the master rather a forum that the
Constitution has chosen to perform the task (elections) that lies at the heart
of constitutional democracy.
Thus holding of
elections cannot be placed at the will, i.e. power, howsoever bonafidely
expressed or exercised by any particular agency or forum and howsoever exalted
its creation or position may be.
Democracy
demands elections while the Constitution commands elections, the judgment
emphasised, adding that democracy was meaningless without such an exercise,
repeated periodically as required by the Constitution. To concede to the ECP
the power to interfere with the electoral process would amount to derailing
democracy itself, with incalculable consequences, the judgment feared.
The verdict
explained that the Constitution expressly confers on the prime minister in
relation to the National Assembly and the chief ministers in relation to the
provincial assemblies, the power to advise dissolution before the stated term,
respectively.
These are
distinct constitutional powers, of a political nature. The effect of an early
dissolution is reflected in Article 224 itself, and of course the then Chief
Ministers of Punjab and KP provinces exercised their respective powers in the
instant case.
If the
contention is accepted that the ECP, under Article 218(3), has the power to
hold all elections on the same day, then it would mean the commission has a
constitutional veto power over the expressly stated power to advise
dissolution.
One would have
the unseemly spectacle of the prime minister or a chief minister, cap in hand
to the commission, seeking its permission or pre-clearance before advising
dissolution. This would be a negation of the constitutional powers conferred
upon them, the judgment feared adding this cannot be what was contemplated by
the constitutional scheme.
Article 218(3)
is certainly not designed or intended to allow the ECP to steamroller over all
other constitutional provisions relating to elections, including those that
impose duties on the Commission itself, the judgment said.
The power to
alter the election programme was circumscribed and not open-ended, it said
adding it can only be exercised if “necessary for the purposes of Election Act
2017” and not otherwise.
The verdict
explained that the ECP was empowered to make “alterations in the election
programme” “for different stages of the election,” but the overall programme
must recognisably remain the same.
The time period
imposed by Article 224 for holding of general elections cannot be extended by
the commission by reason of any overriding constitutional power claimed to be
conferred upon it by Article 218(3) or in terms of the Election Act 2017, it
said Article 218(3) cannot and does not operate as any sort of constitutional
power enabling the ECP to override them or deny them their due application.
No reading,
holistic or otherwise, can end in a result that diminishes other constitutional
provisions to the point that relegates them to being mere handmaidens to
Article 218(3). That would be a travesty, the judgment said.
Source: dawn.com
Please
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1768478/holding-fair-elections-sc-asks-ecp-to-move-it-for-writ-of-mandamus-if-executive-denies-help
---------
KP police
fighting militants despite lack of modern weapons, training: IGP
August 5, 2023
PESHAWAR:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur has
said more than 2,000 personnel – from sepoy to additional inspector general –
have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism for protecting the
nation’s future.
“We are
indebted to them [the martyrs]. The enemy was not expecting the way these
officers and jawans fought and we congratulate all those who grew up these
courageous sons and daughters,” Mr Gandapur said, while addressing a function
held in the provincial capital on Friday to mark the Police Martyrs’ Day.
He stated that
despite lack of resources, including latest weaponry and training, the police
force fought against the militants with professional zeal. “The KP police force
has become one of the model forces due to these supreme sacrifices,” Mr
Gandapur noted.
The KP police
chief said the government had recently approved a welfare package, providing
free education and health to the children and widows of the martyred policemen.
He, however, said salaries of the KP police were less than the police force of
other provinces, and requested the government to fulfill its promise and
increase ration allowance of the force.
Urges govt to
bring salaries of personnel on par with other provinces; functions, rallies
held across the province to mark Police Martyrs’ Day
He also
requested the government to form a board comprising police officers to provide
ease to the injured personnel while getting their medical bills approved
without any hindrance.
Peshawar Corps
Commander Lt-Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan, chief minister’s adviser on finance
Himayatullah Khan, retired and serving civil and military officials and
relatives of the martyred policemen were present on the occasion.
In Swat,
regional police officer, Malakand division, Nasir Mehmood Satti said the sacrifices
of over 350 police officers from the region would always be remembered. He
stated this while addressing a function to mark the Police Martyrs’ Day held at
the Police Training Centre, Swat.
District police
officer Shafiullah Gandapur, deputy commissioner Irfanullah Wazir, district bar
president Saeed Khan, traders’ federation president Abdul Rahim Khan,
journalists, police officers, youth and families of police martyrs
participated.
Mr Satti
emphasised the prevailing atmosphere of tranquility throughout the region was
an outcome of the profound sacrifices rendered by the dedicated police officers
and army soldiers.
He said a
hospital would be established in Malakand region to provide free medical
facilities to the families of the police martyrs.
In Lakki
Marwat, General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Naeem Akhtar along with Bannu
regional police officer Qasim Ali Khan inaugurated a newly-built building of a
police station in Dattakhel town of North Waziristan tribal district on Friday.
Deputy
commissioner Rehan Gul Khattak, DPO Salim Riaz and tribal chiefs were also
present.
The police and
military authorities also inspected different portions of the modern building.
Speaking on the
occasion, Gen Akhtar said the police station was the basic and an important
unit in the structure of the police department. He said the new police station
would prove helpful in maintaining law and order and providing protection to
people’s lives and properties.
Police and
military officials acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by local policemen in
the line of duty and paid rich tributes to the fallen cops.
Different
events were also held in Lakki Marwat and Bannu on Friday to mark the Police
Martyrs’ Day.
Lakki Marwat
district police officer Mohammad Ashfaq Khan led a peace rally from the police
lines to the District Headquarters Complex, Tajazai. The participants carried
banners inscribed with slogans highlighting ‘supreme’ sacrifices of policemen.
In Bannu,
divisional commissioner Parwiez Sabatkhel, while addressing a function on the
martyrs’ day, said over 250 policemen had embraced martyrdom in the region
during the last two decades.
Regional police
officer Qasim Ali Khan and Brig Mohammad Tayyab of Pak Army also spoke on the
occasion.
RPO Qasim Ali
said welfare of the families of the martyrs was his top priority.
In Mardan,
regional police officer Mohammad Sulaiman, while addressing a function, said
the sacrifices of KP police in the war against terrorism would be written in
golden words in the history.
Mr Sulaiman
said 373 policemen from Mardan division had laid down their lives in the line
of duty for establishment of peace and tranquility in the region.
On the
occasion, a constable, Taimur presented a national song and received applause
from the audience.
In Battagram, a
function was held at the district headquarters to mark the Police Martyrs Day.
The participants paid tribute to the cops, who lost their lives in the line of
duty.
Deputy
commissioner Tanveerur Rehman, district police officer Sonia Shamroz Khan,
traders’ union president Abdul Ghaffar Deshani, police officials and relatives
of the martyred policemen were also present.
In Abbottabad,
commissioner Hazara division Amir Sultan Tareen and DIG Tahir Ayub Khan visited
the Police Martyrs’ Memorial and laid floral wreaths. They also offered Fateha
for the departed souls.
In Kohat,
General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 9th Division Maj-Gen Ehsan Khattak,
while speaking at a function held at the police lines to mark the Police
Martyrs Day, said the nation owed present peace to the sacrifices made by the
police in the decade-long war against militants.
Commissioner,
Kohat division, Mohammad Ali Shah, DIG Sher Akbar Khan, Kohat deputy
commissioner Dr Azmatullah Wazir and district police officer Farhan Khan were
also present.
In Shangla, an
event was organised at the Police Lines, Alpuri, to mark the Police Martyrs
Day. The participants paid homage to the fallen policemen.
Source: dawn.com
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---------
JUI-F seeks
judicial probe into Bajaur suicide blast
August 5, 2023
BAJAUR: The
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Friday demanded a judicial probe into Sunday’s
bomb blast in its workers convention to ascertain its causes.
The suicide
attack killed 63 people and injured 123.
JUI-F district
chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed told a news conference in the Khar area here that
his party and its leadership had no issues with anyone and that Sunday’s
bombing of its function was actually an attack on peace and normalcy in the
district.
He said that
the blast in the peaceful gathering was the deadliest terrorist attack in the
history of the district.
“Neither our
party nor any of its leaders and workers have any dispute with anyone. Our
event was targeted just to disrupt the hard-earned peace in the district,” said
Mr Rasheed, who was unhurt in the bombing.
Accompanied by
Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah and several other party leaders,
the JUI-F district chief said that the bomb attack should be probed in a
transparent manner to determine its causes as well as “negligence” on part of
his party or authorities.
“We demand of
the government to launch a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy through
a judicial panel to find out its causes,” he said.
Mr Rasheed said
that strict action should be taken against the officials, who didn’t do their
duties diligently to prevent the tragedy.
He claimed that
his party’s popularity had increased in the district after Sunday’s deadly
attack against its workers convention.
“Though the
attack left a large number of party workers dead and wounded, it significantly
enhanced the party’s popularity and public image,” he said.
The JUI- F
district head claimed that the bomb attack also “promoted religious thoughts”
among residents.
“Sunday’s
bombing prompted people to enrol their children in seminaries instead of formal
schools,” he claimed.
Mr Rasheed said
that the party had planned to boldly raise its voice over the attack by
arranging a massive protest but the event was postponed at the request of the
central leadership.
Source: dawn.com
Please
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1768480/jui-f-seeks-judicial-probe-into-bajaur-suicide-blast
---------
Europe
May 2024 Trial
Set For Islamist Preacher Anjem Choudary Accused Of Terror Offences
Fri, 4 August
2023
East London
Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary is facing a trial next May for alleged terror
offences.
The 56-year-old
was arrested in a dawn raid at his home in Ilford on July 17 while a second
suspect, Khaled Hussein, was detained at Heathrow having arrived on a flight
the same day.
Choudary is
charged with directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of the
proscribed organisation Al-Muhajiroun (ALM) and addressing meetings to
encourage support for the group.
Hussein, 28,
who lives in Canada, was charged with membership of ALM.
On Friday the
defendants appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing by video link
from custody.
Choudary,
father of five, was at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire and Hussein appeared from
HMP Wandsworth in south London.
Mr Justice
Jeremy Baker set a plea hearing for January 5 and a provisional trial at
Kingston Crown Court from May 20 next year.
The court was
told the trial of up to eight weeks would be heard before a High Court judge.
During the hearing, the defendants spoke only to confirm their identities and
dates of birth.
Grey-bearded
and bespectacled Choudary wore a white robe and Hussein appeared in a grey and
black checked shirt.
Choudary could
be seen on the video link scribbling notes as defence barristers in court
discussed the timetable for the case.
Mr Justice
Baker told the defendants: “The trial in this case – if it is to take place –
will take place at Kingston Crown Court before a High Court judge on May 20 of
next year and you will appear at either that court or this court on January 5
for a plea and trial preparation hearing. In the meantime, you will remain in
custody.”
Last month
prosecutor Warren Stanier said the banned organisation Al-Muhajiroun involves
“an extreme form of Islam”.
“That is
reflected in the ideology of Al-Muhajiroun, a proscribed organisation in this country
in Janaury 2010,” he told Westminster magistrates court on July 24.
It is said
Al-Muhajiroun has been reborn under a different name, the Islamic Thinkers
Society (ITS), and Choudary is accused of giving a series of lectures to ITS.
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/may-trial-set-islamist-preacher-151303228.html
---------
Kirkcaldy
Mosque close to opening - after two decades of work
4th Aug 2023
On Sunday
August 13, the Mosque is hosting its third charity fundraiser along Fife
Coastal Path from the Lang Toun. The event has been billed by Maz Salim, a
mosque trustee, as fun for the whole family.
“We want to
welcome and invite everyone to come and enjoy the day. It would be nice to see
the whole community there,” he said. “The coastal path is beautiful, and it's a
fun day for the whole family and whoever wants to join us.”
Based on
previous walkathons, Mr Salim anticipates at least a couple hundred
participants. Walkers will follow thetrail from the mosque to Blackhall Mosque
in Edinburgh. For those looking for an easier day out, there’s a 1:00pm start
from Inverkeithing walking from the bridge and back.
“There are
going to be certain points with snacks and drinks along the walk. In
Inverkeithing, we’ve got permission to have a few stalls for various things,
and free food will be there,” Mr Salim explained.
The money
raised from the event will go towards the final stages of construction for
Kirkcaldy’s Central Mosque and Community Centre, which is the first purpose
built Mosque in Fife.
The first
planning application for the building was submitted in 2000, but Mr Salim
estimates that some £200,000 is still needed to finish community building.
“We’re at the
stage now where we’ve ordered the doors and facings and things like that. We
need to complete the outside and get the car park finished. We’re hoping to get
one of the floors open sometime in September,” Mr Salim explained.
The Fife
Islamic Centre acquired the old mosque and surrounding land sometime in the
1990s. “The idea was to build a bigger mosque to facilitate everyone’s needs as
the population grows. Now we’ve built the mosque and we’re finally at the
finishing stages,” he said.
Mr Salim
expects one of the floors to be ready sometime in September, but the official
opening date depends on the timely delivery and installation of materials.
The new mosque
was described as an 18,000 square foot space spread across four floors with a
big car park for visitors. There will be a children’s creche, a youth games
room, facilities for funerals and more.
“There’s a lot
of buzz and excitement around the opening. We’re hoping to welcome people from
all over,” Mr Salim said. “We’re part of the community. Our title is Kirkcaldy
Central Mosque and Community Centre. We named it that because it’s the
community’s regardless of what faith you’re from.”
For more
information about the charity walkathon is listed on the Mosque's Just Giving
page.
Source: fifetoday.co.uk
Please
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https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/kirkcaldy-mosque-close-to-opening-after-two-decades-of-work-4244280
---------
Russia-UAE
trade ‘skyrocketing’ – Bloomberg
5 Aug, 2023
Economic
cooperation between Russia and the United Arab Emirates has been on the rise
despite Ukraine-related Western sanctions on Moscow, Bloomberg reported on
Thursday.
The outlet
cited the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as saying that Russian oil
and precious metals flow into the emirates have recently soared while
microchips and civilian drones were being supplied to Moscow.
The report also
quoted Goldman Sachs’ Jared Cohen as stating that the UAE is profiting from its
position as a “geopolitical swing state.”
Apart from
soaring exports, the UAE has also been gaining popularity as a financial haven
for wealthy Russians. The Gulf state hosts more than 4,000 Russian companies
and is currently in talks with Moscow over a free-trade agreement between the
UAE and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.
The UAE is
poised to attract the biggest share of private wealth this year as Russian
capital seeks a new home, according to a recent report published by Henley
& Partners.
Russian Deputy
Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has stated that the UAE is on course to
become one of Russia’s 20 top economic partners due to the rapid growth of
trade and cooperation in recent months. The Gulf country has become a key
destination for Russian gold since Western governments closed their markets as
part of their sanctions on Moscow.
The UAE has
been largely neutral in the Ukraine conflict. It has refrained from placing
sanctions on Russia but has kept close ties with its Western partners, with
which it shares historically close bonds. Meanwhile, the US and its allies have
been pressuring Abu Dhabi to curb trade with Moscow, which is seen as an
impediment to Washington’s plans to isolate Russia.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/580784-russia-uae-trade-skyrocketing/
--------
Maduro accuses
Trump of drone assassination attempt
5 Aug, 2023
Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro has accused his former US counterpart, Donald Trump,
of spearheading a scheme to assassinate him in 2018, claiming the order came
directly from the White House.
Speaking to
mark 86 years since the founding of Venezuela's National Guard, an anniversary
which fell on the same day as the failed assassination attempt five years ago,
Maduro alleged US and Colombian involvement in the attack.
The president
spoke of “the personal and direct involvement that former President Donald
Trump had, the White House, in ordering the Colombian president to prepare the
attack,” which he added was carried out by a “terrorist group” organized in
Venezuela’s neighboring state.
Maduro went on
to claim that the subsequent investigation uncovered the role played by
Colombia’s then-president, Juan Manuel Santos, saying he was “the direct
operator from Bogota” who financed and planned the murder plot just days before
he was set to leave office.
Washington and
Bogota have denied any role in the attack, with then-US national security
advisor John Bolton suggesting in 2018 that it was instead “a pretext set up by
the regime itself.”
The August 4,
2018 assassination attempt occurred as Maduro delivered an outdoor speech in
Caracas to members of the National Guard, with two drones equipped with
explosives detonating over the area. A number of soldiers were reportedly injured
in the blasts, though the attack resulted in no casualties and did not harm
Maduro.
Footage of the
incident captured the explosions, with Maduro’s bodyguards seen leaping to
protect the president with ballistic shields before whisking him away.
Seventeen
suspects were ultimately convicted on August 4 last year, following 91 separate
hearings. Twelve of them were handed 30-year sentences for crimes including
attempted murder and treason, while the remaining five face prison terms of 20,
16, eight and five years, respectively, for conspiracy and terrorism.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/580860-maduro-drone-assassination-attempt/
--------
China to send
delegation to Ukraine peace summit
4 Aug, 2023
The Chinese
Foreign Ministry has announced plans to participate in an upcoming peace summit
hosted by Saudi Arabia, continuing Beijing’s efforts to help bring an end to
the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
China’s special
representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, will lead the delegation to
Jeddah, the ministry said on Friday in a statement. “China stands ready to work
with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in
seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” the ministry added.
Around 30
countries have reportedly been invited to attend the summit, which is scheduled
to be held on Saturday and Sunday. The US, the UK, South Africa and Poland are
among the nations that are expected to participate. Russia is excluded from the
gathering, even though Moscow would presumably have some say over any proposed
peace agreement.
Saudi Arabia,
which has good relations with Beijing, was chosen as the host nation at least
partly to help persuade China to attend, the Wall Street Journal reported last
week, citing unidentified diplomats. Invitations also were extended to such
countries as India, Brazil, Indonesia, Egypt and Mexico. In fact, Russia is the
only member of the BRICS economic bloc that hasn’t been invited.
Chinese
President Xi Jinping proposed a 12-point blueprint to end the fighting in
Ukraine in February. US officials dismissed the proposal, saying it would
benefit only Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg claimed China
doesn’t have much “credibility” on the issue because it has declined to condemn
Russia for attacking Ukraine.
Russian
officials have accused the US and other NATO members of prolonging the
conflict, causing more bloodshed, by sending billions of dollars’ worth of
weaponry to Ukraine. In just the past two months, since Kiev’s counteroffensive
began in the Donbass region, more than 43,000 Ukrainian troops have been
killed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/580850-china-to-intend-ukraine-saudi-peace-summit/
--------
Russian
president signs law on Islamic banking experiment
MOSCOW. Aug 4
(Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law on conducting
an experiment to introduce Islamic banking in Russia in the period from
September 1, 2023 to September 1, 2025.
The experiment
will be conducted on the territory of Dagestan, Chechnya, Bashkortostan, and
Tatarstan.
The law was
posted on the official website of legal acts.
The experiment
participants are legal entities registered in accordance with the Russian
legislation and included in a register that will be kept by the Central Bank.
Under the adopted document, counterpart funding participants have no right to
finance activities associated with the production of tobacco and alcoholic
products, weapons, munitions, trade in such goods, and also gambling.
Experiment
participants have no right to introduce in transactions remuneration expressed
in the form of an interest rate.
The minimum
amount of capital for a participant in the experiment, which is not a credit or
non-credit financial institution - separate limits are set for them - will be
10 million rubles from September 1, 2023 will be 10 million rubles, and 15
million rubles from January 1, 2024.
Islamic banking
has a number of prohibitions and restrictions. For example, it bans payment of
interest (riba) and related interest-bearing transactions, uncertain
transactions (gharar), and financing of particular economic sectors, such as
gambling, pork production and alcoholic beverages. There is a condition of
sharing the risk of profit and loss between the financing party and the client
on transactions and financial transactions based on actual assets or transactions
with these assets. It is also necessary to identify the actual assets
underlying the transaction.
One of the
experiences of Islamic banking in Russia was the private Islamic bank
International Commercial Bank Bard-Forte Bank, created in 1991, of which the
Islamic Development Bank was going to become a shareholder. Amal Financial
House has offered Islamic financial products since 2010. In 2008, Broker Credit
Service formed the common investment fund Halal. Traditional Russian banks also
showed an interest in Islamic bank principles. In 2006, Globex Bank drew a loan
from Dubai Islamic Bank worth $20 million according to the sharia law Murabaha.
Ak Bars Bank organized the placement of syndicated funds drawn under a Murabaha
deal worth $60 million in 2011. The organizers and book-runners of the deal
were Citi and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
(ICD). The bank said the deal had drawn considerable interest among investors
from the Middle Eastern countries and increased awareness of Russia and
Tatarstan in the Islamic investment community.
In 2019, Ak
Bars Bank presented a new mortgage product, housing financing by selling real
estate by installments according to sharia law norms.
In February,
Sberbank said its counterpart funding center, in collaboration with Sberinvest
Middle East experts, had conducted screening of shares of Russian companies
trading in thee Moscow and St. Petersburg Stock Exchanges for compliance with
Islamic financing regulations. As a result of that analysis, 18 shares of
Russian companies that could be defined as halal were found.
Source: interfax.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/93320/
---------
Young German
inspired by Turkish friends converts to Islam
4/08/2023
In the city of
Cologne, Germany, a 17-year-old German teenager named Noa has embraced Islam.
At the Weidenpesch Mosque, affiliated with the Union of Turkish-Islamic
Cultural Associations in Europe, Noa took the shahada and was given the name
'Nuh'.
Source: yenisafak.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/video-gallery/news/young-german-inspired-by-turkish-friends-converts-to-islam-3668307
--------
Mideast
Has the Muslim
Brotherhood turned from friend to foe as Turkiye restore ties with Egypt?
August 4, 2023
After almost a
decade of diplomatic deadlock, Egypt and Turkiye have agreed to restore
diplomatic ties and high-level visits have already taken place between two
countries. Recently, Egypt's commerce minister was in Turkiye and it was agreed
the two sides would raise trade levels to $15 billion by 2030.
This
rapprochement began in early 2021 but the major breakthrough came during the
inaugural ceremony of 2022 Qatar World Cup when both President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel fattah Al-Sisi shook hands in the
presence of Qatari ruler Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
The
relationship between the two had soured after Turkiye denounced the removal of
former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in a coup in July 2013. Erdogan had
been the first leader to visit Egypt after Morsi was elected president to
showcase the ideological intimacy between the Muslim Brotherhood and Erdogan's
Justice and Development Party (AKP). Turkiye even submitted an official request
to the UNSC to declare President Al-Sisi a war criminal after he orchestrated
the coup and both countries expelled the ambassador of the other.
Soon Turkiye
became a safe haven for exiled Brotherhood leaders, owners of anti-regime media
outlets, and other Islamist patrons after the Brotherhood was declared a
terrorist outfit by the Egyptian government in December 2013. The presence of
the Brotherhood in Turkiye has been the principal cause of contention between
the two, and their deportation has been the principal matter of all the past
negotiations between Cairo and Ankara.. According to a report, around 8,000
Brotherhood members and 3,000 other Islamist activists are residing in Turkiye;
of those, 2,000 have been granted citizenship, while the rest are residing
unofficially and are categorised as illegal immigrants.
Egypt has
insisted that all those who have sought shelter in Turkiye be handed over to
it. In recent weeks, Cairo is reported to have handed Turkish authorities a
list of those who are wanted in Egypt on terror charges, many of whom have been
sentenced to death in absentia.
The
Turkiye-Egypt rapprochement exercise has coincided with the toning down of
anti-Egypt rhetoric in the Turkish media. In 2021, Ankara instructed many media
outlets, particularly those run by Brotherhood veterans who fled to Turkiye, to
stop airing anti-Egypt views. In 2021, Turkiye asked many MBH-affiliated
channels like El Sharq TV and Watan TV to stop airing political shows critical
of the Egyptian regime, like the popular The Streets of Egypt, and pressed them
to confine themselves only to non-political shows. Later, the El Sharq TV
website was shut down for not abiding by government instructions. Many members
of the Brotherhood were also arrested in 2021 for using their social media
accounts to call on people to protest against the government in Egypt.
In the early
days of backchannel diplomacy, Egypt showed no enthusiasm towards the
anti-Brotherhood action the Turkish government was taking, referring to it only
as 'a good gesture'. While Turkiye refused to change its stance and continued
to consider the Brotherhood a political movement.
But following
the resumption of full diplomatic ties, Turkiye began to crack down on the
Brotherhood. Police have now arrested dozens of top Brotherhood leaders, while
seven of its members have been deported to neighbouring countries and many are
reported to have left for the UK, the US, Indonesia and Malaysia, fearing backlash
from the Turkish authorities. Others who have been residing in Turkiye for a
decade have been asked to leave the country within five months. It is also
reported that many of them have had the renewal of their residency cards
denied, and hence they have no option but to leave the country. The AKP has
also withdrawn membership to the party for those associated with the
Brotherhood in Egypt and who have acquired Turkish residency
These stern
measures coincided with the denial of citizenship to many prominent Brotherhood
leaders, including preacher Wagdy Ghoneim, who was sentenced to death in 2018
in absentia by an Egyptian court. Ghoneim expressed his disappointment
following the Turkish decision. He said that after he was deported from Qatar,
he had found refuge in Turkiye; however, he would now have to look for new
accommodation. Ghoneim is on the terror list in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia,
and he is banned from entering the UK.
Turkiye is
likely to stop the process of naturalisation and humanitarian residency that
the government had launched following Morsi's ouster.
These sudden
changes in the political orientations of Turkiye towards the Brotherhood could
be attributed to Ankara's realisation that the movement, as a political force,
is no longer relevant in its own country (Egypt) and its presence in Turkiye is
no longer required because of the fast changing political and strategic
scenarios. It is not possible for Turkiye to influence policy in Egypt by
hosting Brotherhood members. Instead, their presence has become a burden on the
economy and is likely to be misused by Erdogan's political opponents.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230804-has-the-muslim-brotherhood-turned-from-friend-to-foe-as-turkiye-restore-ties-with-egypt/
---------
Vigils in
Hodeida condemn burning Holy Qur'an crimes & demand unified Islamic
position
[04/August/2023]
HODEIDA August
04. 2023 (Saba)-The people of the directorates of Al-Hodeida province demanded,
during protests today after Friday prayers, to unify the position of the
Islamic nation in response to the crimes of burning the Noble Qur’an in Sweden.
They also
denounced the state of complacency and weakness that prevails in the regimes of
a number of Arab and Islamic countries that did not move a finger towards these
crimes, which take a dangerous turn in insulting the Book of God, which
represents the sanctity and constitution of the nation in the face of its
enemies.
Statements
issued by the endowments called on the regimes and peoples of the Islamic
nation to break the state of silence , adopt unified measures to confront the
campaigns of abuse, insults represented by burning Qur’an and declaring the
cessation of relations with the abusive countries.
The statement
indicated that the boycott weapon for all countries that allow the burning of
Holy Qur’an is the best way and the right step to respond to the moral ,
political decline of Sweden and all Western countries that justify their crimes
against Islam with freedom of opinion and expression.
It also called
for a broad Islamic awakening and action to discipline all those who persevere
and tempt themselves to violate Islamic sanctities.
Source: saba.ye
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3255818.htm
---------
Turkey's
Islamist Rulers Expand Their Influence Operations in U.S.
August 3, 2023
Turkey's ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP), which is rooted in political Islam akin to
the Muslim Brotherhood ideology, has been expanding its influence operations in
the US. The party recently purchased a multimillion-dollar, four-story building
in Washington, D.C., to intensify its lobbying activities on behalf of the
country's one-party rule.
In disclosures
filed under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), Halil Mutlu, a cousin of
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who represents the AKP in the US, informed the
Justice Department about the purchase of a 19th-century row house on New
Hampshire Avenue NW for $4.5 million.
The money for
the building's purchase was transferred from AKP headquarters on March 17 to an
account maintained by the AKP at a US bank.
The AKP is
primarily funded by taxpayer money. In their latest income declaration in 2019,
the AKP reported having 514.7 million Turkish lira, equivalent to approximately
$86.5 million at the then-prevailing rate of exchange. They utilized the entire
amount for their activities that year. Astonishingly, 87.5 percent of all the
AKP's income came from the Treasury.
This year the
AKP received a significant increase in funding, with 653.8 million Turkish lira
provided by the Treasury, representing a staggering 95 percent spike from the
2019 figure.
The AKP is
currently leasing office space at 300 New Jersey Avenue NW. It is not yet clear
when it will move to recently acquired building, located at 1621 New Hampshire
Avenue NW in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, where many embassy
buildings are located.
The building
was previously owned by The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), a nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting limited government and free markets.
The purchase of
the new building is a clear indication that Erdogan's AKP is planning to expand
its influence operations in the US. This expansion is not only aimed at
facilitating lobbying of the US Congress but also at establishing a stronger
presence in US Muslim communities. According to the FARA declaration, Mutlu and
other representatives from the AKP office in DC have made several visits,
including meetings with senators, congressmen and prominent figures within the
US Muslim community.
One noteworthy
visit occurred on April 20, when they met with Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn imam
who had previously stated that all Muslims should rally around Erdoğan's
leadership. Wahhaj made this proclamation at a New York event in 2019 during
which Erdoğan was the keynote speaker. These interactions demonstrate the AKP's
efforts to strengthen its ties with influential figures within the US Muslim
community as part of their expansion strategy.
Wahhaj,
formerly known as Jeffrey Kearse before adopting an Arabic name, has indeed
developed strong connections with Turkey's President Erdoğan in recent times,
even receiving awards from him. However, it's crucial to note that Wahhaj has a
controversial background.
He was listed
as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing case,
which raised concerns about his associations and activities. Over the years
Wahhaj has been involved with various organizations in the US that have been
linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, including the Muslim Alliance of North
America, the Islamic Society of North America, the American Muslim Council, the
North American Islamic Trust and the Council on American Islamic Relations
(CAIR).
Given his past
and affiliations, Wahhaj's close ties to President Erdoğan raise questions
about the nature and implications of their relationship, especially considering
the controversies surrounding both figures.
Indeed, the
Erdoğan government's efforts to promote its political Islam extend beyond the
AKP office in Washington. In 2016 the government invested $110 million to build
a religious compound in Lanham, Maryland. This compound is managed by the Diyanet,
Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate, which is a large, state-funded
organization overseeing approximately 80,000 mosques in Turkey and abroad, with
a staff of nearly 150,000. The Diyanet serves as the Erdoğan government's
vehicle for spreading political Islam beyond Turkey's borders.
The presence of
the Diyanet compound in the US raises concerns about the potential for
promoting a specific brand of Islam with political undertones. It becomes even
more notable when influential figures like Wahhaj preach at this facility,
invited by the Turkish government imam. Such activities can be seen as a means
of advancing the Erdoğan government's political agenda and expanding its
influence among Muslim communities abroad, including those in the United States.
Another figure
tapped by the Erdoğan government to promote its ideology among US Muslims is
Ousama Jammal, a key Muslim Brotherhood figure in the US and secretary-general
of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO). Jammal has cultivated closer
ties with the Turkish president in recent years, with Turkey supporting and
funding the Muslim Brotherhood network in the US and other countries. Jammal's
privileged status is obvious through the VIP treatment he receives whenever he
visits Turkey, including private audiences with President Erdogan.
Furthermore,
the fact that Jammal has preached at the Diyanet compound in Maryland
underscores the partnership between the Erdoğan government and influential
figures within the US Muslim community. This kind of collaboration raises
questions about the extent of political and ideological influence being exerted
by the Turkish government on religious matters in the US and beyond.
While he was
president of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Chicago, in 2004, Jammal ran
a fundraising campaign for Palestinian activist Sami Al-Arian, who was charged
with terrorism and accused of being the US leader of the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad. After a long legal battle, a plea bargain and house arrest, Al-Arian was
deported to Turkey in February 2015.
Erdoğan helped
him settle in Turkey, secured a position for him at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim
University (IZU) in Istanbul, an institution that was set up by the Islamist
İlim Yayma Vakfı foundation. In 2017 Al-Arian established the Center for Islam
and Global Affairs (İslam ve Küresel İlişkiler Merkezi, CIGA) at the university
and currently serves as its coordinator.
In September
2021 Erdoğan inaugurated the opening of a multimillion-dollar high rise built
across from UN headquarters in New York City and described the building as a
hub for American Muslims, who are being wooed by Turkey's Islamist rulers in
their effort to export political Islamist ideology to US soil.
Speaking to his
Muslim guests at an event organized by the Turkish American National Steering
Committee (TASC), an outfit that promotes the Muslim Brotherhood with support
from the Erdoğan government, the Turkish president said: "God willing, we
will open our Turkish House opposite the United Nations [headquarters]. This
monument of glory will serve as a home not only for our citizens but also for
the US Muslim community. Inshallah, your new and united address will be this
building."
The 36-floor
Turkish House was constructed by the Erdoğan government at a reported cost of
nearly $300 million and houses the Turkish diplomatic and consular missions as
well as commercial space that will be leased out. The building will support the
Turkish government's US operations.
TASC was
investigated by the FBI in the past over its alleged interference in US
politics on behalf of the Turkish government, according to the leaked emails of
Berat Albayrak, Erdoğan's son-in-law.
The official
venues are not the only ones that work to promote the Erdoğan government's
religious zealotry in the US. Several religious groups, closely linked to the
Erdoğan family and the AKP government, are also involved. Perhaps the most
important is Turken, which was registered as a 501(C)3 not-for-profit
educational organization by the US Internal Revenue Service in 2014. As a
nonprofit, it is eligible for certain tax benefits and operates under the guise
of educational and charitable purposes.
The connection
between Turken and its founding organizations, the Ensar Foundation and the
Turkey Youth and Education Service Foundation (TÜRGEV), raises serious concerns
about the potential implications of their activities in the United States. The
ultra-religious Ensar Foundation gained notoriety in Turkey due to several
sexual abuse cases involving students in their dormitories. These incidents
raised questions about the organization's practices and the protection of young
individuals in its care.
TÜRGEV, on the
other hand, is directly linked to President Erdoğan's family and has been
involved in various educational and youth-oriented initiatives to promote
political Islam. Its association with Turken further raises questions about the
potential agenda and ideology being promoted by these organizations in the US.
The fact that
Turken is building a dormitory in Manhattan, specifically catering to Islamist
youth, adds another layer of concern. Such activities may raise questions about
the possible promotion of religious and political ideologies within these
facilities and their potential impact on the youths who reside there.
The 21-story
high-rise, located at 300 East 41st Street in New York City, is financed by
Turkey through various means including donations from pro-Erdoğan
businesspeople who are favored in government contracts and tenders and a
controversial funds transfer from Turkey's Red Crescent (Kızılay).
The previous
involvement of Mutlu as the president of Turken before moving on to represent
the AKP office in Washington adds further intrigue to the situation since it
suggests a connection between Turken and the AKP's activities in the US.
Given these
connections and associations, it is essential for US authorities to carefully
monitor the activities of Turken and similar organizations to ensure
transparency, protect the rights and well-being of individuals involved and safeguard
the principles of pluralism and religious freedom in the United States.
All these
efforts combined raise significant concerns about the Erdoğan government's
efforts to export its political Islamist ideology to the United States. The
combination of various activities, such as the establishment of religious
compounds, the funding of educational organizations and investment in property
suggests a concerted effort to exert influence and advance specific ideologies
outside of Turkey.
This raises the
question of how these activities may impact the US Muslim community and its
relations with other community actors and stakeholders. It is worth noting that
it was the Erdoğan government's ideology that destroyed the rule of law,
dismantled democratic institutions, wiped out critical and independent media,
suppressed the opposition and stifled dissent in Turkey.
Source: meforum.org
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.meforum.org/64660/turkey-islamist-rulers-expand-their-influence
--------
Media Adopt
False Palestinian Narrative on Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
AUGUST 4, 2023
On August 1,
2023, the Associated Press reported that Israeli National Security Minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir had visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque a week prior.
Ben-Gvir, had,
however, only walked on the Temple Mount compound and had not visited the
actual mosque. In correspondence with HonestReporting, the AP acknowledged the
imprecise nature of the wording and committed to be more attentive to this
issue in the future.
In fact,
HonestReporting had prompted the AP only days earlier to correct a faulty
headline on the same issue.
However, the AP
is not the only news source to erroneously describe the entire compound as
“Al-Aqsa mosque,” with both Reuters and the Middle East Eye having recently
done so, thus adopting a false Palestinian narrative.
The Al-Aqsa
Mosque was built in the late seventh/early eighth century CE by the Umayyad
Caliphate at the site where most Sunni Muslims believe Mohammed ascended to
heaven.
Both the mosque
and the nearby Dome of the Rock shrine were built on the Temple Mount, the
holiest site in Judaism, which was previously home to the First and Second
Jewish Temples in antiquity.
During the
Middle Ages, those who touted the importance of Jerusalem to Islam began to
refer to the Temple Mount as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), which
gradually became accepted throughout the Sunni world and is still used today by
Muslim organizations worldwide, including the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation.
Following the
Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel gained control over the site, the Palestinians
began to do away with the al-Haram al-Sharif moniker and referred to the entire
Temple Mount compound as al-Aqsa. At the same time, the actual mosque began to
be referred to as al-Qibli mosque (southern mosque).
While some see
this as a form of Islamic traditionalism, the name change is steeped in
contemporary politics — by claiming that the entire compound is a mosque, the
Palestinians are effectively blocking any discussion about Jewish prayer at
Judaism’s holiest site, and even calling into question the visit of Jewish
pilgrims to the site.
This is
particularly evident from the fact that the usage of “Al-Aqsa” to refer to the
entire compound gained steam in the 1980s, when Jewish groups focused on the
Temple Mount were gaining prominence.
When
international media organizations adapt their terminology to the Palestinian
narrative that the entire Temple Mount is Al-Aqsa Mosque, they contribute to
the erasure of the Jewish connection to the site as well as embolden those who
seek to use Jewish visits to the holy site as a justification for violence and
terrorism.
Source: algemeiner.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/08/04/media-adopt-false-palestinian-narrative-on-al-aqsa-mosque-compound/
--------
North
America
CAIR Thanks
Rep. Al Green for Resolution Recognizing Islam, Muslim History
August 4, 2023
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 08/04/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked
Representative Al Green (TX- 9) for introducing H.Res.635, a resolution
recognizing Muslim history and acknowledging Islam as an important world
religion. Muslim members of Congress, including Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and
Andre Carson, have expressed support for the resolution.
SEE: US
congress presented with resolution recognising Islam as a great religion
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1097021-us-congress-presented-with-resolution-recognising-islam-as-a-great-religion
“We thank Rep.
Green for introducing a resolution that recognizes the significance of Islam to
world history and the contributions of Muslims to various nations, including
America,” said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Robert S. McCaw. “We
encourage other members of Congress to join Rep. Green in supporting the
resolution.”
CAIR’s mission
is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice,
and empower American Muslims.
La misión de
CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam,
promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Become a Fan of
CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to
CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to
CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s
YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv
Follow CAIR on
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to
CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like
reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help
contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American
Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a
monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and
defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would
like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here:
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
— For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
Source: cair.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-thanks-rep-al-green-for-resolution-recognizing-islam-muslim-history/
--------
'Grieving
mothers have become a nightmare for the Islamic Republic': Exploring the
reverberations of Mahsa Amini's death
Almost one year
on from Mahsa Amini's death, Christiane Amanpour speaks to Sasha Joelle
Achilli, producer of new FRONTLINE documentary "Inside the Iranian
Uprising", and Iranian-American journalist for the New York Times, Farnaz
Fassihi.
Source: us.cnn.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://us.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/08/04/amanpour-sasha-joelle-achilli-farnaz-fassihi.cnn
---------
Congressmen
Call for Investigation of Iranian Regime Control of Mosques in U.S.
August 3, 2023
Lawmakers have
called on the Biden Administration to investigate four Shi'a mosques in the
United States they believe are working on behalf of Iran's Islamist government.
In a July 28
letter shepherded to publication by Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., lawmakers asked
Attorney General Merrick Garland and Avril Haines, director of National
Intelligence, to investigate Shi'a religious institutions across the U.S.
Citing information published in Focus on Western Islamism, the lawmakers
declare that the mosques appear to form "a network of regime-sponsored
mosques acting as agents for a foreign adversary."
There's very
little doubt that the mosques in question — which have been subjected to very
little scrutiny by mainstream media outlets in the U.S. — are controlled by the
Islamist regime in Iran, said an Iranian dissident speaking on the condition of
anonymity.
"In Iran,
there's a Basij [Islamic Republic paramilitary] base in every mosque that
constantly ensures the political loyalty of the clergy," the source told
FWI, adding that regime security services vet mosque appointments. "The
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security
(MOIS) are controlling the mosque appointments in the US. MOIS oversees the
regime's U.S. operations, which includes using religious institutions."
The regime-tied
Shia mosques function as proxies of the regime, which "wants to influence
US culture to destroy the US from within," the source said.
One mosque
mentioned in the letter is the Islamic Education Center (IEC) in Houston,
Texas, formerly led by Maulana Ghulam Hurr Shabbiri. Shabbiri's current
employer, the Islamic Community Centre in Nottingham, England, says on its
website that Iran's "office of the Supreme Leader" appointed Shabbiri
to his position at the IEC. As documented by FWI last summer, the Houston IEC
recorded its children singing the regime's anthem, "Salam Farmande"
(Hello Commander), idolizing Khomeini and swearing allegiance to the regime.
"While the
English language version was stripped of some of the more incendiary lines, the
intent clearly remains the same: to propagandize the vulnerable into supporting
a violent, theocratic regime," the letter states. "Indeed, the
Iranian regime is proud of it: Iranian state media outlets have shared the
video of American children pledging allegiance to their cause."
The letter
notes that the Houston mosque's property belongs to the Alavi Foundation, which
is being prosecuted by the U.S. government for serving as a front for the
Iranian government, allegedly funneling millions into the country in violation
of federal sanctions. The Houston IEC denied knowledge of the Alavi
Foundation's alleged operations on behalf of the regime.
The letter also
highlights Iranian regime funding to a mosque in Potomac, Maryland. As
documented by FWI, the Islamic Education Center, like IEC Houston, received
funds from the Alavi Foundation mentioned above. Not only has IEC taken funds
from the Alavi Foundation, but their property belongs to the Alavi Foundation.
The lawmakers expressed alarm that an image obtained by Iranian dissidents
shows children at the mosque paying homage to the regime's revolutionary
leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, as they gather in song around his picture.
The lawmakers
also raised concern about the Islamic House of Wisdom (IHW) in Michigan, led by
a former head of "political ideology" for the Iranian Navy, Mohammad
Ali Elahi. As documented by FWI, Elahi claims friendship with three of the
regime's former presidents. He allegedly first came to the United States on
behalf of Tehran "to inspect American branches of Hizbullah (Tehran's
network of agents) and to reinforce Tehran's influence on Shi'ite
communities."
Last summer, FWI
reported on the IHW mosque's online library that "encouraged readers to
read resources advocating the subjugation of the world under Islam, fighting
Jews and Christians, upholding martyrdom as a Shi'ite goal, denigrating women,
and prescribing the death penalty for apostasy. After FWI revealed this, IHW
attempted to delete the evidence. Citing FWI reporting, the lawmakers declare
that "IHW has been a significant purveyor of extremist propaganda, in line
with the Iranian regime's views."
The lawmakers
also expressed concerns about the Manassas Mosque in Manassas, Virginia, which
also appears heavily influenced by Tehran. They have received Alavi Foundation
funds to the tune of $200,000 and appear to praise members of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated by the United States government as a
terrorist organization.
"A recent
video of inside the Mosque showed it is adorned with pictures of Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) 'martyrs' who were killed in Syria, a
life-sized cutout of Khomeini, as well as Iranian flags and slogans. In 2019,
it openly celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in
Iran," the letter states, adding that the mosque also received about
$200,000 from the Alavi Foundation and has expensive relics from the Iranian
regime.
Lawmakers warn
the intelligence community in their letter that the mosques appear to be part
of a network of institutions promoting Iranian regime propaganda. "The
radical ideology being promoted by this regime preaches hatred not only towards
Jews, Christians, and westerners but also to Sunni Muslims and fellow Shi'a
Muslims who do not accept the regime's ideology. But Iran's use of religious
and cultural institutions to spread its radical and hateful ideology is not
unprecedented, and in fact, other examples in the West are openly
acknowledged." The lawmakers state that officials in the United Kingdom
have started to address the problem and that U.S. officials need to follow
suit.
The lawmakers
acknowledge that the mosques in question have every right to practice their
religion as they see fit under the U.S. Constitution, but add that "a
state sponsor of terrorism such as Iran providing support for those who
celebrate murderous terrorists such as Qassem Soleimani is unacceptable. Iran's
use of institutions of religious worship for illegitimate foreign influence
operations threatens our national security, and intentionally threatens our
Constitutional order."
In addition to
asking if there is a comprehensive strategy across U.S. government departments
and agencies to address this issue, they also ask if officials are using the
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to counter the regime's malign influence
on the country.
Adrian Calamel,
an analyst specializing in the Middle East and Islamism in the West, says the
Iranian regime uses Shia mosques to culturally influence the West.
"Individuals [who work in Shi'a mosques in the U.S.] need to be vetted by
the Supreme Leader's Office because they are seen as vanguards of the Islamic
Revolution, pushing the soft power and the first step in penetrating Western
society which has been at the cultural level," said Calamel, adding,
"The most extreme case is Mohsen Rabbani in Argentina who ran a mosque,
coordinated with several regime 'cultural offices' which ran spies, served as a
beef inspector for an Iranian shell company, and he was involved in the AMIA
bombing."
"This is
what gives me pause, I know the clerics appointed to these centers are not just
masters of scripture because they certainly push anti-American propaganda, but
are they trained in surveillance, countersurveillance, operational
security?" said Calamel.
Source: meforum.org
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.meforum.org/64658/congressmen-call-for-investigation-of-iranian
---------
Arab World
Saudi Fund for
Development inaugurates $90 million King Abdullah Campus at Pakistani
university
August 04, 2023
ISLAMABAD: A
Saudi government agency responsible for providing financial and technical assistance
to developing countries on Friday inaugurated the King Abdullah Campus of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir University in Pakistan by allocating a grant of $90 million
for the project.
The campus has
15 academic departments and administration blocks along with a library, mosque,
auditorium and comfortable student accommodation, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
More than
10,000 students, faculty members, and employees are expected to benefit from
the new facility, which aims to provide research opportunities and contribute
to the sustainable socio-economic development of Pakistan.
The project was
inaugurated by the Saudi Fund for Development’s director general of Asia
operations, Dr. Saud bin Ayed Al-Shammari, who was also accompanied by AJK
President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry.
“As the
President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Chancellor of the University of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir, I humbly acknowledge the pivotal role played by the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia, led by the visionary King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, in the wake
of the calamitous earthquake of 2005,” Chaudhry said while addressing the
ceremony. “The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will forever cherish the
profound impact of the substantial financial assistance bestowed upon us, which
not only rebuilt our beloved university but also sowed the seeds of an
unyielding friendship between Saudi Arabia and Kashmir.”
On October 8,
2005, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the northern regions
of Pakistan, including AJK, causing widespread devastation and resulting in the
loss of thousands of life in the whole region.
The seismic
activity reduced entire villages and towns to rubble, and infrastructure,
including hospitals, roads and educational institutions, was severely damaged.
The senior SFD
official also mentioned the quake in his speech, saying his organization’s
decision to construct the new campus was part of its commitment to work for
sustainable development in Pakistan.
“This project
is a result of the close developmental relations, and successful longstanding
partnership, which has existed between SFD and Pakistan for more than 47
years,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349801/saudi-arabia
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UAE-Based
Businessman Yusuff AliOf Lulu GroupAt The 2023 Holy Kaaba Washing In Mecca
August 04, 2023
Dubai: Yusuff
Ali, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International and one of the
top 10 richest businessmen in the UAE, was among the distinguished attendees at
the 2023 Gusl-e-Kaaba (Holy Kaaba washing) ceremony in Mecca.
A video from
the annual ceremony, which took place on August 2 in Mecca, showed Yusuff Ali
inside the holy Kaaba, greeting and speaking with officials.
The Deputy
Governor of Mecca, Prince Badr bin Sultan, led the ceremony on behalf of King
Salman. Following Fajr prayers, the washing of the holy Kaaba was conducted
with ZamZam water mixed with rose water, with the walls being carefully wiped
with cloths moistened with the specially prepared mixture.
Saudi Arabia's
General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque
was responsible for raising the lower part of the Kiswa - the large embroidered
cloth that covers the Kaaba. The event also included washing the inner walls
and floor with mettaram - oud oil and rose water.
Head of the
Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Sudais, along with
ministers, emirs, diplomats, special guests, custodian of the Kaaba, members of
the learned council, and senior officials of the Iruharam Karyalam,
participated in the function.
Yusuff Ali's
special recognition as a guest at the Kaaba washing ceremony further emphasised
the significance of the event.
Source: gulfnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/viral-video-uae-based-businessman-yusuff-ali-at-the-2023-holy-kaaba-washing-in-mecca-1.1691166829645
---------
Saudi Arabia to
host Ukrainian crisis summit on Saturday in Jeddah
August 05, 2023
RIYADH:
National security advisers and international representatives will meet in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported on Friday.
The meeting is
a continuation of efforts by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his
communications with Russian and Ukrainian leaders since the early days of the
crisis, to achieve a permanent peace deal, while reducing the impact of the war
and its humanitarian repercussions.
The Saudi
government hopes the meeting will contribute to reinforcing dialogue and
cooperation.
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was grateful to the Kingdom for the
platform for negotiations.
He said in a
statement posted on Twitter: “Tomorrow in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, a meeting of
advisers to heads of state and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs regarding the Peace Formula will begin.
“Many countries
will be represented, different continents, including the countries of the
global south.
“It is very
important because in such matters as food security, the fate of millions of
people in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world directly depends on how
fast the world will be in implementing the Peace Formula.”
He said the
meeting in Jeddah followed a similar event in Copenhagen in June, and would
help enable “step by step” movement toward the global peace summit.
Zelensky said:
“A fair and honest end to Russian aggression will benefit everyone in the
world. Eliminating all threats created by Russia to Ukrainian and global
security means returning peace to international relations and stability to
global life.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349866/saudi-arabia
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Saudi Arabia
tells citizens to leave Lebanese territory
August 04, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia has told its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid approaching areas of
armed conflict, the Saudi embassy in Lebanon said in a statement posted on
Twitter late on Friday.
“The Kingdom’s
embassy in the Lebanese Republic warned citizens against being present and
approaching areas witnessing armed conflicts, and demanded them to quickly
leave Lebanese territory,” the embassy said.
It also
stressed “the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon,” the
statement added.
On Aug. 1, the
UK also updated its travel advice for Lebanon, advising against “all but
essential travel” to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Palestinian camp of Ain
El-Hilweh.
At least 13
people, most of them militants, have been killed in fighting that erupted in
the camp on July 29 between mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists,
security sources in the camp told Reuters.
Ain el-Hilweh
is the largest of 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon, hosting around 80,000 of up to
250,000 Palestinian refugees countrywide, according to the United Nations'
agency for refugees from Palestine.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349846/saudi-arabia
--------
Adhlal,
Baytonia sign deal to empower Saudi designers
August 04, 2023
JEDDAH: Adhlal,
the research-based consultancy focused on empowering future generations of
Saudi designers, has joined forces with Baytonia, a prominent online furniture
marketplace in Saudi Arabia, through a memorandum of understanding signed on
Thursday in Jeddah.
The strategic
collaboration aims to drive initiatives with a strong emphasis on design.
Collaborative
endeavors between Adhlal and Baytonia encompass a wide range of schemes,
including research projects, immersive learning experiences, competitions and
more. Both entities share a vision for the future and are committed to the
success and advancement of the collaboration.
Princess Nourah
Al-Faisal, founder of Adhlal, praised the collaboration, saying: “This
agreement is a prime example of connecting the dots. It’s inspiring to witness
entities that not only talk but actually implement. Baytonia’s implementation,
its work with students and its well-structured plans for the future are truly
inspiring. Seeing strategies and aspirations come to life is a rewarding
experience.”
She added that
the collaboration signifies the next step for Adhlal as a consultancy. “From
our humble beginnings that focused on research and identifying gaps, this is a
prime example of successful implementation.”
Princess Nourah
said that Adhlal has always been a collaborative entity; its approach involves
finding partners and connecting different elements such as academia, industry,
design and governance. “Ideally, in every project we undertake, we aim to
involve all five industries in some form or another.”
She aims to
encourage the younger generation interested in the design industry. “More and
more, SMEs and startups are actively seeking talent and a unique voice to
represent their distinct culture. The opportunities are abundant, but it
requires hard work and belief in your talent. Be willing to put in the extra
effort to learn the necessary skill sets that will pave your path to success.”
Karam Rajab,
co-founder and CEO of Botaniya, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership
with Adhlal, saying that the business model aligns perfectly with the Saudi
lifestyle. He praised the work being done by various stakeholders and the
alignment in their shared vision.
“Our aim is not
only to commercialize products, but also to empower local talent, ensuring
their artistic endeavors become sustainable livelihoods,” Karam said.
He highlighted
the importance of providing opportunities for artists, interior designers,
product designers and architects to thrive in their professions.
Baytonia’s
collaboration with Adhlal aims to connect with the design community, showcase
and sell art and products, and provide people with the means to make a living
from their creative pursuits. Karam acknowledged Adhlal’s expertise and support
in opening doors to new sales channels and transforming the lives of talented
individuals, stressing his company’s commitment to fostering a thriving
creative community.
Rajab
highlighted the need to connect artists to industry by assisting them in
mass-producing and scaling their work. He emphasized Baytonia’s commitment to
supporting artists, both through its platform and other sales channels. The
company’s goal is to extend its toolbox of knowledge and resources to empower
the artist and design community, enabling people to thrive creatively, he said.
“Our aim is to
create solutions and products that align with the unique Saudi lifestyle,
tapping into a vast market opportunity,” Rajab added.
Ibrahim
Al-Howaish, co-founder and COO of Baytonia, said: “There are numerous areas
where we can collaborate. Adhlal’s extensive network with universities and
students is invaluable. We see immense potential in leveraging their network,
while also offering our expertise across various segments of the business.
Together, we can support students in bringing their designs to the market.”
Jeroen Frumau,
design program director and expert adviser at Adhlal, said: “It’s truly
inspiring to see the industry in Saudi Arabia embracing the crucial role of
design, designers and creativity from the very beginning. There is a growing
willingness to welcome talent from local universities and the market itself,
rather than immediately seeking resources from abroad.
“It’s amazing
to see Baytonia’s collaboration not only with Effat University and other
institutions, but now also with Adhlal. This collaboration demonstrates a
commitment to stimulating conditions for the creation of future Saudi authentic
products. It’s a testament to the increasing recognition and support for Saudi
designs within the country’s design industry.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349716/saudi-arabia
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KSrelief
repairs 3 Yemen schools for transfer to Education Ministry
August 04, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia’s aid agency, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center,
rehabilitated three schools in Yemen’s Lahj Governorate, handing over the
facilities to the Ministry of Education in the war-torn country to resume
education services for children in the area.
Riyadh-based
KSrelief said on Friday that the three schools were reconstructed in the Tuban
district of Lahj Governorate.
Assistant
Undersecretary for the Projects and Equipment Sector at the Ministry of
Education, Fadl Abdullah Ali, hailed KSrelief’s support for the Yemeni
education sector through building, restoring and rehabilitating schools.
Citing an
official report on future KSrelief projects as part of the emergency response
plan for Yemen’s education system, Ali said that 28 classrooms would be
expanded, 10 schools would be rehabilitated, including wastewater facilities,
educational aid would be provided to staff in 20 schools, and psychological and
educational support activities will be provided to 40 trainees.
More than
16,000 male and female students will benefit from the plan in the governorates
of Lahj, Abyan, Al-Dhale and Taiz.
The handing
over of the schools, which took place on Thursday, comes as part of
humanitarian and relief projects provided by the Kingdom through KSrelief.
Saudi support
to Yemen stems from the strong ties between the Kingdom and the war-hit
country.
Saudi Arabia
last Tuesday announced a $1.2 billion package of aid for Yemen’s
internationally recognized government.
It will help
boost the country’s struggling economy, pay salaries and improve food security,
and reflects the Kingdom’s desire to help achieve security, stability and
development in Yemen.
The package was
provided in response to a request by the Yemeni government for help in
addressing its budget deficit.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
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---------
SFD signs $75m
agreement to reconstruct hospital in Saint Lucia
August 04, 2023
RIYADH: The
Saudi Fund for Development’s chief executive officer Sultan Al-Marshad signed
on Thursday a loan agreement worth $75 million with the Prime Minister of Saint
Lucia Philip Joseph Pierre, to help fund the St. Jude Hospital project in the
Caribbean country.
The signing was
also attended by Saint Lucia’s Minister for External Affairs, International
Trade and Civil Aviation Alva Baptiste; the Minister for Health, Wellness and
Elderly Affairs Moses Jn. Baptiste; and government officials from both sides.
The agreement
is part of the SFD’s efforts to support sustainable development, a statement
said.
The SFD has
implemented more than 700 development projects and programs in 89 countries
around the world since its operations began in 1975.
This deal marks
the SFD’s first presence in Saint Lucia, making it the 90th nation to receive
funds from the organization for a development project.
The funding
follows three years of inactivity on the reconstruction of the hospital, which
was hit by fire in 2009.
This inaction
had put at risk the availability of health care services for Saint Lucia’s
population.
The SFD’s loan
will help provide an integrated medical facility offering secondary medical
care, with a capacity of about 100 beds.
The project
will also involve renovating the hospital’s southern, eastern, and western
wings, as well as other buildings.
The hospital
will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a pharmacy, maternity
wards, accident and emergency department, and operating rooms for surgery.
The project
will also contribute toward creating employment, both during construction and
once the renovations are complete. It will also support the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals.
Pierre said:
“We are one step closer to making amends to the people of Saint Lucia,
particularly to the people of the south of the island, by securing funding for
the reconstruction of the St. Jude Hospital.
“We have been
able to achieve this milestone with the support of Saudi Arabia through the
SFD, as we embrace a new era of collaboration to find sustainable solutions to
tackle pressing issues.
“Providing
access to health care is not merely an economic or political imperative, it is
a moral imperative, rooted in the values that define us as a country. It is
about compassion; it is about empathy.”
Al-Marshad
said: “This agreement signifies an important step in the cooperation between
both countries.
“The project to
reconstruct St. Jude Hospital will not only help empower local communities, but
also contribute toward strengthening the health sector’s capacity to cater to
the requirements of residents.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2349666/saudi-arabia
--------
Australia
No interest or
'socially harmful' business: Australia's first Islamic bank, explained
5 August 2023
Islamic banks
have become an integral part of the financial system in many Muslim-majority
countries and nations with sizeable Muslim minorities, such as the United
Kingdom, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Australia is
poised to join them.
From mid-2024,
Islamic Bank Australia is set to offer Australia's 813,000 Muslims a banking
service aligned with their religion's strictures against profiting from
interest or investing in harmful industries such as alcohol or gambling.
The fundamental
distinguishing feature of an Islamic bank is its adherence to Islamic or Sharia
law.
As such,
Islamic banks differ from their counterparts in four main ways:
- They do not
charge or pay interest.
- They don't
engage in property speculation or activities such as derivatives trading.
- They do not
invest in businesses deemed unlawful by Islam.
- They
typically appoint a second board to oversee compliance with these rules.
Why do these
rules and conventions exist, and how do they work in practice?
No interest
For devout
Muslims, conventional banking services are problematic because of the main way
most banks make a profit – by charging interest on loans.
Islam's holy
book, the Quran, prohibits all interest-related transactions. The third chapter
(the Surah Al-Imran, verse 130) says:
Usury refers to
lending money at unreasonable interest rates, but the term is sometimes used to
mean any charging of interest at all.
Judaism and
Catholicism have also traditionally outlawed usury, although historically, they
have allowed more wiggle room in how this is applied.
Sharia law
prohibits banks from charging any interest on loans at all. But that doesn't
mean Islamic banks are opposed to earning profit.
To comply with
Sharia law, an Islamic bank enters into a joint venture or partnership
agreement with depositors and borrowers, allowing profit and loss sharing
between banks and customers.
Islamic banks
provide loans under a profit-and-loss contract rather than one involving
interest-based repayments. In this arrangement, borrowers pay an agreed share
of their profits to the bank.
Similarly,
deposits with the bank don't earn interest, but instead, they earn a return
that will rise or fall in line with the bank's overall profits.
One potential
pitfall of this model is it might encourage borrowers to take unnecessary
business risks, knowing their bank will share the losses.
This, in turn,
would potentially reduce the returns to those who have deposited funds with the
bank and also increase the credit risk for banks.
To help guard
against this risk, borrowers typically agree to allow the bank to act as a
partner in the business rather than simply as a creditor.
This lets the
bank monitor the business's performance more closely and share its profits and
losses directly.
From this,
Islamic scholars infer that purchasing land or property purely for speculation
is not permissible, but buying it to undertake economic activities is allowed.
This means
Islamic banks cannot engage in the kind of debt-based financing that underpins
the home or business loans offered by many Australian banks.
Instead, an
Islamic bank can finance a home purchase by taking part ownership of the
property, according to the proportion of the purchase price provided by bank
finance rather than the buyer's own funds.
Similarly,
Islamic banks can provide loans to buy land that will be used for economic activities
but cannot profit purely from land price appreciation.
Sharia law also
prohibits Islamic banks from engaging in derivatives trading (trading in
financial products such as futures contracts, options or swaps) because this
involves speculating on an asset's market performance rather than on economic
activity.
No 'socially
harmful' business
Sharia law does
not allow an Islamic bank to finance economic sectors deemed harmful to
people's wellbeing, such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment,
pork products, or arms production.
Islamic
corporate governance
Islamic banks
typically appoint two boards: a regular board of directors similar to those
that govern most banks, and a Sharia supervisory board to oversee compliance
with Islamic laws.
Islamic Bank
Australia's challenges and prospects
The main
challenge for Islamic Bank Australia will be to gain accreditation from the
Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA), which regulates Australia's
commercial banking industry.
The bank says it
plans to apply for the accreditation in mid-2024, after which it can open to
the public.
Next, it will
need to attract a significant client base. As of October 2022, it reportedly
had almost 8,000 prospective customers on its waiting list.
The arrival of
Sharia-compliant banking will bring some new issues for Australia's banking
sector more broadly.
Australia does
not yet have any supervisory body for monitoring Sharia-compliant banking,
meaning all responsibility in this area would fall to the bank's own
supervisory board.
In many
Muslim-majority countries, such as Malaysia, a separate Sharia Advisory
Council, typically appointed by the country's central bank, oversees the
Islamic finance industry.
Islamic Bank
Australia's Sharia committee has three members: Malaysia-based Ashraf Md
Hashim, who also sits on that country's Sharia Advisory Council; Mohamed Ali
Elgari, an Islamic economics academic in Saudi Arabia, and Australia-based
Islamic banking scholar Rashid Raashed.
Many other
Islamic banks worldwide also have overseas Sharia scholars on their boards. But
given the complexity of the role, these appointees will need to be familiar
with current practices in Australia's financial landscape as well.
A related issue
is how Islamic Bank Australia will interact with Australia's existing banks.
Besides
adhering to Sharia law, the bank will also need to comply with all of
Australia's banking regulatory requirements. In doing so, it will inevitably
come across interest-based transactions.
For example,
Islamic Bank Australia must maintain an account for settling any transactions
with the Reserve Bank.
It will also
have to refer to existing benchmarks, such as the underlying interest rate, as
references for the dividends and charges applied to customers under its profit-and-loss
contracts.
Islamic Bank
Australia and existing banks will have to get used to adapting to the rules and
customs, something that has been done successfully in other Western countries,
and so Australia should be no exception.
Source: sbs.com.au
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--------
South Asia
UN to cut aid
to 21 million amid dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
August 5, 2023
United Nations
humanitarian on Friday warned of a severe aid funding gap for aid to more than
21 million people in Afghanistan even though some relief has already been
reduced.
The 3.2 billion
U.S. dollar plea to aid almost half of the Afghan population has received less
than 25% of its funding more than halfway through the year, according to the
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“We face
critical funding gaps amounting to 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, with many programs
already ended or considerably scaled back due to insufficient resources and aid
pipelines at risk of imminent rupture, including for food assistance,” OCHA
said.
Earlier on 31
July, the organization said in a statement that more than halfway through the
year, the 2023 Afghanistan Humanitarian response plan (HRP) remains severely
underfunded, with only $744 million received as of 31 July, less than half the
amount ($1.49 billion ) at the same time in 2022.
“With humanitarian
needs at an all-time high due to the third consecutive year of drought-like
conditions, worsening poverty and heightened vulnerabilities following forty
years of conflict, only a short window of opportunity exists to bring in vital
assistance and supplies before the lean season and winter starts, and lives are
potentially lost,” the statement added.
Since the
Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the country has been in a dire
humanitarian crisis. The group also imposed harsh and restricted policies and
practices that limited women’s access to education and work.
These policies
also have substantial economic and financial impacts on women; as a result,
most of them lost their jobs.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/un-to-cut-aid-to-21-million-amid-dire-humanitarian-crisis-in-afghanistan/
---------
US provided
over $75 million to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan
August 5, 2023
Embassy of the
United States of America in Islamabad, Pakistan, said in a statement that the
US has provided more than $75 million to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan
and Pakistani host communities.
“Since October
2021, the US has provided more than $75 million to support Afghan refugees in
Pakistan and their Pakistani host communities,” the US embassy said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, the
statement also welcomed the partners who provide lifesaving protection and
other significant services to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“We welcomed
our partners who provide lifesaving protection, education, health care, and
mental health services to support refugees and their host communities across
Pakistan.”
The US embassy
and consulate in Pakistan earlier in January 2023 released a statement saying
that the US had provided more than $273 million in humanitarian aid to Afghan
refugees in Pakistan and Pakistani host communities since 2002.
The statement
further said that during fiscal year 2022, the US provided nearly $60 million
in aid to the refugees and their host communities.
The statement
came after two days that Pakistan police detained more than 17 Afghan refugees,
according to a statement from the Afghan Immigrant Council in Pakistan.
The statement
said that despite having visas and passports, Pakistani police arbitrarily
detained Afghan refugees, some immigrants said.
“I have been
told seventeen people were arrested, and then the number rose. They frighten
and threaten people in vehicles dangerously. Both those with passports and
those without were detained till morning,” According to the Afghan Immigrant
Council head in Pakistan.
According to
the caretaker administration, more than 2.5 million immigrants from Afghanistan
live in Pakistan, and 300,000 of them are undocumented.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/us-provided-over-75-million-to-support-afghan-refugees-in-pakistan/
---------
Iranian,
Pakistan Foreign Ministers Discuss Afghanistan
Iranian Foreign
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, visiting Islamabad, said that any
development in Afghanistan has a direct impact on the situations in Iran and
Pakistan.
During a press
conference in Islamabad following the signing of a five-year economic and
strategic pact between Iran and Pakistan, the foreign ministers of both nations
said that the issue of Afghanistan is one of their top priorities.
"Any
development in Afghanistan affects the neighbors, particularly the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," said Abdollahian.
Speaking at the
conference, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the
need for positive interaction with Afghanistan and the need for peace and
stability in that country.
The two
officials of the neighboring countries said they will support the people of
Afghanistan in any situation.
“Regarding the
situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran agreed to continue their active
engagement with view of advancing peace and stability in Afghanistan and to
promote the well-being and prosperity of our Afghan brothers and sisters,”
Zardari said.
The foreign
ministers of Iran and Pakistan highlighted the need for bilateral,
multilateral, and international cooperation to address the present issues in
Afghanistan.
"If we
want to find a basic solution in Afghanistan, then the level of understanding
should be drawn in the shape of a triangle, that is, on one side the people of
Afghanistan, on the other, the countries of the region, and on the third side,
which is very important, the countries beyond the region," said Shaker
Hayat, a political analyst.
“The common
demand of the world's nations, Iran, and Pakistan from the Taliban is one
thing, and that is to change the political situation in Afghanistan and to
adhere to the world's terms, as well as the United Nations Charter, the
Declaration of Human Rights, and international conventions,” said Wais Naseri,
another political analyst.
Pakistan and
Iran are among other nations that have consistently voiced their concerns about
the existence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan since the Islamic
Emirate's return to power almost two years ago.
They urged the
current Afghan government to consider calls for the establishment of an
inclusive government.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184494
---------
UK ODA Funds
for Afghanistan Cut by 59%
The UK
Parliament in a statement laid out the FCDO Equality Impact Assessment which
was provided to ministers earlier this year to inform their decisions on where
significant cuts to the Official Development Assistance budget for 2023-24
would fall.
The assessment
was published by the International Development Committee.
“The Equality
Impact Assessment sets out what this means in reality for some of the poorest
countries in the world, experiencing the worst humanitarian crises: Yemen saw
its UK ODA allocation cut by 45%; Afghanistan by an incredible 76%,” the
statement said.
“The FCDO
sought to mitigate these cuts but was only able to offer limited additional
support. For Afghanistan, this still resulted in a 59% cut.”
This comes as
female doctors in Afghanistan voiced concerns that a cut in aid will cause a
surge in the maternal death rate.
“In this regard,
the WHO should not be negligent. Also, other organizations which are active
with help for women and children should not be negligent about it and there is
a need for international aid to be attracted,” said Najmul Sama Shafajo, a
doctor.
But the Ministry
of Public Health (MoPH) said that it is capable of providing health services to
the citizens.
“Our goal is to
provide health services through the national budget or other organizations in
case any organization is cutting or reducing its aid,” said Sharafat Zaman
Amerkhail, a spokesman for the MoPH.
Earlier, the
ICRC also spoke of reducing its medical assistance by the end of August 2023.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184488
--------
Africa
Give Us
Appointments In Presidential Villa, We Prayed, Endorsed, Voted For You, Cattle
Herders' Union, Miyetti Allah Tells Tinubu
August 4, 2023
Members of
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, the umbrella body of cattle
herders in Nigeria, have said they are prepared to work even as sweepers in the
Presidential Villa.
Southeast zonal
leader of MACBAN, Alhaji Gidado Siddikki, made this known while appealing to
President Bola Tinubu for an appointment in his cabinet, adding that it became
necessary because they prayed and voted for the President during the February
25 presidential election.
According to
Vanguard, the group explained that in all the boards, parastatals and other
appointments made by the President so far, including the recent ministerial
nominees screened by the Senate, there was no Miyetti Allah member among them.
He said: “We
are demanding appointments from Tinubu’s government. Even if it is as office
sweepers, we are okay with it. All we want is for us to be part of the
government at the centre.
“During the
election, to my knowledge, my people voted for President Tinubu because his
predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, told my people to vote for him and
they all did so.
“We prayed,
supported, endorsed and did everything politically possible to ensure his
victory. So he should not abandon us.
“In all the
boards, parastatals and other appointments the President has made so far, no
Miyetti Allah member is among, including the recent ministerial nominees
screened by the Senate.
“Apart from
exempting us from the N8,000 proposed palliative and other benefits of the
Federal Government, the President should appoint us too, even as sweepers at
the Presidential Villa we are okay with that."
Source: saharareporters.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/08/04/give-us-appointments-presidential-villa-we-prayed-endorsed-voted-you-cattle-herders
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Police foil
bandit attack on police station, Muslims in Zamfara
August 5, 2023
The police
command in Zamfara said its operatives repelled bandits who attacked the
Divisional Police Station in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.
The command
said it also arrested a 35-year-old suspected female informant.
The Command’s
Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar disclosed this on Friday at a
media briefing in Gusau.
Mr Abubakar
said police operatives attached to the police station acted on credible
intelligence that a group of armed bandits was planning to carry out the
attack.
“The police
operatives mobilised, confronted the bandits and engaged them in gun battle
which lasted for hours.
“As a result of
this, one of the bandits was neutralised while the others escaped to the bushes
spilling blood on their paths because of the wounds they sustained.
“Police
investigation that followed the incident resulted in the arrest of a
35-year-old female suspected to be an informant from Rukudawa village.
“The suspect
confessed that she has been working with bandit kingpin Dankarami Gwaska as his
informant and has given her the task of
monitoring activities at the police stations for him.
“Two handsets
containing bandits’ telephone numbers were recovered from her,” Abubakar said.
“On July 28
Police Tactical Operatives attached to 34 PMF, deployed to Magarya community in
same Zurmi local government area acted on intelligence report that suspected
armed men were on their way to attack Muslims during Juma’at prayers at Kwata
village in Magarya district.
“The police
operatives confronted them and succeeded in foiling the attack and the bandits
escaped to the bushes.
“Two AK47
rifles, four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and Bajaj motorcycle were recovered at
the scene while the command is still pursuing the suspects with a view to
arresting and prosecuting them.
“On July 27 at
about 1330hrs, Police Tactical Team attached to Area Command Gusau acted on
intelligence that led to the arrest of two suspected bandits and kidnappers
terrorizing the Saminaka area in Gusau Metropolis,” the command’s spokesman
added.
Source: dailynigerian.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailynigerian.com/police-foil-bandit-attack-4/
--------
Southeast
Asia
Anwar says determined
to end corruption, which hampered past administrations
Saturday, 05
Aug 2023
KEPALA BATAS,
Aug 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is determined to put a stop to
corrupt practices and irregularities which he said seemed to have become systemic
and damaged previous administrations.
He said
Malaysia was a country rich in oil and gas, oil palm and other natural
resources but its previous governance was spoilt by such practices.
He claimed that
previous governments were beset by the practice of officials asking for
‘commissions’.
“I don’t mind
being severely criticised for trying to put a stop to these practices. If I
allow this (corruption), how can our country ever develop?” he said when
opening the Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Assembly themed Madani Entrepreneurs
Developing Economy here today.
He said these
unhealthy practices persisted in the past because no one dared to touch a top
official.
Anwar also
stressed that the government was determined to eradicate hardcore poverty this
year.
He said records
show that there are now about 136,000 hardcore poor families in the country.
“Don’t ever
think that I feel comfortable to be PM at a time when some people could not
even afford to buy milk, school uniforms... while we (politicians) are busy
squabbling over other matters and fighting for power.
“Basic matters
cannot be resolved; so I said, no matter what I will not compromise and want to
eradicate poverty this year,” he said.
Anwar
congratulated the Penang government for its efforts in fighting poverty as the
state has the lowest number of hardcore poor in the country.
About 1,000
Bumiputera entrepreneurs and representatives of 40 federal and state agencies
attended the assembly at Bertam Resort. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/05/anwar-says-determined-to-end-corruption-which-hampered-past-administrations/83691
---------
Don’t use govt
assets for election campaigning even if you are ministers, Bersih tells Anwar,
Saifuddin Nasution
By R. Loheswar
Saturday, 05
Aug 2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
Aug 5 — Electoral watchdog Bersih today urged federal ministers not to use the
government’s assets as tools to campaign in the six state elections as it is
unfair to their political rival candidates.
The
non-governmental outfit that has been monitoring activities in the run-up to
polling day on August 12 cited the recent use of government helicopters by
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin
Nasution Ismail to visit a Felda settlement in Kedah.
“We feel the
use of government assets for campaigning is unfair and ministers and the
federal government shouldn't mix official government work with campaigning.
“If used for campaigning,
these extra costs like gas and oil for these helicopters and government
vehicles should be borne by the user and the payment should be made public as a
matter of principle.
“In addition,
politicians shouldn't use these vehicles to show off or act like they own them,
bought them with their own money. Such arrogant behaviour displayed by the
prime minister will only come back to him in the future,” Bersih said in a
statement.
Bersih also
called on the government and the Opposition to speed up legislation to limit
the use of government assets for personal or non-government related activities.
Anwar's use of
the government helicopter was called out by Kedah caretaker menteri besar Datuk
Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor from PAS.
In reply, the
Pakatan Harapan chairman said that he is allowed to use the government aircraft
in his capacity as prime minister.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/05/dont-use-govt-assets-for-election-campaigning-even-if-you-are-ministers-bersih-tells-anwar-saifuddin-nasution/83680
--------
Report: Sanusi
ready to face Amirudin in court over remarks about Selangor
By Ida Lim
Saturday, 05
Aug 2023
KUALA LUMPUR,
Aug 5 — Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has
indicated he is prepared to go to court to respond to Selangor counterpart
Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, a report said.
When asked by
news portal FreeMalaysiaToday (FMT) if he will respond to Amirudin's claim of
being defamed by him, Sanusi was quoted saying: “I will do so if I have to.”
He was also
reported saying that he has not received any legal notice from Amirudin.
Yesterday,
Amirudin denied the allegations in Sanusi’s speech in a Perikatan Nasional (PN)
event in Kedah and said those remarks were defamatory, adding that he will
immediately initiate legal action against Sanusi over the alleged defamation.
Separately,
Malaysiakini reported Sanusi as telling the news portal that he would provide
evidence “in court” in relation to his claims on the Selangor Maritime Gateway
(SMG) project.
As for
Amirudin’s plans to sue him for defamation, Malaysiakini reported Sanusi as
saying that he is waiting for Amirudin “to send the documents” and that he too
has his “own documents”.
Yesterday,
Berjaya Land Berhad also denied all allegations made by Sanusi against it as
being false and defamatory, saying that it is lodging a police report and
pursuing legal action over the matter.
Berjaya Land
also gave a detailed point-by-point clarification in response to Sanusi’s
August 2 speech regarding the SMG project at an event called “Jelajah Mega PN
Best” or “PN Best Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera” mega tour in Kedah.
Among other
things, Berjaya Land clarified that the Selangor government's Menteri Besar
Selangor Incorporated (MBI) did not sell a 55 per cent stake in its
wholly-owned subsidiary to Berjaya Land, pointing out that MBI's subsidiary
Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd and Berjaya Hartanah Berhad had instead formed a joint
venture with a 45 and 55 per cent stake respectively in the joint venture firm
Landasan Lumayan Berjaya Sdn Bhd (LLBSB).
Berjaya Land
said the joint venture firm carries out affordable housing projects to generate
money for the SMG project which has successfully cleaned the Klang River.
Responding to
claims that the Selangor government would incur RM180 million in losses by
entering into that joint venture or for purportedly giving out 600 acres of
Selangor state land worth RM10 billion for free, Berjaya Land said the Selangor
state government did not incur RM180 million in losses.
Berjaya Land
also said it had never obtained and was never given any land for free, but the
Selangor state government had only approved several parcels of land totalling
103.6 acres — identified as suitable for development — to be alienated to the
joint venture firm LLBSB.
Responding to
the purported claim of free land, Berjaya Land instead said that it is the one
that is required to raise funds to pay for the RM113.1 million premium for the
alienation of land to LLBSB, based on the land's current market value as valued
by government valuer Valuation and Property Services Department.
On August 3,
PAS party mouthpiece Harakahdaily had reported on Sanusi’s speech at the event
in Kedah, and described him as purportedly claiming a scandal involving
Amirudin and the Berjaya Group.
Harakahdaily
had reported Sanusi as making remarks purportedly on 600 acres of land being
given away for free and a purported takeover of 55 per cent of an MBI subsidiary,
and of him allegedly saying that the Selangor state government is expected to
incur losses of RM180 million.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/05/report-sanusi-ready-to-face-amirudin-in-court-over-remarks-about-selangor/83692
---------
PM Anwar claims
extraordinary support for Pakatan in Kedah ahead of state elections
By Opalyn Mok
Saturday, 05
Aug 2023
SEBERANG PERAI,
Aug 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he received a “very good
welcome” in Kedah during his visit to the state yesterday.
He said this
showed the extraordinary support towards the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in
contrast to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s assertion that
the tide favours the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in all six states that will be
going to the polls on August 12.
“It was only a
political statement, when I was in Kedah last night, I received a very good
welcome, we cannot deny that,” he told reporters after officiating a National
Economic conference here.
Takiyuddin has
been reported saying that the PN wave in all six states will signal the
PH-Barisan Nasional “unity government” will lose power soon.
Anwar believed
that in the end, voters will choose a stable political party that can drive
economic growth and reject extremism.
“We have
clearly demonstrated our success in this,” he said.
Penang,
Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will be voting in
state elections next Saturday.
Early voting is
on August 8.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/05/pm-anwar-claims-extraordinary-support-for-pakatan-in-kedah-ahead-of-state-elections/83670
---------
PM says
Putrajaya to review salary scheme for fresh graduates, civil servants
By Opalyn Mok
Saturday, 05
Aug 2023
SEBERANG PERAI,
Aug 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be chairing a committee
meeting to review the salary scheme for civil servants and fresh graduates next
week.
He said the
committee has not held a meeting in over 12 years when traditionally, it was
supposed to be held every 10 years.
“Next week, in
the committee meeting, we will look into all these matters,” he told reporters
after officiating a National Economic Conference in a hotel here this morning.
He was asked to
comment about the starting salary of fresh graduates in Malaysia that are as
low as minimum wage.
Anwar replied
that generally the salary of the civil service is low including police and the
armed forces.
He said the
committee will also have to consider the country’s financial ability to raise
the salaries and pension for the civil service.
“Depending on
our economic situation, we may need to raise it in stages,” he said.
In his opening
address at the conference, Anwar said he has instructed both the Finance
Ministry and Economy Ministry to get input from the experts in institutions of
higher learning and universities in formulating the Madani Budget 2.0 which
will be tabled this October.
“I ask for
input and criticisms from the academics, I am okay, I don’t have any problems
with this,” said Anwar who is also finance minister.
“This is
because I want us to work together as a team so that there is a clear synergy
between universities and the government,” he said.
He said the
second Madani Budget by the Finance Ministry will comprise of all contributions
from the ministry, government, public universities and private sector.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/05/pm-says-putrajaya-to-review-salary-scheme-for-fresh-graduates-civil-servants/83667
---------
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/sc-asi-scientific-survey-gyanvapi/d/130391