‘Any Law Against Shariah Is Not Acceptable For Us’ Says President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind On UCC
New Age Islam News Bureau
07 February 2024
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani criticised the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand. (PTI photo)
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·
‘Any Law Against Shariah Is Not Acceptable For
Us’ Says President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind On UCC
·
Martyr Leader Al-Houthi Took Qur’anic Advice To
Confront Project Of Israeli Attack
·
Firearms, 'Al Jihad' Chants At JeM Rally In PoK
Punch A Hole In Pakistan's 'Counterterror' Claims
·
Dance And Music Banned: At Least 10 Detained In
Northeastern Afghanistan
·
Ghana LGBTQ+ Activists See Church Blessings As
Distant Luxury
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India
·
‘Against Hidayat In Quran’: AIMPLB, Samajwadi
Party MP Slam Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code Bill
·
Court Blow To Muslims In
"Lakshagriha-Mazar" Land Dispute, Says Area Belonged To Hindus From
Mahabharata Era
·
HC hears arguments on plea challenging order
allowing Hindu prayers in Gyanvapi mosque cellar
·
Raj Thackeray Gifted Brick Brought Back After Babri
Mosque Demolition By Party Leader
·
Islamic preacher Azhari faces 2nd FIR for
‘hate’ speech in Kutch
----
Arab World
·
Saudi Arabia: No Diplomatic Relations With
Israel Without Palestinian State
·
‘Evil Trio’ Of US, UK, Israel Cannot Break Will
Of Yemenis To Continue Supporting Gaza: Ansarullah Leader
·
Saudi Arabia Hails Outcomes of Islamic Military
Counter Terrorism Coalition Meeting
·
Qatar says Hamas has handed in ‘positive’
response to Gaza truce deal
·
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief signs $10m deal with
WHO to support Gaza
·
Saudi ministry and UK National Archives team up
to document Kingdom’s cultural heritage
·
Saudi Arabia condemns ‘extremist’ shooting
incident in Turkiye’s Istanbul
----
Pakistan
·
Pakistan Fully Committed To Fostering Inclusive
Democratic Process: FO
·
Pakistan condemns attack on Courthouse complex
in Istanbul
·
Aircraft carrying Pakistan's humanitarian aid
for Gaza people arrives in Egypt
·
Pakistan, OIC call for resolution of key global
issues
·
Kabul’s Expectations of Pakistan Need to Be
Clarified: Kakar
-----
South Asia
·
Death Of People In Bangladesh because of Myanmar Conflict Simply Unacceptable –
FM Bangladesh
·
Muttaqi Meets With Sinirlioğlu, Calls UN
Special Envoy Post 'Unnecessary'
----
Africa
·
Islamic Defence Ministers Commit To Fight
Against Terrorism
·
The Sahel Exodus: Implications of Mali, Burkina
Faso, and Niger Leaving ECOWAS
·
Nasarawa CP dissociates from Miyetti Allah’s
security outfit
·
Regional groups hinge coups on hardship,
failure of democracy
----
Mideast
·
Israel Using Hunger As ‘Weapon’ Against
Palestinians In Gaza, UN Expert Warns
·
Hamas Calls On Intl. Institutions To Address
Abuses Against Palestinians In Israeli Jails
·
Israel Never A Friend of Muslims: Iranian
President
·
Zionist enemy demolishes two houses in Jericho,
al-Quds
·
Egypt’s Sisi discusses Gaza aid, hostages'
release with US’ Blinken
·
Hamas denounces Argentina’s decision to move
embassy to al-Quds
·
Israel kills 4,890 students in four months of
war on Gaza
·
Iraq and US need to return to dialogue over
future of coalition force, says Iraq foreign minister
·
Turkey announces detention of 85 Afghan Asylum
seekers
----
North America
·
No Near-Term Plan to Return Diplomatic
Functions to Kabul: US
·
US Lawmakers Reject $17.6 Billion Israel Aid Bill
·
Harvard University Faces US Government Probe
Over Discriminating Against Muslims
·
US Interests In West Asia Not Secure While Gaza
Genocide Rages On: Analyst
-----
Europe
·
Turkish Ambassador Pushes For Gaza Cease-Fire
At Prague Meeting Of Envoys Of Arab League, OIC Countries
·
Russia summons Israeli ambassador for
criticizing Lavrov, Moscow’s ties with Hamas
·
French doctors lament health, humanitarian
crisis in Gaza Strip
·
UK Gives $36.5M, Germany $5.4M for Aid to
Afghanistan
-------
Southeast Asia
·
Malaysia Attends Second Meeting Of Ministers Of
Defence Of Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Member Countries
·
Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak seeks full
royal pardon, disappointed at commutation of sentence
·
Indonesian Islamic groups win Zayed Award
·
Masjid Al-Hana tube well a blessing for Kuah
folk
·
Indonesia, Laos, M'sia Troika Continues To Seek
End To Myanmar Crisis
·
Naval ship bearing aid for Gazans heads to Red
Sea
Compiled by New Age
Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/shariah-jamiat-ulema-ucc/d/131675
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‘Any Law Against Shariah Is Not Acceptable For
Us’ Says President of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind On UCC
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President
Maulana Arshad Madani criticised the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand. (PTI
photo)
------
07.02.24
In a fervent statement, Arshad Madani, a
prominent voice in the Indian Muslim community and president of the Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind, expressed strong opposition to the implementation of a Uniform
Civil Code (UCC), citing it as discriminatory against Shariah law. Madani’s
remarks come amidst ongoing debates regarding the UCC’s viability and its
implications for religious minorities in India.
In a statement Arshad Madani asks ‘Why the discrimination
in Uniform Civil Code? If Scheduled Tribes can be exempted in the passed bill
due to the Constitution, why not Muslims? Any law against Shariah is not
acceptable for us’.
Madani’s assertion against the UCC underscores
a deep-seated concern within the Muslim community regarding the potential
infringement upon their religious autonomy and customary practices. Shariah
law, derived from Islamic principles and teachings, governs various aspects of
Muslim life, including family matters such as marriage, divorce, and
inheritance. For Madani and many others, any attempt to supersede Shariah with
a uniform code is perceived as an encroachment upon their religious rights and
cultural identity.
In his statement, Madani unequivocally rejects
the notion of accepting any law that contradicts Shariah, emphasizing its
non-negotiable status within the Muslim community. This stance reflects a
broader sentiment among Indian Muslims who view Shariah as integral to their
faith and personal conduct. The pushback against the UCC is not merely about
legal reforms but also about safeguarding religious freedoms and preserving
cultural heritage.
Moreover, Madani contends that the UCC, if
enforced, would exacerbate existing disparities and injustices faced by
minority communities, particularly Muslims. He argues that a UCC overlooks the
diverse religious and cultural practices across India and risks marginalizing
those who adhere to non-mainstream norms. By advocating for the preservation of
Shariah-based laws, Madani seeks to protect the rights and interests of Indian
Muslims against perceived discriminatory measures.
The debate surrounding the UCC is deeply rooted
in India’s socio-political landscape, where issues of identity, secularism, and
minority rights are often contentious. While proponents of the UCC advocate for
a common set of laws to promote national integration and gender equality,
critics like Madani view it as an imposition of majoritarian values that
undermine religious pluralism.
Madani’s opposition to the UCC underscores the
complexity of reconciling religious diversity with the pursuit of legal
uniformity in a secular democracy like India. As discussions on the UCC
continue, it is essential to engage in dialogue that respects the concerns and
perspectives of all stakeholders, ensuring that any legal reforms uphold
constitutional principles of equality and religious freedom while fostering
social cohesion.
In conclusion, Arshad Madani’s staunch
rejection of the Uniform Civil Code reflects broader apprehensions within the
Indian Muslim community regarding the potential infringement upon their
religious rights and cultural practices. His advocacy for the preservation of
Shariah law underscores the importance of respecting religious diversity and
minority rights in the ongoing discourse on legal reforms in India. As the
debate persists, finding a balanced approach that addresses concerns of both
uniformity and diversity remains imperative for upholding the principles of
secularism and inclusivity in the country.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/any-law-against-shariah-is-not-acceptable-for-us-says-maulana-arshad-madani-on-ucc/
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Martyr Leader Al-Houthi Took Qur’anic Advice To
Confront Project Of Israeli Attack
Photo: Yemen News
----
[06/February/2024]
SANA'A February 06. 2024 (Saba) - The leader of
the revolution, Sayyed. Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, confirmed that the
martyr leader, Sayyed. Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, moved with the Qur’anic
project to confront the American-Israeli-Jewish attack, from a Qur’anic
standpoint of faith that embodies the correct position and the wise vision for
the benefit of the nation and its salvation.
The Leader of the Revolution explained in his
speech today on the anniversary of the martyr leader, Sayyed. Hussein Badr
al-Din al-Houthi, that on this twenty-sixth day of the month of Rajab, twenty
years ago, the martyr of the Qur’an, Sayyed. Commander Hussein Badr al-Din
al-Houthi, may God be pleased with him, rose as a victorious martyr in an
unjust aggression that targeted him. The unjust authority at that time was to
appease America and draw closer to it. This aggression continued for nearly
three months and with American supervision and instigation. This was the first
war that was followed by several wars against the Qur’anic project that was
driven by it.
He pointed out that the first war was of an
aggressive, criminal, brutal, arrogant, tyrannical, and unfair nature, and had
no justification or legitimacy. He wondered, “What did the martyr leader, may
God be pleased with him, do to make them wage that war against him, target him with
that aggression, and work to kill him?”
He said, "His issue was that he moved with
a Qur’anic project that would remind people of the Book of God and present a
Qur’anic vision that guides the nation on how to confront the imminent danger
facing it following the American-Israeli and Western attack after the events of
September 11, which in itself is a Zionist creation to be a great pretext for
implementing a new phase of their plots to directly control Muslims, distort
their identity, occupy their countries, and plunder their wealth and
capabilities.”
He pointed out that the martyr leader moved
with a Qur’anic project and took practical steps in light of that project,
starting with launching a slogan and chanting acquittal against America and
Israel, as a cry in the face of the arrogant people and in clear terms, “God is
great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory for
Islam.”
The scream broke the silence:
The leader of the revolution explained that
“the cry against the arrogant people came to break the silence and move people
from a state of submission to a position, protect them from submission and
loyalty to their enemies, elevate them psychologically and mentally, and
prepare them for greater positions imposed on them by their religion and their
affiliation to Islam and the Qur’an, in addition to chanting the slogan
boycotting American and Israeli goods because of their great importance in the
economic confrontation, given the benefits that the enemies benefit from their
goods that invade the markets of Arab and Islamic countries, and from which
they reap billions of dollars that they use to attack our nation and our
peoples.
He stated that this was accompanied by
spreading Qur’anic awareness, exposing American, Israeli and Western
conspiracies, protecting the Islamic community from deception and misleading,
and providing practical Qur’anic solutions that elevate the nation to the level
of confronting its enemies and standing in the face of their conspiracies.
He pointed out that the prevailing position of
most Arab and other regimes and governments in the Islamic world in the face of
that attack was surrender and enlistment with America and acceptance of what it
imposes in all fields, and the lack of counter-movement and opposition to the
American, Israeli and Western attack, which at that time coincided with the
Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, which the Arabs were
responding to with what they called peace initiatives, which were surrender in
every sense of the word.”
The leader of the revolution pointed out that
the trends and policies adopted by governments and regimes were represented by
submission to America and opening the way for it to tighten its control over
the peoples of the nation, militarily through the rules and control of the
armies, and economically by adhering to America’s dictates to plunder the
people’s wealth and obstruct any economic renaissance, and any serious trend
towards production, and in security to impose the Takfirists over the people, spreading
crimes and fueling strife, and politically by investing in political problems,
creating a crisis reality, fragmenting society, and fueling conflicts under all
headings in a way that prevents any political stability.
He added, "The American control,
culturally and intellectually, was by targeting the nation to mislead it,
falsify its awareness, and obliterate its identity through their control over
the curricula, the entire educational process, the educational process in all
its stages, and the administrative and educational staff, and control of
religious discourse, mosques, media and various educational activities with the
aim of occupying thought and complete control over man, his thinking,
convictions and orientations, and morally through their fierce war on values
and their fierce targeting of chastity and honor and their spread of vice,
moral corruption, crimes and everything that helps in this with the aim of
dismantling social structures, the first building block of which is the family
and spreading AIDS and deadly diseases. "
He pointed out that controlling the judiciary
was by emptying it of its primary role in achieving justice and turning it into
one of America’s tools, as well as turning the security services and prisons
into a tool of oppression in the hands of America. Stressing that all of the
above was America's program that it moved in our country and monopolized in the
Islamic arena in general.
The Qur’anic project in the face of the
American attack:
The leader of the revolution explained that
“the American attack is absolute evil in every sense of the word, and it did
not bring any good to our people nor any interest to our nation.” Pointing out
that the policy of regimes and rulers was to enable the American attack rather
than hinder it.
He pointed out that the martyr leader moved
with the Qur’anic project to confront the American-Israeli-Jewish attack, and
that move was necessary in every sense of the word.
He pointed out that the martyr leader took
steps that exposed the headlines that the Americans and their agents were
raising, such as freedom and democracy. He pointed out that those steps
protected society from enemy penetration because they wanted to gain the
loyalty of society.
Mr. Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi stated
that the practical steps taken by the martyr leader were simple, uncomplicated,
and available to the people... indicating that the slogan exposed the Americans
and their agents, so they could not bear five words, despite the freedom of
expression they praised.
The authenticity of the Qur’anic project:
The leader of the revolution pointed out that
the Qur’anic project did not have any external agenda, but rather it was an
authentic movement based on the authenticity of our Yemeni people’s affiliation
to faith and faith identity. The Qur’anic movement was not directed against any
of the nation’s sons, and it was clear who the enemy was, America, Israel, and
the Jewish lobby, and who was moving in its orbit.
Sayyed. Leader stated that this project stems
from the Holy Qur’an, which all Muslims believe in, is based on the principles
of Islam, and adopts the issues of this nation, foremost of which is the
Palestinian issue.
The Jewish lobby is an evil octopus:
The leader of the revolution stated that the
Americans and the British are the arms of the octopus of evil, injustice and
tyranny, the Jewish lobby that carries the banner of Satan, and the arms of
this lobby move through practical projects and not momentary and ordinary
positions, as the nation has been targeted for centuries by its enemies.
He pointed out that the Jewish lobby was able
to control Western societies, with America at the forefront, to employ its
capabilities and capabilities to serve it. It also tended to implant “Israel”
in the side of the Islamic nation as a dangerous and bad enemy with great
goals.
He pointed out that confronting the
Jewish-Zionist lobby and its arms is not just a momentary situation, and there
must be an ongoing practical project that builds the nation.
The distinctiveness of the Yemeni position:
The leader of the revolution asked, “Where is
the position of the peoples of our Islamic nation in the Arab world and
elsewhere, who are hundreds of millions, regarding what is happening today in
Palestine?”
He said, "Our Yemeni people, although they
suffered from aggression and a siege that lasted for nine years and did not end
until today, took a distinguished stance and took comprehensive action."
He pointed out that our dear people were not
terrified of America, as is the case with many countries and regimes who were
afraid of America and its threats, and their fear reached the point of not
having any honorable position, but rather weak positions that do not rise to
the level of responsibility towards the tragedy in Gaza.
He pointed out that the prevailing situation in
our country among men and women is a state of high awareness and real
interaction with the events with all their consciences and feelings...
stressing that the living conscience of our people and these sublime human
feelings and faith refuse to watch the tragedy of the Palestinian people in
Gaza.
He stated that the position of some of the
major Arab regimes did not reach the level of explicit and clear condemnation
of what Israel is doing, stressing that the qualitative shift for the Yemeni
people is based on trust and reliance on God and reassurance in the divine
promise.
He said, "We are in the battle of the
'promised conquest and the holy jihad', ready for sacrifice and confident of
victory and the promise of God Almighty. Our people do not accept America being
dominated, controlled and dominated by it as it has done for decades."
The cry is a liberal position:
Sayyed. Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi said,
"We are free in the face of the evil trio, and the cry has been chanted by
millions and its echo has reached various parts of the world, with liberal
stances, pride and dignity for this people, and consistent with their identity
and faith affiliation."
He pointed out that the cry that used to
imprison or kill those who chanted it, is shouted today when launching
ballistic and winged missiles, in marches, on top of American Abrams tanks, and
in the fields of sacrifice, honor, and redemption, and everyone knows today
what this liberation project means.
Yemen's position disturbed the Jewish lobby:
Sayyed. Commander said, “For the first time,
the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab have become at this level of
effectiveness and pressure on the enemies.” Pointing out that the influence of
our country’s position and the Jewish lobby’s annoyance at its effectiveness is
what led the Americans and the British to get involved in a war against our
country.
He added, "If the option of treason and
treason were to dominate our country, would there be a situation like ours in
the Red Sea?" stressing that the Qur'anic project completely failed the
American program in Yemen despite it reaching extremely dangerous levels.
He stated that the Qur’anic project is now
competing with the Americans on the global stage with honorable positions and
correct directions, and that the dear Muslim Yemeni people today stand in a
distinguished position and support the oppressed Palestinian people with
effectiveness and comprehensive action.
Yemen in the face of the evil trio:
The leader of the revolution pointed out that
the Yemeni people stand in the face of the evil trio of America, “Israel” and
Britain with all boldness, courage and steadfastness, based on their belonging
and Quranic culture, and offer martyrs, achieve victories, and strike enemies
with all boldness.
He said, “At dawn today, there were strikes on
American and British ships with all boldness, and our people do not hesitate to
do what they must do.” He stressed that the fruit of the Qur’anic initiative
and its results are tangible and clear in true liberation, pride, dignity,
independence, and effectiveness.
On this anniversary, Sayyed. Abdulmalik Badr
al-Din al-Houthi affirmed, “We are steadfast in our principled Qur’anic
position in supporting the Palestinian people and confronting the aggression
against our country, and whatever the evil trio does, it will not affect our
position and will not limit our capabilities and operations, God willing, and
will not break the will of our people.”
He revealed that the Americans began to evade
at sea and resort to camouflage, just as the Israelis do at sea, and put the
“Marshall” flag on some of their ships, which is a country at the end of the
world.
He warned the Americans and Zionists that
"they must stop their aggression against Gaza and stop their siege of the
Palestinian people, from which they deny food and medicine. Otherwise, we will
seek to escalate more and more."
The Leader of the Revolution affirmed that the
Yemeni people will continue all their activities within the framework of their
rightful and honorable position on military and general mobilization, pointing
out that activity in the field of mobilization is one of the most important
activities, demonstrations and events, and among the most important activities
is awareness-raising and spreading Quranic culture.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3302636.htm
---
Firearms, 'Al Jihad' Chants At JeM Rally In PoK
Punch A Hole In Pakistan's 'Counterterror' Claims
Women walk along a street,
decorated with campaign flags of political parties, ahead of general elections,
in Karachi, Pakistan, February 1, 2024. (Reuters File Photo)
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FEBRUARY 07, 2024
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists recently
staged a rally in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir’s Rawalakot city, brandishing
weapons and chanting “Al Jihad Al Jihad.” Masked participants were seen
carrying guns, swords, bows, and sticks during the procession, top intelligence
sources told CNN-News18.
They said Mufti Masood Illiyas, a prominent JEM
Commander, is believed to be behind the rally, held in the northern part of the
country, near the Line of Control (LoC). This revelation raises concerns about
the resurgence of terror groups in Pakistan. The rally comes at a crucial time
as Pakistan faces scrutiny over its counterterrorism efforts, especially with
the recent claims to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) about shutting down
extremist activities. However, visual evidence of militant gatherings suggests
otherwise.
Critics point out the irony of Pakistan’s
claims against terrorism amid such events. The incident fuels concerns about
the debt-ridden country’s status as a haven for terror groups. This rally comes
less than a week after media reports said a new political party named Pakistan
Markazi Muslim League (MML), believed to be a new face of the banned groups of
the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the
February 8 general elections.
A BBC Urdu report said some of the candidates
nominated by this organisation from different cities of Pakistan are those who
are either relative of Hafiz Saeed or have been associated with the banned
Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League in the past. Quoting
analysts, who monitor religious parties in Pakistan, the report on Saturday
claimed the Markazi Muslim League is the ‘new political face’ of Saeed’s JuD.
The report said Saeed’s son Hafiz Talha Saeed
is participating in the elections from the Markazi Muslim League party and
contesting from National Assembly Constituency NA-122 in Lahore — the same
constituency from which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former federal
minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is also contesting.
Saeed’s son-in-law Hafiz Nek Gujjar is also
contesting the election from the Provincial Assembly constituency PP-162 on the
ticket of the Markazi Muslim League. These reports underscore the persistent
threat of terrorism in the region, raising questions about Pakistan’s
commitment to combating extremism brewing in the country.
Source: news18.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.news18.com/world/jaish-e-mohammad-holds-election-rally-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-8769224.html#google_vignette
---
Dance And Music Banned: At Least 10 Detained In
Northeastern Afghanistan
Taliban members enjoy a
traditional dance on the banks of a river in Kandahar.(Photo by Bulent Kilic /
AFP)
------
Fidel Rahmati
February 6, 2024
Continuing with the growing restrictions on
people’s daily lives and their access to entertainment, which the Taliban has
institutionalized over the past two years, sources from Takhar province reveal
that at least 10 individuals in the YengiQala district have been arrested for
singing and playing musical instruments.
A source on Tuesday, February 7th, who
preferred not to disclose their name, told Khama Press that the forces of the
Taliban in their continued imposition of restrictions on people’s way of life,
have detained at least 10 individuals who were engaged in playing musical
instruments in a confined location in YengiQala district of Takhar province.
According to the source, “People do not even
have security in their own homes.” This source added that the Taliban forces
raided a house in the Safi Mangal village of YengiQala district on Monday, and
detained at least 10 individuals who had musical instruments with them.
Local authorities of the Taliban have also
confirmed the detention of 10 individuals on charges of “dancing, stomping,
singing, and playing musical instruments” and stated that they were detained
from a residential house.
It should be noted that the Taliban has banned
the playing of music and dancing. Under the rule of the Taliban, no one is
allowed to engage in playing musical instruments, singing, dancing, or
tramping, and this prohibition is even enforced in wedding halls.
Furthermore, the group has issued an order
restricting the operation of women’s beauty salons across the country, stating
that they are no longer allowed to operate.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.khaama.com/dance-and-music-banned-at-least-10-detained-in-northeastern-afghanistan/
----
Ghana LGBTQ+ Activists See Church Blessings As
Distant Luxury
A believer kneels during
prayers at a Catholic church, in Accra, Ghana, January 18, 2024.
REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko Purchase Licensing Rights
-----
07 Feb 2024
MAXWELL AKALAARE ADOMBILA
ACCRA (Reuters) - In a country where religious
leaders openly condemn homosexuality and gay sex is punishable with jail time,
Ghanaian couple Kay and NaaShika fear more for their lives and safety than
whether a church will bless their same-sex union.
They have lived together for eight months,
hiding their relationship by pretending to be sisters, even as they face gossip
that risks spilling into hostility due to suspicions about their sexual
orientation.
"We are not safe," said 27-year-old
Kay, a lesbian woman who spoke to Reuters in the capital Accra on condition
that her and her partner's real names were not used.
Their precarious situation has not been helped
by a landmark ruling in December, approved by Pope Francis, to allow Roman
Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples.
The move, which has met particularly strong
resistance and in some cases rejection from African bishops, has fuelled
resentment rather than acceptance of the gay community among Catholics in
Ghana, Kay said.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has said
that it cannot comply. Father Dominic Maximilian Ofori told Reuters he feared
the Pope’s stance had annoyed many Ghanaian Catholics.
In January, Pope Francis said Africans were
"a special case" in apparent acknowledgement of the pushback his
decision unleashed.
MOB JUSTICE
Kay, a former Methodist, and an LGBTQ+
advocate, is not surprised by the backlash and sees church blessings as a
luxury for the future since Ghanaian gay people still struggle to live and
identify as themselves openly.
"What is the use (of a blessing) if my
partner and I can’t hold hands and walk down the street," she said.
"Even when we don’t identify openly, some people, based on rumours, can
harm us mentally or even physically."
There is no comprehensive data on the abuse
LGBTQ+ people face in Ghana, but local news is filled with reports of suspected
gay and transgender people suffering mob justice countrywide. Few such
incidents make it to the courts.
Kay said opposition to the Pope's move had
increased calls for the quick passage of a bill that would further criminalise
same-sex relations and being transgender, as well as any advocacy for LGBTQ+
rights.
Gay sex is already punishable by up to three
years in prison. A coalition of Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders has
sponsored the new legislation, which is favoured by most lawmakers, that would
punish the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights with up to 10 years in prison.
It also encourages those accused of
homosexuality to submit to conversion therapy, which claims to change sexual
orientation, in exchange for reduced sentences.
Emmanuel K. G. Hailord, a student and LGBTQ+
activist, agreed with Kay that it would take a long time for socially
conservative Ghana to change. He wants LGBTQ+ members in Ghana and elsewhere to
start their own, more accepting branches of the Catholic Church and other
religions.
"It’s better than cramping ourselves in a
room and dying inside," he said. "You have to be yourself instead of
being in a closet, although it is scary."
Kay and her 30-year-old partner, a traditional
priestess, look forward to a future where they can formalise their marriage in
an LGBTQ+-friendly church, but in the meantime they also wish for more
acceptance.
"As a couple, all we demand of people is
love your neighbour. The typical Ghanaian family values preach love for one
another. Gay people belong to families and if you love us, you should respect
and protect us, not harm us," Kay said.
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/07/ghana-lgbtq-activists-see-church-blessings-as-distant-luxury
----
India
‘Against Hidayat In Quran’: AIMPLB, Samajwadi
Party MP Slam Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code Bill
06 Feb 2024
After Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh
Dhami tabled the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state Assembly, Samajwadi
Party MP ST Hasan on Tuesday said the bill is against the tenets of the Quran,
the holy book of the Muslims, and they won't abide by it (UCC Bill) if it is
against the 'Hidayat'.
"We won't abide by it (UCC Bill) if it is
against the 'Hidayat' (instructions) given to Muslims in the Quran. We don't
have any issue if it is as per 'Hidayat'," news agency PTI quoted the
Samajwadi Party MP as saying.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) has also criticised the bill. According to reports, an executive
member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board — Maulana Khalid Rasheed
Farangi Mahali, said that a few communities would be exempted from it
(Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code).
"As far as UCC is concerned, we are of the
opinion that uniformity cannot be brought in each and every law and if you
exempt any community from this UCC, how can it be called a uniform code?...
There was no need for any such uniform civil code. After the draft is presented
before the Assembly, our legal team study this and then the further course of
action will be decided...," Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said.
Reacting to the Uniform Civil Code bill in
Uttarakhand Assembly, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president
Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said ‘the bill should be dumped in the dustbin’.
"India is a colourful garden. However
beautiful a garden is, if it has just one flower, you will not be able to look
at it for long. In India, people of all faiths, culture live. That is our
beauty...If anything is done against nature, it won't continue for long...State
Assemblies have to bring something shiny when the government becomes a failure.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma too does this from time to time...They want to
please PM Modi as they want to continue as the CM for some time. This Bill
should be dumped in the dustbin," the MP from Dhubri (Assam), said.
Congress not against the Uniform Civil Code
Meanwhile, the state Congress unit today said
the party is not against the Uniform Civil Code but the manner in which the
bill is being tabled in the Assembly.
“We are not against it (Uniform Civil Code).
The House is governed by the rules of conduct of business but the BJP is
continuously ignoring it and wants to suppress the voice of the MLAs based on
the strength of numbers. It is the right of the MLAs to express their views in
the House, during Question Hour, whether they have a proposal under Rule 58 or
under other rules, they have the right to raise their voices on various issues
of the state in the Assembly," Yashpal Arya, leader of Opposition in the
Assembly, said.
Harish Rawat, former chief minister of
Uttarakhand, said the state government and Chief Minister Dhami are not
following the rules in eagerness to pass the bill.
The former chief minister said the members
don’t have the draft copy of the bill and the government wants an immediate
discussion on it.
"No one has the draft copy and they want
an immediate discussion on it. The central government is using a sensitive
state like Uttarakhand for tokenism, if they want to bring UCC, it should have
been brought by the central government," he told ANI.
It is important to note that the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised the Uniform Civil Code bill during
the 2022 Assembly elections in the state. After becoming a law, the bill will
replace the personal religious laws that govern marriage, divorce, inheritance
etc.
Source: livemint.com
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original story
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/against-hidayat-in-quran-muslim-personal-law-board-samajwadi-party-mp-st-hasan-slam-uniform-civil-code-11707216983413.html
---
Court Blow To Muslims In
"Lakshagriha-Mazar" Land Dispute, Says Area Belonged To Hindus From
MahabharataEra
07.02.24
Piyush Srivastava
The Uttar Pradesh government has stepped up
security around a site in Baghpat district's Barnava after a local court on
Monday dismissed a decades-old plea by the Muslim side that maintained the land
was a graveyard and dargah of a Sufi saint while the Hindus claimed it was the
Mahabharat-era "Lakshagriha".
“We have deployed force near Lakshagriha (House
of Lacquer) and the situation is under control,” said ArpitVijayvargiya, the
superintendent of police of Baghpat.
In its order on Monday, the court said the
demand of the Muslim clerics was wrong and the 108-bigha land was always a
Hindu site tracing its roots to the Mahabharat era.
It is said that Duryodhan had built the
inflammable house (Lakshagriha) to kill the Pandavas but they escaped unhurt
through a tunnel.
Ranvir Singh Tomar, counsel for the Hindu
respondents, said there was a Shiva temple and a Vedic school in Barnava and
the place was known as Lakshagriha since time immemorial. A person called Mukim
Khan filed a case 54 years ago, claiming that the structure was the mausoleum
of Sufi saint Sheikh Badruddin and the land around the structure was a
graveyard, Tomar said. After Mukim Khan's death, the case was pursued by
Khairati Khan and Ahmad Khan. Currently, Khalid Khan represents the case.
The first respondent in the case was
BrahmchariKrishnadutt Maharaj. Chidda Singh, Jag Mohan and Jai Kishan became
the respondents one by one after Maharaj’s death. Currently, Rajpal Tyagi,
Jaivir Singh and Vijaypal Kashyap are defenders in the case.
“After 875 hearings, the court in its order
said the area belonged to the Hindus and the demand of the Muslims was
unfounded. The petitioners failed to prove that it was a graveyard or a
mausoleum ever in the past,” said Arvind Kumar Shastri, current principal of
the Vedic school on the Lakshagriha premises.
There were 12 witnesses each from both sides.
“We believe that this place was originally
developed in the Mahabharat period. A Mughal emperor damaged the place but it
still remained a Hindu site where a temple and a gurukul were built. The demand
of the Muslims was wrong as it was never a mausoleum or a graveyard,” Shastri
added.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/court-blow-to-muslims-in-uttar-pradesh-land-dispute-says-area-belonged-to-hindus-from-mahabharat-era/cid/1998800
----
HC hears arguments on plea challenging order
allowing Hindu prayers in Gyanvapi mosque cellar
February 6, 2024
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday heard both
the Hindu and Muslim sides on the Gyanvapi mosque committee’s appeal
challenging the Varanasi district court order allowing Hindu prayers in a
cellar of the mosque.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agrawal said the hearing
would continue on Wednesday.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which
looks after the affairs of the mosque in Varanasi adjacent to the Kashi
Vishwanath temple, had filed the plea on Friday last challenging the Varanasi
court order allowing prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque.
In the middle of the hearing Tuesday as the
court hour was over, the judge said the hearing would resume at 10 am on
Wednesday.
The Allahabad HC had on Friday not given any
immediate relief to the Gyanvapi Masjid committee which had challenged the
Varanasi district court order.
On Tuesday, appearing on behalf of the Muslim
side, senior advocate SFA Naqvi submitted that by the order of January 31, the
district judge had given final relief sought in the suit at the initial stage,
which cannot be permitted.
Naqvi further submitted before the court that
the order was passed in a “very hurried manner” and on the day of retirement of
the judge concerned.
Varanasi district judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha
retired from service on January 31.
On behalf of the Hindu side, Vishnu Shankar
Jain submitted that the order for appointing a receiver was passed on January
17 and the court order for offering puja was passed on January 31.
The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee moved
the high court within hours of the Supreme Court refusing to hear its plea
against the Varanasi district court order and asking it to approach the high
court.
The Varanasi court had ruled on Wednesday that
a priest can perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the
Gyanvapi mosque.
The court allowed regular worship to be
conducted by a ‘pujari’ nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust and the
petitioner who claimed his grandfather offered puja before the idols in the cellar
up to December 1993.
A puja was held in the mosque’s southern cellar
on Wednesday night, about eight hours after the Varanasi district court order.
Naqvi had on Friday last submitted that while
passing the impugned order, the district judge did not consider their
documents.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the
Hindu side, pointed out that the district court by the means of an order dated
January 17 had appointed the Varanasi district magistrate receiver of the
property and in pursuance of the order, he took possession of the same on
January 24.
The order passed on January 31 is only a
consequential order. The order dated January 17 has not been challenged and
thus the appeal is not maintainable, he had argued.
According to the January 31 order, the advocate
general has given an undertaking that the district administration of Varanasi
will maintain law and order in pursuance of the January 31 order.
Jain had also submitted that by permitting
puja, no harm has been caused to the other side because puja was going on in
the past and was stopped in December 1993.
In the appeal filed before the court, the Board
of Trustees, Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shailendra Kumar Pathak, head
priest, Acharya Ved Vyas Peeth Temple Complex, have been made respondents.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hc-arguments-plea-challenging-order-hindu-prayers-gyanvapi-mosque-cellar-9147288/
---
Raj Thackeray gifted brick brought back after
Babri mosque demolition by party leader
Feb 6,
2024
A Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader on
Tuesday gifted party chief Raj Thackeray a brick that he brought back following
the December 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
The party leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, claimed
that Raj Thackeray was the heir of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's ideology,
PTI reported.
The 16th century Babri Masjid was demolished by
right-wing outfits on December 6, 1992.
Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying
he was proud if any of his 'Sainiks', referring to Shiv Sena members, had taken
part in the demolition of the mosque.
Nandgaonkar said he had kept the brick with him
for 32 years. "I always wanted to gift it to (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb
Thackeray once the construction of Ram Temple got over. Sadly, the temple is
there but Balasaheb is not with us," the former MLA said.
"Thus, I decided to gift it to Raj
Thackeray, who is taking forward Balasaheb's thoughts in the true sense. Raj Thackeray
is the heir of Balasaheb's ideology," he said after gifting the brick to
his party head.
Nandgaonkar said he had gone to Ayodhya on
December 6, 1992, for the mosque's demolition. "There were many Shiv Sena
workers with me for the karseva," he said.
With a Ram temple now constructed at the site
of the Babri Masjid, Nandgaonkar said he would like to bring back a brick from
the temple. "I would like to bring back home a brick from the current site
of the Ram temple as a souvenir," he said.
The consecration of Ram Lalla's idol at the
Ayodhya temple was held on January 22 this year.
It was held after the first phase of the
temple’s construction, which was made possible by a historic Supreme Court
judgment in 2019 that settled the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
title suit.
The Hindu litigants had argued that the Babri
Masjid was constructed at the site of a temple marking the birthplace of Lord
Ram.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/maharashtra/story/raj-thackeray-gifted-brick-brought-back-after-babri-masjid-demolition-2498294-2024-02-06
----
Islamic preacher Azhari faces 2nd FIR for
‘hate’ speech in Kutch
Feb 6,
2024
Bhuj : Police in Gujarat on Tuesday registered
a second first information report (FIR) against Mumbai-based Islamic preacher
Mufti Salman Azhari, who is under arrest, for allegedly delivering a
provocative speech at a religious event at Samakhiyari in Kutch district, an
official said.
Azhari was arrested from Mumbai on Sunday in
connection with a separate hate speech case lodged at Junagadh on Saturday and
brought to Ahmedabad by a team of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). From
Ahmedabad, he was taken to Junagadh.
“An FIR has been registered against Mufti
Salman Azhari for delivering a provocative speech at a religious function
organised at Samakhiyari on January 31. Police permission was granted for the
event, but the content of the speech was similar to that of the Junagadh event (held
the same day),” Kutch (East) Superintendent of Police SagarBagmar said.
He said Azhari was booked under sections 153B
(promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 505 (2) (making
statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code in connection
with the event in Kutch district.
The Gujarat police had arrested the preacher
from Mumbai for allegedly delivering a hate speech at an event held in an open
ground near the ‘B’ division police station at Junagadh on the night of January
31.
The police swung into action after a video of
his speech went viral on social media.
After the video went viral, an FIR was
registered against Azhari and the local organizers of the event Mohammad Yousuf
Malek and Azim Habib Odedara. While Malek and Habib were arrested on Saturday,
Azhari was apprehended the next day.
As per the Junagadh FIR, the arrested men had
taken permission from the police for the gathering stating that Azhari would
speak about religion and spread awareness on de-addiction.
Instead, he made an inflammatory speech,
according to the police document. ( With PTI inputs )
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/islamic-preacher-azhari-faces-2nd-fir-for-hate-speech-in-kutch/
---
Arab World
Saudi Arabia: No diplomatic relations with
Israel without Palestinian state
February 07, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said there will be no
diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Israel unless Palestinians had an independent
state, state news agency SPA reported early on Wednesday, citing a statement
from the foreign ministry.
The statement by the foreign ministry said
Riyadh was steadfast on Palestinians obtaining their legitimate rights.
“The Kingdom has communicated its firm position
to the US administration that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel
unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with
East Jerusalem as its capital,” the statement said.
The official note addressed comments attributed
to US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, without outlining his
remarks.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that “Kirby said
that the Biden administration has received positive feedback that Saudi Arabia
and Israel are willing to continue to have normalization discussions.”
The Saudi statement also demanded “Israeli
aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw
from the Gaza Strip.”
The Kingdom called on permanent members of the
UN Security Council to “expedite the recognition of the Palestinian state.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday.
Blinken is on a regional tour to discuss the
situation in Gaza with allies. He arrived in Israel after visiting Egypt and
Qatar on Tuesday.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455436/saudi-arabia
----
‘Evil trio’ of US, UK, Israel cannot break will
of Yemenis to continue supporting Gaza: Ansarullah leader
06 February 2024
The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance
movement says the recent rising aggression by the “evil trio” of the United
States, the United Kingdom and Israel against the Arab country will not affect
the determination of Yemeni people to support Palestinians in the besieged Gaza
Strip.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi made the remarks in a
televised speech on Tuesday to commemorate the 20th martyrdom anniversary of
former Ansarullah chief Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, who was killed while
leading a revolt against the then-Saudi-backed regime in 2004.
Houthi said the late Ansarullah leader promoted
steadfastness and sacrifice in the face of the US invasion and colonialism, and
reaffirmed the necessity of unity and confronting the conspiracies targeting
Muslim nations.
He praised the valor of Yemeni people in the
fight against the global arrogance and threats from hegemonic powers, saying,
“Our nation today is a very great nation with the most important geographical
locations, which enjoys very enormous economic resources," but it has been shackled.
The Ansarullah leader underscored Yemen’s firm
stance on supporting Palestinians in Gaza by launching retaliatory attacks on
Israeli-tied shipping in the Red Sea despite rising aggression by the US and
its allies against the Arab country.
“The United States terrorizes most of
countries, most of their leaders, and most of their armies with the language of
threat or intimidation. What is the position of our Islamic nation in
comparison with the Arab world and elsewhere, who are hundreds of millions,
regarding what is happening today in Palestine?” Houthi said.
“Our beloved people, despite the fact that
after the aggression that lasted nine years and has not ended yet, took a
distinguished position,” he added. “We set out to confront the evil trio of
America, Israel, and Britain, and we are ready for the sacrifice and are
confident of victory.”
Stressing that Yemen is a free country, which
cannot be influenced by US hegemony or authority, the Ansarullah chief said,
“If we had been followers of treason and connivance, the Americans and the
British would not have carried out the aggression against us.”
Houthi said, “No matter what the evil trio
does, it will not affect our position and will not break the will of our
people,” adding, “The Americans are trying to camouflage their ships by putting
the flags of another country on them and fleeing like the Israelis do.”
The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance
movement also stressed, "They must stop the war on Gaza and bring in
medicine and food; otherwise, we will seek escalation."
Houthi reiterated that the Yemeni people will
continue all their activities within the framework of their right to defend
themselves and their stance to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier in the day, the spokesman for the
Yemeni Armed Forces said the country’s naval units had conducted two operations
against US and British vessels off the nation's coast amid intensified Israeli
attacks against Gaza.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the
country’s forces struck with “appropriate” missiles the US-owned Star Nasia
bulk carrier and British Morning Tide general cargo ship in the Red Sea.
Yemenis have declared their open support for
Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a
devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian
resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won’t
stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in
Gaza, which have killed at least 27,585 people and wounded another 67,000
individuals, come to an end.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/06/719604/Yemen%E2%80%99s-Ansarullah-resistance-movement-evil-trio-affect-Palestinians-Gaza-Strip
----
Saudi Arabia Hails Outcomes of Islamic Military
Counter Terrorism Coalition Meeting
7 February 2024
The Saudi government praised on Tuesday the
outcomes of the second meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the
Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) that was hosted by Riyadh.
It said the Kingdom’s support of SAR 100
million for the IMCTC Fund for Financing Initiatives is a testament to its
approach and commitment to spreading values of moderation and rejecting
violence and extremism.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman
bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.
The ministers were briefed on the talks he held
with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah, who visited the
Kingdom last week. They were also briefed on the official talks Sheikh Mishal
held with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait underscored the
strength of the fraternal relations that bind them and stressed their shared
goal to deepen cooperation in all fields and maintain coordination and
consultations on issues of mutual interest.
Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari said the
cabinet reviewed the talks and meetings held between Saudi Arabia and several
countries over the past week.
The cabinet hailed the announcement that the
Kingdom will host the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP
16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in
December.
It said this was an important step in
bolstering cooperation to find effective solutions to reduce land degradation
and the effects of drought around the world.
Source: english.aawsat.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/4838566-saudi-arabia-hails-outcomes-islamic-military-counter-terrorism-coalition-meeting
----
Qatar says Hamas has handed in ‘positive’
response to Gaza truce deal
07 Feb
2024
GAZA STRIP, Feb 7 — Palestinian militant group
Hamas said yesterday it handed its response on a truce deal aimed at halting
the war with Israel to key mediators.
“A short while ago, the Hamas movement
delivered its response to the framework agreement to the brothers in Qatar and
Egypt,” a statement said, referring to “a comprehensive and full ceasefire”.
The militant group has for more than a week
mulled the deal drawn up in its absence at Paris talks, as international
pressure mounts to end the four-month war.
Hamas said the proposal was aimed at “ending
the aggression against our people, securing relief and shelter, reconstruction,
lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, and completing the process of a prisoner
exchange”.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman
Al-Thani said Doha had received a “positive” response from Hamas to the truce
plans.
The premier was speaking alongside US Secretary
of State Antony Blinken, who has embarked on another crisis tour of the Middle
East.
Blinken said the Hamas response has already
“been shared with the Israelis”.
“I’ll pick up that conversation tomorrow in
Israel when I’m there, and we will be working as hard as we possibly can to try
to get an agreement,” Blinken told reporters in Doha.
The Gaza war erupted on October 7 with an
attack by Hamas which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Gunmen from Gaza also seized around 250
hostages. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza including 28 who are believed to have
been killed.
Israel’s withering military campaign has killed
at least 27,585 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the
health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/02/07/qatar-says-hamas-has-handed-in-positive-response-to-gaza-truce-deal/116738
-----
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief signs $10m deal with
WHO to support Gaza
February 07, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief
signed on Tuesday a $10 million agreement with the UN’s World Health
Organization to support emergency care services in the Gaza Strip.
The agreement includes providing and expanding
medical supplies and logistical support to 40 health facilities that would
benefit 456,000 individuals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement was signed during a video call by
KSrelief’s Assistant General-Supervisor for Operations and Programs Ahmed
Al-Baiz, and the WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr.
Hanan Balkhi.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455586/saudi-arabia
----
Saudi ministry and UK National Archives team up
to document Kingdom’s cultural heritage
February 07, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and
the British National Archives have agreed to collaborate on an executive
program for the digitization of cultural records in the Kingdom, in line with
established international specifications and standards.
The agreement was signed by Raed Al-Sufyani,
director general of Research and Cultural Studies at the Ministry of Culture,
and Jeff James, the CEO and keeper of the British National Archives. It comes
within the framework of a wider agreement between the Saudi ministry and its UK
counterpart, the Ministry of Digitization, Culture, Media and Sport.
Specialists from the two countries in various
fields will work together on the program to build a digital archive and set up
a framework for financing research projects and studies of Saudi culture and
related topics. They will also assemble an inventory of the information about
the history and cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia that is contained in records
within the British National Archives and other such databases in the UK.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455421/saudi-arabia
----
Saudi Arabia condemns ‘extremist’ shooting
incident in Turkiye’s Istanbul
February 06, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned a gun
attack in the Turkish city of Istanbul, expressing regret over the incident.
Two people attacked Turkiye’s largest
courthouse before being shot dead on Tuesday in an exchange of fire that also
left one other person dead and five wounded. Authorities alleged the assailants
were part of an extremist organization that had been largely inactive in recent
years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the
“Kingdom’s position against all forms of violence and terrorism, and also
extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of the deceased, the
government and the Turkish people,” it said in a statement.
It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455236/saudi-arabia
-----
Pakistan
Pakistan fully committed to fostering inclusive
democratic process: FO
February 7, 2024
Pakistan is fully committed to fostering an inclusive
democratic process and its judicial system provides for fair trial and due
process, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday.
This was stated by FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra
Baloch while responding to remarks made by the Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights regarding the general elections in Pakistan tomorrow.
“Pakistan is fully committed to foster an
inclusive democratic process, uphold the rule of law and protect human rights
and fundamental freedoms guaranteed in its laws and Constitution.
Security plans have been finalized to hold the
elections on 08 February 2024 as per the electoral laws of Pakistan,“ the
statement said.
The spokesperson further said that domestic
legal remedies are available in case of any complaints in the electoral
process.
Earlier, in a statement spokesperson for the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell deplored “all acts of
violence against political parties and candidates, and urge the authorities to
uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for an inclusive and meaningful
democratic process”.
“Separate voter lists — as is the case for the
Ahmadis — expose them to harassment and violence, despite the equal rights
guaranteed to minorities in Pakistan’s constitution.”
Throssell added that polls are an important
moment to reaffirm the commitment to democracy, and “to ensure the right to
participation of all its people”.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40287752/pakistan-fully-committed-to-fostering-inclusive-democratic-process-fo
----
Pakistan condemns attack on Courthouse complex
in Istanbul
2024-02-07
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday strongly
condemned the terrorist attack targeting the Courthouse complex in Istanbul and
reaffirmed its resolute solidarity with Turkiye in its fight against the
scourge of terrorism.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the
brotherly people and government of Turkiye and pray for the swift and complete
recovery of those injured in this heinous attack. Our thoughts and prayers are
with the bereaved families,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
said while strongly condemning the terror attack.
“Pakistan reaffirms its resolute solidarity
with Turkiye in its fight against [the] scourge of terrorism,” she added.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40287693/pakistan-condemns-attack-on-courthouse-complex-in-istanbul
----
Aircraft carrying Pakistan's humanitarian aid
for Gaza people arrives in Egypt
February 07, 2024
A special aircraft carrying hundred tons of
relief goods donated by Pakistan for the suffering people of Gaza arrived in
Egypt today.
The plane carrying sixth tranche of Pakistan’s
humanitarian assistance consisting of winterized tents, tarpaulins and blankets
landed at El-Arish International Airport of Egypt.
The relief goods were received by the senior
diplomatic officials of Pakistan for their onward delivery to Gaza.
This ongoing support underscores Pakistan’s
continued commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian needs of the people of
Gaza.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/07-02-2024/aircraft-carrying-pakistans-humanitarian-aid-for-gaza-people-arrives-in-egypt
----
Pakistan, OIC call for resolution of key global
issues
February 07, 2024
At the United Nations, Pakistan and OIC have
called for principle of right to self-determination to resolve key global
issues, including Kashmir and Palestine as per UN resolutions.
In his opening remarks, Pakistan’s UN
Ambassador Munir Akram warned that these unresolved issues posed a threat to
international peace and security.
He said right of self-determination was
“bedrock” of modern international system and fundamental principle of the UN
Charter.
He further said right to self-determination is
being flagrantly denied in Palestine and in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and
Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, the OIC Permanent
Observer to the UN Hameed Opeloyeru said that OIC firmly supports legitimate
struggle of Kashmiri people for realization of their inalienable right to
self-determination.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/07-02-2024/pakistan-oic-call-for-resolution-of-key-global-issues
----
Kabul’s Expectations of Pakistan Need to Be
Clarified: Kakar
February 6, 2024
The prime minister of the caretaker government
of Pakistan, Anwar ul-Haq Kakar, said that the expectations of Kabul and
Islamabad should be clarified based on strategic interest.
Speaking to Geo News, Kakar said that Islamabad
needs to clarify its expectations and so does Kabul.
“The expectation level from each other should
be realistic and pragmatic. The interest of the two countries should be based
on their own strategic interest. We understand the legitimate interest of
Afghanistan and we should understand but if the legitimate interest of Pakistan
is not understood, then the ensuring of good relations and ties is
challenging,” he said.
But the Islamic Emirate meanwhile stressed that
all challenges should be addressed through a diplomatic path and that the
useless allegations should be avoided.
“We want the useless allegations to be avoided.
The realities are understood. The issues which cause disputes should be shared
through diplomatic paths, so they can be solved,” said Zabiullah Mujahid,
Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.
Meanwhile, some political analysts said that
the mutual interest of the two countries should be considered in a bid to
improve the bilateral relations.
“We need to solve all our problems through
understanding each other and finding a mutual path,” said Nasir Shafiq, a
political analyst.
The relations between Kabul and Islamabad have
recently become severe over the exportation of Afghan refugees and the issue of
Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-187303
-----
South Asia
Death Of People In Bangladesh because of Myanmar Conflict Simply Unacceptable –
FM Bangladesh
Feb 7, 2024
It is unexpected and unacceptable that
Myanmar's conflicts are spilling over into Bangladesh, resulting in deaths and
injuries of Bangladeshis, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters at his
ministry yesterday.
"At a time when discussions of Rohingya
repatriation are going on, Myanmar's conflict is entering Bangladesh. Mortar
shells are falling onto our side of the border and injuring and killing our
people…. We have summoned the Myanmar envoy and issued a strong protest."
Earlier in the day, the foreign ministry
summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Aung Kyaw Mow to state guest house
Padma. Foreign Ministry Director General Mia MdMainul Kabir (Myanmar) handed
the protest note to Aung Kyaw there.
Responding to the note, the Myanmar ambassador
said he would relay the message to the authorities in Naypyidaw.
Until noon yesterday, 264 people, including
members of Myanmar border and security forces and their families, entered
Bangladesh to escape the fighting between the Myanmar military and the rebel
Arakan Army.
Some of them came injured and were taken to
Chattogram and Cox's Bazar hospitals for treatment.
On Monday, a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya
man were killed when a mortar shell from Myanmar exploded in Ghumdhum near the
border. Several others were injured.
About those seeking shelter in Bangladesh,
Hasan Mahmud said the Myanmar authorities suggested taking the members of the
security forces back through the waterway. "The discussion is still
ongoing."
Foreign ministry sources said the government
feels it would be a better option to return the security forces member by air.
Meanwhile, Hasan Mahmud rejected BNP's
accusation that the country's lenient foreign policy was to blame for the
Myanmar conflict spilling over into Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh is not responsible for
Myanmar's internal conflicts…. BNP thought the foreign countries will not
welcome the new government of Bangladesh after the polls. But now that all are
welcoming and expressing their interests to work with us, BNP is speaking the
language of the insane."
Also yesterday, the foreign minister met with
Norwegian Ambassador EspenRikter-Svendsen and Vatican Ambassador Archbishop
Kevin Stuart Randall.
The Norwegian ambassador handed over the
congratulatory letter for the new government on behalf of Norway's Foreign
Minister Espen Barth Eide to Hasan Mahmud.
"Norway has expressed eagerness to work on
blue economy and wind power generation," Hasan Mahmud said.
During his meeting with the Vatican ambassador,
he said that Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and
sovereign of the Vatican City State, is scheduled to visit India this year and
Bangladesh has invited him to visit again.
Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah
yesterday said that India has decided to construct a fence along the entire
1,643km-long India-Myanmar border and place a patrol track along it to
facilitate stronger surveillance.
"Of the total border length, a 10km
stretch in Manipur's Moreh has already been fenced …." he wrote in a post
on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"The Modi government is committed to
building impenetrable borders."
Myanmar shares border with four north eastern
Indian states -- Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Mizoram and
Manipur also recently saw an influx of Myanmarese civilians and soldiers in
their thousands following the conflicts between the Myanmar military and Arakan
army.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/myanmar-conflict-death-our-people-simply-unacceptable-3537981
----
Muttaqi Meets With Sinirlioğlu, Calls UN
Special Envoy Post 'Unnecessary'
MitraMajeedy
In his meeting with the Special Coordinator of
the United Nations for Afghanistan, FeridunSinirlioğlu, acting Foreign Minister
Amir Khan Muttaqi, stressed that the appointment of a UN special envoy for the
situation of Afghanistan is “unnecessary”, according to a Islamic Emirate’s
spokesman.
Muttaqi met with Sinirlioğlu on Monday, where
he discussed the holding of the Doha meeting about Afghanistan, Foreign
Ministry’s Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi posted on X on Monday.
He also quoted Sinirlioğlu as saying that the
purpose of holding the Doha meeting is to establish the interaction of the
international community through a sustainable process so that Afghanistan
achieves more political progress.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman,
Zabiullah Mujahid, said: “He promised to help with Afghanistan. The focus was
on the Doha conference and that the Islamic Emirate should make its decision
whether to attend the conference or not? The acting Foreign Minister asked him
about the agenda and issues being discussed there.”
“Sinirlioğlu might have discussed with the
Islamic Emirate’s officials the issues of denial of special envoy by the
Islamic Emirate,” said Samiullah Ahmadzai, political analyst.
The Chargé d'Affaires of the Afghanistan
Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, said that the special envoy for
Afghanistan will be appointed with the agreement of the Doha meeting.
“One of the agendas of the conference will be discussion
about the appointment of the special envoy. I don’t think the Secretary General
will appoint its special envoy,” he said.
This comes as the Doha meeting is due to be
held on February 18-19.
After meeting with various dimensions of
Afghanistan and the region, Sinirlioğlu prepared an assessment of the situation
of Afghanistan, in which he recommended a roadmap for reintegration of
Afghanistan into the international community.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-187304
-----
Africa
Islamic defence ministers commit to fight
against terrorism
Odita Sunday, Abuja
07 February 2024
‘Nigeria will surmount security challenges
soon’
Defence Ministers of Islamic Military Counter
Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have made a bold commitment to boost the war
against terrorism. However, National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism
Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Rear Admiral Yaminu
Musa (rtd), is optimistic that Nigeria will surmount her challenges of
terrorism and other forms of insecurity, in view of the commitment of President
Bola Tinubu and the strength of the ONSA under NuhuRibadu.
Since
the start of Boko Haram in the North East in 2009, Nigeria has formed a
coalition from many fronts to combat the deadly group, which, over time, has
expanded its atrocities to other parts of the North.
The
increasing menace of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and
other emerging security threats, such as banditry and kidnapping, has
necessitated growing defence bilateral relationship between Nigeria and other
countries.
One of such is the IMCTC, formed by Saudi
Arabia in December 2015, to bring together countries with common interests to
embark on a united fight against terrorism.
Accordingly, it was gathered that a meeting of
defence ministers took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss strategy,
initiative and future plans to coordinate, as well as support, military operations
against terrorism, terrorism financing and ideology.
In the landmark meeting, The Guardian learnt,
the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, discussed strategies and
shared intelligence to dismantle terrorists’ networks and disrupt their
operations in Nigeria and the Sahel region.
Sources at the minister’s office disclosed that
the assembly focused on strengthening ties and forging a united front to combat
the escalating threat of terrorism worldwide effectively.
Matawalle was quoted as saying: “Defence
ministers from up to 34 nations convened and discussed a more collaborative
approach, recognising that terrorism is not confined by borders and thus
requires a multinational response.
“The
threat of terrorism continues to evolve, becoming more complex and widespread.
It is imperative that we, as a coalition, stand side by side, combining our
resources and expertise to protect our nations and maintain global security. It
is worthy to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment and the need for a deeper level of
partnership in the areas of intelligence sharing, technical support and
training to enhance regional and national security.”
Key
outcomes of the meeting include enhanced intelligence sharing, joint military
training, counter-terrorism financing and humanitarian support coordination.
The meeting concluded with a unified
declaration that the coalition would take all necessary measures to prevent
acts of terrorism and to protect the lives and freedoms of individuals
worldwide.
The ministers pledged continued support and
cooperation, stating that only through solidarity can the global community hope
to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.
The participants also discussed the objectives
of these initiatives and their role in supporting member countries in their
fight against terrorism, violence and extremism.
MUSA enjoined Nigerians to be patriotic and
believe that the country would be a better place, as the challenges confronting
the country would give way through concerted efforts of well-meaning
individuals and groups.
He stated this while addressing doctoral
students of the Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Nasarawa State
University, Keffi, who were on study tour to the NCTC-ONSA in Abuja.
The ONSA said: “I have no doubt that Nigeria
would surmount the challenges of terrorism and other forms of insecurity in the
nearest future. Presently, the security situation in the North East and other
parts of the country is gradually improving. I believe that our deliberations
and proffered suggestions on the way forward would further enhance our national
security.”
Earlier, leader of the students on the study
tour, Prof Andrew Zamani, had commended the coordinator for the privilege
granted the students for interaction with the management of the centre to build
on their knowledge, adding that the repository of the knowledge of terrorism
and security generally resides at ONSA.
Zamani disclosed that Nasarawa State University
remained proud of the coordinator, as one of its previous PhD students whose
thesis on terrorism remained unmatched in the country.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/islamic-defence-ministers-commit-to-fight-against-terrorism/
----
The Sahel Exodus: Implications of Mali, Burkina
Faso, and Niger Leaving ECOWAS
NosaSaidu
February
7, 2024
In a surprising turn of events, Mali, Burkina
Faso, and Niger have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS). This decision, while significant for the Sahel region,
poses challenges for the newly formed alliance amidst broader economic and
security concerns.
Economic Disruption Looms
The withdrawal of the Sahel states from ECOWAS
threatens to disrupt regional trade and economic development. Mali, heavily
reliant on ECOWAS for 34.9% of its merchandise imports in 2022, faces potential
inflationary pressures with restricted access to the ECOWAS market. Similarly,
Burkina Faso’s dependence on Cotonou and Lomé ports for international trade
presents logistical challenges should it ultimately exit the bloc. “While
ECOWAS would lose around 70 million people, they are the populations whose
purchasing power is amongst the lowest in the entire bloc,” says Charlie
Robertson, head of macro-strategy at FIM Partners. “Their departure is unlikely
to have a significant impact on the bloc or on major economies like Nigeria,
Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.”
The departure from ECOWAS casts shadows over
the banking sector in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. While larger regional
banks may weather the storm, local subsidiaries anticipate declines in asset
quality and profitability. Despite the negligible impact on ECOWAS’s overall
financial cohesion, concerns over economic stability persist within the departing
nations.
Of grave concern is the escalation of regional
violence in the Sahel. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are pivotal in combating
Islamist extremism, with coordinated efforts at risk due to the withdrawal of
French and UN troops. The departure from ECOWAS exacerbates security risks,
threatening stability not only in the Sahel but also across neighboring
nations. Notably, data has shown an increase in violence and attacks in the
three countries since the Military Junta took power, which raises questions
about their ability to deal with the existing challenges.
Despite forming the AES, Mali, Burkina Faso,
and Niger face daunting challenges. The AES’s departure from ECOWAS may further
isolate the alliance, impeding access to vital markets and exacerbating
economic woes. Moreover, the AES’s credibility remains uncertain, with the
international community closely monitoring its ability to foster regional
cooperation and address pressing security concerns.
While the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and
Niger poses challenges, ECOWAS remains resilient. With the departure of three
of its poorest members, ECOWAS is poised to maintain economic cohesion and
explore avenues for deeper integration among remaining states. The impact of
the AES’s departure on ECOWAS’s overall gross domestic product is minimal,
underscoring the bloc’s stability and adaptability in the face of regional
dynamics. Notwithstanding, the move may bring an end to decades of brotherhood
that has existed in the regional bloc.
The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger
from ECOWAS underscores the complex interplay of economic, security, and
political factors shaping West Africa’s landscape. As the Sahel states navigate
uncertain terrain, collaboration and strategic planning are essential in
mitigating challenges and fostering sustainable development. The broader West
African region must remain vigilant, recognizing the interconnectedness of
nations and the imperative of collective action in overcoming shared obstacles.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tribuneonlineng.com/the-sahel-exodus-implications-of-mali-burkina-faso-and-niger-leaving-ecowas/
-----
Nasarawa CP dissociates from Miyetti Allah’s
security outfit
Abel Abogonye, Lafia
07 February 2024
Commissioner of Police (CP), Nasarawa State
Command, ShehuNadada, has denied any involvement with the 1,440-man Fulani
Nomad Vigilante team, which was recently unleashed on the state by the
President of Miyetti Allah KautaHore, AbdullahiBodejo.
Nadada disclosed this, yesterday, when members
of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him at the command’s
headquarters in Lafia.
He
pointed out that the command was not officially notified about the formation of
the security outfit.
“I am assuring you that the Nomad Vigilante
(members), as they call themselves, are on their own. There was no formal
report to the police concerning the issue. Nobody wrote to me or called me
(over the issue).
“We have been working with some vigilante
groups that are recognised by the government, but we will not work with any
vigilante that is not recognised by the government.”
Some concerned residents in the state have
alleged the involvement of the police in the formation of the vigilante group,
as officers of the command were reportedly represented and provided security
during the inauguration ceremony.
But the CP said the police command provided
security at the venue of the inauguration ceremony for the 1,144-man nomad
vigilante members to avert the breakdown of law and order at the event.
“Nobody informed the command in written or
verbal form about the vigilante group, But ordinarily, if there is any
gathering like that, we cannot allow people to gather without providing
security for them, so that hoodlums will not go and hijack the gathering,” he
said.
Chairman of Nasarawa NUJ, Salihu Alkali, while
congratulating the CP for his recent posting to the state, pledged to give the
command the needed cooperation to ensure success.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/nasarawa-cp-dissociates-from-miyetti-allahs-security-outfit/
---
Regional groups hinge coups on hardship,
failure of democracy
NkechiOnyedika-Ugoeze and SodiqOmolaoye, Abuja,
Abuja
07 February 2024
Disturbed by the incessant military coups in
the West Africa sub-region, Abuja School of Political Thought of School (ASSPT)
and Save Democracy Group West Africa have resolved to raise the West Africa
Democracy Observatory to provide scientific thinking and ideas for
policymakers.
They blame the instability on the failure of
democracy to transform, enable and empower the people.The groups also expressed
concern about the postponement of the presidential election in Senegal.
Speaking at a policy dialogue with the theme,
‘Democracy and the Future of ECOWAS, organised by the groups, yesterday, in
Abuja, the Executive Director of ASSPT, Dr Sam Amadi, observed that the failure
of democracy in Africa was a lapse of development and human welfare, adding
that the geopolitics of West Africa require more democratisation.
He said: “We have seen the failure of democracy
in others globally, but the one in Africa is existential because elsewhere it
creates room for dialogue, but here it runs into violent reactions, coups and
diminishing the quality of life of people of West Africa.”
Besides, the Centre for Democracy and
Development (CDD West Africa) has faulted the postponement of the highly
anticipated presidential election in Senegal originally billed for February 25.
The organisation said the decision represents a
“clear violation of the rule of law and democratic rights of the Senegalese
people.” It, therefore, urged the Senegalese government to respect the sanctity
of the democratic process.
Noting that elections are the foundation of
democracy, the organisation, in a statement yesterday, underscored the utmost
importance of upholding the rule of law, transparency, credibility and
fairness.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://guardian.ng/news/regional-groups-hinge-coups-on-hardship-failure-of-democracy/
----
Mideast
Israel using hunger as ‘weapon’ against
Palestinians in Gaza, UN expert warns
06
February 2024
Israel is using hunger as a “weapon” against
Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip since Tel Aviv launched the ongoing war
on the besieged territory four months ago, a UN expert warns.
Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the
Right to Food, said on Tuesday that the occupying regime was weaponizing hunger
in its attacks against inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.
“Israel is clearly and systematically
obstructing access to food for all civilians in Gaza,” he told Turkey's state
news agency Anadolu on Tuesday.
“UN humanitarian teams reported that reaching
everyone in need of food and water in Gaza is almost impossible due to Israel’s
obstruction of humanitarian aid,” Fakhri added.
He warned that the Israeli-imposed blockade of
food and water entering the coastal sliver has led to famine in the region,
whose 85 percent of the population has been internally displaced due to the
current war.
Israel waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out an
unprecedented operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its
intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least
27,585 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 67,000 others.
Israel has imposed a “complete siege” on the
densely-populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to
the more than two million Palestinians living there.
The latest figures by the UN show that almost a
quarter of Gaza's more than two million inhabitants are suffering from hunger,
while the rest are under-nourished, Fakhri further noted, saying that there is
no other conflict zone where access to clean water and food is so difficult.
“Israel is destroying Gaza’s food system and
using food as a weapon against the Palestinian people,” the UN expert said,
adding, “We know that 2.2 million people in Gaza are hungry. We have never seen
so many people completely deprived of food before.”
Fakhri also noted that the Tel Aviv regime’s
four months of attacks against the Gaza Strip have deliberately targeted
civilian infrastructure, hospitals and bakeries, condemning as a “war crime”
the regime’s obstruction of Gazans’ access to food.
“Israel has made Gaza uninhabitable. This is
clearly a war crime because indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on
civilian targets are taking place,” the UN expert added.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/06/719609/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-hunger-UN-famine-
----
Hamas calls on Intl. institutions to address
abuses against Palestinians in Israeli jails
06 February 2024
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has
called on human rights groups and international institutions to address abuses
against Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, after testimonies by those
newly released from detention.
Horrific testimonies from Palestinians who were
recently imprisoned by the Israeli regime reveal patterns of custodial torture
and severe physical and mental abuse amid the unfolding genocide in the
war-torn Gaza Strip.
“We call on human rights and international
institutions to follow up on the horrifying testimonies given by Palestinian
detainees from Gaza who were recently released of the physical and
psychological torture and violations they suffered in the prisons of the
occupation, which deliberately conceals their places of detention, their
numbers and the conditions of their detention,” Hamas said in a statement on
Tuesday.
It added that these testimonies are fresh
evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity the Israeli regime is
currently committing while affirming that such crimes require legal pursuit
before international and specialized courts.
After spending weeks of detention behind bars
in Israeli jails, newly-released Palestinian inmates have shown signs of
torture, with swollen hands and feet after being handcuffed for the entire
period, electrocuted and beaten.
Palestinian abductees also reported being
stripped and left to sleep on gravel with no cover in the winter cold.
Israel waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on
October 7 after Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the
occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the
Palestinian people.
So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least
27,585 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 67,000 others.
Israel has imposed a “complete siege” on the
densely-populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to
the more than two million Palestinians living there.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/06/719593/Palestine-Hamas-Israel-jails-prisoners-abuses-Gaza
----
Israel Never A Friend of Muslims: Iranian
President
February, 06, 2024
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – President of Iran Ebrahim
Raisi decried attempts at normalization of ties between a number of Islamic
countries and the Zionist regime, saying Israel could never be a friend of
Muslims nor would it ever favor their development.
In a meeting with Acting Foreign Minister of
Sudan Ali Al-Sadiq Ali, held in Tehran on Monday, Raisi highlighted Iran's
support for the establishment of a strong government in Sudan and the
territorial integrity of the African country.
He also welcomed Sudan's request to restore
relations between Tehran and Khartoum and called it a basis for compensating
for the lost opportunities and creating new opportunities.
Raisi also referred to the existing capacities
in the two countries and the mutual will of the officials to promote political,
economic and cultural interactions, and considered the exchange of ambassadors
and the reopening of embassies in Tehran and Khartoum as a suitable ground for
the revival and development of relations between the two countries, the president’s
official website reported.
Referring to the recent regional developments,
he emphasized that distancing the countries from the Zionist regime is one of
the basic policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The president stated that the criminal Zionist
regime, which has always sought to disrupt the movement of Muslims by creating
sedition and conspiracy, can never be a friend of Islamic countries or be
interested in the growth and development of Muslim nations.
Deploring the move by some Islamic countries to
normalize relations with the Israeli regime, Raisi said, "Today, the big
question of the Islamic Ummah from some Islamic countries is how they still
maintain their relations with this regime in spite of this amount of
criminality and infanticide by the Zionist regime, while if these countries had
tried to cut off their relations with the Zionists, today we would not have
witnessed the continuation of attacks and bombings against the oppressed and
Muslim people of Gaza."
For his part, the Sudanese diplomat emphasized
his country's readiness to restore political and diplomatic relations with
Iran.
He also appreciated the political support of
Iran for the people of Sudan in international forums and circles, highlighted
his country's interest in developing relations with Iran, and expressed his
country's readiness to increase economic and commercial cooperation with the
Islamic Republic.
Source: tasnimnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2024/02/06/3035128/israel-never-a-friend-of-muslims-iranian-president
----
Zionist enemy demolishes two houses in Jericho,
al-Quds
[07/February/2024]
OCCUPIED AL-QUDS February 07. 2024 (Saba) - The
Zionist enemy forces have demolished two houses in Jericho and al-Quds cities,
and bulldozed a wall in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Information Center reported
that the Zionist enemy forces stormed the village of al-Nuweimah, northern
Jericho city, and demolished the 120-square-meter house of citizen Nayef Nujoom
and his family, under the pretext of not having a permit.
The enemy forces were notified of the
demolition of six other houses in the village, belonging to Nujoom family,
according to the center.
In a related context, enemy military vehicles
bulldozed a wall at the entrance to the town of Bani Naim, east of Hebron.
The enemy forces stormed the town of Silwan,
southern al-Aqsa Mosque, in preparation for demolishing one of the citizens’
homes in the occupied city of al-Quds.
Enemy vehicles, reinforced with military
forces, headed to a house for al-Rajabi family in al-Ain neighborhood in
al-Quds town of Silwan, to begin demolishing it.
About two weeks ago, the Zionist enemy forces
demolished a house under construction in Ras al-Amoudneighborhood in the town
of Silwan, owned by Samir al-Halawani.
The Zionist enemy authorities force the
Palestinians, especially the residents of the city of al-Quds to demolish their
homes under the pretext of not having a permit, and whoever refuses the
procedure, the occupation bulldozers will demolish his home, in addition to
imposing exorbitant costs on the owner.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3302655.htm
-----
Egypt’s Sisi discusses Gaza aid, hostages'
release with US’ Blinken
Ahmed Asmar
06.02.2024
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held
talks in Cairo on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on
another regional tour to push for peace in the Mideast.
The talks focused on efforts to reach a
cease-fire in Gaza, swapping detainees and the entry of aid to end the human
suffering in the strip, the presidency said in a statement.
Sisi highlighted Egypt’s efforts to provide
humanitarian aid to Gaza in coordination with international relief agencies,
the statement said.
The Egyptian leader underlined the pivotal role
played by the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in providing aid to Gazans,
even as numerous countries – including the US – have cut off aid to the agency
amid Israeli allegations that some of its staffers helped Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks
on Israel.
Blinken said he discussed with the Egyptian
leader efforts to increase life-saving aid into Gaza and secure the release of
all hostages.
“We also discussed shared regional stability
objectives, including halting threats to Red Sea security by the Houthis” in
Yemen, he added on X.
According to the State Department, Blinken
praised Egypt’s leadership role in facilitating the delivery of humanitarian
assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
He also stressed the US rejection of any forced
displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and commitment to establishing a
Palestinian state that provides peace and security for Israelis and
Palestinians alike.
Blinken arrived in the Egyptian capital early
Tuesday for the second stop on his latest regional tour to push for a
cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. He visited Saudi Arabia on Monday and is also
scheduled to visit Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank during the tour.
At least 27,585 Palestinians have been killed
and 66,978 others injured in a deadly offensive launched by Israel following a
Hamas attack on Oct. 7, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people. More
than 130 Israelis remain in Hamas’ captivity.
About
85% of Gazans have been displaced by the Israeli onslaught, while all are food
insecure, according to the UN. Hundreds of thousands of people are living
without shelter, and less than half of aid trucks are entering the
territory than before the start of the conflict.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/egypt-s-sisi-discusses-gaza-aid-hostages-release-with-us-blinken/3129243
----
Hamas denounces Argentina’s decision to move
embassy to al-Quds
06 February 2024
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has
strongly denounced Argentina’s plan to move his country's embassy to the
occupied al-Quds.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas said
the move constitutes “an infringement of the rights of our Palestinian people
to their land and a violation of the rules of international law considering
al-Quds as occupied Palestinian land”.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei delighted
his Israeli hosts on Tuesday by announcing moves to shift his country’s embassy
to al-Quds, almost as soon as he touched down in the occupied territories.
Argentina would become one of only a handful of
countries to have its embassy in the occupied city.
The United States made the move in 2018 under
the presidency of Donald Trump after he recognized the city as Israel's
capital.
Israel illegally annexed East al-Quds after
taking it over during the 1967 war, and it is considered occupied territory
under international law.
Milei, who upended traditional politics to win
the election last year, has invited comparisons with Trump and Brazil’s Jair
Bolsonaro. Both megalomaniac former presidents, quite unsurprisingly, raced to congratulate
the new Argentinean president.
On his first official visit since taking office
barring a brief swing through the Davos economic forum in Switzerland, he said:
“My plan is to move the embassy to west al-Quds.”
However, what is noteworthy about Milei is his
unabashedly pro-Zionist stance and support for the occupying regime’s genocidal
campaigns in both the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
In an interview in November, hours after his
election was confirmed, the far-right eccentric politician announced his plans
to visit the United States and the occupied Palestinian territories.
“From New York, I will go to Israel — we have
already been talking to the Israeli Ambassador in Argentina,” he was back then
quoted as saying, affirming his love affair with the apartheid Zionist entity.
Around 27,600 people, mostly women and
children, have been killed in the Palestinian territory since October 7.
Palestinians have been enduring a catalogue of miseries, including the lack of
basic needs and displacement.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/06/719615/Palestine-Hamas-Israel-Argentina-Javier-Mile-
-----
Israel kills 4,890 students in four months of
war on Gaza
06 February 2024
The Gaza Ministry of Education says more than
4,890 students have been killed in Israeli attacks that have not even spared
classrooms, teachers or students in the Gaza Strip.
The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday
that over 8,500 students were also injured in the regime’s bombardment of Gaza.
The number of students who were killed in the
occupied West Bank has also reached 44. More than 280 students were also
injured.
According to the figures, 239 teachers and
administrators were killed and 836 were injured in Gaza.
The ministry said at least 620,000 students
have been deprived of education since the regime launched its war on the
coastal territory on October 7, 2023.
The ministry said the Israeli military has
bombed and vandalized 286 government schools and 65 schools affiliated with the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.
The violence has destroyed 7 of the schools and
severely damaged 83 others.
In the West Bank, 49 schools were stormed and
vandalized; seven of them were destroyed.
Four months into Israel’s war on Gaza, all
schools have been shut and no university has survived across the territory.
The war has so far killed at least 27,585
Palestinians in Gaza, according to the health ministry.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/06/719585/Israel-s-genocidal-war-killed-over-4,890-students-in-Gaza
----
Iraq and US need to return to dialogue over
future of coalition force, says Iraq foreign minister
February 07, 2024
CAIRO: Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in
a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, stressed the
need to return to the negotiating table over the future of the US-led international
military coalition in Iraq, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Talks between the two countries began in
January, but less than 24 hours later three US service members were killed in
an attack in Jordan that the United States said was carried out by Iran-backed
militant groups in Syria and Iraq. The talks have since paused then.
The US military launched airstrikes on Friday
in both Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the militias it backs, in retaliation for the
attack in Jordan.
Hussein stressed to Blinken the Iraqi
government’s rejection of such attacks saying that “Iraq is not an arena for
settling scores between rival countries.”
The United States has 2,500 troops in Iraq,
advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of Daesh, which in
2014 seized large parts of Iraq and Syria before being defeated. Hundreds of
troops from mostly European countries are also part of the coalition.
Iraq’s government says Daesh is defeated and
the coalition’s job is over, however, a US withdrawal would likely increase
concern in Washington about the influence of arch foe Iran over Iraq’s ruling
elite.
Iraq is keen to explore establishing bilateral
relations with coalition members, including military cooperation in training
and equipment.
Hussein formally demanded the US Treasury
Department reconsider the sanctions it had imposed on several Iraqi banks,
asking whether those sanctions were put in place over compliance issues or
“other political reasons.”
In July, Washington barred 14 Iraqi banks from
conducting dollar transactions as part of a wider crackdown on the illicit use
of dollars.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455426/middle-east
-----
Turkey announces detention of 85 Afghan Asylum
seekers
Fidel Rahmati
February 7, 2024
The Turkish police have announced that 85
Afghan asylum seekers intending to migrate to Greece have been detained in the
cities of Chanakkale and Manisha.
Turkish media reported on Tuesday, February
6th, that two Turkish citizens were also arrested for involvement in human
trafficking.
According to Turkish authorities, these asylum
seekers intended to enter Greece and Europe “illegally.”
Reports indicate that 44 Afghan asylum seekers
were detained in the city of Manisha and another 41 on the Aegean shores of
Chanakkale.
Authorities in Turkey have emphasized that
these asylum seekers have been handed over to detention centres in Manisha and
Chanakkale and will be deported after legal procedures.
Meanwhile, the process of deporting and
detaining Afghan asylum seekers has increased in countries such as Pakistan,
Iran, and Turkey in recent months.
Previously, local authorities in the city of
Bitlis had reported the detention of 58 Afghan asylum seekers in the central
village of Tanriyar.
Turkish authorities have also stated that
operations to combat the entry and detention of illegal migrants across Turkey
will continue.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior,
68,687 Afghan asylum seekers were detained across Turkey last year, and some of
them have been deported.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.khaama.com/turkey-announces-detention-of-85-afghan-asylum-seekers/
---
North America
No Near-Term Plan to Return Diplomatic
Functions to Kabul: US
February 06, 2024
A US State Department spokesperson said that
there are no near-term plans to return diplomatic functions to Kabul.
The deputy spokesperson of the ministry in the
weekly press briefing said that the US engage with many Afghans including the
“Taliban” both inside and outside the country.
“We believe it is important to be very clear ...
our State Department position is that we have no near-term plans to return any
diplomatic functions to Kabul. We engage
with many Afghans, including the Taliban, both inside and outside the country,
but human rights and the return to school for women and girls are at the
forefront of our engagement,” said Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson of the US
State Department.
The Islamic Emirate believes the US-Afghanistan
engagement to be key for resolving problems and that the Afghan government
experience friendly relations with countries.
According to the spokesman for the Islamic
Emirate, rights of all Afghans are protected based on the Islamic principles.
“Interaction with countries is a need. The US
and Afghanistan both need interaction with each other. If the US does not
engage with Afghanistan and continue as it is doing now, the Islamic Emirate
will continue to engage with other countries,” the Islamic Emirate
spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, told TOLOnews.
Political analysts on the other hand insist
that the Islamic Emirate should respect all internal and external demands of
people.
“The International community in particular the
US and the Afghan government should be clear about everything,” said Muhammad
Yousuf Amin Zazai, a political analyst.
“The Biden administration will bring no changes
in its policies towards Afghanistan. But if Donald Trump comes to power, the US
aid to Afghanistan through the UN will come to an end,” said Tariq Farhadi,
another political analyst.
Earlier, the US Sate Department in a 22-page
document said that they are assessing reopening the US consulate in Kabul.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-187302
-----
US lawmakers reject $17.6 billion Israel aid
bill
February 07, 2024
WASHINGTON: US lawmakers voted Tuesday to
reject a standalone Israel aid bill denounced by critics as a “cynical” bid to
thwart a cross-party border security and foreign assistance package that would
include cash for war-torn Ukraine.
Republicans in the House of Representatives
scheduled the vote after the Democratic-led Senate released a bipartisan bill
Sunday pairing billions of dollars for Israel and Ukraine with some of the
strictest immigration curbs in decades.
But support for that $118 billion package has
dwindled, with Donald Trump — who is running for a second White House term —
pressuring Republicans to avoid handing President Joe Biden a legislative
victory ahead of November’s election.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said
after the border and foreign aid bill was unveiled that it would be “dead on
arrival” if it reached the lower chamber of Congress.
The standalone Israel bill would have provided
$17.6 billion in military aid for the country, which is strongly supported by
the vast majority of lawmakers in both parties as it responds to the deadly
October 7 attacks by Hamas militants.
But 167 Democrats voted no after Biden had
threatened to wield his veto, angered that the legislation appeared aimed at
undermining the larger package, hammered out after months of negotiations with
a bipartisan group of senators.
The standalone bill was also opposed by 13
Republicans as it did not contain budgetary offsets that conservatives have
been pushing for with every proposal for new spending.
One of Johnson’s first actions when he took
office in the fall was to shepherd a bill through the House that would have
provided $14.3 billion to Israel.
But it included steep cuts to the Internal
Revenue Service, which Biden opposed.
The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus
blasted Johnson for “surrendering” to pressure for an even larger package which
is not offset by cuts.
Biden’s Office of Management and Budget had
said the Republican “ploy” would undermine efforts to secure the US border and
support Ukraine against Russian aggression, while denying humanitarian
assistance to Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire of the Israel-Hamas
conflict.
But Johnson countered at a news conference
Tuesday that it was “outrageous and shameful” Biden would suggest vetoing
support for Israel “in their hour of greatest need.”
House Democratic leaders called the bill a
“nakedly obvious and cynical attempt” to undermine the larger package, which
ties the Israel cash to $60 billion aid for Ukraine and $20 billion for US
border security but is deadlocked in Congress.
“Unfortunately, the standalone legislation
introduced by House Republicans over the weekend, at the 11th hour without
notice or consultation, is not being offered in good faith,” House Democratic
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455451/middle-east
----
Harvard University faces US government probe
over discriminating against Muslims
Zehra Nur Düz
07.02.2024 - Update : 07.02.2024
Harvard University is facing a government
investigation for possible discrimination following a civil rights complaint
filed by Arab and Muslim students, according to media reports.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict
last October, more than 60 investigations by the US Department of Education
have been launched into K-12 schools, colleges, and universities over
allegations of discrimination related to shared ancestry, ABC News reported.
"We support the work of the Office of
Civil Rights to ensure students' rights to access educational programs are
safeguarded and will work with the office to address their questions,"
Jason Newton, spokesman for the Ivy League school, told the outlet.
The Muslim Legal Fund of America, which lodged
the complaint on behalf of the students in January, claims that students have
faced "rampant harassment and racist attacks including doxxing, stalking
and assault simply for being Palestinian, Muslim, and supporters of Palestinian
rights."
The group also said certain students have been
subjected to assault due to their wearing keffiyehs, the traditional
Palestinian scarves.
"Our complaint addresses Harvard's failure
to protect more than a dozen students from harassment, intimidation, and
threats based solely on their status as Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and
supporters of Palestinian rights," the legal fund said.
"This investigation signifies an important
step toward accountability and justice for these students, who all deserve the
right to learn in a safe environment and the freedom to express their
views," it added.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/harvard-university-faces-us-government-probe-over-discriminating-against-muslims/3130234
----
US interests in West Asia not secure while Gaza
genocide rages on: Analyst
07 February 2024
The United States should not expect its
interests in West Asia to remain untouched as it continues to prop up the
Israeli regime and its genocide in Gaza, says an Iranian analyst.
Speaking to the Press TV website,
Sa’adollahZarei, an expert on West Asia affairs, said only an end to the
ongoing bloodshed in the besieged territory can de-escalate tensions in the
region.
“If the US doesn't want further escalation, it
should contain Israel. If they're arming Israel to slaughter Palestinians and
vetoing calls for a ceasefire and staging attacks against the resistance forces
across the region, they should be ready to pay some costs,” he asserted.
US bases in Iraq and Syria have been repeatedly
targeted since October 7 when the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war
against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
One of the attacks late last month on a US
military base called ‘Tower 22’ in Jordan near the border with Syria led to the
killing of three US soldiers and injuries to dozens of others.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella
group of resistance factions in the Arab country, has carried out a string of
attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria in recent months as a mark of solidarity
with the people and resistance in Palestine.
On Friday, the US launched a series of strikes
on 85 positions in Iraq and Syria, claiming to target the positions of the
Iraqi resistance.
Some US lawmakers had in recent days also
called for attacks on Iran, claiming the attack on the US base was supported by
Iran. That prompted Iranian officials to issue stern warnings.
Zarei, who also serves on the editorial board
of Keyhan newspaper, said the US attack was a “controlled response” and a
“face-saving reaction” to the attack on the Jordan base, which he described as
a “command center” directing US military operations in Iraq and Syria.
“The US attack was mostly a show and a
face-saving reaction to the attack on its Jordan base. They have several times
attacked Iraqi positions recently and these new attacks were very similar to
them,” he stated.
Touching on statements by US officials that
they intend to press ahead with their attacks in Iraq and Syria, Zarei said
Washington’s efforts to restore its reputation are doomed to fail.
Israeli genocidal war on Gaza was a high-risk
gamble that proved a failure, and the rising direct and indirect costs of the
war make it difficult for the regime to sustain it, says an analyst.
Iran doesn’t seek escalation
Asked if Iran may take military action in
response to attacks against Gaza, Zarei said Iran does not want a war in the
region and its focus has been on preventing further escalation in the region.
“Iran does not want to further fan the flames
of tensions and its focus is on putting an end to the Israeli war on Gaza. Iran
is not attacked so there's no reason it wants to engage in attacks,” the
analyst remarked.
However, he hastened to add that Yemenis,
Iraqis, and other resistance forces might be motivated to hit the US interests,
considering that Washington has launched serial bombing campaigns against them.
The Tehran-based commentator said both Iraqis
and Yemenis appear defiant in the face of US attacks and are determined more
than ever to respond to the strikes.
“The Iraqi resistance has already launched
several attacks against US bases, including the al-Harir airbase. If the US
conducts more attacks, resistance will engage in more attacks,” he said.
The US and UK have also staged three waves of
aerial attacks on Yemen, the latest of them on Saturday. The attacks, they
claimed, were a response to Yemen’s operations in the Red Sea.
Yemen has barred Israeli-linked ships from
passing through the strategic waterway and has targeted vessels defying its
repeated warnings.
Yayha Saree, a spokesman for Yemen’s armed
forces, in a statement, vowed that the latest wave of airstrikes on the Arab
country "will not pass without response and punishment".
"The US cannot assume it can provide
unwavering arms and diplomatic support to Israel, enabling the ongoing genocide
of Gazans, and the only viable solution for restoring tranquility in the region
is to bring an end to the tragic events unfolding in Gaza," he stressed.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/02/07/719629/us-interests-west-asia-not-secure-while-gaza-genocide-rages-analyst
---
Europe
Turkish ambassador pushes for Gaza cease-fire
at Prague meeting of envoys of Arab League, OIC countries
AskinKiyagan
06.02.2024
At a meeting in the Czech capital Tuesday, the
Turkish ambassador to Prague called for an immediate cease-fire to end the
humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip.
The meeting on the Israel-Palestine issue,
hosted by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, included the participation of
ambassadors of Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
countries.
"I am happy to inform to you that despite
their differences on other issues, all members of the OIC as well as the
members of the Arab League are fully united when it comes to helping Palestine.
However, this is neither an Arab issue nor a Muslim issue. The issue at hand is
a humanitarian tragedy," said Turkish Ambassador EgemenBagis, chairing the
group formed by envoys of the OIC member countries in Prague, during the
meeting at the Foreign Ministry.
Touching on the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza and
the occupied West Bank, despite rising criticism of Israeli attacks and its
extremist rhetoric, he stressed that last month’s interim ruling by the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) is a sign that the Israel must stop its massacres.
Telling how 27,000 Palestinians, 70% of them
women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces, Bagis stressed that a
two-state solution based on the 1967 borders is the only solution for all
Palestinians and Israelis to live in safety.
Bagis warned of the risk of the tension
spreading to other countries in the region and said that it is of urgent
importance to implement immediate cease-fire and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian
aid to the besieged enclave.
On ties between Tel Aviv and Prague, Bagis
demanded that the Czech Republic take action to end the humanitarian tragedy,
adding that they call on Prague to persuade Israel to respect international law
and human rights.
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since the
Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by Palestinian group Hamas have killed more than
27,000 people, besides causing mass destruction and suffering. About 1,200 were
killed in the initial Hamas attacks.
Telling how today marks the first anniversary
of twin earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria on Feb. 6, Bagis thanked the
Czech government, Czech people, and the other attending countries at the
meeting for the support and solidarity shown to Türkiye.
Catastrophic twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.7
and 7.6 shook southern Türkiye and northern Syria on Feb. 6, 2023, destroying
thousands of buildings and killing 53,500 people.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-ambassador-pushes-for-gaza-cease-fire-at-prague-meeting-of-envoys-of-arab-league-oic-countries/3129748
-----
Russia summons Israeli ambassador for
criticizing Lavrov, Moscow’s ties with Hamas
07 Feb
2024
MOSCOW – Russia’s foreign ministry said on
Tuesday that it had informed Israeli Ambassador Simona Halperin of its
“negative reaction” to criticisms of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian
policy in the Middle East made by the diplomat.
The Israeli envoy was summoned to the foreign
ministry earlier on Tuesday, a day after Russian authorities lashed out over
what they called “unacceptable comments” made by the ambassador in an interview
with Russian newspaper Kommersant published on Sunday.
Halperin told the paper that Lavrov played down
the importance of the Holocaust and and said Russia was too friendly with the
Palestinian Islamist terror group Hamas.
Russia in late January appeared to belittle the
Holocaust’s impact on the Jewish people, characterizing it as a mass
extermination of “various ethnic and social groups,” while slamming Germany for
intervening on behalf of Israel as a third party in the International Court of
Justice’s “genocide” case.
At a media conference, the Kremlin’s Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized what she labeled as Berlin’s
“unfettered support” for the Jewish state, and accused it of systematically
ignoring the plight of non-Jewish European minorities, particularly Slavic
peoples in the then-Soviet Union, who were massacred during the Holocaust.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded with a
brief statement, thanking Germany “for its unequivocal support and its stand
against South Africa’s baseless claim,” and blasting the spokesperson’s
comments as a “distortion of the Holocaust” and “harmful to victims and
survivors.”
Amid the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the
Hamas-led October 7 onslaught in which terrorists killed some 1,200 people and
took 253 hostages, Russia has regularly criticized Israel, including in the UN
Security Council, while hosting leaders of Gaza’s Hamas rulers in a development
widely seen as an extension of its increasingly friendly ties with Iran.
Moscow has backed Israel’s right to defend
itself but has blasted Israel for employing “cruel methods” in its campaign
against the terror group.
Tehran has become a key ally as Moscow seeks
support for its invasion of Ukraine. Israel had offered only relatively modest
support for Kyiv in a bid to safeguard its relationship with Russia, but the
once-close allies have nonetheless grown far apart.
Source: timesofisrael.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-summons-israeli-ambassador-for-criticizing-lavrov-moscows-ties-with-hamas/
-----
French doctors lament health, humanitarian
crisis in Gaza Strip
Hafsa Alami
06.02.2024
After returning Tuesday to Paris, a delegation
of French doctors described the desperate situation they had encountered in the
besieged Gaza Strip amid continued attacks and a blockade by Israel.
After spending days in the city of Rafah, the
doctors went to the European Hospital in Khan Younis – considered the only
hospital in service in southern Gaza.
The Palmed Association of Palestinian Doctors
in Europe sent the first humanitarian medical mission to Gaza from Jan. 22 to
Feb. 6, led by Raphael Petit, a former military doctor and specialist in war
medicine.
“The situation is chaotic, and many children
are injured. We had patients who stayed inside the hospital because they have
no other place to go,” anesthesiologistBouchakourChemsEddine told Anadolu.
“We were able to administer anesthesia but
there’s starting to be a shortage of morphine,” he added.
Doctors described the catastrophic conditions
in the besieged enclave in light of insufficient aid, a lack of water, food,
and medicine, and diseases and malnutrition afflicting both the old and young.
“We were receiving causalities and citizens
suffering from wounds. All aid would be useless without a cease-fire,”
emergency and resuscitation doctor Khaled Ben Boutrif told Anadolu.
“The European Hospital, which is the only
hospital still in service – it becomes almost paralyzed because it hosts many
displaced people without shelter,” he added.
The delegation noted extensive damage to
medical facilities and hospitals in Gaza and expressed sadness and deep concern
about the dangerous conditions in which fellow Palestinian doctors have been
living from the constant bombardment by Israel for more than four months.
At least 300 health care workers have been
killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to the UN, and at least 30 hospitals and
150 other medical facilities have been put out of service.
Israel has mounted a deadly offensive on the
Gaza Strip since a surprise attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on
Oct. 7. The ensuing attack by Israel has killed at least 27,585 Palestinians
and injured 66,978. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in
the Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s
population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or
destroyed, according to the UN.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original
story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/french-doctors-lament-health-humanitarian-crisis-in-gaza-strip/3129760
----
UK Gives $36.5M, Germany $5.4M for Aid to
Afghanistan
06.02.2024
The United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that Germany has contributed US$5.4 million
to Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund.
Meanwhile, The United Nations World Food
Program (WFP) in Afghanistan has said that the Government of United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland has contributed US$36.5 million, through its
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
“The funds will be used to buy a total 13,000
metric tons of wheat flour, vegetable oil ... and salt to support over 1
million people for one month. Up to 1 million people will also benefit from
cash-based transfers to help cover their food needs during the winter,” the WFP
said in a statement.
The Islamic Emirate welcomed the assistance and
contribution but emphasized that countries and organizations ought to concentrate
on the development and infrastructure projects so that the lead to provision of
employment opportunities for people.
“We want that this aid to be increased. We ask
the donors to spend their contributions on infrastructure so that it can help
in economic growth and the eradication of poverty,” the Speaker of the Islamic
Emirate, Zabiullah Mujahid told TOLOnews.
Despite the contributions to
Afghanistan-related funds and UN organizations, millions of people in the
country have yet to experience positive change.
Abdul Zahir, 63, is one of thousands of elderly
men in the Afghan capital who is struggling to earn money to afford three meals
a day.
He is selling bolani [traditional Afghan food]
but he is not satisfied with his earnings.
“We are seven people in my family and I am the
sole breadwinner. I cook up to 80 bolani everyday and make up to 200 Afs
(nearly $3),” a Kabul resident, Abdul Zahir, told TOLOnews.
Meanwhile, other residents in Kabul called on
the Islamic Emirate to provide employment opportunities for people.
“There is no work here, we come in the morning
and find no work till evening, we all have children and ask for work to make
money,” said Abdul Alem, another Kabul resident.
It comes as the United Nations has appealed for
over three billion dollars for Afghanistan in 2024.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-187308
-----
Southeast Asia
Malaysia Attends Second Meeting Of Ministers Of
Defence Of Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Member Countries
06 Feb 2024]
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — Malaysia will lead the
Information Technology Literacy and Digital Resilience Development Programme
initiative, which includes developing, creating, producing, and disseminating
media content related to violence and extremism among the youth of the Islamic
Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) member countries.
This was announced at the second meeting of the
ministers of defence of the IMCTC member states held on February 3 in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Minister of Defence AdlyZahari
represented Malaysia at the meeting which gathered 42 member countries and
discussed relevant initiatives to address the threats of extremism and violence
internationally in four focus domains, restricting the spread of ideology,
communication, blocking terrorist financing, and military cooperation.
Malaysia has two officers from the Malaysian
Armed Forces (MAF) at the Counter-Terrorism Centre (CTC) IMCTC since 2023 to
demonstrate the country’s commitment to combating terrorism regionally and
internationally.
IMCTC member countries also collectively agreed
to lead initiatives in various forms including funding, training, expertise,
and skills.
The Malaysian delegation also met key
international players in the defence industry to keep abreast with the latest
developments in defence technology, equipment and assets.
To underline the strong defence cooperation
between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the Malaysian delegation also visited the
World Defense Show (WDS).
The delegation also took the opportunity to
promote the Defence Services Asia 2024 & National Security Asia 2024
Exhibition (DSA 2024 & NATSEC Asia 2024) scheduled to take place from May
6-9 in Kuala Lumpur.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/06/malaysia-attends-second-meeting-of-ministers-of-defence-of-islamic-military-counter-terrorism-coalition-member-countries/116673
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Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak seeks full
royal pardon, disappointed at commutation of sentence
February 07, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister
Najib Razak is disappointed he wasn’t given a full royal pardon of his 12-year
prison sentence for graft, and may file a new appeal to the new monarch, his
lawyer said Wednesday.
The decision last week by the Pardons Board to
cut in half Najib’s jail term sparked outrage among many Malaysians, who
slammed it as a mockery of the justice system and a blow to Prime Minister
Anwar Ibrahim’s anti-corruption campaign. While the board isn’t required to
explain its decision, it triggered calls for transparency in such high-profile
cases.
Najib, 70, has been serving less than two years
of his sentence linked to the theft of billions of dollars from the 1MDB state
fund that has sparked investigations in the US and other countries. He is
Malaysia’s first leader to be imprisoned after leaving office and still faces a
major trial linked to 1MDB.
1MDB was a development fund that Najib set up
shortly after taking power in 2009. Investigators allege at least $4.5 billion
was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates through layers of
bank accounts in the US and other countries and financed Hollywood films and
extravagant purchases that included hotels, a luxury yacht, art and jewelry.
More than $700 million landed in Najib’s bank accounts.
His lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, said Najib was
disappointed because he felt he wasn’t given a fair trial. He also questioned
if there was interference in the Pardons’ Board process, chaired by the former
king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Shafee alleged that Sultan Abdullah was
initially looking at granting Najib a full pardon during the board’s meeting on
Jan. 29. But the king asked members of the board to vote and the result was a
commutation of the sentence and fine, he said.
“We are seriously thinking about another
petition for pardon, a full pardon,” Shafee told a news conference. “The reason
we want to put in another request is that we don’t think the Pardons Board
operated the way the constitution expected them to operate. The king merely
hears advice but he must then decide on his own.”
Anwar has said the pardon was the prerogative
of Sultan Abdullah, who ended his five-year reign under Malaysia’s unique
rotating monarch system just a day after the board’s meeting. Abdullah is from
Najib’s home state of Pahang. Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the powerful ruler of
southern Johor state, took the throne on Jan. 31 for a five-year term.
Najib was found guilty in 2020 on seven charges
of corruption for illegally receiving $9.4 million from SRC International, a
former unit of 1MDB. His wife, RosmahMansor, was also sentenced in 2022 to 10
years in prison and a record fine of 970 million ringgit for corruption
involving a solar energy project and is out on bail pending an appeal.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2455596/world
----
Indonesian Islamic groups win Zayed Award
February 06, 2024
Two largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia
have won this year’s Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, given in honor of a pact
signed by the pope with the Islamic world in 2019.
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, with
millions of members in the largest Muslim nation in the world, were conferred
the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 5. They are known for
their efforts to tackle complex social threats.
This prize marks the fifth anniversary of the
Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which Pope
Francis signed with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, grand Imam of Al-Azhar, during a
visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Other recipients of the award are Sister Nelly
León Correa, a Chilean nun working with prisoners, and Sir MagdiYacoub, an
Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon.
In a video message, Pope Francis told the award
recipients that their example would encourage others to promote “the values
proposed by the Document on Human Fraternity.”
He called human fraternity a means to overcome
hatred and injustice.
“During these years, we have journeyed as
brothers and sisters, mindful that while respecting our different cultures and
traditions, we must build fraternity in order to overcome hatred, violence, and
injustice," the pope added.
Father AgustinusHeriWibowo, executive secretary
of the bishops’ commission for ecumenical and interreligious affairs, said the
award was worthy for the two organizations, considering their track record.
"Friends from NU and Muhammadyah are like
our own family or brothers," he said while recalling his association with
them.
He said that his commission often carried out
joint activities with the two organizations in distributing humanitarian aid
and providing environmental advice.
On Feb. 6, Wibowo and representatives of the
two organizations visited Pandeglang in Banten province, west of Jakarta, to
meet with local indigenous communities.
NU chairman Yahya CholilStaquf said the
organization was proud to receive the award. He emphasized its commitment to
continue fighting for fellow human beings.
NU, which was founded in 1926 and has 95
million members currently, has organized several inter-religious and
inter-cultural conferences, including the Asia-Africa Islamic Conference and
the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
Its diplomatic efforts helped secure the
release of South Korean personnel held hostages held by the Taliban in
Afghanistan in 2007.
HaedarNashir, chairman of Muhammadiyah, said
the award makes "us even more enthusiastic to continue working optimally
in carrying out our humanitarian role at the local, national, regional and
international levels." The outfit was founded in 1912 and has 60 million
members.
In Christian-majority regions like Papua and
East Nusa Tenggara, the organization has built schools and universities, he
said.
"Muhammadiyah promotes social integration
of local residents, most of whom are Christians and Catholics," he said.
Muhammadiyah played a role in resolving
conflicts in the southern Philippines and southern Thailand and has carried out
humanitarian aid to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, he added.
President Joko Widodo said in a statement that
this award "gives us extraordinary pride” because it is the first time the
award has been given to an organization in the Asian region.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesian-islamic-groups-win-zayed-award/104063
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Masjid Al-Hana tube well a blessing for Kuah
folk
Hamzah Osman
February
7, 2024
LANGKAWI: A waqf (endowment) tube well at
Masjid Al-Hana here, which began operating in August, has been the primary
source of clean water supply for residents of Kuah town over the past week.
The residents on the island were affected by
water supply disruptions due to the dry spell brought by the El Nino
phenomenon.
A resident Azmi Mansor, 58, said he had to
commute for 8km to transport water from the tube well to his home in Taman Rima
Emas here for daily usage.
"The water supply disruption to my
residential area have been getting even more critical over the past three days,
so I have to transport water using barrels and recycled bottles.
"There used to be water supply
disruptions, but we were still getting the supply from Sada (Syarikat Air Darul
Aman) during the evening and early morning. But for the past three days, the
tap has ran dry," he said.
RohizanRosman, 48, from Taman Nilam, who lives
10km from the mosque, said pressure was mounting on the residents as they were
forced to look for alternative water sources to carry on with their daily
routines.
"I got up as early as 3am hoping to
collect water from the tap, but was left frustrated because there is no water.
Thus, I have to get the water from the mosque's tube well
"As for drinking water, I have to buy
bottled water, but that is not a sustainable solution for me as my income as a
taxi driver is not fixed," he said.
An eatery operator in Kuah, Fakhrulrazi
Abdullah, 51, also shared his frustration that he was forced to buy bottled
water to run his stall since last week due to water supply disruptions between
10am until midnight daily.
"Yesterday, there was some low-pressure
water supply running from the tap from 10am, but it completely stopped by noon
until late evening.I was forced to use bottled water to prepare dishes at my
eatery.
"I dread to think how to keep on running
the eatery if the water supply disruptions are prolonged, especially by early
next week as visitors will be arriving in numbers during the Chinese New Year's
break," he said.
Meanwhile, hoteliers in Langkawi expressed
their concern on the water supply disruptions onthe tourism island.
They were worried as the number of arrivals was
expected to jump during the long school break beginning this Friday and the
Chinese New Year festive this weekend.
Langkawi Dash Resort general manager Effendi
Ramley said he was worried that things could get even worse if Sada had no
contingency plan.
"The management of hotels in PantaiChenang
and Pantai Tengah are very worried since the daily water consumption will
increase by several folds during the festive season and school break period.
"In fact, since early this week, a
five-star hotel in Kuah has said itwasis facing water supply disruptions and
was forced to use bottled waters to prepare meals," he said.
Adya Hotel Langkawi general manager Syed
Muhammad Firdaus Syed Putra also shared the same sentiment.
He urged Sada to inform hoteliers beforehand if
water supply on the island was deteriorating.
"If the situation is prolonged with room
bookings reaching 60 per cent during the five days of the Chinese New Year
festivities, we are worried that this will leave visitors with a bitter
memory."
Last Wednesday, Sada issued an advice to
Langkawi residents to use water wisely as the island was facing water supply
disruption.
The state water concessionaire, in a statement,
said it had identified nine locations, including tourist hotspots, on the
island that were facing water supply disruptions due to El Nino.
The affected areas were Kuah town, Kisap,
Kilim, Perana, Bayas, Ulu Melaka, Temoyong, PantaiCenang and Pantai Tengah.
Sada said it was having difficulties to meet
demand for treated water as the water level in Sungai Melaka in Langkawi was
depleting due to the prolonged dry spell.
Source:
nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1010819/masjid-al-hana-tube-well-blessing-kuah-folk
------
Indonesia, Laos, M'sia troika continues to seek
end to Myanmar crisis
February
7, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, Laos, and
Malaysia are continuing with the troika mechanism agreed upon at the ASEAN
Summit in Jakarta in September 2023 to help resolve the ongoing crisis in
Myanmar.
According to Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi, the
troika mechanism implemented by Indonesia as the previous ASEAN chair, Laos as
the current chair, and Malaysia as the next chair is very important to ensure
continuity in the handling of the Myanmar issue.
"At the summit in Jakarta, a new mechanism
was agreed upon in ASEAN in the form of a troika to discuss how to implement
the Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar issue," Marsudi said on Tuesday.
She made the statement after accompanying
President Joko Widodo to a meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin
Hasan in Jakarta.
Through the mechanism, she said, Indonesia has
provided Laos with all notes regarding engagements that have been carried out
with all stakeholders in Myanmar, with the hope that the approach can be
continued by Laos as the chairman of ASEAN this year.
During Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN, more
than 265 engagements were carried out with almost all stakeholders in Myanmar.
Marsudi emphasized that Indonesia is optimizing
diplomacy to encourage progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus (5PC).
"We have given all contact persons to
Laos, and they stated explicitly that what Laos will do is a continuation of
the efforts previously built under the leadership of Indonesia and Cambodia.
So, this must continue to be built and strengthened," she expounded.
She further explained that the troika mechanism
is not closed to the involvement of other ASEAN countries, as long as it still
refers to the 5PC.
"When we discuss humanitarian assistance,
for example, I talk a lot with Thailand because Thailand also provides
humanitarian assistance across the border (to Myanmar) but still involves the
AHA Center, according to the 5PC reference," Marsudi said.
Meanwhile, Minister Hasan emphasized the
importance of ASEAN working together to ensure that the crisis in Myanmar does
not spread to other countries or regions.
Friends of the ASEAN countries are thinking
together, which is the best way for Myanmar to return to its former civil
government; so this troika mechanism can hopefully be implemented as well as
possible, he said.
Myanmar's crisis began with a coup launched by
the military against the country's elected government on February 1, 2021.
The Myanmar military government then cracked
down hard on the masses protesting the coup, with more than 4 thousand
civilians killed and more than two million people displaced by the violence.
Since October 2023, the Myanmar military's
fight against ethnic groups opposing the military regime and pro-democracy
forces has become increasingly fierce.
Meanwhile, on January 31, 2024, the Myanmar
military extended the state of emergency for six months.
The move delays the elections promised by the
military following the February 2021 coup. The military has extended the state
of emergency several times since seizing power.
Source:
antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/305328/indonesia-laos-msia-troika-continues-to-seek-end-to-myanmar-crisis
----
Naval ship bearing aid for Gazans heads to Red
Sea
February
6, 2024
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Navy's
(TNI-AL's) hospital ship KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 carrying
humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza has now sailed for the Red Sea,
according to Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali.
"KRI Radjiman has passed the Gulf of Aden
and is currently sailing for the Red Sea. Let us pray for the ship's safety to
its destination so it can perform its humanitarian duty," Ali said after
welcoming returning peacekeeping officers of the XXVIII-N UNIFIL Garuda
Contingent Maritime Task Force here on Tuesday.
He also expressed the hope that all officers of
the peacekeeping mission, who have embarked on a sacred duty, will return to
Indonesia safely.
KRI Radjiman Wedyodiningrat-992 sailed out from
Jakarta on January 18, 2024. Its send-off ceremony was presided over by Defense
Minister PrabowoSubianto. The ship is expected to arrive at the Port of Al
Arish in the Sinai Peninsula on the Mediterranean coast on February 14.
The hospital ship is carrying 80 trucks loaded
with humanitarian aid, including diapers, clothes for children and adults,
jackets, various types of foods and medicines, and blankets.
After the ship arrives at its destination, the
aid will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent for transportation to
Rafah, the closest entry point to Gaza, Palestine.
This is the ship's first voyage outside
Indonesian waters since its launch in August 2022. The ship is sailing with 214
crew members, including 40 special officers of the Navy.
On its way to the Port of Al Arish, the ship
also passed KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, sailing home to Indonesia after completing
its peacekeeping mission.
Source:
antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/305307/naval-ship-bearing-aid-for-gazans-heads-to-red-sea
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/shariah-jamiat-ulema-ucc/d/131675